4..~	83



They didn‘ t never whip none of my father ‚ ~ children. If we clone something they thought we ought to been whIpped for, they would tell rather to whip us, and 1f he wanted to, ho would; and. if he didn‘t want to, he wouldn‘t, They made a big difference for 8OI11~ reasork, .


Marriage

	“They married in that time by standing up and letting ~oxneone read the ceremony to them, My master was a Christian, There wasn‘t no juxapln‘ over a broomstick 0x1 my master‘s place. The white folks didn‘t have no nigger preacher for their cliirchea. ~it the colored folks ha.d ‘em. They preached ou~t of these little old Blue ~ck Spellers—~leastways they was little blue

back books anyhow,


Freedom

	“My folks was on the road refugeeing from Ma~iolia, Arkansaa to Pitt s— bur~, Texas when the news came that the colored folks was free. And my

master came ‘round and told the niggers they was free as he ~ I didn‘t hear him. I don‘ t know where I was. I ‘ni sure I was out playin ‚ somewherea,


Slave Wages and experiences after the War

	“My father worked in a black~nith shop right after the War. Before the War, he went far and neer to work for the white folks, They‘d risk him with their money and everything, They would give him part of it ~ I don‘ t know how muche He brought money to them, and they suie give him money.

	“We didn‘ t have to wear the things the other slave children had to wears He would order things for his family and my father would do the Sanie for us, When old master made his order, my father would put kie in With it.