SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

30813 92
Interviewer Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed^
Age 77
ffrance s Smith
2224 Havis Street, Fine Bluff, Arkansas
••I specs I was born in slavery times* I remember see in* the
Yankees* That was in Mississippi. I f m seventy-seven—that f s my age.
n Spencer Bailey was old master© Just remember the nsma was *bout
the biggest thing I knowed about. I seen him all right but I didn*t
know much about him f cept his name.
Mother belonged to him, yes f m*
*I tell you the truf, what little I used to remember I done forgot
it. I just didn f t try to keep up with it* I wasn't concerned and just
didn't try to keep up with it.
*I know our folks stayed there a while* First place we went to
after the War was Tennessee*
*I don't know how long I been here—I been here a time though*
*Yes f m, I went to school several texms*
W I was married in Arkansas* M$r folks heard about Arkansas bein f
such a rich country, so they come to Arkansas*
"I farmed a long time and then I done housework*
"Deal a times I don f t know what to think of this younger
generation* I sits down sometimes and tries to study 'em out, but I .
fails*
"Well, what the old folks goin 1 to get out of this?*