“I was about six years old when the War ended, I guess.  I don’t know how old I am.  The insurance men put me down as seventy-three.  I know I was here in slavery time, and I was just about six years old when the War ended.

Schooling

“I got my first learning in Alabama.  I didn’t learn anything at all in slavery times.  I went to school.  I would go to the house in slavery tine, and there wouldn’t be nobody home, and I would go to the bed and get under it because I was scared.  When I would wake up it would be way in the night and dark, and I would be in bed.

“I got my schooling way after the surrender.  We would make crops.  The third time we moved, dad started me to school.  I had colored teachers.  I was in Talladega County.  I made the fifth grade before I stopped.  My father died and then I had to stop and take care of my mother.

An “Aunt Caroline” Story

“I know that some people can tell things that are goin’ to happen.  Old man Julks lived at Pumpkin Bend.  He had a colt that disappeared.  He went to ’Aunt Caroline’—­that’s Caroline Dye.  She told him just where the colt was and who had it and how he had to get it back.  She described the colt and told him that was what he come to find out about before he had a chance to ask her anything.  She told him that white people had it and told him where they lived and told him he would have to have a white man go and git it for him.  He was working for a good man and he told him about it.  He advertised for the colt and the next day, the man that stole it came and told him that a colt had been found over on his place and for him to come over and arrange to git it.  But he said, ’No, I’ve placed that matter in the hands of my boss.’  He told his boss about it, but the fellow brought the horse and give it to the boss without any argument.

Family and Masters

“My old master’s slaves were called free niggers.  He and his wife never mistreated their slaves.  When any of Madden’s slaves were out and the pateroles got after them, if they could make it home, that ended it.  Nobody beat Madden’s niggers.

“My father’s name was Allen Madden and my mother’s name was Amy Madden.  I knew my grandfather and grandmother on my mother’s side.  My grandfather and grandmother never were ’round me though that I can remember.

“When the old man died, the Negroes were divided out.  This boy got so many and that one got so many.  The old man, Mabe Madden, had two sons, John and Little Mabe.  My mother and father went to John.  They were in Talladega because John stayed there.

“My father’s mother and father fell to Little Mabe Madden.  They never did come to Alabama but I have heard my father talk about them so much.  My father’s father was named Harry.  His last name must have been Madden.