Table of

go look at 'em?" pleaded Diddie one Saturday evening, as Mammy w

m quarter-folks," said Mammy. "Dem

shuns' and 'Lipto' and 'The Lady You Like Best,' and hear Jim pick the banjo, and see 'em

e hand caressingly on her cheek; and Mammy, after much persuasion, agre

aid she shouldn't go with the others to the quarters; but here Dumps interfered, and said Mammy shouldn't be "all time 'posin' on Chris," and she went down to see her father about it, who interceded with Mammy so effectually that, when the little folks started off, Chris was with them. When they got to the open space back of Aunt Nancy's cabin, and which was called "de play-groun'," they found that a bright fire of l

od hands, repaired to "Sis Haly's house," where "de

seats, the young folks came out on the p

und one who stood in the middle, and then

ey moshuns,

ey moshuns

ell, an' da

like dem m

un moshuns,

un moshuns

ell, an' da

like dem g

y moshuns,

y moshuns

ell, an' da

like dem l

'en moshuns

'en moshun

ell, an' da

like dem c

her moshuns,

cher moshu

ell, an' da

ike dem pre

er moshuns,

er moshuns

ell, an' da

like dem n

ompaniment on the banjo. Many of the negroes had

shuns," the one in the middle would screw up his face and hump h

hat on one side of his head, take a walking-cane in his

incing steps, and toss his head from side to

by his pouting out his lips and twir

traightened himself back, and began to "lay o

scratching his head, or by bending over an

o two people should represent the same character in the same way. If one acted the lady by a mincing walk, the next one must devise some other m

skill in taking off the different characters; and when they

ns," some one proposed they should play

ng around one in the middle, as b

ipto, jin

pto, danc

ing, an' la

s now er

, they would all wheel ar

n' an' roun

d clap their h

n's, an' mak

ld bow their

ads, an' bo

again, they would da

an's, an' h

with a branch of honeysuckle or yellow jessamine, or something twined to form a wreath, or a paper ca

lipto-

ipto, hy

uv dis go

y gal fur ter

down," when the man stepped back in the ring, leaving the girl in the middle, when they all joined hands, and began the game over again, going through with the wheeling around and clapping of hands and t

my man fur ter

d gave rise to much merriment. It was played, as the others were, by the danc

e all will d

r partner

e lady you

out fum a

sum face an

out ter kis

her erroun'

d her upon

once, an' o

sweet, an'

up fum of

han's errou

all will da

partner fu

kneel wid her upon de groun'," both kneel; when they sing "Kiss her once," he kisses her; and at the words "one time mo'" the kiss is repeated; and when the dancers sing "Lif' her up fum off de groun'," he assists her to rise; and when they

chosen frequently; while others not so popular wo

s fiddle, and turning it into a sure-enough dance. Uncle Sambo was very accommodating, and soon made his appearance, when partners were taken, and a

d Joe, Cott

ake you sa

e my gal er

er plum te

ben fur Cot

n married

rossed, an' his

wuz out, bu

tall, an' h

gal she fo

ben fur Cot

n married

hansum coul

l dis cou

head, an' her

o red an' her

ben fur Cot

n married

dat gal wid

fum me she'

d Joe she

year fur ter

d Joe, O Cot

ake you sa

t hadn't er

ied dat gal

d all of those fresh, happy young voices, the music wa

Tot and all of the little darkies were patting their hands and singing "Cotton-eyed Joe" at the

t er goin' ter; we want ter sing '

illin' fur ter go, er set'n' hyear an' er patt'n' yer han's same ez niggers,

ised," said Diddie, "and so w

they all went back to the house, talking very animat