Sbabes of Sunlight Hloab Jftistet. \ Sbabes of Sunlight Hloab frister. s , , L.^.K OF ...^;N^. ••■-:. Ob, T,/vu Copies Heceived FEB 19 1903 Copyufe"^ tntry CLASS CV XXc. No. COPY 8. De Christmas Am a Comin'. De Chrirtmas am a comin, am a comin on de wing; De gal along de ribber, dey ar comin here to sing; De cooks dey am a roastin', dey biliu, an dey bake, An misses she a fixin dat air frostin on de cake. My coffee! My coffee. Dat what Dinah say. You coffee in de mornin Tom Afo de break o'day. De Christmas been a comin, an a comin all de day; De boys along de ribber, dey an comin here to play; De banjo an de fiddle will mingle in der tones, De laughiu ob de women an de rattle ob de bones. Chorus. De Christmas am a comin, an a comin Christmas; night De big house will be shiniu an a lookin oh so blight; l;e minutes am a goin, de hours bringin nigh, iJc ;-;ravy on de tater an de possum in de pie. Chorus. Young misses she a comin, am a comin home ^^id sweets, De raisins an de candies for de little ones to eat, De uncles an de aunties, dey gwiue to hab der share, Dev run up to de big house when dey know young misses Chorus. (dare. Young massa he a comin an den you hear de noise; An den he frow de coppers to de chillun an de boys. De minutes am a goin, you let de ole man lone, When we all round de table an de turl-^ey round de bone. Chours. 'Twas ear.y in de mornin when massa call to Nance: You tell em I'm a comin down to see dem fellers dance; De gals will all be laughin, be makin fun o' Sam, Dey kno\\s dat he'll de lookin for be eggs among de ham. Chorus. De banjo an de fiddle, de'll be playin all de night, Dey'l be playin till de mornin, till de comin ob de light; Dey'l always be agoin an a comin at de door, Dey'l nebber stop der dancin an der kitckin on de floor. Chorus. The Leghorn Hen. Dem precious eggs dey ten. She laid de Leghorn hen; In a little time were duckies nine, Along wid de Leghorn hen. An oh twas awful sad Dot evil luck she had: In a little time de chickies nine Dey all done gone to de bad. Chorus. She try in to get dare gain, She settin de Leghorn hen. De eggs in de nest An she doin her best; She tryin to git dare gain. A hawk came sailin by, Dem chickies took his eye An clown he whipped, a chickie he nipped, An wid it away did fly. A weazel by de gate Ivooked on dem chickies eight; Dat weazel tricky, he caught a chicky, And trotted it home to his mate. Chorus. A rat he hidin dare; Said he: dats hardly fair, Dares chickies to eat and chickies are sweet, An I jToin to have my share. A short time after dat Came sneakin round de rat. A chickie he grabbed an den he got nabbed An carried away by de cat. Chorus. De cat felt by her paw What de rat had by his jaw. She killed de rat an dare she sat Dat chicky way down her maw, She'd surapfin in her store, Sbe'd never had before. Said she: it nice, it better den mice, An I goin to have some more. Chorus. De cat jumped off de wall; Said she: dem chickies small. Dares only six and dem will 1 fix. She killed an eat dem all. She wept de Leghorn hen. She said mv eggs were ten, My chickies nine an dey so fine, She dropped a big tear den. Chorus. Little May Bell, The most charming village on Genesee shore. The houses together two hundred or more; Of all the young women who therein did dwell Smallet^-t and loveliest was little May Bell. In Genesee valley there labored a youth. He little possessed pave industry and truth. His father was blind and his people were poor. But true as the needle was Johnny Maclure, And this is the story the neighbors did tell When Johnny went courting His little May Bell. Paul Bell, the best miller on the Genesee Was rich and as busy as miller could be, He barreled his flour by day and by night; His wife and his daughter his greatest delight. Paul Bell's wife said to him: now what would you say If Johnny Mclure should come calling on May ? He turned on his heel and said impudence that He's poor as a pumpkin; I'll horsewhip the rat. Chorus. May wept when the moon threw its light on the yard, She knew that her father was standing on guard. She watched and she listened just what she had feared; With quick step and whistle young Johnny appeared, May beard the sharp horse whip, she saw Johnny run. vShe cried cut: Dear father, oh, what have you done? Then hght as a sncw flake as softly she fell, And snow white the face of poor little May Bell. Chorus. Next morning the miller was grinding some rye, A smile on his face and a tear in his eye. Somehow the old fellow had mixed it that way: The smile was for Johnny, the tear was for May. Just then a near neighbor came over the hill, A woman of coutse, who ran into the mill. Why, dear Mr. Bell, don't you know May has fled; I guess she and Johnny Maclure have sot wed. Chorus. Paul Bell did not speak, he was struck with surprise; He stared at the neighbor with wide open eyes; And standing there helpless as if he were froze. Let fall the half bushel of rye on his toes. Ma}' wrote to her mother: come, be of good cheer; Johnny and I have got married out here, And say to dear father: don't worry and fret, But now its all over, forgive and forget. Chorus. Quite soon the old miller his daughter did miss; He went out to see her and got a sweet kiss. He said to young Johnny: I hope that you will Come home, and you'll help me to run the old mill. And so the good horses came back with the three. The gossips were saying: can such a thing be; May caught her kind mother in loving embrace, While bright tears of happness shone on her face. Chorus. Paul Bell was unable tu hide his delight; He sang and he whistled from morning til night, Why Johniiy was born for a miller, said he, And we are all as happy as happy can be. Young Johnny the head of the mill became soon; Pie worked in the flour from midnight till noon. Yet time in his flight is quite rapid I'm sure, For now the old miller is Johnny Maclure, The Emancipation Proclamation. Massa home on de ole plantation when de proclamation come. He read dat news in de mornin paper an he bitin on he fum He bite he fum an he change he color an he rollin round he eye. An he lookin so bad in deface dat mornin dat I taut he goin to die. Dat day, dat day, when freedom save de land; Dat day, dat day, from mountain top to strand. De Lord give de power unto Abraham Lincoln; An Freedom save de land. Oh dat day, twas a day I tell you dat will nebber be seen no more; Some folks cry an a many one a laughin as dey nebber did laugh afore; One tell one, an anodder tell anodder till dey all git all de news; Dey huggin and dey kissiu, an dey talkin all togedder, and dey kickiu off all der shoes. Chorus. Uncle Pete he chatter like a monkey, an round an round he go; He face as Mark as de tar in de kettle, an he hair as white as snow; He clappin he hands, an he ninety-seven, an he dancin on he feet, And de white folks say dat day can't tell really what to make of Uncle Pete. Chorus. Den ole Uncle Pete he climin de big tree on de lawn Massa tell him dat he caper all de nioniin an he reckon he senses gone. You've got so Oic dat you can't walk steady, you so ole you can hardly see Why you can't climb over de fence ole Peter and 3um try In to climb a tree. Massa don't you be gittin so forgittin for 3'ou know dis day I free, An I feel jist like I felt when I twenty an I gwine to to climb de tree. For I know dem angels knowin all about it, an I know deys on de wing, An I want to be gittin up, away up yonder, for to hear dem angels sing. Unle climb but he strengf dun lef him when he on dat lowest limb; Massa say when he got no fudder twas a wonderful climb for him; Dey help him down an he vSay I couldn't an de angels on de wing. Forty years ago, if to-day been agoin I'd heard dem an- gels sing: An ity Jane she gittin us togedder an she call us all around; An she tay: who'd a taut dis da}^ been a comin, an you aunty on de ground, An I want you all to sing wid you aunty and as loutl as you souls afford, I'or de Lord give de power unto Abraham Lincoln an we gwine to praise de Lord. The Two Little Brooks. Dare de wild birds sin gin in de shady woods An de wild ilowers blossom yet. Dare de two little brooks wid der cozy nooks. An de big tree where dey met. Dare be wild bees hummin o'er de grassy field. And de wild ducks on de wing. An de mamma birds wid der chirpin words To de young de good tings bring; When we walkin dare den we taut we pair Was de happiest pair of all. An I always glad and cherry when I could hear dem light feet fall, Dare de paff went windin by de seamy rocks, An de brooks dey a murmeriu sweet, Au de twistin twines of de creepiu vines, Dey trailin around our feet, De summer skies an de sparklin eyes Dey bless dis heart of mine, An we know de Lord remember we two When He make dem sunbeams shine, Dare de wild rose bloom in on de mossy bank When de blue bird builds her nest, An we taut dat place was de prettyest place When we settiu on de moss to rest, On de clean green moss where we used to toss A pebble for de chance, An de one dat wins he de one dat sings, All he make dat todderone dance, Den a sweet voice vsiugin by de bubblin brooks, An de sun goin down in de west, An de smile I see am a proof to me Dat de banjo doin it best, An de careles breeze to de leafy trees It whisper soft and low. An de banjo tell to de mockin bird Why we love dat banjo so. Now de little fish swimmiu in de clear bright brooks An de brooks dey a murmerin yet. Far away o'er de wave by de loved ones' grave, An de big tree where dey met, All de baujo broke dat so often spoke To de one dat gone away. For d.-^ tings I nebber could tell myself, I could make dat banjo say. Elsadore. I'm going down to Baltimore, I'm going to the sea; If you decide to answer yes, I'm coming here to be. I'm going to the city my pretty I^lsadore. If you decide to answer no, I'lu coming back no more. You say you loved your father long Before you thought of me. You'll do just wuat your mother says Whatever that may be. But isn't it a pity my pretty Klsadore Two hearts should break And 1 ve forsake. Because two hands are poor. An Fnglish lad from Iviverpool, His trap set on the heath. When he came back he swung his cap; A lark was underneatn. Up to meet the gleaming On many a morn before. His sweet, sweet song with merry wings To British skies he bore. He took the lark to Liverpool- He took him there to sing. _ [thing, Alas, he cried: I'll never get a whisper from the His heart was in the meadows. His singing days were oe'r. Just so I ftar it will be with you My pretty Elsadore. Good bye for good my Elsadore; We never more shall meet, I'm going down to Baltimore, I'm going to the fleet, I'm going to the city, I'm going to the war, Let fortune smile or fortune frown, I'm coming back no more. The Cotton Fields. See, see de signal from de sun Gleaming on de top o' yonder pine Tells us he's a comin, comin here dis moruin, Comiu on de cotton fields to shine Far far de white fields o' bloom. Stretchin over yonder like de sea, Berdin like de willows, wavin like de billows, Pickiu in de cotton fields are we. Da da, de shadows of de clouds Movin on de white waves gay, Makin all dem pictures, vanishin like witches, Passiu o'er de cotton fields away; Sing, sing, you cotton pickers all. De voices of de bobolinks arise. De cotton fields dey cheery. And not a soul is weary; De sun a shinin happy in de skies. Sing, sing, de hummin birds around, Hummin by de cotton blossoms free, De mockin bird a singin, De tremblin air a ringin, Pickin in de cotton fields are we; Far far de cotton goin ter go, Goin on de ribbers an de seas — Away across de ocean To keep de looms in motion, To make de people busy like de bees. Joy, joy, go wid de cotton bales, Goin to de spinners ober dah. Happ be de singers, nimble be de fingers, Toilin at de spindles ober da. Lochland far Over the Sea. Lochland, the beauty of Seneca's shore, Fated to wander from thee. Eyes of thy lover behold thee no more — Lochland far over the sea, Feet that have known thee have traveled away, Ah, shall they press thee again; Wide are the waters between us that lay; Lochland far over the main. Lochland away, Lochland afar, Lochland far over the sea, Lochland away, Lochland afar, Lochland far over the sea. Mild be you, monarch the king of the dawn. When over Lochland you shine; Life be your, rise to her meadows and lawn, Pleasures attend your decline, Orchard and garden inspire to yeild, Produce the pride of the day, Scatter your blessings rich on thefield When your quick smiling beamsplay. Chorus. Welcome yon pale moon the queen of the night, Changeful as queens ever be, Pass on dispensing your silvering light Over the land of the free; Go where the lake still mirrors the skies, On her sweet bosom to throw: Pictures of headlands, leaf crowned that rise When her great forest trees grow. Chorus. Hark, where yon wild winds so carelessly sweep Over Atlantic's wide breast; Bear not the tempest that troubles the deep To the fair laud of the west; lie there as zephyers floating so mild, By the bright Seneca's shore; Storm not go lightly, soft as a child, Sporting the sunny fields o'er. Chorus. Goin to Baltimore. Hurrah boys, hurrah, we're goin to Baltimore, We're goin to de city where we ofter been afore, We're goin to de city, we're goin to de bay, We're goin to de city an we got de holiday; De sun a goin fast, we tinks we goin slow We tinks de cars a creepin all along de way dey go. We're just de merryest boy on all de western shore, An v»'e boun to have de jolliest time when we git to Baltimore, We boys a goin to start quite early in de morn, But de hogs got into de tater patcli an de cows got in de corn. Before we got dem out and de fence fixed uo again, De time was on de cars were gone an we lost dat early train. Den Massa say: now boys I make dat matter right; You needn't come back at all again until tomorrow night We's got more time to stay den ever we had before, An we'll dance all night till broad daylight Wid de gals of Baltimore. We boys we feel so fine our feet dey rise an fall; Dey can't stay up but a little time an dey won't stay down at all, Dey jis like corn a poppin, a bobbin up an down, Beicase dey out of de bakker patch an goin to de town; Conductor lookin cross when he come back again; Said he: now boys you stop your noise or I'll put you ofFde train, We boys we tell him our feet dey won't stay on de floor, Deys bound to go like dis you know till dey git to Baltimore; Den Sam he nudgin Joe and makiu dat creetur laugh, An Tom he mockiu de brindle cow a bawlin for de calf, An Dick jump and dauce till he git out of bref, An all de passengers in de car dey laughin demselves to def; De brakeman come in de car, de conductor slow de train, We boys we singin, de Yaller gal a racin in de lane, Dey hear de pigs a squealin dat cow she boun to bawl, lO An cle brakenien laughed till de}' got so weak de}' couldnt do nuffin at all; From out of de car behind a geutlemau he come in; He stared around astonished and he lookedas mad as sin, An he yelled to dat conductor it am a scandalous ting For you to hold a passenger train to iKar dem darkeys sing; De passengers in de car dey roared an shouted den, We boys we singiu de little chick a settin on de hen; De brakeman ran to de brakes, dat wicked conductor swore, An de train went movin along again on de road to Balti- more. A gentleman called aloud dem boys a doin fine. Will any you give em a quarter now here goes a dollar of mine. He toss a dollar to us an odders do jde same, An we ketchin de halves an quarters dats de winning kind o'game. We hear de engine whistle, we know de city's nigh. We singin bout de tater bugs a comin troo de rye; We's got more money to spend den ever we had before, An we'll buy de pi-ettyest tings in town for de gals of Baltimore. When She Got to Poppin Corn. She v/as great was Aunt Jemima when she got to poppin corn, When she got to poppin corn, v/heu slie got to poppin corn; You would tink ole nick was in her when slie' got to poppin corn; She would hustle to de cupboard where de corn was in a can, She would fetch along a popper, she'd bring along a can, She would say you pickaninies now you musLnt make a sound, Wid her sleeves above her elbows and her apron pulled around. When she got to poppin corn. When she got to po[)pin corn, You w^ould tink ole nick was in her. When she got to poppin corn. Oh de way she'd shake her popper. An de way she'd shake her head, vShe'd hobble and she'd v/obble Until on your toes she'd tread. And when she hurt your feet Now you musut say a word, If you did she'd make you liy Jis like a little bird. Chorus. An den she'd burn her corn Till twas black as my old hat. An maybe now you tink dat you would'nt look at dat. But she'd pass around de plate. An she'd oflFer you some too. An I radder guess you'd take it When she roll dem eyes at you. Chorus. She would keep de corn a burnin till de room was full of smoke. II When she saw we didn't eat it den dis am de way she spoke, Pickins why done you eat dat corn? Den she'd lift her big plantation an she'd slam it on de floor, An she'd say for all de nation now I'll never pop no more. Chorus. The Happy Family. Where the sun is shining from a sky of blue Bright on Talahatchie going to yazoo, Where them purple roses blossom by the well, There that little cabin where we used to dwell, Happy little family then we used to be, Happy iu that cabin there were we. Where the heat of morning and the wandering breeze Of their pearly dew drops rob the helpless trees; Father bought a banjo, learned me how to play, Mothttr by me knelling, taught me how to pray. liappy little family we were, only three, Ch'.'enshing and loving souls were we. When I hear my mother blow the dinner horn. Then I run to father, coming from the corn, Everything that happened must its pleasure jdeld, All the news I tell him coming o'er the field. Playing all the way long, merry as could be, Laugh ing, and my father laughed with me. Time that's always going made my parents old, Yet our hearts vvere never to each other cold. To tlie iield at morning then I used to go, Coming back at evening tired with my hoe. Cheerful little cabin I could always see, And tlit-m old folks waiting there for me. Wile:: we three were seated around the humble board, Father ask the gracious blessing of the Lord, Mather after supper clear the things away, Tiien I take my banjo and begin to play, liappy little family then we used to be, Happy in that cabin there were v/e. Now has Talahatchie going to Yazoo, And them da^'s of pleasure faded from my view, For them old folk's spirits dwelling with their God, And their bones are resting there beneath the sod, Never more together shall we loving three, There b}^ Talahatchie happy be. Now my feet they wander anywhere they stray. Now my idle banjo many miles away, From them purple roses blooming by the well, From that little cabin where we used to dwell. Happy home in i leaven yet I hope to see, And them old folks waiting there for me. The Happy Boy. Hello, my boy, where now so fast, what makes you hurry so? Ise goiu home, but Ise got time to stop and rest I know; 12 I started comin in a cart, but de mule he broke de fill, An he kicked heself away from dare a comin down de hill. I taut dat she might see me come, my mama bless her heart, An den don't you know I'd a looked so flash ridin in de cart. Er, Br, Er, Er, Er. Er. Sam's massa say to him you go an hook up dat arcart, An den you take dat Tommy home for Tommy he been smart, An soon we goiti on de road de mule an Sam an me, An I felt so happy an I felt so sure my mama I goin to see; Dem lambs a playin on dat hill, dey tinks dey feelin fine. But dere nebber was a lamb