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whi1e~hen somebody died they‘d hold. a wake. They‘d sit up all night and

sine and pray and talk. At midni~it they‘d sei~e sandwiches and. coffee. Sometimes wetd all get together and play ring plays and dence,

	Once the Yankee soldiers come. I was big enough to tote pails and piggins then. These soldiers made us chillun tote water to fill their can— teens and water their horses. We toted the water on our heads. Another time we heard the Yankeets was coming and old-Master had about fifteen hundred r~ounds of rn~at. They was hauling it off to bury it and hide it when the Yankees caught them0 The soldiers ate and. wasted every bit of that good meat. ~1e did&t like them a bit.

	One time some Yankee soldiers sto:oped and started talking to me

-~ they asked me what my name was. ~I say Liza, and they say, “Liza who?“

I thought a minute and.I shook my head., “Jest Liza, I ain‘t got no other

name.~~

	He say, “Who live up yonder in dat Big	“ I say, “Mr. John Mixon.“ He say, “You are Liza Mixon.~~e He say, “Do anybody ever call you nigger?“ And I sa~r, “Yes Sir. „ He Say, “Next time anybody call you nigger you tell ~ em dat you is a Negro and your name is Miss Liza Mixon. „ The more I thought of that the more I liked it and I made up my mind. to do jest what he told me to.

	My job was minding the calves back while the cows was being milked. One evening I was minding the calves and. old. Master come along. He say, ‘tWhat you domt itt I say real pert 1 ike ‚ ~ I am‘ t no nigger, ~ se a Negro and Itm Miss Liza Mixon.“ Old. Master sho‘ was surprised and he picks up a switch and starts at me,

	Law, but I was skeered.! I hadn‘t never had no whipping so I ru.n fast as I can to Grandma Gracie. I hid behind her and she say, “That‘s the matter of‘ you “ And. I say, ~Master John gwine whip mtt And she say,
Oklahoma Vďri.ters‘ Project
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