uncle remus-第31章

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ey　staid　dat　way；　twel　bimeby　dey　begun　fer　ter　git　hongry；　an'　den　dey　begun　fer　ter　drap　inter　line　right　smartually；　an'　now；　conhnued　the　old　man；　emphatically；　〃dey　er　des　ez　palaverous　ez　dey　wuz　befo'　de　war。　Dey　er　gittin'　on　solid　groun'；　mon。〃

〃You　think　they　are　improving；　then？〃

〃Youer　chawin'　guv'nment　now；　boss。　You　slap　de　law　onter　a　nigger　a　time　er　two；　an'　lam　'im　dat　he's　got　fer　to　look　after　his　own　rashuns　an'　keep　out'n　udder　fokes's　chick'n…coops；　an'　sorter　coax　'im　inter　de　idee　dat　he's　got　ter　feed　'is　own　chilluns；　an'　I　be　blessed　ef　you　ain't　got　'im　on　risin'　groun'。　An'；　mo'n　dat；　w'en　he　gits　holt　er　de　fack　dat　a　nigger　k'n　have　yaller　fever　same　ez　w'ite　folks；　you　done　got　'im　on　de　mo'ners'　bench；　an'　den　ef　you　come　down　Strong　on　de　p'int　dat　he　oughter　stan'　fas'　by　de　fokes　w'at　hope　him　w'en　he　wnz　in　trouble　de　job's　done。　W'en　you　does　dat；　ef　you　ain't　got　yo'　han's　on　a　new…made　nigger；　den　my　name　ain't　Remus。　an'　ef　dat　name's　bin　changed　I　ain't　seen　her　abbertized；〃

IX　IN　THE　ROLE　OF　A　TARTAR

A　CHARLESTON　negro　who　was　in　Atlanta　on　the　Fourth　of　July　made　a　mistake。　He　saw　Uncle　Remus　edging　his　way　through　the　crowd；　and　thought　he　knew　him。

〃Howdy；　Daddy　Ben？〃　the　stranger　exclaimed。　〃I　tink　I　nubber　see　you　no　mo'。　Wey　you　gwan？　He　hot　fer　true；　ain't　he？〃

〃Daddy　who？〃　asked　Uncle　Remus；　straightening　himself　up　with　dignity。　〃W'ich？〃

〃I　know　you　in　Charrson；　an'　den　in　Sewanny。　I　spec　I　dun　grow　away　from　'membrance。〃

〃You　knowed　me　in　Charlstun；　and　den　in　Savanny？〃

〃He　been　long　time；　ain't　he；　Daddy　Ben？〃

〃Dat's　w'at's　a　pesterin'　un　me。　How　much　you　reckon　you　know'd　me？〃

〃He　good　while　pas'；　when　I　wer'　pickaninny。　He　long　time　ago。　Wey　you　gwan；　Daddy　Ben？〃

〃W'at　does　you　season　your　recollection　wid　fer　ter　make　it　hole　on　so？〃　inquired　the　old　man。

〃I　dunno。　He　stick　hese'f。　I　see　you　comm'　'long　'n　I　say　'Dey　Daddy　Ben。'　I　tink　I　see　you　no　mo'；　an'　I　shaky　you　by　de　han'。　Wey　you　gwan？　Dey　no　place　yer　wey　we　git　wine？〃

Uncle　Remus　stared　at　the　strange　darkey　curiously　for　a　moment；　and　then　he　seized　him　by　the　arm。

〃Come　yer；　son；　whar　dey　ain't　no　folks　an'　lemme　drap　some　Jawjy　'intment　in　dem　years　er　yone。　Youer　mighty　fur　ways　fum　home；　an'　you　wanter　be　a　lookin'　out　fer　yo'se'f。　Fus　and　fo'mus；　youer　thumpin'　de　wrong　watermillion。　Youer　w'isslin'　up　de　wrong　chube。　I　ain't　tromped　roun'　de　country　much。　I　ain't　bin　to　Charlstun　an'　needer　is　I　tuck　in　Savanny；　but　you　couldn't　rig　up　no　game　on　me　dat　I　wouldn't　tumble　on　to　it　de　minit　I　laid　my　eyeballs　on　you。　W'en　hit　come　to　dat　I'm　ole　man　Tumbler；　fum　Tumblersville…I　is　dat。　Hit　takes　one　er　deze　yer　full…blooded　w'ite　men　fur　ter　trap　my　jedgment。　But　w'en　a　nigger　comes　a　jabberin'　'roun'　like　he　got　a　mouf　full　er　rice　straw；　he　ain't　got　no　mo'　chance　long　side　er　me　dan　a　sick　sparrer　wid　a　squinch…owl。　You　gutter　travel　wid　a　circus　'fo'　you　gits　away　wid　me。　You　better　go　long　an'　git　yo'　kyarpet…sack　and　skip　de　town。　Youer　de　freshest　nigger　w'at　I　seen　yit。〃

The　Charleston　negro　passed　on　just　as　a　police…man'　came　up。

〃Boss；　you　see　dat　smart　Ellick？〃

〃Yes；　what's　the　matter　with　him？〃

〃He's　one　er　deze　yer　scurshun　niggers　from　Charistun。　I　seed　you　a　stannin'　over　agin　de　cornder　yander；　an'　ef　dat　nigger'd　a　drawd　his　monty　kyards　on　me；　I　wuz　a　gwineter　holler　fer　you。　Would　youer　come；　boss？〃

〃Why；　certaiuly；　Uncle　Remus。〃

〃Dat's　w'at　I　lowd。　Little　more'n　he'd　a　bin　aboard　er　de　wrong　waggin。　Dat's　Wat　he'd　a　bin。〃

X　A　CASE　OF　MEASLES

〃YOU'VE　been　looking　like　you　were　rather　under　the　weather　for　the　past　week　or　two；　Uncle　Remus；〃　said　a　gentleman　to　the　old　man。

〃You'd　be　sorter　puny；　too；　boss；　if　you'der　bin　whar　I　bin。〃

〃Where　have　you　been？〃

〃Pear　ter　me　like　ev'eybody　done　year　'bout　dat。　Dey　ain't　no　ole　nigger　my　age　an'　size　dat's　had　no　rattliner　time　dan　I　is。〃

〃A　kind　of　picnic？〃

〃Go　long；　boss！　w'at　you　speck　I　be　doin'　sailin'　'roun'　ter　dese　yer　cullud　picnics？　Much　mo'　an'　I　wouldn't　make　bread　by　wulkiin　fer't；　let　'lone　follerin'　up　a　passel　er　boys　an'　gals　all　over　keration。　Boss；　ain't　you　year　'bout　it；　sho'　'nuff？〃

〃I　haven't；　really。　What　was　the　matter？〃

〃1　got　strucken　wid　a　sickness；　an'　she　hit　de　ole　nigger　a　joe…darter　'fo'　she　tu'n　'im　loose。〃

〃What　kind　of　sickness？〃

〃Hit　look　sorter　cu'ous；　boss；　but　ole　an'　steddy　ez　I　is；　I　tuck'n　kotch　de　meezies。〃

〃Oh；　get　out！　You　are　trying　to　get　up　a　sensation。〃

〃Hit's　a　natal　fack；　boss；　I　declar'　ter　grashus　ef　'tain't。　Dey　sorter　come　on　wid　a　cole；　like…leas'ways　dat's　how　I　commence　fer　ter　suffer；　an'　den　er　koff　got　straddle　er　de　cole…one　dese　yer　koffs　w'at　look　like　bit　goes　ter　de　foundash'n。　I　kep'　on　linger'n'　'roun'　sorter　keepin'　one　eye　on　the　rheumatiz　an'　de　udder　on　de　distemper；　twel；　bimeby；　I　begin　fer　ter　feel　de　trestle…wuk　give　way；　an'　den　I　des　know'd　dat　I　wnz　givineter　gitter　racket。　I　slipt　inter　bed　one　Chuseday　night；　an'　I　never　slip　out　no　mo'　fer　mighty　nigh　er　mont'。

〃Nex'　mornin'　de　meezles　'd　done　kivered　me；　an'　den　ef　I　didn't　git　dosted　by　de　ole　'oman　I'm　a　Chinee。　She　gimme　back　rashuns　er　sassafac　tea。　I　des　natally　hankered　an'　got　hongry　atter　water；　an　ev'y　time　I　sing　out　fer　water　I　got　b'ilin'　hot　sassafac　tea。　Hit　got　so　dat　w'en　I　wake　up　in　de　mornin'　de　ole　'oman　'd　des　come　long　wid　a　kittle　er　tea　an'　fill　me　up。　Dey　tells　me　'roun'　town　dat　chilluns　don't　git　hurted　wid　de　meezles；　w'ich　ef　dey　don't　I　wanter　be　a　baby　de　nex'　time　dey　hits　dis　place。　All　dis　yer　meezies　bizuess　is　bran'…new　ter　me。　In　ole　times；　'fo'　de　wah；　I　ain't　heer　tell　er　no　seventy…fi'…year…ole　nigger　grapplin'　wid　no　meezies。　Dey　ain't　ketchin'　no　mo'；　is　dey；　boss？〃

〃Oh；　no…I　suppose　not。〃

'Kase　ef　dey　is；　youk'n　des　put　my　name　down　wid　de　migrashun　niggers。〃

XI　THE　EMIGRANTS

WHEN　Uncle　Remus　went　down　to　the　passenger　depot　one　morning　recently；　the　first　sight　that　caught　his　eye　was　an　old　negro　man；　a　woman；　and　two　children　sitting　in　the　shade　near　the　door　of　the　baggage…room。　One　of　the　children　was　very　young；　and　the　quartet　was　altogether　ragged　and　forlorn…looking。　The　sympathies　of　Uncle　Remus　were　immediately　aroused。　He　approached　the　group　by　forced　marches；　and　finally　unburdened　his　curiosity。

〃Whar　is　you　m'anderin'　unter；　pard？〃

The　old　negro；　who　seemed　to　be　rather　suspicious；　looked　at　Uncle　Remus　coolly；　and　appeared　to　be　considering　whether　he　should　make　any　reply。　Finally；　however；　he　stretched　himself　and　said：

〃We　er　gwine　down　in　de　naberhoods　er　Tallypoosy；　an　we　ain't　makin'　no　fuss　'bout　it；　nudder。〃

〃I　disremember；〃　said　Uncle　Remus；　thoughifully；　〃whar　Tallypoosy　is。〃

〃Oh；　hit's　out　yan；〃　replied　the　old　man；　motioning　his　head　as　if　it　was　just　beyond　the　iron　gates　of　the　depot。　〃Hit's　down　in　Alabam。　When　we　git　dar；　maybe　well　go　on　twel　we　gits　ter　Massasip。〃

〃Is　you　got　enny　folks　out　dar？〃　inquired　Uncle　Remus。

〃None　dat　I　knows　un。〃

〃An'　youer　takin'　dis　'oman　an'　deze　chillun　out　dar　whar　dey　dunno　nobody？　Whar's　yo'　perwisions？〃　eying　a　chest　with　a　rope　around　it。

〃Dem's　our　beddoze；〃　　the　　old　negro　　explained；　noticing　the　glance　of　Uncle　Remus。　〃All　de　vittles　what　we　got　we　e't　'fo'　we　started。〃

〃An'　you　speck　ter　retch　dar　safe　an　soun'？　Whar's　yo'　ticket？〃

〃Ain〃t　got　none。　De　man　say　ez　how　dey'd　pass　us　thoo。　I　gin　a　man　a　fi'…dollar　bill　'fo'　I　lef'　Jonesboro；　an'　he　sed　dat　settled　it。〃

〃Lemme　tell　you　dis；〃　said　Uncle　Remus；　straightening　up　indignantly：　〃you　go　an'　rob　somebody　an'　git　on　de　chain…gang；　an'　let　de　'oman　scratch　'roun'　yer　an'　make　'er　livin'；　but　don't　you　git　on　dem　kyars…don't　you　do　it。　Yo'　bes'　holt　is　de　chain…gang。　You　kin　make　yo'　livin'　dar　w'en　you　can't　make　it　no　whars　else。　But　don't　you　git　on　dem　kyars。　Ef　you　do；　youer　gone　nigger。　Ef　you　ain't　got　no　money　fer　ter　walk　back　wid；　you　better　des　b'ir　yo'　nes'　right　here。　I'm　a…talkin'　wid　de　bark　on。　I　done　seed　deze　yer　Arkinsaw　emmygrants　come　lopein'　back；　an'　some　un　'em　didn't　have　rags　nuff　on　'em　fer　ter　hide　dere　nakidness。　You　leave　dat　box　right　whar　she　is；　an；　let　de　'oman　ta