"I remember when they said the people was free, but our folks stayed
right on there--I don't know how many years--'cause my mother thought a
heap of her old missis, Penny.

"I went to school after freedom and learned how to read and write and
figger. I worked in the field till I got disabled. I never did wash and
iron and cook for the white folks.

"I was fifteen--somewhere in there--when I married and I'm the mother of
twelve children.

"I have lived in Thomas, West Virginia; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania;
Cumberland, Maryland; Milliken, Louisiana; and Birmingham, Alabama. I
just lived in all them places following my children around.

"I fell through a trestle in Birmingham and injured myself comin' from
church.

"I think the people is gettin' terrible now. You think they're gettin'
better? I think they're gettin' wuss.

"I got a book here called 'Uncle Tom' and I hates to read it sometimes
'cause the people suffered so.

"I don't think old master had any overseers. Miss Julia wouldn't 'low
any of her people to be beat."