GUS FEASTER AGE 97 SLAVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA  S.C.#83
          "I DO NOT KNOWS WHEN ER WHAR I WAS BORN. MY FATHER WAS PRICE FEASTER;
MOTHER WAS LUCY RICHARDS FEASTER. SHE BELONGED TO MR  BERRY RICHARDS DAT LIVED '
TWEEN MAYBINTON AND GOSHEN HILL TOWNSHIP, ON DE "RICHARDS QUARTER". MY SISTER NA
ME HARRIET; BROTHERS WAS ALBERT AND BILLY, AND DATS ALL DE CHILLUNS DERE WAS IN
DE FAMILY. MY FURS' RECOLLECTION DAT I KNOWS WAS WHEN WE WENT TO DE CARLISLES. I
 WAS SO YOUNG DAT I CAN'T RECALL NOTHING MUCH 'BOUT DE FEASTER PLANTATION. OUR B
EDS WAS HOMEMADE AND HAD ROPES PULLED TIGHT FROM ONE SIDE TO DE OTHER FER DE SLA
TS. NO SIR, I DOESN'T KNOW NOTHING 'BOUT NO GRANDMAW AN GRANDPAW.
          "DE FURS' WORK DAT I DEONE WAS DRAPPIN PEAS. ALBnRT WAS-PLOw-HAND WHEN
 I COME INTO DE WORLD. HARRIET WAS UP BIG ENOUGH TO PLANT CORN AND PEAS, TOO. BI
LLY LOOKED ATTER DE STOCK AND DE FEEDING OF ALL DE ANIMALS ON DE FARM. MY FURS'
MONEY WAS MADE BY GATHERING BLACKBERRIES TO SELL AT GOSHEN HILL TO A LADY DAT MA
DE WINE FROM DEM. I BOUGHT CANDY WIT DE MONEY; PEOPLE WAS CRAZY 'BOUT CANDY DEN.
 DAT'S DE REASON I AIN'T GOT NO TOOFIES-NOW.
          ^OLE-LADY ABBIE LOOKED OUT FnR-OuR-RATrO b.&DEMENS EAT EM ON ONE SIDE
 AND DE GALS ON T'OTHER SIDE DE TROUGH. WE EAT BREAKFAST WHEN DE BIRDS FURS' COM
MENCE SINGING OFF'N DE ROOST. JAY BIRDS 'UD ALLUS CALL DE SLAVES. DEY LOWED: IT'
S DAY, IT'S DAY, AND YOU HAD TO GIT UP. DERE WASN'T NO WAITING 'BOUT IT.DE WHIPP
ERWILL SAY, "CUT DE CHIP OUT DE WHITEOAK, YOU BETTER GIT UP TO KEEP FRUM GITTING
 A WHIPPING. DOVES SAY, "WHO YOU IS, WHO YOU IS." DAT'S A GREAT SIGN IN A DOVE.
ONCE PEOPLE WOULDN'T KILL DIVES, OLE MARSE SHO WOULD WHIP YOU IF YOU DID. DOVE W
AS FURS' THING DAT BRING SOMETHING BACK TO NOAH WHEN DE FLOOD DONE GONE FRUM OVE
R DE LAND. WHEN FREEDOM COME, BIRDS CHANGE SONG. ONE SAY, "DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU G
WINE TO DO NOW." 'N OTHER ONE LOW, "TAKE A LIEN TAKE A LIEN." NIGGERS LIVE FAT D
EN WID BACON SIDES.
          "MR  BILLY THOMPSON AND MR  BILL HARRIS' DADDY GIVE LIENS IN DEM DAYS;
 DESE BIG MEN S DEN. CAPTAIN FOSTER CLOTHED DE NIGGERS ATTER FREEDOM.
          "OLE LADY ABBIE GIVE US MUSH AND MILK FER BREAKFAST. SHORTS AND SECOND
S WAS MIXED WID DE MUSH; NO GREASE IN DE MORNING A TALL. TWELVE O'CLOCK BRUNG PL
ENTY COW-PEAS, MEAT, BREAD AND WATER. AT NIGHT US DRUNK MILK AND ET BREAD, BLACK
 BREAD MADE FRUM DE SHORTS. JES' HAD MEAT AT TWELVE O'CLOCK, 'COURSE "SHARPERS"
'UD EAT MEAT WHEN MARSTER DIDN'T KNOW. DEY  GO OUT AND GIT 'EM A HOG FRUM A DROV
E OFSEVENTY- FIVE ER A HUND'ED; DAT ONE NEVER BE MISSED.
          "I IS AWFUL TO HUNT; COME TO UNION TO SELL MY RABBITS AND POSSUMS. MR.
 COHEN DAT RUN A BRICK YARD, HE BUY SOME. OLE MAN DUNBAR RUN'ED A MARKET. HE WAS
 OLE MAN DEN. HE'S DE BEEF MARKET MAN; HE TAKE ALL DE RABBITS AND SELL 'nM WHnN
I COULDN'T GIT A THING FER 'EM. OLE LADY LIVING DEN, AND WHEN I GIT HOME SHE LOW
 IS I pOT ANY 'LOADY' (SOMETHING TO EAT). I COME IN WID BEEF AND lOW HEA S. lOW
FOOTS WAS DE BEST MEAT. DEY THROWS ALLSECH AS DAT AWAY NOW. DERE WAS ALLUS A FUS
S IN DE HOUSE IFFEN I NEVER HAD NO 'LOADY'. SOMEHOW ER ANOTHER I WAS ALLUS A FAM
ILY MAN AND WAS LUCKY TO HIT IN WID MENS DAT HELP  ME ON. NEVER SUFFERED WID HEL
P FRUM DESE KIND MEN. DAT'S DE WAY I GOT ALONG AS WELL AS I AS. OLE MISSUS AND M
ARSE LEARN'T ME TO NEVER TELL A LIE, AND SHE TEACHED ME DAT'S DE WAY TO GIT ALON
G WELL. I STILL FOLLOWS DAT.
          "UP IN AGE, I GOT IN WID CAP'N-PnRRjM  MR. GnORGE PEERIN). HE WAS DE&B
ANKER. HE SAY 'BOUT ME. 'WHAT I LIKES 'BOUT GUS, HE NEVER TELL A LIE'.
          "BEFO' DAT, I WORK FER LAWYER MONROE. HE HAD A BROTHER NAMED JIM AND O
NE NAMED GEORGE, HIS NAME BILL. HIS SISTER NAMED MISS SALLY. DAR I FARM FER DEM
AND WORK ON HALF'UNS. DE YANKEES CAMPED ON HIS PLACE WHAR MR. GORDON GODSHALL NO
W GOT A HOUSE. N'USED TO GO DAR MI'NIGHT EV'Y NIGHT AND EV'Y DAY. DEY HAD A PAY
DAY DE FURS' AND DE FIFTEENTH OF DE MONTH. DEY'S TERRIBLE FER 'ENGANS' (ONIONS)
AND EGGS. DEY GIT FIVE MARBLES AND PUT DEM IN A RING; PUT UP FIFTY CENTS. FURS'
MAN KNOCKS OUT DE MIDDLE-MAN (MARBLE) GOT DE GAME. DEY'S JES' SPORTY TO DAT. NEV
ER HAD NOTHING BUT GREENBACKS DEN. FIFTEEN CENTS AND TEN CENTS PIECES AND TWENTY
-FIVE AND AS HIGH AS FIFTY CENTS PIECES WAS PAPER IN DEM TIMES.
M         "DEY LARN'T US A SONG: 'IF I HAD OLE ABE LINCOLN ALL OVER DIS WORLD, B
UT I FIGHT HIM 'TILL I DIES'. DEY LOW'D, 'WE FREEDED YOU ALLS'.
          "ANOTHER SONG WAS: 'SALVATION FREE ALL MANKIND; SALVATION FREE ALL MAN
KIND'. I WAS GLAD ER ALL SALVATION. 'SALVATION FREE FER ME'; GOT UP DAT SONG FUR
S' ON A MOONLIGHT NIGHT, AND US SING IT ALL NIGHT LONG, GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUS
          "MOTHERLESS CHILLUNS SEES HARD TIMES; JUST AI'T GOT MO WHAR TO GO; GO
ES FROM DO' TO DO', 'DATS DE SONG DEY GOT UP. I DOESN'T KNOW WHAR IT COME FROM.
'NOTHER ONE WAS : 'WHEN DE SUN REFUSE TO SHINE; LORD I WANTS TO BE IN DE NUMBER,
 WHEN DE SUN REFUSE TO SHINE. IF I HAD A PO' MOTHER SHE GONE ON BEFO', LORD I PR
OMISE HER I WOULD MEET HER WHEN DE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN.' DAT'S WHAT LOTS PEOPL
E IS STILL TRYING TO DO.
          "WE SOT MUD BASKETS FER CAT FISH; TIE GRAPEVINES ON DEM AND PUT DEM IN
 DE-RIVnR. WE COTCH sOME WID HOOKS. I WENT SEINING MANY TIMES AND I SET NETS; BO
UGHT SEINS AND MADE NETS. PULL UP SEIN AFTER A RAIN AND HAVE SEVENTY-FIVE OR EIG
HTY FISH; SOMETIMES HAVE NONE. PETER MILLS MADE OUR CAT FISH STEW AND COOKED ASH
-CAKE BREAD FER US TO EAT IT WID. WATER COME TO OUR NECKS WHILE WE SEINING AND W
E GIT DE FISH WHILE WE DRIFTING DOWN STREAM.
          "WE WEAR COTTON CLOTHES IN HOT WEATHRR, DIED WID RED DIRT OR MULBERRIE
S, OR STAINED WID GREEN WA'NUTS -- DAT IS DE HULLS. NEVER HAD MUCH EXCHANGING OF
 CLOTHES IN COLD WEATHER. IN DAT DAY US HAUL WOOD EIGHT OR TEN FEET LONG. DE LOG
 HOUSES WAS DAUBED WID MUD AND DEY WAS WARM. FIRE LAST ALL NIGHT FROM DAT BIG WO
OD AND DE HOUSE DIDN'T GIT COLD. WE HAD DEAVY SHOES WID WOOD SOLES; HEAVY COTTON
 SOCKSWHICH WAS WORE DE WHOLE YEAR THROUGH DE COLD WEATHER, BUT WE ALLUS GO BARE
FEETED IN HOT WEATHER. YOUNG BOYS THIRTEEN TO FIFTEEN YEARS OLD HAD DE FOOTS MEA
SURED. WHEN TRACKS BE SEED IN DE WA'MELON PATCH, DEY WAS CALLED UP, AND IF DE ME
ASUREMENTS OF DE RE TRACKS FITTED DE ONES IN DEWA'MELON PATCH, DAT WAS DE GUILTY
-NIGGER. I 'CLAR, YOU HD TO TALK PURTY DEN. WHEN I GO IN DE WA'MELON-PATCH, I G
IT DE OLD MISSUS TO SAY FER ME TO GO; DEN I COULD EAT AND NOTHING WAS SAID 'BOUT
 IT.
          "SUNDAY CLOTHES WAS DED RED FER DE GALS; BOYS WORE DE SAME. WE MADE D
E GALS' HOOPS OUT'N GRAPE VINES. DEY GIVE US A DIME, IF DEY HAD ONE, FER A SET O
F HOOPS.
          "TWAN'T NO DRESSING UP FER MARRING IN SLAVERY TIMES; JUST SAY, GWINE T
O BE A MARRIAGE TONIGHT' AND YOU SEE 'BOUT FORTY OR FIFTY FOLKS DAR TO SEE IT. I
F IT BE IN WA'MELON TIME, DEY HAD A BIG FEAST ATTER DE WEDDING. OLD MAN PREACHER
  ONY wOuLD MARRY YOU FER NOTHING. DE KEEP DE WEDDING CAKE FER THREE WEnKS BEFO'
 IT WAS EAT."
          "I AIN'T NEVER GIVE YOU DIS INFORMATION. MISS SUSIE AND MISS TOMMIE CA
RLISLE, MARSE TOM'S ONLIEST DAUGHTERS, DIED BEFO' DE SURRENDER. MISS SUSIE SLIPP
ED ONE DAY WID DE SCISSORS IN HER HAND, AND WHEN SHE DID DEM SCISSORS TUCK AND S
TUCK IN ONE HER EYES AND PUT IT PLUM SMACK OUT AND SHE NEVER DID SEE OUT'N IT NO
 MO'. DAT MADE IT SO SAD, AND EVERYBODY CRIED WID HER BUT IT NEVER DONE HER NARR
Y BIT OF GOOD.
          "WHEN DEM YOUNG LADIES DIED, I LEFT AND RUN OFF FROM MY MA AND COME IN
TO TOWN. IT WAS JEST ABOUT WHAR MR. MOBLEY JETER'S IS NOW. DAT'S IN DE MIDDLE OF
 TOWN, BUT IN DE FUR OFF DAYS I IS SPEAKING ABOUT, IT WAS DE VERY OUTSKIRTS OF D
DIS TOWN. I IS SEED DIS TOWN GROW, DAT IS WHAT I IS. MR. ELLER TUCK ME TO BE HIS
 DRIVING BOY, AND DAT STO' SOT JEST EXACTLY WHAR DE CHEVET CHARAGE (CHEVROLET GA
RAGE) SETS NOW.
          "WHEN I BEEN DAR SIX YEARS, MY-MA lOME TO UNION AND SHE FOUND ME DjR.
US WAS DAT GLAD TO LAY EYES ON ONE ANOTHER DAT WE JEST SHOUTED FUR JOY AND MY MA
 TUCK AND SMACKED ME WID HER LIPS RIGHT IN DE MOUTH. SHE TOLD ME DAT MY PA HAD D
ONE GOT SHOT A FIXING DEM OLD BREASTWORKS DOWN ON CHARLESTON AND DAT CALLED FUR
A BIG CRY FROM ME AND HER BOTH. MR. ELLER, HE WENT OUT'N DE BACK OF HIS STO' 'TI
LL US QUIT. HE LET ME GO BACK HOME TO DE CARLISLE PLACE WID MY MA. EVERYTHING DO
NE CHANGED AND I BRUNG MY MA BACK TO UNION AND KEPT HER, KAISE I WAS A MAN IN FU
LL DEN.
-         "LAWYER SHAND TUCK MY MA TO WORK FUR HIM AND I STARTED BEING HIS COACH
MAN. HE OLE AND HE LIVE IN COLUMBIA NOW. WHEN HE DONE DAT, ME AND MA LIVED IN ON
E OF HIS HOUSES. HE LIVED ON WHAT YOU KNOWS AS DOUGLAS HEIGHTS AND HE HAD DE BIG
GEST HOUSE DAR. DAT WAS WAY BEFO' CAPTAIN DOUGLAS MOVED FROM GOSHEN HILL. DEN CA
PTAIN DOUGLAS TUCK DE DAY AND BUILT DAT HOUSE YOU SEES NOW AHEADING WHAT DEY CAL
LS DOUGLAS HEIGHTS ATTER LAWYER SHANDS HOUSE WAS TO' (TORN) DOWN. DE HOUSE SOT R
IGHT ON TOP DE HILL IN DE MIDDLE OF DE STREET YOU SEES. HIS DRIVEWAY WAS FLANKED
 WID WATER OAKS AND IT RETCHED DOWN TO MAIN STREET. DE GROUNDS WAS ON EACH SIDE
DAT DRIVE AND DEY RETCHED TO WHAR DE WHITE FOLKS IS GOT A SCHOOL (HIGH SCHOOL) N
OW. ON DE OTHER SIDE OF DAT DRIVE HIS GROUNDS HIT MISS FANT'S. (MRS. JOHN FANT'S
          "YOU COULD CLAM UP CAP DOUGLAS' STAIRS AND GIIN A RUN-AROUND (CUPOLA
) AND SEE DE WHOLE TOWN THROUGH DEM GLASS WINDERS. (THIS CUPOLA IS STILL ON THE
HOUSE.) NEVER HAD NONE OF DEM THINGS IN UNION AFO' DAT. SOME YEARS ATTER DAT, WH
EN COLONEL DUNCAN HAD HIS HOUSE RUN OVER (REMODELED) HE HAD ONE OF DEM RUN-AROUN
DS PUT ON HIS'N. TO DIS DAY WID ALL DE FINE FIXINGS FOLKS HAS IN UNION, DAR AIN'
T NARRY ONE GOT NONE OF DEM THINGS AND DEY SHO' IS PURTY.
          "LET ME DRAP BACK, KASE I IS GONE TOO FnR jLONp; yOU fjNTSOLDEN TIME
S. ON OUR PLANTATION MARSE TOM HAD A NIGGER DRIVER. HE 'HOOP AND HILLER AND WAKE
 US UP AT BREAK OF DAY. BUT BEFO' FREEDOM COME 'LONG, MARSE GOT A BELL; DnN DAT
NIGGER DRIVER RUNG DAT BELL AT BREAK OF DAY. HE WAS A SORRY NIGGER DAT NEVER HAD
 NO QUALITY IN HIM A'TALL, NO SIR-EE.
          "US HAD TO FEED DE MULES IN DE DARK OF MORNINGS AND DE BLACK OF-NIGHT
WHEN CRAPS NEEDED WORKING BAD. SEED MANY AS A DOZEN HOE-WOMENS IN DE FIELD AT ON
E TIME. DEY COME WHEN DEY FINISHED BREAKFAST AND DE PLOWS HAD GOT A START.
          "DEY USED MULBERRY SKINS FROM FRESH MULBERRY SAPLINS TO TIE AROUND DER
E WAISTS FER BELTS. IF YOUR SINGLETREE CHAIN BROKE, YOU FIXED IT WID MULBERRY SK
INS;SAME WID YOUR GALLUSES. MULBERRY IS MIGHTY STRONG AND EAST TO TIE ANYTING DA
T BREAK.
          "MARSE TOM NEVER WHIPPED 'BOUT NOTHING MUCH BUT STEjLrNG. HE-NEVnRLET
 HIS OVERSEER DO NO WHIPPING IF HE KNOWED IT. HE BURNT YOU UP 'BOUT STEALING, DA
T HE WOULD.
          "DEY NEVER WANTED US TO GIT NO LARNING. EDMUND CARLISKE, SMARTEST NIGG
ER I IS EVER SEED. HE CUT OUT BLOCKS FROM PINE BARK ON DE PINE TREE AND SMOOTH I
T. GIT WHITE OAK OR HICKORY STICK. GIT A INK BALL FROM DE OAK TREES, AND ON SADD
AY AND SUNDAY SLIP OFF WHAR DE WHITE FOLKS WOULDN'T KNOW 'BOUT IR. HE USE STICK
FER PEN AND DRAP OAK BALL IN WATER AND DAT BE HIS INK ATTER IT DONE STOOD ALL NI
GHT. HE LARNT TO WRITE HIS NAME AND HOW TO MAKE FIGURES. MARSE JULE AND BILL, TW
O OF MARSE TOM'S BOYS,FOUND OUT DAT EDMUND COULD WRITE AND DEY WANTED TO WHIP HI
M, BUT MARSE TOM WOULDN'T LET 'EM.
          "ONE MORNING EDMUND WAS MAKING A BIG FIRE 'ROUND ALL DE POTS,KKASE WE
 WAS BUTCHERING FORTY HOGS. EDMUND HAD HIS HEAD UNDER DE POT A BLOWING UP DE FIR
E DAT HAD DONE TUCK AND DIED TO EMBERS. JULE AND BILL SEED HIM AND DEY BROKE AND
 RUN AND PUSHED EDMUND PLUM' UNDER DEM POTS. DE nMBERS BURNT HIS FACE jND DE HAI
R OFF'N HIS HEAD. MARSE TOM WO' (WORE) BILL AND JULE OUT FER IT. MISSUS 'LOWED D
EN DAT EDMUND DE SMARTEST NIGGER ON DAT PLANTATION.
          "WE HAD SADDAY AFTERNOONS TO DO OUR WORK AND TO WASH. WE HAD ALL DE HO
LLIDAYS OFF AND A BIG TIME CHRISTMAS AND JULY FOURTH.
          "GOING TO FUNERALS WE USED ALL MARSE'S WAGONS. QUICK AS DE FUNERAL STA
RT, DE PREACHER GIVE OUT A FUNERAL HYMN. ALL IN DE PROCESSION TUCK UP DE TUNE AN
D AS DE WAGONS MOVE ALONG WID DE MULES AT A SLOW WALK, EVERYBODY SING DAT HYMN.
WHEN IT DONE, ANOTHER WAS LINED OUT. AND DAT KEPT UP 'TILL WE REACH DE GRAVEYARD
. DEN DE PREACHER PRAY AND WE SING SOME MO'. IN DEM DAYS FUNERALS WAS SLOW FER B
OTH DE WHITE AND DE BLACK FOLKS. NOW DEY IS SO FAST, YOU IS HOME AGAIN BEFO' YOU
 GITS DAR GOOD.
          "ON DE WAY HOME FROM DE FUNERAL. DE MULES WOULD PERK UP A LITTLE IN DE
Y WALK AND A FASTER HYMN WAS SUNG ON DE WAY HOME. WHEN WE HOT HOME, WE WAS IN A
HOOD MOOD FROM SINGING DE FASTER HYMNS AND DE FUNERAL SOON BE FORGOT.
          "AS A CHILD EVERYBODY IN DEM DAYS PLAYED MARBS.
          "MA SUNG SOME OF DE OLDEST HYMNS DAT I IS EVER HEARS:(HE SANG) 'O ZION
, O ZION, O ZION, WANTA GIT HOME AT LAST'. (ANOTHER) 'IS YOU OVER, IS YOU OVER,
IS YOU OVER' AND THE BASS COME BACK, 'YES THANK GOD, YES THANK GOD, YES THANK GO
D, I IS OVER. HOW DID YOU CROSS? AT DE FERRY, AT DE FERRY, AT DE FERRY, YES THAN
K GOD I IS OVER.' IF I SING DEM NOW FOLKS LAUGHS AT ME, BUT MA SHO TEACHED DEM T
O HER CHILLUNS.
          "WHEN BOYS AND GALS GITS UP SOME SIZE DEY FEELS DEYSELVES. AT DAT AGE,
WE WENT BIRD THRASHING IN DE MOON LIGHT. DEN WE SING DIS VULGAR SONG, 'I'LL GIVE
 YOU HALF-DOLLAR IF YOU COME OUT TONIGHT; I'LL GIVE YOU HALF-DOLLAR IF YOU COME
OUT TONIGHT. I'LL GIVE YOU HALF-DOLLAR IF YOU COME OUT TONIGHT. DEN DE GALS CHAR
MED US WID HONEYSUCKLES AND ROSE PETALS HID IN DERE BOSOMS. NOW DE GALS GOES TO
DE TEN CENT STO' AND BUYS CHEAP PERFUME. IN DEM DAYS DEY DRIED CHENEYBERRIES (CH
INABERRIES) AND PAINTED DEM AND WO' DEM ON A STRING AROUND DERE NECKS TO CHARM U
S.
          "WHEN US VERY LITTLE, MA SAY AT NIGHT WHEN SHE WANT US TO GO TO BED AN
D WE BE PLAYING MARBLES, 'BETTER COME ON IN DE HOUSE OR RAW HEAD AND BLOODY BONE
S 'LL GIT YOU. FROM DEN ON I IS SEED SPOOKS.
          "OUR WOEK SONG WAS, 'JOHN HENRY WAS A MAN; HE WORKED ALL OVER DIS TOWN
'. DEY STILL USES DAT SONG. IN SLAVERY SOME HOLLER WHEN DEY BE IN DE FIELD LIKE
OWLS; SOME LIKE CROWS; AND SOME LIKE PEA-FOWLS. MISSUS HAD DE PURTIEST PEA-FOWLS
 IN DE WHOLE COUNTRY. DON'T DEE NONE NOW, BUT DAR AIN'T NOTHrNG DAT6oLI SPPURTIE
R.
          "ME AND WADE CjRLISLE WAS 'POUM HuNTrNG-ONENIGHT IN DE FALL WHEN DE
 DOGS BEDDED A 'POSSUM IN A GRAVE. WE DUG DOWN AND GOT DE 'POSSUM. HE WAS DAT BI
G AND FAT AND HIS HAIR WAS SO SHINY AND PURTY DAT WE 'LOWED DAT HE DE FINEST 'PO
SSUM WE HAD COTCH DAT FALL.
          "JEST DEN, WADE STRUCK DE BOX DAT DE DEAD MANWAS A-LYING IN. JEST AS
HE DID DAT, A LIGHT JUMPED OUT'N DAT GRAVE RIGHT IN FRONT OF US AND ALL OVER WAD
E'S SHOVEL. OUR TWO DOGS TUCK AND RUN AND HOLLER AND STICK DEY TAILS BETWIXT DEY
 LEGS LIKE SOMEBODY A-WHIPPING DEM. DEM DOGS NEVER STOPPED RUNNrNG jND qOwLrNG '
TILL DEY REACHED HOME, ME AND WADE RIGHT BEHIND DEM. WADE HAD DAT 'POSSUM IN HIS
 HAND. DAT LIGHT NOW AND DEN JUMP RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
"I HOLLERED, 'WADE, FER DE LAWDIN HEAVEN SAKE, DRAP DAT 'POSSUM.' HE DROPPED IT
 AND WE RUN 'TILL WE GOT HOME. WADE STILL HAD DAT SHOVEL -- OR WAS IT A AXE---,
I JEST RECOLLECTS WHICH, ANYWAY, HE STILL HAD IT IN HIS HAND; AND WHEN I LOOKED
AT IT, IT WAS STILL SHINING. I PINTED MY FINGER AT IT, KAISE I WAS DAT SCARED DA
T NO WORDS WOULDN'T COME FROM MY MOUTH. WADE THROWED IT IN DE WOOD PILE AND WE R
UN IN DE HOUSE WID IT STILL SHINING AT US.
          "I STAYED DAR ALL NIGHT, AND I AIN'T NEVER BEEN HUNTING IN NO GRAVEYAR
D AT NIGHT SINCE DAT; AND IF DE GOOD LAWD GIVE ME SENSE I IS GOT NOW, I AIN'T NE
VER GWINE TO DO DO IT NO MO'.
          "IT AIN'T NO GOOD A-'STURBING DEAD FOLKS. ALL BEoO' DAT I&IS&HEjRD IT
GITS YOU IN BAD, AND NOW SINCE DEN I KNOWS IT."
          " 'CAP' MY OLD MASTER'S DAUGHTER, MRS. GEORGE PERRIN (IDA RICE) AND MI
SS PEAKE (MRS. KEITT PEAKE) 'LOWS I IS DONE PAS' EIGHTY-FOUR WHEN SHE DIED AND I
WAS ALLUS MO' OLDER DAN SHE WAS, AND A LONG WAYS AT DAT. I ALLUS FIGGERS DAT AH
IS NINETY-SEVEN. MISS AGNES (MRS. KEITT PEAKE) AND MISS IDA WAS LIL' GALS WHEN I
 DRIVIN' DEM TO AND FROM SCHOOL EVER' DAY FER OLE MARSE. YOU SEE I HAD TO BE A B
IG BOY TO DRIVE DE MARSE CHILLUNS TO SCHOOL, 'SPECIALLY WHEN DEY WAS LIL' GALS]
I IA A GREAT DEAL OLDER THAN MR. BILL HARRIS. I MET HIM DIS MORNIN' WID SWEET 'T
ATER  IN HIS POCKET. HE 'LOWED, 'GUS, YOU IS JES' 'BOUT DE OLDES NIGGER IN DIS C
OUNTRY, AIN'T YOU?' I RAISED MY HAT TO 'IM AND 'LOWED, YESSIR, GUESS I IS, CAP.
          HAD TO STAY OUT AND GUARD DE SILVER AND DE GOLD JEWELS IN DE PINES WHE
N MY WHITE FOLKS HID IT DAR TO KEEP DE YANKEES FROM A-GITTIN' IT. DEY DRIVIN' DE
 WAGONS IN DE PINES AND US UNLOAD DE JEWELS AND THINGS AND DEN DEY WOULD DRIVE D
E WAGGINS OUT DE WOOD. WHEN DE WAGGIN DONE GOT PLUM AWAY US WOULD TAKE DRY PONE
NEEDLES AND KIVVER UP ALL DE WAGGIN TRACKS AND HOOF PRINTS AFTER US HAD DONE RAK
ED DE DIRT SMOOTH OVER DEM. WE STAYED WID DE SILVER AND STUFF AND DRINK COFFEE A
ND EAT BLACK CRUS'; DAT DE SWEETNIN' BREAD DAT US HAD DURING DE WAR. COULDN'T GI
T NO SUGAR DEN. SOMETIMES WE USED SASSAFRAS TEA AS WE NEVER HAD NO COFFEE TO GRI
ND. DE WHITE FOLKS WAS JES' AS BAD AS WE WAS. FROM DE BIG HOUSE DEY BROUGHT OUR
MESS OF VITTALS AFTER DARK HAD DONE FELL.
          "POKE SALAD WAS ET IN DEM DAYS TO CLEAN A FELLER OUT. HIT CUM UP TENDE
R EVERY SPRING AND WHEN IT CUT DEEP DOWN IN SAND IT LOOKED WHITE. IT'S AN HERB.
CUT IT; WASH IT AND PAR BOIL; POUR OFF WATER AND BALL UP IN BALLS IN YOUR HAND;
PUT IN FRYING PAN OF HOT GREASE (GREASE FROM HAM OR STRIP MEAT) AND FRY. SEASON
WITH BLACK PEPPERS AND SALT AND EAT WITH NEW SPRING ONIONS. TENDER WHITE STEMS A
RE BETTER THAN THE SALAD AND OF COURSE EARLIER. ASH CAKE WAS GOOD WID POKE SALAD
 AND CLABBER OR VUTTERMILK AND BEST OF ALL WAS SWEET MILK] DAT NOT ONLY FILL UP
YPUR BELLY, BUT MAKE YOU FAT AND STRONG.
          "SOMETIME DE DARKIES WOULD EAT TOO MUCH AND GIT DE COLIC. FER DIS DEY
WOULD TAKE AND CHAW PINE NEEDLES AND IT WOULD BE ALL OVER WID DEN. ON ALL DE PLA
NTATIONS DAR WAS OLD WOMENS, TOO OLD TO DO ANY WORK AND DEY WOULD TAKE AND STUDY
 WAHT TO DO FER DE AILMENTS OF GROWN FOLKS AND LIL' CHILLUNS. FER DE LIL' CHILLU
NS AND BABIES DEY WOULD TAKE AND CHAW UP PINE NEEDLES AND DEN SPIT IT IN DE LIL'
 CHILLUNS MOUTHS AND MAKE DEM SWALLOW. DEN WHEN DEY WAS A TEACHIN' DE BABIES TO
EAT DEY DONE DE FOOD DE VERY SAME WAY. DEM OLD WIMMENS MADE PONE ROSIN PILLS FRO
M DE PINE TOSIN WHAT DRAPPED FRPM DE PINE TREES AND GIVE DE POLLS TO DE FOLKS TO
 TAKE FER DE BACK ACHE. DEY ALLUS KEPT DE PINE TREES GASDE FER DIS PURPESE. DEN
DAY ALSO GASHED DE SWEET GUM FER TO GIT GUM TO CHAW. 'TWASN'T NO SECH THING AS C
TWASN'T NO SECH THING AS CHAWIN' GUM TILL THIRTY YEARS AGO. SWEET GUM, IT'S GOOD
 FER DE INDIGESTION AND FER DE TOOFIES, WHEN IT DON'T GIT YOUR MOUTH ALL STUCK S
O AS YOU CAN'T SAY NOTHING. I 'SPECTS DAT DE CHIEF REASON HOW COME IT DONE GONE
PLUM OUT O' DATE. I MOST FERGOT TO INFORM YOU DAT RESIN PILLS IS STILL DE BEST T
HING DAT I KNOWS TO START YOUR "WATER" OFF WHEN IT DONE STOPPED ON YE.
          "IT WAS A SPECIAL DAY ON EACHLANTATION WHEN DE MASTER AND DE O'SEER
GIVE OUT DE WEEK'S RATIONS, LIKE DIS: FOUR POUNDS O' BACON; ONE PECK O' MEAL; AN
D DEY WAS DE RATIONS FER A WHOLE ENDURIN' WEEK. HAD A BIG CHOPPIN' BLOCK WHERE A
LL DE MEAT WAS CHOPPED ON. IN DEM DAYS EVERY BIT O' DE MEAT WAS RAISED ON DE PLA
NTATION FROM DE MASTER'S HOGS. INTO DE GROOVES O' DIS CHOPPIN' BLOCK WOULD GIT L
ODGED SMALL PIECES O' MEAT. CHOPPIN' AX WAS HEAVY ABD BROAD. HEAVY RATIONS COME
OUT ON FRIDAY. ON SAD'DAY ALSO. OUR MASRER FIVE US HOMIN FROM
DE FLOUR COME ON SAD'DAY ALSO. OUT MASTER GIVE US HOMINY FER SUNDAY MORNIN' BREK
FAS', KAISE US HAD RED MEAT WID GRAVY DEN. MY MASTER WAS MARSE' TOM CARLISLE OF
GOSHEN EILL. HE DE ONE GIVE US DEM SUNDAY SPECIALS. DE VIGGERS ON DE OTHER SURRO
UNDIN' PLANTATIONS NEVER GOT NO SECH 'SIDERATION AS I EVER HEARD OF.
          "ME AND JOHN MINDED DE MISSUS' COWS. WHEN DE RED MEAT CHOPPIN' WAS DON
E ALL DE PLANTATION CHILLUNS WOULD BE DAR TO GIT WHAT FALL IN DE GROOVES O' DE B
LICK. ONE DAY JOHN 'LOWED TO ME IF YOU PUTS YOUR OL' BLACK HAND ON DAT BLICK 'FO
RE I DOES TODAY, I IS A GWINE TO CHOP IT OFF. I NEVER SAID NARY A WORD, BUT I JE
S' ROLL MY EYES AT HIM. I GOT DAR AND BROKE AND RUN FER DE BLICK. I GOT BIG PIEC
E AND WHEN JOHN COME UP I WAS EATING IT. I SAY, NIGGER, YOU IS TOO LATE AND LAZY
 FnR A SlRjP I-NEVnR SEED. I-PUSH HrM BAlK&jnDREACH FER HIT. JOHN TOOK UP DE CH
OPPIN' AX AND COME RIGHT DOWN ON MY FINGER, 'FORE I COULD GIT IT OUT DE WAY. DAT
'S WHY YOU SEE DIS SCAR HERE NOW. DAT NIGGER LAY MY FINGER PLUM WIDE OPEN, FACT
IS DAT HE JES' LIFT IT A HANGIN'. MARSE'S DOCTOR AND HE FIX IT BACK. DEN HE WHIP
 JOHN HISSELF; NEVER 'LOW DE OVERSEER TO DE IT DAT TIME. MARSE TOM PRETTY GOOD T
O US; NEVER WHIP MUCH; NEVER 'LOW DE OVERSEER, MISTER WASH EVANS, TO WHIP TOO MU
CH NEITHER. HE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO WHIP MO' DAN HE DID, IF DE MARSE WOULD 'LOWED
 IT BUT HE WASN'T SO BAD. MISTER EVANS WASN'T NO PO' WHITE TRASH, BUT HE WAS KIN
DER MIDDLIN' LIKE, DE EVANS IS DONE RIZ HIGH UP NOW.
          "NEWT AND ANDERSON WAS MY YOUNG MARSTERS. DAY WAS 'LONG 'BOUT MY OWN A
GE. DEY WENT TO SCHOOL AT GOSHEN HILL. DE SCHOOL WAS NEAT DE STORE, SOME FOLKS C
ALLED IT DE TRADIN' POST IN DEM DAYS. DE HAD BARRELS O' LIQUOR SERRIN' OUT FROM
DE STORE IN A LONG ROW. SOLD DE LIKKER TO DE RICH MENS DAT CARRIED ON AT DE RACE
 TRACK NEAR BY. FOLKS IN GOSHEN WAS ALL RICH IN DEM DAYS. ROGERS CHURCH, WHERE D
E CARLISLES, JETERS, SIMS, SELBYS, GLENS, AND LOTS OF OTHER FOLKS WENT TOO AND D
 SLAVES, WAS DE RICHEST COUNTRY CHURCH IN DIS PART O' DE WHOLE STATE, SI I IS OF
TEN BEEN TOLD. EBENEZER, OVER IN MAYBINGTON, WAS DE ONLIEST CHURCH IN DE WHOLE C
OUNTRY DAT TRIED TO STRIVE WID ROGERS IN DE WAY O' FINERY AND STYLE, DE HENDERSO
NS, MAYBINS,HARDYS, DOUGLASSED, COFIELDS, CHICKS AND OXNERS WAS DE BIG FOLKS OVE
R DAR. BOTH DE CHURCHES WAS METHODIST.
          "EVERY SUMMER DE CARRIED ON CAMP MEETIN' AT ROGERS. ALL DE BIG METHODI
ST PREACHERS WOULD COME FROM WAY OFF DEN. DAY WAS ENTERTAINED IN DE CARLISLE BIG
 HOUSE. MISSUS PUT ON DE DOG (AS DE NIGGERS SAYS NOW) DEN. EVERY THING WAS CLEAN
ED UP JES' 'FORE DE MEETIN' LIKE US DID FER DE EARLY SPRING CLEANIN'. CAMP MEETI
N' COME JES' AFTER DE CRAPS WAS DONE LAID BY. DEN ALL CRAPS WAS DONE LAID BY BEF
O' JULY DE FOURTH. IT WAS UNHEARD OF FER ANYBODY TO LET DE FOURTH COME WID OUT D


E CRAPS OUT'N DE WAY. TIMES IS DONE CHANGED NOW, LAWD. DEN DE FIELDS WAS HEAVY W
ID CORN HEAD HIGH AND COTTON UP ARPUN' DE DARKY'S WAIST] GRASS WAS ALL CLEANED O
UT O' DE LAS' GO 'ROUND. DE FIELDS AND EVEN DE TERRACES WAS PUT IN 'APPLE PIE' O
RDER FER DE GATHERIN' O' DE CROPS IN DE FALL.
          "AS YOU ALL KNOWS DE FOURTH HAS ALLUS BEEN NIGGER DAY. MARSE AND MISSU
S HAD GOOD RATIONS FER US EARLY ON DE FOURTH. DEN US WENT TO BARBECUES AFTER DE
MOUNIN' CHORES WAS DONE. IN DEM DAYS DE BARBECUES WAS USUALLY HELD ON DE PLANTAT
ION O' MARSE JIM HILL IN FISH DAM. DAT WAS MOT FER FROM GOSHEN. MARSE JIM HAD A
PURTY SPRING DAT IS STILL ALL WALLED UP WID FINE ROCKS. DE WATER COME OUT'N DESE
 ROCKS DAT COLD DAT YOU CAN'T HOLD YOUR HAND IN IT FER MORE DAN A MINUTE AT DE L
ONGES'. DAR IS A BIG FLAT ROCK BEYOND DE SPRING DAT I 'SPECS KIVVERS MORE DAN AN
 ACRE AND A HALF O' GROUND. A CREEK RUN ALONG OVER DIS ROCK, WHERE DE MULES AND
DE HOSSES COULD REST IN DE SHADE OF DE TREES AND DRINK ALL DE WATER DAT DE WANTE
D.WILD FERNS GROWED WAIST HIGH ALONG DAR DEN. ALL KINDS OF PURTY FLOWERS AND DAI
SEES WAS GATHERED BY DE GALS. DEN WAS DE BEST DAYS DAT ANY DARKY HAS EVER SEED.
NEVER HAD NOTHING TO AGGREVATE YOUR MIND DEN. PLENTY TO EAT; PLENTY TO WEAR; PLE
NTY WOOD TO BURN; GOOD HOUSE TO LIVE IN; AND NO WORRY 'BOUT WHERE IT WAS A-COMIN
G FROM]
          "OLD MARSE HE GIVE US DE RATIONS FER DE BARBECUES. EVERY MASTER WANTED
 HIS DARKIES TO BE THOUGHT WELL OF AT DE BARBECUES. BY DE DARKIES FROM ALL DE OT
HER PLANTATIONS. DE HAD PIGS BARBECUED; GOATS; AND DE MISSUS LET DE WIMMEN FOLKS
 BAKE PIES, CAKES AND CUSTARDS FER DE BARBECUE, JES' 'ZACTLY LIKE HIT WAS FER DE
 WHITE FOLKS BARBECUE DESELF]
          "YOUNG ONES CARRIED ON LIKE YOUNG COLTS A-FROLICIN' IN DE PASTURE TILL
 DAEY HAD DONE GOT SO FULL O' VITTLES DAT DEY COULD NOT EAT ANOTHER BITE. DEN DE
Y ROAMED ON OFF AND SET DOWN SOMEWHERES TO SLIIP IN DE SHADE O' DE TREES. WHEN D
E SUN STARTED TO GOING DOWN DEN DE OLD FOLKS BEGIN TO GIT READY TO RETURN BACK T
O DEY HOME PLANTATIONS, FER DAR WAS DE MASTER'S STOCK AND CHICKENS TO FEED AND P
UT UP DER DE NIGHT, TO SAY NOTHING O' DE COWS TO MILK. THE MASTER'S WORK HAD TO
GO ON AROUND DE BIG HOUSE, KAISE ALL DE DARKIES HAD BEEN 'LOWED TO HAVE SUCH A P
LEASANT DAY. NEXT DAY BEING SAD'DAY WAS ON DIS OCCASION NOT ONLY RATION DAY, BUT
 DE DAY TO GIT READY FER DE WHITE FOLKS' CAMP MEETIN' WHICH I HAS ALREADY CALLED
 TO RECOLLECTION SEVERAL TIMES.
          " I HAS TO DRAP BACK TO MY OWN PLANTAON NOW; KAISE I GUESS DAT DE  S
AME THING TOOK PLACE ON ALL DENEIGHBORIN' PLACES IN PREPARATION FER DE WHITE FOL
KS 'BIG MEETIN'. BUT I BETTER CONFINE MY RELATION TO DAT WHAT I REALLY KNOWS. AT
 DE BARBECUE I SEED NIGGERS FROM SEVERAL NEIGHBORIN' PLANTATIONS AND I CAN TELL
YOU 'BOUT DAT. BUT I DRAPS NOW TO DE DOINGS O' MY OWN WHITE FOLKS.
          "AS I HAS SAID ONCE, DE FIELDS WAS IN LAY-BY SHAPE AND DE MISSUS DONE
ALREADY GOT DE HOUSE CLEANED. DE CHILLUNS WAS PUT IN ONE ROOM TO SLEEP AND DAT M
AKE MORE ROOM FER DE PREACHERS AND GUESTS DAT GWINE TO VISIT IN DE BIG HOUSE FER
 DE NEX' SIX WEEKS. DEN DE PLANS DER COOKING HAD TO BE kRuNG 'kOUT. DEY-nEVnR&HA
D NO ICE IN DEM DAYS AS YOU WELL KNOWS; BUT US HAD A DRY WELL UNDER OUR BIG HOUS
E. IT WAS DEEP AND EVERYTHING KEEP REAL COOL DOWN DAR. STEPS LED DOWN INTO IT. A
ND IT ALLUS BE REAL DARK DOWN DAR. DE RATS RUN AROUN' DOWN DAR AND DE YOUNGUNS S
KEERT TO GO DOWN FER ANYTHING. SO US CARRY A LIGHTWOOD KNOT FER LIGHT WHEN US PU
T ANYTHING IN IT OR TAKE ANYTHING OUT.  DAR AIN'T NO NEED FER ME TO TELL YOU 'BO
UT DE WELL HOUSE WHERE US KEPT ALL DE MILK AND BUTTER DE MISSUS ALLUS HAD. A HOL
LOW OAK LOG WAS USED FER DE MILK TROUGH. THREE TIMES A DAY CILLA HAD DER LIL' BO
Y RUN FRESH COOL WELL WATER ALL THROUGH DE TROUGH. DAT KEEP DE MILK FROM GWINE T
O WHEY AND DE BUTTER FRESH AND COOL. IN DE DRY WELL WAS KEPT DE CANNED THINGS AN
D DOUGH TO SET TILL IT HAD DONE RIZ] WHEN COMPANY COME LIKE DEY ALLUS DED FER DE
BARBECUE OUT BY CILLA'S CABIN. DESE CARCASSES WAS KEPT DOWN IN DE DRY WELL OVER
NIGHT AND PUT OVER DE PIT EARLY DE NEXT MORNING AFTER IT HAD DONE TOOK SALT. DEN
 DAR WAS A BIG BOX KIVVERED WID SCREEN WIRE DAT VICTUALS WAS KEPT IN IN DE DRY W
ELL. DESE BOXES WAS MADE RAT PROOF.
          "WHILST DE MEATS FER DE COMPANY TABLE WAS KEPT BARBECUED OUT IN DE YAR
D, DE CAKES, PIES, BREADS, AND T'OTHER FIXINGS WAS DONE IN DE KITCHEN OUT IN DE
BIG HOUSE YARD. BASKETS HAD TER BE PACKED TO GO TO CAMP MEETIN'. TABLES WAS BUIL
E UP AT ROGERS UNDER DE BIG OAK TREES DAT HAS ALL BEEN CUT DOWN NOW. DE TABLES J
ES'  GROANED AND CREEKED AND SIGHED WID VICTUALS AT DINNER HOUR EVERY DAY DURIN'
 DE CAMP MEETIN'.
          "MISSUS FETCH HER FINEST LINENS ANS SILVER AND GLASSES TO OUT- SHINE D
EM BRUNG BY DE T'OTHER WHITE FOLKS O' QUALITY. IN DEM DAYS DE WHITE  FOLKS O' QU
ALITYINUNION MOST ALL COME FROM GOSHEN HILL AND FISH DAM. AFTER DE WHITE FOLKS D
ONE ET ALL DEY COULD HOLD DEN DE SLAVES WHAT HAD DONE COME TO CHURCH AND TO HELP
 WID DE TABLES AND DE CARRIAGES WOULD HAVE DE DINNER ON A2sMjLLnR T kLEOOVnR l O
ST TO DE SPRING. US HAD TABLE CLOTHS ON OUR TABLE AND US ET FROM DE KITCHEN CHIN
A AND DE KITCHEN SILVER.
          "YOUNG GALS COULDN'T EAT MUCH IN PUBLIC, KAISE IT AIN'T STYLISH FER YO
UNG COURTING GALS TO LET ON LIKE DEY HAS ANY APPETITE TO SPEAK OF. I SEES DAT AM
 A CUSTOM DAT STILL GOES AMONGST DE WIMMEN FOLKS, NOT TO EAT, SO HEAVY. CULLUD G
ALS TRIED TO DO JES' LIKE DE YOUNG WHITE MISSUS WOULD DO.
          "AFTER EVERYTHING WAS DONE EAT IT WOULD BE ENOUGH TO PACK UP AND FETCH
 BACK HOME TO FEED ALL DE HUNGRY NIGGERS WHAT ROAMS ROUN' HERE IN UNION NOW. DEM
 WAS DE TIMES WHEN EVERYBODY HAD 'NUFF TO EAT AND MORE DAN DEY WANTED AND PLENTY
 CLOTHES TO WEAR]
          "DURING DE PREACHING US DARKIES SOT IN DE BACK O' DE CHURCH. OUR WHITE
 FOLKS HAD SOME BENCHES DAR DAT DIDN'T NOBODY SET ON 'CEPT DE SLAVES. US WORE DE
 BEST CLO'ES DAT US HAD. DE MARSE GIVE US A COAT AND A HAT AND HIS SONS GIVE ALL
 DE OLD HATS AND COATS 'ROUND. US WORE SHIRTS AND PANTS MADE FROM DE LOOMS. US K
EPT DEM CLEAN'T AND IRONED JES' LIKE DE MARSTER AND DE YOUNG MARSTERS DONE THEIR
'N. DEN US WORE A SRRING TIE, DT DE WHITE FOLKS DONE LET US HAVE, TO CHURCH. DA
T 'BOUT DE ONLIEST TIME DAT A DARKY WAS SEED WID A TIE. SOME DE OLDEST MEN EVEN
WORE A CRAVAT, DAT DEY HAD DONE GOT FROM DE OLD MARSTER. US COMBED OUR HAIR ON S
UNDAY FER CHURCH. BUT US NEVER BOTHERED MUCH WID IT NO OTHER TIME. DURING SLAVER
Y SOME O' DE OLD MEN HAD SHORT PLAITS O' HAIR.
          "DE GALS OUT IN DE STARCH DRESSES FER DE CAMP MEETING DEY TOOK DEY HAI
R DOWN OUT'N DE STRINGS FER DE MEETING. IN DEM DAYS ALL DE DARKY WIMMENS WORE DE
Y HAIR IN STRING 'CEP' WHEN DEY 'TENDED CHURCH OR A WEDDING. AT DE CAMP MEETINGS
 DE WIMMENS PULLED OFF DE HEAD RAGS, 'CEPT DE MAMMIES.-ON DIS OCCASION DE MjMMIE
S WORE LINEN HEAD RAGS FRESH LAUNDERED. DEY WORE DE BEST APRONS WID LONG STREAME
RS IRONED AND STARCHED OUT A HANGING DOWN DEY BACKS. ALL DE OTHER DARKY WIMMENS
WORE DE BLACK DRESSES AND DEY GOT HATS FROM SOME DEY WHITE LADY FOLKS; JES' AS U
S MENS GOT HATS FROM OUR'N. DEM WIMMENS DAT COULDN'T GOT NO HATS, MOSTLY WORE BL
ACK BONNETS. DE NIGGER GALS AND WINCHES DID ALL DE DRESSING UP DAT DEY COULD FER
 DE MEETING AND ALSO FER DE BARBECUE.
          "AT NIGHT WHEN DE MEETING DUN BUSTED TILL NEX' DAY WAS WHEN DE DARKIES
 REALLY DID HAVE DEY FREEDOM O' SPIRIT. AS DE WAGGIN BE CREEPING ALONG IN DE LAT
E HOURS O' MOONLIGHT AND DE DARKIES WOULD RAISE A TUNE. DEN DE AIR SOON BE FILLE
D WID THE SWEETEST TUNE AS US RID ON HOME AND SUNG ALL DE OLD HYMNS DAT US LOVED
. IT WAS ALLUS SOME BIG BLACK NIGGER WID A DEEP BASS VOICE LIKE A FROG DAT UD ST
ART UP DE TUNE. DEN DE OTHERS MENS JINE IN, FOLLOWED UP BY DE FINE LIL' VOICES O
' DE GALS AND DE CRACKED VOICES O' DE OLD WIMMENS AND DE GRANNIES. WHEN US REACH
 NEAR DE BIG HOUSE US SOFTEN DOWN TO A DEEP HUM DAT DE MISSUS LIKE] SOMETIMES SH
E HIS'T UP DE WINDOW AND TELL US SING 'SWING LOW SWEET CHA'OT' FER HER AND DE VI
SITING GUESTS. DAT ALL US WANT TO HEAR. US OPEN UP AND DE NIGGERS NEAT DE BIG HO
USE DAT HADN'T BEEN TO CHURCH WOULD WAKE UP AND COME OUT TO DE CABIN DOOR AND JI
NE IN DE REFRAIN. FROM DAT WE'D SWING ON INTO ALL DE OLD SPIRITUALS DAT US LOVE
SO WELL AND DAT US KNOWED HOW TO SING. MISSUD OFTEN 'LOW DAT HER DARKIES COULD S
ING WID HEAVEN'S 'SPIRATION (INSPIRATION). NOW AND DEN SOME OLD MAMMIE WOULD FAL
L OUT'N DE WAGGIN A SHOUTIN' GLORY AND HALLELUJAH AND AMEN] AFTER DAT US WENT OF
F TO LAY DOWN FER DE NIGHT.
          "YOUNG NEWT AND ANDERSON WAS DE BOYS WHAT WAS NEAR DE AGE OF ME AND JO
Y WAS 'LIGIOS WOMEN ANYHOW AND DIDN'T PRACTICE NO LIFE O' SIN AND VILE WICKEDNES
S.  FINALLY HE GOT DOWN OFF'N HIS HOSS AND PULL OUT HIS WHIP AND LOW IF DEY DIDN
'T SUBMIT TO HIM HE GWINE TO BEAT DEM HALF TO DEATH. AT THAT ME AND JOHN TOOK TO
 DE WOODS.  BUT WE PEEP.  MY MAMMY AND OLD LADY LUCY START TO CRYING AND AXING H
IM NOT TO WHIP DEM.
HN. CO'SE DEY WENT TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY IT WAS IN SESSION. DEY HAD DEY OWN HOSSES
          "ME AND JOHN WAS WID EM A PICKIN' AND FILLIN' O' DE BIG BUCKETS FROM
DE LIL' BUCKETS WHEN OLE MAN EVANS COME RIDING UP. HE ARGUED WID BOTH MAMMY AND
OLE LADY LUCY AND DEY KEPT TELLING HIM DAT DE MISSUS WANT HER BERRIES AND DAT DE
 AND DEY RID 'EM TO SCHOOL. WHEN DEY COME HOME DEY WOULD THROW DE REINS TO ME  A
ND JOHN AND US TOOK DEM HOSSES AND RUB DEM DOWN AND FEED'EM.
          "LOTS OF TIMES NEWT AND ANDERSON WOULD TELL ME AND JOHN TO COME UP AND
 GIT UNDER DE STEPS WHILE OLE MARSE WAS EATING HIS SUPPER. WHEN HE GIT UP FROM D
E TABLE US LIL' NIGGERS WOULD ALLUS HEAR DE SLIDING O' HIS CHAIR, KAIZE HE WAS S
ECH A BIG FAT MAN. DEN HE GO INTO DE MISSUS ROOM TO SET BY DE FIRE. DAR HE WOULD
 WjRM HIS FEET AND HAVE HIS JULOP.QUIlK AS LIGHTNING-ME jND-JOqN2SCjMPnR OM uN
DER DE STEPS AND BREAK FER DE BIG CAPE JASMINE BUSHES LONG DE FRONT WALK. DAT WE
 HIDE, TILL ANDERSON AND NEWT COME OUT A FETCHING HAM BISCUIT IN DEY HjNDS FER U
S. IT WOULD BE SO FULL OF GRAVY, DAT SOMETIME DE GRAVY WOULD TAKE AND RUN PLUMB
DOWN TO DE END O' MY ELBOW AND DRAP OFF, 'FO I COULD GIT IT LICKED OFFN MY WRIST
S. DEM WAS DE BEST RATIONS DAT A NIGGER EVER HAD. WHEN DEY HAD HONEY ON DE WHITE
 FOLKS TABLE, DE BOYS NEVER DID FAIL TO FETCH A HONEY BISCUIT WID DEM. DAT WAS S
O GOOD DAT I JEST TAKE ONE MEASLEY LIL' BITE OF HONEY AND MELTED BUTTER ON MY WA
Y TO DE 'QUARTER'. I WOULD JEST TASTE A LEETLE. WHEN I GIT TO MAMMY DEN ME AND M
AMMY SET OFF TO OURSELF'S AND TASTE IT TILL IT DONE ALL GONE. US HAD GOOD TIMES
DEN; LIKE I NEVER IS HAD  BEFO' OR SINCE.
          "SOON ATTER DAT DEY SENT ME AND JOHN TO DE FIELD TO LjRN mRjPPrNG. I H
AD TO DRAP PEAS IN EVERY OTHER HILL AND JOHN HAD TO DRAP DE CORN IN DE REST. DE
OVERSEER, OLE MAN WASH EVANS,COME DOWN DAR TO SEE HOW US WAS A DOING. DEN US GOT
 DAT SKKEERT DAT US GOT DE CORN AND PEAS MIXED UP. HE START TO HIT US WID DE WHI
P DAT HE HAD HUNG 'ROUND HIS WAIST. BOUT DAT TIME MARSE TOM RID UP. HE MADE DE O
EER GIT OUT'N DEM CORN ROWS AND LET US 'LONE. AFTER DAT US GOT 'LONG FINE WID OU
R DRAPPING. WHEN IT COME UP EVERYBODY COULD SEE DEM ROWS DAT US HAD DONE GOT MIX
ED UP WHEN DE OVERSEER WAS DAR. MARSE TOM WAS DAT GOOD TO HIS HANDS DAT DEY ALL
LOVE HIM ALL DE TIME. BUT ONE DAY WHEN OLE MAN EVANS COME THROUGH DE FIELD AND S
EE DEM ROWS HE DID CALL ME AND JOHN OFF AND WHIP US. DAT DE MOST DAT I EVER GOT
WHIPPED. MARSE GOT SHED O' DE OVERSEER SOON ATTER DAT.
          "IT WAS JUST LIKE DIS.  OLE MAN WASH EVANS WAS A WICKED MAN.  HE TAKE
'VANTAGE OF ALL DE SLAVES WHEN HE GIT HALF CHANCE.  HE WAS GREAT SOURCE OF WORRI
MENT TO MY MAMMY, OLE LADY LUCY PRICE AND 'NOTHER 'OMAN, OLE LADY LUCY CHARLES.
 COURSE HE 'VANTAGE OVER ALL DE DARKIES AND FER DAT READON HE COULD SWAY EVERYTH
ING HIS WAY, MOST ALL DE TIME.  BUT MY MAMMY AND OLE LADY LUCY WAS 'LIGIOS WIMME
NS.  DAT DIDN'T MAKE NO DIFFUNS WID WICKED OLD MAN EVANS. ONE DAY MISSUS SENT MY
 MAMMY AND DE OTHER LADY LUCY TO FETCH HER SOME BLACKBERRIES BY DINNER.
          "FINALLY DEY ACT LIKE DEY GWINE TO INDULGE IN DE WICKEDNESS WID DAT OL
E MAN. BUT WHEN HE TUCK HIS WHIP AND SOME OTHER GARMENTS, MY MAMMY AND OLE LADY
LUCY GRAB HIM BY HIS GOATEE AND FURTHER DOWN AND HIST HIM OVER IN DE MIDDLE OF D
EM BLACKBERRY BUSHES. WID DAT DEY CALL ME AND JOHN. US GRAB ALL DE BUCKETS AND U
S ALL PUT OUT FER DE 'BIG HOUSE' FAS' AS OUR LEGS COULD CARRY US.  OLE MAN EVANS
 CAMP MEETINGS, SHOALTS AND GOATS AND MAYBE A SHEEP OR LAMB OR TWO WAS KILT FER
 JEST ER HOLLERING AND ER CUSSING DOWN IN DEM BRIARS.  QUICK AS US GIT TO DE BIG
 HOUSE US RUN IN DE KITCHEN. CILLA CALL MISSUS. SHE COME AND AX WHAT AILING US A
ND WHY WE IS SO ASHY LOOKING. WELL, MY MAMMY AND OLD LADY LUCY TELL DE WHOLE STO
RY OF DEY HUMILIATION DOWN ON DE CREEK.
          "MISSUS 'LOWED DAT IT DIDN'T MAKE NO DIFFUNS IF MARSE WAS IN UNION, SH
E GWINTER ACT PROMPT. SO SHE SENT FER MISTER EVANS AND HE TOOK REAL LONG TO GIT
DAR, BUT WHEN HE DO COME, MISSUS, SHE 'LOW- ' MISTER EVANS, US DOES NOT NEED YO'
 SERVICES ON DIS PLANTATION NO MO', SIR]' HE 'LOW MARSE AINT HERE. MISSUS 'LOW -
 ' I DOES NOT WANT TO ARGUE DE POINT WID YE, MISTER EVANS, FER YO' SERVICES HAS
COME TO AN END ON DIS PLANTATION]'  WID DAT OLE MAN EVANS GO OFF WID HIS HEAD A-
HANGING IN SHAME.  US NIGGERS WENT OUT AND TOLE DE NEWS WID GLADNESS SHINING OUT
 FROM OUR EYES, KAISE US WAS DAT GLAD DAT WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
          "ALL DE FIELDS WAS ENCLOSED W A SPLIT RAIL FENCE IN DEM DAYS.  DE HA
NDS TOOK DEY RATIONS TO DE FIELD EARLY EVERY MORNING AND DE WIMMENS SLACK WORK R
OUND ELEVEN BY DE SUN FER TO BUILD DE FIRE AND COOK DINNER. MISSUS 'LOW HER NIGG
ERS TO GIT BUTTERMILK AND CLABBER, WHEN DE COWS IN FULL, TO CARRY TO DE FIELD FE
 R DRINKING AT NOON, DAT IS TWELVE O'CLOCK. ALL DE THINGS WAS FETCHED IN WAGGINS
 AND DE FIRE WAS BUILT AND A POT WAS PUT TO BILE WID GREENS WHEN DEY WAS IN SEAS
ON.  OVER COALS MEAT WAS BAKED AND MEAL IN PONES WAS WRAPPED IN POPLAR LEAVES TO
 BAKE IN DE ASHES.  'TATERS WAS DONE DE SAME WAY, BOTH SWEET 'TATERS AND IRISH.
 DAT MADE A GOOD FIELD HAND DINNER.  PLENTY WAS ALLUD HAD AND DEN 'LASSES WAS AL
SO FETCHED ALONG.  WORKING NIGGERS DOES ON LESS DESE DAYS.
          "DOES YOU KNOW DAT DE POPLAR LEAVES WAS WET AFO' DE MEAL PONE WAS PUT
IN IT?  WELL, IT WAS, AND WHEN IT GOT DONE DE ASHES WAS BLOWED OFF WID YOUR BREA
TH AND DEN DE PARCHED LEAVES FOLDED BACK FROM DE COOKED PONE. DE POPLAR LEAVES G
IVE DE ASH CAKE A NICE FRESH SWEET TASTE. ALL FORKS AND SPOONS WAS MADE OUT'N ST
ICKS DEN; EVEN DEM IN DE BIG HOUSE KITCHEN.  BREAD BOWLS AND DOUGH TRAYS WAS ALL
 MADE BY DE SKILLED SLAVES IN DE MARSE'S SHOP, BY HANDS DAT WAS SLILLED TO SECH
AS DAT.
          "YOUNG CHILLUNS AND BABIES WAS KEPT AT HOME BY DE FIRE AND NURSED AND
CARED FER BY DE OLE WIMMENS DAT COULDN'T DO NO FIELD WORK.  DE CHIEF ONE ON OUR
PLANTATION DURING MY 'MEMBRANCE WAS OLE AUNT ABBIE.  SHE HAD HEAD O' DE CHILLUNS
 ALL OVER DE PLANTATION WHEN DEY MAMMIES WAS A WORKING IN DE FIELD.  MARSE TOM U
SED TO RIDE THROUGH DE 'QUARTERS' EVERY DAY TO SEE ABOUT OLE LADY ABBIE AND DE C
HILLUNS WHEN DEY PARENTS WAS AT WORK IN DE FIELDS DURING DE WORKING SEASON.  OLE
 LADY ABBIE HAD TO SEE TO IT DAT DEY WAS KEPT WARM BY DE FIRE AND DAT DEY CLOTHE
S WAS KEPT UP WID WHILE DEY MAMMIES WAS IN DE FIELD  DEM CHILLUNS ON OUR PLANTAT
ION WAS WELL LOOKED AFTER. DE SEAMSTRESSES ALSO KEPT OUR WORK CLOTHES PATCHED AN
D DARNED, TILL NEW ONES WAS WOVE FER US.
          "SIDES DAT DEM CHILLUNS WAS FED.  EACH CHILD HAD A MAPLE FORK AND SPOO
N TO EAT WID.  LIL' TROUGHS WAS MADE FER DEM TO EAT DE MILK AND BREAD FROM.  'SH
ORTS', LOW STOOLS, WAS MADE FER DEM TO SET UP TO DE TROUGHS TO, WHILST DEY WAS E
ATING.  DE OTHER OLE LADIES HELPED WID DE PREPARATIONS OF DEY MESSES O' VITTALS.
  ONE OLE WOMAN WENT HER ROUNDS WID A WET RAG A WIPING DEM CHILLUNS DRESSES WHEN
 DEY WOULD SPILL DEY MILK AND BREAD. MARSE TOM AND SOMETIMES MISSUS COME TO SEE
DE LIL' BABIES WHILST DEY WAS A EATING. DE OTHER OLE LADIES TENDED TO DE SMALL B
ABLES.  SOMETIMES IT WAS AS MANY AS FIFTEEN ON DE PLANTATION AT ONE TIME DAT WAS
 TOO LITTLE TO WALK.
          "DEY MAMMIES WAS NOT WORKED ON OUR PLANTATION TILL DE BABIES WAS BIG '
NOUGH TO TAKE A BOTTLE. AND IN DEM DAYS NO BOTTLES WAS GIVEN NO BABY UNDER A YEA
R OLD.  DE WIMMENS IN FAMILY WAY WAS BETTER CARED FOR DEN DESE YOUNG NIGGERS NOW
-A-DAYS. MARSE TOM NEVER BRED NO SLAVES BUT HE DID CARE FER HIS NIGGERS WHEN DEY
 MARRIED AND GOT DEY OWN CHILLUNS.  I HAS DONE RELATED TO YOU HOW DEY FIXED DE M
EDICINES AND THINGS.  DEM BABIES WAS WASHED EVERY DAY IF DEY MAMMIES WAS IN DE F
IELD, DAT NEVER MADE NO DIFFUNS, KAISE IT WAS DE OLD LADIES' JOBS TO SEE TO IT D
AT DEY WAS.  YOUNGUNS ON DE PLANTATION WAS BATHED TWO OR HHREE TIMES A WEEK.  MU
LLIN LEAVES AND SALT WAS BILED IN GREAT BIG POT TO PUT IN DE BABIES WASH WATER A
 ALLUS  IN DE CHILLUNS' WATER. DIS WOULD KEEP 'EM FROM GETTING SICK.  DEN DEY WA
AS GLUS GREASED ATTER DE WASHING TO KEEP DE SKIN FROM BUSTING OPEN.  MOSELY DEY
WAS GREASED WID TALLOW FROM DE MUTTON. MR. ANDERSON TOOK MEDICINE AND ATTER DAT
HE DOCTOR ALL DE SLAVES FER HIS PAW FREE.
          "WHILE DE YANKEES HAD EVERYTHING CLOSED UP DOWN IN CHARLESTON IT WAS H
ARD TO GIT ANYTHING IN DIS COUNTRY INTO DE STO'S.  US ALLUS TRADED AT DE POST (G
OSHEN HILL TRADIN POST).  IF I RECOLLECTS CORRECTLY IT WAS DURING DIS PERIOD DAT
 MARSE TOM LET MY MAMMY GO UP TO DE POST TO FETCH BACK HER A BONNET.
          "UP DAR DEY TOOK COTTON AND CORN AND YTHING LIKE DAT IN TRADE DAT DE
Y COULD SELL TO DE FOLKS DAT WAS WORKING ON DE RAILROAD BED DAT WAS GWINE THROUG
H DAT COUNTRY (SEABOARD AIRLINE).  SO MAMMY TOOK A LOT OF COTTON WID HER TO DE P
OST.  SHE KNOWD DAT IT WAS GWINE TO TAKE LOTS TO GIT DAT BONNET.  IT WEREN'T BUT
 THREE AND A HALF MILES DE SHORT WAY TO DE POST FROM OUR PLACE.
          "I'S GWINE LONG WID HER AND SO I HAD TO WEAR SOME PANTS TO GO TO DE PO
ST AS DAT WAS BIG DOINGS FER A LIL' DARKY BOY TO GIT TO DE TRADING CENTER.  SO A
UNT ABBIE FETCHED ME A PAIR OF NEW PANTS DAT WAS DAT STIFF, DAT DEY MADE ME FEEL
 LIKE I WAS ALL CLOSED UP IN A JACKET, ATTER BEING USED TO ONLY A SHIRT-TAIL]
          "WELL, IT WASN'T FUR AND US ARRIV' DAR EARLY IN DE DAY. MAMMY SAID 'HO
WDY' TO ALL DE DARKIES WHAT DAR AND I LOOK AT DEM FROM BEHIND HER SKIRTS. I FELT
 REAL CURIOS-LIKE ALL INSIDE. BUT SHE NEVER GIVE ME NO MIND WHATEVER. SHE NEVER
ACT LIKE SHE KNOWD DAT I WAS PULLING HER DRESS AT ALL.  I SEED SO MANY THINGS DA
T I NEVER HAD SEED BEFO', NOT IN ALL MY BORN DAYS.  RED STICKS O' CANDY WAS A LA
YING RIGHT DAR FO' MY EYES, JES' LIKE DE FOLKS FROM DE BIG HOUSE BRUNG US AT CHR
ISTMAS.  IT WAS NOT NEAR CHRISTMAS DEN, KAISE IT WAS JEST COTTON PICKING TIME AN
D I WONDERED HOW-COME DEY WAS HAVING CANDY IN DE STORE FER, NOW-HOW.
          "MAMMY LOOK DOWN AT ME AND SHE SAY TO DE WHITE MAN WID A BEARD, 'MARSE
, PLEASE SIR, GIVE ME FE CENT WORTH PEPPERMINT CANDY.'  DEN WHEN HE HAND HER D
E BAG SHE BREAK OFF LIL' PIECE AND HAND IT TO ME, AND WALL HER EYES AT ME AND SA
Y IN A LOW VOICE, ' DON' YOU DARE GIT NONE DAT RED ON YO' CLEAN SHIRT, IF YOU WA
NTS TO GIT HOME WIDOUT GITTING WO' PLUMB SMACK OUT.'
          "DEN SHE TALK ABOUT DE BONNETS.  FINALLY SHE GITOONE FER TEN DOLLjRS W
ED ON ' COTTON. MONEY WASN'T NOTHING IN DEM TIMES.  BY DIS TIME US HAD DONE STAR
TED ON OUR RETURN HOME AND I WAS STARTING TO FEEL MORE LIKE I ALLUS FELT.
          "NIGGER, WHAT DAT YOU IS DONE GONE AND GOT ONDAT CLEjN SHrRT?  DImN'T
 YOU HEAR ME TELL YOU NOT TO GIT DAT NEW SHIRT ALL RED?  LOOK DAR A STREAMING mO
WN OFF'N YOUR CHIN AT DAR RED.  HOW IS I GWINE TO EVER TEACH YOU ANYTHING, WHEN
YOU ACT JEST LIKE A NIGGER FROM SOME PORE WHITE TRASHES POOR LAND?'
          "WHEN WE GITS TO DAT BRANCH NOW I'S GOT TO STOP AND WASH DAT DIRTY BLA
CK MOUTH AND DEN I CAN'T GIT DAT RED CANDY OFF'N DAT SHIRT.  WHAT OLE LADY ABBIE
 GWINE SAY TO YE WHEN SHE SEE YOU DONE GONE AND ACT LIKE YOU AIN'T NEVER SEED NO
 QUALITY BEFO''?
          "ATTER I HAS DONE TOLE YOU ALL DE WAY FROM HOME HOW YOU MUST ACT AT DE
 POST DEN YOU GOES AND DOES LIKE YOU IS.  AINT NEVER GWINE TO CARRY yOU-NOWHjRS
'GIN LONG AS I LIVES.
          "BEND DAT LAZY, GOOD-FER-NOTHING BACK SO AS I wON'T GIT yOU WET jLL DE
WAY DOWN YOUR BELLY, YOO HEAR ME?  NOW YOU IS LOOKING LIKE YOU BELONGS TO MARSE
TOM 'GIN.  GIMME DAT CANDY RIGHT NOW; I GWINE TO SEE TO IT DAT YOU GITS BACK HOM
E LOOKING LIKE SOMET'ING AFTER ALL MY WORRIMENTS WID YE.'
          "MAMMY SEED DUST A FLYING AND DE HOSS COME j-kRINGING MARSE tOM mOWN D
E ROAD.  MAMMY DRAP EVERYTHING IN THE DUST AND GRAB HER APRON TO DRAP A CURTSY.
 SHE 'LOW - ' GIT DAT HAT OFF DAT HEAD FO' HE GIT HEAR]'
          "HOWDY, LUCY, WHAT IS YOU AND DAT YOUNGUN BEEN, ANYHOW?'  'US BEEN TO
GIT ME A BONNET, MARSE TOM, AND IT TOOK ALL DE TEN DOLLARS WORTH OF COTTON TO FE
TCH IT BACK WID.'  'YES, LUCY, MONEY DOES NOT GO FAR THESE DAYS, SINCE THE YANKE
ES GOT EVERYTHING.'  'NO SIR, NO SIR, MARSE,' AND HE RID ON, LEAVING US BEHIND I
N DE DUST.
  X    XXX