The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-12-25
The Egis &Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, December 25, 1885.
UNCLE BEN'S CHRISTMAS.
ny ARMIsTEAD RANDOLPH.

ny ARMIsTEAD RANDOLPH,
Why, bress, you, honies how'dy; is glad to sec
De top Of Christmas to you bofe; cum in and
shut de do;
Here, Tom, you lazy Niger, run and fetch some
chips an bresh
For dis here fire de wind blows trough de cracks
dyar, mighty fresh.
Here ehillen, drag dc cricket closer in the CHM
bly, cornder,
An set down dyar and warm yo'se'ves. My gra-
clous! itS Il wonder
Your feet an hans amt frozen, ploddin' frew
dis snow;
Hits colder dan Use knOwed il for dis forty yeah
or mo-.
SO you amt forgot ole Ben in desc hcah happy
Christmas time
Dis basket tells de story, and inside see de
signs
OBJ young Misses kind remembrance an Mas
Harry and Mas Will,
knowed dey'd not forgit de poor old darkey
down de hill
Dis makes mos eighty Chris'muses dat dis ole
Roll roun dis same plantation, for it's here he s
allus been;
But Christmas amt so j'yfu now as dem useter
Right heah, in his same cabin, way along bcfo'
de wah.
Ole Massa Jawge, your gran'pa, owned OBJ darkics
great an small,
MOre'na hundred, OBJ all aigcs-men, an gals, an
boys, an all.
Dem dyar empty, pull-down cabins dat you sec
Was merry den in Christmas times, an lively as
you please.
An de fountain head, de family place dat sets
dyar dull and brown,
Was full of comp'ny bout dat time dat ken from
An all OBJ dem rich quality folks would come to
see ole MASTER
Ole Kernel Page. from Yves molan', an Major
Byrd, from Gloster
Den Marster used to call the niggers up on Girls
mas day;
~ want you to enjoy yourselves" he alus used
Take holiday tin New Years Day, from axe and
An you needn't shuck shock of corn or maui
single rail-"
Den while de white folks spent dere Chris mus
in dc ole-time STYLE
What times we darkies had down in the quarters
all de while!
For 'smmon beer was plenty, an de apple jacl,
was hot;
Wild 'possum fat an hoe cake, an hominy in dc
pot;
night,
An de ga!h'rins in de barn by de kerridge Ian
Den de pickin oh de banjo, and de pun'kin ad-
dies squawk-
kin heah it cherry bit as plain as you kin heah
me talk.
An de Pattin' an de dancn and de rockn heel
Wud make dc harness jingle whar it hung up on
de do;
An de sparrers an de snowbirds ulster fly up in
dere fright
From dere rooses in de hay NOW, an cum tiut-
term roun' de light.
Dore was Jim could jerk de fidde-bow and call
de dancin figgers,
An Sam who picked de banjo like a whole brass
band o niggers;
An wild Dinsh; Bit! and Phyllis, Tom an Pom
fled wild de bes'.
An massa an de white folks'd cum a-lookin'
trough de do
To see us happy niggers dance de hoedown on de
Den all de pretty ladies was latin an wud
"I'clar it's too rdklous too see EN- do dat way
An now OBJ all desc darkies dis niggers all dats
An he's so old and wufess dat he hardly draws
his bref.
He useter swing de cradle or de axe hclve wild de
All day. and den at night he d dance or coon-hunt
wild de res.
Dc times is changed, an dis ole place amt like
An ole massa's gone befo' me by some twenty
yeah or mo-;
De world am runnin cl'ar away an leabin me
An der's muffin lef' butdese ole mem'ries passin'
trough my min.
An de cabins dyar, dat useter ring with many Il
darky's laughter,
~ luHlDleu DOWN anu rotten from uC door pos
to de rafter
An de groun squirt runs about de harf whar
once de asheake lay,
An de waspes an de martins bulls dere nes'es
dyar to day.
I'll tell We, homes, howcomeso l tells you all dis
story;
Las night see dem cabins; dey was lit up in
dere glory,
s'pose was a-dreamn but it seemed as cl'ar
as day
could heah de niggers lafliin', and could heah
de banjo play;
An got up from de bedside an hobbled to dc
do,
But de cabins was standin js as silent as befo',
But hyeard de dardes calm me; heard dcre
happy song
Jes' like dey was allowin' dat fingered hcah too
long.
Yes, chien, thank mis- kindly for sendin' me dis
basket
She allus did remember me- l never had to ask
it.
amt got long to stay, an soon ole Ben will be
forgot,
An dis cabin, like de oder ones, will tumble down
an rot.
baltimore Weekly american.