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(second interview)
Madison, Arkansas
Age 73
"I was born in West Point, Mississippi. My own dear mother's owner was Pool. His wife was Mistress Patty Pool.
Old man Pool raised our set. He was an old soldier. I think. He was old when I come to know him.
"My own papa's pa was Smith. After he come back from the Civil War he took back his Smith name. He changed it
back from Pool to Smith.
"I was a small child when my own dear mother died. My stepmother had some children of her own, so papa hired
me out by the year to nurse for my board and clothes. My stepmother didn't care for me right. White folks raised
me.
"I married when I was fifteen years old to a man twenty years old or more. White folks was good to me but I didn't
have no sense. I lef' 'em. I married too young. I lived wid him little over twelve years, and I had twelve children by
him. Then I married a preacher. We had two more children. My first husband was trifling. I ploughed, hood, split
wood to raise my babies.
"My daughter come from Louixians to stay with me last winter when I was sick. I got eight dollars, now I gets six
dollars from the Welfare. My daughter here now.
"I went to one white teacher a few days---Miss Perkins. I never got to go enough to learn. I took up reading and
writing from my children. I write mighty poor I tell you.
"I used to be a midwife and got ten dollars a case. They won't pay off now. I do a little of that work, but I don't get
nothing for it. They have a doctor or won't pay.
"My husband was a good man. He was a preacher. I'm a Baptist.
"I don't know what to think about young folks. Every fellar is for his own self. Times is hard with old folks. I had a
stroke they said. This new generation ain't got no strength. I think it is because they set around so much. What
would a heap of them do? A long day's work in the field would kill some of them. It would! Some folks don't work
'nough to be healthy. I don't know, but though, I really believes education and automobiles is the whole canse."
Interviewer Miss Irene Robertson"
