Katherine D. Tillman, "A Southern Incident" (1902)
(Founded upon a true incident)
It was in a Southern city,
And the people from near and far
Clad in their august robes of wealth,
Crowded a passing car.
They quickly filled all the seats,
And then began to chat,
Of the weather, country, fashions—
From farms to the latest style hat.
An old colored woman
Came slowly struggling in,
And looked with hopeful glance
A pitying smile to win
On her arm an old worn basket
Hung awkwardly down in her way,
While to the strap she caught wildly.
Eighty years she'd seen if a day.
But men of vigorous manhood
And women young in years,
Kept their comfortable seats in silence
And found her a subject for jeers.
And then a young Southern woman,
And gladly the tale I repeat,
Rose in the car and said kindly,
"Here auntie, take my seat."
An electric shock thrilled the hearers,
She was an old colored woman, you know,
But they knew that the deed they had witnessed
Was as white as the falling snow.
The old woman comfortably nestled
In the depths of her cosy seat.
"Well, you is a rale lady,"
She sighed from her pleasant retreat.
"De Lawd bless you fo' yo' kindness;
You has he'p me mo' dan you kno',
But folks can see you's a lady
Dat nebber hab seen you befo'."
Three cheers for the Southern lady,
Who dared that act to do,
And speed the time when the Southland,
Shall be filled with such charity true.
Published in Tillman's Recitations, 1902