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diff --git a/76586-h/76586-h.htm b/76586-h/76586-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..390620b --- /dev/null +++ b/76586-h/76586-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6324 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Negro Myths | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} +/* Heading Styles */ + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + clear: both; + page-break-before: avoid;} + +h1 { /* book title */ + margin: 1em 5% 1em; + font-weight: bold; + font-size: 180%;} +h2 { /* chapter headings */ + margin:2em 5% 1em; + font-weight: bold; + font-size: 160%;} +h3 { /* chapter titles */ + margin: 1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 110%;} +h4 { + margin: 2em 5% 1em; + font-size: 120%;} + + /* Alternate Heading Styles */ +.h1head,.h2head,.h3head,.h4head { + clear: both; + display: block; + text-indent: 0em; + /* text-align: center; */ + font-weight: bold; + page-break-before: avoid; } + + /* use this way: opencaret: h1 class="h1head"closecaret: text opencaret:/h1closecaret */ + .h1head { + margin: 4em 5% 1em; + font-size: 180%; } + +.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} /* use with h2 for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; + margin-top: 4em;} + +/* Paragraph styles */ +p {text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em;} + +.unindent {text-indent: 0em; + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em;} + +.p2 {margin-top: 2em;} +.center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em;} + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 5%; + text-align: justify; + font-size: 95%; +} + +/* Font styling */ +.smcap {font-style: normal; font-variant: small-caps;} +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} +em {font-style: italic;} +.small {font-size: 92%;} +.smaller {font-size: 83%;} +.large {font-size: 110%;} +.larger {font-size: 120%;} +.muchlarger {font-size: 150%;} + +abbr { border:none; text-decoration:none; font-variant:normal; } + +/* Links */ +a:visited {text-decoration:none; color: red;} +a:link {text-decoration:none;} /* no UL of any links - useful for html accessibility */ + +/* Rules */ +hr { /*default rule across entire width */ + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + + hr.short { + margin-right:45%; + margin-left:45%; + text-align:center; + width:10%; + } + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;}} + + +/* Tables */ +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + text-align: center; + border-spacing: 0; /* this removes spaces between handmade lines around boxes */ +} +/* In html, use <table class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> to make a huge table disappear so an alternative can be +substituted for epubs */ +.tdr {text-align: right;}.tdc {text-align: center;} +.tdh {text-align: left; /* hanging indent */ + padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em;} + +.pad1 {padding: 0 0 0 2em;} /* TOC, page numbers */ +.pad2 {padding: 0 1em 0 0;} /* TOC Roman numerals */ + +.vlb {vertical-align: bottom;} +.vlt {vertical-align: top;} + +table.a {text-decoration:none;} /* no UL of links inside table*/ + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + right: .25em; + text-indent: 0; + text-align: right; + font-size: 70%; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + line-height: normal; + color: #acacac; + border: .0625em solid #acacac; + background: #ffffff; + padding: .0625em .125em; +} + +/* Footnotes and Anchors */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed; + margin-top: 2em;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + text-indent: 0; font-size: 0.9em; text-decoration: none;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; + white-space: nowrap; /* keeps footnote on same line as referenced text */ +} + +/* Unordered Lists */ +ul { list-style-type: none; } +li { + margin-top: .5em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; +} + +li.ifrst { + margin-top: 1.5em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 1em; +} + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76586 ***</div> + +<h1>NEGRO MYTHS</h1> + +<p class="center smaller">FROM</p> + +<p class="center muchlarger">THE GEORGIA COAST</p> + +<p class="p2 center">TOLD IN THE VERNACULAR</p> + +<p class="p2 center"><span class="allsmcap">BY</span><br> +CHARLES C. JONES, <abbr title="Junior">JR.</abbr>, <abbr title="Doctor of Laws">LL. D.</abbr></p> + +<p class="p2 center">COLUMBIA, <abbr title="South Carolina">S. C.</abbr><br> +THE STATE COMPANY<br> +1925</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="center"> +<span class="allsmcap">IN MEMORY<br> +<br> +OF</span><br> +<br> +MONTE VIDEO PLANTATION,<br> +<br> +<span class="allsmcap">AND OF THE</span><br> +<br> +FAMILY SERVANTS<br> +<br> +<span class="allsmcap">WHOSE FIDELITY AND AFFECTION CONTRIBUTED SO<br> +MATERIALLY TO ITS COMFORT AND HAPPINESS.</span> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[v]</span></p> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="PREFATORY_NOTE">PREFATORY NOTE</h2> +</div> + +<hr class="short"> + +<p>Mr. Joel Chandler Harris has, in an admirable +way, commended to public notice the +dialect and folk-lore in vogue among the +Negroes of Middle Georgia. With fidelity +and cleverness has he perpetuated the legends +and songs once current among these +peoples, and now fast lapsing into oblivion. +There is, however, a field, largely untrodden, +in which may be found ample opportunity +for the exhibition of kindred inquiry and +humor. We refer to the swamp region of +Georgia and the Carolinas, where the lingo +of the rice-field and the sea-island negroes is +<i lang="la" >sui generis</i>, and where myths and fanciful +stories, often repeated before the war, and +now seldom heard save during the gayer +moods of the old plantation darkies, materially +differ from those narrated by the sable +dwellers in the interior.</p> + +<p>In confirmation of this suggestion we +record the following Negro Myths from the +Georgia Coast.</p> + +<p class="unindent small">Augusta, Georgia, March, 1888.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_vii">[vii]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS</h2> +</div> +<hr class="short"> + +<table> +<tr><td colspan="3" class="tdr"><span class="smcap">Page</span> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="One">I.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">How Come Buh Alligatur Nebber +Sleep fur from de Ribber +Bank</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Two">II.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Tukrey Buzzud an de Rain</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_4">4</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Three">III.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">How Buh Cooter Fool Buh Deer</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_5">5</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Four">IV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Wolf, Buh Rabbit, an de Tar +Baby</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Five">V.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Fowl-Hawk an Buh Rooster</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Six">VI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Tukrey Buzzud an de King +Crab</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Seven">VII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De King, eh Darter, Buh Wolf, +an Buh Rabbit</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_18">18</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Eight">VIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Pattridge an Buh Rabbit</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Nine">IX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Ole Man an de Gallinipper</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Ten">X.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Sparruh</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_23">23</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Eleven">XI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Alligatur an Buh Mash-Hen</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twelve">XII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Fowl-Hawk an Buh Turkrey +Buzzud</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirteen">XIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Fourteen">XIV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Wolf an de Two Dinner</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Fifteen">XV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Owl an Buh Rooster</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_36">36</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Sixteen">XVI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Lion an Buh Goat</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_38">38</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Seventeen">XVII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Bear an Buh Tiger</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Eighteen">XVIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Monkey an de Bull-Dog</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_42">42</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Nineteen">XIX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Elephant an Buh Rooster</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty">XX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Po Man an de Snake</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_46">46</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-one">XXI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Leely Gal, Buh Alligatur, an de +Jay-Bud</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_51">51</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-two">XXII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Cat, de Rat, de Cheese, an de +Fox</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-three">XXIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit an de Tarruh Beastises</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_55">55</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-four">XXIV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Wolf, Buh Rabbit, an de Butter</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-five">XXV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Eagle an de Chillun</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_63">63</a> + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_viii">[viii]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-six">XXVI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Chanticleer an de Ban-Yad +Rooster</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-seven">XXVII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit an de Groun-Mole</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_68">68</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-eight">XXVIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit an de Rock-Soup</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_71">71</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Twenty-nine">XXIX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Two Fren and de Bear</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty">XXX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Ole Man an Det</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_75">75</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-one">XXXI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De King an eh Ring</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-two">XXXII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Lion, Buh Rabbit, Buh Fox, +an Buh Roccoon</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-three">XXXIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, an de +Porpus</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_88">88</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-four">XXXIV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Debble an May Belle</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-five">XXXV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Ole Man an de Coon</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-six">XXXVI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit and de Crawfish</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-seven">XXXVII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit and Buh Elephunt</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-eight">XXXVIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, an Buh +Possum</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="Thirty-nine">XXXIX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, an de +Holler Tree</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_108">108</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty">XL.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit an de Cunjur Man</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_111">111</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-one">XLI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Fox, an de Fisherman</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-two">XLII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, an de +Yearlin</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_118">118</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-three">XLIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, de Dog, an +de Goose</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-four">XLIV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Squirle an’ Buh Fox</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_122">122</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-five">XLV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, an de +Buckra Man</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-six">XLVI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf Funeral</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-seven">XLVII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De New Nigger an eh Mossa</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-eight">XLVIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit an de King Darter</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="forty-nine">XLIX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Single Ball</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_134">134</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty">L.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Roccoon an Buh Possum</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_136">136</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-one">LI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Wolf, Buh Rabbit an de Rain</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_137">137</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-two">LII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Alligatur, Buh Rabbit an +Buh Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_140">140</a> + <span class="pagenum" id="Page_ix">[ix]</span></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-three">LIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Dyin Bull-Frog</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-four">LIV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Rabbit, Buh Pattridge, an de +Cow</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-five">LV.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Fiddler, Buh Tiger, an Buh +Bear</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-six">LVI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">De Ole King an de Noung King</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-seven">LVII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Buh Goat an Buh Wolf</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-eight">LVIII.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Dentistry at the Old Plantation +Home</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="fifty-nine">LIX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Negro and the Alligator</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_161">161</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="sixty">LX.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Sperits</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> + +<tr><td class="tdr vlt pad2"><abbr title="sixty-one">LXI.</abbr></td> + <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Daddy Jupiter’s Vision</span></td> + <td class="tdr pad1 vlb"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"><p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[1]</span></p> +<p class="center h1head" id="NEGRO_MYTHS">NEGRO MYTHS</p> +</div> + +<h2 class="nobreak" id="I"><abbr title="One">I.</abbr></h2> +<h3>HOW COME BUH ALLIGATUR NEBBER SLEEP +FUR FROM DE RIBBER BANK.</h3> + + +<p>One time Buh Rabbit, him meet Buh +Alligatur, an eh ax um: “Budder, you tek +life berry onconsarne. Enty you come pon +trouble some time?” Buh Alligatur, him +mek answer: “No, Budder, nuttne nebber +bodder me. Me dunno wuh you call trouble. +Me hab plenty er bittle fuh eat. Me sleep +an tek me pledjuh. Wuh mek you tink +trouble kin come topper me?” Buh Rabbit, +him berry cunnin. Eh yent say nuttne. Eh +know Buh Alligatur blan come out de ribber +an sun isself in de broom-grass fiel. Buh +Rabbit, eh laugh oneside to isself an mek +plan to pit trouble on Buh Alligatur.</p> + +<p>De nex day, wen de sun hot, Buh Alligatur +come out de ribber. Eh so full er fish +an crab eh casely kin crawl. Eh drag isself +trugh de mash, an eh gone in de broom-grass +fiel, and tretch isself in de grass, an fall fas +tersleep. Buh Rabbit bin der watch um all +de time. Buh Rabbit too scheemy. Now +eh pick eh chance. Wen eh tink Buh Alligatur +done gone tersleep, eh tiptoe ebber so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[2]</span> +sofe tell eh come right pon top er Buh Alligatur. +Eh notice um close. Eh yeye shet. +Eh duh sleep fuh true. Den Buh Rabbit slip +back. Eh say to isself: “I guine mek Buh +Alligatur know wuh call trouble dis day.” +Eh trike fire. Eh light one fat pine tick, +an eh set fire to de broom-grass all roun an +roun de fiel. Buh Alligatur, eh day in de +middle fas tersleep. Eh dunno wuh Buh +Rabbit up teh. Bimeby de fire, eh biggin +fuh roll. Buh Alligatur wake up. Eh see +de smoke. Eh yeddy de fire duh commin. +Eh dunno wuh fur do. De fire biggin fur +bun um. Eh run dis way, de fire meet um. +Eh lick back an try tarruh side. De fire +meet um day too.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him duh tan off duh watch +an duh half kill isself wid laugh. Buh Alligatur +holler. Eh holler. Eh holler. Nobody +yeddy. Nobody come. Fire ebry side. No +way fur um fur go. Eh cant git out. Man! +sir! eh mek up eh mine to bus trugh some +how. Eh shet eh yeye. Eh cock up eh tail, +an yuh eh come straight fur de ribber.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit, eh fall fur laugh. Eh hoop +arter Buh Alligatur, an eh say: “Hey, Budder! +wats de time er day? Enty you bin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[3]</span> +tell me you nebber meet up wid trouble? +You run topper um to-day anyhow.”</p> + +<p>Buh Alligatur yent hab time fuh mek +answer. Eh yent crack eh teet to Buh Rabbit. +Eh jis is bex wid um is eh kin be. Eh +yeye red. Eh tail swinge. Eh gone fuh de +ribber, an eh fall in head ober heel. De +water cool um. Eh ketch eh bref. Den eh +raise isself on de top er de water an eh holler +back to Buh Rabbit: “Nummine, Boy, +golong dis time. Me know who mek all dis +trouble fur me. Ef me ebber ketch you +close dis ribber, me guine larne you how ter +come fool long me.”</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit faid Alligatur an ribber tell +dis day. From dat day to dis you kin nebber +ketch Buh Alligatur sleep fur from de +bank; an de fus time eh yeddy bush crack, +er anyting mek rackit, eh leggo eberyting +an fall right in de water.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[4]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="II"><abbr title="Two">II.</abbr></h2> +<h3>BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE RAIN.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Tukrey Buzzud, him yent hab no +sense no how. You watch um.</p> + +<p>Wen de rain duh po down, eh set on de +fench an eh squinch up isself. Eh draw in +eh neck, an eh try fur hide eh head, an eh +look dat pittyful you rale sorry for um. Eh +duh half cry, an eh say to isself: “Nummine, +wen dis rain ober me guine buil house +right off. Me yent guine leh dis rain lick +me dis way no mo.”</p> + +<p>Wen de rain done gone, an de win blow, +an de sun shine, wuh Buh Tukrey Buzzud +do? Eh set on de top er de dead pine tree +way de sun kin wam um, an eh tretch out eh +wing, an eh tun roun an roun so de win kin +dry eh fedder, an eh laugh to isself, an eh +say: “Dis rain done ober. Eh yent guine +rain no mo. No use fur me fuh buil house +now.” Caless man dis like Buh Tukrey +Buzzud.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[5]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="III"><abbr title="Three">III.</abbr></h2> +<h3 style="display: none; visibility: hidden;">HOW BUH COOTER FOOL BUH DEER.</h3> + +<p class="center"><span class="large"><strong>HOW BUH COOTER</strong></span><a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> <span class="large"><strong>FOOL BUH DEER.</strong></span><a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Deer, him kin outrun all de tarruh +creetur. Buh Cooter, him cant go fast no +time. Him kin jis creep, an dat all; but +him hab plenty er sense.</p> + +<p>One day Buh Deer bin a laugh at Buh +Cooter becase eh walk so slow. Den Buh +Cooter, him git mad, an eh tell Buh Deer +dat ef eh does slow eh hab de bes win, an +eh bet Buh Deer eh could beat um to de fibe +mile pose. Buh Deer, him smile an tuk de +bet. Dey gree on nex Monday week fur +run de race.</p> + +<p>Buh Cooter, him call togedder him fren +an tole um bout de bet an wen de race fur +run. Eh gaged fibe er um fur help um. +Deese yer Cooter am all so much like one +anurrer you cant tell one from turrer. So +day all come inter cohoot an conclude to fool +Buh Deer.</p> + +<p>One gone to de fus mile pose on de big +road. Anurrer gone to de nex mile pose, +an anurrer to de nex: so dat on de day wen +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[6]</span> +de race fur run, Buh Cooter hab a fren at +ebery mile pose. Buh Deer nebber bin +know nuttne bout dis plan.</p> + +<p>Wen de time come fur run de race, Buh +Deer an Buh Cooter bofe stat off togedder. +Befo you kin tun roun Buh Deer done gone +out uh sight, an lef Buh Cooter in de +middle er de road duh laugh to isself. Wen +Buh Deer git to de fus mile pose, day was +Buh Cooter day head er um. Buh Deer +couldnt tell how dat happn. Eh men eh +pace. At de nex mile pose day was Buh +Cooter a crawlin along. Buh Deer git mad. +Eh lay isself out ter eh berry lenk, but befo +eh ketch de nex mile pose eh meet Buh +Cooter in de road dis a passin er dat pose. +Buh Deer jump clean ober um an mek fur de +nex mile pose. Eh yent bin want fur bleeve +eh own yeye wen eh see Buh Cooter dere +done git head er um agin. Eh so mad eh +try fuh kick Buh Cooter outer de road, an +eh straighten fur de las mile pose. Wen +eh git day, eh meet Buh Cooter puffin an er +blowin an a leanin up gin de pose duh laugh +at um.</p> + +<p>An dat de way Buh Cooter fool Buh Deer +an win de bet.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> Land Terrapin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> This and two preceding <i>Myths</i> first published +in Augusta, <abbr title="Georgia">Ga.</abbr>, <cite>Chronicle and Constitutionalist</cite> of +March 11, 1883.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[7]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="IV"><abbr title="Four">IV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE TAR BABY.</h3></div> + + +<p>Buh Wolf and Buh Rabbit, dem bin lib +nabur. De dry drout come. Ebry ting +stew up. Water scace. Buh Wolf dig one +spring fuh him fuh git water. Buh Rabbit, +him too lazy an too scheemy fuh wuk fuh +isself. Eh pen pon lib off tarruh people. +Ebry day, wen Buh Wolf yent duh watch +um, eh slip to Buh Wolf spring, an eh full +him calabash long water an cah um to eh +house fuh cook long and fuh drink. Buh +Wolf see Buh Rabbit track, but eh couldnt +ketch um duh tief de water.</p> + +<p>One day eh meet Buh Rabbit in de big +road, an eh ax um how eh mek out fur water. +Buh Rabbit say him no casion fuh hunt +water: him lib off de jew on de grass. Buh +Wolf quire: “Enty you blan tek water +outer me spring?” Buh Rabbit say: “Me +yent.” Buh Wolf say: “You yis, enty me +see you track?” Buh Rabbit mek answer: +“Yent me gone to you spring. Must be +some edder rabbit. Me nebber bin nigh +you spring. Me dunno way you spring +day.” Buh Wolf no question um no mo; +but eh know say eh bin Buh Rabbit fuh +true, an eh fix plan fuh ketch um.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[8]</span> +De same ebenin eh mek Tar Baby, an eh +gone an set um right in de middle er de +trail wuh lead to de spring, an dist in front +er de spring.</p> + +<p>Soon a mornin Buh Rabbit rise an tun in +fuh cook eh bittle. Eh pot biggin fuh bun. +Buh Rabbit say: “Hey! me pot duh bun. +Lemme slip to Buh Wolf spring an git some +water fuh cool um.” So eh tek eh calabash +an hop off fuh de spring. Wen eh ketch +de spring, eh see de Tar Baby duh tan dist +een front er de spring. Eh stonish. Eh +stop. Eh come close. Eh look at um. Eh +wait fur um fuh mobe. De Tar Baby yent +notice um. Eh yent wink eh yeye. Eh +yent say nuttne. Eh yent mobe. Buh +Rabbit, him say: “Hey titter, enty you +guine tan one side an lemme git some +water?” De Tar Baby no answer. Den +Buh Rabbit say: “Leely Gal, mobe, me tell +you, so me kin dip some water outer de +spring long me calabash.” De Tar Baby +wunt mobe. Buh Rabbit say: “Enty you +know me pot duh bun? Enty you know me +hurry? Enty you yeddy me tell you fuh +mobe? You see dis han? Ef you dont go +long and lemme git some water, me guine +slap you ober.” De Tar Baby stan day. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[9]</span> +Buh Rabbit haul off an slap um side de +head. Eh han fastne. Buh Rabbit try fuh +pull eh hand back, an eh say: “Wuh you +hole me han fuh? Lemme go. Ef you dont +loose me, me guine box de life outer you +wid dis tarruh han.” De Tar Baby yent +crack eh teet. Buh Rabbit hit um, bim, +wid eh tarruh han. Dat han fastne too +same luk tudder. Buh Rabbit say: “Wuh +you up teh? Tun me loose. Ef you dont +leggo me right off, me guine knee you.” +De Tar Baby hole um fas. Buh Rabbit +skade an bex too. Eh faid Buh Wolf come +ketch um. Wen eh fine eh cant loosne eh +han, eh kick de Tar Baby wid eh knee. Eh +knee fastne. Yuh de big trouble now. Buh +Rabbit skade den wus den nebber. Eh try +fuh skade de Tar Baby. Eh say: “Leely +Gal, you better mine who you duh fool long. +Me tell you, fuh de las time, tun me loose. +Ef you dont loosne me han an me knee +right off, me guine bus you wide open wid +dis head.” De Tar Baby hole um fas. Eh +yent say one wud. Den Buh Rabbit butt de +Tar Baby een eh face. Eh head fastne same +fashion luk eh han an eh knee. Yuh de +ting now. Po Buh Rabbit done fuh. Eh +fastne all side. Eh cant pull loose. Eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[10]</span> +gib up. Eh bague. Eh cry. Eh holler. +Buh Wolf yeddy um. Eh run day. Eh +hail Buh Rabbit: “Hey, Budder! wuh de +trouble? Enty you tell me you no blan +wisit me spring fuh git water? Who calabash +dis? Wuh you duh do yuh anyhow?” +Buh Rabbit so condemn eh yent hab one +wud fuh talk. Buh Wolf, him say: “Nummine, +I done ketch you dis day. I guine +lick you now.” Buh Rabbit bague. Eh +bague. Eh prommus nebber fuh trouble +Buh Wolf spring no mo. Buh Wolf laugh +at um. Den eh tek an loose Buh Rabbit +from de Tar Baby, an eh tie um teh one +spakleberry bush, an eh git switch an eh +lick um tel eh tired. All de time Buh Rabbit +bin a bague an a holler. Buh Wolf yent +duh listne ter um, but eh keep on duh pit de +lick ter um. At las Buh Rabbit tell Buh +Wolf: “Dont lick me no mo. Kill me one +time. Mek fire an bun me up. Knock me +brains out gin de tree.” Buh Wolf mek +answer: “Ef I bun you up, ef I knock you +brains out, you guine dead too quick. Me +guine trow you in de brier patch, so de brier +kin cratch you life out.” Buh Rabbit say: +“Do Buh Wolf, bun me: broke me neck, +but dont trow me in de brier patch. Lemme +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[11]</span> +dead one time. Dont tarrify me no mo.” +Buh Wolf yent bin know wuh Buh Rabbit +up teh. Eh tink eh bin guine tare Buh +Rabbit hide off. So, wuh eh do? Eh loose +Buh Rabbit from de spakleberry bush, an +eh tek um by de hine leg, and eh swing um +roun, an eh trow um way in de tick brier +patch fuh tare eh hide an cratch eh yeye +out. De minnit Buh Rabbit drap in de +brier patch, eh cock up eh tail, eh jump, an +eh holler back to Buh Wolf: “Good bye, +Budder! Dis de place me mammy fotch me +up,—dis de place me mammy fotch me +up:” an eh gone befo Buh Wolf kin ketch +um. Buh Rabbit too scheemy.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[12]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="V"><abbr title="Five">V.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH ROOSTER.</h3></div> + + +<p>Buh Fowl-Hawk, him fly ebry day dis +way and dat way ober de lan, an eh cant +fine nuttne fuh eat. Eh hail de Sun one +time, an eh tell um eh so hongry eh ready +fuh drap; dat eh cant git bittle fuh eat; an +he dunno wuh fuh do. De Sun, eh say: +“Budder, ef you kin ketch me in me bed, +me gree fuh fine you in bittle.” Buh Hawk +tek de greement, an eh try berry hade fuh +come pon topper de Sun in eh bed. But +ebry time de Sun done git up befo Buh +Hawk ketch de place way de Sun sleep. +Buh Hawk gib up. Eh dead tired. Den +eh tun in an consult Buh Rooster. Buh +Rooster yeddy him tale, and den eh say: +“Me tell you, Buh Hawk, wuh you better +do. You come sleep right ober me back; +an wen, soon a mornin, you yeddy me knock +me wing togedder and crow, you sail right +off fuh de Sun house, an you kin ketch um +befo eh git up from eh bed.” Buh Hawk +do dis es Buh Rooster tell um. Eh come +dat ebenin, an eh set on de tree-limb right +ober way Buh Rooster duh sleep.</p> + +<p>Long befo day duh broke Buh Rooster +knock eh wing togarruh an crow. Bless yo +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[13]</span> +soul! Buh Fowl-Hawk wake up, eh switch +eh tail, eh pitch off de tree, an eh mek fur +de spot way de Sun blan sleep. Eh ketch +um een eh big house. Eh day in eh bed. +Buh Hawk, eh knock to de do. De Sun +say: “Who dat?” Buh Hawk mek answer: +“Duh me.” De Sun say: “Who you?” +Buh Hawk say; “Duh me, Budder Hawk.” +De Sun quire: “Wuh you want long me?” +Buh Hawk mek answer: “Enty you bin +tell me one day dat ef me kin ketch you in +you bed you guine fine me? Now me done +ketch you in de bed. Gimme de bittle you +prommus me. Me berry hongry.” De Sun +bex. Eh wunt come to de do, but eh holler +back to Buh Hawk, an eh say: “You tun +right roun, an you go to de man wuh pint +you to ketch me in me bed, an you tell um +fuh fine you.” Buh Hawk rale disappint. +Eh try fuh swade de Sun, but de Sun wunt +listne ter um; and de Sun dribe um way +from him house. Buh Hawk mad, an wen +eh see eh cant git no bittle from de Sun, eh +fly back to Buh Rooster. Buh Rooster, him +ax um: “Me Budder, how you mek out?” +Buh Hawk tell um eh yent mek out wut. +Den eh up an quaint Buh Rooster how de +Sun wouldnt gie um no bittle fuh eat; how +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[14]</span> +eh dribe um way; an how eh tell um fuh go +back to de man wuh pit um on de trail fuh +ketch um in eh bed, an mek um fine um. +Buh Rooster mek answer: “Budder, me +yent hab no bittle fuh gie you. Me no kin +fine you.” Buh Hawk say: “Me dead +tired. Me berry hongry. Me mus hab me +payment.” Buh Rooster say: “You cant +git no payment outer me. All me got duh +me wife an me chillun, an me know me yent +guine gie you none er dem.” Wen Buh +Hawk see eh cant swade Buh Rooster fuh +fine um, eh try narruh plan. Eh leff Buh +Rooster, an eh sail way up in de element tell +eh done gone in de cloud. All de time eh +duh watch Buh Rooster. Wen Buh Rooster +clean forgit Buh Hawk, an leh eh chillun +play bout een de grass, befo eh know, down +drap Buh Fowl-Hawk, an eh ketch up one +er dem same Buh Rooster chillun. Eh fly +off wid um to one big oak tree, an eh pick +eh bone clean. Buh Rooster holler, but eh +cant tetch Buh Hawk. De chicken sweet. +Buh Hawk feel good. From dat day tell +now, Buh Fowl-Hawk blan pick eh chance +an lib off Buh Rooster chillun.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[15]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="VI"><abbr title="Six">VI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE KING CRAB.</h3></div> + + +<p>You notus Buh Tukrey Buzzud. Him +lub lamb, an dead cow, an dead horse, an +snake, an alligatur, an all kinder varmint. +Eh berry lub dead fish too, but eh nebber +bodder wid crab. You sabe huccom +so? Lemme tell you.</p> + +<p>One time one fisher-man bin come from +fishin. Eh tek out de good fish, eh tring um +on a mash grass, an eh lef in de boat some +leely gannet-mullet an catfish wuh eh no +want, an one big King Crab wuh eh bin +ketch duh ribber. De sun hot. De fish +done dead. Bimeby eh smell bad in de +boat. Buh Tukrey Buzzud, wuh bin a grine +salt way up in de element, scent um, an down +eh come. Eh gone in de boat an eh eat up +de fish wuh day day. Eh dat greedy eh duh +hunt fuh mo. Eh see de King Crab duh +squat een de water duh bottom er de boat. +Eh tretch open eh wing fuh skade de Crab +an mek um come outer de water. Buh Tukrey +Buzzud faid water. Eh nebber will wet +him foot ef eh kin help. De King Crab see +de Buzzud, an eh crawl up long side de boat. +Buh Tukrey Buzzud ben ober fuh pick um. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[16]</span> +De Crab graff Buh Tukrey Buzzud leg wid +eh claw. Buh Tukrey Buzzud hop an kick. +Eh couldnt mek de Crab leggo. De ting hot +um berry bad. Buh Tukrey Buzzud rise +wid de Crab duh heng on ter eh leg. Eh +sail up in de element. De Crab stick ter +um. Buh Tukrey Buzzud try ebry plan fuh +shake um off. De Crab wunt loose eh grip. +Buh Tukrey Buzzud tun summerset in de +sky. Eh flap eh wing. Eh mek all sorter +curous motion. Eh cant shake de Crab +loose. Bimeby eh try fuh bite de Crab. +All ob a sutten, de Crab tek eh tarruh claw, +an eh fastne Buh Tukrey Buzzud roun eh +neck. Yuh de big trouble now. One claw +hole Buh Tukrey Buzzud foot; tarruh claw +clamp Buh Tukrey Buzzud roun eh neck. +De Bud duh choke. Eh gib up. Eh cant +go no fudder. Eh dis leggo ebryting in de +element, an eh fall heel ober head plash in +de water. De minnit de King Crab fine +isself in de ribber, eh loosne eh hole an eh +gone der bottom. Buh Tukrey Buzzud +mose drown. Eh fedder wet. Eh splutter, +eh wabble, an arter awhile eh manage fuh +ketch eh bref, an eh mount eh wing, an eh +sail off teh one dead libe-oak tree, wuh grow +on de bank, an eh set down day an eh pick +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[17]</span> +eh fedder, an eh watch de blood duh drap +from eh neck an leg, an eh say to isself: +“Me nebber guine bodder long crab gen +long as me lib.” An eh nebber did. You +show King Crab to Buh Tukrey Buzzud, an +eh’ll leff um. Eh yent guine nigh um. All +eh fambly faid um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[18]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="VII"><abbr title="Seven">VII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE KING, EH DARTER, BUH WOLF, AN BUH RABBIT.</h3></div> + + +<p>One time er King hab er pooty Darter. +Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit all two bin a +spark at um an a cote um. De sanfly bin +berry bad. De King tell Buh Wolf an +Buh Rabbit de one wuh kin stan de sanfly +de longes bedout bresh um way, shill git +de gal.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf yent bin so scheemy as Buh +Rabbit. Wen dem all was a settin fuh de +match, Buh Rabbit, him say: “Gentlemans, +my fader had a black horse. Eh had a +white spot yuh, and a red spot day; a +white spot yuh, and a red spot day; a white +spot yuh, and a red spot day.” Ebry time +eh pint out de place way de spot bin, eh +dribe off de sanfly.</p> + +<p>Wile dis duh guine on, de sanfly mose eat +up Buh Wolf. Eh bleege fur cratch an +slap. So Buh Rabbit gain de day, an de +King gie um eh Darter.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf, him berry sad, an eh wunt +talk. All de lady bin a set in de piazza +long de King an eh Darter. Den Buh Rabbit +say: “Come, Buh Wolf, leh we broke +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[19]</span> +up. Ef you lemme ride you ter de big gate +me guine tun de King Darter ober ter you.” +Buh Wolf happy. Eh gree fuh leh Buh +Rabbit ride um. Buh Rabbit light on eh +back. Eh hab spur on. Buh Wolf dunno +nuttne bout dis. Soon es Buh Rabbit git +on Buh Wolf back, eh clamp eh leg onder +Buh Wolf belly, an eh clap spur ter Buh +Wolf. Buh Wolf rare up. Eh jump. Eh +kick. Eh leddown. Eh try ebry way fuh +trow Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit stick ter eh +back, an wunt fall off. De mo Buh Wolf +rare up an kick an pitch, de wus Buh Rabbit +spur um. Wen eh fine eh cant trow +Buh Rabbit, eh tek de big road an lean fuh +de gate. Buh Rabbit stick de spur in um +ebry jump. Buh Wolf run. Eh run. Eh +holler. Eh holler. Buh Rabbit duh set on +eh back an duh spur um, an duh look dess +as happy an content as eh kin be. Wen +dey guine tru de big gate, Buh Rabbit light +off eh back an jump on top de gate pose. +Buh Wolf cant stop run. Eh gone. Buh +Rabbit shet de gate, an tun back, an jine +de compny, an tek eh bride.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[20]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="VIII"><abbr title="Eight">VIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH PATTRIDGE AN BUH RABBIT.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Pattridge and Buh Rabbit jine compny +fuh kill cow. Wen dey done kill um, +dey share de meat equel. Buh Pattridge +tek one half; Buh Rabbit, him tek tarruh +half. Buh Pattridge tote him share home, +an cook some, an gen um to him chillun. +Buh Rabbit, him tay buhhine an watch him +share. Wen Buh Pattridge an him chillun +done eat dem belly full, Buh Pattridge gone +back to de place way de cow bin kill. Eh +meet Buh Rabbit duh siddown day duh wait +fuh hire somebody fuh cahr him meat ter +him house. Buh Pattridge, him want mo +meat. Eh up an tell Buh Rabbit: “Dat cow +meat no good. Me cook some an gen to me +chillun, an eh kill two er um.” Buh Rabbit +say: “Eh yent.” Buh Pattridge say: “Me +tell you eh yiz. Me bin eat some too, an eh +mek me feel berry bad. Rattlesnake must +a bin trike dat cow an pizen um.” Den Buh +Pattridge fall on de groun, an flutter, flutter, +flutter, dis like eh bin guine fuh dead. +Buh Rabbit tink say de pizen meat been a +wuk in um, an eh hop off, an eh fetch water, +an eh trow um in Buh Pattridge face. Wen +Buh Pattridge sorter vive, Buh Rabbit tell +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[21]</span> +um eh no want de meat, dat eh guine leff +um. Den Buh Rabbit wish Buh Pattridge +de time er day, an gone teh him house. Soon +as Buh Rabbit git outer yearin, Buh Pattridge +whistle fuh him chillun. De gang +all bin in de bush duh watch. Den dey all +run up an cahr de meat to dem house, an +cook um an eat um.</p> + +<p>De meat bin good, an Buh Pattridge only +do dat fuh fool Buh Rabbit an git him share +too.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[22]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="IX"><abbr title="Nine">IX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE OLE MAN AN DE GALLINIPPER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>An ole man bin a hunt roccoon in de wood. +Eh hab eh dog fuh tree de coon, an eh +hatchich fuh chop down de tree. De dog +bark. De ole man gone ter um. Eh look +up de tree fuh see de coon. Steader de coon, +er big Gallinipper bin a settin in de crotch +er de sweet-gum. De tree so big de ole man +cant retch round um wid bofe eh arm. De +dog bark at de Gallinipper. Eh bark. Eh +bark. De Gallinipper git bex. Eh light +off de tree fuh bite de dog. De dog holler +an run roun de tree. De Gallinipper +miss eh lick, an dribe eh bill trugh de tree +tell de pint come out on tarruh side. De ole +man try fuh chop off de een er de Gallinipper +bill. Wen de Gallinipper see wuh de +ole man up teh, eh rare back an try fur pull +eh bill outer de tree. Eh fastne so tight eh +couldnt git um out, but eh strain so hebby +eh drag de tree up by de root. De ole man +dat scade eh drop eh hatchich, eh leff eh dog +der wood, and eh lean fur home.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[23]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="X"><abbr title="Ten">X.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH SPARRUH.</h3></div> + + +<p>Buh Sparruh, him berry leetle, but him +lub fur brag. Eh yent much fur wuk.</p> + +<p>One time de Bluefinch, de Trasher, de +Red-Bud, de Jay-Bud, de Pattridge, and de +Sparruh all come inter cohoot ter plant tetter<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +and see who kin raise de bigges. Wen +de tetter done mek an dig, all de bud collec +togarruh, an ebry one fotch a tetter ter show +wuh kind a crop eh mek. De Crow bin de +judge. Eh look ober all de tetter, an wen +eh fine Buh Sparruh no bin bring none, eh +ax Buh Sparruh: “Way you tetter?” Buh +Sparruh biggin fur brag, an eh say: “Me +tetter, him heap bigger den any me see. Me +farruh befo me blan plant tetter, an him +tetter bigger ner de calf er me leg. Me kin +beat me farruh raise tetter. Me yent bin +bring no tetter wid me case me no want fur +mek me fren feel bad.” Tarruh bud say: +“Nummine, you go fetch you tetter. Leh +we see um.” Wen Buh Sparruh fine dem +all bent pon mek um show eh tetter, eh say: +“Well, wait pon top me. Me guine git me +tetter.” Buh Sparruh gone, an de bud all +wait. Dem wait tell dem tired, an Buh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[24]</span> +Sparruh no come back. Den Buh Crow, +wuh bin de judge, sen Buh Bluefinch fur +fine Buh Sparruh, an see wuh eh duh do. +Buh Bluefinch meet Buh Sparruh duh pick +seed in one ole fiel. Eh hail um: “Hey! +Buh Sparruh! wuh mek you no come back? +All de tarruh bud duh wait top you fur +show you tetter.” Buh Sparruh rare isself +back, an eh mek answer: “You go tell Buh +Crow an de tarruh gentlemans me tetter so +big me cant tote um.”</p> + +<p>Buh Sparruh lie. Eh dis bin a brag. Eh +yent nebber bin plant no tetter.</p> + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<div class="footnote"><p class="unindent"><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> Sweet potatoes.</p></div></div> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[25]</span></p> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XI"><abbr title="Eleven">XI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH ALLIGATUR AN BUH MASH-HEN.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Alligatur nebber does trubble Buh +Mash-hen an eh chillun. Enty, heap a +time, you see Buh Mash-hen duh ketch fiddler +on de ribber bank close by way Buh +Alligatur duh feed, an Buh Alligatur yent +lick at um wid eh tail, ner skade um? You +know huccum dis? Ef you dunno, lemme +tell you.</p> + +<p>One time Buh Alligatur, him been er eat +crab. Him bin hab one teet wuh hab hole +in um. Dat teet duh hot um berry bad. +Buh Alligatur blan chaw up crab, shell an +all. Wen eh der eat dem crab, one er de +claw fastne in him rotten teet, and hot um so +bad eh mek um holler. Eh cant do nuttne +cept open eh jaw an moan. Eh foot yent +long nough fuh pick de claw out.</p> + +<p>Wile eh bin a moan an suffer, Buh Mash-hen +pass by. Buh Alligatur hail um an tell +um wuh happne, and mek um sensible how +bad de claw duh hot um, an how eh yent +hab de power fuh git um out, an eh bague +um fuh pull de ting out wid eh bill. Buh +Mash-hen yeddy um, but eh fade fur trus eh +head between Buh Alligatur jaw. Eh spicion +say Buh Alligatur guine trick um, an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[26]</span> +kill um, an eat um, an eh tell Buh Alligatur +him too scheemy. But Buh Alligatur, him +schway to Buh Mash-hen dat eh yent guine +trubble um, an dat ef eh would bleege um an +pick de ting out, eh would be fren ter um +an eh fambly all dem life, an mek all dem +tarruh Alligatur fren too.</p> + +<p>Wen Buh Mash-hen see Buh Alligatur +duh bague so harde, an wen eh fine out eh +bin der tell de trute, eh tek pity on um, an +eh pit eh head in eh mouf an eh pull out de +crab-claw, wuh fastne in eh teet, wid eh bill.</p> + +<p>Dat ease Buh Alligatur, an eh tell Buh +Mash-hen heap er tenky. An eh mek all +eh quaintunce sensible er de big faber wuh +Buh Mash-hen bin done ter um.</p> + +<p>Buh Alligatur, him keep eh wud. Ebber +sence, Buh Mash-hen kin walk bout de mash +an de ribber, an buil nes, an ketch fiddler +an shrimp all round Buh Alligatur, an eh +yent try fuh bodder um.</p> + +<p>Dat de way Buh Alligatur an Buh Mash-hen +come fur lib togerruh luk same fambly.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[27]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XII"><abbr title="Twelve">XII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH TUKREY +BUZZUD.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Time bin berry harde. Bittle oncommon +scace. Buh Fowl-hawk an Buh Tukrey +Buzzud, dem bin a sail backwud and forrud +in de element, duh look fuh see wuh dem +kin pick up fur eat. Es dem pass one a +nurruh, Buh Fowl-hawk, him ax Buh Tukrey +Buzzud how him mek out. Buh Tukrey +Buzzud mek answer dat eh yent mek out +wut; dat half de time eh cant fine nuttne +fuh eat; dat eh so hongry eh mos ready fuh +perish; but dat eh mek up eh mine ter keep +on guine, an ter wait on de Lord. Den eh +quire ob Buh Fowl-hawk how him duh git +long dis yer tight time. Buh Fowl-hawk, +him switch eh tail, an eh say him smarte +nough fuh git him libbin; dat him dont lack +fuh bittle; dat Lord er no Lord, him manage +fuh fine all him want fuh eat.</p> + +<p>Wid dat dem part compny, an gone dem +own couse.</p> + +<p>Bimeby dem sail pass one anurrer gen, +an Buh Fowl-hawk, him call to Buh Tukrey +Buzzud, an him say: “Enty me bin tell you +me hab no trouble fuh fine bittle wenebber +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[28]</span> +me want um? You see dat black chicken +down yander? Me guine ketch um now fuh +me dinner.”</p> + +<p>Wid dat, eh leff Buh Tukrey Buzzud, an +eh mek eh lunge fuh kibber de chicken. +Stidder eh bin one chicken, eh tun out fuh +bin er sharp-pinted stump; an befo Buh +Fowl-hawk fine out de diffunce, an kin check +eh speed, eh hit eh bres gin de stump an kill +ehself.</p> + +<p>Two, tree day arter dat, Buh Tukrey Buzzud +bin a sail ober de same groun, an eh +cotch de scent er someting dead. Eh fole +eh wing an eh come down. Wen eh come +fuh fine out, eh see Buh Fowl-hawk duh led +down dead. Den eh say: “Enty me bin +tell you eh heap better ter wait on de Lord +stidder trus ter you own luck? You wouldnt +yeddy me, an you see wuh happne. Now +me tun come, an you flesh guine ile me +bade.” Wid dat, eh eat up Buh Fowl-hawk.</p> + +<p>“De man wuh trus in ehself,” moralized +Daddy Sandy, “guine fail; wile dem dat +wait topper de Lord will hab perwision mek +fur um.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[29]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIII"><abbr title="Thirteen">XIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH WOLF AN BUH RABBIT.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Wolf and Buh Rabbit bin a cote de +same Gal. De Gal bin rich an berry pooty. +Dem tuk tun fuh wisit um. Buh Rabbit, +him gone der mornin, and Buh Wolf, him +gone der ebenin. De Gal harde fuh mek up +eh mine. Eh sorter courage bofe er um. +One mornin Buh Rabbit bin a mek fun er +Buh Wolf ter de Gal, an eh tell um say +Buh Wolf yent duh nuttne mo den eh farruh +ridin horse.</p> + +<p>Wen Buh Wolf pay him wisit de same +ebenin, de Gal tell um wuh Buh Rabbit bin +say bout um. De ting mek Buh Wolf bex, +an eh say Buh Rabbit lie, an eh guine fetch +Buh Rabbit ter de Gal an mek um tek back +dat big wud befo eh face.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf leff de Gal an gone straight ter +Buh Rabbit house. Buh Rabbit bin spicion +say de Gal guine tell Buh Wolf wuh him +bin say bout um; an eh know, wen Buh +Wolf yeddy, dat eh boun fur tackle um bout +um. So Buh Rabbit, him fix eh plan.</p> + +<p>Wen Buh Wolf git ter Buh Rabbit house, +eh fine um all shet up. Eh look same luk +nobody bin day. Eh knock ter de do. Eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[30]</span> +knock. Eh knock. No ansur. Eh gone +ter de winder. Eh shake um. Nobody mek +ansur. Den eh holler: “Buh Rabbit, Buh +Rabbit!” Arter a while eh yeddy er leely +woice eenside say: “Who dat?” Buh Wolf +ansur: “Duh me, Buh Wolf.” Buh Rabbit +say: “Wuh you want, Buh Wolf?” Buh +Wolf, him say: “Lemme come in, Buh Rabbit; +me bleege fuh see you on tickler bidness.” +Buh Rabbit, him mek ansur: “Buh +Wolf, me cant see you now; me berry sick; +me day in me bed; me too weak fuh open +de do.” Buh Wolf say: “Buh Rabbit, you +mus lemme in: you de only man wuh kin +ten ter de bidness wuh bring me yuh.” Buh +Rabbit try fuh pit um off. Eh tell um eh +hab high feber, an eh cant rise; dat eh +back bin er hot um so bad eh cant tun in eh +bed. But Buh Wolf cist so strong, Buh +Rabbit slip to de do, an eh draw de bolt, an +eh tiptoe back ter eh bed, an den eh say: +“Well Budder, ef you mus see me, bad off +es me yiz, come in.” Wen Buh Wolf come +in, eh fine Buh Rabbit kibber up in eh bed, +duh pant an duh moan berry pittiful. Buh +Wolf tan by de bed, an eh ax Buh Rabbit: +“Enty you tell de Gal, wuh we bin a cote, +say me bin nuttne but you farruh ridin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[31]</span> +horse?” Buh Rabbit say: “Me nebber +did.” Buh Wolf say: “You yiz bin tell um +so.” Buh Rabbit say: “Me yent.” Den +Buh Wolf schway: “De Gal done tell um +say Buh Rabbit sisso, an eh bleebe de Gal.” +Buh Rabbit run Buh Wolf down dat eh +nebber bin nuse no sich wud. Den Buh +Wolf say: “Ef you nebber bin say no sich +wud, you mus git up an go long me, an +knowledge befo de Gal dat you nebber bin +sisso.” Buh Rabbit hole back. Eh say eh +too weak fuh git outer de bed, and dat ef eh +did get up eh too weak fuh walk ter de Gal +house. But Buh Wolf foce um. Eh say: +“You got ter go. Me guine help you outer +de bed, an ef you cant tek you foot, me guine +tote you.” Wen Buh Rabbit fine no chance +fur um fuh dodge no mo, an dat Buh Wolf +boun fuh mek um go, eh git Buh Wolf fuh +help um outer de bed. Arter eh git on de +flo, Buh Rabbit sorter faint way. Buh Wolf +tek um up an cahr um ter de do, an fan um. +Buh Rabbit bin a play possum all de time. +Wen eh come too, Buh Wolf liff um up +an pit um on eh back. Buh Rabbit say: +“Hole on, Buh Wolf, me cant set on you +back dout fall off: me mus hab someting fuh +steady me; you mus gimme someting fuh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[32]</span> +me fuh hole on ter. Yuh me farruh ole saddle +an bridle. Lemme pit dem on you, an +den me tink me kin manage fuh go long wid +you.” Buh Wolf, him yent spicion nuttne, +an eh tan still an leh Buh Rabbit pit de +saddle an bridle on um. Onbeknowinst ter +Buh Wolf, Buh Rabbit slip behind de do an +pit on er pair er keen spur. Den Buh Wolf +help um on eh back, an state fuh trot fuh de +Gal house. Buh Rabbit say: “Buh Wolf, +dont go so fas: me so weak me cant hole on; +you mus walk.” Buh Wolf, him haky ter +um, an eh come down ter a walk. Wen +dem retch de abnue wuh lead from de big +road ter de house way de Gal lib, dem shum +all dress een white duh settin in de piazza. +Soon es dem pass tru de big gate, Buh Rabbit, +him gedder de range in eh han, an eh +slap spur to Buh Wolf. Buh Wolf say: +“You fool, wuh you duh do?” an eh rare an +pitch an try fuh trow Buh Rabbit off. Buh +Rabbit stick on, an eh clap de spur wus an +wus ter Buh Wolf. Wen Buh Wolf fine +out eh cant do nuttne, eh keep de abnue +straight fur de house. Wen dem duh nigh +de house Buh Rabbit holler ter de Gal: +“Wuh me bin tell you? Yuh me come pon +me farruh ridin horse,” an eh rip spur een +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[33]</span> +Buh Wolf an eh hole um tight. De spur +hot Buh Wolf so bad eh couldnt do nuttne +but run. Buh Rabbit tun um dest by de +piazza, an eh light off eh back, an eh run +up ter de Gal, an eh say: “Wuh you tink +er me farruh ridin horse?” Buh Wolf so +painful, so bex, an so shame, eh keep on run, +an eh nebber come back fur see de Gal +no mo.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him too scheemy fuh Buh +Wolf. Wen de Gal notus how smate Buh +Rabbit bin, an how eh mek good eh big +wud, eh gen um eh han, an, leetle while arter, +dem bin git marry.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[34]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIV"><abbr title="Fourteen">XIV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH WOLF AN DE TWO DINNER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Wolf, him binner inwite ter two dinner +de same day an de same time: one gen +by Cooter Bay, an de tarruh by John Bay. +Dem bin bredder, an dem lib on two seprite +road wuh jine at de fork. Buh Wolf, him +so greedy him cept bofe inbitation. Wen +de time come fuh go, eh dress ehself up an +eh light out. Wen eh git ter de place way +de road fork, eh stop an eh consider. Eh +want fuh tek bofe road an go ter de two dinner. +Eh cant tek one an leff tarruh. Eh +gone down one road; eh tun back; eh tan +ter de fork. Eh tek tarruh road; eh come +back ter de fork; eh tan day gen. Eh state +off; eh tun back. Eh state off gen; eh tun +back gen. Eh cant mek up eh mine which +dinner fuh tek an which dinner fuh leff. Eh +hanker arter bofe. Eh wase eh time. Wile +dis bin a guine on, de people bin a eat at +bofe de dinner.</p> + +<p>Bimeby yuh come some er dem, wuh bin +eat dinner wid Cooter Bay, duh mek dem +way home. Dem see Buh Wolf duh tan in +de fork er de road, an dem hail um, an dem +say: “Hi! Buh Wolf, wuh you duh do +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[35]</span> +yuh?” Buh Wolf, him mek answer: “Me +guine ter Cooter Bay fuh dine long um.” +Den dem tell um say de dinner done ober; +dat dem jist come from day, an dat dem bin +hab plenty er good bittle fuh eat. Buh +Wolf rale cut down case eh loss one dinner.</p> + +<p>Eh hop off an mek fuh John Bay house +fuh git de tarruh dinner. Eh yent bin gone +no destant befo eh meet dem people duh +comin back wuh bin gone fuh eat dinner +long John Bay. Dem tell um de dinner +done ober, an eh mights well tun back. Buh +Wolf outdone. Eh so greedy eh couldnt +mek up eh mine which dinner fuh tek. Eh +tink eh guine git all two, an eh yent git +none. Eh gone home dat bex an hongry eh +ready fuh kill ehself.</p> + +<p>People wuh wunt mek up dem mine in +time wuh dem mean fuh do guine git leff.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[36]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XV"><abbr title="Fifteen">XV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH OWL AN BUH ROOSTER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Owl, him bin a great music-meker. +Him an Buh Rooster bin good fren. Heap +er bud blan wisit Buh Rooster house fuh +yeddy music an fuh dance. Buh Owl, him +sing so well an eh pick de banjo so clear, nobody +kin listen ter um an keep eh foot still; +but eh no wan leh nobody shum wen eh duh +sing an play. Buh Rooster, him always blan +hab a dark room fuh Buh Owl fuh set in +wen eh duh play fuh de bud. Lamp day in +day, but eh hab shade on um. Buh Owl +kin see de bud wuh duh dance, but de bud, +dem cant see Buh Owl. Buh Owl, him faid +light, an eh yent der bole bud no how.</p> + +<p>One ebenin Buh Owl bin a sing an play +oncommon well fuh de bud at Buh Rooster +house fuh dance. De pahler bin full, but dem +yent bin know who dat bin a mek de music. +Buh Rooster, him bin prommus Buh Owl dat +eh yent guine tell who duh sing an play. +Wen dem all bin dance tel dem tired, dem +all bague Buh Rooster fuh show dem de man +wuh bin mek sich pooty music fuh dem fuh +dance long. Buh Rooster say him cant. +Dem keep on bague, tel, at lenk, Buh Rooster +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[37]</span> +gone in tarruh room, an eh tek de shade +offer de lamp. Wen dem look pon topper +Buh Owl, eh yeye so big, an eh yez cock up +so high, eh skade de people, an dem all holler +an run.</p> + +<p>Buh Owl, him berry bex case Buh Rooster +broke eh wud, an he fall out wid Buh Rooster. +From dat day Buh Owl hate Buh +Rooster, eh wife, an eh chillun. Wenebber, +duh night, eh yeddy any er um duh crow er +der fix ehself topper eh roose, eh mek fuh +de place an eat um up. Eh yent do, in dis +wul, fuh man fuh ceive eh fren.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[38]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVI"><abbr title="Sixteen">XVI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH LION AN BUH GOAT.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Lion bin a hunt, an eh spy Buh +Goat duh leddown topper er big rock duh +wuk eh mout an der chaw. Eh creep up fuh +ketch um. Wen eh git close ter um eh +notus um good. Buh Goat keep on chaw. +Buh Lion try fuh fine out wuh Buh Goat +duh eat. Eh yent see nuttne nigh um ceptin +de nekked rock wuh eh duh leddown on. +Buh Lion stonish. Eh wait topper Buh +Goat. Buh Goat keep on chaw, an chaw, +an chaw. Buh Lion cant mek de ting out, +an eh come close, an eh say: “Hay! Buh +Goat, wuh you duh eat?” Buh Goat skade +wen Buh Lion rise up befo um, but eh keep +er bole harte, an eh mek ansur: “Me duh +chaw dis rock, an ef you dont leff, wen me +done long um me guine eat you.” Dis big +wud sabe Buh Goat. Bole man git outer +diffikelty way coward man lose eh life.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[39]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVII"><abbr title="Seventeen">XVII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH BEAR AN BUH TIGER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Bear, him tired lib wid eh farruh an +eh fambly, an eh tell eh farruh eh guine way +fuh mek eh own libbin, an eh want um fuh +gem wuhebber eh hab wuh cummin ter um +from de fambly property. Eh farruh an eh +murrer try fuh swade um fuh stay long dem, +but eh say eh mek up eh mine fuh go. Den +eh farruh tell um eh yent hab nuttne fuh +gem cept sebbn loaf er bread. Buh Bear, +him berry disappint; but wen eh see eh +yent guine git nuttne mo, eh gree fuh tek +um. Eh farruh tell um: “De man wuh eat +any er dat bread long you will hab fuh +rastle long you fuh sebbn year.” Buh Bear +cahr eh bread, an gone der wood, an mek +camp fuh ehself. Wen eh bin er eat de +bread, Buh Tiger come long an bague um fuh +some. Buh Bear say: “Buh Tiger, ef you eat +any er dis yer bread, you haffer rastle long +me fuh sebbn year.” Buh Tiger, him answer: +“Me willin: me hongry; gimme de bread.” +Den Buh Bear gen um some, an eh eat um. +Befo dem part Buh Tiger tell Buh Bear way +him house yiz, and gree fuh rastle long um +de nex mornin. Buh Bear say: “Berry well: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[40]</span> +me guine come ter you house by de time de +sun git up, an you will haffer rastle long me.”</p> + +<p>Soon a mornin Buh Bear gone ter Buh +Tiger house an knock ter de do. Buh Tiger +come out in er hurry, an dey graff hold er +one anurrer. Buh Bear fling Buh Tiger; +an befo eh leh um git up, eh box um side er +de head.</p> + +<p>Nex day Buh Bear come gen same time, +and Buh Tiger meet um, an dem rastle, an +Buh Bear fling um an hit um side er de head, +same place way eh bin knock um de day +befo. Nex day same ting. Nex day same +ting. Nex day same ting. De six mornin, +wen Buh Bear knock ter Buh Tiger do, Buh +Tiger yent come out. Eh sen eh wife fuh +say eh bin berry sick. Buh Bear say eh mus +come out. Eh wife tell um; an arter Buh +Tiger fine out Buh Bear yent guine leff, eh +come out. Eh head swell way Buh Bear bin +a box um. Buh Tiger look bad. Buh Bear +hole um gen an eh trow um berry easy, an +den eh box um gen in de same ole place +sider eh head, way eh bin a knock um befo, +an wuh swell. Eh hot Buh Tiger so bad eh +holler. De nex mornin, wen Buh Bear come, +Buh Tiger bin in eh bed. Eh head tie up, +an eh wife bin a nuss um. Eh couldnt rastle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[41]</span> +long Buh Bear no mo. Buh Bear, him +shame um, an mek um leff eh house. Den +Buh Bear mobe in an mek ehself satify.</p> + +<p>Buh Bear fine out dat de bread wuh eh +farruh bin gen um, an wuh eh hardly bin +want fuh tote long um, done um a heap er +good, an git um er nice house fuh lib een.</p> + +<p>“Wenebber,” added old Daddy Smart, +“you farruh gie you anyting, tek um, an +tenky. You suttenly will fine out dat wuh +eh gie you will do you no harm, but eh will +fetch good luck ter you.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[42]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XVIII"><abbr title="Eighteen">XVIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH MONKEY AN DE BULL-DOG.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Ebry body cept Buh Monkey bin full er +trouble. On ebry side you yeddy nuttne +cept bout trouble. Trouble yuh, trouble +day, trouble ebry way. Buh Monkey tell eh +wife eh wonder wuh dis ting duh wuh ebry +body bin a talk bout, an wuh dem all duh +call trouble. Him say him cant tell. Den +Buh Monkey mek up eh mine fuh go teh de +Debble, an fine out from um. Eh gone. Eh +ketch de Debble duh eat eh brukwus; an +eh ax um huccum ebry body hab trouble +cept him. An eh leh de Debble know say +him wan fine out wuh dis ting duh wuh +bin a bodder ebry body, an wuh ebry body +call trouble. De Debble tell um fuh go +een de kitchin an wait topper um, an wen +eh done eh brukwus him will come out an +mek um sensible bout dis ting wuh call +trouble. Buh Monkey gone ter de kitchin, +an tek one chair an mek ehself saterfy. Eh +jaw duh run water, fuh eh tink ter ehself +de Debble guine gem some nice brukwus. +Eh wait day sich a lenk er time, an no brukwus +come. Den de Debble come outer de +big house duh fetch er bag een eh han. De +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[43]</span> +bag done tie up. Eh gen de bag ter Buh +Monkey, an eh tell um: “Trouble day een +dis yer bag. You cahr um tel you git een +de middle er de ole fiel, an den you open um, +an you guine fine out wuh call trouble.” +Big fiel bin all roun an roun de house. Not +a tree nur a stump bin in dat fiel. Buh +Monkey tek de bag. Eh hebby. Eh state +fuh home duh tote um. Eh tired befo eh +retch de middle er de fiel. Wen eh ketch +de middle er de fiel, eh top, an eh onloose de +bag. Bless God! out jump one Bull-Dog, +an eh tek right arter Buh Monkey. Eh run. +Eh run. Eh holler. Eh holler. De Dog +day right arter um duh try fuh bite um. +Wen Buh Monkey git ter de wood, eh state +fuh clime de fus tree eh come teh. De Dog +so close behine um eh snap at um an bite off +eh tail. Buh Monkey leff eh tail een de +dog mouf, an gone up de tree. Eh fine one +crotch, an eh seddown duh pant an der cry. +Eh skade so tell eh scacely kin keep eh +seat. Eh tail duh bleed. De Dog sed down +onder de tree, an watch um, an wait fur um +fuh come down. Buh Monkey faid fuh +come down. Ebry time dat Buh Monkey +mek motion fuh come down, de Dog show eh +teet an growl. Night come, and Buh Monkey, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[44]</span> +him day up de tree. Eh fine out fuh +true wuh call trouble. Eh dat tired, an sore, +an skade, eh dunno wuh fuh do. Bout +middle der night de Dog hongry, an gone +home fuh eat eh bittle. Buh Monkey slip +down de tree an mek track fuh him house. +Wen eh meet eh wife an chillun, an show um +eh tail wuh bite off, an tell um wuh eh bin +tru, dem all mek er great miration, an dem +all conclude dem know nuff bout trouble, an +yent want see um no mo. Bad plan fuh +people fuh hunt trouble wen trouble yent der +hunt dem.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[45]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XIX"><abbr title="Nineteen">XIX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH ELEPHANT AN BUH ROOSTER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Elephant, him bin know Buh Rooster +berry well. Dem blan roam togerrur, an +Buh Rooster blan wake Buh Elephant duh +mornin, so eh kin hunt eh bittle befo de jew +dry.</p> + +<p>Dem bin a talk togerrur one day, an Buh +Elephant, him bet Buh Rooster say him kin +eat longer ner him. Buh Rooster, him tek +de bet, an dem tun in nex mornin, wen de +sun jis bin a git up, fuh see who guine win +de bet. Buh Elephant, him gedder leaf an +grass, an eat an eat tel eh full an cant eat no +mo. Buh Rooster, him sarche de grass fuh +seed an wurrum, an eh pick an eat. Wen +Buh Elephant done full, an der tan onder +de tree duh flop eh yez, eh see Buh Rooster, +dist es spry, duh walk bout an der swaller +seed an grasshopper an wurrum same luk eh +dis biggin fuh eat. Buh Elephant gib up. +Eh fine eh yent de man wid de bigges belly +wuh kin eat de longes.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[46]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XX"><abbr title="Twenty">XX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE PO MAN AN DE SNAKE.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>One po Man bin er mek eh libbin long +split shingle an cut timber in de swamp. +Him hab wife, but no chillun. Ebry day, +from sunrise tel sundown, eh day in de +swamp der cut. Try eh bes, eh scacely kin +mek bread fuh eat.</p> + +<p>One berry big Snake—de farruh er all +dem tarruh snake wuh lib in de swamp—notus +de po man. Eh see how hard eh wuk +an how little eh mek, and eh tek pity on um. +One ebenin, dis befo de po man knock off +wuk, dis snake crawl up ter de log way de +man bin er chop, an eh say: “Budder, how +you der mek out?” De man mek answer: +“Me yent mek out wut. Me der wuk in +dis swamp from sunrise tel dark, day een an +day out, an try me bes, me scacely kin mek +bittle nough fuh me an me wife fuh eat.” +Den de snake, him say: “Me sorry fuh you, +an me willin fuh help you.” De man tenk +um, an ax um how eh guine help um. De +snake say: “You got any chillun?” De +man say: “No.” De snake quire: “You hab +wife?” De man say: “Yes.” De snake +say: “Kin you keep secret from you wife?” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[47]</span> +De man mek answer say eh kin. Buh Snake +tell um eh faid fuh truss um; but wen de +man bague de snake berry hard fuh try um, +de snake gree fuh do so. Den de snake tell +um eh guine gen um some money nex day, +but eh mussne tell eh wife way eh git de +money. De man mek strong prommus, and +so dem part.</p> + +<p>De nex day, jis befo de po man done task, +de snake crawl up. Eh belly an eh mouf +puff out. Eh spit two quart er silber money +on de groun dist in front er de po man, an +eh say: “You member wuh me bin tell you +las ebenin? Well, yuh some money me fotch +fuh help you. Tek um, but member ef you +tell you wife way you git um, er who gen um +ter you, eh yent guine do you no good, an +you guine dead a po man.” De man so glad +fuh git de money eh say: “Tenky, tenky, +tenky, me budder; me neber guine tell nobody +way me git all dis <a id="chg1"></a>money.” Arter eh +leff de swamp fuh gone home, de snake spicion +say eh bin guine go back on eh prommus +an tell eh wife: so eh mek up eh mine +fuh foller um an see wuh happne.</p> + +<p>Eh bin dark wen eh retch de man house. +Eh crawl up, an eh leddown dist onder de +winder, way him kin yeddy all de wud wuh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[48]</span> +talk in de house. De man wife bin a tun +roun an der cook supper. Arter him an eh +husbun done eat, eh husbun say: “Me bin +hab big luck ter-day: looker dis money.” +Den eh pull out de silber and spread um on +de table. Eh wife stonish. Eh wife glad, +an eh say: “Tell me way you bin git all dis +money.” De man say: “Fren gen um ter +me.” Eh wife say: “Wuh fren?” De man +say him prommus no fuh tell. De wife say +but eh mus tell um, an eh bague so hard tel +de man done furgit eh prommus, an eh up +an mek um sensible how de ting all happne. +Den eh wife say: “Dat snake must hab eh +belly full er silber money, an me tell you wuh +you do ter-morruh. Wen de snake come +fuh talk long you, you pick you chance an +chop eh head off long you ax, an tek all de +money outer um.” Eh husbun gree fur do +dist is him say.</p> + +<p>Buh Snake, him yeddy ebry wud dem talk, +an eh gone to him house in de swamp berry +bex case de man wuh eh bin befren shouldder +gone back on eh prommus and mek bad +bargain fuh kill um.</p> + +<p>De nex day de man watch fuh de snake. +Wen de sun duh lean fuh down, an de man +bin a try fuh split one big log, Buh Snake +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[49]</span> +crawl up long sider de log an show ehself ter +de man. Dem talk togerrur; an de snake ax +de man: “You bin show you wife de money +wuh me bin gen you?” De man answer: +“Yes, me yiz.” An den eh ax um: “You +bin tell you wife way you bin git um?” De +man say: “No.” De snake ax um gen: +“You sho you no bin tell um you git um +long me?” De man say: “Me tell you one +time ready. Wuh mek you ax me dat questun +gen? You tink me duh lie?” Wid dat, +eh mek eh lick fuh chop de snake head off. +De snake bin hab eh yeye on um, an eh +draw back gin de log. De ax miss de snake, +an glance back off de log an cut de man own +leg off. De po man holler fuh somebody +fuh come fuh help um. Eh day way in de +swamp out er yearin, an noboddy yeddy. +Wen eh duh bleed ter det, an dis befo eh +dead, Buh Snake, him say ter um: “Enty +me bin tell you, wen me gen you dat silber +money, ef you tell you wife way you git um +you guine dead one po man? You prommus +me you guine keep de secret. Steader dat, +you gone home ter you wife, an you show +um de money, an you tell um way you git +um. Mo na dat: you an him fix plan fuh +kill me wuh bin you fren, an rob me outer +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[50]</span> +wuh money me hab leff. Now you see de +jedgment wuh come topper you. In try fuh +chop me head off, you cut you own foot off. +You gwine dead in dis yer wood. No man +ner ooman gwine fine you. Buzzud gwine +eat you.”</p> + +<p>Eh happne dis is de snake say. De man +broke eh wud, an eh dead a po man.</p> + +<p>Anybody wuh gwine back on eh prommus, +an try fuh harm de pusson wuh done um a +faber, sho ter meet up wid big trouble.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[51]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXI"><abbr title="Twenty-one">XXI.</abbr></h2> +<h3>LEELY GAL, BUH ALLIGATUR, AN DE JAY-BUD.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>A leely Gal bin a gwine home. Eh come +ter de ribber bank, an no boat day fuh him +fuh git cross. Eh dunno wuffer do. Eh +seddown. Eh cry. Day binner gwine. Alligatur +yeddy um, an eh come day, an eh ax +de leely Gal wuh de matter. De leely Gal +tell um. Den de Alligatur say: “Ef you +prommus no fuh tell who cahr you ober de +ribber, me will pit you cross.” De leely Gal +prommus, an de Alligatur tek um on eh +back and ferry um ober all safe.</p> + +<p>De nex day de Alligatur duh sun ehself +on de ribber bank, an eh yeddy er woice +say: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober. +Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” Eh +listne. Eh tink say de leely Gal bin a talk, +an dat eh bin broke eh prommus. Eh notus +close, an wen eh yeddy de woice gen eh see +er Blue-Jay bin er talk um een de tree. Dat +same Blue-Jay bin day de ebenin befo, an +bin er see an er yeddy all wuh happne, but de +leely Gal an de Alligatur nebber bin know.</p> + +<p>De Jay-Bud keep a holler: “Yaller-belly +Alligatur ferry me ober.” De Alligatur call +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[52]</span> +to de Jay-Bud, an eh quire: “Wudder dat +you say?” An de Jay-Bud keep a sing: +“Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” Alligatur, +him say: “Me hard er yearin. Come +close, so me kin yeddy you song.” De Bud +fly down dist by Buh Alligatur, an eh sing +gen: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” +Buh Alligatur yeddy um berry well, but eh +so bex say de Bud done fine out, an der +talk eh secret, dat eh want fuh kill um sho. +So eh say gen: “Me tell you me deef; come +close; set on me nose, so me kin yeddy wuh +you duh sing.” De fool Bud come an light +on eh nose, an eh holler gen: “Yaller-belly +Alligatur ferry me ober.” De wud yent leff +eh mouf befo Buh Alligatur trow open him +mouf an ketch um, an chaw de life outer um.</p> + +<p>Bad plan fur stranger fuh meddle long +tarruh people bidness.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[53]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXII"><abbr title="Twenty-two">XXII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE CAT, DE RAT, DE CHEESE, AN DE FOX.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>De Cat an de Rat, dem fine one big piece +er cheese een er closet. Dem cahr um way +fuh share um. Dem cant gree how eh fuh +dewide, an dem call een de Fox fuh jedge +between um.</p> + +<p>De Fox, eh berry cunnin, an eh nebber +furgit ehself. Eh bring eh scale, an eh pit +de cheese een um. Den eh tek eh knife an +eh cut off big piece, an eh pit um one side an +eh say dis fuh de jedge. Den eh weigh de +cheese gen een de scale, an eh tek um out +an eh cut off narrur slice, an eh pit um one +side an eh say dat fuh de jedge.</p> + +<p>By dis time eh done tek mo ner half de +cheese. Wen eh pit de cheese back een de +scale, an hole um up gen, Buh Cat an Buh +Rat, dem bofe call out: “Hole on, Jedge! +Dis ting wrong. You gwine tek all we +cheese an leff we none.” Buh Fox, him berry +bex, on eh gedder de cheese an eh fole up +eh scale, an eh holler out: “Begone, you +rogue. You lib pon tief, an you gwine tell +me how fer do jestice? Good fuh you me +only tek de cheese, an leh you go wid you +life. Me great mine fuh kill you bofe.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[54]</span></p> + +<p>Wid dat, Buh Cat an Buh Rat, dem leff, +an Buh Fox, wuh bin de jedge, eat all de +cheese.</p> + +<p>Wen tief git plunder, better fuh dem fuh +share um mongst demself den trus ter call +een bigger rogue fur dewide um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[55]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXIII"><abbr title="Twenty-three">XXIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN DE TARRUH BEASTISES.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>All de animel conjunct togedder fuh buil +house an gedder dem winter perwision. +Buh Rabbit prommus fuh help, but wen dem +call pon um fuh help tote de pole and de +bresh, him mek scuse, say him wife berry +sick and him bleege fuh tay home an nuss +um. All dis bin a lie. Buh Rabbit, him +scheemy an lazy. Eh always ready fuh mek +big brag bout wuh him gwine do, but eh +nebber does come up ter eh wud. Eh hate +fuh wuk, an eh lub fuh lib offer tarruh people +labuh.</p> + +<p>Wen de house done buil, de animel, dem +fetch ebry man eh own perwision, an pack +um way een eh own place way eh kin git um +wen fros fall, an de grass done dead, an +de tree done drap eh leaf an eh fruit. De +Possum, him bring an pile up pussimmun. +De Squirle fetch eh hickry not an eh acorn. +De Deer, de Elephant, de Cow, dem gedder +an pack way grass an leaf. De Lion and +de Tiger an de Wolf an all dem animel wuh +lib offer meat, dem ketch dem meat and dry +um, an bring um an pit um way een de +house. De Bud, dem bring dem seed an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[56]</span> +dem wurrum. De Cooter, him hab him corner too, +an eh full um long him bittle. Wen +ebry body done gedder eh perwision, dem +shet de do an gone ter dem house fuh ten +ter dem bidness an wait tel winter come, +wen dem gwine lib offer wuh dem bin pit +way. Buh Rabbit, him bin a dodge bout +way nobody kin shum, duh notus wuh +gwine on, an bin a mek eh plan.</p> + +<p>Soon es de house full, an de do shet, an +ebry body leff, eh slip een de house an pit +eh yeye on ebry ting, an mek up eh mine fuh +lib topper wuh all dem people bin gedder. +Eh fix one bed fur ehself. Eh gedder water +in piggin an calabash fuh lass um, an den +eh git two oncommon big horn, an eh gone +eenside an fassen up de do, an mek ehself +saterfy. Eh lib day, eh eat, eh sleep, eh pledjur +ehself, an eh fine eh bittle right ter eh +han. Dis wuh Buh Rabbit lub. Nuttne mek +um so merry es to lib offer tarruh people.</p> + +<p>Fros fall, an de animel biggin fuh tink +bout dem perwision wuh dem bin lay up een +de house. Fus come de Deer, an eh try fuh +open de do fuh git ter him pile er grass. +De do fastne. Buh Deer couldnt mek out +how dat. Eh knock ter de do. Eh knock. +Eh knock. Bimeby Buh Rabbit—wuh bin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[57]</span> +a yeddy um all de time—tek eh horn, an +eh talk tru um fuh mek er woice big, an eh +say: “Wudduh dat?” Buh Deer, him sorter +skittish, an eh faid fuh trus ehself, an +de big woice kinder skade um, but eh mek +out fuh answer: “Duh me, Buh Deer.” +Den Buh Rabbit talk tru eh horn: “Wuh +you want yuh, anyhow?” Buh Deer answer: +“Me want fuh come een fuh git me +bittle wuh me bin pit way fuh me fuh eat +der winter.” Buh Rabbit answer loud tru +eh horn: “You cant come een.” Buh Deer +quire: “Who you day eenside?” Den Buh +Rabbit tek eh biggis horn, an eh holler tru +um so loud eh mek de house shake: “Better +man den ebber bin yuh befo.”</p> + +<p>De woice so sewere Buh Deer skade, an +eh leff, an eh gone tell all dem tarruh animel +say big Sperit gone tek de house way dem +perwision done gedder. De animel stonish, +an dem all conclude fuh go een gang ter de +house an fine out wuh de ting yiz. Wen +dem all gedder, dem tell de Lion—wuh bin +de king beast—fuh quire bout who day +eenside. Buh Lion, him gone ter de do. All +de beastises tan roun fuh yeddy wuh gwine +happne. Buh Lion knock. No answer. Eh +knock gen. No answer. Den eh say: “Who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[58]</span> +duh dat day een yuh?” Buh Rabbit graff +eh big horn, an eh answer back tru um wid +all eh strenk: “Better man den ebber bin +yuh befo.” De woice soun so outlandish, an +eh come wid sich er big noise, de beastises all +conclude wuh Buh Deer bin tell dem bin so, +an dat de Sperit, him bin tek persession er +de house. Dem faid fuh bus een de do, an +dem all gree fuh leff. Dem did leff, an dem +yent fine out tel dis day dat eh been Buh +Rabbit wuh fool um, an dat no Sperit bin +day none tall.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[59]</span><h2 class="nobreak" id="XXIV"><abbr title="Twenty-four">XXIV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE BUTTER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Wolf, him hire Buh Rabbit fuh help +um wuk eh crap. Eh crap, eh day een de +grass, an Buh Wolf faid eh gwine loss um. +Befo dem state der fiel, Buh Rabbit notus +say Buh Wolf hab een him house er nice +pan er fresh butter. Eh mout water fuh git +some, but eh shame fuh bague Buh Wolf. +Buh Rabbit, him berry lub fuh tief, an eh +mek eh plan fuh git some er dat butter.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit done gone der +fiel an tun een fuh wuk. De sun hot, an +befo long Buh Rabbit biggin fuh drap behine. +Den all ob er sutten eh trow down +eh hoe, an eh look way off, an eh cock up eh +yez, an eh holler out: “Me yeddy you. Me +duh comin.” Buh Wolf, him tun roun, an eh +say: “Buh Rabbit, wuh you duh do? You +mus be der tun fool. Nobody duh call you.” +Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Somebody +yiz bin er call me, an me know who dem yiz, +an wuffer dem duh call me. Enty you sabe +me duh preacher? Well, me prommus fuh +bactize er chile dis berry hour, an me mus +go fuh keep me pintment.” “Berry well,” +answer Buh Wolf, “dont you loss no time, +fuh dis crap want wuk berry bad.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[60]</span></p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit hop off luk eh bin gwine in +anarruh direction from dat wuh lead to Buh +Wolf house. Wen eh git een de wood, eh +slip roun onbeknowinst ter Buh Wolf, an +gone een him house an eat hebby outer de +pan er butter. Eh wipe eh mouf, an eh +sukkle back tell eh git ter de place een de +fiel way eh bin leff eh hoe. Eh seem berry +merry, an wen Buh Wolf ax um ef he done +bactize de chile, eh say yes. Den Buh Wolf +ax um wuh dem bin name de chile, an Buh +Rabbit tell um say dem bin call um <i>Fus +Biginnin</i>.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit wuk on. Dem +binner hoe tetter. De butter sweeten Buh +Rabbit. Him couldnt stop from tink topper +um. Eh biggin fuh want mo. De mo eh +study bout um de slower eh wuk. Buh +Wolf call ter um an tell um fuh hurry. +Buh Rabbit mek answer an say eh yiz duh +hurry. Bless you soul! een a little while +Buh Rabbit, him drap eh hoe an eh holler +out: “You right; me bin mose furgit; me +comin right off.” Buh Wolf, him stonish, +an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, you must be loss +you sense; who you duh holler teh? Nobody +duh call you.” Buh Rabbit mek answer: +“Somebody yiz bin a call me. Enty you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[61]</span> +yeddy um?” Buh Wolf say: “No, me no +yeddy.” Den Buh Rabbit up an tell um +say eh hab gagement fur bactize nurrur chile +at dis berry hour, an eh mose bin furgit bout +um tell eh murrer an eh farruh holler ter um +outer de wood an member um. Buh Wolf +mek jection gainst Buh Rabbit gwine, but +wen Buh Rabbit tell um de chile gwine loss +ef eh no git bactize, Buh Wolf lem go. +Buh Rabbit do dist iz eh bin done befo. Eh +gone een Buh Wolf house, eh tek down de +pan gen, an eh eat mona half de butter. +Wen eh ketch de fiel, Buh Wolf ax um ef +eh done bactize tarruh chile, an eh answer +eh yiz. Buh Wolf say: “Duh him duh gal +er boy?” Buh Rabbit mek answer say: +“Him duh gal.” “Wuh eh name?” questun +Buh Wolf. “<i>Half-way</i>,” answer Buh +Rabbit.</p> + +<p>Dem wuk on tel de sun biggin fuh lean +een de wes. Buh Rabbit still duh study +bout dat butter. Eh yent willin fuh go ter +eh home an leff any behine. So een de tree +hour eh pit eh han up ter eh yez an eh +listne. Den eh holler out de turd time, an +eh say: “Go on, me duh comin.” Buh +Wolf ax um. “Way you duh gwine now? +Enty you done bactize chillun?” Buh Rabbit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[62]</span> +tell um eh hab one mo fuh bactize befo +sun down, but eh wunt tek um long becase +eh lib close by. Den Buh Rabbit slip roun +ter Buh Wolf house an clean up de las er +de butter. Eh yent leff one grain een de +pan.</p> + +<p>Wen eh git back Buh Wolf say: “You +bactize dat chillun een er hurry; wuh eh +name?” Buh Rabbit up an tell um say eh +name <i>Scrapin er de bottom</i>. Buh Wolf, +him nebber bin spicion wuh Buh Rabbit bin +up teh. De time come fuh knock off wuk, +an wen Buh Wolf want fuh dock Buh Rabbit +fuh de time eh loss wen eh bin gone fuh +bactize dem tree chillun, Buh Rabbit plead +so harde case him bin preacher, dat Buh +Wolf, him furgib um an pay um eh full +wager. Den eh inwite Buh Rabbit fuh come +long um an tek supper wid um. But Buh +Rabbit scuse ehself, an light out fer him +house, an leff Buh Wolf een de fiel. Buh +Rabbit berry scheemy. Eh know say ef eh +did bin gone home wid Buh Wolf eh would +er see eh track, an fine out who eat eh butter, +an dat eh would er lick um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[63]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXV"><abbr title="Twenty-five">XXV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE EAGLE AN EH CHILLUN.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>De Eagle, him duh er wise bud. Eh mek +eh nes on one tall pine tree close de ribber, +er de sea, way nuttne kin git at um. Eh +saterfy wid two chillun. Eh tek good care +er um. Ebry hour eh fetch um snake an +fish, an eh garde um from win an rain an +fowl-hawk, an mek um grow fas. Wen eh +wing kibber wid fedder an eh strong nough +fur fly, wuh Buh Eagle do? Eh wunt leff +dem chillun een de nes fuh lazy an lib pon +topper eh farruh an eh murrer, but eh tek +um on eh wing, an eh sail ober de sea, an eh +tell eh chillun: “De time come fuh you fuh +mek you own libbin. Me feed you long +nough. Now you haffer look out fuh youself.” +Wid dat, eh fly from onder dem, an +de noung bud, wen eh fine out eh murrer +yent gwine cahr um no furder, an dat dem +haffer shif fuh demself, dem try eh wing an +sail off een de element duh hunt bittle.</p> + +<p>People orter tek notus er Buh Eagle an +do jes es him do. Wen you chillun git big +nough fuh wuk, mek um wuk. Dont leh um +set bout de house duh do nuttne, an duh +spek eh farruh an eh murrer fuh fine bittle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[64]</span> +an cloze fuh um. Ef you does, you chillun +gwine mek you shame, an eh will tun out +berry triflin. Eh will keep you dead po, too.</p> + +<p>Do same luk Buh Eagle. Mine you chillun +well wen dem leetle; an soon es dem big +nough fuh wuk, mek um wuk.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[65]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXVI"><abbr title="Twenty-six">XXVI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>CHANTICLEER AN DE BAN-YAD ROOSTER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>You nebber bin see er finer bud den Buh +Chanticleer. Eh fedder eh glisten same luk +silber een de sun. Eh step so high, an eh +yent faid nuttne. Wen eh crow you could +yeddy um all tru de settlement. De hen +all lub um, an run ter um wenebber him +call. Eh can lick all dem tarruh rooster; +an jist es soon es eh mek motion at dem, +dem run.</p> + +<p>Befo eh bin fine um out fuh true, day bin +er big yaller Rooster een de gang wuh try +fuh spute Buh Chanticleer, an mek eh brag +say eh kin lick um. Dem fight. De big +yaller Rooster couldnt tan up befo Buh +Chanticleer. Eh gaff um, eh pick um een +eh back, eh knock um ober, an eh run um +out de yad.</p> + +<p>Arter dat, de yaller Rooster faid fuh come +nigh Buh Chanticleer. Eh run ebry time +eh see Buh Chanticleer duh walk towuds +um, but eh hab a way fuh debble Buh Chanticleer. +Eh go way off, an ebry time eh +yeddy Buh Chanticleer flap eh wing an +crow, him do de same. Soon a mornin wen +Buh Chanticleer crow fuh day, de big yaller +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[66]</span> +Rooster, him crow too. De ting bodder Buh +Chanticleer, an eh want fuh kill um. Eh +try hard fuh fine out way eh roose. One +day one er de hen wuh blanks ter Buh +Chanticleer fambly mek um sensible jist +way de yaller Rooster blan roose. Den Buh +Chanticleer, him sen fuh Buh Fox. Eh +come, an Buh Chanticleer ax um say: +“You want one fat Rooster fuh eat?” Buh +Fox, him answer: “Yes, me berry glad fuh +git um, an heap er tenky ter you too.”</p> + +<p>Den Buh Chanticleer tell um fuh come de +fus moon-shiny night, an him will show um +way eh kin git a good supper. Buh Fox +happy, an eh prommus fuh come. Eh did +come de fus moon-shiny night, an Buh +Chanticleer gone long um an pint out de big +yaller Rooster duh sleep een one low cedar +tree. Buh Fox creep up easy, an graff um +an eat um. Wen eh done eat um, an eh +duh lick eh mout, Buh Chanticleer ax um: +“How you luk um?” Buh Fox mek answer: +“Me luk um berry well. Eh bin fat. +Eh meat sweet. Me luk um summuch me +want mo.” Wid dat, an befo Buh Chanticleer +kin mek out wuh eh tend fuh do, eh +jump pon topper Buh Chanticleer, an mash +um ter det, an eat um up. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[67]</span></p> + +<p>Wen you want somebody fuh do you sarbis, +call pon you fren, but dont trus you +eenemy fuh done um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[68]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXVII"><abbr title="Twenty-seven">XXVII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN DE GROUN-MOLE.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Day nebber bin a man wuh kin equel Buh +Rabbit fuh mek plan fuh lib offer tarruh +people bedout wuk isself. Groun-mole, bin +berry tick. On ebry side dem bin er root +up de tetter patch, and stroy pinder. Nobody +know how fuh ketch um, case eh wuk +onder de groun, an wen you go fuh fine um +eh yent dedday.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him see eh chance, an eh tell +ebry body him know how fuh stroy um. De +ting come ter Buh Wolf yez, an eh sen fuh +Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit gone ter Buh +Wolf, an eh tell um yes, him hab plan fuh +clear de fiel er Groun-mole, an dat him +wunt charge Buh Wolf nuttne but him +board an lodgment wile him duh ketch an +kill de Groun-mole. Buh Wolf, him say +Buh Rabbit berry kine, an eh gree fuh fine +um. Den Buh Wolf hab one nice bed mek +up fuh Buh Rabbit, an eh tell eh wife fuh +feed um well.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf hab some bidness wuh call um +way from home, an eh spec fuh gone +bout one week. Eh leff Buh Rabbit fuh +clean de Groun-mole outer eh fiel, an den eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[69]</span> +gone. Buh Rabbit, him well saterfy. Ebry +mornin, arter brukwus, eh mobe off luk eh +bin gwine ter Buh Wolf fiel, an nobody +shum tel dinner time. Arter eh done eat +er hebby dinner, eh gone gen tel supper +time, wen eh come back an eat er hebby +supper, an den eh leddown der bed.</p> + +<p>Nobody kin see any Groun-mole wuh +Buh Rabbit der ketch, but eh tell Buh Wolf +wife dat eh bin er kill heap er dem ebry +day, an dat eh gwine soon clear de fiel. De +ting gone on dis way tel Buh Wolf tun +home. Wen eh retch eh house eh quire +bout Buh Rabbit, an eh wife tell um wuh +Buh Rabbit bin er say an er do, an dat Buh +Rabbit gone der fiel dist arter brukwus. Buh +Wolf say him gwine see fuh ehself wuh +Buh Rabbit duh do, an wuh plan eh fix fuh +ketch de Groun-mole.</p> + +<p>Wen eh git der fiel eh look up an down, +an eh yent see no sign er Buh Rabbit. Eh +notus eh crap, an de Groun-mole duh eat +um wus den nebber. Eh sarche fuh Buh +Rabbit track, an eh cant shum no way. +Buh Wolf mek up eh mine dat Buh Rabbit +yent do de fus ting een de fiel. De sun hot. +Buh Wolf gone een de edge er de wood, an +day eh come pon topper Buh Rabbit tretch +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[70]</span> +out een er bed wuh eh bin mek outer pine +straw onder one tree, fas tersleep. Eh yent +bin study bout Buh Wolf, er de Groun-mole +wuh bin er bodder de fiel. Buh Wolf slip +up, an eh graff um tight. Buh Rabbit so +skade eh furgit fuh lie, an Buh Wolf mek +um confess eh yent know how fuh ketch +Groun-mole, dat eh nebber did kill none, an +dat eh bin lib offer Buh Wolf bittle ebber +sence eh leff.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf, him so bex eh git grape wine an +eh tie Buh Rabbit han an foot, an eh lick um +tel eh tired. All dis time Buh Rabbit bin +eh holler an er bague. At lenk Buh Wolf +loose um, an run um offer de place.</p> + +<p>Eh yent offen Buh Rabbit ketch at him +trick, but eh meet eh match dis time.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[71]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXVIII"><abbr title="Twenty-eight">XXVIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN DE ROCK-SOUP.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Anurrer way Buh Rabbit hab fuh mek eh +libbin bedout wuk bin dis. Eh hab een eh +pocket er pooty, smoode rock, bout de size +ob er tukrey agg. Wid dem people wuh no +quaintun wid um eh pass ehself off fuh er +fus-class cook, an eh tell um say eh hab one +rock wuh mek pruppus fuh gie soup de bes +tase; an dat de soup wuh mek long dat +rock sweeter den all edder soup.</p> + +<p>Eh gone ter Buh Bear house, an Buh +Bear hearky ter um, an gage um fuh mek +some soup long eh rock. Buh Rabbit pit on +de pot, an eh bile water een um long de +stone. Den eh call fuh meat, an wegetable, +an all kind er seaznin, an eh stir um an eh +cook um all togerrur, an eh did mek er nice +soup. Eh fool Buh Bear, an eh mek um +bliebe say eh bin de rock wuh gib sich er +rich flaber ter de soup, wen de fac bin say +de rock yent hab nuttne fuh do long um, but +de tarruh ting wuh gone een de pot, dem +duh de ting wuh mek de soup. Buh Rabbit +git big dinner at Buh Bear house dat day.</p> + +<p>Anurrer time, wen eh bin berry hongry, +eh gone ter Buh Cooter house, an eh fool um +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[72]</span> +same fashion, an eh git er hebby dinner day +too.</p> + +<p>Eh do dis way fuh some time, guine from +house teh house.</p> + +<p>At lenk eh miss an gone ter Buh Fox +house, an tell um bout eh rock-soup. Buh +Fox, him no fool. Him duh er smate man, +an eh see tru de ting right off. But eh yent +leh Buh Rabbit see dat eh spicion anyting, +an eh tell um fuh go head an mek eh soup. +Eh han out wuhebber Buh Rabbit call fuh, +an eh wait topper um tel de soup done. +Den eh tase um, an wen eh fine eh tase same +luk any edder soup mek long de ting wuh +eh han Buh Rabbit fuh pit een de pot, eh +tek Buh Rabbit rock, an eh trow um down +de well, an eh cuss Buh Rabbit fur er swindler, +an mek um shame befo all eh fambly, +an mek um leff.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit an Buh Fox, bofe er dem +berry cunnin, but dis time Buh Fox him +cunnin moner Buh Rabbit.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[73]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXIX"><abbr title="Twenty-nine">XXIX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE TWO FREN AN DE BEAR.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Two fren, dem bin a mek one journey togerruh. +Dem haffer go tru one tick swamp +wuh full er bear an edder warmint. Dem +prommus fuh tan ter one anurrer, an help +one anurrer out ef de warmint should tack +dem. Dem yent bin git half way tru de +swamp wen one big black Bear jump outer +de bush an mek fur dem. Steader one er +dem tan fur help fight um, eh leff eh fren +an clime one tree. De tarruh fren bin yeddy +say Bear no gwine eat dead people, so him +leddown on de groun, an hole eh bref, an +shet eh yeye, an mek out say him bin dead. +De Bear come up ter um, an smell um, an +tun um ober, an try fuh ketch eh bref. +Wen eh fine eh cant ketch eh bref, eh gone +off leely way an eh watch um. Den eh tun +back an smell um gen, an notus um close. +At lenk eh mek up eh mine say de man bin +dead fuh true; an wid dat eh leff um fuh +good an gone back der wood. All dis time +de tarruh fren duh squinch ehself up een de +tree duh watch wuh bin gwine on. Eh dat +skade eh wunt do nuttne fuh help eh fren, +er try fuh run de Bear off. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[74]</span></p> + +<p>Wen eh fine de Bear done gone fuh sho, +eh holler ter him fren say: “Wuh de Bear +bin tell you? Him an you seem luk you +bin hab close combersation.” Den eh fren +mek answer: “Eh bin tell me nebber fuh +trus nobody wuh call ehself fren, an wuh +gwine run luk er coward soon es trouble +come.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[75]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXX"><abbr title="Thirty">XXX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE OLE MAN AN DET.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>One Ole Man bin berry tired long wuk. +Him want fuh stop an tek eh pledjur all day +een him house. Eh bex long de Buckra +wuh gie um task, an mek um ten ter um. +Eh constant duh pray, so people kin yeddy +um, dat Det would come an cahr way eh +Mossa, an eh Mistis, an de Obersheer. De +Obersheer him yeddy wuh de Ole Man bin +a pray fuh, an eh tell de Mossa, an dem fix +plan fuh hab fun long de Ole Man. Wen +night come, an ebryting on de plantation +done gone bed, de Mossa, him tek one long +white gown wuh ketch down ter eh foot, an +eh pit um on, an eh gone ter de Ole Man +house. Eh push de do open, an day bin de +Ole Man duh siddown on eh bench duh nod +by de fire. De Ole Man yeddy say some +body come ter him do, an wen eh tun roun +fuh look, eh see one tall somebody all wrop +up head an yez een white. Eh git skade, +an tink duh Sperit. Eh quire: “Who duh +dat?” De Sperit, wuh bin de Mossa dress +up een de white gown wuh kibber um all +ober, mek answer way down een him troat: +“Duh me, Det, wuh you bin a pray fuh.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[76]</span> +Den de Ole Man say: “You come fuh +Mossa?” De Sperit shake eh head. Eh +say gen: “You come fuh Mistis?” De +Sperit shake eh head gen. De Ole Man +quire gen: “Den you musser come fuh de +Obersheer?” De Sperit shake eh head gen. +De Ole Man rale skade now, an eh study fuh +leely while, an den eh questun gen: “Ef +you no come fuh Mossa, ner Mistis, ner de +Obersheer, who de Debbie you come fuh?” +Den de Sperit, eh bow eh head low an eh +mek answer: “Me come fuh you.” De Ole +Man hair rise. Eh git up. Eh bus tru de +back do. Eh run tru de gaden, an eh mek +fuh de wood. Nobody yent shum tel arter +brukwus next mornin, an den eh tell ebry +body say Det bin come fur um last night, +but dat him bin dodge um. Arter dat nobody +ebber yeddy um mek no mo prayer +bout Det.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[77]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXI"><abbr title="Thirty-one">XXXI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE KING AN EH RING.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>One time dere was a King wuh bin done +git marry, an eh bin hab one fine Ring wuh +him bin call eh gagement Ring. Dat King, +him bin hab tree serbant wuh wait bout him +table, an clean him shoes, an do wuhebber +him want um fuh do. Dem bin tek tun +een clean de shoes. One clean um one +mornin, anurrur one clean um nex mornin, +an de edder one clean um de nex. One er +dem serbant tief de King Ring. De King +try fuh fine out which one er de tree bin tek +um, an eh fail. Dem wunt tell topper one +anurrur, an de ting bodder de King berry +bad. Eh faid say ef eh cant git back eh +gagement Ring all eh good luck gwine leff +um. Eh call een eh fren an wise man fuh +help um pint out de tief an fine dat Ring, an +dem cant.</p> + +<p>One day de King notus er strange man +duh walk bout him gaden, an eh sen an hab +um brung ter um. Wen eh questun um, de +man tell um say him bin a po man, an dat +eh mek eh libbin by cunjur. De King tell +um eh bin dis de man eh duh hunt fur, an +eh want um fuh fine eh Ring. Eh mek um +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[78]</span> +quaintun bout wen de Ring tuk, an who eh +tink tief um; an eh say eh gwine gie um fibe +day time fuh pint out de man wuh bin tek +de Ring, an mek um tun um. Mo na dat, +eh prommus um big money ef eh git back +de Ring widin de fibe day; but eh treaten +um fuh kill um ef eh fail fuh fine um eenside +dat time. Eh charge eh serbant fuh +tek good care er de conjur man, an feed um +high.</p> + +<p>De rale name er dis cunjur man bin +<i>Robin</i>, but him yent bin gib dis name ter +de King.</p> + +<p>De cunjur man try fuh fine out de tief, +but eh miss. Four day gone, an de Ring +yent fine. De cunjur man, him berry sad, an +eh faid say eh gwine fail, an de King gwine +tek eh head off.</p> + +<p>De mornin ob de fibe day de King git up +soon, an pledjur ehself by tek er walk een +eh gaden. Wile eh duh tan onder one berry +tree, one robin-red-bres, wuh bin er eat de +berry, choke an fall der groun. De King +pick um up, an eh dead in eh han. Den eh +tek um, an wrop um up een eh henkerchef, +an pit um een eh hat. Eh sen fuh de cunjur +man, an eh tell um eh time mose out, an dat +ef eh no fine de Ring by sundown eh gwine +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[79]</span> +kill um. Eh say ter um, moöber, dat eh +doubt um, an dat eh yent bliebe eh kin cunjur +none tall; dat ef eh kin cunjur eh mus +tell um right off wuh eh got een him hat. +De cunjur man so skade eh yent say nuttne +cept pity ehself, an say: “Po Robin! Po +Robin!” De King tek um say eh bin mean +de bud, an eh confidance rise, an eh mek answer: +“You right, me yiz hab one robin een +me hat; an becase you tell true, me gwine +gie you six day mo fuh fine out who tief de +Ring.” De cunjur man rale glad, an de ting +mek de King an all eh fren an de serbant +bliebe say eh kin cunjur fur true. De tree +serbant wuh bin een cohoot fuh tief de Ring, +an wuh bin know all bout um, biggin fuh +faid say dem bin gwine fuh git fine out.</p> + +<p>De nex mornin, wen one er dem serbant +come down wid de King shoes, de cunjur +man pint eh finger at um an eh say: “You +duh one er de tief.” De man look condemn, +but eh mek answer, say: “Him yent.” De +nex mornin wen de tarrur serbant fetch de +King shoes down fuh clean um, de cunjur +man pint him finger at um an eh say: “You +duh nudder one er dem tief.” De man rale +skade, but eh schway say him yent know +nuttne bout de Ring. De nex mornin wen de +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[80]</span> +edder serbant duh clean de King shoes, de +cunjur man gone up ter um an pint eh finger +right een eh face, an eh say: “You duh de +tird man wuh know bout dis Ring an help +fuh tief um.” De man yeye fall, but him +wouldnt confess.</p> + +<p>Dat same ebenin all tree dem serbant, dem +come ter de cunjur man an fetch de Ring, +an confess say dem been tek um, an dem +bague de cunjur man fuh fix plan fuh clear +dem. Him so glad him git de Ring him +prommus fuh do dist as dem say. So eh +tell dem fuh fetch one big tukrey-gobbler +ter um. Dem gone an ketch de biggis een +de gang, an brung um ter de cunjur man. +Eh tek de Ring an eh mix um long cornflour, +an eh poke em een de tukrey-gobbler +craw. Den eh mark de bud so him kin +know um gen, an eh tun um loose.</p> + +<p>De cunjur man, him gone right off ter de +King, an eh tell um say him kin pint out way +de Ring day. De King, him berry glad, +an eh collec all him fren fuh see de cunjur +man pint out de Ring. Wen dem all gedder, +de conjur man, him ax de King fuh hab all +him tukrey dribe befo um. De King him +do so, an as de tukrey bin er walk pass, de +conjur man pint out one big tukrey-gobbler +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[81]</span> +an tell de King say him hab de Ring een +him craw. Wid dat, de King mek one er +him serbant ketch de gobbler an rip open eh +craw, an day, sho nuff, was de Ring. De +King, him bin so rejoice eh gib high praise +ter de cunjur man, an eh gie um big money, +an mek um rich. De tree serbant too, wuh +bin de tief, dem so happy cause de cunjur +man yent spose dem ter de King dat dem +mek present ter um too, an bin eh fren all +dem life.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[82]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXII"><abbr title="Thirty-two">XXXII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH LION, BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN BUH +ROCCOON.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Lion, him bin keep er bank. Een +dat bank him hab chicken, en hog, en sheep. +Buh Fox, him marry ter Buh Coon darter. +Buh Fox farruh-een-law, him bin er rogue. +Buh Coon an Buh Rabbit mek er plan fuh +rob Buh Lion bank, an dem usen fuh tek +ting outer um ebry now en den, an nobody +kin fine out who duh de tief. Buh Fox, +Buh Rabbit, an Buh Coon, dem day fas fren, +an dem constant keep compny. Buh Rabbit +him tell Buh Lion, say him know de +man wuh duh rob him bank, but eh yent +want talk eh name, an eh vise Buh Lion +fuh set steel trap fuh ketch de tief. Buh +Lion do es him say, an de nex night, wen +Buh Coon, Buh Fox, an Buh Rabbit gone +fuh rob de bank gen, Buh Coon, him walk +topper de trap an eh ketch um by eh foot. +De ting broke Buh Coon leg, an eh hot um +berry bad, but eh faid fuh holler, case, ef +eh did holler, eh know Buh Lion gwine run +day an kill um. So eh leddown an moan, +an beg eh fren fuh help um. Buh Fox an +Buh Rabbit, dem study ober de ting, an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[83]</span> +dem mek up dem mine say ef Buh Lion +fine Buh Coon een de trap, eh not only +gwine kill Buh Coon, but eh will sen an kill +all eh fambly. Den dem conclude dat de +bes ting fuh do bin dat Buh Fox—wuh +bin him son-een-law—mus tek one swode +an chop Buh Coon head off an bury um, an +dat eh skin Buh Coon an bury eh hide an +eh cloze, an leff Buh Coon nekked een de +trap, so nobody kin tell who bin ketch.</p> + +<p>Buh Fox, him do es dem gree. De nex +mornin wen Buh Lion zamine eh trap, eh +fine de tief done ketch. Eh call een eh fren +fuh consult, but es de body done strip, an +eh head done cut off an gone, nobody could +mek up eh mine who de tief bin. Buh Lion, +him say him gwine fine out who de tief yiz, +an who de man wuh cut eh head off an skin +um.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him come up bout dis time, +an him swade Buh Lion fuh sen fuh one +cart, an pit de dead body een um, an leh one +er eh han heng ober one side er de cart, an +gedder him soldier an pit one gang on de +leff han side an de tarruh gang on de right +han side, an mek de music go befo, an leh +dem all march down de middle er de street +een Buh Lion town all de lenk er de street; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[84]</span> +an ef de soldier yeddy anybody duh scream +an duh cry een any one er de house, den +de soldier mus go ter dat house an kill ebry +body wuh lib day, case dat mus be de fambly +er de tief. Buh Lion, him well please, +an him gie order, an hab de ting done jes es +Buh Rabbit bin plan.</p> + +<p>Wen de compny bin er march wid de +dead body er de tief een de cart, jes es dem +come befo de do er de house way Buh Fox +lib, wuh bin marry Buh Roccoon darter, him +wife bin er look outer de winder, an eh see eh +pa han duh heng ober de side er de cart, an +eh know um, an eh holler an scream an fall +down an faint way. Den de soldier wuh bin +on de right han side er de cart, dem run ter +de house way dem yeddy de screamin an de +hollerin, an dem bus een de do an gone een +fuh kill de whole fambly. Buh Fox, wen eh +see wuh happne, tek one knife an eh cut off +one er him finger, an eh run to de do, an eh +meet de soldier, an eh show um eh han der +bleed, an eh tell um say eh bin dis loose +one er eh finger, an eh wife dat scade wen +eh see wuh happne ter um, dat eh holler +an faint way. So Buh Fox fool de soldier, +an dem gone back an jine de compny an +march on. Dat night dem camp een de en +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[85]</span> +er de street, an halfer de soldier bin on one +side de cart, an tarruh half bin on tarruh +side duh guade de body er de tief wuh head +cut off.</p> + +<p>Wen Buh Fox wife come teh, eh spicion +say Buh Fox bin know who kill eh pa,—wuh +bin Buh Roccoon,—an eh tell eh husbun, +Buh Fox, say ef eh dont git eh pa body +an bring um ter um dat berry night, eh gwine +tell Buh Lion him bliebe de one wuh cut eh +farruh—Buh Coon—head off an hide um, +duh eh own husbun,—Buh Fox. Buh Fox +tell um say him yent know nuttne bout de +ting, an eh try fuh swade um no fuh go +nigh Buh Lion. Wen eh fine eh wife mine +done mek up, an no way fuh him fuh git +out cept fuh fetch Buh Coon body ter eh +wife, eh gone ter Buh Rabbit fuh vise um +an fuh help um. Buh Rabbit, him yeddy +all wuh Buh Fox hab fuh say, an den eh +say: “Me tell you wuh you do. To-night +gwine cole. Dem soldier duh camp der +street, an dem yent hab no fire. Dem berry +lub rum. Bout middle night you tek you +horse an you paint one side er um white, +an de tarruh side er um black. You cahr +two jug er rum, an you ride ter de camp, +an you gie one jug ter de gang er soldier +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[86]</span> +wuh day on de right, an de edder jug ter +de tarruh gang wuh day on de leff, an wen +dem drunk you kin tek Buh Coon body +outer de cart an cahr um home.”</p> + +<p>Buh Fox, him wrop him head an yez up +so nobody kin know um, an eh paint eh horse +one side white an tarruh side black, an eh tek +eh two jug er rum an eh ride ter de camp, +an eh do dis es Buh Rabbit bin tell um fuh +do. De soldier, dem berry glad fuh git de +rum. Dem tink two man fetch um,—one +duh ride er white horse, an de edder duh +ride er black horse. Dem drink tell dem +drunk, an den Buh Fox slip way wid Buh +Coon body ter eh wife house, an him an eh +wife bury um een de gaden same night onbeknowinst +ter ebry body.</p> + +<p>De nex mornin wen de soldier wake up, +de cart day day, but de body done gone. +De soldier wuh camp on de leff, dem say de +man wuh ride on er white horse mus er tief +um; an de soldier wuh camp on de right, +dem say de man wuh ride on er black horse +him mus er tief um. So Buh Fox cuhfuse +dem two gang er soldier, an dem nebber did +fine um out.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him scheemy mona all dem +tarruh cretur. Him do all dis, an yet him +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[87]</span> +stay fren wid Buh Lion, Buh Fox, an wid +Buh Coon fambly.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[88]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXIII"><abbr title="Thirty-three">XXXIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE PORPUS.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Ebber sence dat time wen Buh Wolf +ketch Buh Rabbit duh tief water outer him +spring, an eh bin tie um ter de spakleberry +bush an lick um, Buh Rabbit hate Buh +Wolf an mek plan fuh git eben wid um.</p> + +<p>Dem all two lub fish. Buh Rabbit an +Buh Porpus bin good fren, an many er time +Buh Porpus blan gie Buh Rabbit some er +de fish wuh him der ketch. One day, Buh +Porpus, him bin berry lucky een eh fishin, +an eh fetch fuh Buh Rabbit mo ner two +quart er gannet mullet, and blow um on de +bank way Buh Rabbit kin git um dout wet +eh foot. Buh Rabbit, him tell um heap er +tenky, an eh cahr um ter him house. Befo +eh part compny wid Buh Porpus, eh tell um +how Buh Wolf bin ketch um an tie um an +lick um, how eh bex long Buh Wolf, an how +eh want Buh Porpus fuh help um fuh punish +Buh Wolf. Den dem mek plan lucker dis: +Buh Porpus bin fuh come back ter de same +place nex day an leh Buh Rabbit tie grapewine +roun um, so Buh Wolf kin pull um +outer de water fuh eat um. Wen Buh +Wolf tek eh holt fuh pull Buh Porpus +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[89]</span> +outer de water, den Buh Porpus wus teh +mek eh flut an juk Buh Wolf een de ribber +an drown um. So dey gree, an Buh Rabbit +gone home long eh fish.</p> + +<p>Wen eh git ter eh house eh sen one er him +gal to Buh Wolf house fuh tell um him hab +some nice fish, an ter eenwite Buh Wolf an +him fambly fuh tek brukwus long um nex +mornin. Buh Wolf, him well please, an eh +say him an eh fambly gwine come wid pledjur.</p> + +<p>Dem did come. De fish sweet. Buh +Wolf, him an eh wife an eh chillun joy um +berry much. Buh Wolf ax Buh Rabbit way +eh git de fish, an Buh Rabbit tell um say +him fren, Buh Porpus, blan ketch um fur +um, an dat him hab er pintment dat berry +day wid Buh Porpus. Buh Wolf bague +Buh Rabbit fuh leh him go long too, an see +ef him couldnt mek rangement wid Buh +Porpus fuh fine him een fish. Buh Rabbit +say him willin; so dem finish brukwus an +gone fuh meet Buh Porpus.</p> + +<p>Es dem duh gwine Buh Rabbit tell Buh +Wolf say Porpus meat berry nice, an eh +tink mebbe dem kin ketch Buh Porpus an +eat um. Buh Wolf quire: “How you gwine +do um?” Den Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[90]</span> +“Me tell you how we gwine wuk dis +ting. Me good fren ter Buh Porpus, an wen +we git ter de ribber bank me gwine tell Buh +Porpus leh we hab er game, an see who kin +pull de strongis. Den we will tek er grape-wine +an tie um roun Buh Porpus head, an +you an me will tek turrer een, an we sholy +kin drag Buh Porpus outer de ribber; an +wen we git um out eh gwine dead, an we will +hab heap er bittle fuh eat.” Buh Wolf, him +no bin know de plan wuh Buh Rabbit aready +done fix wid Buh Porpus, an so eh gree ter +all wuh Buh Rabbit bin say.</p> + +<p>Wen dem git ter de ribber bank, day +was Buh Porpus duh wait fur Buh Rabbit. +Buh Rabbit mek um quaintum wid Buh +Wolf, an arter er while Buh Wolf ax Buh +Porpus fuh fine um een fish same luk eh fine +Buh Rabbit, an Buh Porpus gree fur do so. +Den Buh Rabbit, him say: “Leh we hab +some fun, an see who kin pull de strongis: +Buh Porpus genst me an Buh Wolf.” Buh +Porpus say him willin. Wid dat, Buh Rabbit +git one long grape-wine, an eh tie one +een roun Buh Porpus head, an de tarruh een +eh tie fus roun Buh Wolf body, an den roun +him own; but eh leff de een loose, so him +kin slip out. Den eh gie de wud fuh pull. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[91]</span> +Es eh done dat eh slip outer de wine, an leff +Buh Wolf lone fuh pull genst Buh Porpus. +At de fus, wen Buh Porpus ease isself off +een de ribber, eh pull sorter light, an den +eh gie way, and Buh Wolf, him tought him +gwine outpull um. But een er leely while +Buh Porpus sorter hump eh back an flut eh +tail, an yuh Buh Wolf come fuh de water. +Eh dig eh paw een de san, an eh holler ter +Buh Rabbit fuh tun um loose; but Buh +Rabbit wouldnt tetch um, an so Buh Porpus +drag um, duh scuffle an duh holler, clean +een de ribber an onder de water, an drown +Buh Wolf. Arter dat Buh Porpus swim +back ter de bank an Buh Rabbit tek off de +grape-wine from roun eh neck, an dem leff +Buh Wolf een de water fuh shark an alligatur +fuh eat.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit an Buh Porpus done Buh +Wolf er mean trick.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[92]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXIV"><abbr title="Thirty-four">XXXIV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE DEBBLE AN MAY BELLE.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>De Debble, him kin tek all sorter shape +fuh cahr out him plan an fool people. Sometime +eh mek isself inter wolf fuh kill you +sheep. Narruh time eh tek de shape er alligatur +fuh worry you duck an goose. Den +eh look lucker white deer, an eh fly tru de +wood, dout mek no noise, fuh skade people +duh walk long de big road. Den eh come +same lucker owl, an eh holler down you +chimbly an eh tarrify ebry body wen dem +duh tun flour een de pot. Den wen you +sick, eh gone eensider you lucker a wurrum, +an eh gie you all sorter misry. Den gen, +eh kin tek de shape er man, en pass isself +off fur great gentleman long de lady. Day +yent nuttne wuh de Debble cant do ef eh +mek up eh mine ter um.</p> + +<p>One time day was a berry pooty noung +ooman name May Belle. Him farruh bin +rich, an eh dress um up ter de notch, an eh +gie um saddle horse fuh ride, an carriage +fuh dribe, an plenty er serbant fuh wait on +um, an ebry good bittle fuh eat, an rockin-chair +fuh set een, an orgin fuh play topper. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[93]</span> +All de noung man een de county bin er cote +um an er try fuh marry um.</p> + +<p>One day one strange man come fuh wisit +um. Eh dress up better ner all dem tarruh +gentlemans. Eh hab on new beber hat, +wuh shine lucker glass, an eh hab side whisker +comb so nice, an glub on eh han, an new +cloze, an eh dribe up een er fine carriage +wid four horse, an de driber hab er keen lash +wuh pop so clear you could yeddy um way +down de road.</p> + +<p>De noung lady tek wid um right off. +Eh hab sich er good manners, an eh talk so +perlite, an eh ack so rich, ebry body gie way +ter um, an eh outshine all dem tarruh Buckra +wuh bin er cote de gal, an eh marry um befo +de week out, an eh tek um een eh carriage, +an eh dribe um off ter him house. Dat +house bin een er deestant part er de country, +buil on er hill. Nobody bin lib close. Eh +bin de fines house een de whole settlement. +Eh hab piazza all roun an roun, an eenside +ebry ting look berry nice an pooty.</p> + +<p>Wen dem dribe up ter de step, de Debble, +wuh bin de husbun, han eh Bride een de +pahler, an set um een one rockin-chair, an +tell um de whole house blanks ter um, an eh +mus mek isself saterfy an joy isself. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[94]</span></p> + +<p>Ebry ting gone long berry well fur some +time, an de noung wife hab ebry ting him +call fur. One mornin, wen eh husbun leff +de house fur ten ter eh bidness, an eh wife +bin er ramble bout de room, eh fine one key +duh heng up by isself. Eh wonder wuh key +dat, an wuh do eh open. Eh tek um an eh +try one lock arter anurrer, but de key wunt +fit. Bimeby eh gone duh garret, an eh see +one do up day wuh bin lock. Eh pit de key +ter de hole an eh onlock de do, an wen eh +open um lo! an behole! eh see een de closet +tree noung ooman duh heng up long dem +neck, an dem bin all dead. De ting skade +de gal so bad eh scacely hab han fuh shet +de do an lock um gen. But arter a while +eh manage fuh do dat, an den eh mek hase +an heng de key way eh bin fine um. De +Bride faid fuh ax eh husbun bout de ting. +All eh joy done gone. Eh want fuh git +way, but him dunno how fuh do um. Eh +yent hab nobody fuh truss fuh sen ter eh +farruh an bredder fuh come an tek um way.</p> + +<p>Eh husbun bin gen um one nice ridin +horse fuh tek eh pledjur long ebry mornin +an ebenin. De Debble so busy eh wife +haffer ride by isself. De po gal yent say +nuttne ter nobody bout wuh eh see een de +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[95]</span> +closet der garret. Eh hide eh feelin, but eh +berry onsaterfy een eh mine.</p> + +<p>De nex mornin, wen eh bin er tek eh ride, +soon es eh git outer yearin, eh biggin fuh +cry, an fuh pity isself, an say eh wish eh bin +back ter eh farruh house, an talk eh mine +dat eh faid eh husbun, wen eh git tired long +um, gwine kill um an heng um long de tarruh +ooman wuh day een de closet duh garret. +Him no know de horse wuh him duh ride +bin a yeddy um, an duh notus wuh him duh +say. All ob er sutten de horse open eh +mout, an eh ax eh missis: “Enty you know +who you marry ter? You husbun duh de +Debble, an wen eh saterfy long you eh gwine +bex wid you an kill you same luk eh done +kill dem tarruh wife wuh eh bin hab befo eh +bring you yuh.” De po ooman dat skade +eh ready fuh fall off. Eh mose faint way. +Eh heart duh flutter een eh bres. All eh +strenk gie way. Eh cry. Eh gib up fuh +loss. Den eh bague de horse fuh pity um, +an help um, an tek um back ter him fambly. +De horse sorry fur um, an eh prommus fuh +try an sabe um, but eh tell um fuh keep eh +mout shet, an mek no rackit bout de ting. +Mo na dat, eh tell um, de nex mornin wen +eh come fuh ride, eh mus fetch een eh pocket +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[96]</span> +four big nail wuh day on de mantlepiece een +de Debble room, an dem will help um fuh +git way.</p> + +<p>De po ooman tenk um berry much, an +dem gone back an nobody bin know bout dis +plan. De nex mornin wen de Debble, wuh +bin him husbun, leff de house an gone fuh +mine eh bidness, eh wife fine de nail dis es +de horse bin say, an eh pit um een eh pocket. +Den eh call fuh him ridin horse same luk eh +ebber done, an eh gone down de road fuh +ride. Soon es eh git outer de sight er de +house, de good horse eh men eh pace; an, +befo de middle er de day, eh tell eh missis +fuh drap one er dem nail een de road. Eh +missis did drap um, an right off one big +bank er san riz up clean cross de road, so +nobody could dribe ober. Wen night come +on dem drap anurrur nail, middle night +anurrer, an es de sun duh rise dem drap de +las one. Ebry time de nail drap, de big +bank er san rise up an shet up de road. De +horse run so fas eh retch de ooman farruh +house by brukwus time een de mornin. Eh +fambly stonish fuh see um, an wen eh tell +dem wuh mek eh come back, eh farruh an +eh bredder git dem gun fur shoot de Debble +ef eh come fuh tek de gal back. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[97]</span></p> + +<p>Wen de Debble fine out say eh wife yent +come back from ride, eh biggin fuh spicion +someting; an arter dinner eh git een eh +carriage fuh hunt eh wife. Eh tek de big +road, an eh mek eh driber pit de lick ter de +horse, but eh cant see ner yeddy nuttne bout +eh wife. Bimeby eh come pon topper de fus +bank er san een de road, an den him bin +know right off wuh happne. Eh mek eh +horse grabble tru, an den eh dribe straight +fur eh farruh-een-law house. Eh blow eh +hot bref behine eh horse, an eh mek um run +lucker de win. Eh haffer stop fuh git tru +dem tarruh bank er san wuh de edder nail +bin mek, an so eh loss eh time an nebber +did obertek eh wife. Wen eh tun een de +abnue wuh lead ter eh wife farruh house, eh +see eh wife an all eh fambly day een de +piazza duh watch de road. Eh farruh-een-law +an eh bredder-een-law hab gun een dem +han. De Debble, him no faid gun, an eh +dribe right up, an eh ax eh wife wuh mek +um run way. Befo eh kin answer, eh tell +um fuh git right een de carriage an go back +home long um. Eh wife say eh wunt, an eh +hole on ter eh farruh. Den de Debble git +berry bex an schway say him gwine cahr um +any how. Wid dat, eh light outer de carriage +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[98]</span> +an mek fuh de piazza fuh graff eh +wife. Eh farruh an eh bredder tell um fuh +tan back an leh de gal lone. De Debble +wunt yeddy dem, an es eh rise de step de +farruh an de bredder er de noung ooman +shoot de Debble long buck-shot. De shot +drap offer um dout hot um, an eh come +right on. Dist es eh bin guine tek de gal +eh change eh mine, an eh tun ter eh old self, +wid eh forky tail, an eh claw, an eh batwing, +an eh owl yez, an eh blow fire outer eh +mout, an eh bun up eh wife, an him farruh, +an him murrer, an him bredder, an de house, +an ebry ting wuh day een um. Not a ting +leff fuh show way de house bin. Eh bun +up de horse too wuh bin help eh wife fuh +run way. Den eh change back ter de shape +er a man dist es befo, an eh git een him carriage, +an eh dribe back ter him house same +luk nuttne bin happne.</p> + +<p>“De Debble,” added Daddy Cudjo, as he +concluded this story, “duh de wus ting een +dis wul an de nex. Me nebber gwine hab +nuttne fuh do long um. Me faid um wus +den rattlesnake; an dat ting wuh dem call +Hell, me nebber wan shum ner go nigh um.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[99]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXV"><abbr title="Thirty-five">XXXV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE OLE MAN AN DE COON.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>One time er rich Buckra hab er senserble +ole man serbant wuh come from Afreka. +Dis ole nigger bin know ebryting bout ebryting. +Nobody could tun um wid questun. +Eh Mossa try um heap er time, an eh ebber +did mek right answer. Eh fren try um too, +an dem nebber ketch um duh miss. De +Buckra brag heaby on de ole man, an berry +offne eh win bet topper um. One day de +Buckra man gen er big dinner, an eh eenwite +<a id="chg2"></a>heap er fren ter him house. Eh lay er +wager say nobody kin ax eh ole serbant er +questun wuh him couldnt answer, an eh gie +eh fren lief fuh try de ole man any fashion +dem want. De money pit up, an de fren +call one boy, wuh bin er wuk bout de lot, an +dem sen um der wood fuh ketch one coon. +De boy gone wid eh dog. Wen dinner done +ober, an de gentlemans duh set een de piazza +duh talk, de boy come back wid er roccoon. +Dem call fuh er barrel, an dem tek de coon +an pit um een an head um up complete, so +nobody kin see wuh day eenside.</p> + +<p>Den dem sen fuh de ole Afreka nigger. +Eh bin er hoe cotton der fiel, an nobody +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[100]</span> +bin tell um wuh mek dem sen fuh um. Eh +come; an den eh Mossa say: “Ole man, we +sen fuh you fuh tell we wuh day een dis barrel.” +De ole man look at um, an walk roun +um, an notus um close, an listne fuh see ef +eh could yeddy anyting duh mobe. All de +gentlemans duh watch um. Wen de ole man +mek up eh mine eh couldnt fine out wuh day +een de barrel, eh stop, eh study, eh cratch +eh head, an den eh mek answer: “Mossa, +hoona done head de ole coon dis time.”</p> + +<p>Eh no bin know say him bin er speak er +true wud bout wuh bin een de barrel. Eh +bin er talk bout ehself wen eh say dem bin +head de ole coon dis time, but eh Mossa an +de tarruh gentlemans no know, and dem all +gie de ole man big praise. Eh Mossa win de +bet, an eh share de silber money wid de ole +man.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[101]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXVI"><abbr title="Thirty-six">XXXVI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN DE CRAWFISH.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Arter Buh Wolf bin lick Buh Rabbit an +trow um een de brier patch case eh ketch +um der tief water outer him spring, Buh +Rabbit faid fuh meet Buh Wolf, an him leff +an gone buil ehself new house een Buh Bear +settlement. Buh Bear, him hab well, an +steader Buh Rabbit fine him own water, eh +blan slip ter Buh Bear well an tief water +outer um. Buh Bear fine dis out, but Buh +Rabbit so scheemy Buh Bear couldnt pit eh +han topper um fuh ketch um. So eh git one +big crawfish an eh pit um een de well, an eh +tell um fuh gard de well, an fastne ebrybody +wuh come day fuh tief water.</p> + +<p>De nex time Buh Rabbit gone der well +long him calabash fuh git some water, de +fus ting eh know de crawfish grab um by +eh tail. Buh Rabbit holler, an een eh pull +way eh leff eh tail een de crawfish claw. An +dat de way Buh Rabbit come fuh loss eh +tail. Eh tail stumpy tel dis day.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[102]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXVII"> <abbr title="Thirty-seven">XXXVII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN BUH ELEPHUNT.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>You ebber notus say Buh Elephunt yez +all de time duh heng down, an eh cant cock +um up luk de tarruh creetuh? Eh hinge to +eh yez look luk eh broke. You know wuh +mek so? Ef you yent know, lemme tell you.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit an Buh Elephunt, dem blan +ramble tru de same wood. Buh Rabbit, him +lib offer de noung grass, an Buh Elephunt, +him eat de tree limb. Dem bin quaintun +wid one anurrur; an, weneber dem meet, +dem nusen fuh pass de time er day. Buh +Rabbit, him too leetle fuh Buh Elephunt fuh +keep compny long.</p> + +<p>Een de spring er de year Buh Rabbit +bin mek eh nes onder one bush, an eh line +um an eh kibber um ober complete long sofe +dry grass. Eh hab tree leely chillun een +dat nes. One day Buh Elephunt bin er hunt +eh bittle, an eh gone miss an mash topper +Buh Rabbit nes, an kill eh chillun. Buh +Rabbit no bin day at de time, an wen eh +git back eh fine eh nes done broke up, an all +tree eh chillun squash flat. Eh see by de +track say Buh Elephunt bin do dat. Eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[103]</span> +gone right off an eh tackle Buh Elephunt +bout um. Buh Elephunt mek answer an say +him yent do um; him yent know nuttne +bout um. Wen Buh Rabbit fine eh cant +git no saterfaction outer Buh Elephant, eh +cut down, an eh berry bex, an eh mek plan +fuh git eeben wid Buh Elephunt fuh de +big damage wuh him bin done ter um an +eh fambly.</p> + +<p>Eh quaintun wid de place way Buh Elephunt +blan leddown fuh tek eh res; so eh +watch um, an wen eh done gone der bed, Buh +Rabbit, him slip back an eh call eh wife, +and dem gedder dry leaf an dead grass, an +dem tote um ter de spot way Buh Elephunt +duh sleep, an dem full all two Buh Elephunt +yez long de leaf an grass. Den dem +trike fire an clap um ter de dry grass an +leaf wuh dem bin pit een Buh Elephunt yez. +Eh blaze up. Buh Elephunt wake. Eh +couldnt mek out wuh happne. De ting biggin +fuh bun um bad. Eh holler fuh somebody +fuh help um. Eh roll ober an try fuh +out de fire een eh yez. Eh tek eh trunk an +try fuh lick um out, but befo de fire done +out, eh bun de hinge er all two eh yez, so eh +couldnt liff um up no mo. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[104]</span></p> + +<p>Dat de way Buh Rabbit tek eh rewenge +on Buh Elephunt case eh mash eh chillun, +an dat de reason huccum Buh Elephunt hab +flop yez tel ter-day.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[105]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXVIII"><abbr title="Thirty-eight">XXXVIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN BUH POSSUM.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf gone long de +ribber bank fuh hunt Cooter agg. Dem +Cooter blan come outer de water wen de tide +high, an dig hole een de san, an lay dem agg, +an kibber dem ober so crow an ting cant fine +um. Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf come topper +nough er Cooter nes, an dem gedder de agg +an share um equel. Dem pit um een bag, +an es dem gin gwine home, de agg so fresh +an sweet, Buh Rabbit slip eh han een eh bag +an onbeknowinst ter Buh Wolf eh suck all +de agg wuh bin fall ter him share befo dem +retch de fork er de road way dem gwine part +compny.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf tote all him agg home, an gen +um ter him wife. Eh yent bin een eh house +berry long wen up come Buh Rabbit duh +puff an der blow. Soon es eh ketch eh bref +eh say: “Buh Wolf, wuh you bin do long +dem Cooter agg? Enty you fine out say dem +spile? Me bin gib some er mine ter me +wife, an eh gen um cramp colic right off. +Me run all de way fuh tell you, so you kin +sabe you fambly from sick.”</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf nebber spicion say Buh Rabbit +bin er tell um lie, an eh tenk um berry much, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[106]</span> +an eh gone git de Cooter agg an trow um +way. Buh Rabbit notus way Buh Wolf bin +trow de agg; an soon es Buh Wolf gone +back een him house, Buh Rabbit gedder dem +up an tote um off een de bush, an seddown +an biggin fuh eat dem dist es saterfy es kin +be.</p> + +<p>Eh so happne say Buh Wolf come pon +topper Buh Rabbit duh eat dem Cooter agg, +an eh see right off how Buh Rabbit done fool +um. Eh git rale mad, an eh mek eh jump +fuh graff Buh Rabbit, but Buh Rabbit too +quick fur um, and eh tek ter eh heel. Buh +Wolf push um so tight eh mek um quit de +groun an tek ter one pussimmon tree. Buh +Rabbit so light eh gone out on one leely limb +way Buh Wolf couldnt foller um ner retch +um. Wen Buh Wolf fine out eh couldnt pit +eh han pon topper Buh Rabbit fuh lick um, +eh call ter Buh Possum, wuh bin hab house +close by, an eh ax um fuh run day an watch +Buh Rabbit tel him coulder git him ax fuh +cut down de tree an ketch Buh Rabbit. +Buh Possum come, an eh seddown onder de +tree duh gard Buh Rabbit wile Buh Wolf +gone fuh him ax.</p> + +<p>Arter er wile Buh Rabbit say: “Buh +Possum, dem yer pussimmon berry sweet. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[107]</span> +Enty you want some?” Buh Possum, him +mek answer: “Yes, me Budder, me berry +lub pussimmon, an me will glad fuh git +some.” Den Buh Rabbit tell um fuh step +ter him house an fetch eh fanner fuh ketch +de pussimmon es eh pick um an drap um. +Buh Possum so anxious fuh tase de pussimmon +eh clean furgit wuh Buh Wolf bin leff +um fuh do, an so eh gone ter him house fuh +git eh fanner. Soon es eh back tun, Buh +Rabbit slip down de tree an lean fuh home. +Wen Buh Wolf come wid eh ax, eh fine Buh +Rabbit an Buh Possum all two gone. Eh +dat bex eh dunno wuffer do. Een er leely +wile yuh come Buh Possum duh tote he +fanner. Buh Wolf questun um, an wen eh +fine out how Buh Rabbit done fool um an +git way, eh tun een an cuss Buh Possum an +beat um. Eh tek a smart somebody fuh +head Buh Rabbit.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[108]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XXXIX"><abbr title="Thirty-nine">XXXIX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE HOLLER +TREE.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Arter Buh Rabbit bin fool Buh Wolf +bout dem Cooter agg, an slip way from Buh +Possum, eh faid fuh meet Buh Wolf, an eh +walk berry skittish ebry time eh lef eh +house. Buh Wolf bin on de keen look-out +fuh um. One day dem meet. Buh Wolf, +him say: “Haw! Budder, me got you now. +You dodge me long time. Ebry man fuh +isself.” Wid dat eh tek arter Buh Rabbit. +Buh Rabbit, him bin quaintun wid all de +holler tree een de wood, an wen Buh Wolf +push um close, eh jump een one er dem. Buh +Wolf run up an eh say: “Me got you now. +Come out an tek you lick, er me gwine bun +you up een dis tree.” Eh no bin know say +narrur holler bin on tarruh side er de tree, +an dat Buh Rabbit done run clean tru an +gone. Wen eh couldnt yeddy nuttne from +Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf gedder fat pine tick, +an eh poke um een de holler an eh pit fire +ter um. De fire roll, an Buh Wolf feed um +tell de tree bun down. Eh saterfy say Buh +Rabbit done bun up, an eh gone home, an +eh mek brag ter him fambly say him +bin stroy Buh Rabbit. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[109]</span></p> + +<p>Eh yent bin tree day arter dat wen lo +an behole! Buh Wolf meet Buh Rabbit +duh seddown een de big road, dist es content +es ef nuttne bin happne, duh leek isself. +Buh Wolf hail um an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, +dat duh you? Enty me bin bun you up +tarruh day? Why you duh do duh leek +youself so happy an content?” Buh Rabbit, +him mek answer: “Budder, dat holler +way you bin try fuh bun me een, gone ter +de top er de tree, an eh bin full er honey. +De fire melt de honey, an eh run down an +kibber me all ober. Me yent done git um +all offer me tel now. You come tase me an +see how sweet me yiz.” Buh Wolf so lub +honey eh furgit eh spite gainst Buh Rabbit, +an eh come up an eh taste um, an eh fine out +say honey bin all ober Buh Rabbit. Den eh +ax Buh Rabbit fuh show um one holler way +him kin git some honey. Buh Rabbit gree +fuh do so ef Buh Wolf would mek fren wid +um. Dem shake ban, and den Buh Rabbit +tell Buh Wolf fuh foiler um. Eh tek um ter +one tree wuh hab holler on one side, but wuh +shet up on tarruh side, an eh tell Buh Wolf +say dat tree full er honey, an eh mus git een +an crawl up nigh de top es eh could go. +Buh Wolf trus Buh Rabbit, an eh gone een +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[110]</span> +de holler. Soon es eh git een, Buh Rabbit +tek one lightwood knot an eh chink up de +hole so Buh Wolf couldnt come out. Den +eh gedder some fat pine, an eh mek fire an +eh bun Buh Wolf up een de holler. While +eh duh bun, Buh Wolf bague an pray Buh +Rabbit fuh leh um come out, but Buh Rabbit +wouldnt yeddy um.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit leetle fuh true an eh yent +strong, but eh berry scheemy an eh hab er +bad heart.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[111]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XL"><abbr title="forty">XL.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN DE CUNJUR MAN.</h3></div> + + +<p>Buh Rabbit greedy fuh hab mo sense den +all de tarruh animel. Eh yent lub fuh wuk, +an eh try heap er scheme fuh git eh libbin +outer edder people by fool um.</p> + +<p>One time eh gone ter one wise Cunjur +Man fuh larne um him way, an fuh git him +knowledge, so him kin stonish tarruh people +an mek dem bliebe say him bin wise mo ner +ebrybody. De Cunjur Man larne um heap +er curous ting. At las Buh Rabbit ax um +fuh gen um eh full knowledge. De Cunjur +Man say: “Buh Rabbit, you hab sense +nough aready.” Buh Rabbit keep on bague +um, an den de Cunjur Man mek answer: +“Ef you kin ketch one big rattlesnake an +fetch um ter me live, me gwine do wuh you +ax me fuh do.”</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit git ehself one long stick an +eh gone der wood. Eh hunt tel eh fine one +whalin ob er rattlesnake duh quile up on +one log. Eh pass de time er day berry perlite +wid um, an arterwards eh bet de snake +say him yent bin es long as de stick wuh +him hab een him han. Buh Rattlesnake +laugh at um, an eh mek answer dat eh know +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[112]</span> +eh yiz long mo na de stick. Fuh settle de +bet Buh Rattlesnake tretch ehself out ter eh +berry lenk on de log, an Buh Rabbit pit de +pole long side er um fuh medjuh um. Man +sir! befo Buh Rattlesnake fine out, Buh +Rabbit slip one noose roun eh neck an fastne +um tight ter de een der de pole. Buh +Rattlesnake twis ehself, an wrop ehself roun +an roun de pole, an try fuh git eh head +loose, but all eh twis an tun yent do um no +good. An so Buh Rabbit ketch um, an +cahr um ter de Cunjur Man.</p> + +<p>De Cunjur Man rale suprise, an eh say: +“Buh Rabbit, me always bin yeddy say you +bin hab heap er sense, but now me know +dat you got um. Ef you kin fool Rattlesnake, +you hab all de sense you want.” +Wen Buh Rabbit keep on bague de Cunjur +Man fuh gie um mo sense, de Cunjur Man +answer: “You go fetch me er swarm er +Yaller Jacket, an wen you bring um ter me, +me prommus you teh gie you all de sense +you want.”</p> + +<p>Ebrybody know say Yaller Jacket wus +den warse, an bee, an hornet. Eh sting so +bad, an eh berry lub fuh drap topper ebryting +wuh come close eh nes, an dout gie um +any warnin. So wuh Buh Rabbit do? Eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[113]</span> +gone an eh git one big calabash, an eh crape +um out clean, an eh cut one hole een um, an +eh pit honey een um, an eh tie um on de +een er one long pole. Den eh hunt tel eh +fine er Yaller Jacket nes, an eh set de calabash +close by um dout worry de Yaller +Jacket, an eh leff um day, an eh tan off an +watch um. Bimeby de Yaller Jacket scent +de honey, an dem come out de nes an gone +een de calabash fuh eat de honey. Wen de +calabash full er Yaller Jacket, Buh Rabbit +slip up an stop de hole, an cahr um ter +de Cunjur Man. De Cunjur Man mek er +great miration ober wuh Buh Rabbit bin +done, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, you is suttenly +de smartest ob all de animel, an you +sense shill git mo an mo ebry day. Mo na +dat, me gwine pit white spot on you forrud, +so ebrybody kin see you hab de bes sense +een you head.” An dat de way Buh Rabbit +come fuh hab er leely tuff er white hair +between eh yez.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[114]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLI"><abbr title="forty-one">XLI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN DE FISHERMAN.</h3></div> + + +<p>Buh Rabbit es er soon man. You haffer +git up befo day fuh head um. Wayebber +you fine um, eh yez cock up fuh yeddy ebryting +wuh duh gwine on. Eh nose duh twis +from side ter side fuh ketch all de scent duh +float een de element, an wen eh walk bout +eh hop so light you tink der sperit. Eh lub +fuh lib close big road an settlement, way him +kin quaintun wid all wuh happne, an pick +eh chance fuh mek eh libbin easy.</p> + +<p>One time er Ole Man hab er fish trap wuh +mek wid bode. Eh hab er gate. Wen de +tide duh come een de creek, de gate open an +leh de fish een; an wen de tide duh gwine +back der ribber, de gate shet an stop all de +fish wuh day een de creek. Ebry low tide +de Ole Man tek eh leely waggin an wisit eh +trap, an collec de fish an pit um een eh waggin +an cahr um home fuh him an eh fambly +fuh eat.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit watch de Ole Man es eh pass +day arter day long de big road, an eh hanker +arter de fish, but eh yent know rightly how +fuh git some. Arter er wile eh fix dis plan. +De nex time eh see de Ole Man duh comin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[115]</span> +long de road wid eh waggin an fish, eh leddown +dist on de adge er de road, an eh pant +same luk eh bin gwine fuh dead. Es de ole +man bin er pass long eh notus um, an eh +stop, an eh gone ter um an eh ax um wuh ail +um. Buh Rabbit mek answer een er woice +so leely you cacely kin yeddy um, an tell um +say eh berry sick; dat eh bin gwine home +wen eh back an eh leg gie out, an eh couldnt +trabble no furder. Den eh bague de Ole +Man fuh tek um up een eh waggin an cahr +um long de big road tel eh come ter de place +way him fuh tun off fuh gwine ter him house. +De Ole Man gree fuh do so, an eh liff Buh +Rabbit up, an eh pit um een eh waggin long +side de pile er fish. Buh Rabbit leddown +luk eh dead. De Ole Man back tun ter Buh +Rabbit. Een er leely while Buh Rabbit +biggin fuh slip fish outer de waggin, an trow +um, onbeknowinst ter de Ole Man, een de +bush wuh bin er grow long side er de road. +Wen dem mose git ter de place way de Ole +Man gwine tun out de big road, Buh Rabbit +hop outer de waggin dout de Ole Man +shum, an run back an gedder all de fish wuh +him bin tief.</p> + +<p>Es de Ole Man retch eh big gate, eh look +behine fuh see how Buh Rabbit duh mek +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[116]</span> +out; an de fus ting eh know Buh Rabbit +yent day een de waggin, an heap er him fish +done missin. Den de Ole Man fine out say +Buh Rabbit bin fool um an tief eh fish. De +Ole Man berry bex, an eh dribe home an tell +eh wife bout de ting.</p> + +<p>Arter Buh Rabbit done gedder de fish +wuh eh bin tief outer de Ole Man waggin, +eh pit um on tring, an eh start fuh tote um +ter him house. Buh Fox meet um, an eh +quire way eh git all dem fish. Buh Rabbit +up an tell um. Buh Fox say him want git +some too. Den Buh Rabbit mek um senserble +wen de Ole Man gwine come long de +road, an eh show um good place fuh him fuh +wuk eh plan fuh do dist es him bin do.</p> + +<p>De nex day Buh Fox tek eh stan sider de +big road an wait fuh de Ole Man an eh waggin. +Befo long yuh eh come. Buh Fox +trow isself in de groun, an roll ober, an +moan berry pitiful. De Ole Man shum, an +eh light offer eh waggin an run up ter um +wid eh big whip een eh han. Buh Fox bin +tink say de Ole Man gwine pity um, an tek +um een eh waggin same luk eh done Buh +Rabbit. Steader dat, an befo eh fine out, +de Ole Man knock um een de head wid de +butt er eh whip an stunted um. Den eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[117]</span> +beat um ter det, an eh tek um up an eh trow +um een eh waggin, an eh dribe home. Wen +eh git day eh call eh wife an eh show um de +tief wuh bin tek eh fish. De Ole Man yent +bin know de diffunce tween Buh Rabbit an +Buh Fox. Eh tink all two bin de same animel.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him no care so eh sabe isself. +Him bin know say Buh Fox gwine ketch +de debble wen de Ole Man come pon topper +um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[118]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLII"><abbr title="forty-two">XLII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE YEARLIN.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf come inter cohoot +fuh kill cow. Dem gone een de paster +an pick out one fat yearlin, an run um down, +an ketch um, an cut eh troat. Den dem +skin um an share de meat. Buh Wolf claim +de bigges part, case him hab de bigges fambly. +Eh strong mo ner Buh Rabbit, an so +Buh Rabbit yent hab de power fuh mek um +do jestice. But ef Buh Wolf hab de strenk, +Buh Rabbit hab de bes sense. So wuh Buh +Rabbit do? Eh tek some salt outer him bag, +an eh buil fire, an eh brile some er de yearlin +meat on de coals, an eh eat um right befo +Buh Wolf. Soon es eh done eat um, eh cry +out an eh say eh hab pain er belly, an eh +double ehself all up, an eh roll eh yeye, an +eh waller all long de groun, an eh mek all +sorter curous motion an noise. Buh Wolf +skaid, an eh conclude say de meat yent good. +Eh tink say eh pizen Buh Rabbit, an dem +gree fuh leff um.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf wait tel Buh Rabbit sorter +come teh, an den eh help um ter him house +an tell um goodbye.</p> + +<p>Wen sun down an eh biggin fuh dark, +Buh Rabbit gedder him fambly, and dem +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[119]</span> +gone an git de yearlin meat, an dem cahr um +home an dem eat um. Nuttne bin ail de +meat. Eh bin soun an sweet, an Buh Rabbit +do dis fuh fool Buh Wolf an git him share +too.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[120]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLIII"><abbr title="Forty-three">XLIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, DE DOG, AN DE +GOOSE.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Arter dat time wen Buh Rabbit bin play +dat trick on Buh Wolf an ride um up ter +de Gal house wuh dem all two bin er cote, +Buh Wolf berry bex long Buh Rabbit, an +eh wan ketch um fuh gie um good lickin. +Buh Rabbit, him so smate eh keep outer Buh +Wolf way so eh couldnt come pon topper +um. Buh Wolf hire one dog fuh help um +ketch Buh Rabbit. One day de Dog meet +Buh Rabbit der wood, an dout say one wud +ter um, eh lean arter um fuh ketch um. +Buh Rabbit run, but de Dog push um so +tight Buh Rabbit, fuh sabe ehself, jump een +one holler oak tree. De hole bin too leely +fuh de Dog fuh foller um, an so Buh Rabbit +mek ehself saterfy say eh done git way. +Bimeby eh yeddy de Dog call one goose, an +tell um fuh watch de holler tel him kin git +some fire an moss fuh smoke Buh Rabbit +outer de tree. Wen de Dog gone fuh gedder +de moss an git de fire, Buh Rabbit call ter +de Goose an ax um: “How you duh watch +me wen you no see me?” Wid dat de +Goose poke eh long head een de holler fuh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[121]</span> +look fuh Buh Rabbit. Es eh do dat, Buh +Rabbit trow rotten wood een eh yeye. Eh +bline de Goose, an eh draw eh head out, an +wile eh duh fight fuh git de rotten wood +outer eh yeye Buh Rabbit slip out an gone. +Wen de Dog come back, eh stuff de moss +een de holler, an eh pit fire ter um, an eh +mek er hebby smoke; but eh cant see ner +yeddy nuttne bout Buh Rabbit. Den eh +biggin fuh spicion say Buh Rabbit might er +git out, an eh tackle de Goose bout um. Eh +notus de Goose yeye red an eh duh run +water. De Goose tell um how Buh Rabbit +bin trow rotten wood een eh yeye wen eh +bin er peep up de holler. Den de Dog know +fuh sutten say Buh Rabbit bin wuk dat plan +fuh git way, an dat eh done gone fuh true. +Eh so bex eh cuss de Goose fuh er fool, an +eh tun on um fuh stroy um. De Goose holler, +an manage fuh sail way een de element, +but eh leff eh fedder een de Dog mouf.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[122]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLIV"><abbr title="Forty-four">XLIV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH SQUIRLE AN BUH FOX.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Squirle bin berry busy duh gedder +hickry not on de groun fuh pit way fuh feed +ehself an eh fambly duh winter time. Buh +Fox bin er watch um, an befo Buh Squirle +shum, eh slip up an eh graff um. Buh +Squirle, eh dat skaid eh trimble all ober, an +eh bague Buh Fox fuh lem go. Buh Fox +tell um say eh bin er try fuh ketch um long +time, but eh hab sich sharp yeye, an keen +yez, an spry leg, eh manage fuh dodge um; +an now wen eh got um at las, eh mean fuh +kill um an eat um. Wen Buh Squirle fine +out dat Buh Fox yent bin gwine pity um +an tun um loose, but dat eh fix fuh kill um +an eat um, Buh Squirle say teh Buh Fox: +“Enty you know say nobody oughter eat eh +bittle befo eh say grace ober um?” Buh +Fox him mek answer: “Dat so;” an wid +dat eh pit Buh Squirle een front er um, an +eh fall on eh knee, an eh kibber eh yeye wid +eh han, an eh tun een fuh say grace.</p> + +<p>Wile Buh Fox bin er do dis, Buh Squirle +manage fuh slip way; an wen Buh Fox +open eh yeye, eh see Buh Squirle duh run +up de tree way him couldnt tetch um. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[123]</span></p> + +<p>Buh Fox fine eh couldnt help ehself, an eh +call arter Buh Squirle an eh say: “Nummine, +Boy, you done git way now, but de nex +time me clap dis han topper you, me gwine +eat you fus an say grace arterward.”</p> + +<p>Bes plan fuh er man fuh mek sho er eh +bittle befo eh say tenky fuh um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[124]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLV"><abbr title="Forty-five">XLV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE BUCKRA +MAN.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Er Buckra man bin hab er gang er sheep. +Ebry now an den eh miss one. Eh sarche +eh fiel, an eh see Buh Wolf track day, an +eh mek up eh mine say him bin er de one +wuh duh tief eh sheep. Eh fix heaper plan +fuh ketch um, but eh fail. At lenk eh call +een Buh Rabbit, case eh hab summuch +sense, fuh help um. Buh Rabbit, him gree +fuh do so ef de Buckra man would len um +one horse, an would prommus no fuh tell +Buh Wolf nuttne bout de ting.</p> + +<p>De Buckra man gen um de prommus an +len um de horse. Buh Rabbit ride de horse +ter him house, an eh sen wud ter Buh Wolf +say him dist bin buy er fine ridin horse, an +him want um fuh come an tek er ride long +um. Buh Wolf, him come, an wen eh look +topper de horse eh tell Buh Rabbit him +would lub fuh ride um, but dat him faid say +de horse gwine fling um. Buh Rabbit mek +answer say him mussnt faid; dat him gwine +pit saddle on de horse, an wen Buh Wolf +git een um eh gwine tie eh leg so him cant +fall off; an, mo ner dat, him gwine git up +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[125]</span> +behine fuh hole um on. Arter dat Buh +Wolf seem saterfy.</p> + +<p>Buh Rabbit trow de saddle on de horse an +gelt um tight. Den Buh Wolf climb up an +tek eh seat. Buh Rabbit tek string, an eh +tie Buh Wolf leg fas ter de stirrup. Now +eh say: “Me gwine git up behine fuh hole +you on.” Steader dat, wen Buh Wolf yent +bin er notus, eh step back, an eh tek er +bunch er cock-spur an eh lick um onder de +horse tail. De ting hot de animel so bad, eh +jump, an eh pitch, an eh kick up. Buh +Wolf grab de bridle an juk de horse mouf, +an dat mek um rare up. Buh Wolf git rale +skaid, an eh holler fuh Buh Rabbit fuh tek +um off. Buh Rabbit tell um fuh hole on +tel him kin onloose de saddle. All dis time +de horse bin er cut sich caper Buh Wolf +couldnt manage um, an so eh drap de bridle +an heng on ter eh mange fuh keep from fall +off. Wen de horse fine say eh head loose, +eh mek fuh home; an befo Buh Wolf fine +out eh run tru de big gate an roun de +house ter de stable. De Buckra man bin er +set een eh piazza, an eh see wen de horse +come up wid Buh Wolf der heng topper eh +neck. Eh run ter de stable, an eh leh de +horse an Buh Wolf een. Den eh call eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[126]</span> +driber, an dem ontie Buh Wolf an fastne +um ter one tree. Arter dem bin gen um +bout one hundud lash, Buh Rabbit run up +an bague de Buckra man fuh tun Buh Wolf +loose. Eh did tun um loose. Buh Wolf +nebber did fine out say Buh Rabbit bin fix +dis plan fuh pit um een de Buckra man han, +an eh tell Buh Rabbit heap er tenky fuh de +faber wuh him bin done ter um.</p> + +<p>Ebry time you yeddy bout Buh Rabbit +you fine um duh come out head.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[127]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLVI"> <abbr title="Forty-six">XLVI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF FUNERAL.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Rabbit fool Buh Wolf so many time, +an een sich diffrunt fashion, dat eh outdone +wid um. Ebry time eh try fuh ketch um +fuh lick um, Buh Rabbit somehow er narruh +slip tru eh han an git way. Buh Wolf, +him hire edder people fuh wuk plan fuh git +de better er Buh Rabbit an pit um een eh +power, but, bless you soul! dem fail too, an +Buh Rabbit, him go clear. De ting mose +worry Buh Wolf life outer um. Eh fret so +bout um tel eh biggin fuh tun rale po.</p> + +<p>At lenk Buh Wolf gie out say him berry +sick. Leely wile arter dat, de news come +dat Buh Wolf dead. Eh wife eenwite all +eh fren ter de funeral. Buh Wolf mek sho +say eh gwine ketch Buh Rabbit now.</p> + +<p>Buh Bear, him bin der de passon. Dog +come. Roccoon come. Squirle come. Possum +come. Cow come. Alligatur an Cooter, +dem come. Deer, him bin day too. Buh +Wolf, him bin er lay out on er bench een +de middle er him house, kibber ober wid er +wite clorte, an eh wife an eh chillun duh +tan roun um duh cry. Buh Owl, him fetch +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[128]</span> +er spade fuh dig de grabe, an bud bin day +too fuh sing er hyme.</p> + +<p>Wen dem all bin gedder, Buh Rabbit +enter dist es careful, an tek eh stan jes by +de do. Dem wait leely wile fuh Buh Fox, +but him sen wud say him wife hab feber an +him couldnt leff um. Den Buh Bear, him tek +eh book an eh read um, an eh preach er +sarmint. Arter dat de Mockinbud raise er +chune, an dem all sing.</p> + +<p>All dis time Buh Wolf bin er leddown, +tretch out ter eh full lenk, and stiff lucker +eh bin dead fuh true. Eh hole eh bref +so tight, nobody could yeddy um breave. +Wen de preachin an de singin done ober, +dem all gone up fuh tek dem las look at +Buh Wolf befo dem tote um out fuh bury +um. Dem raise up de clorte wuh bin ober +eh face, an eh look dist es natrul; an dem +tell um goodbye one by one. Buh Rabbit +him walk up las, an eh yent gone berry close +needer. Buh Rabbit always tote eh good +sense bout um, an eh nebber will run no resk. +Es eh come fuh look topper Buh Wolf, Buh +Wolf bin spec say eh woulder tan so close +dat eh coulder graff um. But wen eh fine +Buh Rabbit sorter skittish, an eh duh ease +ehself off, eh tek de chance, an, all <a id="chg3"></a>ober +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[129]</span> +sutten, eh trow ehself offer de bench an eh +mek arter Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit, him +bin hab eh yeye on Buh Wolf all de time, +an befo Buh Wolf could mek eh way tru +de crowd an come up long um, Buh Rabbit +slip out de back do an trow ehself een de +brier patch, way Buh Wolf couldnt foller +um. De people all stonish, an wen dem fine +out de trute er de ting, dem berry bex; an, +befo dem leff, dem bemean Buh Wolf sich +er fashion eh bin shame fuh show ehself een +de settlement fuh many er days. Dat bin +er dutty trick wuh Buh Wolf play on eh +fren and on Buh Rabbit, but Buh Rabbit, +him outdo um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[130]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLVII"><abbr title="Forty-seven">XLVII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE NEW NIGGER AN EH MOSSA.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Er New Nigger notus say eh Mossa heap +er time duh seddown wid eh foot cross, yent +duh say nuttne an yent duh do nuttne, wen +him haffer wuk all de time. One day eh +ax eh Mossa huccum dat. De Buckra man +answer: “Wen you see me duh seddown, +an you tink me duh lazy, same time me duh +wuk long me head, an duh mek plan, an +study pon ting.”</p> + +<p>Soon arter dat de Buckra man come pon +topper de New Nigger een de fiel. De sun +hot. Eh bin drap eh hoe, an bin er seddown +on de cotton bed duh res ehself. De +Buckra man git bex case de Nigger bin er +glec eh wuk, an eh say ter um: “Huccum +you stop de wuk wuh me bin gen you fuh +do? Wuh mek you duh lazy disher fashion?” +Den de New Nigger, him mek answer: +“Mossa, me duh wuk long me head.” +Wen de Buckra man quire wuh kind er +head wuk him duh do, de New Nigger say: +“Mossa, ef you see tree pigeon duh set on +dat tree limb, an you shoot an kill one er +dem, how many gwine leff?” Eh Mossa +reply: “Any fool kin tell dat. Ob scource +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[131]</span> +two gwine leff.” De New Nigger, him mek +answer: “No, Mossa, you miss. Ef you +shoot an kill one er dem pigeon, de edder +two boun fuh fly way, an none gwine leff.”</p> + +<p>De Buckra man bleege fuh laugh, an eh +yent do nuttne ter de New Nigger case eh +glec eh wuk.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[132]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLVIII"><abbr title="Forty-eight">XLVIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT AN DE KING DARTER.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Dere was er King wuh bin hab er pooty +Darter, an heap er people bin er cote um. +De gal couldnt mek up eh mine which one +fuh tek, an so eh ax eh farruh fuh help um +pick. Den eh farruh, wuh bin de King, +gen out wud say de one wuh kin fetch ter +um de Alligatur yeye teet, an water from de +Deer yeye, shill hab eh Darter.</p> + +<p>All dem wuh bin er cote de gal fix plan +fuh git dem ting, but dem fail. Ebry body +bin faid Alligatur, an nobody could outrun +Buh Deer. Buh Rabbit, him bin berry lub +de gal, an him hanker arter marry um, so eh +study bout de ting an mek eh scheme. Eh +tek eh fiddle an eh gone ter de ribber bank, +an eh play er funny chune, an eh sing er +funny song. Buh Alligatur yeddy um; an +bimeby eh crawl outer de mash grass, an eh +leddown close by Buh Rabbit, so him kin +ketch all wuh Buh Rabbit der play an der +sing. Buh Rabbit do eh bes, an de ting +tickle Buh Alligatur so bad eh laugh berry +harty. Buh Rabbit play an sing, an pick eh +chance, an wen Buh Alligatur duh shet eh +yeye an open eh mout fuh laugh, eh tek eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[133]</span> +fiddle bow an, all ob er sutten, eh knock one +er Buh Alligatur yeye teet outer eh head. +Befo eh fine out, Buh Rabbit done pick up +de teet an gone.</p> + +<p>Den Buh Rabbit notus way Buh Deer +blan ramble der wood, an eh dig er deep +hole, an eh kibber um ober complete long +dut, an pine straw, an oak leaf. Eh hide +een de bush oneside duh watch. Bimeby +Buh Deer, him come long duh eat grass, an +befo eh fine out, de groun gie way onder eh +foot, an eh drap bottom er de hole. Buh +Deer dat skaid eh dunno wuffer do. Eh +scuffle. Eh holler, but eh couldnt git out. +Buh Rabbit run day, an eh tell um say dog +bin on eh track, an dat dem mose git day. +Wid dat Buh Deer gib up, an biggin fuh +cry. Den Buh Rabbit, him slip een de hole +wid er leely calabash, an eh ketch de water +duh run down from Buh Deer yeye. Arter +dat eh gone home, an eh tek de Alligatur +yeye teet, an de calabash wuh hab de Deer +yeye water een um, an eh light out fuh de +King house.</p> + +<p>Wen him show de King wuh him bring, +de King gree say Buh Rabbit head er all +dem wuh bin er cote him Darter, an eh gen +um de gal, an dem bin hab er hebby weddin.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[134]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="XLIX"><abbr title="Forty-nine">XLIX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE SINGLE BALL.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Er Buckra man bin berry lub fuh hunt +deer. Eh nussen fuh brag too. Eh hab er +Serbant wuh always gone wid um der wood +fuh dribe de deer. Him bin berry fond er +eh Mossa, an eh ready any time fuh schway +ter de tale wuh him tell bout how much deer +dem kill, an way dem shoot um. One time +dis Buckra man bin tell eh fren say him +shoot er deer long er rifle, an wen eh gone +fuh zamine um, eh fine say de ball shoot off +eh hine foot an hit um een eh yez. Him +fren couldnt see how dat happne, an dem +yent bin want fuh bleeve de tale. Den de +hunter man call pon topper him Serbant +fuh proobe wuh him bin say. De Serbant +speak de wud same luk him Mossa bin talk +um. Den de gentlemans ax um how de same +ball could er hit de deer een eh hine foot +an een eh yez same time. De Nigger +cratch eh head, an den eh mek answer: +“Gentlemans, me spec wen Mossa fire pon +topper um, de deer mus be bin er bresh fly +offer eh yez wid eh hine foot.” Dat sorter +saterfy de gentlemans, an sabe de Buckra +man wud. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[135]</span></p> + +<p>Arter de gentlemans done gone, de Serbant +call eh Mossa one side an eh say: “Mossa, +me willin fuh back anyting you say bout +hunt an kill deer, but lemme bague you nex +time you tell bout how you shoot um, you +pit de hole closer. Dis time you mek um so +fur apart, me hab big trouble fur git um +togerruh.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[136]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="L"><abbr title="Fifty">L.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH ROCCOON AN BUH POSSUM.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Roccoon ax Buh Possum wuh mek, +wen de dog tackle um, eh double up ehself, +an kibber eh yeye wid eh han, an wunt fight +lucker man an lick de dog off. Buh Possum grin +eh teet same lucker fool, an eh say, +wen de dog come pon topper um, dem tickle +him rib so bad long dem mout dat him +bleege ter laugh; an so him furgit fuh +fight.</p> + +<p>Coward man hab all kind er lie fuh tell +fuh scuse ehself.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[137]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LI"><abbr title="Fifty-one">LI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE RAIN.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Wolf bin er set een de do er him +house duh play eh fiddle. Lord er massy! +how dat animel did mek dat fiddle talk! +Buh Wolf yeye shet tight, an eh dis bin er +rock from side ter side, an draw eh bow teh +eh berry lenk, en der pat de time wid eh +foot. Er hebby shower er rain come on. +Buh Rabbit, him bin een de big road not fur +from Buh Wolf house. Buh Rabbit yent +lub rain, an eh try fuh shelter ehself onder +er oak tree wuh kibber wid long moss. De +rain lick um een eh yez, an eh leff fuh hunt +better place. Es eh pass by Buh Wolf house, +eh notus Buh Wolf duh set een de do duh +play eh fiddle. Buh Wolf so tek up wid eh +play dat eh shet eh yeye an yent duh watch +wuh gwine on roun um. So Buh Rabbit mek +up eh mine fuh slip een de do pass Buh +Wolf, an set een him house tel de rain done +ober. Buh Rabbit foot so sofe nobody kin +yeddy um wen eh walk. Him no know, but +Buh Wolf ketch sight er um outer de corner +ob him yeye wen Buh Rabbit hop een de do +an run back side er de room. Eh sed down +day an mek ehself saterfy, an duh wait topper +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[138]</span> +de rain. Buh Wolf him yent leh Buh +Rabbit know say him shum, but eh biggin +fuh tun eh chune, an eh play an eh sing: +“Tenk God, rain done sen meat een me +house. Tenk God, rain done sen meat een +me house.” Buh Rabbit yeddy; an eh spicion +say Buh Wolf smell um, an fine out say +him bin een eh house. Buh Rabbit hair rise, +an eh want fuh git out, but eh faid fuh slip +back trough de do way Buh Wolf bin er sed +down. Buh Rabbit berry oneasy een eh +mine, an eh duh consider plan fuh mek eh +scape.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf house buil on de groun senker +hog pen. Eh mek wid pole. Him bin tink +say him got Buh Rabbit safe, an so eh keep +on play eh fiddle an sing: “Tenk God, rain +done sen meat een me house. Tenk God, rain +done sen meat een me house.” Wile Buh +Wolf duh mek ehself saterfy say him hab +Buh Rabbit an gwine eat um soon es de rain +done ober, Buh Rabbit duh grabble, grabble, +grabble onder de bottom er de pole, tel +eh mek hole big nough, an den eh slip out, +onbeknowinst teh Buh Wolf, an hop roun +teh de front do, an eh holler teh Buh Wolf: +“You duh sing an der play, ‘Tenk God, +rain done sen meat een you house,’ but you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[139]</span> +yent eat um yet, an you yent gwine eat um.” +Wid dat eh leff right befo Buh Wolf face. +Buh Wolf rale disappint. Eh loss eh dinner. +Eh gone an eh heng up eh fiddle, an +eh say teh ehself: “Me tought sho me bin +hab um, but Rabbit beat my time.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[140]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LII"><abbr title="Fifty-two">LII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH ALLIGATUH, BUH RABBIT, AN BUH WOLF.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him bin er tief Buh Alligatuh +agg. Buh Alligatuh ketch um topper +eh nes. Eh graff um an eh pit um een one +crocus bag, an eh tie up de een er de bag +tight, an eh heng um on one tree lim, an eh +gone home fuh git eh lash fuh lick Buh +Rabbit. Buh Rabbit dat skaid eh yeye big +moner saucer. Eh duh trimble een de bag, +an duh peep trough de crack een de crocus +fuh notus wuh gwine happne.</p> + +<p>Bimeby eh see Buh Wolf duh ramble dat +way. Soon es Buh Wolf come anigh um, +Buh Rabbit biggin fuh sing say him gwine +teh Hebben, way him will hab nuttne fuh do +cept joy ehself; way him will hab no corn +fuh grine, no tetter fuh dig, no cotton fuh +pick, no rice fuh hoe, an no chillun fuh +mine. Buh Rabbit mek tense luk him so +happy case de Lord dist er commin fuh tek +um right up eenter de element.</p> + +<p>Buh Wolf stop. Eh listne teh Buh Rabbit. +Eh yeddy close, an den eh say: “Buh +Rabbit, enty dat duh you woice?” Buh +Rabbit, him mek answer: “Yes, Budder, dis +duh me.” Den Buh Wolf ax um wuh eh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[141]</span> +duh do een dat crocus bag. Buh Rabbit tell +um say him dist fix ehself dat er way so de +Lord kin fine um handy fuh tek um right up +eenter Hebben; an den eh say: “Good-bye, +Buh Wolf, I leff all me trial behine; you +no gwine see me no mo; me gwine leff right +off fuh Hebben.” Buh Wolf now, him yent +hab no better sense den fuh bleebe wuh Buh +Rabbit duh talk; an eh bague Buh Rabbit +fuh leh him jine um an go long um. Buh +Rabbit, him mek answer: “Me Budder, me +glad fuh bleege you, but de good Lord tell +me say only one at er time kin enter Hebben. +Two an two cant go day.” Buh Wolf +bague. Eh bague. At lenk Buh Rabbit +mek tense say eh gie way caze Buh Wolf +bague um so bad, an eh say: “Well, Budder, +you seem so anxious me gwine leh you +tek me chance dis time, an me will haffer +wait topper de Lord tel narruh tun.”</p> + +<p>Wid dat eh tell Buh Wolf fuh loose de +bag offer de tree lim, an ontie um. Arter +Buh Wolf done do dis, Buh Rabbit git out, +an Buh Wolf tek eh place een de bag. Buh +Rabbit tie up de mout er de bag berry tight, +an heng um gen on de tree lim. Buh Wolf, +lucker fool, duh set eenside duh spec fuh +rise ter Hebben. Buh Rabbit now, eh so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[142]</span> +glad eh free, eh hop off one side an hide ehself +een one gall-berry ticket, way nobody +kin shum, an cock eh yez fuh notus wuh +gwine happne. Eh know say big trouble +gwine come topper Buh Wolf.</p> + +<p>Eh yent bin berry long wen yuh come +Buh Alligatuh duh tote er keen black lash. +Eh gone right up ter de bag, an eh gen um +er nasty cut. Den eh haul back an eh gen +de bag anurrer whaling ub er lick. Eh no +bin know say Buh Rabbit bin git out, an dat +Buh Wolf bin eenside. Buh Wolf couldnt +mek out wuh bin gwine on. De lick hot um +so bad eh holler out: “Wudder dat? Who +duh dat? Wuh hoona duh do long me? +Lemme lone.” Buh Alligatuh so bex eh +yent yeddy say eh bin Buh Wolf woice, an +eh keep duh pile on de lick tell eh tare de +crocus an cut de bag down. Buh Wolf all +lick up so eh casely kin walk. Wen eh +scuffle outer de bag, Buh Alligatuh fine out +fuh de fus time say eh binner whale up Buh +Wolf, steader Buh Rabbit wuh bin tief eh +agg. Den Buh Alligatuh ax Buh Wolf pardon, +an mek um tell um huccum Buh Rabbit +bin fool um an git um fuh tek eh place een +de bag. Buh Alligatuh bex an sorry all +two: eh bex caze Buh Rabbit play dat trick +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[143]</span> +an git way; eh sorry caze Buh Wolf beat up +so sewere. All dis time Buh Rabbit duh +squat een de bush, way eh kin see an yeddy +ebry ting, duh half kill ehself wid laugh.</p> + +<p>All de sorry wuh Buh Alligatuh bin sorry +fuh Buh Wolf yent bin done um no good. +Eh bin bruise up so bad eh haffer tek eh +bed fuh mona two week, an all dat time Buh +Wolf fambly mose dead long hongry.</p> + +<p>Buh Alligatuh an Buh Wolf all two mek +plan fuh ketch Buh Rabbit, but dem nebber +did obertek um. No matter wuh de trouble, +Buh Rabbit always hab sense nough fuh +clear ehself. Eh yent hab dem long yez an +big yeye fuh nuttne.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[144]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LIII"><abbr title="Fifty-three">LIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE DYIN BULL-FROG.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>One time er ole Bull-Frog bin berry sick +an spectin fuh dead. All eh fren een de +pon collec roun um an eh fambly, fuh nuss +um an tek dem las look at um. Dat ole +Frog bin hab er noung wife an heap er leely +chillun. Eh berry trouble een eh breas bout +who gwine mine eh fambly arter eh gone. +Wen eh woice biggin fuh fail um, an dist +befo eh dead, eh say: “Me fren, who gwine +tek me wife wen de breaf leff dis yer body?” +Eh fren all holler out at de top er dem +woice: “Me me. Me me. Me me.” Den +eh quire: “Who er you gwine mine me leely +chillun?” Fuh some time eh yent yeddy no +answer; an den de answer come back ter +um one by one from all ober de pon, an een +er deep woice: “Yent der me. Yent der +me. Yent der me.”</p> + +<p>Heap er people willin’ fuh notus er pooty +noung widder, wen dem no want bodder +long narruh man chillun.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[145]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LIV"><abbr title="Fifty-four">LIV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH RABBIT, BUH PATTRIDGE, AN DE COW.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Rabbit, him berry greedy, an him +lub fuh tell lie. Him an Buh Pattridge +mek greement fuh kill Cow. Buh Pattridge +ax Buh Rabbit: “Way we gwine butcher +um?” Buh Rabbit say: “Less we dribe um +close up ter my house befo we kill um.” +Dem done dat, an arter dem kill an skin de +Cow, dem cut um up fuh share um. Den +Buh Rabbit tell Buh Pattridge: “You tek +one er de fore-quarter, caze you know you +leetle an cant tote much one time, an me +radder you tek de fore-quarter anyhow, +caze eh nex de heart, an eh mo sweeter den +de res er de meat.” So Buh Pattridge tek +one er de fore-quarter an leff fuh him house.</p> + +<p>Soon es Buh Pattridge gone duh tote eh +meat home, Buh Rabbit tun een an tote all +de res er de Cow ter him house, an pit um +een eh room, an lock de do. Den eh stan outside +duh watch fuh see wen Buh Pattridge +would er come back fuh mo meat, so dem all +two could er meet same time at de place way +dem bin butcher de Cow. Buh Rabbit leh +Buh Pattridge git er leely way ahead er um +es dem gwine back ter de spot way de Cow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[146]</span> +bin kill, an wen eh come up eh say: “Hi! +Buh Pattridge, way all de meat gone?” +Buh Pattridge, him mek answer: “Me dis +bin gwine ax you wuh you bin do wid all de +meat.” Buh Rabbit say: “How you kin +ax me sich er question, wen me bin see er +whole gang er Pattridge dis gone from yuh? +Me sho say you an you fambly bin come +back fuh tek anarruh tun long de meat.” +Buh Pattridge mek answer say him an eh +fambly nebber bin nigh de Cow sence eh fus +leff um. Den Buh Rabbit schway say: “Ef +eh yender you, somebody else muster tief de +Cow meat wen we all two bin gone;” an so +eh fool Buh Pattridge, an mek um bleebe +say strange people muster slip up an cahr +off de meat, wen all de time him binner de +tief, an hab um lock up safe een him house.</p> + +<p>You nebber kin trus Buh Rabbit. Eh all +fuh ehself; an ef you listne ter him tale, eh +gwine cheat you ebry time, an tell de bigges +lie dout wink eh yeye.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[147]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LV"><abbr title="Fifty-five">LV.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE FIDDLER, BUH TIGER, AN BUH BEAR.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Long time ago dere bin er Ebo man wuh +bin er great fiddler. Eh know better den +all dem tarruh people wuffer do long fiddle. +Wen eh lean back, an shet eh yeye, an draw +eh bow fuh tru, nobody wuh yeddy kin +keep from shuffle eh foot. Ebry body roun +de settlement blan gage um fuh mek de +music fuh dem fuh dance. One day eh bin +gwine fuh keep eh gagement fuh play at er +party. Eh hab eh fiddle een er bag. Es +eh bin der walk tru er deep swamp, Buh +Tiger an Buh Bear tek eh track an run um. +De man skaid wus den bad, but eh wunt +drap eh fiddle. Eh clime one tree an fix ehself +een one crotch. Fus ting eh know, Buh +Tiger biggin fuh crawl up de tree fuh ketch +um. De man holler and try fuh skaid de +beas, but eh wunt skaid. Eh keep on duh +clime up. Den de man draw eh fiddle an +eh bow outer de bag, an biggin fuh play wid +all eh strenk. Buh Tiger bleege fuh stop +teh listne ter um. Een er leely wile de chune +sweeten Buh Tiger so bad eh forgit ter foller +de man, an eh tun roun an come down de +tree, an him an Buh Bear graff han, an all +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[148]</span> +two set een fuh dance. De faster de fiddler +play, de faster dem dance. Dem gone roun +an roun, up an down, tel dem dead tired. +At lenk dem all two so outdone dem bleege +fuh drap der groun an try fuh ketch dem win. +Dem cant dance er foot furder, an dem duh +try fuh keep de time long dem head.</p> + +<p>Wen de Fiddler notus how complete dem +outdone, eh slip down de tree, an tek eh foot +een eh han, an lean fuh de place way eh bin +gwine. Buh Tiger an Buh Bear yent hab +strenk fuh foller um: an so eh music sabe +um.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[149]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LVI"><abbr title="Fifty-six">LVI.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DE OLE KING AN DE NOUNG KING.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Er ole King yeddy say dem gwine pit er +noung King een him place. De ting worry +um an mek um bex. Eh want fuh keep eh +trone: so eh gen order teh eh head man fuh +mek him soldier kill all de ole people een de +nation, so de noung King shant hab no wise +pusson fuh help um cahr on de bidness +er de kingdom. De soldier tek dem gun an +dem club, an dem massacree all de ageable +people een de lan.</p> + +<p>Den de ole King sen wud teh de noung +King, wuh de people bin pick out fuh rule +ober dem, dat eh mus fetch um er fat hog, +but eh musnt be eider er sow-hog, neider er +bo-hog, but eh mus be er fat hog.</p> + +<p>Wen de noung King git de message, eh +tun dis answer: “Tell de ole King say me +hab er fat barruh een de pen, an him mus +come fur um; but eh musnt come een de +day, ner eh musnt come fuh um een de +night.” De ole King, wen eh yeddy dis +message, mek up eh mine say de noung King +mus hab heap er sense, er else some wise +man muster help um; an eh couldnt see +how dat kin be, case all de ole an de wise +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[150]</span> +people een de nation done kill. Eh no bin +know dat wen de order gie fuh stroy all de +ole people een de kingdom, de noung King +hide eh farruh een one holler tree, an so eh +mek eh scape from de soldier, an bin day +fuh gen eh son sense.</p> + +<p>De noung King tun sich er smart answer, +wid de help er eh farruh, dat de ole King +couldnt mek out wuh time fuh gone fuh de +fat hog; an so eh gib up, an de noung King, +befo long, come an tun um out an tek eh +office.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[151]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LVII"><abbr title="Fifty-seven">LVII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>BUH GOAT AN BUH WOLF.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Buh Goat berry faid tunder an lightnin +an rain. One day big tunder storm rise een +de wes, an eh rain, an eh lightnin, an eh +hail. Buh Goat an eh wife bin er feed een +de wood close by Buh Wolf house. Wen +de lightnin flash, an de tunder roll, an de +rain po down, dem faid fuh stay een de +wood, an dem run teh Buh Wolf house, an +dem bague um fuh leh dem come een tel de +storm done ober. Buh Wolf tell dem yes; +an eh tun Buh Goat an eh wife een de shedroom, +an eh shet de do behine dem an latch +um. Buh Wolf shedroom yent bin hab bode +flo. Eh mek topper de neked dut. Arter +Buh Wolf done shet up Buh Goat an eh wife, +eh git eh fiddle an eh biggin fuh play an +sing: “Tenky goolly God, tunder an lightnin +done sen meat een me house. Tenky +goolly God, tunder an lightnin done sen meat +een me house.” Buh Goat wife yeddy wuh +Buh Wolf bin er play an sing, an eh say +teh eh husbun: “Enty you yeddy wuh Buh +Wolf duh play an duh sing: ‘Tenky goolly +God, tunder an lightnin done sen meat een +me house’? Him gwine kill an eat we. Better +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[152]</span> +leh we grabble out an leff.” All dis time +Buh Wolf wife bin er tell eh husbun: “You +better mine wuh you duh sing. You better +keep you mout shet. Buh Goat an eh wife +gwine yeddy wuh you duh say.” Buh Wolf +wouldnt listen ter um. Eh wouldnt stop. +Him say de rain duh fall so hebby Buh Goat +an him wife couldnt mek out wuh him duh +sing. Wile dis bin er gwine on, Buh Goat +an eh wife busy duh grabble, grabble, grabble +onder de sill er de shedroom tel dem mek +hole big nough fuh dem fuh crawl out, an +den dem slip out an gone.</p> + +<p>Wen de rain stop, Buh Wolf heng up eh +fiddle an gone git eh knife, an pit eh pot on +de fire, en sharpen eh knife on de pot rim. +Den eh onlatch de shedroom do an gone een +fuh cut de troat er Buh Goat an eh wife. De +fus ting eh fine out, Buh Goat an eh wife done +gone. Eh holler back ter him wife an eh +say: “Ole ooman! Buh Goat an eh wife git +way.” De ole ooman—wuh bin Buh Wolf +wife—mek answer: “Enty me bin tell you +say Buh Goat an eh wife gwine yeddy? Duh +you mek dat. Ef you bin do es me bin tell +you, an keep you big mout shet, you bin hab +um all two now.” Den Buh Wolf an eh +wife biggin fuh quarrel an fight caze Buh +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[153]</span> +Wolf skaid Buh Goat an eh wife an lem git +way. Buh Wolf wife lick eh husbun tel eh +holler, an eh tell um eh shant stay een de +house bedout eh fine um een meat. Buh +Wolf bague berry hard, an eh prommus say +ef eh wife lem go him will hunt an fetch bittle +right off. Den eh wife tun um loose, an +Buh Wolf gone fuh git meat.</p> + +<p>Een de arternoon er de same day, wile +Buh Wolf bin er hunt bittle, eh meet up +wid Buh Goat, an eh ax um: “Buh Goat, +wuh sort er mean trick dat wuh you bin do +me dis mornin?” Buh Goat, him bex, an +him mek answer: “How you hab de face +fuh talk long me an ax me sich er question? +Enty you bin fix fuh kill me an me wife dis +mornin arter you done gie we de freedom er +you house? Enty we yeddy you sing an tenk +de Lord case tunder an lightnin sen meat een +you house? You hab er bad heart. You no +duh frien.” Buh Wolf, him say: “You mek +mistake. Me no bin gwine hot you. Me dist +bin er fun.” Buh Goat answer: “Yes, you +yiz bin mek up you mine fuh kill we. Haw +Buck! me lub my life dist es much es you +lub yourn, an me no want hab nuttne mo +fuh do long you.” Wen Buh Wolf fine eh +couldnt fool Buh Goat, eh change eh chune +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[154]</span> +an eh say: “Go long, Boy. You git way +one time, but narruh chance gwine come; an +de nex time me git you een me power me +yent gwine wait topper nuttne, but me gwine +pick you bone right off.” Buh Goat laugh +at um, an eh answer: “Now you done speak +you mine, lemme tell you, you nebber gwine +git narruh chance fuh ketch me. Me boun +fuh watch you.” An so dem part company. +Buh Goat nebber did trus Buh Wolf from +dat day tel dis.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[155]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LVIII"><abbr title="Fifty-eight">LVIII.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>DENTISTRY AT THE OLD PLANTATION HOME.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>The incident which we relate occurred +some forty years ago at one of those beautiful +plantations in the swamp-region of Georgia, +where the magnolia grandiflora and the +live-oak mingled their noble shadows,—where +the cultivation of rice and sea-island +cotton engaged the attention of the agriculturalist,—where +generous hospitality and a +patriarchal civilization abode,—and where, +at a remove from city, all operations were +conducted within the limits of the liberal +domain, and through the intervention of +means and servants appurtenant to the long-established +and abundant home.</p> + +<p>Prominent among the domestics on this +plantation was Daddy Jack. A favorite +servant, intelligent, obedient, courteous, and +with the manners of the old school, he +was now verging upon sixty. Among other +duties devolved upon him was the general +supervision of the plantation infirmary where +the sick were carefully nursed and supplied +with medicine and suitable food. Acquiring +considerable knowledge in the treatment of +ordinary diseases incident to climate and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[156]</span> +exposure, he had become, in the estimation +of his fellow-servants, a famous leech; and +was at all times prepared, with entire self-possession +and dignity, to indulge in blood-letting, +to administer purgatives, prescribe +hot baths, and recommend tonics. A pint +of blood to reduce the pulse, then ten grains +of calomel, followed in the morning by half +a teacup of castor-oil containing three or +four drops of turpentine to impart additional +potency to the dose, and finally snake-root +tea to brace up the halting system, constituted +the practice in vogue in cases of +ordinary fever. If this vigorous treatment +failed of the desired effect, a repetition was +generally resolved upon; and so the patient, +sometimes enfeebled to such a degree that +he no longer afforded attractive food for disease, +slowly recovered in spite of this San +Grado regimen. As a supplement to his +professional labors as a physician, Daddy +Jack indulged, in a rude way, in the art of +dentistry. He understood how to cut around +an aching tooth with the same lancet which +he employed in blood-letting from the arm. +He knew how to annihilate an exposed and +throbbing nerve with a ten-penny nail heated +red-hot. With the use of an old-fashioned +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[157]</span> +extractor, with which to pry out an offending +molar tooth, sometimes even at the +expense of a fractured jaw, he was familiar. +In the absence of a suitable instrument, a +strong twine string, well waxed, sufficed to +pull out an incisor.</p> + +<p>On one occasion a strolling Yankee dentist +visited the neighborhood. For the first +time Jack beheld sundry appliances which +modern ingenuity had devised for the facile +extraction of teeth. In his old methods he +at once lost confidence. Application was +made to his master for the immediate purchase +of certain designated lancets, and for +pairs of forceps, both straight and curved. +His wish was gratified, and the plantation +was notified that he now possessed instruments +with which teeth might be extracted +readily and with the least amount of pain. +An era of increased practice and of +enlarged professional emolument quickly +dawned. It really appeared as if there was +scarcely a negro upon the plantation who +did not have at least one tooth which “hot +um,” and which “eh wan Buh Jack fuh pull +out fuh um.” The old man’s services were +frequently called into requisition, and his +reputation so increased that numbers from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[158]</span> +adjacent plantations sought and obtained +relief at his hands.</p> + +<p>One bright spring morning, a stalwart +young carpenter, John by name, who had +been suffering from a decayed jaw-tooth of +huge proportions, presented himself with +swollen face and most lugubrious countenance. +The customary fee of a quarter of +a dollar was paid in advance, and Daddy +Jack made ready for the operation. Seating +John in a wooden chair in the yard, and +with his face turned to the sun so that the +old man could “git er fair sight at de teet,” +Jack proceeded with his lancet to separate +the tooth, as far as practicable, from the +engorged and circumjacent gum. John +squirmed and indulged in heart-rending +groans. As the cutting proceeded and the +blood trickled from the corners of John’s +mouth, Jack encouraged his demoralized +patient with the injunction: “Tan ter um +luk er man, me son. Eh yen gwine hot you +much. Eh yen gwine tek long. Me mose +done. Me soon git um out.”</p> + +<p>This preliminary operation concluded, +Jack produced his forceps. John, already +appalled at the suffering which he had endured, +gazed upon the instrument with eyes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[159]</span> +as big as saucers, and resolutely closed his +mouth. To Jack’s command that he open +it, he responded: “De teet yent duh hot me +no mo. I gwine.” After much persuasion +Jack prevailed upon him to open his mouth +and let him “tek de ting out.” At length +the old man firmly grasped the tooth with +the forceps, and began to haul away at it. +As he pulled, John commenced to rise from +his seat. Jack endeavored, with the left +hand, to keep him down, while he tugged +lustily at the tooth with his right. All to +no purpose. John was quickly upon his +feet, and then upon tiptoe, so that Jack +could no longer operate to any advantage. +It seemed as if for once the sable dentist +was to be baffled in his aim. Nothing +daunted, however, and muttering imprecations +upon his unfortunate victim, he slowly +backed across the yard, drawing John after +him,—who meanwhile was giving utterance +to the most miserable and unearthly sounds +from his bloody jaws, and attempting, with +uplifted hands, to arrest the traction of the +resolute old man, who refused for an instant +to relax his hold,—until he reached a flight +of steps which led up to the main room of +the smoke-house. Here he hoped to acquire +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[160]</span> +the advantage which he so much desired. +Ascending backward three of the steps, and +quickly placing his right foot upon John’s +shoulder, so as to keep him below and thus +obtain an additional purchase, with one +supreme effort he succeeded in compassing +his purpose. The tooth came out so suddenly +that the old man, losing his balance, fell +heavily against the door of the smoke-house, +while John tumbled in the opposite direction, +yelling with pain, and protesting that “Uncle +Jack done broke eh jaw.”</p> + +<p>Recovering himself in a trice, and holding +aloft the forceps, which still infolded in +its remorseless fangs the gory molar, with +an indescribable air of commingled dignity, +scorn, and triumph addressing the discomfited +victim of his professional skill, old +Jack exclaimed: “Haw, Boy! when I graff +my han on er teet, eh bown fuh come, er de +jaw pop,—one er tarruh.”</p> + +<p>In after years the old man often recurred +with manifest pride and satisfaction to this +incident, and frequently cited this exploit in +confirmation of his boast “dat no nigger +teet ebber yet did git de better er me.”</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[161]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LIX"><abbr title="Fifty-nine">LIX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>THE NEGRO AND THE ALLIGATOR.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Foremost among the reptiles which excited +the curiosity and aroused the fears of +the Georgia colonists, upon their first acquaintance +with them, were the alligators. +Francis Moore, keeper of the stores, describing +them in 1736, says: “They are terrible +to look at, stretching open an horrible +large mouth big enough to swallow a Man, +with Rows of dreadful large sharp Teeth, +and Feet like Draggons, armed with great +Claws, and a long Tail which they throw +about with great Strength, and which seems +their best Weapon, for their Claws are +feebly set on, and the Stiffness of their +Necks hinders them from turning nimbly to +bite.” In order to dissipate the general terror +which these strange saurians inspired, +Mr. Oglethorpe, having wounded and caught +one of them, caused it to be carried to Savannah, +where he “made the boys bait it +with sticks, and finally pelt and beat it to +death.”</p> + +<p>To the European, newly landed on these +shores, the alligator was indeed a novelty, +repulsive and provocative of dread. Not so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[162]</span> +with the negro. His ancestors were well +acquainted with the African crocodile, and +their descendants, dwelling in this marsh +region filled with swamps and cypress ponds, +and permeated with lagoons, creeks, and +rivers—the habitat of this formidable reptile—were +from childhood familiar with its +roar, and entirely accustomed to its unsightly +appearance and habits. Among these sable +myth-makers it figured as an important +<i>dramatis persona</i>. Of the dogs, geese, +ducks, and hogs of the plantation hands it +was an avowed and a voracious enemy. +When skinned and thoroughly boiled, its +tail was esteemed by many as a savory article +of food. For the cure of rheumatism its +oil was held in special repute, and the exuded +musk was collected for medicinal uses. +Its skin, rudely tanned, entered largely into +the composition of home-made pouches and +shoes. Whistles and powder-charges were +fabricated from the tusks, which also served +a good turn for the pickaninnies to rub their +swollen gums against, and to cut their first +teeth upon. A constant depredator was the +alligator upon the fish-traps which guarded +the mouths of the short creeks emptying into +the rivers. Upon the reflux of the tide, entering +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[163]</span> +the inclosure, this reptile gorged itself +upon the fishes there detained, and incurred +the wrath of Cuffee, whose frying-pan was +thus cheated out of its anticipated evening +broil. Hence it came to pass that the alligator +was regarded by the negro both as an +enemy and as desirable game. During the +spring and summer they frequently met, +and whenever the former could be taken at +a disadvantage its life was forfeit to the opportunity. +It was killed in rice-field ditches, +in shallow ponds, and occasionally upon +land. The hoe, the axe, a fence rail, and +the club were the offensive weapons; and +loud were the cries and great was the fun +while the struggling reptile was being beaten +to death. In the back-waters and in swamps +where the alligators made their nests, reared +their young, and dug their holes, the negroes, +during their leisure hours, were fond +of capturing them by means of a heavy iron +hook fastened to the end of a long, stout +pole. This was thrust into the hole where +the reptile lay. While snapping at the +hook, with its irritating prong, the alligator +was in the end securely caught with the +barb, and then came the tug of war. It was +in no wise an easy operation to draw from +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[164]</span> +its hiding-place one of these reluctant, excited, +and revolving monsters. For this purpose +the combined strength of several stalwart +men barely sufficed. The frolic was +joyous, and the exultant shouts of those engaged +in the sport awakened strange echoes +in the depths of the dank and moss-clad +swamps.</p> + +<p>If we may credit the text of the “Brevis +Narratio” of Le Moyne de Morgues, the +Florida Indians were addicted to similar +sport, and Plate XXVI may well be claimed +in practical illustration of the amusement to +which we are now alluding.</p> + +<p>During the period of hibernation the negroes +often dug these reptiles out of their +holes. Sometimes the alligator attained +huge proportions, measuring, from the tip +of the nose to the end of the tail, fourteen +feet. It was fond of a given locality, and +exercised exclusive dominion over some favorite +bend in the river, some chosen part of +a lake, or some attractive pool in the swamp. +The patriarch, with its attendant consort +and progeny, there reigned supreme, unless, +after severe battle, it was driven away by +one more powerful. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[165]</span></p> + +<p>In ante-bellum days, when firearms were +denied to the negro population, alligators +were far more numerous than they are at +present. The great demand for their skins +which has arisen of late, the use of the rifle +in the hands of the tourist, and the employment +of the shot-gun by the freedmen have +united in causing a frightful mortality +among these reptiles. Bartram says that +when he visited the River St. John the alligators +at one point “were in such incredible +numbers, and so close together from shore to +shore, that it would have been easy to have +walked across on their heads, had the animals +been harmless.”</p> + +<p>For the capture of animals drinking at the +water’s edge, or swimming in lake or river, +the tail was employed. A stunning blow +having thus been delivered, the victim was +caught in the open jaws, and thence transported +to the dwelling-place of the reptile, +where it was guarded until decomposition +had fairly supervened. It was then eaten at +leisure and with apparent relish. Sometimes +days were allowed to elapse before the slain +animal or bird became suitably seasoned for +the feast. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[166]</span></p> + +<p>While hogs, dogs, calves, sheep, geese, +and ducks were often captured by alligators, +they seldom attacked human beings. Of +mankind they apparently entertained an inborn +fear, and would quit the part of the +river or lagoon in which men or even boys +were swimming. Instances are rare in +which human life has been sacrificed to the +voracity of these monsters. The writer +remembers several occasions, however, on +which men and children were attacked by +alligators. He will be pardoned for recalling +one of them.</p> + +<p>Sawney had a wife who resided upon a +neighboring plantation. It was his habit +to visit his wife every Saturday night, and +remain with her until Monday morning. On +these journeys he would carry a bag containing +provisions and such choice morsels as he +had been able, during the week, to accumulate +for his better half. Near the negro +quarter, where he resided on the home-plantation, +was a small creek, in which the tide +ebbed and flowed. A large log furnished +convenient means for crossing it. On the +night in question, shortly after dark, Sawney +shouldered his well-filled bag and set out for +his wife’s house. The tide was flowing into +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[167]</span> +the creek. Instead of crossing on the log, he +saw fit to descend the gentle bank and wade +through the water. It was not more than +half-leg deep, and the creek was only some +ten yards wide. When he was in the middle +of the stream his attention was attracted +by a movement in the water. Instead of +getting out upon the bank, which he could +readily have done, he paused, and began to +parley with what, in the darkness, he conceived +to be a “sperit.” “Tan back, Mossa +Sperit, an lemme pass. Tan back, Mossa +Sperit; me do you no harm.” In this idiotic +and frightened manner he stood idly talking, +until what proved to be a large alligator approached +and laid violent hold of his right +leg. He was quickly thrown down by the +reptile. In the confusion which ensued, and +amid the struggles and yells of the negro, the +alligator for the moment relaxed its hold, and +was attracted by the fallen bag, which it tore +in pieces. Sawney had so completely lost his +wits, was so terrified, and was suffering so +much pain, that he neglected to improve the +opportunity thus afforded, and betake himself +to flight. He remained rooted to the +spot, howling, praying, and calling for help. +Having in a little while disposed of the bag, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[168]</span> +the alligator renewed its attack upon the +frightened negro, threw him down, broke his +left arm, and frightfully lacerated it and one +of his legs.</p> + +<p>The negroes at the quarter hard by, hearing +the noise and cries for help, armed with +torches, hoes, axes, and billets, rushed to the +spot just in time to save the life of the unfortunate +man. The alligator was beaten to +death. It measured nearly eleven feet, and +was very stout. Sawney’s wounds proved +well-nigh fatal. He was confined to his +cabin for quite three months, and, during +that time, required and received the careful +attention of a competent surgeon.</p> + +<p>The lazy way in which the negro was in +the habit of fishing, perched upon a tussock, +with feet and rod trailing in the water, somnolent +and in utter silence, did sometimes +invite and receive a flirt from the tail of the +reigning alligator, defending its preserves +against all poachers.</p> + +<p>The old memories are fast drifting away +into the shadows, and the modern negro and +the alligator of the present are but partial +types of things that were.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[169]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="LX"><abbr title="Sixty">LX.</abbr></h2> + +<h3>SPERITS.</h3> +</div> + + +<p>Among the negroes of the coast region of +Georgia and the Carolinas a belief in the +existence of ghosts, “sperits,” and superhuman +influences was very general. Especially +did it obtain among the ordinary field-hands +and those least educated. Comparatively +few there were who could lift themselves +entirely above the superstitious fears +born in Africa and perpetuated by tradition +in their new home. Memories of Fetichism, +of Totemism, and of Anthropomorphism +were strangely mingled with the teachings +of Christianity, and in their religious exercises +the emotional predominated over the +intellectual. The potency of charms and +philters was freely admitted, and it was +necessary to restrain the practice of Fetichism +by positive inhibition, or by labored +persuasion of its utter absurdity. The fabrication +of Fetiches, and their sale to those +who desired to utilize the powers of the +deities which they were supposed to represent, +were monopolized by old women, who +derived considerable gain from this calling. +The idea was by such means to conjure the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[170]</span> +neighbor against whom enmity was cherished, +and thus subject him or her to the +malign influences of the spirit or demon +whose power was supposed to inhere in the +evil charm.</p> + +<p>The ordinary Fetich consisted of a bunch +of rusty nails, bits of red flannel, and pieces +of brier-root tied together with a cotton +string. A toad’s foot, a snake’s tooth, a +rabbit’s tail, or a snail’s shell was sometimes +added. In price it varied from twenty-five +cents to a dollar. To insure the efficacy of +the desired spell, it was necessary that the +charm should be secretly deposited under the +pillow of the party to be affected, placed upon +the post of a gate through which he would +pass, or buried beneath the doorsteps of his +cabin. Once persuaded of the fact that he +had been thus conjured, the patient became +possessed of superstitious fears, and often +complained of bodily “miseries,” which +apparently defied the power of the healing +art, and were wholly dissipated only when +some atonement was made for the alleged +wrong, or payment offered to have the spell +broken through the intervention of the conjurer +who had devised it. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[171]</span></p> + +<p>In the conduct of plantations, difficulty +and annoyance were not infrequently experienced +from the interference of these old +negro women,—conjurers,—who, in plying +their secret trade, gave rise to disturbances +and promoted strife and disquietude.</p> + +<p>To the apprehension of the common field-hand +there was no gainsaying the fact that +the spirits of the departed walked the earth +and revisited the scenes of their former +occupancy. It was not accorded to every +one to see and to commune with them. +Only those “born with a caul” were capable +of doing so. Such were never terrified by +these ghostly visitors. By their fellows they +were held in special esteem. To this favored +class did July belong. I inquired, on +one occasion, whether he believed in ghosts +and could see spirits. “Yes, Mossa,” was his +reply, “me kin shum. You know me bin +born wid caul. People wuh no bin born +wid caul kin yeddy sperit, but dem cant +shum. Sperit kin skade um, too, but dem +cant skade me. Me kin walk long um der +road, talk ter um een de bush, see dem een +me bed, and yeddy um een de grabe yad. +Me an sperit good fren.” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[172]</span></p> + +<p>How do they look? “Same luk wen dem +bin libe, ceptin dem look lucker shadder, an +dem walk backwuds, an dem face tun backwud, +an de heel teh eh foot day way eh toe +orter be. Dem dont tetch de groun wid dem +foot, but dem sorter dis skim pon topper de +grass. Dem so light dem cant mek track.”</p> + +<p>What garments do they wear? “Same +cloze wuh dem bury een. Way dem gwine +git any mo? De cloze hab eh shape, but +you kin see dey yent nuttne eenside er um.”</p> + +<p>What do they do? “Nuttne, so fur es +me know, cept walk bout, wisit dem ole +home, an notus wuh duh gwine on sence dem +leff.”</p> + +<p>Do they ever trouble anybody? “No, me +nebber see dem trubble nobody. Dem wunt +talk ter you. Dem go een gang ob two er +tree, an wander bout tel sich an sich er time, +wen dem haffer go back ter dem grabe. Me +see dem wuk dem mouf same luk dem bin er +talk ter one anurrer, an shake dem head, an +pint dem finger. Dem onderstan one anurrer. +Me bin question dem mo na once, but +dem nebber will mek answer. Heap er time +me jine compny wid dem der big road, an +try fuh gage dem een conbersation, an fine +out who dem yis, an how dey mek out; but +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[173]</span> +dem nebber will tell me, an, befo long, look +luk dem git bex, an den dey fade way een de +wood an leff me lone een de road.”</p> + +<p>Can you recognize them? “Yes, Mossa, +ef I bin know dem befo dey dead, I kin +know dem now. Me kin see dem dist es +plain es me kin see you now. Only tarruh +night me bin comin from Barnedo plantation. +Dest es I cross de causeway an rise +de hill by Shannul ole buryin-groun me see +Miley,—wuh bin dead de year arter freedom,—duh +lean genst one oak tree sider +de road. Day dis biggin fuh broke. Me +gone up ter um an me try fuh pass de time +er day wid um, fuh me yent bin see um +sence dat rainy ebenin wen we bury um in +Shannul. Miley look say eh bin want fuh +ax me someting; an den, all ob a sutten, eh +check isself, an eh tun roun an mek off fuh +de grabe-yad. Me foller um, an wen eh come +teh eh own grabe eh pit eh head down, an eh +gie two er tree whul, an down eh gone. Me +walk up en sarche de grabe. Me cant fine +out how Miley git een. De grass yent mash. +De groun yent broke; no hole day: an yet +me see um, wid me own yeye, gone down, +head foremose, een eh grabe. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[174]</span></p> + +<p>“Las winter me en George bin er hunt possum +een Jerrido bottom. We bin ketch two +fat possum, an dest befo we mek up we mine +fuh go back home we buil one fire fuh wam +weself. De night berry cole. Wen we bin +er wam we han an we foot roun de fire, yuh +come ole Uncle Andrew, wuh nusen ter dribe +fur ole Mossa, an ole Uncle Jupter, wuh bin +de gadner, an ole Aunt Peggy. Dem walk +up tarrur side de fire an look at we, but dem +yent bin crack eh teet ter we. Me see dem +plain, en me try fuh pint dem out to George. +Him couldnt shum, cause George yent bin +born wid caul. De dog nebber notus um. +Bimeby George hair biggin fuh rise. George +skade, an we leff fuh de nigger house.</p> + +<p>“You member Jacob wuh dem bin heng +een de Boro? Well, me an Sam meet um +one moon-shiny night een de big road, wid +de een er de rope tie roun eh neck. Me +kin tell you bout heap er people me bin +meet an see arter dem done dead an bury. +Me shum mose ebry night. Me kin show +you some ter-night ef you bin born wid caul. +Many time dem people wuh cant see sperit +come pon top dem an dunno nuttne bout +um. Enty wen you duh walk long de road +der night you suttenly feel hot win bresh by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[175]</span> +you cheek? Enty you sometime smell dead +man finger? Enty you yeddy bush crack der +wood wen de win yent der blow? Dem duh +sperit, but you no know. Sperit der walk +close by you, but you no shum. Me could +pint dem out an tell you who dem yiz.”</p> + +<p>Are you not afraid of these spirits? “No, +Mossa; wuh me gwine fade um fuh? Dem +nuttne cept de shape er people wid de sperit +eenside. De bone an meat done leff um. +Dem cant hot nobody. Eh breff cant pizen +you; an ef eh did knock at you, eh dis same +es ef win try fuh hit you.”</p> + +<p>Why do they come out of their graves? +“Me dunno, cept dem want fuh see one +anurrer, an wisit dem ole home, an look pon +topper dem ole fren.”</p> + +<p>Are they all grown? “No, sir; you see +dem all size, leetle an big, man an ooman, +gal an boy, an leely baby. My leely Sue, +wuh dead, blan come an play bout de house +ebry now an den. One time me try fuh +ketch um up in me arm, but me han gone +clean tru um dis luk er shadder, an den eh +wanish, an me so sorry.”</p> + +<p>These notions of July may be accepted as +typifying the belief on this subject entertained +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[176]</span> +by the great majority of the negroes +on the coast. Many went a step further, and +invested these ghosts and “sperits” with +the ability to intervene in mundane affairs, +and to entail harm and misfortune upon +those with whom they had not lived amicably +while in the flesh. It was the belief of +some of the African tribes that the power +of a ghost bore some relation to that which +the being possessed when alive, and it may +be that an inherited thought affords at least +a partial explanation of the ideas still entertained +by their descendants upon the shores +of this New World.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[177]</span> +<a id="chg4"></a><h2 class="nobreak" id="LXI"><abbr title="sixty-one">LXI.</abbr></h2> +</div> + +<h3>DADDY JUPITER’S VISION.</h3> +<br> +<div class="blockquot"> +Dreams are intimately associated with the lower +forms of religion.... During sleep the spirit +seems to desert the body; and as in dreams we visit +other localities and even other worlds, living as it +were a separate and different life, the two phenomena +are not unnaturally regarded as the complements +of one another.—<span class="smcap">Sir John Lubbock.</span> +</div> + + +<p>Daddy Jupiter was an old man when I +first knew him. In the capacity of a body +servant he had accompanied his master during +the campaign of 1812-15; and this fact, +apart from his excellent character, elevated +him in the esteem of all. For many years +prior to his death he was practically “off +duty,” keeping in-doors whenever he did not +feel entirely well, and in pleasant weather +working in the vegetable garden. He was +fond of his chickens and pigs, and cultivated +on his own account a small patch +where arrowroot, long collards, sugar-cane, +tanniers, ground-nuts, benne, gourds, and +watermelons grew in commingled luxuriance. +A widower and without children, +he led, in the main, a retired life; seldom +visiting at the houses of the other negroes +on the plantation, but always chatting pleasantly +with all who came to see him. At the +“Praise-House” his seat was never vacant +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[178]</span> +when his health permitted him to be present, +and he filled the office of a “watchman” +upon the plantation. It was the duty of +one occupying that station to advise in spiritual +matters, to lead in the semi-weekly +prayer-meetings, to set an example which +others might well follow, and to counsel in +all religious difficulties. Although somewhat +quick-tempered, and jealous of that +respect which he deemed his due from +others, he was upright, honest, full of Christian +sentiment, and pronounced in his condemnation +of everything savoring of evil. +In a word, he was a man of good reputation, +enjoyed the confidence of his fellows, stood +high in his church, and was supposed to be +in special favor with the Lord.</p> + +<p>During the winter preceding his death +Jupiter suffered much from rheumatism. +For weeks together he ventured no further +than the door of his cabin, where he would +sit and sun himself and smoke his clay pipe. +A negro lad, Cæsar by name, had been +deputed to cook for him, to wait upon him, +and to minister to his needs.</p> + +<p>I called one morning to see the old man, +to inquire after his health, and to ascertain +whether his wants were properly supplied. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[179]</span> +For an hour and more he entertained me, as +was his wont, with tales of the olden time, +and was evidently in excellent spirits. As I +was about to depart, Cæsar said: “Mossa, +Uncle Jupter bin hab er wision las night. +Leh him tell you bout um.” My curiosity +being excited, I resumed my seat, and inquired: +“Daddy, is that true? Have you +had a vision?” “Yes, me chile,” he answered, +“me suttenly did hab er wision, an +er berry good one too.” “Tell me about it,” +I rejoined. “Well, yeddy me,” replied the +old man, and he spoke as follows:⁠—</p> + +<p>“Las night, dis befo fus fowl crow, me +bin er leddown een me bed. De moon done +set. Cæsar, him bin ter sleep by de fire een +de tarruh room. Eberyting on de plantation +gone bed. Me bin study bout de time wen +ole Jupter hab ter meet him Lord and Master, +an me berry happy een me bussum. +Den me drap ter sleep. How long me bin +ter sleep me dunno, but all ob er sutten +pear like ebry shingle an boad hab er crack, +an de light stream tru, an de room bin bright +es day. Wile me duh wonder wudduh dat, +four leely angel, wuh dress een wite an hab +wing on eh back, fly een de room. Two +light topper de foot er de bed, an one on +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[180]</span> +arur side er me. My! but dem bin pooty! +Me see heap er pooty wite chillun een me +time, but me nebber bin see nuttne teh come +up ter dem, nur ter ketch nigh um. Dem +look pon topper me so kind, an dey open an +shet dem wing, an mek sich a cool breeze een +de house. Bimeby me retch out me han fuh +tell de one huddy wuh bin tan close me bed +on de right side, but eh draw back, an eh +say: ‘Jupter, we come fuh leh you know +de blessed Jesus duh commin fuh cahr you +up ter Hebben an show you de seat wuh eh +hab ready fur you.’ Me dat glad me yent +hab bref fuh mek ansur. Me hard fuh +bleebe me own yez. Me harte rise up een +me troat, an me yent duh say nuttne, but +me duh watch fur de Lord. Soon de blessed +Jesus, wid de print er de nail een eh han +an eh foot, an wid de star on eh head, +drap right down tru de top er de house dout +crack er shingle, an eh call me name, an eh +tell me fuh rise, an eh pit eh han onder me +shoulder, an eh liff me up light es er fedder. +Me ole cloze an me ole body leff behine, an +somehow narruh me sperit, him keep de +shape er de body. Den eh pit eh han onder +me arm, an eh cahr me way up eenter de element, +beyant de sun an de moon an de star, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[181]</span> +an de leely angel duh foller we. We gone +an we gone way up tel we git ter er big +alablaster house, wid high piazza all roun an +roun, wuh shine same luk de sun, buil in de +middle er a beautiful gaden wid flower, an +fruit, an hummin-bud, an butterfly, an angel +wid harp duh sing an duh joy ehself onder +de tree. Dis es we git ter de big gate, wuh +mek wid pearl, eh swing open dout tetch +um, an de blessed Jesus lead dis poor ole +nigger up de shinin pate to de big house +way de Lord lib.</p> + +<p>“We gone up de step an enter de pahler, +way de great God bin er set on eh golden +trone. Den de blessed Jesus mek de good +Lord sensible dat dis duh Jupter wuh him +hab sabe, an dat eh fetch um fuh show um +eh seat wuh eh done prepare fur um. Wid +dat de Lord, him call teh one angel, an eh tell +um fuh bring one chair an set um down befo +eh trone. Soon es dis bin done eh say: +‘Jupter, yuh you chair; set een um. Eh +blants ter you.’ Mossa, you nebber bin see +sech chair een all you life. Eh hab gold +rocker ter um. Eh hab welwit cushin een +eh bottom. Eh hab high back, an eh arm +stuff. Eh so soffe an easy. Eh look pootier +den dat big rockin chair wuh ole Mossa bin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[182]</span> +gib Missy wen eh marry you farruh. Me +shame fuh set een de chair, but de blessed +Jesus, him courage me, an me tek me seat, +an me so tankful dat me hab one chair een +de mansion een de sky.</p> + +<p>“Den de blessed Jesus tell anurruh angel +fuh bring me some milk an honey fuh drink. +Eh bring um een a nice glass tumbler, an eh +gen me fuh drink. Me tase um, an eh sweet +mone anyting me ebber drink een me life. +Eh tell me fuh drink um down, an wen me +drink all outer de glass, an me yeye ketch +sight er de bottom er de tumbler, me see +some speck. De ting trouble me, fuh me +dunno wuh mek speck day een de bottom er +dat clean tumbler. Den de blessed Master +notus me, an eh say: ‘Dont fret, Jupter; +dem speck duh you sin, but now dem all leff +behine.’</p> + +<p>“All dis time me bin er set wid me face +tun way from de Lord an eh trone, cause eh +so great an bright me couldnt look pon topper +um. Mossa, me cant scribe wuh me see +an yeddy een dat Hebben. Eh yent fuh tell. +De blessed Jesus tek me tru de gaden, +down by de ribber, an een de orchud way +de bigges peach, an fig, an orange, an pomegranate, +an watermillion, an all kin der fruit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[183]</span> +der grow. Me see heap er good people wuh +me bin know befo eh dead. Ole Mossa, +Cappne Maxwell, ole Mr. Ashmore, Buh +Jack, Sister Masha, me own Dinah, an mo +bin day, an dem all hab harp, an bin der +sing, an walk bout, an der pledjur ehself. +Dem glad fuh see me too, an gen me de +right han er fellership.</p> + +<p>“Arter me bin in Hebben good wile, de +blessed Master, him say: ‘Come, Jupter, I +gwine show you way de bad people go.’ Den +eh lead me down to one bottom wuh dark +an kibber wid cloud. In de fur een me see +smoke duh rise, an me yeddy people duh cry +an duh holler so bad. Wen we git ter dat +spot, lo an behole! day was de mouf er +Hell. Satan, him bin day wid eh pitchfork, +an eh black head wid screech-owl yez, an eh +red yeye, an eh claw-han, an eh forky tail. +Eh tan right at de mouf er de big hole way +de smoke an de fire duh bile out. Fas as de +tarruh debble bring sinner ter um, eh push +um wid eh pitchfork an eh trow um een de +fire. Lord Amighty! Mossa, how dem sinner +did kick an holler an try fuh pull way! +But twant no use. De minnit ole Satan +graff eh claw on um eh gone, an you could +yeddy um duh fry een de fire same luk fat +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[184]</span> +een me pan yuh. Me bin rale skade. De +ting mek me sick. Me hole on ter me Jesus, +an him tell me not teh fade, dat nuttne shill +trouble me.</p> + +<p>“Dis at dat time me wake. Me hair bin a +rise on me head, an wen me come fuh fine +out me bin een me own bed, an fowl bin a +crow fuh day. Oh, Mossa! dat ting wuh dem +call Hell duh a bad place. Me no wan shum +no mo, an me yent gwine day nurrer. Enty +de blessed Jesus done show me de chair +wuh eh done sabe fuh me een Hebben? +Yes, Mossa, me seat eh fix, an ole Jupter +ready fur go wenebber de Lord call.”</p> + +<p>He was indeed prepared, and early in +the spring we laid him to rest beneath the +venerable live-oaks which, with their solemn +arms, guarded the plantation burying-ground. +Then, not in a vision, but in reality, +as we believe, the good old man claimed +and was accorded his seat in the “mansion +not made with hands, eternal in the +Heavens.”</p> + + + +<div class="chapter"> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[185]</span> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="GLOSSARY">GLOSSARY</h2> +</div> + +<ul> +<li><i>Abnue</i>, avenue</li> +<li><i>Agg</i>, egg</li> +<li><i>All ob er sutten</i>, quickly and unexpectedly</li> +<li><i>An</i>, and</li> +<li><i>Arter</i>, after</li> +<li><i>Arur</i>, each, either</li> +<li><i>Ax</i>, ask</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Bactize</i>, baptize</li> +<li><i>Bague</i>, to beg</li> +<li><i>Barruh</i>, barrow</li> +<li><i>Beber</i>, beaver</li> +<li><i>Bedout</i>, without</li> +<li><i>Ben</i>, bend, bent, been</li> +<li><i>Berry</i>, very</li> +<li><i>Bes</i>, best</li> +<li><i>Bex</i>, vex, vexed</li> +<li><i>Bidness</i>, business</li> +<li><i>Biggin</i>, begin, began</li> +<li><i>Bimeby</i>, by and by, presently</li> +<li><i>Binner</i>, was, were</li> +<li><i>Bittle</i>, victuals</li> +<li><i>Blan</i>, in the habit of, accustomed to</li> +<li><i>Blanks</i>, <i>Blants</i>, belongs to</li> +<li><i>Bleebe</i>, believe</li> +<li><i>Bleege</i>, obliged, compelled</li> +<li><i>Bodder</i>, to bother</li> +<li><i>Bode</i>, board, boards</li> +<li><i>Bofe</i>, both</li> +<li><i>Bole</i>, bold</li> +<li><i>Boun</i>, resolved upon, forced to</li> +<li><i>Bredder</i>, brother</li> +<li><i>Bref</i>, breath</li> +<li><i>Bres</i>, breast</li> +<li><i>Bresh</i>, brush-wood, to brush</li> +<li><i>Broke up</i>, to leave, to depart</li> +<li><i>Brukwus</i>, breakfast</li> +<li><i>Buckra</i>, white man</li> +<li><i>Bud</i>, bird</li> +<li><i>Budduh</i>, <i>Buh</i>, brother</li> +<li><i>Buhhine</i>, behind</li> +<li><i>Bun</i>, burn</li> +<li><i>Buss</i>, burst, or break through</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Cahr</i>, carry</li> +<li><i>Caze</i>, because</li> +<li><i>Ceive</i>, deceive</li> +<li><i>Cept</i>, accept, accepted, except</li> +<li><i>Chillun</i>, children</li> +<li><i>Chimbly</i>, chimney</li> +<li><i>Chune</i>, tune</li> +<li><i>Cist</i>, insist</li> +<li><i>Clorte</i>, cloth</li> +<li><i>Cloze</i>, clothes</li> +<li><i>Cohoot</i>, bargain, agreement</li> +<li><i>Cole</i>, cold</li> +<li><span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[186]</span></li> +<li><i>Conjunct</i>, agree to, conclude</li> +<li><i>Cote</i>, court</li> +<li><i>Crack eh teet</i>, make answer</li> +<li><i>Crap</i>, crop</li> +<li><i>Crape</i>, scrape</li> +<li><i>Cratch</i>, scratch</li> +<li><i>Cut down</i>, disappointed, chagrined</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Darter</i>, daughter</li> +<li><i>Day</i>, there, is, to be, am</li> +<li><i>Day day</i>, to be there</li> +<li><i>Den</i>, then</li> +<li><i>Der</i>, was, were, into</li> +<li><i>Dest</i>, <i>Dist</i>, just, only</li> +<li><i>Destant</i>, distant, distance</li> +<li><i>Det</i>, death</li> +<li><i>Diffunce</i>, difference</li> +<li><i>Disher</i>, this</li> +<li><i>Do</i>, door</li> +<li><i>Dout</i>, without</li> +<li><i>Drap</i>, drop, dropped</li> +<li><i>Duh</i>, was, were</li> +<li><i>Dunno</i>, don’t know</li> +<li><i>Dut</i>, dirt</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Edder</i>, other</li> +<li><i>Eeben</i>, even</li> +<li><i>Een</i>, in, end</li> +<li><i>Eenwite</i>, invite</li> +<li><i>Ef</i>, if</li> +<li><i>Eh</i>, he, she, it, his, her, its</li> +<li><i>Element</i>, the sky, upper air</li> +<li><i>En</i>, end</li> +<li><i>Enty</i>, are you not, are they not, do you not, do they not, is it not</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Faber</i>, favor</li> +<li><i>Faid</i>, to be afraid</li> +<li><i>Fambly</i>, family</li> +<li><i>Fanner</i>, a shallow basket</li> +<li><i>Farruh</i>, <i>Farrur</i>, father</li> +<li><i>Feber</i>, fever</li> +<li><i>Fedder</i>, feather, feathers</li> +<li><i>Fiel</i>, field</li> +<li><i>Fine</i>, supply with food, find</li> +<li><i>Flaber</i>, flavor</li> +<li><i>Flo</i>, floor</li> +<li><i>Flut</i>, flirt</li> +<li><i>Foce</i>, force</li> +<li><i>Forrud</i>, forehead</li> +<li><i>Fren</i>, friend</li> +<li><i>Fros</i>, frost</li> +<li><i>Fuh</i>, for</li> +<li><i>Fuh sutten</i>, for a certainty</li> +<li><i>Fuss</i>, first</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Gage</i>, engage, hire</li> +<li><i>Gedder</i>, gather, collect</li> +<li><span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[187]</span></li> +<li><i>Gelt</i>, to girt</li> +<li><i>Gem</i>, to give</li> +<li><i>Gen</i>, gave, again</li> +<li><i>Gie</i>, give</li> +<li><i>Gimme</i>, give me</li> +<li><i>Glec</i>, neglect</li> +<li><i>Glub</i>, gloves</li> +<li><i>Gooly</i>, good</li> +<li><i>Graff</i>, grab</li> +<li><i>Gree</i>, agree, consent</li> +<li><i>Grine salt</i>, fly round and round</li> +<li><i>Guine</i>, <i>Gwine</i>, going, going to</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Haffer</i>, have to, had to</li> +<li><i>Hair rise</i>, badly frightened</li> +<li><i>Haky</i>, <i>Harky</i>, hearken to, heed</li> +<li><i>Han</i>, hand</li> +<li><i>Hanker</i>, long for, desire</li> +<li><i>Hatchich</i>, hatchet</li> +<li><i>Head</i>, get the better of</li> +<li><i>Head um</i>, get ahead of him</li> +<li><i>Hebby</i>, heavy</li> +<li><i>Holler</i>, halloo, hollow</li> +<li><i>Hoona</i>, you</li> +<li><i>Hot</i>, to hurt</li> +<li><i>Huccum</i>, how happens it, why, how come</li> +<li><i>Huddy</i>, how d’ye do</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Ile me bade</i>, grease my mouth</li> +<li><i>Isself</i>, himself, herself, itself, themselves</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Jew</i>, dew</li> +<li><i>Jist</i>, just</li> +<li><i>Juk</i>, jerk</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Ketch</i>, catch, reach to, approach</li> +<li><i>Kibber</i>, cover</li> +<li><i>Kine</i>, kind</li> +<li><i>Knowledge</i>, acknowledge, admit</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Labuh</i>, labor</li> +<li><i>Lass</i>, to suffice for, to last</li> +<li><i>Lean fuh</i>, set out for</li> +<li><i>Led-down</i>, lay down</li> +<li><i>Leek</i>, to lick with the tongue</li> +<li><i>Leely</i>, <i>Leetle</i>, little</li> +<li><i>Leff</i>, to leave, did leave, left</li> +<li><i>Leggo</i>, to let go</li> +<li><i>Leh</i>, let</li> +<li><i>Lemme</i>, let me</li> +<li><i>Lenk</i>, length</li> +<li><i>Libbin</i>, living</li> +<li><i>Lick</i>, to whip, stroke of the whip</li> +<li><i>Lickin</i>, whipping</li> +<li><span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[188]</span></li> +<li><i>Lick back</i>, turn rapidly back</li> +<li><i>Lief</i>, leave, permission</li> +<li><i>Light on</i>, to mount</li> +<li><i>Light out</i>, to start off</li> +<li><i>Long</i>, with, from</li> +<li><i>Lub</i>, love</li> +<li><i>Luk</i>, <i>Lucker</i>, like</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Mange</i>, mane</li> +<li><i>Medjuh</i>, measure</li> +<li><i>Mek</i>, make, made</li> +<li><i>Mek fuh</i>, to go to</li> +<li><i>Mek out</i>, fare, thrive, succeed</li> +<li><i>Member</i>, to remind</li> +<li><i>Men eh pace</i>, increase his speed</li> +<li><i>Mine</i>, mind, heed, take care of</li> +<li><i>Miration</i>, wonder, astonishment</li> +<li><i>Mo</i>, more</li> +<li><i>Moober</i>, moreover</li> +<li><i>Mona</i>, <i>Moner</i>, more than</li> +<li><i>Mona dat</i>, more than that</li> +<li><i>Mose</i>, almost</li> +<li><i>Mossa</i>, master</li> +<li><i>Mouf</i>, <i>Mout</i>, mouth</li> +<li><i>Murrer</i>, mother</li> +<li><i>Mussne</i>, must not</li> +<li><i>Muster</i>, must have</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Nabor</i>, neighbor</li> +<li><i>Narruh</i>, another</li> +<li><i>Nebber</i>, never</li> +<li><i>Nekked</i>, naked</li> +<li><i>Nes</i>, nest</li> +<li><i>New Nigger</i>, a negro fresh from Africa</li> +<li><i>Nigh</i>, to draw near to</li> +<li><i>Notus</i>, notice, observe</li> +<li><i>Noung</i>, young</li> +<li><i>Nudder</i>, another</li> +<li><i>Nuff</i>, enough</li> +<li><i>Nummine</i>, never mind</li> +<li><i>Nurrer</i>, neither, another</li> +<li><i>Nuse</i>, use, employ</li> +<li><i>Nussen</i>, used to, accustomed to</li> +<li><i>Nuss</i>, nurse</li> +<li><i>Nuttne</i>, nothing</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Obersheer</i>, overseer</li> +<li><i>Offer</i>, off of</li> +<li><i>Ole</i>, old</li> +<li><i>Ooman</i>, woman, women</li> +<li><i>Out</i>, to go out, to extinguish</li> +<li><i>Outer</i>, out of</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Pahler</i>, parlor</li> +<li><i>Passon</i>, parson</li> +<li><i>Pate</i>, path</li> +<li><i>Pen pon</i>, depend upon</li> +<li><span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[189]</span></li> +<li><i>Perwision</i>, provisions</li> +<li><i>Pinder</i>, ground-nuts, peanuts</li> +<li><i>Pint</i>, direct, directed, point</li> +<li><i>Pintment</i>, appointment</li> +<li><i>Pit</i>, put, apply</li> +<li><i>Playpossum</i>, to fool, to practice deceit</li> +<li><i>Pledjuh</i>, pleasure</li> +<li><i>Po</i>, poor, pour</li> +<li><i>Pon</i>, upon</li> +<li><i>Pooty</i>, pretty</li> +<li><i>Pose</i>, post</li> +<li><i>Prommus</i>, promise</li> +<li><i>Pruppus</i>, on purpose</li> +<li><i>Pusson</i>, person</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Quaintun</i>, acquainted with</li> +<li><i>Quaintance</i>, acquaintances</li> +<li><i>Quile</i>, to coil, coiled</li> +<li><i>Quire</i>, to inquire, inquired</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Rale</i>, very truly, really</li> +<li><i>Range</i>, reins</li> +<li><i>Rastle</i>, to wrestle</li> +<li><i>Retch</i>, to reach, to arrive at</li> +<li><i>Ribber</i>, river</li> +<li><i>Riz</i>, rose</li> +<li><i>Roose</i>, roost</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Sabe</i>, to know</li> +<li><i>San</i>, sand</li> +<li><i>Sarbis</i>, service, kindness</li> +<li><i>Satify</i>, <i>Saterfy</i>, satisfied, happy, content</li> +<li><i>Scace</i>, scarce</li> +<li><i>Schway</i>, to swear, swore</li> +<li><i>Scuse</i>, excuse</li> +<li><i>Seaznin</i>, seasoning</li> +<li><i>Sebbn</i>, seven</li> +<li><i>Sed</i>, sit, sat</li> +<li><i>Sed-down</i>, sit down, sat down</li> +<li><i>Shet</i>, shut</li> +<li><i>Sho</i>, sure</li> +<li><i>Sholy</i>, surely</li> +<li><i>Shum</i>, to see it, see him, see her, see them</li> +<li><i>Sider</i>, on the side of</li> +<li><i>Sisso</i>, say so</li> +<li><i>Skade</i>, scared</li> +<li><i>Smate</i>, smart</li> +<li><i>Sofe</i>, soft</li> +<li><i>Soon man</i>, very smart, wide-awake man</li> +<li><i>Sorter</i>, sort of, after a fashion</li> +<li><i>Sparruh</i>, sparrow</li> +<li><i>Spec</i>, expect</li> +<li><i>Spose</i>, expose</li> +<li><i>Spute</i>, contest the championship with</li> +<li><i>State</i>, start, begin</li> +<li><i>Steader</i>, <i>Stidder</i>, instead of</li> +<li><span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[190]</span></li> +<li><i>Straighten fur</i>, run rapidly for</li> +<li><i>Stroy</i>, destroy</li> +<li><i>Sukkle</i>, circle, fly around</li> +<li><i>Summuch</i>, so much</li> +<li><i>Sutten</i>, certain, sudden</li> +<li><i>Suttenly</i>, certainly, suddenly</li> +<li><i>Swade</i>, persuade</li> +<li><i>Swode</i>, sword</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Tack</i>, to attack</li> +<li><i>Tackle</i>, to hold to account</li> +<li><i>Tan</i>, to stand</li> +<li><i>Tarrify</i>, to terrify, to annoy</li> +<li><i>Tarruh</i>, <i>Turruh</i>, the other</li> +<li><i>Tase</i>, to taste, taste</li> +<li><i>Tay</i>, stay</li> +<li><i>Tek</i>, take</li> +<li><i>Tek wid um</i>, pleased with him, her, or it</li> +<li><i>Tek you foot</i>, to walk</li> +<li><i>Tel</i>, until</li> +<li><i>Ten</i>, attend to</li> +<li><i>Tend</i>, intend</li> +<li><i>Tenk</i>, <i>Tenky</i>, to thank, thanks</li> +<li><i>Ter</i>, <i>Teh</i>, to</li> +<li><i>Tetch</i>, touch</li> +<li><i>Tetter</i>, potatoes</li> +<li><i>Tick</i>, thick, abundant, a stick</li> +<li><i>Ticket</i>, thicket</li> +<li><i>Tickler</i>, particular</li> +<li><i>Tief</i>, to steal, thief</li> +<li><i>Ting</i>, thing</li> +<li><i>Tird</i>, third</li> +<li><i>Titter</i>, sister</li> +<li><i>Togerruh</i>, together</li> +<li><i>Tole</i>, told</li> +<li><i>Topper</i>, on top of, on</li> +<li><i>Tote</i>, carry</li> +<li><i>Trabble</i>, travel</li> +<li><i>Tru</i>, through</li> +<li><i>Truss</i>, trust</li> +<li><i>Trute</i>, truth</li> +<li><i>Tuff</i>, tuft</li> +<li><i>Tuk</i>, took</li> +<li><i>Tun</i>, turn, return</li> +<li><i>Tun flour</i>, to cook hominy</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Up ter de notch</i>, in the best style</li> +<li><i>Usen</i>, to be in the habit of</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Vise</i>, to advise</li> +<li><i>Vive</i>, revive</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Wan</i>, to want, to wish, want</li> +<li><i>Warse</i>, wasp</li> +<li><i>Wase</i>, waste</li> +<li><i>Way</i>, where</li> +<li><i>Wayebber</i>, wherever</li> +<li><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[191]</span></li> +<li><i>Whalin ob er</i>, enormous, severe</li> +<li><i>Wid</i>, with</li> +<li><i>Wile</i>, while</li> +<li><i>Win</i>, wind</li> +<li><i>Wine</i>, vine</li> +<li><i>Wish de time er day</i>, to say good-bye, how d’ye do</li> +<li><i>Wud</i>, word</li> +<li><i>Wudduh dat</i>, what is that</li> +<li><i>Wuffer</i>, what for, why, what to</li> +<li><i>Wuh</i>, what, which, who</li> +<li><i>Wuhebbuh</i>, whatever</li> +<li><i>Wuk</i>, work</li> +<li><i>Wul</i>, world</li> +<li><i>Wunt</i>, will not, would not</li> +<li><i>Wurrum</i>, worms</li> +<li><i>Wus</i>, worse</li> +<li><i>Wus den nebber</i>, worse than ever</li> +<li><i>Wut</i>, worth</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Yad</i>, yard</li> +<li><i>Yearin</i>, hearing</li> +<li><i>Yeddy</i>, to hear, to hearken to</li> +<li><i>Yender</i>, <i>Yent</i>, not, was not, were not</li> +<li><i>Yent day day</i>, is not there, are not there</li> +<li><i>Yeye</i>, eye, eyes</li> +<li><i>Yez</i>, ear, ears</li> +<li><i>Yiz</i>, am, is, to be, did</li> +<li><i>Yuh</i>, here</li> + +<li class="ifrst"><i>Zamine</i>, examine</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="p2">NUMBERS</p> + +<ul> +<li><i>One</i>, one</li> +<li><i>Two</i>, two</li> +<li><i>Tree</i>, three</li> +<li><i>Fo</i>, four</li> +<li><i>Fibe</i>, five</li> +<li><i>Six</i>, six</li> +<li><i>Sebbn</i>, seven</li> +<li><i>Eight</i>, eight</li> +<li><i>Nine</i>, nine</li> +<li><i>Ten</i>, ten</li> +<li><i>Lebbn</i>, eleven</li> +<li><i>Twelbe</i>, twelve</li> +<li><i>Tirteen</i>, thirteen</li> +<li><i>Foteen</i>, fourteen</li> +<li><i>Fifteen</i>, fifteen</li> +<li><i>Sixteen</i>, sixteen</li> +<li><i>Sebbnteen</i>, seventeen</li> +<li><i>Eighteen</i>, eighteen</li> +<li><i>Nineteen</i>, nineteen</li> +<li><i>Twenty</i>, twenty</li> +<li><i>Tirty</i>, thirty</li> +<li><i>Forty</i>, forty</li> +<li><i>Fifty</i>, fifty</li> +<li><i>Sixty</i>, sixty</li> +<li><i>Sebbnty</i>, seventy</li> +<li><i>Eighty</i>, eighty</li> +<li><i>Ninety</i>, ninety</li> +<li><i>One hundud</i>, one hundred</li> +<li><i>One tousan</i>, one thousand</li> +</ul> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[192]</span></p><p></p> + + +<p class="p2">MONTHS OF THE YEAR</p> + +<ul> +<li><i>Jinnywerry</i>, January</li> +<li><i>Febbywerry</i>, February</li> +<li><i>Mache</i>, March</li> +<li><i>Aprul</i>, April</li> +<li><i>May</i>, May</li> +<li><i>June</i>, June</li> +<li><i>Jully</i>, July</li> +<li><i>Augus</i>, August</li> +<li><i>Sectember</i>, September</li> +<li><i>October</i>, October</li> +<li><i>Nowember</i>, November</li> +<li><i>December</i>, December</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="p2">DAYS OF THE WEEK</p> + +<ul> +<li><i>Mundy</i>, Monday</li> +<li><i>Chuseday</i>, Tuesday</li> +<li><i>Wensday</i>, Wednesday</li> +<li><i>Tursday</i>, Thursday</li> +<li><i>Friday</i>, Friday</li> +<li><i>Sattyday</i>, Saturday</li> +<li><i>Sunday</i>, Sunday</li> +</ul> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<h4>Transcriber’s Note</h4> + +<p>Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and were +moved to the end of the story in which the anchor occurs. +The following were amended:</p> +<ul> +<li>Added close quotation mark to sentence: +“Tenky, tenky, ... me git all dis money<a href="#chg1">.”</a></li> +<li>Changed ‘heaper’ to <a href="#chg2">‘heap er’</a> ... eenwite heap er fren ...</li> +<li>Changed ‘ob er’ to <a href="#chg3">‘ober’</a> ... all ober sutten, ...</li> +<li>Changed ‘XLI’ to <a href="#chg4">‘LXI’</a> for final chapter number.</li> +</ul> +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76586 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/76586-h/images/cover.jpg b/76586-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ed575b --- /dev/null +++ b/76586-h/images/cover.jpg |
