Connecticut western news., 1883-12-05
T'se sunk my sins in de savin' pool,

l SC sunk my slns in de saVln pool,
 An got on de back ob de Mefodis' mule; An here sticks lak CT big black leets [leech] Till de ole.mule stomp on de golden streets.
 An I'll ride
 CYes I will),
 An I'll ride right on to glory Oh, come from de clutch an de Sunny school, An see me ridin' on de Mefodis mule, Dem Baptisses ain't got no sort O show, An make dem 'Piscopal horses blow. An I'll ride
 (Yes wilD, An I'll ride right on to glory! Saturday was the darkeys' holiday. On that day the streets of Tallahassee were crowded with all conditions, ages and sizes. Thrilled with the fever of shopping, they packed the stores of the thrifty descendants of Moses. Impromtu business meetings were held on tho corners. Occasionally there was but ting match between two stalwart ne- groes, unduly excited by cheap liquor. The political situation was discussed with all earnestness and gravity. The negroes spent their money for any article for which they took a fancy, regardless of it's value or the benefit that might accrue from it. One of them fell in love with large bottle of cucumber pickles, price $1. It had some fancy emblems on that pleased his artistic eye. He bought it. He went out under tree on the edge of the public square and de- liberately sat down, uncorked the bottle, and in the most dignified manner ate every pickle it contained and drank the vinegar It had no more effect on him than tumbler of whisky would on a professional carnet-bagger, and I expect that he is still voting "that good ole publican ticket.''
 Sometimes two good aged colored ladies, old-time friends, would meet un- expectedly, and the conversation would run about like this:
 With an elaborate bow: "Why, Mis- Williams, good mornin', ma'am. How is your health dis mornin', ma'am ?"
 Right pohty, Mis- Brown, h thank you, ma'am. Ise got sort o'misery in the back, but I don't complain much, thank God. How is you and MT. Brown an de chillen, ma'am?"
 '"Tollable, tollable, only tollable, Mis- Williams. MT. Brown is jest sorter stickin' together, thank you, ma'am. He has risin' on his hand, but he put some anarchy on hit, an hits right smart better now. reckon you heerd my da'ter 'Liza's gwine get married p
 "Why, now, Mis- Brown, you 'sprise me, deed you does. Who she gwine marry, Mis- Brown?"
 "Why, a young gemman who works on Major Goldon's plantation. He's an exhorter, too, and kin beat 'em all hol- lerin' in prayer. I know de Lord mus hear him Good-by, ma'am. You mus come an see us."
 "Thank you. I feels proud to do 50, Mis- Brown, ma 'am.''
 And so they separate, each to her lit- tie world.
 A favorite amusement among the negroes was to catch rat, saturate it with kerosene, set fire to it, and then turn it loose where there would be no danger. of constructive arson. I once saw the walters at one of the hetels have 8 large rat, regular veteran, which they put to the ordeal of fire. After soaking him thoroughly in kerosene, they took him in the back yard, touched match to him, and started him on a run down the path. An old gray-headed negro was so heartily amused that he rolled over and over in @ spasm of de- light.
 About o'clock one beautiful moon. light night was idly strolling along one of the quiet back streets, when heard the pleasing sound of music, both vocal and instrumental. On turning the near. est corner I saw 8 colored man and g pickaninny sitting on the edge of the sidewalk. The man had an old battered banjo with only two strings, on which he was playing. accompanied by the boy vocally. The song detailed the troubles of an unfortunate rabbit. It ran thus as near as can re member:
 1 De rabbit am cunnln ting,
 He hide hisself in de briar
 An he nebber know when de trouble come
 Till de broom grass catch on fire
 CHORUS depression of astonishment and con sternation on the part of the rabbitl- Big-eyed rabbit, boo! } Big.eyed rabbit, boo
 The negro very early in freedom de veloped surprising enthusiasm for pat ent medicines, especially when the, came in the shape of pills. His faith il them bordered on the sublime. N, matter what ailed him, old-fashionet universal ''misery," cut finger, head ache, cramp, collie, sore toe, or any thing else, down went half a dozen pill or dose of liver regulator. He was al ways impatient of results, and preferre , cathartic medicine to any other kind and as most of his ills arose from to free indulgence in sugar cane or water melon, or else were mainly imaginary the pills answered all purposes. Music of any kind was the negro , passion. On Saturdays, when the tow was full of country darkies, with thei wives, children, sweethearts, uncles B cousins and aunts, let some dusky war } rior produce drum, even if it was mad ] of an empty nail keg with coon ski a stretched over the ends, take his posj tion in the middle of the road and strik ,. up, and procession was soon formed 8 They marched steadily hour after hou,