The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-03-10

'"i1 NAetni anu ne Nhh AZ nome, being
unable 10 get about much. ! shook
hands with the honest old negro and
sat down. The light which came into
his face showed how welcome / was.
and We had a long talk. Finally
asked him 10 take the dusty banjo from
the vail and give me a few strains Of
Niger Foot In Ashes" al a lively
clip. He did as ! asked. and the old /
time vigor came upon him again. Aft
CT playing awhile asked him 10 sing
the concentrating song the "nlggers'
used TO sing while they danced the |
rabbit dance" after the corn was all
husked and the while folks had gone
70 bed. lie was In fine spirits and with
mis- head way back on his chair and his
feet extended TO keep time with the
banjo. he sung.
Early enc morning on my massa.s
farm.
Vut dat pigeon wing. Lily Jane:
AnsAfa dem chickens a-givin' De alarm.
Shake 20 feet, Miss Lily Jane.
Snake y feet. Eisgers. I'm soon be day
shoot along lively. Miss Lily Jane.
hassa keieh US danein there1l be -
TO pay.
w sot 70 dig 'taiters and hoe dat corr.
hit dat dubbe-shufie. LiSy lane.
'0a : better be a-humpIn'. coz 1t soon
snake dat balmoral. Lily Jane
AFTER Nose had finished singing This
song an eight-inch grin played Aero.,
ms lace from ear to ear. hls avs.
sparkled and the old negro was banny
again as II the young folk had zone
through ther dancing while he sung
ne said; "Massa win. de bes, d.
90 DE old nigger's life am done zone
Out when | think oh de good ola ,i,n.'
we had befo' de wah. desc bones oh
mine gets young and / want 10 ii,
r'sht up and hit de Jig step again IIte
= used TO do" Then he told me N bov
ne was considered the bes. dapcer ~
ms section and JhaJ they wasn't a
Dssk any s@..ReFs around who could hold
= -77shr told him was something u
n dancer myself and that II he would
cut down lively on the old "barnyard
cackle" would show him a few steps
In jig dancing. This tlckled his
wrinkled face and he sung and played
in earnest:
Rooster in de chicken coop CROWN TO-
day.
Horses in de stable 20 nay. nay. nay.
Ducks in de yard 10 quaek. quack.
quack,
And de geese goes filley-I-fee.
Pigs In de pen a-squeakln TO- slop.
Big dogs barkln' like dey never will
stop:
oulneas In de tree 20 pot-rack. pot
rack,
And the goose goes flley-I-fee.
stopped him because was out Of
breath, and he lay back In his chair
and laughed tlll his sides were aching
] pulled out a rabbits foot and tossed
Il TO him and the effect was magical:
he jumped three feet on rise and six
feet on the stretch" and gave a whoop
which was equal to a Comanche chiefs
After his fright was over he told me.
whatever ! did, not TO put any more
OF those hoodoos on him. did not in
tend 10 brighten him. but wished TO
see II the superstition he had possessed
In his young days had departed from
him. ] gave him a shining dollar for
soaring him 80. and he was himself
again. We had had a fine time In the
few hours ! had stayed with him. and
! asked him 10 pick up his banjo again
and play and sing the tune he used to
call Mr.. Kimble.' His bony fingers
raked across the strings again and ne
sang the quaint song I had enjoyed
often when a child
You can't guess what we had To- sup.
per.
Cum a rop-strop-bottle. Mr.. Klmble:
Dlack-eyed peas and bread and butter
Cum a rop-strop-hottle. Mr. Klmble;
Beefsiehk. ham and mutton chop
Cum a rop-strop-bottlc. Mr. Kimblo,
Make a nlggors lips 40 nlppeiy flop.
Cum a rop-strop- bottle. Mr. Klmble.
And after each verse he sang the
chorus
Koema, Kimo. Kllgo, Kayro.
FloerO. Fllro. Flayoray:
Rop-strop. porlwlnkle. little yallor
b0ogor.
Cum q rop-strop-hottle. Mr. Klmhle.
Though age had loft lts telling mark
on the person Of Nose. his rich voice
was as clear as bell. and the minstrel
OF to-day cannot equal Il for genuine
melody.