Negro Folk Rhymes Part 20

Well; three las' night, an' two night befo'; An' I'se gwine 'fore long to git four mo'.

But you see dat hones' Billy Ben, He done e't more dan erry three men.

He e't a ham, den e't a side; He would a e't mo', but you know he died.

COFFEE GROWS ON WHITE FOLKS' TREES

Coffee grows on w'ite folks' trees, But de n.i.g.g.e.r can git dat w'en he please.

De w'ite folks loves deir milk an' brandy, But dat black gal's sweeter dan 'la.s.ses candy.

Coffee grows on w'ite folks trees, An' dere's a river dat runs wid milk an' brandy.

De rocks is broke an' filled wid gold, So dat yaller gal loves dat high-hat dandy.

AUNT JEMIMA

Ole Aunt Jemima grow so tall, Dat she couldn' see de groun'.

She stumped her toe, an' down she fell From de Blackwoods clean to town.

W'en Aunt Jemima git in town, An' see dem "tony" ways, She natchully faint an' back she fell To de Backwoods whar she stays.

THE MULE'S NATURE

If you sees a mule tied up to a tree, You mought pull his tail an' think about me.

For if a n.i.g.g.e.r don't know de natcher of a mule, It makes no diffunce what 'comes of a fool.

I'M A "ROUND-TOWN" GENTLEMAN

I hain't no wagon, hain't no dray, Jes come to town wid a load o' hay.

I hain't no cornfield to go to bed Wid a lot o' hay-seeds in my head.

I'se a "round-town" Gent an' I don't choose To wuk in de mud, an' do widout shoes.

THIS SUN IS HOT

Dis sun are hot, Dis hoe are heavy, Dis gra.s.s grow furder dan I can reach; An' as I looks At dis Cotton fiel', I thinks I mus' 'a' been called to preach.

UNCLE JERRY FANTS

Has you heared 'bout Uncle Jerry Fants?

He's got on some cu'ious shapes.

He's de one what w'ars dem white duck pants, An' he sot down on a bunch o' grapes.

KEPT BUSY

Jes as soon as de sun go down, My True-love's on my min'.

An' jes as soon as de daylight breaks De white folks is got me a gwine.

She's de sweetes' thing in town; An' when I sees dat Nig, She make my heart go "pitty-pat,"

An' my head go "whirly-gig."

CROSSING A FOOT-LOG

Me an' my wife an' my bobtail dog Start 'cross de creek on a hick'ry log.

We all fall in an' git good wet, But I helt to my liddle brown jug, you bet!

WATERMELON PREFERRED

Dat hambone an' chicken are sweet.

Dat 'possum meat are sholy fine.

But give me,--now don't you cheat!-- (Oh, I jes wish you would give me!) Dat watermillion, smilin' on de vine.

"THEY STEAL" GOSSIP

_You know:_ Some folks say dat a n.i.g.g.e.r won't steal, But Mosser cotch six in a watermillion fiel'; A-cuttin', an' a-pluggin' an' a-tearin' up de vines, A-eatin' all de watermillions, an' a-stackin' up de rinds.

_Uh-huh! Yes, I heared dat:_ Ole Mosser stole a middlin' o' meat, Ole Missus stole a ham; Dey sent 'em bofe to de Wuk-house, An' dey had to leave de land.

FOX AND RABBIT DRINKING PROPOSITIONS

Fox on de low ground, Rabbit on de hill.

Says he: "I'll take a drink, An' leave you a gill."

De fox say: "Honey, (You sweet liddle elf!) Jes hand me down de whole cup; I wants it fer myself."

A TURKEY FUNERAL

Dis tucky once on earth did dwell; An' "Gobble! Gobble! Gobble!"

But now he gives me bigges' joy, An' rests from all his trouble.

Yes, now he's happy, so am I; No hankerin' fer a feas': Because I'se stuffed wid tucky meat, An' he struts in tucky peace.

OUR OLD MULE

We had an ole mule an' he wouldn' go "gee"; So I knocked 'im down wid a single-tree.

To daddy dis wus some mighty bad news, So he made me jump up an' outrun de Jews.

THE COLLEGE OX