Richmond planet., 1900-01-06
.aMAT LITTLE 'HlGeBR' SOY I
USED TO OWN.

pleasure the heartfelt love felt for
"Ehst happy smiling boy I used to
swA.~ The father OF the author is
Row q member of the Virginia Lsgisls-
tnre from Campbell Col
Ihavs met 9 heap of people. and I've
had heap o. ohums--
Seod fellows, just as good as ever
knowpi
Bat I've never sesn better, nor o
truer, kinder friend
HAN that little 'Riggsr' boy L used to
own.
Ma hide was black 90 charcoal. and
his heart was just ss warm;
lie wasn't q great philosopher, but
never thought no harm;
And tho to fstter childhood mankind
10 avfns prone.
twas cunning little devil that /
to boss and own,
TAsre are lots of piekauinnies round
my old plantation home
Bat Alec, he belonged to me alone.
He could outrun all the others, and
he'd fight an lie for me.
Azd / loved that niger boy used
TO own.
ESs head was round and nappy and his
eyes were big and white;
His mouth was quite cspacious, and
it let in lots of light
Bat, tho he wasn't q beauty, nor
plate for style and tone,
The love was true and honest Of that
boy / used to own.
We were playmates altogether, tho
wag kind Of king.
Sat never put myself up on @
throne:
Axd told tales in the hophouse and I
wadad in tha branch,
with that little niger boy used to
own.
It's true we'd get to fghtin', aud I'd
licA 'em, IL cou d;
Bat this was rather seldom, for they
generally were good;
And I'D swap 'em OF my dinner for an
ashcSke and . bone.
And I'd take my midday repast with
that boy used 50 own.
And then grew up bigger and 1 used
TO ride to school,
Through meadows, where the rise
and cane were sown;
And he'd take my horse at even, and
he'd love TO see me come,
That happy, smilin' boy used to
own.
Ee would steal watermelons, but no
one ajdB't mird;
They knew he couldn't help it twas
the nature of his kind;
And when in gaudy b-illianee the au-
tumn full moon shone,
I'd hunt the cunning 'possum, with
that boy used to own.
Ba& my schoolin' wasn't finished, for
before j was eixteeA,
The trumpet call to war was loudly
blown;
And volunteered by service and 1
hastened to the frons,
And was followed by that boy / used
to own.
Ne would get scared in battle, and,
dam i'm how he'd ruHi
But he'd always fiod the comp'ny when
the soldiers work was done;
An he'd steal good rations for me,
tho from whence I've never
Aad I've Oft been saved my supper
by the boy I used to own.
The war was long ard bitter, but his
ardor never tagged;
lie kept the oath to follow me he'd
sworn:
An when it as all over, / brought
him home again.
That shiny, grinnin' boy l used to
ewn.
Hs would lie bout the battles, an he
swore he'd fought 'em all;
He said he'd killed some sixteen
men, he knew he'd seen 'em
fall;
But he took a fata, fever, which no
skill could check nor tone,
lad nursed him like O brother then,
that boy ] used to own.
BUt soon It was all over, and we laid
him in his grave.
No truer friend I've ever had to
mourn;
And raised . granite monument to
mark the place we laid
That loving faithful boy used to
own.
Hs had his small shortcomings, and
they may be counted sin;
Bat Saint Peter knows 'nigger', and
he'll make excuse for him
And IL, in Gods great goodness, shall
view sweet heavens throne,
Iknow I'll see that smilin' face, that
boy used to own.
have met heap o. people. and I've
had heap o. chums-,
Good fellows, just as coed a. ever
knowni
Bnt I've never seen o better, nor q
truer, kinder friend
Than that little niger boy
used to own.
His hide was black ss elarcosl, and his
heart Was just warm;
lie wAsn'ts great Philosopher, but