Slave Narratives Vol. XIV | Page 9

anything about it. We never had any
slave up-risings in our neighborhood."
Source: Frances Andrews (83), Newberry, S. C. Interviewer: G. L.
Summer, Newberry, S. C. 8/11/37.

Spartanburg, S. C. District No. 4 May 27, 1937. Edited by R. V.
Williams [~HW: Lambrigh~]
Folk Lore: Folk Tales (negro)
"I was 'bout nine year ole when de big war broke loose. My pa and ma
'longed to de Scotts what libbed in Jonesville Township. When I got
big 'nough to work, I was gib to de youngest Scott boy. Soon atter dis,
Sherman come through Union County. No ma'm, I nebber seed
Sherman but I seed some of his soldiers. Dat's de time I run off in de
wood and not narry a soul knowed whar I was till de dus' had done
settled in de big road.
"Every Sunday, Marse Scott sent us to church in one of his waggins.
White folks rid to church in de buggy and Marse went on de big saddle
hoss. 'Bout dis time, Marse Scott went to Columbia to git coffee and
sugar. He stay mos' two weeks, kaize he drive two fine hosses to de
buggy 'long wid a long hind end to fetch things to and fro in. De roads
was real muddy and de hosses haf to res' ever night. Den in Columbia,
he would have a little 'joyment befo' he come back home."
Source: Miss Dorothy Lambright, W. Main St., Union, S. C. (Story told
her by "Uncle Peter" Arthur.) Information by Caldwell Sims, Union, S.

C.

Code No. Project, 1885-(1) Prepared by Annie Ruth Davis Place,
Marion, S. C. Date, January 4, 1938 No. of Words ---- Reduced from
---- words Rewritten by ----
JOSEPHINE BACCHUS Ex-Slave, 75-80 Years
"No, my mercy God, I don' know not one thought to speak to you bout.
Seems like, I does know your face, but I been so sick all de year dat I
can' hardly remember nothin. Yes, sweetheart, I sho caught on to what
you want. Oh, I wishes I did know somethin bout dat old time war
cause I tell you, if I been know anything, I would sho pour it out to you.
I got burn out here de other day en I ain' got near a thing left me, but a
pair of stockings en dat old coat dere on de bed. Dat how-come I stayin
here wid Miss Celia. My husband, he dead en she took me in over here
for de present. No'um, I haven't never had a nine months child. Reckon
dat what ailin me now. Bein dat I never had no mother to care for me
en give me a good attention like, I caught so much of cold dat I ain'
never been safe in de family way. Yes, mam, I had my leg broke plenty
times, but I ain' never been able to jump de time. Lord, I got a misery in
my back dere. I hope it ain' de pneumonias."
"Well, you see, I couldn' tell you nothin bout my mother cause I never
didn' know nothin bout my mother. My Jesus, my brother tell bout
when dey had my mother layin out on de coolin board, I went in de
room whe' she was en axed her for somethin to eat en pushed her head
dat way. You know, I wouldn' touch my hand to do nothin like dat, but
I never know. Dat it, de coolin board, dat what dey used to have to lay
all de dead people on, but dis day en time, de undertaker takes dem en
fixes dem up right nice, I say. I tellin you, I ain' had no sense since I
lost my people. Sometimes, I axes de Lord what he keepin me here for
anyhow. Yes, mam, dat does come to me often times in de night. Oh, it
don' look like I gwine ever get no better in dis life en if I don', I just
prays to God to be saved. Yes, Lord, I prays to be lifted to a restful
home."

"Just like as I been hear talk, some of de people fare good in slavery
time en some of dem fare rough. Dat been accordin to de kind of task
boss dey come up under. Now de poor colored people in slavery time,
dey give dem very little rest en would whip some of dem most to death.
Wouldn' none of dem daresen to go from one plantation to another
widout dey had a furlough from dey boss. Yes, mam, if dey been catch
you comin back widout dat walkin paper de boss had give you, great
Jeruseleum, you would sho catch de devil next mornin. My blessed a
mercy, hear talk dey spill de poor nigger's