PLANTATIC 
 
 ENS HENDERSON 
 
University of California Berkeley 
 

Plantation Echoes 
 
 A COLLECTION of ORIGINAL 
 NEGRO DIALECT POEMS 
 
 <By 
 
 ELLIOTT ELAINE HENDERSON 
 
 SECOND EDITION 
 
 COLUMBUS, OHIO 
 
 PRESS OF F. J. HEER 
 
 1905 
 
Kntered According to Act of Congress 
 in the year 1904 
 
 BY E. B. HENDERSON 
 
 In the office of the Librarian of Congress 
 at Washington 
 
DeDication 
 
 THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY 
 DEDICATED TO 
 
 MESSERS. 
 
 HOWARD BURBA 
 
 L. WALTER HARRISON 
 
 DR. WASHINGTON GLADDEN 
 
 PROF. L. M. LAYTON 
 
 T. j. MCCORMICK 
 
 WILLIAM Y. MAHAR 
 
 PROF. JOHN WEAVER 
 
 (Ex-Supt. of Springfield, Ohio, Schools) 
 
 WILLIAM HAWLEY SMITH 
 
 (Noted Author and Critic) 
 
 HAROLD MCCREA 
 
 (City Editor Morning Sun, Springfield, O.) 
 
 FRED WALLACE 
 
 Editor Morning Sun, Springfield, O.) 
 
 OSMAN C. HOOPER 
 (Literary Editor of the Columbus Dispatch) 
 
 J. EDWARD SIMMS 
 
 Of the Enquirer Bureau, Columbus, O.) 
 
 DR. C. O. PROBST 
 
 (State Board of Health) 
 JUDGE TOD B. GALLOWAY 
 
 DR. E. J. WILSON 
 
 (Columbus, Ohio) 
 
 J. A. KUSTER 
 
 (Editor of the Catholic Columbian) 
 E. O. RANDALL 
 
 (Supreme Court Reporter) 
 
DR. WASHINGTON GLADDEN'S 
 COMMENT 
 
 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
 
 Columbus, Ohio, 7905. 
 
 Mr. Henderson's little book of verses, 
 "Plantation Echoes," is a meritorious at- 
 tempt to give logical exprsssion to our 
 common human feelings. He deals, I should 
 think, quite successfully with negro dialect, 
 and his verses are musical and sometimes 
 quaintly humorous, while the sentiment is 
 sonund and wholesome. I take pleasure in 
 commending the volume. 
 
 WASHINGTON GLADDEN. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE music of the American negro, the fresh and spon- 
 taneous expression of a good and care-free heart, has 
 long been one of the most pleasing features of Ameri- 
 can life. It is human nature in its first vocal garb original 
 and unique, often humorous and always true to the sentiment 
 of the singer. 'If there ever was an illustration of the close 
 relationship between language and thought, it is this. 
 
 What is true of the melodies of the negro as developed 
 in the simple existence on the plantation is also true of that 
 other form of singing, verse-making. Among the negroes 
 there have sprung up a number of exponents of the wisdom, 
 wit and humor of the- race. They have caught the spirit of 
 others the humble philosophers of their kind and they 
 have employed the dialect to reproduce the thought in all its 
 quaintness and originality. One of the most notable of these 
 exponents or interpreters is an Ohio negro, Paul Lawrence 
 Dunbar, who has taken high rank among the poets of the day. 
 Another is Elliott Elaine Henderson, also a son of Ohio, whose 
 first volume of verse is herewith presented. 
 
 In much that Mr. Henderson here presents, there is the 
 rush of expression and the jingle of words that are so char- 
 acteristic of the negro. There is also humor and there is 
 sentiment, and always that other quality which makes verse 
 in these_ days readable good cheer. 
 
 He who correctly interprets the spirit of his race serves a 
 good cause, and it is believed that Mr. Henderson will be 
 found to have succeeded in his undertaking to make his peoplo 
 better and more widely understood. 
 
 E. G. BURKHAM, 
 Editor of the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 When the Moon Hangs Low 9 
 
 Seems Dey's No Place 10 
 
 Good Bye, Honey, Good Bye 12 
 
 "Whut We Gwine To Do 14 
 
 Kaze I kno' I Kain't Stop 16 
 
 Dahky Whut Yo' Doin? 18 
 
 When De Fiah Am Kindlin Hot 20 
 
 Lammentation 22 
 
 When De Summah's Dun Cum 23 
 
 The Coon's Serenade 24 
 
 Blissful Anticipations . . ; :; - . 25 
 
 Pawson Johnson At Dinner 27 
 
 Go 'Way, Mah Honey 28 
 
 Brer Possum Declines 30 
 
 I Hain't Foolin' Honey 31 
 
 Sleep- 33 
 
 A Profuse Encomium 34 
 
 Peepin' Th'ew De Husk 35 
 
 Axin' Coon Cum Obeah 38 
 
 Hustle- ., 38 
 
 Go Sleep 40 
 
 Kase De Sun Am Sinkin' . 41 
 
 Soft Falls The Night 43 
 
 Git On Board, Chillun 44 
 
 Uncle Ned An' De Mockin' Bird 46 
 
 Po' Li'l Rastus 48 
 
 Sambo's Rain Philosophy 50 
 
 Jes' Keep Er Lookin' Up 51 
 
 Wished I'd Rode Mah Hoss 53 
 
 Eggs! Eggs!! Eggs!!! 54 
 
 (7) 
 
8 CONTENTS. 
 
 PACE 
 
 It Am De Possum Time 55 
 
 Stick To Your Race 57 
 
 Memorial Day 58 
 
 Trussy's Visit 60 
 
 Is Yo' Lonesum, Honey? 64 
 
 Larn To He'p Yo'se'f 64 
 
 Courtin' O' De Phone 66 
 
 Lonesum Valley Christmas Tree 68 
 
 Yes, Wees Got Er Flag 72 
 
 Hi, Mistah Dahky 75 
 
 Dey's Er Col' Wave Breshin' Nigh 77 
 
 Force Of Words, 79 
 
 I Tol' Yo' So . 80 
 
 The Passing of Night 82 
 
 A Tale O' Woe 83 
 
 Lullaby 84 
 
 The Exstacy of Uncle Joe 85 
 
 Keep Er Coin' 87 
 
 Climin' Up De Hill 88 
 
 Sistah Ruffle 90 
 
 The Gallant Blacks of San Juan Hill 93 
 
WHEN THE MOON HANGS LOW 
 
 A straying chicken 
 
 Lost from home 
 Bewildered, finds 
 
 Itself a-roam. 
 And innocently . 
 
 Stalks the ground, 
 Not dreaming 
 
 That a coon's around. 
 
 As evening's shadows 
 
 Gently fall, 
 The chicken, lonesome, 
 
 Gives a call. 
 A coon steals out 
 
 Soft in the night, 
 To catch him 
 
 For his appetite. 
 
 The night is still! 
 
 The moon is low ! 
 Not e'en a zephyr 
 
 Seems to blow. 
 The coon with sack 
 
 Clutched in his hand, 
 Moves silently 
 
 Across the land. 
 (9) 
 
IO PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 The chicken gives 
 
 Another squawk ! 
 The coon has got her 
 
 Like a hawk. 
 The moon now breaks 
 
 Forth into light, 
 The coon and chicken's 
 
 Out of sight. 
 
 SEEMS DEY'S NO PLACE. 
 
 Well er coon kin go to kollege 
 
 Git his head chucked full o' knowledge, 
 
 Till he knows ez much ez Solomon de wise. 
 
 He kin study an' summize, 
 
 Count de stars up in de skies, 
 
 Seems dey's no place 
 
 Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 
 
 Tawk erbout yo' eddeekayshun 
 
 Gittin' in de cullahd nayshun, 
 
 Gittin' "lighten" in de head an' sich ez dat, 
 
 Yo' kin larn sah, till yo' hat 
 
 On yo' head woan' fit exzac', 
 
 Seems dey's no place 
 
 Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 
 
 Eddeekayshun am all right 
 
 Ef er coon kin git er sight 
 
 'Stead o' makin' bread an' buttah by de hoe, 
 
 He kood entah any do' 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 1 1 
 
 Whah he's qualified to go. 
 Seems dey's no place 
 Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 
 
 He doan' allus want to hoe, 
 
 He wood like er little sho, 
 
 Fo' to git er little sweetness out o' life; 
 
 He has had er worl' o' strife, 
 
 Allus struck by trouble's knife. 
 
 Seems dey's no place 
 
 Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 
 
 All de coons kin cut dey pranks 
 
 Fo' to git into de banks, 
 
 Wid de white fo'ks fo' to handle wid dey cash 
 
 Dat wood sorter spile de hash, 
 
 Make er fraycus an' er clash. 
 
 Seems dey's no place 
 
 Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 
 
 All de coons kin go to Yale, 
 
 Larn Greek, Latin, by de bale, 
 
 Larn to numbah all de hyahs up in dey head ; 
 
 Dey may read dis thing wid dread, 
 
 Nufhv else kin dey be said. 
 
 Seems dey's no place 
 
 Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 
 
 Ez I saunter 'roun' de town, 
 
 An' I skim man eyes eroun', 
 
 Whah de white fo'ks am in business ebbry where, 
 
 Yo' kain't find er coon in dare 
 
12 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Wid de white fo'ks sellin' ware. 
 Seems dey's no place 
 Fo' de eddeekayted coori. 
 
 ji jt <* 
 GOOD BYE, HONEY GOOD BYE. 
 
 Gwine to leeb dis dear ol' place. 
 
 Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
 Time's er flyin', I mus' make has'e, 
 
 Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
 Hate to go, but I kain't say no, 
 It gives mah hea't er pang o' woe, 
 Yo' all's mah fren', not one's mah foe, 
 
 Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
 
 Sistah Jane, an' uncle Joe? 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 I hope we'll see us all sum mo', 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 We's gittin' ol', we's gittin' gray, 
 Ah days am dun' fo' makin' hay, 
 Ah steps cum slo' we's wastin' 'way, 
 
 Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
 
 We's had good times on dis ol' place, 
 
 Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
 We's frollic'd in de possum chase, 
 
 Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
 We's picked de cotton, hoed de co'n, 
 We's picked de berries spite o' thorns, 
 We's wocked at night, we's wocked at morn, 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Hain't dat Miss Linndy, obeah dah? 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 Sho' it am ; well, I declah ! 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye!^ 
 Cum an' shake de ol' man's han', 
 Gwine to leeb ol' massa's Ian' 
 'Deed, Miss Linndy, yo' look gran', 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 
 Rastus? little Rastus, chile, 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 
 Look ee dah, jes' see him smile, 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 
 Jes' ez natshul ez his paw, 
 
 De bes' chile dat I ebbah saw, 
 
 Got de mannahs ob his maw, 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 
 
 
 Whah is Massa, is he 'roun'? 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 Tears' I koch his footstep soun', 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 I 'fess it's hard to leeb him now, 
 To say good bye, I doan' kno' how, 
 I'll shake his han', jes' make er bow, 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 
 Mockin' bird up in de tree? 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 Yo's sung er manny day to me. 
 
 Good bye, honey; good bye! 
 
14 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Er manny day dis hea't o' mine 
 Yo's cheered it wid yo' song divine, 
 An' made de sunlight brighter shine, 
 Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
 
 WHAT WE GWINE TO DO? 
 
 Well, de way de thing am lookin' 
 To ol' Hezzeekyah Yoon, 
 
 Dis kentry's gittin' wussah 
 Fo' de po' and he'pless coon. 
 
 Dey lynch him on de lef, 
 
 An' dey lynch him on de right, 
 
 Dey cum an' git er niggah 
 In de day an' in de night. 
 
 Whut we gwine to do? 
 
 Hain't dey no whah in de Ian'? 
 Hain't dey fo' de niggah 
 
 Not er kin' an' he'pin' han' ? 
 
 Oh de niggah's got er moighty 
 
 Tuff an' thorny road to tread 
 Dey's bullets, clubs an' razzahs 
 
 Allus flyin' at his head. 
 It's er mer'kul all de niggahs 
 
 Haben' suffer'd dat same fate, 
 De string up to de lamp-pos' 
 
 An' de string up to de gate. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 1 5 
 
 Ah tell yo' whut's de mattah, 
 
 Sah, de feebah's mountain high. 
 When ah 'fleck up ah kun'dishyun 
 
 Makes dis niggah sot an' cry. 
 To hyeah de fo'ks er tawkin' 
 
 How de niggah's got to fare, 
 Dey mob, dey burn an' lynch him, 
 
 An' dey skin him lak er hare. 
 
 It's true dey's lots er niggahs 
 
 Dat am wurfluss to de co', 
 De debbul wooden' hab 'em 
 
 Even inside ub his do'. 
 But de Lawd in heaven knows 
 
 Dat all de niggahs hain't dat way, 
 Dey's lots dat's good an' hones' 
 
 An' dey nebbah goes estray. 
 
 De niggah hain't to blame 
 
 To cum hyeah he didn' kyeah. 
 De white fo'ks, why dey made him, 
 
 Why dey fotch'd him obeah hyeah. 
 An' now to knock his head off 
 
 Kaze he's tryin' to git erlong, 
 Accawdin' to my Bible, 
 
 Why de whole thing ub it's wrong. 
 
 De niggah loves dis kentry 
 
 Ebbry time he'll put up fight 
 Fo' it wheddah it am 
 
 In de wrong ah in de right. 
 
1 6 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 When de signal's gibbun 
 Fo' to rally 'rouri' de flag, 
 
 Nebbah fo' er minute 
 Am er niggah seed to lagg. 
 
 De niggah hain't rebelyus 
 
 Though he doan' git all things jus' 
 He's loyal to his kentry, 
 
 Nebbah habs betrayed his trus'. 
 He allus takes de bitters 
 
 'Zactly lak he does de sweet, 
 He goes right on light hea'ted, 
 
 Wid er tew step to his feet. 
 
 Whut we gwine to do? 
 
 Hain't dey no whah in de Ian'? 
 Hain't de fo' de niggah 
 
 Not er kin' an' he'pin' han'? 
 
 KAZE I KNO' I KAIN'T STOP. 
 
 Summah breezes blowin', 
 
 An' de sun am roas'in' hot! 
 Jes' right am de meadows 
 
 Fo' to take 'em fo' er cot! 
 Grasses sof an' downy, 
 
 Am jes' like er feddah bed! 
 Hain't er spot dat am mo' 'vitin' 
 
 Fo' er niggah lay his head! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. [7 
 
 But er niggah, kain't stop ! 
 Mus' keep hoein' at de crop ! 
 Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
 Till he's ready, mos' to drop! 
 
 White man take it easy, 
 
 Am er livin 'lak er king ! 
 Free ez am de buzzahd, 
 
 Doesn't hab to do er thing ! 
 Niggah 'd lak to togg up 
 
 In his Sunday meetin' dress, 
 An' jes' lak de white man, 
 
 Sot, an' lay back, take his res'. 
 
 But er niggah, kain't stop ! 
 Mus' keep hoein' at de crop! 
 Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
 Till he's ready, mos' to drop! 
 
 Sumtimes g"it to 'fleckin' 
 
 Scratch dis head whah it doan' itch ! 
 Axin' why de Lawd, sah, 
 
 Diden' make dis niggah rich ! 
 But dey hain't no use to kick, 
 
 But jes' keep er josslin' 'long. 
 Now an' den I keeps er whis'lin' 
 
 An' er hummin' at mah song. 
 
 Kaze I kno' I kain't stop! 
 Mus' keep hoein' out de crop ! 
 Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
 Till Ise's ready' mos' to drop ! 
 
l8 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Now an' den I sortah 
 
 Git er ticklin' in mah heel ! 
 
 Fo' to go to dancin' 
 
 At de ol' Verginny reel ! 
 
 Soople ez a skeedah ! 
 
 Dance de jig fum night till morn, 
 
 Nebbah stop er minute, bruddah, 
 Fo' an' ache er fo' er co'n! 
 
 But er niggah, kain't stop! 
 Mus' keep hoein' at de crop ! 
 Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
 Till he's ready, mos' to drop! 
 
 DAHKY, WHUT YO' DUN 
 
 Oh, but how er dollah 
 
 Is er moighty fren', 
 In de dead o' wintah, 
 
 Ef yo' idle den. 
 Winds dey may be howliir, 
 
 Whizzin' th'ew de trees ! 
 Needen' worry, dahky, 
 
 Yo' hain' gwine to freez ! 
 
 Summah is er flyin', 
 Breezes gittin' cool ! 
 
 Beddah be er layin' 
 In yo' wintah fuel ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. IQ 
 
 Leaves begin to fallin', 
 
 Harvestin' is dun, 
 Birds am now er troopin' 
 
 Soufward wid de sun. 
 
 Hoein' time is obeah, 
 
 Dahky take yo' res' ! 
 Throw off wockin' hahness, 
 
 Don yo' Sunday bes' ! 
 Fiddles an' de banjos 
 
 Git 'em all in tune, 
 'Nipulate de ditties 
 
 Gibbs de soul er boon ! 
 
 In de spring an' summah, 
 
 Dahky whut yo' dun? 
 Ridin' on de skershuns, 
 
 Habin' lots o' fun? 
 Dancin' wid de ladies, 
 
 Spen'in' all yo' got? 
 Thinkin' kaze it's summah, 
 
 'Twill be allus hot? 
 
 Yo' de kins cum 
 
 Knockin' on de cabin do', 
 Fo' to get er sistance, 
 
 Tell 'er tale o' wo'. 
 Den's de time to sho' yo' 
 
 We's no easy thing, 
 'Videin' fo' yo' stummucks 
 
 Wid ah hoe earnin'. 
 
2O PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Whut yo' needs er lesson 
 
 In de 'speerence school. 
 Git de realizayshun 
 
 Whah yo' bin er fool. 
 Den yo'll git de idea, 
 
 Dollah is yo' fren', 
 Larn to be mo' kyahful 
 
 How yo' money spen'. 
 
 WHEN DE FIAH AM KINDLIN' HOT. 
 
 When de sno' it am er fallin', 
 
 Winds er whizzin' down de lanes, 
 An' de fros' it am er freezirf 
 
 Fo' yo' eyes erpun de panes, 
 Whut am beddah den er neslin' 
 
 'Roun' er fiah dat's roas'in hot? 
 Fo' er pickaninny dahky 
 
 Hain't er mo' enchanting spot. 
 
 When de breezes am er moanin' 
 
 An' de sun am sinkin' lo', 
 An' de gloomy clouds an' shaddahs 
 
 Geddah 'roun' erbout yo' do' ; 
 When yo' hyeah de co'n er poppin', 
 
 See de cidah all er foam, 
 In yo' soul de joy an' gladness 
 
 Seems eroun' erbout to roam. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 21 
 
 An' yo' granny am er hummin', 
 
 Cat er purrin' on de rug, 
 An' yo' git er sniff de burbun 
 
 Dat am steamin' ftim de jug 
 Umph ! de berry 'maggahnayshun 
 
 Makes er puson think it's real. 
 It am glory ! Hesh yo' mouf, sah, 
 
 Doan' yo' ax me how yo' feel. 
 
 All yo' troubles an' yo burdens 
 
 Seems to take de swifes flight! 
 Tears yo' berry soul am lif'ed 
 
 To de blissful mountain heights ! 
 Whah de lan's erflo' wid honey, 
 
 Streets an' alleys paved wid gol', 
 An' de simphonnies o' heaben's 
 
 Got er sweetnes' kaint be tol'. 
 
 Yo' kin sing de song o' Moses, 
 
 Shout yo'se'f clah to de sky ! 
 Pickahninny's den in cloveah. 
 
 No time den to weep an' sigh. 
 Let de sno' keep on er fallin', 
 
 Let de breezes whizz an' moan, 
 Longs er pickahninny's neslin' 
 
 'Roun' er hot fiah ub his own, 
 
22 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 LAMENTATION. 
 
 When de rent cums due, 
 
 An' yo' haben got er dollah, 
 An' yo' hab to hunt 
 
 Fo' er nuddah place to wollah, 
 De wintah's dun cum, 
 
 An' de coal pile's sinkin', 
 Dey's nufin' in de cupboard 
 
 An' yo' stummuck am er tinkin', 
 
 How yo' head wool geddahs ! 
 
 How yo' hunt an' scratch ! 
 Fo' to skibbah up er dollah 
 
 Beats de ol' Sam Patch ! 
 
 When yo' sot an' 'fleck, 
 
 Seems befo' yo' keeps er bobbin' 
 De possum an' de coon, 
 
 An' de peach an' apple cobblin'. 
 Yo' dream bout summah, 
 
 Wid de joocy wattah millun, 
 Dat yo' sotin' in de middle 
 
 An' yo' stummuck jes' er fillin', 
 
 How yo' mouf does wattah ! 
 
 How yo' stummuck jes' jump ! 
 An' yo' eyes am all er twinkle 
 
 An' yo' hump ! " hump ! hump ! 
 
 When de night cums on 
 1 An' dey hain't er nuf de kibbah, 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 23 
 
 While yo' bunk an' snooz 
 
 Fo' to keep yo' fum de shibbah, 
 De coal's dun sinkiiv 
 
 Till it am no mo', 
 De weddah am at zero, 
 
 De worl am kibbahd in de sno', 
 
 How yo' head wool geddahs ! 
 
 How yo' hunt an' scratch 
 Fo' to skibbah up er dollah 
 
 Beats de ol' Sam Patch ! 
 
 WHEN DE SUMMAH'S DUN CUM. 
 
 When de wintah's dun gone 
 
 An' de summah's dun cum, 
 An' de birds begin dey wabble 
 
 An' de bees begin dey hum, 
 An' de hills, de fields, de meadows 
 
 Wid de verdure all am green, 
 An' de heaben's panorama 
 
 Am er mos' enchantin' scene, 
 
 Den er niggah's kin sing! 
 
 Den er niggah kin hum ! 
 Kaze.de wintah's dun gone, 
 
 An' de summah's dun cum ! 
 
 When de vines am climin', 
 Spreadin' beauty on de run, 
 
 An' de cullah's o' de lan'scape 
 An' de sky dey blen' ez one, 
 
24 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 An' de flowah's ez dey's buddin' 
 An' er blossom' an' er bloom, 
 
 An' de breezes fan dey petals 
 
 Koch dey sweetest' smellin' 'fume, 
 
 How yo' soul inspahs ! 
 
 How yo' hea't does tickle ! 
 Den er niggah am happy 
 
 Ef he haben' got er nickel ! 
 
 When de craps am wavin' 
 
 An' de tassel's on de co'n, 
 An' de apples am er drapirr 
 
 An' de sweepahtayters born, 
 An' de cabbage am er headin', 
 
 Swellin' lak dey got de mumps, 
 An' de passnups am er peepin' 
 
 Winkin' at yo' hine de stumps, 
 
 How er niggah kin whis'le ! 
 
 How his soul does 'joice ! 
 'Kaze it's time fo' de millun 
 
 An' it's time fo' de squash ! 
 
 THE COON'S SERENADE. 
 
 In de lonesum ub de night 
 When de moon's er shinin' bright, 
 Coon er sotin' on er stump 
 Pick de banjo, plinkertee plump ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 25 
 
 Sof'ly floats de mournful 'frain 
 'Cross de dewy, grassy main 
 Plinktee ! plinktee ! plinkertee plump ! 
 Picks de coon erpun de stump ! 
 
 Ebbry win' an' ebbry breeze, 
 Ebbry twig erpun de trees, 
 Echoes wid de plinkertee plump! 
 Ub de coon erpun de stump ! 
 Plinktee ! plinktee ! plinkertee plump ! 
 Picks de coon erpun de stump ! 
 
 Ez de night glides slo'ly on, 
 An' de moon slips down fo" dawn, 
 An' de veil draps fum de skies, 
 An' de worl' opens its' eyes, 
 Dies erway de plinkertee plump ! 
 Ub de coon erpun de stump ! 
 Plinktee ! plinktee ! plinkertee plump ! 
 Stops de coon erpun de stump! 
 
 & & & 
 BLISSFUL ANTICIPATIONS. 
 
 Jes' gimme summah all de time, 
 
 An' lemme take it easy. 
 Jes' lay back in de cloveah beds 
 
 An' dream whah it am breezy. 
 I doan kyeah fo' no robe ner crown 
 Ez long ez I kin wollah 'roun' 
 An' nebbah hab to hoe de grown'. 
 
 Ha ! ha ! yo' thinks Ise lazy ! 
 
26 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 I'd spawk an' court Miss Lissy Jane 
 
 Umph ! but I'd cut er spluttah ! 
 I'd tell her dis, I'd tell her dat, 
 
 Fas' one thing den er nuddah. 
 We'd ramble whah de wild flow'rs bloom 
 Dat fill de air wid sweet scent 'fume 
 Whah dey's no clouds an' dey's no gloom ! 
 We'd sot the wol' to fluttah ! 
 
 I'd git mah banjo fum de wall 
 An' now an' den go plinkin' ! 
 I'd make de dahk's heels jes' itch 
 
 To dance ez fas' es winkin' ! 
 I'd make her sing, I'd make her moan, 
 I'd sen' er tone to Gabriel's throne, 
 I'd play dem tricks befo' unknown, 
 I'd sot de fo'ks to thinkin' ! 
 
 I kno' yo' thinks dis dahky slo' 
 An' tawkin' jes' fo' blowin' ! 
 
 An' buildin' castles in de air, 
 An' debbilment er sowin'. 
 
 It's jes, prezaxly lak I say, 
 
 Jes' shows Ise ol' an shows Ise gray. 
 
 Befo' de Lawd ! it's almos' day ! 
 To bed ! de chicken's crowin' ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 27 
 
 PAWSON JOHNSON AT DINNER. 
 
 He'p you'se'f, mah bruddah, 
 
 Jes' make yo'se'f at home ! 
 'Kaze yo' am no stranger 
 
 To Siss Wiggle Sloam. 
 Go 'head on dat chicken, 
 
 'Kase it tissen skace! 
 "Doan' yo' worry, sistah, 
 
 I is in no has'e ! 
 
 "Lair sakes, Sistah Wiggle, 
 
 You' treat me lak er king ! 
 Ha ! ha ! 'skooze me, sistah, 
 
 One mo' chicken wing! 
 Tote me few dem waffles, 
 
 Chittlins good an' hot ! 
 Ebbah thing ise eatin' 
 
 Trabbles to de spot ! 
 
 Lawd Gawd ! Sistah Wiggle, 
 
 I jes' seed dat 'possum ! 
 Hiden' an' er grinin' 
 
 'Hine dat sunflow'r blossom ! 
 To' I'd let dat possum 
 
 Git out o' mah sight, 
 Th'ow erside mah Gospel, 
 
 To de las' I'd fight ! 
 
 Bruddah, kain't yo' sortah 
 Gib er little toas' ? 
 
28 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 'Deed I kain't, Gawd knows it, 
 Whah dey's possum roas' ! 
 
 Feed de lambs, mah Sistah, 
 Whut de good book say ! 
 
 Yo's fulfillin' Scripshah 
 Treatin' me dis wa ! 
 
 GO' 'WAY MAH HONEY. 
 
 Gitin' sortah 'ristercratic 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey! 
 Sistah Jane, de ol' roommatic ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey! 
 Th'ow'd erway her dress o' mattin' ! 
 Wearin' silk an' wearin' satin' ! 
 Right in style, de lates' patte'n ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey! 
 
 Wearin' hoops, an' got er bustle ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 When she passed, Lawd, how dey rustle ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey! 
 Umph ! she stepped lak Queen o' Sheeba, 
 Clah out dressed ol' Sistah Feeba, 
 Hel' her trail lak dat Miss Neeba ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey! 
 
 High heel shoes, she's wearin', too! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 Look to me dey's numbah two ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 29 
 
 Paten' leddah wid er buckle ! 
 Hot stuff, reglah honey suckle! 
 When she pass'd, oh how fo'ks chuckle ! 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 
 Doan' yo' kno 1 she had on powdah ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 White fo'ks kooden' looked mo' louclah ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 Had her hyah smoothed down wid tallow ! 
 Bangs in front was short and shallow ! 
 Gibb her face er p'culiar pallow ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey! 
 
 Umph ! she tried to tawk so proppah ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 Spoke dem wurds dat was er whoppah ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 See her primp her mouf and tickle ! 
 Made her look so pow'ful fickle ! 
 Bet she cliden' hab e nickel ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 
 Scan' lous 'bout sum cullahd people ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 Mattahs not how ol' an' feeble ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 Git on sum new bibb an' tuckah ! 
 Dey'll out step sab ! ol' Dan Tuckah ! 
 Doan' kyah ef dey's er co'n shuckah ! 
 
 Go 'way, mah honey ! 
 
3O PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 BRER POSSUM DECLINES. 
 
 Way in de tree 
 
 Sots ol' Bruddah Possum ! 
 Hey, dah ; I see yo' 
 
 Bruddah Possum, hine de blossom ! 
 Yo' needn' ac' so timid, 
 
 Ner yo' needen' ac' so shy, 
 Dey's beddah, closeah frenship 
 
 Fo' er possum, closeah nigh ! 
 
 Hey, dah, Bruddah Possum, 
 
 Yo' ac'in' moighty 'trary; 
 Saunter down er minute ! 
 
 Now, yo' needen' hab no worry, 
 Ner pusnul tooberayshuns, 
 
 An' de sich, de lak er dat ! 
 Cum down, yo' needen' boddah 
 
 What de bawkin' dogs er at ! 
 
 Look hyeah, Bruddah Possum, 
 
 Bleeb yo' feelin' kine o' skeery ! 
 Gittin' tiad er coaxin', 
 
 Makes me feel er little dreary ! 
 Doan' lak so much beggin', 
 
 Ner I doan' lak so much pleadin', 
 'Speshly to mah mine, 
 
 When dey's not er bit o' needin'. 
 
 Hey, dah, Bruddah Possum, 
 Yo' jes' lak ol' Bruddah Satan ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 3! 
 
 Think de odds er gin yo', 
 
 An' yo' keep er fellah waitin'. 
 Well, it doesn't mattah, 
 
 Ef yo' 'sist on me er climein', 
 Hoi' yo' bref er minute ! 
 
 'Kase hyeah cums up 
 Bruddah Highmen ! 
 
 I HAIN'T FOOLIN' HONEY. 
 
 Seed yo' wid yo' gal las' night ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey ! 
 Had yo' arms eroun' her tight! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey ! 
 Umph ! whut made yo' squeeze her so ? 
 Jes' bekaze yo' am her beau ? 
 I'd bin her I'd let yo' go! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey! 
 
 Seed yo'- try to steal er kiss ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey! 
 An' she slapp'd yo' wid her fis' ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey ! 
 Po' gal kooden' hardly speak ! 
 Shocked to def wid all yo' cheek! 
 Go way, Gumbo, yo's er sneak ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey ! 
 
 Yallah, too, hain't she Gumbo? 
 I hain't foolin', honey! 
 
3 2 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Reason dat yo' love her so! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey! 
 Ef she had de wooly hyah, 
 Face ez black ez ol' pine tah ! 
 Court her ? bet yo' wooden', dah ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey! 
 
 Gwine to marry her, Gumbo? 
 
 Stop yo' foolin', honey ! 
 What dat? say yo' doesn't kno'? 
 
 Stop yo' foolin', honey ! 
 Ax'd her fo' her hea't an' han' ? 
 Bet yo' habben' got de san' ! 
 'Fess up, Gumbo, umph ! mah Ian' ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey ! 
 
 Bet she hain't stuck on yo' 'tall ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey ! 
 Does she kiss yo' when yo' call ? 
 
 Stop yo' foolin', honey ! 
 Lan' sakes, Gumbo, yo' woan' do ! 
 Go 'way ; no, I woan' kiss yo' ! 
 Git yo' big foots off mah shoe! 
 
 I hain't foolin'', honey ! 
 
 Idoan' kiss no rusty coon ! 
 
 I hain't foolin', honey ! 
 Who, yo' be mah chaperoon? 
 
 Hain't you foolin', honey? 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 33 
 
 Pick my 'com'ny, whut I do ! 
 Lawd sakes, knows I doan' want yo' ! 
 Good day, home Ise long go due ! 
 I hain't foolin', honey! 
 
 SLEEP. 
 
 Sleep ! 
 
 Cums de solemn night, 
 An' de day's tuck flight! 
 Not er bird ner coon 
 Am er whis-lin' choon. 
 
 Sleep ! 
 
 Sleep ! 
 
 Slo' de hours slip 'long 
 To de brooklet's song, 
 In de sof deep hush 
 Cums de star's sweet blush. 
 
 Sleep ! 
 
 Sleep ! 
 
 In er lonesum tone 
 Ez he creep erlone, 
 Cums de cricket calf 
 Fum de vine clad wall. 
 
 Sleep ! 
 
 Sleep ! 
 
 Up de hillside steep 
 Now de moon take creep ! 
 
34 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Th'ew de cab'n loft, gleam 
 On er coon in dream. 
 Sleep ! 
 
 A PROFUSE ENCOMIUM. 
 
 Lookin' nice to-night, Miss Liza, 
 
 Yo's out dressed 'em all to-night. 
 Wid dat ah so frusterkaytun 
 
 Yo' so dazzlin' in de light ! 
 Please doan' 'strew mah wnrds fo flattah 
 
 Spoken incandessenly, 
 But ! wid mutuallistic frankness 
 
 'Cep 'em fabbrykayshenly. 
 
 "Thank you, Mistah Johnsin', 
 
 Do yo' think I look so fine? 
 'Deed sah, Mistah Johnsin', 
 
 Yo' so asterroshus kino. 
 Woan' yo' sot beside me 
 
 An' conversykate er while, 
 Please doan' hab no skooples 
 
 Kaze Ize togged up in dis style." 
 
 "Yo's suppassed yo'se'f, Miss Liza, 
 
 Quiv-vah-kay-shah-ently gran', 
 An' yo' grace dis runkshus 'kayshun 
 
 Lak one fum de glory Ian'. 
 Ef yo' hab no inter jeckshuns 
 
 Will yo' dance er step wid me ? 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 35 
 
 Kaze sech 'joicin' frollerkayshun 
 Gibbs fellerisher-tish-shus glee." 
 
 ' 'Skyoose me, Mistah Johnsin', 
 
 I doan' kyah to mingel late, 
 I wood raddah be specktay-shus 
 
 Sotin' hyeah wid Mistah Gate. 
 Xot dat I doan' d' sah yo' tenshun 
 
 An' doan' preeshee-ate yo' 'ques' 
 I prefer tran-quil-ler-kayshun 
 
 Sotin' lookin' at de res'." 
 
 ' 'Cep' mah 'pology, Miss Liza, 
 
 Fo' mah troo-ser-tay-shus 'ques'. 
 I jes ax'd yo' fo politeness, 
 
 Tho't yo'd lak to jine de res'." 
 Tain't er bit o' trooshun, 
 
 Mistah Johnsin', not at tall ! 
 I may grant yo' axin' 
 
 When we 'ten' sum uddah ball." 
 
 PEEPIN' TH'EW DE HUSK. 
 
 Dahky doan' worry, 
 
 Kaze de wintah's dun gone! 
 Craps am all er sproutin' 
 
 Soon we'll hab de sugah co'n ! 
 Den we'll roas' an' stew it 
 
 An' we'll fry it in de pan, 
 Th'ow de buttah on it 
 
 Nufin' fineah in de lin' ! 
 
36 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Hain't er gwine to worry, 
 Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 
 
 Kaze de sugah co'n 
 
 Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 
 
 See de wattah milluns 
 
 How dey's cumin' on de vine ! 
 Lawd er mussy, chillun, 
 
 Puts yo' teef erpun de grine ! 
 Mussen' think er bout 'em, 
 
 Gits mah stummuck all er jump! 
 Hea't er fas'ah beatin' 
 
 An' er thumpin' ! thump ! thump ! 
 
 Hain't er gwine to worry, 
 Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 
 
 Kaze de sugah co'n 
 
 Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 
 
 When de wattah milluns 
 
 Git kervellopd on de vine, 
 Winkin', peepin' at yo', 
 
 How er dahky's eyes shine ! 
 An' yo' buss' 'em open 
 
 An' yo' see de blushin' red, 
 Haben' got er minute 
 
 Fo' de bressins to be said ! 
 
 Hain't er gwine to worry, 
 Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 
 
 Kaze de sugah co'n 
 
 Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 37 
 
 Sun 'er creepin' higher, 
 
 Am 'er gittin' pow'ful hot ! 
 Hoein' an' er weedin' 
 
 Am er dahky's tufes' lot ! 
 To de hoe er stickin' 
 
 Till yo' back jes' ache an' ache, 
 Sun er pohin' on yo' 
 
 Makes er dahky nahly bake ! 
 
 Hain't er gwine to worry, 
 
 Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 
 Kaze de sugah co'n 
 
 Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 
 
 Mo' yo' keeps er hoein' 
 
 Fas'ah seems to gro' de grass ! 
 Dahky gits to thinkin' 
 
 Hoein' time will ebbah las'! 
 Weedin' an' er hoein' 
 
 Ef er dahky was to stop, 
 Sho' ez am de gospel 
 
 Wooden' git er bit o' crop ! 
 
 Hain't er gwine to worry, 
 
 Needah make er bit o' fuss! 
 Kaze de sugah co'n 
 
 Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 
 
38 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 AXIN', COON? CUM OBEAH. 
 
 Meadows lak er feddah bed, 
 Sproutin' cloveah white an' red, 
 Sof ez pillahs to de tread, 
 Axin', coon ? Cum obeah ! 
 
 Milluns loafin' in de grass, 
 Flirtin' when er coon cum pass, 
 When er look he dat way cas', 
 Axin', coon ? Cum obeah ! 
 
 Cabbage loafin' 'roun' de stump, 
 Lookin' sassy, fat an' plump, 
 Swellin' up all in er bump, 
 Axin', coon ? Cum obeah ! 
 
 Coon er wockin, at de co'n, 
 Doh dat's all fo' what he's born, 
 Wockin' night an' wockin' morn, 
 Hain't got time cum obeah! 
 
 HUSTLE. 
 
 Doan' lag an' fool 
 Erlong de way 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 
 Doan' 'spec' to do 
 All in er day 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 39 
 
 Things will cum 
 Out by an' by, 
 Musen' stop 
 To stew an' sigh. 
 Den's when success 
 May be nigh- 
 Hus'el ! 
 
 Take no time 
 Fo' lookin' back 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 
 T' see whose cumin' 
 On de track - 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 Ebbry time 
 Yo's losin' groun', 
 Time yo' take 
 Fo' gawkin' 'roun'. 
 Ef yo' 'spec' 
 To git er crown 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 
 Ef yo' 'spec' 
 
 Er good co'n crop 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 Nebah git it 
 Ef yo' stop 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 Ef yo' 'spec' 
 De corn to gro' 
 Full co'n stawks 
 
4 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 In ebbry ro', 
 Doan' be skaid 
 To use de hoe 
 Hus'el ! 
 
 Take no time 
 To argufy 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 
 T' make sum fellah 
 Out er lie 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 Ha'f de time 
 Yo's losin' win', 
 Same time doin' 
 Er little sin. 
 Aftah all 
 Yo' nuffin in 
 
 Hus'el ! 
 
 GO SLEEP. 
 
 Go sleep, li'l' pickahninny 
 
 Go sleep ! 
 
 De boogahman koch yo' 
 Ef yo' peep ! 
 
 Go sleep ! 
 He prowlin' 'roun' 
 Sof ez er cat 
 He kno' whah 
 
 LiT pickahninny's at 
 Go sleep! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 4! 
 
 Go sleep, HT pickahninny ! 
 
 Go sleep ! 
 Still ez er mouse 
 When creepin' keep 
 
 Go sleep ! 
 De boogahman 
 
 Am moighty peert ! 
 He sly ol* fox 
 Dat's on de 'lert ! 
 
 Go sleep ! 
 
 Go sleep, HT pickahninny ! 
 
 Go sleep ! 
 
 I hyeah de boogah man 
 Creep, creep, creep! 
 
 Go sleep ! 
 He kotch er hoi' 
 
 An' shake de do' 
 An' ope' his mouf 
 An' said wo', wo' ! 
 
 Go sleep! 
 
 KAZE DE SUN AM SINKIN'. 
 
 Droopy, droopy, am de flow'rs, 
 Petals closed an' shrinkin', 
 
 Gone er sleepin' an' er doze 
 Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 
 
 All de day er lookin' gran' 
 
 An' er 'fumein' up de Ian', 
 
42 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Baskiir now in slumbah's stran' 
 Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 
 
 Droopy, droopy, am de flow'rs, 
 
 Petals closed an' shrinkin', 
 Peepahs shet an 1 fas' ersleep, 
 
 Kaze de sun am sinkin'! 
 
 Crystal brooklet glidin' 'long 
 
 Chants to dem er cradle song, 
 
 Res' an' slumbah, weary throng 
 
 Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 
 
 Droopy, droopy, am de flow'rs, 
 
 Petals closed an' shrinkin', 
 Lull'd ersleep in fairy realm, 
 
 Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 
 All dey tinsels tints an' hue 
 Dat attracts de bees an' woo, 
 Closed dey now am all to view 
 Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 
 
 Droopy, droopy, am de flow'rs, 
 
 Petals closed an' shrinkin', 
 Soon will wake wid birds an' bees, 
 
 When de sun's dun sinkin' ! 
 When de sunlight mounts to view, 
 At -de tech o' mornin's dew 
 Once mo' will dey ope to view 
 Kaze de sun's dun sinkin' ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 43 
 
 SOFT FALLS THE NIGHT. 
 
 This Poem is dedicated to Miss ANNA HALL SMITH. 
 
 Soft falls the night - 
 
 And chases 'way 
 The slowly dying 
 
 Summer day. 
 The sun from his 
 
 Ethereal height, 
 Is curtained by 
 
 The shades of night. 
 
 Soft falls the night - 
 
 The birds that tune 
 Their song with nature 
 
 In commune 
 Now hush their lays 
 
 Seek silent rest, 
 Within their downy 
 
 Leafy nests. 
 
 Soft falls the night 
 
 Sweet peace divine 
 In each heart comes 
 
 To be enshrined, 
 While angels pause 
 
 On earth to show'r 
 The blessings of 
 
 The sovereign pow'r. 
 
 Soft falls the night - 
 A peaceful sleep 
 
44 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 O'er earthly mortals 
 Doth now creep. 
 
 They rest now from 
 Their day's pursuit 
 
 The world is still, 
 The world is mute. 
 
 Soft falls the night 
 
 The verdure green 
 Now glistens with 
 
 A dewy sheen. 
 The flowers droop, 
 
 Their petals close, 
 They dream away 
 
 In sweet repose. 
 
 Soft fades the night 
 
 Lo ! breaks the dawn, 
 And nature 'wakens 
 
 With the morn, 
 Exultingly 
 
 Sends up her lays, 
 Her symphonies, 
 
 To God in praise. 
 
 GIT ON BOARD, CHILLUN. 
 
 De Gospel train am er scootin' down de rail 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 Fas'ah den er ship wid er ruddah an' er sail 
 
 Git on board, chillun! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 45 
 
 De Lawd in heaben am de steam an' de pow'r ! 
 He run dat train forty millun miles an' hour! 
 Jes' es stroke ub de throttle 
 Sends her clah to heaben's tow'r ! 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 No sinnah tribe kin ebbah ride on dat train ! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 De debil ner his imps ef day's cut loose f urn dey 
 chain ! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 None but de lams ub de good Lawd's for 
 Kin ride dat train to de streets o' gol', 
 Wid de 'liggun lak an' ocean obeahflowin' in yo' 
 . soul ! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 She's jes' lak lightnin' an' de quibbah o' de eye! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 Ez she's puffin' an' er steamin' in er trabblin' to 
 . . , : de .sky! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 She's limited, too, an' she goes clah th'ew ! 
 She's got no time fo' to fool wid yo' ! 
 Yo' mus' git on board when de time cums, doo ! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 Dat train hain't skeddul fo' de secun' time. 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 Fo' to cum an' fotch yo' to de heabenly clime ! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
46 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 She goes straight on an' she doan' tarn back ! 
 When she once git start why she hain't gwine to 
 
 slack ! 
 
 Till she runs in heab'n on de right side track ! 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 De debil ner his imps kaint wreck dat ol' train ! 
 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 Ez she's dashin' an' er steamin' o'er de mountains 
 
 an' de plain ! 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 She sticks to de rail lak de hyah on yo' back ! 
 An' she nebbah was known fo' to jump fum de 
 
 track ! 
 Kaze de Lawd's at de throttle air he sho' got de 
 
 knac' ! 
 Git on board, chillun ! 
 
 UNCLE NED AN' DE MOCKIN' BIRD. 
 
 Bruddah Mocking Bird, 
 Yo's moighty lazy. 
 Yo' doan' do nfin' 
 
 But sing dat song, 
 
 Till de daylight's gone 
 
 An' de night cum 'long. 
 Er coon has got to hoe an' hoe 
 Till de sinkin' sun 
 
 Tells de day to go. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 47 
 
 Lawd, but yo' sing 
 
 So pow'ful sweet! 
 Perched up dah, 
 
 In yo' leafy seat. 
 Is yo' lonesum? 
 Does yo' hea't feel sad? 
 Tears to me 
 
 Dat yo' soul feels glad. 
 
 Ez Ise wockin' hard, 
 
 Sweet ez de cloveah 
 Yo' song 
 
 Floats obeah, 
 Way in de co'nfield 
 
 Whah de medlark sings, 
 Up in de bough 
 
 Ub de tree it clings. 
 
 Yo' nebbah wock 
 
 But yo' bread is sho', 
 Out in de yahd ; 
 
 'Fo' ebbry do', 
 Sum kine han' 
 
 Th'ows de little crum! 
 Kaze dey kno' fo' sho' 
 
 Dat yo' boun' to cum. 
 
 De good Samaritan 
 
 Part dey play. 
 
 Let yo' go 'way? 
 Hungry ? No ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Dey nebbah wood, 
 Kase de Lawd wood say 
 Dat dey wasn't good. 
 
 I kinedah lak 
 
 To hyeah yo' sing, 
 Ef yo' is too lazy 
 
 To flop yo' wing, 
 Sing on, 
 
 Fill de woiT wid song. 
 I mus' be gittin' 
 
 Mah wock er long. 
 
 PO' LFL' RASTUS. 
 
 kittle Rastus feelin' blue 
 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 Out o' sorts an' gloomy, too! 
 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 Broke his little hobby boss. 
 Makes de little fellah cross. 
 Doan' cry, honey, 'tain' much loss. 
 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 
 He jes' wo' out, rompin' 'roun', 
 
 Po' li'l' Rastus! 
 Git up, honey, fum de groun' 
 
 Po' li'l' Rastus! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Look ee dah, dun spiled yo' dress, 
 An' it am yo' Sunday bes', 
 Now hain't yo' er poody mess ! 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 
 Whut dat stickin' on yo' ban'? 
 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 Yo' bin in de 'lasses can. 
 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 Whut dat whut de Bible say 
 'Bout de chile dat steal dat 'way? 
 He'll go whah de bad man stay ! 
 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 
 Dat ol j bad man am er sight. 
 
 Po' HT Rastus! 
 Cum er sneakin' 'roun' at night. 
 
 Po' li'l' Rastus! 
 
 Cum an koch yo' when yo' sleep, 
 Den he take er great big leap ! 
 Down er hoi' dat's way down deep ! 
 
 Po' li'l' Rastus! 
 
 Cum hyeah, little wooly head. 
 
 Po' li'l' Rastus! 
 Gwine to tuck yo' way to bed. 
 
 Po' li'l' Rastus! 
 Look ee dah, de day dun gone ! 
 Shaddahs streamin' th'ew de co'n, 
 Sleep until de sunlight dawn ! 
 
 Po' li'l' Rastus! 
 
 49 
 
5O PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 SAMBO'S RAIN PHILOSOPHY. 
 
 Whut's de use o' raisin' 
 
 'Bout de weddoh' cain ? 
 Kase dey's wid de sunshine 
 
 Mixed in clouds an' rain ; 
 Jes' ez well be lafin', 
 
 'Joicin' in yo' soul. 
 Frettin' an' er stewin' 
 
 Makes yo' gray an ol. 
 
 Mussen' 'spec' to allus 
 Git things jes' yo' way. 
 
 Keep yo' eye kock'd open 
 On er beddah day. 
 
 Learn to 'cep' de weddah 
 Ez de Lawd control, 
 
 In time will be shinin' 
 . Sunshine bright an' gold. 
 
 Lawd am boun' to sen' de 
 
 Changes now an' den, 
 Kaze He knows whut's beddah 
 
 Fo' yo' in de en'. 
 Fus' He sends de sunshine, 
 
 Nex' He sends de rain, 
 To gibb life an' viggah 
 
 To de gol'en grain. 
 
 It's de rainy weddah, 
 Buds de flowahs out, 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 51 
 
 Makes de wattahmilluns 
 
 An' de 'tayters sprout; 
 It's de rainy weddah 
 
 Makes de fahmahs shout ; 
 Drives erway de famine, 
 
 Drives erway de drout. 
 
 JES' KEEP ER LOOKIN' UP. 
 
 Ef yo' fren's dey all fo'sake yo', 
 Think yo' gwine flat to de wall, 
 
 Salt an' peppah nebbah'll save yo' 
 Fum an ebbah las'in' fall. 
 
 Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 
 
 You'll keep allus lookin' up, 
 'Membrin' sum de worl's bes' jewels 
 
 Drunk fum dis same bittah cup ! 
 Ef yo' habben' got er dollah, 
 
 An' no place to lay yo' head, 
 An' de meadows an' de co'n fields 
 
 Only places fo' yo' bed ; 
 
 Ef de fo'ks am cuttin' capeahs 
 'Fo' yo' puttin' on dey airs, 
 
 Wid dey silks an' wid dey satins, 
 An' all uddah kine o' wares. 
 
 Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 
 You'll keep allus lookin' up, 
 
52 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 'Membrin' sum de worFs bes' jewels 
 Drunk f um dis same bittah cup ! 
 
 Dey may tramp erpun yo' feelin's, 
 Dey may kick yo' on de co'n, 
 
 An' may tarn dey nose up at yo' 
 Ez dey pass yo' in dey scorn ; 
 
 Smiles dey nebbah may hab fo' yo', 
 Bes' yo' git will be er frown, 
 
 An' sum wurds mos' harshly spoken, 
 Kaze dey think dat yo' is down. 
 
 Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 
 
 You'll keep allus lookin' up, 
 'Membrin' sum de worl's bes' jewels 
 
 Drunk fum dis same bittah cup ! 
 Ef fo' bread yo' ax er bruddah, 
 
 An' instead yo' git er stone, 
 An' yo' ax fo' consullayshun, 
 
 An' yo' bahly git er groan, 
 
 An' sum knock yo' off yo' shins, 
 
 An' think yo' nebah gwine to rise, 
 Swah to God dey nebbah dun it, 
 
 Meekly tell all kine o' lies ; 
 Let 'em go on hykerflootin', 
 
 Ebbry dog sho' habs his day ; 
 Dey am uddah months, mah bruddah, 
 
 Jes' es pleasant, ez am May. 
 
 Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 
 You'll keep allus lookin' up, 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 53 
 
 'Membrin' sum de worl's bes' jewels 
 Drunk fum dis same bittah cup ! 
 
 WISHED I'D RODE MAH HOSS. 
 
 Rode on dat ah 'lectric kyah ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss! 
 No musstake it raised mah hyah ! 
 
 Oddah bin er long! 
 Nebbah seed sech runnin' son ! 
 
 Swo' we's flyin' to de sun ! 
 Tho't dis dahky's days was dun ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
 
 Gee ! dat thing did split de ah ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
 Nuffin' wid it kin compah ! 
 
 Oddah bin er long! 
 Ebbry thing wuz blurred in sight ! 
 
 Dus' flew higher den er kite! 
 Kooden' tell de lef ' fum right ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss! 
 
 When she struck eroun' de kyerve, 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
 It unstrung mah ebbry nerve ! 
 
 Oh, but I did squirm ! 
 Oh, she kyahd us down de line ! 
 
 No hobo kood stuck behine! 
 Ef he had he'd gone stone bline ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
 
54 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Now an' den she sortah reel ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
 Stirred me up fum head to heel ! 
 
 Lawd but I did quake ! 
 Tawk erbotit er pow'ful prah ! 
 
 I sho' made one den air dah ! 
 Strain was mo' den I kood bah ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss! 
 
 Once I hyeahd er moighty crack ! 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
 Tho't she's gwine to leeb de track, 
 
 Oddah seed me, Chile ! 
 I felt mos' prekareyus, son ! 
 
 I hain't tawkin' jes' fo' fun! 
 Tho't dis dahky's days was dun, 
 
 Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
 
 EGGS! EGGS! ! EGGS! ! ! 
 
 When I 'fleck o' Eastah cum, 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 Gits mah whol' soul all er hum. 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 When de chickens flopp dey wings, 
 Roostah cro', de pullets sings, 
 Gib me 'bove all uddah things 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 
 When de little chicks er creep, 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 55 
 
 Run kerf rolic peep ! peep ! peep ! ! 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 Appetite gits sort impressed, 
 Wood go good, roas' chicken breas', 
 Still goes bedclah, nebahless. 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 
 When eroun' de ol' fiah place 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 Eggs look yo' squah in de face, 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 Git 'em fryiiv in de pan, 
 Soun' lak music o' de ban, 
 Chillun? Wheel But hain't dey gran'. 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 
 Eat 'em paoch 'et eat 'em bile, 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 Make yo' hit yo' granny, chile. 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 When yo' eat 'em scramble, son, 
 Feel dat yo' kood lif er ton, 
 Er brack bar yo' kood out run. 
 
 Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
 
 jt 
 IT AM DE POSSUM TIME. 
 
 Weddah gittin' chilly, 
 
 Eros' er fallin' on de vine ! 
 
 Leaves er tarnin' yallah, 
 
 Now de possum time is fine ! 
 
56 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Hickahnuts er falling 
 
 Wid er thud, thud, THUDD! 
 
 Poppin' an' er crackin' 
 An' er bus'in out de bud ! 
 
 It am de possum time! 
 Yes, it am de possum time ! 
 It am de time er niggah 
 Fo de coon to go to clime ! 
 
 Crickets all er hollah 
 
 Tell er niggah it's de fall ! 
 Ripenin' am de 'simmons 
 
 Fo' de great an' fo' de small ! 
 Niggah jes' er waitin' 
 
 Fo' de fallin' o' de sno', 
 Fo' to chase de rabbit 
 
 Ez he's wingin' on de go! 
 
 It am de possum time! 
 Yes, it am de possum time ! 
 It am de time er niggah 
 Fo de coon to go to clime ! 
 
 When de sun's dun sinkin' 
 
 Cums de shinin' o' de moon, 
 Niggah'll take de wahpaf 
 
 Fo' to go to tree de coon ! 
 Wid de dogs er bahkin' 
 
 All er chasein', all er romp ! 
 Sniffin' at de grasses 
 
 An' er scratchin' at de stump ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 57 
 
 It am de possum time! 
 Yes, it am de possum time! 
 It am de time er niggah 
 Fo de coon to go to clime ! 
 
 STICK TO YOUR RACE! 
 
 Umph ! how some cullahd fo'ks wan' to be white. 
 Bekaze dey am brack dey doan' nebah seem right. 
 Dey's shame ub dey cullah ; dey's shame ub dey race ; 
 Dat's why dey wood lak to be white in de face. 
 
 Bekaze dey kain't bleech out, O, how dey deplore, 
 Fo' to be cullahd to dem's sech er bore. 
 To think de Lawd sent dem all into dis Ian' 
 Wif hyah dat am kinky an' faces dat's tan. 
 
 Fus' to de lef an' den nex' to de right, 
 
 Dey look to see if dey am sumfin' in sight 
 
 To make dem bleech white, gib dem cheeks ub de rose 
 
 An' sumfin' to gib dem a high Roman noze. 
 
 Dey's kickin' an fussin' an' raising turmoil 
 Rekaze dey kain't git hoi' de right kine ub oil 
 To take way de kinky effect dey kaint bah, 
 An' make it jes' lak de white folk's auburn hyah. 
 
 Dey use mutton sooit an' tallow, an' lard, 
 Oh Lward er Mussy ! but don't dey try hard ! 
 To make it look wabey an' glossy an' slick. 
 Den paht in de middle dey am right to de quick. 
 
58 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Ef dey hain't no hope, why dey go git a wig. 
 It mus' be made fum white fok's hyah, too, by jig. 
 Umph ; who ; Miss Sukie ? why she wooden' dah 
 To wah a wig made fum a coon's nappy hyah. 
 
 Whut's de use er kickin' 
 
 Bekaze o' sech rot? 
 Bekaze yo' kain't bleech, 
 
 An' turn white on de spot ! 
 
 Ef yo' hyalrs kinky, 
 
 Yo's brack ez de tar, 
 Thank de good Lawd 
 
 Dat yo's jes' lak yo' are. 
 
 MEMORIAL DAY. 
 
 To sound of mufflled drums to-day, 
 With slow and solemn tread ; 
 
 The soldiers march with banners draped 
 Where dwell heroic dead. 
 
 The blue, the gray of this fair realm 
 
 Assemble o'er this land, 
 Recount the deeds of valiant men 
 
 As one vast mourning band. 
 
 The rich, the poor, the high, the low, 
 
 Observe this sacred day, 
 For all alike in days gone by 
 
 Have laid some friend away. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 59 
 
 For death the mighty reaper comes 
 
 To rich as well as poor. 
 Unwelcome guest though he may be, 
 
 He comes to every door. 
 
 To deck the graves of dear loved ones 
 
 Beneath luxuriant bow'rs, 
 Countless willing loving hands 
 
 Pluck nature's tender flow'rs. 
 The tokens of a reverent love 
 
 For friends of that blest vale, 
 A love the ravages of time 
 
 Can never change nor pale. 
 
 This day recalls much of the past 
 
 The nation's bloody wars, 
 The sacrifice of noble lives - 
 
 To make dominant he stripes and stars. 
 In philosophic narrative, 
 
 In eulogy and praise, 
 In honor of heroic dead 
 
 The speaker's voice doth raise. 
 
 And for the country's honor fought 
 
 The black man once a slave. 
 Encouched within the history's folds 
 
 The statement, "he was brave !" 
 Within the marching ranks to-day 
 
 Are remnants of the freed 
 Who fought and bled upon the field 
 
 When 'twas the country's need. 
 
60 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 TRUSSY'S VISIT. 
 
 Bress mah life ! why, dis hain't Trussey ? 
 
 Go 'way Chile ! whut dat yo' say ? 
 Yo 1 hain't fiddlin' Peedah's sonny - 
 
 Who'd er tho't it, any way ! 
 
 Ax me ef I knowed yo' daddy - 
 Knowed each uddah yeahs ergo. 
 
 Me an' him hab bof togeddah, 
 Hoed er many 'taytah ro'. 
 
 Res' yo' duddin's ! take de sofa, 
 Make yo'se'f jes' lak yo' home. 
 
 'Cep' mos' free mah hooskerpalty, 
 Plenty time eroun' to roam. 
 
 See, hyeah, Dina, am dem chittlins 
 An' dem hog feet th'ew er bile ? 
 
 Who yo' think we got fo' dinnah ? 
 Ol' fren' Fiddlin' Peedah's chile ! 
 
 Well, sah, I hain't seed yo' daddy 
 Since dat fight at Possum Trot. 
 
 Dog mah socks, we bof togeddah, 
 Whoop'd de debbil on de spot ! 
 
 Still er libbin' down in Guinea? 
 
 Why, dat's my ol' rompin' groun'. 
 Hain't er spot, ner nook, ner crebbice 
 
 Dat I doan' know 'bout dat town. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 6l 
 
 Ready, Dinah ? Bress de Lawd ! umph ! 
 
 Mah ol' lady am er sight. 
 Kin she cook ? Whut ? Doan' yo' staht me ! 
 
 She kin sho' put things up right ! 
 
 Walk out, Trussy ; go pertaykin' 
 
 Ub de bes' de ol' man's got ! 
 Kose tain't much, but prob'ly sumfins 
 
 Dah will kinedah tech de spot ! 
 
 Go 'ahead, say de bressins, Trussy, 
 
 Fo' de Lawd sakes cut 'em short. 
 Lemme pos' yo' fo' yo' staht in, 
 
 Doan' yo' preach an' try to e'ort 
 
 "Make us thankful, Heab'nly Faddah, 
 
 Fo' his byeah pussipyus spread ; 
 Hyeah deez few mos' feeble 'spheshyuns 
 
 Dat yo' umble savunt shed. 
 
 "Gibb us wid ah daily bread, sah ! 
 
 Chicken, an' all sech ez dat ! 
 Th'ow in now an' den er possum, 
 
 Coon wid plenty lean an' fat ! 
 
 "Po' dy bressins on dis family 
 
 Put mo' chickens on dey roos' ; 
 Things git skace, dey needs er he'pin', 
 
 Len' er han', gibb 'em or boos'." 
 
 Jump in, Trussy ;git to business ! 
 Ebbry fellah fo' himse'f. 
 
62 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Whut hyeah fo' us on dis table's 
 Nuf to take er possum's bref. 
 
 Ha ! ha ! Trussy, dem ol' hog feet 
 Sots dis ol' soul all er chune ! 
 
 Ha ! ha ! Dina ? look at Trussy 
 Kock dal lef ' eye at dat coon ! 
 
 Yo' hain't full kin to yo' daddy 
 Ef yo' doesn't lak de coon ; 
 
 Possum, chicken, sweepahtaytahs, 
 An' de sumpshus musheroon. 
 
 Tell us 'bout ol' Tootsy Tadpole, 
 Slipshod Beebe, Feeby Scott! 
 
 Susan Rhinehole, Sukie Slowup, 
 Husky Botts, de res' de lot. 
 
 Does I 'membah Slimmy Twostep? 
 
 Who ? dat dah ol' onry cuss ? 
 Usetah hug de stove when happy, 
 
 In church raised all kine o' fuss? 
 
 Gibb him mo' coon dupmlin's, Dina ! 
 
 Sakes! he's jes' fell into eat. 
 Tote him few dem frizzlin' passnups, 
 
 Lecktrifies yo' to yo' feet ! 
 
 Whah's ol' Susan Peecock, Trussy ? 
 
 Is de debbil got her yet? 
 Sakes o' lie ! she's got mo' husban's 
 
 Den yo's fingers got, Til bet! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 63 
 
 Cum on wid dem pig tails, Dina ! 
 
 Doan' be primpin' in de glass ! 
 Mussen' make de ol' man wait so, 
 
 Yo' look poody nuf to pass. 
 
 Bress de Lawd ! whee ! glory ! glory ! 
 
 No joke, dem am sizzlin' hot! 
 Lissen at de res' dem fellahs 
 
 Prayin' an' singin' in de pot ! 
 
 Go 'way, Fido ! see byeah, Dina ! 
 
 Kick dat debbil out de do' ! 
 Ebbry time he sniffs dem chittlins 
 
 He's er hangin' 'round hyeah, sho'. 
 
 See hyeah, chile ! yo' hain't th'ew eatin', 
 
 Rake mo' dumplin's on yo' plate ! 
 Go dem rlapp jacks, sum dat grabey, 
 
 Eat 'long in de mopein' gait. 
 
 Pass de ol' man few dem biskits ; 
 
 B'lieve I'll take sum poke chops, too! 
 Little mo' dat drap down coffee, 
 
 Nuddah dose dat bullyun stew. 
 
 Go on in de pollah, Trussy, 
 
 Ef yo' got ernuf to eat. 
 I'll be th'w in jes' er minute, 
 
 Den we'll go an' thrash sum wheat. 
 
64 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 IS YO' LONESUM, HONEY? 
 
 Ez de twilight fall, 
 An' de koo-koo call, 
 An' yo' doan' hyeah 'tall 
 Dis hyeah coon's foot fall, 
 Is yo' lonesum, Honey? 
 
 Ez de moon creep high, 
 In de starlit sky, 
 An' yo' sot an' sigh, 
 Kaze I doan' cum nigh, 
 Is yo' lonesum, Honey ? 
 
 Ez de night creep on, 
 Till de sun brings dawn, 
 Ez yo' wake an' yawn 
 In de cool ob de morn, 
 
 Still, yo' loesum, hoey? 
 
 LARN TO HE'P YO'SE'F. 
 
 Bruddah Dahky, ef yo'd win, 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Mussen' stop fo' knocks on shin, 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 Stop yo' whinin', try an' try, 
 
 Take no time to weep an' sigh, 
 
 Dah's whahin' yo' success lie. 
 
 'Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 65 
 
 Yo' mus' fus' prove yo's er man. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Try'n to 'skewt sum noble plan, 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Oh, de white fo'ks knows yo's brave, 
 Fo' dis freedom Ian' to save, 
 Dat yo' fit on Ian' an' wave. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 All de white fo'ks hain't yo' foe. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Dey will gibb yo' plenty, sho'. 
 
 Ef yo' he'p yo'se'f. 
 All er long dey's bin mos' kine, 
 He'p'd yo' long er many line, 
 Is to all dis yo' stone bline? 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 Dah's Abe Linkum, Phillips, too, 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Bet yo' life dey fit fo' yo'. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Thousands mo' dat I kood name, 
 'Mong dem, men o* nashnal fame, 
 Fo' yo' dahky dun de same. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 Sum de white fo'ks moighty mean, 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Likewise sum de brack fo'ks seem 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
66 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Ebbry race got p'culiar way, 
 Guess it all goes in de play ; 
 Live in hopes dey'll change sum day. 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 Yo' kin shout an' yo' kin sing. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 Think yo's 'neef de mahstah's wing. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 But yo'll nebah git er crown 
 Ef yo' sot an' fool eroun' ; 
 Dis am Gospul true an' soun'. 
 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 Dahky, stop dat little song 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 Gimme Jesus, take worl' 'long, 
 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 Try to grip sum o' dis Ian', 
 
 Den yo'll feel mo' lak er man ; 
 
 Yo' am boun' to git sum san', 
 Ef yo' he'p yo'se'f. 
 
 COURTIN' O' DE PHONE. 
 
 Jingahling! jingahling! 
 
 When er sotin' lone, 
 Yo' kin call yo' honey - 
 
 Go to courtin' o' de phone. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 67 
 
 Drives erway de shaddahs, 
 
 Makes yo' quit yo' fret an' stew, 
 Fills yo' soul wid sunshine, 
 
 Opens up yo' hea't ernew. 
 
 Jingahling ! jingahling ! 
 
 Dis yo', Liza Jane ? 
 "Yes, dis am yo' honey," 
 
 Cums de sweet an' sof'en 'frain. 
 Den yo' go to pohin' 
 
 In her ear de words o' love : 
 Tickles her to def, 
 
 An' makes her think she am er dove. 
 
 Jingahling ! jingahling ! 
 
 When yo' hyeah her say : 
 "Honey, when yo' gone it's 
 
 Allus night an' nebbah day," 
 Tears dat while dey's fallin' 
 
 In yo' ear, dat lovin' tone, 
 Yo' kin see yo' honey 
 
 Standin' dah befo' de phone. 
 
 Jingahling! jingahling! 
 
 Sweetah grows de tone, 
 Makes er niggah neerly 
 
 Ram his head clah th'ew de phone. 
 Kaze dem sugah wurds 
 
 Dey sho'ly make yo' hea't inspah 
 'Lecktrifies yo' spirit, 
 
 Sots yo' whol' soul all er fiah ! 
 
68 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Jingahling ! jingahling! 
 
 When de day is dun, 
 You no mo' kin see de 
 
 Blazin', dazzlin', sinkin' sun, 
 How yo' lub to 'membah 
 
 'Bout yo' courtin' o' de phone, 
 Ez yo' muse an' pondah 
 
 In yo' cabin all er lone ! 
 
 LONESUM VALLEY CHRISTMUS TREE. 
 
 Bes' ub all de Chrismus 'tainmunts 
 
 Dat I axshly ebbah seed, 
 Was de one at Lonesum Valley 
 
 At the church ub Pawsun Weed. 
 
 All de or fo'ks an' de chillun 
 Dress purraded out dat night, 
 
 To de graid big Chrismus 'tainmun' 
 Fo' to git dey Chrismus mite. 
 
 When dey's gaddahd in dat chapel, 
 Bruddah, ? Dey was thick ez hops, 
 
 W T hen de chillun seed de candy, 
 
 Smack'd dey moufs an' lick'd dey chops. 
 
 Dey was He, He, an' er lafin' 
 
 An' er clappin' o' dey han's, 
 An' dey jaws jes' kep' er crackin', 
 
 Lak de chittlins in de pans. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES 69 
 
 An' de ol' fo'ks tell yo' honey, 
 
 Sah I bleeb dey was de wuss. 
 Dey's so ankshus fo' dey 'freshmun's 
 
 Dey's mos' reddy fo' to bus'. 
 
 Preechah Weed wid dat dah swallow 
 
 Tail an' ves' ub his cut low, 
 Jes' had all de flouncin' sistahs 
 
 Leggin' fo' to be his boh. 
 
 Bruddah Hookey he puzzided; 
 
 Felt so big he thowt he's king ; 
 Tuck er ball bat, rapp'd fo' ohdah, 
 
 Said, let's cleah ah th'oats an' sing. 
 
 Well, he tuck his pussnel meedah, 
 
 Gib de linin' ub de"hymn, 
 An' dey sing'd de "Weepin' Moses" 
 
 An' dey sing'd it too, by Jim ! 
 
 At de klooshun ub dat ditty, 
 
 Deekun Jaspah put up prah, 
 Th'ow'd his haid clah to de ceilin' 
 
 Dough he seed de Gates er jah. 
 
 Dis hain't true, I'll eat de 'possum, 
 
 Sech er prah yo' nebbah hyead ; 
 Scratch'd his haid an' weep'd an' hollahd 
 
 Tell his eyes lak blud was red. 
 
 Oh, he's moanin' and er tonein' 
 An' er kotchen' ub his bref - 
 
7O PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Spit erpun his ban's an' rubb'd em 
 Pound de bench fum right to lef '. 
 
 Las' he 'klooded an' de sistahs 
 Staht to sing plantashun coon. 
 
 Bruddah Hookey diclen' lak it ; 
 Tol J 'em dey was mos' too soon. 
 
 But de mos' fun ub de evenin' 
 Was when gibbin' presen's out. 
 
 Yo'd er crack'd yo' sides er lafin' 
 Tell yo'd got er hoi' de gout. 
 
 On de tree dey was er chicken ; 
 
 Wasn't laybeld wid er name. 
 When de daahkies hyeahd erbout it 
 
 Ebbry one put ifp er claim. 
 
 Bruddah Gyahdnah spied de chicken 
 Floppin' 'neef de Chrismus tree; 
 
 Made er home run wid er hollah ; 
 "Dat dah chicken am fo' me !" 
 
 Well, sah, when he hollah'd chicken 
 'Twas de same ez holl'rin fiah, 
 
 Fo' dat chicken was er stampeed 
 In de church an' in de quah. 
 
 Sum de sistahs dat had room'ticks 
 An' de aches fo' yeahs an' yeahs, 
 
 Fo' dat chicken was er scramblin' 
 An' a fallin' obeah cheers. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 71 
 
 Preechah Weed he got so 'cited 
 
 Dat he run clah out his coat, 
 Fell ergin de stobe kerwollup ! 
 
 Butt his haid an' swo' by note. 
 
 But he jump'd up in er jiffy, 
 
 Feelin' lak he was befo', 
 Gibb er han' spring fo' dat chicken, 
 
 But by Jinks he's mos' too slow'. 
 
 'Dough he hit he's haid er stunnah, 
 
 Diden' eben make er dent, 
 Kaze, he's so much lak de debbil, 
 
 Haid was hard ez adament. 
 
 All de time de res' was skufflin' 
 
 An' er kickin' right an' lef, 
 Got so bunshus an' bumbastic 
 
 Dey kood hahdly 'tain deyse'f. 
 
 Loudah ! Loudah ! Got de janglin' 
 
 Mo' an' mo' dey ring'd dey bluf , 
 Wuss de grabbin' fo' de chicken 
 
 Den's when they got at it ruf. 
 
 Sum done pullin' out dey razzahs 
 
 An' er kyahvin' fo' de koh. 
 All de sistahs got to axin' 
 
 Lawd sake leeb us out de doh ! 
 
 Fin'ly Bruddah Moses wid er 
 Kinedah p'culiar kine er trick, 
 
72 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Kotch'd de poultry, made er bee-line, 
 Cut er reg'lah dubble quick. 
 
 Den sum swo' day had bin kunjud, 
 Uddahs 'clahd dey'd bin hoo-dood, 
 
 Lef de ch'ch er swahin' vengeance 
 In de wusses' kine er mood. 
 
 YE, WEES GOT ER FLAG. 
 
 Ise hyeahd while in mah ramblin's 
 
 Dat ah mos' subnoxshus choon,. 
 Dat ebry bressed nayshun's 
 
 Got er flag excep' de coon. 
 I hyeah de white fo'ks sing it, 
 
 An' I hyeah de niggahs, too 
 De way de niggahs sing it 
 
 Seems dey 'cep' de thing fo' true. 
 
 Yes wees get er flag ! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be true ! 
 
 It sut'ly am mos' 'gustin' 
 
 Way de niggahs sing de thing. 
 Dey clap dey hanVan' hollah 
 
 Sot de kentry all er ring. 
 I doesn't blame de white fo'ks 
 
 Ha'f ez much I do de coon 
 Fo' singin' an' er whis'lin' 
 
 ech er "singyooaytin' " chune, 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 73 
 
 Yes wees get er flag ! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de bine ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be true ! 
 
 De little pickahninnies 
 
 Why dey sing dat meetah, too ! 
 Dey clap dey ban's an' hollah, 
 
 'Zackly lak de ol' fo'ks do - 
 An' when I hyeah dem sing it 
 
 Ez dey dance an' joobah pat - 
 I feels lak walzin' to 'em 
 
 An' jes' knock'n dem out dey hat. 
 
 Yes wees get er flag ! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be true ! 
 
 De blood ub ah ol' foddahs 
 
 Ah er cryin' fum de groun'. 
 Lissun ! chillun ! lissun ! 
 
 Doan' yo' hyeah de doleful soun' ? 
 Ergin' sech kine ub 'spreshuns 
 
 An' ergin sech kine ub choons, 
 "Dat ebry race an' nayshun's 
 
 Got er flag excep' de coon." 
 
 Yes wees get er flag ! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be true ! 
 
74 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Dey fo'git when Bruddah Linkkum 
 
 Gibb er call in sixty-one. 
 Fo' fo'ks to jine de army 
 
 Ebry niggah grabb'd his gun ! 
 He lef ' his little cabin 
 
 While de ole fo'ks stood in tears, 
 To fight fo' dis hyeah kentry 
 
 Ez true faithful volunteers. 
 
 Yes wees got er flag! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be tru^ ! 
 
 Doh de po' ol' niggah 
 
 Doesn't allus git his rights, 
 Fo' his loyal kindness 
 
 Lots er kicks an' lots ub smites, 
 Yet 'twas 'neef dat banner 
 
 Ha'f er millun niggahs fought, 
 He'p'd to win de vict'rys 
 
 Dat dis mighty kentry wrought. 
 
 Yes wees got er flag ! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be true ! 
 
 Let all ub de niggahs 
 
 Teach dey chillun all to love 
 
 Dat ol' starry banner 
 
 Dat am floatin' up er 'bove. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 75 
 
 Spite ub all ah trubble 
 
 Things dat makes ah progress lagg, 
 'Membah dat Ol' Glory 
 
 Am ah bannah, am ah flag ! 
 
 Yes wees got er flag! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be true ! 
 
 Lissun ! chillun, lissun ! 
 
 When dis niggah's in his grave, 
 Let dat dah ol 1 banner 
 
 O'er dis niggah ebbah wave. 
 'Kaze dat dah ol' banner 
 
 Undah which ah foddahs fought, 
 Am de only banner 
 
 Fo' to love dat I was taught. 
 
 Yes wees got er flag! 
 
 It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
 It's de only one to which 
 
 The niggahs should be trut 5 
 
 HI, MISTAH DAHKY. 
 
 Hi, mistah dahky ! 
 
 De hoein' time's er cumin' 
 
 Loafin's nearly obeah 
 
 Fo' er fiddlin' an' er drummin', 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Dancin' wid de ladies 
 
 An' er steppin' lak er racer, 
 
 Drinkhr Tom an' Jerry 
 
 An' sum burbon fo' er bracer. 
 
 Hi, mistah clahky! 
 
 Bin er 'joicin' all de wintah? 
 
 Spawkin' 'wid de ladies 
 
 An' er cuttin' quite er splintah ? 
 
 Dressed up lak er peacock 
 
 Hyah all pawted in de middle, 
 
 Shakein' lak er wilier 
 
 Jes' er prancin' to de riddle ? 
 
 Hi, mistah dahky! 
 
 See de sun er gittin higher ? 
 
 Pohin' down de heatin' 
 
 Lak er Sodom an' Gomire. 
 
 Showers am er fallin' 
 
 An' de gawden craps er sproutin'. 
 
 Hi, mistah dahky! 
 
 In yo' soul is yo' er doubtin'? 
 
 Hi, mistah dahky! 
 
 Mo' den singin' an' er prayin', 
 
 De Mastah am requirin' 
 
 In dis worrul while yo's er stayin', 
 
 Spendin' all yo' time 
 
 Shoutin', knockin' down de benches, 
 
 Beddah take mo' time fo' 
 
 Hoein', fixin' up yo' fences, 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 77 
 
 Hi, mistah dahky ! 
 
 Am de meadows lookin' temptin' ? 
 
 Lak er bed er feddahs 
 
 Make yo' dream lak Israel kemptin' ? 
 
 Sympathizin' wid yo' 
 
 But de fo'ks is dun er sowirf 
 
 Hi, mistah dahky ! 
 
 Now de nex' thing am de hoein'. 
 
 Hi, mistah dahky ! 
 
 In yo' soul will yo' be singin' 
 
 When yo' see de millins 
 
 On de runnin* vines er clingin'? 
 
 Sugah co'n er tasslin' 
 
 An' de punkins tarnin' yallah, 
 
 Seasonin' an' er sweetenin' 
 
 Gittin' meely, gittin' mellah. 
 
 DEY'S ER COL' WAVE BRESHIN' NIGH. 
 
 Trees dey leaves er sheddin', 
 
 An' de grasses tarnin' brown. 
 Summah days is obeah, 
 
 An' de wintah's cumin' roun' 
 Lonely quail er callin', 
 
 Wid er weary lonely sigh, 
 Sno' will soon be falling 
 
 Soon er fallin' fum de sky. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Coolsum is de weddah, 
 
 Dey's er col' wave breshin' nigh. 
 Look out fo' de wintah, 
 
 Kaze it's cumin' by an' by. 
 Lissun at de wailin', 
 
 An' jes' lissun at de moan, 
 Lissun at de sighin' 
 
 Tell yo' dat's de wintah's tone. 
 
 Craps dun quit er sproutin', 
 
 Not er millun 's on de vine. 
 Haint er watah seedin', 
 
 Not er portion ub er rhine. 
 Long time fo' to wait 
 
 Until de wintah leaves dis clime, 
 Summah cums er totein' 
 
 'Roun' de sweet ol' millun time. 
 
 Hain't no use er kickin' 
 
 Kaze de Lawd is got control, 
 Makin' ub de weddah 
 
 Eedah hot ah eedah col'. 
 Nebbah ax er pussun, 
 
 Nebbah no whah on de spot, 
 Wheddah dey would lak to 
 
 Hab de weddah col' er hot. 
 
 So jes' well keep joggin' 
 'Long er happy sort er way, 
 
 Crackin' jokes er whislin' 
 Till de wintah goes estray. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 79 
 
 Weddah doesn't suit yo', 
 
 Jes' well.make yo'se'f content. 
 Larn to 'cep' de weddah 
 
 Any sort er way it's sent. 
 
 FORCE OF WORDS. 
 
 Chicken stew 
 
 Was all I said. 
 Made dat coon 
 
 Hop out o' bed, 
 Butt his head 
 
 Ergin de wall 
 Kooden' stan' 
 
 De thing at all. 
 
 Jes' dat menshun, 
 
 Jes' dat talk, 
 Made dat coon's 
 
 Eyes white ez chawk. 
 Looked eroun' 
 
 An' licked his chops 
 Ez doh he hyeahd 
 
 Dey wings flopp ! flopp ! 
 
 Well, dem wurds, 
 Dey struck dat coon 
 
 Lak er 'lectric 
 Shock in June ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Kooden' sleep 
 No mo' dat night, 
 
 Rolled an' tossed 
 Until daylight. 
 
 I TOL' YO' SO. 
 
 Playin' out dah 
 
 Wid dat white trash 
 
 I tor yo' so. 
 Dat yo' back 
 
 Wood git er lash ; 
 I to!' yo' so. 
 Pay no 'tenshun 
 
 Whut I say, 
 Allus got 
 
 Sum uddah way, 
 Wished yo' haddah, 
 P'haps, sum day. 
 I tol j yo' so. 
 
 Yo' de wusses' 
 Chile in town, 
 
 I tol* yo' so. 
 Foll'rin' all 
 De white trash 'roun' 
 I tol' yo' so. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 8 1 
 
 Aftah Peedah, 
 
 John and Paul, 
 Fus' thing fightin' 
 
 Wid 'em all ; 
 Den de niggah's 
 
 Fus' to fall. 
 
 I tor yo' so. 
 
 Licked de 'lasses 
 Off yo' bread, 
 
 I tol' yo' so. 
 Den dey knocked 
 Yo' in de head. 
 
 I tol' yo' so. 
 Called yo' niggah 
 Sich ez dat 
 Said yo' hyah 
 Wuz lak er mat. 
 Umph ! Dem white fo'ks 
 Made yo' scat. 
 I tol' yo' so. 
 
 Umph! Dey skaid 
 Yo' mos' to def. 
 I tol' yo' so. 
 Look ee dah, 
 Yo' out o' bref. 
 I tol' yo' so. 
 
82 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Run so fas' 
 
 Dun los' yo' hat, 
 
 Got no idea 
 Whah it's at; 
 
 Gwine to whoop 
 Yo' good fo' dat. 
 I tor yo' so. 
 
 THE PASSING OF NIGHT. 
 
 De moon's dun sneaked 
 
 Clah out er sight, 
 De stars dun quit 
 
 Dey peepin'; 
 De shaddahs dun gone 
 
 Stole erway, 
 De world's dun quit 
 
 It's sleepin'. 
 
 De hours dey's slowly 
 
 Creeped erlong 
 Until de world's in light 
 
 An' song; 
 De sun smiles on 
 
 Creation's throng 
 Er cross de worl' 
 
 Goes sweeping. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 83 
 
 A TALE O' WOE. 
 
 Manny am de battle 
 
 Dahky's got to fight. 
 Ebbry tarn he's makhr 
 
 Trouble's dah in sight. 
 Ef he's got de 'liggun 
 
 Puffec' to de spot, 
 Hard to keep fum cussin' 
 
 Losin' all he's got. 
 
 White fo'ks got de money, 
 
 White fo'ks got de Ian', 
 Doan' wan' a po' dahky 
 
 Hab er place to stan'. 
 Ef dey miss er chicken 
 
 Ef dey miss er goose, 
 Fus' thing- grab er dahky 
 
 Fo' de calerboose. 
 
 Long ez he's er hoein', 
 
 Diggin' in de san', 
 Bress yo' soul, say, mistah, 
 
 He am jes' de man. 
 Let him git de money 
 
 Cumin' mos' too fas', 
 White fo'ks git to skeemin', 
 
 Say it mussen' las', 
 
84 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 LULLABY. 
 
 Pickahninny, Pickahninny, 
 
 Close yo' little eyes. 
 Evenin' am er 'proachin', 
 
 Tells yo' sleep an' quit yo' cries, 
 Mammy's gwine to keep 
 
 All o' de boogahman erway 
 Gyahd her little pickahninny 
 
 Till de cumin' day. 
 
 Pickahninny, pickahninny, 
 
 Sleep an' take yo' res' ; 
 Sleep wid all de cumfort 
 
 Ub de birdies in dey nes'. 
 When de sun's dun sinkin', 
 
 In de eas' begin to rise, 
 Mammy's little pickahninny 
 
 Den kin ope' its eyes. 
 
 Pickahninny, pickahninny, 
 
 Mammy's little love, 
 May de gyahdin' angels 
 
 Hubbah 'roun' de fum erbove. 
 Wid dey sof'en sweeten whispahs 
 
 Keep de lull'd er sleep, 
 While de weary lonely hours 
 
 Slowly onward creep. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Pickahninny, pickahninny, 
 
 Keep er fas' er sleep, 
 While 'de weary, lonely hours 
 
 Slowly onward creep. 
 Day will soon be breaking 
 
 Sun er creepin' 'cross de skies, 
 Mammy's little pickahninny 
 
 Den kin ope' its eyes. 
 
 THE ECSTASY OF UNCLE JOE. 
 
 Feel lak shoutin' hallelooyah, 
 Habben' got an' ache ner pain. 
 
 Los' clat kahnsahn roomertism, 
 No mo' hobblin' wid dat cane. 
 
 Things look lak de Eden Gawden, 
 
 Hardly bleeb dis am mah se'f. 
 Dis am bliss in ebbry 'ticklah, 
 
 Tickles mah ol' soul to def. 
 
 Dat snake oil sho' did de bizzness, 
 Geddah wid dem herbs an' roots. 
 
 Bress de Lawd ! umph ! grayshus Mahstah 
 Hardly stay in mah ol' boots ! 
 
 Go 'way, chillun, let yo' daddy 
 
 Hab de place all to hisse'f. 
 Kaze de ol' man's jollyfyin' 
 
 An' he's drawin' bran' new bref. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Dis oF frame am no mo' shaky, 
 Doh I is mos' eighty-eight. 
 
 Dem ol' jints am jes' ez soople's 
 When Ise in mah youthfu state. 
 
 Feel lak lay'n erside mah 'liggun, 
 Once mo' dance de buck an' wing. 
 
 Is dah 'mong yo' doubtin' Thomas, 
 Think dat I kaint do dat thing? 
 
 Oh, I ustah cut it, chillun, 
 
 When ol' fiddlin' Peet was 'roun'. 
 
 Had all o' de white an' brae' fo'ks 
 Beat, dat lived er bout de town. 
 
 An' yo' bet he was er fiddlah, 
 Make yo' dance yo'se'f leg bowl. 
 
 Played de sweetes' kine o' ditties 
 Dat jes' 'joiced yo' berry soul. 
 
 Look hyeah, Rastus! drap dat fiddle, 
 Doan' yo' sot dat thing er chune. 
 
 Ef yo' do, in spite mah 'liggun, 
 Make out me er dancin' coon. 
 
 See, de debbil's allus skeemin' 
 Fo' to make de Chris'shuns sin. 
 
 Usein' chillun in his bizzness, 
 Dat's de way he takes to win. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 8? 
 
 Now, he put it in li'l Rastus 
 
 Fo' to git dat fiddle down. 
 Tho't I kooden' r'sist tem'tayshun 
 
 Fo' to dance at its ol' soun'. 
 
 Not dis time, oh, no ! Brer Satan, 
 
 Kin yo' make out me er clown. 
 Git me dancin, lose mah 'liggun 
 
 On de las' day lose mah crown. 
 
 Guess I beddah git de Bible, 
 
 Read de Mahstah's bressed Wurd. 
 
 Leeb deez hyeah mischebus raskuls, 
 Kaze dey's sum de debil's herd. 
 
 KEEP ER GOIN'. 
 
 Yo' dat's in de race o' life, 
 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 Nebah stop fo' little strife, 
 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 
 Sum one kick yo' on de co'n, 
 Nuddah prick yo' wid er thorn, 
 Toot loudah on yo' horn, 
 
 Keep er goin"! 
 
 Ef yo, sortah lose de track, 
 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 Doan' tarn fool an' saunter back, 
 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 
88 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Take no time to ax an' 'quire, 
 Keep er headin' fo' de wire. 
 Push out in de mud an' mire. 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 
 Ef de road leads 'roun' an' 'roun' 
 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 Sumtimes up an' sumtimes down, 
 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 
 Ef yo' fall an' crack yo' shin, 
 Git up, koch yo' secun' win'. 
 Spruce up' try de thing ergin. 
 
 Keep er goin' ! 
 
 CLIMBIN' UP DE HILL. 
 
 Fo' to climb de hill o' fame, 
 
 Bet it takes er lot o' tussel. 
 It takes er lot er scratchin' 
 
 An' it takes er lot er hus'le. 
 It's now an' den er slip, 
 
 An' it's now an' den er stumble. 
 Ef yo' 'spec' to reach de summit 
 
 Yo' mus' keep* on meek an' humble. 
 
 Ez yo' climin' up de hill, 
 
 Yo' will git er lot er clubbin', 
 
 Yo'll git er lot er knockin', 
 
 An' yo'll git er lot er drubbin' ! 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 89 
 
 Now an' den yo'll mope, 
 
 Den ergin yo'll be er creepin'. 
 Yo'll git so tiad an' weary, 
 
 Wan' to res' an' go to sleepin'. 
 
 Ez yo' climin' fo' de prize, 
 
 Yo' mus' do er lot o' scramble, 
 Yo'll run into de briars, 
 
 An' yo'll strike er lot o' bramble. 
 Yo'll fine er lot o' thorns 
 
 'Stead er findin' lots o' roses. 
 Keep er headin' fo' de summit, 
 
 Dah is whah success reposes. 
 
 Yo' mussen' spec' er crown 
 
 Fus' widdout sum tribyoolayshun, 
 Kaze dat's de rule o' ordah 
 
 Fo' de white an' brackes' nation. 
 Yo' kno' it's sumtimes up, 
 
 Den ergin it's in de valley, 
 Den ergin yo' go er scootin' 
 
 Towards de goal yo' go er sally. 
 
 Yo' run on fo' er spell, 
 
 Den ergin yo' git to slippin', 
 Yo' now an' den'll reel, 
 
 Git to trippin' an' er tippin', 
 But lak de ship o' Zion, 
 
 When de waves it am er dashin' 
 Yo' ride right th'ew de storm, 
 
 In de harbor cum er splashin'. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 SISTAH RUFFLE. 
 
 No use tawkin', sistah Ruffle 
 Am a gittin' out de kinks; 
 Gittin' up to date in fashun, 
 She out-dresses sistah Jinks ; 
 Got a bran new dress o' satin, 
 Wid a hot stuff ruffl'd skirt; 
 Way she's lookin' ebry dahky 
 At her grinn'd an' tried to flirt 
 
 An' she's gone an' got a mobeel 
 
 Cumin' down klah to her feet ; 
 
 One dem silks trimm'd in white kawdin' 
 
 It's a stunnah, kain't be beet; 
 
 An' her hat, oh goodness grashus ! 
 
 Lak a flowah bed o' bloom ; 
 
 An' she fewmigate de breezes, 
 
 Wid de sweetes' kine o' 'fewme. 
 
 Oh, yo' know ol' sistah Ruffle, 
 Ustah wash erbout de town ; 
 Had a husbahn dat was leg-bowl, 
 Jes' as ugly as a clown; 
 Yes de ol' gal wo' de goggles, 
 Hobblin' 'roun' wid roomotick, 
 Diden' hab 'em on dat 'kayshun, 
 She was flouncin' double quick. 
 
 Doan' yo' know, she am bawlhaided, 
 But dat dey she wo' er wig; 
 
$LANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Dog mah cats ef yo' kood tell it, 
 Ef yo' could 'I'd dance'd a jig; 
 Twasn't made fum hyah dat's kinky, 
 But fum dat call'd awbun hyah; 
 Looks so poody slick, an' wabey, 
 Kine yo' see de white fo'ks wah. 
 
 Had it done an 1 rolFd in ribbon, 
 On de pompydoro style ; 
 Had deez great big whut yo' call 'em 
 Hyahpins yais yo' right mah chile ; 
 At de sides she lef it bushy 
 Fo' to kibbah up her yeahs ; 
 Kose she seed de white fo'ks do it 
 Fo' de las' free o' fo' yeahs. 
 
 Yais, she had on glasses, go 'way ! 
 Dem dat habs de gol'en rim 
 An' a chain wuz fas'en to 'em, 
 Cumin' down beneef her chin ; 
 An' her bowkey, go' way honey ! 
 It wahs flowahs o' all kine, 
 Oh, it look'd mos' loud an' spickyus, 
 Wish'd de lawd it had bin mine. 
 
 Oddah seed her when she pass'd us, 
 Thow'd her head clah to de cloud ; 
 Switch'd her se'f an' kooden' see us, 
 Kaze she's togg'd up mos' to loud ; 
 Now an' den shed' gib us, honey, 
 Whut yo' call de cake wa'k gran', 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 An' her big feet cut no figgah ; 
 Was' she right? she beet de ban'. 
 
 When she'd pass sto' windahs, honey, 
 She'd size up her se'f an' smile ; 
 Twis' her-se'f an' lif her trailah, 
 Cose she tho'wt she's poody, chile ; 
 Why, I know'd dat dah ol' dahky 
 When she haden' braid to eat ; 
 When it cum to shoes an' sockin's, 
 Dey was stranjahs to her feet. 
 
 Now she needn't be o' spreadin' 
 On befo' me any ahs, 
 Kaze de Lawd in heaben knows it, 
 Dat I 'bout her doesn't kyahs ; 
 She jes' lately got a penshun, 
 An' it's sortah swell'd her haid, 
 It's a wondah diden' bus' it, 
 An' de dahky isn't daid. 
 
 Doan' yo' 'membah when she usetah 
 Wah dat bumzeen yallah dress? 
 Whah she's gwine to git de nex' one, 
 Keep' her allus on de guess ; 
 Whut I say a 'bout sum dahkies, 
 Ef dey git a rag er to, 
 'Speshly dems po' as Jobe's tukehy, 
 Dey'll wa'k obah me an' yo'. 
 
 I jes' feed dem kine o' dahkies, 
 Wid er big long hanel spoon ; 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 93 
 
 Bet dey needen' take dis sistah, 
 Fo' er hankshef haided coon; 
 Kaze it's bawn in all ah kin fo'ks, 
 To be stylish an' be proud, 
 Nebbah habs dis lady, honey, 
 To sech dahkies ebah bow'd. 
 
 THE GALLANT LACKS OF 
 SAN JUAN HILL. 
 
 Without a tremor or a pause, 
 
 Enlisted for their country's cause, 
 
 'Mid shout and song the gallant boys 
 Charge up the hill of San Juan. 
 
 Like war-scarred veterans. of old, 
 Made with patriot ardor bold, 
 
 Press they forward towards the goal, 
 Not a soldier falters. 
 
 Blood and carnage everywhere, 
 
 Detonations rend the air, 
 Not for once do they despair, 
 
 But press on to conquer. 
 
 See them charge with matchless splendor 
 Heart to heart each one's defender, 
 
 All praise for the part they render, 
 For them is the victory. 
 
94 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 See the starry emblem high ; 
 
 This they'll keep or all will die. 
 Forward ! Is their battle cry, 
 
 See them still advancing. 
 
 Hell of fire 'tis their's to greet. 
 
 Comrades falling at their feet, 
 Still for them to fight 'tis sweet; 
 
 See them still advancing! 
 
 See the foe's ranks try to rally, 
 
 Thank God ! They've made their last tally. 
 Ne'er again will they forth sally, 
 
 Lost their hopes forever h 
 Another charge ! They reach the summit, 
 
 And the prize at last they've won it, 
 Fighting ev'ry inch they've done it, 
 
 Vic'try on their banner. 
 
 Columbia, thou hast won the day, 
 
 Tribute on the altar lay. 
 Plaudits to those brave boys pay, 
 
 They thy brave defenders. 
 
 Heaven swing thy gates a-wide, 
 
 Forever in thy walls abide, 
 Let those who so nobly died, 
 
 Be this, their reward. 
 
PLANTATION ECHOES. 95 
 
 In the starry firmament, 
 
 Thou bright gem of government, 
 Brightest in the firmament, 
 
 Still thy encircling light. 
 
 As a beacon and a sign, 
 
 To oppressed men ever shine, 
 Till on this terrestrial ball, 
 
 God shall end the reign of all. 
 
 DE GOOD OL' TIMES RENEW. 
 
 It's plumpin' ub de banjos 
 
 An' saw'n' de fiddles too, 
 Jes' shake yo' foots ye dahkys, 
 
 De good ol' times renew ! 
 We'll geddah 'roun' de cabin, 
 
 An' while de ditties chune, 
 We'll swing de gals tergeddah, 
 
 In de sof light ub de moon. 
 
 Den it's 
 
 Swing Miss Lissy Johnson, 
 
 Miss Jane an' Liza too ! 
 Jes' shake yo' foots, ye dahkys 
 
 De good ol' times renew. 
 
 Way down in ol' Virginny, 
 In de ol' plantation day, 
 
96 PLANTATION ECHOES. 
 
 Befo' we los' ah suple, 
 Befo' we got so gray, 
 
 We use to dance fum sun-down, 
 Till de stars dimmed in de sky, 
 
 An' nebah feel er stiffness 
 Ner an' achin' in de thigh. 
 
 Den it's 
 
 Swing Miss Lissy Johnson, 
 
 Miss Jane an' Liza too! 
 Jes' shake yo' foots ye dahkys 
 
 De good ol' times renew ! 
 
 When Missy an' ol' massa, 
 
 Wood tote erway to res', 
 We'd git ah dudds an' toggins 
 
 An' dress up in ah bes', 
 We'd huddle all tergeddah 
 
 An' slip outside de do', 
 I wish to gracious mastah, 
 
 Yo' den kood see us go. 
 
 Den it's 
 
 Swing Miss Lissy Johnson, 
 
 Miss Jane an' Liza too! 
 Jes' shake yo' foots ye dahkys 
 
 De good ol' limes renew! 
 

 PS 55/5 
 
 ^ 
 
 55 P5"