“No, ser, only five by de preacher.”
“How did you marry the others?”
“Ober de broomstick an’ under de blanket.”
“How was that performed?”
“Well, yer see, ser, dey all ’sembles in de quarters, an’ a man takes hold of one en’ of de broom an’ a ’oman takes hole of tudder en’, an’ dey holes up de broom, an’ de man an’ de ’oman dats gwine to get married jumps ober an’ den slips under a blanket, dey put out de light an’ all goes out an’ leabs em dar.”
“How near together were your wives?”
“Marser had fore plantations, an’ dey live ’bout on ’em, dem dat warn’t sold.”
“Did your master sell some of your wives?”
“O! yes, ser, when dey got too ole to bare children. You see, marser raised slaves fer de market, an’ my stock ware called mighty good, kase I ware very strong, an’ could do a heap of work.”
“Were your children sold away from you?”