 | An Indignation Dinner |  |
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An Indignation Dinner
By JAMES D. CORROTHERS
DEY was hard times jes 'fo' Christmas
round our neighborhood one year;
So we held a secret meetin', whah de
white folks couldn't hear,
To 'scuss de situation, an' to see whut
could be done
Towa'd a fust-class Christmas dinneh an'
a little Christmas fun.
round our neighborhood one year;
So we held a secret meetin', whah de
white folks couldn't hear,
To 'scuss de situation, an' to see whut
could be done
Towa'd a fust-class Christmas dinneh an'
a little Christmas fun.
Rufus Green, who called de meetin', ris'
an' said: "In dis here town,
An' throughout de land, de white folks
is a-tryin' to keep us down."
S' 'e: "Dey's bought us, sold us, beat us;
now dey 'buse us 'ca'se we's free;
But when dey tetch my stomach, dey's
done gone too fur foh me!
an' said: "In dis here town,
An' throughout de land, de white folks
is a-tryin' to keep us down."
S' 'e: "Dey's bought us, sold us, beat us;
now dey 'buse us 'ca'se we's free;
But when dey tetch my stomach, dey's
done gone too fur foh me!
"Is I right?" "You sho is, Rufus!" roared
a dozen hungry throats.
"Ef you'd keep a mule a-wo'kin', don't
you tamper wid his oats.
Dat's sense," continued Rufus. "But
dese white folks nowadays
Has done got so close an' stingy you can't
live on whut dey pays.
a dozen hungry throats.
"Ef you'd keep a mule a-wo'kin', don't
you tamper wid his oats.
Dat's sense," continued Rufus. "But
dese white folks nowadays
Has done got so close an' stingy you can't
live on whut dey pays.
"Here 'tis Christmas-time, an', folkses,
I's indignant 'nough to choke.
Whah's our Christmas dinneh comin'
when we's 'mos' completely broke?
I can't hahdly 'fo'd a toothpick an' a
glass o' water. Mad?
Say, I'm desp'ut! Dey jes better treat
me nice, dese white folks had!"
I's indignant 'nough to choke.
Whah's our Christmas dinneh comin'
when we's 'mos' completely broke?
I can't hahdly 'fo'd a toothpick an' a
glass o' water. Mad?
Say, I'm desp'ut! Dey jes better treat
me nice, dese white folks had!"
Well, dey 'bused de white folks scan'lous,
till old Pappy Simmons ris',
Leanin' on his cane to spote him, on
account his rheumatis',
An' s' 'e: "Chilun, whut 's dat wintry
wind a-sighin' th'ough de street
'Bout yo' wasted summeh wages? But,
no matteh, we mus' eat.
till old Pappy Simmons ris',
Leanin' on his cane to spote him, on
account his rheumatis',
An' s' 'e: "Chilun, whut 's dat wintry
wind a-sighin' th'ough de street
'Bout yo' wasted summeh wages? But,
no matteh, we mus' eat.
"Now, I seed a beau'ful tuhkey on a
certain gemmun's fahm.
He's a-growin' fat an' sassy, an'
a-struttin' to a chahm.
Chickens, sheeps, hogs, sweet pertaters—
all de craps is fine dis year;
All we needs is a committee foh to tote
de goodies here."
certain gemmun's fahm.
He's a-growin' fat an' sassy, an'
a-struttin' to a chahm.
Chickens, sheeps, hogs, sweet pertaters—
all de craps is fine dis year;
All we needs is a committee foh to tote
de goodies here."
Well, we lit right in an' voted dat it was
a gran' idee,
An' de dinneh we had Christmas was
worth trabblin' miles to see;
An' we eat a full an' plenty, big an'
little, great an' small,
Not beca'se we was dishonest, but
indignant, sah. Dat's all.
a gran' idee,
An' de dinneh we had Christmas was
worth trabblin' miles to see;
An' we eat a full an' plenty, big an'
little, great an' small,
Not beca'se we was dishonest, but
indignant, sah. Dat's all.
| An Indignation Dinner | |