32
CONTENDING FORCES.
CHAPTER II.
THE DAYS "BEFORE THE WAR."
O Freedom! thou art not as poets dream,
A fair young girl with light and delicate limbs,
********
Thy birthright was not given by human hands:
Thou wert twinborn with man.
A fair young girl with light and delicate limbs,
********
Thy birthright was not given by human hands:
Thou wert twinborn with man.
The shores of Pamlico Sound presented a motley crowd of slaves, overseers, owners of vessels, and a phantasmagoric landscape very charming to eyes unaccustomed to such scenes. It was near the noon siesta. In the harbor lay three or four vessels ready to be loaded with their freight of rice, tobacco or cotton. The sun poured its level rays straight down upon the heads of all. A band of slaves sang in a musical monotone, and kept time to the music of their song as they unloaded a barge that had just arrived:
Turn dat han' spike roun' an' roun',
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey.
Brack man tote de buckra's load,
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey.
Brack man tote de buckra's load,
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey
Neber 'fo' seed a nigger like you,
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey.
Allers tinkin' 'bout yer ol' brack Sue,
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey.
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey.
Allers tinkin' 'bout yer ol' brack Sue,
Hol' hard, honey; hol' hard, honey.
