The old master came back after his death and would ride his favorite horse, old Pomp, all night long, once every week.  When the boy would go in to feed the horses, old Pomp would have his ears hanging down, and he would be “just worn out,” after his night ride.

Interviewer’s Comment

America believes firmly in haunts, and said she had lived in several haunted houses since coming up north.

Mrs. Morgan lives with her baby boy and his wife.  She is rather inteligent, reads and writes, and tries to do all she can to help those who are less fortunate than she.

Submitted December 27, 1937
Indianapolis, Indiana

Iris Cook
District 4
Floyd County

Story of George Morrison
25 East 5th St., New Albany, Ind.

Observation of the writer

(This old negro, known as “Uncle George” by the neighbors, is very particular about propriety.  He allows no woman in his house unless accompanied by a man.  He says “It jest a’nt the proper thing to do”, but he came to a neighbors for a little talk.)

“I was bawn in Union County, Kentucky, near Morganfield.  My master was Mr. Ray, he made me call him Mr. Ray, wouldent let me call him Master.  He said I was his little free negro.”

When asked if there were many slaves on Mr. Ray’s farm, he said, “Yes’m, they was seven cabin of us.  I was the oldes’ child in our family.  Mr. Ray said “He didn’t want me in the tobacco”, so I stayed at the house and waited on the women folk and went after the cows when I was big enough.  I carried my stick over my shoulder for I wus afraid of snakes.”

“Mr. Ray was always very good to me, he liked to play with me, cause I was so full of tricks an’ so mischuvus.  He give me a pair of boots with brass toes.  I shined them up ever day, til you could see your face in ’em.”

“There wuz two ladies at the house, the Missus and her daughter, who was old enough to keep company when I was a little boy.  They used to have me to drive ’em to church.  I’d drive the horses.  They’d say, ’George, you come in here to church.’  But I always slipped off with the other boys who was standing around outside waitin’ for they folks, and played marbles.”

“Yes, ma’am, the War sho did affect my fambly.  My father, he fought for the north.  He got shot in his side, but it finally got all right.  He saved his money and came north after the war and got a good job.  But, I saw them fellows from the south take my Uncle.  They put his clothes on him right in the yard and took him with them to fight.  And even the white folks, they all cried.  But he came back, he wasnt hurt but he wasent happy in his mind like my pappy was.”

“Yes ma’am, I would rather live in the North.  The South’s all right but someways I just don’t feel down there like I does up here.”