Margaret P. Lorick, "When Grandpa Spent De Night" (1907)
An' ev'ything wuz bright;
'Cause we alluz had a good time
When grandpa spent de night.
Whenevah mama started
To say a word to us,
Den grandpa he would pitch in
An' make a great big fuss.
He'd alluz bring us candy,
Apples an' ground-peas, too,
An' he'd give 'em to us chillun
To me an' Dave and Sue.
Dere'd be sump'n fo' baby
Peaches er sump'n good
Ouah grandpa was de bes' man
In all de neighborhood.
Ef he give de babe a nickel,
Dat sho ' would start a fight,
'Cause each one wanted money,
When grandpa spent de night.
De neighbors' chilluns come in—-
To see 'em wuz a sight
'Cause ev'ybody knowed when
Ouah grandpa spent de night.
Dem good old days is vanished
Dey's all done passed away,
An, a wooden slab is standin'
Above whar grandpa lay.
Each time I git to thinkin'
Uv me an' him apart,
A little bit er sadness
Comes creepin' in my heart.
An' den de angel whispers
"Jes' keep yo' soul pure white,
An' den you'll wake some mawnin'
Whar grandpa spends de night!"
Published in The Voice of the Negro, May 1907