Part 2

"Oh, I work hard, sho, When de col' win' blow, Sawin' en splittin' de white folks' wood! But I do'n' complain Ob de col' en de rain, Kaze de Lawd gwine sen' what He know am good."]

Eb'ry man what see a tex' In de trees en stones, Ain't bin called ter preach en raise Life in dead, dry bones. Dat ole rooster scratchin' dar Am a sarmont, sho, But des kaze I read him right, I ain't called, you know.

If you don't read it, you ain't Got de seein' eyes, En yo' heart cain't see dem things What would make you wise. Sho's de Bible done say dat Dem what works kin eat, Dat's a noble sarmont dar-- One dat cain't be beat.

When dat rooster scratch fo' worms In de lowly groun', He's a sayin' we mus' work Fo' our bread, I'm boun'; En when he fin' food, en call Till dat hen do run, He sho mean dat man mus' work Fo' de weakly one.

He don't shet his knowledge up In a selfish min'; When he see de mornin' break He tell all mankin'. Do ter me all dis en mo', Dat same rooster teach, He don't say dat I's conspired By de Lawd ter preach.

Des De Same.

My ole shanty am a fallin', En de rain am leakin' frue, En de rheumatiz done grip me Till I don't know what ter do; But I thank God fo' dis frame, En I happy, des de same.

I cain't go en jine de singin', Lak I did in ole-time days, At de Calvary Baptis' Church, Whar dey sing glad songs ob praise; But my heart ain't sick en lame, En it singin', des de same.

Mandy say de safe am empty-- We ain't got no food ter-day! Say she do' know whar we git it, 'Thout an angel come dis way; But I trus' in Jesus' name, En my soul feas', des de same.

So De Sunshine Stay.

If de rooster crow, dey say, 'Fo'e de clock strike ten, Atter he done gone ter roos' In de chicken pen, Den de weather sho gwine change 'Fo'e dat time nex' day, En I don't care if it do-- So de sunshine stay.

How de rooster know if win' Am gwine res' or blow, Or if clouds gwine hol' de rain, Or gwine let it po', I cain't tell, do I live heah Forty yeahs terday; But I know my heart am glad If de sunshine stay.

Daddy Long Legs.

"Ole Daddy Long Legs, Why am you so tall? You look lak yo' head Gwine soon touch de wall; En it take many stitches Ter sew up dem breeches."

Ole Daddy Long Legs Make answer ter me: "De fines' fruit grow In de top ob de tree, En I's made tall ez dis So's de bes' I won't miss."

His Capacity Filled.

Oh, I had a happy time-- Happy time las' night! Staid inside dat meetin' house Till it mos' daylight. En I sho did sing en holler Till de people know Dat dis nigger got religion-- Couldn't hol' no mo'.

When I leave dat meetin' house-- Leave at ha'f pas' two, I wuz gittin' hungry ez Shoutin' niggers do; En des den I heah a rooster Gib a mighty crow; "Don't he think he big?" I say, "I gwine fetch him low!"

Oh, I fetch him low! En I Tote him home wid me, En wid dumplin's I done cook him Quick ez dat kin be. Wid religion en dat chicken I am full up, sho, But I reckon when night come I kin hol' some mo'!

Ike's Temptation.

Ebry day dat come, I pass Whar de watermilyun grow In de Massa's milyun patch, En dey is a sight, fo' sho. Dey des peeps frum out de leaves, Playin' hide en seek wid me; En dey beg me come en ta'se 'em, Des ter see how good dey be; But I sho does pass 'em by-- Same's I don't know whar dey lie.

I's a member ob de church, En you'll neber see me steal; I kin sho han' out de cash Fo' my bacon en corn-meal. Dey will keep me des ez fat Ez I eber want ter be, En de luxuries ob life-- Heah dem milyuns callin' me! Don't dey know dat I done say I ain't gwine take dem away?

One ob dem--he sho am big-- Prettiest thing I eber seen-- All arrayed, mo' bright dan lilies, In dem shades ob shinnin' green. He done creep frum out dem leaves Till he close ter dis low fence, En he beckon me ter take him-- Think dat I ain't got good sense! But dat coat ob him do shine, En I wish dat he wus mine.

Wonder if he look ez nice On de inside ez de out? Wonder if he's lak dem Christians What do nothin' else but shout? Guess dat I could mighty soon Bu's' him on a rock, en see, If I had him on dis side Ob de ole rail-fence wid me. Dat I'll do! If he's deceivin', Nothin' else ain't wuth believin'!

He am mellow ter de co'; Sho de heart ob him am right; Since I gone en bu's' him open, I mus' git him out ob sight. I would sin agin my conshuns If I let him go ter was'e When so many mouths is thirstin' Fo' de juice dey loves ter tas'e;-- Juice dat cheers de nigger's soul Mo' dan all dat's bought wid gol'.

It wus good, dat watermilyun, But I sho am gittin' sick; Go en git de doctor, honey-- Go en git him mighty quick! 'Twus a dirty trick, fo' cartin, What de Massa gone en done, Puttin' strychnine in dat milyun So's ter ketch de guilty one;-- But I ain't a rogue, he know-- I's a Christian, dat am sho!

Whar De Watermilyun Grow.

I wus fetch up fur away Frum dis city whar I stay, In de lan' ob shinin' day Whar de watermilyun grow.

Oh, my boss heah treat me gran'! But I sad, you understan', Longing fo' de Dixie lan' Whar de watermilyun grow.

Fiel's ob cotton beckon me, En de sweet magnolia tree, En my heart des cry ter be Whar de watermilyun grow.

Oh, de South am des de place Fo' de thirsty cullud race! En I long ter turn my face Whar de watermilyun grow.

If dey try to 'tice you 'way, Don't you lis'n what dey say, Kaze de nigger bo'n ter stay Whar de watermilyun grow.

What His Education Done.

What dat you say? Sen' Zeke ter school Des kaze he ain't bin bo'n a fool? Now you talkin'! You ain't heerd 'Bout George Washington T. Beard? He wus smart, his ma tell me, En he l'arn his A, B, C, 'Thout no' difficult at all-- Nat'ral ez de ripe fruit fall.

En dat smartness grow on him Fas' ez leaves grow on de lim', Till at las' de people say: "He mus' sholy go away Ter de college in de town!" 'Twus a great one, I am boun', Whar dey teach dat young man mo' Dan de mos' ob niggers know.

When he reach ter gradiation, My! Dey make a great 'miration; En dey say: "Spite ob his race, En dat shinin', coal-black face, He gwine make de people's eyes Open wide wid dey surprise; Dat wus sho a good essay, What he read fo' us ter-day."

En dey say dem people chee'ed Dat George Washington T. Beard; Say he look en ac' ez gran' Ez de fines' in de lan; Bowin' dis en den dat way Wid a smile dat seem ter say: "I is ready now ter do Somethin' dat will 'stonish you."

Den what nex'? He des come home-- Wait dar fo' de chance ter come Ter git some big job, fo' true, Lak falutin' white folks do;-- Think he am too smart, you know, Ter use axe or spade or hoe; Or ter do work, han' ter han', Wid de ignorant cullud man.

Dar he set en dar he wait, Railin' 'gin de nigger's fate, Sayin' dat de worl' am hard, When we all know dat de Lawd Make it easier, fo' sho', When de man use what he know; When he don't des set en wait, Railin' allers 'gin his fate.

Ez you say, dat Zeke ob mine Got a min' dat sho could shine, En dem han's ob his kin do Mos' ez much ez mine, fo' true. He won't neber lack fo' bread Wid dem han's en wid dat head; En I don't sen' him ter school Whar he l'arn ter be a fool.

Booker T. Washington.

People tell de news las' week Dat a cullud man gwine speak At de college hall; Say he try ter lif' his race Ter a high en shinin' place On dis 'restial ball.

En dey say dat cullud man Doin' work dat sho am gran' In dis worl' below; Say he gib his life, fo' true, So de nigger be en do Better dan befo'.

He done 'stablish a fine school, Whar, dey say, he 'force dis rule: Train de man all roun'; Let de han's dey duty know; Let de min' wake up en grow; Let de heart be soun'.

Dat great school am situate Down in Alabamy state, In dis Dixie lan'; En folks north en eas' en wes', When dey heah it do its bes', Len' a he'pin' han'.

Mr. Washington come down Las' week ter dis very town, Ez I spec' you know; En when I went ter dat hall Des ter heah him speak, en all, I wus 'sprised, fo' sho;

'Sprised ter see dat cullud man On de platform, dress up gran', Wid de bes' white men; En if he don't speak dat day Words ez good ez dey kin say-- Den my name ain't Ben!

Oh, I wish dat I could tell What he say! It make me swell All up fat wid pride; En I say: "I sho gwine shake His right han' fo' dem words' sake, When we git outside."

When he finish en set down, I go outside en walk roun' Till his face I see; Den I say, sho ez I bo'n: "Howdy, Mr. Washington! Won't you speak ter me?"

En he shake my han' de way Dat men do when dey hearts say: "Glad ter see yo' face!" En I tell him; "'Fo'e you go I mus' say, you make me, sho, Proud ob de black race."

Crazy Joe's Ambition.

Crazy Joe, he make me laugh When he talk dat way 'Bout de mansion on de hill Whar de gov'nor stay; When he vow dat he Sho ez life gwine be Walkin' on dem flo's some day.

He ain't wise on politics, En we tell him so, En we say: "Nobody vote Fo' you, Crazy Joe!" But he say dat he Sometime sho gwine be Walkin' on dat mansion flo'.

His vote he'p de white man git Ter dat place, he say, En he waitin' fo' de state Ter do right, en pay Him wid dis job soon: Washin' de spittoon What dey use dar ebry day!

Grinnin' Jake.

Neber seen a feller grin Lak dat nigger do; When you as' him anything He des look at you;-- Neber answer what you say-- Grin en grin dat stupid way.

When somebody what don't know As' him what he name, He hang down dat head ob his Ez do' he ashame; En he show dem teeth ob white Lak dey speak fo' him all right.

"Is de cat done got yo' tongue?" Mammy as' him once, "Or is you des bo'n to be A dum', stupid dunce?" But he hang dat head en grin, Silly ez he allers bin.

I mos' b'lieve dat when he git Up ter heaven's gate, If de angels as' him why He stan' dar en wait, He won't say: "Please let me in," But des grin en grin en grin!

Elmiry Vaccinated.

When de vaccinater come, My Elmiry run frum home Fas' ez she could go; Run away ter Missus' house, Whar she slip in lak a mouse, So de Miss won't know.

En she scramble hin' de head Ob de Missus' high pos' bed, Des ter hide erwhile; En de Missus come en go Frue dat room, but she don't know 'Bout dat silly chile.

By en by, when she come frue, She heah somethin' breave, she do, Lak somebody 'sleep; En her heart stan' still dat day, En she am too sca'ed, she say, Des to take a peep.

So she run out-do's en call; "Sen' de pleeceman (heah me all!) Right now ter my house; Dar's a robber 'hin' my bed, Waitin' till de day be dead, Quiet ez a mouse."

En de news dem people spread 'Bout de robber 'hin' de bed, Waitin' till day done; En de pleeceman sho did race, So he reach dat hidin' place, 'Fo'e de robber run.

But when he git dar en see Dat chile sleepin' quiet, he Des frow back his head, En he laugh en laugh en say: "Come in, Missus, right away! Who dis 'hin' yo' bed?"

Dey take hol' ob her en shake Dat Elmiry till she wake 'Nough ter rub her eyes; When she open dem en see Who dat man am--goodness me!-- She am sho surprise'.

"Please, Mister Pleeceman," den she say, "I'll be vaccernate' dis day If you let me go!" But he say dat des a tale, En he take her ter de jail 'Fo'e her mammy know.

Take her ter be vaccernate, En she grunt now, soon en late, Wid dat arm dat's so'. 'Tain't no use ter run frum home When de vaccernater come;-- He gwine git you, sho.

"Simple Simon."

Des cartin ez dey is a way Ter miss doin what am right, Dat boy gwine allers fin' it out What work fo' Mistah White.

Las' yeah dey had him drive 'em all Out ter de ole school groun', Whar all de white folks congregate Frum miles en miles er-roun'.

En Mistah White, when dey git dar, Say: "Simon, now you min', En put dis ice we got heah, in De cooles' place you fin'."

En when dey all go in ter heah De chillun speak en sing, Dat boy--he go en drap dat ice Right in de bubblin' spring!

An Obstacle Overcome.

Dat Tom, he allers want ter know All 'bout de things he see; I neber could remember ha'f Ob what he done as' me.

He see dem posts down by de road, Wid wires stretch ercrost, En ast me why dem wires wus Hung dar from post ter post.

I tell him den, de bes' I kin, Dat dey wus made to sen' De news ercrost, so men kin heah Frum dey fur absent frien'.

He stan' en gaze en gaze on dem In his onquirin' way; Den: "How de news git roun dem posts?" Dat stupid nigger say.

He sho ain't got de sense ter know (De good fo' nothin' scamp!) Dat des ter meet dat obstickle We got de postage stamp.

Two of a kind.

Sime say he don't know what ter do wid dat mule Dat he done gone en bought (he wus sholy a fool!) At de sale in de town; He say it so stubborn dat when he say "gee," It allers gwine "haw," ez sho ez kin be, En I's glad, I am boun'.

He say when he want it ter stan' it gwine walk;-- When he want it ter go, it am sholy gwine balk, Lak a dunce all de time. He say dey ain't neber bin bo'n sich a fool, But I know, I sho do, dat pesky ole mule Ain't ez stubborn ez Sime.

He neber gwine do what I tell him am right, Do he know I wus bo'n wid a caul on my sight, En kin see what am bes'; I tol' him ter stay frum dat sale in de town, But somethin' des draw him ez blood do de houn', Till he foller de res'.

I sho knew dat day what dat man wus erbout When I seen him a-takin' de las' money out Ob de cup on de she'f; En I glad he done spent ebry cent on dat mule, En's got ter work now wid dat pesky ole fool, Kaze he's stubborn hisse'f.

Quarantined.

Who am sca'ed ob small-pox? Pshaw! Not dis nigger, sho. Las' yeah dar wus lots ob it Down in Spilman's row; En de pleeceman walk erbout, Keepin' some in en some out.

En I ask: "What dey gwine do Fo' 'nough food to eat?" En Sime answer: "Ez fo' dat, Small-pox cain't be beat; Kaze when it done shet yo' gate, Den de town gwine fill yo' plate."

He say dem dat's quarantined Down in Spilman's row, Gittin' better things ter eat Dan we am, fo' sho; Say he see 'em take some food Back dar dat wus mighty good.

Den I min' me ob my frien's, How dey lonesome be, En I say: "I cain't fo'get 'em-- Dey am deah ter me!" En dey voices call en call, Till I heah dem ober all.

'T last I say dat I mus' go If I am dey frien';-- While de guard walk up _dat_ way, I slip in _dis_ en';-- En in Spilman's row I stay Till de small-pox pass erway.

I don't ketch it--no, suhree! Neber git de chance; Zeke wus down dar wid his fiddle, En I jine de dance;-- En de city furnish food Dat, fo' sho, tas'e mighty good.

A Puzzling Clause.

Oh, de preacher done fine When I marry Em'line, But what did he mean, I wonder, When he stan dar en' say: "I done jine you ter-day; Let nobody put you ter thunder!"

Fo'e de Wah.

I ain't neber work, not me! Fo' de white trash. Kaze, you see, I wus fetch up mighty gran' By de bes' folks in de lan';-- En dey teach me how ter do Work fo' ladies rich ez you, 'Fo'e de wah.

"Who fetch me up?" Now, Missus, sho I done tol' you dat befo'! Why a Miss wid heart ez true Ez wus eber knowed by you; En a face dat shine ez bright Ez dem days so full ob light, 'Fo'e de wah.

When I sick in dem ole days, Missus don't des go her ways, Leabin' me ter cry en groan In dat cabin all alone; Wid her han's she wait on me Till I well ez I kin be, 'Fo'e de wah.

When de fus' sweet baby come, Blessin' my deah Missus' home, 'Twarn't nobody else but me Dressed it nice ez it could be In a dress ob spotless white, (Shinin' lak de robes ob light!) 'Fo'e de wah.

En when angels, by en by, Call dat darlin' ter de sky, 'Twus me robe it in its bes', Ez I say: "Now, sleep en res'." Den de house wus sad erwhile Kaze we lose our only chile,-- 'Fo'e de wah.

God won't hab dem arms ob Miss Empty ob de mammy's bliss, En he fill em up wid joy-- Now a gal, en den a boy; En deysel's dem chillun twine Roun' dis happy heart ob mine, 'Fo'e de wah.

When dat jolly nigger, Ned, Take de notion in his head Dat he want ter marry me, Missus say: "Well, we will see;" En she buy him fo' her slave (He bin long time in his grave!) 'Fo'e de wah.

Buy him fo' her slave, you see, So dat he kin live wid me In de hut whar de sweet vine Ob de yellow jes'mine twine; Whar de mockin'-bird all day Sing kaze we wus glad en gay, 'Fo'e de wah.

Den dem Yankees come, you know, En dey beat de South, fo' sho; Missus tell us: "You is free! You don't b'long no mo' ter me." But us niggers up en say: "We gwine stay right whar we stay 'Fo'e de wah!"

En we stay. We didn't go Ter de North lak some I know. Dey sho thought dat dey gwine be Rich up dar ez dey wus free; But dey soon come back agin Ter de lan' whar dey had bin 'Fo'e de wah.

Missus die.--Please 'scuse dese teahs; I mus' cry, spite ob de yeahs, When I min' me ob dat day Dat dey laid her deep away By de willow bendin' low,-- One she planted long ago 'Fo'e de wah.

Den dey scatter, all de res', Some ter eas', en some to wes'; One done jine de Miss on high In de mansions ob de sky; Dem dat's libin' write ter me Ob de times dat used ter be 'Fo'e de wah.

En dey sen's some change erlong, Calling it "but des a song;" But it free dis nigger, sho, Frum a lot ob care en woe; En it make me dream dat I Libin in dem days gone by 'Fo'e de wah.

I is gittin weak en ole, En I know dat soon my soul Sho gwine heah de angels come, Singin', singin', "Home, sweet home!" En up dar my eyes gwine see All de white folks deah to me 'Fo'e de wah.

Ground Hog Day.

What de use ter go agin What de groun' hog say, Little bud, dat done unfol' 'Fo'e Spring come dis way? 'Tis a shame fo' dat sunshine Ter be foolin' you, When mo' fros' am prophesied By de prophet true:

If de sun am shinin' bright, He turn right away Back into dat cozy bed, Whar till spring he stay. But if clouds am in de sky, Den he know, fo' sho, Dat de winter am done pass Ter return no mo'.

Yestiday, when he creep out Frum his winter den, He des turn his se'f erbout, En went in agin. He ain't easy ter deceive By warm sun en breeze, Kaze he got a way ter know If dey'll be a freeze.

Wish de sunshine wouldn't 'vite Flowers ter unfol', When de prophet prophesy Dar gwine be mo' col'; Wish de little buds could know What de groun' hog say, En would stay shet, close en tight, Till Spring come ter stay.

Excusable.

Why you go en fight dat boy? Don't you know he white? Bet de pleeceman come en git you 'Fo'e you sleep dis night! Don't you heah yo' mammy say, Why you knock him down dat way?

"Called you nigger?" Did he, sho? Den you done des right! Eb'ry time de po' white buckra Call you dat, you fight! If you am one, I am sho 'Taint dey place ter tell you so!

Jeff's Funeral Sermon.

Git my mou'nin' dress, Susanah, Out de bottom draw';-- It bin waitin' long time wid Dis black hat ob straw, Fo' de preacher ter come by En preach Jeff up ter de sky.

Jeff done pass away befo' us Des six months ter-day; But it don't seem long ez dat (How time pass away!) Since dey laid dat po' boy down In de churchyard's holy groun'.

Yestiday when I ast Missus Let me go ter-day Ter Jeff's fun'ral, she so s'prised Till she up en say: "Sakes! dey bury him, you know, Las' yeah, long en long ago!"

En I tell her dat de people Libin fur frum home, Couldn't heah dat he wus gone, En dey want ter come; So we wait till news wus spread Ebrywhar dat he wus dead.

En we 'vite so many people Frum de country roun', Dat dar'll be a sight ob niggers At dat church, I'm boun'; So we better be gwine on, Kaze we set wid dem dat mou'n.

Uncle Bob to his Dog.

Uncle Bob say ter his dog, Leo: "You tangle yo'se'f in my heart-strings, sho, But de day gwine come when you got ter go, Kaze I ain't got a dollar Ter buy you a collar, En de dog-ketcher ketch you, sho."

Uncle Bob say: "I dervide my bread, En I kiver you up in my nice, straw bed, But I sca'ed dat my dog gwine soon be dead, Kaze I ain't got a dollar Ter buy you a collar, En de dog-ketcher ketch you, sho."

Uncle Bob say: "Oh, de stolen am sweet, En dat why you clim' frue de fence ter de street, Do I already tol' you de en' you gwine meet! Kaze I ain't got a dollar Ter buy you a collar, En de dog-ketcher ketch you, sho."

A Prophecy.

Sho ez dat dar sun on high Shine on me ter-day, Dar gwine be a riber-rise, Lis'n what I say! 'Fo'e de summer am done pas' Dat dar Congaree Am gwine over-flow dem banks, Rushin' ter de sea.

I does closely watch de signs, En de wasp, fo' true, Biuldin' higher up dis yeah Dan she mos'ly do. By dat nes', so safe en high, She done say ter me; "Dar gwine be a rise dis yeah Ob de Congaree."

Possum en Pertaters.

De pe'simmons in de pastur' am a-fallin', fallin' down, En de sweet pertaters waitin' ter be dug frum out de groun'; Dat dey good de possum know, En he fatten on 'em, sho! En I tas'e his juice ter-morrer, else I neber tas'e it mo'.

Bring de light-wood torch, Horiah, en don't creep so slow erlong; Lif' yo' lazy feet up faster, so dey keep time ter dis song: "Mr. Possum, hear me say, 'Tain't no use ter run away, Kaze I sho gwine ketch en bleed you 'fo'e de breakin' ob de day!

Dem two dogs already trace him ter de big pe'simmon tree, En I see dem eyes ob his'n shinin' down lak stars at me. He for sho am perch up high, But I git him, by en by, En dat feas' I hab to-morrer beat de fines' chicken pie.

I done grab him by de neck, en I comin' down agin, En de weight ob him do tell me he am fur frum bein' thin; En he droop hisse'f en play Dat he dead en pass away, Do he know dat if I loose him he gwine mighty soon be gay.

He am sho a fine one, en I proud ter take him home, En de mammy en de chillun wake ter see him when he come; En I singe his tender hide Till it look lak it done fried, Den I try ter go ter sleep, but my eyes stay open wide.