enjoyed from the hillsides and there
were many pretty homes belonging to the rich citizens. Slaves kept the
lawns smooth and tended the flowers for miles around Nashville, when I
was a child," said Uncle Jimmie.

Uncle Jimmie Childress has no knowledge of his master's having practiced
cruelty towards any slave. "We was all well fed, well clothed and lived
in good cabins. I never got a cross word from Mars John in my life," he
declared. "When the slaves got their freedom they rejoiced staying up
many nights to sing, dance and enjoy themselves, although they still
depended on old Mars John for food and bed, they felt too excited to
work in the fields or care for the stock. They hated to leave their
homes but Mr. Childress told them to go out and make homes for
themselves."

"Mother got work as a housekeeper and kept us all together. Uncle Bob
got home from the War and we lived well enough. I have lived at
Evansville since 1881, have worked for a good many men and John Bell
will tell you I have had only friends in the city of Evansville."

Uncle Jimmie recalls how the slaves always prayed to God for freedom and
the negro preachers always preached about the day when the slaves would
be no longer slaves but free and happy.

"My people loved God, they sang sacred songs, 'Swing Low Sweet Charriot'
was one of the best songs they knew". Here uncle Jimmie sang a stanza of
the song and said it related to God's setting the negroes free.

"The negroes at Mr. Childress' place were allowed to learn as much as
they could. Several of the young men could read and write. Our master
was a good man and did no harm to anybody."

James Childress is a black man, small of stature, with crisp wooly dark
hair. He is glad he is not mulatto but a thorough blooded negro.

Federal Writers' Project
of the W.P.A.
District #6
Marion County
Anna Pritchett
1200 Kentucky Avenue

FOLKLORE
MRS. SARAH COLBERT--EX-SLAVE
1505 North Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana

Mrs. Sarah Carpenter Colbert was born in Allen County, Kentucky in 1855.
She was owned by Leige Carpenter, a farmer.

Her father, Isaac Carpenter was the grandson of his master, Leige
Carpenter, who was very kind to him. Isaac worked on the farm until the
old master's death. He was then sold to Jim McFarland in Frankfort
Kentucky. Jim's wife was very mean to the slaves, whipped them regularly
every morning to start the day right.

One morning after a severe beating, Is