“It was awful hard going after the war.  But I got me a place—­had to share-crop for a year or two.  But I worked hard and saved all I could.  Pretty soon I had me enough that I could rent.  I always raised the usual things—­cotton and corn and potatoes and a little truck and that sort of thing—­always raised enough to eat for us and the stock—­and then some cotton for a cash crop.

“My first wife, well it was kind of funny; I wasn’t more than 19.  She had 11 children.  Some of them was older than I was.  No ma’am it wasn’t so hard on me.  They was all old enough to take care of themselves.  I lived with that woman for 17 years.  Then she died.

“I been married five times.  Three of my children are living.  One’s here—­that’s Dave.  Then there’s one in Texarkana and there’s one in Kansas City.  Two of my children’s dead.  The youngest died just about last year.  All my wives are dead.

“Almost every day I comes up to sit here and watch the children.  It does me good to see ’em.  Makes me feel good all over to think about all the fine chance they has to get a good education.  Sonny, you hear me?  You pay attention too, sonny.  I’m watching you—­you and all the other little boys.  You mind me.  You learn all you can.  You ought to be so thankful you allowed to learn that you work hard.  You mind me, sonny.  When you’re grown up, you’ll know what I’m talking about—­and know I’m right.  Run along, sonny.  No use hanging around the school yard too long.”

Interviewer:  Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed:  Isom Rogers, Edmondson, Arkansas
Age:  67

“I was born in Tunica County, Austin, Mississippi.  I been in Edmondson, Arkansas ten years.  I come to do better.  Said farming was good here.  My folks’ owners was Master Palmer and George Rogers.  My parents was never sold.  They was young folks in slavery time and at time of freedom.  They was farm hands.  Their names was Pat and Ely Rogers.

“I heard him say he made palings and went ’round mending the fences when the ground was froze.  He made boards to cover the houses with too—­I heard him say.  He was strong and worked all the time at some jobs.  Never heard mother say very much.

“I been farming and I have worked on quarter-boat and back farming.  I been here ten years.”

Interviewer:  Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed:  Oscar James Rogers, Wheatley, Arkansas
Age:  Up in 70’s

“I come to dis state in 1885.  I run off from my parents back in North Carolina.  They was working in a turpentine forest there.

“When freedom was declared my folks heard ’bout a place where money was easy to make.  So they walked from down close to Charleston up there and carried the children.  I was ’bout nine or ten years old.  I liked the farm so I left the turpentine farm.  I got to rambling round and finally got to Arkansas.  I run off from my folks cause they kept staying there.  I was a child and don’t recollect much ’bout slavery.  I was at the quarters wid all the children.  My mother b’longed to Bob Plat and my father to a man named Rogers.  My father could get a pass and come to see us every Sunday providin’ he didn’t go nowhere else or stop long the road.  He came early and stay till bedtime.  We all run to meet him.  He kiss us all in bed when he be leavin’.