Gullah Folktales from the Georgia Coast

X. Buh Sparruh

X. BUH SPARRUH. Buh Sparruh, him berry leetle, but him lub fur brag. Eh yent much fur wuk. One time de Bluefinch, de Trasher, de Red-Bud, de Jay-Bud, de Pattridge, and de Sparruh all come inter cohoot ter plant tetter1 and see who kin raise de bigges. Wen de tetter done mek an dig, all de bud collec togarruh, an ebry one fotch a tetter ter show wuh kind a crop eh mek. De Crow bin de judge. Eh look ober all de tetter, an wen eh fine Buh Sparruh no bin bring none, eh ax Buh Sparruh: "Way you tetter?" Buh Sparruh biggin fur brag, an eh say: "Me tetter, him heap bigger den any me see. Me farruh befo me blan plant tetter, an him tetter bigger ner de calf er me leg. Me kin beat me farruh raise tetter. Me yent bin bring no tetter wid me case me no want fur mek me fren feel bad." Tarruh bud say: "Nummine, you go fetch you tetter. Leh we see um." Wen Buh Sparruh fine dem all bent pon mek um show eh tetter, eh say: "Well, wait pon top me. Me guine git me tetter/' Buh Sparruh gone, an de bud all wait. Dem wait tell dem tired, an Buh 1 Sweet potatoes. 23 Sparruh no come back. Den Buh Crow, wuh bin de judge, sen Buh Bluefinch fur fine Buh Sparruh, an see wuh eh duh do. Buh Bluefinch meet Buh Sparruh duh pick seed in one ole fiel. Eh hail urn: "Hey! Buh Sparruh! wuh mek you no come back? All de tarruh bud duh wait top you fur show you tetter." Buh Sparruh rare isself back, an eh mek answer: "You go tell Buh Crow an de tarruh gentlemans me tetter so big me cant tote urn/' Buh Sparruh lie. Eh dis bin a brag. Eh yent nebber bin plant no tetter. 24 ...