As long as I could understand anything she was still
lookin'.
"Far as I know, my parents stayed with old missis after the War.
"I 'member my father hired me out when I was a little boy. They treated,
me good.
"Never have done anything 'cept farm work. I'm failin' now. Hate to say
so but I found out I am.
"I never did want to go away from here. I could a went, but I think a
fellow can do better where he is raised. I have watched the dumb beasts
go off with others and see how they was treated, so I never did crave to
go off from home. I have knowed people have went away and they'd bring
'em back dead, and I'd say to myself, 'I wonder how he died?' I've
studied it over and I've just made myself satisfied.
"I went to school some but I was the biggest help the old folks had and
they kept me workin'."
Interviewer: Watt McKinney
Person Interviewed: D. Davis
R.F.D., six miles north of Marvell, Arkansas
Age: 85
Uncle D. Davis, an ex-slave, 85 years of age lives some miles north of
Marvell, Arkansas with a widowed daughter on a small farm the daughter
owns. Uncle D himself also owns a nice little farm some distance further
up the road and which he rents out each year since he is no longer able
to tend the land.
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