Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-31
SOME PLANTATION RIDDLES
Rhymes Of the Negro Quarter in the
Old South.
SORT OF POETRY IN SOME OF THEM
Many Adaptations from the Riddles
OF old acknowledgements Re
noctinE Life and Customs
of Negroes.

All races in their youth are prone to
make and give riddles. 1t was with the
making Of a hard riddle that Samson's
marital troubles began. IL was from this
riddle and it's consequences that the
Philistines were to see much trouble from
the hand Of Samson: Out OF the eater
came forth meat, and out OF the strong
came forth sweetness"
Many OF the riddles Of ancient Greece
have become a part Of world history. 1t
is not possible that any sucn fame will
ever become attached to any plantation
riddle. Yet very interesting these riddles
are to the student Of folklore. Very much
can be learned from them Of the thought
and the life and the habits Of the colored
people in America.
Every plantation in the good old days
before the war had It's notable wits, story
teIlers, riddle rhymers and song leaders.
Many. alasl most of these wise old people
lie silent in unmarked graves In lonely
pine woods or old overgrown fields, but
their memories live in many a heart.
Never was there greater delight 10 any
child than that rare treat to go to the
quarter under nanny faithful charge to
the cabin Of some old brown wiseacre to
hear Br'er Rabbit tales or to guess riddles.
Mammy's august presence and her
thorough knowledge OF the proprietles for
both her own and her owners race was a
safe expurgation Of all stories, songs and
riddles.
Many Of the riddles told were doubtless
adaptations from those OF old England,
which the negro children Of long ago
caught from the white children OF their
masters. Just so traces Of old English
. ballads frequently show in the songs OF
Sthe black people.
y It is also interesting TO see how what is
ancient history still finds life in the old
tales repeated by those who have heard
them so told down the generations. "King
george still goes hunting in some Of these
stories, introduced probably by some dark
Munchausen whose master held a Carolina
land grant from one OF the Georges.
Some have a true sort Of poetry, a thing
not to the old-time negro, &c
for Instance this;
What dis de good Lord send
Datl break and never bend7
The answer to this is; Day.
Here is one easter to guess:
what is dis do you think
Some is green, some IL red,
Some Is des IS black as ink?
What but blackberries that grow wild al
over the old fields Of the south.
Here is one that would take much guess.
ing 1t must have been first made by on,
of great ingenuity and inventions;
Tell me now. what is dat
Crooked as a rainbow
And got teefes like a cat?
The long, briery limb Of the blackberry
bush.
Some are far fetched enough to cause thu
no doubt desired long puzzlement OF the
nearer. and often they fail Of either poes,
or wit to reward the solving. For instanc,
these:
What's round about de woods
All day light
Come In and sit on
Supper table night7
The answer; MILK.
WHAT'S a-goin' aU day,
Movin' in dc light,
Set IN de chimb,g corner
Como dark night2
Answer: Shoe.
What goes to de creek
Ev'y, ev'y day
Never, never take a drink
Away3
Answer: A cowbell.
Something more OF the element OF duain
interest is to b. found in the following:
Guess me dis you git a dime
What dat holler, holler ali de time?
Answer; A hollow tree.
What dat run from sun to sun
Never ketch up at am
The answer to this is the hind wheel Q
a wagon.
What all time go TO de creek
Never wade across, so to speak,
The big road Is the not very ~satisfac
tory answer to this. for unless the road I