Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-11-28
Poetical
94HR B~LloKBIRD.

c the war Oh the hcOellOdJ1 n IN Alh5S e%NNN
While l sat absotSea4 In hitd kfhg-brahdyoocka
slowly drinking; .
Suddenly / saw a blinking, one-e5ed fgnreat my
asa Edoor-s1E -ut p
sSwa one.cyed, wiaking, blinking figure. at my
Standing tsere, and nothing more. ei e eaa5
Any I neverstsi sotgstis. how in glaneing round
And i n %ss is shall rsgrs. it, ,aa, lSlSslsa toward
that door;
For saw a mOn.trous figure. like a giant. only
Aud there ssoodSasb Big bdeE niger. leaning up,
against the door
Stood a powerful big buck with h1g back against-
Leaning there. and nothing more.
Straight into the Fireplace spying, where my ham,
and egg were trying,
Ibcheld the poker lyihg, near the hearth upon
--. the floor; r. Eas tlE-s-.E azs HsFF-
THen with most determined gor.straffAs IhuFed
s.. it at the niger. 81
Bdt SO quick wis that big niger. ThatitsnaisEed and
struck the HOor- sg
atls.ed the nigger's head conraetclys and fell
szharnaess OnAtte' floor z4-sg E
Struck his heel. and hothing more.
Back into The FIRE place looking where my
eggs were cooking, essay
Sinking, quaking-as no mortal ever shook or
q uaked before
then heard this ugly sinner, mutter hat these
o words-t S6fne.dinnef ."
Twas the only word he'd spoken. twas the only
word, Pm sure
When 1 picked up pluck and answered., 81 shall
feed you nevermore."
This 1 said, and nothing more.
Then his impudence beginning, and h~is-gums"szs
posed in grinnIng
With a smile by no means winning, did he view
And cooIly said, ''Your treat, man-IHl ne'er go
In the street, man,
Till get something to eat: man, III ne'e- leave
ycurdOoE;
I'll never leave yocr essn.ter. though you beat me
till roar,
Never leave you-nevermoEe :"
Then, toward the fire place marching, where my
coffee was a p%arching,
Boldly stalked the sAucy niger, boldly stalked
across the floor.
Never made the slightest bow, sir-then / kncw
there'd DE a row, sir,
For I made a solemn VOW, sir, he should g" ba@k to
the door;
Then kicked hin rem my chamber, and he went
back to the door,
Leaned against i.-nothing more.
Then, this blackbird, for awhile, sir. really did
AHSA NS
cause me to smile, sir,
Though a rav'nous, rabid, hungry look his dusky
viage bore;
Though" said 1, " thou art a Freedman. thou
hast gone SO much to seed, man.
That Iu give a little feed, msA, as you seem to be
90 poor,
Provided you will work for me, a half an'Eour or
more
euotE the niger. Z" Nevcrwore !"
7r,.L 7 roorpa1e1 thil unoainlv ni1rel sho,,ld refuse
so plainly
80 do.a little job. 'twould take halfa an hour or mn re
FOr E@e cannot help agreeing, that no living human
being,
Should ref6se to labor, seeing that he was SO blasted
Should refuse to carna dinner he saw cooking from
my door
Thocgkh he ate one 'ne-crrnore ~
There Fsat enga ged Sn mu.i.g. what re meant by
thGs refrsfngss
And 1 o~as&sEeegan abusing this big Niger a*my
door,
"SuIe," said 1. "you must be crazy to be 90
cursed lazy
To be so awful lazy as to want to work no more
Will you ever work for wages-telI me, 1 implorc 2"
Quoth the niger, ' Nevermore
Niger, - said 1, &c horrid demon-nisger still, if
slave or freeman
Thirkagain Before YOU answer this one question,
I~implore,
Have you yet no sense of Zee lihg-do ybu mean to
live by stealing.
Or by working and fair d~caiihg-tGIt me, tell me,
l itnplore;
On your honor, as a niger, will you'labor as be-
Quoth the Niger. "Nevermore y"
Startled at the stiffness broken by reply go fatty
spoken,
srOn,,btless . said = Gihjs bi1 nirn2k wrnId aaN
enough for FOUR.
When on some spacious rice plantation; he would
oat-cat all creation
Never .nade a calculation how much cash it cost Pm
For his master bought his victuals in the good old
days of yoee,
Now he'll feed Jsu, 's~Nevermore"
"Nigger." said ]. ching o fev1l, quit my room, go
to the devil
orifyOc say you'll work, PIT bring your supper to
the door;
Tell me truly, ] conjure you, for the last time I
implOrc!
On your honor, as a niger. will you labor as Nc
fore 90
Quoth the niger, 'Ne"ermorc q"
"Be that word our sign of parting; Niger man ,'I
cried upstarting-
"Gct thee back to where thou cam'st from-lct MIC
see your face no more;
Join the army go to Texas-never como back here
to vex US
Meier return again to vex us-ncyer let US see you
more
Take your gaze from off my meat, and take your
carcass from. my door !i'
Quoth thu. Niger, ''Neyesmore:"
And the Niger still is standing in my entry en- the
landing.
Apretty burly picture. with Ef5 back against my
door,