Darkey Ways in Dixie

by Margaret A. Richard

Hush, now hush, do’ cry no mo’
Kaze yo’ daddy had ter go
In de massa’s fiel’ ter hoe,
Mammy’s baby chile.
He gwine come back, dat you’ll see,
Kaze he b’long ter you en me,
En he’ll jog you on his knee,
Mammy’s baby chile.
Hush, den hush, do’ cry no mo’!
Set dar quiet on de flo’
While I wash de clo’es, you know,
Mammy’s baby chile.
When de cotton season come,
Me en you won’ stay at home,
Kaze yo’ mammy gwine pick some,
Mammy’s baby chile.
You kin set in de sunshine
On de cotton, sof’ en fine,
Lis’nin’ ter de moanin’ pine,
Mammy’s baby chile.
When we done, at en’ ob day,
En come home (heah what I say!)
Daddy’ll ride you all de way,
Mammy’s baby chile.
Hush, den hush, do’ cry no mo’
Kaze yo’ daddy had ter go
In de massa’s fiel’ ter hoe,
Mammy’s baby chile.

Playin’ Craps.

What you git dat nickel change
Up in coppers fo’,
What de preacher gib ter you
Las’ night ’fo’e he go?
Bet you soon be wid dem chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps.
What you say? You done bin dar?
Is you, nigger, sho?
Den de Black Maria git you
Sho’s de pleeceman know
’Bout dem dirty little chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps.
What you gwine make up ter tell
Preacher Jones, Eli,
When he as’ you ’bout dat nickel—
When, en how, en why?
Dat you los’ it ter dem chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps?

Neber los’ it? Well, I say!
Why you talk so slow?
Bring dat money out ter sight,
So I sho kin know
If you ’scape dem cunnin’ chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps.
Thirteen ob dem! Thirteen coppers,
Sho ez I’m erlive!
Han’ dem ebry one to me—
Scusin ob des five;—
En you stay ’way frum them chaps
Roun’ de corner playin’ craps!

The Washerwoman’s Song.

Oh, I rub en I rub
All day in de tub!
I went fo’ dese clo’es ’fo’e de clock strike eight,
En I rubbin’ on dem in de evenin’ late.
I rub en I rub
All day in de tub.
Oh, I rub en I rub
All day in de tub!
I soap all de pieces in places erbout,
En I scrub till I git all de dinginess out.
I rub en I rub
All day in de tub.
Oh, I rub en I rub
All day in de tub!
Sho ez de good Missus pay me fo’ dese
I gwine treat you chillun ter crackers en cheese.
Ain’t you glad I kin rub
All day in de tub?

“I rub en I rub!”