The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-10-24
THE BLAoKBIRD.

While EHD dUsOl bSNA - .
cocktails slowly drinking,
Suddenly ! saw a blinking, one-eyed figure
at my door;
sav a one-eyed, winking, blinking figure
at my door,
Standing there and nothing more
All Iuever shall forget it, how in CLAN
cling round I met it, /,
And ever shall regret it, that l looked
towards that door,
For saw monstrous figure, like giant,
only bigger,
And there stood big buck niger, lean
ing up against my door,
Leaning there and nothing more:
Straight into the fireplace spying, where
nv ham and eggs were frying
beheld the pokor, lying near the hearth
upon the floor;
Then with most determined vigor, straight
hurled it,at the niger, ssa
But SO quick was that big Niger, that 1T
missed and struck the door,
Missed the nigger's head completely and
fell harmless on the floor,
Struck his heel, and nothing more.
Back into the fireplace looking, where my
annlrirrI
Shaking, quaking, as no mortal ever shook
or qnaked before
I then heard this ugly sinner mutter but
these words, "Some dinner2"
Twas the only word he spoke, twas the
only word, Pm sure,
When picked UP pluck and answered, II
shall feed you nevermore,"
This said, and nothing more
Then his iinpudence beginning, and his
gums exposed in grinning,
With smile, by no means winning, did
he view me from the door,
Andeoolly said, @You treat. man-rllnev-
er go in the street man,
Till get something to eat, man. I'll never
leave your door,
I'll never quit your chamber. though you
beat me till / roar
Never leave you--neYeTmore9''.
Then toward the Fireplace marching,
where my coffee was a parching,
Boldly stalked the saucy niger, boldly
across the foori "a
Never made the slightest bow, sir-then l
knew there'd be a row, sir,
For made solemn VOW, sir, he should
go back to the door;
Then i kicked him from my chamber, and
n he went back to the door, III.
Leaned against it-nothing more.
Then this blackbird for a while, sir, really
:. did cause nae to smile, sir,
Though rav'nous, rabid, hungry look his
yisage bore;
Though" said |, 'lthou art freedman,
thou hast gone so much to seed, man,
That ILL., give little feed, man, as you
seem to be SO poor,
Provided you viii work for me half an
hour or more"
Quoth the niger" Neyerlnore~
Much I marvelled this ungainly niger
should refuse so plainly s,
To do little job, 'twould take half an
hour or more.
For we cannot help agreeing that no liv-
ing human being ar
Should refuse to labor, seeing that he was
so blasted poor IF
Should refuse to earn dinner he saw
cooking from my door
Though he ate one nevermore!
Though sat engaged in musing what he
meant by thus refusing,
And | then began abusing this big niger
at my door;
"sure." said |, "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, implore 2"
Quoth the niger. tNevermorep'
Niger" said /, ''horrid demon-nigger
still, If slave OF freedman
Think again before you answer this one
question, 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, implore;
On your honor, as niger, will your labor
as before?'
Quoth thenigger: "Nevermore."
Startled at the stiffness broken by reply SO
fatty spoken,
Doubtless" said /, "this big niger he
would eat enough for four,
When on some spacious rice plantation, he
would eat out all creation
Never made calculation how much cash
it cost I'm SIRE,
For his master bought the victuals, in the
q good old days of yore;
Now he'll feed you "nevermo,e."
Niger" said /, "thing of evil, quit my
room, 60 to the devil
VI, if you say you'll work, I'll bring yo.u
supper tosthe door;
Tell me truly, l conjure you, for the last
time / iniplore;
On your honor, as niger, win you labor
as before o. M
Quoth the niger "Nevermore."