The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-21
Rastus at the School.

RastuS at the School.
U,cquest in Query Co nmn.)
"C;ood-cvcn', Rnstus; whnr you boon?
Been risttn do school;
En-, tell yer what. dat cullud lady
teacher amt no fool
Dc littlc niger chillun was a-settin' IN
n line,
En- gazing III, Mt her ez Of dce thought
she's pow'ful fine.
She larned 'em how ter read and write,
on how to talk big dick.
En- spellfrg-book On jogcrfy, en- all
bout 'rithmetic:
En- den dee swung der hans about on
stOmped upon do 10;
She called It cally-s,lmp'n. en- said
'twould make 'cn grow.
La! Eprim. how dc times Is changed
FUN fifty years ago:
Oar want no sich thing ca cullud
teachers den fer sho.
En- pickaninnies neber see do inside Nv
a book.
'Cept Sundays. when de mistiss read
bout how. de Lord done took
De niger en- de white folks bofe. FUN
out de mire en- clay.
En- sot 'em on de Rock OF Ages. Man:
dat was de day
Fer white and black ter set en- res en-
eat the chickcn-pie.
For we all's marster Believed In keep
In Sunday low en- high.
But Monday mornin' was de time
when marster blowed de horn:
It want no use to shet yer yenhs, Ter
wen dat hawn did SCUM
Twas nun ter max dead man jump
and riz up out de groun.
All day wc worked. 'dout givln' Nv de
sweat do time ter dry;
Do loafin' coon's de very one ole mars
ter gwine ter spy.
En- ef Gers one n layin round en- shlrK-
In of his row
OATS Jest de ve'y feller dat his eye
gwine light on, sho.
But Wen dc sun had hid his face be-
hne de golden wes'.
De days work done en- supper over,
den we lowed tn res:
En- have jes' all de fun we want, out
de banjo come,
En- cross-eyed Pete he sho could pick
de strings en- mex her hum.
Whilst all de pootty gals waz dancin'
up en- down dc no..
En- de boys pattin' Juba 'twell dec
couldn't pat no mo-.
De cullud mammies settn' gtnst de
wall, en- ev'y one
A-holdin' NV her fat ole sides en- lafin'
at de fun.
But, Lawd! de times is change: dem
happy days has gone ter stay:
Ole marster. en-, ole mistiss too. has
long since passed away.
Oar amt no ole-time nigGers lef'. en-
every cullild man
Is eatchin' fer ter git ez close ter wife
folks ez ho can.
But dat amt me. I knows my place,
an dar hopes ter stay.
En- have myself accordin'. 'twell my
soul is called away.
Tu meet ole miss en- marster In de
mansions NV de bles'.
whar de wicked cease from troubin'
en- dc weary is at res.
Don't talk to me about yer rights en-
wat yer strivin' for:
De wife mans done a good part by dc
niger since de war:
I may be ole en- hine de times, but den
I Amt no fool
I knows de- wife man pays de tax, dc
niger gifts de school,
FURNISHED by Marian Ramsey, Pc
tersburg, Fa.)
Use Gwin' Back to Dixie.
Use gwin' back to Dixie,
No more Use gwin' to wander,
Ny hearts turned back to Dixie,
I can't stay here no longer.
/ miss do ole plantation.
My home and my relation.
My hearts turned back to Dixie,
And l must go.
CHORUS.
I'sc gwin' back to Dixie,
Use gwin' back to Dixie,
Use gwin' where de orange blossoms
For I hear the children calling:
I see their sad tears falling.
My hearts turned back TO Dixie,
And I must go.
I've hoed in field of cotton,
I've worked upon the river.
I used to think II I got off,
I'd go back there no. never.
But Time has change the old man,
His head Is bending low,
My hearts turned back to Dixie,
And must go.
Chorus.
I'm travelling back to Dixie,
My step is slow and feeble.
/ pray the Lord to keep me,
And lead me from all evil,
And should my strength forsake me.
Then, kind friends, come and take me,
My hearts turned back to Dixie,
And l must co.
Chorus.
NJ. f. =.