Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-05-11

also given, and another called the money
song, probably of African origin, in which
the principal singer persona,ed monkey,
with all sorts of odd jes,iculations, and the
other negioes bore part OF the chorus,
"Dan dan, who's de dandy 7" One Of
the songs commonly sung on these occa-
SONS, represents the various animals of
the woods as belonging TO some profess on
or trade. For example
De cooter is de boatman-
The cooier is the terrapin, very ex-
pert boa,man he is.
De cooter is de boatman.
John John Crow.
De red-bird de soger. frsr eg
John John Grow.
De mockng-b bird de lawyer
John John Crow.
De alligator sawyer.
John John Grow.
The eligator's back is furnished with
toothed ridge, like the edge of saw,
which explains the last line. ..s
When tho work of the evening was
over, the negroes adjourned to n spacious
kitchen. One of them took his place as
musician, whistling and beating time with
two sticks upon the floor. Several of the
men came forward and executed various
dances, capering, prancing and drum
ming with heel and toe UPON the floor,
with astounding agility and perseverance,
though all Of them had performed their
daily tasks and had worked all the even
ing, and some had walked from four TO
seven miles TO atted the corn shocking -
From the dance transition was made to
mock military parade, sort OF burles-
que Of our militia trainings, in which the
words of command and the evolutlons were
extremely ludicrous. 1t became neces-
sa.y for the commander 10 make a speech,
and confessing his incapaclty for public
speaking, he cal d upon huge black
man named Toby, to address the company
in his stead. Toby was man Of power
full frame, six feet high, his face ornament.
ed with beard Of fashionable cut, who
had hitherto stood leaning against the
wall looking upon the feoic with an air of
superiority. He consented, came for
ward, demanded bit of paperto hold IN
his hand and harangued the soidiery.-
It was evident that Toby had listened to
stump speeches in his day. He spoke OF
"de majority OF de sons OF Carolina" "de
interest Of dc state" ode honor of ole
Ba'nwell district" and these phrases he
connected by various expletives and
sounds, of which we could make nothing.
+ At length he began to falter, when the
captain, with admirable presence of mind
came to his relief, and interrupted and
closed the harangue with huuah from
The company. Toby was allowed by all
the spectators, black and white TO have
made an excellent speech. -eso.I J..
The blacks of this region are cheerful,
carless, dirty race, not hard worked, and
in many respects indu gently treated. 1t
is of course The desire of the master that
his slaves shall oe aborious; on the other
hand it is the detefmina,ien of the slave
to lead as easy life as he can. The
master has the power of punishment on
his side; the slave, on his, has lnvincble
inclination, and thousand expedien,s
learned by long practice. The result IS a
compromise in which each party yields
thing; and good natured imperfect
l dbu SlONGUl1 uiSoDCQlChIC Ou OhC sioSt 10
purchased by good treatment onthe other.
have been told by planters that the slave
brought from Africa is much more SER
yiceable, though more high spirited and
dangerous than the slave born in this
country, and early trained to his condi-
| ton. usrs
have been impatiently waiting the APP
proach OF spring, since ] came to this state,
but the weather here is still what the in
habitants call winter. This season, am
told is more than three weeks later than
usual. Fields of Indian corn we're plant
ed in the beginning Of March, which must
be repIanted, and the cotton planting j.
deferred for fine weather. The peach
and plum trees have stood in blossom for
weeks, and the forest trees VIII oh al this