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Reference: (A) Mrs. William D. Perry, a daughter, Poplar Street, Madison, Indiana
My mother was a slave somewhere in Kentucky. She belonged to a very kind old man by the name of Harris. Mr. Harris was a cripple, with several sons who liked to torment my mother.
One day Mr. Harris was out in his yard standing with a crutch and cane watching his boys at work some distance from the house. He said, "Lizzie, you go to the field and call the men-folks to dinner." As it happened they had just killed a large black snake and threw it, touching my mother, who ran screaming back to the house. She never forgot how her master looked as he stood there shading his eyes watching, too crippled to go to her aid, but he called, "Never you mind, Lizzie child, they'll come in to eat."
When they did arrive their father saw that they were severely whipped for their cruel joke.
Mrs. Perry did not think her father was ever in slavery. She remembered seeing him coming to their cabin dressed in a long blue clat, with a cape and brass buttons and a cap to match.
She said her mother had a much easier time with Mr. Harris than she did after she was free. Said she worked especially hard while her husband was off fighting in the "Revolution War." (A)
