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THE
REUNION
Well,
one morning real early
I was going down the street,
And I heard a stranger asking
For Missis Chloe Fleet.
There
was something in his voice
That made me feel quite shaky,
And when I looked right in his face,
Who should it be but Jakey!
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I
grasped him tight, and took him homep;p;
What gladness filled my cup!
And I laughed, and just rolled over,
And laughed, and just give up.
"Where
have you been? O Jakey, dear!
Why didn't you come before?
Oh! when you children went away
My heart was awful sore."
"Why,
mammy, I've been on your hunt
Since ever I've been free,
And I have heard from brother Ben,p;p;
He's down in Tennessee.
"He
wrote me that he had a wife."
"And children?" "Yes, he's three."
"You married, too?" "Oh no, indeed,
I thought I'd first get free."
"Then,
Jakey, you will stay with me,
And comfort my poor heart;
Old Mistus got no power now
To tear us both apart.
"I'm
richer now than Mistus,
Because I have got my son;
And Mister Thomas he is dead,
And she's got nary one.
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"You
must write to brother Benny
That he must come this fall,
And we'll make the cabin bigger,
And that will hold us all.
"Tell
him I want to see 'em all
Before my life do cease:
And then, like good old Simeon,
I hope to die in peace."
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