Sometimes they looked well and comfortable. The men's
old pant-legs were sometimes used.
I remember once when Boss went to Memphis and brought back a bolt of
gingham for turbans for the female slaves. It was a red and yellow
check, and the turbans made from it were only to be worn on Sunday. The
old women were so glad that they sang and prayed. A little gift from the
master was greatly appreciated by them. I always came in for my share
each year, but my clothes were somewhat different. I wore pants made of
Boss's old ones, and all his old coats were utilized for me. They
rounded them off at the tail just a little and called them jackets. My
shoes were not brogans, but made of lighter leather, and made suitable
for in the house. I only worked on the farm in busy seasons, and did not
have the regular wear of the farm hands. On Monday morning it was a
great sight to see all the hands marching to the field. The cotton
clothes worn by both men and women, and the turbans of the latter, were
snowy white, as were the wool hats of the men--all contrasted with the
dark faces of the wearers in a strange and striking manner.
* * * * *
SLAVE MOTHERS--CARE OF THE CHILDREN.
The women who had young babies were assigned to what was considered
"light work," such as hoeing potatoes, cutting weeds from the fence
corners, and any other work of like character.
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