Aunt Phoebe Boyd

Emily??? Is that so? I like to hear that kind of music. [faint voice] Jazz music.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[Me, no, I don't like to hear no kind of music like that (?)]. [laugh]

EmilyThat's right. That's fine.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI thought you were going to stop.

EmilyNo that's fine.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[Aunt Phoebe Boyd clears her throat] That kind of music. ??? go down as I was driving. Humm?

EmilyThat's it. [Go on (?)].

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[preaches] Drive on. Drive on out and there I was ??? See! [Aunt Phoebe laughs]

EmilyI see. I see.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI had to get on out of my car. I got a mother. [Shook to (?)] Henry Leonard and he had a father. Thought he was going to stop. I'm telling them now we ain't nothing without the Lord. Got to put our trust in them and gave us ??? . That's why I'm walking today.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh]

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd??? . And um, this young gentleman he's a stranger to me, isn't he?

Guy S. LowmanYes, and a very nice gentleman.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd???

Guy S. LowmanHe teaches, you know. He teaches.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHmm?

Archibald A. HillI teach up at the university.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYou do? That's nice.

Archibald A. Hill[How much (?)]—

Aunt Phoebe BoydYou know that's nice. That's nice. I trust the Lord will bless you all. You all hold onto the best you can we live. Let, take the Lord with you.

Guy S. LowmanI hope I can.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes. Yes, sir. Well, I'm, you can hear another gentleman and he [laughter] I have to tell you all because—

Guy S. LowmanI know we need it.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[Yeah (?)]?

Guy S. LowmanWe need it.

EmilyWhat's your name?

Him. He told me, “ Go on now. Up that hill now. Touch Him and if they don't believe in them, do you let Him stand in there? ”Say,“I ain'tgoing to.”See and you know where I got you [laughs]—

EmilyThat's right, let them have it.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—and ah, [sharp snap] wish you all the good luck. Ever hold your hands in his? [sings] Good Lord ??? [clap] I would say, get in trouble, all you got to do is call Him. See! [laugh]

Guy S. LowmanOnly one you can call.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, sir. Call Him. Call Him. That's all of you. And this young lady right here, you know, I know ah, you all's buddy that's why I come up here [to this house (?)]. Wouldn't have been here if she hadn't [laugh] her. [Uhmm (?)]. You all didn't live no far of her grandfather. That one's your grandfather?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydGrandfather. You all didn't live very far her father. [cough] [slight echo] And I didn't had forgot that her father was born. I don't know, I don't know about the old man. The name. What it John [Prophet (?)] ?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydName John [Prophet (?)]. [distortion] I wrote them ??? . Well didn't ??? [distortion and echoes] [some confusion, the microphone may have fallen and frightened Aunt Phoebe] Well, didn't—

Guy S. LowmanThat's all right. Just hold on [to this chair (?)].

Mrs. John Faulconer Ware[speaking across Guy S. Lowman and Emily] No harm done there. And that's all right keep your hand in that ??? .

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, this your— [laugh]

Guy S. LowmanThat's all right it won't hurt you. It won't hurt you.

Mrs. John Faulconer WareThat's all right [could be (?) ] ???

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd ah course, didn't ah, Dr. Tri—that's George Tripper father.

EmilyThat's right. Dr. Tripper married—

Aunt Phoebe BoydMarried Mrs., Mrs. ah, she was, he was married three times wasn't he?

EmilyFour times.

Aunt Phoebe BoydFour times.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, he married Mrs., old Mrs. Charles [Briggs' (?)] widow—

EmilyThat's right. That's it. Married—

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—married her, his widow.

EmilyThat's right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd of course my husband's mother, she know ah, when she went away from here to Fredericksburg.

EmilyYeah. That's it. That's right—

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—and ah she had to go. She stayed here, out, out ah, with, with, wasn't her name, Mary?

EmilyYeah. That's just what her name was.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah, Mary Tripper. Mary Tripper. And ah, ??? all just as good as good two people. Was at his, and they were buried. Was at his burial. And he had a daughter named, Emeline. Ain't she living?

EmilyShe dead.

Aunt Phoebe BoydEmeline still be living?

EmilyNo. She dead.

Aunt Phoebe BoydIs she?

EmilyYeah. She dead.

Aunt Phoebe BoydCourse, Mr. Reverend Phillips, they had the wake, you know. [For her son (?)].

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd Mr. went in to see them, she ??? , and um, and that, and they didn't, didn't bury them until after he come; after she come.

EmilyYeah. After she come.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. Just load them all ??? so many times I done looked for George ??? . Yeah.

END OF SIDE A

Aunt Phoebe Boyd??? [trolley (?)] and on the ground, you know, to the door. And she was looking out the window and she call me—

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydRobert was with me—

EmilyYeah. Yeah.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—her son.

EmilyI know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. And ah, sometime I hear people call me. So I go to them. Went on in. And went on up the stairs. Up, you know in the room.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd even down on the, that day when I went, I had a cake baked. Chicken fried, and I did it! And carried a basket—

Emily??? it's all right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHmm?

EmilyThat was nice.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. And brought a ham when he, a ham to me.

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: You baked a ham, you mean?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. And we cooked it and I had a box. I said I going carry something else for her so she didn't have to go into the table.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydTable [is reason why I (?)] [laugh]—

Emily???

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—now and I go there, if I go up in there again, I'm going down that same place again.

EmilyThat's right. That's right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd, and ah, she said, “Ma'am, I'm working now.” I said, “I'm ??? in the laundry.”

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI said, “That's exactly what you ought to be doing.”

EmilyYeah. That ??? .

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey put you, yeah, put you to work. ??? . And I'm telling them now, our people got to do right in the sight of God, because he knows all about us. And I'm, and I'm so thankful.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydProud.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydProud that they have ??? . And I tell you, those people these days, the young folk, the young folks ain't taking the time. Is they?

EmilyNo. They're not.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey ain't taking time.

EmilyDon't want to.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey ain't taking time. But I'm telling you [laugh], for the day is coming.

EmilyYes it is. They don't think about that though.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI was at ah, St. John, that's a catholic [denomination (?)], and ah, a man got up to speak. You know they hear the sermon preached before they dry bone.

EmilyI don't believe I ever did.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] Yeah. I take notice.

EmilyBut you can tell me. Tell us something about it.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] The man couldn't even speak, if they wanted him. And so when, he got up and he come there to speak, I take notice. I take notice. In that Bible over there. That's right. Come here to speak. God knows what people say. [It's written ??? book (?)]. And it's quote in text about a dry bone.

EmilyDry bone.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd we ain't know nothing about dry bone.

EmilyNo.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh]

EmilyBut we ??? .

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am.

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: ???

Aunt Phoebe BoydMa'am? We been on. Way down in me ??? dry bone. We by and by. [laugh] Finally got they by and by.

EmilyYou like to hear that kind of music.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am.

EmilyI do too.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI know. They gave us, Lord, commands gave us. Lord is coming. Yes, sir, that day is coming. That day is coming. That day is coming and we got to prepare that day.

EmilyYeah.

[Guy S. Lowman: That's true (?)].

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey gave us, commandments, Lord. I want to hear the first trumpet when it blows that morning. He, gave us commandments, Lord. They gave us Christ, went down Jerusalem. Mount Dry Bone. [laugh]

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware: What was that (?)]?

Aunt Phoebe BoydJesus went down to Mount Dry Bone. ??? he rode his ??? . [laugh]

[Guy S. Lowman: What did you say (?)]?

Aunt Phoebe BoydWe ain't nothing without the Lord. I will praise him. ??? . I had to get hold of them. [laugh]

Guy S. Lowman[What did you say (?)]?

Aunt Phoebe BoydI had to get hold of—

END OF SIDE B

[indistinct conversation occurs before Guy S. Lowman (?) says]: All right now, [let's begin (?)].

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[Well I don't rest my (?)] ??? .

EmilyWe were here long before the war was over.

Aunt Phoebe BoydBefore the Civil War. Was here when ??? .

EmilyWhat!

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am.

Emily[Well I must say (?)] you working hard ain't you?

Aunt Phoebe BoydUhhh. You see these Henry James have a ??? ?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThem was old man Tom Henry, [children (?)].

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd old Mrs. Melissa Armstrong, and Mrs. Martha Henry, Dr. Henry's wife, for his first wife was a [Lumpkin (?)].

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydDr., Dr. Henry—

EmilyI know.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—and his, he married Mrs. Martha Croxley. Umm, the old man Jimmy Croxley's daughter master. Old Mrs. Melissa Armstrong was, old Mrs. Melissa Armstrong she was, old Mrs. was her sister, see.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd then they hired me out, Mrs. ??? . I come up with the youngest girl her father married my mother and her house with the youngest girl and they, the father [close (?)] to the boy, John Thomas.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd old man Tom Henry's son, Tom Henry, married Mrs. Melissa Armstrong's daughter, Martha.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey had two—

EmilyI heard they had two.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—Martha Armstrong and Mary Armstrong.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydShe had three, and John Armstrong. And he got children here in town. Old man Tom Henry, old Dr. Henry's grandson, and I was hired out [right here on (?)] ??? and Mrs. Melissa Armstrong kept me until just before it was the Civil War.

Emily[I (?)] don't pay you any money back then?

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[great laugh] Stop. And ah, and you know, you know when I had that ??? attack of sickness?

EmilyYeah. Yes. I remember.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYou remember?

EmilyYes. Ahh. I do.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd Dr. Shade take care me.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd he asked me one day, he say's ah, “How old are you?” I told him I couldn't tell him, but I was hired out before the Civil War. Everybody was slaves. And ah, I told him I couldn't tell him. I reckon I was about twelve or fifteen-years old when the [Civil War began (?)].

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI didn't ??? .

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, he counted it up. Well honey, that's been over ten years ago, ain't it?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd ah, he counted it up. [the recording echoes] and he told I was seventy-five years old then.

EmilyThen, [not now (?)].

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd you, you know, you know when ah—

Emily—when you had that spell?

Aunt Phoebe BoydSeventy?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydSeventy. [laugh]

EmilyYou are, you between eighty-five years old—

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. I'm going down to the hundred fast. I'm telling me n— [laugh]

EmilyYes, that's right. And time just flies past you.

Aunt Phoebe BoydCertainly. Doesn't it? And, and don't you know. [laugh] Got good member [memory].

EmilyYes, you have.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. And I'm glad, I'm thankful I'm, I'm, I, I can't keep nothing in my mind.

EmilyI think you do mighty well. That's all those ??? .

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh]

EmilyWell, now did you have a good time, a nice meeting in yesterday's church?

Aunt Phoebe BoydFine.

EmilyYou did?

Aunt Phoebe BoydHave a good time.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydFine meeting.

EmilyWho preached?

Aunt Phoebe BoydWhat's his name?

EmilyFaulk?

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo Faulk. The man had came from Richmond to preach to us.

Emily??? Faulk in Richmond?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes.

EmilyYes, he did.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHe is nice as—

EmilyI like hearing him preach.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[cough] He did something.

EmilyYes, he did.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThat's what I been told.

EmilyWell, well, tell us something about the meeting last weekend. [Just how (?)], how long it lasted? How many sermons were preached?

Aunt Phoebe BoydWhat, yesterday?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThere was one yesterday morning. We didn't get there to the morning sermon. And we was there in the evening.

EmilyYes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd I forget the man's name. Oh, he preached a fine sermon.

EmilyOh. Did anybody get happy?

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo.

EmilyDidn't?

Aunt Phoebe BoydI don't think it [mattered (?)].

EmilySomebody ought to get happy.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, then you know they did, they did, they the witness of the Bible have to have been truly born by the Holy Spirit you know.

EmilyYes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydSee?

EmilyYes. I see.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYour ah, witness in your breath.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd I know he was preaching and I—

END OF SIDE A

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. I think they had, had three hundred people out.

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware: And what did they produce (?)]?

Aunt Phoebe BoydOut of [Clininton (?)].

Emily[Clininton (?)].

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[Clininton (?)].

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydGet all. Get all the water outdoors and I run on in the church, you know.

EmilyAh ha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI come on in the door, Brother Faulk, “Sister, Phoebe. Come here.” [Then (?)] I say, “What you want with me?” [He said (?)], “Had you had any dinner?” I told him, “Yes, sir.” [laugh]

EmilyHe was very nice to you.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes. Your mom raised him up.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHe's been to my house.

EmilyYeah, and she told this man yesterday [he knew me (?)].

Aunt Phoebe BoydHmm?

Emily[Used to find him in a minute, right there (?].

Aunt Phoebe BoydWho?

EmilyAh, Reverend Faulk.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHe was at my house. You know, had them prayer meeting up here last week. Was it last week?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydLast [weekend (?)]?

EmilyYeah. Week before last.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes.

EmilyYes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, how many converts did he have?

EmilyI didn't hear.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI didn't know. But he was—

EmilyI can remember two.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHe, never comes in this neighborhood if he's got the time when he don't come to my house. He got to read the Bible and pray for me.

EmilyAhha. Well, I declare!

[Guy S. Lowman (?)]: Yes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. [That's the word that comes, I knew him (?)]. I love him.

EmilyYes, he's a good man. Well, I tell you don't people don't, don't go to church like they used to. They don't care so much for it.

Aunt Phoebe BoydLet me tell you something. Everything else in my house comes through the church. Who is we all without the Lord? Hmm?

EmilyThat's it.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHe hold us in the [hull (?)] of his hand.

EmilyThat's right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydNow don't he?

EmilyHe certainly does.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAll power in his hand.

EmilyBut the young ones is forgotten that.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. But I'm telling you myself. And then they shame, they don't, don't honor him like they ought to.

EmilyThat's it.

Aunt Phoebe BoydDon't do it.

EmilyNo, they don't.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd ah, because he [will the meaning, in my rest I talking to them (?)]. And the voice come to me and in my rest, I [pray up to (?)] heaven, please don't lock the door.

EmilyThat's right. That's right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydSee?

EmilySay, I know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThe witness is in our breath.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI went to the first free school after the Civil War. I was fixing get married then. [laughter and a clap] [Guy S. Lowman (?) makes an indistinct remark] [Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?) joins the laughter] Fixing with getting married then and the first free school was, was ah opened after the Civil War. I went to it; and, and my husband didn't want me for to come out the school, so if I stayed in school he pay my way. Because he was [fending (?)] for me. And I could know my ABCs, know my, know how to spell and everything but still [confusing overlay of voices] I, I could spell now sometime. [laugh]

EmilyWell, that's fine. That's fine.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd, and if I had a kept on you know I could have—

Emily—you could have been reading and writing—

Aunt Phoebe BoydCertainly!

EmilyYes, you would.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd every child I have I sent every one to school. And ah—

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—every child I got can read and write except for Julius. She can read but she can't write.

EmilyCan't write. Well, I [declare (?)]!

Aunt Phoebe BoydLucy can read but she can't write.

EmilyYeah. Well, how is Lucy now?

Aunt Phoebe BoydLucy. They say she's back [broke (?)].

EmilyShe is?

Aunt Phoebe BoydNow I been out that way there.

EmilyYou have?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. [voices overlap] I've been right out there.

EmilyThey always felt sorry for me.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. And ah, I don't know, you know a people in the world, you know we ain't got no friends. And some people ain't care nothing at all about you.

EmilyNo.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAll they want to to live do like they want you to.

EmilyThat's it. That's it.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd if you do that, you all right. And I told Mr. ??? he want to [go way (?)] and ??? .

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, I never did have mine.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI said, [Luther, you can go ahead (?)]. But it's the truth, but God are going a put a curse on you. And I say, “You mark what I tell you.”

EmilyYeah, ahha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd I said, “Mark what I tell you when I tell you anything I done looked at.”

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[He (?)] use to work at the [factory (?)]. [Where they say this cut, come home and it was [Mary Duvon (?)] address in Washington. It was put just on record.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThe same [music (?)].

EmilyThe same [music (?)]. I know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWhen I was a little girl, I say, “That ain't no [music (?)].” I say's, “Stay at home.” Going to all these—

END OF SIDE B

Aunt Phoebe BoydSeed come up you know they just as fine as they can be. And the ah, leaves come over [this side (?)]. And you set them out, just take them little leaves together you know, and set them down in the ground. In the [land (?)]. Or plot of [dirt (?)], or, or [chip (?)] something right on the [bud (?)], till it take root.

EmilyTake root?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah, that's the way I did [rooting (?)], that's the way everybody do.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThat's way they [set (?)] roots to do. That, that plant come at the row.

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI had five rows t, to fill.

EmilyWell, are you ??? ?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah, ma'am. I got something for this, [put his tools (?)] tobacco and you won't see.

EmilyHope you didn't chew it. I hope.

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo, I smoked it. I don't chew. [laugh]

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: They don't chew?

EmilyYou do sometimes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo, ma'am.

EmilyYou don't?

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[mumbles] Uh-uh.

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: Smoke a pipe?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes. [laugh]

EmilyShe likes being mighty fine lately. She asked do you smoke a pipe?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. Because every night make a [fire in stove (?)] in my room.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYou know where I cook at I don't bother it. When I finish. Cook it.

EmilyYes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd I going and make a fire got a ??? in my room.

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: ???

Aunt Phoebe BoydAfterwards, when I heat that room, getting my papers smoke as many as I want to ??? . [laugh]

EmilyYes, [indeed (?)]. That's right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell. And I tell you, the tall, the tall, ah, the tall ??? [some folks (?)] ah now, ah, now this here school our, one of our school teachers.

EmilyMy Aunt [Tiva (?)].

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo.

EmilyWas a school teacher. Tell us about the school teacher.

Aunt Phoebe BoydShe told, asked me did I raise tobacco? I told her, “No.” I told her I was, school teacher up here at the school.

EmilyYes. ??? .

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes.

EmilyYeah. I know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydShe said, “If you raised tobacco, you can, sell your tobacco make good money off it.”

Emily???

Aunt Phoebe BoydCarry it to the [tobacco factory (?)].

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydCarry it, have tons of it.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd would carry it to tobacco factory and it would have it put up just as nice as nice can be.

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, now you see these tobacco while it's in these bags and things—

EmilyYeah. I know.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—there ain't nothing in the world, there ain't a thing in theworld what we do here as good as this; and they, I tell them to, “Just put in these bags and [laugh] ??? .” ??? all that. And you may take a cigarette, and I tell them, “[Smoke crazy (?)].” [laugh] That's true. [They won't do it (?)].

EmilyNo.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Hoskins got a hospital. It's true.

EmilyI know. He built a hospital.

Aunt Phoebe BoydRight. And he was retired. And, and now ah now them there them, them cigarettes is nothing in the world but dope in them. He can't fool me.

EmilyHe told me he ??? .

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd they you know light up, light, ma-may light one now, take a piece of white paper, lay the whole over like that and that paper turn dark as can be, that's exactly, exactly the way it is on your lungs.

EmilyAhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydBecause I hear talk about a young man who was in the city in Baltimore. It was in Baltimore I think, smoking these cigarettes and he got sick and it settled on his lungs. And it comes from a thing in the world but smoking cigarettes and I tell them now—

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—they can, if you want to make them, make them. But these cigarettes, I wouldn't smoke them. [laugh] Nothing. And ah, we used to always raise tobacco. Raised tobacco and you can store it, just store it any way you want.

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: Ever raise cotton, Mrs. Phoebe? Did you ever raise any cotton?

EmilyPhoebe?

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] I wish I had had some seeds in here.

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: You can, do you know how to, what to do with grain?

Aunt Phoebe BoydCertainly!

EmilyWell I [never made (?)] does, it looks mighty ??? when it's growing, doesn't it?

Aunt Phoebe BoydWant me tell you?

EmilyYeas. I'd love to hear about that.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWant me tell you?

EmilyYes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydLet me tell the world, George Tripper is your uncle, isn't he?

EmilyYes, he is.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYour uncle.

EmilyYeah. My uncle.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYour uncle.

EmilyYeah he is, my half uncle.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[big laugh] You know you belong from the big farm?

EmilyYeah. I know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThat field over down there what ??? people.

EmilyWell he ??? .

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, ??? . [screeching laugh]

[Mrs. John Faulconer Ware (?)]: That's all right. That's all right.

EmilyHe's a, he's a Whittington.

Aunt Phoebe BoydIs he?

EmilyYes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWould you know a thing about that man? I done been in his ??? .

EmilyBut he raised tobacco?

Aunt Phoebe BoydWho? Tom Tripper?

EmilyCotton. Did he raise cotton?

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo, ma'am. I'm asking you about him. Because he lived in that house right there, you know, is a turn, you know. Right—

END OF SIDE A

[pause] ???

Aunt Phoebe BoydHmm? Hmm? Say what?

EmilyAunt Phoebe, did you ever, did you ever work in the house for anybody, or did you work in the field for people?

Aunt Phoebe BoydI worked in the house with Mrs. Melissa Armstrong, and I was a youngster.

EmilyWhat kind of work did you do in that house?

Aunt Phoebe BoydHad to clean up, and set the table, tote in the eating. And then right after prepare bed.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI didn't work in the field.

EmilyWhere did you cook in those days? What did you cook on?

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey cook on, you know they didn't have stoves like they got [it (?)] now.

EmilyWell, tell us. Tell us how you cooked and what you cooked on?

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey had, you know these, used to have chimneys.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYou know—

EmilyI know.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—houses. When they hired me out they hired me out to learn me how to knit and sew—

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—and work from the time I could [see (?)]. That's what Mrs. [Pickins (?)]. [Mirrors fine (?)] you see the sewing machine.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd you see these tops what they knitting now?

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey are, they are tough as [pines (?)]. Them knit them not a one a took the heel off they could be, be, tough, tough as they is now. [laugh]

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd ah, we used to have, you know, the chimneys didn't have no fireplace like they got now. No fireplaces at all. They had to have, you could put almost a whole [rain (?)] on it. Had the, the, the fireplace here and the flue, the chimney went on out and fire down here. And you could, you could set, you could, they have on each side, you know, a, a shelves for to put your cook; and when you had the fire you had to have a rack. They don't have them now, something like this here thing.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWhat else? Fire [Department (?)] and fire from—

EmilyWas it raining?

Aunt Phoebe BoydHmm?

EmilyWas it raining? ??? the fire on it?

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo, because something like a I don't know what the, what the, these things, the fire was down here but these things was, was [six foot (?)] would hang the pot on the fire, they on over the fire. Now them is that day.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThem is that day.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydNow they don't have no, now not the flue. Their flue, you buy, [laugh] did you live in the old house at—

EmilyNo.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWho lives in that old house right there?

EmilyBelongs to [Whittman's place (?)].

Aunt Phoebe BoydAhha. William ??? .

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHmm. Well, there's a fireplace in there.

EmilyYeah. I have a fireplace in my home.

Aunt Phoebe BoydDo you? Because I done made many a fire [there for Miss Manny (?)]. [laugh] Have done many people cooked right in that house.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, sir. That's all right. We done, done away with all them now.

EmilyWell, did the eating taste good?

Aunt Phoebe BoydHmm?

EmilyDid the eating taste good when you cooked it that way?

Aunt Phoebe BoydCertainly! And baked biscuits. Had the oven bake your bread. You have fires on top the stove. I done showed that man one of my fires.

Guy S. LowmanYes, I remember.

Aunt Phoebe BoydTop stove no legs on it have fire underneath the bottom. You want to bake bread, or loaf bread every day. Put in that thing and put that pepper, put fire on top of it and brown it just as nice as could be. That's the way we used to do back then.

EmilyIt taste better, I think.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes. That's the way it is.

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd ah, don't even, reason why I ask now don't taste good to me.

Emily[laugh] I like for you to talk a little bit about those fireplaces.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] Yeahha. I like, look where everything done changed.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydEverything.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. Everything. Yeah. Well, I'm [laugh]. You and that, that gentleman both stay together?

Guy S. LowmanYes. We're sadly together now.

Aunt Phoebe BoydIs you?

Guy LowmanYes. We're both from Charlottesville, from the university.

Aunt Phoebe BoydUhmm. [pause] Well, I declare.

Mrs. John Faulconer WareYou ever grow any tobacco aunt Phoebe?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am.

Mrs. John Faulconer WareTell us how you grew it. How you worked it and how you stored it.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI'm got tabacca [tobacco] right now. Why [laugh] sow the seed and a, I know cause I right know what I was thinking about tabacca. [Tend your own (?)]. M-my tabacca I ain't [seeds of (?)] cotton for ??? .

Mrs. John Faulconer WareWhen you grow it, did you cut it after it grow?

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo, ma'am.

Mrs. John Faulconer WareYou don't?

Aunt Phoebe BoydBut we, we suffered you know under tobacco. I want to cut them out throw it in [see I can (?)]—

END OF SIDE B

Aunt Phoebe Boyd??? . I think. [laugh] Yeah.

Guy S. LowmanWhat, what kind of flood did you have here about a month ago Aunt Phoebe?

Aunt Phoebe BoydOh, I tell you it was something.

EmilyWere you scared that night Aunt Phoebe when all that rain came?

Aunt Phoebe BoydNo, no, I wasn't scared. Because I know he [has (?)] for me. For the Lord forgiveth.

EmilyI was scared that night.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] And my house, everybody house around there; [boy, you know, the shooting out that flack (?)]?

EmilyYeah, I know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd the water run in there—

Emily[The well (?)].

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—well, out the well. And the [sand (?)]. Somebody was [looking out for me (?)]. They hung a man. Someone [in that other county (?)].

EmilyThey did?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. Somebody what they heard it in the papers. It was in the papers.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydBut God he moves in mysterious ways his wonders to the [foam (?)]. Plant his footstep in the sea, and he rises upon the storm. Don't he do it?

EmilyYeah, he does. You understand all about the Bible. I hear that.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] I love it.

EmilyYeah. That's right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydI love it. But ah, ain't nobody know what the man done or nothing. Ain't nothing at all about it. And they hung him. I'd been out there laughing. They tried to hang him. I went to a place once and they were hanging a boy, a man, standing there looking about his mother, brothers and all, out yonder since I been traveling. Yes, ma'am, I stood and looked. And the, the a gallows was up as high as here covered this house, and got all the people all out coming around all standing in line. And this, this, this man standing there rope around his neck. And ah, I tell you that's something for you to look at. I don't know what I ain't seen in my life.

EmilyTerrible sight I know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. And when they got ready to touch the lever, and when they touch the lever, that man, that he had the rope around his neck, and they just cut him hanging by his neck. I'm afraid that believe your eyes. Believe your eyes.

Mrs. John Faulconer WareYou say his mother was there?

Aunt Phoebe BoydMother, father, brother and all right there in the line. [echo] And I never saw such crying in all the days of the Lord. And I'm telling you, start living on the Lord. And, I'm just telling you all. [echo] They say he moves in mysterious ways and his wonders to the [foam (?)]. And he plants his footstep in the sea. And he rises up on the storm. And when this storm come, there was, this man they hung, and they say there was a hundred men, right around here in George Hampton's paper?

Emily[How many of you all was out there (?)]?

Aunt Phoebe BoydI done, I ain't hear was the paper, is in the paper. And I say, now, look, don't nobody know what the man had done, ain't know nothing about them. But he know the ??? know but. Yeah. And they, they, they couldn't bury the people. They had to burn them up.

EmilyYeah. That's it.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey had to burn them up. It was in the paper.

EmilyYeah. I saw that.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. It was in the paper. And they had to burn the people up by tonight you see, you see, you see. [laugh] Do it to suit yourself.

EmilyThat's right.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd when God rained the more it ??? .

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThat's all right I can hold onto myself there. [chuckle] And I tell you this is, [I certainly would (?)]. Judgment is near at hand. It's near at hand. It's written in the Bible. And they [let us (?)], I don't know, I don't know. Time ain't long. Do you believe it?

Emily[Time ain't long. Yeah (?)].

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. I don't believe time is long. [laugh] Yeah, well, I done told the master, I want him. [laugh]

END OF SIDE A

Aunt Phoebe BoydPutting down big ground seed. Right there at Toole's. That's George Toole. In your grandfather's time, Dr. Toole, [laugh] [Nora (?)], and ah, tobacco, were you talking about tobacco?

Mrs. John Faulconer WareCotton.

Aunt Phoebe BoydCotton.

Guy S. LowmanThat's right. Yes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd the, we had many barrels them had us pick.

EmilyWell, [had (?)] what kind of seeds do you plant when you raise cotton? What do they look like?

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey have cotton is raised planted it in the field. But when that cotton comes up, you see, that cotton come up, and will grow and then will come to get, the, you know drop like you see it, now you see how you ought to raise ground seed?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydHow it raised.

EmilyI think that's much better than ??? .

Aunt Phoebe BoydNow you, and ma once he had a hill like that, had a hill just like that, and you plant that ground seed and every time you work that ground seed put the dirt up on top.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd you know every branch come there from the hill to ground seed.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydSee. Well cotton, how we pick cotton? When it bloom. When that bloom, when that bloom drop then there's, there, it's a, you look, bud come, and that open, when that open that cotton's in there, well all you got to do then is pick it. Pick that cotton, pick them ah cotton out of them boll. I done picked used to have ours picked every night. Work all day long in the fields pick my uncle's cotton at night. And I was [cough] certainly! Right here on that ??? hill. And then used to have the looms, done spun a many, a many, a many, a mannny—m-a-n-n-n-y pounds of cotton and wool. They had [to carry us (?)] there you know.

EmilyYeah. I know

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] And the spinning wheel, round wheel like they do these cartwheels.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThen the spinning wheel, well you know they have the, the, the guts, on the, you know the, the head of it, the [stretch (?)] thing and then that, the, the, the, you know while they wind the ??? on?

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydKind of like that.

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd this have, you know, its standing like that but it's a ??? fast.

EmilyUhmm.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd I wished I had as many dollars. And ah, and tobacco, tobacco, have [echos] put the dogs talking. And ah, [echo] you know pick it's stem on it and then it twist it. I could twist tobacco when I was [real good (?)]. [echos of laughter] And I'm telling you the God's truth. I'm telling you the truth. I have often seen tobacco get them seeds, cotton seed I plant them there underneath them cotton. Well, the man comes through the country and they say this place where I'm living at ??? —

EmilyYes.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—and say, ground seeds and cotton [say, that be (?)] the ground would certainly bring them.

Emily[Did you see (?)] ??? —

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am.

Emily—cotton?

Aunt Phoebe BoydComing through. Just like you all. Just like this here man now. You.

Guy S. LowmanYes.

Aunt Phoebe BoydRan through the country. Certainly! And ah, but it don't never get none. I think I'm going get Mrs., one of these school teachers.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe BoydNow she live, lives in Richmond.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydAnd ah and ah want to tell her, say, he, if she, who goes to the factory and can get any cotton seed tell her buy me some bring them here, I'll pay her.

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd[laugh] That [Monica (?)] is nice.

EmilyYeah.

Mrs. John Faulconer WareIs it pretty growing?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. Cotton patch, cotton patch it keeping them the bloom, cotton all done open and the cotton, the boll all done open that cotton just as white as can be; now you got to take that boll off the s-s [stem], you know. And pick that cotton when, don't you know they used to have gins here in our neighborhood?

EmilyThey did?

Aunt Phoebe BoydYes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am.

EmilyI didn't know there were no gins.

Aunt Phoebe BoydThey have, they have their gins and they put that cotton on in them there thing and they turn it over like that and that s-s, the seed would come out on one side and the cotton on the other. Now people used to quilt bed quilts. Used to make them batten.

EmilyYeah. I know.

Aunt Phoebe BoydYeah. Batten that go in the quilts.

EmilyAhha.

Aunt Phoebe BoydWell, now they don't have it here now. Don't get no battens now. Buying the quilts, you know, the quilts all— [laugh]

EmilyYeah.

Aunt Phoebe Boyd—made with the—

END OF SIDE B