the great curse of slavery.

Cordially,
(Signed) JOHN E. RASTALL.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

MARION, ALABAMA
July 7th 1916

DR. C. G. WOODSON

_Dear Sir:_

Absence from home has prevented my replying to your request
sooner.

The majority of masters in this section of the country were kind
to their slaves. They gave them plenty of good wholesome food,
good clothes, (warm ones in winter) comfortable homes and
attention from Doctors when sick. There were churches on nearly
every plantation and ministers provided to preach to them. The
_only very cruel_ masters were _Northern men_ who treated their
slaves like _beasts_. For many years it was against the law to
teach negroes to read or write because some of them would read
things from the North that made them dissatisfied but our family
owned such good negroes, who had principle like white people we
did not think it could hurt them, and we taught them to read and
write. There has always been a kind feeling between the whites
and slaves in this country. The young ones were our playmates in
childhood. The older ones our nurses and cooks who petted us and
loved us as their own color. They were faithful during the War
when our protectors were in the Army, and now altho' it is fifty
years since they were freed, many of them are our best
friends.--I do not know of anything else you wanted to know or I
would gladly write you. In some sections of the South there may
have been cruel treatment but it was generally from the overseers
who were ignorant men and took advantage of their position to
give license to their cruel natures.

James Childs and all of his family and many of his relatives
belonged to my mother, and there still exists a kind feeling
between us that will only be severed by Death. I would like to
hear from him. I am nearly 75 years old and cannot be here much
longer but want to do all the good I can before I am called.

Respectfully
(Signed) MRS. JAS. A. SMITH,
Marion
Al