Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Army Life in a Black Regiment

[211]

For Death is a simple ting,
And he go from door to door,
And he knock down some, and he cripple up some,
And he leave some here to pray.

O do, Lord, remember me!
O do, Lord, remember me!
My old fader's gone till de year roll round;
Do, Lord, remember me!

The next was sung in such an operatic and rollicking way that it was quite hard to fancy it a religious performance, which, however, it was. I heard it but once.

XXIII. early in the morning.

I meet little Rosa early in de mornin‘,
O Jerusalem! early in de mornin‘;
And I ax her, How you do, my darter?
O Jerusalem! early in de mornin‘.

I meet my mudder early in de mornin‘,
O Jerusalem! &c.
And I ax her, How you do, my mudder?
O Jerusalem! &c.

I meet Brudder Robert early in de mornin‘,
O Jerusalem! &c.
And I ax him, How you do, my sonny?
O Jerusalem! &c.

I meet Tittawisa early in de mornin‘,
O Jerusalem! &c.
And I ax her, How you do, my darter?
O Jerusalem! &c.

“Tittawisa” means “Sister Louisa.” In songs of this class the name of every person present successively appears.

Their best marching song, and one which was invaluable to lift their feet along, as they expressed it, was the following. There was a kind of spring and lilt to it, quite indescribable by words.