Negro Folk Rhymes Part 32

GOOD-BY, RING

I had a liddle dog, his name wus Ring, I tied him up to his nose wid a string.

I pulled dat string, an' his eyes tu'n blue.

"Good-by, Ring! I'se done wid you."

DEEDLE, DUMPLING

Deedle, deedle, dumplin'! My boy, Pete!

He went to bed wid his dirty feet.

Mammy laid a switch down on dat sheet!

Deedle, deedle, dumplin'! My boy, Pete!

BUCK AND BERRY

Buck an' Berry run a race, Buck fall down an' skin his face.

Buck an' Berry in a stall; Buck, he try to eat it all.

Buck, he e't too much, you see.

So he died wid choleree.

PRETTY LITTLE GIRL

Who's been here since I'se been gone?

A pretty liddle gal wid a blue dress on.

Who'll stay here when I goes 'way?

A pretty liddle gal, all dressed in gray.

Who'll wait on Mistess day an' night?

A pretty liddle gal, all dressed in white.

Who'll be here when I'se been dead?

A pretty liddle gal, all dressed in red.

TWO SICK NEGRO BOYS

Two liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs sick in bed, One jumped up an' b.u.mped his head.

W'en de Doctah come he simpully said: "Jes feed dat boy on shorten' bread."

T'other liddle n.i.g.g.e.r sick in bed, W'en he hear tell o' shorten' bread, Popped up all well. He dance an' sing!

He almos' cut dat Pigeon's Wing!

GRa.s.sHOPPER SITTING ON A SWEET POTATO VINE

Gra.s.shopper a-settin' on a sweet tater vine, 'Long come a Blackbird an' nab him up behind.

Blackbird a-settin' in a sour apple tree; Hawk grab him up behind; he "Chee! Chee! Chee!"

Big hawk a-settin' in de top of dat oak, Start to eat dat Blackbird an' he git choke.

DOODLE-BUG

Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come git sweet milk.

Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come git b.u.t.ter.

Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come git co'n bread.

Doodle-bug! Doodle-bug! Come on to Supper.

[40]RAW HEAD AND b.l.o.o.d.y BONES

Don't talk! Go to sleep!

Eyes shet an' don't you peep!

Keep still, or he jes moans: "Raw Head an' b.l.o.o.d.y Bones!"

[40] Repeated to restless children at night to make them lie still and go to sleep.

MYSTERIOUS FACE WAs.h.i.+NG

I wash my face in de watah Dat's neider rain nor run.

I wipes my face on de towel Dat's neider wove nor spun.-- I wash my face in de dew, An' I dries it in de sun.

GO TO BED

De wood's in de kitchen.

De hoss's in de shed.

You liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs Had better go to bed.

[41]BUCK-EYED RABBIT! WHOOPEE!

Dat Squir'l, he's a cunnin' thing; He tote a bushy tail.

He jes lug off Uncle Sambo's co'n, An' heart it on a rail.

Dat Squir'l, he's a cunnin' thing; An' so is ole Jedge B'ar.

Br'er Rabbit's gone an' los' his tail 'Cep' a liddle bunch of ha'r.

Buckeyed Rabbit! Whoopee!

Buckeyed Rabbit! Ho!

Buckeyed Rabbit! Whoopee!