ELLEN BETTS AGE- SLAVE IN LOUISIANA &I&pOT&kORNED-ON THE BAyOU TECHE, lLOST tO-OpnLOUbAb. THAT rN SArNT-MA RY'S PARISH, IN LOUISIANA, AND I BELONGED TO TOLAS PARSONS, WHAT HAD 'BOUT FIVE HUNDRED SLAVES, COUNTING THE BIG ONES AND THE LITTLE ONES, AND HE HAD GOD KNOW W HAT ELSE. WHEN MY EYES JUST BARELY FRESH OPEN, MARSE TOLAS DIE AND WILL THE WHO LE LOT OD US TO HE BROTHER, WILLIAM TOLAS PARSONS. AND I TELLS YOU THAT MARSE W ILLIAM AM THE GREATEST MAN WHAT EVER WALK THIS EARTH. THAT'S THE TRUTH. I CAN' T LIE ON HIM WHEN THE POOR MAN'S IN HE GRAVE. WHEN A WHUPPING GOT tO BE mONE, OLD MARSE DO IT HESELF. HE mON'T '6OW NO OVERSEER TO THROW HE GALS DOWN AND PULL UP THEIR DRESS AND WHUP ON THEIR BOT TOMS LIKE I HEAR TELL SOME OF 'EM DO. WAS HE STILL LIVING I 'SPECT ONE PART OF HE HANDS BE WITH HIM TODAY. I KNOWS I WOULD. WHEN US NIGGERS GO DOWN THE ROAD, FOLKS SAY, "THEM'S PARSONS' NIGGERS. DON'T HIT ONE THEM NIGGERS FOR GOD'S SAKE, OR PARSONS SURE EAT YOUR JACKET UP." AUNT RACHEL WHAT COOK IN THE BIG HOUSE FOR MISS CORNELIA HAD FOUR YOUN G-UNS AND THEM CHILDREN FAT AND SLICK AS I EVER SEEN. ALL THE NIGGERS HAVE TO S TOOP TO AUNT RACHEL JUST LIKE THEY CURTSY TO MISSY. I MIND THE TIME HER HUSBAND , UNCLE JIM, GIT MAD AND HIT HER OVER THE HEAD WITH THE POKER. A BIG KNOT RAISE UP ON AUNT RACHEL'S HEAD, AND WHEN MASSA 'QUIRE 'BOUT IT, SHE SAY SHE DONE BUMP HHE HEAD. SHE DASN'T TELL ON UNCLE JIM OR MARSE SURE BEAT ON HIM. MARSE SURE PROUD THEM BLACK, SLICK CHILDREN OF RACHEL'S. YOU COULDN'T FIND A YALLER CHILD ON HE PLACE. HE SURE GOT NO USE FOR MIXING BLACK AND WHITE. -MjRSE WrLLIjM HAVE THE PRETTIEST PLACE UP AND DOWN THAT BAYOU, WITH TH E FINE HOUSE AND FINE TREES AND SUCH. FROM WHERE WE LIVE IT'S FIVE MILE TO CENT ERVILLE ONE WAY AND FIVE MILE TO PATTERSON T'OTHER. THEY HAULS THE LUMBER FROM ONE PLACE OR T'OTHER TO MAKE WOOD HOUSES FOR THE SLAVES. SOMETIMES MARSE BUY TH E FURNITURE, AND SOMETIME THE CARPENTER MAKE IT. MISS SIDNEY WAS MARSE'S FIRST WIFE, AND HE HAD SIX BOYS BY HER. THEN HE MARRY THE WIDOW CORNELIA, AND SHE GIVE HIM FOUR BOYS. WITH TEN CHILDREN SPRI NGING UP QUICK LIKE THAT AND ALL THE COLORED CHILDREN COMING ALONG FAST AS PIG L ITTERS, I DON'T DO NOTHING ALL MY DAYS, BUT NURSE, NURSE, NURSE. I NURSE SO MAN Y CHILDREN IT DONE WENT AND STUNTED MY GROWTH, AND THAT'S WHY I AIN'T NOTHING BU T BONES TO THIS DAY. WHEN THE COLORED WOMEN HAS TO CUT CANE ALL DAY TILL MIDNIGHT COME AND AFTER, I HAS TO NURSE THE BABIES FOR THEM AND TEND THE WHITE CHILDREN, TOO. SOM E THEM BABIES SO FAT AND BIG I HAD TO TOTE THE FEET WHILE 'NOTHER GAL TOTE THE H EAD. I WAS SUCH A LITTLE ONE, 'BOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEAR OLD. THE BIG FOLKS LEA VE SOME TODDY FOR COLIC AND CRYING AND SUCH, AND I DONE DRINK THE TODDY AND LET THE CHILDREN HAVE THE MILK. I DON'T KNOW NO BETTER. LAWSY ME, IT A WONDER I AI N'T THE BIGGEST DRUNKER IN THIS HERE COUNTRY, COUNTING ALL THE TODDY I DONE PUT IN MY YOUNG BELLY] WHEN LATE OF NIGHT COME, IFFEN THEM BABIES WAKE UP AND BAWL, I SET UP A SCREECH AND OUTSCREECH THEM TILL THEY SHUT THEIR MOUTH. THE LOUDER THEY BAWL, THE LOUDER I BAWL. SO WHEN MARSE HEAR THE BABIES CRY, HE COME DOWN AND SAY, "WH Y THE CHILDREN CRY LIKE THAT, ELLEN?" I SAY, "MARSE, I GIT SO HONGRY AND TIRED I DONE DRINK THE MILK UP." WHEN I TALK SASSY LIKE THAT, MARSE JUST SHAKE HE FIN GER AT ME, 'CAUSE HE KNOWED I'S A GOOD ONE AND DON'T LET NO LITTLE MITE STARVE. NOBODY EVER HIT ME A LICK. MARSE ALWAYS SAY BEING MEAN TO THE YOUNG- UNS MAKE THEM MEAN WHEN THEY GROWS UP AND NOBODY GWINE TO BUY A MEAN NIGGER. MA RSE DON'T EVEN LET THE CHIDREN GO TO THE BIG CANE PATCH. HE PLANT LITTLE BITTY PATCHES CLOSE TO THE HOUSE, AND EACH LITTLE NIGGER HAVE A PATCH AND HE WORK IT T ILL IT GOT GROWED. MARSE HAVE THE HOUSE GIRLS MAKE POPCORN FOR 'EM AND CANDY. I NURSE THE SICK FOLKS TOO. SOMETIME I DOSE WITH BLUE MASS PILLS, AND SOMETIME DOCTOR FAWCETT LEAVE RHUBARB AND CASTOR OIL AND SUCH. TWO YEAR AFTER THE WAR, I GIT MARRY AND GIT CHILDREN OF MY OWN AND THEN I TURN INTO THE WET NUR SE. I WET-NURSED THE WHITE CHILDEN AND BLACK CHILDREN, LIKE THEY ALL THE SAME C OLOR. SOMETIME I HAVE A WHITE ONE PULLING THE ONE SIDE AND A BLACK ONE THE OTHE R. I WANTED TO GIT THE PAPERS FOR MIDWIFING BUT, LAW, I DON'T HAVE NO TI ME FOR LARNING IN SLAVE TIME. IF MARSE COTCH A PAPER IN YOU HAND HE SURE WHUP Y OU. HE DON'T 'LOW NO BRIGHT NIGGERS ROUND, HE SELL 'EM QUICK. HE ALWAYS SAY, " BOOK LARNING DON'T RAISE NO GOOD SUGAR CANE." THE ONLY LARNING HE 'LOW WAS WHEN THEY LARN THE COLORED CHILDREN THE METHODIST CATECHISM. THE ONLY WRITING A NIG GER EVER GIT AM WHEN HE GIT BORN OR MARRY OR DIE, THEN MARSE PUT THE NAME IN THE BIG BOOK. LAW, I 'LECT THE TIME MARSE MARRY MISS CORNELIA. HE WENT ON THE MAIL BOAT AND BRUNG HER FROM NEW ORLEANS. SHE THE PRETTIEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD ALMOS T, 'CEPTING SHE HAVE THE BIGGEST MOUTH I NEARLY EVER SEED. HE BRUNG HER UP TO T HE HOUSE, AND ALL THE NIGGERS AND BOYS AND GIRLS AND CATS AND DOGS AND SUCH COME AND SALUTE HER. THERE SHE STAND ON THE GALLERY, WITH A PRETTY WHITE DRESS ON W ITH RED STRIPES RUNNING UP AND DOWN. MARSE SAY TO HER, "HONEY, SEE ALL THE BLAC K FOLKS, THEY 'LONGS TO YOU NOW." SHE WAVE TO US AND SMILE ON US, AND NEXT DAY SHE GIVE HER WEDDING DRESS TO MY MA. THAT THE FINEST DRESS I EVER SEEN. IT WAS PURPLE AND GREEN SILK AND ALL THE NIGGER GALS WEAR THAT DRESS WHEN THEY GIT MAR Y. MY SISTER SIDNEY WORE IT AND SARY AND MARY. MISS CORNELIA WAS THE FINEST WOMAN IN THE WORLD. COME SUNDAY MORNING SHE DONE PUT A BUCKET OF DIMES ON THE FRONT GALLERY AND STAND THERE AND THROW DI MES TO THE NIGGER CHILDREN JUST LIKE FEEDING CHICKENS. I SURE RIGHT HERE TO TES TIFY, 'CAUSE I'S RIGHT THERE HELPING GRAB. SOMETIME SHE DONE PUT THE WASHTUB OF BUTTERMILK ON THE BACK GALLERY, AND US CHILDREN BRING US GOURDS AND DIP UP THAT GOOD OLD BUTTERMILK TILL IT ALL GIT DRUNK UP. SOMETIME SHE FOTCH BREAD AND BUT TER TO THE BACK GALLERY AND PASS IT OUT WHEN IT DON'T EVEN COME MEALTIME. MISS CORNELIA SET MY MA TO CUTTING PATTERNS AND SEWING RIGHT AWAY. SH E GIVE ALL THE WOMEN A BOLT OF LINSEY TO MAKE CLOTHES, AND MA CUT THE PATTERN. US ALL HAVE THE FINE DRAWERS DOWN TO THE ANKLE, BUTTONED WITH PRETTY WHITE BUTTO NS ON THE BOTTOM. LAWSY, MA SURE CUT A MIGHT OF DRAWERS, WITH SEWING FOR HER EL EVEN GALS AND FOUR BOYS, TOO. IN THE SUMMER TIME WE ALL GIT A BOLT OF BLUE CLOT H AND WHITE TAPE FOR TRIMMING, TO MAKE SUNDAY DRESSES. FOR THE FIELD, ALL THE N IGGERS GIT HOMESPUN WHAT YOU MAKES JUMPERS OUT OF. I 'LECT HOW MARSE SAY, "DON' T GO INTO THE FIELD DIRTY MONDAY MORNING. SCRUB YOURSELF AND PUT ON THE CLEAN J UMPER." MARSE SURE GOOD TO THEM GALS AND BUCKS WHAT CUTTING THE CANE. WHEN TH EY GIT DONE MAKING SUGAR, HE GIVE A DRINK CALL "PEACH AND HONEY" TO THE WOMENFOL K AND WHISKEY AND BRANDY TO THE MEN. AND OF ALL THE DANCING AND CAPERING YOU EV ER SEEN] MY PA WAS FIDDLER, AND WE'D CUT THE PIGEON WING AND CUT THE BUCK AND E VERY OTHER KIND OF DANCE. SOMETIMES PA GIT TIRED AND SAY HE AIN'T GWINE PLAY NO MORE, AND US GALS GIT BUSY AND POP HIM CORN AND MAKE CANDY, SO TO 'TICE HIM TO PLAY MORE. MARSE SURE TURN OVER IN HE GRAVE DID HE KNOW 'BOUT SOME THAT 'LASSES. THEM BLACK BOYS DON'T CARE. I SEEN 'EM PULL RATS OUT THE SUGAR BARREL, AND THE Y TASTE THE SUGAR AND SAY, "AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT SUGAR. IT STILL SWEET ." ONE DAY A PERT ONE PULL A DEAD SCORPION OUT THE SYRUP KETTLE, AND HE JUST LA UGH AND SAY, "MARSE DON'T WANT WASTE NONE THIS SYRUP," AND HE LICK THE SYRUP RIG HT OFF THAT SCORPION'S BODY AND LEGS. LAWSY ME, I SEEN THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS SUGjR BjRRnLS jNDKETTLES OF SYRUP IN MY DAY. LORD KNOWS HOW MUCH CANE OLD MARSE HAVE. TO THEM CUTTING THE CANE IT DON'T SEEM SO MUCH, BUT TO THEM WHAT WORK HOUR IN, HOUR OUT, THEM SUGAR CANE FIELDS SURE STRETCH FROM ONE END THE EARTH TO THE OTHER. MARSE SHIP HOGS A ND HOGS OF SUGAR DOWN THE BAYOU. I SEEN THE RIVER BOATS GO DOWN WITH BIG SIGNS WHAT SAY, "BUY THIS HERE 'LASSES" ON THE SIDE. AND HE RAISE A WORLD OF RICE AND 'TATERS AND CORN AND PEANUTS, TOO. WHEN THE WORK SLIGHT, US BLACK FOLKS SURE HAVE THE BALLS AND DINNERS A D SUCH. WE GIT ALL DAY TO BARBECUE MEAT DOWN ON THE BAYOU, AND THE WHITE FOLKS COME DOWN AND EAT 'LONGSIDE THE COLORED. WHEN A BLACK GAL MARRY, MARSE MARRY HER HISSELF IN THE BIG HOUSE. HE MARRY 'EM SATURDAY, SO THEY GIT SUNDAY OFF, TOO. ONE TIME THE RIVER BOAT COME B EARING THE LICENSE FOR NIGGERS TO GIT MARRY WITH. MARSE CHASE 'EM OFF AND SAY, "DON'T YOU COME TRUCKING NO NO-'COUNT PAPERS ROUND MY NIGGERS. WHEN I MARRY 'EM , THEY MARRY AS GOOD AS IF THE LORD GOD HISSELF MARRY 'EM AND IT DON'T TAKE NO P APER TO BIND THE TIE." MARSE DON'T STAND NO MESSING ROUND, NEITHER. A GAL HAVE TO BE OF AGE AND ASK HER PA AND MA AND MARSE AND MISSY, AND IF THEY 'GREE, THEY GO AHEAD AND GIT MARRY. MARSE HAVE THE MARRY BOOK tO-PUT THE-NjME mOwN. ONE TIME MARSE TAKE ME 'LONG TO HELP TOTE SOME CHILDREN. HE DONE WRIT E UP TO VIRGINNY FOR TO BUY FRESH HANDS. THEY A OLD MAN THAT HOBBLE 'LONG THE R OAD, AND THE CHILDREN START TO THROW ROCKS, AND THE OLD MAN TURN ROUND TO ONE PR ISSY ONE AND SAY, "GO ON, YOUNG-UN, YOU'LL BE WHERE DOGS CAN'T BARK AT YOU TOMOR ROW." NEXT MORNING US COOKING IN THE KITCHEN, AND ALL A SUDDEN THAT LITTLE BOY JUST CRUMPLE UP DEAD ON THE FLOOR. LAW, WE'S SCARED. NOBODY EVER BOTHER THAT O LD MAN NO MORE, FOR HE SURE LAY THE EVIL FINGER ON YOU. MARSE'S BROTHER, CONRAD, WHAT WAS A WIDOWER, COME TO LIVE ON THE PLANT ATION, AND HE HAD A LITTLE GAL 'BOUT EIGHT YEAR OLD. ONE DAY SHE IN THE PLUM OR CHARD PLAYING WITH A RATTLESNAKE, AND MARSE CONRAD HAVE THE FIT. THE LITTLE GAL wON'T-LET-NOkODY HURT THAT sNjKE jND2bHEPLAY WITH HIM. HE WON'T BITE HER. SHE KEEPS HIM 'BOUT THREE YEAR, AND SHE'D RUB AND GREASE HIM. ONE DA Y HE GOT SICK, AND THEY GIVE HIM SOME BRANDY, BUT HE DIE AND OLD DOC PICKLE HIM IN THE BOTTLE OF BRANDY. THAT GAL SO FULL OF GRIEF THEY TAKE HER TO THE INFIRMA RY IN VEW ORLEANS, AND THEN ONE DAY SHE UP AND DIE. THAT SNAKE AIN'T ALL WHAT DOC FAWCETT PICKLE. A SLAVE WOMAN GIVE BIRT H TO A BABY GAL WHAT HAVE TWO FACES WITH A STRIP OF HAIR RUNNING 'TWEEN. OLD DO C FAWCETT PICKLE IT IN THE JAR OF BRANDY. OLD DOC START TO COURT MISS CORNELIA W HEN MARSE DIE, BUT SHE DON'T HAVE NONE OF HIM, AND HE DONE WENT STRAIGHT 'WAY AN D KILL HISSELF. ONE DAY A LITTLE MAN COME RIDING BY ON A LITTLE DUN HOSS SO FAST YOU C OULDN'T SEE DAT HOSS'S TAIL A-SWITCHING. HE WHOOPING AND HOLLERING. US NIGGERS 'GUN WHOOP AND HOLLER, TOO. THEN FIRST THING YOU KNOW THE YANKS AND THE DEMOCR ATS 'GUN TO FIGHT RIGHT THERE. THEY A HIGH MOUNTAIN FRONT MARSE'S HOUSE, AND TH E YANKS' GUN PEPPER CANNON BALL DOWN FROM THE TOP THAT HILL. THE WAR MET RIGHT THERE, AND THEM YANKEES AND DEMOCRATS FIT FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOURS STRAIGHT RUNNING . WHEN THE BULLETS STARTS RAINING DOWN, MARSE CALLS US AND SLIP US 'WAY BACK INTO THE WOODS, WHERE IT SO BLACK AND DEEP. NEXT DAY, WHEN THE FIGHT OVER, MARSE COME OUT WITH GREAT BIG WAGONS PILED FULL OF MESS-POKE FOR US TO EAT. TH AT WHAT US CALL HOG MEAT. US SURE GLAD TO 'SCAPE FROM THE YANKEES. WHEN US DRIV BACK TO THE PLANTATION, SUCH A SIGHT I NEVER SEEN. LAW, THE THINGS I CAN TELL. THEM YANKS HAVE KILT MEN AND WOMEN. I SEED BABIES PICK UP FROM THE ROAD WITH THEIR BRAINS BUST RIGHT OUT. ONE OLD MAN AM DRAWING WATER , AND A CANNON BALL SHOOTS HIM RIGHT IN THE WELL. THEY DRAWS HIM UP WITH THE FI SHING LINE. THEY'S A OLD SUGAR BOAT ON THE BAYOU WITH BLOOD AND SUGAR RUNNING ' LONGSIDE THE BUSTED BARRELS. 'LASSES RUN IN THE BAYOU, AND BLOOD RUN IN THE DIT CHES. MARSE HAVE THE GREAT BIG ORCHARD ON THE ROAD, AND IT WIPE CLEAN AS THE WH ISTLE. BULLETS WIPE EVERYTHING AND BUST THAT SUGAR CANE ALL TO PIECES. THE HOU SE SOT FAR BACK AND 'SCAPE THE BULLETS, BUT, LAW, THE TIME THEY HAVE] THEY'S AWFUL, AWFUL TIMES AFTER THAT. A OLD COTTON DRESS COST FIVE DO LLARS, AND A POUND OF COFFEE COST FIVE DOLLARS, AND A PINT CUP FLOUR COST SIX BI TS. THE YANKS ROUND ALL THE TIME, AND ONE DAY THEY COMES RIGHT IN THE HOUSE WHE RE MISS CORNELIA EATING HER DINNER. THEY MARCH ROUND THE TABLE, JUST SCOOPING U P MEAT AND 'TATERS AND GRABBING CORNPONE RIGHT AND LEFT. MISS CORNELIA DON'T SA Y A WORD, JUST SMILE SWEET AS HONEY-CAKE. I RECKON THEM SOLDIERS MIGHTA TOOK TH E SILVER AND SUCH, ONLY SHE CHARM 'EM BY BEING SO QUIET AND LADYLIKE. FIRST THI NG YOU KNOW, THEM SOLDIERS CURTSY TO MISSY AND TAKE THEIRSELF RIGHT OUT THE DOOR AND DON'T COME BACK. THEN IT SEEM LIKE MARSE HAVE ALL THE TROUBLE IN THE WORLD. HE BOY, NE D, DIE IN THE WAR, AND WILLIAM, WHAT NAME FOR HE PA, DRINK BAD ALL THE TIME. AN D AFTER THE WAR THEM KU KLUXERS WHAT WEAR FALSE FACES TRY TO TINKER WITH MARSE'S NIGGERS. ONE DAY UNCLE DAVE START TO TOWN, AND A KLUXER ASK HIM WHERE AM HE PA SS. THAT KLUXER CLOUT HIM, BUT UNCLE DAVE OUTRUN HIM IN THE CANE. MARSE GRAB T HE HOSS AND GO 'REST THAT MAN, AND MARSE A JUDGE, AND HE MAKE THAT MAN PAY THE F INE FOR HITTING UNCLE DAVE. AFTER THEY HEARS OF THAT, THEM OLD POKY FACES SURE SCARED OF OLD MARSE, AND THEY GIT OUT FROM OPELOUSAS AND STAYS OUT. WHEN ME AND MY HUSBAND, JOHN, COME TO TEXAS THE FOLKS SAY THAT LOUISIANA MASTERS THE MEANES T IN THE WORLD, AND I SAY RIGHT BACK AT 'EM THAT THEY IS GOOD AND MEAN IN EVERY SPOT OF THE EARTH. WHAT MORE, THE LOUISIANA MASTERS FREE THEIR NIGGERS A YEAR BE FORE ANY TEXAS NIGGER GIT FREE. WHEN 'MANCIPATION COME, MARSE GIT ON THE BIG BLOCK AND SAY, "YOU ALL I S AS FREE AS I IS, STANDING RIGHT HERE. DOES YOU WANT TO STAY WITH ME, YOU CAN, AND I'LL PAY YOU FOR THE WORK." ALL THE NIGGERS CHEER AND SAY THEY WANT tO STA Y, BUT MARSE DIE NOT LONG AFTER, AND ALL US NIGGERS SCATTER. I SURE 'LECT THAT DAY OLD MARSE DIE. HE WON'T DIE TILL MA GITS THERE. HE KEEP SAYING, "WHERE'S CHARITY? TELL CHARITY TO COME." THEY FOTCH MA FROM THE CANE PATCH, AND SHE HOLD MARSE'S HAND TILL HE DIE. US NIGGERS WENT TO THE G RAVEYARD, AND US SURE CRY OVER OLD MARSE. MARSE'S BROTHER, GOLDHAM, CARRIES ALL HE HANDS BACK TO THE FREE COUNTR Y TO TURN 'EM LOOSE. HE SAY THE FREE COUNTRY AM THE ONES WHAT'S YELLING 'BOUT S LAVE TIMES, SO THEY COULD JUST TAKE CARE OF THE NIGGERS. MARSE GOLDHAM SO BIG T HAT WHEN HE STAND IN THE DOOR YOU COULDN'T GIY BY HIM, 'THOUT HE STAND SIDEWAYS. LAW, TIMES AIN'T LIKE THEY WAS IN SLAVE DAYS. ALL MY TEN CHILDREN I S DEAD AND MY OLD MAN GONE, AND NOW I RECKON MY TIME 'BOUT 'RIVE. ALL I GOT TO DO NOW AM PRAY THE LORD TO KEEP ME STRAIGHT; THEN, WHEN THE GREAT DAY COME, I CA N MARCH THE ROAD TO GLORY.