Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-10-04
THAT LITTLE NIGER BOY.

lhC AOA4OWiiiS fOloOo WiitoSi ~ A.AA
Howell q. Featherston, of Lynchburg
have been much complimented. They art
exceedingly clever and true to life on tht
plantation as we who ..recollect knew il
" fore de war"
| have met harp of people. and I've hao
q heap O. chums-
Good fellows, Just as good as evel
known
But I've never seen better, nor truer,
kinder friend
Than that little niger boy l used to
own.
His hide was black as charcoal, and his
heart was Just as warm.
He wa MT great philosopher, but never
thought no harm;
And tho to fatter childhood, mankind IS
awful prone,
Twas cunning little devil that used to
boss and own.
There are lots of pickaninnies round my
old plantation home.
But Alec, he belonged to me alone.
He could outrunall. the others. and he'd
fight an lie for Eae.-------- --------
And l loved that nigger boy l used to
own.
eyes we're big and white;
His mouth was quite capacious, and 1t let
In lots of light;
But, tho he want beauty, nor plate
for style an tone.
The love was true and honest of that boy
used to own.
We were playmates all together, tho L
was kind of king.
But never put myself up on throne
And I told tales In the hOghOuse and l
waded in the branch
With that little niger boy used to own,
It's true we'd get to fghtin, and I'd lick
EN-, if could;
But this was rather seldom, for they gen.
orally were good;
And I'd swap 'em off my dinner for an
ashcake and bone.
And I'd take my midday repast with that
boy l used to own.
And then 1 grew up bigger and l used to
ride to school.
Through meadows. where the rice and
cane were sOwn
And he'd take my horse at even, and he'd
love to see me come.
That happy. smilin' boy l used to own.
He would steal watermelo but no one
didn't mind
They knew he couldn't help it /; twas the
nature of his kind
And when in gaudy brilliance the autumn
full moon shone.
I'd hunt the cunning possum. with that
boy I used to own,
But my schoolin' wasn't finished, for be-
fore was sixteen.
The trumpet call to war was loudly blown /;
And l volunteered by service and l has,
tened to the front.
And was followed by that boy used to
own.
i'm, how he'd run
But he'd always find the comp'ny when
the soldiers work was done
An he'd steal good rations for me, tho
from whence I've never known,
And I've Oft been saved my supper by
that boy l used to own.
The war was long, and bitter, but his ardor
never tagged;
He kept the oath to follow me he'd
sworn;
An when it was all over. l brought him
home again.
That shiny GRIMM boy used to own.
He would lie bout the battles, an he swo'
he'd fought 'em all;
He said he'd killed some sixteen men, he
knew, he'd seen EN- fall
But he took a fatal fever. which no skill
could check nor tone,
And nursed him like 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 a granite monument to mark
the place we laid
That loving faithful boy l used to own.
He had his small shortcomings, and they
may be count ed sin;
But Saint Peter knows Niger, and he'll
make excuse for him!
And if, in Gods great goodness, l shall
view sweet heavens throne,
know Z IL see that smilin' face, that boy
used to own.
1 have met heap O. people, and I've had
heap O. chums,-
Good fellows, just as good as ever
known
But I've never seen better, nor truer
kinder friend
Than that little niger boy used to own
His hide was black as charcoal, and his
heart was just as warm;
He wa mt great philosopher, but never
thought no harm;
And tho to flatter childhood, mankind Is
awful prone,
l love the recollections of that boy l used
to own.
HOWELL G. FEATHERsToN.