Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Army Life in a Black Regiment

[206] knot over her head, and made it a point of honor not to change a single garment till the day of her baptism, so that she was sure of being in physical readiness for the cleansing rite, whatever her spiritual mood might be. More than once, in noticing a damsel thus mystically kerchiefed, I have asked some dusky attendant its meaning, and have received the unfailing answer,--framed with their usual indifference to the genders of pronouns,--“He in de lonesome valley, sa.”

The next gives the same dramatic conflict, while its detached and impersonal refrain gives it strikingly the character of the Scotch and Scandinavian ballads.

XIII. cry Holy.

Cry holy, holy!
Look at de people dat is born of God.
And I run down de valley, and I run down to pray,
Says, look at de people dat is born of God.
When I get dar, Cappen Satan was dar,
Says, look at, &c.

Says, young man, young man, dere's no use for pray,
Says, look at, &c.

For Jesus is dead, and God gone away,
Says, look at, &c.

And I made him out a liar, and I went my way,
Says, look at, &c.
Sing holy, holy!

O, Mary was a woman, and he had a one Son,
Says, look at, &c.

And de Jews and de Romans had him hung,
Says, look at, &c.
Cry holy, holy!

And I tell you, sinner, you had better had pray,
Says, look at, &c.
For hell is a dark and dismal place,
Says, look at, &c.
And I tell you, sinner, and I would n't go dar!
Says, look at, &c.
Cry holy, holy!