The unfairness was always present. While our folks worked the fields in the hot sun, the overseer sat on his horse in the shade. The slaves had to sing while they worked too. And whenever they stopped singing, he would yell out, "Make a noise! Make a noise!" Then, he would crack his whip that made a hissing sound like a snake. We got food supplies once a month and clothing once a year. The only day that we didn't have to work was Sunday, and it was reserved for church.
It was clear that the fruits from the surrounding pear, apple, peach, and plum trees were for the folks in the big house and not for us. They ate very well compared to the rest of us. Since our mothers had to work, we did not even eat at regular times. And corn-meal mush was served to us children in a trough. We soon learned that the ones who ate the fastest got the most. I also learned, that in the winter when the sun was out, to play on the south side of the house because it was warmer. And in the summer when the sun was really hot, to play on the north because it was cooler.