B 1,027,492 ATYl' I I MEMOIRS OF T, %ertra fothkoLore ~Octte VOL. II I895 LOUISIANA FOLK-TALES IN FRENCH DIALECT AND ENGLISH TRANSLA TION COLLECTED AND EDITED BY ALCPE FORTIER, D. LT. Professor of Romance Languages in Tulane University of Louiiana BOSTON AND NEW YORK for t[le Imeritan jpollEore ociettp bp G. E. STECHERT& C2. 1895 GP~, 7-1 CoDpyrigbt, z~qS, By TUB Aaamucn Foxzc-Loni Soczzr. AU1 r4ghts reserved. PREFACE. IT is with pleasure that the writer presents to folk-lorists his ' Louisiana Folk-Tales." He has devoted several years to collecting his material and preparing it for publication, and he hopes that his book will be considered a useful contribution to the science of FolkLore. No attempt was'made to make a comparative study of the tales, and they are presented to folk-lorists as material for comparison. Andrew Lang said that the collector should himself eliminate the personal equation while writing his tales and not leave this task to his reader. Such has been the constant aim of the writer and of the persons who kindly assisted him in his work, and this collection is the result of honest and conscientious efforts to give to the public genuine folk-tales. The tales are given first in the Creole dialect, then in a faithful but not literal translation, as it is desirable to preserve the interest of the story. The study of the Creole dialect is of importance and interest, and the tales have been carefully written in Louisiana dialect, in order that the material may be of use to the philologist. In the Appendix are reproduced fourteenstories already published in i888 in the "Transactions of the Modern Language Association of America," and in the "Journal of American Folk-Lore," to the end that the reader may have in one volume a complete collection of Louisiana Folk-Tales. The writer wishes to acknowledge his obligations and present his thanks to his nieces, Misses Ddsiree and Marguerite Roman, and to Mr. Z6non De Moruelle, who have assisted him in his collection. One of his most valued assistants has been Mrs. Widow V. Choppin, of St. James Parish, recently deceased. Thanks are also due to the Secretary of The American Folk-Lore Society, for suggestions in the preparation of this work. ALCEE FORTIER NEW ORLEANS, August II, 1894. I I CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION I. The Tales II. The Creole Dialect. PART FIRST. ANIMAL TALES. 1. THE ELEPHANT AND THE WHALE. a II. COMPAIR TAIJREAU AND JEAN MALIN. III. COMPAIR LAPIN AND THE EARTHWORM IV. COMPAIR, LAPIN AND COMPAIR L'OURS. V. THE IRISHMAN AND THE FROGS VI. COMPAIR LAPIN AND MADAME CARENCRO VII. COMPAIR LAPIN AND MR. TURKEY. VIII. CompAiR BOUKI AND THE MONKEYS,. IX. MR. MONKEY, THE BRIDEGROOM. X. THE TORTOISE. XI. COMPAIR BouKI, COMPAIR, LAPIN, AND THE BIRDS' EGGS. XII. THE DOG AND THE: TIGER. XIII. CompAiR, LAPIN's GODCHILD. XIV. MISS MOCKINGBIRD, MR. MOCKINGBIRD, AND MR. OWL. XV. MARRIAGE OF COMPAIR LAPIN4 PART SECOND. MARCHEN. PAGEZ ix X.3 * 7 013 * '9 * 21 23 * 25 25 *27 29 * 31 33 V 33 *O 35 * 39 XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXIi. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. KING PEACOCK.. a THE SINGING BONESa JEAN SOTTE.. THE DEVIL'S MARRIAGE. It THE LITTLE, FINGER * THE STATUE OF ST. ANTHONY. THE LITTLE BOYS AND THE GIANTS. THE MEN WHO BECAME BIRDS. THE GOOD LITTLE SERVANT. THE BASKET OF FLOWERS JOHN GREEN PEAS A PooR, LITTLE Boy. NOTEs. 0 0 a 0 6 0 It 0 a 4. 0 4 0 9 0 a 0 0 0 57 61 63 69 75 83 87 87 89 9' 94 'm -0 0 APPENDIX. I. THE TAR BABY. 0& II. COMPAIR BOUKI AND CompAiR LAPIN No. III. THE HORSE or GOD.. I...098 l09.110 2t79681 VIi Coxtents. IV. COMPAIR BOUKI AND COMPAIR LAPIN NO. 2.II V. COMPAIR BOUKI AND COMPAIR LAPIN NO. 3...112 VI. COMPAIR BoUKI AND COMPAIR LAPIN NO. 4. U 112 VII. COMPAIR BouKI AND CompAiR. LAPINw No. ~ V. 113 VIII. COMPAIR BOUKI AND COMPAIR LAPIN No. 6..15 IX. THE CUNNING OLD WIZARD. a..u X. A WOMAN CHANGED INTO A MONKEY..117 XI. THE TALKING EGGS, 117 XIL.GREASE: I... 19 XIII. THE GoLDEnxFISH. 120 XIV. GivE Mi.. 121 INTRODUCTION. I. THE TALES. IT is very difficult to make a complete collection of the negro talesf as the young generation knows nothing about them, and most of the old people pretend to have forgotten them. It is a strange fact that the old negroes do not like to relate those tales with which they enchanted their little masters before the war.. It was with great trouble that I succeeded in getting the following stories. While reading these talesone must bear in mind that most of them were related to children by childlike people; this accounts for their naivet. The Louisiana folk-tales were brought over to this country by Europeans and Africans, and it is interesting to note what changes have been made in some well-known tales by a race;3 rIde-and-4gnorant, but not devoid of imagination and poetical feeling. It is important to give the variants of popular tales principally to indicate the different characteristics of the human race. The study of folk-lore is interesting to the anthropologist and psychologist. Both may follow the workings of man's mind, of man's feeling, through a number of countries and in primitive people. If we take any popular tale, we shall always find some difference in the impression created on the audience. That impression reacts on the story itself and modifies it to a great extent. The plot of a popular tale seems to be the common heritage of a number of countries which may have derived it from the same source, but the motives are often inspired by local customs. In Louisiana we have three kinds of tales: the animal tales, of | which some are, without doubt, of African origin; fairy tales or marchen, probably from India; and tales and songs, real vaudevilles, where the song is more important than the plot. In this connection a negro dancing song or ronde may be mentioned as illustrating the way in which the tale with a song is related. In the ronde accompanying the tale one man sings these almost meaningless words: "Crapaud entr6 on nid bourdon, et lapd chanter: 'Yap6 piqu6 moin, yap6 mord6 moin; Doune, ah I doune goule! Doune, ah I doune X x hdtroduc/ion. gauenie"' "A frog enters into a hornets' nest and he is singing: ' They are stinging me, they are biting me: Doune, ah! doune goule!1 Doune ah! dou'ne goule! "'While singing he writhes in a horrible manner and gesticulates wildly, rubbing his shoulders against all the persons present, who sing with himn the refrain and dance to the tune of a most primitive music. II. THE CREOLE DIALECT. The dialect spoken by the negroes in Lower 'Louisiana and known by philologists as the Creole dialect is an interesting subject for study. It is not merel) a corruption of French, that is to say, French badly spoken, 'it is a real idiom with a morphology and grammar of its own. -Jt is curious to see how the ignorant African slave transformed his, master's language into a speech concise and simple, and at the. same time soft and musical. The tendency was, of course,, to abbreviate as much as possible, both in the form of the woprds and in the construction of the sentence. The word. arrRili becomes MM/; a~ppeid plM; -all parts of speech, not absolutely necessary to the meaning,. are thrown out of the sentence. There is hardly any distinction of gender, and the verb is simplified, to a wonderful degree. The sounds of the French words vary considerably in the dialect; the principal changes being the frequency in the dialect of the nasal sound in and of i. The process of agglutination is very CQgmnon, as in larie, in dizo, a street, a bone. The first story of the collection will be used as a basis for the explanation 'of a few peculiarities of the Creole dialect. For a more coznplete treatment of the subject, see my "1Louisiana Studies," 1Jnsel New Orleans, i894. NOTES..Nilfiphaxt, example of agglutination, from ux difiihant.; plural des ni/i. fikaxt. 2. joU for Jour, last consonant generally omitted in the dialect. 3. comfiair, the spelling generally adopted for comfilre in writing the dialect. 4. ti afil voyagi, the imperfect, i/ait afirls voyager. The tenses of the verb are formed from that construction, afirls contracted into afi. with /1 (1it) or gain. gxim (gagner for avoir). 5. ensembe, f5ou, /oujou, for ensemble#pfour, toujours. 6. yi rwi, the perfect for ii' nivi (6taient;arrives). Yi is personal pronoun plural. The other forms are mo, to, 14 nous, vous. 7i. bord lamer; -the d& for the genitive does not exist; as in Old French, the Creole patois says::ftie (le) roi. 8. quichoge, a curious transformation of quelque chose. 9. ben dirok, ben for bien; drole, o pronounced like o in robe,; the,6 does not exist. io. Itonulyd, personal pronouns, objects, are mein, /oi, 14 nou, vowsyyI. is.1 yi ri/i, present indicative, contriacted from yi aid ri/i, yafil riti Introduction. xi 12. ye na, for ily a, impersonal. 13. ladjeule, one word, from lagueule. 14. anon, for allons, I changed into n. I5. vanck, coutl, abbreviations of avanck, Icoute. 16. mo commure, possessive adjectives are mo, to, so, nous, vous, y, for both genders and numbers. 17. na tchuye', future for nous va tchu ye. IS. anon couri, for allons court, strengthens the expression. 19. ta oua, future for to va ona. 20. ma range, future for mo va rangl. 21. mapi couri, present indicative for mo afp (apres) court. 22. to si capon, to bete; notice conciseness through omission of verb. 23. liporte, li cache, preterit, luiforta, lui cacha. 24. ti service, t for petit. 25. va sorti, future for vous va sorti. 26. pard for prt. 27. zami, agglutination of s of mes amis. 28. haler for tirer, found often in Acadian dialect 29. mo vini, past tense forje suis venu. 30. pasqu, softening and abbreviation of fiarce aue. 31. tchombo, from tiens bon, hold fast. 32. en haut so cdti, on his side; en haut contracted into on and used for sur and de. 33. plis mid; note double superlative, common in the patois. 34. escousse, metathesis for secousse. 35. dolo, one word, from de 'eau. 36. Qui fa faye. What is the matter? French, fu'est-ce? A curious expres. sion. 37. au lieur, for au lieu. 38. comme fa, meaningless expression used continually by the negro narrator. 39. qua oua li, future for qui va Ie voir. 40. chivreil or chevreil; i or I often used indifferently; u and e are very rare. 41. ga, for garde, a good example of the abbreviation so common in the Creole dialect. LOUISIANA FOLK-TALES. PART FIRST. ANIMAL TALES. a LOUis*ana Fozlk a ks. L. N1gL1PHANT I AVEC BALEINE. Ein jou 2 Compair Lapin et Compair 3 Bouki t6 ap6 voyag6 4 ensembe.5 Compair Lapin souvent t6 m6nin Ii pou 5 fait paillasse avec Ii et pi en me'mc temps Compair Lapin t6 tojur au courant toute sorte nouvelle qu6 Compair Bouki t6 raconte' Ii. Quand y6 riv468 au bard 7 la mer y6 oua emn quichoge 8 qui t6 ben drole.9 ~a t6 si tellement 6tonn~'0 y6 qu6 ye' r~te'll pou tendA,6 et guett6. C'~tait ein n6l~phant avec baleine qui t6 ap6 cause ensembe. -To oua, dit Bouki, c'est d6 plis gros b6tes qut6 y6'2 na dans moune et c'est ye' qui plis fort que les otes zanjimaux. - Paix to ladjeule,'3' dit Compair Lapin, anon14 vanc6 11 et pi cout6,15 mo oul6 connin ~a y6 ap,6 dit. Y6 vanc6 proche. N6l6phant dit baleine conime ~a: -Mo cornm~re,'6 comme c'est vous qui plus gros et plis fort dans la mer et momn qui plis gros et plis fort en haut la terre, faut nous fait la loi, et tout Sa y6 qui r~volte" na tchu6 y6. -Oui, oui, Compair Nl616phant, gard6 la terre et momn mo va. gard6 la iner. -T6 tend6, dit Bouki, anon couri,18, pasqu6 na sorti sale si yd oua nous zotes ap6 cout6 y6 conversation. -Ah ouache, dit Compair Lapin, mo fout pas mal y6, mo plis maim qu6,y6. Ta ouaI9 cornme ma rang'2 6 6tutlsd tout a 1'aire. - Non., dit Compair Bouki, mo pair, maps couri32 -Eh ben, couri, d'abord to si capon,22 bon a rien. Parti vite mo lasse tends toi a force to b~te.22 qa fait Compair Lapin couri cherch6 ein la corde qui t6 longue et ben fort et pi li porte 23 so tambour et li cach62 l i dans grand z~be. Li prend la corde dans eine boute et pi li prochd cot6 N6l6phant et li dit: -Michi6, vous qui si bon et si fort, vous doite ben rende momn ei ti service,~?va sorti26 momn dans grand tracas et pc~chd inom perde l'argent. N6l6phant t6 content tend6 emn si joli compliment et Ii dit Compair Lapin: -!Tout 5a to ouIL- ma fait li pou toi, mo toujours Pare l pou obfig6 tout mo zami. '2 -Oui, dit Compair Lapin, mo gagnin ein lavache qui bourbM au ras la mer, vous connin mo pas assez fort pou hale2 Ii. Mo vini w cots vous pou vous id6 moin; prend la corde darns vous latrompe, ma couri marr6 lavache et quand va tends nmoin batte tambour va haler NVeephant avec Baleine. 3 I. THE ELEPHANT AND THE WHALE. One day Compair Lapin and Compair Bouki were going on a journey together. Compair Lapin often took Bouki with him to make fun of him, and to hear all the news which Bouki knew. When they reached the seashore, they saw something which was very strange, and which astonished them so much that they stopped to watch and listen. It was an elephant and a whale which were conversing together. "You see," said Bouki, " they are the two largest beasts in the world, and the strongest of all animals." "Hush up," said Lapin, " let us go nearer and listen. I want to hear what they are saying." The elephant said to the whale: "Commkre Baleine, as you are the largest and strongest in the sea, and I am the largest and strongest on land, we must rule over all beasts; and all those who will revolt against us we shall kill them, you hear, commure." "Yes, compair; keep the land and I shall keep the sea." "You hear," said Bouki, "let us go, because it will be bad for us if they hear that we are listening to their conversation." "Oh! I don't care," said Lapin; " I am more cunning than they; you will see how I am going to fix them." "No," said Bouki, " I am afraid, I must go." "Well, go, if you are so good for nothing and cowardly; go quickly, I am tired of you; you are too foolish." Compair Lapin went to get a very long and strong rope, then he got his drum and hid it in the grass. He took one end of the rope, and went to the elephant: "Mister, you who are so good and s$ strong. I wish you would render me a service; you would relieve me of a great trouble and prevent me from losing my money." The elephant was glad to hear such a fine compliment, and he said: "Compair, I shall do for you everything you want. I atn always ready to help my friends." " Well," said Lapin, "I have a cow which is stuck in the mud oh the coast; you know that I am not strong enough to pull her out; I come for you to help me. Take this rope in your trunk. I shall tie it to the cow, and when you hear me beat the drum, pull hard 'on 4 4 Louisia na Folk-Tales. fort en haut la corde. Mo dit votas ~a pasqu6 80 la vache bourb6 fond dans la boue. - C'est bon, dit N616phant, mo garanti toi ma sorti lavach e la ou ben la corde a cass6. Alors Compair Lapin prend I'ote boute la corde la, li 4couri au bord la mer, li fait Baleine ein joli compliment, 1ii mand6 li m6me service la pou d~bourb6 so lav'ache qui t6 pris an ras emn bayou dans bois. Compair Lapin gagn'in la bouche si tellement doux que personne pas capab r~fis6 Ii arien. Baleine fait ni eine ni d6, Ii prend la corde la dans so ladjeule et li dit Compair Lapin: - Quand mo va tends tambour ma halts. - Oui, dit Compair Lapin, commence hale doucement et pi plis fort en plus fort. -To pas besoin pair, dit Baleine, ma sorti to lavache quand mime Djabe ap6 tchombo3 i1 i. - Tant mis, dit Compair Lapin, tout a l'haire na ri, et pi Ii batte so tambour. N616pbant prend hal4 hahk, la cordc la t6 raide comme ein barre fer, li t6 ap6 craqu6. Baleine la en haut so cot63 li aussi t6 ap6 haI4. habo. A la fin li t6 ap6 couri au ras la terre pasqu.6 N616phant t6 boucou puis mi6 88 place pou halo. Quand Baleine oua li t6 ape' monte' en haut la terre, cr6 mille tonnerre Ii batte so la tcheu raide et pi li pique au large. Li fait ein escousse3 Asi tellement i-aide que li t6 trainin N616phant au ras doloYm N6l6phant dit comme ~a: -Aie, mais qui 9a 9a y0 tout 9a, c'est ein lavache qui, joliment fort pon trainin momn comme 9a. R&t6 emn p4 laiss6 moi accroupi momn et mette mo d6 pi6 d~vant dans la bone. La, mo a genoux asteur." Et Ii commenc'6 tortilII la corde la avec so la trompe. Li torch6 la corde la et a la fin Ii r6issi hale Baleine an ras la terre. ~a t6 ktonn ii, au lieurein 87 lavache c'6tait so comm~re Baleine. Alors Ii dit comme ja:8 - Mais, mais, qni 9a y6, mo comm~re? Mo t6 crai c'6tait lavache Compair Lapin mo t6 ap6 d~bourb&~ -Are!I dit Baleine, Lapin dit momn mn~me quichogela, mo croi ben li t6 onb6 fout nous zotes. -Alors li gagnin pou. pays 9a, dit N61phant, mo dMende li mangt6 cmn brin- z~be en haut la terre pasqu.6 li moqu6 nous zotes. -Momn aussite, dit Baleine, mo d~fende li boi ein goutte dolo dans la mer, fanit nous surveiIIl 1ii et premier qua oua li,89 faut pas nous rate lii Conmpai~r Lapin, qni t6 ap6 cout4 dit Conipair Bonki: -~ Li temnps nous parti, fait chatid pon nous zotes. - To oua, dit Bouki, to mette nons zotes dans grand tracas. Jainais ma couri avec toi nille part. - Oh! paix to ladj eule,, dit Lapin,, mo, pas fige avec y4, r~t6 eiii p64 ta oua -comment mo va range y6. Ne~lphant avec Baleine. 5 the rope. I tell you that because the cow is stuck deep in the mud." " That is all right," said the elephant. "I guarantee you I shall pull the cow out, or the rope will break." Compair Lapin took the other end of the rope and ran towards the sea. He paid a pretty compliment to the whale, and asked her to render him the same service about the cow, which was stuck in a bayou in the woods. Compair Lapin's mouth was so honeyed that no one could refuse him anything. The whale took hold of the rope and said: "When I shall hear the drum beat I shall pulL" "Yes," said Lapin, "begin pulling gently, and then more and more." "You need not be afraid," said the whale; "I shall pull out the cow, even if the Devil were holding her." " That is good," said Lapin; "we are going to laugh." And he beat his drum. The elephant began to pull so hard that the rope was, like a bar of iron. The whale, on her side, was pulling and pulling, and yet she was coming nearer to the land, as she was not so well situated to pull as the elephant. When she saw that she was mounting on land, she beat her tail furiously and plunged headlong into the sea. The shock was so great that the elephant was dragged to the sea. " What, said he, what is the matter? that cow must be wonderfully strong to-drag me so. Let me kneel with my front feet in the mud." Then he twisted the rope round his trunk in such a manner that he pulled the whale again to the shore. He was very much astonished to see his friend the whale. "What is the matter," said he. "I thought it was Compair Lapin's cow I was pulling." "Lapin told me the same thing. I believe he is making fun of us." " He must pay for that," said the elephant. "I forbid him to eat a blade of grass on land because he laughed at us." "' And I will not allow him to drink a drop of water in the sea. We must watch for him, and the first one that sees him must not miss him." Compair Lapin said to Bouki: "It is growing hot for us; it is time to leave." " You see," said Bouki, "you are always bringing us into trouble." "Oh! hush up, I am not through with them yet; you will see how I shall fix' them." 6 6 Louisiana Folk- Tales. - ~a fait y6 couri y.6 chimin, chaque~ne gagnin so cots. Quand Compair Lapin riv6 dans emn bois li trouve' emn ti chivreil 40 qui t6 mouri, a force chien t6 massacr6 lii1i te' plein bobo et dans plein place so poil t6 tomb6'. Compair Lapin corche' li et 1i mett6 so la peau en haut so dos; li vlop6 li ben la dans, ~a fait li t6 sembe ein ti chivreil. Alors, ii prend boit6 en haut trois, pattes, et pi li passe' proche cot'e. Ne'lephant qui dit Ii: Mais pove piti chivreil, qui qa to gagnin? Oh!1 oui, mapd souffri boucou, vous oua c'est CompairLapin qui poisonlin momn et pi 1i voy6 so maiddiction en haut momn, jiste pasque' mo, t6 ould comnie vous t6 dit p'ch6 1i mange z~be. Prend ga41 pou vous, Michi6 N616phant, Compair Lapin engage avec Djabe, la servi vous mal Si vous pas fait tention. Alors N616phant t6 pair, li dit: Ti chivreil, ta. dit Compair Lapin moin c'est so meilleir zami, dit Ii miang6 z&be tant 1i oulk. Pas bU6, non, et fais Ii compli ment pou moin. Ti chivreil la passe so chimin et quand Ii rive' au bord la mrer lBaleine dit Ii:-Mais pove ti chivrelil, tape' boit6', qui qa qa ye-? nMO croi to boucou rnalade. -Oh oui, mapd souffri boucou, c'est Compair Lapin qui mett main dans, n~tat la, prend ga pou vous, commlre Baleine. Li aussite Ii t6 pair, ~a fait 1i dit -Ti chlivreil, mo pas oule' gagn6 zaffaire avec Djabe, ten prie, dis Compair Lapin boi tout dolo 1i oul6, mo va laiss6 li tranquille. ~a fait Compair Lapin contini6 so chimin, et quand 1i riv6 au ras Compair Bouki li ot6 la peau la et li dit comme ~a: - To oua ben que mo plis maim qu6 y6 et mo capab fout y6 tout temps et y6 d& ensembe. La ou mon trio va passe emn lote va trouv6 1i pris. Vous ben raison, dit Compair Bouki. II. COMPAIR. TAUREAU ET JEAN MALIN. Quand jean Main t6 piti 1i t6 norphelin et li t6 pas conni ou couri ou qa pou fait. Bin jou 1i oua emn riche madame qui te' ap6 pass6' dans, so bel carrosse. Li mand6 madame la pou prend iH. Comme madame la oua qu6 1i t6 ein joli ti gar~on et Ii t6' gagnin boucou l'esprit li mande' jean Main qui i'age Ii tt4 gagnin. Jean Maim t6 pas capab dit li jiste, mais Ii r6ponde madame la qu6 1i te" tende6 so moman dit comnme qa li t6 n6 quand pdchers t6 en flairs m6me l'ann~e qu6 la neige t6 tomb6. ~a fait mnacfme la prend 1i dans so bel carrosse et m~nin ii dams so la maison pou fait so commission et servi a tabe. Compair Taureau et 7ean Malin. 7 They went on their way and after a while they separated. When Compair Lapin arrived in the wood, he found a little dead deer. The dogs had bitten him so that the hair had fallen off his skin in many places. Lapin took off the deer's skin and put it on his back. He looked exactly like a wounded deer. He passed limping by the elephant, who said to him: " Poor little deer, how sick you look." "Oh! yes, I am suffering very much; you see it is Compair Lapin who poisoned me and put his curse on me, because I wanted to prevent him from eating grass, as you had ordered me. Take care, Mr. Elephant, Compair Lapin has made a bargain with the Devil; he will be hard on you, if you don't take care." The elephant was very much frightened. He said, "Little deer, you will tell Compair Lapin that I am his best friend; let him eat as much grass as he wants and present my compliments to him." The deer met a little later the whale in the sea. " But poor little deer, why are you limping so; you seem to be very sick." "Oh! yes, it is Compair Lapin who did that. Take care, Comr mrre Baleine." The whale also was frightened, and said: " I want to have nothing to do with the Devil; please tell Compair Lapin to drink as much water as he wants." The deer went on his way, and when he met Compair Bouki he took off the deer's skin and said: " You see that I am more cunning than all of them, and that I can make fun of them all the time. Where I shall pass another will be caught." "You are right indeed " said Compair Bouki. II. COMPAIR TAUREAU AND JEAN MALIN. When Jean Malin was small he became an orphan, and he did not know where to go or what to do. One day he saw a rich lady who was passing in her beautiful carriage, and he asked her to take him with her. As the lady saw that he was a pretty little boy and that he appeared to be very smart, she asked him how old he was. Jean Malin could not say, but he answered the lady that he had heard his mother say that he was born when the peach-trees were in bloom the year the snow fell. The lady took him in her fine carriage to her house, to be her messenger boy and to wait at table. The little fellow soon 8 8 Louisiana Folk- Tates46 Ti bougue la prend l'alimin madame la autant qu6 so d~fint moman et m6me Ii t6 jaloux cmn michi6 riche qui t6 vini rende visite tous les, jous pou marier avec madame la. Mais i faut mo dit vauzotes qu6 michi6 la c'6tait ein taureau qui t6 connin tourn6 n'homme dans jou pou vini fait I'amaur madame la, et pi les, soirs Ii t6 tournin taureau encore pou couri manze' zherbe dans, parc. jean Maim t6 r~marqu6 qut6 quand michie' la tt6 au ras madame so l'amoureuse n'avait pas taureau dans la plaine, et quand taureau t6 dans, parc michi6 1amour6 t6 pas la. -I faut mo guetter, dit Jean Malin, y6 na quichoge qui ben drole, qu6 m'o pas comprende. Jean guett6, guett, mais li t6 gagnin ben soin pas laiss6 taureau la oua li. Emi jou, bo matin quand Jean Maim t6 couri cherch6 di bois pou limin di fM, li oua Compair Taureau dans parc qui t6 a genoux et pi Ii t6 ap6 dit:- Bouhour, madjam, fat madja~m, djam, djam, djara, djara, et pi tout d'ein coup taureau tourn6 n'homme et li prend march6 vini cot6 so madame. Ah!.mo dit vauzotes jean Maim t6 pair, Ii t6 trembl6 comme quand moune fraite. ~a fait m~me jou la n'amoure' la t6 d~j6nin avec madame la et ti Jean Maim qui t6 ap6 servi a tabe t6 couri tantot emn cots tantot emn lote. Li t6 comme emn papillone a force li t6 pair. Quand ye' mand6 liein Im'assiette Ii donnin di pain ou ben ein fourcette. Madame la babill6 li et pi quand so I'amour6 t6 parti Ii dit jean Main li sr6 renvoy6 Ii si li t6 pas fait mi6 et pi madame la t6 ouh6 cannin qui ~a.Jean Main t6 gagnin. - Oui, mo connin. to pas l'aimin mo I'amour4, cofaire?.Qui qa ii fait toi? -Eh ben, mo va dit vaus, maitresse, pou vrai Ma pair et si vous t6 connin Sa main ma, connin, vaus t6 pair aussite et vaus tt6 pas quitt6 n'homme la vini dans vous la rnaisan. -Qui ~a ye', ma oul6 to dit main taut suite ou ben ma va Wa116 toi et mettd toi dihors pou la gniappe. Alors Jean Main prende cri'6 et pi ii dit madame la: -Vous va cannin qu6 vous i'amottr6 c'est gras taureau. la qui dans parc et qu6 Ii connin 6hang6 en n'hamme et tournin taureau encore pau couri manger zberbe. Ah laaI di fM td manqut6 prend a farce madame la tt6 colaire, li t6 oul.6 bimm6 jean Malin, mais pove ti garqon la dit:- Maitresse, coutA- main, quand vous I'amour6 a vini encore si ma pas prauv6 vaus, taut qa ma dit vaus c'est la v6rit6, alors va renvoy6 main et fait Sa vans ouI6 avec main. -C'est ban, dit madame Ia, na oua qa, mnais rappel6 toi' to va payer ben cher tons to menteries. Qn~que jours apr~s qa, michi'6 I'amour6 vini; Ii ti6 faraud. jean Main t6 pens6 en Ii m~me:..- Jordi na oua la. farce, pas' qu461i td Compair Taureau et yean Malin. 9 began to love the lady as if she were his mother, and he was jealous of a rich gentleman who came to court the lady every day and wished to marry her. But I must tell you that the gentleman was a bull who could change himself into a man in the daytime, to come and court the lady, and in the evening he became a bull again to go and eat grass in the park. Jean Malin had noticed that when the gentleman was near his lady love there was no bull in the prairie, and when the bull was in the prairie there was no lover in the parlor. '"I will have to watch," said Jean Malin, "there is something strange which I don't understand." He watched, watched, but he took good care not to let Compair Taureau see him. One day, early in the morning, when Jean Malin went to get some wood to light his fire, he saw Compair Taureau on his knees, and saying: "Bouhour, Madjam, fat Madjam, djam, djam, djara, djara," and then, all at once, the bull became a man, and went to see his lady. Ah! I tell you, Jean Malin was afraid, he shivered as if he was very cold. That very morning the lover took breakfast with the lady and Jean Malin waited on them. He ran sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other, as a butterfly, he was so frightened. When they asked him for a plate, he gave bread on a fork, and the lady scolded him. She told him, when the lover left, that she would send him away if he did not do better, and she wanted to know what was the matter with him. "I know you don't like my lover, but why? What did he do to you? He always treated you well." "Well, I will tell you, mistress. I am afraid; and if you knew what I know you would be afraid also, and you would not let that man enter your house." " What is the matter? Tell me immediately or I shall whip you, and put you out for la gniappe." Jean Malin began to cry, and he said to the lady: "Know then that your lover is the great bull which is in the park, and that he can change himself into a man and become a bull again to go and eat grass." The lady was very angry and wanted to beat Jean Malin; but he said: " Mistress, listen to me. When your lover will come again, if I don't prove to you that all I say is true, you can send me away and do what you please with me." All right," said the lady; " but remember that you will pay dear for all your lies." A few days after that the lover came. He was dressed in great style, and Jean Malin said to himself: "I will see the fun tobday," 10 Jo Louisiaita Folk- Tales. connin q~ui paroles Ii td doit dit pou fait michi' Yzmoior6 la vini taureau encore. Pendant ye' t6' ape' dinin madame la t6 ap)6 gard6 Jean Main pou oua ~a li sre6 fait. Dans merne momnent - que' I'amoure' la prend la main madame la pou bo so joli doigts jean Maim qui te' ape' vid6 divin dans so gobelet dit comme ~a me'me paroles, la y6 ii te' tendd' taureau la dit pou tournin n'homme. Li t6 pas fini dit so dernier mot, tr6 mille tonnerres!1 si jamais vous tende' vacarme, c'6tait jou la. Chapeau, quilottes, linettes, n'hablit mnichie' la, tout so butin tombe par terre, et i'amcure' la tournin taureau dans la salle a manger; Ii quilbit6 Ia table, casse' la vaisselle avec gobelets et bouteilles; Ii d~fonc6 la porte -vitre'e pou chapper et pi Ii prend galp6 dans, la plaine. - IEh ben, vous content asteur? dit jean Malin. Madame la dit:- Oui, jean Malin, to t6 raison, to sauv6 moin, mo va gard.6 toi toujou comme mo prope piti, pasqu6 to rende moin emn grand service. Vouzote croit c'est tout? Ah ben non, vouzote a~lI oua comment jecan Main sorti clair avec Compair Taureau qui te' fait serment li sre6 tripe' ti bougue Ia qui t6 trahi ii. Jean Main te' toujou pair, Ii' t6 garde' partout avant li t6 fait cmn pas, pou pas Compair Taureau t6 surprende I. ~a fait cmn jou jean Maim t6 couri cote' Compair Lapin pou mand6 Ii ein conseil, Ii conte' li comment li t6 dans cmn grand n'embarras. Alors Compair Lapin dit li comme qa: - Cout6 ben tout qa mo va dit toi: couri dans bois, to va chercher ciri niquc hibou qui gagnin dZ-zef; ta prend trois dans nique la cmn vendredi apr~s soicil couch6 et pi to va port6' y6 cote' momn pon mo, drogu6, ye'. Apre's qa ta fait qa to ouI6' avec Compair Taureau. Alors jean Main trouv6 trois d~zef hibou et. Ii porte' y6 cot6 Com. pair Lapin qui fait so grigris avec di lait ein femelle cabri noir et pi li donnin y6 Jean Main et li dit li ~a pou fait avec d~zef la y,6. -Va, asteur, mo garantis toi, Compair Taureau a chagrin quand la fini avec toi. Quand jean Main t6 ap6 tournin cot6 so maitresse li prend raccourci pon. pas contre' Taureau, pasqu& ii te' gagnin cmn t~i Tnflance malgrd' Compair Lapin te' assir6 li Ii te' pas besoin pair. Dans mime moment la Ii.tcnd6 Compair Taureau ap6 b~g16 et gratt6 la terre -et voye la poussi&re en haut so dos. - Mo font pas mal toi, dit Je-an Malim, "1viens, ta oua comme mo va rang6 toi. Aussitot Compair Taureau oua jean Maim ape' vini Ii foncd' diet en haut iH. Yav6 cmn nabe auras la et jean Main grimpe', li t6 pens6 c'6tait plis sire. Leste commeein curcuil dans ein ti moment Ii t6 dans, la t~te nabe la. Li t6 temps, Compair Taureau riv6 proche en m6rne temps. - Han, han, mo gagnin toi a la fin, to va blig6 descende ou ben crever en haut la, Compair Taureau et 7ean Malin. I because he knew what to say to make the lover become a bull again. While they were dining the lady kept looking at Jean Malin to see what he would do. When the gentleman took the pretty fingers of the lady to hiss them, Jean Malin, who was pouring wine into her glass, said the words he had heard the bull utter. Well, if ever you heard a big noise it was on that day: the hat, the trousers, the speccles, the coat, all the clothes of the gentleman fell on the floor, and he was changed into a bull in the dining-room. He upset the table, broke the plates, the dishes, the glasses, the bottles; he broke down the glass door to escape, and ran into the prairie. "Well, are you satisfied?" said Jean Malin. "Yes," said the lady; "you rendered me a great service, and I shall always treat you as my son." You believe that this is all? Oh no. You will see how Jean Malin got along with the bull which had sworn to kill the fellow that had betrayed him. The boy was always afraid, and whenever he went out he would look around to see if the bull was not there. One day he went to see Compair Lapin, to ask his advice, and told him in what a bad fix he was. Compair Lapin said: " Listen to what I am going to tell you. Go into the woods and look for an owl's nest. Take three eggs on a Friday at sunset and bring them to me for me to charm them. Then you will do all you want with Compair Taureau." Jean Malin found the three owl's eggs and carried them to Cornpair Lapin, who made his grizris on them with the milk of a black goat, and told Jean Malin what to do, When Jean Malin was going back to the house of his mistress, he looked around for the bull, for he felt a little anxious, in spite of what Cornpair Lapin had said. There was the bull, bellowing and looking furious. " Come," said Jean Malin, " you will see how I am going to fix you." Compair Taureau galloped straight at him, and Jean Malin climbed up a tree, for he thought it was more prudent. In one minute, like a squirrel, he was at the top of the tree and the bull stood underneath. " Now I have you at last: you will have to come down," and be began to strike at the tree with his horns. 12 12 Louisiana Folk- Tales. Li prend donnin coup corne apr~s nabe la et jean Main t6 pas rire tout temps la. Oui, taureau la t6 col~re quand li oua li t6 pas capabe fait Jean Main descende. Li mett Ii a genoux et pi li dit.oo paroles, y6 pou toumnin n'hornme. Li paraite alors comme ein n'homme avec ein la hache dans so la main. Descende, descende, pas quitt6 moin coupe nabk, la pasqu6 mo va fini toi, ti coquin. -~ Biche, bichU, Compair Taureau, mo ou16 oua ~a vous capabe fait. Alors taureau la bich6: gip, gop gip, gop. Vouzote t46 capabe tends la hache la re'sonn6 et nabe la te' trembl6. Alors Jean Main dit: -Li temps. Li voy6 emn d~zef hibou en haut n'6paule Compair Taureau, so bras avec la hache tombs par terre. N'homme -la rarnasse6 la hache la avec la main qui rests: gi~p, go; gi~p, gopI p ih toujou. -Anon oua, dit jean Malin. Li voy6 d6zi~me d6zef la en haut 1'ote bras, li aussi li tomb6 avec la hache comme premier la. N'homnme la baiss6, li prend la hache la avec so dents: gi, gop gijt5, gop, li ap6 bich6 toujou. - Han,- han, dit jean Malin, asteur to compte clair. Li voy6 troisi~me de'zef la en haut la t~te n'homme la -lIa t6te tomb6 par terre. Bras y6 avec jambes y6 et pi so corps prend tortiii6_ comme emn serpent dans di f6. Alors jean Main descende et pi 1i dit: -I faut to toumnin taureau encore pasqu6 nous b~soin toi. Alors li dit paroles y6, la t6te et pi bras saut6 apr~s corps la et n'homme la tournin taureau. encore. Li prend galp6 dans dans la plaine jisqua li t6 tomb6, a force ii te' lasse. Dipis jour la li jamais tracassd jean Maim qui t6 gagnin emn meillaire drogue qu6 li. I"l. COMPAIR LAPIN ET VER DE TERRE. Tout moune connin qu6 tous les ans au nmois de mai lapin gagnin ein maladie; c'est emn ver de terre qui morde6 Ii dans so cou -tn bas so machoire et sic6 so disang comme pou de bois. ~a rende Ii faible, faible, et pendant emn mois ver la tchombo li bien et rest6 croch& dans so cou anvant 1i tomber. Lapin y6 croi quand y6 couch6 dans grand z~be que de' ver sorti dans, la terre et grimp6 en haut y6. ~a fait y6 pair tout qualit6 d& veins, et si y6 oua emn c' est assez pou fait yd galp6 tout la journin comme sli yavait emn bande chiens darri~re y6. Si mo dit-vous totes tout ~a c'est pou raconter vous ein zaffaire qii6 Compair Lapin td gagnin avec ver de terre. Compair Latin et Ver de Terre. 13 Jean Malin laughed at him, and the bull was so angry that he knelt down and said the words to become a man. He immediately was changed into a man with an axe in his hand. "Come down! don't let me cut the tree; for I will kill you, little rogue." " Cut, Compair Taureau; I want to see what you can do." The bull struck with his axe: "gip, gop." You might have seen the tree tremble at every blow. Then Jean Malin threw one of the owl's eggs on Compair Taureau's shoulder, and his arm fell down on the ground with the axe. The man picked up the axe with his other hand, and " gip, gop," on the tree. Jean Malin threw the second egg on the remaining arm of the man, and the arm fell on the ground. He picked up the axe with his teeth, gip, gop," again. "Now," said Jean Malin, "I will finish you." He threw his third egg on the man's head, and the head fell on the ground. The arms, the legs, the head, the body of the man, began to wriggle like a snake in the fire. Then Jean Malin said: " I want you to become a bull-again." He said the magic words, and the head and the arms jumped to the body, and the man became a bull again and galloped away in great haste. From that time he never worried Jean Malin again, for his grigzrs had not been as strong as that of Compair Lapin. III. COMPAIR LAPIN AND THE EARTHWORM. Everybody knows that every year in the month of May Compair Lapin is sick; it is an earthworm which is in his neck, biting him and sucking his blood like a leech. That makes him weak, weak, and for a month the worm holds on to him, hooked in his neck, before it falls. Rabbits believe that when they lie down in the grass the worms come out of the grass and climb on them. They are, therefore, very much afraid of worms, and if they see one, they run as if they had a pack of hounds after them. If I tell you that it is because I want to relate to you a story about Compair Lapin and the worm. 14 '4 ~Louisiana Folk- Tales'. Ein jour, c'~tai't dans printemps,. tout ti zozos t6 ap6 chant6 papilIon te' ap6 voltiz6 et pi pose en haut flairs; te' semble' conrnme si tout zanimaux t6 ap6 mercie' Bon Dj6. jis ein piti ver de terre qui t6 ap6 cri6 et babill6, ii ap6 dit li te' si piti, pas gagnin pattes ni la main, ni zaile et Ii blig6 rests dans so trou; ti zozo, lkzard et me'me froumi t6 tracass6 li et manz6 so piti. Si s6lement Bon Dj 6 t6 fait Ii gros et fort commie lote zanimaux, li ser6 content, pasqu6 li ser6 capabe d~fendae li me'$me, mais li t6 sans defense et blig6 rest6 dans. so trou. LI cri6 boucou et pi li dit li ser6 content si Ii t6 pou Diabe. Li ti pas fini dit tout Sa quand 1ii oua Diabe au ras Hi. Eh bien, mro tends tout ~a to dit et no vini' mand6 toi qui ~a to ou1M, mo va accords toi Ii et to sera pou moin quand ta nouri. n- ~ o oul6, mais mo oul6 la force, no oul6 vini gros, gross, pou mo capab bumi nimporte qui qua viini b~t6 moin eu tracass6 moim. Cest tout, jis Sa, no va content. -C'est bon, dit Diabe, laiss6 moin couri, dans emn ti moment to va content. Aussitot Diabe. la parti ver de terre trouv6 Ii m6me gros et fort, ~a t6 vini tout d'ein coup, et so trou ou Ii t6 coutime reste vini grand et fond comme ein pi. Cr6 matin! a force ver de terret6 content ii ti apd ri et chant6. Dans mime moment la Compair Lapin trouv6 passe' tout proche. Yapa arien dans moune qui t6 fait Ii plis pair qu6 ~a. Li prend galp6 jisqua Ii t6 lasse. Quand Ii r6t6, Ii souffl6: - Fouiff! jamais no t6 pair conmme Sa; si no pas nouri, janais mo gagnin pou dormi encore tant gros ver de terre la a rest6 dans pays icite. Si mo, t6 pas si be'te couri vant6 momn no t6 capab bimi n~l& phant no ser6 couri oua ii. Mo connin Ii cokre apre's moin, c'est Bouki qui couri r~p~te' Ii ~a; mais p6t~te si mo parhM avec li bien, ma capab range tout ~a. Map6 couri oua Ii, pe't~te ma seye' fait y6 batte ou bien contr6 ensenbe, mo pense Sa va fait emn joli bataille et p6t~te no va d~ba'rrass6 tout 16 d6 a la fois. Encore ver de terre la dit moin quand no pass6 qu6 Ii t6 gagn6 pou r~gl6 mo compte. Oh! non, no pas capab vive comme a qui ca ma fait Bon Dj6, Seigneur. Faut mo couri oua n6le'phant, mo laimin mi6 risqu6 li, pasqu6 si no parM avec ii bien, p~t~te no gagnin la chance gagnin no proce's. Laissd znzin range dans ino la t~te ~a male' dit Ii pou fait Ii content. Alors Compair, Lapin prend march6 jisqua Ii contr6 ne'16phant; Ii salij6 Ii et fait li emn joli compliment. N616phant r~ponde li poliment,et mand6 Ii comment ~a va. Oh! no bien malade, dit Compair Lapin, ein lote fois ma vini pou say$ mo la force avec vous, pasqu6 mno croi no capab blimin vous. -To tein sotte, r~ponde ndk~phant, couri, no pas oul6 fait toi mal, mo gagnin piti6 on toi. Compair Lapin et Per de Terre. I5 It was a day in spring, the little birds were singing, the butterflies were flying about from one flower to another. It seemed as if all animals were rendering thanks to God for his kindness to them. A little earthworm was the only one which was crying and complaining. He said he was so small, he had neither feet, nor hands, nor wings, and was obliged to remain in his hole. The little birds, the lizards, and even the ants were troubling him and eating his little ones. If God would make him big and strong, like other animals, then he would be contented, because he would be able to defend himself, while now he was helpless in his hole. He cried and cried and said that he would be glad if he belonged to the Devil. Hardly had he spoken when he saw the Devil at his side. "Well, I heard all you said; tell me what you want; I shall grant it to you, and you will belong to me when you die." " What I want?- Yes. - I want strength, I want to become big, big, and beat everybody who will come to trouble and bother me. Give me only that and I shall be satisfied." "That is all right," said the Devil; "let me go, in a short while you will be contented." As soon as the Devil had gone, the worm found himself strong and big. The change had come suddenly, and his hole had become large and as deep as a well. The worm was so glad that he began to laugh and to sing. At that very moment Lapin passed, and he was terribly frightened. He ran until he was unable to go any farther, and, when he stopped, he whistled, fouif." "Never," said he, "was I more frightened. I shall never sleep again as long as that big earthworm will remain in this country. If! had not been so foolish as to boast that I could beat the elephant, I should go to him. It is Bouki who told on me; but perhaps if I speak to him I shall be able to fix up matters. I must try to make them meet and fight, and perhaps I shall get rid of both at the same time. It would be a pretty fight. Let me go and see the elephant, or I won't be able to sleep to-night. Besides, the earthworm psid that he would fix me. I can't live that way. Good gracious! what am I to do? Let me arrange in my head what I am going to tell the elephant in order to please him." He went on until he met the elephant. He bowed very politely, and the elephant did likewise, and asked him how he was. -' Oh! I am very sick," said Coripair Lapin; " another time I shall come to try my strength with you; I think I can beat you." "You are a fool," said the elephant. "Go away, I don't want to harm you; I take pity on you." i6 Louisiana Folk-Tales. -Ma fait vous ein pari mo capab bimin vous. - C'est bon, quand ta oule. - Plis tard, s6lemnent mo conin vous bon, mo t6 vini mand6 vous ein piti service. - C'est bon, qui [a y6? - C'et6 pou aidd moin, donne moin ein coup de main pou charrier di bois pou bati mo cabane. - Anon tout suite, si to oule. Compair Lapin, qui t6 port6 so la hache, bichd ein gros nabe. Quand li tomb6 par terre, li dit nelEphant prend gros boute cot6 la quilasse. - Moin mo va soulever branche derriere et na va port6 ii dans place ou mo gagnin pou fait mo cabane. N6lephant charg6 nabe en haut so l'6paule sans garder derrimre et Compair Lapin mont6 dans branche y6 et pi li assite et quitte nl66 -phant train6 tout. Quand cila t6 lasse li t6 ret6 pou pos6 ein pe. Compair Lapin saute par terre et pi li vini divant pou encouragE nelephant et li dit:- Mais, compair, vous d6ja lasse? Mais c'est pas arien Sa, gard6 moin qui forc6 autant qu6 vous, mo pas senti la fatigue. - Foutrou, Sa lourd comme Diabe, dit n6l6phant, anon parti - C'est ein p6 plus loin. Gros bMte la charge li m6me encore avec gros di bois la et pi parti. Lapin ap6 fait semblant pouss6 dans branche; quand ii oua n6ldphant pas ap6 gard6 derrikre, li saut6 dans branche encore et pi li bien assite et li dit:- Plis loin, encore plis loin, pass6 a droite, pass6 a gauche. A la fin n6l6phant riv6 au ras trou ver de terre, - La, c'est bon, mett. ii la. - Nelephant j6t6 nabe la droit en haut trou ver de terre qui t6 ap6 dromi. Alors ver de terre sorti, li pousse nabe la comme ein la paille et pi li prend insilt6 n6lephant. Lapin pendant temps la t6 cach6 dans ein place ou li capab oua et tend6 tout. N616 -phant perdi patience, li fout ver de terre ein coup avec so la trompe. Alors ver de terre saut6 en haut n6lephant et y6 prend batte. Y6 batte comme ta pendant d6 zeures jisqua y6 t6 proche mouri. A la fin ver de terre couri cach6 au fond dans so trou et n6l6phant couche par terre pou mouri a force li t6 massacr. Compair Lapin asteur mont6 en haut n6ldphant et li fini bimin li. Li hal6 so zoreille, li fout li des tapes et li dit comme 5a:- Mo t6 pas dit vous mo sere bimin vous? - Oui, oui, dit n6dlphant, mo gagnin assez, Compair Lapin, mapd mouri. Alors Compair Lapin quitt6 li et pi li prend ein gros baton et li entr6 dans trou ver de terre. Li cass6 so la t6te, li fini tchu6 li. - Comme Sa, ii dit, mo d6barrass6 tout les d6. Comfpair Lapin et Ver de Terre. 17 " I bet you," said Compair Lapin, " that I can beat you." "All right, whenever you want." "A little later; but as I know that you are good, I had come to ask you a favor." "What is it?" "It is to help me, to give me a hand to carry lumber to build my cabin." " Let us go right off, if you want." Compair Lapin, who had carried his axe with him, cut down a big tree, and said to the elephant: "Take it by the big end. I shall raise the branches, and we shall carry the tree to the place where I wish to build my cabin." The elephant put the tree on his shoulder without looking behind him, and Compair Lapin climbed into the branches, and let the elephant do all the work. When the latter was tired he would stop to rest a little, and Compair Lapin would jump down and run up to the elephant to encourage him. " How is that, compair, you are already tired; but that is nothing. Look at me, who have been working as much as you. I don't feel tired." "What! that is mightily heavy," said the elephant. "Let us go," said Lapin; "we have not far to go." The big animal put the load again on his back and Compair Lapin appeared to be lifting the branches. Whenever the elephant would not be looking Lapin would sit on a branch and say: "A little farther; go to the right, go to the left." At last they came to the hole of the earthworm, and Lapin told the elephant to put down the tree. He let it fall right upon the worm who was sleeping. The latter pushed out the tree as if it were a piece of straw, and coming out he began to insult the elephant. Compair Lapin went to hide in a place where he could see and hear all. The elephant lost patience and struck the worm with his trunk. The worm then climbed up the back of the elephant, and there was a terrible fight for more than two hours, until they were nearly dead. The worm finally hid in his hole and the elephant lay down dying. Compair Lapin mounted upon him, pulled his ears and beat him, and said to him: " Did n't I tell you I would beat you?" "Oh! yes, Compair Lapin; I have enough; I am dying." Lapin then left him, and, going into the worm's hole, he broke his head with a stick. Now," said he, "I am rid of both of them." 18 Louisiana Folk- Tales. Ein ti moment apre's li contr6 conipair Bouki et 1i racont6 ii' Comment li fait n6l6phant avec ver de terre batte jisqua y6 t6 tchu6 ein a lote. - To oua mo, camarade, mo va dit toi, quand de' bougue ap6 g~tiin toi, faut to fait y6 batte et tchue yd entre y4. 9a fait ta toujou- sauvd to la peau. IV. COMPAIR LAPIN ET COMPAIR L'OURS. Ein jou Compair l'Ours invit6 Compair Lapin et Compair Bouki pou dinin chez Ii. Li dit ye' 1i t6 achet6' di beurre, fromage et biscuit, mais 1i dit -Anvant dinin faut vous, vini id6 momn cass6 mars. pou mno choal. Compair Lapin et Compair Bouki accept6 n'invitation. Compair I'Ours, et y6 tous les trois parti dans champs avant soleil leve'. A nef heures y6 oua Compair Lapin dress6 so zoreilles. - a ja y6, dit Compair l'Ours. - Mo jamin oua arien qui b6tant comme moune chez moin. Yap6 p616 moin et d6rang6l momn dans mo nouvrage. -Mo pas tend6 arien, dit Compair FOurs. - C'est pasqu4 vous, et Compair Bouki gagnin si piti zoreilles vous pas capabe tend6. Mo zoreilles y6 si longues mo tend6 des milles. Li parti et ii r6vini emn moment apr~s et 1i dit c'6tait pou' so fame quli td gagnin emn commencement maladie. Li fait m6me man6ge la trois fois clans la journin. A midi 1i dit so fame t6 au milieu so maladie; a trois heures 1i r6vini tout triste et dit se'lement -Tout fini. Compair I'Ours et Compair Bouki plainde 1i boucou pasqu6 y6 t1. cr6 c'e6tait so fame qui t6 mouri. Au lieu ~a chaque fois, Compair Lapin te' dit li t6 couri chez so fame 1i couri chez Compair 1'Ours et manze emn p6 so provision, et quand 1i dit -C'est fini, li t6 fini manze6 tout. A cinq heures trois zamis y6 quittA 1'ouvrage et couri chez Coinpair YOurs. Vous capabe pens6 comment Compair I'Ours t6 col~re quand 1i oua so provision t6 disparaite. Tout suite ii accus6 Compair Lapin, mais 1i jir6 c'e'tait pas Ii. - Ma corinin tout suite, nouzotes trois va couch6 en haut la planche la qui clans do 1'eau clans soleil et voletur la va malade sire. Compair Lapin, qui te front6 comme t'out, dit oui, pasqu6 1i compt6 couch6 clans l'oimbre Compair l'Ours qui t6 boucou plis gros que' Ii. Coinpair Bouki cit oui aussi. Compair Lapin et Compair 'Ours. 19 A little later Compair Lapin met Compair Bouki and told him how he had made the elephant and the earthworm fight until they had killed one another. " You see, my friend, when two fellows are in your way, you must make them fight, then you will always save your skin." IV, COMPAIR LAPIN AND COMPAIR L'OURS. One day Compair F'Ours invited Compair Lapin and Compair Bouki to dine with him. He told them he had bought butter, cheese, and biscuits, but he said: "Before dinner you must come to help me break some corn for my horse." Compair Lapin and Compair Bouki accepted the invitation of Compair l'Ours, and all three went into the field before daybreak. At nine o'clock they saw Compair Lapin prick up his ears. "What is the matter?" said Compair l'Ours. "I never saw anything so annoying as the people at my house. They are calling me and disturbing me in my work." "I don't hear anything," said Compair l'Ours. "It is because you and Compair Bouki have such small ears that you can't hear. My ears are so long that I hear miles away." He went away and came back a moment later, saying it was for his wife who was beginning to be sick. He did the same thing three times during the day. At noon he said his wife was in the middle of her sickness, at three o'clock he came back very sad, and said merely: "All is finished." Compair l'Ours and Compair Bouki pitied him very much because they thought it was his wife who was dead. Instead of that, each time Compair Lapin had said he was going to his wife's house he went to the house of Compair l'Ours and ate a little of his provisions, and when he said: "It is finished," hd had finished eating all. At five o'clock the three friends left their work and went to the house of Compair lFOurs. You may imagine how Compair l'Ours was angry when he saw that all his provisions had disappeared. Immediately he accused Compair Lapin, but he swore it was not he. "I shall know right off; all three of us will go and lie down on that plank which is in the water in the sun, and the thief will surely be sick." Compair Lapin, who was very impudent, said yes, because he expected to lie down in the shade by the side of Compair l'Ours, who was much larger than he. Compair Bouki said yes also. 20 20 Louisiana Folk-Tales. Y6 couri cot6 la planche la, et Compair Lapin t6 pas content quand Ii oua c'6tait ein stage bateau et li sre6 pas capabe colle' contre Compair l'Ours pou trapp6 so l'ombre. Y46 coucb6 en haut la planche loin l'eun de l'ote, et pas plitot y6 t6 la qu6 Compair Lapin t6 ben malade a cause do 1'eau et soleil et li commence' re'je'te tout ~a li t6 manz6. -Ah mo trap6 toi, mo compair, dit Compair I'Ours. To va payer moin ~a et mo va pende toi. - Pende moin si to oul6, ~a pas fait momn arien, dit Compair Lapin, mais si to oul6 mo va donnin toi ein bon moyen. Fais emn trou dans la muraille, passez la corde ladans; toi et Compair Bouki vous pas dans soleil pou tirer la corde la et pende moin. Tout temps vous sra ap6 pende momn ma cri6, et quand mo sra pas cri6 ~a sra signe mo pas gagnin la voix et mo sra mouri. Compair l'Ours fait ~a Compair Lapin t6 dit et tache6 li, mais quand Compair I'Ours et Compair Bouki t6 dans la maison, Ii d6tach6 li m6me et pende so patte y6. Compair l'Ours tire' la corde la, Cornpair Lapin cri6 fort, pi si faibe qu6 Compair l'Ours et Compair Bouki t6 cr6 li t6 mouri et y6 couri oua lote cot6. -Y6 jiste oua la poussi~re Compair Lapin tap6 fait et y6 tend6 so la voix qui tap6 dit -- Vous oua mo plis smart qu6 vous, et mo remerci6 vous pou bon dinin la mo fait chez vous. V. L'IRLANDAIS ET CRAPAIJDS. Emn fois yavait eini lIrlandais sou qui tap6 r6vini village et tA pass6 cot6 emn piti la rivi~re ou y6 t6 gagnin boucou crapauds. Li tend6 crapauds y6 qui tape' dit - Brum, brum, brumn. AhI1 dit I'Irandais Ia, tap6 dit:- Rum, rum, rum, tol mo rum, mo va donnin toi eiii p6, mais faut to promette momn rende moin mo jug. Mais di momn, est-ce que do l'eau la fond? Jou, jou, jou, dit crapauds y6. -Oh! dit l'Irandais la ~a pas ben fond.- Tien, voila mo rum. Li j6t6 so jug dans do l'eau et Ii tende emn hon moment, pi li dit: -Anon, Michi6, voy6 momn mojug, Ii tard; faut mo retournin chez moin; yap6 tende moin. Mais crapauds pas voy6 arien. Alors l'Irlandais jWt I i m6me dans do l'eau qui t6 tr~s haut et t6 vini jisqua so cou. - Sacr6 menteurs, dit lrIrlandais, la, -vous dit moin do l'eau la sr6 vini jisqua mo ginoux et li jisqua mo cou. Comme li t6 sou ii' ney6 Ii' m6me. L~'rlandais el Crapauds. 21 They went to the plank, and Compair Lapin was not pleased when he saw that it was the stage of a boat, and he would not be able to stick to Compair l'Ours to be in the shade. They lay down on the plank, at a distance from one another, and no sooner were they there when Compair Lapin felt very sick on account of the water and the sun, and he began to throw up all that he had eaten. "Ah! I have caught you, comrade," said Compair l'Ours. "You will pay for that, and I am going to hang you." " Hang me if you wish, I don't care," said Compair Lapin; " but if you want I shall give you a good way. Make a hole in the wall, pass the rope through it, you and Compair Bouki will not be in the sun to pull the rope and hang me. While you will be hanging me I shall cry, and when I shall not cry it will be a sign I have no voice left and I shall be dead." Compair l'Ours did what Compair Lapin had said and tied him, but when Compair l'Ours and Compair Bouki were in the house, he untied himself and hung by his feet. Compair l'Ours pulled on the rope, Compair Lapin cried loud, then so low that Compair l'Ours and Compair Bouki thought he was dead, and they went to see on the other side of the wall. They only saw the dust Compair Lapin was making, and they heard his voice saying: "You see I am smarter than you, and I thank you for the good dinner I had at your house." V. THE IRISHMAN AND THE FROGS. Once upon a time there was a drunken Irishman who was returning to his village and who passed by a little river where were many frogs. He heard the frogs say: "Brum, brum, brum!" "Ah!" said the Irishman, "you want my rum; I shall give you a little, but you must promise me to give back my jug. But tell me, is the water deep there?" "Jou, jou, jou!" said the frogs. "Oh!" said the Irishman, "that is not very deep. Here is my rum." He threw his jug into the water and he waited a good while, then he said: " Well, gentlemen, send back my jug; it is late, I must go back home; they are waiting for me." But the frogs did not send back anything. Then the Irishman threw himself into the water that was very deep and came to his neck. "Confounded liars," said the Irishman, "you told me the water would come to my knees (genoux), and it is up to my neck." As he was drunk, he was drowned. 22 22 Louisiana Folk.. Tales. VI. COMJPAIR LAPIN ET MADAME CARENCRO. Est-ce que vous connin pouquoi carencro y6 chove? Non, et ben mo va dit vous. Emn fois yavait emn dame (iarencro qui t6 ap6 couv6 dans ecm ch6ne. Li t6 gagnin emn bon arien mari et te' toujou ap6 inouri faim. Au pied ch6ne la yavait ein gros trou et dans trou la ein lapin t6 rest6. Compair Lapin t6 gros et gras et t6 donnin Mmne. Carencro envie inanz6 li chaque fois li t6 oua ii. Ein jou li profit6 ein ti moment ou Compair Lapin te' ap6 dromi et li prend la mousse et des briques et bouch6 trou la. Alors Compair Lapin sr6 pas capabe sorti et Ii sr6 muourni faint. Quand Coinpair Lapin r6veill.6 et li oua Ii m6ine fermi6 ii sippli6 Mine. Carencro laiss6 li sorti, mais Ii r6ponde chaque fois -Mo faim, et faut mo manger la viande en haut to ddzos. Quand Compair Lapin oua que la pniore t pas fait arien Ii paix, mais Mmne. Carencro t6 si content li t6 prend Compair Lapin que ii tap6 Iich6 so la 1~vre comme li jongl6 quel bon dinin la fait. Comme li pas tend6 Coinpair Lapin remu6 1i cr6 1i tt6 mouri touff6' et li enlev6" la mousse et les briques qui t6 fcrm6 trou la. Li commenc6 descende clans trou, inais Coinpair Lapin fait emn bond et sorti d6hors. Quand li te' loin Ii dit commne ~a: - To oua, c'est toi qui pris et ma veng6 moin. Li parti et li couri rest6 chez emn so zamis pasqu6 li t6 pair r&tournin clans ch6ne la cot6 Mine. Carencro. Qu6que jous apr~s ~a Mine. Carencro, qui te' bl6 Compair Lapin, couri promenin avec so piti qui t6 tous sorti clans y6 coquille. Compair Lapin t6 content et 1i pens6 comment 1i sre' prend rivanche en haut iUme. Carencro. Li courli dans la quisine, li prend cmn grand ferblanc plein la braise et la cende chaud, et quand Mine. Carencro et so piti pass6 cot4s la garlic li jetd en haut y6 tout qa li' t6. gagnin clans ferblanc pou brul6 y6. Mais vous connin carencro gagnin la plime 6pais cept6 en haut y6 Ja t~Ae. Ye s6cou6 vite inais pas assez vite pou p6cher la plume en haut y6 Ia t6te bruler jisqua la peau. Voila pouquoi carencros choves, et qu6 y6 jamin manz6 dhzos lapin. Compair Lapin di Madame Carencro V'I COMPAIR LAPIN AND MADAME CARENCRO. Do you know why buzzards are bald? No. Well, I am going to tell you. Once upon a time Mme. Carencro was setting upon her nest on an oak-tree. Her husband was a good-for-nothing fellow, and she was always starving. At the foot of the tree there was a big hole in which a rabbit dwelt. Compair Lapin was large and fat, and every time Mme. Carencro saw him she wished to eat him. One day, while Compair Lapin was sleeping, she took some moss and bricks and closed the hole in the tree. Then Compair Lapin would not be able to get out and would die of hunger. When Compair Lapin woke up and he found out that he was shut up in the hole, he begged Mme. Carencro to let him out, but she replied each time: " I am hungry and I must eat the flesh'on your bones." When Compair Lapin saw that it was of no use to beg, he stopped speaking, but Mme. Carencro was so glad she had caught Compair Lapin that she licked her lips when she thought of the good dinner she would make. As she did not hear Compair Lapin move, she thought he was dead, smothered, and she took away the moss and the bricks which closed the hole. She began to go down the opening, but Compair Lapin made one jump and got out. When he was at some distance he said: "You see, it is you who are caught, and not I." He ran away and went to stay at the house of one of his friends, because he was afraid to go back into the oak-tree near Mme. Carencro. Some days later Mme. Carencro, who had forgotten Compair Lapin, went to take a walk with her children, who had all come out of their shells. They passed near the house of Compair Lapin's friend. Compair Lapin was glad, and he thought how he could take vengeance on Mme. Carencro. He ran into the kitchen, he took a large tin pan full of burning embers and hot ashes; and when Mme. Carencro and her children passed near the gallery, he threw down on them all that he had in the tin pan, in order to burn them. But you know that buzzards have thick feathers except on the top of their heads. They shook off the embers and ashes, but not quick enough to prevent the feathers on their heads to burn down to the skin. This is why the buzzards are bald and aever eat bones of rabbits. 24 24 Louisiana Folk-Tales. VII. COMPAIR LAPIN ET MICH1E DINDE. Tous les soi quand Compair Lapin t6 r~vini so louvrage li t6 travers6 emn lacou ou ye' te' gaingnin ein gros dinde qui tap," dromi on so perchoir, et comme tous 16 zotte dinde cila t6 mette' aussite so lat6te en bas so zaile pou couri dromi. Tous les soi Compair Lapin t6' rdt6 garde' dinde la, et li t6 mand6 1i n6rne ~a li te' fait avec so lat~te. Enfin ein soi 1i tc6 si quiri6 1i r6t6 en bas perchoir la et li dit:- Bonsoi, Michi6 Dinde. Bonsol, dit dinde la sans le6v6 so latdte. -Est-ce qu6 vQus gaingnin ein lat~te, Michi6 Dinde? -Oui, mo gaingnin emn late'te. -Ou ii ye'? - Mo late'te la. Compair Lapin t6 beau chercher li t6 pas oua latdte Michid Dinde. Comme li oua dinde la te' pas ould causer avec li ni montr6 1i ou Ii rnett6 so latdte, 1i courli chez 1i et li dit so s~ere - Est-ce qu6 to connin qu6 pou couri coucher dinde ot6 ye' late'te? Eh ben, mo cr,6 mia116 fait medme quichoge, pasqu6 c'est moins tracas dromi sans, 1att, et moune capabe parid sans latdte, pasqu6 dinde la parl6 avec moin. Avant so s~re t6 gaingnin temps dit 1i arien, li prend emn lahache, et I1i coupd so lat~te. So s~re say6 tout quichoge pou coller 1at~te so fr~re, mais 1i t6 pas capabe, pasqu6 li t6 tchud 1i mime. VIII. COMPAIR BOUKI ET MACAQLUES. Bouki mett di fM en bas so l'6quipage et fait boujilli dolo ladans pendant eine haire. Quand dolo la t6 bien chaud Bouki sorti d6yors et 1i commenc6 batte tambour et ht6I6 Macaques y6. Li chant6, 1i chants: Sam-bombel 1Sam-bombel tam I -Sam-bomnbel! Sani-bombel dam! Macaques, y6 tend6 et ye' dit: Qui ~a? Bouki gaignin quichoge qiui bon pou manz6, anon couri, et y6 tous parti pou couri chez Bouki. Tan y6 t6 ap6 galp6, y6 t6 chantW- Mo1ksi, cherguinet, Compair Bouki et Macques. 25 VII. COMPAIR LAPIN AND MR. TURKEY. Every evening when Compair Lapin returned from his work he passed through a yard where there was a large turkey sleeping on its perch, and like all other turkeys that one also had its head under its wing to sleep. Every evening Compair Lapin stopped to look at the turkey, and he asked himself what it had done with its head. Finally, one evening, he was so curious that he stopped underneath the perch, and said: "Good evening, Mr. Turkey." "Good evening," said the turkey, without raising its head. "Do you have a head, Mr. Turkey?" "Yes, I have a head." Where is it?" "My head is here." Compair Lapin looked in vain, but he could not see Mr. Turkey's head. As he saw that the turkey did not want to talk to him or show him where was its head, he went to his house and said to his sister: "DIo you know that to go to sleep turkeys take off their heads? Well, I believe I shall do the same thing, because it is less trouble to sleep without a head, and one can speak without a head, for the turkey spoke to me." Before his sister had the time to tell him anything, he took an axe and cut off his head. His sister tried in every way possible to stick it on again, but could not do so, as her brother had killed himself. VIII. COMPAIR BOUKI AND THE MONKEYS. Compair Bouki put fire under his kettle, and when the water was very hot he began to beat his drum and to cry out: Sai-bombel! Sam-bombel tam! Sam-bombel! Sam-bombel dam! The monkeys heard and said: " What? Bouki has something good to eat, let us go," and they ran up to Bouki and sang: "Moltsi cher; 26 26 Louisiana Folk-Tales. -chourvan! Cb6guill1' chourvan Quand Bouki oua y6 li t6 si conlt~ent 1i frotte' so vente. IBouki dit Macaques: - Ma' 16 rentre' dans chaudi~re la, et quand ma dit mo chuite, ot6 momn. lBouki sautedans chaudi~re, dans ein piti moment li MMI: -Mo chuite, mo chuite, ot6 moin, et macaques, hahk i d~yors. Quand Bouki te' d6yors Ii dit Macaques:-Ast~re c6 ouzotte tour rentr6 dans chaudie're. Quand ouzottes va he'16 mo chuite ma ot6 nouotes. Macaques ye' rentre6. Dolo la te' si chaud, si chaud, sitot y6 touche' ii, y6 h6-16 - Mo chuite, mo chuite. Mais Bouki prend so grand couverti et couvri so chaudie'e serr6, et tan 1i tai$6 ri 1i dit pove macaques ye': -Si ouzottes te' chuite ouzottes t6 pas capabe dit ouzottes chuites. Quand macaques, y6 te chuites pou m~me Bouki ddcouvri so chaudi~re. Asteur ein tout piti macaque, q'ui t6 dans emn.piti coin, chap6' sans Bouki oua IH. Asteur, Bouki assite, et ii mang6, mange jouqua 1i t6 lasse. Mais emn jou 1i fini mange' dernier macaque et Ii di: Fo mo trapp6 lotte macaques. Li prend so gros tatubour, ii couri on haut la garli et li batte, 1i batte et li chants: Sam-bombel! Sam-bombel tam! Sam-bombel! Sam-bombel dam!I Et macaques commence' vini, et ap6 chant6: - Mol~si, cheriguilhk! Mo1ksi, cheriguill', chourvan! Quand tous macaques yt6 t6 la Bouki rentr,6 dans dolo chaud qui t6 dans chaudie're, et dit:-Quand ma dit: Mo chuite, ot6 moin. Dan's ein ti moment Bouki MMi:- Mo chuite, mo c-huite. Ah oua, macaques y6 prend gros couverti, et couvri pave Bouki et y6 dit li:- Si to t6 chuite to sr6 pas heil6. IX:. MICH1I9 MACAQUE, MARIU9. In fois yav6 in macaque qui t6 lainmin 'in joli jane fille. Li WMII comme in nomme et ii' couri oua Ii. Mamzelle la recevoir 1i si bien qu6 li minin so meilleur zami pou oua so namourdse. Popa mamzelle la mand6 zami michi6 Macaque question on namour6 so fille. Zami la dit michi6 Macaque t6 bon et pi riche, mais 1i t46 gaingnin ein st~cret. Popa la t6 oulk6 connin s6cret la, mais zami la dit 1i va dit Ii emn lote jou;' Michi6 Macaque vini flanc6 avec Mamzelitc la, et soi so mariage li invite- so zami pou souper la. Zami la t6 jalou mnichi6 Macaque, et quand soupe- t,6 presque fini li commenc6 chant6. C'~aiit ein chanson pou fait macaque dans6, m~ne sli y6 pas ouhk, alorse wichi6 Macaque garde cots so zami et fait li signe r~tc6 chant. MUiS Michi Macaque, Mari. 27 guinet, chourvan! Ch6guill6, chourvan!" Compair Bouki then said to the monkeys: "I shall enter into the kettle, and when I say 'I am cooked,' you must take me out." He jumped into the kettle, and the monkeys pulled him out as soon as he said "I am cooked." The monkeys, in their turn, jumped into the kettle, and cried out, immediately on touching the water, "We are cooked." Bouki, however, took his big blanket, and covering the kettle, said: "If you were cooked you could not say so." One little monkey alone escaped, and Bouki ate all the others. Some time after this Compair Bouki was hungry again, and he called the monkeys: Sam-bombel! Sam-bombel tam! Sam-bombel! Sam-bombel dam! When the monkeys came, he jumped into the kettle again and said: "I am cooked, I am cooked." The monkeys, however, which had been warned by the little monkey which had escaped the first time, did not pull Bouki out, but said: "If you were cooked you could not say so." IX. MR. MONKEY, THE BRIDEGROOM. There was a monkey which fell in love with a beautiful young girl. He dressed as a man and went to call on her. He was so well received that one day he took his best friend with him to see his lady-love. The young girl's father asked Mr. Monkey's friend some questions about his daughter's lover. The friend said that Mr. Monkey was good and rich, but there was a secret about him. The father wanted to know the secret, but the friend said he would tell him another day. Mr. Monkey was finally engaged to the young lady, and the night of the wedding he invited his friend to the supper. The latter was jealous of Mr. Monkey, and at the end of the supper he began to sing. This was a song that made all monkeys dance, 28 28 Louisiana Folk- Tales. 1i continuin chants et tout d'in coup michi6 Macaque l6v6 et li cornmenc6 dans6. Li saut6 tellement que so la tchi6 sorti et tout moune oua li t6 ein macaque. Popa la comprende secret la et i1i batte Ii raide. So zarni chapp~6 ap6 dans6 et chantd. x. TORTIE. In michiM qui t6 vive on bord in bayou trapp6 in gros tortie et Ii invit6 tout suitte so zami pou dinin avec li. 'So ti garqon, quand ii t6 pas la, couri cots lacage tortlie la., et tortie commenc6 siffl6. -Comme to siffle' bien, dit piti la. - Oh! ~a, ce' pas arien, ouvri la cage la, et ta oua. Gar~on la ouvri la cage et tortie siff6 mi6 qu6 anvant. Gar~on la t6 enchants. - Mett6 momn on la planche et ta oua, dit tortie la. Gar~on la fait ~a, et tortie dans6 et chant6. -Oh!1 comme to dans6 et chant6 bien, dit garqon la. -Mett6 moin on bord bayou, et ta oua, dit tortie. Gar~on la m~nin 1i au bord b~ayou, et tortie la dans6 et chant6. Tout d'Iin coup 1i disparaite dans dolo et gar~on la commence cri6. Tortie l6v6 dans, mili6 bayou et Ii dit:- Apprende pas fi moune to pas connin. Garqon la t6 pair so popa et Ii mett emn gros la pierre plate dans lacage. Cuisinier la t6 cr6 c'ktait. tortie et li mett6 lapierre dans chaudik6re. Li te' 6tonnin oua 1i reste' dire si longtemps et Ii montr6 li so maite. Li ordonnin mnett tortie on, la tabe et ii prend so couteau la tabe pou coupe Ii. C'6tait pas la peine. Li prend couteau d6coup6, pas la peine. Li prend casse t6te, pas la peine. Li prend lahache; li cass6 lassiette, la tabe, mais tortie la rest~ telle. Li oua alorse c'6tait emn lapierre, et jisqua, asteur li pas comprende comment so tortie t6 chang6 en lapierre. Tortie. 29 whether they wished to or not, so Mr. Monkey looked at his friend and beckoned him to stop singing. He continued, however, to sing, and all at once Mr. Monkey got up and began to dance. He jumped about so wildly that his tail came out of his clothes, and every one saw that he was a monkey. The father understood the secret, and beat him dreadfully. His friend, however, ran off, dancing and singing. X. THE TORTOISE. A gentleman who was living on the banks of a bayou caught a large tortoise, and went immediately to invite some friends to take dinner with him. His little boy, in his absence, went to the cage where was the tortoise, and the latter began to whistle. " How well you whistle!" said the child. "Oh! that is nothing; open the cage, and you will see." The boy opened the cage, and the tortoise whistled better than ever. The boy was delighted. " Put me down on the floor and you will see," said the tortoise. The boy did so, and the tortoise danced and sang. "Oh! how well you dance and sing!" said the boy. "Put me on the bank of the bayou, and you will see," said the tortoise. The boy took her to the bayou, and the tortoise danced and sang.. All at once she disappeared in the water, and the boy began to cry. The tortoise rose in the middle of the bayou and said: " Learn not to trust, hereafter, people whom you do not know." The boy was afraid of his father, and put a large flat stone into the cage. The cook, thinking it was the tortoise, put the stone into the kettle. She was astonished to see it remain hard so long, and she called her master's attention to it. He ordered the tortoise to be put upon the table, and he took his table knife to cut it. It was in vain. He took the carving-knife, in vain. He took the hatchet, in vain. He took the axe, he broke the dishes, the table, but the tortoise remained intact. He then saw it was a stone, and to this day he has not understood how his tortoise was changed into a stone. 30 30 ~Louisiatza Folk- Tales. xi. COMPAIR BOIJKI, COMPAIR LAPIN, ET DF9ZEF ZOZO. Compair Bouki et Cornpair Lapin t6 voisin. In jou Compair Bouki dit li m6rne 1i t6 ould oua ~a Comnpair Lapin t6 ap6 tchui tous les soirs dans so cabane. Li couri cot6 cabane Compair'Lapin et 1i oua in gros chaudie're on dif6. - Oh! comme mo gagnin rnal aux dents!f Compair Lapin, ~a vous gagnin dans chaudie're la? - ~a pas vous zaffaire, Compair Bouki. - Qui ~a qui senti si bon dans chaudie're la, Compair~ Lapin? Oh! comme mo gagnin mal aux dents! - C6 de'zef zozo, Compair Bouki, pas b6t6 momn. -Oh!1 comme mo gagnin mal aux dents! Laiss6 moin goute' ~a vous gagnin la, ~a va gu6ri momn. Compair Lapin donnin ii qu6que ddzef, et Compair Bouki trouvi6 y6 Si bon li t6 oule6 connin ou li t6 prend y6. Compair Lapin dit Ii 1i sr6 m6nin li avec 1i lendemin matin. Compair Bouki couri chez ii et li dit so moman 1i te' gagnin in bien bon souper chez Compair Lapin. So mornan dit 1i ouvri so labouche pou li capabe senti qui ~a 1i t6, mang6. Li prend alors in ti morceau dibois et gratte' on dents Compair Bouki morceau de'zef qui t4 reste' la. -Oh! comme c'est bon, 1i dit. Faut to port6 moin in p6. Compair Bouki couri bonne h~re lendem'in matin avec Compair Lapin, qui montr6 1i ou d~zef ye' te' et dit ii pas prende plis q'u6 inne dans chaque nique, pasqu6 zozo y6 sr6 oua ~a. Compair Bouki quand Lapin t6 parti, prend tout d6zef dans chaque nique. Quand iozo r6vini et y6 oua tout y6 d6zef t6 vol6 y6 t6 firi6 et ye' fait in plan pou veng6 y6 me'me. Yav6 dans bois in bayou qui t6 s6le place ou zanimo te' capabe boi. Zozo y6 plac6 y6 ni6me autour bayou la et y'oua eiin bef vini. -Compair Bef, est-ce que c'est vous qui rnang6 nous d6zef? Non, mo zami, -mo mang6 jisse zerbe. Choal dit li mangg6 jisse difoin; Compair Lapin dit 1i mang6 jisse carottes et laitues, mais quand y6 mand6 Compair Bouki, li re'ponde comme in be'te:- Oui, c'est momn qui mang6 vous d6zef. Pas plitot li t6 pari6 que' tous zozo tombs on lii y6 cr&v6 so zi6 et presque mctt6' li en pi&es. Compair Bouki, Compair Lapin, et Dizef Zozo. 3I XI. COMPAIR BOUKI, COMPAIR LAPIN, AND THE BIRDS' EGGS. Compair Bouki and Compair Lapin were neighbors. One day Compair Bouki said to himself that he wished to see what Compair Lapin was cooking every evening in his cabin. He went to Com. pair Lapin's cabin and saw a big kettle on the fire. "Oh I what a toothache I have! Compair Lapin, what do you have in that kettle?" " It is not your business, Compair Bouki." "What smells so good in that kettle, Compair Lapin? Oh! what a toothache I have!" " It is birds' eggs, Compair Bouki; don't bother me.".' Oh! what a toothache I have! Let me taste what you have here. It will cure me." Compair Lapin gave him a few eggs, and Compair Bouki found them so good that he wished to know where they were to be found. Compair Lapin told him he would take him with him the next day. Compair Bouki went home and told his mother that he had a splendid supper at Compair Lapin's. His mother told him to open his mouth that she might smell what it was that he had eaten. She then took a small piece of wood and scraped off the teeth of Compair Bouki the small pieces of eggs that remained there. "Oh! how good it is," she said; "you must get me some." Compair Bouki went early the next morning with Compair Lapin, who showed him where the eggs were and told him not to take more than one from each nest, because the birds would perceive it. Com. pair Bouki, however, as soon as Lapin was gone, took all the eggs from every nest. When the birds returned and saw that all the eggs had been stolen, they were furious, and formed a plan to avenge themselves. There was in the wood a bayou which was the only place where the animals could drink. The birds placed themselves around the bayou and saw an ox coming. "Compair Bef, was it you who ate our eggs?" "No, my friends, I eat nothing but grass." The horse said he ate nothing but hay. Compair Lapin said that he ate nothing but carrots and lettuce; but when they questioned Compair Bouki, he replied foolishly: "Yes, it is I who ate your eggs." No sooner had he spoken when the birds fell upon him; they put out his eyes and nearly tore him to pieces. ,32 32 ~Louisiana Folk- Tales. XII. CHIEN AVEC TIGUE. In jou in chien achet6 cent poules et in coq, et in tigue achet6 cent coqs et in poule. Tous les soi chien la t6 trouv6 in panier plein d~zef dans so poulailler, et tigue la t6 trouv6 j isse in d~zef. Tigue dit chien voMl6 i, et li tache6 li, li mett6 li dans in brouette et 1i parti pou vende ii. On chirnin li contr6 in ch6vreil;, ii conte' li so zaffaire et li mand6 ii si li pas raison vende chien la. Ch6vreil la dit non, alors tigue la tchu6 Ii. In p6 plis tard li rencontr6 in lion et Ii racont6 ii' so lhistoire. Lion la dit tigue t6 gagnin tort, et tigue la dit: -Vous par16 comme Sa pasqu6 vous connin vous plis fort qu6 min~. Qu6que temps apr&s qa tigue couri dans bois et li lafss6 chien la seul que'que temps. Chasse're pass6 et ye' mand6 chlien la ~a fap6 fait la. Li racont6 so Ihistoire, et chass~re y6 mand6 li montr6 y6 ou tigue Ila t6. Tigue la t6 pair comme djabe, et ddpi temps la chien jamin pair b~te sauvage. XIII FILLtLE COMPAIR LAPIN. In fois Compair Lapin t6 ap6 travaille pou Cormpair Bouki. Bouki t6 achet6 in baril dibe're et li t6 cache' li dans so lacave. D6 compair y6 t6 ap6 travaille dans clos ensembe, et tout d'in coup, Lapin l6vd so late'te, et 1i dit:- Yap6 pe'16 momn pou batis6 in pitiL Bouki dit: - Couri tout suite, faut pas to fait li attende. Lapin parti couri et quand li r~vini, Bouki dit Ii: Eh ben, to batis6 piti la? Coman to p616l ii? -Mo pe'16 ii Commence. - Non, Sa c6 in drole nom. In p6 plis tard, Lapin, lv6v so Iat6te encore et 1i dit: Yap6 p~1i moin encore pou batis6 in lotte piti. -Couri, dit Bouki, to pas capabe dit ye' non. Compair Lapin parti couri. encore et. I rests plis longtemps. qui Filele Compair Lapin. 33 XI. THE DOG AND THE TIGER. A dog one day bought one hundred hens and one rooster, and a tiger bought one hundred roosters and one hen. Every evening the dog found a basketful of eggs in his chicken-house, and the tiger found only one egg. The tiger accused the dog of robbing him, and, tying him up, he put him in a wheelbarrow and took him along to sell him. On the wayhie met a deer, and relating his story to him, he asked him if he was not right to sell the dog. The deer said "no," whereupon the tiger killed him. A little later he met a lion, and related his story to him. The lion said the tiger was wrong and the latter replied, " You speak in that way because you know that you are stronger than I." After some time the tiger went into the woods and left the dog alone for a few minutes. Some hunters passed by, and they asked the dog what he was doing there. He related his story, and the hunters asked him to show them where the tiger was. The tiger was terribly frightened, and from that time dogs have never been afraid of wild beasts. XIII. COMPAIR LAPIN'S GODCHILD. Once upon a time Compair Lapin was working for Compair Bouki. The latter had bought a barrel of butter, and had hidden it in his cellar. The two companions were working one day in the field together, when, all at once, Lapin raised his head, and said: "They are calling me to be godfather to a child." "Go immediately," replied Bouki; "you must not make them wait." Lapin ran off, and when he returned, Bouki said to him: "'Well, did you baptize the child? How did you call him?" "I called him 'Begun."' "Indeed, that is a strange name." A little later, Lapin raised his head again, and said: "They are calling me again to be godfather to another child," "Go," said Bouki; "you cannot tell them no." Compair Lapin ran off again, and remained away longer than the 34 34 Louisiana Folk- Taks,, premier fois. Quand li r~vini Compair Bouki dit li:- Coman to pile' piti la fois cila? - Mo p6h6 Ii La Motchi6. -La Motchi6, mais qui nom. c'est qa. Mo jamin tends drole noin comme qa to donnin piti y6 to batis6. In pd pli tard encore, pendant y6 tap6 travaille, Lapin l6v6 so lat~te et dit: -Eh ben, yap6 p616 moin encore pou in lotte piti; ~a b~tant, ma jamin fini mo louvrage. Bouki dit lii: -Couri, to pas capabe dit non. Compair Lapin parti couri et li t6 p6 ri li tout seul. Quand hi r~vini encore Compair Bouki dit ii: -~ Coman to p,616 cila? -Oh!1 mo p616 ii': Tout fini, pasqu6 nio v6 pli batis6 piti. Asteur Compair Bouki dit li m6me: -Faut ma r~gah6 ma mi~me, mnap6 couri rempli mo bWrier avec mio bon dib~re. Li vini garde dans so baril; pli arien. Lapin t6 ch~ch6 hi nette. - a c'est trop fort, dit Bouki, hi va pays main qa. Li traps Compair Lapin et hi tach6 li et li dit lii- Qui qa ma capabe fait avec toi asteur, ma j~tt6 toi dans dabo. -Ah! oui, c'est qa ma laimiti. Non, to trop content, ma jWt tai dans difA. Ah!I oui', j&6 main dans dif6. Non, to trop content, ma j6t5 toi' dans z~ronce. -Oh!1 pardon, mo cher Bouki, pas jWt momn dans z4ronce. Oui', c'est, la faut to couri. Coipair Bouki Ianc6 Compair Lapin dans z~ronce. Asteur, quand Lapin taoibd hi caups so ha corde avec so dent et ii pa-rti galp6 et li crid: - Merci, mo bon Compair Bouki, to nmettd main jisse ha ou mo marnan restd. XIV. MAMZETLLE MOQUPRE., MICHIE MOQUJ1ME4 E3T MICHhI9 HIBOIJ. EIhi fois Moqu~re et pi Hibou tap6 fait I'amaur mi5me Ma~nzelle Moque're. Mamzelle Maqu~re dit y6: Ah bien, ma mari6 avec cila qui connin rest pli lontan sans mang6. Main, ma rest6 en bas nabe ha et vouzotte enha Hi. Asteur Moque're gard6 so namoureuse et 1i tap6 descende nabe et *p cbant6: Mamzelle Moguere, Michie Moouere, et Michie Hibou. 35 first time. On his return Bouki said: "How did you call the child this time?" "I called him ' Half." "Half! But what name is that? I never heard such strange names as those which you give the children baptized by you." A little later again, while they were working, Lapin raised his head, and said: " There, they are calling me again for another child; it is very annoying; I shall never be able to finish my work." Go," said Bouki; "you cannot say no." Lapin ran off, laughing to himself. When he returned, Boliki said: "What is the name of the child?" "Oh! I called him 'All Finished,' because I do not want to be godfather to any other child." Now, Bouki said to himself: "I must have a good dinner; let me fill my butter dish with my good butter." He looked into his barrel, there was nothing in it. Lapin had eaten all the butter. "Oh that is too much," said Bouki; " he will pay me for that." He caught Lapin, he tied him with a rope, and said: "Now, what am I going to do with you? I'11 throw you in the river." "Ah! yes, that is what I like." ' No, you are too glad; I '11 throw you in the fire." "Ah I yes, throw me in the fire." "No, you are too glad; I '11 throw you in the briers." " Oh! I pray you, my dear Bouki, do not throw me in the briers." " Yes, it is there you must go." Bouki threw Lapin in the briers. As soon as he fell, he cut the rope with his teeth, and ran away, crying: "Thank you, my good Bouki; you placed me exactly where my mother resides." XIV. MISS MOCKINGBIRD, MR. MOCKINGBIRD, AND MR. OWL. Once upon a time the Mockingbird and the Owl were courting Miss Mockingbird. She said to them: "Well, I shall marry the one who will remain the longer without eating. I shall remain under the tree and you upon it." Now, the mockingbird looked at his lady-love and flew down to her, singing: L o ivs ia na FolIk- Ta les. Chivi! Chivi!1 Ta la la!1 Chivi! Chivi I Ta la la! H&6v! Ta lala! Quand Ii' rendi en bas Ii fait comme si lap6 bo Marnzelle Moqu~re, et cila. te' gagnin mange' dans so bec et Ii tape' donnin Ii j~ne nonmme Moqu~re la. Moque're mont6 dans so nabe encore. Hibou oua to-at, lorse Ii aussite parti pou descende,, et tant Ii tap6 descende Ii tap6' chante6: Coucou! Ta la la! Coucou! Ta la la! Wv6v! Ta la la! Li riv6 en bas, li vini pou bo mamzelle la, mais mamzelle la tournin so late'te et dit Iii: - Couri, couri, to l6zailes fait mo la figure mal. Pove Hibou t6' pas gagnin arien pou mrange'. Li te' bo mamizelle la et mamizelle la te' donnin li morceau marng6. Hibou descende aussite, mais Ii t6' p6 commenc6 bien faim et ~a fait so lavoix t6 vini faibe et triste, et Ii te' p6' dit: Coucou! Ta lala la! Coucoul1 Ta lala la! H~v6! Ta la lala! Mamzelle la t6 p~as ouI6 garde' Ii ni donnin Ii mang6. Pove Hibou t6 gagnin pou rnont dans nabe la so vente vide et Moqu~re t6 p6 fait so vantor ap6 chant si fort:- - Chivi! Chivi! Ta la la! Chivi! Chivi! Ta la la! H&6v6! Ta lala! Pove Hibou apd mouri faim, y6 t6 jiste capabe tend6 Ii cbant6 a force Ii t6 faibe: Coucou! Ta la! Coucou! Ta la!I W~v6! Ta la! Li riv6 en bas, Ii seye6 bo rnamzelle la encore, mais mamizelle la dit Iii: - Oh couri, conri, to grand le'zailes fait mo mal, et mamizelle la donnin li in tape qui capote' Ii par terre at li t6 si faim qud Ii nmouri, et Michi6i Moqu~re parti vol6 avec so fame. Mamzelle Moagure, Michie Moruere et Michie Hibou. 37 Chivi! Chivi Ta la la! Chivi! Chivi! Ta la la! Hov! Ta laa! When he reached Miss Mockingbird, he did as if he wanted to kiss her, and she gave him some food which she had in her beak. Mr. Mockingbird flew back to his tree. The Owl in his turn flew towards his lady love, and he sang: Coucou! Ta la la! Coucou! Ta la la! H&vd! Ta la la! He wished to kiss Miss Mockingbird, but she turned her head aside, and said: "Go away; your wings hurt me." The poor Owl had nothing to eat, while every day the mockingbird flew down, and, kissing the young lady, got something to eat. The Owl came down also from the tree, but he was beginning to be very hungry, and his voice was very weak when he sang: Coucou! Ta la la la! Coucou! Ta la la la Hev! Ta lalala! Miss Mockingbird did not want to look at him or to give him anything to eat, and he had to go back to his tree with an empty stomach. Mr. Mockingbird, on the contrary, grew more boastful every day, and sang in a loud voice: Chivi! Chivi Ta lalaa Chivi! Chivi! Ta la la! HWvd! Talala! The poor Owl was dying of hunger, and one could hardly hear his song: Coucou! Ta la! Coucou! Ta la! Hdvd! Tala! He tried to kiss Miss Mockingbird, but she said to him: "Go away; your large wings hurt me," and she gave him a slap which threw him down. He was so weak from hunger that he died, and Mr. Mockingbird flew away with his bride. 38 38 Louisiana Folk- Tales. xv. MARIAZE COMPAIR LAPIN. Tim, tim, bois see, cr6 coton, Compair Lapin, c'est ti bonhomnie qui connin saute'. Vous zotes doit rappeler, qu6 apre's y,6 t6 voy6 Compair Lapin dans grands zerbes, comme 1i t6 chap6 raide et comme ii' dit c'6tait la m~me so moman t6 fait Ii. Pour lors donc mo va dit vous que' m~me jou. la -Mamzelle LUonine couri joinde li et y6 parti voyag6. Y6 march6 longtemps, pendant au moin emn mois, a la fin y6 riv6 au bord ein la rivie're qui t6 boucou fond; courant la t6 fort, trop fort pou qu.6 y6 t6 -passe' 1i a la nage. L'ote cot6 la rivie're la t6 cmn joli place, nabes y6 t6 vert et charg6 tout sortes, fruits; en bas nabe ye' tout qualite' flairs dans, moune t6 la; quand emn moune t6 respir6 c'est comme si ye' t6 de'bouch6 ein fiole lessence dans, en la chambre. Mamzelle LUonine dit comme a: -Anon' couri vive la, dabord nous pas capabe tournin cot6 mo popa. La nous va h6reux et personne pas a116 tracass6 nous zotes. Mais comment nous va fait pou travers6 lote cote'? - R&t6, dit Compair Lapin, laiss6 momn jongl6 ecm ti moment, et pi li prend march6, alors 1i riv6 au ras ein gros di bois, sec qui t6 tomb6 dans dolo. - Ala nous zaffaire, li dit comme qa. Li coup6 ein grand perche et pi li monte' en haut di bois la et li dit LUonine suive ii. Pove LUonine mont6 aussite et li te' ap6 trembl.6 a force Ii t6 pair. - Tchombo bien, ta oua comment na pass6, et pi Ii pouss6 avec so baton. Di bois, la prende descende courant et y6 fi1 raide; Lapin apt6 pagaye, pagaye. Y6 navigu6 ein demi journin avant y6 t6 capabe rive' lote cot6; courant la te' si fort qu6 di bois t6 toujou ap6 couri. Li racl6 la terre quand Ii pass6 au ras l6core. - Saut6, saut6, dit Compair Lapin. Quand li dit Sa li m~me t6 d6ja en haut la terre. A la fin Mamzelle Leonine saut6 aussite et y6 trouv6 traverse. Va fait y6 t6 content et y6 commenc6 manz6 plein bon kichoge y6 t6 gagnin la, et pi y6 pos6 bien. Y6 trouv6 emn joli place pou pass6 la nouitte et lendemin ho matin y6 prend promene' partout. Comme tout qa y6 oua t6 vaillant, y6 pense' y6 sr6 rest6 la pou vive. Quand y6 t6 chap6, y6 t6 pas capabe port6 largent avec y6, ~a fait y6 trouv6 y6 a sec. Mais Bon Dj6 t6 Mariaze Compair Lapin. 39 XV. MARRIAGE OF COMPAIR LAPIN. Tim, tim! Bois sec. Cr1 coton! Compair Lapin is a little fellow who knows how to jump! You all must remember, after they had thrown Compair Lapin into the briers, how quickly he had run away, saying that it was in those very thorns that his mother had made him. Now then, I will tell you that on the same day Miss Leonine went to meet him, and they started travelling. They walked a long time, for at least a month; at last they reached the bank of a river which was- very deep. The current was strong, too strong for them to swim over. On the other side of the river there was a pretty place: the trees were green and loaded with all kinds of fruits. Under the trees were flowers of every kind that there is in the world. When a person breathed there, it was as if a bottle of essence had been opened in a room. Miss Leonine said: "Let us go to live there; besides, we cannot return to my father's. There, we shall be happy, and no one will bother us; but how shall we do to cross over to the other side?" "Stop," said Compair Lapin, "let me think a moment," and then he began to walk and walk, until he saw a large piece of dry wood which had fallen into the water. "That is what I want," said he. He cut a tall pole, and then he mounted on the log and told L6onine to follow him. Poor Miss Leonine mounted also, but she was so much afraid that she was trembling dreadfully. "Hold on well; you will see how we shall pass;" and he pushed with his stick. The log began to go down the current; they were going like lightning, and Lapin kept on paddling. They sailed for half a day before they were able to reach the other side, for the current was so strong that the log was carried along all the time. At last it passed very near the shore. "Jump, jump," said Compair Lapin, and hardly had he spoken than he was on shore. Miss Ldonine finally jumped also, and they found themselves on the other side of the river. They were very glad, and the first thing they did was to eat as much as they could of the good things they found there. Then they took a good rest. They found a pretty place to pass the night, and the next day, at dawn, they took a good walk. As everything they saw was so fine, they thought they would remain there to live. When they had run away, they had not been able to take any money with them, so they 40 40 Louisiana Folk- Tales. be'ni y6, y6 t6 vini dans emn place ou y6 t6 pas bksoin boucou largent. Yave' de'ja ein bon boute ye6 te' dans place la, y6 t6 tranquille et content et y6 t6 cr6 y6 tout seul, mais tout d'ein coup ye' tend6 ein tapage., ein rernu menage, ein train, comme si' tonnerre t6 ape' roul6 en haut la terre. Qui qa ~a, Bon Dj6 Seigneur, couri garde', Compair Lapin. Momn, non. Comme si mo assez be'te pou couri garde' et p6te'te trap6 kichoge mauvais. Vaut mi6 mo rest6 tranquille, comme ~a arien pas ap6' rive' moin. Train la avec di bri la t6 augment6 toujou. A la fin, y6 oua emn procession ne'l6phants qui t6 ap6 vini. Comme y6 t6 pass6 tranquillement sans, taquer personne, t~a donne Lapin ein pe' courage, alors Ii vanc6 cot6 chef ne'lephants et pi Ii dit Ii mand6 li la permission reste' dans so pays, qu6_ li t6 sorti dans pays roi Lion, ou y6 t6 oul6 tchu6 li, qu6 li t6 biig6 chapp6 avec -so fame. N6l6phant la dit li:-Corftme qa, c'est bon, to capabe reste' ici tant to oule', mais pas m6nin lote zanimo qui connin manz6' y6 entre y6. Tant ta comport6 bien ma va prote'g6 toi et personne pas all6 vini chercher tol' icite. Vini oua momn souvent et ma sey6 fait kichoge pou toi. Qu6que temnps'apr~s ~a Compair Lapin couri oua roi n6le'phant, et 16 roi t6' si content quand Compair Lapin t6 expliqu6' comment 1e' roi t6 capable fait boucou largent qu6 li nomm6 Lapin tout suite capitamne so la banque et gardien so bitin. Quand Compair Lapin oua tout largent ii te' ap6 magnin tons les jou, ca proche rende li fou) et comme Ii t6 habitou6 boi dipi y6 t6 foui116 ein pi dans so pays qu6 dolo la te' soule' moune, li contini6 so vilain nabitude, chaque fois Ii t6 gagnin la chance Ii t6 soule' li bien. Emn soir Ii t6 rentr6 tard bien pique', Ii prend babill6 avec so fame. Leonine fait ni eine ni d6, li bimin Compalir Lapin si tant qu6 Ii rests couch6 pendant trois semaines. Quand Ii vini gaillard, li mand6 so fame pardon, Ii di li te' soul, qu6 c6t6 derni~re fois et pi Ii bo Hi. Mais dans -so tcheur Ii gagn6 vous emn ranquine qu6 li t6 pas capabe pardonn6 LUonine. Li fait serment quitt6 LUonine mais anvant c~a li tP6 gagnin donne ii ein fam6 la trempe. c~a fait emn soir Leonine t6 ap6 dromi Compair Lapin prend emn la corde, Ii marr6 so pattes d6vant et derriere, et cornme qa li t6 sir so zaffaire et Ii prend emn bon foiiette et li tail6 so femme jisqua Ii t6 perde connaissance, et pi Ii quitt6 Ii et Ii parti voyag6, la ou y6 sr6 jamis tend6' parl6 li, pasqu' Ii te' pair LUonine sre' tchu6 Ii, et Ii fi16 loin. Mariaze Compair Laiin. 4I were without a cent. But God had blessed them, for they had come to a place where they did not need much money. They had already been there a good while, and they were quiet and contented, and they thought that they were alone, when one day, they heard, all at once, a noise, a tumult, as if thunder was rolling on the ground. "What is that, my lord? Go to see, Compair Lapin." "I, no, as if I am foolish to go, and then catch something bad. It is better for me to stay quiet, and, in that way, nothing can happen to me." The noise kept on increasing, until they saw approaching a procession of elephants. As they were passing quietly without attacking any one, it gave Compair Lapin a little courage. He went to the chief of the elephants and told him that he asked his permission to remain in his country; he said that he came from the country of King Lion, who had wanted to kill him, and he had run away with his wife. The elephant replied: " That is good; you may remain here as long as you want, but don't you bring here other animals who know how to eat one another. As long as you will behave well, I will protect you, and nobody will come to get you here. Come sometimes to see me, and I will try to do something for you." Some time after that, Compair Lapin went to see the king of elephants, and the king was so glad when Compair Lapin explained to him how he could make a great deal of money, that he named immediately Compair Lapin captain of his bank and watchman of his property. When Compair Lapin saw all the money of the king it almost turned his head, and as he had taken the habit of drinking since they had dug in his country a well, of which the water made people drunk, he continued his bad habit whenever he had the chance. One evening he came home very drunk, and he began quarrelling with his wife. Ldonine fell upon him and gave him such a beating that he remained in bed for three weeks. When he got up, he asked his wife to pardon him; he said that he was drunk, and that he would never do it again, and he kissed her. In his heart, however, he could not forgive LUonine. He swore that he would leave her, but before that he was resolved to give her a terrible beating. One evening when Ldonine was sleeping, Compair Lapin took a rope and tied her feet before and behind. In that way he was sure of his business. Then he took a good whip, and he whipped her until she lost consciousness. Then he left her and went on travelling. He wanted to go to a place where they would never hear of him any more, because he was afraid that Leonine would kill him, and he went far. 42 42 Louisiana Folk- Tales. Quand Leonine r6veilMl6 i pe616, li pe'le, moune vini oua ~a t6 ye' et y6 trouv6' ii bien marr6, Alors, y6 de'mar6 li et Leonine parti tout suite. Li quitte' so la maison, ii voyag6 longtemps jisqua ii vini cot6 m~me rivie're ii t6' traverse' avec: Compair Lapin en haut ein di bois. Li fait ni 6in ni de' li saute' dans, dolo. Courant la t6 si fort ~a t6 seuteni li bien. A force de'batte, nager, nager, li traverse, lote Cot&. Quand li mont6 en haut la terre ii t6' bien lasse et te' gagnin pou pose' emn bon boute et pi Ii parti pou tournin cot6 so popa. Quand so popa oua liili bo Ii et ii caress6 Ii, niais so fille prend cri6 et Ii diili comment Compair Lapin t6 trait' Hi. Quand so popa tends ~a 'a force li t6 co1~re tout ~a y6 qui te' au ras Ii prende tremble'. - Vini icite, Compair Renard, ta couri trouv' 16' roi n6l6phant et ta. dit li comme ~a si ii pas voy6 momn Compair Lapin icite plis vite qu6 ii' capabe ma va couri dans so pays tchu6 l[- et tout lote ne'61 phants et tout Sa qui y6 dans so pays. Pharti tout suite. Compair Renard voyage' longtemps, et a la fin riv6 dans, pays la ou Compair Lapin t6 cache'. Mais ii pas oua ii, li mande' pou ii mais personne t6 pas capabe donne' so nouvelle. Compair Renard couri trouv6 16 roi et Ii dit li Sa so tchenne roi t6 voy6' dit'li. Ne'lephant qui har Lions rdponde: -Va dit to maite si ii envi mo casse& so la djole li jis seye' vini. Mo pas ap6 voy6 arien ni personne et comnmence' par foute to camp. Si to oule' emn bon consil, reste' cot6 toi. Si jamais Lion sey6 vini, ma donne' li emn lagniappe ciue pas eine dans vous zotes gagnin pou tournin dans, vous zote pays. Compair Renard pas mande' so restant, I1i parti mai's Ii t6' pas boucou envi tourn6 chez ii, ii te' pair Lion sr6 tchoue' li si li t6 vini sans Compair Lapin. Li marche6 plis doucement qud' li t6 capabe et tout di long chemin ii oua y6 t6 ap6 pr6par6 pou fait la guerre. Li pens,6 que pe'tdte n'16phants t6 ouIe6 couri taque6 lions, li continie' so chimin, quand ii riv6 dans emn la plaine ii oua, Compair Lapin qui te' ap6 galop6 en zigrzag, tantot emn cot6 tantot lote et pi ii te6 r6t6 quand ii rencontr6 zanimo, et pi li parle6 ave'c y6 et pi Ii parti encore aussi raide comme anvant. A la fin y6 fini par contre6, mais Compair Lapin t6 pas recorlnaite so vi6 padna. - Ou taps couri comme ~a, galop6, galop,6 tout temps? - Ah, r6ponde Compair Lapin, vous pas connin mauvais nouvelle qu6 Lion d6clar6 la djerre tous n6le'phants et ma Pe' vertitous milets, choals et chameaux y6 pou y6 fou camp. Mariaze Comapair Lapin. 43 When Miss Leonine came back to herself, she called, she called; they came to see what was the matter, and they found her well tied up. They cut the ropes, and Leonine started immediately. She left her house, she travelled a long time, until she came to the same river which she had crossed with Compair Lapin upon the log. She did not hesitate, but jumped into the water. The current carried her along, and she managed, after a great many efforts, to cross over to the other side. She was very tired, and she had to take some rest; then she started to return to her father. When her father saw her, he kissed her and caressed her, but his daughter began to cry, and told him how Compair Lapin had treated her. When King Lion heard that, he was so angry that all who were near him began to tremble. "Come here, Master Fox; you shall go to the king of elephants, and tell him, that if he does not send Compair Lapin to me as soon as he can, I shall go to his country to kill him and all the elephants, and all the other animals, and everything which is in his country. Go quick!" Master Fox travelled a long time, and arrived at last in the country where Compair Lapin was hidden. But he did not see him; he asked for him, but no one could give him any news of him. Master Fox went to see the king oi elephants and told him what King Lion had said. The elephants hate the lions, so the king replied: "Tell your master that if he wishes me to break his jaw-bone, let him come. I shall not send anything or anybody, and first of all, get away from here quick. If you want good advice, I can tell you that you had better remain in your country. If ever Lion tries to come here, I shall receive him in such a manner that no one of you will ever return home." Master Fox did not wait to hear any more; but he had no great desire to go back to his country, for he thought Lion would kill him if he returned without Compair Lapin. He walked as slowly as he could, and all along the road he saw that they were making preparations for war. He thought that perhaps the elephants were going to attack King Lion. He went on his way, and on arriving at a prairie he saw Compair Lapin, who was running in zigzags, sometimes on one side of the road, sometimes on the other. He stopped whenever he met animals and spoke to them, and then he started again as rapidly as before. At last Master Fox and Compair Lapin met, but the latter did not recognize his old friend. "Where are you going like that, running all the time? " "Ah I" replied Compair Lapin, "you don't know the bad news. Lion has declared war against all elephants, and I want to notify all mules, horses, and camels to get out of the way." 44 Louisiana Folk-Tales. -Mais to m6me qui zaffaire to gagnin o galop6, yd5 pas ap6 prend toi pou fait soldat avec toi? -Non, to croi ~a, r6ponde Compair Lapin, ah bien, to pas connin arien avec tout to malin. Quand n'officier 16' roi a vini chercher choals et milets pou la cavalerie pou fait la djerre ye' va dit comme ~a: Ala emn bougue grand zoreille, c'est emn milet, anon prend li, et quand m~me mo re'clam,6 et dit moin c'est emn lapin y6 va dit: Oh non., gard6 so zoreille, vouzote oua 'ben c'est emn milet, et mo sra fouti, ye' vA enroI6 momn et mo va blige' march6. Mais sembl6 momn mo connin vous, mais si longtemps mo pas oua vous. Bion Dj6 tende' moin, c'est Renard, mo zami l6zotes fois. -Oui, oui, c'est moin, mo vi6. Eh ben, ~a vous dit pou tout vilain zaffaire y6? - Tout qa pou ein femme, dit Compair Lapin, faut nous sey6, mo zami, pas trouv6 nouzottes dans y6 proc~s. -Mais comment na fait, dit Renard, y6 va forc6 nouzotes la dans. - Non, dit Compair Lapin, faut to conseill6 Lion, mo va conseill N616phant, alors cornme ~a nous va rest6 garde' et laiss6 ye batte tant y,6 oul6. - To connin, dit Renard, LUonfine tournin cot6 so popa et comme vouzotes t6 pas mari6 devant le'glise mo croi ben Lion en train nmari'6 so fille avec ein dans so voisin; ~a pas fait toi la peine, Compair Lapin, tende' tout ~a? - Non, ~a zi6 pas oua tcheur pas fait mal. D6 maim y6 caus6 bon boute, y6 t6 si content, nav6 si longtemps y6 te6 pas contr6'. Dans merne moment y6 te' par6 pou parti y6 oua d6 chien qui tape' grongnin nez a nez et pi y6 senti ye m6me partout. -Vous, Compair Renard, qui connin tout quichoge, vous capabe dit momn cofaire chien gagnin vilain nhabitude la? -Mo va dit vous, Compair Lapin, cofaire y6 fait ~a. Les otes foi's, y6na Iongtemps, dans temps y6 nav6 jis emn Bon Dj6 qui t6 p616 Michi6 Zipiter, tout chien t6 trouve' y6 sort t6 maiheureux, alors y6 voy6 emn d6l6gation, emn bande chien pou mand6 Bon Dje' pou li m~1iorer y6 condition. Q'uand y6 t6 riv6' au ras la maison Michi6 Zipiter dans ciel tout la restant chien y6 t6 pair, y6 parti, jis Brisntout, plis gros chien la bande qui rest6. Li t6 pas pair arien, li vanc6 au ras Michi6 Zipiter, et pi Ii dit comme ~a: - Mo nation voy6 moin cot6 vous pou mand6 vous, qui maite tout ~a ye"na en haut la terre, si VOUS croi na. va garde' nous maites y6 tout la journin et tout la nouite., japp6 tout temps, trapp6 coups pied, pas mang6 arien. Nous trop Mariaze Compair Lapin 45 " But you, why are you running so? They are surely not going to make a soldier of you?." "No, you believe that. Ah, well, with all your cunning you know nothing. When the officers of the king will come to get the horses and mules for the cavalry to go to war, they will say: 'That's a fellow with long ears; he is a mule; let us take him.' Even if I protest, and say that I am a rabbit, they will say' 'Oh, no! look at his ears; you see that he is a mule,' and I should be caught, enlisted, and forced to march. It seems to me that I know you, but it is such a long time since I have seen you. May God help me, it is Master Fox, my old friend!" "Yes, yes, it is I, my good fellow. Well! what do you say about all that bad business?" "All that is for a woman," said Compair Lapin; "we must try, my friend, to.have nothing to do with that war." "BBut what shall we do?" said Master Fox. "They will force us into it." "No, you must be King Lion's adviser, and I will be that of King Elephant, and in that way we shall merely look on and let them fight as much as they want." "You know," said Master Fdx, I" Lonine has returned to her father; and as you were not married before the church, I believe that Lion is about to marry her to one of his neighbors. Does it not grieve you, Compair Lapin, to think of that? " "Oh, no; fa zi/ pas oua tcheur pas fait mal (we feel no sorrow for what we do not see)." The two cunning fellows conversed a long time, for they were glad to meet after such a long absence. As they were about to part, they saw two dogs, that stood nose to nose, growling fiercely, and then turned around rapidly and began to smell each other everywhere. " You, Master Fox, who know everything, can you tell me why dogs have the bad habit of smelling each other in that way? " "I will tell you, Compair Lapin, why they do that. In old, old times, when there was but one god, called Mr. Jupiter, all the dogs considered their lot so hard and unhappy that they sent a delegation to ask Mr. Jupiter to better their condition. When they arrived at the house of the god in heaven, all the dogs were so frightened that they ran away. Only one remained; it was Brisetout, the largest dog of the party. He was not afraid of anything, and he came to Mr. Jupiter, and spoke thus: 'My nation sent me to see you to ask you whether you think that we are going to watch over our masters all day and all night, bark all the time, and then be kicked right and left and have nothing to eat. We are too unhappy, and we want to 46 46 Louisiana Folk-Tales. malheureux et nous oulM connin Si flous pas capabe temps en temps manze' moutons nous zotes maites; nous pas capabe travaille comme,Va pou arien, qa vous dit, Michi6 Zipiter? - Attende emn ti moment, mo va donnin to; emn r6ponse qu6 jamin vous zotes a envie vini be't6 moin encore, mo, lasse Lende' tout sortes plaints, to tend6. Alors li par1M ein langage personne t6 capabe comprende et ein dans so commis sorti pou couri cherchM quichoge. Li dit Brisetout assite et chien la rest6 en haut dernier marche l'escalier. Li t6 cr6 Micbie' Zipiter te' gagnin pou r~ga16 li, mais premier quichoge Ii t6 connin, cornmis la tournin avec lote moune, y6 prend Brisetout., y6 marr6 Iii ben, ensuite y6 prend emn pote ferblanc y6 mett6 ladans piment avec t6l~bentine et y6 frott6 chien la partout. A force Sa t6 bourh6 Ii, li MM1, Ii be'gle et pi y6 1ach6 'Li. Alors Michi6 Zipiter dit Ii comme ~a:- Va port6 Sa to camarades et chaque dans vous zotes qua vini planine, ma va traits y6 pareil, to tend4, hemn? Ah non, li pas tends, pasqu6 Brisetout galop6 dret devant Ii, sans connin ou la couri. A la fin Ii riv6 devant ein bayou, li tombs ladans et li ney6. Que'que temps apr~s ~a Michi6 Zipiter t4- pas senti Ii bien, Ii pens6 Ii sr6 quitt6 ciel, vini promenin ein p6 en haut la terre. Dans so chimin li contre' emn pommier qui t6 charge avec belle de'pommes, Ii commece ~mang,6 et pendant temps leir.c bande 'Chien vini japp6 apr~s Ii. Li commands' so Baton fout y6 emn bon trempe et Baton la prend tournin a droite et a gauche. Li bimin tout chiens y6 et paiII6 y6 tout, jis emn pove chien gale. Li mand6 Baton la pardon, alors Baton la pouss6 ii divant Michi'6 Zipiter et li dit comme Sa: -Chien cila t6 si maigre mo, t6 pas gagnin courage bimin Ii. -C'est bon, dit Michi6 Zipiter, 1aiss6 Ii couri, mais si jamais chien vini japp6 apre's momn mo va d'ktruit y~6 tout. Vous zotes d~j-a voy6 ein d~l~gation cot6 momn et mo trait6 Ii bien pou pas Ii vini encore et vous zotes, deja bli Sa. Pove chien maigre la dit Ii: - C'est vrai ~a vous dit, mai's nous pas jamin oua commissionaire nous t6 voy6 cot6 vous, nape tende 1i touj ou. Alors Michi6 Zipiter dit:- Mo vs dit toi comment vous zotes srs capabe reconnaite Ii: si vous zotes senti lein a lote, clila cjui senti t~hkbentine, c'est Ii vous zotes t6 voy6 cot6 moin. -Vous oua asteur, Compair Lapin, cofaire chien senti emn a lote, Mariaze Compair Lapin. 47 know if you will allow us once in a while to eat one of the sheep of our masters. We cannot work like this for nothing. What do you say, Mr. Jupiter?' "'Wait a moment I shall give you such a reply that you will never wish to annoy me any more. I am tired of hearing all sorts of complaints. I am tired, do yoa hear?' "Then Mr. Jupiter spoke a language that no one could understand, and one of his clerks went out to get something. He told the dog to sit down. Brisetout remained on the last step of the staircase. He thought that Mr. Jupiter was going to give him a good dinner; but the first thing he knew, the clerk returned with another man. They took hold of Brisetout, they tied him well, then they took a tin pan in which they put red pepper and turpentine. They rubbed the dog all over with the mixture; it burnt him so much that he howled and bellowed. When they let him go, Mr. Jupiter told him: ' You will give my reply to your comrades, and each one that will come to complain will be received in the same manner; you hear?' "Ah, no, Brisetout did not hear; he ran straight ahead without knowing where he was going. At last he arrived at a bayou, fell into it, and was drowned. " Some time after that, Mr. Jupiter did not feel well. He thought he would leave heaven and take a little trip to earth. On his way he saw an apple-tree which was covered with beautiful apples. He began to eat some; and while he was eating, a troop of dogs came to bark at him. Mr. Jupiter ordered his stick to give them a good drubbing. The stick began to turn to the right and to the left, and beat the dogs so terribly, that they scattered about in a minute. There remained but one poor dog, who was all mangy. He begged the stick to spare him. Then Stick pushed him before Mr. Jupiter, and said: 'Master, that dog was so thin that I did not have the courage to beat him.' 'It is very well,' said Mr. Jupiter,' let him go; but if ever any dog comes to bark at me again, I shall destroy them all. I don't want to be bothered by you, I say. You have already sent me a delegation, and I received them so well that I don't think they will like to come back to see me. Have you already forgotten that?' The poor lean dog replied: ' What you say is true, but we never saw again the messenger we sent you; we are still waiting for him.' Mr. Jupiter then said: 'I will tell you how you can find out the messenger you had sent to me: let all dogs smell one another, and the one which will smell turpentine is the messenger.' " You see now, Compair Lapin, why dogs smell one another. It 48 48 Louisiazna Folk- Ta4s. C est Michie6 Zipiter qui fait ~a. Pove vieux Michi6 Zipiter li perdi tout so pratique pasque' pape ordonnin tout moune quitt6 li et Ii t6 blige' fermi so boutique. Li parti et personne pas connin ou li couri. Vous comprende, Compair Lapin, tojnmme quichoge, ein moune fini par d6gout6, alors y6 prend emn lote Bon Dje' et ein lote religion. Cila nous gagnin asteur mo croi ii bon. - Merci, merci, Compair Renard, et pou prouv6 vous nous toujou bon zamis mo va dit vous ~a nous capab fait. Comnme mo, deja dit vous na va rest6 tranquille. Comnme NMlephant y6 ouh6 couri taque' Lion chez Ii Meme na va fait en pont pou pass6 larme'e et slitot Ii va fini na va mnarche' dret sans ret6 nille part jisqua nous rendi cote' Lion. Nous ouli6 surprende li; pas dit ~a personne, vous tend6. Yc serr6 la main et y6 s6par6. Renard prend so chimin et Lapin couri trouv6 Roi NMle'phant et pi li dit tout charpentier et forgeron dans pays faut ye' cout6 Hi. Quand tout zouvrier te' re'ini Compair Lapin commence' fait so pont qui t6 vite fini. Au boute pont la, cote' y6, Ii fait emn grand parc. Ce'tait barre di fer qui te' plante' dans la terre disse pieds haut et pi si pointi au boute qu6 emn demouche t6 pas capabe pos6 sans li rest6 pris; et pi Ii couvri tout barre di fer avec: la liane et tout quichoge qui te6 vert comme si c'e6tait emn grand talle z~ronce, pou y6 dout6' c'6tait emn la trappe. Alorse li prend quatre lavache avec ye' piti veaux et marr6' ye' dans bo milie' la. Apre's ~a Ii mette piment, la cendre et la prise qu.6 ii paille' partout dans la trappe la. Li mnette aussli plein baille dolo avec ein drogue qui t6 connin endormi tout souite. - La, Compair Lapin dit, nous par4, Iaiss6 Lion vini taqu.6 nous zotes. Renard t6' ap6 voyage' toujou pou couri rende cornpte so commission, mais li t6 si pair couri cot6 Lion sans Compair Lapin que' li pens6' Ii te' vaut mie' pas couri ditout. Dans so chimin Ii contr6 ein poule, li tchu6 Ii, Ii prend so disang et barbouille' emn vi6 linge. Li rnarr6 so p'atte darriere et Ii prend boit6, saut6 en haut trois pattes A la fin li rencontrd Bourriquet et li dit comine ~a:- Mo cher zami, rende moin ei ti service, to oua comme mo malade. Tant prie, couri cote' Lion et dit Ii mo pas capabe vini. Y6 cass6 mo patte cote' n~le'phant pasqud' mo, t6 couri r~clam6 Compair Lapin. Oh, non, dit Bourriquet, to t6 toujon Conte momn avec Compair Lapin, couri to me'me. Mariaze Comrair Lapin. 49 was all Mr. Jupiter's doing. Poor old fellow, he has now lost all his clients, since the pope ordered everybody to leave him, and he has had to close his shop. He left the heaven, and no one knows where he went to hide. You understand, Compair Lapin, people get tired of having always the same thing; so they took another religion, and I think that the one we have now is good." "Thank you, thank you, Master Fox, for your good story; and in order to show you that I am your old friend, I will tell you what we can do. As I told you already, we must remain very quiet. As the elephants want to go to attack King Lion in his own country, they will make a bridge for the army to pass. When the bridge will be finished they will go straight ahead, without stopping anywhere, to attack King Lion, for they want to take him by surprise. Don't you tell that to anybody, you hear." Compair Lapin and Master Fox then shook hands, and they parted. Master Fox went on his way, and Compair Lapin went to the king of elephants and asked him to give orders to all the carpenters and blacksmiths in the country to obey him. When all the workmen were assembled, Compair Lapin began to make the bridge, and soon finished it. On the side of the river which was in the country of the elephants, he made at the end of the bridge a large park. These were bars of iron planted in the earth; they were at least ten feet high, and so sharp that a fly could not touch one without being pierced through. Compair Lapin then covered the bars of iron with branches and brambles to make it appear like a patch of briers, in order that they might not know that it was a snare. Then hle took four cows with their calves, and tied them in the very middle of the pit. Then he put in it red pepper, ashes, and tobacco snuff. Then he placed in the trap a great number of tubs of water, in which there was a drug that made people go to sleep right off. After he had finished all this, Compair Lapin said: "'Now let King Lion come to attack us." Master Fox was still travelling to render an account of his errand to King Lion; but he was so much afraid to return without Compair Lapin, that he concluded that it was better not to return at all. On his way he met a hen; he killed it, and covered an old rag with the blood. He tied his hind paw with the rag, and he began to limpi and jump on three feet. At last he met Bourriquet, to whom he said: "My dear friend, render me a little service; you see how sick I am. I pray you to go to King Lion, to tell him that I cannot come to see him. The elephants broke my leg because I had come to claim Compair Lapin." "Oh, no!" said Bourriquet; "you were always against me with Cobnpair Lapin. Go yourself." so 50 ~Louisiana Folk- Tales. -C'est bon, dit Renard, c'estpasjis einfois la bouche besoina manger, ta va besoin moin avant longternps, si to te' connin ~a mo oua et ja mo connin, to t6 cout6 moin. -Eh ben, dis moin tout, mo va couri', dabord vous pas capabe marcher. -C'est ben, cout alors:- N6l6phant cont6 vini taqut4 Lion chez lii; pou ~a y6 fait ein grand pont pou passer et y6 va vini tout souite surprende Lion. Si Lion connin quichoge, la fait mi6 couri taqu6 n6l6phant avant y6 vini soulever li sans li dout6 arien. Alors B3ourriquet parti grand galop et quand li riv6 cote' Lion li dit tout ~a Renard t6 cont6 Hi. Lion t6 si content Ii dit ein so nioune donnin Bourriquet emn p6 lapaille pou mang6. Bourriquet tt6 pas content, Ii babillk' emn p6, alors cila qui donne li la paille dit Hi: To connin q'u/ ei choal dounin to doitepas gard6 la bride., -Mo t6 croi, dit Bourniquet, mo srd gagnin mei~l~re reconmpense, mnais ma prend ~a toujou, pasqu6 ein ti zozo dans (a main vaut mit' quelplein ti zozos qua~pi voltigei dans bois. Tout dein coup y6 tend6 emn grand boulvari. C'6ait Lion avec tout so zanimo, tigue, lours, loup et tout qa Ii t6 capabe ramass6. Renard te' d6j~ tournin pou verti Compair Lapin y6t6 ap6 vini. LUonine t6 dans la bande et a tout moment so popa t6 ap6 dit Ii: - Mo content to vini, Compair Lapin gagnin pou payer tout so farce, faut to trait,6 li comme li trait6 toi. Lion t6 en t6te la bande; quand y6 t6 proche pont la li contr6 Corupair Renard qui t6 couch6 dans chirnin avec so patte cass6. -An, an, dit Lion, c'est comme ~a y6 trait6 toi, y6 gagnin pou payd tout ~a. -Couri vite, dit Renard, pas attende y6 vini taqu6 vous zotes, pass6 pont la tout souite, vous zotes va d6rout y6. Y6 continu6 y6 chimin, yA tout t6 ap6 galp6 et y6 prend pou pass6 pont, Lion en t6te avec so fille. Quand y6 vini cot6 la trappe la et y6 oua lavache lay6 qui t6 ap6 bUg1, Lion et so la bande mang6 y6 tout. Ensuite y6 prende batte et y6 voltig6 la cendre et piment et la Mariaze Conpmair Lapjin. 5S "That is good," said Master Fox; "c'estpasjis einfois la bouche besoin manger (I shall have my chance again, you will need me again). If you knew what I have seen and what I know, you would listen to me." "Well, tell me all," said Bourriquet; "and I will go, since you cannot walk." "That is all right; listen well. The elephants intend to come to attack King Lion in his country. They are making a bridge to cross the river, and as soon as the bridge will be finished they will come immediately to surprise Lion. If the king understood his business, he would hasten to attack the elephants in their own country, before they come to lift him up before he knows it." As soon as Master Fox had finished speaking, Bourriquet galloped away and went to King Lion, to whom he said what Master Fox had related to him. The king was so glad that he ordered some one to give Bourriquet a little hay to eat. Bourriquet was not very much pleased, and he began grumbling. "Don't you know, Bourriquet," said the king's servant, " quG ein choual donnin to doite pas gardt la bride (that you must not look at the bridle of a horse which was given to you)." "Well," said Bourriquet, "I had expected a better reward, but I '11 take that anyhow, because ein ti zozo dans la main vaut mid qug plein ti zazos quapf voltigi dans bois (a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush)." All at once they heard a dreadful noise. It was King Lion, who was starting for the war with all the animals which he could find: tigers, bears, wolves, all King Lion's subjects were there. As to Master Fox, he had run back to notify Compair Lapin that the enemies were coming. Miss Leonine was with the army, and her father used to tell her all the time: " I am glad that you came; Compair Lapin will have to pay for all his tricks; you must treat him as he treated you." King Lion was at the head of the army, and coming near the bridge he saw Master Fox, who was lying in the road with his leg broken. " Oh! oh!" said Lion, "this is the way they treated you I They shall have to pay for all that." "Make haste," said Master Fox; "don't wait till they come to attack you; pass the bridge immediately; that will throw them in confusion." The army went on. They all ran to pass over the bridge, King Lion at the head, with his daughter. As soon as they arrived at the place where was the snare, and they saw the cows and their calves, King Lion and his troops killed them and began to eat them. Then 52 52 ~Loueisiana Folk- Tales. Prise et ~a t6 aveugl6 y6. Y6 batte, y6 massacr,6 y6 m~me et pi ~a yA. qui te' rest6 boi dolo la. D6 ze're apr~s Sa y6 tout t,6 ap6 dromi. Alors n6l6phant vini- tchu6 y6 et j6t6 y6 dans dolo. Y' corchid Lion, y6 prend so lapeau et coude Bourriquet ladans. Y6 mett6 ein tas la paille avec godron apr~s so la tcheu, et y6 rnette6 di f6 ladans et pi y6 lach6 ii pou couri porte- la nouvelle dans 'pays Lion. Quand Bourriquet pass6 en haut pont, a force Ji galp6 vite moune t-6 cr6 c'e'tait tonnerre qui te6 ap6 roul6 plis d6 cent charret6es. Quand Bourriquet riv6 dans pays Lion so boute la tcheu t6 tomb6' a force Ii t6 bourl6, li dit c'6tait dans emn bataille ye' t6 donne li emn coup sabe. Malgre' li t6 port6 emn triste nouvelle y' ri aprbsipsu I 6to drole comme ~a.e lipsu'it6rp Quand tout ~a t6 fini, Compair Lapin couri trouv6 Compair Renard et Ii m6nin Ii cot6 Roi Ne'l6phants. Compair Lapin pr'sent' li et dit 16 roi qu6 Renard te6 emn so bon zamis et li sr6 content si Roi t6 accept6' li et y6 d6 sr6 rende bande services. Roi ne"16phants dit y6: - Mo croi vous zotes c6 d6 malin, dans zaffaire nous t6 gagniri avec Lion mo croi Compair Renard t6 galp6 avec che~vreil et chassi avec clijen. Enfin c'est bon, li capabe rest6 icite. Tant qu'a pou toi, Compair Lapin, mo oul6 to mari6, ala emn Manmizelle Lapin Blanc qui riche, c'est to zaffaire, demain mo, oul.6 la noce la. Lendemin tout moune t6 r6ini et y6 c616br6 la noce Comupair Lapin avec Mamzelle Lapin Blanc et Compair Renard t6 so premier garqon d'honnair. Trois semaines apr~s la noce Madame Compair Lap'in glbagnin d6 piti, emn te' blanc, lote t6 noir comme la souie chiminin. Compair Lapin t6' pas content, li couri oua Roi n6l6phant pou dit li ~a. - Ah bab, dit 16' Roil, to pas connin arien, to bien mar16 devant 16glise, mo pas capabe donnin toi divorce, et pi mo va dit toi, c'est uhabitude dans famille Madame Compair Lapin gagnin piti qui noir, c'est quand madame y6 pair la nouitte, ainsi consol6 toi. ~a fait Compair Lapin consenti rest6 avec so femme iisaua, Ii mouri et c'est comme ~a~li mari6 avec tout so fr6da.ine. Comme mo t6 la quand tout ~a ri'v6 mo vini pou Conti vous qa.. Mariaze Compair Lapin. 53 they quarrelled among themselves and began to fight. They scattered about the ashes, the red pepper, and the tobacco snuff, and were completely blinded. They fought terribly; they massacred one another; then those that were left drank the water in the tubs. Two hours later they were all sound asleep. The elephants, which had remained prudently at a distance, hearing no more noise, came to the bridge. They killed all the animals that were left in Lion's army, and threw their bodies in the river. They flayed King Lion; they took his skin and sewed Bourriquet into it; then they tied some straw, covered with pitch, to Bourriquet's tail; they put fire to the straw, and they let him go to announce the news in Lion's country. When Bourriquet passed on the bridge, he was galloping so fast that one might have thought that it was thunder that was rolling on the bridge, as if it were more than one hundred cart-loads. When Bourriquet arrived in his country his tail was entirely consumed by the fire, but he said that he had lost it in a battle. Although he announced very sad news, no one could help laughing at him: he was so funny without his tail, and so proud of his glorious wound. As soon as all was over at the bridge, Compair Lapin went to get Master Fox, and took him to the king of the elephants. He presented him to his majesty, and told him that Master Fox was his good friend, and if the king wanted to accept his services, they would both be his very faithful subjects. The king of elephants said to them: I believe that you are two cunning rascals, and that in my war with King Lion, Master Fox t/ galpg avec chdvreil et chass6 avec chien (had been on both sides of the fence); but all right, he may remain here, if he wants. As for you, Compair Lapin, I want you to get married. Here is Miss White Rabbit; she is rich, and will be a good match for you. To-morrow I want to dance at the wedding." The next day all the people assembled, and celebrated with great splendor the marriage of Compair Lapin with Miss White Rabbit. Master Fox was the first groomsman. Three weeks after the wedding, Mrs. Compair Lapin gave birth to two little ones; one was white and the other as black as soot. Compair Lapin was not pleased, and he went to see the king of elephants. " Oh! you know nothing" said the king; "you are married before the church, and I will not grant you a divorce. Besides, I must tell you that in the family of Mrs. Compair Lapin it happens very often that the little' ones are black. It is when the ladies are afraid in a dark night; so console yourself, and don't be troubled." C6mpair Lapin consented to remain with his- wife until death should part them, and that is how he married after all his pranks. As I was there when all that. happened, I ran away to relate it to you. PART SECOND. MARCHEN. 56 56 Louisiana Folk- Tales. xYv'. LlA ROT PAN. In fois yavait in madame, qui t6 si joli, si joli, qu6 ii' t6 jamin oul6 mari6. Tou cila qui t6 vini, li t6 trouv6 quichoge pou di- Oh, tai to trop laide -Oh, toi, to trop piti. Oh, toi, to la bouche trop grand. Ernfin chacunne t6 gaingnin quichoge qui t6 pas dre'te. As.teur ein jou in vailiant michi6 vini. Li t6 dans in carrosse tout en or, et yavait huite choals blancs qui t6 ap6 trainin carrosse la. Li mand6 madame la pou mari6. Li t6 jamin oul6. Michi6 la t6 si en col~re, Ii dit madame la qu6 dans in an ii sr6 gaingnin in fille qui sr6 boucou, boucou pli joli qu6 Ii. Madame la diili couri, qu6 ii t6 pas ou]6 mette so gids enho, 1i encor. Asteur, jisse in an apr~s ~a madame la te6 gaingnin in joli joli piti fille. Quand ii oua li t6 si joli ii frinmin li dans in lachambe an boute so la maison: et Ji mette so nourice, pou gard6. Ti fille la vini grand, et pli's Ii' t6 p6 grandi, et puis 1i t6 p6 vini joli. jamin so nonrice t6 laiss6 ii sorti dans lachambe la. In jou, li t6 p6' balay6, fille la gad6 d6yors, et li oua in gros zozo. -Oh, moman TUte' ii di, comment to p616 zozo la, li si joli? -~,mo piIti, c'est in pan. -Oh, ii di li, moman T&t6, si mo jamin nmari6, mol6 mari6 16 roi Pan. Lors so gadgienne diili: - Bon Djie' tend6 toi', MO piti. Jou la mne'te moman la vini, li p616' gadgienne la dans in coin, li tir6 en bas so romaine in gros couteau et li dii1i: -Mol6 to tchl!6 mo fille. Lap6 viini plis joli qu6 momn. Gadgienne la parti cri6, Mand6 pardon pou so pove piti, mais Sa t6 pas la peine, caire noir la t6 pas tend6 arien. Asteur quand 16 soir vini, gadgienne la di so flle: Mo pove piti, fo, MO tchu6 toi, to moman oule' Sa. Pove piti, la t6 si bon, ii di: -Ah ben, moman T&t6, f6 Ii, pisse,moman ouI6 ~a. Mais 1i di fille la: - Mo pas gain gnin courage f6 sorte Iouvrage la, nio piti. Tiens, ala trois graines, ta jett6 to m6me dans pi et pi ta ney6. Mais avant to tombe' dans pi val6 inne dans graines y6, to va pas souffri ditout comrne ~a. Fille la. bo so moman t&t6 et li prend so chimin po'u couri. Li niarch6 jouqu'a ii rendi cot6 in grand pi. Li descende ladans, et Li Roi Pan. 57 XVI. KING PEACOCK. There was once a lady who was so pretty, —so pretty that she never wanted to marry. She found something to criticise in all the suitors who presented themselves, saying of them: "Oh, you are too ugly." "You are too small." " You have too large a mouth." One day a fine man came; he was in a golden carriage, drawn by eight horses. He asked the lady to marry him, but she refused. He fell into a passion, and told her that in one year she would havw a- daughter that would be much, much prettier than herself. The lady sent him away with scorn. Well, a year later she had a pretty little girl. When she saw that the child was so pretty, she shut her up in a room at the further end of the house, with her nurse to attend to her, As the girl grew up she became handsomer every day. The nurse never allowed her to leave her room, or even to look through the window. One day, however, while the old woman was sweeping the floor, she left the door open, and the young girl saw a large bird. "Nurse," said she, "how do you call that bird which is so pretty?" The woman was obliged to reply, and said: "That is a peacock." "If ever I marry, I want to marry King Peacock." " May God hear you, my child." That very day the mother' came, called the nurse into a corter, drew from under her skirt a, great knife, and said, " I want you to kill my child. She has become prettier than I." The nurse began to cry, and begged the lady to spare the' pot child, but all in vain; that black heart could not be softened. When night came, the nurse said to the girl: "My poor child, I have' t6 kill you, your mother wants you to' die." The girl was so good that she replied: "Well, kill me, nurse; if my mother wants it to be so." But the nurse answered: "No,-I have not the heart to do' ay such thing, my little one. Here, take these three seeds, throw your self in the well and drown yourself; but before jumping in the welt, swallow one of these seeds, and you will not suffer at alL" The girl thanked the nurse, and went to drown herself. She walked until she arrived at a large well. She. threw herself into it, 58 Louisiana Folk. Taks. avant ii riv6 cot6 dolo,, ii' Jett in graine dans so la kouche. Mais au lieu 1Ii couri dans, so labouche li tomb,6 dans dolo. Asteur pi 1i vini tovt sec. Maxnzeile la t6 si chagrin. Li sorti dans pi et ii march6,. march6 loin dans bois, jouqu'a ii tomb6 enho in piti la maison. Li cognin enho la porte, et in vi,6 femme vini ouvri. Li jett6 in cri quand HIi oua joli' mamzelle la. - Oh bon Djie' Seigneur, mo piti, ~a to vini fait icite. To pas connin que mo mani c'est in norgue, ii mang6 moune. Alors fille la dii1i: -Ah ben, madame, c'est Sa mol6, mo moman dit fo mo mouni. Lors vi6 femme la di1ii- Si c'est Sa,, entr6, mo pove piti, mais Sa bien dommage. Pove piti la assite ap6 cri6 et ap6 tende norgue la. Tout d'iii coup yi tendd in gros pas tqui t6 ap6 march6. Sitot la porte la ouvri, norgue cri6: - Oh, mo, femme, mo senti la vianne fraiche, et ou ~ y6? Li gardd cot6 fille la, qui jisse gard6 1i avec so grand gi6s et norgue la tchull6, et Ii' di: - Oh, mo femme, esqu6 to croi qu6 mo capabe mang6 in joli fille comme 9a? Non, ii jisse hon pou yi gard6 li. Fille la dii]i EL t6 si lasse, alors li minnin Ii dans in joli lachambe, et ii cou chach6 in ventail avec d6plime pan et Ii di so femme vant6 Ii tout temps 1ii dromi. Alors pove fille la di: -Vo mi6 mo mouri einne foi, pasqu6 p6t6 t6 dinmain norgue la va envie mang6 momn. Li prend so piti graine, Ii mett6 1i dans so labouche et pi li parti dromi, dromi, et. femme norgue la t6 p6 vant6 ii tout tenmps. Yavait trois jours ii t6 p6 dromi, norgue la vini gad6 li et ii di so femme: -Mo croi ii mouri, et c'est dommage. Li couri laville, et Ii portl6 in cercueji tout en or. Li mett6 fille la ladans et li pos6 ii enho fl~ve. Asteur cercueji la parti descenne, descenne fl~ve. Riv6 loin., 16 roi Pan t6 p6 pranne la fraiche enho la iev6e avec tout so prince y6. Quand li oua Sa qui t6 pe' claire' enbo, fl~ve, 1i di so mnoune y6, couri bien vite oua qui Sa. Y6 tout prend skit et y6 parti. Y6 cri'6: -C6 in cercueii, et y6 minnin li cot6 16 roL. Quand ii oua 'oli mamzelie la qui t6 jisse sembe ap6 dromi, li di: Minnin li cot6 MO lachambe, mol6 sey6 pou, rkveill6 Ii Li ferniin li m6me dans so lachambe, ii frott marozelie la avec dolo cologne, mais, ~a t6 pas 'fait arien. Alorse li ouvri so labouche, et li t6 p6 gard6 comme li t,6 gaingnin joli dents. Li oua quichoge qui t6 rouge dans so dent d&vant, ii prend in 6pingle en or, et ii ot Sa. Li jisse ote Sa, fille la ouvri so gi6 et 1i dit: Mo content oua vous. Alors 1i roi' dit 1i: -Moin, c6 16 roi Pan, et moi6 mari6 avec vous. Li Roi Pan. 59 but before touching the water she took one of her seeds to put it in her mouth. The seed, however, fell in the water, and immediately the well dried up. The young lady was very sorry to see that there was no water left in the well, and getting out she walked as far as a wood, in which she found a small house. She knocked at the door, and an old woman showed herself. When she saw the pretty young girl, she said: "Oh! my child, what do you come to do here? Don't you know that my husband is an ogre? He will eat you up!" Then the girl answered: " That is what I want. My mother wants me to die." The woman replied: "If that is the case, come in, but it is a great pity." The poor girl sat down in a corner, and cried while she was waiting for the ogre. All at once they heard big footsteps, and as soon as the door was opened, the ogre said: " My wife, I smell fresh meat in here," and he ran towards the young girl. She, however, merely looked at him with her large eyes, and he stepped back, saying to his wife: "Do you think that I can eat such a pretty girl? She is so beautiful that I want to look at her all the time." The girl said she was tired, so the ogre took her to a beautiful room, and ordered his wife to fan her with peacock feathers while she would be sleeping. The young lady said to herself: "It is better for me to die now, for perhaps the ogre will change his mind to-morrow and will eat me." She put one of her seeds in her mouth, and fell in a deep sleep. She slept and slept, and the ogre's wife was fanning her all the time. When three days had passed, and she did not awake, the ogre looked at her, and said: "It is a great pity, but I believe she is dead." He went to the town, and brought a coffin all made of gold. He put the girl in it, and placed it on the river. The coffin then went floating down the river. Very far away, King Peacock was one day on the levee, with all his princes, to enjoy the cool breeze, when he saw something shining in the river. He ordered his courtiers to see what that was. They took a skiff, and exclaiming, " It is a coffin," they brought it to the king. When he saw the pretty young girl, who appeared to be sleeping, he said, "Take her to my chamber," for he wished to try to awaken her. He put her on a bed and rubbed her hands and face with cologne water, but to no avail. Then be opened her mouth to see what pretty teeth she had. He saw something red in her front teeth, and tried to take it off with a golden pin. It was a seed which fell on the floor. The young girl awoke and said, " I am so glad to see you." The king replied: "I am King Peacock, and I want to marry 60 6o Louisiaxa Folk-Tales. Mamzelle la dit -C'est ~a, et y6 fait in gros la noce, et y6 di mro'in couri cont6 ja partout, partout. XVII. DES OS QIJI CHANTI. Yavait eine fois ein n'homme et ein fame qui t6 gagnin vingt-cinq piftist Y6 te' tr~s pove, n'homme la t6 bon, fame la t6 mauvais. ' Tous les jous quand mari la te' re'vini so Iouvrage fame la t6 servi Ii dintin., rnais toujou laviande sans des os. Comment ~a fait la viande la pas gagnin des os? -Pasqu6 des os Sa p6s6, et c'est meilleur marche' sans des Os. Y6 donnin plis pou largent. Mani la mange' et pas dit arien. -Comment 9a, fait to pas mange' la. viande? -To blie' mcpas gagnin dents. Comment to 16~ ma mange& I'a viande sans debnts.? - C'est vrai, dit mani Ia, et li paix pasque' Ii t6 pair fait la peine so fame qui t6 aussi laide qu6 Ii t6 m~chant. Quand moune gagnin vingt-cinq pitis moune pas capabe pens6 y~ tout temps et moune pas oua si y6 na emn ou d6 qui manqu&. Em jou apr~s so dinin, mari la mand6 so pitis. Quand y6 t6 cot6 li 1i compt46 yA et jiste trouv6 quinze. Li mand6 so fame ou t6 disse les otes y6. Li r~ponde y6 t6 chez y6 grandmoman et tous les jous li voy6 eiii lote pou ye' change 1'air. ~a t6 vrai', tous les, jous yavait eine qui manqu6. Emn jou mani la te' on so pasporte divant ein gros la pierre y6 t6 gagnin la. Li tap6 pense' so pitis et li t6 oul6 couri chercher y,6 eihez y6 grandmoman, quand Ii tend6 des lavoix qui tap6 dit: Nous moman'tchu6 nous, Nous popa manzd nous. Nous pas dans la bi~re, Nous, pas dans, cimeti~re. En pr6mi'er Ii tz,6pas rende cornpte 9a 9a, te" mais Ii 16v6 Ia. pierre la- et li oua ein grand quantit6 des os- qui recomme=6c cbant6. Li c~omprende a-lors c'6tait des os so pitis so fame t6 tchu6 et qu4, Ii th manz6. Alors ii t6 si en col~re li tchu,6 so fame et terr6 des: os, so pitis, dans cimeti~re et Ii couri, rests6 sel chez~ ii. Dipi temps la. Ii jamaiG manz6 la viande pasqu6 Iii ti toujou cr&. c'e'tait so pitis, i t6 ap~6 manz6. Des Os qui change. 6l you." The young girl said " yes," and there was such a wedding that they sent me to relate the story everywhere, everywhere. XVII. THE SINGING BONES. Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman who had twentyfive children. They were very poor; the man was good, the woman was bad. Every day when the husband returned from his work the wife served his dinner, but always meat without bones. " How is it that this meat has no bones?" "Because bones are heavy, and meat is cheaper without bones. They give more for the money." The husband ate, and said nothing. " How is it you don't eat meat?" " You forget that I have no teeth. How do you expect me to eat meat without teeth?f" " That is true," said the husband, and he said nothing more, because he was afraid to grieve his wife, who was as wicked as she was ugly. When one has twenty-five children one cannot think of them all the time, and one does not see if one or two are missing. One day, after his dinner, the husband asked for his children. When they were by him he counted them, and found only fifteen. He asked his wife where were the ten others. She answered that they were at their grandmother's, and every day she would send one more for them to get a change of air. That was true, every day there was one that was missing. One day the husband was at the threshold of his house, in front of a large stone which was there. He was thinking of his children, and he wanted to go and get them at their grandmother's, when he heard voices that were saying: Our mother killed us, Our father ate us. We are not in a coffin, We are not in the cemetery. At first he did not understand what that meant, but he raised the stone, and saw a great quantity of bones, which began to sing again. He then understood that it -was the bones of his children, whom his wife had killed, andwhom he had eaten. Then he was so angry that he killed his wife; buried his children's bones in the cemetery, And stayed alone at his house. From that time he never ate meat, because he believed it would always be his children that he would eat. 62 62 Louisiana Folk-Tales. XVIII. JEAN SOTTE. Yavait eine fois ein bougue a force Ii' t6 b6te tout moune t6 p6!6 ii jean Sotte. Li' t6' si simple qu6' tout moune te' foute de' H. Li t6 coutume limin la lampe 1e jou et teign6 li 16 soi. jamin Ii t6 pas prend so paras6l dans, jou, jis, la nouitte, quand li te' fait ben nou-. Dans e'6t6 Ii t6 ruette so gros capot et 1'hiver ii' t6 couri tout ni et prend ein grand vantail; ii' t6' fait tout cjuichoge a la rebours. bron sens. 9a fait 16 roi Bangon qul t6 laimin fait farce tend6 parle6 tout faits et geste jean Sotte, alors Ii voy6 chercher li pou amuser tout so camarade. Quand Jean Sotte riv6 cote' 16 roi y6 prend ri a force jean te6 paralite gauche. L6 roi mand6 li comme ~a si Ii t6 connin compter. jean re'ponde li t6 connin compter -d6zefs, que6 bier I1i trouv6 quatre et pi' de'. - Combien qa fait en tout? dit 16 roi. jean Clompt6 en haut so la main et pi li dit qa fait quatre et pi de'. C'est qa m6me, dit Bangon; y6 dit momn c'est Compair Lapin qui to popa? " -Oui, dit jean Sotte, c'est Ii m6me. Non., non! dit ein lote moune qui t6 la, mo croi plitot c'est Conmpair JBouki. Oui, Oui, dit jean, li aussite. - Non, dit emn vie' fame qui t6 ape' pass6, c'est Renaid qui to popa. - Oui', oui, dit Jean Sotte, tout qa y6, c'est tout mo popa, chaqu6ne dans ye' quand y6 passe' dit moin- Bonjou, mo piti, alors moo croi' y6 tout c'est moo popa. Moune y6 ri boucou apr~s jean Sotte, alors 16 roi dit Ii Mo oul6 to porte' moin demain matin emn bouteille di lait taureau, c'est pou fait r6rn6de pou too fille qui malade, Ii gagnin ein point cot46 dlans dos. - C'est bon, dit Jean Sotte, dernain matin bonne baire ma port6 ii'. Et pi roi' Bangon dit lii comme a - Premier avril prochain dans ein mois, ta vini, na gagnin pou d6vinin ein quichoge. Cifla qua trouv6 gagnin pou n-ari6 avec noo fille, mais cila qui sey6 troi fois, si li pas trouv6, mo bourreau gagnin pou coup6 so COU. -C'est bon, ma sey6, dit jean Sotte, et pi Ii parti, soi disant pou chercher di lait taureau. Quand li riv6 cote' Ii, Ii racont6 tout qa so mornan, et vi6 fenmme prend 7ean Sotte, 63 XVIIL JEAN SOTTE. There was once a fellow who was so foolish that everybody called him Jean Sotte. He was so simple that every one made fun of him. He would light the lamp in daytime, and put it out at night; he would take an umbrella with him only when it was very dark. In summer he would put on a great coat, and in winter he would go nearly naked. In short, he did everything contrary to common sense. King Bangon, who loved to play tricks, heard of the sayings and deeds of Jean Sotte, and sent for him to amuse his friends. When Jean came to the king all began to laugh, as he looked so awkward. The king asked him if he knew how to count. Jean replied that he knew how to count eggs; that yesterday he had found four and two. "How much does that make?" said the king. Jean went to count the eggs, and on returning said there were four and two. "Exactly," said the king, "but tell me, Jean Sotte, they say that Compair Lapin is your father?" "Yes, he is." "No, no," said some one else; " I think it is Compair Bouki." "Yes, yes," said Jean Sotte; "it is he also." " No, no," said an old woman who was passing; "it is Renard who is your father." "Yes," said Jean Sotte, "all of them; they are all my fathers. Every time one of them passes by me he says, 'Good-morning, my child.' I must believe, then, that they are all my fathers." Everybody laughed at Jean Sotte; then the king said: "Jean Sotte, I want you to bring me to-morrow morning a bottle of bull's milk. It is to make a drug for my daughter, who is sick, and has a sideache in her back." "All right," said Jean Sotte, "to-morrow morning early I shall bring it." King Bangon then said: — "On the first of April, in one month, you will come. I want you to guess something. If you guess, I will give you my daughter in marriage, but if you try three times, and do not succeed, my execu. tioner will have to cut your neck." All right," said Jean Sotte, "I will try." And then he went away, pretending to go and get the bull's milk. When he reached home, he related to his mother all that had hap 64 64 Louisiana Folk-Tales. cr16, cr16, pasque6 tout sotte so gar~on t6 ye' moman la t6' laimin 1i quand xn6me, pasqu6' c'e6tait jisse ein piti li te' gagnin. Li de'fende jean Sotte coturi, me'nac6 li marr6' li ou ben fait sheriff jet6 li dans prison. Jean Sotte t6 fout ben tout qa; -Ii parti anvant jou, li prend so la hache et anvant li t6 fait clair li t6 d6vant la maison 16' roi. Li grimp6 dans la t6te ein che'ne qui t6 d6vant la maison et p1 li commence': Caou, caou, bich6, bich6. Comme qa t6 fait train et re'v~i11 tout moune emn domestique 16 roi sorti et vini oua. Quand li j&t6 so zi6 en haut jean Sotte, li dit comme ~a: -Mais qu6 commerce tap6 m6n6, bougue d'animal, rdveill6 tout moune comme a qa pas gard6 toi,. to tend6, dit jean Sotte, toi" c'est chien pou japp-4 dans la cour. Quand to maite, 16 roi Bangon, a vini, mo va. dit Ii Sa map6 fait ici. Alors 16 roi vini oua, ]i gard6 li longtemps et pilli mand6 li ~a it U ape' fait dans la tote nabe la. jean Sotte r6ponde Ii t6 ape' bich6 1'corche ch6ne pou fait la tisane pou so popa qui t6 malade, Ii t6 accouche6 la veille, so popa t6 fait d6 jumeaux. - Ale, dit 16 roi, mais pou qui to prend momi, jean Sotte, ou ~a to d6ja tend6 emn n'homme accouch6? Mo pens6 to oul6 foute toi d6 momn. - Comment ~a fait vous mand6 momn hier emn bouteille dit lait taureau, r6ponde jean Sotte, si vous t6 gagnin raison, momn aussite. Alors 16 roi dit li comme ~a - Mo pas croi to aussi sotte qu,6 to ouI6 say6 fait nous zotes croi. Couri la quisine, ya donne toi to d6 -j6ner et pi couri cot6 to la maison et pas blie6 vini premier avril pou oua cila dans nous zotes, qua nmange' posson d'avril la. Q uand jean Sotte tournin cot6 so moman Ii raconte' tout ~a. Vi6 femme la prend cri6 et pi li; dMende Jean couri cot6 roi encore, lii t6 pair ye" sre' coup6 cou so pove piti. Quand jou la vini jean mont6 enf haut so choal et li parti sans so moman t6 connin. Compair Bouki qui t6 traite et malfaisant, dit comme ~a: - Momn mo va p'ch6' jean Sotte couri d6vinin, pasqu6 mo connin li si sotte y6 va coup6 so cou et pi g~?de' so choal, vaut mie6 momn mo profit6 et prend choal la, pas dith arieh, ta oua ~a ma fait. Li-prend ein grand panier gateaux qui te6 poisonnin et p 1Ii mett y6 en haut cin pont ou Jean Sotte t6 gagnin pou pass6. - La, quand, Ii va maiig6l gateaux la y6 la mouri et ma vini prend so choal. Bouki te' connin jean Sotte t6 gourmand et li t6 mang6 pou sir-e dans gateaux y6, niais Cormpair Lapin te laimin Jean Sotte, pasqu6 ein fois 1i t6 trouv6 1i me'me dans grand nembarras, 1i td trouv6 dan's prison dans emn la trappe et Jean, Sotte td lachd 1L Poui Sa- Compair yeatn Sotte. 65 pened, and the old woman began to cry, and could not be consoled, because, however foolish her boy was, she loved him, as he was her only child. She forbade him to go to the king, and threatened to tie him in her cabin, or to have the sheriff throw him in prison. Jean Sotte paid no attention to his mother, and started before daybreak, with his axe on his shoulder. He soon arrived at the house of the king, and he climbed into a big oak-tree which was before the door. He began, " caou, caou, caou," to cut down the branches with his axe, and he woke up everybody in the house. One of the servants of the king came out to see what was the matter; and when he saw Jean Sotte on the top of the tree, he said: "But what is your business there? Fool that you are, you are disturbing everybody." " It is not your business, - do you hear?" said Jean Sotte. "Are you the watch-dog to be barking thus in the yard? When your master, King Bangon, comes, I will tell him what I am doing here." The king came out, and asked Jean Sotte what he was doing there. He replied that he was cutting the bark to make some tea for his father, who had been delivered the day before of two twins. "What!" said the king, "for whom do you take me, Jean Sotte. Where did you ever hear of a man in childbirth? I think you mean to make fun of me." "How is it that yesterday you asked a bottle of bull's milk? If you were right, I am also." The king replied: " I believe that you are not so foolish as you want to make people believe. Go to the kitchen, and they will give you your breakfast. Don't forget to come on the first of April, that we may see which of us will be the April fool." On the first of April Jean Sotte mounted his horse and went out without his mother seeing him. Compair Bouki, who is deceitful and evil-minded, said: "I shall prevent Jean Sotte from going, because I know he is so foolish that they will cut his neck and keep his horse. It is better that I should profit by it, and take his horse. Don't you say anything; you will see what I shall do." He took a large basket full of poisoned cakes, and put it on a bridge where Jean Sotte was to pass. "If he eats those cakes, he will die, and I shall take the horse." Bouki knew that Jean Sotte was greedy and that he would surely eat the cakes. Compair Lapin liked Jean Sotte, because one day, when he was caught in a snare, Jean Sotte had freed him. He did not forget that, and said: " I want to protect the poor fellow," and 66 66 Louisiana Folk- Tales. Lapin dit li me'me:- Mo va protdg6 pove ninnocent la. Li tende Jean Sotte longtemps dans chimin anvant jou et quand li riv6 Ii dit: -Jean Sotte, mo vini pou rende toi service, cout6 moin ben, pas mang6e ni bois arien dans chimin pendant to voyage, quand m6me tap6 mouri faim et soif. Cout6 moin, to tend6, ye gagnin pou poisonn6 toi si to boi ou mang6. Quand 16 roi a mande6 toi pou d6vinin ta reponde Ii jisse qa mo va dit toi dans to zoreille; vanc6, nio pas oul6 personne tend6. Alors Compair Lapin dit Ii tout doucement ~a pou. r6ponde. -An, an, oui, oui, dit Jean Sotte, mo comprende, et pi li rit. Oui, Oui, c'est ~a m6me. -~ Asteur, dit Compair Lapin, pas bli moin quand ta mari6 avec fille 16 roi, voy6 chercher momn et na fait bon zaffaire. -Oui, dit Jean Sotte, mo va pas bl6 vous. -Eh ben, bon voyage, fait ben tention tout ~a to. oua, garde' partout, coutd ben et qa va profit6 toi. Alors Jean Sotte mett6 Ii en route et ein piti moment apr~s Ii riv6 cot6 pont en haut Ta rivi~re. Pr6mier quichoge li oua, c'e'tait panier bel gateaux Compair Bouki. Y6 t6 senti bon, ~a t6 donnin envie mang6.. Jean Sotte gard6 y6, Ti tat6 ye', Ii t6 proche envie mord6 ladans, mais Ii rappel6 ~a Compair Lapin dit Ii, qa fait Ii re't6 ein ti moment. Laiss6 moin oua si ya fait mo choal mal. Li prend cin demi douzaline gateaux et donne so choal. Pove b6te la mouri ein ti moment apre's, li tomb6 raide en haut pont la, c'6tait fini dans emn ti moment. - Gard6 si mo t6 pas prend precaution. Ah, Compair Lapin t6 raison; em p6 plis mo t6 fouti, Anvant li parti li culbit6 so choal dans la rivi~re et quand pove b6te t6 apd d6riv6 dans, courant trois carencros vini pos6 en haut ii et commenc6 mang6 so pove choal. Jean Sotte gard6 Ti longtemps jisqua Ii disparaite derrie're la pointe. - Compair Lapin dit momn gard6, cout et pas dit arien, c'est bon, moin aussite mo va gagnin pou mande' 16 roi d6vinin quichoge. Quand Jean Sotte riv6 cot6 16 roi y6 navait d6j~ plein moune qui t6 say6 d6vinin ~a 16' roi t6 propos6 y6, et apr~s, y6 t6 say6 troi's fois so bourreau t6' coup6 y6 cou. Yavait cinquante qui t6 d6ja' nouri'. Alors tout mnoune dit:- - Ala Jean Sotte, li va say6 d6vinin aussite, Ii si sotte vous zotes a oua commc; ya coup6 so cou, ldiss6 Ii fait, dabord Ii si bete. L6 roi prend r~i quand Ii oua Jean Sotte et Ii dit li comme ~a. - Qui ~a qui bon matin march6 en haut quatre pattes, a midi en haut d& pattes, et 16 soir en haut trois pattes? 7ean Sotte. 67 before daybreak he waited on the road for Jean Sotte. When he saw him, he said: " Jean Sotte, I am coming to render you a service, listen to me: don't eat or drink anything on your way, even if you are dying of hunger and of thirst; and when the king will ask you to guess, you will reply what I am going to tell you. Come near; I don't want anybody to hear." Compair Lapin then told him what to say. "Yes, yes, I understand," said Jean Sotte, and he began to laugh. " Now," said Compair Lapin, "don't forget me when you marry the king's daughter; we can have good business together." " Yes," said Jean Sotte, " I shall not forget you." "Well, good luck, pay attention to all you see, look on all sides, and listen well." Then Jean Sotte started, and a little while afterwards he arrived at a bridge on the river. The first thing he saw was the basket full of cakes which Compair Bouki had placed there. They smelled good and they were very tempting. Jean Sotte touched them and felt like biting one, but he remembered what Compair Lapin had told him. He stopped a moment and said: " Let me see if they will do harm to my horse." He took half a dozen cakes and gave them to his horse. The poor beast died almost immediately and fell on the bridge. " See, if I had not been prudent, it is I who would be dead instead of my horse. Ah! Compair Lapin was right; a little more and I should have been lost. Now I shall have to go on foot." Before he started he threw his horse into the river; and as the poor beast was being carried away by the current, three buzzards alighted on the horse and began to eat him. Jean Sotte looked at him a long time, until he disappeared behind the point in the river. "Compair Lapin told me: 'listen, look, and don't say anything;' all right, I shall have something to ask the king to guess." "When Jean Sotte came to the king nobody was trying to guess, for all those who had tried three times had been put to death by the king's executioner. Fifty men already had been killed, and every one said, on seeing Jean Sotte: "There is Jean Sotte who is going to try, they will surely cut off his head, for he is so foolish. But so much the worse for him if he is such a fool." When he saw Jean Sotte the king began to laugh and told him to come nearer. "What is it," said he, "that early in the morning walks on four legs, at noon on two, and in the evening on three legs?" 68 6S Louisiana Folk-Tales. - Si me d~vinin, vous va donnin moin vous flle? -Oh, j'est pas arien pou d~vinin. -Eh ben, hourrab, fait vite si to pas oul6 moe coup6 to cou. -C'vest ein piti moune qui march6 en haut quatre pattes, Quand 1i vini grand li marche' en haut d6, et quand li vini vi6 li blig6 prend ein baton pou apiyer li, ~a fait trois pattes. Tout moune restcs la bouche ouvri a force y6 t6 6tonn6. -To d~vinin jiste, dit 16 roi, mo, fille pou toi. Asteur nimporte qui dans vous zotes mand.h momn emn quichoge et si mo pas trouv6,, pasqu6 mo connin tout ~a ye' na dans nmoune, alors mo va donnin li mo place avec mo fortine. Alors Jean Sotte dit 16 roi: -~ Mo oua ein mort qui tt6 ap6 port6 trois vivants et ap6 nourri y6. Mort la t6 pas touche' la terre ni li t6 pas dans ciel, di's momn qui c'est ou ben ma va prend vous place avec vous fortine. Roi Bangon saye' d6vinin, li dit c'est 9a et tout plein quichoge, 1i pas fouti de'vinin et li te' bliog6 bandonn6 la partie. Alors Jean Sotte dit li comme 9a, Mo choal mourli en haut ein pont, mo, j~t]6 1i clans la rivi~re et quand ii t6 ap6 d~riv6 carencros pose' en haut 1i et imange' li dans dalo. Li t6 pas touch6 la terre ni li te' pas clans ciel. Alors tout moune oua qu6 Jean Sotte tc6 boucou plis main qui y6 taus ensembe. Li marie6 avec fille 16 roi, li prend so place et ctest li qui t6 gouvern6 pays la apr~s. Li prend Compair Lapin pou so premier colombe, et pi apre's ~a y6 pende Cormpair Bouki pou so coquinerie. Apr~s ca yd chang6 nom Jean Sotte et p6I6 li Jean I'Esprit. xIx. MARIAZE DJABE. Ein jou y6 t6 gagnin ein joli jeine fille mais Ii t6 fl~re. A chaque fois des michi~s t6 vini fe' ii lamour, Ii' t6 toujougagnin pr~texes. Ein tt6 tro piti, lote t6 tro grand, ci la, so chive t6 trap rougre. Enfin 1i t6 jamin oul6 mari y'6. In jou, so momnan dit ii: - Mo fille, to oua gros nabe, haut, baut, ruili flve, makt mett6 giromon ~a to oua on nabe la au boutte branche plis f~be la, et clla qua capabe trapp$ giramon la, ta marh'6 avec li. ~a fait fille la dit outl Y6 mett qa en haut tons la gazette. La Mariaze Djabe. 69 " If I guess, you will give me your daughter?" "Yes," said the king. "Oh! that is nothing to guess." "Well, hurrah! hurry on if you don't want me to cut your neck." Jean Sotte told him, it was a child who walked on four legs; when he grew up he walked on two, and when he grew old he had to take a stick, and that made three legs. All remained with their mouths wide open, they were so astonished. "You have guessed right; my daughter is for yoi. Now, let anybody ask me something, as I know everything in the world; if I do not guess right I will give him my kingdom and my fortune." Jean Sotte said to the king: " I saw a dead being that was carrying three living beings and was nourishing them. The dead did not touch the land and was not in the sky; tell me what it is, or I shall take your kingdom and your fortune." King Bangon tried to guess; he said this and that and a thousand things, but he had to give it up. Jean Sotte said then: " My horse died. on a bridge, I threw him into the river, and three buzzards alighted on him and were eating him up in the river. They did not touch the land and they were not in the sky." Everybody saw that'Jean Sotte was smarter than all of them together. He married the king's daughter, took his place, and governed the kingdom. He took Compair Lapin as his first overseer, and hanged Compair Bouki for his rascality. After that they changed Jean Sotte's name and called him Jean l'Esprit. XIX. THE DEVIL'S MARRIAGE. One day there was a pretty young girl, but she was very proud, and every time the young men came to court her, she found a pretext to send them away. One was too small, another was too tall, another had red hair; in short, she refused all her suitors. One day her mother said to her: " My daughter, you see that tall, tall tree in the middle of the river? I am going to put this pumpkin on the smallest branch at the top of the tree, and that young man who will be able to climb up and catch the pumpkin will be your husband." The daughter said she had no objection, so they put a notice in 70 70 Louisiana Folk- Tales. semaine apr~s y6 t6 gagnin in tas jeine nommes la. Ye' t6 gagniri ein qui t6 si bien habill6, si joi, ~a t6 djabce t personne. t6 pas connin ~a. Li t6 a116 bien avec mamzelle la. Mamzelje la jit so roman: -Mo sr6 voudre6 li t6 capabe trapp6 giromon la. Tout moune sey6, et ye' tout dit y6 te' pas capabe. ~a fait tour djabe la vini. Dans ein minite Ii te' on nabe la avec giromon la on so la main. Li descende et Ii dit mam~zelle la: -~ Vini asteur, vini dans mo la maison. Fille la habill16 li m6me bien, et parti avec djabe. Enho chimin emn moune oua. djab et cdit Ii: - Donne moin mo cravate., et mo. col, ~amo t6 pr&t6 toi. Djabe ote' so cravate et so col, et dit -Tcbiens, tchiens, to vie' cravate et to vi6 col. Emn p6 plis loin ein lote nhomme oua djabe et dit: - Donne momn mo chimise, qa mo t6 pr6te' toi. Djabe ot6 so chimise et dit - Tchiens, tchiens, to vi6 chimise. Emnp6 plis loin li oua. ei lote nhomrne qui dit Ii: - Donne momn mo capot, ~a mo t6 pr6t6 toi. Djabe ot6 so capot et dit Ii: - Tchiens, tchiens, to vi6 capot. Ein p6 plis loi~n Ii oua ein lote nhomme qui dit Iii: -Donne moin mo tchilottes, et mo caneqons qa mo pr6t6 toi. Djabe ot6 so tchilotte et so caneqons et dit lii: - Tchiens, tchiens, to vi6 tchilottes et to vi6 caneqons. Plis loin encore, ein lote mande' Ii pou so chapeau. Li ou&t6 so chapeau et donn6 Ii, Li descende so la voitire, et y6 pas oua Ii pendant emn piti moment. Li re'vini bien faraud comme anvant. Fille la commenc6 pair. Plis loin encore eiii lote dit Ii: Donne momn mo choal y6 mo t6 pr~t6 toi'. Djabe descende et donne Ii so quatre choal y6. Lors li dit fille la: - Descende et trainin momn; fille la descende et so caire te' ap6 batte fort. Li trainin djabe jisqua cot6 so la maison. Li couri dans so jardin, et dit fille la: -~ Rest avec mo moman. Quand djabe t6 bien parti, moman djabe dit filue Ia -Ah, mo fille, to tombe' mal mar6. To mari6 djabe. Fille la t6 si chagrin Ii te' pas connin ~a pou fait, Li dift vi6 fame la - - Tan prie, mo hon vi6 madame, vous pas capabe donne main monien pou chapp6. Fame la dit: Oui, attende jouqua dinmain matin, et vini oua quichoge. Li minnin fille la. dans ein ti la chambe. Li ouvert ti la chambe la. Li dit - Vini oua quichoge, mo fille. Fille la garde' dans ti la chambe la. ~a Ii oua? Emn tas fames pende en haut ein d6clou. Li te' si pair Ii t6 pas connin qa pou dit. Li mand6' fame la, si Ii t6 pas capabe cacM4 Ii m6me ecp qu6que part, Mariaze Djabe. 71 the newspapers. The next week a crowd of young men presented themselves, and among them one who was beautifully dressed and exceedingly handsome. He was the Devil, but nobody knew him. The young girl told her mother: "I wish he would catch the pumpkin." All the young men climbed on the tree, but no one could succeed in reaching the pumpkin. When the turn of the Devil came, in one minute he was up the tree, and had the pumpkin in his hand. As soon as he was down he said to the young girl: " Come now, come with me to my house." The girl put on her best dress and went away with the Dcvil. On the road they met a man, who said to the Devil: " Give me my cravat and my collar which I had lent to you." The Devil took off his cravat and his collar, and said: "Here, take your old cravat and your old collar." A little further on, another man saw the Devil and told him: "Give me my shirt which I had lent you." The Devil took off his shirt and said: " Here, here, take your old shirt." A little further, he saw another man, who said to him: " Give me my cloak which I had lent to you." The Devil took off his cloak, and said: " Here, here, take your old cloak." A little further, another man asked for his trous. ers, then another one for his hat. The Devil took off the trousers and the hat, and said: "Here, here, take your old trousers and your old hat." He came down from his carriage and disappeared for a few minutes, then he returned as well dressed as before. The young lady was beginning to be very much frightened when they met another man, who said: " Give me my hoises which I had lent to you." The Devil gave him his four horses, and said to his wife: " Get down from the carriage and hitch yourself to it.' She drew the carriage as far as the Devil's house, and was so frightened that her heart was almost in her mouth. The Devil entered his garden, and said to his wife: "Remain here with my mother." As soon as he was gone the mother said to the young lady: " Ah! my daughter, you have taken a bad husband; you have married the Devil." The poor girl was so sorry that she did not know what to do, and she said to the old woman: " Can you not tell me how I can run away?" The old woman replied: " Yes, wait until to-morrow morning; but come, let me show you something." She opened the door of a little room, and said: " Look, my daughter." The girl looked in the room, and what did she see? A number of women hanging from a nail. She was so frightened that she asked the old woman if she could not hide her somewhere until the next morning. The 72 72 ~Loudsiana Folk. Tales. jouqua dinmain matin. Fame ltu dit oui, rnais, quitte6 mo dit toi in monien pou chapper. Quand djabe la dit toi a soir faut donne so coq qui reveille li tous les -matins ein sac mars, au lieu donne li emn donne li trois, pou tchombo ii ape' mang6 plis que6 tous les matins, pou pas li MM1 trop vite. Fame la dit aussite: - Cou-ri dans poulailler, prend six dedzefs sales. Pas prend de'efs propres, mo piti ~a va porte6 toi malh~re. Lendemin matin fille la donne coq la trois sacs mars. Li prend so dt~zefs et li parti. Quand coq la fini so trois sacs mars li chant6. Djabe r6veille6 vite:- Que'quenne dans. la maison parti, Ii dit. Djabe 16v6 vite et parti. Fille la gard6 derriere Ii. ~a t6 la fumin et di fM. qa t6 djabe mimmc. Li prend ein de'zef, 1i cass6 de'zef la. In gros barri~re en dibois pouss6. Djabe la t6 gagnin pou tournin chez Ii, cherchM so ti la hache pou cass6 barrit~re la. Li cass6 barri~rc la, li tournin chez ii, porter so la hache. Fille la tends di bri, 1i garde' derri~re ii', li oua la fumin et di f6. ~a t6 djabe m~me. Li cass6 emn lote d6zef emn la barrie're en fer pouss6. Djabe tournin chez li pou chercher so ti la hache en or. Li cassd' la barrie're la et tournin porte' so la hache. Fille la garde' derrkere, li oua la fumin et di f6, 1i cass6 emn lote d6zef, emn gros di f6 limin. Djabe te gagnin pau tournin chercher cmn la jarre dolo pou taingnin di fM. Li t6 gagnin pau couri rappart6 so la jarre. Fille la gard6 encore, i oua la fumin et dif6. I~a t6 djabe. Li casse' ei late d6zef, emn la barri~re en briques pousse'. Djabe t6 gagnin pou couri chercher so la hache en or, et li tournin rap. port6 ii. Fille la gard6 encore, Ii oua la fumin et di f6, qa t6 djabe. Li cassA cmn late d6zef, ein ti fle'vc pouss6. Y6 t6 gagnin cin ti pirogue, Ii traverse' et djabe la nag,6. Fille la gard6 derrie're li encore. Li oua la fumin et di f6. 9~a t6 djabe. Li cass6 ein lote de'zef, emn gros fle've pouss6. Ye' t6 gagnin ein gras carman an bard ap6 chauff6' dans soleil; fille la chants: Ten prie, grandmomnan, traversez main, sauvez mo la vie, belle, belle, tonic' belle. Cacadrilic dit- Mont6 an mo dos, ma sauv6 to la vie. Djabe oua magni "re fille la tc6 gagnin pou traverser, Li dit; cocodrille la:- Traverse' main, cocodrille, travers6 moin. Cocodrille dit: - Mont6 on ma dos, ma traverse' toi. Rendi dans miM l6thve 1i calM, 1i cahM en bas dolo et 1i ney~ djabe. Mariaze Djabe. 73 woman said: "Yes, but let me tell you how you can escape from here. When the Devil tells you to give one sack of corn to his rooster which wakes him up in the morning, you will give him three sacks that he may eat more and not crow so early. Then you will go to the chicken house and take six dirty eggs. Take care not to take clean eggs; that will bring you bad luck." The next morning the young lady gave the rooster three sacks of corn, she took her eggs, and ran away. When the rooster had finished eating his three sacks, he crowed: "Mr. Devil, awake quickly; some one has run away from the house!" The Devil got up quickly and started running after his wife. The poor girl looked behind her, and saw smoke and fire- indeed, the Devil himself. She took an egg and broke it: a high wooden fence arose in the middle of the road. The Devil had to return home to get his golden axe to cut down the fence. After he had broken down the fence he took his axe to his house. The girl looked behind her; she saw smoke and fire-the Devil himself. She broke another egg: there grew up an iron fence. The Devil went home to get his golden axe, and had to take it back after breaking the fence. The girl looked again; there was fire and smoke. She broke another egg: a great fire rose up in the road. The Devil went to get his jar of water to put out the fire, and then had to take the jar back. The girl heard again a noise; it was fire and smoke. She broke another egg: a brick wall grew up. The Devil went to get his golden axe, and carried it back after breaking the wall. The girl looked again: she saw fire and smoke. She broke another egg: a small river appeared, in which was a small canoe. She entered the canoe and crossed the river. The Devil was obliged to swim across. The girl looked again; she saw fire and smoke. She broke another egg: a large river appeared. There was a big crocodile on the other side of the river warming himself in the sun. The girl sang: "Grandmother, I pray you, cross me over; grandmother, I pray you, save my life." The crocodile said: " Climb on my back, my little one, I shall save your life." The Devil saw in what way the girl had crossed the river, so he said to the crocodile: " Cross me over, crocodile; cross me over." The crocodile replied: "Climb on my back; I shall cross you over." When he reached the middle of the river, he dived under the water, and the Devil was drowned. 74 Louisiana Folk-Tales. Anvant fille la te parti chez so moman, so moman te dit li: - Eh ben, mo fille, qa tole mo fait avec corps to vi6 choal blanc? Fille la' dit so moman:- Mo pas inquiete li, lache li dans la savane, et laiss6 li mouri si li ould. Fille la oua so vie choal dans la savane, et Ii dit li: - Ten prie, vie corps, sauv6 mo la vi6, ten prie, vie corps, sauv6 mo la vie. So vi6 choal blanc reponne li: - Oui, c'est comme Sa to traite moin; to dit to moman quitt6 moin mouri, si mold, asteur tole mo sauv6 to la vie. Mont6 on mo dos, ma minnin toi chez to moman." Fille la descende, li bo so choal et so moman, et rest6 avec so moman. Li te plis oul6 mari6 encore, pasqu6 li te marie djabe. xx. XX. TI DOIGT. Anvant nous vini icite, nouzotte pove djabe, nous t6 libe; nous t6 pas blig6 travaille pou ein maite. C'est blancs y6 qui vini dans nous pays, l'Afrique, pou chercher nous; ye vol6 quequenne dans nous, y6 achet6 lezottes nous popa pou ein tignon rouge, in bouteille tafia ou in vi6 fisi. Quand nous couri la guere cila ye ye trapd y6 vende blanc y6 qui vini fait zaffaire on bord lamer. Y6 t6 minnin nous tach6 de par d6, et quand nous rive cot6 lamer comme bande zanimo, nommes, fames et piti mounes, y6 t6 chang6 nous pas pou largent mais pou tout sorte marchandise, et blanc y6 mett6 nous dans bateau et minnin nous icite. C'est comme Sa nouzottes vini nesclaves dans Namerique. Quand Manga, mo grandmoman, riv6 cotd lamer, li oua ein joli piti laville, avec piti lamaisons. Y6 t6 gagnin plein bateaux, et ye t6 gagnin l'air ap6 dans6 on la mer; qudquesennes te 16v6 et lIzottes td baiss6. Cet6 divent, vous connin, qui tape souffle et r6mi6 lamer. Mo pove grandmoman, qui t6 zone alors, t6 pair quand li oua y6 tap6 mett6 tous n6gue y6 a bord navire. Li t6 cr6 y6 t6 oule neye y6 dans lamer. In nomme blanc vini cot lii et achet6 li avec so maite. Li minnin li chez li et li dit li dans so langage: —Mo achet6 toi pou gard6 mo piti gar~on. Li t6 gagnin ein joli la maison avec ein magasin ladans, et ein joli jardin. Derriere la maison y6 t6 gagnin plein zoranger, et nabe y6 t6 si grand qud y6 t6 fait bon nombe. Pou montrd coman pays mo grandmoman t6 bon mo va dit vous qu6 Ti Dolgt. 75 When the girl had left her mother's house with her husband, her mother had said to her: "Well, my child, what do you wish me to do with your old white horse?" The girl said to her mother: " I don't care what you do; put him out in the pasture and let him die if he wants to." However, when she crossed the river on the crocodile's back, she saw her old horse in the pasture, and she said to him: I pray you, old body, save my life! " The horse replied: "Ah, you want me now to save your life; did you not tell your mother to let me die, if I wanted? Well, climb on my back, I shall carry you to your mother." The girl soon reached her mother's house. She got down from the horse and kissed him, then she kissed her mother. She remained at home after that, and did not wish to marry again, after having had the Devil for her husband. XX. THE LITTLE FINGER. Before we came here, poor devils, we were all free, we were not obliged to work for any master. It is the whites who came into our country, Africa, to get us. They stole some of us; they bought some of us from our fathers for a red handkerchief, for a bottle of tafia, or an old gun. When we went to war those who were caught were sold to the whites who came to trade on the seacoast. We were led away, tied together, tied two by two; and when we reached the seacoast like a herd of cattle, men, women, and children, we were exchanged, not for money, but for any kind of merchandise, and the whites put us into ships and brought us here. This is how we became slaves in America. When 'Manga, my grandmother, arrived at the seacoast, she saw a pretty little town with small houses. There were many ships, and they seemed to be dancing on the sea; some were going up, others down. It was the wind, you know, that was blowing and shaking up the sea. My poor grandmother, who was young then, was afraid when she saw they were putting all the negroes on board the ships. She thought they were going to drown them in the sea. A white man came to her and bought her from her master. He took her to his house and told her in her own language: " I bought you to take care of my little boy." He had a pretty house with a store in it, and a pretty garden. Behind the house was an orange grove, and the trees were so large that there was a fine shade under 76 76 Louisiana Folk.. Tales. zoranger t6 en flre tout 1'ann6e; yav6 fl6re et piti zorange, et zorange mire tout temps. La maison la t6 cote' lamer et tous les matin Manga te minnin ti Florimond baignin. Ti garjon la t6 si joli et so popa et so moman t6 si bon que' Manga sr6 pas laisse6 ye' poui arien dans moune. Li t6' lainmin ti Florimond si tant; so chiv6 t6 bouc16, so zi6 bied, so la peau blanc et rose. Tout rnoune t6 ador6 pove ti gar~on la, li t6 si, si joli et smart. Li te' connin chant6 si bien et imit6 tout zozo, si bien qu6 souvent y6 t6 cr6' c'dtait Nita qui tape' chante' dans nabe. Nita c'est emn ti zozo Nafrique qui chantd la nuite quand la lune ap6 claire. Li perch6 en haut plis grand nabe, et si yd gagnin divent li chantd mid, pasqud quand branche la balancd ~a idd piti zozo la chantd, comme hamac idd ein nomrne chante'. Florimond t6 imitd Nita si bien que' tout moune t6 tromp6, et Sa te' amis6 ti gar~on la boucou. Papa Florimond t6 fait zaffaire avec nedgue qui vive loin dans bois, et emn jou Ii parti pou. chercher la poude d'or et dent ndld'phant. Quand li parti Ii dit Manga -. Prend bien soin mo, fame et mo, piti gar~on; to connin mo, dija donne toi emn paire soulier, mo sra donne toi quand ma revini emn joli robe et emn collier. - Premier Lois Manga mett6 so soulier yd td fait Ii si tant mal Ii te' pas capabe a peine marcher. Li ot6' yd, quand Ii riv6 la maison et li assite on in'escalier ap6 garde' so zorteilles. - Soucouyd, soucouyd, pove quichoge, Ii dit. - Vous t6 en prison tout a lh'hre, vous libe asjeur, vous content, hemn? Oh, mo sra jamais fermin vous encore, mo pas comprende comment blanc ye' capabe mett,6 y6 zorteille dans quichoge comme ~a. Dedpi temps la Manga jamin mett6 soulier. Eh bien, maite la couri' dans grand bois et trois jou apr~s ja madame la dit Manga prend Florimond et minnin Ii baignin dans lamer. Pendant ti gar~on la t4- ap6 joud avec coquille et di sabe y6 oua emn nesquif avec plein nomrne riv6. Emn blanc descende et pass6 cot6 Mange et Ii senti qudque choge drole comme sli malhdre a116 riV&. Zied nomme la td' briII6 comme quenne chatte dans la nouitte. Quand li passe' Ii dit: - Bonjou, Florimond, mais, piti gar~on la pas r~ponde arien. Quand yd couri la maison madame la voy6 y6 jou6 dans la cou, et chaque fois maite la td pas la nd'tranger la t6 vini la maison. Florimond t6 pas oul6 oua li et ein jou li dit li sr6 dit so popa on netrangerlIa. CilaIa dit Manga:- Piti djabe noir, si jamin to ouvri to la bouche pou dit ~a to oua icite ma coupe' to la langue avec mo, gros couteaun, et ma porte' toi dans mo bateau, coude toi' dans. sac et jett6 toi dans lamer pou posson mang6 toi. Manga t6 Si pair qu6 Ii sr6 pas dit emn mat mdrne si y6 t6 tailkl6 i tout la journin. Ti Doigl.. 77 neath. To show you how my grandmother's country was a good one, I will tell you that the orange-trees were in bloom the whole year; there were flowers and little oranges and ripe oranges all the time. The house was near the sea, and every morning Manga took little Florimond to take a bath. The little boy was so pretty, and his father and mother were so good, that Manga would not have left them for anything in the world. She loved little Florimond so much; his hair was curly, his eyes were blue, his skin was white and rosy. Everybody adored the poor little boy, he was so pretty and smart. He could sing so well and imitate all birds so admirably that often they thought it was the Nita that was singing in the trees. Nita is a little bird in Africa which sings at night when the moon is shining. It perches on the top of the tallest tree; and if there is a light breeze it sings better, for the swinging of the branch helps the little bird to sing, as the rocking of the hammock helps a man's lullaby. Florimond imitated the Nita so well that everybody was mistaken, and it amused the boy very much. Florimond's father used to trade with the negroes that lived far in the woods, so one day he started to get gold dust and elephants' teeth. On leaving he said to Manga: "Take good care of my wife and my little boy. You know I gave you already a pair of shoes; I will give you, on my return, a fine dress and a necklace." The first time Manga put on her shoes they hurt her so much that she could hardly walk. She took them off on arriving at the house, and sat on the steps looking at her toes: "Wiggle, wiggle, poor things," she said, " you were in prison just now: you are free now, you are glad, is it not? Oh! I shall never shut you up again. I don't understand how white folks can put their toes in such things!" From that time Manga never put shoes on. Well, the master went into the big woods, and three days afterwards the lady said to Manga to take Florimond to the sea and give him a bath. While the little boy was playing with the shells and the white sand, they saw a skiff with several persons come ashore. A white man disembarked, and passed by Manga, and she felt a peculiar sensation, as if some misfortune was to happen. The eyes of the man shone like those of a cat in the dark. As he passed, he said: "Good morning, Florimond," but the little boy did not reply anything. When they arrived home the lady sent them to play in the yard, and every time the master was away the strange man would come to the house. Florimond did not want to see him, and he said one day he would tell his father about the stranger. The latter said to Manga: "You little black imp, if ever you open your mouth about what you see here, I will cut your tongue with my big knife; then I will carry you to my ship, sew you up in a sack, and throw 78 78 Louisiana Folk- Tales. Soir la Florimond cri6 si tant qu6 Manga t6 gagnin boucou tracas fait li dromi. So litte t6 a cot' quenne piti gar~on la. Pendant la nouitte li oua pirate la entre6 dans lachambe Ia avec ein gros baton. Li frapp6 piti garqon la on so latkte et li dit:- Li mouri, ma mett li dans trou la mo, fouiIl6 dans jardini asteur ma fait zaffaire ti n&gresse la. Mais Manga t6 d6j& parti couri dans la cou, et nomme la couri on chimin pou trape' li. Moman Florimond vini dans lachambe, Ii prend ti garcon la et Ii terr6 li dans emn trou cot6 la Manga te' ye'. Li t6 pas fini so vilain nouvrage, quand li tends dibri et Li galp6 couri. Li rencontr6 nomme la qui dit:- Mo croi fille la couri dans bois, pa's be'soin pens6 lii encore, lion et tigue va mang6 li bien vite. Asteur faut mo couri a bord mo -bateau et quand ma re'vini ma prend vous avec moin. Madame la r6tournin la maison et Manga sorti. Li t6 si faibb li t6 pas capabe rest6 diboute, mais anvant li parti Ii bo la terre ou so pove ti maite t6 terr6. Li dit - - Adi6, ti nan ge, et Ii couri dans bois. Li t6 laimin mi6 rest6 avec zanimo sauvage qu6 avec mauvais nmoman la. Li march6 que'que temps si vite -ii capabe et Ii r6t6 cot6 ein bayou dans bois; li boi dolo et assite pou pos6. Li commenc6 dromi, mnais Ii tende' moune ap6 parlI' fort et li re'veiII6. Li oua nomme autour li et so maite qui t6 gagnin P'air tr~s colkre -Qui ~a tape' fait icite si loin mo la maison, mo laiss6 toi pou garde mo ti gar~on, mo pens6 to fait quichoge mal et to cbapp6. Manga pas r~ponde arien, pasqu6 Ii rappeI6 ~a pirate la t6 dit. Maite la ordonnin y6 minnin Li la maison et Ii r~tournin chez li aussi vite li capabe. Li trouv6' so fame ap6 cri6 et li dit ii: - Oh que' maihor! Manga quitt6 Florirnond tomb6 on so lat6te et nous pove ti gar~on mouri. Mo t6 oule' tchu6 n6gresse la, mais li patti couri et mo, pas connin ou li y6. Si janmin mo trapp6 li ma trangh6 Ii. Quand pove nomme la tends so cher ti garcon t6 nmouri, Li tombs par terre. Y6 mett li dans so litte et Li rest quinze jou dans ddlire. Pendant temps la madame la dit Manga Ii sr6 tchu6 I1i si ii ouvri so la bouche. Li fermin fille la dans emn cabane et donnin Li jisse dipain et dolo. Popa Florimond L6v6 mais Li t6 v6 pas consohM et Ii cri6 tout la Ti Doigt. 79 you into the sea for the fish to eat you." Manga was so frightened that she would not have said a word even if they had whipped her for a whole day. In the evening Florimond cried so much that it was with great difficulty that Manga succeeded in putting him to sleep. Her cot was near the bed of the little boy, and during the night she saw the pirate enter the room with a big stick. He struck the little boy on the head and said: " He is dead. I will put him in the hole which I dug in the yard. Now I must attend to the black girl." Manga, however, had already run away into the yard; but the man, thinking that she was in the road, ran out to catch her. Florimond's mother came into the room, took the little boy's body in her arms, and buried him in a hole near the place where Manga was. She was not quite through with her ugly work when she heard a noise and ran away. She met the man, who said: " I believe the girl has gone to the woods; we need not trouble about her any more; the lions and tigers will soon eat her up. Now I must go on board my ship, and when I come back I will take you with me." The lady went into the house, and Manga came out of her hidingplace. She felt so weak that she could hardly stand, but before she left she kissed the ground where her dear little master was buried. She said: "Farewell, little angel," and ran into the woods. She preferred to stay with the wild animals than with the cruel mother. After walking for some time as fast as she could, she stopped by a bayou in the wood, drank some water, and sat down to rest. She fell asleep, but soon she was awakened by loud talking. She saw some men standing around her, and among them was her master, who seemed to be very angry: "What are you doing here so far from my house? I left you to take care of my little boy. I suppose you did something wrong and ran away." Manga did not reply anything, because she remembered the threats of the pirate. The master ordered his men to bring her back to his house, and he hastened to go home. He found his wife, who was weeping bitterly, and she said to him: "Oh! what a dreadful misfortune! Manga let Florimoad fall on his head, and our poor little boy is dead. I wanted to kill the negress, but she ran away, and I don't know where she is. If ever I catch her I will strangle her with my own hands." When the poor man heard that his dear boy was dead, he fell in a swoon. They put him in bed, and he remained fifteen days delirious. During that time the lady said to Manga that she would kill her if she opened her mouth. She shut the girl in a cabin, and gave her nothing but bread and water. At last Florimond's father got out of bed, but he would not be goau So Louisiana Folk.. Tales. journin pou so piti gar~on. Comme Manga t6 dans priIson so Maite t6 pas oua Hi. Emn jou li tap6 marche' dans la cou, li gard6 temps en temps la tombe so piti garqon et d6larme coul6 dans so zi6. Nita tap6 chant6 on ein nabe a cot6 Ii et su chanson t6 si triste qu.6 pove nonim6 la senti plis triste que jamin. ~a t6' sembe li c'6tait FMori.rnond qui tap6 chant,6, et li vanc6 cot6 la tombe la et gard6 li longtemps. Touit cl'ein coup pove popa la t6 croi li tap6 r6v6, li oua quichoge sli drolle qu6 plein moune'va pas cr6 qa, mais si tant moune dit moin me'me n istoire la qu6 mo cr6 li sire comme soleil ap,6 clair6. Quand madame la t6 terr6 ti gar~on la li t6 pas gagnin temps couvri tout so corps et eini piti lainain t6 d6hors, et c'6tait joli ti doigt la q4ui tape' r6mu6 comme si li tape' fait signe pou p616 qu6quenne. Ti' doigt la r6mu.6 e'i cot6 et lote cot6 et jamin fini p616, nous capabe dit. Pove popa la enlev6 la terre avec so larnain et d6couvri corps la. Li trouv6 li fraiche conime si y6 t6 sorti terr6 Ii, et Ii prend li clans so bras et port6 li la maison. Li mett6 gar~on la on litte et li frottz6 1Ii si tant, qu.6 piti la r6veille. Popa la voye' cherch6 emn m6decin qui commenc6 soignin li et qui dit 1i sr6 bientot vive encore. Y6 t6' pas gagnin danger pou so la vie, pasqu6 so lat6te t6 pas cass6; piti la t6 s6lement dans targie et bientot li sr6 bien encore. Que'que jou. apr&s Flori'mond t6 ape' galp6 comme si pas arien t6 rivZ6, mais li jamin dit arien on so moman et ne'tranger la, et madame la laisse' Manga sorti so prison. Monian Florimond t6 gagnin remor, li maigri tous les jou, et eini soi, maigre y6 soignin Ii bien, li mouri. So dernier mots t6: - Oh! Bon Dji6, pardonnin momn. Y6 terr6 Ii dans tombe so ti gar~on; Pirate la jarnin r6vini. Y6 dit y6 pende IL. Apr~s lamort so fame popa Florimond parti Nafnique et Ii vende pove Manga. Y6 mett6 li a bond cin navine, et c'est cornme qa Ii vini nesciave dans, la Louisiane et Ii racont momn nistoire ti doigt. Ti Doigt. 8i consoled, and he wept all day for his little boy. As Manga was still in her prison, her master did not see her, and did not think of her. One day as he was walking about in the yard, he looked from time to time at his dear boy's grave, and tears flowed from his eyes. In the mean time the Nita was singing on a tree near by, and its song was so sad that the poor man felt more sad than ever. It seemed to him it was his Florimond who was singing, and he came to the grave and looked at it a long time. All at once the poor father thought he was dreaming. He saw something that was so strange that many people will not believe it; but so many people told me the same story, that I believe it is as sure as the sun is shining. When the lady had buried the little boy, she had not had time to cover the body completely, and one little hand was out of the grave, and it was the pretty little finger which was moving as if it was making a sign to call some one. The little finger moved on one side and then on the other, and never stopped beckoning, so to say. The poor father dug up the earth with his hand and uncovered the body. He found it as fresh as if it had just been buried, and he took it in his arms and carried it to the house. He put the boy on a bed and rubbed him so long that the child came back to consciousness. The father sent for a surgeon, who began to attend to the boy, and said that he would revive. There was no danger for his life, as the skull was not broken; the child was only in a state of lethargy, and would soon be well again. Indeed, in a few days Florimond was running about as if nothing had happened, but he never said anything about his mother and the stranger, and the lady at last allowed Manga to leave her prison. Remorse had taken hold of Florimond's mother; she grew thinner every day, and one evening, in spite of the most tender care, she died. Her last words were, " Oh! my God, forgive me!" She was buried in the grave where her little boy had been; and as to the pirate, he never came back. They say that he was hanged. After his wife's death Florimond's father left Africa, and sold poor Manga, She was put upon a ship, and this is how she became a slave in Louisiana, and related to me the story of the little finger. 82 32 Loui'sianza Folk- Takes. XX'. STATIE ST. ANTOUItNE. Ein cordonnier dans ein piti la yille td gagnin emn belle fille. Em' jou li oua emi j6ne nomme entr,6 dans la maison cot6 so quenne et li vini amour6 Hi. Li mand6 so vi6 quisini6re ~a li capabe fait pou fait j6ne nomme lainmin ii. Vi6 fame la conseill6 i-i pri6 St. Antou~ne. Li fait ii, mais pou arien. Pkt6te Ii sourd, dit quisinie're la, anon fait ein trou dans so zoreille. Quand y6 tap6 sey6 perc6 emn trou dans zoreille statie dibois la domestique nomme la j6ne fille la t6 lainmin vini dans boutique. Li mand6 d6 fame y6 ~a y6 tap6 fait. Y6 dit y6 t6 oul6 St. Antou~ne tend6 ein pri~re. Domestique la fait trou dans zoreille statie la et li tende d6hors pou tend6 pri~re j6ne fille t6 si tant ouI6 mand6. Quand ii tend6 j6ne fille t6 ape' mand6 St. Antou~ne fait so voisin lainmin li, li couri racont6 so maite nistoire la.- J6ne nomme la t6 si flatt6 belle fille la t6 lainmin li qu6 Li vini amour6 aussite et li mar6 fille la XX"L PITI GAR~ONS ET G1gANTS. En foi's yav6 d6 ti garqons qui t6 vive dans emz lamaison avec flve dr6te derri~re. Y6 pa rent te' de'fende y6 couri au ras flve, mais emn jou y6 chapp6 et y6 prend ein nesquif qui t6 dans flve et y6 commenc6 ramain, ramain, m6 cr6 y6 doite ramain des millions mulles. Quand 16 soi riv6 y6 t6 bien pair et y6t6 pas connin ou pou couri. Y6 oua ein lumi~re loin, loin, et en mimme temps'g6ants vinMi pou trapp6 y6. Y6 mont6 on nabe, mais g6ants jisse soucouy6 nabe Ia et pove gar~on y6 tomb6. G6ants y6 port6 y6 dans y6 la maison ou y6 trouv6 boucout lotte piti gar~on. Y6 te donnin ~6 mang6 dilaite et digri pou y6 vini gras, et tous los jou y6 t6 tchui que'que ti gar~on pou g6ants mang6. Pas loin la maison g6ant y6 y6 t6 gagnin in vi6 fame qui t6 sorci6re. Emn jou popa d6 ti gargon y6 qui t6 chapp6 vini cot6 la maison vih fame la avec so zamis et Li rnand6 li si Ii pas oua so garjon. Pifi Garfons et GTants. 83 XXI. THE STATUE OF ST. ANTHONY. A shoemaker in a small town had a beautiful daughter. One day she saw a young man enter the house next to hers, and she soon fell in love with him. She asked her old cook what she could do to be. loved by the young man. The old woman advised her to pray to St. Anthony. She did so, but without effect. "Perhaps he is deaf," said the cook; "let us make a hole in his ears." When they were trying to bore a hole in the ears of the wooden statue, the servant of the young man whom the girl loved came into the shop. He asked the two women what they were doing. They said they wanted St. Anthony to hear a prayer. The servant made the holes in the ears of the statue and waited at the door outside to hear what was the request the young girl was so anxious to ask. As soon as he heard that the young girl was asking St. Anthony to obtain for her the love of her neighbor, he ran to his master and related the story to him. The latter felt so much flattered by the love of the beautiful girl that he fell in love with her, in his turn, and married her. XXII. THE LITTLE BOYS AND THE GIANTS. Once upon a time there were two little boys who lived in a house not far from, a river. Their parents had forbidden them to go near the river; but one day they ran away, and, taking a skiff which was in the river, they rowed and rowed. I believe they rowed millions of miles. When night came they were very much afraid, and did not know where to go, While they were looking at a light far away the giants came to catch them. They climbed upon a tree, but the giants merely shook the tree and the poor boys fell down. They were carried to the house of the giants, where they found many other little boys. They were all fed on milk and hominy, that they might grow fat, and every day a few of the little boys were cooked and eaten by the giants. Not far from the house of the giants lived an old woman who was a witch. One day the father of the two little boys who had run away came to the old woman's house with his friends, and asked her 84 84 Louisiana Folk.-Tales. Li r~pond6 y6 t6 dans la inaison a cot6 divant qui y6 t6 gagnin eiii caillou pas plis grand qu6' ein piti caniqe Nomme y' couri cots la maison la mais ye' trouv6 qu6 caillou la t6 tournin ein lapierre grand comme ecn lamontagne. Y6 t6 gagnin boucou tracas pou ot6 lapierre la et ouvri la porte, malis y6 entr6 dans la maison la, ye tchu6 giants y6 et y6 raminnin piti garqon ye'. XXIII. NOMME QUI TOURNIN ZOZO. Ein foi's yav6 ein madame qui t6 gagnin douze piti, onze gar~on, et emn filue, rove madame la rnouri et so manrmari6 avec emn lotte madame qui t6 eini sorci~re et qui t6 bien m6chant. Dans la journin li t6 fait onze piti garqon ye' tournin zozo et re'vini nomine lh'soi. Fille la li fait li tournin ne'gresse pou tout temps. So popa t6 pas capabe r6connaite li et li mett6 li d~hors. Sorci~re la t6 fait tout ~a piti so mari, pasqu6 ii' t6 oul6 ii donnin so quenne piti so fortine. Quand y6 mett6 pove fille la d6hors li couri joinder so fr~re y6 et li dit ~a ye' te' fait ii. Y6 dit lendemuin matin y6 sr6 mminin ii dans lote pays. Ye' fait emn litte avec feilic, et lendemin, quand y6 t6 zozo encore chaquenne prend eiii boutte litte avec y6 bec et ye' voltig6 avec y6. se're loin dans lotte pays. Y6 m~nin li dams eini bois et bati li eini joli ti cabane. Alors eini jou. cm vi6 sorci~re passe' cot6 cabane la et quand li oua j~ne fille la Ii mand6 Ii ~a li tape' fait tout s~le la. J~ne fille conte' ~a so belle-m~re t6 fait li, et alors vi6 fanme Ia dit li comme qa l1i connin ein moyen pou fait so fr~re rest6 nommne tout temps. Li sr6. gagmin pou fait ein chimise pou chaquenne so fr&e y4, mais faut pas li coude chimi'se y6, jisse tiss6 y6, et faut pas Ii parl6 anvant tous chimise y6 sr6 pr~te. ~a prend Ii Iongtemps pou fait louvrage la, et quand Ii t6 gagnin jisse eini lamanche pou flni on dernier chinmise la, so belle-m~re vini connin ou li' t6 et Ii fait r6t6 li" pasqu6 li dit Ii t6 sorci~re. Y6 tapd nuinnin lIt dans prison dans eini vi6 charrette, alors so oi~ze frdre y6 vini voltig6 autour charrette la. Li jett6 tout suite chimise Iay6 on y6 et y6 tounnin nomme encore et fait descende y6 s~re. Par exemple quand li j~t6 chimise Ia qui t6 gagnin jisse cin lamanche fini, fr~rc la, qui t6 trouv6 gagnin chimise la., rest tout so lavie avec cin z~le zozo pou so bras. Nomme qui tournin Zozo. 85 if she had seen his boys. She replied that they were in the house near by, before the door of which was a pebble not larger than a small marble. The men went to the house, but found that the pebble had become a rock as big as a mountain. They had much trouble in putting aside the rock and opening the door, but at last they entered the house, killed the giants, and brought back their little boys. XXIII. THE MEN WHO BECAME BIRDS. Once upon a time there was a lady who had twelve children,eleven boys and one girl. The poor lady died, and her husband mar. ried again. His seeond wife was a witch, who was very bad. In the daytime she changed the eleven boys into birds, and allowed them to take their human form only at night. As to the girl, she changed her into a negress. Her father did not know her any more, and put her out of his house. The witch treated her husband's children in that way because she wanted him to leave his money to her own children. When the poor girl was put out of her father's house, she went to see her brothers and told them what had happened to her. They said that the next morning they would take her to another country, They made a bed with leaves; and the next day, when they were birds again, each one took hold of the bed in his beak, and they carried their sister far away into another cotntry. They placed her in a forest, and built a pretty little hut for her. One day an old witch passed by the hut, and when she saw the young girl she asked her what she was doing there. The poor girl related her story, and the witch told her she would tell her how to make her brothers remain men all the time. She must make a shirt for each one of her brothers, and not sew the shirts but weave them, and stay without speaking until the shirts were ready. It took her a long time to do the work; and when she was nearly through, only one sleeve was missing to one shirt, - her stepmother found out where she was and had her arrested as a witch. They were taking her in a cart to prison when her eleven brothers came flying around the cart. She immediately threw the shirts over them, and they became men again and rescued their sister, As one of the shirts had only one sleeve, the brother who had received that shirt had all his life, instead of an arm, a bird's wing. 86 Louisiana Folk Tales. XXIV. EIN BON TI DOMESTIQUE. Ein fois yav6 ein michi6 qui te bien riche et bien bon. So fame t6 tout temps dit li t6 malade et li t6 besoin tout sorte drole r6m6de qu6 so mari t6 gagnin pou couri chercher pou li. Fame la t6 fait Sa pou so mari sorti so chimin et pou li capabe gaspiller so largent. Ein jou li dit faut li gagnin dolo lamer ou la mouri. Michi6 la t6 gagnin ein ti domestique y6 te p616 Ti Margot et qui toujou couri voyage avec 1i. Michi6 la parti cherch6 dolo lamer, mais li pas minnin Ti Margot fois cila, et ti domestique la oua qa so, maitresse tap6 fait avec largent so mari. Li t6 ould donnin ein grand bal et ein grand souper. Ti Margot couri dit so maite ~a li t6 oua et li mand6 li laiss6 li trapp6 ii. Y6 r6vini sans personne connin, et Ti Margot dit domestique y6 suive li et fait;a la dit y6. Li mett6 so maite dans grand panier et li cach6 dans panier la boucou fouette. Pendant bal la Ti Margot vini dans la salle la avec d6 nommes qui tap6 port6 panier la, et lotte domiestique y6. Maitresse la et so ninvit6 t6 cr6 c'6tait qu6que joli cadeau et ye vanc6 cot6 panier la pou oua. Alorse tout suite Ti Margot dit: - Ala mo maite r6vini, et li prend fouette y6 dans panier la et li donnin y6 so maite et domestique y6, et y6 batte raide ninvit6 y6 et madame la. Michi6 la mett6 so fame dihors et li dit li:-To pas b6soin dolo lamer pou gu6ri toi. XXr. CORBEILLE FLPRE. Emn fois yav6 ein ti fille y6 t6 pl66 Marie; li t6 pas gagnin parents ditout, li t6 rest6 avec so vi6 grand-p&re. Li couri prend ein place pou travaille chez moune qui t6 bien m6chant, et moune la y6 t6 gagnin ein pie voleuse. Ein jou pie voleuse la vol6 ein bague qui t6 on la f6n6tre; alorse quand y6 manqu6 bague la y6 acquis6 Marie, et y6 prend li et mette li dans prison. Pendant li t6 dans prison y6 fait li plein boucou lamistre et y6 batte li pou fait li dit c'6tait li qui t6 vole bague la So pove grand-pere t6 cri6 tout la journin et li t6 couri la prison Corbeille Flere. 87 XXIV. THE GOOD LITTLE SERVANT. There was once a gentleman who was very rich and very good. His wife always pretended to be sick and needed all kinds of extraordinary remedies, which her husband had to go and get for her. The woman did that to get her husband out of the way and to be able to squander his money. One day she said she must have some sea water or she would die. The gentleman had a little servant called Little Margot, who always went with him on his journeys. When the gentleman went to get the sea water, Little Margot was left behind and saw what the mistress was doing with her husband's money. She was preparing to give a great ball and a great supper. Little Margot went to tell his master what he had seen, and asked him to let him act. They came back secretly to the house, and Little Margot told all the servants to follow him and do whatever he would order them. He put his master in a large basket and hid in the basket a number of whips. During the ball Little Margot came in the dancing-hall with two men carrying the basket, and followed by the other servants. The mistress and her guests thought it was some fine present and crowded around the basket. All at once Little Margot said: "Here is my master come back; " and taking the whips from the basket, he gave them to the servants and to his master,.who whipped the guests and the lady unmercifully. The gentleman put his wife out of his house, and said to her: " You do not need any sea water now to cure you." XXV. THE BASKET OF FLOWERS. There was once a little girl called Marie; she had no parents but lived with her old grandfather. She went to work for some people who were very wicked, and those people had a magpie. One day the magpie stole a ring which was on the window; and now when the ring was missed Marie was accused of the theft, and she was taken and sent to prison. While she was in prison she was treated very badly, and they beat her to make her say it was she who had stolen the ring. Her poor grandfather used to cry all day long, and he went to the 99 88 Louisiana Folk-Tales. oua Ii'. Dernier jou la qu6' y6 t6 gagnin pou jiger Marie y6 dit y6 sr6 voy6 li la p6nitentiaire, Li sitant pri6 la Sainte Vierge qu6 jou la y6 t6 donnin li so sentence, y6 sci6 ein nabe dans la cou madame et dans cr6 nabe la y6 trouv6 bague la. Quand madame la trouv6 so hague ii' couri dans prison la et li dit ii' trouv6 Ii. Mo bl6 dit vouzote que' quand Marie t6 sitant prid la Sainte Vierge It' t6 promette Ii, si y6 t6 lach6 li Ii sr6 couri dans bois chercher pli belle fl~re lay6 li sr6 capabe trouv6'. Alorse, quand madame la tend6 connin promesse la Marie t6 fait la Sainte Vierge, Ii fait ein corbeille avec plis belle flre lay6 hii te' capabe trouve' dans so jardin, et Ii donnin li emn ti la maison pou Ii et so grand-popa rest6. XXVL JEAN DES POIS VERTS. Ein vi6 n6gue y6 t6 p616 Jean des Pois Verts t6 vi've dans ein cabane cot6 palais 16 roi'. Comme y6 tap6 vol6 tout ti poulet 1e' roi 1Ii t6 ouh6 sauv6 so d6zoi et hi mand6' Jean ou pou mette' y6. Jean t6 bien content, et de'zoi diparaite m6me mani~re qu6 ti- poulet ye'. Ld roi mand6 Jean ou pou cach6 so largent et Jean dit li pou niett6 so lor ou li t6' mett6 so dkzoi Lor disparaite aussite. Voisin y6 alorse persiad6 16 roi qu6 c'e'tait Jean qui t6 vol6 Ii, et 16" roi couri avec so soldat pou r6t6 vi6 nomme la. Jean t6 connin ~a y6 t6 a116 fait et ii mette on so latabe emn d6zoi avec piece lor en has so 16zaille. Quand 16 roi vini Jean montr6 li d6zoi la et Ii dit Ii, si hi jamin be'soin largent d6zoi' la sr6 donnin Ii, si li joue' violon. Roi achet6 d6zoi la, mais quand li oua coman Jean t6 tromp6 li, 'Li fait mette Ii dans ein sac pou y6 jett6 Ii dans fl6ve. Nomme y6 qui tapd port6 sac la soul6 y6 m6me et pi quitt6 Jean in moment on chirnin. Li tend6 ein berger ap6 vini avec so troupeau et Ii commenc6 cri6 li pas oul6 mari6 fille 16 roi. B3erger la prend place Jean dans sac la pou. mari6 fille 16 roi, et vi6 n6gue parti couri avec mouton y6. L6 roi contr6 Jean, et Jean dit lIili t6 trouv6 mouton y6 et lor la au fond larivi&e. L6 roi j't6 Ii me'me dans fl6ve et hi ney6 Ii m6me. Pove roi qui t6 b6te, Ii t6 quitt6 em pahais pou saut6 dans flve. Yean des Pois Verts. 89 prison to see her. On the last day before she was to be tried, they said she would be sent to the penitentiary. She prayed so much to the Holy Virgin that on the very day when judgment was passed upon her, they sawed a tree in the yard of the lady, and in the hollow of the tree they found the ring. When the lady found the ring she went to the prison and said that she had found it. I forgot to tell you that when Marie prayed so much to the Holy Virgin she made a vow that if she would be freed, she would go to the woods and get the most beautiful flowers she could find. Now, when the lady heard of Marie's vow, she filled a basket with the finest flowers she could find in her garden, and she gave her a little house for herself and her grandfather. XXVI. JOHN GREEN PEAS. An old negro, called John Green Peas, lived in a cabin by the king's palace. As all the chickens of the king were being stolen he wanted to save his geese, and he asked John to tell him where to put them. John was delighted, and the geese disappeared in the same way as the chickens. The king asked John to tell him where to put his money, and John told him to put his gold where he had put the geese. The gold disappeared also. The neighbors then convinced the king that John was the robber, and the king went with his guards to arrest the old man. John knew what was going on, and he placed on his table a goose with gold coin under its wings. When the king arrived John showed him the goose, and told him that whenever he needed money the goose would give him some, if he played on the fiddle. The king bought the goose; but when he saw how John had deceived him, he had him put into a bag to be thrown into the river. The men who were carrying the bag got drunk and left John for some time in the road. He heard a shepherd coming with his flock, and he began crying that he would not marry the king's daughter. The shepherd took John's place in the bag, in order to marry the king's daughter, and the old man went away with the sheep. The king met John, and the latter told him that he had found the sheep and the gold at the bottom of the river. The king threw himself into the river and was drowned. Poor simple king, to leave a palace to jump into the river. Aft^ VW 90 louisiaxa Folk,-Tals. XXVII. BIN POVE TI GAR~ON. Y6 t6 gagnin ein fois ein fame qui t6 coutime dit Ii t6 pove et ii t~ pas gagnin arien pou. manger..Tous les jou so mani t6 couri tra.. vaille et souvent so lestomac t6 vide. Emi jou ein ti gar~on vini frapp6 on laporte, madame la et Ii mand6 li si Ii t6 capabe entre6 pou chauff6 lim~me, et si Ii oule' donnin li mang6 et couch6. Fame la refuse et li dit li pas gagnin dif6, pas arien pou manger et pou cow. cher. Ti garqon la t6 bien fache, mais ii couch6 par terre divant cabane la et Ii oua. dans lafente laporte tout Sa y6 fait dans, cabane la. Li oua fame la limin ein grand dife6, fait biscuit, tchui cochon, et Iii oua ein nomme qui t6 cache dans, lachambe sorti et vini chauffer cot dif6. -Ah!1 Ah! dit ti garqon la, ala pouquoi' Ii pas Iaiss6 moin entr6 dans la maison la. Quand so mani pas la li fait bal. Laps laiss6 moin mouri faim et frette dihors, mais la pays moin ~a. Bin ti moment apre's qa fame la tend6 marcher, et comme ii' pens6 c'etait so mani, Ii cache cochon la dans, garde manger, biscuit y6 en bas ein tamis et nomme la en bas litte. Quand mari la ri'v6 Ii oua ti garqon la couche' par terre qui tap,6 gd6, et Ii dit Ii: - Qui ~a tape fait la, pouquoi to pas chez toi? To pas mand6 mo fame entrer. Nous povp, mais nous, sr6 toujou trouv6 ein ti coin pou toi. IMo pas chez momn pasqu6 mo pas gagnin popa. ni lamaison, mo pas chez vous, pasqu6 vous fame dit momn ya pas place pou morn. Vini avec momn; mo fame va. cbang6 nide'e. Li prend ti garqon la et Ii fait li entrer. So fame t6 Otonnin oua so man- avec ti garqon la, et ii t6 pair Ii t6 oua ~a y6 t6 fait dans cabane et Ii t6 couri conter qa so mari. Mais mani la t6 gagnin l'air tranqu'ille et li dit Ii li t6 content oua Ii trouv6 qu~que morceau dibois pou fait dif6, pasqu6 y6 fait bien frette et li mand6 si Ii gagnin souper pou Ii. Li dit non, alorse mani la tire emn dipain dans so sac et Ii dit Ii pas travaille boucou et c'6tait tout qa li t6 capabe porter. Li partag6 dipain la en trois morceaux, pou li, so fame et. ti pqron la. Chaquenne mange so dipain, et quand y6 t6 fini manl la dit: Anon conter conte pou passer temps anvant nous couri coucher. Ein Pove ti Garfon. 9I XXVII. A POOR LITTLE BOY. There was once a woman who used to say that she was poor and had nothing to eat. Every day her husband went to work, and often with an empty stomach. One day a little boy knocked at the woman's door and asked her if he could come in to warm himself, and if she would give him something to eat and a place to sleep. But the woman refused, and she said she had no fire, nothing to eat, and no place for him to sleep. The little boy was very sorry, but he lay down on the ground in front of the cabin, and he saw through a crevice in the door all that was being done in the cabin. He saw the woman light a big fire, make biscuits, cook a pig, and he saw a man, who was hidden in the room, come out and warm himself by the fire. "Ah I ah!" said the little boy; " that is why she did not let me come into the house. When her husband is not there she has a high time. She is letting me die of hunger and cold outside, but she will pay for that." A little while later the woman heard some one walking; and as she thought it was her husband, she hid the pig in the cupboard, the biscuits under a sieve, and the man under the bed. When the husband arrived he saw the little boy lying on the ground freezing, and he said to him: "What are you doing there? Why are you not at home? Did you not ask my wife to let you come in? We are poor, but we would always find a little corner for you." " I am not at home, because I have no father and no home. I am not-at your house, because your wife told me there was no room for me."t "Come with me; my wife will change her mind." He took the little boy, and made him come in; his wife was astonished to see her husband with the little boy, and she was afraid that he had seen what had happened in the house and had told her husband. But the husband appeared very quiet, and he told fer that he was glad to see that she had found some pieces of wood to make a fire, because it was very cold, and he asked her if she had any supper for him. She said no; then her husband drew out a loaf of bread from his sack and said he had not had much work, and that was all he was able to bring. He divided the bread into three shares, - for him, his wife, and the little boy. Each one ate his bread, and when they were through, the husband said: "Let us relate stories as a pastime before we go to bed." 92 92 Landiaxa Folk- Tales. -Bon, dit fame la, pasqu6 li t6 ccnnin conte t6 fait so mari drorn et Ii sr6 capabe fait nomme la chapp6 qui en bas, so litte. - Eh bien, dit mani la, commence premier, ti garqon, pasqu6 c'est toi qui pis, je'ne. -~ Mo pas connin conte, dit ti gar~on la. Mo popa te' toujou dit moin dit la v~rit6, mo pas connin conte, mais mo, connin des Writds -Dis-nous vWrtits, alorse, dit mani la. -Eh bien dit ti gar~on la, mo connin ye' na biscuit en has tamis Ia, laviande cochon dans gar-de manger et emn nomme en bas litte. ~a clest pas vrai, dit fame la, qui tap6 trembl pair. - Na pas arien ditout. Anon gard6 toujou, dit mani la, et li trouvW biscuit y6, cochon la et nomme la. Mani la t6 si col~re oua so fame t6 tromp6 Ii qu6 Ii mette li de'hors avec nomme la, qui t6 pas ouI6 Ii, pasqu6 si Ii tnomp6 ein nomme, li capabe tromp6 ein lotte. Li mouri frette dans. bois. Mari la prend ti garqon la pou rest6 avec Ii et li t6 cr6 Ii t6 ein zombi, pasqu6 li tt6 pas dit li coman Ii' t6 connin Sa li t6 dit. Ein Pove ti Garfon. 93 " All right," said the woman, because she knew that stories made her husband go to sleep, and she would be able to make the man escape who was hidden under the bed. "<Well," said the husband, "commence first, little boy, because you are the youngest." "I do not know any stories," said the little boy. "My father always told me to tell the truth. I do not know any stories, but I know some true things." "Tell us true things, then," said the husband. "Well," said the little boy, " I know there are biscuits under the sieve, pig's meat in the cupboard, and a man under the bed." "sThat is not true," said the woman, who was trembling with fright. -"There is nothing, at all." "Let us look, nevertheless," said the husband; and he found the biscuits, the pig, and the man. The husband was so angry to see that his wife had deceived him that he put her out with the man, who did not want her, because, if she deceived one man, she might deceive another. She died of cold in the wood. The husband took the little boy to stay with him; and he thought he was a sorcerer, because the boy did not tell him how he found out what he had said. NOTES. PART I. ANIMAL TALES, I. 7faw Elephant and the Whale. - This tale is evidently of African origin; in " Fables SUndgalaises, recueillies de l'ouolof et mises en vers franSais, par le baron Roger, Firmin Didot, 828 " (lent me by Professor Gerber), we see in Fable II., " Le Chacal, l'Eldphant et l'Hippopotame," nearly the same plot as in the Louisiana tale: the jackal borrows an ox from the elephant, and promises one as large as the elephant in return. He does likewise with the hippopotamus. He gives the end of a rope to each one, and says: "Your ox is at the end, pull." They pull, and not being able to move one another, go and see what it is, and meet. In Baron Roger's Fable III., " Le lapin qui se revet de la pcau d'une gazelle," the same stratagem is used by the rabbit as at the end of the " Elephant and the Whale." In Ouolof Bouki means the hyena, and is always a dupe, as the Comprair Bouki of our Louisiana tale. Informant, Dorlis Aguillard, colored man, 157 Thalia Street, New Orleans. II. Compair Taureau and 7ean Malin. - The motives in this story are to be found in many folk-lore tales, but our Louisiana tale is, nevertheless, interesting, and is full of local color; for instance, when the boy states that " he was born when the peach-trees were in bloom, the year the snow fell;" snow is so seldom seen in Louisiana that the date of a snowstorm is as easy to remember as the day of the battle of New Orleans, " la guerre Jackson," say the old negroes. Jean Malin and Jean Sotte are as famous in folk-lore tales as Compair Lapin and Compair Bouki. Informant, Dorlis Aguillard, 157 Thalia Street, New Orleans. III. Compair Lapin and the Earthworm. -The beginning of this story is graceful and poetic, and proves that negroes observe and love nature. The poor little earthworm, helpless, while all other animals are joyous and moving about, appeals to the Devil, and tacitly sells himself to him. The elephant, carrying the trunk of the tree, and the rabbit, sitting on a branch among the leaves, and pretending to work, is a common incident in folk-lore. Informant, Dorlis Aguillard, I57 Thalia Street, New Orleans. IV. Comnair Lapin and Compair l'Ours. - This is a variant of the wellknown story of the keg of butter (see No. XIII., "Compair Lapin's Godchild ). The incident of the boat stage and the way Rabbit escapes are curious and oriinal. I have not seen them in any other folk-tale. Informant, Julia, little negress, 7 Prytania Street, New Orleans. V. The Irishman and the Frogs.- This story is much better in the original dialect than in English, and is based on a play of words. "Brum " for "rum," and "jou " for French "genou," knee. Informant, Julia, 7 Prytania Street, New Orleans. V. Comfair Lapin and Madame Carencro.-We like to find a reason for everything which appears strange to us in nature; and primitive people, especially, Noes. 95 are very ingenious in discovering what they consider to be the cause of an anomaly in animals and plants. They explain, just as well how the tortoise lost his tail as how Madame Carencro became bald. Informant, Julia, 7 Prytania Street, New Orleans. VII. Compair Lapin and Mr. Turkey. -In this story Compair Lapin is not as cunning as usual, and we can hardly believe that he acted as foolishly as Cornpair Bouki would have done. The tale is genuine negro folk-lore, as is evidenced by the exact knowledge of the habit of turkeys sleeping on their perches. Informant, Julia, 7 Prytania Street, New Orleans. VIII. Compair Bouki and the Monkeys.- The monkey, in our Louisiana stories, is often a dupe. He is, however, more cunning than Boaki, whose stratagems always fail in the end. Here we have words supposed to indicate the language of the monkeys and of Bouki, and it is interesting to see a negro imitate an animal in his stories. Informant, an old negro at la Vacherie, St. James Parish. IX. Mr. Monkey, the Bridegroom. - Mr. Monkey here shares the fate of poor Bouki, who is so often deceived by his friend, Compair Lapin. Mr. Monkey is not happier in his love affairs than Mr. Bull in No. II. Informant, Mdranthe, colored nurse, Hospital Street, New Orleans. X. The Tortoise. - This is an amusing story, and it shows that the tortoise deserves to share with the fox and the rabbit the reputation of being the most cunning animals. Here the tortoise deceives the boy with as much ease as it deceived the deer in the celebrated race for the hand of Mamzelle Calinda. Informant, Julia, 7 Prytania Street, New Orleans. XI. Compair aouki, Compair Lapin, and the Birds' Eggs. -The way Bouki finds out what Lapin is cooking in his kettle, and the scraping off the pieces from his teeth by his mother, are typical of the negro mind, rude, but at the same time droll and cunning. When the birds ask Bouki if he has eaten their eggs, he is proud of what he has done, and acknowledges it with blind conceit and foolish boldness. Informant, Julia, 7 Prytania Street, New Orleans. XII. The Dog and the Tiger. —Here we have an explanation of why dogs are not afraid of wild beasts, and the story belongs to the class of No. VI., "Compair Lapin and Madame Carencro." The killing of the deer and the reply to the lion prove that it is not only at present that the "reason of the strongest is always the. best." Informant, old negro at la Vacherie. XIII. Comiair Latin's Godchild. — In M. Cosquin's " Contes populaires de Lorraine," we see No. 54, c" Le Loup et le Renard," in which the incident of the butter is nearly the same as in our Louisiana story. The end, however, of out No. XI II. is like that of the " Tar Baby," and not like that of the French tale from Lorraine. In his notes, M. Cosquin mentions a large number of variants in different countries, which correspond very closely with the Louisiana tale, the names of the children being nearly identical. Our No. IV., "'Compair Lapin and Compair l'Ours," is also a variant of our No. XIII. Informant, old negro from la Vacherie. XIV. Miss Mockingbird, Mr. Mockingbird, and Mr. Owl.- The stratagem by which Miss Mockingbird keeps alive the lover whom she prefers is interesting,,and we pity the poor deluded owl. To appreciate this story one must hear it recited, or rather sung. Informant, old negro from la Vacherie. XV. Marriage of Compaair Lapin. - This story may be said to be a continuation of "Ti Bonhomme Godron" (" The Tar Baby "), published by me in my 96 VNois. "Bits of Louisiana Folk-Lore" (1888), and reproduced in the appendix to this book. The number of characters introduced, and the various incidents, render the "Marriage of Compair Lapin" the most interesting in my collection. The incident about Jupiter and the dogs, although a little coarse, is amusing and quaint, and the stratagem by which King Lion is defeated is ingenious and worthy of Compair Lapin's fertile brain. Master Fox appears in the tale, but he is no match for Compair Lapin, whom he finds to be no Isengrimus, the Wolf. Informant, Dorlis Aguillard, 157 Thalia Street, New Orleans. PART II. MARCHEN. XVI. King Peacock.- This story is pretty and naive. The daughter submits so gently to her fate that we are glad to hear King Peacock ask her in marriage. She accepts him on the spot, and her dream is realized. The incident of the red seeds is common to a number of tales. Informant, old negro from la Vacherie. XVII. The Singing Bones. - This is a variant of a story found everywhere. Informant, old negress, 77 Esplanade Avenue. XVIII. ean Sotte. - This story might have been included among the animal tales, as Compair Lapin is one of the personages, and gives such good advice to Jean Sotte. The riddle is a reminiscence of classic mythology; and Jean Sotte's reply about bull's milk, although a little coarse, is very appropriate and reminds us of a peculiar custom referred to in " Aucassin et Nicoldte." Informant, Dorlis Aguillard, I27 Thalia Street. XIX. The Devil's Marriage. - The incident of the obstacles thrown in the way of the pursuer are common to many stories. M. Cosquin gives " Le Sifflet Enchantd," "L'Oiseau Vert," " La Chatte Blanche," "Le Prince et son Cheval," in which are found some of the incidents of the " Devil's marriage." The warning of the old woman to take dirty eggs and not clean ones belongs essentially to folklore, and the women hanging in the closet is a motive of the Blue Beard type. Climbing up the pole to catch the pumpkin has a local color peculiar to Louisiana, and the ingratitude to the old horse is another incident often found in folk-tales. Informant, old negro at la Vacherie. XX. The Little Finger. -This story gives the tradition of the negroes about the way they left Africa, and about life in that country. The little bird, Nita, must be their African mocking-bird, and the part it plays in the tale is graceful and poetic. The real folk-lore incident is the little finger left unburied and calling for help; this is of the type of the singing bones. The whole story shows the lively imagination and somewhat poetic fancy of the negroes. Informant, Dorlis Aguillard, 127 Thalia Street. XXI. The Statue of St. Anthony. - This is a pretty and naYve tale. We take an interest in the faith of the young girl in St. Anthony, and we are glad to see that the statue at last granted her prayer. Informant, Flicie, colored woman who had lived for some time in Mexico. XXII. The Little Boys and the Giants. - We have here a variant of the Petit Poucet " story. The incident of the pebble changed into a rock is common to folk-tales. Informant, old negress, 77 Esplanade Avenue. XXII I. The Men who became Birds. - This is a variant of one of the tales in the " Seven Wise Men." The local color is the girl changed into a negress. Informant, old negress, 77 Esplanade Avenue. XXIV. The Good Little Servant. -This is a story of the type of the cood Notes. 97 servant and the bad servant. The incident of the master and the whips hidden in a basket and brought into the ballroom is amusing. Informant, Julia, 7 Prytania Street. XXV. The Basket of Flowers. - The incident in this story common to folk. tales is the object stolen by a bird and found in the hollow of a tree. Informant, old negress, 77 Esplanade Avenue. XXVI. J7ohn Green Peas. —The incidents of the goose laying gold coin and of the shepherd taking John's place in the bag are to be found in numberless folk-tales. M. Cosquin has of this type the following stories: "Rend et son Seigneur," " Richedeau," " Le Roi et ses Fils," " L'Homme au Pois." Informant, FMlicie, colored woman. XXVII. A Poor Little Boy. —This story is of the type of the deceitful wife, and has a moral end. Informant, Julia, 7 Prytania Street. APPENDIX. I. The Tar Baby (Piti Bonhomme Godron). BONNEFOIJ BONNEFOI; LAPIN, LAPIN! I am going to relate to you something which is very funny, as you are going to see, and which happened a long time ago! When the animals had the earth for themselves and there were yet but few people, God ordered them not to eat each other, not to destroy each other, but said that they might eat the grass with all kinds of fruits that there were on the earth. That was better, because they were all His creatures and it pained Him when they killed each other; but as quickly as they would eat the grass and fruits, He, God, would take pleasure to make them grow again to please them. But they did not obey the Master! Mr. Lion began by eating sheep, the dogs ate rabbits, the serpents ate the little birds, the cats ate rats, the owls ate chickens. They began to eat each other, they would have destroyed each other, if God had not put a stop to all that! He sent a great drought to punish their cruelty. It was a thing which was funny, nevertheless, as you are going to see. There was smoke in the air, as when they burn cotton stalks; it looked as if there was a light mist. After sunset, the.heaven remained red like fire. The sea, the rivers, the lakes, all began to fall, to fall; all fell at the same time, until there was not a drop of water remaining. Neither did the dew fall early in the morning to moisten the grass. Ah! I tell you, my friends, all animals found themselves in a great trouble. They were roaming about everywhere; their tongues were hanging out; they became thin, thin. - There was among them a doctor who was called Mr. Monkey; he was half wizard, half voudou. They said he knew a great deal, but he was a big talker, and did very little. He said to the other animals that it was because they had made so many sins that God sent them all these misfortunes to punish them; that if there were any among them who wanted to pay, he would pray to make the rain fall. He had already succeeded very often when he asked for someNote. - The first ten stories are reprinted from my Bits of Louisiana Folk-Lore (Transactions Modern Language Association of America, 1888). dAbbe di. 'A.9 L~ 99 thing; God in heaven always listened to his prayer. There was also a famous thief there; it was Mr. Fox, who ate all the chickens there were in the neighborhood. He said to the other animals: "Don't you listen to Dr. Monkey; he is a d-. rascal; he will take your money without giving you anything for it. I know him, he is a rascal; you will have no rain at all! It is better that we should dig a well ourselves. We need not count upon anything else. Let us go! hurrah! right off, if you are all like me, for I am very thirsty." Then Dr. Monkey told him: "I think indeed that you are hungry, you d — pirate; now that you have finished eating all the chickens there were here, you are coming to play the braggart here." Mr. Fox told him: "You are a liar; you know very well that the owls, the polecats, and the weasels are eating all the chickens, and you come and say it is I. You know that if there is a thief here, it is you, you d — prayer merchant." — All the other animals, tigers, lions, wolves, elephants, crocodiles, serpents, were running about to look for water. They had all assembled to hear the dispute of Dr. Monkey and Mr. Fox. I must tell you that if a hog grunts, a dog barks, a wolf howls, a cow bellows, each kind of animal has its own language. A tiger or an elephant or a lion cannot speak the language of another animal, each one speaks his own language; but when they are together, they all understand each other —the hog which grunts understands the dog which barks. It is not like us men; if a German comes to speak with a Frenchman or an American, he will not understand, any more than if an Englishman were to speak with a Spaniard who does not understand English. We men are obliged to learn the language of other nations, if we want to converse with them. Ani. mals are not at all like that; they understand each other as if they spoke the same language. Well, I must tell you that Mr. Fox pretended that if there was such a drought, the rain not having fallen for a year, so that all the grass was parched up, and the trees had lost their leaves, and there were neither flowers nor fruits, it was because there were no clouds in the heaven to give water, and not a prayer could make the rain fall. "All the water has gone into the, ground; we must dig a large well in order to have water to drink. Listen to me, my friends, and we shall find water." Lion, who was the king, opened his mouth. He roared, the earth sbook, he spoke so loud! He beat his sides with his tail, and it made a noise like a big drum in a circus. All the other animals lay flat on the ground. He said: " By the very thunder, the first fellow who will speak to me about prayers, I shall give him something which will make him know me. I am a good fellow; when did I ever eat another animal? It is a lie, and I say that the little oo00 AApeendix. lawyer Fox is a fine little fellow. He is right, we 'must dig a well to have water immediately. Come here, Compair Bourriquet (Donkey), it is you who have the finest voice here; when you speak, it is like a soldier's trumpet. You will go everywhere to notify all animals that I, the king, I say that they must come to dig up and scratch the earth, that we may have water. And those that don't want to work, you will report them. You will come right off that I may compel them to do their share of the work or pay some other animal to do it." Bourriquet was so glad he was to act as a newspaper, that he began to bray so loud that it was enough to render anybody deaf. - "Depart, depart," said the king, "or I shall strike you." Then Bourriquet reared, and thought he was doing something nice, he was so proud that the king had confidence in him, and then that gave him the opportunity to order the other animals to come, in the name of Lion, the king. On starting, he put down his head, then he kicked half a dozen times with both feet, and made a noise which was as if you were tearing up a piece of colonnade. That is his way of saluting the company, when he is glad. Now, all the animals which he met, he told them, that if they did not come immediately to dig up and scratch the ground to make a well, surely King Lion would eat them up. They were all so much afraid, that they all came, except Compair Lapin, who was gnawing a little piece of dry grass.-" Don't listen to what I tell you, remain there, and don't come right off, you will see what the king will do with you." —" I don't care a d — for you and the king together; come both of you, you will see how I '11 fix you. You may go to the devil. Do I drink? Where did I ever use water? Surely, that is something new to me. You are a fool, donkey that you are, I never drink, a rabbit never drinks. My father and my grandfather did not know how to drink, and as I am a real rabbit, I don't use water. Never did a rabbit have little ones without ears, you hear. If any one heard you he might believe that I am a bastard. Go away, you big ears; for if I take my whip, I shall show you your road, and make you trot faster than you ever galloped in your life. If you knew me as I know you, you would not have stopped here, surely." Bourriquet saw that he could do nothing, so he went away; but he was not as proud as when he started to tell all animals that the king ordered them to come to work. As soon as he arrived near the king, he said: " Master, I went on all your errands, I saw all the animals in the world, only Compair Lapin does not want to listen to reason. He says he does not need water, let those who need it look for it. Besides, if you are not satisfied, he will make you trot. You Aofiendix I01 have no right to command him, he is free, free as air; he has no master, none but God." -When the king heard that, he told Tiger, who was there, to go with the Bear to arrest Compair Lapin and bring him here. " Take care you don't eat him on the way, for if you do, I'11 give you such a beating as you never had before. You bear? Well, go." -They started, and travelled a good while before they arrived. During this time, all the animals were working hard, each one had his share of the work, and they had even left a big piece as Compair Lapin's task and that of the two who had gone to arrest him. They looked everywhere: in the prairie, on the mountain; at last they fell on Compair Lapin, who was eating the root of a cocklebur which was full of water. You know that rabbits know how to dig up the earth and find water below, in the roots of plants. At the same moment when they arrived near him, Compair Lapin was singing a little song which he had made about the king. He said in it that the king was a fool, and did not know how to govern, for his wife had many husbands, and he was laughing to himself, and that perhaps, after they finished to dig that well, the king would make all the animals pay taxes to drink the water from the well they had dug with their sweat. I am not so foolish, I am not going to work for that fellow! Let the others do it, if they are fools, I don't care any more for the king than a dog for Sunday. Tra la la, etc.,... The tiger approached without making any noise, and then he said: "Good morning, Compair Lapin, I ask your. pardon, if I disturb you, but I don't do it on purpose; the king has ordered me to arrest you, I must obey him. You know that the weak must submit to the strong; this is why I advise you not to resist, because the Bear and I will be obliged to eat you. Take my advice, come quietly, perhaps you will come out all right! Your mouth is honeyed, you will get Mr. Fox to defend you; he is a good little lawyer and does not charge dear! Come, let us go." When Compair Lapin saw that he could not do otherwise, he let the officers of the king arrest him. They put a rope around his neck, and they started. When they were near the dwelling of the king, they met Dr. Monkey on the way. He said: "Compair Lapin, I think you are a pupil of Mr. Fox, you will have to pay for it; you are gone up, my old felloW. How are you now? Don't you feel something getting cold within you? That will teach you to read the newspaper and meddle in politics on Sundays, instead of going quietly to mass! " Compair Lapin answered briefly: "I don't care a d — for anything you say, old Monkey! And then, you know, he who must die, must submit to his fate. Just hush up, you rascal! You are trying 102 APlMendix..9 - ' to injure me, but perhaps you will be the loser; I have not given up all hope; perhaps, before long, you will be in trouble. Each one his chance, that is all I have to tell you." —At last they arrived at a big tree which had been thrown down by the wind, and where the king was seated. The Tiger and the Bear, the two officers who were leading Compair Lapin, said to the king: "Here is the fellow!" — -" Haw! haw!" said the king, "we shall judge him immediately." Mr. Fox came slyly behind Compair Lapin, and told him in his ears: "When they will ask you why you spoke badly of the king, say that it is not true, that it is Bourriquet who lied to doyou harm. And then flatter the king very much, praise him and make him some presents, you will come out all right. If you do what I tell you, you will find it well for you. Otherwise, if you are foolish enough to say all there is in your heart, take care, you will come out all wrong. I assure you that the king will make hash with you." -"You need not be afraid, Mr. Fox, I know what I have to do; I thank you for your good advice; I am a lawyer myself." Compair Lapin had suspected that they would come to arrest him; he had spoken so badly of the king and the government. It is for that he had put on his best coat, and a big gold chain around his neck. He had said to one of his neighbors with whom he was quite intimate, and also with his wife and daughter, and who was called Compair Bouki, when the latter asked him where he was going so finely dressed: " Yes, Compair Bouki, I shall soon go to see the king; and as it is the coat that makes the man, this is why I dressed so well. It'always produces a good effect on proud and foolish people." When the king was ready to begin the case of Compair Lapin, he said to the policemen: " Bring the prisoner here to be judged." Then Compair Lapin advanced, and said: "0 Lion, my dear Master, you sent for me; here I am. What do you want?" The Lion said: " I have to condemn you, because you are always slandering me, and besides, you don't want to work to dig the well, which we are making to drink. Everybody is working except you, and when I sent Bourriquet to get you, you said to him that I was a scoundrel, and that you would whip me! You will know that if your back has tasted of the whip, I have never been whipped; even my late mother did not dare to touch me! What do you have to say? You rascal with the long ears hanging down. I suppose they are so long, because the hounds have chased you so often. Speak right off, or I shall mash you, like a too ripe persimmon." Compair Lapin kept quite cool; he knew that all that was a big wind that would bring neither rain nor thunder. He rubbed his nose with both paws, then he shook his ears, he sneezed, and then he sat down and said: "The king is justice on earth - as God is Appendzx. 103 just in his holy Paradise! Great king, you who are more brave than all of us together, you will hear the truth. When you sent Bourriquet to get me, he who is more of a donkey than all the donkeys in the world, when he came to my house, I was sick. I told him: ' you will tell the king that I am very sorry that I cannot come now, but here is a fine gold chain, which you will present to the king for me, and you will tell him that I have forty twelve other animals to work in my place. Because that is too necessary a thing to get a well; it is life or death for us, and we cannot do without it. Tell him also that there is but a great king like him to have such an idea, and enough brains to save us all!' What do you think he answered me? He replied that he did not care about a gold chain, that he did not eat that.. If I had given him a basket of corn or some hay, he would have eaten it, but as to the chain, perhaps the king would hitch him up to the plough with that same chain, and he would be sorry to have brought it. When he went away, he said to me: 'Go on, papa, I shall arrive before you, you will know that the ox which is ahead always drinks clear water 1' I suppose he meant that he would speak before I should have the chance to be heard! As I want the king to believe that I am not telling stories, I have a witness who was there, who heard all our conversation. If the king will have the kindness to listen to his testimony, he will hear the same thing I have just told him." Compair Lapin bowed to the king, and put the gold chain around Lion's neck, and then he sat down on one side smiling, he was so sure that his gift would produce a good effect and help him to come out all right from his trouble. Now, Lion said to Mr. Fox to speak quickly. "I know all that business, and if you come here to lie, I '11 break your neck. You need not wag your tail and make such grimaces, as if you were eating ants. Come on, hurry! I have no time." "Dear Master Lion," said the Fox, " I shall tell you how all that happened: Compair Lapin, whom you see here, is the best friend you have. The proof of it is that he brought a big chain to make you a present. You will never see a Bourriquet do that; that is sure, because there is not in the world a greater clown than those donkeys. Dan Rice took twenty-one years to train a donkey! He says that for $Ioo,ooo he would not undertake again such a job. He would prefer to train fifty twelve thousand Lions, because they would eat him up, or he would do something good with them. Well, I must tell you, Mr. Lion, you, who are the king of all animals, that same Bourriquet, whom you sent to represent you, came to lie on you, and as to Compair Lapin, he is as white as snow I Although Dr. Monkey has your confidence, it is he who is governing secretly and advising all your people, and putting them in rebellion against you, the king, to establish another government, where that 104 Ame~ndix. same Dr. Monkey and Bourriquet will govern in your place, when they will succeed in putting you out. That is what they have been trying to do for a long time, and that is what Compair Lapin and I wanted to tell you." When the king heard that, he said: "That is all right; I am glad you told me so. You can go with Compair Lapin, I acquit him." But while they were hearing the case, Dr. Monkey and Bourriquet thought that it was not healthy for them to remain there, so they escaped when they saw that the wrong side was being warmed up; they vanished, and no one knew where they had gone, so well were they hidden. After that Compair Lapin and Mr. Fox both re. mained in the same parish where the king resided. Mr. Fox was his deputy or chief clerk, and the other was mate; that is to say, he commanded the others and made them work to finish digging the well with their paws. At last the well was completed! All the animals drank, and they became strong again. The lioness recovered her health also, and some time after that she gave birth to twelve little cubs as yellow as gold, and all as pretty as could be. The king was so glad that he pardoned all that were in the penitentiary, and he allowed the exiles to return. When he granted their pardon, he told them all to go and drink the water of the well. Then you may imagine that Dr. Monkey with his accomplice Bourriquet came out of their hole to mingle with the others. But they began to spy and to watch all that was being done or said. One day they met Mr. Fox who. was speaking of the government affairs in order to increase the tax. He and Compair Lapin found that there was not enough money in the treasury for them to become rich quickly. When Dr. Monkey saw them both together, he began to smile. He came near them, he bowed and said: " Let us forget what has passed, we must not be looking for those old papers. Let us be friends and live quietly like good neighbors." You might have thought they were the best friends when they parted.' Dr. Monkey said to his partner Bourriquet: "You see these two fellows Compair Lapin and Mr. Fox, they are d --- scoundrels. I must get the best of them, or they will beat me; that is all I know!" As Compair Lapin had said, when they judged him, that he never drank water, the king had told him: " Take care that you never try to drink water from this well; I want to see if you say the truth, and I order every one to watch you." You will not believe me when I tell you that it is true that rabbits never drink water, there is always enough water for them in the grass which they eat. But expressly because they had forbidden Compair Lapin to drink from that well, he wished to do it. All the other animals praised that water so highly: it was so clear, so good. That gave him such a thirst, that he felt at every moment as if he AAfiendix. 105 had eaten well-peppered salt meat. He said to himself: " I don't care a d — I shall drink, and I shall see who is going to prevent me. Besides, if they catch me, I shall always have the daughter of the king to protect me. She will find some way of preventing them from troubling me, for she has much influence with her father." He did as he said; every evening he drank his fill. But at last he wanted to drink in the daytime also. It was a strange well; its water was not like any other water; it made people drunk like whiskey, only, instead of making you sick after you were drunk, it made you much stronger than before, and they were beginning to perceive that all those who were old were growing young again. Even the vegetables which you watered with it, if you cut them, the next day they would grow as fine as the day before. When Compair Lapin began to see the effect of that water, he said: " I must have some for the day also, it does me a great deal of good; and as I am much older than the daughter of the king, I must become as young as she, let me be, I shall arrange it. Don't you say anything." Well, when it was dark, he took his little calabash, which contained about two bottles of water, he went to the well, and filled it up. But he was so careful that the guard, which they put every evening near the well, saw nothing. Dr. Monkey and Bourriquet watched all the time, because they could not forget how Compair Lapin had treated them whilst he was being judged. Therefore, they had sworn that they would catch him. But in spite of all their efforts, they lost their trouble and their time. At last, one day, Dr. Monkey went to see Bourriquet, his comrade, and told him: " Come to my house, I have something to show to you." He showed him Ti Bonhomme Godron (a man made of tar), and said: " It is with that I want to catch the fellow; as this time I shall be able to prove that he is guilty, we shall have all his money, which the king will confiscate to give us for discovering all his rascalities." They took Ti Bonhomme Godron; they put him in a little path, where Compair Lapin was obliged to pass, very near the water, and then they started; they knew it was not necessary to watch; Ti Bonhomme Godron would attend to him without needing anybody's help. I know not if Compair Lapin suspected something, but he came quite late that evening. He never came at the same hour, but he managed things so well that he always got his water, and no one could catch him. When he arrived the evening they had placed Bonhomme Godron there, he saw something black. He looked at it for a long time, he had never seen anything like that before! He went back immediately, and went to bed. The next evening he came again, advanced a little closer, looked for a long time, and shook his io6 Atpendi'x. 'head. At that moment, a frog jumped in the water: tchoappe. Compair Lapin flattened on the ground, as if crushed, and in two jumps he reached his house. He remained three days without returning, and Dr. Monkey and Bourriquet were beginning to despair, and to believe that it was true that Compair Lapin did not drink at all. But it was enough for this one that it was forbidden for him to be still more anxious to drink. " Oh! well," said he; " I don't care I I have some money here, but the remainder is hidden in the briars. If they catch me, I shall pay the police, and they will let me go. Besides, I have the protection of the daughter of the king; every night, she comes to see me. It would be very strange if she did nothing for me. Besides, I have always instructed the police to let go a man who had money, and I suppose that they will make no exception for me, for they would lose the money which I would give them." This reassured him. He started in the evening; it was a beautiful moonlight night, and every one was out late promenading. It was the end of spring: the honeysuckle perfumed the air, the mocking-bird was singing in the pecan-tree, there was a light breeze, which caused the leaves of the trees to dance, and the rustle prevented any one to hear him walk. Everybody was in bed; only the dogs, from time to time, were barking at the big clouds, which were fleeing before the wind. "It is my turn now; I, Compair Lapin, I am going to drink, but a drink that will count." He took his calabash. When he arrived at the place where Bonhomme Godron was, the old fellow was still there. It had been warm during the day, and the tar was soft. When Compair Lapin arrived there, he said: ' Hum, hum, you have been long enough in my way. I do-not come to drink; that is a thing which I never do; I want to take a bath to-night; get away from here." "You don't want to answer? I tell you that I want to take a bath, you black scoundrel." Bonhomme Godron did not reply; that made Compair Lapin angry. He gave him a slap, his hand remained glued. "Let me go, or I shall strike you with the other hand." Bonhomme Godron did'not reply. He struck him cam with the other hand; it remained stuck also! " I 'll kick you, d — rascal, if you don't let me go." One foot remained stuck, and then the other one. Then he said: " You are holding me that they might injure me, you want to try to rob me, but stop, you will see what I am going to do to you. Let me go, or I shall strike you with my head and break your mouth 1" As he said that, he struck, and a mule could not hit harder, he was so mad. His head, however, my dear friends, remained stuck also. He was caught, well caught. At daybreak, Dr. Monkey and Bourriquet arrived. When they saw Compair Lapin there, they laughed, they cursed him. They took a cart to bring Aofiendix.r A A W~Y 107 him to prison, and all along the way they told the people how they had put a trap to catch the most famous rascal there was in the universe. It was the famous Compair Lapin who had so sullied the reputation of the king's daughter, that there was not a great prince who wanted to marry Miss Leonine, as Compair Lapin had spoken so much about his being her lover. Mr. Fox, who was passing, heard all the bad things which Dr. Monkey and Bourriquet were saying about Corpair Lapin, and he replied: " Yes, it is true, there is nothing like a thief to catch another thief." When they were taking Compair Lapin to prison, all who passed on the road threw bricks at him, and they made a true clown of him. When he arrived in the presence of the king, the latter said to him: "Now, I would like to hear what you can say to. get out of this scrape." Compair Lapin replied: "When the tree falls, the goat climbs on it I I know I can die but once, I don't care. If it is my money they want, I assure you that they will never see it. When I was free, never Bourriquet and Dr. Monkey tried to quarrel with me; the wild hog knows on what tree he must rub himself. I assure you that they are famous rascals." -" You must not speak in that way before the king, but the king will try your case in a few minutes." —" What I say is well said; I am ready to hear the judgment." - After the king and his friends had consulted together, they found Compair Lapin guilty and they condemned him to death. They ordered that he be put in prison until they could find an executioner willing to execute him. The king thought that he would get rid of a fellow who was too cunning for him, and then he would take vengeance on Compair Lapin, because he had injured Miss Leonine's character in such a manner that it was a scandal. While Compair Lapin was in prison, he was thinking how he would manage to escape forever. He thought that he was in a worse plight than he had ever been before. He said to himself: " By Jove! that is no child's play; I think that I am gone up. Well, as I am tired, let me sleep a little: it will do me good." He lay down on the floor, and, soon after, he was snoring. He began to dream that the beautiful Leonine, the daughter of the king, was making a sign to him to tell him he need not be afraid, that she would fix everything all right. He awoke contented, and at daybreak the jailer opened the door of his prison and said to him: " They have found an executioner willing to execute you, but before that, they must cut off your ears; it is Bourriquet who has offered his services to send you in the other world. Take courage, my old fellow, I am sorry for you, you are a good fellow, but you risked your life too often. You know that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure; now it is too late. Good-bye, comrade." At the same Io8 Apfiendix moment the sheriff came with his deputies to take him to the place of execution. - They arrived at the steep bank of a little river. There were tall trees, grass, and briars everywhere. They chose a clear space. When they arrived, there was a big crowd: gentlemen, ladies, many children. All had come to see how they were going to kill Compair Lapin. The king was there with all his family. Miss Leonine, the daughter of the king, was there also. Oh! but she was so beautiful with her curls, which shone like gold in the sun. She had a muslin dress as white as snow with a blue sash, and a crown of roses on her head. The eyes of all were turned towards her; she was so pretty that they forgot completely Compair Lapin, who was trembling like a leaf. Yes, indeed, he was sorry to leave such a large fortune and such a beautiful wife as the king's daughter. What pained him the most was to think that perhaps Dr. Monkey or Bourriquet would marry Miss Leonine as soon as he would be dead, because they both boasted that Compair Lapin was in their way. Without him, they said they would have succeeded long ago. Now the king said: "Well, let us put an end to all this; advance, Bourriquet, and read Compair Lapin his sentence." The king allowed him to choose his death, as he pleased: to be drowned in the river, burnt alive, or hung on a tree, or to have his neck cut with a sword. " Yes, yes," said Compair Lapin, "all that at once, or one after the other, if that pleases you so much that I should die, well, I am very glad. Only, I was afraid that you would throw me in those great thorns, that would tear my skin and I would suffer too much, and then, the snakes and the wasps would sting me. Oh I no, not that, not that at all!" Tell the king to do all except throwing me in those briars; for the love of God, who is in Heaven, and who will judge you as you judge me! " " Haw! haw! you are afraid of the thorns? We want to see you suffer, suffer, you scoundrel."-They were making such a noise that the king said: " What is the matter?" He came closer, accompanied by his daughter, Miss Leonine, who had come to see if Compair Lapin was going to die bravely; that is to say, every one thought so, but she had come to encourage him and reassure him, because she had sent word to him secretly, while he was in prison, that even if the rope was around his neck, she, Miss Leonine, would arrive in time to take it off and save him, because she loved him more than anything in the world. They related to the king and to Miss Leonine what Compair Lapin had said, and how much afraid he was to be thrown in the thorns and to suffer. Miss LUonine came forward and said: " Papa, I have a favor to ask you: I know that you hate Compair Lapin, and I also, because he has sullied my name. Well, I want to make you all see that what they said is not true. I want to see him AAAndix CI& A UZ~ og9 suffer for all his stories; we must get rid of him, and I ask you to throw him in the briars and let him rot there; it is good enough for such a rascal." All clapped their hands, they were so glad. "Throw him in the briars; it is there indeed we must throw him," said the king; "he must suffer. Quick! Hurry! "- They took Compair Lapin by each limb, they swung him once; poor devil, he was crying: "No, no, not in the briars, in fire, cut my neck, not in the briars." They said: "Twice "-Yap! they threw him in a great bunch of thorns. As Compair Lapin fell in his native country, he sat down, he rubbed his nose, shook his ears, and then he said: " Thank you, all of you; I thought you were stupid, but it is here my mother made me; I am at home here, and not one of you can come here to catch me. Good-by, I know where I am going." Miss Leonine also was very glad; she knew where she would meet Compair Lapin that very evening. That proves one thing to you, that Compair Lapin was a hypocrite and pleaded false things to know the truth. It proves another thing, that when a woman loves a man, she will do all he wishes, and the woman will do all in her power to save him, and in whatever place the man may be, the woman will go to meet him. This is why they say that what a woman wants, God wants also. As. I was there when all that happened, they sent me here to relate it to you. I have finished. II. Compair Bouki and Compair Lapin. -No. x. One day, Compair Bouqui met Compair Lapin. "How," said he, "is that you? Don't you know that it is to-day that all persons are selling their mothers to have something to eat? " -" Ah! yes," said Compair Lapin, "I, also, am going to get my mother, and I shall sell her for a kettle of hominy and one of gombo." Now both of them started. Compair Bouqui tied his mother with a rope, and during that time Compair Lapin tied his with a cobweb. Before he entered the cart, he said: " Now, mamma, as soon as you will arrive near the briars you will jump down and run to the house." Compair Bouqui sold his mother, and returned in his cart with his kettle of hominy and his kettle of gombo. While he was on his way home, he saw a rabbit lying in the road, and a little further, another rabbit. He advanced a little more, and there was another rabbit. When he came to the third rabbit, he said: "It is not possible, those rabbits are dying of hunger instead of selling their mothers to get something to eat; let me get down to catch them." He was not able to catch anything, because it was Compair Lapin who pretended to be dead, to make Compair Bouqui leave his cart During that time, Compair Lapin ran to the cart of Compair Bou 10o ApAeendix-x qui, stole his two kettles, cut the tail of his horse, planted it in the ground, and, taking the cart away, went to hide himself. Compair Bouqui came back to look for his cart, but he only saw the tail of his horse planted in the ground. He began to dig in the ground, as he thought that his horse and his cart had fallen in a hole, and he called for help. Tiger came out of the woods, and helped Compair Bouqui to dig. Compair Bouqui found Tiger so fat that he bit him on his back, and escaped. Tiger asked Compair Lapin what he could do to take vengeance on Compair Bouqui. Compair Lapin said: " We must give a grand ball, come this evening to my house." Tiger and Compair Lapin engaged good musicians and invited many persons. Compair Lapin came out on the gallery; and began to sing: "' Come to the grand ball, Those that lost their wives, Beautiful negresses from Senegal." Compair Bouqui, who heard that, ran to Compair Lapin and cried out: " It is my wife, it is not necessary to invite any more people." But Compair Lapin pretended not to hear, and he beat his drum, and sang: " SSimion, carillon painpain, Simion, carillon painpain." Compair Bouqui entered Compair Lapin's cabin, and he took Tiger for a woman, because he had hidden his beard and dressed like a young lady. When the ball was over, Compair Bouqui remained alone with Tiger, who gave him a good beating and ran off with Compair Lapin. Now that is not all: Tiger and Compair Lapin did not know where Compair Bouqui was. When Compair Lapin came near his cabin, he cried out: "Good night, my cabin, good night," and he said: " That is strange, my cabin, which always replies, says nothing to-day." Compair Bouqui, who was not at all cunning, answered: Good night, my master, good night." "Ah! we have him," said Compair Lapin, " get some fire, we are going to give some smoke to Compair Bouqui, in this cabin." They burned poor Compair Bouqui, and Compair Lapin was so glad that he jumped like a kid and sang: " AYe, aie, aie, Compair Lapin, He is a little animal that knows how to jump." III. Choal Dji (The Horse of God). Choal Dj6 h'ad a pond, and he allowed all the comrades to drink from it, except Compair Lapin and his comrades. One day he caught Compair Lapin near his pond. If I catch you drinking from my pond, I shall make you pay a fine." Compair Lapin replied: "Well-ordained charity begins with one's self, and as you are the master I am not going to drink from your pond." But one Aoftldix A A ' II day they killed a deer, and after having skinned it, they threw away the skin. Compair Lapin picked up the skin and passed his head in it; he then went to drink in Choal Dj6's pond. When Choal Dje saw that, he advanced nearer and asked Compair Ch6vreil who it was that had marked him in that way. Compair Chdvreil answered: " It is Compair Lapin who made the sign of the cross on me, and who put me in this condition, and if you don't let him drink in your pond, he will do the same thing with you." - " Well, you may tell Compair Lapin that he can come to drink in my pond with all his comrades. I don't want him to do the same thing with me." - Compair Lapin ran to his house, took off the skin, and came back with his comrades to drink in Choai Dj6's pond. When Choal Dje saw him coming, he said to him: " Drink as much as you want, Compair Lapin, with your comrades." - Compair Lapin was always more cunning than everybody else. IV. Comtnair Bouki and Cotmpair Lapin. - No. 2. One day, Compair Bouqui went to see Compair Lapin. When he entered the cabin, he saw a big pot, which was on the fire, and it smelt so good that Compair Bouqui could not stay quiet. When the food was cooked, Compair Bouqui had also his share and he found it so good that he kept on bothering Compair Lapin to know where hetook such good meat. — " Pray, Compair Lapin, tell me where you find - that meat."- " No, Compair Bouqui, you are too greedy."" Compair Lapin, my poor children are dying of hunger, tell me where you find that meat." - " No, Compair Bouqui, you are too rascally." At last, he bothered Compair Lapin so much, so much, that Compair Lapin said: " Listen, Compair Bouqui, I am going to tell you, but you must not tell any one, and you must do as I tell you. You know the king's ox, which is in the pasture, and which is so fat, well, you will take a bag and a knife, you will watch when he will open his mouth to eat, you will jump in his throat, and when you will arrive in his belly, you will begin to cut the meat to put in your bag. Now, be very careful not to cut near his heart, because you would kill him. When he will open his mouth again to eat, you will jump out and run home. Don't you let any one see you." The next morning, Compair Bouqui took his bag and his'knife and ran into the pasture. When the king's ox opened his mouth to eat, he jumped into his belly, and he began to cut the meat and to put it into his bag. The more he cut, the closer he came to the heart -of the ox. He saw that the meat was so fine and fat, that he said to himself: " What will it matter, if I cut a little piece, that will not kill him." He took his knife, he cut a piece, lo! the ox of the king fell down dead, and Compair Bouqui could not come out of his belly. 112 AAppendir.x All the people came to see what had happened, how the ox that was so fine had died like that. They said: "We must open him to see what was the matter with him." When they did that, what did they see? Compair Bouqui. "Ah! Compair Bouqui, it is you who killed the ox of the king, you wanted to steal meat, just wait, we are going to fix you." -They took Compair Bouqui, they opened his belly, they took out his bowels, they filled him with sand, and they closed the opening with a cork. When Compair Bouqui returned home he was very much ashamed. His children ran to see the good meat which he had brought. -" Papa, give us some meat.' " There is none, my children." -- Yes, papa, something smells good on you." The little ones advanced, and Compair Bouqui backed, backed. The children commenced to smell the cork; they found it smelt good, because there was honey on it. They began to suck the cork, to suck the cork. Lo! the cork came out; all the sand ran out, Compair Bouqui died on the spot. He was flat on the ground. V. Compair Bouki and Compair Lapin. - No. 3. One day the children of Compair Bouki met those of Compair Lapin, who had on fine Sunday dresses and new shoes. When the little Boukis returned home, they asked their father why he did not give them fine clothes like those of Compair Lapin's children. Compair Bouki went to see Compair Lapin, and asked him where he took the fine things he had given to his children. Compair Lapin did not want to reply, but Compair Bouki annoyed him so much that he said to him: " Go and cut wood in the forest; and when you will be tired, look in the centre of the forest, and you will see a big tree. Go to sleep under it, and when you will awake, say: 'Tree, how sweet you are!' The tree will say: If I were to open, what would you say?' You will reply: 'If you open, I shall be very glad.' When the tree will open, enter into it; it will close up, and you will see many pretty things. Take what you want, and tell the tree: 'Open!' when you will wish to depart." Compair Bouki did what Compair Lapin had said, but when he saw all there was in the tree, he wanted to take so many things that he forgot to say: " Tree, open!" The tree belonged to some thieves, who hid their booty in it. They came back in the woods, and they found Compair Bouki, who was stealing their goods. I need not tell you that they gave Compair Bouki such a beating that he could not move. {I. Compair Bouki and Compair Lapin.-No. 4. Compair Bouki and Compair Lapin went together to pay a visit to some young ladies. While they were speaking, Compair Lapin said to the young ladies: " You see Compair Bouki; he is not a person, Afifiendix A A ' II3 he is a horse which my father has left me." The young ladies said: " Oh! no, we cannot believe that." Now Compair Lapin returned home; and when came the day appointed for the visit to the young ladies, he dressed up fine, and covered his clothes with a hog's skin. When Compair Bouki came in, he said: "Are you ready, Compair?" Compair Lapin replied: "But no, don't you see how I am covered up? I feel cold, and I am suffering so much from my feet that I don't know how I am going to do to walk." Compair Bouki, who was always so stupid, said: "Mount on my back, and when you will be near the house of the young ladies, you will get down." Compair Lapin said: " I don't know if I shall be able to mount on your back, but I shall try." Without Compair Bouki's seeing it, Compair Lapin put on his spurs and mounted on Bouki's back. While he was on Compair Bouki's back, Compair Lapin was all the time moving. His friend asked him what was the matter. " I am suffering so much that I know not how to sit." Cornpair Lapin said that, but he was trying to shake off his hog's skin. When they arrived near the house of the young ladies, Compair Lapin stuck Compair Bouki, with his spurs, and Compair Bouki started running. Compair Lapin jumped down, and went into the house of the young ladies, to whom he said: "You see that I was right when I told you that Compair Bouki was a horse which my father had left me." VII. Comtpair Bouki and Compair Lapin. —No. 5. One day, quite early, Compair Lapin arose, and he felt hunger gaining upon him. He looked everywhere in the cabin; he found nothing to eat. He ran towards Compair Bouki. When he arrived, he saw Compair Bouki, who was gnawing a bone. - Eh 1 Compair Bouki, I had come to take breakfast with you; but I see that you don't have anything famous to give me. -Times are hard, Compair Lapin; there are no more rations in the cabin; only this bone left. Compair Lapin reflected a little.- Well! Compair Bouki, if you wish, we shall go hunting for the eggs of the tortoise. -Agreed upon! let us go right off. Compair Bouki took his basket and his hoe, and they started towards the bayou in the woods. - Compair Lapin, I don't often go hunting for tortoise eggs; I don't know well how to find them. - Don't trouble yourself, Compair Bouki, I find all the time a place where tortoises lay their eggs. You, you will dig them up. When they arrived at the bayou, Compair Lapin walked slowly, looking well on this side and on that side. Soon he came to a dead stop. - Compair Bouki, the tortoise thinks she is cunning. She scratches the ground with her big paw, and she lays her eggs in a I14 Ameadix. hole; then she puts a little sand on them, and then she scatters leaves on her nest. You see this hillock? Take off -the leaves, and scratch with your hoe; sure you will find eggs. Compair Bouki did what Compair Lapin told him, and they saw a pile of eggs shining in that hole. - Compair Lapin, you are more cunning than I; I am very glad to have you for my friend. Compair Lapin shared the eggs; he gave half to Compair Bouki. - Compair Bouki, I am very hungry; I am going to eat my eggs immediately. — Do as you want, Compair Lapin; I shall take mine to my wife to have them cooked. They went on a long time still, and they found many eggs. Compair Lapin always ate his; Compair Bouki did not like raw eggs; he put them all in his basket. - Compair Bouki, I am beginning to be tired; I believe it is time for us to return home. - I have enough eggs for to-day, Compair Lapin; let us go back. -As they were going, towards the river, Compair Lapin said to himself: Compair Bouki does not know how to find tortoise eggs; it is I who found them; they ought all to belong to me. I must make some trick to gain them. — As they were nearly arrived at the river, Compair Lapin said: Compair Bouki, I forgot to take some eggs for my old mother. You would be very kind to lend me a dozen. I shall return them to you another time. -Compair Bouki gave a dozen, and they went each on his way. Compair Lapin went to put his dozen of eggs in his cabin, then he went to Compair Bouki's. When he came near the cabin of Compair Bouki he began to complain, and to hold his belly with both hands. Compair Bouki came out. - What is the matter with you, dompair Lapin? You don't look very well. - Oh! no, Compair Bouki, those eggs have poisoned me. I beg of you; quick, run to get the doctor. - I shall run as fast as I can, daddy. As soon as Compair Bouki started, Compair Lapin went to the kitchen and fell to eating tortoise eggs. — Thank you, great Lord, I shall eat my belly full to-day. The physician lives far, I have the time to eat all before they come. When Compair Lapin had nearly finished eating the eggs, he heard Compair Bouki speaking outside.- Doctor Monkey, I am very glad that I met you on the road; my friend is very sick. - Compair Lapin did not lose any time; he opened the window and jumped out. Compair Bouki came into the cabin; he did not see Compair Lapin. He ran into the kitchen; the shells of the eggs were scattered all about. Compair Lapin was already in the fields. Compair Bouki tore his hair, he was so angry. He started to run after Compair Lapin. Compair Lapin had eaten so many eggs, that he was not able to run fast. When he saw Compair Bouki was pressing him too close, he hid in a hole in a tree. Appendix. I 5 Compair Bouki called Compair Torti, who was passing on the road.-Compair Torti, pray come to watch Compair Lapin, who stole all your eggs. I am going to get my axe to cut down this tree. - Go quickly, Compair Bouki; I shall watch the rascal well. When Compair Bouki started, Compair Lapin said: Compair Torti, look in this hole; you will see if I have your eggs. Compair Torti lifted his head; Compair Lapin sent some decayed wood in his eyes. Compair Torti went to wash his eyes in the bayou; Compair Lapin ran off immediately. Compair Bouki came to cut the tree; he saw that Compair Lapin had already run away. He was so angry he went to Compair Torti, on the bank of the bayou, and he cut off his tail with his axe. -It is for this reason that the tail of the tortoise is so short to this very day. VIII. Compair Bouki and Compair Lapin.- No. 6. One day, Compair Bouki, who was dying of hunger, went to see his old friend, Compair Lapin. He found him thinking of nothing, and occupied in cleaning some fish. Bouki asked where he had taken that. His old friend related his story to him. He told him: "' You see, daddy, I went to watch for the fish cart on the road. I saw it coming; I lay down in the road, as if I was dead. The master of the cart came down right off to pick me off. He shook me up a little; and after that, he threw me in his cart, on a pile of fish, I did not move my feet, like Mr. Fox. I watched well the old master, until I saw he had forgotten me. I began quietly to throw all the fish in the road until we had nearly gone a mile further; then, when I thought I had enough, I jumped down and picked up all the fish which I had thrown in the road. There were one hundred or a thousand - I did not count; I was in such a hurry. I put them all by myself on my back, faster than I could; and I came straight here to eat them." Compair Bouki reflected a long while; he was a little afraid that if he tried to do the same thing, he would put himself again in trouble. Compair Lapin, who was looking at him with his good eyes, saw that his friend was reflecting too long. He told him: " Old friend, you are dying of hunger; do like me; go and watch for the cart on the road, steal as much as you can, and we shall have a grand festival." Old Bouki, who was greedy, could not resist; he started, he lay down on the road as if he was dead for true, he lifted his feet in the air to deceive people better. When the master of the cart came very near, he saw old Bouki, who was playing his tricks to catch him. He came down with a big plantation whip, and gave him a whipping which had red pepper, black pepper, and salt, it burned so much. Compair Bouki remained one month in his bed after that. He did I16 Appendix. not have a single feather left, and had colics to his very beak. They gave him a great deal of tafia to give him strength; they put him in a large bath made with gombo, and they made him drink some laurel tea all the time after that. When Compair Bouki was cured, he swore, but too late, that Compair Lapin would never deceive him again. All the goats which are not rascals, Ought to fear the old rabbits. MAN HENRIETTE. IX. Ein Vi Zombi Main. - The Cunning Old Wizard. There was once a prince who was very rich. One day the princess, his daughter, lost a big diamond. While she was crying for her jewel, an old man came to the palace, and said that he was a wizard. The prince promised that he would give him anything he would ask, if he would say where was the diamond. The wizard only asked for three meals, and promised to find the jewel. They gave him an excellent breakfast, and when he had eaten all, he said: " One is taken." The servants of the prince began to tremble, because it was they who had stolen the diamond. After his dinner, the wizard said: " Two are taken." The servants trembled still more. After supper, the wizard said: "Three are taken." When they heard that, the three thieves fell on their knees before the wizard, and said that they would give back the diamond, if he promised to say nothing to their master. Now the wizard took the diamond, rolled it up in a piece of bread, and threw it before a turkey in the yard. The turkey gobbled up the bread with the diamond. The wizard went to get the prince and his daughter, and told them that the diamond was in the turkey's stomach, and that they would find it, on killing the turkey. That was done, and the diamond was found. The prince was very glad, and said that the old man was the greatest wizard in the world. - At the court everybody was admiring the wizard, but a few young men were not sure that he was a true wizard, and they wanted to catch him. They caught a cricket in the grass, they put it in a box, and they asked the wizard to tell them what there was in the box. The old man did not know, and he said to himself: " Well, Cricket, you are caught." His name was Cricket, but the people there did not know that, and they thought that the wizard had guessed that there was a cricket in the box. Therefore, the old man passed for a great wizard, and they gave him many good things: and yet he was merely cunning, and had had luck. Appendix. 1I7 X. Sin Fame ki tournin Macaaque. - A Woman changed into a Monkey. There was once a gentleman who had a field of peanuts. Every day he saw that some one was eating a row of peanuts. He asked his wife who was eating his peanuts. His wife said it was his brother who was eating them every day. He then caught hold of the little boy and gave him a good beating. The next day he saw another row of peanuts had been eaten. He seized the little boy and gave him another beating. The little boy said, " That is too much; my brother is always beating me; I must make him see that it is his wife who is eating his peanuts." The next day he did not carry his brother's dinner in the field, but he told him to come to the house, and he would show him who was eating his peanuts. When they came in, his wife approached to serve the dinner, and now the little boy began to sing: " Tou man, - tou mangd tou, tou man, tou mange tou." The woman said: " Why are you singing that? I don't want you to sing that, sing something else." -" No, that is what I want to sing." He continued to sing, and they saw the woman begin to scratch, begin to jump, and at last she became a monkey. She ran into the peanut field, and she ate a whole row. " You see," said the little boy, "that it is not I who eat your peanuts; it is your wife who, every day, becomes a monkey." The gentleman advanced with a stick, but the monkey ran into the woods and climbed upon a tree. XI. 7The Talking Eggs.l There was once a lady who had two daughters; they were called Rose and Blanche. Rose was bad, and Blanche was good; but the mother liked Rose better, although she was bad, because she was her very picture. She would compel Blanche to do all the work, while Rose was seated in her rocking-chair. One day she sent Blanche to the well to get some water in a bucket. When Blanche arrived at the well, she saw an old woman, who said to her: "Pray, my little one, give me some water; I am very thirsty." "Yes, aunt," said Blanche, "here is some water;" and Blanche rinsed her bucket, and gave her good fresh water to drink. "Thank you, my child, you are a good girl; God will bless you." A few days after, the mother was so bad to Blanche that she ran away into the woods. She cried, and knew not where to go, because she was afraid to return home. She saw the same old woman, who was walking in front of her. " Ah! my child, why are you crying? What hurts you?" "Ah, aunt, mamma has beaten me, and I am afraid to return to the cabin." " Well, my child, come with me; I 1 The four following stories (Nos. XI.-XIV.) are reprinted from the Journal of American Folk-Lore (I888). 11x8 Appexdir.. will give you supper and a bed; but you must promise me not to laugh at anything which you will see" She took Blanche's hand, and they began to walk in the wood. As they advanced, the bushes of thorns opened before them, and closed behind their backs. A little further on, Blanche saw two axes, which were fighting; she found that very strange, but she said nothing. They walked further, and behold! it was two arms which were fighting; a little further, two legs; at last, she saw two heads which were fighting, and which said: " Blanche, good morning, my child; God will help you." At last they arrived at the cabin of the old woman, who said to Blanche: "Make some fire, my child, to cook the supper;" and she sat down near the fireplace, and took off her head. She placed it on her knees, and began to louse herself. Blanche found that very strange; she was afraid, but she said nothing. The old woman put back her head in its place and gave Blanche a large bone to put on the fire for their supper. Blanche put the bone in the pot. Lo! in a moment the pot was full of good meat. She gave Blanche a grain of rice to pound with the pestle, and thereupon the mortar became full of rice. After they had taken their supper, the old woman said to Blanche: "Pray, my child, scratch my back." Blanche scratched her back, but her hand was all cut, because the old woman's back was covered with broken glass. When she saw that Blanche's hand was bleeding, she only blew on it, and the hand was cured. When Blanche got up the next morning, the old woman said to her: "You must go home now, but as you are a good girl I want to make you a present of the talking eggs. Go to the chicken-house; all the eggs which say 'Take me,' you must take them; all those which will say 'Do not take me,' you must not take. When you will be on the road, throw the eggs behind your back to break them." As Blanche walked, she broke the eggs. Many pretty things came out of those eggs. It was now diamonds, now gold, a beautiful carriage, beautiful dresses. When she arrived at her mother's, she had so many fine things that the house was full of them. Therefore her mother was very glad to see her. The next day, she said to Rose: "You must go to the woods to look for this same old woman; you must have fine dresses like Blanche." Rose went to the woods, and she met the old woman, who told her to come to her cabin; but when she saw the axes, the arms, the legs, the heads, fighting, and the old woman taking off her head to louse herself, she began to laugh and to ridicule everything she saw. Therefore the old woman said: "Ah! my child, you are not a good girl; God will punish you." The next day she said to Rose: "I don't want to send you back with nothing; go to the chicken-house, and take the eggs which say 'Take me. " Afifiexdix II9 Rose went to the chicken-house. All the eggs began to say: "Take me," "Don't take me;" "Take me," "Don't take me," Rose was so bad that she said: "Ah, yes, you say 'Don't take me,' but you are precisely those I want." She took all the eggs which said " Don't take me," and she went away with them. As she walked, she broke the eggs, and there came out a quantity of snakes, toads, frogs, which began to run after her. There were even a quantity of whips, which whipped her. Rose ran and shrieked. She arrived at her mother's so tired that she was not able to speak. When her mother saw all the beasts and the whips which were chasing her, she was so angry that she sent her away like a dog, and told her go to live in the woods. XII. Grease. There was once a lady who had four daughters. They were so pretty that everybody wanted to marry them. They were called La Graisse, D6pomme, Banane, and Pacane. La Graisse was the prettiest, but she never went out in the sun, because they were afraid that she would melt. La Graisse used to go out every day in a beautiful golden carriage. The son of the king saw her every day, but La Graisse was so pretty and the carriage shone so much that it dazzled his eyes, and he had to rub them in order to be able to see. The king's son was in love with La Graisse. He ran to the mother to ask her to let him marry her; but the mother, who knew that La Graisse was the prettiest of her daughters, wanted to marry the others first. She called Dtpomme: " Dpomme oh! orimomo, orimomo!" D~pomme came, but the gentleman looked at her well, and said that it was not the one he wanted; she would spoil too quickly. The mother called: "Banane oh I orimomo, orimomo I" Banane came. The gentleman did not want her; she would rot too quickly. The mother called: " Pacane oh! orimomo, orimomo I" Pacane came. The gentleman said Pacane would become rancid. At last the mother called: "La Graisse oh! orimomo, orimomo!" La Graisse came. As soon as he saw her he took her, and led her to his beautiful house and married her. The king's son went hunting every day. While he was not there, the servants tormented La Graisse. She was afraid to tell her husband, and she did all they wanted. One day the cook told her that she did not want to cook the dinner; that La Graisse had to do it herself. Poor La Graisse! she cried and cried, but they forced her to stay by the fire. But she was melting and melting: in the end, there was nothing but. La Graisse (grease) everywhere; the kitchen was full of it. 120 AA~D The little bird of La Graisse saw that. It dipped its wings into the grease; it flew in the wood to the gentleman; it flapped its wings in his face. The gentleman saw the grease which was on the wings; he thought of his dear La Graisse; he galloped home; he found his wife all melted on the floor. He was so sorry that he picked up all the grease and put it in an old bath-tub, and when the grease was cold it became a woman again. But she was never as pretty as before; for the earth had mixed with the grease, and she was all yellow and dirty. Her husband did not love her any more, and sent her back to her mother. XIII. The Golden Fish. There was once a young girl who had a lover. It was a fine young man, a prince, but the father did not want him to court his daughter. He went to see an old wizard, who lived in the woods, and said to him: " I pray you, wizard, make that young man leave my daughter alone. I do not want them to marry." One day the young girl and the young man were seated on the river bank; the wizard came and changed the young man into a fish, which jumped into the water. The father thought that the young girl would forget the young man, now that he was a fish, and he did not watch her any more; but every day the young girl would sit on the river bank and sing: " Caliwa wa, caliwa co; waco, moman dit oui; waco, popa dit non; caliwa wa, caliwa co." As soon as she sang that the water opened, and a beautiful red fish, with a golden crown, on his head, came near the young girl. He brought her cakes, oranges, apples, for her to eat. The father perceived that the young girl went every day to the river bank. One day he watched her, and saw what she was doing. The next day he brought his gun with him; and when the girl sang, and the beautiful fish came, he killed it, and took it home to cook it. The young girl was told to cook the fish. When she took it to cut it, the fish began to sing: " Cut me then, wa, wa; scrape me then, wa, wa; mix me then, wa, wa; put some salt, wa, wa." When the fish was cooked they placed it on the table. The young girl did not want to eat, and cried for her fish; but the father was so greedy and ate so much that his belly burst, and a quantity of little fishes came out and escaped to the water. After the dinner the young girl went to sit down on the river bank, where they had thrown the scales of her fish. She wept so much that the earth opened, and she disappeared in the hole to go to meet her fish. When her mother came to look for her, she saw only one lock of her daughter's hair which was coming out of the earth. Appendix. 121 XIV. " Give Ae." Once there was a lady who resided in a beautiful house. She had been married a long time, but had no children. One day that'she was standing on her gallery, she saw an old woman who was passing with a basket of apples on her head. When the lady saw the beautiful apples she wished to eat one; she called the old woman, and told her that she wanted to buy an apple. The old merchantwoman did not want to sell an apple; but she gave one to the lady, and said: - "I know that you wish to have a child; eat this apple, and to-morrow you will be the mother of a beautiful boy." The young woman took the apple, laughing, and pared it. She threw the peel in the yard, and ate the apple. The old woman had not lied; during the night the lady gave birth to a fine boy, and what is very strange is that a mare which was in the yard ate the apple-peels, and she had a foal during the night. The lady was very glad to have a child; and she said that as the little horse was born the same night as the little boy, it should be his property. Both grew up together, and they loved each other very much. As the little horse was born through a miracle, he could be saddled and bridled without any one touching him. When the boy wanted to ride, he cried: "Saddle and bridle, my little horse!" and the horse came immediately, all ready to be mounted. When the boy grew up, he was tired of remaining at his mother's, and set out to seek adventures. He said to no one where he was going, mounted his horse, and travelled for a long time, until he arrived in the country of a great king.,One evening he came to a beautiful house; they told him that it was the residence of the king, and that he had a very pretty daughter. The young man wanted to see the princess, therefore he descended from his horse and made him disappear; for I ought to have told you that the horse could disappear whenever his master wished it, and he himself could change his clothes according to his desire, taking sometimes the clothes of a beggar, and sometimes the clothes of a prince. On that day, he dressed like a beggar, and went towards the kitchen. He acted as if he could not speak well, and every time they poke to him he answered but two words: " Give me." " You are hungry?" "Give me." -"You are thirsty?" "Give me." They called him Give me, and they allowed him to sleep in the I122.AoendAc kitchen, in the ashes. He helped the servants of the king, and they thought he was an idiot. The whole week Give me remained in the kitchen, but when Sunday came, and every one had gone to mass, he put on his best clothes, ordered his horse to appear with saddle and bridle, and began to gallop all over the garden of the king. He broke the flower-pots, the young plants; nothing could stop him. On that very day the daughter of the king was sick, and she did not go to mass. She remained at home, and looked in the garden through the window. She saw Give me, and she found him very handsome. Give me stopped galloping in the garden when he thought the mass was almost finished. He made his horse disappear, and went back to the kitchen with his beggar's clothes. When the king came back he was furious to see the damage which had been done in his garden. He summoned his servants, but they said that Give me was the only person who had remained at home. The king questioned him, but he replied all the time, "Give me." The next Sunday the same thing happened again, and the daughter of the king remained at home to see Give me. The king was so angry that he said he would catch the rascal who was spoiling his garden. On the third Sunday he did not go to mass, but he hid himself in the house. He caught Give me, who was dressed like a prince and galloping in the garden on his horse. The king was very much astonished, and he asked the handsome young man to relate his story. Give me told him how he was born, and made his horse appear and disappear, and changed his clothes at his will. He told the king that he was in love with his daughter, and asked her in marriage. The king said yes, and Give me married the print cess, and sent for his mother. 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