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Rachel's master called his people "servants", not Negroes or slaves. "He de bes' marster in de worl", "said Rechel. "I love his grave!"
Rachel nursed her aunt's children while the mother acted as nurse for "de lady's baby whut come fun Russia wid de marster's wife." The czarina was godmother for the ambassador's baby. "Marster bin somewheh in de back part o' de worl'." explained the old woman, "You see, he was de guv'nor. He knowed all de big people, senetras and all." Rachel laughed. "I was a old maid when I married," she said. "De broom was de law. All we hadder do was step over de broom befo' witnesses and we was marry!"
"As far as I kin rekellec'," said Laura, "my mother was give." She could not remember her age, but estimated that she might be 75 years old. Her native dignity was evident in her calm manner, her neat clothing and the comfortable, home-like room. "Dey say in dem days," she continued, "when you marry, dey give you so many colored 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 when de barracks is now, was de Baptis'
parsonage. My mother was a cook. I kin remember de Yankees comin' down Broad Street. Dey put up when de barracks is on Reynolds Street. Dey ca'yed me to de fairground. De man was speakin'. I thought it was up in de trees, but I know now it muster been a platform in bushes. Mistis say to me: 'Well, Laura, what did you see?' I say: 'Mistis, we is all free.' I such a lil' chile she jus' laugh at me for saying sich a thing. When I was sick, she nuss me good.""
