Read Ebook: Darkey Ways in Dixie by Richard Margaret A Margaret Alice

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Ebook has 345 lines and 48529 words, and 7 pages

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A Charleston Ground-Nut Woman Frontispiece

"I rub en I rub" 10

"Vegtibles" 16

"En he drive a ox so slow" 18

The Boot-Black 32

The Wood-Sawyer 46

Grinnin' Jake 68

"How de News git roun dem posts" 74

"On de Chain Gang" 110

Mammy's Baby Chile.

Hush, now hush, do' cry no mo' Kaze yo' daddy had ter go In de massa's fiel' ter hoe, Mammy's baby chile.

He gwine come back, dat you'll see, Kaze he b'long ter you en me, En he'll jog you on his knee, Mammy's baby chile.

Hush, den hush, do' cry no mo'! Set dar quiet on de flo' While I wash de clo'es, you know, Mammy's baby chile.

When de cotton season come, Me en you won' stay at home, Kaze yo' mammy gwine pick some, Mammy's baby chile.

You kin set in de sunshine On de cotton, sof' en fine, Lis'nin' ter de moanin' pine, Mammy's baby chile.

When we done, at en' ob day, En come home Daddy'll ride you all de way, Mammy's baby chile.

Hush, den hush, do' cry no mo' Kaze yo' daddy had ter go In de massa's fiel' ter hoe, Mammy's baby chile.

Playin' Craps.

What you git dat nickel change Up in coppers fo', What de preacher gib ter you Las' night 'fo'e he go? Bet you soon be wid dem chaps Roun' de corner playin' craps.

What you say? You done bin dar? Is you, nigger, sho? Den de Black Maria git you Sho's de pleeceman know 'Bout dem dirty little chaps Roun' de corner playin' craps.

What you gwine make up ter tell Preacher Jones, Eli, When he as' you 'bout dat nickel-- When, en how, en why? Dat you los' it ter dem chaps Roun' de corner playin' craps?

Neber los' it? Well, I say! Why you talk so slow? Bring dat money out ter sight, So I sho kin know If you 'scape dem cunnin' chaps Roun' de corner playin' craps.

Thirteen ob dem! Thirteen coppers, Sho ez I'm erlive! Han' dem ebry one to me-- Scusin ob des five;-- En you stay 'way frum them chaps Roun' de corner playin' craps!

The Washerwoman's Song.

Oh, I rub en I rub All day in de tub! I went fo' dese clo'es 'fo'e de clock strike eight, En I rubbin' on dem in de evenin' late. I rub en I rub All day in de tub.

Oh, I rub en I rub All day in de tub! I soap all de pieces in places erbout, En I scrub till I git all de dinginess out. I rub en I rub All day in de tub.

Oh, I rub en I rub All day in de tub! Sho ez de good Missus pay me fo' dese

I gwine treat you chillun ter crackers en cheese. Ain't you glad I kin rub All day in de tub?

A Seller Ob Ole Clo'es.

Dese am pretty clo'es, fo' true, En I'll sell 'em quick fo' you, Dat I will! Dey does look des lak you, Miss, En I feel dat I could kiss Ebry frill.

Dis heah flower on dis hat-- Lan'! My heart do cry fo' dat-- It so sweet! I would sholy lak ter go Wid it on my head, des so, Down de street.

"Buy it, den, yo'se'f," you say? Now, you know dat I cain't pay Fo' dat hat! Sellin' clo'es ain't made me rich, But my head do sholy itch To weah dat.

If dem niggers come en pay Allers fo' de clo'es dey say Dey gwine git, I would hab de change ter buy Somethin' when my heart do cry So fo' it.

Ten cents on de dollar, Miss, Won' buy soon a hat lak dis, Dat am sho; En dis nigger hab ter eat-- Hab ter buy some bread en meat, Ez you know.

Well, good-day! Dese pretty clo'es, Wid dey laces en dey bows, Soon be gone; Kaze dem gals, when dey heah tell Dat I got yo' clo'es ter sell, Sho gwine run.

The Well-Cleaner's Revery.

Me en Tom bin cleanin' wells Long time, sho; En we'll clean 'em till God tells Us ter go Up dar whar de shinin' stream, Pu' en sweet, Flow frue heaven, lak a dream, At our feet.

En I min' me how us two, Ez time pass, Work togedder good, fo' true, Fus' en las'; One stay up en one go down, En bofe know Dey mus' fill dey place, I boun', High or low.

When Tom turn de win'lass roun', En I go Fur down underneath de groun', Dark en low, I trus' allers dat he gwine Draw me out Ter de place whar de sun shine All erbout.

En I b'lieve dat if a man Fall in sin, We mus' lif' him, if we kin, Up ag'in; Kaze he need de he'pin' han', Dat am sho, If all safe he rise en stan' Any mo'.

God done take dis simple way Ter show me Dat while in de worl' we stay We must be 'Pendent on each other, sho, Till we rise Frum de dang'rous deeps below Ter de skies.

Song Of the Huckster.

I don' ride erlong de street Wid my mouth shet tight, Kaze I know I got ter sing, Lak a singer right, If I make dis pile ob goods Dwindle frum de sight:

"Tomatoes en okra Passin' right by! Beans en pertatoes-- De prices ain't high! Apples en peaches, De fines' ter-day! Oh, come out en buy 'Fo'e dey all git away-- Come out en buy!"

All de white men down de street Wantin' me, fo' sho, Des to drive en sell fo' dem, Kaze dey say dey know I git rid ob all my truck, Singin' ez I go:

"Tomatoes en okra Passin' right by! Beans en pertatoes-- De prices ain't high! Apples en peaches, De fines' ter-day! Oh, come out en buy 'Fo'e dey all git away-- Come out en buy!"

Once de preacher what hol' fo'th Fo' de Methodis', Say: "Oh, man, I b'l'eve dat you Done yo' callin' miss! Why'n't you use dat voice ter preach 'Stead ob shoutin' dis:

"'Tomatoes en okra Passin' right by! Beans en pertatoes-- De prices ain't high! Apples en peaches, De fines' ter-day! Oh, come out en buy 'Fo'e dey all git away-- Come out en buy!'"

En I laugh en tell him dat Dis town full ter-day Ob fine men, des lak hisse'f, What kin preach en pray; But dey ain't but one dat go Singin' 'long dis way:

"Tomatoes en okra Passin' right by! Beans en pertatoes-- De prices ain't high! Apples en peaches, De fines' ter-day! Oh, come out en buy 'Fo'e dey all git away-- Come out en buy!"

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