Ef'n

Ef'n you had no pass you would git in trouble ef caught wid out one which allus ment a good whuppin 'w'en dey returned.

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives Work Projects Administration

Ef'n dey met a niggah on de road dey'd say, "Whar ez you gwin dis time ob mawnin '?"

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives Work Projects Administration

Ef'n dey hadn 'raised me right, I might hab got in meaness en bin locked up half de time, but I ain't nebber bin 'rested, en I'se' ferd ob de policemans.

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives Work Projects Administration

Ef'n you found a ole hoss shoe dat had bin drapt'd by de hoss, hit meant good luck.

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives Work Projects Administration

Ef'n it hadnt been for some of dem crazy fools, actin up and smarty, me an my wife'd be gittin maybe a hun'ered an 'more dollars a month,' stead o the fifteen we gits 'tween us for ole 'age help.

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives Work Projects Administration

Ef'n she ever do come, I'm goin 'ter beat her wid dis stick an sen' her back to her country up da're in dat Phillerdelma.

Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Georgia Narratives, Part 2 Work Projects Administration

Ef'n de 'oman didn't hab any chilluns, she wuz put on de block en sold en 'nuther 'oman bought.

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives Work Projects Administration

"Bad luck signs: Ef'n a picture falls, hit's a sign ob de'th -- bad luck ter step ovuh a broom -- ef a clock stop runnin 'en later hit strike, dat means de'th."

Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves Tennessee Narratives Work Projects Administration

"Ef'n you don 'min', Ole Miss, Paisley, she done got de colick f'om a hull pa'cel er green apples," and "Abram he's des a-shakin 'wid a chill en he say he cyarn go ter de co'n field."

The Battle Ground Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow 1909

Ef'n she spy out a speck er dus 'on dem ar wheels, somebody gwine year f'om it, sho's you bo'n -- en dat somebody wuz me.

The Battle Ground Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow 1909