A Plantation Portrait

Hain't you see my Mandy Lou,     Is it true?     Whaih you been f'om day to day,     Whaih, I say?     Dat you say you nevah seen     Dis hyeah queen     Walkin' roun' f'om fiel' to street     Smilin' sweet?     Slendah ez a saplin' tree;     Seems to me     Wen de win' blow f'om de bay     She jes' sway     Lak de reg'lar saplin' do     Ef hit's grew     Straight an' graceful, 'dout a limb,     Sweet an' slim.     Browner den de frush's wing,     An' she sing     Lak he mek his wa'ble ring     In de spring;     But she sholy beat de frush,     Hyeah me, hush:     Wen she sing, huh teef kin show     White ez snow.     Eyes ez big an' roun' an' bright     Ez de light     Whut de moon gives in de prime     Harvest time.     An' huh haih a woolly skein,     Black an' plain.     Hol's you wid a natchul twis'     Close to bliss.     Tendah han's dat mek yo' own     Feel lak stone;     Easy steppin', blessid feet,     Small an' sweet.     Hain't you seen my Mandy Lou,     Is it true?     Look at huh befo' she's gone,     Den pass on!