At the time of the interview the old slave was extremely feeble and lame, and walked with the aid of a cane. His skin was dried and wrinkled, and cataracts on his eyes had totally deprived him of his sight. Despite these handicaps, however, Thomas said the old man’s mind was exceptionally clear, and his recollection of events occurring almost a century before were remarkable.
*Told by Edith Tatum, Greenville, Alabama* —_Mildred Scott Taylor, Georgiana, Alabama_
The early spring sunshine sifted through the honey-suckle vines clustering around the cabin door, and made a network of dancing light upon the floor. A little Negro boy sat on the steps gazing silently up the dusty road and idly listening to the insistent buzzing of insects hovering about the honey-suckle blooms.
"Don’t yer see nothin’ of her yet, Jerry?" came in a querulous voice from a bed in a corner of the cabin.
"Naw, Unc’ Mose. She ain’t in sight yit, but it’s mos’ time fer ’er."
"Hit ’pear lak dis mis’ry is er gittin’ wus all de time," the voice went on.
"Miss Sally say dat limerumunt gwine he’p it," essayed Jerry consolingly.
"It don’ do no good ’cep’in jess whilst Aun’ Judy is er rubbin’. De rubbin’ does mo’ good dan de limerumunt."
"Dar she is, rat now!" exclaimed Jerry presently.
"Praise de Lawd! fer de ole man sho is hongry en’ got de mis’ry from his haid to his heels."
"Dar’s ernudder lady wid Miss Sally. Sarter looks lak er gal."
"Mus’ be some er ole master’s gran’dahters come on er visit. Whyn’t yer come an’ sit some cheers out an’ dus’ em’ an’ straighten dis quilt 'stead er settin’ dar lak er black patch on de sunshine? Don’ yer know how ter ack when de quality is comin’?" By the time the chairs had been arranged to his notion the visitors were at the door.
"Good morning, Uncle Mose," said the older woman brightly, as she put a covered basket down on a table by the bed.
She had a strong, sweet face and smooth white hair, and the gracious dignity of a queen. "I hope you rested well last night and are feeling very much better. I have brought some one to see you. Now guess who she is," and she placed the girl where the sunshine fell across her face.
Uncle Mose turned his head on the pillow, and gazed eagerly at his visitor. Then his old black face wrinkled into a smile. "Lawd, honey, you sho’ mus’ be one er Mars’ Eddard’s dahters, frum de favor!"