"Laycock's farm was out in the country about four miles from Baton
Rouge, Louisiana. Some of the slaves lived in log houses and some in big
old boxed houses. Most of them had two rooms. They had nothing but four
post beds and chairs like this I am settin' down in (a little cane
chair). I reckon it is cane--looks like it is. They had homemade chairs
before the War, boxes, and benches. The boards were often bought. But
nothing else.
"They et greens and pickled pork. My father got tired of that and he
would raise hogs. Pickled pork and corn bread!
"My father never told me what his master was to him, whether he was good
or mean. He got free early because he was in the army. He didn't run
away. The soldiers came and got him and carried him off and trained him.
[HW: cf. p. 2] I just know what my father told me because I wasn't born.
He served his full time and then he was discharged. He got an honorable
discharge. He had a wound in the leg where he was shot.
"I got along all right supporting myself by planting cotton until last
year when the doctor stopped me.
"I took care of my father and the Lord is taking care of me. I am weak
and still have that giddy head but not as bad as I used to have it."