"I was bawn at 'Elmoreland', Massa Americus Mitchell's place, mor'n ninety yeahs ago, an' a'ter freedom I stayed dah 'tel ole Massa died an' my Mistis moved to Eufaula to live wid her son, Mahs Merry.
"'Bout all I know of de wawh is when dey said—'de Yankees is comin', de Yankees is comin'.'
"Us sho' was skeerd, an' dere'd be some fas' doin's about de place. All de cattle an' hawgs an hosses we driv' to de swamp on de nawth creek, an' de feather beds down dere too an' hid 'em in de brush an' leaves. My Mistis tied her trinkets in sacks an' put 'em in outlandish places lak de hen-house an de hay lof'. An' de silver, dey planted in de fiel."
[Fannie Gibson]
Interview with Fannie Gibson
—J.R. Jones, Columbus, Georgia
Fannie Gibson was born the slave property of Mr. Benajer Goff, a planter of near Roanoke, Alabama. She says that during her girlhood she "piddled in de fiels an hepped in de kitchen o' de big house."
She has very pleasant memories of slave days, and "wishes to God dat she was as comforbly (comfortably) fixed now as she was den."
Her ante-bellum owner she pictures as a very humane, Christian gentleman—a man that took great interest in the material and spiritual welfare of his slaves.
Two hymns, sung by 'Aunt' Fannie for her interviewer, are appended.
Going Home To Live With The Lord.
Goin' home soon in de mornin',
Goin' home soon in de mornin',
I's goin' home to live with de Lord.
In de mornin' so soon,
In de mornin' so soon,
I's goin' home to live with de Lord.
I's goin' home to live with de Lord,
I's goin' home to live with de Lord,
I's goin' home soon in de mornin'.
O, de Lord is a-waitin' for me,
O, de Lord is a-waitin' for me,
I's goin' home soon in de mornin'.
Where Were You When You Found The Lord?
My brother, where were you,
My brother, where were you,
My brother, where were you,
When you found the Lord?
I was low down in the valley,
I was low down in the valley,
I was low down in the valley,
When I first found the Lord.
My sister, where were you,
My sister, where were you,
My sister, where were you,
When you found the Lord?
I was low down in the valley,
I was low down in the valley,
I was low down in the valley,
When I first found the Lord.