for.

"I was sick for three years. Then my husband took down and was sick
for seven years before he died.

"I belong to the Holiness Church down on Izard Street, and Brother
Jeeter is my pastor."

INTERVIEWER'S COMMENT

Betty Johnson's memory is accurate, and she tells whatever she wishes
to tell without hesitation and clearly. She leaves out details which
she does not wish to mention evidently, and there is a reserve in her
manner which makes questioning beyond a certain point impertinent.
However, just what she tells presents a picture into which the details
may easily be fitted.

Her husband is dead, but he was evidently of the same type she is. She
lives in a beautiful and well kept cottage. Her husband left a similar
house for each of her three children. The husband, of course, was
colored. It is equally evident that the father was white.

Although my questions traveled into corners where they evidently did
not wish to follow, the mother and son, who was from time to time with
her, answered courteously and showed no irritation.

Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed: Cinda Johnson
506 E. Twenty, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 83

"Yes ma'm, this is Cinda. Yes'm, I remember seein' the soldiers but I
didn't know what they was doin'. You know old folks didn't talk in
front of chilluns like they does now--but I been here. I got great
grand chillun--boy big enuf to chop cotton. That's my daughter's
daughter's chile. Now you _know_ I been here.

"I heered em talkin' bout freedom. My mother emigrated here drectly
after freedom. I was born in Alabama. When we come here, I know I was
big enuf to clean house and milk cows. My mother died when I was bout
fifteen. She called me to the bed and tole me who to stay with. I been
treated bad, but I'm still here and I thank the Lord He let me stay.

"I been married twice. My first husband died, but I didn't have no
graveyard love. I'm the mother of ten whole chillun. All dead but two
and only one of them of any service to me. That's my son. He's good to
me and does what he can but he's got a family. My daughter-in-law--all
she does is straighten her hair and look cute.

"One of my sons what died belonged to the Odd Fellows and I bought
this place with insurance. I lives here alone in peace. Yes, honey, I
been here a long time."

Interviewer: Samuel S. Taylor
Person interviewed: Ella Johnson
913-1/2 V