Year: 1877

naDlts ana negro buperstltions.


Nothing more plainly distinguishes the
present from the past, in this State, than
the absence Of those CHEEKY and sonorous
songs which erst resounded from the field.
hands, as with light hearts and freedom
from care they pursued their daily labor,
in the days when slavery existed among
us. Then the master provided food and
clothing, and the slave had no care about
subsistence. All that lac had to do was
to employ his brawny arms under the di-
rection Of his master, who planned each
days occupation for him, aud his thoughts
were as free as the air, and he as naturally
broke forth into song as the lark and
thrush around him. Not so now. With
freedom came care aud anxiety, and he is
oftened burdened in mind and straitened
to provide food and clothing for himself
and those dependent upon him. The con-
sequence is, that he no longer breaks forth
into song, while he labors, the sign and
seal of cheerful careless spirit. And, in
truths the well-kept slaves Of humane and
provident masters were the happiest peo-
pie under the sun. The days work done,
they were free to roam at will wherever
their inclination led them. The feeding
OF the stock done and supper over, the
colored man would start off on journey
OF miles among the neighboring farms, and
every foot Of that journey would be en-
hvened by loud and ringing song. The
negro Is social being, fond Of the fellow
ship OF his neighbors His nights are
much employed in visiting from farm To
farm, and his visits were often protracted
long after the midnight hour, and indeed
until the small hours Of the morning. In
his nightly rambles he made the welkin
vocal with his songs These songs were
Of the simplest kind, and at this particular
season of the year they could be heard all
around the neighborhood. The corn song
consisted OF a few simple words or rhymes
usually sung by one person, with chorus
in which all united. These songs were
composed by themselves, and usually cole
brated some feat Of prowess, agility, OIL
strength or cunning Enemies came il
for taunt or ridicule, and their masters OF
Oyerseers were frequently alluded to in nc
very fattering terms when they had giyer
them cause Of offense. Farmers were &C.
customed to gather their corn from the
stalk and haul it to their barnyards, wher,
the neighbors, black and white. would as
semble in large numbers aud husk it all
out in a single night. While they husket
corn the negroes would sing, the whiske,
bottle, or rum or apple jack circulating
round and round among tho huskers tht
while. The pile was divided by rail o.
pole; captains we're chosen and a mattel
was made as to which party should inisl
its end Of the pile first. The victors woul,
set their captain on their shoulders an,
march round the barn yard in triumph
singing as they went. Challenges oftel
were exchanged between them, and tn
husking sometimes wound up in fre
fight. But, if everything went harm,
niously and pleasantly, the husking ende
with grand banquet Of roast turkey, roai
pig, pot-pie, ducks, chickens, ham, coffee
bread and butter, and, if convenient to Ii
rivers, fish and oysters. While one tab
was feasting, those waiting their tur
would be beating juba and dancing O
the potato-hole in the kitchen whie
was usually covered over with stout board
forming part of the floor. The banjo wa
favorite instrument on such occasions
the dancers keeping time with their feel
The practical jest and the loud laugl
filed up the time between the dances, an
men and women We'd with each other a
to which should excel The whites wer
frequently spectators, at respectful dis
tance, of their extravagant mirth an
merrymaking.


l have said that the corn-songs yer
frequently contained taunting or bitter a
lusions to enemies or those whom the sing
ers disliked. A specimen of this kinC
recurs to my memory. A farmer in th
neighborhood had the reputation Of bein
hard task-master and cruel to his slaves
One of their songs lampooned him for
in this wise


Harry Copper killed Niger.


Johnny boy hellow


skinned him for his hide and taller.


Johnny boy, hellow


oh you Harry Copper


Johnny boy, heliow.


Oh you Harry Copperl


Johnny boy, hellow.


In singing this song one person woul
sing the first line, and then all would joi
in the chorus of johnny boy, hellow
Sometimes the "unlettered muse" woul
attempt something of a higher order Q
composition than the simplicity Of tn
foregoing song. The following specimel
was sung as kind of recitative or chant
by one person, the company all joining il
the refrain of "0h ho-o-o-o-o" at the end


Old Robin Ranger