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	ttThe war was begun and there were s~ŕries of fir~hts and~ . freedom. The news went from plantation to plantation and while the slaves acted natural and some even more polite than usual, they prayed f~or freedom. Then one day I heard something that sounded like thunder and missus and marster began to walk around and act queer. The grown slaves were whisperir~ to each other. Sometimes they gath~:red in little gangs in the grove. Next day I heard it again, boom, boom, boom. I went and asked missus ‘is it going to raih?‘ She said, ‘~~~ry~o to th~ ice house and~ bring ~ some pickles and preserves.‘ I went and got them. She ate a little and gave nie some. Then she said, tYou run along and pIay.t~ fi a day or two every~:oiiyon the plantation seemed tobe disturbed and rnarster and missus were crying. L~arster ordered all the slaves to corne to th~ great house at . nine o ‘clock Ndbody was working and slaves were walking over the grove in every direction. At nine OtCIOCk all the slaves~ gathered at the great ~ bous e and marster and missus c arne out on the porch and stood side by side. You could‘ hear a pin drap

~	everything was so quiet. Then marster said, ‘Good morning,‘ .~ and missus said, ‘Good morning~ children‘. They were both crying.

Then marster said, ‘Men, women and children, your are free. You are no longer my slaves. Plie Yankees will soon be here.‘

	UM~rster and missus thenwentinto the house got two large arm chairs put them on ~he porch facar~ the avenue and a~t down side by side and remained th~~tre watching.
	~„	J~_~	‚	‚~ ~ J