Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
Nebuchadnezzar
By Irwin Russell (18531879)Y
Whar is you tryin’ to go, sah?
I’d hab you fur to know, sah,
I’s a-holdin’ ob de lines.
You better stop dat prancin’;
You’s pow’ful fond ob dancin’,
But I’ll bet my yeah’s advancin’
Dat I’ll cure you ob yo’ shines.
Fus’ t’ing you know you’ll fin’ out
How quick I’ll wear dis line out
On yo’ ugly, stubbo’n back.
You needn’t try to steal up
An’ lif’ dat precious heel up;
You’s got to plough dis fiel’ up,
You has, sah, fur a fac’.
He’s comin’ right down to it;
Jes’ watch him ploughin’ troo it!
Dis nigger ain’t no fool.
Some folks dey would ’a’ beat him;
Now, dat would only heat him—
I know jes’ how to treat him:
You mus’ reason wid a mule.
If he wuz only bigger
He’d fotch a mighty figger,
He would, I tell you! Yes, sah!
See how he keeps a-clickin’!
He’s as gentle as a chickin,
An’ nebber thinks o’ kickin’—
Whoa dar! Nebuchadnezzah!
Or is de debbil got me?
Wuz dat a cannon shot me?
Hab I laid heah more’n a week?
Dat mule do kick amazin’!
De beast wuz sp’iled in raisin’—
But now I ’spect he’s grazin’
On de oder side de creek.