Jamaican Song and Story Part 52

An' him wheel Peafowl an' dash him on the iron peg, an' Mr. Annancy went an' pick him up an' put him in his bag.

An' him went back to his old place a bush an' sat quiet.

That time Puss was seeing all this.

Ratta was pa.s.sing, an' as Annancy see him Annancy said to him:--"I's all you deeshent man I like to see."

An' Ratta ask him:--"What for?"

An' Annancy say:--"Don't be afraid; a living is here for you an' me."

An' he carry Ratta an' show him the 'tump.

An' when him show Ratta, Ratta ask him if this is the living.

Annancy say:--"No shub you han', man, in the hole, an' you will fin' a living."

An' as Ratta shub him hand Wheeler hold him.

An' Annancy tell him that he must pull.

Him say he can't get 'way.

Annancy tell him to ask:--"Who hold me?"

"Me, Wheeler."

Annancy tell him must say:--"Wheel me mile an' distant."

An' he wheel Ratta an' dash him on the iron peg again.

Annancy went an' pick him up an' put him in his bag, an' go back same place.

After, Puss come down off the tree an' walk through the bush an' go down the river a little ways an' then turn up back, coming up very meek an' poorly.

Annancy so glad to see Bro'er Puss him say:--"Walk up my bold friend Mr. Puss. Come an' see the living which is here for me an' you."

An' Puss playing as to say that he didn' know nothing at all about it.

An' Mr. Annancy begin to show Puss the 'tump, an' he tell Puss to shub him hand in the hole.

When Annancy show Puss the hole, Puss say that him don' see it.

Annancy get vex and say:--"Shub you han' you so, man! Shub you han'

you so, man! There, there!"

An' Puss put him hand another way, playing to say he don' see it. An'

he go on, go on, till Annancy make a flourish with him own hand, an'

Annancy hand slip in the hole an' Wheeler catch him.

An' Annancy begin to cry as him know the danger which is down below.

An' him cry out:--"Do, me good Bro'er Push, jus' run a river course; you will see some iron peg, pull them up for me."

An' Puss begin fe walk in him sinnicky way, an' hide a bush where Annancy can't see.

When Puss come, him say him pull them.

Annancy wouldn' believe, an' crying still say:--"Bro'er Push, mus' go an' fetch one come make me see."

Puss go, an' when him come back him come without it.

Annancy ask him where is it.

Him tell Annancy that it too heavy, an' him roll it 'way.

An' Annancy, still crying, wouldn' believe. An' he begin to call Puss G.o.dfather Push, an' beg him hard:--"Do, me good G.o.dfather Push, just you jump pull dem."

An' him go on, go on, till him believe Puss, an' him ask the question:--"Who hold me?"

"Me, Wheeler."

"Wheel me mile an' distant."

An' Annancy fly by the air an' drop slam on his own trap.

An' Puss walk down an' pick up Annancy, an' put him in the bag with Peafowl an' Ratta an' carry off all the living with a jolly song:--

[Music:

Poor me little Cubba boy, barn day no Cubba?

Me da go da Vaylum, barn day no Cubba?]

_Jack Mantora me no choose none._

NOTES.

=licking 'tump=, a tree stump with bees in it. The honey trickling out makes a licking-stump of it.

=lick, him lick, him lick.= These words are run closely together, then a pause, and then =him lick outside=. Pause again, after which the sentence finishes.

=wheel=, to cause to turn or spin. I have no clue to =Mr. Wheeler=.

=mile an' distant=, to the distance of a mile.

=I's all you, etc.=, it's all you decent men.

=What for?= Ratta was suspicious of Annancy's flattery.