Part 1 — XLIII. JOHN CROW.
Reading edition
One day there was a lady who have but only one daughter, an' Mr. Tacoma hear about the gal an' he went to court the gal.
An' when Tacoma go the gal wouldn' receive Tacoma.
An' the mother was really vex.
As the mother being a old lady, when Tacoma going Tacoma carry a brass mortar to made it a present to the old lady to beat her fee-fee. An' when the old lady see the brass mortar he really want the mortar.
But Tacoma said to her if him don't get the gal he not going to leave the mortar.
An' the gal 'treat away himself inside the room an' hide.
An' Tacoma feel very sorry an' he return home back.
When he goes home he tell Annancy about the gal, an' Annancy get a concentina he going to carry down make a present to the gal.
An' Annancy say if the gal can only take the concentina from him the gal must be his wife.
An' when Annancy go down Annancy was playing.
The gal wouldn' receive Annancy in.
An' when the mumma hear, the music was so sweet she commence to dance; an' said to the daughter, this is the son-in-law him want, for he can get him own dance any time him ready.
Not for all Mr. Annancy playing the gal wouldn' receive Annancy, until Annancy has to go home back.
When that ugly fellah Mr. John Crow hear it he study between himself an' get a carriage with his pair of horses an' his coachman, an' the carpet in the carriage was a gold carpet.
An' John Crow said between himself when him put on him watch an' chain an' his coat an' shoes, if him don't bring that gal home believe him no Mr. Goldman.
An' John Crow drive away.
An' when him get to a distant to a look-out, the gal was at his window sitting down, an' as him look, him see Mr. Goldman was driving coming.
An' him holloa to him mumma:—"Mumma, mumma, my dear love is coming."
An' as John Crow reach the yard the gal was out an' sling Mr. Goldman out the carriage an' escort him right into the house.
An' after John Crow introduce himself to the gal that his name is Mr. Goldman.
An' when John Crow tell the gal so, the gal have a old-witch brother an' says to his sister that that man is John Crow.
An' the gal get vex an' say:—"Oh no, don't use a word like that; it is my dear Mr. Goldman."
An' when the mumma come the gal introduce him to Mr. Goldman, an' tell him that his dear love just come now.
An' Mr. Goldman fix a time when to come back an' get married, and the mother was agree, an' the gal was very glad too.
An', when they settle that, John Crow drive back to his yard.
An' when he is coming back the next night he brought a old-witch boy with him an' hide him half part of the road near the yard, an' tell him that as he see day clearing, he must call him that he may got home before day clear.
An' he reach the yard an' spend the night in a very joyful dance.
So it getting near day an' the boy sing:—
[Listen] [XML]
Mister Goldman oh! Goldman oh! Day da clean oh!
An' when the boy sing out the people them inside the house hear.
An' when they hear they say:—"Stop! Stop! Stop! some one is calling Mr. Goldman."
An' the dance so sweet Mr. Goldman he wouldn' stop to listen. He only says:—"Oh don't listen to that foolish boy." An' when him use the word him one in the ring wheeling all the gal them.
An' that time him hear a sing:—
[Listen] [XML]
Poor mirrybimbim ribbimbybimbim, Goldman a wheel him gal, Goldman a wheel dem.
An' when him wheel all the gal him look outside the door an' see that day catch him; so him cry excuse an' went up'tairs.
An' when he go up he take a piece of meat an' look for a broken sash an' 'queeze himself t'rough.
An' as him go t'rough, the sash 'crape off the whole of him back head, an' from that day every John Crow born with a peel head.
Jack Mantora me no choose none.
NOTES.
fee-fee, food.
'treat away himself, retreats, retires.
concentina, always with this n.
him ready, she is ready for it, wants it.
a look-out, a place visible from the house.
sling, hand, with a notion of vigorous action.
an' says, who says.
a word, often a sentence of several words.
tell him, tell her mother.
sweet, pleased.
when him use the word, as he said this.
excuse, to be excused; pronounce the s like z.
John Crow is the vulture-like scavenger bird of Jamaica, and has a peeled (bald) head.