Browse:SWEAT (Volume 3, entries 4478–5205)/Part 5
SWEAT
Volume 3, entries 4478–5205. Source context: THE PHYSICAL HUMAN BODY ITSELF. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 4798
Git some of 'er clothes. Git some of dey clothes an' carry 'um an' bury 'um tuh de steps, see, but chew have tuh git some of 'er undahclothes neah about dem, yo' know, de othah part. (Near her privates?) Yes sir. An' take it an' put it in yore pillah at chure bed, an' she'll come back home.
(But what do you put out under the doorstep? Any piece of her clothing?)
Any of 'er clothes by de do'. (But you have to put the underclothing at [in] your pillow.)
Entry 4799
If she gone an' leave yuh, if she leave any she clothes in dere.lak a dress or petticoat, lak dat, jis' take an' ball it up, an' put it 'neat' [beneath] chure pillah. An' she will come back less dan three day's time, if she able to.
Entry 4800
Ah heard dat chew could take de garment yuh wear nex' tuh yuh, have tuh be de one yuh wear nex' tuh yuh, an' bury it. Put nine pins in it an' bury it, an' dey say yuh won't live. Dat's whut ah heard.
Entry 4801
Ah have heard men say dat dey kin take a woman's bloomah's an' cut a piece outa a woman's bloomah's an' wear it in dere lef' hip pocket. An' said a woman won't leave 'em an' will be undah 'em, an' dey kin do anything dey wan' tuh do. An' de woman won' know about it. He'll have her undah 'is feet an' jis' do anythin' he wan'a do, an' she not say anythin' tuh 'im about it.
Entry 4802
Put a leak in yore pocket, jis' lak yuh hang yore clothes up. An' dey kin go dere wishin' yuh bad luck, an' put a little pin hole in yore pocket, jis' lak anythin' kin leak through. Not enough fo' a nickel tuh git through, neithah a penny, but jis' a small short one. Well, yuh nevah pro- tected, an' yuh'll nevah hold no money. (They simply put a little pinhole in my pocket and I'll never be able to hold any money.) Yuh cain't drop no money in de pockets. Evah time yuh git it, it gone.
Entry 4803
If yuh got a woman an' yuh done lose - she done quit yuh an' yuh wanta git 'er back. Yuh git a dirty piece of hers of any kinda wear - her shimmy, drawers, or anythin' dat she got dirty. Yuh take dat piece an' yuh cut a hole in dat, an' yuh put dat in yore money case, an' she got'a keep up wit yuh de longest day she live. She'll nevah be wit'out chew. She'll always be wit chew.
Entry 4804
Yuh take yore soil undahwear, yuh know. Yuh take de seat of 'is undah- wear, de soil undahwear. An' take dat. An' tell me dey take dat an' dey kin wear it. Jis' take it an' jis' put it in a piece of red flannel, an' den sew tuh dey undahclothes, or put it in a string. Jis' wear it or pin in dere clothes. Dey said dat stop 'em [him] from goin' out too.
Entry 4805
Dey kin cut out de seat of 'is drawahs, de man's drawahs. Take dat an' mix it up wit salt an' peppah an' take it an' bury it on de roadside. An' dat'll keep a man always wit a mind tuh go. He won' be contented at home. [Burial on roadside is rare; in a road, no.]
Entry 4806
Take yore underweah an' yuh kin - yuh know, lak if it's dirty, jis' roll dat tuh yuh. Yuh know, roll it tuh yuh three times an' make yuh wishes tuh keep 'im wit yuh. Dey say dat will keep 'im wit yuh. (Whose underwear do you roll?) Roll de man undahweah.
Entry 4807
Why yuh kin cut de seat outa man's drawahs. Yuh kin take de seat from a man's drawahs an' hold 'im too. He cain't leave yuh, he have tuh stay wit yuh. An' yuh take de seat outa woman's drawahs, why it will dreen [drain] 'er.
(What do you do with the seat of a man's drawers?)
Why yuh take de seat of a man's drawahs an' take an' keep 'em. Take dem an' use dem jis' as though yuh would fo' a sanitary cloth, jis' lak if yuh go tuh de lavatory or any place, always have dat wit chew. Always have dat wit chew. Yuh wipe yuhself wit it an' git chure urinate an' evehthin' on it. Don't nevah wash it, jis' continly [continually] keep it. Yuh takes de seat outa woman's drawahs an' take it an' ball it right nice, roll it real tight, jis' lak yuh roll it dataway [demonstrates]. Always roll it from yuh lak dat. Yuh take hit an' yuh puts it in a bottle an' stop dat bottle up tight. Yuh know, jis' as she wore it. Yuh know, it have tuh be soiled drawahs or somepin othah lak dat. Put it in dat bottle. An' yuh put it in dere, stop it up real tight, as tight as yuh kin, aftah yuh put jis' about a teaspoonful of watah in dere. An' when yo' stop it up, yuh kin go an' bury it any place yuh Wanta, or yuh kin throw it away if yuh wanta. Jis' as long as it stopped up in dat, she will jis' dreen [drain] away tuh nuthin, jis' lak somebody dat's gone into T. B. She usely [usually] be sick all de time. An' nuthin will do her no good, not until somebody actly [actually] find dat bottle or bust it up or sompin of de kind. See, where de air could hit it dere, dat gives 'er relief. But Wit'out dat she don' have any.
(Did you ever hear of them taking a black bottle?)
No suh.
Entry 4808
Some man had did me some - some man had did somepin tuh me, do a trick tuh me once. Dis mahself [this is about me]. He done bo'ded [boarded] wit me sich a time [for a certain length of time] an' he didn't pay me. An' she [root- worker to whom infor- mant went] had tell me tuh bring some things dere [to her]. An' ah car' [care = carry] [them to her] but ah nevah did keep it up. Prob'ly if ah hada keep it up, he mighta come back. She tell me tuh git de man'a [man's] undahpieces. An' she [root worker] wash it an' put it [washwater] in a bottle. [Washwater because a piece of clean clothing would have been useless.] An' [she] put red flannel in dere, an' nine needle, an' some dig Hearts Cologne, an' tell me tuh keep [this bottle] in de room an' [at eertain times not given] turn it upside down an' shake it, an' tuh shake it in each [four] cornah of de house [symbolizing the four angels standing On the four corners of the earth (Rev. 7:1)] fo' nine mawnin's. But ah nevah keep it up, yuh see.
(What did she say that would do?)
Say dat would make him back; make him come back.an' pay off. But ah nevah keep it up. (Well, when did you go to this root doctor? When he left, you mean? When he left the house, you went to her and asked her advice?) Suh? [Who could have understood my involved question! But I was fishing for more details. Board money was not the whole problem. She does not go to the police. I try again.]
(When he left the house, you went to her and asked her advice.)
Ah had went dere an' ast 'er, but ah nevah did.
(But you never did what she told you to do?)
Ah nevah did keep It up. Ah nevah do whut she tole me tuh do.
Entry 4809
Usely [usually] women do dat tuh keep dere husban's at home. Men do dat tuh keep dere wives at home. Dey cut a piece of dere shirttail an' stick it in a cologne bottle or vaseline jar, or bo' a hole in a tree an' put it back in dat tree. An' no mattah wherevah yuh goes, yuh'll have tuh come back tuh dat same place dat dat shirt is in dat tree. If yuh go tuh New York, yuh won' stay long. If yuh go tuh Atlanta, yuh won' stay long. Wherevah he goes, he won' be dere satisfied until he returns tuh dat place where dat stuff is in dat tree.
Entry 4810
A woman take a man undahshlrt, or eithah 'is shirttail. A woman take dat an' jis' natchly [naturally] have a connection wit 'im. She take dat an' cut off a piece of shirttail an' weah it roun' 'er wais'. He begin tuh FOLLAH 'ER LAK A DOG.
(Like a dog follows what?)
Jis' lak a dog follah a purson, jis' lak a dog follah dem.
Entry 4811
Ah heard dat a lady could take a man's end of 'is shirt, an' cut off de end of 'is shirt, an' den she would keep dat. An' den DAT WOULD KEEP 'IM LOVIN' "ER, BUT SHE WOULDN'T CARE FO' HIM 'LESS HE GIVE HER ALL OF 'IS MONEY.
(Well, what would she do with that shirt?)
She would take dem two ends an' keep dem, put 'em in 'er purse or anywhere roun' 'er.
Entry 4812
Ah haven't heard about de socks but ah [know] whut dey kin do wit de shirts. Well, dey kin take dat shirt an' cut a piece out dat shirt an' wear it roun' dere waist, an' dat man will follah 'em evahwhere dey goin'.
(Where do they cut the piece from?)
Right out de shirttail, right behin' dere.
Entry 4813
Clip off both end of a shirttail, clip off both end of 'er husban' shirttail, de fron' ends.
(The both front ends that hang down?)
Dat's right. Den take an' care 'em away an' put 'em up airtight. Dat'll break 'im up, break 'im up wit othah wimmin.
Entry 4814
Tuh hul' a mantuh yuh, cut a piece off 'is shirttail an' take a string an' wear dat roun' 'er wais'.
Entry 4815
Dey says dat yuh could take - jis' lak me mahself, an' ah had two frien' mens [men friends] an' ah didn't wan' dem tuh connect tuhgethah, didn't want 'em tuh run tuhgethah, but [I] always be in de middle evah time dey meet. Ah could [take] mah ole man's shirttail an' 'is [other man's] shirttail, an' put it in a half a gallon of watah an' boil it down tuh a quart. An' take dat quart an' all dat shirt- tail, both uh dem shirttails, an' put it in ere an' bury it. An' dey say dem mens would run tuhgethah an' always be lovin', nevah would have a fallin'-out.
Entry 4816
Take de shirttail of anothah man's shirt an' 'er husban' shirt, or anothah man lak 'is frien', an' cut de tail off even, both of 'em even. She kin take it an' sew it up in a little sack an' tote it roun' 'er wais', an' de man kin come an' be dealin' wit 'is wife or anythin', an' he nevah git mad wit de othah fellah atall. Dey be frien's altuhgethah. Dey might git in a argument, but it seems aftah while dey come right back an' dey be good frien's.
Entry 4817
Lak yuh'd wanta make two mens fight, fall out chew know. If yuh could git a string of each one's shirttail an' tie it tuhgethah, dey'll have a fuss an' fight.
(These two men would.)
Entry 4818
Well, ah heard dis now, dis way. Dere wuz a girl an' she wanted dis boy, yuh know. She loved dis man an' dis man wouldn't care much. He used tuh go off. An' she ast anothah girl frien' of 'ers, she say she would git 'im if it wuz de las' thin' she'd do. Well, she went tuh 'is house one time an' got a piece of 'is, yuh know, de tail off 'is shirt. An' [she] took an' put sulphuh, black molasses in it, an' taken it tuh de rivah an' po'd it in dere. Yuh know, out on de cloth, an' den dropped de cloth in nex' tuh dat an' let it stay dat- away, while she went back tuh.de house. An' den she ast de boy, she say, "Would yuh mind walkin' wit me?" An' he say he wouldn't mind walkin' wit 'er. Dey went on down tuh de rivah, an' she said she took 'er han' an' dipped it intuh de watah where she had dropped dis, an' rubbed it 'cross 'is face. An' she say she walked on back tuh de house, say he begin tuh git dizzy. An' so he tole her, he said - her name wuz Ellen - he say, "Ah don' mind goin' down mayself, but would joo mind goin' wit me? Ah don' wan' chew tuh leave me." An' she went on home wit 'im an' she tole - she said tuh 'er mothah dat night, she says, "Mothah, [So-and-so] is in love wit me." An' dat night about fo'a'clock in de mawnin' dere he wuz knockin' on de do'. He couldn't sleep wit'out 'er an' he couldn't eat wit'out 'er. Dat's whut ah heard.
Entry 4819
[The following shirttail-tea rites are more frequently called shimmy- tail tea (see p.647 and elsewhere).] A woman kin taken - say fo' ninstance, if yuh wuz goin', keepin' comp'ny wit a woman, or if yuh wuzn't keepin' comp'ny wit 'er. If yuh wuz aroun' some place dat she had a chance tuh serve yuh yore meals or tuh fix yore meals, den she have a chance tuh do anythin' she wan'uh duh along dat line. Ah saw here in Fairfield, Md., in suburb of Baltimore in 1914, a woman dere by de name of Belle X. She's dead now. Huh husban' used tuh work at Oyster [Austin's?] Fertilizah. An' she had anothah man. Her husban' would sleep in de middle room an' 'er an' 'er man would sleep in de front up- stairs.
(You mean they were?)
Suah. Well, dis man when she firs' met 'im didn't care anythin' fo' 'er, but still he wuz bo'din' [boarding] dere. Well, she said tuh me, she said, "Ah'll git 'im. If yuh don't b'lieve ah'll [get him], jis' come on an' watch me." So ah did watch 'er. She goes tuh work an' gits some of 'er dirty pieces an' put 'em in hot watah an' boils 'em. She had taken dat hot watah an' mixed it wit 'is coffee. An' she served it tuh 'im an' he drank it, an' he become crazy about Ter, craziah dan 'er husban' evah wuz.
(If a man is in that condition, is there anything he can do to get rid of it?)
Oh, yeah. He kin git rid of it all right. Well, in ordah tuh git rid of it, de firs' thin' he would have tuh do. He go tuh work an' have connection wit 'er. Take an' git a bottle of sweet milk [and put it in] an' give it tuh 'er, or [put it in] anythin' sweet dat she likes [and] give it tuh 'er. Even'tly [eventually] all de feelin' he had fo' her in dat way will go right back where it came from.
Entry 4820
(Do they speak of shirttail tea down here?)
Sho' do, shirttail tea.
(What is it?)
Well, take fo' instance, dey claim dat de woman, see, takin' 'er dirty undah- weah, see, an' washin' it an' ringin' it, yuh see, intuh de food dat's cooked fo' de individual, yuh see. An' he would git so dat he wouldn't wanta be wit nobody but 'er yo' see.
Entry 4821
Well, he cuts de seat out, out of 'er bloomahs.
(A man does that?)
De man cut de seat out her bloomahs. Den he takes an' put it in de bottom of 'is shoes an' wears it. Dat'll jis' tie her tuh 'im an' she can't git rid of 'im till she git dat thing out dat shoe. He wears it in de bottom of 'is shoe. [Sum- ter. S. Car. (1371), 2429:4.]
Entry 4822
Take a piece of 'is undahgarment an' wear it in 'er left shoe an' he'll come back home tuh 'er.
Entry 4823
Now you can take a piece of the oldest lamb, a piece of his right ear, and get that.blood and get a piece of her garment and stain it. And get nine ten-cent pieces and take and carry them to a muddy branch, and make a fold of this piece of garment and bury it [blood stained garment about 9 dimes] in the muddy branch, and she'll just follow you anywhere.
Entry 4824
Lak yuh got'a a gurl - or yore loved one or yore wife - an' dey fin'ly [finally] pull off from yuh an' leaves yuh. Yuh kin take any garment she wear nex' tuh 'er an' put it undah yore baid. Take an' spit on it an' put it undah yore baid. (What do you do with it first?) Spit on it, jis' spit all ovah it an' put it undah yore baid. Well, she'll come. Ah tried dat mahself. An' she'll come back tuh yuh. But chew have tuh have de one dat she wear nex' tuh 'er, lessen [unless (you have)] 'er hat or 'er socks or 'er stockin's. Yuh know, somepin lak dat. She comin' back tuh yuh.
Entry 4825
[A string or thread from clothes, also called raveling, is rather rare. Usually the wearer prefers something more substantial. This raveling, not long enough to reach round the waist, would be too fragile and easily broken. A small piece can be worn in a bag or sewed into a garment frequently used.l Same thin' as dat, or yore ole lady or somepin, yuh know. Yuh don' wan' 'er tuh pay attention tuh no one [she] runnin' aroun'. Yuh take a string an' wear it aroun' yore wais', any of 'er clothes. Wear it aroun' yore wais'.
(Take a string from her clothes, did you say?)
From 'er clothes, any kin' of 'er clothin' - jis' a sock or some of 'er bloom- ahs or somepin dat she wear undah, yuh see. Take it an' wear it aroun' yore wais'.
(And she can't run around.)
Entry 4826
She kin take an' cut de seat out of 'is shorts an' put 'er some sul- phur in dere an' some Lucky Heart Perfume, an' stick it in de hem of 'er undah- skirt - de hem, see. An' he'll stay home.
Entry 4827
Dis is yore room [the rented room in which I was interviewingl: Well, if ah wus tuh pick up one of yore, YORE HAT [MY BLACK HAT ON INTERVIEWING TABLE], or a pair of yore socks or sompin, an' walk out wit it. Well all ah got'a do - now dis heah is true, yuh know. All yuh got'a do, yuh pull off yore undahweahs - yuh got'a use dem. Yuh ball dem things up. Well, jis' befo yuh go tuh bed yuh make yore watah on dese, on dat undahsuit. Yuh ball it tight, wrap it nine times. An' as yuh wrap it nine times, dat person dat chew have a idea dat stole dose goods, yuh call dere name, see. An' when yuh call dere name, yuh take an' lay dis in a cornah, [and] wit yore laigs [demonstrates].
(You lay it in a corner and stamp your feet on it.)
An' as yuh stomp - dat's all de stuff yuh got'a do. An' evah who did it, dey'll come an' bring it back - come an' tell yuh 'bout it.
(They will bring back whatever they took from me.)
Yes sir, evahwhere dey wus, down tuh - anything, dey comin' tuh tell yuh. Now, dere wus a man workin' wit mah husban' de othah day, an' he stole three paint brushes from Mr. Beasley, a man dat run a paint shop. Well, he carried it back, but he don't know how he carried it back. But he carried it back.
(You did this to him?)
[Informant I describe in note as small-time worker.]
He carried it back.
Entry 4828
Aftah dey steal dis piece from yuh, yuh turn roun' an' yuh git chew, if yuh got a piece of yore own clothes - mind yuh, if yuh got one piece of yore own clothes an' dey ain't stole dem all. Dat dey lef' jis' one piece dey didn't steal dough [though]. Well yuh git dat piece or dat sock. An' yuh take it an' yuh nail it de front of yore do'. An' aftah yuh nail it in de front of dat do' yuh take three little brass tacks an' yuh put it in dere but let de toe be comin' disaway. Well, aftah yo' let...
(Toward the house or away from the house?)
No, into de house.
(I see, into the house.)
So dat'll bring 'em back. But aftah yuh put tuh de do', nail 'em three brass tacks in dere an' aftah yuh nail 'em three brass tacks, say, "I nail dese tacks In de Name of de Fathah, an' de Son an' de Holy Ghost." An' dey bring 'em back.
(They'll bring back what they stole.)
Bring back what dey stole. Dey cain't keep 'em.
Entry 4829
Take a woman undahweah, if her an' her ole man been fussin' an' been havin' confusion an' she don't want 'i. She kin take some of 'is undahweah whut he weahs nex'tuh 'is HYATT skin, SHE BRING ' EM TUH YUH. [Informant thinks author a doctor trying to learn new tricks.] Yuh kin take 'em. Well, yuh take dat undahweah an' yuh burn it intuh ashes. When yuh burn it intuh ashes yuh git some Solly's Corn Whiskey.
(Sally's - Solly's [Solomon's!] Corn Whiskey?)
Yes. An' yuh take - if yuh kin git any of de herb roots, John de Conkah or any dem kinda roots, an' jis' cut it up fine an' mix it in dere. Carry it right back an' put it down anywhere. Jis' sprinkle it right on de front porch or any part of de house yuh got'a walk ovah.
(What will that do then?)
When yuh git 'is undahweah yuh take it an' burn it [I interrupt].
(What will that do after you sprinkle the stuff?)
He cain't stay dere.
(She's driving him away?)
Drivin' 'im away.
Entry 4830
De story about de woman?
(About the man, to make him come home.)
Yuh could git 'is underweah. Well, take 'em in de fron' an' wash, yuh know, in jis' a li'le watah, an' put it in a bottle. If yuh kin git some of 'is hayah [hair], put it in dere wit it an' stop it up wit some Heart Cologne. (With it, what will that do then?) Bring 'im back.
Entry 4831
Well, de reason ah know dat, mah wife lef' me one time, at Lunavista [see later] Ga., an' she came down South [to Florida] wit a man. An' a fellah tole me, says - a ole man come along an' he says, "Look lak yuh's a bachelah." [He] stopped dere [at my place] an' got some watah, yuh know, [and] says, "Look lak yuh a bachelah." Ah says, "Well, ah is now, but ah had a wife. She run off wit anothah man a few days ago." He says, "Well, ah'll tell yuh how tuh make her come back." Ah says, "Well, ah'd lak tuh know it." Say, "Ah'd give yuh five or ten dollahs tuh know how tuh bring 'er back." He sayed, "Well, yuh go tuh work - did she lef' any of 'er undahpiece anywheres atall?" Ah tole 'im, "Yes." Ah says, "Got some bloomahs an' some princess an' one thin' anothah heah." He says, "Well, her bloomahs de main thin'." He says, "Yuh go tuh work an git chew holt of some alcohol an' wet [feed] it, dat bloomah, '' he says, "an' put it on nex' tuh yore skin an' wear it one day, " he said, "an' pull it off an' put it to de haid of yore baid, tuh yore haid where yuh sleep yoreself. She'll be back home in 48 hours." An' ah be doggone if she didn't come back. Dat experience wit me. Now ah tried dat mahself.
(Where did this happen in Georgia?)
At Lunavista[?] Ga., 42 miles from Savannah. [I tried Buenavista without success. Unless the village post office of Buena- vista has disappeared, I would say that informant means Ludowici (loo-do-wis-i), county seat of Long County, about 42 miles south of Savannah. If we remember that many lowlanders pronounce the letter "w" as 'v and the final "i" as "a"' (as with Cincinnati), we have something like ludavisa with possibilities. The great- est possibiZity in my experience happened in 1924, when our household cook[white] in Oxford, England, came in to tell my wife the phonogram had not been delivered. Tactfully my wife said, "Show me, " and started for the kitchen. She was shown the familiar earthenwear crock bearing the label pate de foie gras.]
(Well, now how did you wear those bloomers?)
Jis' put it on jis' lak she put it on; yo' know, right nex' tuh yore skin. Yes sir, jis' lak yo' put on yore pair of slips - shorts.
(Oh, you put them on just like she wore them?)
Yes sir, one day. Den wet it in alcohol an' roll it up an' put it underneat' yore haid of de baid an' yo' jis' [where you] sleep. She come back in 48 hours - right back home.
(That did the work?)
Yes sir. [A similar story to this one, though not an example of transvestism, will be found in FACI (1st ed., 9416, p.506, 2nd ed., where?).] Here the deserted man does not wear the bloomers of his departed wife. Instead, he washes them out, writes a wish for her return, folds the wish up and puts it in the bloomers, and hangs them up to dry.]
Entry 4832
She kin take his undahsuit an' wear it tuh 'er skin. Wear it an' he'll come back. (If he's left her and left his underclothing at her house, she can wear that suit of underclothing next to her skin and he'll come back.) Yes sir.
Entry 4833
(What about the socks now?)
De socks, de stockin's or piece of yore garments. Now, ah've seen dis real. Split de green pine with a chisel an' a glut, a chisel an' a glut. Dat is, de glut is a piece of wood wide enough dat chew could lay it straight up an' down lak dat. [A glut is a wedgeshaped piece of wood or steel.] Nail dat together [after you put a piece of clothes in the split and remove chisel].
(What do you put in that?)
[What do you put in that split before nailing it together?]
Now, ah don't know whut he put in it, but he put dat in de tree. We got [found] de tree.
(Put what in the tree?)
De sock, an' de woman's stockin's - jis' whosomevah dey workin' ag'in, an' a piece of dere undah garment close tuh yore skin. Yuh know, de arm-holes or de seat of dey drawahs, if it's a man; if it's woman, de seat of hers. Nail dat intuh de tree wit a ten-penny nail an' let it [split] grow up [together]. Dat runs yuh crazy an' make yuh sick.
Entry 4834
Dey take de scissors an' cut a piece out in undah yore ahm [arm]; an bo'in' a hole in a tree an' put dat piece of cloth [from underclothes] in dat tree, an' den put dat plug back in dere. An' dey say, when de sap go up, yuh a-go down.
The informant explicitly mentions scissors in a cloth-cutting account. The later claim of going down remains undefined and unverified.
Entry 4835
Dey take de undahpiece, de piece da' choo weah, yore bloomahs, yore near piece da' choo weah close tuh yuh, undahshirt, an' put it in a tree in de woods, an' nail a spike nail tuh it, yuh know, an' dat'll run yuh crazy.
Entry 4836
Of co'se she nevah git bettah, she died. Dey take a piece of huh dress an' put it in a bottle an' put it in a tree [that is what killed her].
Entry 4837
Ah heard dat she could a [= could of] take any piece of 'is clothes [if] dat he evah lef' home, any piece, or any shoe-lak [piece], [like] his shoe tongue, or eithah 'is clothes dat he weah nex' tuh 'im. Take an' go tuh stoah [store], an' buy some cologne from de drug stoah, an' fix de clothes up, an' bur' [bury] 'em undah root of a tree, an' in nine day's time he will be back at home.
Entry 4838
Tuh bring a person back yuh got'a use de lef' [foot] track. Jis' lak dere's two or three ways tuh bring a person back. Well, jis' lak if it's a woman dat chew want tuh bring back, if yuh kin git even a piece dat she weah nex' tuh 'er, any place. Co'se, if yuh wanta cut a piece outa it - go on back home an' put it in some watah. Dis is tuh bring 'em back, bring a person back tuh yuh. All right, yuh take an' put it in some watah an' yuh goes tuh where two trees dat is right in tuhgethah. Yuh seen trees lean- in' ovah on one nothah. Well, if yuh ain't got a augah, take a axe an' dig a hole in it, an' jis' take dat li'le cloth an' put it in dere an' let it stay three hours. Bring it on back home den an' let it set up dere. Yuh take a li'le bita bottle jis' lak dis an' put it in dere. Now yuh take dis watah offa dere, yuh undahstan', an' yuh throw dis piece yuh got away, an' jis' let it be de watah dat yuh had it in. Take de piece outa it an throw it away. Take dis same watah an' care [carry] it tuh de tree an' let it stay in dere three hours. Take it out an' bring it on back home an' let it set dere. An' whatsomevah yuh want, yuh kin took fo' 'em from de time it will take dem tuh come from where dey are tuh where yuh live. Dey'll be dere.
Entry 4839
Take a scissors an' cut a piece of a man's undahshirt, undah heah, undah 'is arm, eithah arm, an' cut a small piece out of de crutch [crotch] of 'is drawahs an' pin dat tuhgethah an' lay it undah de haid of yer mattress. An' if he's a man dat run out an' don' lak tuh stay at home wit 'is wife, he'll begin tuh start tuh stayin' home evah night an she cain't make him go lessen [unless] she go wit 'i. [New Orleans, La., (1566) 2870.
Entry 4840
Take a piece of yore garment dat yuh wear nex' tuh de skin. All right, take a piece of yore undahshirt, place it wit dat piece of garment dat chew have. Yuh undahstan', fasten it [them] tuhgethah, so dat it will stay tuh- gethah - jis' stay tuhgethah. See, yuh an' 'er is man an' wife. Yuh all is supposed tuh stay tuhgethah. See, den keep dat secret. Don't let 'er know yuh got it, yuh undahstan'. Yuh see, don't let 'er know yuh got it, see. An' dat, yuh undahstan', will cuz 'er attention tuh turn tuh yuh.
Entry 4841
Or yuh kin take a man's underweah an' a woman's undahweah an' pin 'em tuh- gethah, an' wash 'em tuhgethah, boil 'em tuhgethah, rinse 'em tuhgethah, an' hang 'em up tuhgethah. An' he'll give her evah penny he got.
Entry 4842
Jis' lak a man go out, yuh see, an' yuh cain't make him stay at home. Well, yuh take his undahsuit an' yuh scrape dat cotton lak dat - yuh see, dat lint. Take dat lint where yuh kin scrape it, see, an' put it in a little bag an' some sugah, an' wear it on de side an' dat'll make 'em stay at home. Wear it on de side nex tuh yore skin, jis' eithah side - ary one. Dat'll make him stay at home an' give yuh 'is money. "
Entry 4843
(Anything else now?)
Oh yes, she kin take her watah, or she kin take her monthlies. Dat's de big- gest way de mos' of 'em do, an' mix wit 'is food. She stirs it wit a little chamber lye an' put in 'is coffee. She kin put milk in it an' keep 'im doped on dat. Dat's if he don' care nuthin about 'er. She want's tuh take 'im in, see, wal she jis' takes dat. An' if she don't wan'a do dat, she don' have tuh do it. [When] she washes, she takes 'is undahclothes, his drawahs, an' right in de seat she clips, yuh know. Jes' lak pants sewed up, yuh know, dere's a little seam. Well dat run right up dere. She jis' clips jis' dat much of it off [dem- onstrates]. Dat's all she got'a have, an' bind it up in a red flannel, jis' a small piece, an' place it undah 'er arm an' [or] undah 'er feet.
(Which arm does she place it under?)
Undah de lef' one. Always put it undah de lef'.
Entry 4844
De wimmins, dey cut out de seam of de drawahs, a man's drawahs right out de seam, an' puts it somewhere roun' dere wais' or puts it somewhere roun' de bed [or] in some closed cornah of de house [corner closed off or blocked off by piece of furniture]. An' dat man'll always care fo' dem, be crazy about 'em.
Entry 4845
Take in right where yuh wear yore undahwear, yuh see - yore shorts. Yuh know sometime it gits sweaty in de seat when yuh wear it. All right, yuh cut a plug outa dat, a roun' plug, an' put dat in de hollah [hollow] part of 'er shoes an' [or] she wear it inside of 'er stockin'.
(What shoe does she put it in?)
Her left one, wear it dere fo' 'bout twelve days.
(That's to make the man love her?)
Dat's right. He'll shore love her.
Entry 4846
If yuh love someone an' wan'a git 'em back tuh yuh, whut would joo do? Yore wife - sompin lak dat - cut de seat of 'er teddies out, undahstan' now, an' tie it up in a cloth an' wear it round yore waist, an' she nevah will leave yuh.
Entry 4847
Or dey kin take de seat out dere undahwear an' wear it aroun' yore waist an' let it drop down - a woman kin wear it roun' 'er waist an' let it drop down, an' he'll give yuh evah penny he kin rake an' scrape up - an' she use Hearts Cologne wit it.
(What do you mean by drop down?)
Let it drop down roun' de navel - jis' wear it slack, be down roun' de navel. Dey'll give 'em ever' penny.
Entry 4848
Yuh kin go tuh work - anyone kin go tuh work an' take yore undahclothes. Yuh see de idea, jis' lak yuh pull off yore undahclothes. Well, a woman wants tuh make yuh love her, yuh see de idea. If dey cuts a piece.out dat back heah, yuh know, well de' kin take dat an' carry it on off to someone, [doctor] yuh see. Dey'll [the doctor will] go tuh work an' fix a li'le Heart Cologne an' so fo' [forth] tuhgethah, yuh see. Den dey give it back tuh 'er.
Entry 4849
Take a man undahwear befo' he wash it. Yuh done cut a piece out of it - de back part of it.
(Where do you cut that piece out?)
Cut de piece right outen de back part.
(You mean the seat of it?)
Dat's right, an' tote it along wit chew, an' yuh kin keep a man down anywhere yuh go.
Entry 4850
Ah hear'd a woman say if she wanted tuh keep a man whut she would do. Jis' lak he got on a pair of shorts, dey [a woman] kin clip de seat out of 'em- lak - a small piece of de seat outa dem. Take dat out an' wear it somewhere on 'er body or somepin lak dat, an' dat would keep connection wit 'im from any othah woman - tuh 'er. [That will keep connection wit 'im from any other woman.] Ah've heered girls say dey have did dat.
(She would wear this piece of his shorts on her body?)
Yeah.
Entry 4851
She said she cut dis piece uh 'is [of his] clothes, cut out a round plug [see 4845]. I reckon de plug mus' uh [must have] been about dat roun' [demonstrates], jis' about duh size of a dollah - cut it out de seat of 'is draw- ahs. She said she took it an' put it in a bag, an' put some fish brine salt in dere [there] wit it. An' she said, an' cared [carried] it on de northeast cornah of 'er house, an' dug de hole an' put in deah. She said evah mawnin' befo' de sunrise she'd go roun' deah an' make watah on it. Shedone it fer nine mawnin's, she said. An' dey said he lef' heah an' nevah did come through heah no mo'[more].
Entry 4852
Jes' lak yuh in love wit a fellah an' yuh can't - yuh wan's 'im an' yuh can't git 'im lak yuh wan' 'im. All right, if yuh kin git a chance tuh wash fo' him, yuh take dose pieces dat he wear, his un- dah pieces an' all dat chew kin git tuh, an' put it tuh soak ovah night. Nex' mawnin' when yuh git up, yuh wash dem pieces out wit'out any soap. Rub 'em. git all dirt dat yuh kin out of dem. Den yuh take an' take de drainin's - turn it [pan or tub] on one side an' drain it [water] off. Take de drainin's of dat dirt come outa his clothes an' stop it up in a bottle. An' put it right undah de centah of yore bed undah de house - bury it dere. Turn it bottom upward, an' put it undah de centah, an' covah it up an' make yore wishes. Den he be comin' dere - he be yores. He come tuh be yores. From time tuh time he keep acomin'.
Entry 4853
Yuh see, yore bath watah is pahtic'lah [particular] things. Den yore undah-pieces clothes, keerful who Wash dat. Dey kin take dat an' rub undah heah, yo' know, an...
(Under your arms and the lower part of your body?)
Yes sir. An' yuh - dey kin take dat an: wash in de basin wit a little watah. An' dey kin take dat an' put it in a bottle, an' den dig a hole anywhere and PUT CHEW RIGHT DERE. If she love yuh, yuh nevah kin go from dere; an' nobody can't do yuh no harm.
Entry 4854
Aftah yuh wear yore garments, when dey git soiled, don't chew know, yuh put 'em off. A person kin take dem an' wash 'em. Dey've got yore odors. Dey take dat Water an' bury it right in front of de steps. An' dey will al- ways have yuh, yuh know, what chew might call footpath, lappy dog. Dey jis' walk in here lak [lappy dog] see. An' anythin' dey comman' yuh tuh do, yuh've got tuh do.
Entry 4855
Heard 'em say dey kin take any piece of any of yore clothes or anythin' lak dat. Take de clothes an' dress 'em. An' ah axed, ah said, "How would joo dress 'em?" Dey take it an' hang it up ovah de haid of de do' where yuh wus stayin' fo' so many - jis' lak if yuh wus roomin' heah, yuh see, an' didn't pay yuh rent, dis woman wanta hur ' cha. Well she take yuh clothes yuh see an' dress it. See. An' hang it up dere. See, where yuh went out de do' at fo' so many days - ah think it's three days. Inside of three days somepin goin' happen tuh yuh. An' ah axed de woman whut did she do. So she [say] well, she said she took dis same sulphur - it's great - an' dat salt, an' she went in dere an' she took dat dere shirt. An' she wash dat shirt an' took de suds whut come out dat shirt, see. An' she buried it undah her steps, jis' de suds - jis' po'd [poured] it undah dere, yuh see. An' jis' took dat shirt an' all an' jis' buried it right undah de steps, an' let it rot dere. An' said yuh would nevah have no luck. Yuh'd be in hard luck, an' any kin' of business yuh go at, nobody wouldn't hire yuh fo' workin' or nuthin lak dat. Yuh jis' be out dere [in the world] on an' off.
The informant reports a clothing account with an explicitly harmful aim. The duration and alleged later misfortune remain unverified source claims.
Entry 4856
Well, yuh kin take de seat of a man's drawahs an' cut 'em out, or else yuh kin put 'em in - jis' de seat, jis' wash de seat of 'em an' git de watah. An' yuh observe [pre- serve] dat in a bottle an' bury it right any- where aroun' de house, an' spashly [specially] where yuh kin walk ovah it comin' in an' goin' out, an' dat'll keep yuh on, too.
Entry 4857
Well, now in a case like dat, if yuh like any woman an' she doesn't like yuh, yuh have tuh - some case yuh have tuh. Perhaps yuh kin invite her out tuh lunch or perhaps yuh kin fin' some rea- son tuh bring 'er tuh yore home. An' some of yore clothes yuh wear, yuh wash it jis' as clean as it kin be laundryed [laundered], an' put some in de tea or somepin tuh drink. She drink dat an' yuh can't git rid of 'er.
Entry 4858
Git holt of some of 'is dirty clothes an' bring 'im back. Take dem dirty clothes an' place 'em - wash 'is dirty clothes an' take de watah of it an' put it in 'is food.
Entry 4859
I heard also that if you have something against a person and you want to harm the person, you take some of their clothes and throw it in the river and it will run the person crazy. [Snow Hill, Md., (85, a school teacher from near Richmond, Va.), 1:4,5.]
Entry 4860
Den anothah one tole me tuh git a garment of yo's, whut chew weah nex' tuh yo's. Tie it up an' put it in some runnin' watah an' carry it on away from dere. Yo' nevah will have no trouble wit dat person no mo' - run 'em out. Jis' lak someone roun' yore home givin' yo' some trouble wit chure home or somepin lak dat. Why if yo' do dat tuh dat fellah, dat would run 'im away from dere.
Entry 4861
Ah knows about how a man kin take an' cut de seat out of a soiled pair of bloomahs whut de woman wore. An' he kin take it an' go tuh de rivah when de tide goin' down, an' he kin throw it in de watah ten steps backwards from dat an' don' look back, an' dat will always keep 'er wit him. See, dat will keep 'er mind on 'im all de time. [Normally I would say this rite sends her away, but intention is everything. Besides, clothes going out with the tide will come back with the tide. Or to put it another way; if she ever leaves she will return. Then again, the clothes could be thrown backwards towards the retreating Water but not actually into it. Symbolically he invites the woman to leave, just as he departs without looking back; then, before the tide turns, he retrieves the clothes.]
Entry 4862
Yuh kin take dere shoes. Yuh kin git de inside sole [the insole], a piece of de inside sole of dere shoes, yuh undahstan'. Or git a piece outa dere shirt, yo' know, outa de back of it, or out de side of it or de undah- weah. Jis' cut a piece, yuh know, right out anywhere out dere unions [union suit], anything, an' wrop it up, yo' undahstan', an' put it in salt an' watah. Let it sits dere in salt an' watah an' let it stay in dere two days. Take it out an' put it in runnin' watah.
(That will run them away?)
Yes sir.
Entry 4863
Yuh kin do it, but yuh have tuh git somebody's hair or somebody's gar- ments dat's got de odah in it, dat dey wore. An' if yuh take it, yuh put salt an' peppah an' sulphah in it. An' put dat in runnin' watah an' it will start 'em tuh move. (That will run them out of town, keep them on the go?) Yes, dat will keep 'em on de go.
Entry 4864
Dey kin mess yuh up on dat. Dey take dat chew know at times, take yore undahpiece dat's been worn an' carry it tuh a lake or tuh a creek where dere's runnin' watah. An' den, if it's a straight pieceorifit'satwc piece, yo' know lak undahweah, an' yuh tie it on tuh a block [of wood]. An' den yuh put nine needles on dat same block an' nine pins. Let dem be goldeye nee- dles. An' turn dat ovahbo'd an' yuh got 'em dere.
(What will that do?)
Well, dat eat [it]. Dat's drivin' de person away.
Entry 4865
Ah would go an' git me some sugah an' salt an' sprinkle aroun' yore do' an' also in yuh house. An' if ah could git a piece dat chew weah close tuh yuh skin, ah will take dat an' take a piece out of [it] jis' lak [that] an' tie it up in a rag or sompin, in a piece of red flan- nen, an' wrap it tight in a piece of red flannen. An' den ah go tuh de drug sto an' ah may git some whut chew call cayhine [cayenne] peppah, yuh undahstan', an' mix dat up wit it. An' git chure name an' write it on a piece of papah, an' put it in dere, an' take an' put it in a bottle an' put it in some runnin' watah. Dat'll pull yuh 'way.
(And that sugar and stuff you simply sprinkle it around the house?)
Yeah, dat cause confusion, dat makes 'em leave.
(Do you do all these things together or do each thing separately?)
De way yuh do, yuh put de sugah an' de salt in de house separate, yuh under- stan'. An' de othah stuff, why yuh put dat tuhgethah. Yuh put cayhine peppah.
(Do you use all these things together or do you just use one at a time?)
Yuh kin use 'em both tuhgethah, yuh see. [This answer is vague but under- standable.]
Entry 4866
Yuh take a piece of yuh garment dat choo weah nex' tuh yuh skin, an' go tuh a runnin' stream of watah, an' wade in dere up tuh yuh knee, an' take dis piece of garment an' tie it tuh.one dem roots down in de watah, where it will stay undahneat', yuh know. Dat'll drive yuh away from home.
Entry 4867
Dey tell me dat if yuh wanta drive a person away wit dey own clothes, dat yuh kin take an' care it tuh a runnin' stream. An' take a stave an' stob
[or stahb] it up through de [mud]
an' let it stay down on de mud at de bottom wheresomevah dat it hit. An' whensomevah dat it stay dere an' rot, an' keep afraging away, dat dey will jis' be walkin' - driftin' de balance of yuh days.
(They drive that down into the mud with the stave.)
Entry 4868
Well, if she wanta git 'im back, yuh see. Anyway, she gits some of 'is - gits 'is shoe sole or some of 'is undahweah, pants he weah nex' tuh 'is skin. An' git dat. Why den, she take an' jis' make a little, little ball, put a little piece enough tuh stick in a bottle. Jis' a little ball about dat much [demonstrates], jis' a little piece yuh undahstan'. Now, take yuh some thread, black silk thread, fine, an' turn de thread pieces all de time tuh yuh [demonstrates]. Yuh see, wrap aroun' de thread, dat thread tuh yuh - all de time so it is coming yore way. Go tuh a stream of watah an' let de watah be comin' yore way. See, yuh meet dis - see, yuh meet dere. Lak yuh comin' disaway [demonstrates] an' de stream come from disaway tuh meet [you], an' yuh throw de bottle an' it will come back tuh yuh. [If you throw the bottle upstream, it wil] come floating downstream to meet you.]
Entry 4869
She'll git sompin dat he wore tuh 'im. An' she git a piece of 'is undahweah, anythin', an' she'll take [and] she wrop it, fold it up. An' she'll take a piece of silk, black thread, an' she'll wrop it tuh 'er 365 times. An' she gits three sticks from de pins [3 stick pins from a new package of pins]. She stick one dat way [demonstrates] an' one dat Way, an' take an' wrop 'em comin' back toward 'er.
(She sticks one in the side of this package?)
Sticks one right lak dat, an' turn aroun' an' stick de othah one right lak dat, an' stick de othah one right by dat one, an' turn 'em back right lak dat [demonstrates].
(Two of them are turned back toward her. Then what does she do with that?)
Put it right in front of de house in a safe place an' call 'is name. Tell 'im tuh come back. Call 'is name three times an' tell 'im tuh come back, come back, [come back].
Entry 4870
If a man got a woman or a wife, or if a woman got a man or husban' an' he leave any of 'is clothes, his undahweah in de house, she kin cut one spot out de undahweahs, or dose clothes where de odor from dat man go. He kin [do the same thing to] bring 'er back. Take it an' work on it, bury it in de yard.
Entry 4871
Yuh kin take a piece of 'er garment dat she wears nex' tuh 'er an' bury it in de back yard an' she'll nevah leave. [Baltimore, Md., (148), 93:12.] [This is the fourth subsection of section SWEAT, one of the functions of the human physical body. As previously explained, clothing such as socks and stock- ings are placed here only because of the magic power of human perspiration.]
Entry 4872
Yore sweetheart or eithah a woman, an' sleep on dere stockin'. Jis' git a soiled stockin', yuh know, where dey been weahin' it. Don't want any clean socks or stockin'. An' ease it inside of de mattress an' let 'im lay on it, see. An' when he sleep on dat stockin', he'll come down ' jis' lak a lamb, becuz dat stock- in' is all de ways down tuh yore foot steps. Well, dey'll come down jis' lak dat. Jis' lak if dey ragin' or sompin an' dey wanta git chew down underneat' dem, see. Yuh sleepin' on dere socks yuh see.
Entry 4873
Take de socks befo' dey wuh washed an' put de socks in a box an' bury de socks. An' as de socks grow old an' bein' buried - as yuh will be cuz'd [caused] trouble in yuh feet, or yuh legs an' yuh dog luck [dog tired], or knees, see. Wha' choo might would call rheumatism, see. By some parts of wha' choo might call sweat tuh be buried in dat. Dat's some part from us, yuh see.
Entry 4874
[The words of the submargin title. informant's own. I consider one of the great statements in HooDoO, because they describe the essence of his hoodoo reality. Did transcriber and I mishear word soul? Could it have been soil equalling dirt in sock? Was the word sole of the sock, which is the same as the preceding meaning? Soil or dirt can be removed from the sock by washing. Those words dey claim tuh be able mean what they say - secret ability or power. Spirit rather than soul would have been more usual and frequent in HOODOO. Somehow, to me at least, soul is less amorphous and more individualized than spirit.] Dey claim if dey git aholt of 'is stockin' [sock], an' if dey kin git any of dat sand or whutevah might be in dat shoe aftah 'i, an' if dey bury dat, dat supposed tuh run a person crazy.
(What do they bury, just the sand or the stocking or what?)
Dey git holt of de sand or whatevah come out of dat stocking [sock] an' - yuh See, if de Stocking is dirty. An' DEY CLAIM TUH BE ABLE TUH MAKE DE SOUL COME OUTA DERE SOCK. AN' IF DEY BURY DAT, DAT SUPPOSED TUH RUN A PERSON CRAZY.
(An old sock. Either one of them or?)
Eithah one of 'em, or piece of 'is shoe - de linin' of 'is shoe. Ah've heard dat.
(They bury the lining of the shoe?)
Or dere sock. Dat supposed tuh run 'em crazy.
Entry 4875
[The woman speaking is a professional worker we have already met. ( (See 291, p.85; 593, p.194; 638, p.216; 647, p.222; 869, p.307; and 1271, p.442.) Her words that follow give the hidden mystery of the silver knife making a cross over socks before burial beneath a brick in the hearth. She calls this markin' yuh and says it's sacred tuh yuh. For the sacredness of the cross mark, see my explanation of the mark "Doctor" Brown saw on my forehead, in my comment at the beginning of his main interview on p.1290.] Yes, ah heard about de socks. Dey take de socks an' dey - evah'body don' have de [same] idea 'bout de socks. Some don' care de socks de same way. [Care de socks = take care of the socks = handle the socks.] Some take de socks an' put 'em down in de hearth - take up a brick an' lay it down undah dere. Long as dese things work, fine - jis' as long as dey keep 'em concealed anywheres. But if a person be's wise an' seekin' information from any othah source [from fortune- teller or doctor], dey tells 'em where dese lost an' hidden mysteries is; an' if he [doctor] gits it [gits the buried sock] up, den he's [patient is] all right.
(What is it supposed to do, when they put those socks down in the hearth?)
Well now, dey doesn't do a thing but use a silver knife, jis' lay it across dere. Mark it, jis' make a cross across it jis' lak dat [demonstrates], an' put de sock down dere. Don' put anything else jis' lak dat. An' lay de brick on it.
(What is that supposed to do to me then?)
Well, dat's not put dere tuh destroy yore life. Dat's put dere tuh make yuh turn some object whatsomevah dey may [have] in view - whut dey want chew tuh do. It might be a love case, it might be somepin dat dey wan' chew tuh put ovah fo' dem. An' dey jis' go tuh work an' jis' mark yuh - call dat jis' markin' yuh. Well, if yuh mark a thing up lak dat, she knows dat it's sacred tuh yuh. Dey call dat markin' an' dey do it wit a silvah knife, a sterlin' silvah knife.
Entry 4876
Yuh take de socks when dey are soiled. Yuh git a person's soiled socks from dere feet when dey are real dirty. Yuh know how dey git when dey are dirty. Yuh git de sock an' yuh git de seats of dere undahweah, knitted undahweah. Or should dey wear any kind of one- piece undahweah, yuh git de seats of dis undahweah an'( dese socks. An' yuh roll 'em up tuhgethah wit de inside soles of de shoes, an' yuh bury dat undah yore steps or eithah put it in some secret place where dis person won't disturb it. Some people put it in de cornah of a mattress. But it's somepin dat chew know yuh are goin' tuh keep becuz, in moving, if yuh don' take dat up, yuh see, dat breaks a person up.
(Now, you take botn the socks.)
Both de socks. Yuh cut de sock off de foot. Den also de seats of de undah- weah. Co'se if dey have long sleeves yuh git de undaharms too. But yuh mus' nevah wash it. Yuh supposed tuh keep de perspiration in it.
relocating while preserving concealed soiled-clothing materials. Keep breaks a person up unresolved; do not invent death, relationship breakup or another precise result. These are attributed source occurrences; outcomes remain unverified.
Entry 4877
De only thing dat will work on anyone - an' heah's another little prop- osition. Yuh sure yuh're not goin' tuh print dose things [here in Mobile]?
[I must have shaken my head to say, no.]
Well, all right. Well now, say fo' instance now, yuh's a woman an' ah wanted yuh. HAVE YUH GOT A POCKET HAN'KECH'EF DERE? GIMME YUH POCKET HAN'KECH'EF. NOW say, fo' instance how, yuh wanted a woman an' yuh couldn't git 'er. Yuh come tuh me an' says, "DoC, mah wive [wife] is gone, an heah's lady 'cross de street ah is aftah, an ah can't git 'er." Ah say, "Aw, yes yuh kin. Have yuh got ten dollahs?" [Or] ah say, "What chew gimme tuh git 'er?" He say, "Ah give yuh ten dollahs." Ah tell yuh what chew do. Ah say, "Yuh go an' kin yuh git one of 'er ole dirty stockin's?" He say, "Yes." Ah say, "Well, yuh git one of 'er ole dirty stockin's." Yuh go an' git dat stockin'. Ah say, "All right." An' ah say, "Now bring me yuh own." All right. NOW PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TUH ME. Take her stockin' jis' like dat [demonstrates]. Jis' like dis is heah, an' lay yores on top of it. YUH WATCH ME. See how dere [they are] straight. [He starts to roll them up.]
(You roll them up.)
Yo' roll 'em tuh yuh, jis' like dat. Roll 'em tuh yuh an' den when yuh git tuh de laig part, den yuh turn dat ovah tuh yuh an' roll yores ovah de top of dat jis' like dat, yuh see. Well, den yuh go ahead den an' git chew a jar, an' put nine grains of whole grain black peppah in dere - jis' drop 'em in dere. Den yuh write her name seven times an' put it in dere - an' roll it tuh yuh.
(The name must be rolled up with the stocking?)
Rolled wit de stockin'. Well, den yuh roll dat wit de stockin' into de jar, an' where yuh stay at, den yuh bury dat undah de step, see.