Negro Folk Rhymes Part 30

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count three.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de n.i.g.g.e.rs 'us free.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count fo'.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e jumped out on de flo'.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count five.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought de dead alive.

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count six.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e never did git fix!

Once der wus a liddle boy dat couldn' count seben.

Dey pitched him in a fedder bed; 'e thought he's gwine to Heaben!

MISS TERRAPIN AND MISS TOAD

As I went marchin' down de road, I met Miss Tearpin an' I met Miss Toad.

An' ev'ry time Miss Toad would jump, Miss Tearpin would peep from 'hind de stump.

I axed dem ladies fer to marry me, An' bofe find fault wid de t'other, you see.

"If you marries Miss Toad," Miss Tearpin said, "You'll have to hop 'round lak you'se been half dead!"

"If you combs yo' head wid a Tearpin comb, You'll have to creep 'round all tied up at home."

I run'd away frum dar, my foot got bruise, For I didn't know zackly which to choose.

FROM SLAVERY

Chile: I come from out'n slavery, Whar de Bull-whup bust de hide; Back dar, whar dis gineration Natchully widdered up an' died!

THE END OF TEN LITTLE NEGROES

Ten liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs, a-eatin', fat an' fine; One choke hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' nine.

Nine liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs, dey sot up too late; One sleep hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' eight.

Eight liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs want to go to Heaben; One sing hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' seben.

Seben liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs, a-pickin' up sticks; One wuk hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' six.

Six liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs went out fer to drive; Mule run away wid one, an' dat lef' five.

Five liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs in a cold rain pour; One coughed hisse'f to death, an' dat lef' four.

Four liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs, climb a' apple tree; One fall down an' out, an' dat lef' three.

Three liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs a-wantin' sumpin new; One, he quit de udders, an' dat lef' two.

Two liddle n.i.g.g.e.rs went out fer to run; One fell down de bluff, an' dat lef' one.

One liddle n.i.g.g.e.r, a-foolin' wid a gun; Gun go off "bang!" an' dat lef' none.

THE ALABAMA WAY

'Way down yon'er "in de Alerbamer way,"

De n.i.g.g.e.rs goes to wo'k at de peep o' de day.

De bed's too short, an' de high posts rear; De n.i.g.g.e.rs needs a ladder fer to climb up dere.

De cord's wore out, an' de bed-tick's gone.

n.i.g.g.e.rs' legs hang down fer de chickens t' roost on.

MOTHER SAYS I AM SIX YEARS OLD

My mammy says dat I'se too young To go to Church an' pray; But she don't know how bad I is W'en she's been gone away.

My mammy says I'se six years old, My daddy says I'se seben.

Dat's all right how old I is, Jes since I'se a gwine to Heaben.

THE ORIGIN OF THE SNAKE

Up de hill an' down de level!

Up de hill an' down de level!

Granny's puppy treed de Devil.

Puppy howl, an' Devil shake!

Puppy howl, an' Devil shake!

Devil leave, an' dere's yo' snake.

Mash his head; de sun shine bright!

Mash his head; de sun shine bright!

Tail don't die ontel it's night.

Night come on, an' sperits groan!

Night come on, an' sperits groan!

Devil come an' gits his own.

WILD HOG HUNT

n.i.g.g.e.r in de woods, a-settin' on a log; Wid his finger on de trigger, an' his eyes upon de hog.

De gun say "bam!" an' de hog say "bip!"

An' de n.i.g.g.e.r grab dat wild hog wid all his grip.

A STRANGE BROOD

De ole hen sot on tucky aigs, An' she hatch out goslin's three.

Two wus tuckies wid slender legs, An' one wus a b.u.mblebee.

All dem hens say to one nudder: "Mighty queer chickens! See?"

THE TOWN AND THE COUNTRY BIRD