Subject:Swallow
Entries
Entry 13280
Ah went in de woods in de spring of de year - it been about three years ago now. If yo' know a swallah [swallow] bird - do yo' know a swallah bird? Well, yo' kin take one of de eggs outa dere nest an' bring it home anl boil it. An' den put it back in dat nest. Well, when dat bird come back, she know dat egg ain't jes' lak she left it. Well, she goes somewhere in de woods an' get a root an' bring it dere an' put it in dat nest. Dat suppose to make dat egg right. An' yo' kin git dat an' jes' keep it in yore pocket an' yo' more den apt to keep a dollah all de time, 'long as yo' keep it.
(You'll get the root out of the nest then?)
Yes sir. She puts de root in de nest. (Then you go and take the root out of the nest. Did you try that? Did it work?) Yes sir, it worked. Fact ah kept money, ah reckon it musta been somepin'.
Entry 13281
Ah hear tell if yo' know where de swallow hatching at - de little birds hatchin' - an' yo' kin git his aig while he off his nest, an' bring it in an' boil it, an' carry it back an' put it to de nest, dat yo' kin conquer anything in de world on it. But ah ain't been able tuh find dat swallow. Ah been try- in' tuh find dat nest but ah ain't nevah found it. Dey say it be somewhere by de chimley somewhere - de' claim. [Somewhere in text I have a note about confus- ion between chimney swift and swallow.] Say dat bird is a shore fact. Say if yo' git dat aig from dat bird, dat bird he'll come an' bring yo' three roots in de place of dem aigs, after yo' take dem aigs out an' boil 'em. Yo' take de aigs an' dat bird'll come back an' bring yo' three roots an' say he'll take dem roots an' do as he wants tuh do.