The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-26

the purple clusters of the wild plum,
peered out, and birds of bright plumage
and sweet song, fitted from branch to
branch, giving life and variety to the
gorgeous scene.
In the open space beyond the first
stretch of woods there was an immense
sea-island cotton-feId, where black men
and women by the score were at work,
under Government superintendent, in the
hope of Summers crop. Yet nearer the
shore, stately palmetto and palm trees
stood out against the horizon, and the
prickly-pear jealousy guarded its tempting
fruit by its nettle covering and its thorny
encircling leaves. Plantation fences with
gates divided the different fields. The old
time planters mansion was there, and
the negro cabins were back Of it. There
was a pretty Episcopal church with a
painted clOck-face in its gable end, and
about it was graveyard with stones
marking the resting place of successive
generations in an order of things now
passing away.
At last we reached little Baptist
church, where we found a negrO-schOol
of between 100 and 200 'contrabands," rs
they were called in that day, under the
care of cultivated and devoted New
England women teachers. We were sur
prised and delighted at the brightness and
proficiency of these children, as shown
in their various recitations. The chill
dren themselves were the blacklist of
Africans, with no intermixture of white
blood. At the close of the session they
sang together, and their singing was a
treat.
ly for them, for the Christmas before, by
John G. Whittier, including the verses:
ooh, none in all the world before
Were ever glad as we!
We're free on Cardinals shore,
We're all at home, and free.
eve hear no more the drivers horn,
No more the whip we fear,
This holy day that saw Thee born
Was never half SO dear.
"Come once again, o bless i Lord!
Come walking on the sea!
And let the main-lands hear the word
That sets the islands Free
Then they sang some of their native
words in their own way, and that sing
ing seemed to suit better their tastes
and feelings:
death is little man,
Good Lord, remember me!
"And he goes from door to door,
Good Lord, remember mel
Il prays de Lord, when de year rolls round
Good Lord, remember me!
ooh! wants to die like Jesus died,
Good Lord, remember me!
"To die and be laid in the grave,
Good Lord, remember mel!
And so the lines went on, describing the
resurrection and the ascension, and being
repeated indefinitely. Accompanying the
singing the little singers beat time with
their feet and clapped their hands, weav-
ing their bodies back and forward, until
element. This they would keep up, at
times, by the hour, we were told. Indeed,
there seemed to be no end to the sing
ing, except in physical exhaustion.
TOUCHING PATHos OF TIE SLAVE SONG.
While the young negroes could learn to
read more easily than the older ones, they
could not sing with the touching pathos
of those who had suffered long in slavery
with no clear hope of freedom. 1t was
while crossing the saltwater ferry from
Ladies' Island, just above st. Helena, to
Beaufort, on this occasion, that l first
heard this genuine slave-singing. 1t was
ferry-boat, propelled by half q dozen
| stalwart negroes. AS they rowed, they
and all joined in the chorus. The strain
was plaintive, subdued. pathetic, such as
could have come only from an oppressed
dOwn-trOdden, suffering people, disconso
late as to this life, and with hope only
above and beyond. The words were few
and simple, but they brcathed loving
longing, trustful spirit:
my Jesus made the blind to see,
No man can hinder me.
my Jesus made the dumb to speak,
No Elan can hinder me.
MY Jesus made the lame to walk,
No man can hinder me-"
| Thus they sang on of the work of Jesus
and as they sang they would, at regular
| intervals, strike one another's oars as il
to mark time and secure harmony. The
touching, tender allusiOn to my Jesus -
as if the plant of an innermost crushed
soul, was inexpressibly pathetic. 1t beg.
gars description. 1t brought tears to my
eyes, and made mo thank God for the
preciouspess Of that Name which is above