SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

from all over de country* Of course dere was only a few families living
in de town, and only one or two families of colored folks* People come
in frosa everywhere, and it was a great sign* Little old train was no
bigger dan de Dardanelle & Russellville train. (You remember de little old
train dey used to call de 'Dinkey' don't you?) Well, it wasn't no bigger
dan de Dinkey, and it didn't run into de depot at all, stopped down where
de dump is now* Sure was a sight* Lot of de folks was afraid and wouldn't
«
go near it, started to run when two men got off* I saw only two men work-
ing in front of it, but I remember it very plain* Dey was working with
wheelbarrows and shovels to clear up de track ahead*
"Another thing I remember as a boy was de 'sassination of President
Gyarfield* I can't read or write but very little, but I remember about dat*
It was a dull, foggy mornin', and I was crossin' de bayou with Big Bob
Saith* (You remember 'Big Bob' dat used to have the merry-go- 1 round and
made all de county fairs.) Well, he told UB all about de killing of de
President* It was about 1881 wasn't it?
W I think times was better in de old days because people was better*
Had a heap more honor in de old days dan dey have now* Not many young
folks today have much character*
"111 rights Come back again* Whenever I kin help you out any way,
I'll be glad to."
NOTE: Henry Russell is quite proud of the fact that his ancestors
*ere the first families of Russellville* He is a polite mulatto,
uneducated, and just enough brogue to lend the Southern flavor to his
speech, but is a fluent conversationalist*
110