"How old is your master?"
"He is seventy years old."
"I should think, when so many negroes are running away, you would want to get your freedom, for fear they would sell you down South."
"I told my master I would always stay with him, and so he has promised to give me the tools."
"I should think you would like to be where you could live with your wife."
"Yes, I would, sir; but they don't think of a man's feelings here. We ain't no more than their stock, sir! They abuse us, 'cause they's got the power."
"You have some money, haven't you, uncle?"
"Yes, I'se got about three hundred dollars. About fifty dollars is Southern confederate money. I'se mighty oneasy about that. 'Fraid I shall lose it. The rest is in Virginia bank notes. I'se been saving it this long while."
"Don't you find it rather hard times?"
"Mighty hard, sir. Hain't had no sugar nor coffee this long while. One of your soldiers gave me a spoonful of sugar yesterday. You'se got a mighty fine army, sir. There's more good clothes in one regiment that went by yesterday, than in the entire Southern army."