Jacob Gruber
SALLY H OWARD , Sally Gruber , dat one nigger left to you
Makes me seem so inconsistent! Lawyers named her — she is Sue!
When I glaze and paint de parsonage boys in Fred'rick going past
Yells at me, " Presiding Elder, has you bought a soul at last? "
Well! For de Redeemed de devil sets a woman in his trap
And I loved you, Sally Gruber, with your nigger in your lap.
When I said, " Emancipate her! Set her free and say good-bye, "
Then you and that nigger Susan hugged each other for to cry.
I had said to dem soul drivers what de gospe bade me tell
When at Hogeboom's woods I thundered " Slavery is part of Hell! "
Then dey bound me over, Sally, for de court at Hagerstown
I de venue moved to Fred'rick; was acquitted with renown.
Lawyer Taney spoke two hundred dollars' worth of eloquence,
For I paid de money to him, two years' hire for my defence,
Jury, people, Methodism, patted Gruber on de back:
Lord amercy! Here in Frederick I must own dat gal so black!
If I was agin a blacksmith, people at me would not hoot,
Shoeing horses with my nigger, both of us as black as soot;
But as Freedom's whitest hero, Susan in my servitude,
Nigger-buyers yell behind me: " Gruber by himself is Sued! "
Like de richest men in Fred'rick if uncurrent bills I shave
Then dey call me " Jacob Greedy dat has married Sally's slave. "
But de Book Concern expects me for dem books at par to pay,
And to get back lawyer's money I can find no other way.
When I feed de oats I carry, my necessity to fit,
To my critter at the roadside, sinners call me " Hypocrite. "
Tavern keepers twit me, saying, " He's converted mighty good, —
Preacher owning of a nigger and too stingy to buy food! "
I was sharp myself at scooting veils, high bonnets, coffee, tea,
Dogs and canes, campmeeting courting: now dey throw dem up to me.
Vendues scattered when dey saw me in my drab and broad brim come,
Now de asses call me " Balaam, " saying " Cuss us Slavery some! "
Your blue eyes and pious beauty touched me in a tender cord,
And like Abraham in Egypt where King Pharaoh was Lord,
I did call you " Sister Sarah, " never thinking what would be:
Love decoyed me in your image to bow down to Slavery.
Could I know de slave's affection Freedom's gift would be above
And within de house of bondage Hagar stay for Sarah's love?
Love, excuse our inconsistence! Love has put us all astray.
Call de handmaid in, my Sarah, and we three will kneel and pray.
Makes me seem so inconsistent! Lawyers named her — she is Sue!
When I glaze and paint de parsonage boys in Fred'rick going past
Yells at me, " Presiding Elder, has you bought a soul at last? "
Well! For de Redeemed de devil sets a woman in his trap
And I loved you, Sally Gruber, with your nigger in your lap.
When I said, " Emancipate her! Set her free and say good-bye, "
Then you and that nigger Susan hugged each other for to cry.
I had said to dem soul drivers what de gospe bade me tell
When at Hogeboom's woods I thundered " Slavery is part of Hell! "
Then dey bound me over, Sally, for de court at Hagerstown
I de venue moved to Fred'rick; was acquitted with renown.
Lawyer Taney spoke two hundred dollars' worth of eloquence,
For I paid de money to him, two years' hire for my defence,
Jury, people, Methodism, patted Gruber on de back:
Lord amercy! Here in Frederick I must own dat gal so black!
If I was agin a blacksmith, people at me would not hoot,
Shoeing horses with my nigger, both of us as black as soot;
But as Freedom's whitest hero, Susan in my servitude,
Nigger-buyers yell behind me: " Gruber by himself is Sued! "
Like de richest men in Fred'rick if uncurrent bills I shave
Then dey call me " Jacob Greedy dat has married Sally's slave. "
But de Book Concern expects me for dem books at par to pay,
And to get back lawyer's money I can find no other way.
When I feed de oats I carry, my necessity to fit,
To my critter at the roadside, sinners call me " Hypocrite. "
Tavern keepers twit me, saying, " He's converted mighty good, —
Preacher owning of a nigger and too stingy to buy food! "
I was sharp myself at scooting veils, high bonnets, coffee, tea,
Dogs and canes, campmeeting courting: now dey throw dem up to me.
Vendues scattered when dey saw me in my drab and broad brim come,
Now de asses call me " Balaam, " saying " Cuss us Slavery some! "
Your blue eyes and pious beauty touched me in a tender cord,
And like Abraham in Egypt where King Pharaoh was Lord,
I did call you " Sister Sarah, " never thinking what would be:
Love decoyed me in your image to bow down to Slavery.
Could I know de slave's affection Freedom's gift would be above
And within de house of bondage Hagar stay for Sarah's love?
Love, excuse our inconsistence! Love has put us all astray.
Call de handmaid in, my Sarah, and we three will kneel and pray.
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