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Russellville, Arkansas
Age 83
"Ca'line Smith's my name and day calls me 'Aunt Ca'line.' I was born about de year 1855 as I was about dis high
(measuring) when de War broke out. I remembers de boys marching away in their grey uniforms just as plain. We
chillen would watch dem as day went away; we could see em as we peeped through de winders and de cracks in de
walls.
"I was born in Mississippi close to Columbus on de plantation of my master, John Duncan. And he was a purty strict
old master, sure, but sometimes he was kind to us. When we was set free he let us all go wherever we wanted to, but
didn't pay us nothin'.
"All de slaves that I remembers stayed on around in different parts of Mississippi after de War and engaged in
farmin', and workin' on roads and streets, and other public work. About forty years ago I come to Pope County,
Arkansas wid my parents and has lived here ever' since.
"I don't remember nothin' about de Klu Klux Klan or if our folks was ever bothered wid em.
"Yes suh, I keeps workin' every day and likes to keep up my sewin'. Plenty of it to do all de time---jest like I'm doin'
today. My health is purty good ceptin' I has a sort of misery in my side.
"I draws a pension of $7.50 a month, but I dunno who sends it.
"I belongs to de Adventist Church, and I sure believes in always tellin' de trufe and nofin' but de trufe; we better tell
de trufe here, for some of dose days we all gwine where nofin' but de trufe will be accepted.
"No suh, I ain't never took any interest in polities and ain't never voted.
"Dese young'uns today is simply too much for me; I can't understand em, and I dunno which way dey headed. Some
few of em seems to have sound common sease, but---well, I just refuse to talk about em."
Interviewer Pernella Anderson"
