When the war ended our long awaited day of freedom came. On our plantation it was a momentous occasion. We had been expecting it because we had seen deserting and discharged soldiers returning home. The "grape-vine telegraph" was busy. Freedom was in the air.

As the great day drew nearer, there was more singing than usual in the slave quarters. It was bolder and had more ring in it that lasted way into the night. Most of the verses referred to freedom. Before then those "freedom" songs were explained to be about the next world. But the "mask" gradually began to wear off, and they were boldly letting it be known that the "freedom" referred to in their songs meant freedom of the body in this world.