Suriname folk-lore

[p. 418]

135.

Wɛ, Didibri tai̯gi wąn suma taki, aluwasi sɔrtu bǫ' ɛ̨ŋ du suma, 'ɛm no 'abi bǫ' nɛm. Didibri taki, ‘A bǫ', mi sɑ meki yu si disi.’

Nō, Didibri go na Gadu, a tai̯g' Gadu meki Gadō pɔti wą' bɩgi stǫ' na pasi, ɛn 'ɛm sɑ pɔt' wąn saka mɔni, dąn den sɑ' si suma sa kɩsi bǫ' nɛm. Wɛ, di dɛm du so, wąn dei̯ wąn suma dɛ kɔ̨' p'sa, a naki ɛ̨ŋ futu na stǫ'. No mo a taki, ‘Na Didibri pɔti na stǫ' 'a pasi, meki mi naki mi futu!’ Nō, wąn tra wą' kɔ̨' p'sa. a si na mɔni. A teki na mɔni, no mo a taki, ‘Kyɛ Gadu! Mi tak' yu “Grąn tąŋgi,” mi feni na mɔni.’

Nō mō Didibri taki, ‘Yu si, na mi pōti na mɔni, ma na suma taki Gadu tąŋgi. Ɛn na suma di pɔti na stǫ', dati a kɔsi. So na mi a kɔsi, ɛn a taki Gadu tąŋgi. So mi no tai̯g' yu taki, mi no 'abi bǫ' 'ɛdɛ na grǫ'-tapu?’

Odo: Luku pɛ yu stotu yu futu, ma no luku pɛ yu fadǫ'.

[p. 419]

135. The Devil Complains.¹

Well, the Devil said to someone said, no matter what good he did people, he did not have a good name. The Devil said, ‘All right, I will let you see this.’

Now the Devil went to God, and he said to God let God put a big stone on the path, and he would put a sack of money, then they should see who would get the credit. Well, when they did this, then one day someone came by and he struck his foot on the stone. At once he said, ‘The Devil put the stone on the path and made me strike my foot!’ Now another came by and he saw the money. He took the money, and at once he said, ‘Praise God! I say to you “Many thanks,” (that) I found the money.’

At once the Devil said, ‘You see, it is I who put down the money, but the man gives God thanks. And the person who put down the stone, he curses. So me he cursed, and he thanked God. So did I not tell you that I get no justice on earth?’

Proverb: Look where you stub your foot, but do not look where you fall down.

1 Told by 1. Compare Herskovits, M. and F. (IV) MS No. 10.