Chapter M

MAA’CH--March; march, marches, marched, marching.

MAA’K--(n. and v.) mark, marks, marked, marking.

MAA’L--the marl or phosphate mines. (See “de Rock”).

MA’AM--madam.

MAAMY--mother, mothers.

MAA’SH--marsh, marshes.

MACFUSS’NBIL--McPhersonville--a summer village.

MAN--man, man’s; men, men’s.

MANGE--mane.

MANNUS--manners, politeness, courtesy.

MANNUSSUBBLE--well-mannered, polite.

MARRI’D--married, marry, marries, marrying.

MASS/MAS’--master when used with a name: as, “Mass Clinch,”
“Mas’ Rafe.”

MASTUH--Master--used only for God.

MATCH--(n. and v.) match, matches, matched, matching. Yet
“matches” is sometimes used for the singular; as,
“Gimme uh matches”--give me a match.

MAUM--same as “maumuh,” when used with the name of the
person spoken to or of, as “Maum Kate.”

MAUMUH--mauma, the equivalent of the up-country
“mammy.”

MAUSSUH--master, masters. NOTE: See above “Mastuh.”
While the Gullah can pronounce “mastuh,” he reserves
this for God, even saying “Maussuh Jedus”--Master Jesus.

MAWGIDGE--(n. and v.) mortgage, mortgages, mortgaged,
mortgaging.

MAWNIN’--morning, mornings; also “good morning!”

ME--I, my.

MEAN--mean, meanness.

MEDDISIN/MED’SIN--medicine, medicines, physic

MEDJUH--(n. and v.) measure, measures, measured, measuring.

MEDJUHR’UM--measure, measures, measured, measuring him,
her, it, them.

MEK--make, makes, made, making.

MEK’ACE--make haste.

MEK ANSUH--make, makes, making, made reply.

MEK FUH--make for; to go to, goes to, went to, going to.

MEK OUT--make, makes, made, making out; a makeshift.

MEK YO MANNUS--make your manners, your obeisance.

MEMBUH--member, members as of a church or society.

’MEMBUH--remember, remembers, remembered, remembering;
remind, etc.

’MEMB’UNCE--remembrance, remembrances.

MEN’ ’E PACE--mend his, her, its, their pace; hurry, hurry up,
etc.

MENS--men.

MESELF/MUHSELF--myself.

MET’DIS’--Methodist, Methodists.

METSIDGE--message, messages.

MIDDLEBLOUSE--middy-blouse, middy-blouses.

MIDDLEDAY--midday, noon.

MIDDLENIGHT--midnight.

MIN’--mind, minds, minded, minding; heed, etc.; take care of,
protect, cherish, guard.

’MIRATION--admiration, wonder, astonishment.

MIS’/MISS--Miss, Mrs., Mistress, when accompanied by a
name, as Miss Anne, “Mis’ Chizzum.”

MISSIS--mistress, mistresses.

MISTUH--Mr.

MO’--more.

MOAN--moan, moans, moaned, moaning.

MO’ BETTUH--more better, better.

MOCCASIN--water-moccasin, a venomous snake.

MO’ LONGUH--more longer, longer.

MO’N--mourn, mourns, mourned, mourning.

MO’NFUL--mournful.

’MONG/’MOUNG--among, amid.

MONGK’Y/MONK’Y--monkey, monkeys.

MONSTROSITY--monstrous.

MO’NUH--mourner, mourners.

MO’NUH--more than.

MO’NUH DA’--more than that.

MOOBE--move, moves, moved, moving.

MO’OBUH--moreover.

MO’RIS’/MO’RES’--most.

MOUT’--mouth, mouths.

MUFFEY--Murphy.

MUFFLEDICE--hermaphrodite.

MUFFLEJAW--muffle-jawed--a strain of barnyard fowl, heavily
feathered about the cheeks.

MUHLASSIS--molasses.

MUKKLE--myrtle, myrtles; myrtle thickets.

MUNT’--month, months.

MURRUH--mother, mothers.

MURRUHLAW--mother-in-law.

MUS’BE--must be, must have, must have been.

MUSCOBY--Muscovy--a breed of domestic ducks much affected
by low-country Negroes.

MUSKICK--musket, muskets.

MUSKITTUH--mosquito, mosquitoes.

MUSSIFUL--merciful.

MUSSY--mercy, mercies.

MUSTU’D--mustard.

MUSTUH--muster, musters, mustered, mustering.

MY’OWN--mine, my.

N

NAKID/NAKIT--naked.

NAKITY--naked, nakedness.

’NARRUH--another. (See “’nodduh” and “’norruh”).

NAVUH--neighbor, neighbors.

NEBBUH--never. (See “nubbuh”).

NEEDUH--neither.

NEEDUHSO--neither so, neither, nor.

N’MIN’/N’MINE/NEMMIN’/NEMMINE/NUMMINE--never mind.

NEPCHUNE--Neptune.

NES’--(n. and v.) nest, nests, nested, nesting.

NEWFANGLETY--newfangled.

NEWNITED STATES--United States.

NICKYNACK--“nic-nac” crackers, biscuit.

NIGGUHHOUSE--Negro house or houses, cabin or cabins.

NIGGUHHOUSE YAA’D--Negro house yard, the main street running
through the plantation Negro quarters.

NIGH--near, also draw near to; as: “W’en de bull biggin fuh
nigh’um de gal tek ’e foot een ’e han’ en’ run ’way.”

NIGHT--night, night-time, at night.

NIGH’UM--near, or nearing him, her, it, them.

’N’INT--anoint, anoints, anointed, anointing. (See “renoint”).

NO--any.

NO’COUNT--no account, worthless.

’NODDUH--another. (See “’narruh” and “’norruh”).

NOMANNUS/NOMANNUSSUBBLE--impolite, without manners, rude.

NOMINASHUN--nominate, nominates, nominated, nominating;
also nomination, nominations.

’NORRUH--another. (See “’narruh” and “’nodduh”).

NOTT--nut, nuts; as “nott-grass,” nut grass.

NOTUS--(n. and v.) notice, notices, noticed, noticing.

NOWEMBUH--November.

NUBBUH--never. (See “nebbuh”).

’NUF--enough, abundance.

NUH--nor; also for and.

’NURRUH--another.

NUSS--(n. and v.) nurse, nurses, nursed, nursing.

NUSSUH/NUSSO--not so.

NUTT’N’--nothing.

NYAM--eat, eats, eating, ate; sometimes “nyam-nyam,” a
repetition for emphasis.

NYANKEE--Yankee, Yankees.

NYOUNG/NYUNG--young.

NYOUNGIS’--youngest.

NYUSE/USE--(n. and v.) use, uses, used, using. (See “uz’n”).

NYUZE/NYUZ’N--(v.) used, using.

O

OAGLY--ugly.

OBJECK’--object. (See “’jeck’”).

OBSERB’--observe, observes, observed, observing.

OB’SHAY--overseer, overseers.

OBUH--over, above.

OBUHTEK--overtake, overtakes, overtook, overtaking.

OBUHT’ROW--overthrow, overthrows, overthrew, overthrowing;
overthrown.

OCTOBUH--October.

ODDUH--other, others.

ODDUHRES’--the other rest, the rest, remainder.

OFF’UH--off, off of.

OFFUH--offer, offers, offered, offering.

OFF’UM--off, or off of him, her, it, them.

OLE--old.

ONBUTT’N--unbutton, unbuttons, unbuttoned, unbuttoning.

ONCOMMUN--uncommon.

ONDEESTUNT--indecent, indecency.

ONDELICATE--indelicate, presumptuous.

ONDUH--under.

ONDUHNEET’--underneath.

ONDUHSTAN’--understand, understands, understood, understanding.
Also, as an understanding.

ONDUHTEK--undertake, undertakes, undertook, undertaking.

ONE--only; “me one,” I only.

ONE’NARRUH/ONE’NODDUH/ONE’NUDDUH/ONE’NURRUH--one another.

ONETIME--once, once upon a time.

ONHITCH--unhitch, unhitches, unhitched, unhitching; also
marital separation.

ONKIBBUH--uncover, uncovers, uncovered, uncovering.

ONLOCK--unlock, unlocks, unlocked, unlocking.

ONMANNUSSUBBLE--unmannerly, impolite, rude. (See “nomannussubble”).

ONNUH--(n. and v.) honor, honors, honored, honoring.

ONNUHRUBBLE--honorable.

ONRABBLE--unravel, unravels, unraveled, unraveling; untangle.

ONREASUNNUBBLE--unreasonable.

ONSAA’T’N--uncertain.

ONSATTIFY--unsatisfied, unsatisfying.

ONTEL--until.

ONTIE--untie, unties, untied, untying.

’OOD--wood, woods.

’OOMAN--woman, woman’s; women, women’s. “’Ooman iz uh
sometime t’ing”--Woman is a fickle, uncertain
creature, sometimes one thing, sometimes another.

OONUH--ye, sometimes you. (See “wunnuh,” etc.).

OSHTUH--oyster, oysters.

OSHTUH RAKE--long-handled rake or tongs for gathering
oysters.

OUGHTUH--ought, ought to, ought to be; as: “Man oughtuh
t’engkful”--man ought to be thankful.

OUT/OUT’N--to go out, put out, extinguish; as: “Uh out de fiah”--
I put out the fire. “Uh out’n’um”--I put it out.

OUT’UH--out of, out.

OX--oxen.

OXIDIZE--to turn into an ox.

OXIN--ox.

P

PAA’D’N--(n. and v.) pardon, pardons, pardoned, pardoning.

PAA’DNUH--partner, partners.

PAA’KUH--Parker--a low-country family name.

PAA’LUH--parlor, parlors.

PAA’SIMONY--parsimony, also avarice or rapacity.

PAA’S’N--parson, parsons.

PAAT’--path, paths.

PAA’T--(n. and v.) part, parts, parted, parting.

PAA’TY--party.

PALABUHRIN’--palavering--soft talk of a philanderer with
the gentler sex.

PAPUH--(n. and v.) paper, papers, papered, papering; also a
written instrument, a note or letter.

PARRYSAWL--parasol, parasols.

PASHUN/PASHUNT--patience; patient, forbearing.

PASSOBUH--Passover.

PASS’UM--pass, passes, passed, passing him, her, it, them.

PASTUH--pastor, pastors; pasture, pastures.

PATTY-AUGUH/PETTY-AUGUH--piragua, pirogue.

PAWPUS--porpoise, porpoises.

’PAWTUN’/’PORTUN’--important.

’PAWTUNCE/’PORTUNCE--importance.

PEACEUBBLE--peaceable, peaceful.

PEAWINE--peavine, peavines.

PENITENSHUS--penitentiary.

’PEN’PUN--depend, depends, depended, depending upon.

PERUSE--to saunter, walk in a leisurely manner, as: “Da’ gal
him bin peruse ’long de road en’ ’e nebbuh study
’bout nutt’n’;” also investigate, examine, consider.

PESSLE--pestle, pestles; a double-headed wooden implement
for beating rice.

PHOSKIT/PHUSKIT--phosphate, commercial fertilizer; also “de
Phoskit” the phosphate mines.

PIGGIN--a small cedar pail in universal use among Negroes
of the coast.

PINCH’UM--pinch, pinches, pinched, pinching him, her, it,
them; sometimes gripping, as of pain.

’PIN--spin, spins, spun, spinning.

PINDUH--pindar, peanut, peanuts. (See “grunnot”).

PINELAN’--pineland, pinelands.

’PINION--opinion, opinions.

P’INT--(n. and v.) point, points, pointed, pointing; direct,
etc.

’P’INT--appoint, appoints, appointed, appointing.

’P’INTMENT--appointment, appointments.

’PISKUBBLE--Episcopal, Episcopalian.

’PISTLE--Epistle, Epistles (Bible).

PITCHUH--pitcher, pitchers.

PIT--put, puts, put, putting.

PIT’UM--put him, her, it, them.

PIZEN--poison, poisons, poisoned, poisoning.

PIZEN-OAK--poison-oak, or poison ivy.

’PLASH--(n. and v.) splash; to splash, splashes, splashed,
splashing.

PLAT-EYE--a ghostly apparition, common to the Georgetown
section of the coast.

PLAY ’POSSUM--to make believe, to fool, deceive.

PLEASE KIN--please can--a redundancy; as: “please kin
gimme”--please give me.

PLEDJUH--pleasure, pleasures.

PLEDJUHR’UM--please, give pleasure to him, her, it, them.

PO’--poor, also thin, lean, low in flesh.

PO’BUCKRUH--a poor white man, the poor whites.

PO’BUCKRUH-NIGGUH--a Negro who had formerly belonged
to the poorer whites, or those not of the “quality.”

PO’CH--porch, porches.

POLITICKSUS/POLITICUSS--political. (See “cawpsus politicksus”).

POLLYDO’--Polydore--a favorite man’s name among the
Negroes; used also for Apollos.

PO’LY--poorly, describing health.

PON PON--the lower Edisto and the region south of the A.
C. L. Ry., opposite Jacksonboro.

POOTY/PUTTY--pretty.

PO’R--pour, pours, poured, pouring.

PO’R’UM--pour, pours, poured, pouring it, that.

POS’--(n. and v.) post, posts, posted, posting.

POSITUBBLE--positive, positively.

POSSIMMUN--persimmon, persimmons; the tree and fruit.

PO’TRIAL--Port Royal.

PRAISE-MEETIN’--prayer-meeting.

PRAY--(n. and v.) prayer, prayers; prays, prayed, praying.

’PREAD--spread, spreads, spreading.

PREECHUH--preacher, preachers; minister, ministers.

PREECHUH ON DE SUKKUS--the circuit or traveling preacher.

PREMUSSIZ--premises.

PRESINCK--precinct.

PRES’N’LY--presently.

PREZZYDENT--president.

PRIBLIDGE--(n. and v.) privilege, privileges, privileged.

PRIMUS WARD--ward primary.

PRIZZUNT--present, presents, presented, presenting.

PRIZZUNT AA’M--present arms.

PROJIC’--to “monkey with,” to hazard.

PROMMUS--(n. and v.) promise, promises, promised, promising.

PROOBE--prove, proves, proved, proving.

PROPUTTY--property, wealth.

’PUBLIKIN--Republican.

PUHCEED/PUSCEED--proceed, proceeds, proceeded, proceeding.

PUHHAPS--perhaps.

P’UHJEC’--project, projected, as: “W’en da’ ’ooman bex, him
p’uh’jec’ him mout’ at me”--When that woman was
angry she stuck out her mouth at me.

PUHJUH--perjure, perjures, perjured, perjuring.

PUHLICITUH--solicitor, solicitors; the dreaded prosecuting attorney
of the Criminal Court, held in awe by all
low-country Negroes.

PUHLITE--polite, politely. Also a popular Negro name, as
“Mingo Puhlite.”

PUHSHAY--Porcher--name of a low-country family.

PUHTEK--protect, protects, protected, protecting.

PUHTEKSHUN--protection.

PUHTETTUH--potato, potatoes--usually sweet. (See “tettuh”).

PUHTICKLUH--particular, particularly.

PUHWIDE--provide, provides, provided, providing.

PUHWID’N--providing, also provided.

PUHWIDUH--provider, providers.

PUHWISHUN--provision, provisions; ration, ration.

PUHWOKE--provoke, provokes, provoked, provoking.

PUHWOKIN’--provoking.

PUHZAC’LY--exactly, precisely.

PUHZISHUN--position, positions.

PULBLIC--public, the public.

PULL WOOL--to pull the kinky forelock in salutation to “de
Buckruh.”

PUNKIN--pumpkin, pumpkins.

PUNKIN-SKIN--pumpkin colored or mulatto Negro.

PUNNOUNCE--pronounce, pronounces, pronounced, pronouncing.

’PUNTOP/’PUNTAP/’PANTAP--upon, on, on top of.

’PUNTOP’UH--upon top of, on top of, at.

PUPPUS--purpose, on purpose.

PUSS’N/PUSSON/PUSSUN--person, persons.

PUSS’NULLY/PUSSONULLY/PUSSUNULLY--personally.

Q

’QUAINTUN’--acquainted, acquainted with.

’QUAINTUNCE--acquaintance, acquaintances. (See “acquaintun’”).

QUARRIL/QUAWL--quarrel, quarrels.

QUARRILMENT/QUAWLMENT--quarrel, quarrels, quarreled, quarrelling.

QUAWT--quart, quarts.

QUAWT’LY--quarterly.

QUAWTUH--(n. and v.) quarter, quarters, quartered, quartering.

’QUEEZE--squeeze, squeezes, squeezed, squeezing.

QUESCHUN/SQUESCHUN--(n. and v.) question, questions, questioned,
questioning. Rarely used, “quizzit” taking its
place.

QUILE--(n. and v.) coil, coils, coiled, coiling.

’QUIRE--require, requires, required, requiring.

’QUIRE--inquire, inquires, inquired, inquiring.

QUIZZIT--(quiz) ask, asks, asked, asking; to question, questions,
questioned, questioning. (See “squizzit,” a
rarely used variant).

R

RABBISH--ravish, ravishes, ravished, ravishing.

RAB’N--raven, ravens; vulture, vultures; buzzard, buzzards.

RAB’NEL--Ravenel, Ravenels--a family name, also a station
on Atlantic Coast Line Railway.

RACKTIFY--to break, breaks, broke, broken, breaking. Confuse
in mind: “Da’ buggy racktify”--that buggy is dilapidated.
“Da’ ’ooman racktify een ’e min’”--that
woman’s mind is distracted.

RAIN--(n. and v.) rain, rains, rained, raining.

RALE--real, very, truly.

RAMIFY--to act like a ram.

RANGE--range, ranges, ranged, ranging.

’RANGUHTANG--Orang-Utan, Orang-Utans.

RAPPIT--rapid, rapidly.

RASHI’N--(n. and v.) ration, rations, rationed, rationing.

RAYRE--rear, rears, reared, rearing.

’READY--already.

REBEL TIME--rebel times--the freedmen’s offensive characterization
of the period before freedom when their
former masters controlled the government of their
own states.

REB’REN’--reverend--used also as a noun, as “de reb’ren’.”

RECISHUN--decision, decisions.

REDDUH--rather. (See “rudduh”).

REFEN’--defend, defends, defended, defending. (See “’fen’”).

REINGE--reins.

REMONIA--pneumonia.

RENITE--unite, unites, united, uniting.

RENOINT--anoint, anoints, anointed, anointing. (See “’n’int”).

RENOINTED--anointed.

REPEAH--appear, appears, appeared, appearing.

REPLOY--(rare) reply, replies, replied, replying.

REPOSE--oppose, opposes, opposed, opposing.

RESPLAIN--explain, explains, explained, explaining; elucidate,
etc.

RETCH--reach, reaches, reached, reaching.

’RIAH--Maria.

RIBBUH--river, rivers.

RICEBU’D--ricebird, ricebirds.

RIDICK’LUS--ridiculous, also outrageous, scandalous. (Often
so used by illiterate whites).

ROAS’--roast, roasts, roasted, roasting.

ROCK--rock, rocks, rocked, rocking. Also for phosphate rock.
(See “de Rock”).

ROKKOON--raccoon, raccoons.

ROLL--roll, rolls, rolled, rolling.

ROOS’--(n. and v.) roost, roosts, roosted, roosting.

ROOSTUH--rooster, roosters.

ROZZUM--(n. and v.) rosin, rosins, rosined, rosining.

RUBBIDGE--rubbish.

RUCKUHNIZE--recognize, recognizes, recognized, recognizing.

RUDDUH--rather. (See “redduh”).

RUDDUH--rudder, rudders.

RUMPLETAIL--(rumpless) a tailless fowl.

RUN--run, runs, ran, running.

RUPPEZUNT--represent, represents, represented, representing.

S

SAA’B--serve, serves, served, serving.

SAA’BINT--(also “saa’bunt”) servant, servants.

SAA’BINT DAY--servants’ day--perhaps originally a corruption
of Sabbath day.

SAA’BIS--(also sarbis) service, services, use.

SAA’CH--search, searches, searched, searching; also examine,
examined, etc.

SAA’F--soft.

SAA’F’LY--softly.

SAA’PINT/SAA’PUNT--serpent (Biblical).

SAA’T’N/SUTT’N--certain.

SABANNUH/SAWANNUH--Savannah; savanna, savannas.

SABBIDGE--savage, savages.

SABE--save, saves, saved, saving.

SABEYUH--the Savior.

SA’LEENUH--St. Helena Island, on the South Carolina coast.

SAME LUKKUH--(also sukkuh) same like, like, resembling.

SAN’--sand.

SAT’D’Y/SATTYDAY--Saturday.

SATTIFACKSHUN--satisfaction.

SATTIFY--satisfy, satisfies, satisfied, satisfying.

SAWLKETCHUH--Salkehatchie--upper reaches of the Combahee
above the A. C. L. Ry.

SAWT--(n. and v.) sort, sorts, sorted, sorting.

SAWTUH--sort of--after a fashion.

SAY--say, says, said, saying.

SCA’CE/SCA’CEFUL--scarce.

SCA’CELY--scarcely, hardly. (See “kacely”).

SCATTUH--scatter, scatters, scattered, scattering.

SCHEMY--scheming, tricky.

SCOLE--scold, scolds, scolded, scolding.

SCRIPTUH--Scripture--the Bible.

’SCUSE--(noun) excuse, excuses.

’SCUSIN’--excusing, except.

’SCUSSHUN--excursion, excursions.

’SCUZE--(verb) excuse, excuses, excused, excusing.

SEAZ’NIN’--seasoning.

SEB’N--seven.

SEB’NPUNCE--seven pence. (See “fo’punce”).

SEB’NTEEN--seventeen.

SEB’NTY--seventy.

SECKRITERRY--secretary, secretaries.

SECTEMBUH--September.

SECUN’--second.

SEDATE--sedately, quietly, in a leisurely manner: “De mule
walk so sedate uh couldn’ plow fas’.”

SEDDOWN--sit or set down, sits or sets down, sat or set down,
sitting or setting down.

SEE--see, sees, saw, seen, seeing.

SEEGYAA’--cigar, cigars.

SEEM--seem, seems, seemed, seeming.

’SELF--himself, herself, itself, themselves; as: “Him maussuh
’self haffuh wu’k”--his master himself has to
work.

SELFISH--selfish--glum, dour.

SENCE--since.

SEN’UM--send, sends, sent, sending him, her, it, them.

SESSO--say so, says so, said so, saying so. (See “susso”).

SET--sit, sits, sat, sitting. (See “seddown”).

SETTLE’--settled, as: “settle’ ’ooman,” a settled woman, a
Negro woman of a certain age, not a flapper.

SETT’N’--sitting.

SETT’N’UP--sitting up--a Negro wake; a small religious meeting.

SEZZEE--says he, said he.

SEZZI--says I, said I.

SHAA’K--shark, sharks.

SHAA’P--sharp.

SHAA’P’N--sharpen, sharpens, sharpened, sharpening.

SHABE--shave, shaves, shaved, shaving.

SHADDUH--(n. and v.) shadow, shadows, shadowed, shadowing.

SHAME--(n. and v.) shame, shames, shamed, shaming;
ashamed.

SHAWT--short--“shawt-pashunt,” short patience or irritable,
irritability.

SHAYRE--share, shares, shared, sharing.

SHAYRE’UM--share, shares, shared, sharing him, her, it, them.
Also for shear, shears, sheared, shearing him, her,
it, them.

SHEEPBUHR--sheepburr, sheepburrs.

SHE’OWN--her own.

SHEPU’D--shepherd, shepherds.

SHE-SHE TALK--woman’s talk, gabble.

SHET--shut, shuts, shut, shutting.

SHIMMY--chemise, chemises.

SHISH--such.

SHISHUH--such a.

SHO’--sure, surely.

SHOE--(n. and v.) shoe, shoes, shod, shoeing.

SHOESH--shoes.

SHO’LY--surely.

SHOOT’UM--shoot, shoots, shot, shooting him, her, it, them.

SHOULDUH--shoulder, shoulders, shouldered, shouldering.

SHOULD’UH--should have.

SHOUT--(n. and v.) shout, shouts; shout, shouts, shouted,
shouting; frenzied outcries of a religious devotee. A
plantation dancing festival, frequently accompanied
by beating sticks on the floor.

SHOW--show, shows, showed, showing.

SHOW’UM--show, shows, showed, showing him, her, it, them.

SHROUD--shroud, shrouds; also surplice, surplices, as: “De
’Piskubble preechuh pit on ’e shroud.”

SHUB--shove, shoves, shoved, shoving.

SHUH--pshaw!

SHUM--see, sees, saw, seeing him, her, it, them.

SHU’T--shirt, shirts.

SIDE’UH--on the side of, alongside.

SILBUH--silver--“silbuhfish,” silver fish.

SILBY--Silvia.

SILUNT--silent, silence, as “silunt een co’t!”--silence in court!

SILUS--Silas.

SISTUH--(formal) sister, sisters.

SKAY’D--scared.

SKAYRE--scare, scares, scared, scaring.

SKAY-TO-DE’T’--scare or scared to death.

SKOLLUP--escallop, escallops, escalloped, escalloping.

SKU’T--skirt, skirts.

SLABE--slave, slaves.

SLABERY--slavery.

SLABERY TIME--slavery times--before freedom.

SLAM--a synonym for “spang,” expressing distance, all the
way.

SLANN’ ILUN’--Slann’s Island, a tract lying along the North
Edisto inlet and Toogoodoo creek.

SLEEBE--sleeve, sleeves.

’SLEEP--asleep; sleep, sleeps, slept, sleeping.

SLIP’RY--slippery.

SMAA’T--smart.

’SMATTUH--what is the matter?

SNAWT--snort, snorts, snorted, snorting.

SNOW’RE--snore, snores, snored, snoring.

SOAD--sword, swords.

SOBUH--sober.

SOBUHR’UM--sober, sobers, sobered, sobering him, her, them.

SODJUH--(n. and v.) soldier, soldiers; soldiering, etc. To loaf
on the job.

SOF’--soft.

SOMEBODY--somebody’s, some one, some one’s.

SOMEBODY’OWN--somebody’s own.

SONNYLAW--son-in-law, sons-in-law.

SOON-MAN--a smart, alert, wide-awake man.

SOOPLY--supple.

SPAA’K--spark, sparks.

SPANG--all the way, expressive of distance.

SPARRUH--sparrow, sparrows.

SPARRUH-GRASS--asparagus.

SPARRUHHAWK--sparrow-hawk or hawks.

’SPEC’--expect, expects, expected, expecting; suspect, suspects,
suspected, suspecting.

SPECIE’--species.

SPECIFY--from specify, but greatly extended to include almost
all meanings of “specifications”--proving inadequate,
not coming up to expectations, etc. (See
Introduction to this Glossary).

SPECKLY--speckled.

SPEN’--spend, spends, spent, spending.

SPERRITUAL--spiritual, spirituals, the Negro religious songs.

’SPERIUNCE--experience, experiences, experienced, experiencing.

SPESHLY--specially, especially.

SPIDUH--spider, spiders; also a cooking utensil in universal
use among the Coast Negroes.

SPILE--spoil, spoils, spoiled, spoiling.

’SPISHUN--suspicion, suspicions.

’SPISHUS--suspicious, suspiciously.

’SPIZE--despise, despises, despised, despising.

’SPLAIN--explain, explains, explained, explaining.

SPLOTCH--blot, blots; stain, stains.

’SPON’--respond, responds, responded, responding.

’SPONSUBBLE--responsible, also used emphatically or specifically;
as: “Tell’um ’sponsubble fuh do da’ t’ing.”

’SPOSE--expose, exposes, exposed, exposing.

S’POSE--suppose, supposes, supposed, supposing.

SPO’T--sport, sports; also sporting man.

SPO’TIN’/SPOT’N’--(n. and v.) sport, sports, sported, sporting.

SPO’TY--sporty.

S’PREME--(n.) supreme--only in “s’preme co’t.”

SPUHR--(n. and v.) spur, spurs, spurred, spurring.

’SPUTE--(n. and v.) dispute, disputes, disputed, disputing;
contest with.

’SPUTE’N--disputing.

SQUAYRE--(also squay) square--also a parallelogram in a
ricefield divided from other squares by irrigation
ditches.

SQUESCHUN--question--sometimes used for the more common
“quizzit,” which see. (Also see “queschun”).

SQUIZZIT--a rarely used variant of “quizzit,” which see.

STAA’CH--(n. and v.) starch, starches, starched, starching.

STAAR--star, stars.

STAA’T--start, starts, started, starting.

STAA’T NAKID--stark naked.

’STABLISH--establish, establishes, established, establishing.

STAN’--stand, stands, stood, standing; look, looks, looked,
looking.

STAN’--a stand, stands; deer stands, etc.

STAN’LUKKUH--stand, stands, stood, standing like; to look
like, etc.

STAN’SUKKUH--stand same like unto, same meaning as “stan’lukkuh.”

’STEAD’UH--(also ’stidduh) instead of.

STEAL--steal, steals, stole, stealing.

STO’--store, stores; shop, shops.

’STONISH--astonish, astonishes, astonished, astonishing.

’STRACTID--protracted, as a “’stractid meet’n’,” a protracted
meeting.

STRAIGHT’N FUH--make for, made for, making for; run
quickly or swiftly.

STRANCE--trance, trances.

STREE--three; as in “seb’nty-stree.” Rarely used. (See “t’ree”).

STRENGK--strength.

STRETCH-OUT--stretch out--extend. (See “’tretch-out”).

STRIKE--strike, strikes, struck, striking. (See “’trike”).

’STROY’D--destroy, destroys, destroyed, destroying.

’STRUCKSHUN--destruction.

’STRUCKSHUN--construction.

’STRUCKSHUN STRAIN--construction train.

STRUCTID--struck, striking.

STUBB’N--(also stubbunt) stubborn.

STUDY--think, plan, ponder.

STUHR--stir, stirs, stirred, stirring.

STUHSTIFFIKIT--certificate.

STYLISH--stylish, meaning also appropriate, dignified, suitable,
as: “uh stylish grabe,” being a grave ornately
decorated with broken china or glass.

’SUADE--persuade, persuades, persuaded, persuading.

SUCK--suck, sucks, sucked, sucking.

SUCK-AIG--suck-egg--as: “uh suck-aig dog.”

SUCK ME TEET’--and “suck ’e teet’”--a contemptuous gesture,
frequently indulged in by the fair sex.

SUDD’NT--sudden, suddenly.

SUFFUHRATE--separate, separates, separated, separating; also
divorce, divorcing, etc.

SUH--sir.

SUH--that, say. (See “susso” and “sesso”).

SUHCIETY--society, societies.

SUKKLE--(n. and v.) circle, circles, circled, circling.

SUKKUH--(a contraction of “same lukkuh” used by rapid
speakers) same, same like, resembling.

SUKKUHR’UM--same like, or like him, her, it, them.

SUKKUS--circus, circuses.

SUKKUS--circuit, circuits.

SUKKUS-PREECHUH--circuit preacher.

SUMMUCH--so much, so many.

SUMMUH/SUMMUHTIME--summer, summers, summer-time.

SUMP’N’--something.

SUMP’N’NURRUH--something or other.

SUNDOWN--sunset.

SUNHIGH--late morning, about the middle of the forenoon.

SUNHOT--sunshine, heat of sun.

SUN-LEAN--period of the day when the sun begins to decline,
and its declining: “sun-lean fuh down.”

SUN’UP--sunrise.

SUPPLOY--supply, supplies, supplied, supplying.

SUPPUH--supper.

SUPSHUN--substance, sustenance, strength of food, as of
a juicy roast: “Da’ meat hab supshun een’um”--that
meat has much nourishment.

SUSSO/SUH-SO--say so, says so, said so, saying so. (See “sesso”).

SUTT’N--certain, certainly.

SUTT’NLY--certainly.

SWALLUH--(n. and v.) swallow, swallows, swallowed, swallowing.

SWALLUHR’UM--swallow, swallows, swallowed, swallowing
him, her, it, them.

SWAWM--(n. and v.) swarm, swarms, swarmed, swarming.

SWAY’/SWAYRE--swear, swears, swore, swearing.

SWAYTOGAWD--swear to God.

SWEETH’AA’T--sweetheart, sweethearts.

SWEETMOUT’--sweetmouth--blarney, flattery.

SWEETMOUT’ TALK--soft talk of a philanderer with the
gentler sex.

SWELL--swell, swells, swelled, swelling; swollen.

SWELL-UP--swelled, swollen up, puffed up with anger, importance
or authority.

SWEET’N--sweeten, sweetens, sweetened, sweetening.

SWEET’NIN’--“sweetening.”

SWIF’--swift, fast.

SWIMP--shrimp, shrimps.

SWINGE--singe, singes, singed, singeing.

SWINK--shrink, shrinks, shrunk, shrinking.

SWONGUH--“swank,” swagger, swaggering, boastful.

T

TAAR--(n. and v.) tar, tars, tarred, tarring.

’TACK--(n. and v.) attack, attacks, attacked, attacking.

’TACKTID--attacked. (See “attacktid”).

TACKLE--(n. and v.) tackle, tackles, tackled, tackling; arraign,
hold accountable.

’TAGUHNIZE--antagonize, antagonizes, antagonized, antagonizing;
arraign, arraigned, etc.

’TAIL--(n. and v.) entail, entails, entailed, entailing.

’TAKE--(n. and v.) stake, stakes, staked, staking.

TALK’UM--talk, talks, talked, talking; talking it, speak out,
etc.

TALLUH--tallow.

TALLYGRAF--(n. and v.) telegraph, telegraphs, telegraphed,
telegraphing; telegram, telegrams.

’TAN’--stand, stands, stood, standing.

’TAN’UP--stand, stands, stood, standing up.

’TARRYGATE--interrogate, interrogates, interrogated, interrogating;
question, questioned, etc.

TARRYPIN--terrapin, terrapins.

TARRIFY--terrify, terrifies, terrified, terrifying.

TARRUH--t’other, the other. (See “torruh,” “todduh”).

TAS’--task--a measure of distance as well as of area: 105
feet or 105 feet square. A “tas’,” or one-fourth of an
acre, being the daily task during slavery on a sea-island
cotton plantation, in “listing,” “hauling,” or
hoeing sea-island cotton, a task being frequently
completed before noon, when the slave was free for
the rest of the day. Used as meaning distance of a
shot; as: “My gun kin shoot two tas’”--My gun can
kill at 210 feet (70 yards).

TAS’E--taste, tastes, tasted, tasting.

TAS’E ’E MOUT’--put a taste in his, her or their mouth or
mouths; meaning something appetizing to eat.

T’AW’T--(n. and v.) thought, thoughts. (See also “t’ink”).

’TAY--stay, stays, stayed, staying.

TAYRE--tear, tears, tore, tearing.

TAYRE’UM--tear, tears, tore, tearing him, her, it, them.

TEDAY--today.

TEET’--tooth, teeth.

TEET’ACHE--toothache.

TEK--take, takes, took, taken, taking.

TEK’CARE--take-care--as: “Tek’care bettuh mo’nuh baig
paa’d’n”--Take care is better more than beg pardon;
meaning an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure.

TEK’ESELF--take, takes, took, taking himself, herself, itself,
themselves.

TEK ME FOOT EEN ME HAN’--“tek him foot een ’e han’”--Took
my foot in my hand, took his or her foot or their
feet in his, her, or their hand or hands--meaning
hastened, hurried, speeded up.

TEK’UM--take, took, taken him, it, them; as: “tek’um en’
t’engky.”

TEK’WAY--take, takes, took, taking away.

TEK WID’UM--taken with, pleased with him, her, it, them.

’TELL--till, until.

TELL’UM--tell, tells, telling, told him, her, it, them. “Tell’um
huddy fuh me”--tell him howdy for me.

’TEN’--attend, attends, attended, attending; intend, intends,
etc.

TENDDUH--tender.

T’ENGKFUL--thankful.

T’ENGK’GAWD--thank God!--thank, thanks, thanked, thanking
God.

T’ENGKY--thanks, thank you.

TENIGHT--tonight.

’TENSHUN--attention.

’TENSHUN--intention; as: “Uh ’tenshun fuh go” it is my intention
to go.

’TEP--(n. and v.) step, steps, stepped, stepping.

TETCH--(n. and v.) touch, touches, touched, touching. Also
a remnant, as: “T’engk Gawd, ’e lef’ uh leetle tetch
een de bottle.”

TETCH’UM--touch, touches, touched, touching him, her, it,
them.

’TETTUH--potato, potatoes--usually sweet. (See “puhtettuh”).

T’ICK--thick.

’TICK--(n. and v.) stick, sticks, stuck, slicking.

T’ICKIT--thicket, thickets.

’TICKLUH--(n. and v.) particular, particulars. (See “puhtickluh”).

T’ICKNESS--thickness, thicknesses.

’TICKY--sticky.

T’IEF--(n. and v.) thief, thieves; steal, steals, stole, stolen,
stealing. “T’ief iz bad, but t’ief en’ ketch iz de
debble”--It is bad to steal, but to steal and be
caught is worse.

T’IEFIN’--thieving.

TIE’UM--tie, ties, tied, tying him, her, it, them.

TIE UP ’E MOUT’--tie, ties, tied, tying up his, her, or their
mouth or mouths; meaning held his, her, or their
speech.

TILLIN’ASS’--Tillinghast--a low-country family name.

T’ING--thing, things.

’TING--sting, stings, stung, stinging.

T’INK--think, thinks, thought, thinking.

T’IRTEEN--thirteen.

T’IRTY--thirty.

T’ISTLE--thistle, thistles.

TITTIE/TITTUH--sister, sisters (informal).

TOAD--a young female dog (old English).

TOAD-FROG--toad, toads.

TODDUH/TUDDUH--the other, t’other, the others. (See “tarruh,”
and “torruh”).

TOL’--rare, for told. (See “tell’um”).

TONGUE/TOUNG--tongue, tongues.

TOOGOODOO--a short tidal creek or river in former Colleton,
now Charleston, County.

’TOOP--stoop, stoops, stooped, stooping.

TOOT’--tooth, teeth.

’TOP--stop, stops, stopped, stopping.

TOP--(n. and v.) top, tops; top, tops, topped, topping.

’TOPPUH--on, on top of.

TORRUH--(also tarruh and todduh) t’other; the other, the
others; as: “Dem todduh one”--those other ones.

’T’ORUHTY--authority.

TOTE--“tote”--carry, carries, carried, carrying.

T’OUS’N/T’OUZ’N--thousand.

TOWN--Charleston, “the City.” (See “Chaa’stun”).

TRABBLE--travel, travels, traveled, traveling.

’TRAIGHT--straight.

’TRAIGHT’N--straighten, straightens, straightened, straightening.
“’Traight’n fuh”--straighten for, to hurry or
extend oneself for a certain point.

’TRANGLE--strangle, strangles, strangled, strangling.

T’RASH--thrash, thrashes, thrashed, thrashing; thresh,
threshed, etc.

T’RASHUH--thrasher, thrashers; thresher, threshers.

TREDJUH--treasure, treasures.

TREDJURUH--treasurer, treasurers.

TREE--(v.) tree, trees, treed, treeing.

T’REE--rarely “stree”--three.

T’REE-TIME--three times.

’TRETCH--stretch, stretches, stretched, stretching.

’TRETCH-OUT--stretch out. (See “stretch-out”).

TRIGGUH--trigger, triggers.

’TRIKE--strike, strikes, struck, striking.

TRIMBLE--tremble, trembles, trembled, trembling.

’TRING--string, strings, strung, stringing; “’tringbean”--string
or snap-beans.

T’ROAT--throat, throats.

T’ROW--throw, throws, threw, thrown, throwing.

T’ROWBONE--throw “bones” (dice) play craps.

T’ROW’D--threw, thrown.

T’ROW’WAY/T’RUH’WAY--throw, throws, threw, throwing, thrown away.

T’RU--through.

TRUBBLE--(n. and v.) trouble, troubles, troubled, troubling.

TRUS’--(n. and v.) trust, trusts, trusted, trusting.

TRUS’-ME-GAWD--a narrow dugout canoe, so cranky that one
who ventures forth upon the waters must have faith
in God to bring him through.

TRUTE--truth.

TRUTE-MOUT’--truth-mouth--one who will not lie.

TRYBUNUL--tribunal, tribunals.

TUCKREY--turkey, turkeys.

TUH--to.

TUHBACKUH--tobacco.

TUH DAT--to that--as: “’E chupid tuh dat”--he is stupid
to that extent; he is that stupid. “Ef him maussuh
lub’um tuh dat”--if his master loves him so greatly.

TUHGEDDUH--together.

TUHRECKLY--directly.

TUHR’UM--to him, her, it, them.

TUK--took. (See “tek”).

TUMMUCH--too much, intensely, ardently, fervently.

’TUMP--(n. and v.) stump, stumps; stump, stumps, stumped,
stumping.

’TUMP--stub, stubs, stubbed, stubbing.

’TUMPSUCKUH--stump-sucker, a crib-sucking horse or mule.

TU’N--(n. and v.) turn, turns, turned, turning.

T’UNDUH--(n. and v.) thunder, thunders, thundered, thundering.

T’UNDUHSNAKE--thundersnake, thundersnakes.

TU’NFLOUR--turned flour, scalded corn meal, mush or porridge;
same as Italian polenta.

TU’NUP--turnip, turnips.

TU’N UP--turn, turns, turned, turning up.

TUP’MTIME/TUP’NTINE--turpentine.

T’URSD’Y--Thursday.

TWELB’--twelve.

TWIS’--(n. and v.) twist, twists, twisted, twisting.

TWIS’-MOUT’--twist mouth--twist-mouthed.

TWIS’UP--twist or twisted up.

TWO CHUESDAY, TWO T’URSDAY, etc.--the second Tuesday or
the second Thursday in the month.

TWO PLACE--second place, in the second place. NOTE: Other
numbers used similarly.

TWO TIME--two times, twice.

TWO-T’REE--two or three.

U

UB--of. (See “uh”).

UBTAIN--obtain, obtains, obtained, obtaining.

UB UH--of a--“Uh debble ub uh mule”--a devil of a mule.

UH--I; a, an. Also of. (See “ub”).

UHHEAD--ahead.

UHHEAD’UH--ahead of.

UHLLY/YUHLLY--early.

UM--him, her, it, them.

UP TUH DE NOTCH--up to the notch--to the Queen’s taste,
perfect.

US--we, our.

USE--use, uses, used, using; also for game or cattle frequenting
certain feeding grounds. (See “nyuse”).

USE’N/UZE’N--used to be, in the habit of.

USE-TUH--used to, accustomed to.

W

WAAGIN--wagon, wagons.

WAA’MENT--“varmint, varmints,” destructive animals or birds.

WADMUHLAW--Wadmalaw--an island of the Carolina coast.

WAH--war.

WAIS’--waist, waists.

WANJUE-RANGE--sometimes “Banjue-Range”--Vendue Range,
the old Charleston slave market.

WANTUH--want to, wants to, wanted to, wanting to.

WARRUH/WADDUH--what, what is that.

W’ARY--weary.

WAS’E--waste, wastes, wasted, wasting.

WASH-UP/WUSH-UP--worship (religious).

WATUHMILYUN--watermelon, watermelons.

WAWM--(n. and v.) warm, warms, warmed, warming.

WAWN--(n. and v.) warn, warns, warned, warning.

WAWSS’--wasp, wasps.

WAWSS’NES’--wasp’s nest.

WE--our, us.

W’EAT--wheat.

W’EAT-FLOUR--flour, wheat-flour.

WEDDUH--weather, weather; to rain or storm, in such phrases
as: “’E gwine tuh wedduh”--it is going to or looks
like rain or storm.

WEDD’N’--wedding, weddings.

WEEKY-DAY--a week day.

W’EEL--(n. and v.) wheel, wheels, wheeled, wheeling.

W’EELBARRUH--wheelbarrow, wheelbarrows.

WEGITUBBLE--vegetable, vegetables.

WEH--where.

WEHR’AS--whereas.

WEHREBBUH--wherever.

W’ENEBBUH--whenever.

W’ENSD’Y--Wednesday.

WE’OWN--our own, ours.

WERRY--very. (See “berry”).

WE’SELF--ourselves.

WESKIT--waistcoat, waistcoats.

WESTIBLUE--vestibuled--the fast “limited” or tourist train.

WHOEBBUH--whoever.

WICTORIA--Victoria--also victorious.

’WICE--(also “exwice”) advice, advices.

W’ICH/W’ICH’N--which.

W’ICH EN’ W’Y--which and why--as: “W’ich en’ w’y talk”--contradictory
talk.

WICKITY/WICKIT--wicked, wickedness.

WID--with.

WIDDUH--widow, widows.

WIDT’--width, widths.

W’ILE--while, awhile.

WIL’CAT--wild cat, the bay-lynx of the Southern swamps.

WILLUH--willow, willows.

WIN’--(n. and v.) wind, winds; wind, winded.

WIN’--(n. and v.) wind, winds, wound, winded, winding.

WINDUH--window, windows.

WINE--vine.

WINEGUH--vinegar.

WINNUH--winnow, winnows, winnowed, winnowing.

WINNUHHOUSE--winnowhouse, winnowhouses, where in the
old days rice was winnowed.

WINTUHTIME--winter, in the winter season.

’WISE--(also “exwise”) advise, advises, advised, advising.

WISH DE TIME UH DAY--“pass de time uh day”--a salutation,
greeting.

WISIT--(n. and v.) visit, visits, visited, visiting.

W’ISKEY--whiskey; formerly used, now an obsolete vocable
among the Gullah.

WITCH--witch, witches.

’WITCH--bewitch, bewitches, bewitched, bewitching.

W’ITE--white.

WOICE--voice, voices.

WOODPECKUH--woodpecker, woodpeckers.

WOODPECKUH LAA’K--woodpecker lark--the flicker.

WROP--wrap, wraps, wrapped, wrapping.

WU’D--word, words.

WUDDUH DA’--what is that.

WUFFUH--what for, why.

WUH--what, that.

WUHEBBUH--whatever.

WU’K--(n. and v.) work, works, worked, working.

WU’LL’--world, worlds.

WUNDUH--(n. and v.) wonder, wonders, wondered, wondering.

WUNT--won’t, will not.

WURRUM--worm, worms.

WUS’DEN’EBBUH--worse than ever.

WUSS/WUS’--worse, worst.

WUSSUH--worse.

WUT’--worth, is worth, was worth, etc. “Ent wut’”--a disparaging
characterization.

WUZ--was.

W’YMEKSO--what makes it so, why.

Y

YAA’D--yard, yards.

YAA’N--yarn, yarns.

YAAS--yes.

YAAS’SUH--yes-sir.

YALLUH--yellow.

YALLUHHAMMUH--yellowhammer--the flicker or golden-winged
woodpecker.

YALLUH YAM--yellow yam--a variety of sweet potato.

YANDUH--yonder.

YEAH--ear, ears (corn or other grain); also year, years.

YEARIN’--hearing.

YEDDY/YERRY--hear, hears, heard, hearing.

YEDDY’UM--hear, hears, heard, or hearing him, her, it, them.

YELLIN’--yearling, yearlings.

YENT--(ent) ain’t, is not, are not; so pronounced when preceded
by a soft vowel sound.

YE’T/YU’T--earth. (See “eart’”).

YEYE--eye, eyes; so pronounced when preceded by a soft
vowel sound. “’E yeye red”--his or her eyes are
bloodshot with anger.

YEZ--ear, ears (human or animal).

YISTIDDY--yesterday.

YIZ--is; so pronounced when preceded by a soft vowel sound.

YO’/YOU--your, yours.

YOU’OWN--your own, yours.

YOWE--ewe. (“Yowe” is in use in Early English).

YUH--here.

YUH HIM--here he, she, it is, or they are.

Z

’ZACKLY--exactly. (See “puhzackly”).

’ZAMMIN’--examine, examines, examined, examining; question,
questioned, etc.

’ZYD’N’--presiding; as: “’Zyd’n’ elduh”--presiding elder.

THE TAR BABY STORY

AS TOLD BY COL. C. C. JONES AND JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS

BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AND DE TAR BABY

JONES’S VERSION

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 make 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, and 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 Babbit 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 yon 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, en 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 Babbit 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 but 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 scratch 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, an 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 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.

THE WONDERFUL TAR-BABY STORY

HARRIS’S VERSION

“Didn’t the fox _never_ catch the rabbit, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy the next evening.

“He come mighty nigh it, honey, sho’s you born--Brer Fox did. One day atter Brer Rabbit fool ’im wid dat calamus root, Brer Fox went ter wuk en got ’im some tar, en mix it wid some turkentime, en fix up a contrapshun wat he call a Tar-Baby, en he tuck dish yer Tar-Baby en he sot ’er in de big road, en den he lay off in de bushes for to see wat de news wuz gwineter be. En he didn’t hatter wait long, nudder, kaze bimeby here come Brer Rabbit pacin’ down de road--lippity-clippity, clippity-lippity--dez ez sassy ez a Jay-bird. Brer Fox he lay low. Brer Rabbit come prancin’ ’long twel he spy de Tar-Baby, en den he fotch up on his behime legs like he wuz ’stonished. De Tar-Baby, she sot dar, she did, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“‘Mawnin’!’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee--’nice wedder dis mawnin’,’ sezee.

“Tar-Baby ain’t sayin’ nothin’, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“‘How duz yo’ sym’tums seem ter segashuate?’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

“Brer Fox, he wink his eye slow, en lay low, en de Tar-Baby she ain’t sayin’ nothin’.

“‘How you come on, den? Is you deaf?’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. ‘Kaze if you is, I kin holler louder,’ sezee.

“Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox he lay low.

“‘Youer stuck up, dat’s w’at you is,’ says Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘en I’m gwineter kyore you, dat’s w’at I’m a gwineter do,’ sezee.

“Brer Fox, he sorter chuckle in his stummuck, he did, but Tar-Baby ain’t sayin’ nothin’.

“‘I’m gwineter larn you howter talk ter ’spectubble fokes ef hit’s de las’ ack,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. ‘Ef you don’t take off dat hat en tell me howdy, I’m gwineter bus’ you wide open,’ sezee.

“Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“Brer Rabbit keep on axin ’im, en de Tar-Baby, she keep on sayin’ nothin’, twel present’y Brer Rabbit draw back wid his fis’, he did, en blip he tuck ’er side er de head. Right dar’s whar he broke his merlasses jug. His fis’ stuck, en he can’t pull loose. De tar hilt ’im. But Tar-Baby, she stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“‘Ef you don’t lemme loose, I’ll knock you agin,’ Brer Rabbit, sezee, en wid dat he fotch ’er a wipe wid de udder han’, en dat stuck. Tar-Baby, she ain’t sayin’ nothin’, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“‘Tu’n me loose, fo’ I kick de natal stuffin’ outen you,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, but de Tar-Baby, she ain’t sayin’ nothin.’ She des hilt on, en den Brer Rabbit lose de use er his feet in de same way. Brer Fox, he lay low. Den Brer Rabbit squall out dat ef de Tar-Baby don’t tu’n ’im loose he butt ’er cranksided. En den he butted, en his head got stuck. Den Brer Fox, he sa’ntered fort’, lookin’ des ez innercent ez one er yo’ mamy’s mockin’-birds.

“‘Howdy, Brer Rabbit,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee. ‘You look sorter stuck up dis mawnin’,’ sezee, en den he rolled on de groun’, en laughed en laughed twel he couldn’t laugh no mo’. ‘I speck you’ll take dinner wid me dis time, Brer Rabbit. I done laid in some calamus root, en I ain’t gwineter take no skuse,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee.”

Here Uncle Remus paused, and drew a two-pound yam out of the ashes.

“Did the fox eat the rabbit”? asked the little boy to whom the story had been told.

“W’en Brer Fox fine Brer Rabbit mixt up wid de Tar-Baby, he feel mighty good, en he roll on de groun’ en laff. Bimeby he up’n say, sezee:

“‘Well, I speck I got you dis time, Brer Rabbit,’ sezee: ‘maybe I ain’t, but I speck I is. You been runnin’ roun’ here sassin’ atter me a mighty long time, but I speck you done come ter de een’ er de row. You bin cuttin’ up yo’ capers en bouncin’ roun’ in dis neighberhood ontwel you come ter b’leeve yo’se’f de boss er de whole gang. En den youer allers some’rs whar you got no bizness,’ sez Brer Fox sezee. ‘Who ax you fer ter come en strike up a ’quaintance wid dish yer Tar-Baby? En who stuck you up dar whar you iz? Nobody in de roun worril. You des tuck en jam yo’se’f on dat Tar-Baby widout waitin’ fer enny invite,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee, ‘en dar you is, en dar you’ll stay twel I fixes up a bresh-pile and fires her up, kaze I’m gwineter bobbycue you dis day, sho,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee.

“Den Brer Rabbit talk mighty ’umble.

“‘I don’t keer w’at you do wid me, Brer Fox,’ sezee, ‘so you don’t fling me in dat brier-patch. Roas’ me, Brer Fox,’ sezee, ‘but don’t fling me in dat brier-patch,’ sezee.

“‘Hit’s so much trouble fer ter kindle a fier,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee, ‘dat I speck I’ll hatter hang you,’ sezee.

“‘Hang me des ez high as you please, Brer Fox,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘but do fer de Lord’s sake don’t fling me in dat brier-patch,’ sezee.

“‘I ain’t got no string,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee, ‘en now I speck I’ll hatter drown you,’ sezee.

“‘Drown me des ez deep ez you please, Brer Fox,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘but do don’t fling me in dat brier-patch,’ sezee.

“‘Dey ain’t no water nigh,’ sez Brer Fox, sezee, ‘en now I speck I’ll hatter skin you,’ sezee.

“‘Skin me, Brer Fox,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘snatch out my eyeballs, t’ar out my years by de roots, en cut off my legs,’ sezee, ‘but do please, Brer Fox, don’t fling me in dat brier-patch,’ sezee.

“Co’se Brer Fox wanter hurt Brer Rabbit bad ez he kin, so he cotch ’im by de behime legs en slung ’im right in de middle er de brier-patch. Dar wuz a considerbul flutter whar Brer Rabbit struck de bushes, en Brer Fox sorter hang ’roun’ fer ter see w’at wus gwineter happen. Bimeby he hear somebody call ’im, en way up de hill he see Brer Rabbit settin’ cross-legged on a chinkapin log koamin’ de pitch outer his har wid a chip. Den Brer Fox know dat he bin swop off mighty bad. Brer Rabbit wuz bleedzed fer ter fling back some er his sass, en he holler out:

“‘Bred en bawn in a brier-patch, Brer Fox--bred en bawn in a brier-patch!’ en wid dat he skip out des ez lively ez a cricket in de embers.”

FOOTNOTES:

[1] A Gullah synonym for hunger.

[2] Ward primary.

[3] Hermaphrodite.

[4] “Take care” is better than “beg pardon.”

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged.

Italics are represented thus _italic_.