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	J~L~3LAV1~ STORI3~S	Page One	I	33
(Terni)


JA~U3~S W. SMITK, 7?, W~8 born a slave of the Hallman family, in Palestine, Texas. James became a Baptist minister in 1895, and preached until 1931, when poor health forced him to retire. He and his wife live at 1306 E. Fourth St., Fort Worth, Texas.




	‘Yes, euh, I‘in birthed a slave, but never worked as sich, ‘cause I~s3 too young. But I ‘niembers hearin‘ my mother tell all about her slave days and our master. He was John Haliman and owned a place in Palestine, with niy mother and. father andfifty other slaves. My folks was hotise servants and lived a little better‘n the field hands. De cabins was built cheap, though, no nioney, only time for buildin‘ am de cost. Dey didn‘t use nails and helt de logs in place by dovetailinS • Dey closed de space between de lods with wedges covered with mud. and straw. De framework for de door was helt by wooden pe~e and so am de benches and tables. Master Hailman always had soins niggers trained for carpenter work, and one to be blacksmith and. one to make shoes and harness.

	“We was lucky t o have de kind master, what give us plenty to eat.

If al 1 de people now could have j~s ‚ s o good food what we had ‚ there wouldn ‚ t be no beggin‘ by hungry folks or need. for milk funds for starved babies.

	“We ddn‘ t have purty cl othea sich as now, with all de dif‘ rent colors mixed up, but dey was warm and lastin‘ ‚ dyed brown and black. De black oak and cherry made de dyes. Œir shoes wasn‘t purty, either. I bas to laugh when I think of de shoes. There ~ no careful work put on dein, but dey covered de feets and lasted near forever.

	“Master always wanted to help his cullud folks live right and my folks always said de best time of they lives was on de old plantation.