Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-01-03
m The name OF 'ragtime.

gift to the negro, and he had 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 tascln-
alton for him which cannot be over
come. There is always something 10
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
naturally clear voice and sings with
his hands, feet and head. His choice
is generally music of the lively oruer,
as his nature has always been, ana
whether he has rag for his back or
nenpy in his pocket, no trouble can ROB
him of his happy disposition.
81 have spent many pleasant hour
listening to the quaint songs OF an ora
gray headed negro Onmy grandfather
farm as he would rasp the screening
chords on his banjo in accompaniment
When he sang he would always get
humming. easy start with the chords,
hesin with a long drawn-Out note, rear
back, pat his feet and shake MS ola
gray head, while a bright smile OF en-
iovment played hop-scotch across MS
wrinkled face.
"A few ginger cookies, bright bits OF
paper or colored glass would Always
be rewarded by his favorlte allltera-
+ion Did YOU eber see a 'possum in a
paw-paw patch a pickin' up paW-paWs
and a putin EN- in his pocket 10
make paw-paw pie for his poor o!u
papa?' This jingle was the JOY OF MS
life and he never tired of repeating II
for me. He was always ready with a
song or a ghost story to amuse and en-
tertain the white folks chillun.
Not long since l concluded to pay
Nose a visit and hear again the SONGS
| had enjoyed when a child, Louhu
him sitting at his cabin door, being 100
feeble TO get about much in his ola
age I shook hands with the old dar-
key and sat in the split bottomed cha,r
which he gave me. The light Whlch
shone in his face told me l was wei
come. and | enjoyed long talk WIN
him.
.,Finally I got his banjo from the
wall and asked him to give me lie"
strains of .Niggers Foot in Ashes at
lively clip. or as he called 1t quick
and deyilish.'
Taking the banjo on his knee the
old time vigor came upon MN again.
and he ratified off the breakdown as IN
his prime. After play ing some OF MS
favorftc 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 inilnesplIllS
and, with his head way back on MS
chair and his foot extended to keep
time with his banjo, he sang;
Early one mornin' on Old massas farm,
Ont dat pigeon-wing Lily Jane;
We heard the chickens a-givin' de
alarm,
Shake yo' feet Miss Lily Jane
Massa was a-comin wild a black-anake
whip,
Shake yo' shutters, Lily Jane;
You orter to hav' seed dem niggcrs;
You's shakin' EN- right now, Lily
Jane.
We got to dig taters an hoe de corn,
Hit dat double-shufIle, Lily Jane
You'd better be humpin' coz it soon be
morn.
Shake yo balmoral, Lily Jane.
after finishing this song an eight
il Oh grin played across Moses face
from ear to ear, his eyes sparkled ana
the old negro was happy as IL the
Young niggers had gone through their
dancing while he sang and played.
.Nassa., said he, de best days OF dis
old niggahs life am done gone out
wen l git tn thinhn' bout de days
befo' the wah. desc old bones Of mine
gets Young again, and l feel like !
wants TO hit the jig step again, like
ulster do, for in my days dere WASH
a buck enywheres around what could
hold light to Nose, coz l was de bes
dancer fer miles around de old planta-
ton
Il told him I was something OF a
dancer myself, and II he would cut
down lively on the old barn yard
cackle,' l would show him few steps
in Jig dancing. This tickled the old
wrinkled faced coon and he played In
earnest
Horses in de stable 90 neigh, neigh,
neigh;
Ducks in de yard 90 quack, quack,
quark. Quack;
An de goose goes filly-i-fee.
Cows in de medder 90 moo, moo, moo,
Picklninny hind de houseboo-Roo-
hoo;