Darkey Ways in Dixie

by Margaret A. Richard

The Difference.

If de white man am a sinner
He go walkin’, walkin’ free,
But de nigger lan’, fo’ sho,
In de penitentiary.
Now dat Simeon steal some cotton
(Cunjud by de evil one)
En dey sen’ him ter de prison
Fo’ de wrong dat he am done.
Fo’ three yeahs he done bin workin’
In de penitentiary,
En he got ter stay dar longer
Frum de chillun en frum me.
Dat rich farmer git de cotton—
Ebry poun’ ob it—ag’in,
But dey keep dat Simeon lock up
Lak he done an awful sin.

If de white man am a sinner
He go walkin’, walkin’ free,
But de nigger sho gwine lan’
In de penitentiary.

Blackberry Time.

Missus, please write me a letter back home,
En tell ’em I say dat I want ’em ter come
At blackberry time in June.
My little ole cabin won’t hol’ any mo’,
But nobody freeze in de yard, dat am sho,
At blackberry time in June.
Tell ’em I lonesome. I sholy will die
If dey don’ come to he’p me eat blackberry pie
At blackberry time in June.
Dis nigger am po’, but dar’s plenty to eat
When de fruit ebrywhar hangin’ juicy en sweet
At blackberry time in June.
So, Missus, please write me a letter back home,
En tell ’em I say dat I want ’em ter come
At blackberry time in June.

THE BOOT-BLACK.

“No, sah ree!
You do’n’ ketch me
Shinin’ yo’ shoes fo’ de ha’f ob a dime;
Dis nigger belong
Ter de union strong,
En he charge you de full price ebry time.”