Where the bond shall all be free!
After several others had spoken, George Payne, another contraband, made a few sensible remarks, somewhat in these words: “Friends, don’t you see de han’ of God in dis? Haven’t we a right to rejoice? You all know you couldn’t have such a meetin’ as dis down in Dixie! Dat you all knows! have a right to rejoice; an’ so have you; for we shall be free in jus’ about five minutes. Dat’s a fact. I shall rejoice that God has placed Mr. Lincum in de president’s chair, and dat he wouldn’t let de rebels make peace until after dis new year. De Lord has heard de groans of de people, and has come down to deliver! You all knows dat in Dixie you worked de day long, an’ never got no satisfacshun. But here, what you make is yourn. I’ve worked six months; and what I’ve made is mine! Let me tell you, though, don’t be too free! De lazy man can’t go to heaven. You must be honest, an’ work, an’ show dat you is fit to be free; an’ de Lord will bless you an’ Abrum Lincum. Amen!”
A small black man, with a rather cracking voice, appearing by his jestures to be inwardly on fire, began jumping, and singing the following:—
“Massa gone, missy too;
Cry! niggers, cry!
Tink I’ll see de bressed Norf,
‘Fore de day I die..
Hi! hi! Yankee shot’im;
Now I tink dc debbil’s got’im.”
The whole company then joined in singing the annexed song, which made the welkin ring, and was heard far beyond the camp.