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(Archive of Folk Song, Library of Congress, C7, 12/31/40, 5/7/37. Ila B. Prine, ID No. 0149-5302. Federal Writers' Project, Dist. 2. WPA Project 3014, Mobile, AL)
On what is known as "Souffle Lane" in a suburb of Toulminville, Alabama, three miles from Mobile, is an old home that has been standing for many years. It is a typical southern cottage, with a narrow hall running through the center of the building, with two rooms on either side. It has high ceilings, and wide porches across the front and back of the house. In the front yard is a large oak tree, which is nearly a century old. When one drives up to this old place, it looks as if no one lives there, for the blinds are shut tight and the doors are closed.
Upon entering the yard a little white dog runs rapidly to the front to investigate the caller, and it is then the front door creaks and a voice calls: "Who dat out dere?"
The visitor replied that she was coming to talk to "Aunt Sarah" about slavery days.
"Lor', Missy, I warn't no slave, but mah mammy was. Mah mammy war Clara Early, an' she b'longed tuh Mistress Betsey Daughdrill, who war a Hunt b'fore she married Mr. Daughdrill. Mah mammy lived on what's now de Finch's place on St. Stephens Road, an' she tole me dem was good ol' days, when dey war owned by de Daughdrills. Said dey neber saw cotton 'til af'er de war, and dat in dose days de cultured folks, owned mos' ob de lan' aroun' what's now Toulminville. I'se neber knowed much 'bout dem days, but I does 'member de mule cars in Mobile, and how we had tuh pay 10 cents to go on de ox car out tuh de dummy line what run out to de Hill, an' den pay twenty-five cents when us got on de dummy. I sho' has been here a long time, honey, an' I'se nussed a whole lot ob dese white folks. I'se nussed fo' Dr. Peyton Tunstall fo' eight years."
"Aunt Sarah" is not very large, but would be tall if she were not very stooped. She has a few teeth left, but is almost blind. She lives alone with the exception of the little white dog, which has a locket and chain around its neck. "Aunt Sarah" had been a witness in several court trials about the mixed blooded colored people, and consequently has suffered from it, as her house has been robbed numerous times.
