He stalled them
steers, stalled 'em twice a day. They used to pick cotton. I dreamed
about cotton the other night.

"My father farmed after slavery. I never heard them say they were
cheated out of nothin'. I don't know whether they was or not. I'll
tell you the truth. I didn't pay them no 'tention. Mighty little I can
remember."

Interviewer: Miss Irene Robertson
Person interviewed: John Jones,
Brinkley, Arkansas
Age: 71

"I was raised an orph'_ant_ but I was born in Tennessee. I lived over
there and farmed till 'bout fifty year ago. I come out here wid Mr.
Woodson to pick cotton. He dead now and I still tryin' to work all I
can.

"I haben voted in thirty-five year. Because I couldn't vote in the
Primary, then I say I wouldn't vote 'tall. I don't care if the women
want to vote. Don't do no good nohow.

"I farmed all my life 'ceptin' 'bout ten years I worked on the
section. I got so I couldn't stand up to it every day and had to farm
again.

"I never considered times hard till I got disabled to work. It mighty
bad when you can't get no jobs to do. My hardest time is in the
winter. I has a garden and chickens but I ain't able to buy a cow. Man
give me a little pig the other day. He won't be big enough to eat till
late next spring. Every winter times is hard for me. It's been thater
wa's ever since I begin not to be able to get about. Helped by the
PWA."

Interviewer: Mrs. Bernice Bowden
Person interviewed: John Jones
3109 W. 10th Avenue, Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Age: 82

"I come here in 1856--you can figure it out for yourself. I was born
in Arkansas, fifty miles below here.

"I remember the soldiers. I know I was a little boy drivin' the gin.
Had to put me upon the lever. You see, all us little fellows had to
work.

"I remember seein' the Indians goin' by to fight at Arkansas Post.
They fought on the southern side. When I heard the cannons, I asked my
mama what it was and she said 'twas war.

"John Dye--that was my young master--went to the War but Ruben had a
kind of afflicted hand and he didn't go.

"Our plantation was on the river and I used to see the Yankee boats go
down the river.

"My papa belonged to the Douglases and mama belonged to the Dyes. I
was born on the Douglas place and I ain't been down there in over
fifty years. They said I was born in March but I don't know any more
bout it than a rabbit.

"Papa said he was raised up in the