"I 'pend on de w'ite folks to he'p me. Dese pore colored folks ain't got nuttin'. Nawsuh, I ain't be too ole to wuk an' mek a honest libbin' like lot o' dem no good nigger what too stiff fo' to speak. I wuk some flower-yard fo' some w'ite folks, an' I wuk a li'l gyarden.
"Yassuh, I hol' up berry well, but I can't see at night w'en de sun go down. My sight gone back den. I got git 'long now.
"You gimme a nickel or dime? T'ank you, suh. T'ank you kin'ly."
Source: Personal interview with John Hamilton, colored,
of 63 Amherst Street, Charleston, S.C.
Project #-1655
Jessie A. Butler
Charleston, S.C.
FOLKLORE
OLD SUSAN HAMLIN—EX SLAVE
(Verbatim Conversation)
Old Susan Hamlin, one hundred and four years old, was strolling down lower King St., about a mile from where she lives, when she was met by a white "friend," and the following conversation took place:
"How are you, Susan, do you remember me?"
"Yes, Ma'am, I 'member yo face, Missus, but I can't 'member yo name. I gettin' ole. Dis eye (touching the right one) leabin' me. Ole age you know. Somet'ing got tuh gie way."