Chapter I: Part 1

NEGRO MYTHS

FROM

THE GEORGIA COAST

TOLD IN THE VERNACULAR

BY

CHARLES C. JONES, JR., LL. D.

COLUMBIA, S. C.
THE STATE COMPANY
1925

IN MEMORY

OF

MONTE VIDEO PLANTATION,

AND OF THE

FAMILY SERVANTS

WHOSE FIDELITY AND AFFECTION CONTRIBUTED SO
MATERIALLY TO ITS COMFORT AND HAPPINESS.

PREFATORY NOTE

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 _sui generis_, 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.

In confirmation of this suggestion we record the following Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast.

Augusta, Georgia, March, 1888.

CONTENTS

PAGE

I. HOW COME BUH ALLIGATUR NEBBER SLEEP FUR FROM
DE RIBBER BANK 1

II. BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE RAIN 4

III. HOW BUH COOTER FOOL BUH DEER 5

IV. BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE TAR BABY 7

V. BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH ROOSTER 12

VI. BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE KING CRAB 15

VII. DE KING, EH DARTER, BUH WOLF, AN BUH RABBIT 18

VIII. BUH PATTRIDGE AN BUH RABBIT 20

IX. DE OLE MAN AN DE GALLINIPPER 22

X. BUH SPARRUH 23

XI. BUH ALLIGATUR AN BUH MASH-HEN 25

XII. BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH TURKREY BUZZUD 27

XIII. BUH WOLF AN BUH RABBIT 29

XIV. BUH WOLF AN DE TWO DINNER 34

XV. BUH OWL AN BUH ROOSTER 36

XVI. BUH LION AN BUH GOAT 38

XVII. BUH BEAR AN BUH TIGER 39

XVIII. BUH MONKEY AN DE BULL-DOG 42

XIX. BUH ELEPHANT AN BUH ROOSTER 45

XX. DE PO MAN AN DE SNAKE 46

XXI. LEELY GAL, BUH ALLIGATUR, AN DE JAY-BUD 51

XXII. DE CAT, DE RAT, DE CHEESE, AN DE FOX 53

XXIII. BUH RABBIT AN DE TARRUH BEASTISES 55

XXIV. BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE BUTTER 59

XXV. DE EAGLE AN DE CHILLUN 63

XXVI. CHANTICLEER AN DE BAN-YAD ROOSTER 65

XXVII. BUH RABBIT AN DE GROUN-MOLE 68

XXVIII. BUH RABBIT AN DE ROCK-SOUP 71

XXIX. DE TWO FREN AND DE BEAR 73

XXX. DE OLE MAN AN DET 75

XXXI. DE KING AN EH RING 77

XXXII. BUH LION, BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN BUH ROCCOON 82

XXXIII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE PORPUS 88

XXXIV. DE DEBBLE AN MAY BELLE 92

XXXV. DE OLE MAN AN DE COON 99

XXXVI. BUH RABBIT AND DE CRAWFISH 101

XXXVII. BUH RABBIT AND BUH ELEPHUNT 102

XXXVIII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN BUH POSSUM 105

XXXIX. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE HOLLER TREE 108

XL. BUH RABBIT AN DE CUNJUR MAN 111

XLI. BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN DE FISHERMAN 114

XLII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE YEARLIN 118

XLIII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, DE DOG, AN DE GOOSE 120

XLIV. BUH SQUIRLE AN’ BUH FOX 122

XLV. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE BUCKRA MAN 124

XLVI. BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF FUNERAL 127

XLVII. DE NEW NIGGER AN EH MOSSA 130

XLVIII. BUH RABBIT AN DE KING DARTER 132

XLIX. DE SINGLE BALL 134

L. BUH ROCCOON AN BUH POSSUM 136

LI. BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT AN DE RAIN 137

LII. BUH ALLIGATUR, BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF 140

LIII. DE DYIN BULL-FROG 144

LIV. BUH RABBIT, BUH PATTRIDGE, AN DE COW 145

LV. DE FIDDLER, BUH TIGER, AN BUH BEAR 147

LVI. DE OLE KING AN DE NOUNG KING 149

LVII. BUH GOAT AN BUH WOLF 151

LVIII. DENTISTRY AT THE OLD PLANTATION HOME 155

LIX. THE NEGRO AND THE ALLIGATOR 161

LX. SPERITS 169

LXI. DADDY JUPITER’S VISION 177

NEGRO MYTHS

I.

HOW COME BUH ALLIGATUR NEBBER SLEEP
FUR FROM DE RIBBER BANK.

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.

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 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.

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.

Buh Rabbit, eh fall fur laugh. Eh hoop arter Buh Alligatur, an eh say: “Hey, Budder! wats de time er day? Enty you bin tell me you nebber meet up wid trouble? You run topper um to-day anyhow.”

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.”

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.

II.

BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE RAIN.

Buh Tukrey Buzzud, him yent hab no sense no how. You watch um.

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.”

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.

III.

HOW BUH COOTER[1] FOOL BUH DEER.[2]

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.

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.

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.

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 de race fur run, Buh Cooter hab a fren at ebery mile pose. Buh Deer nebber bin know nuttne bout dis plan.

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.

An dat de way Buh Cooter fool Buh Deer an win de bet.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Land Terrapin.

[2] This and two preceding _Myths_ first published in
Augusta, Ga., _Chronicle and Constitutionalist_ of
March 11, 1883.

IV.

BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE TAR BABY.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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 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 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.

V.

BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH ROOSTER.

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.

Long befo day duh broke Buh Rooster knock eh wing togarruh an crow. Bless yo 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 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.

VI.

BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE KING CRAB.

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.

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. 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 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.

VII.

DE KING, EH DARTER, BUH WOLF, AN BUH RABBIT.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

VIII.

BUH PATTRIDGE AN BUH RABBIT.

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 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.

De meat bin good, an Buh Pattridge only do dat fuh fool Buh Rabbit an git him share too.

IX.

DE OLE MAN AN DE GALLINIPPER.

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.

X.

BUH SPARRUH.

Buh Sparruh, him berry leetle, but him lub fur brag. Eh yent much fur wuk.

One time de Bluefinch, de Trasher, de Red-Bud, de Jay-Bud, de Pattridge, and de Sparruh all come inter cohoot ter plant tetter[3] 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 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.”

Buh Sparruh lie. Eh dis bin a brag. Eh yent nebber bin plant no tetter.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] Sweet potatoes.

XI.

BUH ALLIGATUR AN BUH MASH-HEN.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Dat de way Buh Alligatur an Buh Mash-hen come fur lib togerruh luk same fambly.

XII.

BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH TUKREY BUZZUD.

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.

Wid dat dem part compny, an gone dem own couse.

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 me want um? You see dat black chicken down yander? Me guine ketch um now fuh me dinner.”

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.

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.

“De man wuh trus in ehself,” moralized Daddy Sandy, “guine fail; wile dem dat wait topper de Lord will hab perwision mek fur um.”

XIII.

BUH WOLF AN BUH RABBIT.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

XIV.

BUH WOLF AN DE TWO DINNER.

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.

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 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.

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.

People wuh wunt mek up dem mine in time wuh dem mean fuh do guine git leff.

XV.

BUH OWL AN BUH ROOSTER.

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.

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 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.

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.

XVI.

BUH LION AN BUH GOAT.

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.

XVII.

BUH BEAR AN BUH TIGER.

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: me guine come ter you house by de time de sun git up, an you will haffer rastle long me.”

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.

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 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.

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.

“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.”

XVIII.

BUH MONKEY AN DE BULL-DOG.