NEAL UPSON                   0753-GEO/#233
P     GOOD MORNIN', MISS.  HOW IS YOU?  WON'T YOU COME IN?  I WOULD AX YOU TO HA
VE A CHEER ON THE PORCH, BUT I HAS TO STAY IN DE HOUSE CAUSE DE LIGHT HURTS MY E
YES.
     MISS, I'S MIGHTY GLAD YOU COME TODAY, CAUSE I DOES GIT SO LONESOME HERE BY
MYSELF.  MY OLD 'OMAN WUKS UP TO DE COURT'OUSE, COOKIN' FOR DE FOLKSES IN JAIL,
AND IT'S ALLUS LATE WHEN SHE GITS BACK HOME.  'SCUSE ME FOR PUTTIN' MY OLD HAT B
ACK ON, BUT DESE OLD EYES JUS' CAN'T STAND DE LIGHT EVEN HERE IN THE HALL, LESS
I SHADES 'EM.
     LAWSY, MISSY.  DOES YOU MEAN DAT YOU IS WILLIN' TO SET HERE AND LISTEN TO O
LD NEAL TALK?  'TAIN'T MANY FOLKSES WHAT SANTS TO HEAR US OLD NIGGERS TALK NO MO
RE.  I JUS' LOVES TO THINK BACK ON DEM DAYS 'CAUSE DEM WAS HAPPY TIMES, SO MUCH
BETTER'N TIMES IS NOW.  FOLKSES WAS BETTER DEN.  DEY WAS ALLUS READY TO HOLP ONE
 ANOTHER, BUT JUS' LOOK HOW DEY IS NOW.
     I WAS BORNED ON MARSTER FRANK UPSON'S PLACE DOWN IN OGLETHORPE COUNTY, NIGH
 LEXIN'TON, GEORGY.  MARSTER HAD A PLANTATION, BUT US NEVER LIVED DAR FOR US STA
YED AT DE HOME PLACE WHAT NEVER HAD MORE'N 'BOUT 80 ACRES OF LAND 'ROUND IT.  US
 NEVER HAD TO BE TROTTIN' TO DE STO' EVVY TIME US STARTED TO COOK, 'CAUSE WHAT W
ARN'T RAISED ON DE HOME PLACE, MARSTER HAD 'EM RAISE OUT DE DE BIG PLANTATION.
EVVYTHING US NEEDED T'EAT AND WEAR WAS GROWED ON MARSE FRANK'S LAND.
     HAROLD AND JANE UPSON WAS MY DADDY AND MAMMY;  ONLY FOLKSES JUS' CALLED DAD
DY HAL.  BOTH OF 'EM WAS RAISED RIGHT DAR ON DE UPSON PLACE WHAR DEY PLAYED TOGE
THER WHILST DEY WAS CHILLUN.  MAMMY SAID SHE HAD WASHED AND SEWED FOR DADDY EVER
 SINCE SHE WAS BIG ENOUGH, AND WHEN DEY GOT GROWN DEY JUS' UP AND  GOT MARRIED.
 I WAS DEIR ONLY BOY AND I WAS DE BABY CHILE, BUT DEY HAD FOUR GALS ODLER'N ME.
 DEY WAS: CORDELIA, ANNA, PARTHENE, AND ELLA.  ELLA WAS NAMED FOR MARSE FRANK'S
ONLIEST CHILE, LITTLE MISS ELLEN, AND OUR LITTLE MISS WAS SHO A GOOD LITTLE CHIL
E.
     DADDY MADE DE SHOES FOR ALL DE SLAVES ON DE PLANTATION AND MAMMY WAS CALLED
 DE HOUSE 'OMAN.  SHE DONE DE COOKIN' UP AT DE BIG 'OUSE AND MADE DE CLOTH FOR H
ER OWN FAMBLY'S CLOTHES, AND SHE WAS SO SMART U ALLUS HAD PLENTY T'EAT AND WEAR.
  I WAS LITTLE AND STAYED WID MAMMY UP AT DE BIG 'OUSE AND JUS' PLAYED ALL OVER
IT AND ALL DE FOLKSES UP DAR PETTED ME.  AUNT TAMA WAS A OLD SLAVE TOO OLD TO WO
RK.  SHE WAS ALL DE TIME COOKIN' GINGERBREAD AND HIDIN' IT IN A LITTLE TRUNK WHA
T SOT BY DE FIREPLACE IN HER ROOM.  WHEN US CHILLUN WAS GOOD AUNT TAMA GIVE US G
INGERBREAD, BUT IF US DIDN'T MIND WHAT SHE SAID, US DIDN'T GIT NONE.  AUNT TAMA
HAD DE RHEUMATIZ AND WALKED WID A STICK AND I COULD GIT IN DAT TRUNK JUS' 'BOUT
ANYTIME I WANTED TO.  I SHO' DID GIT 'BOUT EVVYTHING DEM OTHER CHILLUN HAD,  SWA
PPIN' AUNT TAMA'S GINGERBREAD.  WHEN OUR WHITE FOLKSES WENT OFF, AUNT TAMA TOTED
DE KEYS, AND SHE EVERMORE DID MAKE DEM NIGGERS STAND 'ROUND.  MARSE FRANK JUS' L
AUGHED WHEN DEY MADE COMPLAINTS 'BOUT HER.
     IN SUMMERTIME DEY COOKED PEAS AND OTHER VEG'TABLES FOR US CHILLUN IN A WASH
POT OUT IN DE YARD IN DE SHADE, AND US ET OUT OF DE POT WID OUR WOODEN SPOONS.
DEY JUS' GIVE US WOODEN BOWLS FULL OF BREAD AND MILK FOR SUPPER.
     MARSE FRANK SAID HE WANTED 'EM TO LARN ME HOW TO WAIT ON DE WHITE FOLKSES T
ABLE UP AT DE BIG 'OUSE, AND DEY STARTED ME OFF WID DE JOB OF FANNIN' DE FLIES A
WAY.  MIST'ESS SERENA, MARSE FRANK'S WIFE, MADE ME A WHITE COAT TO WEAR IN DE DI
NIN' ROOM.  MISSY, DAT LITTLE OLD WHITE COAT MADE ME GIT DE ONLIEST WHUPPIN' MAR
SE FRANK EVER DID GIVE ME.  US HAD COMP'NY FOR DINNER DAT DAY AND I FELT SO BIG
SHOWIN' OFF 'FORE 'EM IN DAT WHITE COAT DAT I JUS' COULDN'T MAKE DAT TURKEY WING
 FAN DO RIGHT.  DEM TURKEY WINGS WAS FASTENED ON LONG HANDLES AND ATTER MARSTER
HAD DONE WARNED ME A TIME OR TWO TO MIND WHAT I WAS 'BOUT, THE OLD TURKEY WING
WENT DOWN IN DE GRAVY BOWL AND WHEN I JERKED IT OUT IT SPLATTERED ALL OVER DE PR
EACHER'S BEST SUNDAY SUIT.  MARSE FRANK GOT UP AND TUK ME RIGHT OUT TO DE KITCHE
N AND WHEN HE GOT THROUGH BRUSHIN' ME OFF I NEVER DID HAVE NO MORE TROUBLE WID D
EM TURKEY WINGS.
     EVVYBODY COOKED ON OPEN FIREPLACES DEM DAYS.  DEY HAD SWINGIN' RACKS WHAT D
EY CALLED CRANES TO HANG DE POTS ON FOR BILIN'.  DERE WAS OVENS FOR BAKIN' AND D
E HEAVY IRON SKILLETS HAD LONG HANDLES.  ONE OF DEM OLD SKILLETS WAS SO BIG DAT
MAMMY COULD COOK 30 BISCUITS IN IT AT ONE TIME.  I ALLUS DID LOVE BISCUITS AND I
 WOULD GO OUT IN DE YARD AND TRADE AUNT TAMA'S GINGERBREAD TO DE OTHER CHILLUNS
FOR DEIR SHEER OF BISCUITS.  DEN DEY WOULD BE SKEERED TO EAT DE GINGERBREAD 'CAU
SE I TOLD 'EM I'D TELL ON 'EM.  AUNT TAMA THOUGHT DEY WAS SICK AND TOLD MARSE FR
ANK DE CHILLUNS WARN'T EATIN' NOTHIN'.  HE AXED 'EM WHAT WAS DE MATTER AND DEY T
OLD HIM DEY HAD DONE TRADED ALL DEIR BREAD TO ME.  MARSE FRANK DEN AXED ME IF I
WARN'T GITTIN' ENOUGH T'EAT, 'CAUSE HE 'LOWED DERE WAS ENOUGH DAR FOR ALL.  DEN
AUNT TAMA HAD TO GO AND TELL ON ME.  SHE SAID I WAS WUSS DAN A HOG ATTER BISCUIT
S, SO OUR GOOD MARSTER HER TO SEE DAT LI'L NEAL HAD ENOUGH T'EAT.
     I AIN'T NEVER GWINE TO FORGIT DAT WHUPPIN' MY OWN DADDY GIVE ME.  HE HAD JU
S' SHARPENED UP A FINE NEW AXE FOR HISSELF, AND I TRADED IT OFF TO A WHITE BOY N
AMED ROAR WHAT LIVED NIGH US WHEN I SEED HIM OUT TRYIN' TO CUT WOOD WID A SORRY
OLD DULL AXE.  I SOLD HIM MY DADDY'S FINE NEW AXE FOR 5 BISCUITS.  WHEN HE FOUND
 OUT 'BOUT DAT HE 'LOWED HE WAS GWINE TO GIVE ME SOMEPIN TO MAKE ME THINK 'FORE
 I DONE ANY MORE TRADIN' OF HIS THINGS.  MIST'ESS, LET ME TELL YOU, DAT BEATIN'
HE GIVE ME EVERMORE WAS ALAYIN' ON OF DE ROD.
     ONE DAY MISS SERENA PUT ME IN DE CHERRY TREE TO PICK CHERRIES FOR HER, AND
SHE TOLD ME NOT TO EAT NONE 'TIL I FINISHED;  DEN I COULD HAVE ALL I WANTED, BUT
 I DIDN'T MIND HER AND I ET SO MANY CHERRIES I GOT SICK AND FnLL-OUT-OF DE TREE.
  MIST'ESS WAS SKEERED, BUT MARSE FRANK SAID:  IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR HIM, 'CAUSE
HE DIDN'T MIND.
     MAMMY NEVER DID GIVE ME BUT ONE WHUPPIN' NEITHER.  DADDY WAS GWINE TO DE CI
RCUS AND I JUS' CUT UP 'BOUT IT 'CAUSE I WANTED TO GO SO BAD.  MIST'ESS GIVE ME
SOME CAKE AND I HUSHED  LONG AS I WAS EATIN', BUT SOON AS DE LAST CAKE CRUMB
WAS SWALLOWED I STARTED BAWLIN' AGAIN.  SHE GIVE ME A STICK OF CANDY AND SOON AS
 I ET DAT I WAS SQUALLIN' WUSS DAN EVER.  MAMMY TOLD MIST'ESS DEN DAT SHE KNOWED
 HOW TO QUIET ME AND SHE RETCH UNDER DE BED FOR A SHOE.  WHEN SHE HAD DONE FINIS
HED LAYIN' DAT SHOE ON ME AND PUT IT BACK WHAR SHE GOT IT, I WAS SHO WILLIN' TO
SHET MY MOUTH AND LET 'EM ALL GO TO DE CIRCUS WIDOUT NO MORE RACKET FROM ME.
     DE FUST SCHOOL I WENT TO WAS IN A LITTLE ONE ROOM 'OUSE IN OUR WHITE FOLKSE
S' BACK YARD.  US HAD A WHITE TEACHER AND ALL HE LARNT SLAVE CHILLUN WAS JUS' PL
AIN READIN' AND WRITIN'.  I HAD TO PASS DOCTOR WILLINGHAM'S OFFICE LOTS AND HE W
AS ALL DE TIME PESTERIN' ME 'BOUT SPELLIN.  ONE DAY HE STOPPED ME AND AXED ME IF
 I COULD SPELL BUMBLE BEE WIDOUT ITS TAIL.  AND HE SAID DAT WHEN I LARNT TO SPEL
L IT HE WOULD GIMME SOME CANDY.  MR SANDERS, AT LEXIN'TON, GIMME A DIME ONCT.  I
T WAS DE FUST MONEY I EVER HAD.  I WAS PLUMB RICH AND I NEVER LET MY DADDY HAVE
NO PEACE 'TIL HE FETCHED ME TO TOWN TO DO MY TRADIN'.  I WAS ALL SOT TO BUY MYSE
LF A HAT, A STO BOUGHT SUIT OF CLOTHES, AND SOME SHOES WHAT WARN'T BROGANS, BUT
MISSY, I WOUND UP WID A GINGERCAKE AND A NICKEL'S WUTH OF CANDY.  I USED TO CRY
AND HOLLER EVVY TIME MISS SERENA WENT OFF AND LEFT ME.  WHENEVER I SEED 'EM GITT
IIN' OUT DE CARRIAGE TO HITCH IT UP, I STARTED BEGGIN' TO GO.  SOMETIMES SHE LAU
GHED AND SAID:  ALL RIGHT NEA..  BUT WHEN SHE SAID NO, NEAL, I STUCK OUT AND HID
 UNDER DE HIGHUP CARRIAGE SEAT AND WENT ALONG JUS' DE SAME.  MIST'ESS ALLUS FOUN
D ME 'FORE US GOT BACK HOME,  BUT SHE JUS' LAUGHED AND SAID:  WELL, NEAL'S MY LI
TTLE NIGGER ANYHOW.
     DEM OLD CORD BEDS WAS A SIGHT TO LOOK AT, BUT DEY SLEPT GOOD.  US CYARDED L
INT COTTON INTO BATS FOR MATTRESSES AND PUT 'EM IN A TICK WHAT US TACKED SO IT W
OULDN'T GIT LUMPY.  US NEVER SEED NO IRON SPRINGS DEM DAYS.  DEM CORDS, CRISSCRO
SSED FROM ONE SIDE OF DE BED TO DE OTHER, WAS OUR SPRINGS AND US HAD KEYS TO TIG
HTEN 'EM WID.  IF US DIDN'T TIGHTEN 'EM EVVY FEW DAYS DEM BEDS WAS APT TO FALL D
OWN WID US.  DE CHEERS WAS HOMEMADE TOO AND DE EASIEST SETTIN' ONES HAD BOTTOMS
MADE OUT OF RYE SPLITS.  DEM OAK SPLIT CHEERS WAS ALL RIGHT, AND SOMETIMES US US
ED CANE TO BOTTOM DE CHEERS BUT EVVYBODY LAKED TO SET IN DEM CHEERS WHAT HAD BOT
TOMS WOVE OUT OF RYE SPLITS.
     MARSTER HAD ONE OF DEM OLD COTTOM GINS WHAT DIDN'T HAVE NO ENGINES.  IT WAS
 WUKED BY MULES.  DEM OLD MULES WAS HITCHED TO AL LONG POLE WHAT DEY PULLED 'ROU
ND AND 'ROUND TO MAKE DE GIN DO ITS WUK.  DEY HAD SOME GINS IN DEM DAYS WHAT HAD
 TREADMILLS FOR DE MULES TO WALK IN.  DEM OLD TREADMILLS LOOKED SORTER LAK STAIR
S, BUT MOST OF 'EM WAS TURNED BY LONG POLES WHAT DE MULES PULLED.  YOU HAD TO FE
ED DE COTTON BY HAND TO DEM OLD GINS AND  YOU SHO HAD TO BE KEERFUL OR YOU WAS G
WINE TO LOSE A HAND AND MAYBE A ARM.  YOU HAD TO JUMP IN DEM OLD COTTON PRESSES
 AND TREAD DE COTTON DOWN BY HAND.  IT TUK MOST ALL DAY LONG TO GIN TWO BALES OF
 COTTON AND IF DERE WAS THREE BALES TO BE GINNES US HAD TO WUK MOST ALL NIGHT TO
 FINISH UP.
     DEY MIXED WOOL WID DE LINT COTTON TO SPIN THREAD TO MAKE CLOTH FOR OUR WINT
ER CLOTHES.  MAMMY WOVE A LOT OF DAT CLOTH AND DE CLOTHES MADE OUT OF IT SHO WOU
LD KEEP OUT DE COLD.  MOST OF OUR STOCKIN' AND SOCKS WAS KNIT AT HOME, BUT NOW A
ND DEN SOMEBODY WOULD GIT HOLD OF A STO BOUGHT PAIR FOR SUNDAY GO TO MEETIN' WEA
R.
     COLORED FOLKSES WENT TO CHRUCH WID DEIR WON WHITE FOLKSES AND SOT IN DE GAL
LERY.  ONE SUNDAY US WAS ALL SETTIN' IN DAT CHURCH LISTENIN' TO DE WHITE PREACHE
R, MR HANSFORD, TELLIN' HOW DE OLD DEBBIL WAS GWINE TO GIT DEM WHAT DIDN'T DO RI
GHT.  MISSY, I JUS' GOT TO TELL YOU 'BOUT DAT DAY IN DE MEETIN' 'OUSE.  A NIGGER
 HAD DONE RUN OFF FROM HIS MARSTER AND WAS HIDIN' OUT FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.
  AT NIGHT HE WOULD GO STEAL HIS SOMEPIN T'EAT.  HE HAD DONE STOLE SOME CHICKENS
 AND HAD 'EM WID HIM UP IN DE CHURCH STEEPLE WHAR HE WAS HIDIN' DAT DAY.  WHEN D
AYTIME COME HE WENT OFF TO SLEEP LAK NIGGERS WILL DO WHEN DEY AIN'T GOT TO HUSTL
E, AND WHEN HE WOKE UP PREACHER HANSFORD WAS TELLIN' 'EM 'BOUT DE DEBBIL WAS GWI
NE TO GIT DE SINNERS.  RIGHT DEN A OLD ROOSTER WHAT HE HAD STOLE UP AND CROWED S
O LOUD IT SEEMED LAK GABRIEL'S TRUMPET ON JUDGMENT DAY.  DAT RUNAWAY NIGGER WAS
SKEERED 'CAUSE HE KNOWED DEY WAS GWINE TO FIND HIM SHO, BUT HE WARN'T SKEERED NU
FFIN' COMPARED TO DEM NIGGERS SETTIN' IN DE GALLERY.  DEY JUS'  KNOWED DAT WAS D
E VOICE OF DE DEBBIL WHAT HAD DONE COME ATTER 'EM.  DEM NIGGERS NEVER STOPPED PR
AYIN' AND TESTIFYIN' TO DE LORD, 'TIL DE WHITE FOLKSES HAD DONE GOT DAT RUNAWAY
SLAVE AND DE ROOSTER OUT OF DE STEEPLE.  HIS MARSTER WAS DAR AND TUK HIM HOME AN
D GIVE HIM A GOOD, SOUND THRASHIN'.
     SLAVES WAS 'LOWED TO HAVE PRAYERMEETIN' ON CHUESDAY AND FRIDAY 'ROUND AT DE
 DIFFUNT PLANTATIONS WHAR DEIR MARSTERS DIDN'T KEER, AND DERE WARN'T MANY WHAT O
BJECTED.  DE GOOD MARSTERS ALL GIVE DEIR SLAVES PRAYERMEETIN' PASSES ON DEM NIGH
TS SO DE PATTEROLLERS WOULDN'T GIT 'EM AND BEAT 'EM UP FOR BEIN' OFF DEIR MASTER
'S LANDS.  DEY MOST NIGH KILT SOME SLAV WHAT DEY COTCH OUT WHEN DEY DIDN'T HAV
E NO PASS.  WHITE PREACHERS DONE DE TALKIN' AT DE MEETIN' HOUSES BUT AT DEM CHUE
SDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT PRAYERMEETIN'S IT WAS ALL DONE BY NIGGERS.  I WAS TOO LITT
LE TO 'MEMBER MUCH 'BOUT DEM MEETIN'S BUT MY OLDER SISTERS USED TO TALK LOTS 'BO
UT 'EM LONG ATTER DE WAR HAD BRUNG OUR FREEDOM.  DERE WARN'T MANY SLAVES WHAT CO
ULD READ, SO DEY JUS' TALKED 'BOUT WHAT DEY HAD DONE HEARED DE WHITE PREACHERS S
AY ON SUNDAY.  ONE OF DE FAV'RITE TEXTIES WAS DE THIRD CHAPTER OF JOHN, AND MOST
 OF 'EM JUS' 'MEMBERED A LINE OR TWO FROM DAT.  MISSY, FROM WHAT FOLKSES SAID 'B
OUT DEM MEETIN', DERE WAS SHO A LOT OF GOOD PRAYIN' AND TESTIFYIN' 'CAUSE SO MAN
Y SINNERS REPENTED AND WAS SAVED.  SOMETIMES AT DEM SUNDAY MEETIN' AT DE WHITE F
OLKSES CHURCH DEY WOULD HAVE TWO OR THREE PREACHERS DE SAME DAY.  DE FUST ONE WO
ULD GIVE DE TEXT AND PREACH FOR AT LEAST A HOUR, DEN ANOTHER ONE WOULD GIVE A TE
XT AND DO HIS PREACHIN' AND 'BOUT DAT TIME ANOTHER ONE WOULD RISE UP AND SAY DAT
 DEM FUST TWO BRUDDERS HAD DONE PREACHED ENOUGH TO SAVE 3,000 SOULD, BUT DAT HE
WAS GWINE TO TRY TO DOUBLE DAT NUMBER.  DEN HE WOULD DO HIS PREACHIN' AND ATTER
DAT ONE OF DEM OTHERS WOULD GIT UP AND SAY:  BRUDDERS AND SISTERS, US IS ALL HER
E FOR DE SAME AND ONLY PURPOSE--DAT OF SAVIN' SOULS.  DESE OTHER GOOD BRUDDERS I
S DONE PREACHED, TALKED AND PRAYED, AND LET THE GAP DOWN;  NOW I'M GWINE TO RAIS
E IT.  US IS GWINE TO GIT 'LIGION ENOUGH TO TAKE US STRAIGHT THROUGH DEM PEARLY
GATES.  NOW, LET US SING WHILST US GIVES DE NEW BRUDDERS AND SISTERS DE RIGHT HA
ND OF FELLOWSHIP.  ONE OF DEM OLD SONGS WENT SORT OF LAK DIS:  MUST I BE BORN TO
DIE AND LAY DIS BODY DOWN?
     WHEN DEY HAD DONE FINISHED ALL DE VERSES AND CHORUSES OF DAT DEY STARTED:
AMAZIN' GRACE, HOW SWEET DE SOUND DAT SAVED A WRETCH LAK ME.
     FORE DEY STOPPED DEY USUALLY GOT 'ROUND TO SINGIN':  ON JORDAN'S STORMY BAN
KS I STAND, AND CAST A WISHFUL EYE, TO CANAAN'S FAIR AND HAPPY LAND WHAR MY POSE
SSIONS LIE.
     DEY COULD KEEP DAT UP FOR HOURS AND IT WAS SHO' GOOD SINGIN', FOR DAT'S ONE
 THING NIGGERS WAS BORN TO DO/--TO SING WHEN DEY GITS 'LIGION.
     WHEN OLD AUNT FLORA COME UP AND WANTED TO JINE DE CHURCH SHE TOLD 'BOUT HOW
 SHE HAD DONE SEED DE HEBENLY LIGHT AND CHANGED HER WAY OF LIVIN'.  FOLKSES TEST
IFIED DEN 'BOUT DE GOODNESS OF DE LORD AND HIS MANY BLESSIN' WHAT HE GIVE TO SAI
NTS AND SINNERS, BUT DEY IS DONE STOPPED GIVIN' HIM MUCH THANKS ANY MORE.  DEM D
AYS, DEY 'ZAMINED FOLKSES 'FORE DEY LET 'EM JINE UP WID DE CHURCH.  WHEN DEY STA
RTED 'ZAMININ' AUNT FLORA, DE PREACHER AXED HER:  IS YOU DONE BEEN BORNED AGAIN
AND DOES YOU BELIEVE DAT JESUS CHRIST DONE DIED TO SAVE SINNERS?  AUNT FLORA SHE
 STARTED TO CRY, AND SHE SAID:  LORDY, IS HE DAID?  US DIDN'T KNOW DAT.  IF MY O
LD MAN HAD DONE 'SCRIBED FOR DE PAPER LAK I TOLD HIM TO, US WOULD HAVE KNOWED WH
EN JESUS DIED?  MISSY, AIN'T DAT JUS' LAK ONE OF DEM OLD TIME NIGGERS?  DEY JUS'
 TUK DAT FOR IGN'ANCE AND LET HER COME ON INTO DE CHURCH.
     DEM DAYS IT WAS DE CUSTOM FOR MARSTERS TO HIRE OUT WHAT SLAVES DEY HAD DAT
WARN'T NEEDED TO WUK ON DEIR OWN LAND, SO OUR MARSTER HIRED OUT TWO OF MY SISTER
S.  SIS ANNA WAS HIRED TO A FAMBLY 'BOUT 16 MILES FROM OUR PLACE.  SHE DIDN'T LA
K IT DAR SO SHE RUN AWAY AND I FOUND HER HID OUT IN OUR 'TATER 'OUSE.  ONE DAY W
HEN US WAS PLAYIN' SHE CALLED TO ME RIGHT LOW AND SOFT LAK AND TOLD ME SHE WAS H
ONGRY AND FOR ME TO GIT HER SOMEPIN T'EAT BUT NOT TO TELL NOBODY SHE WAS DAR.  S
HE SAID SHE HAD BEEN DAR WIDOUT NOTHIN' T'EAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS.  SHE WAS SKEERED
 MARSTER MIGHT WHUP HER.  SHE LOOKED SO THIN AND BAD I THOUGHT SHE WAS GWINE TO
 DIE, SO I TOLD MAMMY.  HER AND MARSTER WENT AND BRUNG ANNA TO DE 'OUSE AND FED
HER.  DAT PORE CHILE WAS STARVED MOST TO DEATH.  MARSTER KEPT HER AT HOME FOR 3
WEEKS AND FED HER UP GOOD, DEN HE CARRIED HER BACK AND TOLD DEM FOLKSES WHAT HAD
HIRED HER DAT DEY HAD BETTER TREAT ANNA GOOD AND SEE DAT SHE HAD PLENTY T'EAT.
  MARSTER WAS DRIVIN' A FAST HOSS DAT DAY, BUT BLESS YOUR HEART, ANNA BEAT HIM B
ACK HOME DAT DAY.  SHE CRIED AND TUK ON SO, BEGGIN' HIM NOT TO TAKE HER BACK DAR
 NO MORE DAT HE TOLD HER SHE COULD STAY HOME.  MY OTHER SISTER STAYED ON WHAR SH
E WAS HIRED OUT 'TIL DE WAR WAS OVER AND DEY GIVE US OUR FREEDOM.
     DADDY HAD DONE HID ALL OLD MARSTER'S HOSSES WHEN DE YANKEES GOT TO OUR PLAN
TATION.  TWO OF DE RIDIN' HOSSES WAS IN DE SMOKEHOUSE AND ANOTHER GOOD TROTTER W
AS IN DE HEN 'OUSE.  OLD JAKE WAS A SLAVE WHAT WARN'T RIGHT BRIGHT.  HE SLEP'  I
N DE KITCHEN AND HE KNOWED WHAR DADDY HAD HID DEM HOSSES, BUT DAT WAS ALL HE KNO
WED.  MARSTER HAD GIVE DADDY HIS MANEY TO HIDE TOO, AND HE TUK SOME OF DE PLASTE
RIN' OFF DE WALL IN MARSTER'S ROOM AND PUT DE BOX OF MONEY INSIDE DE WALL.  DEN
HE FIXED DAT PLASTERIN' BACK SO NICE YOU COULDN'T TELL IT HAD EVER BEEN TORE
OFF.  DE NIGHT DEM YANKEES COME, DADDY HAD GONE OUT TO DE WUK 'OUSE TO GIT SOME
PEGS TO FIX SOMEPIN (US DIDN'T HAVE NO NAILS IN DEM DAYS).  WHEN DE YANKEES RID
UP TO DE KITCHEN DOOR AND FOUND OLD JAKE RIGHT BY HISSELF, DAT PORE OLD FOOL WAS
 SKEERED SO BAD HE JUS' STARTED RIGHT OFF BABBLIN' 'BOUT TWO HOSSES IN DE SMOKEH
OUSE AND ONE IN DE HEN  'OUSE, BUT HE WAS TREMBLIN' SO HE COULDN'T TALK PLAIN.
 OLD MARSTER HEARED DE FUSS DEY MADE AND HE COME DOWN TO DE KITCHEN TO SEE WHAT
WAS DE MATTER.  DE YANKEES DEN ORDERED MARSTER TO GIT 'EM HIS HOSSES.  MARSTER C
ALLED DADDY AND TOLD HIM TO GIT DE HOSSES, BUT DADDY, HE PLAYED FOOLISH LAK AND
STALLED 'ROUND LAK HE DIDN'T HAVE GOOD SENSE.  DEM SOJERS RAVED AND FUSSED ALL N
IGHT LONG 'BOUT DEM HOSSES. BUT DEY NEVER THOUGHT 'BOUT LOOKIN' IN DE SMOKE HOUS
E AND HEN'OUSE FOR 'EM AND 'BOUT DAYBREAK DEY LEFT WIDOUT TAKIN' NOTHIN'.  MARST
ER SAID HE WAS SHO PROUD OF MY DADDY FOR SAVIN' DEM GOOD HOSSES FOR HIM.
     MARSTER HAD A LONG POCKETBOOK WHAT FASTENED AT ONE END WID A RING.  ONE DAY
 >HEN8HE6WENT  O7GIT OUT SOME MNEY HE DRAPPED A ROLL OF BILLS DAT HE NEVER SEED
, BUT DADDY PICKED IT UP AND HANDED IT BACK TO HIM RIGHT AWAY.  NOW MY DADDY COU
LD HAVE KEPT DAT MONEY JUS' AS EASY, BUT HE WAS A 'CEPTIONAL MAN AND BELIEVED EV
VYBODY OUGHT TO DO RIGHT.
     AUNT TAMA'S OLD MAN, UNCLE GRIFF, COME TO LIVE WID HER ON OUR PLACE ATTER D
E WAR WAS OVER.  'FORE DEN HE HAD BELONGED TO A MAN NAMED COLQUITT.  MARSTER PER
VIDED A HOME FOR HIM AND AUNT TAMA 'TIL DEY WAS BOTH DAID.  WHEN DEY WAS BUILDIN
 DE FUST COLORED METHODIST CHURCH IN DAT SECTION UNCLE GRIFF GIVE A WHOLE HUNDRE
D DOLLARS TO DE BUILDIN' FUND.  NOW IT TUK A HEAP OF SCRIMPIN' FOR HIM TO SAVE D
AT MUCH MONEY 'CAUSE HE NEVER HAD MADE OVER $10 A MONTH.  AUNT TAMA HAD DONE GON
E TO GLORY A LONG TIME WHEN UNCLE GRIFF DIED.  ATTER DEY BURIED HIM DEY COME BAC
K AND WAS 'RANGIN' DE THINGS IN HIS LITTLE CABIN.  WHEN DEY MOVED DAT LITTLE TRU
NK WHAT AUNT TAMA USED TO KEEP GINGERBREAD IN, DEY FOUND JUS' LOTS OF MONEY IN I
T. MARSTER TUK KEER OF DAT MONEY 'TIL HE FOUND UNCLE GRIFF'S OWN SISTER AND DEN
HE GIVE IT ALL TO HER.
     ONE TIME MARSTER MISSED SOME OF HIS MONEY AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO 'CUSE NOBOD
Y, SO HE 'CIDED HE WOULD FIND OUT WHO HAD DONE DE DEBBILMENT.  HE PUT A BIG ROOS
TER IN A COOP WID HIS HAID STICKIN' OUT.  DEN HE CALLED ALL DE NIGGERS UP TO DE
 YARD AND TOLD 'EM SOMEBODY HAD BEEN STEALIN' HIS MONEY AND DAT EVVYBODY MUST GI
T IN LINE AND MARCH 'ROUND DAT COOP AND TETCH IT.  HE SAID DAT WHEN DE GUILTY ON
ES TETCHED IT DE OLD ROOSTER WOULD CROW.  EVVYBODY TETCHED IT 'CEPT ONE OLD MAN
AND HIS WIFE;  DEY JUS' WOULDN'T COME NIGH DAT COOP WHAR DAT ROOSTER WAS ALOOKIN
' AT EVVYBODY OUT OF HIS LITTLE RED EYES.  MARSTER HAD DAT OLD MAN AND 'OMAN SAR
CHED AND FOUND ALL DE MONEY WHAT HAD BEEN STOLE.
     MAMMY DIED 'BOUT A YEAR ATTER DE WAR, AND I NEVER WILL FORGIT HOW MIST'ESS
CRIED AND SAID:  NEAL YOUR MAMMY IS DONE GONE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'LL DO WID
OUT HER.  NOT LONG ATTER DAT, DADDY BID FOR DE CONTRACT TO CARRY DE MAIL AND HE
GOT DE PLACE, BUT IT MADE DE WHITE FOLKSES MIGHTY MAD, 'CAUSE SOME WHITE FOLKSES
 HAD PUT IN BIDS FOR DAT CONTRACT.  DEY 'LOWED DAT DADDY BETTER NOT NEVER START
OUT WID DAT MAIL, 'CAUSE IF HE DID HE WAS GWINE TO BE SORRY.  MARSTER BEGGED DAD
DY NOT TO RISK IT AND TOLD HIM IF HE WOULD STAY DAR WID HIM HE WOULD LET HIM HAV
E A PLANTATION FOR AS LONG AS HE LIVED, AND SO US STAYED ON DAR 'TIL DADDY DIED,
 AND A  O G TIME ATTER DAT US KEPT ON WUKIN' FOR OLD MARSTER.
     WHITE FOLKSES OWNED US BACK IN DE DAYS 'FORE DE WAR BUT OUR OWN WHITE FOLKS
ES WAS MIGHTY GOOD TO DEIR SLAVES.  DEY HAD TO LARN US 'BEDIENCE FUST, HOW TO LI
VE RIGHT, AND HOW TO TREAT EVVYBODY ELSE RIGHT;  BUT DE BEST THING DEY LARNED US
 WAS HOW TO DO USEFUL WUK.  DE ONLIEST TIME I 'MEMBER STEALIN' ANYTHING 'CEPT AU
NT TAMA'S GINGERBREAD WAS ONE TIME WHEN I WENT TO TOWN WID DADDY IN DE BUGGY.  W
HEN US STARTED BACK HOME A MAN GOT IN DE SEAT WID DADDY AND I HAD TO RIDE DOWN I
N DE BACK OF DE BUGGY WHAR DADDY HAD HID A JUF OF LIQUOR.  I COULD HEAR IT SLUSH
IN' 'ROUND AND SO I GOT TO WANTIN' TO KNOW HOW IT TASTED.  I PULLED OUT DE CORNC
OB STOPPER AND TUK ONE TASTE.  IT WAS SO GOOD I JUS' KEP' ON TASTIN' 'TIL I PASS
ED OUT, AND DIDN'T KNOW WHEN US GOT HOME OR NUFFIN ELSE 'TIL I WAKED UP IN MY OW
N BED NEXT DAY.  DADDY GIVE ME A TANNIN' WHAT I DIDN'T FORGIT FOR A LONG TIME, B
UT DAT WAS DE WUSSEST DRUNK I EVER WAS.  LORD, BUT I DID LAVE TO FOLLOW MY
DADDY.
     FOLKSES WARN'T SICK IN DEM DAYS LAK DEY IS NOW, BUT US DON'T EAT STRONG VIC
TUALS NO MORE.  US RAKED OUT HOT ASHES DEN AND COOKED GOOD OLD ASHCAKES WHAT WAS
 A HEAP BETTER FOR US DAN DIS BREAD US BUYS FROM DE STORES NOW.  MARSTER FED US
PLENTY OF ASHCAKE, FRESH MEAT  AND ASH ROASTED 'TATERS, AND DERE WARN'T NOBODY W
HAT COULD OUT WUK US.
     A DEATH WAS SOMEPIN WHAT DIDN'T HAPPEN OFTEN ON OUR PLANTATION, BUT WHEN SO
MEBODY DID DIE FOLKSES WOULD GO FROM MILES AND MILES AROUND TO SET UP AND PRAY A
LL NIGHT TO COMFORT DE FAMBLY OF DE DAID.  DEY NEVER MADE UP DE COFFINS 'TIL ATT
ER SOMEBODY DIED.  DEN DEY MEASURED DE CORPSE AND MADE DE COFFIN TO FIT DE BODY.
  DEM COFFINS WAS LINED WID BLACK CALICO AND PAINTED WID LAMPBLACK ON DE
OUTSIDE.  SOMETIMES DEY KIVVERED DE OUTSIDE WID BLACK CALICO LAK DE LININ'.  COF
FINS FOR WHITE SOLKSES WAS JUS' LAK WHAT DEY HAD MADE UP FOR DEIR SLAVES, AND DE
Y WAS ALL BURIED IN DE SAME GRAVEYARD ON DEIR OWN PLANTATIONS.
     WHEN DE WAR WAS OVER DEY CLOSED DE LITTLE ONE ROOM SCHOOL WHAT OUR GOOD MAR
STER HAD KEPT IN HIS BACK YARD FOR HIS SLAVES, BUT OUR YOUNG MISS ELLEN LARNT MY
 SISTER RIGHT ON 'TIL SHE GOT WHAR SHE COULD TEACH SCHOOL.  DADDY FIXED UP A ROO
M ONTO OUR HOUSE FOR HER SCHOOL AND SHE SOON HAD IT FULL OF CHILLUN.  DEY MADE M
E STUDY TOO, AND I SHO DID HATE TO HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL TO MY OWN SISTER FOR SHE
 EVERMORE DID TAKE EVVY CHANCE TO LAY DAT STICK ON ME, BUT I S'PECTS SHE HAD A R
IGHT TOUGH TIME WID ME.  WHEN TIME COME 'ROUND TO CELEBRATE SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT,
 I WAS ONE PROUD LITTLE NIGGER 'CAUSE I NEVER HAD BEEN SO DRESSED UP IN MY LIFE
BEFORE.  I HAD ON A RED WAIST, WHITE PANTS, AND A GOOD PAIR OF SHOES;  BUT DE GR
ANDEST THING OF ALL 'BOUT DAT OUTFIT WAS DAT DADDY LET ME WEAR HIS WATCH.  EVVYB
ODY COME FOR DAT CELEBRATION.  DERE WAS OVER 300 FOLKS AT DAT BIG DINNER, AND US
 HAD LOTS OF BARBECUE AND ALL SORTS OF GOOD THINGS T'EAT.  OLD MARSTER WAS DAR,
AND WHEN I STOOD UP 'FORE ALL DEM FOLKS AND SAID MY LITTLE SPEECH WIDOUT MISSIN'
 A WORD,  MARSTER SHO DID LAUGH AND CLAP HIS HANDS.  HE CALLED ME OVER TO WHAR H
E WAS SETTIN' AND SAID:  I KNOWED YOU COULD LARN IF YOU WANTED TO.  BEST OF ALL,
 HE GIVE ME A WHOLE DOLLAR.  I WAS RICH DEN, PLUMB RICH.  ONE OF MY SISTERS COUL
DN'T LARN NOTHIN'.  DE ONLY LETTERS SHE COULD EVER SAY WAS G O D.  NO MATTER WHA
T YOU AXED HER TO SPELL SHE ALLUS SAID G O D.  SHE WAS A GOOD FIELD HAND THOUGH
AND A GOOD 'OMAN AND SHE LIVED TO BE MORE DAN NINETY YEARS OLD.
     NOW, TALKIN' 'BOUT FROLICKIN', US REALLY USED TO DANCE.  WHAT I MEANS, IS S
HO 'NOUGH OLD TIME BREAK DOWNS.  SOMETIMES US DIDN'T HAVE NO MUSIC 'CEPT JUS' BE
ATIN' TIME ON TIN PANS AND BUCKETS BUT MOST TIMES OLD ELICE HUDSON PLAYED HIS FI
DDLE FOR US, AND IT HAD TO BE TUNED AGAIN ATTER EVVY SET US DANCED.  HE NEVER KN
OWED BUT ONE TUNE AND HE PLAYED DAT OVER AND OVER.  SOMETIMES DERE WAS TEN OR FI
FTEEN COUPLES ON DE FLOOR AT DE SAME TIME AND US DIDN'T THINK NOTHIN' OF DANCIN'
 ALL NIGHT LONG.  US HAD PLENTY OF OLD CORN JUICE FOR REFRESHMENT, AND ATTER ELI
CE HAD TWO OR THREE CUPS OF DAT JUICE, HE COULD GIT TURKEY IN DE STRAW OUT OF DA
T FIDDLE LAK NOBODY'S BUSINESS.
     ONE TIME A HOUSEBOY FROM ANOTHER PLANTATION WANTED TO COME TO ONE OF OUR SA
DDY NIGHT DANCES, SO HIS MARSTER TOLD HIM TO SHINE HIS BOOTS FOR SUNDAY AND FIX
HIS HOSS FOR DE NIGHT AND DEN HE COULD GIT OFF FOR DE FROLIC.  ABRAHAM SHINED HI
S MARSTER'S BOOTS 'TIL HE COULD SEE HISSELF IN 'EM AND DEY LOOKED SO GRAND HE WA
S TEMPTED TO TRY 'EM ON.  DEY WAS A LITTLE TIGHT BUT HE THOUGHT HE COULD WEAR 'E
M AND HE WANTED TO SHOW HISSELF OFF IN 'EM AT DE DANCE.  DEY WARN'T SO EASY TO W
ALK IN AND HE WAS 'FRAID HE MIGHT GIT 'EM SCRATCHED UP WALKIN' GHROUGH DE FIELDS
 SO HE SNUCK HIS MARSTER'S HOSS OUT AND RODE TO DE DANCE.  WHEN ABRAHAM RID UP D
AR IN DEM SHINY BOOTS, HE GOT ALL DE GALS' 'TENTION.  NONE OF 'EM WANTED TO DANC
E WID DE OTHER NIGGERS.  DAT ABRAHAM SHO WAS STRUTTIN' 'TIL SOMEBODY RUN IN AND
TOLD HIM HIS HOSS HAD DONE BROKE ITS NECK.  HE HAD TIED IT TO A LIMB AND SHO 'NO
UGH, SOME WAY, DAT HOSS HAD DONE GOT TANGLED UP AND HUNG ITS OWN SELF.  ABRAHAM
BEGGED DE OTHER NIGGER BOYS TO HELP HIM TAKE DE DAID HOSS HOME, BUT HE HAD DONE
TUK DEIR GALS AND HE DIDN'T GIT NO HELP.  HE HAD TO WALK TWELVE LONG MILES HOME
IN DEM TIGHT SHOES.  DE SUN HAD DONE RIZ UP WHEN HE GOT DAR AND IT WARN'T LONG '
FORE HIS MARSTER WAS CALLIN':  ABRAHAM, BRING ME MY BOOTS.  DAT NIGGER WOULD HOL
LER OUT:  YAS SAH]  I'SE ACOMIN'.  BUT DEM BOOTS WOULDN'T COME OFF 'CAUSE HIS FO
OTS HAD DONE SWELLED UP IN 'EM.  HIS MARSTER KEPT ON CALLIN' AND WHEN ABRAHAM SE
ED HE COULDN'T PUT IT OFF NO LONGER HE JUS' CUT DEM BOOTS OFF HIS FOOTS AND WENT
 IN AND TOLD WHAT HE HAD DONE.  HIS MARSTER WAS AWFUL MAD AND SAID HE WAS A GOOD
 MIND TO TAKE DE HIDE OFF ABRAHAM'S BACK.  GO GIT MY HOSS QUICK, NIGGER, 'FORE I
 MOST KILLS YOU, HE YELLED.  DEN ABRAHAM TOLD HIM:  MARSTER I KNOWS YOU IS GWINE
 TO KILL ME NOW, BUT YOU HOSS IS DONE DAID.  DEN PORE ABRAHAM HAD TO OUT AND TEL
L DE WHOLE STORY AND HIS MARSTER GOT TO LAUGHIN' SO 'BOUT HOW HE TUK ALL DE GALS
 AWAY FROM DE OTHER BOYS AND HOW DEM BOOTS HURT HIM DAT IT LOOKED LAK HE NEVER W
OULD STOP.  WHEN HE FINALLY DID STOP LAUGHIN' AND SHAKIN' HIS SIDES HE SAID:  DA
T'S ALL RIGHT ABRAHAM.  DON'T NEVER LET NOBODY BEAT YOUR TIME WID DE GALS.  AND
DAT'S ALL HE EVER SAID TO ABRAHAM 'BOUT IT.
     WHEN MY SISTER GOT MARRIED, US SHO DID HAVE A GRAND TIME.  US COOKED A PIG
 WHOLE WID A SHINY RED APPLE IN ITS MOUTH AND SET IT RIGHT IN DE MIDDLE OF DE LO
NG TABLE WHAT US HAD BUILT OUT IN DE YARD.  US HAD EVVYTHING GOOD TO GO WID DAT
PIG, AND ATTER DAT SUPPER, US DANCED ALL NIGHT LONG.  MY SISTER NEVER HAD SEED D
AT MAN BUT ONE TIME 'FORE SHE MARRIED HIM.
     MY DADDY AND HIS COUSIN JIM SWORE WID ONE ANOTHER DAT IF ONE DIED 'FORE DE
OTHER DAT DE ONE WHAT WAS LEFT WOULD LOOK ATTER DE DAID ONE'S FAMBLY AND SEE DAT
 NONE OF DE CHILLUN WAS BOUND OUT TO WUK FOR NOBODY.  IT WARN'T LONG ATTER DIS
DAT DADDY DIED.  I WAS JUS' FOURTEEN, AND WAS WUKIN' FOR A BRICK MASON LARNIN' D
AT TRADE.  DADDY HAD DONE BEEN SICK A WHILE, AND ONE NIGHT DE FAMBLY WOKE ME UP
AND SAID HE WAS DYIN'.  I RUN FAST AS I COULD FOR A DOCTOR BUT DADDY WAS DONE DA
ID WHEN I GOT BACK.  US BURIED HIM RIGHT SIDE OF MAMMY IN DE OLD GRAVEYARD.  IT
WAS MOST A YEAR ATTER DAT 'FORE US HAD DE FUNERAL SERVICE PREACHED.  DAT WAS DE
WAY FOLKSES DONE DEN.  NOW MAMMY AND DADDY WAS BOTH GONE, BUT OLD MARSTER SAID U
S CHILLUN COULD LIVE DAR LONG AS US WANTED TO.  I WENT ON BACK TO WUK, 'CAUSE I
WAS CRAZY TO BE AS GOOD A MASON AS MY DADDY WAS.  IN LEXIN'TON DERE IS A ROCK WE
LL STILL STANDIN' 'ROUND A WHOLE SQUARE WHAT DADDY BUILT IN SLAVERY TIME.  LONG
AS HE LIVED HE BLOWED HIS BUGLE EVVY MORNIN' TO WAKE UP ALL DE FOLKSES ON MARSE
FRANK'S PLANTATION.  HE NEVER FAILED TO BLOW DAT BUGLE AT BREAK OF DAY 'CEP ON S
UNDAYS, AND EVVYBODY ON DAT PLACE 'PENDED ON HIM TO WAKE 'EM UP.
     I WAS JUS' AWUKIN' AWAY ONE DAY WHEN COUSIN JIM SONT FOR ME TO GO TO TOWN W
ID HIM.  MISSY, DAT MAN BRUNG ME RIGHT HERE TO ATHENS TO DE OLD COURTHOUSE AND B
OUND ME OUT TO A WHITE MAN.  HE DONE DAT VERY THING ATTER SWEARIN' TO MY DADDY H
E WOULDN'T NEVER LET DAT HAPPEN.  I DIDN'T WANT TO WUK DAT WAY, SO I RUN AWAY AN
D WENT BACK HOME TO WUK.  DE SHERIFF COME AND GOT ME AND SAID I HAD TO GO BACK W
HAR I WAS BOUND OUT OR GO TO JAIL.  PRETTY SOON I RUNNED AWAY AGAIN AND WENT TO
ATLANTA, AND DEY NEVER BOTHERED ME 'BOUT DAT NO MORE.
     DE ONLIEST TIME I EVER GOT 'RESTED WAS ONCE WHEN I COME TO TOWN TO SEE 'BOU
T GITTIN SOMEBODY TO PICK COTTON FOR ME AND JUS' AS I GOT TO A CERTAIN NIGGER'S
HOUSE DE POLICE COME IN AND CAUGHT 'EM IN A CRAP GAME.  MR MCCUNE, DE POLICEMAN,
 SAID I WOULD HAVE TO GO 'LONG WID DE OTHERS TO JAIL, BUT HE WOULD HOLP ME ATTER
 US GOT DAR AND HE DID.  HE 'RANGED IT SO I COULD HURRY BACK HOME.
     'BOUT DE BEST TIMES US HAD IN DE PLANTATION DAYS WAS DE CORN SHUCKIN'S, LOG
 ROLLIN'S, AND SYRUP COOKIN'S.  US ALLUS FINISHED UP DEM SYRUP COOKIN'S WID A CA
NDY PULLIN'.
     ATTER HE HAD ALL HIS CORN GATHERED AND PUT IN BIG LONG PILES, MARSTER 'VITE
D DE FOLKSES FROM ALL 'ROUND DEM PARTS.  DAT WAS DE WAY IT WAS DONE;  EVVYBODY H
OLPED DE OTHERS GIT DE CORN SHUCKED.  NOBODY THOUGHT OF HIRIN' FOLKSES AND PAYIN
 OUT CASH MONEY FOR EXTRA WUK LAK DAT.  DEY 'LECTED A GEN'RAL TO LEAD OFF DE SIN
GIN' AND ATTER HE GOT 'EM TO KEEPIN' TIME WID DE SINGIN' DE LITTLE BROWN JUG WAS
 PASSED 'ROUND.  WHEN IT HAD GONE DE ROUNDS A TIME OR TWO, IT WAS A SIGHT TO SEE
 HOW FAST DEM NIGGERS COULD KEEP TIME TO DAT SINGIN'.  DEY COULD DO ALL SORTS OF
 DOUBLE TIME DEN WHEN DEY HAD SWIGGED ENOUGH LIQUOR.  WHEN DE CORN WAS ALL SHUCK
ED DEY FEASTED AND DEN DRUNK MORE LIQUOR AND DANCED AS LONG AS DEY COULD STAND U
P.  DE LOGROLLIN'S AND CANDY PULLIN'S ENDED DE SAME WAY.  DEY WAS SHO GRAND GOOD
 TIMES.
     I FARMED WID DE WHITE FOLKSES FOR THIRTY TWO YEARS AND NEVER HAD NO TROUBLE
 WID NOBODY.  US ALLUS SETTLED UP FAIR AND SQUARE AND IN CROP TIME DEY NEVER BOT
HERED TO COME 'ROUND TO SEE WHAT NEAL WAS DOIN', 'CAUSE DEY KNOWED DIS NIGGER WA
S WUKIN' ALL RIGHT.  DEY WAS ALL MIGHTY GOOD TO ME.  AT I GOT SO OLD I COULDN'T
RUN A FARM NO MORE I WUKED IN DE WHITE FOLKSES' GYARDENS AND TENDED DEIR
FLOWERS. I HAD DONE BEEN WUKIN' OUT MRS STEVE UPSON'S FLOWERS AND WHEN SHE COME
TO PAY, SHE AXED WHAT MY NAME WAS.  WHEN I TOLD HER IT WAS NEAL UPSON SHE WANTED
 TO KNOW HOW I GOT DE UPSON NAME.  I TOLD HER MR FRANK UPSON HAD DONE GIVE IT TO
 ME WHEN I WAS HIS SLAVE.  SHE CALLED TO MR STEVE AND DEY LAK TO HAVE TALKED ME
TO DEATH, FOR MY MARSE FRANK AND MR STEVE'S DADDY WAS CLOSE KINFOLKSES.  ATTER D
AT I WUKED DEIR FLOWERS LONG AS I WAS ABLE TO WALK WAY OFF UP TO DEIR PLACE, BUT
 OLD NEAL CAN'T WUK NO MORE.  MR STEVE AND HIS FOLKSES COMES TO SEE ME SOMETrMES
 AND I'SE ALLUS POWERFUL GLAD TO SEE 'EM.
     I USED TO WUK SOME FOR MISS MARY BACON.  SHE IS A MIGHTY GOOD 'OMAN AND SHE
 KNOWED MY DADDY AND OUR GOOD OLD MARSTER.  MISS MARY WOULD TALK TO ME 'BOUT DEM
 OLD DAYS AND SHE ALLUS SAID:  NEAL, LET'S PRAY, 'FORE I LEFT.  MISS MARY NEVER
DID GIT MARRIED.  SHE'S ONE OF DEM SOLITARY LADIES.
     NOW, MISSY, HOW COME YOU WANTS TO KNOW 'BOUT MY WEDDIN'?  I DONE BEEN MARRI
ED TWO TIMES, BUT IT WAS DE FUST TIME DAT WAS DE SHO 'NOUGH 'CITIN' ONE.  I COUR
TED DAT GAL FOR A LONG, LONG TIME WHILE I WAS TOO SKEERED TO AX HER DADDY FOR HE
R.  I WENT TO SEE HER EVVY SUNDAY JUS' 'TERMINED TO AX HIM FOR HER 'FORE I LEFT,
 AND I WOULD STAY LATE ATTER SUPPER, BUT JUS' COULDN'T GIT UP NERVE ENOUGH TO DO
IT.  ONE SUNDAY I PROMISED MYSELF I WOULD AX HIM IF IT KILT ME, SO I WENT OVER T
O HIS HOUSE EARLY DAT MORNIN' AND TOLD LIDA, DAT WAS MY SWEETHEART'S NAME--I SAY
S TO HER:  I SHO IS GWINE TO AX HIM TODAY.  WELL, DINNERTIME COME, SUPPERTIME CO
ME, AND I WAS GITTIN' SHAKY IN MY JINTS WHEN HER DADDY WENT TO FEED HIS HOGS AND
 I WENT ALONG WID HIM.  MISSY, DIS IS DE WAY I FINALLY DID AX HIM FOR HIS GAL.
HE SAID HE WAS GOIN' TO HAVE SOME FINE MEAT COME WINTER.  I AXED HIM IF IT WOULD
 BE ENOUGH FOR ALL OF HIS FAMBLY, AND HE SAID:  HOW COME YOU AX DAT, BOY?  DEN I
 JUS' GOT A TIGHT HOLD ON DAT OLD HOG PEN AND SAID:  WELL, SIR, I JUS' THOUGHT I
F YOU DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOR ALL OF 'EM I COULD TAKE LIDA.  I FELT MYSELF GOIN'
DOWN.  HE STARTED LAUGHIN' FIT TO KILL.  BOY, HE SAYS, IS YOU TRYIN' TO AX FOR L
IDA?  IF SO, I DON'T KEER 'CAUSE SHE'S GOT TO GIT MARRIED SOMETIME.  I WAS SO HA
PPY I LEFT HIM RIGHT DEN AND RUN BACK TO TELL LIDA DAT HE SAID IT WAS ALL
RIGHT.
     US DIDN'T HAVE NO BIG WEDDIN'.  LIDA HAD ON A NEW CALICO DRESS AND I WORE N
EW JEANS PANTS.  MARSTER HEARED US WAS GITTIN' MARRIED DAT DAY AND HE SONT HIS N
EW BUGGY WID A MESSAGE FOR US TO COME RIGHT DAR TO HIM.  I TOLD LIDA US BETTER G
O, SO US GOT IN DAT BUGGY AND DRIV OFF, AND DE REST OF DE FOLKSES FOLLOWED IN DE
 WAGON.  MARSTER MET US IN FRONT OF DE  OLD SALEM CHURCH.  HE HAD  DE CHURCH OPE
N AND PREACHER JOHN GIBSON WAITIN' DAR TO MARRY US.  US WARN'T 'SPECTIN' NO CHUR
CH WEDDIN', BUT MARSTER SAID DAT NEAL HAD TO GIT MARRIED RIGHT.  HE NEVER DID FO
RGIT HIS NIGGERS.  LIDA SHE'S DONE BEEN DAID A LONG TIME, AND I'SE MARRIED AGAIN
 BUT DAT WARN'T LAK DE FUST TIME.
     MISSY, I'SE SHO GOT SOMEPIN TO TELL MY OLD 'OMAN WHEN SHE GITS HOME.  SHE D
ON'T LAK TO LEAVE ME HERE BY MYSELF.  I WISH DERE WAS SOMEBODY FOR ME TO TALK TO
 EVVYDAY, FOR I'SE HAD SICH A GOOD TIME TODAY.  I DON'T S'PECT IT'S GWINE TO BE
LONG 'FORE OLD NEAL GOES TO BE WID DEM I DONE BEEN TELLIN' YOU 'BOUT, SO DON'T W
AIT TOO LONG TO COME BACK TO SEE ME AGAIN.
 X  XXX