S. G. and E. L. ELBERT

^m^tXxit^^h^ ELLA SMITH ELBERT '88

NV _iCATHARlNE E,_ COMAN

WHEN MALINDY SINGS

m

WHEN MALINDY SINGS

BY

PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

i

ILLUSTIiATE'D WITH PHOTOG%A'=PHS 'BY THE H<AMPT03t liKSTITUTE Cc4ME%c4 CLUB

DECORATIONS BY MARGARET ARMSTRONG

-^ffll^ DODD MEAD AND CO.

NEW YORK MCMVI

Copyright, 1896, 1903 BY DODD MEAD AND COMPANY

Published November, 1903

UNIVERSITY PRESS • JOHN WILSON AND SON CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.

1

CONTENTS

Page

WHEN MALINDY SINGS 9

DRIZZLE \5

TWO LITTLE BOOTS 2t

THE LOOKING-GLASS 27

THE COLORED BAND 31

THE MEMORY OF MARTHA. ... 39

SPRING FEVER 45

THE TRYST 5t

ITCHING HEELS 59

THE BOOGAH MAN 65

A PLANTATION PORTRAIT .... 7i

HOWDY, HONEY, HOWDY ... 77

NODDIIvr BY DE FIRE 83

A WARM DAY IN WINTER .... 89

THE VISITOR 97

MY SWEET BROWN GAL W5

IN THE MORNING n3

TO THE EASTERN SHORE . . . . t2J

WADIN' IN DE CREEK i29

'LONG TO'DS NIGHT J37

r

WHEN MALINDY SINGS

WAY an^ quit dat noise, Miss Lucy- Put dat music book away ; What ^s de use to keep on tryin^ ?

Ef you practise twell you ^re gray, You cain^t sta^t no notes a-flyin^

Lak de ones dat rants and rings F^om de kitchen to de big woods When Malindy sings.

You ain't got de nachel organs

Fu' to make de soun' come right, You ain't got de tu'ns an' twistin's

Fu' to make it sweet an' light* Tell you one thing now, Miss Lucy,

An' I 'm tellin' you fu' true, When hit comes to raal right singin',

' T ain't no easy thing to do»

Easy 'nough fu' folks to hollah,

Lookin' at de lines an' dots. When dey ain't no one kin sence it.

An' de chune comes in, in spots ; But fu' real melojous music,

Dat jes' strikes yo' hea't and clings, Jes' you Stan' an' listen wif me

When Malindy sings*

Ain^t you nevah hyeahd Malindy ?

Blessed soul, tek up de cross ! Look hyeah, ain^t you joking honey ?

Well, you don't know whut you los^ ought to hyeah dat gal a-wa'blin^

Robins, la'ks, an' all dem things, Heish dey moufs an' hides dey faces

When Malindy sings.

Fiddlin' man jes' stop his fiddlin'.

Lay his fiddle on de she'f ; Mockin'-bird quit tryin' to whistle,

'Cause he jes' so shamed hisse'f. Folks a-playin' on de banjo

Draps dey fingahs on de strings — Bless yo' soul — fu'gits to move 'em,

When Malindy sings.

She jes' spreads huh mouf and hoUahs,

Come to Jesus," twell you hyeah Sinnahs' tremblin' steps and voices,

Timid-lak a-drawin' neah ; Den she tu'ns to Rock of Ages,"

Simply to de cross she clings. An' you fin' yo' teahs a-drappin'

When Malindy sings.

Who dat says dat humble praises

Wif de Master nevah counts ? Heish yo' mouf, I hyeah dat music,

Ez hit rises up an' mounts — Floatin' by de hills an' valleys,

Way above dis buryin' sod, Ez hit makes its way in glory

To de very gates of God !

Oh, hit *s sweetah dan de music

Of an edicated band ; An* hit 's dearah dan de battle's

Song o' triumph in de lan\ It seems holier dan evenin'

When de solemn chu'ch bell rings, Ez I sit an' ca'mly listen

While Malindy sings,

Towsah, stop dat ba'kin', hyeah me !

Mandy, mek dat chile keep still ; Don't you hyeah de echoes callin'

F'om de valley to de hill ? Let me listen, I can hyeah it,

Th'oo de bresh of angel's wings, Sof an' sweet, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,"

Ez Malindy sings,

J4

DRIZZLE

15

J_JIT been drizzlm* an* been sprinkling

Kin' techy all day long, I ain^t wet enough fu' toddy,

I too damp to raise a song, An^ de case have set me t^inkin^

Dat dey 's folk des lak de rain, %(f%jf \f^^ Dat goes drizzlin^ w^en dey ^s talking An' won't speak out flat an' plain*

V

17

t

r

Ain^t you nevah set an^ listened

At a body 'splain his min^ ? Wen de thoughts dey keep on drappin'

Was n^t big enough to fin^ ? Dem ^s whut I call drizzlin^ people,

Othahs call 'em mealy mouf, But de fust name hits me bettah,

Case dey nevah tech a drouL

Dey kin talk from hyeah to yandah,

An' f om yandah hyeah ergain, An' dey don' mek no mo' 'pression,

Den dis powd'ry kin' o' rain» En yo' min' is dry ez cindahs, Er a piece o' kindlin' wood, 'T ain't no use a-talkin' to 'em, Fu' dey drizzle ain't no good.

i9

I

Gimme folks dat speak out nachul, Whut II say des whut dey mean, Whut don^t set dey wo^ds so skimpy

21

'^WO little boots all rough an' wo',

Two little boots ! Laws, I 's kissed 'em times befo',

Dese little boots ! Seems de toes a-peepin' thoo Dis hyeah hole ar/ sayin' ** Boo ! " Evah time dey looks at you —

Dese little boots.

Membah de time he put 'em on,

Dese little boots ; Riz an' called fu' 'em by dawn,

Dese little boots ; Den he tromped de livelong day, Laffin' in his happy way, Evaht'ing he had to say. My little boots!"

23

Kickin^ de san' de whole day long,

Dem little boots; Good de cobblah made 'em strong,

Dem little boots ! Rocks was fu' dat baby's use, Ton had to stan' abuse Wen you turned dese champeens loose

Dese little boots !

Ust to make de ol' cat cry,

Dese little boots ; Den you walked it mighty high.

Proud little boots ! Ahms akimbo, stan'in' wide. Eyes a-sayin' Dis is pride ! '' Den de manny-baby stride !

You little boots.

25

Somehow, you don^ seem so gay,

Po' little boots, Sence yo^ ownah went erway,

Po' little boots ! Yo' bright tops don^ look so red, Dese brass tips is dull an^ dead ; *^ Goo'-by,'^ whut de baby said ;

Deah little boots !

Ain^t you kin^ o' sad yo^se^f,

You little boots ? Dis is all his mammy ^s leP,

Two little boots. Sence huh baby gone an^ died. Heaven itself hit seem to hide Des a little bit inside

Two little boots.

26

THE LOOKING-GLASS

J^INAH Stan' befo' de glass,

Lcx)kin' moughty neat, An' huh purty shadder sass

At huh haid an' feet. While she sasshay 'roun' an' bow, Smilin' den an' poutin' now, An' de lookin'-glass, I 'low

Say : Now, ain't she sweet ? "

All she do, de glass it see,

Hit des see, no mo', Seems to me, hit ought to be

Drappin' on de flo'. She go w'en huh time git slack, Kissin' ban's an' smilin' back, Lawsy, how my lips go smack,

Watchin' at de do'o

29

Wisht I was huh looking-glass, W^en she kissed huh han' ;

Does you t'ink I let it pass, Settin^ on de stan^ ?

No; I ^d des^ fall down an^ break,

Kin^ o' glad ^t uz fu^' huh sake ;

But de diffunce, dat whut make Looking-glass an^ man.

30

THE COLORED BAND

3J

■^^^EN dc colored ban* comes ma'chin^

down de street, Don^t you people stan* daih starin* ; lif* ^^^^^ yo'feet!

Ain^t dey playin* ? Hip, hooray ! Stir yo' stumps an' cleah de way, ^ ll^ Fu' de music dat dey mekin' can't be beat.

rii

33

Oh^ de major man a-swingin^ of his sticky

An' de pickaninnies crowdin' roun' him thick;

In his gorgeous uniform, He 's de lightnin' of de sto'm, An' de little clouds erroun' look mighty slick.

You kin hyeah a fine performance w^en de white ban's serenade. An' dey play dey high-toned music mighty sweet, But hit 's Sousa played in rag-time, an' hit 's Rastus on Parade, Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma 'chin' down de street.

35

Wen de colored ban^ comes ma^chin'

down de street You kin hyeah de ladies all erroun'

repeat :

*'Ain^t dey handsome? Ain^t dey gran' ?

Ain't dey splendid ? Goodness, Ian' ! Wy dey 's pu'fect fom dey fo'heads to

dey feet ! " An' sich steppin' to de music down de

line,

'T ain't de music by itself dat meks it fine.

Hit 's de walkin', step by step, An' de keepin' time wid Hep," Dat it mek a common ditty soun' divine*

37

Oh, de white ban' play hits music, an'

hit 's mighty good to hyeah, An' it sometimes leaves a ticklin' in yo'

feet ;

But de hea't goes into business fu' to he'p eriong de eah. Wen de colo'ed ban' goes marchin' down de street.

33

39

OUT in de night a sad bird moans, An^ oh, but hit ^s moughty lonely ; Times I kin sing, but mos^ I groans, Fu^ oh, but hit ^s moughty lonely ! Is you sleepin^ well dis evening Marfy, deah?

Wen I calls you f om de cabin, kin you hyeah ?

'T ain^t de same ol' place to me, Nuffin^ ^s lak hit used to be, W^en I knowed dat you was alius some^ers nean

Down by de road de shadders grows^ An^ oh, but hit moughty lonely ;

Seem lak de ve^ moonlight knows, An^ oh, but hit's moughty lonely!

Does you know, I 's cryin' fu' you, oh, my wife ?

Does you know dey ain't no joy no mo^ in life ? An' my only t'ought is dis, Dat Ts honin' fu' de bliss Fu' to quit dis groun' o' worriment an' strife^

43

Dah on de baid my banjo lays,

An^ oh, but hit moughty lonely ;

Can't even sta't a chune o' praise, An^ oh, but hit 's moughty lonely !

Oh, hit 's moughty slow a-waitin' hyeah below*

Is you watchin' fu' me, Marfy, at de do'?

Ef you is, in spite o' sin, ^l^Sj^ Dey 'II be sho' to let me in. Wen dey sees yo' face a-shinin', den dey 'II know.

44

SPRING FEVER

45

^^RASS commence a-comin'

Thoo de thawin^ ground Evah bird dat whistles

Keepin^ noise erroun' ; Cain't sleep in de mo^nin',

Case befo' it ^s light Bluebird an' de robin Done begun to fight.

Bluebird sass de robin,

Robin sass him back, Den de bluebird scol' him

'Twell his face is black. Would n' min' de quoilin'

All de mo'nin' long, 'Cept it wakes me early,

Case hit 's done in song.

47

Anybody wo^kin^

Wants to sleep zz late de folks 11 low him,

An^ I wish to state (Co^se dis ainH to scattah.

But 'twix^ me an^ you), I could stan^ de bedclothes,

Kin^ o^ latah, too*

ain^t my natchul feeling

Dis hyeah mopin^ spelL I stands early risin'

Mosly moughty well ; But de veV minute,

I feel April's heat, Bless yo' soul, de bedclothes

Nevah seemed so sweet*

49

Mastah, he a-scorin^

Case de han's is slow, All de hosses balking

Jes^ cain^t mek 'em go. Don' know whut 's de mattah,

Hit 's a funny t'ing, I ess'n hit *s de fevah

Dat you gits in spring.

50

THE TRYST

5J

night creep down eriong de lan\ De shadders rise an' shake, De frog is sta'tin' up his ban^

De cricket is awake ; My wo'k is mos' nigh done, Celes^

To-night I won't be late, I 's hu'yin' thoo my level bes', Wait fu' me by de gate.

53

De mockin'-bird 'II sen' his glee

A-thrillin' thoo and thoo, I know dat oV magnolia-tree

Is smellin' des' fu' you ; De jessamine erside de road

Is bloomin' rich an' white^ My hea't 's a-th'obbin' 'cause it knowed

You 'd wait fu' me to-night.

55

Hit lonesome, ain't it, stan'in' thaih

Wid no one nigh to talk ? But ain't dey whispahs in de aih

Eriong de gyahden walk ? Don't somep'n kin' o' call my name,

An' say *^ he love you bes' " ? Hit 's true, I wants to say de same,

So wait fu' me, Celes'.

57

4li

Sing somep^n fu^ to pass de time,

Outsing de mocking-bird^ You got de music an^ de rhyme,

You beat him wid de word. I comin^ now, my wo^k is done,

De hour has come fu^ res^ I wants to fly, but only run —

Wait fu' me, deah CeIes^

58

ITCHING HEELS ^

59

P'U^ de peace my eachin^ heels, set down ;

Don' fiddle dat chune no mo^ Don' you see how dat melody stuhs me up

An' baigs me to tek to de flo' ? You knows I 's a Christian, good an' strong ;

I wusship f'om June to June; My pra'ahs dey ah loud an' my hymns ah long:

I baig you don' fiddle dat chune.

6\

I a crick in my back an^ a misery hyeah

Whaih de j'ints 's gittin' oV an' stiff, But hit seems lak you brings me de bref my youf ;

W'Vt I suttain I noticed a w^iff. Don' fiddle dat chune no mo', my chile,

Don' fiddle dat chune no mo' ; I 'II git up an' taih up dis groun' fu' a mile,

An' den I 'II be chu'ched fu' it, sho'-

63

Oh, fiddle dat chune some mo^ I say,

An^ fiddle it loud an' fas' : Ps a youngstah ergin in de mi'st o' my sin;

De present 's gone back to de pas'. I '11 dance to dat chune, so des fiddle erway ;

I knows how de backslidah feels ; So fiddle it on 'twell de break o' de day

Fu' de sake o' my eachin' heels.

64

THE BOOGAH MAN

65

V

TyT'EN de evenin' shadders Come a-glidin' down^ Fallin' black an' heavy

Ovah hill an' town^ Ef you listen keerful,

Keerful ez you kin, So 's you boun' to notice

Des a drappin' pin ; Den you 'II hyeah a funny

Soun' ercross de Ian' ; Lay low ; dat 's de callin'

Of de Boogah Man !

Woo-oo^ 1V00-00 !

Hyeah him ez he go erlong de way ; WoO'OO, woo-oo !

Don! you "wish de night *ud tu^n to day ? Woo-oOf 1V00-00 !

Hide yd little peepers *hind yo* han* ; Woo-oOf 1V00-00 !

Callin^ of de Boogah cMan.

67

W^en de win a-shiverin'

Thoo de gloomy lane, An' dey comes de patterin'

Of de evenin' rain, W^en de owl 's a-hootin^

Out daih in de wood, Don' you wish, my honey,

Dat you had been good ? ain't no use to try to

Snuggle up to Dan ; Bless you, dat 's de callin'

Of de Boogah Man !

69

Ef you loves yo' mammy,

An' you min's yo' pap, Ef you nevah wriggles

Outen Sukey's lap ; Ef you says yo' Lay me

Evah single night To' dey tucks de kivers

An' puts out de light, Den de rain kin pattah,

Win' blow lak a fan, But you need n' bothah

'Bout de Boogah Man !

70

J JAIN^T you see my Mandy Lou,

Is it true ? Whaih you been f om day to day,

Whaih, I say ? Dat you say you nevah seen

Dis hyeah queen Walkin' roun^ Pom fiel' to street

Smilin^ sweet ?

Slendah ez a saplin' tree ;

Seems to me Wen de win' blow f'om de bay

She jes' sway Lak de reglar saplin' do

Ef hit 's grew Straight an' graceful, 'dout a limb.

Sweet an' slim.

73

Browner den de frush's wing.

An' she sing Lak he mek his wa'ble ring

In de spring; But she sholy beat de frush,

Hyeah me, hush : Wen she sing, huh teef kin show

White ez snow*

Eyes ez big an' roun' an' bright

Ez de light Whut de moon gives in de prime

Harvest time. An' huh haih a woolly skein,

Black an' plain. Hoi's you wid a natchul twis'

Close to bliss.

75

Tendah han's dat mek yo^ own

Feel lak stone ; Easy stepp^n^ blessid feet,

Small an^ sweet. Hain't you seen my Mandy Lou,

Is it true ? Look at huh befo' she ^s gone.

Den pass on !

76

77

O* a-stan^in^ on a jar, fiah a-shinin' ^ ^ ,

thoo, ^ I ' or folks drowsin^ ^roun' de place, wide

awake is Lou, ' '

W^en I tap, she answeh, an' I see huh 'mence to grin, Mi A ** Howdy, honey, howdy, won't you step ^1 right in?''

\ - Den I step erpon de log layin' at de do',

Bless de Lawd, huh mammy an' huh pap's . > -'•^ done 'menced to sno', ' ' ^ Now 's de time, ef evah, ef I 's gwine to try an' win,

Howdy, honey, howdy, won't you step right in?"

No use playin' on de aidge, trimblin' on de brink.

Wen a body love a gal, tell huh whut he

t'ink; - i

Wen huh hea't is open fu' de love you /flj J

gwine to gin, Pull yo'se'f togethah, suh, an' step right in,

79

Swcetes^ imbitation dat a body evah hyeahed,

Sweetah den de music of a love-sick

mocking-bird, Comin' f^om de gal you loves bettah den

yo' kin,

Howdy, honey, howdy, won^t you step right in?'^

8X

|( J|y At de gate o' heaven w'en de storm o' life is pas', 'Spec' 1 11 be a-stan'in', 'twell de Mastah say at las', Hyeah he stan* all weary, but he «^ II winned his fight wid sin.

Howdy, honey, howdy, won*t you step right in?"

82

83

^OME folks t'inks hit 's right an' p'opah,

Soon ez bedtime come erroun^ Fu' to scramble to de kiver,

Lak dey 'd hyeahed de trumpet soun^ But dese people dey all misses Whut I mostly does desiah ; Dat 's de settin' roun' an' dozin', An' a-noddin' by de fiah*

Hi

85

1

When you tiahed out a-hoein^ Er a-foUowin' de plough, llSf' Whut de use of des a-fallin' On yo' pallet lak a cow ? WVt de fun is all in waitin^

In de face of all de tiah, An^ a-dozin' and a-drowsin^ By a good oV hick'ry fiah*

Oh, you grunts an^ groans an' mumbles

Case yo' bones is full o' col*. Dough you feels de joy a-tricklin'

Roun' de co'nahs of yo' souL An' you 'low anothah minute

'S sho to git you wa'm an' dryah. Wen you set up pas' yo' bedtime.

Case you hates to leave de fiah.

87

V

Whut de use downright sleepin' ? You can't feel it while it las^

An' you git up feelin' sorry- Wen de time fu' it is pas\

Seem to me dat time too precious, An' de houahs too short entiah,

Fu' to sleep, w'en you could spen' 'em Des a-noddin' by de fiah»

88

1^ A WARM DAY IN WINTER

89

^UNSHINE on de medders,

Greenness on de way ; Dat 's de blessed reason

I sing all de day/' Look hyeah ! Whut you axin' ?

Whut meks me so merry ? 'Spect to see me sighin'

Wen hit 's wa'm in Febawary ?

9J

1(^ Jf^j^ 'Long de stake an' rider Seen a robin set ; WVt hit 'mence a-thawin^ Groun' is monstrous wet. Den you stan* dah wond'rin^

Lookin' skeert an' stary; Fs a right to caper

Wen hit 's wa'm in Febawary.

93

Missis gone a-drivin^

Mastah gone to shoot ; Ev*ry da'ky lazin'

In de sun to boot. Qua'tah moughty pleasant, Hangin^ 'roun' my Mary ; Cou^tin' boun^ to prospah W^en hit ^s wa^m in Febawary

95

Cidah look so pu^ty

Po^in' Pom de jug — Don^ you see it happy ?

Hyeah it laffin^ — glug ? Now *s de time fu' people

Fu' to try an^ bury All dey grief an^ sorrer^

Wen hit ^s wa^m in Febawary*

96

97

J^ITTLE lady at de do',

Wy you Stan* dey knockin' ? Nevah seen you ac* befo' In er way so shock^n^

Don* you know de sin it is Fu* to git my temper viz W*en I *s got de rheumatic An* my jints is lockin* ?

V

No, oV Miss ain^t sont you down,

Don' you tell no story ; I been seed you hangin' 'roun' Dis hyeah te'itory*

You des come fu' me to tell You a tale., an' I ain' — well — Look hyeah, what is dat I smell ? Steamin' victuals ? Glory !

Come in, Missy, how you do ?

Come up by de fiah, I was joking chile, wid you ; Bring dat basket nighah.

Huh uh, ain' dat lak oV Miss, Sen'in^ me a feas' lak dis ? Rheumatiz cain^t stop my bliss, Case I ^s feelin' spryah^

103

^^^^^

Chicken meat an' gravy, too.

Hot an' still a-heatin' ; Good oV sweet pertater stew; Missy b'lieves in treatin'.

Des set down, you blessed chile, Daddy got to t'ink a while. Den a story mek you smile Wen he git thoo eatin'.

104

^EN de clouds is hangin^

heavy in de sky, An^ de win^s^s a-taihin' moughty

vigorous by, I don' go a-sighin' all eriong de way;

I des' wo'k a-waitin' fu' de close o' day.

Case I knows w'en evcnin' draps

huh shadders down, I won' care a smidgeon fu' de

weathah's frown ; Let de rain go splashing let de

thundah raih, Dey 's a happy sheltah, an' I 's goin'

daih.

J07

Down in my oF cabin wa^m ez mammy^s toas^ • ^Taters in de fiah layin' daih to

roas' ;

^} " No one daih to cross me, got no

talkin^ pal But I got de company o' my sweet ^^^^ brown gal

109

So I spends my evenin^ listenin' to

huh sing, Lak a blessid angel ; how huh voice

do ring ! Sweetah den a bluebird flutterin'

erroun^

W^en he sees de steamin' o^ de new- ploughed groun\

m

f

!1

Den I hugs huh closah, closah to my breas^

Need n^t sing, my dalin^ tek you'

hones' res'. Does I mean Malindy, Mandy, Lize

erSal?

No, I means my fiddle — dat 's my sweet brown gal !

113

L

IAS! 'Lias! Bless de Lawdl

Don' you know de day 's erbroad ? Ef you don' git up, you scamp, Dey 'II be trouble in dis camp* T'ink I gwine to let you sleep Wile I meks yo' boa'd an' keep ? Dat 's a putty howdy-do — Don' you hyeah me, 'Lias — you ?

Bet ef I come crost dis flo' You won' fin' no time to sno'^ Daylight all a-shinin' in Wile you sleep — w'y hit 's a sin ! Ain't de can'Ie-light enough To bu'n out widout a snuff, But you go de mo'nin' thoo Bu'nin' up de daylight too ?

Tias, don^ you hyeah me call ? No use tu^nin' to^ds de wall ; I kin hyeah dat mattuss squeak ; Don^ you hyeah me w'en I speak ? Dis hyeah clock done struck off six — Ca'Iine, bring me dem ah sticks ! Oh, you down, suh ; huh ! you down Look hyeah, don^ you daih to frown.

U7

Ma^ch yo^se^f an^ wash yo^ face, Don^ you splattah all de place ; I got somep^n else to do, 'Sides jes' cleanin' aftah you. Tek dat comb an' fix yo' haid — Looks jes' lak a feddah baid. Look hyeah, boy, I let you see You sha'n't roll yo' eyes at me*

Come hyeah ; bring me dat ah strap ! Boy, I 'II whup you 't well you drap ; You done felt yo'se'f too strong, An^ you sholy got me wrong. Set down at dat table thaih ; Jes' you whimpah ef you daih ! Evah mo'nin' on dis place. Seem lak I mus' lose my grace*

119

For yo^ han's an' bow yo' Wait ontwell de blessin' 's ** Lawd, have mussy on ouah (Don' you daih to tech dem rolls — ) Bless de food we gwine to eat — '' (You set still — I see yo' feet ; You jes' try dat trick agin !) Gin us peace an' joy. Amen ! "

J20

I'S feelin' kin^ lonesome in my little

room to-night, An' my min's done los' de minutes an' de miles,

Wile it teks me back a-flyin' to de country of delight, Whaih de Chesapeake goes grumblin' cr wid smiles. Oh, de or plantation 's callin' to me, Come, come back, Hyeah 's de place fu' you to labouh an' to res',

Fu' my sandy roads is gleamin' w'ile de city ways is black ; Come back, honey, case yo' country home is bes'.

J23

I know de moon is shinin' down erpon de Eastern sho^ An^ de bay ^s a-sayin^ *^ Howdy to de W;

An^ de folks is all a-settin' out erroun^ de cabin do^ Wid dey feet a-restin^ in de silvah san';

An' de oV plantation 's callin* to me, Come, oh, come, F'om de life dat 's des' a-waihin' you erway,

F'om de trouble an' de bustle, an' de agernizin' hum Dat de city keeps ergoin' all de day*

J25

I tiahed of de city, tek me back to Sandy Side,

Whaih de potest ones kin live an^ play an' eat ;

Whaih we draws a simple livin' f om de fo'est an' de tide, An' de days ah faih, an' evah night is sweet.

Fu^ de oV plantation h callin* to me, Come, oh, come* An^ de Chesapeake a-sayin^ ** Dat de t^ing,^^ W^ile my little cabin beckons, dough his mouf is closed an^ dumb, I *s a-comin^ an' my hea't begins to sing.

m

I'.

129

J^AYS git wa^m an^ wa^mah, School gits mighty dull, Seems lak dese hyeah teachahs

Mus^ feel mussifuL Hookey ^s wrong, I know it

Ain^t no gent^man^s trick ; But de aihs a-callin^

Come on to de crick/^

Dah de watah *s gu'glin^

Ovah shiny stones, Des hit^s veV singin^

Seems to soothe yo' bones* W^at 's de use o^ waiting

Go on good an^ quick : Dain't no fun lak dis hyeah

Wadin^ in de crick*

J3J

Wat dat iay-bu'd sayin' ?

Bettah shet yo^ haid, Fus^ t^ng dat you fin^ out^

You ^11 be layin' daid, Jay-bu^d sich a tattlah,

Des seem lak his trick Fu^ to tell on folkses

Wadin' in de crick*

133

1^

Wilier boughs a-bendin^

Hidin^ of de sky, Wavin' kin^ o' friendly

Ez de win^ go by, Elum trees a-shinin^

Dahk an' green an' thick, Seem to say, I see yo'

Wadin' in de crick/'

But de trees don' chattah,

Dey des look an' sigh Lak hit 's kin' o' peaceful

Des a-bein' nigh. An' you t'ank yo' Mastah

Dat dey trunks is thick Wen yo' mammy fin's yo'

Wadin' in de crick.

J35

Den yo^ run behin^ dem Lak yo^ scaihed to def,

Mammy come a-flyin^

Mos' nigh out o^ bref ;

But she set down gentle

DAIH a moughty soothin^ f eelin' Hits a dahky man, 'Long to'ds night* Wen de row is mos' nigh ended, Den he stops to fan, 'Long to'ds night. De blue smoke f'om his cabin is a-callin'

to him, Come ; '' He smell de bacon cookin', an' he hyeah

de fiah hum ; An' he 'mence to sing, 'dough wo'kin' putty nigh done made him dumb, 'Long to'ds night*

139

Wid his hoe erpon his shouldah Den he goes erlong^ Tong to^ds night. An' he keepin' time a-steppin' Wid a little song, 'Long to'ds night.

J40

De restin^-time *s a-comin^ an' de time

to drink an' eat; A baby 's toddlin' to'ds him on hits

little dusty feet, An' a-goin' to'ds his cabin, an' his

suppah 's moughty sweet, 'Long to'ds night*

m

Daih his Ca^line min^ de kettle, Rufus min' de chile, ^Long to'ds night ; An^ de sweat roll down his forred, Mixin' wid his smile, Tong to^ds night. He toss his piccaninny, an^ he hum a

little chune ; De wo^kin^ all is ovah, an* de suppah

comin* soon; De wo'kin' time *s Decembah, but de restin' time is June, 'Long to'ds nights

143

Dey a kin* o* doleful feeling Hits a tendah place, Tong to^ds night; Dey a moughty glory in him Shinin^ thoo his face, Tong to^ds night. De cabin ^s lak de big house, an^ de

fiah ^s lak de sun ; His wife look moughty lakly, an^ de

chile de puttiest one ; WVt hit ^s blessid, jes' a-livin^ w^en a body^s wo^k is done. Tong toMs night.

I