The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-14
SONGS OF THE OLD SLAVE OATS
Vandalism or Modern Negroes I'm Dealing with
tho OId-Time Melodies.

From, the Courier. Journal.
The old.time plantation songs of the slavery
days have about passed away, and the negroes
now cut the original melodies into scrappy dis
cords and minor notes. A negro had rather
strike a minor note than to rub the waistband Of
his pants against a woll-flled table and eat. 1t
seems that the peculiar tone holds a fascination
for him which cannot be overcome. There is al
ways something 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 in the song. 1t is natural for a negro
to sing. he possesses a naturally clear voice, and
sings with his hands. feet, and head. His music
is generally Of the lively order. as his nature hns
always been. and no trouble can rob him of his
happy disposition.
have spent many pleasant hour listening
to the quaint songs of an old gray-headed negro
on my grandfather's farm, ms he would rasp the
screcching chords in accompaniment on his
banjo. When he would sing he would. get "A
feet. and shake his old gray head. He enjoyed
him little pieces Of colored paper and MI The COL
ored glass I could find to get him to si,g for me.
d you ever SEGA 'possum in a pnwpaw patch.
a piekin' up pawpaws and a putin EN- In his
This is the ioy Of his ike. and it never grew old
or tiresome TO him to repeat 1t.
c,N Nose " wIs his s, name y e;. ana ,n not 10 long %nsr since acei | con- on
songs l had SO enjo ed when a child. ] found his
cabin and he was at home. being unable to get
about much. i shook hands with the honest old
negro and sat down. The light which came into
his face showed how welcome I was, and we had
Finally i asked him to take the dusty banjo
from the wall and give, me a few strains Of
did as l asked. and the old-time yigor came upon
him again. After playing a while asked him
5s s5nf 20 me sih the S %Siie thdy Sa sHns 'h the ,n aTsSsit
dance" after the corn was all husked and the
white folks had gone to bed: He was in fine
and his feet extended to Keep time with tho
banjo, he sang:
Early one morning on my massa's farm,
Cut dat pigeon wing, LEY Jane;
Shake yo' feet. Mss Lily Jane.
Shake y feet, nisgers: itrl soon be day.
Shoot along lively. Miss Lily Jane;
Massa ksteh US dancin, thero'i be % pay,
hit dat dubhlp. shunie. Lily Jane;
You'd better be ahumrin', coz II soon be morn,
Shake dat balmoral. Lily Jane.
After Nose finished singing this song an
eight.inch grin played across his face from ear
to ear, his eyes sparkled, and the old negro was
through their dancing while he sang, He said:
"Massa Will, de best days oh dc old niggcr's
| old times we had befo' dc wah. desc bones oh
mine gets young. and ! want to git right up and
III de Els jig step asen ad like ! use to- to dos P..t Then he
his section, and that there wasn't a buck any
where around who could hold him a light.
ssIf, ard that i he TSuia cut down lively On tie
old "barn.yard ,%caclle." / would show him n
kled-faced coon, and he sang and played in
earnest:
Rooster in de chicken coop CROWN To- day.
Horses In lie stable go nay, nay, nay;
And de goose goes nlley-I.fee.
Pigs In de pen keep a.squralin' TO- siop,
Big dogs barkin' like dey never will stop;
Guineas In de tree go potrack. pot.rack,
And de goose goes nllcy'I'fee.
] stopped him because / was out OF breath,
and he lky bnCk i'm his chair and Laughed till
his sides were aching, i pulled out a rabbits
S lSos snd 1Gss YSmp it t. I. 1 hi%; f Sna t oh e si Fisa w Wns
which was equal to a Comancho chiefs. After
not to put any more. OF, those hoodoos on him.
! did not intend to brighten him, but wished to
young. days had departed from bin. Igaye him
: shining dollar for soaring him so, and no was
hours / had stayed with him, and ] asked him
70 pick up his banjo aga! end play and sing
bony fingers raked across tho strings again and
he sang tho quaint song had enjoyed often
when n child:
Cum a rop,strop. bottle Mr.. Kimble;
Black.eyed peas and bread and butter,
Cum IA rop.strop- bottle Mr.. kimble.
B~rcfstcak. ham and mutton chop.
Cum "A rop- strOr bottle Mr.. kimhlei
Make a nIgg RS lips go nippity-hop.
Cum a rOp,strop' bottle Mr., Kimble."
And after each verse sang the chorus:
kecmo, Klro, Kllgo. Kayro.
FleorOo, Fliro, Flavoravj
Rop.strOp pcriw inkle, little waller booRer,
Cum a rop.strop bottle Mr.. Kimble.
Though age had left its telling mark on the
person OF Nose, his rich voice was rs clear as a
bell. and the minstrel OF to-day cRnnot equal IL
Tor genuine melody. was not anxious to leave
him. nut The day was far spent, and l had sew.
eral miles TO 20, so ! bnde him good-by and left
the faithful old servant with tears streaming
down his husky face. Ho laid his rough hands
on my head and blessed me, saying: "Massa
Will, I'll soon be ober dore In de land OBJ Canyan.
but IN remembcr dis visit to my dying day"
Died mt tho Age or us.
Prom the Indianapolis Journal.
MuNCIE. Ind. Nov. S,-James Lynch. who
would have been ll9 years old IN December. nc
cording to ahldavits In his possession. died last
night at tho county inflrmary. A month ago
tho old man climbed out of bed for the first
time in five years and attempted to walk to the
dining room unattended. He made but three