73. THE SINGING BIRD.

a. Fine Waiting Boy.

Alfred Williams, Maroon Town.

A gentleman have him servant, and one day he said to de servant,

“Collin, go an’ look about de horse harness my buggy.” An’ Collin go

an’ harness him master horse an’ put in de buggy. Well, him master

drive on an’ him drive on till him get to a well; an’ de master said,

“I want some water.” An’ Collin said, “Massa, der’s a well is down

before.” An’ he an’ Collin come out de buggy against de well-side, an’

meanwhile de massa sit against de well-side, Collin pitch him master in

de well. An’ Collin tu’n back an’ go on half way wid de buggy, an’ when

he get home de missus ask him, “Where is de master?” an’ Collin said,

“He goin’ pay a visit an’ comin’ to-morrow; de buggy goin’ meet him.”

Collin go de day wid de buggy. When he went back, de missus said,

“Where is de master?” He said, “Go to pay a visit, won’t be back till

to-morrow.” When Collin gone, de nex’ servant in de yard say, “Missus,

hear what little bird singing?” Missus come to de doorway an’ listen,

an’ hear de little bird whistling, [50]

Fine wait-in’ boy, fine wait-in’ boy, Throw his mas-ter in-to a well,

Col-lin, Col-lin, no ben see da lit-tle bird up-on tree so long?

When de missus hear de little bird singing so, couldn’t understand,

called a sensible person understand de bird. An’ go search de well,

fin’ de master body, an’ go tak Collin hang him.

b. The Golden Cage.

William Harris, Maggotty.

A king had a daughter. He had two servants who did not like the

daughter. One day the two servants were going to the well for water and

the daughter said she wanted to go with them. And they catch the little

girl and cast her in the well. Three days after, the little girl went

home to her father an’ the father catch the two servants and throw them

in the well. And he get his child and thus end the story.

Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep. I brought a news to tell you. Cheep, cheep,

cheep, cheep. I brought a news to tell you. Miss Chee Chee take you,

one dear love an’ cast her in-to a well. Be qui-et, be qui-et, I will

make a gold-en cage an’ put you in-to it. No, no, no, no.

Same me will do it to dear love too, you will do with me the same.

Jamaica Anansi stories · 第 93 / 554 题