The Galleon, Volume 2, Number 2, March 1926 Page: 26
48 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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THE GALLEON
the lullabies by which she croon-
ed her baby, white or black-to
sleep.
There is one lullaby widely
known through the South,
which is repeated in many var-
ing forms, but with the spirit
and the tune, practically the
same.
One version is given by Mrs.
George Scarborough, who learn-
ed it from negroes in Grimes
County, Texas, in her child
hoon and later sang her own
babies to sleep by it.
Lullaby
"Hushaby,
Don't you cry
Go to sleep, little baby,
And when you wake,
You shall have a cake.
And all the pretty little ponies,
Paint and bay, sorrel and gray,
All the pretty little poiies.
So hushaby,
Don't you cry,
Go to sleep, little baby."
There are lullabies distinctly
expressive of the colored moth-
er's love for her own child and
made to be sung to picaninnies,
not white babies. One such was
sent to Miss Scarborough b%
Howard Snyder from his Miss-
issippi plantation. This is a com-
bination of the old counting
nonsense jungle, "Enie Meenie,
Miny Mo," and an over flowing
of mother love.
"Leddle bit a Niggeh an' a
great big toe,
Meeny, miny mo
Leddle bit a Niggeh wid a
great big fis',
Jes de size fo' his mamy to
kiss.
Leddle bit a Niggeh wid big
black eyes,Bright as de sun in de skies,
Leddle bit a Neggah wid big
black eyes,
Meeny miny mo."
Miss Scarborough believes the
negro is in his happiest mood
when he is making songs about
animals. The living creaLures
around him are very real, and
eternally interesting. He gives
his cordial recognition to what-
ever draws breath. As he greets
his fellow church member, or
lodge comrade as: Brother,-
or Sister,"--so he speaks of
"Brer Rabbitt, Bre'r B'ar, Mr.
Terrapin," and "Mr Toad," or
'Ole King Buzzard."
"Charleston Gals"
"As I walked down the new-
cut road,
I met the tap and then the
toad.
The toad commenced to whistle
and sing,
And the possum cut the pig-
eon's wing.
Along come an old man riding
by;
Ole man if you don't mind,
your horse will die.
If he does I'll tan his skin,
And if he lives I'll ride him
again.
Hi-Ho, for Charleston Gals.
Charleston Gals are the gals
for me."
"Mister Rabbit"
"Mister Rabbit, Mister Rabbit,
Yu ears mighty long,"
"Yes, my Lawd,
Dey'er put on wrong!"
Every little soul must shine,
shine, shine,
Every little soul must shine,
shine, shine,
There is a Creole song, "The
Monkey and the Baboon,"26
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McMurry College. The Galleon, Volume 2, Number 2, March 1926, periodical, March 1926; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth137775/m1/24/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting McMurry University Library.