"Slaves didn get money unless deh work for it. Maybe a slave he would work long time before he get eny pay."
"Lak you hire me an you say you goin to pay me an then you don't. Lots of them hired slaves aftah de war and worked dem a long time sayin deh gwine pay and then when he ask for money, deh drive him away instead of payin him.
"Yes, some of de slaves were force to stay on de plantation. I see how some had to live." "They had homes for awhile but when deh wasen't able to pay dere rent cause deh weren't paid, deh were thrown out of dere houses." Some of dem didn't know when deh were free till long time after de Wah.
"When I were free, one mornin I seed the mistress and she ask me would I stay with her a couple years. I say, 'No I gonna find mah people an go dere.'
"Anyway, she had a young mister, a son, an he was mean to de slaves. I nebber lak him.
"Once I was sent to mah missys' brother for a time but I wouldn' stay dere: he too rough.
"No, deh didn't want you to learn out of books. My missy say one day when I was free, 'Now you can get your lessons.'
"I allus lowed to do what I wanted, take what I wanted, and eat what I wanted. Deh had lots of money but what good did it do them? Deh allus was sick.
"De poor soldiers had lots to go thru, even after de wah. Deh starvin and beggin and sick.
"De slaves had more meetins and gatherins aftah de war.