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SONGSTER. 189
Gumbo Cliaff.
On de Ohio bluflfs in de state of Indiana,
Bar's where I lib, chock up to de Habbanna,
Eb'ry mornin early Massa gib me licker,
1 take my net and paddle, and put out de quicker,
I jump into my kiff,
And I down de riber driff.
And I cotch as many toropin as six nigger liff.
Now dis mornin on a drift-log tink I see an alligator,
I skull my kift* around and chuck him sweet potater,
I cratch him on de hed and try for to wcx it,
Hut I could'nt fool dc, varmint no how I could fix it;
So I picks up a brick.
An' I fotch'd him sich a lick.
But 'twant nothin' but a pine knot 'pon a big stick.
Now ole Massa bild a barn to put in de fodder,
Dis ting an' dat ting an' one ting anodder;
Thirty ninth December time come a rise ob water.
An' it carry Massa barn muchfurder dan it oughter
Den ole Massa swear.
He cus an' tare he hair,
Becase de water tuck dc barn off he could'nd tell
where.
Now ole Massa di on de 'lebenteenth of April,
f put him in de troff what cotch de sugar maple;
I digs a deep hole right out upon de lebel.
An' I do believe sere enough he's gone to de debU,
For when he lib you know.
He light upon mc so.
But now he's gone to tote de firewood way down
below.
Den Missy she did marry Big Bill de weaver.
Soon she found out he was a gay deceiver.