from
center to circumference, and then every man will be awarded according to
his several abilities.

These waste places can be reclaimed and the guttered hills made to
blossom, only by giving the Negro a common education combined with
religious, moral and industrial training and the opportunity to at
least own his home, if not the land he cultivates. The Negro must be
taught to believe that the farmer can become prosperous and independent;
that he can own his home and educate his children in the country. If he
can, and he can be taught these things, in less than ten years, every
available farm in the rural South will be occupied.

WILLIAM J. EDWARDS.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE BLACK BELT

CHAPTER 1.

CHILDHOOD DAYS.

All that I know of my ancestors was told to me by my people. I learned
from my grandfather on my mother's side that the family came to Alabama
from South Carolina. He told me that his mother was owned by the Wrumphs
who lived in South Carolina, but his father belonged to another family.
For some cause, the Wrumphs decided to move from South Carolina to
Alabama; this caused his mother and father to be separated, as his
father remained in South Carolina. The new home was near the village of
Snow Hill. This must have been in the Thirties when my grandfather was
quite a little child. He had no hope of ever seeing his father again,
but his father worked at nights and in that way earned enough money to
purchase his freedom from his master. So after four or five years he
succeeded in buying his own freedom from his master and started out for
Alabama. When he arrived at Snow Hill, he found his family, and Mr.
Wrumphs at once hired him as a driver. He remained with his family until
his death, which occurred during the war. At his death one of his sons,
George, was appointed to take his place as driver.

As I now remember, my grandfather told me that his mother's name was
Phoebe and that she lived until the close of the war. My grandfather
married a woman by the name of Rachael and she belonged to a family by
the name of Sigh. His wife's mother came directly from Africa and spoke
the African language. It is said that when she became angry no one could
understand what she said. Her owner allowed her to do much as she
pleased.

My grandfather had ten children, my mother being the oldest girl. She
married my father during the war and, as nearly as I can remember, he
told me that it was in 1864.