Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-01-03
OF THE DAYS WHEN SLAVERY
WAS THE RULE.
NEGRO SONGS OF LONG AGO
At Present They Are Cut Into Scrappy
Piscords-iad a Charm fcr Slaves
Which Nothing Else Could Ap-
proach-UncIe Nose Before His
Cabin Door Recalls Better Days.


who used to sit by the cabin door at |
night when work was over and sing
the melodies to the accompaniment of |
banjo has been laid to rest. !
The original melodies have been cut
into scrappy discords and minor notes
and now bear the name of 'ragume.
"A good voice seems to be natures !
gift to the negro, and he mad rather |
strike minor note than rub the waist !
band of his pants against the din
ner table. 1t seems that the peculiar
tone of the minor notes holds a fascin-
alton for him which cannot be over
come. There is always something to
interest one in the genuine, old time
plantation song, as sung by the aged
slave negroes, when heart and soul are
united in the song.
1T is as natural for a negro to sing
well as it is for him to love water
melon and 'possum; he possesses a
naturally clear voice and sings with
his hands, feet and head. lis ,L.ic,
is generally music of the lively order,
as his nature has always been, and
whether he has rag for his back or
penny in his pocket, no trouble can rob
him of his happy disposition.
Il have spent many pleasant hour
listening to the quaint songs of an old
gray headed negro on my grandfathers
farm as he would rasp the screeching
chords on his banjo in accompaniment
hn 40 oil
humming, easy start with the chords,
begin with ng-drawn-out note, rear
back, pat his feet and shake his old
gray head, while bright smile of en-
joyment played hop-scotch across his
wrinkled face
"A few ginger cookies, bright bits of
paper or co.ored glass would always
be rewarded by his favorite allitera-
ton, Did you cher see a 'possum in a
paw-paw patch pickin' up paw-paws
and a putin EN- in his pocket to
make paw-paw pie for his poor old
papa? This jingle was the Joy of his
life and he never tired of repeating it
for me. He was always ready with
song or a ghost story to amuse and en-
terrain the white folks chil.un
Not long since I concluded to pay
Nose visit and hear again the songs
l had enjoyed when a child. | found
him sitting at his cabin door, being too
feeble to get about much in his old
age. shook hands with the old dar-
key and sat in the split bottomed chair
which he gave me. The light which
shone in his face told me l Was well
come, and l enjoyed a long talk with
him.
Finally l got his banjo from the
wall and asked him to give me few
strain: of 'Nigger's Foot in Ashes at
a Lively clip. or as he called it quick
and deyilish.'
Taking the banjo on his knee the
old time vigor came upon him again,
and he ratt,ed off the breakdown as in
his prime. After play ing some OF his.
favorite old tunes | asked him to sing
me some of the old corn husking songs
the 'niggers' used to sing where the
corn was all husked and white folks
had gone to bed He was in fine spirits
and. with his head way back on his
chair and his foot extended to keep
time with his banjo, he sang:
Early one mornin' on Old massas farm, !
Cut dat pigeon-wing Lily Jane;
We heard the chickens a-givin' de
alarm,
Shake yo' feet Miss Lily Jane.
Massa was a-eomin' wild black-snake
whip,
Shake yo' shutters, Lily Jane;
You orter to hav' seed dem niggcrs; /
You's shakin' 'em right now, Lily
Jane.
We got to dig taters an hoe de corn.
Hit dat double-shuffle, Lily Jane;
You'd better be humpin' coz it soon be
morn.
Shake yo' balmoral, Lily Jane.
After finishing this song an eight
inch grin plaved across Moses face
from ear to ear, his eyes spanked and
the old negro was happy as il the
young niggers had gone through their
dancing while he sang and played.
'Massa,' said he, de best days Of dis
old niggah's life am done gone, but
wen / git tn thinkin' bout de days
befo' the wah dese Old bones Of mine
gets young again. and feel Ike
wants to hit the Jig step again, like
ulster do, for in my days dere wasn't
a buck enywhores around what could
hold light to Nose, coz l was de bes'
dancer fer miles around de old p.anta-
ton
Il told him I was something Of
dancer myself. and IL he would cut
down lively on the Old barn yard
cackle. / would show him a few steps
in fig dancing. This tickled the old
wrinkled faced coon and be played in
earnest:
Horses in de stable go neigh, neigh,
neigh;
Ducks in de yard go quack, quack,
quack, quaek:
An de goose goes filly-i-fee.
Cows IN de medder go moo, moo, moo.