“Jesse was de car’iage driver.  Car’iages was called phaetons den.  Dey had high seats up in front whar de driver sot, and de white folks sot in de car’iage below.  Jesse went to de War wid Marse Thomas, and was wid him when he was kilt at Fred’ricksburg, Virginia.  I heard ’em sey one of his men shot ’im by mistake, but I don’t know if dat’s de trufe or not.  I do know dey sho’ had a big grand fun’al ’cause he was a big man and a general in de War.

“Some of de slaves on Marse Thomas’ place knowed how to read.  Aunt Vic was one of de readers what read de Bible.  But most of de Niggers didn’t have sense enough to learn so dey didn’t bother wid ’em.  Dey had a church way downtown for de slaves.  It was called Landon’s Chapel for Rev. Landon, a white man what preached dar.  Us went to Sunday School too.  Aunt Vic read de Bible sometimes den.  When us jined de chu’ch dey sung:  ‘Amazing Grace How Sweet de Sound.’

“Marse Thomas had lots of slaves to die, and dey was buried in de colored folks cemetery what was on de river back of de Lucas place.  I used to know what dey sung at fun’als way back yonder, but I can’t bring it to mind now.

“No Ma’am, none of Marse Thomas’ Niggers ever run away to de Nawth.  He was good to his Niggers.  Seems lak to me I ’members dem patterollers run some of Marse Thomas’ Niggers down and whupped ’em and put ’em in jail.  Old Marse had to git ’em out when dey didn’t show up at roll call next mornin’.

“Marse Thomas allus put a man or de overseer on a hoss or a mule when he wanted to send news anywhar.  He was a big man and had too many slaves to do anything hisse’f.

“I ’spect dey done den lak dey does now, slipped ’round and got in devilment atter de day’s wuk was done.  Marse Thomas was allus havin’ swell elegant doin’s at de big house.  De slaves what was house servants didn’t have no time off only atter dinner on Sundays.

“Christmas was somepin’ else.  Us sho’ had a good time den.  Dey give de chilluns china dolls and dey sont great sacks of apples, oranges, candy, cake, and evvything good out to de quarters.  At night endurin’ Christmas us had parties, and dere was allus some Nigger ready to pick de banjo.  Marse Thomas allus give de slaves a little toddy too, but when dey was havin’ deir fun if dey got too loud he sho’ would call ’em down.  I was allus glad to see Christmas come.  On New Year’s Day, de General had big dinners and invited all de high-falutin’ rich folks.

“My mudder went to de corn shuckin’s off on de plantations, but I was too little to go.  Yes Ma’am, us sho’ did dance and sing funny songs way back in dem days.  Us chillun used to play ‘Miss Mary Jane,’ and us would pat our hands and walk on broom grass.  I don’t know nothin’ ’bout charms.  Dey used to tell de chillun dat when old folks died dey turned to witches.  I ain’t never seed no ghostes, but I sho’ has felt ’em.  Dey made de rabbits jump over my grave and had me feelin’ right cold and clammy.  Mudder used to sing to Miss Lucy to git her to sleep, but I don’t ’member de songs.