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COPYRIGHT DEPOSm

WELLINGTON ADAAS

iprics

of

gin

^nmbU

5Birt|)

BY

WELLINGTON ADAMS

Murray Bros, printing Co.

Washington.
1914
D. C.

T5 3JTI
]^\^

Copyrig-hted, 1914, by \Velling-ton 1200 U Street, Northwest Washington, D. C.

Adams

MAR

!9!4

.ioO

CI.A868837

CONTENTS

PART
Scripts

II.

37
.

SwEKTHEART Mine

.38
.

*In thk City of Jasper Walls

41

Mammy

Lov's

Her Kinky-headed Boy

43

There'll Come a dark Cloud Sometime 44

f^oNELY Night
45
.

*After a While
,

.47
39

J'retty

Moon
Li'l'

Mah

Sw*et

Chile

....

46

*Song'

Poems have been published, and

by addressing" the Author.

raay be

had

PREFACE.
lilS
little

volume of poems, which

so earnestly labored
is
.to

we have
Jj

produce,

but the weak

effort ol

an humble soul, reaching out be-

yond the piercing gloom and penetrating darkness; which

it

seems,

has

filled

a large part of our

life.

Regardless of tKe

many
still

difficulties

encumbered, however, the inner-man

in
is

yearns for a larger usefulness to his race particu-

larly

and mankind

general.

All that

shall be, possibly,

due

to the faithful

training of

my dead mother

(bless

am and ever and assidious her memory) and a

1

devoted lather; besides the encouragement given jme

by

my

loving sister

and devoted brothers.

The author
work;
for

lays no claim to literary merit in this

indeed, there

may be numerous

defects in

the composition, poetical metre and rythm, that none

but a

critical

mind and eye may discern and observe,

intrinsic value
I

and as

to

its

it

is

for

you to decide,

dear reader.
little

am

willing
**

however, to launch

my

**bark" upon the

Literary sea, to sinker swira,

survive or perish," as the case

I

may

be.

beg further

to

thank a few friends for their kind

in

advice

and helpfulness

the

preparation of this

work-

Most

respectfully yours,

Washington, D. C. February, 1914

W. A.

DEDICATED TO MY BELOVED PARENTS.

Lyrics of

An Humble
PART
I.

Birth

A LETTAH TO DE PRESADANT.
Was'nton, Fust-twintee-thurd,
14.

Mistah Wilson, sah,

mah

Pres'dant,

Ah

thought'd write yo' a line;

To chur

yo' up a bit, but whant Distub yah othah time.

Ahm
To

glad yo' had a dandie

trip,

dat 'Pas' Khris'un' town;

An' dat yo' got rid ob de 'grip' Yo' carrud fr'm dese groun's.

Ahm

glad, sah, yo' didn't ke'p rite

stardid,

on

on dat 'ship' Ez Fah feah ob dem dah 'Mexahcons', Mought git yo' on de 'slip'.

yo',

Dem

countra folks, sah, sho' lak

Doan dey? 'n' ahm so glad; Ah re'd, how dey kep' on de go To find yo' an' yah 'Cad'.

Ah

hope de 'Mistriss ob de Ian' add (yo' dautahs) too; *N'jord demselv's ez bes' dey kan, Wile dey wtiz thah wid yo'.
Ah'll

Ahm

glad to see 'Mah Presadant',

'n' dis ol' town So biz'ness' kan go on, Gawd grant, An' ke'p dat 'Congrist' down.

Bac' hyeah

Gib

mah

respechts to awl de boys

an' 'joys

'Tom'ltee', an' de res';

Whahs wurkin' thah fah yo' De t'ings dat am de bes'.

Now, ah mus'

clos' dis lettah

now,

Mah wurks
'Boiit

be'n hard today;

Ah'll send dis writin'

anyhow
trulay,

awl ah got to say.

Yoahs

Tap' D.

C.

To

de Tresadant'

W'ite 'ouse.

;;

IR'NIN'

HEZ SHURT.
!,

^'Yo' Sally !-er-r--Sal-ly

Com' hyeah

gal, an'

hurry be

gwine t' git yo', sho' ez day, Ez yo' doan com' rite away Go 'n' git yah Daddy's shurt; Doan yo' kno' hez com' fr'm wurk, An' tah chu'ch has gottah go? !" 'Usht up gal doan sa' no mo'

Um

The lit'le girl then got the "shurt", With her feelings awf'ly hurt'd "Ir'nd" away with all her might.
For her

"mammy"

on that night.

"Air yo' ir'nin' dat shurt, gal?" Yell'd the mother wild, to "Sal"
"Yas'uni!" answer'd her, the while, Trembling like a sinner vile.

"Com'

ole

"Wal," said

And

the

mawn, yo' suppahs' don';' he, "ahm comin' hon' couple soon sat down
;'

At the table, they were found. "Lawd," said he, " 'ave mussy now,
Bles'

dem

tatoes,

meat

'n'

'chow';

Ar-min !" and he

fiU'd his plate.

As

of ev'rything he ate.

! :

Moved

his chair, as he

made

haste

Not a minute did he waste; Dressing hurried got his tie, As the ''shurt" his wife did spy "Sal-ly brin' dat shurt on hyeah Whut yo' sa'? Bettah keah Hawn hit hyeah 'Mah' luks reel w'ite Ole mawn, yo'll sho' luk out o' sight !"

*'De ole

mawn"
!

took his '*shurt"

'n'

smiled,

Ez

put'in' on, she stood

and eyed

"Lawd
Bu'ns

Swsan, dis shurt

ahm

hot,
!"

ah dunno whot "Gwane," said she, " 'n' be a mawn. Putt hit on. Si, ef yo' khan Ef ah had'n' hurrud so, Yo'd had non' fah chu'ch tah go."
'n'

me

A CHILD'S PRAYER.
Kneeling beside a little bed so white, Clad in garments so simple and light Praying to God as the shadows depart, A lit'le child with a sorrowful heart.

;;

Hands
Eyes
Alone

clasp'd together

and heart

full of love,

lifting

up towards heav'n above

world of sorrow and fear;

in this

Alone from mother's kindness and cheer.

"Oh! God!
Pray,
let

is

my

mother up there with you?

o'

Let her sweet face shine out thro' skies

her come back to

blue
I

me

for

"My

Care"

Would

you, dear Lord?

Oh, please hear

my

prayer."

"I'd like to climb

up them bright golden

o'er there

stairs,

To

see

if

my mamma's now
tells

Grandma, she

me, each day after day,

if
I

That

I'll

see

mamma,

would pray."

"I have

little dollies,

toys

everything!"
of love,

Cried the poor darling child to her "King";

As wafting upward those sweet words To the "Kingdom of Mercy" above.

"I try to be true, so

good and so kind.

I

And my gradma,

each day,

will

mind
say.

Keep us now, dear Jesus, each day by day Amen. Good-night grandma," she would
II

:;

WHY WEEPEST

THOU, MY LOVE?

The breaking waters of the deep As onward rushing, blindly sweep

O'er distance madly; seems to speak To me, as though I came to seek Its passion and its fury; streak'd

With

And
Nor
I

fierce and roaring tortures steep calming, while the eve'ning creeps, yet the rust'ling waters sleep.
still

standeth, as enchanted,
lo, in

Bewilder'd,

mind and
!

will

To

Nay !" bid'st thou As wounded by Dan Cupid's dart

speak?
''Nay

the heart

("He loves me? 'Yes;' he loves me? 'Not!'") Re-echoed 'round that lonely spot When, out o' the depths rang out above The mist "Why weepest thou, my love?"

DE MEKIN'S OB A MAN.
Jake, yo' ax'

me whut
'n'

de mekin's

hyeah day? Ah'll tell yo' q'ickly whut ah t'inks Hard wurk 'n' not no play
a
dis
12

Ob

man

Yo' ax'

me den why, ef dey wurks, Dey nebber hab no eese;

t'inks, dey awlus shurks, shurking wurk, doan pleese.

Bekaze, ah
'N'

Mah
De

bruddah, deirs no ust tah

kic'in' is'nt

kic',

Fah

game;
ob dem

woild

am made
jist

who

stic's

An' wurks on
Dis

de same.

am

de age ob really men.

Who

ob dah knol'edge gibs

'n'

De bes' dat De woild

dem

is,

w'ich sends

'roun' ez hit libs.

De man who awlus

dreemin'

is,

An' nebber seems tah t'ink; He soon will drap out ob de An den fawl o'er de brink.

*biz',

De

woild, hit calls fah

men ob

strin'th,

Who

acht upon de sq'are;

s'rink

An' men ob currage who won't Fr'm duty, 'n' who'll dare.

Men

dey mus' face swerb One inch fr'm whah dah ac'ions' base; E'vn dough de way am cur'b.
mus' hab nerb
tri'ls,

ef

Hard

an' not

13

ahve sed, dey hab som' waight, hope yo' undahstan' Awl dat ahve sed is sho'ly, Jake, De mekin's of a man.
t'ings,

Dese

Ah

MOTHER.
Tho' human as thou wert, still in thine image I behold Sweet visions of an lov'lier one than earth affords who, bold, Did fight for right with ev'ry might and with all done, gone home, To God, her Maker, vict'ry won rest under heaven's dome, Dear Mother.
;

Remember thou
ling babe

her not of days,

I

when

suck-

were?

And

youthful capers with

my
all

mates, in inno-

cence did err?

"Why

not?"

say,

when

"my world" was

center'd in the

hand
fellow

That held "me"

too

little

up,

who was

weak to stand Kind Mother.

14

Her words,

well

remember now,

as

the*

'twere yesterday

They sank

so deep into

my

heart as

began

to pray

"My

son," as calm she raised

right, let

my

head, "do
"I go

come what may,"

still,

And from

that day, though tempted

the righteous way."

My
Up
as
I

Mother.

thro' the fleeting years to

manhood, gently
oh
!

grew,
'tis

Some

joys were mine,

troubles that
I

true, but

the

knew

And, through it all, what better friend in all the world I had Than she whose spirit sweeps the sky, as joined by angels glad? True Mother.

"Dust
"Ashes

to

dust"

outstretched
to

as the minister stood arm and hand ashes" on he read to that

then, because

with
sad-

stricken'd band,

Who, mourning
fit

Grim Death saw

to enter in

And

steal

away such "precious gem"

Sleep, Mother.
IS

'tis

heaven's gain, the end.

! !

Sleep on.

Yea, the blessed Saviour soon'll

in

come and gather

sorrow
Angel-heralds,

All His children, patient, waiting, and their

He

shall end.
flying,

swiftly
!"

as

they

sing

"Hosannas

We

will join

them, shouting, and go up with flying banners. Meet Mother.

HI!
Hi
!

YOU LITTLE

DEVIL, HI!

you

little devil, hi

You

think you are so mighty sly

Seeking to slay

Whom
!

you

will or

may

Binding your victims night and day

Hi you

little devil, hi

Run! you

little

devil,

run!

Away

wi' that contemptible "fun";

Sneaking around Like a hungry hound; Trying to fool ev'ry weakling found; Run you little devil, run
!

i6

Shoo! you little devil, shoo! No time have I to fool with you Folks you advise Tell yarns and *'big" lies, And then you look as if surpris'd Shoo! you little devil, shoo!

Scat! you

little devil,

scat!

Sly are you as a sneaking cat

Some

think you're grand,

th'

Take you by
Scat! you

hand.
scat!

Inviting to their whiskey-stand

little devil,

Ouch! you
Please take
It

little devil,

ouch!
;

away
sin,

that horrid grouch

makes me

then cannot conscientiously grin Ouch! you little devil, ouch!

I

Hate, envy, and

Run
1

you

little de\'il,

run

Before the setting of the sun

must make haste

to

Now
Ere
I
!

mend my

case.
;

Run

have ceas'd to run this race vou little de\il, run

!

17

; :

THOU QUEEN
Out Out Out Out
For
o'

O'

THE WESTERN

SEA.

of the myst'ries of the past,

the depths of centuries blast,

of the hidden pages rare,

of a history so fair,
all

the world to see and know,

And
Lift

the crafty hand afore: up thy head, and proudly wave Your flag, "Thou Queen o' the Western Sea
feel

!"

The hundreds,
v^'^lied'd

yea, the thousands,

!

more

Struck to the core I^y discontent and tyranny

their

they their blood

They battled on for Liberty. The "Sons of Might," who fought Prayed they to God that all might

way.

stay

And

see the "night of terror" flee

o'

Away, "Thou Queen

the

Western Sea!"

Then one

up from 'midst the fray, from captivity "George Washington" and may his name
'rose

Who

led on

On down

the ages shine the same.

Tho' lowly as the start was made, 'Twas "Lincoln" who his country staid;

God grant that all our hearts may be As theirs: "Thou Oueen o' the Western
'

Sea!'

Roll on,

Time! Roll

on, roll on!

'Till all shall

know

the burden burned

Of them

oppres'd by Fate's decree,

And
Lift

coming jubilee. up thy head, thou bee and drone, Let thriftiness by us enthrone; The "Stars and Stripes" unfurl'd, we see Hooray! ''Thou Queen o' the Western Sea!"
join the

Arise

ye gallant men, arise

to

your country's size Your noble women, you should prize; Help lift their burden to the skies. Arise, I say; make good the day, Nor ever thou forget to pray; Let victory be purchased free

Measure up

From

stain,

''Thou Queen

o'

the

Western Sea!"

dread yesterday, O men! Fear leave behind the morrow'll mend; Your country's strong in th' things that make For "right and freedom." None can take

Go from

th'

Our banner down and on it frown Nor e'en the lustre from our crown.
Until our bodies, resting be

Neath

clay,

"Thou Queen

o'

the

Western Sea!"

19


AFTAH DE
BAT'LE.

Written from an incident during the Congress ington, D. C, January 14, 1914.
(W^ith apologies.)

at

Wash-

Say, Bill, whut's awl dat fuss about

Upon

de Cap'tol hill?
a

Ah hyeah

moughty rum'ling

'thout

Dat room,

jest lak one's kill'd.

Why, Sam, dey's fi'tin obah Two men wid face shav'd
.\ hit'in

dah.
klean'd

heah an'

hit'in thah,

Jest lak de debble, seem'd.

Ah

hurd de noise an' out ah

hu't

flew,

Fah feah dey mought

me

An' w'en ah runs, de othahs do, 'N feah ob dat melee.

Dem

''Sinitors"

dey hollard out

'bout

Loud to de 'Ivator man "Down!" dey shout, ez ef a fiah's De place, an' 'n' dey lan'd.
Gee whiz
!

one man wuz a runnin' 'Roun' lak hez bloomin' mad; He ax'd foh a gun to shoot sump'n, Whut hap'nd ah hope wuzn't bad.
20

! !

Wal,

Bill,

ah kno'd 'twuz som'thin' doin"

What'h fiah dah sho' is smok' Yoah rite, to act w'en trubble's brew'n, Test muv' on ez de smok'.

APPREHENSION.
Whut meks me shuddah
Corn's fawl'n

w'en de rain

down

so hard?

An' meks we whant tah hide mahse'f Behin' somethin' dat's ood

Whut meks me shuddah

W'en
light'nin' streaks

thoo 'n' thoo de sky?

'N' mut'rin'

An' meks

me calm
'n'

thundahs sheks mah doo' an' shy

glu'my, too,

Hit gits so dark

An' feah cre'ps in mah heart, Dat ah would gib up awl ah knew Ah own'd, fah hit tah 'part.

But den, ah
'N' sees

'fleets

com's

tah mahse'f,

'tis

Gawd

dat sends
ef

De

rain

hyeah fah ouah goodness,

We

lub'

Him

tah de end.
21

THE PASSING OF "OLD AUNT

MARIA.'

(Note. The first line of each stanza is to be sung Home," 6s, in Baptist as the chorus of "Nearer Hymnal No. 636; published by the American Baptist Pub. Society^ Philadelphia, Pa.)

My

"Ah'm near'er mah horn', near'er mah horn' Rang out upon the air, As old Aunt Maria raised her voice, With song, to God in prayer. Her form bent'd o'er by age's firm hand Her voice, tho' coarse, was sweet
While angels seem'd to hover o'er, As though they came to greet.
near'er mah hom' taliday,'^ She sang more fervently Than ever, as she leaned upon Her crooked cane that day Her voice, it seem'd, grew weaker

"

"Ah'm

And

softer, as she raised

Her eyes toward heaven

gently.

To God,

in

song and

praise.

"Yas, near'er

mah

hom',

'n'

heav'n tahday"

Her eyes were fill'd with tears, As she remembers "Calvary," The Christ, and Cross He bears.
22


With
eyes
fix'd

upward, as she saw

Him sitting on His throne, And all the angels flying up

The
great "white

way"

that shone.

"Yas, near'er

mah

horn'

'n'

heav'n tahday"-

As echoed, faintly grew The voice of one whose feeble form

Was

nearing

its

adieu.

The cane she drop'd upon

the floor,

And shocked
Her

her old white head;

pulse was beating slowly Soon be number'd with th' dead.

"Then ebbah ahve been befoh,"

Was whisper'd soft, as death Was stealing her away from there;
And
left

them

all

bereft:

As, one by one, they gather'd 'round

And murmured
Yes, old

"She

is

gone

!"

On

earth, that

Aunt Maria's task was done Sunday morn.

:<yp^

23

: ;

EATIN'S.
(To Mrs. M.
L. S.

M. and Mrs.

S. F. L.)

Gwood Lawd,
Jist steamin'

luk at

dem

biskits dah,

hot

'n'

brown;

A-layin'
Sis'

'n'

dat pan o'er dah

Maffews, han' 'em 'round.

mouf s a-runnin' watah fas' Tah see dat gravby Oh Ah wandah jist how Ion' hit'll las':
Mali

Sis'

Maffews,

air yo' sho'?

Now, hyeah
Sis'

yo'

commin'

in
;

tah eat

Luis

tek- his

cheah

'N' plees' mah'ni,

doan fahgit dat meat,

!

Tah parse
Yo' mouf,

hit

o'bah hyeah

hit's

greasy 'roun', Sis Luis

ef yo' plees,

Ah
Sis'

gist mine's greasy, too.

Maffews, 'scuse us Fer eatin' ez we do!

Wal, now, ahm full ez ah kin Jist can't crowd in no mo'

Sis

be,

Mah

Maffews, can't yo' eas'ly see stummack's curbin' o'er?

24

Ah

t'ank yo'

mah'm, fah

dis 'ere

bread

'N'

meat

yo' kindly cook'd

Upon de

ah sed 'TVould taste good ez hit luk'd

fiah fah
;

me

WHERE
Whej-e
is

IS

GOD?

God?

the

question ask'd

Ev'rjwhere the sunlight basks Ev'rjwhere the darkness goes, As tie day its ending close.

Cast he eye towards the sky,

Wher\ the stars in silence fly And tie Sun and Moon, of old,
'Cross

me

distant heaven

roll.

'Mong he fishes of the deep, Where, Vi boundless area, sweep; In the sWll upon the shore

God

is tlere,

forevermore

Look upt

the forest

grown
;

And

the Ikflet and the corn

E'en the iot from whence they sprang, On His id^ existing, hang.
25

In the bowels of the earth, Min'ral gems, find ye a dearth

In the secrets 'neath the plain,
Is the

answer "God," again.

little flow^'r

In the blooming-

In the honeysuckles' bow'r; In the hidden'd tiny

cells,

"God"

alone, our

Maker, dwells.

LET US HAB 'N'TAHNASHON'L PEACE.

Let us hab peace, at any kost, An' sabe ouah strin'th fah othah srt Ob fi'tin' wid ouah hands an' s.'w, 'N othah wurk dawgon' de wa

Let us hab peace

ez yeahs ago
foe,
v^ar,

Upon Ouah

de

field,

wid foreign

boys, 'n dat Rev'lushion

Spiird precious blood

dawga'

de war!

Let us hab peace; an* did'n lo' brave boys, ez can'n roa', Fac'd miles ob steel an' nutti' awed, dawgon' de war! 'N' '65

Ob ouah

26

! ; !

Let us hab peace. Remember Spain How wid dis countra fought again? Dey box'd one 'nuttah's yeah an' jaw Until one yell'd dawgon' de war!

Let us hab peace; dem "Russ" 'n' "J^'Ps' Dey kno' de feelin's ob a slap; Fah didn't dey kic' an' ghee an' haw Lak two ol' mules dawgon' de war

Let us hab peace; now com's de Bo'r 'N' Ainglund, whut wid dem got sor' E'en Bulgar an' de Turks, too, whoah Dah bre'ches thoo dawgon' de war!

Let us hab peace. Yas, go tah co'rt Yo' countries doan yo' mek us tote Ouah trubbles dah, an' fac' de law Tah k'ep de peace dawgon' de war

Let us hab peace. Marse Cahneegay, bilt'd de Hague fah yo' tah lay Yoah trubbles 'foh dem jedges dah, An' larn som' sense dawgon' de war!

He

Let us hab peace ob corse, ah g'ess Hit's hard tah quit a fi'tin' mess

Ef thah's somethin' wurth

fi'tin'

fah,

Den gwane, dawgon',

'n' git 'n'

war.

27

Let us hab peace!

Marse Bryan's

right,

Fah

ke'pin' friendship wid'n' sight;

Ef he doan stop de wars jist well K'ep ])uildin' ships tah shoot lak'

'1.

SCRIBT TAH MISTAH SMAL'WOOD.

(This poem was contained in a letter to Mr. Smallwood, City Editor of the Bvening Star, Washington. D. C, after a call made upon him on the previous day.;

Mistah Smal'wood, mah deah sah Will yo' pardahn me ef ah Rite yo' dis hyeah lettah, fah

Yoah

great kindness, w'ile ah's thah

On

misshon strange tah say,

Dat wuz fahr'ign 'n' a way But ah whanted yo' tah see Dem dah po'ms ob mine, yo'
Yo' sahpriz'd

see.

me

'n a

way,

Wen

yo' sed

"mah

talunt" lay

T'wards dat nobbil man ob fame *'Dunbar," dat's de gen'man's name. Ef ah b'lieved awl dat yo' say Ah would drown mahse'f tahday 'N a pot ob bilin' oil, Thah tah stay ontel ah boil'd.
28

wid me, eh! up an' say Whut yo' mint w'en ah wuz dah, Stan'n' on dat floo' so bah Wal, ah t'ank yo' jist de same,
jist

Youse

playin'

'On'st now, ov/n

Fah whut hap'nd, ahm

tah blame.

DEM DAH
Ah whants
Tah

"TRU' RAFORMAHS."
the U.
O'.

(To

T. R.)

tah say a

eb'ry

wurd boddy hyeah

fair.

er

two

Dem

"Tru' Raformahs," sho' ez Sue,

Air mekin' hit fah

dey had a hard ol' time, wouldn't wid sich "fools"; A-monkin' wid thah money 'hind
corse,

Ob

Who

De door upon De

de stools.

moughty skeer'd, Wid awl thah money flo'n

peepal den got
;

'N'

wid dah

voices,

up dey

rear'd

moughty loud "dawgon'."

29

; !

;;

Wal

den, dey set'ld

Griffin ez de

down

tah wurk,

Wid

man

Who
De

made dem

hus'le

awl, who'd shurk

good man,
de san'

biz'e'ness at han'.

Dis Griffin

wuz

a real

Tah good Fer he wuz

tah stay 'roun' hyeah

call'd fr'm oft

Ob

time, hez

crown tah weah.

;

Dey's commin'

yes, dey's

commin'

sho'

Dem

"Tru' Raformah" folk

fah mo'

Ez Ross is at de helm Ob dem dah houn's

tah soalk.

But grac'ous kno's, whut mo' yo' ask Ob Ross thawn be a man?
He'll

whop 'n' line awl who harrass An' wobbles lak a kan
'n'

Rite hyeah

We

hab

Sis'

Was'nton tah day Saraw Luis

say?

Whut 'n' de debble did yo' Ah sed. Sis' Saraw Luis

She's one

among

de gra' big Four

ban'
sho'

Dat
Is

rules dis

moughty
Maffews
'n'

'N' Secratahry

wid her han'

han'.

30

Ob

corse,

Dat's

ahm hyeah wid dem rite now, why ah calls dah names;
'n'

Dey'll th'ow yo'

a pot ob "sour,"

Sho' ez yo're

'n'

de game.
prais',

Dem

"Tru' Rafohmahs" we mus' Fah mekin' thru dah way;

obstackles dat rais'd
stay.

By many

Up

dah big haids tah

POLAHTICKS.
Three cullud gen'min met, tah say

Some vital "Polahticks," Ez dey wuz leadahs ob de day,

An' by de peepal
pick'd.

"Now, Sam," sed Tell whah yo'

We'll
lis'n clos'

one, "yo'
stan'

mek

yo' say,

one way;

fah ev'ry

word

Dat

yo' will

hab tah say."

"Wal, genTmin," sed Mistah Sam;

"Ah Stan's flat-footdid dah! Upon de plank mah Tarty' ran, !" Tah be fahebbah, sah
31

"Ah am 'Rapublickun,' yo' kno', Fah fifty yeahs dey've stood

Fall eq'al rites, an' somethin' mo',

An'

fer us

done much good."

*'De 'Democraps'

Dey'll gib yo* nuttin'

ouah 'n'mies air, hyeah?

An' nebbah will ez long ez deir Be votin's lak las' 3^eah !"

Dem

'gressaves,

wid dah Ro'savelt,

felt

Air tryin' hard tah brake

Ouah ranks an' certahnly we'se Dah mersahliss han'shake."

;

"Ahm
An'

gwine tah

stan' firm, yo'

kan

bet,

Fah "Linco'n's"
ef hit rains,

prinsahpill
ah'll git

den

wet,

Dan

gib o'bah at will."

So, awl agree'd dat

Sam wuz
tah say

rite,

'N

whut he had

Ez each one on

dat very nite

stay.

Decided that tah

Wid Sam,

an'

awl de othah folk

Who
De

did wid

dem

belieze

In "Polahticks" an' nebbah bolt

*'publickuns" fah ease.

32

WHY
C.

IS

WHISKEY SUCH A CURSE?

(Inspired by and written during the address of Dr. Childs, member of the Board of Education, in a temperance meeting at the First Baptist Church, West Washington, D. C, February 1, 1914. Other addresses weri made by Dr. C. H. Marshall, member of the Board of Education; Mrs. Rosetta Lawson, and the pastor. Rev. Dr. Edgar E. Ricks, who presided.)

W.

Why

is whiskey such a curse? Because it taints the pure; Wh}'- is whiskey such a curse? Because it harms you sure.

Why

is whiskey such a curse? Because it makes a "fool"; Why is whiskey such a curse? Because it does'nt "cool".

Why

is whiskey such a curse? Because it dulls the heart; Why is whiskey such a curse? Because it consumes the spark.

Why

is whiskey such a curse? Because the man, it damns Why is whiskey such a curse? Because the body, it jams.

33

; ;

Why

is whiskey such a Because it makes you Why is whiskey such a Because it makes you

curse?

owe;
curse?
poor.

Why

is whiskey such a curse? Because it ruins the home Why is whiskey such a curse? Because it makes you mourn.

is whiskey such a curse? Because with brutish force it holds The tot'ring form of young and old; And squeezes on their vitals, bold

Why

With vengeance,

leaving bare the soul.

Why

is whiskey such a curse? Because it spoils the girl Why is whiskey such a curse? Because it dims thv. ''pearl".

Why
It

is

wdiiskey such a curse?

plucks the "roses" from the cheek

And dims the lustre of the eye, As tears of sorrow slowly streak

D6wn

into the "cup" of bitter sighs.

34

Why

is whiskey such a curse? Because in it death's lurking Behind the screen of Fate unseen; And of your life's blood sucking.

It fills

the world with fearful

miseries' attendant
in its
its

And
While,

Within
It

gloom woe; train, the weak entomb dismal chasm low.

makes your troubles mountain high

Pile up, as others, passing by.
to ''danger" fly
!

Are happy; while

You drop

O, wretched soul

and

die.

35

PART

II.

SONG-POEMS.
Set to Music by the Author.

SCRIPTS.
I'm longing for you dear,

When,

too,

we

will

be near,

By

each other's side.

all

Thro'
O'er

eternity;

Yes, you,
life's

my

love, shall be.

sea.

tempestuous
shall be.

And

the smilin^-

moon and

stars

Our guide

Good-bye, Good-bye,

sweetheart
sweetheart
again

good-bye, good-bye,

May
Until

angels ever guide thee.

we meet

Good-bye, Good-bye,

sweetheart
sweetheart
it

good-bye.
good-bye.

Remember

in the parting.

My

heart,

giveth pain,
Z7

Under
Heart

the green leaf tree, dear,

I

There's where

long to be,
clear,

light as air.

Sky bright and

Listen, sweetheart,
If

you care?

your love be as pure, dear,

give

I'll

my

heart to you

Forever one, By the calm setting Sun, Under the green leaf tree.

SWEETHEART MINE.
Sweetheart mine.

Love divine. Well I think on you

And my heart, Weary worn, Calling now

for

you;

Thro' the live-long day I am still Thinking of the time when we will Be as happyy as birds of the sky; Oh, sweetheart; sweetheart mine!
38


Sweetheart mine,

Love

divine,

Roses then for you;

Your bright eyes. Your bright smiles, Draws me nearer you

Tho'
all else I

may

then forget,

Call back, dear, the days

when we mei;
!

Ne'er was heart so divine and so pure,

Oh, sweetheart

sweetheart mine

PRETTY MOON.
There's a story
time,
I

would

tell

of love in

June

When
And
The

the flowers sweet are blooming in the

dell,

the

birds

are

sweetly

singing

in

the

noontime
story,
I

remember
fall

it

so well.
I

All the mem'ries of the past

recollect

when when

Evening shadows
In

around, as long ago;

all

my

fancy

can picture

the scenes

The

pretty moon's ashining

39

all

aglow.

CHORUS.
Pretty moon, shining soon, Pretty Moon, you're a boon, With your smiling face out in Pretty moon, come and spoon,
the sky;

Oh
ril

tell

me why you moon

sigh

pretty moon, honey

obey

be true, dear, to you

the stars in the blue,
to

As

And my promise

you

I'll

Pretty moon, come and spoon

smiling face,

don't hide your

Pretty moon, pretty moon.

In

life's

fickle

pathway.

Lie both thorns and roses. As we journey t'wards the unseen distant goal

And
Out

the rampant and the brave their

little life

goes
o'er the steep of time

unto the shoal

Well,

may we imagine

a picture of the

shadow

Of a never-ending tide of transient dreams, As when off the stage of action, great and small

go
This
life is

but a picture on the screen.

CHORUS.
40

IN

THE CITY OF JASPER WALLS.

(Sacred.)

Sitting alone

dreaming wearily,

After the close of an arduous day

There, by a candle which burns so low,

One by one

the angels come and go. Gazing in silence with breathless sigh, Wond'ring shall any more here go by; Leaving this mortal, down here below; Burden'd and footsore joys come no more, Still in my dreams I can see the shore

Where

the INIaster doth reign evermore.

CHORUS.
Heav'n
is

the

home

of the blest

Where
They

all

the saints are at rest;

fair.

Angels, so bright and so

are calling

me

o'er there
th' streets are

Th' good book says

shining gold,

pav'd wi'

And

rivers of crystal brightness flow

On

great

white throne reigns the King

(Repeat.)

over

all.

In the city of Jasper Walls.

41

2.

yon heav'nly light, a wond'rous sight; "by God's own hand For His dear children in yonder land. Seraphs and cherubs, hither they fly. Mingling with millions from sky to sky; And loud hosannas ring out above From the redeem'd ones, wash'd in His blood; Still in my dreams I can see the shore Where the Master doth reign evermore.
in the

When

glow

of

Comes then to me lo' Mansions made ready

CHORUS.
Tempo
1.

Hush

can hear the mighty happy throng

love,

In a great and grand triumphant song;

The Master's face is beaming o'er with As swiftly they fly thro' realms above;

No shadows to cover them No tears their joy to mar;

One And
eternal
th'

there,

day over

there.

pearly gates ajar.

CHORUS.

42

! !

MAMMY

LOV'S

HER KINKY-HEADED
BOY.

(Typical Southern Lullaby.)

kinky-headed boy, 'N deed ah lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's Mammy lov's her kinky-headed boy, 'N deed ah lov's yo' 'deed ah do's. Mammy nebber thought befoh de aingil brought
lov's her

Mammy

Mah

li'l'

lump

o'

sw'etness

baby

Dat yo'd be

ez cute a

li'l'

an' joy, mah boy an' mammy

o'

lov's yo, 'n

deed ah

do's.

Yo' li'l' no'zes air so cute an' small, Oh, mammy lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's; An' yah face is black an' shiny, too, Yit mammy lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's. Ah'll buy yo' purty t'ings an' li'l' clo'zes bring, An' li'l' tingling bells dat rin' an' rin' mah

aingil

An' a

li'l'

woo'en horzey,

too,

Foh ah

sho' lov's yo', 'n deed ah do's.

43

3.

Mammy

kinky-headed boy, Ah'll roc' yo' gen'ly tc sle'p, ah will Mammy'll ke'p de kiver on yo' bed, Ah'll tuk it clos'ly an' lov' yo' still. Wen yo' gins to cry, rite den ah gins to sigh, An' picks yo' up an' roc'y bye-an'-bye oh,
lov's her

Lawdy

Mammy
.

lov's her kinky-headed boy, 'N deed ah lov's you, 'n deed ah do's.

THERE'LL COME A DARK CLOUD SOMETIME.

I.

Life and

its

joys,

Uncover 'd
Is

joys.

but a shadow sublime; Fleeting away.

Just for a day,
There'll

come

a dark cloud sometime.

Sorrows and
Bitter fears

tears.

Longing

to see the sunshine; go.

Onward we
There'll

Fraught with woe

come

a dark cloud sometime.

44

2.

Weary and worn,

Bleeding and torn, Footsteps are slowing with time.

Go

as we may, Follow the way

There'll
Still

come

a dark cloud sometime.

we may hope, As we groupe Onward thro' dismal

Cling to the task,

sunshine;

Tho' encompass'd
There'll

come

*******
a

a dark cloud sometime.

Life's not all joy

There'll

come

dark cloud sometime.

LONELY TONIGHT.
I.

Lonely, tonight, dear,

'Mid scenes galore;

Lonely, tonight, dear, While the wind blow.
45

2.

cannot see, dear, Your smiling face; Still in my dreams, dear. You're my solace.
I 3.

Some day
Back
to

I'll

wander
;

your arms And then I'll ponder Under your charms.

4-

Far, far

away from

Your fond embrace; Lonely tonight, ''hon", Dream of your face.

MAH SWE'T
Mammy's
li'l'

LI'L'

CHILE.

(Lullaby.)
I.

rag'ed pickaninny, pickaninny,

Mammy
Yah

lak's tah see her pickaninny, picka;

ninny
li'l'

Play'n' in de san',

Lawdy know's how

gran',

toes an' fin'ers, awl a-flyin' in de aire,

Now
Mah

hyeah, an' deir, an' ev'ry wheir,

swe't
li'l'

chile,

li'l'

chile.

46

Mammy's Mammy's

li'l'

cross-eye'd pickaninny,

picka-

ninny,
liT greas'y pickaninny, pickaninny;
in

Mam'll rub yah head, put yo' So go tah sle'p, mah li'l' babe,
keep.

de bed

an' yo' de aingils

Now,

lay yo' head

upon mah
li'l'

bres',

Mah
Psh!
!

swe't

li'l'

chile,

chile.

hush, now go pickaninny, Psh don' cry, bad

pickaninny
Clos'

tah

sle'p,

mah mah

'ninny,

man'll

git

baby,
cries.

dem

li'l'

eyes,

mammy
li'l'

hyeahs yah

Now,

roc'-er-bye,

mah

babe, an

dream ob

mudder deah,
Ah'll hold yo' close, widdin'

mah ahms,

Mah

swe't

li'l'

chile,

li'l'

chile.

AFTER AWHILE.
I.

Why are the days so long and drear, Why is my heart so pain'd?
It is

because

we

parted, dear.

When

you

my

love disdain'd.
47

Then

Flowers, they blossom and w'ther and I recall those days gone by

die,

When
And And

you caress'd me,

fondly kiss'd me.

then you said ''good-bye."

CHORUS.
After awhile
After awhile

when stars are gleaming, a broken heart;

th'

You'll understand while

we

are parted,

After awhile, after awhile.

After awhile After awhile

when years are when your hair's gray

th'

flying,
;

'Tis then you'll

know

loved you only,

After awhile.
2.

Twilight,

it

softly fades
life

away.
still

So with
Fill'd

my

with

its

each day sorrow, but

pray

For your return some day. Once I was always bright and gay, But now I'm pining fast away Don't you remember. In (that) cold December, When you bade me ''good-bye"?

48