Classic Poem

Yes, suh. 'T was jes' 'bout sundown
Dad went — two months ago;
I always used ter run down
Dat time, bec'us', you know,
I wudden like ter had him die,
An' no one nigh.

You see, we cudden git him
Ter come 'way off dat lan' —
'E said New House did n' fit him,
No mo' 'n new shoes did; an'
Gord mout miss him at Jedgment day,
Ef he moved 'way.

" How ole? " Ef we all wondered
How ole he was, he 'd frown
An' say he was " a hundred an —
Ole Miss done sot it down,
An' she could tell — 't was fo' or five —
Ef she was live. "

Well, when, as I was sayin',
Dat night I come on down,
I see he bench was layin'
Flat-sided on de groun';
An' I kinder hurried to 'ds de do' —
Quick-like, you know.

Inside I see him layin'
Back, quiet, on de bed;
An' I heahed him kep on sayin':
" Dat 's what ole Marster said;
An' Marster warn' gwine tell me lie,
He 'll come by-m'-by. "

I axed how he was gettin'.
" Nigh ter de furrow's een', "
He said; " dis ebenin', settin'
Outside de do', I seen
De thirteen curlews come in line,
An' knowed de sign.

" You know, ole Marster tole me
He 'd come for me 'fo' long;
'Fo' you was born, he sole me —
But den he pined so strong
He come right arter Little Jack
An' buyed him back.

" I went back ter de kerrige
An' tuk dem reins ag'in.
I druv him ter his marriage;
An', nigger, 't was a sin
Ter see de high an' mighty way
I looked dat day!

" Dat coat had nary button
'Skusin' it was ob gole;
My hat — but dat warn't nuttin'!
'T was noble ter behole
De way dem hosses pawed de yar,
Wid me up dyar.

" Now all 's w'ared out befo' me! —
Marster, an' coat, an' all;
Me only lef' — you know me! —
Cheat wheat 's de lars' ter fall:
De rank grain ben's wid its own weight,
De light stan's straight.

" But heah! Ole Marster 's waitin' —
So I mus' tell you: raise
De jice dyar; 'neaf de platin' —
De sweat o' many days
Is in dat stockin' — toil an' pain
In sun an' rain.

" I worked ter save dem figgers
Ter buy you ; but de Lord
He sot free all de niggers,
Same as white-folks, 'fo' Gord!
Free as de crows! Free as de stars!
Free as ole hyars!

" Now, chile, you teck dat money,
Git on young Marster's track,
An' pay it ter him, honey;
An' tell him Little Jack
Worked forty year, dis Chris'mus come,
Ter save dat sum;

" An' dat 't was for ole Marster,
To buy your time f'om him;
But dat de war come farster,
An' squandered stock an' lim' —
Say you kin work an' don't need none,
An' he carn't, son.

" He ain' been use ter diggin'
His livin' out de dirt;
He carn't drink out a piggin,
Like you; an' it 'ud hurt
Ole Marster's pride, an' make him sw'ar,
In glory dyar! "

Den all his strength seemed fallin';
He shet his eyes awhile,
An' den said: " Heish! he 's callin'!
Dyar he! Now watch him smile!
Yes, suh — You niggers jes' stan' back!
Marster, here 's Jack! "