Slave Interview		Page 3	~	60
Janiee Johnson		~
~onticel1O, Florida • .	~



wearing hoops in their skirts nor when bed springs replaced bed. ropes. She does remeznber,however, that these things were used. She saw her first windmill about 36 years ago, ten years before she went blind. She remembers seeing buggies d.uring slavery time, little light carriages, some with two wheels and sanie with four. Sb e never heard of any money called „ shin—plasters, ‚ and she be— came money~conscious during the war when Confederate currency was introduced. Then the slaves were sick, they were given castor oil, turpentine and medicines made ‚ from various ~ roots and herbs.

	Patience‘s master joined the confederacy, but her fatherts master did. not./Âlthough Negroes could ~nlist in the Southern army if they deeired,i none cf them Wi8hed to do so but. preferred to join northern foroesand fight for the thing they de— sired most, freedom. When freedom was no longer a dream, but a re— a1i~y, the Merritts started life on their own aefarmere. Twelvê‘ year old Patience entered one of the schools established by the Freed~ents Bureau, She recalls the gradual growth of Negro settle— nhenta, the churches and the rise and fall of the Negroes politically.