Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-11-15
The Blackbird. d

week and weary,
wero before
While sat aosorbed in thinking--brandy cook
tails slowly drinkiug,s -. "
Suddenly ISaw blinking, one-eysd figure at my
.. door s"'.
Saw one-eyed, winking, blinking agure at my
chamber door, =: - ''.
Standing thcre, and nothing more.
All I never shall forgctit, how in slsnoing round
And ever shall regret it, that looked toward
that door;
For I saw a monstrous figure, like giant, only
bigger, e. -.
Aud there stood q big buck nigger leaning up
Stood powerful big, buck niger, with.his back
against my door
Leaning there, and nothing more.
streight into tho fireplace spying, whore my ham
and eggs were frying, -.
.beheld the poker lying near the 'hoarth upon
the floor; .. =:
Then with mostdetermined vigor, straight hurled
it at the nigger, --a:.e
But so quick was that big Niger. thatit missed
and struck the floor.
Missed the nigger's head completely, and fell
harmless on the floor
Struck his heel, and nothing moro.
Back into the fireplace looking, whore my ham
and eggs were cooking, -. ~
Shaking, quaking-as no mortal ever shook OF
quaked before. -,
I then heard this ugly sinner muttter but these
words" Some dinnor"
Twas the only WORD, he'd spoken, twas the only
word, I'm sure --..'.s. Z.
When I picked up pluck and answered, "I shall
feed you levermore."
This 7 said, and nothing more.
: Then his inpudcnce beginning, and his gums ex
posed in grinuing,
With . smile By means winning, did he view
me from the door,
Aud ceolly said, Your treat, man-Tll ne'er go
in the street, man,
Till get some to eat, man, I'll ne'er leave your
door;
I'll never quit your chamber, though you beat me
till I roar,
Never leaTo you-noTermore J"
Then, toward the fireplace marching, whore my
coffee was parching, n,
Boldly stalked the saucy niggor, boldly stalked
across the floor;
Never made 'the slightest bow, sir-theu 7 knew
there'd be rev, sir,
For I made solemn VOW, sir, he should 60 back
to tho door;
Then kicked him from my chamber, and he went
Leaned against it-nothing moro. -
Then this Backbird, for q .whilo, sir, really did
cause me to smile, sir,
Though raYouous, rabid, hungry look his dusky
visage bsre; ~
"Though," said I, thou art freedman, thou
hast gone so much to seed, man,
That III give littlo feed, man. as you seem to be
sopoor,
Provided you will work for me hnlf an hour or
more"
.Quoih the nigger, "Nevermoro"
Much L Lmaryeled this usgainly nigser should re-
fuse SO plainly
To DE- little job, 'twould take half an hour or
FOr' cannot help agreeing, that no living hu-
being,
LASTED poor
Should refuse to earn dinner he saw cooking
from my door
Though he ate one "nevernore"
There sat engaged in musing, what he meant
by thus refusing,
door.
"Sure," said I, "youmust be crazy to be SO cursed
To be so awful lazy as to want to work no more
Will you ever work kforwages-tellm me, imploref
Quoth the niger, NevermoreT
"Nigger," said I, "horrid demon--nigger still,
If slave orfreeman-
Think again bcforo you answer this enc question,
I implore;'
Have you yet no sense of feeling-do you mean
to live by stealing,
Or by working and fair dealing-tell me. tell me,
implere;
On your honor, as niger, will you labor as be-
forep
oueth the niger" Nsvermore'
Startled st the stllnes, broken by reply finally
"Doabtless," said I, "this big niger wsuld eat
enough for four,
When on some spacious rice plantation, no wonld
out-eat all creation
Mover m4do calculation how much cash it cost,
Pm sure,
For his master boughtthe victuals in the good
old days Of yore,
Now he'll feed you " Neyermore!"
"Niggor," said I, .thing of evil, quit my room,
Or if you say you'll work, III bring your supper
to tho doer
Tell ms truly, oOajure you, for the last time I
implore?"
Quoth tho nigger-"Nevermersw
"Be that word our sign of parting, nigger man r.
cried, upstarsing-
"Got thee back to where thou csm'ss from-let
me see your face no moro;
Join the army-go to Texas-neyer come back
here to ve1 us
Meier return again to ve1 us-never let US see you
more;
Take your gaze from of my meat, and take your
carcass from my door" .,.,s;.
Quoth the niggor-" NevermoreP -.
And the niger still is standing in my entry on
the landing, :.
A pretty burly picture, with his back against my
door,
And his eyes are ever spying at my ham as it is
frying,
And my poker still is lying near my hand upon
the floor,
But my victuals to the "ay y-trap" Of that niger
by my door,
Shall be eliftcd-"Nevermorew
One of the most outrageous attempts to ex4
tort money by a Federal officer was attempt
ed by Capt. Warren Peck, who is stationed
at Hazlehurst. Capt: Peck had Col. Brown
closely confined for nine days on some frivo
lens nretext and in the mainline impOsed q