d. Carencro’s[2] House with a Key.
Richard Morgan, Santa Cruz Mountains.
Kyan-crow got a house. De libber de key to de house. When him gwine out den ca’ out, “Libber me yum yum!” Ev’ry door shut up. Hanansi stan’ aside saw; when him gone, him go up said, “Libber me yum yum!” de door open. An’ get inside. As him go in he say, “Libber me yum yum!” de door shet. De fust t’ing him do, him eat de libber so den when Brar Kyan-crow come an’ ca’ out, “Libber me yum yum!” do’ kyan’t open. An’ say, “Somet’ing de matter a me house t’-day!” When den get little crebbice a de windah gwine in at de house, den didn’t see de key at all. Well, Hanansi run out, an’ him ketch Hanansi.
Hanansi say, “Brar Kyan-crow, you know you do? You no lob dance? I wi’ play fe you!” Kyan-crow say all right. Hanansi say, “But me banjo kyan’ play widout hot water.” When dey goin’ along hall, when de banjo playin’ “Ba cimba cimba,” Hanansi say, [[22]]“All right, Brar Kyan-crow, turn back-way come.” He tak de packey, he dippy up full of de hot water an’ say, “All right, Brar Kyan-crow, dance come now!” As Kyan-crow come, he meet him wid de packey hot water. Kyan-crow tumble down. So from dat day every Kyan-crow got peel-head.
[1] A duppy is a ghost, spirit, or any supernatural apparition, but here probably refers to the Devil. [↑]
[2] Crow’s name in French stories. [↑]
18. Goat on the Hill-side. [[Note]]
Julia Gentle, Santa Cruz Mountains.