"If he dies, I'll tan 'is skin;
An' if he lives, I'll ride 'im ag'in."

Den ag'in w'en I come a-ridin' by,
Said dey: "Ole man, y[=o]' hoss mought die."--
"If he dies, I'll eat his co'n;
An' if he lives, I'll ride 'im on."

JUDGE BUZZARD[9]

Dere sets Jedge Buzzard on de Bench.
Go tu'n him off wid a monkey wrench!
Jedge Buzzard try Br'er Rabbit's case;
An' he say Br'er Tarepin win dat race.
Here sets Jedge Buzzard on de Bench.
Knock him off wid dat monkey wrench!

[9] See Study in Negro Rhymes for explanation.

SHEEP AND GOAT

Sheep an' goat gwine to de paster;
Says de goat to de sheep: "Cain't you walk a liddle faster?"

De sheep says: "I cain't, I'se a liddle too full."
Den de goat say: "You can wid my ho'ns in y[=o]' wool."

But de goat fall down an' skin 'is shin
An' de sheep split 'is lip wid a big broad grin.

JACKSON, PUT THAT KETTLE ON!

Jackson, put dat kittle on!
Fire, steam dat coffee done!
Day done broke, an' I got to run
Fer to meet my gal by de risin' sun.

My ole Mosser say to me,
Dat I mus' drink [10]sassfac tea;
But Jackson stews dat coffee done,
An' he sh[=o]' gits his po'tion: Son!

[10] Sassfac = sassafras.

DINAH'S DINNER HORN

It's a c[=o]l', frosty mornin',
An' de Niggers goes to wo'k;
Wid deir axes on deir shoulders,
An' widout a bit o' [11]shu't.

Dey's got ole husky ashcake,
Widout a bit o' fat;
An' de white folks'll grumble,
If you eats much o' dat.

I runs down to de henhouse,
An' I falls upon my knees;
It's 'nough to make a rabbit laugh
To hear my tucky sneeze.

I grows up on dem meatskins,
I comes down on a bone;
I hits dat co'n bread fifty licks,
I makes dat butter moan.

It's glory in y[=o]' honor!
An' don't you want to go?
I sholy will be ready
Fer dat dinnah ho'n to blow.

Dat ole bell, it goes "Bangity--bang!"
Fer all dem white folks bo'n.
But I'se not ready fer to go
Till Dinah blows her ho'n.

"Poke--sallid!" "Poke--sallid!"
Dat ole ho'n up an' blow.
Jes think about dem good ole greens!
Say? Don't you want to go?

[11] Shu't = shirt.

MY MULE

Las' Saddy mornin' Mosser said:
"Jump up now, Sambo, out'n bed.
Go saddle dat mule, an' go to town;
An' bring home Mistiss' mornin' gown."