Negro myths from the Georgia coast, told in the vernacular

Er New Nigger notus say eh Mossa heap er time duh seddown wid eh foot cross, yent duh say nuttne an yent duh do nuttne, wen him haffer wuk all de time. One day eh ax eh Mossa huccum dat. De Buckra man answer: “Wen you see me duh seddown, an you tink me duh lazy, same time me duh wuk long me head, an duh mek plan, an study pon ting.”

Soon arter dat de Buckra man come pon topper de New Nigger een de fiel. De sun hot. Eh bin drap eh hoe, an bin er seddown on de cotton bed duh res ehself. De Buckra man git bex case de Nigger bin er glec eh wuk, an eh say ter um: “Huccum you stop de wuk wuh me bin gen you fuh do? Wuh mek you duh lazy disher fashion?” Den de New Nigger, him mek answer: “Mossa, me duh wuk long me head.” Wen de Buckra man quire wuh kind er head wuk him duh do, de New Nigger say: “Mossa, ef you see tree pigeon duh set on dat tree limb, an you shoot an kill one er dem, how many gwine leff?” Eh Mossa reply: “Any fool kin tell dat. Ob scource two gwine leff.” De New Nigger, him mek answer: “No, Mossa, you miss. Ef you shoot an kill one er dem pigeon, de edder two boun fuh fly way, an none gwine leff.”

De Buckra man bleege fuh laugh, an eh yent do nuttne ter de New Nigger case eh glec eh wuk.