SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

30957 287
Interviewer Samuel S. Taylor
Person Interviewed Mrj # Dicey Thomas
2500 Center Street, Little Rock, Arkansas
Age About 82
"I was born In Barbour County, Alabama* When I was bom, the white
folks kept the children's age, not that of their parents* When the
Yankees came through our white folks' plantation, the white folks was
hiding away things*
Father
"My father was named Ben See. See was my maiden name* Thomas comes
from my marriage*
Yankees
"It was about twelve o'clock when the Yankees caxod through, because we
had just gone to bring the bowls* They used to serve us out of these
gourds and wooden spoons* Me and another little girl had gone to get some
bowls and spoons and when we got back the Yankees were swanalng over the
place* They said, 'You are free* Go where you please•'
"My mother had a little baby* The old women would tend to this baby
and we would sit and rock the cradle till mother would come* I know I
wasn't very old, because I didn't do anything but sit and rock the baby*
I had just gotten big enough to carry the bowls*
"When the Yankees came through they stole Ben See's horse and brought
him out here in Arkansas* In those days, they used to brand horses*