“I haven’t got children and I don’t know what they ought to do.  I reckon they do the best they can.

“Times is hard on me.  It takes me all the time to make a living.”

Pine Bluff District
folklore subjects
Name of Interviewer:  Martin & Barker
Subject:  Negro Customs

This information given by:  Sarah Smiley (Colored)
Place of Residence:  Humphrey, Arkansas
Age:  76
[TR:  Information moved from bottom of first page.]

I was born the 10th of May, 1860.  My home was in Charleston, S.C.  I was not a slave, but my parents were.

My mother was a seamstress and my father, Edward Barnewill, was butler for their white folks.

I looks the door at sundown, and me and God are all by ourselves, and I am not afraid.

I came to Sherrill when I was a schoolgirl, and married when I was 14.  Lived here after I was married.  Taught school before I was married.

Had seven children by my first husband.  My three husbands were Ike Williams, Eli Treadvan, and Calvin Smiley.

When asked about her books standing on her shelves—­namely Golden Gems, arithmetic, and the Bible, also a blue back speller—­said she just loved her books.

Young folks of today don’t love like they did in the olden days.  Now it is hot love, minute love, free love.

When my first child was born, I begged the midwife not to cut me open to get the baby out.  The midwife told me the same place it went in the same place it will come out.

When my breasts began to grow (adolescence) I didn’t want those bumps on me, and tied them down with wide rags.

Cures—­I uses gasoline and cedar, soak it and rub on affected places for rheumatism.

I believe that you must not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.

Heaven is a place of rest.  If we are faithful to God, you can ride death home.

Hell is below—­also here on earth.

Interviewer:  Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed:  Andrew Smith
                    R.F.D., Forrest City, Arkansas
Age:  73

“I was born after the surrender at Oxford, Mississippi.  We belong to Master Jim Smith.  Mother cooked and father worked in the field.  He was on a average being good.  They didn’t trouble my mother as I recollect hearing ’em say but they whooped them in the field.  Pattyrollers chased papa in sometimes.  I heard him talk about it but I couldn’t tell what he said now.  Mama had two before freedom, then she married and had three children.  He died.  She married the second time and had two more children.  That made seben in all.

“She said her first marriage was pronounced (announced).  My mother said their master refugeed them to Texas till the year of the surrender.  They didn’t know nothing ’bout freedom till a while after they got back from Texas.  They stayed on that year and longer too not knowing ’bout freedom.  My rickerliction is short.