Brother Murray is a fine preacher. He has been preaching here since 1922, and has not missed a meeting day since he began.
I used to own forty acres of land adjoining Mr. Tom Treadwell. He was a good friend and adviser. We were accustomed to going to Dalton very often and of course we would go in wagons and buggies because there were no cars in those days. One day as we were riding along the road to Dalton Mr. Treadwell began to compare a trip to Dalton with one to Glory. When we reached Treadwell's mill he said, "we have started on our journey." When we reached Maddox mill, he said we were half way on our journey and when we reached that great hill at Dalton one could see the great city. If I asked Mr. Treadwell for a favor, he would always grant it.
In all of my travel I was never arrested but once in my life. The bailiff came to the field and carried me to Spring Place and wanted to carry me to Fashion to court to stand a trial. The man who had me arrested was trying to pretend that I had broken open some of his mail. After I reached Spring Place several of my good white friends told the bailiff that I could make a thousand dollar bond, but that I was not going to any jail. My opponent had several children for witnesses, but there was never anything done about the matter in court. Lots of my white friends knew that I had not broken open any one's mail.
I have lots of friends in Dalton, but when I go there now since Dalton has improved so rapidly it seems that I am almost lost. I have always carried my cotton to Dalton to market. Cotton was very cheap in those days. Mr. Barrett was the cotton buyer and when cotton was five, six or eight cents, I would say to Mr. Barrett "please give me eight and a quarter and next time I won't ask you to raise the price." He gave me eight and a quarter. The next year I carried my cotton to Dalton it was .fifteen cents, and I wanted Mr. Barrett to give me fifteen and a quarter, but he said to me, "didn't you say last year that you would not ask me for any more than cotton was worth?" I said, "yes," and he said, "well that's the way with a man, he is just like a dog. The more he has the more he desires."
Memoirs Of A Slave