"That you are my child, it were vain to deny; But who was your mother? There, darling, don't cry. The truth must be told, though it harrows me sore, Your ma was an Octoroon slave,--nothing more." CHORUS.--Analytical of morals in the sunny South, and touchingly illustrative of the Institution affected by the Emancipation Proclamation: Your slave is your property, therefore 'tis clear The child of your slave is your chattel fore'er; Though you the child's father may happen to be, That child is a slave,--otherwise, prop-er-ty. VII. "I've bred you, my darling, as ladies are bred, You've got more outside than inside of your head; But now, that your pa can no longer afford A daughter to keep, you must go by the board." CHORUS.--Concerning the manner of going by the board generally adopted in the land of Chivalry: The planter on finding his funds getting low, Right straight to an auctioneer's shambles doth go; And "Find me a ready-cash buyer," says he, "To take his own pick out of my fam-i-ly." VIII. Miss Linda sprang up with a look of dismay: "You surely don't mean, dear papa, what you say?" Then spake the stern parent, nowise looking blue, But smiling, in fact: "Well, I reckon I do." CHORUS.--Calculated to account for the complacency of the tender parent on this trying occasion: Now what, after all, is a sale to the chit? Some gallant may buy her and love her a bit; One half of the women in marriages sought Are simply and plainly and formally bought. IX. "Dear father," said Linda, "step out for a while, I'll think the thing over, and merit your smile; For if what I'd bring would relieve you the least, I'll bring it myself, though I'm sold like a beast." CHORUS.--Tending to deprecate any imputation on the maiden's refinement that might follow her use of that last expression: The culture of woman, as known in the South, Tends greatly to widen and quicken the mouth; And if a fair Southerner's language is coarse, 'Tis because nothing finer her style would endorse. X. The parent went out, and he stayed for an hour, Having taken some punch and a Hennessey--sour; And when he came back, 'twas his daughter he found Slain by her own scissors, and dead on the ground. CHORUS.--Suggesting facts to the coroner's jury, and clearing up all mystery as to the lamentable suicide: Since scissors for ripping out stitches are made, A girl in extremity finds them an aid; She's only to open them fairly and wide, And give them a cut at the stitch in her side. XI. Beside the dead body a billet displayed, Said, "See, dearest father, the mischief you've made; I couldn't survive to be sold; for you know, I'd far rather die than a sell-ibate go."