Oklahoma Writers‘ ~ Project.
2-.
	w*.1.~a~‘	..	13

‚ Master Rogers kept all our fämily together, but my folks have told. me about how the slaves was sold. One of my aunts was a mean, fi~htin~ woman. She was to be sold. and. when the bl&ding started she grabbed a hatchet, laid. her hand on a log and. chopped. it off. Then she throwed. the bleeding hand. right in her master‘s face. Not long ago I hear she is still living in the country around Nowata, Oklahoma. . ~

	Sometimes I would. try to get mean, but always I got me a whi~i1ng for

it.	When I was a little girl, moving aroiiM from one family to another, I done housework, ironing, peeling ootatoes and. helping the main cook. I went. barefoot most of my life, but the master would get his shoes from the Goyernment at Fort Gibson.

	I wore cotton dresses, and. the Mistress wore long dresses, with different colors for Sunday clothes, but u~ slaves didn‘t know much about Sunday in a religious way. The Master had. a brother who used. to.~ preach to the Negroes on the sly. One time he was caught and. the Master whipped him something awful.

	Years ago I married. Joe Bean. Our children died. as babies. Twenty year ago Joe Bean . and. I separated for good. and all.

	The good. Lord. knows I‘m glad slavery is over. Now I can stay peaceful in one place ~-.-. that‘ s all I aim to do.