Hush now, finish out yo’ nap,
W’ile I make yo’ luttle cap;
Blessid luttle sugar-pie,
Hush now, baby, don’ it cry.
Mammy’s goin’ to make its dres’,
Go to sleep an’ take yo’ res’;
Hush now, don’ it cry no mo’e,
Ain’t goin’ lay you on de Ho’.
Carmichael was born at Snow Hill, Alabama, and in the Industrial Institute there received the rudiments of an education, which was added to by a summer term at Harvard. Since the book mentioned I have seen nothing from his pen.
The elder Cotter in A White Song and a Black Song gives us in the second part several dialect pieces in the most successful manner. Several are satirical, like the following:
THE DON’T-CARE NEGRO
Neber min’ what’s in your cran’um
So your collar’s high an’ true.
Neber min’ what’s in your pocket
So de blackin’s on your shoe.
Neber min’ who keeps you comp’ny
So he halfs up what he’s tuk.
Neber min’ what way you’s gwine
So you’s gwine away from wuk.
Neber min’ de race’s troubles
So you profits by dem all.
Neber min’ your leaders’ stumblin’
So you he’ps to mak’ dem fall.
