gotten, and serving but as the means for soothing a little white child to sleep.
Another little song was almost pathetic in its simplicity:
My sweetie lub me,
My sweetie kiss me,
My sweetie tell eberybody dat he lub me.
"When I come home fram
De—mer—ara—a
I—will—marry—you-u-u."
The air was sad and monotonous, but so, alas! was the theme; a very epitome of most Creole courtships. If Baby Billy, however, cried and refused to slumber properly, another lullaby was sure to be intoned:
Oh! what is de matter wid de Massa?
Hungry an' thirstly, yeo—o.
Oh! whateber is dematter wid my Massa?
Tired and sleepy, yeo—o.
The adjectives varied indefinitely, although the dismal tune would last with maddening reiteration for hours. It was, indeed, a test of endurance between Billy's lungs and Justina's, but in the long run the tune always conquered. In consequence this composition may be termed the classic of the Creole nursery.
3
