Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States from Interviews with Former Slaves, Volume II, Arkansas Narratives, Part 4

I was six or seven when they begin goin' to the Civil War. We had a big old pasture opposite and I know they would bring the soldiers there and drill 'em.
Oh my God, don't talk about slavery. They kept us in so you know we couldn't go around.
But if they kept 'em a little closer now, the world would be a better place. I'm so glad I raised my children when they was raisin' children. If I told 'em to do a thing, they did it 'cause I would always know what was best. I got here first you know.
People now'days is just shortening their lives. The Lord is pressin' us now tryin' to press us back. But thank God I'm saved.
Did you ever see things like they is now?
I looks at the young folks and it seems like they is all in a hurry—looks like they is on the last round.
These here seabirds, (a music machine called seaburg—ed.) is ruinin' the young folks.
I feels my age now, but I thank the Lord I got a home and got a little income.
My children can't help me—ain't got nothin' to help with but a little washin'. My daughter been bustin' the suds for a livin' 'bout thirty-two years now.
I never went to school. My dad put me to work after freedom and then when schools got so numerous, I got too big. Ain't but one thing I want to learn this side of the River, is to read the Bible. I wants to confirm Jesus' words.
The fus' place we went after we left the home place durin' of the war, we went to Wolf Creek. And then they pressed 'em so close we went to Red River. And they pressed 'em so close again we went to Texas and that's where we was when freedom come.