Ponchus Pilut _used_ to be
1st a _Slave_, an' now he's _free_.
Slaves wuz on'y ist before
The War wuz--an' _ain't_ no more.
He works on our place fer us,--
An' comes here--_sometimes_ he does.
He shocks corn an' shucks it.--An'
He makes hominy "by han'!"--
Wunst he bringed us some, one trip,
Tied up in a piller-slip:
Pa says, when Ma cooked it, "MY!
This-here's gooder'n you _buy_!"
Ponchus _pats_ fer me an' sings;
An' he says most _funny_ things!
Ponchus calls a dish a "_deesh_"--
Yes, an' _he_ calls fishes "_feesh_"!
When Ma want him eat wiv us
He says, "'Skuse me--'deed you mus'!--
Ponchus know good manners, Miss.--
He aint eat wher' White-folks is!"
'Lindy takes _his_ dinner out
Wher' he's workin'--roun' about.--
Wunst he et his dinner, spread
In our ole wheel-borry-bed.
_Ponchus Pilut_ says "_'at's_ not
His _right_ name,--an' done fergot
What his _sho'-nuff_ name is now--
An' don' matter none _no_how!"
Yes, an' Ponchus he'ps Pa, too,
When our _butcherin's_ to do,
An' scalds hogs--an' says "Take care
'Bout it, er you'll _set the hair_!"
Yes, an' out in our back-yard
He he'ps 'Lindy rendur lard;
An', wite in the fire there, he
Roast' a pig-tail wunst fer me.--
An' ist nen th'ole tavurn-bell
Rung, down town, an' he says "Well!--
Hear dat! _Lan' o' Canaan_, Son,
Aint dat bell say '_Pig-tail done!_'
--'_Pig-tail done!
Go call Son!--
Tell dat
Chile dat
Pig-tail done!_'"