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.