Christians.

"I never went to school in my life. I was taught by the fireside to be
obedient and not steal.

"We et outer trays hewed out of logs. Three of us would eat together. We
had wooden spoons the boys made whittling about in cold rainy weather.
We all had gourds to drink outer. When we had milk we'd get on our knees
and turn up the tray, same way wid pot-liquor. They give the grown up
the meat and us pot-liquor.

"Pa was a blacksmith. He got a little work from other plantations. The
third year of the surrender he bought us a cow. The master was dead. He
never went to war. He went in the black jack thickets. His sons wasn't
old enough to go to war. Pa seemed to like ole master. The overseer was
white looking like the master but I don't know if he was white man or
nigger. Ole master wouldn't let him whoop much as he pleased. Master
held him off on whooping.

"When the master come to the quarters us children line up and sit and
look at him. When he'd go on off we'd hike out and play. He didn't care
if we look at him.

"My pa was light about my color. Ma was dark. I heard them say she was
part Creek (Indian).

"Folks was modester before the children than they are now. The children
was sent to play or git a bucket cool water from the spring. Everything
we said wasn't smart like what children say now. We was seen and not
heard. Not seen too much or somebody be stepping 'side to pick up a