from the book Uncle Gabe Tucker; or Reflection, Song, and Sentiment in the Quarters, by John Alfred Macon, written in 1882, published in Philadelphia 1883. p. 78-80.
https://archive.org/stream/unclegabetucker00macogoog#page/n86/mode/2up
The illustration in the front of the book shows this to be in a slave quarters. It is likely during slavery around the year 1860. The location is not given but several items seem to be in the southern United States, probably Arkansas. It is a longways dance with fiddler and prompter. The prompter seems to be frustrated and wanting to goad the dancers along. Sometimes he is complimentary, too.
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TERPSICHORE IN THE QUARTERS.
Listen when I call de figgers! Watch de music es you go!
Chassay forrard! (Now look at ’em! some too fas’ an’ some too slow !)
Step out when I gibs de order; keep up eben wid de line;
What’s got in dem lazy niggers? Stop dat stringin’ out behin’!
All go forrard to de centre! Balance ‘roun’ an’ den go back!
Keep on in de proper ‘rection, right straight up an’ down de crack!
Moobe up sides an’ mind de music; listen when you hear me speak!
(Jes’ look at dem Pea Ridge niggers, how dey’s buckin’ ‘gin de Creek!)
Dat’s de proper action, Sambo! den you done de bizniss right!
Now show ’em how you knocked de splinters at de shuckin’ t’udder night;
Try to do your lebbel bes’, an’ stomp it like you use to do!
Jes’ come down on de “Flat Creek step,” an’ show de Ridge a thing or two!
Now look at dat limber Jonah tryin’ to tech de fancy fling!
(Who ebber seed a yaller nigger dat could ‘cut de pidgin- wing’?)
Try dat lick agin, dar, Moses; tell you what, dat’s hard to beat!
(How kin sich a little nigger handle sich a pile o’ feet!)
Swing your corners! Turn your pardners! (‘Pears de motion’s gittin’ slow.)
What’s de matter wid de music? Put some rosgum on dat bow!
Moobe up, Tom, — don’t be so sleepy! Let ’em see what you kin do!
Light off in de “gra’-vine-twis,” an’ knock de “double-shuffle,” too!
Gosh! dat double-j’inted Steben flings a hifalutin’ hoof!
He kicks de dus’ plum out de planks, an’ jars de shingles on de roof!
Steady, now, an’ check de motion! Let de fiddler stop de chune!
I smell de ‘possum froo de crack, an supper’s gwine to call you soon!
De white folks come it mighty handy, waltzin’ ‘roun’ so nice an’ fine;
But when you come to reg’lar dancin’, niggers leabes ’em way behin’!
Square Dancing in the 1800s 