"I was born on Horton's Island here in Arkansas. That's what they told me.
"I know when my daddy went to war and when he come back, he put on his crudiments (accoutrements) to let us see how he looked.
"I seed the soldiers gwine to war and comin' back. Look like to me I was glad to see em till I seed too many of em.
"Yankees used to come down and take provisions. Yes, 'twas the Yankees!
"My granddaddy was the whippin' boss. Had a white boss too named Massa Fred.
"Massa Joe used to come down and play with us chillun. His name was Joe Horton. Ever'body can tell you that was his name. Old missis named Miss Mary. She didn't play with us much.
"Yes ma'am, they sure did take us to Texas durin' of the War—in a ox wagon. Stayed down there a long time.
"We didn't have plenty to eat but we had to eat what we did. I member they wouldn't give us chillun no meat, jus' grease my mouf and make my mother think we had meat.
"Now my mother told me, at night some of the folks used to steal one of old massa's shoats and cook it at night. I know when that pot was on the rack but you better not say nothin' bout it.
"All us chillun stayed in a big long log house. Dar is where us chillun stayed in the daytime, right close to Miss Mary.