sick they had doctors, and used old herbs.
'Jerusalem Ore' was a kind of herb for children, to build them up, and
there was field grass roots and herb roots which was boiled and tea
drunk for fevers. And 'Primer-rhine' tea which was drunk, too. Sometimes
they would hang garlic around small boys and girls necks to keep away
any kind of sickness.

"We didn't have schools; started them the second year after freedom. Old
General Butler give us old slaves a home each and a small patch to work.

"I married when I was 21 years old, the first time in Edgefield County,
now called Saluda County. I have six children, nine grand-children, and
four great-grand-children.

"I think Abe Lincoln was good man and he was Providential arrangement. I
think Jeff Davis was good man, same. Booker T. Washington is good man,
done lots for young niggers. I rather like it now, and not slavery time.
I joined church when I was 18 to turn from evil ways and to live a
better life."

SOURCE: Henry Ryan (83), Newberry, S.C.; by G. Leland Summer, Newberry,
S.C.

=Project 1885-1=
=Folklore=
=Spartanburg, Dist. 4=
=Oct. 11, 1937=

=Edited by:=
=Elmer Turnage=

=STORIES FROM EX-SLAVES=

"I live in a rented three-room house with my daughter. I am too old to
do much work, but I work where I can get little jobs that I can do.

"The slaves did not expect anything after Freedom, for the South was in
such a bad fix. They just got jobs where they could find them. Most of
them worked as share-croppers or wage hands on the farms, and have
worked like this since that time. Some few have rented farms. When any
moved to town they got jobs where they could.

"I never thought much about Reconstruction. Some slaves voted at first,
but when Wade Hampton was elected they didn't get to vote much.

"I think the younger generation has too much freedom and doesn't stay
home enough. They want to have their own way.

"Over in old Edgefield where I was raised we had plenty to eat; plenty
peas, corn bread, turnips and other things. We hunted wild game, too. I
was a slave of Major Pickens Butler. He was a good man and sometimes
gave us a little money for our work. Our master gave us a small patch of
land to work for ourselves and plant anything we wanted.

"No, I never think anything about voting. I am satisfied just to get
along."

Source: Henry Ryan (N--83), Newberry, S.C.
Interviewer: G.L. Summer, Newberry, S.C. 8/18/37.

=P