 | A Dream |  |
121
A COLORED MAN'S MISTAKE.
One day to restaurant did there go
A colored man to get a meal,
For he'd been working all day long,
And hungry did he feel.
A colored man to get a meal,
For he'd been working all day long,
And hungry did he feel.
He climbed the counter's big, high stool,
The waiter then he hailed,
Who went and got an order large,
And back to him he sailed.
The waiter then he hailed,
Who went and got an order large,
And back to him he sailed.
When in the midst of his repast,
Four minstrels came inside,
Laid down their ancient instruments,
And on four seats did slide.
Four minstrels came inside,
Laid down their ancient instruments,
And on four seats did slide.
From Rome immortal had they come,
He thought from there how said,
That they were hungry, every one,
And wanted to be fed.
He thought from there how said,
That they were hungry, every one,
And wanted to be fed.
The waiter stacked up pork and beans
And all such solid stuff,
As any one would care to chew
Until he had enough.
And all such solid stuff,
As any one would care to chew
Until he had enough.
122
The fat one, who laid down the harp,
Sat turning round his pie,
Then looking down the counter's length,
He squinted up his eye.
Sat turning round his pie,
Then looking down the counter's length,
He squinted up his eye.
And then he said, this dark man thought;
“The one negar pass down!”
“Could he mean me?” then hard he thought,
And at him did he frown.
“The one negar pass down!”
“Could he mean me?” then hard he thought,
And at him did he frown.
“The one negar,” said he again,
“The one negar send up!”
It was too much, the man meant him,
He seized a heavy cup.
“The one negar send up!”
It was too much, the man meant him,
He seized a heavy cup.
The waiter then came to his aid,
And said: “Why speak that way?
That man's all right, if he is dark,
He's got der price ter pay.”
And said: “Why speak that way?
That man's all right, if he is dark,
He's got der price ter pay.”
The smaller man beside his stool,
Who played the big guitar,
Said: “Friend you does not understand,
He wants the vinegar.”
Who played the big guitar,
Said: “Friend you does not understand,
He wants the vinegar.”
| A Dream | |