The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-06-16 00:00:00

Literature.

BLLVE SONGS OF THE I.NITCD STATES (London:
Trubner find Co.)—Sinee the erre the northern mission
&sante have taken a great ict, rest in the songs of the
liberated slices. The present coll ction nombers 136
pieces, which 123 are "eperichils" (rpirituals), the
r rounder bring of the ordinary "Digger song" type.
The character of the words of the former is striking',
a ragertive. The negro in his more serious moods
dwells lovingly upon the idea of the ebrirtiars heaven.
It may be that he assorirtes it with indolenee varied by
an occasional "shout" (which is • mart of religioua
" breakdorre"); but, at all events, its peace and rest
and beauty appeal strongly to his imagination. What
wonder that as • slave his religion should be Little more
than • peasionate longing for the " Vother side of
Jordan," sod for the parodies be hope. to And there!
H01..0 his religious songs adders 611 to eaves., this
dominant feeling. They see full of heaven. Arword-
big to them life is • painful weary road to the "New
Jereaalern." . .

_
Seodin' Innen •-•ehln', body racked wid rein.
wl•l• I was • dgld I God, I'd et boom thorn-bye.
keep pray
1 do believe were • long time engin o' de erosta.
Keen pre) in',
I do believe well zit home to heaven blme.bye.
They r,present the pilgrim thus earnest not to be loft
behind :

I cien't ~ts) behind, my LAnl, I met einy behind ;
room enough in tie heaven, my Lord,
I can't einy behind.

And as thus addressing one who passes him on the
rued:-
. _

lihter Rosy, you get to heaven before I r;
Mater, )ou look nut for me ; rna on the tray.
Trebel on, trabel on.

Sometimes the 'revellers bear "H bell a-ring-
ing." hot more often they listen to the roll of "Jordan •
waters." Nothiog is more striking than the pronii•
pence given in those songs to the river of death. That
Ideal stream has tares firm hold upon the negro
Imegination, but they sing of it always exultingly.
There seems to be no fear of the erasing, and the
pilgrim exclaims in view of it
Done wid dribee•
Roll Jordan, roll.
Dons wld mum'. hollerin*,
Roll, Jordan, roll.
Done wid

..... ,
Roll, Jordan, roll.
Strangely enough, there is very little maid In these
spiritual nonea of the heaven Itself. We and but
slight mention of the golden streets, or of the barns and
wises. on the other baud, the book is full of
potietio paasagee, in •bieh heaven in mud. synonymous
with the sweetest of Englieh words—home. There is
something affecting in the loving iteration of this
familiar term with such an application. It appears
frequently in refrains like the following :
I'm piing to my Maven, I'm reins borne,
•reltangel open the door.
And sometimes is heard in every &Renate line, as In
Skis most suggestive of sieve poem.—
Dee.. no rain to no you,
0 yew, I want to go home.
Dere'. no sun to burn you,
0 !ere, I want to go boats.
Dere's no whip. acraek In',
0 T., I went to go home.
Dares no hard trials,
0 yes, I want to go home.

To "doctrines" and " experiences" the poop make
but little allualo.. Such things are overshadowed hy
the grand idea of home. and Jesus hinstall is chiefly
represented as "sitting by the water-side" to weleorne
the traveller at hie journey', end.