Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-10
HOwPERsInMONsrOOK Cab OBDE
St. Nicholas zine.

ST. Nicholas Magazine.
RersimmOns was eolored lad,
Way down in LOu'sianny,
And all the teaching that he had
Was given him by granny.
But he did his duty ever
As wei as you, il NAV be:
with falOhfulness and bride always,
he minded missus' baby
he loved the counsels of the saints,
AMI, sometimes, those of sinners,
TO run of 'pOssum- hunting and
steal ''water million" dinners
And fervently at meetin', too,
On every Sunday night,
He'd with the elders shout and pray,
BY The pine-knOts' fiaring light,
And sing their rudest melodies,
With voice 80 full and strong,
You could almost think he learned them
Prom the angels triumph song.
SONG.
1--WE be nearer to de Lord
Dan de white folks, and dey knows il;
See de glory-gate unbarred-
Walk In, darkies, past de guard
Bet you dollar He won't close it.
<<Walk in, darkies. troo de gate.
Hear the kullered angels hoIler;
Go way, white folks, you're too late,
Yves de winnin' kuller. Wait
Till de trumpet blow to foller."
He would Groom this over softly,
As he lay out in the sun;
But the song he heard most often
His granny's favored one
Was: "Jawge Washington,
Thomas Jefferson,
PersimmOns, Henry CLAW, be
Quick, shut de do,
Get up of dat flo,
Come heah and mind &c baby
One night there came fearful storm,
Almost a second flood;
The river rose, a torrent sWOi'n
OF beaten, yellow mud.
1t bit at its embankments
And Tapped them down in foam,
Till, sUrging through a wide crevasse,
The waves seethed round their home
They scaled the high verandah,
They filled the parlOrs clear,
TIL floating chairs and tables
Clashed against the chandelier.
Twas then PersimmOns' granny,
Stout of arm and terror proof
BY means Of ak and lever
Pred up the yerandah roof;
Bound mattresses upon il
With stOutest cords of rope,
Lifted Out her faintinG mistress,
Saying, "HOney, dar is hope!
You, Jawge Washington,
Thomas jefferson.
PeTsimmOns, Henry Clay, be
Quick. on that raft,
Don't star like a calf,
But take good cab OBJ baby"
The frcthing river lifted them
Out on its tuTbid tide,
And for a while they fiOated on
Together, side by side;
Till, broken by the current strong,
The frail raft snapt in two,
And PcrSlmmons saw his granny
Fast fading from his view.
The deck hands IN a staanl.o,+
Heard, As they passed in haste.
A child's voice singing in the dark,
Upon the waters wave:
A song Of faith and triumph,
OF Moses and the Lord;
And throwing out a coil of rope,
They drew him safe on boz ID
Full many a stranger ci.I
Ptrsimmons wand rcd through.
"A-totin' oh der baby. > and
Singing songs ne knew.
A length sore Citv Fathers
Olye.euf,a g. his plan,
A r. -ng as a vagrant
,r v II valiant little man.
A.1ey carried out their purpOSes,
Persiinmons " lowed he'd spiie EN-"
~ sSfiiRg from the statiOn-house.
ste stole baby from the 'svlum.
And on that very afternoon,
As it was growing dark,
II sang, beside the fountain in
The crowded city park,
A rude camp-meeting anthem,
Which he had sung before,
While On his granny's fragile raft,
lie driited far from shore.
SONG.
HMOseS smote de water. and
DE sea gabe away;
d chi'@reii dey passed cher. for
DE SeS gabe away
", lord! feel so glad,
At am Away dark 10 dav,
SO. honey, don't yer be sad,
De sea'l glib way"
A lady, dressed in mourning.
Turned with a sudden start.
Gave one glance at the baby,
Then caught it TO her hear;
While a substantial shadow,
hat was walking by her side,
Sezed PersimmOns by the shoulder,
And, while she shook him, cried.
You Jawge Washington,
Thomas jefferson,
PerslmmOnS, Henry CLAY, be
Quick, Splain yerSelf, chile
Stop dat ar fool smile
Nhar you done been wild baby?'