Darkey Ways in Dixie Part 1

Darkey Ways in Dixie.

by Margaret A. Richard.

Mammy's Baby Chile.

Hush, now hush, do' cry no mo'

Kaze yo' daddy had ter go In de ma.s.sa'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 suns.h.i.+ne 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 (heah what I say!) 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 ma.s.sa's fiel' ter hoe, Mammy's baby chile.

Playin' c.r.a.ps.

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' c.r.a.ps.

What you say? You done bin dar?

Is you, n.i.g.g.e.r, sho?

Den de Black Maria git you Sho's de pleeceman know 'Bout dem dirty little chaps Roun' de corner playin' c.r.a.ps.

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' c.r.a.ps?

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' c.r.a.ps.

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' c.r.a.ps!

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?

[Ill.u.s.tration: "I rub en I rub!"]

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 n.i.g.g.e.rs 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 n.i.g.g.e.r 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 G.o.d tells Us ter go Up dar whar de s.h.i.+nin' stream, Pu' en sweet, Flow frue heaven, lak a dream, At our feet.

En I min' me how us two, Ez time pa.s.s, 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'la.s.s 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 s.h.i.+ne 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'.

G.o.d 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.