GOOD OLD JEFF



"Tis just a year ago today that I remember well

I sat down by poor Nelly's side and a story she did tell

"Twas about a poor old darkey Jeff, that lived for many a year

But now he's dead and in his grave, no trouble does he fear



For good old Jeff had gone to rest

We know that he is free

Disturb him not, but let him rest

Way down in Tennessee



She took my arm, we walked along into an open field

And then she paused to breathe a while, then to his grave did

steal

She sat down by that little mound and softly whispered there

"Come to me, Father, 'tis thy child," and gently dropped a tear



But since that time, how things are changed, poor Nell that was

my bride

Is laid beneath the cold clay sod, down by her father's side

I planted there upon her grave a weeping willow tree

I bathed its roots with many a tear that it might shelter me



@slave @family @death

filename[ OLDJEFF



I knew a cheery child's song based on the chorus:



The poor old slave had gone to rest

I know that he is free

His bones they lie, disturb them neigh

Way down in Tennessee



This then got increasingly decorated as:

The poor, poor old slave, slave has gone, gone to rest, rest..

The pop poor old slop slave has gop gone to rop rest...

The piggily poor old sliggily slave has giggily gone...

SF

===DOCUMENT BOUNDARY