"Ex Slave Tales," Perry County.

Folder contains 45 pages of former slave narratives compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.• DORA GoTAFF Susie R. O'Brien John Morgan Smith large A t Dora ~agstaff waddled to a/dilapidated chair and sank ith a long tired sigh into its depths. he filled it to its...

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Published: Alabama Department of Archives and History
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Online Access:http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/wpa/id/822
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Summary:Folder contains 45 pages of former slave narratives compiled for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in the late 1930s.• DORA GoTAFF Susie R. O'Brien John Morgan Smith large A t Dora ~agstaff waddled to a/dilapidated chair and sank ith a long tired sigh into its depths. he filled it to its very capacity. In fact I don't believe she could have arisen without bringing the chair with her. They now seemed inseparablp a part of each otner. unt Dora resides in a s",a.1.1 cabin eigHt mil"s nortp of Oniontown where she has her own little vegatable garDen that she works hr-self, ana fe mchoats that run squeaking arounD t e yard and in which she takes the utmost pride: "Now Aunt Dora," I said after she had settlea herse f sufficiently, "I've co e a1ll a long way to get this story, and I'd like to have something different about the slavery days; something t at no one else has tola me. I think the people in .ashington are getting lea up with t,.e usual run of events about slave~ , so Auntie,give ",ell, white folkS," sbe ",usea as me something really good." a.""t.c ,. ItfCI.;: her eye"s""'-"' far oU expression, "dere ain't much for . ninety is almos' year ola an' an ole nigger to tell cep'n de fac' dat she JA9.ge as a slave to Mamma John oore, an' we livm in a big two story house an' I played aroun' wid de hite chilluns." "But A\Ult Dora," I broke in, "isn't there an exciting story that you r- ember back there? Think, A\Ultie,1! I coaxed,"you must remelliber something." "l1ell,!hile'''she finally continued after" periOD of deep revcorie, "I does rellielliber a litt.1e story ci"t "arn't llluch to it, but you axe for a story so 1'1.1 te 1 it to you. It was aurin' ae tiwe of ue .ar. econl it ve.e 'bout 1864 when de Yankees WuS a-colllin' th'ough our place at ue sto~y tuk place. Os nig_ers had been .arned by ue . tell nothin' bout "hut we knowed of e place aroun' •• hite folkS to don't ..e was told not to • • • answer no questions. e be done hid de silver an' valuables When~ Yankees co e th'ough, so dere ~arn't no thin , lef' for 'em to git cep'n de meats in de smoke house, ae wine anJ m .hiskey in de celiar an' de lasses an' things. ,e ,1, aeill solger~ stayed aroun' dere for a f~ aays an' some of'em found out Oat "e be done had some silver hid out. liell, oey starts a-searchin' for it, an' ..hen dey can't find it, dey 6its powerful mad. One nignt I heeeed some voLces outsiCle • ab' I look outen ae indow an' dere were three iankees our cabin Illl_ a-comin' toward~ dmm do'. ~arn't nobody at ho e cep'n me, caze pappy .as at de big h0use an' Bmmy, she out gitin' ater mn f' de spring. em solgers COilles ra~ht but up to 0 dO • an' wa s in. ",us' one an came in. Ithen he sa me he turn an' call to 'e res': 'deah, one o~ Oem little black coons,' he says. '"je'll u.ake ,er tell.' 'Now, nigger,' he~to me, , we ain't gv,inter hurt you none iften you tells us whar dat silver is hid.' , e ain't got no si ver 'roun' dis place, . xankee, we's po' folks.' 'Don't talk dat nonsense to me you littl~ black monkey,' he says, 'caze I kno dere is some dd out an' 1 is aimin' to make you tell. Now I'se g ine give you one 0' chance. Is you gon.,a tell?' '~Yankee, us ain't ..•••..• "Bout ciJImmlllmJBm dat tu.e he grab my arm an' twist it, an' de udder two mens com~ in de do'. 'I'll make you tell whar its at, you little black debil,' he says, an ,id dat he twist my arm mo'. 'Bout dat ti~e I let out a yell, an' he nearly wrench my amm f'um my mmfu shoulder. Den de do' open an' in step my pappy. He looKed at dem men, an' de one dat had my am arm let go. Pappy shet de do' behin' him an' th'ew de bolt. He walked over to dat Yankee an' slam him in de face 'fo' none o~ 'em knowed whut it were all about. All three of 'em jump on pappy an' pull him down to Cle flo' pulls out a knife. He stobbed one raght in de Den one of de u der two pick up a chair an 'hap pappy in de haid. Dey was a stumblin over chairs an' tables and dey sho • • ANTHONY ABERCROUBIB, EX-SLAVE •••••• Susie R.O'Brien W~ • '<. Uncle Ant' ny sat dozing in the early morning sunshine on his rickety front porch. He is a thin little old man with patches of white wool here and there on his bald head, and an expression of kindness and gentle­ness on his wrinkled old face. As I went cautiously up the steps, which appeared none too safe, his cane which had been lean against his chair, fell to the floor with a clatter. Re awoke with a at.art and began f'umbling around for it with his trembling and bony hands. "'Uncle Ant'ny, you dont see so well, do you?" I asked as I recove:ced~ • the stick for him. "No ma'am, I sho dont," he replied. "Ifsin't seed none outen one 0 my eyes in near 'bout sixty years, an de doctor say I got a catalac on de yuther onel but I knows you is white folks. I always is been puny, but I reckon I does purty well considerin I I is a hunderd years old.- "Row do you know ~u are that old? " I",inquired of him. Without hes­itation he answered, IfI knows l's dat old 'cause my mistis put it down in de bible. I was born on de fourth day a.nJ I was a full growed man when de war come on in '61. • "ysssum, my mind kinder comes snD. goes, but I can always 'member 'bout slave'y time. Hits de things what happen in dese days dS~S so easy for me to disremember. I b'longed to ars ter Jim Abercrombie. Ris plantation county. When his son, o old 'arse Jim give me to him and he f~tched me to was 'bout sixteen miles north of Karion in Bibb I young Jim) ws' aied, Perry county. "N~m, old msrster didn' go to de war I c~e he was def-! in bofe ears and couldn't see good nut~er. much 'bout me 'cd I was puny like and warn't much was corrupted; he But he didn' care 'count in de field. - -2- ''Ky mistis, iss Lou, was raisin' me up to be a carriage driver, • an' she was jis' as good to me as she could be . She useta dose me up wid castor oil, j imson roo1;; and dogwood tea when I'd be feelin' po'ly, an she'd always take p f r me when Marse Jim get in behind me 'bout somep'n. I reckon lie-' I was a purty worrisome nigger in dem days; always gettin' in some kind of mischief. "0 yassum, I useta go to meetin'. Us niggers dido' have no meetin' house on de plantation, but Marse Jim 'lowed us to build a bresh arbor. Deh two years atter de surrender I took considerationfand jined up wid de Lawd. Da~s how come I live so long. De Lawd done told me, 'Antn' y, you got a hun&l d an~ twenty miles to trabel. Dat mean you gwine to live a hunder an twenty years, if you stay on de straight an' narrow road. But if you dont, you gotter go jes' de same as all de yuthers I It. "tel.l:.me something about your master's slaves and his overseers" • I asked o~ h1lil• "Well" he said, arse Jim had 'bout three hunderd slaves, had one mighty bad overseer. But he got kil1.ed down on de bank of de creek one night. Dey never did find out who ki1.1.ed him, but Marse Jim always b'lieved de field han's done it. 'Fore dat us niggers useta go down to de creek to wash ourselves, but atter de overseer got killed an' One day he turn on Marse Jim had some • on de plantation 7too. 7 trouble wid a big double-jinted nigger named Joe. arse Jim wid a fence rail", and Karse Jim had to pUll his gun down dar, us ,jes' leave off dat washin', 'cause some of 'em seed de overseer's hant down dar floatin' over de creek. 1 -Dar was another hant kill him. el1., dat happen in a skirt of woods whar I get my lightwood what I use to start a fire. One day I went to dem seme woods to get went some 'simmons. Another nigger ~wid me, and he clumb de tree to shake ,. • • -3- de 'simmons down whilst I be pickin' 'em uP.tr/ 'Fore long I heared another tree shakin '[)every time us shake oui tree, dat other tree ( shake too, and down come de 'simmons from it. I say to myself, 'dats ~ Joe, 'cause he likes 'simmons too' Den I grab up my basket and holler to de boy in de tree, 'nigger turn loose ant!.drap dOVlIl from dar, lUl<L ketch up wid me if you c~ I's l,eavin' here right now, 'cause Old Joe is over dar gettin' 'simmons too. "Den another time I was in de woods choppin' lightwood. It was 'bout sundown, an..t every time my ax go 'whack' on de lightwood knot, I hear another whack 'sides mine. I stops and lis'ens anti-dont hear nothin'. Den I starts choppin' eg'in, and 88'in I hears de yuther whacks. By dat time my old houn' dog was crouchin' at my feets, wid de hair standin' up on his back and I couldn' make him gH up nor bUdge. "Dis time I didn' stop for nothin , • I jes' drap my ax right dar, an' me ani. dat houn' dog tore out for home lickety split. When us get dar arse Jim was settin' on de porch, an' he say: 'Nigger, you been up to somep'n you got no business. You is all outen breath. me is choppin' in yo' woods, an' I cant see him. ' ho you runnin' from?' Den I say; , Marse Jim, somebody 'sides And. Marse Jim, he say; 'All, dat sin' t nobody but Old Joe. Did he owe you anything?' An' I say; 'Yasssh, he owe me two-bits for helpin' him shuck corn.' 'Well', Marse Jim say, 'dont pay him no mind; it j es' Old Joe come back to pay you. ' -Any how, I didn' go back to ~ have de two-bits what he owe me, dam woods no mo'. Old Joe can j es' dont 'cause Ilwant him follerin' 'round atter me. When be do I can't keep my mind on my bizness." W.F.J. 7-27-37 - • • Susie John 5" ,..­~? :, R. O'Brien, organ Smith Dncle Tom Baker > A Slave's Story aho '.,/'1 I recollects about de slabery days," said Uncle ~om as he .. itteed snavings from a soft~piece of white pine. "I lived ~ on a plantation down in Perry County an' I remembers a story bout a 1 day ong, an' I hauda carry many a bucket somp'n dat happen to me " was a water boy a way back dar." for fifty fiel? han's da t WOr1lil!in de sun fum de spring~dat / spring cool down cJ,Q,u. De of de spring an' let de water trickle mos' of dem wuz workin' . between some willow trees an' it wuz powerful ...1 I usta lie on de moss an' let ~ my bare belly git cool an' put my face i"n de outlet in de shade. over my haid. Jus' about de time I gits a little res' one of dem \niggerS would call; .ater Boy! Bring dat bucke~~en I grab up de bucket an' run back out in de hot sun." "One day, on my las' trip, I uz migho/tired _ an' I flop down on dat moss wid de sweat a drip in' from my body, an' 'fo' I knowed ~ ) it I done fell slap to sleep. ',hen I oke up It vr T almoS dark, ;.> (I an' I couldn't hear de slaves a-singin' in de fiel's)so I knowed oat dey had gone home. I shake my haid, an' lOOK about me, an' my eyes came to res' on a little black bear cub a -dr1nkin' outen made little - wanted C/ He ain't :,seed me a ........ settin' dar, so I snuk ~ ~ up real cautious like, an' a~fore he knowed it I had dat litLle dat little bear. de spring. He sho was a cute littl~ an' I u~ my mind right den to try an' kotch him. I wuz jus' a nigger 'bout ten year old ~~ didn't have no sense~but I sho . '- ()- I debil a squelin in my han's. I wuz jus' about to start home wid him, when i hears a ru;rtli~ in de bushes an afore I went ten feets, here come a big)black bear a-lO~Pin' along raght outen dem wil ow trees. I drop dat little critter kaze I knowed dat dis wuz his mammy an' she wuz'travin' mad. V,hen I let de litLle must hurt him spmp'n awful kaze he howl mo' dan eber, an' went a limpin' v up to his mammy. ell, suh, dat ole woman she got so mad she made empty fiel' an' cawn~HUrry A biggest nig"er I knowed she wuz a gainin' on me so I bear kotched me. fo' me ~ lak two bolts of lightnin', but dese here feets of mine begin a.-...-.doin' dere stuff . lets out a whoop for help. ~e chased ~ss aat 'bout dat time 1 seen big Jim a comin' thrf... a row of ? t '- ?Y " Big Jim I calls a bear is atter me. Big Jim wuz de ) ) on our place. tie must have .. weighed as much as a half a bale ~ ,~ , of cotton. I ~ jus 'oout gittin' to de~ge of de Cawn when dat maar 1\ He give me a slap wid his paw an' I goes down wid up dat bear my ~ But my eye aroun' an' I saw big a hot iron on my mouf a scoopin' up de dus' • y back felt like sombody done putt W'O-'O ~ ~t'""M I ~ it. Dat bear~ I, expectin' r t:V Jl ...... to chf-Y> me up an' I in a knot and IUvered my haid wid my hands an' wai ted. C. neber touch me agio'. I kinda snuk ~(j " Jim havin'it out wid . Jim, he had a long knife an' dey wuz a-tumblin' an' a-rollin' in de dust, while I sot dere wid my eyes a poppin' outen my haid an' my back feelin' like it ~roke. Jim he wrap his legs roun' aat bear an' fore you knowed i~he had done stuck up an' Jim he looked like he aone mess up wid a fambly of back I was ~ me an' Jim a_walk1n A cawn fiel' an' I guess we l~okea a sight, kaze About fifteen minutes later critter a dozen times wid dat knife. de /'. tore ole \ all dat wildeats. He wuz b eedin' fum haid to foot. ,hen we walkea into 1a811 R. O'Br1u, Ualoll'<lwn, .u~. un11 8.. lli4'u a t t liUll 014 IOIII!II\ bro .1 I i. 10 • ,,1\h uUl e .t &I I wb10h ot e1 t:r-tin. 8h 411 14.ted oahln wb10h n.U ln ot tl"l • b7 thl d4e ot the raUro ple • ot rul\:r tln ot • root 1. patohl4 wi • I be 11" it be a ~1.. t, u4 41, , annll,' I .ald, 'aren't ,ou atrat4 to l1Y rl alone" Aln't nob047 pinl bother .. on't lie 'roI1n' llepn on ral"7 nlghh, I all:rOll t to 40 11 'Lawd haYI _n,1 want here... 4 4e, go ' • ., d le..,1 :FOU 'lonl. • bow I'. glUin' prlU, 014 and I .on' t be here 10 ah r 10 I JII' I well Itert gittln" &lnted w14 4 J.rU•. ' , III e 10 tng about :rour 1t d, ur rami1" llannll,' I lal4. 'Dire aln't othln' ah to till 'OIP I w born 1n alaY', till • I •• 'bout twe1YI ,Iar 014 ln Il ,P plantation 1;0 Jel' Q 41 al I oJ • or t IIIII 4atl In • t I alp tlon 00 • rl, DI, born. I' Ion, t111aa I ln 41 • 014 Ill. wou14 lind to ton all 4e I 1'1 Inti 1 I, to I;oh to I t to dl • I 't rllU 'b t dl w '01]) 41 tlnh d de bwa hllli I 00 la' • I I" littll 4 • u1 't do but I laited on alii L1a'be\h, 1•• w \ted on table, tot battll ° I' doh like • 0 ..•.. I 40 It ow no\h1n' 'tall 'bout dl pattirollir. or dl 1t1 1t1wter. bu' I know all 'bo , de 0 nJI.. o 10 ln b wn TOU'll n ..b a -2- 4oo'or.. De1 aho' kiD tix 70U. De7);J.n hlto 10' canor or JO .'0 ln' tap and 4rap 1t ln runnln' ...'or 0 70 run de re.' ot 70' Uto. 7OU'll be In.. 1UT1 all de '1_. and lt 4 1 en. hol' t .. pl.08 ot de 88'" ot 70' ar.-'. 401 epr1n1tle. a 11"18 burn. U den 70 0 "ne.or eo' 40 ln n pe oe. Yo .le.' 11 70U ..Uln' on ooal ot ~lah "111 70U gn.o bo4T '0 'alte 4e.-pell tton 7OU.- - annie ere 1 gled h n ~e •• oyer 4 70U were tree'- - 1; I er 'bou' In' treo' DUn" 014 'or YO ue plon'1 o-pln '0 • , 010'. .oar' In ed on de pl.... , Uo 'Ull I 'led. 01 Mle el • O .. bI'ow" drI. 4 ba'. _011 4a' drI.. pu' .. In do 0 "'1"1, lt 70 11.0 ln 40 OOWl'1"1'- "Marr1 ln brae 70u'll Ihe ou' or 'ow,,'- I quo'ed. "Da'. r oe &1n', -.0 _'.., I &1n'\ WI • I ... hi. tout .ito• I ro u. no oh111Wl. bu' Bre4tl.14 h ploll1;7 41ed 'bod ~o rear and he done .1 .14 a ln' , • 14 all 40. w1un. \0 nac hi.. Do Blblo aq .' n on Copr, 8/18/37• • L. a• • Susie R. 0 I Brien, ' Uniontown, Ala. ;."''"\ ).. ,-rv" AUNT TILDY COLLI S, Ex-Slave. -1? "Aunt Tildy" CoJ.lins who lives in "Rabbit Yard," a egro section of Uniontown is black rna , a talkative old soul running over with tales of slavery time. In front of her one-room cabin is a neat I found her nodd-and boiling vegetabe of vegetables and flO~S enclosed by a fence. her small front porc~ ~he scent of wood smoke -- ing on garden issued fr~ ~he cabin door where an iron pot, hanging from a hook in the fireplace sent forth clouds of steam and a most appetizing odor. As the . >- ga e squ~~ed ~nt Tildy awakened with a start, "Come in/white folks, ah ... r:: wur Jes' a aetin' heah waitin' fer mah greens ter bile an ah musta drappeu ~ off t"Qo slee~. "Yas ma'am, ah shot was bawn in slave't time an' ah wish ter Gawd ah could git now what ah uster hab den. Dem was good times fer de black ) ars dey ter Linde-~ mah '-'~-- - I. iss L·andy. Bof' folks. Ah was bawn on a big plantation near 'bout marster was ole man Dick Harris an' mah mistis was ~, sons fit in de 7ar~I'Mars Dick had a big house an' dat same house is ~tan'in' dtre rat now. Us had Plenty1:£r eat an' plenty ~ weah. 1:i> Dick was good'" his aiggers. ah mammy an' daddy bof~'longed ter him. ~ ~ Dar as a slave yahd in Uniontown an' eve'y time de specerlaters come ~ J~ A Lars Dick bought fo' er five niggers'ff He got mah Daddy outen de slave yahd, de spec~rlaters had drive 'em all de way lum oth C~lina Jes' ~~ ~ ~C( a pack 0' mules. ~Sometime a wo'thless, no'count nigger would take it inter his haid to run away but de oberseer would git de houn's an track him do~ ~ey would fotch him in nex' maunin' all tuckered out an' he'd be glad t:P stay home fer a Spell.1f1J'n nights fer de barkin' 0' de dawgs. .ars Dick had a good oberseer7toon wan'tno quality like ars'l Dick an' :iss '"andy but he as a good, kin' ~a an' us didn't had no trouble on de plantation. Dey allus give us a big Chris'mus. A Chris'mas tree wif presents on it fer sve'y body in de '. lab •• O'II'l... L__ ,_. D-. A. 0.., Ul\'I'. 1JI tbe .epoo ...Un of VJl1..town, lMal.lT b_.. b1IU YaJoA' (ft..wd b7 th••epoo•• t ••1... " 11••• 'AuK' ~1147' 00111ft., a 1IJplea1 'blaolt ~' of orthodox tJP" Sh. 1. a talkaU.. 014 wwl, I'IIJUI1nc 0••1' with l1a.er:r tal.. &lid p.dl)' bwl...4 b1 a ride range of ao4f1&1a­tano.. dong both rao... AUhoqh .1ght)'-follr ._ra ha•• palled "WI' her .now-white huA, AaIl' ~1lA7" wplr1t 1. unoonqu.red b1 '1•• and her ph)"l..l aoUn')' 1. 'rul)' rwaarltabl. for her ag.. 1M do•• her OWR holl.eworlt and oar•• for her h without ul1.tane.. III troRt of her OB~ ro....blR 1. a 11M' gardeR of. .table. &114 flower. oo.blRed, wi'h .­1.- «101'1•• tralRed oarwtllllT 0..1' the feno. nwarlT all he war are1lJl4. b_ 1. a 'arlng ln the Iou'h, that ooUon will grow beU.r for a .epoo than for an)' other rao., and Dl. alght WIll be .xtended to lnelll4e "I'll­lng- glorl•• ln Auat ~ll47" oa••; .1no. non. ln UnlO111:own are ~lt••• fln. 111 gJ'e)fth OJ' bJ'll11ano. of ooloring. LU. lIurlT all old .esroe" AaR' ~1147 gon to l1.ep YII')' ..a41lT. Sh.... doslng ln • roelt.r Oft her nall ponh, while the .o.n' of woo4 • olt. and the odor of boll1nc .egetabl.. 1.ned fr_ the ..bln. All 1I'ca pot, haIIg1ng f1'OII a oran. ln the tlnpla••, ••ft4111g fOJ'1:h 0101141 of "", and an app.Ullng are... 1M ol1llg' to old fa.hioMel 1q\l1p...' and 411­4& ln. a .100•• tor oooltll1g. Her ~lled' "C.tabl•• 01' ••d. 1 n the hanc­lng pot, rith baited potato.. and 'po... ' bnad tro. the ...n aaIt. lIP a ••&1 that le•••• 11Ule to be de.lr.d a' ..n1 'It.it0.. wbo ha•••bared her repuh WIn bow. AI the gat••~.aIte4, AlInt ~1l41 ." It. with a .tart and ••alle. 'Ooa. lR, whit. folb, I ... J'" a-••tt1ll' here walUR' for IQ' pHR' to bll1, an' I ••ta dl'apped ott to l1.ep. ", down 111 dd oheer . • •• - 2 - • rlght dar, an' tek ott )'our hat; )'ou lho' 11 100:t1n' Yell, .n' I' .. prouel to I" )'ou. , , I lbo' ... born.d ln .lay.r)' t~l, an' I n.b to Claw I oould glt no. . a uI.ter hab d.n, '0.11. d "al ood tl.1 tor d. blaok tol:tl. Pel. trl. nlgg.rl don't 0" 1Itlat 'UI to be tult noel k.er a-J, p'l1bot• I a eplo'later • t.r .... good to all hi n1 1'1, an' a)' to hia. D.)' "AI a 11& -)'aJ'd 1 n Unionto./l, an' IY')' 1:1 lOa' .. I .ean. dat! I ••• born.d on a big plantatlon near 'bout to Lind.n, an' fA)' 0,.. llarlter AI nlUle Ha1'rll, )'aleua. Dlok Harr1••m fA)' 01. Kl1tl1 al 111 d)'. Botl dl)' bO)'1 flt ln de wah••n' I '.e.b.r. when d.)' "Int ott nd de 10J re, ,ole II1IU. Ih. 01'7 an' el•• bo)'1 an' 1t1.1 '. goodb)'., an' dl)' I gone a 10 Uae. I ... a l ..tle gal "henet dl)' ".nt to de wah, an' I "a. aOl' • '0 1Ib n d.)' 00 bo e, an' 'dl)' botl had 1Ih1lker.. You a..~lCbard he l1l11Pln' an' look might)' pall, 'dl)' lay hi blln "ounded an' Ita)' ln rl.on on lIuter Johnlon'l 18land, tu UII up dl rlbber; but Karl. Wl1111, he look all rlght. 'olpln' '1Ib1Iker.. Ole .ter had a blg hoUI•• an' dat 1&11. hou.. tand1n I dar rlgh n w. UI d plent)' to at an' len)' to ..Iar. an' dat'. ac'n 1Itlat 4tJ~ tollt. got now. I Ole I , • bu)' tour or fly. nlggarl, .0'lat.r bru hi_ an' a nel a lot or new n 199.r.. 011 arl.r hi ~ an' dat'l how hi 00 l1bu)' a)' papp)', atter de "hole p••••l ot nigglrl rr orth C'llne. 011 Marlt.r, h.r al born hil'n • •- )' h.re • d;y 'lone to ISom.tl •• no 'oount n1gg.r te an' runned 61'••71 but de ob.r­I. eI'. b. p \1t d. boun'. on he traok, an' el.)' run hia up a tr ., I dl oberl••r rotoh him baok nex' wnln', all tuck.r.d cut, an' b. glad to It.'1 ho • for a .p.ll "hay. h••• ·t. 01. It.r had a good ob.r••er, too. 'CO'I • wan't no qY&l1t)', la:t 01. 1.1' an' Ole 1l11tll, but bl • - de R. 0' r1 n, Unlont wn, .llab • • p" .at n th ••p. ot h.r at er aten, the T1I a of ."01"" to her I I cab1n, dI.Ip11oa e of th. Un1 ntown, and look.d 40& n. that aate w, nted 11tU. ..-rtlr of 04 when • e 11.ld 1n I ere 4e log oa In••treto e a. far a. ,.ou oould ••e 1n dl .1aTe qua'ter•• " I 1t1 er .1 t,.-.'T ,. are, latherlne e., • o eTerT-on. a. I a,· 0 e a. • ,. to her tll17 rob I her ro n 14 ( e It. led r 1,. at h r InterT1 r and .eat. lelt 110w1)". , , ne,., 1 oan tell ,.0\1 'n n)"thl you t to 'bo t 1 t1gh , 'oa'.1 1 b a 10n. t1 e,' .h. an h r .t<")r,.. "De,. atn't ,. let' to ,.11 'bou d dUI. ,. ". an' ,. wa. P t 1" , Llnea an' u 1 elonged to ,Frank: and 11. arab Llne•• I a n on e" lantat10n the Uea le ' 150 0 4e" t.11. • "I b n 1: l' 1 .tl11 t -1 t.etl•• an' ha'r lef'." 1 her "h .d I o lapl ., a hio , tI t n atl,. in ° Iq are • zen. of 11 tte pl 1t1, 4 wit of twine, Ju. a. er halr 4 a 1n the .laTe quartlr etore he ar, d rn 4 h r lead. e ..t wlt unCOT 1" h a un I1nkl In the r1 t June un hlne, ••he ook up the tale t er health. "I •••• rlt., 10od, to, u I'••G h 1 aln't abl. to toe _.,. 'f' n' a. p rt • 1 u.et r. lIt w • d1tt'rant ok 1n ea dal. t 1"10 White • 10 a In. 1n 4. quarter. o uld • I. Mar a •,. • n, pl nt,. t n1 arah I - ~. , ara ,t1 In e 11 r • to •. D,. ran' .,. Je.' a. tar a. to • blac tol., too. - - - - Attar 4a war • oYar 1 • ayad on 4a Linaa' plaoa 't all attar 1 'la4, an' 01' Kl•• gln a aT wad41n' •• an' a 10 .111 40 to • 'When u. ,b1Uun ln 41 uart r. wa 414 a _1 ht7 lot ot playln' • U. u ta pla7 'lldl a a., ulayl a Whole 1 t. U, wou14 hol' han', an' 'roun' ln a r1 ,gtttln' ta.tlr an' ta'tar an' de 'llhat tall down wa' outa 4a gaml. , 7 7 wu ad ln da Blg Bou.., a.plnnln' an' anu..ln' aa wh1ta oallad her laok lt .a, ya,tl44y. w1d har al,t r, an' wh1l,t a at Allan, bupp d -"I oh1llun. All ot de .' Ah I blr, na tb1ng J'" .ant to ' U, fJ)e opoU,) to n,l' ,ha • re iona dl 0 a .. r, t by da 1 0 .t har baok 'twIll dl load runned out. 111.. arab a ad aok an' tun' 1tout, tha ... da 44.. Whita la47 1 eber • • aa obar'ler, an' • .ay I 'Allan, 'llhat "Iou an by whu pl You know 1 don't aUo. "IOU to taoh ar hou.e "rYan •• ' She Jer her drl.. down an' .t.a-, dere lookln' 11ke a ,0Jer 91d h r wh1 • 'h ldere .hin1n' laok 'a no. , ,ha ,.yl 'I druthlr ..a d.. II&l'Q on '6! 'boulder' dan to ee, ' •• n 'e. D., ,ouldn't hurt _I no wu.,.' t otten plaoe. Don' Dan 'r:t earl 'All n, teo yurt b17 an' y 1a~lundown t, oh you hara. '0 ha lat'. Ifa waan't notb1n' but t. rae nobow.' ., I' aat .11ant t r a t1me a' • e reoalled t a nelon or 111.. Sarah et 41 'lnal17 ba turnld t and regal ln her 41. 1I'al ot tha oTlr.. 91th an abrll t han I at aubJI t. • 'Rona7' 11 "IOU a Chr1lt1anT' • e a. ad aarnutl,. , hop.. "IOU le, 'oa'ea you 11 to t1n. 100 n' tor to go to 11. I b'lo • to de Ba u.' Churo , an' dey alle aMa 'ca', l' ~I 80t ar at dl churoh. I 10... to el da ..' • a ,1 ln ab1 , or a ad .0101, ar bod7 ayl 91t ~ . ~, .,v'Ona- y!u.-c.: -"., ~ ...~ ~ "~i- -' A':v ~ ~ -k-v aN f..,rfL ' -.-v 'aJ ~. _a-- .II: <....0..,...... -~d- ~ ~ IC -' ., ,,__"!'k.:t ~.' f ~ _<-<-·d .a- - t.4, J:n~ ~/kCoo.A-v.~ ~ _ / f ...1"tJ I _M-V a.- ~ ~. .-v ",...,..."""'~ ~!l~~~~. ~-~ l~-~ } ~~-~L~ev~, ~ Z~~. 9'~~ ~ -W~ ~.. 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Mevt-a2 d k ~ -teiV~ oj4-C.-fC~. /jr ..--..v, ,Q-yv~ A;~ . ~ _.t.. ,£ I -+Yv ~tLV ~ :.idt _dtW ,aL l"r'4c.4L _a-vv ~ ~/. ~~ "~/~~a--~;rv-UL ~:.itN~ . f!)..L- . ~ -aF Uti' f!{f;" ~ ,dv ~ ) ~ ~ hJ,.a..-<-v-<......" a '-a- U ~ ~d ' ~~ - -,; ~~/~ .cv~ _. l~kYV/~~4-vv/~J'l 2,J:.t -~ ~ ~_£ tf~. ht-d J:n-..........."..,.......... ~~ot ~ _d<-- 4' ~, ~ ~~ -tk . ., "'J>'V' ~C£ ~ I _ ~a-a ~,;;/ ~ '\1n~... . tU I hK.- -- .z f: -:a.-t d ~ . ~ s4~ ~ h . /b-v ~ ~ct ~-IZ-YV . ~ ~-~-4 ~~I ~ I i.y. ~cU ~ 0' ~ (d maL ~~ _a.b. ~!.vd 4d ..:t.4 -4 --tt-.d/ ~~ ~ Uk ~ MCU-a4 ~d 4J. _Ow' , -U J ~ ~ ~ ~".,..~ ~ _d ~ /l-U.-L ~ ~~ ~J ~b -a.-.-v ~ J '~~ ~ ~a-.-v -t. . '):n I ~ _d I ~ 7- --"v Aid ~a4 .A;a/VY"~...Jt!4 ~.. ~ w ~~~ '. '-Id,A.-~ ~, _tl--vv ~ A- I 'fl4 ,A..U. -~ M--v .....,.....,J, ~ ~ ~ k ~ ~ I'rv J:n~~' UAf ~t4,; -I.-d ~ .........., ~'. ,(Q"h.-v ~ A-;.a.<f' , ~ ~ 1:' l -tv>v' ~a-L -n... -~/r-O~~ r~J. ~ ~ , •• ~U~~d~~:' ~'<2-- ~ -a-v ~ ~~ <.N' ~ ~. e:t ~ fi-.<J ~cL. ~ A-~d, *fy ~ -"fh-"V _4..- ~~I _a-L _~~4~ . ~~. ., ~r '1N'~. ~ ~ _~ rE... .' e-h,a;,..v -",a-UV ~ ,bva;. . -~ :zL, ~_~ ...c/k ~c-£- _<L1oV ;~ ~ ",tv ~ dv ~~ '-J<..''>'Yl..<:.-v.'' J..-yv _tl- ~. "'C/va...~ /1.~U- --4 ~ L a.--d - ",tV -~rl:~ Uwt~ -t .]J-;tt... ~U ~ . • ~J - • • A-7' atv AV·..<.-VV' ~ ~• u... -«-r ,'.Lv ;t'~: ~ ~ _+~d .i:t-v ~ ~ ~~ K...to/' /~ I L II..~.:..- -c..~ ru- -vv~ rk ~ O-tv ~WYv' r ",tv ~ ~ a.-v' 4 .A.-a.-.-..-ot I • Alabama. - r4usie R. O'Brien, '- 'nionto , Alabama. \ 'FIGHTING CAUSED HIS DEMOTION TO'!HE FIELD. Twan' no worry 'bout -... allus had a S-unday kinda' scaroe. De flab. Haywood Ford, a thin bent old Negro ie a familiar figure on the streets of Uniontown, Alabama. He was born in slavery and was about ten years old when peace was declared. 'Uncle Haywood' as he is known about town, took his seat and]thoughtfully scratchirg his woolly gray head; began to tell about 'ole times.' 'Lor,! 'members slavery time like it was yistiddy. My marster was Mr. Catalin Cadem an' my mistiss was Miss Fannie. I was bohn on a plantation 'bout twelve miles below Dayton. I was a bad li'l nigger too. I fit de yudder ohillun in de quarters so w'en I was 'bout eight year ole marster put me in de fiel' for to keep his )j eye on me. Lor' but I was a fouter, and "Uncle Haywood" ohuokled as he thought of his fighting days. 'Marster had a overseer name Gooden, an' you sho had to step lively or you would git a liokin' wid a leather strop. Us li'l niggers was allus glad to see Sunday oome 'oause Miss Fannie driV' 'roun' de quarters in her oyart wid sumpin , good to eat for de ohillun. oloes' in dem days neitherJ 'Sides de work olo'es we C- su~oes wid wooden soles. You see, leather was shoes was made for uS right on de plantation. 'Dem was oitin' times w'en de blue Jaokets oome through. Karster had , 'bout five hunnert bales of cotton stowed~ de big bahn. De blue Jaokets broke de do' down an' sot fiab to de whols thing. Lor', but dat was a ( 'When 'manoipation come, marster tole us, --IOU is free as I is. You can eider go or stay! So we stayed on an' hope him wid his fahm. I been had a right hard time sinoe de surrender.' 'Unole Haywood' earns his living If!p':.id~in' 'roun' in de white folks gahdens." He does not see well and has no t~th· for to chew de oawn-o~e" but he is glad he is ~ee and hopes "dey won't never be no mo' slav~ time •• • • • HEY"OuD FO D TELL" A TOHY usie R. John ",or , "I,hite folks," said Heywood Ford, "I'se gonna tell you a story 'bout a mean oberseer an' 'hut htp\>.meu to U.lll durin' de sllibery days. It all co enced • hen a nigger naued Jake Williams got Ii w uppin' for stayint out atter ae ti~e Gn his ~as3 dore gib )ut. All ae ~ggers on e ~lace hated ue """,.:3 so eaB a.. , ~ useta try to de oberseer "u~ dllll A think up things to izen, hup us for. • •• n • .. ," '.' 1 "One ulornin' ae slaves a lined up i:eady to eat dere breakfas' an' Jake ,i.lliams WliS a pettin' his r.le red-bone hollo'. 'Bout' aat ti.,e de oberseer come up /ill' seed JaKe a p&.ttin' his hullO' an' he say: 'Ni"ger you ain't got time to be NoVi ma}e hi", git. ' Jake tried to ~ e ae ClOg gv t.e dog dian't ,ant to leave Jake. Den de oberse r piCk up a rock an' slam ae aog i de back. De dog he den went a-hQ ~in , off. "Dat .!igl.t JaAe he COllie to my cabin an' he sa. to .ue: 'Hey 00 , I is gonna run a a;r to a free ;l.tate. I airtt a-gonna put u .ia dis r,. treatwent no Ion er. I can't stand Quch wo. ' I , !,ibs him y han,' n' I say: 'JB..b:e, I nopes ou gits aere. a be 1'.1.1 see you azin sOH.etiJle. 1 1\ ~ 'Heywood} ne says, , I . ish Y u'd look atter houn I) B~l.l.e• J Feed her an' K ep her de bes' you kin. She a mig t: good POSSUJJl , an' c on dog. I hates to ,art id her, but I kno s at you is de S bes' pusan I could .leave her • ~. 0. ' . r.n' • i r'-' " aat Jake ~li~ out de do' an' I seed hi", 6- alkin' to ara de . ,amp ao,n de long fu ro~s of' en ,g,. • • u.s.. R. 0' Br1en Uniont.oen. Alaooma Hum Wa r t 'faU:aUT8 en ldt.b rip tru.1 onaou. tig \re of tee ohioken••or a1t.itd t • t pJ.op of over r1p. ut1l oaclt 18 0 , er led 1. Y 1 o. iIl1Tl n t. t.o , 'bout. • • 0.1 oolor olde, lt1nn1a•• l'e:rbe riot., t. 1'1.11. 1n tUll blo • 1 t. Il' tor 10\l.l" • • • I don' 1. I '1n' , t. 01. • 1. o 0 10U 01. auetAr. You know 1t h. 01•• " 1n • orU.• to tolon 1 • toIrn? '!11 Pool 1Il0111. I uto h1Ia.' .' lUll bi. Pool too .a Jatt , .Una Uon oouldn' do no tn' 'boUto her. d titt. tor , tbre. 11t.t.1. • a Jatt 0 d tolon. , d 0 r • erd h. d on our pI to.Uon. .d or ca hor d st. ole I .peo' h. • lotos 0' bi. on ¥ OIl d.. Alab • ,. - , - • I gue•• It. .aa 'ewa he na ao rich••0. don't. "OU b thlnlt1n' h••aa gun ,'oau • h 11' 't. 'h. don. hia t.oo '0 u • he t.ook keel' 0' rlv. widd.ra 'd." ohl11un wh_ de" 8en got. kilt. In d••ar. "Al;T ap>J.Y let' d. nlght. da Y eea welt aa. It. .aa on Sunday, an' I aln't. aaed hi.. &lnce. "Att.el' d .urrender u. at.ll1d on 11'1 t.I1 Il&rse J atr • l1a dldn' t. k ar Dothln' 'bout. be1D' rree 'oause ua had ood t.18ea on de plan Uon. On da;T d " had corn ck1D' a 'de niggera had ••eelt at. Chrls' as Id PI' ent.& tor eve',ybodJ. at. d. hou.e '80' t.o eat. In e da;T den I ee. now In a "e r. "Awlt. Iren." 0 "OU lit. t.he c Jurere 1D old 4 a'" '1 daD't. t. et.o' b" de. rOlke. De" used t.o Ive you de h 'ao "ou could ple... yo' alat.e.. an' dey 1I'Ould ..,11 you hush t.ar 1n a Jug. .at. r II Ju' plain .at. r what. de". tlxed e 1t you dr1nk 1t. you 1I'Ould e qUlet. 'p t1 nt.. De t. U. too Iv. to dey 1I'1v e t.o e'.. hu u. I reckon a e ot de a oul4 be 4 t.o gi.t. e no '0 a des. da;ra la ot. too • ut." R.L.D. 8-1 37 • • • • "It aidn't take dat oberseer long to lin' out ~b.t J" e none run away, an,:; ",nen off atter hi • he didJhe got out de blood houn's ~ '~tart.d It warn't long afore Jake heered dem houn's a howlin' in de aistance. e he was too tired to go sny further. He circled clumb a tree. comin' t%.' ogh his tracks so as to confuse de houns an' den he "" T'warn't long afore he seed de light of de oberseer de oods and de dogs was a gittin' closer an' closer. Finally dey smelled ae tree dat Kake was in an' dey started bark-in' :tow' it. De obersee1f,lif' his lig. tea pine knot in de air so's he could see JaKe. tie say: 'Ni~ger, come on do n fum dere. You done asted 'nutiof our time. , But Jake, he ne er move nor maKe a souna an' all de t e de aogs keppa ho~lin' an' de obersecr kep~a swearin'~'come (" v on dOWO) he say agin; iffen you don't I'se comin' up an' Knock you outen de tree wid a stick.' Jake still he neber oved an' de • oberseer den began to cl(unb de tree. ',hen he got where he on Jake, he raised his foot , ouf, 6Jl' dat •.hite iliaD went a • could almos' reach Jake he swung at stick an' it "tMA.' ,b(..... Jake's leg an' hurt ~..__ J.., an' kicked de oberscr raght in de A tumblin' to lie groun'. ihen he hit de earth dem houn's on him. ~"ake he den 10were~$Self to de bottom limbs so's he could see . t _ had hap ened. He saw de dogs a tearmn' at de man an' he~ holla: 'HoI' '~Bellel' HoI' im ,gall'. De leader of dat pack of houn's , white folks, warn't no blood houn' (; ~he was a plain ~ ~ old red-bone poss~m an' covn dog, an' de res' done jus' lak she done~ tearin' at de oberseer's th'oat. All de hile,Jak~e a-hollerin' f'um de tree fer dem dogs to git 'im. 'Twarn't long afore dem dogs to' dat man a 1 to pieces. He died taght under dat t/ dat he run Jake up. Jake he an' datAhoun' struck of ,oods. If De res' of de pack come home. I seed ake a~er us Nig ers as Ala ma • • 'BOU'f SOIIEPI ,. THEY HAD A Al\ Suale R. O'Brien Unlontown, Al" • Pettersen r-onl Editor John th ls 103 but h doesn't want to b tl d down. "Etren I's rr~e, I wants to 'jOY It,' John ssys. and he 11Tes up to hls desire Though he ls a 'war T ter'n" wlth bUllets ln hls side and leg and bis century or 11re bas enreebled him, he roams the country­slde pout Unlontown contlnuall~ ·.'ttln' a spell" wlth hls ao ualn­tanoes. It was only ar er seT ral trips I rlnally caught hi 'settln',' and he sbo ed no lncllnatl n to moT rrom hls adTSn ag us posltion ne r a wate elon pat h. R was lndustrlouely war lng 0 a huge elloe or elon, his raoe burled ln the ewret frult. a. I drove up to the 11ttle cabln where he wae Tleltlng. As the oar came to a stop he raleed hle head and wlpsd his drlpplng chln on his sleeve. He called to a 11ttle H ro rl ln the yard, 'a 1, go brlng de w~lte lady a rookln' cheer", and turnln to e he sald, 'YOU'll 'ecuse me tor not glt ln' up 18k I aln't t r 110 _nnera, on't you lUst s' I got a mlsPrJ ln my lel • you know de one whar I t shot ln de wsr' Th.. roo ln~ chair was brau ht aut and t8kln a s .. t n rby I sald, "Uncle John, I ant you to tell 8e all about yo rs lr, were you ln the war and are you r ally a hundr d and thr leare old? .Y 'Glad to, glad to .1s~ss, but tust don't you want a water-ml110n1' He polnted to a tch n"arby where the melons gllstened in the s n. 'Dis Jull eun ut ror mo'," and s ..archln e de Jice so 1 th rind to se ..et you'll s c yo' t t he had 1 tt none ot the Julol r d eat, nol" John be n hie story. ell, I b en liTin' 'roun' dese parts 'bout nlnety y ar. I Alaba , - - 2 - e when I waa 'bout thlrteen 7ear ole. was born ao ewbar ln North '1108, I don't 'lie bp.r a 7 an' PapP7 'cauae I waa too 'wa7 trom d b7 de to aell. ch 'bout ~ rI apeoerlatera -l De speo,0(erlaters rals d Nl era el would te~d 'em up an' lt 'em fat and alle and r< moneT on 'em. I waa aold oft de block In'Speoerlater'a GroTe' ln '\ • North Oa'llna. De tUB' dal I ~as put up I dldn't B02d, h t de nex' daT I brung a thouaand dollars. • Saddler mith tram Selma bought e. DBT c~lled hlm Saddler S lth oauae he waB ln de Baddle buslnesB and ade aaddlea for de • DeT fotoh UB down on boat I' ember • an' do d Two apec~rlat~ra \ rater w s d b at e lien on de boat sln e • 7 --- "I 41dn't had no lUati... r lII&rater was a wldder. He leed e up workln' 'roun' de aaddle ahop. I aln't neTer 11ked to work nobow, but don't tell nobod7 dat. I waa bout twentr eeTen 7e r ole when de war broke out. De ole uns waa oalled out f st and de young una atllred homa and prac lced ao dar oould shoot stralght an' kill a Yan ee. Us practloed eY~rr Frldar ev nln'. 0 urse I dIdn't know t dey tlghtln' 'bou I Jes' . nowed dey waa .ad 'bout eo ppln'. Attar whl1e rater'a aon Jl J'lned da " d rat so pra an' I ant wld him or to tote hia nap o. c nt~ nand slo_11ke and to look tter 1. Dat'a when I got deae here 11a ln -r alde and got a de son ---hit go 1111:e cUa: bl1e Rlbb r, , t r one po' 111 nlg~er.· ln dla c untr7. He dldn't had !\ nl er, but he eho' uc good ~eer.o' dem what he did had. e 41dn't 'low nobo~ to hit 'em a 11ct.. Sometime when I would git catch up wld ln aome d1T~rment de whlte folks would aal, 'Whose nl er ls I 70U?' and I sar. ' arae S ddler lth.' D n d T look at e cdr an' aay klnder low, '8 tt r not do n thln' to ole lth'a nl e e'll ratee de debl1.' ( ( AJ..ab8!!Ul , • " - 3 - bullet ln ., lalg, too. I waa ovln' de hawses to de baok or de 11nas out de thlok ot de tlFht when, ~lpp, a mlnlt ball ootoh e right ln da shoulder.' Proudl1 John 41spla1ed the balls ln hls slde and the soar on hls le. The old wo n, at whoae oabln John was vlsltlng, lnter­rupted th star, aeveral tlme~ --(lnal11 he got tlred ot lt and sald: 'Shet 10' mout 'oman, I don't need no hope, 41s le grown tolka t lk, 10U don't know nothin' 'bout lt, 10U wasn't sven blrthed tell two yesI' 'to' de Sur~ender. How whar w~s I at? I slep' rlght b1 Uarsa Jlm's slde. Sometl e atter us done 1ald down and bote ot ua be thlnkln' 'bout home, Warse Jlm sny, 'John I 16k to have some ohlcken.' I don't say nothin' I Jea' ease up an' pull m1 hat down over M1 eyee an' sllp out. Atter while I come baok wld a bunch • a' chlcltens crost my shoulder. Hex' mornln' WarRe Jlm hllve nlce brown ohlcken floatln' ln grab1 what I done cook tor hi. Us waa tlghtln' on Blue ountaln when MArse Jlm got kl1t. I looked and loa ed for hlm but I nevsr did tlnd him. Atter I lost m, mareter I 41dn't 'long to nobodJ and de Yankee's was takln' eve', thlng ( &n1ho, eo dey tuc1[ me wld de • '1 tuck keel' ot ~en'l Wl1 on'a hawae, Gen'l .11s0~ was de head un ln de Yankee a~. But I didn't 11k de1 waya uoh. He wanted hie ha.,. e kep' splck and span. He auld tlllr.e his whlte poc'let ha ercher an' rub over de hawae and lt lt waa 41rt1 he had lie whupped. I waa wld Gen'l Wl1aon hen he tuck Selma 'glna't Gen'l Forreat and aot tlre to all dell thiOFS. I drlv de artillery w gon sometlme. Atter de Surrender I was klnda puny w1d de lla 1n alde.· 10U 'John,' I aSEed,'wh1 were ehot,?' dldn't the1 r move the balla at the tlma Alaballa • • • • - . - • •How oould dey 'moye de b lls when I waB runnin' fast ae I could pick up my tootB' I driY de Btagecoaoh twixt SelllB and ont­gompry. I 'aember my Btope. Dey w s Selma, Benton, Lown'eBboro and Mon'gomery. I driY tour haweeB to it. Dere was a libbery stable at Benton and I obangpd hawsee dere.· ·Now John tell bout y ur wife and children,· I id. •Row ny children did you d-ey runnin' 'roun' de country ~ "G wd, I don't know i.teR9 like ba g dey don' know e an' I don't kno .d", I ain't neyer --- been i'ed. ig r didn't r y in dell dRys. I jee' tuck up wid one likely gal atter anoder. I ain't eyen lIai'ed to de one I got now. I jes' ain~t ine tie lIyse't down. Etten I'B free, I's gwine to be tree.· Unole John sat for a time in deep thought, then said, ·1 wish I ought be back in dem dRys, 'cause Ibn eed de debil since I been free. Atter I was tree I didn't had no marBter to 'pend on and I WaB hongry a heap ot times. I 'long to de'Federate nation and always will 'long to y'all. but I reckon it's jes' aB well we is free 'cauRe I don't b'lieye de white tol B now dayl would make ( !Cod retprB.· lJI:Icle John bad about tal ed out and ae I ro e to leaye I eaid, .T aok you John, thie will aa e a go d story,· to wh1h he replied indignantly, 'Hit aln't no Btory hi '. de Gawd'e trufe •- ete e.· R.L.n. - 7-20-37 2 " -. 'I 'members all 'bout when de Yankees oome,· she said. "Dey wuz jes' ruineration to ds plantation. Dey tuck all de mulss an' cows, den could fin'. Eatin' tell it: sont out an' got all de chickens an' eu s dey d ()) was k1nd~ slack wid us atter dey lef'.' /I Aunt 01 is's life has known romance. Let her • , "I wuz 01' 'nough to be eastin' my eyes 'roun at de young bucks, an' dere wuz a nig~er whut lived on de plantation jinin' our'n whut tuck a shine to me. I lacked dat boy fine, too. "He~uld coms over to ses me ever tims he git a chanct. One night he 'low he ~vins'r ax his marster to buy me so's me an' him could git married. Well, atter dat he didn' come no mo'.~ "I waited an' I watched, but I didn' hear n~in of dat nig~er. Atter 'while I got worried. I wuz 'fraid de/6 ps~llers 1\ done kotch him, or maybe he done foun' some gal he 18k better dan he C- do me. So I begin to 'quirs 'bout him an' foun' dst his marster done sol' him to a white man whut tuck him 'way down yonder to Alabama. W ',ell mam, I grieved fo' dat nigGer so det my heart ~ wuz heavy in my breas'. I knowed I never would see him no mo', Soon atter dat peace was 'clared an' de ni~ ers wuz free to go whar dey pleased. " y folks stoyed on id ~arse Dan fer a year; den dey 'cided to go to Alabama an' farm. We hit it off to Alabama an' I begin to go 'bout some id de young bucks. But somehow I couldn't git my min' off dat other nigGer. , U,b.a - • llYla • t OIl t.ba .t p. ot h.r ••11 bin, ,1' bare t.at. .tor t ad ut ln t.ba 4r:r 4u.t ot th. ".ard. A l&rll, 1101' .t~ ••til.d upon or bro d no.. d U't.er , ent Aunt 11Yla'. 00 o.ur. wa. dl.tur ad to ouah nt nt that eh. .aY d lt ott .1 h.r d. On oln 00 h.r .,y.a o en. d • W II' ap o Chin t • t'PI. a .t 1 t n.4. " a in', 1.- UO. .JUI' ..tUn' • 00011»' ott II.Y tooie. I •• pl , t t' 111' cott n. ," , .tt.er I bad .....d • t •• uo.U a, "I '1" . ' t • al.YeI7 dA1 •• 'Co' .. I c 't b l' Jua' ',aotl,y ho 014 I la, at. , ' '. I t olllabl. S en ••ar .4. IT... ,4'",." /(llol1t"y. 11. allY.. wa. t d.d 1 n, .lI1ael.a1 1, to erepoon. '.PN • erepoOl1. hi t.e t lit. 11y d 111 a - I ••abDon,l to II.Y JI.. , tIr. La , 1:17111. Wi 1Ib1ta h ... • onl)', a , • n•• aUa 1 .re 0 .. .... p'n 1'9''04 dat pl o. JI•••• d1 't. '1_ no 0 ra.r too tot.. n .v 'hln. hia ere. • d.a t .. .td ood • b t b.to' dat. I .tl7.4 in 4e q art.r. t' 00 010 •• K. Ila. bl1.. JI7 JO • a ne had o 11t1.1e a. t. out in bo~. tollt.' , • wh1t./h aa., , nu••ed., • ..ay'a ch11luna, 10' a I ould 11)' 81 011 no inOODYeD.1 no.. I 1 e t. GU. oaad 1» 4e tiel' a. e .ould tl. de Iaall••' on II.Y at. h , t a tU.. tt 4. wb.1ta t a. la .". at.. t. •• a b..' J I 'ber • lat.l. ye a a •• - 2 - • t. lie 111toe oh111un. n. out.-cro.d ' I • • 4. dr •••4-\1 ••t. n1 ,1' 1n de uar\.r. ... .b7ter1 oIIu.' ah.o 1 u. n ere •• • b7 • t.oo. al.l .ent. t.o our 0_ cl1l'ch dat. •• de plao. dar. '14&.., k.p I , p'ck ot 100 ound. but. 1 't. ott.en dat. h. be too u.. ,_ '0.' •• non. ot our n ere .b.r runn. • da.T, « , Mger nail 4 Joe 414 I'W\ "87. B.U.,,... .U., ... 100 • oo'ch' 't' • sot. too d. oraek g d. It. lid.. •• t.111 71' d.. dat. n1 er J .40 in • • 0 ulda" ew1a , Ju,'" 4_ h '. W'...,t..1' a •• 1 b\l' 4'7 •• t.o fit. ' ° •• 0 .. • ,11 7 1n I , , 4. p1n t' an't. ••• • t.o.. I' me non., '0 ' •• I 'I '1. t. ,,,a ,t.',r 4. I .U., I bay. no I'.t.~ dr••• t.o It. ma'l.d In. X ."1 da' 01. , 41J'~ • I' dr... ,.". t.". Wat b • Ju.' 11k d.y 1. now. t18lP'e4 dat. 1ft h. 1 "I' ,h. 1ay,d • Ju.' , ••,11 in bar, t ••,. .. ul .1d aho.. • I •• I bell". 1n .U.., 0 loa.. I dOD It. " w, a_ w14 a v.U 7' t • lak I W ." '. X .. o.t.l•••• p1 a. • t. n.. I'll , • dat. c.. • 1. t • ' 1 • 1'a1n.T n •••• 4 1 wl11t.. h1a. H' 0 1•• a blg 11 t..o •• lock. JU.' laJt , • It. OIl" bo 4on't. 0 '1' 1t.. IX k••• , flour a1tloer "t ,.". 4 too ke. n \0 .. t' rl41n I •• ow 0. 1 &I',u., 417 r1d.. ., I •••0 '1.re4 1n ••• 1n' I k1n.o cal;r t. outt. •