"De only place I knows 'bout is right here, what was Marse Greenville McNeel's plantation, 'cause I's born here and Marse Greenville and Missy Amelia, what was his wife, is de only ones I ever belonged to. After de war, Marse…

"I don't 'member much 'bout de war, 'cause I's jus' a young'un when it start and too small to have much mem'randum when it stop. I's still on de place where I's born when surrender come, de…

"Yes, suh, Adeline Marshall am my name, all right, but folks 'round here jes' calls me 'Grandma.' "Lawd have mercy, I's been in dis here land too long, too long, and jes' ain't no 'count no more…