jers kilt a big snake and et it all
but de head. He had dat thing stuffed and brought it home. Atter he left
de army, he got a job in de Atlanta Post Office whar he wukked 'til he
was 'tired.

"I was hired out to de Marks family and stayed dar for years and dat was
a mighty good place to be hired out. I was married twice. Me and Crit
Clayton married at home. I ain't never seed nothin' lak dat pretty
flowerdy weddin' dress dat I wore and I had de prettiest hat and things
dat I ever seed. My next husband was Andrew Cole--He was Rosa's Pa. I
forgits de name of de white preacher dat married us when us went to his
house and axed him to. Four of our seven chillun is still livin'.

"Dey tells me our old big house near Monroe is standin' yit, and I sho'
do wish I could see it once more 'fore I die, but since I broke my hip a
few years ago I jus' don't ride in dem automobiles. No Ma'am, I don't
limp. De Lord was good to heal my hip and I ain't takin' no chances on
breakin' no more of my bones."

EX-SLAVE INTERVIEW

MARTHA COLQUITT, Age 85
190 Lyndon Avenue
Athens, Georgia

Written by:
Mrs. Sarah H. Hall
Federal Writers' Project
Athens, Georgia

Edited by:
John N. Booth
District Supervisor
Federal Writers' Project
Residencies 6 & 7
Augusta, Georgia

The aged Negress leaned heavily on her cane as she shuffled about her
tiny porch in the waning sunlight of a cold January day. An airplane
writing an advertising slogan in letters of smoke high in the sky was
receiving but indifferent attention from Aunt Martha. Sha shivered and
occasionally leaned against a post until a paroxysm of coughing
subsided. "What would you have thought of that if it had suddenly
appeared in the sky when you were a child?" she was asked. "It would
have scared me plum to death," was the response. "I didn't come out here
just to see dat," she continued, "I didn't have nothin' to make no fire
wid, and I had to git out in de sunshine 'cause it wuz too cold to stay
in de house. It sho' is mighty bad to have to go to bed wid cold feet
and cough all night long."

Her visitor could not resist the impulse to say, "Let's make a trade,
Aunt Martha! If I give you a little money will you buy wood; then while
you enjoy the fire will you think back over your life and tell me about
your experiences when I come back tomorrow?" "Bless de Lord! I sho' will
be glad to tell you de truf 'bout anything I can 'member," was her quick
reply as she reached fo