PS 3513 
 R49 C3 
 1910 
 
 «5iiK>>^ 
 
Class _JESj55Jt3 
 Book__I^_:_" 
 
 CopyiightN^ 
 
 '-J 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 BY 
 
 ALICE D. O. GREENWOOD 
 
 •• 
 
 THE LIBRARY SHELF 
 
 850-854 McCLURG BUILDING 
 
 CHICAGO. U. S. A. 
 
 1910 
 

 
 Copyright 1910 
 
 By THE LIBRARY SHELF 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 
 CCI.A278S72 
 
N 
 
 INTRODUCEMENT 
 
 Chris'mas gif to ebrybody; 
 
 But it *peahs to me as if 
 Dese aint fittin* fo* to offah 
 
 White fo'ks fo* dah Chris'mas gif. 
 
 Howsomebbah Ise done mak *em 
 Hopin* dat yo* *joy *em sum; 
 
 He*p yo'sef, an* don* be back'ard. 
 Plenty mo* wha dese come frum. 
 
 (T) 
 

 (8) 
 
CHRIS'MAS GIF' 
 
 
 I don' hankah arter money, 
 
 'Ceptin' only once a yeah; 
 Den I wush I'se wof a million, 
 
 Fo' it hu'ts me right in huh 
 When ma li'le pickaninnies 
 
 Hollahs, *'Mammy, Chris'mas gif!" 
 An' I'se not got airy coppah 
 
 Fo' to buy dem presen's wif. 
 
 (9) 
 
Da's Rastus, an* John Henry, 
 
 An' li'le Rosy Lee; 
 Da ain' no bettah chilluns, 
 
 Ef da does berlong to me. 
 Ob coase I knows da's cullad. 
 
 But, sho! day ain' to blame; 
 Da Mastah made 'em dat way. 
 
 An' da's humans jis de same. 
 
 (10) 
 
« 
 
 Kf 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 Des yonda is a dollah 
 
 In dat teapot on de she'f; 
 I knows it kase I 'arned it. 
 
 An' put it da mase'f ; 
 An* sabed it jis a pu'pose 
 
 Fo' to buy some nicknacks wif. 
 To sprise dem pickaninnies 
 
 When da hollahs, "Chris'mas gif!" 
 
 (11) 
 
I kain* ha'dly wait fo* Chris*mas, 
 
 I'se so anxious fo' to see 
 De way dem li'le coons' 11 dance. 
 
 An* hug an' kissen me. 
 Oh, da'll sholy cut de capahs — 
 
 Why. de roof 11 fahly lif 
 When da sees de presen's comin* 
 
 An' da hollahs, *'Chris'mas gif !" 
 
 (12) 
 
CHRISTMAS EBE 
 
 
 De groun* am white an* de aih am chill. 
 
 But de fiah bu*ns bright an' de house am wa m. 
 
 An* ma li'le pickaninnie, soon he will 
 
 Come in wif a whoop f* om out de sto*m. 
 
 Dah*s plenty to eat on de buttry she*fs. 
 
 An* mouvs to eat it, an* appetite. 
 When de cho*es is done we kin res* ou*sefs 
 
 *Thout hafin to go out doo*s to-night. 
 
 (13) 
 
Wif ma ole man settin* jis ovah dah. 
 An' dat pickaninnie to dance an' sing, 
 
 I sets in ma squeaky rockin' chah, 
 
 An' wouldn' swop places wif de King. 
 
 (14) 
 
<^= 
 
 =^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 But sometimes I wondah ef de good Lawd knows 
 Dat somewhus outside in de coF an' sleet. 
 
 Das poh li'le chilluns wif no wa'm cloas — 
 Wande'in' about in de weakid street. 
 
 X 
 
 'Scuse me, Lawd, if I maks too bole. 
 
 But somehow or nuddah I kaint beliebe 
 
 Dat yo'd luf 'em out dah in de rain an' cole, 
 Ef yo' node da was su£fe'in dis Chris'mas ebe. 
 
 (15) 
 
^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 

 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 =^ 
 
 I DON' LIKE TO HEAH FOLKS GROWLIN' 
 
 I don' like to hea* folks growlin' 
 
 Kase de weatheh aint jis so. 
 Frost's what mellahs up de simmons, 
 
 Rain's what maks de goobahs grow. 
 Fudahmo', de wateh-million 
 
 Quiahs a climate sissin' hot. 
 An* I 'low dat folks am needin* 
 
 All dese changes, like as not. 
 
 (17) 
 
e 
 
 ==^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 
 Ef de Lawd mak Mistah Adam 
 
 Outen jis a lump o' clay, 
 'Peahs to me dat qualifies Him 
 
 Fo' to run things His own way. 
 I don' wanto change de progrance 
 
 An' go kicken up a muss, 
 Kase I aint done had no 'sperience. 
 
 An' I'd sholy mak things wuss. 
 
 (18) 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 X 
 
 'Spose de Lawd'd say, "Now, chilluns. 
 
 Yo' kin gib dis thing a whul; 
 I'se a gwin to tiah f'om bisness; 
 
 'Spects yo* all to run de wo'I.'* 
 Mak de rain, an* mak de sunshine, 
 
 Mak de springtime an' de fall, 
 Mak de whole blame durn kerpoodle, 
 
 I's not gwin* to wuk a*tall. 
 
I don' bl'ebe da's one amongs' yo' 
 
 or o' young, o' blind o' lame. 
 But what thinks he'd hab de Mastah 
 
 Skun a mile at His own game. 
 No one in dis confligration 
 
 But what 'magins he'd play hob 
 Ef de Lawd'd tiah f om bisness. 
 
 An' jis gib him up de job. 
 
Suff'in Moses! what yo* reckon 
 
 Dat yo' igermance would do? 
 Chil', why da' might hawns an' feathas 
 
 An' a tail grow out on yo'. 
 What yo' know about de cosmic 
 
 Ob dis fundimental speah? 
 Why yo'd bust de weathah bureau — 
 
 'Coase yo' would — inside a yeah. 
 
r 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 <s= 
 
 I 
 
 Yo' don' know de combination, 
 
 An' you would wifout a doubt 
 Haf to bust de bureau open 
 
 Fo' to let de weathah out. 
 Den de 'sycologic function 
 
 C'lidin' wid de sesmic fo'ce 
 Would esplode de constitution 
 
 An' we'd 'vaporate, ob coase. 
 
 (22) 
 
Now de Mastah's run dis bisness 
 
 Gwin on fo* million yuh. 
 An' he'd ortah hab his han* in, 
 
 Ortah know jis when and whuh 
 Fo' to tetch de *lectric button ; 
 
 But it sometimes 'peahs to me 
 Dat He gits a little rattled — 
 
 Den things mixes up, yo' see. 
 
 (23) 
 
I 
 
 
 Tak,* fo' instance, de extruction 
 
 Ob San Frisco, do yo' low 
 Dat de Mastah done dat puppos, 
 
 Jis to show yo' He node how? 
 No, He didn* go to do it. 
 
 'Twas an accident, ob coase. 
 An* yo* couldn* *vince dis chicken 
 
 Ef yo*d argy tell yo*s hoase. 
 
 (24) 
 
An' yo* mawk what dis chile tole yo'. 
 
 When dem Frisco victims rise 
 An' Stan* up afo' de Mastah, 
 
 Da'll be teahs in Mastah's eyes. 
 An' He'll tell 'em how dat somefin* 
 
 Got wrong with de runnin' geahs. 
 An' He'll mak it all up to *em 
 
 Ef it take a fousan' yeahs. 
 
 (25) 
 
^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 <iF 
 
 (26) 
 
 mmtt 
 
MAMMY'S LI'L WOOLLY HMD 
 
 X 
 
 Mammy's li'l woolly haid settin' in de doah, 
 
 Reachin' an' a cryin' fo' de moon. 
 What yo' low it's made ob? What yo' want it fo'? 
 
 'Peahs yo'all's beginnin' powe'ful soon 
 Fo' to cry fo' somethin' dat's clean out o' reach — 
 
 Dat's de way us ol'er chilluns do. 
 Bress yo' hawt, ma honey! Mammy's U'l peach, 
 
 Moonses wasn't made fo' sich as yo'. 
 
 Bye by, shet yo' eye, 
 Lissen what yo' mammy's gwine to say. 
 
 Snuggle close an' res'. 
 
 Right huh on ma bres'. 
 Mammy keep de boogah-man away. 
 
r 
 
 <s= 
 
 =^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 Mammy's li'l woolly haid sleepin* mighty soun*; 
 
 Stahs a blinkin' fro de cabin doah. 
 Moon a splashin' whitewash ovah all de groun*. 
 
 Nevah see sich night as dis afoh. 
 'Peahs like all de angels had de candles lit, 
 
 Fo' de kintry's mos' as light as day. 
 Whup-poah-will a yellin* zo his throat'd split; 
 
 Wind among de cotton seems to say 
 
 
 Bye by, shet yo* eye, 
 Lissen what yo* mammy's gwine to say. 
 
 Snuggle close an' res'. 
 
 Right huh on ma bres*. 
 Mammy keep de boogah-man away. 
 
Mammy *s Ii*I woolly haid sleepin' *powful sweet. 
 
 Moon a shinin* on de cabin floh. 
 Kivered haid to foot wid a snow-white sheet; 
 
 Nevah see him lay so still afoh. 
 Pooty bunch o' posies in his h'l fist. 
 
 Mammy's teahs a falhn* jis Hke rain 
 On de chubby fingahs dat she's kissed an' kissed; 
 
 Nevah sing to woolly haid again. 
 
 Bye by, shet yo* eye, 
 Lissen what yo* mammy's gwine to say. 
 
 Snuggle close an' res'. 
 
 Right huh on ma bres*. 
 Mammy keep de boogah-man away. 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 (30) 
 
<if 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 UNCLE RASTUS'S 'SCRIPTION 
 
 Look hea', sonney, let yo' uncle 
 
 Tole yo' jis a fing o' two. 
 Ts been libin' on dis planet 
 
 Li'l longah, chile, dan yo'. 
 An* ben lookin* roun' da conahs 
 
 Takin' squinticks at it all. 
 An' I's larned dis much fo' sartin, 
 
 Whinin' nevah he'ps a tall. 
 
CA^N DODGAHS 
 < ^ - ■■ .- 
 
 =^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 'Coase I knows dah's plenty trouble 
 
 To go roun' an' hab some lef , 
 An' dah aint no use to borry 
 
 When yo's got enuff yo'sef. 
 An' I knows dah's rattlesnakeses. 
 
 An' dah's watah mocksins, too. 
 But I aint a huntin' foh *em; 
 
 I's got som'fin else to do. 
 

 When I hunts, I hunts fo' good fing 
 
 'Possums, coons an' like o' dat; 
 I files shy o* skeery critters, 
 
 Glad dah is whu dah is at. 
 S'posin' yo' try dat dah 'scription. 
 
 An' jis hunt fo' somefin good; 
 Lawzy, chil', yo'd be as happy 
 
 As a June bug, ef yo' would. 
 
 (38) 
 
^ 
 
 <Sf 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 (34) 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 YO'NS WAS BAWN FO' TO DIE 
 
 I lakes my tex' frum de good ole book, 
 
 "Yo'ns was bawn fo* to die.'* 
 Now I hopes yo' membahs dis tex' I'se took, 
 
 Kase yo'ns was bawn fo' to die. 
 
 (35) 
 
What will yo* do wid yo* riches den? 
 Kaint take 'em wid yo', wimmen an' men; 
 What will yo' do wid all yo' fine close? 
 Kaint take along only one suit o' dose. 
 Jis recommembah what de good book say. 
 Rich man caint go to hebben no way. 
 Den wha's de use'n all dis fuss? 
 Bettah be a he' pin' some po' cuss. 
 See dat bruddah dah, totin' dat load? 
 Frow dem stones all outen his road; 
 Grab right holt an' hep him erlong. 
 Whistle a tune ur sing him a song. 
 'N, if he's hungry, he'd orter be fed, 
 Dar'U be 'possums an' hoecakes when yo's dead. 
 Kase yo'ns was bawn fo' to die. 
 
 (36) 
 
==*^ 
 
 'Peahs yo' fo'gits dah's a jedgment day. 
 When yo' goes prancin' by dat way, 
 Wif yo' head in de aih, steppin' so high; 
 Peahs yo' fo'gits dat yo's got to die. 
 De wo'ms don' caih how fine yo's dress. 
 An' da'll smack dah lips on yo', same as de res'; 
 If yo' wanter be sho dat yo' name's writ down 
 In de Lawd's big book fo' de gol'en crown, 
 Yo' mus' hoe yo' cawn to de end ob de row, 
 Kase de obeseah am sho' to know; 
 An' when de night comes an' de Lawd He say, 
 "What dis niggah been about all day?" 
 Den de obeseah gits his book and reads 
 Dat yo's lef yo' cawn all choke wid weeds; 
 An* de Lawd look sorrowful den an' say, 
 **Yo' haden't orter lef yo' cawn dat way, 
 Kase yo'ns was bawn fo' to die." 
 
 (37) 
 
 
I 
 
 Den yo' say, "Yes, Lawd, dat's sho 'nuff. 
 But away back dah wha' de fiel's was rough 
 An* de clods was had an' de weeds was tall 
 An' de cawn was ornry like an' small, 
 De thawns hu't ma feet, an' de briahs, too. 
 An' I 'lowed 'twouldn't make no odds to yo'. 
 So I jis sot down dah, side o' de road. 
 To res' a spell, an' de fus' I know'd 
 'Twas da'k an somebody hollered, 'Sam!' 
 So I comed right along an' hea I am. 
 But if yo'll le'me go back dah jis once mo', 
 I'll pull dem weeds out dis time sho." 
 But de Lawd he shake his haid an' say, 
 "Dis bus don't run only jis one way." 
 Den de gate slam to wif a nawful crash. 
 An' yo's locked out wif de po' white trash. 
 Yo'ns was bawn fo' to die. 
 
 (38) 
 
But if yo' hoe yo' cawn as yo*d orter do. 
 In coase de good Lawd'll know dat, too. 
 An* he'll meet yo' den wif a smile on his face. 
 An say, "I'se done an' kep yo' place." 
 He'll gib yo' a banjo wif a thousand strings, 
 A long linnen dustah, an' a pai' o' wings. 
 An' yo' face' 11 shine like de big full moon; 
 Dah'll be no mo' wuk fo' dat po' ole coon. 
 An' he'll gib yo' a seat in a cushen chai' 
 An' de waitah'll han' yo' de bill ob faih; 
 Yo'U odah den what yo' likes de mos' — 
 Sweet potatah an' possum roas'. 
 An* yo'll eat an' drink till yo' git yo' fill 
 An* de Lawd himse'f will foot de bill. 
 Yo*ns was bawn fo to die. 
 
 (39) 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 X 
 
 Dar'll be meetin* at airly candle light, 
 In dis huh schoul house tomorrah night. 
 May de grace ob de Lawd be wif yo' den. 
 Now an' fo' ebbah. Amen, Amen. 
 
 (40) 
 
WUSH YO'S DAID ? 
 
 Chawles Augustas, don' yo' le'me 
 Hea* yo' mak' dat mawk no moh. 
 
 "Wush yo's daid"? Why, suffe'in Moses! 
 What yo' wantah be daid fo'> 
 
 Don' yo' know da sun am shinin'? 
 
 Kaint yo' hea' de mawkbud sing? 
 Aint de millions lookin' scrumptious? 
 
 Don* yo' know dat dis am Spring? 
 
 (41) 
 
<^ 
 
 =^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 Cat fish dai'n yo' to colch 'em, 
 Grinnin' kase da think yo's *fraid; 
 
 An* yo' brack ongrateful lummix 
 Lay dah wushin' yo' was daid! 
 
 (42) 
 
Go an* cut yo*se*f a fish pole — 
 
 Yo* knows wheh, down in da cane; 
 
 Dig some bait an* go a fishin*, 
 
 Don' lay dah, boy, an' complain. 
 
 
 O* go hoe dem sweet potatohs — 
 
 Da is plenty wuk to do; 
 Cotton whispahin, Ch-a-w-1-e-s Au-g-u-s-t-a-s ! 
 
 An* da cawn a beckonon' yo*. 
 
f 
 
 =^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 
 
 (44) 
 
SOMEBODY'S GWIN TER COME 
 
 Kotch dat hen an* roas* huh quick, 
 Sally's drapped da puddin' stick — 
 
 Somebod\}'s gTvin ier come. 
 When yo' hea' dat roostah crow. 
 Wid his eye right on da doah, 
 Dat's anothah sign, fo* sho — 
 
 Somebody s gwin ter come. 
 
 (45) 
 
See dat brack cat switch his tail? 
 Nevah node dat sign ter fail — 
 
 Somebody s gmn ter come. 
 Hyuh dat brindle cow a mooin*? 
 An* dah tu'ttle dove a cooin'? 
 Mammy, we mus* be a doin* — 
 
 Somebody*s gn>in ter come. 
 
 (46) 
 
X 
 
 Sou*f win' whispah fro de cain, 
 
 'Pears jis like dat it am sayin' — 
 
 **Somebod^'s gwin ier come.'* 
 
 When dem whip-poh-willses hollahs, 
 
 Viney's eyes shine bright as dollahs; 
 
 Boys, git on yoh papah colla's — 
 
 Somehodyl' s gwin ter come. 
 « « « 
 
 (47) 
 
I 
 
 What I tol' yo'? Looky yandah; 
 See dat long legg yallah gandah? 
 
 Somebod})'s gwin let come. 
 Mak' yo' mannahs to dat suit. 
 An' dat shiney hat ter boot. 
 Chilluns, jis git up an' scoot — 
 Somebody sho has come. 
 
 (48) 
 

 PLAY YO' FIDDLE, LET IT RAIN 
 
 
 Look hyuh, honey, dah's no sense in 
 
 Yo' a ponchin' out yo* mouf 
 An' a lookin* woebergondish 
 
 Kase de win' am in de souf ; 
 S'pose it does mean rainy wethah? 
 
 Bress yo', chile, dis roof don' leak; 
 An' deih's mos' cawn meal an' bacon 
 
 In de house to las' a week. 
 
 (49) 
 
(^ 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 =^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 Tcahs to me dat yo*s ongrateful, 
 Dah's no 'casion to complain. 
 
 Bacon, cawn meal, sawgum lasses — 
 What's de reason it kaint rain? 
 
 Jis yo* git down yo' ole fiddle. 
 Stop yo' growlin*, hoi' yo' jaw, 
 
 An' while mammy's makin' cawn pone, 
 
 Yo' play * Turkey in de Straw." 
 
 (50) 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 Dat's right; chime her up permiscus! 
 
 Now jis gib de ole thing fits. 
 Bacon, cawn meal, sawgum lasses, 
 
 (Sidles all dat, Fse got two bits.) 
 We's mos* millionaireses, honey! 
 
 An* it's weakid ter complain ; 
 Lots ter eat, an* plenty money. 
 
 We kin* foa*d to let it rain. 
 
 (51) 
 
f 
 
 CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 (B2) 
 
WHEN OU' LUCINDY SINGS 
 
 Da mockinbi'd an' robin. 
 
 Da thrush an' meddah-la'k, 
 Jis' stop an' seem to lissen. 
 
 Da crows all hollah *'ha'k," 
 An' ebry bi'd amongst 'em 
 
 Sets up an' folds his wings. 
 An' Nater whispahs * 'silence," 
 
 When ou' Lucindy sings. 
 
 (98) 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 <^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 Yo' thoughts go sHdin' backard 
 
 An' somehow yo* seems to be 
 A li'l pickaninny, 
 
 Yo* haid on mammy*s knee; 
 Yo* fo'gits about yo' trubbles, 
 
 An* all tha hu*ts an* stings. 
 An* somehow thinks o* angels. 
 
 When ou' Lucindy sings. 
 
Da tell us obah yandah. 
 
 Close beside da Jaspah sea, 
 Dah's a city full o' music; 
 
 But it somehow seems to me 
 Dat da angels won't be in it — 
 
 Lak da bi'ds da'll fold da wings 
 An' jis' set still an' lissen. 
 
 When ou' Lucindy sings. 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 
 ^^/U^ 
 
 (50) 
 
LONY. LONY BIG MAN 
 
 Lony, lony big man! 
 
 Oh, be keerful dah; 
 Don* go cuttin* rustics, o' yo'll fall. 
 
 Take oV mammy's fingah, 
 Lebe go ob dat chai', 
 
 Dat aih aint no way to walk a tall. 
 
 (57) 
 
=^ 
 
 Loney, loney, loney, — 
 
 Da yo* goes agin; 
 Bust yo haid wide open pooty soon. 
 
 Oh, yo' li'l rascal, 
 Don* yo' stand' an' grin; 
 
 Sholy yo's one happy li'l coon. 
 
 (58) 
 
CAWN DODGAHS 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 Lony, lony, lony, — 
 
 Now yo's down fo* sho. 
 Mammy's pow*ful sorry dat yo* fell; 
 
 Da, don' cry, ma honey. 
 Mammy whup da flo'. 
 
 Den her* 11 kiss de place an mak' it well 
 
(60) 
 
GITTIN' OLE 
 
 'Gittin* ole?" Yo's sholy jokin*; 
 
 Why, I'se only sebenty-fibe. 
 I don' call dat gittin' ole, chile, 
 
 Clah to gracious! sakes alibe! 
 I'se not ha*dly got ma growf yit; 
 
 Larnin' somefin' ebry day. 
 An' I'se jis a feelin' scrumptious, 
 
 Gittin' ole? Sho, chile, go way! 
 
"Gittin* ole?'* Now, stop dat foolin*; 
 
 Yo* knows bettah, coase yo' do, 
 Kase ma jints is jis as limbah 
 
 An' I'se mose as spry as yo'. 
 'Taint de yea's dat folks libs, honey. 
 
 Leastways dat's what I'se been tole; 
 Hit's jis somefin' on de inside 
 
 Keeps yo' young o' maks yo' ole. 
 
 (62) 
 
£f de milk ob human kin*ness 
 
 In yo* breas' hab tu'ned to whey. 
 An' yo* 'lows dat all, 'cept yo' all's, 
 
 Gittin' worser ebry day. 
 An' yo' whine, an' keep a whinin' 
 
 Kase da wo* Id hab used yo' luff. 
 Den yo' ma'k what dis chile tole yo', 
 
 Yo'U git ole, den, fas' enuff. 
 
Ef yo' wan' to keep it sweet, chile, 
 
 I'll done tole yo' what to do; 
 Tak' a hoi' an' he'p de fellah 
 
 Dat is worser off den yo'. 
 Ef da's nothin' yo' kin spare him, 
 
 Yo' kin mak him understood 
 By jis squeezin' ob his han', chile', 
 
 Dat yo'd lak to ef yo' could. 
 
 (64) 
 
Den yo*ll go away a feelin' 
 
 Moughty tendah roiin' de hea*t; 
 It's a heap o' satisfactim 
 
 Fo* to know yo*s done yo' pawt. 
 An', honey, reckomembah 
 
 Dis* yere precep' dat I'se tole. 
 Long's de hea't am keepin' tendah 
 
 Dah's no chanct fo* gittin* ole. 
 
S f9!f 
 
One copy del. to Cat. Div.