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Augusta, Ga. (Maude Barragan Interviewer)"As far as I kin rekelleo," said Laura Stewart, "my mother was give."Laura could not remember her age, but estimated that she might be 75 years old. She sat stiffly erect, her dignity
evident in her calm manner and spotless grey chambray dress. The room was orderly and gay. A new grass rug, a china cabinet full of bright china, a cretonne covered davenport and freshly kalsomined walls showed bright in the house.
"Dey say in dem days," continued Laura, needing little urging, "when you marry, they give you so many cullud people. My mother, her brother and her aunt was give to young Mistis when she marry de Baptis' preacher and come to Augusta. When dey brought us to Augusta I was de baby. Round wheh de barracks is now was de Baptis' parsonage. When I know myself, dere I was. Young Mistis raise me from a chile. De name was Mrs. Huntington. I seen her after I was grown."
"What sort of work did your mother do, Laura?" she was asked.
"My mother was a cook, but all I know 'bout dem days is what I see goin' on round de house, 'cause I were a chileand never lef' de house much. De white lady raise me, but I never go to school.I 'member de Yankees comin' down Broad Street. Dey put up round wheh de barracks is on Reynolds Street."Asked about freedom, Laura thought a moment and said:"I 'member dey ca'yed me to de fairground. De man was speakin'. I thought den, he was up in de trees, but I know
now it muster bin a platform in bushes. When I come back, Mistis say to me:"'Well, Laura, what did you see?'"I say: 'Mistis, we all free! '"I such a lil' chile she jus' laugh at me for sayin' sich a thing." Laura sighed. "When I sick, she nuss me good. Folks
was skeared to go to hospital in dem days - dey tole stories 'bout de hospital men puttin' black caps on you in destreet at night, takin' you in, killin' and cuttin' you up. I guess dat was jus' to keep cullud folks off de streets."Laura recalled clearly the selling of slaves at Augusta markets, Laura's memory was clear on that point."In spite of what white ladies say in de papers," she said, "I kin 'member slaves being sold at both markets, outside.
Dey had a long house with porches facing on Ellis, running through almost to Green, between 7th, and 8th, where that garage is now, and dey herded de slaves dere for market. Dey would line 'em up like horses or cows, and look in de mouf' at dey teef' and den march 'em down together to market in crowds on first Tuesday sale day."
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