?5 
 Ho 3 
 
 CORNELL 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME 
 OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT 
 FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY 
 
 HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE 
 
Cornell University Library 
 PS 1556.W4 1903 
 
 3 1924 021 992 130 
 
The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924021992130 
 
WHEN MALINDY SINGS 
 
 I ■ s 
 
WHEN 
 
 MALINDY 
 
 SINGS 
 
 BY 
 
 PAUL LAURENCE 
 DUNBAR 
 
 ■♦ 
 
 ILLUSTRATE?) WITH 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE 
 
 HcAMPTO&i INSTITUTE 
 
 CcAMET^cA CLUB 
 
 % 
 
 DECORATIONS BY 
 MARGARET 
 ARMSTRONG 
 
 DODD MEAD AND CO. 
 NEW YORK MCMVI 
 
 ~^ 
 
T. 
 
 
 
 Copyright, 1S96, 1903 
 BY DODD MEAD AND COMPANY 
 
 Published November, 1903 
 
 UNIVERSITY PRESS • JOHN WILSON 
 AND SON CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 WHEN MALINDY SINGS 9 
 
 DRIZZLE 15 
 
 TWO LITTLE BOOTS 21 
 
 THE LOOKING-GLASS 27 
 
 THE COLORED BAND 31 
 
 THE MEMORY OF MARTHA. ... 39 
 
 SPRING FEVER 45 
 
 THE TRYST 51 
 
 ITCHING HEELS 59 
 
 THE BOOGAH MAN 65 
 
 A PLANTATION PORTRAIT .... 71 
 
 "HOWDY, HONEY, HOWDY!" ... 77 
 
 NODDIN' BY DE FIRE 83 
 
 A WARM DAY IN WINTER .... 89 
 
 THE VISITOR 97 
 
 MY SWEET BROWN GAL 105 
 
 IN THE MORNING 113 
 
 TO THE EASTERN SHORE . . . . 121 
 
 WADIN' IN DE CREEK 129 
 
 'LONG TO'DS NIGHT 137 
 
WHEN MALINDY SINGS 
 
(~* ' WAY an' quit dat noise, Miss Lucy- 
 ^•^ Put dat music book away ; 
 What 's de use to keep on tryin' ? 
 
 Ef you practise twell you 're gray, 
 You cain't sta't no notes a-flyin' 
 
 Lak de ones dat rants and rings 
 F'om de kitchen to de big woods 
 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 You ain't got de nachel o'gans 
 
 Fu' to make de soun' come right, 
 You ain't got de tu'ns an' twistin's 
 
 Fu' to make it sweet an' light. 
 Tell you one thing now, Miss Lucy, 
 
 An' I 'm tellin' you fu' true, 
 When hit comes to raal right singin', 
 
 ' T ain't no easy thing to do. 
 
 Easy 'nough fu' folks to hollah, 
 
 Lookin' at de lines an' dots, 
 When dey ain't no one kin sence it, 
 
 An' de chune comes in, in spots ; 
 But fu' real melojous music, 
 
 Dat jes' strikes yo' hea't and clings, 
 Jes' you stan' an' listen wif me 
 
 When Malindy sings. 
 u 
 
Ain't you nevah hyeahd Malindy? 
 
 Blessed soul, tek up de cross ! 
 Look hyeah, ain't you joking honey ? 
 
 Well, you don't know whut you los\ 
 Y' ought to hyeah dat gal a-wa'blin', 
 
 Robins, la'ks, an' all dem things, 
 Heish dey moufs an' hides dey faces 
 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 Fiddlin' man jes' stop his fiddlin', 
 
 Lay his fiddle on de she'f ; 
 Mockin'-bird quit tryin' to whistle, 
 
 'Cause he jes' so shamed hisse'f. 
 Folks a-playin' on de banjo 
 
 Draps dey fingahs on de strings — 
 Bless yo' soul — fu'gits to move 'em, 
 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 She jes' spreads huh mouf and hollahs, 
 
 " Come to Jesus," twell you hyeah 
 Sinnahs' tremblin' steps and voices, 
 
 Timid-lak a-drawin' neah; 
 Den she tu'ns to ** Rock of Ages," 
 
 Simply to de cross she clings, 
 An' you fin' yo' teahs a-drappin' 
 
 When Malindy sings. 
 
 13 
 
Who dat says dat humble praises 
 
 Wif de Master nevah counts ? 
 Heish yo' mouf, I hyeah dat music, 
 
 Ez hit rises up an' mounts — 
 Floatin' by de hills an' valleys, 
 
 Way above dis buryin' sod, 
 Ez hit makes its way in glory 
 
 To de very gates of God ! 
 
 Oh, hit 's sweetah dan de music 
 
 Of an edicated band ; 
 An' hit 's dearah dan de battle's 
 
 Song o' triumph in de Ian'. 
 It seems holier dan evenin' 
 
 When de solemn chu'ch bell rings, 
 Ez I sit an' ca'mly listen 
 
 While Malindy sings. 
 
 Towsah, stop dat ba'kin', hyeah me ! 
 
 Mandy, mek dat chile keep still ; 
 Don't you hyeah de echoes callin' 
 
 F'om de valley to de hill ? 
 Let me listen, I can hyeah it, 
 
 Th'oo de bresh of angel's wings, 
 Sof an' sweet, " Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," 
 
 Ez Malindy sings. 
 
 14 
 
DRIZZLE 
 
 15 
 
TTIT 'S been drizzlin' an' been sprinklin', 
 
 Kin' o' techy all day long. 
 I ain't wet enough fu' toddy, 
 
 I 's too damp to raise a song, 
 An' de case have set me t'inkin', 
 
 Dat dey 's folk des lak de rain, 
 Dat goes drizzlin' v/en dey 's talkin', 
 
 An' won't speak out flat an' plain. 
 
 J7 
 
Ain't you nevah set an' listened 
 
 At a body 'splain his min' ? 
 Wen de t'oughts dey keep on drappin' 
 
 Was n't big enough to fin' ? 
 Dem 's whut I call drizzlin' people, 
 
 Othahs call 'em mealy mouf, 
 But de fust name hits me bettah, 
 
 Case dey nevah tech a drouf. 
 
 Dey kin talk from hyeah to yandah, 
 
 An' f'om yandah hyeah ergain, 
 An' dey don' mek no mo' 'pression, 
 
 Den dis powd'ry kin' o' rain. 
 En yo' min' is dry ez cindahs, 
 
 Er a piece o' kindlin' wood, 
 'T ain't no use a-talkin' to 'em, 
 
 Fu' dey drizzle ain't no good. 
 
 19 
 
Gimme folks dat speak out nachul, 
 
 Whut '11 say des whut dey mean, 
 Whut don't set dey wo'ds so skimpy 
 
 Dat you got to guess between. 
 I want talk des' lak de showahs 
 
 Whut kin wash de dust erway, 
 Not dat sprinklin' convusation, 
 
 Dat des drizzle all de day. 
 
 20 
 
TWO LITTLE BOOTS 
 
 21 
 
'TpWO little boots all rough an' wo', 
 
 Two little boots ! 
 Laws, I 's kissed 'em times befo', 
 
 Dese little boots ! 
 Seems de toes a-peepin' thoo 
 Dis hyeah hole an' sayin' " Boo ! " 
 Evah time dey looks at you — 
 
 Dese little boots. 
 
 Membah de time he put 'em on, 
 
 Dese little boots ; 
 Riz an' called fu' 'em by dawn, 
 
 Dese little boots ; 
 Den he tromped de livelong day, 
 Laffin' in his happy way, 
 Evaht'ing he had to say, 
 
 " My little boots ! " 
 
 23 
 
Kickin' de san' de whole day long, 
 
 Dem little boots; 
 Good de cobblah made 'em strong, 
 
 Dem little boots ! 
 Rocks was fu' dat baby's use, 
 Ton had to stan' abuse 
 Wen you tu'ned dese champeens loose 
 
 Dese little boots ! 
 
 Ust to make de ol' cat cry, 
 
 Dese little boots ; 
 Den you walked it mighty high, 
 
 Proud little boots ! 
 Ahms akimbo, stan'in' wide, 
 Eyes a-sayin' " Dis is pride ! " 
 Den de manny-baby stride ! 
 
 You little boots. 
 
 25 
 
Somehow, you don' seem so gay, 
 
 Po' little boots, 
 Sence yo' ownah went erway, 
 
 Po' little boots ! 
 Yo' bright tops don' look so red, 
 Dese brass tips is dull an' dead ; 
 " Goo' -by," whut de baby said ; 
 
 Deah little boots ! 
 
 Ain't you kin' o' sad yo'se'f, 
 
 You little boots ? 
 Dis is all his mammy 's lef, 
 
 Two little boots. 
 Sence huh baby gone an' died, 
 Heav'n itse'f hit seem to hide 
 Des a little bit inside 
 
 Two little boots. 
 
 26 
 
THE LOOKING-GLASS 
 
 27 
 
pvINAH stan' befo' de glass, 
 
 Lookin' moughty neat, 
 An' huh purty shadder sass 
 
 At huh haid an' feet. 
 While she sasshay 'roun' an' bow, 
 Smilin' den an' poutin' now, 
 An' de lookin'-glass, I 'low 
 
 Say : " Now, ain't she sweet ? " 
 
 All she do, de glass it see, 
 
 Hit des see, no mo', 
 Seems to me, hit ought to be 
 
 Drappin' on de flo'. 
 She go w'en huh time git slack, 
 Kissin' han's an' smilin' back, 
 Lawsy, how my lips go smack, 
 
 Watchin' at de do'. 
 
 29 
 
Wisht I was huh lookin'-glass, 
 Wen she kissed huh han' ; 
 
 Does you t'ink I 'd let it pass, 
 Settin' on de stan' ? 
 
 No ; I 'd des' fall down an' break, 
 
 Kin* o' glad 't uz fu' huh sake ; 
 
 But de diffunce, dat whut make 
 Lookin'-glass an' man. 
 
 30 
 
THE COLORED BAND 
 
 31 
 
YVT'EN de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' 
 
 down de street, 
 Don't you people stan' daih starin' ; HP 
 yo' feet ! 
 Ain't dey playin' ? Hip, hooray ! 
 Stir yo' stumps an' cleah de way, 
 Fu' de music dat dey mekin' can't be 
 beat. 
 
 33 
 
Oh, de major man 's a-swingin' of his 
 
 stick, 
 An' de pickaninnies crowdin' roun' him 
 thick; 
 In his go'geous uniform, 
 He 's de lightnin' of de sto'm, 
 An* de little clouds erroun' look mighty- 
 slick. 
 
 You kin hyeah a fine perfo'mance w'en 
 de white ban's serenade, 
 An' dey play dey high-toned music 
 mighty sweet, 
 But hit 's Sousa played in rag-time, an' 
 hit 's Rastus on Parade, 
 W'en de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' 
 down de street. 
 
 35 
 
n 
 
 
Wen de colo'ed ban' comes ma'chin' 
 
 down de street 
 You kin hyeah de ladies all erroun' 
 repeat : 
 "Ain't dey handsome? Ain't dey 
 
 gran' ? 
 Ain't dey splendid ? Goodness, Ian' ! 
 W'y dey 's pu'fect f'om dey fo'heads to 
 
 dey feet ! " 
 An' sich steppin' to de music down de 
 
 line, 
 *T ain't de music by itself dat meks it 
 fine, 
 Hit 's de walkin', step by step, 
 An' de keepin' time wid " Hep," 
 Dat it mek a common ditty soun' divine. 
 
 37 
 
Oh, de white ban' play hits music, an* 
 
 hit 's mighty good to hyeah, 
 An' it sometimes leaves a ticklin' in yo' 
 
 feet; 
 But de hea't goes into bus'ness fu' to 
 
 he'p erlong de eah, 
 Wen de colo'ed ban' goes marchin' 
 
 down de street. 
 
 33 
 
THE MEMORY OF 
 MARTHA 
 
 39 
 
OUT in de night a sad bird moans, 
 An', oh, but hit 's moughty lonely ; 
 Times I kin sing, but mos' I groans, 
 Fu' oh, but hit 's moughty lonely ! 
 Is you sleepin' well dis evenin', Marfy, 
 
 deah? 
 Wen I calls you Pom de cabin, kin you 
 hyeah ? 
 'T ain't de same ol' place to me, 
 Nuffin' 's lak hit used to be, 
 Wen I knowed dat you was alius some'ers 
 near. 
 
 41 
 

 
Down by de road de shadders grows, 
 An', oh, but hit 's moughty lonely ; 
 Seem lak de ve'y moonlight knows, 
 
 An', oh, but hit's moughty lonely! 
 Does you know, I 's cryin' fu' you, oh, 
 
 my wife ? 
 Does you know dey ain't no joy no mo' 
 in life ? 
 An' my only t'ought is dis, 
 Dat I's honin' fu' de bliss 
 Fu' to quit dis groun' o' worriment an' 
 strife. 
 
 43 
 
Dah on de baid my banjo lays, 
 
 An', oh, but hit 's moughty lonely ; 
 Can't even sta't a chune o' praise, 
 
 An', oh, but hit 's moughty lonely ! 
 Oh, hit 's moughty slow a-waitin' hyeah 
 
 below. 
 Is you watchin' fu' me, Marfy, at de 
 do'? 
 Ef you is, in spite o' sin, 
 Dey '11 be sho' to let me in, 
 Wen dey sees yo' face a-shinin', den 
 dey '11 know. 
 
 44 
 
SPRING FEVER 
 
 45 
 
/~* RASS commence a-comin' 
 
 Thoo de thawin' ground 
 Evah bird dat whistles 
 
 Keepin' noise erroun' ; 
 Cain't sleep in de mo'nin', 
 
 Case befo' it 's light 
 Bluebird an' de robin 
 
 Done begun to fight. 
 
 Bluebird sass de robin, 
 
 Robin sass him back, 
 Den de bluebird scol' him 
 
 'Twell his face is black. 
 Would n' min' de quoilin' 
 
 All de mo'nin' long, 
 'Cept it wakes me early, 
 
 Case hit 's done in song. 
 
 47 
 

Anybody wo'kin' 
 
 Wants to sleep ez late 
 Ez de folks '11 'low him, 
 
 An' I wish to state 
 (Co'se dis ain't to scattah, 
 
 But 'twix' me an' you), 
 I could stan' de bedclothes, 
 
 Kin' o' latah, too. 
 
 'T ain't my natchul feelin', 
 
 Dis hyeah mopin' spell. 
 I stan's early risin' 
 
 Mos'ly moughty well; 
 But de ve'y minute, 
 
 I feel Ap'il's heat, 
 Bless yo' soul, de bedclothes 
 
 Nevah seemed so sweet. 
 
 49 
 
Mastah, he 's a-scol'in', 
 
 Case de han's is slow, 
 All de hosses balkin', 
 
 Jes' cain't mek 'em go. 
 Don' know whut 's de mattah, 
 
 Hit 's a funny t'ing, 
 I ess'n hit 's de fevah 
 
 Dat you gits in spring. 
 
 50 
 
THE TRYST 
 
 5J 
 
T~\E night creep down erlong de Ian', 
 
 De shadders rise an' shake, 
 De frog is sta'tin' up his ban', 
 
 De cricket is awake ; 
 My wo'k is mos' nigh done, Celes', 
 
 To-night I won't be late, 
 I 's hu'yin' thoo my level bes' ? 
 
 Wait fu' me by de gate. 
 
 53 
 
• ' ■ 
 
 ] 
 1 
 I 
 
 p* 
 
 ''mL 
 
De mockin'-bird '11 sen' his glee 
 
 A-thrillin' thoo and thoo, 
 I know dat ol' magnolia-tree 
 
 Is smellin' des' fu' you ; 
 De jessamine erside de road 
 
 Is bloomin' rich an' white, 
 My hea't 's a-th'obbin' 'cause it knowed 
 
 You 'd wait fu' me to-night. 
 
 55 
 
Hit 's lonesome, ain't it, stan'in' thaih 
 
 Wid no one nigh to talk ? 
 But ain't dey whispahs in de aih 
 
 Erlong de gyahden walk ? 
 Don't somep'n kin' o' call my name, 
 
 An' say u he love you bes' " ? 
 Hit 's true, I wants to say de same, 
 
 So wait fu' me, Celes'. 
 
 57 
 
Sing somep'n fu' to pass de time, 
 
 Outsing de mockin'-bird, 
 You got de music an' de rhyme, 
 
 You beat him wid de word. 
 I 's comin' now, my wo'k is done, 
 
 De hour has come fu' res', 
 I wants to fly, but only run — 
 
 Wait fu' me, deah Celes'. 
 
 58 
 
ITCHING HEELS 
 
 59 
 
T^U' de peace o' my eachin' heels, set down ; 
 
 Don' fiddle dat chune no mo'. . 
 Don' you see how dat melody stuhs me up 
 
 An' baigs me to tek to de flo' ? 
 You knows I'sa Christian, good an' strong ; 
 
 I wusship f'omjune to June; 
 My pra'ahs dey ah loud an' my hymns ah 
 long: 
 I baig you don' fiddle dat chune. 
 
 61 
 
I 's a crick in my back an' a misery hyeah 
 
 Whaih de j'ints 's gittin' ol' an' stiff, 
 But hit seems lak you brings me de bref o' 
 my youf ; 
 
 Wy, I 's suttain I noticed a w'iff. 
 Don' fiddle dat chune no mo', my chile, 
 
 Don' fiddle dat chune no mo' ; 
 I '11 git up an' taih up dis groun' fu' a mile, 
 
 An' den I '11 be chu'ched fu' it, sho'. 
 
 63 
 
Oh, fiddle dat chune some mo', I say, 
 
 An' fiddle it loud an' fas' : 
 I'sa youngstah ergin in de mi'st o' my 
 sin ; 
 
 De p'esent 's gone back to de pas'. 
 I '11 dance to dat chune, so des fiddle erway ; 
 
 I knows how de backslidah feels ; 
 So fiddle it on 'twell de break o' de day 
 
 Fu' de sake o' my eachin' heels. 
 
 64 
 
THE BOOGAH MAN 
 
 b5 
 
"YY"7"'EN de evenin' shadders 
 
 v ' " Come a-glidin' down, 
 Fallin' black an' heavy 
 
 Ovah hill an' town, 
 Ef you listen keerful, 
 
 Keerful ez you kin, 
 So 's you boun' to notice 
 
 Des a drappin' pin ; 
 Den you '11 hyeah a funny 
 
 Soun' ercross de Ian' ; 
 Lay low ; dat 's de callin' 
 
 Of de Boogah Man ! 
 
 Woo-oo, ivoo-oo ! 
 
 Hyeah him ez he go erlong de ivay ; 
 Woo-oo, ivoo-oo ! 
 
 Don' you wish de night 'ud ta'n to day ? 
 Woo-oo, ivoo-oo! 
 
 Hide yo' little peepers 'hind yo' han' / 
 Woo-oo, ivoo-oo ! 
 
 Callin' of de Boogah Man. 
 
 67 
 
Wen de win 's a-shiverin' 
 
 Thoo de gloomy lane, 
 An' dey comes de patterin' 
 
 Of de evenin' rain, 
 Wen de owl 's a-hootin', 
 
 Out daih in de wood, 
 Don' you wish, my honey, 
 
 Dat you had been good ? 
 'T ain't no use to try to 
 
 Snuggle up to Dan ; 
 Bless you, dat 's de callin' 
 
 Of de Boogah Man ! 
 
 69 
 
Ef you loves yo' mammy, 
 
 An' you min's yo' pap, 
 Ef you nevah wriggles 
 
 Outen Sukey's lap ; 
 Ef you says yo' " Lay me : 
 
 Evah single night 
 'Fo' dey tucks de kivers 
 
 An' puts out de light, 
 Den de rain kin pattah, 
 
 Win' blow lak a fan, 
 But you need n' bothah 
 
 'Bout de Boogah Man ! 
 
 70 
 
A PLANTATION PORTRAIT 
 
 71 
 
4S5e£!&3&8e£ '£&■. 
 
 ^mk^M, kJK. .ysLii 
 
T_J AIN'T you see my Mandy Lou, 
 
 Is it true ? 
 Whaih you been f om day to day, 
 
 Whaih, I say ? 
 Dat you say you nevah seen 
 
 Dis hyeah queen 
 Walkin' roun' f om fiel* to street 
 
 Smilin' sweet ? 
 
 Slendah ez a saplin' tree ; 
 
 Seems to me 
 Wen de win' blow Pom de bay 
 
 She jes' sway 
 Lak de reg'lar saplin' do 
 
 Ef hit 's grew 
 Straight an' graceful, 'dout a limb, 
 
 Sweet an' slim. 
 
 73 
 
Browner den de frush's wing, 
 
 An' she sing 
 Lak he mek his wa'ble ring 
 
 In de spring; 
 But she sholy beat de frush, 
 
 Hyeah me, hush : 
 Wen she sing, huh teef kin show 
 
 White ez snow. 
 
 Eyes ez big an' roun' an' bright 
 
 Ez de light 
 Whut de moon gives in de prime 
 
 Harvest time. 
 An' huh haih a woolly skein, 
 
 Black an' plain, 
 Hoi's you wid a natchul twis' 
 
 Close to bliss. 
 
 75 
 
Tendah han's dat mek yo' own 
 
 Feel lak stone ; 
 Easy stepping blessid feet, 
 
 Small an' sweet. 
 Hain't you seen my Mandy Lou, 
 
 Is it true ? 
 Look at huh befo' she 's gone, 
 
 Den pass on ! 
 
 76 
 
"HOWDY, HONEY, HOWDY!" 
 
 77 
 
DO' a-stan'in' on a jar, fiah a-shinin' 
 thoo, 
 Or folks drowsin' 'roun' de place, wide 
 
 awake is Lou, 
 Wen I tap, she answeh, an' I see huh 
 
 'mence to grin, 
 ** Howdy, honey, howdy, won't you step 
 right in?" 
 
 Den I step erpon de log layin' at de do', 
 Bless de Lawd, huh mammy an' huh pap 's 
 
 done 'menced to sno', 
 Now 's de time, ef evah, ef I 's gwine to try 
 
 an' win, 
 " Howdy, honey, howdy, won't you step 
 
 right in?" 
 
 No use playin' on de aidge, trimblin' on de 
 
 brink, 
 Wen a body love a gal, tell huh whut he 
 
 t'ink ; 
 Wen huh hea't is open fu' de love you 
 
 gwine to gin, 
 Pull yo'se'f togethah, suh, an' step right in. 
 
 79 
 
Sweetes' imbitation dat a body evah 
 
 hyeahed, 
 Sweetah den de music of a love-sick 
 
 mockin'-bird, 
 Comin' f'om de gal you loves bettah den 
 
 yo' kin, 
 " Howdy, honey, howdy, won't you step 
 
 right in?" 
 
 8J 
 
At de gate o' heaven w'en de storm o' 
 
 life is pas', 
 'Spec' I '11 be a-stan'in', 'twell de Mastah 
 
 say at las', 
 " Hyeah he stan' all weary, but he 
 
 winned his fight wid sin. 
 Howdy, honey, howdy, won't you step 
 
 right in?" 
 
 82 
 
NODDIN' BY DE FIRE 
 
 83 
 
O OME folks t'inks hit 's right an' p'opah, 
 
 Soon ez bedtime come erroun', 
 Fu' to scramble to de kiver, 
 
 Lak dey 'd hyeahed de trumpet soun'. 
 But dese people dey all misses 
 
 Whut I mos'ly does desiah ; 
 Dat 's de settin* roun' an' dozin', 
 
 An' a-noddin' by de fiah. 
 
 85 
 
When you 's tiahed out a-hoein', 
 
 Er a-followin' de plough, 
 Whut 's de use of des a-fallin' 
 
 On yo' pallet lak a cow ? 
 W'y, de fun is all in waitin' 
 
 In de face of all de tiah, 
 An' a-dozin' and a-drowsin' 
 
 By a good ol' hick'ry fiah. 
 
 Oh, you grunts an* groans an' mumbles 
 
 Case yo' bones is full o' col', 
 Dough you feels de joy a-tricklin' 
 
 Roun' de co'nahs of yo' soul. 
 An' you 'low anothah minute 
 
 'S sho to git you wa'm an' dryah, 
 Wen you set up pas' yo' bedtime, 
 
 Case you hates to leave de fiah. 
 
 87 
 
Whut 's de use o' downright sleepin' ? 
 
 You can't feel it while it las', 
 An' you git up feelin' sorry 
 
 Wen de time fu' it is pas'. 
 Seem to me dat time too precious, 
 
 An' de houahs too short entiah, 
 Fu' to sleep, w'en you could spen' 'em 
 
 Des a-noddin' by de fiah. 
 
 88 
 
A WARM DAY IN WINTER 
 
 89 
 
' OUNSHINE on de medders, 
 
 Greenness on de way ; 
 Dat 's de blessed reason 
 
 I sing all de day." 
 Look hyeah ! Whut you axin' ? 
 
 Whut meks me so merry ? 
 'Spect to see me sighin' 
 
 Wen hit 's wa'm in Febawary ? 
 
 91 
 
'Long de stake an' rider 
 
 Seen a robin set ; 
 W'y, hit 'mence a-thawin', 
 
 Groun' is monst'ous wet. 
 Den you stan* dah wond'rin', 
 
 Lookin' skeert an' stary; 
 I 's a right to caper 
 
 Wen hit 's wa'm in Febawary. 
 
 93 
 

Missis gone a-drivin', 
 
 Mastah gone to shoot ; 
 Ev'ry da'ky lazin' 
 
 In de sun to boot. 
 Qua'tah 's moughty pleasant, 
 
 Hangin' 'roun' my Mary ; 
 Cou'tin' boun* to prospah 
 
 Wen hit 's wa'm in Febawary. 
 
 95 
 
Cidah look so pu'ty 
 
 Po'in' fom de jug — 
 Don' you see it *s happy ? 
 
 Hyeah it laffin' — glug ? 
 Now 's de time fu' people 
 
 Fu' to try an' bury 
 All dey grief an' sorrer, 
 
 Wen hit 's wa'm in Febawary. 
 
 96 
 
THE VISITOR 
 
 97 
 

 
 T ITTLE lady at de do', 
 
 W'y you stan' dey knockin' ? 
 Nevah seen you ac' befo' 
 In er way so shockin'. 
 
 Don' you know de sin it is 
 Fu' to git my temper riz 
 Wen I 's got de 1 heumatiz 
 An' my jints is lockin' ? 
 
 99 
 
No, ol' Miss ain't sont you down, 
 
 Don' you tell no story ; 
 I been seed you hangin' 'roun' 
 Dis hyeah te'itory. 
 
 You des come fu' me to tell 
 You a tale, an' I ain' — well — 
 Look hyeah, what is dat I smell ? 
 Steamin' victuals ? Glory ! 
 
 101 
 
Come in, Missy, how you do ? 
 
 Come up by de fiah, 
 I was jokin', chile, wid you ; 
 Bring dat basket nighah. 
 
 Huh uh, ain' dat lak ol' Miss, 
 Sen'in' me a f eas' lak dis ? 
 Rheumatiz cain't stop my bliss, 
 Case I 's feelin' spryah. 
 
 103 
 
Chicken meat an' gravy, too, 
 
 Hot an' still a-heatin' ; 
 Good ol' sweet pertater stew; 
 Missy b'lieves in treatin'. 
 
 Des set down, you blessed chile, 
 Daddy got to fink a while, 
 Den a story mek you smile 
 Wen he git thoo eatin'. 
 
 J04 
 
MY SWEET BROWN GAL 
 
 105 
 
YVT'EN de clouds is hangin 
 
 heavy in de sky, 
 An' de win's 's a-taihin' moughty 
 
 vig'rous by, 
 I don' go a-sighin' all erlong de 
 
 way; 
 I des' wo'k a-waitin' fu' de close o' 
 
 day. 
 
 Case I knows w'en evenin' draps 
 
 huh shadders down, 
 I won' care a smidgeon fu' de 
 
 weathah's frown ; 
 Let de rain go splashing let de 
 
 thundah raih, 
 Dey 's a happy sheltah, an' I 's goin' 
 
 daih. 
 
 107 
 
Down in my ol' cabin wa'm ez 
 
 mammy's toas', 
 'Taters in de fiah layin' daih to 
 
 roas' ; 
 No one daih to cross me, got no 
 
 talkin' pal 
 But I 's got de comp'ny o' my sweet 
 
 brown gal. 
 
 J09 
 
■t 1 
 
 So I spen's my evenin' listenin' to 
 
 huh sing, 
 Lak a blessid angel ; how huh voice 
 
 do ring ! 
 Sweetah den a bluebird flutterin' 
 
 erroun', 
 
 Wen he sees de steamin' o' de new 
 ploughed groun'. 
 
 JJ1 
 
Den I hugs huh closah, closah to my 
 
 breas*. 
 Need n't sing, my da'lin', tek you' 
 
 hones' res'. 
 Does I mean Malindy, Mandy, Lize 
 
 er Sal ? 
 No, I means my fiddle — dat 's my 
 
 sweet brown gal ! 
 
 112 
 
1 . *j 
 
 IN THE MORNING 
 
 113 
 
T IAS ! 'Lias ! Bless de Lawd ! 
 
 Don' you know de day 's erbroad ? 
 Ef you don' git up, you scamp, 
 Dey '11 be trouble in dis camp. 
 T'ink I gwine to let you sleep 
 Wile I meks yo' boa'd an' keep? 
 Dat 's a putty howdy-do — 
 Don' you hyeah me, 'Lias — you ? 
 
 Bet ef I come crost dis flo' 
 You won' fin' no time to sno'. 
 Daylight all a-shinin' in 
 Wile you sleep — w'y hit 's a sin I 
 Ain't de can'le-light enough 
 To bu'n out widout a snuff, 
 But you go de mo'nin' thoo 
 Bu'nin' up de daylight too ? 
 
 us 
 
'Lias, don' you hyeah me call ? 
 No use tu'nin' to'ds de wall ; 
 I kin hyeah dat mattuss squeak ; 
 Don' you hyeah me w'en I speak ? 
 Dis hyeah clock done struck off six — 
 Ca'line, bring me dem ah sticks ! 
 Oh, you down, suh ; huh ! you down • 
 Look hyeah, don' you daih to frown. 
 
 117 
 
 
Ma'ch yo'se'f an' wash yo' face, 
 Don' you splattah all de place ; 
 I got somep'n else to do, 
 'Sides jes' cleanin' aftah you. 
 Tek dat comb an' fix yo' haid — 
 Looks jes' lak a feddah baid. 
 Look hyeah, boy, I let you see 
 You sha'n't roll yo' eyes at me. 
 
 Come hyeah ; bring me dat ah strap ! 
 Boy, I '11 whup you 'twell you drap ; 
 You done felt yo'se'f too strong, 
 An' you sholy got me wrong. 
 Set down at dat table thaih ; 
 Jes' you whtmpah ef you daih ! 
 Evah mo'nin' on dis place, 
 Seem lak I mus' lose my grace. 
 
 JJ9 
 
Fol' yo' han's an' bow yo' haid — 
 Wait ontwell de blessin' 's said ; 
 " Lawd, have mussy on ouah souls — 
 (Don' you daih to tech dem rolls — ) 
 " Bless de food we gwine to eat — " 
 (You set still — I see yo' feet ; 
 You jes' try dat trick agin !) 
 " Gin us peace an' joy. Amen ! " 
 
 120 
 
TO THE EASTERN SHORE 
 
 121 
 
T 'S feelin' kin' o' lonesome in my little 
 room to-night, 
 An' my min's done los' de minutes an' 
 de miles, 
 Wile it teks me back a-flyin' to de 
 country of delight, 
 Whaih de Chesapeake goes grumblin* 
 er wid smiles. 
 Oh, de ol' plantation f s callin' to me, 
 Come, come back, 
 Hyeah 's de place fu' you to labouh an' 
 to res', 
 Fu' my sandy roads is gleamin' w'ile 
 de city ways is black ; 
 Come back, honey, case yo' country 
 home is bes'. 
 
 J23 
 
I know de moon is shinin' down erpon 
 de Eastern sho', 
 An' de bay 's a-sayin' " Howdy " to de 
 Ian'; 
 An' de folks is all a-settin' out erroun' de 
 cabin do', 
 Wid dey feet a-restin' in de silvah 
 san'; 
 An' de ol' plantation 's callin' to me, 
 Come, oh, come, 
 F'om de life dat 's des' a-waihin' you 
 erway, 
 F'om de trouble an' de bustle, an' de 
 agernizin' hum 
 Dat de city keeps ergoin' all de day. 
 
 J25 
 
I 's tiahed of de city, tek me back to Sandy 
 Side, 
 Whaih de po'est ones kin live an' play 
 an' eat ; 
 Whaih we draws a simple livin' f om de 
 fo'est an' de tide, 
 An' de days ah faih, an' evah night is 
 sweet. 
 
Fit' de oP plantation 's callin' to me, 
 Come, oh, come. 
 An* de Chesapeake 's a-sayin' " Dat 's 
 de t'ing," 
 Wile my little cabin beckons, dough 
 his mouf is closed an' dumb, 
 I 's a-comin', an' my hea't begins to sing. 
 
 128 
 
WADIN' IN DE CREEK 
 
 129 
 
W. 
 
T""\AYS git wa'm an' wa'mah, 
 School gits mighty dull, 
 Seems lak dese hyeah teachahs 
 
 Mus' feel mussiful. 
 Hookey 's wrong, I know it 
 
 Ain't no gent'man's trick ; 
 But de aihs a-callin', 
 
 " Come on to de crick." 
 
 Dah de watah 's gu'glin' 
 
 Ovah shiny stones, 
 Des hit's ve'y singin' 
 
 Seems to soothe yo' bones. 
 Wat 's de use o' waitin', 
 
 Go on good an' quick : 
 Dain't no fun lak dis hyeah 
 
 Wadin' in de crick. 
 
 13J 
 
Wat dat jay-bu'd sayin' ? 
 
 Bettah shet yo' haid, 
 Fus' t'ing dat you fin' out, 
 
 You '11 be layin' daid. 
 Jay-bu'd 's sich a tattlah, 
 
 Des seem lak his trick 
 Fu' to tell on folkses 
 
 Wadin' in de crick. 
 
 J 33 
 
Wilier boughs a-bendin', 
 
 Hidin' of de sky, 
 Wavin' kin' o' frien'ly 
 
 Ez de win' go by, 
 Elum trees a-shinin', 
 
 Dahk an' green an' thick, 
 Seem to say, " I see yo' 
 
 Wadin' in de crick." 
 
 But de trees don' chattah, 
 
 Dey des look an' sigh 
 Lak hit 's kin' o' peaceful 
 
 Des a-bein' nigh, 
 An' you t'ank yo' Mastah 
 
 Dat dey trunks is thick 
 Wen yo' mammy fin's yo' 
 
 Wadin' in de crick. 
 
 135 
 
Den yo' run behin' dem 
 
 Lak yo' scaihed to def, 
 Mammy come a-flyin', 
 
 Mos' nigh out o' bref; 
 But she set down gentle 
 
 An' she drap huh stick, - 
 An' fus' t'ing, dey 's mammy 
 
 Wadin' in de crick. 
 
 136 
 
*wmm «m me-*i 
 
 'LONG TO'DS NIGHT 
 
 137 
 
DAIH 'S a moughty soothin' feelin' 
 Hits a dahky man, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 Wen de row is mos' nigh ended, 
 Den he stops to fan, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 De blue smoke f om his cabin is a-callin' 
 
 to him, " Come ; " 
 He smell de bacon cookin', an' he hyeah 
 
 de fiah hum ; 
 An' he 'mence to sing, 'dough wo'kin' 
 putty nigh done made him dumb, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 
 139 
 
Wid his hoe erpcn his shouldah 
 Den he goes erlong, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 An' he keepin' time a-steppin' 
 Wid a little song, 
 'Long to'ds night, 
 
 AO 
 
De restin'-time 's a-comin', an' de time 
 
 to drink an' eat; 
 A baby 's toddlin' to'ds him on hits 
 
 little dusty feet, 
 An' a-goin' to'ds his cabin, an' his 
 
 suppah 's moughty sweet, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 
 
 •MPJ 
 
 
Daih his Ca'line min' de kettle, 
 Rufus min' de chile, 
 'Long to'ds night ; 
 An' de sweat roll down his forred, 
 Mixin' wid his smile, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 He toss his piccaninny, an' he hum a 
 
 little chune ; 
 De wo'kin' all is ovah, an' de suppah 
 
 comin' soon; 
 De wo'kin' time 's Decembah, but de 
 restin' time is June, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 
 143 
 
Dey 's a kin' o' doleful feelin', 
 Hits a tendah place, 
 'Long to'ds night ; 
 Dey 's a moughty glory in him 
 Shinin' thoo his face, 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 De cabin 's lak de big house, an' de 
 
 fiah 's lak de sun ; 
 His wife look moughty lakly, an' de 
 
 chile de puttiest one ; 
 Wy, hit 's blessid, jes' a-livin' w'en a 
 body's wo'k is done. 
 'Long to'ds night. 
 
 144