Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-14
THE RLACKRIRD.

- L
o er the war Of the rebellion, and the things that
were before
While / sat absorbed in thinking-brandy cock
tails slowly drinking,
Suddenly saw blinking, one-eyed figure at my
Saw one-eyed, winking, blinking figure at my
Standing there and rothing more.
All! never shall forget it. how in CHANGING round
And ever shall regret it, that I looked toward
For saw a monstrous figure, Ike giant, only
And there stood a big buck Niger leaning up
against my door
Leaning there and nothing more.
Straight into the fireplace spying, where my ham
and egg were frying,
| beheld the poker lying near the hearth upon
Then with most determined vigor, straight 1
hurled it at the Niger,
But so quick was that big Niger that II missed
Missed the niggcr's head completely, and fell
harmless on the door
Struck his heel, and nothing more.
Back into the fireplace looking, where my ham
and eggs were cooking,
Shaking, .quaking-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. IN sure
When picked up pluck and answered, i shall
feed you neyermOre.
This | said, and hothing more.
Then his impudcnce beginning, aud his gums ex-
posed in grinning,
me from the door,
And coolly said, You treat, mani Ill e'cr go in
the street, man, I'm
Till get something to eat man, II never IeaVe
I'll never quit your chamber, though you beat me
Never leave you-nevermorc!'
Then toward the fireplace marching. where my
coffee was parching,
Boldly stalked the saucy Niger, boldly staf1ed
Never made the slightest bow sir-then L knew
thered be row, sir
For / made solemn vow, sir, he should go back
Then kicked him from my chamber, and he went
back to the door,
Leaned against it-nothng more,
Then this blackbird for awhile, sir really did cause
me TO SMILE sir,
Though a raw nous, rabid, hungry look his vlsagc
bore:
Though" said l, Thou art n freedman, thou
hast gone so much to seed, man,
That I'll give little feed, man, rs You seem to be
so poor
Provided you will work for me half an hour or
Quoth the niggcr-" Nevcrmore!''
Much marvelled this ungainly niger should re-
fuse so plainly
To do little job, 'twould take half an hour or
morei
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human
being
Should refuse to labor, seeing that he was so
blasted poor
Should refuse to earn dinner he saw cooking
from my door
Thoush-hO ate one neycrmorel
Though 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, thus to be SO
cursed lazy
To be so awful lazy as to want to work no more
viii you ever work for wages-tell me, niger, /
Quoth the niger: "Nevermore!'
Niger" said 1, 'horrid demon-nigger still, if
slave or freedman
Think again before you answer this one question,
Have You yet no sense of feeling-dQ you mean to
live by stealing,
Or by working and fair dcaling-tell me, tell me,
| implOre;
On your honor, as niggor, will you labor as be-
fOref'
Quoth the Niger: "Nevermore."
Startled at the stiffness broken by reply 50 fatty
spoken,
Doubtless" said I, this big Niger he would cat
enough for four,
When on some spacious rice plantation, he would
eat out all creation
Never made a calculation how much cash 1t cost
I'm sure,
For his mastcr bought the vctuas, in the good old
days of yqreI
Now he'll feed you ueverm0ro."
"Niegcr." said I, thing of evil, quit my room, go
Or, If you say you'll work. III bring your supper
to the door;
Tell me truly, conjure you, for .he last time I
implOre;
On your honor, as a niger, will you labor as be-
fore? -
Quoth the Niger: Nevermore"
"Be that word our sign of parting, Niger man u
/ cried, upStarting-
Get thee back to where thou cam'st FOm-lct me
see your face no more;
| Join the army-go to TcNas-ncvcr come back
here to VCX US
Necr return again to vex us-nevcr let us see you
more;
| Take your gaze from off my meat and take your
carcass from my d0orl
QuOth the niger: NevermQre.'
| And the Niger still is standing in my entry, on
| the landing,
! A pretty barry picture, with his back against my
door.
| And his eyes are ever spying at my ham, it is
And my poker still is lying near my hand upon
| the floor,
But my yictuals to the "Ry-trap" of that Niger
by my door
Shall be lifted" noyeTmore."
|