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11/22/2009 1:15:31 AM
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. I remember, well remember, . That dark and dreadful day, . When they whispered to me, "Chloe, . Your children's sold away!" 1. It seemed as if a bullet . Had shot me through and through, . And I felt as if my heart-strings . Was breaking right in two. 1. And I says to cousin Milly, . "There must be some mistake; . Where's Mistus?" "In the great house crying -- . Crying like her heart would break. 1. "And the lawyer's there with Mistus; . Says he's come to 'ministrate, . 'Cause when master died he just left . Heap of debt on the estate. 1. "And I thought 'twould do you good . To bid your boys good-bye -- . To kiss them both and shake their hands, . And have a hearty cry. 1. "Oh! Chloe, I knows how you feel, . 'Cause I'se been through it all; . I thought my poor old heart would break, . When master sold my Saul." 1. Just then I heard the footsteps . Of my children at the door, . And then I rose right up to meet them, . But I fell upon the floor. 1. And I heard poor Jakey saying, . "Oh, mammy, don't you cry!" . And I felt my children kiss me . And bid me, both, good-bye. 1. Then I had a mighty sorrow, . Though I nursed it all alone; . But I wasted to a shadow, . And turned to skin and bone. 1. But one day dear uncle Jacob . (In heaven he's now a saint) . Said, "Your poor heart is in the fire, . But child you must not faint." 1. Then I said to uncle Jacob, . If I was good like you, . When the heavy trouble dashed me . I'd know just what to do. 1. Then he said to me, "Poor Chloe, . The way is open wide:" . And he told me of the Saviour, . And the fountain in His side. 1. Then he said "Just take your burden . To the blessed Master's feet; . I takes all my troubles, Chloe, . Right unto the mercy-seat." 1. His words waked up my courage, . And I began to pray, . And I felt my heavy burden . Rolling like a stone away. 1. And a something seemed to tell me, . You will see your boys again -- . And that hope was like a poultice . Spread upon a dreadful pain. 1. And it often seemed to whisper, . Chloe, trust and never fear; . You'll get justice in the kingdom, . If you do not get it here. [2] The Deliverance 2. Master only left old Mistus . One bright and handsome boy; . But she fairly doted on him, . He was her pride and joy. 2. We all liked Mister Thomas, . He was so kind at heart; . And when the young folkes got in scrapes, . He always took their part. 2. He kept right on that very way . Till he got big and tall, . And old Mistus used to chide him . And say he'd spile us all. 2. But somehow the farm did prosper . When he took things in hand; . And though all the servants liked him, . He made them understand. 2. One evening Mister Thomas said, . "Just bring my easy shoes; . I am going to sit by mother, . And read her up the news." 2. Soon I heard him tell old Mistus . We're bound to have a fight; . But we'll whip the Yankees, mother, . We'll whip them sure as night!" 2. Then I saw old Mistus tremble; . She gasped and held her breath; . And she looked on Mister Thomas . With a face as pale as death. 2. "They are firing on Fort Sumpter; . Oh! I wish that I was there! -- . Why, dear mother! what's the matter? . You're the picture of despair." 2. "I was thinking, dearest Thomas, . 'Twould break my very heart . If a fierce and dreadful battle . Should tear our lives apart." 2. "None but cowards, dearest mother, . Would skulk unto the rear, . When the tyrant's hand is shaking . All the heart is holding dear." 2. I felt sorry for old Mistus; . She got too full to speak; . But I saw the great big tear-drops . A running down her cheek. 2. Mister Thomas too was troubled . With choosing on that night, . Betwixt staying with his mother . And joining in the fight. 2. Soon down into the village came . A call for volunteers; . Mistus gave up Mister Thomas, . With many sighs and tears. 2. His uniform was real handsome; . He looked so brave and strong; . But somehow I could'nt help thinking . His fighting must be wrong. 2. Though the house was very lonesome, . I thought 'twould all come right, . For I felt somehow or other . We was mixed up in that fight. 2. And I said to Uncle Jacob, . "How old Mistus feels the sting, . For this parting with your children . Is a mighty dreadful thing." 2. "Never mind," said Uncle Jacob, . "Just wait and watch and pray, . For I feel right sure and certain, . Slavery's bound to pass away; 2. "Because I asked the Spirit, . If God is good and just, . How it happened that the masters . Did grind us to the dust. 2. "And something reasoned right inside, . Such should not always be; . And you could not beat it out my head, . The Spirit spoke to me." 2. And his dear old eyes would brighten, . And his lips put on a smile, . Saying, "Pick up faith and courage, . And just wait a little while." 2. Mistus prayed up in the parlor, . That the Secesh all might win; . We were praying in the cabins, . Wanting freedom to begin. 2. Mister Thomas wrote to Mistus, . Telling 'bout the Bull's Run fight, . That his troops had whipped the Yankees . And put them all to flight. 2. Mistus' eyes did fairly glisten; . She laughed and praised the South, . But I thought some day she'd laugh . On tother side her mouth. 2. I used to watch old Mistus' face, . And when it looked quite long . I would say to Cousin Milly, . The battle's going wrong; 2. Not for us, but for the Rebels. -- . My heart would fairly skip, . When Uncle Jacob used to say, . "The North is bound to whip." 2. And let the fight go as it would -- . Let North or South prevail -- . He always kept his courage up, . And never let it fail. 2. And he often used to tell us, . "Children, don't forget to pray; . For the darkest time of morning . Is just 'fore the break of day." 2. Well, one morning bright and early . We heard the fife and drum, . And the booming of the cannon -- . The Yankee troops had come. 2. When the word ran through the village, . The colored folks are free -- . In the kitchens and the cabins . We held a jubilee. 2. When they told us Mister Lincoln . Said that slavery was dead, . We just poured our prayers and blessings . Upon his precious head. 2. We just laughed, and danced, and shouted . And prayed, and sang, and cried, . And we thought dear Uncle Jacob . Would fairly crack his side. 2. But when old Mistus heard it, . She groaned and hardly spoke; . When she had to lose her servants, . Her heart was almost broke. 2. 'Twas a sight to see our people . Going out, the troops to meet, . Almost dancing to the music, . And marching down the street. 2. After years of pain and parting, . Our chains was broke in two, . And we was so mighty happy, . We didn't know what to do. 2. But we soon got used to freedom, . Though the way at first was rough; . But we weathered through the tempest, . For slavery made us tough. 2. But we had one awful sorrow, . It almost turned my head, . When a mean and wicked cretur . Shot Mister Lincoln dead. 2. 'Twas a dreadful solemn morning, . I just staggered on my feet; . And the women they were crying . And screaming in the street. 2. But if many prayers and blessings . Could bear him to the throne, . I should think when Mister Lincoln died, . That heaven just got its own. 2. Then we had another President, -- . What do you call his name? . Well, if the colored folks forget him . They would'nt be much to blame. 2. We thought he'd be the Moses . Of all the colored race; . But when the Rebels pressed us hard . He never showed his face. 2. But something must have happened him, . Right curi's I'll be bound, . 'Cause I heard 'em talking 'bout a circle . That he was swinging round. 2. But everything will pass away -- . He went like time and tide -- . And when the next election came . They let poor Andy slide. 2. But now we have a President, . And if I was a man . I'd vote for him for breaking up . The wicked Ku-Klux Klan. 2. And if any man should ask me . If I would sell my vote, . I'd tell him I was not the one . To change and turn my coat; 2. If freedom seem'd a little rough . I'd weather through the gale; . And as to buying up my vote, . I hadn't it for sale. 2. I do not think I'd ever be . As slack as Jonas Handy; . Because I heard he sold his vote . For just three sticks of candy. 2. But when John Thomas Reeder brought . His wife some flour and meat, . And told he had sold his vote . For something good to eat, 2. You ought to seen Aunt Kitty raise, . And heard her blaze away; . She gave the meat and flour a toss, . And said they should not stay. 2. And I should think he felt quite cheap . For voting the wrong side; . And when Aunt Kitty scolded him, . He just stood up and cried. 2. But the worst fooled man I ever saw, . Was when poor David Rand . Sold out for flour and sugar; . The sugar was mixed with sand. 2. I'll tell you how the thing got out; . His wife had company, . And she thought the sand was sugar, . And served it up for tea. 2. When David sipped and sipped the tea, . Somehow it didn't taste right; . I guess when he found he was sipping sand . He was mad enough to fight. 2. The sugar looked so nice and white -- . It was spread some inches deep -- . But underneath was a lot of sand; . Such sugar is mighty cheap. 2. You'd laughed to seen Lucinda Grange . Upon her husband's track; . When he sold his vote for rations . She made him take 'em back. 2. Day after day did Milly Green . Just follow after Joe, . And told him if he voted wrong . To take his rags and go. 2. I think that Samuel Johnson said . His side had won the day, . Had not we women radicals . Just got right in the way. 2. And yet I would not have you think . That all our men are shabby; . But 'tis said in every flock of sheep . There will be one that's scabby. 2. I've heard, before election came . They tried to buy John Slade; . But he gave them all to understand . That he wasn't in that trade. 2. And we've got lots of other men . Who rally round the cause, . And go for holding up the hands . That gave us equal laws, 2. Who know their freedom cost too much . Of blood and pain and treasure, . For them to fool away their votes . For profit or for pleasure. [3] Aunt Chloe's Politics 3. Of course, I don't know very much . About these politics, . But I think that some who run 'em, . Do mighty ugly tricks. 3. I've seen 'em honey-fugle round, . And talk so awful sweet, . That you'd think them full of kindness . As an egg is full of meat. 3. Now I don't believe in looking . Honest people in the face, . And saying when you're doing wrong, . That 'I haven't sold my race.' 3. When we want to school our children, . If the money isn't there, . Whether black or white have took it, . The loss we all must share. 3. And this buying up each other . Is something worse than mean, . Though I thinks a heap of voting, . I go for voting clean. [4] Learning to Read 4. Very soon the Yankee teachers . Came down and set up school; . But, oh! how the Rebs did hate it, -- . It was agin' their rule. 4. Our masters always tried to hide . Book learning from our eyes; . Knowledge did'nt agree with slavery -- . 'Twould make us all too wise. 4. But some of us would try to steal . A little from the book, . And put the words together, . And learn by hook or crook. 4. I remember Uncle Caldwell, . Who took pot liquor fat . And greased the pages of his book, . And hid it in his hat. 4. And had his master ever seen . The leaves upon his head, . He'd have thought them greasy papers, . But nothing to be read. 4. And there was Mr. Turner's Ben, . Who heard the children spell, . And picked the words right up by heart, . And learned to read 'em well. 4. Well, the Northern folks kept sending . The Yankee teachers down; . And they stood right up and helped us, . Though Rebs did sneer and frown. 4. And I longed to read my Bible, . For precious words it said; . But when I begun to learn it, . Folks just shook their heads, 4. And said there is no use trying, . Oh! Chloe, you're too late; . But as I was rising sixty, . I had no time to wait. 4. So I got a pair of glasses, . And straight to work I went, . And never stopped till I could read . The hymns and Testament. 4. Then I got a little cabin . A place to call my own -- . And I felt as independent . As the queen upon her throne. [5] Church Building 5. Uncle Jacob often told us, . Since freedom blessed our race . We ought all to come together . And build a meeting place. 5. So we pinched, and scraped, and spared, . A little here and there: . Though our wages was but scanty, . The church did get a share. 5. And, when the house was finished, . Uncle Jacob came to pray; . He was looking mighty feeble, . And his head was awful gray. 5. But his voice rang like a trumpet; . His eyes looked bright and young; . And it seemed a mighty power . Was resting on his tongue. 5. And he gave us all his blessing -- . 'Twas parting words he said, . For soon we got the message . The dear old man was dead. 5. But I believe he's in the kingdom, . For when we shook his hand . He said, "Children, you must meet me . Right in the promised land; 5. "For when I done a moiling . And toiling here below, . Through the gate into the city . Straightway I hope to go." [6] The Reunion 6. Well, one morning real early . I was going down the street, . And I heard a stranger asking . For Missis Chloe Fleet. 6. There was something in his voice . That made me feel quite shaky. . And when I looked right in his face, . Who should it be but Jakey! 6. I grasped him tight, and took him home -- . What gladness filled my cup! . And I laughed, and just rolled over, . And laughed, and just give up. 6. "Where have you been? O Jakey, dear! . Why didn't you come before? . Oh! when you children went away . My heart was awful sore." 6. "Why, mammy, I've been on your hunt . Since ever I've been free, . And I have heard from brother Ben, -- . He's down in Tennessee. 6. "He wrote me that he had a wife," . "And children?" "Yes, he's three." . "You married, too?" "Oh, no, indeed, . I thought I'd first get free." 6. "Then, Jakey, you will stay with me, . And comfort my poor heart; . Old Mistus got no power now . To tear us both apart. 6. "I'm richer now than Mistus, . Because I have got my son; . And Mister Thomas he is dead, . And she's nary one. 6. "You must write to brother Benny . That he must come this fall, . And we'll make the cabin bigger, . And that will hold us all. 6. "Tell him I want to see 'em all . Before my life do cease: . And then, like good old Simeon, . I hope to die in peace." Frances Ellen Watkins
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