All de world am sad and dreary,

Ebry where I roam.

Oh! darkeys, how my heart grows weary,

Far from de old folks at home.

One little hut among de bushes,

One dat I love,

Still sadly to my mem'ry rushes,
No matter where I rove.

When will I see de bees a humming,

All round de comb?

When will I hear de banjo tumming
Down in my good old home?

All de world am sad and dreary,

Ebry where I roam.

Oh! darkeys, how my heart grows weary,

Far from de old folks at home.

STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER.

MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME.

THE sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home, "Tis summer, the darkies are gay;

The corn top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright,

By'm by, hard times comes a knocking at the door.
Then, my old Kentucky home, good-night!

They hunt no more for the possum and the coon, On the meadow, the hill, and the shore;

They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by the old cabin door.

The day goes by like a shadow o'er the heart,
With sorrow where all was delight;

The time has come when the darkies have to part,
Then my old Kentucky home, good-night!

The head must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the darkey may go;

A few more days, and the trouble all will end
In the field where the sugar-canes grow;
A few more days for to tote the weary load,
No matter, 'twill never be light,

A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then, my old Kentucky home, good-night!

STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTER.

NEAR THE LAKE.

NEAR the lake where droop'd the willow,
Long time ago!

Where the rock threw back the billow,
Brighter than snow;

Dwelt a maid, beloved and cherish'd,
By high and low;

But with autumn's leaf she perished,
Long time ago!

Rock and tree and flowing water,
Long time ago!

Bee and bird and blossom taught her
Love's spell to know!

While to my fond words she listened,
Murmuring low,

Tenderly her dove-eyes glistened
Long time ago!

Mingled were our hearts for ever!
Long time ago!

Can I now forget her?-Never!
No, lost one, no!

To her grave these tears are given,
Ever to flow;

She's the star I miss'd from heaven,

Long time ago!

GEORGE P. MORRIS.

MASSA'S IN THE COLD, COLD GROUND.

ROUND de meadows am a ringing,

De darkey's mournful song,
While de mocking bird am singing,

Happy as de day am long.
Where de ivy am a creeping

O'er de grassy mound,
Dare old massa am asleeping,

Sleeping in de cold, cold ground.

Down in de cornfield,

Hear dat mournful sound:

All the darkeys am a weeping,

Massa's in de cold, cold ground.

When de autumn leaves am falling,

When de days are cold,

'Twas hard to hear old massa calling,
Cayse he was so weak and old.
Now de orange trees am blooming,
On de sandy shore,

Now de summer days am coming,
Massa nebber calls no more.

Down in de cornfield,

Hear dat mournful sound:

All the darkeys am a weeping,

Massa's in de cold, cold ground.

Massa make de darkeys love him,
Cayse he was so kind,

Now, dey sadly weep above him,
Mourning cayse he leave dem behind.
I cannot work before to-morrow,
Cayse de teardrop flow,

I try to drive away my sorrow,
Pickin' on de old banjo.

Down in de cornfield,

Hear dat mournful sound:

All the darkeys am a weeping,

Massa's in de cold, cold ground,

STEPHEN COLLINS FOSTer.

O, BOYS, CARRY ME 'LONG.,

OH! carry me 'long;

Der's no more trouble for me;
I's guine to roam in a happy home,
Where all de niggas am free.
I've worked long in de fields;
I've handled many a hoe;
I'll turn my eye, before I die,

And see de sugar-cane grow.

Oh! boys, carry me 'long;

Carry me till I die ;

Carry me down to de buryin' groun',
Massa, don't you cry.

All ober de land,

I've wandered many a day;

To blow de horn, and mind de corn,

And keep de possum away.

No use for me now,

So, darkies, bury me low;

My horn is dry, and I must lie,

Wha de possum nebber can go.

Oh! boys, carry me 'long,

Carry me till I die;

Carry me down to de buryin' groun',

Massa, don't you cry.

Farewell to de boys,

Wid hearts so happy and light,