Then it was, my boy, that I saw in Mr. Negg's device the despised African's testimonial of gratitude to Great Britain for the recent reaction of anti-slavery sentiment there. A more delicate compliment, my boy, was never offered to the mother country, who has given us all at least 290[3] reasons for loving her.
[3] Persons who despise Europe may remember, that, "The 290," (supposed to mean, from 290 British Merchants) was the original name of the rebel pirate "Alabama."
And speaking of redeemed contrabands, reminds me of the new African hymn, which the more pious colored Americans of South Carolina might denominate
"My mars'r's gwine away to fight With Mars'r Linkum's horde, An' now dis chile's at libaty To dance an' bress de Lord. Dar's no more swearin' round de house When missus cut up bad; Dar's no more kickin' niggers' shins, And, darfor', I is glad.
"When mars'r take his horse to go, He kindly say to me: 'I hab such confidence in you, I leab you all, you see; Of all de niggers round de place, I trust to you alone.' By golly! dat's what mars'r say To eb'ry nig he own!
"'Now if dem Bobumlitionists Should kill me dead,' says he, 'I hab instruct your missus kind To set you niggers free.' But mars'r say dat bery same Wheneber he get sick, And bresséd Jesus wrastle him To make him holy quick.
"'Dem Yankees, dam um all,' says he, 'Am comin' down to steal You niggers, and to sell you then For Cuba cochineal. De Suvern chiverly,' says he, 'Am fightin' jist fo' you.' Now mars'r swearum when he lie, And, darfor', dat wont do!
"Den mars'r trot away to war With 'Dolphus by his side,-- A poor cream-colored, common dark Dat isn't worf his hide. He leab me and de other nigs To clar the place alone, With nuffin' but to play and shake De fiddle and de bone.
"I hab a talk with Uncle Pete, De old plantation hand, And though he am intelligums Dis chile can understand. He say de Hallelugerum For cullud folks hab cum, And dat he bresséd Lord hab heard And beat his thunder-drum.
"He say dat Northern buckra man Hab sent his gun an' ship To make de rebel chiverly Give up his nigger whip, He say dat now's de darkey's time To break de bonds of sin, And take his chil'en an' his wife To whar de tide comes in.