SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

30/.33
Interviewer Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed Henrietta Rails
1711 Fluker St.
Age 88 Pine Bluff, Ark.
"Yes ma'am, I was here in slavery times, I was born in
Mississippi, Lee County, March 10, 1850, Come to Arkansas when
I was ten years old. Had to walk. My old master was Henry Rails,
Sometimes we jump up in the wagon and he'd whip us out,
"My old mistes name was Urunetta. She was good to us.
We called her Miss Netta. Old master was mean. He'd whip us.
One day he come along and picked up sand and throwed it in my
eyes. He was a mean old devil. He thought I was scared of him.
Case I was. That was before the war,
"I recollect when the Yankees come, I knowed they was
a'ridin'. White folks made me hide things, I hid a barrel of
wool once - put meal on top. They'd a'took it ever bit if they
could have found it. They wanted chickens and milk. They'd take
things they wanted - they would that. Would a'taken ever bit of
our wool if they could have found it,
"They wouldn't talk to old mistes - just talk to me and
ask where things was. She didn't notice them and they didn't
notice her,
"I reckon the Lord intended for the Yankees to free the
people. They was fightin' to free the people.
"I hear em say war is still goin' on in the world.