The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-07-17
SONG.

I'VE be nearer to de Lord
Dan de white folks and dey know it;
See dc glury-gatc unbarred-
Walk ill, darkies, past de guard
Bet you dollar He won't close it.
walk in, darkies, troo de gate,
Here de kullered angels holler;
Go way, white folks, you're too late,
We's de winnin' kuller. Wait
Till de trumpet blow to ~fUllcr."
He would Groom this over softly,
AS he lay out in the SUI +
But the song he heard most often
His granny's fayOritc one
Was: "Jawgc Washington
Thomas Jefferson
80 PersimrnOns Henry Clay, be.
Quick, shut de do, "s ....'
Get up OFF dat flo,
Come heah and mind de baby"
One night there came a fearful storm.
Amos u second Hood -
The river rose, a torrent SwOl'n
M OF beaten, yellow mud. p
1t bit at its entertainments
And Tapped them Town ill foam,
Till, surging through q wide crevassc,
The waves ScCthed round their home,
They scaled the high yeranda,
They filled the parl0rs clear,
Till floating chairs and tables
Clashcd against the chandelier.
TWAS then PerSimmons' granny,
StOutOf arm and terror proof,
BY means of ak and lever .
Pried up the EerandalI roof;
Bound mattresses upon 1t
With st0utest cords of rope,
Lifted ont her Painting mistress,
Saying, Honey, aar is hopc!."
You, Jawge Washington
Thomas Jefferson '@
Persimmons Henry Clay, be
Quick on that raft, raj r.
Wen DON'T star like q calf, r 1IaFr'. r b
But take good cab oh dc babytH ,,
The frothing river lifted them, r4t o. -
Out on its turbid tide, ".t I.n
And for a while they ff0ated on .ta'
Together, side by side; ~
Till. broken by the current strong, "1+
The frail raft sIlapt in two, I5ii'si i --
And Pcrsimmons saw his granny
Fast fading from his view.
The deck hands OH q steamboat lf=-r ~.
Heard, as they passed nhaSte,s - II
i child'S voice singing i'll the dark, J..
Upon the waters watse, ( .*f .H.W
A song of faith and triumph, a-.Tt =
OF Moses and the Lord s8st EEfrf
And throwing out q coil of rope,
They drew him safe on beard HFT5ars,
.s2b*5 .a#~lpIf l. paf,tI.
Full MANY Il stranger city IhgfE n Fs,s
Persilnmons wandered tlroushi i .!..H
".A-totin' oh der baby, i1and f..gF = tt.E
Singing songs he knew.
At length ON CitEfFatheFs
Objected to his plan,
ArreSting as a, yagl4nt ''+'''
Our valiant little man, 1879
They carried out their purposes,
PersiInmons lowed he'd Spite EN-"
SO, sloping from the s~tationhoaIse, = 1881
He stole baby from the fsyltun, hHe rhEs
And on that very afternoon, ~ = -ir.-i
As it was growing dark. -#s 'sa- @#t ;
Hn Sanp- beside the fDlInf:,in in
The crowded city park.
A rude camp meeting anthem, q -~,7.la..f
Which he had sung DefoPes ay.,# an
While on his granny's fragile raft ...g!l,4
He drifted tar from shere- ra,sf q II Il
-Tfssft'3 fEIf5rs5 : ~.
sE9ena SONG. Tfi .aaiH Il 0t',
Moses mote de water and ri.
De sea gabc away: ItrE.a r. l.
De children dey pass ober, for
De sea gabe AWAY
Oh Lord! l feel so glad,
1t am Away dark TO day,
So, honey, don't yer be. sad, En-
DE sea'u glib way =. + y y
A lady, dressed in mourning, ~
Turned with q sudden start,
AVE II glance at the baby,
Then caught it to her heart;
Whites substantial shadow, s
That was walking by her side,
Seized Persimmons by the shoulder, 10
And. while she shook him. cried sy
"You Jawge Washington -
Thomas Jefferson #4@ f
Persimlnons Henry Clay, be
Quick ,ttsplain yerSelf, chile
Stop dat ar fool smife-aa aassEsE ~
Whar you lone been wild baby I'll -
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