CHARLIE HUDSON               0676-GEO/#262
     MISS, I BEEN TAKIN' IN WHAT DE OLD 'OMAN DONE TOLD YOU.  DAT WAS DE BEGINNI
N' WAY BACK YONDER AND DE END IS NIGH.  SOON DERE WON'T BE NOBODY LEFT LIVIN' WH
AT WAS A SHO' 'NOUGH SLAVE.  IT'S SOMEPIN' TO THINK ABOUT, AIN'T IT?
     ANYHOW, I WAS BORN MARCH 27, 1858 IN ELBERT COUNTY.  MA LIVED ON DE HUDSON
PLACE.  DERE WAS SEBEN OF US CHILLUN.  WILL, BYNAM, JOHN, AND ME WAS DE BOYS, AN
D DE GALS WAS AMANDA, LIZA ANN, AND GUSSIE.  'TIL US WAS BIG ENOUGH TO WUK, US P
LAYED 'ROUND DE HOUSE 'BOUT LAK CHILLUN DOES DESE DAYS.
     SLAVE QUARTERS WAS LAID OUT LAK STREETS.  US LIVED IN LOG CABINS.  BEDS?  D
EY WAS JUS' MAKESHIFT BEDS, WHAT WAS MADE OUT OF PINE POLES.  DE SIDE OF DE HOUS
E WAS DE HEAD OF DE BEDS.  DE SIDE RAILS WAS SHARPENED AT BOTH ENDS AND DRIV' IN
HOLES IN DE WALLS AND FOOT POSTIES.  DEN DEY PUT BOARDS 'CROSS DE SIDE RAILS FOR
DE MATTRESSES TO LAY ON.  DE COARSE CLOTH BED TICKS WAS FILLED WID 'GEORGY FEATH
ERS. DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT GEORGY FEATHERS WAS?  WHEAT STRAW WAS GEORGY FEATHERS.
 OUR KIVVER WAS SHEETS AND PLENTY OF GOOD WARM QUILTS.  NOW DAT WAS AT OUR OWN Q
UARTERS ON MARSE DAVID BELL'S PLANTATION.
     DIDN'T EVVYBODY HAVE AS GOOD PLACES TO SLEEP AS US.  I 'MEMBERS A WHITE FAM
BLY NAMED SIMS WHAT LIVED IN FLATWOODS.  DEY WAS DE POREST WHITE FOLKS I EVER SE
ED.  DEY HAD A BIG DROVE OF CHILLUN AND DEIR PA NEVER WUKKED A LICK IN HIS LIFE-
HE JUS' LIVED ON OTHER FOLKSES LABORS.  DEIR LITTLE LOG CABIN HAD A PARTITION IN
IT, AND 'HIND DAT PARTITION DERE WARN'T A STITCH OF NOTHIN'.  DEY DIDN'T HAVE NO
 FLOOR BUT DE GROUND, AND BACK 'HIND DAT PARTITION WAS DUG OUT A LITTLE DEEPER D
AN IN DE REST OF DE HOUSE.  DEY FILLED DAT PLACE WID LEAVES AND DAT'S WHAR ALL D
E CHILLUNS SLEPT.  EVVY DAY MISS SALLIE MADE 'EM TAKE OUT DE LEAVES WHAT DEY HAD
 SLEP' ON DE NIGHT BEFORE AND FILL DE DUGOUT WID FRESH LEAVES.  ON DE OTHER SIDE
 OF DE PARTITION, MISS SALLIE AND HER OLD MAN SLEPT 'LONG WID DEIR HOG, AND HOSS
 AND COW, AND DAT WAS SHAR DEY COOKED AND ET TOO.  I AIN'T NEVER GWINE TO FORGIT
 DEM WHITE FOLKS.
     MY GRANDMA PATSY, PAPPY'S MA, KNOCKED 'ROUND LOOKIN' ATTER DE SHEEP AND HOG
S, CLOSE TO DE HOUSE, 'CAUSE SHE WAS TOO OLD FOR FIELD WUK.  MA'S MAMMY WAS MY G
RANDMA ROSE.  HER JOB WAS DRIVIN' DE OXCART TO HAUL IN WOOD FROM DE NEW GROUNDS
AND TO TAKE WHEAT AND CORN TO MILL AND FETCH BACK GOOD OLD HOME MADE FLOUR AND M
EAL.  I NEVER DID HEAR NOTHIN' 'BOUT MY GRANDPAS.  MA DONE DE COOKIN' FOR DE WHI
TE FOLKS.
     I DON'T KNOW IF I WAS NO PET, BUT I DID STAY UP AT DE BIG HOUSE MOST OF DE
TIME, AND ONE THING I LOVED TO DO UP DAR WAS TO FOLLOW MISS BETSY 'ROUND TOTIN'
HER SEWIN' BASKET.  WHEN WUK GOT TIGHT AND HOT IN CROP TIME, I HELPED DE OTHER C
HILLUN TOTE WATER TO DE HANDS.  DE BUCKET WOULD SLAMP 'GAINST MY LAIGS ALL ALONG
DE WAY, AND MOST OF DE WATER WOULD BE DONE SPLASHED OUT 'FORE I GOT TO DE FIELD.
     MARSE DAVID AND HIS FAMBLY MOST ALLUS SONT DEIR NOTES AND MESSAGES BY ME AN
D ANOTHER YEARLIN' BOY WHAT WAS 'LOWED TO LAY 'ROUND DE BIG HOUSE SO US WOULD BE
8HAN<Y  O6WAIT ON OUR6>HITE FOLKS.  DEY GIVE YOU DE NOTE WHAT DEY DONE WRIT, AND
 D(Y S Y:  BOY IF YOU LOSE DIS NOTE, YOU'LL GIT A WHUPPIN'.  ALL DE TIME YOU WAS
 CARRYIN' DEM NOTES YOU HAD YOUR WHUPPIN' IN YOUR HAND AND DIDN'T KNOW IT, LESSE
N YOU LOST DE NOTE.  I NEVER HEARED OF NO TROUBLE TO 'MOUNT TO NOTHIN' TWIXT WHI
TE FOLKS AND NIGGERS IN OUR SETTLEMENT.
     US ET GOOD, NOT MUCH DIFF'UNT F'UM WHAT US DOES NOW.  MOST TIMES IT WAS MEA
T AND BREAD WID TURNIP GREENS, LYE HOMINY, MILK, AND BUTTER.  ALL OUR COOKIN' WA
S DONE ON OPEN FIREPLACES.  OH] I WAS FOND OF 'POSSUMS, SPRINKLED WID BUTTER AND
 PEPPER, AND BAKED DOWN 'TIL DE GRAVY WAS GOOD AND BROWN.  YOU WAS LUCKY IF YOU
GOT TO EAT 'POSSUM AND GNAW DE BONES ATTER MY MA DONE COOKED IT.
     DEY COTCH RABBITS WID DOGS.  NOW AND DEN, A CROWD OF NIGGERS WOULD JUMP A R
ABBIT WHEN NO DOGS WAS 'ROUND.  DEY WOULD THO' ROCKS AT HIM AND RUN HIM IN A HOL
LOW LOG.  DEN DEY WOULD TWISS HIM OUT WID HICKORY WISPS.  SOMETIMES DERE WARN'T
 NO F R LEFT ON DE RABBIT TIME DEY GOT HIM TWISTED OUT, BUT DAT WAS ALL RIGHT.
DEY JUS' SLAPPED HIM OVER DAID AND TUK HIM ON TO DE CABIN TO BE COOKED.  RABBITS
 WAS MOST GEN'ALLY FRIED.
     GROWN BOYS DIDN'T WANT US CHILLUN GOIN' 'LONG 'POSSUM HUNTIN' WID 'EM, SO A
LL RIGHT, DEY TUK US WAY OFF CROST DE FIELDS 'TIL DEY FOUND A GOOD THICK CLUMP O
F BUSHES, AND DEN DEY WOULD HOLLER OUT DAT DERE WAS SOME MOUGHTY FINE SNIPES 'RO
UND DAR.  DEY MADE US HOLD DE POKE OPEN SO DE SNIPES COULD RUN IN.  DEN DEY BLOW
ED OUT DEIR LIGHT'OOD KNOT TORCHES, AND LEFT US CHILLUN HOLDIN' DE POKE WHILST D
EY WENT HUNTIN' 'POSSUMS.
     ATTER DINNER SADDAYS ALL OF US TUK OUR HOOKS, POLES, AND LINES DOWN TO DRY
FORK CRICK, WHEN IT WAS DE RIGHT TIME OF DE YEAR TO FISH.  SOMETIMES DEY STEWED
FISH FOR OLD FOLKSES TO EAT, BUT YOUNG FOLKSES LOVED 'EM FRIED BEST.
     WINTER TIME DEY GIVE CHILLUN NEW COTTON AND WOOL MIXED SHIRTS WHAT DONE COM
E DOWN MOST TO DE ANKLES.  BY DE TIME HOT WEATHER COME DE SHIRT WAS DONE WORE TH
IN AND SWUNK UP AND 'SIDES DAT, US HAD GROWED ENOUGH FOR 'EM TO BE SHORT ON US,
SO US JUS' WORE DEM SAME SHIRTS RIGHT ON THOO' DE SUMMER.  ON OUR PLACE YOU WENT
 BAR FOOTS 'TIL YOU WAS A GREAT BIG YEARLIN' 'FORE YOU GOT NO SHOES.  WHAT YOU W
ORE ON YO' HAID WAS A CAP MADE OUT OF SCRAPS OF CLOTH DEY WOVE IN DE LOOMS RIGHT
 DAR ON OUR PLANTATION TO MAKE PANTS FOR DE GROWN FOLKS.
      R DAVID BELL, OUR MARSTER, WAS BORN CLUBFOOTED.  HIS HANDS AND FOOTS WAS D
RAWED UP EVVY WHICH A WAY LONG AS HE LIVED.  HE WAS JUS' LAK A OLD TOM CAT, HE W
AS SUCH A CUSSER.  ALL HE DONE WAS JUS' SET DAR AND CUSS, AND A HEAP OF TIMES YO
U COULDN'T SEE NOTHIN' FOR HIM TO CUSS 'BOUT.  HE TUK HIS CROOK HANDLED WALKIN'
STICK AND COTCH YOU AND DRUG YOU UP TO HIM AND DEN JUS' HELT YOU TIGHT AND CUSSE
D YOU TO YO' FACE, BUT HE DIDN'T NEVER WHUP NOBODY.  OUR MIST'ESS, MISS BETSEY W
AS ALLUS MOUGHTY KIND AT TIMES LAK DAT, AND SHE USED TO GIVE US CHILLUN A HEAP O
F GINGER CAKES.  DEIR SEBEN CHILLUNS WAS DR BYNAM, MARSE DAVID, AND LITTLE MISSE
S AD'LINE, ELIZABETH, MARY AND MILDRED.  DEY LIVED IN A BIG OLD TWO STORY HOUSE,
 BUT I DONE FORGOT HOW IT LOOKED.
     DAT OVERSEER, HE WAS A CLEVER MAN, BUT I CAN'T RICOLLECT HIS NAME.  HE NEVE
R PAID NO HEED TO WHAT SORT OF CLOTHES SLAVES WORE, BUT HE USED TO RAISE MERRY C
AIN IF DEY DIDN'T HAVE GOOD SHOES TO DITCH IN.  MARSE DAVID WAS DE CUSSIN' BOSS,
 BUT DE OVERSEER CALLED HISSELF DE WHUPPIN' BOSS.  HE HAD  WHUPPIN'S ALL TIME SA
VED UP SPECIAL FOR DE 'OMANS.  HE MADE 'EM TAKE OFF DEIR WAISTES AND DEN HE WHUP
PED 'EM ON DEIR BARE BACKS 'TIL HE WAS SATISFIED.  HE DONE ALL DE WHUPPIN' ATTER
 SUPPER BY CANDLELIGHT.  I DON'T 'MEMBER DAT HE EVER WHUPPED A MAN. HE JUS' WHUP
PED 'OMANS.
     EVVYBODY WAS UP EARLY SO DAT BY SUNRISE DEY WAS OUT IN DE FIELDS, JUS' A WH
OOPIN' AND HOLLERIN'.  AT SUNDOWN DEY STOPPED AND COME BACK TO DE CABINS.  IN WH
EAT HARVESTIN' TIME DEY WUKKED SO HARD DEY JUS' FELL OUT F'UM GITTIN OVERHET.
OTHER TIMES DEY JUS' WUKKED 'LONG STEADY LAK.
     MARSE DAVID NEVER HAD NO SHO' 'NOUGH CAR'IAGE SO HE NEVER NEEDED NO CAR'IAG
E DRIVER.  HE HAD WHAT DEY CALLED A GROUND SLEIGH.  IN DE SPRING MARSE DAVID SON
T A MAN TO DE WOODS TO PICK OUT A LAKLY LOOKIN' YOUNG WHITE OAK SAPLIN' AND BENT
 IT DOWN A CERTAIN WAY.  HIT STAYED BENT DAT WAY 'TIL IT GROWED BIG ENOUGH, DEN
DEY SAWED IT LENGTHWAYS AND PUT A MORTISE HOLE IN EACH FRONT PIECE TO PUT DE ROU
ND THOO' TO HOLD DE SINGLETREES.  HOLES WAS BORED AT DE BACK TO FASTEN DE PLANK
SEAT TO.  DEY PUT A QUILT ON DE SEAT FOR A CUSHION AND HITCHED A PAIR OF OXEN TO
DE SLEIGH.  COME WINTER, COME SUMMER, SNOW OR RAIN, DEY WENT RIGHT ON IN DE OLD
SLEIGH JUS' DE SAME]
     NOW, MISS, DIS SHO' IS RIGHT]  MANY TIMES AS I IS DONE BEEN OVER DAT PLANTA
TION F'UM ONE SIDE TO DE OTHER I COULDN'T TELL YOU TO SAVE MY LIFE HOW MANY ACRE
S WAS IN IT.  I WOULD BE 'FRAID TO SAY, HOW MANY SLAVES MARSE DAVID OWNED, BUT I
'M HERE TO TELL YOU DERE WAS A BUNCH OF 'EM 'ROUND DAR.
     DEY DIDN'T HAVE NO JAIL HOUSE OR NOTHIN' LAK DAT 'ROUND DAT PLANTATION, 'CA
USE IF SLAVES DIDN'T PLEASE MARSTER DEY WAS JUS' MADE TO COME UP TO DE YARD AT D
E BIG HOUSE AND TAKE DEIR BEATIN'S.  I SEED DEM TRADERS COME THOO' F'UM VIRGINNY
 WID TWO WAGON LOADS OF SLAVES AT ONE TIME, GWINE DOWN ON BROAD RIVER TO A PLACE
CALLED LISBON WHAR DEY ALREADY HAD ORDERS FOR 'EM. I AIN'T NEVER SEED NO SLAVE
S BEIN' SOLD OR AUCTIONED OFF ON DE BLOCK.
     WUNST A WHITE MAN NAMED BILL ROWSEY, COME AND BEGGED MARSE DAVID TO LET HIM
 TEACH HIS NIGGERS.  MARSE DAVID HAD DE GROWN MENS GO SWEEP UP DE COTTONSEED IN
DE GINHOUSE ON SUNDAY MORNIN', AND FOR THREE SUNDAYS US WENT TO SCHOOL.  WHEN US
 WENT ON DE FOURTH SUNDAY NIGHT RIDERS HAD DONE MADE A SHAPE LAK A COFFIN IN DE
SAND OUT IN FRONT, AND PAINTED A SIGN ON DE GINHOUSE WHAT READ:  NO NIGGERS 'LOW
ED TO BE TAUGHT IN DIS GINHOUSE.  DAT MADE MARSE DAVID SO MAD HE JUS' CUSSED AND
CUSSED.  HE 'LOWED DAT NOBODY WARN'T GWINE TELL HIM WHAT TO DO.  BUT US WAS TOO
SKEERED TO GO BACK TO DE GINHOUSE TO SCHOOL.  NEXT WEEK MARSE DAVID HAD 'EM BUIL
D A BRUSH ARBOR DOWN BY DE CRICK, BUT WHEN US WENT DOWN DAR ON SUNDAY FOR SCHOOL
, US FOUND DE NIGHT RIDERS HAD DONE 'STROYED DE BRUSH ABOR, AND DAT WAS DE END
 OF MY GWINE TO SCHOOL.
     DERE WARN'T NO CHURCH FOR SLAVES WHAR US WAS.  MARSE DAVID GIVE US A PASS S
O US WOULDN'T BE 'STURBED AND LET US GO 'ROUND FROM ONE PLANTATION TO ANOTHER ON
 SUNDAYS FOR PRAYER MEETIN'S IN DE CABINS AND UNDER TREES IF DE WEATHER WAS WARM
 AND NICE.  SOMETIMES WHEN DERE WAS A JUBILEE COMIN' OFF, SLAVES WAS 'LOWED TO G
O TO DEIR MARSTER'S CHURCH.  ME?  I USED TO RIDE 'HIND MISS BETSEY ON HER HOSS W
HAT SHE CALLED PUSS, AND AWAY US WENT JIGGIN' DOWN DE ROAD TO JUBILEES AT MILLST
ONE AND ELAM CHURCHES.  I WAS A RICH FEELIN' LITTLE NIGGER DEN.
     DE CHILLUN HAD TO TAKE A BACK SEAT WHILST DE OLD FOLKS DONE ALL DE SINGIN',
 SO I NEVER LEARNED NONE OF DEM SONGS GOOD 'NOUGH TO 'MEMBER WHAT DE WORDS WAS,
OR DE TUNES NEITHER.  NOW AND DEN US WENT TO A  FUN'RAL, NOT OFTEN, BUT IF DERE
WAS A BAPTIZIN' INSIDE OF 10 MILES 'ROUND F'UM WHAR US LIVED, US DIDN'T MISS IT.
  US KNOWED HOW TO WALK, AND WENT TO GIT DE PLEASURE.
     ATTER SLAVES GOT IN F'UM DE FIELDS AT NIGHT, DE 'OMANS COOKED SUPPER WHILST
 DE MENS CHOPPED WOOD.  LESSEN DE CROPS WAS IN DE GRASS MOUGHTY BAD OR SOMEPIN'
ELSE AWFUL URGENT, DERE WARN'T NO WUK DONE ATTER DINNER ON SADDAYS.  DE OLD FOLK
S IRONED, CLEANT HOUSE, AND DE LAK, AND DE YOUNG FOLKS WENT OUT SADDAY NIGHTS AN
D DANCED TO DE MUSIC WHAT DEY MADE BEATIN' ON TIN PANS.  SUNDAYS, YOUNGSTERS  WE
NT TO DE WOODS AND HUNTED HICKERNUTS AND MUSCADINES.  DE OLD FOLKS STAYED HOME A
ND LOOKED ONE ANOTHERS HAIDS OVER FOR MITS AND LICE.  WHENEVER DEY FOUND ANYTHIN
G, DEY MASHED IT TWIXT DEY FINGER AND THUMB AND WENT AHEAD SEARCHIN'. DEN DE 'OM
ANS WROPT EACH OTHERS HAIR DE WAY IT WAS TO STAY FIXED 'TIL DE NEXT SUNDAY.
     CHRIS'MAS US WENT F'UM HOUSE TO HOUSE LOOKIN' FOR LOCUST AND PERSIMMON
BEER.  CHILLUN WENT TO ALL DE HOUSES HUNTIN' GINGERBREAD.  MA USED TO ROLL IT TH
IN, CUT IT OUT WID A THIMBLE, AND GIVE A DOZEN OF DEM LITTLE BALLS TO EACH
CHILE.  PERSIMMON BEER AND GINGERBREAD.  WHAT BIG TIMES US DID HAVE AT
CHRIS'MAS.  NEW YEAR'S DAY, DEY RAKED UP DE HOSS AND COW LOTS IF DE WEATHER WAS
GOOD.  MARSTER JUS' MADE US WUK ENOUGH ON NEW YEAR'S DAY TO CALL IT WUKKIN', SO
HE COULD SAY HE MADE US START DE NEW YEAR RIGHT.
     MARSE DAVID HAD CORNSHUCKIN'S WHAT LASTED TWO OR THREE WEEKS AT A TIME.  DE
Y HAD A GEN'RAL TO KEEP DEM BRASH BOYS STRAIGHT.  DE NUMBER OF GEN'RALS 'PENDED
ON HOW MUCH CORN US HAD AND HOW MANY SLAVES WAS SHUCKIN' CORN.  ATTER IT WAS ALL
 SHUCKED, DERE WAS A BIG CELEBRATION IN STORE FOR DE SLAVES.  DEY COOKED UP WASH
POTS FULL OF LAMB, KID, PORK, AND BEEF, AND HAD COLLARD GREENS DAT WAS WU'TH LOO
KIN' AT.  DEY HAD WATER BUCKETS FULL OF WHISKEY.  WHEN DEM NIGGERS DANCED ATTER
ALL DAT EATIN' AND DRINKIN', IT WARN'T RIGHTLY DANCIN'.  IT WAS WRASTLIN'.
     DEM MOONLIGHT COTTON PICKIN'S WAS BIG OLD TIMES.  DEY GIVE PRIZES TO DE ONE
S PICKIN' DE MOST COTTON.  DE PRIZES WAS APT TO BE A QUART OF WHISKEY FOR DE MAN
 WHAT PICKED DE MOST AND A DRESS FOR DE 'OMAN WHAT WAS AHEAD.  DEM NIGGERS WOULN
'T TAKE NO TIME TO EMPTY COTTON IN BASKETS-JUS' DUMPED IT OUT QUICK ON BAGGIN' I
N DE FIELD.
     DEY WENT F'UM ONE PLANTATION TO ANOTHER TO QUILTIN'S.  ATTER DE 'OMANS GOT
THOO' QUILTIN' AND ET A BIG DINNER, DEN DEY AXED DE MENS TO COME IN AND DANCE WI
D 'EM.
     WHENEVER ANY OF OUR WHITE FOLKS' GALS GOT MARRIED DERE WAS TWO OR THREE WEE
KS OF CELEBRATIN'.  WHAT A TIME US DID HAVE IF IT WAS  ONE OF OUR OWN LITTLE MIS
SES GITTIN' MARRIED.  WHEN DE DAY 'RIVED, IT WAS SOMEPIN' ELSE.  DE WHITE FOLKS
WAS DRESSED UP TO BEAT DE BAND, AND ALL DE SLAVES WAS UP ON DEIR TOES TO DO EVVY
THING JUS' RIGHT AND TO SEE ALL DEY COULD.  ATTER DE PREACHER DONE FINISHED HIS
WORDS TO DE YOUNG COUPLE, DEN DEY HAD DE SHO' 'NOUGH WEDDIN' FEAST.  DERE WAS AL
L SORTS OF MEAT TO CHOOSE F'UM AT WEDDIN' DINNERS- TURKEYS, GEESE, CHICKENS, PEA
FOWLS, AND GUINEAS, NOT TO MENTION GOOD OLD HAM AND OTHER MEATS.
     PITCHIN' HOSS SHOES AND PLAYIN' MARBLES WAS HEAPS AND LOTS OF FUN WHEN I WA
S GROWIN' UP.  ATTER WHILE, DE OLD FOLKS 'CIDED DEM GAMES WAS GAMBLIN' AND WOULD
N'T LET US PLAY NO MORE.  I DON'T KNOW NOTHIN' T'ALL 'BOUT NO GHOSTIES.  US HAD
'NOUGH TO BE SKEERED OF WIDOUT TAKIN' UP NO TIME WID DAT SORT OF THING.
     WHEN MARSE DAVID CHANGED ME F'UM CALF SHEPHERD TO COWBOY, HE SONT THREE OR
FOUR OF US BOYS TO DRIVE DE COWS TO A GOOD POLACE TO GRAZE 'CAUSE DE MALE BEAST
WAS SO MEAN AND BAD 'BOUT GITTIN' ATTER CHILLUN, HE THOUGHT IF HE SONT ENOUGH OF
US DERE WOULDN'T BE NO TROUBLE.  DEM DAYS DERE WARN'T NO FENCE LAW, AND CALVES
WAS JUS' TURNED LOOSE IN DE PASTUR TO GRAZE.  DE FUST TIME I WENT BY MYSELF TO D
RIVE DE COWS OFF TO GRAZE AND COME BACK WID 'EM, AUNT VINNIE 'PORTED A BUNCH OF
DE COWS WAS MISSIN', 'BOUT 20 OF 'EM, WHEN SHE DONE DE MILKIN' DAT NIGHT, AND I
HAD TO GO BACK HUNTIN' DEM COWS.  DE MOON COME OUT, BRIGHT AND CLEAR, BUT I COUL
DN'T SEE DEM COWS NOWHAR- DIDN'T EVEN HEAR DE BELL COW.  ATTER WHILE I WAS STAND
IN' IN DE MAYBERRY FIELD ALOOKIN' CROST DRY FORK CRICK AND DERE WAS DEM COWS.  D
E BELL WAS PULLED SO CLOST ON DE BELL COW'S NECK WHAR SHE WAS CAUGHT IN DE BUSHE
S, DAT IT COULDN'T RING.  I LOOKED AT DEM COWS- DEN I LOOKED AT DE CRICK WHAR I
COULD SEE SNAKES AS THICK AS DE FINGERS ON YOUR HAND, BUT I KNOWED I HAD TO GIT
DEM COWS BACK HOME, SO I JUS' LIT OUT AND LOPED 'CROSS DAT CRICK SO FAST DEM SNA
KES NEVER HAD NO CHANCT TO BITE ME.  DAT WAS DE WUST RACKET I EVER GOT IN.
    -MjSE DAVID jND MISS BETSEY TuK-MOUGHTY GOOD KEER OF DEIR NIGGERS, 'SPECIAL
LY WHEN DEY WAS SICK.  DR BYNAM BELL DEIR OLDEST SON, WAS A DOCTOR BUT MISS BETS
EY WAS A POWERFUL GOOD HAND AT DOCTORING HERSELF.  SHE LOOKED ATTER ALL DE SLAVE
 'OMANS.  FOR MEDICrNES DEY GIVE US ASAFIDDY, CALOMEL, AND lOASTOR OIL MORE DAN
ANYTHING ELSE FOR OUR DIFF'UNT AILMENTS.
MARSE DAVID'S NEPHEW, MR HENRY BELL, VISITED AT DE BIG HOUSE DURIN' DE WAR, AND
HE WAS CUT DOWN JUS' A FEW DAYS ATTER HE LEFT US AND WENT BACK TO DE
BATTLEFIELD.
     US HAD BEEN HEARIN' FUST ONE THING AND ANOTHER 'BOUT FREEDOM MIGHT COME, WH
EN ONE MORNIN' MR WILL BELL, A PATTEROLLER, COME RIDIN' ON HIS HOSS AT TOP SPEED
 THOO' DE RYE FIELD WHAR US WAS AT WUK.  US MADE SHO' HE WAS ATTER SOME PORE SLA
VE, 'TIL HE YELLED OUT:  WHAT YOU NIGGERS WUKKIN' FOR?  DON'T YOU KNOW YOU IS FR
EE AS JAY BIRDS?  'BOUT DAT TIME DE TRUMPET BLOWED FOR DINNER AND US FELL IN LIN
E AMRACHIN' UP TO DE BIG HOUSE.  MARSE DAVID SAID:  YOU ALL MIGHT JUS' AS WELL B
E FREE AS ANYBODY ELSE.  DEN HE PROMIUSED TO GIVE US SOMEPIN' TO EAT AND WEAR IF
US WOULD STAY ON WID HIM, AND DERE US DID STAY FOR 'BOUT 3 YEARS ATTER DE WAR.
I WAS BURNT UP DEN, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE DE PRIVILEGES OF RIDIN' 'HIND MISS BETS
EY ON OLD PUSS NO MORE WHEN SHE WENT TO MEETIN'.
     WHAR US LIVED, KU KLUXERS WAS CALLED NIGHT THIEFS.  DEY STOLE MONEY AND WEA
PONS F'UM NIGGERS ATTER DE WAR.  DEY TUK $50 IN GOLD F'UM ME AND $50 IN JEFF DAV
IS' SHINPLASTERS F'UM MY BROTHER.  MA AND PA HAD LEFT DAT MONEY FOR US TO USE WH
EN US GOT BIG ENOUGH.  A FEW NIGGERS MANAGED SOMEHOW TO BUY A LITTLE LAND.  I CO
ULDN'T RIGHTLY SAY WHEN DE SCHOOL WAS SET UP.
     ME AND CARRIE RUCKER, US AIN'T BEEN MARRIED LONG.  I THINKS BIG WEDDIN'S IS
A FOOLISH WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.  YESSUM, I'M MOUGHTY PROUD OF ALL OF CARRIE'S
 GRANDCHILLUN AND I'M FOND OF EVVYONE OF DEM 24 GREAT-GRANDCHILLUN OF HERS.
     WELL, IT WAS A GOD-SENT METHOD MR LINCOLN USED TO GIVE US OUR FREEDOM.  MR
DAVIS DIDN'T WANT NO WAR, AND HE 'POSED IT ALL HE KNOWED HOW, BUT IF HE HADN'T A
GONE AHEAD AND FIT, DERE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTHIN' DONE FOR US.  FAR AS I KN
OWS, BOOKER WASHIN'TON DONE SOME GOOD THINGS IN HIS DAY AND TIME, BUT I DON'T KN
OW MUCH 'BOUT HIM.
     IN A WAY, I'M SATISFIED WID WHAT CONFRONTS ME.  A PUSSON IN JAIL OR ON DE C
HAINGANG WOULD RUTHER BE OUTSIDE AND FREE DAN IN CAPTIVITY.  DAT'S HOW I FEELS.
     WHEN DEY READ DIS PASSAGE OF DE BIBLE TO ME, I 'CIDED TO JINE UP WID DE CHU
RCH, AND DEN LIVE 'LIGIOUS LIFES.  I DONE BEEN CHANGED F'UM DARKNESS TO LIGHT, O
H, FOR A CLOSER WALK WID GOD.
     YE MA'AM, MISS, I DONE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME I DONE SEED MANY COME AND GO.
 LOTS OF CHANGES HAS TUK PLACE.  I DONE TOLD YOU 'BOUT F'UM DE CRADLE TO DE GRAV
E, AND I ENJOYED DOIN' IT.  ALL DAT RICOLLECTION SHO' TUK ME BACK OVER MANY A RO
CKY ROAD, BUT DEM WAS DE DAYS WHAT AIN'T NEVER GWINE TO BE NO MORE.