osal of marriage with its acceptance_)

Kind Miss: I'se on de stage o' action,
Pleadin' hard fer satisfaction,
Pleadin' 'fore de time-thief late;
Darfore, Ma'm, now, [35]"cravenate."

If I brung to you a gyarment;
To be cut widout scissors,
An' to be sewed widout thread;
How (I ax you) would you make it,
Widout de needle sewin'
An' widout de cloth spread?

Kind Suh: I'd make dat gyarment
Wid love from my heart,
Wid tears on y[=o]' head;
We never would part.

[35] Cravenate = consider.

I WALKED THE ROADS

Well: I walked de roads, till de roads git muddy.
I talked to dat pretty gal, till I couldn' stan' study.

Den: I say: "Love me liddle," I say; "Love me long."
I say: "Let dat liddle be 'doggone' strong!
For, shore as dat rat runs 'cross de rafter,
So shore you'se de gal, you'se de gal I'se after."

PRESENTING A HAT TO PHOEBE

Sister Phoebe: Happy wus we,
W'en we sot under dat Juniper tree.
Take dis hat, it'll keep y[=o]' head warm.
Take dis kiss, it'll do you no harm.

Sister Phoebe: De hours, dey're few;
But dis hat'll say I'se thinkin' 'bout you.
Sugar, it's sugar; an' salt, it's salt;
If you don't love me, it's sh[=o]' y[=o]' own fault.

WOOING

W'at is dat a wukin
At y[=o]' han' bill on de wall,
So's y[=o]' sperit, it cain't res',
An' a gemmun's heat, it call?

Is you lookin' fer sweeter berries
Growin' on a higher bush?
An' does my combersation suit?
If not, w'at does you wush?

COURTSHIP SONG RHYME SECTION

THE COURTING BOY

W'en I wus a liddle boy,
Jes fifteen inches high;
De way I court de pretty gals,
It make de ole folks cry.

De geese swim in de middle pon'.
De ducks fly 'cross de clover.
Run an' tell dem pretty gals,
Dat I'se a-comin' over.

Ho! Marindie! Ho!
Ho! Missindie! Ho!
Ho! Malindie! Ho! my gal!
I'se gwine now to see ole Sal.

PRETTY POLLY ANN

I'se gwineter marry, if I can.
I'se gwineter marry pretty Polly Ann.

I axed Polly Ann, fer to marry me.
She say she's a-lookin'