The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-10
His Little Niger Boy"

tBy Reuues,.)
Mr. Howell G, Featherston published in
last Sundays Washington Post u dozen
or so stanzas under the caption, THAT
Little .Nisger Boy | Used to own" which
has been complmented for its cleverness
and fidelity to nature. The author Is a
son of Captain j. C. Featherston, mem
her of the House of Delegates from
Campbell county.
Here Is the poem:
have met heap of people, and I've
had heap o. chums---
Good fellows, just as good as ever
known
But I've never seen better, nor a truer,
kinder friend
Than that little Niger boy I used to
own
His hide was black as charcoal and his
heart was just as warm;
he want great philosopher. but never
thought no harm;
And tho to flatter childhood mankind is
Twas cunning little devil that used
to boss and own.
There are lots of pickaninnics round my
old plantation home,
But Alec, he belonged to me alone
He could outrun all the others. and he'd
light an lie for me,
And loved that niger boy I used to
own.
Ills head was round and HAPPY and his
eyes Were big and white
fils mouth was quite capacious, and it
let In lots of light;
But, tho he want a beauty nor a
plate for style an tone
The love was true and honest Of that
boy l used to own.
We We're playmates all together tho
was kind of king.
But | never put myself up on a
And told tales in the hoghouse and I
waded in the branch.
With that little niger boy used to
own.
It's true. we'd get to fightin', and I'd
But this was rather seldom, for they
generally 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 | used to own.
And then grew up bigger, and I used
49, to ride to school,
| Through meadows, where the rice and
cane We're sown;
I, And he'd take my horse at even, and
| he'd love to see me come
That happy, smilin boy used to
| own
1 He would steal watermelons, 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 au-
tumn full moon shone,
| I'd hunt the cunning possum, with that
/ boy | 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 my service and !
/ has ct RI "a
And was followed by that boy I used
/. to own.
He would get scared in battle. and. dalE'
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
l that boy l used to own.
Tho war was long and bitter, but his ar
dor never tagged;
He kept the oath to follow me he'd
4 sworn.
An when it was all over brought hiu
home again.
That shiny, grinnin' 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 IS seen envas EN- ,,h faiiI Gin
could check nor tone.
/ And l nursed him like a 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 mari
the place we laid
That loving faithful boy used to own
lie had his small shortcomings, ant
they may be counted sin;
But Saint Peter knows niger, ant
he'll made excuse for him!
And II, in Gods great goodness,
shall view sweet heaven.
II throne.
/ know I'll see that smilin' face, tina
boy ] used to own.
: have met heap o. people, and I'v'
had heap o. chums-
Good fellows, Just as good as eve
3 known!
But I've never seen better, nor