Individuals have composed spirituals while at work or while wandering from place to place, as a simple outgrowth of the circumstances. The expression, so common in negro songs, "O my Lord", seems to have been introduced into a number of songs in this way. The single expression repeated itself forms a favorite melody that is often sung. A group of negroes sing while working; one sings a new verse of the song: "Where you git dat?" "I made hit maself, didn't you know I'm a songster?" And he did make it, and thus gratified, tries other attempts; with him others begin and they have become "songsters". Negroes, in order to verify a boast that they know a certain song to exist, have been known to compose on the moment just such a song, mixing all sorts of songs together with the ideas that arise. Others who have been offered an attractive price for songs have composed them without scruples of conscience and when asked to sing them, have done so with perfect ease. They were paid for the songs, thinking that they had "fooled that white man", who valued his song thus composed as much perhaps as an old spiritual that was still current. What the negro composed accidentally he learned to sing, and thus introduced a real song in his community, which was to be soon carried to other localities. The negro is going to sing whether he has a formal song or not. The following song originated with two negro laborers, apparently in a dialogue. The lines may be sung to any tune and put to any chorus. The church bell a ringin', how sweet I do declar'. Why don't you go to meetin' an' pray all day long? I'm goin' to church an' pray all day long. Of course I'm a sinner but prayin' might do me good An' if I do succeed I sure will tell the news. Another song that was composed spontaneously in the effort to dignify his conversation is the following. It will be seen that for the most part it is composed of phrases common to other songs, and it is only the combination that is new. Walk right and do right an' trust in the Lord-- Lay down all yo' sinful ways an' trust in the Lord. _I am goin' to trust in the Lord, I am goin' to trust in the Lord, I'm goin' to trust in the Lord till I die._ My God he's a wonderful God an' trust in the Lord, He will answer yo' prayers don't care wher' you are, _An' trust in the Lord_. The next example was composed by a negro man after he had recently "come through." He always loved to talk of what he had seen, what he knew would happen and how he could get out of difficulties. Along with this he had an unusually imaginative mind and told many ingenious stories. Here is the song: The devil come down to the worl' one day An' I heard him holler, hoo-ray, hoo-ray! Come out, I'm havin' a holiday. That was the word I heard him say, But I knowed if I danced to his holiday, There'd be something doing an' the devil to play.