Once, when de long day wus finish, 'Fo'e ter res' me I done go, I would set out on de do' step Pickin' sof' my ole banjo, Singin' "Dixie," "Swanee Riber,"

"Annie Laurie," en dem all;-- But my banjo am done broken, En am hangin' on de wall.

So I set heah dreamin', dreamin', Ob de time dat use ter be 'Fo'e my Dinah went to heaben-- Dinah she wus lovin' me!

En if she had neber lef' me I would neber weep at all, En I would not miss de music Ob de banjo on de wall.

When They Sing.

When dem darkies sing togedder 'Fo'e de houses in de street, People pa.s.sin' stop en lis'n Ez dey say: "Now, ain't dat sweet?

All dem n.i.g.g.e.rs got good voices, En dey sho kin keep good time; I would ruther heah dem singin'

Dan de bells ob Michael chime."

When dem darkies sing togedder Wid de jew's harp en banjo; Wid dem tamb'rine bells a-ringin'

En dem bottles dat dey blow, Oh, it sho do seem lak music Ob de holy angel ban', En I feel lak shoutin': "Glory!

Take me ter de Canaan lan'."

When dem darkies sing togedder, Dey kin make you laugh or cry; Oh, dey kin, fo' joy or sorrow, Bring de tear-drop ter yo' eye!

Dey kin make you stan' dar quiet, Lis'nin' ter de singin' sweet, Or kin hab you dancin', dancin', Long ez you kin lif' yo' feet.

When dem darkies sing togedder, White folks frow some shinin' dimes Out de winder. My, en den Don't dey hab some happy times?

Den de people what wus lis'nin'

Say dey mus' be gwine home; Say dey sorry dat de singin'

Stop mos' soon ez dey had come.

At De Meetin'.

Oh, now, Missus, wus I 'sleep?

I is sorry, sho!

I des set down heah ter res'

Wid my head down, so.

En I meant to pray fo' grace Des a little bit, Kaze I got a sinnin' soul, En I 'knowledge it.

Yes, I knows you pays me well Fo' de work I do, En I orter stick ter it So dat I please you.

But I couldn't he'p it, Miss, If I shet my eyes; G.o.d done made dem wid dese hinges, En He sho am wise.

Why'n't I sleep at night, you as'?

Missus, you don't know How dem voices call en call, Till I hab ter go.

En when once I git in church, Dar I sho gwine stay Till de stars am gittin' pale 'Fo'e de light ob day.

Dar's a meetin' gwine on Wid de Baptis' now, En do I ain't jine dat church, I kin go, I 'low; Dey don't shet de do' on me 'Cept when dey commune, En it won't be time fo' dat, So dey say, right soon.

My, dey hab a whoopin' time Roun' dar eb'ry night, En dat preacher sho kin put Down de law des right; En he preach de holy word Till dem n.i.g.g.e.rs shout,-- Till dey leab dey seats at las', Dancin' all erbout.

Anthea Allen got religion Roun' dar las' night, sho, En she clap her han's en waltz Up en down de flo', Singin' "Glory! Hallelujah!

I is on de way!

Angels peepin' down frum heaven Beckon me ter-day."

Den she fall down in a trance, Right dar on de flo', En dem darkies po' de camphor Onto her, fo' sho; But she don't wake up at all-- Lak de dead she lay, En we lef' her lyin' dar When we come away.

Dey sho take a big collection At dat church las' night, En dat money on de table Sho wus shinin' bright.

En de preacher in de pulpit Stan' up straight en say: "Dem dat am not got a cent-- Dey kin go away!"

En he say: "Come up en bring Money ter de Lawd!

Dat He love de chee'ful giver, He say in His word; What you gib ter Him ter-night Am not frowed away, Kaze de bread cas' on de sea Gwine come back some day."

En dem n.i.g.g.e.rs make a noise Pa.s.sin' up en down, Some wid coppers, some wid nickels, Some wid dimes, I'm boun'; En dey make de music ring, While de preacher say: "Oh, I lak ter see de money Comin' up dat way!"

I sot up till mos' dis mornin'

At dat church las' night; Dat how come my eyes don't feel Wide awake en bright; But I sorry dat I let em Shet deysel's up tight When I workin' heah fo' you-- Kaze _you_ treat me right!

A Philosopher.

Mos' ob n.i.g.g.e.rs s...o...b..lieve Dat de preacher know All dat's fit ter study 'bout In dis worl' below; Think he am so smart dat he Look beyon' de sky, Whar he read what am gwine be In de by en by.

I's a 'ception ter dat rule, Ez you sho will fin', En I come ter my conclusions Out ob my own min': Preachers ain't no mo' conspired Dan is you en me; Dat, if you des crack yo' eyes, You am sho gwine see.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE WOOD-SAWYER.

"Oh, I work hard, sho, When de col' win' blow, Sawin' en splittin' de white folks' wood!

But I do'n' complain Ob de col' en de rain, Kaze de Lawd gwine sen' what He know am good."]

Eb'ry man what see a tex'

In de trees en stones, Ain't bin called ter preach en raise Life in dead, dry bones.

Dat ole rooster scratchin' dar Am a sarmont, sho, But des kaze I read him right, I ain't called, you know.

If you don't read it, you ain't Got de seein' eyes, En yo' heart cain't see dem things What would make you wise.

Sho's de Bible done say dat Dem what works kin eat, Dat's a n.o.ble sarmont dar-- One dat cain't be beat.

When dat rooster scratch fo' worms In de lowly groun', He's a sayin' we mus' work Fo' our bread, I'm boun'; En when he fin' food, en call Till dat hen do run, He sho mean dat man mus' work Fo' de weakly one.

He don't shet his knowledge up In a selfish min'; When he see de mornin' break He tell all mankin'.

Do ter me all dis en mo', Dat same rooster teach, He don't say dat I's conspired By de Lawd ter preach.

Des De Same.

My ole shanty am a fallin', En de rain am leakin' frue, En de rheumatiz done grip me Till I don't know what ter do; But I thank G.o.d fo' dis frame, En I happy, des de same.

I cain't go en jine de singin', Lak I did in ole-time days, At de Calvary Baptis' Church, Whar dey sing glad songs ob praise; But my heart ain't sick en lame, En it singin', des de same.

Mandy say de safe am empty-- We ain't got no food ter-day!

Say she do' know whar we git it, 'Thout an angel come dis way; But I trus' in Jesus' name, En my soul feas', des de same.

So De Sunshine Stay.