Who's dat peekin' in de do'?
  Set mah heart a-beatin'!
Thought I see' a spook for sho
  On mah way to meetin'.
Heerd a rustlin' all aroun',
  Trees all sort o' jiggled;
An' along de frosty groun'
  Funny shadders wriggled.

Who's dat by de winder-sill?
  Gittin' sort o' skeery;
Feets is feelin' kind o' chill,
  Eyes is sort o' teary.
'Most as nervous as a coon
  When de dawgs is barkin',
Er a widder when some spoon
  Comes along a-sparkin'.

Whass dat creepin' up de road,
  Quiet like a ferret,
Hoppin' sof'ly as a toad?
  Maybe hit's a sperrit!
Lordy! hope dey ain't no ghos'
  Come to tell me howdy.
I ain't got no use for those
  Fantoms damp an' cloudy.

Whass dat standin' by de fence
  Wid its eyes a-yearnin',
Drivin' out mah common-sense
  Wid its glances burnin'?
Don't dass skeercely go to bed
  Wid dem spookses roun' me.
Ain't no res' fo' dis yere head
  When dem folks surroun' me.

Whass dat groanin' soun' I hear
  Off dar by de gyardin?
Lordy! Lordy! Lordy dear,
  Grant dis sinner pardon!
I won't nebber—I declar'
  Ef it ain't my Sammy!
Sambo, what yo' doin' dar?
  Yo' can't skeer yo' mammy!