When I was six years old, they started, me out to school. And although my Grandfather had been a slave, yet he managed to learn to spell and read, and from this he taught me of the little that he knew which gave me a previous start

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before going to school - and also proved to be the same help to me and less work for my first teacher. While I was unfortunate in reaching the graduation mark, yet I am proud of the distance that I have gone, tho-brief, Still I haven't fully given up the race or interest even at or in these advanced years. Now I will refer again to my Childhood Days. I was never allowed to be out very frequently from home. For play or pleasure and whenever this privilege may granted me, there was a standard rule, only certain houses I was allowed to visit , and even these were seldom, not in a way to make me selfish or arrogant, but carefree in my company and associates and again my play-time or stay were limited.

Only once or twice a week and from half an hour to never more than an hour, was I allowed to stay and when that time was out I had to hurry home on Cinderella's time, or else I was punished.

I used to think sometimes that my life in that respect was hard, but I was often told by the dear old folks, and I have tried to see, realize and understand, that it was all for my

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own good, then and thereafter - and as I was bound so around the home in those days, it came more natural to me. The older I grew the more contented I was to be at home - and I am proud up to the time to be friendly with friends, yet the love and pleasure of home-stay is instilled in me with contentment. While I realize that there is time to go, and certain good and necessary places to go, Such as to church, or some other institution to see, hear, listen and learn, of worthy things in life. Many wonderful inventions, wonderful sights to be seen and enjoy the knowledge, and art of great men and women, the country over have made it desirable for one to go at the proper time and see enough to keep up with the times in doings of intelligence among the respectful and enlightened. Yet as we go around among these wonderful views and sights, around and around, we find ourselves at the proper time without too long a stay marking the stepping stones toward the home gate, until the necessary time for the next trip. And again I am never lonely, my domestic duties is one of the home comforts, and something to employ the mind, the eyes, the feet, and hands, until the need

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of rest is felt, and should there be a musical instrument in the home, or suitable books, magazines etc. to the musical artist or the fond reader, then there the pleasure is yours in you own home. And according to the old adage, "Woman's work is never done, from the rising to the setting of a glorious sun."

Well here I refer again to my "Childhood Days" After I had grown to the age of four or five years and on, I would sometimes go and spend a week or more with Mamma and Papa, and they were always proud to have their only little girl to spend sometime with them - they were always kind and affectionate, and my eldest brother, Joshua, was also very affectionate, and kind, and would try in everyway to please and amuse me - But I could not be contented away from my Grandparents loving at a time. As I had been with them and learn to love them so dearly from infancy.

Grandmother was a splendid cook. A neat house-keeper, She was always busy, and I would try to keep up with her, but altho she was many years older than myself, she could turn even more swifter

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than I. Still I would try at my best to help her in every way about the house and yard. I was fond of house-cleaning and arranging things about the house. I would assist her in everything except cooking, I never cared much for that kind of work. And as she was so fond of cooking, and understood so well how to prepare the various dishes etc. - why it was a treat to me, as I would make my self busy at other things to relieve her of so much work - But after the cooking was done, and meals were served, there I was ready and willing to go in the kitchen and clean everything up in sight - Once or twice a week I choosed my own task of brightening up the tins, knives, forks and spoons. There was not so many various preparations in those days as there are now, such as cleansing powders etc. - Certainly there were a few, but mostly for silver brass, copper etc. - but I delighted in having these shining articles around. And my preparations were oak ashes and clear sand used with a damp cloth, scrubbing the articles and washing off with hot water and soap, then polishing with from one to two soft dry cloths, so

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as to give the necessary or desired gloss.

I would also take up the same task whenever I would got o visit my mother - she had several Brass Articles in the home, such as the old time Andirons, Fenders, Lamps, etc. - They were beautiful in design and I was always glad to see them with a pretty gloss, especially from the work of my hands. Mamma was always glad to have me do these as she was a regular laundress, and after doing her weeks work, in laundry, cooking, and cleaning the house ordinarily, she was too tired for these little extras, and she knew that her little daughter would attend to it when she came to visit.

I was also very found of sewing - and my mother could sew very neatly even in hand work. Her tucking was beautiful and even. She only did plain work but very neatly and correct. She was or had been a slave, and it was during that time that she was taught sewing by her mistress in order to do needle work about the house. Grandmother would also do plain sewing, in my time with her - such as pillow cases, hemming sheets, plain underwear, mending, darning socks, etc. - And great on quilt-making.

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I would often sit patiently with her until one and two o'clock at night making quilt squares in small and large pieces, she would cut the squares, and give me a certain lot or number even with hers - this kind of work we would do mostly on the long winter nights, dear old Grandpa would always have a comfortable fire. We first lived at one of the homes on the "little hill" now called "monte sano." There buildings were owned by the old man Judge Eve. A two-story frame and brick building rented to colored people.

Then when I was about seven years old, we moved on this side, formerly called "The Big Hill" now called Summerville.

This spot of ground consisting of three acres, was given to Grandpa for his life-time by Mr. J.W. Bones, a member of the family whom he had served in the days of slavery, it seemed that grandpa was quite a favourite in the family of his slave-owners and they showed him many acts of kindness. Then on the north side of the property, between what is known as Cumming and William Sts. Grandpa built a simple little two-room cottage

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which we lived in and enjoyed for a good number of years. It was in this house that I would sit and sew in the late hours of night, with my dear old Grandmother. Not that I was forced or compelled but thro my own interest and a willing mind to assist her and to be company for her. Grandpa would build his wonderful oak fires at a certain time in the evening, and they were so well built that they would sometimes last until morning, that was the splendid oak coals, with one or two small chunks. These fires were so comfortable that it was a pleasure to sit by them thro the day and especially at night.

Grandpa was a smart steady working old man, and took great pride in making things comfortable for the home, altho we were poor, but we lived happily peacefully and comfortably situated.

He was extremely fond of garden work and was always successful in the art of horticulture. I can remember when I was a little girl just between nine and ten years of age. How I would willingly go out early every morning with a large basket of nice fresh vegetables which Grandpa had gathered. I would go out about half-

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past eight o'clock, and I would very quickly dispose of all I had selling to the best old families of the Hill, and soon returning to my home with a little purse of one dollar to one and a half.

This was really good work in those days for a little girl then of my size and age, and I was proud of it for I did it willingly in the interest of the two dear old persons that were showing so much kindness and interest in me.

How I remember well on many of those long winter nights when seated around out comfortable fire-side how Grandpa would sit and tell me of wonderful and terrible happenings during the days of slavery - including Ghost Stories, which he said all were true and many experienced by himself.

I would sometimes be terribly frightened in listening to the Ghost Stories, yet I liked to hear him tell them and I remember several of them which will be found in print enclosed here in these pages. (opposite page)

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