 | A Dream |  |
137
TOO MANY QUESTIONS.
With Obligations to Senator K---.
A Northern man was south one day,
Among its orange groves and birds,
And strolling round a depot's walk
He met a man of witty words.
Among its orange groves and birds,
And strolling round a depot's walk
He met a man of witty words.
The man was black, with pearly teeth,
That shone with ev'ry smile and look.
His name was Bill, the stranger found;
He was a gamester and a cook.
That shone with ev'ry smile and look.
His name was Bill, the stranger found;
He was a gamester and a cook.
“What have you there?” the stranger asked,
Of him who was so gay and bright.
“Ah, sir, I habs some chickens good,
Dey fairly melt. Dey's browned just right.
Of him who was so gay and bright.
“Ah, sir, I habs some chickens good,
Dey fairly melt. Dey's browned just right.
“Dey's all corn fed—I seen it done.
I'ze cooked dem nice and brown, ma fren',
An' ef you wants a chicken, sar,
Dis am toe yo' a Heaben's sen'.
I'ze cooked dem nice and brown, ma fren',
An' ef you wants a chicken, sar,
Dis am toe yo' a Heaben's sen'.
138
“Yo's from de Norf, I think, ma fren,
Ah, an it true—yo' looks like one
Who am a fren' toe colored men,
Now, hab a chicken and dis bun.”
Ah, an it true—yo' looks like one
Who am a fren' toe colored men,
Now, hab a chicken and dis bun.”
“I am a friend to colored men,
I've been that way for forty years;
I fought to save the wretched slave
From vice, and crime, and misery's tears.”
I've been that way for forty years;
I fought to save the wretched slave
From vice, and crime, and misery's tears.”
“And you, my friend, I'll help you out,
As you are full of enterprise,
I'll take that one that lies right there.
It is the best—of largest size.”
As you are full of enterprise,
I'll take that one that lies right there.
It is the best—of largest size.”
“They're beauties, every one, I see.
From where came this one nice and brown?
A nicer one I never saw.
Was it raised in this southern town?”
From where came this one nice and brown?
A nicer one I never saw.
Was it raised in this southern town?”
“Ah, Massy Lincom's son, from Norf,
Is yo' quite shore yo' is ma fren,'
Or does yo' talk dat way for fun,
Or would you to me trouble sen?”
Is yo' quite shore yo' is ma fren,'
Or does yo' talk dat way for fun,
Or would you to me trouble sen?”
139
“Of course, I am a friend to you.
I am, I mean just what I say;
Why, think you that I tell a lie,
To bring to you a sorry day?”
I am, I mean just what I say;
Why, think you that I tell a lie,
To bring to you a sorry day?”
“Now, if yo' is ma fren', white man,
An' as yo' say, went fru dat spat,
Why does yo' ask, me dis, ma fren',
Where did I get de chickens at?”
An' as yo' say, went fru dat spat,
Why does yo' ask, me dis, ma fren',
Where did I get de chickens at?”
| A Dream | |