The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-11-21
THE BLACKBIR

once upon midnight dreary, while pOndered,
Ger the war of the Rebellion, aud the things
that were before tt it 81.
While sat absorbed in thinking-brandy cock
tails slowly drinking,
Suddenly / say blinking, one eyed figure at
my door
Saw a one.eysd. winking blinking figuse at my
door, Mas
Standing there, and nothing more
All! never shatl forget it, how in glaucing
round met it,
And ever shall regret It, that looked toward
that door: -D-
For saw Il mOnstrous figure like a giant ouiV
bigger, -
And there stood big buck uigser, leaHns np
against my door
Stood powerful big buck niger, with his back
against my door .ft
Leaning there and nothing more
Straight into the fireplace spying, where my
ham and eggs were frying,
beheld the poker, lying near the hearth upon
the finor
Theu with most determined vigor straight
hurled it at the niger -
But so quick was that big nigger, that il missed
and struck the floor
Missed the niggers head completely. and fell
harmless on the floor
Struck his heel, and Gothng more.
Back into the fire place looking where m ham
and eggs were cooking
Shaking quaking-as no mortal ever shook or
quaked before -.I
then heard this ugly sinner muttcr but these
words" Some dinner -
Twas the only word he'd spoken, twas the only
word I'm sure
When picked up pluck and answered 81 shall
feed yOu nevermore."
This said, and nothing more.
Then his impudencc beginning, and his gums
exposed i'll grinning,
With u smile by no means winning, did he view
me from the door,
And coolly said, Your treat mau-Tll ne'er 90
in the street man,
Till get some to eat man. I'll never leave your
door
I'll never quit your chamber. though you beat
me till l roar,
Never leave you-nevermore! !"
Then toward the fireplace marching, where my
coffee was parrhing,
Boldly stallSed the saucy niger, boldly stall1ed
across the floor;
Never made the slightest bow, sir--then I knew
thered be row sir,
For made solemn VOW, sir he should 90 back
to the door;
Then kicked hrm from my chamber, and he
Leaned against it-nothing more.
Then this Blackbird, for awhile, sir, really did
cause me to smile, sir,
Though raw nous, rabid, hungry look his dusly
visage bore;
Though, said 7, thou art Freedman. thou
hast gone so much to seed, man
That I'll give a little feed, man, yOu seem t.
be so poor,
Provided You will woii, Tor me half an honr or
more"
Quoth the niger; lSevermorer'
Much marvelled this urganly Niger should
refuse so plainly
To do little Job, twould take halt an hour or
more
For we cannot help agreeing that living
Should refuse to labor, seerng that he was 80
blasted poor
Should refuse to earn a dinner he saw cooking
from my door
Though he ate one 'nevermOre 80
There / sat engaged in musing, what he meant
by thus refusing,
And l then began abusing this big nigger at my
door,
&" Sure. said l. you must be crazy TO be SO
cursed lazy
VIII you ever work for wages-tell me, | inn
ploref'
Ouoth the bigger: "Nevermore -
" Niger" said |, "horIid demon-nigger still
if slave or freedman
Think again before you answer this one ques-
ton I impl0re;
Have yOn vet no sense OF feeling-do vOu mean
TO live by stealing,
Or by working and fair deaiing-tell me- tell me
/ iiHplore;
On your honor, "a Il nggcr will You labor aS
beforeT
Ouoth the uigger: Nevermore"
Startled at the stiffness broken by reply 80 ha'y
spoken
- Doubtless, said |. tns big ncger would eat
enough for four
Than on some spacious rice plantation he would
= out-eat all creation
Never made u calculation how much cash II cost |
I'm sure
For his master bought the victuals in the good
old days of yolo,
Now he'll feed you "Nevermore -
Z" Niger, said l, thing Of evil, quit my room
60 to the devil
Or if YOU say You'll work, I'll bring your supper
to the door:
Tell me truly, coniuro you, for the iast time, |
nnplo:et
On your honor. as a i;iggcr, will You labor as
Quoth the nigger " Nevermore'
' BE that word oar sign of parting. nigger mani"
cried, upStartng-
" Get the back tO where thou cImst from lot
me see your face no NOR;
Join the arnIy-go to TcXas--nevcr come back
here 10 veX us
Ne'er return again TO veN us-never let us see
You more:
Take your gaze from off my meat and take your
carcass from nay door
QuOth the niger: NevermOre"
And the Niger still is standing i'll my entry on
the Ian ling,
A pretty burly picture, with his back against
my door,
And his eyes ara ever spying at my ham us it
is frying
And my poker still is lying near my hand upon
the floor,
But my victuals To the hy-trap of that uigger
by my door,
Shall be lifted. Nevermore g.
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