Alexander Foster, Maroon Town, Cock-pit country.
One time there is a bull range the common,—call the pen “Garshen pen.”
That bull wouldn’t ’low no bull-calf to born an’ to raise in that pen
barring out him one; but every heifer born, him nurse them, go about
lick them, nourish them, make them grow fine! Until one time cow was
heavy, climb up into a high mountain an’ have a calf, an’ when the calf
born he is a bull calf. Now that ol’ bull we call him “Ol’ Moody,” an’
the young bull name ‘Tep’y-tep’y to-day.’
The mother stay until the calf grow a tremendous bull, carry down that
bull come to de river to drink water. Every time the father come to
drink water, him go away, so then when the son come, the son try to put
foot in the father track, an’ the bull mamma say to him, “No, me son,
de track no fit fo’ you fader yet,” make her carry him back a couple of
days more. Now at twelve o’clock in the day, mother carry down the bull
again, try foot for him father again. Now he feel to himself that he
come a man, an’ he stan’ up same place an’ say to him mother, “Mus’ see
me father to-day.”—“Massy, me son, yo’ pa so cruel, have a dread to
carry son go!” He stan’ up holla, “Ma, I gwine go! I gwine try to see
me father!” an’ he raise a sing now,—
“Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep’y deh!
Santy Moody o, Tep’y-tep-y deh!”