Part 1 — XIV. DOBA.
Reading edition
One day Puss make a ball an' invite the whole world of Ratta.
All the Ratta dress in long coat an' silk dress. There was t'ousand of them women, an' men. When them come they bring a little boy an' the mother with a young baby.
When all the Ratta settle, the door was shut, an' the Puss them have them junka 'tick secretly in a them trousies' foot. They made a bargain between themselves that, when the Ratta deep in dancing, Doba must out the lamp, then the licking-match commence.
When the music begin, it sweet Ratta so that they dance till their white shirt-bosom was wet.
The fiddler was Dandy Jimmy Flint.
An' this is what the fiddle say:—
[Listen] [XML]
Doba, Doba, Doba no make de little one get 'way Ballantony Bap! twee twee, Ballantony Bap! twee twee.
The boy Ratta take notice of what the fiddle say.
Him go to him dada an' whisper:—"Puppa, you no yerry what the fiddle say?"
[Listen] [XML]
Doba, Doba, Doba no make de little one get 'way Ballantony Bap! twee twee, Ballantony Bap! twee twee.
The father say:—"Get 'way, Sir, you little fellah you! It the worst fe carry any little boy out fe met. Go, off, Sir, you lying fellah!"
During this time the boy hear what the music say in truth, went an' dug a hole fe him an' him mumma.
When Ratta in hot dancing the gate-man Puss, Mr. Doba, out the lamp. Then the junka 'tick fly round an' all the Ratta was kill. Blood was cover the floor an' all the Puss take their share.
Only boy Ratta an' his mumma an' the young baby, get way.
If the puppa did take what the boy say him wouldn' dead.
Puss ball was flourish with meat.
If boy Ratta an' his mumma didn' get 'way we wouldn' have no Ratta in dis ya-ya-world again.
Jack Mantora me no choose any.
NOTES.
Ratta, rats.
Puss them. These words are closely joined together.
junka 'tick, short sticks.
trousies' foot, the legs of their trousers. The Negroes are expert in the art of hiding things about their person.
Fighting with sticks is called a licking-match.
sweet (a verb), pleased, delighted.
In these stories the fiddle is often made to sing words which some have the gift of hearing.
Bap! is the knock of the stick, or "lick of the stick" as they say.
twee twee, the squeak of the rat.
no make, don't let.
it the worst fe carry, etc. It is very troublesome to take a little boy out to a meeting. Met, dance, spree, picnic are convertible terms.
Carry is seldom used as in English. They say:—Carry the mule a pastor (to the pasture). When a man carries you over a river on his back he "crosses you over."
Doba, long o as in Dover.
Blood was cover, etc., the floor was covered with blood.
Dis ya-ya, the vulgar English "this here." Ya-ya is said very quickly. It does not come into common speech but is reserved for Annancy stories and is generally found only in Annancy's mouth.