African American Folktales

by Roger Abrahams

  —Tobago

  53

  THE CUNNING COCKROACH

  The cockroach can be a big creature, almost as big as your hand. You find cockroaches on the roof, where they make a noise like this: “Crum, crum, crum, crum, crum, crum!”

  Cockroach and Fowl were once friends. They bought land to cultivate together. Each day, the fowl would go to the field to work the land. Cockroach would find an excuse not to go. So the fowl would just leave and go to the field. Now, Fowl is not a very smart fellow, you know? When he was gone, Cockroach would get out of bed and start to play. This cockroach fooled Fowl day after day.

  Fowl said, one day, “You must come to work the field.” “I can’t go out there. I’m too sick.” This is what Cockroach told Fowl every day. And he would not get out of bed. As soon as Fowl was gone, he jumped out and started to play and sing also:

  Cockroach a cunnyman, a cunnyman, a cunnyman,

  Cockroach a cunnyman, a cunnyman, a cunnyman.

  He kept fooling this fowl about work. And he would not go out.

  Cockroach a cunnyman, a cunnyman, a cunnyman,

  Cockroach a cunnyman, a cunnyman, a cunnyman.

  Fowl got suspicious. He got one of the neighbors to watch what Cockroach did when he wasn’t there.

  One morning, he set out to go. As usual, Cockroach said he couldn’t go. “I’m too sick, I can’t go out.” And he didn’t go. Fowl tried to persuade him, but he wouldn’t go. Fowl went to the field, and as usual Cockroach jumped from his bed, happy, playing and singing:

  Cockroach a cunnyman, a cunnyman, a cunnyman,

  Cockroach a cunnyman, a cunnyman, a cunnyman.

  And the neighbor saw him doing this and he went out to the field and told Fowl what Cockroach was doing. Now Fowl got really mad. He came back and grabbed the cockroach, and he killed him. He swallowed him up that quick!

  That is why fowl will catch cockroaches today.

  —Antigua

  54

  LITTLE BOY-BEAR NURSES THE ALLIGATOR CHILDREN

  One time, there was a big, strong old Mother Bear who lived way back in the swamps where she kept her den in a hollow tree. She had one, two little bears there in this den, and she loved them as she loved her life. One day, she got hungry, so she told her children that she was going off a little ways to get something for them all to eat, so they must be good children and stay near home, and she would bring back some nice fish for their breakfast. And she left them there.

  The little bears slept until they couldn’t sleep any more because the sun was shining and things started to get very warm inside their den. The little boy-bear rubbed his eyes and said that he was going to go outside just a little ways and play for a little while. The girl-bear said, “What will our mammy say!” But he just laughed and said, “I’m just going down by the side of the creek and catch a few fish before Mammy comes back.” She looked scared then, and said, “Our mammy said that something’s going to get you, you remember that?” But the little boy-bear, he just kept laughing, and said, “Sure, sure, she’ll never know unless you tell on me. If you don’t tell her anything I’ll bring you back a big fish.”

  Then the little boy-bear, he just took off. He went down there by the side of the creek and took his hook and line to catch some fish. And when he got there, he saw something just lying there in the mud. It looked like a big log to him. He laughed to himself and said, “That is one big log, for sure. I think I’ll just stand on top of it so I can catch a big fish for my little sister.”

  The little boy-bear jumped down and got on that log and fixed his line for fishing. After a while, the log started to move, and the little boy-bear started to holler, “Oh my Lordy!” He looked down almost scared to death. That log was really one big she-alligator, and she swam away with the little boy-bear caught in her two hands. She was grinning wide. She felt the little boy-bear with her nose and said, “I’m going to take away your life; my children are going to have you for their breakfast.”

  The gator swam toward the hole in the bank where she lived and carried the little boy-bear in there. She called for her children and said, “Come see what a fine breakfast I brought you.” Old Gator had seven children in her hole there.

  Now, the little boy-bear was scared. He hollered and cried and begged. He said, “Please, Missy Gator, give me a chance to see what a fine nurse I am. Whenever you need to swim away, I’ll just mind your children for you so you won’t have to worry about them.”

  Old Gator flipped her tail and said, “Well, I’ll try you just for one day. That might not be such a bad idea. If you take good care of them, I let you be.”

  So the old gator went away and left the little boy-bear to mind the children. She swam away to get them all some breakfast. The little boy-bear sat down there and waited and waited. Bye and bye, he got hungry himself, but he waited and waited, minding the children. He got so hungry that he could hardly hold up his head. He sucked on his paw, and that didn’t help, but still he waited. The gator didn’t come back.

  He said to himself, “What now? I’m not going to starve myself when there is plenty to eat right here.” So the little boy-bear grabbed one of the little gators by the neck and took him to the side of the creek where the bushes grow and he just ate him up. He didn’t leave anything behind, not even the head or the tail.

  He went back to where the other little gators were still huddled up in bed. He rubbed his stomach when he saw them and said, “What now? I feel too good to worry about anything. I’ll think of something when the old gator comes back. I’ll have plenty of time then.” So the little boy-bear lay down, coiled up in the gator’s bed, and shut his eyes, and slept like any bear does when he’s full.

  Bye and bye, when it was almost nightfall, Old Gator came back. She hollered, “Hey, Little Boy-Bear, how can you mind my children when you have gone to sleep right beside them?” The little boy-bear sat up on his haunches and said, “My eyes have gone to sleep, but my ears are wide awake!” The gator flipped her tail and said, “Where are the children I left with you?” Now, the little boy-bear was scared and he said, “They’re right here, Missy Gator. Here, let me count them.” And he started humming:

  Here’s one, here’s another

  Here’s two on top of each other

  Here’s three, piled all together.

  The gator opened her mouth and said, “You nurse them pretty well, Little Boy-Bear. Bring me one of them here to wash and get his supper.” So the little boy-bear carried one over to his mother, and then carried another and then another until he had carried six. Then he got scared again, because now the gator is going to find out what happened for sure. He stopped and he didn’t know what to do. The gator hollered, “Bring me another!” The little boy-bear grabbed the first one, threw him down in the mud and got him all dirty again, and carried him back. So the gator washed him up again good and didn’t even know the difference.

  Bye and bye, the next day, the gator went away, and left the little boy-bear there to nurse the children. He got hungry again, and he waited again, but this time he knew what to do when the gator didn’t come. He just grabbed another little gator and ate him for his dinner. Then, when the old gator came home toward night he did the same thing. When Old Gator asked, “Where are my children that I left you to mind?” he sang:

  Here’s one, here’s another

  Here’s two on top of each other

  Here’s three, piled all together.

  She called them, one by one, to wash and get their supper, and little boy-bear carried them to her, one by one, carrying two of them back twice this time. Every day he did it this way until it came to the point that he ate the last gator. Then he left the place where the old gator lived. He went down by the side of the creek until he got to the place where the foot-log was lying, and he ran across it quick. He got into the bushes and he fairly flew home. And he never left there again.

  —Georgia

  55

  THE GIRL MADE OF BUTTER

 
; Once was a time, a very good time,

  Monkey chew tobacco and spit white lime.

  There was a woman. She had a daughter who was made entirely of butter. Tom and William used to come courting her, and they didn’t know this about her. So the woman never let those boys near her daughter, lest she melt with the heat. But, one day, she got so busy cooking for these two boys, the woman forgot to keep watch, and the boys saw their chance. They came and sat down next to the girl. The girl started singing while the woman was in the kitchen cooking, trying to remind her.

  Momma, come wash my skin,

  Momma, come wash my skin!

  Move off, Tom! move off, William!

  Till my momma has washed my skin.

  The girl started melting because her mother wasn’t there to wash her skin with cool water. She melted from her head down to her shoulders.

  Momma, come wash my skin,

  Momma, come wash my skin!

  Move off, Tom! move off, William!

  Till my momma has washed my skin.

  She started melting more. She melted from her shoulder down to her waist. She started singing again:

  Momma, come wash my skin,

  Momma, come wash my skin!

  Move off, Tom! move off, William!

  Till my momma has washed my skin.

  She melted from her waist down to her knees. All that time the woman was in the kitchen cooking, while her daughter was melting. The girl started singing again:

  Momma, come wash my skin,

  Momma, come wash my skin!

  Move off, Tom! move off, William!

  Till my momma has washed my skin.

  She melted from her knees down to her feet. When the woman did remember, she cried out, “Oh, my butter daughter! Oh, my butter baby!” She had forgotten all about her daughter. When she did go back in the house, she only found a pile of melted butter but no one else. Tom and William were gone.

  The bow bended, my story ended.

  —Bahamas

  56

  POPPA STOLE THE DEACON’S BULL

  The reverend had a whole lot of kids, but the reverend didn’t have any money, and so he could buy nothing to eat. Deacon had a bull, so the reverend went and stole the deacon’s bull. He went and had people over to dinner; he even invited Deacon over. “Come over to my house Sunday, ’cause right after church we’re gonna have all kinds of beef.” So Deacon said he’d come.

  So he came over and he sat down. You know how they do in the country, kids eat first and then the grown-ups. So the deacon sat down, and he said, “This is sure good food. Um, um, um. You know one thing, Rev?” He said, “What’s that, Brother Deacon!” He said, “You know, somebody stole my bull.” He said, “Um, ain’t that something, people just going around taking other people’s stuff.” And at the same time he’s the one that stole the bull.

  So the kids were outside playing. The deacon went outside for a while to get some air after eating so much. And he stopped for a while to watch the kids playing. It sounded to him like the kids had made up a new game. They had each other by the hand, going around in a circle singing:

  Oh, Poppa stole the deacon’s bull,

  And all us children got a belly full.

  So the deacon walked over to them and said, “You know, if you sing that song again I’ll give each of you a nickel.” Being kids, a nickel was a whole lot of money to them. So they started singing louder and louder:

  Oh, Poppa stole the deacon’s bull,

  And all us children got a belly full.

  So he said, “How would you all like to make some more money, lots more?” They all said, “Yeah!” He said, “If all of you come to church next Sunday, I’ll give you fifty cents apiece to sing that same song right there, just like the choir, because that song carries an important message.”

  So they were really excited now. They ran and told their mother that they were going to sing in church, and she was so glad to hear that the children were going to get a chance to sing that Sunday. Of course, she didn’t know what they were going to sing about!

  So the deacon went around to everybody’s house, and told them that Reverend Jones’s kids were going to be in church that Sunday, singing. He told them of their beautiful voices and the great message of their songs. So everybody wanted to come down to hear it. They said, “The Lord sent these children to bring us this message.” Pretty soon Deacon had gone all around the community spreading the word, and everyone got very excited.

  So, finally, Sunday came. The children got all dressed up and cleaned up and went down to church. And were they clean and sparkly looking! Well, by the time they got there, the church was so packed that many people had to sit in the back of the church. So the reverend, their father, was so proud he told them, “Now, when you go up there, I want you to sing loud enough that everyone can hear what you’re singing, because there are a lot of people in the back.” So they said, “Yes sir, Daddy, we’ll sing very loud.”

  So you know how the preacher does before he brings on the gospel singers. He went to preaching, telling the congregation this and that, building up the people to a great excitement. But they mostly came to hear the song. Finally, the deacon stood up and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, you never know where the word is going to come from. Kids can carry a divine message if you learn how to listen to them.” He said, “I want you to listen closely to this message that Reverend Jones’s children are going to bring to you. Now, sing that song, children.” They got up there and started singing away:

  Oh, Poppa stole the deacon’s bull,

  And all us children got a belly full.

  Now, there was so much noise set up when they started in, and the kids had such small voices, that their father couldn’t hear them. So he said, “Sing up louder, now. Come on, you must sing louder so that I can really hear you.” By that time the people down front are looking at him like he’s crazy. So he wondered why they were looking at him. So they started singing again:

  Oh, Poppa stole the deacon’s bull,

  And all us children got a belly full.

  Now the reverend heard what they were singing. He just looked at them in the eyes, and started in, “Well, children—” he began,

  When you told them that, you told your last,

  Now when I get home I’m gonna kick your ass.

  —Philadelphia

  57

  THE TROUBLE WITH HELPING OUT

  One time, one time there was a big fire in the wood. All the trees were in flames, and nearly all the animals were burned to death. To get away from the heat, Snake slithered into a deep hole. The fire went on for a long time, but was at last put out by a heavy rain. When the danger was over, Snake tried to climb out of the hole, but try as he would, he could not get up the sides. He cried out to everyone who passed by to help him; but nobody dared to help because they were scared of getting bitten by him. To each he promised not to bite, of course, but no one would take the chance.

  At last, a hunter came along and took pity on Snake and pulled him out. But as soon as Snake was free, he turned on Hunter and was about to bite him. “You can’t bite me after I pulled you out of the hole,” said Hunter. “And why shouldn’t I?” asked Snake. “Because,” explained Hunter, “you shouldn’t harm the one who has been kind to you.” “But how I am sure that everybody acts this way?” said Snake. “All right,” said Hunter, “let’s put the case before a competent judge!” Snake agreed. So together they set out for the city.

  On the way they met Horse. Hunter and Snake told their story again, and asked if anyone should return evil for good? Horse neighed, saying that he was usually whipped for his good services to man. Then they saw Ass and asked him the same question. Ass hee-hawed, saying that he was beaten with a stick for his good services to man. Then they met Cow and told her the story and asked her if it was right for Snake to act this way. Cow bellowed that she expected to be slaughtered for her good Services to man. Snake then claimed that he had won the case and lifted his h
ead to strike Hunter. But Hunter said, “I don’t agree yet; let’s put the case before Anansi, who is very wise!” Snake agreed, and so they continued on their way.

  Well, they came to the city where Anansi dwelled and it so happened that they found him at home. They told him all that had happened, and what Horse, Ass, and Cow had said, and then asked Anansi to settle the dispute fairly. Anansi looked thoughtful, and shaking his head, said, “My friends, I cannot say who is right until I have seen with my own eyes how everything happened. Let us go back to the exact spot.”

  Well, then, all three walked back to the hole in the wood out of which Hunter had helped Snake, and Anansi asked them to act out everything just exactly as it had happened. So Snake slid down into the hole and began calling for assistance. Hunter pretended to be passing and, turning to the hole, was about to help Snake out again when Anansi stopped him, saying, “Wait, I will settle the dispute now. Hunter must not help Snake this time. Snake should try to get out without any assistance, so that he will appreciate a kind act.” Snake had to stay in the hole, and he was hungry the whole time. At last, after many tries he just managed to get out. But experience had been a good master, and Snake had learned his lesson well.

  Well, some time later, Hunter was caught poaching in the king’s woods and was thrown into prison. Snake heard of it and made up his mind to help Hunter, so he hastened to the king’s palace. Unobserved, he approached the king. When he got a good chance, he suddenly bit the king, and succeeded in making his escape before any one could catch him.

  Then he made his way to the prison in which Hunter was confined, and found a way to enter it. He calmed Hunter’s fears and said, “A while ago, you did me a favor, and now by experience I have learned to appreciate it. I come to aid you. Listen! I have just bitten the king and he is very sick and will die from the poison. I bring you the only cure for my bite. It is known to me alone. Send word to the king that you can cure him. But that you won’t do it unless he promises to give you his only daughter in marriage.” So saying, Snake gave Hunter the cure, using three different kinds of leaves, and then he left.