152
NEGRO TONGUE.
They have also particular ways to designate persons of all ages among themselves ; their old women they call “ grandy," those of a middle age “ aunté," while the younger women are nominated " see," or “ sissy." In the same manner, the old men go by the title of “ daddy," the middle-aged " uncle," 'and the young men " buddy." In conversation they seldom pronounce the “ s," “ th," or “ y ;" thus, if they want to say “ story," it is "'tory," or “ the," it is "de," "young," it is “ noung." They are particularly polite whenever they meet, addressing each other as " Sir," and “ Ma'am." Many a dialogue have I heard pass between the gossips on their way from the Moravian Chapel, sufficient to excite the risible faculties of a stoic. " How d'ye, ma'am ?" said a dirty-looking man just now, to a woman of a similar grade ; “ how you do?—I’se hope you well to-day." "Well, I tankee, sir—how you do?" “ Oh, so so, ma'am, it one long time since me see you ; war you no come up our side ?" " Oh, my dear sir, me no forget you togedder, but me pic'nee been quite sick."* "Me sorry to hear dat, but me hopes he soon get well ; me'just been to see de new gubbernor land." "Yes, me here he cum, but me not able to go ; war kind of a gentleman is he ?" " Oh, one noble-looking buckra, an he lady on gran lady ; it do you heart good to see he ; me dont tink we eber hab gubbenor like he afore." " War he named ?" “ Gubbernor Sir Charles Gustus Fitzoy." "Eh, eh, one big name true." “ Well, good morning, sir." “ Good morning, ma'am," and so they separated. To a stranger, the negro tongue is as difficult to write as it is to speak. In the different conversations given in that dialect, indulgence must be craved from my kind readers, both English and Creole, if they are not correctly written, observing at the same time that I write them as it seems proper to me, and in such a manner as they may be understood by those who read, not always the case when gar* In creole language, the term " sick" is applied to all ailments.