In the second story, Anansi has a new wife, Ground-Dove, but he fails to listen to her very good advice, although she is smart enough to escape. For a similar story, see Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky (where it's water, not fire, that is the problem).
[Notes by LKG]
This story is part of the Jamaican Stories unit. Story source: Jamaica Anansi Stories by Martha Warren Beckwith (1924). I have removed the eye-dialect.
The Rain
Anansi said to Goat, "Brer Goat, I going catch you!"
Goat say, "You never live, me friend, to catch me!"
Goat afraid for rain. So one moist night Goat was coming from his field, had to pass Anansi's house, drizzle drizzle rain fall; Brer Goat have to run up Anansi's house.
"Come in, me friend!"
Goat go in. Anansi step in a room take out him fiddle: —
Me thank Brer Rain
For run wild meat from bush
Come a-house.
Goat didn't like it, keep to the door-way. Anansi not notice him, only playing the same song; Goat jump down the bottom door, Anansi cut after him.
Goat can't cross river, run to the river-side, turn a white little stone.
Dog see, the other side of the river, when Goat turned a little stone.
Anansi run up the river now. "Brer Dog, see Brer Goat pass?"
"Yes, Brer! See one little stone a-riverside there? Takee up, throwee, I show you where him there."
Anansi take up the stone, throw it the other side, give Brer Dog.
Goat drop on him four feet.
Anansi say, "Luck in me hand and it get away!"
Fire and Anansi
Anansi and Fire were good friend. So Anansi come and see Fire and they had dinner.
So he invite Fire for come see him now. So Fire tell him he can't walk, So Fire tell him from him house him must lay path dry bush, and him walk on top of dry bush.
Anansi married to Ground Dove. Ground Dove tell him no, he mustn't invite Fire; him will burn him house and burn out himself.
Anansi wouldn't hear what him wife say, and he laid the trash on. And Fire burn from him house, and when he come near Anansi house he make a big jump, burn Anansi, burn him house, burn everything but him wife. Fire fool Anansi!
(300 words)
