to pray for freedom. But I don't think they
wanted freedom. After they was set free they died up so scand'lous.
Grandma said they had to work harder. My mother brought a good price
because she was real light color and sharp to learn. She had six
children and we was all darker than she was a whole lots. She and
grandma was both good on giving advice. Seem like they could see how
things would turn out every time.

"I married a man with a roving nature. We come here. He left me, come
back for me to look after before he died. I married again. I left him.
He told me how I could do five washings a week and take care of us both.
I didn't aim to do it. I mighter got some washings but I didn't aim to
keep him.

"I get a little commodities along to help out. I'm picking berries now
twenty-five cents a gallon for the first picking. Fifteen and twenty
cents is the regular prices.

"I haven't got children and I don't know what they ought to do. I reckon
they do the best they can.

"Times is hard on me. It takes me all the time to make a living."

Pine Bluff District
FOLKLORE SUBJECTS
Name of Interviewer: Martin & Barker
Subject: Negro Customs

This information given by: Sarah Smiley (Colored)
Place of Residence: Humphrey, Arkansas
Age: 76
[TR: Information moved from bottom of first page.]

I was born the 10th of May, 1860. My home was in Charleston, S.C. I was
not a slave, but my parents were.

My mother was a seamstress and my father, Edward Barnewill, was butler
for their white folks.

I looks the door at sundown, and me and God are all by ourselves, and I
am not afraid.

I came to Sherrill when I was a schoolgirl, and married when I was 14.
Lived here after I was married. Taught school before I was married.

Had seven children by my first husband. My three husbands were Ike
Williams, Eli Treadvan, and Calvin Smiley.

When asked about her books standing on her shelves--namely Golden Gems,
arithmetic, and the Bible, also a blue back speller--said she just loved
her books.

Young folks of today don't love like they did in the olden days. Now it
is hot love, minute love, free love.

When my first child was born, I begged the midwife not to cut me open to
get the baby out. The midwife told me the same place it went in the same
place it will come out.

When my breasts began to grow (adolescence) I didn't want those bumps on
me, and tied them down with wide rags.

Cures--I uses gasoline and cedar, soak