Bypaths in Dixie: Folk Tales of the SouthCocke, Sarah Johnson
General
Bypaths in Dixie: Folk Tales of the South
Cocke, Sarah Johnson
African Americans -- Folklore; Short stories; Southern States -- Fiction; Tales -- Southern States
"I dunno how 'tis, Ma'y Van, but de Lawd fixes owels eyes so dey kin 'ten'
ter der night biznes', an' whin fokes gits ter lovin' an' gits in er tight
place like Johnny Squinch wus, de Lawd fixes der eyes so dey kin see th'u
de dark an' ev'y which er way, too. One night on de dark er de moon, Big
Eye start out ter meet de buzzards. He got fo' hosses, an' two cows, an'
er pass'l er birds. Big Eye, he wus jes' er takin' in de money I tell
yer. He can't see hit, but he kin feel uv hit, an' he know dey darsn't ter
cheat him. But Johnny Squinch settin' up on er lim' jes' ov'r his
haid,--he kin count de money, yassuh, ev'y cent uv hit, too. Dey ain' no
eyes kin see like Johnny Squinch's, 'speshally whin dey's lovin'. De nex'
day, Majer Peafowel fly up ter Pine Tree Holl'r ter see Mist'r Mount'in
Fowel 'bout whut Johnny tell him."
"Mammy, could Major Peafowl fly up to the top of Mister Tall Pine?" asked
Mary Van in amazement.
"Who sed he fly up ter de top? I sed he wint up ter de Pine Tree Holl'r.
De Majer ain' gwine bus' in nobody's room les'n he sen' his cyard up
fus',--an' how you know dey ain' got one dem ellumvat'rs like de new hotel
got?"
"Oh!" apologetically, she exclaimed.
Phyllis continued, "Whin de Majer ax him 'bout las' night's biznes', Big
Eye look him straight in de eye an' bus' out laffin', like hit wus de bes'
joke he ev'r heah. He say he wush ter de Lawd he had er know'd Johnny
Squinch wus dar, 'caze he nuv'r wud er bin helt up by dem night rob'rs. He
tell him, 'cose he wus countin' money, but hit wus de money de Jedge give
'im, an' he say he bleege ter count hit out fur de rob'rs, 'caze dey belt
er pist'l in his ribs.
"De Majer brung de news home ter Tishy, an' she say Johnny jes' tellin'
tales on Mount'in Fowel, but Johnny tell her Mount'in Fowel ain' nuthin'
but er big ole low down buzzard, an' he gwine proof hit ter her.
"De Majer say ef Mount'in Fowel dealin' in car'on, howcum hit dat de od'r
er his biznes' ain' stickin' ter him, dat he allus mighty sweet wid
colone whin he come ter der house.
"Johnny say he too smart ter tech hit hisse'f, dat he set way off fum hit
an' jes' tetches de money.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account