ROBERT SHEPHERD              0737-GEO/#016                                   009
I JUS' WUKS IN IT SOME EVVY DAY THAT COMES 'CEPT SUNDAYS AND, WHEN YOU KEEPS UP
WID IT  DAT WAY, IT AINT SO HARD.  JUS LOOK 'ROUND YOU]  DON'T YOU SEE I GOT DE
BESTEST BEANS AND SQUASHE 'ROUND HERE, AND DOWN UNDER DEM 'TATER VINES, I KIN TE
LL YOU, DEM ROOTS IS JUST FULL OF 'TATERS.  MY OLD MARSTER DONE LARNT ME HOW TO
GYARDEN.  HE ALLUS MADE US RAISE LOTS OF GYARDEN SASS SUCH AS: BEANS, PEAS, ROAS
'IN' EARS, COLLARDS, TURNIP GREENS, AND INGONS.  FOR A FACT DERE WAS JUS' 'BOUT
ALL DE KINDS OF VEG'TABLES US KNOWED ANYTHING 'BOUT DEM DAYS RIGHT DAR IN OUR MA
RSTER'S BIG OLD GYARDEN.  DERE WAS BIG PATCHES OF 'TATERS, AND IN DEM WHEATFIELD
S US GROWED ENOUGH TO MAKE BREAD FOR ALL DE FOLKS ON DAT DERE PLANTATION.  US SH
O' DID HAVE PLENTY OF MIGHTY GOOD SOMEPIN T'EAT.     I WOULD AX YOU TO COME IN A
ND SET DOWN IN MY HOUSE TO TALK,BUT I DON'T 'SPECT YOU COULD CLIMB UP DEM DERE R
OCKS TO MY DOOR, AND DEM' ALL DE STEPS I GOT.  IT'S SHADY AND COOL ON MY PORCH,
AND PA'S DONE BEEN ADIGGING IN HIS GYARDEN SO LONG HE'S PLUM TUCKERED OUT; HE NE
EDS TO SET DOWN AND REST.     IWAS BORNED ON MARSTER JOE ECHOL'S PLANTATION IN O
GLETHORPE COUNTY, 'BOUT TEN MILES FROM LEXIN'TON, GEORGY.  MAMMY WAS CYNTHIA ECH
OLS 'FORE SHE MARRIED UP WID MY DADDY.  HE WAS PEYTON SHEPHERD.  ATTER PAPPY AND
 MAMMY GOT MARRIED, OLD MARSE SHEPHERD SOLD PAPPY TO MARSE JOE ECHOLS SO AS DEY
COULD STAY TOGETHER.     MARSE JOE, HE HAD THREE PLANTATIONS, BUT HE DIDN'T LIVE
 ON NONE OF 'EM.  HE LIVED IN LEXIN'TON.  HE KEPT A OVERSEER ON EACH ONE OF HIS
PLANTATIONS AND DEY HAD BETTER BE GOOD TO HIS NIGGERS, OR ELSE MARSE JOE WOULD S
HO' GIT 'EM 'WAY FROM DAR.  HE NEVER 'LOWED 'EM TO WUK US TOO HARD, AND IN BAD O
R REAL COLD WEATHER US DIDN'T HAVE TO DO NO OUTSIDE WUK 'CEPT EVVYDAY CHORES WHA
T HAR TO BE DONE, COME RAIN OR SHINE, LAK MILKIN', AND TENDING DE STOCK, FETCHIN
' IN WOOD, AND THINGS LAK DAT.  HE SEED DAT US HAD PLENTY OF GOOD SOMEPIN T'EAT
AND ALL DE CLOTHES US NEEDED.  US WAS LOTS BETTER OFF IN DEM DAYS DAN US IS NOW.
     OLD MARSTER, HE HAD SO MANY NIGGERS DAT HE NEVER KNOWED'EM ALL.  ONE DAY HE
 WAS ARIDIN! 'LONG TOWARDS ONE OF HIS PLANTATIONS AND HE MET ONE OF HIS SLAVES,
NAMED WILLIAM.  MARSE JOE STOPPED HIM AND AXED HIM WHO HE WAS.  WILLIAM SAID: "W
HY MARSTER, I'SE YOUR NIGGER.  DON'T YOU KNOW ME?"  DEN MARSTER, HE JUS' LAUGHED
 AND SAID: "WELL, HURRY ON HOME WHEN YOU GITS WHAT YOU IS GWINE ATTER."  HE WAS
IN A GOOD HUMOR DAT WAY MOST ALL DE TIME.  IKIN SEE HIM NOW ARIDIN' DAT LITTLE H
OSS OF HIS'N WHAT HE CALLED BUTTON, AND HIS LITTLE FICE DOG HOPPIN' 'LONG ON THR
EE LEGS RIGHT SIDE OF DE HOSS.  NO MA'AM, DERE WARN'T NOTHIN' DE MATTER WID DAT
LITTLE DOG; WALKIN' ON THREE LEGS WAS JUS' HIS WAY OF GITTIN' 'ROUND.     MARSTE
R NEVER LET NONE OF DE SLAVES CHILDREN ON HIS PLANTATION DO NO WUK 'TIL DEY GOT
FIFTEEN - DAT WAS SOON 'NOUGH, HE SAID.  ON ALL OF HIS PLANTATIONS DERE WAS ONE
OLD 'OMAN DAT DIDN'T HAVE NOTHIN' ELSE TO DO BUT LOOK ATTER AND COOK FOR DE NIGG
ER CHILLUN WHILST DEY MAMMIES WAS AT WUK IN DE FIELDS.  AUNT VINEY TUK KEER OF U
F US.  SHE HAD A BIG OLD HORN WHAT SHE BLOWED WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR US TO EAT, AN
D US KNOWED BETTER DAN TO GIT SO FUR OFF US COULDN'T HEAR DAT HORN, FOR AUNT VIN
EY WOULD SHO' TEAR US  UP.  MARSTER HAD DONE TOLD HER SHE BETTER FIX US PLENTY T
'EAT AND GIVE IT TO US ON TIME.  DERE WAS A GREAT LONG TROUGH WHAT WENT PLUM 'CR
OSS DE YARD, AND DAT WAS WHAR US ET.  FOR DINNER US HAD PEAS OR SOME OTHER SORT
OF VEG'TABLES, AND CORNBREAD.  AUNT VINEY CRUMBLED UP DAT BREAD IN DE TROUGH AND
 POURED DE VEG'TABLES AND POT-LIKKER OVER IT.  DEN SHE BLOWED DE HORN AND CHILLU
N COME ARUNNING FROM EVVY WHICH WAY.  IF US ET IT ALL UP, SHE HAD TO PUT MORE VI
CTUALS IN DE TROUGH.  AT NIGHTS, SHE CRUMBLED DE CORNBREAD IN DE TROUGH AND POUR
ED BUTTERMILK OVER IT.  US NEVER HAD NOTHIN' BUT CORNBREAD AND BUTTERMILK AT NIG
HT.  SOMETIMES DAT TROUGH WOULD BE A SIGHT, 'CAUSE US NEVER STOPPED TO WASH OUR
HANDS, AND 'FORE US HAD BEEN EATIN' MORE DEN A MINUTE OR TWO WHAT WAS IN DE TOUG
H WOULD LOOK LAK DE RED MUD WHAT HAD COME OFF OF OUR HANDS.  SOMETJMES AUNT VINE
Y WOULD FUSS AT US AND MAKE US CLEAN IT OUT.  DERE WAS A BIG SAND BAR DOWN ON DE
 CRICK WHAT MADE FINE PLACE TO PLAY, AND WADIN' IN DE BRANCHES WAS LOTS OF FUN.
 US FROLICKED UP AND DOWN DEM WOODS AND HAD ALL SORTS OF GOOD TIMES - ANYTHING T
O KEEP AWAY FROM AUNT VINEY 'CAUSE SHE WAS SHO' TO HAVE US FETCHIN' IN WOOD OR S
WEEPING DE YARDS IF US WAS HANDY WHAR SHE COULD FIND US.  IF US WAS OUT OF HER S
IGHT SHE NEVER BOTHERED 'BOUT DEMYARDS AND THINGS.  US WAS SKEERED TO ANSWER DAT
 HORN WHEN US GOT IN MARSTER'S 'BACCO.  HE RAISED LOTS OF 'BACCO AND RATIONED IT
 OUT TO MENS, BUT HE NEVER 'LOWED CHILLUN TON HAVE NONE 'TIL DEY WAS BIG ENOUGH
TO WUK IN DE FIELDS.  US FOUND OUT HOW TO GIT IN HIS 'BACCO HOUSE AND US KEPT ON
 GITTING HIS 'BACCO 'FORE IT WAS DRIED OUT 'TIL HE MISSED IT.  DEN HE TOLD AUNT
VINEY T  BLOW DAT HORN AND CALL UP ALL DE CHILLUN.  I'SE GWINE TOWHUP EVVY ONE O
F 'EM, HE WOULD 'CLARE.  ATTER US GOT DERE AND HE SEED DAT GREEN 'BACCO HAD DONE
 MADE US SO SICK US COULDN'T EAT, HE JUS' COULDN'T BEAT US.  HE JUS' LAUGHED AND
 SAID:  "IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU."     AUNT MARTHA, SHE DONE DE MILKIN' AND HEL
PED AUNT NANCY COOK FOR DE SLAVES.  DEY HAD A BIG LONG KITCHEN UP AT DE BIG HOUS
E WHAR DE OVERSEER LIVED.  DE SLAVES WHAT WUKED IN DE FIELD NEVER HAD TO DO DEIR
 OWN COOKIN'.  IT WAS ALL DONE FOR 'EM IN DAT BIG OLD KITCHEN.  DEY COOKED SOME
OF DE VICTUALS IN BIG OLD WASHPOTS AND DERE WAS SHO' A PLENTY FOR ALL.  ALL DE C
OOKIN' WAS DONE IN BIG FIREPLACES WHAT HAD RACKS MADE INSIDE TO HANG POTS ON AND
 DEY HAD BIG OVENS FOR BAKIN', AND THICK IRON SKILLETS, AND LONG-HANDLED FRYING
PANS.  YOU JUS' CAN'T 'MAGINE HOW GOOD THINGS WAS COOKED DAT WAY ON DE OPEN FIRE
.  NOBODY NEVER HAD NO BETTER HAMS AND OTHER ME DAN OUR MARSTER KEPT IN DEM BI
G OLD SMOKEHOUSES, AND HIS SLAVES HAD MEAT JUS' LAK WHITE FOLKS DID,.  DEM COOKS
 KNOWED DEY HAD TO COOK A PLENTY AND HAVE IT READY WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR DE SLAVE
S TO COME IN FROM DE FIELDS.  MISS ELLEN, SHE WAS DE OVERSEER'S WIFE, WENT OUT I
NDE KITCHEN AND LOOKED OVER EVVYTHING TOSEE THAT IT WAS ALL RIGHT AND DEN SHE BL
OWED DE BUGLE.  WHEN DE SLAVES HEARED DAT BUGLE, DEY COME IN ASINGIN' FROM DE FI
ELDS.  DY WAS HAPPY 'CAUSE DEY KNOWED MISS ELLEN HAD A GOOD DINNER READY FOR 'EM
.     DE SLAVE QUARTERS WAS LONG ROWS OF LOG CABINS WID CHIMBLIES MADE OUT OF ST
ICKS AND RED MUD.  DEM CHIMBLIES WAS ALL DE TIME KETCHIN' FIRE.  DEY DIDN'T HAVE
 NO GLASS WINDOWS.  FOR A WINDOW, DEY JUS' CUT A OPENIN' IN A LOG AND FIXED A PI
ECE OF PLANK 'CROSS IT SO IT WOULD SLIDE WHEN DEY WANTED TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT.  D
OORS WAS MADE OUT OF ROUGH PLANKS, BEDS WAS ROUGH HOME-MADE FRAMES NAILED TO DE
SIDE OF DE CABINS, AND MATTRESSES WAS COARSE, HOME-WOVE TICKS FILLED WID WHEAT S
TRAW.  DEY HAD GOOD HOME-MADE KIVVER.  DEM BEDS SLEPT MIGHTY GOOD.     DERE WARN
'T MANY FOLKS SICK DEM YS, 'SPECIALLY 'MONGST DE SLAVES.  WHEN ONE DID DIE, FO
LKS WOULD GO TWELVE OR FIFTEEN MILES TO DE BURYIN'.  MARSTER WOULD SAY: "TAKE DE
 MULES AND WAGONS AND GO BUT, MIND YOU, TAKE GOOD KEER OF DEM MULES."  HE NEVER
SEEMED TO KEER IF US WENT - FACT WAS, HE SAID US OUGHT TO GO.  IF A SLAVE DIED O
N OUR PLACE, NOBODY WENT TO DE FIELDS 'TIL ATTER DE BURYIN'.  MARSTER NEVER LET
NOBODY BE BURIED 'TIL DEY HAD BEEN DEAD 24 HOURS, AND IF DEY DIED HAD PEOPLE FRO
M SOME OTHER PLACE, HE WAITED 'TIL DEY COULD GIT DAR.  HE SAID IT WARN'T RIGHT T
O HURRY 'EM OFF INTO DE GROUND TOO QUICK ATTER DEY DIED.  DERE WARN'T NO UNDERTA
KERS DEM DAYS.  DE HOMEFOLKS JUS' LAID DE CORPSE OUT ON DE COOLIN' BOARDS 'YIL D
E COFFIN WAS MADE.  LORDY MISS]  AIN'T YOU NEVER SEED ONE OF DEM COOLIN' BOARDS?
  A COOLIN' BOARD WAS MADE OUT OF A LONG STRAIGHT PLANK RAISED A LITTLE AT DE HE
AD, LEGS FIXED TO MAKE IT SET STRAIGHT.  DEY WROPT 'OMAN CORPSES IN WINDIN' SHEE
TS.  UNCLE SQUIRES, DE MAN WHAT DONE ALL DE WAGON WUK AND BUILDIN' ON OUR PLACE,
 MADE COFFINS.  DEY WAS JUS' PLAIN WOOD BOXES WHAT DEY PAINTED TO MAKE EM LOOK N
ICE.  WHITE PREACHERS CONDUCTED DE FUNERALS, AND MOST OF DE TIME OUR OWN MARSTER
 DONE IT, 'CAUSE HE WAS A PREACHER HISSELF.  WHEN DE FUNERAL WAS DONE PREACHED,
DEY SUNG HARPS FROM DE TOMB, DEN DEY PUT DE COFFIN IN A WAGON AND DRIV SLOW AND
KEERFUL TO DE GRAVEYARD.  DE PREACHER PRAYED AT DE GRAVE AND DE MOURNERS SUNG, I

'SE BORN TO DIE AND LAY DIS BODY DOWN. DEY NEVER HAD NOOUTSIDE BOX FOR D&  &OFF
IN 'FORE DEY STARTED SHOVELLIN' IN DE DIRT.     FOURTH SUNDAYS WAS OUR MEETIN' D
AYS, AND EVVYBODY WANT TO CHURCH.  US WENT TO OUR WHITE FOLKS' CHURCH AND RID IN
 A WAGON 'HIND DEIR CARRIAGE.  DERE WAS TWO BAPTIST PREACHERS - ONE OF 'EM WAS M
ISTER JOHN GIBSON AND DE OTHER WAS MISTER PATRICK BUTLER.  MARSE JOE WAS A METHO
DIST PREACHER HISSELF, BUT DEY ALL WENT TO DE SAME CHURCH TOGETHER.  DE NIGGERS
SOT IN DE GALLERY.  WHEN DEY HAD DONE GIVE DE WHITE FOLKS DE SACRAMENT, DEY CALL
ED DE NIGGERS DOWN FROM DE GALLERY AND GIVE DEM SACRAMENT TOO.   CHURCH DAYS WAS
 SHO' 'NOUGH BIG MEETIN' DAYS 'CAUSE EVVYBODY WENT.  DEY PREACHED THREE TIMES A
DAY; AT ELEVEN IN DE MORNIN', AT THREE IN DE EVENIN', AND DEN AGAIN AT NIGHT. DE
 BIGGEST MEETIN' HOUSE CROWDS WAS WHEN DEY HAD BAPTIZIN', AND DAT WAS RIGHT OFTE
N. DEY DAMNED UP DE CRICK ON SADDAY SO AS IT WOULD BE DEEP ENOUGH ON SUNDAY, AND
 DEY DONE DE BAPTIZIN' 'FORE DEY PREACHED DE THREE O'CLOCK SERMON.  AT DEM BAPTI
ZIN'S DERE WAS ALL SORTS OF SHOUTIN', AND DEY WOULD SING ROLL JORDAN, ROLL, DE_L
IVIN' WATERS, AND LORD I'SE COMIN' HOME.
     WHEN DE CROPS WAS LAID BY AND MOST
OF DE HARDEST WUK OF DE YEAR DONE UP, DEN WAS CAMP-MEETIN' TIME, 'LONG IN DE LAS
T OF JULY AND SOMETIMES IN AUGUST.  DAT WAS WHEN US HAD DE GIGGEST TIMES OF ALL.
  DEY HAD GREAT BIG LONG TABLES AND JUS' EVVYTHING GOOD T'EAT.  MARSTER WOULD KI
LL FIVE OR SIX HOGS AND HAVE 'EM CARRIED DAR TO BE BARBECUED, AND HE CARRIED HIS
 OWN COOKS ALONG.  ATTER DE WHITE FOLKS ATE DEY FED DE NIGGERS, AND DERE WAS ALL
US A PLENTY FOR ALL.  MARSTER SHO' LOOKED ATTER ALL HIS NIGGERS GOOD AT DEM TIME
S.  WHEN DE CAMP-MEETING WAS OVER, DEN COME DE BIG BAPTIZIN'D  WHITE FOLKS FUST,
 DEN NIGGERS.  ONE TIME DERE WAS A OLD SLAVE 'OMAN WHAT GOT SO SKEERED WHEN DEY
GOT HER OUT IN DE CRICK DAT SOMEBODY HAD TO PULL HER FOOTS OUT FROM UNDER HER TO
 GIT HER UNDER DE WATER.  SHE GOT FR OUT FROM DAR AND TESTIFIED DAT IT EAS DE DE
VIL AHOLDIN' HER BACK.     DE WHITE LADIES HAD NICE SILK DRESSES TO WEAR TO CHUR
CH.  SLAVE 'OMANS HAD NEW CALICO DRESSES WHAT DEY WORE WID HOOPSKIRTS DEY MADE O
UT OF GRAPEVINES.  DEY WORE POKE BONNETS WID RUFFLES ON 'EM AND, IF DE WEATHER W
AS SORT OF COOL, DEY WORE SHAWLS.  MARSTER ALLUS WORE HIS LINEN DUSTER. DAT WAS
HIS WHITE COAT, MADE CUTAWAY STYLE WID LONG TAILS.  DE CLOTH FOR MOST ALL OF DE
CLOTHES WAS MADE AT HOME.  MARSE JOE RAISED LOTS OF SHEEP AND DE WOOL WAS USED T
O MAKE CLOTH FOR DE WINTER CLOTHES.  US HAD A GREAT LONG LOOM HOUSE WHAR SOME OF
 DE SLAVES DIDN'TDO NOTHIN' BUT WEAVE CLOTH.  SOME CYARDED BATS, SOME DONE DE SP
INNIN', AND DERE WAS MORE OF 'EM TO DO DE SEWING.  MISS ELLEN, SHE LOOKED ATTER
ALL DAT, AND SHE CUT OUT MOST OF ED CLOTHES.  SHE SEED DAT US HAD PLENTY TO WEAR
.  SOMETIMES MARSTER WOULD GO TO DE SEWIN' GOUSE, AND MIS'TRESS WOULD TELL HIM T
O GIT ON 'WAY FROM DAR AND LOOK ATTER HIS OWN WUK, DAT HER AND AUNT JULIA COULD
RUN DAT LOOM HOUSE.  MARSTER, HE JUS' LAUGHED DEN AND TOLD US CHILLUN WHAT WAS H
ANGIN' ROUND DE DOOR TO JUS' LISTEN TO DEM 'OMANS CACKLE.  OH, BUT HE WAS A GOOD
 OLD BOSS.     US HAD WATER BUCKETS, CALLED PIGGENS, WHAT WAS MADE OUT OF CEDAR
AND HAD HANDLES ON DE SIDES.  SOMETIMES US SAWED OFF LITTLE VINEGAR KEGS AND PUT
 HANDLES ON 'EM.  US LOVED TO DRINK OUT OF GOURDS.  DERE WAS LOTS OF GOURDS RAIS
ED EVVY YEAR.  SOME OF 'EM WAS SO BIG DEY WAS USED TO KEEP EGGS IN AND FOR LOTS
OF THINGS US USES BASKETS FOR NOW.  DEM LITTLE GOURDS MADE FINE DIPPERS.     DEM
 CORNSHUCKIN'S WAS SHO' 'NOUGH BIG TIMES.  WHEN US GOT ALL DE CORN GATHERED UP A
ND PUT IN GREAT LONG PILES, DEN DE GITTIN' READY STARTED.  WHY DEM 'OMANS COOKED
 FOR DAYS, AND DE MENS WOULD GIT DE SHOATS READY TO BARBECUE.  MARSTER WOULD SEN
D US OUT TO GIT DE SLAVES FROM DE FARMS 'ROUND ABOUT DAR.     DE PLACE WAS ALL L
IT UP WID LIGHT'OOD-KNOT TORCHES AND BONFIRES, AND DERE WAS 'CITEMENT APLENTY WH
EN DE NIGGERS GOT TO SINGIN' AND SHOUTIN' AS DEY MADE DE SHUCKS FLY.  ONE OF DEM
 SONGS WENT SOMEPIN LAK DIS:  OH] MY HAID, MY PORE HAID, OH] MY PORE HAID IS 'FE
CTED.  DERE WARN'T NOTHIN' WRONG WID OUR HAIDS - DAT WAS JUS' OURWAY OF LETTIN'
OUR OVERSEER KNOW US WANTED SOME LIKKER.  PURTY SOON HE WOULD COME 'ROUND WID A
BIG HORN OF WHISKEY, AND DAT MADE DE 'PORE HAID WELL, BUT IT WARN'T LONG 'FORE I
T GOT WUSS AGAIN, AND DEN US GOT ANOTHER HORN OF WHISKEY.  WHEN DE CORN WAS ALL
SHUCKED DEN US ET ALL US COULD AND , LET ME TELL YOU, DAT WAS SOME GOOD EATIN'S.
  DEN US DANCED DE REST OF DE NIGHT.     NEXT DAY WHEN US ALL FELT SO TIRED AND
BAD, MARSTER HE WOULD TELL US 'BOUT STAYIN' UP ALL NIGHT, BUT MIS'TRESS TUK UP F
OR US, DAT TICKLED OLD MARSTER.  HE JUS' LAUGHED AND SAID:  "WILL YOU LISTEN TO
DAT 'OMAN?"  DEN HE WOULD MAKE SOME OF US SING ONE OF DEM SONGS US HAD DONE BEEN
 SINGIN' TO DANCE BY.  IT GOES SORT OF LAK DIS:  TURN YOUR PARDNER 'ROUND]  STEA
L 'ROUND DE CORNER, 'CAUSE DEM JOHNSON GALS IS HARD TO BEAT]  JUS' GLANCE 'ROUND
 AND HAVE A GOOD TIME]  DEM GALS IS HARD TO FIND]  DATS JUS' 'BOUT ALL I CAN RIC
OLLECT OF IT NOW.     US HAD BIG 'POSSUM HUNTS, AND US SHO' COTCHED A HEAP OF 'E
M.  DE GALS COOKED 'EM WID 'TATERS AND DEY JUS' MADE YOUR MOUTH WATER.  I SHO' W
ISH I HAD ONE NOW.  RABBITS WAS GOOD TOO.  MARSTER DIDN'T 'LOW NO HUNTIN' WID GU
NS, SO US JUS' TOOK DOGS WHEN US WENT HUNTIN'.  RABBITS WAS KILT WID STICKS AND
ROCKS 'CEPT WHEN A BIG SNOW COME.  DEY WAS EASY TO TRACK TO DEY BEDS DEN, AND US
 COULD JUS' REACH IN AND PULL 'EM OUT.  WHEN US COTCH 'NOUGH OF 'EM, US HAD BIG
RABBIT SUPPERS.     DE BIG WAR WAS 'BOUT OVER WHEN DEM YANKEES COME BY OUR PLACE
 AND JUS' WENT THROUGH EVVYTHING.  DEY CALLED ALL DE SLAVES TOGETHER AND TOLD 'E
M DEY WAS FREE AND DIDN'T B'LONG TO NOBODY NO MORE,AND SAID DE SLAVES COULD TAKE
 ALL DEY WANTED FROM DE SMOKEHOUSES AND BARNS AND DE BIG HOUSE, AND COULD GO WHE
N AND WHAR DEY WANTED TO GO.  DEY TRIED TO HAND US OUT ALL  DE MEATS AND HAMS, B
UT US TOLD 'EM US WARN'T HONGRY, 'CAUSE MARSTER HAD ALLUS DONE GIVE US ALL US WA
NTED.  WHEN DEY COULDN'T MAKE NONE OF US TAKE NOTHIN', DEY SAID IT WAS DE STRANG
EST THING DEY HAD DONE EVER SEEN, AND DAT  DAT MAN ECHOLS MUST HAVE SHO' BEEN GO
OD TO HIS NIGGERS.     WHEN DEM YANKEES HAD DONE GONE OFF MARSTER COME OUT TO OU
R PLACE.  HE BLOWED DE BUGLE TO CALL US ALL UP TO DE HOUSE.  HE COULDN'T HARDLY
TALK, 'CAUSE SOMEBODY HAD DONE TOLD HIM DAT DEM YANKEES COULDN'T TALK HIS NIGGER
S INTO STEALIN' NOTHIN'.  MARSTER SAID HE NEVER KNOWED 'FORE HOW GOOD US LOVED H
IM.  HE TOLD US HE HAD DONE TRIED TO BE GOOD TO US AND HAD DONE DE BEST HE COULD
 FOR US AND DAT8HE WAS MIGHTY PROUD OF DE WAS EVVY ONE OF US HAD DONE 'HAVED OUR
SELFS.  HE SAID DAT DE WAR WAS OVER NOW, AND US WAS FREE AND COULD GO ANYWHAR US
 WANTED TO , BUT DAT US DIDN'T HAVE TO GO IF US WANTED TO STAY DAR.  HE SAID HE
WOULD PAY US FOR OUR WUK AND TAKE KEER OF US IF US STAYED OR, IF US WANTED TO WU
K ON SHARES, HE WOULD 'LOW US TO WUK SOME LAND DAT WAY.  A FEW OF DEM NIGGERS DR
IFTED OFF, BUT MOST OF 'EM STAYED RIGHT DAR 'TIL DEY DIED.     ATTER FREEDOM HAD
 COME, I STAYED RIGHT ON DAR 'TIL ATTER MARSTER DIED.  HE WAS SICK A-LONG,-LONG
TIME, AND ONE MORNING OLD MIS'TRESS, SHE CALLED TO ME.  "ROBERT," SHE SAID, "YOU
 AIN'T GWINE TO HAVE NO MARSTER LONG, 'CAUSE HE'S 'BOUT GONE."  ICjLLED jLL DE-N
IGGERS UP TO DE BIG HOUSE AND WHEN DEY WAS ALL IN DE YARD, MIS'TRESS, SHE SAID:
"ROBERT, YOU BEEN WID US SO LONG, YOU KIN COME IN AND SEE HIM 'FORE HE'S GONE FO
R GOOD."  WHENI GOT IN DAT ROOM I KNOWED DE LORD HAD DONE LAID HIS HAND ON MY GO
OD OLD MARSTER, AND HE WAS AGOIN' TO DAT HOME HE USED TO PREACH TO US NIGGERS 'B
OUT, AND IT 'PEARED TO ME LAK MY HEART WOULD JUS' BUST.  WHEN DE LAST BREATH WAS
 DONE GONE, I WENT BACK OUT IN DE YARD AND TOLD DE OTHER NIGGERS, AND DERE WAS S
HO' CRYIN' AND PRAYIN' 'MONGST 'EM, 'CAUSE ALL OF 'EM LOVED MARSTER.  DAT WAS SH
O' ONE BIG FUNERAL.  MIS'TRESS SAID SHE WANTED ALL OF MARSTER'S OLD SLAVES TO GO
, 'CAUSE HE LOVED 'EM SO, AND ALL OF US WENT.  SOME WHAT HAD DONE BEEN GONE FOR
YEARS COME BACK FOR MARSTER'S FUNERAL.     NEXT DAY, ATTER DE FUNERAL WAS OVER,
MIS'TRESS, SHE SAID: "ROBERT, I WANT YOU TO STAY ON WID ME 'CAUSE YOU KNOW HOW H
E WANTED HIS WUK DONE."  DEN MIS'TRESS' DAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND, MISTER DICKENS
ON, COME DAR TO STAY.  NONE OF DE NIGGERS LAKED DAT MISTER DICKENSON AND SO MOST
 OF 'EM LEFT AND DEN, 'BOUT TWO YEARS ATTER MARSTER DIED, MIS'TRESS WENT TO 'LAN
TA TO STAY WID ANOTHER OF HER DAUGHTERS,AND SHE DIED DAR.  WHEN MIS'TRESS LEFT,
I LEFT TOO AND COME ON HERE TO ATHENS, AND I BEEN HERE EVER SINCE.     DERE WARN
'T MUCH TOWN HERE DEN, AND 'MOST ALL 'ROUND DIS HERE PLACE WAS WOODS.  I WUKED '
BOUT A YEAR FOR MISTER JOHN MCCUNE'S FAMBLY ON DE OLD PITNER PLACE, DEN I WENT T
O WUK FOR MISTER MANASSAS B MCGINTY.  HE WAS A CYARPENTER AND BUILT MOST OF DE F
INE HOUSES WHAT WAS PUT UP HERE DEM DAYS.  I GOT DE LIMBER FROM HIM TO BUILD MY
HOUSE.  DERE WARN'T BUT TWO OTHER HOUSES 'ROUND HERE DEN.  MY WIFE, JULIE, WASHE
D FOR DE WHITE FOLKS AND HELPED 'EM DO DEIR HOUSEWUK.  OUR CHILLUN USED TO COME
BRING MY DINNER.  US HAD DEM GOOD RED PEAS COOKED WID SIDE MEAT IN A POT IN DE F
IREPLACE, AND ASHCAKE TO GO WID 'EM.  DAT WAS EATIN'S.  JULIE WOULD RAKE OUT DEM
 COALS AND KIVVER 'EM WID ASHES, AND DEN SHE WOULD WROP A PONE OF CORNBREAD DOUG
H IN COLLARD OR CABBAGE LEAVES AND PUT IT ON DEM ASHES AND RAKE MORE ASHES OVER
IT.  YOU HAD TO DUST OFF DE BREAD 'FORE YOU ET IT, BUT ASHCAKE WAS MIGHTY GOOD,
FOLKS WHAT LIVED OFF OF IT DIDN'T GIT SICK LAK DEY DOES NOW AEATIN' DIS WHITE FL
OUR BREAD ALL DE TIME.  IF US HAD ANY PEAS LEFT FROM DINNER AND SUPPER, JULIE WO
ULD MASH 'EM UP RIGHT SOFT, MAKE LITTLE CAKES WHAT SHE ROLLED IN CORN MEAL, AND
FRY 'EM FOR BREAKFAST.  DEM SAUSAGE CAKES MADE OUT OF LEFT-OVER PEAS WAS MIGHTY
FINE FOR BREAKFAST.     WHEN DE CHILLUN STARTED OUT WID MY DINNER, JULIE ALLUS M
ADE TWO OF 'EM GO TOGETHER AND HOLD HANDS ALL DE WAY SO DEY WOULDN'T GIT LOST.
NOW, LITTLE CHILLUN JUS' A FEW YEARS OLD GOES ANYWHAR DEY WANTS TO.  FOLKS DON'T
 LOOK ATTER  DEY CHILLUN LAK DEY OUGHT TO, AND T'AIN'T RIGHT.  DEN, WHEN NIGHT C
OME, CHILLUN WENT RIGHT OFF TO BED.  NOW, DEY JUS' RUNS 'ROUND 'MOST ALL NIGHT,
AND IT SHO' IS ARUININ' DES YOUNG GENRAYSHUN.  DEY DON'T TAKE NO KEER OF DEIRSEL
FS.  MY OWN GRANDCHILLUN IS DE SAME WAY.     I LEFT MISTER MCGINTY AND WENT TO W
UK FOR MISTER BLOOMFIELD IN DE MILL.  MISTER BILL DOOTSON WAS OUR BOSS, AND HE W
AS SHO' A GOOD MAN.  DEM WAS GOOD TIMES.  I WUKED INSIDE DE MILL AND 'ROUND DE Y
ARD TOO, AND SOMETIMES DEY SONT ME TO RIDE DE BOAT WID DE COTTON OR SOMETIMES WI
D CLOTH, WHATEVER DEY WAS SENDIN'.  DERE WAS TWO MILLS DEN.  DEY USED TWO BOATS
TO CARRY DE COTTON AND DE CLOTH FROM ONE MILL TO DE OTHER.     MISSY, CAN YOU BE
LIEVE IT?  I WUKED FOR 68[ A DAY AND US PAID FOR OUR HOME HERE.  DEY PAID US OFF
 WID TICKETS WHAT US TUK TO DE COMMISSARY TO GIT WHAT US NEEDED.  DEY KEPT JUS'
EVVYTHING DAT ANYBODY COULD WANT DOWN DAR AT DE COM'NY STORE.  SO US RAISED OUR
NINE CHILLUN, GIVE 'EM PLENTY TO EAT AND WEAR TOO AND A GOOD ROOF OVER DEIR HEAD
S, ALL ON 68[ A DAY AND WHAT JULIE COULD MAKE WUKIN' FOR DE WHITE FOLKS.  'COURS
E THINGS WARN'T HIGH-PRICED LAK DEY IS NOW, BUT DE MAIN DIFF'UNCE IS DAT FOLKS D
IDN'T HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY KINDS OF THINGS TO EAT AND WEAR DEN LAK DEY DOES NOW.
  DERE WARN'T NIGH SO MANY WAYS TO THROW MONEY 'WAY DEN.  DERE WARN'T SO MANY PL

ACES TO GO; JUS' CHURCH AND CHURCH SPREADS, AND SUNDAYS, FOLKS WENT BUGGY RIDIN'
.  DE YOUNG NIGGERS, 'SPECIALLY DEM WHAT WAS ASPARKIN', USED TO RENT BUGGIES AND
 HOSSES FROM MISTER SELIG BERNSTEIN.  HE KEPT A BIG LIVERY STABLE DEN AND HE HAD
 A HOSS NAMED BUCKSKIN.  DAT WAS DE HOSS WHAT EVVYBODY WASTED 'CAUSE HE WAS SO G
ENTLE AND DIDN'T SKEER DE (OMANS AND CHILLUNS.  MISTER BERNSTEIN IS ALIVIN' YIT,
 AND HE IS SHO' A GOOD MAN TO DO BUSINESS WID.  MISSY, DERE WAS LOTS OF GOOD WHI
TE FOLKS DEN.  MOST OF DEM OLD ONES IS DONE PASSED ON.  ONE OF DE BEST OF 'EM WA


S MISTER ROBERT CHAPPELL.  HE DONE PASSED ON, BUT WHILST HE LIVED HE WAS MIGHTY
GOOD TO EVVYBODY AND DE COLORED FOLKS SHO' DOES MISS HIM.  HE B'LIEVED IN HELPIN
' 'EM AND HE GIVE 'EM SEVERAL CHURCHES AND TRIED HIS BEST TO GIT 'EM TO LIVE RIG
HT.  IF MISTER ROBERT CHAPPELL AIN'T IN HEB'EN, DERE AIN'T NO USE FOR NOBODY ELS
E TO TRY TO GIT DAR.  HIS GRANDDAUGHTER MARRIED JEDGE MATTHEWS, AND FOLKS SAYS S
HE IS MOST AS GOOD AS HER GRANDDADDY WAS.     ROBERT
HE IS MOST AS GOOD AS HER GRANDDADDY WAS.     MISS, IDIDN'T HAVE NO SHO' 'NOUGH
WEDDIN'.  ME AND JULIE JUS' JUMPED OVER DE BROOM IN FRONT OF MARSTER AND US WAS
MARRIED.  DAT WAS ALL DERE WAS TO IT.  DAT WAS DE WAY MOST OF DE SLAVE FOLKS GOT
 MARRIED DEM DAYS.  US KNOWED BETTER DAN TO AX DE GAL WHEN US WANTED TO GIT MARR
IED.  US JUS' TOLD OUR MARSTER AND HE DONE DE AXIN'.  DEN, IF IT WAS ALL RIGHT W
ID DE GAL, MARSTER CALLED ALL DE NIGGERS UP TO DE BIG HOUSE TO SEE US JUMP OVER
DE BROOM.  IF A SLAVE WANTED TO GIT MARRIED TO SOMEBODY ON ANOTHER PLACE, DEN HE
 TOLD MARSTER AND HIS MARSTER WOULD TALK TO DE GAL'S MARSTER.  WHATEVER DEY 'GRE
ED ON WAS ALL RIGHT.  IF NEITHER ONE OF 'EM WOULD SELL ONE OF DE SLAVES WHAT WAN
TED TO GIT MARRIED, DEN DEY LET 'EM GO AHEAD AND JUMP OVER DE BROOM, AND DE MAN
JUS' VISITED HIS WIFE ON HER MARSTER'S PLACE, MOSTLY ON WEDNESDAY AND SADDAY NIG
HTS.  IF IT WAS A LONG PIECE OFF, HE DIDN'T GIT DAR SO OFTEN.  DEY HAD TO HAVE P
ASSES DEN, 'CAUSE DE PATTEROLLERS WOULD GIT 'EM SHO' IF DEY DIDN'T.  DAT MEANT A
 THRASHIN', AND DEY DIDN'T MISS LAYIN' ON DE STICK, WHEN DEY COTCH A NIGGER.
 DESE DAYS, DE BOYS AND GALS JUS' WALKS OFF AND DON'T SAY NOTHIN' TO NOBODY, NOT
 EVEN TO DEY MAMMIES AND DADDIES.  NOW TAKE DIS DAUGHTER OF MINE- CALLIE IS HER
NAME - SHE RUNNED AWAY WHEN SHE WAS 'BOUT SEVENTEEN.  DAT DAY HER MAMMY HAD DONE
 SONT HER WID DE WHITE FOLKS' CLOTHES.  SHE HAD ON BRASS-TOED BROGAN SHOES, A OL
D FADED COTTON DRESS DAT WAS PLUM UP TO HER KNEES, - DEM DAYS, LONG DRESSES WAS
STYLISH - AND SHE WORE A OLD BONNET.  SHE WAS TOTIN' DE CLOTHES TO MISSES REESE
AND MET UP WID DAT DAVENPORT BOY.  DAY TRAIPS'D UP TO DE COURTHOUSE, GOT A LICEN
SE, AND MARRIED 'FORE ME AND JULIE KNOWED NOTHIN' 'BOUT IT.  JULIE SHO' DID LIGH
T OUT FROM HYAR TO GO GIT CALLIE.  SHE BRUNG HER BACK AND KEPT HER LOCKED UP IN
DE HOUSE A LONG TIME 'FORE SHE WOULD LET HER LIVE WID DAT NIGGER.     US HAD OUR
 TROUBLES DEN, BUT DEY WARN'T LAK DE TROUBLES US HAS NOW.  NOW, IT SEEMS LAK DEM
 WAS MIGHTY GOOD DAYS BACK WHEN ARCH STREET WAS JUS' A PATH THROUGH DE WOODS.  J
ULIE, SHE'S DONE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME, AND ALL OF OUR CHILLUN'S DAID 'CEPT THRE
E, AND TWO OF 'EM IS DONE GONE UP NORTH.  JUS' ME AND MY CALLIE AND DE GRANDCHIL
LUN IS ALL DAT'S LEFT HERE.  SOON I'SE GWINE TO 'LOWED TO GO WHAR JULIE IS AND I
'SE READY ANY TIME, 'CAUSE I DONE BEEN HERE LONG 'NOUGH.     W
'SE READY ANY TIME, 'CAUSE I DONE BEEN HERE LONG 'NOUGH.     GOOD-BYE MISSY, COM
E BACK TO SEE ME AND CALLIE AGAIN 'CAUSE US LAKED YOUR 'PEARMENTS DE FUST TIME Y
OU WAS HERE.  JUS' TRUST IN DE LORD, MISS, AND HE WILL TAKE KEER OF YOU WHAREVER
YOU IS.
  X   XXX
STP