SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

Bake apples in front of the fire on de heartlu Everybody did work an we
sho had plenty to eat an wear*
"I had plenty when I stayed at my fathers an we worked together all
the time* When he died I married. I f ve had a hard time not able to work.
There ain't no hard time if yous able to get bout* I pieces quilts an
sails em now. Sells em if I can. For $150 piece (has no idea of money
value). Some women promissed to come git f em but they ain f t come yet* I
wanter buy me some shoes. I could do a heap if they send fo me. I can
nurse* I kept a woman f s children when she teached last year (Negro woman's
children).
"I brought four or five when I come to Arkansas of my own. They
all dead but my one girl I lives wid.
"Seemed lack so many colored folks coming out West to do better*
We thought we come too* We come on immigrate ticket on the train. All
the people I worked for was Captain Williams, Dr. Givens* Mr. Richardson
right where Mesa is now but they called it 88 then (88 miles from Memphis).
Mr. Gates. I farmed, washed and ironed. I nursed some since I'm not able
to get about in the field. I never owned nothing. They run us from one
year till the next and at the end of the year they say we owe it bout all.
If we did have a good crop we never could get ahead. We couldn't get
ahead nuff not to have to be furnished the next year. We did work but we
never could get ahead. If a darky sas a white land owner he would be
whooped bout his account or bout anything else. Yes siree right here in
dis here county. Darky have to take what the white folks leave fo em and
be glad he's livin#
"I say I ain f t never voted. Whut in de world I would want er vote
for? Let em vote if they think it do em good#
2*
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