Jamaican Song and Story Part 44

Tiger hear the speed Fire was coming, call to him:--"Turn back, you red-face fellah, me no want you company."

Fire was coming down more and more.

Tiger bawl fe Fire a stop, but Fire coming for the better.

So Fire get in the yard an' burn all Tiger clothes an' house, an' turn right home back.

Annancy laugh, an' sing:--

[Music:

Me wife say me no fe invite Fire, Brether Fire bring Breeze oh!

Fire de 'pon lan' Fire, Fire de 'pon lan' Fire.

He burn up all Tiger yard, ha ha!

Brether Fire an' Breeze oh!

Fire de 'pon lan' Fire, Fire de 'pon lan' Fire.]

_Jack Mantora me no choose any._

NOTE.

The sh.e.l.l looks like a very small cowhorn and gives a similar sound when blown. It is used as a signal for a variety of purposes. It summons to work and marks the hour of release. When a train of mules is nearing a sharp turn in the road, the head muleman blows a fanfare to give warning of his approach. The sh.e.l.l is in fact to the mule-track what the whistle is to the railroad. Imitation sh.e.l.ls are sometimes made of bamboo. It was perhaps one of these that Annancy made.

XLIII. JOHN CROW.

One day there was a lady who have but only one daughter, an' Mr.

Tacoma hear about the gal an' he went to court the gal.

An' when Tacoma go the gal wouldn' receive Tacoma.

An' the mother was really vex.

As the mother being a old lady, when Tacoma going Tacoma carry a bra.s.s mortar to made it a present to the old lady to beat her fee-fee. An'

when the old lady see the bra.s.s mortar he really want the mortar.

But Tacoma said to her if him don't get the gal he not going to leave the mortar.

An' the gal 'treat away himself inside the room an' hide.

An' Tacoma feel very sorry an' he return home back.

When he goes home he tell Annancy about the gal, an' Annancy get a concentina he going to carry down make a present to the gal.

An' Annancy say if the gal can only take the concentina from him the gal must be his wife.

An' when Annancy go down Annancy was playing.

The gal wouldn' receive Annancy in.

An' when the mumma hear, the music was so sweet she commence to dance; an' said to the daughter, this is the son-in-law him want, for he can get him own dance any time him ready.

Not for all Mr. Annancy playing the gal wouldn' receive Annancy, until Annancy has to go home back.

When that ugly fellah Mr. John Crow hear it he study between himself an' get a carriage with his pair of horses an' his coachman, an' the carpet in the carriage was a gold carpet.

An' John Crow said between himself when him put on him watch an' chain an' his coat an' shoes, if him don't bring that gal home believe him no Mr. Goldman.

An' John Crow drive away.

An' when him get to a distant to a look-out, the gal was at his window sitting down, an' as him look, him see Mr. Goldman was driving coming.

An' him holloa to him mumma:--"Mumma, mumma, my dear love is coming."

An' as John Crow reach the yard the gal was out an' sling Mr. Goldman out the carriage an' escort him right into the house.

An' after John Crow introduce himself to the gal that his name is Mr.

Goldman.

An' when John Crow tell the gal so, the gal have a old-witch brother an' says to his sister that that man is John Crow.

An' the gal get vex an' say:--"Oh no, don't use a word like that; it is my dear Mr. Goldman."

An' when the mumma come the gal introduce him to Mr. Goldman, an' tell him that his dear love just come now.

An' Mr. Goldman fix a time when to come back an' get married, and the mother was agree, an' the gal was very glad too.

An', when they settle that, John Crow drive back to his yard.

An' when he is coming back the next night he brought a old-witch boy with him an' hide him half part of the road near the yard, an' tell him that as he see day clearing, he must call him that he may got home before day clear.

An' he reach the yard an' spend the night in a very joyful dance.

So it getting near day an' the boy sing:--

[Music:

Mister Goldman oh!

Goldman oh!

Day da clean oh!]

An' when the boy sing out the people them inside the house hear.

An' when they hear they say:--"Stop! Stop! Stop! some one is calling Mr. Goldman."