“ Hard Scrabble,
OR MISS PHILISES BOBALITION
O Dear dear what can de matter be,
Dear, dear what can de matter be,
⁠Pomp gone so long from Phillis away;
He promise to buy me a damask and leghorn,
A Plad and a Crape and Silk Tocking to put on,
⁠And a bunch of fine feather to dress my beaver so gay
⁠O Dear, dear, &c.
O, O, so peaceable late we lib in Hard Scrabble,
'Till routed and driven away by the rabble,
⁠Who 'tack us like furies wid a high diddle diddle! ”

“ And no longer live lives immoral and lazy,
⁠But gain honest living by sweat ob our brow;
Depend on't de white folk won't den trouble or 'tack us,
But de good people of Providence will always respec us,
⁠As they are wont to respec all good people now. ”

“ Nor compel them seek shelter again at Hard Scrabble,
⁠For every maggot should stick to he core;
For should they visit us gain they may find it foul wether
We've plenty of Tar and de ground cover'd wid Fether
⁠And we've Pitch to pitch you all out of door.
⁠O Dear, dear, &c.
So while Pomp earn a little by honest day labour,
I'll wash and make soap for some of my neighbour,
⁠And lib by industry as honest folks do:
Pomp throuw by your Fiddle & I'll smash de Gin Bottle
And soon we'll be able to build up our hovel
⁠And more steady course we both will puursue. ”