'
I know you've heered that song.
"I heered papa talk about how he was sold. He say the overseer so mean
he run off in the woods and eat blackberries for a week.
"I guess we had plenty to eat. I know mama used to fetch us somethin' to
eat from the house. Old missis give it to her. I know I was glad to get
it.
"When the people was freed they was so glad they went from house to
house and prayed and give thanks to the Lord.
"Our folks stayed right there and worked on the shares.
"I never went to school but about two weeks. My papa was hard workin'.
Other folks would let their chillun rest but he wouldn't let his chillun
rest. He sure did work us hard.
"You know in them days people moved 'round so much they didn't have time
to keep up no remembrance 'bout their ages. We didn't have no time to
see 'bout no ages--had to work. That's the truth."
Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed: Wash Ford, Des Arc, Arkansas
Age: 73 or 75?
"I was born close to Des Arc and Hickory Plains, seems like about half
way. Mama's master was named Powell. Papa's master was Frank Ford. My
parents was Fannie and Henry Ford. I was the oldest child. There was 6
boys, 4 girls of us.
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