Negro Folk Rhymes Part 31

Jaybird a-swingin' a two hoss plow; "Sparrer, why not you?"

"W'y--! My legs so liddle an' slender, man, I'se fear'd dey'd break in two."

Jaybird answer: "What'd you say?-- I sometimes worms terbaccy; But I'd druther plow sweet taters too, Dan to be a ole Town Tacky!"

Jaybird up in de Sugar tree, De sparrer on de groun'; De jaybird shake de sugar down, An' de sparrer pa.s.s it 'roun'.

De jaybird say: "Save some fer me; I needs it w'en I bakes."

De sparrer say: "Use 'la.s.ses, Suh!

Dat suits fer Country-Jakes!"

FROG IN A MILL ([38]GUINEA OR EBO RHYME)

Once dere wus er frog dat lived in er mill.

He had er raker don la bottom o' la kimebo Kimebo, nayro, dilldo, kiro Stimstam, formididdle, all-a-board la rake; Wid er raker don la bottom o' la kimebo.

[38] For explanation, read the Study in Negro Folk Rhymes.

STRONG HANDS

Here's yo' bread, an' here's yo' b.u.t.ter; An' here's de hands fer to make you sputter.

Tetch dese hands, w'en you wants to tetch a beaver.

If dese hands tetch you, you'll sho' ketch de fever.

Dese hands Samson, good fer a row, W'en dey hits you, it's "good-by cow!"

TREE FROGS (GUINEA OR EBO RHYME)

Shool! Shool! Shool! I rule!

Shool! Shool! Shool! I rule!

Shool! Shacker-rack!

I shool bubba cool.

Seller! Beller eel!

Fust to ma tree'l Just came er bubba.

Buska! Buska-reel!

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY

W'en I wus a liddle boy I cleaned up mammy's dishes; Now I is a great big boy, I wears my daddy's britches.

I can knock dat Mobile Buck An' smoke dat corncob pipe.

I can kiss dem pretty gals, An' set up ev'ry night.

GRa.s.sHOPPER SENSE

Dere wus a liddle gra.s.shopper Dat wus always on de jump; An' caze he never look ahead, He wus always gittin' a b.u.mp.

Huddlety, dumpty, dumpty, dump!

Mind out, or you will git a b.u.mp; Sh.o.r.e as de gra.s.s grows 'round de stump Be keerful, my sweet Sugar Lump.

YOUNG MASTER AND OLD MASTER

Hick'ry leaves an' calico sleeves!

I tells you young Mosser's hard to please.

Young Mosser fool you, de way he grin.

De way he whup you is a sin.

De monkey's a-settin' on de end of a rail, Pickin' his tooth wid de end of his tail.

Mulberry leaves an' homespun sleeves!

Better know dat ole Mosser's not easy to please.

MY SPECKLED HEN

Somebody stole my speckled hen.

Dey lef' me mighty poo'.

Ev'ry day she layed three aigs, An' Sunday she lay fo'.

Somebody stole my speckled hen.

She crowed at my back do'.

Fedders, dey s.h.i.+ne jes lak de sun; De n.i.g.g.e.rs grudged her mo'.

[39]De whis'lin' gal, an' de crowin' hen, Never comes to no good en'.

Stop dat whis'lin'; go on an' sing!

'Member dat hen wid 'er s.h.i.+nin' wing.

[39] An old superst.i.tion.

THE SNAIL'S REPLY

Snail! Snail! Come out'n o' yo' sh.e.l.l, Or I'll beat on yo' back till you rings lak a bell.

"I do ve'y well," sayed de snail in de sh.e.l.l, "I'll jes take my chances in here whar I dwell."

A STRANGE FAMILY

Once dere's an ole 'oman dat lived in de Wes'.

She had two gals of de very bes'.

One wus older dan de t'other, T'other's older dan her mother, An' dey're all deir own gran'mother.

Can you guess?