“Whoo-pee, Pap!” Vinegar Atts bellowed1. “I cain’t make up my mind whether you is a young nigger beginnin’ to show yo’ age, or a ole nigger tryin’ to look lesser2 dan yo’ real age.”
“I done heerd remarks like dat a plum’ plenty, Revun,” Pap snarled3. “I admits dat I’s gwine on seventy odd year ole.”
“I didn’t say you wusn’t, brudder,” Vinegar said propitiatingly. “But whut do an ole nigger like you dress up like you fer? Dar ain’t no fun’ral to go to an’ us ain’t habin’ no lodge4 meetin’ to-night.”
“Dey’s yuther reasons fer dressin’ up,” Pap said with a grin.
Vinegar slapped his hand to his head and a sudden remembrance transformed his countenance5.
“I like to fergot dat weddin’ complete! I onderstan’ now—you’s ragged6 out fer de weddin’. I muss be gittin’ ole an’ fergitful. An’ I got some questions to ax dat widder befo’ she steps off.”
Vinegar hurried away and Pap stood grinning after him. When the colored clergyman was lost to sight in the crowd, Pap turned away, mumbling7 to himself:
“Dat Vinegar Atts never did hab no sense. Now he raves8 an’ rambles9 when he talks wid his mouth. De Shoofly needs a new up-to-date preacher.”
Pap walked over to the tabernacle, sought out Mrs. Solly Skaggs, and bowing with exaggerated courtesy, he asked:
A shrill11 cackle of laughter rattled12 in Pap’s ear and he turned to look into the sardonic13 face of Skeeter Butts14.
“I done saved you, Sister Solly,” Skeeter snickered.
“You done got left, Pap,” Solly remarked. “I’s dancin’ fer de prize wid Figger Bush.”
“You’s gwine to win de prize, too, Solly,” Skeeter said in a low tone. “Dat is, ef you dances wid Figger. You cain’t git a showin’ dancin’ wid Pap. Ole age an’ fatness makes a powerful poor combine in a dance.”
“We ain’t axin’ you fer no remarks,” Pap snarled, turning to Skeeter.
“Beg parding fer buttin’ in, Pap,” Skeeter laughed. “I wus jes’ surprised dat you wus takin’ up dancin’ at yo’ age.”
Skeeter turned away, and as Pap had failed to secure a partner, there was nothing for him to do but retire from the floor, lamenting15 the fact that he had paid a dime16 for the privilege of dancing and lost his money. He sat down on a bench on the edge of the throng17 and gave himself up to deep meditation18.
“I got lef’ dat time,” he grumbled19 to himself. “But dis am jes’ de fust day of de frolic. I got plenty time yit. Fur as I know, I’s de only man aimin’ fer her, an’ de only onmarried man in de town.”
He lighted a pipe and sat smoking for five minutes. Then a new idea came:
“Wash Jones is de high boss of dis show, an’ I reckin Wash knows de widder. I oughter git Wash to he’p me hook her.”
“I done loss my way in dese groun’s Pap,” he complained. “Dar’s so many wagins an’ buggies an’ niggers dat I can’t find de cabin whar I sleeps at.”
“You ain’t aimin’ to sleep now, is you?” Pap asked.
“I goes to bed reg’lar ’bout dis time.”
“Eve’ybody is stayin’ up to see de dance,” Pap said.
“I’s ag’in dancin’,” Popsy declared, with disgust in his tones. “Me an’ none of my kinnery follers atter de sinful dance. I done teached ’em better.”
“Teached who better?” Pap asked quickly, planning for revenge.
“Who say dey does?”
“I says,” Popsy replied impatiently.
“Whut would you do ef you wuster see Figger dancin’ to-night, Popsy?” Pap asked in wheedling22 tones.
“I’d bust23 his head wid my stick an’ I wouldn’t let him inherit none of my dollars, an’ I’d drive him an’ his nigger wife outen my cabin,” the old man announced irately24.
“I’s kinder skeart Figger is a deceitful nigger, Popsy,” Pap said in a bitter voice. “I happens to know dat he is gwine dance in de prize-dance to-night.”
“’Tain’t so,” Popsy snapped. “I done tole Figger to go to bed.”
The music started in the pavilion and Pap rose to his feet.
“Come wid me, Popsy,” Pap said. “I’ll show you dat Figger ain’t as good as you thinks he is.”
On the edge of the crowd Popsy shaded his age-dimmed eyes with the palm of his hand and watched the swaying forms until he recognized Figger Bush. Figger’s dancing partner was the easiest thing to see on the floor, but Figger was completely eclipsed at intervals25 in the convolutions of the dance.
If Mrs. Solly Skagg had been white, she would long ago have been signed up by some enterprising showman and her monstrosities exhibited to every community in the country. But being of color, she furnished a free show to all the colored people in her vicinity, and to-night Figger Bush looked like a pickaninny swinging on to a balloon and trying to drag it to the ground. Mrs. Skaggs was active, not graceful26, and most of the time Figger’s feet were in the air and he was swinging onto the ample form of his partner with both hands.
The crowd saw the fun and went into hysterics. Popsy Spout saw the exhibition and became hysterical27 also, but for other reasons. He walked forward and pounded the floor with his patriarchal staff and screeched28 Figger’s name, demanding that he desist at once and go to bed. But four big horns in the Tickfall brass29 band were blaring as the performers tried in vain to blow out their brains through the mouthpieces, and Popsy’s whining30 voice was like the note of a cricket in a storm.
The old man finally snorted his disgust, expressing his sentiments for the amusement of the few around him who could hear, and tried to push his way out of the crowd. But they were packed densely31 around him, and in spite of his wishes, Popsy had to stay and see the rewarding of the prizes.
Wash Jones stepped out and made the announcement:
“Dis am de fust night of de prize dancin’ an’ so I’s bestowin’ de prize on whut I calls de lucky-name dancers. I done wrote de name of eve’y couple on a card an’ put de names in dis sack. I now proceeds to shake ’em up an’ will put my han’ in dis sack an’ draw out one card. Ever who’s name is writ32 on de card is de winner of dis dance, no matter ef dey kin dance or not. To-morrer night we will hab reg’lar app’inted judges an’ nobody cain’t win dat cain’t dance.”
He thrust his hand into the bag, stirred the cards around for a moment, created suspense33 by fumbling34 with the bag and making jocose35 remarks to entertain the crowd. At last he found the card pinned to the bottom of the bag, took out the pin, and brought forth36 the names of the winners.
“Figger Bush an’ Mrs. Solly Skaggs!”
There was a moment of intense silence which made Wash Jones wince37 with fear. Then a howl of derisive38 laughter swept over the crowd and every dancing couple was completely satisfied. All thought that mere39 chance had determined40 the selection, and all knew that Solly and Figger were the worst dancers in the world.
The lucky couple advanced and received the prizes, bowed to the derisive crowd and started to retire. Then Popsy Spout advanced to the center of the dancing-floor, waving his big staff like a baseball bat, his high, shrill, whining voice cutting the silence like a knife.
“Figger Bush, you is a wuthless, lyin’, deceitful cuss! I done advised you to abandon dancin’ an’ you promised to do it. I tole you to go home an’ go to bed, an’ now you done put on yo’ clothes an’ snuck outen yo’ cabin an’ come down here to dis sinful dance. You git on home an’ when I comes I’s gwine hide you wid dis stick!”
“Don’t make no scenery, Popsy,” Figger pleaded. “I didn’t really intend to dance but dis here woman betrayed me into treadin’ a tune41 or two wid her an’ I couldn’t resist.”
“Dat’s whut,” Figger replied solemnly.
“You go home an’ repent44 an’ refawm!” Popsy shrieked45. “Do it befo’ de good Lawd draps a brickbat on yo’ head outen de sky! Git!”
Popsy turned and surveyed the ample proportions of Mrs. Solly Skaggs.
“You needs a good steady husbunt to keep you back from yo’ evil ways, sister,” he announced. “You didn’t hab no call to lead my little Figger Bush into evil ways.”
“I won’t do it no more, Popsy,” Mrs. Skaggs said easily.
Old Popsy Spout growled47 like a senile bear and moved away. On the edge of the platform Pap was waiting for him, feeling well satisfied with himself and the revenge he had achieved.
“Pap, Figger Bush is done cut hisse’f off from me ferever,” the old man snapped. “I’s gwine drive him an’ his wife outen my house an’ home.”
“You’ll git pretty lonesome, won’t you, Popsy?” Pap asked idly.
“Naw!” the old man snapped. “I’s gwine marry agin right away.”
“Who you done picked fer de gigglin’ bride, Popsy?” Pap asked with utter indifference48.
“I done picked de widder Solly Skaggs,” Popsy proclaimed. “I’s gittin ole an’ blind an’ she’s big enough fer me to see as fur as my eyesight goes. By dis time nex’ year, she’ll be too fat to dance an’ us’ll bofe be of de same mind on dat. She needs some sottled husbunt to lead her outen de error of her ways. Excusin’ dat, she’s collected her insurance money an’ I ain’t got no real good objections to a little more dough49. I needs it fer my ole age.”
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1
bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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2
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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3
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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6
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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7
mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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raves
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| n.狂欢晚会( rave的名词复数 )v.胡言乱语( rave的第三人称单数 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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9
rambles
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| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
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10
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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11
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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12
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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14
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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15
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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16
dime
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| n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角 | |
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throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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19
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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spout
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| v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱 | |
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21
abstains
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| 戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的第三人称单数 )； 弃权（不投票） | |
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22
wheedling
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| v.骗取（某物），哄骗（某人干某事）( wheedle的现在分词 ) | |
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23
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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24
irately
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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26
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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28
screeched
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的过去式和过去分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 | |
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29
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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30
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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31
densely
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| ad.密集地；浓厚地 | |
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32
writ
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| n.命令状，书面命令 | |
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33
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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34
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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35
jocose
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| adj.开玩笑的，滑稽的 | |
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36
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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37
wince
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| n.畏缩，退避，（因痛苦，苦恼等)面部肌肉抽动；v.畏缩，退缩，退避 | |
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38
derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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40
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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41
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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42
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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43
whined
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| v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨 | |
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44
repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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45
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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47
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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48
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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49
dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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50
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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51
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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