The Emancipation Car being an Original Composition of Anti-Slavery Ballads |
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[Just before the day was breaking] |
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 | The Emancipation Car |  |
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[Just before the day was breaking]
[_]
The following lines are drawn from a dreary journey of a young lady, from Kentucky, in 1852. Her traveling name, (which I gave her,) was “Catherine Simpson,” and to her memory, I compose these lines, suited to the Air—“The Last Rose of Summer.”
Just before the day was breaking,
'Twas between three and four,
A weary young maiden
Gently knocked at the door.
I beheld her dark features
As she drew near the fire—
Whence came this poor creature?
I began to inquire.
'Twas between three and four,
A weary young maiden
Gently knocked at the door.
I beheld her dark features
As she drew near the fire—
Whence came this poor creature?
I began to inquire.
Oh! where art thou going
This dark lonesome night?
See the dark clouds are gathering,
Do they not thee affright?
O no! said the stranger,
With tears in her eye—
They will shield me from danger—
My Master's close by.
This dark lonesome night?
See the dark clouds are gathering,
Do they not thee affright?
O no! said the stranger,
With tears in her eye—
They will shield me from danger—
My Master's close by.
I'm a slave, and am going
To the land of the free;
And my Master's pursuing—
He is close after me.
O, hide me, I pray thee,
'Till the dark shade of night,
And do not betray me,
For my Master's in sight.
To the land of the free;
And my Master's pursuing—
He is close after me.
O, hide me, I pray thee,
'Till the dark shade of night,
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For my Master's in sight.
Four and twenty long hours,
I have wandered alone,
'Mid the wild, tangled flowers,
Far away from my home;
The wild beasts of the forest,
Howled round me all night;
Their wild mingled chorus,
My soul did affright.
I have wandered alone,
'Mid the wild, tangled flowers,
Far away from my home;
The wild beasts of the forest,
Howled round me all night;
Their wild mingled chorus,
My soul did affright.
To the land of Victoria
I am now on my way,
I have trials before me,
Both by night and by day,
O, can'st thou not hide me,
'Till the day passes by?
Let no evil betide me,
For my Master is nigh.
I am now on my way,
I have trials before me,
Both by night and by day,
O, can'st thou not hide me,
'Till the day passes by?
Let no evil betide me,
For my Master is nigh.
I will be thy defender
(I exclaimed, as I arose,)
'Till the sun's glorious splendor,
Bids adieu to your foes,
Then the “Steam Car” will hie thee,
To thy far destined home,
There the hounds cannot find thee—
There the lash dare not come.
(I exclaimed, as I arose,)
'Till the sun's glorious splendor,
Bids adieu to your foes,
Then the “Steam Car” will hie thee,
To thy far destined home,
There the hounds cannot find thee—
There the lash dare not come.
| The Emancipation Car | |