Jamaican Song and Story Part 43

An' the two friend was Mr. Dog an' Mr. c.o.c.k.

An' he sent an' call them an' they did come.

When they come he tell them that he have a piece of corn an' he can't get none, tief is eating out the whole.

An' he says to Dog that him know he is a very good watchman, an' same time c.o.c.k say to Crab that him watch as any soldier.

An' Crab was very glad, say:--"You is the two man that I want."

An' they says to Crab that they won't charge no money, but when the corn came in c.o.c.k is to get his share of dry corn an' Dog get his share of meal.

An' c.o.c.k ask Crab to give him a gun.

An' Crab didn' have a gun, an' he give c.o.c.k a flute an' give Dog a drum, an' tell them that anyone catch a tief they must play an' let him hear.

An' c.o.c.k tell Crab that he can't sleep on the ground, an' he wants to know if there is any tree in the corn-piece, an' Crab say "Yes."

So c.o.c.k an' Dog started.

An' when they go c.o.c.k fly upon the tree an' Dog pick up the corn trash which they cut already an' make a very soft bed an' get into it, an'

Dog lie down until he fall asleep.

An' c.o.c.k sing:--

[Music:

Brether Dog oh!

Brether Dog oh!

Brether Dog asleep oh! Brether Dog oh!

Tief come an' gone oh, Brether Dog oh!

Tief come an' gone oh, Brether Dog oh!]

When the tief come Dog didn' know. An' c.o.c.k, as he being a brave soldier, he caught the tief. An' when he catch the tief he start a tune in his flute:--

[Music:

You Mister Crab oh!

You Mister Crab oh!

Da me same one catch de tief oh!

Bengaday.]

An' as Dog being love sleep an' don't watch to the end he lose his reward.

An' c.o.c.k by him catch the tief takes the corn.

NOTES.

=arrangement between Annancy=; no misprint. =Between= may stand for =with=, or there may be an ellipsis of the words =and Crab=.

=he mustn' mind.= This is likely to convey a wrong idea. Crab was not trying to soothe his feelings, but was speaking angrily. What he said was:--"Never you mind, etc."

XLII. DRY-GRa.s.s AND FIRE.

One day Brother Dry-gra.s.s an' Fire get in confusion.

So Fire tell his frien' Annancy (not knowing that Annancy an'

Dry-gra.s.s was better friend):--"Brother Annancy I going to burn that fellah Dry-gra.s.s to-morrow."

Annancy say:--"When you a go you fe call me a yard. I goin' to make one sh.e.l.l. When we nearly get to the place we blow, make the fellah know that man a come."

During this time Annancy make bargain with Water that any time he hear the sh.e.l.l blow him must come down like rain.

So Fire reach up an' as the sh.e.l.l blow he see rain coming down.

So Fire has to go home.

Water tell him say that Annancy tell him that you are going to fight Dry-gra.s.s, so I must come an' help to see if we can manage you.

Fire say:--"A so! That fellah Annancy I going at his yard."

So Fire walk at Annancy yard an' tell him:--"Brother Annancy I going to come an' see you next week."

Annancy say:--"Yes, Bro'er Fire, with all pleasure."

Fire tell him that he must put all his clothes a door to make him find out the yard for I don't want to lost the way.

So Fire gone.

Annancy wife said:--"Me husband, send go stop Fire from come a you place."

Annancy say:--"No, me wife, a me best frien' so him have free come."

Just before the time Fire was appoint to come, Annancy go to Brother Tiger, an' as him walk into the house he saw some clothes.

An' he pick up the clothes an' say:--"See, Bro'er Tiger, how you clothes damp, you must have fe put dem a sun."

So Tiger hang out all his clothes on a line before the door mout'.

An' presently Fire was coming like a lion bringing Breeze with him.

When Fire see all the clothes he say to Breeze:--"See that fellah Annancy yard."

So Breeze blow harder an' come with a speed. An' Fire make a jump till he nearly got to the yard.