The Emancipation Car | ||
128
HOW I GOT MY EDUCATION
129
With axe in hand, I went to work,
My strength being all my riches;
I had but one old worn out coat,
And two old pairs of breeches.
I prayed to God both night and day,
That he would ever guide me,
That from the right and perfect way,
No hardships would divide me.
I looked on high for a rich supply,
And asked God for his blessings,
For grace to stand at his right hand,
And strength to get my lessons.
My strength being all my riches;
I had but one old worn out coat,
And two old pairs of breeches.
I prayed to God both night and day,
That he would ever guide me,
That from the right and perfect way,
No hardships would divide me.
I looked on high for a rich supply,
And asked God for his blessings,
For grace to stand at his right hand,
And strength to get my lessons.
My mind had run at large so long,
I found it quite a trial
To bring my haughty spirit down
To so much self-denial;
But I resolved with all my heart,
To learn or perish trying.
For as I this had made a start,
I could not think of flying.
With two strong hands,
I would clear the land,
And make the old trees rattle;
Come home at night,
Strike up the light,
And then renew the battle.
I found it quite a trial
To bring my haughty spirit down
To so much self-denial;
But I resolved with all my heart,
To learn or perish trying.
For as I this had made a start,
130
With two strong hands,
I would clear the land,
And make the old trees rattle;
Come home at night,
Strike up the light,
And then renew the battle.
I was sometimes up and sometimes down,
And sometimes on the level,
Beset with trials all around,
The world, the flesh and devil;
I thought I would prepare myself
To teach my sable nation;
And would not turn to right nor left
From my first calculation.
So on I would start,
With hand and heart,
And head all set in order
To persevere,
From year to year,
But never reach its border.
And sometimes on the level,
Beset with trials all around,
The world, the flesh and devil;
I thought I would prepare myself
To teach my sable nation;
And would not turn to right nor left
From my first calculation.
So on I would start,
With hand and heart,
And head all set in order
To persevere,
From year to year,
But never reach its border.
I was brought up a farmer's son,
That make all things come handy,
To any work my hands I turned,
But could not act the Dandy.
My labor made my food digest,
Digestion made me healthy,
With mental strength I was richly blessed
And thus I felt quite neatly.
I ploughed and mowed,
And reaped and sowed,
I washed and cooked quite handy;
I would fence and ditch
For the poor or rich,
And drive old Buck and Handy.
That make all things come handy,
To any work my hands I turned,
But could not act the Dandy.
My labor made my food digest,
Digestion made me healthy,
With mental strength I was richly blessed
And thus I felt quite neatly.
131
And reaped and sowed,
I washed and cooked quite handy;
I would fence and ditch
For the poor or rich,
And drive old Buck and Handy.
The Emancipation Car | ||