Augustus M. Hodges, "'Glen' Barney" (1903)
The sun sent down its hottest ray,
And parched the blades of growing corn,
And turned the verdant grass to hay,
That old Aunt Susan, hat in hand,
Rushed into "Squire Tatem's " store;
(Twas in Virginia, understand,
In those bright days soon aft' the war,
When every vote was counted right,
When Truth and Justice had the sway,
And magistrates were black, not white
Before the "New South " had its way ).
"Oh! Br'er Tatem, giv' me quick
Er warrant fur Glen Barney's ' ress,
Glen beat my gal wid dis yere stick,
An' throwed her down an' tored her dress,
An' rushed at me wid er big knife,
An' chased me 'round de ole hog pen,
An' threatened fur ter take my life,
So, Br'er Tatem, please ' ress Glen!"
It happened on that very day,
The constable, young Frederick Bright,
Had called to pass the time away,
In talking politics till night;
But when he heard Aunt Susan tell
Of this wild outlaw's thirst for gore,
The brave young fellow's courage fell;
He quickly started for the door.
"Come back, young man!" the Justice cried,
("And you go home now, Sister Brown.")
The frightened officer replied:
"I can't, I've got to go to town."
"Come back and serve this warrant, Bright;
You must not shirk from duty, Fred.
Find Barney if it takes all night,
And bring him here alive or dead.
"I'll show that fellow he can't do
Just as he please while I'm aroun '
When he's in jail he'll sadly rue
The day he threatened Sister Brown."
Poor Freddy wished ten times or more
He'd stayed at home upon that morn,
Instead of coming to the store,-
He also wished Glen ne'er was born.
He sadly read the warrant through:
"July the 16th, 72, Virginia County, Princess Ann
"To Frederick Bright I here command "
(Which reads as near as rhyme can tell),
"Whereas, One Glenmore Barney fell,
Upon one Susan Brown with knife,
And threatened he would take her life,
And badly beat the plaintiff's daughter,
Then threw her down in mud and water,
And otherwise did show his hate
For all the laws of this good State,
That I command you, Frederick Bright,
To bring before me, here to-night,
The body of the said Glenmore
Barney, to be tried by law,
With seal affixed, my name you see,
Moses Tatem, a J. P.
So Freddy filled his pistols three,
And took the handcuffs from the store,
Got on his horse with trembling knee,
And started out to find Glenmore.
(To the warrior it may be
Endless glory, as 'tis said,
After fighting for the free,
To get a bullet in his head.)
Still, every sound made Freddy start
As on he rode with bated breath.
Our hero knew lead in the heart
Meant only now a fameless death.
At last he reached the "Taylor Farm"
Where wicked Barney's deeds were done.
He threw the handcuffs 'cross his arm,
And cocked and primed his ready gun.
As up he rode before him stood,
A pretty maid, with yellow face,
And Fred cried out: "The wretch who would
Harm such beauty, doth disgrace
The name of man, and is a brute.
To drown him would pollute much water,
And powder's wasted if I shoot,-
For is not this Aunt Susan's daughter?"
"Where is that Glenmore Barney now?"
He yelled, (for beauty made him brave )
"Where is the cur, for here I vow
To send him to a timely grave!"
"My name is Glen - Glendelia, sir,"
Replied the maid of golden hue,
"How dare you class me as a cur?"
"What! You Glen Barney! Is it true?"
He looked into her eyes of black,
As there he sat on steed of white;
Out went his heart; she sent her's back,
'Twas as of yore -love at first sight.
'Twas "Maud" again, and country Judge,
Of schoolboy lore and world renown,
"Rich repiner and household drudge,"
Our "Maud" was yellow, our "Judge "was brown.
Law knows not love; love knows not law,
Still Fred remembered why he came.
So he resolved without a flaw,
To do his duty, just the same.
"Well, Glen - that is Miss Barney, I
Am very sorry it is true,
But tell the truth, the reason why
I came down here, is after you.
"This morning, old Aunt Susan Brown,
Rushed into 'Squire Tatem's store,
And had him write this warrant down,
Which puts you in the hands of law."
Frederick read the warrant through,
The maiden listened with a smile.
"I beat her daughter, it is true,
Because she called me names most vile."
"Then, as my prisoner you must go
With me up to the 'Squire's store,
Just tell him all the facts you know,
And have no fear about the law."
With arms akimbo, Miss Glen said,
The fire flashing in her eye,
"Before I'll go, I'll be shot dead,
I will resist until I die.
"What, go to jail for old Aunt Sue,
And her old gal, Maria Brown?
I will not go for them or you,
Nor all the constables in town!"
"But Glen, you know the warrant said,
(I read it through without a flaw )
That I must take you, live or dead,
You know, dear girl, that is the law.
"I'll get a buggy for you, Glen,
And drive you with the utmost care,
Pray, for my sake, will you go then?
You'll come out right, so never fear.
Go for my sake, my pretty maid,
I vow you'll never go to jail,
Oh, trust me, do not be afraid,
For I will freely stand your bail."
Glendelia smiled, and so did Bright,
And then she said she'd go, but walk.
This gave the constable delight,
And also gave him time to talk.
So ere they reached Judge Tatem's store,
The constable a story told,
The same old story as of yore,
The story that will ne'er grow old.
It only took five minutes ' time
Before the learned Justice read:
"Glendelia Barney did no crime,
When she resented what was said.
She only did the things she should,
When she was called that wicked name.
Why, Sister Brown, I know you would,
And so would I, have done the same.
"The case's dismissed, the prisoner's free,
This calling names is wicked sport,
The plaintiff losing, as you see,
Must settle all the costs of court."
The constable walked off with Glen,
And here we might as well just say
Before we throw aside our pen,
He married her on Christmas Day.
Published in Colored American Magazine, December 1903