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(Week ending 29 July 1937, D-200, D-260. Mary A. Poole, Identification No. 0149-4366, Federal Writers' Project, Dist. 2. WPA Project 3609, SLAVE SALLIE SAYS "SATAN'S GOIN' ROUND WID HIS TAIL CURLED UP")
Sallie Reynolds, living at 552 South Conception street, was busy at the wash tub when the writer called to interview her on July 20, 1937, so it being a hot day we decided to continue our conversation out doors under the wash shed amid a conglomeration of tubs, buckets, empty boxes, etc.
Sallie said she was born in Hiltown, Georgia, where her mother Margaret Owens was a slave and the cook on the plantation of Mr. Lit Albritton. When Sallie was about three years of age her mother gave her to Mrs. Becke Albritton, who lived at New Providence, near Rutledge in Crenshaw County, Alabama, to whom she was bound until 21 years of age. There was also a brother given by her mother to some folks in Florida and of whom Sallie never had any knowledge whatever.
Sallie said Mrs. Albritton was kind to her, taught her to spin and sew, and she tried to learn herself to weave, but, somehow, could never master it.
Mrs. Albritton had only a few slaves who were named, Mose, Dan, Charles. Sandy was the latter so called because he ate sand as a child), and two women, Hannah and Tene.
They had no regular quarters but just cabins out in a rear lot.
Sallie said all the whippings were given her by either of the young massers. Albritton, they were high tempered, as their father was before them. She laughed and said she had Indian blood in her veins and sometimes she was sassy as she felt independent knowing Mrs. Albritton would always take her part.
She recalled the Yankee's coming through after the war, one remained at the Albritton home after the others had gone on, and she remembered hearing Mrs. Albritton telling friends who visited her, that after this soldier had left he wrote Mrs. Albritton a letter, telling her to look on the back of the bench on the gallery where he had sat and she would find his message. Sallie said she was a little girl sitting on the floor at her mistress feet, ready to fetch and carry for her and she often wondered but did'nt dare ask what the message was she did, however, fear some one say, that the Yankees said, if they ever came again, they would take them from the cradle and that puzzled her, to know just what they meant.
Mrs. Albritton had a regular herb garden and Sallie helped her to gather the herbs, Pennyroil, Dock Sage, Tansy (single and double) Thyme, and Yarrow. They used Samson Snake Root in whiskey for cramps, and butterfly weed for risings.
The writer asked Sallie about church and she said they had no church, but Albritton talked to her and impressed on her as a child to never much anything that did not belong to her, "Ask for it and if not given to her, to let it alone and to never lie, or to carry tales and she could always keep out of trouble". Sallie said she hated to see Sunday morning come, as the men folks were around the house and they would pick on her and somehow she would get a beating.
Sallie remained with Mrs. Albritton until she was 22 years, when married John Russell, by whom she had three children. They all died as babies, later she married Gus Reynolds, (now dead) so Sallie just rents room and lives s alone.
Sallie says present generation knows too much and too little, that the "Old-time religion" was best for all, she thinks "Satan's coin' 'round wid his tail curled up, catching all he can devour"; and folks would do like Christ did when Satan tried to tempt Eim, and tell Satan to go get behind them, and they get behind Jesus they could not have sorrow run across their hearts and minds."
