Двенадцать лет рабства

           Thisiscalled"patting,"accompaniedwithoneofthoseunmeaningsongs,composedratherforitsadaptationtoacertaintuneormeasure,thanforthepurposeofexpressinganydistinctidea. Thepattingisperformedbystrikingthehandsontheknees,thenstrikingthehandstogether,thenstrikingtherightshoulderwithonehand,theleftwiththeother—allthewhilekeepingtimewiththefeet,andsinging,perhaps,thissong: 

           "Harper’screekandroarin’ribber, 

           Thar,mydear,we’llliveforebber; 

           Denwe’llgotodeInginnation, 

           AllIwantindiscreation, 

           Isprettylittlewifeandbigplantation. 

           Chorus.Updatoakanddowndatribber, 

           Twooverseersandonelittlenigger." 

           Or,ifthesewordsarenotadaptedtothetunecalledfor,itmaybethat"OldHogEye"is—arathersolemnandstartlingspecimenofversification,not,however,tobeappreciatedunlessheardattheSouth. Itrunnethasfollows: 

           "Who’sbeenheresinceI’vebeengone? 

           Prettylittlegalwidajoseyon. 

           HogEye! 

           OldHogEye, 

           AndHoseytoo! 

           NeverseedelikesinceIwasborn, 

           Herecomealittlegalwidajoseyon. 

           HogEye! 

           OldHogEye! 

           AndHoseytoo!" 

           Or,maybethefollowing,perhaps,equallynonsensical,butfullofmelody,nevertheless,asitflowsfromthenegro’smouth: 

           "EboDickandJurdan’sJo, 

           Themtwoniggersstolemyyo’. 

           Chorus.HopJimalong, 

           WalkJimalong, 

           TalkJimalong,"&c. 

           OldblackDan,asblackastar, 

           Hedamgladhewasnotdar. 

           HopJimalong,"&c.