Anansi took the job to sweep the market. After he swept the market and got the pay, he bought a pig called ‘wee pig’. On his way home he had to cross a stream. He couldn’t get the pig across. He wouldn’t carry it himself and he wouldn’t pay anyone to assist him,—wanted free help. So he saw a dog coming along. He said, “Br’er Dog, I beg you bite this pig, make this pig jump over the river, make Anansi get home.”
Dog said no, couldn’t do it.
He saw a stick coming along, said, “Do, Br’er Stick, I beg you lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get home.”
Stick said no, couldn’t do it.
He see Fire, say, “Do, me good Fire, burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get home.”
Fire says no.
He sees Water. “Do, me good Water, I beg you out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over the river, make Anansi get home.”
Water said no.
He saw a cow coming. “Do, Br’er Cow, drink this Water, make this water out this fire, make this fire burn this stick, make this stick lick this dog, make this dog bite this pig, make this pig jump over this river, make Anansi get to go home.”
Cow said no.