“I ‘members de paterollers.  Whenever de cullud folks would slip off an’ have dey frolics dout gittin’ a pass from Old Marster de paterollers would come.  Lots-a time dey’d come while us was a-dancin’ an’ a-havin’ a big time.  Dem paterollers would swarm in de room lak a lot o’ bees.  Fore anybody knowed it, dey’d begin grabbing at de mens.  If dey didn’ have dey pass wid ’em dey took ’em down in de woods an’ whup ’em for runnin’ off wid out asking dey white folks.  Dey didn’ bother de wimnins much.  De wimmins mos’ always got away while dey was catchin’ de mens.

“Onct I slipped off wid another gal an’ went to a party dout asking Old Mis’.  When dem Night Riders come dat night, de Niggers was a-runnin’ an’ a-dodgin’ an’ a-jumpin’ out-a winders lak dey was scairt to death.  I runs too, me an’ dat other gal.  I fell down an’ tore my dress, but I warnt studyin’ dat dress.  I knows dat dem white folks had dat strap an’ I’s gittin’ ‘way fas’ as I could.

“When Miss ‘Lizabeth got married to Mr. Ras Laird, dey had a big weddin’ an’ all dey folks come to see ’em married.  Den dey went to live in Rankin County an’ took me wid ’em.  Old Marster had give me to Miss ’Lizabeth.

“I ‘members when de Yankees come to de house.  Us heard dey was comin’, so us hid all de hams an’ shoulders up in de lof’ o’ de Big House.  Dey didn’ git much.  Dey was so mad dey jus’ tore up some of Old Mis’ clo’es what was in de wardrobe.  Us was sho’ scairt of ’em.

“I ‘members dey promise to give de cullud folks all kin’ o’ things.  Dey never give ’em nothin’ dat I know’s about.  Us was jus’ turnt loose to scratch for us ownse’ves.  Us was glad to stay on wid de white folks, ‘cause dey was de bes’ frien’s us had.  I don’ know nobody what got a thing ‘cept what Old Marster an’ Old Mis’ give ’em.

“After freedom I went back to ‘Old Mis’.  I walked all de way back from Rankin County.  It was a long way, but I wanted to see Old Mis’ an’ my Mammy an’ my brothers an’ sisters.

“When de surrender come by pappy come to git me.  I didn’ wan’-a go.  I tol’ ‘im I’s gwine stay wid Old Mis’.  So he goes an’ gits de sheriff an’ takes me anyway.  I runned away twict an’ come back to Old Mis’.  He whupped me de firs’ time, but de nex’ time I hid from him an’ he couldn’ catch me.  He went back home an’ ’lemme ’lone.  Den I went wid my mammy to live wid Marse Tally Berry.  He was one of Old Marster’s sons.  Dey used to come an’ tell me dat dat old Nigger was gwine kill me if I didn’ come wid him.  But I jus’ stayed hid out till he went away.

“I spec’ all my white folks is dead now.  I wish I could go back to ’em now.  Dey help me.  Dey was good to us after de War was over.  Dis one would want me to live wid dem, den de other one would want me to live wid dem.  Sometimes I quit one an’ go live wid de other one.  All of ’em sho’ did treat me good.  I’s havin’ a heap harder time now dan I ever had in slav’ry times.  I sho’ is.