They kept her till freedom.
"The owners told them they was free. Stayed on a while. We never have
got very fur off from where I was born. I had thirteen children of my
own. Three living now.
"I know times was mighty hard when I was a child. Biscuits was big
rarity as cake is now. I don't have much cake. Little cornbread and
meat, molasses and proud to get that. We didn't have much clothes but we
had plenty wood. We had wood to keep up the fire in the fireplace all
night. They saw the back sticks in the woods and roll em up. In the
coldest part of the winter they throw on a back log of green wood and
pull the seats, had benches, didn't have chairs, way back in the middle
of the room. It be snow and ice all over the ground. I got wood many a
day. Yes, I plowed many a day. I done all kinds of field work, cook and
wash and iron. Mid-wife is my talent. I been big and strong and work was
the least of my worries.
"I can barely recollect seeing soldiers. They must have just got home
from the war. The shiny buttons is about all I can recollect.
"I recollect the Ku Klux. They rode at night, some dressed in dark and
some white clothes. They come through our house one time.
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