309
The Prohibition Boys
The first referendum on the prohibition question, submitted to
the voters of North Carolina in 1881, was defeated. By 1903,
however, more than half of the state was "dry territory" through
local laws. In 1905 the Ward bill was passed, prohibiting the manu-
facture or sale of intoxicating liquors in towns of less than 1,000
population. Prohibition became statewide in 1908. See J. G. de
Roulhac Hamilton, History of North Carolina (Chicago and New
York, 1919), III, 207-8.
'The Prohibition Boys.' From Julian P. Boyd, Alliance, Pamlico county,
as collected from Clifton McCotter, a pupil in the Alliance school ; un-
dated, but c. 1927-28. The typescript contains a note in an unidentified
handwriting (possibly Mr. Boyd's) : "Written by Marshal Laughing-
house, Vanceboro, N. C, about 1880. I can obtain the air . . . if
desired."
I Here is a lesson for you prohibitioners ;
Some wisdom it will teach :
NORTH CAROLINA BALLADS 723
That the prohibition boys ought
To practice what they preach.
Clwrus:
Singing tu le ki le In,
And sing tu le Ki le leigh.
2 They say that liquor is an evil,
It causes grief and pain ;
And the prohibition boys around
Are getting drunk again.
3 'Twas on the day of election,
The barroom doors were closed,
And the prohibition boys trying
To mash each other's nose.
4 The prohibition boys
They give each other the wink
When they want to slip behind the door
And take another drink.
5 They preach the prohibition,
They preach it o'er and o'er,
And they eat so many chickens
They left but few to crow.
6 Come all you sons of prohibition,
I'll tell you a sad tale
Concerning a prohibitioner
Who went to drive the mail.
7 When he left his loving wife.
He was joyful as could be,
For he knew when he got to Greenville
He would get on another spree.
8 When he started away,
Not many miles from town,
The horse he ran away with him
And threw him on the ground.
9 The old colored man came up.
Behold, what did he see !
There lay the prohibitioner
As drunk as he could be.
[O The old colored man
Was willing for to yield
When he saw him laying flat of his back
With both feet through the wheel.
7^4 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
1 1 When he got back home
He told his loving wife
The horse ran away with him,
And nearly lost his life.
12 'Darling, I'm in trouble;
I haven't an easy mind —
I've lost the mail
And forty dollars fine.
13 'Darling, you're in trouble;
You cause me grief and pain —
To think you're ofT
Getting drunk again.'
14 'Darling, I know
I've gone against your will,
But remember that I voted for
The prohibition bill!'