Negro Folk Rhymes Part 36

He tuck dat Mousie on his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

He tuck dat Mousie on his knee, An' he say: "Dear Honey, marry me!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Oh Suh!" she say, "I cain't do dat, Widout de sayso o' uncle Rat." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat ole gray Rat, he soon come home, Sayin': "Whose been here since I'se been gone?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"A fine young gemmun fer to see." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"A fine young gemmun fer to see, An' one dat axed fer to marry me." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat Rat jes laugh to split his side.

"Jes think o' Mousie's bein' a bride!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Nex' day, dat rat went down to town. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Nex' day dat rat went down to town, To git up de Mousie's Weddin' gown. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What's de bes' thing fer de Weddin' gown?"-- "Dat acorn hull, all gray an' brown!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"Whar shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"-- "Down in de swamp in a holler tree." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What shall de Weddin' Infar' be?"-- "Two brown beans an' a blackeyed pea." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Fust to come in wus de b.u.mblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Fust to come in wus de b.u.mblebee.

Wid a fiddle an' bow across his knee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Khyernel Wren, An' he dance a reel wid de Turkey Hen. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' dat come wus Mistah Snake, He swallowed de whole weddin' cake! Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' come in wus Cap'n Flea, An' he dance a jig fer de b.u.mblebee. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' now come in ole Giner'l Louse.

He dance a breakdown 'round de house. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' to come wus Major Tick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

De nex' to come wus Major Tick, An' he e't so much it make 'im sick. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dey sent fer Mistah Doctah Fly.

Says he: "Major Tick, you's boun' to die." Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Oh, den crep' in ole Mistah Cat, An' chilluns, dey all hollered, "Scat!!" Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!

It give dat frog a turble fright. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

It give dat frog a turble fright, An' he up an' say to dem, "Good-night!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun'. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Dat frog, he swum de lake aroun', An' a big black duck come gobble 'im down. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

"What d'you say 'us Miss Mousie's lot?"-- "W'y--, she got swallered on de spot!" Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Now, I don't know no mo' 'an dat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

Now, I don't know no mo' 'an dat.

If you gits mo' you can take my hat. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' if you thinks dat hat won't do. Uh-huh! Uh-huh!

An' if you thinks dat hat won't do, Den you mought take my head 'long, too. Uh-huh!!! Uh-huh!!!

SHOO! SHOO!

Shoo! Shoo!

What'll I do?

Run three mile an' buckle my shoe?

No! No!

I'se gwineter go, An' kill dat chicken on my flo'.

Oh! My!

Chicken pie!

Sen' fer de Doctah, I mought die.

Christmus here, Once a year.

Pa.s.s dat cider an' 'simmon beer.

FLAP-JACKS

I loves my wife, an' I loves my baby: An' I loves dem flap-jacks a-floatin' in gravy.

You play dem chyards, an' make two pa.s.ses: While I eats dem flap-jacks a-floatin' in 'la.s.ses.

Now: in come a n.i.g.g.e.r an' in come a bear, In come a n.i.g.g.e.r dat hain't got no hair.

Good-by, n.i.g.g.e.r, go right on back, Fer I hain't gwineter give you no flap-jack.

TEACHING TABLE MANNERS