The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-08

The B1ack-bfrd.

Saw one-cyed, winking, blinking figure at
my chamber door,
Standing there, and nothing more.
Ah! I never shall forget it, how in glancing
round 1 met it,
And ever shall regret it, that I looked to-
ward that door;
For saw a monstrous figure like giant,
only bigger,
And there stood big buck nigger, leaning
up against my door
Stood powerful big buck nigger, with his
back against my door
Leaning there, and nothing more.
Straight into the replace spying, whcro
my ham and eggs were frying,
1 bchcld the poker lying, near the hearth,
upon the floor;
Then with most determined vigor, straight
hurled it at tho niger;
But SO quick was that big nigger, that it
missed and struck the floor
Missed the nigger's head completely and
fell harmless on tue floor
Struck his heel, and nothing more
Back into the fireplace looking, where my
ham and eggs were cooking,
Shaking, quaklng-aS no mortal ever shook
or quaked before
then heard this ugly sinner mutter but
these words, ''Some dinner!"
Twas the only word he'd spoken-twas the
only word, I'm sure
L
shall feed you nevermore."
This said, and nothing more.
Then his impudence beginning, and his
gums exposed in grinning,
With smile by no means winning, did he
view mo from the door;
And he coolly said, "Your treat, man-I'u
ne'er so into the street, man;
I'LL get something to eat, man, shall
never leave your door;
l shall never quit YOUR chamber thOn0h
you beat mo till roar,
Never leave you-nevermore!"
Then, toward the fireplace marching,
where my coffee was a parching,
Boldly stalled the saucy niger, boldly
stalked across the floor;
Never made the slightest bow, sir-then I
knew there'd be row, sir,
For made a solemn VOW, sir, he should go
back to the door;
Then I kicked him from my chamber, and
he went back to the door;
Leaned against it-nothing moro.
Then this black-bird, for awhile, sir, really
did cause me to smile, sir,
Though rav'nous, rabid, hungry look his
dusky visage bore;
Though" said I, "thou art freedman,
thou hast gone 80 much to seed, man,
That III give a little feed, man, as you seem
to be so poor.
Provided you viii work FIR mo half an
hOur or more"
Quoth the niger, "Nevcrmorc."
Much I marveled this ungainly nigger
should refuse so plainly
TO DO little job, 'twould take half an
hour or moro
For we cannot help agreeing that no living
Should refuse to labor, seeing that he was
so blasted poor
Should refuse to earn q dinner he saw cook
ing from my door
Though he ate one "nevermOre!"
There I sat engaged in musing what he
meant by thus refusing,
And then began abusing this big niger
at my door.
Sure, said 1, ''you must be crazy, seeing
you're so cursed lazy
So confounded awfu! lazy as to want to
work no more
viii you ever work for nages-tell me, tell
me, implore?'
Quoth the nigger, 'Nevermore!"
'Nigger, said I, ''horrid demon-nigger
still, If slave Or freeman
Think again before you answer, this ono
question, 1 inplorc:
Have you yet no sense of feelinc-do Won
mean to live by stealing.
Or by working and fair dealing?-tell me.
tell me, implore,
On your honor as a nigger-will you labor
as beforc?"
Quoth the niger, ''Ncvermore!"
Startled at the stiffness broken by reply so
fatty spoken,
Doubtless" said I, this big nigger would
consume enough for four,
When on some spacious rice plantation. he
would out-cat all creation
Never made calculation how much cash Il
cost, I'm sure,
For his master bought the victuals in the
good old days OF vorc,
Now, he'll feed you ''nevcrmorc!"
'Nigger" said 1, ''thing Of evil. quit nv
room-go to the devil
Or if you'll consent to work, I'll bring your
supper to the door,
Tell me truly, L conjure you, for the last
time, implorc?''
(u0fb ba