Negro Folk Rhymes Part 25

An': As I went up de new cut road, An' she go down de lane; Den I thought I heared somebody say: "Good-bye, ole Lize Jane!"

Well: Jes git 'long, Lizie, my true love.

Git 'long, Miss Lizie Jane.

Perhaps you'll [34]sack "Ole Sour Bill"

An' git choked on "Sugar Cain."

[34] Sack = To reject as a lover.

COURTSHIP RHYME SECTION

ANTEBELLUM COURTSHIP INQUIRY

(He) Is you a flyin' lark or a settin' dove?

(She) I'se a flyin' lark, my honey Love.

(He) Is you a bird o' one fedder, or a bird o' two?

(She) I'se a bird o' one fedder, w'en it comes to you.

(He) Den, Mam: I has desire, an' quick temptation, To jine my fence to yo' plantation.

INVITED TO TAKE THE ESCORT'S ARM

Miss, does you lak strawberries?

____*____*____*____*____*____ Den hang on de vine.

____*____*____*____*____*____ Miss, does you lak chicken?

____*____*____*____*____*____ Den have a wing dis time.

SPARKING OR COURTING

I'se heaps older dan three.

I'se heaps thicker dan barks; An' de older I gits, De mo' harder I sparks.

I sparks fast an' hard, For I'se feared I mought fail.

Dough I'se gittin' ole, I don't co't lak no snail.

A CLANDESTINE LETTER

Kind Miss: If I sent you a letter, By de crickets, Through de thickets, How'd you answer better?

Kind Suh: I'd sen' you a letter, By de mole, Not to be tol'; Fer dat's mo' secretter.

ANTEBELLUM MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

(_A proposal of marriage with the answer deferred_)

(He) De ocean, it's wide; de sea, it's deep.

Yes, in yo' arms I begs to sleep, Not fer one time, not fer three; But long as we-uns can agree.

(She) Please gimme time, Suh, to "reponder;"

Please gimme time to "gargalize;"

Den 'haps I'll tu'n to "cattlegog,"

An' answer up 'greeable fer a s'prise.

IF YOU FROWN

If you frowns, an' I frowns, W'en we goes out togedder; Den all de t'other folks aroun'

Will say: "De rain is fallin' down Right in de sunshine wedder!"

"LET'S MARRY" COURTSHIP

(_A proposal of marriage, with a provisional acceptance_)

(He) Oh Miss Lizie, how I loves you!

My life's jes los' if you hain't true.

If you loves me lak I loves you, No knife cain't cut our love in two.

(She) Grapevine warp, an' cornstalk fillin'; I'll marry you if mammy an' daddy's willin'.

(He) Rabbit hop an' long dog trot!

Let's git married if dey say "not."

COURTSHIP

(_A proposal of marriage with its acceptance_)

Kind Miss: I'se on de stage o' action, Pleadin' hard fer satisfaction, Pleadin' 'fore de time-thief late; Darfore, Ma'm, now, [35]"cravenate."

If I brung to you a gyarment; To be cut widout scissors, An' to be sewed widout thread; How (I ax you) would you make it, Widout de needle sewin'

An' widout de cloth spread?

Kind Suh: I'd make dat gyarment Wid love from my heart, Wid tears on yo' head; We never would part.

[35] Cravenate = consider.

I WALKED THE ROADS

Well: I walked de roads, till de roads git muddy.

I talked to dat pretty gal, till I couldn' stan' study.