Hunting Song

Tek a cool night, good an' cleah,     Skiff o' snow upon de groun';     Jes' 'bout fall-time o' de yeah     W'en de leaves is dry an brown;     Tek a dog an' tek a axe,     Tek a lantu'n in yo' han',     Step light whah de switches cracks,     Fu' dey 's huntin' in de lan'.     Down thoo de valleys an' ovah de hills,     Into de woods whah de 'simmon-tree grows,     Wakin' an' skeerin' de po' whippo'wills,     Huntin' fu' coon an' fu' 'possum we goes.     Blow dat ho'n dah loud an' strong,     Call de dogs an' da'kies neah;     Mek its music cleah an' long,     So de folks at home kin hyeah.     Blow it twell de hills an' trees     Sen's de echoes tumblin' back;     Blow it twell de back'ard breeze     Tells de folks we 's on de track.     Coons is a-ramblin' an' 'possums is out;     Look at dat dog; you could set on his tail!     Watch him now--steady,--min'--what you 's about,     Bless me, dat animal's got on de trail!     Listen to him ba'kin now!     Dat means bus'ness, sho 's you bo'n;     Ef he's struck de scent I 'low     Dat ere 'possum's sholy gone.     Knowed dat dog fu' fo'teen yeahs,     An' I nevah seed him fail     Wen he sot dem flappin' eahs     An' went off upon a trail.     Run, Mistah 'Possum, an' run, Mistah Coon,     No place is safe fu' yo' ramblin' to-night;     Mas' gin' de lantu'n an' God gin de moon,     An' a long hunt gins a good appetite.     Look hyeah, folks, you hyeah dat change?     Dat ba'k is sha'per dan de res'.     Dat ere soun' ain't nothin' strange,--     Dat dog's talked his level bes'.     Somep'n' 's treed, I know de soun'.     Dah now,--wha 'd I tell you? see!     Dat ere dog done run him down;     Come hyeah, he'p cut down dis tree.     Ah, Mistah 'Possum, we got you at las'--     Need n't play daid, laying dah on de groun';     Fros' an' de 'simmons has made you grow fas',--     Won't he be fine when he's roasted up brown!