The Chant Of The Cross-Bearing Child.

I bear dis cross dis many a mile.             O de cross-bearin' chile -                 De cross-bearin' chile!         I bear dis cross 'long many a road         Wha' de pink ain't bloom' an' de grass done mowed.             O de cross-bearin' chile -                 De cross-bearin' chile!         Hits on my conscience all dese days         Fo' ter bear de cross ut de good Lord lays         On my po' soul, an' ter lif my praise.             O de cross-bearin' chile -                 De cross-bearin' chile!         I 's nigh-'bout weak ez I mos' kin be,         Yit de Marstah call an' He say, - "You 's free         Fo' ter 'cept dis cross, an' ter cringe yo' knee         To no n'er man in de worl' but me!"             O de cross-bearin' chile -                 De cross-bearin' chile!         Says you guess wrong, ef I let you guess -         Says you 'spec' mo', an'-a you git less: -         Says you go eas', says you go wes',         An' whense you fine de road ut you like bes'         You betteh take ch'ice er any er de res'!             O de cross-bearin' chile -                 De cross-bearin' chile!         He build my feet, an' He fix de signs         Dat de shoe hit pinch an' de shoe hit bines         Ef I on'y w'ah eights an-a wanter w'ah nines;         I hone fo' de rain, an' de sun hit shines,         An' whilse I hunt de sun, hits de rain I fines. -         O-a trim my lamp, an-a gyrd my lines!             O de cross-bearin' chile -                 De cross-bearin' chile!         I wade de wet, an' I walk de dry:         I done tromp long, an' I done clim high;         An' I pilgrim on ter de jasper sky,         An' I taken de resk fo' ter cas' my eye         Wha' de Gate swing wide an' de Lord draw nigh,         An' de Trump hit blow, an' I hear de cry, -         "You lay dat cross down by an' by! -             O de Cross-bearin' Chile -                 Do Cross-bearin' Chile!"