JACOB BRANCH                 1572-TEX/#216
     I'S BOUGHT AND FOTCHED HERE TO DOUBLE BRAVO WHEN I'S JES' THREE YEARS OLD.
 I AND MY HALF BROTHER, ELECK, HE DE BABY, WAS BOTH BORN IN LOUISIANA ON DE VAN
LOOS PLACE,BUT I GO BY DE NAME OF BRANCH, 'CAUSE MY DADDY NAME BRANCH.  MY MAMA
NAME RENEE.  DEY SPLIT UP US FAMILY AND ELISHA STEVENSON BUY MY MAMA AND DE TWO
CHILLEN.  I AIN'T NEVER SEE MY DADDY NO MORE AND DON'T 'MEMBER HIM AT ALL.
    -OLD )LISHA STEVnNsON HE A GREAT ONE FOR TO RAISE PIGS.  HE SELL SOMETIME
500 HAWGS AT ONE TIME.  HE TAKE HE DOGS AND DRIVE DEM HAWGS 'CROSS DE NECHES RIV
ER ALL BY HISSELF, TO SELL DEM.  DAT HOW HE GIT MONEY TO BUY DE NIGGERS, SELLIN'
 HAWGS AND COWHIDES.
     OLD MASSA HE SHO' A GOOD OLD MAN, BUT DE OLD MISSY, SHE A TORNADO]  HER NAM
E MISS 'LIZA.  SHE COULD BE TERRIBLE MEAN.  BUT SOMETIME SHE TAKE HER OLD MORREL
--DAT A SACK MAKE FOR TO CARRY THINGS IN--AND GO OUT AND COME BACK WITH PLENTY J
OINTS OF SUGAR CANE.  SHE TAKES A KNIFE AND SIT ON DE GALLARY AND PEEL DAT CANE
AND GIVE A JOINT TO EVERY ONE DE LI'L CHILLEN.
     MAMA, SHE WORK UP IN DE BIG HOUSE, DOIN' COOKIN' AND WASHIN'.  OLD MASSA GO
 BUY A CULLUD MAN NAME UNCLE CHARLEY FENNER.  HE A GOOD OLD CULLUD MAN.  MASSA B
RUNG HIM TO DE QUARTERS AND SAY,  RENEE, HERE YOU HUSBAND, AND DEN HE TURN TO UN
CLE AND SAY, CHARLEY, DIS YOU WOMAN.  DEN DEY CONSIDER MARRY.  DAT DE WAY DEY MA
RRY DEN, BY DE MASSA'S WORD.  UNCLE CHARLEY, HE GOOD STEP PA TO US.
     DE WHITE FOLKS HAVE DE GOOD HOUSE WITH A BRICK CHIMNEY.  US QUARTERS DE GOO
D, SNUG LI'L HOUSE WITH FLUE AND OVEN.  DEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO HAVE MUCH FURN'CHUR
E 'CAUSE US IN DERE ONLY TO SLEEP.  US HAVE HOMEMAKE BENCH AND GEORGIA HOSS BED
WITH HAY MATTRESS.  ALL US COOKIN' AND EATIN' DONE IN DE KITCHEN DE BIG HOUSE.
 US HAVE PLENTY TO EAT, TOO.  DE SMOKEHOUSE ALLUS FULL WHITE 'TATERS AND CRACKLI
N'S HANGIN' ON DE WALL.  US GIT  DEM MOS' ANY TIME US WANT, JES' SO LONG AS US D
IDN'T WASTE NOTHIN'.  DEY HAVE BIG JAR WITH BUTTERMILK AND 'LOW US DRINK ALL US
WANT.
     OLD LADY 'LIZA SHE HAVE THREE WOMEN TO SPIN WHEN SHE GIT READY MAKE DE CLOT
HES FOR EVERYBODY.  DEY SPIN AND WEAVE AND MAKE ALL US CLOTHES.  US ALL WEAR SHI
RT TAIL TILL US 'BOUT TWELVE OR FOURTEEN, BOYS AND GALS, TOO.  YOU COULDN'T TELL
 US APART..
     US CHILLEN START TO WORK SOON'S US COULD TODDLE.  FIRST US GATHER FIREWOOD.
  IFFEN IT FREEZIN' OR HOT  US HAVE TO GO TO TOUGHEN US UP.  WHEN US GIT LI'L BI
GGER US TEND DE CATTLE AND FEED HOSSES AND HAWGS.  BY TIME US GOOD SPROUTS US PI
CKIN' COTTON AND PULLIN' CANE.  US AIN'T NEVER IDLE.  SOMETIME US GIT FAR OUT IN
 DE FIELD AND LAY DOWN IN DE CORN ROW AND NAP.  BUT, LAWDY, IFFEN DEY COTCH YOU,
 DEY SHO' WORE YOU OUT]  SUNDAY DE ONLIEST REST DAY AND DEN DE WHITE FOLKS 'LOW
US PLAY.
     MASSA NEVER WHUP UNCLE CHARLEY, 'CAUSE HE GOOD NIGGER AND WORK HARD.  IT MA
KE MISSY MAD AND ONE TIME WHEN MASSA GONE SHE GO DOWN IN DE FIELD.  UNCLE CHARLE
Y HOEIN' CORN JES' LIKE MASSA DOEN TOLD HIM, JES' SINGIN' AND HAPPY.  OLD MISSY
SHE SAY, NIGGER, I'S SHO GWINETER WHUP YOU.  HE SAY WHAT FOR YOU  WHUP ME, I DOI
N' EVERY BIT WHAT OLD MASSA DONE TELL ME.  BUT MISSY THINK HE GITTIN' IT TOO GOO
D, 'CAUSE HE AIN'T NEVER BEEN WHUPPED.  SHE CLUMB OVER DE FENCE AND START DOWN D
E ROW WITH DE COWHIDE.  UNCLE CHARLEY, HE AIN'T EVEN RAISE HIS VOICE, BUT HE CUT
 DE LAS' WEED OUTEN DAT CORN AND COMMENCE TO WAVE DE HOE IN DE AIR, AND HE SAY,
MISSY I AIN'T 'VISE YOU COME ANY STEP CLOSETER.  DAT SHO' MAKE HER MAD BUT SHE '
FRAID TO DO NOTHIN'.
     ONE TIME SHE HAVE 'NOTHER NIGGER NAME CHARLIE.  MASSA GO ON DE TRIP AND SHE
 TELL DIS CHARLEY IFFEN HE AIN'T FINISH GRINDIN' ALL DE CORNMEAL BY MONDAY SHE G
WINETER GIVE HIM A T'OUSAND LASHES.  HE TRY BUT HE AIN'T ABLE MAKE DAT MUCH MEAL
 SO COME MONDAY HE RUNNED OFF IN DE BAYOU.  DAT NIGHT COME DE BIG FREEZE AND HE
DOWN DERE WITH WATER UP TO HE KNEES AND WHEN MASSA COME HOME AND GO GIT HIM, HE
SO FROZE HE COULDN'T WALK.  DEY BRUNG HIM IN DE KITCHEN AND OLD MISSY CUSS HIM O
UT.  SOON'S HE THAW OUT, HE DONE DIE RIGHT DERE ON DE SPOT.
     MY PORE MAMA]  EVERY WASHDAY OLD MISSY GIVE HER DE BEATIN'.  SHE COULDN'T K
EEP DE FLIES FROM SPECKIN' DE CLOTHES OVERNIGHT.  OLD MISSY GIT UP SOON IN DE MO
RNIN' 'FORE MAMA HAVE TIME GIT DEM SPECKS OFF.  SHE SNORT AND SAY RENEE I'S GWIN
ETER TEACH YOU HOW TO WASH]  DEN SHE BEAT MAMA WITH DE COWHIDE.  LOOK LIKE SHE C
UT MY MAMA IN TWO.  MANY'S DE TIME I EDGES UP AND TRIES TAKE SOME DEM LICKS OFF
MY MAMA.
     SLAVERY, ONE TO 'NOTHER, WAS PURTY ROUGH.  EVERY PLANTATION HAVE TO ANSWER
FOR ITSELF.
     I USED TO KNOW LOTS OF SONGS, BUT I DON'T KNOW MANY NOW.  SPIRITUAL SONGS,
DEY COMES THROUGH VISIONS.  DAT'S WHY CULLUD FOLKS CAN MAKE DEM BETTER DAN WHITE
 FOLKS.  I KNOWED ONE SONG WHAT START OUT--DE JEWS DONE KILL PORE JESUS, AND BUR
Y HIM IN DE SEPULCHUR; DE GRAVE WOULDN'T HOLD HIM, DEY PLACE GUARDS ALL 'ROUND H
IM, BUT DE ANGELS MOVE DE STONE, DE JEWS DONE KILL PORE JESUS, BUT DE GRAVE IT
WOULDN'T HOLD HIM.
     DEY 'NOTHER SONG WHAT SAY--RUN, SINNER, RUN, GAWD IS ACALLIN' YOU.  RUN, SI
NNER, RUN, DE FIRE'LL OVERTAKE YOU.
     WHEN I 'BOUT TEN DEY SETS ME GINNIN' COTTON.  OLD MASSA HE DONE MAKE DE COT
TON WITH DE HAND CRANK.  IT BUILT ON A BENCH LIKE.  I GIN DE COTTON BY TURNIN' D
AT CRANK.  WHEN I GITS A LAPFUL I PUTS IT IN DE TOW SACK AND DEY TAKE IT TO MISS
 SUSAN TO AMKE DE TWINE WITH IT.  I WARM AND DAMP DE COTTON 'FORE DE FIREPLACE '
FORE I START GINNIN' IT.
     DERE SCHOOL FOR DE WHITE CHILLEN IN DOUBLE BAYOU AND I USED TO GO MEET DE C
HILLEN COMIN' HOME AND DEY STOP LONGSIDE DE WAY AND TEACH ME MY ABC.  DEY DONE C
ARRY ME AS FAR AS BAKER IN DE BOOK WHEN OLD MISSY FIND IT OUT AND MAKE DEM STOP.
  DE WAR COMIN' ON DEN AND US DARSN'T EVEN PICK UP A PIECE OF PAPER.  DE WHITE F
OLKS DIDN'T WANT US TO LARN TO READ FOR FEAR US FIND OUT THINGS.
     US LIVIN' DOWN BY DE WELBORN'S DEN AND I SEED DEM HAUL DE LOGS OUT OF PINE
ISLAND TO MAKE DAT WELBORN HOUSE.  OLD MAN HAMSHIRE AND OLD MAN REMINGTON BUILDE
D DAT WELBORN HOUSE.  IT 'CROSS DE BAYOU, LEFT HAND SIDE SMITH'S FERRY.  DAT HOU
SE STILL STANDIN' IN PARTS.
     ONE MORNIN' ELECK AND ME GIT UP AT CRACK OF DAWN TO MILK.  ALL AT ONCE COME
 A SHOCK WHAT SHAKE DE EARTH.  DE BIG FISH JUMP CLEAN OUT DE BAY AND TURTLES  AN
D ALLIGATORS RUN OUT DERE PONDS.  DEY PLUMB RUINT GALVESTON]  US RUNNED IN DE HO
USE AND ALL DE DISHES AND THINGS DONE JUMP OUT DE SHELF.  DAT DE FIRST BOMBARDME
NT OF GALVESTON.  DE SOJERS PUT POWDER UNDER PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND BLOWIN' UP GALV
ESTON.
     YOUNG MASSA SHAKE STEVENSON HE VOL'TEER AND GIT KILT SOMEWHERES IN
VIRGINNY.  YOUNG MASSA TUCKER STEVENSON, HE AIN'T 'LIEVE IN WAR AND HE SAY HE NE
VER GWINE FIGHT.  HE HIDE IN DE WOODS SO DE CONSCRIP' MEN CAN'T FIND HIM.  OLD M
AN LACOUR COME ROUND AND SAY HE HAVE ORDERS FOR FIND TUCKER AND BRING HIM IN DEA
D OR 'LIVE.  BUT 'CAUSE HE OLD MASSA'S FRIEND, HE SAY, WHY DON'T YOU BUY DE BOY'
S SERVICES OFF?  SO OLD MASSA TAKE DE BOAT CATRIG US CALLS IT, AND LOADS IT WITH
 CORN AND SICH AND US  POLE IT DOWN TO GALVESTON.  DE PEOPLE NEED DAT FOOD SO MU
CH, DAT LOAD SUPPLIES DON BUY OFF MASSA TUCKER FROM FIGHTIN'.
     AFTER WAR STARTS LOTS OF SLAVES RUNNED OFF TO GIT TO DE YANKEES.  ALL DEM I
N DIS PART HEADS FOR DE RIO GRANDE RIVER.  DE MEXICANS RIG UP FLATBOATS OUT IN D
E MIDDLE DE RIVER, TIED TO STAKES WITH ROPE.  THEN DE CULLUD PEOPLE GITS TO DE R
OPE DEY CAN PULL DEYSELF 'CROSS DE REST DE WAY ON DEM BOATS.  DE WHITE FOLKS RID
 DE MEXICAN SIDE DAT RIVER ALL DE TIME, BUT PLENTY SLAVES GIT THROUGH ANYWAY.
     I WAIT ON LOTS OF SOJERS.  I HAVE TO GET SMARTWEED AND BILE IT IN SALT WATE
R TO BATH DEM IN.  DAT HELP DE RHEUMATISM.  DEM SOJERS HAVE RHEUMATISM SO BAD FO
R STANDIN' DAY AND NIGHT IN DE WATER.
     US SHO' IN GOOD HEALTH DEM DAYS.  IFFEN A CULLUD MAN WEAK DEY MOVE DE MUSCL
ES IN HE ARMS, BLEED HIM AND GIVE HIM PLENTY BACON AND CORNBREAD, AND HE GIT SO
STRONG HE COULD LIFT A LOG.  DEY DIDN'T GO IN FOR CUTTIN', LIKE DEY DO NOW.  DEY
 GIT HERBS OUT DE WOODS, BLUE MASS AND QUININE AND CALOMEL.  I THINK PEOPLE JES'
 DIE UNDER PILLS NOW.  OLD LADY FIELD SHE MAKE MEDICINE WITH SNAKEROOT AND LARKS
PUR AND MARSHROOT AND REDROOT.
     AFTER WAR AM OVER MASSA TUCKER BRUNG DE FREEDOM PAPERS AND READ DEM.  HE SA
Y US ALL AM FREE AS HELL.  OLD MAN CHARLEY SO HAPPY HE JES' ROLL ON DE FLOOR LIK
E A HOSS AND KICK HE HEELS.  DE NEX' NORNIN' MAMA START DO SOMETHIN' AND MISSY C
USS HER OUT.  I RUNNED TO MISSY AND SAY, US FREE AS DE BIRD.  SHE SHO' WHUP ME F
OR DAT, BUT NO MORE, 'CAUSE SHE  SO MEAN US ALL LEAVE.
     DAT FUNNY.  OLD MAN LAFOUR, WHAT DE HEAD DE PATTERROLLERS AND SO MEAN, HE D
E FIRST TO HELP US NIGGERS AFTER FREEDOM.  HE LOAN US HE OX TEAM AND PAY UNCLE C
HARLEY A DOLLAR DE DAY FOR WORK AND A DOLLAR EVERY TIME MY MAMA WASH FOR HE
WIFE.
     OLD MASSA AND MISSY SPLIT UP.  SHE SO BAD SHE AIN'T GIVE HIM NO BETTER SHOW
 DAN SHE DONE US.  OLD MASSA GITTIN' SOME PEACHES ONE DAY AND SHE COME AFTER HIM
 WITH DE BUGGY WHIP.  HE GIT ON HE HOSS AND SAY, LIZ, YOU'S GITTIN' BROAD AS DE
BEEF.  YOU TOO BIG FOR ME.  SHE SO MAD SHE SPIT FIRE.  LIGHTENIN' DONE KILL HER,
 SHE UPSTAIRS AND DE BIG STREAK HITS HER.  IT KNOCK HER UNDER DE BED.
     DE FIRST FREEDOM WORK I DONE AM PULLIN' UP POTATO HILLS AT TWO BITS A HUNNE
RD.  'BOUT TWO BITS DE MOST US COULD MAKE IN ONE DAY.  I WORK TWO DAYS TO BUY MA
MA DE TURKEY HEN FOR CHRISTMAS.  ANYTHING MAMA WANT I THINK SHE GOT TO HAVE.  I'
S  GROWED 'FORE I GITS MUCH AS FOUR BITS A DAY.  I'S DONE EARN AS MUCH AS $1.50
IN MY TIME, THOUGH.
     WHEN I'S TWENTY FIVE YEAR OLD I MARRIES BETTY BAKER BUT SHE DEAD NOW.  DE R
EV PATTERSON HE MARRY US.  US HAS FOUR CHILLEN LIVIN'.  TURAH AND RENEE, DAT MY
GALS, AND ENRICHS AND MILTON, DAT MY BOYS.   MILTON WORK IN HOUSTON AND ENRICH H
ELP ME FARM.  I'S A MASON 30 YEAR.  DE LODGE SPLIT UP NOW, BUT IT ANSWER.
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