The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-09-28
For the Brookhayen Ledger.
Pete And the Cl rpct.b1S.
by TIfOe.J. S. MCGRATH.

But soon he was left in amaZenlent
BY one considered a friend,
A CARPET bag gent who had Travelled
The "wicked ways" from beginning
to end.
When Pete was granted his freedom,
His voice was not heard in the shout,
He made up his mind n an instant
To stick TO ''old massa," year in and
year out
But while the old darkey was working
one day,
Quite contcnted in the field,
A stranger said, Come have a talk Will
me-"
And finally induced him to yield.
'sNow," said the new conner quite gently,
"My good old man what's your name -?
I've come to befiiend the co!o;ed man.
To make white and black the same"
s.pe white folks boss, all call me Pete.
Right on dis berry spot I was bred aud
born,
And for dis many and many a year
Tsc been working dc cotton and corn"
''But don't you know, my colored friend,
That this ground belongs to you?
Why toll and sweat from morn gill night
As the Sc useless mule would do?
So drop your hoe and leave your piough,-
Wen work together, hand in hand,
I'll bring gladness to your troubled heart
And make you master o. this land"
Old Peter jumped with gladness,
While Tears stood in his eyes,
To think IN entire stranger
Would offer him such a prize.
"Boss, Iclar to gracious goodness
You are so berry, berry kind,
To visit de poor ole culled man
To Tighten his ignorant mind"
90, | am sent by our Government
To vindicate the man oppressed,
10 stand by the honest colored man
When | see he is distressed.
So by taking out your pocket-book
And putting te ndollars in my hand,
I'll make over to your name
4 mule and and forty acres of land"
Boss, ole Pete ia no rich niggar.
lie Jest got seben dollars and four bits"
"Well being you're such a good old soul,
Just give me that; and we'll call it quits"
Old Peter got his document
Old sharper pocketed the cash,
And started for some other cline
With 1t to cut a dash.
Pete put on his "seven league. boots"
And commenced to step off his share;
But soon ole Msssa cried ont,
"Hailo Pete what brings you there?"
"Ain't got time to talk nonsense, Massa'
Exclaimed ole Pete as he made the last
stride;
New II! step down into de lot,
Ard ketcA me a mule to ride"
"Bu; Pete" inquired old Massa,
whats up?vou-siliy elf"
80, Massa here's de precious document,
Take and read for yourself.
Read how de paper grants ote Pete,
De lands he often used to crave
Oh dat place vii! be dis darkie's home!
Dat ground shall form his grave.
Read it out loud, Massd,
Dough | know it's 'gainst your will
To hab to glib up your claims
r. to swaller a bitter pill"
DWELL PeteI thought You had more sense
Than to be fooled in such a way
To have the wool pulled over your eyes,
Right in the broad open day"
",Now, Pete, I'll read your title,
And twill carse you some Distress"
CAS- Moses lifted the serpent
"HOut of the gloomy wilderness"
(Ia, ha, ha, Pete Pm bound to laugh
go | lifted this old fool
Out of seven dollars and a half"
Pete's ewes began to roll around,
And then he began to stagger.
sob! Massa Use been really robbed
BY that internal carpet-bagger.'
Oh | my poor sehen dollars and a half
Massa, youcouldn't hab treated me worse,
Instead OBJ Tighten OBJ my mind,
He's gone and frightened my purse.