A Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

By Elton Camp (This is a continuation of the series about life in the rural South during the early 20th Century.) A few local people were held to have extraordinary powers to heal. Prominent in Marshall County was R.C. Morrow who lived near Albertville. He was said to be the seventh son of a seventh son. As such he was believed to have abilities that included curing thrush in babies and removing warts. He was highly respected in the community and often consulted. Mothers took their babies for him to breathe into their mouths, in order to make thrush disappear. Rubbing warts, plus a silent incantation known only to him, reportedly caused them to vanish. Mrs. Reeds baby had redness and tiny blisters in his mouth. The infant was so uncomfortable that he wouldnt eat. The problem was due to a fungus, but she didnt know that. Im goin t take him t Mr. Morrow, she informed her husband. Her spouse raised no objection. Women made decisions like that. It was no concern of his. When she reached the mans house, he cordially invited her inside to learn what she wanted. Morrow was accustomed to such callers and felt it his duty to help. Mrs. Reed described her childs symptoms and showed him the interior of his mouth. I cant absolute promise, but Ill b glad t do whut I kin, he said. If hit dont work purty soon, yu best take him t one o th regular doctors. The man took the baby into his arms and blew into its mouth. After a day or so, the symptoms abated. His reputation as a healer was further enhanced. Mr. Morrow was himself the father of seven sons, but it was widely reported that he refused to accept his impending death in his mid-eighties. As a consequence, he didnt pass on the reputed gift to his seventh son despite repeated pleas from family. Belle reported, I aint superstitious, but I know he heald me o my warts. They wuz gon th very next week atter he treated em. In later years, she herself became a wart witch. Her success was virtually assured since the virus that causes warts is combated by immunity until its defeated.