Texian Stomping Grounds Page: 109
162 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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NEGRO FOLK TALES
De preacher sees dat somepin's still wrong; so he says, kinda
pleadin'-like, dat tain't right fer big folkses ter 'pose on folkses
littler dan deselves. Den Brer Elephant leabs, case he thinks dat
Reve'nt 'Possum knows dat he stepped on Brer B'ar an' hurt his
haid bad las' summer.
Atter awhile Brer 'Possum starts preachin' 'bout de good
things which am boun' ter come ter de good man, and dey all
gits happy an' shouts an' sings an' dances; dey eben gits partners
an' promenades 'round de trees. Ole Reve'nt 'Possum ain't happy,
case he am hongry an' he knows whar dar is er 'simmon tree.
By'n by he sneaks out in de bushes, case he done 'cided dat
he ain't neber gonna git de peoples ter go home ter bed, an' he
laigs out fer de 'simmon tree. He et an' he et. Den on his way
home he comes back by de meetin' grounds an' dar dey all is
still cuttin' der capers. Reve'nt 'Possum 'cides dat 'taint right
fer de preacher ter leabe meetin' befo' the congregation; so he
crawls under er brush an' goes ter sleep.
'Bout sun-up Sis Mink fin's Reve'nt 'Possum dar an' she
lows ter Sis Weasel, "Ain't he de han'somest man what yo'
eber seed, Sis Weasel ?"
Sis Weasel says, "Lawd yes, he shore am, an' he's de bestest
man I knows ob."
Sis Mink 'plies, "An' he tole me yistiday dat he ain't had no
supper an' hyar he's been preachin' an' he so tired an' hongry
now dat he done gone ter sleep."
Sis Weasel 'suptes her, "Yo' mustn't say dat he went ter
sleep. I'se been watchin' him shout all night; ebery time I looks
he am a-whizzin' by. Naw, he ain't gone ter sleep; he tole me dat
he done wuck his taters yistidy an' he done plumb tuckered out
frum shoutin' an' wuckin' so much."
Reve'nt 'Possum hyars dis an' he knows dat he am disgraced
fer life if'n he lets dem know dat he been ter sleep; so he kinda
quivers lak he been shoutin' an' says, "Lawd, Yuh knows dat I
done done my best, an' now, Lawd, if'n yo'll 'cuse me I'll go
home an' eat my breakfus."109
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Texian Stomping Grounds (Book)
Collection containing sketches of post-war life in East Texas, including descriptions of early recreations and games, stories about Southern food and cooking, religious anecdotes, Negro folk tales, a first-hand account of a Negro folk play about the life of Christ, and other miscellaneous folklore. The index begins on page 159.
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Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964. Texian Stomping Grounds, book, 1941; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc67663/m1/117/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Press.