The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-05-08
HOW PERsImmONs TOOK Cab Oh
DIE HAIRY.

Persimmons was a coIored lad,
Way down in LOusianny,
And all the teaching that he had
Was given him by his granny.
But he did his duty ever
AS well as you, it may be;
With faithfulness and pride ALWAYS
He minded missus' baby,
he loved the counsels of the saints
And, sometimes, those of sinners,
10 run on 'pOssum-hunting and
steal . Water-milion dinners
And fervently at meetin' too
On every Sunday night
he'd with the elders shout and T,ray
By the pine-knots' haring light
ana sing their rudest melodies
With voice so full and strong
You could almost think he learned them
FROM the angels triumph song.
g We be nearer to de Lord
Dan de white folks, and dey knows if.
See De glory-gate unbarred-
WAX IN, darkies, past de guard
pet you dollar He won't close it.
" Walk in, darkies, troo de gate,
Hear de kullered angels holIer:
ives DE wlnnin' kuller. Wait
III de trumpet blow to fOllero
He would Groom this over softly.
As he lay out in tbs sun ::
But the song he heard most often
Ills geanny's favOrite one
Was: Jawge Washington.
Ihomas jefferson,
Persimnons, Henry Clay, be
Quick shut de do,
Get mp of dat foi
Come heah and mind de baby"
One night there came a fearful storm.
Almost second flood:
The river rose, torrent swoI'n
Of beaten, yellow mud
1t bit at its embankments
And tapped them down in foam
III, surglng through wide creyasse
The waves seethed round their home
1Ley scaled the high Verandah,
They filed the parlors clear
iii floating chairs and tables
Ciashed against the chandelier
Twas then PersimmOns' granny
Stout OF arm and terror proof
by means of a and lever
Pried up the Veraudah roof.
Bound mattresses upon it
With stoutest cords Of rope
Lifted out her fainting mistress
Saying, . Honey, dar is hone
You, Jawge Washington
Thomas Jefferson,
Perslmmons, Henry Clay, be
Quick on dat raft,
Don't star like a calf,
But take good cab OBJ baby
The frothing river lifted them.
Out on its tgrbid tide.
And for while they floated on
Together, side by side;
TIL, broken by the current strong
The frail craft suapt in two,
And PersimmOus his granny
tast fading from his view.
The deck-hands on & steamboat
Heard, as they passed in haste,
ch1ld's voice singing in the dark
Upon the waters waste
song Of faith and triumph
OF Moses and the Lord
And throwing out coil of rope
Ihey drew him safe on board
Full many q stranger CITY
PersimnOns wandered through
A-totln OBJ der daby, and
Singing songs he knew,
At length some city fathers
Objected to his plan,
Arrestlng a yagraut,
Our valiant little man.
They carried out their purposes
PersiuInons "'lowed he'd Spite EN-"
SO, Stopping from the station house,
He stole baby from the 'sylum.
And on that very afternoon
As II was growing dark,
He sang, beside the fountain in
The crowded city park,
rude camp-neeting anthem,
Which he had sung before,
While on his granny's fragile raft
He drlfted ar IRON shore.
SONG.
" Moses sInote de water, and
DE sea gabe away;
De children cey passed ober, for
De sea gabe away.
o, Lord! feel so glad,
1t am always dark 'fo' day,
So, honey, don't you be sad,
De seal glib way"
A lady dressed in MOURNING
Turned with sudden start,
Gave one glance at the baby,
Then caught it to her heart
While a substantial shadow
That was walking by her side,
Seized Persimmons by the shoulder,
And, while she shook him, cried
" You, Jawge Washington,
Thomas Jefferson,
PersinmOns, Henry Clay, be
Quick splaln yerself, chile
Stop dat ar fool smile
Wnar you done been wild baby ?"