Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe

Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe

John H. Hewitt, 1853

I went to New York City a month or two ago,

A huntin’ for that lady, Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe.

I see’d de Aboltions, they said she’d gone away,

Dey told me in dat city it was no use to stay.

She take away de dollars and put em in her pocket,

She laid her hand upon it and dar she safely lock it.

Dey said if massa come for me, den dey would quickly meet,

Dey’d make a lion of me and give me ‘nuf to eat.

(Chorus) Oh!Oh! Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe!

How could you leave de country, and serve dis poor nigga so.

De treated dis her chile as doe I was a Turk,

Den tale me for to leave dem and go away to work.

I couldn’t get no work, I couldn’t get no dinner.

And den I wish dis’ fugitive was back in old Virginny.

Oh when I was a picinin’, Ole Uncle Tom would say,

Be true unto your Massa and neber runs away.

He tales me dis at home, and he tells me dis at partin’,

Ned, don’t you trust the white folks for dey am quite unsartin’.

(Chorus) Oh !Oh! Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe!

How could you leave de country, and serve dis poor nigga so.

Ole Massa's very kind, Ole Missu's gentle too,

And much I love my Dinah in ole Virginny too.
Now I'll go back and stay dar, and never more to roam,
Lor bless de Southern Ladies, and my old Virginny home,
But don't come back Aunt Harriet, in England make a fuss,
Go talk against your country, put money in your puss [purse],
And when us happy niggers, you pity in your prayer,
Oh! Don't forget de White slave, dat starving ober dare.

(Chorus) Oh! Oh! Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe, How
could you leave de country, and serve poor nigga so."

Source title: Aunt Harriet Becha Stowe

Repository: Library of Congress. Music Division.

Date: 1853

Digital ID: sm1853 550190