Browse:4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING (Volume 4, entries 7595)
4 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
Volume 4, entries 7595. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF → DEATH AND BURIAL AND GRAVEYARD → HOW TO OBTAIN GRAVEYARD DIRT → TIME FOR TAKING GRAVEYARD DIRT. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 7595
Go tuh de graveyard roun' 'bout fo' clock in de mawnin' an' buy a penny's worth of graveyard dirt. An' come back an' sprinkle it roun' de house, all roun', an' sweep off de do'step behin' 'im. Dat will move 'em ['em, 'im and 'um are usually the same meaning. Sweeping graveyard dirt is both an uncommon and dangerous rite. The wo- man here, who wants to rid herself of an unwelcome roomer or friend, sprinkles graveyard dirt about the house outside, leaving her- self a dirtless entry. Coming indoors she closes the dirtless entry, the door- step, with graveyard dirt. She is a prisoner in her own home! But, as soon as he walks over the dirt, entering or leaving, she sweeps it away. The spirit in graveyard dirt, not liking to be swept by a dirty broom, flees back to the grave- yard; the man, having crossed the dirt, must go away forever; and the woman, now imune from the graveyard-dirt spirit, is free - for another roomer or frierd.]
(How much dirt do you get from the graveyard?)
Penny's worth.
(How much would that be?)
Dat be - uh two ounces.