Concerning his age and birthplace, Uncle Tony told Thomas he was born in Danville, Ky., about 1779. He went to Mobile in 1805 with Judge Toulmin.
At the time of the interview the old slave was extremely feeble and lame, and walked with the aid of a cane. His skin was dried and wrinkled, and cataracts on his eyes had totally deprived him of his sight. Despite these handicaps, however, Thomas said the old man's mind was exceptionally clear, and his recollection of events occurring almost a century before were remarkable.
[Mose]
Told by Edith Tatum, Greenville, Alabama
—Mildred Scott Taylor, Georgiana, Alabama
UNCLE MOSE—A TRUE STORY
The early spring sunshine sifted through the honey-suckle vines clustering around the cabin door, and made a network of dancing light upon the floor. A little Negro boy sat on the steps gazing silently up the dusty road and idly listening to the insistent buzzing of insects hovering about the honey-suckle blooms.
"Don't yer see nothin' of her yet, Jerry?" came in a querulous voice from a bed in a corner of the cabin.
"Naw, Unc' Mose. She ain't in sight yit, but it's mos' time fer 'er."
"Hit 'pear lak dis mis'ry is er gittin' wus all de time," the voice went on.
"Miss Sally say dat limerumunt gwine he'p it," essayed Jerry consolingly.