, 1897-12-28
OLD TIME MELODIES,
SONGS THE cARklES USED TO SIN ,
IN THE OLD SLAVE DAYS.
Negroes Of the Present Day Cut Then
Into Scr1Ppy Discords--aiss.a WIN
Visits Old Nose. and Together They
Recall the Happy Old Times.

The Old time plantation songs of the
slavery days have about passed away,
and tfe negroes now cut the original
melodies into scrappy discords and mi.
nor notes \ negro had rather strike a
minor note than to rub the waisthand
of his rants against Il we'll filled table
and eat. IT seems that the PECULIAR tone
holds a fascination for him which can.
not be overcome. There is ALWAYS some.
thing to interest you when you can hear
a genuine old time plantation song as
sung by the aged slave negroes. when
heart and soul are united i'll the song.
l have spent many " pleasant hour
listening TO the quaint Il Of an old
gray headed negro 81 my Grandfather's
farm as he would rasp the screeching
chords in accompaniment on his banjo.
When he would sirs. he would get a
hummIEc start with the chords. and
begin with a long drawn out note. rear
way back, pat his feet and shake his old
gray head. lie enjoyed singing. and
enjoyed listening. would take him
little pieces Of cOlored paper and all the
colored glass | could find TO get him to
sing for ne and 70 repeat the fartamed
verse Of ALTERATION, Did you ever see
n po>sum in u papaw patch a-uickin
up paraws and a-puttin EN- in his
pocket TO make II papaw PIE for his
papa:' This Is the JOY Of his life, and
II never grew old or tire>one 10 him TO
repeat it
Nose was his name, and not long
since concluded to pay him a visit and
to hear again the songs l had 81 enjoyed
when "A child l found his cabin and he
was 1T home, being unable 70 cs- about
much. l sn,ok hands with the nCues,
cid negro sud sat down The light
which came into his face showed how
welcome l WAS, and We had : Ion: talk
Finally | ssked him 80 I-ke the dusty
banjo from the wall ard E.v- us : few
strains Of "NicEs- Eous IL Ashes al
lively clip lie did u | a>Ee.i. and the
old rUe vigUE All Eguu him again
After playing awhile l asked him 80
sing NE the corn shocking s1uc the
"nicssrs' used To sing while they
danced the rabbit dance" after the
corn was all hLsksd and the white folks
had gone to tsG- He was III tEe spirits.
and. with his head way hack on his chalk
and his feet extended to keep time siGh
the banjo. he sang:
Early o-c r-Cyria 81 NJ r1ssa-s farm
Gu; DIST pigeon wig, LLry Jane
hCarG dem chicken, z---yr1 g arm
Shske 70 feet. Ms Ley jan,
ShaSs 20 Feet, aIc.s-s- IL son be d-y-
Shot along lively, Ms L-y -az.'
M2sss ketch = L-rCt1r tL--S u - 20 ruE'
We gyt To dr. J1te-> an hoe dat ea--
Ei1 dat dub6Lc .hG.i.. Lzy Jane.
You'd better tS z--u-;.z- coz IL sl.Z Re
morn
Shake DAT balIscral. Liry Ia1et"
After Nose finished singing this s1ac
an eight inch grin played across his fzrs
from ear to ear. his eyes syaEkIsd and
the old negro was happy again as Il the
young folks had gUue through their
dancing while he sang. He said. Mas
"a VIII, de hest days oo de old nieEsrs
life am done gone. but when l think Oh
de good old times we had bsfU' de wan
desc tones oh mine gifts young. and |
want TO git night up and hit de jig step
ag'in like l Use to do
l told him l WAS scms;h!rg Of 4
dancer myself. and that If he would
cut down lively en- the old ''ta-ryart
cackle'' / would show min . few sc =.
in Jig dancing. This tilklsi the WITH
killed. faced coon, and he sang and played
in earnest:
Rooster IN de ehiskSn ccsp e-oElz 70 GIy.
EDrses in de stable so ray Fay r@--
Ducks IN de yard 80 Sr1ek- S1cL S1H:f-
guack-
And &c eouse gees tlsy-I fee.
Pie II de pen ksep i s1-zaltn 10 s5gr,
Big dccs tark1u LEs Csy C1g~r viii s1cp.
Guinsas in de tree 20 ros-rsrk. Fc1--I.s-
AID de geese gees tlsE-IassE'
l stopped him because l vas OUT q
lreath. and he laid hack IN his chair
aud laughed till his sides were 1CAtr-
l pulled on; u rabbits tCoG AID Tossed
il to him. and the effect Ms U--scaL
He jumped three feet On 4 rise and SIX
feet on the stretch. and gave : whUup
which was equal to aC0ClAuS6e chief :
After mis- fright was uve- he told ME-,
whatever l did, moi to put any uUCe VI
these hoodoos ~ him did Uu1 intend
to brighten him but wished 10 see Il
the superstition he bad suss&sssd IN
his young days had departed from him
gave hira . shining dollar tOr >carIl-
him so, and he was himself again We
had had . tine time IL the ts@ AU-rs !
had Said with him. and l asked AIG
to PICK up hi. banjo again and PIN! and
sing tine tune be used To call " kim
bic" His tCEy fingers rasEst ACROSS Tie
strings again AID be sang the 4zaIr1
song l bzd enjoyed ot1en when : child
Voc can't guess Shis rs tEb1 70 .JzFFsr-
GEE = rvp-sarUq-e.dats- Mr. EuEbos-
EE-rs .!-3 ZEN. ant ersa1t and EE-zsr-
CGn 4 rvp-szrQr-ts6rt.. MI Alcz2hs1
-E@.ss1zuA. k.ra l.5 11Etrgr cA1p-
Srn . rvr-strCp-tudtBa- NJ sErtsdeg-
Mir a rnxxxr. tsps 80 trer-g 1GF.
Cea 4 rvs-szrvp-tos5I-- M 2En1ehsE-
stssr sach verse be sung lie co1-
rus
-Ee.zos klz.s Glso. flyrv.
Ft.ru. ttrrs S.ivNrayg
Eopsarvp erEurIr Ss. EtLbe TlLlsr e..rrsrl
CGEz 4 repr-u=-r-acs1bs Mr. AE.zAss
Thorsn az fai LIFT It's telling marx
IN the ps-s1n Of Nose his r1ch vurts
was as clear Is = tell and tie minstrel
Of ssaiy cannot equal III tur esnzIoe
melody l WIS nns nN00 to- leav<
hiIr, Tut the day was FIR spent AMI l
bad several Hile. 10 80 so / an5s hin
gaadby md left the faithful old -erTaa1
With tesrs xsreanair- DOWN his husky
face He laid his rough h=tnAdt or my
bead and blesxed r=- saying Nss:a
We'll, Ill H1n ke oyer dere In de LInd
oh Canyan. bot LII remember dis vlsli
to my dyia dAy- -LGGisviIA CoGHrsr-