100090
-~ t






TOM H~&WK~INS	.
~	~


	Tom was nowhere to be seen when the interviewer mounted the stejjs of his cabin. Daisy, his wife, was ironftig ort the back porch and when she learned the object of the proposed interview, she readily agreed to induce Tom to talk. She approached a base-~ ment door and called: “Tom,~ herets one of dem givertment ladies what‘s cone to.~hear you talk ‘bout slr~rery days.“ Torn replied:

“All right, Miss Daisy, I‘ se a-commt • ~ The old mani soon appeared feeling his way with his cane carefully before each hesitant step. Tom is blind. J~stab1ished comfortably in his favorite chair, he talked freely.

	n ~ was borned oa Marse Johnny Poore ‚ s plantat ion ‚ bout four miles ffi~j 3elton, South Callina. ~rse Johnny owned my ~‚ Mornin‘ Poore, and all three of her chillun. Dey was me and Johnny, E~fld Mollie. My Pa was Tom Hawkins and he was named for his owner. De Hawkins plantation was ‘bout a mile f‘um de Poore place. tttter Ma marricd Pap, dey each one had to stay on wid deir own ~rster. Dey couldn‘t stay on de same ~plantation together. I don‘t ‘member much ‘bout Gra&ma Jennie Poore ‘cept dat she was de cook at de big house. Gran‘pa Wade Poore was de blacksmith and Marss Johnny got a big price when he sold him to Dr. Chandler.‘ Some of de slaves made demselfs corded beds and others jus‘ had makeshifts. ~ beds and cabins wa~ good ‘nough for de Niggers den, ‘cause dey never had knowed no better. Gangs of slaves slept together lak hogs in dem dirt~ floored log cabins.