28. Spirits, Seen and Unseen. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. This is not so much a story but a discussion, and I have highlighted the relevant portions below with standardized spelling; click here for the original spelling plus relevant notes.
Aunt Tempy saw a child talking with ghosts:
You know that little gal of Riah's? Well, I was sitting up there in my house 'while ago, when, bless gracious! first news I know, I hear that chile talking in the other room. I allow to myself, she ain't talking to Riah, 'cause Riah ain't come yet, and then I crept up, and there was the chile setting right flat in the middle of the floor, laughing and talking and making motions like she see somebody in the corner. Ijust stood there and watch her, and I ain't a living human if she don't do like there was somebody or another in there with her. She ask 'em for to stay on their own side, and then, when it seem like they come towards her, then she say she gonna get a switch and drive 'em back. It make me feel so cold and curious that I just took and come 'way from there, and if there's something another there, it's be them and Riah for it.
Daddy Jack has seen ghosts:
I is been see plenty ghost; I no afraid them; I is been punch them 'way with me cane. I is been shoo them upon their own side the road. Them is been walk when the moon stand low; then I is been seen. You no walk with me then. He very bad. You call, they no answer. When they call, hold your mouth shut. He very bad for make answer, when the haunt holler. Them call you 'way from this land. I hear them call; I shut me eye, I shake me head.
When I is been young man, me do go for get water, and when I do dip piggin [pail] 'neath the creek, I hear voice for call me—"Jack! O Jack!" I stand, I listen, I hear the voice—"Jack! Jack! O Jack!" I think he been Sissy Ann; I ask 'em, "Why you been call me, Sissy Ann?" Sissy Ann stretch he eye big, "I no been call. Dead ghost is been call. Them haunt do call you."
Then I rise me eye, and I is been seen going by sundown; he is been going backward. I tell Sissy Ann for look at we uncle, going backward by sundown. Sissy Ann put he two hand upon me eyes, and he do blind me. He say I been see one dead ghost.
Ki! Enough then. 'Cause by and by, so long time, folks come fetch we uncle stretch out. He is been take with the hiccup; he throw he head this way; he throw he head that way. He is been take the hiccup; the hiccup is been take 'em—the cramp is been fetch 'em. I is been see more dead ghost, but me no spot 'em like this.
Remus asks Jack if he turns his coat inside-out to scare off ghosts, and Jack explains about Jack-o-Lanterns:
Turn coat no for scare dead ghost. He scare them Jack-me-Lantern. One time I is been make me way through thick swamp. I do come hot, I do come cold. I feel me back quake; me breath come fast. I look; me ain't see nothing; I listen; me ain't hear nothing. I look, there the Jack-me-Lantern making he way through the bush; he coming straight by me. He light been flick-flicker; he get close and close. I ain't can stand this; one foot get heavy, the hair upon me head lift up. The Jack-me-Lantern, he get high, he get low, he come close. Then I think I been hear old folks talk turn your coat-sleave when the Jack-me-Lantern is been run you. I pull, I twist, I jerk at them jacket; he ain't come. He is been grow on me back. Jack-me-Lantern fly close. I say me pray upon the jacket; he is been jerk loose; the sleave he do turn. Jack-me-Lantern, he see this, he lift up, he say 'Phew!' he done gone! You no walk in the swamp 'cept you is carry your coat 'cross the arm.
Aunt Tempy on Jack-o-Lanterns:
I hear tell, that this here Jacky-ma-Lantern is a sure enough spirit. Spirits ain't going to walk and walk 'less they got something on their mind, and I hear tell that this here Jacky-ma-Lantern is occasioned by a man what got killed. Folks killed him and took his money, and now his haunt done gone and got a light for to hunt up where his money is. Mighty curious if folks can hone after money when they done gone. I don't know what he want to be rambling 'round with a light when he done dead. If anybody got any hard feelings against me, I want 'em to take it out while they're in the flesh; when they come a-haunting me, then I'm done—I'm just done.
Jack is proud to be a witch, and he explains how to tell if you are a witch:
When the moon is shine low, wet your hand with the pot-liquor grease; rub young heifer upon he nose; get upon he back. Must hold 'em by he ear; must go gallop, gallop down the lane, till he do come 'cross one big gully. Must holler, "Double, double, double up! Double, double, double up!" Heifer jump, you witch; heifer no jump, you no witch.
Jack tells about a witch's skin:
I is been hear them talk about old witch. He do leave he skin where he is start from. Man been come pass by; he is find them skin. He say: Uch ti! He one green skin; I fix for dry 'em."
Man hang 'em by the fire. Skin, he do shrink, it do shrivel. By and by he do smell bad; man, he hold he nose. He do wait. Skin shrink, skin stink, skin shrivel. He do get so bad, man pitch 'em in the yard. He wait; he is wait, he is listen. By and by, he hear the witch come. Witch, he do sharp he claw on the fence; he is snap he jaw—flick! flick! flick! He come hunt for him skin. He find un. He try 'em on this way; he no fit. He try 'em on that way; he no fit. He try 'em on the other way; he no fit. He put 'em upon he head; skin he no fit. He put 'em upon he foot; skin he no fit. He cuss, he swear; skin he no fit. He cut he caper; skin he no fit. By and by he holler, '''Tis me, Skin! Why you no know me? Skin, 'tis me! Why you no know me?"
Skin, he no talk nothing at all. Witch he do jump, he do holler; make no difference. Skin he talk nothing at all. Man, he take torch, he look in yard. He see big black Wolf lay by the skin. He tooth show; he eye shine. Man drive 'em 'way; he is come back. Man burn the skin; he is been come back no more.
Showing posts with label Chase062. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chase062. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Monday, June 06, 2016
Chase062. Baer (p. 78). Spirits Seen and Unseen
Saturday, June 06, 2015
C062. Ghosts and Witches (original spelling)
28. Spirits, Seen and Unseen. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. You can click here for the relevant notes; this is not so much a story as it is a discussion of ghosts and witches.
It was not many nights before the same company was gathered in Uncle Remus's cabin,—Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy. The conversation took a turn that thrilled the child with mingled fear and curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired as to the state of Aunt Tempy's health, when the latter came in, and her response was:
"I feelin' mighty creepy, Brer Remus, sho'. Look like I bleedz ter hunt comp'ny. W'en I come 'long down I felt dat skittish twel ef a leaf had blow'd 'crost de paff, I'd 'a' des about drapt in my tracks."
"How come dat, Sis Tempy?" Uncle Remus inquired.
"You know dat little gal er Riah's? Well, I 'uz settin' up dar in my house 'w'ile ergo, w'en, bless gracious! fus' news I know, I year dat chile talkin' in the yuther room. I [155]'low ter myse'f, she aint talkin' ter Riah, 'kaze Riah aint come yit, un den I crope up, un dar wuz de chile settin' right flat in de middle er de flo', laffin' un talkin' un makin' motions like she see somebody in de cornder. I des stood dar un watch 'er, un I aint a livin' human ef she don't do like dey 'uz somebody er n'er in dar wid 'er. She ax um fer ter stay on dey own side, un den, w'en it seem like dey come todes 'er, den she say she gwine git a switch un drive um back. Hit make me feel so cole un kuse dat I des tuck'n come 'way fum dar, un ef dey's sump'n' n'er dar, hit'll be dem un Riah fer't."
"'E do talk wid ghos'; 'e is bin larf wit' harnt," exclaimed Daddy Jack.
"I 'speck dat 's 'bout de upshot un it," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me dat w'ence you year chilluns talkin' en gwine on periently wid deyse'f, der er bleedz ter see ha'nts."
The little boy moved his stool closer to his venerable partner. Daddy Jack roused himself.
"Oona no bin-a see dem ghos'? Oona no bin-a see dem harnt? Hi! I is bin-a see plenty ghos'; I no 'fraid dem; I is bin-a punch dem 'way wit' me cane. I is bin-a shoo dem 'pon dey own siëd da' road. Dem is bin walk w'en da' moon stan' low; den I is bin shum. Oona no walk wit' me dun. 'E berry bahd. Oona call, dey no answer. Wun dey call, hol' you' mout' shet. 'E berry bahd fer mek answer, wun da' harnt holler. Dem call-a you 'way fum dis lan'. I yeddy dem call; I shetty me y-eye, I shekkey me head.
[156]"Wun I is bin noung mahn, me der go fer git water, un wun I der dip piggin 'neat' da' crik, I yeddy v'ice fer call me—'Jahck! O Jahck!' I stan', I lissen, I yeddy de v'ice—'Jahck! Jahck! O Jahck!' I t'ink 'e bin Titty Ann;[*Sissy Ann.] I ahx um:
"Wey you bin call-a me, Titty Ann?' Titty Ann 'tretch 'e y-eye big:
"'I no bin-a call. Dead ghos' is bin-a call. Dem harnt do call-a you.'
"Dun I rise me y-eye, un I is bin shum gwan by sundown; 'e is bin gwan bahckwud. I tell Titty Ann fer look at we nuncle, gwan bahckwud by sundown. Titty Ann pit 'e two han' 'pon me y-eyes, un 'e do bline me. 'E say I bin-a see one dead ghos'."
"What then, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy, as the old African paused.
"Ki! nuff dun. 'Kaze bumbye, so long tam, folks come fetch-a we nuncle 'tretch out. 'E is bin-a tek wit' da' hecup; 'e t'row 'e head dis way; 'e t'row 'e head dat way." Daddy Jack comically suited the action to the word. "'E is bin tek-a da' hecup; da' hecup is bin tek um—da' cramp is bin fetch um. I is bin see mo' dead ghos', but me no spot um lak dis."
"I boun' you is," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me, Brer Jack," he continued, "dat w'en you meets up wid one er deze ha'nts, ef you'll take'n tu'n yo' coat wrong-sud-outerds, dey won't use no time in makin' der disappearance."
[157]"Hey!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "tu'n coat no fer skeer dead ghos'. 'E skeer dem Jack-me-Lantun. One tam I is bin-a mek me way troo t'ick swamp. I do come hot, I do come cole. I feel-a me bahck quake; me bre't' come fahs'. I look; me ent see nuttin'; I lissen; me ent yeddy nuttin'. I look, dey de Jack-me-Lantun mekkin 'e way troo de bush; 'e comin' stret by me. 'E light bin-a flick-flicker; 'e git close un close. I yent kin stan' dis; one foot git heffy, da' heer 'pon me head lif' up. Da' Jack-me-Lantun, 'e git-a high, 'e git-a low, 'e come close. Dun I t'ink I bin-a yeddy ole folks talk tu'n you' coat-sleef wun da' Jack-me-Lantun is bin run you. I pull, I twis', I yerk at dem jacket; 'e yent come. 'E is bin grow on me bahck. Jack-me-Lantun fly close. I say me pray 'pon da' jacket; 'e is bin-a yerk loose; da' sleef 'e do tu'n. Jack-me-Lantun, 'e see dis, 'e lif' up, 'e say 'Phew!' 'E done gone! Oona no walk in da' swamp 'cep' you is keer you' coat 'cross da' arm. Enty!"
"Dat w'at make me say," remarked Aunt Tempy, with a little shiver, "dat 'oman like me, w'at aint w'ar no jacket, aint got no business traipsin' un trollopin' 'roun' thoo the woods atter dark."
"You mout tu'n yo' head-hankcher, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, "en ef dat aint do no good den you kin whirl in en gin um leg-bail."
"I year tell," continued Aunt Tempy, vouchsafing no reply to Uncle Remus, "dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is a sho' nuff sperit. Sperits aint gwine to walk un walk less'n dey got sump'n' n'er on der min', un I year tell dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is 'casioned by a man w'at got kilt. [158]Folks kilt 'im un tuck his money, un now his ha'nt done gone un got a light fer ter hunt up whar his money is. Mighty kuse ef folks kin hone atter money w'en dey done gone. I dunner w'at he wanter be ramblin' 'roun' wid a light w'en he done dead. Ef anybody got any hard feelin's 'gin' me, I want um ter take it out w'ile deyer in de flesh; w'en dey come a-ha'ntin' me, den I'm done—I'm des done."
"Are witches spirits?" the little boy asked.
The inquiry was not especially directed at Daddy Jack, but Daddy Jack was proud of his reputation as a witch, and he undertook to reply.
"None 't all. Witch, 'e no dead ghos'—'e life folks, wey you shekky han' wit'. Oona witch mebbe; how you is kin tell?"
Here Daddy Jack turned his sharp little eyes upon the child. The latter moved closer to Uncle Remus, and said he hoped to goodness he was n't a witch.
"How you is kin tell diffran 'cep' you bin fer try um?" continued Daddy Jack. "'E good t'ing fer be witch; 'e mek-a dem folks fred. 'E mek-a dem fred; 'e mek-a dem hol' da' bre't', wun dey is bin-a come by you' place."
"In de name er de Lord, Daddy Jack, how kin folks tell wh'er dey er witches er no?" asked Aunt Tempy.
"Oo! 'e easy nuff. Wun da' moon is shiün low, wet-a you' han' wit' da' pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer 'pon 'e nose; git 'pon 'e bahck. Mus' hol' um by 'e year; mus' go gallop, gallop down da' lane, tel 'e do come 'cross one-a big gully. Mus' holler, 'Double, double, double up! double, [159]double, double up!' Heifer jump, oona witch; heifer no jump, oona no witch."
"Did you ever ride a heifer, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy.
"Mo' tam es dem," replied the old negro, holding up the crooked fingers of one withered hand.
"Did—did she jump across the big gully?"
The child's voice had dropped to an awed whisper, and there was a glint of malicious mischief in Daddy Jack's shrewd eyes, as he looked up at Uncle Remus. He got his cue. Uncle Remus groaned heavily and shook his head.
"Hoo!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "wun I is bin-a tell all, dey no mo' fer tell. Mus' kip some fer da' Sunday. Lilly b'y no fred dem witch; 'e no bodder lilly b'y. Witch, 'e no rassel wit' 'e ebry-day 'quaintan'; 'e do go pars 'e own place."
It was certainly reassuring for the child to be told that witches did n't trouble little boys, and that they committed their depredations outside of their own neighborhood.
"I is bin-a yeddy dem talk 'bout ole witch. 'E do leaf 'e skin wey 'e is sta't fum. Man bin-a come pars by; 'e is fine dem skin. 'E say:
uch ti! 'E one green skin; I fix fer dry um.'
"Man hang um by da' fier. Skin, 'e do swink, i' do swivel. Bumbye 'e do smell-a bahd; man, 'e hol' 'e nose. 'E do wait. Skin swink, skin stink, skin swivel. 'E do git so bahd, man pitch um in da' ya'd. 'E wait; 'e is wait, 'e is lissen. Bumbye, 'e yeddy da' witch come. Witch, [160]e' do sharp' 'e claw on-a da' fence; 'e is snap 'e jaw—flick! flick! flick! 'E come-a hunt fer him skin. 'E fine un. 'E trey um on dis way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um on dat way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um on turrer way; 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e head; skin 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e foot; skin 'e no fit. 'E cuss, 'e sweer; skin 'e no fit. 'E cut 'e caper; skin 'e no fit. Bumbye 'e holler:
"''Tiss-a me, Skin! wey you no know me? Skin, 'tiss-a me! wey you no know me?'
"Skin, 'e no talk nuttin' 'tall. Witch 'e do jump, 'e do holler; à mek no diffran. Skin 'e talk nuttin' 'tall. Man, 'e tekky to'ch, 'e look in ya'd. 'E see big blahck Woolf lay by da' skin. E toof show; 'e y-eye shiün. Man drife um 'way; 'e is come bahck. Man bu'n da' skin; 'e is bin-a come bahck no mo'."
The little boy asked no more questions. He sat silent while the others talked, and then went to the door and looked out. It was very dark, and he returned to his stool with a troubled countenance.
"Des wait a little minnit, honey," said Uncle Remus, dropping his hand caressingly on the child's shoulder. "I bleedz ter go up dar ter de big house fer ter see Mars John, en I'll take you 'long fer comp'ny."
And so, after a while, the old man and the little boy went hand in hand up the path.
It was not many nights before the same company was gathered in Uncle Remus's cabin,—Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy. The conversation took a turn that thrilled the child with mingled fear and curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired as to the state of Aunt Tempy's health, when the latter came in, and her response was:
"I feelin' mighty creepy, Brer Remus, sho'. Look like I bleedz ter hunt comp'ny. W'en I come 'long down I felt dat skittish twel ef a leaf had blow'd 'crost de paff, I'd 'a' des about drapt in my tracks."
"How come dat, Sis Tempy?" Uncle Remus inquired.
"You know dat little gal er Riah's? Well, I 'uz settin' up dar in my house 'w'ile ergo, w'en, bless gracious! fus' news I know, I year dat chile talkin' in the yuther room. I [155]'low ter myse'f, she aint talkin' ter Riah, 'kaze Riah aint come yit, un den I crope up, un dar wuz de chile settin' right flat in de middle er de flo', laffin' un talkin' un makin' motions like she see somebody in de cornder. I des stood dar un watch 'er, un I aint a livin' human ef she don't do like dey 'uz somebody er n'er in dar wid 'er. She ax um fer ter stay on dey own side, un den, w'en it seem like dey come todes 'er, den she say she gwine git a switch un drive um back. Hit make me feel so cole un kuse dat I des tuck'n come 'way fum dar, un ef dey's sump'n' n'er dar, hit'll be dem un Riah fer't."
"'E do talk wid ghos'; 'e is bin larf wit' harnt," exclaimed Daddy Jack.
"I 'speck dat 's 'bout de upshot un it," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me dat w'ence you year chilluns talkin' en gwine on periently wid deyse'f, der er bleedz ter see ha'nts."
The little boy moved his stool closer to his venerable partner. Daddy Jack roused himself.
"Oona no bin-a see dem ghos'? Oona no bin-a see dem harnt? Hi! I is bin-a see plenty ghos'; I no 'fraid dem; I is bin-a punch dem 'way wit' me cane. I is bin-a shoo dem 'pon dey own siëd da' road. Dem is bin walk w'en da' moon stan' low; den I is bin shum. Oona no walk wit' me dun. 'E berry bahd. Oona call, dey no answer. Wun dey call, hol' you' mout' shet. 'E berry bahd fer mek answer, wun da' harnt holler. Dem call-a you 'way fum dis lan'. I yeddy dem call; I shetty me y-eye, I shekkey me head.
[156]"Wun I is bin noung mahn, me der go fer git water, un wun I der dip piggin 'neat' da' crik, I yeddy v'ice fer call me—'Jahck! O Jahck!' I stan', I lissen, I yeddy de v'ice—'Jahck! Jahck! O Jahck!' I t'ink 'e bin Titty Ann;[*Sissy Ann.] I ahx um:
"Wey you bin call-a me, Titty Ann?' Titty Ann 'tretch 'e y-eye big:
"'I no bin-a call. Dead ghos' is bin-a call. Dem harnt do call-a you.'
"Dun I rise me y-eye, un I is bin shum gwan by sundown; 'e is bin gwan bahckwud. I tell Titty Ann fer look at we nuncle, gwan bahckwud by sundown. Titty Ann pit 'e two han' 'pon me y-eyes, un 'e do bline me. 'E say I bin-a see one dead ghos'."
"What then, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy, as the old African paused.
"Ki! nuff dun. 'Kaze bumbye, so long tam, folks come fetch-a we nuncle 'tretch out. 'E is bin-a tek wit' da' hecup; 'e t'row 'e head dis way; 'e t'row 'e head dat way." Daddy Jack comically suited the action to the word. "'E is bin tek-a da' hecup; da' hecup is bin tek um—da' cramp is bin fetch um. I is bin see mo' dead ghos', but me no spot um lak dis."
"I boun' you is," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me, Brer Jack," he continued, "dat w'en you meets up wid one er deze ha'nts, ef you'll take'n tu'n yo' coat wrong-sud-outerds, dey won't use no time in makin' der disappearance."
[157]"Hey!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "tu'n coat no fer skeer dead ghos'. 'E skeer dem Jack-me-Lantun. One tam I is bin-a mek me way troo t'ick swamp. I do come hot, I do come cole. I feel-a me bahck quake; me bre't' come fahs'. I look; me ent see nuttin'; I lissen; me ent yeddy nuttin'. I look, dey de Jack-me-Lantun mekkin 'e way troo de bush; 'e comin' stret by me. 'E light bin-a flick-flicker; 'e git close un close. I yent kin stan' dis; one foot git heffy, da' heer 'pon me head lif' up. Da' Jack-me-Lantun, 'e git-a high, 'e git-a low, 'e come close. Dun I t'ink I bin-a yeddy ole folks talk tu'n you' coat-sleef wun da' Jack-me-Lantun is bin run you. I pull, I twis', I yerk at dem jacket; 'e yent come. 'E is bin grow on me bahck. Jack-me-Lantun fly close. I say me pray 'pon da' jacket; 'e is bin-a yerk loose; da' sleef 'e do tu'n. Jack-me-Lantun, 'e see dis, 'e lif' up, 'e say 'Phew!' 'E done gone! Oona no walk in da' swamp 'cep' you is keer you' coat 'cross da' arm. Enty!"
"Dat w'at make me say," remarked Aunt Tempy, with a little shiver, "dat 'oman like me, w'at aint w'ar no jacket, aint got no business traipsin' un trollopin' 'roun' thoo the woods atter dark."
"You mout tu'n yo' head-hankcher, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, "en ef dat aint do no good den you kin whirl in en gin um leg-bail."
"I year tell," continued Aunt Tempy, vouchsafing no reply to Uncle Remus, "dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is a sho' nuff sperit. Sperits aint gwine to walk un walk less'n dey got sump'n' n'er on der min', un I year tell dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is 'casioned by a man w'at got kilt. [158]Folks kilt 'im un tuck his money, un now his ha'nt done gone un got a light fer ter hunt up whar his money is. Mighty kuse ef folks kin hone atter money w'en dey done gone. I dunner w'at he wanter be ramblin' 'roun' wid a light w'en he done dead. Ef anybody got any hard feelin's 'gin' me, I want um ter take it out w'ile deyer in de flesh; w'en dey come a-ha'ntin' me, den I'm done—I'm des done."
"Are witches spirits?" the little boy asked.
The inquiry was not especially directed at Daddy Jack, but Daddy Jack was proud of his reputation as a witch, and he undertook to reply.
"None 't all. Witch, 'e no dead ghos'—'e life folks, wey you shekky han' wit'. Oona witch mebbe; how you is kin tell?"
Here Daddy Jack turned his sharp little eyes upon the child. The latter moved closer to Uncle Remus, and said he hoped to goodness he was n't a witch.
"How you is kin tell diffran 'cep' you bin fer try um?" continued Daddy Jack. "'E good t'ing fer be witch; 'e mek-a dem folks fred. 'E mek-a dem fred; 'e mek-a dem hol' da' bre't', wun dey is bin-a come by you' place."
"In de name er de Lord, Daddy Jack, how kin folks tell wh'er dey er witches er no?" asked Aunt Tempy.
"Oo! 'e easy nuff. Wun da' moon is shiün low, wet-a you' han' wit' da' pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer 'pon 'e nose; git 'pon 'e bahck. Mus' hol' um by 'e year; mus' go gallop, gallop down da' lane, tel 'e do come 'cross one-a big gully. Mus' holler, 'Double, double, double up! double, [159]double, double up!' Heifer jump, oona witch; heifer no jump, oona no witch."
"Did you ever ride a heifer, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy.
"Mo' tam es dem," replied the old negro, holding up the crooked fingers of one withered hand.
"Did—did she jump across the big gully?"
The child's voice had dropped to an awed whisper, and there was a glint of malicious mischief in Daddy Jack's shrewd eyes, as he looked up at Uncle Remus. He got his cue. Uncle Remus groaned heavily and shook his head.
"Hoo!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "wun I is bin-a tell all, dey no mo' fer tell. Mus' kip some fer da' Sunday. Lilly b'y no fred dem witch; 'e no bodder lilly b'y. Witch, 'e no rassel wit' 'e ebry-day 'quaintan'; 'e do go pars 'e own place."
It was certainly reassuring for the child to be told that witches did n't trouble little boys, and that they committed their depredations outside of their own neighborhood.
"I is bin-a yeddy dem talk 'bout ole witch. 'E do leaf 'e skin wey 'e is sta't fum. Man bin-a come pars by; 'e is fine dem skin. 'E say:
uch ti! 'E one green skin; I fix fer dry um.'
"Man hang um by da' fier. Skin, 'e do swink, i' do swivel. Bumbye 'e do smell-a bahd; man, 'e hol' 'e nose. 'E do wait. Skin swink, skin stink, skin swivel. 'E do git so bahd, man pitch um in da' ya'd. 'E wait; 'e is wait, 'e is lissen. Bumbye, 'e yeddy da' witch come. Witch, [160]e' do sharp' 'e claw on-a da' fence; 'e is snap 'e jaw—flick! flick! flick! 'E come-a hunt fer him skin. 'E fine un. 'E trey um on dis way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um on dat way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um on turrer way; 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e head; skin 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e foot; skin 'e no fit. 'E cuss, 'e sweer; skin 'e no fit. 'E cut 'e caper; skin 'e no fit. Bumbye 'e holler:
"''Tiss-a me, Skin! wey you no know me? Skin, 'tiss-a me! wey you no know me?'
"Skin, 'e no talk nuttin' 'tall. Witch 'e do jump, 'e do holler; à mek no diffran. Skin 'e talk nuttin' 'tall. Man, 'e tekky to'ch, 'e look in ya'd. 'E see big blahck Woolf lay by da' skin. E toof show; 'e y-eye shiün. Man drife um 'way; 'e is come bahck. Man bu'n da' skin; 'e is bin-a come bahck no mo'."
The little boy asked no more questions. He sat silent while the others talked, and then went to the door and looked out. It was very dark, and he returned to his stool with a troubled countenance.
"Des wait a little minnit, honey," said Uncle Remus, dropping his hand caressingly on the child's shoulder. "I bleedz ter go up dar ter de big house fer ter see Mars John, en I'll take you 'long fer comp'ny."
And so, after a while, the old man and the little boy went hand in hand up the path.
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