Subject:Insole
Entries
Entry 3260
He kin take dat inside sole of 'er shoe. Yo' know de piece inside. Take de inside outa her shoe, take her right one, an' he kin put on dere, write on dere, an' take jis' lak he gittin' 'is han'skuff or somepin or a piece of rag, a small piece of rag, an' make lak he's wiping, an' wipe her. An' wrap dat all up tuhgethah. But he writin' on it [before wrapping everything up he has written on the insole], say, I don't want no man to take her away from me - an' have her name down - an' give me no trouble about it. An' he keep dat so she won't put 'er han' on it. Well, kin no man take her away from 'im.
Entry 3708
The follow- ing informant gives 4 separate cures:] Dey say yo' kin take in measurin' a man - well now, in yore husban', if yo' don't want 'im tuh fool wit somebody, why yo' could take an' measure him when he's sleep, if yo' git a chance. Or eithah, yo' fix 'im to pay no 'tenshun - have connection wit 'im fo' a chance tuh measure 'im wit a piece of cord string, dis little cord string dat come off a wrappin'. An' take an' measure 'im wit dat - jes' de length of it. An' den yo' kin take an' tie nine knots in it, an' yo' kin wear it in yore shoe, or if yo' kin, put it down undah de innah sole of yore shoe, an' he can't have anythin' tuh do wit anybody else. Den yo' kin take a piece of new homespun. Jes' lak yo' be playin' an' yo' have a piece of new homespun about de bed, or sompin yo' wus sewin', an' dey kin use dat aftah dey git through. Put it undah yore mattress an' double it up in a piece of papah an' put it undah yore mattress an' he ain't goin' bothah 'bout anyone. An' den if a person gits where dey kin't bothah wit anybody an' wants it taken off dem, dey kin go an' steal a dishcloth - steal someone's dishcloth. An' if dey got greasy dishwatah dere, dey jis' skim off dat grease wit dat dishcloth an' squeeze it up in dere. An' den yo' kin take dat dishcloth an' use it an' wash it off yoreself an' dat will kill it out. An' den yo' kin take an' git some cedar - these cedar leaves. Don't chew know, yo've seen dese cedars in de cemetery. An' take sulphur an' sprinkle it ovah dem, an' put a little fiah undah it, an' yo' kin kinda stand ovah dat an' let dat smoke go ovah yo', an' dat'll kill it. (That will kill it, if his nature has been taken away from him - restore his nature. But you don't have to get that cedar from the cemetery, you can get it any place?) Yes, anywhere. Yo' ain't gotta git it from de cemetery. [Yet, informant prefers graveyard.]
Entry 4595
A man's hat - a man's bow outa 'is hat an' yuh kin take Hearts Cologne an' put it in. Yuh see yuh shoe heah has a last [insole] in it, see; an' yuh pull dat last up an' put it undah dere an' po' dis Hearts Cologne on dat bow an' yo' keep it wet. Dat will make him go crazy about chew, too.
Entry 4613
Well, yuh take dat out of a man's hat, chew know, de little bow dat's right back of de hat heah, out of de man's hatband. Den yuh git a little hair from de mole [mold] of de head - no, yuh git three strands right out of de mole of de head. Chew wrap dat aroun' dis little bow an' git chew a piece of new cotton cord, cord string, an' yuh wrap dat aroun' an' tie nine knots in dat string. An' den yuh put undah de little flap of yuh shoe - yuh know dat inner sole, or de heel of de left shoe. An' as long as it remains in dat shoe, dat person's supposed tuh remain dere.
(That's all for love.)
Entry 4675
Take de bow out 'is hat an' dat insole of yore shoe, an' put dat bow right up undah dere. Take a pinch of sulphur an' put it down in dere. Ah guar- antee yuh dat boy goin' stay right by yuh cuz ah've tried dat mahself. (Just put this bow in your shoe. Eith- er shoe?) Yessuh, eithah shoe.
(And put a little sulphur with it. Put it up under that inner sole?)
Yessuh.
Entry 4945
Well, yuh takes women's socks - I hear talk of 'em doin' sich as dat, takin' de sweated part, yuh know, of de heel. A man take de sweated part of a woman's heel, of 'er sock, an' he take dat an' he weahs dat intuh his - puts dat undah dat little sole of 'is shoes. Yuh know, yuh know dis little slip [strip] dat be's inside of yore shoe [insole]. An' he puts dat undah dere an' he weahs dat undah 'is foot. Well, an' he weah dat sich a length of time. An' he double dat as many times as he kin git it.
(What do you mean double?)
He git dat sock twice, yuh see. Evah time he kin git one of 'em, git dat, an' cut dat heel part out an' put dat in 'is shoe. Why he keep 'er down den. He keep 'er undah 'is fingahs [feet would be better!]. Control - dat controls 'er all right enough.
Entry 5014
Ah heard dat yuh take de socks now, an' yuh take it an' roll it towards yuh. Take it an' start it from de toes an' roll it back, jis' as tight as yuh kin roll it. An' den when yuh git 'em rolled back, yuh take a needle an' thread an' hook it ovah tuhwards yuh. Don' nevah hook it from yuh. Dat's whut dat lady tole me. Say yuh hook it tuhwards yuh evah time. Take dat sock den an' bury it right undah yore do'step, an' say dat man'll always stay dere - or a woman, whoevah it is.
Entry 5136
In de bottom of dey shoes, yuh kin take dat little cloth dat be dere in de bottom an' drive 'em away or kill 'em off. (How would they drive them away, first?) [Drive him away first, then kill him.] Well, tuh drive 'em away, yuh take it an' bury it. If yuh wanta make 'em stay home, why yuh kin take dat an' wrop it up an' put it in de crack anywhere in de side of de wall in de house.
Entry 5137
Well, yuh wearin' dat shoe when yuh come in an' yuh take it off. Well de moisture from yore feet is still in dere, an' yuh take dat [insole] an' fold it up. Fold dat to yuh. An' yuh use a piece of flannel. Put dat in de flannel an' keep dat wet [dress it] wit - put Epsom salt or anything. See, dat [is] salt. By me carry [carrying] some salt, well dat salt keeps it moist wit dat perfume. [Perfume either had been mentioned before recording began or this was just a mental lapse.] Dat keeps it moist so it stay alive. Sew dat up an' bury somewhere, or anything [or again], yuh kin jis' put it in a little [tin] can an' keep it on de opposite side of de bed where dey sleep on. He'll nevah notice it, won't know whut it's all about. Dey will keep )'im dere all de time. ANY WOMAN GOT A MAN SHE WANTS TUH KEEP 'IM, A HARD WORKING MAN. Well, dat's whut she do. She got de big advantage of 'im.
(She takes this inner sole out of his shoe. Either shoe?)
Eithah shoe.
Entry 5138
It's a - people go out tuh de fo'k [fork] of de road. Fo' instance, de fo'k of de road made in dis position [demonstrates].: See, dey'll go at de end of dat fo'k. Dey'll take an' dey'll dig down dere an' dey'll git a certain amount of dirt. Dey'll come back wit dat dirt an' dey'll git de sole of a - a individual's shoe. (The outside sole?) De inside sole, see, of de shoes wit dat dirt. Mix dat [fork-of-road dirt] up wit dat insole. Bury it undahneat' de step where de party pass goin' in an' out. Dat will git 'is mind intuh two channels.
(I see.)
He won't have a stationary mind, yuh see. Yuh'd have his mind, always keep 'im cross-minded. He'll be here, he won't be satisfied; he'll go tuh dat town, an' he'll figure he should move outa dat town. It jis' keep 'im always upstirred anyway.
(His mind will be in two channels just as that road forks into two roads?)
Absolutely - dat's de idea.
(You get that dirt right from that "Y" at the fork?)
Absolutely - dat's de place.
(I see.)
Entry 5146
Ah burns de sole of 'is shoe an' take de ashes an' gits dragon's blood an a bottle of cologne an' wear it on me. An: ah would git some graveyard dirt.
(What would you do that for?)
Well, tuh keep 'im roun' wit me. Wear it in yore bosom.
(You put this stuff in the bottle? After burning his shoe sole?)
Yes sir.
Entry 5167
An' anothah one: a girl say de way she make a man come back. Take de inside sole [insole] of 'is shoe. Take de inside sole of a man's shoe, don' make no diff'rence which it is [left or right], an' take yore undahclothes - yo' know, de bottom pieces. An' take an' wrop it up in de sole of 'is shoe, right heah in de centah heah. An' in de night when he sleeps, tuck it undah 'is haid an' let it stay dere all night long. An' she says, she goes de nex' mawnin' tuh take it out, say he won' let chew move it. Let it stay dere an' say he'd can't git away tuh save 'is life.
(That is to hold the man?)
Yes.
Entry 5174
Well, now, de piece when yo' intendin' - when yo' wanta send 'em away, now yo'll take dat piece [insole] an' cut a piece out of it. An', yo' know, yo' have tuh talk tuh it in a diff'ren' way all de time. Well, when yo' take dat piece out de shoe, yo'll git de lef' foot. An' when yo' take dat outa dat, dat's de same as 'is [foot] track. An' yo' take dat out an' den yo' git chew nine of dese fo'- cornahed nails, ah jis' call 'em. An' den yo' git chew a piece of thread an yo' tie all nine of dem nails. Yo' tie 'em tuhgethah. An' when yo' tie dem tuh- gethah, den yo' git a piece of shame brier [see p.646], an' yo' wrop dat tuh- gethah. An' den yo' put it in a blue bottle or a green one, eithah one lak dat, but let it be dark. An' yo' kin throw it in any runnin' watah. He cain't he'p from leavin', he got'a follah dat. (Now about those nails. You wrap those nails up in this piece of the old shoe. That the idea?) Yessuh, jis' a li'le piece whut yo' got outa de ole shoe, but yo' let 'em set a li'le while. An' den, when yo' set it dere, all yo' have tuh do, throw dem ovah yore lef' shouldah an' it go in dat watah. Yo' see, dey goin' as fur as dat watah run. Dey follahs den an' dey compelled tuh go in dat direction.
Entry 5175
[Your left shoe] an' it's wore out an' yuh wanta half sole it, or yuh wanta put a whole sole on it, well she git de whole part of it, but she git it from de inside, not out- side. She git it from de inside, an' wit a piece of pastebo'd, an' den she cuts it. An' den she writes 'is name on it.
(On this pasteboard?)
Yes, sir. She writes it on dere an' she.bury it undah de steps, an' dat man's got'a come back. He cain't stay away.
(How many times does she write the name on there, just once?)
Wrote it nine times on dere.
(I see.)
Nine diff'ren' ways she write it on dat sole an' he got'a come back.
Entry 5176
Dat's not handy fo' yo' tuh do. Yo' git de inside piece of 'is shoe, yo' undahstan', yo' kin git dat inside piece of 'is shoes an' yo'll take dat inside piece of 'is shoe wit 'is name an' yo'll write his name in dere on a piece of paper. But yo' got de measure of dat whole feet, yo' got de whole measure [when you have the insole]. Now, yo'll git chew a piece of papah an' yo'll put 'is name nine times. Yo'll put - lak if it wuz me - my name at de top, an' den yo'll write it crossways heah ag'in, nine times. Den yo'll take dat measure an' yo'll put cinnamon in it an' yo'll put White Rose Perfume, an' yo'll dampen it good, an' yo'll put dat an' yo'll roll it towards yo'. See, yo' fold it towards yo' jis' as many times as yo' kin. See. Den yo'll go tuh work an' yo'll put a bran'-new needle. Yo'll pin a bran'-new needle in dat yo' see, an' yo' kin eithah put it in a bag or eithah put it in yore pil- lah or yore mattress. Dat'll keep 'im home. (You take the inner sole and you write his name nine times and yours across it. You put that paper and the sole together, and put those ingredients in, and then you roll it to you. And you can put it anywhere around you or put it in the mattress.) Anywheres.
Entry 5177
Den yo' git de shoes, yo' take - cut a li'le piece outa de bottom of dat shoe. When yo' cut a li'le piece outa de bottom of dat shoe, yo'll fix dat up in a li'le piece of cloth, a yellah homespun cloth. An' yo'll wind dat, yo' know, wit a string. An' yo'll have in dat nuthin but sulphuh an' eatin'-salt. An' yo'll put dat in dere, an' yo'll tie hit tuhgethah intuh dat li'le piece whut yo' cut out dat shoe. Well, now, if yo' hit [aim] tuh bring 'im back, well yo'll take a li'le piece of saltpetah an' yo'll put [make] dat in a powdahs - all dem into a powdahs, an' yo'll fix dat into dat li'le package. An' aftah, yo' wind dat li'le package up an' yo' bury dat at de back of yore house. An' when yo' put all dat in de back of de house, den yo' call 'im three times - woman or man - an' dey cain't he'p but follahin' back. Now, dat's fer as ah know 'bout dat.
(Do you wind it in any special way?)
No pahtic'lah way but jis' long as yo' know it tied.
(And can you send them away with the same thing?)
No suh, ah don' know if yo' send 'em away wit dat.
(You mean that piece in the shoe, that piece inside [insole] that you pul]
up?) Dat's right.
Entry 5179
Yo' kin take a man's shoe an' take de inside of 'is shoe, take dat inside out an' wear it in yore nation sack, an' he cain't leave yo'. (Either shoe?) Eithah shoe. [For nation sack, see excellent account on p.1458, lines 7-44.]
Entry 5181
An' yo' kin take a new [right] shoe sole [inner sole]. Buy a new pair an' cut it half in two [see later], an' take a indelible pencil an' write chore name from lef' tuh right. Turn it [inner sole] around, write his name from right tuh left, [or backwards, his family name first and his given name in front of that] coming tuh yo'. The [inner] sole is split [lengthwise] so one half can be worn in each of the new shoes. Make wishes [for him to return]. They say that'll bring a person tuh yo, bring 'em undah yore control.
Entry 5183
Ah know dat dey say dat chew take yore shoe, yo' take yore right shoe, ah - no, yo' take yore lef' shoe. YO' CAIN'T JES' BE POSITIVE IN EVAHTHIN' YO' DO. An' yo' take dat right shoe yo' know, an' yo' take de inside of dat little linin' [insole] down in de bottom. Dey take dat chew know an' dey put dat wit nine needles an' whut else ah do not know; but dey put dose nine needles in dere an' dey take dat an' dey bury it on de lef' cornah of de house. An' dey said, when dey do dat, dey got chew all fixed where dat chew cain't go nowhere. Yo'll jes' git to de place where yo'll be all worn out. Chew don't wanta do nuthin yo' jes' wanta stay at home an' lay in de baid.
Entry 5219
Dey taked mah shoe, got holt one of mah shoe, an' scraped jis' a li'le of de dust outa de inside of de shoe [insole], an' ball it up - wrapped up intuh a li'le somepin jis' lak dat [demonstrates]. (Ball it up [in a piece of rag or paper].) Yes suh, an' put it out in de yard close by de fence. Always put on de left side.
(The left side of what?)
Of yo' gate where yo' come in.
(You bury it out to the left side of your gate?)
Yes suh, an' yo' step ovah it. Dat is a pain ket' chew [= ketch chew = catch you] in yo' laig. Kills yo' foot daid. But dó [though] where de diff'rence [= but on the other hand] heah come anothah man [doctor] dat undahstan' de business, will ease [it] off yo' - take it right off. But it wouldn't be a month or week befo' yo' be walkin' jis' as straight as evah.
Entry 5220
Den ah've heard dat dey kin take yore shoe an' scrape de bottom of it. Lak yore shoes is - lak yo' weah yore shoes tuhday. Well, if yo' foot atall sweat, dey kin take it an' pull it off an' scrape de inside of dat shoe, an' git dat dere dirt whut come outa yore foot. An' dey could bind dat dere up an' put intuh a place whereby it cain't ketch no air atall. An yo' cain't walk. Of co'se it cain't kill yo' - won' kill yo' - but yo' won' have no use fo' dat foot. Dat takes de use of it, when dey puts dat intuh a place where it cain't ketch no air. De way dat chew comprehend [overcome] dat is tuh bring de use back tuh yore foot. Git chew some sulphur an' red peppah an' weah it in de bottom of yore shoe an' dat will kill it. See, dat'll kill it in yore foot. Dat won' be no good while dey have it in dat airtight place. Dat 'air [= dere = there] is de way dey ovahcome dat devilment when dey works it.
Entry 5222
Now, yo' say fo' n'instant [for an instance] ef a man's lovah wus gone away, he could take - ef he kin git holt-a shoe which he knew dat she wuz gon'a wear again, he could pull up jis' dat thin papah in de heel, it doesn't make any diff'ren', an' take it an' weah it in 'is shoe. An' dey say dat is a good way dat she will come back tuh 'im.'
Entry 5238
De inside sole from yo' shoe - dat little piece yo' walk on - dey cuts three holes right in de centah. Now dat's if yo' wanta, yo' kin drive a person or yo' kin hold a person wit it. If yo' wanta drive 'em, yo' got'a fix it in sompin light [weight], an' put it in runnin' watah wheres it will jis' keep agoin'. An' if yo' wanta keep 'em, yo' take dat an' bury it at chure home.
(Do you take both those inner soles?)
One, de lef' one. DAT'S WONDAHFUL FOOT, DE LEF' ONE.
Entry 5242
Yo' could take dat inside sole jes' lak ah have in mine heah, dat got de sweat on it, chew know. An' yo' take dat outa anybody's [shoe] who yo' want. Listen good. An' put some sul- phur in it, black peppah an' salt. (Sulphur, black pepper and salt.) Uh-hmm. Den yo' take it an' burn it. In three days times.if yo' want dem back dere, dey'll come back tuh yo' an love yo' bettah dan evah.
(What would you do with those ashes, anything?)
No, jes' let it go yo' know, aftah yo' put dat sulphur an' black peppah in dere, an' salt.
Entry 5266
Git a fellah shoe dat he been 'custom tuh weahin'. Take dat inside sole outa dat shoe an' yo' tack it up undah a boxcar, or yo' would fo'ce it down in a coconut. Shet [shut] de coconut up an' put some turpentine wit it, tro' it in de rivah an' leave it drif' down de stream. As it drif' down de stream, his min' will git - regard- less tuh whut job he got, he'll start tuh driftin' an' leave away from de place dat's he [that he's] 'custom tuh be.
Entry 5267
Take de sole, out chure shoe an' dey kin take dat little piece [insole] an' dey kin take it an' drive it into a tree an' run yo' crazy wit it. (The sole [insole] of either shoe or both shoes?) Yore left shoe where yo' have yore trouble at.
Entry 5268
Well, dey kin git yuh shoes. Dey will git a li'le piece of de innah sole out of 'em, jis' outa eithah one of 'em. An' take dat innah sole an' carry it an' use turpentine on it; may- be ten or fifteen drops, not undah ten an' not ovah fifteen. Take it an' put it in a tobacco can or snuffbox. Git dat an' bury it, jis' keep it buried dere. An' YO'LL BEGIN TUH TAKE PAINS IN YUH ANKLES AN' KNEES, JIS' AS LONG AS DAT'S BURIED, JIS' LAK YO' WUS A MAN WIT DE RHEUMATISM. YO'LL BE DOWN IN YUH ANKLES AN' YUH KNEES, AN' FINELY [FINALLY] IT WORK ON UP IN YUH HIPS. AN' WORK ON THROUGH YUH BODY. IT'LI WORK ALL OVAH YO'. IT'LL GIT YO' IN SICH A CONDITION DAT YO'LL HAVE DE STIFF- NECK AN' EVAHTHIN' ELSE.
Entry 5294
Heard tell of 'em takin' de sole, de innah sole out de shoes. Take de innah sole out chure shoes an' put it in runnin' watah, put graveyard dirt wit dat in runnin' watah an' run 'em wit it - de innah sole out chure shoe.
Entry 5296
Eithah one of yo' shoes, take de inside sole of dat shoe. He takes a knife an' he'll chip it up real fine, an' he'll take some sulphur an' some black peppah, an' he'll mix it all tuhgethah. Aftah he mix it tuhgethah he'll take it an' carry it tuh a stream of watah dat's runnin'. An' he kin sprinkle de least bit of it in dat sole an' he cain't stay nowhere. He start tuh travel. He cain't be satisfied nowhere he goes.
Entry 5301
He kin take de inside sole of a woman's shoe an' burn it - burn it into a powder. Beat it up fine an' git chew some Heart Cologne an' peppermint candy an' melt it, lak yo' use a syrup, melt it, take dem things an' mix up in dat, an' git chew some red peppah an' wear it in yore shoes. Why he will git 'er back.
Entry 5588
Take out a piece of newspapah by yore track. Put chure foot down on de newspapah an' cut out dat track - understan', by de newspapah. An' take some sulphur an' red peppah an' sprinkle it in de bottom of yore shoe, an' set dat papah in dat, an' put chure foot in yore shoe. Yo' kin walk in it an' it [no cunjure or spell] ain't goin' hurt chew. Dat's right.
[Nothing planted for you to walk over will harm you.]
(After putting that stuff in your shoe, you simply put that insole of news- paper on top of it?) On top of it.
Entry 6125
Yo' kin [take] hair, if a man's 'way from yo', an' take dis heah little bottom out of 'is shoe. Yo' know dere's a little thin bottom [insole] in 'is shoe, yo' kin pull it up yo' know, an' yo' kin take dis hair an' some table salt an' red peppah an' sulphur an' stir it all up togethah an' yo' puts dis in yore shoes. Or eithah put it in a new piece of homespun. Sew it up in a little piece jes' about dat long, sew it up an' make a long string an' wrap it roun' jes' below yore knees, an' yo' wear dat. Well, dat keeps yo' from git- ting poisoned, an' den it makes yore sweetheart be good to yo' an' come home to yo'. "An' when it gits old, see, yo' change it.
Entry 6126
Yo' kin take nine needles an' a ball [pod] of red peppah an' jes' as much sulphur as yo' want, an' den take some de hair out de mole of 'is haid an' put it in black cloth an' sew it up an' put it in de inside of 'is shoe undah dat little sole dere, an' let 'im wear dat an' he will be nice to yo' an' any- thing dat chew say, he will do it an' nevah be out wit othah wimmins, yo' know. (You wear that in your shoe. Either shoe all right?) Eithah one.
Entry 6127
Yo' take dere hair an' plait it - plait it, yo' know, like dis heah [demonstrates], an' wear it in yore shoe. Yo' kin wear it in yore shoe or yo' kin take it 'tween de sole of yore shoe heah, an' seal it up ag'in tight, an' wear it in yore sole [insole].
(What will that do?)
Dat will kill yore mind, change yore mind.
Entry 6620
Yo' git a snake bone an' take de shoes - yo' git de snake bone an' yo' take a person's shoe an' take dat li'le leathah piece outa it whut's in dere. An' yo' take dat li'le bone an' dry it up - yo' know, kinda make li'le powdah of it. An' yo' take de othah part, de tip-end of it, dat sharp part, an' put it down intuh de shoe an' place dat li'le cloth back ovah it. Yo' take dat powdahs an' sprinkle dat all roun' in dere. If it's yore shoe, if ah wanta kill yo' or put sompin in yo', put snakes in yo' where dey won' come out. Well, yo' see when yo' put dat shoe on, yo' goin' press yore weight ag'inst it; an' when yo' does, see, it pops up intuh yo', intuh yore heel. Well, yo' see, dat poison jis' goes right straight on up in yo'. An' aftah dat poison git up intuh yo', in about de ninth day it begin tuh make li'le snakes in yo'. It begin tuh make li'le snakes in yo'. Well, if yo' wanta git dose snakes outa yo', yo' git chew some sulphuh an' green peppah, black peppah an' mix it all tuhgethah. An' den yo' git chew dis milk of magnesia an' den yo' put dat in wit it an' mix it tuhgethah, an' jis' nine drops of spirits of turpentine. Yo' mix it all up tuhgethah an' yo' take dat fo' about eight days an' it will kill dose snakes. An' yo' go tuh de woods an' dere's one li'le sprig of stuff dat dey call dat Copras it bears one of de straight leaves an' de li'le j'ints [joints]. Dey got about four li'le white j'ints run up tuhgethah. [Does informant mean copperas, and does he think it is a plant?] Yo' take dat an' weah dat intuh yore clothes, an' dey say dat will really, surely run de snakes outa yo'. Put it all tuhgethah an' it will run dose snakes out of yo'. (You just wear this root though, you don't take either of those things - just wear it?) Yes.
(And that snakebone, can you get that any place about the snake?)
Yes, yo' kin git it from de snake, jis' any part of 'is body, jis' so it has dat li'le sharp end kind lak a pin.
Entry 7829
Said if anybody had done anything tuh yo' an' yo' didn't wan' 'em tuh know yo' done anything tuh 'em, yo' go tuh de graveyard an' git some fresh graveyard dirt. An' yo' take dat dirt an' yo' take quicksilvah, an' when yo' take de quicksilvah... (What is that quicksilver? Is it a liquid-like or that tin paper [tinfoil]? What is quicksilver?)
[Quicksilver among my informants meant several things.]
Well, ah call dat liquid silvah. An' den yo' take dat. An' yo' git dat an' yo' git dis lodestone an' yo' shivah [sliver? = shave] it off right fine. An' yo' take dat dirt an' all dat an' mix it tuh- gethah. An' when yo' git chure oin- ment made lak yo' wan' it, yo' take dat li'le wad [insole] in de bottom of yuh lef' shoe [and put it under there] an' dey'll lingah an' lingah den until dey be's put in de ground. Ah heard it lak dat.
Entry 7964
Take dat left shoe, yo' cut it, yo' jis' cut it all de way cross from dat heel. Yo' take dat shoe... [I interrupt.]
(From the heel to what?)
From de heel tuh de end of de toes.
(HoW would you cut it? How do you mean they cut it?)
[Just make a cut mark? Cut all the Way through? Etc?]
Yo' jis' take a knife an' cut it...
(Just make a cut?)
Yes, sir, jis' take a knife an' cut dat shoe all de way through, yo' see, de sole of it. Cut it all de way through tuh de heel.
(I see.)
An' den yo' take dat shoe an' git two cross-sticks, two cross-sticks [2 sticks to cross] an' yo' cross 'em lak dat [demonstrates].
(Like an X. All right.)
Yo' cross 'em lak dat, an' yo' goes right undahneat' of de house, of [belou] dere baid. Yo' see, yo' make somepin jis' lak a li'le coffin. An' yo' goes undahneat' of de house right undah de baid, jis' where de baid sets. An' yo' tacks de bottom of dat, dat inside of dat sole of dat shoe, [and] yo' tack it undahneat' of de house right undah de baid. An' dat person will jis' lingah, lingah, lingah - lingah until dey die. But yo' tacks it - see yo' tack it right undahneat' de bed. [Nail it to the fllor under the house:] Dat's really de truth ah'm tellin' yo' now. Dat's really de truth.
(Well, what would they do with that box?)
Evahthing ah'm tellin' yo' is really de truth. (Well, what would they do with that box that you made like a coffin? What do you do with that?) That? It all be's tuhgethah.
(Oh! you tack that box, everything. I see.)
But choo see, it all be's tuhgethah. Turn it bottom upwards.
(I see.)
An' yo' tack it right undahneat' of de baid undah de house; but choo see, yo' cross dem sticks.
(Where do you put those sticks?)
Yo' cross dem sticks right undahneat' of it, right undahneat' of de sole. An' yo' tack it an' yo' turn it all bottom ups, an' yo' tacks it right undahneat' of de baid.
(Well, now, you put these sticks in there across?)
Yes. (Then you put this piece of leather in there, from the shoe, and you turn it upside down, and tack it up under the bed, under the house? [I speak slowly and deliberately.] That leather is in there to hold those sticks, that are crossed, from falling down?) Yes, sir, keep dem sticks crossed. Don' put 'em straight, put crossed.
(I see.)
Entry 8475
Say yo' takes 'er pichure. Yo' goes an' git a gun an' regardless tuh who she is or how much money she got, if yo' loved 'er, git 'er photograph an' turns 'er photograph on de desk, layin' de photograph an' call 'it 'er pichure, an' mark it wit a "X' - a cross, 'X'. Take an' folds it up in a piece of news- pahah an' put it in yore shoes. Hoids up de linin' of yore shoes an' put it in dere, an' turns de haid of 'er pichure down tuh de ground an' tuhward de back of yore heel. Weah it three days an' take it an' delivah it out. An' pertends [pretends] yo' drinkin' whiskey, two glasses. Drink yores an' name hers wit de pichure ovah it. An' let it stay dere fo' three days an' she'll return tuh yo'.
(After you wear this in your shoe, you take it, the third day, and then you?)
Put it in two drinks of likkah, put it in two separate glasses. Fulls [fill] de glasses up each, an' drink one. An' put de othah one back an' name it wit de pichure in it, ovah de glass wit de face down tuh whiskey.
Entry 8711
Yo' go to a place - if yo' know de place where yo're goin' an' know de people's name [name of person who hires]. Yo' git chew a piece of pastebo'd an' yo' cut it down as a shoe sole, de print of a shoe sole [an insole]. Yo' write dem people name down nine times wit a indelible pencil. (You just write one right after the other?) One right aftah de othah, nine times. (Now, if the boss's name was Sam Jones, you just write Sam Jones right underneath Sam Jones?) Yassuh, an' den aftah yo' do dat, yo' git chew some cinnamon an' yo' git chew some sugah. An' yo' puts dat in yore shoe an' yo' weah dat. An' yo' git yo' a piece of John de Conkah root, an' yo' chews dat root, an' as yo' go in dere yo' spits, an' make yore wish fo' whut chew goin' dere, whut kinda job yo' goin' dere tuh be successful. Yo' git dis job.
(You just make one sole [insole] or two?)
Jes' one sole.
(For either shoe?)
Fo' either shoe, it don' make no diff'rence.
(It doesn't make any difference what shoe.)
Either one.
Entry 8823
Ah'll take yore han'writin', whethah it's chure name or what not, it's chure han'writin'. Ah'll turn de fo' cornahs in, if it's a lettah, turn 'em all in tuh me. Den ah'll fold 'em an' put 'em undah mah shoe.
(Turn these four corners in, then you fold them over once. Just once?)
Yes sir, tuh me all de time.
(Once or twice?)
Yeah, any way fold it tuh yo' all de while [until you have a convenient pack- age].
(Just make a little package. Always fold it to you.)
Yes sir, an' ah weahs it undah mah shoes. Co'se, whethah yo' a woman or man ah'll handle yo'.
(What shoe do you wear that in?)
Yo' weah dat in de right shoe.
Entry 10717
Ah'll tell yo', whether it's a woman or man, if she leaves yo' an' yo' wanta git her back, why yo' git chew three grains of cor [maize], an' three strands of her hair, an' if dere any way yo' kin git her track, pick up yo' [your] dirt out of each one of her track - three tracks. An' yo' put dat in yore shoe, umdah yore bottom shoe [insole] whut yo' wear. Lift dat [insole] up an' put it udah dere, an' yo' wear dat. An' she'll come back. See, an' when she come back, an' den, if yo' want her tuh stay dere, yo' go an' git chew a bird nest an' yo' put some sulphur an' salt in dat bird nest an' burn it. Make yo' a little fire an' burn it in de chimley so yo' kin git de scent of it, an' she can't leave yo' no way; can't go an' leave him, de man or woman, which one wanta do it.
(Do you wear that corn in your shoe also?)
Put dat cor an' de hair an' dat sand in yore shoe.
Entry 11742
Dey kin take an' dress 'em [shoes up with graveyard dirt an' cayenne pepper.
(How do they do that?)
Why, they kin put it inside of a shoe; or they kin take that little leather [insole] out at de bottom [of the shoe] and they kin dress up. Take that out an' bury it. [That makes] feet ache and hurt all de time. (Well, now, are those two different things you have told me or are they all the same thing; that stuff in your shoe and bury it? Do that at the same time or do they do them at different times?) Well, see, these are all right separate, but they be all right together. So one at de time probably dis month and next month, probably two, three months afterwards - something like that - but it be all right together. [This is a skillful piece of tact!]
Entry 12497
Take his name an' write it 9 times, an' yores ovah it [the latter usually means turning paper upside down first before writing over the name.] Write it up real good an' wear it in yore shoe. He cain't leave yo'. Yo' write chure name ovah it 9 times jes' lak yo' did the othah one. Wear it in yore shoe, either shoe, umdah de inner sole of de shoe.
Entry 13408
Lak ah tell yo', yo' take de sole [insole] of a woman's shoes or a man's shoes. See. Fo' instance if yo' don' put it on de outside where de peo- ple would see, but yo' would take it on de inside an' as dat wagon wheel roll, dat- away, jes' de same way dere mind will go - keep 'em with a rollin' mind. Dey would be in New Orleans today an' somepin would turn dem, dey git in a bad humor tuh go tuh Memphis, an' from dere tuh Arkansas, an' jes' keep 'em always on tuh rovin'. See.
Entry 13423
All right, they'd get that war water powder.
(War water powder?)
Yeah, war water powder.
(All right.)
And put it underneath the sole of your shoe, that inner sole within your shoe. And you feet have to sweat - if you feet don't sweat, it don't do you anything.
(And what if your feet sweat?) If the feet sweat, it swell all up. (I see. The feet will swell up.)
[Cripples a person.]