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+Project Gutenberg's Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Nights With Uncle Remus
+
+Author: Joel Chandler Harris
+
+Illustrator: Milo Winter
+
+Release Date: January 26, 2008 [EBook #24430]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jacqueline Jeremy and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+    NIGHTS WITH
+    UNCLE REMUS
+
+    BY
+
+    JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
+
+    WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MILO WINTER
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+    BOSTON AND NEW YORK
+    HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
+    The Riverside Press Cambridge
+    1917
+
+
+    COPYRIGHT, 1851, 1853, 1909, AND 1911, BY THE CENTURY CO.
+    COPYRIGHT, 1885, BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
+    COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY ESTHER LA ROSE HARRIS
+    COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
+
+    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
+
+    _Published October 1917_
+
+
+
+
+PUBLISHERS' NOTE
+
+
+Nights With Uncle Remus is a story-book dearly loved by children.
+Besides that, it is an important contribution to the study of
+Afro-American folk-lore, and through many years of popularity it
+has carried a long and learned Introduction, of great interest to
+students but rather forbidding in aspect to youthful readers. In
+this new edition, which has been prepared especially for children,
+and illustrated in colors by an artist who knows how to please them
+as well as their elders, the Introduction has been omitted, but the
+stories and their charming setting have been left intact.
+
+_June, 1917_
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+      I. MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE                                3
+
+     II. FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE                                 7
+
+    III. BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL                      11
+
+     IV. BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT                          14
+
+      V. BRER RABBIT'S ASTONISHING PRANK                      18
+
+     VI. BRER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION                        22
+
+    VII. MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN                           27
+
+   VIII. THE STORY OF THE PIGS                                31
+
+     IX. MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE            35
+
+      X. BRER RABBIT'S RIDDLE                                 41
+
+     XI. HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER                      49
+
+    XII. BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY                        53
+
+   XIII. BRER FOX, BRER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S DAUGHTER      58
+
+    XIV. BRER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BRER BUZZARD                  62
+
+     XV. BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS                           66
+
+    XVI. HOW BRER FOX FAILED TO GET HIS GRAPES                70
+
+   XVII. BRER FOX FIGURES AS AN INCENDIARY                    75
+
+  XVIII. A DREAM AND A STORY                                  79
+
+    XIX. THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND                            83
+
+     XX. BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE                      89
+
+    XXI. WHY BRER BEAR HAS NO TAIL                            97
+
+   XXII. HOW BRER RABBIT FRIGHTENED HIS NEIGHBORS            100
+
+  XXIII. MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT                               105
+
+   XXIV. HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT                        108
+
+    XXV. AFRICAN JACK                                        112
+
+   XXVI. WHY THE ALLIGATOR'S BACK IS ROUGH                   119
+
+  XXVII. BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE                                123
+
+ XXVIII. SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN                            129
+
+   XXIX. A GHOST STORY                                       134
+
+    XXX. BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT                     141
+
+   XXXI. "IN SOME LADY'S GARDEN"                             149
+
+  XXXII. BRER 'POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE                        156
+
+ XXXIII. WHY THE GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED                   162
+
+  XXXIV. BRER RABBIT'S LOVE-CHARM                            166
+
+   XXXV. BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST                       170
+
+  XXXVI. BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM                            174
+
+ XXXVII. BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES                      179
+
+XXXVIII. THE PIMMERLY PLUM                                   185
+
+  XXXIX. BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS                     195
+
+     XL. "CUTTA CORD-LA!"                                    200
+
+    XLI. AUNT TEMPY'S STORY                                  204
+
+   XLII. THE FIRE-TEST                                       209
+
+  XLIII. THE CUNNING SNAKE                                   214
+
+   XLIV. HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART                          218
+
+    XLV. BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE                      225
+
+   XLVI. BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE                          229
+
+  XLVII. BRER RABBIT LAYS IN HIS BEEF SUPPLY                 234
+
+ XLVIII. BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT                         238
+
+   XLIX. MR. BENJAMIN RAM DEFENDS HIMSELF                    245
+
+      L. BRER RABBIT PRETENDS TO BE POISONED                 249
+
+     LI. MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF                          253
+
+    LII. BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN                         256
+
+   LIII. BRER RABBIT TAKES A WALK                            260
+
+    LIV. OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF                              263
+
+     LV. HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT                        267
+
+    LVI. BRER RABBIT TIES MR. LION                           272
+
+   LVII. MR. LION'S SAD PREDICAMENT                          276
+
+  LVIII. THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN                             279
+
+    LIX. BRER RABBIT GETS BRER FOX'S DINNER                  283
+
+     LX. HOW THE BEAR NURSED THE LITTLE ALLIGATORS           291
+
+    LXI. WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT                        295
+
+   LXII. BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE                     298
+
+  LXIII. BRER FOX AND THE WHITE MUSCADINES                   302
+
+   LXIV. MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD                           306
+
+    LXV. MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT                            309
+
+   LXVI. THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD                  312
+
+  LXVII. OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH                    315
+
+ LXVIII. BRER FOX MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE                      318
+
+   LXIX. BRER FOX'S FISH TRAP                                321
+
+    LXX. BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN                   325
+
+   LXXI. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS                          333
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+UNCLE REMUS AND THE LITTLE BOY                            _Frontispiece_
+
+"HE TO' DOWN A WHOLE PANEL ER FENCE GITTIN' 'WAY FUM DAR"             20
+
+"BRER RABBIT TURNT 'ER ALOOSE, EN DOWN SHE COME--_KER-SWOSH!_"        44
+
+"'BRER TARRYPIN, PLEASE LEMME GO!'"                                   68
+
+"'_AH-YI!_ YOU OUGHTER AX ME DAT FUS', BRER COON'"                    92
+
+"BRER RABBIT FOTCH A WIGGLE, HE DID, EN LIT ON HE FOOTS"             128
+
+"'EF YOU GIT ANY MO' SENSE, SON RILEY, YOU'LL BE DE RUINATION EV
+DE WHOLE SETTLEMENT'"                                                174
+
+"DE LITTLE RABS, DEY PROMISE DAT DEY WON'T OPEN DE DO' FER NOBODY"   212
+
+"EN, BLESS GRACIOUS! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF FUM DAR EN LEF'
+OLE BRER WOLF UND' DAT AR ROCK"                                      232
+
+"HE SORTER HUNCH BRER POSSUM IN DE SHORT RIBS, EN AX 'IM HOW HE
+COME ON"                                                             268
+
+"'I DUNNER W'EN I BIN SO SORRY 'BOUT ANYTHING EZ I IS 'BOUT BRER
+FOX NICE LONG TAIL'"                                                 286
+
+"HE GIT DE FINEST MESS ER FISH YOU MOS' EVER LAID YO' EYES ON"       324
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE]
+
+NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS
+
+I
+
+MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE
+
+
+It had been raining all day so that Uncle Remus found it impossible to
+go out. The storm had begun, the old man declared, just as the chickens
+were crowing for day, and it had continued almost without intermission.
+The dark gray clouds had blotted out the sun, and the leafless limbs of
+the tall oaks surrendered themselves drearily to the fantastic gusts
+that drove the drizzle fitfully before them. The lady to whom Uncle
+Remus belonged had been thoughtful of the old man, and 'Tildy, the
+house-girl, had been commissioned to carry him his meals. This
+arrangement came to the knowledge of the little boy at supper time, and
+he lost no time in obtaining permission to accompany 'Tildy.
+
+Uncle Remus made a great demonstration over the thoughtful kindness of
+his "Miss Sally."
+
+"Ef she ain't one blessid w'ite 'oman," he said, in his simple, fervent
+way, "den dey ain't none un um 'roun' in deze parts."
+
+With that he addressed himself to the supper, while the little boy sat
+by and eyed him with that familiar curiosity common to children. Finally
+the youngster disturbed the old man with an inquiry:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, do geese stand on one leg all night, or do they sit down
+to sleep?"
+
+"Tooby sho' dey does, honey; dey sets down same ez you does. Co'se, dey
+don't cross der legs," he added, cautiously, "kase dey sets down right
+flat-footed."
+
+"Well, I saw one the other day, and he was standing on one foot, and I
+watched him and watched him, and he kept on standing there."
+
+"Ez ter dat," responded Uncle Remus, "dey mought stan' on one foot en
+drap off ter sleep en fergit deyse'f. Deze yer gooses," he continued,
+wiping the crumbs from his beard with his coat-tail, "is mighty kuse
+fowls; deyer mighty kuse. In ole times dey wuz 'mongs de big-bugs, en in
+dem days, w'en ole Miss Goose gun a-dinin', all de quality wuz dere.
+Likewise, en needer wuz dey stuck-up, kase wid all der kyar'n's on, Miss
+Goose wer'n't too proud fer ter take in washin' fer de neighborhoods, en
+she make money, en get slick en fat lak Sis Tempy.
+
+"Dis de way marters stan' w'en one day Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey wuz
+settin' up at de cotton-patch, one on one side de fence, en t'er one on
+t'er side, gwine on wid one er n'er, w'en fus' news dey know, dey year
+sump'n--_blim_, _blim_, _blim_!
+
+"Brer Fox, he ax w'at dat fuss is, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat
+it's ole Miss Goose down at de spring. Den Brer Fox, he up'n ax w'at she
+doin', en Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat she battlin' cloze."
+
+"Battling clothes, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy.
+
+"Dat w'at dey call it dem days, honey. Deze times, dey rubs cloze on
+deze yer bodes w'at got furrers in um, but dem days dey des tuck'n tuck
+de cloze en lay um out on a bench, en ketch holt er de battlin'-stick en
+natally paddle de fillin' outen um.
+
+"W'en Brer Fox year dat ole Miss Goose wuz down dar dabblin' in soapsuds
+en washin' cloze, he sorter lick he chops, en 'low dat some er dese
+odd-come-shorts he gwine ter call en pay he 'specks. De minnit he say
+dat, Brer Rabbit, he know sump'n' 'uz up, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he
+'speck he better whirl in en have some fun w'iles it gwine on. Bimeby
+Brer Fox up'n say ter Brer Rabbit dat he bleedzd ter be movin' 'long
+todes home, en wid dat dey bofe say good-bye.
+
+"Brer Fox, he put out ter whar his fambly wuz, but Brer Rabbit, he slip
+'roun', he did, en call on ole Miss Goose. Ole Miss Goose she wuz down
+at de spring, washin', en b'ilin', en battlin' cloze; but Brer Rabbit he
+march up en ax her howdy, en den she tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit howdy.
+
+"'I'd shake han's 'long wid you, Brer Rabbit,' sez she, 'but dey er all
+full er suds,' sez she.
+
+"'No marter 'bout dat, Miss Goose,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'so long ez
+yo' will's good,' sezee."
+
+"A goose with hands, Uncle Remus!" the little boy exclaimed.
+
+"How you know goose ain't got han's?" Uncle Remus inquired, with a
+frown. "Is you been sleepin' longer ole man Know-All? Little mo' en
+you'll up'n stan' me down dat snakes ain't got no foots, and yit you
+take en lay a snake down yer 'fo' de fier, en his foots 'll come out
+right 'fo' yo' eyes."
+
+Uncle Remus paused here, but presently continued:--
+
+"Atter ole Miss Goose en Brer Rabbit done pass de time er day wid one er
+n'er, Brer Rabbit, he ax 'er, he did, how she come on deze days, en Miss
+Goose say, mighty po'ly.
+
+"'I'm gittin' stiff en I'm gittin' clumpsy,' sez she, 'en mo'n dat I'm
+gittin' bline,' sez she. 'Des 'fo' you happen 'long, Brer Rabbit, I drap
+my specks in de tub yer, en ef you'd 'a' come 'long 'bout dat time,' sez
+ole Miss Goose, sez she, 'I lay I'd er tuck you for dat nasty, owdashus
+Brer Fox, en it ud er bin a born blessin' ef I had n't er scald you wid
+er pan er b'ilin' suds,' sez she. 'I'm dat glad I foun' my specks I
+dunner w'at ter do,' sez ole Miss Goose, sez she.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he up'n say dat bein's how Sis Goose done fotch up
+Brer Fox name, he got sump'n' fer ter tell 'er, en den he let out 'bout
+Brer Fox gwine ter call on 'er.
+
+"He comin' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'he comin' sho', en w'en he come hit
+'ll be des 'fo' day,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, ole Miss Goose wipe 'er han's on 'er apun, en put 'er specks
+up on 'er forrerd, en look lak she done got trouble in 'er mine.
+
+"'Laws-a-massy!' sez she, 'spozen he come, Brer Rabbit! W'at I gwine do?
+En dey ain't a man 'bout de house, n'er,' sez she.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he shot one eye, en he say, sezee:--
+
+"'Sis Goose, de time done come w'en you bleedzd ter roos' high. You look
+lak you got de dropsy,' sezee, 'but don't mine dat, kase ef you don't
+roos' high, youer goner,' sezee.
+
+"Den ole Miss Goose ax Brer Rabbit w'at she gwine do, en Brer Rabbit he
+up en tell Miss Goose dat she mus' go home en tie up a bundle er de
+w'ite folks' cloze, en put um on de bed, en den she mus' fly up on a
+rafter, en let Brer Fox grab de cloze en run off wid um.
+
+"Ole Miss Goose say she much 'blige, en she tuck'n tuck her things en
+waddle off home, en dat night she do lak Brer Rabbit say wid de bundle
+er cloze, en den she sont wud ter Mr. Dog, en Mr. Dog he come down, en
+say he'd sorter set up wid 'er.
+
+"Des 'fo' day, yer come Brer Fox creepin' up, en he went en push on de
+do' easy, en de do' open, en he see sump'n' w'ite on de bed w'ich he
+took fer Miss Goose, en he grab it en run. 'Bout dat time Mr. Dog sail
+out fum und' de house, he did, en ef Brer Fox had n't er drapt de cloze,
+he'd er got kotch. Fum dat, wud went 'roun' dat Brer Fox bin tryin' ter
+steal Miss Goose cloze, en he come mighty nigh losin' his stannin' at
+Miss Meadows. Down ter dis day," Uncle Remus continued, preparing to
+fill his pipe, "Brer Fox b'leeve dat Brer Rabbit wuz de 'casion er Mr.
+Dog bein' in de neighborhoods at dat time er night, en Brer Rabbit ain't
+'spute it. De bad feelin' 'twix' Brer Fox en Mr. Dog start right dar, en
+hits bin agwine on twel now dey ain't git in smellin' distuns er one er
+n'er widout dey's a row."
+
+
+
+
+II
+
+BRER FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE
+
+
+There was a pause after the story of old Miss Goose. The culmination was
+hardly sensational enough to win the hearty applause of the little boy,
+and this fact appeared to have a depressing influence upon Uncle Remus.
+As he leaned slightly forward, gazing into the depths of the great
+fireplace, his attitude was one of pensiveness.
+
+"I 'speck I done wo' out my welcome up at de big house," he said, after
+a while. "I mos' knows I is," he continued, setting himself resignedly
+in his deep-bottomed chair. "Kase de las' time I uz up dar, I had my eye
+on Miss Sally mighty nigh de whole blessid time, en w'en you see Miss
+Sally rustlin' 'roun' makin' lak she fixin' things up dar on de
+mantle-shelf, en bouncin' de cheers 'roun', en breshin' dus' whar dey
+ain't no dus', en flyin' 'roun' singin' sorter louder dan common, den I
+des knows sump'n' done gone en rile 'er."
+
+"Why, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy; "Mamma was just glad
+because I was feeling so good."
+
+"Mought er bin," the old man remarked, in a tone that was far from
+implying conviction. "Ef 't wa'n't dat, den she wuz gittin' tired er
+seem' me lounjun' 'roun' up dar night atter night, en ef 't wa'n't dat,
+den she wuz watchin' a chance fer ter preach ter yo' pa. Oh, I done bin
+know Miss Sally long fo' yo' pa is!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response
+to the astonishment depicted upon the child's face. "I bin knowin' 'er
+sence she wuz so high, en endurin' er all dat time I ain't seed no mo'
+up'n spoken' w'ite 'oman dan w'at Miss Sally is.
+
+"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar. You done got so youk'n rush down yer
+des like you useter, en we kin set yer en smoke, en tell tales, en
+study up 'musements same like we wuz gwine on 'fo' you got dat splinter
+in yo' foot.
+
+"I mines me er one time"--with an infectious laugh--"w'en ole Brer
+Rabbit got Brer Fox in de wuss trubble w'at a man wuz mos' ever got in
+yit, en dat 'uz w'en he fool 'im 'bout de hoss. Ain't I never tell you
+'bout dat? But no marter ef I is. Hoe-cake ain't cook done good twel
+hit's turnt over a couple er times.
+
+"Well, atter Brer Fox done git rested fum keepin' out er de way er Mr.
+Dog, en sorter ketch up wid his rations, he say ter hisse'f dat he be
+dog his cats ef he don't slorate ole Brer Rabbit ef it take 'im a mont';
+en dat, too, on top er all de 'spe'unce w'at he done bin had wid um.
+Brer Rabbit he sorter git win' er dis, en one day, w'iles he gwine 'long
+de road studyin' how he gwineter hol' he hand wid Brer Fox, he see a
+great big Hoss layin' stretch out flat on he side in de pastur'; en he
+tuck'n crope up, he did, fer ter see ef dish yer Hoss done gone en die.
+He crope up en he crope 'roun', en bimeby he see de Hoss switch he tail,
+en den Brer Rabbit know he ain't dead. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit lope back
+ter de big road, en mos' de fus' man w'at he see gwine on by wuz Brer
+Fox, en Brer Rabbit he tuck atter 'im, en holler:--
+
+"'Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Come back! I got some good news fer you. Come
+back, Brer Fox,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he tu'n 'roun', he did, en w'en he see who callin' 'im, he
+come gallopin' back, kaze it seem like dat des ez gooder time ez any fer
+ter nab Brer Rabbit; but 'fo' he git in nabbin' distance, Brer Rabbit he
+up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Fox! I done fine de place whar you kin lay in fresh meat
+'nuff fer ter las' you plum twel de middle er nex' year,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts, en Brer Rabbit, he say, right over dar in de
+pastur', en Brer Fox ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say w'ich 'twuz a
+whole Hoss layin' down on de groun' whar dey kin ketch 'im en tie 'im.
+Wid dat, Brer Fox, he say come on, en off dey put.
+
+"W'en dey got dar, sho' nuff, dar lay de Hoss all stretch out in de sun,
+fas' 'sleep, en den Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey had a 'spute 'bout how
+dey gwine ter fix de Hoss so he can't git loose. One say one way en de
+yuther say n'er way, en dar dey had it, twel atter w'ile Brer Rabbit, he
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'De onliest plan w'at I knows un, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'is fer you ter git
+down dar en lemme tie you ter de Hoss tail, en den, w'en he try ter git
+up, you kin hol' 'im down,' sezee. 'Ef I wuz big man like w'at you is,'
+sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'you mought tie me ter dat Hoss' tail, en ef I
+ain't hol' 'im down, den Joe's dead en Sal's a widder. I des knows you
+kin hol' 'im down,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but yit, ef you 'feared, we
+des better drap dat idee en study out some yuther plan,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox sorter jubus 'bout dis, but he bleedzd ter play biggity 'fo'
+Brer Rabbit, en he tuck'n 'gree ter de progrance, en den Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n tie Brer Fox ter de Hoss' tail, en atter he git 'im tie dar hard
+en fas', he sorter step back, he did, en put he han's 'kimbo, en grin,
+en den he say, sezee:--
+
+"Ef ever dey wuz a Hoss kotch, den we done kotch dis un. Look sorter lak
+we done put de bridle on de wrong een',' sezee, 'but I lay Brer Fox is
+got de strenk fer ter hol' 'im,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit cut 'im a long switch en trim it up, en w'en he
+get it fix, up he step en hit de Hoss a rap--_pow!_ De Hoss 'uz dat
+s'prise at dat kinder doin's dat he make one jump, en lan' on he foots.
+W'en he do dat, dar wuz Brer Fox danglin' in de a'r, en Brer Rabbit, he
+dart out de way en holler:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! I'll stan' out yer en see fa'r
+play. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down!'
+
+"Co'se, w'en de Hoss feel Brer Fox hangin' dar onter he tail, he thunk
+sump'n' kuse wuz de marter, en dis make 'im jump en r'ar wusser en
+wusser, en he shake up Brer Fox same like he wuz a rag in de win', en
+Brer Rabbit, he jump en holler:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
+yo' grip, en hol' 'im down,' sezee.
+
+"De Hoss, he jump en he hump, en he rip en he r'ar, en he snort en he
+t'ar. But yit Brer Fox hang on, en still Brer Rabbit skip 'roun' en
+holler:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! You got 'im whar he can't needer back ner
+squall. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!' sezee.
+
+"Bimeby, w'en Brer Fox git chance, he holler back, he did:--
+
+"'How in de name er goodness I gwine ter hol' de Hoss down 'less I git
+my claw in de groun'?'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he stan' back little furder en holler little louder:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
+'im down!'
+
+"Bimeby de Hoss 'gun ter kick wid he behime legs, en de fus' news you
+know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in de stomach dat fa'rly make 'im squall,
+en den he kick 'im ag'in, en dis time he break Brer Fox loose, en sont
+'im a-whirlin'; en Brer Rabbit, he keep on a-jumpin' 'roun' en
+hollerin':--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!'"
+
+"Did the fox get killed, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"He wa'n't 'zackly kilt, honey," replied the old man, "but he wuz de
+nex' do' ter't. He 'uz all broke up, en w'iles he 'uz gittin' well, hit
+sorter come 'cross he min' dat Brer Rabbit done play n'er game on 'im."
+
+
+
+
+III
+
+BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL
+
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do after that?" the little boy asked presently.
+
+"Now, den, you don't wanter push ole Brer Rabbit too close," replied
+Uncle Remus significantly. "He mighty tender-footed creetur, en de mo'
+w'at you push 'im, de furder he lef' you."
+
+There was prolonged silence in the old man's cabin, until, seeing that
+the little boy was growing restless enough to cast several curious
+glances in the direction of the tool chest in the corner, Uncle Remus
+lifted one leg over the other, scratched his head reflectively, and
+began:--
+
+"One time, atter Brer Rabbit done bin trompin' 'roun' huntin' up some
+sallid fer ter make out he dinner wid, he fine hisse'f in de
+neighborhoods er Mr. Man house, en he pass 'long twel he come ter de
+gyardin-gate, en nigh de gyardin-gate he see Little Gal playin' 'roun'
+in de san'. Wen Brer Rabbit look 'twix' de gyardin-palin's en see de
+colluds, en de sparrer-grass, en de yuther gyardin truck growin' dar,
+hit make he mouf water. Den he take en walk up ter de Little Gal, Brer
+Rabbit did, en pull he roach,[1] en bow, en scrape he foot, en talk
+mighty nice en slick.
+
+"'Howdy, Little Gal,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'how you come on?' sezee.
+
+"Den de Little Gal, she 'spon' howdy, she did, en she ax Brer Rabbit how
+he come on, en Brer Rabbit, he 'low he mighty po'ly, en den he ax ef dis
+de Little Gal w'at 'er pa live up dar in de big w'ite house, w'ich de
+Little Gal, she up'n say 'twer'. Brer Rabbit, he say he mighty glad,
+kaze he des bin up dar fer to see 'er pa, en he say dat 'er pa, he sont
+'im out dar fer ter tell de Little Gal dat she mus' open de gyardin-gate
+so Brer Rabbit kin go in en git some truck. Den de Little Gal, she jump
+'roun', she did, en she open de gate, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he hop
+in, he did, en got 'im a mess er greens, en hop out ag'in, en w'en he
+gwine off he make a bow, he did, en tell de Little Gal dat he much
+'blije', en den atter dat he put out fer home.
+
+"Nex' day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, twel he see de Little Gal
+come out ter play, en den he put up de same tale, en walk off wid a n'er
+mess er truck, en hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Man, he 'gun
+ter miss his greens, en he keep on a-missin' un um, twel he got ter
+excusin' eve'ybody on de place er 'stroyin' un um, en w'en dat come ter
+pass, de Little Gal, she up'n say:--
+
+"'My goodness, pa!' sez she, 'you done tole Mr. Rabbit fer ter come and
+make me let 'im in de gyardin atter some greens, en ain't he done come
+en ax me, en ain't I done gone en let 'im in?' sez she.
+
+"Mr. Man ain't hatter study long 'fo' he see how de lan' lay, en den he
+laff, en tell de Little Gal dat he done gone en disremember all 'bout
+Mr. Rabbit, en den he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'Nex' time Mr. Rabbit come, you tak'n tu'n 'im in, en den you run des
+ez fas' ez you kin en come en tell me, kase I got some bizness wid dat
+young chap dat's bleedze ter be 'ten' ter,' sezee.
+
+"Sho' nuff, nex' mawnin' dar wuz de Little Gal playin' 'roun', en yer
+come Brer Rabbit atter he 'lowance er greens. He wuz ready wid de same
+tale, en den de Little Gal, she tu'n 'im in, she did, en den she run up
+ter de house en holler:--
+
+"'O pa! pa! O pa! Yer Brer Rabbit in de gyardin now! Yer he is, pa!'
+
+"Den Mr. Man, he rush out, en grab up a fishin'-line w'at bin hangin' in
+de back po'ch, en mak fer de gyardin, en w'en he git dar, dar wuz Brer
+Rabbit tromplin' 'roun' on de strawbe'y-bed en mashin' down de
+termartusses. W'en Brer Rabbit see Mr. Man, he squot behime a collud
+leaf, but 't wa'n't no use. Mr. Man done seed him, en 'fo' you kin
+count 'lev'm, he done got ole Brer Rabbit tie hard en fas' wid de
+fishin'-line. Atter he got him tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, en
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'You done bin fool me lots er time, but dis time you er mine. I'm gwine
+ter take you en gin you a larrupin',' sezee, 'en den I'm gwine ter skin
+you en nail yo' hide on de stable do',' sezee; 'en den ter make sho dat
+you git de right kinder larrupin', I'll des step up ter de house,'
+sezee, 'en fetch de little red cowhide, en den I'll take en gin you
+brinjer,' sezee.
+
+"Den Mr. Man call to der Little Gal ter watch Brer Rabbit w'iles he
+gone.
+
+"Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nothin', but Mr. Man ain't mo'n out de gate
+'fo' he 'gun ter sing; en in dem days Brer Rabbit wuz a singer, mon,"
+continued Uncle Remus, with unusual emphasis, "en w'en he chuned up fer
+ter sing he make dem yuther creeturs hol' der bref."
+
+"What did he sing, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Ef I ain't fergit dat song off'n my min'," said Uncle Remus, looking
+over his spectacles at the fire, with a curious air of attempting to
+remember something, "hit run sorter dish yer way:--
+
+    "'_De jay-bird hunt de sparrer-nes',
+    De bee-martin sail all 'roun';
+    De squer'l, he holler from de top er de tree,
+    Mr. Mole, he stay in de groun';
+    He hide en he stay twel de dark drop down--
+    Mr. Mole, he hide in de groun'._'
+
+"W'en de Little Gal year dat, she laugh, she did, and she up'n ax Brer
+Babbit fer ter sing some mo', but Brer Rabbit, he sorter cough, he did,
+en 'low dat he got a mighty bad ho'seness down inter he win'pipe
+some'rs. De Little Gal, she swade,[2] en swade, en bimeby Brer Rabbit,
+he up 'n 'low dat he kin dance mo' samer dan w'at he kin sing. Den de
+Little Gal, she ax' im won't he dance, en Brer Rabbit, he 'spon' how in
+de name er goodness kin a man dance w'iles he all tie up dis a-way, en
+den de Little Gal, she say she kin ontie 'im, en Brer Rabbit, he say he
+ain't keerin' ef she do. Wid dat de Little Gal, she retch down en
+onloose de fish-line, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter stretch hisse'f en look
+'roun'."
+
+Here Uncle Remus paused and sighed, as though he had relieved his mind
+of a great burden. The little boy waited a few minutes for the old man
+to resume, and finally he asked:--
+
+"Did the Rabbit dance, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Who? Him?" exclaimed the old man, with a queer affectation of elation.
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Rabbit gedder up his foots und' 'im, en he
+dance outer dat gyardin, en he dance home. He did dat! Sho'ly you don't
+'speck' dat a ole-timer w'at done had 'spe'unce like Brer Rabbit gwine
+ter stay dar en let dat ar Mr. Man sackyfice 'im? _Shoo!_ Brer Rabbit
+dance, but he dance home. You year me!"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] Topknot, foretop.
+
+[2] Persuaded.
+
+
+
+
+IV
+
+BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT
+
+
+Uncle Remus chuckled a moment over the escape of Brother Rabbit, and
+then turned his gaze upward toward the cobwebbed gloom that seemed to
+lie just beyond the rafters. He sat thus silent and serious a little
+while, but finally squared himself around in his chair and looked the
+little boy full in the face. The old man's countenance expressed a
+curious mixture of sorrow and bewilderment. Catching the child by the
+coat-sleeve, Uncle Remus pulled him gently to attract his attention.
+
+"Hit look like ter me," he said presently, in the tone of one
+approaching an unpleasant subject, "dat no longer'n yistiddy I see one
+er dem ar Favers chillun clim'in' dat ar big red-oak out yan', en den it
+seem like dat a little chap 'bout yo' size, he tuck'n start up ter see
+ef he can't play smarty like de Favers's yearlin's. I dunner w'at in de
+name er goodness you wanter be a-copyin' atter dem ar Faverses fer. Ef
+you er gwine ter copy atter yuther folks, copy atter dem w'at's some
+'count. Yo' pa, he got de idee dat some folks is good ez yuther folks;
+but Miss Sally, she know better. She know dat dey ain't no Favers 'pon
+de top side er de yeth w'at kin hol' der han' wid de Abercrombies in
+p'int er breedin' en raisin'. Dat w'at Miss Sally know. I bin keepin'
+track er dem Faverses sence way back yan' long 'fo' Miss Sally wuz
+born'd. Ole Cajy Favers, he went ter de po'house, en ez ter dat Jim
+Favers, I boun' you he know de inside er all de jails in dish yer State
+er Jawjy. Dey allers did hate niggers kase dey ain't had none, en dey
+hates um down ter dis day.
+
+"Year 'fo' las'," Uncle Remus continued, "I year yo Unk' Jeems
+Abercrombie tell dat same Jim Favers dat ef he lay de weight er he han'
+on one er his niggers, he'd slap a load er buck shot in 'im; en, bless
+yo' soul, honey, yo' Unk' Jeems wuz des de man ter do it. But dey er
+monst'us perlite unter me, dem Faverses is," pursued the old man,
+allowing his indignation, which had risen to a white heat, to cool off,
+"en dey better be," he added spitefully, "kase I knows der pedigree fum
+de fus' ter de las', en w'en I gits my Affikin up, dey ain't nobody,
+'less it's Miss Sally 'erse'f, w'at kin keep me down.
+
+"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar," said Uncle Remus, renewing his
+attack upon the little boy. "W'at you wanter go copyin' atter dem Favers
+chillun fer? Youer settin' back dar, right dis minnit, bettin' longer
+yo'se'f dat I ain't gwine ter tell Miss Sally, en dar whar youer lettin'
+yo' foot slip, kaze I'm gwine ter let it pass dis time, but de ve'y nex'
+time w'at I ketches you in hollerin' distuns er dem Faverses, right den
+en dar I'm gwine ter take my foot in my han' en go en tell Miss Sally,
+en ef she don't natally skin you 'live, den she ain't de same 'oman w'at
+she useter be.
+
+"All dish yer copyin' atter deze yer Faverses put me in min' er de time
+w'en Brer Fox got ter copyin' atter Brer Rabbit. I done tole you 'bout
+de time w'en Brer Rabbit git de game fum Brer Fox by makin' like he
+dead?"[3]
+
+The little boy remembered it very distinctly, and said as much.
+
+"Well, den, ole Brer Fox, w'en he see how slick de trick wuk wid Brer
+Rabbit, he say ter hisse'f dat he b'leeve he'll up'n try de same kinder
+game on some yuther man, en he keep on watchin' fer he chance, twel
+bimeby, one day, he year Mr. Man comin' down de big road in a one-hoss
+waggin, kyar'n some chickens, en some eggs, en some butter, ter town.
+Brer Fox year 'im comin', he did, en w'at do he do but go en lay down in
+de road front er de waggin. Mr. Man, he druv 'long, he did, cluckin' ter
+de hoss en hummin' ter hisse'f, en w'en dey git mos' up ter Brer Fox, de
+hoss, he shy, he did, en Mr. Man, he tuck'n holler Wo! en de hoss, he
+tuck'n wo'd. Den Mr. Man, he look down, en he see Brer Fox layin' out
+dar on de groun' des like he cole en stiff, en w'en Mr. Man see dis, he
+holler out:--
+
+"'Heyo! Dar de chap w'at been nabbin' up my chickens, en somebody done
+gone en shot off a gun at 'im, w'ich I wish she'd er bin two guns--dat I
+does!'
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Man he druv on en lef Brer Fox layin' dar. Den Brer Fox,
+he git up en run 'roun' thoo de woods en lay down front er Mr. Man
+ag'in, en Mr. Man come drivin' 'long, en he see Brer Fox, en he say,
+sezee;--
+
+"'Heyo! Yer de ve'y chap what been 'stroyin' my pigs. Somebody done gone
+en kilt 'im, en I wish dey'd er kilt 'im long time ago.'
+
+"Den Mr. Man, he druv on, en de waggin-w'eel come mighty nigh mashin'
+Brer Fox nose; yit, all de same, Brer Fox lipt up en run 'roun' 'head er
+Mr. Man, en lay down in de road, en w'en Mr. Man come 'long, dar he wuz
+all stretch out like he big 'nuff fer ter fill a two-bushel baskit, en
+he look like he dead 'nuff fer ter be skint. Mr. Man druv up, he did, en
+stop. He look down pun Brer Fox, en den he look all 'roun' fer ter see
+w'at de 'casion er all deze yer dead Fox is. Mr. Man look all 'roun', he
+did, but he ain't see nothin', en needer do he year nothin'. Den he set
+dar en study, en bimeby he 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he had better
+'zamin' w'at kinder kuse zeeze[4] done bin got inter Brer Fox fambly, en
+wid dat he lit down outer de waggin, en feel er Brer Fox year; Brer Fox
+year feel right wom. Den he feel Brer Fox neck; Brer Fox neck right wom.
+Den he feel er Brer Fox in de short ribs; Brer Fox all soun' in de short
+ribs. Den he feel er Brer Fox lim's; Brer Fox all soun' in de lim's. Den
+he tu'n Brer Fox over, en, lo en beholes, Brer Fox right limber. Wen Mr.
+Man see dis, he say ter hisse'f, sezee:--
+
+"'Heyo, yer! how come dis? Dish yer chicken-nabber look lak he dead, but
+dey ain't no bones broked, en I ain't see no blood, en needer does I
+feel no bruise; en mo'n dat he wom en he limber,' sezee. 'Sump'n' wrong
+yer, sho'! Dish yer pig-grabber _mought_ be dead, en den ag'in he
+moughtent,' sezee; 'but ter make sho' dat he is, I'll des gin 'im a
+whack wid my w'ip-han'le,' sezee; en wid dat, Mr. Man draw back en fotch
+Brer Fox a clip behime de years--_pow!_--en de lick come so hard en it
+come so quick dat Brer Fox thunk sho' he's a goner; but 'fo' Mr. Man kin
+draw back fer ter fetch 'im a n'er wipe, Brer Fox, he scramble ter his
+feet, he did, en des make tracks 'way fum dar."
+
+Uncle Remus paused and shook the cold ashes from his pipe, and then
+applied the moral:--
+
+"Dat w'at Brer Fox git fer playin' Mr. Smarty en copyin' atter yuther
+foks, en dat des de way de whole Smarty fambly gwine ter come out."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[3] _Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings_, p. 70 (New York: D.
+Appleton & Co.).
+
+[4] Disease.
+
+
+
+
+V
+
+BRER RABBIT'S ASTONISHING PRANK
+
+
+"I 'speck dat 'uz de reas'n w'at make ole Brer Rabbit git 'long so well,
+kaze he ain't copy atter none er de yuther creeturs," Uncle Remus
+continued, after a while. "Wen he make his disappearance 'fo' um, hit
+'uz allers in some bran new place. Dey ain't know wharbouts fer ter
+watch out fer 'im. He wuz de funniest creetur er de whole gang. Some
+folks moughter call him lucky, en yit, w'en he git in bad luck, hit look
+lak he mos' allers come out on top. Hit look mighty kuse now, but 't
+wa'n't kuse in dem days, kaze hit 'uz done gun up dat, strike 'im w'en
+you might en whar you would, Brer Rabbit wuz de soopless creetur gwine.
+
+"One time, he sorter tuck a notion, ole Brer Rabbit did, dat he'd pay
+Brer B'ar a call, en no sooner do de notion strike 'im dan he pick
+hisse'f up en put out fer Brer B'ar house."
+
+"Why, I thought they were mad with each other," the little boy
+exclaimed.
+
+"Brer Rabbit make he call w'en Brer B'ar en his fambly wuz off fum
+home," Uncle Remus explained, with a chuckle which was in the nature of
+a hearty tribute to the crafty judgment of Brother Rabbit.
+
+"He sot down by de road, en he see um go by,--ole Brer B'ar en ole Miss
+B'ar, en der two twin-chilluns, w'ich one un um wuz name Kubs en de t'er
+one wuz name Klibs."
+
+The little boy laughed, but the severe seriousness of Uncle Remus would
+have served for a study, as he continued:--
+
+"Ole Brer B'ar en Miss B'ar, dey went 'long ahead, en Kubs en Klibs, dey
+come shufflin' en scramblin' 'long behime. W'en Brer Rabbit see dis, he
+say ter hisse'f dat he 'speck he better go see how Brer B'ar gittin' on;
+en off he put. En 't wa'n't long n'er 'fo' he 'uz ransackin' de
+premmuses same like he 'uz sho' 'nuff patter-roller. Wiles he wuz gwine
+'roun' peepin' in yer en pokin' in dar, he got ter foolin' 'mong de
+shelfs, en a bucket er honey w'at Brer B'ar got hid in de cubbud fall
+down en spill on top er Brer Rabbit, en little mo'n he'd er bin drown.
+Fum head ter heels dat creetur wuz kiver'd wid honey; he wa'n't des only
+bedobble wid it, he wuz des kiver'd. He hatter set dar en let de natal
+sweetness drip outen he eyeballs 'fo' he kin see he han' befo' 'im, en
+den, atter he look' 'roun' little, he say to hisse'f, sezee:--
+
+"'Heyo, yer! W'at I gwine do now? Ef I go out in de sunshine, de
+bumly-bees en de flies dey'll swom up'n take me, en if I stay yer, Brer
+B'ar'll come back en ketch me, en I dunner w'at in de name er gracious I
+gwine do.'
+
+"Ennyhow, bimeby a notion strike Brer Rabbit, en he tip 'long twel he
+git in de woods, en w'en he git out dar, w'at do he do but roll in de
+leafs en trash en try fer ter rub de honey off'n 'im dat a-way. He roll,
+he did, en de leafs dey stick; Brer Rabbit roll, en de leafs dey stick,
+en he keep on rollin' en de leafs keep on stickin', twel atter w'ile
+Brer Rabbit wuz de mos' owdashus-lookin' creetur w'at you ever sot eyes
+on. En ef Miss Meadows en de gals could er seed 'im den en dar, dey
+would n't er bin no mo' Brer Rabbit call at der house; 'deed, en dat dey
+would n't.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he jump 'roun', he did, en try ter shake de leafs off'a
+'im, but de leafs, dey ain't gwine ter be shuck off. Brer Rabbit, he
+shake en he shiver, but de leafs dey stick; en de capers dat creetur cut
+up out dar in de woods by he own-alone se'f wuz scan'lous--dey wuz dat;
+dey wuz scan'lous.
+
+"Brer Rabbit see dis wa'nt gwine ter do, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he
+better be gittin' on todes home, en off he put. I 'speck you done year
+talk er deze yer booggers w'at gits atter bad chilluns," continued Uncle
+Remus, in a tone so seriously confidential as to be altogether
+depressing; "well, den, des 'zactly dat a-way Brer Rabbit look, en ef
+you'd er seed 'im you'd er made sho' he de gran'-daddy er all de
+booggers. Brer Rabbit pace 'long, he did, en ev'y motion he make, de
+leafs dey'd go _swishy-swushy_, _splushy-splishy_, en, fum de fuss he
+make en de way he look, you'd er tuck 'im ter be de mos' suvvigus
+varment w'at disappear fum de face er de yeth sence ole man Noah let
+down de draw-bars er de ark en tu'n de creeturs loose; en I boun' ef
+you'd er struck up long wid 'im, you'd er been mighty good en glad ef
+you'd er got off wid dat.
+
+"De fus' man w'at Brer Rabbit come up wid wuz ole Sis Cow, en no sooner
+is she lay eyes on 'im dan she h'ist up 'er tail in de elements, en put
+out like a pack er dogs wuz atter 'er. Dis make Brer Rabbit laff, kaze
+he know dat w'en a ole settle' 'oman like Sis Cow run 'stracted in de
+broad open day-time, dat dey mus' be sump'n' mighty kuse 'bout dem leafs
+en dat honey, en he keep on a-rackin' down de road. De nex' man w'at he
+meet wuz a black gal tollin' a whole passel er plantation shotes, en
+w'en de gal see Brer Rabbit come prancin' 'long, she fling down 'er
+basket er corn en des fa'rly fly, en de shotes, dey tuck thoo de woods,
+en sech n'er racket ez dey kick up wid der runnin', en der snortin', en
+der squealin' ain't never bin year in dat settlement needer befo' ner
+since. Hit keep on dis a-way long ez Brer Rabbit meet anybody--dey des
+broke en run like de Ole Boy wuz atter um.
+
+    [Illustration: "HE TO' DOWN A WHOLE PANEL ER FENCE GITTEN
+    'WAY FUM DAR"]
+
+"Co'se, dis make Brer Rabbit feel monst'us biggity, en he 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he 'speck he better drap 'roun' en skummish in de
+neighborhoods er Brer Fox house. En w'iles he wuz stannin' dar runnin'
+dis 'roun' in he min', yer come old Brer B'ar en all er he fambly. Brer
+Rabbit, he git crossways de road, he did, en he sorter sidle todes um.
+Ole Brer B'ar, he stop en look, but Brer Rabbit, he keep on sidlin'
+todes um. Ole Miss B'ar, she stan' it long ez she kin, en den she fling
+down 'er parrysol en tuck a tree. Brer B'ar look lak he gwine ter stan'
+his groun', but Brer Rabbit he jump straight up in de a'r en gin hisse'f
+a shake, en, bless yo' soul, honey! ole Brer B'ar make a break, en dey
+tells me he to' down a whole panel er fence gittin' 'way fum dar. En
+ez ter Kubs en Klibs, dey tuck der hats in der han's, en dey went
+skaddlin' thoo de bushes des same ez a drove er hosses."
+
+"And then what?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Brer Rabbit p'raded on down de road," continued Uncle Remus, "en bimeby
+yer come Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, fixin' up a plan fer ter nab Brer
+Rabbit, en dey wuz so intents on der confab dat dey got right on Brer
+Rabbit 'fo' dey seed 'im; but, gentermens! w'en dey is ketch a glimpse
+un 'im, dey gun 'im all de room he want. Brer Wolf, he try ter show off,
+he did, kase he wanter play big 'fo' Brer Fox, en he stop en ax Brer
+Rabbit who is he. Brer Rabbit, he jump up en down in de middle er de
+road, en holler out:--
+
+"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust.[5] I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de man I'm
+atter!'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit jump up en down en make lak he gwine atter Brer Fox en
+Brer Wolf, en de way dem creeturs lit out fum dar wuz a caution.
+
+"Long time atter dat," continued Uncle Remus, folding his hands placidly
+in his lap, with the air of one who has performed a pleasant
+duty,--"long time atter dat, Brer Rabbit come up wid Brer Fox en Brer
+Wolf, en he git behime a stump, Brer Rabbit did, en holler out:--
+
+"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de mens I'm atter!'
+
+"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, dey broke, but 'fo' dey got outer sight en outer
+yar'n', Brer Rabbit show hisse'f, he did, en laugh fit ter kill hisse'f.
+Atterwuds, Miss Meadows she year 'bout it, en de nex' time Brer Fox
+call, de gals dey up en giggle, en ax 'im ef he ain't feard de
+Wull-er-de-Wust mought drap in."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[5] Or Wull-er-de-Wuts. Probably a fantastic corruption of
+"will-o'-the-wisp," though this is not by any means certain.
+
+
+
+
+VI
+
+BRER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION
+
+
+The rain continued to fall the next day, but the little boy made
+arrangements to go with 'Tildy when she carried Uncle Remus his supper.
+This happened to be a waiter full of things left over from dinner. There
+was so much that the old man was moved to remark:--
+
+"I cl'ar ter gracious, hit look lak Miss Sally done got my name in de
+pot dis time, sho'. I des wish you look at dat pone er co'n-bread,
+honey, en dem ar greens, en see ef dey ain't got Remus writ some'rs on
+um. Dat ar chick'n fixin's, dey look lak deyer good, yet 'taint
+familious wid me lak dat ar bile ham. Dem ar sweet-taters, dey stan's
+fa'r fer dividjun, but dem ar puzzuv,[6] I lay dey fit yo' palate mo'
+samer dan dey does mine. Dish yer hunk er beef, we kin talk 'bout dat
+w'en de time come, en dem ar biscuits, I des nat'ally knows Miss Sally
+put um in dar fer some little chap w'ich his name I ain't gwine ter call
+in comp'ny."
+
+It was easy to perceive that the sight of the supper had put Uncle Remus
+in rare good-humor. He moved around briskly, taking the plates from the
+waiter and distributing them with exaggerated carefulness around upon
+his little pine table. Meanwhile he kept up a running fire of
+conversation.
+
+"Folks w'at kin set down en have der vittles brung en put down right
+spang und' der nose--dem kinder folks ain't got no needs er no umbrell.
+Night 'fo' las', w'iles I wuz settin' dar in de do', I year dem
+Willis-whistlers, en den I des knowed we 'uz gwine ter git a season."[7]
+
+"The Willis-whistlers, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy. "What are
+they?"
+
+"Youer too hard fer me now, honey. Dat w'at I knows I don't min'
+tellin', but w'en you axes me 'bout dat w'at I dunno, den youer too hard
+fer me, sho'. Deze yer Willis-whistlers, dey bangs my time, en I bin
+knockin' 'roun' in dish yer low-groun' now gwine on eighty year. Some
+folks wanter make out deyer frogs, yit I wish dey p'int out unter me how
+frogs kin holler so dat de nigher you come t'um, de furder you is off; I
+be mighty glad ef some un 'ud come 'long en tell me dat. Many en many's
+de time is I gone atter deze yer Willis-whistlers, en, no diffunce whar
+I goes, deyer allers off yander. You kin put de shovel in de fier en
+make de squinch-owl hush he fuss, en you kin go out en put yo' han' on
+de trees en make deze yere locus'-bugs quit der racket, but dem ar
+Willis-whistlers deyer allers 'way off yander."[8]
+
+Suddenly Uncle Remus paused over one of the dishes, and exclaimed:--
+
+"Gracious en de goodness! W'at kinder doin's is dis Miss Sally done gone
+sont us?"
+
+"That," said the little boy, after making an investigation, "is what
+mamma calls a floating island."
+
+"Well, den," Uncle Remus remarked, in a relieved tone, "dat's diffunt. I
+wuz mos' fear'd it 'uz some er dat ar sillerbug, w'ich a whole jugful
+ain't ska'cely 'nuff fer ter make you seem like you dremp 'bout smellin'
+dram. Ef I'm gwine ter be fed on foam," continued the old man, by way of
+explaining his position on the subject of syllabub, "let it be foam, en
+ef I'm gwine ter git dram, lemme git in reach un it w'ile she got some
+strenk lef'. Dat's me up an down. W'en it come ter yo' floatin' ilun,
+des gimme a hunk er ginger-cake en a mug er 'simmon-beer, en dey won't
+fine no nigger w'ats got no slicker feelin's dan w'at I is.
+
+"Miss Sally mighty kuse w'ite 'oman," Uncle Remus went on. "She sendin'
+all deze doin's en fixin's down yer, en I 'speck deyer monst'us nice,
+but no longer'n las' Chuseday she had all de niggers on de place, big en
+little, gwine squallin' 'roun' fer Remus. Hit 'uz Remus yer en Remus
+dar, en, lo en beholes, w'en I come ter fine out, Miss Sally want Remus
+fer ter whirl in en cook 'er one er deze yer ole-time ash-cakes. She
+bleedzd ter have it den en dar; en w'en I git it done, Miss Sally, she
+got a glass er buttermilk, en tuck'n sot right flat down on de flo', des
+like she useter w'en she wuz little gal." The old man paused,
+straightened up, looked at the child over his spectacles, and continued,
+with emphasis: "En I be bless ef she ain't eat a hunk er dat ash-cake
+mighty nigh ez big ez yo' head, en den she tuck'n make out 't wa'n't
+cook right.
+
+"Now, den, honey, all deze done fix. You set over dar, and I'll set over
+yer, en 'twix' en 'tween us we'll sample dish yer truck en see w'at is
+it Miss Sally done gone en sont us; en w'iles we er makin' 'way wid it,
+I'll sorter rustle 'roun' wid my 'membunce, en see ef I kin call ter
+min' de tale 'bout how ole Brer Rabbit got 'im a two-story house widout
+layin' out much cash."
+
+Uncle Remus stopped talking a little while and pretended to be trying to
+remember something,--an effort that was accompanied by a curious humming
+sound in his throat. Finally, he brightened up and began:--
+
+"Hit tu'n out one time dat a whole lot er de creeturs tuck a notion dat
+dey'd go in coboots wid buil'n' un um a house. Ole Brer B'ar, he was
+'mongs' um, en Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, en Brer 'Possum. I
+won't make sho', but it seem like ter me dat plum down ter ole Brer Mink
+'uz 'mongs' um. Leas'ways, dey wuz a whole passel un um, en dey whirl
+in, dey did, en dey buil' de house in less'n no time. Brer Rabbit, he
+make lak it make he head swim fer ter climb up on de scaffle, en
+likewise he say it make 'im ketch de palsy fer ter wuk in de sun, but he
+got 'im a squar', en he stuck a pencil behime he year, en he went
+'roun' medjun[9] en markin'--medjun en markin'--en he wuz dat busy dat
+de yuther creeturs say ter deyse'f he doin' monst'us sight er wuk, en
+folks gwine 'long de big road say Brer Rabbit doin' mo' hard wuk dan de
+whole kit en bilin' un um. Yit all de time Brer Rabbit ain't doin'
+nothin', en he des well bin layin' off in de shade scratchin' de fleas
+off'n 'im. De yuther creeturs, dey buil' de house, en, gentermens! she
+'uz a fine un, too, mon. She'd 'a' bin a fine un deze days, let 'lone
+dem days. She had er upsta'rs en downsta'rs, en chimbleys all 'roun', en
+she had rooms fer all de creeturs w'at went inter cahoots en hope make
+it.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he pick out one er de upsta'rs rooms, en he tuck'n' got
+'im a gun, en one er deze yer brass cannons, en he tuck'n' put um in dar
+w'en de yuther creeturs ain't lookin', en den he tuck'n' got 'im a tub
+er nasty slop-water, w'ich likewise he put in dar w'en dey ain't
+lookin'. So den, w'en dey git de house all fix, en w'iles dey wuz all
+a-settin' in de parlor atter supper, Brer Rabbit, he sorter gap en
+stretch hisse'f, en make his 'skuses en say he b'leeve he'll go ter he
+room. W'en he git dar, en w'iles all de yuther creeturs wuz a-laughin'
+en a-chattin' des ez sociable ez you please, Brer Rabbit, he stick he
+head out er de do' er he room en sing out:--
+
+"'Wen a big man like me wanter set down, wharbouts he gwine ter set?'
+sezee.
+
+"Den de yuther creeturs dey laugh, en holler back:--
+
+"'Ef big man like you can't set in a cheer, he better set down on de
+flo'.'
+
+"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm a
+gwine ter set down,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, _bang!_ went Brer Rabbit gun. Co'se, dis sorter 'stonish de
+creeturs, en dey look 'roun' at one er n'er much ez ter say, W'at in de
+name er gracious is dat? Dey lissen en lissen, but dey don't year no mo'
+fuss, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey got ter chattin' en jabberin' some
+mo'. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit stick he head outer he room do', en sing out:--
+
+"'Wen a big man like me wanter sneeze, wharbouts he gwine ter sneeze
+at?'
+
+"Den de yuther creeturs, dey tuck'n holler back:--
+
+"'Ef big man like you ain't a-gone gump, he kin sneeze anywhar he
+please.'
+
+"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm gwine ter
+tu'n loose en sneeze right yer,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let off his cannon--_bulderum-m-m!_ De
+winder-glass dey shuck en rattle, en de house shuck like she gwine ter
+come down, en ole Brer B'ar, he fell out de rockin'-cheer--_kerblump!_
+W'en de creeturs git sorter settle, Brer 'Possum en Brer Mink, dey up'n
+'low dat Brer Rabbit got sech a monst'us bad cole, dey b'leeve dey'll
+step out and git some fresh a'r, but dem yuther creeturs, dey say dey
+gwine ter stick it out; en atter w'ile, w'en dey git der h'ar smoove
+down, dey 'gun ter jower 'mongs' deyse'f. 'Bout dat time, w'en dey get
+in a good way, Brer Rabbit, he sing out:--
+
+"'W'en a big man like me take a chaw terbacker, wharbouts he gwine ter
+spit?'
+
+"Den de yuther creeturs, dey holler back, dey did, sorter like deyer
+mad:--
+
+"'Big man er little man, spit whar you please.'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he squall out:--
+
+"'Dis de way a big man spit!' en wid dat he tilt over de tub er
+slop-water, en w'en de yuther creeturs year it come a-sloshin' down de
+sta'r-steps, gentermens! dey des histed deyse'f outer dar. Some un um
+went out de back do', en some un um went out de front do', en some un um
+fell out de winders; some went one way en some went n'er way; but dey
+all went sailin' out."
+
+"But what became of Brother Rabbit?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n shot up de house en fassen de winders, en
+den he got ter bed, he did, en pull de coverled up 'roun' he years, en
+he sleep like a man w'at ain't owe nobody nuthin'; en needer do he owe
+um, kaze ef dem yuther creeturs gwine git skeer'd en run off fum der own
+house, w'at bizness is dat er Brer Rabbit? Dat w'at I like ter know."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[6] Preserves.
+
+[7] In the South, a rain is called a "season," not only by the negroes,
+but by many white farmers.
+
+[8] It is a far-away sound that might be identified with one of the
+various undertones of silence, but it is palpable enough (if the word
+may be used) to have attracted the attention of the humble philosophers
+of the old plantation.
+
+[9] Measuring.
+
+
+
+
+VII
+
+MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN
+
+
+Uncle Remus sighed heavily as he lifted the trivet on the head of his
+walking-cane, and hung it carefully by the side of the griddle in the
+cavernous fireplace.
+
+"Folks kin come 'long wid der watchermaycollums," he said presently,
+turning to the little boy, who was supplementing his supper by biting
+off a chew of shoemaker's-wax, "en likewise dey kin fetch 'roun' der
+watziznames. Dey kin walk biggity, en dey kin talk biggity, en mo'n dat,
+dey kin feel biggity, but yit all de same deyer gwine ter git kotch up
+wid. Dey go 'long en dey go 'long, en den bimeby yer come trouble en
+snatch um slonchways, en de mo' bigger w'at dey is, de wusser does dey
+git snatched."
+
+The little boy did n't understand this harangue at all, but he
+appreciated it because he recognized it as the prelude to a story.
+
+"Dar wuz Mr. Lion," Uncle Remus went on; "he tuck'n sot hisse'f up fer
+ter be de boss er all de yuther creeturs, en he feel so biggity dat he
+go ro'in' en rampin' 'roun' de neighborhoods wuss'n dat ar speckle bull
+w'at you see down at yo' Unk' Jeems Abercrombie place las' year. He went
+ro'in' 'roun', he did, en eve'ywhar he go he year talk er Mr. Man. Right
+in de middle er he braggin', some un 'ud up'n tell 'im 'bout w'at Mr.
+Man done done. Mr. Lion, he say he done dis, en den he year 'bout how
+Mr. Man done dat. Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby Mr. Lion shake he
+mane, he did, en he up'n say dat he gwine ter s'arch 'roun' en 'roun',
+en high en low, fer ter see ef he can't fine Mr. Man, en he 'low, Mr.
+Lion did, dat w'en he do fine 'im, he gwine ter tu'n in en gin Mr. Man
+sech n'er larrupin' w'at nobody ain't never had yit. Dem yuther
+creeturs, dey tuck'n tell Mr. Lion dat he better let Mr. Man 'lone, but
+Mr. Lion say he gwine ter hunt 'im down spite er all dey kin do.
+
+"Sho' nuff, atter he done tuck some res', Mr. Lion, he put out down de
+big road. Sun, she rise up en shine hot, but Mr. Lion, he keep on; win',
+hit come up en blow, en fill de elements full er dust; rain, hit drif'
+up en drizzle down; but Mr. Lion, he keep on. Bimeby, w'iles he gwine on
+dis a-way, wid he tongue hangin' out, he come up wid Mr. Steer, grazin'
+'long on de side er de road. Mr. Lion, he up'n ax 'im howdy, he did,
+monst'us perlite, en Mr. Steer likewise he bow en scrape en show his
+manners. Den Mr. Lion, he do lak he wanter have some confab wid 'im, en
+he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'Is dey anybody 'roun' in deze parts name Mr. Man?' sezee.
+
+"'Tooby sho' dey is,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee; 'anybody kin tell you dat. I
+knows 'im mighty well,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den, he de ve'y chap I'm atter,' sezee.
+
+"'W'at mought be yo' bizness wid Mr. Man?' sez Mr. Steer, sezee.
+
+"'I done come dis long ways fer ter gin 'im a larrupin',' sez Mr. Lion,
+sezee. 'I'm gwine ter show 'im who de boss er deze neighborhoods,'
+sezee, en wid dat Mr. Lion, he shake he mane, en switch he tail, en
+strut up en down wuss'n one er deze yer town niggers.
+
+"'Well, den, ef dat w'at you come atter,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee, 'you des
+better slew yo'se'f 'roun' en p'int yo' nose todes home, kaze you fixin'
+fer ter git in sho' 'nuff trouble,' sezee.
+
+"'I'm gwine ter larrup dat same Mr. Man,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee; 'I done
+come fer dat, en dat w'at I'm gwine ter do,' sezee.
+
+"Mr. Steer, he draw long breff, he did, en chaw he cud slow, en atter
+w'ile he say, sezee:--
+
+"'You see me stannin' yer front er yo' eyes, en you see how big I is, en
+w'at long, sharp hawns I got. Well, big ez my heft is, en sharp dough my
+hawns be, yit Mr. Man, he come out yer en he ketch me, en he put me und'
+a yoke, en he hitch me up in a kyart, en he make me haul he wood, en he
+drive me anywhar he min' ter. He do dat. Better let Mr. Man 'lone,'
+sezee. 'If you fool 'long wid 'im, watch out dat he don't hitch you up
+en have you prancin' 'roun' yer pullin' he kyart,' sezee.
+
+"Mr. Lion, he fotch a roar, en put out down de road, en 't wa'n't so
+mighty long 'fo' he come up wid Mr. Hoss, w'ich he wuz a-nibblin' en
+a-croppin' de grass. Mr. Lion make hisse'f know'd, en den he tuck'n ax
+Mr. Hoss do he know Mr. Man.
+
+"'Mighty well,' sez Mr. Hoss, sezee, 'en mo'n dat, I bin a-knowin' 'im a
+long time. W'at you want wid Mr. Man?' sezee.
+
+"'I'm a-huntin' 'im up fer ter larrup 'im,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee. 'Dey
+tells me he mighty stuck up,' sezee, 'en I gwine take 'im down a peg,'
+sezee.
+
+"Mr. Hoss look at Mr. Lion like he sorry, en bimeby he up'n say:--
+
+"'I 'speck you better let Mr. Man 'lone,' sezee. 'You see how big I is,
+en how much strenk w'at I got, en how tough my foots is,' sezee; 'well
+dish yer Mr. Man, he kin take'n take me en hitch me up in he buggy, en
+make me haul 'im all 'roun', en den he kin take'n fassen me ter de plow
+en make me break up all his new groun',' sezee. 'You better go 'long
+back home. Fus' news you know, Mr. Man'll have you breakin' up his new
+groun',' sezee.
+
+"Spite er all dis, Mr. Lion, he shake he mane en say he gwine ter larrup
+Mr. Man anyhow. He went on down de big road, he did, en bimeby he come
+up wid Mr. Jack Sparrer, settin' up in de top er de tree. Mr. Jack
+Sparrer, he whirl 'roun' en chirp, en flutter 'bout up dar, en
+'pariently make a great 'miration.
+
+"'Heyo yer!' sezee; 'who'd er 'speckted fer ter see Mr. Lion 'way down
+yer in dis neighborhoods?' sezee. 'Whar you gwine, Mr. Lion?' sezee.
+
+"Den Mr. Lion ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer know Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer
+say he know Mr. Man mighty well. Den Mr. Lion, he ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer
+know whar he stay, w'ich Mr. Jack Sparrer say dat he do. Mr. Lion ax
+wharbouts is Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer say he right 'cross dar in de
+new groun', en he up'n ax Mr. Lion w'at he want wid 'im, w'ich Mr. Lion
+'spon' dat he gwine larrup Mr. Man, en wid dat, Mr. Jack Sparrer, he
+up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'You better let Mr. Man 'lone. You see how little I is, en likewise how
+high I kin fly; yit, 'spite er dat, Mr. Man, he kin fetch me down w'en
+he git good en ready,' sezee. 'You better tuck yo' tail en put out
+home,' sez Mr. Jack Sparrer, sezee, 'kaze bimeby Mr. Man 'll fetch you
+down,' sezee.
+
+"But Mr. Lion des vow he gwine atter Mr. Man, en go he would, en go he
+did. He ain't never see Mr. Man, Mr. Lion ain't, en he dunner w'at he
+look lak, but he go on todes de new groun'. Sho' 'nuff, dar wuz Mr. Man,
+out dar maulin' rails fer ter make 'im a fence. He 'uz rippin' up de
+butt cut, Mr. Man wuz, en he druv in his wedge en den he stuck in de
+glut. He 'uz splittin' 'way, w'en bimeby he year rustlin' out dar in de
+bushes, en he look up, en dar wuz Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion ax 'im do he know
+Mr. Man, en Mr. Man 'low dat he know 'im mo' samer dan ef he wer' his
+twin brer. Den Mr. Lion 'low dat he wanter see' im, en den Mr. Man say,
+sezee, dat ef Mr. Lion will come stick his paw in de split fer ter hol'
+de log open twel he git back, he go fetch Mr. Man. Mr. Lion he march up
+en slap his paw in de place, en den Mr. Man, he tuck'n' knock de glut
+out, en de split close up, en dar Mr. Lion wuz. Mr. Man, he stan' off en
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'Ef you'd 'a' bin a steer er hoss, you mought er run'd, en ef you'd
+'a' bin a sparrer, you mought er flew'd, but yer you is, en you kotch
+yo'se'f,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Man sa'nter out in de bushes en cut 'im a hick'ry, en he
+let in on Mr. Lion, en he frail en frail 'im twel frailin' un 'im wuz a
+sin. En down ter dis day," continued Uncle Remus, in a tone calculated
+to destroy all doubt, "you can't git no Lion ter come up whar dey 's a
+Man a-maulin' rails en put he paw in de split. Dat you can't!"
+
+
+
+
+VIII
+
+THE STORY OF THE PIGS
+
+
+Uncle Remus relapsed into silence again, and the little boy, with
+nothing better to do, turned his attention to the bench upon which the
+old man kept his shoemaker's tools. Prosecuting his investigations in
+this direction, the youngster finally suggested that the supply of
+bristles was about exhausted.
+
+"I dunner w'at Miss Sally wanter be sendin' un you down yer fer, ef you
+gwine ter be stirr'n' en bodderin' 'longer dem ar doin's," exclaimed
+Uncle Remus, indignantly. "Now don't you scatter dem hog-bristle! De
+time wuz w'en folks had a mighty slim chance fer ter git bristle, en dey
+ain't no tellin' w'en dat time gwine come ag'in. Let 'lone dat, de time
+wuz w'en de breed er hogs wuz done run down ter one po' little pig, en
+it look lak mighty sorry chance fer dem w'at was bleedzd ter have
+bristle."
+
+By this time Uncle Remus's indignation had vanished, disappearing as
+suddenly and unexpectedly as it came. The little boy was curious to know
+when and where and how the bristle famine occurred.
+
+"I done tole you 'bout dat too long 'go ter talk 'bout," the old man
+declared; but the little boy insisted that he had never heard about it
+before, and he was so persistent that at last Uncle Remus, in
+self-defence, consented to tell the story of the Pigs.
+
+"One time, 'way back yander, de ole Sow en er chilluns wuz all livin'
+'longer' de yuther creeturs. Hit seem lak ter me dat de ole Sow wuz a
+widder 'oman, en ef I don't run inter no mistakes, hit look like ter me
+dat she got five chilluns. Lemme see," continued Uncle Remus, with the
+air of one determined to justify his memory by a reference to the
+record, and enumerating with great deliberation,--"dar wuz Big Pig, en
+dar wuz Little Pig, en dar wuz Speckle Pig, en dar wuz Blunt, en las' en
+lonesomes' dar wuz Runt.
+
+"One day, deze yer Pig ma she know she gwine kick de bucket, and she
+tuck'n call up all 'er chilluns en tell um dat de time done come w'en
+dey got ter look out fer deyse'f, en den she up'n tell um good ez she
+kin, dough 'er breff mighty scant, 'bout w'at a bad man is ole Brer
+Wolf. She say, sez she, dat if dey kin make der 'scape from ole Brer
+Wolf, dey'll be doin' monst'us well. Big Pig 'low she ain't skeer'd,
+Speckle Pig 'low she ain't skeer'd, Blunt, he say he mos' big a man ez
+Brer Wolf hisse'f, en Runt, she des tuck'n root 'roun' in de straw en
+grunt. But ole Widder Sow, she lay dar, she did, en keep on tellin' um
+dat dey better keep der eye on Brer Wolf, kaz he mighty mean en 'seetful
+man.
+
+"Not long atter dat, sho' 'nuff ole Miss Sow lay down en die, en all dem
+ar chilluns er hern wuz flung back on deyse'f, en dey whirl in, dey did,
+en dey buil' um all a house ter live in. Big Pig, she tuck'n buil' 'er a
+house outer bresh; Little Pig, she tuck'n buil' a stick house; Speckle
+Pig, she tuck'n buil' a mud house; Blunt, he tuck'n buil' a plank house;
+en Runt, she don't make no great ter-do, en no great brags, but she went
+ter wuk, she did, en buil' a rock house.
+
+"Bimeby, w'en dey done got all fix, en marters wuz sorter settle, soon
+one mawnin' yer come ole Brer Wolf, a-lickin' un his chops en a-shakin'
+un his tail. Fus' house he come ter wuz Big Pig house. Brer Wolf walk
+ter de do', he did, en he knock sorter saf'--_blim! blim! blim!_ Nobody
+ain't answer. Den he knock loud--_blam! blam! blam!_ Dis wake up Big
+Pig, en she come ter de do', en she ax who dat. Brer Wolf 'low it's a
+fr'en', en den he sing out:
+
+    "'_Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,
+    I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in._'
+
+"Still Big Pig ax who dat, en den Brer Wolf, he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'How yo' ma?' sezee.
+
+"'My ma done dead,' sez Big Pig, sezee, 'en 'fo' she die she tell me fer
+ter keep my eye on Brer Wolf. I sees you thoo de crack er de do', en you
+look mighty like Brer Wolf,' sezee.
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf, he draw a long breff lak he feel mighty bad, en he
+up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"I dunner w'at change yo' ma so bad, less'n she 'uz out'n er head. I
+year tell dat ole Miss Sow wuz sick, en I say ter myse'f dat I'd kinder
+drap 'roun' en see how de ole lady is, en fetch 'er dish yer bag er
+roas'n'-years. Mighty well dose I know dat ef yo' ma wuz yer right now,
+en in 'er min', she 'd take de roas'n'-years en be glad fer ter git um,
+en mo'n dat, she'd take'n ax me in by de fire fer ter worn my han's,'
+sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"De talk 'bout de roas'n'-years make Big Pig mouf water, en bimeby,
+atter some mo' palaver, she open de do' en let Brer Wolf in, en bless
+yo' soul, honey! dat uz de las' er Big Pig. She ain't had time fer ter
+squeal en needer fer ter grunt 'fo' Brer Wolf gobble 'er up.
+
+"Next day, ole Brer Wolf put up de same game on Little Pig; he go en he
+sing he song, en Little Pig, she tuck'n let 'im in, en den Brer Wolf he
+tuck'n 'turn de compelerments[10] en let Little Pig in."
+
+Here Uncle Remus laughed long and loud at his conceit, and he took
+occasion to repeat it several times.
+
+"Little Pig, she let Brer Wolf in, en Brer Wolf, he let Little Pig in,
+en w'at mo' kin you ax dan dat? Nex' time Brer Wolf pay a call, he drop
+in on Speckle Pig, en rap at de do' en sing his song:--
+
+    "'_Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,
+    I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in._'
+
+"But Speckle Pig, she kinder 'spicion sump'n', en she 'fuse ter open de
+do'. Yit Brer Wolf mighty 'seetful man, en he talk mighty saf' en he
+talk mighty sweet. Bimeby, he git he nose in de crack er de do' en he
+say ter Speckle Pig, sezee, fer ter des let 'im git one paw in, en den
+he won't go no furder. He git de paw in, en den he beg fer ter git de
+yuther paw in, en den w'en he git dat in he beg fer ter git he head in,
+en den w'en he git he head in, en he paws in, co'se all he got ter do is
+ter shove de do' open en walk right in; en w'en marters stan' dat way,
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' he done make fresh meat er Speckle Pig.
+
+"Nex' day, he make way wid Blunt, en de day atter, he 'low dat he make a
+pass at Runt. Now, den, right dar whar ole Brer Wolf slip up at. He lak
+some folks w'at I knows. He'd 'a' bin mighty smart, ef he had n't er bin
+too smart. Runt wuz de littles' one er de whole gang, yit all de same
+news done got out dat she 'uz pestered wid sense like grown folks.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he crope up ter Runt house, en he got un'need de winder, he
+did, en he sing out:--
+
+    "'_Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,
+    I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in._'
+
+"But all de same, Brer Wolf can't coax Runt fer ter open de do', en
+needer kin he break in, kaze de house done made outer rock. Bimeby Brer
+Wolf make out he done gone off, en den atter while he come back en knock
+at de do'--_blam, blam, blam!_
+
+"Runt she sot by de fier, she did, en sorter scratch 'er year, en holler
+out:--
+
+"'Who dat?' sez she.
+
+"'Hit's Speckle Pig,' sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee, 'twix' a snort en a
+grunt. 'I fotch yer some peas fer yo' dinner!'
+
+"Runt, she tuck'n laugh, she did, en holler back:--
+
+"'Sis Speckle Pig ain't never talk thoo dat many toofies.'
+
+"Brer Wolf go off 'g'in, en bimeby he come back en knock. Runt she sot
+en rock, en holler out:--
+
+"'Who dat?'
+
+"'Big Pig,' sez Brer Wolf. 'I fotch some sweet-co'n fer yo' supper.'
+
+"Runt, she look thoo de crack un'need de do', en laugh en say, sez
+she:--
+
+"'Sis Big Pig ain't had no ha'r on 'er huff.'
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf, he git mad, he did, en say he gwine come down de
+chimbley, en Runt, she say, sez she, dat de onliest way w'at he kin git
+in; en den, w'en she year Brer Wolf clam'in' up on de outside er de
+chimbley, she tuck'n pile up a whole lot er broom sage front er de
+h'a'th, en w'en she year 'im clam'in' down on de inside, she tuck de
+tongs en shove de straw on de fier, en de smoke make Brer Wolf head
+swim, en he drap down, en 'fo' he know it he 'uz done bu'nt ter a
+cracklin'; en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Wolf. Leas'ways," added Uncle
+Remus, putting in a cautious proviso to fall back upon in case of an
+emergency, "leas'ways, hit 'uz de las' er dat Brer Wolf."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[10] Compliments.
+
+
+
+
+IX
+
+MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE
+
+
+"I 'speck you done year tell er ole man Benjermun Ram," said Uncle
+Remus, with a great affectation of indifference, after a pause.
+
+"Old man who?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Ole man Benjermun Ram. I 'speck you done year tell er him too long 'go
+ter talk 'bout."
+
+"Why, no, I have n't, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy, protesting
+and laughing. "He must have been a mighty funny old man."
+
+"Dat's ez may be," responded Uncle Remus, sententiously. "Fun deze days
+would n't er counted fer fun in dem days; en many's de time w'at I see
+folks laughin'," continued the old man, with such withering sarcasm that
+the little boy immediately became serious,--"many's de time w'at I sees
+um laughin' en laughin', w'en I lay dey ain't kin tell w'at deyer
+laughin' at deyse'f. En 'taint der laughin' w'at pesters me,
+nudder,"--relenting a little,--"hit's dish yer ev'lastin' snickle en
+giggle, giggle en snickle."
+
+Having thus mapped out, in a dim and uncertain way, what older people
+than the little boy might have been excused for accepting as a sort of
+moral basis, Uncle Remus proceeded:--
+
+"Dish yer Mr. Benjermun Ram, w'ich he done come up inter my min', wuz
+one er dezeyer ole-timers. Dey tells me dat he 'uz a fiddler fum away
+back yander--one er dem ar kinder fiddlers w'at can't git de chune down
+fine 'less dey pats der foot. He stay all by he own-alone se'f way out
+in de middle un a big new-groun', en he sech a handy man fer ter have at
+a frolic dat de yuther creeturs like 'im mighty well, en w'en dey tuck a
+notion fer ter shake der foot, w'ich de notion tuck'n struck um eve'y
+once in a w'ile, nuthin' 'ud do but dey mus' sen' fer ole man Benjermun
+Ram en he fiddle; en dey do say," continued Uncle Remus, closing his
+eyes in a sort of ecstasy, "dat w'en he squar' hisse'f back in a cheer,
+en git in a weavin' way, he kin des snatch dem ole-time chunes fum who
+lay de rail.[11] En den, w'en de frolic wuz done, dey'd all fling in, dem
+yuther creeturs would, en fill up a bag er peas fer ole Mr. Benjermun
+Ram fer ter kyar home wid 'im.
+
+"One time, des 'bout Christmas, Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals,
+dey up'n say dat dey 'd sorter gin a blowout, en dey got wud ter ole man
+Benjermun Ram w'ich dey 'speckted 'im fer ter be on han'. Wen de time
+done come fer Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter start, de win' blow cole en de
+cloud 'gun ter spread out 'cross de elements--but no marter fer dat; ole
+man Benjermun Ram tuck down he walkin'-cane, he did, en tie up he fiddle
+in a bag, en sot out fer Miss Meadows. He thunk he know de way, but hit
+keep on gittin' col'er en col'er, en mo' cloudy, twel bimeby, fus' news
+you know, ole Mr. Benjermun Ram done lose de way. Ef he'd er kep' on
+down de big road fum de start, it moughter bin diffunt, but he tuck a
+nigh-cut, en he ain't git fur 'fo' he done los' sho' 'nuff. He go dis
+a-way, en he go dat a-way, en he go de yuther way, yit all de same he
+wuz done los'. Some folks would er sot right flat down whar dey wuz en
+study out der way, but ole man Benjermun Ram ain't got wrinkle on he
+hawn fer nothin', kaze he done got de name er ole Billy Hardhead long
+'fo' dat. Den ag'in, some folks would er stop right still in der tracks
+en holler en bawl fer ter see ef dey can't roust up some er de
+neighbors, but ole Mr. Benjermun Ram, he des stick he jowl in de win',
+he did, en he march right on des 'zackly like he know he ain't gwine de
+wrong way. He keep on, but 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'gun ter feel right
+lonesome, mo' speshually w'en hit come up in he min' how Miss Meadows en
+de gals en all de comp'ny be bleedz ter do de bes' dey kin bidout any
+fiddlin'; en hit kinder make he marrer git cole w'en he study 'bout how
+he gotter sleep out dar in de woods by hisse'f.
+
+"Yit, all de same, he keep on twel de dark 'gun ter drap down, en den he
+keep on still, en bimeby he come ter a little rise whar dey wuz a
+clay-gall. W'en he git dar he stop en look 'roun', he did, en 'way off
+down in de holler, dar he see a light shinin', en w'en he see dis, ole
+man Benjermun Ram tuck he foot in he han', en make he way todes it des
+lak it de ve'y place w'at he bin huntin'. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' he come
+ter de house whar de light is, en, bless you soul, he don't make no
+bones er knockin'. Den somebody holler out:--
+
+"'Who dat?'
+
+"'I'm Mr. Benjermun Ram, en I done lose de way, en I come fer ter ax you
+ef you can't take me in fer de night,' sezee.
+
+"In common," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz a mighty
+rough-en-spoken somebody, but you better b'leeve he talk monst'us
+perlite dis time.
+
+"Den some un on t'er side er de do' ax Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter walk
+right in, en wid dat he open de do' en walk in, en make a bow like
+fiddlin' folks does w'en dey goes in comp'ny; but he ain't no sooner
+make he bow en look 'roun' twel he 'gun ter shake en shiver lak he done
+bin strucken wid de swamp-ager, kaze, settin' right dar 'fo' de fier wuz
+ole Brer Wolf, wid his toofies showin' up all w'ite en shiny like dey
+wuz bran new. Ef ole Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't bin so ole en stiff I boun'
+you he'd er broke en run, but 'mos' 'fo' he had time fer ter study 'bout
+gittin' 'way, ole Brer Wolf done bin jump up en shet de do' en fassen
+'er wid a great big chain. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram he know he in fer't, en
+he tuck'n put on a bol' face ez he kin, but he des nat'ally hone[12] fer
+ter be los' in de woods some mo'. Den he make n'er low bow, en he hope
+Brer Wolf and all his folks is well, en den he say, sezee, dat he des
+drap in fer ter wom hisse'f, en 'quire uv de way ter Miss Meadows', en
+ef Brer Wolf be so good ez ter set 'im in de road ag'in, he be off putty
+soon en be much 'blige in de bargains.
+
+"'Tooby sho', Mr. Ram,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee, w'iles he lick he chops en
+grin; 'des put yo' walkin'-cane in de cornder over dar, en set yo' bag
+down on de flo', en make yo'se'f at home,' sezee. 'We ain't got much,'
+sezee, 'but w'at we is got is yone w'iles you stays, en I boun' we'll
+take good keer un you,' sezee; en wid dat Brer Wolf laugh en show his
+toofies so bad dat ole man Benjermun Ram come mighty nigh havin' 'n'er
+ager.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf tuck'n flung 'n'er lighter'd-knot on de fier, en den he
+slip inter de back room, en present'y, w'iles ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz
+settin' dar shakin' in he shoes, he year Brer Wolf whispun' ter he ole
+'oman:--
+
+"'Ole 'oman! ole 'oman! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat--fresh meat fer
+supper! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat--fresh meat fer supper!'
+
+"Den ole Miss Wolf, she talk out loud, so Mr. Benjermun Ram kin year:--
+
+"'Tooby sho' I'll fix 'im some supper. We er 'way off yer in de woods,
+so fur fum comp'ny dat goodness knows I'm mighty glad ter see Mr.
+Benjermun Ram.'
+
+"Den Mr. Benjermun Ram year ole Miss Wolf whettin' 'er knife on a
+rock--_shirrah! shirrah! shirrah!_--en ev'y time he year de knife say
+_shirrah!_ he know he dat much nigher de dinner-pot. He know he can't
+git 'way, en w'iles he settin' dar studyin', hit come 'cross he min' dat
+he des mought ez well play one mo' chune on he fiddle 'fo' de wuss come
+ter de wuss. Wid dat he ontie de bag en take out de fiddle, en 'gun ter
+chune 'er up--_plink, plank, plunk, plink! plunk, plank, plink, plunk!_"
+
+Uncle Remus's imitation of the tuning of a fiddle was marvellous enough
+to produce a startling effect upon a much less enthusiastic listener
+than the little boy. It was given in perfect good faith, but the serious
+expression on the old man's face was so irresistibly comic that the
+child laughed until the tears ran down his face. Uncle Remus very
+properly accepted this as a tribute to his wonderful resources as a
+story-teller, and continued, in great good-humor:--
+
+"W'en ole Miss Wolf year dat kinder fuss, co'se she dunner w'at is it,
+en she drap 'er knife en lissen. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't know dis,
+en he keep on chunin' up--_plank, plink, plunk, plank!_ Den ole Miss
+Wolf, she tuck'n hunch Brer Wolf wid 'er elbow, en she say, sez she:--
+
+"'Hey, ole man! w'at dat?"
+
+"Den bofe un um cock up der years en lissen, en des 'bout dat time ole
+Mr. Benjermun Ram he sling de butt er de fiddle up und' he chin, en
+struck up one er dem ole-time chunes."
+
+"Well, what tune was it, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, with some
+display of impatience.
+
+"Ef I ain't done gone en fergit dat chune off'n my min'," continued
+Uncle Remus; "hit sorter went like dat ar song 'bout 'Sheep shell co'n
+wid de rattle er his ho'n,' en yit hit mout er been dat ar yuther one
+'bout 'Roll de key, ladies, roll dem keys.' Brer Wolf en ole Miss Wolf,
+dey lissen en lissen, en de mo' w'at dey lissen de skeerder dey git,
+twel bimeby dey tuck ter der heels en make a break fer de swamp at de
+back er de house des lak de patter-rollers wuz atter um.
+
+"W'en ole man Benjermun Ram sorter let up wid he fiddlin', he don't see
+no Brer Wolf, en he don't year no ole Miss Wolf. Den he look in de back
+room; no Wolf dar. Den he look in de back po'ch; no Wolf dar. Den he
+look in de closet en de cubberd; no Wolf ain't dar yit. Den ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram, he tuck'n shot all de do's en lock um, en he s'arch
+'roun' en he fine some peas en fodder in de lof', w'ich he et um fer he
+supper, en den he lie down front er de fier en sleep soun' ez a log.
+
+"Nex' mawnin' he 'uz up en stirrin' monst'us soon, en he put out fum
+dar, en he fine de way ter Miss Meadows' time 'nuff fer ter play at de
+frolic. W'en he git dar, Miss Meadows en de gals, dey run ter de gate
+fer ter meet 'im, en dis un tuck he hat, en dat un tuck he cane, en
+t'er'n tuck he fiddle, en den dey up'n say:--
+
+"'Law, Mr. Ram! whar de name er goodness is you bin? We so glad you
+come. Stir 'roun' yer, folks, en git Mr. Ram a cup er hot coffee.'
+
+"Dey make a mighty big ter-do 'bout Mr. Benjermun Ram, Miss Meadows en
+Miss Motts en de gals did, but 'twix' you en me en de bedpos', honey,
+dey'd er had der frolic wh'er de ole chap 'uz dar er not, kaze de gals
+done make 'rangerments wid Brer Rabbit fer ter pat fer um, en in dem
+days Brer Rabbit wuz a patter, mon. He mos' sholy wuz."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[11] That is, from the foundation, or beginning.
+
+[12] To pine or long for anything. This is a good old English word,
+which has been retained in the plantation vocabulary.
+
+
+
+
+X
+
+BRER RABBIT'S RIDDLE
+
+
+"Could Brother Rabbit pat a tune, sure enough, Uncle Remus?" asked the
+little boy, his thoughts apparently dwelling upon the new accomplishment
+of Brother Rabbit at which the old man had hinted in his story of Mr.
+Benjamin Ram. Uncle Remus pretended to be greatly surprised that any one
+could be so unfamiliar with the accomplishments of Brother Rabbit as to
+venture to ask such a question. His response was in the nature of a
+comment:--
+
+"Name er goodness! w'at kinder pass dish yer we comin' ter w'en a great
+big grow'd up young un axin' 'bout Brer Rabbit? Bless yo' soul, honey!
+dey wa'n't no chune gwine dat Brer Rabbit can't pat. Let 'lone dat, w'en
+dey wuz some un else fer ter do de pattin', Brer Rabbit kin jump out
+inter de middle er de flo' en des nat'ally shake de eyel'ds off'en dem
+yuther creeturs. En 't wa'n't none er dish yer bowin' en scrapin', en
+slippin' en slidin', en han's all 'roun', w'at folks does deze days. Hit
+uz dish yer up en down kinder dancin', whar dey des lips up in de a'r
+fer ter cut de pidjin-wing, en lights on de flo' right in de middle er
+de double-shuffle. _Shoo!_ Dey ain't no dancin' deze days; folks' shoes
+too tight, en dey ain't got dat limbersomeness in de hips w'at dey uster
+is. Dat dey ain't.
+
+"En yit," Uncle Remus continued, in a tone which seemed to imply that he
+deemed it necessary to apologize for the apparent frivolity of Brother
+Rabbit,--"en yit de time come w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'gun ter put dis en
+dat tergedder, en de notion strak 'im dat he better be home lookin'
+atter de intruss er he fambly, 'stidder trapesin' en trollopin' 'roun'
+ter all de frolics in de settlement. He tuck'n study dis in he min' twel
+bimeby he sot out 'termin' fer ter 'arn he own livelihoods, en den he
+up'n lay off a piece er groun' en plant 'im a tater-patch.
+
+"Brer Fox, he see all dish yer gwine on, he did, en he 'low ter hisse'f
+dat he 'speck Brer Rabbit rashfulness done bin supjued kaze he skeer'd,
+en den Brer Fox make up his min' dat he gwine ter pay Brer Rabbit back
+fer all he 'seetfulness. He start in, Brer Fox did, en fum dat time
+forrerd he aggervate Brer Rabbit 'bout he tater-patch. One night he
+leave de draw-bars down, 'n'er night he fling off de top rails, en nex'
+night he t'ar down a whole panel er fence, en he keep on dis a-way twel
+'pariently Brer Rabbit dunner w'at ter do. All dis time Brer Fox keep on
+foolin' wid de tater-patch, en w'en he see w'ich Brer Rabbit ain't
+makin' no motion, Brer Fox 'low dat he done skeer'd sho' 'nuff, en dat
+de time done come fer ter gobble him up bidout lief er license. So he
+call on Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox did, en he ax 'im will he take a walk.
+Brer Rabbit, he ax wharbouts. Brer Fox say, right out yander. Brer
+Rabbit, he ax w'at is dey right out yander? Brer Fox say he know whar
+dey some mighty fine peaches, en he want Brer Rabbit fer ter go 'long en
+climb de tree en fling um down. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
+mo' speshually fer ter 'blige Brer Fox.
+
+"Dey sot out, dey did, en atter w'ile, sho' 'nuff, dey come ter de
+peach-orchud, en Brer Rabbit, w'at do he do but pick out a good tree, en
+up he clum. Brer Fox, he sot hisse'f at de root er de tree, kaze he 'low
+dat w'en Brer Rabbit come down he hatter come down backerds, en den dat
+'ud be de time fer ter nab 'im. But, bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit dun see
+w'at-Brer Fox atter 'fo' he clum up. W'en he pull de peaches, Brer Fox
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'Fling um down yer, Brer Rabbit--fling um right down yer so I kin
+ketch um,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter wunk de furdest eye fum Brer Fox, en he holler
+back, he did:--
+
+"'Ef I fling um down dar whar you is, Brer Fox, en you misses um, dey'll
+git squshed,' sezee, 'so I'll des sorter pitch um out yander in de grass
+whar dey won't git bus',' sezee.
+
+"Den he tuck'n flung de peaches out in de grass, en w'iles Brer Fox went
+atter um, Brer Rabbit, he skint down outer de tree, en hustle hisse'f
+twel he git elbow-room. Wen he git off little ways, he up 'n holler back
+ter Brer Fox dat he got a riddle he want 'im ter read. Brer Fox, he ax
+w'at is it. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he gun it out ter Brer Fox lak a man
+sayin' a speech:--
+
+    "'_Big bird rob en little bird sing,
+    De big bee zoon en little bee sting,
+    De little man lead en big hoss foller--
+    Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?_'
+
+"Ole Brer Fox scratch he head en study, en study en scratch he head, but
+de mo' he study de wuss he git mix up wid de riddle, en atter w'ile he
+tuck'n tell Brer Rabbit dat he dunno how in de name er goodness ter
+onriddle dat riddle.
+
+"'Come en go 'longer me,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en I boun' you I
+show you how ter read dat same riddle. Hit's one er dem ar kinder
+riddle,' sez ole man Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich 'fo' you read 'er you got ter
+eat a bait er honey, en I done got my eye sot on de place whar we kin
+git de honey at,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say up dar in ole
+Brer B'ar cotton-patch, whar he got a whole passel er bee-gums. Brer
+Fox, he 'low, he did, dat he ain't got no sweet-toof much, yit he wanter
+git at de innerds er dat ar riddle, en he don't keer ef he do go 'long.
+
+"Dey put out, dey did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey come ter ole Brer B'ar
+bee-gums, en ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n gun um a rap wid he walkin'-cane,
+des lak folks thumps water-millions fer ter see ef dey er ripe. He tap
+en he rap, en bimeby he come ter one un um w'ich she soun' like she plum
+full, en den he go 'roun' behime it, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he up'n
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'I'll des sorter tilt 'er up, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'en you kin put yo'
+head und' dar en git some er de drippin's,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tilt her up, en, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox, he jam he head
+un'need de gum. Hit make me laugh," Uncle Remus continued, with a
+chuckle, "fer ter see w'at a fresh man is Brer Fox, kaze he ain't no
+sooner stuck he head un'need dat ar bee-gum, dan Brer Rabbit turnt 'er
+aloose, en down she come--_ker-swosh!_--right on Brer Fox neck, en dar
+he wuz. Brer Fox, he kick; he squeal; he jump; he squall; he dance; he
+prance; he beg; he pray; yit dar he wuz, en w'en Brer Rabbit git way
+off, en tu'n 'roun' fer ter look back, he see Brer Fox des a-wigglin' en
+a-squ'min', en right den en dar Brer Rabbit gun one ole-time whoop, en
+des put out fer home.
+
+"W'en he git dar, de fus' man he see wuz Brer Fox gran'daddy, w'ich
+folks all call 'im Gran'sir' Gray Fox. W'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'How you come on, Gran'sir' Gray Fox?'
+
+"'I still keeps po'ly, I'm 'blije ter you, Brer Rabbit,' sez Gran'sir'
+Gray Fox, sezee. 'Is you seed any sign er my gran'son dis mawnin'?'
+sezee.
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit laugh en say w'ich him en Brer Fox bin a-ramblin'
+'roun' wid one er'n'er havin' mo' fun dan w'at a man kin shake a stick
+at.
+
+"'We bin a-riggin' up riddles en a-readin' un um,' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee. 'Brer Fox is settin' off some'rs in de bushes right now, aimin'
+fer ter read one w'at I gun 'im. I'll des drap you one,' sez ole Brer
+Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich, ef you kin read it, hit'll take you right spang
+ter whar yo' gran'son is, en you can't git dar none too soon,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+    [Illustration: "BRER RABBIT TURNT 'ER ALOOSE, EN DOWN SHE
+    COME--_KER-SWOSH!_"]
+
+"Den ole Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he up'n ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he
+sing out, he did:--
+
+    "'_De big bird rob en little bird sing;
+    De big bee zoon en little bee sting,
+    De little man lead en big hoss foller--
+    Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?_'
+
+"Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he tuck a pinch er snuff en cough easy ter hisse'f,
+en study en study, but he ain't make it out, en Brer Rabbit, he laugh en
+sing:--
+
+    "'_Bee-gum mighty big fer ter make Fox collar,
+    Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?_'
+
+"Atter so long a time, Gran'sir' Gray Fox sorter ketch a glimpse er w'at
+Brer Rabbit tryin' ter gin 'im, en he tip Brer Rabbit good-day, en
+shuffle on fer ter hunt up he gran'son."
+
+"And did he find him, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Tooby sho', honey. Brer B'ar year de racket w'at Brer Fox kickin' up,
+en he go down dar fer ter see w'at de marter is. Soon ez he see how de
+lan' lay, co'se he tuck a notion dat Brer Fox bin robbin' de bee-gums,
+en he got 'im a han'ful er hick'ries, Brer B'ar did, en he let in on
+Brer Fox en he wom he jacket scannerlous, en den he tuck'n tu'n 'im
+loose; but 't wa'n't long 'fo' all de neighbors git wud dat Brer Fox bin
+robbin' Brer B'ar bee-gums."
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: How Mr. Rooster lost his Dinner]
+
+XI
+
+HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER
+
+
+It seemed that the rainy season had set in in earnest, but the little
+boy went down to Uncle Remus's cabin before dark. In some mysterious
+way, it appeared to the child, the gloom of twilight fastened itself
+upon the dusky clouds, and the great trees without, and the dismal
+perspective beyond, gradually became one with the darkness. Uncle Remus
+had thoughtfully placed a tin pan under a leak in the roof, and the
+_drip-drip-drip_ of the water, as it fell in the resonant vessel, made a
+not unmusical accompaniment to the storm.
+
+The old man fumbled around under his bed, and presently dragged forth a
+large bag filled with lightwood knots, which, with an instinctive
+economy in this particular direction, he had stored away for an
+emergency. A bright but flickering flame was the result of this timely
+discovery, and the effect it produced was quite in keeping with all the
+surroundings. The rain, and wind, and darkness held sway without, while
+within, the unsteady lightwood blaze seemed to rhyme with the
+_drip-drip-drip_ in the pan. Sometimes the shadow of Uncle Remus, as he
+leaned over the hearth, would tower and fill the cabin, and again it
+would fade and disappear among the swaying and swinging cobwebs that
+curtained the rafters.
+
+"W'en bed-time come, honey," said Uncle Remus, in a soothing tone, "I'll
+des snatch down yo' pa buggy umbrell' fum up dar in de cornder, des lak
+I bin a-doin', en I'll take'n take you und' my arm en set you down on
+Miss Sally h'a'th des ez dry en ez wom ez a rat'-nes' inside a
+fodder-stack."
+
+At this juncture 'Tildy, the house-girl, rushed in out of the rain and
+darkness with a water-proof cloak and an umbrella, and announced her
+mission to the little boy without taking time to catch her breath.
+
+"Miss Sally say you got ter come right back," she exclaimed. "Kaze she
+skeerd lightin' gwine strak 'roun' in yer 'mongs' deze high trees
+some'rs."
+
+Uncle Remus rose from his stooping posture in front of the hearth and
+assumed a threatening attitude.
+
+"Well, is anybody year de beat er dat!" was his indignant exclamation.
+"Look yer, gal! don't you come foolin' 'longer me--now, don't you do it.
+Kaze ef yer does, I'll take'n hit you a clip w'at'll put you ter bed
+'fo' bed-times come. Dat's w'at!"
+
+"Lawdy! w'at I done gone en done ter Unk' Remus now?" asked 'Tildy, with
+a great affectation of innocent ignorance.
+
+"I'm gwine ter put on my coat en take dat ar umbrell', en I'm gwine
+right straight up ter de big house en ax Miss Sally ef she sont dat
+kinder wud down yer, w'en she know dat chile sittin' yer 'longer me. I'm
+gwine ter ax her," continued Uncle Remus, "en if she ain't sont dat wud,
+den I'm gwine ter fetch myse'f back. Now, you des watch my motions."
+
+"Well, I year Miss Sally say she 'feard lightnin' gwine ter strak
+some'rs on de place," said 'Tildy, in a tone which manifested her
+willingness to compromise all differences, "en den I axt 'er kin I come
+down yer, en den she say I better bring deze yer cloak en pairsol."
+
+"Now you dun brung um," responded Uncle Remus, "you des better put um in
+dat cheer over dar, en take yo'se'f off. Thunder mighty ap' ter hit
+close ter whar deze here slick-head niggers is."
+
+But the little boy finally prevailed upon the old man to allow 'Tildy to
+remain, and after a while he put matters on a peace footing by inquiring
+if roosters crowed at night when it was raining.
+
+"Dat dey duz," responded Uncle Remus. "Wet er dry, dey flops der wings
+en wakes up all de neighbors. Law, bless my soul!" he exclaimed
+suddenly, "w'at make I done gone en fergit 'bout Mr. Rooster?"
+
+"What about him?" inquired the little boy.
+
+"One time, 'way back yander," said Uncle Remus, knocking the ashes off
+his hands and knees, "dey wuz two plan'ations right 'longside one er
+'ne'r, en on bofe er deze plan'ations wuz a whole passel of fowls. Dey
+wuz mighty sociable in dem days, en it tu'n out dat de fowls on one
+plan'ation gun a party, w'ich dey sont out der invites ter de fowls on
+de 't'er plan'ation.
+
+"W'en de day come, Mr. Rooster, he blow his hawn, he did, en 'semble um
+all tergedder, en atter dey 'semble dey got in line. Mr. Rooster, he
+tuck de head, en atter 'im come ole lady Hen en Miss Pullet, en den dar
+wuz Mr. Peafowl, en Mr. Tukkey Gobbler, en Miss Guinny Hen, en Miss
+Puddle Duck, en all de balance un um. Dey start off sorter raggedy, but
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' dey all kotch de step, en den dey march down by de
+spring, up thoo de hoss-lot en 'cross by de gin-house, en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' dey git ter whar de frolic wuz.
+
+"'Dey dance, en dey play, en dey sing. Mo' 'speshually did dey play en
+sing dat ar song w'ich it run on lak dis:--
+
+    "'_Come under, come under,
+    My honey, my love, my own true love;
+    My heart bin a-weepin'
+    Way down in Galilee._'
+
+"Dey wuz gwine on dis a-way, havin' der 'musements, w'en, bimeby, ole
+Mr. Peafowl, he got on de comb er de barn en blow de dinner-hawn. Dey
+all wash der face en ban's in de back po'ch, en den dey went in ter
+dinner. W'en dey git in dar, dey don't see nothin' on de table but a
+great big pile er co'n-bread. De pones was pile up on pones, en on de
+top wuz a great big ash-cake. Mr. Rooster, he look at dis en he tu'n up
+he nose, en bimeby, atter aw'ile, out he strut. Ole Miss Guinny Hen, she
+watchin' Mr. Rooster motions, en w'en she see dis, she take'n squall
+out, she did:--
+
+"_'Pot-rack! Pot-rack!_ Mr. Rooster gone back! _Pot-rack! Pot-rack!_ Mr.
+Rooster gone back!'
+
+"Wid dat dey all make a great ter-do. Miss Hen en Miss Pullet, dey
+cackle en squall, Mr. Gobbler, he gobble, en Miss Puddle Duck, she shake
+'er tail en say, _quickity-quack-quack_. But Mr. Rooster, he ruffle up
+he cape, en march on out.
+
+"Dis sorter put a damper on de yuthers, but 'fo' Mr. Rooster git outer
+sight en year'n dey went ter wuk on de pile w'at wuz 'pariently
+co'n-bread, en, lo en beholes, un'need dem pone er bread wuz a whole
+passel er meat en greens, en bake' taters, en bile' turnips. Mr.
+Rooster, he year de ladies makin' great 'miration, en he stop en look
+thoo de crack, en dar he see all de doin's en fixin's. He feel mighty
+bad, Mr. Rooster did, w'en he see all dis, en de yuther fowls dey holler
+en ax 'im fer ter come back, en he craw, w'ich it mighty empty,
+likewise, it up'n ax 'im, but he mighty biggity en stuck up, en he strut
+off, crowin' ez he go; but he 'speunce er dat time done las' him en all
+er his fambly down ter dis day. En you neenter take my wud fer't, ne'r,
+kaze ef you'll des keep yo' eye open en watch, you'll ketch a glimse er
+ole Mr. Rooster folks scratchin' whar dey 'specks ter fine der rations,
+en mo' dan dat, dey'll scratch wid der rations in plain sight. Since dat
+time, dey ain't none er de Mr. Roosters bin fool' by dat w'at dey see on
+top. Dey ain't res' twel dey see w'at und' dar. Dey'll scratch spite er
+all creation."
+
+"Dat's de Lord's truth!" said 'Tildy, with unction. "I done seed um wid
+my own eyes. Dat I is."
+
+This was 'Tildy's method of renewing peaceful relations with Uncle
+Remus, but the old man was disposed to resist the attempt.
+
+"You better be up yander washin' up dishes, stidder hoppin' down yer wid
+er whole packet er stuff w'at Miss Sally ain't dreamp er sayin'."
+
+
+
+
+XII
+
+BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY
+
+
+As long as Uncle Remus allowed 'Tildy to remain in the cabin, the little
+boy was not particularly interested in preventing the perfunctory abuse
+which the old man might feel disposed to bestow upon the complacent
+girl. The truth is, the child's mind was occupied with the episode in
+the story of Mr. Benjamin Ram which treats of the style in which this
+romantic old wag put Mr. and Mrs. Wolf to flight by playing a tune upon
+his fiddle. The little boy was particularly struck with this remarkable
+feat, as many a youngster before him had been, and he made bold to recur
+to it again by asking Uncle Remus for all the details. It was plain to
+the latter that the child regarded Mr. Ram as the typical hero of all
+the animals, and this was by no means gratifying to the old man. He
+answered the little boy's questions as well as he could, and, when
+nothing more remained to be said about Mr. Ram, he settled himself back
+in his chair and resumed the curious history of Brother Rabbit:--
+
+"Co'se Mr. Ram mighty smart man. I ain't 'spute dat; but needer Mr. Ram
+ner yet Mr. Lam is soon creeturs lak Brer Rabbit. Mr. Benjermun Ram, he
+tuck'n skeer off Brer Wolf en his ole 'oman wid his fiddle, but, bless
+yo' soul, ole Brer Rabbit he gone en done wuss'n dat."
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do?" asked the little boy.
+
+"One time," said Uncle Remus, "Brer Fox, he tuck'n ax some er de yuther
+creeturs ter he house. He ax Brer B'ar, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, but
+he ain't ax Brer Rabbit. All de same, Brer Rabbit got win' un it, en he
+'low dat ef he don't go, he 'speck he have much fun ez de nex' man.
+
+"De creeturs w'at git de invite, dey tuck'n 'semble at Brer Fox house,
+en Brer Fox, he ax um in en got um cheers, en dey sot dar en laugh en
+talk, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox, he fotch out a bottle er dram en lay 'er
+out on de side-bode, en den he sorter step back en say, sezee:--
+
+"'Des step up, gentermens, en he'p yo'se'f,' en you better b'lieve dey
+he'p derse'f.
+
+"Wiles dey wuz drinkin' en drammin' en gwine on, w'at you 'speck Brer
+Rabbit doin'? You des well make up yo' min' dat Brer Rabbit monst'us
+busy, kaze he 'uz sailin' 'roun' fixin' up his tricks. Long time 'fo'
+dat, Brer Rabbit had been at a bobbycue whar dey was a muster, en w'iles
+all de folks 'uz down at de spring eatin' dinner, Brer Rabbit he crope
+up en run off wid one er de drums. Dey wuz a big drum en a little drum,
+en Brer Rabbit he snatch up de littles' one en run home.
+
+"Now, den, w'en he year 'bout de yuther creeturs gwine ter Brer Fox
+house, w'at do Brer Rabbit do but git out dis rattlin' drum en make de
+way down de road todes whar dey is. He tuk dat drum," continued Uncle
+Remus, with great elation of voice and manner, "en he went down de road
+todes Brer Fox house, en he make 'er talk like thunner mix up wid hail.
+Hit talk lak dis:--
+
+"'_Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum--diddybum!_'
+
+"De creeturs, dey 'uz a-drinkin', en a-drammin', en a-gwine on at a
+terrible rate, en dey ain't year de racket, but all de same, yer come
+Brer Rabbit:--
+
+"'_Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum--diddybum!_'
+
+"Bimeby Brer 'Coon, w'ich he allers got one year hung out fer de news,
+he up'n ax Brer Fox w'at dat, en by dat time all de creeturs stop en
+lissen; but all de same, yer come Brer Rabbit:--
+
+"'_Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum--diddybum!_'
+
+"De creeturs dey keep on lis'nin', en Brer Rabbit keep on gittin'
+nigher, twel bimeby Brer 'Coon retch und' de cheer fer he hat, en say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'Well, gents, I 'speck I better be gwine. I tole my ole 'oman dat I
+won't be gone a minnit, en yer 't is 'way 'long in de day.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer 'Coon, he skip out, but he ain't git much furder dan de
+back gate, 'fo' yer come all de yuther creeturs like dey 'uz runnin' a
+foot-race, en ole Brer Fox wuz wukkin' in de lead."
+
+"Dar, now!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with great fervor.
+
+"Yasser! dar dey wuz, en dar dey went," continued Uncle Remus. "Dey tuck
+nigh cuts, en dey scramble over one er 'n'er, en dey ain't res' twel dey
+git in de bushes.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he came on down de road--_diddybum, diddybum,
+diddybum-bum-bum_--en bless gracious! w'en he git ter Brer Fox house dey
+ain't nobody dar. Brer Rabbit is dat ow-dacious, dat he hunt all 'roun'
+twel he fine de a'r-hole en de drum, en he put his mouf ter dat en sing
+out, sezee:--
+
+"'Is dey anybody home?' en den he answer hisse'f, sezee, 'Law, no,
+honey--folks all gone.'
+
+"Wid dat, ole Brer Rabbit break loose en laugh, he did, fit ter kill
+hisse'f, en den he slam Brer Fox front gate wide open, en march up ter
+de house. W'en he git dar, he kick de do' open en hail Brer Fox, but
+nobody ain't dar, en Brer Rabbit he walk in en take a cheer, en make
+hisse'f at home wid puttin' his foots on de sofy en spittin' on de flo'.
+
+"Brer Rabbit ain't sot dar long 'fo' he ketch a whiff er de dram--"
+
+"You year dat?" exclaimed 'Tildy, with convulsive admiration.
+
+"--'Fo' he ketch a whiff er de dram, en den he see it on de side-bode,
+en he step up en drap 'bout a tumbeler full some'rs down in de
+neighborhoods er de goozle. Brer Rabbit mighty lak some folks I knows.
+He tuck one tumbeler full, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he tuck 'n'er'n, en
+w'en a man do dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, somewhat
+apologetically, "he bleedz ter git drammy."
+
+"Truth, too!" said 'Tildy, by way of hearty confirmation.
+
+"All des time de yuther creeturs wuz down hi de bushes lissenin' fer de
+_diddybum_, en makin' ready fer ter light out fum dar at de drop uv a
+hat. But dey ain't year no mo' fuss, en bimeby Brer Fox, he say he gwine
+back en look atter he plunder, en de yuther creeturs say dey b'leeve
+dey'll go 'long wid 'im. Dey start out, dey did, en dey crope todes Brer
+Fox house, but dey crope mighty keerful, en I boun' ef somebody'd 'a'
+shuck a bush, dem ar creeturs 'ud 'a' nat'ally to' up de ye'th gittin'
+'way fum dar. Yit dey still ain't year no fuss, en dey keep on creepin'
+twel dey git in de house.
+
+"W'en dey git in dar, de fus' sight dey see wuz ole Brer Rabbit stannin'
+up by de dram-bottle mixin' up a toddy, en he wa'n't so stiff-kneed
+n'er, kase he sorter swage fum side ter side, en he look lak he mighty
+limbersome, w'ich, goodness knows, a man bleedz ter be limbersome w'en
+he drink dat kinder licker w'at Brer Fox perwide fer dem creeturs.
+
+"W'en Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit makin' free wid he doin's dat a-way, w'at
+you 'speck he do?" inquired Uncle Remus, with the air of one seeking
+general information.
+
+"I 'speck he cusst," said 'Tildy, who was apt to take a vividly
+practical view of matters.
+
+"He was glad," said the little boy, "because he had a good chance to
+catch Brother Rabbit."
+
+"Tooby sho' he wuz," continued Uncle Remus, heartily assenting to the
+child's interpretation of the situation: "tooby sho' he wuz. He stan'
+dar, Brer Fox did, en he watch Brer Rabbit motions. Bimeby he holler
+out, sezee:--
+
+"'Ah yi![13] Brer Rabbit!' sezee. 'Many a time is you made yo' 'scape,
+but now I got you!' En wid dat, Brer Fox en de yuther creeturs cloze in
+on Brer Rabbit.
+
+"Seem like I done tole you dat Brer Rabbit done gone en tuck mo' dram
+dan w'at 'uz good fer he wholesome. Yit he head ain't swim so bad dat he
+dunner w'at he doin', en time he lay eyes on Brer Fox, he know he done
+got in close quarters. Soon ez he see dis, Brer Rabbit make like he bin
+down in de cup mo' deeper dan w'at he is, en he stagger 'roun' like town
+gal stannin' in a batteau, en he seem lak he des ez limber ez a wet rag.
+He stagger up ter Brer Fox, he did, en he roll he eyeballs 'roun', en
+slap 'im on he back en ax 'im how he ma. Den w'en he see de yuther
+creeturs," continued Uncle Remus, "he holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Vents yo' uppance, gentermens! Vents yo' uppance![14] Ef you'll des
+gimme han'-roomance en come one at a time, de tussle 'll las' longer.
+How you all come on, nohow?' sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit talk so kuse dat de yuther creeturs have mo' fun dan
+w'at you k'n shake a stick at, but bimeby Brer Fox say dey better git
+down ter business, en den dey all cloze in on Brer Rabbit, en dar he
+wuz.
+
+"In dem days, ole man B'ar wuz a jedge 'mongs' de creeturs, en dey all
+ax 'im w'at dey gwine do 'long wid Brer Rabbit, en Jedge B'ar, he put on
+his specks, en cle'r up his th'oat, en say dat de bes' way ter do wid a
+man w'at kick up sech a racket, en run de neighbors outer der own house,
+en go in dar en level[15] on de pantry, is ter take 'im out en drown 'im;
+en ole Brer Fox, w'ich he settin' on de jury, he up'n smack he hands
+togedder, en cry, en say, sezee, dat atter dis he bleedz ter b'leeve dat
+Jedge B'ar done got all-under holt on de lawyer-books, kaze dat 'zackly
+w'at dey say w'en a man level on he neighbor pantry.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he make out he skeerd, en he holler en cry, en beg um,
+in de name er goodness, don't fling 'im in de spring branch, kaze dey
+all know he dunner how ter swim: but ef dey bleedz fer ter pitch 'im in,
+den for mussy sake gin' 'im a walkin'-cane, so he kin have sumpin' ter
+hol' ter w'iles he drownin'.
+
+"Ole Brer B'ar scratch his head en say, sezee, dat, fur ez his
+'membunce go back, he ain't come 'cross nothin' in de lawyer-book ter
+de contraries er dat, en den dey all 'gree dat Brer Rabbit kin have a
+walkin'-cane.
+
+"Wid dat, dey ketch up Brer Rabbit en put 'im in a wheelborrow en kyar
+'im down ter de branch, en fling 'im in."
+
+"Eh-eh!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with well-feigned astonishment.
+
+"Dey fling 'im in," continued Uncle Remus, "en Brer Rabbit light on he
+foots, same ez a tomcat, en pick his way out by de helps er de
+walkin'-cane. De water wuz dat shaller dat it don't mo'n come over Brer
+Rabbit slipper, en w'en he git out on t'er side, he holler back,
+sezee:--
+
+"'So long, Brer Fox!'"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[13] A corruption of "aye, aye." It is used as an expression of triumph
+and its employment in this connection is both droll and picturesque.
+
+[14] Southern readers will recognize this and "han'-roomance" as terms
+used by negroes in playing marbles,--a favorite game on the plantations
+Sunday afternoons. These terms were curt and expressive enough to gain
+currency among the whites.
+
+[15] Levy.
+
+
+
+
+XIII
+
+BRER FOX, BRER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S DAUGHTER
+
+
+Notwithstanding Brother Rabbit's success with the drum, the little boy
+was still inclined to refer to Mr. Benjamin Ram and his fiddle; but
+Uncle Remus was not, by any means, willing that such an ancient vagabond
+as Mr. Ram should figure as a hero, and he said that, while it was
+possible that Brother Rabbit was no great hand with the fiddle, he was a
+drummer, and a capital singer to boot. Furthermore, Uncle Remus declared
+that Brother Rabbit could perform upon the quills,[16] an accomplishment
+to which none of the other animals could lay claim. There was a time,
+too, the old man pointedly suggested, when the romantic rascal used his
+musical abilities to win the smiles of a nice young lady of quality--no
+less a personage, indeed, than King Deer's daughter. As a matter of
+course, the little boy was anxious to hear the particulars, and Uncle
+Remus was in nowise loath to give them.
+
+"W'en you come ter ax me 'bout de year en day er de mont'," said the
+old man, cunningly arranging a defence against criticism, "den I'm done,
+kaze de almanick w'at dey got in dem times won't pass muster deze days,
+but, let 'lone dat, I 'speck dey ain't had none yit; en if dey is, dey
+ain't none bin handed down ter Remus.
+
+"Well, den, some time 'long in dar, ole Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit got ter
+flyin' 'roun' King Deer daughter. Dey tells me she 'uz a monst'us likely
+gal, en I 'speck may be she wuz; leas'ways, Brer Fox, he hanker atter
+'er, en likewise Brer Rabbit, he hanker atter 'er. Ole King Deer look
+lak he sorter lean todes Brer Fox, kaze ter a settle man like him, hit
+seem lak dat Brer Fox kin stir 'roun' en keep de pot a-b'ilin', mo'
+speshually bein's he de bigges'. Hit go on dis a-way twel hardly a day
+pass dat one er de yuther er dem creeturs don't go sparklin' 'roun' King
+Deer daughter, en it got so atter w'ile dat all day long Brer Rabbit en
+Brer Fox keep de front gate a-skreakin', en King Deer daughter ain't
+ska'cely had time fer ter eat a meal vittels in no peace er min'.
+
+"In dem days," pursued Uncle Remus, in a tone of unmistakable historical
+fervor, "w'en a creetur go a-courtin' dey wa'n't none er dish yer bokay
+doin's mix' up 'longer der co'tship, en dey ain't cut up no capers like
+folks does now. Stidder scollopin' 'roun' en bowin' en scrapin', dey des
+go right straight atter de gal. Ole Brer Rabbit, he mouter had some
+bubby-blossoms[17] wrop up in his hankcher, but mostly him en Brer Fox
+'ud des drap in on King Deer daughter en 'gin ter cas' sheep-eyes at 'er
+time dey sot down en cross der legs."
+
+"En I bet," said 'Tildy, by way of comment, and looking as though she
+wanted to blush, "dat dey wa'n't 'shame', nuther."
+
+"Dey went 'long dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, "twel it 'gun ter
+look sorter skittish wid Brer Rabbit, kaze ole King Deer done good ez
+say, sezee, dat he gwine ter take Brer Fox inter de fambly. Brer
+Rabbit, he 'low, he did, dat dis ain't gwine ter do, en he study en
+study how he gwine ter cut Brer Fox out.
+
+"Las', one day, w'iles he gwine thoo King Deer pastur' lot, he up wid a
+rock en kilt two er King Deer goats. Wen he git ter de house, he ax King
+Deer daughter whar'bouts her pa, en she up'n say she go call 'im, en
+w'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he ax w'en de weddin' tuck place, en King Deer
+ax w'ich weddin', en Brer Rabbit say de weddin' 'twix' Brer Fox en King
+Deer daughter. Wid dat, ole King Deer ax Brer Rabbit w'at make he go on
+so, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat he see Brer Fox makin' monst'us
+free wid de fambly, gwine 'roun' chunkin' de chickens en killin' up de
+goats.
+
+"Ole King Deer strak he walkin'-cane down 'pon de flo', en 'low dat he
+don't put no 'pennunce in no sech tale lak dat, en den Brer Rabbit tell
+'im dat ef he'll des take a walk down in de pastur' lot, he kin see de
+kyarkiss er de goats. Ole King Deer, he put out, en bimeby he come back,
+en he 'low he gwine ter settle marters wid Brer Fox ef it take 'im a
+mont'.
+
+"Brer Rabbit say he a good frien' ter Brer Fox, en he ain't got no room
+ter talk 'bout 'im, but yit w'en he see 'im 'stroyin' King Deer goats en
+chunkin' at his chickens, en rattlin' on de palin's fer ter make de dog
+bark, he bleedz ter come lay de case 'fo' de fambly.
+
+"'En mo'n dat,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'I'm de man w'at kin make
+Brer Fox come en stan' right at de front gate en tell you dat he is kill
+dem goat; en ef you des wait twel ter-night, I won't ax you ter take my
+wud,' sezee.
+
+"King Deer say ef Brer Rabbit man 'nuff ter do dat, den he kin git de
+gal en thanky, too. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit jump up en crack he heels
+tergedder, en put out fer ter fine Brer Fox. He ain't git fur 'fo' he
+see Brer Fox comin' down de road all primp up. Brer Rabbit, he sing out,
+he did:--
+
+"'Brer Foxy, whar you gwine?' "En Brer Fox, he holler back:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Rab; don't bodder wid me. I'm gwine fer ter see my gal.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he laugh 'way down in his stomach, but he don't let on, en
+atter some mo' chat, he up'n say dat ole King Deer done tell 'im 'bout
+how Brer Fox gwine ter marry he daughter, en den he tell Brer Fox dat he
+done promise King Deer dat dey'd drap 'roun' ter-night en gin 'im some
+music.
+
+"'En I up'n tole 'im,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat de music w'at we
+can't make ain't wuth makin',--me wid my quills, en you wid yo'
+tr'angle.[18] De nex' motion we makes,' sezee, we'll hatter go off
+some'rs en practise up on de song we'll sing, en I got one yer dat'll
+tickle um dat bad,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'twel I lay dey'll fetch out
+a hunk er dat big chicken-pie w'at I see um puttin' in de pot des now,'
+sezee.
+
+"In a 'casion lak dis, Brer Fox say he de ve'y man w'at Brer Rabbit
+huntin', en he 'low dat he'll des 'bout put off payin' he call ter King
+Deer house en go wid Brer Rabbit fer ter practise on dat song.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he git he quills en Brer Fox he git he tr'angle, en
+dey went down on de spring branch, en dar dey sing en play, twel dey git
+it all by heart. Ole Brer Rabbit, he make up de song he own se'f, en he
+fix it so dat he sing de call, lak de captain er de co'n-pile, en ole
+Brer Fox, he hatter sing de answer."[19]
+
+At this point Uncle Remus paused to indulge in one of his suggestive
+chuckles, and then proceeded:--
+
+"Don't talk 'bout no songs ter me. Gentermens! dat 'uz a funny song fum
+de wud go. Bimeby, w'en dey practise long time, dey gits up en goes
+'roun' in de neighborhoods er King Deer house, en w'en night come dey
+tuck der stan' at de front gate, en atter all got still, Brer Rabbit, he
+gun de wink, en dey broke loose wid der music. Dey played a chune er two
+on de quills en tr'angle, en den dey got ter de song. Ole Brer Rabbit,
+he got de call, en he open up lak dis:--
+
+    "'_Some folks pile up mo'n dey kin tote,
+    En dot w'at de marter wid King Deer goat,_'
+
+en den Brer Fox, he make answer:--
+
+    "'_Dat's so, dat's so, en I'm glad dat it's so!_'
+
+Den de quills en de tr'angle, dey come in, en den Brer Rabbit pursue on
+wid de call:--
+
+    "'_Some kill sheep en some kill shote,
+    But Brer Fox kill King Deer goat,_'
+
+en den Brer Fox, he jine in wid de answer:--
+
+    "'_I did, dat I did, en I'm glad dat I did!_'
+
+En des 'bout dat time King Deer, he walk outer de gate en hit Brer Fox a
+clip wid his walkin'-cane, en he foller it up wid 'n'er'n, dat make Brer
+Fox fa'rly squall, en you des better b'lieve he make tracks 'way fum
+dar, en de gal she come out, en dey ax Brer Rabbit in."
+
+"Did Brother Rabbit marry King Deer's daughter, Uncle Remus?" asked the
+little boy.
+
+"Now, den, honey, you're crowdin' me," responded the old man. "Dey ax
+'im in, en dey gun 'im a great big hunk er chicken-pie, but I won't make
+sho' dat he tuck'n marry de gal. De p'int wid me is de way Brer Rabbit
+run Brer Fox off fum dar."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[16] The veritable Pan's pipes. A simple but very effective musical
+instrument made of reeds, and in great favor on the plantations.
+
+[17] A species of sweet-shrub growing wild in the South.
+
+[18] Triangle.
+
+[19] That is to say, Brother Rabbit sang the air and Brother Fox the
+refrain.
+
+
+
+
+XIV
+
+BRER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BRER BUZZARD
+
+
+There was a pause here, which was finally broken by 'Tildy, whose remark
+was in the shape of a very undignified yawn. Uncle Remus regarded her
+for a moment with an expression of undisguised scorn, which quickly
+expressed itself in words:--
+
+"Ef you'd er bin outer de house dat whack, you'd er tuck us all in.
+Pity dey ain't some place er 'n'er whar deze yer trollops kin go en
+l'arn manners."
+
+Tildy, however, ignored the old man, and, with a toss of her head, said
+to the little boy in a cool, exasperating tone, employing a pet name she
+had heard the child's mother use:--
+
+"Well, Pinx, I 'speck we better go. De rain done mos' hilt up now, en
+bimeby de stars'll be a-shinin'. Miss Sally lookin' fer you right now."
+
+"You better go whar you gwine, you triflin' huzzy, you!" exclaimed Uncle
+Remus. "You better go git yo' Jim Crow kyard en straighten out dem wrops
+in yo' ha'r. I allers year w'ite folks say you better keep yo' eye on
+niggers w'at got der ha'r wrop up in strings. Now I done gun you fa'r
+warnin's."
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, when the old man's wrath had
+somewhat subsided, "why do they call them Jim Crow cards?"
+
+"I be bless ef I know, honey, 'ceppin' it's kaze dey er de onliest
+machine w'at deze yer low-life niggers kin oncomb der kinks wid. Now,
+den," continued the old man, straightening up and speaking with
+considerable animation, "dat 'min's me 'bout a riddle w'at been runnin'
+'roun' in my head. En dat riddle--it's de outdoin'es' riddle w'at I mos'
+ever year tell un. Hit go lak dis: Ef he come, he don't come; ef he
+don't come, he come. Now, I boun' you can't tell w'at is dat."
+
+After some time spent in vain guessing, the little boy confessed that he
+did n't know.
+
+"Hit's crow en co'n," said Uncle Remus sententiously.
+
+"Crow and corn, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Co'se, honey. Crow come, de co'n don't come; crow don't come, den de
+co'n come."
+
+"Dat's so," said 'Tildy. "I done see um pull up co'n, en I done see co'n
+grow w'at dey don't pull up."
+
+If 'Tildy thought to propitiate Uncle Remus, she was mistaken. He
+scowled at her, and addressed himself to the little boy:--
+
+"De Crow, he mighty close kin ter de Buzzud, en dat puts me in min' dat
+we ain't bin a-keepin' up wid ole Brer Buzzud close ez we might er done.
+
+"W'at de case mout be deze days, I ain't a-sayin', but, in dem times,
+ole Brer Tarrypin love honey mo' samer dan Brer B'ar, but he wuz dat
+flat-footed dat, w'en he fine a bee-tree, he can't climb it, en he go so
+slow dat he can't hardly fine um. Bimeby, one day, w'en he gwine 'long
+down de road des a-honin' atter honey, who should he meet but ole Brer
+Buzzud.
+
+"Dey shuck han's mighty sociable en ax 'bout de news er de
+neighborhoods, en den, atter w'ile, Brer Tarrypin say ter ole Brer
+Buzzud, sezee, dat he wanter go inter cahoots wid 'im 'longer gittin'
+honey, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey struck a trade. Brer Buzzud wuz ter
+fly 'roun' en look fer de bee-tree, en Brer Tarrypin he wuz ter creep en
+crawl, en hunt on de groun'.
+
+"Dey start out, dey did, ole Brer Buzzud sailin' 'roun' in de elements,
+en ole Brer Tarrypin shufflin' en shamblin' on de groun'. 'Mos' de ve'y
+fus' fiel' w'at he come ter, Brer Tarrypin strak up wid a great big
+bumbly-bee nes' in de groun'. He look 'roun', ole Brer Tarrypin did, en
+bimeby he stick he head in en tas'e de honey, en den he pull it out en
+look all 'roun' fer ter see ef he kin ketch a glimpse er Brer Buzzud;
+but Brer Buzzud don't seem lak he nowhar. Den Brer Tarrypin say to
+hisse'f, sezee, dat he 'speck dat bumbly-bee honey ain't de kinder honey
+w'at dey been talkin' 'bout, en dey ain't no great shakes er honey dar
+nohow. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin crope inter de hole en gobble up de las'
+drop er de bumbly-bee honey by he own-alone se'f. Atter he done make
+'way wid it, he come out, he did, en he whirl in en lick it all off'n
+his footses, so ole Brer Buzzud can't tell dat he done bin git a mess er
+honey.
+
+"Den ole Brer Tarrypin stretch out he neck en try ter lick de honey
+off'n he back, but he neck too short; en he try ter scrape it off up
+'g'in' a tree, but it don't come off; en den he waller on de groun', but
+still it don't come off. Den old Brer Tarrypin jump up, en say ter
+hisse'f dat he'll des 'bout rack off home, en w'en Brer Buzzud come he
+kin lie on he back en say he sick, so ole Brer Buzzud can't see de
+honey.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin start off, he did, but he happen ter look up, en, lo en
+beholes, dar wuz Brer Buzzud huv'rin' right spang over de spot whar he
+is. Brer Tarrypin know Brer Buzzud bleedz ter see 'im ef he start off
+home, en mo'n dat, he know he be fine out ef he don't stir 'roun' en do
+sump'n' mighty quick. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin shuffle back ter de
+bumbly-bee nes' swif' ez he kin, en buil' 'im a fier in dar, en den he
+crawl out en holler:--
+
+"'Brer Buzzud! O Brer Buzzud! Run yer, fer gracious sake, Brer Buzzud,
+en look how much honey I done fine! I des crope in a little ways, en it
+des drip all down my back, same like water. Run yer, Brer Buzzud! Half
+yone en half mine, Brer Buzzud!'
+
+"Brer Buzzud, he flop down, en he laugh en say he mighty glad, kaze he
+done git hongry up dar whar he bin. Den Brer Tarrypin tell Brer Buzzud
+fer ter creep in little ways en tas'e en see how he like um, w'iles he
+take his stan' on de outside en watch fer somebody. But no sooner is
+Brer Buzzud crope in de bumbly-bee nes' dan Brer Tarrypin take'n roll a
+great big rock front er de hole. Terreckly, de fier 'gun ter bu'n Brer
+Buzzud, en he sing out like a man in trouble:--
+
+"'Sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin--sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin!'
+
+"Den ole Brer Tarrypin, he holler back:--
+
+"'It's de bumbly-bees a-stingin' you, Brer Buzzud; stan' up en flop yo'
+wings, Brer Buzzud. Stan' up en flop yo' wings, Brer Buzzud, en you'll
+drive um off,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Buzzud flop en flop he wings, but de mo' w'at he flop, de mo' he
+fan de fier, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he done bodaciously bu'n up, all
+'ceppin' de big een er his wing-fedders, en dem ole Brer Tarrypin tuck
+en make inter some quills, w'ich he go 'roun' a-playin' un um, en de
+chune w'at he play was dish yer:--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee._'"
+
+
+
+
+XV
+
+BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS
+
+
+"That must have been a mighty funny song," said the little boy.
+
+"Fun one time ain't fun 'n'er time; some folks fines fun whar yuther
+folks fines trouble. Pig may laugh w'en he see de rock a-heatin', but
+dey ain't no fun dar fer de pig.[20]
+
+"Yit, fun er no fun, dat de song w'at Brer Tarrypin play on de quills:--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee._'
+
+"Nobody dunner whar de quills cum fum, kaze Brer Tarrypin, he ain't
+makin no brags how he git um; yit ev'ybody wants um on account er der
+playin' sech a lonesome[21] chune, en ole Brer Fox, he want um wuss'n
+all. He beg en he beg Brer Tarrypin fer ter sell 'im dem quills; but
+Brer Tarrypin, he hol' on t' um tight, en say eh-eh! Den he ax Brer
+Tarrypin fer ter loan um t' um des a week, so he kin play fer he
+chilluns, but Brer Tarrypin, he shake he head en put he foot down, en
+keep on playin':--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee._'
+
+"But Brer Fox, he ain't got no peace er min' on account er dem quills,
+en one day he meet Brer Tarrypin en he ax 'im how he seem ter
+segashuate[22] en he fambly en all he chilluns; en den Brer Fox ax Brer
+Tarrypin ef he can't des look at de quills, kaze he got some
+goose-fedders at he house, en if he kin des get a glimpse er Brer
+Tarrypin quills, he 'speck he kin make some mighty like um.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he study 'bout dis, but he hate ter 'ny small favors
+like dat, en bimeby he hol' out dem quills whar Brer Fox kin see um. Wid
+dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n juk de quills outen Brer Tarrypin han', he did,
+and dash off des ez hard ez he kin go. Brer Tarrypin, he holler en
+holler at 'im des loud ez he kin holler, but he know he can't ketch 'im,
+en he des sot dar, Brer Tarrypin did, en look lak he done los' all de
+kin-folks w'at he got in de roun' worrul'.
+
+"Atter dis, Brer Fox he strut 'roun' en play mighty biggity, en eve'y
+time he meet Brer Tarrypin in de road he walk all 'roun' 'im en play on
+de quills like dis:--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    I foolee ole Tarrypin, too._'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he feel mighty bad, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Las',
+one day w'iles ole Brer Tarrypin was settin' on a log sunnin' hisse'f,
+yer come Brer Fox playin' dat same old chune on de quills, but Brer
+Tarrypin, he stay still. Brer Fox, he come up little nigher en play, but
+Brer Tarrypin, he keep he eyes shot en he stay still. Brer Fox, he come
+nigher en git on de log; Brer Tarrypin ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Fox
+still git up nigher en play on de quills; still Brer Tarrypin ain't
+sayin' nothin'.
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin mighty sleepy dis mawnin',' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
+
+"Still Brer Tarrypin keep he eyes shot en stay still. Brer Fox keep on
+gittin' nigher en nigher, twel bimeby Brer Tarrypin open he eyes en he
+mouf bofe, en he make a grab at Brer Fox en miss 'im.
+
+"But hol' on!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to an expression of
+intense disappointment in the child's face. "You des wait a minnit. Nex'
+mawnin', Brer Tarrypin take hisse'f off en waller in a mud-hole, en
+smear hisse'f wid mud twel he look des 'zackly lak a clod er dirt. Den
+he crawl off en lay down un'need a log whar he know Brer Fox come eve'y
+mawnin' fer ter freshen[23] hisse'f.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en terreckly yer come Brer Fox. Time he
+git dar, Brer Fox 'gun ter lip backerds en forerds 'cross de log, and
+Brer Tarrypin he crope nigher en nigher, twel bimeby he make a grab at
+Brer Fox en kotch him by de foot. Dey tells me," continued Uncle Remus,
+rubbing his hands together in token of great satisfaction,--"dey tells
+me dat w'en Brer Tarrypin ketch holt, hit got ter thunder 'fo' he let
+go. All I know, Brer Tarrypin git Brer Fox by de foot, en he hilt 'im
+dar. Brer Fox he jump en he r'ar, but Brer Tarrypin done got 'im. Brer
+Fox, he holler out:--
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, please lemme go!'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin talk way down in his th'oat:--
+
+"'Gim' my quills!'
+
+"'Lemme go en fetch um.'
+
+"'Gim'my quills!'
+
+"'Do pray lemme go git um.'
+
+"'Gim'my quills!'
+
+    [Illustration: "'BRER TARRYPIN. PLEASE LEMME GO!'"]
+
+"En, bless gracious! dis all Brer Fox kin git outer Brer Tarrypin. Las',
+Brer Fox foot hu't 'im so bad dat he bleedz ter do sump'n', en he sing
+out fer his ole 'oman fer ter fetch de quills, but he ole 'oman, she
+busy 'bout de house, en she don't year 'im. Den he call he son, w'ich he
+name Tobe. He holler en bawl, en Tobe make answer:
+
+"'Tobe! O Tobe! You Tobe!'
+
+"'Wat you want, daddy?'
+
+"'Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills.'
+
+"'Wat you say, daddy? Fetch de big tray ter git de honey in?'
+
+"'No, you crazy-head! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!'
+
+"'Wat you say, daddy? Fetch de dipper ter ketch de minners in?'
+
+"'No, you fool! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!'
+
+"'Wat you say, daddy? Water done been spill?'
+
+"Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w'ile ole Miss Fox year de racket, en
+den she lissen, en she know dat 'er ole man holler'n' fer de quills, en
+she fotch um out en gun um ter Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin, he let
+go he holt. He let go he holt," Uncle Remus went on, "but long time
+atter dat, w'en Brer Fox go ter pay he calls, he hatter go
+_hoppity-fetchity, hoppity-fetchity_."
+
+The old man folded his hands in his lap, and sat quietly gazing into the
+lightwood fire. Presently he said:--
+
+"I 'speck Miss Sally blessin' us all right now, en fus' news you know
+she'll h'ist up en have Mars John a-trapesin' down yer; en ef she do
+dat, den ter-morrer mawnin' my brekkuss'll be col', en lakwise my
+dinner, en ef dey's sump'n' w'at I 'spizes hit's col' vittels."
+
+Thereupon Uncle Remus arose, shook himself, peered out into the night to
+discover that the rain had nearly ceased, and then made ready to carry
+the little boy to his mother. Long before the chickens had crowed for
+midnight, the child, as well as the old man, had been transported to the
+land where myths and fables cease to be wonderful,--the land of pleasant
+dreams.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[20] An allusion to the primitive mode of cleaning hogs by heating
+rocks, and placing them in a barrel or tank of water.
+
+[21] This word "lonesome," as used by the negroes, is the equivalent of
+"thrilling," "romantic," etc., and in that sense is very expressive.
+
+[22] An inquiry after his health. Another form is: "How does yo'
+corporosity seem ter segashuate?"
+
+[23] Exercise himself.
+
+
+
+
+XVI
+
+HOW BRER FOX FAILED TO GET HIS GRAPES
+
+
+One night the little boy failed to make his appearance at the accustomed
+hour, and the next morning the intelligence that the child was sick went
+forth from the "big house." Uncle Remus was told that it had been
+necessary during the night to call in two physicians. When this
+information was imparted to the old man, there was an expression upon
+his countenance of awe not unmixed with indignation. He gave vent to the
+latter:--
+
+"Dar now! Two un um! W'en dat chile rize up, ef rize up he do, he'll des
+nat'ally be a shadder. Yer I is, gwine on eighty year, en I ain't tuck
+none er dat ar docter truck yit, ceppin' it's dish yer flas' er
+poke-root w'at ole Miss Favers fix up fer de stiffness in my j'ints.
+Dey'll come en dey'll go, en dey'll po' in der jollup yer, en slap on
+der fly-plarster dar, en sprinkle der calomy yander, twel bimeby dat
+chile won't look like hisse'f. Dat's w'at! En mo'n dat, hit's mighty
+kuse unter me dat ole folks kin go 'long en stan' up ter de rack en
+gobble up der 'lowance, en yit chilluns is got ter be strucken down. Ef
+Miss Sally'll des tu'n dem docter mens loose onter me, I lay I lick up
+der physic twel dey go off 'stonish'd."
+
+But no appeal of this nature was made to Uncle Remus. The illness of the
+little boy was severe, but not fatal. He took his medicine and improved,
+until finally even the doctors pronounced him convalescent. But he was
+very weak, and it was a fortnight before he was permitted to leave his
+bed. He was restless, and yet his term of imprisonment was full of
+pleasure. Every night after supper Uncle Remus would creep softly into
+the back piazza, place his hat carefully on the floor, rap gently on the
+door by way of announcement, and so pass into the nursery. How patient
+his vigils, how tender his ministrations, only the mother of the little
+boy knew; how comfortable and refreshing the change from the bed to the
+strong arms of Uncle Remus, only the little boy could say.
+
+Almost the first manifestation of the child's convalescence was the
+renewal of his interest in the wonderful adventures of Brother Rabbit,
+Brother Fox, and the other brethren who flourished in that strange past
+over which this modern Æsop had thrown the veil of fable. "Miss Sally,"
+as Uncle Remus called the little boy's mother, sitting in an adjoining
+room, heard the youngster pleading for a story, and after a while she
+heard the old man clear up his throat with a great affectation of
+formality and begin.
+
+"Dey ain't skacely no p'int whar ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer Fox made
+der 'greements side wid one er 'n'er; let 'lone dat, dey wuz one p'int
+'twix' 'um w'ich it wuz same ez fier en tow, en dat wuz Miss Meadows en
+de gals. Little ez you might 'speck, dem same creeturs wuz bofe un um
+flyin' 'roun' Miss Meadows en de gals. Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd go dar, en
+dar he'd fine ole Brer Fox settin' up gigglin' wid de gals, en den he'd
+skuze hisse'f, he would, en gallop down de big road a piece, en paw up
+de san' same lak dat ar ball-face steer w'at tuck'n tuck off yo' pa'
+coat-tail las' Feberwary. En lakwise ole Brer Fox, he'd sa'nter in, en
+fine old man Rab. settin' 'longside er de gals, en den he'd go out down
+de road en grab a 'simmon-bush in he mouf, en nat'ally gnyaw de bark
+off'n it. In dem days, honey," continued Uncle Remus, responding to a
+look of perplexity on the child's face, "creeturs wuz wuss dan w'at dey
+is now. Dey wuz dat--lots wuss.
+
+"Dey went on dis a-way twel, bimeby, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter cas' 'roun',
+he did, fer ter see ef he can't bus' inter some er Brer Fox
+'rangerments, en, atter w'ile, one day w'en he wer' settin' down by de
+side er de road wukkin up de diffunt oggyment w'at strak pun he mine, en
+fixin' up he tricks, des 'bout dat time he year a clatter up de long
+green lane, en yer come ole Brer
+Fox_toobookity--bookity--bookity-book--_lopin' 'long mo' samer dan a
+bay colt in de bolly-patch. En he wuz all primp up, too, mon, en he look
+slick en shiny lak he des come outen de sto'. Ole man Rab., he sot dar,
+he did, en w'en ole Brer Fox come gallopin' 'long, Brer Rabbit, he up'n
+hail 'im. Brer Fox, he fotch up, en dey pass de time er day wid one er
+nudder monst'us perlite; en den, bimeby atter w'ile, Brer Rabbit, he
+up'n say, sezee, dat he got some mighty good news fer Brer Fox; en Brer
+Fox, he up'n ax 'im w'at is it. Den Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch he
+year wid his behime foot en say, sezee:--
+
+"'I wuz takin' a walk day 'fo' yistiddy,' sezee, 'w'en de fus' news I
+know'd I run up gin de bigges' en de fattes' bunch er grapes dat I ever
+lay eyes on. Dey wuz dat fat en dat big,' sezee, 'dat de natal juice wuz
+des drappin' fum um, en de bees wuz a-swawmin' atter de honey, en little
+ole Jack Sparrer en all er his fambly conneckshun wuz skeetin' 'roun'
+dar dippin' in der bills,' sezee.
+
+"Right den en dar," Uncle Remus went on, "Brer Fox mouf 'gun ter water,
+en he look outer he eye like he de bes' frien' w'at Brer Rabbit got in
+de roun' worl'. He done fergit all 'bout de gals, en he sorter sidle up
+ter Brer Rabbit, he did, en he say, sezee:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Rabbit,' sezee, 'en less you 'n me go git dem ar grapes
+'fo' deyer all gone,' sezee. En den ole Brer Rabbit, he laff, he did, en
+up'n 'spon', sezee:--
+
+"'I hungry myse'f, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'but I ain't hankerin' atter
+grapes, en I'll be in monst'us big luck ef I kin rush 'roun' yer some'rs
+en scrape up a bait er pusley time nuff fer ter keep de breff in my
+body. En yit,' sezee,' ef you take'n rack off atter deze yer grapes,
+w'at Miss Meadows en de gals gwine do? I lay dey got yo' name in de
+pot,' sezee.
+
+"'Ez ter dat,' sez ole Brer Fox, sezee, 'I kin drap 'roun' en see de
+ladies atterwards,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den, ef dat's yo' game,' sez ole man Rab., sezee, 'I kin squot
+right flat down yer on de groun' en p'int out de way des de same ez
+leadin' you dar by de han',' sezee; en den Brer Rabbit sorter chaw on he
+cud lak he gedder'n up his 'membunce, en he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'You know dat ar place whar you went atter sweetgum fer Miss Meadows en
+de gals t'er day?' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox 'low dat he know dat ar place same ez he do he own
+tater-patch.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'de grapes ain't dar. You git ter
+de sweetgum,' sezee, 'en den you go up de branch twel you come ter a
+little patch er bamboo brier--but de grapes ain't dar. Den you follow
+yo' lef' han' en strike 'cross de hill twel you come ter dat big red oak
+root--but de grapes ain't dar. On you goes down de hill twel you come
+ter 'n'er branch, en on dat branch dars a dogwood-tree leanin' 'way
+over, en nigh dat dogwood dars a vine, en in dat vine, dar you'll fine
+yo' grapes. Deyer dat ripe,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat dey look
+like deyer done melt tergedder, en I speck you'll fine um full er bugs,
+but you kin take dat fine bushy tail er yone, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'en
+bresh dem bugs away.'
+
+"Brer Fox 'low he much 'blige, en den he put out atter de grapes in a
+han'-gallop, en w'en he done got outer sight, en likewise outer year'n,
+Brer Rabbit, he take'n git a blade er grass, he did, en tickle hisse'f
+in de year, en den he holler en laff, en laff en holler, twel he hatter
+lay down fer ter git he breff back 'gin.
+
+"Den, atter so long time, Brer Rabbit he jump up, he do, en take atter
+Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he ain't look ter de right ner de lef', en
+needer do he look behime; he des keep a-rackin' 'long twel he come ter
+de sweetgum-tree, en den he tu'n up de branch twel he come ter de bamboo
+brier, en den he tu'n squar ter de lef' twel he come ter de big red-oak
+root, en den he keep on down he hill twel he come ter de yuther branch,
+en dar he see de dogwood; en mo'n dat, dar nigh de dogwood he see de
+vine, en in dat vine dar wuz de big bunch er grapes. Sho' nuff, dey wuz
+all kivvud wid bugs.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd bin a-pushin' 'long atter Brer Fox, but he des
+hatter scratch gravel fer ter keep up. Las' he hove in sight, en he lay
+off in de weeds, he did, fer ter watch Brer Fox motions. Present'y Brer
+Fox crope up de leanin' dogwood-tree twel he come nigh de grapes, en den
+he sorter ballunce hisse'f on a lim' en gun um a swipe wid his big bushy
+tail, fer ter bresh off de bugs. But, bless yo' soul, honey! no sooner
+is he done dat dan he fetch a squall w'ich Miss Meadows vow atterwards
+she year plum ter her house, en down he come--_kerblim_!"
+
+"What was the matter, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Law, honey! dat seetful Brer Rabbit done fool ole Brer Fox. Dem ar
+grapes all so fine wuz needer mo' ner less dan a great big was'-nes', en
+dem bugs wuz deze yer red wassies--deze yer speeshy w'at's rank pizen
+fum cen' ter cen'. W'en Brer Fox drap fum de tree de wassies dey drap
+wid 'im, en de way dey wom ole Brer Fox up wuz sinful. Dey ain't mo'n
+tetch' im 'fo' dey had 'im het up ter de b'ilin' p'int. Brer Fox, he
+run, en he kick, en he scratch, en he bite, en he scramble, en he
+holler, en he howl, but look lak dey git wuss en wuss. One time, hit
+seem lak Brer Fox en his new 'quaintance wuz makin' todes Brer Rabbit,
+but dey ain't no sooner p'int dat way, dan ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n make
+a break, en he went sailin' thoo de woods wuss'n wunner dese
+whully-win's, en he ain't stop twel he fetch up at Miss Meadows.
+
+"Miss Meadows en de gals, dey ax 'im, dey did, wharbouts wuz Brer Fox,
+en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat he done gone a-grape-huntin', en den
+Miss Meadows, she 'low, she did:--
+
+"'Law, gals! is you ever year de beat er dat? En dat, too, w'en Brer Fox
+done say he comin' ter dinner,' sez she. 'I lay I done wid Brer Fox,
+kaze you can't put no pennunce in deze yer men-folks,' sez she. 'Yer de
+dinner bin done dis long time, en we bin a-waitin' lak de quality. But
+now I'm done wid Brer Fox,' sez she.
+
+"Wid dat, Miss Meadows en de gals dey ax Brer Rabbit fer ter stay ter
+dinner, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter make like he wanter be skuze, but
+bimeby he tuck a cheer en sot um out. He tuck a cheer," continued Uncle
+Remus, "en he ain't bin dar long twel he look out en spy ole Brer Fox
+gwine 'long by, en w'at do Brer Rabbit do but call Miss Meadows en de
+gals en p'int 'im out? Soon's dey seed 'im dey sot up a monst'us
+gigglement, kaze Brer Fox wuz dat swell up twel little mo'n he'd a bus'.
+He head wuz swell up, en down ter he legs, dey wuz swell up. Miss
+Meadows, she up'n say dat Brer Fox look like he done gone en got all de
+grapes dey wuz in de neighborhoods, en one er de yuther gals, she
+squeal, she did, en say:--
+
+"'Law, ain't you 'shame', en right yer 'fo' Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"En den dey hilt der han's 'fo' der face en giggle des like gals duz
+deze days."
+
+
+
+
+XVII
+
+BRER FOX FIGURES AS AN INCENDIARY
+
+
+The next night the little boy had been thoughtful enough to save some of
+his supper for Uncle Remus, and to this "Miss Sally" had added, on her
+own account, a large piece of fruit-cake. The old man appeared to be
+highly pleased.
+
+"Ef ders enny kinder cake w'at I likes de mos', hit's dish yer kine
+w'at's got reezins strowed 'mongs' it. Wid sick folks, now," he
+continued, holding up the cake and subjecting it to a critical
+examination, "dish yer hunk 'ud mighty nigh las' a mont', but wid a well
+man lak I is, hit won't las' a minnit."
+
+And it did n't. It disappeared so suddenly that the little boy laughed
+aloud, and wanted Uncle Remus to have some more cake; but the latter
+protested that he did n't come there "fer ter git founder'd," but merely
+to see "ef somebody's strenk uz strong 'nuff fer ter stan' 'n'er tale."
+The little boy said if Uncle Remus meant him, he was sure his health was
+good enough to listen to any number of stories. Whereupon, the old man,
+without any tantalizing preliminaries, began:--
+
+"Brer Fox done bin fool so much by Brer Rabbit dat he sorter look 'roun'
+fer ter see ef he can't ketch up wid some er de yuther creeturs, en so,
+one day, w'iles he gwine long down de big road, who should he strak up
+wid but old Brer Tarrypin. Brer Fox sorter lick his chops, en 'low dat
+ef he kin fling ennybody en gin um all-under holt, Brer Tarrypin de man,
+en he march up, mighty biggity, like he gwine ter make spote un 'im.
+W'en he git up nigh 'nuff, Brer Fox hail 'im:--
+
+"'How you 'speck you fine yo'se'f dis mawnin', Brer Tarrypin?' sezee.
+
+"'Slow, Brer Fox--mighty slow,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. 'Day in en day
+out I'm mighty slow, en it look lak I'm a-gittin' slower; I'm slow en
+po'ly, Brer Fox--how you come on?' sezee.
+
+"'Oh, I'm slanchindickler, same ez I allers is,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
+'W'at make yo' eye so red, Brer Tarrypin?' sezee.
+
+"'Hit's all 'longer de trouble I see, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Tarrypin,
+sezee. 'I see trouble en you see none; trouble come en pile up on
+trouble,' sezee.
+
+"'Law, Brer Tarrypin!' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'you ain't see no trouble
+yit. Ef you wanter see sho' 'nuff trouble, you des oughter go 'longer
+me; I'm de man w'at kin show you trouble,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'ef youer de man w'at kin
+show me trouble, den I'm de man w'at want a glimpse un it,' sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Fox, he ax Brer Tarrypin is he seed de Ole Boy, en den Brer
+Tarrypin, he make answer dat he ain't seed 'im yit, but he year tell un
+'im. Wid dat, Brer Fox 'low de Ole Boy de kinder trouble he bin talkin'
+'bout, en den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax how he gwine see 'im. Brer Fox,
+he tak'n lay out de pogrance, en he up'n tell Brer Tarrypin dat ef he'll
+step up dar in de middle er dat ole broom-sage fiel', en squot dar a
+spell, 't won't be no time 'fo' he'll ketch a glimpse er de Ole Boy.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin know'd ders sump'n' wrong some'rs, yit he mos' too
+flat-flooted fer ter have enny scuffle wid Brer Fox, en he say ter
+hisse'f dat he'll go 'long en des trus' ter luck; en den he 'low dat ef
+Brer Fox he'p 'im 'cross de fence, he b'lieve he'll go up en resk one
+eye on de Ole Boy. Co'se Brer Fox hope 'im 'cross, en no sooner is he
+good en gone, dan Brer Fox, he fix up fer ter make 'im see trouble. He
+lipt out ter Miss Meadows house, Brer Fox did, en make like he wanter
+borry a chunk er fier fer ter light he pipe, en he tuck dat chunk, en he
+run 'roun' de fiel', en he sot de grass a fier, en't wa'n't long 'fo' it
+look lak de whole face er de yeth waz a-blazin' up."
+
+"Did it burn the Terrapin up?" interrupted the little boy.
+
+"Don't push me, honey; don't make me git de kyart 'fo' de hoss. W'en ole
+Brer Tarrypin 'gun ter wade thoo de straw, de ve'y fus' man w'at he
+strak up wid wuz ole man Rabbit layin' dar sleepin' on de shady side uv
+a tussock. Brer Rabbit, he one er deze yer kinder mens w'at sleep wid
+der eye wide open, en he wuz 'wake d'reckly he year Brer Tarrypin
+scufflin' en scramblin' 'long thoo de grass. Atter dey shuck han's en ax
+'bout one er n'er fambly, hit ain't take long fer Brer Tarrypin fer ter
+tell Brer Rabbit w'at fotch 'im dar, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'Hit's des na'tally a born blessin' dat you struck up wid me w'en you
+did,' sezee, 'kaze little mo' en bofe un us would 'a' bin bobbycu'd,'
+sezee.
+
+"Dis kinder tarrify Brer Tarrypin, en he say he wanter git out fum dar;
+but Brer Rabbit he 'low he'd take keer un 'im, en he tuck'n tuck Brer
+Tarrypin in de middle er de fiel' whar dey wuz a big holler stump. Onter
+dis stump Brer Rabbit lif' Brer Tarrypin, en den he lip up hisse'f en
+crope in de holler, en, bless yo' soul, honey, w'en de fier come
+a-snippin' en a-snappin', dar dey sot des ez safe en ez snug ez you iz
+in yo' bed dis minnit.
+
+"W'en de blaze blow over, Brer Tarrypin look 'roun', en he see Brer Fox
+runnin' up'n down de fence lak he huntin' sump'n'. Den Brer Rabbit, he
+stick he head up outen de hole, en likewise he seed 'im, and den he
+holler like Brer Tarrypin" (Here Uncle Remus puckered his voice, so to
+say, in a most amusing squeak):
+
+"'Brer Fox! Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Run yer--we done kotch Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"En den Brer Fox, he jump up on de top rail er de fence en fetch a
+spring dat lan' 'im 'way out in de bu'nin' grass, en it hurted 'im en
+sting 'im in de footses dat bad, dat he squeal en he roll, en de mo' he
+roll de wuss it bu'n him, en Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin dey des holler
+en laff. Bimeby Brer Fox git out, en off he put down de road, limpin'
+fus' on one foot en den on de yuther."
+
+The little boy laughed, and then there was a long silence--so long,
+indeed, that Uncle Remus's "Miss Sally," sewing in the next room,
+concluded to investigate it. An exceedingly interesting tableau met her
+sight. The little child had wandered into the land of dreams with a
+smile on his face. He lay with one of his little hands buried in both of
+Uncle Remus's, while the old man himself was fast asleep, with his head
+thrown back and his mouth wide open. "Miss Sally" shook him by the
+shoulder and held up her finger to prevent him from speaking. He was
+quiet until she held the lamp for him to get down the back steps, and
+then she heard him say, in an indignantly mortified tone:--
+
+"Now den, Miss Sally'll be a-riggin' me 'bout noddin', but stidder dat
+she better be glad dat I ain't bus loose en sno' en 'larm de house--let
+'lone dat sick baby. Dat's w'at!"
+
+
+
+
+XVIII
+
+A DREAM AND A STORY
+
+
+"I dreamed all about Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit last night, Uncle
+Remus," exclaimed the little boy when the old man came in after supper
+and took his seat by the side of the trundle-bed; "I dreamed that
+Brother Fox had wings and tried to catch Brother Rabbit by flying after
+him."
+
+"I don't 'spute it, honey, dat I don't!" replied the old man, in a tone
+which implied that he was quite prepared to believe the dream itself was
+true. "Manys en manys de time, deze long nights en deze rainy spells,
+dat I sets down dar in my house over ag'in de chimbley-jam--I sets dar
+en I dozes, en it seem lak dat ole Brer Rabbit, he'll stick he head in
+de crack er de do' en see my eye periently shot, en den he'll beckon
+back at de yuther creeturs, en den dey'll all come slippin' in on der
+tip-toes, en dey'll set dar en run over de ole times wid one er n'er, en
+crack der jokes same ez dey useter. En den ag'in," continued the old
+man, shutting his eyes and giving to his voice a gruesome intonation
+quite impossible to describe,--"en den ag'in hit look lak dat Brer
+Rabbit'll gin de wink all 'roun', en den dey'll tu'n in en git up a
+reg'lar juberlee. Brer Rabbit, he'll retch up en take down de trivet, en
+Brer Fox, he'll snatch up de griddle, en Brer B'ar, he'll lay holt er de
+pot-hooks, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he'll grab up de fryin' pan en dar
+dey'll have it, up en down, en' roun' en 'roun'. Hit seem like ter me
+dat ef I kin git my mine smoove down en ketch up some er dem ar chunes
+w'at dey sets dar en plays, den I 'd lean back yer in dish yer cheer en
+I'd intrance you wid um, twel, by dis time termorrer night, you'd be
+settin' up dar at de supper-table 'sputin' 'longer yo' little brer 'bout
+de 'lasses pitcher. Dem creeturs dey sets dar," Uncle Remus went on, "en
+dey plays dem kinder chunes w'at moves you fum 'way back yander; en
+manys de time w'en I gits lonesome kaze dey ain't nobody year um
+'ceppin' it's me. Dey ain't no tellin' de chunes dey is in dat trivet,
+en in dat griddle, en in dat fryin'-pan er mine; dat dey ain't. W'en dem
+creeturs walks in en snatches um down, dey lays Miss Sally's pianner in
+de shade, en Mars John's flute, hit ain't nowhars."
+
+"Do they play on them just like a band, Uncle Remus?" inquired the
+little boy, who was secretly in hopes that the illusion would not be
+destroyed.
+
+"Dey comes des lak I tell you, honey. W'en I shets my eyes en dozes, dey
+comes en dey plays, but w'en I opens my eyes dey ain't dar. Now, den,
+w'en dat's de shape er marters, w'at duz I do? I des shets my eyes en
+hol' um shot, en let um come en play dem ole time chunes twel long atter
+bed-time done come en gone."
+
+Uncle Remus paused, as though he expected the little boy to ask some
+question or make some comment, but the child said nothing, and presently
+the old man resumed, in a matter-of-fact tone:--
+
+"Dat dream er yone, honey, 'bout Brer Fox wid wings, fetches up de time
+w'en Brer Fox en Brer Wolf had der fallin' out wid one er n'er--but I
+'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."
+
+"Oh, no, you have n't, Uncle Remus! You know you have n't!" the little
+boy exclaimed.
+
+"Well, den, one day, atter so long a time, Brer Wolf en Brer Fox dey got
+ter 'sputin' 'longer one er n'er. Brer Wolf, he tuck'n 'buse Brer Fox
+kaze Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool 'im, en den Brer Fox, he tuck'n quol
+back at Brer Wolf, kaze Brer Wolf let ole man Rabbit lakwise fool 'im.
+Dey keep on 'sputin' en 'sputin', twel bimeby dey clinch, en Brer Wolf,
+bein' de bigges' man, 't would n't a bin long 'fo' he'd a wool Brer Fox,
+but Brer Fox, he watch he chance, he did, en he gin 'im leg bail."
+
+"Gave him what, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Gin 'im leg bail, honey. He juk loose fum Brer Wolf, Brer Fox did, en,
+gentermens, he des mosey thoo de woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'm, he
+did, en dar dey had it, en Brer Wolf push Brer Fox so close, dat de
+onliest way Brer Fox kin save he hide is ter fine a hole some'rs, en de
+fus' holler tree dat he come 'cross, inter it he dove. Brer Wolf fetcht
+a grab at 'im, but he wuz des in time fer ter be too late.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf, he sot dar, he did, en he study en study how he gwine
+git Brer Fox out, en Brer Fox, he lay in dar, he did, en he study en
+study w'at Brer Wolf gwine do. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he tuck'n gedder up a
+whole lot er chunks, en rocks, en sticks, en den he tuck'n fill up de
+hole what Brer Fox went in so Brer Fox can't git out. Wiles dis wuz
+gwine on, ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he wuz sailin' 'roun' 'way up in de
+elements, wid he eye peel fer bizness, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he glance
+lit on Brer Wolf, en he 'low ter hisse'f, sezee:--
+
+"'I'll des sorter flop down,' sezee, 'en look inter dis, kaze ef Brer
+Wolf hidin' he dinner dar wid de expeck'shun er findin' it dar w'en he
+come back, den he done gone en put it in de wrong place,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he flop down en sail 'roun' nigher, en
+he soon see dat Brer Wolf ain't hidin' no dinner. Den he flop down
+furder, ole Brer Buzzud did, twel he lit on de top er de holler tree.
+Brer Wolf, he done kotch a glimpse er ole Brer Buzzud shadder, but he
+keep on puttin' chunks en rocks in de holler. Den, present'y, Brer
+Buzzud, he open up:--
+
+"'W'at you doin' dar, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Makin' a toom-stone, Brer Buzzud.'
+
+"Co'se Brer Buzzud sorter feel like he got intruss in marters like dis,
+en he holler back:--
+
+"'Who dead now, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Wunner yo' 'quaintance, w'ich he name Brer Fox, Brer Buzzud.'
+
+"'Wen he die, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'He ain't dead yit, but he won't las' long in yer, Brer Buzzud.'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he keep on, he did, twel he done stop up de hole good, en
+den he bresh de trash off'n his cloze, en put out fer home. Brer Tukky
+Buzzud, he sot up dar, he did, en ontankle his tail fedders, en lissen
+en lissen, but Brer Fox, he keep dark, en Brer Buzzud ain't year
+nuthin'. Den Brer Buzzud, he flop he wings en sail away.
+
+"Bimeby, nex' day, bright en early, yer he come back, en he sail all
+'roun' en 'roun' de tree, but Brer Fox he lay low en keep dark, en Brer
+Buzzud ain't year nuthin'. Atter w'ile, Brer Buzzud he sail 'roun'
+ag'in, en dis time he sing, en de song w'at he sing is dish yer:--
+
+    "'_Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo,
+    Man out yer wid news fer you!_'
+
+Den he sail all 'roun' en 'roun' n'er time en listen, en bimeby he year
+Brer Fox sing back:--
+
+    "'_Go 'way, go 'way, my little jug er beer,
+    De news you bring, I yeard las' year._'"
+
+"Beer, Uncle Remus? What kind of beer did they have then?" the little
+boy inquired.
+
+"Now, den, honey, youer gittin' me up in a close cornder," responded the
+old man, in an unusually serious tone. "Beer is de way de tale runs, but
+w'at kinder beer it moughter bin ain't come down ter me--en yit hit seem
+lak I year talk some'rs dat dish yer beer wuz mos' prins'ply 'simmon
+beer."
+
+This seemed to satisfy the small but exacting audience, and Uncle Remus
+continued:--
+
+"So, den, w'en Brer Buzzud year Brer Fox sing back, he 'low he ain't
+dead, en wid dat, Brer Buzzud, he sail off en 'ten' ter he yuther
+business. Nex' day back he come, en Brer Fox, he sing back, he did, des
+ez lively ez a cricket in de ashes, en it keep on dis way twel Brer Fox
+stomach 'gun ter pinch him, en den he know dat he gotter study up some
+kinder plans fer ter git out fum dar. N'er day pass, en Brer Fox, he
+tuck'n lay low, en it keep on dat a-way twel hit look like ter Brer Fox,
+pent up in dar, he mus' sholy pe'sh. Las', one day Brer Buzzud come
+sailin' all 'roun' en 'roun' wid dat
+
+    "'_Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo_,'
+
+but Brer Fox, he keep dark en Brer Buzzud, he tuck'n spishun dat Brer
+Fox wuz done dead. Brer Buzzud, he keep on singin', en Brer Fox he keep
+on layin' low, twel bimeby Brer Buzzud lit en 'gun ter cle'r 'way de
+trash en truck fum de holler. He hop up, he did, en tuck out one chunk,
+en den he hop back en lissen, but Brer Fox stay still. Den Brer Buzzud
+hop up en tuck out n'er chunk, en den hop back en lissen, en all dis
+time Brer Fox mouf 'uz waterin' w'iles he lay back in dar en des
+nat'ally honed atter Brer Buzzud. Hit went on dis a-way, twel des 'fo'
+he got de hole unkivvud, Brer Fox, he break out he did, en grab Brer
+Buzzud by de back er de neck. Dey wuz a kinder scuffle 'mongs' um, but
+'t wa'n't fer long, en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Tukky Buzzud."
+
+
+
+
+XIX
+
+THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND
+
+
+One night when the little boy made his usual visit to Uncle Remus, he
+found the old man sitting up in his chair fast asleep. The child said
+nothing. He was prepared to exercise a good deal of patience upon
+occasion, and the occasion was when he wanted to hear a story. But, in
+making himself comfortable, he aroused Uncle Remus from his nap.
+
+"I let you know, honey," said the old man, adjusting his spectacles, and
+laughing rather sheepishly,--"I let you know, honey, w'en I gits my
+head r'ar'd back dat a-way, en my eyeleds shot, en my mouf open, en my
+chin p'intin' at de rafters, den dey's some mighty quare gwines on in my
+min'. Dey is dat, des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. W'en I fus' year you
+comin' down de paf," Uncle Remus continued, rubbing his beard
+thoughtfully, "I 'uz sorter fear'd you mought 'spicion dat I done gone
+off on my journeys fer ter see ole man Nod."
+
+This was accompanied by a glance of inquiry, to which the little boy
+thought it best to respond.
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus," he said, "I did think I heard you snoring when I
+came in."
+
+"Now you see dat!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of grieved
+astonishment; "you see dat! Man can't lean hisse'f 'pun his 'membunce,
+'ceppin' dey's some un fer ter come high-primin' 'roun' en 'lowin' dat
+he done gone ter sleep. _Shoo!_ W'en you stept in dat do' dar I 'uz
+right in 'mungs some mighty quare notions--mighty quare notions. Dey
+ain't no two ways; ef I uz ter up en let on 'bout all de notions w'at I
+gits in 'mungs, folks 'ud hatter come en kyar me off ter de place whar
+dey puts 'stracted people.
+
+"Atter I sop up my supper," Uncle Remus went on, "I tuck'n year some
+flutterments up dar 'mungs de rafters, en I look up, en dar wuz a Bat
+sailin' 'roun'. 'Roun' en 'roun', en 'roun' she go--und' de rafters,
+'bove de rafters--en ez she sail she make noise lak she grittin' 'er
+toofies. Now, w'at dat Bat atter, I be bless ef I kin tell you, but dar
+she wuz; 'roun' en 'roun', over en under. I ax 'er w'at do she want up
+dar, but she ain't got no time fer ter tell; 'roun' en 'roun', en over
+en under. En bimeby, out she flip, en I boun' she grittin' 'er toofies
+en gwine 'roun' en 'roun' out dar, en dodgin' en flippin' des lak de
+elements wuz full er rafters en cobwebs.
+
+"W'en she flip out I le'nt my head back, I did, en 't wa'n't no time
+'fo' I git mix up wid my notions. Dat Bat wings so limber en 'er will
+so good dat she done done 'er day's work dar 'fo' you could 'er run ter
+de big house en back. De Bat put me in min' er folks," continued Uncle
+Remus, settling himself back in his chair, "en folks put me in min' er
+de creeturs."
+
+Immediately the little boy was all attention.
+
+"Dey wuz times," said the old man, with something like a sigh, "w'en de
+creeturs 'ud segashuate tergedder des like dey ain't had no fallin' out.
+Dem wuz de times w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'ud 'ten 'lak he gwine quit he
+'havishness, en dey'd all go 'roun' des lak dey b'long ter de same
+fambly connexion.
+
+"One time atter dey bin gwine in cohoots dis a-way, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter
+feel his fat, he did, en dis make 'im git projecky terreckly. De mo'
+peace w'at dey had, de mo' wuss Brer Rabbit feel, twel bimeby he git
+restless in de min'. W'en de sun shine he'd go en lay off in de grass en
+kick at de gnats, en nibble at de mullen stalk en waller in de san'. One
+night atter supper, w'iles he 'uz romancin' 'roun', he run up wid ole
+Brer Tarrypin, en atter dey shuck han's dey sot down on de side er de
+road en run on 'bout ole times. Dey talk en dey talk, dey did, en bimeby
+Brer Rabbit say it done come ter dat pass whar he bleedz ter have some
+fun, en Brer Tarrypin 'low dat Brer Rabbit des de ve'y man he bin
+lookin' fer.
+
+"'Well den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'we'll des put Brer Fox, en Brer
+Wolf, en Brer B'ar on notice, en termorrer night we'll meet down by de
+mill-pon' en have a little fishin' frolic. I'll do de talkin',' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee, 'en you kin set back en say _yea_,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin laugh.
+
+"'Ef I ain't dar,' sezee, 'den you may know de grasshopper done fly 'way
+wid me,' sezee.
+
+"'En you neenter bring no fiddle, n'er,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'kaze
+dey ain't gwineter be no dancin' dar,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit put out fer home, en
+went ter bed, en Brer Tarrypin bruise 'roun' en make his way todes de
+place so he kin be dar 'gin de 'p'inted time.
+
+"Nex' day Brer Rabbit sont wud ter de yuther creeturs, en dey all make
+great 'miration, kaze dey ain't think 'bout dis deyse'f. Brer Fox, he
+'low, he did, dat he gwine atter Miss Meadows en Miss Motts, en de
+yuther gals.
+
+"Sho' nuff, w'en de time come dey wuz all dar. Brer B'ar, he fotch a
+hook en line; Brer Wolf, he fotch a hook en line; Brer Fox, he fotch a
+dip-net, en Brer Tarrypin, not ter be outdone, he fotch de bait."
+
+"What did Miss Meadows and Miss Motts bring?" the little boy asked.
+
+Uncle Remus dropped his head slightly to one side, and looked over his
+spectacles at the little boy.
+
+"Miss Meadows en Miss Motts," he continued, "dey tuck'n stan' way back
+fum de aidge er de pon' en squeal eve'y time Brer Tarrypin shuck de box
+er bait at um. Brer B'ar 'low he gwine ter fish fer mud-cats; Brer Wolf
+'low he gwine ter fish fer horneyheads; Brer Fox 'low he gwine ter fish
+fer peerch fer de ladies; Brer Tarrypin 'low he gwine ter fish fer
+minners, en Brer Rabbit wink at Brer Tarrypin en 'low he gwine ter fish
+fer suckers.
+
+"Dey all git ready, dey did, en Brer Rabbit march up ter de pon' en make
+fer ter th'ow he hook in de water, but des 'bout dat time hit seem lak
+he see sump'n'. De t'er creeturs, dey stop en watch his motions. Brer
+Rabbit, he drap he pole, he did, en he stan' dar scratchin' he head en
+lookin' down in de water.
+
+"De gals dey 'gun ter git oneasy w'en dey see dis, en Miss Meadows, she
+up en holler out, she did:--
+
+"'Law, Brer Rabbit, w'at de name er goodness de marter in dar?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit scratch he head en look in de water. Miss Motts, she hilt
+up 'er petticoats, she did, en 'low she monst'us fear'd er snakes. Brer
+Rabbit keep on scratchin' en lookin'.
+
+"Bimeby he fetch a long bref, he did, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Ladies en gentermuns all, we des might ez well make tracks fum dish
+yer place, kaze dey ain't no fishin' in dat pon' fer none er dish yer
+crowd.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin, he scramble up ter de aidge en look over, en he
+shake he head, en 'low:--
+
+"'Tooby sho'--tooby sho'! Tut-tut-tut!' en den he crawl back, he did, en
+do lak he wukkin' he min'.
+
+"'Don't be skeert, ladies, kaze we er boun' ter take keer un you, let
+come w'at will, let go w'at mus',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Accidents
+got ter happen unter we all, des same ez dey is unter yuther folks; en
+dey ain't nuthin' much de marter, 'ceppin' dat de Moon done drap in de
+water. Ef you don't b'leeve me you kin look fer yo'se'f,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat dey all went ter de bank en lookt in; en, sho' nuff, dar lay de
+Moon, a-swingin' an' a-swayin' at de bottom er de pon'."
+
+The little boy laughed. He had often seen the reflection of the sky in
+shallow pools of water, and the startling depths that seemed to lie at
+his feet had caused him to draw back with a shudder.
+
+"Brer Fox, he look in, he did, en he 'low, 'Well, well, well!' Brer
+Wolf, he look in, en he 'low, 'Mighty bad, mighty bad!' Brer B'ar, he
+look in, en he 'low, 'Tum, tum, tum!' De ladies dey look in, en Miss
+Meadows she squall out, 'Ain't dat too much?' Brer Rabbit, he look in
+ag'in, en he up en 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Ladies en gentermuns, you all kin hum en haw, but less'n we gits dat
+Moon out er de pon', dey ain't no fish kin be ketch 'roun' yer dis
+night; en ef you'll ax Brer Tarrypin, he'll tell you de same.'
+
+"Den dey ax how kin dey git de Moon out er dar, den Brer Tarrypin 'low
+dey better lef' dat wid Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit he shot he eyes, he
+did, en make lak he wukkin' he min'. Bimeby, he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'De nighes' way out'n dish yer diffikil is fer ter sen' 'roun' yer to
+ole Mr. Mud-Turkle en borry his sane, en drag dat Moon up fum dar,'
+sezee.
+
+"'I 'clar' ter gracious I mighty glad you mention dat,' says Brer
+Tarrypin, sezee. 'Mr. Mud-Turkle is setch clos't kin ter me dat I calls
+'im Unk Muck, en I lay ef you sen' dar atter dat sane you won't fine Unk
+Muck so mighty disaccomerdatin'.'
+
+"Well," continued Uncle Remus, after one of his tantalizing pauses, "dey
+sont atter de sane, en w'iles Brer Rabbit wuz gone, Brer Tarrypin, he
+'low dat he done year tell time en time ag'in dat dem w'at fine de Moon
+in de water en fetch 'im out, lakwise dey ull fetch out a pot er money.
+Dis make Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar feel mighty good, en dey
+'low, dey did, dat long ez Brer Rabbit been so good ez ter run atter de
+sane, dey ull do de sanein'.
+
+"Time Brer Rabbit git back, he see how de lan' lay, en he make lak he
+wanter go in atter de Moon. He pull off he coat, en he 'uz fixin' fer
+ter shuck he wescut, but de yuther creeturs dey 'low dey wa'n't gwine
+ter let dryfoot man lak Brer Rabbit go in de water. So Brer Fox, he tuck
+holt er one staff er de sane, Brer Wolf he tuck holt er de yuther staff,
+en Brer B'ar he wade 'long behime fer ter lif' de sane 'cross logs en
+snags.
+
+"Dey make one haul--no Moon; n'er haul--no Moon; n'er haul--no Moon. Den
+bimeby dey git out furder fum de bank. Water run in Brer Fox year, he
+shake he head; water run in Brer Wolf year, he shake he head; water run
+in Brer B'ar year, he shake he head. En de fus' news you know, w'iles
+dey wuz a-shakin', dey come to whar de bottom shelfed off. Brer Fox he
+step off en duck hisse'f; den Brer Wolf duck hisse'f; en Brer B'ar he
+make a splunge en duck hisse'f; en, bless gracious, dey kick en splatter
+twel it look lak dey 'uz gwine ter slosh all de water outer de
+mill-pon'.
+
+"W'en dey come out, de gals 'uz all a-snickerin' en a-gigglin', en dey
+well mought, 'kaze go whar you would, dey wa'n't no wuss lookin'
+creeturs dan dem; en Brer Rabbit, he holler, sezee:--
+
+"'I 'speck you all, gents, better go home en git some dry duds, en n'er
+time we'll be in better luck,' sezee. 'I hear talk dat de Moon'll bite
+at a hook ef you take fools fer baits, en I lay dat's de onliest way fer
+ter ketch 'er,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf en Brer B'ar went drippin' off, en Brer Rabbit en
+Brer Tarrypin, dey went home wid de gals."
+
+
+
+
+XX
+
+BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE
+
+
+One night while the little boy was sitting in Uncle Remus's cabin,
+waiting for the old man to finish his hoe-cake, and refresh his memory
+as to the further adventures of Brother Rabbit, his friends and his
+enemies, something dropped upon the top of the house with a noise like
+the crack of a pistol. The little boy jumped, but Uncle Remus looked up
+and exclaimed, "Ah-yi!" in a tone of triumph.
+
+"What was that, Uncle Remus?" the child asked, after waiting a moment to
+see what else would happen.
+
+"News fum Jack Fros', honey. W'en dat hick'y-nut tree out dar year 'im
+comin' she 'gins ter drap w'at she got. I mighty glad," he continued,
+scraping the burnt crust from his hoe-cake with an old case-knife, "I
+mighty glad hick'y-nuts ain't big en heavy ez grinestones."
+
+He waited a moment to see what effect this queer statement would have on
+the child.
+
+"Yasser, I mighty glad--dat I is. 'Kaze ef hick'y-nuts 'uz big ez
+grinestones dish yer ole callyboose 'ud be a-leakin' long 'fo'
+Chris'mus."
+
+Just then another hickory-nut dropped upon the roof, and the little boy
+jumped again. This seemed to amuse Uncle Remus, and he laughed until he
+was near to choking himself with his smoking hoe-cake.
+
+"You does des 'zackly lak ole Brer Rabbit done, I 'clar' to gracious ef
+you don't!" the old man cried, as soon as he could get his breath; "dez
+zackly fer de worl'."
+
+The child was immensely flattered, and at once he wanted to know how
+Brother Rabbit did. Uncle Remus was in such good humor that he needed no
+coaxing. He pushed his spectacles back on his forehead, wiped his mouth
+on his sleeve, and began:--
+
+"Hit come 'bout dat soon one mawnin' todes de fall er de year, Brer
+Rabbit wuz stirrin' 'roun' in de woods atter some bergamot fer ter make
+'im some h'ar-grease. De win' blow so col' dat it make 'im feel right
+frisky, en eve'y time he year de bushes rattle he make lak he skeerd. He
+'uz gwine on dis a-way, hoppity-skippity, w'en bimeby he year Mr. Man
+cuttin' on a tree way off in de woods. He fotch up, Brer Rabbit did, en
+lissen fus' wid one year en den wid de yuther.
+
+"Man, he cut en cut, en Brer Rabbit, he lissen en lissen. Bimeby, w'iles
+all dis was gwine on, down come de tree--_kubber-lang-bang-blam!_ Brer
+Rabbit, he tuck'n jump des lak you jump, en let 'lone dat, he make a
+break, he did, en he lipt out fum dar lak de dogs wuz atter 'im."
+
+"Was he scared, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Skeerd! Who? _Him?_ Shoo! don't you fret yo'se'f 'bout Brer Rabbit,
+honey. In dem days dey wa'n't nothin' gwine dat kin skeer Brer Rabbit.
+Tooby sho', he tuck keer hisse'f, en ef you know de man w'at 'fuse ter
+take keer hisse'f, I lak mighty well ef you p'int 'im out. Deed'n dat I
+would!"
+
+Uncle Remus seemed to boil over with argumentative indignation.
+
+"Well, den," he continued, "Brer Rabbit run twel he git sorter het up
+like, en des 'bout de time he makin' ready fer ter squot en ketch he
+win', who should he meet but Brer Coon gwine home atter settin' up wid
+ole Brer Bull-Frog. Brer Coon see 'im runnin', en he hail 'im.
+
+"'Wat yo' hurry, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Ain't got time ter tarry.'
+
+"'Folks sick?'
+
+"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Tryin' yo' soopleness?'
+
+"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Do pray, Brer Rabbit, tell me de news!'
+
+"'Mighty big fuss back dar in de woods. Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"Dis make Brer Coon feel mighty skittish, 'kaze he fur ways fum home, en
+he des lipt out, he did, en went a-b'ilin' thoo de woods. Brer Coon
+ain't gone fur twel he meet Brer Fox.
+
+"'Hey, Brer Coon, whar you gwine?'
+
+"'Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Gwine at'-de doctor?'
+
+"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry.'
+
+"'Do pray, Brer Coon, tell me de news.'
+
+"'Mighty quare racket back dar in de woods! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Fox lipt out, he did, en fa'rly split de win'. He ain't
+gone fur twel he meet Brer Wolf.
+
+"'Hey, Brer Fox! Stop en res' yo'se'f!'
+
+"'Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Who bin want de doctor?'
+
+"'No'ne, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Do pray, Brer Fox, good er bad, tell me de news.'
+
+"'Mighty kuse fuss back dar in de woods! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Wolf shuck hisse'f loose fum de face er de yeth, en he
+ain't git fur twel he meet Brer B'ar. Brer B'ar he ax, en Brer Wolf
+make ans'er, en bimeby Brer B'ar he fotch a snort en run'd off; en,
+bless gracious! 't wa'n't long 'fo' de las' one er de creeturs wuz
+a-skaddlin' thoo de woods lak de Ole Boy was atter um--en all 'kaze Brer
+Rabbit year Mr. Man cut tree down.
+
+"Dey run'd en dey run'd," Uncle Remus went on, "twel dey come ter Brer
+Tarrypin house, en dey sorter slack up 'kaze dey done mighty nigh los'
+der win'. Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax um wharbouts dey gwine, en dey 'low
+dey wuz a monst'us tarryfyin' racket back dar in de woods. Brer
+Tarrypin, he ax w'at she soun' lak. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno,
+den dey all say dey dunno. Den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax who year dis
+monst'us racket. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno, den dey all say
+dey dunno. Dis make ole Brer Tarrypin laff 'way down in he insides, en
+he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"You all kin run 'long ef you feel skittish,' sezee. 'Atter I cook my
+brekkus en wash up de dishes, ef I gits win' er any 'spicious racket may
+be I mought take down my pairsol en foller long atter you,' sezee.
+
+"Wen de creeturs come ter make inquirements 'mungs one er n'er 'bout who
+start de news, hit went right spang back ter Brer Rabbit, but, lo en
+beholes! Brer Rabbit ain't dar, en it tu'n out dat Brer Coon is de man
+w'at seed 'im las'. Den dey got ter layin' de blame un it on one er
+n'er, en little mo' en dey'd er fit dar scan'lous, but ole Brer
+Tarrypin, he up'n 'low dat ef dey want ter git de straight un it, dey
+better go see Brer Rabbit.
+
+"All de creeturs wuz 'gree'ble, en dey put out ter Brer Rabbit house.
+W'en dey git dar, Brer Rabbit wuz a-settin' cross-legged in de front
+po'ch winkin' he eye at de sun. Brer B'ar, he speak up:--
+
+"'W'at make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Fool who, Brer B'ar?'
+
+"'Me, Brer Rabbit, dat's who.'
+
+    [Illustration: "'_AH-YI_: YOU OUGHTER AX ME DAT FUS', BRER COON'"]
+
+"'Dish yer de fus' time I seed you dis day, Brer B'ar, en you er mo'
+dan welcome ter dat.'
+
+"Dey all ax 'im en git de same ans'er, en den Brer Coon put in:--
+
+"'Wat make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'How I fool you, Brer Coon?'
+
+"'You make lak dey wuz a big racket, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Dey sholy wuz a big racket, Brer Coon.'
+
+"'Wat kinder racket, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'_Ah-yi!_ You oughter ax me dat fus', Brer Coon.'
+
+"'I axes you now, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Mr. Man cut tree down, Brer Coon.'
+
+"Co'se dis make Brer Coon feel like a nat'al-born Slink, en 't wa'n't
+long 'fo' all de creeturs make der bow ter Brer Rabbit en mosey off
+home."
+
+"Brother Rabbit had the best of it all along," said the little boy,
+after waiting to see whether there was a sequel to the story.
+
+"Oh, he did dat a-way!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Brer Rabbit was a mighty
+man in dem days."
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Why Brother Bear has no Tail]
+
+XXI
+
+WHY BRER BEAR HAS NO TAIL
+
+
+"I 'clar' ter gracious, honey," Uncle Remus exclaimed one night, as the
+little boy ran in, "you sholy ain't chaw'd yo' vittles. Hit ain't bin no
+time, skacely, sence de supper-bell rung, en ef you go on dis a-way,
+you'll des nat'ally pe'sh yo'se'f out."
+
+"Oh, I wasn't hungry," said the little boy. "I had something before
+supper, and I wasn't hungry anyway."
+
+The old man looked keenly at the child, and presently he said:--
+
+"De ins en de outs er dat kinder talk all come ter de same p'int in my
+min'. Youer bin a-cuttin' up at de table, en Mars John, he tuck'n sont
+you 'way fum dar, en w'iles he think youer off some'rs a-snifflin' en
+a-feelin' bad, yer you is a-high-primin' 'roun' des lak you done had mo'
+supper dan de King er Philanders."
+
+Before the little boy could inquire about the King of Philanders he
+heard his father calling him. He started to go out, but Uncle Remus
+motioned him back.
+
+"Des set right whar you is, honey,--des set right still."
+
+Then Uncle Remus went to the door and answered for the child; and a very
+queer answer it was--one that could be heard half over the plantation:--
+
+"Mars John, I wish you en Miss Sally be so good ez ter let dat chile
+'lone. He down yer cryin' he eyes out, en he ain't bodderin' 'long er
+nobody in de roun' worl'."
+
+Uncle Remus stood in the door a moment to see what the reply would be,
+but he heard none. Thereupon he continued, in the same loud tone:--
+
+"I ain't bin use ter no sich gwines on in Ole Miss time, en I ain't
+gwine git use ter it now. Dat I ain't."
+
+Presently 'Tildy, the house-girl, brought the little boy his supper, and
+the girl was no sooner out of hearing than the child swapped it with
+Uncle Remus for a roasted yam, and the enjoyment of both seemed to be
+complete.
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a while, "you know I wasn't
+crying just now."
+
+"Dat's so, honey," the old man replied, "but 't would n't er bin long
+'fo' you would er bin, kaze Mars John bawl out lak a man w'at got a
+strop in he han', so w'at de diff'unce?"
+
+When they had finished eating, Uncle Remus busied himself in cutting and
+trimming some sole-leather for future use. His knife was so keen, and
+the leather fell away from it so smoothly and easily, that the little
+boy wanted to trim some himself. But to this Uncle Remus would not
+listen.
+
+"'T ain't on'y chilluns w'at got de consate er doin' eve'ything dey see
+yuther folks do. Hit's grown folks w'at oughter know better," said the
+old man. "Dat's des de way Brer B'ar git his tail broke off
+smick-smack-smoove, en down ter dis day he de funnies'-lookin' creetur
+w'at wobble on top er dry groun'."
+
+Instantly the little boy forgot all about Uncle Remus's sharp knife.
+
+"Hit seem lak dat in dem days Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin done gone in
+cohoots fer ter outdo de t'er creeturs. One time Brer Rabbit tuck'n make
+a call on Brer Tarrypin, but w'en he git ter Brer Tarrypin house, he
+year talk fum Miss Tarrypin dat her ole man done gone fer ter spen' de
+day wid Mr. Mud-Turkle, w'ich dey wuz blood kin. Brer Rabbit he put out
+atter Brer Tarrypin, en w'en he got ter Mr. Mud-Turkle house, dey all
+sot up, dey did, en tole tales, en den w'en twelf er'clock come dey had
+crawfish fer dinner, en dey 'joy deyse'f right erlong. Atter dinner dey
+went down ter Mr. Mud-Turkle mill-pon', en w'en dey git dar Mr.
+Mud-Turkle en Brer Tarrypin dey 'muse deyse'f, dey did, wid slidin' fum
+de top uv a big slantin' rock down inter de water.
+
+"I 'speck you moughter seen rocks in de water 'fo' now, whar dey git
+green en slipp'y," said Uncle Remus.
+
+The little boy had not only seen them, but had found them to be very
+dangerous to walk upon, and the old man continued:--
+
+"Well, den, dish yer rock wuz mighty slick en mighty slantin'. Mr.
+Mud-Turkle, he'd crawl ter de top, en tu'n loose, en go a-sailin' down
+inter de water--_kersplash!_ Ole Brer Tarrypin, he'd foller atter, en
+slide down inter de water--_kersplash!_ Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot off, he
+did, en praise um up.
+
+"W'iles dey wuz a-gwine on dis a-way, a-havin' der fun, en 'joyin'
+deyse'f, yer come ole Brer B'ar. He year um laffin' en holl'in', en he
+hail um.
+
+"'Heyo, folks! W'at all dis? Ef my eye ain't 'ceive me, dish yer's Brer
+Rabbit, en Brer Tarrypin, en ole Unk' Tommy Mud-Turkle,' sez Brer B'ar,
+sezee.
+
+"'De same,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en yer we is 'joyin' de day dat
+passes des lak dey wa'n't no hard times.'
+
+"'Well, well, well!' sez ole Brer B'ar, sezee, 'a-slippin' en a-slidin'
+en makin' free! En w'at de matter wid Brer Rabbit dat he ain't j'inin'
+in?' sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit he wink at Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin he hunch Mr.
+Mud-Turkle, en den Brer Rabbit he up'n 'low, he did:--
+
+"'My goodness, Brer B'ar! you can't 'speck a man fer ter slip en slide
+de whole blessid day, kin you? I done had my fun, en now I'm a-settin'
+out yer lettin' my cloze dry. Hit's tu'n en tu'n about wid me en deze
+gents w'en dey's any fun gwine on,' sezee.
+
+"'Maybe Brer B'ar might jine in wid us,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit he des holler en laff.
+
+"'Shoo!' sezee, 'Brer B'ar foot too big en he tail too long fer ter
+slide down dat rock,' sezee.
+
+"Dis kinder put Brer B'ar on he mettle, en he up'n 'spon', he did:--
+
+"'Maybe dey is, en maybe dey ain't, yit I ain't a-feared ter try.'
+
+"Wid dat de yuthers tuck'n made way fer 'im, en ole Brer B'ar he git up
+on de rock, he did, en squot down on he hunkers, en quile he tail und'
+'im, en start down. Fus' he go sorter slow, en he grin lak he feel good;
+den he go sorter peart, en he grin lak he feel bad; den he go mo'
+pearter, en he grin lak he skeerd; den he strack de slick part, en,
+gentermens! he swaller de grin en fetch a howl dat moughter bin yeard a
+mile, en he hit de water lak a chimbly a-fallin'.
+
+"You kin gimme denial," Uncle Remus continued after a little pause, "but
+des ez sho' ez you er settin' dar, w'en Brer B'ar slick'd up en flew
+down dat rock, he break off he tail right smick-smack-smoove, en mo'n
+dat, w'en he make his disappear'nce up de big road, Brer Rabbit holler
+out:--
+
+"'Brer B'ar!--O Brer B'ar! I year tell dat flaxseed poultices is mighty
+good fer so' places!'
+
+"Yit Brer B'ar ain't look back."
+
+
+
+
+XXII
+
+HOW BRER RABBIT FRIGHTENED HIS NEIGHBORS
+
+
+When Uncle Remus was in a good humor he turned the most trifling
+incidents into excuses for amusing the little boy with his stories. One
+night while he was hunting for a piece of candle on the shelf that took
+the place of a mantel over the fireplace, he knocked down a tin plate.
+It fell upon the hearth with a tremendous clatter.
+
+"Dar now!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Hit's a blessin' dat dat ar platter
+is got mo' backbone dan de common run er crockery, 'kaze 't would er bin
+bust all ter flinderations long time ago. Dat ar platter is got dents on
+it w'at Miss Sally put dar w'en she 'uz a little bit er gal. Yet dar 't
+is, en right dis minnit hit'll hol' mo' vittles dan w'at I got ter put
+in it.
+
+"I lay," the old man continued, leaning his hand against the chimney and
+gazing at the little boy reflectively,--"I lay ef de creeturs had a bin
+yer w'iles all dat clatterment gwine on dey'd a lef' bidout tellin'
+anybody good-bye. All 'ceppin' Brer Rabbit. Bless yo' soul, he'd er
+stayed fer ter see de fun, des lak he did dat t'er time w'en he skeer um
+all so. I 'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."
+
+"When he got the honey on him and rolled in the leaves?"
+
+Uncle Remus thought a moment.
+
+"Ef I make no mistakes in my 'membunce, dat wuz de time w'en he call
+hisse'f de Wull-er-de-Wust."
+
+The little boy corroborated Uncle Remus's memory.
+
+"Well, den, dish yer wuz n'er time, en he lak ter skeer um plum out'n de
+settlement. En it all come 'bout 'kaze dey wanter play smarty."
+
+"Who wanted to play smarty, Uncle Remus?" asked the child.
+
+"Oh, des dem t'er creeturs. Dey wuz allers a-layin' traps fer Brer
+Rabbit en gittin' cotch in um deyse'f, en dey wuz allers a-pursooin'
+atter 'im day in en day out. I ain't 'nyin' but w'at some er Brer Rabbit
+pranks wuz mighty ha'sh, but w'y'n't dey let 'im 'lone deyse'f?"
+
+Naturally, the little boy was not prepared to meet these arguments, even
+had their gravity been less impressive, so he said nothing.
+
+"In dem days," Uncle Remus went on, "de creeturs wuz same lak folks. Dey
+had der ups en dey had der downs; dey had der hard times, and dey had
+der saf' times. Some seasons der craps 'ud be good, en some seasons
+dey'd be bad. Brer Rabbit, he far'd lak de res' un um. W'at he'd make,
+dat he'd spen'. One season he tuck'n made a fine chance er goobers, en
+he 'low, he did, dat ef dey fetch 'im anywhars nigh de money w'at he
+'speck dey would, he go ter town en buy de truck w'at needcessity call
+fer.
+
+"He ain't no sooner say dat dan ole Miss Rabbit, she vow, she did, dat
+it be a scannul en a shame ef he don't whirl in en git sevin tin cups
+fer de chilluns fer ter drink out'n, en sevin tin plates fer 'm fer ter
+sop out 'n, en a coffee-pot fer de fambly. Brer Rabbit say dat des
+zackly w'at he gwine do, en he 'low, he did, dat he gwine ter town de
+comin' We'n'sday."
+
+Uncle Remus paused, and indulged in a hearty laugh before he resumed:--
+
+"Brer Rabbit wa'n't mo'n out'n de gate 'fo' Miss Rabbit, she slap on 'er
+bonnet, she did, en rush 'cross ter Miss Mink house, en she ain't bin
+dar a minnit 'fo' she up'n tell Miss Mink dat Brer Rabbit done promise
+ter go ter town We'n'sday comin' en git de chilluns sump'n'. Co'se, w'en
+Mr. Mink come home, Miss Mink she up'n 'low she want ter know w'at de
+reason he can't buy sump'n' fer his chilluns same ez Brer Rabbit do fer
+his'n, en dey quo'll en quo'll des lak folks. Atter dat Miss Mink she
+kyar de news ter Miss Fox, en den Brer Fox he tuk'n got a rakin' over de
+coals. Miss Fox she tell Miss Wolf, en Miss Wolf she tell Miss B'ar, en
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' ev'ybody in dem diggin's know dat Brer Rabbit gwine
+ter town de comin' We'n'sday fer ter git his chilluns sump'n'; en all de
+yuther creeturs' chilluns ax der ma w'at de reason der pa can't git
+_dem_ sump'n'. So dar it went.
+
+"Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar, dey make up der mines, dey did,
+dat ef dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit, dat wuz de time, en dey
+fix up a plan dat dey'd lay fer Brer Rabbit en nab 'im w'en he come back
+fum town. Dey tuck'n make all der 'rangerments, en wait fer de day.
+
+"Sho' nuff, w'en We'n'sday come, Brer Rabbit e't he brekkus 'fo'
+sun-up, en put out fer town. He tuck'n got hisse'f a dram, en a plug er
+terbarker, en a pocket-hankcher, en he got de ole 'oman a coffee-pot, en
+he got de chillun sevin tin cups en sevin tin plates, en den todes
+sundown he start back home. He walk 'long, he did, feelin' mighty
+biggity, but bimeby w'en he git sorter tired, he sot down und' a
+black-jack tree, en 'gun to fan hisse'f wid one er der platters.
+
+"W'iles he doin' dis a little bit er teenchy sap-sucker run up'n down de
+tree en keep on makin' mighty quare fuss. Atter w'ile Brer Rabbit tuk'n
+shoo at 'im wid de platter. Seem lak dis make de teenchy little
+sap-sucker mighty mad, en he rush out on a lim' right over Brer Rabbit,
+en he sing out:--
+
+    "'_Pilly-pee, pilly-wee!
+    I see w'at he no see!
+    I see, pilly-pee,
+    I see, w'at he no see!_'
+
+"He keep on singin' dis, he did, twel Brer Rabbit 'gun ter look 'roun',
+en he ain't no sooner do dis dan he see marks in de san' whar sum un
+done bin dar 'fo' 'im, en he look little closer en den he see w'at de
+sap-sucker drivin' at. He scratch his head, Brer Rabbit did, en he 'low
+ter hisse'f:--
+
+"'Ah-yi! Yer whar Brer Fox bin settin', en dar de print er he nice bushy
+tail. Yer whar Brer Wolf bin settin', en dar de print er he fine long
+tail. Yer whar Brer B'ar bin squattin' on he hunkers, en dar de print
+w'ich he ain't got no tail. Dey er all bin yer, en I lay dey er hidin'
+out in de big gully down dar in de holler.'
+
+"Wid dat, ole man Rab. tuck'n put he truck in de bushes, en den he run
+'way 'roun' fer ter see w'at he kin see. Sho' nuff," continued Uncle
+Remus, with a curious air of elation,--"sho' nuff, w'en Brer Rabbit git
+over agin de big gully down in de holler, dar dey wuz. Brer Fox, he 'uz
+on one side er de road, en Brer Wolf 'uz on de t'er side; en ole Brer
+B'ar he 'uz quiled up in de gully takin' a nap.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n peep at um, he did, en he lick he foot en roach
+back he h'ar, en den hol' his han's 'cross he mouf en laff lak some
+chilluns does w'en dey t'ink dey er foolin' der ma."
+
+"Not me, Uncle Remus--not me!" exclaimed the little boy promptly.
+
+"Heyo dar! don't kick 'fo' you er spurred, honey! Brer Rabbit, he seed
+um all dar, en he tuck'n grin, he did, en den he lit out ter whar he
+done lef he truck, en w'en he git dar he dance 'roun' en slap hisse'f on
+de leg, en make all sorts er kuse motions. Den he go ter wuk en tu'n de
+coffee-pot upside down en stick it on he head; den he run he gallus thoo
+de han'les er de cups, en sling um crosst he shoulder; den he 'vide de
+platters, some in one han' en some in de yuther. Atter he git good en
+ready, he crope ter de top er de hill, he did, en tuck a runnin' start,
+en flew down like a harrycane--_rickety, rackety, slambang!_"
+
+The little boy clapped his hands enthusiastically.
+
+"Bless yo' soul, dem creeturs ain't year no fuss lak dat, en dey ain't
+seed no man w'at look lak Brer Rabbit do, wid de coffee-pot on he head,
+en de cups a-rattlin' on he gallus, en de platters a-wavin' en a-shinin'
+in de a'r.
+
+"Now, mine you, ole Brer B'ar wuz layin' off up de gully takin' a nap,
+en de fuss skeer 'im so bad dat he make a break en run over Brer Fox. He
+rush out in de road, he did, en w'en he see de sight, he whirl 'roun' en
+run over Brer Wolf. Wid der scramblin' en der scufflin', Brer Rabbit got
+right on um 'fo' dey kin git away. He holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Gimme room! Tu'n me loose! I'm ole man Spewter-Splutter wid long
+claws, en scales on my back! I'm snaggle-toofed en double-j'inted! Gimme
+room!'
+
+"Eve'y time he'd fetch a whoop, he'd rattle de cups en slap de platters
+tergedder--_rickety, rackety, slambang!_ En I let you know w'en dem
+creeturs got dey lim's tergedder dey split de win', dey did dat. Ole
+Brer B'ar, he struck a stump w'at stan' in de way, en I ain't gwine tell
+you how he to' it up 'kaze you won't b'leeve me, but de nex' mawnin'
+Brer Rabbit en his chilluns went back dar, dey did, en dey got nuff
+splinters fer ter make um kin'lin' wood all de winter. Yasser! Des ez
+sho' ez I'm a-settin' by dish yer h'ath."
+
+
+
+
+XXIII
+
+MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT
+
+
+The little boy sat watching Uncle Remus sharpen his shoe-knife. The old
+man's head moved in sympathy with his hands, and he mumbled fragments of
+a song. Occasionally he would feel of the edge of the blade with his
+thumb, and then begin to sharpen it again. The comical appearance of the
+venerable darkey finally had its effect upon the child, for suddenly he
+broke into a hearty peal of laughter; whereupon Uncle Remus stopped
+shaking his head and singing his mumbly-song, and assumed a very
+dignified attitude. Then he drew a long, deep breath, and said:--
+
+"'Wen folks git ole en stricken wid de palsy, dey mus' 'speck ter be
+laff'd at. Goodness knows, I bin use ter dat sence de day my whiskers
+'gun to bleach."
+
+"Why, I was n't laughing at you, Uncle Remus; I declare I was n't,"
+cried the little boy. "I thought maybe you might be doing your head like
+Brother Rabbit did when he was fixing to cut his meat."
+
+Uncle Remus's seriousness was immediately driven away by a broad and
+appreciative grin.
+
+"Now, dat de way ter talk, honey, en I boun' you wa'n't fur wrong, n'er,
+'kaze fer all dey'll tell you dat Brer Rabbit make he livin' 'long er
+nibblin' at grass en greens, hit 't wa'n't dat a-way in dem days, 'kaze
+I got in my 'membunce right now de 'casion whar Brer Rabbit is tuck'n
+e't meat."
+
+The little boy had learned that it was not best to make any display of
+impatience, and so he waited quietly while Uncle Remus busied himself
+with arranging the tools on his shoe-bench. Presently the old man
+began:--
+
+"Hit so happen dat one day Brer Rabbit meet up wid Brer Fox, en w'en dey
+'quire atter der corporosity, dey fine out dat bofe un um mighty po'ly.
+Brer Fox, he 'low, he do, dat he monst'us hongry, en Brer Rabbit he
+'spon' dat he got a mighty hankerin' atter vittles hisse'f. Bimeby dey
+look up de big road, en dey see Mr. Man comin' 'long wid a great big
+hunk er beef und' he arm. Brer Fox he up 'n 'low, he did, dat he lak
+mighty well fer ter git a tas'e er dat, en Brer Rabbit he 'low dat de
+sight er dat nice meat all lineded wid taller is nuff fer ter run a body
+'stracted.
+
+"Mr. Man he come en he come 'long. Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox dey look en
+dey look at 'im. Dey wink der eye en der mouf water. Brer Rabbit he 'low
+he bleedz ter git some er dat meat. Brer Fox he 'spon', he did, dat it
+look mighty fur off ter him. Den Brer Rabbit tell Brer Fox fer ter
+foller 'long atter 'im in hailin' distuns, en wid dat he put out, he
+did, en 't wa'nt long 'fo' he kotch up wid Mr. Man.
+
+"Dey pass de time er day, en den dey went joggin' 'long de road same lak
+dey 'uz gwine 'pun a journey. Brer Rabbit he keep on snuffin' de a'r.
+Mr. Man up'n ax 'im is he got a bad cole, en Brer Rabbit 'spon' dat he
+smell sump'n' w'ich it don't smell like ripe peaches. Bimeby, Brer
+Rabbit 'gun to hoi' he nose, he did, en atter w'ile he sing out:--
+
+"'Gracious en de goodness, Mr. Man! hit's dat meat er yone. _Phew!_
+Whar'bouts is you pick up dat meat at?'
+
+"Dis make Mr. Man feel sorter 'shame' hisse'f, en ter make marters wuss,
+yer come a great big green fly a-zoonin' 'roun'. Brer Rabbit he git way
+off on t'er side er de road, en he keep on hol'in' he nose. Mr. Man, he
+look sorter sheepish, he did, en dey ain't gone fur 'fo' he put de meat
+down on de side er de road, en he tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit w'at dey gwine
+do 'bout it. Brer Rabbit he 'low, he did:--
+
+"'I year tell in my time dat ef you take'n drag a piece er meat thoo' de
+dus' hit'll fetch back hits freshness. I ain't no superspicious man
+myse'f,' sezee, 'en I ain't got no 'speunce wid no sech doin's, but dem
+w'at tell me say dey done try it. Yit I knows dis,' says Brer Rabbit,
+sezee,--'I knows dat 't ain't gwine do no harm, 'kaze de grit w'at gits
+on de meat kin be wash off,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"'I ain't got no string,' sez Mr. Man, sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit laff hearty, but still he hol' he nose.
+
+"'Time you bin in de bushes long ez I is, you won't miss strings,' sez
+Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lipt out, en he ain't gone long 'fo' he come
+hoppin' back wid a whole passel er bamboo vines all tied tergedder. Mr.
+Man, he 'low:--
+
+"'Dat line mighty long.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he 'low:--
+
+"'Tooby sho', you want de win' fer ter git 'twix' you en dat meat.'
+
+"Den Mr. Man tuck'n tied de bamboo line ter de meat. Brer Rabbit he
+broke off a 'simmon bush, he did, en 'low dat he'd stay behime en keep
+de flies off. Mr. Man he go on befo' en drag de meat, en Brer Rabbit he
+stay behime, he did, en take keer un it."
+
+Here Uncle Remus was compelled to pause and laugh before he could
+proceed with the story.
+
+"En he is take keer un it, mon--dat he is. He tuck'n git 'im a rock, en
+w'iles Mr. Man gwine 'long bidout lookin' back, he ondo de meat en tie
+de rock ter de bamboo line, en w'en Brer Fox foller on, sho' nuff, dar
+lay de meat. Mr. Man, he drug de rock, he did, en Brer Rabbit he keep de
+flies off, twel atter dey gone on right smart piece, en den w'en Mr.
+Man look 'roun', whar wuz ole man Rabbit?
+
+"Bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit done gone back en jine Brer Fox, en he wuz
+des in time, at dat, 'kaze little mo' en Brer Fox would 'a' done bin
+outer sight en yearin'. En so dat de way Brer Rabbit git Mr. Man meat."
+
+The little boy reflected a little, and then said:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, was n't that stealing?"
+
+"Well, I tell you 'bout dat, honey," responded the old man, with the air
+of one who is willing to compromise. "In dem days de creeturs bleedz ter
+look out fer deyse'f, mo' speshually dem w'at ain't got hawn en huff.
+Brer Rabbit ain't got no hawn en huff, en he bleedz ter be he own
+lawyer."
+
+Just then the little boy heard his father's buggy rattling down the
+avenue, and he ran out into the darkness to meet it. After he was gone,
+Uncle Remus sat a long time rubbing his hands and looking serious.
+Finally he leaned back in his chair, and exclaimed:--
+
+"Dat little chap gittin' too much fer ole Remus--dat he is!"
+
+
+
+
+XXIV
+
+HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT
+
+
+When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the cabin was dark and
+empty and the door shut. The old man was gone. He was absent for several
+nights, but at last one night the little boy saw a welcome light in the
+cabin, and he made haste to pay Uncle Remus a visit. He was full of
+questions:--
+
+"Goodness, Uncle Remus! Where in the world have you been? I thought you
+were gone for good. Mamma said she reckoned the treatment here did n't
+suit you, and you had gone off to get some of your town friends to hire
+you."
+
+"Is Miss Sally tell you dat, honey? Well, ef she ain't de beatenes'
+w'ite 'oman dis side er kingdom come, you kin des shoot me. Miss Sally
+tuck'n writ me a pass wid her own han's fer ter go see some er my kin
+down dar in de Ashbank settlement. Yo' mammy quare 'oman, honey, sho'!
+
+"En yit, w'at de good er my stayin' yer? T'er night, I ain't mo'n git
+good en started 'fo' you er up en gone, en I ain't seed ha'r ner hide un
+you sence. W'en I see you do dat, I 'low ter myse'f dat hit's des 'bout
+time fer ole man Remus fer ter pack up he duds en go hunt comp'ny
+some'r's else."
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in a tone of
+expostulation, "did n't Brother Fox get the meat, and was n't that the
+end of the story?"
+
+Uncle Remus started to laugh, but he changed his mind so suddenly that
+the little boy was convulsed. The old man groaned and looked at the
+rafters with a curious air of disinterestedness. After a while he went
+on with great seriousness:--
+
+"I dunner w'at kinder idee folks got 'bout Brer Rabbit nohow, dat I
+don't. S'pozen you lays de plans so some yuther chap kin git a big hunk
+er goody, is you gwine ter set off some'r's en see 'im make way wid it?"
+
+"What kind of goody, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Dish yer kinder goody w'at town folks keeps. Mint draps and reezins, en
+sweet doin's lak Miss Sally keep und' lock en key. Well, den, if you
+gits some er dat, er may be some yuther kinder goody, w'ich I wish 't
+wuz yer right dis blessid minnit, is you gwine ter set quile up in dat
+cheer en let n'er chap run off wid it? Dat you ain't--dat you ain't!"
+
+"Oh, I know!" exclaimed the little boy. "Brother Rabbit went back and
+made Brother Fox give him his part of the meat."
+
+"Des lak I tell you, honey; dey wa'n't no man 'mungs de creeturs w'at
+kin stan' right flat-footed en wuk he min' quick lak Brer Rabbit. He
+tuck'n tie de rock on de string, stidder de meat, en he pursue long
+atter it, he did, twel Mr. Man tu'n a ben' in de road, en den Brer
+Rabbit, he des lit out fum dar--_terbuckity-buckity, buck-buck-buckity!_
+en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he tuck'n kotch up wid Brer Fox. Dey tuck de
+meat, dey did, en kyar'd it way off in de woods, en laid it down on a
+clean place on de groun'.
+
+"Dey laid it down, dey did," continued Uncle Remus, drawing his chair up
+closer to the little boy, "en den Brer Fox 'low dey better sample it, en
+Brer Rabbit he 'gree. Wid dat, Brer Fox he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en
+he shut bofe eyes, he did, en he chaw en chaw, en tas'e en tas'e, en
+chaw en tas'e. Brer Rabbit, he watch 'im, but Brer Fox, he keep bofe
+eyes shot, en he chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw."
+
+Uncle Remus not only furnished a pantomime accompaniment to this recital
+by shutting his eyes and pretending to taste, but he lowered his voice
+to a pitch of tragical significance in reporting the dialogue that
+ensued:--
+
+"Den Brer Fox smack he mouf en look at de meat mo' closeter, en up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, _hit's lam'!_'
+
+"'_No_, Brer Fox! _sho'ly not!_'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, _hit's lam'!_'
+
+"'Brer Fox, _tooby sho'ly not!_'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en he shot bofe eyes, en
+chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw. Den he smack he mouf, en up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Brer Fox, _hit's shote!_'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, you foolin' me!'
+
+"'Brer Fox, _I vow hit's shote!_'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, hit des _can't be!_'
+
+"'Brer Fox, _hit sho'ly is!_'
+
+"Dey tas'e en dey 'spute, en dey 'spute en dey tas'e. Atter w'ile, Brer
+Rabbit make lak he want some water, en he rush off in de bushes, en
+d'reckly yer he come back wipin' he mouf en cle'rin' up he th'oat. Den
+Brer Fox he want some water sho' nuff:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, whar you fin' de spring?'
+
+"'Cross de road, en down de hill en up de big gully.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he lope off, he did, en atter he gone Brer Rabbit totch he
+year wid he behime foot lak he flippin' 'im good-bye. Brer Fox, he cross
+de road en rush down de hill, he did, yit he ain't fin' no big gully. He
+keep on gwine twel he fin' de big gully, yit he ain't fin' no spring.
+
+"W'iles all dish yer gwine on, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n grabble a hole in
+de groun', he did, en in dat hole he hid de meat. Atter he git it good
+en hid, he tuck'n cut 'im a long keen hick'ry, en atter so long a time,
+w'en he year Brer Fox comin' back, he got in a clump er bushes, en tuck
+dat hick'ry en let in on a saplin', en ev'y time he hit de saplin', he
+'ud squall out, Brer Rabbit would, des lak de patter-rollers had 'im:--
+
+"_Pow, pow!_ 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man!'--_Pow, pow!_ 'Oh, pray, Mr.
+Man!'--_Chippy-row, pow!_ 'Oh, Lordy, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo'
+meat!'--_Pow!_ 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo' meat!'"
+
+Every time Uncle Remus said "_Pow!_" he struck himself in the palm of
+his hand with a shoe-sole by way of illustration.
+
+"Co'se," he went on, "w'en Brer Fox year dis kinder doin's, he fotch up,
+he did, en lissen, en ev'y time he year de hick'ry come down _pow!_ he
+tuck'n grin en 'low ter hisse'f, 'Ah-yi! you fool me 'bout de water!
+Ah-yi! you fool me 'bout de water!'
+
+"Atter so long a time, de racket sorter die out, en seem lak Mr. Man wuz
+draggin' Brer Rabbit off. Dis make Brer Fox feel mighty skittish. Bimeby
+Brer Rabbit come a-cally-hootin' back des a-hollerin':--
+
+"'Run, Brer Fox, run! Mr. Man say he gwine to kyar dat meat up de road
+ter whar he son is, en den he's a-comin' back atter you. Run, Brer Fox,
+run!'
+
+"En I let you know," said Uncle Remus, leaning back and laughing to see
+the little boy laugh, "I let you know Brer Fox got mighty skace in dat
+neighborhood!"
+
+
+
+
+XXV
+
+AFRICAN JACK
+
+
+Usually, the little boy, who regarded himself as Uncle Remus's partner,
+was not at all pleased when he found the old man entertaining, in his
+simple way, any of his colored friends; but he was secretly delighted
+when he called one night and found Daddy Jack sitting by Uncle Remus's
+hearth. Daddy Jack was an object of curiosity to older people than the
+little boy. He was a genuine African, and for that reason he was known
+as African Jack, though the child had been taught to call him Daddy
+Jack. He was brought to Georgia in a slave-ship when he was about twenty
+years old, and remained upon one of the sea-islands for several years.
+Finally, he fell into the hands of the family of which Uncle Remus's
+little partner was the youngest representative, and became the trusted
+foreman of a plantation, in the southern part of Georgia, known as the
+Walthall Place. Once every year he was in the habit of visiting the Home
+Place in Middle Georgia, and it was during one of these annual visits
+that the little boy found him in Uncle Remus's cabin.
+
+Daddy Jack appeared to be quite a hundred years old, but he was probably
+not more than eighty. He was a little, dried-up old man, whose weazened,
+dwarfish appearance, while it was calculated to inspire awe in the minds
+of the superstitious, was not without its pathetic suggestions. The
+child had been told that the old African was a wizard, a conjurer, and a
+snake-charmer; but he was not afraid, for, in any event,--conjuration,
+witchcraft, or what not,--he was assured of the protection of Uncle
+Remus.
+
+As the little boy entered the cabin Uncle Remus smiled and nodded
+pleasantly, and made a place for him on a little stool upon which had
+been piled the odds and ends of work. Daddy Jack paid no attention to
+the child; his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.
+
+"Go en shake han's, honey, en tell Daddy Jack howdy. He lak good
+chilluns." Then to Daddy Jack: "Brer Jack, dish yer de chap w'at I bin
+tellin' you 'bout."
+
+The little boy did as he was bid, but Daddy Jack grunted ungraciously
+and made no response to the salutation. He was evidently not fond of
+children. Uncle Remus glanced curiously at the dwarfed and withered
+figure, and spoke a little more emphatically:--
+
+"Brer Jack, ef you take good look at dis chap, I lay you'll see mo'n you
+speck ter see. You'll see sump'n' dat'll make you grunt wusser dan you
+grunted deze many long year. Go up dar, honey, whar Daddy Jack kin see
+you."
+
+The child went shyly up to the old African and stood at his knee. The
+sorrows and perplexities of nearly a hundred years lay between them; and
+now, as always, the baffled eyes of age gazed into the Sphinx-like face
+of youth, as if by this means to unravel the mysteries of the past and
+solve the problems of the future.
+
+Daddy Jack took the plump, rosy hands of the little boy in his black,
+withered ones, and gazed into his face so long and steadily, and with
+such curious earnestness, that the child did n't know whether to laugh
+or cry. Presently the old African flung his hands to his head, and
+rocked his body from side to side, moaning and mumbling, and talking to
+himself, while the tears ran down his face like rain.
+
+"Ole Missy! Ole Missy! 'E come back! I bin shum dey-dey, I bin shum de
+night! I bin yeddy 'e v'ice, I bin yeddy de sign!"
+
+"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, into whose arms the little boy had fled;
+"I des know'd dat 'ud fetch 'im. Hit's bin manys de long days sence
+Brer Jack seed Ole Miss, yit ef he ain't seed 'er dat whack, den I ain't
+settin' yer."
+
+After a while Daddy Jack ceased his rocking, and his moaning, and his
+crying, and sat gazing wistfully into the fireplace. Whatever he saw
+there fixed his attention, for Uncle Remus spoke to him several times
+without receiving a response. Presently, however, Daddy Jack exclaimed
+with characteristic but laughable irrelevance:--
+
+"I no lakky dem gal wut is bin-a stan' pidjin-toe. Wun 'e fetch pail er
+water on 'e head, water churray, churray. I no lakky dem gal wut tie 'e
+wool up wit' string; mekky him stan' ugly fer true. I bin ahx da' 'Tildy
+gal fer marry me, un 'e no crack 'im bre't' fer mek answer 'cep' 'e
+bre'k out un lahf by me werry face. Da' gal do holler un lahf un stomp
+'e fut dey-dey, un dun I shum done gone pidjin-toe. Oona bin know da'
+'Tildy gal?"
+
+"I bin a-knowin' dat gal," said Uncle Remus, grimly regarding the old
+African; "I bin a-knowin' dat gal now gwine on sence she 'uz knee-high
+ter one er deze yer puddle-ducks; en I bin noticin' lately dat she
+mighty likely nigger."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, enthusiastically, "I did bin mek up ter
+da' lilly gal troo t'ick un t'in. I bin fetch 'im one fine 'possum, un
+mo' ez one, two, free peck-a taty, un bumbye I bin fetch 'im one bag
+pop-co'n. Wun I bin do dat, I is fley 'roun' da' lilly gal so long tam,
+un I yeddy 'im talk wit' turrer gal. 'E do say: 'Daddy Jack fine ole man
+fer true.' Dun I is bin talk: 'Oona no call-a me Daddy Jack wun dem
+preacher man come fer marry we.' Dun da' lilly gal t'row 'e head back;
+'e squeal lak filly in canebrake."
+
+The little boy understood this rapidly spoken lingo perfectly well, but
+he would have laughed anyhow, for there was more than a suggestion of
+the comic in the shrewd seriousness that seemed to focus itself in Daddy
+Jack's pinched and wrinkled face.
+
+"She tuck de truck w'at you tuck'n fotch 'er," said Uncle Remus, with
+the air of one carefully and deliberately laying the basis of a judicial
+opinion, "en den w'en you sail in en talk bizness, den she up en gun you
+de flat un 'er foot en de back un 'er han', en den, atter dat, she
+tuck'n laff en make spote un you."
+
+"Enty!" assented Daddy Jack, admiringly.
+
+"Well, den, Brer Jack, youer mighty ole, en yit hit seem lak youer
+mighty young; kaze a man w'at ain't got no mo' speunce wid wimmen folks
+dan w'at you is neenter creep 'roun' yer callin' deyse'f ole. Dem kinder
+folks ain't ole nuff, let 'lone bein' too ole. W'en de gal tuck'n laff,
+Brer Jack, w'at 'uz yo' nex' move?" demanded Uncle Remus, looking down
+upon the shrivelled old man with an air of superiority.
+
+Daddy Jack shut his shrewd little eyes tightly and held them so, as if
+by that means to recall all the details of the flirtation. Then he
+said:--
+
+"Da' lilly gal is bin tek dem t'ing. 'E is bin say, 'T'anky, t'anky.'
+Him eaty da' 'possum, him eaty da' pop-co'n, him roas'n da' taty. 'E do
+say, 'T'anky, t'anky!' Wun I talk marry, 'e is bin ris 'e v'ice un
+squeal lak lilly pig stuck in 'e t'roat. 'E do holler: 'Hi, Daddy Jack!
+wut is noung gal gwan do wit' so ole man lak dis?' Un I is bin say: 'Wut
+noung gal gwan do wit' ole Chris'mus' cep' 'e do 'joy 'ese'f?' Un da'
+lil gal 'e do lahff un flut 'ese'f way fum dey-dey."
+
+"I know'd a nigger one time," said Uncle Remus, after pondering a
+moment, "w'at tuck a notion dat he want a bait er 'simmons, en de mo'
+w'at de notion tuck 'im de mo' w'at he want um, en bimeby, hit look lak
+he des nat'ally erbleedz ter have um. He want de 'simmons, en dar dey is
+in de tree. He mouf water, en dar hang de 'simmons. Now, den, w'at do
+dat nigger do? W'en you en me en dish yer chile yer wants 'simmons, we
+goes out en shakes de tree, en ef deyer good en ripe, down dey comes, en
+ef deyer good en green, dar dey stays. But dish yer yuther nigger, he
+too smart fer dat. He des tuck'n tuck he stan' und' de tree, en he open
+he mouf, he did, en wait fer de 'simmons fer ter drap in dar. Dey ain't
+none drap in yit," continued Uncle Remus, gently knocking the cold ashes
+out of his pipe; "en w'at's mo', dey ain't none gwine ter drap in dar.
+Dat des 'zackly de way wid Brer Jack yer, 'bout marryin'; he stan' dar,
+he do, en he hol' bofe han's wide open en he 'speck de gal gwine ter
+drap right spang in um. Man want gal, he des got ter grab 'er--dat's
+w'at. Dey may squall en dey may flutter, but flutter'n' en squallin'
+ain't done no damage yit ez I knows un, en 't ain't gwine ter. Young
+chaps kin make great 'miration 'bout gals, but w'en dey gits ole ez I
+is, dey ull know dat folks is folks, en w'en it come ter bein' folks, de
+wimmen ain gut none de 'vantage er de men. Now dat's des de plain up en
+down tale I'm a-tellin' un you."
+
+This deliverance from so respectable an authority seemed to please Daddy
+Jack immensely. He rubbed his withered hands together, smacked his lips
+and chuckled. After a few restless movements he got up and went
+shuffling to the door, his quick, short steps causing Uncle Remus to
+remark:--
+
+"De gal w'at git ole Brer Jack 'ull git a natchul pacer, sho'. He move
+mo' one-sideder dan ole Zip Coon, w'ich he rack up de branch all night
+long wid he nose p'int lak he gwine 'cross."
+
+While the little boy was endeavoring to get Uncle Remus to explain the
+nature of Daddy Jack's grievances, muffled laughter was heard outside,
+and almost immediately 'Tildy rushed in the door. 'Tildy flung herself
+upon the floor and rolled and laughed until, apparently, she could laugh
+no more. Then she seemed to grow severely angry. She arose from the
+floor and flopped herself down in a chair, and glared at Uncle Remus
+with indignation in her eyes. As soon as she could control her inflamed
+feelings, she cried:--
+
+"Wat is I done ter you, Unk' Remus? 'Fo' de Lord, ef anybody wuz ter
+come en tole me dat you gwine ter put de Ole Boy in dat ole Affikin
+nigger head, I would n't er b'leeved um--dat I would n't. Unk' Remus,
+w'at is I done ter you?"
+
+Uncle Remus made no direct response; but he leaned over, reached out his
+hand, and picked up an unfinished axe-helve that stood in the corner.
+Then he took the little boy by the arm, and pushed him out of the way,
+saying in his gentlest and most persuasive tone:--
+
+"Stan' sorter 'roun' dar, honey, 'kaze w'en de splinters 'gin ter fly, I
+want you ter be out'n de way. Miss Sally never gimme 'er fergivance in
+de roun' worl' ef you 'uz ter git hurted on account er de frazzlin' er
+dish yer piece er timber."
+
+Uncle Remus's movements and remarks had a wonderful effect on 'Tildy.
+Her anger disappeared, her eyes lost their malignant expression, and her
+voice fell to a conversational tone.
+
+"Now, Unk' Remus, you ought n't ter do me dat a-way, 'kaze I ain't done
+nothin' ter you. I 'uz settin' up yon' in Aunt Tempy house, des now,
+runnin' on wid Riah, en yer come dat ole Affikin Jack en say you say he
+kin marry me ef he ketch me, en he try ter put he arm 'roun' me en kiss
+me."
+
+'Tildy tossed her head and puckered her mouth at the bare remembrance of
+it.
+
+"W'at wud did you gin Brer Jack?" inquired Uncle Remus, not without
+asperity.
+
+"W'at I gwine tell him?" exclaimed 'Tildy disdainfully. "I des tuck'n up
+en tole 'im he foolin' wid de wrong nigger."
+
+'Tildy would have continued her narration, but just at that moment the
+shuffling of feet was heard outside, and Daddy Jack came in, puffing and
+blowing and smiling. Evidently he had been hunting for 'Tildy in every
+house in the negro quarter.
+
+"Hi!" he exclaimed, "lil gal, 'e bin skeet sem lak ma'sh hen. 'E no run
+no mo'."
+
+"Pick 'er up, Brer Jack," exclaimed Uncle Remus; "she's yone."
+
+'Tildy was angry as well as frightened. She would have fled, but Daddy
+Jack stood near the door.
+
+"Look yer, nigger man!" she exclaimed, "ef you come slobbun 'roun' me,
+I'll take one er deze yer dog-iüns en brain you wid it. I ain't gwine
+ter have no web-foot nigger follerin' atter me. Now you des come!--I
+ain't feard er yo' cunjun. Unk' Remus, ef you got any intruss in dat ole
+Affikin ape, you better make 'im lemme 'lone. G'way fum yer now!"
+
+All this time Daddy Jack was slowly approaching 'Tildy, bowing and
+smiling, and looking quite dandified, as Uncle Remus afterward said.
+Just as the old African was about to lay hands upon 'Tildy, she made a
+rush for the door. The movement was so unexpected that Daddy Jack was
+upset. He fell upon Uncle Remus's shoe-bench, and then rolled off on the
+floor, where he lay clutching at the air, and talking so rapidly that
+nobody could understand a word he said. Uncle Remus lifted him to his
+feet, with much dignity, and it soon became apparent that he was neither
+hurt nor angry. The little boy laughed immoderately, and he was still
+laughing when 'Tildy put her head in the door and exclaimed:--
+
+"Unk' Remus, I ain't kilt dat ole nigger, is I? 'Kaze ef I got ter go
+ter de gallus, I want to go dar fer sump'n' n'er bigger'n dat."
+
+Uncle Remus disdained to make any reply, but Daddy Jack chuckled and
+patted himself on the knee as he cried:--
+
+"Come 'long, lilly gal! come 'long! I no mad. I fall down dey fer laff.
+Come 'long, lilly gal, come 'long."
+
+'Tildy went on laughing loudly and talking to herself. After awhile
+Uncle Remus said:--
+
+"Honey, I 'speck Miss Sally lookin' und' de bed en axin' whar you is.
+You better leak out fum yer now, en by dis time termorrer night I'll
+git Brer Jack all primed up, en he'll whirl in en tell you a tale."
+
+Daddy Jack nodded assent, and the little boy ran laughing to the "big
+house."
+
+
+
+
+XXVI
+
+WHY THE ALLIGATOR'S BACK IS ROUGH
+
+
+The night after the violent flirtation between Daddy Jack and 'Tildy,
+the latter coaxed and bribed the little boy to wait until she had
+finished her work about the house. After she had set things to rights in
+the dining-room and elsewhere, she took the child by the hand, and
+together they went to Uncle Remus's cabin. The old man was making a
+door-mat of shucks and grass and white-oak splits, and Daddy Jack was
+dozing in the corner.
+
+"W'at I tell you, Brer Jack?" said Uncle Remus, as 'Tildy came in. "Dat
+gal atter you, mon!"
+
+"Fer de Lord sake, Unk' Remus, don't start dat ole nigger. I done
+promise Miss Sally dat I won't kill 'im, en I like ter be good ez my
+word; but ef he come foolin' longer me I'm des nat'ally gwine ter
+onj'int 'im. Now you year me say de word."
+
+But Daddy Jack made no demonstration. He sat with his eyes closed, and
+paid no attention to 'Tildy. After awhile the little boy grew restless,
+and presently he said:--
+
+"Daddy Jack, you know you promised to tell me a story to-night."
+
+"He wukkin' wid it now, honey," said Uncle Remus, soothingly. "Brer
+Jack," he continued, "wa'n't dey sump'n' n'er 'bout ole man Yalligater?"
+
+"Hi!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, arousing himself, "'e 'bout B'er 'Gater fer
+true. Oona no bin see da' B'er 'Gater?"
+
+The child had seen one, but it was such a very little one he hardly
+knew whether to claim an acquaintance with Daddy Jack's 'Gater.
+
+"Dem all sem," continued Daddy Jack. "Big mout', pop-eye, walk on 'e
+belly; 'e is bin got bump, bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, bump, bump, bump
+'pon 'e tail. 'E dife 'neat' de water, 'e do lif 'pon de lan'.
+
+"One tam Dog is bin run B'er Rabbit, tel 'e do git tire; da' Dog is bin
+run 'im tel him ent mos' hab no bre't' in 'e body; 'e hide 'ese'f by de
+crik side. 'E come close 'pon B'er 'Gater, en B'er 'Gater, 'e do say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Rabbit! wut dis is mek you blow so? Wut mekky you' bre't'
+come so?'
+
+"'Eh-eh! B'er 'Gater, I hab bin come 'pon trouble. Dog, 'e do run un-a
+run me.'
+
+"'Wey you no fetch 'im 'long, B'er Rabbit? I is bin git fat on all da'
+trouble lak dem. I proud fer yeddy Dog bark, ef 'e is bin fetch-a me
+trouble lak dem.'
+
+"'Wait, B'er 'Gater! Trouble come bisitin' wey you lif; 'e mekky you'
+side puff; 'e mekky you' bre't' come so.'
+
+"'Gater, he do flup 'e tail un 'tretch 'ese'f, un lahff. 'E say:--
+
+"'I lak fer see dem trouble. Nuddin' no bodder me. I ketch-a dem swimp,
+I ketch-a dem crahb, I mekky my bed wey de sun shiün hot, un I do 'joy
+mese'f. I proud fer see dem trouble.'
+
+"''E come 'pon you, B'er 'Gater, wun you bin hab you' eye shed; 'e come
+'pon you fum de turrer side. Ef 'e no come 'pon you in da' crik, dun 'e
+come 'pon you in da' broom-grass.'
+
+"'Dun I shekky um by de han', B'er Rabbit; I ahx um howdy.'
+
+"'Eh-eh, B'er 'Gater! you bin-a lahff at me; you no lahff wun dem
+trouble come. Dem trouble bin ketch-a you yit.'"
+
+Daddy Jack paused to wipe his face. He had reported the dialogue between
+Brother Rabbit and Brother Alligator with considerable animation, and
+had illustrated it as he went along with many curious inflections of the
+voice, and many queer gestures of head and hands impossible to describe
+here, but which added picturesqueness to the story. After awhile he went
+on:--
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e do blow un 'e do ketch urn bre't'. 'E pit one year wey
+Dog is bin-a bark; 'e pit one eye 'pon B'er 'Gater. 'E lissen, 'e look;
+'e look, 'e lissen. 'E no yeddy Dog, un 'e comforts come back. Bumbye
+B'er 'Gater, 'e come drowsy; 'e do nod, nod, un 'e head sway down, tel
+ma'sh-grass tickle 'e nose, un 'e do cough sem lak 'e teer up da' crik
+by da' root. 'E no lak dis place fer sleep at, un 'e is crawl troo da'
+ma'sh 'pon dry lan'; 'e is mek fer da' broom-grass fiel'. 'E mek 'e bed
+wid 'e long tail, un 'e is 'tretch 'ese'f out at 'e lenk. 'E is shed 'e
+y-eye, un opun 'e mout', un tek 'e nap.
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e do hol' 'e y-eye 'pon B'er 'Gater. Him talk no wud; him
+wallup 'e cud; him stan' still. B'er 'Gater, 'e do tek 'e nap; B'er
+Rabbit 'e do watch. Bum-bye, B'er 'Gater bre't', 'e do come _loud_; 'e
+is bin sno' _hard!_ 'E dream lilly dream; 'e wuk 'e fut un shek 'e tail
+in 'e dream. B'er Rabbit wink 'e y-eye, un 'e do watch. B'er 'Gater, he
+do leaf 'e dream bahine, un 'e sleep soun'. B'er Rabbit watch lil, wait
+lil. Bumbye, 'e do go wey fier bu'n in da' stump, un 'e is fetch some.
+'E say, 'Dis day I is mek you know dem trouble; I is mek you know dem
+well.' 'E hop 'roun' dey-dey, un 'e do light da' broom-grass; 'e bu'n,
+bu'n--bu'n, bu'n; 'e do bu'n smaht.
+
+"B'er 'Gater, 'e is dream some mo' lilly dream. 'E do wuk 'e fut, 'e do
+shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n, bu'n; B'er 'Gater dream. 'E dream da'
+sun is shiün' hot; 'e wom 'e back, 'e wom 'e belly; 'e wuk 'e fut, 'e
+shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n high, 'e bu'n low; 'e bu'n smaht, 'e bu'n
+hot. Bumbye, B'er 'Gater is wek fum 'e dream; 'e smell-a da' smoke, 'e
+feel-a da' fier. 'E run dis way, 'e run turrer way; no diffran' wey 'e
+is run, dey da' smoke, dey da' fier. _Bu'n, bu'n, bu'n!_ B'er 'Gater
+lash 'e tail, un grine 'e toof. Bumbye, 'e do roll un holler:--
+
+"'Trouble, trouble, trouble! _Trouble, trouble!_'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e is stan' pas' da' fier, un 'e do say:--
+
+"'Ki! B'er 'Gater! Wey you fer l'arn-a dis talk 'bout dem trouble?'
+
+"B'er 'Gater, 'e lash 'e tail, 'e fair teer da' ye't,[24] un 'e do
+holler:--
+
+"'Oh, ma Lord! Trouble! _Trouble, trouble, trouble!_'
+
+"'Shekky um by de han', B'er 'Gater. Ahx um howdy!'
+
+"'Ow, ma Lord! _Trouble, trouble, trouble!_'
+
+"'Lahff wit' dem trouble, B'er 'Gater, lahff wit' dem! Ahx dem is dey
+he'lt' bin well! You bin-a cry fer dey 'quaintun',[25] B'er 'Gater; now
+you mus' beer wit' dem trouble!'
+
+"B'er 'Gater come so mad, 'e mek dash troo da' broom-grass; 'e fair teer
+um down. 'E bin scatter da' fier wide 'part, un 'e do run un dife in da'
+crik fer squinch da' fier 'pon 'e bahk. 'E bahk swivel, 'e tail swivel
+wit' da' fier, un fum dat dey is bin stan' so. Bump, bump 'pon 'e tail;
+bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, wey da' fier bu'n."
+
+"Hit's des lak Brer Jack tell you, honey," said Uncle Remus, as Daddy
+Jack closed his eyes and relapsed into silence. "I done seed um wid my
+own eyes. En deyer mighty kuse creeturs, mon. Dey back is all ruffed up
+en down ter dis day en time, en mo'n dat, you ain't gwineter ketch Brer
+Rabbit rackin' 'roun' whar de Yallergaters is. En de Yallergaters
+deyse'f, w'en dey years any crackin' en rattlin' gwine on in de bushes,
+dey des makes a break fer de creek en splunges in."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, with momentary enthusiasm. "'E do tu'n go
+da' bahnk, un dife 'neat' da' crik. 'E bin so wom wit' da' fier, 'e mek
+de crik go si-z-z-z!"
+
+Here Daddy Jack looked around and smiled. His glance fell on 'Tildy, and
+he seemed suddenly to remember that he had failed to be as polite as
+circumstances demanded.
+
+"Come-a set nex' em, lilly gal. I gwan tell you one tale."
+
+"Come 'long, Pinx," said 'Tildy, tossing her head disdainfully, and
+taking the little boy by the hand. "Come 'long, Pinx; we better be
+gwine. I done say I won't kill dat ole nigger man. Yit ef he start atter
+me dis blessid night, I lay I roust de whole plantation. Come on, honey;
+less go."
+
+The little boy was not anxious to go, but Uncle Remus seconded 'Tildy's
+suggestion.
+
+"Better let dat gal mosey 'long, honey, 'kaze she mout start in fer ter
+cut up some 'er capers in yer, en I hate mighty bad ter bus' up dis yer
+axe-helve, w'ich I'm in needs un it eve'y hour er de day."
+
+Whereupon the two old negroes were left sitting by the hearth.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[24] Tear the earth.
+
+[25] Acquaintance.
+
+
+
+
+XXVII
+
+BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE
+
+
+'Tildy, the house-girl, made such a terrible report of the carryings on
+of Daddy Jack that the little boy's mother thought it prudent not to
+allow him to visit Uncle Remus so often. The child amused himself as
+best he could for several nights, but his play-things and picture-books
+finally lost their interest. He cried so hard to be allowed to go to see
+Uncle Remus that his mother placed him under the care of Aunt Tempy,--a
+woman of large authority on the place, and who stood next to Uncle Remus
+in the confidence of her mistress. Aunt Tempy was a fat, middle-aged
+woman, who always wore a head-handkerchief, and kept her sleeves rolled
+up, displaying her plump, black arms, winter and summer. She never
+hesitated to exercise her authority, and the younger negroes on the
+place regarded her as a tyrant; but in spite of her loud voice and
+brusque manners she was thoroughly good-natured, usually good-humored,
+and always trustworthy. Aunt Tempy and Uncle Remus were secretly jealous
+of each other, but they were careful never to come in conflict, and, to
+all appearances, the most cordial relations existed between them.
+
+"Well de goodness knows!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, as Aunt Tempy went in
+with the little boy. "How you come on, Sis Tempy? De rainy season ain't
+so mighty fur off w'en you come a-sojourneyin' in dis house. Ef I'd
+a-know'd you'd a-bin a-comin' I'd a-sorter steered 'roun' en bresh'd de
+cobwebs out'n de cornders."
+
+"Don't min' me, Brer Remus. Luck in de house whar de cobwebs hangs low.
+I 'uz des a-passin'--a-passin' 'long--en Miss Sally ax me ef I kin come
+fur ez de do' wid dat chile dar, but bless you, 't ain't in my manners
+ter tu'n back at de do'. How you come on, Brer Remus?"
+
+"Po'ly, Sis Tempy; en yit I ain't complainin'. Pain yer, en a ketch
+yander, wid de cramps th'ow'd in, ain't no mo' dan ole folks kin 'speck.
+How you is, Sis Tempy?"
+
+"I thank de Lord I'm able to crawl, Brer Remus, en dat's 'bout all. Ef I
+wa'n't so sot in my ways, deze yer niggers would er run me 'stracted
+d'reckly."
+
+Daddy Jack was sitting in the corner laughing and talking to himself,
+and the little boy watched him not without a feeling of awe. After a
+while he said:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, won't Daddy Jack tell us a story to-night?"
+
+"Now, den, honey," responded the old man, "we ain't got ter push Brer
+Jack too closte; we ull des hatter creep up on 'im en ketch 'im fer er
+tale wence he in de humors. Sometimes hoss pull, sometime he ain't pull.
+You ain't bin down yer so long, hit sorter look lak it my tu'n; 'kaze it
+done come 'cross my 'membunce dat dey wuz one time w'en Brer Wolf kotch
+Brer Rabbit, w'ich I ain't never gun it out ter you yit."
+
+"Brother Wolf caught Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the little
+boy, incredulously.
+
+"Yasser! dat's de up en down un it, sho'," responded the old man with
+emphasis, "en I be mighty glad ef Sis Tempy yer will 'scuze me w'iles I
+runs over de tale 'long wid you."
+
+"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, don't pay no 'tention ter me," said Aunt
+Tempy, folding her fat arms upon her ample bosom, and assuming an
+attitude of rest and contentment. "I'm bad ez de chillun 'bout dem ole
+tales, 'kaze I kin des set up yer un lissen at um de whole blessid
+night, un a good part er de day. Yass, Lord!"
+
+"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, "we ull des huddle up yer en see w'at
+'come er Brer Rabbit, w'en ole Brer Wolf kotch 'im. In dem days," he
+continued, looking at Daddy Jack and smiling broadly, "de creeturs wuz
+constant gwine a-courtin'. Ef 't wa'n't Miss Meadows en de gals dey wuz
+flyin' 'roun', hit 'uz Miss Motts. Dey wuz constant a-courtin'. En 't
+wa'n't none er dish yer 'Howdy-do-ma'm-I-'speck-I-better-be-gwine,'
+n'er. Hit 'uz go atter brekkus en stay twel atter supper. Brer Rabbit,
+he got tuk wid a-likin' fer Miss Motts, en soon one mawnin', he tuck'n
+slick hisse'f up, he did, en put out ter call on 'er. W'en Brer Rabbit
+git ter whar Miss Motts live, she done gone off some'rs.
+
+"Some folks 'ud er sot down en wait twel Miss Motts come back, en den
+ag'in some folks 'ud er tuck der foot in der han' en went back; but ole
+Brer Rabbit, he ain't de man fer ter be outdone, en he des tuck'n go in
+de kitchen en light he seegyar, en den he put out fer ter pay a call on
+Miss Meadows en de gals.
+
+"W'en he git dar, lo en beholes, he fine Miss Motts dar, en he tipped
+in, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he galanted 'roun' 'mungs um, same lak one
+er dese yer town chaps, w'at you see come out ter Harmony Grove
+meetin'-house. Dey talk en dey laff; dey laff en dey giggle. Bimeby,
+'long todes night, Brer Rabbit 'low he better be gwine. De wimmen folks
+dey all ax 'im fer ter stay twel atter supper, 'kaze he sech lively
+comp'ny, but Brer Rabbit fear'd some er de yuther creeturs be hidin'
+out fer 'im; so he tuck'n pay his 'specks, he did, en start fer home.
+
+"He ain't git fur twel he come up wid a great big basket settin' down by
+de side er de big road. He look up de road; he ain't see nobody. He look
+down de road; he ain't see nobody. He look befo', he look behime, he
+look all 'roun'; he ain't see nobody. He lissen, en lissen; he ain't
+year nothin'. He wait, en he wait; nobody ain't come.
+
+"Den, bimeby Brer Rabbit go en peep in de basket, en it seem lak it half
+full er green truck. He retch he han' in, he did, en git some en put it
+in he mouf. Den he shet he eye en do lak he studyin' 'bout sump'n'.
+Atter w'ile, he 'low ter hisse'f, 'Hit look lak sparrer-grass, hit feel
+lak sparrer-grass, hit tas'e lak sparrer-grass, en I be bless ef 't
+ain't sparrer-grass.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit jump up, he did, en crack he heel tergedder, en he
+fetch one leap en lan' in de basket, right spang in 'mungs de
+sparrer-grass. Dar whar he miss he footin'," continued Uncle Remus,
+rubbing his beard meditatively, "'kaze w'en he jump in 'mungs de
+sparrer-grass, right den en dar he jump in 'mungs ole Brer Wolf, w'ich
+he wer' quile up at de bottom."
+
+"Dar now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically. "W'at I tell you?
+W'at make him pester t'er folks doin's? I boun' Brer Wolf nail't 'im."
+
+"Time Brer Wolf grab 'im," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit knowed he
+'uz a gone case; yit he sing out, he did:--
+
+"'I des tryin' ter skeer you, Brer Wolf; I des tryin' ter skeer you. I
+know'd you 'uz in dar, Brer Wolf, I know'd you by de smell!' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf grin, he did, en lick he chops, en up'n say:--
+
+"'Mighty glad you know'd me, Brer Rabbit, 'kaze I know'd you des time
+you drapt in on me. I tuck'n tell Brer Fox yistiddy dat I 'uz gwine take
+a nap 'longside er de road, en I boun' you 'ud come 'long en wake me
+up, en sho' nuff, yer you come en yer you is,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"Oh-ho, Mr. Rabbit! How you feel now?" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, her
+sympathies evidently with Brother Wolf.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit year dis," said Uncle Remus, paying no attention to
+the interruption, "he 'gun ter git mighty skeer'd, en he whirl in en beg
+Brer Wolf fer ter please tu'n 'im loose; but dis make Brer Wolf grin
+wusser, en he toof look so long en shine so w'ite, en he gum look so
+red, dat Brer Rabbit hush up en stay still. He so skeer'd dat he bref
+come quick, en he heart go lak flutter-mill. He chune up lak he gwine
+cry:--
+
+"'Whar you gwine kyar me, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Down by de branch, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'W'at you gwine down dar fer, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'So I kin git some water ter clean you wid atter I done skunt you, Brer
+Rabbit.'
+
+"'Please, sir, lemme go, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'You talk so young you make me laff, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Dat sparrer-grass done make me sick, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'You'll be sicker'n dat 'fo' I git done wid you, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Whar I come fum nobody dast ter eat sick folks, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'Whar I come fum dey ain't dast ter eat no yuther kin', Brer Rabbit.'"
+
+"Ole Mr. Rabbit wuz a-talkin', mon," said Aunt Tempy, with a chuckle
+that caused her to shake like a piece of jelly.
+
+"Dey went on dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, "plum twel dey git ter
+de branch. Brer Rabbit, he beg en cry, en cry en beg, en Brer Wolf, he
+'fuse en grin, en grin en 'fuse. W'en dey come ter de branch, Brer Wolf
+lay Brer Rabbit down on de groun' en hilt 'im dar, en den he study how
+he gwine make way wid 'im. He study en he study, en w'iles he studyin'
+Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n study some on he own hook.
+
+"Den w'en it seem lak Brer Wolf done fix all de 'rangerments, Brer
+Rabbit, he make lak he cryin' wusser en wusser; he des fa'rly blubber."
+
+Uncle Remus gave a ludicrous imitation of Brother Rabbit's wailings.
+
+"'Ber--ber--Brer Wooly--ooly--oolf! Is you gwine--is you gwine ter
+sakerfice-t me right now--ow--ow?'
+
+"'Dat I is, Brer Rabbit; dat I is.'
+
+"'Well, ef I blee-eedz ter be kilt, Brer Wooly--ooly--oolf, I wants ter
+be kilt right, en ef I blee-eedz ter be e't, I wants ter be e't
+ri--ight, too, now!'
+
+"'How dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'I want you ter show yo' p'liteness, Brer Wooly--ooly--oolf!'
+
+"'How I gwine do dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'I want you ter say grace, Brer Wolf, en say it quick, 'kaze I gittin'
+mighty weak.'
+
+"'How I gwine say grace, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Fol' yo' han's und' yo' chin, Brer Wolf, en shet yo' eyes, en say:
+"Bless us en bine us, en put us in crack whar de Ole Boy can't fine us."
+Say it quick, Brer Wolf, 'kaze I failin' mighty fas'.'"
+
+"Now ain't dat des too much!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, as delighted as the
+little boy. Uncle Remus laughed knowingly and went on:--
+
+"Brer Wolf, he put up he han's, he did, en shot he eyes, en 'low, 'Bless
+us en bine us;' but he ain't git no furder, 'kaze des time he take up he
+han's, Brer Rabbit fotch a wiggle, he did, en lit on he foots, en he des
+nat'ally lef a blue streak behime 'im."
+
+"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, while Aunt Tempy allowed her arms to
+drop helplessly from her lap as she cried "Dar now!" and the little boy
+clasped his hands in an ecstasy of admiration.
+
+"Oh, I just knew Brother Rabbit would get away," the child declared.
+
+    [Illustration: BRER RABBIT FOTCH A WIGGLE, HE DID, EN LIT ON HE FOOTS]
+
+"Dat's right, honey," said Uncle Remus. "You put yo' pennunce in Brer
+Rabbit en yo' won't be fur out er de way."
+
+There was some further conversation among the negroes, but it was mostly
+plantation gossip. When Aunt Tempy rose to go she said:--
+
+"Goodness knows, Brer Remus, ef dis de way you all runs on, I'm gwine
+ter pester you some mo'. Hit come 'cross me like ole times, dat it do."
+
+"Do so, Sis Tempy, do so," said Uncle Remus, with dignified hospitality.
+"You allers fine a place at my h'a'th. Ole times is about all we got
+lef'."
+
+"Trufe, too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy; and with that she took the child by
+the hand and went out into the darkness.
+
+
+
+
+XXVIII
+
+SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN
+
+
+It was not many nights before the same company was gathered in Uncle
+Remus's cabin,--Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy. The
+conversation took a turn that thrilled the child with mingled fear and
+curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired as to the state of Aunt Tempy's
+health, when the latter came in, and her response was:--
+
+"I feelin' mighty creepy, Brer Remus, sho'. Look like I bleedz ter hunt
+comp'ny. W'en I come 'long down I felt dat skittish twel ef a leaf had
+blow'd 'crost de paff, I'd 'a' des about drapt in my tracks."
+
+"How come dat, Sis Tempy?" Uncle Remus inquired.
+
+"You know dat little gal er Riah's? Well, I 'uz settin' up dar in my
+house 'w'ile ergo, w'en, bless gracious! fus' news I know, I year dat
+chile talkin' in the yuther room. I 'low ter myse'f, she ain't talkin'
+ter Riah, 'kaze Riah ain't come yit, un den I crope up, dar wuz de
+chile settin' right flat in de middle er de flo', laffin' un talkin' un
+makin' motions like she see somebody in de cornder. I des stood dar un
+watch 'er, un I ain't a livin' human ef she don't do like dey 'uz
+somebody er n'er in dar wid 'er. She ax um fer ter stay on dey own side,
+un den, w'en it seem like dey come todes 'er, den she say she gwine git
+a switch un drive um back. Hit make me feel so cole un kuse dat I des
+tuck'n come 'way fum dar, un ef dey's sump'n' n'er dar, hit'll be dem un
+Riah fer't."
+
+"'E do talk wid ghos'; 'e is bin larf wit' harnt," exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"I 'speck dat's 'bout de upshot un it," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me
+dat w'ence you year chilluns talkin' en gwine on periently wid deyse'f,
+der er bleedz ter see ha'nts."
+
+The little boy moved his stool closer to his venerable partner. Daddy
+Jack roused himself.
+
+"Oona no bin-a see dem ghos'? Oona no bin-a see dem harnt? Hi! I is
+bin-a see plenty ghos'; I no 'fraid dem; I is bin-a punch dem 'way wit'
+me cane. I is bin-a shoo dem 'pon dey own siëd da' road. Dem is bin walk
+w'en da' moon stan' low; den I is bin shum. Oona no walk wit' me dun. 'E
+berry bahd. Oona call, dey no answer. Wun dey call, hol' you' mout'
+shet. 'E berry bahd fer mek answer, wun da' harnt holler. Dem call-a you
+'way fum dis lan'. I yeddy dem call; I shetty me y-eye, I shekkey me
+head.
+
+"Wun I is bin noung mahn, me der go fer git water, un wun I der dip
+piggin 'neat' da' crik, I yeddy v'ice fer call me--'_Jahck! O Jahck!_' I
+stan', I lissen, I yeddy de v'ice--'_Jahck! Jahck! O Jahck!_' I t'ink 'e
+bin Titty Ann;[26] I ahx um:--
+
+"Wey you bin call-a me, Titty Ann?' Titty Ann 'tretch 'e y-eye big:--
+
+"'I no bin-a call. Dead ghos' is bin-a call. Dem harnt do call-a you.'
+
+"Dun I rise me y-eye, un I is bin shum gwan by sundown; 'e is bin gwan
+bahckwud. I tell Titty Ann fer look at we nuncle, gwan bahckwud by
+sundown. Titty Ann pit 'e two han' 'pon me y-eyes, en 'e do bline me. 'E
+say I bin-a see one dead ghos'."
+
+"What then, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy, as the old African
+paused.
+
+"Ki! nuff dun. 'Kaze bumbye, so long tam, folks come fetch-a we nuncle
+'tretch out. 'E is bin-a tek wit' da' _he_cup; 'e t'row 'e head dis way;
+'e t'row 'e head dat way." Daddy Jack comically suited the action to the
+word. "'E is bin tek-a da' _he_cup; da' _he_cup is bin tek um--da' cramp
+is bin fetch um. I is bin see mo' dead ghos', but me no spot um lak
+dis."
+
+"I boun' you is," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me, Brer Jack," he
+continued, "dat w'en you meets up wid one er deze ha'nts, ef you'll
+take'n tu'n yo' coat wrong-sud-outerds, dey won't use no time in makin'
+der disappearance."
+
+"Hey!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "tu'n coat no fer skeer dead ghos'. 'E
+skeer dem Jack-me-Lantun. One tam I is bin-a mek me way troo t'ick
+swamp. I do come hot, I do come cole. I feel-a me bahck quake; me bre't'
+come fahs'. I look; me ent see nuttin'; I lissen; me ent yeddy nuttin'.
+I look, dey de Jack-me-Lantun mekkin 'e way troo de bush; 'e comin'
+stret by me. 'E light bin-a flick-flicker; 'e git close un close. I yent
+kin stan' dis; one foot git heffy, da' heer 'pon me head lif' up. Da'
+Jack-me-Lantun, 'e git-a high, 'e git-a low, 'e come close. Dun I t'ink
+I bin-a yeddy ole folks talk _tu'n you' coat-sleef_ wun da'
+Jack-me-Lantun is bin run you. I pull, I twis', I yerk at dem jacket; 'e
+yent come. 'E is bin grow on me bahck. Jack-me-Lantun fly close. I say
+me pray 'pon da' jacket; 'e is bin-a yerk loose; da' sleef 'e do tu'n.
+Jack-me-Lantun, 'e see dis, 'e lif' up, 'e say '_Phew!_' 'E done gone!
+Oona no walk in da' swamp 'cep' you is keer you' coat 'cross da' arm.
+Enty!"
+
+"Dat w'at make me say," remarked Aunt Tempy, with a little shiver, "dat
+'oman like me, w'at ain't w'ar no jacket, ain't got no business
+traipsin' un trollopin' 'roun' thoo the woods atter dark."
+
+"You mout tu'n yo' head-hankcher, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus,
+reassuringly, "en ef dat ain't do no good den you kin whirl in en gin um
+leg-bail."
+
+"I year tell," continued Aunt Tempy, vouchsafing no reply to Uncle
+Remus, "dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is a sho' nuff sperit. Sperits
+ain't gwine to walk un walk less'n dey got sump'n' n'er on der min', un
+I year tell dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is 'casioned by a man w'at got
+kilt. Folks kilt 'im un tuck his money, un now his ha'nt done gone un
+got a light fer ter hunt up whar his money is. Mighty kuse ef folks kin
+hone atter money w'en dey done _gone_. I dunner w'at he wanter be
+ramblin' 'roun' wid a light w'en he done _dead_. Ef anybody got any hard
+feelin's 'gin' me, I want um ter take it out w'ile deyer in de flesh;
+w'en dey come a-ha'ntin' me, den I'm done--I'm des _done_."
+
+"Are witches spirits?" the little boy asked.
+
+The inquiry was not especially directed at Daddy Jack, but Daddy Jack
+was proud of his reputation as a witch, and he undertook to reply.
+
+"None 't all. Witch, 'e no dead ghos'--'e life folks, wey you shekky
+han' wit'. Oona witch mebbe; how you is kin tell?"
+
+Here Daddy Jack turned his sharp little eyes upon the child. The latter
+moved closer to Uncle Remus, and said he hoped to goodness he was n't a
+witch.
+
+"How you is kin tell diffran 'cep' you bin fer try um?" continued Daddy
+Jack. "'E good t'ing fer be witch; 'e mek-a dem folks fred. 'E mek-a dem
+fred; 'e mek-a dem hol' da' bre't', wun dey is bin-a come by you'
+place."
+
+"In de name er de Lord, Daddy Jack, how kin folks tell wh'er dey er
+witches er no?" asked Aunt Tempy.
+
+"Oo! 'e easy nuff. Wun da' moon is shiün low, wet-a you' han' wit' da'
+pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer 'pon 'e nose; git 'pon 'e bahck.
+Mus' hol' um by 'e year; mus' go gallop, gallop down da' lane, tel 'e do
+come 'cross one-a big gully. Mus' holler, '_Double, double, double up!
+double, double, double up!_' Heifer jump, oona witch; heifer no jump,
+oona no witch."
+
+"Did you ever ride a heifer, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Mo' tam es dem," replied the old negro, holding up the crooked fingers
+of one withered hand.
+
+"Did--did she jump across the big gully?"
+
+The child's voice had dropped to an awed whisper, and there was a glint
+of malicious mischief in Daddy Jack's shrewd eyes, as he looked up at
+Uncle Remus. He got his cue. Uncle Remus groaned heavily and shook his
+head.
+
+"Hoo!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "wun I is bin-a tell all, dey no mo' fer
+tell. Mus' kip some fer da' Sunday. Lilly b'y no fred dem witch; 'e no
+bodder lilly b'y. Witch, 'e no rassel wit' 'e ebry-day 'quaintan'; 'e do
+go pars 'e own place."
+
+It was certainly reassuring for the child to be told that witches did
+n't trouble little boys, and that they committed their depredations
+outside of their own neighborhood.
+
+"I is bin-a yeddy dem talk 'bout ole witch. 'E do leaf 'e skin wey 'e is
+sta't fum. Man bin-a come pars by; 'e is fine dem skin. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki! 'E one green skin; I fix fer dry um.'
+
+"Man hang um by da' fier. Skin, 'e do swink, i' do swivel. Bumbye 'e do
+smell-a bahd; man, 'e hol' 'e nose. 'E do wait. Skin swink, skin stink,
+skin swivel. 'E do git so bahd, man pitch um in da' ya'd. 'E wait; 'e is
+wait, 'e is lissen. Bumbye, 'e yeddy da' witch come. Witch, e' do sharp'
+'e claw on-a da' fence; 'e is snap 'e jaw--_flick! flick! flick!_ 'E
+come-a hunt fer him skin. 'E fine um. 'E trey um on dis way; 'e no fit.
+'E trey um on dat way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um on turrer way; 'e no fit.
+'E pit um 'pon 'e head; skin 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e foot; skin 'e
+no fit. 'E cuss, 'e sweer; skin 'e no fit. 'E cut 'e caper; skin 'e no
+fit. Bumbye 'e holler:--
+
+"''Tiss-a me, Skin! wey you no know me? Skin, 'tiss-a me! wey you no
+know me?'
+
+"Skin, 'e no talk nuttin' 'tall. Witch 'e do jump, 'e do holler; à mek
+no diffran. Skin 'e talk nuttin' 'tall. Man, 'e tekky to'ch, 'e look in
+ya'd. 'E see big blahck Woolf lay by da' skin. E toof show; 'e y-eye
+shiün. Man drife um 'way; 'e is come bahck. Man bu'n da' skin; 'e is
+bin-a come bahck no mo'."
+
+The little boy asked no more questions. He sat silent while the others
+talked, and then went to the door and looked out. It was very dark, and
+he returned to his stool with a troubled countenance.
+
+"Des wait a little minnit, honey," said Uncle Remus, dropping his hand
+caressingly on the child's shoulder. "I bleedz ter go up dar ter de big
+house fer ter see Mars John, en I'll take you 'long fer comp'ny."
+
+And so, after a while, the old man and the little boy went hand in hand
+up the path.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[26] Sissy Ann.
+
+
+
+
+XXIX
+
+A GHOST STORY
+
+
+The next time the little boy visited Uncle Remus he persuaded 'Tildy to
+go with him. Daddy Jack was in his usual place, dozing and talking to
+himself, while Uncle Remus oiled the carriage-harness. After a while
+Aunt Tempy came in.
+
+The conversation turned on Daddy Jack's story about "haunts" and
+spirits. Finally 'Tildy said:--
+
+"W'en it come ter tales 'bout ha'nts," said she, "I year tell er one
+dat'll des nat'ally make de kinks on yo' head onquile deyse'f."
+
+"W'at tale dat, chile?" asked Aunt Tempy.
+
+"Unk' Remus, mus' I tell it?"
+
+"Let 'er come," said Uncle Remus.
+
+"Well, den," said 'Tildy, rolling her eyes back and displaying her white
+teeth, "one time dey wuz a 'Oman en a Man. Seem like dey live close ter
+one er n'er, en de Man he sot his eyes on de 'Oman, en de 'Oman, she des
+went 'long en 'ten' ter her bizness. Man, he keep his eyes sot on 'er.
+Bimeby, de 'Oman, she 'ten' ter her bizness so much tel she tuck'n tuck
+sick en die. Man, he up'n tell de folks she dead, en de folks dey come
+en fix 'er. Dey lay 'er out, en dey light some candles, en dey sot up
+wid 'er, des like folks does now; en dey put two great big roun' shiny
+silver dollars on 'er eyes fer ter hol' 'er eyeleds down."
+
+In describing the silver dollars 'Tildy joined the ends of her thumbs
+and fore-fingers together, and made a figure as large as a saucer.
+
+"Dey wuz lots bigger dan dollars is deze days," she continued, "en dey
+look mighty purty. Seem like dey wuz all de money de 'Oman got, en de
+folks dey put um on 'er eyeleds fer to hol' um down. Den w'en de folks
+do dat dey call up de Man en take'n tell 'im dat he mus' dig a grave en
+bury de 'Oman, en den dey all went off 'bout der bizness.
+
+"Well, den, de Man, he tuck'n dig de grave en make ready fer ter bury de
+'Oman. He look at dat money on 'er eyeleds, en it shine mighty purty.
+Den he tuck it off en feel it. Hit feel mighty good, but des 'bout dat
+time de Man look at de 'Oman, en he see 'er eyeleds open. Look like she
+lookin' at 'im, en he take'n put de money whar he git it fum.
+
+"Well, den, de Man, he take'n git a waggin en haul de 'Oman out ter de
+buryin'-groun', en w'en he git dar he fix ever'thing, en den he grab de
+money en kivver up de grave right quick. Den he go home, en put de money
+in a tin box en rattle it 'roun.' Hit rattle loud en hit rattle nice,
+but de Man, he ain't feel so good. Seem like he know de 'Oman eyeled
+stretch wide open lookin' fer 'im. Yit he rattle de money 'roun', en hit
+rattle loud en hit rattle nice.
+
+"Well, den, de Man, he take'n put de tin box w'at de money in on de
+mantel-shel-uf. De day go by, en de night come, en w'en night come de
+win' 'gun ter rise up en blow. Hit rise high, hit blow strong. Hit blow
+on top er de house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow 'roun' de house.
+Man, he feel quare. He set by de fier en lissen. Win' say
+'_Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!_' Man lissen. Win' holler en cry. Hit blow top er de
+house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow 'roun' de house, hit blow in de
+house. Man git closte up in de chimbly-jam. Win' fin' de cracks en blow
+in um. '_Bizzy, bizzy, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!_'
+
+"Well, den, Man, he lissen, lissen, but bimeby he git tired er dis, en
+he 'low ter hisse'f dat he gwine ter bed. He tuck'n fling a fresh
+light'd knot in de fier, en den he jump in de bed, en quile hisse'f up
+en put his head und' de kivver. Win' hunt fer de cracks--_bizzy-buzz,
+bizzy-buzz, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o-o!_ Man keep his head und' de kivver.
+Light'd knot flar' up en flicker. Man ain't dast ter move. Win' blow en
+w'issel _Phew-fee-e-e-e!_ Light'd knot flicker en flar'. Man, he keep
+his head kivvud.
+
+"Well, den, Man lay dar, en git skeer'der en skeer'der. He ain't dast
+ter wink his eye skacely, en seem like he gwine ter have swamp agur.
+W'iles he layin' dar shakin', en de win' a-blowin', en de fier flickin',
+he year someyuther kind er fuss. Hit mighty kuse kind er fuss.
+_Clinkity, clinkalinkle!_ Man 'low:--
+
+"'Hey! who stealin' my money?'
+
+"Yit he keep his head kivvud w'iles he lay en lissen. He year de win'
+blow, en den he year dat yuther kinder fuss--_Clinkity, clink, clinkity,
+clinkalinkle!_ Well, den, he fling off de kivver en sot right up in de
+bed. He look, he ain't see nothin'. De fier flicker en flar' en de win'
+blow. Man go en put chain en bar 'cross de do'. Den he go back to bed,
+en he ain't mo'n totch his head on de piller tel he year de yuther
+fuss--_clink, clink, clinkity, clinkalinkle!_ Man rise up, he ain't see
+nothin' 'tall. Mighty quare!
+
+"Des 'bout time he gwine ter lay down 'g'in, yer come de
+fuss--_clinkity, clinkalinkle_. Hit soun' like it on de mantel-shel-uf;
+let 'lone dat, hit soun' like it in de tin box on de mantel-shel-uf; let
+'lone dat, hit soun' like it de money in de tin box on de
+man-tel-shel-uf. Man say:--
+
+"'Hey! rat done got in box!'
+
+"Man look; no rat dar. He shet up de box, en set it down on de shel-uf.
+Time he do dat yer come de fuss--_clinkity, clinkity, clinkalinkle!_ Man
+open de box en look at de money. Dem two silver dollars layin' in dar
+des like he put um. W'iles de man dun dis, look like he kin year sump'n'
+say 'way off yander:--
+
+"'_Whar my money? Oh, gim me my money!_'
+
+"Man, he sot de box back on de shel-uf, en time he put it down he year
+de money rattle--_clinkity, clinkalinkle, clink!_--en den fum 'way off
+yander sump'n' say:--
+
+"'_Oh, gim me my money! I want my money!_'
+
+"Well, den, de Man git skeer'd sho' nuff, en he got er flat-iün en put
+on de tin box, en den he tuck'n pile all de cheers 'gin' de do', en run
+en jump in de bed. He des know dey's a booger comin'. Time he git in bed
+en kivver his head, de money rattle louder, en sump'n' cry way off
+yander:--
+
+"'_I want my money! Oh, gim me my money!_'
+
+"Man, he shake en he shiver; money, hit clink en rattle; booger, hit
+holler en cry. Booger come closter, money clink louder. Man shake wusser
+en wusser. Money say: _'Clinkity, clinkalinkle!'_ Booger cry, _'Oh, gim
+me my money!'_ Man holler, '_O Lordy, Lordy!_'
+
+"Well, den, hit keep on dis a-way, tel dreckly Man year de do' open. He
+peep fum und' de kivver, en in walk de 'Oman w'at he done bury in de
+buryin'-groun'. Man shiver en shiver, win' blow en blow, money rattle
+en rattle, 'Oman cry en cry. '_Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!_' sez de win';
+'_Clinkalink!_' sez de box; '_Oh, gim me my money!_' sez de 'Oman; '_O
+Lordy!_' sez de Man. 'Oman year de money, but look like she ain't kin
+see, en she grope 'roun', en grope 'roun', en grope 'roun' wid 'er han'
+h'ist in de a'r des dis away."
+
+Here 'Tildy stood up, pushed her chair back with her foot, raised her
+arms over her head, and leaned forward in the direction of Daddy Jack.
+
+"Win' blow, fier flicker, money rattle, Man shake en shiver, 'Oman grope
+'roun' en say, '_Gim me my money! Oh, who got my money?_'"
+
+'Tildy advanced a few steps.
+
+"Money look like it gwine ter t'ar de tin box all ter flinders. 'Oman
+grope en cry, grope en cry, tel bimeby she jump on de man en holler:--
+
+"'_You got my money!_'"
+
+As she reached this climax, 'Tildy sprang at Daddy Jack and seized him,
+and for a few moments there was considerable confusion in the corner.
+The little boy was frightened, but the collapsed appearance of Daddy
+Jack convulsed him with laughter. The old African was very angry. His
+little eyes glistened with momentary malice, and he shook his cane
+threateningly at 'Tildy. The latter coolly adjusted her ear-rings, as
+she exclaimed:--
+
+"Dar, now! I know'd I'd git even wid de ole vilyun. Come a-callin' me
+pidjin-toed!"
+
+"Better keep yo' eye on 'im, chile," said Aunt Tempy. "He 'witch you,
+sho'."
+
+"'Witch who? Ef he come witchin' roun' me, I lay I break his back. I
+tell you dat right pine-blank."
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Brother Rabbit and his Famous Foot]
+
+XXX
+
+BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT
+
+
+The little boy was very glad, one night shortly after he had heard about
+Daddy Jack's ghosts and witches and 'Tildy's "ha'nts," to find Uncle
+Remus alone in his cabin. The child liked to have his venerable partner
+all to himself. Uncle Remus was engaged in hunting for tobacco crumbs
+with which to fill his pipe, and in turning his pockets a rabbit foot
+dropped upon the hearth.
+
+"Grab it, honey!" he exclaimed. "Snatch it up off'n de h'a'th. In de
+name er goodness, don't let it git in de embers; 'kaze ef dat ar rabbit
+foot git singe, I'm a goner, sho'!"
+
+It was the hind foot of a rabbit, and a very large one at that, and the
+little boy examined it curiously. He was in thorough sympathy with all
+the superstitions of the negroes, and to him the rabbit foot appeared to
+be an uncanny affair. He placed it carefully on Uncle Remus's knee, and
+after the pipe had been filled, he asked:--
+
+"What do you carry that for, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Well, honey," responded the old man, grimly, "ef you want me ter make
+shorts out'n a mighty long tale, dat rabbit foot is fer ter keep off
+boogers. W'en I hatter run er'n's fer myse'f all times er night, en take
+nigh cuts thoo de woods, en 'cross by de buryin'-groun', hits monst'us
+handy fer ter have dat ar rabbit foot. Keep yo' head studdy, now; mine
+yo' eye; I ain't sayin' deyer any boogers anywhars. Brer Jack kin say
+w'at he mineter; I ain't sayin' nothin'. But yit, ef dey wuz any, en dey
+come slinkin' atter me, I let you know dey'd fine out terreckly dat de
+ole nigger heel'd wid rabbit foot. I 'ud hol' it up des dis a-way, en I
+boun' you I'd shoo um off'n de face er de yeth. En I tell you w'at,"
+continued Uncle Remus, seeing that the little boy was somewhat troubled,
+"w'en it come to dat pass dat you gotter be dodgin' 'roun' in de dark,
+ef you'll des holler fer me, I'll loan you dish yer rabbit foot, en
+you'll be des ez safe ez you is w'en Miss Sally stannin' by yo' bed wid
+a lit can'le in 'er han'.
+
+"Strip er red flannil tied 'roun' yo' arm'll keep off de rheumatis;
+stump-water 'll kyo 'spepsy; some good fer one 'zeeze,[27] en some good
+fer n'er, but de p'ints is dat dish yer rabbit foot 'll gin you good
+luck. De man w'at tote it mighty ap' fer ter come out right een' up w'en
+dey's any racket gwine on in de neighborhoods, let 'er be whar she will
+en w'en she may; mo' espeshually ef de man w'at got it know 'zactly w'at
+he got ter do. W'ite folks may laugh," Uncle Remus went on, "but w'en
+rabbit run 'cross de big road front er me, w'at does I do? Does I shoo
+at um? Does I make fer ter kill um? Dat I don't--_dat_ I don't! I des
+squots right down in de middle er de road, en I makes a cross-mark in de
+san' des dis way, en den I spits in it."[28]
+
+Uncle Remus made a practical illustration by drawing a cross-mark in the
+ashes on the hearth.
+
+"Well, but, Uncle Remus, what good does all this do?" the little boy
+asked.
+
+"Lots er good, honey; bless yo' soul, lots er good. W'en rabbit crosses
+yo' luck, w'at you gwine do, less'n you sets down en crosses it out,
+right den en dar? I year talk er folks shootin' rabbit in de big road,
+yit I notices dat dem w'at does de shootin' ain't come ter no good
+een'--dat w'at I notices."
+
+"Uncle Remus," the little boy asked, after a while, "how did people
+happen to find out about the rabbit's foot?"
+
+"Oh, you let folks 'lone fer dat, honey! You des let um 'lone. W'at de
+wimmen ain't up'n tell bidout anybody axin' un um, folks mighty ap' fer
+ter fine out fer deyse'f. De wimmen, dey does de talkin' en de flyin',
+en de mens, dey does de walkin' en de pryin', en betwixt en betweenst
+um, dey ain't much dat don't come out. Ef it don't come out one day it
+do de nex', en so she goes--Ant'ny over, Ant'ny under--up one row en
+down de udder, en clean acrosst de bolly-patch!"
+
+It may be that the child did n't understand all this, but he had no
+doubt of its wisdom, and so he waited patiently for developments.
+
+"Dey's a tale 'bout de rabbit foot," continued Uncle Remus, "but yo' eye
+look watery, like ole man Nod 'bout ter slip up behime you; en let 'lone
+dat, I 'speck Miss Sally clock clickin' fer you right now."
+
+"Oh, no, it is n't, Uncle Remus," said the child, laughing. "Mamma said
+she'd make 'Tildy call me."
+
+"Dar, now!" exclaimed the old man, indignantly, "'Tildy dis en 'Tildy
+dat. I dunner w'at yo' mammy dreamin' 'bout fer ter let dat nigger gal
+be a-holl'in' en a-bawlin' atter you all 'roun' dish yer plan'ation. She
+de mos' uppity nigger on de hill, en de fus' news you know dey ull all
+hatter make der bows en call 'er Mistiss. Ef ole Miss wuz 'live, dey
+would n't be no sech gwines on 'roun' yer. But nummine.[29] You des let
+'er come a-cuttin' up front er my do', en I lay you'll year squallin'.
+Now, den," continued the old man, settling himself back in his chair,
+"wharbouts wuz I?"
+
+"You said there was a tale about the rabbit foot," the little boy
+replied.
+
+"So dey is, honey! so dey is!" Uncle Remus exclaimed, "but she got so
+many crooks en tu'ns in 'er dat I dunner but w'at I ain't done gone en
+fergotted some un um off'n my min'; 'kaze ole folks lak me knows lots
+mo' dan w'at dey kin 'member.
+
+"In de days w'ence Brer Rabbit wuz sorter keepin' de neighborhoods
+stirred up, de yuther creeturs wuz studyin' en studyin' de whole blessid
+time how dey gwine ter nab 'im. Dey ain't had no holiday yit, 'kaze w'en
+de holiday come, dey'd go ter wuk, dey would, en juggle wid one er n'er
+fer ter see how dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit. Bimeby, w'en all
+der plans, en der traps, en der jugglements ain't do no good, dey all
+'gree, dey did, dat Brer Rabbit got some cunjerment w'at he trick um
+wid. Brer B'ar, he up'n 'low, he did, dat he boun' Brer Rabbit is a
+nat'al bawn witch; Brer Wolf say, sezee, dat he 'speck Brer Rabbit des
+in cahoots wid a witch; en Brer Fox, he vow dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck
+dan smartness. Den Jedge B'ar, he drap he head one side, he did, en he
+ax how come Brer Rabbit got all de luck on he own side. De mo' dey ax,
+de mo' dey git pestered, en de mo' dey git pestered, de wuss dey worry.
+Day in en day out dey wuk wid dis puzzlement; let 'lone dat, dey sot up
+nights; en bimeby dey 'gree 'mungs deyse'f dat dey better make up wid
+Brer Rabbit, en see ef dey can't fine out how come he so lucky.
+
+"Wiles all dis gwine on, ole Brer Rabbit wuz a-gallopin' 'roun' fum
+Funtown ter Frolicville, a-kickin' up de devilment en terrifyin' de
+neighborhoods. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel one time, endurin' de
+odd-come-shorts,[30] ole Jedge B'ar sont wud dat one er his chilluns done
+bin tooken wid a sickness, en he ax won't ole Miss Rabbit drap 'roun' en
+set up wid 'im. Ole Miss Rabbit, she say, co'se she go, en atter she
+fill 'er satchy full er yerbs en truck, off she put.
+
+"I done fergit," said Uncle Remus, scratching his head gravely, "w'ich
+one er dem chilluns wuz ailin'. Hit mout er bin Kubs, en hit mout er bin
+Klibs; but no marter fer dat. W'en ole Miss Rabbit git dar, ole Miss
+B'ar wuz a-settin' up in de chimbly-cornder des a-dosin' en a-nussin' de
+young un; en all de wimmin er de neighborhoods wuz dar, a-whispun en
+a-talkin', des fer all de worl' lak wimmin does deze days. It 'uz:--
+
+"'Come right in, Sis Rabbit! I mighty proud to see you. I mighty glad
+you fotch yo' knittin', 'kaze I'm pow'ful po' comp'ny w'en my chillun
+sick. Des fling yo' bonnet on de bed dar. I'm dat flustrated twel I
+dunner w'ich een's up, skacely. Sis Wolf, han' Sis Rabbit dat
+rickin'-cheer dar, 'kaze 't ain't no one step fum her house ter mine.'
+
+"Dat de way ole Miss B'ar run on," continued Uncle Remus, "en dey set
+dar en dey chatter en dey clatter. Ole Brer Wolf, he 'uz settin' out on
+de back peazzer smokin' en noddin'. He 'ud take en draw a long whiff, he
+would, en den he 'ud drap off ter noddin' en let de smoke oozle out thoo
+he nose. Bimeby ole Sis Rabbit drap 'er knittin' in 'er lap, en sing
+out, sez she:--
+
+"'Law, Sis B'ar! I smells 'barker smoke,' sez she.
+
+"Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt up de sick baby, en swap it fum one knee ter de
+yuther, en 'low:--
+
+"'My ole man bin smokin' 'roun' yer de whole blessid day, but soon'z
+dish yer chile tuck sick, I des tuck'n tole 'im, sez I, fer ter take
+hisse'f off in de woods whar he b'long at, sez I. Yessum! I did dat! I
+pities any 'oman w'at 'er ole man is fer'verlastin' stuck 'roun' de
+house w'en dey's any sickness gwine on,' sez she.
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf sot out dar on de back peazzer, en he shot one eye, he
+did, en open um 'g'in, en let de smoke oozle out'n he nose. Sis B'ar,
+she jolt de sick baby en swap it fum one knee ter de yuther. Dey sot dar
+en talk twel bimeby der confab sorter slack up. Fus' news dey know Sis
+Rabbit drap 'er knittin' en fling up 'er han's en squall out:--
+
+"'De gracious en de goodness! Ef I ain't done come traipsin' off en lef'
+my ole man money-pus, en he got sump'n' in dar w'at he won't take a
+purty fer, needer! I'm dat fergitful,' sez she, 'twel hit keep me
+mizerbul mighty nigh de whole time,' sez she.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he lif' up he year en open he eye, en let de smoke oozle
+out'n he nose. Sis B'ar, she jolt de sick baby wuss en wuss, en bimeby,
+she up'n say, sez she:--
+
+"'I mighty glad 't ain't me, dat I is,' sez she, 'bekaze ef I wuz ter
+lef' my ole man money-pus layin' 'roun' dat a-way, he'd des nat'ally rip
+up de planks in de flo', en t'ar all de bark off'n de trees,' sez she.
+
+"Ole Miss Rabbit, she sot dar, she did, en she rock en study, en study
+en rock, en she dunner w'at ter do. Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt en jolt de
+baby. Ole Brer Wolf, he let de 'barker smoke oozle thoo he nose, he did,
+en den he open bofe eyes en lay he pipe down. Wid dat, he crope down de
+back steps en lit out fer Brer Rabbit house. Brer Wolf got gait same lak
+race-hoss, en it ain't take 'im long fer ter git whar he gwine. W'en he
+git ter Brer Rabbit house, he pull de latch-string en open de do', en
+w'en he do dis, one er de little Rabs wake up, en he holler out:--
+
+"'Dat you, mammy?'
+
+"Den Brer Wolf wish he kin sing 'Bye-O-Baby,' but 'fo' he kin make
+answer, de little Rab holler out 'g'in:--
+
+"'Dat you, mammy?'
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf know he got ter do sump'n', so he tuck'n w'isper, he
+did:--
+
+"'Sh-sh-sh! Go ter sleep, honey. De boogers'll git you!' en wid dat de
+little Rab 'gun ter whimple, en he whimple hisse'f off ter sleep.
+
+"Den w'en it seem lak de little Rabs, w'ich dey wuz mighty nigh
+forty-eleven un um, is all gone ter sleep, Brer Wolf, he crope 'roun',
+he did, en feel on de mantel-shelf, en feel, en feel, twel he come ter
+ole Brer Rabbit money-pus. Ef he want so light wid he han'," Uncle Remus
+went on, glancing quizzically at the child, "he'd a knock off de
+pollygollic vial w'at ole Miss Rabbit put up dar. But nummine! Brer
+Wolf, he feel, en feel, twel he come ter de money-pus, en he grab dat,
+he did, en he des flew'd away fum dar.
+
+"W'en he git out er sight en year'n', Brer Wolf look at de money-pus,
+en see w'at in it. Hit 'uz one er deze yer kinder money-pus wid tossle
+on de een' en shiny rings in de middle. Brer Wolf look in dar fer ter
+see w'at he kin see. In one een' dey wuz a piece er calamus-root en some
+collard-seeds, en in de t'er een' dey wuz a great big rabbit foot. Dis
+make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en he gallop off home wid de
+shorance[31] un a man w'at done foun' a gol' mine."
+
+Here Uncle Remus paused and betrayed a disposition to drop off to sleep.
+The little boy, however, touched him upon the knee, and asked him what
+Brother Rabbit did when he found his foot was gone. Uncle Remus laughed
+and rubbed his eyes.
+
+"Hit's mighty kuse 'bout Brer Rabbit, honey. He ain't miss dat money-pus
+fer mighty long time, yit w'en he do miss it, he miss it mighty bad. He
+miss it so bad dat he git right-down sick, 'kaze he know he bleedz ter
+fine dat ar foot let go w'at may, let come w'at will. He study en he
+study, yit 't ain't do no good, en he go all 'roun' 'lowin' ter
+hisse'f:--
+
+"'I know whar I put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um; I know whar I
+put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um.'
+
+"He mope en he mope 'roun'. Look lak Brer Wolf got all de luck en Brer
+Rabbit ain't got none. Brer Wolf git fat, Brer Rabbit git lean; Brer
+Wolf run fas', Brer Rabbit lope heavy lak ole Sis Cow; Brer Wolf feel
+funny, Brer Rabbit feel po'ly. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Brer
+Rabbit know sump'n' n'er bleedz ter be done. Las' he make up he min' fer
+ter take a journey, en he fix up he tricks, he do, en he go en see ole
+Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money."
+
+"And who was old Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, Uncle Remus?" the little
+boy inquired.
+
+"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of triumph, "I know'd w'en I
+fotch dat ole creetur name up, dey wa'n't gwine ter be no noddin' 'roun'
+dish yer h'a'th. In dem days," he continued, "dey wuz a Witch-Rabbit,
+en dat wuz her entitlements--ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. She live
+way off in a deep, dark swamp, en ef you go dar you hatter ride some,
+slide some; jump some, hump some; hop some, flop some; walk some, balk
+some; creep some, sleep some; fly some, cry some; foller some, holler
+some; wade some, spade some; en ef you ain't monst'us keerful you ain't
+git dar den. Yit Brer Rabbit he git dar atter so long a time, en he
+mighty nigh wo' out.
+
+"He sot down, he did, fer ter res' hisse'f, en bimeby he see black smoke
+comin' outer de hole in de groun' whar de ole Witch-Rabbit stay. Smoke
+git blacker en blacker, en atter w'ile Brer Rabbit know de time done
+come fer 'im ter open up en tell w'at he want."
+
+As Uncle Remus interpreted the dialogue, Brother Rabbit spoke in a
+shrill, frightened tone, while the voice of the Rabbit-Witch was hoarse
+and oracular:--
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I needs yo' he'p.'
+
+"'Son Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I los' de foot you gim me.'
+
+"'O Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, my luck done gone. I put dat foot down 'pon de
+groun'. I lef um dar I know not whar.'
+
+"'De Wolf done tuck en stole yo' luck, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley. Go fine
+de track, go git hit back, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money sucked
+all de black smoke back in de hole in de groun', and Brer Rabbit des put
+out fer home. W'en he git dar, w'at do he do? Do he go off in a cornder
+by hisse'f, en wipe he weepin' eye? Dat he don't--dat he don't. He des
+tuck'n wait he chance. He wait en he wait; he wait all day, he wait all
+night; he wait mighty nigh a mont'. He hang 'roun' Brer Wolf house; he
+watch en he wait.
+
+"Bimeby, one day, Brer Rabbit git de news dat Brer Wolf des come back
+fum a big frolic. Brer Rabbit know he time comin', en he keep bofe eye
+open en bofe years h'ist up. Nex' mawnin' atter Brer Wolf git back fum
+de big frolic, Brer Rabbit see 'im come outer de house en go down de
+spring atter bucket water. Brer Rabbit, he slip up, he did, en he look
+in. Ole Miss Wolf, she 'uz sailin' 'roun' fryin' meat en gittin'
+brekkus, en dar hangin' 'cross er cheer wuz Brer Wolf wes'cut where he
+keep he money-pus. Brer Rabbit rush up ter do' en pant lak he mighty
+nigh fag out. He rush up, he did, en he sing out:--
+
+"'Mawnin', Sis Wolf, mawnin'! Brer Wolf sont me atter de shavin'-brush,
+w'ich he keep it in dat ar money-pus w'at I 'loant 'im.'
+
+"Sis Wolf, she fling up 'er han's en let um drap, en she laugh en say,
+sez she:--
+
+"'I 'clar' ter gracious, Brer Rabbit! You gimme sech a tu'n, dat I ain't
+got room ter be perlite skacely.'
+
+"But mos' 'fo' she gits de wuds out'n 'er mouf, Brer Rabbit done grab de
+money-pus en gone!"
+
+"Which way did he go, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, after a while.
+
+"Well, I tell you dis," Uncle Remus responded emphatically, "Brer Rabbit
+road ain't lay by de spring; I boun' you dat!"
+
+Presently 'Tildy put her head in the door to say that it was bedtime,
+and shortly afterward the child was dreaming that Daddy Jack was
+Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in disguise.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[27] Disease.
+
+[28] If, as some ethnologists claim, the animal myths are relics of
+zoötheism, there can scarcely be a doubt that the practice here
+described by Uncle Remus is the survival of some sort of obeisance or
+genuflexion by which the negroes recognized the presence of the Rabbit,
+the great central figure and wonder-worker of African mythology.
+
+[29] Never mind.
+
+[30] Sometime, any time, no time. Thus: "Run fetch me de ax, en I'll
+wait on you one er deze odd-come-shorts."
+
+[31] Assurance.
+
+
+
+
+XXXI
+
+"IN SOME LADY'S GARDEN"
+
+
+When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the old man was engaged in
+the somewhat tedious operation of making shoe-pegs. Daddy Jack was
+assorting a bundle of sassafras roots, and Aunt Tempy was transforming
+a meal-sack into shirts for some of the little negroes,--a piece of
+economy of her own devising. Uncle Remus pretended not to see the child.
+
+"Hit's des lak I tell you all," he remarked, as if renewing a
+conversation; "I monst'us glad dey ain't no bad chilluns on dis place
+fer ter be wadin' in de spring-branch, en flingin' mud on de yuther
+little chilluns, w'ich de goodness knows dey er nasty nuff bidout dat. I
+monst'us glad dey ain't none er dat kinder young uns 'roun' yer--I is
+dat."
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in an injured tone,
+"somebody's been telling you something on me."
+
+The old man appeared to be very much astonished.
+
+"Heyo! whar you bin hidin', honey? Yer 't is mos' way atter supper en
+you ain't in de bed yit. Well--well--well! Sit over ag'in in de chimbly
+jam dar whar you kin dry dem shoes. En de ve'y nex' time w'at I see you
+wadin' in dat branch, wid de sickly season comin' on, I'm a-gwine ter
+take you 'cross my shoulder en kyar you ter Miss Sally, en ef dat ain't
+do no good, den I'll kyar you ter Mars John, en ef dat ain't do no good,
+den I'm done wid you, so dar now!"
+
+The little boy sat silent a long time, listening to the casual talk of
+Uncle Remus and his guests, and watching the vapor rise from his wet
+shoes. Presently there was a pause in the talk, and the child said:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, have I been too bad to hear a story?"
+
+The old man straightened himself up and pushed his spectacles back on
+his forehead.
+
+"Now, den, folks, you year w'at he say. Shill we pursue on atter de
+creeturs? Shill er shan't?"
+
+"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, I mos' 'shame' myse'f, yit I tell you de
+Lord's trufe, I'm des ez bad atter dem ar tales ez dat chile dar."
+
+"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, "a tale hit is. One time dey wuz a man,
+en dish yer man he had a gyardin. He had a gyardin, en he had a little
+gal fer ter min' it. I don't 'speck dish yer gyardin wuz wide lak Miss
+Sally gyardin, but hit 'uz lots longer. Hit 'uz so long dat it run down
+side er de big road, 'cross by de plum thicket, en back up de lane. Dish
+yer gyardin wuz so nice en long dat it tuck'n 'track de 'tention er Brer
+Rabbit; but de fence wuz built so close en so high, dat he can't git in
+nohow he kin fix it."
+
+"Oh, I know about that!" exclaimed the little boy. "The man catches
+Brother Rabbit and ties him, and the girl lets him loose to see him
+dance."
+
+Uncle Remus dropped his chin upon his bosom. He seemed to be humbled.
+
+"Sis Tempy," he said, with a sigh, "you'll hatter come in some time w'en
+we ain't so crowded, en I'll up en tell 'bout Billy Malone en Miss
+Janey."
+
+"_That_ wasn't the story I heard, Uncle Remus," said the little boy.
+"_Please_ tell me about Billy Malone and Miss Janey."
+
+"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a triumphant smile; "I 'low'd maybe
+I wa'n't losin' de use er my 'membunce, en sho' nuff I ain't. Now, den,
+we'll des wuk our way back en start fa'r en squar'. One time dey wuz a
+man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin en a little gal. De gyardin wuz
+chock full er truck, en in de mawnin's, w'en de man hatter go off, he
+call up de little gal, he did, en tell 'er dat she mus' be sho' en keep
+ole Brer Rabbit outer de gyardin. He tell 'er dis eve'y mawnin'; but one
+mawnin' he tuck en forgit it twel he git ter de front gate, en den he
+stop en holler back:--
+
+"'O Janey! You Janey! Min' w'at I tell you 'bout ole Brer Rabbit. Don't
+you let 'im get my nice green peas.'
+
+"Little gal, she holler back: 'Yes, daddy.'
+
+"All dis time, Brer Rabbit he 'uz settin' out dar in de bushes dozin'.
+Yit, w'en he year he name call out so loud, he cock up one year en
+lissen, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he bleedz ter outdo Mr. Man. Bimeby,
+Brer Rabbit, he went 'roun' en come down de big road des ez natchul ez
+ef he bin trafflin' some'rs. He see de little gal settin' by de gate, en
+he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Ain't dish yer Miss Janey?'
+
+"Little gal say: 'My daddy call me Janey.'" Uncle Remus mimicked the
+voice and manner of a little girl. He hung his head, looked excessively
+modest, and spoke in a shrill tone. The effect was so comical that even
+Daddy Jack seemed to enjoy it.
+
+"'My daddy call me Janey; w'at yo' daddy call you?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit look on de groun', en sorter study lak folks does w'en dey
+feels bad. Den he look up en 'low:--
+
+"I bin lose my daddy dis many long year, but w'en he 'live he call me
+Billy Malone.' Den he look at de little gal hard en 'low: 'Well, well,
+well! I ain't seed you sence you 'uz a little bit er baby, en now yer
+you is mighty nigh a grown 'oman. I pass yo' daddy in de road des now,
+en he say I mus' come en tell you fer ter gimme a mess er
+sparrer-grass.'
+
+"Little gal, she fling de gate wide open, en let Mr. Billy Malone git de
+sparrer-grass.
+
+"Man come back en see whar somebody done bin tromplin' on de gyardin
+truck, en den he call up de little gal, en up'n ax 'er who bin dar since
+he bin gone; en de little gal, she 'low, she did, dat Mr. Billy Malone
+bin dar. Man ax who in de name er goodness is Mr. Billy Malone. Little
+gal 'low hit's des a man w'at say 'er daddy sont 'im fer ter git some
+sparrer-grass on account er ole acquaintance. Man got his 'spicions, but
+he ain't say nothin'.
+
+"Nex' day, w'en he start off, he holler en tell de little gal fer ter
+keep one eye on ole Brer Rabbit, en don't let nobody git no mo'
+sparrer-grass. Brer Rabbit, he settin' off dar in de bushes, en he year
+w'at de man say, en he see 'im w'en he go off. Bimeby, he sorter run
+'roun', ole Brer Rabbit did, en he come hoppin' down de road, twel he
+git close up by de little gal at de gyardin gate. Brer Rabbit drapt 'er
+his biggest bow, en ax 'er how she come on. Den, atter dat, he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'I see yo' daddy gwine 'long down de road des now, en he gimme a rakin'
+down 'kaze I make 'way wid de sparrer-grass, yit he say dat bein' 's how
+I sech a good fr'en' er de fambly I kin come en ax you fer ter gimme a
+mess er Inglish peas.'
+
+"Little gal, she tuck'n fling de gate wide open, en ole Brer Rabbit, he
+march in, he did, en he git de peas in a hurry. Man come back atter
+w'ile, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Who bin tromplin' down my pea-vines?'
+
+"'Mr. Billy Malone, daddy.'
+
+"Man slap he han' on he forrud;[32] he dunner w'at ter make er all dis.
+Bimeby, he 'low:--
+
+"'W'at kinder lookin' man dish yer Mr. Billy Malone?'
+
+"'Split lip, pop eye, big year, en bob-tail, daddy.'
+
+"Man say he be bless ef he ain't gwine ter make de acquaintance er Mr.
+Billy Malone; en he went ter wuk, he did, en fix 'im up a box-trap, en
+he put some goobers in dar, en he tell de little gal nex' time Mr. Billy
+Malone come fer 'vite 'im in. Nex' mawnin', Man git little ways fum de
+house en tuck'n holler back, he did:--
+
+"'W'atsumever you does, don't you dast ter let nobody git no mo'
+sparrer-grass, en don't you let um git no mo' Inglish peas.'
+
+"Little gal holler back: 'No, daddy.'
+
+"Den, atter dat, 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer come Mr. Billy Malone, hoppin'
+'long down de big road. He drapt a bow, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Mawnin', Miss Janey, mawnin'! Met yo' daddy down de big road, en he
+say dat I can't git no mo' sparrer-grass en green peas but you kin gimme
+some goobers.'
+
+"Little gal, she lead de way, en tell Mr. Billy Malone dar dey is in de
+box. Mr. Billy Malone, he lick he chops, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'You oughter be monst'us glad, honey, dat you got sech a good daddy
+lak dat.'
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Billy Malone wunk he off eye, en jump in de box."
+
+"W'at I done tell you!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.
+
+"He jump in de box," continued Uncle Remus, "en dar he wuz, en ef de
+little gal hadder bin a minnit bigger, I lay she'd 'a' tuck'n done some
+mighty tall winkin'.
+
+"Man ain't gone fur, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back. W'en Brer
+Rabbit year 'im comin' he bounce 'roun' in dar same ez a flea in a
+piller-case, but 't ain't do no good. Trap done fall, en Brer Rabbit in
+dar. Man look thoo de slats, en 'low:--
+
+"'Dar you is--same old hoppum-skippum run en jumpum. Youer de ve'y chap
+I'm atter. I want yo' foot fer ter kyar in my pocket, I want yo' meat
+fer ter put in de pot, en I want yo' hide fer ter w'ar on my head.'
+
+"Dis make cole chill rush up en down Brer Rabbit backbone, en he git
+more 'umble dan a town nigger w'at been kotch out atter nine erclock.[33]
+He holler en cry, en cry en holler:--
+
+"'Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go! I done 'ceive you dis time, but I ain't
+gwine ter 'ceive you no mo'. Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go, des dis
+little bit er time.'
+
+"Man he ain't sayin' nothin'. He look lak he studyin' 'bout somep'n'
+ne'r way off yan', en den he take de little gal by de han' en go off
+todes de house."
+
+"Sho'ly Brer Rabbit time done come now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, in a tone
+of mingled awe and expectation.
+
+Uncle Remus paid no attention to the interruption, but went right on:--
+
+"Hit seem lak dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck dan w'at you kin shake a
+stick at, 'kaze de man en de little gal ain't good en gone skacely twel
+yer come Brer Fox a-pirootin' 'roun'. Brer Fox year Brer Rabbit holl'in'
+en he up'n ax w'at de 'casion er sech gwines on right dar in de broad
+open daylight. Brer Rabbit squall out:--
+
+"'Lordy, Brer Fox! you better make 'as'e 'way fum yer, 'kaze Mr. Man ull
+ketch you en slap you in dish yer box en make you eat mutton twel you
+ull des nat'ally bus' right wide open. Run, Brer Fox, run! He bin
+feedin' me on mutton the whole blessid mawnin' en now he done gone atter
+mo'. Run, Brer Fox, run!'
+
+"Yit, Brer Fox ain't run. He up'n ax Brer Rabbit how de mutton tas'e.
+
+"'He tas'e mighty good 'long at fus', but nuff's a nuff, en too much is
+a plenty. Run, Brer Fox, run! He ull ketch you, sho'!'
+
+"Yit, Brer Fox ain't run. He up'n 'low dat he b'leeve he want some
+mutton hisse'f, en wid dat he onloose de trap en let Brer Rabbit out, en
+den he tuck'n git in dar. Brer Rabbit ain't wait fer ter see w'at de
+upshot gwine ter be, needer--I boun' you he ain't. He des tuck'n gallop
+off in de woods, en he laff en laff twel he hatter hug a tree fer ter
+keep fum drappin' on de groun'."
+
+"Well, but what became of Brother Fox?" the little boy asked, after
+waiting some time for Uncle Remus to proceed.
+
+"Now, den, honey," said the old man, falling back upon his dignity, "hit
+e'en about takes all my spar' time fer ter keep up wid you en Brer
+Rabbit, let 'lone keepin' up wid Brer Fox. Ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n tuck
+keer hisse'f, en now let Brer Fox take keer hisse'f."
+
+"I say de word!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[32] Forehead.
+
+[33] During slavery, the ringing of the nine-o'clock bell in the towns
+and villages at night was the signal for all negroes to retire to their
+quarters.
+
+
+
+
+XXXII
+
+BRER 'POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE
+
+
+When Uncle Remus began his story of Billy Malone and Miss Janey, Daddy
+Jack sat perfectly quiet. His eyes were shut, and he seemed to be
+dozing; but, as the story proceeded, he grew more and more restless.
+Several times he was upon the point of interrupting Uncle Remus, but he
+restrained himself. He raised his hands to a level with his chin, and
+beat the ends of his fingers gently together, apparently keeping time to
+his own thoughts. But his impatience exhausted itself, and when Uncle
+Remus had concluded, the old African was as quiet as ever. When Brother
+Fox was left so unceremoniously to his fate, Daddy Jack straightened
+himself temporarily and said:--
+
+"Me yent bin-a yerry da tale so. 'E nice, fer true, 'e mek larf come;
+oona no bin-a yerry um lak me."
+
+"No," said Uncle Remus, with grave affability, "I 'speck not. One man,
+one tale; 'n'er man, 'n'er tale. Folks tell um diffunt. I boun' yo' way
+de bes', Brer Jack. Out wid it--en we ull set up yer, en hark at you en
+laff wid you plum twel de chick'ns crow."
+
+Daddy Jack needed no other invitation. He clasped his knee in his hands
+and began:--
+
+"Dey is bin lif one Màn wut plan' some pea in 'e geerden. 'E plan' some
+pea, but 'e mek no pea; B'er Rabbit, 'e is fine um. 'E fine um un 'e eat
+um. Màn mek no pea, B'er Rabbit 'e 'stroy um so. 'E plan' dem pea; dey
+do grow, un 'e go off. 'E come bahk; pea no dere. B'er Rabbit teer um up
+un mek 'e cud wit' dem. So long tam, Màn say 'e gwan ketch um, un 'e no
+ketch um. Màn go, B'er Rabbit come; Màn come, B'er Rabbit go. Bumbye,
+Màn, 'e is git so mad, 'e y-eye bin-a come red; 'e crack 'e toof, 'e do
+cuss. 'E oby 'e gwan ketch B'er Rabbit nohow. Dun 'e is bin-a call 'e
+lilly gal. 'E talk, 'e tell 'im fer let B'er Rabbit go troo da geerden
+gett. Lil gal say yasser. 'E talk, 'e tell 'im wun B'er Rabbit go troo
+da gett, dun 'e mus' shed da gett, un no le'm come pas' no mo'. Lil gal
+say yasser.
+
+"Ole Màn is bin-a gone 'bout 'e wuk; lil gal, 'e do lissun. B'er Rabbit,
+'e come tippy-toe, tippy-toe; gone in da geerden; eat dem pea tel 'e
+full up; eat tel he mos' git seeck wit' dem pea. Dun 'e start fer go
+out; 'e fine da gett shed. 'E shek um, 'e no open; 'e push um, 'e no
+open; 'e fair grunt, 'e push so hard, 'e no open. 'E bin-a call da lil
+gal; e' say:--
+
+"'Lil gal, lil gal! cum y-open da gett. 'T is hu't me feelin' fer fine
+da gett shed lak dis.'
+
+"Lil gal no talk nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"''T is-a bin hu't me feelin', lil gal! Come y-open da gett, lil gal,
+less I teer um loose from da hinch.'
+
+"Lil gal v'ice come bahk. 'E talk:
+
+"'Daddy say mus'n'.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit open 'e mout'. 'E say:--
+
+"'See me long sha'p toof? 'E bite you troo un troo!'
+
+"Lil gal skeer; 'e tu'n loose de gett un fly. B'er Rabbit _gone_! Ole
+Màn come bahk; 'e ahx 'bout B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say:--
+
+"''E done gone, daddy. I shed da gett, I hol' um fas'. B'er Rabbit bin
+show 'e toof; 'e gwan fer bite-a me troo un troo. I git skeer', daddy.'
+Màn ahx:--
+
+"'How 'e gwin fer bite you troo un troo, wun 'e toof fix bite grass?
+B'er Rabbit tell one big tale. 'E no kin bite-a you. Wun 'e come 'g'in,
+you shed dem gett, you hol' um tight, you no le'm go pas' no mo'.' Lil
+gal say yasser.
+
+"Nex' day mawnin', Màn go 'long 'bout 'e wuk. Lil gal, 'e play 'roun',
+un 'e play 'roun'. B'er Rabbit, 'e is come tippy-tippy. 'E fine gett
+open; 'e slip in da geerden. 'E chew dem pea, 'e gnyaw dem pea; 'e eat
+tel dem pea tas'e bad. Dun 'e try fer go out; gett shed fas'. 'E no kin
+git troo. 'E push, gett no open; 'e keek wit' um fut, gett no open; 'e
+butt wit' um head, gett no open. Dun 'e holler:--
+
+"'Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. 'E berry bad fer fool wit' ole
+màn lak me. I no kin hol' me feelin' down wun you is do lak dis. 'E
+berry bad.'
+
+"Lil gal hol' 'e head down; 'e no say nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Be shame, lil gal, fer do ole màn lak dis. Me feelin' git wusser. Come
+y-open de gett 'fo' I is teer um down.'
+
+"Lil gal say: 'Daddy say mus'n'.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit open 'e y-eye wide; 'e is look berry mad. 'E say:--
+
+"'See me big y-eye? I pop dis y-eye stret at you, me kill-a you dead.
+Come y-open da gett 'fo' me y-eye pop.'
+
+"Lil gal skeer fer true. 'E loose de gett, 'e fair fly. B'er Rabbit done
+_gone_! Lil gal daddy bahk. 'E ahx wey is B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say:--
+
+"''E done gone, daddy. I hol' gett fas'; 'e is bin-a 'come berry mad. 'E
+say he gwan pop 'e y-eye at me, shoot-a me dead.' Màn say:--
+
+"'B'er Rabbit tell-a too big tale. How 'e gwan shoot-a you wit' 'e
+y-eye? 'E y-eye sem lak turrer folks y-eye. Wun 'e come some mo', you
+shed dem gett, you hol' um fas'.' Lil gal say yasser.
+
+"Nex' day mawnin', Màn go, B'er Rabbit come. 'E is ma'ch in da gett un
+eat-a dem pea tel 'e kin eat-a no mo'. 'E sta't out; gett shed. 'E no
+kin come pas'. 'E shek, 'e push, 'e pull; gett shed. Dun 'e holler:--
+
+"'Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. 'Tis berry bad fer treat you'
+kin lak dis. Come y-open da gett, lil gal. 'Tis full me up wit' sorry
+wun you do lak dis.'
+
+"Lil gal, 'e no say nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"''E berry bad fer treat you' kin lak dis. Tu'n go da gett, lil gal.'
+Lil gal say:--
+
+"'How you is kin wit' me, B'er Rabbit?'
+
+"'You' gran'daddy foller at' me nuncle wit' 'e dog. Da mek we is kin.
+Come y-open da gett, lil gal.'"
+
+"Dat ole Rabbit wuz a-talkin', mon!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy,
+enthusiastically.
+
+"Lil gal no say nuttin' 't all!" Daddy Jack went on, with renewed
+animation. "Dun B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'See me long, sha'p toof, lil gal? Me bite-a you troo un troo.' Lil gal
+say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da toof. 'E bite nuttin' 'tall 'cep' 'e bite grass.' B'er
+Rabbit say:--
+
+"'See me big y-eye? I pop um at you, shoot-a you dead.' Lil gal say:--
+
+"Me no skeer da y-eye. 'E sem lak turrer folks y-eye.' B'er Rabbit
+say:--
+
+"'Lil gal, you mek me 'come mad. I no lak fer hu't-a me kin. Look at me
+ho'n! I run you troo un troo.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit lif 'e two year up; 'e p'int um stret at da lil gal. Lil
+gal 'come skeer da ho'n; 'e do tu'n go da gett; 'e fly fum dey-dey."
+
+"Well, ef dat don't beat!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, laughing as heartily as
+the little boy. "Look at um one way, en Rabbit year does look lak sho'
+nuff ho'ns."
+
+"Lil gal tu'n go da gett," Daddy Jack continued; "B'er Rabbit _gone_!
+Màn come bahk; 'e ahx wey is B'er Rabbit. Lil gal cry; 'e say 'e skeer
+B'er Rabbit ho'n. Màn say 'e is hab no ho'n. Lil gal is stan' um down 'e
+see ho'n. Màn say da ho'n is nuttin' 't all but B'er Rabbit year wut 'e
+yeddy wit'. 'E tell lil gal nex' tam B'er Rabbit come, 'e mus' shed da
+gett; 'e mus' run fum dey-dey un leaf um shed. Lil gal say yasser.
+
+"Màn gone, B'er Rabbit come. 'E is go in da gett; 'e eat-a dem pea tel
+'e tire'. 'E try fer go pas' da gett, gett shed. 'E call lil gal; lil
+gal _gone_! 'E call, call, call; lil gal no yeddy. 'E try fer fine crack
+in da palin'; no crack dey. 'E try fer jump over; de palin' too high.
+'E 'come skeer; 'e is 'come so skeer 'e squot 'pun da groun'; 'e shek,
+'e shiver.
+
+"Màn come bahk. 'E ahx wey B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say 'e in da geerden.
+Màn hug lil gal, 'e is lub um so. 'E go in da geerden; 'e fine B'er
+Rabbit. 'E ketch um--'e ca' um off fer kill um; 'e mad fer true. Lil gal
+come holler:--
+
+"'Daddy, daddy! missus say run dere! 'E wan' you come stret dere!'
+
+"Màn tie B'er Rabbit in da bag; 'e hang um on tree lim'. 'E say:--
+
+"'I gwan come bahk. I l'arn you fer mek cud wit' me green pea.'
+
+"Màn gone fer see 'e missus. Bumbye, B'er 'Possum is bin-a come pas'. 'E
+look up, 'e ketch glimp' da bag 'pun da lim'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki! Wut dis is bin-a hang in da bag 'pun da tree-lim'?' B'er Rabbit
+say:--
+
+"'Hush, B'er 'Possum! 'T is-a me. I bin-a lissen at dem sing in da
+cloud.'
+
+"B'er 'Possum lissen. 'E say:--
+
+"'I no yed dem sing, B'er Rabbit.'
+
+"'Hush, B'er 'Possum! How is I kin yeddy dem sing wun you is mek-a da
+fuss dey-dey?'
+
+"B'er 'Possum, 'e hoi' 'e mout' still, 'cep' 'e do grin. B'er Rabbit
+say:--
+
+"'I yed dem now! I yed dem now! B'er 'Possum, I wish you is yeddy dem
+sing!'
+
+"B'er 'Possum say 'e mout' water fer yeddy dem sing in da cloud. B'er
+Rabbit, 'e say 'e is bin-a hab so long tarn 'quaintun wit' B'er 'Possum,
+'e le'm yeddy dem sing. 'E say:--
+
+"'I git fum da bag. I tu'n-a you in tel you is yeddy dem sing. Dun you
+is git fum da bag, tel I do come bahk un 'joy mese'f.'
+
+"B'er 'Possum, 'e do clam up da tree; 'e git dem bag, 'e bring um down.
+'E tak off da string; 'e tu'n B'er Rabbit go. 'E crawl in un 'e quile
+up. 'E say:--
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'
+
+"'Hi! wait tel da bag it tie, B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!' 'E
+wait.
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'
+
+"'Hi! wait tel I clam da tree, B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!' 'E
+wait.
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'
+
+"'Wait tel I fix um 'pun da lim', B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!'
+'E wait.
+
+"B'er Rabbit clam down; 'e run 'way fum dey-dey; 'e hide in da bush
+side. Màn come bahk. 'E see da bag moof. B'er 'Possum say:--
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing. I wait fer yed um sing!'
+
+"Màn t'ink 'e B'er Rabbit in da bag. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ah-yi-ee! I mekky you yed dem sing!'
+
+"Màn teka da bag fum da tree-lim'; 'e do slam da bag 'gin' da face da
+ye't'. 'E tek-a 'e walkin'-cane, un 'e beat B'er 'Possum wut is do um no
+ha'm tel 'e mos' kill um. Màn t'ink B'er Rabbit mus' bin dead by dis. 'E
+look in da bag; 'e 'tretch 'e y-eye big; 'e 'stonish'. B'er Rabbit, 'e
+do come fum da bush side; 'e do holler, 'e do laff. 'E say:--
+
+"'You no is ketch-a me! I t'ief you' green pea,--I t'ief um some mo',--I
+t'ief um tel I dead!'
+
+"Màn, 'e 'come so mad, 'e is fling hatchet at B'er Rabbit un chop off 'e
+tail."
+
+At this moment Daddy Jack subsided. His head drooped forward, and he was
+soon in the land of Nod. Uncle Remus sat gazing into the fireplace, as
+though lost in reflection. Presently, he laughed softly to himself, and
+said:--
+
+"Dat's des 'bout de long en de short un it. Mr. Man clip off Brer Rabbit
+tail wid de hatchet, en it bleed so free dat Brer Rabbit rush off ter
+de cotton-patch en put some lint on it, en down ter dis day dat lint
+mos' de fus' t'ing you see w'en Brer Rabbit jump out'n he bed en tell
+you good-bye."
+
+"But, Uncle Remus, what became of Brother 'Possum?"
+
+Uncle Remus smacked his lips and looked wise.
+
+"Don't talk 'bout Brer 'Possum, honey, ef dat ar Mr. Man wuz nice folks
+lak we all is, en I ain't 'spute it, he tuck'n tuck Brer 'Possum en
+bobbycue 'im, en I wish I had a great big piece right now. Dat I does."
+
+
+
+
+XXXIII
+
+WHY THE GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED
+
+
+One night, while the little boy was watching Uncle Remus broil a piece
+of bacon on the coals, he heard a great commotion among the
+guinea-fowls. The squawking and _pot-racking_ went on at such a rate
+that the geese awoke and began to scream, and finally the dogs added
+their various voices to the uproar. Uncle Remus leaned back in his chair
+and listened.
+
+"I 'speck may be dat's de patter-rollers gwine by," he said, after a
+while. "But you can't put no 'pen'unce in dem ar Guinny-hins, 'kaze
+dey'll wake up en holler ef dey year deyse'f sno'. Dey'll fool you,
+sho'."
+
+"They are mighty funny, anyhow," said the little boy.
+
+"Dat's it!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Dey looks quare, en dey does quare.
+Dey ain't do lak no yuther kinder chick'n, en dey ain't look lak no
+yuther kinder chick'n. Yit folks tell me," the old man went on,
+reflectively, "dat dey er heap mo' kuse lookin' now dan w'at dey use'
+ter be. I year tell dat dey wuz one time w'en dey wuz all blue, 'stid er
+havin' all dem ar teenchy little spots on um."
+
+"Well, how did they get to be speckled, Uncle Remus?" asked the little
+boy, seeing that the old man was disposed to leave the subject and
+devote his attention to his broiling bacon.
+
+Uncle Remus did not respond at once. He turned his meat over carefully,
+watched it a little while, and then adroitly transferred it to the cover
+of a tin bucket, which was made to answer the purpose of a plate. Then
+he searched about in the embers until he found his ash-cake, and in a
+little while his supper was ready to be eaten.
+
+"I ain't begrudgin' nobody nothin'," said Uncle Remus, measuring the
+victuals with his eye; "yit I'm monst'us glad Brer Jack ain't nowhar's
+'roun', 'kaze dey ain't no tellin' de gawm dat ole nigger kin eat. He
+look shaky, en he look dry up, en he ain't got no toof, yit w'ence he
+set hisse'f down whar dey any vittles, he des nat'ally laps hit up. En
+let 'lone dat, he ull wipe he mouf en look' roun' des lak he want mo'.
+Time Miss Sally see dat ole nigger eat one meal er vittles, I boun' you
+he hatter go back down de country. I ain't begrudgin' Brer Jack de
+vittles," Uncle Remus went on, adopting a more conciliatory tone, "dat I
+ain't, 'kaze folks is got ter eat; but, gentermens! you be 'stonish'
+w'en you see Brer Jack 'pesterin' 'long er he dinner."
+
+The little boy sat quiet awhile, and then reminded Uncle Remus of the
+guinea-fowls.
+
+"Tooby sho', honey, tooby sho'! W'at I doin' runnin' on dis-a-way 'bout
+ole Brer Jack? W'at he done ter me? Yer I is gwine on 'bout ole Brer
+Jack, en dem ar Guinny-hins out dar waitin'. Well, den, one day Sis Cow
+wuz a-grazin' 'bout in de ole fiel' en lookin' atter her calf. De wedder
+wuz kinder hot, en de calf, he tuck'n stan', he did, in he mammy
+shadder, so he kin keep cool, en so dat one flip un he mammy tail kin
+keep the flies off'n bofe un um. Atter w'ile, 'long come a drove er
+Guinnies. De Guinnies, dey howdied, en Sis Cow, she howdied, en de
+Guinnies, dey sorter picked 'roun' en sun deyse'f; en Sis Cow, she crap
+de grass en ax um de news er de neighborhoods. Dey went on dis a-way
+twel 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey year mighty kuse noise out dar t'er side
+er de ole fiel'. De Guinnies, dey make great 'miration, des lak dey does
+deze days, en ole Sis Cow fling up 'er head en look all 'roun'. She
+ain't see nothin'.
+
+"Atter w'ile dey year de kuse fuss 'g'in, en dey look 'roun', en bless
+gracious! stan'in' right dar, 'twix' dem en sundown, wuz a great big
+Lion!"
+
+"A Lion, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy, in amazement.
+
+"Des ez sho' ez you er settin' dar, honey,--a great big Lion. You better
+b'leeve dey wuz a monst'us flutterment 'mungs de Guinnies, en ole Sis
+Cow, she looked mighty skeer'd. De Lion love cow meat mos' better dan he
+do any yuther kinder meat, en he shake he head en 'low ter hisse'f dat
+he'll des about ketch ole Sis Cow en eat 'er up, en take en kyar de calf
+ter he fambly.
+
+"Den he tuck'n shuck he head, de Lion did, en make straight at Sis Cow.
+De Guinnies dey run dis a-way, en dey run t'er way, en dey run all
+'roun' en 'roun'; but ole Sis Cow, she des know she got ter stan' 'er
+groun', en w'en she see de Lion makin' todes 'er, she des tuck'n drapt
+'er head down en pawed de dirt. De Lion, he crope up, he did, en crope
+'roun', watchin' fer good chance fer ter make a jump. He crope 'roun',
+he did, but no diffunce which a-way he creep, dar wuz ole Sis Cow hawns
+p'intin' right straight at 'im. Ole Sis Cow, she paw de dirt, she did,
+en show de white er her eyes, en beller way down in 'er stomach.
+
+"Dey went on dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby de Guinnies, dey see dat
+Sis Cow ain't so mighty skeer'd, en den dey 'gun ter take heart. Fus'
+news you know, one un um sorter drap he wings en fuzzle up de fedders en
+run out 'twix' Sis Cow en de Lion. W'en he get dar, he sorter dip down,
+he did, en fling up dirt des lak you see um do in de ash-pile. Den he
+tuck'n run back, he did, en time he git back, 'n'er one run out en raise
+de dus' 'twix' Sis Cow en de Lion. Den 'n'er one, he run out en dip down
+en shoo up de dus'; den 'n'er one run out en dip down, en 'n'er one en
+yit 'n'er one, twel, bless gracious! time dey all run out en dip down
+en raise de dus', de Lion wuz dat blin' twel he ain't kin see he han'
+befo' 'im. Dis make 'im so mad dat he make a splunge at Sis Cow, en de
+old lady, she kotch 'im on her hawns en got 'im down, en des nat'ally
+to' intruls out."
+
+"Did she kill the Lion, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy,
+incredulously.
+
+"Dat she did--dat she did! Yit 't ain't make 'er proud, 'kaze atter de
+Lion done good en dead, she tuck en call up de Guinnies, she did, en she
+'low, dey bin so quick fer ter he'p 'er out, dat she wanter pay um back.
+De Guinnies, dey say, sezee:--
+
+"'Don't bodder 'long er we all, Sis Cow,' sezee. 'You had yo' fun en we
+all had ourn, en 'ceppin' dat ar blood en ha'r on yo' hawn,' sezee, 'dey
+ain't none un us any de wuss off,' sezee.
+
+"But ole Sis Cow, she stan' um down, she did, dat she got ter pay um
+back, en den atter w'ile she ax um w'at dey lak bes'.
+
+"One un um up en make answer dat w'at dey lak bes', Sis Cow, she can't
+gi' um. Sis Cow, she up en 'low dat she dunno 'bout dat, en she ax um
+w'at is it.
+
+"Den de Guinnies, dey tuck'n huddle up, dey did, en hol' er confab wid
+one er 'n'er, en w'iles dey er doin' dis, ole Sis Cow, she tuck'n fetch
+a long breff, en den she call up 'er cud, en stood dar chawin' on it des
+lak she ain't had no tribalation dat day.
+
+"Bimeby one er de Guinnies step out fum de huddlement en make a bow en
+'low dat dey all 'ud be mighty proud ef Sis Cow kin fix it some way so
+dey can't be seed so fur thoo de woods, 'kaze dey look blue in de sun,
+en dey look blue in de shade, en dey can't hide deyse'f nohow. Sis Cow,
+she chaw on 'er cud, en shet 'er eyes, en study. She chaw en chaw, en
+study en study. Bimeby she 'low:--
+
+"'Go fetch me a pail!' Guinny-hin laff!
+
+"'Law, Sis Cow! w'at de name er goodness you gwine do wid a pail?'
+
+"'Go fetch me a pail!'
+
+"Guinny-hin, she run'd off, she did, en atter w'ile yer she come
+trottin' back wid a pail. She sot dat pail down," continued Uncle Remus,
+in the tone of an eye-witness to the occurrence, "en Sis Cow, she tuck
+'er stan' over it, en she let down 'er milk in dar twel she mighty nigh
+fill de pail full. Den she tuck'n make dem Guinny-hins git in a row, en
+she dip 'er tail in dat ar pail, en she switch it at de fust un en
+sprinkle 'er all over wid de milk; en eve'y time she switch 'er tail at
+um she 'low:--
+
+"'I loves dis un!' Den she 'ud sing:--
+
+    "'_Oh, Blue, go 'way! you shill not stay!
+    Oh, Guinny, be Gray, be Gray!_'
+
+"She tuck'n sprinkle de las' one un um, en de Guinnies, dey sot in de
+sun twel dey git dry, en fum dat time out dey got dem little speckles un
+um."
+
+
+
+
+XXXIV
+
+BRER RABBIT'S LOVE-CHARM
+
+
+"Dey wuz one time," said Uncle Remus one night, as they all sat around
+the wide hearth,--Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy in their
+accustomed places,--"dey wuz one time w'en de t'er creeturs push Brer
+Rabbit so close dat he tuck up a kinder idee dat may be he wa'n't ez
+smart ez he mout be, en he study 'bout dis plum twel he git humble ez de
+nex' man. 'Las' he low ter hisse'f dat he better make inquirements--"
+
+"Ki!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, raising both hands and grinning excitedly,
+"wut tale dis? I bin yerry da tale wun I is bin wean't fum me mammy."
+
+"Well, den, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, with instinctive deference to
+the rules of hospitality, "I 'speck you des better whirl in yer en spin
+'er out. Ef you git 'er mix up anywhars I ull des slip in front er you
+en ketch holt whar you lef' off."
+
+With that, Daddy Jack proceeded:--
+
+"One tam, B'er Rabbit is bin lub one noung leddy."
+
+"Miss Meadows, I 'speck," suggested Uncle Remus, as the old African
+paused to rub his chin.
+
+"'E no lub Miss Meadow nuttin' 't all!" exclaimed Daddy Jack,
+emphatically. "'E bin lub turrer noung leddy fum dat. 'E is bin lub
+werry nice noung leddy. 'E lub 'um hard, 'e lub 'um long, un 'e is gwan
+try fer mek dem noung leddy marry wit' 'im. Noung leddy seem lak 'e no
+look 'pon B'er Rabbit, un dis is bin-a mek B'er Rabbit feel werry bad
+all da day long. 'E moof 'way off by 'ese'f; 'e lose 'e fat, un 'e heer
+is bin-a come out. Bumbye, 'e see one ole Affiky mans wut is bin-a hunt
+in da fiel' fer root en yerrub fer mek 'e met'cine truck. 'E see um, un
+he go toze um. Affiky mans open 'e y-eye big; 'e 'stonish'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Rabbit! you' he'lt' is bin-a gone; 'e bin-a gone un lef' you.
+Wut mekky you is look so puny lak dis? Who is bin hu't-a you' feelin'?'
+
+"B'er Rabbit larf wit' dry grins. 'E say:--
+
+"'Shoo! I bin got well. Ef you is see me wun I sick fer true, 't will
+mekky you heer stan' up, I skeer you so.'
+
+"Affiky mans, 'e mek B'er Rabbit stick out 'e tongue; 'e is count B'er
+Rabbit pulse. 'E shekky 'e head; 'e do say:--
+
+"'Hi, B'er Rabbit! Wut all dis? You is bin ketch-a da gal-fever, un 'e
+strak in 'pon you' gizzud.'
+
+"Den B'er Rabbit, 'e is tell-a da Affiky mans 'bout dem noung leddy wut
+no look toze 'im, un da Affiky mans, 'e do say 'e bin know gal sem lak
+dat, 'e is bin shum befo'. 'E say 'e kin fix all dem noung leddy lak
+dat. B'er Rabbit, 'e is feel so good, 'e jump up high; 'e is bin crack
+'e heel; 'e shekky da Affiky mans by de han'.
+
+"Affiky mans, 'e say B'er Rabbit no kin git da gal 'cep' 'e is mek 'im
+one cha'm-bag. 'E say 'e mus' git one el'phan' tush, un 'e mus' git one
+'gater toof, un 'e mus' git one rice-bud bill. B'er Rabbit werry glad
+'bout dis, un 'e hop way fum dey-dey.
+
+"'E hop, 'e run, 'e jump all nex' day night, un bumbye 'e see one great
+big el'phan' come breakin' 'e way troo da woots. B'er Rabbit, 'e say:--
+
+"'Ki! Oona big fer true! I bin-a yeddy talk 'bout dis in me y-own
+countree. Oona big fer true; too big fer be strong.'
+
+"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E tek pine tree in 'e snout; 'e pull um by da roots; 'e toss um way
+off. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Hi! dem tree come 'cause you bin high; 'e no come 'cause you bin
+strong.'
+
+"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E rush troo da woots; 'e fair teer um down. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Hoo! dem is bin-a saplin' wey you 'stroy. See da big pine? Oona no kin
+'stroy dem.'
+
+"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E run 'pon da big pine; da big pine is bin too tough. El'phan' tush
+stick in deer fer true; da big pine hol' um fas'. B'er Rabbit git-a dem
+tush; 'e fetch um wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky mans say el'phan' is
+bin too big fer be sma't. 'E say 'e mus' haf one 'gater toof fer go wit'
+el'phan' tush.
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e do crack 'e heel; 'e do fair fly fum dey-dey. 'E go
+'long, 'e go 'long. Bumbye 'e come 'pon 'gater. Da sun shiün hot; da
+'gater do 'joy 'ese'f. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Dis road, 'e werry bad; less we mek good one by da crickside.'
+
+"'Gater lak dat. 'E wek 'ese'f up fum 'e head to 'e tail. Dey sta't fer
+clean da road. 'Gater, 'e do teer da bush wit' 'e toof; 'e sweep-a da
+trash way wit' 'e tail. B'er Rabbit, 'e do beat-a da bush down wit' 'e
+cane. 'E hit lef', 'e hit right; 'e hit up, 'e hit down; 'e hit all
+'roun'. 'E hit un 'e hit, tel bumbye 'e hit 'gater in 'e mout' un
+knock-a da toof out. 'E grab um up; 'e gone fum dey-dey. 'E fetch-a da
+'gater toof wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky mans say:--
+
+"''Gater is bin-a got sha'p toof fer true. Go fetch-a me one rice-bud
+bill.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit gone! 'E go 'long, 'e go 'long, tel 'e see rice-bud
+swingin' on bush. 'E ahx um kin 'e fly.
+
+"Rice-bud say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E wissle, 'e sing, 'e shek 'e wing; 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'.
+
+"B'er Rabbit say rice-bud kin fly wey da win' is bin blow, but 'e no kin
+fly wey no win' blow.
+
+"Rice-bud say, 'Enty!'
+
+"'E wait fer win' stop blowin'; 'e wait, un 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'.
+
+"B'er Rabbit say rice-bud yent kin fly in house wey dey no win'.
+
+"Rice-bud say, 'Enty!'
+
+"'E fly in house, 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'. B'er Rabbit pull de do'
+shed; 'e look at dem rice-bud; 'e say, 'Enty!'
+
+"'E ketch dem rice-bud; 'e do git um bill, 'e fetch um wey da Affiky
+mans lif. Affiky mans says dem rice-bud bill slick fer true. 'E tekky da
+el'phan' tush, 'e tekky da 'gater toof, 'e tekky da rice-bud bill, he
+pit um in lil bag; 'e swing dem bag 'pon B'er Rabbit neck. Den B'er
+Rabbit kin marry dem noung gal. Enty!"
+
+Here Daddy Jack paused and flung a glance of feeble tenderness upon
+'Tildy. Uncle Remus smiled contemptuously, seeing which 'Tildy
+straightened herself, tossed her head, and closed her eyes with an air
+of indescribable scorn.
+
+"I dunner what Brer Rabbit mout er done," she exclaimed; "but I lay ef
+dey's any ole nigger man totin' a cunjer-bag in dis neighborhood, he'll
+git mighty tired un it 'fo' it do 'im any good--I lay dat!"
+
+Daddy Jack chuckled heartily at this, and dropped off to sleep so
+suddenly that the little boy thought he was playing 'possum.
+
+
+
+
+XXXV
+
+BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the child, "do you reckon Brother Rabbit really
+married the young lady?"
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey," responded the old man, with a sigh, "hit b'long
+ter Brer Jack fer ter tell you dat. 'T ain't none er my tale."
+
+"Was n't that the tale you started to tell?"
+
+"Who? Me? _Shoo!_ I ain't 'sputin' but w'at Brer Jack tale des ez purty
+ez dey er any needs fer, yit 't ain't none er my tale."
+
+At this, the little boy laid his head upon Uncle Remus's knee and
+waited.
+
+"Now, den," said the old man, with an air of considerable importance,
+"we er got ter go 'way back behime dish yer yallergater doin's w'at Brer
+Jack bin mixin' us up wid. Ef I makes no mistakes wid my 'membunce, de
+place wharbouts I lef' off wuz whar Brer Rabbit had so many 'p'intments
+fer ter keep out de way er de t'er creeturs dat he 'gun ter feel
+monst'us humblyfied. Let um be who dey will, you git folks in a close
+place ef you wanter see um shed der proudness. Dey beg mo' samer dan a
+nigger w'en de patter-rollers ketch 'im. Brer Rabbit ain't ko no
+beggin', 'kaze dey ain't kotch; yit dey come so nigh it, he 'gun ter
+feel he weakness.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit feel dis a-way, do he set down flat er de groun' en
+let de t'er creeturs rush up en grab 'im? He mought do it deze days,
+'kaze times done change; but in dem days he des tuck'n sot up wid
+hisse'f en study 'bout w'at he gwine do. He study en study, en las' he
+up'n tell he ole 'oman, he did, dat he gwine on a journey. Wid dat, ole
+Miss Rabbit, she tuck'n fry 'im up a rasher er bacon, en bake 'im a pone
+er bread. Brer Rabbit tied dis up in a bag en tuck down he walkin' cane
+en put out."
+
+"Where was he going, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Lemme 'lone, honey! Lemme sorter git hit up, like. De trail mighty cole
+'long yer, sho'; 'kaze dish yer tale ain't come 'cross my min' not sence
+yo' gran'pa fotch us all out er Ferginny, en dat's a monst'us long time
+ago.
+
+"He put out, Brer Rabbit did, fer ter see ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money."
+
+"Dat 'uz dat ole Witch-Rabbit," remarked Aunt Tempy, complacently.
+
+"Yasser," continued Uncle Remus, "de ve'y same ole creetur w'at I done
+tell you 'bout w'en Brer Rabbit los' he foot. He put out, he did, en
+atter so long a time he git dar. He take time fer ter ketch he win', en
+den he sorter shake hisse'f up en rustle 'roun' in de grass. Bimeby he
+holler:--
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money! O Mammy-Bammy Big-Money! I journeyed fur, I
+journeyed fas'; I glad I foun' de place at las'.'
+
+"Great big black smoke rise up out er de groun', en ole Mammy-Bammy
+Big-Money 'low:--
+
+"'Wharfo', Son Riley Rabbit, Riley? Son Riley Rabbit, wharfo'?'
+
+"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, dropping the sing-song tone by means
+of which he managed to impart a curious dignity and stateliness to the
+dialogue between Brother Rabbit and Mammy-Bammy Big-Money,--"wid dat
+Brer Rabbit up'n tell 'er, he did, 'bout how he fear'd he losin' de use
+er he min', 'kaze he done come ter dat pass dat he ain't kin fool de
+yuther creeturs no mo', en dey push 'im so closte twel 't won't be long
+'fo' dey'll git 'im. De ole Witch-Rabbit she sot dar, she did, en suck
+in black smoke en puff it out 'g'in, twel you can't see nothin' 't all
+but 'er great big eyeballs en 'er great big years. Atter w'ile she
+'low:--
+
+"'Dar sets a squer'l in dat tree, Son Riley; go fetch dat squer'l
+straight ter me, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit sorter study, en den he 'low, he did:--
+
+"'I ain't got much sense lef', yit ef I can't coax dat chap down from
+dar, den hit's 'kaze I done got some zeeze w'ich it make me fibble in de
+min',' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit tuck'n empty de provender out'n he bag en got 'im
+two rocks, en put de bag over he head en sot down und' de tree whar he
+squer'l is. He wait little w'ile, en den he hit de rocks
+tergedder--_blip!_
+
+"Squer'l he holler, 'Hey!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit wait little, en den he tuck'n slap de rocks
+tergedder--_blap!_
+
+"Squer'l he run down de tree little bit en holler, 'Heyo!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nothin'. He des pop de rocks
+tergedder--_blop!_
+
+"Squer'l, he come down little furder, he did, en holler, 'Who dat?'
+
+"'Biggidy Dicky Big-Bag!'
+
+"'What you doin' in dar?'
+
+"'Crackin' hick'y nuts.'
+
+"'Kin I crack some?'
+
+"'Tooby sho', Miss Bunny Bushtail; come git in de bag.'
+
+"Miss Bunny Bushtail hang back," continued Uncle Remus, chuckling; "but
+de long en de short un it wuz dat she got in de bag, en Brer Rabbit he
+tuck'n kyar'd 'er ter ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. De ole Witch-Rabbit,
+she tuck'n tu'n de squer'l a-loose, en 'low:--
+
+"'Dar lies a snake in 'mungs' de grass, Son Riley; go fetch 'im yer, en
+be right fas', Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit look 'roun', en sho' nuff dar lay de bigges' kinder
+rattlesnake, all quile up ready fer business. Brer Rabbit scratch he
+year wid he behime leg, en study. Look lak he gwine git in trouble. Yit
+atter w'ile he go off in de bushes, he did, en cut 'im a young
+grape-vine, en he fix 'im a slip-knot. Den he come back. Snake
+'periently look lak he sleep. Brer Rabbit ax 'im how he come on. Snake
+ain't say nothin', but he quile up a little tighter, en he tongue run
+out lak it bin had grease on it. Mouf shot, yit de tongue slick out en
+slick back 'fo' a sheep kin shake he tail. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'Law, Mr. Snake, I mighty glad I come 'cross you,' sezee. 'Me en ole
+Jedge B'ar bin havin' a turrible 'spute 'bout how long you is. We bofe
+'gree dat you look mighty purty w'en youer layin' stretch out full lenk
+in de sun; but Jedge B'ar, he 'low you ain't but th'ee foot long, en I
+stood 'im down dat you 'uz four foot long ef not mo',' sezee. 'En de
+talk got so hot dat I come mighty nigh hittin' 'im a clip wid my
+walkin'-cane, en ef I had I boun' dey'd er bin some bellerin' done
+'roun' dar,' sezee.
+
+"Snake ain't say nothin', but he look mo' complassy[34] dan w'at he bin
+lookin'.
+
+"'I up'n tole ole Jedge B'ar,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat de nex' time
+I run 'cross you I gwine take'n medjer you; en goodness knows I mighty
+glad I struck up wid you, 'kaze now dey won't be no mo' 'casion fer any
+'sputin' 'twix' me en Jedge B'ar,' sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit ax Mr. Snake ef he won't be so good ez ter onquile
+hisse'f. Snake he feel mighty proud, he did, en he stretch out fer all
+he wuff. Brer Rabbit he medjer, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Dar one foot fer Jedge B'ar; dar th'ee foot fer Jedge B'ar; en, bless
+goodness, dar four foot fer Jedge B'ar, des lak I say!'
+
+"By dat time Brer Rabbit done got ter snake head, en des ez de las' wud
+drop out'n he mouf, he slip de loop 'roun' snake neck, en den he had 'im
+good en fas'. He tuck'n drag 'im, he did, up ter whar de ole
+Witch-Rabbit settin' at; but w'en he git dar, Mammy-Bammy Big-Money done
+make 'er disappearance, but he year sump'n' way off yander, en seem lak
+it say:--
+
+"'Ef you git any mo' sense, Son Riley, you'll be de ruination ev de
+whole settlement, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit drag de snake 'long home, en stew 'im down en rub wid
+de grease fer ter make 'im mo' 'soopler in de lim's. Bless yo' soul,
+honey, Brer Rabbit mought er bin kinder fibble in de legs, but he wa'n't
+no ways cripple und' de hat."[35]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[34] A mixture of "complacent" and "placid." Accent on the second
+syllable.
+
+[35] A version of this story makes Brother Rabbit capture a swarm of
+bees. Mr. W. O. Tuggle, of Georgia, who has made an exhaustive study of
+the Creek Indians, has discovered a variant of the legend. The Rabbit
+(Chufee) becomes alarmed because he has nothing but the nimbleness of
+his feet to take him out of harm's way. He goes to his Creator and begs
+that greater intelligence be bestowed upon him. Thereupon the snake test
+is applied, as in the negro story, and the Rabbit also catches a swarm
+of gnats. He is then told that he has as much intelligence as there is
+any need for, and he goes away satisfied.
+
+
+
+
+XXXVI
+
+BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, one night, when he found the old man
+sitting alone in his cabin, "did you ever see Mammy-Bammy Big-Money?"
+
+Uncle Remus placed his elbows on his knees, rested his chin in the palms
+of his hands, and gazed steadily in the fire. Presently he said:--
+
+"Wen folks 'gin ter git ole en no 'count, hit look lak der 'membunce git
+slack. Some time hit seem lak I done seed sump'n' n'er mighty nigh de
+make en color er ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, en den ag'in seem lak I
+ain't. W'en dat de case, w'at does I do? Does I stan' tiptoe en tetch de
+rafters en make lak I done seed dat ole Witch-Rabbit, w'en, goodness
+knows, I ain't seed 'er? Dat I don't. No, bless you! I'd say de same in
+comp'ny, much less settin' in yer 'long side er you. De long en de short
+un it," exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis, "is des dis. Ef I bin
+run 'crost ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in my day en time, den she tuck'n
+make 'er disappearance dat quick twel I ain't kotch a glimp' un 'er."
+
+    [Illustration: "'EF YOU GIT ANY MO' SENSE, SON RILEY, YOU'LL BE DE
+    RUINATION EV DE WHOLE SETTLEMENT'"]
+
+The result of this good-humored explanation was that the child did n't
+know whether Uncle Remus had seen the Witch-Rabbit or not, but his
+sympathies led him to suspect that the old man was thoroughly familiar
+with all her movements.
+
+"Uncle Remus," the little boy said, after a while, "if there is another
+story about Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I wish you would tell it to me all by
+my own-alone self."
+
+The idea seemed to please the old man wonderfully, and he chuckled over
+it for several minutes.
+
+"Now, den, honey," he said, after a while, "you hit me whar I'm
+weak--you mos' sho'ly does. Comp'ny mighty good fer some folks en I kin
+put up wid it long ez de nex' un, but you kin des take'n pile comp'ny
+'pun top er comp'ny, en dey won't kyore de liver complaint. W'en you
+talk dat a-way you fetches me, sho', en I'll tell you a tale 'bout de
+ole Witch-Rabbit ef I hatter git down yer on my all-fours en grabble it
+out'n de ashes. Yit dey ain't no needs er dat, 'kaze de tale done come
+in my min' des ez fresh ez ef 't was day 'fo' yistiddy.
+
+"Hit seem lak dat one time atter Brer Wolf tuck'n steal Brer Rabbit
+foot, dey wuz a mighty long fallin'-out 'twix' um. Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n got ashy 'kaze Brer Wolf tuck'n tuck he foot; en Brer Wolf, he
+tuck'n got hot 'kaze Brer Rabbit wuk en wuk 'roun' en git he foot ag'in.
+Hit keep on dis a-way twel bimeby de ole Witch-Rabbit sorter git tired
+er Brer Wolf, en one day she tuck'n sont wud ter Brer Rabbit dat she lak
+mighty well fer ter see 'im.
+
+"Dey fix up der plans, dey did, en 't wa'n't so mighty long 'fo' Brer
+Rabbit run inter Brer Wolf house in a mighty big hurry, en he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'Brer Wolf! O Brer Wolf! I des now come fum de river, en des ez sho'
+ez youer settin' in dat cheer, ole Big-Money layin' dar stone dead.
+Less[36] we go eat 'er up.'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, sho'ly youer jokin'!'
+
+"'Brer Wolf, I'm a-ginin'[37] un you de fatal fack. Come on, less go!'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, is you sho' she dead?'
+
+"'Brer Wolf, she done dead; come on, less go!'
+
+"En go dey did. Dey went 'roun' en dey got all de yuther creeturs, en
+Brer Wolf, livin' so nigh, he let all he chilluns go, en 't wa'n't so
+mighty long 'fo' dey had a crowd dar des lak camp-meetin' times.
+
+"W'en dey git dar, sho' nuff, dar lay ole Big-Money all stretch out on
+de river bank. Dis make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en he tuck'n stick
+he han's in he pocket en strut 'roun' dar en look monst'us biggity.
+Atter he done tuck'n 'zamine ole Big-Money much ez he wanter, he up'n
+'low, he did, dat dey better sorter rustle 'roun' en make a fa'r
+dividjun. He ax Brer Mink, he ax Brer Coon, he ax Brer 'Possum, he ax
+Brer Tarrypin, he ax Brer Rabbit, w'ich part dey take, en dey all up'n
+'low, dey did, dat bein' ez Brer Wolf de biggest en de heartiest in de
+neighborhoods er de appetite, dey 'speck he better take de fus'
+choosement.
+
+"Wid dat Brer Wolf, he sot down on a log, en hang he head ter one side,
+sorter lak he 'shame' er hisse'f. Bimeby, he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Now, den, folks en fr'en's, sence you shove it on me, de shortes' way
+is de bes' way. Brer Coon, we bin good fr'en's a mighty long time; how
+much er dish yer meat ought a fibble[38] ole man lak me ter take?' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf talk mighty lovin'. Brer Coon snuff de a'r, en 'low:
+
+"'I 'speck you better take one er de fo'-quarters, Brer Wolf,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf look lak he 'stonish'. He lif' up he han's, en 'low:
+
+"'Law, Brer Coon, I tuck you ter be my fr'en', dat I did. Man w'at talk
+lak dat ain't got no feelin' fer me. Hit make me feel mighty lonesome,'
+sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf tu'n 'roun' en talk mighty lovin' ter Brer Mink:--
+
+"'Brer Mink, many's de day you bin a-knowin' me; how much er dish yer
+meat you 'speck oughter fall ter my sheer?' sezee.
+
+"Brer Mink sorter study, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'Bein' ez you er sech a nice man, Brer Wolf, I 'speck you oughter take
+one er de fo'-quarters, en a right smart hunk off'n de bulge er de
+neck,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Brer Mink! Go 'way! You ain't no 'quaintance er mine!'
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf tu'n 'roun' ter Brer 'Possum en talk lovin':
+
+"'Brer 'Possum, I done bin tuck wid a likin' fer you long time 'fo' dis.
+Look at me, en den look at my fambly, en den tell me, ef you be so good,
+how much er dish yer meat gwine ter fall ter my sheer.'
+
+"Brer 'Possum, he look 'roun', he did, en grin, en he up'n 'low:
+
+"'Take half, Brer Wolf, take half!'
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf holler out:--
+
+"'Shoo, Brer 'Possum! I like you no mo'.'
+
+"Den Brer Wolf tu'n to Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin say Brer Wolf
+oughter take all 'cep' one er de behime quarters, en den Brer Wolf 'low
+dat Brer Tarrypin ain't no fr'en' ter him. Den he up'n ax Brer Rabbit,
+en Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n 'spon', he did:--
+
+"'Gentermuns all! you see Brer Wolf chillun? Well, dey er all monst'us
+hongry, en Brer Wolf hongry hisse'f. Now I puts dis plan straight at
+you: less we all let Brer Wolf have de fus' pass at Big-Money; less tie
+'im on dar, en le'm eat much ez he wanter, en den we kin pick de bones,'
+sezee.
+
+"'Youer my pardner, Brer Rabbit!' sez Brer Wolf, sezee; 'youer my
+honey-pardner!'
+
+"Dey all 'gree ter dis plan, mo' 'speshually ole Brer Wolf, so den dey
+tuck'n tie 'im onter Big-Money. Dey tie 'im on dar, dey did, en den ole
+Brer Wolf look all 'roun' en wunk at de yuthers. Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n
+wunk back, en den Brer Wolf retch down en bite Big-Money on de back er
+de neck. Co'se, w'en he do dis, Big-Money bleedz ter flinch; let 'lone
+dat, she bleedz ter jump. Brer Wolf holler out:--
+
+"'Ow! Run yer somebody! Take me off! She ain't dead! O Lordy! I feel 'er
+move!'
+
+Brer Rabbit holler back:--
+
+"'Nummine de flinchin', Brer Wolf. She done dead; I done year 'er
+sesso[39] 'erse'f. She dead, sho'. Bite er ag'in, Brer Wolf, bite 'er
+ag'in!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit talk so stiff, hit sorter tuck de chill off'n Brer Wolf, en
+he dipt down en bit ole Big-Money ag'in. Wid dat, she 'gun ter move off,
+en Brer Wolf he holler des lak de woods done kotch a-fier:--
+
+"'Ow! O Lordy! Ontie me, Brer Rabbit, ontie me! She ain't dead! Ow! Run
+yer, Brer Rabbit, en ontie me!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he holler back:--
+
+"'She er sho'ly dead, Brer Wolf! Nail 'er, Brer Wolf! Bite 'er! gnyaw
+'er!'
+
+"Brer Wolf keep on bitin', en Big-Money keep on movin' off. Bimeby, she
+git ter de bank er de river, en she fall in--_cumberjoom!_--en dat 'uz
+de las' er Brer Wolf."
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do?" the little boy asked, after a while.
+
+"Well," responded Uncle Remus, in the tone of one anxious to dispose of
+a disagreeable matter as pleasantly as possible, "you know w'at kinder
+man Brer Rabbit is. He des went off some'rs by he own-alone se'f en tuck
+a big laugh."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[36] Let us; let's; less.
+
+[37] G hard.
+
+[38] Feeble.
+
+[39] Say so.
+
+
+
+
+XXXVII
+
+BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES
+
+
+The next night Daddy Jack was still away when the little boy went to see
+Uncle Remus, and the child asked about him.
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! don't ax me 'bout Brer Jack. He look lak he
+mighty ole en trimbly, but he mighty peart nigger, mon. He look lak he
+shufflin' 'long, but dat ole nigger gits over groun', sho'. Forty year
+ergo, maybe I mought er kep' up wid 'im, but I let you know Brer Jack is
+away 'head er me. He mos' sho'ly is."
+
+"Why, he's older than you are, Uncle Remus!" the child exclaimed.
+
+"Dat w'at I year tell. Seem lak hit mighty kuse, but sho' ez youer bawn
+Brer Jack is a heap mo' pearter nigger dan w'at ole Remus is. He little,
+yit he mighty hard. Dat's Brer Jack, up en down."
+
+Uncle Remus paused and reflected a moment. Then he went on:--
+
+"Talkin' 'bout Brer Jack put me in min' 'bout a tale w'ich she sho'ly
+mus' er happen down dar in dat ar country whar Brer Jack come fum, en it
+sorter ketch me in de neighborhoods er de 'stonishment 'kaze he ain't
+done up'n tell it. I 'speck it done wuk loose fum Brer Jack 'membunce."
+
+"What tale was that, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Seem lak dat one time w'en eve'ything en eve'ybody was runnin' 'long
+des lak dey bin had waggin grease 'pun um, ole Brer Wolf"--
+
+The little boy laughed incredulously and Uncle Remus paused and frowned
+heavily.
+
+"Why, Uncle Remus! how did Brother Wolf get away from Mammy-Bammy
+Big-Money?"
+
+The old man's frown deepened and his voice was full of anger as he
+replied:--
+
+"Now, den, is I'm de tale, er is de tale me? Tell me dat! Is I'm de
+tale, er is de tale me? Well, den, ef I ain't de tale en de tale ain't
+me, den how come you wanter take'n rake me over de coals fer?"
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus, you know what you said. You said that was the end of
+Brother Wolf."
+
+"I bleedz ter 'spute dat," exclaimed Uncle Remus, with the air of one
+performing a painful duty; "I bleedz ter 'spute it. Dat w'at de tale
+say. Ole Remus is one nigger en de tale, hit's a n'er nigger. Yit I
+ain't got no time fer ter set back yer en fetch out de oggyments."
+
+Here the old man paused, closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and
+sighed. After a while he said, in a gentle tone:--
+
+"So den, Brer Wolf done dead, en yer I wuz runnin' on des same lak he
+wuz done 'live. Well! well! well!"
+
+Uncle Remus stole a glance at the little boy, and immediately relented.
+
+"Yit," he went on, "ef I'm ain't de tale en de tale ain't me, hit ain't
+skacely make no diffunce whe'er Brer Wolf dead er whe'er he's a
+high-primin' 'roun' bodder'n 'longer de yuther creeturs. Dead er no
+dead, dey wuz one time w'en Brer Wolf live in de swamp down dar in dat
+ar country whar Brer Jack come fum, en, mo'n dat, he had a mighty likely
+gal. Look lak all de yuther creeturs wuz atter 'er. Dey 'ud go down dar
+ter Brer Wolf house, dey would, en dey 'ud set up en court de gal, en
+'joy deyse'f.
+
+"Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w'ile de skeeters 'gun ter git
+monst'us bad. Brer Fox, he went flyin' 'roun' Miss Wolf, en he sot dar,
+he did, en run on wid 'er en fight skeeters des es big ez life en
+twice-t ez natchul. Las' Brer Wolf, he tuck'n kotch Brer Fox slappin' en
+fightin' at he skeeters. Wid dat he tuck'n tuck Brer Fox by de off year
+en led 'im out ter de front gate, en w'en he git dar, he 'low, he did,
+dat no man w'at can't put up wid skeeters ain't gwine ter come
+a-courtin' his gal.
+
+"Den Brer Coon, he come flyin' 'roun' de gal, but he ain't bin dar no
+time skacely 'fo' he 'gun ter knock at de skeeters; en no sooner is he
+done dis dan Brer Wolf show 'im de do'. Brer Mink, he come en try he
+han', yit he bleedz ter fight de skeeters, en Brer Wolf ax 'im out.
+
+"Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby all de creeturs bin flyin' 'roun'
+Brer Wolf's gal 'ceppin' it's ole Brer Rabbit, en w'en he year w'at
+kinder treatments de yuther creeturs bin ketchin' he 'low ter hisse'f
+dat he b'leeve in he soul he mus' go down ter Brer Wolf house en set de
+gal out one whet ef it's de las' ack.
+
+"No sooner say, no sooner do. Off he put, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he fine
+hisse'f knockin' at Brer Wolf front do'. Ole Sis Wolf, she tuck'n put
+down 'er knittin' en she up'n low, she did:--
+
+"'Who dat?'
+
+"De gal, she 'uz stannin' up 'fo' de lookin'-glass sorter primpin', en
+she choke back a giggle, she did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Sh-h-h! My goodness, mammy! dat's Mr. Rabbit. I year de gals say he's
+a mighty prop-en-tickler[40] gentermun, en I des hope you ain't gwine ter
+set dar en run on lak you mos' allers does w'en I got comp'ny 'bout how
+much soap-grease you done save up en how many kitten de ole cat got. I
+gits right 'shame' sometimes, dat I does!'"
+
+The little boy looked astonished.
+
+"Did she talk that way to her mamma?" he asked.
+
+"_Shoo_, chile! 'Mungs' all de creeturs dey ain't no mo' kuse creeturs
+dan de gals. Ole ez I is, ef I wuz ter start in dis minnit fer ter tell
+you how kuse de gals is, en de Lord wuz ter spar' me plum twel I git
+done, yo' head 'ud be gray, en Remus 'ud be des twice-t ez ole ez w'at
+he is right now."
+
+"Well, what did her mamma say, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Ole Sis Wolf, she sot dar, she did, en settle 'er cap on 'er head, en
+snicker, en look at de gal lak she monst'us proud. De gal, she tuck'n
+shuck 'erse'f 'fo' de lookin'-glass a time er two, en den she tipt ter
+de do' en open' it little ways en peep out des lak she skeer'd some un
+gwine ter hit 'er a clip side de head. Dar stood ole Brer Rabbit lookin'
+des ez slick ez a race-hoss. De gal, she tuck'n laff, she did, en
+holler:--
+
+"'W'y law, maw! hit's Mr. Rabbit, en yer we bin 'fraid it 'uz some 'un
+w'at ain't got no business 'roun' yer!'
+
+"Ole Sis Wolf she look over 'er specks, en snicker, en den she up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Well, don't keep 'im stannin' out dar all night. Ax 'im in, fer
+goodness sake.'
+
+"Den de gal, she tuck'n drap 'er hankcher, en Brer Rabbit, he dipt down
+en grab it en pass it ter 'er wid a bow, en de gal say she much 'blige,
+'kaze dat 'uz mo' den Mr. Fox 'ud er done, en den she ax Brer Rabbit how
+he come on, en Brer Rabbit 'low he right peart, en den he ax 'er
+wharbouts 'er daddy, en ole Sis Wolf 'low she go fine 'im.
+
+"'T wa'n't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit year Brer Wolf stompin' de mud off'n he
+foots in de back po'ch, en den bimeby in he come. Dey shuck han's, dey
+did, en Brer Rabbit say dat w'en he go callin' on he 'quaintunce, hit
+ain't feel natchul 'ceppin' de man er de house settin' 'roun' some'rs.
+
+"'Ef he don't talk none,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'he kin des set up
+ag'in' de chimbly-jam en keep time by noddin'.'
+
+"But ole Brer Wolf, he one er deze yer kinder mens w'at got de
+whimzies,[41] en he up'n 'low dat he don't let hisse'f git ter noddin'
+front er comp'ny. Dey run on dis a-way twel bimeby Brer Rabbit year de
+skeeters come zoonin' 'roun', en claimin' kin wid 'im."
+
+The little boy laughed; but Uncle Remus was very serious.
+
+"Co'se dey claim kin wid 'im. Dey claims kin wid folks yit, let 'lone
+Brer Rabbit. Manys en manys de time w'en I year um sailin' 'roun' en
+singin' out '_Cousin! Cousin!'_ en I let you know, honey, de skeeters is
+mighty close kin w'en dey gits ter be yo' cousin.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he year um zoonin'," the old man continued, "en he know he
+got ter do some mighty nice talkin', so he up'n ax fer drink er water.
+De gal, she tuck'n fotch it.
+
+"'Mighty nice water, Brer Wolf.' (_De skeeters dey zoon._)[42]
+
+"'Some say it too full er wiggletails,[43] Brer Rabbit.' (_De skeeters,
+dey zoon en dey zoon._)
+
+"'Mighty nice place you got, Brer Wolf.' (_Skeeters dey zoon._)
+
+"'Some say it too low in de swamp, Brer Rabbit.' (_Skeeters dey zoon en
+dey zoon._)
+
+"Dey zoon so bad," said Uncle Remus, drawing a long breath, "dat Brer
+Rabbit 'gun ter git skeer'd, en w'en dat creetur git skeer'd, he min'
+wuk lak one er deze yer flutter-mills. Bimeby, he 'low:--
+
+"'Went ter town t'er day, en dar I seed a sight w'at I never 'speckted
+ter see.'
+
+"'W'at dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Spotted hoss, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'_No_, Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'I mos' sho'ly seed 'im, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he scratch he head, en de gal she hilt up 'er han's en make
+great 'miration 'bout de spotted hoss. (_De skeeters dey zoon, en dey
+keep on zoonin'._) Brer Rabbit, he talk on, he did:--
+
+"''T wa'n't des one spotted hoss, Brer Wolf, 't wuz a whole team er
+spotted hosses, en dey went gallin'-up[44] des lak de yuther hosses,'
+sezee. 'Let 'lone dat, Brer Wolf, my grandaddy wuz spotted,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Gal, she squeal en holler out:--
+
+"'W'y, Brer Rabbit! ain't you 'shame' yo'se'f fer ter be talkin' dat
+a-way, en 'bout yo' own-'lone blood kin too?'
+
+"'Hit's de naked trufe I'm a-ginin'[45] un you,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+(_Skeeter zoon en come closeter._)
+
+"Brer Wolf 'low 'Well--well--well!' Ole Sis Wolf, she 'low 'Tooby
+sho'ly, tooby sho'ly!' (_Skeeter zoon en come nigher en nigher._) Brer
+Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Yasser! Des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar, my grandaddy wuz spotted.
+Spotted all over. (_Skeeter come zoonin' up en light on Brer Rabbit
+jaw._) He wuz dat. He had er great big spot right yer!'"
+
+Here Uncle Remus raised his hand and struck himself a resounding slap on
+the side of the face where the mosquito was supposed to be, and
+continued:--
+
+"No sooner is he do dis dan ne'r skeeter come zoonin' 'roun' en light on
+Brer Rabbit leg. Brer Rabbit, he talk, en he talk:--
+
+"'Po' ole grandaddy! I boun' he make you laff, he look so funny wid all
+dem spots en speckles. He had spot on de side er de head, whar I done
+show you, en den he had n'er big spot right yer on de leg,' sezee."
+
+Uncle Remus slapped himself on the leg below the knee, and was
+apparently so serious about it that the little boy laughed loudly. The
+old man went on:--
+
+"Skeeter zoon en light 'twix' Brer Rabbit shoulder-blades. Den he
+talk:--
+
+"'B'leeve me er not b'leeve me ef you min' to, but my grandaddy had a
+big black spot up yer on he back w'ich look lak saddle-mark.'
+
+"_Blip Brer Rabbit tuck hisse'f on de back!_
+
+"Skeeter sail 'roun' en zoon en light down yer beyan de hip-bone. He
+say he grandaddy got spot down dar.
+
+"_Blip he tuck hisse'f beyan de hip-bone._
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, who had given vigorous
+illustrations of Brer Rabbit's method of killing mosquitoes while
+pretending to tell a story, "twel bimeby ole Brer Wolf en ole Sis Wolf
+dey lissen at Brer Rabbit twel dey 'gun ter nod, en den ole Brer Rabbit
+en de gal dey sot up dar en kill skeeters right erlong."
+
+"Did he marry Brother Wolf's daughter?" asked the little boy.
+
+"I year talk," replied Uncle Remus, "dat Brer Wolf sont Brer Rabbit wud
+nex' day dat he kin git de gal by gwine atter 'er, but I ain't never
+year talk 'bout Brer Rabbit gwine. De day atterwuds wuz mighty long
+time, en by den Brer Rabbit moughter had some yuther projick on
+han'."[46]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[40] Proper and particular.
+
+[41] In these latter days a man with the whimzies, or whimsies, is known
+simply as a crank.
+
+[42] The information in parentheses is imparted in a low, impressive,
+confidential tone.
+
+[43] Is it necessary to say that the wiggletail is the embryo mosquito?
+
+[44] Galloping.
+
+[45] G hard as in give.
+
+[46] This story, the funniest and most characteristic of all the negro
+legends, cannot be satisfactorily told on paper. It is full of action,
+and all the interest centres in the gestures and grimaces that must
+accompany an explanation of Brother Rabbit's method of disposing of the
+mosquitoes. The story was first called to my attention by Mr. Marion
+Erwin, of Savannah, and it is properly a coast legend, but I have heard
+it told by three Middle Georgia negroes.
+
+
+XXXVIII
+
+THE PIMMERLY PLUM
+
+
+One night, when the little boy had grown tired of waiting for a story,
+he looked at Uncle Remus and said:--
+
+"I wonder what ever became of old Brother Tarrypin."
+
+Uncle Remus gave a sudden start, glanced all around the cabin, and then
+broke into a laugh that ended in a yell like a view-halloo.
+
+"Well, well, well! How de name er goodness come you ter know w'at
+runnin' on in my min', honey? Mon, you skeer'd me; you sho'ly did; en
+w'en I git skeer'd I bleedz ter holler. Let 'lone dat, ef I keep on
+gittin' skeerder en skeerder, you better gimme room, 'kaze ef I can't
+git 'way fum dar somebody gwine ter git hurted, en deyer gwine ter git
+hurted bad. I tell you dat right pine-blank.[47]
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin!" continued Uncle Remus in a tone of exultation. "Ole
+Brer Tarrypin! Now, who bin year tell er de beat er dat? Dar you sets
+studyin' 'bout ole Brer Tarrypin, en yer I sets studyin' 'bout ole Brer
+Tarrypin. Hit make me feel so kuse dat little mo' en I'd 'a' draw'd my
+Rabbit-foot en shuck it at you."
+
+The little boy was delighted when Uncle Remus went off into these
+rhapsodies. However nonsensical they might seem to others, to the child
+they were positively thrilling, and he listened with rapt attention,
+scarcely daring to stir.
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin? Well, well, well!--
+
+    "'_Wen in he prime
+    He tuck he time!_'
+
+"Dat w'at make he hol' he age so good. Dey tells me dat somebody 'cross
+dar in Jasper county tuck'n kotch a Tarrypin w'ich he got marks cut in
+he back dat 'uz put dar 'fo' our folks went fer ter git revengeance in
+de Moccasin war. Dar whar yo' Unk' Jeems bin," Uncle Remus explained,
+noticing the little boy's look of astonishment.
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed the child, "that was the Mexican war."
+
+"Well," responded Uncle Remus, closing his eyes with a sigh, "I ain't
+one er deze yer kinder folks w'at choke deyse'f wid names. One name
+ain't got none de 'vantage er no yuther name. En ef de Tarrypin got de
+marks on 'im, hit don't make no diffunce whe'er yo' Unk' Jeems
+Abercrombie git his revengeance out'n de Moccasin folks, er whe'er he
+got it out'n de Mackersons."
+
+"Mexicans, Uncle Remus."
+
+"Tooby sho', honey; let it go at dat. But don't less pester ole Brer
+Tarrypin wid it, 'kaze he done b'long ter a tribe all by he own-'lone
+se'f.--I 'clar' ter gracious," exclaimed the old man after a pause, "ef
+hit don't seem periently lak 't wuz yistiddy!"
+
+"What, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Oh, des ole Brer Tarrypin, honey; des ole Brer Tarrypin en a tale w'at
+I year 'bout 'im, how he done tuck'n do Brer Fox."
+
+"Did he scare him, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, as the old man
+paused.
+
+"No, my goodness! Wuss'n dat!"
+
+"Did he hurt him?"
+
+"No, my goodness! Wuss'n dat!"
+
+"Did he kill him?"
+
+"No, my goodness! Lots wuss'n dat!"
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus, what _did_ he do to Brother Fox?"
+
+"Honey!"--here the old man lowered his voice as if about to describe a
+great outrage--"Honey! he tuck'n make a fool out'n 'im!"
+
+The child laughed, but it was plain that he failed to appreciate the
+situation, and this fact caused Uncle Remus to brighten up and go on
+with the story.
+
+"One time w'en de sun shine down mighty hot, ole Brer Tarrypin wuz gwine
+'long down de road. He 'uz gwine 'long down, en he feel mighty tired; he
+puff, en he blow, en he pant. He breff come lak he got de azmy 'way down
+in he win'-pipe; but, nummine! he de same ole Creep-um-crawl-um
+Have-some-fun-um. He 'uz gwine 'long down de big road, ole Brer Tarrypin
+wuz, en bimeby he come ter de branch. He tuck'n crawl in, he did, en got
+'im a drink er water, en den he crawl out on t'er side en set down und'
+de shade un a tree. Atter he sorter ketch he win', he look up at de sun
+fer ter see w'at time er day is it, en, lo en beholes! he tuck'n skivver
+dat he settin' in de shade er de sycamo' tree. No sooner is he skivver
+dis dan he sing de ole song:--
+
+    "'_Good luck ter dem w'at come and go,
+    W'at set in de shade er de sycamo'._'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin he feel so good en de shade so cool, dat 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he got ter noddin', en bimeby he drapt off en went soun' asleep.
+Co'se, Brer Tarrypin kyar he house wid 'im eve'ywhar he go, en w'en he
+fix fer ter go ter sleep, he des shet de do' en pull to de
+winder-shetters, en dar he is des ez snug ez de ole black cat und' de
+barn.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en sleep, en sleep. He dunner how long
+he sleep, but bimeby he feel somebody foolin' 'long wid 'im. He keep de
+do' shet, en he lay dar en lissen. He feel somebody tu'nin' he house
+'roun' en 'roun'. Dis sorter skeer Brer Tarrypin, 'kaze he know dat ef
+dey tu'n he house upside down he ull have all sorts er times gittin'
+back. Wid dat, he open de do' little ways, en he see Brer Fox projickin'
+wid 'im. He open de do' little furder, he did, en he break out in a
+great big hoss-laff, en holler:--
+
+"'Well! well, well! Who'd 'a' thunk it! Ole Brer Fox, cuter dan de
+common run, is done come en kotch me. En he come at sech a time, too! I
+feels dat full twel I can't see straight skacely. Ef dey wuz any
+jealousness proned inter me, I'd des lay yer en pout 'kaze Brer Fox done
+fine out whar I gits my Pimmerly Plum.'
+
+"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, speaking to the child's look of
+inquiry, "de Pimmerly Plum wuz monst'us skace. Leavin' out Brer Rabbit
+en Brer Tarrypin dey wa'n't none er de yuther creeturs dat yuvver got a
+glimp' un it, let 'lone a tas'e. So den w'en Brer Fox year talk er de
+Pimmerly Plum, bless gracious! he h'ist up he head en let Brer Tarrypin
+'lone. Brer Tarrypin keep on laffin' en Brer Fox 'low:--
+
+"'Hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes my mouf water! Whar'bouts de Pimmerly
+Plum?'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he sorter cle'r up de ho'seness in he th'oat, en sing:--
+
+    "'_Poun' er sugar, en a pint er rum,
+    Ain't nigh so sweet ez de Pimmerly Plum!_'
+
+"Brer Fox, he lif' up he han's, he did, en holler:--
+
+"'Oh, hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes me dribble! Whar'bouts dat Pimmerly
+Plum?'
+
+"'You stannin' right und' de tree, Brer Fox!'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, sho'ly not!'
+
+"'Yit dar you stan's, Brer Fox!'
+
+"Brer Fox look up in de tree dar, en he wuz 'stonish'."
+
+"What did he see in the sycamore tree, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little
+boy.
+
+There was a look of genuine disappointment on the old man's face, as he
+replied:--
+
+"De gracious en de goodness, honey! Ain't you nev' is see dem ar little
+bit er balls w'at grow on de sycamo' tree?"[48]
+
+The little boy laughed. There was a huge sycamore tree in the centre of
+the circle made by the carriage way in front of the "big house," and
+there were sycamore trees of various sizes all over the place. The
+little balls alluded to by Uncle Remus are very hard at certain stages
+of their growth, and cling to the tree with wonderful tenacity. Uncle
+Remus continued:--
+
+"Well, den, w'en ole Brer Tarrypin vouch dat dem ar sycamo' balls wuz de
+ginnywine Pimmerly Plum, ole Brer Fox, he feel mighty good, yit he
+dunner how he gwine git at um. Push 'im clos't, en maybe he mought beat
+Brer Tarrypin clammin' a tree, but dish yer sycamo' tree wuz too big fer
+Brer Fox fer ter git he arms 'roun'. Den he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I sees um hangin' dar, Brer Tarrypin, but how I gwine git um?'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin open he do' little ways en holler out:--
+
+"'Ah-yi! Dar whar ole Slickum Slow-come got de 'vantage! Youer mighty
+peart, Brer Fox, yit somehow er nudder you ain't bin a-keepin' up wid
+ole Slickum Slow-come.'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, how de name er goodness does you git um?'
+
+"'Don't do no good fer ter tell you, Brer Fox. Nimble heel make restless
+min'. You ain't got time fer ter wait en git um, Brer Fox.'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, I got all de week befo' me.'
+
+"'Ef I tells you, you'll go en tell all de t'er creeturs, en den dat'll
+be de las' er de Pimmerly Plum, Brer Fox.'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, dat I won't. Des try me one time en see.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin shet he eye lak he studyin', en den he 'low:--
+
+"'I tell you how I does, Brer Fox. Wen I wants a bait er de Pimmerly
+Plum right bad, I des takes my foot in my han' en comes down yer ter
+dish yer tree. I comes en I takes my stan'. I gits right und' de tree,
+en I r'ars my head back en opens my mouf. I opens my mouf, en w'en de
+Pimmerly Plum draps, I boun' you she draps right spang in dar. All you
+got ter do is ter set en wait, Brer Fox.'
+
+"Brer Fox ain't sayin' nothin'. He des sot down und' de tree, he did, en
+r'ar'd he head back, en open he mouf, en I wish ter goodness you mought
+er bin had er chance fer ter see 'im settin' dar. He look scan'lous,
+dat's de long en de short un it; he des look scan'lous."
+
+"Did he get the Pimmerly Plum, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"_Shoo!_ How he gwine git plum whar dey ain't no plum?"
+
+"Well, what did he do?"
+
+"He sot dar wid he mouf wide open, en eve'y time Brer Tarrypin look at
+'im, much ez he kin do fer ter keep from bustin' aloose en laffin'. But
+bimeby he make he way todes home, Brer Tarrypin did, chucklin' en
+laffin', en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he meet Brer Rabbit tippin' 'long down
+de road. Brer Rabbit, he hail 'im.
+
+"'W'at 'muze you so mighty well, Brer Tarrypin?'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin kotch he breff atter so long a time, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, I'm dat tickle' twel I can't shuffle 'long, skacely, en
+I'm fear'd ef I up'n tell you de 'casion un it, I'll be tooken wid one
+er my spells whar folks hatter set up wid me 'kaze I laff so loud en
+laff so long.'
+
+"Yit atter so long a time, Brer Tarrypin up'n tell Brer Rabbit, en dey
+sot dar en chaw'd terbacker en kyar'd on des lak sho' 'nuff folks. Dat
+dey did!"
+
+Uncle Remus paused; but the little boy wanted to know what became of
+Brer Fox.
+
+"Hit's mighty kuse," said the old man, stirring around in the ashes as
+if in search of a potato, "but endurin' er all my days I ain't nev' year
+nobody tell 'bout how long Brer Fox sot dar waitin' fer de Pimmerly
+Plum."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[47] Point-blank.
+
+[48] In another version of this story current among the negroes the
+sweet-gum tree takes the place of the sycamore.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Brother Rabbit gets Provisions]
+
+XXXIX
+
+BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS
+
+
+The next time the little boy called on Uncle Remus a bright fire was
+blazing on the hearth. He could see the light shining under the door
+before he went into the cabin, and he knew by that sign that the old man
+had company. In fact, Daddy Jack had returned and was dozing in his
+accustomed corner, Aunt Tempy was sitting bolt upright, nursing her
+contempt, and Uncle Remus was making a curious-looking box. None of the
+negroes paid any attention to the little boy when he entered, but
+somehow he felt that they were waiting for him. After a while Uncle
+Remus finished his curious-looking box and laid it upon the floor. Then
+he lifted his spectacles from his nose to the top of his head, and
+remarked:--
+
+"Now, den, folks, dar she is, en hit's bin so long sence I uv made one
+un um dat she make me sweat. Yasser! She did dat. Howsumev', hit ain't
+make no diffunce wid me. Promise is a promise, dough you make it in de
+dark er de moon. Long time ago, I tuck'n promise one er my passin'
+'quaintance dat some er deze lonesome days de ole nigger 'd whirl in en
+make 'im a rabbit-trap ef he'd des be so good ez to quit he devilment,
+en l'arn he behavishness."
+
+"Is that my rabbit-trap, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the child. He would
+have picked it up for the purpose of examining it, but Uncle Remus waved
+him off with a dignified gesture.
+
+"Don't you dast ter tetch dat ar trap, honey, 'kaze ef you does, dat
+spiles all. I'll des hatter go ter wuk en make it bran-new, en de Lord
+knows I ain't got no time fer ter do dat."
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus, you've had your hands on it."
+
+"Tooby sho' I is--tooby sho' I is! En w'at's mo' dan dat, I bin had my
+han's in tar-water."
+
+"I year talk er dat," remarked Aunt Tempy, with an approving nod.
+
+"Yasser! in de nat'al tar-water," continued Uncle Remus. "You put yo'
+han' in a pa'tridge nes', en he'll quit dem premises dough he done got
+'lev'm dozen aigs in dar. Same wid Rabbit. Dey ain't got sense lak de
+ole-time Rabbit, but I let you know dey ain't gwine in no trap whar dey
+smell folks' han's--dat dey ain't. Dat w'at make I say w'at I does.
+Don't put yo' han' on it; don't tetch it; don't look at it skacely."
+
+The little boy subsided, but he continued to cast longing looks at the
+trap, seeing which Uncle Remus sought to change the current of his
+thoughts.
+
+"She bin er mighty heap er trouble, mon, yet I mighty glad I tuck'n make
+dat ar trap. She's a solid un, sho', en ef dey wuz ter be any skaceness
+er vittles, I lay dat ar trap 'ud help us all out."
+
+"De Lord knows," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, rubbing her fat hands together,
+"I hope dey ain't gwine ter be no famishin' 'roun' yer 'mungs we all."
+
+"Likely not," said Uncle Remus, "yet de time mought come w'en a big
+swamp rabbit kotch in dat ar trap would go a mighty long ways in a
+fambly no bigger dan w'at mine is."
+
+"Mo' speshually," remarked Aunt Tempy, "ef you put dat wid w'at de
+neighbors mought sen' in."
+
+"Eh-eh!" Uncle Remus exclaimed, "don't you put no 'pennunce in dem
+neighbors--don't you do it. W'en famine time come one man ain't no
+better dan no yuther man 'ceppin' he be soopless; en he got ter be
+mighty soople at dat."
+
+The old man paused and glanced at the little boy. The child was still
+looking longingly at the trap, and Uncle Remus leaned forward and
+touched him lightly on the shoulder. It was a familiar gesture, gentle
+and yet rough, a token of affection, and yet a command to attention;
+for the venerable darkey could be imperious enough when surrendering to
+the whims of his little partner.
+
+"All dish yer talk 'bout folks pe'shin' out," Uncle Remus went on with
+an indifferent air, "put me in min' er de times w'en de creeturs tuck'n
+got up a famine 'mungs deyse'f. Hit come 'bout dat one time vittles wuz
+monst'us skace en high, en money mighty slack. Long ez dey wuz any
+vittles gwine 'roun', Brer Rabbit, he 'uz boun' ter git he sheer un um,
+but bimeby hit come ter dat pass dat Brer Rabbit stomach 'gun ter pinch
+'im; en w'iles he gettin' hongry de yuther creeturs, dey 'uz gettin'
+hongry deyse'f. Hit went on dis a-way twel one day Brer Rabbit en Brer
+Wolf meet up wid one er n'er in de big road, en atter dey holler howdy
+dey sat down, dey did, en make a bargain.
+
+"Dey tuck'n 'gree wid one er n'er dat dey sell der mammy en take de
+money en git sump'n' n'er ter eat. Brer Wolf, he 'low, he did, dat bein'
+'s hit seem lak he de hongriest creetur on de face er de yeth, dat he
+sell his mammy fus', en den, atter de vittles gin out, Brer Rabbit he
+kin sell he own mammy en git some mo' grub.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he chipt in en 'greed, he did, en Brer Wolf, he tuck'n
+hitch up he team, en put he mammy in de waggin, en den him en Brer
+Rabbit druv off. Man come 'long:--
+
+"'Whar you gwine?'
+
+    "'_Gwine 'long down ter town,
+    Wid a bag er co'n fer ter sell;
+    We ain't got time fer ter stop en talk,
+    Yit we wish you mighty well!_'"
+
+"Did they talk poetry that way, Uncle Remus?" the little boy inquired.
+
+"Shoo! lot's wuss dan dat, honey. Dey wuz constant a-gwine on dat a-way,
+en ef I wa'n't gittin' so mighty weak-kneed in de membunce I'd bust
+aloose yer en I'd fair wake you up wid de gwines on er dem ar creeturs.
+
+"Now, den, dey tuck'n kyar Brer Wolf mammy ter town en sell 'er, en dey
+start back wid a waggin-load er vittles. De day wuz a-wanin' den de sun
+wuz a-settin'. De win' tuck'n blow up sorter stiff, en de sun look red
+when she settin'. Dey druv on, en druv on. De win' blow, en de sun shine
+red. Bimeby, Brer Wolf scrooch up en shiver, en 'low:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, I'm a-gittin' mighty cole.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he laugh en 'low:--
+
+"'I'm gittin' sorter creepy myself, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"Dey druv on en druv on. Win' blow keen, sun shine red. Brer Wolf
+scrooch up in little knot. Bimeby he sing out:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, I'm freezin'! I'm dat cole I dunner w'at ter do!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he p'int ter de settin' sun en say:--
+
+"'You see dat great big fier 'cross dar in de woods, Brer Wolf? Well,
+dey ain't nothin' ter hender you fum gwine dar en wommin' yo'se'f en
+I'll wait yer fer you. Gimme de lines, Brer Wolf, en you go wom yo'se'f
+all over.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Wolf, he put out des ez hard ez he kin, fer ter see ef he
+can't fin' de fier; en w'iles he wuz gone, bless goodness, w'at should
+Brer Rabbit do but cut off de hosses' tails en stick um down deep in de
+mud--"
+
+"Le' 'im 'lone, now! Des le' 'im 'lone!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy in an
+ecstasy of admiration.
+
+"He stick de hosses' tails down in de mud," continued Uncle Remus, "en
+den he tuck'n druv de waggin 'way off in de swamp en hide it. Den he
+tuck'n come back, ole Brer Rabbit did, fer ter wait fer Brer Wolf.
+
+"Atter so long a time, sho' 'nuff, yer come Brer Wolf des a-gallin'-up
+back. Brer Rabbit he hail 'im.
+
+"'Is you wom yo'se'f, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, don't talk! Dat de mos' 'seetful fier w'at I had any
+speunce un. I run, en I run, en I run, en de mo' w'at I run de furder
+de fier git. De nigher you come ter dat fier de furder hit's off.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch hisse'f behime de shoulder-blade, en
+'low:--
+
+"'Nummine 'bout de fier, Brer Wolf. I got sump'n' yer dat'll wom you up.
+Ef you ain't nev' bin wom befo', I lay you'll get wom dis time.'
+
+"Dis make Brer Wolf sorter look 'roun', en w'en he see Brer Rabbit
+hol'in' on ter de two hoss-tails, he up'n squall out, he did:--
+
+"'Lawdy mussy, Brer Rabbit! Whar my vittles? Whar my waggin? Whar my
+hosses?'
+
+"'Dey er all right yer, Brer Wolf; dey er all right yer. I stayed dar
+whar you lef' me twel de hosses gun ter git restless. Den I cluck at um,
+en, bless gracious, dey start off en lan' in a quicksan'. W'en dey gun
+ter mire, I des tuck'n tu'n eve'ything a-loose en grab de hosses by de
+tail, en I bin stan'in' yer wishin' fer you, Brer Wolf, twel I done gone
+gray in de min'. I 'low ter myse'f dat I'd hang on ter deze yer
+hoss-tails ef it killt eve'y cow in de islan'. Come he'p me, Brer Wolf,
+en I lay we'll des nat'ally pull de groun' out but w'at we'll git deze
+creeturs out.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Wolf, he kotch holt er one hoss-tail, en Brer Rabbit, he
+kotch holt er de yuther, en w'en dey pull, co'se de tails come out'n de
+mud. Dey stood dar, dey did, en dey look at de tails en den dey look at
+one n'er. Bimeby Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Well, sir, Brer Wolf; we pull so hard twel we pull de tails plum out!'
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf, he dunner w'at ter do, but it 'gun ter git dark, en 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' he tell Brer Rabbit good-by, en off he put fer home.
+Dat ar Brer Rabbit," Uncle Remus went on, "he des tuck'n wait twel Brer
+Wolf git out'n yearin', en den he went into de swamp en druv de hosses
+home en git all de vittles, en he ain't hatter sell he ole mammy n'er.
+Dat he ain't."
+
+
+
+
+XL
+
+"CUTTA CORD-LA!"
+
+
+To all appearances Daddy Jack had taken no interest in Uncle Remus's
+story of the horses' tails, and yet, as soon as the little boy and Aunt
+Tempy were through laughing at a somewhat familiar climax, the old
+African began to twist and fidget in his chair, and mumble to himself in
+a lingo which might have been understood on the Guinea coast, but which
+sounded out of place in Uncle Remus's Middle Georgia cabin. Presently,
+however, his uneasiness took tangible shape. He turned around and
+exclaimed impatiently:--
+
+"Shuh-shuh! w'en you sta't fer tell-a dem tale, wey you no tell um lak
+dey stan'? 'E bery bad fer twis' dem tale 'roun' un 'roun'. Wey you no
+talk um stret?"
+
+"Well, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, smiling good-humoredly upon the
+queer little old man, "ef we done gone en got dat ar tale all twis' up,
+de way fer you ter do is ter whirl in en ontwis' it, en we-all folks 'll
+set up yer en he'p you out plum twel Mars John comes a-hollerin' en
+a-bawlin' atter dish yer baby; en atter he done gone ter bed, den me en
+Sis Tempy yer we ull set up wid you plum twel de chickens crow fer day.
+Dem's de kinder folk we all is up yer. We ain't got many swimps en crabs
+up yer in Putmon county, but w'en it come ter settin' up wid comp'ny en
+hangin' 'roun' atter dark fer ter make de time pass away, we er mighty
+rank. Now den, Brer Jack, I done call de roll wid my eye, en we er all
+yer 'ceppin' dat ar 'Tildy gal, en 't won't be long 'fo' she'll be
+a-drappin' in. Run over in yo' min', en whar my tale 'uz wrong, des
+whirl in en put 'er ter rights."
+
+"Shuh-shuh!" exclaimed the old African, "Oona no git dem tale stret. I
+yed dem wey me lif; 'e soun' lak dis: One tam dem bittle bin git bery
+skace. Da rice crop mek nuttin'; da fish swim low; da bud fly high.
+Hard times bin come dey-dey. 'E so hard, dem creeturs do git honkry fer
+true. B'er Rabbit un B'er Wolf dey come pit bote 'e head tergerrer; dey
+is mek talk how honkry dey is 'way down in da belly.
+
+"Bumbye, B'er Rabbit, 'e shed 'e y-eye, 'e say dey mus' kill dey
+gran'mammy. B'er Wolf say 'e mek 'e y-eye come wat'ry fer yeddy da talk
+lak dat. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Wolf! da water come in you' y-eye wun you is bin honkry. Me
+y-eye done bin-a come wat'ry so long tam befo' I bin talky wit' you
+'bout we gran'mammy.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e der keep on cryin'; 'e wipe 'e y-eye 'pon 'e coat-sleef.
+B'er Rabbit, 'e bin say:--
+
+"'Ef you is bin tek it so ha'd lak dis, B'er Wolf, 'e bery good fer
+kill-a you' gran'mammy fus', so you is kin come glad ag'in.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e go dry 'e y-eye un kill 'e gran'mammy, un dey is bin tek
+'im gran'mammy off un sell um fer bittle. Dun dey is bin eat dis bittle
+day un night tell 'e all done gone. Wun-a tam come fer B'er Rabbit fer
+kill 'e gran'mammy, B'er Wolf, 'e go bisitin' 'im. 'E say:--
+
+"'B'er Rabbit, I is bin-a feel honkry troo un troo. Less we kill-a you'
+gran'mammy.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit lif' up 'e head high; 'e lahff. 'E shekky one year, 'e
+shed-a one eye. 'E say:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, B'er Wolf, you t'ink I gwan kill-a me gran'mammy? Oh, no, B'er
+Wolf! Me no kin do dat.'
+
+"Dis mek B'er Wolf wuss mad den 'e is bin befo'. 'E fair teer de yet'
+wit' 'e claw; 'e yowl sem lak Injun mans. 'E say 'e gwan make B'er
+Rabbit kill 'e gran'mammy nohow.
+
+"B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan see 'im 'bout dis. 'E tek 'e gran'mammy by da
+han'; 'e lead um way off in da woods; 'e hide um in da top one big
+cocoanut tree: 'e tell um fer stay deer."
+
+The mention of a cocoanut tree caused the little boy to glance
+incredulously at Uncle Remus, who made prompt and characteristic
+reply:--
+
+"Dat's it, honey; dat's it, sho'. In dem days en in dem countries dey
+wuz plenty er cocoanut trees. Less we all set back yer en give Brer Jack
+a livin' chance."
+
+"'E hide 'e gran'mammy in top cocoanut tree," continued Daddy Jack, "un
+'e gi' um lilly bahskit wit' cord tie on um. In de day-mawnin', B'er
+Rabbit, 'e is bin go at da foot da tree. 'E make 'e v'ice fine: 'e
+holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Wun 'e granny yeddy dis, 'e let bahskit down wit' da cord, un B'er
+Rabbit 'e fill um wit' bittle un somet'ing t'eat. Ebry day dey is bin-a
+do dis t'ing; ebry day B'er Rabbit is come fer feed 'e granny.
+
+"B'er Wolf 'e watch, 'e lissun; 'e sneak up, 'e creep up, 'e do lissun.
+Bumbye, 'e do yeddy B'er Rabbit call; 'e see da bahskit swing down, 'e
+see um go back. Wun B'er Rabbit bin-a go 'way fum dey-dey, B'er Wolf, 'e
+come by da root da tree. 'E holler; 'e do say:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Shoot-a cord-la!_'
+
+"Da ole Granny Rabbit lissun; 'e bin lissun well. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki! how come dis? Me son is no talky lak dis. 'E no shoot-a da cord
+lak dat.'
+
+"W'en B'er Rabbit come back da granny is bin-a tell um 'bout somet'ing
+come-a holler shoot-a da cord-la, un B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e is kin
+lahff no mo'. B'er Wolf, 'e hidin' close; 'e yed B'er Rabbit crackin' 'e
+joke; 'e is git bery mad.
+
+"Wun B'er Rabbit is gone 'way, B'er Wolf bin-a come back. 'E stan' by da
+tree root; 'e holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Granny Rabbit hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e lissun good. 'E say:
+
+"'I bery sorry, me son, you bin hab so bad col'. You' v'ice bin-a soun'
+rough, me son.'
+
+"Dun Granny Rabbit is bin peep down; 'e bin say:--
+
+"'Hi! B'er Wolf! Go 'way fum dey-dey. You no is bin fool-a me lak dis.
+Go 'way, B'er Wolf!'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e come bery mad; 'e grin tell 'e tush bin shiün. 'E go in
+da swamp; 'e scratch 'e head; 'e t'ink. Bumbye, 'e go bisitin' one
+Blacksmit', un 'e ahx 'im how kin 'e do fer make 'e v'ce come fine lak
+B'er Rabbit v'ice. Da Blacksmit', 'e say:--
+
+"'Come, B'er Wolf; I run dis red-hot poker in you' t'roat, 'e mekky you
+talk easy.'
+
+"B'er Wolf say, 'Well, I lak you for mekky me v'ice fine.'
+
+"Dun da Blacksmit' run da red-hot poker in B'er Wolf t'roat, un 'e hu't
+um so bad, 'tiss-a bin long tam befo' B'er Wolf kin tekky da long walk
+by da cocoanut tree. Bumbye 'e git so 'e kin come by, un wun 'e git
+dey-dey, 'e holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Da v'ice soun' so nice un fine da' Granny Rabbit is bin t'ink 'e B'er
+Rabbit v'ice, un 'e is bin-a let da bahskit down. B'er Wolf, 'e shekky
+da cord lak 'e is put some bittle in da bahskit, un dun 'e is bin-a git
+in 'ese'f. B'er Wolf, 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit pull on da cord;
+'e do say:--
+
+"'Ki! 'e come he'ffy; 'e he'ffy fer true. Me son, 'e love 'e Granny
+heap.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e do grin; 'e grin, un 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit
+pull; 'e do pull ha'd. 'E pull tel 'e is git B'er Wolf mos' by da top,
+un dun 'e stop fer res'. B'er Wolf look-a down, 'e head swim; 'e look
+up, 'e mout' water; 'e look-a down 'g'in, 'e see B'er Rabbit. 'E git
+skeer, 'e juk on da rope. B'er Rabbit, 'e do holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Cutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Da Granny Rabbit cut da cord, un B'er Wolf is fall down un broke 'e
+neck."
+
+
+
+
+XLI
+
+AUNT TEMPY'S STORY
+
+
+The little boy observed that Aunt Tempy was very much interested in
+Daddy Jack's story. She made no remarks while the old African was
+telling it, but she was busily engaged in measuring imaginary quilt
+patterns on her apron with her thumb and forefinger,--a sure sign that
+her interest had been aroused. When Daddy Jack had concluded--when, with
+a swift, sweeping gesture of his wrinkled hand, he cut the cord and
+allowed Brother Wolf to perish ignominiously--Aunt Tempy drew a long
+breath, and said:--
+
+"Dat ar tale come 'cross me des like a dream. Hit put me in mine er one
+w'at I year w'en I wuz little bit er gal. Look like I kin see myse'f
+right now, settin' flat down on de h'ath lis'nin' at ole Unk Monk. You
+know'd ole Unk Monk, Brer Remus. You bleeze ter know'd 'im. Up dar in
+Ferginny. I 'clar' ter goodness, it make me feel right foolish. Brer
+Remus, I des know you know'd Unk Monk."
+
+For the first time in many a day the little boy saw Uncle Remus in a
+serious mood. He leaned forward in his chair, shook his head sadly, as
+he gazed into the fire.
+
+"Ah, Lord, Sis Tempy!" he exclaimed sorrowfully, "don't less we all go
+foolin' 'roun' 'mungs' dem ole times. De bes' kinder bread gits sour.
+W'at's yistiddy wid us wuz 'fo' de worl' begun wid dish yer chile. Dat's
+de way I looks at it."
+
+"Dat's de Lord's trufe, Brer Remus," exclaimed Aunt Tempy with unction,
+"un I mighty glad you call me ter myse'f. Little mo' un I'd er sot right
+yer un 'a' gone 'way back to Ferginny, un all on 'count er dat ar tale
+w'at I year long time ago."
+
+"What tale was that, Aunt Tempy?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Eh-eh, honey!" replied Aunt Tempy, with a display of genuine
+bashfulness; "eh-eh, honey! I 'fraid you all 'll set up dar un laugh me
+outer de house. I ain't dast ter tell no tale 'long side er Brer Remus
+un Daddy Jack yer. I 'fraid I git it all mix up."
+
+The child manifested such genuine disappointment that Aunt Tempy
+relented a little.
+
+"Ef you all laugh, now," she said, with a threatening air, "I'm des
+gwine ter pick up en git right out er dish yer place. Dey ain't ter be
+no laughin', 'kaze de tale w'at I year in Ferginny ain't no laughin'
+tale."
+
+With this understanding Aunt Tempy adjusted her head-handkerchief,
+looked around rather sheepishly, as Uncle Remus declared afterwards in
+confidence to the little boy, and began:--
+
+"Well, den, in de times w'en Brer Rabbit un Brer Fox live in de same
+settlement wid one er 'n'er, de season's tuck'n come wrong. De wedder
+got hot un den a long dry drouth sot in, un it seem like dat de nat'al
+leaf on de trees wuz gwine ter tu'n ter powder."
+
+Aunt Tempy emphasized her statements by little backward and forward
+movements of her head, and the little boy would have laughed, but a
+warning glance from Uncle Remus prevented him.
+
+"De leaf on de trees look like dey gwine ter tu'n ter powder, un de
+groun' look like it done bin cookt. All de truck w'at de creeturs plant
+wuz all parched up, un dey wa'n't no crops made nowhars. Dey dunner w'at
+ter do. Dey run dis a-way, dey run dat a-way; yit w'en dey quit runnin'
+dey dunner whar dey bread comin' frun. Dis de way it look ter Brer Fox,
+un so one day w'en he got a mighty hankerin' atter sumpin' sorter joosy,
+he meet Brer Rabbit in de lane, un he ax um, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, whar'bouts our bread comin' frun?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he bow, he did, un answer, sezee:--
+
+"'Look like it mought be comin' frun nowhar,' sezee."
+
+"You see dat, honey!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, condescending to give the
+story the benefit of his patronage; "You see dat! Brer Rabbit wuz allus
+a-waitin' a chance fer ter crack he jokes."
+
+"Yas, Lord!" Aunt Tempy continued, with considerable more animation; "he
+joke, un joke, but bimeby, he ain't feel like no mo' jokin', un den he
+up'n say, sezee, dat him un Brer Fox better start out'n take der
+fammerlies wid um ter town un swap um off for some fresh-groun' meal; un
+Brer Fox say, sezee, dat dat look mighty fa'r un squar', un den dey
+tuck'n make dey 'greements.
+
+"Brer Fox wuz ter s'ply de waggin un team, un he promise dat he gwine
+ter ketch he fammerly un tie um hard un fast wid a red twine string.
+Brer Rabbit he say, sezee, dat he gwine ter ketch he fammerly un tie um
+all, un meet Brer Fox at de fork er de road.
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, soon in de mawnin', w'en Brer Fox draw up wid he waggin, he
+holler 'Wo!' un Brer Rabbit he tuck'n holler back, 'Wo yo'se'f!' un den
+Brer Fox know dey 'uz all dar. Brer Fox, he tuck'n sot up on de seat, un
+all er he fammerly, dey wuz a-layin' under de seat. Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n put all he fammerly in de behime een' er de waggin, un he say,
+sezee, dat he 'speck he better set back dar twel dey git sorter usen ter
+dey surrounderlings, un den Brer Fox crack he whip, un off dey wen' toze
+town. Brer Fox, he holler ev'y once in a w'ile, sezee:--
+
+"'No noddin' back dar, Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he holler back, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Fox, you miss de ruts en de rocks, un I'll miss de noddin'.'
+
+"But all dat time, bless yo' soul! Brer Rabbit wuz settin' dar ontyin'
+he ole 'oman un he childun, w'ich dey wuz sev'm uv um. W'en he git um
+all ontie, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n h'ist hisse'f on de seat 'long er Brer
+Fox, un dey sot dar un talk un laugh 'bout de all-sorts er times dey
+gwine ter have w'en dey git de co'n meal. Brer Fox sez, sezee, he gwine
+ter bake hoecake; Brer Rabbit sez, sezee, he gwine ter make ashcake.
+
+"Des 'bout dis time one er Brer Rabbit's childun raise hisse'f up easy
+un hop out de waggin. Miss Fox, she sing out:--
+
+    "'_One frun sev'm
+    Don't leave 'lev'm._'
+
+"Brer Fox hunch he ole 'oman wid he foot fer ter make 'er keep still.
+Bimeby 'n'er little Rabbit pop up un hop out. Miss Fox say, se' she:--
+
+    "'_One frun six
+    Leaves me less kicks._'
+
+"Brer Fox go on talkin' ter Brer Rabbit, un Brer Rabbit go on talkin'
+ter Brer Fox, un 't wa'n't so mighty long 'fo' all Brer Rabbit fammerly
+done pop up un dive out de waggin, un ev'y time one 'ud go Miss Fox she
+'ud fit it like she did de yuthers."
+
+"What did she say, Aunt Tempy?" asked the little boy, who was interested
+in the rhymes.
+
+"Des lemme see--
+
+    "'_One frun five
+    Leaves four alive_;
+
+    "'_One frun four
+    Leaves th'ee un no mo'_;
+
+    "'_One frun th'ee
+    Leaves two ter go free_;
+
+    "'_One frun one,
+    Un all done gone_.'"
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do then?" inquired the little boy.
+
+"Better ax w'at Brer Fox do," replied Aunt Tempy, pleased with the
+effect of her rhymes. "Brer Fox look 'roun' atter w'ile, un w'en he see
+dat all Brer Rabbit fammerly done gone, he lean back un holler 'Wo!' un
+den he say, sezee:--
+
+"'In de name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! whar all yo' folks?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit look 'roun', un den he make like he cryin'. He des fa'rly
+boo-hoo'd, un he say, sezee:--
+
+"'Dar now, Brer Fox! I des know'd dat ef I put my po' little childuns
+in dar wid yo' folks dey'd git e't up. I des know'd it!'
+
+"Ole Miss Fox, she des vow she ain't totch Brer Rabbit fammerly. But
+Brer Fox, he bin wantin' a piece un um all de way, un he begrudge um so
+dat he git mighty mad wid he ole 'oman un de childuns, un he say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'You kin des make de most er dat, 'kaze I'm a-gwine ter bid you good
+riddance dis ve'y day'; un, sho' nuff, Brer Fox tuck'n tuck he whole
+fammerly ter town un trade um off fer co'n.
+
+"Brer Rabbit wuz wid 'em, des ez big ez life un twice ez natchul. Dey
+start back, dey did, un w'en dey git four er five mile out er town, hit
+come 'cross Brer Fox min' dat he done come away un lef' a plug er
+terbacker in de sto', en he say he bleeze ter go back atter it.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat he'll stay en take keer er de waggin,
+w'ile Brer Fox kin run back un git he terbacker. Soon ez Brer Fox git
+out er sight, Brer Rabbit laid de hosses under line un lash un drove de
+waggin home, un put de hosses in he own stable, un de co'n in de
+smoke-house, un de waggin in de barn, un den he put some co'n in he
+pocket, un cut de hosses tails off, un went back up de road twel he come
+ter a quog-mire, un in dat he stick de tails un wait fer Brer Fox.
+
+"Atter w'ile yer he come, un den Brer Rabbit gun ter holler un pull at
+de tails. He say, sezee:--
+
+"'Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer! Youer des in time ef you ain't too late.
+Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer!'
+
+"Brer Fox, he run'd en juk Brer Rabbit away, un say, sezee:--
+
+"'Git out de way, Brer Rabbit! You too little! Git out de way, un let a
+man ketch holt.'
+
+"Brer Fox tuck holt," continued Aunt Tempy, endeavoring to keep from
+laughing, "un he fetch'd one big pull, un I let you know dat 'uz de
+onliest pull he make, 'kaze de tails come out un he tu'n a back
+summerset. He jump up, he did, en 'gun ter grabble in de quog-mire des
+ez hard ez he kin.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he stan' by, un drop some co'n in onbeknowns' ter Brer
+Fox, un dis make 'im grabble wuss un wuss, un he grabble so hard un he
+grabble so long dat 't wa'n't long 'fo' he fall down dead, un so dat 'uz
+de las' er ole Brer Fox in dat day un time."
+
+As Aunt Tempy paused, Uncle Remus adjusted his spectacles and looked at
+her admiringly. Then he laughed heartily.
+
+"I declar', Sis Tempy," he said, after a while, "you gives tongue same
+ez a lawyer. You'll hatter jine in wid us some mo'."
+
+Aunt Tempy closed her eyes and dropped her head on one side.
+
+"Don't git me started, Brer Remus," she said, after a pause; "'kaze ef
+you does you'll hatter set up yer long pas' yo' bedtime."
+
+"I b'leeve you, Sis Tempy, dat I does!" exclaimed the old man, with the
+air of one who has made a pleasing discovery.
+
+
+
+
+XLII
+
+THE FIRE-TEST
+
+
+"We er sorter bin a-waitin' fer Sis Tempy," Uncle Remus remarked when
+the little boy made his appearance the next night; "but somehow er n'er
+look lak she fear'd she hatter up en tell some mo' tales. En yit maybe
+she bin strucken down wid some kinder ailment. Dey ain't no countin' on
+deze yer fat folks. Dey er up one minnit en down de nex'; en w'at make
+it dat a-way I be bless ef I know, 'kaze w'en folks is big en fat look
+lak dey oughter be weller dan deze yer long hongry kinder folks.
+
+"Yit all de same, Brer Jack done come," continued Uncle Remus, "en we
+ull des slam de do' shet, en ef Sis Tempy come she'll des hatter hol'
+'er han's 'fo' 'er face en holler out:--
+
+    "'_Lucky de Linktum, chucky de chin,
+    Open de do' en let me in!_'
+
+"Oh, you kin laugh ef you wanter, but I boun' you ef Sis Tempy wuz ter
+come dar en say de wuds w'at I say, de button on dat ar do' 'ud des
+nat'ally twis' hitse'f off but w'at 't would let 'er in. Now, I boun'
+you dat!"
+
+Whatever doubts the child may have had he kept to himself, for
+experience had taught him that it was useless to irritate the old man by
+disputing with him. What effect the child's silence may have had in this
+instance it is impossible to say, for just then Aunt Tempy came in
+laughing.
+
+"You all kin des say w'at you please," she exclaimed, as she took her
+seat, "but dat ar _Shucky Cordy_ in de tale w'at Daddy Jack done tole,
+bin runnin' 'roun' in my min' en zoonin 'in my years all de time."
+
+"Yer too!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis. "Dat's me up en down.
+Look lak dat ar cricket over dar in de cornder done tuck it up, en now
+he gwine, '_Shucky-cordy! Shucky-cordy!_'"
+
+"Shuh-shuh!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, with vehement contempt, "'e _jutta
+cord-la!_ 'E no 'shucky-cordy' no'n 't all."
+
+"Well, well, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, soothingly, "in deze low
+groun's er sorrer, you des got ter lean back en make 'lowances fer all
+sorts er folks. You got ter 'low fer dem dat knows too much same ez dem
+w'at knows too little. A heap er sayin's en a heap er doin's in dis
+roun' worl' got ter be tuck on trus'. You got yo' sayin's, I got mine;
+you got yo' knowin's, en I got mine. Man come 'long en ax me how does de
+wum git in de scaly-bark.[49] I tell 'im right up en down, I dunno, sir.
+N'er man come 'long en ax me who raise de row 'twix' de buzzud en de
+bee-martin.[50] I tell 'im I dunno, sir. Yit, 'kaze I dunno," continued
+Uncle Remus, "dat don't hender um. Dar dey is, spite er dat,--wum in de
+scaly-bark, bee-martin atter de buzzud."
+
+"Dat's so," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, "dat's de Lord's trufe!"
+
+"Dat ar pullin' at de string," Uncle Remus went on, "en dat ar hollerin'
+'bout shucky-cordy"--
+
+"_Jutta cord-la!_" said Daddy Jack, fiercely.
+
+"'Bout de watsizname," said Uncle Remus, with a lenient and forgiving
+smile,--"all dish yer hollerin' en gwine on 'bout de watsizname put me
+in min' er one time w'en Brer Rabbit wuz gwine off fum home fer ter git
+a mess er green truck.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit git ready fer ter go, he call all he chilluns up, en
+he tell um dat w'en he go out dey mus' fas'n de do' on de inside, en dey
+mus'n' tu'n nobody in, nohow, 'kaze Brer Fox en Brer Wolf bin layin'
+'roun' waitin' chance fer ter nab um. En he tuck'n tole um dat w'en he
+come back, he'd rap at de do' en sing:
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"De little Rabs, dey hilt up der ban's en promise dat dey won't open de
+do' fer nobody 'ceppin' dey daddy, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n put
+out, he did, at a han'-gallop, huntin' sump'n' n'er ter eat. But all dis
+time, Brer Wolf bin hidin' out behime de house, en he year eve'y wud dat
+pass, en ole Brer Rabbit wa'n't mo'n out'n sight 'fo' Brer Wolf went ter
+de do', en he knock, he did,--_blip, blip, blip!_
+
+"Little Rab holler out, 'Who dat?'
+
+"Brer Wolf he sing:--
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"De little Rabs dey laugh fit ter kill deyse'f, en dey up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf, go 'way! You ain't none er we-all daddy!'
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, but eve'y time he thunk er dem
+plump little Rabs, he des git mo' hongry dan befo', en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he 'uz back at de do'--_blap, blap, blap!_
+
+"Little Rab holler: 'Who dat?'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he up'n sing:--
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"De little Rabs dey laugh en roll on de flo', en dey up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! We-all daddy ain't got no bad col' lak dat.'
+
+"Brer Wolf slunk off, but bimeby he come back, en dis time he try mighty
+hard fer ter talk fine. He knock at de do'--_blam, blam, blam!_
+
+"Little Rab holler: 'Who dat?'
+
+"Brer Wolf tu'n loose en sing:--
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"Little Rab holler back, he did:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! go 'way! We-all daddy kin sing lots puttier dan
+dat. Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! go 'way!'
+
+"Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, en he go 'way out in de woods, en he
+sing, en sing, twel he kin sing fine ez de nex' man. Den he go back en
+knock at de do', en w'en de little Rabs ax who dat, he sing dem de song;
+en he sing so nice, en he sing so fine, dat dey ondo de do', en ole Brer
+Wolf walk in en gobble um all up, fum de fus' ter de las'.
+
+"W'en ole Brer Rabbit git back home, he fine de do' stannin' wide open
+en all de chilluns gone. Dey wa'n't no sign er no tussle; de h'a'th 'uz
+all swep' clean, en eve'ything wuz all ter rights, but right over in de
+cornder he see a pile er bones, en den he know in reason dat some er de
+yuther creeturs done bin dar en make hash outen he chilluns.
+
+    [Illustration: "DE LITTLE RABS, DEY PROMISE DAT DEY WON'T OPEN
+    DE DO' FER NOBODY"]
+
+"Den he go 'roun' en ax um 'bout it, but dey all 'ny it; dey all 'ny it
+ter de las', en Brer Wolf, he 'ny it wuss'n all un um. Den Brer Rabbit
+tuck'n lay de case 'fo' Brer Tarrypin. Ole Brer Tarrypin wuz a mighty
+man in dem days," continued Uncle Remus, with something like a
+sigh,--"a mighty man, en no sooner is he year de state er de condition
+dan he up'n call all de creeturs tergedder. He call um tergedder, he
+did, en den he up'n tell um 'bout how somebody done tuck'n 'stroy all er
+Brer Rabbit chillun, en he 'low dat de man w'at do dat bleedz ter be
+kotch, 'kaze ef he ain't, dey ain't no tellin' how long it'll be 'fo' de
+same somebody'll come 'long en 'stroy all de chillun in de settlement.
+
+"Brer B'ar, he up'n ax how dey gwine fine 'im, en Brer Tarrypin say dey
+er allers a way. Den he 'low:--
+
+"'Less dig a deep pit.'
+
+"'I'll dig de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"Atter de pit done dug, Brer Tarrypin say:--
+
+"'Less fill de pit full er lighter'd knots en bresh.'
+
+"'I'll fill de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"Atter de pit done fill up, Brer Tarrypin say:--
+
+"'Now, den, less set it a-fier.'
+
+"'I'll kindle de fier,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"W'en de fier 'gun ter blaze up, Brer Tarrypin 'low dat de creeturs mus'
+jump 'cross dat, en de man w'at 'stroy Brer Rabbit chilluns will drap in
+en git bu'nt up. Brer Wolf bin so uppity 'bout diggin', en fillin', en
+kindlin', dat dey all 'spected 'im fer ter make de fus' trial; but,
+bless yo' soul en body! Brer Wolf look lak he got some yuther business
+fer ter 'ten' ter.
+
+"De pit look so deep, en de fier bu'n so high, dat dey mos' all 'fear'd
+fer ter make de trial, but atter w'ile, Brer Mink 'low dat he ain't
+hunted none er Brer Rabbit chilluns, en wid dat, he tuck runnin' start,
+en lipt across. Den Brer Coon say he ain't hunted um, en over he sailed.
+Brer B'ar say he feel mo' heavy dan he ever is befo' in all he born
+days, but he ain't hurted none er Brer Rabbit po' little chilluns, en
+wid dat away he went 'cross de fier. Dey all jump, twel bimeby hit come
+Brer Wolf time. Den he 'gun ter git skeered, en he mighty sorry 'kaze he
+dig dat pit so deep en wide, en kindle dat fier so high. He tuck sech a
+long runnin' start, dat time he git ter de jumpin' place, he 'uz done
+wo' teetotally out, en he lipt up, he did, en fetch'd a squall en drapt
+right spang in de middle er de fier."
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a while, "did Brother Terrapin
+jump over the fire?"
+
+"Wat Brer Tarrypin gwine jump fer?" responded Uncle Remus, "w'en
+eve'ybody know Tarrypins ain't eat Rabbits."
+
+"Well, you know you said everything was different then," said the child.
+
+"Look yer, Brer Jack," exclaimed Uncle Remus, "ef you got any tale on
+yo' mine, des let 'er come. Dish yer youngster gittin' too long-headed
+fer me; dat he is."[51]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[49] A species of hickory-nut. The tree sheds its bark every year, hence
+the name, which is applied to both tree and fruit.
+
+[50] The king-bird.
+
+[51] See _Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings_, p. 79.
+
+
+
+
+XLIII
+
+THE CUNNING SNAKE
+
+
+Daddy Jack, thus appealed to, turned half round in his seat, winked his
+bright little eyes very rapidly, and said, with great animation:--
+
+"Hoo! me bin yeddy one sing-tale; me yeddy um so long tam 'go. One tam
+dere bin one ole Affiky ooman, 'e call 'im name Coomba. 'E go walky troo
+da woots, 'e walky troo da fiel. Bumbye 'e is bin come 'pon one
+snake-nes' fill wit' aig. Snake big snake, aig big aig. Affiky oomans is
+bin want-a dem aig so bahd; 'e 'fraid fer tek um. 'E gone home; 'e is
+see dem aig in 'e dream, 'e want um so bahd. Wun da nex' day mornin'
+come, da Affiky oomans say 'e bleeze fer hab dem aig. 'E go 'way, 'e
+bin-a see da snake-nes', 'e is git-a da aig; 'e fetch um at 'e own
+house; 'e cook um fer 'e brekwuss.
+
+"Bumbye da snake bin-a come by 'e nes'. Aig done gone. 'E pit 'e nose
+'pon da groun', 'e is track da Affiky oomans by 'e own house. Snake
+come by da Affiky oomans house; 'e ahx 'bout 'e aig. Affiky oomans say
+'e no hab bin see no aig. Snake see da skin wut bin 'pon 'e aig; 'e ahx
+wut is dis. Affiky oomans no say nuttin' 't all. Snake 'e say:--
+
+"'Wey fer you come brek up me nes' un tekky me aig?'
+
+"Affiky oomans 'e no say nuttin' 't all. 'E toss 'e head, 'e mek lak 'e
+no yeddy da snake v'ice, 'e go 'bout 'e wuk. Snake, 'e say:--
+
+"'Ooman! you is bin yed me v'ice wun me cry out. You bin tekky me aig;
+you is bin 'stroy me chillun. Tek keer you' own; tek keer you' own.'
+
+"Snake gone 'way; 'e slick out 'e tongue, 'e slide 'way. Bumbye de
+Affiky oomans, 'e hab one putty lil pickaninny; 'e lub um ha'd all over.
+'E is mine wut da snake say; 'e tote da pickaninny 'roun' 'pon 'e bahck.
+'E call um Noncy, 'e tote um fur, 'e lub um ha'd.
+
+"Snake, 'e bin-a stay in da bush-side; 'e watch all day, 'e wait all
+night; 'e git honkry fer da pickaninny, 'e want um so bahd. 'E bin slick
+out 'e tongue, 'e bin slide troo da grass, 'e bin hanker fer da
+pickaninny.
+
+"Bumbye da Affiky oomans tote-a da Noncy til 'e git tire; 'e puff, 'e
+blow, 'e wuk 'e gill sem lak cat-fish."
+
+Aunt Tempy burst into loud laughter at this remarkable statement.
+
+"Whoever is year de beat er dat!" she exclaimed. "Daddy Jack, you goes
+on owdashus 'bout de wimmen, dat you does!"
+
+"'E puff, 'e blow, 'e pant; 'e say:--
+
+"'Da pickaninny, 'e der git-a big lak one bag rice. 'E der git-a so
+heffy, me yent mos' know wut fer do. Me yent kin tote um no mo'.'
+
+"Da Affiky oomans is bin-a pit da pickaninny down 'pon da groun'. 'E mek
+up one sing[52] in 'e head, un 'e l'arn da lilly gal fer answer da sing.
+'E do show um how fer pull out da peg in da do'. Snake, 'e is bin lay
+quile up in da bush; 'e say nuttin' 't all.
+
+"Affiky oomans is l'arn-a da pickaninny fer answer da sing, un wun he
+sta't fer go off, 'e say:--
+
+"Pit da peg in da do' un you no y-open um fer nobody 'cep' you is yeddy
+me sing.'
+
+"Lil gal, 'e say yassum, un da Affiky oomans gone off. Snake stay still.
+'E quile up in 'e quile; 'e yent moof[53] 'e tail. Bumbye, toze
+night-time, da Affiky oomans come bahck wey 'e lif. 'E stan' by da do';
+'e talk dis sing:--
+
+    "'_Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy!_'
+
+"'E v'ice 'come finer toze da las' tel 'e do git loud fer true. Da lilly
+gal, 'e do mek answer lak dis:--
+
+    "'_Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!_'
+
+"'E know 'e mammy v'ice, en 'e bin pull out da peg queek. 'E run to 'e
+mammy; 'e mammy der hung um up. Nex' day, 'e da sem t'ing; two, t'ree,
+sev'm day, 'e da sem t'ing. Affiky oomans holler da sing; da lilly gal
+mek answer 'pon turrer side da do'. Snake, 'e lay quile up in da bush.
+'E watch da night, 'e lissun da day; 'e try fer l'arn-a da sing; 'e no
+say nuttin' 't all. Bumbye, one tam wun Affiky oomans bin gone 'way,
+snake, 'e wait 'til 'e mos' tam fer oomans fer come bahck. 'E gone by da
+do'; 'e y-open 'e mout'; 'e say:--
+
+    "'_Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy,
+    Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy,
+    Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy!_'
+
+"'E try fer mekky 'e v'ice come fine lak da lil gal mammy; 'e der hab
+one rough place in 'e t'roat, un 'e v'ice come big. Lilly gal no mek
+answer. 'E no y-open da do'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Go 'way fum dey-dey! Me mammy no holler da sing lak dat!'
+
+"Snake, 'e try one, two, t'ree time; 'e yent no use. Lilly gal no
+y-open da do', 'e no mek answer. Snake 'e slick out 'e tongue un slide
+'way; 'e say 'e mus' l'arn-a da sing sho' 'nuff.
+
+"Bumbye, da Affiky oomans come bahck. 'E holler da sing:--
+
+    "'_Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy!_'
+
+"Lilly gal say: 'Da' me mammy!' 'E answer da sing:--
+
+    "'_Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!_'
+
+"Snake, 'e quile up in da chimmerly-corner; 'e hol' 'e bre't' fer
+lissun; 'e der l'arn-a da sing. Nex' day mornin' da Affiky oomans bin-a
+gone 'way un lef' da lilly gal all by 'ese'f. All de day long da snake
+'e t'ink about da song; 'e say um in 'e min', 'e say um forwud, 'e say
+um backwud. Bumbye, mos' toze sundown, 'e come at da do'; 'e come, 'e
+holler da sing:--
+
+    "'_Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy!_'
+
+"Da lil gal, 'e t'ink-a da snake bin 'e mammy; 'e is answer da sing:--
+
+    "'Adolee! Andoli! Andolo!'
+
+"'E mek answer lak dat, un 'e y-open da do' queek. 'E run 'pon da snake
+'fo' 'e is _shum_.[54] Snake, 'e bin-a hug da lilly gal mo' sem dun 'e
+mammy; 'e is twis' 'e tail 'roun' um; 'e is ketch um in 'e quile. Lilly
+gal 'e holler, 'e squall; 'e squall, 'e holler. Nobody bin-a come by fer
+yeddy um. Snake 'e 'quees'[55] um tight, 'e no l'em go; 'e 'quees' um
+tight, 'e swaller um whole; 'e bre'k-a no bone; 'e tekky da lilly gal
+lak 'e stan'.
+
+"Bumbye da lil mammy come home at 'e house. 'E holler da sing, 'e git-a
+no answer. 'E come skeer'; 'e v'ice shek, 'e body trimple. 'E lissun, 'e
+no yeddy no fuss. 'E push de do' y-open, 'e no see nuttin' 't all; da
+lilly gal gone! Da ooman 'e holler, 'e cry; 'e ahx way 'e lilly gal bin
+gone; 'e no git no answer. 'E look all 'roun', 'e see way da snake bin-a
+'cross da road. 'E holler:--
+
+"'Ow, me Lard! da snake bin come swaller me lil Noncy gal. I gwan hunt
+'im up; I gwan foller da snake pas' da een' da yet'.'[56]
+
+"'E go in da swamp, 'e cut 'im one cane; 'e come bahck, 'e fine da snake
+track, un 'e do foller 'long wey 'e lead. Snake 'e so full wit de lilly
+gal 'e no walk fas'; lil gal mammy, 'e bin mad, 'e go stret 'long. Snake
+'e so full wit' da lilly gal, 'e come sleepy. 'E lay down, 'e shed-a 'e
+y-eye. 'E y-open um no mo'," continued Daddy Jack, moving his head
+slowly from side to side, and looking as solemn as he could. "Da ooman
+come 'pon de snake wun 'e bin lay dar 'sleep; 'e come 'pon 'im, un 'e
+tekky da cane un bre'k 'e head, 'e mash um flat. 'E cut da snake open,
+'e fine da lilly gal sem lak 'e bin 'sleep. 'E tek um home, 'e wash um
+off. Bumbye da lilly gal y-open 'e y-eye, un soon 'e see 'e mammy, 'e
+answer da sing. 'E say:--
+
+    "'_Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!_'"
+
+"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, sympathetically. "Un de po'
+little creetur wuz 'live?"
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack. No reply could possibly have been more
+prompt, more emphatic, or more convincing.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[52] "'E mek up one sing." She composed a song and taught the child the
+refrain.
+
+[53] Move; he ain't move he tail; he hasn't even moved his tail.
+
+[54] Before he see um.
+
+[55] Squeeze.
+
+[56] Earth. Uncle Remus would say "Yeth."
+
+
+
+
+XLIV
+
+HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, one night when he found the old man
+alone, "I don't like these stories where somebody has to stand at the
+door and sing, do you? They don't sound funny to me."
+
+Uncle Remus crossed his legs, took off his spectacles and laid them
+carefully on the floor under his chair, and made a great pretence of
+arguing the matter with the child.
+
+"Now, den, honey, w'ich tale is it w'at you ain't lak de mos'?"
+
+The little boy reflected a moment and then replied:--
+
+"About the snake swallowing the little girl. I don't see any fun in
+that. Papa says they have snakes in Africa as big around as his body;
+and, goodness knows, I hope they won't get after me."
+
+"How dey gwine git atter you, honey, w'en you settin' up yer 'long side
+er me en de snakes 'way 'cross dar in Affiky?"
+
+"Well, Daddy Jack, he came, and the snakes might come too."
+
+Uncle Remus laughed, more to reassure the child than to ridicule his
+argument.
+
+"Dem ar snakes ain't no water-moccasin, not ez I knows un. Brer Jack bin
+yer mighty long time, en dey ain't no snake foller atter 'im yit."
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus! papa says they have them in shows."
+
+"I 'speck dey is, honey, but who's afear'd er snake stufft wid
+meal-bran? Not none er ole Miss gran'chillun, sho'!"
+
+"Well, the stories don't sound funny to me."
+
+"Dat mought be, yit deyer funny ter Brer Jack, en dey do mighty well fer
+ter pass de time. Atter w'ile you'll be a-gwine 'roun' runnin' down
+ole-Brer Rabbit en de t'er creeturs, en somehow er n'er you'll take'n
+git ole Remus mix up wid um twel you won't know w'ich one un um you er
+runnin' down, en let 'lone dat, you won't keer needer. Shoo, honey! you
+ain't de fus' chap w'at I done tole deze yer tales ter."
+
+"Why, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in a horrified tone, "I
+_would n't_; you _know_ I would n't!"
+
+"Don't tell me!" insisted the old man, "you er outgrowin' me, en you er
+outgrowin' de tales. Des lak Miss Sally change de lenk er yo' britches,
+des dat a-way I got ter do w'ence I whirl in en persoo atter de
+creeturs. Time wuz w'en you 'ud set down yer by dish yer h'a'th, en
+you'd take'n holler en laugh en clap yo' han's w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'ud
+kick outen all er he tanglements; but deze times you sets dar wid yo'
+eyes wide open, en you don't crack a smile. I say it!" Uncle Remus
+exclaimed, changing his tone and attitude, as if addressing some third
+person concealed in the room. "I say it! Stidder j'inin' in wid de fun,
+he'll take'n lean back dar en 'spute 'long wid you des lak grow'd up
+folks. I'll stick it out dis season, but w'en Chrismus come, I be bless
+ef I ain't gwine ter ax Miss Sally fer my remoovance papers, en I'm
+gwine ter hang my bundle on my walkin'-cane, en see w'at kinder dirt dey
+is at de fur een' er de big road."
+
+"Yes!" exclaimed the little boy, triumphantly, "and, if you do, the
+patter-rollers will get you."
+
+"Well," replied the old man, with a curious air of resignation, "ef dey
+does, I ain't gwine ter do lak Brer Fox did w'en Brer Rabbit showed him
+de tracks in de big road."
+
+"How did Brother Fox do, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Watch out, now! Dish yer one er de tales w'at ain't got no fun in it."
+
+"Uncle Remus, please tell it."
+
+"Hol' on dar! Dey mought be a snake some'rs in it--one er deze yer
+meal-bran snakes."
+
+"_Please_, Uncle Remus, tell it."
+
+The old man never allowed himself to resist the artful pleadings of the
+little boy. So he recovered his specks from under the chair, looked up
+the chimney for luck, as he explained to his little partner, and
+proceeded:--
+
+"One day w'en Brer Fox went callin' on Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de
+t'er gals, who should he fine settin' up dar but ole Brer Rabbit?
+Yasser! Dar he wuz, des ez sociable ez you please. He 'uz gwine on wid
+de gals, en w'en Brer Fox drapt in dey look lak dey wuz mighty tickled
+'bout sump'n' n'er Brer Rabbit bin sayin'. Brer Fox, he look sorter
+jub'ous, he did, des lak folks does w'en dey walks up in a crowd whar
+de yuthers all a-gigglin'. He tuck'n kotch de dry grins terreckerly. But
+dey all howdied, en Miss Meadows, she up'n say:--
+
+"'You'll des hatter skuse us, Brer Fox, on de 'count er dish yer
+gigglement. Tooby sho', hit monst'us disperlite fer we-all fer to be
+gwine on dat a-way; but I mighty glad you come, en I sez ter de gals,
+s'I, "'Fo' de Lord, gals! dar come Brer Fox, en yer we is a-gigglin' en
+a-gwine on scan'lous; yit hit done come ter mighty funny pass," s'I, "ef
+you can't run on en laugh 'fo' home folks," s'I. Dat des 'zactly w'at I
+say, en I leave it ter ole Brer Rabbit en de gals yer ef 't ain't.'
+
+"De gals, dey tuck'n jine in, dey did, en dey make ole Brer Fox feel
+right splimmy-splammy, en dey all sot dar en run on 'bout dey neighbors
+des lak folks does deze days. Dey sot dar, dey did, twel atter w'ile
+Brer Rabbit look out todes sundown, en 'low:--
+
+"'Now, den, folks and fr'en's, I bleedz ter say goo' bye. Cloud comin'
+up out yan, en mos' 'fo' we know it de rain 'll be a-po'in' en de grass
+'ll be a-growin'.'"
+
+"Why, that's poetry, Uncle Remus!" interrupted the little boy.
+
+"Tooby sho' 't is, honey! tooby sho' 't is. I des let you know Brer
+Rabbit 'uz a mighty man in dem days. Brer Fox, he see de cloud comin'
+up, en he up'n 'low he 'speck he better be gittin' 'long hisse'f, 'kaze
+he ain't wanter git he Sunday-go-ter-meetin' cloze wet. Miss Meadows en
+Miss Motts, en de gals, dey want um ter stay, but bofe er dem ar
+creeturs 'uz mighty fear'd er gittin' der foots wet, en atter w'ile dey
+put out.
+
+"W'iles dey 'uz gwine down de big road, jawin' at one er 'n'er, Brer
+Fox, he tuck'n stop right quick, en 'low:--
+
+"'Run yer, Brer Rabbit! run yer! Ef my eye ain't 'ceive me yer de signs
+whar Mr. Dog bin 'long, en mo'n dat dey er right fresh.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sidle up en look. Den he 'low:--
+
+"'Dat ar track ain't never fit Mr. Dog foot in de roun' worl'. W'at
+make it mo' bindin',' sezee, 'I done gone en bin 'quainted wid de man
+w'at make dat track, too long 'go ter talk 'bout,' sezee.
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, please, sir, tell me he name.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he laugh lak he makin' light er sump'n' 'n'er.
+
+"'Ef I ain't make no mistakes, Brer Fox, de po' creetur w'at make dat
+track is Cousin Wildcat; no mo' en no less.'
+
+"'How big is he, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'He des 'bout yo' heft, Brer Fox.' Den Brer Rabbit make lak he talkin'
+wid hisse'f. 'Tut, tut, tut! Hit mighty funny dat I should run up on
+Cousin Wildcat in dis part er de worl'. Tooby sho', tooby sho'! Many en
+manys de time I see my ole Grandaddy kick en cuff Cousin Wildcat, twel I
+git sorry 'bout 'im. Ef you want any fun, Brer Fox, right now de time
+ter git it.'
+
+"Brer Fox up'n ax, he did, how he gwine have any fun. Brer Rabbit, he
+'low:--
+
+"'Easy 'nuff; des go en tackle ole Cousin Wildcat, en lam 'im 'roun'.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he sorter scratch he year, en 'low:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, Brer Rabbit, I fear'd. He track too much lak Mr. Dog.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit des set right flat down in de road, en holler en laugh. He
+'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Shoo, Brer Fox! Who'd 'a' thunk you 'uz so skeery? Des come look at
+dish yer track right close. Is dey any sign er claw anywhar's?'
+
+"Brer Fox bleedz ter 'gree dat dey wa'n't no sign er no claw. Brer
+Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Well, den, ef he ain't got no claw, how he gwine ter hu't you, Brer
+Fox?'
+
+"'W'at gone wid he toofs, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Shoo, Brer Fox! Creeturs w'at barks[57] de trees ain't gwine bite.'
+
+"Brer Fox tuck'n tuck 'n'er good look at de tracks, en den him en Brer
+Rabbit put out fer ter foller um up. Dey went up de road, en down de
+lane, en 'cross de turnip patch, en down a dreen,[58] en up a big gully.
+Brer Rabbit, he done de trackin', en eve'y time he fine one, he up'n
+holler:--
+
+"'Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar! Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar!'
+
+"Dey kep' on en kep' on, twel bimeby dey run up wid de creetur. Brer
+Rabbit, he holler out mighty biggity:--
+
+"'Heyo dar! W'at you doin'?'
+
+"De creetur look 'roun', but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit
+'low:--
+
+"'Oh, you nee'nter look so sullen! We ull make you talk 'fo' we er done
+'long wid you! Come, now! W'at you doin' out dar?'
+
+"De creetur rub hisse'f 'gin' a tree des lak you see deze yer house cats
+rub 'gin' a cheer, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit holler:--
+
+"'W'at you come pesterin' 'long wid us fer, w'en we ain't bin
+a-pesterin' you? You got de consate dat I dunner who you is, but I does.
+Youer de same ole Cousin Wildcat w'at my gran'daddy use ter kick en cuff
+w'en you 'fuse ter 'spon'. I let you know I got a better man yer dan
+w'at my gran'daddy ever is bin, en I boun' you he ull make you talk. Dat
+w'at I boun' you.'
+
+"De creetur lean mo' harder 'gin' de tree, en sorter ruffle up he
+bristle, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:--
+
+"'Go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he 'fuse ter 'spon' slap 'im down! Dat de
+way my gran'daddy done. You go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he dast ter try
+ter run, I'll des whirl in en ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he sorter jub'ous, but he start todes de creetur. Ole Cousin
+Wildcat walk all 'roun' de tree, rubbin' hisse'f, but he ain't sayin'
+nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he holler:--
+
+"'Des walk right up en slap 'im down, Brer Fox--de owdashus vilyun! Des
+hit 'im a surbinder, en ef he dast ter run, I boun' you I'll ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he went up little nigher. Cousin Wildcat stop rubbin' on de
+tree, en sot up on he behime legs wid he front paws in de a'r, en he
+balance hisse'f by leanin' 'gin' de tree, but he ain't sayin' nothin'.
+Brer Rabbit, he squall out, he did:--
+
+"'Oh, you nee'nter put up yo' han's en try ter beg off. Dat de way you
+fool my ole gran'daddy; but you can't fool we-all. All yo' settin' up en
+beggin' ain't gwine ter he'p you. Ef youer so humble ez all dat, w'at
+make you come pesterin' longer we-all? Hit 'im a clip, Brer Fox! Ef he
+run, I'll ketch 'im!'
+
+"Brer Fox see de creetur look so mighty humble, settin' up dar lak he
+beggin' off, en he sorter take heart. He sidle up todes 'im, he did, en
+des ez he 'uz makin' ready fer ter slap 'im ole Cousin Wildcat draw'd
+back en fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach."
+
+Uncle Remus paused here a moment, as if to discover some term strong
+enough to do complete justice to the catastrophe. Presently he went
+on:--
+
+"Dat ar Cousin Wildcat creetur fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach,
+en you mought a yeard 'im squall fum yer ter Harmony Grove. Little mo'
+en de creetur would er to' Brer Fox in two. W'ence de creetur made a
+pass at 'im, Brer Rabbit knew w'at gwine ter happen, yit all de same he
+tuck'n holler:--
+
+"'Hit 'im ag'in, Brer Fox! Hit 'im ag'in! I'm a-backin' you, Brer Fox!
+Ef he dast ter run, I'll inabout cripple 'im--dat I will. Hit 'im
+ag'in!'
+
+"All dis time w'iles Brer Rabbit gwine on dis a-way, Brer Fox, he 'uz
+a-squattin' down, hol'in' he stomach wid bofe han's en des a-moanin':--
+
+"'I'm ruint, Brer Rabbit! I'm ruint! Run fetch de doctor! I'm teetotally
+ruint!'
+
+"'Bout dat time, Cousin Wildcat, he tuck'n tuck a walk. Brer Rabbit, he
+make lak he 'stonish' dat Brer Fox is hurted. He tuck'n 'zamin' de
+place, he did, en he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Hit look lak ter me, Brer Fox, dat dat owdashus vilyun tuck'n struck
+you wid a reapin'-hook.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lit out fer home, en w'en he git out er sight, he
+tuck'n shuck he han's des lak cat does w'en she git water on 'er foots,
+en he tuck'n laugh en laugh twel it make 'im sick fer ter laugh."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[57] Gnaws the bark from the trees.
+
+[58] Drain or ditch.
+
+
+
+
+XLV
+
+BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE
+
+
+The little boy thought that the story of how the wildcat scratched
+Brother Fox was one of the best stories he had ever heard, and he did
+n't hesitate to say so. His hearty endorsement increased Uncle Remus's
+good-humor; and the old man, with a broad grin upon his features and
+something of enthusiasm in his tone, continued to narrate the adventures
+of Brother Rabbit.
+
+"After Brer Fox git hurted so bad," said Uncle Remus, putting an edge
+upon his axe with a whetstone held in his hand, "hit wuz a mighty long
+time 'fo' he could ramble 'roun' en worry ole Brer Rabbit. Der time
+Cousin Wildcat fetch'd 'im dat wipe 'cross de stomach, he tuck'n lay de
+blame on Brer Rabbit, en w'en he git well, he des tuck'n juggle wid de
+yuther creeturs, en dey all 'gree dat dem en Brer Rabbit can't drink out
+er de same branch, ner walk de same road, ner live in de same
+settlement, ner go in washin' in de same wash-hole.
+
+"Tooby sho' Brer Rabbit bleedz ter take notice er all dish yer kinder
+jugglements en gwines on, en he des tuck'n strenken he house, in de
+neighborhoods er de winders, en den he put 'im up a steeple on top er
+dat. Yasser! A sho' 'nuff steeple, en he rise 'er up so high dat folks
+gwine 'long de big road stop en say, 'Hey! W'at kinder meetin'-house
+dat?'"
+
+The little boy laughed loudly at Uncle Remus's graphic delineation of
+the astonishment and admiration of the passers-by. The old man raised
+his head, stretched his eyes, and seemed to be looking over his
+spectacles right at Brother Rabbit's steeple.
+
+"Folks 'ud stop en ax, but Brer Rabbit ain't got time fer ter make no
+answer. _He_ hammer'd, _he_ nailed, _he_ knock'd, _he_ lamm'd! Folks go
+by, he ain't look up; creeturs come stan' en watch 'im, he ain't look
+'roun'; wuk, wuk, wuk, from sun-up ter sun-down, twel dat er steeple git
+done. Den ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n draw long breff, en wipe he forrerd, en
+'low dat ef dem t'er creeturs w'at bin atter 'im so long is got any de
+'vantage er him, de time done come fer um fer ter show it.
+
+"Wid dat he went en got 'im a snack er sump'n' t' eat, en a long piece
+er plough-line, en he tole he ole 'oman fer ter put a kittle er water on
+de fire, en stan' 'roun' close by, en eve'yt'ing he tell 'er not ter do,
+dat de ve'y t'ing she sho'ly mus' do. Den ole Brer Rabbit sot down in he
+rockin'-cheer en lookt out fum de steeple fer ter see how de lan' lay.
+
+"'T wa'n't long 'fo' all de creeturs year talk dat Brer Rabbit done stop
+wuk, en dey 'gun ter come 'roun' fer ter see w'at he gwine do nex'. But
+Brer Rabbit, he got up dar, he did, en smoke he seegyar, en chaw he
+'backer, en let he min' run on. Brer Wolf, he stan' en look up at de
+steeple, Brer Fox, he stan' en look up at it, en all de t'er creeturs
+dey done de same. Nex' time you see a crowd er folks lookin' at sump'n'
+right hard, you des watch um, honey. Dey'll walk 'roun' one er 'n'er en
+swap places, en dey'll be constant on de move. Dat des de way de
+creeturs done. Dey walk 'roun' en punch one er 'n'er en swap places, en
+look en look. Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot up dar, he did, en chaw he
+'backer, en smoke he seegyar, en let he min' run on.
+
+"Bimeby ole Brer Tarrypin come 'long, en ole Brer Tarrypin bin in
+cohoots wid Brer Rabbit so long dat he des nat'ally know dey wuz gwine
+ter be fun er plenty 'roun' in dem neighborhoods 'fo' de sun go down.
+He laugh 'way down und' de roof er he house, ole Brer Tarrypin did, en
+den he hail Brer Rabbit:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! W'at you doin' 'way up in de elements lak dat?'
+
+"'I'm a-sojourneyin' up yer fer ter res' myse'f, Brer Tarrypin. Drap up
+en see me.'
+
+"''Twix' you en me, Brer Rabbit, de drappin' 's all one way. S'posin'
+you tu'n loose en come. Man live dat high up bleedz ter have wings. I
+ain't no high-flyer myse'f. I fear'd ter shake han's wid you so fur off,
+Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Not so, Brer Tarrypin, not so. My sta'rcase is a mighty limbersome
+one, en I'll des let it down ter you.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line.
+
+"'Des ketch holt er dat, Brer Tarrypin,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en up
+you comes, _linktum sinktum binktum boo!_' sezee."
+
+"What was that, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy, taking a serious view
+of the statement.
+
+"Creetur talk, honey--des creetur talk. Bless yo' soul, chile!" the old
+man went on, with a laughable assumption of dignity, "ef you think I got
+time fer ter stop right short off en stribbit[59] out all I knows, you er
+mighty much mistaken--mighty much mistaken.
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin know mighty well dat Brer Rabbit ain't got nothin'
+'gin' 'im, yet he got sech a habit er lookin' out fer hisse'f dat he
+tuck'n ketch de plough-line in he mouf, he did, en try de strenk un it.
+Ole Brer Rabbit, he holler 'Swing on, Brer Tarrypin!' en Brer Tarrypin,
+he tuck'n swung on, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'uz settin' up dar side er
+Brer Rabbit.
+
+"But I wish ter goodness you'd 'a' bin dar," continued Uncle Remus, very
+gracefully leaving it to be inferred that _he_ was there; "I wish ter
+goodness you'd 'a' bin dar so you could er seed ole Brer Tarrypin w'iles
+Brer Rabbit 'uz haulin' 'im up, wid he tail a-wigglin' en he legs all
+spraddled out, en him a-whirlin' 'roun' en 'roun' en lookin' skeer'd.
+
+"De t'er creeturs dey see Brer Tarrypin go up safe en soun', en dey see
+de vittles passin' 'roun', en dey 'gun ter feel lak dey wanter see de
+inside er Brer Rabbit steeple. Den Brer Wolf, he hail 'im:--
+
+"'Heyo dar, Brer Rabbit! Youer lookin' mighty scrumptious way up dar!
+How you come on?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he look down, he did, en he see who 't is hollerin', en he
+'spon':--
+
+"'Po'ly, mighty po'ly, but I thank de Lord I'm able to eat my
+'lowance.[60] Won't you drap up, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Hit's a mighty clumsy journey fer ter make, Brer Rabbit, yit I don't
+keer ef I does.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line, en Brer Wolf kotch holt,
+en dey 'gun ter haul 'im up. Dey haul en dey haul, en w'en Brer Wolf git
+mos' ter de top he year Brer Rabbit holler out:--
+
+"'Stir 'roun', ole 'oman, en set de table; but 'fo' you do dat, fetch de
+kittle fer ter make de coffee.'
+
+"Dey haul en dey haul on de plough-line, en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit
+squall out:--
+
+"'Watch out dar, ole 'oman! You'll spill dat b'ilin' water on Brer
+Wolf!'
+
+"En, bless yo' soul!" continued Uncle Remus, turning half around in his
+chair to face his enthusiastic audience of one, "dat 'uz 'bout all Brer
+Wolf did year, 'kaze de nex' minit down come de scaldin' water, en Brer
+Wolf des fetch one squall en turn't hisse'f aloose, en w'en he strak de
+groun' he bounce des same ez one er deze yer injun-rubber balls w'at you
+use ter play wid 'long in dem times 'fo' you tuck'n broke yo' mammy
+lookin'-glass. Ole Brer Rabbit, he lean fum out de steeple en 'pollygize
+de bes' he kin, but no 'pollygy ain't gwine ter make ha'r come back
+whar de b'ilin' water hit."
+
+"Did they spill the hot water on purpose, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
+inquired.
+
+"Now, den, honey, youer crowdin' me. Dem ar creeturs wuz mighty
+kuse--mo' speshually Brer Rabbit. W'en it come down ter dat," said Uncle
+Remus, lowering his voice and looking very grave, "I 'speck ef youder
+s'arch de country fum hen-roost to river-bank,[61] you won't fine a no
+mo' kuser man dan Brer Rabbit. All I knows is dat Brer Rabbit en Brer
+Tarrypin had a mighty laughin' spell des 'bout de time Brer Wolf hit de
+groun'."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[59] Distribute.
+
+[60] Allowance; ration.
+
+[61] Based on a characteristic negro saying. For instance: "Where's
+Jim?" "You can't keep up wid dat nigger. Des let night come, en he's
+runnin' fum hen-roost to river-bank." In other words, stealing chickens
+and robbing fish baskets.
+
+
+
+
+XLVI
+
+BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE
+
+
+"En still we er by ourse'fs," exclaimed Uncle Remus, as the little boy
+ran into his cabin, the night after he had heard the story of how
+Brother Rabbit scalded Brother Wolf. "We er by ourse'fs en time's
+a-passin'. Dem ar folks dunner w'at dey er missin'. We er des gittin'
+ter dat p'int whar we kin keep de run er creeturs, en it keeps us dat
+busy we ain't got time fer ter bolt our vittles skacely.
+
+"I done tell you 'bout Brer Rabbit makin' 'im a steeple; but I ain't
+tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit got ole Brer Wolf out'n er mighty bad
+fix."
+
+"No," said the little boy, "you have n't, and that's just what I have
+come for now."
+
+Uncle Remus looked at the rafters, then at the little boy, and finally
+broke into a loud laugh.
+
+"I 'clar' ter goodness," he exclaimed, addressing the imaginary third
+person to whom he related the most of his grievances, "I 'clar' ter
+goodness ef dat ar chile ain't gittin' so dat he's eve'y whit ez
+up-en-spoken ez w'at ole Miss ever bin. Dat he is!"
+
+The old man paused long enough to give the little boy some uneasiness,
+and then continued:--
+
+"Atter ole Brer Wolf git de nat'al hide tuck off'n 'im on de 'count er
+Brer Rabbit kittle, co'se he hatter go 'way off by hisse'f fer ter let
+de ha'r grow out. He 'uz gone so long dat Brer Rabbit sorter 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he 'speck he kin come down out'n he steeple, en sorter rack
+'roun' mungs de t'er creeturs.
+
+"He sorter primp up, Brer Rabbit did, en den he start out 'pun he
+journeys hether en yan.[62] He tuck'n went ter de crossroads, en dar he
+stop en choose 'im a road. He choose 'im a road, he did, en den he put
+out des lak he bin sent fer in a hurry.
+
+"Brer Rabbit gallop on, he did, talkin' en laughin' wid hisse'f, en
+eve'y time he pass folks, he'd tu'n it off en make lak he singin'. He
+'uz gwine on dis a-way, w'en fus' news you know he tuck'n year sump'n'.
+He stop talkin' en 'gun ter hum a chune, but he ain't meet nobody. Den
+he stop en lissen en he year sump'n' holler:--
+
+"'O Lordy! Lordy! Won't somebody come he'p me?'"
+
+The accent of grief and despair and suffering that Uncle Remus managed
+to throw into this supplication was really harrowing.
+
+"Brer Rabbit year dis, en he stop en lissen. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' sump'n'
+n'er holler out:--
+
+"'O Lordy, Lordy! Please, somebody, come en he'p me.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he h'ist up he years, he did, en make answer back:--
+
+"'Who is you, nohow, en w'at de name er goodness de marter?'
+
+"'Please, somebody, do run yer!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n stan' on th'ee legs fer ter make sho' er gittin'
+a good start ef dey 'uz any needs un it, en he holler back:--
+
+"'Whar'bouts is you, en how come you dar?'
+
+"'Do please, somebody, run yer en he'p a po' mizerbul creetur. I'm down
+yer in de big gully und' dish yer great big rock.'
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit bleedz ter be mighty 'tickler in dem days, en he crope
+down ter de big gully en look in, en who de name er goodness you 'speck
+he seed down dar?"
+
+Uncle Remus paused and gave the little boy a look of triumph, and then
+proceeded without waiting for a reply:--
+
+"Nobody in de roun' worl' but dat ar ole Brer Wolf w'at Brer Rabbit done
+bin scalted de week 'fo' dat. He 'uz layin' down dar in de big gully,
+en, bless gracious! 'pun top un 'im wuz a great big rock, en ef you want
+ter know de reason dat ar great big rock ain't teetotally kilt Brer
+Wolf, den you'll hatter ax some un w'at know mo' 'bout it dan w'at I
+does, 'kaze hit look lak ter me dat it des oughter mash 'im flat.
+
+"Yit dar he wuz, en let 'lone bein' kilt, he got strenk 'nuff lef' fer
+ter make folks year 'im holler a mile off, en he holler so lonesome dat
+it make Brer Rabbit feel mighty sorry, en no sooner is he feel sorry dan
+he hol' he coat-tails out de way en slid down de bank fer ter see w'at
+he kin do.
+
+"W'en he git down dar Brer Wolf ax 'im please, sir, kin he he'p 'im wid
+de removance er dat ar rock, en Brer Rabbit 'low he 'speck he kin; en
+wid dat Brer Wolf holler en tell 'im fer mussy sake won't he whirl in en
+do it, w'ich Brer Rabbit tuck'n ketch holt er de rock en hump hisse'f,
+en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he git a purchis on it, en, bless yo' soul, he
+lif' 'er up des lak nigger at de log-rollin'.
+
+"Hit tu'n out dat Brer Wolf ain't hurted much, en w'en he fine dis out,
+he tuck'n tuck a notion dat ef he ev' gwine git he revengeance out'n
+Brer Rabbit, right den wuz de time, en no sooner does dat come 'cross he
+min' dan he tuck'n grab Brer Rabbit by de nap er de neck en de small er
+de back.
+
+"Brer Rabbit he kick en squeal, but 't ain't do no manner er good,
+'kaze de mo' w'at he kick de mo' tighter Brer Wolf clamp 'im, w'ich he
+squoze 'im so hard dat Brer Rabbit wuz fear'd he 'uz gwine ter cut off
+he breff. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:--
+
+"'Well, den, Brer Wolf! Is dish yer de way you thanks folks fer savin'
+yo' life?'
+
+"Brer Wolf grin big, en den he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I'll thank you, Brer Rabbit, en den I'll make fresh meat out'n you.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Ef you talk dat a-way, Brer Wolf, I never is to do yer 'n'er good turn
+w'iles I live.'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he grin some mo' en 'low:--
+
+"'Dat you won't, Brer Rabbit, dat you won't! You won't do me no mo' good
+turn tel you er done dead.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study ter hisse'f, he did, en den he 'low:
+
+"'Whar I come fum, Brer Wolf, hit's agin' de law fer folks fer to kill
+dem w'at done done um a good turn, en I 'speck hit's de law right 'roun'
+yer.'
+
+"Brer Wolf say he ain't so mighty sho' 'bout dat. Brer Rabbit say he
+willin' fer ter lef' de whole case wid Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Wolf say
+he 'gree'ble.
+
+"Wid dat, dey put out, dey did, en make der way ter whar ole Brer
+Tarrypin stay; en w'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf he tuck'n tell he side, en
+den Brer Rabbit he tuck'n tell he side. Ole Brer Tarrypin put on he
+specks en cle'r up he th'oat, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'Dey's a mighty heap er mixness in dish yer 'spute, en 'fo' I kin take
+any sides you'll des hatter kyar me fer ter see de place whar'bouts Brer
+Wolf wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun' 'im,' sezee.
+
+    [Illustration: "EN, BLESS GRACIOUS! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF
+    FUM DAR EN LEF' OLE BRER WOLF UND' DAT AR ROCK"]
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, dey tuck'n kyar'd ole Brer Tarrypin down de big road twel
+dey come ter de big gully, en den dey tuck 'im ter whar Brer Wolf got
+kotch und' de big rock. Ole Brer Tarrypin, he walk 'roun', he did, en
+poke at de place wid de een' er he cane. Bimeby he shuck he head, he
+did, en 'low:
+
+"'I hates might'ly fer ter put you all gents ter so much trouble; yit,
+dey ain't no two ways, I'll hatter see des how Brer Wolf was kotch, en
+des how de rock wuz layin' 'pun top un 'im,' sezee. 'De older folks
+gits, de mo' trouble dey is,' sezee, 'en I ain't 'nyin' but w'at I'm
+a-ripenin' mo' samer dan a 'simmon w'at's bin strucken wid de fros','
+sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf, he tuck'n lay down whar he wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun'
+'im, en de yuthers dey up'n roll de rock 'pun top un 'im. Dey roll de
+rock 'pun 'im," continued Uncle Remus, looking over his spectacles to
+see what effect the statement had on the little boy, "en dar he wuz.
+Brer Tarrypin, he walk all 'roun' en 'roun', en look at 'im. Den he sot
+down, he did, en make marks in de san' wid he cane lak he studyin' 'bout
+sump'n' n'er. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he open up:--
+
+"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock gittin' mighty heavy!'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he mark in de san', en study, en study. Brer Wolf
+holler:--
+
+"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock mashin' de breff out'n me.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he r'ar back, he did, en he 'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, you wuz in de wrong. You ain't had no business fer ter
+come bodderin' 'longer Brer Wolf w'en he ain't bodderin' 'longer you. He
+'uz 'ten'in' ter he own business en you oughter bin 'ten'in' ter yone.'
+
+"Dis make Brer Rabbit look 'shame' er hisse'f, but Brer Tarrypin talk
+right erlong:--
+
+"'W'en you 'uz gwine down dish yer road dis mawnin', you sho'ly mus' bin
+a-gwine som'ers. Ef you _wuz_ gwine som'ers you better be gwine on. Brer
+Wolf, he wa'n't gwine nowhars den, en he ain't gwine nowhars now. You
+foun' 'im und' dat ar rock, en und' dat ar rock you lef 'im.'
+
+"En, bless gracious!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, "dem ar creeturs racked off
+fum dar en lef' ole Brer Wolf und' dat ar rock."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[62] Hither and yon.
+
+
+
+
+XLVII
+
+BRER RABBIT LAYS IN HIS BEEF SUPPLY
+
+
+"I wonder where Daddy Jack is," said the little boy, one night after he
+had been waiting for some time for Uncle Remus to get leisure to tell
+him a story.
+
+Uncle Remus, who was delightfully human in his hypocrisy, as well as in
+other directions, leaned back in his chair, looked at the little boy
+with an air of grieved resignation, and said:--
+
+"I boun' you does, honey, I boun' you does. Ole Brer Jack look mighty
+weazly ter de naked eye, but I lay he's a lots mo' likelier nigger dan
+w'at ole Remus is. De time done gone by w'en a po' ole no-'count nigger
+lak me kin hol' he han' wid a bran new nigger man lak Brer Jack."
+
+The child stared at Uncle Remus with open-eyed astonishment.
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus! I did n't mean that; you know I did n't," he
+exclaimed.
+
+"Bless yo' heart, honey! hit don't pester me. I done got de speunce un
+it. Dat I is. Plough-hoss don't squeal en kick w'en dey puts 'n'er hoss
+in he place. Brer Jack got de age on 'im but he new ter you. Ole er
+young, folks is folks, en no longer'n day 'fo' yistiddy, I year you
+braggin' 'bout how de vittles w'at dey feeds you on up at de big house
+ain't good ez de vittles w'at yuther childun gits. Nummine ole Remus,
+honey; you en Brer Jack des go right erlong en I'll be much 'blige ef
+you'll des lemme set in de cornder yer en chunk de fier. Sho'ly I ain't
+pas' doin' dat."
+
+The child was troubled to think that Uncle Remus should find it
+necessary to depreciate himself, and he made haste to explain his
+position.
+
+"I thought that if Daddy Jack was here he could tell me a story while
+you are working, so you would n't be bothered."
+
+A broad grin of appreciation spread over Uncle Remus's face. He
+adjusted his spectacles, looked around and behind him, and then, seeing
+no one but the child, addressed himself to the rafters and cobwebs:--
+
+"Well! well! well! ef dish yer don't beat all! Gentermens! dish yer
+little chap yer, he puny in de legs, yit he mighty strong in de head."
+
+He paused, as if reflecting over the whole matter, and then turned to
+the child:--
+
+"Is _dat_ w'at make you hone atter Daddy Jack, honey--des 'kaze you
+wanter set back dar en lissen at a tale? Now, den, ef you had n't 'a'
+got me off'n de track, you'd 'a' bin settin' yer lis'nen at one un um
+dis blessid minnit, 'kaze des time I year talk dat Mars John gwine ter
+have dat ar long-hornded steer kilt fer beef, hit come 'cross my min'
+'bout de time w'ence Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox j'ined in wid one er 'n'er
+en kilt a cow."
+
+"Killed a cow, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar," replied the old man with emphasis.
+"Look lak dey wa'n't no kinder doin's w'at dem ar creeturs wa'n't up
+ter, mo' speshually ole Brer Rabbit. Day in en day out, fum mawnin' twel
+night en fum night twel mawnin', he 'uz constant a-studyin' up some bran
+new kinder contrapshun fer ter let de yuther creeturs know he 'uz
+some'rs in de neighborhoods.
+
+"Come down ter dat, you kin b'leeve me er not b'leeve me, des ez you er
+min' ter; you kin take yo' choosement; but ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer
+Fox, spite er dey fallin' out, dey tuck'n go inter cahoots en kilt a
+cow. Seem lak I disremember who de cow b'long ter," continued the old
+man, frowning thoughtfully, and thus, by a single stroke, imparting an
+air of reality to the story; "but she sho'ly b'long'd ter some er de
+neighbors, 'kaze you kin des put it down, right pine-blank, dat Brer
+Rabbit ain't gwine ter kill he own cow, en needer is Brer Fox.
+
+"Well, den, dey tuck'n kilt a cow, en 't wa'n't dey own cow, en alter
+dey done skunt 'er Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low, he did, dat ef Brer Fox
+wanter git de good er de game, he better run home en fetch a tray er
+sump'n fer put de jiblets in."
+
+"Jiblets, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Tooby sho', honey. Dats w'at we-all calls de liver, de lights, de
+heart, en de melt. Some calls um jiblets en some calls um hasletts, but
+ef you'll lemme take um en kyar um home, you kin des up en call um mos'
+by any name w'at creep inter yo' min'. You do de namin'," the old man
+went on, smacking his lips suggestively, "en I'll do de eatin', en ef
+I'm de loser, I boun' you won't year no complaints fum me.
+
+"But, law bless me! w'at is I'm a-doin'? De time's a-passin', en I'm
+ain't skacely got start on de tale. Dey kilt de cow, dey did, en Brer
+Rabbit tell Brer Fox 'bout de jiblets, en w'iles Brer Fox gwine on home
+atter de bucket fer ter put um in, he say ter hisse'f dat Brer Rabbit
+ain't bad ez he crackt up ter be. But no sooner is Brer Fox outer sight
+dan Brer Rabbit cut out de jiblets, he did, en kyar'd um off en hide um.
+Den he come back en tuck a piece er de meat en drap blood 'way off de
+udder way.
+
+"Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid he bucket, en w'en he git dar Brer Rabbit
+wuz settin' down cryin'. Mon, he 'uz des a-boohoo-in'. Brer Fox, he
+'low:--
+
+"'Name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! w'at de marter?'
+
+"''Nuff de marter--'nuff de marter. I wish you'd 'a' stayed yer w'iles
+you wuz yer--dat I does, Brer Fox!'
+
+"'How come, Brer Rabbit,--how come?'
+
+"'Man come, Brer Fox, en stole all yo' nice jiblets. I bin a-runnin'
+atter 'im, Brer Fox, but he outrun me.'
+
+"'W'ich a-way he go, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Yer de way he went, Brer Fox; yer whar he drap de blood. Ef you be
+right peart, Brer Fox, you'll ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox he drapt de bucket, he did, en put out atter de man w'at tuck
+de jiblets, en he wa'n't out'n sight good, 'fo' ole Brer Rabbit sail in
+en cut out all de fat en taller, en kyar' it off en hide it. Atter
+w'ile, yer come Brer Fox back des a-puffin' en a-pantin'. He ain't see
+no man. Brer Rabbit, he hail 'im:--
+
+"'You ain't come a minnit too soon, Brer Fox, dat you ain't. W'iles you
+bin gone 'n'er man come 'long en kyar'd off all de taller en fat. He
+went right off dat a-way, Brer Fox, en ef you'll be right peart, you'll
+ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he tuck'n put out, he did, en run, en run, yit he ain't see
+no man. Wiles he done gone Brer Rabbit kyar off one er de behime
+quarters. Brer Fox come back; he ain't see no man. Brer Rabbit holler en
+tell 'im dat 'ne'r man done come en got a behime quarter en run'd off
+wid it.
+
+"Brer Fox sorter study 'bout dis, 'kaze it look lak nobody yuver see de
+like er mens folks passin' by dat one lonesome cow. He make out he gwine
+ter run atter de man w'at steal de behime quarter, but he ain't git fur
+'fo' he tuck'n tu'n 'roun' en crope back, en he 'uz des in time fer ter
+see Brer Rabbit makin' off wid de yuther behime quarter. Brer Fox mighty
+tired wid runnin' hether en yan, en backards en forrerds, but he git so
+mad w'en he see Brer Rabbit gwine off dat a-way, dat he dash up en ax
+'im whar is he gwine wid dat ar beef.
+
+"Brer Rabbit lay de beef down, he did, en look lak he feelin's hurted.
+He look at Brer Fox lak he feel mighty sorry fer folks w'at kin ax
+foolish questions lak dat. He shake he head, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Well, well, well! Who'd 'a' thunk dat Brer Fox would 'a' come axin' me
+'bout dish yer beef, w'ich anybody would er know'd I 'uz a-kyar'n off
+fer ter save fer 'im, so nobody could n't git it?'
+
+"But dish yer kinder talk don't suit Brer Fox, en he tuck'n make a
+motion 'zef[63] ter ketch Brer Rabbit, but Brer Rabbit he 'gun 'im leg
+bail, en dar dey had it thoo de woods twel Brer Rabbit come 'pon a
+holler tree, en inter dat he went, des lak one er deze streaked lizzuds
+goes inter a hole in de san'."
+
+"And then," said the little boy, as Uncle Remus paused, "along came
+Brother Buzzard, and Brother Fox set him to watch the hole, and Brother
+Rabbit said he had found a fat squirrel which he would run out on the
+other side; and then he came out and ran home."
+
+This was the climax of a story that Uncle Remus had told a long time
+before, and he looked at his little partner with astonishment not
+unmixed with admiration.
+
+"I 'clar' ter gracious, honey!" he exclaimed, "ef you hol's on ter yo'
+pra'rs lak you does ter deze yer tales youer doin' mighty well. But
+don't you try ter hol' Brer Rabbit down ter one trick, you won't never
+keep up wid 'im in de 'roun' worl'--dat you won't.
+
+"Ole Brer Buzzard wuz dar, en Brer Fox ax 'im fer ter watch de hole, but
+he ain't bin dar long 'fo' Brer Rabbit sing out:--
+
+"'I got de 'vantage un you, dis whet, Brer Buzzard, I sho'ly is.'
+
+"'How dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"''Kaze I kin see you, en you can't see me.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Buzzard stuck he head in de hole, en look up; en no sooner
+is he do dis dan Brer Rabbit fill he eyes full er san', en w'iles he
+gone ter de branch fer ter wash it out, Brer Rabbit he come down outer
+de holler, en went back ter whar de cow wuz; en mo' dan dat, Brer Rabbit
+got de ballunce un de beef."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[63] As if.
+
+
+
+
+XLVIII
+
+BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a pause, "where did Brother
+Rabbit go when he got out of the hollow tree?"
+
+"Well, sir," exclaimed Uncle Remus, "you ain't gwine ter b'leeve me,
+skacely, but dat owdashus creetur ain't no sooner git out er dat ar tree
+dan he go en git hisse'f mix up wid some mo' trouble, w'ich he git
+mighty nigh skeer'd out'n he skin.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit git out'n de holler tree, he tuck'n fling some sass
+back at ole Brer Buzzard, he did, en den he put out down de big road,
+stidder gwine 'long back home en see 'bout he fambly. He 'uz gwine
+'long--_lickety-clickety, clickety-lickety_--w'en fus' news you know he
+feel sump'n' 'n'er drap down 'pun 'im, en dar he wuz. Bless yo' soul,
+w'en Brer Rabbit kin git he 'membunce terge'er, he feel ole Mr. Wildcat
+a-huggin' 'im fum behime, en w'ispun in he year."
+
+"What did he whisper, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Dis, dat, en de udder, one thing en a nudder."
+
+"But what did he say?"
+
+"De way un it wuz dis," said Uncle Remus, ignoring the child's question,
+"Brer Rabbit, he 'uz gallin'-up down de road, en ole Mr. Wildcat, he 'uz
+layin' stretch' out takin' a nap on a tree-lim' hangin' 'crosst de road.
+He year Brer Rabbit come a-lickity-clickitin' down de road, en he des
+sorter fix hisse'f, en w'en Brer Rabbit come a-dancin' und' de lim', all
+Mr. Wildcat got ter do is ter drap right down on 'im, en dar he wuz. Mr.
+Wildcat hug 'im right up at 'im, en laugh en w'isper in he year."
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus, what did he _say_?" persisted the little boy.
+
+The old man made a sweeping gesture with his left hand that might mean
+everything or nothing, and proceeded to tell the story in his own way.
+
+"Ole Mr. Wildcat hug Brer Rabbit up close en w'isper in he year. Brer
+Rabbit, he kick, he squall. Bimeby he ketch he breff en 'low:--
+
+"'Ow! O Lordy-lordy! W'at I done gone en done now?'
+
+"Mr. Wildcat, he rub he wet nose on Brer Rabbit year, en make cole chill
+run up he back. Bimeby he say:--
+
+"'O Brer Rabbit, I des nat'ally loves you! You bin a-foolin' all er my
+cousins en all er my kinfolks, en 't ain't bin so mighty long sence you
+set Cousin Fox on me, en little mo' en I'd a-to' 'im in two. O Brer
+Rabbit! I des nat'ally loves you,' sezee.
+
+"Den he laugh, en he toofs strak terge'er right close ter Brer Rabbit
+year. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did:--
+
+"Law, Mr. Wildcat, I thunk maybe you mought lak ter have Brer Fox fer
+supper, en dat de reason I sent 'im up ter whar you is. Hit done come
+ter mighty purty pass w'en folks can't be fr'en's 'ceppin' sump'n' 'n'er
+step in 'twix' en 'tween um, en ef dat de case I ain't gwine ter be
+fr'en's no mo'--dat I ain't.'
+
+"Mr. Wildcat wipe he nose on Brer Rabbit year, en he do sorter lak he
+studyin'. Brer Rabbit he keep on talkin'. He 'low:--
+
+"'Endurin' er all dis time, is I ever pester 'long wid you, Mr.
+Wildcat?'
+
+"'No, Brer Rabbit, I can't say ez you is.'
+
+"'No, Mr. Wildcat, dat I ain't. Let 'lone dat, I done my level bes' fer
+ter he'p you out. En dough you done jump on me en skeer me scan'lous,
+yit I'm willin' ter do you 'n'er good tu'n. I year some wild turkeys
+yelpin' out yan', en ef you'll des lem me off dis time, I'll go out dar
+en call um up, en you kin make lak you dead, en dey'll come up en
+stretch dey neck over you, en you kin jump up en kill a whole passel un
+um 'fo' dey kin git out de way.'
+
+"Mr. Wildcat stop en study, 'kaze ef dey er one kinder meat w'at he lak
+dat meat is turkey meat. Den he tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit is he jokin'. Brer
+Rabbit say ef he 'uz settin' off some'rs by he own-'lone se'f he mought
+be jokin', but how de name er goodness is he kin joke w'en Mr. Wildcat
+got 'im hug up so tight? Dis look so pleezy-plozzy[64] dat 't wa'n't long
+'fo' Mr. Wildcat 'low dat he 'uz mighty willin' ef Brer Rabbit mean w'at
+he say, en atter w'ile, bless yo' soul, ef you'd 'a' come 'long dar,
+you'd er seed ole Mr. Wildcat layin' stretch out on de groun' lookin'
+fer all de wul' des lak he done bin dead a mont', en you'd er yeard ole
+Brer Rabbit a-yelpin' out in de bushes des lak a sho' 'nuff tukky-hen."
+
+The little boy was always anxious for a practical demonstration, and he
+asked Uncle Remus how Brother Rabbit could yelp like a turkey-hen. For
+reply, Uncle Remus searched upon his rude mantel-piece until he found a
+reed, which he intended to use as a pipe-stem. One end of this he placed
+in his mouth, enclosing the other in his hands. By sucking the air
+through the reed with his mouth, and regulating the tone and volume by
+opening or closing his hands, the old man was able to produce a
+marvellous imitation of the call of the turkey-hen, much to the delight
+and astonishment of the little boy.
+
+"Ah, Lord!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, after he had repeated the call until
+the child was satisfied, "manys en manys de time is I gone out in de
+woods wid old marster 'fo' de crack er day en call de wile turkeys right
+spang up ter whar we could er kilt um wid a stick. W'en we fus' move yer
+fum Ferginny, dey use ter come right up ter whar de barn sets, en mo'n
+dat I done seed ole marster kill um right out dar by de front gate. But
+folks fum town been comin' 'roun' yer wid der p'inter dogs twel hit done
+got so dat ef you wanter see turkey track you gotter go down dar ter de
+Oconee, en dat's two mile off."
+
+"Did the Wildcat catch the turkeys?" the little boy inquired, when it
+seemed that Uncle Remus was about to give his entire attention to his
+own reminiscences.
+
+"De gracious en de goodness!" exclaimed the old man. "Yer I is runnin'
+on en dar lays Mr. Wildcat waitin' fer Brer Rabbit fer ter help dem
+turkeys up. En 't ain't take 'im long nudder, 'kaze, bless yo' soul, ole
+Brer Rabbit wuz a yelper, mon.
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, atter w'ile yer dey come, ole Brer Gibley Gobbler wukkin'
+in de lead. Brer Rabbit, he run'd en meet um en gun um de wink 'bout ole
+Mr. Wildcat, en by de time dey git up ter whar he layin', Brer Gibley
+Gobbler en all his folks wuz jined in a big 'spute. One 'low he dead,
+'n'er one 'low he ain't, 'n'er one 'low he stiff, udder one 'low he
+ain't, en t'udder 'low he is. So dar dey had it. Dey stretch out dey
+neck en step high wid dey foot, yit dey ain't git too close ter Mr.
+Wildcat.
+
+"He lay dar, he did, en he ain't move. Win' ruffle up he ha'r, yit he
+ain't move; sun shine down 'pun 'im, yit he ain't move. De turkeys dey
+gobble en dey yelp, but dey ain't go no nigher; dey holler en dey
+'spute, but dey ain't go no nigher; dey stretch dey neck en dey lif' dey
+foot high, yit dey ain't go no nigher.
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Wildcat git tired er waitin', en
+he jump up, he did, en make a dash at de nighest turkey; but dat turkey
+done fix, on w'en Mr. Wildcat come at 'im, he des riz in de a'r, en Mr.
+Wildcat run und' 'im. Den he tuck'n run at 'n'er one, en dat un fly up;
+en dey keep on dat a-way twel 't wa'n't long 'fo' Mr. Wildcat wuz so
+stiff in de j'ints en so short in de win' dat he des hatter lay down on
+de groun' en res', en w'en he do dis, ole Brer Gibley Gobler en all er
+he folks went on 'bout dey own business; but sence dat day deyer
+constant a-'sputin' 'long wid deyse'f en eve'ybody w'at come by. Ef you
+don't b'leeve me," with an air of disposing of the whole matter
+judicially, "you kin des holler at de fus' Gobbler w'at you meets, en ef
+he 'fuse ter holler back atter you, you kin des use my head fer a hole
+in de wall; en w'at mo' kin you ax dan dat?"
+
+"What became of Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Well, sir, Brer Rabbit tuck'n lef' dem low-groun's. W'iles de 'sputin'
+wuz gwine on, he tuck'n bowed his good-byes, en den he des put out fum
+dar. Nex' day ole Brer Gibley Gobbler tuck'n sent 'im a turkey wing fer
+ter make a fan out'n, en Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n sent it ter Miss Meadows
+en de gals. En I let you know," continued the old man, chuckling
+heartily to himself, "dey make great 'miration 'bout it."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[64] No doubt this means that Brother Rabbit's proposition was pleasant
+and plausible.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Mr. Benjamin Ram Defends Himself]
+
+XLIX
+
+MR. BENJAMIN RAM DEFENDS HIMSELF
+
+
+"I 'speck we all dun gone en fergot ole Mr. Benjermun Ram off'n our
+min'," said Uncle Remus, one night, as the little boy went into the
+cabin with a large ram's horn hanging on his arm.
+
+"About his playing the fiddle and getting lost in the woods!" exclaimed
+the child. "Oh, no, I have n't forgotten him, Uncle Remus. I remember
+just how he tuned his fiddle in Brother Wolf's house."
+
+"Dat's me!" said Uncle Remus with enthusiasm; "dat's me up en down. Mr.
+Ram des ez fresh in my min' now ez he wuz de day I year de tale. Dat ole
+creetur wuz a sight, mon. He mos' sho'ly wuz. He wrinkly ole hawn en de
+shaggy ha'r on he neck make 'im look mighty servigous,[65] en w'ence he
+shake he head en snort, hit seem lak he gwine ter fair paw de yeth fum
+und' 'im.
+
+"Ole Brer Fox bin pickin' up ole Mr. Benjermun Ram chilluns w'en dey git
+too fur fum home, but look lak he ain't never bin git close ter de ole
+creetur.
+
+"So one time w'en he 'uz comin' on down de road, talkin' 'long wid Brer
+Wolf, he up'n 'low, ole Brer Fox did, dat he mighty hongry in de
+neighborhoods er de stomach. Dis make Brer Wolf look lak he 'stonish'd,
+en he ax Brer Fox how de name er goodness come he hongry w'en ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram layin' up dar in de house des a-rollin' in fat.
+
+"Den Brer Fox tuck'n 'low, he did, dat he done bin in de habits er
+eatin' Mr. Benjermun Ram chillun, but he sorter fear'd er de ole
+creetur 'kaze he look so bad on de 'count er he red eye en he wrinkly
+hawn.
+
+"Brer Wolf des holler en laugh, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'Lordy, Brer Fox! I dunner w'at kinder man is you, nohow! W'y, dat ar
+ole creetur ain't never hurted a flea in all he born days--dat he
+ain't,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he look at Brer Wolf right hard, he did, en den he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Wolf! manys de time dat you bin hongry 'roun' in deze
+diggin's en I ain't year talk er you makin' a meal off'n Mr. Benjermun
+Ram,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox talk so close ter de fatal trufe, dat Brer Wolf got tooken wid
+de dry grins, yit he up'n 'spon', sezee:--
+
+"'I des lak ter know who in de name er goodness wanter eat tough creetur
+lak dat ole Mr. Benjermun Ram--dat w'at I lak ter know,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he holler en laugh, he did, en den he up'n say:--
+
+"'Ah-yi, Brer Wolf! You ax me w'at I goes hongry fer, w'en ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram up dar in he house, yit you done bin hongry manys en manys
+de time, en still ole Mr. Benjermun Ram up dar in he house. Now, den,
+how you gwine do in a case lak dat?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he strak de een' er he cane down 'pun de groun', en he say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'I done say all I got ter say, en w'at I say, dat I'll stick ter. Dat
+ole creetur lots too tough.'
+
+"Hongry ez he is, Brer Fox laugh way down in he stomach. Atter w'ile he
+'low:--
+
+"'Well, den, Brer Wolf, stidder 'sputin' 'longer you, I'm gwine do w'at
+you say; I'm gwine ter go up dar en git a bait er ole Mr. Benjermun Ram,
+en I wish you be so good ez ter go 'long wid me fer comp'ny,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf jaw sorter fall w'en he year dis, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I druther go by my own--'lone se'f,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'you better make 'as'e,' sezee,
+''kaze 't ain't gwine ter take me so mighty long fer ter go up dar en
+make hash out'n ole Mr. Benjermun Ram,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf know mighty well," said Uncle Remus, snapping his huge tongs
+in order to silence a persistent cricket in the chimney, "dat ef he dast
+ter back out fum a banter lak dat he never is ter year de las' un it fum
+Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals, en he march off todes Mr.
+Benjermun Ram house.
+
+"Little puff er win' come en blow'd up some leafs, en Brer Wolf jump lak
+somebody shootin' at 'im, en he fly mighty mad w'en he year Brer Fox
+laugh. He men' he gait, he did, en 't wa'n't 'long 'fo' he 'uz knockin'
+at Mr. Benjermun Ram do'.
+
+"He knock at de do', he did, en co'se he 'speck somebody fer ter come
+open de do'; but stidder dat, lo' en beholes yer come Mr. Benjermun Ram
+'roun' de house. Dar he wuz--red eye, wrinkly hawn en shaggy head. Now,
+den, in case lak dat, w'at a slim-legged man lak Brer Wolf gwine do? Dey
+ain't no two ways, he gwine ter git 'way fum dar, en he went back ter
+whar Brer Fox is mo' samer dan ef de patter-rollers wuz atter 'im.
+
+"Brer Fox, he laugh en he laugh, en ole Brer Wolf, he look mighty glum.
+Brer Fox ax 'im is he done kilt en e't Mr. Benjermun Ram, en ef so be,
+is he lef' any fer him. Brer Wolf say he ain't feelin' well, en he don't
+lak mutton nohow. Brer Fox 'low:--
+
+"'You may be puny in de min', Brer Wolf, but you ain't feelin' bad in de
+leg, 'kaze I done seed you wuk um.'
+
+"Brer Wolf 'low he des a-runnin' fer ter see ef 't won't mak 'im feel
+better. Brer Fox, he say, sezee, dat w'en he feelin' puny, he ain't ax
+no mo' dan fer somebody fer ter git out de way en let 'im lay down.
+
+"Dey went on in dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby Brer Fox ax Brer Wolf ef
+he'll go wid 'im fer ter ketch Mr. Benjermun Ram. Brer Wolf, he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I fear'd you'll run en lef' me dar fer ter do all de
+fightin'.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he 'low dat he'll fix dat, en he tuck'n got 'im a
+plough-line, en tied one een' ter Brer Wolf en t'er een' ter he own
+se'f. Wid dat dey put out fer Mr. Benjermun Ram house. Brer Wolf, he
+sorter hang back, but he 'shame' fer ter say he skeer'd, en dey went on
+en went on plum twel dey git right spang up ter Mr. Benjermun Ram house.
+
+"W'en dey git dar, de ole creetur wuz settin' out in de front po'ch
+sorter sunnin' hisse'f. He see um comin', en w'en dey git up in hailin'
+distance, he sorter cle'r up he th'oat, he did, en holler out:--
+
+"'I much 'blije to you, Brer Fox, fer ketchin' dat owdashus vilyun en
+fetchin' 'im back. My smoke-'ouse runnin' short, en I'll des chop 'im up
+en pickle 'im. Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in!'
+
+"Des 'bout dat time ole Miss Ram see dem creeturs a-comin', en
+gentermens! you mought er yeard er blate plum ter town. Mr. Benjermun
+Ram, he sorter skeer'd hisse'f, but he keep on talkin':--
+
+"'Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in! Don't you year my ole 'oman
+cryin' fer 'im? She ain't had no wolf meat now in gwine on mighty nigh a
+mont'. Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in!'
+
+"Fus' Brer Wolf try ter ontie hisse'f, den he tuck'n broke en run'd, en
+he drag ole Brer Fox atter 'im des lak he ain't weigh mo'n a poun', en I
+let you know hit 'uz many a long day 'fo' Brer Fox git well er de
+thumpin' he got."
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy after a while, "I thought wolves
+always caught sheep when they had the chance."
+
+"Dey ketches lam's, honey, but bless yo' soul! dey ain't ketch deze yer
+ole-time Rams wid red eye en wrinkly hawn."
+
+"Where was Brother Rabbit all this time?"
+
+"Now, den, honey, don't less pester wid ole Brer Rabbit right now. Des
+less gin 'im one night rest, mo' speshually w'en I year de seven stares
+say yo' bed-time done come. Des take yo' foot in yo' han' en put right
+out 'fo' Miss Sally come a-callin' you, 'kaze den she'll say I'm
+a-settin' yer a-noddin' en not takin' keer un you."
+
+The child laughed and ran up the path to the big-house, stopping a
+moment on the way to mimic a bull-frog that was bellowing at a
+tremendous rate near the spring.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[65] Wild; fierce; dangerous; courageous. The accent is on the second
+syllable, ser-_vi_-gous; or, ser-_vi_-gus, and the g is hard. Aunt Tempy
+would have said "vigrous."
+
+
+
+
+L
+
+BRER RABBIT PRETENDS TO BE POISONED
+
+
+Not many nights after the story of how Mr. Benjamin Ram frightened
+Brother Wolf and Brother Fox, the little boy found himself in Uncle
+Remus's cabin. It had occurred to him that Mr. Ram should have played on
+his fiddle somewhere in the tale, and Uncle Remus was called on to
+explain. He looked at the little boy with an air of grieved
+astonishment, and exclaimed:--
+
+"Well, I be bless if I ever year der beat er dat. Yer you bin
+a-persooin' on atter deze yer creeturs en makin' der 'quaintunce, en yit
+look lak ef you 'uz ter meet um right up dar in der paff you'd fergit
+all 'bout who dey is."
+
+"Oh, no, I would n't, Uncle Remus!" protested the child, glancing at the
+door and getting a little closer to the old man.
+
+"Yasser! you'd des nat'ally whirl in en fergit 'bout who dey is. 'T
+ain't so mighty long sence I done tole you 'bout ole Mr. Benjermun Ram
+playin' he fiddle at Brer Wolf house, en yer you come en ax me how come
+he don't take en play it at 'im 'g'in. W'at kinder lookin' sight 'ud dat
+ole creetur a-bin ef he'd jump up en grab he fiddle en go ter playin' on
+it eve'y time he year a fuss down de big road?"
+
+The little boy said nothing, but he thought the story would have been a
+great deal nicer if Mr. Benjamin Ram could have played one of the
+old-time tunes on his fiddle, and while he was thinking about it, the
+door opened and Aunt Tempy made her appearance. Her good-humor was
+infectious.
+
+"Name er goodness!" she exclaimed, "I lef' you all settin' yer way las'
+week; I goes off un I does my wuk, un I comes back, un I fines you
+settin' right whar I lef' you. Goodness knows, I dunner whar you gits
+yo' vittles. I dunner whar I ain't bin sence I lef' you all settin' yer.
+I let you know I bin a-usin' my feet un I been a-usin' my han's. Dat's
+me. No use ter ax how you all is, 'kaze you looks lots better'n me."
+
+"Yas, Sis Tempy, we er settin' yer whar you lef' us, en der Lord, he bin
+a-pervidin'. W'en de vittles don't come in at de do' hit come down de
+chimbly, en so w'at de odds? We er sorter po'ly, Sis Tempy, I'm 'blige
+ter you. You know w'at de jay-bird say ter der squinch owl! 'I'm sickly
+but sassy.'"
+
+Aunt Tempy laughed as she replied: "I 'speck you all bin a-havin' lots
+er fun. Goodness knows I wish many a time sence I bin gone dat I 'uz
+settin' down yer runnin' on wid you all. I ain't bin gone fur--dat's so,
+yit Mistiss put me ter cuttin'-out, un I tell you now dem w'at cuts out
+de duds fer all de niggers on dis place is got ter wuk fum soon in de
+mawnin' plum tel bed-time, dey ain't no two ways. 'T ain't no wuk youk'n
+kyar' 'bout wid you needer, 'kaze you got ter spread it right out on de
+flo' un git down on yo' knees. I mighty glad I done wid it, 'kaze my
+back feel like it done broke in a thous'n pieces. Honey, is Brer Remus
+bin a-tellin' you some mo' er dem ole-time tales?"
+
+Aunt Tempy's question gave the little boy an excuse for giving her brief
+outlines of some of the stories. One that he seemed to remember
+particularly well was the story of how Brother Rabbit and Brother Fox
+killed a cow, and how Brother Rabbit got the most and the best of the
+beef.
+
+"I done year talk uv a tale like dat," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, laughing
+heartily, "but 't ain't de same tale. I mos' 'shame' ter tell it."
+
+"You gittin' too ole ter be blushin', Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus with
+dignity.
+
+"Well den," said Aunt Tempy, wiping her fat face with her apron: "One
+time Brer Rabbit un Brer Wolf tuck'n gone off som'ers un kilt a cow, un
+w'en dey come fer ter 'vide out de kyarkiss, Brer Wolf 'low dat bein's
+he de biggest he oughter have de mos', un he light in, he did, un do
+like he gwine ter take it all. Brer Rabbit do like he don't keer much,
+but he keer so bad hit make 'im right sick. He tuck'n walk all 'roun' de
+kyarkiss, he did, un snuff de air, un terreckly he say:--
+
+"'Brer Wolf!--O Brer Wolf!--is dis meat smell 'zuckly right ter you?'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he cuttin' un he kyarvin' un he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer
+Rabbit, he walk all 'roun' un 'roun' de kyarkiss. He feel it un he kick
+it. Terreckly he say:--
+
+"'Brer Wolf!--O Brer Wolf!--Dis meat feel mighty flabby ter me; how it
+feel ter you?'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he year all dat's said, but he keep on a-cuttin' un a
+kyarvin'. Brer Rabbit say:--
+
+"'You kin talk er not talk, Brer Wolf, des ez youer min' ter, yit ef I
+ain't mistooken in de sign, you'll do some tall talkin' 'fo' youer done
+wid dis beef. Now you mark w'at I tell you!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit put out fum dar, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back
+wid a chunk er fier, un a dish er salt. W'en Brer Wolf see dis, he
+say:--
+
+"'W'at you gwine do wid all dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit laugh like he know mo' dan he gwine tell, un he say:--
+
+"'Bless yo' soul, Brer Wolf! I ain't gwine ter kyar er poun' er dis meat
+home tel I fin' out w'at de matter wid it. No I ain't--so dar now!'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit built 'im a fier un cut 'im off a slishe er steak un
+br'ilte it good un done, un den he e't little uv it. Fus' he'd tas'e un
+den he'd nibble; den he'd nibble un den he'd tas'e. He keep on tel he
+e't right smart piece. Den he went'n sot off little ways like he waitin'
+fer sump'n'.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he kyarve un he cut, but he keep one eye on Brer Rabbit.
+Brer Rabbit sot up dar same ez Judge on de bench. Brer Wolf, he watch
+his motions. Terreckly Brer Rabbit fling bofe han's up ter he head un
+fetch a groan. Brer Wolf cut un kyarve un watch Brer Rabbit motions.
+Brer Rabbit sorter sway backerds un forrerds un fetch 'n'er groan. Den
+he sway fum side to side un holler 'O Lordy!' Brer Wolf, he sorter 'gun
+ter git skeer'd un he ax Brer Rabbit w'at de matter. Brer Rabbit, he
+roll on de groun' un holler:--
+
+"'O Lordy, Lordy! I'm pizen'd, I'm pizen'd! O Lordy! I'm pizen'd! Run
+yer, somebody, run yer! De meat done got pizen on it. Oh, do run yer!'
+
+"Brer Wolf git so skeer'd dat he put out fum dar, un he wa'n't out er
+sight skacely 'fo' Brer Rabbit jump up fum dar un cut de pidjin-wing, un
+'t wa'n't so mighty long atter dat 'fo' Brer Rabbit done put all er dat
+beef in his smoke-house."
+
+"What became of Brother Wolf?" the little boy inquired.
+
+"Brer Wolf went atter de doctor," continued Aunt Tempy, making little
+tucks in her apron, "un w'en he come back Brer Rabbit un de beef done
+gone; un, bless goodness, ef it had n't er bin fer de sign whar Brer
+Rabbit built de fier, Brer Wolf would er bin mightly pester'd fer ter
+fine der place whar de cow bin kilt."
+
+At this juncture, 'Tildy, the house-girl, came in to tell Aunt Tempy
+that one of the little negroes had been taken suddenly sick.
+
+"I bin huntin' fer you over de whole blessid place," said 'Tildy.
+
+"No, you ain't--no, you ain't. You ain't bin huntin' nowhar. You know'd
+mighty well whar I wuz."
+
+"Law, Mam' Tempy, I can't keep up wid you. How I know you down yer
+courtin' wid Unk Remus?"
+
+"Yo' head mighty full er courtin', you nas' stinkin' huzzy!" exclaimed
+Aunt Tempy.
+
+Uncle Remus, strange to say, was unmoved. He simply said:--
+
+"W'en you see dat ar 'Tildy gal pirootin' 'roun' I boun' you ole Brer
+Affikin Jack ain't fur off. 'T won't be so mighty long 'fo' de ole
+creetur'll show up."
+
+"How you know dat, Unk Remus?" exclaimed 'Tildy, showing her white teeth
+and stretching her eyes. "Hit's de Lord's trufe; Mass Jeems done writ a
+letter ter Miss Sally, en' he say in dat letter dat Daddy Jack ax 'im
+fer ter tell Miss Sally ter tell me dat he'll be up yer dis week. Dat
+ole Affikin ape got de impidence er de Ole Boy. He dunner who he foolin'
+'longer!"
+
+
+
+
+LI
+
+MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF
+
+
+The next night the little boy hardly waited to eat his supper before
+going to Uncle Remus's house; and when Aunt Tempy failed to put in an
+appearance as early as he thought necessary, he did not hesitate to go
+after her. He had an idea that there was a sequel to the story she had
+told the night before, and he was right. After protesting against being
+dragged around from post to pillar by children, Aunt Tempy said:--
+
+"Atter Brer Rabbit tuck'n make out he 'uz pizen'd un git all de beef, 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' he chance to meet ole Brer Wolf right spang in de
+middle uv de road. Brer Rabbit, he sorter shied off ter one side, but
+Brer Wolf hail 'im:--
+
+"'W'oa dar, my colty! don't be so gayly. You better be 'shame' yo'se'f
+'bout de way you do me w'en we go inter cahoots wid dat beef.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he up'n ax Brer Wolf how all his folks. Brer Wolf say:--
+
+"'You'll fin' out how dey all is 'fo' dis day gone by. You took'n took
+de beef, en now I'm a-gwine ter take'n take you.'
+
+"Wid dis Brer Wolf make a dash at Brer Rabbit, but he des lack a little
+bit uv bein' quick 'nuff, en Brer Rabbit he des went a-sailin' thoo de
+woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'im, en yer dey had it--fus' Brer Rabbit
+en den Brer Wolf. Brer Rabbit mo' soopler dan Brer Wolf, but Brer Wolf
+got de 'vantage er de win', en terreckly he push Brer Rabbit so close
+dat he run in a holler log.
+
+"Brer Rabbit bin in dat log befo' en he know dey's a hole at de t'er
+een', en he des keep on a-gwine. He dart in one een' en he slip out de
+udder. He ain't stop ter say goo'-bye; bless you! he des keep on gwine.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he see Brer Rabbit run in de holler log, en he say ter
+hisse'f:--
+
+"'Heyo, dey bin callin' you so mighty cunnin' all dis time, en yer you
+done gone en shot yo'se'f up in my trap.'
+
+"Den Brer Wolf laugh en lay down by de een' whar Brer Rabbit went in, en
+pant en res' hisse'f. He see whar Brer B'ar burnin' off a new groun', en
+he holler en ax 'im fer ter fetch 'im a chunk er fier, en Brer B'ar he
+fotch it, en dey sot fier ter de holler log, en dey sot dar en watch it
+till it burn plum up. Den dey took'n shuck han's, en Brer Wolf say he
+hope dat atter dat dey'll have some peace in de neighborhoods."
+
+Uncle Remus smiled a knowing smile as he filled his pipe, but Aunt Tempy
+continued with great seriousness:--
+
+"One time atter dat, Brer Wolf, he took'n pay a call down ter Miss
+Meadows, en w'en he git dar en see Brer Rabbit settin' up side uv one er
+de gals, he like to 'a' fainted, dat he did. He 'uz dat 'stonish'd dat
+he look right down-hearted all endurin' uv de party.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he bow'd his howdies ter Brer Wolf un shuck han's 'long
+wid 'im, des like nothin' ain't never happen 'twixt 'um, en he up'n
+say:--
+
+"'Ah-law, Brer Wolf! Youer much mo' my fr'en' dan you ever 'speckted ter
+be, en you kin des count on me right straight 'long.'
+
+"Brer Wolf say he feel sorter dat a-way hisse'f, en he ax Brer Rabbit
+w'at make 'im change his min' so quick.
+
+"'Bless you, Brer Wolf, I had needs ter change it,' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how come.
+
+"'All about bein' burnt up in a holler log, Brer Wolf, en w'en you gits
+time I wish you be so good ez ter bu'n me up some mo',' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how so. Brer Rabbit say:--
+
+"'I'm fear'd ter tell you, Brer Wolf, 'kaze I don't want de news ter git
+out.'
+
+"Brer Wolf vow he won't tell nobody on de top side er de worl'. Brer
+Rabbit say:--
+
+"I done fin' out, Brer Wolf, dat w'en you git in a holler tree en
+somebody sets it a-fier, dat de nat'al honey des oozles out uv it, en
+mor'n dat, atter you git de honey all over you, 't ain't no use ter try
+ter burn you up, 'kaze de honey will puzzuv you. Don't 'ny me dis favor,
+Brer Wolf, 'kaze I done pick me out a n'er holler tree,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he wanter put right out den en dar, en Brer Rabbit say dat
+des de kinder man w'at he bin huntin' fer. Dey took deyse'f off en 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' dey came ter de tree w'at Brer Rabbit say he done pick
+out. W'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf, he so greedy fer ter git a tas'e er de
+honey dat he beg en beg Brer Rabbit fer ter let 'im git in de holler.
+Brer Rabbit, he hol' back, but Brer Wolf beg so hard dat Brer Rabbit
+'gree ter let 'im git in de holler.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he got in, he did, en Brer Rabbit stuff de hole full er dry
+leaves en trash, en den he got 'im a chunk er fier en totch 'er off. She
+smoked en smoked, en den she bust out in a blaze. Brer Rabbit, he pile
+up rocks, en brush, en sticks, so Brer Wolf can't git out. Terreckly
+Brer Wolf holler:--
+
+"'Gittin' mighty hot, Brer Rabbit! I ain't see no honey yit.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he pile on mo' trash, en holler back:--
+
+"'Don't be in no hurry, Brer Wolf; you'll see it en tas'e it too.'
+
+"Fier burn en burn, wood pop like pistol. Brer Wolf, he holler:
+
+"'Gittin' hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit. No honey come yit.'
+
+"'Hol' still, Brer Wolf, hit'll come.'
+
+"'Gimme a'r, Brer Rabbit; I'm a-chokin'.'
+
+"'Fresh a'r make honey sour. Des hol' still, Brer Wolf!'
+
+"'_Ow!_ she gittin' hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'Des hol' right still, Brer Wolf; mos' time fer de honey!'
+
+"'_Ow! ow!_ I'm a-burnin', Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'Wait fer de honey, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'I can't stan' it, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Stan' it like I did, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he pile on de trash en de leaves. He say:--
+
+"'I'll gin you honey, Brer Wolf; de same kinder honey you wanted ter
+gimme.'
+
+"En it seem like ter me," said Aunt Tempy, pleased at the interest the
+little boy had shown, "dat it done Brer Wolf des right."
+
+
+
+
+LII
+
+BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN
+
+
+The little boy had heard Uncle Remus lamenting that his candle was
+getting rather short, and he made it his business to go around the house
+and gather all the pieces he could find. He carried these to the old
+man, who received them with the liveliest satisfaction.
+
+"Now dish yer sorter look lak sump'n', honey. W'en ole Brer Jack come
+back, en Sis Tempy git in de habits er hangin' 'roun', we'll des light
+some er dese yer, en folks'll come by en see de shine, en dey'll go off
+en 'low dat hit's de night des 'fo' camp-meetin' at ole Remus house.
+
+"I got little piece dar in my chist w'at you brung me long time ergo, en
+I 'low ter myse'f dat ef shove ever git ter be push,[66] I'd des draw 'er
+out en light 'er up."
+
+"Mamma says Daddy Jack is coming back Sunday," said the little boy.
+
+"Dat w'at I year talk," replied the old man.
+
+"What did he go off for, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Jack bleedz ter go en see yo' Unk Jeems. He
+b'leeve de worl' go wrong ef he ain't do dat. Dat ole nigger b'leeve he
+white mon. He come up yer fum down de country whar de Lord done fersook
+um too long 'go ter talk 'bout,--he come up yer en he put on mo' a'rs
+dan w'at I dast ter do. Not dat I'm keerin', 'kaze goodness knows I
+ain't, yit I notices dat w'en I has ter go some'rs, dey's allers a great
+ter-do 'bout w'at is I'm a-gwine fer, en how long is I'm a-gwine ter
+stay; en ef I ain't back at de ve'y minit, dars Mars John a-growlin', en
+Miss Sally a-vowin' dat she gwine ter put me on de block."[67]
+
+Perhaps Uncle Remus's jealousy was more substantial than he was willing
+to admit; but he was talking merely to see what the little boy would
+say. The child, however, failed to appreciate the situation, seeing
+which the old man quickly changed the subject.
+
+"Times is mighty diffunt fum w'at dey use ter wuz, 'kaze de time has
+bin dat ef ole Brer Rabbit had er run'd up wid Brer Jack w'iles he
+comin' fum yo' Unk Jeems place, he'd outdone 'im des ez sho' ez de worl'
+stan's. Deze days de Rabbits has ter keep out de way er folks, but in
+dem days folks had ter keep out der way er ole Brer Rabbit. Ain't I
+never tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit whirl in en outdo Mr. Man?"
+
+"About the meat tied to the string, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"_Shoo!_ Dat ain't a drap in de bucket, honey. Dish yer wuz de time w'en
+ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine 'long de big road, en he meet Mr. Man drivin'
+'long wid a waggin chock full er money."
+
+"Where did he get so much money, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Bruisin' 'round en peddlin' 'bout. Mr. Man got w'at lots er folks ain't
+got,--good luck, long head, quick eye, en slick fingers. But no marter
+'bout dat, he got de money; en w'en you sorter grow up so you kin knock
+'roun', 't won't be long 'fo' some un'll take en take you off 'roun' de
+cornder en tell you dat 't ain't make no diffunce whar de money come fum
+so de man got it. Dey won't tell you dat in de meeting-house, but dey'll
+come mighty nigh it.
+
+"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar. Mr. Man, he come a-drivin' 'long de
+big road, en he got a waggin full er money. Brer Rabbit, he come
+a-lippity-clippitin' 'long de big road, en he ain't got no waggin full
+er money. Ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n tuck a notion dat dey's sump'n' wrong
+some'rs, 'kaze ef dey wa'n't, he 'ud have des ez much waggin en money ez
+Mr. Man. He study, en study, en he can't make out how dat is. Bimeby he
+up'n holler out:--
+
+"'Mr. Man, please, sir, lemme ride.'
+
+"Mr. Man, he tuck'n stop he waggin, en 'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! how come dis? You comin' one way en I gwine nudder;
+how come you wanter ride?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he up'n scratch hisse'f on de back er de neck wid he
+behime foot, en holler out:--
+
+"'Mr. Man, yo' sho'ly can't be 'quainted 'long wid me. I'm one er dem
+ar ole-time kinder folks w'at ain't a-keerin' w'ich way deyer gwine long
+ez deyer ridin'.'"
+
+The little boy laughed a sympathetic laugh, showing that he heartily
+endorsed this feature of Brother Rabbit's programme.
+
+"Atter so long a time," Uncle Remus went on, "Mr. Man 'gree ter let Brer
+Rabbit ride a little piece. He try ter git Brer Rabbit fer ter ride upon
+de seat wid 'im so dey kin git ter 'sputin' 'n'er, but Brer Rabbit say
+he fear'd he fall off, en he des tuck'n sot right flat down in de bottom
+er de waggin, en make lak he fear'd ter move.
+
+"Bimeby, w'iles dey goin' down hill, en Mr. Man hatter keep he eye on de
+hosses, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n fling out a great big hunk er de money.
+Dez ez de money hit de groun' Brer Rabbit holler out:--
+
+"'_Ow_!'
+
+"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' you 'bout ter jolt my jaw-bone
+a-loose.'
+
+"Dey go on little furder, en Brer Rabbit fling out 'n'er hunk er de
+money. Wen she hit de groun', Brer Rabbit holler:--
+
+"'_Blam_!'
+
+"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' I seed a jaybird flyin' 'long, en I
+make lak I had a gun.'
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way twel fus' news you know Mr. Man ain't got a sign
+er money in dat waggin. Seem lak Mr. Man ain't notice dis twel he git a
+mighty fur ways fum de place whar Brer Rabbit drap out de las' hunk;
+but, gentermens! w'en he do fine it out, you better b'leeve he sot up a
+howl.
+
+"'Whar my money? Whar my nice money? Whar my waggin full er purty
+money? O you long-year'd rascal! Whar my money? Oh, gimme my money!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit sot dar en lissen at 'im lak he 'stonish'd. Den he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Look out, Mr. Man! folks'll come 'long en year you gwine on dat a-way,
+en dey'll go off en say you done gone ravin' 'stracted.'
+
+"Yit Mr. Man keep on holler'n en beggin' Brer Rabbit fer ter gin 'im de
+money, en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he git sorter skeer'd en he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Sun gittin' low, Mr. Man, en I better be gittin' 'way fum yer. De
+sooner I goes de better, 'kaze ef you keep on lak you gwine, 't won't be
+long 'fo' you'll be excusin' me er takin' dat ar money. I'm 'blige' fer
+de ride, Mr. Man, en I wish you mighty well.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit got de money," continued Uncle Remus, gazing placidly into
+the fire, "en hit's mighty kuse ter me dat he ain't git de waggin en
+hosses. Dat 't is!"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[66] A plantation saying. It means if hard times get harder. A briefer
+form is "w'en shove 'come push"--when the worst comes to the worst.
+
+[67] That is to say, put him on the block, and sell him.
+
+
+
+
+LIII
+
+BRER RABBIT TAKES A WALK
+
+
+"Eve'y time I run over in my min' 'bout the pranks er Brer Rabbit,"
+Uncle Remus continued, without giving the little boy time to ask any
+more embarrassing questions about Mr. Man and his wagon full of money,
+"hit make me laugh mo' en mo'. He mos' allers come out on top, yit dey
+wuz times w'en he hatter be mighty spry."
+
+"When was that, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little boy.
+
+"I min' me er one time w'en de t'er creeturs all git de laugh on 'im,"
+responded the old man, "en dey make 'im feel sorter 'shame'. Hit seem
+lak dat dey 'uz some kinder bodderment 'mungs' de creeturs en wud went
+out dat dey all got ter meet terge'er some'rs en ontangle de
+tanglements.
+
+"W'en de time come, dey wuz all un um dar, en dey hilt der confab right
+'long. All un um got sump'n' ter say, en dey talk dar, dey did, des lak
+dey 'uz paid fer talkin'. Dey all had der plans, en dey jabbered des lak
+folks does w'en dey call deyse'f terge'er. Hit come 'bout dat Mr. Dog
+git a seat right close by Brer Rabbit, en w'en he open he mouf fer ter
+say sump'n', he toofs look so long en so strong, en dey shine so w'ite,
+dat it feel mighty kuse.
+
+"Mr. Dog, he'd say sump'n', Brer Rabbit, he'd jump en dodge. Mr. Dog,
+he'd laugh, Brer Rabbit, he'd dodge en jump. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel
+eve'y time Brer Rabbit'd dodge en jump, de t'er creeturs dey'd slap der
+han's terge'er en break out in a laugh. Mr. Dog, he tuck'n tuck a notion
+dat dey 'uz laughin' at him, en dis make 'im so mad dat he 'gun ter
+growl en snap right smartually, en it come ter dat pass dat w'en Brer
+Rabbit'd see Mr. Dog make a motion fer ter say a speech, he'd des drap
+down en git und' de cheer.
+
+"Co'se dis make um laugh wuss en wuss, en de mo' dey laugh de madder it
+make Mr. Dog, twel bimeby he git so mad he fa'rly howl, en Brer Rabbit
+he sot dar, he did, en shuck lak he got er ager.
+
+"Atter w'ile Brer Rabbit git sorter on t'er side, en he make a speech en
+say dey oughter be a law fer ter make all de creeturs w'at got tushes
+ketch en eat der vittles wid der claws. All un um 'gree ter dis 'cep'
+hit's Mr. Dog, Brer Wolf, en Brer Fox.
+
+"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, "ef all de creeturs ain't 'gree,
+dey put it off twel de nex' meetin' en talk it over some mo', en dat's
+de way dey done wid Brer Rabbit projick. Dey put it off twel de nex'
+time.
+
+"Brer Rabbit got a kinder sneakin' notion dat de creeturs ain't gwine do
+lak he want um ter do, en he 'low ter Brer Wolf dat he 'speck de bes'
+way fer ter do is ter git all de creeturs ter 'gree fer ter have Mr. Dog
+mouf sew'd up, 'kaze he toofs look so venomous; en Brer Wolf say dey ull
+all go in fer dat.
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, w'en de day done come, Brer Rabbit he git up en say dat de
+bes' way ter do is have Mr. Dog mouf sew'd up so he toofs won't look so
+venomous. Dey all 'gree, en den Mr. Lion, settin' up in de arm-cheer, he
+ax who gwine do de sewin'.
+
+"Den dey all up'n 'low dat de man w'at want de sewin' done, he de man
+fer ter do it, 'kaze den he ull know it done bin done right. Brer
+Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'I ain't got no needle.'
+
+"Brer B'ar, he sorter feel in de flap er he coat collar, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great big one!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study 'g'in, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'I ain't got no th'ead.'
+
+"Brer B'ar, he tuck'n pull a rav'lin' fum de bottom er he wescut, en he
+'low:--
+
+"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great long one!'
+
+"Ef it had er bin anybody in de roun' worl' he'd er 'gun ter feel sorter
+ticklish," Uncle Remus went on. "But ole Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n lay
+he finger 'cross he nose, en 'low:--
+
+"'Des hol' um dar fer me, Brer B'ar, en I'll be much 'blige ter you.
+_Hit's des 'bout my time er day fer ter take a walk!_'"
+
+Uncle Remus laughed as heartily as the child, and added:--
+
+"Some folks say de creeturs had de grins on Brer Rabbit 'bout dat time;
+but I tell you right pine-blank dey ain't grin much w'en dey year Brer
+Rabbit say dat."
+
+
+
+
+LIV
+
+OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF
+
+
+At last Daddy Jack returned, and the fact that the little boy had missed
+him and inquired about him, seemed to give the old African particular
+pleasure. It was probably a new experience to Daddy Jack, and it vaguely
+stirred some dim instinct in his bosom that impelled him to greet the
+child with more genuine heartiness than he had ever displayed in all his
+life. He drew the little boy up to him, patted him gently on the cheek,
+and exclaimed:--
+
+"Ki! I bin want fer see you bery bahd. I bin-a tell you' nunk Jeem' how
+fine noung màn you is. 'E ahx wey you no come fer shum. Fine b'y--fine
+b'y!"
+
+"Well, ef dat's de way youer gwine on, Brer Jack, you'll spile dat chap
+sho'. A whole sack er salt won't save 'im."
+
+"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Remus," said Aunt Tempy, who had come in.
+"Don't seem like he bad like some yuther childun w'at I seen. Bless you,
+I know childun w'at'd keep dish yer whole place tarryfied--dat dey
+would!"
+
+"Well, sir," said Uncle Remus, shaking his head and groaning, "you all
+ain't wid dat young un dar much ez I is. Some days w'en dey ain't nobody
+lookin', en dey ain't nobody nowhar fer ter take keer un me, dat ar
+little chap dar 'll come down yer en chunk me wid rocks, en 'buze me en
+holler at me scan'lous."
+
+The little boy looked so shocked that Uncle Remus broke into a laugh
+that shook the cobwebs in the corners; then, suddenly relapsing into
+seriousness, he drew himself up with dignity and remarked:--
+
+"Good er bad, you can't git 'long wid 'im less'n you sets in ter tellin'
+tales, en, Brer Jack, I hope you got some 'long wid you."
+
+Daddy Jack rubbed his hands together, and said:--
+
+"Me bin yeddy one tale; 'e mekky me lahff tel I is 'come tire'."
+
+"Fer de Lord sake less have it den!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, with
+unction. Whereupon, the small but appreciative audience disposed itself
+comfortably, and Daddy Jack, peering at each one in turn, his eyes
+shining between his half-closed lids as brightly as those of some wild
+animal, began:--
+
+"One tam B'er Rabbit is bin traffel 'roun' fer see 'e neighbor folks. 'E
+bin mahd wit' B'er Wolf fer so long tam; 'e mek no diffran, 'e come pas'
+'e house 'e no see nuttin', 'e no yeddy nuttin'. 'E holler:--
+
+"'Hi, B'er Wolf! wey you no fer mek answer wun me ahx you howdy? Wey fer
+you is do dis 'fo' me werry face? Wut mekky you do dis?'
+
+"'E wait, 'e lissun; nuttin' no mek answer. B'er Rabbit, 'e holler:--
+
+"'Come-a show you'se'f, B'er Wolf! Come-a show you'se'f. Be 'shame' fer
+not show you'se'f wun you' 'quaintun' come bisitin' wey you lif!'
+
+"Nuttin' 't all no mek answer, un B'er Rabbit 'come berry mahd. 'E 'come
+so mahd 'e stomp 'e fut un bump 'e head 'pon da fence-side. Bumbye 'e
+tek heart, 'e y-opun da do', 'e is look inside da house. Fier bu'n in da
+chimbly, pot set 'pon da fier, ole ooman sed by da pot. Fier bu'n, pot,
+'e bile, ole ooman, 'e tek 'e nap.
+
+"Da ole ooman, 'e ole Granny Wolf; 'e cripple in 'e leg, 'e bline in 'e
+y-eye, 'e mos' deaf in 'e year. 'E deaf, but 'e bin yeddy B'er Rabbit
+mek fuss at da do', un 'e is cry out:--
+
+"'Come-a see you' ole Granny, me gran'son--come-a see you' Granny! Da
+fier is bin bu'n, da pot is bin b'ile; come-a fix you' Granny some
+bittle,[68] me gran'son.'"
+
+Daddy Jack's representation of the speech and action of an old woman was
+worth seeing and hearing. The little boy laughed, and Uncle Remus smiled
+good-humoredly; but Aunt Tempy looked at the old African with
+open-mouthed astonishment. Daddy Jack, however, cared nothing for any
+effect he might produce. He told the story for the story's sake, and he
+made no pause for the purpose of gauging the appreciation of his
+audience.
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e is bin mek 'ese'f comfuts by da fier. Bumbye, 'e
+holler:--
+
+"'Hi, Granny! I bin cripple mese'f; me y-eye bin-a come bline. You mus'
+bile-a me in da water, Granny, so me leg is kin come well, en so me
+y-eye kin come see.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e mighty ha'd fer fool. 'E bin tek 'im one chunk woot, 'e
+drap da woot in da pot. 'E bin say:--
+
+"'I is bin feelin' well, me Granny. Me leg, 'e comin' strong, me y-eye
+'e fix fer see.'
+
+"Granny Wolf, 'e shek 'e head; 'e cry:--
+
+"'Me one leg cripple, me turrer leg cripple; me one eye bline, me turrer
+y-eye bline. Wey you no fer pit me in da pot fer mek me well?'
+
+"B'er Rabbit laff in 'e belly; 'e say:--
+
+"'Hol' you'se'f still, me Granny; I fix you one place in da pot wey you
+is kin fetch-a back da strenk in you' leg en da sight in you' eye. Hol'
+still, me Granny!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e is bin tekky da chunk y-out da pot; 'e tekky da chunk,
+en 'e is bin pit Granny Wolf in dey place. 'E tetch da water, 'e
+holler:--
+
+"'Ow! tekky me way fum dis!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit say 'tiss not da soon 'nuff tam. Granny Wolf, 'e holler:--
+
+"'Ow! tekky me way fum dis! 'E bin too hot!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e no tekky da Mammy Wolf fum da pot, en bumbye 'e die in
+dey. B'er Rabbit 'e tek 'e bone en t'row um 'way; 'e leaf da meat. 'E
+tek Granny Wolf frock, 'e tu'n um 'roun', 'e pit um on; 'e tek Granny
+Wolf cap, 'e tu'n 'roun', 'e pit um on. 'E sed deer by da fier, 'e hol'
+'e'se'f in 'e cheer sem lak Granny Wolf.
+
+"Bumbye B'er Wolf is bin-a come back. 'E walk in 'e house, 'e say:--
+
+"'Me honkry, Grinny-Granny! Me honkry, fer true!'
+
+"'You' dinner ready, Grin'son-Gran'son!'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e look in da pot, 'e smell in da pot, 'e stir in da pot. 'E
+eat 'e dinner, 'e smack 'e mout'."
+
+The little boy shuddered, and Aunt Tempy exclaimed, "In de name er de
+Lord!" The old African paid no attention to either.
+
+"B'er Wolf eat 'e dinner; 'e call 'e chilluns, 'e ahx um is dey no want
+nuttin' 't all fer eat. 'E holler back:--
+
+"'We no kin eat we Grinny-Granny!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e run 'way fum dey-dey; 'e holler back:--
+
+"'B'er Wolf, you is bin eat you' Grinny-Granny.'
+
+"B'er Wolf bin-a git so mad 'e yent mos' kin see. 'E yeddy B'er Rabbit
+holler, en 'e try fer ketch um. 'E feer teer up da grass wey 'e run
+'long. Bumbye 'e come 'pon B'er Rabbit. 'E is bin push um ha'd. B'er
+Rabbit run un-a run tel 'e yent kin run no mo'; 'e hide 'neat' leanin'
+tree. B'er Wolf, 'e fine um; B'er Rabbit 'e holler:--
+
+"'Hi! B'er Wolf! mek 'as'e come hol' up da tree, 'fo' 'e is fall
+dey-dey; come-a hol' um, B'er Wolf, so I is kin prop um up.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e hol' up da tree fer B'er Rabbit; 'e hol' um till 'e do
+come tire'. B'er Rabbit gone!"
+
+Daddy Jack paused. His story was ended. The little boy drew a long
+breath and said:--
+
+"I did n't think Brother Rabbit would burn anybody to death in a pot of
+boiling water."
+
+"Dat," said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, "wuz endurin' er de dog days. Dey
+er mighty wom times, mon, dem ar dog days is."
+
+This was intended to satisfy such scruples as the child might have, and
+it was no doubt successful, for the youngster said no more, but watched
+Uncle Remus as the latter leisurely proceeded to fill his pipe.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[68] Victuals.
+
+
+
+
+LV
+
+HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT
+
+
+Uncle Remus chipped the tobacco from the end of a plug, rubbed it
+between the palms of his hands, placed it in his pipe, dipped the pipe
+in the glowing embers, and leaned back in his chair, and seemed to be
+completely happy.
+
+"Hit mought not er bin endurin' er de dog days," said the old man,
+recurring to Daddy Jack's story, "'kaze dey wuz times dat w'en dey push
+ole Brer Rabbit so close he 'uz des bleedz ter git he revengeance out'n
+um. Dat mought er bin de marter 'twix' him en ole Grinny-Granny Wolf,
+'kaze w'en ole Brer Rabbit git he dander up, he 'uz a monst'us bad man
+fer ter fool wid.
+
+"Dey tuck atter 'im," continued Uncle Remus, "en dey 'buzed 'im, en dey
+tried ter 'stroy 'im, but dey wuz times w'en de t'er creeturs bleedz ter
+call on 'im fer ter he'p 'em out dey trouble. I ain't nev' tell you
+'bout little Wattle Weasel, is I?" asked the old man, suddenly turning
+to the little boy.
+
+The child laughed. The dogs on the plantation had killed a weasel a few
+nights before,--a very cunning-looking little animal,--and some of the
+negroes had sent it to the big house as a curiosity. He connected this
+fact with Uncle Remus's allusions to the weasel. Before he could make
+any reply, however, the old man went on:--
+
+"No, I boun' I ain't, en it come 'cross me right fresh en hot time I
+year talk er Brer Wolf eatin' he granny. Dey wuz one time w'en all de
+creeturs wuz livin' in de same settlement en usin' out'n de same spring,
+en it got so dat dey put all dey butter in de same piggin'. Dey put it
+in dar, dey did, en dey put it in de spring-house, en dey'd go off en
+'ten' ter dey business. Den w'en dey come back dey'd fine whar some un
+been nibblin' at dey butter. Dey tuck'n hide dat butter all 'roun' in de
+spring-house; dey sot it on de rafters, en dey bury it in de san'; yit
+all de same de butter 'ud come up missin'.
+
+"Bimeby it got so dey dunner w'at ter do; dey zamin' de tracks, en dey
+fine out dat de man w'at nibble dey butter is little Wattle Weasel. He
+come in de night, he come in de day; dey can't ketch 'im. Las' de
+creeturs tuck'n helt er confab, en dey 'gree dat dey hatter set some un
+fer ter watch en ketch Wattle Weasel.
+
+"Brer Mink wuz de fus' man 'p'inted, 'kaze he wa'n't mo'n a half a
+han'[69] no way you kin fix it. De t'er creeturs dey tuck'n went off ter
+dey wuk, en Brer Mink he tuck'n sot up wid de butter. He watch en he
+lissen, he lissen en he watch; he ain't see nothin', he ain't year
+nothin'. Yit he watch, 'kaze der t'er creeturs done fix up a law dat ef
+Wattle Weasel come w'iles somebody watchin' en git off bidout gittin'
+kotch, de man w'at watchin' ain't kin eat no mo' butter endurin' er dat
+year.
+
+"Brer Mink, he watch en he wait. He set so still dat bimeby he git de
+cramps in de legs, en des 'bout dat time little Wattle Weasel pop he
+head und' de do'. He see Brer Mink, en he hail 'im:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Mink! you look sorter lonesome in dar. Come out yer en less
+take a game er hidin'-switch.'
+
+"Brer Mink, he wanter have some fun, he did, en he tuck'n jine Wattle
+Weasel in de game. Dey play en dey play twel, bimeby, Brer Mink git so
+wo' out dat he ain't kin run, skacely, en des soon ez dey sets down ter
+res', Brer Mink, he draps off ter sleep. Little Wattle Weasel, so mighty
+big en fine, he goes en nibbles up de butter, en pops out de way he come
+in.
+
+    [Illustration: "HE SORTER HUNCH BRER POSSUM IN DE SHORT RIBS,
+    EN AX 'IM HOW HE COME ON"]
+
+"De creeturs, dey come back, dey did, en dey fine de butter nibbled, en
+Wattle Weasel gone. Wid dat, dey marks Brer Mink down, en he ain't
+kin eat no mo' butter dat year. Den dey fix up 'n'er choosement en
+'p'int Brer Possum fer ter watch de butter.
+
+"Brer Possum, he grin en watch, and bimeby, sho' 'nuff, in pop little
+Wattle Weasel. He come in, he did, en he sorter hunch Brer Possum in de
+short ribs, en ax 'im how he come on. Brer Possum mighty ticklish, en
+time Wattle Weasel totch 'im in de short ribs, he 'gun ter laugh. Wattle
+Weasel totch 'im ag'in en laugh wusser, en he keep on hunchin' 'im dat
+a-way twel bimeby Brer Possum laugh hisse'f plum outer win', en Wattle
+Weasel lef 'im dar en nibble up de butter.
+
+"De creeturs, dey tuck'n mark Brer Possum down, en 'p'int Brer Coon.
+Brer Coon, he tuck'n start in all so mighty fine; but w'iles he settin'
+dar, little Wattle Weasel banter 'im fer a race up de branch. No sooner
+say dan yer dey went! Brer Coon, he foller de tu'ns er de branch, en
+little Wattle Weasel he take'n take nigh cuts, en 't wa'n't no time 'fo'
+he done run Brer Coon plum down. Den dey run down de branch, and 'fo'
+Brer Coon kin ketch up wid 'im, dat little Wattle Weasel done got back
+ter de noggin er butter, en nibble it up.
+
+"Den de creeturs tuck'n mark Brer Coon down, dey did, en 'p'int Brer Fox
+fer ter watch de butter. Wattle Weasel sorter 'fear'd 'er Brer Fox. He
+study long time, en den he wait twel night. Den he tuck'n went 'roun' in
+de ole fiel' en woke up de Killdees[70] en druv 'roun' todes de
+spring-house. Brer Fox year um holler, en it make he mouf water. Bimeby,
+he 'low ter hisse'f dat 't ain't no harm ef he go out en slip up on
+one."
+
+"Dar now!" said Aunt Tempy.
+
+"Brer Fox tuck'n slip out, en Wattle Weasel he slicked in, en bless yo'
+soul! dar goes de butter!"
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"Brer Fox he git marked down," continued Uncle Remus, "en den de
+creeturs tuck'n 'p'int Brer Wolf fer ter be dey watcher. Brer Wolf, he
+sot up dar, he did, en sorter nod, but bimeby he year some un talkin'
+outside de spring-house. He h'ist up he years en lissen. Look lak some
+er de creeturs wuz gwine by, en talkin' 'mungs' deysef'; but all Brer
+Wolf kin year is dish yer:--
+
+"'I wonder who put dat ar young sheep down dar by de chinkapin tree, en
+I like ter know wharbouts Brer Wolf is.'
+
+"Den it seem lak dey pass on, en ole Brer Wolf, he fergotted w'at he in
+dar fer, en he dash down ter de chinkapin tree, fer ter git de young
+sheep. But no sheep dar, en w'en he git back, he see signs whar Wattle
+Weasel done bin in dar en nibble de butter.
+
+"Den de creeturs tuck'n mark Brer Wolf down, en 'p'int Brer B'ar fer ter
+keep he eye 'pun de noggin er butter. Brer B'ar he tuck'n sot up dar, he
+did, en lick he paw, en feel good. Bimeby Wattle Weasel come dancin' in.
+He 'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer B'ar, how you come on? I 'low'd I yeard you snortin' in
+yer, en I des drapt in fer ter see.'
+
+"Brer B'ar tell him howdy, but he sorter keep one eye on 'im. Little
+Wattle Weasel 'low:--
+
+"'En you got ticks on yo' back, Brer B'ar?'
+
+"Wid dat Wattle Weasel 'gun ter rub Brer B'ar on de back en scratch 'im
+on de sides, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'uz stretch out fast asleep en
+sno'in' lak a saw-mill. Co'se Wattle Weasel git de butter. Brer B'ar he
+got marked down, and den de creeturs ain't know w'at dey gwine do
+skacely.
+
+"Some say sen' fer Brer Rabbit, some say sen' fer Brer Tarrypin; but
+las' dey sent fer Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit, he tuck a notion dat dey 'uz
+fixin' up some kinder trick on 'im, en dey hatter beg mightily, mon,
+'fo' he 'ud come en set up 'longside er dey butter.
+
+"But bimeby he 'greed, en he went down ter de spring-house en look
+'roun'. Den he tuck'n got 'im a twine string, en hide hisse'f whar he
+kin keep he eye on de noggin er butter. He ain't wait long 'fo' yer
+come Wattle Weasel. Des ez he 'bout ter nibble at de butter, Brer Rabbit
+holler out:--
+
+"'Let dat butter 'lone!'
+
+"Wattle Weasel jump back lak de butter bu'nt 'im. He jump back, he did,
+en say:--
+
+"'Sho'ly dat mus' be Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'De same. I 'low'd you'd know me. Des let dat butter 'lone.'
+
+"'Des lemme git one little bit er tas'e, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Des let dat butter 'lone.'
+
+"Den Wattle Weasel say he want er run a race. Brer Rabbit 'low he tired.
+Wattle Weasel 'low he want er play hidin'. Brer Rabbit 'low dat all he
+hidin' days is pas' en gone. Wattle Weasel banter'd en banter'd 'im, en
+bimeby Brer Rabbit come up wid a banter er he own.
+
+"'I'll take'n tie yo' tail,' sezee, 'en you'll take'n tie mine, en den
+we'll see w'ich tail de strongest.' Little Wattle Weasel know how weakly
+Brer Rabbit tail is, but he ain't know how strong Brer Rabbit bin wid he
+tricks. So dey tuck'n tie der tails wid Brer Rabbit twine string.
+
+"Wattle Weasel wuz ter stan' inside en Brer Rabbit wuz ter stan'
+outside, en dey wuz ter pull 'gin' one er n'er wid dey tails. Brer
+Rabbit, he tuck'n slip out'n de string, en tie de een' 'roun' a tree
+root, en den he went en peep at Wattle Weasel tuggin' en pullin'. Bimeby
+Wattle Weasel 'low:--
+
+"'Come en ontie me, Brer Rabbit, 'kaze you done outpull me.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en chaw he cud, en look lak he feel sorry
+'bout sump'n'. Bimeby all de creeturs come fer ter see 'bout dey butter,
+'kaze dey fear'd Brer Rabbit done make way wid it. Yit w'en dey see
+little Wattle Weasel tie by de tail, dey make great 'miration 'bout Brer
+Rabbit, en dey 'low he de smartest one er de whole gang."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[69] That is, could do no more than half the work of a man.
+
+[70] Killdeers--a species of plover.
+
+
+
+
+LVI
+
+BRER RABBIT TIES MR. LION
+
+
+There was some comment and some questions were asked by the little boy
+in regard to Wattle Weasel and the other animals; to all of which Uncle
+Remus made characteristic response. Aunt Tempy sat with one elbow on her
+knee, her head resting in the palm of her fat hand. She gazed intently
+into the fire, and seemed to be lost in thought. Presently she
+exclaimed:--
+
+"Well, de Lord he'p my soul!"
+
+"Dat's de promise, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, solemnly.
+
+Aunt Tempy laughed, as she straightened herself in her chair, and
+said:--
+
+"I des knowed dey wuz sump'n' 'n'er gwine 'cross my min' w'en I year
+talk 'bout dat ar sheep by de chinkapin tree."
+
+"Out wid it, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, by way of encouragement; "out
+wid it; free yo' min', en des make yo'se'f welcome."
+
+"No longer'n Sunday 'fo' las', I 'uz 'cross dar at de Spivey place en I
+tuck'n year'd a nigger man tellin' de same tale, en I 'low ter myse'f
+dat I'd take'n take it en kyar' it home en gin it out w'en I come ter
+pass de time wid Brer Remus en all uv um. I 'low ter myse'f I'll take it
+en kyar' it dar, en I'll des tell it my own way."
+
+"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, approvingly, "me en dish yer chap, we er
+willin' en a-waitin', en ez fer Brer Jack over dar, we kin say de same
+fer him, 'kaze I up en year 'im draw mighty long breff des now lak he
+fixin' fer ter snort. But you neenter min' dat ole creetur, Sis Tempy.
+Des push right ahead."
+
+"Ah-h-h-e-e!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, snapping his bright little eyes at
+Uncle Remus with some display of irritation; "you tek-a me fer be sleep
+ebry tam I shed-a me y-eye, you is mek fool-a you'se'f. _Warrah yarrah
+garrah tarrah!_"[71]
+
+"Brer Remus!" said Aunt Tempy, in an awed whisper, "maybe he's a-cunju'n
+un you."
+
+"No-no!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, snappishly, "me no cuncher no'n' 't all.
+Wun me cuncher you all you yeddy bone crack. Enty!"
+
+"Well, in de name er de Lord, don't come a-cunju'n wid me, 'kaze I'm des
+as peaceable ez de day's long," said Aunt Tempy.
+
+Uncle Remus smiled and closed his eyes with an air of disdain, caught
+from his old Mistress, the little boy's grandmother, long since dead.
+
+"Tell yo' tale, Sis Tempy," he said pleasantly, "en leave de talk er
+cunju'n ter de little nigger childun. We er done got too ole fer dat
+kinder foolishness."
+
+This was for the ear of the little boy. In his heart Uncle Remus was
+convinced that Daddy Jack was capable of changing himself into the
+blackest of black cats, with swollen tail, arched back, fiery eyes, and
+protruding fangs. But the old man's attitude reassured Aunt Tempy, as
+well as the child, and forthwith she proceeded with her story:--
+
+"Hit seem like dat one time w'en Brer Rabbit fine hisse'f way off in de
+middle er de woods, de win' strike up un 'gun ter blow. Hit blow down on
+de groun' en it blow up in de top er de timber, en it blow so hard twel
+terreckerly Brer Rabbit tuck a notion dat he better git out fum dar 'fo'
+de timber 'gun ter fall.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he broke en run, en, Man--Sir![72] w'en dat creetur run'd
+he run'd, now you year w'at I tell yer! He broke en run, he did, en he
+fa'rly flew 'way fum dar. W'iles he gwine 'long full tilt, he run'd
+ag'in' ole Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he hail 'im:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! Wat yo' hurry?'
+
+"'Run, Mr. Lion, run! Dey's a harrycane comin' back dar in de timbers.
+You better run!'
+
+"Dis make Mr. Lion sorter skeer'd. He 'low:--
+
+"'I mos' too heavy fer ter run fur, Brer Rabbit. W'at I gwine do?'
+
+"'Lay down, Mr. Lion, lay down! Git close ter de groun'!'
+
+"Mr. Lion shake his head. He 'low:--
+
+"'Ef win' lierbul fer ter pick up little man like you is, Brer Rabbit,
+w'at it gwine do wid big man like me?'
+
+"'Hug a tree, Mr. Lion, hug a tree!'
+
+"Mr. Lion lash hisse'f wid his tail. He 'low:--
+
+"'Wat I gwine do ef de win' blow all day en a good part er de night,
+Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Lemme tie you ter de tree, Mr. Lion! lemme tie you ter de tree!'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he tuk'n 'gree ter dis, en Brer Rabbit, he got 'im a hick'ry
+split[73] en tie 'im hard en fast ter de tree. Den he tuck'n sot down,
+ole Brer Rabbit did, en wash his face en han's des same ez you see de
+cats doin'. Terreckerly Mr. Lion git tired er stan'in' dar huggin' de
+tree, en he ax Brer Rabbit w'at de reason he ain't keep on runnin', en
+Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low dat he gwine ter stay der en take keer Mr.
+Lion.
+
+"Terreckerly Mr. Lion say he ain't year no harrycane. Brer Rabbit say he
+ain't needer. Mr. Lion say he ain't year no win' a-blowin'. Brer Rabbit
+say he ain't needer. Mr. Lion say he ain't so much ez year a leaf
+a-stirrin'. Brer Rabbit say he ain't needer. Mr. Lion sorter study, en
+Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en wash his face en lick his paws.
+
+"Terreckerly Mr. Lion ax Brer Rabbit fer ter onloose 'im.
+
+Brer Rabbit say he fear'd. Den Mr. Lion git mighty mad, en he 'gun ter
+beller wuss'n one er deze yer bull-yearlin's. He beller so long en he
+beller so loud twel present'y de t'er creeturs dey 'gun ter come up fer
+ter see w'at de matter.
+
+"Des soon ez dey come up, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n 'gun ter talk biggity
+en strut 'roun', en, Man--Sir! w'en dem yuthers see dat Brer Rabbit done
+got Mr. Lion tied up, I let you know dey tuck'n walked way 'roun' 'im,
+en 't wuz many a long day 'fo' dey tuck'n pestered ole Brer Rabbit."
+
+Here Aunt Tempy paused. The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit tied
+Mr. Lion for; but she did n't know; Uncle Remus, however, came to the
+rescue.
+
+"One time long 'fo' dat, honey, Brer Rabbit went ter de branch fer ter
+git a drink er water, en ole Mr. Lion tuck'n druv 'im off, en fum dat
+time out Brer Rabbit bin huntin' a chance fer ter ketch up wid 'im."
+
+"Dat's so," said Aunt Tempy, and then she added:--
+
+"I 'clare I ain't gwine tell you all not na'er n'er tale, dat I ain't.
+'Kaze you des set dar en you ain't crack a smile fum de time I begin. Ef
+dat'd 'a' bin Brer Remus, now, dey'd 'a' bin mo' gigglin' gwine on dan
+you kin shake a stick at. I'm right down mad, dat I is."
+
+"Well, I tell you dis, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, with unusual
+emphasis, "ef deze yer tales wuz des fun, fun, fun, en giggle, giggle,
+giggle, I let you know I'd a-done drapt um long ago. Yasser, w'en it
+come down ter gigglin' you kin des count ole Remus out."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[71] This is simply "gullah" negro talk intended to be unintelligible,
+and therefore impressive. It means "One or the other is as good as
+t'other."
+
+[72] An expression used to give emphasis and to attract attention; used
+in the sense that Uncle Remus uses "Gentermens!"
+
+[73] Hickory withe.
+
+
+
+
+LVII
+
+MR. LION'S SAD PREDICAMENT
+
+
+The discussion over Aunt Tempy's fragmentary story having exhausted
+itself, Daddy Jack turned up his coat collar until it was as high as the
+top of his head, and then tried to button it under his chin. If this
+attempt had been successful, the old African would have presented a
+diabolical appearance; but the coat refused to be buttoned in that
+style. After several attempts, which created no end of amusement for the
+little boy, Daddy Jack said:--
+
+"Da Lion, 'e no hab bin sma't lak B'er Rabbit. 'E strong wit' 'e fut, 'e
+strong wit' 'e tush, but 'e no strong wit' 'e head. 'E bery foolish,
+'cep' 'e is bin hab chance ter jump 'pon dem creetur.
+
+"One tam 'e bin come by B'er Rabbit in da road; 'e ahx um howdy; 'e ahx
+um wey 'e gwan. B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan git fum front de Buckra Màn wut
+bin comin' 'long da road. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Hide you'se'f, B'er Lion; da Buckra ketch-a you fer true; 'e is bin
+ketch-a you tam he pit 'e y-eye 'pon you; 'e mekky you sick wit' sorry.
+Hide fum da Buckra, B'er Lion!'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e shekky 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'Ki! Me no skeer da Buckra Màn. I glad fer shum. I ketch um en I kyar
+um wey I lif; me hab da Buckra Màn fer me bittle. How come you bein'
+skeer da Buckra Màn, B'er Rabbit?'
+
+"B'er Rabbit look all 'bout fer see ef da Buckra bin comin'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Me hab plenty reason, B'er Lion. Da Buckra Màn shoot-a wit' one gun.
+'E r'ise um too 'e y-eye, 'e p'int um stret toze you; 'e say _bang!_ one
+tam, 'e say _bang!_ two tam: dun you is bin git hu't troo da head en
+cripple in da leg.'
+
+"Lion, 'e shek 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da Buckra Màn. I grab-a da gun. I ketch um fer me
+brekwus.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff; 'e say:--
+
+"'Him quare fer true. Me skeer da Buckra, me no skeer you; but you no
+skeer da Buckra. How come dis?'
+
+"Da Lion lash 'e tail; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da Buckra, but me skeer da Pa'tridge; me berry skeer da
+Pa'tridge.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e kin lahff no mo'. 'E say:--
+
+"'How come you skeer da Pa'tridge? 'E fly wun you wink-a you' eye; 'e
+run en 'e fly. Hoo! me no skeer 'bout dem Pa'tridge. Me skeer da
+Buckra.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e look all 'bout fer see ef da Pa'tridge bin comin'. 'E
+say:--
+
+"'I skeer da Pa'tridge. Wun me bin walk in da bushside, da Pa'tridge 'e
+hol' right still 'pon da groun' tel me come dey-dey, en dun 'e fly
+up--_fud-d-d-d-d-d-e-e!_ Wun 'e is bin do dat me is git-a skeer berry
+bahd.'"
+
+No typographical device could adequately describe Daddy Jack's imitation
+of the flushing of a covey of partridges, or quail; but it is needless
+to say that it made its impression upon the little boy. The old African
+went on:--
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e holler un lahff; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da Pa'tridge. I bin run dem up ebry day. Da no hu't-a you,
+B'er Lion. You hol' you' eye 'pon da Buckra Màn. Da Pa'tridge, 'e no hab
+no gun fer shoot-a you wit'; da Buckra, 'e is bin hab one gun two
+tam.[74] Let da Pa'tridge fly, B'er Lion; but wun da Buckra Man come you
+bes' keep in de shady side. I tell you dis, B'er Lion.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e stan' um down 'e no skeer da Buckra Màn, en bimeby 'e say
+goo'-bye; 'e say 'e gwan look fer da Buckra Màn fer true.
+
+"So long tam, B'er Rabbit is bin yeddy one big fuss in da timber; 'e
+yeddy da Lion v'ice. B'er Rabbit foller da fuss tel 'e is bin come 'pon
+da Lion wey 'e layin' 'pon da groun'. Da Lion, 'e is moan; 'e is groan;
+'e is cry. 'E hab hole in 'e head, one, two, t'ree hole in 'e side; 'e
+holler, 'e groan. B'er Rabbit, 'e ahx um howdy. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Lion, wey you hab fine so much trouble?'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e moan, 'e groan, 'e cry; 'e say:--
+
+"'Ow, ma Lord! I hab one hole in me head, one, two, t'ree hole in me
+side, me leg bin bruk!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit bin hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e look skeer. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Lion! I no know da Pa'tridge is so bahd lak dat. I t'ink 'e
+fly 'way un no hu't-a you. Shuh-shuh! wun I see dem Pa'tridge I mus' git
+'pon turrer side fer keep me hide whole.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e groan, 'e moan, 'e cry. B'er Rabbit, 'e say:--
+
+"'Da Pa'tridge, 'e berry bahd; 'e mus' bin borry da Buckra Màn gun.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e groan, 'e cry:--
+
+"''E no da Pa'tridge no'n 'tall. Da Buckra Màn is bin stan' way off un
+shoot-a me wit' 'e gun. Ow, ma Lord!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e h'ist 'e han'; 'e say:--
+
+"'Wut I bin tell-a you, B'er Lion? Wut I bin tell you 'bout da Buckra
+Màn? Da Pa'tridge no hu't-a you lak dis. 'E mek-a da big fuss, but 'e no
+hu't-a you lak dis. Da Buckra Màn, 'e no mek no fuss 'cep' 'e p'int 'e
+gun at you--_bang!_'"
+
+"And what then?" the little boy asked, as Daddy Jack collapsed in his
+seat, seemingly forgetful of all his surroundings.
+
+"No'n 't all," replied the old African, somewhat curtly.
+
+"De p'ints er dat tale, honey," said Uncle Remus, covering the
+brusqueness of Daddy Jack with his own amiability, "is des 'bout lak
+dis, dat dey ain't no use er dodgin' w'iles dey's a big fuss gwine on,
+but you better take'n hide out w'en dey ain't no racket; mo' speshually
+w'en you see Miss Sally lookin' behine de lookin'-glass fer dat ar
+peach-lim' w'at she tuck'n make me kyar up dar day 'fo' yistiddy; yit
+w'en she fine it don't you git too skeer'd, 'kaze I tuck'n make some
+weak places in dat ar switch, en Miss Sally won't mo'n strak you wid it
+'fo' hit'll all come onjinted."
+
+Parts of this moral the little boy understood thoroughly, for he
+laughed, and ran to the big house, and not long afterwards the light
+went out in Uncle Remus's cabin; but the two old negroes sat and nodded
+by the glowing embers for hours afterwards, dreaming dreams they never
+told of.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[74] One gun two times is a double-barrelled gun.
+
+
+
+
+LVIII
+
+THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, one night shortly after Daddy Jack's
+story of the lion's sad predicament, "mamma says there are no lions in
+Georgia, nor anywhere in the whole country."
+
+"Tooby sho'ly not, honey; tooby sho'ly not!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "I
+dunner who de name er goodness bin a-puttin' dat kinder idee in yo'
+head, en dey better not lemme fine um out, needer, 'kaze I'll take en
+put Mars John atter um right raw en rank, dat I will."
+
+"Well, you know Daddy Jack said that Brother Rabbit met the Lion coming
+down the road."
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! dat's 'way 'cross de water whar ole man Jack
+tuck'n come fum, en a mighty long time ergo at dat. Hit's away off yan,
+lots furder dan Ferginny yit. We-all er on one side de water, en de
+lions en mos' all de yuther servigous creeturs, dey er on t'er side.
+Ain't I never tell you how come dat?"
+
+The little boy shook his head.
+
+"Well, _sir_! I dunner w'at I bin doin' all dis time dat I ain't tell
+you dat, 'kaze dat's whar de wussest kinder doin's tuck'n happen.
+Yasser! de wussest kinder doin's; en I'll des whirl in en gin it out
+right now 'fo' ole man Jack come wobblin' in.
+
+"One time way back yander, 'fo' dey wuz any folks a-foolin' 'roun', Mr.
+Lion, he tuck'n tuck a notion dat he'd go huntin', en nothin' 'ud do 'im
+but Brer Rabbit must go wid 'im. Brer Rabbit, he 'low dat he up fer any
+kinder fun on top side er de groun'. Wid dat dey put out, dey did, en
+dey hunt en hunt clean 'cross de country.
+
+"Mr. Lion, he'd lam aloose en miss de game, en den Brer Rabbit, he'd lam
+aloose en fetch it down. No sooner is he do dis dan Mr. Lion, he'd
+squall out:--
+
+"'Hit's mine! hit's mine! I kilt it!'
+
+"Mr. Lion sech a big man dat Brer Rabbit skeer'd ter 'spute 'long wid
+'im, but he lay it up in he min' fer to git even wid 'im. Dey went on en
+dey went on. Mr. Lion, he'd lam aloose en miss de game, en ole Brer
+Rabbit, he'd lam aloose en hit it, en Mr. Lion, he'd take'n whirl in en
+claim it.
+
+"Dey hunt all day long, en w'en night come, dey 'uz sech a fur ways fum
+home dat dey hatter camp out. Dey went on, dey did, twel dey come ter a
+creek, en w'en dey come ter dat, dey tuck'n scrape away de trash en
+built um a fire on de bank, en cook dey supper.
+
+"Atter supper dey sot up dar en tole tales, dey did, en Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n brag 'bout w'at a good hunter Mr. Lion is, en Mr. Lion, he leant
+back on he yelbow, en feel mighty biggity. Bimeby, w'en dey eyeleds git
+sorter heavy, Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I'm a monst'us heavy sleeper, Mr. Lion, w'en I gits ter nappin', en I
+hope en trus' I ain't gwine 'sturb you dis night, yit I got my doubts.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he roach he ha'r back outen he eyes, en 'low:--
+
+"'I'm a monst'us heavy sleeper myse'f, Brer Rabbit, en I'll feel mighty
+glad ef I don't roust you up in de co'se er de night.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n change his terbacker fum one side he mouf ter de
+yuther, he did, en he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you sno' des' fo'
+you git soun' asleep.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he tuck'n draw in he breff sorter hard, en show Brer Rabbit;
+den Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you sno' atter yo
+done git soun' asleep.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he tuck'n suck in he breff, en eve'y time he suck in he breff
+it soun' des lak a whole passel er mules w'en dey whinney atter fodder.
+Brer Rabbit look 'stonish'. He roll he eye en 'low:--
+
+"'I year tell youer mighty big man, Mr. Lion, en you sho'ly is.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he hol' he head one side en try ter look 'shame', but all de
+same he ain't feel 'shame'. Bimeby, he shot he eye en 'gun ter nod, den
+he lay down en stretch hisse'f out, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'gun ter
+sno' lak he sno' w'en he ain't sleepin' soun'.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he lay dar. He ain't sayin' nothin'. He lay dar wid one
+year h'ist up en one eye open. He lay dar, he did, en bimeby Mr. Lion
+'gun ter sno' lak he sno' w'en he done gone fas' ter sleep.
+
+"W'en ole Brer Rabbit year dis, he git up fum dar, en sprinkle hisse'f
+wid de cole ashes 'roun' de fier, en den he tuck'n fling er whole passel
+der hot embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he jump up, he did, en ax who done
+dat, en Brer Rabbit, he lay dar en kick at he year wid he behime foot,
+en holler '_Ow!_'
+
+"Mr. Lion see de ashes on Brer Rabbit, en he dunner w'at ter t'ink. He
+look all 'roun', but he ain't see nothin'. He drap he head en lissen,
+but he ain't year nothin'. Den he lay down 'g'in en drap off ter sleep.
+Atter w'ile, w'en he 'gun ter sno' lak he done befo', Brer Rabbit, he
+jump up en sprinkle some mo' cole ashes on hisse'f, en fling de hot
+embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion jump up, he did, en holler:--
+
+"'Dar yo is 'g'in!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he kick en squall, en 'low:--
+
+"'You oughter be 'shame' yo'se'f, Mr. Lion, fer ter be tryin' ter bu'n
+me up.'
+
+"Mr. Lion hol' up he han's en des vow 't ain't him. Brer Rabbit, he look
+sorter jubous, but he ain't say nothin'. Bimeby he holler out:--
+
+"'Phewee! I smells rags a-bu'nin'!'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he sorter flinch, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"''T ain't no rags, Brer Rabbit; hit's my ha'r a-sinjin'.'
+
+"Dey look all 'roun', dey did, but dey ain't see nothin' ner nobody.
+Brer Rabbit, he say he gwine do some tall watchin' nex' time, 'kaze he
+boun' ter ketch de somebody w'at bin playin' dem kinder pranks on um.
+Wid dat, Mr. Lion lay down 'g'in, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he drap ter
+sleep.
+
+"Well, den," continued Uncle Remus, taking a long breath, "de ve'y same
+kinder doin's tuck'n happen. De cole ashes fall on Brer Rabbit, en de
+hot embers fall on Mr. Lion. But by de time Mr. Lion jump up, Brer
+Rabbit, he holler out:--
+
+"'I seed um, Mr. Lion! I seed um! I seed de way dey come fum 'cross de
+creek! Dey mos' sho'ly did!'
+
+"Wid dat Mr. Lion, he fetch'd a beller en he jumped 'cross de creek. No
+sooner is he do dis," Uncle Remus went on in a tone at once impressive
+and confidential, "no sooner is he do dis dan Brer Rabbit cut de string
+w'at hol' de banks togedder, en, lo en beholes, dar dey wuz!"
+
+"What was, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, more amazed than he had
+been in many a day.
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey, de banks! Co'se w'en Brer Rabbit tuck'n cut de
+string, de banks er de creek, de banks, dey fall back, dey did, en Mr.
+Lion can't jump back. De banks dey keep on fallin' back, en de creek
+keep on gittin' wider en wider, twel bimeby Brer Rabbit en Mr. Lion
+ain't in sight er one er n'er, en fum dat day to dis de big waters bin
+rollin' 'twix' um."
+
+"But, Uncle Remus, how could the banks of a creek be tied with a
+string?"
+
+"I ain't ax um dat, honey, en darfo' yo'll hatter take um ez you git um.
+Nex' time de tale-teller come 'roun' I'll up'n ax 'im, en ef you ain't
+too fur off, I'll whirl in en sen' you wud, en den you kin go en see fer
+yo'se'f. But 't ain't skacely wuth yo' w'ile fer ter blame me, honey,
+'bout de creek banks bein' tied wid a string. Who put um dar, I be bless
+ef _I_ knows, but I knows who onloose um, dat w'at I knows!"
+
+It is very doubtful if this copious explanation was satisfactory to the
+child, but just as Uncle Remus concluded, Daddy Jack came shuffling in,
+and shortly afterwards both Aunt Tempy and 'Tildy put in an appearance,
+and the mind of the youngster was diverted to other matters.
+
+
+
+
+LIX
+
+BRER RABBIT GETS BRER FOX'S DINNER
+
+
+After the new-comers had settled themselves in their accustomed places,
+and 'Tildy had cast an unusual number of scornful glances at Daddy Jack,
+who made quite a pantomime of his courtship, Uncle Remus startled them
+all somewhat by breaking into a loud laugh.
+
+"I boun' you," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, grinning with enthusiastic
+sympathy, "I boun' you Brer Remus done fine out some mo' er Brer Rabbit
+funny doin's; now I boun' you dat."
+
+"You hit it de fus' clip, Sis Tempy, I 'clar' ter gracious ef you
+ain't. You nailed it! You nailed it," Uncle Remus went on, laughing as
+boisterously as before, "des lak ole Brer Rabbit done."
+
+The little boy was very prompt with what Uncle Remus called his
+"inquirements," and the old man, after the usual "hems" and "haws,"
+began.
+
+"Hit run'd 'cross my min' des lak a rat 'long a rafter, de way ole Brer
+Rabbit tuk'n done Brer Fox. 'Periently, atter Brer Rabbit done went en
+put a steeple on top er he house, all de yuther creeturs wanter fix up
+dey house. Some put new cellars und' um, some slapped on new
+winder-blines, some one thing and some er n'er, but ole Brer Fox, he
+tuck a notion dat he'd put some new shingles on de roof.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n year tell er dis, en nothin'd do but he mus'
+rack 'roun' en see how ole Brer Fox gittin' on. W'en he git whar Brer
+Fox house is, he year a mighty lammin' en a blammin' en lo en beholes,
+dar 'uz Brer Fox settin' straddle er de comb er de roof nailin' on
+shingles des hard ez he kin.
+
+"Brer Rabbit cut he eye 'roun' en he see Brer Fox dinner settin' in de
+fence-cornder. Hit 'uz kivered up in a bran new tin pail, en it look so
+nice dat Brer Rabbit mouf 'gun ter water time he see it, en he 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he bleedz ter eat dat dinner 'fo' he go 'way fum dar.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit tuck'n hail Brer Fox, en ax 'im how he come on. Brer
+Fox 'low he too busy to hol' any confab. Brer Rabbit up en ax 'im w'at
+is he doin 'up dar. Brer Fox 'low dat he puttin' roof on he house 'g'in
+de rainy season sot in. Den Brer Rabbit up en ax Brer Fox w'at time is
+it, en Brer Fox, he 'low dat hit's wukkin time wid him. Brer Rabbit, he
+up en ax Brer Fox ef he ain't stan' in needs er some he'p. Brer Fox, he
+'low he did, dat ef he does stan' in needs er any he'p, he dunner whar
+in de name er goodness he gwine to git it at.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit sorter pull he mustarsh, en 'low dat de time wuz
+w'en he 'uz a mighty handy man wid a hammer, en he ain't too proud fer
+to whirl in en he'p Brer Fox out'n de ruts.
+
+"Brer Fox 'low he be mighty much erblige, en no sooner is he say dat dan
+Brer Rabbit snatched off he coat en lipt up de ladder, en sot in dar en
+put on mo' shingles in one hour dan Brer Fox kin put on in two.
+
+"Oh, he 'uz a rattler--ole Brer Rabbit wuz," Uncle Remus exclaimed,
+noticing a questioning look in the child's face. "He 'uz a rattler, mon,
+des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. Dey wa'n't no kinder wuk dat Brer
+Rabbit can't put he han' at, en do it better dan de nex' man.
+
+"He nailed on shingles plum twel he git tired, Brer Rabbit did, en all
+de time he nailin', he study how he gwine git dat dinner. He nailed en
+he nailed. He 'ud nail one row, en Brer Fox 'ud nail 'n'er row. He
+nailed en he nailed. He kotch Brer Fox en pass 'im--kotch 'im en pass
+'im, twel bimeby w'iles he nailin' 'long Brer Fox tail git in he way.
+
+"Brer Rabbit 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he dunner w'at de name er
+goodness make folks have such long tails fer, en he push it out de way.
+He ain't no mo'n push it out'n de way, 'fo' yer it come back in de way.
+Co'se," continued Uncle Remus, beginning to look serious, "w'en dat's de
+case dat a soon man lak Brer Rabbit git pester'd in he min', he bleedz
+ter make some kinder accidents some'rs.
+
+"Dey nailed en dey nailed, en, bless yo' soul! 't wa'n't long 'fo' Brer
+Fox drap eve'yt'ing en squall out:--
+
+"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nail my tail. He'p me, Brer
+Rabbit, he'p me! You done nail my tail!'"
+
+Uncle Remus waved his arms, clasped and unclasped his hands, stamped
+first one foot and then the other, and made various other demonstrations
+of grief and suffering.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he shot fus' one eye en den de yuther en rub hisse'f on
+de forrerd, en 'low:--
+
+"'Sho'ly I ain't nail yo' tail, Brer Fox; sho'ly not. Look right close,
+Brer Fox, be keerful. Fer goodness sake don' fool me, Brer Fox!'
+
+"Brer Fox, _he_ holler, _he_ squall, _he_ kick, _he_ squeal.
+
+"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nailed my tail. Onnail me, Brer
+Rabbit, onnail me!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he make fer de ladder, en w'en he start down, he look at
+Brer Fox lak he right down sorry, en he up'n 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Well, well, well! Des ter t'ink dat I should er lamm'd aloose en nail
+Brer Fox tail. I dunner w'en I year tell er anyt'ing dat make me feel so
+mighty bad; en ef I had n't er seed it wid my own eyes I would n't er
+bleev'd it skacely--dat I would n't!'
+
+"Brer Fox holler, Brer Fox howl, yit 't ain't do no good. Dar he wuz wid
+he tail nail hard en fas'. Brer Rabbit, he keep on talkin' w'iles he
+gwine down de ladder.
+
+"'Hit make me feel so mighty bad,' sezee, 'dat I dunner w'at ter do.
+Time I year tell un it, hit make a empty place come in my stomach,' sez
+Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"By dis time Brer Rabbit done git down on de groun', en w'iles Brer Fox
+holler'n, he des keep on a-talkin'.
+
+"'Dey's a mighty empty place in my stomach,' sezee, 'en ef I ain't run'd
+inter no mistakes dey's a tin-pail full er vittles in dish yer
+fence-cornder dat'll des 'bout fit it,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"He open de pail, he did, en he eat de greens, en sop up de 'lasses, en
+drink de pot-liquor, en w'en he wipe he mouf 'pun he coat-tail, he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'I dunner w'en I bin so sorry 'bout anything, ez I is 'bout Brer Fox
+nice long tail. Sho'ly, sho'ly my head mus' er bin wool-getherin' w'en I
+tuck'n nail Brer Fox fine long tail,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+    [Illustration: "'I DUNNER W'EN I BIN SO SORRY 'BOUT ANYTHING,
+    EZ I IS 'BOUT BRER FOX NICE LONG TAIL'"]
+
+"Wid dat, he tuck'n skip out, Brer Rabbit did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo'
+he 'uz playin' he pranks in some yuther parts er de settlement."
+
+"How did Brother Fox get loose?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Oh, you let Brer Fox 'lone fer dat," responded Uncle Remus. "Nex' ter
+Brer Rabbit, ole Brer Fox wuz mos' de shiftiest creetur gwine. I boun'
+you he tuck'n tuck keer hisse'f soon ez Brer Rabbit git outer sight en
+year'n."
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: How the Bear nursed the Little Alligator]
+
+LX
+
+HOW THE BEAR NURSED THE LITTLE ALLIGATORS
+
+
+While the negroes were talking of matters which the little boy took
+little or no interest in, he climbed into Uncle Remus's lap, as he had
+done a thousand times before. Presently the old man groaned, and said:--
+
+"I be bless ef I know w'at de marter, honey. I dunner whe'er I'm
+a-gittin' fibble in de lim's, er whe'er youer outgrowin' me. I lay I'll
+hatter sen' out en git you a nuss w'at got mo' strenk in dey lim's dan
+w'at I is."
+
+The child protested that he was n't very heavy, and that he would n't
+have any nurse, and the old man was about to forget that he had said
+anything about nurses, when Daddy Jack, who seemed to be desirous of
+appearing good-humored in the presence of 'Tildy, suddenly exclaimed:--
+
+"Me bin yeddy one tale 'bout da tam w'en da lil Bear is bin nuss da
+'Gator chilluns. 'E bin mek fine nuss fer true. 'E stan' by dem lilly
+'Gator tel dey no mo' fer stan' by."
+
+Seeing that Daddy Jack manifested symptoms of going to sleep, the little
+boy asked if he would n't tell the story, and, thus appealed to, the old
+African began:--
+
+"One tam dey is bin one ole Bear; 'e big un 'e strong. 'E lif way in da
+swamp; 'e hab nes' in da holler tree. 'E hab one, two lilly Bear in da
+nes'; 'e bin lub dem chillun berry ha'd. One day, 'e git honkry; 'e tell
+'e chillun 'e gwan 'way off fer git-a some bittle fer eat; 'e tell dem
+dey mus' be good chillun un stay wey dey lif. 'E say 'e gwan fer fetch
+dem one fish fer dey brekwus. Dun 'e gone off.
+
+"Da lil Bear chillun hab bin 'sleep till dey kin sleep no mo'. Da sun,
+'e der shine wom, 'e mekky lilly Bear feel wom. Da lil boy Bear, 'e rub
+'e y-eye, 'e say 'e gwan off fer hab some fun. Da lil gal Bear, 'e
+say:--
+
+"'Wut will we mammy say?'
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e der lahff. 'E say:--
+
+"'Me gwan down by da crik side fer ketch some fish 'fo' we mammy come.'
+
+"Lil gal Bear, 'e look skeer; 'e say:--
+
+"'We mammy say somet'ing gwan git-a you. Min' wut 'e tell you.'
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e keep on lahff. 'E say:--
+
+"'Shuh-shuh! 'E yent nebber know less you tell um. You no tell um, me
+fetch-a you one big fish.'
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e gone! 'E gone by da crik side, 'e tek 'e hook, 'e tek
+'e line, 'e is go by da crik side fer ketch one fish. Wun 'e come
+dey-dey, 'e see somet'ing lay dey in de mud. 'E t'ink it bin one big
+log. 'E lahff by 'ese'f; 'e say:--
+
+"''E one fine log fer true. Me 'tan' 'pon da log fer ketch-a da fish fer
+me lil titty.'[75]
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e der jump down; 'e git 'pon da log; 'e fix fer fish; 'e
+fix 'e hook, 'e fix 'e line. Bumbye da log moof. Da lil boy Bear
+holler:--
+
+"'Ow ma Lordy!'
+
+"'E look down; 'e skeer mos' dead. Da log bin one big 'Gator. Da 'Gator
+'e swim 'way wit' da lil boy Bear 'pon 'e bahck. 'E flut 'e tail, 'e
+knock da lil boy Bear spang in 'e two han'. 'E grin _wide_, 'e feel da
+lil boy Bear wit' 'e nose; 'e say:--
+
+"'I tekky you wey me lif; me chillun is hab you fer dey brekwus.'
+
+"Da 'Gator, 'e bin swim toze da hole in da bank wey 'e lif. 'E come by
+da hole, 'e ca' da lil boy Bear in dey. 'E is call up 'e chillun; 'e
+say:--
+
+"'Come see how fine brekwus me bin brung you.'
+
+"Da ole 'Gator, 'e hab seben chillun in 'e bed. Da lil boy Bear git
+skeer; 'e holler, 'e cry, 'e beg. 'E say:--
+
+"'_Please_, Missy 'Gator, gib me chance fer show you how fine nuss me
+is--_please_, Missy 'Gator. Wun you gone 'way, me min' dem chillun, me
+min' um well.'
+
+"Da 'Gator flut 'e tail; 'e say:--
+
+"'I try you dis one day; you min' dem lil one well, me luf you be.'
+
+"Da ole 'Gator gone 'way; 'e luf da lil boy Bear fer min' 'e chillun. 'E
+gone git somet'ing fer dey brekwus. Da lil boy Bear, 'e set down
+dey-dey; 'e min' dem chillun; 'e wait en 'e wait. Bumbye, 'e is git
+honkry. 'E wait en 'e wait. 'E min' dem chillun. 'E wait en 'e wait. 'E
+'come so honkry 'e yent mos' kin hol' up 'e head. 'E suck 'e paw. 'E
+wait en 'e wait. Da 'Gator no come. 'E wait en 'e wait. Da 'Gator no
+come some mo'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ow! me no gwan starf mese'f wun da planty bittle by side er me!'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear grab one da lil 'Gator by 'e neck; 'e tek um off in da
+bush side; 'e der eat um up. 'E no leaf 'e head, 'e no leaf 'e tail; 'e
+yent leaf nuttin' 't all. 'E go bahck wey da turrer lil 'Gator bin
+huddle up in da bed. 'E rub 'ese'f 'pon da 'tomach; 'e say:--
+
+"'Hoo! me feel-a too good fer tahlk 'bout. I no know wut me gwan fer
+tell da ole 'Gator wun 'e is come bahck. Ki! me no keer. Me feel too
+good fer t'ink 'bout dem t'ing. Me t'ink 'bout dem wun da 'Gator is bin
+come; me t'ink 'bout dem bumbye wun da time come fer t'ink.'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear lay down; 'e quile up in da 'Gator bed; 'e shed 'e
+y-eye; 'e sleep ha'd lak bear do wun ef full up. Bumbye, mos' toze
+night, da 'Gator come; 'e holler:--
+
+"'Hey! lil boy Bear! How you is kin min' me chillun wun you is gone fer
+sleep by um?'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear, 'e set up 'pon 'e ha'nch; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me y-eye gone fer sleep, but me year wide 'wake.'
+
+"Da 'Gator flut 'e tail; 'e say:--
+
+"'Wey me chillun wut me leaf you wit'?'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear 'come skeer; 'e say:--
+
+"'Dey all dey-dey, Missy 'Gator. Wait! lemme count dem, Missy 'Gator.
+
+    "'_Yarrah one, yarrah narrah,
+    Yarrah two 'pon top er tarrah,
+    Yarrah t'ree pile up tergarrah!_'[76]
+
+"Da 'Gator y-open 'e mout', 'e grin wide; 'e say:--
+
+"'Oona nuss dem well, lil boy Bear; come, fetch-a me one fer wash en git
+'e supper.'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear, 'e ca' one, 'e ca' nurrer, 'e ca' turrer, 'e ca' um
+all tel 'e ca' six, den 'e come skeer. 'E t'ink da 'Gator gwan fine um
+out fer true. 'E stop, 'e yent know wut fer do. Da 'Gator holler:--
+
+"'Fetch-a me turrer!'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear, 'e grab da fus' one, 'e wullup um in da mud, 'e ca' um
+bahck. Da 'Gator bin wash un feed um fresh; 'e yent know da diffran.
+
+"Bumbye, nex' day mornin', da 'Gator gone 'way. Da lil boy Bear stay fer
+nuss dem lil 'Gator. 'E come honkry; 'e wait, but 'e come mo' honkry. 'E
+grab nurrer lil 'Gator, 'e eat um fer 'e dinner. Mos' toze night, da
+'Gator come. It sem t'ing:--
+
+"'Wey me chillun wut me leaf you fer nuss?'
+
+"'Dey all dey-dey, Missy 'Gator. Me count um out:--
+
+    "'_Yarrah one, yarrah narrah,
+    Yarrah two 'pon top er tarrah,
+    Yarrah t'ree pile up tergarrah!_'
+
+"'E ca' um one by one fer wash en git dey supper. 'E ca' two bahck two
+tam. Ebry day 'e do dis way tel 'e come at de las'. 'E eat dis one, en
+'e gone luf da place wey da 'Gator lif. 'E gone down da crik side tel 'e
+is come by da foot-log, en 'e is run 'cross _queek_. 'E git in da bush,
+'e fair fly tel 'e is come by da place wey 'e lil titty bin lif. 'E come
+dey-dey, en 'e yent go 'way no mo'."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[75] Sissy.
+
+[76] Here is one, here's another; here are two on top of t'other; here
+are three piled up together.
+
+
+
+
+LXI
+
+WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT
+
+
+The little boy was not particularly pleased at the summary manner in
+which the young Alligators were disposed of; but he was very much amused
+at the somewhat novel method employed by the Bear to deceive the old
+Alligator. The negroes, however, enjoyed Daddy Jack's story immensely,
+and even 'Tildy condescended to give it her approval; but she qualified
+this by saying, as soon as she had ceased laughing:--
+
+"I 'clar' ter goodness you all got mighty little ter do fer ter be
+settin' down yer night atter night lis'nin' at dat nigger man."
+
+Daddy Jack nodded, smiled, and rubbed his withered hands together
+apparently in a perfect ecstasy of good-humor, and finally said:--
+
+"Oona come set-a by me, lil gal. 'E berry nice tale wut me tell-a you.
+Come sit-a by me, lil gal;'e berry nice tale. Ef you no want me fer
+tell-a you one tale, dun you is kin tell-a me one tale."
+
+"Humph!" exclaimed 'Tildy, contemptuously, "you'll set over dar in dat
+cornder en dribble many's de long day 'fo' I tell you any tale."
+
+"Look yer, gal!" said Uncle Remus, pretending to ignore the queer
+courtship that seemed to be progressing between Daddy Jack and 'Tildy,
+"you gittin' too ole fer ter be sawin' de a'r wid yo 'head en squealin'
+lak a filly. Ef you gwine ter set wid folks, you better do lak folks
+does. Sis Tempy dar ain't gwine on dat a-way, en she ain't think 'erse'f
+too big fer ter set up dar en jine in wid us en tell a tale, needer."
+
+This was the first time that Uncle Remus had ever condescended to accord
+'Tildy a place at his hearth on an equality with the rest of his
+company, and she seemed to be immensely tickled. A broad grin spread
+over her comely face as she exclaimed:--
+
+"_Oh!_ I 'clar' ter goodness, Unk Remus, I thought dat ole nigger man
+wuz des a-projickin' 'long wid me. Ef it come down ter settin' up yer
+'long wid you all en tellin' a tale, I ain't 'nyin' but w'at I got one
+dat you all ain't never year tell un, 'kaze dat ar Slim Jim w'at Mars
+Ellick Akin got out'n de speckerlater waggin,[77] he up'n tell it dar at
+Riah's des 'fo' de patter-rollers tuck'n slipt up on um."
+
+"Dar now!" remarked Aunt Tempy. 'Tildy laughed boisterously.
+
+"W'at de patter-rollers do wid dat ar Slim Jim?" Uncle Remus inquired.
+
+"Done nothin'!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with an air of humorous scorn. "Time
+dey got in dar Slim Jim 'uz up de chimbly, en Riah 'uz noddin' in one
+cornder en me in de udder. Nobody never is ter know how dat ar long-leg
+nigger slick'd up dat chimbly--dat dey ain't. He put one foot on de
+pot-rack,[78] en whar he put de t'er foot _I_ can't tell you."
+
+"What was the story?" asked the little boy.
+
+"I boun' fer you, honey!" exclaimed Uncle Remus.
+
+"Well, den," said 'Tildy, settling herself comfortably, and bridling a
+little as Daddy Jack manifested a desire to give her his undivided
+attention,--"well, den, dey wuz one time w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'uz bleedz
+ter go ter town atter sump'n' 'n'er fer his famerly, en he mos' 'shame'
+ter go 'kaze his shoes done wo' tetotally out. Yit he bleedz ter go, en
+he put des ez good face on it ez he kin, en he take down he walkin'-cane
+en sot out des ez big ez de next un.
+
+"Well, den, ole Brer Rabbit go on down de big road twel he come ter de
+place whar some folks bin camp out de night befo', en he sot down by de
+fier, he did, fer ter wom his foots, 'kaze dem mawnin's 'uz sorter cole,
+like deze yer mawnin's. He sot dar en look at his toes, en he feel
+mighty sorry fer hisse'f.
+
+"Well, den, he sot dar, he did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he year sump'n'
+'n'er trottin' down de road, en he tuck'n look up en yer come Mr. Dog
+a-smellin' en a-snuffin' 'roun' fer ter see ef de folks lef' any scraps
+by der camp-fier. Mr. Dog 'uz all dress up in his Sunday-go-ter-meetin'
+cloze, en mo'n dat, he had on a pa'r er bran new shoes.
+
+"Well, den, w'en Brer Rabbit see dem ar shoes he feel mighty bad, but he
+ain't let on. He bow ter Mr. Dog mighty perlite, en Mr. Dog bow back, he
+did, en dey pass de time er day, 'kaze dey 'uz ole 'quaintance. Brer
+Rabbit, he say:--
+
+"'Mr. Dog, whar you gwine all fix up like dis?'
+
+"'I gwine ter town, Brer Rabbit; whar you gwine?'
+
+"'I thought I go ter town myse'f fer ter git me new pa'r shoes, 'kaze my
+ole uns done wo' out en dey hu'ts my foots so bad I can't w'ar um. Dem
+mighty nice shoes w'at you got on, Mr. Dog; whar you git um?'
+
+"'Down in town, Brer Rabbit, down in town.'
+
+"'Dey fits you mighty slick, Mr. Dog, en I wish you be so good ez ter
+lemme try one un um on.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit talk so mighty sweet dat Mr. Dog sot right flat on de
+groun' en tuck off one er de behime shoes, en loant it ter Brer Rabbit.
+Brer Rabbit, he lope off down de road en den he come back. He tell Mr.
+Dog dat de shoe fit mighty nice, but wid des one un um on, hit make 'im
+trot crank-sided.
+
+"Well, den, Mr. Dog, he pull off de yuther behime shoe, en Brer Rabbit
+trot off en try it. He come back, he did, en he say:--
+
+"'Dey mighty nice, Mr. Dog, but dey sorter r'ars me up behime, en I
+dunner 'zackly how dey feels.'
+
+"Dis make Mr. Dog feel like he wanter be perlite, en he take off de
+befo' shoes, en Brer Rabbit put um on en stomp his foots, en 'low:--
+
+"'Now dat sorter feel like shoes;' en he rack off down de road, en w'en
+he git whar he oughter tu'n 'roun', he des lay back he years en keep on
+gwine; en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he git outer sight.
+
+"Mr. Dog, he holler, en tell 'im fer ter come back, but Brer Rabbit keep
+on gwine; Mr. Dog, he holler, Mr. Rabbit, he keep on gwine. En down ter
+dis day," continued 'Tildy, smacking her lips, and showing her white
+teeth, "Mr. Dog bin a-runnin' Brer Rabbit, en ef you'll des go out in de
+woods wid any Dog on dis place, des time he smell de Rabbit track he'll
+holler en tell 'im fer ter come back."
+
+"Dat's de Lord's trufe!" said Aunt Tempy.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[77] Speculator's wagon.
+
+[78] A bar of iron across the fireplace, with hooks to hold the pots and
+kettles. The original form of the crane.
+
+
+
+
+LXII
+
+BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE
+
+
+Daddy Jack appeared to enjoy 'Tildy's story as thoroughly as the little
+boy.
+
+"'E one fine tale. 'E mekky me lahff tell tear is come in me y-eye," the
+old African said. And somehow or other 'Tildy seemed to forget her
+pretended animosity to Daddy Jack, and smiled on him as pleasantly as
+she did on the others. Uncle Remus himself beamed upon each and every
+one, especially upon Aunt Tempy; and the little boy thought he had never
+seen everybody in such good-humor.
+
+"Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, "I 'speck it's yo' time fer ter put in."
+
+"I des bin rackin' my min'," said Aunt Tempy, thoughtfully. "I see you
+fixin' dat ar hawn, en terreckerly hit make me think 'bout a tale w'at I
+ain't year none en you tell yit."
+
+Uncle Remus was polishing a long cow's-horn, for the purpose of making a
+hunting-horn for his master.
+
+"Hit come 'bout one time dat all de creeturs w'at got hawns tuck a
+notion dat dey got ter meet terge'er en have a confab fer ter see how
+dey gwine take ker deyse'f, 'kaze dem t'er creeturs w'at got tush en
+claw, dey uz des a-snatchin' um fum 'roun' eve'y cornder."
+
+"Tooby sho'!" said Uncle Remus, approvingly.
+
+"Dey sont out wud, de hawn creeturs did, en dey tuck'n meet terge'er
+'way off in de woods. Man--Sir!--dey wuz a big gang un um, en de muster
+dey had out dar 't wa'n't b'ar tellin' skacely. Mr. Bull, he 'uz dar, en
+Mr. Steer, en Miss Cow"--
+
+"And Mr. Benjamin Ram, with his fiddle," suggested the little boy.
+
+--"Yes, 'n Mr. Billy Goat, en Mr. Unicorn"--
+
+"En ole man Rinossyhoss," said Uncle Remus.
+
+--"Yes, 'n lots mo' w'at I ain't know de names un. Man--Sir!--dey had a
+mighty muster out dar. Ole Brer Wolf, he tuck'n year 'bout de muster, en
+he sech a smarty dat nothin' ain't gwine do but he mus' go en see w'at
+dey doin'.
+
+"He study 'bout it long time, en den he went out in de timber en cut 'im
+two crooked sticks, en tie um on his head, en start off ter whar de hawn
+creeturs meet at. W'en he git dar Mr. Bull ax 'im who is he, w'at he
+want, whar he come frum, en whar he gwine. Brer Wolf, he 'low:--
+
+"'Ba-a-a! I'm name little Sook Calf!'"
+
+"Eh-eh! Look out, now!" exclaimed 'Tildy, enthusiastically.
+
+"Mr. Bull look at Brer Wolf mighty hard over his specks, but atter a
+w'ile he go off some'rs else, en Brer Wolf take his place in de muster.
+
+"Well, den, bimeby, terreckerly, dey got ter talkin' en tellin' der
+'sperence des like de w'ite folks does at class-meetin'. W'iles dey 'uz
+gwine on dis a-way, a great big hoss-fly come sailin' 'roun', en Brer
+Wolf tuck'n fergit hisse'f, en snap at 'im.
+
+"All dis time Brer Rabbit bin hidin' out in de bushes watchin' Brer
+Wolf, en w'en he see dis he tuck'n break out in a laugh. Brer Bull, he
+tuck'n holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Who dat laughin' en showin' der manners?'
+
+"Nobody ain't make no answer, en terreckerly Brer Rabbit holler out:--
+
+    "'_O kittle-cattle, kittle-cattle, whar yo' eyes?
+    Who ever see a Sook Calf snappin' at flies?_'
+
+"De hawn creeturs dey all look 'roun' en wonder w'at dat mean, but
+bimeby dey go on wid dey confab. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' a flea tuck'n bite
+Brer Wolf 'way up on de back er de neck, en 'fo' he know what he doin',
+he tuck'n squat right down en scratch hisse'f wid his behime foot."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"Dar you is!" said 'Tildy.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n broke out in 'n'er big laugh en 'sturb um all,
+en den he holler out:--
+
+    "'_Scritchum-scratchum, lawsy, my laws!
+    Look at dat Sook Calf scratchin' wid claws!_'
+
+"Brer Wolf git mighty skeer'd, but none er de hawn creeturs ain't take
+no notice un 'im, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit holler out ag'in:--
+
+    "'_Rinktum-tinktum, ride 'im on a rail!
+    Dat Sook Calf got a long bushy tail!_'
+
+"De hawn creeturs, dey go on wid der confab, but Brer Wolf git skeerder
+en skeerder, 'kaze he notice dat Mr. Bull got his eye on 'im. Brer
+Rabbit, he ain't gin 'im no rest. He holler out:--
+
+    "'_One en one never kin make six,
+    Sticks ain't hawns, en hawns ain't sticks!_'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Wolf make ez ef he gwine 'way fum dar, en he wa'n't none
+too soon, needer, 'kaze ole Mr. Bull splunge at 'im, en little mo' en
+he'd er nat'ally to' 'im in two."
+
+"Did Brother Wolf get away?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Yas, Lord!" said Aunt Tempy, with unction; "he des scooted 'way fum
+dar, en he got so mad wid Brer Rabbit, dat he tuck'n play dead, en wud
+went 'roun' dat dey want all de creeturs fer ter go set up wid 'im. Brer
+Rabbit, he went down dar fer ter look at 'im, en time he see 'im, he
+ex:--
+
+"'Is he grin yit?'
+
+"All de creeturs dey up'n say he ain't grin, not ez dey knows un. Den
+Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Well, den, gentermuns all, ef he ain't grin, den he ain't dead good.
+In all my 'speunce folks ain't git dead good tel dey grins.'[79]
+
+"W'en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit talk dat a-way, he tuck'n grin fum year
+ter year, en Brer Rabbit, he picked up his hat en walkin'-cane en put
+out fer home, en w'en he got 'way off in de woods he sot down en laugh
+fit ter kill hisse'f."
+
+Uncle Remus had paid Aunt Tempy the extraordinary tribute of pausing in
+his work to listen to her story, and when she had concluded it, he
+looked at her in undisguised admiration, and exclaimed:--
+
+"I be bless, Sis Tempy, ef you ain't wuss'n w'at I is, en I'm bad
+'nuff', de Lord knows I is!"
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[79] See _Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings_, p. 60.
+
+
+
+
+LXIII
+
+BRER FOX AND THE WHITE MUSCADINES
+
+
+Aunty Tempy did not attempt to conceal the pleasure which Uncle Remus's
+praise gave her. She laughed somewhat shyly, and said:--
+
+"Bless you, Brer Remus! I des bin a-settin' yer l'arnin'. 'Sides dat,
+Chris'mus ain't fur off en I 'speck we er all a-feelin' a sight mo'
+humorsome dan common."
+
+"Dat's so, Sis Tempy. I 'uz comin' thoo de lot des 'fo' supper, en I
+seed de pigs runnin' en playin' in de win', en I 'low ter myse'f, sez I,
+'Sholy dey's a-gwine ter be a harrycane,' en den all at once hit come in
+my min' dat Chris'mus mighty close at han', en den on ter dat yer come
+de chickens a-crowin' des now en 't ain't nine er'clock. I dunner how de
+creeturs know Chris'mus comin', but dat des de way it stan's."
+
+The little boy thought it was time enough to think about Christmas when
+the night came for hanging up his stockings, and he asked Uncle Remus if
+it was n't his turn to tell a story. The old man laid down the piece of
+glass with which he had been scraping the cow's horn, and hunted around
+among his tools for a piece of sandpaper before he replied. But his
+reply was sufficient. He said:--
+
+"One time w'iles Brer Rabbit wuz gwine thoo de woods he tuck'n strak up
+wid ole Brer Fox, en Brer Fox 'low, he did, dat he mighty hongry. Brer
+Rabbit 'low dat he ain't feelin' dat a-way hisse'f, 'kaze he des bin en
+had er bait er w'ite muscadimes, en den he tuck'n smack he mouf en lick
+he chops right front er Brer Fox. Brer Fox, he ax, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, whar de name er goodness is deze yer w'ite muscadimes, en
+how come I'm ain't never run 'crosst um?' sezee.
+
+"'I dunner w'at de reason you ain't never come up wid um,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee; 'some folks sees straight, some sees crooked, some sees
+one thing, some sees 'n'er. I done seed dem ar w'ite muscadimes, en let
+'lone dat, I done wipe um up. I done e't all dey wuz on one tree, but I
+lay dey's lots mo' un um 'roun' in dem neighborhoods,' sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Fox mouf 'gun to water, en he git mighty restless.
+
+"'Come on, Brer Rabbit; come on! Come show me whar dem ar w'ite
+muscadimes grows at,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter hang back. Brer Fox, he 'low:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Rabbit, come on!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he hang back, en bimeby he 'low:--
+
+"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! You wanter git me out dar in de timber by myse'f en
+do sump'n' ter me. You wanter git me out dar en skeer me.'
+
+"Ole Brer Fox, he hol' up he han's, he do, en he 'low:--
+
+"'I des 'clar' 'fo' gracious, Brer Rabbit, I ain't gwine do no sech uv a
+thing. I dunner w'at kinder 'pinion you got 'bout me fer ter have sech
+idee in yo' head. Come on, Brer Rabbit, en less we go git dem ar w'ite
+muscadimes. Come on, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! I done year talk er you playin' so many prank wid
+folks dat I fear'd fer ter go 'way off dar wid you.'
+
+"Dey went on dat a-way," continued Uncle Remus, endeavoring to look at
+the little boy through the crooked cow's horn, "twel bimeby Brer Fox
+promise he ain't gwine ter bodder 'long er Brer Rabbit, en den dey
+tuck'n put out. En whar you 'speck dat ar muscheevous Brer Rabbit tuck'n
+kyar' Brer Fox?"
+
+Uncle Remus paused and gazed around upon his audience with uplifted
+eyebrows, as if to warn them to be properly astonished. Nobody made any
+reply, but all looked expectant, and Uncle Remus went on:--
+
+"He ain't kyar 'im nowhars in de roun' worl' but ter one er deze yer
+great big scaly-bark trees. De tree wuz des loaded down wid
+scaly-barks, but dey wa'n't ripe, en de green hulls shined in de sun des
+lak dey ben whitewash'. Brer Fox look 'stonish'. Atter w'ile he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Is dem ar de w'ite muscadimes? Mighty funny I ain't fine it out 'fo'
+dis.'
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he scratch hisse'f en 'low:--
+
+"'Dems um. Dey may n't be ripe ez dem w'at I had fer my brekkus, but
+dems de w'ite muscadimes sho' ez youer bawn. Dey er red bullaces[80] en
+dey er black bullaces, but deze yer, dey er de w'ite bullaces.'
+
+"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine git um?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll des hatter do lak I done.'
+
+"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How wuz dat?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll hatter clam fer 'm.'
+
+"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine clam?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Grab wid yo' han's, clam wid yo' legs, en I'll
+push behime!'"
+
+"Man--Sir!--he's a-talkin' now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically.
+
+"Brer Fox, he clum, en Brer Rabbit, he push, twel, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox
+got whar he kin grab de lowmos' lim's, en dar he wuz! He crope on up, he
+did, twel he come ter whar he kin retch de green scaly-bark, en den he
+tuck'n pull one en bite it, en, gentermens! hit uz dat rough en dat
+bitter twel little mo' en he'd 'a' drapt spang out'n de tree.
+
+"He holler '_Ow!_' en spit it out'n he mouf des same ez ef 't wuz rank
+pizen, en he make sech a face dat you would n't b'leeve it skacely
+less'n you seed it. Brer Rabbit, he hatter cough fer ter keep fum
+laughin', but he make out ter holler, sezee:--
+
+"'Come down, Brer Fox! Dey ain't ripe. Come down en less go some'rs
+else.'
+
+"Brer Fox start down, en he git 'long mighty well twel he come ter de
+lowmos' lim's, en den w'en he git dar he can't come down no furder,
+'kaze he ain't got no claw fer cling by, en not much leg fer clamp.
+
+"Brer Rabbit keep on hollerin', 'Come down!' en Brer Fox keep on
+studyin' how he gwine ter come down. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Fox! I tuck'n push you up, en ef I 'uz dar whar you is,
+I'd take'n push you down.'
+
+"Brer Fox sat dar on de lowmos' lim's en look lak he skeer'd. Bimeby
+Brer Rabbit tuck he stan' 'way off fum de tree, en he holler, sezee:--
+
+"'Ef you'll take'n jump out dis way, Brer Fox, I'll ketch you.'
+
+"Brer Fox look up, he look down, he look all 'roun'. Brer Rabbit come
+little closer, en 'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Hop right down yer, Brer Fox, en I'll ketch you.'
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox tuck a notion to jump, en
+des ez he jump Brer Rabbit hop out de way en holler, sezee:--
+
+"'_Ow!_ Scuze me, Brer Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot! Scuze me, Brer
+Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot!'
+
+"En dat ole Brer Fox," continued Uncle Remus, dropping his voice a
+little, "dat ole Brer Fox, gentermens! you oughter bin dar! He hit de
+groun' like a sack er taters, en it des nat'ally knock de breff out'n
+'im. W'en he git up en count hisse'f fer ter see ef he all dar, he ain't
+kin walk skacely, en he sat dar en lick de so' places a mighty long time
+'fo' he feel lak he kin make he way todes home."
+
+When the little boy wanted to know what became of Brother Rabbit Uncle
+Remus said:--
+
+"Shoo! don't you pester 'bout Brer Rabbit. He kick up he heels en put
+out fum dar." Then he added: "Dem ar chick'ns crowin' 'g'in, honey. Done
+gone by nine er'clock. Scoot out fum dis. Miss Sally'll be a-rakin' me
+over de coals."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[80] Another name for muscadines.
+
+
+
+
+LXIV
+
+MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD
+
+
+One night the little boy ran into Uncle Remus's cabin singing:--
+
+    "_T-u Turkey, t-u Ti,
+    T-u Turkey Buzzard's eye!_"
+
+Uncle Remus, Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and 'Tildy were all sitting around
+the fire, for the Christmas weather was beginning to make itself rather
+severely felt. As they made room for the child, Daddy Jack flung his
+head back, and took up the song, beating time with his foot:--
+
+    "'_T-u Tukry, t-u Ti,
+    T-u Tukry-Buzzud y-eye!
+    T-u Tukry, t-u Ting,
+    T-u Tukry-Buzzud wing!_"
+
+"Deyer mighty kuse creeturs," said 'Tildy, who was sitting rather nearer
+to Daddy Jack than had been her custom,--a fact to which Aunt Tempy had
+already called the attention of Uncle Remus by a motion of her head,
+causing the old man to smile a smile as broad as it was wise. "Deyer
+mighty kuse, an' I'm fear'd un um," 'Tildy went on. "Dey looks so
+lonesome hit makes me have de creeps fer ter look at um."
+
+"Dey no hu't-a you," said Daddy Jack, soothingly. "You flut you' han'
+toze um dey fly 'way fum dey-dey."
+
+"I dunno 'bout dat," said 'Tildy. "Deyer bal'-headed, en dat w'at make
+me 'spize um."
+
+Daddy Jack rubbed the bald place on his head with such a comical air
+that even 'Tildy laughed. The old African retained his good-humor.
+
+"You watch dem Buzzud," he said after awhile, addressing himself
+particularly to the little boy. "'E fly high, 'e fly low, 'e fly 'way
+'roun'. Rain come, 'e flup 'e wings, 'e light 'pon dead pine. Rain
+fall, 'e hug 'ese'f wit' 'e wing, 'e scrooge 'e neck up. Rain come, win'
+blow, da Buzzud bin-a look ragged. Da Buzzud bin-a wink 'e y-eye, 'e
+say:--
+
+"'Wun da win' fer stop blow en da rain fer stop drip, me go mek me one
+house. Me mek um tight fer keep da rain out; me pit top on strong fer
+keep da win' out.'
+
+"Dun da rain dry up en da win' stop. Da Buzzud, 'e stan' 'pon top da
+dead pine. Wun da sun bin-a shine, 'e no mek um no house no'n 't all. 'E
+stay 'pon da dead pine; 'e 'tretch 'e wing wide open; 'e bin dry hisse'f
+in da sun. 'E hab mek no house sence 'e bin born. 'E one fool bud."
+
+"En yit," said Uncle Remus, with a grave, judicial air, "I year tell er
+one time w'en ole Brer Buzzard wa'n't so mighty fur outer de way wid he
+notions."
+
+"Me yent yeddy tahlk 'bout dis," Daddy Jack explained.
+
+"I 'speck not," responded Uncle Remus. "Hit seem lak dat dey wuz one
+time w'en Mr. Hawk come sailin' 'roun' huntin' fer sump'n' 'n'er t' eat,
+en he see Brer Buzzard settin' on a dead lim', lookin' mighty lazy en
+lonesome.
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'How you come on, Brer Buzzard?'
+
+"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm mighty po'ly, Brer Hawk; po'ly en hongry.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'W'at you waitin' yer fer ef you hongry, Brer
+Buzzard?'
+
+"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm a-waitin' on de Lord.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Better run en git yo' brekkus, Brer Buzzard, en den
+come back en wait.'
+
+"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'No, Brer Hawk, I'll go bidout my brekkus druther
+den be biggity 'bout it.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, he 'low, sezee, 'Well, den, Brer Buzzard, you got yo' way en
+I got mine. You see dem ar chick'ns, down dar in Mr. Man hoss-lot? I'm
+a-gwine down dar en git one un um, en den I'll come back yer en wait
+'long wid you.'
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Hawk tuck'n sail off, en Brer Buzzard drop he wings down
+on de lim' en look mighty lonesome. He sot dar en look mighty lonesome,
+he did, but he keep one eye on Mr. Hawk.
+
+"Mr. Hawk, he sail 'roun' en 'roun', en he look mighty purty. He sail
+'roun' en 'roun' 'bove de hoss-lot--'roun' en 'roun'--en bimeby he dart
+down at chick'ns. He shot up he wings en dart down, he did, des same ef
+he 'uz fired out'n a gun."
+
+"Watch out, pullets!" exclaimed 'Tildy, in a tone of warning.
+
+"He dart down, he did," continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his hand
+thoughtfully across the top of his head, "but stidder he hittin' de
+chick'ns, he tuck'n hit 'pon de sharp een' un a fence-rail. He hit dar,
+he did, en dar he stuck."
+
+"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"Dar he stuck. Brer Buzzard sot en watch 'im. Mr. Hawk ain't move. Brer
+Buzzard sot en watch 'im some mo'. Mr. Hawk ain't move. He done stone
+dead. De mo' Brer Buzzard watch 'im de mo' hongrier he git, en bimeby he
+gedder up he wings, en sorter clean out he year wid he claw, en 'low,
+sezee:--
+
+"'I know'd de Lord 'uz gwineter pervide.'"
+
+"Trufe too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy. "'T ain't bin in my min' dat Buzzard
+got sense lak dat!"
+
+"Dar's whar you missed it, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus gravely. "Brer
+Buzzard, he tuck'n drap down fum de dead lim', en he lit on Mr. Hawk, en
+had 'im fer brekkus. Hit's a mighty 'roun' about way fer ter git
+chick'n-pie, yit hit's lots better dan no way."
+
+"I 'speck Hawk do tas'e like chicken," remarked 'Tildy.
+
+"Dey mos' sho'ly does," said Uncle Remus, with emphasis.
+
+
+
+
+LXV
+
+MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT
+
+
+"I year tell er one time," said 'Tildy, "w'en ole Mr. Hawk tuck'n kotch
+Brer Rabbit, but 't ain't no tale like dem you all bin tellin'."
+
+"Tell it, anyhow, 'Tildy," said the little boy.
+
+"Well, 't ain't no tale, I tell you dat now. One time Brer Rabbit wuz
+gwine 'long thoo de bushes singin' ter hisse'f, en he see a shadder pass
+befo' 'im. He look up, en dar 'uz Mr. Hawk sailin' 'roun' en 'roun'.
+Time he see 'im, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter kick up en sassy 'im.
+
+"Mr. Hawk ain't pay no 'tention ter dis. He des sail all 'roun' en
+'roun'. Eve'y time he sail 'roun', he git little closer, but Brer Rabbit
+ain't notice dis. He too busy wid his devilment. He shuck his fis' at
+Mr. Hawk, en chunk'd at 'im wid sticks;[81] en atter w'ile he tuck'n make
+out he got a gun, en he tuck aim at Mr. Hawk, en 'low'd, 'Pow!' en den
+he holler en laugh.
+
+"All dis time Mr. Hawk keep on sailin' 'roun' en 'roun' en gittin'
+nigher en nigher, en bimeby down he drapt right slambang on Brer Rabbit,
+en dar he had 'im. Brer Rabbit fix fer ter say his pra'rs, but 'fo' he
+do dat, he talk to Mr. Hawk, en he talk mighty fergivin'. He 'low he
+did:--
+
+"'I 'uz des playin', Mr. Hawk; I 'uz dez a-playin'. You oughtn' ter fly
+up en git mad wid a little bit er man like me.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk ruffle up de fedders on his neck en say:--
+
+"'I ain't flyin' up, I'm a-flyin' down, en w'en I fly up, I'm a-gwine
+ter fly 'way wid you. You bin a-playin' de imp 'roun' in dis settlement
+long 'nuff, en now ef you got any will ter make, you better make it
+quick, 'kaze you ain't got much time.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit cry. He say:--
+
+"'I mighty sorry, Mr. Hawk, dat I is. I got some gol' buried right over
+dar in fence cornder, en I wish in my soul my po' little childuns know
+whar 't wuz, 'kaze den dey could git long widout me fer a mont' er two.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk 'low, 'Whar'bouts is all dis gol'?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit low, 'Right over dar in de fence-cornder.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk say show it ter 'im. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
+en he say:--
+
+"'I'd 'a' done show'd it ter you long 'fo' dis, but you hol' me so
+tight, I can't wink my eye skacely, much less walk ter whar de gol' is.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk say he fear'd he gwineter try ter git 'way. Brer Rabbit say
+dey ain't no danger er dat, 'kaze he one er deze yer kinder mens w'en
+dey er kotch once deyer kotch fer good.
+
+"Mr. Hawk sorter let Brer Rabbit loose, en dey went todes de
+fence-cornder. Brer Rabbit, he went 'long so good dat dis sorter ease
+Mr. Hawk min' 'bout he gittin' 'way. Dey got ter de place en Brer Rabbit
+look all 'roun', en den he frown up like he got some mighty bad
+disap'intment, en he say:--
+
+"'You may b'lieve me er not, Mr. Hawk, but we er on de wrong side er de
+fence. I hid dat gol' some'rs right in dat cornder dar. You fly over en
+I'll go thoo.'
+
+"Tooby sho' dis look fa'r, en Brer Rabbit, he crope thoo' de fence, en
+Mr. Hawk flew'd 'cross. Time he lit on t'er side, Mr. Hawk year Brer
+Rabbit laugh."
+
+The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit laughed for, as 'Tildy paused
+to adjust a flaming red ribbon-bow pinned in her hair.
+
+"'Kaze dey wuz a brier-patch on t'er side de fence," said 'Tildy, "en
+Brer Rabbit wuz in dar."
+
+"I boun' you!" Aunt Tempy exclaimed. "He 'uz in dar, en dar he stayed
+tel Mr. Hawk got tired er hangin' 'roun' dar."
+
+"Ah, Lord, chile!" said Uncle Remus, with the candor of an expert, "some
+er dat tale you got right, en some you got wrong."
+
+"Oh, I know'd 't wa'n't no tale like you all bin tellin'," replied
+'Tildy, modestly.
+
+"Tooby sho' 't is," continued Uncle Remus, by way of encouragement; "but
+w'iles we gwine 'long we better straighten out all de kinks dat'll b'ar
+straightenin'."
+
+"Goodness knows I ain't fittin' ter tell no tale," persisted 'Tildy.
+
+"Don't run yo'se'f down, gal," said Uncle Remus, encouragingly; "ef
+dey's to be any runnin' down let yuther folks do it; en, bless yo' soul,
+dey'll do 'nuff un it bidout waitin' fer yo' lettin'.
+
+"Now, den, old man Hawk,--w'ich dey call 'im Billy Blue-tail in my day
+en time,--ole man Hawk, he tuck'n kotch Brer Rabbit des lak you done
+said. He kotch 'im en he hilt 'im in a mighty tight grip, let 'lone dat
+he hilt 'im so tight dat it make Brer Rabbit breff come short lak he des
+come off'n a long jurney.
+
+"He holler en he beg, but dat ain't do no good; he squall en he cry, but
+dat ain't do no good; he kick en he groan, but dat ain't do no good. Den
+Brer Rabbit lay still en study 'bout w'at de name er goodness he gwine
+do. Bimeby he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I dunner w'at you want wid me, Mr. Hawk, w'en I ain't a mouf full fer
+you, skacely!'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'I'll make way wid you, en den I'll go ketch me a
+couple er Jaybirds.'
+
+"Dis make Brer Rabbit shake wid de allovers, 'kaze ef dey's any kinder
+creetur w'at he nat'ally 'spize on de topside er de yeth, hit's a
+Jaybird.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Do, pray, Mr. Hawk, go ketch dem Jaybirds fus',
+'kaze I can't stan' um bein' on top er me. I'll stay right yer, plum
+twel you come back,' sezee.
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh, Brer Rabbit, you done bin fool too many folks.
+You ain't fool me,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Ef you can't do dat, Mr. Hawk, den de bes' way
+fer you ter do is ter wait en lemme git tame, 'kaze I'm dat wil' now dat
+I don't tas'e good.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Well, den, ef dat won't do, you better wait en
+lemme grow big so I'll be a full meal er vittles.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Now youer talkin' sense!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'En I'll rush 'roun' 'mungs' de bushes, en drive
+out Pa'tridges fer you, en we'll have mo' fun dan w'at you kin shake a
+stick at.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk sorter study 'bout dis, en Brer Rabbit, he beg en he 'splain,
+en de long en de short un it wuz," said Uncle Remus, embracing his knee
+with his hands, "dat Brer Rabbit tuck'n git loose, en he ain't git no
+bigger, en needer is he druv no Pa'tridges fer Mr. Hawk."
+
+"De Lord he'p my soul!" exclaimed 'Tildy, and this was the only comment
+made upon this extraordinary story.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[81] That is to say, threw sticks at Mr. Hawk.
+
+
+
+
+LXVI
+
+THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD
+
+
+All this talk about Hawks and Buzzards evidently reminded Daddy Jack of
+another story. He began to shake his head and mumble to himself; and,
+finally, when he looked around and found that he had attracted the
+attention of the little company, he rubbed his chin and grinned until
+his yellow teeth shone in the firelight like those of some wild animal,
+while his small eyes glistened under their heavy lids with a suggestion
+of cunning not unmixed with ferocity.
+
+"Talk it out, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus; "talk it out. All nex' week
+we'll be a-fixin' up 'bout Chris'mus. Mars Jeems, he's a-comin' up, en
+Miss Sally'll have lots er yuther comp'ny. 'Tildy yer, she'll be busy,
+en dish yer little chap, he won't have no time fer ter be settin' up
+wid de ole niggers, en Sis Tempy, she'll have 'er han's full, en ole
+Remus, he'll be a-pirootin' 'roun' huntin' fer dat w'at he kin pick up.
+Time's a-passin', Brer Jack, en we all er passin' wid it. Des whirl in
+en gin us de upshot er w'at you got in yo' min'."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, by way of approval. "One time dey bin two
+bud. One bin sma't bud; da turrer, 'e bin fool bud. Dey bin lif in da
+sem countree; da bin use in da sem swamp. Da sma't bud, 'e is bin come
+'pon da fool bud; 'e bin tahlk. 'E bin say:--
+
+"'Ki! you long in da leg, you deep in da craw. You bin 'tan' well; you
+bin las' long tam.'
+
+"Fool bud, 'e look proud, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no mekky no brag.'
+
+"Sma't bud, 'e say:--
+
+"'Less we try see fer how long tam we is kin go 'dout bittle un drink.'
+
+"Fool bud, 'e 'tretch 'e neck, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'All-a right; me beat-a you all day ebry day. Me beat-a you all da
+tam.'
+
+"Sma't bud, 'e say:--
+
+"'Ef you bin 'gree wit' dis, less we tek we place. You git 'pon da
+crik-side en tekky one ho'n, I git 'pon da tree y-up dey, en tekky
+nurrer ho'n. Less we 'tan' dey-dey tel we see how long tam we is kin do
+'dout bittle en drink. Wun I blow 'pon me ho'n dun you blow 'pon you'
+ho'n fer answer me; me blow, you blow, dun we bote blow.'
+
+"Fool bud walk 'bout big; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me will do um!'
+
+"Nex' day mornin' come. Da sma't bud bin tekky one ho'n un fly 'pon da
+tree. De fool bud bin tekky one nurrer ho'n en set by da crik-side. Dey
+bin sta't in fer starf deyse'f. Da fool bud, 'e stay by da crik-side wey
+dey bin no'n 't all fer eat; 'e no kin fin' no bittle dey-dey. Sma't
+bud git in da tree da y-ant en da bug swa'm in da bark plenty. 'E pick
+dem ant, 'e y-eat dem ant; 'e pick dem bug, 'e y-eat dem bug. 'E pick
+tel 'e craw come full; he feel berry good.
+
+"Fool bud, 'e down by da crik-side. 'E set down, 'e come tire'; 'e 'tan'
+up, 'e come tire'; 'e walk 'bout, 'e come tire'. 'E 'tan' 'pon one leg,
+he 'tan' 'pon turrer; 'e pit 'e head need 'e wing; still he come tire'.
+Sma't bud shed 'e y-eye; 'e feel berry good. Wun 'e come hongry, 'e pick
+ant, 'e pick bug, tel 'e hab plenty, toze dinner-time 'e pick up 'e
+ho'n, 'e toot um strong--
+
+    "'_Tay-tay, tenando wanzando waneanzo!_'
+
+"Fool bud craw bin empty, but 'e hab win'. 'E tekky da ho'n, 'e blow
+berry well; he mek um say:--
+
+    "'_Tay-tay tenando wanzando olando!_'
+
+"Sma't bud pick ant plenty; 'e git full up. 'E wait tel mos' toze
+sundown; 'e blow 'pon da ho'n--
+
+    "'_Tay-tay tenando wanzando waneanzo!_'
+
+"Fool bud mek answer, but 'e come weak; 'e yent hab eat nuttin' 't all.
+Soon nex' day mornin' sma't bud tek 'e ho'n en toot um. 'E done bin eat,
+'e done bin drink dew on da leaf. Fool bud, 'e toot um ho'n, 'e toot um
+slow.
+
+"Dinner-time, sma't bud bin tek 'e ho'n en blow; 'e yent bin honkry no'n
+'t all; 'e hab good feelin'. Fool bud toot um ho'n; 'e toot um slow.
+Night tam come, 'e no toot um no mo'. Sma't bud come down, 'e fin' um
+done gone dead.
+
+"Watch dem 'ceitful folks; 'e bin do you bad."[82]
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[82] Mrs. H. S. Barclay, of Darien, who sends this story, says it was
+told by a native African woman, of good intelligence, who claimed to be
+a princess. She had an eagle tattoed on her bosom--a sign of royalty.
+
+
+
+
+LXVII
+
+OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH
+
+
+"Dat tale," said Uncle Remus, "puts me in min' er de time w'en ole Brer
+Tarrypin had a tussel wid Brer Mink. Hit seem lak," he went on, in
+response to inquiries from the little boy, "dat dey bofe live 'roun' de
+water so much en so long dat dey git kinder stuck up long wid it.
+Leasways dat 'uz de trouble wid Brer Mink. He jump in de water en swim
+en dive twel he 'gun ter b'leeve dey wa'n't nobody kin hol' der han'
+long wid 'im.
+
+"One day Brer Mink 'uz gwine long down de creek wid a nice string er
+fish swingin' on he walkin'-cane, w'en who should he meet up wid but ole
+Brer Tarrypin. De creeturs 'uz all hail feller wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en
+no sooner is he seed Brer Mink dan he bow 'im howdy. Ole Brer Tarrypin
+talk 'way down in he th'oat lak he got bad col'. He 'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Mink! Whar you git all dem nice string er fish?'
+
+"Brer Mink 'uz mighty up-en-spoken in dem days. He 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Down dar in de creek, Brer Tarrypin.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin look 'stonish'. He say, sezee:--
+
+"'Well, well, well! In de creek! Who'd er b'leev'd it?'
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Whar I gwine ketch um, Brer Tarrypin, ef I ain't
+ketch um in de creek?'
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'Dat's so, Brer Mink; but a highlan' man lak
+you gwine in de creek atter fish! Hit looks turrible, Brer Mink--dat
+w'at it do; hit des looks turrible!'
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Looks er no looks, dar whar I got um.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin sorter sway he head fum side ter side, en 'low:--
+
+"'Ef dat de case, Brer Mink, den sho'ly you mus' be one er dem ar kinder
+creeturs w'at usen ter de water.'
+
+"'Dat's me,' sez Brer Mink, sezee.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'I'm a highlan' man myse'f, en
+it's bin a mighty long time sence I got my foots wet, but I don't min'
+goin' in washin' 'long wid you. Ef youer de man you sez you is, you kin
+outdo me,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'How we gwine do, Brer Tarrypin?'
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'We 'ull go down dar ter de creek, en de man
+w'at kin stay und' de water de longest, let dat man walk off wid dat
+string er fish.'
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'I'm de ve'y man you bin lookin' fer.'
+
+"Brer Mink say he don't wanter put it off a minnit. Go he would, en go
+he did. Dey went down ter creek en make der 'rangerments. Brer Mink lay
+he fish down on der bank, en 'im en ole Brer Tarrypin wade in. Brer
+Tarrypin he make great 'miration 'bout how col' he water is. He flinch,
+he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Ow, Brer Mink! Dish yer water feel mighty col' and 't ain't no mo'n up
+ter my wais'. Goodness knows how she gwine feel w'en she git up und' my
+chin.'
+
+"Dey wade in, dey did, en Brer Tarrypin say, sezee:--
+
+"'Now, den, Brer Mink, we'll make a dive, en de man w'at stay und' de
+water de longest dat man gits de fish.'
+
+"Brer Mink 'low dat's de way he look at it, en den Brer Tarrypin gun de
+wud, en und' dey went. Co'se," said Uncle Remus, after a little pause,
+"Brer Tarrypin kin stay down in de water longer'n Brer Mink, en Brer
+Mink mought er know'd it. Dey stay en dey stay, twel bimeby Brer Mink
+bleedz ter come up, en he tuck'n kotch he breff, he did, lak he mighty
+glad fer ter git back ag'in. Den atter w'ile Brer Tarrypin stuck he nose
+out er de water, en den Brer Mink say Brer Tarrypin kin beat 'im. Brer
+Tarrypin 'low:--
+
+"'No, Brer Mink; hit's de bes' two out er th'ee. Ef I beats you dis time
+den de fish, deyer mine; ef I gits beated, den we kin take 'n'er trial.'
+
+"Wid dat, down dey went, but Brer Tarrypin ain't mo'n dove 'fo' up he
+come, en w'iles Brer Mink 'uz down dar honin' fer fresh a'r, he tuck'n
+gobble up de las' one er de fish, ole Brer Tarrypin did. He gobble up de
+fish, en he 'uz fixin' fer ter pick he toof, but by dis time Brer Mink
+bleedz ter come up, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he tuck'n slid down in de
+water. He slid so slick," said Uncle Remus, with a chuckle, "dat he
+ain't lef' a bubble. He ain't stay down long, n'er, 'fo' he come up en
+he make lak he teetotally out er win'.
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin come up, he did, en look 'roun', en 'fo' Brer Mink
+kin say a wud, he holler out:--
+
+"'Youer nice man, Brer Mink! Youer mighty nice man!'
+
+"'Wat I done now, Brer Tarrypin?'
+
+"'Don't ax me. Look up dar whar you bin eatin' dem fish en den ax
+yo'se'f. Youer mighty nice man!'
+
+"Brer Mink look 'roun' en, sho' 'nuff, de fish done gone. Ole Brer
+Tarrypin keep on talkin':--
+
+"'You tuck'n come up fust, en w'iles I bin down dar in de water,
+nat'ally achin' fer lack er win', yer you settin' up chawin' on de fish
+w'ich dey oughter bin mine!'
+
+"Brer Mink stan' 'im down dat he ain't eat dem fish; he 'ny it ter de
+las', but ole Brer Tarrypin make out he don't b'leeve 'im. He say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'You'll keep gwine on dis a-way, twel atter w'ile you'll be wuss'n Brer
+Rabbit. Don't tell me you ain't git dem fish, Brer Mink, 'kaze you know
+you is.'
+
+"Hit sorter make Brer Mink feel proud 'kaze ole Brer Tarrypin mix 'im up
+wid Brer Rabbit, 'kaze Brer Rabbit wuz a mighty man in dem days, en he
+sorter laugh, Brer Mink did, lak he know mo' dan he gwine tell. Ole Brer
+Tarrypin keep on grumblin'.
+
+"'I ain't gwine ter git mad long wid you, Brer Mink, 'kaze hit's a
+mighty keen trick, but you oughter be 'shame' yo'se'f fer ter be playin'
+tricks on a ole man lak me--dat you ought!'
+
+"Wid dat ole Brer Tarrypin went shufflin' off, en atter he git outer
+sight he draw'd back in he house en shot de do' en laugh en laugh twel
+dey wa'n't no fun in laughin'."
+
+
+
+
+LXVIII
+
+BRER FOX MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE
+
+
+The next time the little boy had an opportunity to visit Uncle Remus the
+old man was alone, but he appeared to be in good spirits. He was
+cobbling away upon what the youngster recognized as 'Tildy's Sunday
+shoes, and singing snatches of a song something like this:--
+
+    "_O Mr. Rabbit! yo' eye mighty big--
+      Yes, my Lord! dey er made fer ter see;
+    O Mr. Rabbit! yo' tail mighty short--
+      Yes, my Lord! hit des fits me!_"
+
+The child waited to hear more, but the song was the same thing over and
+over again--always about Brother Rabbit's big eyes and his short tail.
+After a while Uncle Remus acknowledged the presence of his little
+partner by remarking:--
+
+"Well, sir, we er all yer. Brer Jack and Sis Tempy en dat ar 'Tildy
+nigger may be a-pacin' 'roun' lookin' in de fence-cornders fer
+Chris'mus, but me en you en ole Brer Rabbit, we er all yer, en ef we
+ain't right on de spot, we er mighty close erroun'. Yasser, we is dat;
+mo' speshually ole Brer Rabbit, wid he big eye and he short tail. Don't
+tell me 'bout Brer Rabbit!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a great apparent
+enthusiasm, "'kaze dey ain't no use er talkin' 'bout dat creetur."
+
+The little boy was very anxious to know why.
+
+"Well, I tell you," said the old man. "One time dey wuz a monst'us dry
+season in de settlement whar all de creeturs live at, en drinkin'-water
+got mighty skace. De creeks got low, en de branches went dry, en all de
+springs make der disappearance 'cep'n one great big un whar all de
+creeturs drunk at. Dey'd all meet dar, dey would, en de bigges' 'ud
+drink fus', en by de time de big uns all done swaje der thuss[83] dey
+wa'n't a drap lef' fer de little uns skacely.
+
+"Co'se Brer Rabbit 'uz on de happy side. Ef anybody gwine git water Brer
+Rabbit de man. De creeturs 'ud see he track 'roun' de spring, but dey
+ain't nev' ketch 'im. Hit got so atter w'ile dat de big creeturs 'ud
+crowd Brer Fox out, en den 't wa'n't long 'fo' he hunt up Brer Rabbit en
+ax 'im w'at he gwine do.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he up 'n tell Brer Fox fer ter go
+home en rub some 'lasses all on hisse'f en den go out en waller in de
+leafs. Brer Fox ax w'at he mus' do den, en Brer Rabbit say he mus' go
+down by de spring, en w'en de creeturs come ter de spring fer ter git
+dey water, he mus' jump out at um, en den atter dat he mus' waller lak
+he one er dem ar kinder varment w'at got bugs on um.
+
+"Brer Fox, he put out fer home, he did, en w'en he git dar he run ter de
+cubbud[84] en des gawm hisse'f wid 'lasses, en den he went out in de
+bushes, he did, en waller in de leafs en trash twel he look mos' bad ez
+Brer Rabbit look w'en he play Wull-er-de-Wust on de creeturs.
+
+"W'en Brer Fox git hisse'f all fix up, he went down ter de spring en
+hide hisse'f. Bimeby all de creeturs come atter der water, en w'iles dey
+'uz a-scuffin' en a-hunchin', en a-pushin' en a-scrougin', Brer Fox he
+jump out'n de bushes, en sorter switch hisse'f 'roun', en, bless yo'
+soul, he look lak de Ole Boy.
+
+"Brer Wolf tuck'n see 'im fus', en he jump spang over Brer B'ar head.
+Brer B'ar, he lip back, en ax who dat, en des time he do dis de t'er
+creeturs dey tuck'n make a break, dey did, lak punkins rollin' down
+hill, en mos' 'fo' youk'n wink yo' eye-ball, Brer Fox had de range er de
+spring all by hisse'f.
+
+"Yit 't wa'n't fur long, 'kaze 'fo' de creeturs mov'd fur, dey tuck'n
+tu'n 'roun', dey did, en crope back fer ter see w'at dat ar skeery
+lookin' varment doin'. W'en dey git back in seein' distuns dar 'uz Brer
+Fox walkin' up en down switchin' hisse'f.
+
+"De creeturs dunner w'at ter make un 'im. Dey watch, en Brer Fox march;
+dey watch, en he march. Hit keep on dis a-way twel bimeby Brer Fox 'gun
+ter waller in de water, en right dar," continued Uncle Remus, leaning
+back to laugh, "right dar 'uz whar Brer Rabbit had 'im. Time he 'gun ter
+waller in de water de 'lasses 'gun ter melt, en 't wa'n't no time
+skacely 'fo' de 'lasses en de leafs done all wash off, en dar 'uz ole
+Brer Fox des ez natchul ez life.
+
+"De fus' Brer Fox know 'bout de leafs comin' off, he year Brer B'ar
+holler on top er de hill:--
+
+"'You head 'im off down dar, Brer Wolf, en I'll head 'im off 'roun'
+yer!'
+
+"Brer Fox look 'roun' en he see all de leafs done come off, en wid dat
+he make a break, en he wa'n't none too soon, n'er, 'kaze little mo' en
+de creeturs 'ud 'a' kotch 'im."
+
+Without giving the little boy time to ask any questions, Uncle Remus
+added another verse to his Rabbit song, and harped on it for several
+minutes:--
+
+    "_O Mr. Rabbit! yo' year mighty long--
+      Yes, my Lord! dey made fer ter las';
+    O Mr. Rabbit! yo' toof mighty sharp--
+      Yes, my Lord! dey cuts down grass!_"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[83] Assuaged their thirst.
+
+[84] Cupboard.
+
+
+
+
+LXIX
+
+BRER FOX'S FISH-TRAP
+
+
+The little boy wanted Uncle Remus to sing some more; but before the old
+man could either consent or refuse, the notes of a horn were heard in
+the distance. Uncle Remus lifted his hand to command silence, and bent
+his head in an attitude of attention.
+
+"Des listen at dat!" he exclaimed, with some show of indignation. "Dat
+ain't nothin' in de roun' worl' but ole man Plato wid dat tin hawn er
+his'n, en I boun' you he's a-drivin' de six mule waggin, en de waggin
+full er niggers fum de River place, en let 'lone dat, I boun' you deyer
+niggers strung out behime de waggin fer mo'n a mile, en deyer all er
+comin' yer fer ter eat us all out'n house en home, des 'kaze dey year
+folks say Chris'mus mos' yer. Hit's mighty kuse unter me dat ole man
+Plato ain't done toot dat hawn full er holes long 'fo' dis.
+
+"Yit I ain't blamin' um," Uncle Remus went on, with a sigh, after a
+little pause. "Dem ar niggers bin livin' 'way off dar on de River place
+whar dey ain't no w'ite folks twel dey er done in about run'd wil'. I
+ain't a-blamin' um, dat I ain't."
+
+Plato's horn--a long tin bugle--was by no means unmusical. Its range was
+limited, but in Plato's hands its few notes were both powerful and
+sweet. Presently the wagon arrived, and for a few minutes all was
+confusion, the negroes on the Home place running to greet the
+new-comers, who were mostly their relatives. A stranger hearing the
+shouts and outcries of these people would have been at a loss to account
+for the commotion.
+
+Even Uncle Remus went to his cabin door, and, with the little boy by his
+side, looked out upon the scene,--a tumult lit up by torches of resinous
+pine. The old man and the child were recognized, and for a few moments
+the air was filled with cries of:--
+
+"Howdy, Unk Remus! Howdy, little Marster!"
+
+After a while Uncle Remus closed his door, laid away his tools, and
+drew his chair in front of the wide hearth. The child went and stood
+beside him, leaning his head against the old negro's shoulder, and the
+two--old age and youth, one living in the Past and the other looking
+forward only to the Future--gazed into the bed of glowing embers
+illuminated by a thin, flickering flame. Probably they saw nothing
+there, each being busy with his own simple thoughts; but their shadows,
+enlarged out of all proportion, and looking over their shoulders from
+the wall behind them, must have seen something, for, clinging together,
+they kept up a most incessant pantomime; and Plato's horn, which sounded
+again to call the negroes to supper after their journey, though it
+aroused Uncle Remus and the child from the contemplation of the fire,
+had no perceptible effect upon the Shadows.
+
+"Dar go de vittles!" said Uncle Remus, straightening himself. "Dey tells
+me dat dem ar niggers on de River place got appetite same ez a mule. Let
+'lone de vittles w'at dey gits from Mars John, dey eats oodles en oodles
+er fish. Ole man Plato say dat de nigger on de River place w'at ain't
+got a fish-baskit in de river er some intruss[85] in a fish-trap ain't no
+'count w'atsomever."
+
+Here Uncle Remus suddenly slapped himself upon the leg, and laughed
+uproariously; and when the little boy asked him what the matter was, he
+cried out:--
+
+"Well, sir! Ef I ain't de fergittenest ole nigger twix' dis en
+Phillimerdelphy! Yer 't is mos' Chris'mus en I ain't tell you 'bout how
+Brer Rabbit do Brer Fox w'ence dey bofe un um live on de river. I dunner
+w'at de name er sense gittin' de marter 'long wid me."
+
+Of course the little boy wanted to know all about it, and Uncle Remus
+proceeded:--
+
+"One time Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit live de on river. Atter dey bin livin'
+dar so long a time, Brer Fox 'low dat he got a mighty hankerin' atter
+sump'n' 'sides fresh meat, en he say he b'leeve he make 'im a fish-trap.
+Brer Rabbit say he wish Brer Fox mighty well, but he ain't honin' atter
+fish hisse'f, en ef he is he ain't got no time fer ter make no
+fish-trap.
+
+"No marter fer dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n got 'im out some timber, he did,
+en he wuk nights fer ter make dat trap. Den w'en he git it done, he
+tuck'n hunt 'im a good place fer ter set it, en de way he sweat over dat
+ar trap wuz a sin--dat 't wuz.
+
+"Yit atter so long a time, he got 'er sot, en den he tuck'n wash he face
+en han's en go home. All de time he 'uz fixin' un it up, Brer Rabbit 'uz
+settin' on de bank watchin' 'im. He sot dar, he did, en play in de
+water, en cut switches fer ter w'ip at de snake-doctors,[86] en all dat
+time Brer Fox, he pull en haul en tote rocks fer ter hol' dat trap
+endurin' a freshet.
+
+"Brer Fox went home en res' hisse'f, en bimeby he go down fer ter see ef
+dey any fish in he trap. He sorter fear'd er snakes, but he feel 'roun'
+en he feel 'roun', yit he ain't feel no fish. Den he go off.
+
+"Bimeby, 'long todes de las' er de week, he go down en feel 'roun'
+'g'in, yit he ain't feel no fish. Hit keep on dis a-way twel Brer Fox
+git sorter fag out. He go en he feel, but dey ain't no fish dar. Atter
+w'ile, one day, he see de signs whar somebody bin robbin' he trap, en he
+'low ter hisse'f dat he'll des in 'bout watch en fine out who de
+somebody is.
+
+"Den he tuck'n got in he boat en paddle und' de bushes on de bank en
+watch he fish-trap. He watch all de mornin'; nobody ain't come. He watch
+all endurin' er atter dinner; nobody ain't come. 'Long todes night, w'en
+he des 'bout makin' ready fer ter paddle off home, he year fuss on t'er
+side de river, en lo en beholes, yer come Brer Rabbit polin' a boat
+right todes Brer Fox fish-trap.
+
+"Look lak he dunner how to use a paddle, en he des had 'im a long pole,
+en he'd stan' up in de behime part er he boat, en put de een' er de pole
+'gin' de bottom, en shove 'er right ahead.
+
+"Brer Fox git mighty mad w'en he see dis, but he watch en wait. He 'low
+ter hisse'f, he did, dat he kin paddle a boat pearter dan anybody kin
+pole um, en he say he sho'ly gwine ketch Brer Rabbit dis time.
+
+"Brer Rabbit pole up ter de fish-trap, en feel 'roun' en pull out a
+great big mud-cat; den he retch in en pull out 'n'er big mud-cat; den he
+pull out a big blue cat, en it keep on dis a-way twel he git de finest
+mess er fish you mos' ever laid yo' eyes on.
+
+"Des 'bout dat time, Brer Fox paddle out fum und' de bushes, en make
+todes Brer Rabbit, en he holler out:--
+
+"'Ah-yi! Youer de man w'at bin robbin' my fish-trap dis long time! I got
+you dis time! Oh, you nee'nter try ter run! I got you dis time sho'!'
+
+"No sooner said dan no sooner done. Brer Rabbit fling he fish in he boat
+en grab up de pole en push off, en he had mo' fun gittin' 'way fum dar
+dan he y-ever had befo' in all he born days put terge'er."
+
+"Why did n't Brother Fox catch him, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"_Shoo!_ Honey, you sho'ly done lose yo' min' 'bout Brer Rabbit."
+
+"Well, I don't see how he could get away."
+
+    [Illustration: "HE GIT DE FINEST MESS ER FISH YOU MOS' EVER
+    LAID YO' EYES ON"]
+
+"Ef you'd er bin dar you'd er seed it, dat you would. Brer Fox, he wuz
+dar, en he seed it, en Brer Rabbit, he seed it, en e'en down ter ole
+Brer Bull-frog, a-settin' on de bank, he seed it. Now, den," continued
+Uncle Remus, spreading out the palm of his left hand like a map and
+pointing at it with the forefinger of his right, "w'en Brer Rabbit pole
+he boat, he bleedz ter set in de behime een', en w'en Brer Fox paddle he
+boat, _he_ bleedz ter set in de behime een'. Dat bein' de state er de
+condition, how Brer Fox gwine ketch 'im? I ain't 'sputin' but w'at he
+kin paddle pearter dan Brer Rabbit, but de long en de shorts un it
+is, de pearter Brer Fox paddle de pearter Brer Rabbit go."
+
+The little boy looked puzzled. "Well, I don't see how," he exclaimed.
+
+"Well, sir!" continued Uncle Remus, "w'en de nose er Brer Fox boat git
+close ter Brer Rabbit boat all Brer Rabbit got ter do in de roun' worl'
+is ter take he pole en put it 'gin' Brer Fox boat en push hisse'f out de
+way. De harder he push Brer Fox boat back, de pearter he push he own
+boat forrerd. Hit look mighty easy ter ole Brer Bull-frog settin' on de
+bank, en all Brer Fox kin do is ter shake he fist en grit he toof,
+w'iles Brer Rabbit sail off wid de fish."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[85] Interest.
+
+[86] Dragon-flies.
+
+
+
+
+LXX
+
+BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN
+
+
+The arrival of the negroes from the River place added greatly to the
+enthusiasm with which the Christmas holidays were anticipated on the
+Home place, and the air was filled with laughter day and night. Uncle
+Remus appeared to be very busy, though there was really nothing to be
+done except to walk around and scold at everybody and everything, in a
+good-humored way, and this the old man could do to perfection.
+
+The night before Christmas eve, however, the little boy saw a light in
+Uncle Remus's cabin, and he interpreted it as in some sort a signal of
+invitation. He found the old man sitting by the fire and talking to
+himself:--
+
+"Ef Mars John and Miss Sally 'specks me fer ter keep all deze yer
+niggers straight deyer gwine ter be diserp'inted,--dat dey is. Ef dey
+wuz 'lev'm Remuses 't would n't make no diffunce, let 'long one po' ole
+cripple creetur lak me. Dey ain't done no damage yit, but I boun' you by
+termorrer night dey'll tu'n loose en tu'n de whole place upside down, en
+t'ar it up by de roots, en den atter hit's all done gone en done,
+yer'll come Miss Sally a-layin' it all at ole Remus do'. Nigger ain't
+got much chance in deze yer low-groun's, mo' speshually w'en dey gits
+ole en cripple lak I is."
+
+"What are they going to do to-morrow night, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
+inquired.
+
+"Now w'at make you ax dat, honey?" exclaimed the old man, in a grieved
+tone. "You knows mighty well how dey done las' year en de year 'fo' dat.
+Dey tuck'n cut up 'roun' yer wuss'n ef dey 'uz wil' creeturs, en
+termorrer night dey'll be a-hollin' en whoopin' en singin' en dancin'
+'fo' it git dark good. I wish w'en you go up ter de big house you be so
+good ez ter tell Miss Sally dat ef she want any peace er min' she better
+git off'n de place en stay off twel atter deze yer niggers git dey fill
+er Chris'mus. Goodness knows, she can't 'speck a ole cripple nigger lak
+me fer ter ketch holt en keep all deze yer niggers straight."
+
+Uncle Remus would have kept up his vague complaints, but right in the
+midst of them Daddy Jack stuck his head in at the door, and said:--
+
+"Oona bin fix da' 'Tildy gal shoe. Me come fer git dem shoe; me come fer
+pay you fer fix dem shoe."
+
+Uncle Remus looked at the grinning old African in astonishment. Then
+suddenly the truth dawned upon him and he broke into a loud laugh.
+Finally he said:--
+
+"Come in, Brer Jack! Come right 'long in. I'm sorter po'ly myse'f, yit
+I'll make out ter make you welcome. Dey wuz a quarter dollar gwine inter
+my britches-pocket on de 'count er dem ar shoes, but ef youer gwine ter
+pay fer um 't won't be but a sev'mpunce."
+
+Somehow or other Daddy Jack failed to relish Uncle Remus's tone and
+manner, and he replied, with some display of irritation:
+
+"Shuh-shuh! Me no come in no'n 't all. Me no pay you se'mpunce. Me come
+fer pay you fer dem shoe; me come fer tek um 'way fum dey-dey."
+
+"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Jack, I dunno 'bout dat. De las' time I year
+you en 'Tildy gwine on, she wuz 'pun de p'ints er knockin' yo' brains
+out. Now den, s'pozen I whirls in en gins you de shoes, en den 'Tildy
+come 'long en ax me 'bout um, w'at I gwine say ter 'Tildy?"
+
+"Me pay you fer dem shoe," said Daddy Jack, seeing the necessity of
+argument, "un me tek um wey da lil 'Tildy gal bin stay. She tell me fer
+come git-a dem shoe."
+
+"Well, den, yer dey is," said Uncle Remus, sighing deeply as he handed
+Daddy Jack the shoes. "Yer dey is, en youer mo' dan welcome, dat you is.
+But spite er dat, dis yer quarter you flingin' 'way on um would er done
+you a sight mo' good dan w'at dem shoes is."
+
+This philosophy was altogether lost upon Daddy Jack, who took the shoes
+and shuffled out with a grunt of satisfaction. He had scarcely got out
+of hearing before 'Tildy pushed the door open and came in. She hesitated
+a moment, and then, seeing that Uncle Remus paid no attention to her,
+she sat down and picked at her fingers with an air quite in contrast to
+her usual "uppishness," as Uncle Remus called it.
+
+"Unk Remus," she said, after awhile, in a subdued tone, "is dat old
+Affikin nigger bin yer atter dem ar shoes?"
+
+"Yas, chile," replied Uncle Remus, with a long-drawn sigh, "he done bin
+yer en got um en gone. Yas, honey, he done got um en gone; done come en
+pay fer 'm, en got um en gone. I sez, sez I, dat I wish you all mighty
+well, en he tuck'n tuck de shoes en put. Yas, chile, he done got um en
+gone."
+
+Something in Uncle Remus's sympathetic and soothing tone seemed to
+exasperate 'Tildy. She dropped her hands in her lap, straightened
+herself up and exclaimed:--
+
+"Yas, I'm is gwine ter marry dat ole nigger an' I don't keer who knows
+it. Miss Sally say she don't keer, en t'er folks may keer ef dey wanter,
+en much good der keerin' 'll do um."
+
+'Tildy evidently expected Uncle Remus to make some characteristic
+comment, for she sat and watched him with her lips firmly pressed
+together and her eyelids half-closed,--an attitude of defiance
+significant enough when seen, but difficult to describe. But the old man
+made no response to the challenge. He seemed to be very busy. Presently
+'Tildy went on:--
+
+"Somebody bleedz to take keer er dat ole nigger, en I dunner who gwine
+ter do it ef I don't. Somebody bleedz ter look atter 'im. Good win' come
+'long hit 'ud in about blow 'im 'way ef dey wa'n't somebody close 'roun'
+fer ter take keer un 'im. Let 'lone dat, I ain't gwineter have dat ole
+nigger man f'ever 'n 'ternally trottin' atter me. I tell you de Lord's
+trufe, Unk Remus," continued 'Tildy, growing confidential, "I ain't had
+no peace er min' sence dat ole nigger man come on dis place. He des bin
+a-pacin' at my heels de whole blessed time, en I bleedz ter marry 'im
+fer git rid un 'im."
+
+"Well," said Uncle Remus, "hit don't s'prize me. You marry en den youer
+des lak Brer Fox wid he bag. You know w'at you put in it, but you dunner
+w'at you got in it."
+
+'Tildy flounced out without waiting for an explanation, but the mention
+of Brother Fox attracted the attention of the little boy, and he wanted
+to know what was in the bag, how it came to be there, and all about it.
+
+"Now, den," said Uncle Remus, "hit's a tale, en a mighty long tale at
+dat, but I'll des hatter cut it short, 'kaze termorrer night you'll
+wanter be a-settin' up lis'nen at de kyar'n's on er dem ar niggers,
+w'ich I b'leeve in my soul dey done los' all de sense dey ever bin
+bornded wid.
+
+"One time Brer Fox wuz gwine on down de big road, en he look ahead en he
+see ole Brer Tarrypin makin' he way on todes home. Brer Fox 'low dis a
+mighty good time fer ter nab ole Brer Tarrypin, en no sooner is he thunk
+it dan he put out back home, w'ich 't wa'n't but a little ways, en he
+git 'im a bag. He come back, he did, en he run up behime ole Brer
+Tarrypin en flip 'im in de bag en sling de bag 'cross he back en go
+gallin'-up back home.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he holler, but 't ain't do no good, he rip en he r'ar,
+but 't ain't do no good. Brer Fox des keep on a-gwine, en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he had ole Brer Tarrypin slung up in de cornder in de bag, en de
+bag tied un hard en fas'.
+
+"But w'iles all dis gwine on," exclaimed Uncle Remus, employing the tone
+and manner of some country preacher he had heard, "whar wuz ole Brer
+Rabbit? Yasser--dats it, whar wuz he? En mo'n dat, w'at you 'speck he
+'uz doin' en whar you reckon he wer' gwine? Dat's de way ter talk it;
+whar'bouts wuz he?"
+
+The old man brought his right hand down upon his knee with a thump that
+jarred the tin-plate and cups on the mantel-shelf, and then looked
+around with a severe frown to see what the chairs and the work-bench,
+and the walls and the rafters, had to say in response to his remarkable
+argument. He sat thus in a waiting attitude a moment, and then, finding
+that no response came from anything or anybody, his brow gradually
+cleared, and a smile of mingled pride and satisfaction spread over his
+face, as he continued in a more natural tone:--
+
+"Youk'n b'leeve me er not b'leeve des ez youer min' ter, but dat ar
+long-year creetur--dat ar hoppity-skippity--dat ar
+up-en-down-en-sailin'-'roun' Brer Rabbit, w'ich you bin year me call he
+name 'fo' dis, he wa'n't so mighty fur off w'iles Brer Fox gwine 'long
+wid dat ar bag slung 'cross he back. Let 'lone dat, Brer Rabbit 'uz
+settin' right dar in de bushes by de side er de road, en w'ence he see
+Brer Fox go trottin' by, he ax hisse'f w'at is it dat creetur got in dat
+ar bag.
+
+"He ax hisse'f, he did, but he dunno. He wunder en he wunder, yit de mo'
+he wunder de mo' he dunno. Brer Fox, he go trottin' by, en Brer Rabbit,
+he sot in de bushes en wunder. Bimeby he 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat
+Brer Fox ain't got no business fer ter be trottin' 'long down de road,
+totin' doin's w'ich yuther folks dunner w'at dey is, en he 'low dat dey
+won't be no great harm done ef he take atter Brer Fox en fine out w'at
+he got in dat ar bag.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he put out. He ain't got no bag fer ter tote, en
+he pick up he foots mighty peart. Mo'n dat, he tuck'n tuck a nigh-cut,
+en by de time Brer Fox git home, Brer Rabbit done had time fer ter go
+'roun' by de watermillion-patch en do some er he devilment, en den atter
+dat he tuck'n sot down in de bushes whar he kin see Brer Fox w'en he
+come home.
+
+"Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid de bag slung 'cross he back. He onlatch de
+do', he did, en he go in en sling Brer Tarrypin down in de cornder, en
+set down front er de h'ath fer ter res' hisse'f."
+
+Here Uncle Remus paused to laugh in anticipation of what was to follow.
+
+"Brer Fox ain't mo'n lit he pipe," the old man continued, after a
+tantalizing pause, "'fo' Brer Rabbit stick he head in de do' en
+holler:--
+
+"Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! You better take yo' walkin'-cane en run down yan.
+Comin' 'long des now I year a mighty fuss, en I look 'roun' en dar wuz a
+whole passel er folks in yo' watermillion-patch des a-tromplin' 'roun'
+en a-t'arin' down. I holler'd at um, but dey ain't pay no 'tention ter
+little man lak I is. Make 'a'se, Brer Fox! make 'a'se! Git yo' cane en
+run down dar. I'd go wid you myse'f, but my ole 'oman ailin' en I bleedz
+ter be makin' my way todes home. You better make 'a'se, Brer Fox, ef you
+wanter git de good er yo' watermillions. Run, Brer Fox! run!'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit dart back in de bushes, en Brer Fox drap he pipe en
+grab he walkin'-cane en put out fer he watermillion-patch, w'ich 't wer'
+down on de branch; en no sooner is he gone dan ole Brer Rabbit come out
+de bushes en make he way in de house.
+
+"He go so easy dat he ain't make no fuss; he look 'roun' en dar wuz de
+bag in de cornder. He kotch holt er de bag en sorter feel un it, en time
+he do dis, he year sump'n' holler:--
+
+"'Ow! Go 'way! Lem me 'lone! Tu'n me loose! Ow!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit jump back 'stonish'd. Den 'fo' you kin wink yo' eye-ball,
+Brer Rabbit slap hisse'f on de leg en break out in a laugh. Den he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Ef I ain't make no mistakes, dat ar kinder fuss kin come fum nobody in
+de roun' worl' but ole Brer Tarrypin.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he holler, sezee: 'Ain't dat Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'De same,' sezee.
+
+"'Den whirl in en tu'n me out. Meal dus' in my th'oat, grit in my eye,
+en I ain't kin git my breff, skacely. Tu'n me out, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin talk lak somebody down in a well. Brer Rabbit, he holler
+back:--
+
+"'Youer lots smarter dan w'at I is, Brer Tarrypin--lots smarter. Youer
+smarter en pearter. Peart ez I come yer, you is ahead er me. I know how
+you git in de bag, but I dunner how de name er goodness you tie yo'se'f
+up in dar, dat I don't.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin try ter splain, but Brer Rabbit keep on laughin', en he
+laugh twel he git he fill er laughin'; en den he tuck'n ontie de bag en
+take Brer Tarrypin out en tote 'im 'way off in de woods. Den, w'en he
+done dis, Brer Rabbit tuck'n run off en git a great big hornet-nes' w'at
+he see w'en he comin' long--"
+
+"A hornet's nest, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the little boy, in amazement.
+
+"Tooby sho', honey. 'T ain't bin a mont' sence I brung you a great big
+hornet-nes', en yer you is axin' dat. Brer Rabbit tuck'n slap he han'
+'cross de little hole whar de hornets goes in at, en dar he had um. Den
+he tuck'n tuck it ter Brer Fox house, en put it in de bag whar Brer
+Tarrypin bin.
+
+"He put de hornet-nes' in dar," continued Uncle Remus, lowering his
+voice, and becoming very grave, "en den he tie up de bag des lak he
+fine it. Yit 'fo' he put de bag back in de cornder, w'at do dat creetur
+do? I ain't settin' yer," said the old man, seizing his chair with both
+hands, as if by that means to emphasize the illustration, "I ain't
+settin' yer ef dat ar creetur ain't grab dat bag en slam it down 'g'in
+de flo', en hit it 'g'in de side er de house twel he git dem ar hornets
+all stirred up, en den he put de bag back in de cornder, en go out in de
+bushes ter whar Brer Tarrypin waitin', en den bofe un um sot out dar en
+wait fer ter see w'at de upshot gwine ter be.
+
+"Bimeby, yer come Brer Fox back fum he watermillion-patch en he look lak
+he mighty mad. He strak he cane down 'pun de groun', en do lak he gwine
+take he revengeance out'n po' ole Brer Tarrypin. He went in de do', Brer
+Fox did, en shot it atter 'im. Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin lissen', but
+dey ain't year nothin'.
+
+"But bimeby, fus' news you know, dey year de mos' owdashus racket, tooby
+sho'. Seem lak, fum whar Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin settin' dat dey
+'uz a whole passel er cows runnin' 'roun' in Brer Fox house. Dey year de
+cheers a-fallin', en de table turnin' over, en de crock'ry breakin', en
+den de do' flew'd open, en out come Brer Fox, a-squallin' lak de Ole Boy
+wuz atter 'im. En sech a sight ez dem t'er creeturs seed den en dar
+ain't never bin seed befo' ner sence.
+
+"Dem ar hornets des swarmed on top er Brer Fox. 'Lev'm dozen un um 'ud
+hit at one time, en look lak dat ar creetur bleedz ter fine out fer
+hisse'f w'at pain en suffin' is. Dey bit 'im en dey stung 'im, en fur ez
+Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin kin year 'im, dem hornets 'uz des a-nailin'
+'im. Gentermens! dey gun 'im binjer!
+
+"Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin, dey sot dar, dey did, en dey laugh en
+laugh, twel bimeby, Brer Rabbit roll over en grab he stomach, en
+holler:--
+
+"'Don't, Brer Tarrypin! don't! One giggle mo' en you'll hatter tote me.'
+
+"En dat ain't all," said Uncle Remus, raising his voice. "I know a
+little chap w'ich ef he set up yer 'sputin' 'longer me en de t'er
+creeturs, he won't have much fun termorrer night."
+
+The hint was sufficient, and the little boy ran out laughing.
+
+
+
+
+LXXI
+
+THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
+
+
+The day and the night before Christmas were full of pleasure for the
+little boy. There was pleasure in the big house, and pleasure in the
+humble cabins in the quarters. The peculiar manner in which the negroes
+celebrated the beginning of the holidays was familiar to the child's
+experience, but strange to his appreciation, and he enjoyed everything
+he saw and heard with the ready delight of his years,--a delight, which,
+in this instance, had been trained and sharpened, if the expression may
+be used, in the small world over which Uncle Remus presided.
+
+The little boy had a special invitation to be present at the marriage of
+Daddy Jack and 'Tildy, and he went, accompanied by Uncle Remus and Aunt
+Tempy. It seemed to be a very curious affair, but its incongruities made
+small impression upon the mind of the child.
+
+'Tildy wore a white dress and had a wreath of artificial flowers in her
+hair. Daddy Jack wore a high hat, which he persisted in keeping on his
+head during the ceremony, and a coat the tails of which nearly dragged
+the floor. His bright little eyes glistened triumphantly, and he grinned
+and bowed to everybody again and again. After it was all over, the
+guests partook of cake baked by Aunt Tempy, and persimmon beer brewed by
+Uncle Remus.
+
+It seemed, however, that 'Tildy was not perfectly happy; for, in
+response to a question asked by Aunt Tempy, she said:--
+
+"Yes'm, I'm gwine down de country 'long wid my ole man, an' I lay ef
+eve'ything don't go right, I'm gwineter pick up en come right back."
+
+"No-no!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "'e no come bahck no'n 't all. 'E bin
+stay dey-dey wit' 'e nice ole-a màn."
+
+"You put yo' pennunce in dat!" said 'Tildy, scornfully. "Dey ain't
+nobody kin hol' me w'en I takes a notion, 'cep'n hit's Miss Sally; en,
+goodness knows, Miss Sally ain't gwine ter be down dar."
+
+"Who Miss Sally gwine put in de house?" Aunt Tempy asked.
+
+"Humph!" exclaimed 'Tildy, scornfully, "Miss Sally say she gwine take
+dat ar Darkess[87] nigger en put 'er in my place. En a mighty nice mess
+Darkess gwine ter make un it! Much she know 'bout waitin' on w'ite
+folks! Many's en many's de time Miss Sally'll set down in 'er
+rockin'-cheer en wish fer 'Tildy--many's de time."
+
+This was 'Tildy's grievance,--the idea that some one could be found to
+fill her place; and it is a grievance with which people of greater
+importance than the humble negro house-girl are more or less familiar.
+
+But the preparations for the holidays went on in spite of 'Tildy's
+grievance. A large platform, used for sunning wheat and seed cotton, was
+arranged by the negroes for their dance, and several wagon-loads of
+resinous pine--known as lightwood--were placed around about it in little
+heaps, so that the occasion might lack no element of brilliancy.
+
+At nightfall the heaps of lightwood were set on fire, and the little
+boy, who was waiting impatiently for Uncle Remus to come for him, could
+hear the negroes singing, dancing, and laughing. He was just ready to
+cry when he heard the voice of his venerable partner.
+
+"Is dey a'er passenger anywhar's 'roun' yer fer Thumptown? De stage done
+ready en de hosses a-prancin'. Ef dey's a'er passenger 'roun' yer, I lay
+he des better be makin' ready fer ter go."
+
+The old man walked up to the back piazza as he spoke, held out his
+strong arms, and the little boy jumped into them with an exclamation of
+delight. The child's mother gave Uncle Remus a shawl to wrap around the
+child, and this shawl was the cause of considerable trouble, for the
+youngster persisted in wrapping it around the old man's head, and so
+blinding him that there was danger of his falling. Finally, he put the
+little boy down, took off his hat, raised his right hand, and said:--
+
+"Now, den, I bin a-beggin' un you fer ter quit yo' 'haveishness des long
+ez I'm a-gwinter, en I ain't gwine beg you no mo', 'kaze I'm des
+teetotally wo' out wid beggin', en de mo' I begs de wuss you gits. Now
+I'm done! You des go yo' ways en I'll go mine, en my way lays right
+spang back ter de big house whar Miss Sally is. Dat's whar I'm a-gwine!"
+
+Uncle Remus started to the house with an exaggerated vigor of movement
+comical to behold; but, however comical it may have been, it had its
+effect. The little boy ran after him, caught him by the hand, and made
+him stop.
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus, _please_ don't go back. I was just playing."
+
+Uncle Remus's anger was all pretence, but he managed to make it very
+impressive.
+
+"My playin' days done gone too long ter talk 'bout. When I plays, I
+plays wid wuk, dat w'at I plays wid."
+
+"Well," said the child, who had tactics of his own, "if I can't play
+with you, I don't know who I am to play with."
+
+This touched Uncle Remus in a very tender spot. He stopped in the path,
+took off his spectacles, wiped the glasses on his coat-tail, and said
+very emphatically:--
+
+"Now den, honey, des lissen at me. How de name er goodness kin you call
+dat playin', w'ich er little mo' en I'd er fell down on top er my head,
+en broke my neck en yone too?"
+
+The child promised that he would be very good, and Uncle Remus picked
+him up, and the two made their way to where the negroes had congregated.
+They were greeted with cries of "Dar's Unk Remus!" "Howdy, Unk Remus!"
+"Yer dey is!" "Ole man Remus don't sing; but w'en he do
+sing--gentermens! des go 'way!"
+
+All this and much more, so that when Uncle Remus had placed the little
+boy upon a corner of the platform, and made him comfortable, he
+straightened himself with a laugh and cried out:--
+
+"Howdy, boys! howdy all! I des come up fer ter jine in wid you fer one
+'roun' fer de sakes er ole times, ef no mo'."
+
+"I boun' fer Unk Remus!" some one said. "Now des hush en let Unk Remus
+'lone!" exclaimed another.
+
+The figure of the old man, as he stood smiling upon the crowd of
+negroes, was picturesque in the extreme. He seemed to be taller than all
+the rest; and, notwithstanding his venerable appearance, he moved and
+spoke with all the vigor of youth. He had always exercised authority
+over his fellow-servants. He had been the captain of the corn-pile, the
+stoutest at the log-rolling, the swiftest with the hoe, the neatest with
+the plough, and the plantation hands still looked upon him as their
+leader.
+
+Some negro from the River place had brought a fiddle, and, though it was
+a very feeble one, its screeching seemed to annoy Uncle Remus.
+
+"Put up dat ar fiddle!" he exclaimed, waving his hand. "Des put 'er up;
+she sets my toof on aidje. Put 'er up en les go back ter ole times. Dey
+ain't no room fer no fiddle 'roun' yer, 'kaze w'en you gits me started
+dat ar fiddle won't be nowhars."
+
+"Dat's so," said the man with the fiddle, and the irritating instrument
+was laid aside.
+
+"Now, den," Uncle Remus went on, "dey's a little chap yer dat you'll all
+come ter know mighty well one er deze odd-come-shorts, en dish yer
+little chap ain't got so mighty long fer ter set up 'long wid us. Dat
+bein' de case we oughter take 'n put de bes' foot fo'mus' fer ter
+commence wid."
+
+"You lead, Unk Remus! You des lead en we'll foller."
+
+Thereupon the old man called to the best singers among the negroes and
+made them stand near him. Then he raised his right hand to his ear and
+stood perfectly still. The little boy thought he was listening for
+something, but presently Uncle Remus began to slap himself gently with
+his left hand, first upon the leg and then upon the breast. The other
+negroes kept time to this by a gentle motion of their feet, and finally,
+when the thump--thump--thump of this movement had regulated itself to
+suit the old man's fancy, he broke out with what may be called a
+Christmas dance song.
+
+His voice was strong, and powerful, and sweet, and its range was as
+astonishing as its volume. More than this, the melody to which he tuned
+it, and which was caught up by a hundred voices almost as sweet and as
+powerful as his own, was charged with a mysterious and pathetic
+tenderness.
+
+The fine company of men and women at the big house--men and women who
+had made the tour of all the capitals of Europe--listened with swelling
+hearts and with tears in their eyes as the song rose and fell upon the
+air--at one moment a tempest of melody, at another a heart-breaking
+strain breathed softly and sweetly to the gentle winds. The song that
+the little boy and the fine company heard was something like
+this--ridiculous enough when put in cold type, but powerful and
+thrilling when joined to the melody with which the negroes had invested
+it:--
+
+_MY HONEY, MY LOVE_
+
+    _Hit's a mighty fur ways up de Far'well Lane,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    You may ax Mister Crow, you may ax Mr. Crane,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Dey'll make you a bow, en dey'll tell you de same,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Hit's a mighty fur ways fer to go in de night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _Mister Mink, he creep twel he wake up de snipe,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Mister Bull-Frog holler,_ Come-a-light my pipe _,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    En de Pa'tridge ax,_ Ain't yo' peas ripe?
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Better not walk erlong dar much atter night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _De Bully-Bat fly mighty close ter de groun',
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Mister Fox, he coax 'er,_ Do come down!
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Mister Coon, he rack all 'roun' en 'roun',
+                  My honey, my love!
+    In de darkes' night, oh, de nigger, he's a sight!
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _Oh, flee, Miss Nancy, flee ter my knee,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    'Lev'm big fat coons lives in one tree,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Oh, ladies all, won't you marry me?
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Tu'n lef', tu'n right, we 'ull dance all night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _De big Owl holler en cry fer his mate,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Oh, don't stay long! Oh, don't stay late!
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Hit ain't so mighty fur ter de Good-by Gate,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Whar we all got ter go w'en we sing out de night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+After a while the song was done, and other songs were sung; but it was
+not long before Uncle Remus discovered that the little boy was fast
+asleep. The old man took the child in his arms and carried him to the
+big house, singing softly in his ear all the way; and somehow or other
+the song seemed to melt and mingle in the youngster's dreams. He thought
+he was floating in the air, while somewhere near all the negroes were
+singing, Uncle Remus's voice above all the rest; and then, after he had
+found a resting-place upon a soft warm bank of clouds, he thought he
+heard the songs renewed. They grew fainter and fainter in his dreams
+until at last (it seemed) Uncle Remus leaned over him and sang
+
+    GOOD-NIGHT
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[87] Dorcas.
+
+
+    +-------------------------------------------+
+    |Transcriber's Note:                        |
+    |                                           |
+    |Punctuation and inconsistencies in language|
+    |and dialect found in the original book have|
+    |been retained.                             |
+    +-------------------------------------------+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris
+
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+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris.
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+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Nights With Uncle Remus
+
+Author: Joel Chandler Harris
+
+Illustrator: Milo Winter
+
+Release Date: January 26, 2008 [EBook #24430]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jacqueline Jeremy and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 452px;">
+<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="452" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" />
+<p class="image"><a href="images/coverl.jpg">View larger image</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 410px;">
+<img src="images/frontis.jpg" class="jpg" width="410" height="600" alt="UNCLE REMUS AND THE LITTLE BOY" title="" />
+<span class="caption">UNCLE REMUS AND THE LITTLE BOY</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/frontisl.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Go to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+
+<h1 class="title">NIGHTS WITH<br />
+UNCLE REMUS<br />
+<span class="illus">BY</span><br />
+<span class="author">JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS</span><br />
+<span class="illus">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MILO WINTER</span></h1>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 245px;">
+<img src="images/title.png" width="245" height="300" alt="" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<h5>BOSTON AND NEW YORK<br />
+<big>HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY</big><br />
+The Riverside Press Cambridge<br />
+1917<br /><br />
+COPYRIGHT, 1851, 1853, 1909, AND 1911, BY THE CENTURY CO.<br />
+COPYRIGHT, 1885, BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS<br />
+COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY ESTHER LA ROSE HARRIS<br />
+COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY<br /><br />
+ALL RIGHTS RESERVED<br /><br />
+<em>Published October 1917</em></h5>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2>PUBLISHERS' NOTE</h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Nights With Uncle Remus</span> is a story-book dearly loved by children.
+Besides that, it is an important contribution to the study of
+Afro-American folk-lore, and through many years of popularity it has
+carried a long and learned Introduction, of great interest to students
+but rather forbidding in aspect to youthful readers. In this new
+edition, which has been prepared especially for children, and
+illustrated in colors by an artist who knows how to please them as well
+as their elders, the Introduction has been omitted, but the stories and
+their charming setting have been left intact.</p>
+
+<p><em>June</em>, 1917</p>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="contents" id="contents"></a></div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/contents.png" width="600" height="180" alt="Contents" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<table summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">I.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Fox and Miss Goose</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#fox">3</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">II.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox catches Mr. Horse</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#II">7</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">III.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit and the Little Girl</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#III"> 11</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">IV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox copies Brer Rabbit</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#IV"> 14</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">V.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit's Astonishing Prank</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#V"> 18</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">VI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit secures a Mansion</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#VI"> 22</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">VII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Lion hunts for Mr. Man</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#VII">27</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">VIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Story of the Pigs</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#VIII">31</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">IX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Benjamin Ram and his Wonderful Fiddle</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#IX">35</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">X.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit's Riddle</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#X">41</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">How Mr. Rooster lost his Dinner</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#rooster">49</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit breaks up a Party</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XII">53</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, and King Deer's Daughter</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XIII">58</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XIV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Terrapin deceives Brer Buzzard</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XIV">62</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox covets the Quills</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XV">66</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XVI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">How Brer Fox failed to get his Grapes</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XVI">70</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XVII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox figures as an Incendiary</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XVII">75</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Dream and a Story</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XVIII">79</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XIX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Moon in the Mill-Pond</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XIX">83</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit takes some Exercise</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XX">89</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Why Brer Bear has no Tail</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#tail">97</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">How Brer Rabbit frightened his Neighbors</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXII">100</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Man has some Meat</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXIII">105</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXIV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">How Brer Rabbit got the Meat</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXIV">108</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span>
+XXV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">African Jack</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXV">112</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXVI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"> <span class="smcap">Why the Alligator's Back is Rough</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXVI">119</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXVII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Wolf says Grace</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXVII">123</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Spirits, Seen and Unseen</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXVIII">129</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXIX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">A Ghost Story</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXIX">134</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit and his Famous Foot</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#foot">141</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXI.</td>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">In some Lady's Garden</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXI">149</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer 'Possum gets in Trouble</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXII">156</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Why the Guinea-fowls are speckled</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXIII">162</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXIV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit's Love-charm</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXIV">166</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit submits to a Test</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXV">170</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXVI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Wolf falls a Victim</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXVI">174</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXVII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit and the Mosquitoes</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXVII">179</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Pimmerly Plum</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XXXVIII">185</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XXXIX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit gets the Provisions</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#provisions">195</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XL.</td>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">Cutta Cord-La</span>!"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XL">200</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XLI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Aunt Tempy's Story</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLI">204</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XLII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Fire-Test</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLII">209</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XLIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Cunning Snake</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLIII">214</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XLIV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"> <span class="smcap">How Brer Fox was too Smart</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLIV">218</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XLV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Wolf gets in a Warm Place</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLV">225</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+
+<td class="tda">XLVI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Wolf still in Trouble</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLVI">229</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+
+<td class="tda">XLVII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit lays in his Beef Supply</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLVII">234</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XLVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"> <span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit and Mr. Wildcat</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#XLVIII">238</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">XLIX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Benjamin Ram defends Himself</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#ram">245</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+
+<td class="tda">L.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit pretends to be Poisoned</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#L">249</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">More Trouble for Brer Wolf</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LI">253</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit outdoes Mr. Man</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LII">256</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit takes a Walk</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LIII">260</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span>LIV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Old Grinny-Granny Wolf</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LIV">263</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"> <span class="smcap">How Wattle Weasel was Caught</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LV">267</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LVI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit ties Mr. Lion</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LVI">272</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LVII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Lion's Sad Predicament</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LVII">276</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Origin of the Ocean</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LVIII">279</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LIX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit gets Brer Fox's Dinner</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LIX">283</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">How the Bear nursed the Little Alligators</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#alligators">291</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Why Mr. Dog runs Brer Rabbit</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXI">295</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Wolf and the Horned Cattle</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXII">298</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox and the White Muscadines</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXIII">302</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXIV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Hawk and Brer Buzzard</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXIV">306</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXV.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Mr. Hawk and Brer Rabbit</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXV">309</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXVI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Wise Bird and the Foolish Bird</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXVI">312</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXVII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Old Brer Terrapin gets some Fish</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXVII">315</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXVIII.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox makes a Narrow Escape</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXVIII">318</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXIX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Fox's Fish Trap</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXIX">321</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXX.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit rescues Brer Terrapin</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXX">325</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tda">LXXI.</td>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">The Night before Christmas</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#LXXI">333</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="illustrations" id="illustrations"></a></div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span>
+<img src="images/illustrations.png" width="600" height="176" alt="Illustrations" title="" />
+</div>
+
+<table summary="List of Illustrations">
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb"><span class="smcap">Uncle Remus and the Little Boy</span></td>
+<td class="tdc"><em><a href="#frontis">Frontispiece</a></em></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">He to' down a whole panel er fence gittin' 'way fum dar</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#dar">20</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit turnt 'er aloose, en down she come&mdash;<em>ker-swosh!</em></span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#swosh">44</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">'Brer Tarrypin, please lemme go</span>!'"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#go">68</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">'<em>Ah-yi!</em> You oughter ax me dat fus', Brer Coon'</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#coon">92</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">Brer Rabbit fotch a wiggle, he did, en lit on he foots</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#foots">128</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">'Ef you git any mo' sense, Son Riley, you'll be de ruination ev
+de whole settlement'</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#settlement">174</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">De little Rabs, dey promise dat dey won't open de do' fer nobody</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#nobody">212</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">En, bless gracious! dem ar creeturs racked off fum dar en lef'
+ole Brer Wolf und' dat ar rock</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#rock">232</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">He sorter hunch Brer Possum in de short ribs, en ax 'im how he
+come on</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#on">268</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">'I dunner w'en I bin so sorry 'bout anything ez I is 'bout Brer
+Fox nice long tail'</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#long">286</a></td>
+</tr>
+
+<tr>
+<td class="tdb">"<span class="smcap">He git de finest mess er fish you mos' ever laid yo' eyes on</span>"</td>
+<td class="tdc"><a href="#eyes">324</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="link"><a name="fox" id="fox"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>
+<img src="images/fox.png" width="400" height="276" alt="MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE" title="" />
+<span class="caption">MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE</span>
+</div>
+
+<h1><a name="I" id="I"></a>NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS</h1>
+
+<h2>I<br /><br />
+
+MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">It</span> had been raining all day so that Uncle Remus found it impossible to
+go out. The storm had begun, the old man declared, just as the chickens
+were crowing for day, and it had continued almost without intermission.
+The dark gray clouds had blotted out the sun, and the leafless limbs of
+the tall oaks surrendered themselves drearily to the fantastic gusts
+that drove the drizzle fitfully before them. The lady to whom Uncle
+Remus belonged had been thoughtful of the old man, and 'Tildy, the
+house-girl, had been commissioned to carry him his meals. This
+arrangement came to the knowledge of the little boy at supper time, and
+he lost no time in obtaining permission to accompany 'Tildy.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus made a great demonstration over the thoughtful kindness of
+his "Miss Sally."</p>
+
+<p>"Ef she ain't one blessid w'ite 'oman," he said, in his simple, fervent
+way, "den dey ain't none un um 'roun' in deze parts."</p>
+
+<p>With that he addressed himself to the supper, while the little boy sat
+by and eyed him with that familiar curiosity common to children. Finally
+the youngster disturbed the old man with an inquiry:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus, do geese stand on one leg all night, or do they sit down
+to sleep?"</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho' dey does, honey; dey sets down same ez you does. Co'se, dey
+don't cross der legs," he added, cautiously, "kase dey sets down right
+flat-footed."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I saw one the other day, and he was standing on one <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>foot, and I
+watched him and watched him, and he kept on standing there."</p>
+
+<p>"Ez ter dat," responded Uncle Remus, "dey mought stan' on one foot en
+drap off ter sleep en fergit deyse'f. Deze yer gooses," he continued,
+wiping the crumbs from his beard with his coat-tail, "is mighty kuse
+fowls; deyer mighty kuse. In ole times dey wuz 'mongs de big-bugs, en in
+dem days, w'en ole Miss Goose gun a-dinin', all de quality wuz dere.
+Likewise, en needer wuz dey stuck-up, kase wid all der kyar'n's on, Miss
+Goose wer'n't too proud fer ter take in washin' fer de neighborhoods, en
+she make money, en get slick en fat lak Sis Tempy.</p>
+
+<p>"Dis de way marters stan' w'en one day Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey wuz
+settin' up at de cotton-patch, one on one side de fence, en t'er one on
+t'er side, gwine on wid one er n'er, w'en fus' news dey know, dey year
+sump'n&mdash;<em>blim</em>, <em>blim</em>, <em>blim</em>!</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he ax w'at dat fuss is, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat
+it's ole Miss Goose down at de spring. Den Brer Fox, he up'n ax w'at she
+doin', en Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat she battlin' cloze."</p>
+
+<p>"Battling clothes, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Dat w'at dey call it dem days, honey. Deze times, dey rubs cloze on
+deze yer bodes w'at got furrers in um, but dem days dey des tuck'n tuck
+de cloze en lay um out on a bench, en ketch holt er de battlin'-stick en
+natally paddle de fillin' outen um.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Fox year dat ole Miss Goose wuz down dar dabblin' in soapsuds
+en washin' cloze, he sorter lick he chops, en 'low dat some er dese
+odd-come-shorts he gwine ter call en pay he 'specks. De minnit he say
+dat, Brer Rabbit, he know sump'n' 'uz up, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he
+'speck he better whirl in en have some fun w'iles it gwine on. Bimeby
+Brer Fox up'n say ter Brer Rabbit dat he bleedzd ter be movin' 'long
+todes home, en wid dat dey bofe say good-bye.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he put out ter whar his fambly wuz, but Brer <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>Rabbit, he slip
+'roun', he did, en call on ole Miss Goose. Ole Miss Goose she wuz down
+at de spring, washin', en b'ilin', en battlin' cloze; but Brer Rabbit he
+march up en ax her howdy, en den she tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit howdy.</p>
+
+<p>"'I'd shake han's 'long wid you, Brer Rabbit,' sez she, 'but dey er all
+full er suds,' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"'No marter 'bout dat, Miss Goose,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'so long ez
+yo' will's good,' sezee."</p>
+
+<p>"A goose with hands, Uncle Remus!" the little boy exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"How you know goose ain't got han's?" Uncle Remus inquired, with a
+frown. "Is you been sleepin' longer ole man Know-All? Little mo' en
+you'll up'n stan' me down dat snakes ain't got no foots, and yit you
+take en lay a snake down yer 'fo' de fier, en his foots 'll come out
+right 'fo' yo' eyes."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused here, but presently continued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Atter ole Miss Goose en Brer Rabbit done pass de time er day wid one er
+n'er, Brer Rabbit, he ax 'er, he did, how she come on deze days, en Miss
+Goose say, mighty po'ly.</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm gittin' stiff en I'm gittin' clumpsy,' sez she, 'en mo'n dat I'm
+gittin' bline,' sez she. 'Des 'fo' you happen 'long, Brer Rabbit, I drap
+my specks in de tub yer, en ef you'd 'a' come 'long 'bout dat time,' sez
+ole Miss Goose, sez she, 'I lay I'd er tuck you for dat nasty, owdashus
+Brer Fox, en it ud er bin a born blessin' ef I had n't er scald you wid
+er pan er b'ilin' suds,' sez she. 'I'm dat glad I foun' my specks I
+dunner w'at ter do,' sez ole Miss Goose, sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit, he up'n say dat bein's how Sis Goose done fotch up
+Brer Fox name, he got sump'n' fer ter tell 'er, en den he let out 'bout
+Brer Fox gwine ter call on 'er.</p>
+
+<p>"He comin' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'he comin' sho', en w'en he come hit
+'ll be des 'fo' day,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, ole Miss Goose wipe 'er han's on 'er apun, en put <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>'er specks
+up on 'er forrerd, en look lak she done got trouble in 'er mine.</p>
+
+<p>"'Laws-a-massy!' sez she, 'spozen he come, Brer Rabbit! W'at I gwine do?
+En dey ain't a man 'bout de house, n'er,' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit, he shot one eye, en he say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sis Goose, de time done come w'en you bleedzd ter roos' high. You look
+lak you got de dropsy,' sezee, 'but don't mine dat, kase ef you don't
+roos' high, youer goner,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Miss Goose ax Brer Rabbit w'at she gwine do, en Brer Rabbit he
+up en tell Miss Goose dat she mus' go home en tie up a bundle er de
+w'ite folks' cloze, en put um on de bed, en den she mus' fly up on a
+rafter, en let Brer Fox grab de cloze en run off wid um.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Miss Goose say she much 'blige, en she tuck'n tuck her things en
+waddle off home, en dat night she do lak Brer Rabbit say wid de bundle
+er cloze, en den she sont wud ter Mr. Dog, en Mr. Dog he come down, en
+say he'd sorter set up wid 'er.</p>
+
+<p>"Des 'fo' day, yer come Brer Fox creepin' up, en he went en push on de
+do' easy, en de do' open, en he see sump'n' w'ite on de bed w'ich he
+took fer Miss Goose, en he grab it en run. 'Bout dat time Mr. Dog sail
+out fum und' de house, he did, en ef Brer Fox had n't er drapt de cloze,
+he'd er got kotch. Fum dat, wud went 'roun' dat Brer Fox bin tryin' ter
+steal Miss Goose cloze, en he come mighty nigh losin' his stannin' at
+Miss Meadows. Down ter dis day," Uncle Remus continued, preparing to
+fill his pipe, "Brer Fox b'leeve dat Brer Rabbit wuz de 'casion er Mr.
+Dog bein' in de neighborhoods at dat time er night, en Brer Rabbit ain't
+'spute it. De bad feelin' 'twix' Brer Fox en Mr. Dog start right dar, en
+hits bin agwine on twel now dey ain't git in smellin' distuns er one er
+n'er widout dey's a row."</p>
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>
+<a name="II" id="II"></a>II<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">There</span> was a pause after the story of old Miss Goose. The culmination was
+hardly sensational enough to win the hearty applause of the little boy,
+and this fact appeared to have a depressing influence upon Uncle Remus.
+As he leaned slightly forward, gazing into the depths of the great
+fireplace, his attitude was one of pensiveness.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck I done wo' out my welcome up at de big house," he said, after
+a while. "I mos' knows I is," he continued, setting himself resignedly
+in his deep-bottomed chair. "Kase de las' time I uz up dar, I had my eye
+on Miss Sally mighty nigh de whole blessid time, en w'en you see Miss
+Sally rustlin' 'roun' makin' lak she fixin' things up dar on de
+mantle-shelf, en bouncin' de cheers 'roun', en breshin' dus' whar dey
+ain't no dus', en flyin' 'roun' singin' sorter louder dan common, den I
+des knows sump'n' done gone en rile 'er."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy; "Mamma was just glad
+because I was feeling so good."</p>
+
+<p>"Mought er bin," the old man remarked, in a tone that was far from
+implying conviction. "Ef 't wa'n't dat, den she wuz gittin' tired er
+seem' me lounjun' 'roun' up dar night atter night, en ef 't wa'n't dat,
+den she wuz watchin' a chance fer ter preach ter yo' pa. Oh, I done bin
+know Miss Sally long fo' yo' pa is!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response
+to the astonishment depicted upon the child's face. "I bin knowin' 'er
+sence she wuz so high, en endurin' er all dat time I ain't seed no mo'
+up'n spoken' w'ite 'oman dan w'at Miss Sally is.</p>
+
+<p>"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar. You done got so youk'n rush down yer
+des like you useter, en we kin set yer en smoke, en <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>tell tales, en
+study up 'musements same like we wuz gwine on 'fo' you got dat splinter
+in yo' foot.</p>
+
+<p>"I mines me er one time"&mdash;with an infectious laugh&mdash;"w'en ole Brer
+Rabbit got Brer Fox in de wuss trubble w'at a man wuz mos' ever got in
+yit, en dat 'uz w'en he fool 'im 'bout de hoss. Ain't I never tell you
+'bout dat? But no marter ef I is. Hoe-cake ain't cook done good twel
+hit's turnt over a couple er times.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, atter Brer Fox done git rested fum keepin' out er de way er Mr.
+Dog, en sorter ketch up wid his rations, he say ter hisse'f dat he be
+dog his cats ef he don't slorate ole Brer Rabbit ef it take 'im a mont';
+en dat, too, on top er all de 'spe'unce w'at he done bin had wid um.
+Brer Rabbit he sorter git win' er dis, en one day, w'iles he gwine 'long
+de road studyin' how he gwineter hol' he hand wid Brer Fox, he see a
+great big Hoss layin' stretch out flat on he side in de pastur'; en he
+tuck'n crope up, he did, fer ter see ef dish yer Hoss done gone en die.
+He crope up en he crope 'roun', en bimeby he see de Hoss switch he tail,
+en den Brer Rabbit know he ain't dead. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit lope back
+ter de big road, en mos' de fus' man w'at he see gwine on by wuz Brer
+Fox, en Brer Rabbit he tuck atter 'im, en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Come back! I got some good news fer you. Come
+back, Brer Fox,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he tu'n 'roun', he did, en w'en he see who callin' 'im, he
+come gallopin' back, kaze it seem like dat des ez gooder time ez any fer
+ter nab Brer Rabbit; but 'fo' he git in nabbin' distance, Brer Rabbit he
+up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come on, Brer Fox! I done fine de place whar you kin lay in fresh meat
+'nuff fer ter las' you plum twel de middle er nex' year,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts, en Brer Rabbit, he say, right over dar in de
+pastur', en Brer Fox ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say w'ich 'twuz a
+whole Hoss layin' down on de groun' whar dey <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>kin ketch 'im en tie 'im.
+Wid dat, Brer Fox, he say come on, en off dey put.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en dey got dar, sho' nuff, dar lay de Hoss all stretch out in de sun,
+fas' 'sleep, en den Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey had a 'spute 'bout how
+dey gwine ter fix de Hoss so he can't git loose. One say one way en de
+yuther say n'er way, en dar dey had it, twel atter w'ile Brer Rabbit, he
+say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'De onliest plan w'at I knows un, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'is fer you ter git
+down dar en lemme tie you ter de Hoss tail, en den, w'en he try ter git
+up, you kin hol' 'im down,' sezee. 'Ef I wuz big man like w'at you is,'
+sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'you mought tie me ter dat Hoss' tail, en ef I
+ain't hol' 'im down, den Joe's dead en Sal's a widder. I des knows you
+kin hol' 'im down,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but yit, ef you 'feared, we
+des better drap dat idee en study out some yuther plan,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox sorter jubus 'bout dis, but he bleedzd ter play biggity 'fo'
+Brer Rabbit, en he tuck'n 'gree ter de progrance, en den Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n tie Brer Fox ter de Hoss' tail, en atter he git 'im tie dar hard
+en fas', he sorter step back, he did, en put he han's 'kimbo, en grin,
+en den he say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Ef ever dey wuz a Hoss kotch, den we done kotch dis un. Look sorter lak
+we done put de bridle on de wrong een',' sezee, 'but I lay Brer Fox is
+got de strenk fer ter hol' 'im,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit cut 'im a long switch en trim it up, en w'en he
+get it fix, up he step en hit de Hoss a rap&mdash;<em>pow!</em> De Hoss 'uz dat
+s'prise at dat kinder doin's dat he make one jump, en lan' on he foots.
+W'en he do dat, dar wuz Brer Fox danglin' in de a'r, en Brer Rabbit, he
+dart out de way en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! I'll stan' out yer en see fa'r
+play. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down!'</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se, w'en de Hoss feel Brer Fox hangin' dar onter he tail, he thunk
+sump'n' kuse wuz de marter, en dis make 'im jump en <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>r'ar wusser en
+wusser, en he shake up Brer Fox same like he wuz a rag in de win', en
+Brer Rabbit, he jump en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
+yo' grip, en hol' 'im down,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"De Hoss, he jump en he hump, en he rip en he r'ar, en he snort en he
+t'ar. But yit Brer Fox hang on, en still Brer Rabbit skip 'roun' en
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! You got 'im whar he can't needer back ner
+squall. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby, w'en Brer Fox git chance, he holler back, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'How in de name er goodness I gwine ter hol' de Hoss down 'less I git
+my claw in de groun'?'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit, he stan' back little furder en holler little louder:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
+'im down!'</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby de Hoss 'gun ter kick wid he behime legs, en de fus' news you
+know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in de stomach dat fa'rly make 'im squall,
+en den he kick 'im ag'in, en dis time he break Brer Fox loose, en sont
+'im a-whirlin'; en Brer Rabbit, he keep on a-jumpin' 'roun' en
+hollerin':&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!'"</p>
+
+<p>"Did the fox get killed, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"He wa'n't 'zackly kilt, honey," replied the old man, "but he wuz de
+nex' do' ter't. He 'uz all broke up, en w'iles he 'uz gittin' well, hit
+sorter come 'cross he min' dat Brer Rabbit done play n'er game on 'im."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+<a name="III" id="III"></a>III<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">What</span> did Brother Rabbit do after that?" the little boy asked presently.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, you don't wanter push ole Brer Rabbit too close," replied
+Uncle Remus significantly. "He mighty tender-footed creetur, en de mo'
+w'at you push 'im, de furder he lef' you."</p>
+
+<p>There was prolonged silence in the old man's cabin, until, seeing that
+the little boy was growing restless enough to cast several curious
+glances in the direction of the tool chest in the corner, Uncle Remus
+lifted one leg over the other, scratched his head reflectively, and
+began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One time, atter Brer Rabbit done bin trompin' 'roun' huntin' up some
+sallid fer ter make out he dinner wid, he fine hisse'f in de
+neighborhoods er Mr. Man house, en he pass 'long twel he come ter de
+gyardin-gate, en nigh de gyardin-gate he see Little Gal playin' 'roun'
+in de san'. Wen Brer Rabbit look 'twix' de gyardin-palin's en see de
+colluds, en de sparrer-grass, en de yuther gyardin truck growin' dar,
+hit make he mouf water. Den he take en walk up ter de Little Gal, Brer
+Rabbit did, en pull he roach,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> en bow, en scrape he foot, en talk
+mighty nice en slick.</p>
+
+<p>"'Howdy, Little Gal,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'how you come on?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den de Little Gal, she 'spon' howdy, she did, en she ax Brer Rabbit how
+he come on, en Brer Rabbit, he 'low he mighty po'ly, en den he ax ef dis
+de Little Gal w'at 'er pa live up dar in de big w'ite house, w'ich de
+Little Gal, she up'n say 'twer'. Brer Rabbit, he say he mighty glad,
+kaze he des bin up dar fer to see 'er pa, en he say dat 'er pa, he sont
+'im out dar fer ter tell de Little Gal dat she mus' open de gyardin-gate
+so Brer Rabbit kin go in en git some <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>truck. Den de Little Gal, she jump
+'roun', she did, en she open de gate, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he hop
+in, he did, en got 'im a mess er greens, en hop out ag'in, en w'en he
+gwine off he make a bow, he did, en tell de Little Gal dat he much
+'blije', en den atter dat he put out fer home.</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, twel he see de Little Gal
+come out ter play, en den he put up de same tale, en walk off wid a n'er
+mess er truck, en hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Man, he 'gun
+ter miss his greens, en he keep on a-missin' un um, twel he got ter
+excusin' eve'ybody on de place er 'stroyin' un um, en w'en dat come ter
+pass, de Little Gal, she up'n say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'My goodness, pa!' sez she, 'you done tole Mr. Rabbit fer ter come and
+make me let 'im in de gyardin atter some greens, en ain't he done come
+en ax me, en ain't I done gone en let 'im in?' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Man ain't hatter study long 'fo' he see how de lan' lay, en den he
+laff, en tell de Little Gal dat he done gone en disremember all 'bout
+Mr. Rabbit, en den he up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Nex' time Mr. Rabbit come, you tak'n tu'n 'im in, en den you run des
+ez fas' ez you kin en come en tell me, kase I got some bizness wid dat
+young chap dat's bleedze ter be 'ten' ter,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Sho' nuff, nex' mawnin' dar wuz de Little Gal playin' 'roun', en yer
+come Brer Rabbit atter he 'lowance er greens. He wuz ready wid de same
+tale, en den de Little Gal, she tu'n 'im in, she did, en den she run up
+ter de house en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'O pa! pa! O pa! Yer Brer Rabbit in de gyardin now! Yer he is, pa!'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Mr. Man, he rush out, en grab up a fishin'-line w'at bin hangin' in
+de back po'ch, en mak fer de gyardin, en w'en he git dar, dar wuz Brer
+Rabbit tromplin' 'roun' on de strawbe'y-bed en mashin' down de
+termartusses. W'en Brer Rabbit see Mr. Man, he squot behime a collud
+leaf, but 't wa'n't no use. Mr. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>Man done seed him, en 'fo' you kin
+count 'lev'm, he done got ole Brer Rabbit tie hard en fas' wid de
+fishin'-line. Atter he got him tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, en
+say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You done bin fool me lots er time, but dis time you er mine. I'm gwine
+ter take you en gin you a larrupin',' sezee, 'en den I'm gwine ter skin
+you en nail yo' hide on de stable do',' sezee; 'en den ter make sho dat
+you git de right kinder larrupin', I'll des step up ter de house,'
+sezee, 'en fetch de little red cowhide, en den I'll take en gin you
+brinjer,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Mr. Man call to der Little Gal ter watch Brer Rabbit w'iles he
+gone.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nothin', but Mr. Man ain't mo'n out de gate
+'fo' he 'gun ter sing; en in dem days Brer Rabbit wuz a singer, mon,"
+continued Uncle Remus, with unusual emphasis, "en w'en he chuned up fer
+ter sing he make dem yuther creeturs hol' der bref."</p>
+
+<p>"What did he sing, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Ef I ain't fergit dat song off'n my min'," said Uncle Remus, looking
+over his spectacles at the fire, with a curious air of attempting to
+remember something, "hit run sorter dish yer way:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>De jay-bird hunt de sparrer-nes',</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>De bee-martin sail all 'roun';</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>De squer'l, he holler from de top er de tree,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Mr. Mole, he stay in de groun';</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>He hide en he stay twel de dark drop down&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Mr. Mole, he hide in de groun'.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"W'en de Little Gal year dat, she laugh, she did, and she up'n ax Brer
+Babbit fer ter sing some mo', but Brer Rabbit, he sorter cough, he did,
+en 'low dat he got a mighty bad ho'seness down inter he win'pipe
+some'rs. De Little Gal, she swade,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> en swade, en bimeby Brer Rabbit,
+he up 'n 'low dat he kin dance mo' samer dan w'at he kin sing. Den de
+Little Gal, she ax' im won't he dance, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>en Brer Rabbit, he 'spon' how in
+de name er goodness kin a man dance w'iles he all tie up dis a-way, en
+den de Little Gal, she say she kin ontie 'im, en Brer Rabbit, he say he
+ain't keerin' ef she do. Wid dat de Little Gal, she retch down en
+onloose de fish-line, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter stretch hisse'f en look
+'roun'."</p>
+
+<p>Here Uncle Remus paused and sighed, as though he had relieved his mind
+of a great burden. The little boy waited a few minutes for the old man
+to resume, and finally he asked:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Did the Rabbit dance, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Who? Him?" exclaimed the old man, with a queer affectation of elation.
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Rabbit gedder up his foots und' 'im, en he
+dance outer dat gyardin, en he dance home. He did dat! Sho'ly you don't
+'speck' dat a ole-timer w'at done had 'spe'unce like Brer Rabbit gwine
+ter stay dar en let dat ar Mr. Man sackyfice 'im? <em>Shoo!</em> Brer Rabbit
+dance, but he dance home. You year me!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span> chuckled a moment over the escape of Brother Rabbit, and
+then turned his gaze upward toward the cobwebbed gloom that seemed to
+lie just beyond the rafters. He sat thus silent and serious a little
+while, but finally squared himself around in his chair and looked the
+little boy full in the face. The old man's countenance expressed a
+curious mixture of sorrow and bewilderment. Catching the child by the
+coat-sleeve, Uncle Remus pulled him gently to attract his attention.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit look like ter me," he said presently, in the tone of one
+approaching an unpleasant subject, "dat no longer'n yistiddy I see one
+er dem ar Favers chillun clim'in' dat ar big red-oak out yan', en den it
+seem like dat a little chap 'bout yo' size, he tuck'n <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>start up ter see
+ef he can't play smarty like de Favers's yearlin's. I dunner w'at in de
+name er goodness you wanter be a-copyin' atter dem ar Faverses fer. Ef
+you er gwine ter copy atter yuther folks, copy atter dem w'at's some
+'count. Yo' pa, he got de idee dat some folks is good ez yuther folks;
+but Miss Sally, she know better. She know dat dey ain't no Favers 'pon
+de top side er de yeth w'at kin hol' der han' wid de Abercrombies in
+p'int er breedin' en raisin'. Dat w'at Miss Sally know. I bin keepin'
+track er dem Faverses sence way back yan' long 'fo' Miss Sally wuz
+born'd. Ole Cajy Favers, he went ter de po'house, en ez ter dat Jim
+Favers, I boun' you he know de inside er all de jails in dish yer State
+er Jawjy. Dey allers did hate niggers kase dey ain't had none, en dey
+hates um down ter dis day.</p>
+
+<p>"Year 'fo' las'," Uncle Remus continued, "I year yo Unk' Jeems
+Abercrombie tell dat same Jim Favers dat ef he lay de weight er he han'
+on one er his niggers, he'd slap a load er buck shot in 'im; en, bless
+yo' soul, honey, yo' Unk' Jeems wuz des de man ter do it. But dey er
+monst'us perlite unter me, dem Faverses is," pursued the old man,
+allowing his indignation, which had risen to a white heat, to cool off,
+"en dey better be," he added spitefully, "kase I knows der pedigree fum
+de fus' ter de las', en w'en I gits my Affikin up, dey ain't nobody,
+'less it's Miss Sally 'erse'f, w'at kin keep me down.</p>
+
+<p>"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar," said Uncle Remus, renewing his
+attack upon the little boy. "W'at you wanter go copyin' atter dem Favers
+chillun fer? Youer settin' back dar, right dis minnit, bettin' longer
+yo'se'f dat I ain't gwine ter tell Miss Sally, en dar whar youer lettin'
+yo' foot slip, kaze I'm gwine ter let it pass dis time, but de ve'y nex'
+time w'at I ketches you in hollerin' distuns er dem Faverses, right den
+en dar I'm gwine ter take my foot in my han' en go en tell Miss Sally,
+en ef she don't natally skin you 'live, den she ain't de same 'oman w'at
+she useter be.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>"All dish yer copyin' atter deze yer Faverses put me in min' er de time
+w'en Brer Fox got ter copyin' atter Brer Rabbit. I done tole you 'bout
+de time w'en Brer Rabbit git de game fum Brer Fox by makin' like he
+dead?"<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p>
+
+<p>The little boy remembered it very distinctly, and said as much.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, ole Brer Fox, w'en he see how slick de trick wuk wid Brer
+Rabbit, he say ter hisse'f dat he b'leeve he'll up'n try de same kinder
+game on some yuther man, en he keep on watchin' fer he chance, twel
+bimeby, one day, he year Mr. Man comin' down de big road in a one-hoss
+waggin, kyar'n some chickens, en some eggs, en some butter, ter town.
+Brer Fox year 'im comin', he did, en w'at do he do but go en lay down in
+de road front er de waggin. Mr. Man, he druv 'long, he did, cluckin' ter
+de hoss en hummin' ter hisse'f, en w'en dey git mos' up ter Brer Fox, de
+hoss, he shy, he did, en Mr. Man, he tuck'n holler Wo! en de hoss, he
+tuck'n wo'd. Den Mr. Man, he look down, en he see Brer Fox layin' out
+dar on de groun' des like he cole en stiff, en w'en Mr. Man see dis, he
+holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo! Dar de chap w'at been nabbin' up my chickens, en somebody done
+gone en shot off a gun at 'im, w'ich I wish she'd er bin two guns&mdash;dat I
+does!'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Mr. Man he druv on en lef Brer Fox layin' dar. Den Brer Fox,
+he git up en run 'roun' thoo de woods en lay down front er Mr. Man
+ag'in, en Mr. Man come drivin' 'long, en he see Brer Fox, en he say,
+sezee;&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo! Yer de ve'y chap what been 'stroyin' my pigs. Somebody done gone
+en kilt 'im, en I wish dey'd er kilt 'im long time ago.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Mr. Man, he druv on, en de waggin-w'eel come mighty nigh mashin'
+Brer Fox nose; yit, all de same, Brer Fox lipt up en run 'roun' 'head er
+Mr. Man, en lay down in de road, en w'en Mr. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>Man come 'long, dar he wuz
+all stretch out like he big 'nuff fer ter fill a two-bushel baskit, en
+he look like he dead 'nuff fer ter be skint. Mr. Man druv up, he did, en
+stop. He look down pun Brer Fox, en den he look all 'roun' fer ter see
+w'at de 'casion er all deze yer dead Fox is. Mr. Man look all 'roun', he
+did, but he ain't see nothin', en needer do he year nothin'. Den he set
+dar en study, en bimeby he 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he had better
+'zamin' w'at kinder kuse zeeze<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> done bin got inter Brer Fox fambly, en
+wid dat he lit down outer de waggin, en feel er Brer Fox year; Brer Fox
+year feel right wom. Den he feel Brer Fox neck; Brer Fox neck right wom.
+Den he feel er Brer Fox in de short ribs; Brer Fox all soun' in de short
+ribs. Den he feel er Brer Fox lim's; Brer Fox all soun' in de lim's. Den
+he tu'n Brer Fox over, en, lo en beholes, Brer Fox right limber. Wen Mr.
+Man see dis, he say ter hisse'f, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, yer! how come dis? Dish yer chicken-nabber look lak he dead, but
+dey ain't no bones broked, en I ain't see no blood, en needer does I
+feel no bruise; en mo'n dat he wom en he limber,' sezee. 'Sump'n' wrong
+yer, sho'! Dish yer pig-grabber <em>mought</em> be dead, en den ag'in he
+moughtent,' sezee; 'but ter make sho' dat he is, I'll des gin 'im a
+whack wid my w'ip-han'le,' sezee; en wid dat, Mr. Man draw back en fotch
+Brer Fox a clip behime de years&mdash;<em>pow!</em>&mdash;en de lick come so hard en it
+come so quick dat Brer Fox thunk sho' he's a goner; but 'fo' Mr. Man kin
+draw back fer ter fetch 'im a n'er wipe, Brer Fox, he scramble ter his
+feet, he did, en des make tracks 'way fum dar."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused and shook the cold ashes from his pipe, and then
+applied the moral:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dat w'at Brer Fox git fer playin' Mr. Smarty en copyin' atter yuther
+foks, en dat des de way de whole Smarty fambly gwine ter come out."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>
+<a name="V" id="V"></a>V<br/><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT'S ASTONISHING PRANK</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">I 'speck</span> dat 'uz de reas'n w'at make ole Brer Rabbit git 'long so well,
+kaze he ain't copy atter none er de yuther creeturs," Uncle Remus
+continued, after a while. "Wen he make his disappearance 'fo' um, hit
+'uz allers in some bran new place. Dey ain't know wharbouts fer ter
+watch out fer 'im. He wuz de funniest creetur er de whole gang. Some
+folks moughter call him lucky, en yit, w'en he git in bad luck, hit look
+lak he mos' allers come out on top. Hit look mighty kuse now, but 't
+wa'n't kuse in dem days, kaze hit 'uz done gun up dat, strike 'im w'en
+you might en whar you would, Brer Rabbit wuz de soopless creetur gwine.</p>
+
+<p>"One time, he sorter tuck a notion, ole Brer Rabbit did, dat he'd pay
+Brer B'ar a call, en no sooner do de notion strike 'im dan he pick
+hisse'f up en put out fer Brer B'ar house."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I thought they were mad with each other," the little boy
+exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit make he call w'en Brer B'ar en his fambly wuz off fum
+home," Uncle Remus explained, with a chuckle which was in the nature of
+a hearty tribute to the crafty judgment of Brother Rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>"He sot down by de road, en he see um go by,&mdash;ole Brer B'ar en ole Miss
+B'ar, en der two twin-chilluns, w'ich one un um wuz name Kubs en de t'er
+one wuz name Klibs."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy laughed, but the severe seriousness of Uncle Remus would
+have served for a study, as he continued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer B'ar en Miss B'ar, dey went 'long ahead, en Kubs en Klibs, dey
+come shufflin' en scramblin' 'long behime. W'en Brer Rabbit see dis, he
+say ter hisse'f dat he 'speck he better go see how Brer B'ar gittin' on;
+en off he put. En 't wa'n't long n'er <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>'fo' he 'uz ransackin' de
+premmuses same like he 'uz sho' 'nuff patter-roller. Wiles he wuz gwine
+'roun' peepin' in yer en pokin' in dar, he got ter foolin' 'mong de
+shelfs, en a bucket er honey w'at Brer B'ar got hid in de cubbud fall
+down en spill on top er Brer Rabbit, en little mo'n he'd er bin drown.
+Fum head ter heels dat creetur wuz kiver'd wid honey; he wa'n't des only
+bedobble wid it, he wuz des kiver'd. He hatter set dar en let de natal
+sweetness drip outen he eyeballs 'fo' he kin see he han' befo' 'im, en
+den, atter he look' 'roun' little, he say to hisse'f, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, yer! W'at I gwine do now? Ef I go out in de sunshine, de
+bumly-bees en de flies dey'll swom up'n take me, en if I stay yer, Brer
+B'ar'll come back en ketch me, en I dunner w'at in de name er gracious I
+gwine do.'</p>
+
+<p>"Ennyhow, bimeby a notion strike Brer Rabbit, en he tip 'long twel he
+git in de woods, en w'en he git out dar, w'at do he do but roll in de
+leafs en trash en try fer ter rub de honey off'n 'im dat a-way. He roll,
+he did, en de leafs dey stick; Brer Rabbit roll, en de leafs dey stick,
+en he keep on rollin' en de leafs keep on stickin', twel atter w'ile
+Brer Rabbit wuz de mos' owdashus-lookin' creetur w'at you ever sot eyes
+on. En ef Miss Meadows en de gals could er seed 'im den en dar, dey
+would n't er bin no mo' Brer Rabbit call at der house; 'deed, en dat dey
+would n't.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he jump 'roun', he did, en try ter shake de leafs off'a
+'im, but de leafs, dey ain't gwine ter be shuck off. Brer Rabbit, he
+shake en he shiver, but de leafs dey stick; en de capers dat creetur cut
+up out dar in de woods by he own-alone se'f wuz scan'lous&mdash;dey wuz dat;
+dey wuz scan'lous.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit see dis wa'nt gwine ter do, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he
+better be gittin' on todes home, en off he put. I 'speck you done year
+talk er deze yer booggers w'at gits atter bad chilluns," continued Uncle
+Remus, in a tone so seriously confidential as to be altogether
+depressing; "well, den, des 'zactly dat a-way Brer Rabbit look, en ef
+you'd er seed 'im you'd er made <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>sho' he de gran'-daddy er all de
+booggers. Brer Rabbit pace 'long, he did, en ev'y motion he make, de
+leafs dey'd go <em>swishy-swushy</em>, <em>splushy-splishy</em>, en, fum de fuss he
+make en de way he look, you'd er tuck 'im ter be de mos' suvvigus
+varment w'at disappear fum de face er de yeth sence ole man Noah let
+down de draw-bars er de ark en tu'n de creeturs loose; en I boun' ef
+you'd er struck up long wid 'im, you'd er been mighty good en glad ef
+you'd er got off wid dat.</p>
+
+<p>"De fus' man w'at Brer Rabbit come up wid wuz ole Sis Cow, en no sooner
+is she lay eyes on 'im dan she h'ist up 'er tail in de elements, en put
+out like a pack er dogs wuz atter 'er. Dis make Brer Rabbit laff, kaze
+he know dat w'en a ole settle' 'oman like Sis Cow run 'stracted in de
+broad open day-time, dat dey mus' be sump'n' mighty kuse 'bout dem leafs
+en dat honey, en he keep on a-rackin' down de road. De nex' man w'at he
+meet wuz a black gal tollin' a whole passel er plantation shotes, en
+w'en de gal see Brer Rabbit come prancin' 'long, she fling down 'er
+basket er corn en des fa'rly fly, en de shotes, dey tuck thoo de woods,
+en sech n'er racket ez dey kick up wid der runnin', en der snortin', en
+der squealin' ain't never bin year in dat settlement needer befo' ner
+since. Hit keep on dis a-way long ez Brer Rabbit meet anybody&mdash;dey des
+broke en run like de Ole Boy wuz atter um.</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="dar" id="dar"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 412px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0374.jpg" class="jpg" width="412" height="600" alt="&quot;HE TO&#39; DOWN A WHOLE PANEL ER FENCE GITTEN &#39;WAY FUM DAR&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;HE TO&#39; DOWN A WHOLE PANEL ER FENCE GITTEN &#39;WAY FUM DAR&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0374l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Co'se, dis make Brer Rabbit feel monst'us biggity, en he 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he 'speck he better drap 'roun' en skummish in de
+neighborhoods er Brer Fox house. En w'iles he wuz stannin' dar runnin'
+dis 'roun' in he min', yer come old Brer B'ar en all er he fambly. Brer
+Rabbit, he git crossways de road, he did, en he sorter sidle todes um.
+Ole Brer B'ar, he stop en look, but Brer Rabbit, he keep on sidlin'
+todes um. Ole Miss B'ar, she stan' it long ez she kin, en den she fling
+down 'er parrysol en tuck a tree. Brer B'ar look lak he gwine ter stan'
+his groun', but Brer Rabbit he jump straight up in de a'r en gin hisse'f
+a shake, en, bless yo' soul, honey! ole Brer B'ar make a break, en dey
+tells me he to' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>down a whole panel er fence gittin' 'way fum dar. En
+ez ter Kubs en Klibs, dey tuck der hats in der han's, en dey went
+skaddlin' thoo de bushes des same ez a drove er hosses."</p>
+
+<p>"And then what?" the little boy asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit p'raded on down de road," continued Uncle Remus, "en bimeby
+yer come Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, fixin' up a plan fer ter nab Brer
+Rabbit, en dey wuz so intents on der confab dat dey got right on Brer
+Rabbit 'fo' dey seed 'im; but, gentermens! w'en dey is ketch a glimpse
+un 'im, dey gun 'im all de room he want. Brer Wolf, he try ter show off,
+he did, kase he wanter play big 'fo' Brer Fox, en he stop en ax Brer
+Rabbit who is he. Brer Rabbit, he jump up en down in de middle er de
+road, en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de man I'm
+atter!'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit jump up en down en make lak he gwine atter Brer Fox en
+Brer Wolf, en de way dem creeturs lit out fum dar wuz a caution.</p>
+
+<p>"Long time atter dat," continued Uncle Remus, folding his hands placidly
+in his lap, with the air of one who has performed a pleasant
+duty,&mdash;"long time atter dat, Brer Rabbit come up wid Brer Fox en Brer
+Wolf, en he git behime a stump, Brer Rabbit did, en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de mens I'm atter!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, dey broke, but 'fo' dey got outer sight en outer
+yar'n', Brer Rabbit show hisse'f, he did, en laugh fit ter kill hisse'f.
+Atterwuds, Miss Meadows she year 'bout it, en de nex' time Brer Fox
+call, de gals dey up en giggle, en ax 'im ef he ain't feard de
+Wull-er-de-Wust mought drap in."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+<a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> rain continued to fall the next day, but the little boy made
+arrangements to go with 'Tildy when she carried Uncle Remus his supper.
+This happened to be a waiter full of things left over from dinner. There
+was so much that the old man was moved to remark:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I cl'ar ter gracious, hit look lak Miss Sally done got my name in de
+pot dis time, sho'. I des wish you look at dat pone er co'n-bread,
+honey, en dem ar greens, en see ef dey ain't got Remus writ some'rs on
+um. Dat ar chick'n fixin's, dey look lak deyer good, yet 'taint
+familious wid me lak dat ar bile ham. Dem ar sweet-taters, dey stan's
+fa'r fer dividjun, but dem ar puzzuv,<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> I lay dey fit yo' palate mo'
+samer dan dey does mine. Dish yer hunk er beef, we kin talk 'bout dat
+w'en de time come, en dem ar biscuits, I des nat'ally knows Miss Sally
+put um in dar fer some little chap w'ich his name I ain't gwine ter call
+in comp'ny."</p>
+
+<p>It was easy to perceive that the sight of the supper had put Uncle Remus
+in rare good-humor. He moved around briskly, taking the plates from the
+waiter and distributing them with exaggerated carefulness around upon
+his little pine table. Meanwhile he kept up a running fire of
+conversation.</p>
+
+<p>"Folks w'at kin set down en have der vittles brung en put down right
+spang und' der nose&mdash;dem kinder folks ain't got no needs er no umbrell.
+Night 'fo' las', w'iles I wuz settin' dar in de do', I year dem
+Willis-whistlers, en den I des knowed we 'uz gwine ter git a season."<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></p>
+
+<p>"The Willis-whistlers, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy. "What are
+they?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>"Youer too hard fer me now, honey. Dat w'at I knows I don't min'
+tellin', but w'en you axes me 'bout dat w'at I dunno, den youer too hard
+fer me, sho'. Deze yer Willis-whistlers, dey bangs my time, en I bin
+knockin' 'roun' in dish yer low-groun' now gwine on eighty year. Some
+folks wanter make out deyer frogs, yit I wish dey p'int out unter me how
+frogs kin holler so dat de nigher you come t'um, de furder you is off; I
+be mighty glad ef some un 'ud come 'long en tell me dat. Many en many's
+de time is I gone atter deze yer Willis-whistlers, en, no diffunce whar
+I goes, deyer allers off yander. You kin put de shovel in de fier en
+make de squinch-owl hush he fuss, en you kin go out en put yo' han' on
+de trees en make deze yere locus'-bugs quit der racket, but dem ar
+Willis-whistlers deyer allers 'way off yander."<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Uncle Remus paused over one of the dishes, and exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Gracious en de goodness! W'at kinder doin's is dis Miss Sally done gone
+sont us?"</p>
+
+<p>"That," said the little boy, after making an investigation, "is what
+mamma calls a floating island."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," Uncle Remus remarked, in a relieved tone, "dat's diffunt. I
+wuz mos' fear'd it 'uz some er dat ar sillerbug, w'ich a whole jugful
+ain't ska'cely 'nuff fer ter make you seem like you dremp 'bout smellin'
+dram. Ef I'm gwine ter be fed on foam," continued the old man, by way of
+explaining his position on the subject of syllabub, "let it be foam, en
+ef I'm gwine ter git dram, lemme git in reach un it w'ile she got some
+strenk lef'. Dat's me up an down. W'en it come ter yo' floatin' ilun,
+des gimme a hunk er ginger-cake en a mug er 'simmon-beer, en dey won't
+fine no nigger w'ats got no slicker feelin's dan w'at I is.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Sally mighty kuse w'ite 'oman," Uncle Remus went on. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>"She sendin'
+all deze doin's en fixin's down yer, en I 'speck deyer monst'us nice,
+but no longer'n las' Chuseday she had all de niggers on de place, big en
+little, gwine squallin' 'roun' fer Remus. Hit 'uz Remus yer en Remus
+dar, en, lo en beholes, w'en I come ter fine out, Miss Sally want Remus
+fer ter whirl in en cook 'er one er deze yer ole-time ash-cakes. She
+bleedzd ter have it den en dar; en w'en I git it done, Miss Sally, she
+got a glass er buttermilk, en tuck'n sot right flat down on de flo', des
+like she useter w'en she wuz little gal." The old man paused,
+straightened up, looked at the child over his spectacles, and continued,
+with emphasis: "En I be bless ef she ain't eat a hunk er dat ash-cake
+mighty nigh ez big ez yo' head, en den she tuck'n make out 't wa'n't
+cook right.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey, all deze done fix. You set over dar, and I'll set over
+yer, en 'twix' en 'tween us we'll sample dish yer truck en see w'at is
+it Miss Sally done gone en sont us; en w'iles we er makin' 'way wid it,
+I'll sorter rustle 'roun' wid my 'membunce, en see ef I kin call ter
+min' de tale 'bout how ole Brer Rabbit got 'im a two-story house widout
+layin' out much cash."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus stopped talking a little while and pretended to be trying to
+remember something,&mdash;an effort that was accompanied by a curious humming
+sound in his throat. Finally, he brightened up and began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Hit tu'n out one time dat a whole lot er de creeturs tuck a notion dat
+dey'd go in coboots wid buil'n' un um a house. Ole Brer B'ar, he was
+'mongs' um, en Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, en Brer 'Possum. I
+won't make sho', but it seem like ter me dat plum down ter ole Brer Mink
+'uz 'mongs' um. Leas'ways, dey wuz a whole passel un um, en dey whirl
+in, dey did, en dey buil' de house in less'n no time. Brer Rabbit, he
+make lak it make he head swim fer ter climb up on de scaffle, en
+likewise he say it make 'im ketch de palsy fer ter wuk in de sun, but he
+got 'im a squar', en he stuck a pencil behime he year, en he went
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>'roun' medjun<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> en markin'&mdash;medjun en markin'&mdash;en he wuz dat busy dat
+de yuther creeturs say ter deyse'f he doin' monst'us sight er wuk, en
+folks gwine 'long de big road say Brer Rabbit doin' mo' hard wuk dan de
+whole kit en bilin' un um. Yit all de time Brer Rabbit ain't doin'
+nothin', en he des well bin layin' off in de shade scratchin' de fleas
+off'n 'im. De yuther creeturs, dey buil' de house, en, gentermens! she
+'uz a fine un, too, mon. She'd 'a' bin a fine un deze days, let 'lone
+dem days. She had er upsta'rs en downsta'rs, en chimbleys all 'roun', en
+she had rooms fer all de creeturs w'at went inter cahoots en hope make
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he pick out one er de upsta'rs rooms, en he tuck'n' got
+'im a gun, en one er deze yer brass cannons, en he tuck'n' put um in dar
+w'en de yuther creeturs ain't lookin', en den he tuck'n' got 'im a tub
+er nasty slop-water, w'ich likewise he put in dar w'en dey ain't
+lookin'. So den, w'en dey git de house all fix, en w'iles dey wuz all
+a-settin' in de parlor atter supper, Brer Rabbit, he sorter gap en
+stretch hisse'f, en make his 'skuses en say he b'leeve he'll go ter he
+room. W'en he git dar, en w'iles all de yuther creeturs wuz a-laughin'
+en a-chattin' des ez sociable ez you please, Brer Rabbit, he stick he
+head out er de do' er he room en sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wen a big man like me wanter set down, wharbouts he gwine ter set?'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den de yuther creeturs dey laugh, en holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef big man like you can't set in a cheer, he better set down on de
+flo'.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm a
+gwine ter set down,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, <em>bang!</em> went Brer Rabbit gun. Co'se, dis sorter 'stonish de
+creeturs, en dey look 'roun' at one er n'er much ez ter say, W'at in de
+name er gracious is dat? Dey lissen en lissen, but dey don't year no mo'
+fuss, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey got ter <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>chattin' en jabberin' some
+mo'. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit stick he head outer he room do', en sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wen a big man like me wanter sneeze, wharbouts he gwine ter sneeze
+at?'</p>
+
+<p>"Den de yuther creeturs, dey tuck'n holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef big man like you ain't a-gone gump, he kin sneeze anywhar he
+please.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm gwine ter
+tu'n loose en sneeze right yer,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let off his cannon&mdash;<em>bulderum-m-m!</em> De
+winder-glass dey shuck en rattle, en de house shuck like she gwine ter
+come down, en ole Brer B'ar, he fell out de rockin'-cheer&mdash;<em>kerblump!</em>
+W'en de creeturs git sorter settle, Brer 'Possum en Brer Mink, dey up'n
+'low dat Brer Rabbit got sech a monst'us bad cole, dey b'leeve dey'll
+step out and git some fresh a'r, but dem yuther creeturs, dey say dey
+gwine ter stick it out; en atter w'ile, w'en dey git der h'ar smoove
+down, dey 'gun ter jower 'mongs' deyse'f. 'Bout dat time, w'en dey get
+in a good way, Brer Rabbit, he sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'en a big man like me take a chaw terbacker, wharbouts he gwine ter
+spit?'</p>
+
+<p>"Den de yuther creeturs, dey holler back, dey did, sorter like deyer
+mad:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Big man er little man, spit whar you please.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit, he squall out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dis de way a big man spit!' en wid dat he tilt over de tub er
+slop-water, en w'en de yuther creeturs year it come a-sloshin' down de
+sta'r-steps, gentermens! dey des histed deyse'f outer dar. Some un um
+went out de back do', en some un um went out de front do', en some un um
+fell out de winders; some went one way en some went n'er way; but dey
+all went sailin' out."</p>
+
+<p>"But what became of Brother Rabbit?" the little boy asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n shot up de house en fassen de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>winders, en
+den he got ter bed, he did, en pull de coverled up 'roun' he years, en
+he sleep like a man w'at ain't owe nobody nuthin'; en needer do he owe
+um, kaze ef dem yuther creeturs gwine git skeer'd en run off fum der own
+house, w'at bizness is dat er Brer Rabbit? Dat w'at I like ter know."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII<br /><br />
+
+MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span> sighed heavily as he lifted the trivet on the head of his
+walking-cane, and hung it carefully by the side of the griddle in the
+cavernous fireplace.</p>
+
+<p>"Folks kin come 'long wid der watchermaycollums," he said presently,
+turning to the little boy, who was supplementing his supper by biting
+off a chew of shoemaker's-wax, "en likewise dey kin fetch 'roun' der
+watziznames. Dey kin walk biggity, en dey kin talk biggity, en mo'n dat,
+dey kin feel biggity, but yit all de same deyer gwine ter git kotch up
+wid. Dey go 'long en dey go 'long, en den bimeby yer come trouble en
+snatch um slonchways, en de mo' bigger w'at dey is, de wusser does dey
+git snatched."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy did n't understand this harangue at all, but he
+appreciated it because he recognized it as the prelude to a story.</p>
+
+<p>"Dar wuz Mr. Lion," Uncle Remus went on; "he tuck'n sot hisse'f up fer
+ter be de boss er all de yuther creeturs, en he feel so biggity dat he
+go ro'in' en rampin' 'roun' de neighborhoods wuss'n dat ar speckle bull
+w'at you see down at yo' Unk' Jeems Abercrombie place las' year. He went
+ro'in' 'roun', he did, en eve'ywhar he go he year talk er Mr. Man. Right
+in de middle er he braggin', some un 'ud up'n tell 'im 'bout w'at Mr.
+Man done done. Mr. Lion, he say he done dis, en den he year 'bout how
+Mr. Man done dat. Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby Mr. Lion <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>shake he
+mane, he did, en he up'n say dat he gwine ter s'arch 'roun' en 'roun',
+en high en low, fer ter see ef he can't fine Mr. Man, en he 'low, Mr.
+Lion did, dat w'en he do fine 'im, he gwine ter tu'n in en gin Mr. Man
+sech n'er larrupin' w'at nobody ain't never had yit. Dem yuther
+creeturs, dey tuck'n tell Mr. Lion dat he better let Mr. Man 'lone, but
+Mr. Lion say he gwine ter hunt 'im down spite er all dey kin do.</p>
+
+<p>"Sho' nuff, atter he done tuck some res', Mr. Lion, he put out down de
+big road. Sun, she rise up en shine hot, but Mr. Lion, he keep on; win',
+hit come up en blow, en fill de elements full er dust; rain, hit drif'
+up en drizzle down; but Mr. Lion, he keep on. Bimeby, w'iles he gwine on
+dis a-way, wid he tongue hangin' out, he come up wid Mr. Steer, grazin'
+'long on de side er de road. Mr. Lion, he up'n ax 'im howdy, he did,
+monst'us perlite, en Mr. Steer likewise he bow en scrape en show his
+manners. Den Mr. Lion, he do lak he wanter have some confab wid 'im, en
+he up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Is dey anybody 'roun' in deze parts name Mr. Man?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Tooby sho' dey is,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee; 'anybody kin tell you dat. I
+knows 'im mighty well,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den, he de ve'y chap I'm atter,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at mought be yo' bizness wid Mr. Man?' sez Mr. Steer, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'I done come dis long ways fer ter gin 'im a larrupin',' sez Mr. Lion,
+sezee. 'I'm gwine ter show 'im who de boss er deze neighborhoods,'
+sezee, en wid dat Mr. Lion, he shake he mane, en switch he tail, en
+strut up en down wuss'n one er deze yer town niggers.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den, ef dat w'at you come atter,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee, 'you des
+better slew yo'se'f 'roun' en p'int yo' nose todes home, kaze you fixin'
+fer ter git in sho' 'nuff trouble,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm gwine ter larrup dat same Mr. Man,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee; 'I done
+come fer dat, en dat w'at I'm gwine ter do,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>"Mr. Steer, he draw long breff, he did, en chaw he cud slow, en atter
+w'ile he say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You see me stannin' yer front er yo' eyes, en you see how big I is, en
+w'at long, sharp hawns I got. Well, big ez my heft is, en sharp dough my
+hawns be, yit Mr. Man, he come out yer en he ketch me, en he put me und'
+a yoke, en he hitch me up in a kyart, en he make me haul he wood, en he
+drive me anywhar he min' ter. He do dat. Better let Mr. Man 'lone,'
+sezee. 'If you fool 'long wid 'im, watch out dat he don't hitch you up
+en have you prancin' 'roun' yer pullin' he kyart,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion, he fotch a roar, en put out down de road, en 't wa'n't so
+mighty long 'fo' he come up wid Mr. Hoss, w'ich he wuz a-nibblin' en
+a-croppin' de grass. Mr. Lion make hisse'f know'd, en den he tuck'n ax
+Mr. Hoss do he know Mr. Man.</p>
+
+<p>"'Mighty well,' sez Mr. Hoss, sezee, 'en mo'n dat, I bin a-knowin' 'im a
+long time. W'at you want wid Mr. Man?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm a-huntin' 'im up fer ter larrup 'im,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee. 'Dey
+tells me he mighty stuck up,' sezee, 'en I gwine take 'im down a peg,'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hoss look at Mr. Lion like he sorry, en bimeby he up'n say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I 'speck you better let Mr. Man 'lone,' sezee. 'You see how big I is,
+en how much strenk w'at I got, en how tough my foots is,' sezee; 'well
+dish yer Mr. Man, he kin take'n take me en hitch me up in he buggy, en
+make me haul 'im all 'roun', en den he kin take'n fassen me ter de plow
+en make me break up all his new groun',' sezee. 'You better go 'long
+back home. Fus' news you know, Mr. Man'll have you breakin' up his new
+groun',' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Spite er all dis, Mr. Lion, he shake he mane en say he gwine ter larrup
+Mr. Man anyhow. He went on down de big road, he did, en bimeby he come
+up wid Mr. Jack Sparrer, settin' up in de top er de tree. Mr. Jack
+Sparrer, he whirl 'roun' en chirp, en flutter 'bout up dar, en
+'pariently make a great 'miration.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>"'Heyo yer!' sezee; 'who'd er 'speckted fer ter see Mr. Lion 'way down
+yer in dis neighborhoods?' sezee. 'Whar you gwine, Mr. Lion?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Mr. Lion ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer know Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer
+say he know Mr. Man mighty well. Den Mr. Lion, he ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer
+know whar he stay, w'ich Mr. Jack Sparrer say dat he do. Mr. Lion ax
+wharbouts is Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer say he right 'cross dar in de
+new groun', en he up'n ax Mr. Lion w'at he want wid 'im, w'ich Mr. Lion
+'spon' dat he gwine larrup Mr. Man, en wid dat, Mr. Jack Sparrer, he
+up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You better let Mr. Man 'lone. You see how little I is, en likewise how
+high I kin fly; yit, 'spite er dat, Mr. Man, he kin fetch me down w'en
+he git good en ready,' sezee. 'You better tuck yo' tail en put out
+home,' sez Mr. Jack Sparrer, sezee, 'kaze bimeby Mr. Man 'll fetch you
+down,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"But Mr. Lion des vow he gwine atter Mr. Man, en go he would, en go he
+did. He ain't never see Mr. Man, Mr. Lion ain't, en he dunner w'at he
+look lak, but he go on todes de new groun'. Sho' 'nuff, dar wuz Mr. Man,
+out dar maulin' rails fer ter make 'im a fence. He 'uz rippin' up de
+butt cut, Mr. Man wuz, en he druv in his wedge en den he stuck in de
+glut. He 'uz splittin' 'way, w'en bimeby he year rustlin' out dar in de
+bushes, en he look up, en dar wuz Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion ax 'im do he know
+Mr. Man, en Mr. Man 'low dat he know 'im mo' samer dan ef he wer' his
+twin brer. Den Mr. Lion 'low dat he wanter see' im, en den Mr. Man say,
+sezee, dat ef Mr. Lion will come stick his paw in de split fer ter hol'
+de log open twel he git back, he go fetch Mr. Man. Mr. Lion he march up
+en slap his paw in de place, en den Mr. Man, he tuck'n' knock de glut
+out, en de split close up, en dar Mr. Lion wuz. Mr. Man, he stan' off en
+say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef you'd 'a' bin a steer er hoss, you mought er run'd, en <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>ef you'd
+'a' bin a sparrer, you mought er flew'd, but yer you is, en you kotch
+yo'se'f,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Mr. Man sa'nter out in de bushes en cut 'im a hick'ry, en he
+let in on Mr. Lion, en he frail en frail 'im twel frailin' un 'im wuz a
+sin. En down ter dis day," continued Uncle Remus, in a tone calculated
+to destroy all doubt, "you can't git no Lion ter come up whar dey 's a
+Man a-maulin' rails en put he paw in de split. Dat you can't!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII<br /><br />
+
+THE STORY OF THE PIGS</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span> relapsed into silence again, and the little boy, with
+nothing better to do, turned his attention to the bench upon which the
+old man kept his shoemaker's tools. Prosecuting his investigations in
+this direction, the youngster finally suggested that the supply of
+bristles was about exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>"I dunner w'at Miss Sally wanter be sendin' un you down yer fer, ef you
+gwine ter be stirr'n' en bodderin' 'longer dem ar doin's," exclaimed
+Uncle Remus, indignantly. "Now don't you scatter dem hog-bristle! De
+time wuz w'en folks had a mighty slim chance fer ter git bristle, en dey
+ain't no tellin' w'en dat time gwine come ag'in. Let 'lone dat, de time
+wuz w'en de breed er hogs wuz done run down ter one po' little pig, en
+it look lak mighty sorry chance fer dem w'at was bleedzd ter have
+bristle."</p>
+
+<p>By this time Uncle Remus's indignation had vanished, disappearing as
+suddenly and unexpectedly as it came. The little boy was curious to know
+when and where and how the bristle famine occurred.</p>
+
+<p>"I done tole you 'bout dat too long 'go ter talk 'bout," the old man
+declared; but the little boy insisted that he had never heard about it
+before, and he was so persistent that at last <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>Uncle Remus, in
+self-defence, consented to tell the story of the Pigs.</p>
+
+<p>"One time, 'way back yander, de ole Sow en er chilluns wuz all livin'
+'longer' de yuther creeturs. Hit seem lak ter me dat de ole Sow wuz a
+widder 'oman, en ef I don't run inter no mistakes, hit look like ter me
+dat she got five chilluns. Lemme see," continued Uncle Remus, with the
+air of one determined to justify his memory by a reference to the
+record, and enumerating with great deliberation,&mdash;"dar wuz Big Pig, en
+dar wuz Little Pig, en dar wuz Speckle Pig, en dar wuz Blunt, en las' en
+lonesomes' dar wuz Runt.</p>
+
+<p>"One day, deze yer Pig ma she know she gwine kick de bucket, and she
+tuck'n call up all 'er chilluns en tell um dat de time done come w'en
+dey got ter look out fer deyse'f, en den she up'n tell um good ez she
+kin, dough 'er breff mighty scant, 'bout w'at a bad man is ole Brer
+Wolf. She say, sez she, dat if dey kin make der 'scape from ole Brer
+Wolf, dey'll be doin' monst'us well. Big Pig 'low she ain't skeer'd,
+Speckle Pig 'low she ain't skeer'd, Blunt, he say he mos' big a man ez
+Brer Wolf hisse'f, en Runt, she des tuck'n root 'roun' in de straw en
+grunt. But ole Widder Sow, she lay dar, she did, en keep on tellin' um
+dat dey better keep der eye on Brer Wolf, kaz he mighty mean en 'seetful
+man.</p>
+
+<p>"Not long atter dat, sho' 'nuff ole Miss Sow lay down en die, en all dem
+ar chilluns er hern wuz flung back on deyse'f, en dey whirl in, dey did,
+en dey buil' um all a house ter live in. Big Pig, she tuck'n buil' 'er a
+house outer bresh; Little Pig, she tuck'n buil' a stick house; Speckle
+Pig, she tuck'n buil' a mud house; Blunt, he tuck'n buil' a plank house;
+en Runt, she don't make no great ter-do, en no great brags, but she went
+ter wuk, she did, en buil' a rock house.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby, w'en dey done got all fix, en marters wuz sorter settle, soon
+one mawnin' yer come ole Brer Wolf, a-lickin' un his chops en a-shakin'
+un his tail. Fus' house he come ter wuz Big <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>Pig house. Brer Wolf walk
+ter de do', he did, en he knock sorter saf'&mdash;<em>blim! blim! blim!</em> Nobody
+ain't answer. Den he knock loud&mdash;<em>blam! blam! blam!</em> Dis wake up Big
+Pig, en she come ter de do', en she ax who dat. Brer Wolf 'low it's a
+fr'en', en den he sing out:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Still Big Pig ax who dat, en den Brer Wolf, he up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'How yo' ma?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'My ma done dead,' sez Big Pig, sezee, 'en 'fo' she die she tell me fer
+ter keep my eye on Brer Wolf. I sees you thoo de crack er de do', en you
+look mighty like Brer Wolf,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Brer Wolf, he draw a long breff lak he feel mighty bad, en he
+up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I dunner w'at change yo' ma so bad, less'n she 'uz out'n er head. I
+year tell dat ole Miss Sow wuz sick, en I say ter myse'f dat I'd kinder
+drap 'roun' en see how de ole lady is, en fetch 'er dish yer bag er
+roas'n'-years. Mighty well dose I know dat ef yo' ma wuz yer right now,
+en in 'er min', she 'd take de roas'n'-years en be glad fer ter git um,
+en mo'n dat, she'd take'n ax me in by de fire fer ter worn my han's,'
+sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"De talk 'bout de roas'n'-years make Big Pig mouf water, en bimeby,
+atter some mo' palaver, she open de do' en let Brer Wolf in, en bless
+yo' soul, honey! dat uz de las' er Big Pig. She ain't had time fer ter
+squeal en needer fer ter grunt 'fo' Brer Wolf gobble 'er up.</p>
+
+<p>"Next day, ole Brer Wolf put up de same game on Little Pig; he go en he
+sing he song, en Little Pig, she tuck'n let 'im in, en den Brer Wolf he
+tuck'n 'turn de compelerments<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> en let Little Pig in."</p>
+
+<p>Here Uncle Remus laughed long and loud at his conceit, and he took
+occasion to repeat it several times.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>"Little Pig, she let Brer Wolf in, en Brer Wolf, he let Little Pig in,
+en w'at mo' kin you ax dan dat? Nex' time Brer Wolf pay a call, he drop
+in on Speckle Pig, en rap at de do' en sing his song:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"But Speckle Pig, she kinder 'spicion sump'n', en she 'fuse ter open de
+do'. Yit Brer Wolf mighty 'seetful man, en he talk mighty saf' en he
+talk mighty sweet. Bimeby, he git he nose in de crack er de do' en he
+say ter Speckle Pig, sezee, fer ter des let 'im git one paw in, en den
+he won't go no furder. He git de paw in, en den he beg fer ter git de
+yuther paw in, en den w'en he git dat in he beg fer ter git he head in,
+en den w'en he git he head in, en he paws in, co'se all he got ter do is
+ter shove de do' open en walk right in; en w'en marters stan' dat way,
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' he done make fresh meat er Speckle Pig.</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' day, he make way wid Blunt, en de day atter, he 'low dat he make a
+pass at Runt. Now, den, right dar whar ole Brer Wolf slip up at. He lak
+some folks w'at I knows. He'd 'a' bin mighty smart, ef he had n't er bin
+too smart. Runt wuz de littles' one er de whole gang, yit all de same
+news done got out dat she 'uz pestered wid sense like grown folks.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he crope up ter Runt house, en he got un'need de winder, he
+did, en he sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"But all de same, Brer Wolf can't coax Runt fer ter open de do', en
+needer kin he break in, kaze de house done made outer rock. Bimeby Brer
+Wolf make out he done gone off, en den atter while he come back en knock
+at de do'&mdash;<em>blam, blam, blam!</em></p>
+
+<p>"Runt she sot by de fier, she did, en sorter scratch 'er year, en holler
+out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>"'Who dat?' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit's Speckle Pig,' sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee, 'twix' a snort en a
+grunt. 'I fotch yer some peas fer yo' dinner!'</p>
+
+<p>"Runt, she tuck'n laugh, she did, en holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sis Speckle Pig ain't never talk thoo dat many toofies.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf go off 'g'in, en bimeby he come back en knock. Runt she sot
+en rock, en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Who dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Big Pig,' sez Brer Wolf. 'I fotch some sweet-co'n fer yo' supper.'</p>
+
+<p>"Runt, she look thoo de crack un'need de do', en laugh en say, sez
+she:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sis Big Pig ain't had no ha'r on 'er huff.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Brer Wolf, he git mad, he did, en say he gwine come down de
+chimbley, en Runt, she say, sez she, dat de onliest way w'at he kin git
+in; en den, w'en she year Brer Wolf clam'in' up on de outside er de
+chimbley, she tuck'n pile up a whole lot er broom sage front er de
+h'a'th, en w'en she year 'im clam'in' down on de inside, she tuck de
+tongs en shove de straw on de fier, en de smoke make Brer Wolf head
+swim, en he drap down, en 'fo' he know it he 'uz done bu'nt ter a
+cracklin'; en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Wolf. Leas'ways," added Uncle
+Remus, putting in a cautious proviso to fall back upon in case of an
+emergency, "leas'ways, hit 'uz de las' er dat Brer Wolf."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX<br /><br />
+
+MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">I 'speck</span> you done year tell er ole man Benjermun Ram," said Uncle
+Remus, with a great affectation of indifference, after a pause.</p>
+
+<p>"Old man who?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>"Ole man Benjermun Ram. I 'speck you done year tell er him too long 'go
+ter talk 'bout."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, no, I have n't, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy, protesting
+and laughing. "He must have been a mighty funny old man."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's ez may be," responded Uncle Remus, sententiously. "Fun deze days
+would n't er counted fer fun in dem days; en many's de time w'at I see
+folks laughin'," continued the old man, with such withering sarcasm that
+the little boy immediately became serious,&mdash;"many's de time w'at I sees
+um laughin' en laughin', w'en I lay dey ain't kin tell w'at deyer
+laughin' at deyse'f. En 'taint der laughin' w'at pesters me,
+nudder,"&mdash;relenting a little,&mdash;"hit's dish yer ev'lastin' snickle en
+giggle, giggle en snickle."</p>
+
+<p>Having thus mapped out, in a dim and uncertain way, what older people
+than the little boy might have been excused for accepting as a sort of
+moral basis, Uncle Remus proceeded:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dish yer Mr. Benjermun Ram, w'ich he done come up inter my min', wuz
+one er dezeyer ole-timers. Dey tells me dat he 'uz a fiddler fum away
+back yander&mdash;one er dem ar kinder fiddlers w'at can't git de chune down
+fine 'less dey pats der foot. He stay all by he own-alone se'f way out
+in de middle un a big new-groun', en he sech a handy man fer ter have at
+a frolic dat de yuther creeturs like 'im mighty well, en w'en dey tuck a
+notion fer ter shake der foot, w'ich de notion tuck'n struck um eve'y
+once in a w'ile, nuthin' 'ud do but dey mus' sen' fer ole man Benjermun
+Ram en he fiddle; en dey do say," continued Uncle Remus, closing his
+eyes in a sort of ecstasy, "dat w'en he squar' hisse'f back in a cheer,
+en git in a weavin' way, he kin des snatch dem ole-time chunes fum who
+lay de rail.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> En den, w'en de frolic wuz done, dey'd all fling in, dem
+yuther creeturs would, en fill up a bag er peas fer ole Mr. Benjermun
+Ram fer ter kyar home wid 'im.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>"One time, des 'bout Christmas, Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals,
+dey up'n say dat dey 'd sorter gin a blowout, en dey got wud ter ole man
+Benjermun Ram w'ich dey 'speckted 'im fer ter be on han'. Wen de time
+done come fer Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter start, de win' blow cole en de
+cloud 'gun ter spread out 'cross de elements&mdash;but no marter fer dat; ole
+man Benjermun Ram tuck down he walkin'-cane, he did, en tie up he fiddle
+in a bag, en sot out fer Miss Meadows. He thunk he know de way, but hit
+keep on gittin' col'er en col'er, en mo' cloudy, twel bimeby, fus' news
+you know, ole Mr. Benjermun Ram done lose de way. Ef he'd er kep' on
+down de big road fum de start, it moughter bin diffunt, but he tuck a
+nigh-cut, en he ain't git fur 'fo' he done los' sho' 'nuff. He go dis
+a-way, en he go dat a-way, en he go de yuther way, yit all de same he
+wuz done los'. Some folks would er sot right flat down whar dey wuz en
+study out der way, but ole man Benjermun Ram ain't got wrinkle on he
+hawn fer nothin', kaze he done got de name er ole Billy Hardhead long
+'fo' dat. Den ag'in, some folks would er stop right still in der tracks
+en holler en bawl fer ter see ef dey can't roust up some er de
+neighbors, but ole Mr. Benjermun Ram, he des stick he jowl in de win',
+he did, en he march right on des 'zackly like he know he ain't gwine de
+wrong way. He keep on, but 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'gun ter feel right
+lonesome, mo' speshually w'en hit come up in he min' how Miss Meadows en
+de gals en all de comp'ny be bleedz ter do de bes' dey kin bidout any
+fiddlin'; en hit kinder make he marrer git cole w'en he study 'bout how
+he gotter sleep out dar in de woods by hisse'f.</p>
+
+<p>"Yit, all de same, he keep on twel de dark 'gun ter drap down, en den he
+keep on still, en bimeby he come ter a little rise whar dey wuz a
+clay-gall. W'en he git dar he stop en look 'roun', he did, en 'way off
+down in de holler, dar he see a light shinin', en w'en he see dis, ole
+man Benjermun Ram tuck he foot in he han', en make he way todes it des
+lak it de ve'y place w'at he bin huntin'. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>'T wa'n't long 'fo' he come
+ter de house whar de light is, en, bless you soul, he don't make no
+bones er knockin'. Den somebody holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Who dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm Mr. Benjermun Ram, en I done lose de way, en I come fer ter ax you
+ef you can't take me in fer de night,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"In common," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz a mighty
+rough-en-spoken somebody, but you better b'leeve he talk monst'us
+perlite dis time.</p>
+
+<p>"Den some un on t'er side er de do' ax Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter walk
+right in, en wid dat he open de do' en walk in, en make a bow like
+fiddlin' folks does w'en dey goes in comp'ny; but he ain't no sooner
+make he bow en look 'roun' twel he 'gun ter shake en shiver lak he done
+bin strucken wid de swamp-ager, kaze, settin' right dar 'fo' de fier wuz
+ole Brer Wolf, wid his toofies showin' up all w'ite en shiny like dey
+wuz bran new. Ef ole Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't bin so ole en stiff I boun'
+you he'd er broke en run, but 'mos' 'fo' he had time fer ter study 'bout
+gittin' 'way, ole Brer Wolf done bin jump up en shet de do' en fassen
+'er wid a great big chain. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram he know he in fer't, en
+he tuck'n put on a bol' face ez he kin, but he des nat'ally hone<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> fer
+ter be los' in de woods some mo'. Den he make n'er low bow, en he hope
+Brer Wolf and all his folks is well, en den he say, sezee, dat he des
+drap in fer ter wom hisse'f, en 'quire uv de way ter Miss Meadows', en
+ef Brer Wolf be so good ez ter set 'im in de road ag'in, he be off putty
+soon en be much 'blige in de bargains.</p>
+
+<p>"'Tooby sho', Mr. Ram,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee, w'iles he lick he chops en
+grin; 'des put yo' walkin'-cane in de cornder over dar, en set yo' bag
+down on de flo', en make yo'se'f at home,' sezee. 'We ain't got much,'
+sezee, 'but w'at we is got is yone w'iles you stays, en I boun' we'll
+take good keer un you,' sezee; en wid dat <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>Brer Wolf laugh en show his
+toofies so bad dat ole man Benjermun Ram come mighty nigh havin' 'n'er
+ager.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Wolf tuck'n flung 'n'er lighter'd-knot on de fier, en den he
+slip inter de back room, en present'y, w'iles ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz
+settin' dar shakin' in he shoes, he year Brer Wolf whispun' ter he ole
+'oman:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ole 'oman! ole 'oman! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat&mdash;fresh meat fer
+supper! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat&mdash;fresh meat fer supper!'</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Miss Wolf, she talk out loud, so Mr. Benjermun Ram kin year:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Tooby sho' I'll fix 'im some supper. We er 'way off yer in de woods,
+so fur fum comp'ny dat goodness knows I'm mighty glad ter see Mr.
+Benjermun Ram.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Mr. Benjermun Ram year ole Miss Wolf whettin' 'er knife on a
+rock&mdash;<em>shirrah! shirrah! shirrah!</em>&mdash;en ev'y time he year de knife say
+<em>shirrah!</em> he know he dat much nigher de dinner-pot. He know he can't
+git 'way, en w'iles he settin' dar studyin', hit come 'cross he min' dat
+he des mought ez well play one mo' chune on he fiddle 'fo' de wuss come
+ter de wuss. Wid dat he ontie de bag en take out de fiddle, en 'gun ter
+chune 'er up&mdash;<em>plink, plank, plunk, plink! plunk, plank, plink, plunk!</em>"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus's imitation of the tuning of a fiddle was marvellous enough
+to produce a startling effect upon a much less enthusiastic listener
+than the little boy. It was given in perfect good faith, but the serious
+expression on the old man's face was so irresistibly comic that the
+child laughed until the tears ran down his face. Uncle Remus very
+properly accepted this as a tribute to his wonderful resources as a
+story-teller, and continued, in great good-humor:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"W'en ole Miss Wolf year dat kinder fuss, co'se she dunner w'at is it,
+en she drap 'er knife en lissen. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't know dis,
+en he keep on chunin' up&mdash;<em>plank, plink, plunk, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>plank!</em> Den ole Miss
+Wolf, she tuck'n hunch Brer Wolf wid 'er elbow, en she say, sez she:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hey, ole man! w'at dat?"</p>
+
+<p>"Den bofe un um cock up der years en lissen, en des 'bout dat time ole
+Mr. Benjermun Ram he sling de butt er de fiddle up und' he chin, en
+struck up one er dem ole-time chunes."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what tune was it, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, with some
+display of impatience.</p>
+
+<p>"Ef I ain't done gone en fergit dat chune off'n my min'," continued
+Uncle Remus; "hit sorter went like dat ar song 'bout 'Sheep shell co'n
+wid de rattle er his ho'n,' en yit hit mout er been dat ar yuther one
+'bout 'Roll de key, ladies, roll dem keys.' Brer Wolf en ole Miss Wolf,
+dey lissen en lissen, en de mo' w'at dey lissen de skeerder dey git,
+twel bimeby dey tuck ter der heels en make a break fer de swamp at de
+back er de house des lak de patter-rollers wuz atter um.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en ole man Benjermun Ram sorter let up wid he fiddlin', he don't see
+no Brer Wolf, en he don't year no ole Miss Wolf. Den he look in de back
+room; no Wolf dar. Den he look in de back po'ch; no Wolf dar. Den he
+look in de closet en de cubberd; no Wolf ain't dar yit. Den ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram, he tuck'n shot all de do's en lock um, en he s'arch
+'roun' en he fine some peas en fodder in de lof', w'ich he et um fer he
+supper, en den he lie down front er de fier en sleep soun' ez a log.</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' mawnin' he 'uz up en stirrin' monst'us soon, en he put out fum
+dar, en he fine de way ter Miss Meadows' time 'nuff fer ter play at de
+frolic. W'en he git dar, Miss Meadows en de gals, dey run ter de gate
+fer ter meet 'im, en dis un tuck he hat, en dat un tuck he cane, en
+t'er'n tuck he fiddle, en den dey up'n say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, Mr. Ram! whar de name er goodness is you bin? We so glad you
+come. Stir 'roun' yer, folks, en git Mr. Ram a cup er hot coffee.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey make a mighty big ter-do 'bout Mr. Benjermun Ram, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>Miss Meadows en
+Miss Motts en de gals did, but 'twix' you en me en de bedpos', honey,
+dey'd er had der frolic wh'er de ole chap 'uz dar er not, kaze de gals
+done make 'rangerments wid Brer Rabbit fer ter pat fer um, en in dem
+days Brer Rabbit wuz a patter, mon. He mos' sholy wuz."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT'S RIDDLE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Could</span> Brother Rabbit pat a tune, sure enough, Uncle Remus?" asked the
+little boy, his thoughts apparently dwelling upon the new accomplishment
+of Brother Rabbit at which the old man had hinted in his story of Mr.
+Benjamin Ram. Uncle Remus pretended to be greatly surprised that any one
+could be so unfamiliar with the accomplishments of Brother Rabbit as to
+venture to ask such a question. His response was in the nature of a
+comment:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Name er goodness! w'at kinder pass dish yer we comin' ter w'en a great
+big grow'd up young un axin' 'bout Brer Rabbit? Bless yo' soul, honey!
+dey wa'n't no chune gwine dat Brer Rabbit can't pat. Let 'lone dat, w'en
+dey wuz some un else fer ter do de pattin', Brer Rabbit kin jump out
+inter de middle er de flo' en des nat'ally shake de eyel'ds off'en dem
+yuther creeturs. En 't wa'n't none er dish yer bowin' en scrapin', en
+slippin' en slidin', en han's all 'roun', w'at folks does deze days. Hit
+uz dish yer up en down kinder dancin', whar dey des lips up in de a'r
+fer ter cut de pidjin-wing, en lights on de flo' right in de middle er
+de double-shuffle. <em>Shoo!</em> Dey ain't no dancin' deze days; folks' shoes
+too tight, en dey ain't got dat limbersomeness in de hips w'at dey uster
+is. Dat dey ain't.</p>
+
+<p>"En yit," Uncle Remus continued, in a tone which seemed to imply that he
+deemed it necessary to apologize for the apparent <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>frivolity of Brother
+Rabbit,&mdash;"en yit de time come w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'gun ter put dis en
+dat tergedder, en de notion strak 'im dat he better be home lookin'
+atter de intruss er he fambly, 'stidder trapesin' en trollopin' 'roun'
+ter all de frolics in de settlement. He tuck'n study dis in he min' twel
+bimeby he sot out 'termin' fer ter 'arn he own livelihoods, en den he
+up'n lay off a piece er groun' en plant 'im a tater-patch.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he see all dish yer gwine on, he did, en he 'low ter hisse'f
+dat he 'speck Brer Rabbit rashfulness done bin supjued kaze he skeer'd,
+en den Brer Fox make up his min' dat he gwine ter pay Brer Rabbit back
+fer all he 'seetfulness. He start in, Brer Fox did, en fum dat time
+forrerd he aggervate Brer Rabbit 'bout he tater-patch. One night he
+leave de draw-bars down, 'n'er night he fling off de top rails, en nex'
+night he t'ar down a whole panel er fence, en he keep on dis a-way twel
+'pariently Brer Rabbit dunner w'at ter do. All dis time Brer Fox keep on
+foolin' wid de tater-patch, en w'en he see w'ich Brer Rabbit ain't
+makin' no motion, Brer Fox 'low dat he done skeer'd sho' 'nuff, en dat
+de time done come fer ter gobble him up bidout lief er license. So he
+call on Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox did, en he ax 'im will he take a walk.
+Brer Rabbit, he ax wharbouts. Brer Fox say, right out yander. Brer
+Rabbit, he ax w'at is dey right out yander? Brer Fox say he know whar
+dey some mighty fine peaches, en he want Brer Rabbit fer ter go 'long en
+climb de tree en fling um down. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
+mo' speshually fer ter 'blige Brer Fox.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey sot out, dey did, en atter w'ile, sho' 'nuff, dey come ter de
+peach-orchud, en Brer Rabbit, w'at do he do but pick out a good tree, en
+up he clum. Brer Fox, he sot hisse'f at de root er de tree, kaze he 'low
+dat w'en Brer Rabbit come down he hatter come down backerds, en den dat
+'ud be de time fer ter nab 'im. But, bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit dun see
+w'at-Brer Fox atter 'fo' he clum up. W'en he pull de peaches, Brer Fox
+say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>"'Fling um down yer, Brer Rabbit&mdash;fling um right down yer so I kin
+ketch um,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he sorter wunk de furdest eye fum Brer Fox, en he holler
+back, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef I fling um down dar whar you is, Brer Fox, en you misses um, dey'll
+git squshed,' sezee, 'so I'll des sorter pitch um out yander in de grass
+whar dey won't git bus',' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den he tuck'n flung de peaches out in de grass, en w'iles Brer Fox went
+atter um, Brer Rabbit, he skint down outer de tree, en hustle hisse'f
+twel he git elbow-room. Wen he git off little ways, he up 'n holler back
+ter Brer Fox dat he got a riddle he want 'im ter read. Brer Fox, he ax
+w'at is it. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he gun it out ter Brer Fox lak a man
+sayin' a speech:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><em>"Big bird rob en little bird sing,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>De big bee zoon en little bee sting,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>De little man lead en big hoss foller&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?'</em><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Fox scratch he head en study, en study en scratch he head, but
+de mo' he study de wuss he git mix up wid de riddle, en atter w'ile he
+tuck'n tell Brer Rabbit dat he dunno how in de name er goodness ter
+onriddle dat riddle.</p>
+
+<p>"'Come en go 'longer me,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en I boun' you I
+show you how ter read dat same riddle. Hit's one er dem ar kinder
+riddle,' sez ole man Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich 'fo' you read 'er you got ter
+eat a bait er honey, en I done got my eye sot on de place whar we kin
+git de honey at,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say up dar in ole
+Brer B'ar cotton-patch, whar he got a whole passel er bee-gums. Brer
+Fox, he 'low, he did, dat he ain't got no sweet-toof much, yit he wanter
+git at de innerds er dat ar riddle, en he don't keer ef he do go 'long.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey put out, dey did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey come ter ole Brer B'ar
+bee-gums, en ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n gun um a rap <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>wid he walkin'-cane,
+des lak folks thumps water-millions fer ter see ef dey er ripe. He tap
+en he rap, en bimeby he come ter one un um w'ich she soun' like she plum
+full, en den he go 'roun' behime it, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he up'n
+say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll des sorter tilt 'er up, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'en you kin put yo'
+head und' dar en git some er de drippin's,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he tilt her up, en, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox, he jam he head
+un'need de gum. Hit make me laugh," Uncle Remus continued, with a
+chuckle, "fer ter see w'at a fresh man is Brer Fox, kaze he ain't no
+sooner stuck he head un'need dat ar bee-gum, dan Brer Rabbit turnt 'er
+aloose, en down she come&mdash;<em>ker-swosh!</em>&mdash;right on Brer Fox neck, en dar
+he wuz. Brer Fox, he kick; he squeal; he jump; he squall; he dance; he
+prance; he beg; he pray; yit dar he wuz, en w'en Brer Rabbit git way
+off, en tu'n 'roun' fer ter look back, he see Brer Fox des a-wigglin' en
+a-squ'min', en right den en dar Brer Rabbit gun one ole-time whoop, en
+des put out fer home.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en he git dar, de fus' man he see wuz Brer Fox gran'daddy, w'ich
+folks all call 'im Gran'sir' Gray Fox. W'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he say,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'How you come on, Gran'sir' Gray Fox?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I still keeps po'ly, I'm 'blije ter you, Brer Rabbit,' sez Gran'sir'
+Gray Fox, sezee. 'Is you seed any sign er my gran'son dis mawnin'?'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Rabbit laugh en say w'ich him en Brer Fox bin a-ramblin'
+'roun' wid one er'n'er havin' mo' fun dan w'at a man kin shake a stick
+at.</p>
+
+<p>"'We bin a-riggin' up riddles en a-readin' un um,' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee. 'Brer Fox is settin' off some'rs in de bushes right now, aimin'
+fer ter read one w'at I gun 'im. I'll des drap you one,' sez ole Brer
+Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich, ef you kin read it, hit'll take you right spang
+ter whar yo' gran'son is, en you can't git dar none too soon,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="swosh" id="swosh"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 408px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0375.jpg" class="jpg" width="408" height="600" alt="&quot;BRER RABBIT TURNT &#39;ER ALOOSE, EN DOWN SHE
+COME&mdash;KER-SWOSH!&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;BRER RABBIT TURNT &#39;ER ALOOSE, EN DOWN SHE
+COME&mdash;KER-SWOSH!&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0375l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>"Den ole Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he up'n ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he
+sing out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>De big bird rob en little bird sing;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>De big bee zoon en little bee sting,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>De little man lead en big hoss foller&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he tuck a pinch er snuff en cough easy ter hisse'f,
+en study en study, but he ain't make it out, en Brer Rabbit, he laugh en
+sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Bee-gum mighty big fer ter make Fox collar,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Atter so long a time, Gran'sir' Gray Fox sorter ketch a glimpse er w'at
+Brer Rabbit tryin' ter gin 'im, en he tip Brer Rabbit good-day, en
+shuffle on fer ter hunt up he gran'son."</p>
+
+<p>"And did he find him, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho', honey. Brer B'ar year de racket w'at Brer Fox kickin' up,
+en he go down dar fer ter see w'at de marter is. Soon ez he see how de
+lan' lay, co'se he tuck a notion dat Brer Fox bin robbin' de bee-gums,
+en he got 'im a han'ful er hick'ries, Brer B'ar did, en he let in on
+Brer Fox en he wom he jacket scannerlous, en den he tuck'n tu'n 'im
+loose; but 't wa'n't long 'fo' all de neighbors git wud dat Brer Fox bin
+robbin' Brer B'ar bee-gums."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="link"><a name="rooster" id="rooster"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span><br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>
+<img src="images/rooster.png" width="400" height="312" alt="" title="" />
+<span class="caption">How Mr. Rooster lost his Dinner</span>
+</div>
+
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>
+<a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI<br /><br />
+
+HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">It</span> seemed that the rainy season had set in in earnest, but the little
+boy went down to Uncle Remus's cabin before dark. In some mysterious
+way, it appeared to the child, the gloom of twilight fastened itself
+upon the dusky clouds, and the great trees without, and the dismal
+perspective beyond, gradually became one with the darkness. Uncle Remus
+had thoughtfully placed a tin pan under a leak in the roof, and the
+<em>drip-drip-drip</em> of the water, as it fell in the resonant vessel, made a
+not unmusical accompaniment to the storm.</p>
+
+<p>The old man fumbled around under his bed, and presently dragged forth a
+large bag filled with lightwood knots, which, with an instinctive
+economy in this particular direction, he had stored away for an
+emergency. A bright but flickering flame was the result of this timely
+discovery, and the effect it produced was quite in keeping with all the
+surroundings. The rain, and wind, and darkness held sway without, while
+within, the unsteady lightwood blaze seemed to rhyme with the
+<em>drip-drip-drip</em> in the pan. Sometimes the shadow of Uncle Remus, as he
+leaned over the hearth, would tower and fill the cabin, and again it
+would fade and disappear among the swaying and swinging cobwebs that
+curtained the rafters.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en bed-time come, honey," said Uncle Remus, in a soothing tone, "I'll
+des snatch down yo' pa buggy umbrell' fum up dar in de cornder, des lak
+I bin a-doin', en I'll take'n take you und' my arm en set you down on
+Miss Sally h'a'th des ez dry en ez wom ez a rat'-nes' inside a
+fodder-stack."</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture 'Tildy, the house-girl, rushed in out of the rain <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>and
+darkness with a water-proof cloak and an umbrella, and announced her
+mission to the little boy without taking time to catch her breath.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Sally say you got ter come right back," she exclaimed. "Kaze she
+skeerd lightin' gwine strak 'roun' in yer 'mongs' deze high trees
+some'rs."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus rose from his stooping posture in front of the hearth and
+assumed a threatening attitude.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, is anybody year de beat er dat!" was his indignant exclamation.
+"Look yer, gal! don't you come foolin' 'longer me&mdash;now, don't you do it.
+Kaze ef yer does, I'll take'n hit you a clip w'at'll put you ter bed
+'fo' bed-times come. Dat's w'at!"</p>
+
+<p>"Lawdy! w'at I done gone en done ter Unk' Remus now?" asked 'Tildy, with
+a great affectation of innocent ignorance.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm gwine ter put on my coat en take dat ar umbrell', en I'm gwine
+right straight up ter de big house en ax Miss Sally ef she sont dat
+kinder wud down yer, w'en she know dat chile sittin' yer 'longer me. I'm
+gwine ter ax her," continued Uncle Remus, "en if she ain't sont dat wud,
+den I'm gwine ter fetch myse'f back. Now, you des watch my motions."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I year Miss Sally say she 'feard lightnin' gwine ter strak
+some'rs on de place," said 'Tildy, in a tone which manifested her
+willingness to compromise all differences, "en den I axt 'er kin I come
+down yer, en den she say I better bring deze yer cloak en pairsol."</p>
+
+<p>"Now you dun brung um," responded Uncle Remus, "you des better put um in
+dat cheer over dar, en take yo'se'f off. Thunder mighty ap' ter hit
+close ter whar deze here slick-head niggers is."</p>
+
+<p>But the little boy finally prevailed upon the old man to allow 'Tildy to
+remain, and after a while he put matters on a peace footing by inquiring
+if roosters crowed at night when it was raining.</p>
+
+<p>"Dat dey duz," responded Uncle Remus. "Wet er dry, dey <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>flops der wings
+en wakes up all de neighbors. Law, bless my soul!" he exclaimed
+suddenly, "w'at make I done gone en fergit 'bout Mr. Rooster?"</p>
+
+<p>"What about him?" inquired the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"One time, 'way back yander," said Uncle Remus, knocking the ashes off
+his hands and knees, "dey wuz two plan'ations right 'longside one er
+'ne'r, en on bofe er deze plan'ations wuz a whole passel of fowls. Dey
+wuz mighty sociable in dem days, en it tu'n out dat de fowls on one
+plan'ation gun a party, w'ich dey sont out der invites ter de fowls on
+de 't'er plan'ation.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en de day come, Mr. Rooster, he blow his hawn, he did, en 'semble um
+all tergedder, en atter dey 'semble dey got in line. Mr. Rooster, he
+tuck de head, en atter 'im come ole lady Hen en Miss Pullet, en den dar
+wuz Mr. Peafowl, en Mr. Tukkey Gobbler, en Miss Guinny Hen, en Miss
+Puddle Duck, en all de balance un um. Dey start off sorter raggedy, but
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' dey all kotch de step, en den dey march down by de
+spring, up thoo de hoss-lot en 'cross by de gin-house, en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' dey git ter whar de frolic wuz.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey dance, en dey play, en dey sing. Mo' 'speshually did dey play en
+sing dat ar song w'ich it run on lak dis:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Come under, come under,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>My honey, my love, my own true love;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>My heart bin a-weepin'</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Way down in Galilee.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Dey wuz gwine on dis a-way, havin' der 'musements, w'en, bimeby, ole
+Mr. Peafowl, he got on de comb er de barn en blow de dinner-hawn. Dey
+all wash der face en ban's in de back po'ch, en den dey went in ter
+dinner. W'en dey git in dar, dey don't see nothin' on de table but a
+great big pile er co'n-bread. De pones was pile up on pones, en on de
+top wuz a great big ash-cake. Mr. Rooster, he look at dis en he tu'n up
+he nose, en bimeby, atter aw'ile, out he strut. Ole Miss Guinny Hen, she
+watchin' Mr. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>Rooster motions, en w'en she see dis, she take'n squall
+out, she did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Pot-rack! Pot-rack!</em> Mr. Rooster gone back! <em>Pot-rack! Pot-rack!</em> Mr.
+Rooster gone back!'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat dey all make a great ter-do. Miss Hen en Miss Pullet, dey
+cackle en squall, Mr. Gobbler, he gobble, en Miss Puddle Duck, she shake
+'er tail en say, <em>quickity-quack-quack</em>. But Mr. Rooster, he ruffle up
+he cape, en march on out.</p>
+
+<p>"Dis sorter put a damper on de yuthers, but 'fo' Mr. Rooster git outer
+sight en year'n dey went ter wuk on de pile w'at wuz 'pariently
+co'n-bread, en, lo en beholes, un'need dem pone er bread wuz a whole
+passel er meat en greens, en bake' taters, en bile' turnips. Mr.
+Rooster, he year de ladies makin' great 'miration, en he stop en look
+thoo de crack, en dar he see all de doin's en fixin's. He feel mighty
+bad, Mr. Rooster did, w'en he see all dis, en de yuther fowls dey holler
+en ax 'im fer ter come back, en he craw, w'ich it mighty empty,
+likewise, it up'n ax 'im, but he mighty biggity en stuck up, en he strut
+off, crowin' ez he go; but he 'speunce er dat time done las' him en all
+er his fambly down ter dis day. En you neenter take my wud fer't, ne'r,
+kaze ef you'll des keep yo' eye open en watch, you'll ketch a glimse er
+ole Mr. Rooster folks scratchin' whar dey 'specks ter fine der rations,
+en mo' dan dat, dey'll scratch wid der rations in plain sight. Since dat
+time, dey ain't none er de Mr. Roosters bin fool' by dat w'at dey see on
+top. Dey ain't res' twel dey see w'at und' dar. Dey'll scratch spite er
+all creation."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's de Lord's truth!" said 'Tildy, with unction. "I done seed um wid
+my own eyes. Dat I is."</p>
+
+<p>This was 'Tildy's method of renewing peaceful relations with Uncle
+Remus, but the old man was disposed to resist the attempt.</p>
+
+<p>"You better be up yander washin' up dishes, stidder hoppin' down yer wid
+er whole packet er stuff w'at Miss Sally ain't dreamp er sayin'."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+<a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">As</span> long as Uncle Remus allowed 'Tildy to remain in the cabin, the little
+boy was not particularly interested in preventing the perfunctory abuse
+which the old man might feel disposed to bestow upon the complacent
+girl. The truth is, the child's mind was occupied with the episode in
+the story of Mr. Benjamin Ram which treats of the style in which this
+romantic old wag put Mr. and Mrs. Wolf to flight by playing a tune upon
+his fiddle. The little boy was particularly struck with this remarkable
+feat, as many a youngster before him had been, and he made bold to recur
+to it again by asking Uncle Remus for all the details. It was plain to
+the latter that the child regarded Mr. Ram as the typical hero of all
+the animals, and this was by no means gratifying to the old man. He
+answered the little boy's questions as well as he could, and, when
+nothing more remained to be said about Mr. Ram, he settled himself back
+in his chair and resumed the curious history of Brother Rabbit:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se Mr. Ram mighty smart man. I ain't 'spute dat; but needer Mr. Ram
+ner yet Mr. Lam is soon creeturs lak Brer Rabbit. Mr. Benjermun Ram, he
+tuck'n skeer off Brer Wolf en his ole 'oman wid his fiddle, but, bless
+yo' soul, ole Brer Rabbit he gone en done wuss'n dat."</p>
+
+<p>"What did Brother Rabbit do?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"One time," said Uncle Remus, "Brer Fox, he tuck'n ax some er de yuther
+creeturs ter he house. He ax Brer B'ar, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, but
+he ain't ax Brer Rabbit. All de same, Brer Rabbit got win' un it, en he
+'low dat ef he don't go, he 'speck he have much fun ez de nex' man.</p>
+
+<p>"De creeturs w'at git de invite, dey tuck'n 'semble at Brer Fox house,
+en Brer Fox, he ax um in en got um cheers, en dey <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>sot dar en laugh en
+talk, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox, he fotch out a bottle er dram en lay 'er
+out on de side-bode, en den he sorter step back en say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Des step up, gentermens, en he'p yo'se'f,' en you better b'lieve dey
+he'p derse'f.</p>
+
+<p>"Wiles dey wuz drinkin' en drammin' en gwine on, w'at you 'speck Brer
+Rabbit doin'? You des well make up yo' min' dat Brer Rabbit monst'us
+busy, kaze he 'uz sailin' 'roun' fixin' up his tricks. Long time 'fo'
+dat, Brer Rabbit had been at a bobbycue whar dey was a muster, en w'iles
+all de folks 'uz down at de spring eatin' dinner, Brer Rabbit he crope
+up en run off wid one er de drums. Dey wuz a big drum en a little drum,
+en Brer Rabbit he snatch up de littles' one en run home.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, w'en he year 'bout de yuther creeturs gwine ter Brer Fox
+house, w'at do Brer Rabbit do but git out dis rattlin' drum en make de
+way down de road todes whar dey is. He tuk dat drum," continued Uncle
+Remus, with great elation of voice and manner, "en he went down de road
+todes Brer Fox house, en he make 'er talk like thunner mix up wid hail.
+Hit talk lak dis:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum&mdash;diddybum!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"De creeturs, dey 'uz a-drinkin', en a-drammin', en a-gwine on at a
+terrible rate, en dey ain't year de racket, but all de same, yer come
+Brer Rabbit:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum&mdash;diddybum!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby Brer 'Coon, w'ich he allers got one year hung out fer de news,
+he up'n ax Brer Fox w'at dat, en by dat time all de creeturs stop en
+lissen; but all de same, yer come Brer Rabbit:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum&mdash;diddybum!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"De creeturs dey keep on lis'nin', en Brer Rabbit keep on gittin'
+nigher, twel bimeby Brer 'Coon retch und' de cheer fer he hat, en say,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, gents, I 'speck I better be gwine. I tole my ole 'oman dat I
+won't be gone a minnit, en yer 't is 'way 'long in de day.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>"Wid dat Brer 'Coon, he skip out, but he ain't git much furder dan de
+back gate, 'fo' yer come all de yuther creeturs like dey 'uz runnin' a
+foot-race, en ole Brer Fox wuz wukkin' in de lead."</p>
+
+<p>"Dar, now!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with great fervor.</p>
+
+<p>"Yasser! dar dey wuz, en dar dey went," continued Uncle Remus. "Dey tuck
+nigh cuts, en dey scramble over one er 'n'er, en dey ain't res' twel dey
+git in de bushes.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Rabbit, he came on down de road&mdash;<em>diddybum, diddybum,
+diddybum-bum-bum</em>&mdash;en bless gracious! w'en he git ter Brer Fox house dey
+ain't nobody dar. Brer Rabbit is dat ow-dacious, dat he hunt all 'roun'
+twel he fine de a'r-hole en de drum, en he put his mouf ter dat en sing
+out, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Is dey anybody home?' en den he answer hisse'f, sezee, 'Law, no,
+honey&mdash;folks all gone.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, ole Brer Rabbit break loose en laugh, he did, fit ter kill
+hisse'f, en den he slam Brer Fox front gate wide open, en march up ter
+de house. W'en he git dar, he kick de do' open en hail Brer Fox, but
+nobody ain't dar, en Brer Rabbit he walk in en take a cheer, en make
+hisse'f at home wid puttin' his foots on de sofy en spittin' on de flo'.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit ain't sot dar long 'fo' he ketch a whiff er de dram&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"You year dat?" exclaimed 'Tildy, with convulsive admiration.</p>
+
+<p>"&mdash;'Fo' he ketch a whiff er de dram, en den he see it on de side-bode,
+en he step up en drap 'bout a tumbeler full some'rs down in de
+neighborhoods er de goozle. Brer Rabbit mighty lak some folks I knows.
+He tuck one tumbeler full, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he tuck 'n'er'n, en
+w'en a man do dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, somewhat
+apologetically, "he bleedz ter git drammy."</p>
+
+<p>"Truth, too!" said 'Tildy, by way of hearty confirmation.</p>
+
+<p>"All des time de yuther creeturs wuz down hi de bushes lissenin' fer de
+<em>diddybum</em>, en makin' ready fer ter light out fum dar <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>at de drop uv a
+hat. But dey ain't year no mo' fuss, en bimeby Brer Fox, he say he gwine
+back en look atter he plunder, en de yuther creeturs say dey b'leeve
+dey'll go 'long wid 'im. Dey start out, dey did, en dey crope todes Brer
+Fox house, but dey crope mighty keerful, en I boun' ef somebody'd 'a'
+shuck a bush, dem ar creeturs 'ud 'a' nat'ally to' up de ye'th gittin'
+'way fum dar. Yit dey still ain't year no fuss, en dey keep on creepin'
+twel dey git in de house.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en dey git in dar, de fus' sight dey see wuz ole Brer Rabbit stannin'
+up by de dram-bottle mixin' up a toddy, en he wa'n't so stiff-kneed
+n'er, kase he sorter swage fum side ter side, en he look lak he mighty
+limbersome, w'ich, goodness knows, a man bleedz ter be limbersome w'en
+he drink dat kinder licker w'at Brer Fox perwide fer dem creeturs.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit makin' free wid he doin's dat a-way, w'at
+you 'speck he do?" inquired Uncle Remus, with the air of one seeking
+general information.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck he cusst," said 'Tildy, who was apt to take a vividly
+practical view of matters.</p>
+
+<p>"He was glad," said the little boy, "because he had a good chance to
+catch Brother Rabbit."</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho' he wuz," continued Uncle Remus, heartily assenting to the
+child's interpretation of the situation: "tooby sho' he wuz. He stan'
+dar, Brer Fox did, en he watch Brer Rabbit motions. Bimeby he holler
+out, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah yi!<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> Brer Rabbit!' sezee. 'Many a time is you made yo' 'scape,
+but now I got you!' En wid dat, Brer Fox en de yuther creeturs cloze in
+on Brer Rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>"Seem like I done tole you dat Brer Rabbit done gone en tuck mo' dram
+dan w'at 'uz good fer he wholesome. Yit he head ain't swim so bad dat he
+dunner w'at he doin', en time he lay eyes on <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>Brer Fox, he know he done
+got in close quarters. Soon ez he see dis, Brer Rabbit make like he bin
+down in de cup mo' deeper dan w'at he is, en he stagger 'roun' like town
+gal stannin' in a batteau, en he seem lak he des ez limber ez a wet rag.
+He stagger up ter Brer Fox, he did, en he roll he eyeballs 'roun', en
+slap 'im on he back en ax 'im how he ma. Den w'en he see de yuther
+creeturs," continued Uncle Remus, "he holler out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Vents yo' uppance, gentermens! Vents yo' uppance!<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> Ef you'll des
+gimme han'-roomance en come one at a time, de tussle 'll las' longer.
+How you all come on, nohow?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Rabbit talk so kuse dat de yuther creeturs have mo' fun dan
+w'at you k'n shake a stick at, but bimeby Brer Fox say dey better git
+down ter business, en den dey all cloze in on Brer Rabbit, en dar he
+wuz.</p>
+
+<p>"In dem days, ole man B'ar wuz a jedge 'mongs' de creeturs, en dey all
+ax 'im w'at dey gwine do 'long wid Brer Rabbit, en Jedge B'ar, he put on
+his specks, en cle'r up his th'oat, en say dat de bes' way ter do wid a
+man w'at kick up sech a racket, en run de neighbors outer der own house,
+en go in dar en level<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> on de pantry, is ter take 'im out en drown 'im;
+en ole Brer Fox, w'ich he settin' on de jury, he up'n smack he hands
+togedder, en cry, en say, sezee, dat atter dis he bleedz ter b'leeve dat
+Jedge B'ar done got all-under holt on de lawyer-books, kaze dat 'zackly
+w'at dey say w'en a man level on he neighbor pantry.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit, he make out he skeerd, en he holler en cry, en beg um,
+in de name er goodness, don't fling 'im in de spring branch, kaze dey
+all know he dunner how ter swim: but ef dey bleedz fer ter pitch 'im in,
+den for mussy sake gin' 'im a walkin'-cane, so he kin have sumpin' ter
+hol' ter w'iles he drownin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer B'ar scratch his head en say, sezee, dat, fur ez his
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>'membunce go back, he ain't come 'cross nothin' in de lawyer-book ter
+de contraries er dat, en den dey all 'gree dat Brer Rabbit kin have a
+walkin'-cane.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, dey ketch up Brer Rabbit en put 'im in a wheelborrow en kyar
+'im down ter de branch, en fling 'im in."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh-eh!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with well-feigned astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey fling 'im in," continued Uncle Remus, "en Brer Rabbit light on he
+foots, same ez a tomcat, en pick his way out by de helps er de
+walkin'-cane. De water wuz dat shaller dat it don't mo'n come over Brer
+Rabbit slipper, en w'en he git out on t'er side, he holler back,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'So long, Brer Fox!'"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX, BRER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S DAUGHTER</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Notwithstanding</span> Brother Rabbit's success with the drum, the little boy
+was still inclined to refer to Mr. Benjamin Ram and his fiddle; but
+Uncle Remus was not, by any means, willing that such an ancient vagabond
+as Mr. Ram should figure as a hero, and he said that, while it was
+possible that Brother Rabbit was no great hand with the fiddle, he was a
+drummer, and a capital singer to boot. Furthermore, Uncle Remus declared
+that Brother Rabbit could perform upon the quills,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> an accomplishment
+to which none of the other animals could lay claim. There was a time,
+too, the old man pointedly suggested, when the romantic rascal used his
+musical abilities to win the smiles of a nice young lady of quality&mdash;no
+less a personage, indeed, than King Deer's daughter. As a matter of
+course, the little boy was anxious to hear the particulars, and Uncle
+Remus was in nowise loath to give them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>"W'en you come ter ax me 'bout de year en day er de mont'," said the
+old man, cunningly arranging a defence against criticism, "den I'm done,
+kaze de almanick w'at dey got in dem times won't pass muster deze days,
+but, let 'lone dat, I 'speck dey ain't had none yit; en if dey is, dey
+ain't none bin handed down ter Remus.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, some time 'long in dar, ole Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit got ter
+flyin' 'roun' King Deer daughter. Dey tells me she 'uz a monst'us likely
+gal, en I 'speck may be she wuz; leas'ways, Brer Fox, he hanker atter
+'er, en likewise Brer Rabbit, he hanker atter 'er. Ole King Deer look
+lak he sorter lean todes Brer Fox, kaze ter a settle man like him, hit
+seem lak dat Brer Fox kin stir 'roun' en keep de pot a-b'ilin', mo'
+speshually bein's he de bigges'. Hit go on dis a-way twel hardly a day
+pass dat one er de yuther er dem creeturs don't go sparklin' 'roun' King
+Deer daughter, en it got so atter w'ile dat all day long Brer Rabbit en
+Brer Fox keep de front gate a-skreakin', en King Deer daughter ain't
+ska'cely had time fer ter eat a meal vittels in no peace er min'.</p>
+
+<p>"In dem days," pursued Uncle Remus, in a tone of unmistakable historical
+fervor, "w'en a creetur go a-courtin' dey wa'n't none er dish yer bokay
+doin's mix' up 'longer der co'tship, en dey ain't cut up no capers like
+folks does now. Stidder scollopin' 'roun' en bowin' en scrapin', dey des
+go right straight atter de gal. Ole Brer Rabbit, he mouter had some
+bubby-blossoms<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> wrop up in his hankcher, but mostly him en Brer Fox
+'ud des drap in on King Deer daughter en 'gin ter cas' sheep-eyes at 'er
+time dey sot down en cross der legs."</p>
+
+<p>"En I bet," said 'Tildy, by way of comment, and looking as though she
+wanted to blush, "dat dey wa'n't 'shame', nuther."</p>
+
+<p>"Dey went 'long dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, "twel it 'gun ter
+look sorter skittish wid Brer Rabbit, kaze ole King Deer done good ez
+say, sezee, dat he gwine ter take Brer Fox inter de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>fambly. Brer
+Rabbit, he 'low, he did, dat dis ain't gwine ter do, en he study en
+study how he gwine ter cut Brer Fox out.</p>
+
+<p>"Las', one day, w'iles he gwine thoo King Deer pastur' lot, he up wid a
+rock en kilt two er King Deer goats. Wen he git ter de house, he ax King
+Deer daughter whar'bouts her pa, en she up'n say she go call 'im, en
+w'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he ax w'en de weddin' tuck place, en King Deer
+ax w'ich weddin', en Brer Rabbit say de weddin' 'twix' Brer Fox en King
+Deer daughter. Wid dat, ole King Deer ax Brer Rabbit w'at make he go on
+so, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat he see Brer Fox makin' monst'us
+free wid de fambly, gwine 'roun' chunkin' de chickens en killin' up de
+goats.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole King Deer strak he walkin'-cane down 'pon de flo', en 'low dat he
+don't put no 'pennunce in no sech tale lak dat, en den Brer Rabbit tell
+'im dat ef he'll des take a walk down in de pastur' lot, he kin see de
+kyarkiss er de goats. Ole King Deer, he put out, en bimeby he come back,
+en he 'low he gwine ter settle marters wid Brer Fox ef it take 'im a
+mont'.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit say he a good frien' ter Brer Fox, en he ain't got no room
+ter talk 'bout 'im, but yit w'en he see 'im 'stroyin' King Deer goats en
+chunkin' at his chickens, en rattlin' on de palin's fer ter make de dog
+bark, he bleedz ter come lay de case 'fo' de fambly.</p>
+
+<p>"'En mo'n dat,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'I'm de man w'at kin make
+Brer Fox come en stan' right at de front gate en tell you dat he is kill
+dem goat; en ef you des wait twel ter-night, I won't ax you ter take my
+wud,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"King Deer say ef Brer Rabbit man 'nuff ter do dat, den he kin git de
+gal en thanky, too. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit jump up en crack he heels
+tergedder, en put out fer ter fine Brer Fox. He ain't git fur 'fo' he
+see Brer Fox comin' down de road all primp up. Brer Rabbit, he sing out,
+he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Foxy, whar you gwine?' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>"En Brer Fox, he holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go 'way, Rab; don't bodder wid me. I'm gwine fer ter see my gal.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he laugh 'way down in his stomach, but he don't let on, en
+atter some mo' chat, he up'n say dat ole King Deer done tell 'im 'bout
+how Brer Fox gwine ter marry he daughter, en den he tell Brer Fox dat he
+done promise King Deer dat dey'd drap 'roun' ter-night en gin 'im some
+music.</p>
+
+<p>"'En I up'n tole 'im,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat de music w'at we
+can't make ain't wuth makin',&mdash;me wid my quills, en you wid yo'
+tr'angle.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> De nex' motion we makes,' sezee, we'll hatter go off
+some'rs en practise up on de song we'll sing, en I got one yer dat'll
+tickle um dat bad,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'twel I lay dey'll fetch out
+a hunk er dat big chicken-pie w'at I see um puttin' in de pot des now,'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"In a 'casion lak dis, Brer Fox say he de ve'y man w'at Brer Rabbit
+huntin', en he 'low dat he'll des 'bout put off payin' he call ter King
+Deer house en go wid Brer Rabbit fer ter practise on dat song.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit, he git he quills en Brer Fox he git he tr'angle, en
+dey went down on de spring branch, en dar dey sing en play, twel dey git
+it all by heart. Ole Brer Rabbit, he make up de song he own se'f, en he
+fix it so dat he sing de call, lak de captain er de co'n-pile, en ole
+Brer Fox, he hatter sing de answer."<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p>
+
+<p>At this point Uncle Remus paused to indulge in one of his suggestive
+chuckles, and then proceeded:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Don't talk 'bout no songs ter me. Gentermens! dat 'uz a funny song fum
+de wud go. Bimeby, w'en dey practise long time, dey gits up en goes
+'roun' in de neighborhoods er King Deer house, en w'en night come dey
+tuck der stan' at de front gate, en atter all got still, Brer Rabbit, he
+gun de wink, en dey broke loose wid der music. Dey played a chune er two
+on de quills en tr'angle, en den <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>dey got ter de song. Ole Brer Rabbit,
+he got de call, en he open up lak dis:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Some folks pile up mo'n dey kin tote,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>En dot w'at de marter wid King Deer goat,</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>en den Brer Fox, he make answer:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Dat's so, dat's so, en I'm glad dat it's so!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Den de quills en de tr'angle, dey come in, en den Brer Rabbit pursue on
+wid de call:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Some kill sheep en some kill shote,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>But Brer Fox kill King Deer goat,</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>en den Brer Fox, he jine in wid de answer:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I did, dat I did, en I'm glad dat I did!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>En des 'bout dat time King Deer, he walk outer de gate en hit Brer Fox a
+clip wid his walkin'-cane, en he foller it up wid 'n'er'n, dat make Brer
+Fox fa'rly squall, en you des better b'lieve he make tracks 'way fum
+dar, en de gal she come out, en dey ax Brer Rabbit in."</p>
+
+<p>"Did Brother Rabbit marry King Deer's daughter, Uncle Remus?" asked the
+little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey, you're crowdin' me," responded the old man. "Dey ax
+'im in, en dey gun 'im a great big hunk er chicken-pie, but I won't make
+sho' dat he tuck'n marry de gal. De p'int wid me is de way Brer Rabbit
+run Brer Fox off fum dar."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV<br /><br />
+
+BRER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BRER BUZZARD</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">There</span> was a pause here, which was finally broken by 'Tildy, whose remark
+was in the shape of a very undignified yawn. Uncle Remus regarded her
+for a moment with an expression of undisguised scorn, which quickly
+expressed itself in words:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>"Ef you'd er bin outer de house dat whack, you'd er tuck us all in.
+Pity dey ain't some place er 'n'er whar deze yer trollops kin go en
+l'arn manners."</p>
+
+<p>Tildy, however, ignored the old man, and, with a toss of her head, said
+to the little boy in a cool, exasperating tone, employing a pet name she
+had heard the child's mother use:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Pinx, I 'speck we better go. De rain done mos' hilt up now, en
+bimeby de stars'll be a-shinin'. Miss Sally lookin' fer you right now."</p>
+
+<p>"You better go whar you gwine, you triflin' huzzy, you!" exclaimed Uncle
+Remus. "You better go git yo' Jim Crow kyard en straighten out dem wrops
+in yo' ha'r. I allers year w'ite folks say you better keep yo' eye on
+niggers w'at got der ha'r wrop up in strings. Now I done gun you fa'r
+warnin's."</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, when the old man's wrath had
+somewhat subsided, "why do they call them Jim Crow cards?"</p>
+
+<p>"I be bless ef I know, honey, 'ceppin' it's kaze dey er de onliest
+machine w'at deze yer low-life niggers kin oncomb der kinks wid. Now,
+den," continued the old man, straightening up and speaking with
+considerable animation, "dat 'min's me 'bout a riddle w'at been runnin'
+'roun' in my head. En dat riddle&mdash;it's de outdoin'es' riddle w'at I mos'
+ever year tell un. Hit go lak dis: Ef he come, he don't come; ef he
+don't come, he come. Now, I boun' you can't tell w'at is dat."</p>
+
+<p>After some time spent in vain guessing, the little boy confessed that he
+did n't know.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit's crow en co'n," said Uncle Remus sententiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Crow and corn, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se, honey. Crow come, de co'n don't come; crow don't come, den de
+co'n come."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's so," said 'Tildy. "I done see um pull up co'n, en I done see co'n
+grow w'at dey don't pull up."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>If 'Tildy thought to propitiate Uncle Remus, she was mistaken. He
+scowled at her, and addressed himself to the little boy:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"De Crow, he mighty close kin ter de Buzzud, en dat puts me in min' dat
+we ain't bin a-keepin' up wid ole Brer Buzzud close ez we might er done.</p>
+
+<p>"W'at de case mout be deze days, I ain't a-sayin', but, in dem times,
+ole Brer Tarrypin love honey mo' samer dan Brer B'ar, but he wuz dat
+flat-footed dat, w'en he fine a bee-tree, he can't climb it, en he go so
+slow dat he can't hardly fine um. Bimeby, one day, w'en he gwine 'long
+down de road des a-honin' atter honey, who should he meet but ole Brer
+Buzzud.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey shuck han's mighty sociable en ax 'bout de news er de
+neighborhoods, en den, atter w'ile, Brer Tarrypin say ter ole Brer
+Buzzud, sezee, dat he wanter go inter cahoots wid 'im 'longer gittin'
+honey, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey struck a trade. Brer Buzzud wuz ter
+fly 'roun' en look fer de bee-tree, en Brer Tarrypin he wuz ter creep en
+crawl, en hunt on de groun'.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey start out, dey did, ole Brer Buzzud sailin' 'roun' in de elements,
+en ole Brer Tarrypin shufflin' en shamblin' on de groun'. 'Mos' de ve'y
+fus' fiel' w'at he come ter, Brer Tarrypin strak up wid a great big
+bumbly-bee nes' in de groun'. He look 'roun', ole Brer Tarrypin did, en
+bimeby he stick he head in en tas'e de honey, en den he pull it out en
+look all 'roun' fer ter see ef he kin ketch a glimpse er Brer Buzzud;
+but Brer Buzzud don't seem lak he nowhar. Den Brer Tarrypin say to
+hisse'f, sezee, dat he 'speck dat bumbly-bee honey ain't de kinder honey
+w'at dey been talkin' 'bout, en dey ain't no great shakes er honey dar
+nohow. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin crope inter de hole en gobble up de las'
+drop er de bumbly-bee honey by he own-alone se'f. Atter he done make
+'way wid it, he come out, he did, en he whirl in en lick it all off'n
+his footses, so ole Brer Buzzud can't tell dat he done bin git a mess er
+honey.</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Brer Tarrypin stretch out he neck en try ter lick de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>honey
+off'n he back, but he neck too short; en he try ter scrape it off up
+'g'in' a tree, but it don't come off; en den he waller on de groun', but
+still it don't come off. Den old Brer Tarrypin jump up, en say ter
+hisse'f dat he'll des 'bout rack off home, en w'en Brer Buzzud come he
+kin lie on he back en say he sick, so ole Brer Buzzud can't see de
+honey.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin start off, he did, but he happen ter look up, en, lo en
+beholes, dar wuz Brer Buzzud huv'rin' right spang over de spot whar he
+is. Brer Tarrypin know Brer Buzzud bleedz ter see 'im ef he start off
+home, en mo'n dat, he know he be fine out ef he don't stir 'roun' en do
+sump'n' mighty quick. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin shuffle back ter de
+bumbly-bee nes' swif' ez he kin, en buil' 'im a fier in dar, en den he
+crawl out en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Buzzud! O Brer Buzzud! Run yer, fer gracious sake, Brer Buzzud,
+en look how much honey I done fine! I des crope in a little ways, en it
+des drip all down my back, same like water. Run yer, Brer Buzzud! Half
+yone en half mine, Brer Buzzud!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Buzzud, he flop down, en he laugh en say he mighty glad, kaze he
+done git hongry up dar whar he bin. Den Brer Tarrypin tell Brer Buzzud
+fer ter creep in little ways en tas'e en see how he like um, w'iles he
+take his stan' on de outside en watch fer somebody. But no sooner is
+Brer Buzzud crope in de bumbly-bee nes' dan Brer Tarrypin take'n roll a
+great big rock front er de hole. Terreckly, de fier 'gun ter bu'n Brer
+Buzzud, en he sing out like a man in trouble:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin&mdash;sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin!'</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Brer Tarrypin, he holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'It's de bumbly-bees a-stingin' you, Brer Buzzud; stan' up en flop yo'
+wings, Brer Buzzud. Stan' up en flop yo' wings, Brer Buzzud, en you'll
+drive um off,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Buzzud flop en flop he wings, but de mo' w'at he flop, de mo' he
+fan de fier, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he done bodaciously bu'n <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>up, all
+'ceppin' de big een er his wing-fedders, en dem ole Brer Tarrypin tuck
+en make inter some quills, w'ich he go 'roun' a-playin' un um, en de
+chune w'at he play was dish yer:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee.</em>'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">That</span> must have been a mighty funny song," said the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Fun one time ain't fun 'n'er time; some folks fines fun whar yuther
+folks fines trouble. Pig may laugh w'en he see de rock a-heatin', but
+dey ain't no fun dar fer de pig.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p>
+
+<p>"Yit, fun er no fun, dat de song w'at Brer Tarrypin play on de quills:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Nobody dunner whar de quills cum fum, kaze Brer Tarrypin, he ain't
+makin no brags how he git um; yit ev'ybody wants um on account er der
+playin' sech a lonesome<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> chune, en ole Brer Fox, he want um wuss'n
+all. He beg en he beg Brer Tarrypin fer ter sell 'im dem quills; but
+Brer Tarrypin, he hol' on t' um tight, en say eh-eh! Den he ax Brer
+Tarrypin fer ter loan um t' um des a week, so he kin play fer he
+chilluns, but Brer Tarrypin, he shake he head en put he foot down, en
+keep on playin':&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>"But Brer Fox, he ain't got no peace er min' on account er dem quills,
+en one day he meet Brer Tarrypin en he ax 'im how he seem ter
+segashuate<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> en he fambly en all he chilluns; en den Brer Fox ax Brer
+Tarrypin ef he can't des look at de quills, kaze he got some
+goose-fedders at he house, en if he kin des get a glimpse er Brer
+Tarrypin quills, he 'speck he kin make some mighty like um.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin, he study 'bout dis, but he hate ter 'ny small favors
+like dat, en bimeby he hol' out dem quills whar Brer Fox kin see um. Wid
+dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n juk de quills outen Brer Tarrypin han', he did,
+and dash off des ez hard ez he kin go. Brer Tarrypin, he holler en
+holler at 'im des loud ez he kin holler, but he know he can't ketch 'im,
+en he des sot dar, Brer Tarrypin did, en look lak he done los' all de
+kin-folks w'at he got in de roun' worrul'.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter dis, Brer Fox he strut 'roun' en play mighty biggity, en eve'y
+time he meet Brer Tarrypin in de road he walk all 'roun' 'im en play on
+de quills like dis:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>I foolee ole Tarrypin, too.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin, he feel mighty bad, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Las',
+one day w'iles ole Brer Tarrypin was settin' on a log sunnin' hisse'f,
+yer come Brer Fox playin' dat same old chune on de quills, but Brer
+Tarrypin, he stay still. Brer Fox, he come up little nigher en play, but
+Brer Tarrypin, he keep he eyes shot en he stay still. Brer Fox, he come
+nigher en git on de log; Brer Tarrypin ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Fox
+still git up nigher en play on de quills; still Brer Tarrypin ain't
+sayin' nothin'.</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Tarrypin mighty sleepy dis mawnin',' sez Brer Fox, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Still Brer Tarrypin keep he eyes shot en stay still. Brer Fox keep on
+gittin' nigher en nigher, twel bimeby Brer Tarrypin open <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>he eyes en he
+mouf bofe, en he make a grab at Brer Fox en miss 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"But hol' on!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to an expression of
+intense disappointment in the child's face. "You des wait a minnit. Nex'
+mawnin', Brer Tarrypin take hisse'f off en waller in a mud-hole, en
+smear hisse'f wid mud twel he look des 'zackly lak a clod er dirt. Den
+he crawl off en lay down un'need a log whar he know Brer Fox come eve'y
+mawnin' fer ter freshen<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> hisse'f.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en terreckly yer come Brer Fox. Time he
+git dar, Brer Fox 'gun ter lip backerds en forerds 'cross de log, and
+Brer Tarrypin he crope nigher en nigher, twel bimeby he make a grab at
+Brer Fox en kotch him by de foot. Dey tells me," continued Uncle Remus,
+rubbing his hands together in token of great satisfaction,&mdash;"dey tells
+me dat w'en Brer Tarrypin ketch holt, hit got ter thunder 'fo' he let
+go. All I know, Brer Tarrypin git Brer Fox by de foot, en he hilt 'im
+dar. Brer Fox he jump en he r'ar, but Brer Tarrypin done got 'im. Brer
+Fox, he holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Tarrypin, please lemme go!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin talk way down in his th'oat:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Gim' my quills!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Lemme go en fetch um.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Gim'my quills!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Do pray lemme go git um.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Gim'my quills!'</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="go" id="go"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 407px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0376.jpg" class="jpg" width="407" height="600" alt="&quot;&#39;BRER TARRYPIN. PLEASE LEMME GO!&#39;&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;&#39;BRER TARRYPIN. PLEASE LEMME GO!&#39;&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0376l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"En, bless gracious! dis all Brer Fox kin git outer Brer Tarrypin. Las',
+Brer Fox foot hu't 'im so bad dat he bleedz ter do sump'n', en he sing
+out fer his ole 'oman fer ter fetch de quills, but he ole 'oman, she
+busy 'bout de house, en she don't year 'im. Den he call he son, w'ich he
+name Tobe. He holler en bawl, en Tobe make answer:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>"'Tobe! O Tobe! You Tobe!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat you want, daddy?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat you say, daddy? Fetch de big tray ter git de honey in?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, you crazy-head! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat you say, daddy? Fetch de dipper ter ketch de minners in?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, you fool! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat you say, daddy? Water done been spill?'</p>
+
+<p>"Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w'ile ole Miss Fox year de racket, en
+den she lissen, en she know dat 'er ole man holler'n' fer de quills, en
+she fotch um out en gun um ter Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin, he let
+go he holt. He let go he holt," Uncle Remus went on, "but long time
+atter dat, w'en Brer Fox go ter pay he calls, he hatter go
+<em>hoppity-fetchity, hoppity-fetchity</em>."</p>
+
+<p>The old man folded his hands in his lap, and sat quietly gazing into the
+lightwood fire. Presently he said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck Miss Sally blessin' us all right now, en fus' news you know
+she'll h'ist up en have Mars John a-trapesin' down yer; en ef she do
+dat, den ter-morrer mawnin' my brekkuss'll be col', en lakwise my
+dinner, en ef dey's sump'n' w'at I 'spizes hit's col' vittels."</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon Uncle Remus arose, shook himself, peered out into the night to
+discover that the rain had nearly ceased, and then made ready to carry
+the little boy to his mother. Long before the chickens had crowed for
+midnight, the child, as well as the old man, had been transported to the
+land where myths and fables cease to be wonderful,&mdash;the land of pleasant
+dreams.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>
+<a name="XVI" id="XVI"></a>XVI<br /><br />
+
+HOW BRER FOX FAILED TO GET HIS GRAPES</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">One</span> night the little boy failed to make his appearance at the accustomed
+hour, and the next morning the intelligence that the child was sick went
+forth from the "big house." Uncle Remus was told that it had been
+necessary during the night to call in two physicians. When this
+information was imparted to the old man, there was an expression upon
+his countenance of awe not unmixed with indignation. He gave vent to the
+latter:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dar now! Two un um! W'en dat chile rize up, ef rize up he do, he'll des
+nat'ally be a shadder. Yer I is, gwine on eighty year, en I ain't tuck
+none er dat ar docter truck yit, ceppin' it's dish yer flas' er
+poke-root w'at ole Miss Favers fix up fer de stiffness in my j'ints.
+Dey'll come en dey'll go, en dey'll po' in der jollup yer, en slap on
+der fly-plarster dar, en sprinkle der calomy yander, twel bimeby dat
+chile won't look like hisse'f. Dat's w'at! En mo'n dat, hit's mighty
+kuse unter me dat ole folks kin go 'long en stan' up ter de rack en
+gobble up der 'lowance, en yit chilluns is got ter be strucken down. Ef
+Miss Sally'll des tu'n dem docter mens loose onter me, I lay I lick up
+der physic twel dey go off 'stonish'd."</p>
+
+<p>But no appeal of this nature was made to Uncle Remus. The illness of the
+little boy was severe, but not fatal. He took his medicine and improved,
+until finally even the doctors pronounced him convalescent. But he was
+very weak, and it was a fortnight before he was permitted to leave his
+bed. He was restless, and yet his term of imprisonment was full of
+pleasure. Every night after supper Uncle Remus would creep softly into
+the back piazza, place his hat carefully on the floor, rap gently on the
+door by way of announcement, and so pass into the nursery. How patient
+his vigils, how tender his ministrations, only the mother of the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>little
+boy knew; how comfortable and refreshing the change from the bed to the
+strong arms of Uncle Remus, only the little boy could say.</p>
+
+<p>Almost the first manifestation of the child's convalescence was the
+renewal of his interest in the wonderful adventures of Brother Rabbit,
+Brother Fox, and the other brethren who flourished in that strange past
+over which this modern &AElig;sop had thrown the veil of fable. "Miss Sally,"
+as Uncle Remus called the little boy's mother, sitting in an adjoining
+room, heard the youngster pleading for a story, and after a while she
+heard the old man clear up his throat with a great affectation of
+formality and begin.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey ain't skacely no p'int whar ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer Fox made
+der 'greements side wid one er 'n'er; let 'lone dat, dey wuz one p'int
+'twix' 'um w'ich it wuz same ez fier en tow, en dat wuz Miss Meadows en
+de gals. Little ez you might 'speck, dem same creeturs wuz bofe un um
+flyin' 'roun' Miss Meadows en de gals. Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd go dar, en
+dar he'd fine ole Brer Fox settin' up gigglin' wid de gals, en den he'd
+skuze hisse'f, he would, en gallop down de big road a piece, en paw up
+de san' same lak dat ar ball-face steer w'at tuck'n tuck off yo' pa'
+coat-tail las' Feberwary. En lakwise ole Brer Fox, he'd sa'nter in, en
+fine old man Rab. settin' 'longside er de gals, en den he'd go out down
+de road en grab a 'simmon-bush in he mouf, en nat'ally gnyaw de bark
+off'n it. In dem days, honey," continued Uncle Remus, responding to a
+look of perplexity on the child's face, "creeturs wuz wuss dan w'at dey
+is now. Dey wuz dat&mdash;lots wuss.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey went on dis a-way twel, bimeby, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter cas' 'roun',
+he did, fer ter see ef he can't bus' inter some er Brer Fox
+'rangerments, en, atter w'ile, one day w'en he wer' settin' down by de
+side er de road wukkin up de diffunt oggyment w'at strak pun he mine, en
+fixin' up he tricks, des 'bout dat time he year a clatter up de long
+green lane, en yer come ole Brer
+Fox<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span><em>toobookity&mdash;bookity&mdash;bookity-book&mdash;</em>lopin' 'long mo' samer dan a
+bay colt in de bolly-patch. En he wuz all primp up, too, mon, en he look
+slick en shiny lak he des come outen de sto'. Ole man Rab., he sot dar,
+he did, en w'en ole Brer Fox come gallopin' 'long, Brer Rabbit, he up'n
+hail 'im. Brer Fox, he fotch up, en dey pass de time er day wid one er
+nudder monst'us perlite; en den, bimeby atter w'ile, Brer Rabbit, he
+up'n say, sezee, dat he got some mighty good news fer Brer Fox; en Brer
+Fox, he up'n ax 'im w'at is it. Den Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch he
+year wid his behime foot en say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I wuz takin' a walk day 'fo' yistiddy,' sezee, 'w'en de fus' news I
+know'd I run up gin de bigges' en de fattes' bunch er grapes dat I ever
+lay eyes on. Dey wuz dat fat en dat big,' sezee, 'dat de natal juice wuz
+des drappin' fum um, en de bees wuz a-swawmin' atter de honey, en little
+ole Jack Sparrer en all er his fambly conneckshun wuz skeetin' 'roun'
+dar dippin' in der bills,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Right den en dar," Uncle Remus went on, "Brer Fox mouf 'gun ter water,
+en he look outer he eye like he de bes' frien' w'at Brer Rabbit got in
+de roun' worl'. He done fergit all 'bout de gals, en he sorter sidle up
+ter Brer Rabbit, he did, en he say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come on, Brer Rabbit,' sezee, 'en less you 'n me go git dem ar grapes
+'fo' deyer all gone,' sezee. En den ole Brer Rabbit, he laff, he did, en
+up'n 'spon', sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I hungry myse'f, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'but I ain't hankerin' atter
+grapes, en I'll be in monst'us big luck ef I kin rush 'roun' yer some'rs
+en scrape up a bait er pusley time nuff fer ter keep de breff in my
+body. En yit,' sezee,' ef you take'n rack off atter deze yer grapes,
+w'at Miss Meadows en de gals gwine do? I lay dey got yo' name in de
+pot,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Ez ter dat,' sez ole Brer Fox, sezee, 'I kin drap 'roun' en see de
+ladies atterwards,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den, ef dat's yo' game,' sez ole man Rab., sezee, 'I kin <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>squot
+right flat down yer on de groun' en p'int out de way des de same ez
+leadin' you dar by de han',' sezee; en den Brer Rabbit sorter chaw on he
+cud lak he gedder'n up his 'membunce, en he up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You know dat ar place whar you went atter sweetgum fer Miss Meadows en
+de gals t'er day?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox 'low dat he know dat ar place same ez he do he own
+tater-patch.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'de grapes ain't dar. You git ter
+de sweetgum,' sezee, 'en den you go up de branch twel you come ter a
+little patch er bamboo brier&mdash;but de grapes ain't dar. Den you follow
+yo' lef' han' en strike 'cross de hill twel you come ter dat big red oak
+root&mdash;but de grapes ain't dar. On you goes down de hill twel you come
+ter 'n'er branch, en on dat branch dars a dogwood-tree leanin' 'way
+over, en nigh dat dogwood dars a vine, en in dat vine, dar you'll fine
+yo' grapes. Deyer dat ripe,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat dey look
+like deyer done melt tergedder, en I speck you'll fine um full er bugs,
+but you kin take dat fine bushy tail er yone, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'en
+bresh dem bugs away.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox 'low he much 'blige, en den he put out atter de grapes in a
+han'-gallop, en w'en he done got outer sight, en likewise outer year'n,
+Brer Rabbit, he take'n git a blade er grass, he did, en tickle hisse'f
+in de year, en den he holler en laff, en laff en holler, twel he hatter
+lay down fer ter git he breff back 'gin.</p>
+
+<p>"Den, atter so long time, Brer Rabbit he jump up, he do, en take atter
+Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he ain't look ter de right ner de lef', en
+needer do he look behime; he des keep a-rackin' 'long twel he come ter
+de sweetgum-tree, en den he tu'n up de branch twel he come ter de bamboo
+brier, en den he tu'n squar ter de lef' twel he come ter de big red-oak
+root, en den he keep on down he hill twel he come ter de yuther branch,
+en dar he see de dogwood; en mo'n dat, dar nigh de dogwood he see de
+vine, en in dat vine <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>dar wuz de big bunch er grapes. Sho' nuff, dey wuz
+all kivvud wid bugs.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd bin a-pushin' 'long atter Brer Fox, but he des
+hatter scratch gravel fer ter keep up. Las' he hove in sight, en he lay
+off in de weeds, he did, fer ter watch Brer Fox motions. Present'y Brer
+Fox crope up de leanin' dogwood-tree twel he come nigh de grapes, en den
+he sorter ballunce hisse'f on a lim' en gun um a swipe wid his big bushy
+tail, fer ter bresh off de bugs. But, bless yo' soul, honey! no sooner
+is he done dat dan he fetch a squall w'ich Miss Meadows vow atterwards
+she year plum ter her house, en down he come&mdash;<em>kerblim</em>!"</p>
+
+<p>"What was the matter, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Law, honey! dat seetful Brer Rabbit done fool ole Brer Fox. Dem ar
+grapes all so fine wuz needer mo' ner less dan a great big was'-nes', en
+dem bugs wuz deze yer red wassies&mdash;deze yer speeshy w'at's rank pizen
+fum cen' ter cen'. W'en Brer Fox drap fum de tree de wassies dey drap
+wid 'im, en de way dey wom ole Brer Fox up wuz sinful. Dey ain't mo'n
+tetch' im 'fo' dey had 'im het up ter de b'ilin' p'int. Brer Fox, he
+run, en he kick, en he scratch, en he bite, en he scramble, en he
+holler, en he howl, but look lak dey git wuss en wuss. One time, hit
+seem lak Brer Fox en his new 'quaintance wuz makin' todes Brer Rabbit,
+but dey ain't no sooner p'int dat way, dan ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n make
+a break, en he went sailin' thoo de woods wuss'n wunner dese
+whully-win's, en he ain't stop twel he fetch up at Miss Meadows.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Meadows en de gals, dey ax 'im, dey did, wharbouts wuz Brer Fox,
+en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat he done gone a-grape-huntin', en den
+Miss Meadows, she 'low, she did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, gals! is you ever year de beat er dat? En dat, too, w'en Brer Fox
+done say he comin' ter dinner,' sez she. 'I lay I done wid Brer Fox,
+kaze you can't put no pennunce in deze yer men-folks,' sez she. 'Yer de
+dinner bin done dis long time, en we bin a-waitin' lak de quality. But
+now I'm done wid Brer Fox,' sez she.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>"Wid dat, Miss Meadows en de gals dey ax Brer Rabbit fer ter stay ter
+dinner, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter make like he wanter be skuze, but
+bimeby he tuck a cheer en sot um out. He tuck a cheer," continued Uncle
+Remus, "en he ain't bin dar long twel he look out en spy ole Brer Fox
+gwine 'long by, en w'at do Brer Rabbit do but call Miss Meadows en de
+gals en p'int 'im out? Soon's dey seed 'im dey sot up a monst'us
+gigglement, kaze Brer Fox wuz dat swell up twel little mo'n he'd a bus'.
+He head wuz swell up, en down ter he legs, dey wuz swell up. Miss
+Meadows, she up'n say dat Brer Fox look like he done gone en got all de
+grapes dey wuz in de neighborhoods, en one er de yuther gals, she
+squeal, she did, en say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, ain't you 'shame', en right yer 'fo' Brer Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"En den dey hilt der han's 'fo' der face en giggle des like gals duz
+deze days."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="XVII" id="XVII"></a>XVII<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX FIGURES AS AN INCENDIARY</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> next night the little boy had been thoughtful enough to save some of
+his supper for Uncle Remus, and to this "Miss Sally" had added, on her
+own account, a large piece of fruit-cake. The old man appeared to be
+highly pleased.</p>
+
+<p>"Ef ders enny kinder cake w'at I likes de mos', hit's dish yer kine
+w'at's got reezins strowed 'mongs' it. Wid sick folks, now," he
+continued, holding up the cake and subjecting it to a critical
+examination, "dish yer hunk 'ud mighty nigh las' a mont', but wid a well
+man lak I is, hit won't las' a minnit."</p>
+
+<p>And it did n't. It disappeared so suddenly that the little boy laughed
+aloud, and wanted Uncle Remus to have some more cake; but the latter
+protested that he did n't come there "fer ter git founder'd," but merely
+to see "ef somebody's strenk uz strong <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>'nuff fer ter stan' 'n'er tale."
+The little boy said if Uncle Remus meant him, he was sure his health was
+good enough to listen to any number of stories. Whereupon, the old man,
+without any tantalizing preliminaries, began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox done bin fool so much by Brer Rabbit dat he sorter look 'roun'
+fer ter see ef he can't ketch up wid some er de yuther creeturs, en so,
+one day, w'iles he gwine long down de big road, who should he strak up
+wid but old Brer Tarrypin. Brer Fox sorter lick his chops, en 'low dat
+ef he kin fling ennybody en gin um all-under holt, Brer Tarrypin de man,
+en he march up, mighty biggity, like he gwine ter make spote un 'im.
+W'en he git up nigh 'nuff, Brer Fox hail 'im:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'How you 'speck you fine yo'se'f dis mawnin', Brer Tarrypin?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Slow, Brer Fox&mdash;mighty slow,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. 'Day in en day
+out I'm mighty slow, en it look lak I'm a-gittin' slower; I'm slow en
+po'ly, Brer Fox&mdash;how you come on?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, I'm slanchindickler, same ez I allers is,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
+'W'at make yo' eye so red, Brer Tarrypin?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit's all 'longer de trouble I see, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Tarrypin,
+sezee. 'I see trouble en you see none; trouble come en pile up on
+trouble,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, Brer Tarrypin!' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'you ain't see no trouble
+yit. Ef you wanter see sho' 'nuff trouble, you des oughter go 'longer
+me; I'm de man w'at kin show you trouble,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den,' sez ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'ef youer de man w'at kin
+show me trouble, den I'm de man w'at want a glimpse un it,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Fox, he ax Brer Tarrypin is he seed de Ole Boy, en den Brer
+Tarrypin, he make answer dat he ain't seed 'im yit, but he year tell un
+'im. Wid dat, Brer Fox 'low de Ole Boy de kinder trouble he bin talkin'
+'bout, en den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax how <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>he gwine see 'im. Brer Fox,
+he tak'n lay out de pogrance, en he up'n tell Brer Tarrypin dat ef he'll
+step up dar in de middle er dat ole broom-sage fiel', en squot dar a
+spell, 't won't be no time 'fo' he'll ketch a glimpse er de Ole Boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin know'd ders sump'n' wrong some'rs, yit he mos' too
+flat-flooted fer ter have enny scuffle wid Brer Fox, en he say ter
+hisse'f dat he'll go 'long en des trus' ter luck; en den he 'low dat ef
+Brer Fox he'p 'im 'cross de fence, he b'lieve he'll go up en resk one
+eye on de Ole Boy. Co'se Brer Fox hope 'im 'cross, en no sooner is he
+good en gone, dan Brer Fox, he fix up fer ter make 'im see trouble. He
+lipt out ter Miss Meadows house, Brer Fox did, en make like he wanter
+borry a chunk er fier fer ter light he pipe, en he tuck dat chunk, en he
+run 'roun' de fiel', en he sot de grass a fier, en't wa'n't long 'fo' it
+look lak de whole face er de yeth waz a-blazin' up."</p>
+
+<p>"Did it burn the Terrapin up?" interrupted the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't push me, honey; don't make me git de kyart 'fo' de hoss. W'en ole
+Brer Tarrypin 'gun ter wade thoo de straw, de ve'y fus' man w'at he
+strak up wid wuz ole man Rabbit layin' dar sleepin' on de shady side uv
+a tussock. Brer Rabbit, he one er deze yer kinder mens w'at sleep wid
+der eye wide open, en he wuz 'wake d'reckly he year Brer Tarrypin
+scufflin' en scramblin' 'long thoo de grass. Atter dey shuck han's en ax
+'bout one er n'er fambly, hit ain't take long fer Brer Tarrypin fer ter
+tell Brer Rabbit w'at fotch 'im dar, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n say,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit's des na'tally a born blessin' dat you struck up wid me w'en you
+did,' sezee, 'kaze little mo' en bofe un us would 'a' bin bobbycu'd,'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Dis kinder tarrify Brer Tarrypin, en he say he wanter git out fum dar;
+but Brer Rabbit he 'low he'd take keer un 'im, en he tuck'n tuck Brer
+Tarrypin in de middle er de fiel' whar dey wuz a big holler stump. Onter
+dis stump Brer Rabbit lif' Brer Tarry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>pin, en den he lip up hisse'f en
+crope in de holler, en, bless yo' soul, honey, w'en de fier come
+a-snippin' en a-snappin', dar dey sot des ez safe en ez snug ez you iz
+in yo' bed dis minnit.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en de blaze blow over, Brer Tarrypin look 'roun', en he see Brer Fox
+runnin' up'n down de fence lak he huntin' sump'n'. Den Brer Rabbit, he
+stick he head up outen de hole, en likewise he seed 'im, and den he
+holler like Brer Tarrypin" (Here Uncle Remus puckered his voice, so to
+say, in a most amusing squeak):</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Fox! Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Run yer&mdash;we done kotch Brer Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"En den Brer Fox, he jump up on de top rail er de fence en fetch a
+spring dat lan' 'im 'way out in de bu'nin' grass, en it hurted 'im en
+sting 'im in de footses dat bad, dat he squeal en he roll, en de mo' he
+roll de wuss it bu'n him, en Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin dey des holler
+en laff. Bimeby Brer Fox git out, en off he put down de road, limpin'
+fus' on one foot en den on de yuther."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy laughed, and then there was a long silence&mdash;so long,
+indeed, that Uncle Remus's "Miss Sally," sewing in the next room,
+concluded to investigate it. An exceedingly interesting tableau met her
+sight. The little child had wandered into the land of dreams with a
+smile on his face. He lay with one of his little hands buried in both of
+Uncle Remus's, while the old man himself was fast asleep, with his head
+thrown back and his mouth wide open. "Miss Sally" shook him by the
+shoulder and held up her finger to prevent him from speaking. He was
+quiet until she held the lamp for him to get down the back steps, and
+then she heard him say, in an indignantly mortified tone:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Now den, Miss Sally'll be a-riggin' me 'bout noddin', but stidder dat
+she better be glad dat I ain't bus loose en sno' en 'larm de house&mdash;let
+'lone dat sick baby. Dat's w'at!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>
+<a name="XVIII" id="XVIII"></a>XVIII<br /><br />
+
+A DREAM AND A STORY</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">I dreamed</span> all about Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit last night, Uncle
+Remus," exclaimed the little boy when the old man came in after supper
+and took his seat by the side of the trundle-bed; "I dreamed that
+Brother Fox had wings and tried to catch Brother Rabbit by flying after
+him."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't 'spute it, honey, dat I don't!" replied the old man, in a tone
+which implied that he was quite prepared to believe the dream itself was
+true. "Manys en manys de time, deze long nights en deze rainy spells,
+dat I sets down dar in my house over ag'in de chimbley-jam&mdash;I sets dar
+en I dozes, en it seem lak dat ole Brer Rabbit, he'll stick he head in
+de crack er de do' en see my eye periently shot, en den he'll beckon
+back at de yuther creeturs, en den dey'll all come slippin' in on der
+tip-toes, en dey'll set dar en run over de ole times wid one er n'er, en
+crack der jokes same ez dey useter. En den ag'in," continued the old
+man, shutting his eyes and giving to his voice a gruesome intonation
+quite impossible to describe,&mdash;"en den ag'in hit look lak dat Brer
+Rabbit'll gin de wink all 'roun', en den dey'll tu'n in en git up a
+reg'lar juberlee. Brer Rabbit, he'll retch up en take down de trivet, en
+Brer Fox, he'll snatch up de griddle, en Brer B'ar, he'll lay holt er de
+pot-hooks, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he'll grab up de fryin' pan en dar
+dey'll have it, up en down, en' roun' en 'roun'. Hit seem like ter me
+dat ef I kin git my mine smoove down en ketch up some er dem ar chunes
+w'at dey sets dar en plays, den I 'd lean back yer in dish yer cheer en
+I'd intrance you wid um, twel, by dis time termorrer night, you'd be
+settin' up dar at de supper-table 'sputin' 'longer yo' little brer 'bout
+de 'lasses pitcher. Dem creeturs dey sets dar," Uncle Remus went on, "en
+dey plays dem kinder chunes w'at moves you fum 'way back yander; en
+manys <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>de time w'en I gits lonesome kaze dey ain't nobody year um
+'ceppin' it's me. Dey ain't no tellin' de chunes dey is in dat trivet,
+en in dat griddle, en in dat fryin'-pan er mine; dat dey ain't. W'en dem
+creeturs walks in en snatches um down, dey lays Miss Sally's pianner in
+de shade, en Mars John's flute, hit ain't nowhars."</p>
+
+<p>"Do they play on them just like a band, Uncle Remus?" inquired the
+little boy, who was secretly in hopes that the illusion would not be
+destroyed.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey comes des lak I tell you, honey. W'en I shets my eyes en dozes, dey
+comes en dey plays, but w'en I opens my eyes dey ain't dar. Now, den,
+w'en dat's de shape er marters, w'at duz I do? I des shets my eyes en
+hol' um shot, en let um come en play dem ole time chunes twel long atter
+bed-time done come en gone."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused, as though he expected the little boy to ask some
+question or make some comment, but the child said nothing, and presently
+the old man resumed, in a matter-of-fact tone:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dat dream er yone, honey, 'bout Brer Fox wid wings, fetches up de time
+w'en Brer Fox en Brer Wolf had der fallin' out wid one er n'er&mdash;but I
+'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, you have n't, Uncle Remus! You know you have n't!" the little
+boy exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, one day, atter so long a time, Brer Wolf en Brer Fox dey got
+ter 'sputin' 'longer one er n'er. Brer Wolf, he tuck'n 'buse Brer Fox
+kaze Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool 'im, en den Brer Fox, he tuck'n quol
+back at Brer Wolf, kaze Brer Wolf let ole man Rabbit lakwise fool 'im.
+Dey keep on 'sputin' en 'sputin', twel bimeby dey clinch, en Brer Wolf,
+bein' de bigges' man, 't would n't a bin long 'fo' he'd a wool Brer Fox,
+but Brer Fox, he watch he chance, he did, en he gin 'im leg bail."</p>
+
+<p>"Gave him what, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>"Gin 'im leg bail, honey. He juk loose fum Brer Wolf, Brer Fox did, en,
+gentermens, he des mosey thoo de woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'm, he
+did, en dar dey had it, en Brer Wolf push Brer Fox so close, dat de
+onliest way Brer Fox kin save he hide is ter fine a hole some'rs, en de
+fus' holler tree dat he come 'cross, inter it he dove. Brer Wolf fetcht
+a grab at 'im, but he wuz des in time fer ter be too late.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Wolf, he sot dar, he did, en he study en study how he gwine
+git Brer Fox out, en Brer Fox, he lay in dar, he did, en he study en
+study w'at Brer Wolf gwine do. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he tuck'n gedder up a
+whole lot er chunks, en rocks, en sticks, en den he tuck'n fill up de
+hole what Brer Fox went in so Brer Fox can't git out. Wiles dis wuz
+gwine on, ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he wuz sailin' 'roun' 'way up in de
+elements, wid he eye peel fer bizness, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he glance
+lit on Brer Wolf, en he 'low ter hisse'f, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll des sorter flop down,' sezee, 'en look inter dis, kaze ef Brer
+Wolf hidin' he dinner dar wid de expeck'shun er findin' it dar w'en he
+come back, den he done gone en put it in de wrong place,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he flop down en sail 'roun' nigher, en
+he soon see dat Brer Wolf ain't hidin' no dinner. Den he flop down
+furder, ole Brer Buzzud did, twel he lit on de top er de holler tree.
+Brer Wolf, he done kotch a glimpse er ole Brer Buzzud shadder, but he
+keep on puttin' chunks en rocks in de holler. Den, present'y, Brer
+Buzzud, he open up:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at you doin' dar, Brer Wolf?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Makin' a toom-stone, Brer Buzzud.'</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se Brer Buzzud sorter feel like he got intruss in marters like dis,
+en he holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Who dead now, Brer Wolf?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wunner yo' 'quaintance, w'ich he name Brer Fox, Brer Buzzud.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>"'Wen he die, Brer Wolf?'</p>
+
+<p>"'He ain't dead yit, but he won't las' long in yer, Brer Buzzud.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he keep on, he did, twel he done stop up de hole good, en
+den he bresh de trash off'n his cloze, en put out fer home. Brer Tukky
+Buzzud, he sot up dar, he did, en ontankle his tail fedders, en lissen
+en lissen, but Brer Fox, he keep dark, en Brer Buzzud ain't year
+nuthin'. Den Brer Buzzud, he flop he wings en sail away.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby, nex' day, bright en early, yer he come back, en he sail all
+'roun' en 'roun' de tree, but Brer Fox he lay low en keep dark, en Brer
+Buzzud ain't year nuthin'. Atter w'ile, Brer Buzzud he sail 'roun'
+ag'in, en dis time he sing, en de song w'at he sing is dish yer:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Man out yer wid news fer you!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Den he sail all 'roun' en 'roun' n'er time en listen, en bimeby he year
+Brer Fox sing back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Go 'way, go 'way, my little jug er beer,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>De news you bring, I yeard las' year.</em>'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Beer, Uncle Remus? What kind of beer did they have then?" the little
+boy inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey, youer gittin' me up in a close cornder," responded the
+old man, in an unusually serious tone. "Beer is de way de tale runs, but
+w'at kinder beer it moughter bin ain't come down ter me&mdash;en yit hit seem
+lak I year talk some'rs dat dish yer beer wuz mos' prins'ply 'simmon
+beer."</p>
+
+<p>This seemed to satisfy the small but exacting audience, and Uncle Remus
+continued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"So, den, w'en Brer Buzzud year Brer Fox sing back, he 'low he ain't
+dead, en wid dat, Brer Buzzud, he sail off en 'ten' ter he yuther
+business. Nex' day back he come, en Brer Fox, he sing <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>back, he did, des
+ez lively ez a cricket in de ashes, en it keep on dis way twel Brer Fox
+stomach 'gun ter pinch him, en den he know dat he gotter study up some
+kinder plans fer ter git out fum dar. N'er day pass, en Brer Fox, he
+tuck'n lay low, en it keep on dat a-way twel hit look like ter Brer Fox,
+pent up in dar, he mus' sholy pe'sh. Las', one day Brer Buzzud come
+sailin' all 'roun' en 'roun' wid dat</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo</em>,'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>but Brer Fox, he keep dark en Brer Buzzud, he tuck'n spishun dat Brer
+Fox wuz done dead. Brer Buzzud, he keep on singin', en Brer Fox he keep
+on layin' low, twel bimeby Brer Buzzud lit en 'gun ter cle'r 'way de
+trash en truck fum de holler. He hop up, he did, en tuck out one chunk,
+en den he hop back en lissen, but Brer Fox stay still. Den Brer Buzzud
+hop up en tuck out n'er chunk, en den hop back en lissen, en all dis
+time Brer Fox mouf 'uz waterin' w'iles he lay back in dar en des
+nat'ally honed atter Brer Buzzud. Hit went on dis a-way, twel des 'fo'
+he got de hole unkivvud, Brer Fox, he break out he did, en grab Brer
+Buzzud by de back er de neck. Dey wuz a kinder scuffle 'mongs' um, but
+'t wa'n't fer long, en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Tukky Buzzud."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XIX" id="XIX"></a>XIX<br /><br />
+
+THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">One</span> night when the little boy made his usual visit to Uncle Remus, he
+found the old man sitting up in his chair fast asleep. The child said
+nothing. He was prepared to exercise a good deal of patience upon
+occasion, and the occasion was when he wanted to hear a story. But, in
+making himself comfortable, he aroused Uncle Remus from his nap.</p>
+
+<p>"I let you know, honey," said the old man, adjusting his spectacles, and
+laughing rather sheepishly,&mdash;"I let you know, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>honey, w'en I gits my
+head r'ar'd back dat a-way, en my eyeleds shot, en my mouf open, en my
+chin p'intin' at de rafters, den dey's some mighty quare gwines on in my
+min'. Dey is dat, des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. W'en I fus' year you
+comin' down de paf," Uncle Remus continued, rubbing his beard
+thoughtfully, "I 'uz sorter fear'd you mought 'spicion dat I done gone
+off on my journeys fer ter see ole man Nod."</p>
+
+<p>This was accompanied by a glance of inquiry, to which the little boy
+thought it best to respond.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Uncle Remus," he said, "I did think I heard you snoring when I
+came in."</p>
+
+<p>"Now you see dat!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of grieved
+astonishment; "you see dat! Man can't lean hisse'f 'pun his 'membunce,
+'ceppin' dey's some un fer ter come high-primin' 'roun' en 'lowin' dat
+he done gone ter sleep. <em>Shoo!</em> W'en you stept in dat do' dar I 'uz
+right in 'mungs some mighty quare notions&mdash;mighty quare notions. Dey
+ain't no two ways; ef I uz ter up en let on 'bout all de notions w'at I
+gits in 'mungs, folks 'ud hatter come en kyar me off ter de place whar
+dey puts 'stracted people.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter I sop up my supper," Uncle Remus went on, "I tuck'n year some
+flutterments up dar 'mungs de rafters, en I look up, en dar wuz a Bat
+sailin' 'roun'. 'Roun' en 'roun', en 'roun' she go&mdash;und' de rafters,
+'bove de rafters&mdash;en ez she sail she make noise lak she grittin' 'er
+toofies. Now, w'at dat Bat atter, I be bless ef I kin tell you, but dar
+she wuz; 'roun' en 'roun', over en under. I ax 'er w'at do she want up
+dar, but she ain't got no time fer ter tell; 'roun' en 'roun', en over
+en under. En bimeby, out she flip, en I boun' she grittin' 'er toofies
+en gwine 'roun' en 'roun' out dar, en dodgin' en flippin' des lak de
+elements wuz full er rafters en cobwebs.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en she flip out I le'nt my head back, I did, en 't wa'n't no time
+'fo' I git mix up wid my notions. Dat Bat wings so limber <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>en 'er will
+so good dat she done done 'er day's work dar 'fo' you could 'er run ter
+de big house en back. De Bat put me in min' er folks," continued Uncle
+Remus, settling himself back in his chair, "en folks put me in min' er
+de creeturs."</p>
+
+<p>Immediately the little boy was all attention.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey wuz times," said the old man, with something like a sigh, "w'en de
+creeturs 'ud segashuate tergedder des like dey ain't had no fallin' out.
+Dem wuz de times w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'ud 'ten 'lak he gwine quit he
+'havishness, en dey'd all go 'roun' des lak dey b'long ter de same
+fambly connexion.</p>
+
+<p>"One time atter dey bin gwine in cohoots dis a-way, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter
+feel his fat, he did, en dis make 'im git projecky terreckly. De mo'
+peace w'at dey had, de mo' wuss Brer Rabbit feel, twel bimeby he git
+restless in de min'. W'en de sun shine he'd go en lay off in de grass en
+kick at de gnats, en nibble at de mullen stalk en waller in de san'. One
+night atter supper, w'iles he 'uz romancin' 'roun', he run up wid ole
+Brer Tarrypin, en atter dey shuck han's dey sot down on de side er de
+road en run on 'bout ole times. Dey talk en dey talk, dey did, en bimeby
+Brer Rabbit say it done come ter dat pass whar he bleedz ter have some
+fun, en Brer Tarrypin 'low dat Brer Rabbit des de ve'y man he bin
+lookin' fer.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'we'll des put Brer Fox, en Brer
+Wolf, en Brer B'ar on notice, en termorrer night we'll meet down by de
+mill-pon' en have a little fishin' frolic. I'll do de talkin',' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee, 'en you kin set back en say <em>yea</em>,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef I ain't dar,' sezee, 'den you may know de grasshopper done fly 'way
+wid me,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'En you neenter bring no fiddle, n'er,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'kaze
+dey ain't gwineter be no dancin' dar,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit put out fer <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>home, en
+went ter bed, en Brer Tarrypin bruise 'roun' en make his way todes de
+place so he kin be dar 'gin de 'p'inted time.</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' day Brer Rabbit sont wud ter de yuther creeturs, en dey all make
+great 'miration, kaze dey ain't think 'bout dis deyse'f. Brer Fox, he
+'low, he did, dat he gwine atter Miss Meadows en Miss Motts, en de
+yuther gals.</p>
+
+<p>"Sho' nuff, w'en de time come dey wuz all dar. Brer B'ar, he fotch a
+hook en line; Brer Wolf, he fotch a hook en line; Brer Fox, he fotch a
+dip-net, en Brer Tarrypin, not ter be outdone, he fotch de bait."</p>
+
+<p>"What did Miss Meadows and Miss Motts bring?" the little boy asked.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus dropped his head slightly to one side, and looked over his
+spectacles at the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Meadows en Miss Motts," he continued, "dey tuck'n stan' way back
+fum de aidge er de pon' en squeal eve'y time Brer Tarrypin shuck de box
+er bait at um. Brer B'ar 'low he gwine ter fish fer mud-cats; Brer Wolf
+'low he gwine ter fish fer horneyheads; Brer Fox 'low he gwine ter fish
+fer peerch fer de ladies; Brer Tarrypin 'low he gwine ter fish fer
+minners, en Brer Rabbit wink at Brer Tarrypin en 'low he gwine ter fish
+fer suckers.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey all git ready, dey did, en Brer Rabbit march up ter de pon' en make
+fer ter th'ow he hook in de water, but des 'bout dat time hit seem lak
+he see sump'n'. De t'er creeturs, dey stop en watch his motions. Brer
+Rabbit, he drap he pole, he did, en he stan' dar scratchin' he head en
+lookin' down in de water.</p>
+
+<p>"De gals dey 'gun ter git oneasy w'en dey see dis, en Miss Meadows, she
+up en holler out, she did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, Brer Rabbit, w'at de name er goodness de marter in dar?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit scratch he head en look in de water. Miss Motts, she hilt
+up 'er petticoats, she did, en 'low she monst'us fear'd er snakes. Brer
+Rabbit keep on scratchin' en lookin'.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>"Bimeby he fetch a long bref, he did, en he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ladies en gentermuns all, we des might ez well make tracks fum dish
+yer place, kaze dey ain't no fishin' in dat pon' fer none er dish yer
+crowd.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin, he scramble up ter de aidge en look over, en he
+shake he head, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Tooby sho'&mdash;tooby sho'! Tut-tut-tut!' en den he crawl back, he did, en
+do lak he wukkin' he min'.</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't be skeert, ladies, kaze we er boun' ter take keer un you, let
+come w'at will, let go w'at mus',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Accidents
+got ter happen unter we all, des same ez dey is unter yuther folks; en
+dey ain't nuthin' much de marter, 'ceppin' dat de Moon done drap in de
+water. Ef you don't b'leeve me you kin look fer yo'se'f,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat dey all went ter de bank en lookt in; en, sho' nuff, dar lay de
+Moon, a-swingin' an' a-swayin' at de bottom er de pon'."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy laughed. He had often seen the reflection of the sky in
+shallow pools of water, and the startling depths that seemed to lie at
+his feet had caused him to draw back with a shudder.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he look in, he did, en he 'low, 'Well, well, well!' Brer
+Wolf, he look in, en he 'low, 'Mighty bad, mighty bad!' Brer B'ar, he
+look in, en he 'low, 'Tum, tum, tum!' De ladies dey look in, en Miss
+Meadows she squall out, 'Ain't dat too much?' Brer Rabbit, he look in
+ag'in, en he up en 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ladies en gentermuns, you all kin hum en haw, but less'n we gits dat
+Moon out er de pon', dey ain't no fish kin be ketch 'roun' yer dis
+night; en ef you'll ax Brer Tarrypin, he'll tell you de same.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den dey ax how kin dey git de Moon out er dar, den Brer Tarrypin 'low
+dey better lef' dat wid Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit he shot he eyes, he
+did, en make lak he wukkin' he min'. Bimeby, he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>"'De nighes' way out'n dish yer diffikil is fer ter sen' 'roun' yer to
+ole Mr. Mud-Turkle en borry his sane, en drag dat Moon up fum dar,'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'I 'clar' ter gracious I mighty glad you mention dat,' says Brer
+Tarrypin, sezee. 'Mr. Mud-Turkle is setch clos't kin ter me dat I calls
+'im Unk Muck, en I lay ef you sen' dar atter dat sane you won't fine Unk
+Muck so mighty disaccomerdatin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"Well," continued Uncle Remus, after one of his tantalizing pauses, "dey
+sont atter de sane, en w'iles Brer Rabbit wuz gone, Brer Tarrypin, he
+'low dat he done year tell time en time ag'in dat dem w'at fine de Moon
+in de water en fetch 'im out, lakwise dey ull fetch out a pot er money.
+Dis make Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar feel mighty good, en dey
+'low, dey did, dat long ez Brer Rabbit been so good ez ter run atter de
+sane, dey ull do de sanein'.</p>
+
+<p>"Time Brer Rabbit git back, he see how de lan' lay, en he make lak he
+wanter go in atter de Moon. He pull off he coat, en he 'uz fixin' fer
+ter shuck he wescut, but de yuther creeturs dey 'low dey wa'n't gwine
+ter let dryfoot man lak Brer Rabbit go in de water. So Brer Fox, he tuck
+holt er one staff er de sane, Brer Wolf he tuck holt er de yuther staff,
+en Brer B'ar he wade 'long behime fer ter lif' de sane 'cross logs en
+snags.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey make one haul&mdash;no Moon; n'er haul&mdash;no Moon; n'er haul&mdash;no Moon. Den
+bimeby dey git out furder fum de bank. Water run in Brer Fox year, he
+shake he head; water run in Brer Wolf year, he shake he head; water run
+in Brer B'ar year, he shake he head. En de fus' news you know, w'iles
+dey wuz a-shakin', dey come to whar de bottom shelfed off. Brer Fox he
+step off en duck hisse'f; den Brer Wolf duck hisse'f; en Brer B'ar he
+make a splunge en duck hisse'f; en, bless gracious, dey kick en splatter
+twel it look lak dey 'uz gwine ter slosh all de water outer de
+mill-pon'.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en dey come out, de gals 'uz all a-snickerin' en a-gigglin', <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>en dey
+well mought, 'kaze go whar you would, dey wa'n't no wuss lookin'
+creeturs dan dem; en Brer Rabbit, he holler, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I 'speck you all, gents, better go home en git some dry duds, en n'er
+time we'll be in better luck,' sezee. 'I hear talk dat de Moon'll bite
+at a hook ef you take fools fer baits, en I lay dat's de onliest way fer
+ter ketch 'er,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf en Brer B'ar went drippin' off, en Brer Rabbit en
+Brer Tarrypin, dey went home wid de gals."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XX" id="XX"></a>XX<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">One</span> night while the little boy was sitting in Uncle Remus's cabin,
+waiting for the old man to finish his hoe-cake, and refresh his memory
+as to the further adventures of Brother Rabbit, his friends and his
+enemies, something dropped upon the top of the house with a noise like
+the crack of a pistol. The little boy jumped, but Uncle Remus looked up
+and exclaimed, "Ah-yi!" in a tone of triumph.</p>
+
+<p>"What was that, Uncle Remus?" the child asked, after waiting a moment to
+see what else would happen.</p>
+
+<p>"News fum Jack Fros', honey. W'en dat hick'y-nut tree out dar year 'im
+comin' she 'gins ter drap w'at she got. I mighty glad," he continued,
+scraping the burnt crust from his hoe-cake with an old case-knife, "I
+mighty glad hick'y-nuts ain't big en heavy ez grinestones."</p>
+
+<p>He waited a moment to see what effect this queer statement would have on
+the child.</p>
+
+<p>"Yasser, I mighty glad&mdash;dat I is. 'Kaze ef hick'y-nuts 'uz big ez
+grinestones dish yer ole callyboose 'ud be a-leakin' long 'fo'
+Chris'mus."</p>
+
+<p>Just then another hickory-nut dropped upon the roof, and the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>little boy
+jumped again. This seemed to amuse Uncle Remus, and he laughed until he
+was near to choking himself with his smoking hoe-cake.</p>
+
+<p>"You does des 'zackly lak ole Brer Rabbit done, I 'clar' to gracious ef
+you don't!" the old man cried, as soon as he could get his breath; "dez
+zackly fer de worl'."</p>
+
+<p>The child was immensely flattered, and at once he wanted to know how
+Brother Rabbit did. Uncle Remus was in such good humor that he needed no
+coaxing. He pushed his spectacles back on his forehead, wiped his mouth
+on his sleeve, and began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Hit come 'bout dat soon one mawnin' todes de fall er de year, Brer
+Rabbit wuz stirrin' 'roun' in de woods atter some bergamot fer ter make
+'im some h'ar-grease. De win' blow so col' dat it make 'im feel right
+frisky, en eve'y time he year de bushes rattle he make lak he skeerd. He
+'uz gwine on dis a-way, hoppity-skippity, w'en bimeby he year Mr. Man
+cuttin' on a tree way off in de woods. He fotch up, Brer Rabbit did, en
+lissen fus' wid one year en den wid de yuther.</p>
+
+<p>"Man, he cut en cut, en Brer Rabbit, he lissen en lissen. Bimeby, w'iles
+all dis was gwine on, down come de tree&mdash;<em>kubber-lang-bang-blam!</em> Brer
+Rabbit, he tuck'n jump des lak you jump, en let 'lone dat, he make a
+break, he did, en he lipt out fum dar lak de dogs wuz atter 'im."</p>
+
+<p>"Was he scared, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Skeerd! Who? <em>Him?</em> Shoo! don't you fret yo'se'f 'bout Brer Rabbit,
+honey. In dem days dey wa'n't nothin' gwine dat kin skeer Brer Rabbit.
+Tooby sho', he tuck keer hisse'f, en ef you know de man w'at 'fuse ter
+take keer hisse'f, I lak mighty well ef you p'int 'im out. Deed'n dat I
+would!"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus seemed to boil over with argumentative indignation.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," he continued, "Brer Rabbit run twel he git sorter het up
+like, en des 'bout de time he makin' ready fer ter squot en <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>ketch he
+win', who should he meet but Brer Coon gwine home atter settin' up wid
+ole Brer Bull-Frog. Brer Coon see 'im runnin', en he hail 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat yo' hurry, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Ain't got time ter tarry.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Folks sick?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Tryin' yo' soopleness?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Do pray, Brer Rabbit, tell me de news!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Mighty big fuss back dar in de woods. Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make Brer Coon feel mighty skittish, 'kaze he fur ways fum home, en
+he des lipt out, he did, en went a-b'ilin' thoo de woods. Brer Coon
+ain't gone fur twel he meet Brer Fox.</p>
+
+<p>"'Hey, Brer Coon, whar you gwine?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Gwine at'-de doctor?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Do pray, Brer Coon, tell me de news.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Mighty quare racket back dar in de woods! Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Fox lipt out, he did, en fa'rly split de win'. He ain't
+gone fur twel he meet Brer Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>"'Hey, Brer Fox! Stop en res' yo'se'f!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Who bin want de doctor?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No'ne, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Do pray, Brer Fox, good er bad, tell me de news.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Mighty kuse fuss back dar in de woods! Ain't got time ter tarry!'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Wolf shuck hisse'f loose fum de face er de yeth, en he
+ain't git fur twel he meet Brer B'ar. Brer B'ar he ax, en <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>Brer Wolf
+make ans'er, en bimeby Brer B'ar he fotch a snort en run'd off; en,
+bless gracious! 't wa'n't long 'fo' de las' one er de creeturs wuz
+a-skaddlin' thoo de woods lak de Ole Boy was atter um&mdash;en all 'kaze Brer
+Rabbit year Mr. Man cut tree down.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey run'd en dey run'd," Uncle Remus went on, "twel dey come ter Brer
+Tarrypin house, en dey sorter slack up 'kaze dey done mighty nigh los'
+der win'. Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax um wharbouts dey gwine, en dey 'low
+dey wuz a monst'us tarryfyin' racket back dar in de woods. Brer
+Tarrypin, he ax w'at she soun' lak. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno,
+den dey all say dey dunno. Den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax who year dis
+monst'us racket. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno, den dey all say
+dey dunno. Dis make ole Brer Tarrypin laff 'way down in he insides, en
+he up'n say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"You all kin run 'long ef you feel skittish,' sezee. 'Atter I cook my
+brekkus en wash up de dishes, ef I gits win' er any 'spicious racket may
+be I mought take down my pairsol en foller long atter you,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wen de creeturs come ter make inquirements 'mungs one er n'er 'bout who
+start de news, hit went right spang back ter Brer Rabbit, but, lo en
+beholes! Brer Rabbit ain't dar, en it tu'n out dat Brer Coon is de man
+w'at seed 'im las'. Den dey got ter layin' de blame un it on one er
+n'er, en little mo' en dey'd er fit dar scan'lous, but ole Brer
+Tarrypin, he up'n 'low dat ef dey want ter git de straight un it, dey
+better go see Brer Rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>"All de creeturs wuz 'gree'ble, en dey put out ter Brer Rabbit house.
+W'en dey git dar, Brer Rabbit wuz a-settin' cross-legged in de front
+po'ch winkin' he eye at de sun. Brer B'ar, he speak up:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Fool who, Brer B'ar?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Me, Brer Rabbit, dat's who.'</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="coon" id="coon"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 414px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0377.jpg" class="jpg" width="414" height="600" alt="&quot;&#39;AH-YI: YOU OUGHTER AX ME DAT FUS&#39;, BRER COON&#39;&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;&#39;AH-YI: YOU OUGHTER AX ME DAT FUS&#39;, BRER COON&#39;&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0377l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>"'Dish yer de fus' time I seed you dis day, Brer B'ar, en you er mo'
+dan welcome ter dat.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey all ax 'im en git de same ans'er, en den Brer Coon put in:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'How I fool you, Brer Coon?'</p>
+
+<p>"'You make lak dey wuz a big racket, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey sholy wuz a big racket, Brer Coon.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat kinder racket, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Ah-yi!</em> You oughter ax me dat fus', Brer Coon.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I axes you now, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Man cut tree down, Brer Coon.'</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se dis make Brer Coon feel like a nat'al-born Slink, en 't wa'n't
+long 'fo' all de creeturs make der bow ter Brer Rabbit en mosey off
+home."</p>
+
+<p>"Brother Rabbit had the best of it all along," said the little boy,
+after waiting to see whether there was a sequel to the story.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he did dat a-way!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Brer Rabbit was a mighty
+man in dem days."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="link"><a name="tail" id="tail"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span><br /><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+<img src="images/bear.png" width="400" height="332" alt="Why Brother Bear has no Tail" title="" />
+<span class="caption">Why Brother Bear has no Tail</span>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>
+XXI<br /><br />
+
+WHY BRER BEAR HAS NO TAIL</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">I 'clar'</span> ter gracious, honey," Uncle Remus exclaimed one night, as the
+little boy ran in, "you sholy ain't chaw'd yo' vittles. Hit ain't bin no
+time, skacely, sence de supper-bell rung, en ef you go on dis a-way,
+you'll des nat'ally pe'sh yo'se'f out."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I wasn't hungry," said the little boy. "I had something before
+supper, and I wasn't hungry anyway."</p>
+
+<p>The old man looked keenly at the child, and presently he said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"De ins en de outs er dat kinder talk all come ter de same p'int in my
+min'. Youer bin a-cuttin' up at de table, en Mars John, he tuck'n sont
+you 'way fum dar, en w'iles he think youer off some'rs a-snifflin' en
+a-feelin' bad, yer you is a-high-primin' 'roun' des lak you done had mo'
+supper dan de King er Philanders."</p>
+
+<p>Before the little boy could inquire about the King of Philanders he
+heard his father calling him. He started to go out, but Uncle Remus
+motioned him back.</p>
+
+<p>"Des set right whar you is, honey,&mdash;des set right still."</p>
+
+<p>Then Uncle Remus went to the door and answered for the child; and a very
+queer answer it was&mdash;one that could be heard half over the plantation:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Mars John, I wish you en Miss Sally be so good ez ter let dat chile
+'lone. He down yer cryin' he eyes out, en he ain't bodderin' 'long er
+nobody in de roun' worl'."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus stood in the door a moment to see what the reply would be,
+but he heard none. Thereupon he continued, in the same loud tone:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>"I ain't bin use ter no sich gwines on in Ole Miss time, en I ain't
+gwine git use ter it now. Dat I ain't."</p>
+
+<p>Presently 'Tildy, the house-girl, brought the little boy his supper, and
+the girl was no sooner out of hearing than the child swapped it with
+Uncle Remus for a roasted yam, and the enjoyment of both seemed to be
+complete.</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a while, "you know I wasn't
+crying just now."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's so, honey," the old man replied, "but 't would n't er bin long
+'fo' you would er bin, kaze Mars John bawl out lak a man w'at got a
+strop in he han', so w'at de diff'unce?"</p>
+
+<p>When they had finished eating, Uncle Remus busied himself in cutting and
+trimming some sole-leather for future use. His knife was so keen, and
+the leather fell away from it so smoothly and easily, that the little
+boy wanted to trim some himself. But to this Uncle Remus would not
+listen.</p>
+
+<p>"'T ain't on'y chilluns w'at got de consate er doin' eve'ything dey see
+yuther folks do. Hit's grown folks w'at oughter know better," said the
+old man. "Dat's des de way Brer B'ar git his tail broke off
+smick-smack-smoove, en down ter dis day he de funnies'-lookin' creetur
+w'at wobble on top er dry groun'."</p>
+
+<p>Instantly the little boy forgot all about Uncle Remus's sharp knife.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit seem lak dat in dem days Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin done gone in
+cohoots fer ter outdo de t'er creeturs. One time Brer Rabbit tuck'n make
+a call on Brer Tarrypin, but w'en he git ter Brer Tarrypin house, he
+year talk fum Miss Tarrypin dat her ole man done gone fer ter spen' de
+day wid Mr. Mud-Turkle, w'ich dey wuz blood kin. Brer Rabbit he put out
+atter Brer Tarrypin, en w'en he got ter Mr. Mud-Turkle house, dey all
+sot up, dey did, en tole tales, en den w'en twelf er'clock come dey had
+crawfish fer dinner, en dey 'joy deyse'f right erlong. Atter dinner dey
+went down ter Mr. Mud-Turkle mill-pon', en w'en dey git dar Mr.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>Mud-Turkle en Brer Tarrypin dey 'muse deyse'f, dey did, wid slidin' fum
+de top uv a big slantin' rock down inter de water.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck you moughter seen rocks in de water 'fo' now, whar dey git
+green en slipp'y," said Uncle Remus.</p>
+
+<p>The little boy had not only seen them, but had found them to be very
+dangerous to walk upon, and the old man continued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, dish yer rock wuz mighty slick en mighty slantin'. Mr.
+Mud-Turkle, he'd crawl ter de top, en tu'n loose, en go a-sailin' down
+inter de water&mdash;<em>kersplash!</em> Ole Brer Tarrypin, he'd foller atter, en
+slide down inter de water&mdash;<em>kersplash!</em> Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot off, he
+did, en praise um up.</p>
+
+<p>"W'iles dey wuz a-gwine on dis a-way, a-havin' der fun, en 'joyin'
+deyse'f, yer come ole Brer B'ar. He year um laffin' en holl'in', en he
+hail um.</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, folks! W'at all dis? Ef my eye ain't 'ceive me, dish yer's Brer
+Rabbit, en Brer Tarrypin, en ole Unk' Tommy Mud-Turkle,' sez Brer B'ar,
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'De same,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en yer we is 'joyin' de day dat
+passes des lak dey wa'n't no hard times.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, well, well!' sez ole Brer B'ar, sezee, 'a-slippin' en a-slidin'
+en makin' free! En w'at de matter wid Brer Rabbit dat he ain't j'inin'
+in?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Rabbit he wink at Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin he hunch Mr.
+Mud-Turkle, en den Brer Rabbit he up'n 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'My goodness, Brer B'ar! you can't 'speck a man fer ter slip en slide
+de whole blessid day, kin you? I done had my fun, en now I'm a-settin'
+out yer lettin' my cloze dry. Hit's tu'n en tu'n about wid me en deze
+gents w'en dey's any fun gwine on,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Maybe Brer B'ar might jine in wid us,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit he des holler en laff.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>"'Shoo!' sezee, 'Brer B'ar foot too big en he tail too long fer ter
+slide down dat rock,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Dis kinder put Brer B'ar on he mettle, en he up'n 'spon', he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Maybe dey is, en maybe dey ain't, yit I ain't a-feared ter try.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat de yuthers tuck'n made way fer 'im, en ole Brer B'ar he git up
+on de rock, he did, en squot down on he hunkers, en quile he tail und'
+'im, en start down. Fus' he go sorter slow, en he grin lak he feel good;
+den he go sorter peart, en he grin lak he feel bad; den he go mo'
+pearter, en he grin lak he skeerd; den he strack de slick part, en,
+gentermens! he swaller de grin en fetch a howl dat moughter bin yeard a
+mile, en he hit de water lak a chimbly a-fallin'.</p>
+
+<p>"You kin gimme denial," Uncle Remus continued after a little pause, "but
+des ez sho' ez you er settin' dar, w'en Brer B'ar slick'd up en flew
+down dat rock, he break off he tail right smick-smack-smoove, en mo'n
+dat, w'en he make his disappear'nce up de big road, Brer Rabbit holler
+out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer B'ar!&mdash;O Brer B'ar! I year tell dat flaxseed poultices is mighty
+good fer so' places!'</p>
+
+<p>"Yit Brer B'ar ain't look back."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXII" id="XXII"></a>XXII<br /><br />
+
+HOW BRER RABBIT FRIGHTENED HIS NEIGHBORS</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">When</span> Uncle Remus was in a good humor he turned the most trifling
+incidents into excuses for amusing the little boy with his stories. One
+night while he was hunting for a piece of candle on the shelf that took
+the place of a mantel over the fireplace, he knocked down a tin plate.
+It fell upon the hearth with a tremendous clatter.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>"Dar now!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Hit's a blessin' dat dat ar platter
+is got mo' backbone dan de common run er crockery, 'kaze 't would er bin
+bust all ter flinderations long time ago. Dat ar platter is got dents on
+it w'at Miss Sally put dar w'en she 'uz a little bit er gal. Yet dar 't
+is, en right dis minnit hit'll hol' mo' vittles dan w'at I got ter put
+in it.</p>
+
+<p>"I lay," the old man continued, leaning his hand against the chimney and
+gazing at the little boy reflectively,&mdash;"I lay ef de creeturs had a bin
+yer w'iles all dat clatterment gwine on dey'd a lef' bidout tellin'
+anybody good-bye. All 'ceppin' Brer Rabbit. Bless yo' soul, he'd er
+stayed fer ter see de fun, des lak he did dat t'er time w'en he skeer um
+all so. I 'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."</p>
+
+<p>"When he got the honey on him and rolled in the leaves?"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus thought a moment.</p>
+
+<p>"Ef I make no mistakes in my 'membunce, dat wuz de time w'en he call
+hisse'f de Wull-er-de-Wust."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy corroborated Uncle Remus's memory.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, dish yer wuz n'er time, en he lak ter skeer um plum out'n de
+settlement. En it all come 'bout 'kaze dey wanter play smarty."</p>
+
+<p>"Who wanted to play smarty, Uncle Remus?" asked the child.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, des dem t'er creeturs. Dey wuz allers a-layin' traps fer Brer
+Rabbit en gittin' cotch in um deyse'f, en dey wuz allers a-pursooin'
+atter 'im day in en day out. I ain't 'nyin' but w'at some er Brer Rabbit
+pranks wuz mighty ha'sh, but w'y'n't dey let 'im 'lone deyse'f?"</p>
+
+<p>Naturally, the little boy was not prepared to meet these arguments, even
+had their gravity been less impressive, so he said nothing.</p>
+
+<p>"In dem days," Uncle Remus went on, "de creeturs wuz same lak folks. Dey
+had der ups en dey had der downs; dey had der hard times, and dey had
+der saf' times. Some seasons der craps <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>'ud be good, en some seasons
+dey'd be bad. Brer Rabbit, he far'd lak de res' un um. W'at he'd make,
+dat he'd spen'. One season he tuck'n made a fine chance er goobers, en
+he 'low, he did, dat ef dey fetch 'im anywhars nigh de money w'at he
+'speck dey would, he go ter town en buy de truck w'at needcessity call
+fer.</p>
+
+<p>"He ain't no sooner say dat dan ole Miss Rabbit, she vow, she did, dat
+it be a scannul en a shame ef he don't whirl in en git sevin tin cups
+fer de chilluns fer ter drink out'n, en sevin tin plates fer 'm fer ter
+sop out 'n, en a coffee-pot fer de fambly. Brer Rabbit say dat des
+zackly w'at he gwine do, en he 'low, he did, dat he gwine ter town de
+comin' We'n'sday."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused, and indulged in a hearty laugh before he resumed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit wa'n't mo'n out'n de gate 'fo' Miss Rabbit, she slap on 'er
+bonnet, she did, en rush 'cross ter Miss Mink house, en she ain't bin
+dar a minnit 'fo' she up'n tell Miss Mink dat Brer Rabbit done promise
+ter go ter town We'n'sday comin' en git de chilluns sump'n'. Co'se, w'en
+Mr. Mink come home, Miss Mink she up'n 'low she want ter know w'at de
+reason he can't buy sump'n' fer his chilluns same ez Brer Rabbit do fer
+his'n, en dey quo'll en quo'll des lak folks. Atter dat Miss Mink she
+kyar de news ter Miss Fox, en den Brer Fox he tuk'n got a rakin' over de
+coals. Miss Fox she tell Miss Wolf, en Miss Wolf she tell Miss B'ar, en
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' ev'ybody in dem diggin's know dat Brer Rabbit gwine
+ter town de comin' We'n'sday fer ter git his chilluns sump'n'; en all de
+yuther creeturs' chilluns ax der ma w'at de reason der pa can't git
+<em>dem</em> sump'n'. So dar it went.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar, dey make up der mines, dey did,
+dat ef dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit, dat wuz de time, en dey
+fix up a plan dat dey'd lay fer Brer Rabbit en nab 'im w'en he come back
+fum town. Dey tuck'n make all der 'rangerments, en wait fer de day.</p>
+
+<p>"Sho' nuff, w'en We'n'sday come, Brer Rabbit e't he brekkus <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>'fo'
+sun-up, en put out fer town. He tuck'n got hisse'f a dram, en a plug er
+terbarker, en a pocket-hankcher, en he got de ole 'oman a coffee-pot, en
+he got de chillun sevin tin cups en sevin tin plates, en den todes
+sundown he start back home. He walk 'long, he did, feelin' mighty
+biggity, but bimeby w'en he git sorter tired, he sot down und' a
+black-jack tree, en 'gun to fan hisse'f wid one er der platters.</p>
+
+<p>"W'iles he doin' dis a little bit er teenchy sap-sucker run up'n down de
+tree en keep on makin' mighty quare fuss. Atter w'ile Brer Rabbit tuk'n
+shoo at 'im wid de platter. Seem lak dis make de teenchy little
+sap-sucker mighty mad, en he rush out on a lim' right over Brer Rabbit,
+en he sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Pilly-pee, pilly-wee!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>I see w'at he no see!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>I see, pilly-pee,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>I see, w'at he no see!'</em><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"He keep on singin' dis, he did, twel Brer Rabbit 'gun ter look 'roun',
+en he ain't no sooner do dis dan he see marks in de san' whar sum un
+done bin dar 'fo' 'im, en he look little closer en den he see w'at de
+sap-sucker drivin' at. He scratch his head, Brer Rabbit did, en he 'low
+ter hisse'f:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah-yi! Yer whar Brer Fox bin settin', en dar de print er he nice bushy
+tail. Yer whar Brer Wolf bin settin', en dar de print er he fine long
+tail. Yer whar Brer B'ar bin squattin' on he hunkers, en dar de print
+w'ich he ain't got no tail. Dey er all bin yer, en I lay dey er hidin'
+out in de big gully down dar in de holler.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, ole man Rab. tuck'n put he truck in de bushes, en den he run
+'way 'roun' fer ter see w'at he kin see. Sho' nuff," continued Uncle
+Remus, with a curious air of elation,&mdash;"sho' nuff, w'en Brer Rabbit git
+over agin de big gully down in de holler, dar dey wuz. Brer Fox, he 'uz
+on one side er de road, en Brer Wolf <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>'uz on de t'er side; en ole Brer
+B'ar he 'uz quiled up in de gully takin' a nap.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n peep at um, he did, en he lick he foot en roach
+back he h'ar, en den hol' his han's 'cross he mouf en laff lak some
+chilluns does w'en dey t'ink dey er foolin' der ma."</p>
+
+<p>"Not me, Uncle Remus&mdash;not me!" exclaimed the little boy promptly.</p>
+
+<p>"Heyo dar! don't kick 'fo' you er spurred, honey! Brer Rabbit, he seed
+um all dar, en he tuck'n grin, he did, en den he lit out ter whar he
+done lef he truck, en w'en he git dar he dance 'roun' en slap hisse'f on
+de leg, en make all sorts er kuse motions. Den he go ter wuk en tu'n de
+coffee-pot upside down en stick it on he head; den he run he gallus thoo
+de han'les er de cups, en sling um crosst he shoulder; den he 'vide de
+platters, some in one han' en some in de yuther. Atter he git good en
+ready, he crope ter de top er de hill, he did, en tuck a runnin' start,
+en flew down like a harrycane&mdash;<em>rickety, rackety, slambang!</em>"</p>
+
+<p>The little boy clapped his hands enthusiastically.</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, dem creeturs ain't year no fuss lak dat, en dey ain't
+seed no man w'at look lak Brer Rabbit do, wid de coffee-pot on he head,
+en de cups a-rattlin' on he gallus, en de platters a-wavin' en a-shinin'
+in de a'r.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, mine you, ole Brer B'ar wuz layin' off up de gully takin' a nap,
+en de fuss skeer 'im so bad dat he make a break en run over Brer Fox. He
+rush out in de road, he did, en w'en he see de sight, he whirl 'roun' en
+run over Brer Wolf. Wid der scramblin' en der scufflin', Brer Rabbit got
+right on um 'fo' dey kin git away. He holler out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Gimme room! Tu'n me loose! I'm ole man Spewter-Splutter wid long
+claws, en scales on my back! I'm snaggle-toofed en double-j'inted! Gimme
+room!'</p>
+
+<p>"Eve'y time he'd fetch a whoop, he'd rattle de cups en slap de platters
+tergedder&mdash;<em>rickety, rackety, slambang!</em> En I let you <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>know w'en dem
+creeturs got dey lim's tergedder dey split de win', dey did dat. Ole
+Brer B'ar, he struck a stump w'at stan' in de way, en I ain't gwine tell
+you how he to' it up 'kaze you won't b'leeve me, but de nex' mawnin'
+Brer Rabbit en his chilluns went back dar, dey did, en dey got nuff
+splinters fer ter make um kin'lin' wood all de winter. Yasser! Des ez
+sho' ez I'm a-settin' by dish yer h'ath."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXIII" id="XXIII"></a>XXIII<br /><br />
+
+MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> little boy sat watching Uncle Remus sharpen his shoe-knife. The old
+man's head moved in sympathy with his hands, and he mumbled fragments of
+a song. Occasionally he would feel of the edge of the blade with his
+thumb, and then begin to sharpen it again. The comical appearance of the
+venerable darkey finally had its effect upon the child, for suddenly he
+broke into a hearty peal of laughter; whereupon Uncle Remus stopped
+shaking his head and singing his mumbly-song, and assumed a very
+dignified attitude. Then he drew a long, deep breath, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wen folks git ole en stricken wid de palsy, dey mus' 'speck ter be
+laff'd at. Goodness knows, I bin use ter dat sence de day my whiskers
+'gun to bleach."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I was n't laughing at you, Uncle Remus; I declare I was n't,"
+cried the little boy. "I thought maybe you might be doing your head like
+Brother Rabbit did when he was fixing to cut his meat."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus's seriousness was immediately driven away by a broad and
+appreciative grin.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, dat de way ter talk, honey, en I boun' you wa'n't fur wrong, n'er,
+'kaze fer all dey'll tell you dat Brer Rabbit make he livin' 'long er
+nibblin' at grass en greens, hit 't wa'n't dat a-way <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>in dem days, 'kaze
+I got in my 'membunce right now de 'casion whar Brer Rabbit is tuck'n
+e't meat."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy had learned that it was not best to make any display of
+impatience, and so he waited quietly while Uncle Remus busied himself
+with arranging the tools on his shoe-bench. Presently the old man
+began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Hit so happen dat one day Brer Rabbit meet up wid Brer Fox, en w'en dey
+'quire atter der corporosity, dey fine out dat bofe un um mighty po'ly.
+Brer Fox, he 'low, he do, dat he monst'us hongry, en Brer Rabbit he
+'spon' dat he got a mighty hankerin' atter vittles hisse'f. Bimeby dey
+look up de big road, en dey see Mr. Man comin' 'long wid a great big
+hunk er beef und' he arm. Brer Fox he up 'n 'low, he did, dat he lak
+mighty well fer ter git a tas'e er dat, en Brer Rabbit he 'low dat de
+sight er dat nice meat all lineded wid taller is nuff fer ter run a body
+'stracted.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Man he come en he come 'long. Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox dey look en
+dey look at 'im. Dey wink der eye en der mouf water. Brer Rabbit he 'low
+he bleedz ter git some er dat meat. Brer Fox he 'spon', he did, dat it
+look mighty fur off ter him. Den Brer Rabbit tell Brer Fox fer ter
+foller 'long atter 'im in hailin' distuns, en wid dat he put out, he
+did, en 't wa'nt long 'fo' he kotch up wid Mr. Man.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey pass de time er day, en den dey went joggin' 'long de road same lak
+dey 'uz gwine 'pun a journey. Brer Rabbit he keep on snuffin' de a'r.
+Mr. Man up'n ax 'im is he got a bad cole, en Brer Rabbit 'spon' dat he
+smell sump'n' w'ich it don't smell like ripe peaches. Bimeby, Brer
+Rabbit 'gun to hoi' he nose, he did, en atter w'ile he sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Gracious en de goodness, Mr. Man! hit's dat meat er yone. <em>Phew!</em>
+Whar'bouts is you pick up dat meat at?'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make Mr. Man feel sorter 'shame' hisse'f, en ter make marters wuss,
+yer come a great big green fly a-zoonin' 'roun'. Brer Rabbit he git way
+off on t'er side er de road, en he keep on <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>hol'in' he nose. Mr. Man, he
+look sorter sheepish, he did, en dey ain't gone fur 'fo' he put de meat
+down on de side er de road, en he tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit w'at dey gwine
+do 'bout it. Brer Rabbit he 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I year tell in my time dat ef you take'n drag a piece er meat thoo' de
+dus' hit'll fetch back hits freshness. I ain't no superspicious man
+myse'f,' sezee, 'en I ain't got no 'speunce wid no sech doin's, but dem
+w'at tell me say dey done try it. Yit I knows dis,' says Brer Rabbit,
+sezee,&mdash;'I knows dat 't ain't gwine do no harm, 'kaze de grit w'at gits
+on de meat kin be wash off,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't got no string,' sez Mr. Man, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit laff hearty, but still he hol' he nose.</p>
+
+<p>"'Time you bin in de bushes long ez I is, you won't miss strings,' sez
+Brer Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lipt out, en he ain't gone long 'fo' he come
+hoppin' back wid a whole passel er bamboo vines all tied tergedder. Mr.
+Man, he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dat line mighty long.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Tooby sho', you want de win' fer ter git 'twix' you en dat meat.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Mr. Man tuck'n tied de bamboo line ter de meat. Brer Rabbit he
+broke off a 'simmon bush, he did, en 'low dat he'd stay behime en keep
+de flies off. Mr. Man he go on befo' en drag de meat, en Brer Rabbit he
+stay behime, he did, en take keer un it."</p>
+
+<p>Here Uncle Remus was compelled to pause and laugh before he could
+proceed with the story.</p>
+
+<p>"En he is take keer un it, mon&mdash;dat he is. He tuck'n git 'im a rock, en
+w'iles Mr. Man gwine 'long bidout lookin' back, he ondo de meat en tie
+de rock ter de bamboo line, en w'en Brer Fox foller on, sho' nuff, dar
+lay de meat. Mr. Man, he drug de rock, he did, en Brer Rabbit he keep de
+flies off, twel atter dey gone on right <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>smart piece, en den w'en Mr.
+Man look 'roun', whar wuz ole man Rabbit?</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit done gone back en jine Brer Fox, en he wuz
+des in time, at dat, 'kaze little mo' en Brer Fox would 'a' done bin
+outer sight en yearin'. En so dat de way Brer Rabbit git Mr. Man meat."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy reflected a little, and then said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus, was n't that stealing?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I tell you 'bout dat, honey," responded the old man, with the air
+of one who is willing to compromise. "In dem days de creeturs bleedz ter
+look out fer deyse'f, mo' speshually dem w'at ain't got hawn en huff.
+Brer Rabbit ain't got no hawn en huff, en he bleedz ter be he own
+lawyer."</p>
+
+<p>Just then the little boy heard his father's buggy rattling down the
+avenue, and he ran out into the darkness to meet it. After he was gone,
+Uncle Remus sat a long time rubbing his hands and looking serious.
+Finally he leaned back in his chair, and exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dat little chap gittin' too much fer ole Remus&mdash;dat he is!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXIV" id="XXIV"></a>XXIV<br /><br />
+
+HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">When</span> the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the cabin was dark and
+empty and the door shut. The old man was gone. He was absent for several
+nights, but at last one night the little boy saw a welcome light in the
+cabin, and he made haste to pay Uncle Remus a visit. He was full of
+questions:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness, Uncle Remus! Where in the world have you been? I thought you
+were gone for good. Mamma said she reckoned the treatment here did n't
+suit you, and you had gone off to get some of your town friends to hire
+you."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>"Is Miss Sally tell you dat, honey? Well, ef she ain't de beatenes'
+w'ite 'oman dis side er kingdom come, you kin des shoot me. Miss Sally
+tuck'n writ me a pass wid her own han's fer ter go see some er my kin
+down dar in de Ashbank settlement. Yo' mammy quare 'oman, honey, sho'!</p>
+
+<p>"En yit, w'at de good er my stayin' yer? T'er night, I ain't mo'n git
+good en started 'fo' you er up en gone, en I ain't seed ha'r ner hide un
+you sence. W'en I see you do dat, I 'low ter myse'f dat hit's des 'bout
+time fer ole man Remus fer ter pack up he duds en go hunt comp'ny
+some'r's else."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in a tone of
+expostulation, "did n't Brother Fox get the meat, and was n't that the
+end of the story?"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus started to laugh, but he changed his mind so suddenly that
+the little boy was convulsed. The old man groaned and looked at the
+rafters with a curious air of disinterestedness. After a while he went
+on with great seriousness:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I dunner w'at kinder idee folks got 'bout Brer Rabbit nohow, dat I
+don't. S'pozen you lays de plans so some yuther chap kin git a big hunk
+er goody, is you gwine ter set off some'r's en see 'im make way wid it?"</p>
+
+<p>"What kind of goody, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Dish yer kinder goody w'at town folks keeps. Mint draps and reezins, en
+sweet doin's lak Miss Sally keep und' lock en key. Well, den, if you
+gits some er dat, er may be some yuther kinder goody, w'ich I wish 't
+wuz yer right dis blessid minnit, is you gwine ter set quile up in dat
+cheer en let n'er chap run off wid it? Dat you ain't&mdash;dat you ain't!"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know!" exclaimed the little boy. "Brother Rabbit went back and
+made Brother Fox give him his part of the meat."</p>
+
+<p>"Des lak I tell you, honey; dey wa'n't no man 'mungs de creeturs w'at
+kin stan' right flat-footed en wuk he min' quick lak Brer Rabbit. He
+tuck'n tie de rock on de string, stidder de meat, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>en he pursue long
+atter it, he did, twel Mr. Man tu'n a ben' in de road, en den Brer
+Rabbit, he des lit out fum dar&mdash;<em>terbuckity-buckity, buck-buck-buckity!</em>
+en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he tuck'n kotch up wid Brer Fox. Dey tuck de
+meat, dey did, en kyar'd it way off in de woods, en laid it down on a
+clean place on de groun'.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey laid it down, dey did," continued Uncle Remus, drawing his chair up
+closer to the little boy, "en den Brer Fox 'low dey better sample it, en
+Brer Rabbit he 'gree. Wid dat, Brer Fox he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en
+he shut bofe eyes, he did, en he chaw en chaw, en tas'e en tas'e, en
+chaw en tas'e. Brer Rabbit, he watch 'im, but Brer Fox, he keep bofe
+eyes shot, en he chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus not only furnished a pantomime accompaniment to this recital
+by shutting his eyes and pretending to taste, but he lowered his voice
+to a pitch of tragical significance in reporting the dialogue that
+ensued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Fox smack he mouf en look at de meat mo' closeter, en up'n
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, <em>hit's lam'!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>No</em>, Brer Fox! <em>sho'ly not!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, <em>hit's lam'!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Fox, <em>tooby sho'ly not!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en he shot bofe eyes, en
+chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw. Den he smack he mouf, en up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Fox, <em>hit's shote!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, you foolin' me!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Fox, <em>I vow hit's shote!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, hit des <em>can't be!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Fox, <em>hit sho'ly is!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey tas'e en dey 'spute, en dey 'spute en dey tas'e. Atter w'ile, Brer
+Rabbit make lak he want some water, en he rush off in de bushes, en
+d'reckly yer he come back wipin' he mouf en <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>cle'rin' up he th'oat. Den
+Brer Fox he want some water sho' nuff:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, whar you fin' de spring?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Cross de road, en down de hill en up de big gully.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he lope off, he did, en atter he gone Brer Rabbit totch he
+year wid he behime foot lak he flippin' 'im good-bye. Brer Fox, he cross
+de road en rush down de hill, he did, yit he ain't fin' no big gully. He
+keep on gwine twel he fin' de big gully, yit he ain't fin' no spring.</p>
+
+<p>"W'iles all dish yer gwine on, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n grabble a hole in
+de groun', he did, en in dat hole he hid de meat. Atter he git it good
+en hid, he tuck'n cut 'im a long keen hick'ry, en atter so long a time,
+w'en he year Brer Fox comin' back, he got in a clump er bushes, en tuck
+dat hick'ry en let in on a saplin', en ev'y time he hit de saplin', he
+'ud squall out, Brer Rabbit would, des lak de patter-rollers had 'im:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Pow, pow!</em> 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man!'&mdash;<em>Pow, pow!</em> 'Oh, pray, Mr.
+Man!'&mdash;<em>Chippy-row, pow!</em> 'Oh, Lordy, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo'
+meat!'&mdash;<em>Pow!</em> 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo' meat!'"</p>
+
+<p>Every time Uncle Remus said "<em>Pow!</em>" he struck himself in the palm of
+his hand with a shoe-sole by way of illustration.</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se," he went on, "w'en Brer Fox year dis kinder doin's, he fotch up,
+he did, en lissen, en ev'y time he year de hick'ry come down <em>pow!</em> he
+tuck'n grin en 'low ter hisse'f, 'Ah-yi! you fool me 'bout de water!
+Ah-yi! you fool me 'bout de water!'</p>
+
+<p>"Atter so long a time, de racket sorter die out, en seem lak Mr. Man wuz
+draggin' Brer Rabbit off. Dis make Brer Fox feel mighty skittish. Bimeby
+Brer Rabbit come a-cally-hootin' back des a-hollerin':&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Run, Brer Fox, run! Mr. Man say he gwine to kyar dat meat up de road
+ter whar he son is, en den he's a-comin' back atter you. Run, Brer Fox,
+run!'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>"En I let you know," said Uncle Remus, leaning back and laughing to see
+the little boy laugh, "I let you know Brer Fox got mighty skace in dat
+neighborhood!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXV" id="XXV"></a>XXV<br /><br />
+
+AFRICAN JACK</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Usually</span>, the little boy, who regarded himself as Uncle Remus's partner,
+was not at all pleased when he found the old man entertaining, in his
+simple way, any of his colored friends; but he was secretly delighted
+when he called one night and found Daddy Jack sitting by Uncle Remus's
+hearth. Daddy Jack was an object of curiosity to older people than the
+little boy. He was a genuine African, and for that reason he was known
+as African Jack, though the child had been taught to call him Daddy
+Jack. He was brought to Georgia in a slave-ship when he was about twenty
+years old, and remained upon one of the sea-islands for several years.
+Finally, he fell into the hands of the family of which Uncle Remus's
+little partner was the youngest representative, and became the trusted
+foreman of a plantation, in the southern part of Georgia, known as the
+Walthall Place. Once every year he was in the habit of visiting the Home
+Place in Middle Georgia, and it was during one of these annual visits
+that the little boy found him in Uncle Remus's cabin.</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack appeared to be quite a hundred years old, but he was probably
+not more than eighty. He was a little, dried-up old man, whose weazened,
+dwarfish appearance, while it was calculated to inspire awe in the minds
+of the superstitious, was not without its pathetic suggestions. The
+child had been told that the old African was a wizard, a conjurer, and a
+snake-charmer; but he was not afraid, for, in any event,&mdash;conjuration,
+witchcraft, or what not,&mdash;he was assured of the protection of Uncle
+Remus.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>As the little boy entered the cabin Uncle Remus smiled and nodded
+pleasantly, and made a place for him on a little stool upon which had
+been piled the odds and ends of work. Daddy Jack paid no attention to
+the child; his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.</p>
+
+<p>"Go en shake han's, honey, en tell Daddy Jack howdy. He lak good
+chilluns." Then to Daddy Jack: "Brer Jack, dish yer de chap w'at I bin
+tellin' you 'bout."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy did as he was bid, but Daddy Jack grunted ungraciously
+and made no response to the salutation. He was evidently not fond of
+children. Uncle Remus glanced curiously at the dwarfed and withered
+figure, and spoke a little more emphatically:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Jack, ef you take good look at dis chap, I lay you'll see mo'n you
+speck ter see. You'll see sump'n' dat'll make you grunt wusser dan you
+grunted deze many long year. Go up dar, honey, whar Daddy Jack kin see
+you."</p>
+
+<p>The child went shyly up to the old African and stood at his knee. The
+sorrows and perplexities of nearly a hundred years lay between them; and
+now, as always, the baffled eyes of age gazed into the Sphinx-like face
+of youth, as if by this means to unravel the mysteries of the past and
+solve the problems of the future.</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack took the plump, rosy hands of the little boy in his black,
+withered ones, and gazed into his face so long and steadily, and with
+such curious earnestness, that the child did n't know whether to laugh
+or cry. Presently the old African flung his hands to his head, and
+rocked his body from side to side, moaning and mumbling, and talking to
+himself, while the tears ran down his face like rain.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Missy! Ole Missy! 'E come back! I bin shum dey-dey, I bin shum de
+night! I bin yeddy 'e v'ice, I bin yeddy de sign!"</p>
+
+<p>"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, into whose arms the little boy had fled;
+"I des know'd dat 'ud fetch 'im. Hit's bin manys <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>de long days sence
+Brer Jack seed Ole Miss, yit ef he ain't seed 'er dat whack, den I ain't
+settin' yer."</p>
+
+<p>After a while Daddy Jack ceased his rocking, and his moaning, and his
+crying, and sat gazing wistfully into the fireplace. Whatever he saw
+there fixed his attention, for Uncle Remus spoke to him several times
+without receiving a response. Presently, however, Daddy Jack exclaimed
+with characteristic but laughable irrelevance:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I no lakky dem gal wut is bin-a stan' pidjin-toe. Wun 'e fetch pail er
+water on 'e head, water churray, churray. I no lakky dem gal wut tie 'e
+wool up wit' string; mekky him stan' ugly fer true. I bin ahx da' 'Tildy
+gal fer marry me, un 'e no crack 'im bre't' fer mek answer 'cep' 'e
+bre'k out un lahf by me werry face. Da' gal do holler un lahf un stomp
+'e fut dey-dey, un dun I shum done gone pidjin-toe. Oona bin know da'
+'Tildy gal?"</p>
+
+<p>"I bin a-knowin' dat gal," said Uncle Remus, grimly regarding the old
+African; "I bin a-knowin' dat gal now gwine on sence she 'uz knee-high
+ter one er deze yer puddle-ducks; en I bin noticin' lately dat she
+mighty likely nigger."</p>
+
+<p>"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, enthusiastically, "I did bin mek up ter
+da' lilly gal troo t'ick un t'in. I bin fetch 'im one fine 'possum, un
+mo' ez one, two, free peck-a taty, un bumbye I bin fetch 'im one bag
+pop-co'n. Wun I bin do dat, I is fley 'roun' da' lilly gal so long tam,
+un I yeddy 'im talk wit' turrer gal. 'E do say: 'Daddy Jack fine ole man
+fer true.' Dun I is bin talk: 'Oona no call-a me Daddy Jack wun dem
+preacher man come fer marry we.' Dun da' lilly gal t'row 'e head back;
+'e squeal lak filly in canebrake."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy understood this rapidly spoken lingo perfectly well, but
+he would have laughed anyhow, for there was more than a suggestion of
+the comic in the shrewd seriousness that seemed to focus itself in Daddy
+Jack's pinched and wrinkled face.</p>
+
+<p>"She tuck de truck w'at you tuck'n fotch 'er," said Uncle <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>Remus, with
+the air of one carefully and deliberately laying the basis of a judicial
+opinion, "en den w'en you sail in en talk bizness, den she up en gun you
+de flat un 'er foot en de back un 'er han', en den, atter dat, she
+tuck'n laff en make spote un you."</p>
+
+<p>"Enty!" assented Daddy Jack, admiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, Brer Jack, youer mighty ole, en yit hit seem lak youer
+mighty young; kaze a man w'at ain't got no mo' speunce wid wimmen folks
+dan w'at you is neenter creep 'roun' yer callin' deyse'f ole. Dem kinder
+folks ain't ole nuff, let 'lone bein' too ole. W'en de gal tuck'n laff,
+Brer Jack, w'at 'uz yo' nex' move?" demanded Uncle Remus, looking down
+upon the shrivelled old man with an air of superiority.</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack shut his shrewd little eyes tightly and held them so, as if
+by that means to recall all the details of the flirtation. Then he
+said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Da' lilly gal is bin tek dem t'ing. 'E is bin say, 'T'anky, t'anky.'
+Him eaty da' 'possum, him eaty da' pop-co'n, him roas'n da' taty. 'E do
+say, 'T'anky, t'anky!' Wun I talk marry, 'e is bin ris 'e v'ice un
+squeal lak lilly pig stuck in 'e t'roat. 'E do holler: 'Hi, Daddy Jack!
+wut is noung gal gwan do wit' so ole man lak dis?' Un I is bin say: 'Wut
+noung gal gwan do wit' ole Chris'mus' cep' 'e do 'joy 'ese'f?' Un da'
+lil gal 'e do lahff un flut 'ese'f way fum dey-dey."</p>
+
+<p>"I know'd a nigger one time," said Uncle Remus, after pondering a
+moment, "w'at tuck a notion dat he want a bait er 'simmons, en de mo'
+w'at de notion tuck 'im de mo' w'at he want um, en bimeby, hit look lak
+he des nat'ally erbleedz ter have um. He want de 'simmons, en dar dey is
+in de tree. He mouf water, en dar hang de 'simmons. Now, den, w'at do
+dat nigger do? W'en you en me en dish yer chile yer wants 'simmons, we
+goes out en shakes de tree, en ef deyer good en ripe, down dey comes, en
+ef deyer good en green, dar dey stays. But dish yer yuther nigger, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>he
+too smart fer dat. He des tuck'n tuck he stan' und' de tree, en he open
+he mouf, he did, en wait fer de 'simmons fer ter drap in dar. Dey ain't
+none drap in yit," continued Uncle Remus, gently knocking the cold ashes
+out of his pipe; "en w'at's mo', dey ain't none gwine ter drap in dar.
+Dat des 'zackly de way wid Brer Jack yer, 'bout marryin'; he stan' dar,
+he do, en he hol' bofe han's wide open en he 'speck de gal gwine ter
+drap right spang in um. Man want gal, he des got ter grab 'er&mdash;dat's
+w'at. Dey may squall en dey may flutter, but flutter'n' en squallin'
+ain't done no damage yit ez I knows un, en 't ain't gwine ter. Young
+chaps kin make great 'miration 'bout gals, but w'en dey gits ole ez I
+is, dey ull know dat folks is folks, en w'en it come ter bein' folks, de
+wimmen ain gut none de 'vantage er de men. Now dat's des de plain up en
+down tale I'm a-tellin' un you."</p>
+
+<p>This deliverance from so respectable an authority seemed to please Daddy
+Jack immensely. He rubbed his withered hands together, smacked his lips
+and chuckled. After a few restless movements he got up and went
+shuffling to the door, his quick, short steps causing Uncle Remus to
+remark:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"De gal w'at git ole Brer Jack 'ull git a natchul pacer, sho'. He move
+mo' one-sideder dan ole Zip Coon, w'ich he rack up de branch all night
+long wid he nose p'int lak he gwine 'cross."</p>
+
+<p>While the little boy was endeavoring to get Uncle Remus to explain the
+nature of Daddy Jack's grievances, muffled laughter was heard outside,
+and almost immediately 'Tildy rushed in the door. 'Tildy flung herself
+upon the floor and rolled and laughed until, apparently, she could laugh
+no more. Then she seemed to grow severely angry. She arose from the
+floor and flopped herself down in a chair, and glared at Uncle Remus
+with indignation in her eyes. As soon as she could control her inflamed
+feelings, she cried:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Wat is I done ter you, Unk' Remus? 'Fo' de Lord, ef anybody wuz ter
+come en tole me dat you gwine ter put de Ole Boy <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>in dat ole Affikin
+nigger head, I would n't er b'leeved um&mdash;dat I would n't. Unk' Remus,
+w'at is I done ter you?"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus made no direct response; but he leaned over, reached out his
+hand, and picked up an unfinished axe-helve that stood in the corner.
+Then he took the little boy by the arm, and pushed him out of the way,
+saying in his gentlest and most persuasive tone:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Stan' sorter 'roun' dar, honey, 'kaze w'en de splinters 'gin ter fly, I
+want you ter be out'n de way. Miss Sally never gimme 'er fergivance in
+de roun' worl' ef you 'uz ter git hurted on account er de frazzlin' er
+dish yer piece er timber."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus's movements and remarks had a wonderful effect on 'Tildy.
+Her anger disappeared, her eyes lost their malignant expression, and her
+voice fell to a conversational tone.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Unk' Remus, you ought n't ter do me dat a-way, 'kaze I ain't done
+nothin' ter you. I 'uz settin' up yon' in Aunt Tempy house, des now,
+runnin' on wid Riah, en yer come dat ole Affikin Jack en say you say he
+kin marry me ef he ketch me, en he try ter put he arm 'roun' me en kiss
+me."</p>
+
+<p>'Tildy tossed her head and puckered her mouth at the bare remembrance of
+it.</p>
+
+<p>"W'at wud did you gin Brer Jack?" inquired Uncle Remus, not without
+asperity.</p>
+
+<p>"W'at I gwine tell him?" exclaimed 'Tildy disdainfully. "I des tuck'n up
+en tole 'im he foolin' wid de wrong nigger."</p>
+
+<p>'Tildy would have continued her narration, but just at that moment the
+shuffling of feet was heard outside, and Daddy Jack came in, puffing and
+blowing and smiling. Evidently he had been hunting for 'Tildy in every
+house in the negro quarter.</p>
+
+<p>"Hi!" he exclaimed, "lil gal, 'e bin skeet sem lak ma'sh hen. 'E no run
+no mo'."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>"Pick 'er up, Brer Jack," exclaimed Uncle Remus; "she's yone."</p>
+
+<p>'Tildy was angry as well as frightened. She would have fled, but Daddy
+Jack stood near the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Look yer, nigger man!" she exclaimed, "ef you come slobbun 'roun' me,
+I'll take one er deze yer dog-i&uuml;ns en brain you wid it. I ain't gwine
+ter have no web-foot nigger follerin' atter me. Now you des come!&mdash;I
+ain't feard er yo' cunjun. Unk' Remus, ef you got any intruss in dat ole
+Affikin ape, you better make 'im lemme 'lone. G'way fum yer now!"</p>
+
+<p>All this time Daddy Jack was slowly approaching 'Tildy, bowing and
+smiling, and looking quite dandified, as Uncle Remus afterward said.
+Just as the old African was about to lay hands upon 'Tildy, she made a
+rush for the door. The movement was so unexpected that Daddy Jack was
+upset. He fell upon Uncle Remus's shoe-bench, and then rolled off on the
+floor, where he lay clutching at the air, and talking so rapidly that
+nobody could understand a word he said. Uncle Remus lifted him to his
+feet, with much dignity, and it soon became apparent that he was neither
+hurt nor angry. The little boy laughed immoderately, and he was still
+laughing when 'Tildy put her head in the door and exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Unk' Remus, I ain't kilt dat ole nigger, is I? 'Kaze ef I got ter go
+ter de gallus, I want to go dar fer sump'n' n'er bigger'n dat."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus disdained to make any reply, but Daddy Jack chuckled and
+patted himself on the knee as he cried:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Come 'long, lilly gal! come 'long! I no mad. I fall down dey fer laff.
+Come 'long, lilly gal, come 'long."</p>
+
+<p>'Tildy went on laughing loudly and talking to herself. After awhile
+Uncle Remus said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Honey, I 'speck Miss Sally lookin' und' de bed en axin' whar you is.
+You better leak out fum yer now, en by dis time ter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>morrer night I'll
+git Brer Jack all primed up, en he'll whirl in en tell you a tale."</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack nodded assent, and the little boy ran laughing to the "big
+house."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXVI" id="XXVI"></a>XXVI<br /><br />
+
+WHY THE ALLIGATOR'S BACK IS ROUGH</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> night after the violent flirtation between Daddy Jack and 'Tildy,
+the latter coaxed and bribed the little boy to wait until she had
+finished her work about the house. After she had set things to rights in
+the dining-room and elsewhere, she took the child by the hand, and
+together they went to Uncle Remus's cabin. The old man was making a
+door-mat of shucks and grass and white-oak splits, and Daddy Jack was
+dozing in the corner.</p>
+
+<p>"W'at I tell you, Brer Jack?" said Uncle Remus, as 'Tildy came in. "Dat
+gal atter you, mon!"</p>
+
+<p>"Fer de Lord sake, Unk' Remus, don't start dat ole nigger. I done
+promise Miss Sally dat I won't kill 'im, en I like ter be good ez my
+word; but ef he come foolin' longer me I'm des nat'ally gwine ter
+onj'int 'im. Now you year me say de word."</p>
+
+<p>But Daddy Jack made no demonstration. He sat with his eyes closed, and
+paid no attention to 'Tildy. After awhile the little boy grew restless,
+and presently he said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Daddy Jack, you know you promised to tell me a story to-night."</p>
+
+<p>"He wukkin' wid it now, honey," said Uncle Remus, soothingly. "Brer
+Jack," he continued, "wa'n't dey sump'n' n'er 'bout ole man Yalligater?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hi!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, arousing himself, "'e 'bout B'er 'Gater fer
+true. Oona no bin see da' B'er 'Gater?"</p>
+
+<p>The child had seen one, but it was such a very little one he <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>hardly
+knew whether to claim an acquaintance with Daddy Jack's 'Gater.</p>
+
+<p>"Dem all sem," continued Daddy Jack. "Big mout', pop-eye, walk on 'e
+belly; 'e is bin got bump, bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, bump, bump, bump
+'pon 'e tail. 'E dife 'neat' de water, 'e do lif 'pon de lan'.</p>
+
+<p>"One tam Dog is bin run B'er Rabbit, tel 'e do git tire; da' Dog is bin
+run 'im tel him ent mos' hab no bre't' in 'e body; 'e hide 'ese'f by de
+crik side. 'E come close 'pon B'er 'Gater, en B'er 'Gater, 'e do say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki, B'er Rabbit! wut dis is mek you blow so? Wut mekky you' bre't'
+come so?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Eh-eh! B'er 'Gater, I hab bin come 'pon trouble. Dog, 'e do run un-a
+run me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wey you no fetch 'im 'long, B'er Rabbit? I is bin git fat on all da'
+trouble lak dem. I proud fer yeddy Dog bark, ef 'e is bin fetch-a me
+trouble lak dem.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wait, B'er 'Gater! Trouble come bisitin' wey you lif; 'e mekky you'
+side puff; 'e mekky you' bre't' come so.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Gater, he do flup 'e tail un 'tretch 'ese'f, un lahff. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I lak fer see dem trouble. Nuddin' no bodder me. I ketch-a dem swimp,
+I ketch-a dem crahb, I mekky my bed wey de sun shi&uuml;n hot, un I do 'joy
+mese'f. I proud fer see dem trouble.'</p>
+
+<p>"''E come 'pon you, B'er 'Gater, wun you bin hab you' eye shed; 'e come
+'pon you fum de turrer side. Ef 'e no come 'pon you in da' crik, dun 'e
+come 'pon you in da' broom-grass.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Dun I shekky um by de han', B'er Rabbit; I ahx um howdy.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Eh-eh, B'er 'Gater! you bin-a lahff at me; you no lahff wun dem
+trouble come. Dem trouble bin ketch-a you yit.'"</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack paused to wipe his face. He had reported the dialogue between
+Brother Rabbit and Brother Alligator with considerable animation, and
+had illustrated it as he went along with many curious inflections of the
+voice, and many queer gestures of <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>head and hands impossible to describe
+here, but which added picturesqueness to the story. After awhile he went
+on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e do blow un 'e do ketch urn bre't'. 'E pit one year wey
+Dog is bin-a bark; 'e pit one eye 'pon B'er 'Gater. 'E lissen, 'e look;
+'e look, 'e lissen. 'E no yeddy Dog, un 'e comforts come back. Bumbye
+B'er 'Gater, 'e come drowsy; 'e do nod, nod, un 'e head sway down, tel
+ma'sh-grass tickle 'e nose, un 'e do cough sem lak 'e teer up da' crik
+by da' root. 'E no lak dis place fer sleep at, un 'e is crawl troo da'
+ma'sh 'pon dry lan'; 'e is mek fer da' broom-grass fiel'. 'E mek 'e bed
+wid 'e long tail, un 'e is 'tretch 'ese'f out at 'e lenk. 'E is shed 'e
+y-eye, un opun 'e mout', un tek 'e nap.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e do hol' 'e y-eye 'pon B'er 'Gater. Him talk no wud; him
+wallup 'e cud; him stan' still. B'er 'Gater, 'e do tek 'e nap; B'er
+Rabbit 'e do watch. Bum-bye, B'er 'Gater bre't', 'e do come <em>loud</em>; 'e
+is bin sno' <em>hard!</em> 'E dream lilly dream; 'e wuk 'e fut un shek 'e tail
+in 'e dream. B'er Rabbit wink 'e y-eye, un 'e do watch. B'er 'Gater, he
+do leaf 'e dream bahine, un 'e sleep soun'. B'er Rabbit watch lil, wait
+lil. Bumbye, 'e do go wey fier bu'n in da' stump, un 'e is fetch some.
+'E say, 'Dis day I is mek you know dem trouble; I is mek you know dem
+well.' 'E hop 'roun' dey-dey, un 'e do light da' broom-grass; 'e bu'n,
+bu'n&mdash;bu'n, bu'n; 'e do bu'n smaht.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er 'Gater, 'e is dream some mo' lilly dream. 'E do wuk 'e fut, 'e do
+shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n, bu'n; B'er 'Gater dream. 'E dream da'
+sun is shi&uuml;n' hot; 'e wom 'e back, 'e wom 'e belly; 'e wuk 'e fut, 'e
+shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n high, 'e bu'n low; 'e bu'n smaht, 'e bu'n
+hot. Bumbye, B'er 'Gater is wek fum 'e dream; 'e smell-a da' smoke, 'e
+feel-a da' fier. 'E run dis way, 'e run turrer way; no diffran' wey 'e
+is run, dey da' smoke, dey da' fier. <em>Bu'n, bu'n, bu'n!</em> B'er 'Gater
+lash 'e tail, un grine 'e toof. Bumbye, 'e do roll un holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Trouble, trouble, trouble! <em>Trouble, trouble!</em>'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>"B'er Rabbit, 'e is stan' pas' da' fier, un 'e do say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! B'er 'Gater! Wey you fer l'arn-a dis talk 'bout dem trouble?'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er 'Gater, 'e lash 'e tail, 'e fair teer da' ye't,<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> un 'e do
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, ma Lord! Trouble! <em>Trouble, trouble, trouble!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'Shekky um by de han', B'er 'Gater. Ahx um howdy!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow, ma Lord! <em>Trouble, trouble, trouble!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"'Lahff wit' dem trouble, B'er 'Gater, lahff wit' dem! Ahx dem is dey
+he'lt' bin well! You bin-a cry fer dey 'quaintun',<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> B'er 'Gater; now
+you mus' beer wit' dem trouble!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er 'Gater come so mad, 'e mek dash troo da' broom-grass; 'e fair teer
+um down. 'E bin scatter da' fier wide 'part, un 'e do run un dife in da'
+crik fer squinch da' fier 'pon 'e bahk. 'E bahk swivel, 'e tail swivel
+wit' da' fier, un fum dat dey is bin stan' so. Bump, bump 'pon 'e tail;
+bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, wey da' fier bu'n."</p>
+
+<p>"Hit's des lak Brer Jack tell you, honey," said Uncle Remus, as Daddy
+Jack closed his eyes and relapsed into silence. "I done seed um wid my
+own eyes. En deyer mighty kuse creeturs, mon. Dey back is all ruffed up
+en down ter dis day en time, en mo'n dat, you ain't gwineter ketch Brer
+Rabbit rackin' 'roun' whar de Yallergaters is. En de Yallergaters
+deyse'f, w'en dey years any crackin' en rattlin' gwine on in de bushes,
+dey des makes a break fer de creek en splunges in."</p>
+
+<p>"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, with momentary enthusiasm. "'E do tu'n go
+da' bahnk, un dife 'neat' da' crik. 'E bin so wom wit' da' fier, 'e mek
+de crik go si-z-z-z!"</p>
+
+<p>Here Daddy Jack looked around and smiled. His glance fell on 'Tildy, and
+he seemed suddenly to remember that he had failed to be as polite as
+circumstances demanded.</p>
+
+<p>"Come-a set nex' em, lilly gal. I gwan tell you one tale."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>"Come 'long, Pinx," said 'Tildy, tossing her head disdainfully, and
+taking the little boy by the hand. "Come 'long, Pinx; we better be
+gwine. I done say I won't kill dat ole nigger man. Yit ef he start atter
+me dis blessid night, I lay I roust de whole plantation. Come on, honey;
+less go."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy was not anxious to go, but Uncle Remus seconded 'Tildy's
+suggestion.</p>
+
+<p>"Better let dat gal mosey 'long, honey, 'kaze she mout start in fer ter
+cut up some 'er capers in yer, en I hate mighty bad ter bus' up dis yer
+axe-helve, w'ich I'm in needs un it eve'y hour er de day."</p>
+
+<p>Whereupon the two old negroes were left sitting by the hearth.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXVII" id="XXVII"></a>XXVII<br /><br />
+
+BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">'Tildy</span>, the house-girl, made such a terrible report of the carryings on
+of Daddy Jack that the little boy's mother thought it prudent not to
+allow him to visit Uncle Remus so often. The child amused himself as
+best he could for several nights, but his play-things and picture-books
+finally lost their interest. He cried so hard to be allowed to go to see
+Uncle Remus that his mother placed him under the care of Aunt Tempy,&mdash;a
+woman of large authority on the place, and who stood next to Uncle Remus
+in the confidence of her mistress. Aunt Tempy was a fat, middle-aged
+woman, who always wore a head-handkerchief, and kept her sleeves rolled
+up, displaying her plump, black arms, winter and summer. She never
+hesitated to exercise her authority, and the younger negroes on the
+place regarded her as a tyrant; but in spite of her loud voice and
+brusque manners she was thoroughly good-natured, usually good-humored,
+and always trustworthy. Aunt Tempy and Uncle Remus were secretly jealous
+of each <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>other, but they were careful never to come in conflict, and, to
+all appearances, the most cordial relations existed between them.</p>
+
+<p>"Well de goodness knows!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, as Aunt Tempy went in
+with the little boy. "How you come on, Sis Tempy? De rainy season ain't
+so mighty fur off w'en you come a-sojourneyin' in dis house. Ef I'd
+a-know'd you'd a-bin a-comin' I'd a-sorter steered 'roun' en bresh'd de
+cobwebs out'n de cornders."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't min' me, Brer Remus. Luck in de house whar de cobwebs hangs low.
+I 'uz des a-passin'&mdash;a-passin' 'long&mdash;en Miss Sally ax me ef I kin come
+fur ez de do' wid dat chile dar, but bless you, 't ain't in my manners
+ter tu'n back at de do'. How you come on, Brer Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Po'ly, Sis Tempy; en yit I ain't complainin'. Pain yer, en a ketch
+yander, wid de cramps th'ow'd in, ain't no mo' dan ole folks kin 'speck.
+How you is, Sis Tempy?"</p>
+
+<p>"I thank de Lord I'm able to crawl, Brer Remus, en dat's 'bout all. Ef I
+wa'n't so sot in my ways, deze yer niggers would er run me 'stracted
+d'reckly."</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack was sitting in the corner laughing and talking to himself,
+and the little boy watched him not without a feeling of awe. After a
+while he said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus, won't Daddy Jack tell us a story to-night?"</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey," responded the old man, "we ain't got ter push Brer
+Jack too closte; we ull des hatter creep up on 'im en ketch 'im fer er
+tale wence he in de humors. Sometimes hoss pull, sometime he ain't pull.
+You ain't bin down yer so long, hit sorter look lak it my tu'n; 'kaze it
+done come 'cross my 'membunce dat dey wuz one time w'en Brer Wolf kotch
+Brer Rabbit, w'ich I ain't never gun it out ter you yit."</p>
+
+<p>"Brother Wolf caught Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the little
+boy, incredulously.</p>
+
+<p>"Yasser! dat's de up en down un it, sho'," responded the old <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>man with
+emphasis, "en I be mighty glad ef Sis Tempy yer will 'scuze me w'iles I
+runs over de tale 'long wid you."</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, don't pay no 'tention ter me," said Aunt
+Tempy, folding her fat arms upon her ample bosom, and assuming an
+attitude of rest and contentment. "I'm bad ez de chillun 'bout dem ole
+tales, 'kaze I kin des set up yer un lissen at um de whole blessid
+night, un a good part er de day. Yass, Lord!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, "we ull des huddle up yer en see w'at
+'come er Brer Rabbit, w'en ole Brer Wolf kotch 'im. In dem days," he
+continued, looking at Daddy Jack and smiling broadly, "de creeturs wuz
+constant gwine a-courtin'. Ef 't wa'n't Miss Meadows en de gals dey wuz
+flyin' 'roun', hit 'uz Miss Motts. Dey wuz constant a-courtin'. En 't
+wa'n't none er dish yer 'Howdy-do-ma'm-I-'speck-I-better-be-gwine,'
+n'er. Hit 'uz go atter brekkus en stay twel atter supper. Brer Rabbit,
+he got tuk wid a-likin' fer Miss Motts, en soon one mawnin', he tuck'n
+slick hisse'f up, he did, en put out ter call on 'er. W'en Brer Rabbit
+git ter whar Miss Motts live, she done gone off some'rs.</p>
+
+<p>"Some folks 'ud er sot down en wait twel Miss Motts come back, en den
+ag'in some folks 'ud er tuck der foot in der han' en went back; but ole
+Brer Rabbit, he ain't de man fer ter be outdone, en he des tuck'n go in
+de kitchen en light he seegyar, en den he put out fer ter pay a call on
+Miss Meadows en de gals.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en he git dar, lo en beholes, he fine Miss Motts dar, en he tipped
+in, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he galanted 'roun' 'mungs um, same lak one
+er dese yer town chaps, w'at you see come out ter Harmony Grove
+meetin'-house. Dey talk en dey laff; dey laff en dey giggle. Bimeby,
+'long todes night, Brer Rabbit 'low he better be gwine. De wimmen folks
+dey all ax 'im fer ter stay twel atter supper, 'kaze he sech lively
+comp'ny, but Brer Rabbit fear'd some <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>er de yuther creeturs be hidin'
+out fer 'im; so he tuck'n pay his 'specks, he did, en start fer home.</p>
+
+<p>"He ain't git fur twel he come up wid a great big basket settin' down by
+de side er de big road. He look up de road; he ain't see nobody. He look
+down de road; he ain't see nobody. He look befo', he look behime, he
+look all 'roun'; he ain't see nobody. He lissen, en lissen; he ain't
+year nothin'. He wait, en he wait; nobody ain't come.</p>
+
+<p>"Den, bimeby Brer Rabbit go en peep in de basket, en it seem lak it half
+full er green truck. He retch he han' in, he did, en git some en put it
+in he mouf. Den he shet he eye en do lak he studyin' 'bout sump'n'.
+Atter w'ile, he 'low ter hisse'f, 'Hit look lak sparrer-grass, hit feel
+lak sparrer-grass, hit tas'e lak sparrer-grass, en I be bless ef 't
+ain't sparrer-grass.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Rabbit jump up, he did, en crack he heel tergedder, en he
+fetch one leap en lan' in de basket, right spang in 'mungs de
+sparrer-grass. Dar whar he miss he footin'," continued Uncle Remus,
+rubbing his beard meditatively, "'kaze w'en he jump in 'mungs de
+sparrer-grass, right den en dar he jump in 'mungs ole Brer Wolf, w'ich
+he wer' quile up at de bottom."</p>
+
+<p>"Dar now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically. "W'at I tell you?
+W'at make him pester t'er folks doin's? I boun' Brer Wolf nail't 'im."</p>
+
+<p>"Time Brer Wolf grab 'im," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit knowed he
+'uz a gone case; yit he sing out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I des tryin' ter skeer you, Brer Wolf; I des tryin' ter skeer you. I
+know'd you 'uz in dar, Brer Wolf, I know'd you by de smell!' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Wolf grin, he did, en lick he chops, en up'n say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mighty glad you know'd me, Brer Rabbit, 'kaze I know'd you des time
+you drapt in on me. I tuck'n tell Brer Fox yistiddy dat I 'uz gwine take
+a nap 'longside er de road, en I boun' you 'ud <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>come 'long en wake me
+up, en sho' nuff, yer you come en yer you is,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh-ho, Mr. Rabbit! How you feel now?" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, her
+sympathies evidently with Brother Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Rabbit year dis," said Uncle Remus, paying no attention to
+the interruption, "he 'gun ter git mighty skeer'd, en he whirl in en beg
+Brer Wolf fer ter please tu'n 'im loose; but dis make Brer Wolf grin
+wusser, en he toof look so long en shine so w'ite, en he gum look so
+red, dat Brer Rabbit hush up en stay still. He so skeer'd dat he bref
+come quick, en he heart go lak flutter-mill. He chune up lak he gwine
+cry:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Whar you gwine kyar me, Brer Wolf?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Down by de branch, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at you gwine down dar fer, Brer Wolf?'</p>
+
+<p>"'So I kin git some water ter clean you wid atter I done skunt you, Brer
+Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Please, sir, lemme go, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You talk so young you make me laff, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Dat sparrer-grass done make me sick, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"'You'll be sicker'n dat 'fo' I git done wid you, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Whar I come fum nobody dast ter eat sick folks, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Whar I come fum dey ain't dast ter eat no yuther kin', Brer Rabbit.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Mr. Rabbit wuz a-talkin', mon," said Aunt Tempy, with a chuckle
+that caused her to shake like a piece of jelly.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey went on dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, "plum twel dey git ter
+de branch. Brer Rabbit, he beg en cry, en cry en beg, en Brer Wolf, he
+'fuse en grin, en grin en 'fuse. W'en dey come ter de branch, Brer Wolf
+lay Brer Rabbit down on de groun' en hilt 'im dar, en den he study how
+he gwine make way wid 'im. He study en he study, en w'iles he studyin'
+Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n study some on he own hook.</p>
+
+<p>"Den w'en it seem lak Brer Wolf done fix all de 'rangerments, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span>Brer
+Rabbit, he make lak he cryin' wusser en wusser; he des fa'rly blubber."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus gave a ludicrous imitation of Brother Rabbit's wailings.</p>
+
+<p>"'Ber&mdash;ber&mdash;Brer Wooly&mdash;ooly&mdash;oolf! Is you gwine&mdash;is you gwine ter
+sakerfice-t me right now&mdash;ow&mdash;ow?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Dat I is, Brer Rabbit; dat I is.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, ef I blee-eedz ter be kilt, Brer Wooly&mdash;ooly&mdash;oolf, I wants ter
+be kilt right, en ef I blee-eedz ter be e't, I wants ter be e't
+ri&mdash;ight, too, now!'</p>
+
+<p>"'How dat, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I want you ter show yo' p'liteness, Brer Wooly&mdash;ooly&mdash;oolf!'</p>
+
+<p>"'How I gwine do dat, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I want you ter say grace, Brer Wolf, en say it quick, 'kaze I gittin'
+mighty weak.'</p>
+
+<p>"'How I gwine say grace, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Fol' yo' han's und' yo' chin, Brer Wolf, en shet yo' eyes, en say:
+"Bless us en bine us, en put us in crack whar de Ole Boy can't fine us."
+Say it quick, Brer Wolf, 'kaze I failin' mighty fas'.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Now ain't dat des too much!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, as delighted as the
+little boy. Uncle Remus laughed knowingly and went on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he put up he han's, he did, en shot he eyes, en 'low, 'Bless
+us en bine us;' but he ain't git no furder, 'kaze des time he take up he
+han's, Brer Rabbit fotch a wiggle, he did, en lit on he foots, en he des
+nat'ally lef a blue streak behime 'im."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, while Aunt Tempy allowed her arms to
+drop helplessly from her lap as she cried "Dar now!" and the little boy
+clasped his hands in an ecstasy of admiration.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I just knew Brother Rabbit would get away," the child declared.</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="foots" id="foots"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 408px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0378.jpg" class="jpg" width="408" height="600" alt="BRER RABBIT FOTCH A WIGGLE, HE DID, EN LIT ON HE FOOTS" title="" />
+<span class="caption">BRER RABBIT FOTCH A WIGGLE, HE DID, EN LIT ON HE FOOTS</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0378l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>"Dat's right, honey," said Uncle Remus. "You put yo' pennunce in Brer
+Rabbit en yo' won't be fur out er de way."</p>
+
+<p>There was some further conversation among the negroes, but it was mostly
+plantation gossip. When Aunt Tempy rose to go she said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness knows, Brer Remus, ef dis de way you all runs on, I'm gwine
+ter pester you some mo'. Hit come 'cross me like ole times, dat it do."</p>
+
+<p>"Do so, Sis Tempy, do so," said Uncle Remus, with dignified hospitality.
+"You allers fine a place at my h'a'th. Ole times is about all we got
+lef'."</p>
+
+<p>"Trufe, too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy; and with that she took the child by
+the hand and went out into the darkness.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXVIII" id="XXVIII"></a>XXVIII<br /><br />
+
+SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">It</span> was not many nights before the same company was gathered in Uncle
+Remus's cabin,&mdash;Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy. The
+conversation took a turn that thrilled the child with mingled fear and
+curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired as to the state of Aunt Tempy's
+health, when the latter came in, and her response was:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I feelin' mighty creepy, Brer Remus, sho'. Look like I bleedz ter hunt
+comp'ny. W'en I come 'long down I felt dat skittish twel ef a leaf had
+blow'd 'crost de paff, I'd 'a' des about drapt in my tracks."</p>
+
+<p>"How come dat, Sis Tempy?" Uncle Remus inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"You know dat little gal er Riah's? Well, I 'uz settin' up dar in my
+house 'w'ile ergo, w'en, bless gracious! fus' news I know, I year dat
+chile talkin' in the yuther room. I 'low ter myse'f, she ain't talkin'
+ter Riah, 'kaze Riah ain't come yit, un den I crope <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>up, dar wuz de
+chile settin' right flat in de middle er de flo', laffin' un talkin' un
+makin' motions like she see somebody in de cornder. I des stood dar un
+watch 'er, un I ain't a livin' human ef she don't do like dey 'uz
+somebody er n'er in dar wid 'er. She ax um fer ter stay on dey own side,
+un den, w'en it seem like dey come todes 'er, den she say she gwine git
+a switch un drive um back. Hit make me feel so cole un kuse dat I des
+tuck'n come 'way fum dar, un ef dey's sump'n' n'er dar, hit'll be dem un
+Riah fer't."</p>
+
+<p>"'E do talk wid ghos'; 'e is bin larf wit' harnt," exclaimed Daddy Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck dat's 'bout de upshot un it," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me
+dat w'ence you year chilluns talkin' en gwine on periently wid deyse'f,
+der er bleedz ter see ha'nts."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy moved his stool closer to his venerable partner. Daddy
+Jack roused himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Oona no bin-a see dem ghos'? Oona no bin-a see dem harnt? Hi! I is
+bin-a see plenty ghos'; I no 'fraid dem; I is bin-a punch dem 'way wit'
+me cane. I is bin-a shoo dem 'pon dey own si&euml;d da' road. Dem is bin walk
+w'en da' moon stan' low; den I is bin shum. Oona no walk wit' me dun. 'E
+berry bahd. Oona call, dey no answer. Wun dey call, hol' you' mout'
+shet. 'E berry bahd fer mek answer, wun da' harnt holler. Dem call-a you
+'way fum dis lan'. I yeddy dem call; I shetty me y-eye, I shekkey me
+head.</p>
+
+<p>"Wun I is bin noung mahn, me der go fer git water, un wun I der dip
+piggin 'neat' da' crik, I yeddy v'ice fer call me&mdash;'<em>Jahck! O Jahck!</em>' I
+stan', I lissen, I yeddy de v'ice&mdash;'<em>Jahck! Jahck! O Jahck!</em>' I t'ink 'e
+bin Titty Ann;<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> I ahx um:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Wey you bin call-a me, Titty Ann?' Titty Ann 'tretch 'e y-eye big:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I no bin-a call. Dead ghos' is bin-a call. Dem harnt do call-a you.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>"Dun I rise me y-eye, un I is bin shum gwan by sundown; 'e is bin gwan
+bahckwud. I tell Titty Ann fer look at we nuncle, gwan bahckwud by
+sundown. Titty Ann pit 'e two han' 'pon me y-eyes, en 'e do bline me. 'E
+say I bin-a see one dead ghos'."</p>
+
+<p>"What then, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy, as the old African
+paused.</p>
+
+<p>"Ki! nuff dun. 'Kaze bumbye, so long tam, folks come fetch-a we nuncle
+'tretch out. 'E is bin-a tek wit' da' <em>he</em>cup; 'e t'row 'e head dis way;
+'e t'row 'e head dat way." Daddy Jack comically suited the action to the
+word. "'E is bin tek-a da' <em>he</em>cup; da' <em>he</em>cup is bin tek um&mdash;da' cramp
+is bin fetch um. I is bin see mo' dead ghos', but me no spot um lak
+dis."</p>
+
+<p>"I boun' you is," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me, Brer Jack," he
+continued, "dat w'en you meets up wid one er deze ha'nts, ef you'll
+take'n tu'n yo' coat wrong-sud-outerds, dey won't use no time in makin'
+der disappearance."</p>
+
+<p>"Hey!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "tu'n coat no fer skeer dead ghos'. 'E
+skeer dem Jack-me-Lantun. One tam I is bin-a mek me way troo t'ick
+swamp. I do come hot, I do come cole. I feel-a me bahck quake; me bre't'
+come fahs'. I look; me ent see nuttin'; I lissen; me ent yeddy nuttin'.
+I look, dey de Jack-me-Lantun mekkin 'e way troo de bush; 'e comin'
+stret by me. 'E light bin-a flick-flicker; 'e git close un close. I yent
+kin stan' dis; one foot git heffy, da' heer 'pon me head lif' up. Da'
+Jack-me-Lantun, 'e git-a high, 'e git-a low, 'e come close. Dun I t'ink
+I bin-a yeddy ole folks talk <em>tu'n you' coat-sleef</em> wun da'
+Jack-me-Lantun is bin run you. I pull, I twis', I yerk at dem jacket; 'e
+yent come. 'E is bin grow on me bahck. Jack-me-Lantun fly close. I say
+me pray 'pon da' jacket; 'e is bin-a yerk loose; da' sleef 'e do tu'n.
+Jack-me-Lantun, 'e see dis, 'e lif' up, 'e say '<em>Phew!</em>' 'E done gone!
+Oona no walk in da' swamp 'cep' you is keer you' coat 'cross da' arm.
+Enty!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dat w'at make me say," remarked Aunt Tempy, with a little <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>shiver, "dat
+'oman like me, w'at ain't w'ar no jacket, ain't got no business
+traipsin' un trollopin' 'roun' thoo the woods atter dark."</p>
+
+<p>"You mout tu'n yo' head-hankcher, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus,
+reassuringly, "en ef dat ain't do no good den you kin whirl in en gin um
+leg-bail."</p>
+
+<p>"I year tell," continued Aunt Tempy, vouchsafing no reply to Uncle
+Remus, "dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is a sho' nuff sperit. Sperits
+ain't gwine to walk un walk less'n dey got sump'n' n'er on der min', un
+I year tell dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is 'casioned by a man w'at got
+kilt. Folks kilt 'im un tuck his money, un now his ha'nt done gone un
+got a light fer ter hunt up whar his money is. Mighty kuse ef folks kin
+hone atter money w'en dey done <em>gone</em>. I dunner w'at he wanter be
+ramblin' 'roun' wid a light w'en he done <em>dead</em>. Ef anybody got any hard
+feelin's 'gin' me, I want um ter take it out w'ile deyer in de flesh;
+w'en dey come a-ha'ntin' me, den I'm done&mdash;I'm des <em>done</em>."</p>
+
+<p>"Are witches spirits?" the little boy asked.</p>
+
+<p>The inquiry was not especially directed at Daddy Jack, but Daddy Jack
+was proud of his reputation as a witch, and he undertook to reply.</p>
+
+<p>"None 't all. Witch, 'e no dead ghos'&mdash;'e life folks, wey you shekky
+han' wit'. Oona witch mebbe; how you is kin tell?"</p>
+
+<p>Here Daddy Jack turned his sharp little eyes upon the child. The latter
+moved closer to Uncle Remus, and said he hoped to goodness he was n't a
+witch.</p>
+
+<p>"How you is kin tell diffran 'cep' you bin fer try um?" continued Daddy
+Jack. "'E good t'ing fer be witch; 'e mek-a dem folks fred. 'E mek-a dem
+fred; 'e mek-a dem hol' da' bre't', wun dey is bin-a come by you'
+place."</p>
+
+<p>"In de name er de Lord, Daddy Jack, how kin folks tell wh'er dey er
+witches er no?" asked Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+<p>"Oo! 'e easy nuff. Wun da' moon is shi&uuml;n low, wet-a you' han' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>wit' da'
+pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer 'pon 'e nose; git 'pon 'e bahck.
+Mus' hol' um by 'e year; mus' go gallop, gallop down da' lane, tel 'e do
+come 'cross one-a big gully. Mus' holler, '<em>Double, double, double up!
+double, double, double up!</em>' Heifer jump, oona witch; heifer no jump,
+oona no witch."</p>
+
+<p>"Did you ever ride a heifer, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Mo' tam es dem," replied the old negro, holding up the crooked fingers
+of one withered hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Did&mdash;did she jump across the big gully?"</p>
+
+<p>The child's voice had dropped to an awed whisper, and there was a glint
+of malicious mischief in Daddy Jack's shrewd eyes, as he looked up at
+Uncle Remus. He got his cue. Uncle Remus groaned heavily and shook his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>"Hoo!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "wun I is bin-a tell all, dey no mo' fer
+tell. Mus' kip some fer da' Sunday. Lilly b'y no fred dem witch; 'e no
+bodder lilly b'y. Witch, 'e no rassel wit' 'e ebry-day 'quaintan'; 'e do
+go pars 'e own place."</p>
+
+<p>It was certainly reassuring for the child to be told that witches did
+n't trouble little boys, and that they committed their depredations
+outside of their own neighborhood.</p>
+
+<p>"I is bin-a yeddy dem talk 'bout ole witch. 'E do leaf 'e skin wey 'e is
+sta't fum. Man bin-a come pars by; 'e is fine dem skin. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! 'E one green skin; I fix fer dry um.'</p>
+
+<p>"Man hang um by da' fier. Skin, 'e do swink, i' do swivel. Bumbye 'e do
+smell-a bahd; man, 'e hol' 'e nose. 'E do wait. Skin swink, skin stink,
+skin swivel. 'E do git so bahd, man pitch um in da' ya'd. 'E wait; 'e is
+wait, 'e is lissen. Bumbye, 'e yeddy da' witch come. Witch, e' do sharp'
+'e claw on-a da' fence; 'e is snap 'e jaw&mdash;<em>flick! flick! flick!</em> 'E
+come-a hunt fer him skin. 'E fine um. 'E trey um on dis way; 'e no fit.
+'E trey um on dat way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um on turrer way; 'e no fit.
+'E pit um 'pon 'e <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>head; skin 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e foot; skin 'e
+no fit. 'E cuss, 'e sweer; skin 'e no fit. 'E cut 'e caper; skin 'e no
+fit. Bumbye 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''Tiss-a me, Skin! wey you no know me? Skin, 'tiss-a me! wey you no
+know me?'</p>
+
+<p>"Skin, 'e no talk nuttin' 'tall. Witch 'e do jump, 'e do holler; &agrave; mek
+no diffran. Skin 'e talk nuttin' 'tall. Man, 'e tekky to'ch, 'e look in
+ya'd. 'E see big blahck Woolf lay by da' skin. E toof show; 'e y-eye
+shi&uuml;n. Man drife um 'way; 'e is come bahck. Man bu'n da' skin; 'e is
+bin-a come bahck no mo'."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy asked no more questions. He sat silent while the others
+talked, and then went to the door and looked out. It was very dark, and
+he returned to his stool with a troubled countenance.</p>
+
+<p>"Des wait a little minnit, honey," said Uncle Remus, dropping his hand
+caressingly on the child's shoulder. "I bleedz ter go up dar ter de big
+house fer ter see Mars John, en I'll take you 'long fer comp'ny."</p>
+
+<p>And so, after a while, the old man and the little boy went hand in hand
+up the path.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXIX" id="XXIX"></a>XXIX<br /><br />
+
+A GHOST STORY</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> next time the little boy visited Uncle Remus he persuaded 'Tildy to
+go with him. Daddy Jack was in his usual place, dozing and talking to
+himself, while Uncle Remus oiled the carriage-harness. After a while
+Aunt Tempy came in.</p>
+
+<p>The conversation turned on Daddy Jack's story about "haunts" and
+spirits. Finally 'Tildy said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"W'en it come ter tales 'bout ha'nts," said she, "I year tell er one
+dat'll des nat'ally make de kinks on yo' head onquile deyse'f."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>"W'at tale dat, chile?" asked Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+<p>"Unk' Remus, mus' I tell it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Let 'er come," said Uncle Remus.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," said 'Tildy, rolling her eyes back and displaying her white
+teeth, "one time dey wuz a 'Oman en a Man. Seem like dey live close ter
+one er n'er, en de Man he sot his eyes on de 'Oman, en de 'Oman, she des
+went 'long en 'ten' ter her bizness. Man, he keep his eyes sot on 'er.
+Bimeby, de 'Oman, she 'ten' ter her bizness so much tel she tuck'n tuck
+sick en die. Man, he up'n tell de folks she dead, en de folks dey come
+en fix 'er. Dey lay 'er out, en dey light some candles, en dey sot up
+wid 'er, des like folks does now; en dey put two great big roun' shiny
+silver dollars on 'er eyes fer ter hol' 'er eyeleds down."</p>
+
+<p>In describing the silver dollars 'Tildy joined the ends of her thumbs
+and fore-fingers together, and made a figure as large as a saucer.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey wuz lots bigger dan dollars is deze days," she continued, "en dey
+look mighty purty. Seem like dey wuz all de money de 'Oman got, en de
+folks dey put um on 'er eyeleds fer to hol' um down. Den w'en de folks
+do dat dey call up de Man en take'n tell 'im dat he mus' dig a grave en
+bury de 'Oman, en den dey all went off 'bout der bizness.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, de Man, he tuck'n dig de grave en make ready fer ter bury de
+'Oman. He look at dat money on 'er eyeleds, en it shine mighty purty.
+Den he tuck it off en feel it. Hit feel mighty good, but des 'bout dat
+time de Man look at de 'Oman, en he see 'er eyeleds open. Look like she
+lookin' at 'im, en he take'n put de money whar he git it fum.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, de Man, he take'n git a waggin en haul de 'Oman out ter de
+buryin'-groun', en w'en he git dar he fix ever'thing, en den he grab de
+money en kivver up de grave right quick. Den he go home, en put de money
+in a tin box en rattle it 'roun.' Hit rattle loud en hit rattle nice,
+but de Man, he ain't feel so good. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>Seem like he know de 'Oman eyeled
+stretch wide open lookin' fer 'im. Yit he rattle de money 'roun', en hit
+rattle loud en hit rattle nice.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, de Man, he take'n put de tin box w'at de money in on de
+mantel-shel-uf. De day go by, en de night come, en w'en night come de
+win' 'gun ter rise up en blow. Hit rise high, hit blow strong. Hit blow
+on top er de house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow 'roun' de house.
+Man, he feel quare. He set by de fier en lissen. Win' say
+'<em>Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!</em>' Man lissen. Win' holler en cry. Hit blow top er de
+house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow 'roun' de house, hit blow in de
+house. Man git closte up in de chimbly-jam. Win' fin' de cracks en blow
+in um. '<em>Bizzy, bizzy, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, Man, he lissen, lissen, but bimeby he git tired er dis, en
+he 'low ter hisse'f dat he gwine ter bed. He tuck'n fling a fresh
+light'd knot in de fier, en den he jump in de bed, en quile hisse'f up
+en put his head und' de kivver. Win' hunt fer de cracks&mdash;<em>bizzy-buzz,
+bizzy-buzz, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o-o!</em> Man keep his head und' de kivver.
+Light'd knot flar' up en flicker. Man ain't dast ter move. Win' blow en
+w'issel <em>Phew-fee-e-e-e!</em> Light'd knot flicker en flar'. Man, he keep
+his head kivvud.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, Man lay dar, en git skeer'der en skeer'der. He ain't dast
+ter wink his eye skacely, en seem like he gwine ter have swamp agur.
+W'iles he layin' dar shakin', en de win' a-blowin', en de fier flickin',
+he year someyuther kind er fuss. Hit mighty kuse kind er fuss.
+<em>Clinkity, clinkalinkle!</em> Man 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hey! who stealin' my money?'</p>
+
+<p>"Yit he keep his head kivvud w'iles he lay en lissen. He year de win'
+blow, en den he year dat yuther kinder fuss&mdash;<em>Clinkity, clink, clinkity,
+clinkalinkle!</em> Well, den, he fling off de kivver en sot right up in de
+bed. He look, he ain't see nothin'. De fier flicker en flar' en de win'
+blow. Man go en put chain en bar 'cross de do'. Den he go back to bed,
+en he ain't mo'n totch his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>head on de piller tel he year de yuther
+fuss&mdash;<em>clink, clink, clinkity, clinkalinkle!</em> Man rise up, he ain't see
+nothin' 'tall. Mighty quare!</p>
+
+<p>"Des 'bout time he gwine ter lay down 'g'in, yer come de
+fuss&mdash;<em>clinkity, clinkalinkle</em>. Hit soun' like it on de mantel-shel-uf;
+let 'lone dat, hit soun' like it in de tin box on de mantel-shel-uf; let
+'lone dat, hit soun' like it de money in de tin box on de
+man-tel-shel-uf. Man say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hey! rat done got in box!'</p>
+
+<p>"Man look; no rat dar. He shet up de box, en set it down on de shel-uf.
+Time he do dat yer come de fuss&mdash;<em>clinkity, clinkity, clinkalinkle!</em> Man
+open de box en look at de money. Dem two silver dollars layin' in dar
+des like he put um. W'iles de man dun dis, look like he kin year sump'n'
+say 'way off yander:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Whar my money? Oh, gim me my money!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Man, he sot de box back on de shel-uf, en time he put it down he year
+de money rattle&mdash;<em>clinkity, clinkalinkle, clink!</em>&mdash;en den fum 'way off
+yander sump'n' say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Oh, gim me my money! I want my money!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, de Man git skeer'd sho' nuff, en he got er flat-i&uuml;n en put
+on de tin box, en den he tuck'n pile all de cheers 'gin' de do', en run
+en jump in de bed. He des know dey's a booger comin'. Time he git in bed
+en kivver his head, de money rattle louder, en sump'n' cry way off
+yander:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>I want my money! Oh, gim me my money!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Man, he shake en he shiver; money, hit clink en rattle; booger, hit
+holler en cry. Booger come closter, money clink louder. Man shake wusser
+en wusser. Money say: <em>'Clinkity, clinkalinkle!'</em> Booger cry, <em>'Oh, gim
+me my money!'</em> Man holler, '<em>O Lordy, Lordy!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, hit keep on dis a-way, tel dreckly Man year de do' open. He
+peep fum und' de kivver, en in walk de 'Oman w'at he done bury in de
+buryin'-groun'. Man shiver en shiver, win' blow <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>en blow, money rattle
+en rattle, 'Oman cry en cry. '<em>Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!</em>' sez de win';
+'<em>Clinkalink!</em>' sez de box; '<em>Oh, gim me my money!</em>' sez de 'Oman; '<em>O
+Lordy!</em>' sez de Man. 'Oman year de money, but look like she ain't kin
+see, en she grope 'roun', en grope 'roun', en grope 'roun' wid 'er han'
+h'ist in de a'r des dis away."</p>
+
+<p>Here 'Tildy stood up, pushed her chair back with her foot, raised her
+arms over her head, and leaned forward in the direction of Daddy Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Win' blow, fier flicker, money rattle, Man shake en shiver, 'Oman grope
+'roun' en say, '<em>Gim me my money! Oh, who got my money?</em>'"</p>
+
+<p>'Tildy advanced a few steps.</p>
+
+<p>"Money look like it gwine ter t'ar de tin box all ter flinders. 'Oman
+grope en cry, grope en cry, tel bimeby she jump on de man en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>You got my money!</em>'"</p>
+
+<p>As she reached this climax, 'Tildy sprang at Daddy Jack and seized him,
+and for a few moments there was considerable confusion in the corner.
+The little boy was frightened, but the collapsed appearance of Daddy
+Jack convulsed him with laughter. The old African was very angry. His
+little eyes glistened with momentary malice, and he shook his cane
+threateningly at 'Tildy. The latter coolly adjusted her ear-rings, as
+she exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dar, now! I know'd I'd git even wid de ole vilyun. Come a-callin' me
+pidjin-toed!"</p>
+
+<p>"Better keep yo' eye on 'im, chile," said Aunt Tempy. "He 'witch you,
+sho'."</p>
+
+<p>"'Witch who? Ef he come witchin' roun' me, I lay I break his back. I
+tell you dat right pine-blank."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<div class="link"><a name="foot" id="foot"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span><br /><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>
+<img src="images/rabbit.png" width="400" height="269" alt="Brother Rabbit and his Famous Foot" title="" />
+<span class="caption">Brother Rabbit and his Famous Foot</span>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+XXX<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> little boy was very glad, one night shortly after he had heard about
+Daddy Jack's ghosts and witches and 'Tildy's "ha'nts," to find Uncle
+Remus alone in his cabin. The child liked to have his venerable partner
+all to himself. Uncle Remus was engaged in hunting for tobacco crumbs
+with which to fill his pipe, and in turning his pockets a rabbit foot
+dropped upon the hearth.</p>
+
+<p>"Grab it, honey!" he exclaimed. "Snatch it up off'n de h'a'th. In de
+name er goodness, don't let it git in de embers; 'kaze ef dat ar rabbit
+foot git singe, I'm a goner, sho'!"</p>
+
+<p>It was the hind foot of a rabbit, and a very large one at that, and the
+little boy examined it curiously. He was in thorough sympathy with all
+the superstitions of the negroes, and to him the rabbit foot appeared to
+be an uncanny affair. He placed it carefully on Uncle Remus's knee, and
+after the pipe had been filled, he asked:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"What do you carry that for, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, honey," responded the old man, grimly, "ef you want me ter make
+shorts out'n a mighty long tale, dat rabbit foot is fer ter keep off
+boogers. W'en I hatter run er'n's fer myse'f all times er night, en take
+nigh cuts thoo de woods, en 'cross by de buryin'-groun', hits monst'us
+handy fer ter have dat ar rabbit foot. Keep yo' head studdy, now; mine
+yo' eye; I ain't sayin' deyer any boogers anywhars. Brer Jack kin say
+w'at he mineter; I ain't sayin' nothin'. But yit, ef dey wuz any, en dey
+come slinkin' atter me, I let you know dey'd fine out terreckly dat de
+ole nigger heel'd wid rabbit foot. I 'ud hol' it up des dis a-way, en I
+boun' you I'd shoo um off'n de face er de yeth. En I tell you <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>w'at,"
+continued Uncle Remus, seeing that the little boy was somewhat troubled,
+"w'en it come to dat pass dat you gotter be dodgin' 'roun' in de dark,
+ef you'll des holler fer me, I'll loan you dish yer rabbit foot, en
+you'll be des ez safe ez you is w'en Miss Sally stannin' by yo' bed wid
+a lit can'le in 'er han'.</p>
+
+<p>"Strip er red flannil tied 'roun' yo' arm'll keep off de rheumatis;
+stump-water 'll kyo 'spepsy; some good fer one 'zeeze,<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> en some good
+fer n'er, but de p'ints is dat dish yer rabbit foot 'll gin you good
+luck. De man w'at tote it mighty ap' fer ter come out right een' up w'en
+dey's any racket gwine on in de neighborhoods, let 'er be whar she will
+en w'en she may; mo' espeshually ef de man w'at got it know 'zactly w'at
+he got ter do. W'ite folks may laugh," Uncle Remus went on, "but w'en
+rabbit run 'cross de big road front er me, w'at does I do? Does I shoo
+at um? Does I make fer ter kill um? Dat I don't&mdash;<em>dat</em> I don't! I des
+squots right down in de middle er de road, en I makes a cross-mark in de
+san' des dis way, en den I spits in it."<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus made a practical illustration by drawing a cross-mark in the
+ashes on the hearth.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, but, Uncle Remus, what good does all this do?" the little boy
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Lots er good, honey; bless yo' soul, lots er good. W'en rabbit crosses
+yo' luck, w'at you gwine do, less'n you sets down en crosses it out,
+right den en dar? I year talk er folks shootin' rabbit in de big road,
+yit I notices dat dem w'at does de shootin' ain't come ter no good
+een'&mdash;dat w'at I notices."</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus," the little boy asked, after a while, "how did people
+happen to find out about the rabbit's foot?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you let folks 'lone fer dat, honey! You des let um 'lone. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>W'at de
+wimmen ain't up'n tell bidout anybody axin' un um, folks mighty ap' fer
+ter fine out fer deyse'f. De wimmen, dey does de talkin' en de flyin',
+en de mens, dey does de walkin' en de pryin', en betwixt en betweenst
+um, dey ain't much dat don't come out. Ef it don't come out one day it
+do de nex', en so she goes&mdash;Ant'ny over, Ant'ny under&mdash;up one row en
+down de udder, en clean acrosst de bolly-patch!"</p>
+
+<p>It may be that the child did n't understand all this, but he had no
+doubt of its wisdom, and so he waited patiently for developments.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey's a tale 'bout de rabbit foot," continued Uncle Remus, "but yo' eye
+look watery, like ole man Nod 'bout ter slip up behime you; en let 'lone
+dat, I 'speck Miss Sally clock clickin' fer you right now."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, it is n't, Uncle Remus," said the child, laughing. "Mamma said
+she'd make 'Tildy call me."</p>
+
+<p>"Dar, now!" exclaimed the old man, indignantly, "'Tildy dis en 'Tildy
+dat. I dunner w'at yo' mammy dreamin' 'bout fer ter let dat nigger gal
+be a-holl'in' en a-bawlin' atter you all 'roun' dish yer plan'ation. She
+de mos' uppity nigger on de hill, en de fus' news you know dey ull all
+hatter make der bows en call 'er Mistiss. Ef ole Miss wuz 'live, dey
+would n't be no sech gwines on 'roun' yer. But nummine.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> You des let
+'er come a-cuttin' up front er my do', en I lay you'll year squallin'.
+Now, den," continued the old man, settling himself back in his chair,
+"wharbouts wuz I?"</p>
+
+<p>"You said there was a tale about the rabbit foot," the little boy
+replied.</p>
+
+<p>"So dey is, honey! so dey is!" Uncle Remus exclaimed, "but she got so
+many crooks en tu'ns in 'er dat I dunner but w'at I ain't done gone en
+fergotted some un um off'n my min'; 'kaze ole folks lak me knows lots
+mo' dan w'at dey kin 'member.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>"In de days w'ence Brer Rabbit wuz sorter keepin' de neighborhoods
+stirred up, de yuther creeturs wuz studyin' en studyin' de whole blessid
+time how dey gwine ter nab 'im. Dey ain't had no holiday yit, 'kaze w'en
+de holiday come, dey'd go ter wuk, dey would, en juggle wid one er n'er
+fer ter see how dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit. Bimeby, w'en all
+der plans, en der traps, en der jugglements ain't do no good, dey all
+'gree, dey did, dat Brer Rabbit got some cunjerment w'at he trick um
+wid. Brer B'ar, he up'n 'low, he did, dat he boun' Brer Rabbit is a
+nat'al bawn witch; Brer Wolf say, sezee, dat he 'speck Brer Rabbit des
+in cahoots wid a witch; en Brer Fox, he vow dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck
+dan smartness. Den Jedge B'ar, he drap he head one side, he did, en he
+ax how come Brer Rabbit got all de luck on he own side. De mo' dey ax,
+de mo' dey git pestered, en de mo' dey git pestered, de wuss dey worry.
+Day in en day out dey wuk wid dis puzzlement; let 'lone dat, dey sot up
+nights; en bimeby dey 'gree 'mungs deyse'f dat dey better make up wid
+Brer Rabbit, en see ef dey can't fine out how come he so lucky.</p>
+
+<p>"Wiles all dis gwine on, ole Brer Rabbit wuz a-gallopin' 'roun' fum
+Funtown ter Frolicville, a-kickin' up de devilment en terrifyin' de
+neighborhoods. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel one time, endurin' de
+odd-come-shorts,<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> ole Jedge B'ar sont wud dat one er his chilluns done
+bin tooken wid a sickness, en he ax won't ole Miss Rabbit drap 'roun' en
+set up wid 'im. Ole Miss Rabbit, she say, co'se she go, en atter she
+fill 'er satchy full er yerbs en truck, off she put.</p>
+
+<p>"I done fergit," said Uncle Remus, scratching his head gravely, "w'ich
+one er dem chilluns wuz ailin'. Hit mout er bin Kubs, en hit mout er bin
+Klibs; but no marter fer dat. W'en ole Miss Rabbit git dar, ole Miss
+B'ar wuz a-settin' up in de chimbly-cornder des a-dosin' en a-nussin' de
+young un; en all de wimmin er <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>de neighborhoods wuz dar, a-whispun en
+a-talkin', des fer all de worl' lak wimmin does deze days. It 'uz:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come right in, Sis Rabbit! I mighty proud to see you. I mighty glad
+you fotch yo' knittin', 'kaze I'm pow'ful po' comp'ny w'en my chillun
+sick. Des fling yo' bonnet on de bed dar. I'm dat flustrated twel I
+dunner w'ich een's up, skacely. Sis Wolf, han' Sis Rabbit dat
+rickin'-cheer dar, 'kaze 't ain't no one step fum her house ter mine.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dat de way ole Miss B'ar run on," continued Uncle Remus, "en dey set
+dar en dey chatter en dey clatter. Ole Brer Wolf, he 'uz settin' out on
+de back peazzer smokin' en noddin'. He 'ud take en draw a long whiff, he
+would, en den he 'ud drap off ter noddin' en let de smoke oozle out thoo
+he nose. Bimeby ole Sis Rabbit drap 'er knittin' in 'er lap, en sing
+out, sez she:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, Sis B'ar! I smells 'barker smoke,' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt up de sick baby, en swap it fum one knee ter de
+yuther, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'My ole man bin smokin' 'roun' yer de whole blessid day, but soon'z
+dish yer chile tuck sick, I des tuck'n tole 'im, sez I, fer ter take
+hisse'f off in de woods whar he b'long at, sez I. Yessum! I did dat! I
+pities any 'oman w'at 'er ole man is fer'verlastin' stuck 'roun' de
+house w'en dey's any sickness gwine on,' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Wolf sot out dar on de back peazzer, en he shot one eye, he
+did, en open um 'g'in, en let de smoke oozle out'n he nose. Sis B'ar,
+she jolt de sick baby en swap it fum one knee ter de yuther. Dey sot dar
+en talk twel bimeby der confab sorter slack up. Fus' news dey know Sis
+Rabbit drap 'er knittin' en fling up 'er han's en squall out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'De gracious en de goodness! Ef I ain't done come traipsin' off en lef'
+my ole man money-pus, en he got sump'n' in dar w'at he won't take a
+purty fer, needer! I'm dat fergitful,' sez she, 'twel hit keep me
+mizerbul mighty nigh de whole time,' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he lif' up he year en open he eye, en let de smoke <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>oozle
+out'n he nose. Sis B'ar, she jolt de sick baby wuss en wuss, en bimeby,
+she up'n say, sez she:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I mighty glad 't ain't me, dat I is,' sez she, 'bekaze ef I wuz ter
+lef' my ole man money-pus layin' 'roun' dat a-way, he'd des nat'ally rip
+up de planks in de flo', en t'ar all de bark off'n de trees,' sez she.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Miss Rabbit, she sot dar, she did, en she rock en study, en study
+en rock, en she dunner w'at ter do. Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt en jolt de
+baby. Ole Brer Wolf, he let de 'barker smoke oozle thoo he nose, he did,
+en den he open bofe eyes en lay he pipe down. Wid dat, he crope down de
+back steps en lit out fer Brer Rabbit house. Brer Wolf got gait same lak
+race-hoss, en it ain't take 'im long fer ter git whar he gwine. W'en he
+git ter Brer Rabbit house, he pull de latch-string en open de do', en
+w'en he do dis, one er de little Rabs wake up, en he holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dat you, mammy?'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Wolf wish he kin sing 'Bye-O-Baby,' but 'fo' he kin make
+answer, de little Rab holler out 'g'in:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dat you, mammy?'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Wolf know he got ter do sump'n', so he tuck'n w'isper, he
+did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sh-sh-sh! Go ter sleep, honey. De boogers'll git you!' en wid dat de
+little Rab 'gun ter whimple, en he whimple hisse'f off ter sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"Den w'en it seem lak de little Rabs, w'ich dey wuz mighty nigh
+forty-eleven un um, is all gone ter sleep, Brer Wolf, he crope 'roun',
+he did, en feel on de mantel-shelf, en feel, en feel, twel he come ter
+ole Brer Rabbit money-pus. Ef he want so light wid he han'," Uncle Remus
+went on, glancing quizzically at the child, "he'd a knock off de
+pollygollic vial w'at ole Miss Rabbit put up dar. But nummine! Brer
+Wolf, he feel, en feel, twel he come ter de money-pus, en he grab dat,
+he did, en he des flew'd away fum dar.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en he git out er sight en year'n', Brer Wolf look at de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>money-pus,
+en see w'at in it. Hit 'uz one er deze yer kinder money-pus wid tossle
+on de een' en shiny rings in de middle. Brer Wolf look in dar fer ter
+see w'at he kin see. In one een' dey wuz a piece er calamus-root en some
+collard-seeds, en in de t'er een' dey wuz a great big rabbit foot. Dis
+make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en he gallop off home wid de
+shorance<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> un a man w'at done foun' a gol' mine."</p>
+
+<p>Here Uncle Remus paused and betrayed a disposition to drop off to sleep.
+The little boy, however, touched him upon the knee, and asked him what
+Brother Rabbit did when he found his foot was gone. Uncle Remus laughed
+and rubbed his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit's mighty kuse 'bout Brer Rabbit, honey. He ain't miss dat money-pus
+fer mighty long time, yit w'en he do miss it, he miss it mighty bad. He
+miss it so bad dat he git right-down sick, 'kaze he know he bleedz ter
+fine dat ar foot let go w'at may, let come w'at will. He study en he
+study, yit 't ain't do no good, en he go all 'roun' 'lowin' ter
+hisse'f:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I know whar I put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um; I know whar I
+put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um.'</p>
+
+<p>"He mope en he mope 'roun'. Look lak Brer Wolf got all de luck en Brer
+Rabbit ain't got none. Brer Wolf git fat, Brer Rabbit git lean; Brer
+Wolf run fas', Brer Rabbit lope heavy lak ole Sis Cow; Brer Wolf feel
+funny, Brer Rabbit feel po'ly. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Brer
+Rabbit know sump'n' n'er bleedz ter be done. Las' he make up he min' fer
+ter take a journey, en he fix up he tricks, he do, en he go en see ole
+Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money."</p>
+
+<p>"And who was old Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, Uncle Remus?" the little
+boy inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of triumph, "I know'd w'en I
+fotch dat ole creetur name up, dey wa'n't gwine ter be no noddin' 'roun'
+dish yer h'a'th. In dem days," he con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>tinued, "dey wuz a Witch-Rabbit,
+en dat wuz her entitlements&mdash;ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. She live
+way off in a deep, dark swamp, en ef you go dar you hatter ride some,
+slide some; jump some, hump some; hop some, flop some; walk some, balk
+some; creep some, sleep some; fly some, cry some; foller some, holler
+some; wade some, spade some; en ef you ain't monst'us keerful you ain't
+git dar den. Yit Brer Rabbit he git dar atter so long a time, en he
+mighty nigh wo' out.</p>
+
+<p>"He sot down, he did, fer ter res' hisse'f, en bimeby he see black smoke
+comin' outer de hole in de groun' whar de ole Witch-Rabbit stay. Smoke
+git blacker en blacker, en atter w'ile Brer Rabbit know de time done
+come fer 'im ter open up en tell w'at he want."</p>
+
+<p>As Uncle Remus interpreted the dialogue, Brother Rabbit spoke in a
+shrill, frightened tone, while the voice of the Rabbit-Witch was hoarse
+and oracular:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I needs yo' he'p.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Son Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I los' de foot you gim me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'O Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, my luck done gone. I put dat foot down 'pon de
+groun'. I lef um dar I know not whar.'</p>
+
+<p>"'De Wolf done tuck en stole yo' luck, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley. Go fine
+de track, go git hit back, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money sucked
+all de black smoke back in de hole in de groun', and Brer Rabbit des put
+out fer home. W'en he git dar, w'at do he do? Do he go off in a cornder
+by hisse'f, en wipe he weepin' eye? Dat he don't&mdash;dat he don't. He des
+tuck'n wait he chance. He wait en he wait; he wait all day, he wait all
+night; he wait mighty nigh a mont'. He hang 'roun' Brer Wolf house; he
+watch en he wait.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby, one day, Brer Rabbit git de news dat Brer Wolf des <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>come back
+fum a big frolic. Brer Rabbit know he time comin', en he keep bofe eye
+open en bofe years h'ist up. Nex' mawnin' atter Brer Wolf git back fum
+de big frolic, Brer Rabbit see 'im come outer de house en go down de
+spring atter bucket water. Brer Rabbit, he slip up, he did, en he look
+in. Ole Miss Wolf, she 'uz sailin' 'roun' fryin' meat en gittin'
+brekkus, en dar hangin' 'cross er cheer wuz Brer Wolf wes'cut where he
+keep he money-pus. Brer Rabbit rush up ter do' en pant lak he mighty
+nigh fag out. He rush up, he did, en he sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mawnin', Sis Wolf, mawnin'! Brer Wolf sont me atter de shavin'-brush,
+w'ich he keep it in dat ar money-pus w'at I 'loant 'im.'</p>
+
+<p>"Sis Wolf, she fling up 'er han's en let um drap, en she laugh en say,
+sez she:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I 'clar' ter gracious, Brer Rabbit! You gimme sech a tu'n, dat I ain't
+got room ter be perlite skacely.'</p>
+
+<p>"But mos' 'fo' she gits de wuds out'n 'er mouf, Brer Rabbit done grab de
+money-pus en gone!"</p>
+
+<p>"Which way did he go, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, after a while.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I tell you dis," Uncle Remus responded emphatically, "Brer Rabbit
+road ain't lay by de spring; I boun' you dat!"</p>
+
+<p>Presently 'Tildy put her head in the door to say that it was bedtime,
+and shortly afterward the child was dreaming that Daddy Jack was
+Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in disguise.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXXI" id="XXXI"></a>XXXI<br /><br />
+
+"IN SOME LADY'S GARDEN"</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">When</span> the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the old man was engaged in
+the somewhat tedious operation of making shoe-pegs. Daddy Jack was
+assorting a bundle of sassafras roots, and Aunt <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>Tempy was transforming
+a meal-sack into shirts for some of the little negroes,&mdash;a piece of
+economy of her own devising. Uncle Remus pretended not to see the child.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit's des lak I tell you all," he remarked, as if renewing a
+conversation; "I monst'us glad dey ain't no bad chilluns on dis place
+fer ter be wadin' in de spring-branch, en flingin' mud on de yuther
+little chilluns, w'ich de goodness knows dey er nasty nuff bidout dat. I
+monst'us glad dey ain't none er dat kinder young uns 'roun' yer&mdash;I is
+dat."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in an injured tone,
+"somebody's been telling you something on me."</p>
+
+<p>The old man appeared to be very much astonished.</p>
+
+<p>"Heyo! whar you bin hidin', honey? Yer 't is mos' way atter supper en
+you ain't in de bed yit. Well&mdash;well&mdash;well! Sit over ag'in in de chimbly
+jam dar whar you kin dry dem shoes. En de ve'y nex' time w'at I see you
+wadin' in dat branch, wid de sickly season comin' on, I'm a-gwine ter
+take you 'cross my shoulder en kyar you ter Miss Sally, en ef dat ain't
+do no good, den I'll kyar you ter Mars John, en ef dat ain't do no good,
+den I'm done wid you, so dar now!"</p>
+
+<p>The little boy sat silent a long time, listening to the casual talk of
+Uncle Remus and his guests, and watching the vapor rise from his wet
+shoes. Presently there was a pause in the talk, and the child said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus, have I been too bad to hear a story?"</p>
+
+<p>The old man straightened himself up and pushed his spectacles back on
+his forehead.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, folks, you year w'at he say. Shill we pursue on atter de
+creeturs? Shill er shan't?"</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, I mos' 'shame' myse'f, yit I tell you de
+Lord's trufe, I'm des ez bad atter dem ar tales ez dat chile dar."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, "a tale hit is. One time dey <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>wuz a man,
+en dish yer man he had a gyardin. He had a gyardin, en he had a little
+gal fer ter min' it. I don't 'speck dish yer gyardin wuz wide lak Miss
+Sally gyardin, but hit 'uz lots longer. Hit 'uz so long dat it run down
+side er de big road, 'cross by de plum thicket, en back up de lane. Dish
+yer gyardin wuz so nice en long dat it tuck'n 'track de 'tention er Brer
+Rabbit; but de fence wuz built so close en so high, dat he can't git in
+nohow he kin fix it."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know about that!" exclaimed the little boy. "The man catches
+Brother Rabbit and ties him, and the girl lets him loose to see him
+dance."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus dropped his chin upon his bosom. He seemed to be humbled.</p>
+
+<p>"Sis Tempy," he said, with a sigh, "you'll hatter come in some time w'en
+we ain't so crowded, en I'll up en tell 'bout Billy Malone en Miss
+Janey."</p>
+
+<p>"<em>That</em> wasn't the story I heard, Uncle Remus," said the little boy.
+"<em>Please</em> tell me about Billy Malone and Miss Janey."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a triumphant smile; "I 'low'd maybe
+I wa'n't losin' de use er my 'membunce, en sho' nuff I ain't. Now, den,
+we'll des wuk our way back en start fa'r en squar'. One time dey wuz a
+man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin en a little gal. De gyardin wuz
+chock full er truck, en in de mawnin's, w'en de man hatter go off, he
+call up de little gal, he did, en tell 'er dat she mus' be sho' en keep
+ole Brer Rabbit outer de gyardin. He tell 'er dis eve'y mawnin'; but one
+mawnin' he tuck en forgit it twel he git ter de front gate, en den he
+stop en holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'O Janey! You Janey! Min' w'at I tell you 'bout ole Brer Rabbit. Don't
+you let 'im get my nice green peas.'</p>
+
+<p>"Little gal, she holler back: 'Yes, daddy.'</p>
+
+<p>"All dis time, Brer Rabbit he 'uz settin' out dar in de bushes dozin'.
+Yit, w'en he year he name call out so loud, he cock up one <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>year en
+lissen, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he bleedz ter outdo Mr. Man. Bimeby,
+Brer Rabbit, he went 'roun' en come down de big road des ez natchul ez
+ef he bin trafflin' some'rs. He see de little gal settin' by de gate, en
+he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ain't dish yer Miss Janey?'</p>
+
+<p>"Little gal say: 'My daddy call me Janey.'" Uncle Remus mimicked the
+voice and manner of a little girl. He hung his head, looked excessively
+modest, and spoke in a shrill tone. The effect was so comical that even
+Daddy Jack seemed to enjoy it.</p>
+
+<p>"'My daddy call me Janey; w'at yo' daddy call you?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit look on de groun', en sorter study lak folks does w'en dey
+feels bad. Den he look up en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I bin lose my daddy dis many long year, but w'en he 'live he call me
+Billy Malone.' Den he look at de little gal hard en 'low: 'Well, well,
+well! I ain't seed you sence you 'uz a little bit er baby, en now yer
+you is mighty nigh a grown 'oman. I pass yo' daddy in de road des now,
+en he say I mus' come en tell you fer ter gimme a mess er
+sparrer-grass.'</p>
+
+<p>"Little gal, she fling de gate wide open, en let Mr. Billy Malone git de
+sparrer-grass.</p>
+
+<p>"Man come back en see whar somebody done bin tromplin' on de gyardin
+truck, en den he call up de little gal, en up'n ax 'er who bin dar since
+he bin gone; en de little gal, she 'low, she did, dat Mr. Billy Malone
+bin dar. Man ax who in de name er goodness is Mr. Billy Malone. Little
+gal 'low hit's des a man w'at say 'er daddy sont 'im fer ter git some
+sparrer-grass on account er ole acquaintance. Man got his 'spicions, but
+he ain't say nothin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' day, w'en he start off, he holler en tell de little gal fer ter
+keep one eye on ole Brer Rabbit, en don't let nobody git no mo'
+sparrer-grass. Brer Rabbit, he settin' off dar in de bushes, en he year
+w'at de man say, en he see 'im w'en he go off. Bimeby, he sorter run
+'roun', ole Brer Rabbit did, en he come hoppin' down de road, twel he
+git close up by de little gal at de gyardin <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>gate. Brer Rabbit drapt 'er
+his biggest bow, en ax 'er how she come on. Den, atter dat, he 'low, he
+did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I see yo' daddy gwine 'long down de road des now, en he gimme a rakin'
+down 'kaze I make 'way wid de sparrer-grass, yit he say dat bein' 's how
+I sech a good fr'en' er de fambly I kin come en ax you fer ter gimme a
+mess er Inglish peas.'</p>
+
+<p>"Little gal, she tuck'n fling de gate wide open, en ole Brer Rabbit, he
+march in, he did, en he git de peas in a hurry. Man come back atter
+w'ile, en he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Who bin tromplin' down my pea-vines?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Billy Malone, daddy.'</p>
+
+<p>"Man slap he han' on he forrud;<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> he dunner w'at ter make er all dis.
+Bimeby, he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at kinder lookin' man dish yer Mr. Billy Malone?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Split lip, pop eye, big year, en bob-tail, daddy.'</p>
+
+<p>"Man say he be bless ef he ain't gwine ter make de acquaintance er Mr.
+Billy Malone; en he went ter wuk, he did, en fix 'im up a box-trap, en
+he put some goobers in dar, en he tell de little gal nex' time Mr. Billy
+Malone come fer 'vite 'im in. Nex' mawnin', Man git little ways fum de
+house en tuck'n holler back, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'atsumever you does, don't you dast ter let nobody git no mo'
+sparrer-grass, en don't you let um git no mo' Inglish peas.'</p>
+
+<p>"Little gal holler back: 'No, daddy.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den, atter dat, 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer come Mr. Billy Malone, hoppin'
+'long down de big road. He drapt a bow, he did, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mawnin', Miss Janey, mawnin'! Met yo' daddy down de big road, en he
+say dat I can't git no mo' sparrer-grass en green peas but you kin gimme
+some goobers.'</p>
+
+<p>"Little gal, she lead de way, en tell Mr. Billy Malone dar dey is in de
+box. Mr. Billy Malone, he lick he chops, he did, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>"'You oughter be monst'us glad, honey, dat you got sech a good daddy
+lak dat.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Mr. Billy Malone wunk he off eye, en jump in de box."</p>
+
+<p>"W'at I done tell you!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+<p>"He jump in de box," continued Uncle Remus, "en dar he wuz, en ef de
+little gal hadder bin a minnit bigger, I lay she'd 'a' tuck'n done some
+mighty tall winkin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Man ain't gone fur, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back. W'en Brer
+Rabbit year 'im comin' he bounce 'roun' in dar same ez a flea in a
+piller-case, but 't ain't do no good. Trap done fall, en Brer Rabbit in
+dar. Man look thoo de slats, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dar you is&mdash;same old hoppum-skippum run en jumpum. Youer de ve'y chap
+I'm atter. I want yo' foot fer ter kyar in my pocket, I want yo' meat
+fer ter put in de pot, en I want yo' hide fer ter w'ar on my head.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make cole chill rush up en down Brer Rabbit backbone, en he git
+more 'umble dan a town nigger w'at been kotch out atter nine erclock.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a>
+He holler en cry, en cry en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go! I done 'ceive you dis time, but I ain't
+gwine ter 'ceive you no mo'. Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go, des dis
+little bit er time.'</p>
+
+<p>"Man he ain't sayin' nothin'. He look lak he studyin' 'bout somep'n'
+ne'r way off yan', en den he take de little gal by de han' en go off
+todes de house."</p>
+
+<p>"Sho'ly Brer Rabbit time done come now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, in a tone
+of mingled awe and expectation.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paid no attention to the interruption, but went right on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Hit seem lak dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck dan w'at you kin shake a
+stick at, 'kaze de man en de little gal ain't good en gone <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>skacely twel
+yer come Brer Fox a-pirootin' 'roun'. Brer Fox year Brer Rabbit holl'in'
+en he up'n ax w'at de 'casion er sech gwines on right dar in de broad
+open daylight. Brer Rabbit squall out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Lordy, Brer Fox! you better make 'as'e 'way fum yer, 'kaze Mr. Man ull
+ketch you en slap you in dish yer box en make you eat mutton twel you
+ull des nat'ally bus' right wide open. Run, Brer Fox, run! He bin
+feedin' me on mutton the whole blessid mawnin' en now he done gone atter
+mo'. Run, Brer Fox, run!'</p>
+
+<p>"Yit, Brer Fox ain't run. He up'n ax Brer Rabbit how de mutton tas'e.</p>
+
+<p>"'He tas'e mighty good 'long at fus', but nuff's a nuff, en too much is
+a plenty. Run, Brer Fox, run! He ull ketch you, sho'!'</p>
+
+<p>"Yit, Brer Fox ain't run. He up'n 'low dat he b'leeve he want some
+mutton hisse'f, en wid dat he onloose de trap en let Brer Rabbit out, en
+den he tuck'n git in dar. Brer Rabbit ain't wait fer ter see w'at de
+upshot gwine ter be, needer&mdash;I boun' you he ain't. He des tuck'n gallop
+off in de woods, en he laff en laff twel he hatter hug a tree fer ter
+keep fum drappin' on de groun'."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, but what became of Brother Fox?" the little boy asked, after
+waiting some time for Uncle Remus to proceed.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey," said the old man, falling back upon his dignity, "hit
+e'en about takes all my spar' time fer ter keep up wid you en Brer
+Rabbit, let 'lone keepin' up wid Brer Fox. Ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n tuck
+keer hisse'f, en now let Brer Fox take keer hisse'f."</p>
+
+<p>"I say de word!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>
+<a name="XXXII" id="XXXII"></a>XXXII<br /><br />
+
+BRER 'POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">When</span> Uncle Remus began his story of Billy Malone and Miss Janey, Daddy
+Jack sat perfectly quiet. His eyes were shut, and he seemed to be
+dozing; but, as the story proceeded, he grew more and more restless.
+Several times he was upon the point of interrupting Uncle Remus, but he
+restrained himself. He raised his hands to a level with his chin, and
+beat the ends of his fingers gently together, apparently keeping time to
+his own thoughts. But his impatience exhausted itself, and when Uncle
+Remus had concluded, the old African was as quiet as ever. When Brother
+Fox was left so unceremoniously to his fate, Daddy Jack straightened
+himself temporarily and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Me yent bin-a yerry da tale so. 'E nice, fer true, 'e mek larf come;
+oona no bin-a yerry um lak me."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Uncle Remus, with grave affability, "I 'speck not. One man,
+one tale; 'n'er man, 'n'er tale. Folks tell um diffunt. I boun' yo' way
+de bes', Brer Jack. Out wid it&mdash;en we ull set up yer, en hark at you en
+laff wid you plum twel de chick'ns crow."</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack needed no other invitation. He clasped his knee in his hands
+and began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dey is bin lif one M&agrave;n wut plan' some pea in 'e geerden. 'E plan' some
+pea, but 'e mek no pea; B'er Rabbit, 'e is fine um. 'E fine um un 'e eat
+um. M&agrave;n mek no pea, B'er Rabbit 'e 'stroy um so. 'E plan' dem pea; dey
+do grow, un 'e go off. 'E come bahk; pea no dere. B'er Rabbit teer um up
+un mek 'e cud wit' dem. So long tam, M&agrave;n say 'e gwan ketch um, un 'e no
+ketch um. M&agrave;n go, B'er Rabbit come; M&agrave;n come, B'er Rabbit go. Bumbye,
+M&agrave;n, 'e is git so mad, 'e y-eye bin-a come red; 'e crack 'e toof, 'e do
+cuss. 'E oby 'e gwan ketch B'er Rabbit nohow. Dun 'e is <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>bin-a call 'e
+lilly gal. 'E talk, 'e tell 'im fer let B'er Rabbit go troo da geerden
+gett. Lil gal say yasser. 'E talk, 'e tell 'im wun B'er Rabbit go troo
+da gett, dun 'e mus' shed da gett, un no le'm come pas' no mo'. Lil gal
+say yasser.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole M&agrave;n is bin-a gone 'bout 'e wuk; lil gal, 'e do lissun. B'er Rabbit,
+'e come tippy-toe, tippy-toe; gone in da geerden; eat dem pea tel 'e
+full up; eat tel he mos' git seeck wit' dem pea. Dun 'e start fer go
+out; 'e fine da gett shed. 'E shek um, 'e no open; 'e push um, 'e no
+open; 'e fair grunt, 'e push so hard, 'e no open. 'E bin-a call da lil
+gal; e' say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Lil gal, lil gal! cum y-open da gett. 'T is hu't me feelin' fer fine
+da gett shed lak dis.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal no talk nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''T is-a bin hu't me feelin', lil gal! Come y-open da gett, lil gal,
+less I teer um loose from da hinch.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal v'ice come bahk. 'E talk:</p>
+
+<p>"'Daddy say mus'n'.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit open 'e mout'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'See me long sha'p toof? 'E bite you troo un troo!'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal skeer; 'e tu'n loose de gett un fly. B'er Rabbit <em>gone</em>! Ole
+M&agrave;n come bahk; 'e ahx 'bout B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''E done gone, daddy. I shed da gett, I hol' um fas'. B'er Rabbit bin
+show 'e toof; 'e gwan fer bite-a me troo un troo. I git skeer', daddy.'
+M&agrave;n ahx:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'How 'e gwin fer bite you troo un troo, wun 'e toof fix bite grass?
+B'er Rabbit tell one big tale. 'E no kin bite-a you. Wun 'e come 'g'in,
+you shed dem gett, you hol' um tight, you no le'm go pas' no mo'.' Lil
+gal say yasser.</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' day mawnin', M&agrave;n go 'long 'bout 'e wuk. Lil gal, 'e play 'roun',
+un 'e play 'roun'. B'er Rabbit, 'e is come tippy-tippy. 'E fine gett
+open; 'e slip in da geerden. 'E chew dem pea, 'e gnyaw dem pea; 'e eat
+tel dem pea tas'e bad. Dun 'e try fer go out; gett shed fas'. 'E no kin
+git troo. 'E push, gett no open; 'e keek wit' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>um fut, gett no open; 'e
+butt wit' um head, gett no open. Dun 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. 'E berry bad fer fool wit' ole
+m&agrave;n lak me. I no kin hol' me feelin' down wun you is do lak dis. 'E
+berry bad.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal hol' 'e head down; 'e no say nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Be shame, lil gal, fer do ole m&agrave;n lak dis. Me feelin' git wusser. Come
+y-open de gett 'fo' I is teer um down.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal say: 'Daddy say mus'n'.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit open 'e y-eye wide; 'e is look berry mad. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'See me big y-eye? I pop dis y-eye stret at you, me kill-a you dead.
+Come y-open da gett 'fo' me y-eye pop.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal skeer fer true. 'E loose de gett, 'e fair fly. B'er Rabbit done
+<em>gone</em>! Lil gal daddy bahk. 'E ahx wey is B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''E done gone, daddy. I hol' gett fas'; 'e is bin-a 'come berry mad. 'E
+say he gwan pop 'e y-eye at me, shoot-a me dead.' M&agrave;n say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'B'er Rabbit tell-a too big tale. How 'e gwan shoot-a you wit' 'e
+y-eye? 'E y-eye sem lak turrer folks y-eye. Wun 'e come some mo', you
+shed dem gett, you hol' um fas'.' Lil gal say yasser.</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' day mawnin', M&agrave;n go, B'er Rabbit come. 'E is ma'ch in da gett un
+eat-a dem pea tel 'e kin eat-a no mo'. 'E sta't out; gett shed. 'E no
+kin come pas'. 'E shek, 'e push, 'e pull; gett shed. Dun 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. 'Tis berry bad fer treat you'
+kin lak dis. Come y-open da gett, lil gal. 'Tis full me up wit' sorry
+wun you do lak dis.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal, 'e no say nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''E berry bad fer treat you' kin lak dis. Tu'n go da gett, lil gal.'
+Lil gal say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'How you is kin wit' me, B'er Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>"'You' gran'daddy foller at' me nuncle wit' 'e dog. Da mek we is kin.
+Come y-open da gett, lil gal.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Dat ole Rabbit wuz a-talkin', mon!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy,
+enthusiastically.</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal no say nuttin' 't all!" Daddy Jack went on, with renewed
+animation. "Dun B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'See me long, sha'p toof, lil gal? Me bite-a you troo un troo.' Lil gal
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me no skeer da toof. 'E bite nuttin' 'tall 'cep' 'e bite grass.' B'er
+Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'See me big y-eye? I pop um at you, shoot-a you dead.' Lil gal say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Me no skeer da y-eye. 'E sem lak turrer folks y-eye.' B'er Rabbit
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Lil gal, you mek me 'come mad. I no lak fer hu't-a me kin. Look at me
+ho'n! I run you troo un troo.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit lif 'e two year up; 'e p'int um stret at da lil gal. Lil
+gal 'come skeer da ho'n; 'e do tu'n go da gett; 'e fly fum dey-dey."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, ef dat don't beat!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, laughing as heartily as
+the little boy. "Look at um one way, en Rabbit year does look lak sho'
+nuff ho'ns."</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal tu'n go da gett," Daddy Jack continued; "B'er Rabbit <em>gone</em>!
+M&agrave;n come bahk; 'e ahx wey is B'er Rabbit. Lil gal cry; 'e say 'e skeer
+B'er Rabbit ho'n. M&agrave;n say 'e is hab no ho'n. Lil gal is stan' um down 'e
+see ho'n. M&agrave;n say da ho'n is nuttin' 't all but B'er Rabbit year wut 'e
+yeddy wit'. 'E tell lil gal nex' tam B'er Rabbit come, 'e mus' shed da
+gett; 'e mus' run fum dey-dey un leaf um shed. Lil gal say yasser.</p>
+
+<p>"M&agrave;n gone, B'er Rabbit come. 'E is go in da gett; 'e eat-a dem pea tel
+'e tire'. 'E try fer go pas' da gett, gett shed. 'E call lil gal; lil
+gal <em>gone</em>! 'E call, call, call; lil gal no yeddy. 'E try fer fine crack
+in da palin'; no crack dey. 'E try fer jump over; de palin' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>too high.
+'E 'come skeer; 'e is 'come so skeer 'e squot 'pun da groun'; 'e shek,
+'e shiver.</p>
+
+<p>"M&agrave;n come bahk. 'E ahx wey B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say 'e in da geerden.
+M&agrave;n hug lil gal, 'e is lub um so. 'E go in da geerden; 'e fine B'er
+Rabbit. 'E ketch um&mdash;'e ca' um off fer kill um; 'e mad fer true. Lil gal
+come holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Daddy, daddy! missus say run dere! 'E wan' you come stret dere!'</p>
+
+<p>"M&agrave;n tie B'er Rabbit in da bag; 'e hang um on tree lim'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I gwan come bahk. I l'arn you fer mek cud wit' me green pea.'</p>
+
+<p>"M&agrave;n gone fer see 'e missus. Bumbye, B'er 'Possum is bin-a come pas'. 'E
+look up, 'e ketch glimp' da bag 'pun da lim'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! Wut dis is bin-a hang in da bag 'pun da tree-lim'?' B'er Rabbit
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hush, B'er 'Possum! 'T is-a me. I bin-a lissen at dem sing in da
+cloud.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er 'Possum lissen. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I no yed dem sing, B'er Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Hush, B'er 'Possum! How is I kin yeddy dem sing wun you is mek-a da
+fuss dey-dey?'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er 'Possum, 'e hoi' 'e mout' still, 'cep' 'e do grin. B'er Rabbit
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I yed dem now! I yed dem now! B'er 'Possum, I wish you is yeddy dem
+sing!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er 'Possum say 'e mout' water fer yeddy dem sing in da cloud. B'er
+Rabbit, 'e say 'e is bin-a hab so long tarn 'quaintun wit' B'er 'Possum,
+'e le'm yeddy dem sing. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I git fum da bag. I tu'n-a you in tel you is yeddy dem sing. Dun you
+is git fum da bag, tel I do come bahk un 'joy mese'f.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er 'Possum, 'e do clam up da tree; 'e git dem bag, 'e bring <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>um down.
+'E tak off da string; 'e tu'n B'er Rabbit go. 'E crawl in un 'e quile
+up. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi! wait tel da bag it tie, B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!' 'E
+wait.</p>
+
+<p>"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi! wait tel I clam da tree, B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!' 'E
+wait.</p>
+
+<p>"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wait tel I fix um 'pun da lim', B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!'
+'E wait.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit clam down; 'e run 'way fum dey-dey; 'e hide in da bush
+side. M&agrave;n come bahk. 'E see da bag moof. B'er 'Possum say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I no yeddy dem sing. I wait fer yed um sing!'</p>
+
+<p>"M&agrave;n t'ink 'e B'er Rabbit in da bag. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah-yi-ee! I mekky you yed dem sing!'</p>
+
+<p>"M&agrave;n teka da bag fum da tree-lim'; 'e do slam da bag 'gin' da face da
+ye't'. 'E tek-a 'e walkin'-cane, un 'e beat B'er 'Possum wut is do um no
+ha'm tel 'e mos' kill um. M&agrave;n t'ink B'er Rabbit mus' bin dead by dis. 'E
+look in da bag; 'e 'tretch 'e y-eye big; 'e 'stonish'. B'er Rabbit, 'e
+do come fum da bush side; 'e do holler, 'e do laff. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You no is ketch-a me! I t'ief you' green pea,&mdash;I t'ief um some mo',&mdash;I
+t'ief um tel I dead!'</p>
+
+<p>"M&agrave;n, 'e 'come so mad, 'e is fling hatchet at B'er Rabbit un chop off 'e
+tail."</p>
+
+<p>At this moment Daddy Jack subsided. His head drooped forward, and he was
+soon in the land of Nod. Uncle Remus sat gazing into the fireplace, as
+though lost in reflection. Presently, he laughed softly to himself, and
+said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's des 'bout de long en de short un it. Mr. Man clip off Brer Rabbit
+tail wid de hatchet, en it bleed so free dat Brer Rab<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>bit rush off ter
+de cotton-patch en put some lint on it, en down ter dis day dat lint
+mos' de fus' t'ing you see w'en Brer Rabbit jump out'n he bed en tell
+you good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Uncle Remus, what became of Brother 'Possum?"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus smacked his lips and looked wise.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't talk 'bout Brer 'Possum, honey, ef dat ar Mr. Man wuz nice folks
+lak we all is, en I ain't 'spute it, he tuck'n tuck Brer 'Possum en
+bobbycue 'im, en I wish I had a great big piece right now. Dat I does."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXXIII" id="XXXIII"></a>XXXIII<br /><br />
+
+WHY THE GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">One</span> night, while the little boy was watching Uncle Remus broil a piece
+of bacon on the coals, he heard a great commotion among the
+guinea-fowls. The squawking and <em>pot-racking</em> went on at such a rate
+that the geese awoke and began to scream, and finally the dogs added
+their various voices to the uproar. Uncle Remus leaned back in his chair
+and listened.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck may be dat's de patter-rollers gwine by," he said, after a
+while. "But you can't put no 'pen'unce in dem ar Guinny-hins, 'kaze
+dey'll wake up en holler ef dey year deyse'f sno'. Dey'll fool you,
+sho'."</p>
+
+<p>"They are mighty funny, anyhow," said the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's it!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Dey looks quare, en dey does quare.
+Dey ain't do lak no yuther kinder chick'n, en dey ain't look lak no
+yuther kinder chick'n. Yit folks tell me," the old man went on,
+reflectively, "dat dey er heap mo' kuse lookin' now dan w'at dey use'
+ter be. I year tell dat dey wuz one time w'en dey wuz all blue, 'stid er
+havin' all dem ar teenchy little spots on um."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, how did they get to be speckled, Uncle Remus?" asked <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>the little
+boy, seeing that the old man was disposed to leave the subject and
+devote his attention to his broiling bacon.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus did not respond at once. He turned his meat over carefully,
+watched it a little while, and then adroitly transferred it to the cover
+of a tin bucket, which was made to answer the purpose of a plate. Then
+he searched about in the embers until he found his ash-cake, and in a
+little while his supper was ready to be eaten.</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't begrudgin' nobody nothin'," said Uncle Remus, measuring the
+victuals with his eye; "yit I'm monst'us glad Brer Jack ain't nowhar's
+'roun', 'kaze dey ain't no tellin' de gawm dat ole nigger kin eat. He
+look shaky, en he look dry up, en he ain't got no toof, yit w'ence he
+set hisse'f down whar dey any vittles, he des nat'ally laps hit up. En
+let 'lone dat, he ull wipe he mouf en look' roun' des lak he want mo'.
+Time Miss Sally see dat ole nigger eat one meal er vittles, I boun' you
+he hatter go back down de country. I ain't begrudgin' Brer Jack de
+vittles," Uncle Remus went on, adopting a more conciliatory tone, "dat I
+ain't, 'kaze folks is got ter eat; but, gentermens! you be 'stonish'
+w'en you see Brer Jack 'pesterin' 'long er he dinner."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy sat quiet awhile, and then reminded Uncle Remus of the
+guinea-fowls.</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho', honey, tooby sho'! W'at I doin' runnin' on dis-a-way 'bout
+ole Brer Jack? W'at he done ter me? Yer I is gwine on 'bout ole Brer
+Jack, en dem ar Guinny-hins out dar waitin'. Well, den, one day Sis Cow
+wuz a-grazin' 'bout in de ole fiel' en lookin' atter her calf. De wedder
+wuz kinder hot, en de calf, he tuck'n stan', he did, in he mammy
+shadder, so he kin keep cool, en so dat one flip un he mammy tail kin
+keep the flies off'n bofe un um. Atter w'ile, 'long come a drove er
+Guinnies. De Guinnies, dey howdied, en Sis Cow, she howdied, en de
+Guinnies, dey sorter picked 'roun' en sun deyse'f; en Sis Cow, she crap
+de grass en ax um de news er de neighborhoods. Dey went on dis a-way
+twel <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>'t wa'n't long 'fo' dey year mighty kuse noise out dar t'er side
+er de ole fiel'. De Guinnies, dey make great 'miration, des lak dey does
+deze days, en ole Sis Cow fling up 'er head en look all 'roun'. She
+ain't see nothin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter w'ile dey year de kuse fuss 'g'in, en dey look 'roun', en bless
+gracious! stan'in' right dar, 'twix' dem en sundown, wuz a great big
+Lion!"</p>
+
+<p>"A Lion, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy, in amazement.</p>
+
+<p>"Des ez sho' ez you er settin' dar, honey,&mdash;a great big Lion. You better
+b'leeve dey wuz a monst'us flutterment 'mungs de Guinnies, en ole Sis
+Cow, she looked mighty skeer'd. De Lion love cow meat mos' better dan he
+do any yuther kinder meat, en he shake he head en 'low ter hisse'f dat
+he'll des about ketch ole Sis Cow en eat 'er up, en take en kyar de calf
+ter he fambly.</p>
+
+<p>"Den he tuck'n shuck he head, de Lion did, en make straight at Sis Cow.
+De Guinnies dey run dis a-way, en dey run t'er way, en dey run all
+'roun' en 'roun'; but ole Sis Cow, she des know she got ter stan' 'er
+groun', en w'en she see de Lion makin' todes 'er, she des tuck'n drapt
+'er head down en pawed de dirt. De Lion, he crope up, he did, en crope
+'roun', watchin' fer good chance fer ter make a jump. He crope 'roun',
+he did, but no diffunce which a-way he creep, dar wuz ole Sis Cow hawns
+p'intin' right straight at 'im. Ole Sis Cow, she paw de dirt, she did,
+en show de white er her eyes, en beller way down in 'er stomach.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey went on dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby de Guinnies, dey see dat
+Sis Cow ain't so mighty skeer'd, en den dey 'gun ter take heart. Fus'
+news you know, one un um sorter drap he wings en fuzzle up de fedders en
+run out 'twix' Sis Cow en de Lion. W'en he get dar, he sorter dip down,
+he did, en fling up dirt des lak you see um do in de ash-pile. Den he
+tuck'n run back, he did, en time he git back, 'n'er one run out en raise
+de dus' 'twix' Sis Cow en de Lion. Den 'n'er one, he run out en dip down
+en shoo up de dus'; den 'n'er one run out en dip down, en 'n'er one en
+yit 'n'er one, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>twel, bless gracious! time dey all run out en dip down
+en raise de dus', de Lion wuz dat blin' twel he ain't kin see he han'
+befo' 'im. Dis make 'im so mad dat he make a splunge at Sis Cow, en de
+old lady, she kotch 'im on her hawns en got 'im down, en des nat'ally
+to' intruls out."</p>
+
+<p>"Did she kill the Lion, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy,
+incredulously.</p>
+
+<p>"Dat she did&mdash;dat she did! Yit 't ain't make 'er proud, 'kaze atter de
+Lion done good en dead, she tuck en call up de Guinnies, she did, en she
+'low, dey bin so quick fer ter he'p 'er out, dat she wanter pay um back.
+De Guinnies, dey say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't bodder 'long er we all, Sis Cow,' sezee. 'You had yo' fun en we
+all had ourn, en 'ceppin' dat ar blood en ha'r on yo' hawn,' sezee, 'dey
+ain't none un us any de wuss off,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"But ole Sis Cow, she stan' um down, she did, dat she got ter pay um
+back, en den atter w'ile she ax um w'at dey lak bes'.</p>
+
+<p>"One un um up en make answer dat w'at dey lak bes', Sis Cow, she can't
+gi' um. Sis Cow, she up en 'low dat she dunno 'bout dat, en she ax um
+w'at is it.</p>
+
+<p>"Den de Guinnies, dey tuck'n huddle up, dey did, en hol' er confab wid
+one er 'n'er, en w'iles dey er doin' dis, ole Sis Cow, she tuck'n fetch
+a long breff, en den she call up 'er cud, en stood dar chawin' on it des
+lak she ain't had no tribalation dat day.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby one er de Guinnies step out fum de huddlement en make a bow en
+'low dat dey all 'ud be mighty proud ef Sis Cow kin fix it some way so
+dey can't be seed so fur thoo de woods, 'kaze dey look blue in de sun,
+en dey look blue in de shade, en dey can't hide deyse'f nohow. Sis Cow,
+she chaw on 'er cud, en shet 'er eyes, en study. She chaw en chaw, en
+study en study. Bimeby she 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go fetch me a pail!' Guinny-hin laff!</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, Sis Cow! w'at de name er goodness you gwine do wid a pail?'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>"'Go fetch me a pail!'</p>
+
+<p>"Guinny-hin, she run'd off, she did, en atter w'ile yer she come
+trottin' back wid a pail. She sot dat pail down," continued Uncle Remus,
+in the tone of an eye-witness to the occurrence, "en Sis Cow, she tuck
+'er stan' over it, en she let down 'er milk in dar twel she mighty nigh
+fill de pail full. Den she tuck'n make dem Guinny-hins git in a row, en
+she dip 'er tail in dat ar pail, en she switch it at de fust un en
+sprinkle 'er all over wid de milk; en eve'y time she switch 'er tail at
+um she 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I loves dis un!' Den she 'ud sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Oh, Blue, go 'way! you shill not stay!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Oh, Guinny, be Gray, be Gray!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"She tuck'n sprinkle de las' one un um, en de Guinnies, dey sot in de
+sun twel dey git dry, en fum dat time out dey got dem little speckles un
+um."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXXIV" id="XXXIV"></a>XXXIV<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT'S LOVE-CHARM</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Dey</span> wuz one time," said Uncle Remus one night, as they all sat around
+the wide hearth,&mdash;Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy in their
+accustomed places,&mdash;"dey wuz one time w'en de t'er creeturs push Brer
+Rabbit so close dat he tuck up a kinder idee dat may be he wa'n't ez
+smart ez he mout be, en he study 'bout dis plum twel he git humble ez de
+nex' man. 'Las' he low ter hisse'f dat he better make inquirements&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Ki!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, raising both hands and grinning excitedly,
+"wut tale dis? I bin yerry da tale wun I is bin wean't fum me mammy."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, with instinctive deference to
+the rules of hospitality, "I 'speck you des better <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>whirl in yer en spin
+'er out. Ef you git 'er mix up anywhars I ull des slip in front er you
+en ketch holt whar you lef' off."</p>
+
+<p>With that, Daddy Jack proceeded:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One tam, B'er Rabbit is bin lub one noung leddy."</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Meadows, I 'speck," suggested Uncle Remus, as the old African
+paused to rub his chin.</p>
+
+<p>"'E no lub Miss Meadow nuttin' 't all!" exclaimed Daddy Jack,
+emphatically. "'E bin lub turrer noung leddy fum dat. 'E is bin lub
+werry nice noung leddy. 'E lub 'um hard, 'e lub 'um long, un 'e is gwan
+try fer mek dem noung leddy marry wit' 'im. Noung leddy seem lak 'e no
+look 'pon B'er Rabbit, un dis is bin-a mek B'er Rabbit feel werry bad
+all da day long. 'E moof 'way off by 'ese'f; 'e lose 'e fat, un 'e heer
+is bin-a come out. Bumbye, 'e see one ole Affiky mans wut is bin-a hunt
+in da fiel' fer root en yerrub fer mek 'e met'cine truck. 'E see um, un
+he go toze um. Affiky mans open 'e y-eye big; 'e 'stonish'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki, B'er Rabbit! you' he'lt' is bin-a gone; 'e bin-a gone un lef' you.
+Wut mekky you is look so puny lak dis? Who is bin hu't-a you' feelin'?'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit larf wit' dry grins. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Shoo! I bin got well. Ef you is see me wun I sick fer true, 't will
+mekky you heer stan' up, I skeer you so.'</p>
+
+<p>"Affiky mans, 'e mek B'er Rabbit stick out 'e tongue; 'e is count B'er
+Rabbit pulse. 'E shekky 'e head; 'e do say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi, B'er Rabbit! Wut all dis? You is bin ketch-a da gal-fever, un 'e
+strak in 'pon you' gizzud.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den B'er Rabbit, 'e is tell-a da Affiky mans 'bout dem noung leddy wut
+no look toze 'im, un da Affiky mans, 'e do say 'e bin know gal sem lak
+dat, 'e is bin shum befo'. 'E say 'e kin fix all dem noung leddy lak
+dat. B'er Rabbit, 'e is feel so good, 'e jump up high; 'e is bin crack
+'e heel; 'e shekky da Affiky mans by de han'.</p>
+
+<p>"Affiky mans, 'e say B'er Rabbit no kin git da gal 'cep' 'e is <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>mek 'im
+one cha'm-bag. 'E say 'e mus' git one el'phan' tush, un 'e mus' git one
+'gater toof, un 'e mus' git one rice-bud bill. B'er Rabbit werry glad
+'bout dis, un 'e hop way fum dey-dey.</p>
+
+<p>"'E hop, 'e run, 'e jump all nex' day night, un bumbye 'e see one great
+big el'phan' come breakin' 'e way troo da woots. B'er Rabbit, 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! Oona big fer true! I bin-a yeddy talk 'bout dis in me y-own
+countree. Oona big fer true; too big fer be strong.'</p>
+
+<p>"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E tek pine tree in 'e snout; 'e pull um by da roots; 'e toss um way
+off. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi! dem tree come 'cause you bin high; 'e no come 'cause you bin
+strong.'</p>
+
+<p>"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E rush troo da woots; 'e fair teer um down. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hoo! dem is bin-a saplin' wey you 'stroy. See da big pine? Oona no kin
+'stroy dem.'</p>
+
+<p>"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E run 'pon da big pine; da big pine is bin too tough. El'phan' tush
+stick in deer fer true; da big pine hol' um fas'. B'er Rabbit git-a dem
+tush; 'e fetch um wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky mans say el'phan' is
+bin too big fer be sma't. 'E say 'e mus' haf one 'gater toof fer go wit'
+el'phan' tush.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e do crack 'e heel; 'e do fair fly fum dey-dey. 'E go
+'long, 'e go 'long. Bumbye 'e come 'pon 'gater. Da sun shi&uuml;n hot; da
+'gater do 'joy 'ese'f. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dis road, 'e werry bad; less we mek good one by da crickside.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Gater lak dat. 'E wek 'ese'f up fum 'e head to 'e tail. Dey sta't fer
+clean da road. 'Gater, 'e do teer da bush wit' 'e toof; 'e sweep-a da
+trash way wit' 'e tail. B'er Rabbit, 'e do beat-a da bush down wit' 'e
+cane. 'E hit lef', 'e hit right; 'e hit up, 'e hit down; 'e hit all
+'roun'. 'E hit un 'e hit, tel bumbye 'e hit 'gater in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>'e mout' un
+knock-a da toof out. 'E grab um up; 'e gone fum dey-dey. 'E fetch-a da
+'gater toof wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky mans say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''Gater is bin-a got sha'p toof fer true. Go fetch-a me one rice-bud
+bill.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit gone! 'E go 'long, 'e go 'long, tel 'e see rice-bud
+swingin' on bush. 'E ahx um kin 'e fly.</p>
+
+<p>"Rice-bud say: 'See dis!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E wissle, 'e sing, 'e shek 'e wing; 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit say rice-bud kin fly wey da win' is bin blow, but 'e no kin
+fly wey no win' blow.</p>
+
+<p>"Rice-bud say, 'Enty!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E wait fer win' stop blowin'; 'e wait, un 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit say rice-bud yent kin fly in house wey dey no win'.</p>
+
+<p>"Rice-bud say, 'Enty!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E fly in house, 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'. B'er Rabbit pull de do'
+shed; 'e look at dem rice-bud; 'e say, 'Enty!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E ketch dem rice-bud; 'e do git um bill, 'e fetch um wey da Affiky
+mans lif. Affiky mans says dem rice-bud bill slick fer true. 'E tekky da
+el'phan' tush, 'e tekky da 'gater toof, 'e tekky da rice-bud bill, he
+pit um in lil bag; 'e swing dem bag 'pon B'er Rabbit neck. Den B'er
+Rabbit kin marry dem noung gal. Enty!"</p>
+
+<p>Here Daddy Jack paused and flung a glance of feeble tenderness upon
+'Tildy. Uncle Remus smiled contemptuously, seeing which 'Tildy
+straightened herself, tossed her head, and closed her eyes with an air
+of indescribable scorn.</p>
+
+<p>"I dunner what Brer Rabbit mout er done," she exclaimed; "but I lay ef
+dey's any ole nigger man totin' a cunjer-bag in dis neighborhood, he'll
+git mighty tired un it 'fo' it do 'im any good&mdash;I lay dat!"</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack chuckled heartily at this, and dropped off to sleep so
+suddenly that the little boy thought he was playing 'possum.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>
+<a name="XXXV" id="XXXV"></a>XXXV<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span>," said the child, "do you reckon Brother Rabbit really
+married the young lady?"</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, honey," responded the old man, with a sigh, "hit b'long
+ter Brer Jack fer ter tell you dat. 'T ain't none er my tale."</p>
+
+<p>"Was n't that the tale you started to tell?"</p>
+
+<p>"Who? Me? <em>Shoo!</em> I ain't 'sputin' but w'at Brer Jack tale des ez purty
+ez dey er any needs fer, yit 't ain't none er my tale."</p>
+
+<p>At this, the little boy laid his head upon Uncle Remus's knee and
+waited.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den," said the old man, with an air of considerable importance,
+"we er got ter go 'way back behime dish yer yallergater doin's w'at Brer
+Jack bin mixin' us up wid. Ef I makes no mistakes wid my 'membunce, de
+place wharbouts I lef' off wuz whar Brer Rabbit had so many 'p'intments
+fer ter keep out de way er de t'er creeturs dat he 'gun ter feel
+monst'us humblyfied. Let um be who dey will, you git folks in a close
+place ef you wanter see um shed der proudness. Dey beg mo' samer dan a
+nigger w'en de patter-rollers ketch 'im. Brer Rabbit ain't ko no
+beggin', 'kaze dey ain't kotch; yit dey come so nigh it, he 'gun ter
+feel he weakness.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Rabbit feel dis a-way, do he set down flat er de groun' en
+let de t'er creeturs rush up en grab 'im? He mought do it deze days,
+'kaze times done change; but in dem days he des tuck'n sot up wid
+hisse'f en study 'bout w'at he gwine do. He study en study, en las' he
+up'n tell he ole 'oman, he did, dat he gwine on a journey. Wid dat, ole
+Miss Rabbit, she tuck'n fry 'im up a rasher er bacon, en bake 'im a pone
+er bread. Brer Rabbit tied dis up in a bag en tuck down he walkin' cane
+en put out."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>"Where was he going, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Lemme 'lone, honey! Lemme sorter git hit up, like. De trail mighty cole
+'long yer, sho'; 'kaze dish yer tale ain't come 'cross my min' not sence
+yo' gran'pa fotch us all out er Ferginny, en dat's a monst'us long time
+ago.</p>
+
+<p>"He put out, Brer Rabbit did, fer ter see ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat 'uz dat ole Witch-Rabbit," remarked Aunt Tempy, complacently.</p>
+
+<p>"Yasser," continued Uncle Remus, "de ve'y same ole creetur w'at I done
+tell you 'bout w'en Brer Rabbit los' he foot. He put out, he did, en
+atter so long a time he git dar. He take time fer ter ketch he win', en
+den he sorter shake hisse'f up en rustle 'roun' in de grass. Bimeby he
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money! O Mammy-Bammy Big-Money! I journeyed fur, I
+journeyed fas'; I glad I foun' de place at las'.'</p>
+
+<p>"Great big black smoke rise up out er de groun', en ole Mammy-Bammy
+Big-Money 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wharfo', Son Riley Rabbit, Riley? Son Riley Rabbit, wharfo'?'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, dropping the sing-song tone by means
+of which he managed to impart a curious dignity and stateliness to the
+dialogue between Brother Rabbit and Mammy-Bammy Big-Money,&mdash;"wid dat
+Brer Rabbit up'n tell 'er, he did, 'bout how he fear'd he losin' de use
+er he min', 'kaze he done come ter dat pass dat he ain't kin fool de
+yuther creeturs no mo', en dey push 'im so closte twel 't won't be long
+'fo' dey'll git 'im. De ole Witch-Rabbit she sot dar, she did, en suck
+in black smoke en puff it out 'g'in, twel you can't see nothin' 't all
+but 'er great big eyeballs en 'er great big years. Atter w'ile she
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>"'Dar sets a squer'l in dat tree, Son Riley; go fetch dat squer'l
+straight ter me, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit sorter study, en den he 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't got much sense lef', yit ef I can't coax dat chap down from
+dar, den hit's 'kaze I done got some zeeze w'ich it make me fibble in de
+min',' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit tuck'n empty de provender out'n he bag en got 'im
+two rocks, en put de bag over he head en sot down und' de tree whar he
+squer'l is. He wait little w'ile, en den he hit de rocks
+tergedder&mdash;<em>blip!</em></p>
+
+<p>"Squer'l he holler, 'Hey!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit wait little, en den he tuck'n slap de rocks
+tergedder&mdash;<em>blap!</em></p>
+
+<p>"Squer'l he run down de tree little bit en holler, 'Heyo!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nothin'. He des pop de rocks
+tergedder&mdash;<em>blop!</em></p>
+
+<p>"Squer'l, he come down little furder, he did, en holler, 'Who dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Biggidy Dicky Big-Bag!'</p>
+
+<p>"'What you doin' in dar?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Crackin' hick'y nuts.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Kin I crack some?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Tooby sho', Miss Bunny Bushtail; come git in de bag.'</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Bunny Bushtail hang back," continued Uncle Remus, chuckling; "but
+de long en de short un it wuz dat she got in de bag, en Brer Rabbit he
+tuck'n kyar'd 'er ter ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. De ole Witch-Rabbit,
+she tuck'n tu'n de squer'l a-loose, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dar lies a snake in 'mungs' de grass, Son Riley; go fetch 'im yer, en
+be right fas', Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit look 'roun', en sho' nuff dar lay de bigges' kinder
+rattlesnake, all quile up ready fer business. Brer Rabbit scratch he
+year wid he behime leg, en study. Look lak he gwine <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>git in trouble. Yit
+atter w'ile he go off in de bushes, he did, en cut 'im a young
+grape-vine, en he fix 'im a slip-knot. Den he come back. Snake
+'periently look lak he sleep. Brer Rabbit ax 'im how he come on. Snake
+ain't say nothin', but he quile up a little tighter, en he tongue run
+out lak it bin had grease on it. Mouf shot, yit de tongue slick out en
+slick back 'fo' a sheep kin shake he tail. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he
+did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, Mr. Snake, I mighty glad I come 'cross you,' sezee. 'Me en ole
+Jedge B'ar bin havin' a turrible 'spute 'bout how long you is. We bofe
+'gree dat you look mighty purty w'en youer layin' stretch out full lenk
+in de sun; but Jedge B'ar, he 'low you ain't but th'ee foot long, en I
+stood 'im down dat you 'uz four foot long ef not mo',' sezee. 'En de
+talk got so hot dat I come mighty nigh hittin' 'im a clip wid my
+walkin'-cane, en ef I had I boun' dey'd er bin some bellerin' done
+'roun' dar,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Snake ain't say nothin', but he look mo' complassy<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> dan w'at he bin
+lookin'.</p>
+
+<p>"'I up'n tole ole Jedge B'ar,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat de nex' time
+I run 'cross you I gwine take'n medjer you; en goodness knows I mighty
+glad I struck up wid you, 'kaze now dey won't be no mo' 'casion fer any
+'sputin' 'twix' me en Jedge B'ar,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit ax Mr. Snake ef he won't be so good ez ter onquile
+hisse'f. Snake he feel mighty proud, he did, en he stretch out fer all
+he wuff. Brer Rabbit he medjer, he did, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dar one foot fer Jedge B'ar; dar th'ee foot fer Jedge B'ar; en, bless
+goodness, dar four foot fer Jedge B'ar, des lak I say!'</p>
+
+<p>"By dat time Brer Rabbit done got ter snake head, en des ez de las' wud
+drop out'n he mouf, he slip de loop 'roun' snake neck, en den he had 'im
+good en fas'. He tuck'n drag 'im, he did, up ter whar de ole
+Witch-Rabbit settin' at; but w'en he git dar, Mammy-Bammy Big-Money done
+make 'er disappearance, but he year sump'n' way off yander, en seem lak
+it say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>"'Ef you git any mo' sense, Son Riley, you'll be de ruination ev de
+whole settlement, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit drag de snake 'long home, en stew 'im down en rub wid
+de grease fer ter make 'im mo' 'soopler in de lim's. Bless yo' soul,
+honey, Brer Rabbit mought er bin kinder fibble in de legs, but he wa'n't
+no ways cripple und' de hat."<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXXVI" id="XXXVI"></a>XXXVI<br /><br />
+
+BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span>," said the little boy, one night, when he found the old man
+sitting alone in his cabin, "did you ever see Mammy-Bammy Big-Money?"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus placed his elbows on his knees, rested his chin in the palms
+of his hands, and gazed steadily in the fire. Presently he said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Wen folks 'gin ter git ole en no 'count, hit look lak der 'membunce git
+slack. Some time hit seem lak I done seed sump'n' n'er mighty nigh de
+make en color er ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, en den ag'in seem lak I
+ain't. W'en dat de case, w'at does I do? Does I stan' tiptoe en tetch de
+rafters en make lak I done seed dat ole Witch-Rabbit, w'en, goodness
+knows, I ain't seed 'er? Dat I don't. No, bless you! I'd say de same in
+comp'ny, much less settin' in yer 'long side er you. De long en de short
+un it," exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis, "is des dis. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span>Ef I bin
+run 'crost ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in my day en time, den she tuck'n
+make 'er disappearance dat quick twel I ain't kotch a glimp' un 'er."</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="settlement" id="settlement"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 409px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0379.jpg" class="jpg" width="409" height="600" alt="&quot;&#39;EF YOU GIT ANY MO&#39; SENSE, SON RILEY, YOU&#39;LL BE DE
+RUINATION EV DE WHOLE SETTLEMENT&#39;&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;&#39;EF YOU GIT ANY MO&#39; SENSE, SON RILEY, YOU&#39;LL BE DE
+RUINATION EV DE WHOLE SETTLEMENT&#39;&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0379l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>The result of this good-humored explanation was that the child did n't
+know whether Uncle Remus had seen the Witch-Rabbit or not, but his
+sympathies led him to suspect that the old man was thoroughly familiar
+with all her movements.</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus," the little boy said, after a while, "if there is another
+story about Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I wish you would tell it to me all by
+my own-alone self."</p>
+
+<p>The idea seemed to please the old man wonderfully, and he chuckled over
+it for several minutes.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey," he said, after a while, "you hit me whar I'm
+weak&mdash;you mos' sho'ly does. Comp'ny mighty good fer some folks en I kin
+put up wid it long ez de nex' un, but you kin des take'n pile comp'ny
+'pun top er comp'ny, en dey won't kyore de liver complaint. W'en you
+talk dat a-way you fetches me, sho', en I'll tell you a tale 'bout de
+ole Witch-Rabbit ef I hatter git down yer on my all-fours en grabble it
+out'n de ashes. Yit dey ain't no needs er dat, 'kaze de tale done come
+in my min' des ez fresh ez ef 't was day 'fo' yistiddy.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit seem lak dat one time atter Brer Wolf tuck'n steal Brer Rabbit
+foot, dey wuz a mighty long fallin'-out 'twix' um. Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n got ashy 'kaze Brer Wolf tuck'n tuck he foot; en Brer Wolf, he
+tuck'n got hot 'kaze Brer Rabbit wuk en wuk 'roun' en git he foot ag'in.
+Hit keep on dis a-way twel bimeby de ole Witch-Rabbit sorter git tired
+er Brer Wolf, en one day she tuck'n sont wud ter Brer Rabbit dat she lak
+mighty well fer ter see 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey fix up der plans, dey did, en 't wa'n't so mighty long 'fo' Brer
+Rabbit run inter Brer Wolf house in a mighty big hurry, en he 'low, he
+did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Wolf! O Brer Wolf! I des now come fum de river, en <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>des ez sho'
+ez youer settin' in dat cheer, ole Big-Money layin' dar stone dead.
+Less<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> we go eat 'er up.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, sho'ly youer jokin'!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Wolf, I'm a-ginin'<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> un you de fatal fack. Come on, less go!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, is you sho' she dead?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Wolf, she done dead; come on, less go!'</p>
+
+<p>"En go dey did. Dey went 'roun' en dey got all de yuther creeturs, en
+Brer Wolf, livin' so nigh, he let all he chilluns go, en 't wa'n't so
+mighty long 'fo' dey had a crowd dar des lak camp-meetin' times.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en dey git dar, sho' nuff, dar lay ole Big-Money all stretch out on
+de river bank. Dis make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en he tuck'n stick
+he han's in he pocket en strut 'roun' dar en look monst'us biggity.
+Atter he done tuck'n 'zamine ole Big-Money much ez he wanter, he up'n
+'low, he did, dat dey better sorter rustle 'roun' en make a fa'r
+dividjun. He ax Brer Mink, he ax Brer Coon, he ax Brer 'Possum, he ax
+Brer Tarrypin, he ax Brer Rabbit, w'ich part dey take, en dey all up'n
+'low, dey did, dat bein' ez Brer Wolf de biggest en de heartiest in de
+neighborhoods er de appetite, dey 'speck he better take de fus'
+choosement.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Wolf, he sot down on a log, en hang he head ter one side,
+sorter lak he 'shame' er hisse'f. Bimeby, he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Now, den, folks en fr'en's, sence you shove it on me, de shortes' way
+is de bes' way. Brer Coon, we bin good fr'en's a mighty long time; how
+much er dish yer meat ought a fibble<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> ole man lak me ter take?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf talk mighty lovin'. Brer Coon snuff de a'r, en 'low:</p>
+
+<p>"'I 'speck you better take one er de fo'-quarters, Brer Wolf,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf look lak he 'stonish'. He lif' up he han's, en 'low:</p>
+
+<p>"'Law, Brer Coon, I tuck you ter be my fr'en', dat I did. Man <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>w'at talk
+lak dat ain't got no feelin' fer me. Hit make me feel mighty lonesome,'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Wolf tu'n 'roun' en talk mighty lovin' ter Brer Mink:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Mink, many's de day you bin a-knowin' me; how much er dish yer
+meat you 'speck oughter fall ter my sheer?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink sorter study, en den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Bein' ez you er sech a nice man, Brer Wolf, I 'speck you oughter take
+one er de fo'-quarters, en a right smart hunk off'n de bulge er de
+neck,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf holler out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go 'way, Brer Mink! Go 'way! You ain't no 'quaintance er mine!'</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Brer Wolf tu'n 'roun' ter Brer 'Possum en talk lovin':</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer 'Possum, I done bin tuck wid a likin' fer you long time 'fo' dis.
+Look at me, en den look at my fambly, en den tell me, ef you be so good,
+how much er dish yer meat gwine ter fall ter my sheer.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer 'Possum, he look 'roun', he did, en grin, en he up'n 'low:</p>
+
+<p>"'Take half, Brer Wolf, take half!'</p>
+
+<p>"Den ole Brer Wolf holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Shoo, Brer 'Possum! I like you no mo'.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Wolf tu'n to Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin say Brer Wolf
+oughter take all 'cep' one er de behime quarters, en den Brer Wolf 'low
+dat Brer Tarrypin ain't no fr'en' ter him. Den he up'n ax Brer Rabbit,
+en Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n 'spon', he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Gentermuns all! you see Brer Wolf chillun? Well, dey er all monst'us
+hongry, en Brer Wolf hongry hisse'f. Now I puts dis plan straight at
+you: less we all let Brer Wolf have de fus' pass at Big-Money; less tie
+'im on dar, en le'm eat much ez he wanter, en den we kin pick de bones,'
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Youer my pardner, Brer Rabbit!' sez Brer Wolf, sezee; 'youer my
+honey-pardner!'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>"Dey all 'gree ter dis plan, mo' 'speshually ole Brer Wolf, so den dey
+tuck'n tie 'im onter Big-Money. Dey tie 'im on dar, dey did, en den ole
+Brer Wolf look all 'roun' en wunk at de yuthers. Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n
+wunk back, en den Brer Wolf retch down en bite Big-Money on de back er
+de neck. Co'se, w'en he do dis, Big-Money bleedz ter flinch; let 'lone
+dat, she bleedz ter jump. Brer Wolf holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow! Run yer somebody! Take me off! She ain't dead! O Lordy! I feel 'er
+move!'</p>
+
+<p>Brer Rabbit holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Nummine de flinchin', Brer Wolf. She done dead; I done year 'er
+sesso<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> 'erse'f. She dead, sho'. Bite er ag'in, Brer Wolf, bite 'er
+ag'in!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit talk so stiff, hit sorter tuck de chill off'n Brer Wolf, en
+he dipt down en bit ole Big-Money ag'in. Wid dat, she 'gun ter move off,
+en Brer Wolf he holler des lak de woods done kotch a-fier:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow! O Lordy! Ontie me, Brer Rabbit, ontie me! She ain't dead! Ow! Run
+yer, Brer Rabbit, en ontie me!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'She er sho'ly dead, Brer Wolf! Nail 'er, Brer Wolf! Bite 'er! gnyaw
+'er!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf keep on bitin', en Big-Money keep on movin' off. Bimeby, she
+git ter de bank er de river, en she fall in&mdash;<em>cumberjoom!</em>&mdash;en dat 'uz
+de las' er Brer Wolf."</p>
+
+<p>"What did Brother Rabbit do?" the little boy asked, after a while.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," responded Uncle Remus, in the tone of one anxious to dispose of
+a disagreeable matter as pleasantly as possible, "you know w'at kinder
+man Brer Rabbit is. He des went off some'rs by he own-alone se'f en tuck
+a big laugh."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>
+<a name="XXXVII" id="XXXVII"></a>XXXVII<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> next night Daddy Jack was still away when the little boy went to see
+Uncle Remus, and the child asked about him.</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, honey! don't ax me 'bout Brer Jack. He look lak he
+mighty ole en trimbly, but he mighty peart nigger, mon. He look lak he
+shufflin' 'long, but dat ole nigger gits over groun', sho'. Forty year
+ergo, maybe I mought er kep' up wid 'im, but I let you know Brer Jack is
+away 'head er me. He mos' sho'ly is."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, he's older than you are, Uncle Remus!" the child exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Dat w'at I year tell. Seem lak hit mighty kuse, but sho' ez youer bawn
+Brer Jack is a heap mo' pearter nigger dan w'at ole Remus is. He little,
+yit he mighty hard. Dat's Brer Jack, up en down."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused and reflected a moment. Then he went on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Talkin' 'bout Brer Jack put me in min' 'bout a tale w'ich she sho'ly
+mus' er happen down dar in dat ar country whar Brer Jack come fum, en it
+sorter ketch me in de neighborhoods er de 'stonishment 'kaze he ain't
+done up'n tell it. I 'speck it done wuk loose fum Brer Jack 'membunce."</p>
+
+<p>"What tale was that, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Seem lak dat one time w'en eve'ything en eve'ybody was runnin' 'long
+des lak dey bin had waggin grease 'pun um, ole Brer Wolf"&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>The little boy laughed incredulously and Uncle Remus paused and frowned
+heavily.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Uncle Remus! how did Brother Wolf get away from Mammy-Bammy
+Big-Money?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>The old man's frown deepened and his voice was full of anger as he
+replied:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, is I'm de tale, er is de tale me? Tell me dat! Is I'm de
+tale, er is de tale me? Well, den, ef I ain't de tale en de tale ain't
+me, den how come you wanter take'n rake me over de coals fer?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Uncle Remus, you know what you said. You said that was the end of
+Brother Wolf."</p>
+
+<p>"I bleedz ter 'spute dat," exclaimed Uncle Remus, with the air of one
+performing a painful duty; "I bleedz ter 'spute it. Dat w'at de tale
+say. Ole Remus is one nigger en de tale, hit's a n'er nigger. Yit I
+ain't got no time fer ter set back yer en fetch out de oggyments."</p>
+
+<p>Here the old man paused, closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and
+sighed. After a while he said, in a gentle tone:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"So den, Brer Wolf done dead, en yer I wuz runnin' on des same lak he
+wuz done 'live. Well! well! well!"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus stole a glance at the little boy, and immediately relented.</p>
+
+<p>"Yit," he went on, "ef I'm ain't de tale en de tale ain't me, hit ain't
+skacely make no diffunce whe'er Brer Wolf dead er whe'er he's a
+high-primin' 'roun' bodder'n 'longer de yuther creeturs. Dead er no
+dead, dey wuz one time w'en Brer Wolf live in de swamp down dar in dat
+ar country whar Brer Jack come fum, en, mo'n dat, he had a mighty likely
+gal. Look lak all de yuther creeturs wuz atter 'er. Dey 'ud go down dar
+ter Brer Wolf house, dey would, en dey 'ud set up en court de gal, en
+'joy deyse'f.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w'ile de skeeters 'gun ter git
+monst'us bad. Brer Fox, he went flyin' 'roun' Miss Wolf, en he sot dar,
+he did, en run on wid 'er en fight skeeters des es big ez life en
+twice-t ez natchul. Las' Brer Wolf, he tuck'n kotch Brer Fox slappin' en
+fightin' at he skeeters. Wid dat he tuck'n tuck Brer Fox by de off year
+en led 'im out ter de front gate, en w'en he git <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>dar, he 'low, he did,
+dat no man w'at can't put up wid skeeters ain't gwine ter come
+a-courtin' his gal.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Coon, he come flyin' 'roun' de gal, but he ain't bin dar no
+time skacely 'fo' he 'gun ter knock at de skeeters; en no sooner is he
+done dis dan Brer Wolf show 'im de do'. Brer Mink, he come en try he
+han', yit he bleedz ter fight de skeeters, en Brer Wolf ax 'im out.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby all de creeturs bin flyin' 'roun'
+Brer Wolf's gal 'ceppin' it's ole Brer Rabbit, en w'en he year w'at
+kinder treatments de yuther creeturs bin ketchin' he 'low ter hisse'f
+dat he b'leeve in he soul he mus' go down ter Brer Wolf house en set de
+gal out one whet ef it's de las' ack.</p>
+
+<p>"No sooner say, no sooner do. Off he put, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he fine
+hisse'f knockin' at Brer Wolf front do'. Ole Sis Wolf, she tuck'n put
+down 'er knittin' en she up'n low, she did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Who dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"De gal, she 'uz stannin' up 'fo' de lookin'-glass sorter primpin', en
+she choke back a giggle, she did, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sh-h-h! My goodness, mammy! dat's Mr. Rabbit. I year de gals say he's
+a mighty prop-en-tickler<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> gentermun, en I des hope you ain't gwine ter
+set dar en run on lak you mos' allers does w'en I got comp'ny 'bout how
+much soap-grease you done save up en how many kitten de ole cat got. I
+gits right 'shame' sometimes, dat I does!'"</p>
+
+<p>The little boy looked astonished.</p>
+
+<p>"Did she talk that way to her mamma?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Shoo</em>, chile! 'Mungs' all de creeturs dey ain't no mo' kuse creeturs
+dan de gals. Ole ez I is, ef I wuz ter start in dis minnit fer ter tell
+you how kuse de gals is, en de Lord wuz ter spar' me plum twel I git
+done, yo' head 'ud be gray, en Remus 'ud be des twice-t ez ole ez w'at
+he is right now."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what did her mamma say, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>"Ole Sis Wolf, she sot dar, she did, en settle 'er cap on 'er head, en
+snicker, en look at de gal lak she monst'us proud. De gal, she tuck'n
+shuck 'erse'f 'fo' de lookin'-glass a time er two, en den she tipt ter
+de do' en open' it little ways en peep out des lak she skeer'd some un
+gwine ter hit 'er a clip side de head. Dar stood ole Brer Rabbit lookin'
+des ez slick ez a race-hoss. De gal, she tuck'n laff, she did, en
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'y law, maw! hit's Mr. Rabbit, en yer we bin 'fraid it 'uz some 'un
+w'at ain't got no business 'roun' yer!'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Sis Wolf she look over 'er specks, en snicker, en den she up'n
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, don't keep 'im stannin' out dar all night. Ax 'im in, fer
+goodness sake.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den de gal, she tuck'n drap 'er hankcher, en Brer Rabbit, he dipt down
+en grab it en pass it ter 'er wid a bow, en de gal say she much 'blige,
+'kaze dat 'uz mo' den Mr. Fox 'ud er done, en den she ax Brer Rabbit how
+he come on, en Brer Rabbit 'low he right peart, en den he ax 'er
+wharbouts 'er daddy, en ole Sis Wolf 'low she go fine 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"'T wa'n't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit year Brer Wolf stompin' de mud off'n he
+foots in de back po'ch, en den bimeby in he come. Dey shuck han's, dey
+did, en Brer Rabbit say dat w'en he go callin' on he 'quaintunce, hit
+ain't feel natchul 'ceppin' de man er de house settin' 'roun' some'rs.</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef he don't talk none,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'he kin des set up
+ag'in' de chimbly-jam en keep time by noddin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"But ole Brer Wolf, he one er deze yer kinder mens w'at got de
+whimzies,<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> en he up'n 'low dat he don't let hisse'f git ter noddin'
+front er comp'ny. Dey run on dis a-way twel bimeby Brer Rabbit year de
+skeeters come zoonin' 'roun', en claimin' kin wid 'im."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>The little boy laughed; but Uncle Remus was very serious.</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se dey claim kin wid 'im. Dey claims kin wid folks yit, let 'lone
+Brer Rabbit. Manys en manys de time w'en I year um sailin' 'roun' en
+singin' out '<em>Cousin! Cousin!'</em> en I let you know, honey, de skeeters is
+mighty close kin w'en dey gits ter be yo' cousin.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he year um zoonin'," the old man continued, "en he know he
+got ter do some mighty nice talkin', so he up'n ax fer drink er water.
+De gal, she tuck'n fotch it.</p>
+
+<p>"'Mighty nice water, Brer Wolf.' (<em>De skeeters dey zoon.</em>)<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p>
+
+<p>"'Some say it too full er wiggletails,<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> Brer Rabbit.' (<em>De skeeters,
+dey zoon en dey zoon.</em>)</p>
+
+<p>"'Mighty nice place you got, Brer Wolf.' (<em>Skeeters dey zoon.</em>)</p>
+
+<p>"'Some say it too low in de swamp, Brer Rabbit.' (<em>Skeeters dey zoon en
+dey zoon.</em>)</p>
+
+<p>"Dey zoon so bad," said Uncle Remus, drawing a long breath, "dat Brer
+Rabbit 'gun ter git skeer'd, en w'en dat creetur git skeer'd, he min'
+wuk lak one er deze yer flutter-mills. Bimeby, he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Went ter town t'er day, en dar I seed a sight w'at I never 'speckted
+ter see.'</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at dat, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Spotted hoss, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>No</em>, Brer Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"'I mos' sho'ly seed 'im, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he scratch he head, en de gal she hilt up 'er han's en make
+great 'miration 'bout de spotted hoss. (<em>De skeeters dey zoon, en dey
+keep on zoonin'.</em>) Brer Rabbit, he talk on, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''T wa'n't des one spotted hoss, Brer Wolf, 't wuz a whole team er
+spotted hosses, en dey went gallin'-up<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> hosses,'
+sezee. 'Let 'lone dat, Brer Wolf, my grandaddy wuz spotted,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Gal, she squeal en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'y, Brer Rabbit! ain't you 'shame' yo'se'f fer ter be talkin' dat
+a-way, en 'bout yo' own-'lone blood kin too?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit's de naked trufe I'm a-ginin'<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> un you,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+(<em>Skeeter zoon en come closeter.</em>)</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf 'low 'Well&mdash;well&mdash;well!' Ole Sis Wolf, she 'low 'Tooby
+sho'ly, tooby sho'ly!' (<em>Skeeter zoon en come nigher en nigher.</em>) Brer
+Rabbit 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Yasser! Des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar, my grandaddy wuz spotted.
+Spotted all over. (<em>Skeeter come zoonin' up en light on Brer Rabbit
+jaw.</em>) He wuz dat. He had er great big spot right yer!'"</p>
+
+<p>Here Uncle Remus raised his hand and struck himself a resounding slap on
+the side of the face where the mosquito was supposed to be, and
+continued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"No sooner is he do dis dan ne'r skeeter come zoonin' 'roun' en light on
+Brer Rabbit leg. Brer Rabbit, he talk, en he talk:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Po' ole grandaddy! I boun' he make you laff, he look so funny wid all
+dem spots en speckles. He had spot on de side er de head, whar I done
+show you, en den he had n'er big spot right yer on de leg,' sezee."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus slapped himself on the leg below the knee, and was
+apparently so serious about it that the little boy laughed loudly. The
+old man went on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Skeeter zoon en light 'twix' Brer Rabbit shoulder-blades. Den he
+talk:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'B'leeve me er not b'leeve me ef you min' to, but my grandaddy had a
+big black spot up yer on he back w'ich look lak saddle-mark.'</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Blip Brer Rabbit tuck hisse'f on de back!</em></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>"Skeeter sail 'roun' en zoon en light down yer beyan de hip-bone. He
+say he grandaddy got spot down dar.</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Blip he tuck hisse'f beyan de hip-bone.</em></p>
+
+<p>"Hit keep on dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, who had given vigorous
+illustrations of Brer Rabbit's method of killing mosquitoes while
+pretending to tell a story, "twel bimeby ole Brer Wolf en ole Sis Wolf
+dey lissen at Brer Rabbit twel dey 'gun ter nod, en den ole Brer Rabbit
+en de gal dey sot up dar en kill skeeters right erlong."</p>
+
+<p>"Did he marry Brother Wolf's daughter?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"I year talk," replied Uncle Remus, "dat Brer Wolf sont Brer Rabbit wud
+nex' day dat he kin git de gal by gwine atter 'er, but I ain't never
+year talk 'bout Brer Rabbit gwine. De day atterwuds wuz mighty long
+time, en by den Brer Rabbit moughter had some yuther projick on
+han'."<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XXXVIII" id="XXXVIII"></a>XXXVIII<br /><br />
+
+THE PIMMERLY PLUM</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">One</span> night, when the little boy had grown tired of waiting for a story,
+he looked at Uncle Remus and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder what ever became of old Brother Tarrypin."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus gave a sudden start, glanced all around the cabin, and then
+broke into a laugh that ended in a yell like a view-halloo.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well, well! How de name er goodness come you ter know w'at
+runnin' on in my min', honey? Mon, you skeer'd me; you sho'ly did; en
+w'en I git skeer'd I bleedz ter holler. Let 'lone dat, ef I keep on
+gittin' skeerder en skeerder, you better gimme <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>room, 'kaze ef I can't
+git 'way fum dar somebody gwine ter git hurted, en deyer gwine ter git
+hurted bad. I tell you dat right pine-blank.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Tarrypin!" continued Uncle Remus in a tone of exultation. "Ole
+Brer Tarrypin! Now, who bin year tell er de beat er dat? Dar you sets
+studyin' 'bout ole Brer Tarrypin, en yer I sets studyin' 'bout ole Brer
+Tarrypin. Hit make me feel so kuse dat little mo' en I'd 'a' draw'd my
+Rabbit-foot en shuck it at you."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy was delighted when Uncle Remus went off into these
+rhapsodies. However nonsensical they might seem to others, to the child
+they were positively thrilling, and he listened with rapt attention,
+scarcely daring to stir.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Tarrypin? Well, well, well!&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Wen in he prime</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>He tuck he time!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Dat w'at make he hol' he age so good. Dey tells me dat somebody 'cross
+dar in Jasper county tuck'n kotch a Tarrypin w'ich he got marks cut in
+he back dat 'uz put dar 'fo' our folks went fer ter git revengeance in
+de Moccasin war. Dar whar yo' Unk' Jeems bin," Uncle Remus explained,
+noticing the little boy's look of astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" exclaimed the child, "that was the Mexican war."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," responded Uncle Remus, closing his eyes with a sigh, "I ain't
+one er deze yer kinder folks w'at choke deyse'f wid names. One name
+ain't got none de 'vantage er no yuther name. En ef de Tarrypin got de
+marks on 'im, hit don't make no diffunce whe'er yo' Unk' Jeems
+Abercrombie git his revengeance out'n de Moccasin folks, er whe'er he
+got it out'n de Mackersons."</p>
+
+<p>"Mexicans, Uncle Remus."</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho', honey; let it go at dat. But don't less pester ole Brer
+Tarrypin wid it, 'kaze he done b'long ter a tribe all by he <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>own-'lone
+se'f.&mdash;I 'clar' ter gracious," exclaimed the old man after a pause, "ef
+hit don't seem periently lak 't wuz yistiddy!"</p>
+
+<p>"What, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, des ole Brer Tarrypin, honey; des ole Brer Tarrypin en a tale w'at
+I year 'bout 'im, how he done tuck'n do Brer Fox."</p>
+
+<p>"Did he scare him, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, as the old man
+paused.</p>
+
+<p>"No, my goodness! Wuss'n dat!"</p>
+
+<p>"Did he hurt him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, my goodness! Wuss'n dat!"</p>
+
+<p>"Did he kill him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, my goodness! Lots wuss'n dat!"</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Uncle Remus, what <em>did</em> he do to Brother Fox?"</p>
+
+<p>"Honey!"&mdash;here the old man lowered his voice as if about to describe a
+great outrage&mdash;"Honey! he tuck'n make a fool out'n 'im!"</p>
+
+<p>The child laughed, but it was plain that he failed to appreciate the
+situation, and this fact caused Uncle Remus to brighten up and go on
+with the story.</p>
+
+<p>"One time w'en de sun shine down mighty hot, ole Brer Tarrypin wuz gwine
+'long down de road. He 'uz gwine 'long down, en he feel mighty tired; he
+puff, en he blow, en he pant. He breff come lak he got de azmy 'way down
+in he win'-pipe; but, nummine! he de same ole Creep-um-crawl-um
+Have-some-fun-um. He 'uz gwine 'long down de big road, ole Brer Tarrypin
+wuz, en bimeby he come ter de branch. He tuck'n crawl in, he did, en got
+'im a drink er water, en den he crawl out on t'er side en set down und'
+de shade un a tree. Atter he sorter ketch he win', he look up at de sun
+fer ter see w'at time er day is it, en, lo en beholes! he tuck'n skivver
+dat he settin' in de shade er de sycamo' tree. No sooner is he skivver
+dis dan he sing de ole song:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Good luck ter dem w'at come and go,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>W'at set in de shade er de sycamo'.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>"Brer Tarrypin he feel so good en de shade so cool, dat 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he got ter noddin', en bimeby he drapt off en went soun' asleep.
+Co'se, Brer Tarrypin kyar he house wid 'im eve'ywhar he go, en w'en he
+fix fer ter go ter sleep, he des shet de do' en pull to de
+winder-shetters, en dar he is des ez snug ez de ole black cat und' de
+barn.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en sleep, en sleep. He dunner how long
+he sleep, but bimeby he feel somebody foolin' 'long wid 'im. He keep de
+do' shet, en he lay dar en lissen. He feel somebody tu'nin' he house
+'roun' en 'roun'. Dis sorter skeer Brer Tarrypin, 'kaze he know dat ef
+dey tu'n he house upside down he ull have all sorts er times gittin'
+back. Wid dat, he open de do' little ways, en he see Brer Fox projickin'
+wid 'im. He open de do' little furder, he did, en he break out in a
+great big hoss-laff, en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well! well, well! Who'd 'a' thunk it! Ole Brer Fox, cuter dan de
+common run, is done come en kotch me. En he come at sech a time, too! I
+feels dat full twel I can't see straight skacely. Ef dey wuz any
+jealousness proned inter me, I'd des lay yer en pout 'kaze Brer Fox done
+fine out whar I gits my Pimmerly Plum.'</p>
+
+<p>"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, speaking to the child's look of
+inquiry, "de Pimmerly Plum wuz monst'us skace. Leavin' out Brer Rabbit
+en Brer Tarrypin dey wa'n't none er de yuther creeturs dat yuvver got a
+glimp' un it, let 'lone a tas'e. So den w'en Brer Fox year talk er de
+Pimmerly Plum, bless gracious! he h'ist up he head en let Brer Tarrypin
+'lone. Brer Tarrypin keep on laffin' en Brer Fox 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes my mouf water! Whar'bouts de Pimmerly
+Plum?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin, he sorter cle'r up de ho'seness in he th'oat, en sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Poun' er sugar, en a pint er rum,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Ain't nigh so sweet ez de Pimmerly Plum!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>"Brer Fox, he lif' up he han's, he did, en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes me dribble! Whar'bouts dat Pimmerly
+Plum?'</p>
+
+<p>"'You stannin' right und' de tree, Brer Fox!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Tarrypin, sho'ly not!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yit dar you stan's, Brer Fox!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox look up in de tree dar, en he wuz 'stonish'."</p>
+
+<p>"What did he see in the sycamore tree, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little
+boy.</p>
+
+<p>There was a look of genuine disappointment on the old man's face, as he
+replied:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"De gracious en de goodness, honey! Ain't you nev' is see dem ar little
+bit er balls w'at grow on de sycamo' tree?"<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p>
+
+<p>The little boy laughed. There was a huge sycamore tree in the centre of
+the circle made by the carriage way in front of the "big house," and
+there were sycamore trees of various sizes all over the place. The
+little balls alluded to by Uncle Remus are very hard at certain stages
+of their growth, and cling to the tree with wonderful tenacity. Uncle
+Remus continued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, w'en ole Brer Tarrypin vouch dat dem ar sycamo' balls wuz de
+ginnywine Pimmerly Plum, ole Brer Fox, he feel mighty good, yit he
+dunner how he gwine git at um. Push 'im clos't, en maybe he mought beat
+Brer Tarrypin clammin' a tree, but dish yer sycamo' tree wuz too big fer
+Brer Fox fer ter git he arms 'roun'. Den he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I sees um hangin' dar, Brer Tarrypin, but how I gwine git um?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin open he do' little ways en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah-yi! Dar whar ole Slickum Slow-come got de 'vantage! Youer mighty
+peart, Brer Fox, yit somehow er nudder you ain't bin a-keepin' up wid
+ole Slickum Slow-come.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>"'Brer Tarrypin, how de name er goodness does you git um?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't do no good fer ter tell you, Brer Fox. Nimble heel make restless
+min'. You ain't got time fer ter wait en git um, Brer Fox.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Tarrypin, I got all de week befo' me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef I tells you, you'll go en tell all de t'er creeturs, en den dat'll
+be de las' er de Pimmerly Plum, Brer Fox.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Tarrypin, dat I won't. Des try me one time en see.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin shet he eye lak he studyin', en den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I tell you how I does, Brer Fox. Wen I wants a bait er de Pimmerly
+Plum right bad, I des takes my foot in my han' en comes down yer ter
+dish yer tree. I comes en I takes my stan'. I gits right und' de tree,
+en I r'ars my head back en opens my mouf. I opens my mouf, en w'en de
+Pimmerly Plum draps, I boun' you she draps right spang in dar. All you
+got ter do is ter set en wait, Brer Fox.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox ain't sayin' nothin'. He des sot down und' de tree, he did, en
+r'ar'd he head back, en open he mouf, en I wish ter goodness you mought
+er bin had er chance fer ter see 'im settin' dar. He look scan'lous,
+dat's de long en de short un it; he des look scan'lous."</p>
+
+<p>"Did he get the Pimmerly Plum, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Shoo!</em> How he gwine git plum whar dey ain't no plum?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what did he do?"</p>
+
+<p>"He sot dar wid he mouf wide open, en eve'y time Brer Tarrypin look at
+'im, much ez he kin do fer ter keep from bustin' aloose en laffin'. But
+bimeby he make he way todes home, Brer Tarrypin did, chucklin' en
+laffin', en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he meet Brer Rabbit tippin' 'long down
+de road. Brer Rabbit, he hail 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at 'muze you so mighty well, Brer Tarrypin?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin kotch he breff atter so long a time, en he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>"'Brer Rabbit, I'm dat tickle' twel I can't shuffle 'long, skacely, en
+I'm fear'd ef I up'n tell you de 'casion un it, I'll be tooken wid one
+er my spells whar folks hatter set up wid me 'kaze I laff so loud en
+laff so long.'</p>
+
+<p>"Yit atter so long a time, Brer Tarrypin up'n tell Brer Rabbit, en dey
+sot dar en chaw'd terbacker en kyar'd on des lak sho' 'nuff folks. Dat
+dey did!"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused; but the little boy wanted to know what became of
+Brer Fox.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit's mighty kuse," said the old man, stirring around in the ashes as
+if in search of a potato, "but endurin' er all my days I ain't nev' year
+nobody tell 'bout how long Brer Fox sot dar waitin' fer de Pimmerly
+Plum."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="link"><a name="provisions" id="provisions"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/provisions.png" width="400" height="266" alt="Brother Rabbit gets Provisions" title="" />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span><br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>
+<span class="caption">Brother Rabbit gets Provisions</span>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>
+<a name="XXXIX" id="XXXIX"></a>XXXIX<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> next time the little boy called on Uncle Remus a bright fire was
+blazing on the hearth. He could see the light shining under the door
+before he went into the cabin, and he knew by that sign that the old man
+had company. In fact, Daddy Jack had returned and was dozing in his
+accustomed corner, Aunt Tempy was sitting bolt upright, nursing her
+contempt, and Uncle Remus was making a curious-looking box. None of the
+negroes paid any attention to the little boy when he entered, but
+somehow he felt that they were waiting for him. After a while Uncle
+Remus finished his curious-looking box and laid it upon the floor. Then
+he lifted his spectacles from his nose to the top of his head, and
+remarked:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, folks, dar she is, en hit's bin so long sence I uv made one
+un um dat she make me sweat. Yasser! She did dat. Howsumev', hit ain't
+make no diffunce wid me. Promise is a promise, dough you make it in de
+dark er de moon. Long time ago, I tuck'n promise one er my passin'
+'quaintance dat some er deze lonesome days de ole nigger 'd whirl in en
+make 'im a rabbit-trap ef he'd des be so good ez to quit he devilment,
+en l'arn he behavishness."</p>
+
+<p>"Is that my rabbit-trap, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the child. He would
+have picked it up for the purpose of examining it, but Uncle Remus waved
+him off with a dignified gesture.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you dast ter tetch dat ar trap, honey, 'kaze ef you does, dat
+spiles all. I'll des hatter go ter wuk en make it bran-new, en de Lord
+knows I ain't got no time fer ter do dat."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Uncle Remus, you've had your hands on it."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>"Tooby sho' I is&mdash;tooby sho' I is! En w'at's mo' dan dat, I bin had my
+han's in tar-water."</p>
+
+<p>"I year talk er dat," remarked Aunt Tempy, with an approving nod.</p>
+
+<p>"Yasser! in de nat'al tar-water," continued Uncle Remus. "You put yo'
+han' in a pa'tridge nes', en he'll quit dem premises dough he done got
+'lev'm dozen aigs in dar. Same wid Rabbit. Dey ain't got sense lak de
+ole-time Rabbit, but I let you know dey ain't gwine in no trap whar dey
+smell folks' han's&mdash;dat dey ain't. Dat w'at make I say w'at I does.
+Don't put yo' han' on it; don't tetch it; don't look at it skacely."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy subsided, but he continued to cast longing looks at the
+trap, seeing which Uncle Remus sought to change the current of his
+thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>"She bin er mighty heap er trouble, mon, yet I mighty glad I tuck'n make
+dat ar trap. She's a solid un, sho', en ef dey wuz ter be any skaceness
+er vittles, I lay dat ar trap 'ud help us all out."</p>
+
+<p>"De Lord knows," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, rubbing her fat hands together,
+"I hope dey ain't gwine ter be no famishin' 'roun' yer 'mungs we all."</p>
+
+<p>"Likely not," said Uncle Remus, "yet de time mought come w'en a big
+swamp rabbit kotch in dat ar trap would go a mighty long ways in a
+fambly no bigger dan w'at mine is."</p>
+
+<p>"Mo' speshually," remarked Aunt Tempy, "ef you put dat wid w'at de
+neighbors mought sen' in."</p>
+
+<p>"Eh-eh!" Uncle Remus exclaimed, "don't you put no 'pennunce in dem
+neighbors&mdash;don't you do it. W'en famine time come one man ain't no
+better dan no yuther man 'ceppin' he be soopless; en he got ter be
+mighty soople at dat."</p>
+
+<p>The old man paused and glanced at the little boy. The child was still
+looking longingly at the trap, and Uncle Remus leaned forward and
+touched him lightly on the shoulder. It was a familiar gesture, gentle
+and yet rough, a token of affection, and yet a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>command to attention;
+for the venerable darkey could be imperious enough when surrendering to
+the whims of his little partner.</p>
+
+<p>"All dish yer talk 'bout folks pe'shin' out," Uncle Remus went on with
+an indifferent air, "put me in min' er de times w'en de creeturs tuck'n
+got up a famine 'mungs deyse'f. Hit come 'bout dat one time vittles wuz
+monst'us skace en high, en money mighty slack. Long ez dey wuz any
+vittles gwine 'roun', Brer Rabbit, he 'uz boun' ter git he sheer un um,
+but bimeby hit come ter dat pass dat Brer Rabbit stomach 'gun ter pinch
+'im; en w'iles he gettin' hongry de yuther creeturs, dey 'uz gettin'
+hongry deyse'f. Hit went on dis a-way twel one day Brer Rabbit en Brer
+Wolf meet up wid one er n'er in de big road, en atter dey holler howdy
+dey sat down, dey did, en make a bargain.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey tuck'n 'gree wid one er n'er dat dey sell der mammy en take de
+money en git sump'n' n'er ter eat. Brer Wolf, he 'low, he did, dat bein'
+'s hit seem lak he de hongriest creetur on de face er de yeth, dat he
+sell his mammy fus', en den, atter de vittles gin out, Brer Rabbit he
+kin sell he own mammy en git some mo' grub.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Rabbit, he chipt in en 'greed, he did, en Brer Wolf, he tuck'n
+hitch up he team, en put he mammy in de waggin, en den him en Brer
+Rabbit druv off. Man come 'long:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Whar you gwine?'</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Gwine 'long down ter town,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Wid a bag er co'n fer ter sell;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>We ain't got time fer ter stop en talk,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Yit we wish you mighty well!</em>'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Did they talk poetry that way, Uncle Remus?" the little boy inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Shoo! lot's wuss dan dat, honey. Dey wuz constant a-gwine on dat a-way,
+en ef I wa'n't gittin' so mighty weak-kneed in de membunce I'd bust
+aloose yer en I'd fair wake you up wid de gwines on er dem ar creeturs.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>"Now, den, dey tuck'n kyar Brer Wolf mammy ter town en sell 'er, en dey
+start back wid a waggin-load er vittles. De day wuz a-wanin' den de sun
+wuz a-settin'. De win' tuck'n blow up sorter stiff, en de sun look red
+when she settin'. Dey druv on, en druv on. De win' blow, en de sun shine
+red. Bimeby, Brer Wolf scrooch up en shiver, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, I'm a-gittin' mighty cole.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he laugh en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm gittin' sorter creepy myself, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey druv on en druv on. Win' blow keen, sun shine red. Brer Wolf
+scrooch up in little knot. Bimeby he sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, I'm freezin'! I'm dat cole I dunner w'at ter do!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he p'int ter de settin' sun en say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You see dat great big fier 'cross dar in de woods, Brer Wolf? Well,
+dey ain't nothin' ter hender you fum gwine dar en wommin' yo'se'f en
+I'll wait yer fer you. Gimme de lines, Brer Wolf, en you go wom yo'se'f
+all over.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Wolf, he put out des ez hard ez he kin, fer ter see ef he
+can't fin' de fier; en w'iles he wuz gone, bless goodness, w'at should
+Brer Rabbit do but cut off de hosses' tails en stick um down deep in de
+mud&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Le' 'im 'lone, now! Des le' 'im 'lone!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy in an
+ecstasy of admiration.</p>
+
+<p>"He stick de hosses' tails down in de mud," continued Uncle Remus, "en
+den he tuck'n druv de waggin 'way off in de swamp en hide it. Den he
+tuck'n come back, ole Brer Rabbit did, fer ter wait fer Brer Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter so long a time, sho' 'nuff, yer come Brer Wolf des a-gallin'-up
+back. Brer Rabbit he hail 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"'Is you wom yo'se'f, Brer Wolf?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, don't talk! Dat de mos' 'seetful fier w'at I had any
+speunce un. I run, en I run, en I run, en de mo' w'at I run de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span>furder
+de fier git. De nigher you come ter dat fier de furder hit's off.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch hisse'f behime de shoulder-blade, en
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Nummine 'bout de fier, Brer Wolf. I got sump'n' yer dat'll wom you up.
+Ef you ain't nev' bin wom befo', I lay you'll get wom dis time.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make Brer Wolf sorter look 'roun', en w'en he see Brer Rabbit
+hol'in' on ter de two hoss-tails, he up'n squall out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Lawdy mussy, Brer Rabbit! Whar my vittles? Whar my waggin? Whar my
+hosses?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey er all right yer, Brer Wolf; dey er all right yer. I stayed dar
+whar you lef' me twel de hosses gun ter git restless. Den I cluck at um,
+en, bless gracious, dey start off en lan' in a quicksan'. W'en dey gun
+ter mire, I des tuck'n tu'n eve'ything a-loose en grab de hosses by de
+tail, en I bin stan'in' yer wishin' fer you, Brer Wolf, twel I done gone
+gray in de min'. I 'low ter myse'f dat I'd hang on ter deze yer
+hoss-tails ef it killt eve'y cow in de islan'. Come he'p me, Brer Wolf,
+en I lay we'll des nat'ally pull de groun' out but w'at we'll git deze
+creeturs out.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Wolf, he kotch holt er one hoss-tail, en Brer Rabbit, he
+kotch holt er de yuther, en w'en dey pull, co'se de tails come out'n de
+mud. Dey stood dar, dey did, en dey look at de tails en den dey look at
+one n'er. Bimeby Brer Rabbit 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, sir, Brer Wolf; we pull so hard twel we pull de tails plum out!'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Wolf, he dunner w'at ter do, but it 'gun ter git dark, en 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' he tell Brer Rabbit good-by, en off he put fer home.
+Dat ar Brer Rabbit," Uncle Remus went on, "he des tuck'n wait twel Brer
+Wolf git out'n yearin', en den he went into de swamp en druv de hosses
+home en git all de vittles, en he ain't hatter sell he ole mammy n'er.
+Dat he ain't."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>
+<a name="XL" id="XL"></a>XL<br /><br />
+
+"CUTTA CORD-LA!"</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">To</span> all appearances Daddy Jack had taken no interest in Uncle Remus's
+story of the horses' tails, and yet, as soon as the little boy and Aunt
+Tempy were through laughing at a somewhat familiar climax, the old
+African began to twist and fidget in his chair, and mumble to himself in
+a lingo which might have been understood on the Guinea coast, but which
+sounded out of place in Uncle Remus's Middle Georgia cabin. Presently,
+however, his uneasiness took tangible shape. He turned around and
+exclaimed impatiently:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Shuh-shuh! w'en you sta't fer tell-a dem tale, wey you no tell um lak
+dey stan'? 'E bery bad fer twis' dem tale 'roun' un 'roun'. Wey you no
+talk um stret?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, smiling good-humoredly upon the
+queer little old man, "ef we done gone en got dat ar tale all twis' up,
+de way fer you ter do is ter whirl in en ontwis' it, en we-all folks 'll
+set up yer en he'p you out plum twel Mars John comes a-hollerin' en
+a-bawlin' atter dish yer baby; en atter he done gone ter bed, den me en
+Sis Tempy yer we ull set up wid you plum twel de chickens crow fer day.
+Dem's de kinder folk we all is up yer. We ain't got many swimps en crabs
+up yer in Putmon county, but w'en it come ter settin' up wid comp'ny en
+hangin' 'roun' atter dark fer ter make de time pass away, we er mighty
+rank. Now den, Brer Jack, I done call de roll wid my eye, en we er all
+yer 'ceppin' dat ar 'Tildy gal, en 't won't be long 'fo' she'll be
+a-drappin' in. Run over in yo' min', en whar my tale 'uz wrong, des
+whirl in en put 'er ter rights."</p>
+
+<p>"Shuh-shuh!" exclaimed the old African, "Oona no git dem tale stret. I
+yed dem wey me lif; 'e soun' lak dis: One tam dem bittle bin git bery
+skace. Da rice crop mek nuttin'; da fish swim <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>low; da bud fly high.
+Hard times bin come dey-dey. 'E so hard, dem creeturs do git honkry fer
+true. B'er Rabbit un B'er Wolf dey come pit bote 'e head tergerrer; dey
+is mek talk how honkry dey is 'way down in da belly.</p>
+
+<p>"Bumbye, B'er Rabbit, 'e shed 'e y-eye, 'e say dey mus' kill dey
+gran'mammy. B'er Wolf say 'e mek 'e y-eye come wat'ry fer yeddy da talk
+lak dat. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki, B'er Wolf! da water come in you' y-eye wun you is bin honkry. Me
+y-eye done bin-a come wat'ry so long tam befo' I bin talky wit' you
+'bout we gran'mammy.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf, 'e der keep on cryin'; 'e wipe 'e y-eye 'pon 'e coat-sleef.
+B'er Rabbit, 'e bin say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef you is bin tek it so ha'd lak dis, B'er Wolf, 'e bery good fer
+kill-a you' gran'mammy fus', so you is kin come glad ag'in.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf, 'e go dry 'e y-eye un kill 'e gran'mammy, un dey is bin tek
+'im gran'mammy off un sell um fer bittle. Dun dey is bin eat dis bittle
+day un night tell 'e all done gone. Wun-a tam come fer B'er Rabbit fer
+kill 'e gran'mammy, B'er Wolf, 'e go bisitin' 'im. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'B'er Rabbit, I is bin-a feel honkry troo un troo. Less we kill-a you'
+gran'mammy.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit lif' up 'e head high; 'e lahff. 'E shekky one year, 'e
+shed-a one eye. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Eh-eh, B'er Wolf, you t'ink I gwan kill-a me gran'mammy? Oh, no, B'er
+Wolf! Me no kin do dat.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis mek B'er Wolf wuss mad den 'e is bin befo'. 'E fair teer de yet'
+wit' 'e claw; 'e yowl sem lak Injun mans. 'E say 'e gwan make B'er
+Rabbit kill 'e gran'mammy nohow.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan see 'im 'bout dis. 'E tek 'e gran'mammy by da
+han'; 'e lead um way off in da woods; 'e hide um in da top one big
+cocoanut tree: 'e tell um fer stay deer."</p>
+
+<p>The mention of a cocoanut tree caused the little boy to glance
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>incredulously at Uncle Remus, who made prompt and characteristic
+reply:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's it, honey; dat's it, sho'. In dem days en in dem countries dey
+wuz plenty er cocoanut trees. Less we all set back yer en give Brer Jack
+a livin' chance."</p>
+
+<p>"'E hide 'e gran'mammy in top cocoanut tree," continued Daddy Jack, "un
+'e gi' um lilly bahskit wit' cord tie on um. In de day-mawnin', B'er
+Rabbit, 'e is bin go at da foot da tree. 'E make 'e v'ice fine: 'e
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Granny!&mdash;Granny!&mdash;O Granny! Jutta cord-la!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Wun 'e granny yeddy dis, 'e let bahskit down wit' da cord, un B'er
+Rabbit 'e fill um wit' bittle un somet'ing t'eat. Ebry day dey is bin-a
+do dis t'ing; ebry day B'er Rabbit is come fer feed 'e granny.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf 'e watch, 'e lissun; 'e sneak up, 'e creep up, 'e do lissun.
+Bumbye, 'e do yeddy B'er Rabbit call; 'e see da bahskit swing down, 'e
+see um go back. Wun B'er Rabbit bin-a go 'way fum dey-dey, B'er Wolf, 'e
+come by da root da tree. 'E holler; 'e do say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Granny!&mdash;Granny!&mdash;O Granny! Shoot-a cord-la!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Da ole Granny Rabbit lissun; 'e bin lissun well. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! how come dis? Me son is no talky lak dis. 'E no shoot-a da cord
+lak dat.'</p>
+
+<p>"W'en B'er Rabbit come back da granny is bin-a tell um 'bout somet'ing
+come-a holler shoot-a da cord-la, un B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e is kin
+lahff no mo'. B'er Wolf, 'e hidin' close; 'e yed B'er Rabbit crackin' 'e
+joke; 'e is git bery mad.</p>
+
+<p>"Wun B'er Rabbit is gone 'way, B'er Wolf bin-a come back. 'E stan' by da
+tree root; 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Granny!&mdash;Granny!&mdash;O Granny! Jutta cord-la!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Granny Rabbit hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e lissun good. 'E say:</p>
+
+<p>"'I bery sorry, me son, you bin hab so bad col'. You' v'ice bin-a soun'
+rough, me son.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>"Dun Granny Rabbit is bin peep down; 'e bin say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi! B'er Wolf! Go 'way fum dey-dey. You no is bin fool-a me lak dis.
+Go 'way, B'er Wolf!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf, 'e come bery mad; 'e grin tell 'e tush bin shi&uuml;n. 'E go in
+da swamp; 'e scratch 'e head; 'e t'ink. Bumbye, 'e go bisitin' one
+Blacksmit', un 'e ahx 'im how kin 'e do fer make 'e v'ce come fine lak
+B'er Rabbit v'ice. Da Blacksmit', 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come, B'er Wolf; I run dis red-hot poker in you' t'roat, 'e mekky you
+talk easy.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf say, 'Well, I lak you for mekky me v'ice fine.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dun da Blacksmit' run da red-hot poker in B'er Wolf t'roat, un 'e hu't
+um so bad, 'tiss-a bin long tam befo' B'er Wolf kin tekky da long walk
+by da cocoanut tree. Bumbye 'e git so 'e kin come by, un wun 'e git
+dey-dey, 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Granny!&mdash;Granny!&mdash;O Granny! Jutta cord-la!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Da v'ice soun' so nice un fine da' Granny Rabbit is bin t'ink 'e B'er
+Rabbit v'ice, un 'e is bin-a let da bahskit down. B'er Wolf, 'e shekky
+da cord lak 'e is put some bittle in da bahskit, un dun 'e is bin-a git
+in 'ese'f. B'er Wolf, 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit pull on da cord;
+'e do say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! 'e come he'ffy; 'e he'ffy fer true. Me son, 'e love 'e Granny
+heap.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf, 'e do grin; 'e grin, un 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit
+pull; 'e do pull ha'd. 'E pull tel 'e is git B'er Wolf mos' by da top,
+un dun 'e stop fer res'. B'er Wolf look-a down, 'e head swim; 'e look
+up, 'e mout' water; 'e look-a down 'g'in, 'e see B'er Rabbit. 'E git
+skeer, 'e juk on da rope. B'er Rabbit, 'e do holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Granny!&mdash;Granny!&mdash;O Granny! Cutta cord-la!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Granny Rabbit cut da cord, un B'er Wolf is fall down un broke 'e
+neck."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>
+<a name="XLI" id="XLI"></a>XLI<br /><br />
+
+AUNT TEMPY'S STORY</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> little boy observed that Aunt Tempy was very much interested in
+Daddy Jack's story. She made no remarks while the old African was
+telling it, but she was busily engaged in measuring imaginary quilt
+patterns on her apron with her thumb and forefinger,&mdash;a sure sign that
+her interest had been aroused. When Daddy Jack had concluded&mdash;when, with
+a swift, sweeping gesture of his wrinkled hand, he cut the cord and
+allowed Brother Wolf to perish ignominiously&mdash;Aunt Tempy drew a long
+breath, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dat ar tale come 'cross me des like a dream. Hit put me in mine er one
+w'at I year w'en I wuz little bit er gal. Look like I kin see myse'f
+right now, settin' flat down on de h'ath lis'nin' at ole Unk Monk. You
+know'd ole Unk Monk, Brer Remus. You bleeze ter know'd 'im. Up dar in
+Ferginny. I 'clar' ter goodness, it make me feel right foolish. Brer
+Remus, I des know you know'd Unk Monk."</p>
+
+<p>For the first time in many a day the little boy saw Uncle Remus in a
+serious mood. He leaned forward in his chair, shook his head sadly, as
+he gazed into the fire.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Lord, Sis Tempy!" he exclaimed sorrowfully, "don't less we all go
+foolin' 'roun' 'mungs' dem ole times. De bes' kinder bread gits sour.
+W'at's yistiddy wid us wuz 'fo' de worl' begun wid dish yer chile. Dat's
+de way I looks at it."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's de Lord's trufe, Brer Remus," exclaimed Aunt Tempy with unction,
+"un I mighty glad you call me ter myse'f. Little mo' un I'd er sot right
+yer un 'a' gone 'way back to Ferginny, un all on 'count er dat ar tale
+w'at I year long time ago."</p>
+
+<p>"What tale was that, Aunt Tempy?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Eh-eh, honey!" replied Aunt Tempy, with a display of genuine
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span>bashfulness; "eh-eh, honey! I 'fraid you all 'll set up dar un laugh me
+outer de house. I ain't dast ter tell no tale 'long side er Brer Remus
+un Daddy Jack yer. I 'fraid I git it all mix up."</p>
+
+<p>The child manifested such genuine disappointment that Aunt Tempy
+relented a little.</p>
+
+<p>"Ef you all laugh, now," she said, with a threatening air, "I'm des
+gwine ter pick up en git right out er dish yer place. Dey ain't ter be
+no laughin', 'kaze de tale w'at I year in Ferginny ain't no laughin'
+tale."</p>
+
+<p>With this understanding Aunt Tempy adjusted her head-handkerchief,
+looked around rather sheepishly, as Uncle Remus declared afterwards in
+confidence to the little boy, and began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, in de times w'en Brer Rabbit un Brer Fox live in de same
+settlement wid one er 'n'er, de season's tuck'n come wrong. De wedder
+got hot un den a long dry drouth sot in, un it seem like dat de nat'al
+leaf on de trees wuz gwine ter tu'n ter powder."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Tempy emphasized her statements by little backward and forward
+movements of her head, and the little boy would have laughed, but a
+warning glance from Uncle Remus prevented him.</p>
+
+<p>"De leaf on de trees look like dey gwine ter tu'n ter powder, un de
+groun' look like it done bin cookt. All de truck w'at de creeturs plant
+wuz all parched up, un dey wa'n't no crops made nowhars. Dey dunner w'at
+ter do. Dey run dis a-way, dey run dat a-way; yit w'en dey quit runnin'
+dey dunner whar dey bread comin' frun. Dis de way it look ter Brer Fox,
+un so one day w'en he got a mighty hankerin' atter sumpin' sorter joosy,
+he meet Brer Rabbit in de lane, un he ax um, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, whar'bouts our bread comin' frun?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he bow, he did, un answer, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Look like it mought be comin' frun nowhar,' sezee."</p>
+
+<p>"You see dat, honey!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, condescending <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>to give the
+story the benefit of his patronage; "You see dat! Brer Rabbit wuz allus
+a-waitin' a chance fer ter crack he jokes."</p>
+
+<p>"Yas, Lord!" Aunt Tempy continued, with considerable more animation; "he
+joke, un joke, but bimeby, he ain't feel like no mo' jokin', un den he
+up'n say, sezee, dat him un Brer Fox better start out'n take der
+fammerlies wid um ter town un swap um off for some fresh-groun' meal; un
+Brer Fox say, sezee, dat dat look mighty fa'r un squar', un den dey
+tuck'n make dey 'greements.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox wuz ter s'ply de waggin un team, un he promise dat he gwine
+ter ketch he fammerly un tie um hard un fast wid a red twine string.
+Brer Rabbit he say, sezee, dat he gwine ter ketch he fammerly un tie um
+all, un meet Brer Fox at de fork er de road.</p>
+
+<p>"Sho' 'nuff, soon in de mawnin', w'en Brer Fox draw up wid he waggin, he
+holler 'Wo!' un Brer Rabbit he tuck'n holler back, 'Wo yo'se'f!' un den
+Brer Fox know dey 'uz all dar. Brer Fox, he tuck'n sot up on de seat, un
+all er he fammerly, dey wuz a-layin' under de seat. Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n put all he fammerly in de behime een' er de waggin, un he say,
+sezee, dat he 'speck he better set back dar twel dey git sorter usen ter
+dey surrounderlings, un den Brer Fox crack he whip, un off dey wen' toze
+town. Brer Fox, he holler ev'y once in a w'ile, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'No noddin' back dar, Brer Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit he holler back, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Fox, you miss de ruts en de rocks, un I'll miss de noddin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"But all dat time, bless yo' soul! Brer Rabbit wuz settin' dar ontyin'
+he ole 'oman un he childun, w'ich dey wuz sev'm uv um. W'en he git um
+all ontie, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n h'ist hisse'f on de seat 'long er Brer
+Fox, un dey sot dar un talk un laugh 'bout de all-sorts er times dey
+gwine ter have w'en dey git de co'n meal. Brer Fox sez, sezee, he gwine
+ter bake hoecake; Brer Rabbit sez, sezee, he gwine ter make ashcake.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>"Des 'bout dis time one er Brer Rabbit's childun raise hisse'f up easy
+un hop out de waggin. Miss Fox, she sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>One frun sev'm</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Don't leave 'lev'm.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox hunch he ole 'oman wid he foot fer ter make 'er keep still.
+Bimeby 'n'er little Rabbit pop up un hop out. Miss Fox say, se' she:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>One frun six</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Leaves me less kicks.</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox go on talkin' ter Brer Rabbit, un Brer Rabbit go on talkin'
+ter Brer Fox, un 't wa'n't so mighty long 'fo' all Brer Rabbit fammerly
+done pop up un dive out de waggin, un ev'y time one 'ud go Miss Fox she
+'ud fit it like she did de yuthers."</p>
+
+<p>"What did she say, Aunt Tempy?" asked the little boy, who was interested
+in the rhymes.</p>
+
+<p>"Des lemme see&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>One frun five</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Leaves four alive</em>;<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>One frun four</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Leaves th'ee un no mo'</em>;<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>One frun th'ee</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Leaves two ter go free</em>;<br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>One frun one,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Un all done gone</em>.'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"What did Brother Rabbit do then?" inquired the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Better ax w'at Brer Fox do," replied Aunt Tempy, pleased with the
+effect of her rhymes. "Brer Fox look 'roun' atter w'ile, un w'en he see
+dat all Brer Rabbit fammerly done gone, he lean back un holler 'Wo!' un
+den he say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'In de name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! whar all yo' folks?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit look 'roun', un den he make like he cryin'. He des fa'rly
+boo-hoo'd, un he say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>"'Dar now, Brer Fox! I des know'd dat ef I put my po' little childuns
+in dar wid yo' folks dey'd git e't up. I des know'd it!'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Miss Fox, she des vow she ain't totch Brer Rabbit fammerly. But
+Brer Fox, he bin wantin' a piece un um all de way, un he begrudge um so
+dat he git mighty mad wid he ole 'oman un de childuns, un he say,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You kin des make de most er dat, 'kaze I'm a-gwine ter bid you good
+riddance dis ve'y day'; un, sho' nuff, Brer Fox tuck'n tuck he whole
+fammerly ter town un trade um off fer co'n.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit wuz wid 'em, des ez big ez life un twice ez natchul. Dey
+start back, dey did, un w'en dey git four er five mile out er town, hit
+come 'cross Brer Fox min' dat he done come away un lef' a plug er
+terbacker in de sto', en he say he bleeze ter go back atter it.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat he'll stay en take keer er de waggin,
+w'ile Brer Fox kin run back un git he terbacker. Soon ez Brer Fox git
+out er sight, Brer Rabbit laid de hosses under line un lash un drove de
+waggin home, un put de hosses in he own stable, un de co'n in de
+smoke-house, un de waggin in de barn, un den he put some co'n in he
+pocket, un cut de hosses tails off, un went back up de road twel he come
+ter a quog-mire, un in dat he stick de tails un wait fer Brer Fox.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter w'ile yer he come, un den Brer Rabbit gun ter holler un pull at
+de tails. He say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer! Youer des in time ef you ain't too late.
+Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he run'd en juk Brer Rabbit away, un say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Git out de way, Brer Rabbit! You too little! Git out de way, un let a
+man ketch holt.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox tuck holt," continued Aunt Tempy, endeavoring to keep from
+laughing, "un he fetch'd one big pull, un I let you know dat 'uz de
+onliest pull he make, 'kaze de tails come out un he tu'n <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>a back
+summerset. He jump up, he did, en 'gun ter grabble in de quog-mire des
+ez hard ez he kin.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he stan' by, un drop some co'n in onbeknowns' ter Brer
+Fox, un dis make 'im grabble wuss un wuss, un he grabble so hard un he
+grabble so long dat 't wa'n't long 'fo' he fall down dead, un so dat 'uz
+de las' er ole Brer Fox in dat day un time."</p>
+
+<p>As Aunt Tempy paused, Uncle Remus adjusted his spectacles and looked at
+her admiringly. Then he laughed heartily.</p>
+
+<p>"I declar', Sis Tempy," he said, after a while, "you gives tongue same
+ez a lawyer. You'll hatter jine in wid us some mo'."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Tempy closed her eyes and dropped her head on one side.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't git me started, Brer Remus," she said, after a pause; "'kaze ef
+you does you'll hatter set up yer long pas' yo' bedtime."</p>
+
+<p>"I b'leeve you, Sis Tempy, dat I does!" exclaimed the old man, with the
+air of one who has made a pleasing discovery.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XLII" id="XLII"></a>XLII<br /><br />
+
+THE FIRE-TEST</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">We</span> er sorter bin a-waitin' fer Sis Tempy," Uncle Remus remarked when
+the little boy made his appearance the next night; "but somehow er n'er
+look lak she fear'd she hatter up en tell some mo' tales. En yit maybe
+she bin strucken down wid some kinder ailment. Dey ain't no countin' on
+deze yer fat folks. Dey er up one minnit en down de nex'; en w'at make
+it dat a-way I be bless ef I know, 'kaze w'en folks is big en fat look
+lak dey oughter be weller dan deze yer long hongry kinder folks.</p>
+
+<p>"Yit all de same, Brer Jack done come," continued Uncle Remus, "en we
+ull des slam de do' shet, en ef Sis Tempy come she'll des hatter hol'
+'er han's 'fo' 'er face en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Lucky de Linktum, chucky de chin,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Open de do' en let me in!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>"Oh, you kin laugh ef you wanter, but I boun' you ef Sis Tempy wuz ter
+come dar en say de wuds w'at I say, de button on dat ar do' 'ud des
+nat'ally twis' hitse'f off but w'at 't would let 'er in. Now, I boun'
+you dat!"</p>
+
+<p>Whatever doubts the child may have had he kept to himself, for
+experience had taught him that it was useless to irritate the old man by
+disputing with him. What effect the child's silence may have had in this
+instance it is impossible to say, for just then Aunt Tempy came in
+laughing.</p>
+
+<p>"You all kin des say w'at you please," she exclaimed, as she took her
+seat, "but dat ar <em>Shucky Cordy</em> in de tale w'at Daddy Jack done tole,
+bin runnin' 'roun' in my min' en zoonin 'in my years all de time."</p>
+
+<p>"Yer too!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis. "Dat's me up en down.
+Look lak dat ar cricket over dar in de cornder done tuck it up, en now
+he gwine, '<em>Shucky-cordy! Shucky-cordy!</em>'"</p>
+
+<p>"Shuh-shuh!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, with vehement contempt, "'e <em>jutta
+cord-la!</em> 'E no 'shucky-cordy' no'n 't all."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, soothingly, "in deze low
+groun's er sorrer, you des got ter lean back en make 'lowances fer all
+sorts er folks. You got ter 'low fer dem dat knows too much same ez dem
+w'at knows too little. A heap er sayin's en a heap er doin's in dis
+roun' worl' got ter be tuck on trus'. You got yo' sayin's, I got mine;
+you got yo' knowin's, en I got mine. Man come 'long en ax me how does de
+wum git in de scaly-bark.<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> I tell 'im right up en down, I dunno, sir.
+N'er man come 'long en ax me who raise de row 'twix' de buzzud en de
+bee-martin.<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> I tell 'im I dunno, sir. Yit, 'kaze I dunno," continued
+Uncle Remus, "dat don't hender um. Dar dey is, spite er dat,&mdash;wum in de
+scaly-bark, bee-martin atter de buzzud."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>"Dat's so," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, "dat's de Lord's trufe!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dat ar pullin' at de string," Uncle Remus went on, "en dat ar hollerin'
+'bout shucky-cordy"&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Jutta cord-la!</em>" said Daddy Jack, fiercely.</p>
+
+<p>"'Bout de watsizname," said Uncle Remus, with a lenient and forgiving
+smile,&mdash;"all dish yer hollerin' en gwine on 'bout de watsizname put me
+in min' er one time w'en Brer Rabbit wuz gwine off fum home fer ter git
+a mess er green truck.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Rabbit git ready fer ter go, he call all he chilluns up, en
+he tell um dat w'en he go out dey mus' fas'n de do' on de inside, en dey
+mus'n' tu'n nobody in, nohow, 'kaze Brer Fox en Brer Wolf bin layin'
+'roun' waitin' chance fer ter nab um. En he tuck'n tole um dat w'en he
+come back, he'd rap at de do' en sing:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I'll stay w'en you away,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"De little Rabs, dey hilt up der ban's en promise dat dey won't open de
+do' fer nobody 'ceppin' dey daddy, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n put
+out, he did, at a han'-gallop, huntin' sump'n' n'er ter eat. But all dis
+time, Brer Wolf bin hidin' out behime de house, en he year eve'y wud dat
+pass, en ole Brer Rabbit wa'n't mo'n out'n sight 'fo' Brer Wolf went ter
+de do', en he knock, he did,&mdash;<em>blip, blip, blip!</em></p>
+
+<p>"Little Rab holler out, 'Who dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf he sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I'll stay w'en you away,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"De little Rabs dey laugh fit ter kill deyse'f, en dey up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf, go 'way! You ain't none er we-all daddy!'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, but eve'y time he thunk er dem
+plump little Rabs, he des git mo' hongry dan befo', en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he 'uz back at de do'&mdash;<em>blap, blap, blap!</em></p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>"Little Rab holler: 'Who dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he up'n sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I'll stay w'en you away,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"De little Rabs dey laugh en roll on de flo', en dey up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! We-all daddy ain't got no bad col' lak dat.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf slunk off, but bimeby he come back, en dis time he try mighty
+hard fer ter talk fine. He knock at de do'&mdash;<em>blam, blam, blam!</em></p>
+
+<p>"Little Rab holler: 'Who dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf tu'n loose en sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>I'll stay w'en you away,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Little Rab holler back, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! go 'way! We-all daddy kin sing lots puttier dan
+dat. Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! go 'way!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, en he go 'way out in de woods, en he
+sing, en sing, twel he kin sing fine ez de nex' man. Den he go back en
+knock at de do', en w'en de little Rabs ax who dat, he sing dem de song;
+en he sing so nice, en he sing so fine, dat dey ondo de do', en ole Brer
+Wolf walk in en gobble um all up, fum de fus' ter de las'.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en ole Brer Rabbit git back home, he fine de do' stannin' wide open
+en all de chilluns gone. Dey wa'n't no sign er no tussle; de h'a'th 'uz
+all swep' clean, en eve'ything wuz all ter rights, but right over in de
+cornder he see a pile er bones, en den he know in reason dat some er de
+yuther creeturs done bin dar en make hash outen he chilluns.</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="nobody" id="nobody"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 405px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0380.jpg" class="jpg" width="405" height="600" alt="&quot;DE LITTLE RABS, DEY PROMISE DAT DEY WON&#39;T OPEN DE DO&#39;
+FER NOBODY&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;DE LITTLE RABS, DEY PROMISE DAT DEY WON&#39;T OPEN DE DO&#39;
+FER NOBODY&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0380l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Den he go 'roun' en ax um 'bout it, but dey all 'ny it; dey all 'ny it
+ter de las', en Brer Wolf, he 'ny it wuss'n all un um. Den Brer Rabbit
+tuck'n lay de case 'fo' Brer Tarrypin. Ole Brer Tarrypin wuz a mighty
+man in dem days," continued Uncle Remus, with <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>something like a
+sigh,&mdash;"a mighty man, en no sooner is he year de state er de condition
+dan he up'n call all de creeturs tergedder. He call um tergedder, he
+did, en den he up'n tell um 'bout how somebody done tuck'n 'stroy all er
+Brer Rabbit chillun, en he 'low dat de man w'at do dat bleedz ter be
+kotch, 'kaze ef he ain't, dey ain't no tellin' how long it'll be 'fo' de
+same somebody'll come 'long en 'stroy all de chillun in de settlement.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer B'ar, he up'n ax how dey gwine fine 'im, en Brer Tarrypin say dey
+er allers a way. Den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Less dig a deep pit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll dig de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter de pit done dug, Brer Tarrypin say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Less fill de pit full er lighter'd knots en bresh.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll fill de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter de pit done fill up, Brer Tarrypin say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Now, den, less set it a-fier.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll kindle de fier,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en de fier 'gun ter blaze up, Brer Tarrypin 'low dat de creeturs mus'
+jump 'cross dat, en de man w'at 'stroy Brer Rabbit chilluns will drap in
+en git bu'nt up. Brer Wolf bin so uppity 'bout diggin', en fillin', en
+kindlin', dat dey all 'spected 'im fer ter make de fus' trial; but,
+bless yo' soul en body! Brer Wolf look lak he got some yuther business
+fer ter 'ten' ter.</p>
+
+<p>"De pit look so deep, en de fier bu'n so high, dat dey mos' all 'fear'd
+fer ter make de trial, but atter w'ile, Brer Mink 'low dat he ain't
+hunted none er Brer Rabbit chilluns, en wid dat, he tuck runnin' start,
+en lipt across. Den Brer Coon say he ain't hunted um, en over he sailed.
+Brer B'ar say he feel mo' heavy dan he ever is befo' in all he born
+days, but he ain't hurted none er Brer Rabbit po' little chilluns, en
+wid dat away he went 'cross de fier. Dey all jump, twel bimeby hit come
+Brer Wolf time. Den he 'gun ter git skeered, en he mighty sorry 'kaze he
+dig dat pit so deep en wide, en kindle dat fier so high. He tuck sech a
+long run<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>nin' start, dat time he git ter de jumpin' place, he 'uz done
+wo' teetotally out, en he lipt up, he did, en fetch'd a squall en drapt
+right spang in de middle er de fier."</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a while, "did Brother Terrapin
+jump over the fire?"</p>
+
+<p>"Wat Brer Tarrypin gwine jump fer?" responded Uncle Remus, "w'en
+eve'ybody know Tarrypins ain't eat Rabbits."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you know you said everything was different then," said the child.</p>
+
+<p>"Look yer, Brer Jack," exclaimed Uncle Remus, "ef you got any tale on
+yo' mine, des let 'er come. Dish yer youngster gittin' too long-headed
+fer me; dat he is."<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a></p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XLIII" id="XLIII"></a>XLIII<br /><br />
+
+THE CUNNING SNAKE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Daddy Jack</span>, thus appealed to, turned half round in his seat, winked his
+bright little eyes very rapidly, and said, with great animation:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Hoo! me bin yeddy one sing-tale; me yeddy um so long tam 'go. One tam
+dere bin one ole Affiky ooman, 'e call 'im name Coomba. 'E go walky troo
+da woots, 'e walky troo da fiel. Bumbye 'e is bin come 'pon one
+snake-nes' fill wit' aig. Snake big snake, aig big aig. Affiky oomans is
+bin want-a dem aig so bahd; 'e 'fraid fer tek um. 'E gone home; 'e is
+see dem aig in 'e dream, 'e want um so bahd. Wun da nex' day mornin'
+come, da Affiky oomans say 'e bleeze fer hab dem aig. 'E go 'way, 'e
+bin-a see da snake-nes', 'e is git-a da aig; 'e fetch um at 'e own
+house; 'e cook um fer 'e brekwuss.</p>
+
+<p>"Bumbye da snake bin-a come by 'e nes'. Aig done gone. 'E pit 'e nose
+'pon da groun', 'e is track da Affiky oomans by 'e own <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>house. Snake
+come by da Affiky oomans house; 'e ahx 'bout 'e aig. Affiky oomans say
+'e no hab bin see no aig. Snake see da skin wut bin 'pon 'e aig; 'e ahx
+wut is dis. Affiky oomans no say nuttin' 't all. Snake 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wey fer you come brek up me nes' un tekky me aig?'</p>
+
+<p>"Affiky oomans 'e no say nuttin' 't all. 'E toss 'e head, 'e mek lak 'e
+no yeddy da snake v'ice, 'e go 'bout 'e wuk. Snake, 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ooman! you is bin yed me v'ice wun me cry out. You bin tekky me aig;
+you is bin 'stroy me chillun. Tek keer you' own; tek keer you' own.'</p>
+
+<p>"Snake gone 'way; 'e slick out 'e tongue, 'e slide 'way. Bumbye de
+Affiky oomans, 'e hab one putty lil pickaninny; 'e lub um ha'd all over.
+'E is mine wut da snake say; 'e tote da pickaninny 'roun' 'pon 'e bahck.
+'E call um Noncy, 'e tote um fur, 'e lub um ha'd.</p>
+
+<p>"Snake, 'e bin-a stay in da bush-side; 'e watch all day, 'e wait all
+night; 'e git honkry fer da pickaninny, 'e want um so bahd. 'E bin slick
+out 'e tongue, 'e bin slide troo da grass, 'e bin hanker fer da
+pickaninny.</p>
+
+<p>"Bumbye da Affiky oomans tote-a da Noncy til 'e git tire; 'e puff, 'e
+blow, 'e wuk 'e gill sem lak cat-fish."</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Tempy burst into loud laughter at this remarkable statement.</p>
+
+<p>"Whoever is year de beat er dat!" she exclaimed. "Daddy Jack, you goes
+on owdashus 'bout de wimmen, dat you does!"</p>
+
+<p>"'E puff, 'e blow, 'e pant; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Da pickaninny, 'e der git-a big lak one bag rice. 'E der git-a so
+heffy, me yent mos' know wut fer do. Me yent kin tote um no mo'.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Affiky oomans is bin-a pit da pickaninny down 'pon da groun'. 'E mek
+up one sing<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> in 'e head, un 'e l'arn da lilly gal fer answer da sing.
+'E do show um how fer pull out da peg in da do'. Snake, 'e is bin lay
+quile up in da bush; 'e say nuttin' 't all.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>"Affiky oomans is l'arn-a da pickaninny fer answer da sing, un wun he
+sta't fer go off, 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Pit da peg in da do' un you no y-open um fer nobody 'cep' you is yeddy
+me sing.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal, 'e say yassum, un da Affiky oomans gone off. Snake stay still.
+'E quile up in 'e quile; 'e yent moof<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> 'e tail. Bumbye, toze
+night-time, da Affiky oomans come bahck wey 'e lif. 'E stan' by da do';
+'e talk dis sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"'E v'ice 'come finer toze da las' tel 'e do git loud fer true. Da lilly
+gal, 'e do mek answer lak dis:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"'E know 'e mammy v'ice, en 'e bin pull out da peg queek. 'E run to 'e
+mammy; 'e mammy der hung um up. Nex' day, 'e da sem t'ing; two, t'ree,
+sev'm day, 'e da sem t'ing. Affiky oomans holler da sing; da lilly gal
+mek answer 'pon turrer side da do'. Snake, 'e lay quile up in da bush.
+'E watch da night, 'e lissun da day; 'e try fer l'arn-a da sing; 'e no
+say nuttin' 't all. Bumbye, one tam wun Affiky oomans bin gone 'way,
+snake, 'e wait 'til 'e mos' tam fer oomans fer come bahck. 'E gone by da
+do'; 'e y-open 'e mout'; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"'E try fer mekky 'e v'ice come fine lak da lil gal mammy; 'e der hab
+one rough place in 'e t'roat, un 'e v'ice come big. Lilly gal no mek
+answer. 'E no y-open da do'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go 'way fum dey-dey! Me mammy no holler da sing lak dat!'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>"Snake, 'e try one, two, t'ree time; 'e yent no use. Lilly gal no
+y-open da do', 'e no mek answer. Snake 'e slick out 'e tongue un slide
+'way; 'e say 'e mus' l'arn-a da sing sho' 'nuff.</p>
+
+<p>"Bumbye, da Affiky oomans come bahck. 'E holler da sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Lilly gal say: 'Da' me mammy!' 'E answer da sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Snake, 'e quile up in da chimmerly-corner; 'e hol' 'e bre't' fer
+lissun; 'e der l'arn-a da sing. Nex' day mornin' da Affiky oomans bin-a
+gone 'way un lef' da lilly gal all by 'ese'f. All de day long da snake
+'e t'ink about da song; 'e say um in 'e min', 'e say um forwud, 'e say
+um backwud. Bumbye, mos' toze sundown, 'e come at da do'; 'e come, 'e
+holler da sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Walla walla witto, me Noncy!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Da lil gal, 'e t'ink-a da snake bin 'e mammy; 'e is answer da sing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'Adolee! Andoli! Andolo!'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"'E mek answer lak dat, un 'e y-open da do' queek. 'E run 'pon da snake
+'fo' 'e is <em>shum</em>.<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> Snake, 'e bin-a hug da lilly gal mo' sem dun 'e
+mammy; 'e is twis' 'e tail 'roun' um; 'e is ketch um in 'e quile. Lilly
+gal 'e holler, 'e squall; 'e squall, 'e holler. Nobody bin-a come by fer
+yeddy um. Snake 'e 'quees'<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> um tight, 'e no l'em go; 'e 'quees' um
+tight, 'e swaller um whole; 'e bre'k-a no bone; 'e tekky da lilly gal
+lak 'e stan'.</p>
+
+<p>"Bumbye da lil mammy come home at 'e house. 'E holler da sing, 'e git-a
+no answer. 'E come skeer'; 'e v'ice shek, 'e body trimple. 'E lissun, 'e
+no yeddy no fuss. 'E push de do' y-open, 'e <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>no see nuttin' 't all; da
+lilly gal gone! Da ooman 'e holler, 'e cry; 'e ahx way 'e lilly gal bin
+gone; 'e no git no answer. 'E look all 'roun', 'e see way da snake bin-a
+'cross da road. 'E holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow, me Lard! da snake bin come swaller me lil Noncy gal. I gwan hunt
+'im up; I gwan foller da snake pas' da een' da yet'.'<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a></p>
+
+<p>"'E go in da swamp, 'e cut 'im one cane; 'e come bahck, 'e fine da snake
+track, un 'e do foller 'long wey 'e lead. Snake 'e so full wit de lilly
+gal 'e no walk fas'; lil gal mammy, 'e bin mad, 'e go stret 'long. Snake
+'e so full wit' da lilly gal, 'e come sleepy. 'E lay down, 'e shed-a 'e
+y-eye. 'E y-open um no mo'," continued Daddy Jack, moving his head
+slowly from side to side, and looking as solemn as he could. "Da ooman
+come 'pon de snake wun 'e bin lay dar 'sleep; 'e come 'pon 'im, un 'e
+tekky da cane un bre'k 'e head, 'e mash um flat. 'E cut da snake open,
+'e fine da lilly gal sem lak 'e bin 'sleep. 'E tek um home, 'e wash um
+off. Bumbye da lilly gal y-open 'e y-eye, un soon 'e see 'e mammy, 'e
+answer da sing. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!</em>'"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, sympathetically. "Un de po'
+little creetur wuz 'live?"</p>
+
+<p>"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack. No reply could possibly have been more
+prompt, more emphatic, or more convincing.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XLIV" id="XLIV"></a>XLIV<br /><br />
+
+HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span>," said the little boy, one night when he found the old man
+alone, "I don't like these stories where somebody has to stand at the
+door and sing, do you? They don't sound funny to me."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus crossed his legs, took off his spectacles and laid <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>them
+carefully on the floor under his chair, and made a great pretence of
+arguing the matter with the child.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey, w'ich tale is it w'at you ain't lak de mos'?"</p>
+
+<p>The little boy reflected a moment and then replied:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"About the snake swallowing the little girl. I don't see any fun in
+that. Papa says they have snakes in Africa as big around as his body;
+and, goodness knows, I hope they won't get after me."</p>
+
+<p>"How dey gwine git atter you, honey, w'en you settin' up yer 'long side
+er me en de snakes 'way 'cross dar in Affiky?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Daddy Jack, he came, and the snakes might come too."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus laughed, more to reassure the child than to ridicule his
+argument.</p>
+
+<p>"Dem ar snakes ain't no water-moccasin, not ez I knows un. Brer Jack bin
+yer mighty long time, en dey ain't no snake foller atter 'im yit."</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Uncle Remus! papa says they have them in shows."</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck dey is, honey, but who's afear'd er snake stufft wid
+meal-bran? Not none er ole Miss gran'chillun, sho'!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, the stories don't sound funny to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat mought be, yit deyer funny ter Brer Jack, en dey do mighty well fer
+ter pass de time. Atter w'ile you'll be a-gwine 'roun' runnin' down
+ole-Brer Rabbit en de t'er creeturs, en somehow er n'er you'll take'n
+git ole Remus mix up wid um twel you won't know w'ich one un um you er
+runnin' down, en let 'lone dat, you won't keer needer. Shoo, honey! you
+ain't de fus' chap w'at I done tole deze yer tales ter."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in a horrified tone, "I
+<em>would n't</em>; you <em>know</em> I would n't!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't tell me!" insisted the old man, "you er outgrowin' me, en you er
+outgrowin' de tales. Des lak Miss Sally change de lenk er yo' britches,
+des dat a-way I got ter do w'ence I whirl in en persoo atter de
+creeturs. Time wuz w'en you 'ud set down yer <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>by dish yer h'a'th, en
+you'd take'n holler en laugh en clap yo' han's w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'ud
+kick outen all er he tanglements; but deze times you sets dar wid yo'
+eyes wide open, en you don't crack a smile. I say it!" Uncle Remus
+exclaimed, changing his tone and attitude, as if addressing some third
+person concealed in the room. "I say it! Stidder j'inin' in wid de fun,
+he'll take'n lean back dar en 'spute 'long wid you des lak grow'd up
+folks. I'll stick it out dis season, but w'en Chrismus come, I be bless
+ef I ain't gwine ter ax Miss Sally fer my remoovance papers, en I'm
+gwine ter hang my bundle on my walkin'-cane, en see w'at kinder dirt dey
+is at de fur een' er de big road."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes!" exclaimed the little boy, triumphantly, "and, if you do, the
+patter-rollers will get you."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," replied the old man, with a curious air of resignation, "ef dey
+does, I ain't gwine ter do lak Brer Fox did w'en Brer Rabbit showed him
+de tracks in de big road."</p>
+
+<p>"How did Brother Fox do, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Watch out, now! Dish yer one er de tales w'at ain't got no fun in it."</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus, please tell it."</p>
+
+<p>"Hol' on dar! Dey mought be a snake some'rs in it&mdash;one er deze yer
+meal-bran snakes."</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Please</em>, Uncle Remus, tell it."</p>
+
+<p>The old man never allowed himself to resist the artful pleadings of the
+little boy. So he recovered his specks from under the chair, looked up
+the chimney for luck, as he explained to his little partner, and
+proceeded:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One day w'en Brer Fox went callin' on Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de
+t'er gals, who should he fine settin' up dar but ole Brer Rabbit?
+Yasser! Dar he wuz, des ez sociable ez you please. He 'uz gwine on wid
+de gals, en w'en Brer Fox drapt in dey look lak dey wuz mighty tickled
+'bout sump'n' n'er Brer Rabbit bin sayin'. Brer Fox, he look sorter
+jub'ous, he did, des lak folks does <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>w'en dey walks up in a crowd whar
+de yuthers all a-gigglin'. He tuck'n kotch de dry grins terreckerly. But
+dey all howdied, en Miss Meadows, she up'n say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You'll des hatter skuse us, Brer Fox, on de 'count er dish yer
+gigglement. Tooby sho', hit monst'us disperlite fer we-all fer to be
+gwine on dat a-way; but I mighty glad you come, en I sez ter de gals,
+s'I, "'Fo' de Lord, gals! dar come Brer Fox, en yer we is a-gigglin' en
+a-gwine on scan'lous; yit hit done come ter mighty funny pass," s'I, "ef
+you can't run on en laugh 'fo' home folks," s'I. Dat des 'zactly w'at I
+say, en I leave it ter ole Brer Rabbit en de gals yer ef 't ain't.'</p>
+
+<p>"De gals, dey tuck'n jine in, dey did, en dey make ole Brer Fox feel
+right splimmy-splammy, en dey all sot dar en run on 'bout dey neighbors
+des lak folks does deze days. Dey sot dar, dey did, twel atter w'ile
+Brer Rabbit look out todes sundown, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Now, den, folks and fr'en's, I bleedz ter say goo' bye. Cloud comin'
+up out yan, en mos' 'fo' we know it de rain 'll be a-po'in' en de grass
+'ll be a-growin'.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, that's poetry, Uncle Remus!" interrupted the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho' 't is, honey! tooby sho' 't is. I des let you know Brer
+Rabbit 'uz a mighty man in dem days. Brer Fox, he see de cloud comin'
+up, en he up'n 'low he 'speck he better be gittin' 'long hisse'f, 'kaze
+he ain't wanter git he Sunday-go-ter-meetin' cloze wet. Miss Meadows en
+Miss Motts, en de gals, dey want um ter stay, but bofe er dem ar
+creeturs 'uz mighty fear'd er gittin' der foots wet, en atter w'ile dey
+put out.</p>
+
+<p>"W'iles dey 'uz gwine down de big road, jawin' at one er 'n'er, Brer
+Fox, he tuck'n stop right quick, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Run yer, Brer Rabbit! run yer! Ef my eye ain't 'ceive me yer de signs
+whar Mr. Dog bin 'long, en mo'n dat dey er right fresh.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he sidle up en look. Den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dat ar track ain't never fit Mr. Dog foot in de roun' worl'. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>W'at
+make it mo' bindin',' sezee, 'I done gone en bin 'quainted wid de man
+w'at make dat track, too long 'go ter talk 'bout,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, please, sir, tell me he name.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he laugh lak he makin' light er sump'n' 'n'er.</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef I ain't make no mistakes, Brer Fox, de po' creetur w'at make dat
+track is Cousin Wildcat; no mo' en no less.'</p>
+
+<p>"'How big is he, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'He des 'bout yo' heft, Brer Fox.' Den Brer Rabbit make lak he talkin'
+wid hisse'f. 'Tut, tut, tut! Hit mighty funny dat I should run up on
+Cousin Wildcat in dis part er de worl'. Tooby sho', tooby sho'! Many en
+manys de time I see my ole Grandaddy kick en cuff Cousin Wildcat, twel I
+git sorry 'bout 'im. Ef you want any fun, Brer Fox, right now de time
+ter git it.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox up'n ax, he did, how he gwine have any fun. Brer Rabbit, he
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Easy 'nuff; des go en tackle ole Cousin Wildcat, en lam 'im 'roun'.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he sorter scratch he year, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Eh-eh, Brer Rabbit, I fear'd. He track too much lak Mr. Dog.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit des set right flat down in de road, en holler en laugh. He
+'low, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Shoo, Brer Fox! Who'd 'a' thunk you 'uz so skeery? Des come look at
+dish yer track right close. Is dey any sign er claw anywhar's?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox bleedz ter 'gree dat dey wa'n't no sign er no claw. Brer
+Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den, ef he ain't got no claw, how he gwine ter hu't you, Brer
+Fox?'</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at gone wid he toofs, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Shoo, Brer Fox! Creeturs w'at barks<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> de trees ain't gwine bite.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>"Brer Fox tuck'n tuck 'n'er good look at de tracks, en den him en Brer
+Rabbit put out fer ter foller um up. Dey went up de road, en down de
+lane, en 'cross de turnip patch, en down a dreen,<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> en up a big gully.
+Brer Rabbit, he done de trackin', en eve'y time he fine one, he up'n
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar! Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar!'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey kep' on en kep' on, twel bimeby dey run up wid de creetur. Brer
+Rabbit, he holler out mighty biggity:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo dar! W'at you doin'?'</p>
+
+<p>"De creetur look 'roun', but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, you nee'nter look so sullen! We ull make you talk 'fo' we er done
+'long wid you! Come, now! W'at you doin' out dar?'</p>
+
+<p>"De creetur rub hisse'f 'gin' a tree des lak you see deze yer house cats
+rub 'gin' a cheer, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at you come pesterin' 'long wid us fer, w'en we ain't bin
+a-pesterin' you? You got de consate dat I dunner who you is, but I does.
+Youer de same ole Cousin Wildcat w'at my gran'daddy use ter kick en cuff
+w'en you 'fuse ter 'spon'. I let you know I got a better man yer dan
+w'at my gran'daddy ever is bin, en I boun' you he ull make you talk. Dat
+w'at I boun' you.'</p>
+
+<p>"De creetur lean mo' harder 'gin' de tree, en sorter ruffle up he
+bristle, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he 'fuse ter 'spon' slap 'im down! Dat de
+way my gran'daddy done. You go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he dast ter try
+ter run, I'll des whirl in en ketch 'im.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he sorter jub'ous, but he start todes de creetur. Ole Cousin
+Wildcat walk all 'roun' de tree, rubbin' hisse'f, but he ain't sayin'
+nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>"'Des walk right up en slap 'im down, Brer Fox&mdash;de owdashus vilyun! Des
+hit 'im a surbinder, en ef he dast ter run, I boun' you I'll ketch 'im.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he went up little nigher. Cousin Wildcat stop rubbin' on de
+tree, en sot up on he behime legs wid he front paws in de a'r, en he
+balance hisse'f by leanin' 'gin' de tree, but he ain't sayin' nothin'.
+Brer Rabbit, he squall out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Oh, you nee'nter put up yo' han's en try ter beg off. Dat de way you
+fool my ole gran'daddy; but you can't fool we-all. All yo' settin' up en
+beggin' ain't gwine ter he'p you. Ef youer so humble ez all dat, w'at
+make you come pesterin' longer we-all? Hit 'im a clip, Brer Fox! Ef he
+run, I'll ketch 'im!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox see de creetur look so mighty humble, settin' up dar lak he
+beggin' off, en he sorter take heart. He sidle up todes 'im, he did, en
+des ez he 'uz makin' ready fer ter slap 'im ole Cousin Wildcat draw'd
+back en fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused here a moment, as if to discover some term strong
+enough to do complete justice to the catastrophe. Presently he went
+on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Dat ar Cousin Wildcat creetur fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach,
+en you mought a yeard 'im squall fum yer ter Harmony Grove. Little mo'
+en de creetur would er to' Brer Fox in two. W'ence de creetur made a
+pass at 'im, Brer Rabbit knew w'at gwine ter happen, yit all de same he
+tuck'n holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit 'im ag'in, Brer Fox! Hit 'im ag'in! I'm a-backin' you, Brer Fox!
+Ef he dast ter run, I'll inabout cripple 'im&mdash;dat I will. Hit 'im
+ag'in!'</p>
+
+<p>"All dis time w'iles Brer Rabbit gwine on dis a-way, Brer Fox, he 'uz
+a-squattin' down, hol'in' he stomach wid bofe han's en des a-moanin':&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm ruint, Brer Rabbit! I'm ruint! Run fetch de doctor! I'm teetotally
+ruint!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Bout dat time, Cousin Wildcat, he tuck'n tuck a walk. Brer <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>Rabbit, he
+make lak he 'stonish' dat Brer Fox is hurted. He tuck'n 'zamin' de
+place, he did, en he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit look lak ter me, Brer Fox, dat dat owdashus vilyun tuck'n struck
+you wid a reapin'-hook.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lit out fer home, en w'en he git out er sight, he
+tuck'n shuck he han's des lak cat does w'en she git water on 'er foots,
+en he tuck'n laugh en laugh twel it make 'im sick fer ter laugh."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XLV" id="XLV"></a>XLV<br /><br />
+
+BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> little boy thought that the story of how the wildcat scratched
+Brother Fox was one of the best stories he had ever heard, and he did
+n't hesitate to say so. His hearty endorsement increased Uncle Remus's
+good-humor; and the old man, with a broad grin upon his features and
+something of enthusiasm in his tone, continued to narrate the adventures
+of Brother Rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>"After Brer Fox git hurted so bad," said Uncle Remus, putting an edge
+upon his axe with a whetstone held in his hand, "hit wuz a mighty long
+time 'fo' he could ramble 'roun' en worry ole Brer Rabbit. Der time
+Cousin Wildcat fetch'd 'im dat wipe 'cross de stomach, he tuck'n lay de
+blame on Brer Rabbit, en w'en he git well, he des tuck'n juggle wid de
+yuther creeturs, en dey all 'gree dat dem en Brer Rabbit can't drink out
+er de same branch, ner walk de same road, ner live in de same
+settlement, ner go in washin' in de same wash-hole.</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho' Brer Rabbit bleedz ter take notice er all dish yer kinder
+jugglements en gwines on, en he des tuck'n strenken he house, in de
+neighborhoods er de winders, en den he put 'im up a steeple on top er
+dat. Yasser! A sho' 'nuff steeple, en he rise 'er up so high dat folks
+gwine 'long de big road stop en say, 'Hey! W'at kinder meetin'-house
+dat?'"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>The little boy laughed loudly at Uncle Remus's graphic delineation of
+the astonishment and admiration of the passers-by. The old man raised
+his head, stretched his eyes, and seemed to be looking over his
+spectacles right at Brother Rabbit's steeple.</p>
+
+<p>"Folks 'ud stop en ax, but Brer Rabbit ain't got time fer ter make no
+answer. <em>He</em> hammer'd, <em>he</em> nailed, <em>he</em> knock'd, <em>he</em> lamm'd! Folks go
+by, he ain't look up; creeturs come stan' en watch 'im, he ain't look
+'roun'; wuk, wuk, wuk, from sun-up ter sun-down, twel dat er steeple git
+done. Den ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n draw long breff, en wipe he forrerd, en
+'low dat ef dem t'er creeturs w'at bin atter 'im so long is got any de
+'vantage er him, de time done come fer um fer ter show it.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat he went en got 'im a snack er sump'n' t' eat, en a long piece
+er plough-line, en he tole he ole 'oman fer ter put a kittle er water on
+de fire, en stan' 'roun' close by, en eve'yt'ing he tell 'er not ter do,
+dat de ve'y t'ing she sho'ly mus' do. Den ole Brer Rabbit sot down in he
+rockin'-cheer en lookt out fum de steeple fer ter see how de lan' lay.</p>
+
+<p>"'T wa'n't long 'fo' all de creeturs year talk dat Brer Rabbit done stop
+wuk, en dey 'gun ter come 'roun' fer ter see w'at he gwine do nex'. But
+Brer Rabbit, he got up dar, he did, en smoke he seegyar, en chaw he
+'backer, en let he min' run on. Brer Wolf, he stan' en look up at de
+steeple, Brer Fox, he stan' en look up at it, en all de t'er creeturs
+dey done de same. Nex' time you see a crowd er folks lookin' at sump'n'
+right hard, you des watch um, honey. Dey'll walk 'roun' one er 'n'er en
+swap places, en dey'll be constant on de move. Dat des de way de
+creeturs done. Dey walk 'roun' en punch one er 'n'er en swap places, en
+look en look. Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot up dar, he did, en chaw he
+'backer, en smoke he seegyar, en let he min' run on.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby ole Brer Tarrypin come 'long, en ole Brer Tarrypin bin in
+cohoots wid Brer Rabbit so long dat he des nat'ally know dey wuz gwine
+ter be fun er plenty 'roun' in dem neighborhoods <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>'fo' de sun go down.
+He laugh 'way down und' de roof er he house, ole Brer Tarrypin did, en
+den he hail Brer Rabbit:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! W'at you doin' 'way up in de elements lak dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm a-sojourneyin' up yer fer ter res' myse'f, Brer Tarrypin. Drap up
+en see me.'</p>
+
+<p>"''Twix' you en me, Brer Rabbit, de drappin' 's all one way. S'posin'
+you tu'n loose en come. Man live dat high up bleedz ter have wings. I
+ain't no high-flyer myse'f. I fear'd ter shake han's wid you so fur off,
+Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Not so, Brer Tarrypin, not so. My sta'rcase is a mighty limbersome
+one, en I'll des let it down ter you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line.</p>
+
+<p>"'Des ketch holt er dat, Brer Tarrypin,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en up
+you comes, <em>linktum sinktum binktum boo!</em>' sezee."</p>
+
+<p>"What was that, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy, taking a serious view
+of the statement.</p>
+
+<p>"Creetur talk, honey&mdash;des creetur talk. Bless yo' soul, chile!" the old
+man went on, with a laughable assumption of dignity, "ef you think I got
+time fer ter stop right short off en stribbit<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> out all I knows, you er
+mighty much mistaken&mdash;mighty much mistaken.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Tarrypin know mighty well dat Brer Rabbit ain't got nothin'
+'gin' 'im, yet he got sech a habit er lookin' out fer hisse'f dat he
+tuck'n ketch de plough-line in he mouf, he did, en try de strenk un it.
+Ole Brer Rabbit, he holler 'Swing on, Brer Tarrypin!' en Brer Tarrypin,
+he tuck'n swung on, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'uz settin' up dar side er
+Brer Rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>"But I wish ter goodness you'd 'a' bin dar," continued Uncle Remus, very
+gracefully leaving it to be inferred that <em>he</em> was there; "I wish ter
+goodness you'd 'a' bin dar so you could er seed ole Brer Tarrypin w'iles
+Brer Rabbit 'uz haulin' 'im up, wid he tail <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>a-wigglin' en he legs all
+spraddled out, en him a-whirlin' 'roun' en 'roun' en lookin' skeer'd.</p>
+
+<p>"De t'er creeturs dey see Brer Tarrypin go up safe en soun', en dey see
+de vittles passin' 'roun', en dey 'gun ter feel lak dey wanter see de
+inside er Brer Rabbit steeple. Den Brer Wolf, he hail 'im:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo dar, Brer Rabbit! Youer lookin' mighty scrumptious way up dar!
+How you come on?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he look down, he did, en he see who 't is hollerin', en he
+'spon':&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Po'ly, mighty po'ly, but I thank de Lord I'm able to eat my
+'lowance.<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> Won't you drap up, Brer Wolf?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit's a mighty clumsy journey fer ter make, Brer Rabbit, yit I don't
+keer ef I does.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line, en Brer Wolf kotch holt,
+en dey 'gun ter haul 'im up. Dey haul en dey haul, en w'en Brer Wolf git
+mos' ter de top he year Brer Rabbit holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Stir 'roun', ole 'oman, en set de table; but 'fo' you do dat, fetch de
+kittle fer ter make de coffee.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey haul en dey haul on de plough-line, en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit
+squall out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Watch out dar, ole 'oman! You'll spill dat b'ilin' water on Brer
+Wolf!'</p>
+
+<p>"En, bless yo' soul!" continued Uncle Remus, turning half around in his
+chair to face his enthusiastic audience of one, "dat 'uz 'bout all Brer
+Wolf did year, 'kaze de nex' minit down come de scaldin' water, en Brer
+Wolf des fetch one squall en turn't hisse'f aloose, en w'en he strak de
+groun' he bounce des same ez one er deze yer injun-rubber balls w'at you
+use ter play wid 'long in dem times 'fo' you tuck'n broke yo' mammy
+lookin'-glass. Ole Brer Rabbit, he lean fum out de steeple en 'pollygize
+de bes' he kin, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>but no 'pollygy ain't gwine ter make ha'r come back
+whar de b'ilin' water hit."</p>
+
+<p>"Did they spill the hot water on purpose, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
+inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey, youer crowdin' me. Dem ar creeturs wuz mighty
+kuse&mdash;mo' speshually Brer Rabbit. W'en it come down ter dat," said Uncle
+Remus, lowering his voice and looking very grave, "I 'speck ef youder
+s'arch de country fum hen-roost to river-bank,<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> you won't fine a no
+mo' kuser man dan Brer Rabbit. All I knows is dat Brer Rabbit en Brer
+Tarrypin had a mighty laughin' spell des 'bout de time Brer Wolf hit de
+groun'."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XLVI" id="XLVI"></a>XLVI<br /><br />
+
+BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">En</span> still we er by ourse'fs," exclaimed Uncle Remus, as the little boy
+ran into his cabin, the night after he had heard the story of how
+Brother Rabbit scalded Brother Wolf. "We er by ourse'fs en time's
+a-passin'. Dem ar folks dunner w'at dey er missin'. We er des gittin'
+ter dat p'int whar we kin keep de run er creeturs, en it keeps us dat
+busy we ain't got time fer ter bolt our vittles skacely.</p>
+
+<p>"I done tell you 'bout Brer Rabbit makin' 'im a steeple; but I ain't
+tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit got ole Brer Wolf out'n er mighty bad
+fix."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the little boy, "you have n't, and that's just what I have
+come for now."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus looked at the rafters, then at the little boy, and finally
+broke into a loud laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'clar' ter goodness," he exclaimed, addressing the imaginary <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>third
+person to whom he related the most of his grievances, "I 'clar' ter
+goodness ef dat ar chile ain't gittin' so dat he's eve'y whit ez
+up-en-spoken ez w'at ole Miss ever bin. Dat he is!"</p>
+
+<p>The old man paused long enough to give the little boy some uneasiness,
+and then continued:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Atter ole Brer Wolf git de nat'al hide tuck off'n 'im on de 'count er
+Brer Rabbit kittle, co'se he hatter go 'way off by hisse'f fer ter let
+de ha'r grow out. He 'uz gone so long dat Brer Rabbit sorter 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he 'speck he kin come down out'n he steeple, en sorter rack
+'roun' mungs de t'er creeturs.</p>
+
+<p>"He sorter primp up, Brer Rabbit did, en den he start out 'pun he
+journeys hether en yan.<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a> He tuck'n went ter de crossroads, en dar he
+stop en choose 'im a road. He choose 'im a road, he did, en den he put
+out des lak he bin sent fer in a hurry.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit gallop on, he did, talkin' en laughin' wid hisse'f, en
+eve'y time he pass folks, he'd tu'n it off en make lak he singin'. He
+'uz gwine on dis a-way, w'en fus' news you know he tuck'n year sump'n'.
+He stop talkin' en 'gun ter hum a chune, but he ain't meet nobody. Den
+he stop en lissen en he year sump'n' holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'O Lordy! Lordy! Won't somebody come he'p me?'"</p>
+
+<p>The accent of grief and despair and suffering that Uncle Remus managed
+to throw into this supplication was really harrowing.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit year dis, en he stop en lissen. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' sump'n'
+n'er holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'O Lordy, Lordy! Please, somebody, come en he'p me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he h'ist up he years, he did, en make answer back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Who is you, nohow, en w'at de name er goodness de marter?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Please, somebody, do run yer!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n stan' on th'ee legs fer ter make sho' er gittin'
+a good start ef dey 'uz any needs un it, en he holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>"'Whar'bouts is you, en how come you dar?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Do please, somebody, run yer en he'p a po' mizerbul creetur. I'm down
+yer in de big gully und' dish yer great big rock.'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Rabbit bleedz ter be mighty 'tickler in dem days, en he crope
+down ter de big gully en look in, en who de name er goodness you 'speck
+he seed down dar?"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused and gave the little boy a look of triumph, and then
+proceeded without waiting for a reply:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody in de roun' worl' but dat ar ole Brer Wolf w'at Brer Rabbit done
+bin scalted de week 'fo' dat. He 'uz layin' down dar in de big gully,
+en, bless gracious! 'pun top un 'im wuz a great big rock, en ef you want
+ter know de reason dat ar great big rock ain't teetotally kilt Brer
+Wolf, den you'll hatter ax some un w'at know mo' 'bout it dan w'at I
+does, 'kaze hit look lak ter me dat it des oughter mash 'im flat.</p>
+
+<p>"Yit dar he wuz, en let 'lone bein' kilt, he got strenk 'nuff lef' fer
+ter make folks year 'im holler a mile off, en he holler so lonesome dat
+it make Brer Rabbit feel mighty sorry, en no sooner is he feel sorry dan
+he hol' he coat-tails out de way en slid down de bank fer ter see w'at
+he kin do.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en he git down dar Brer Wolf ax 'im please, sir, kin he he'p 'im wid
+de removance er dat ar rock, en Brer Rabbit 'low he 'speck he kin; en
+wid dat Brer Wolf holler en tell 'im fer mussy sake won't he whirl in en
+do it, w'ich Brer Rabbit tuck'n ketch holt er de rock en hump hisse'f,
+en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he git a purchis on it, en, bless yo' soul, he
+lif' 'er up des lak nigger at de log-rollin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit tu'n out dat Brer Wolf ain't hurted much, en w'en he fine dis out,
+he tuck'n tuck a notion dat ef he ev' gwine git he revengeance out'n
+Brer Rabbit, right den wuz de time, en no sooner does dat come 'cross he
+min' dan he tuck'n grab Brer Rabbit by de nap er de neck en de small er
+de back.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit he kick en squeal, but 't ain't do no manner er <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>good,
+'kaze de mo' w'at he kick de mo' tighter Brer Wolf clamp 'im, w'ich he
+squoze 'im so hard dat Brer Rabbit wuz fear'd he 'uz gwine ter cut off
+he breff. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den, Brer Wolf! Is dish yer de way you thanks folks fer savin'
+yo' life?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf grin big, en den he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll thank you, Brer Rabbit, en den I'll make fresh meat out'n you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef you talk dat a-way, Brer Wolf, I never is to do yer 'n'er good turn
+w'iles I live.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he grin some mo' en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dat you won't, Brer Rabbit, dat you won't! You won't do me no mo' good
+turn tel you er done dead.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study ter hisse'f, he did, en den he 'low:</p>
+
+<p>"'Whar I come fum, Brer Wolf, hit's agin' de law fer folks fer to kill
+dem w'at done done um a good turn, en I 'speck hit's de law right 'roun'
+yer.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf say he ain't so mighty sho' 'bout dat. Brer Rabbit say he
+willin' fer ter lef' de whole case wid Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Wolf say
+he 'gree'ble.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, dey put out, dey did, en make der way ter whar ole Brer
+Tarrypin stay; en w'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf he tuck'n tell he side, en
+den Brer Rabbit he tuck'n tell he side. Ole Brer Tarrypin put on he
+specks en cle'r up he th'oat, en den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey's a mighty heap er mixness in dish yer 'spute, en 'fo' I kin take
+any sides you'll des hatter kyar me fer ter see de place whar'bouts Brer
+Wolf wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun' 'im,' sezee.</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="rock" id="rock"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0381.jpg" class="jpg" width="600" height="407" alt="&quot;EN, BLESS GRACIOUS! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF FUM DAR
+EN LEF&#39; OLE BRER WOLF UND&#39; DAT AR ROCK&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;EN, BLESS GRACIOUS! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF FUM DAR
+EN LEF&#39; OLE BRER WOLF UND&#39; DAT AR ROCK&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0381l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Sho' 'nuff, dey tuck'n kyar'd ole Brer Tarrypin down de big road twel
+dey come ter de big gully, en den dey tuck 'im ter whar Brer Wolf got
+kotch und' de big rock. Ole Brer Tarrypin, he walk 'roun', he did, en
+poke at de place wid de een' er he cane. Bimeby he shuck he head, he
+did, en 'low:</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>"'I hates might'ly fer ter put you all gents ter so much trouble; yit,
+dey ain't no two ways, I'll hatter see des how Brer Wolf was kotch, en
+des how de rock wuz layin' 'pun top un 'im,' sezee. 'De older folks
+gits, de mo' trouble dey is,' sezee, 'en I ain't 'nyin' but w'at I'm
+a-ripenin' mo' samer dan a 'simmon w'at's bin strucken wid de fros','
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Wolf, he tuck'n lay down whar he wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun'
+'im, en de yuthers dey up'n roll de rock 'pun top un 'im. Dey roll de
+rock 'pun 'im," continued Uncle Remus, looking over his spectacles to
+see what effect the statement had on the little boy, "en dar he wuz.
+Brer Tarrypin, he walk all 'roun' en 'roun', en look at 'im. Den he sot
+down, he did, en make marks in de san' wid he cane lak he studyin' 'bout
+sump'n' n'er. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he open up:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock gittin' mighty heavy!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin, he mark in de san', en study, en study. Brer Wolf
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock mashin' de breff out'n me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin, he r'ar back, he did, en he 'low, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, you wuz in de wrong. You ain't had no business fer ter
+come bodderin' 'longer Brer Wolf w'en he ain't bodderin' 'longer you. He
+'uz 'ten'in' ter he own business en you oughter bin 'ten'in' ter yone.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make Brer Rabbit look 'shame' er hisse'f, but Brer Tarrypin talk
+right erlong:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'en you 'uz gwine down dish yer road dis mawnin', you sho'ly mus' bin
+a-gwine som'ers. Ef you <em>wuz</em> gwine som'ers you better be gwine on. Brer
+Wolf, he wa'n't gwine nowhars den, en he ain't gwine nowhars now. You
+foun' 'im und' dat ar rock, en und' dat ar rock you lef 'im.'</p>
+
+<p>"En, bless gracious!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, "dem ar creeturs racked off
+fum dar en lef' ole Brer Wolf und' dat ar rock."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>
+<a name="XLVII" id="XLVII"></a>XLVII<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT LAYS IN HIS BEEF SUPPLY</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">I wonder</span> where Daddy Jack is," said the little boy, one night after he
+had been waiting for some time for Uncle Remus to get leisure to tell
+him a story.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus, who was delightfully human in his hypocrisy, as well as in
+other directions, leaned back in his chair, looked at the little boy
+with an air of grieved resignation, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I boun' you does, honey, I boun' you does. Ole Brer Jack look mighty
+weazly ter de naked eye, but I lay he's a lots mo' likelier nigger dan
+w'at ole Remus is. De time done gone by w'en a po' ole no-'count nigger
+lak me kin hol' he han' wid a bran new nigger man lak Brer Jack."</p>
+
+<p>The child stared at Uncle Remus with open-eyed astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Uncle Remus! I did n't mean that; you know I did n't," he
+exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' heart, honey! hit don't pester me. I done got de speunce un
+it. Dat I is. Plough-hoss don't squeal en kick w'en dey puts 'n'er hoss
+in he place. Brer Jack got de age on 'im but he new ter you. Ole er
+young, folks is folks, en no longer'n day 'fo' yistiddy, I year you
+braggin' 'bout how de vittles w'at dey feeds you on up at de big house
+ain't good ez de vittles w'at yuther childun gits. Nummine ole Remus,
+honey; you en Brer Jack des go right erlong en I'll be much 'blige ef
+you'll des lemme set in de cornder yer en chunk de fier. Sho'ly I ain't
+pas' doin' dat."</p>
+
+<p>The child was troubled to think that Uncle Remus should find it
+necessary to depreciate himself, and he made haste to explain his
+position.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought that if Daddy Jack was here he could tell me a story while
+you are working, so you would n't be bothered."</p>
+
+<p>A broad grin of appreciation spread over Uncle Remus's face. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>He
+adjusted his spectacles, looked around and behind him, and then, seeing
+no one but the child, addressed himself to the rafters and cobwebs:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well! well! well! ef dish yer don't beat all! Gentermens! dish yer
+little chap yer, he puny in de legs, yit he mighty strong in de head."</p>
+
+<p>He paused, as if reflecting over the whole matter, and then turned to
+the child:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Is <em>dat</em> w'at make you hone atter Daddy Jack, honey&mdash;des 'kaze you
+wanter set back dar en lissen at a tale? Now, den, ef you had n't 'a'
+got me off'n de track, you'd 'a' bin settin' yer lis'nen at one un um
+dis blessid minnit, 'kaze des time I year talk dat Mars John gwine ter
+have dat ar long-hornded steer kilt fer beef, hit come 'cross my min'
+'bout de time w'ence Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox j'ined in wid one er 'n'er
+en kilt a cow."</p>
+
+<p>"Killed a cow, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar," replied the old man with emphasis.
+"Look lak dey wa'n't no kinder doin's w'at dem ar creeturs wa'n't up
+ter, mo' speshually ole Brer Rabbit. Day in en day out, fum mawnin' twel
+night en fum night twel mawnin', he 'uz constant a-studyin' up some bran
+new kinder contrapshun fer ter let de yuther creeturs know he 'uz
+some'rs in de neighborhoods.</p>
+
+<p>"Come down ter dat, you kin b'leeve me er not b'leeve me, des ez you er
+min' ter; you kin take yo' choosement; but ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer
+Fox, spite er dey fallin' out, dey tuck'n go inter cahoots en kilt a
+cow. Seem lak I disremember who de cow b'long ter," continued the old
+man, frowning thoughtfully, and thus, by a single stroke, imparting an
+air of reality to the story; "but she sho'ly b'long'd ter some er de
+neighbors, 'kaze you kin des put it down, right pine-blank, dat Brer
+Rabbit ain't gwine ter kill he own cow, en needer is Brer Fox.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, dey tuck'n kilt a cow, en 't wa'n't dey own cow, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>en alter
+dey done skunt 'er Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low, he did, dat ef Brer Fox
+wanter git de good er de game, he better run home en fetch a tray er
+sump'n fer put de jiblets in."</p>
+
+<p>"Jiblets, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho', honey. Dats w'at we-all calls de liver, de lights, de
+heart, en de melt. Some calls um jiblets en some calls um hasletts, but
+ef you'll lemme take um en kyar um home, you kin des up en call um mos'
+by any name w'at creep inter yo' min'. You do de namin'," the old man
+went on, smacking his lips suggestively, "en I'll do de eatin', en ef
+I'm de loser, I boun' you won't year no complaints fum me.</p>
+
+<p>"But, law bless me! w'at is I'm a-doin'? De time's a-passin', en I'm
+ain't skacely got start on de tale. Dey kilt de cow, dey did, en Brer
+Rabbit tell Brer Fox 'bout de jiblets, en w'iles Brer Fox gwine on home
+atter de bucket fer ter put um in, he say ter hisse'f dat Brer Rabbit
+ain't bad ez he crackt up ter be. But no sooner is Brer Fox outer sight
+dan Brer Rabbit cut out de jiblets, he did, en kyar'd um off en hide um.
+Den he come back en tuck a piece er de meat en drap blood 'way off de
+udder way.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid he bucket, en w'en he git dar Brer Rabbit
+wuz settin' down cryin'. Mon, he 'uz des a-boohoo-in'. Brer Fox, he
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! w'at de marter?'</p>
+
+<p>"''Nuff de marter&mdash;'nuff de marter. I wish you'd 'a' stayed yer w'iles
+you wuz yer&mdash;dat I does, Brer Fox!'</p>
+
+<p>"'How come, Brer Rabbit,&mdash;how come?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Man come, Brer Fox, en stole all yo' nice jiblets. I bin a-runnin'
+atter 'im, Brer Fox, but he outrun me.'</p>
+
+<p>"'W'ich a-way he go, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Yer de way he went, Brer Fox; yer whar he drap de blood. Ef you be
+right peart, Brer Fox, you'll ketch 'im.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox he drapt de bucket, he did, en put out atter de man w'at tuck
+de jiblets, en he wa'n't out'n sight good, 'fo' ole Brer <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>Rabbit sail in
+en cut out all de fat en taller, en kyar' it off en hide it. Atter
+w'ile, yer come Brer Fox back des a-puffin' en a-pantin'. He ain't see
+no man. Brer Rabbit, he hail 'im:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You ain't come a minnit too soon, Brer Fox, dat you ain't. W'iles you
+bin gone 'n'er man come 'long en kyar'd off all de taller en fat. He
+went right off dat a-way, Brer Fox, en ef you'll be right peart, you'll
+ketch 'im.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he tuck'n put out, he did, en run, en run, yit he ain't see
+no man. Wiles he done gone Brer Rabbit kyar off one er de behime
+quarters. Brer Fox come back; he ain't see no man. Brer Rabbit holler en
+tell 'im dat 'ne'r man done come en got a behime quarter en run'd off
+wid it.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox sorter study 'bout dis, 'kaze it look lak nobody yuver see de
+like er mens folks passin' by dat one lonesome cow. He make out he gwine
+ter run atter de man w'at steal de behime quarter, but he ain't git fur
+'fo' he tuck'n tu'n 'roun' en crope back, en he 'uz des in time fer ter
+see Brer Rabbit makin' off wid de yuther behime quarter. Brer Fox mighty
+tired wid runnin' hether en yan, en backards en forrerds, but he git so
+mad w'en he see Brer Rabbit gwine off dat a-way, dat he dash up en ax
+'im whar is he gwine wid dat ar beef.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit lay de beef down, he did, en look lak he feelin's hurted.
+He look at Brer Fox lak he feel mighty sorry fer folks w'at kin ax
+foolish questions lak dat. He shake he head, he did, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, well, well! Who'd 'a' thunk dat Brer Fox would 'a' come axin' me
+'bout dish yer beef, w'ich anybody would er know'd I 'uz a-kyar'n off
+fer ter save fer 'im, so nobody could n't git it?'</p>
+
+<p>"But dish yer kinder talk don't suit Brer Fox, en he tuck'n make a
+motion 'zef<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> ter ketch Brer Rabbit, but Brer Rabbit he 'gun 'im leg
+bail, en dar dey had it thoo de woods twel Brer Rabbit come <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>'pon a
+holler tree, en inter dat he went, des lak one er deze streaked lizzuds
+goes inter a hole in de san'."</p>
+
+<p>"And then," said the little boy, as Uncle Remus paused, "along came
+Brother Buzzard, and Brother Fox set him to watch the hole, and Brother
+Rabbit said he had found a fat squirrel which he would run out on the
+other side; and then he came out and ran home."</p>
+
+<p>This was the climax of a story that Uncle Remus had told a long time
+before, and he looked at his little partner with astonishment not
+unmixed with admiration.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'clar' ter gracious, honey!" he exclaimed, "ef you hol's on ter yo'
+pra'rs lak you does ter deze yer tales youer doin' mighty well. But
+don't you try ter hol' Brer Rabbit down ter one trick, you won't never
+keep up wid 'im in de 'roun' worl'&mdash;dat you won't.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Buzzard wuz dar, en Brer Fox ax 'im fer ter watch de hole, but
+he ain't bin dar long 'fo' Brer Rabbit sing out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I got de 'vantage un you, dis whet, Brer Buzzard, I sho'ly is.'</p>
+
+<p>"'How dat, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"''Kaze I kin see you, en you can't see me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Buzzard stuck he head in de hole, en look up; en no sooner
+is he do dis dan Brer Rabbit fill he eyes full er san', en w'iles he
+gone ter de branch fer ter wash it out, Brer Rabbit he come down outer
+de holler, en went back ter whar de cow wuz; en mo' dan dat, Brer Rabbit
+got de ballunce un de beef."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="XLVIII" id="XLVIII"></a>XLVIII<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span>," said the little boy, after a pause, "where did Brother
+Rabbit go when he got out of the hollow tree?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir," exclaimed Uncle Remus, "you ain't gwine ter <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>b'leeve me,
+skacely, but dat owdashus creetur ain't no sooner git out er dat ar tree
+dan he go en git hisse'f mix up wid some mo' trouble, w'ich he git
+mighty nigh skeer'd out'n he skin.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Rabbit git out'n de holler tree, he tuck'n fling some sass
+back at ole Brer Buzzard, he did, en den he put out down de big road,
+stidder gwine 'long back home en see 'bout he fambly. He 'uz gwine
+'long&mdash;<em>lickety-clickety, clickety-lickety</em>&mdash;w'en fus' news you know he
+feel sump'n' 'n'er drap down 'pun 'im, en dar he wuz. Bless yo' soul,
+w'en Brer Rabbit kin git he 'membunce terge'er, he feel ole Mr. Wildcat
+a-huggin' 'im fum behime, en w'ispun in he year."</p>
+
+<p>"What did he whisper, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Dis, dat, en de udder, one thing en a nudder."</p>
+
+<p>"But what did he say?"</p>
+
+<p>"De way un it wuz dis," said Uncle Remus, ignoring the child's question,
+"Brer Rabbit, he 'uz gallin'-up down de road, en ole Mr. Wildcat, he 'uz
+layin' stretch' out takin' a nap on a tree-lim' hangin' 'crosst de road.
+He year Brer Rabbit come a-lickity-clickitin' down de road, en he des
+sorter fix hisse'f, en w'en Brer Rabbit come a-dancin' und' de lim', all
+Mr. Wildcat got ter do is ter drap right down on 'im, en dar he wuz. Mr.
+Wildcat hug 'im right up at 'im, en laugh en w'isper in he year."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Uncle Remus, what did he <em>say</em>?" persisted the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>The old man made a sweeping gesture with his left hand that might mean
+everything or nothing, and proceeded to tell the story in his own way.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Mr. Wildcat hug Brer Rabbit up close en w'isper in he year. Brer
+Rabbit, he kick, he squall. Bimeby he ketch he breff en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow! O Lordy-lordy! W'at I done gone en done now?'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Wildcat, he rub he wet nose on Brer Rabbit year, en make cole chill
+run up he back. Bimeby he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'O Brer Rabbit, I des nat'ally loves you! You bin a-foolin' <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>all er my
+cousins en all er my kinfolks, en 't ain't bin so mighty long sence you
+set Cousin Fox on me, en little mo' en I'd a-to' 'im in two. O Brer
+Rabbit! I des nat'ally loves you,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Den he laugh, en he toofs strak terge'er right close ter Brer Rabbit
+year. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Law, Mr. Wildcat, I thunk maybe you mought lak ter have Brer Fox fer
+supper, en dat de reason I sent 'im up ter whar you is. Hit done come
+ter mighty purty pass w'en folks can't be fr'en's 'ceppin' sump'n' 'n'er
+step in 'twix' en 'tween um, en ef dat de case I ain't gwine ter be
+fr'en's no mo'&mdash;dat I ain't.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Wildcat wipe he nose on Brer Rabbit year, en he do sorter lak he
+studyin'. Brer Rabbit he keep on talkin'. He 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Endurin' er all dis time, is I ever pester 'long wid you, Mr.
+Wildcat?'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, Brer Rabbit, I can't say ez you is.'</p>
+
+<p>"'No, Mr. Wildcat, dat I ain't. Let 'lone dat, I done my level bes' fer
+ter he'p you out. En dough you done jump on me en skeer me scan'lous,
+yit I'm willin' ter do you 'n'er good tu'n. I year some wild turkeys
+yelpin' out yan', en ef you'll des lem me off dis time, I'll go out dar
+en call um up, en you kin make lak you dead, en dey'll come up en
+stretch dey neck over you, en you kin jump up en kill a whole passel un
+um 'fo' dey kin git out de way.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Wildcat stop en study, 'kaze ef dey er one kinder meat w'at he lak
+dat meat is turkey meat. Den he tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit is he jokin'. Brer
+Rabbit say ef he 'uz settin' off some'rs by he own-'lone se'f he mought
+be jokin', but how de name er goodness is he kin joke w'en Mr. Wildcat
+got 'im hug up so tight? Dis look so pleezy-plozzy<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> dat 't wa'n't long
+'fo' Mr. Wildcat 'low dat he 'uz mighty willin' ef Brer Rabbit mean w'at
+he say, en atter w'ile, bless yo' soul, ef you'd 'a' come 'long dar,
+you'd er seed ole Mr. Wildcat layin' stretch out on de groun' lookin'
+fer all de wul' des lak he done bin dead a mont', en you'd er yeard ole
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>Brer Rabbit a-yelpin' out in de bushes des lak a sho' 'nuff tukky-hen."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy was always anxious for a practical demonstration, and he
+asked Uncle Remus how Brother Rabbit could yelp like a turkey-hen. For
+reply, Uncle Remus searched upon his rude mantel-piece until he found a
+reed, which he intended to use as a pipe-stem. One end of this he placed
+in his mouth, enclosing the other in his hands. By sucking the air
+through the reed with his mouth, and regulating the tone and volume by
+opening or closing his hands, the old man was able to produce a
+marvellous imitation of the call of the turkey-hen, much to the delight
+and astonishment of the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Lord!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, after he had repeated the call until
+the child was satisfied, "manys en manys de time is I gone out in de
+woods wid old marster 'fo' de crack er day en call de wile turkeys right
+spang up ter whar we could er kilt um wid a stick. W'en we fus' move yer
+fum Ferginny, dey use ter come right up ter whar de barn sets, en mo'n
+dat I done seed ole marster kill um right out dar by de front gate. But
+folks fum town been comin' 'roun' yer wid der p'inter dogs twel hit done
+got so dat ef you wanter see turkey track you gotter go down dar ter de
+Oconee, en dat's two mile off."</p>
+
+<p>"Did the Wildcat catch the turkeys?" the little boy inquired, when it
+seemed that Uncle Remus was about to give his entire attention to his
+own reminiscences.</p>
+
+<p>"De gracious en de goodness!" exclaimed the old man. "Yer I is runnin'
+on en dar lays Mr. Wildcat waitin' fer Brer Rabbit fer ter help dem
+turkeys up. En 't ain't take 'im long nudder, 'kaze, bless yo' soul, ole
+Brer Rabbit wuz a yelper, mon.</p>
+
+<p>"Sho' 'nuff, atter w'ile yer dey come, ole Brer Gibley Gobbler wukkin'
+in de lead. Brer Rabbit, he run'd en meet um en gun um de wink 'bout ole
+Mr. Wildcat, en by de time dey git up ter whar he layin', Brer Gibley
+Gobbler en all his folks wuz jined in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span>a big 'spute. One 'low he dead,
+'n'er one 'low he ain't, 'n'er one 'low he stiff, udder one 'low he
+ain't, en t'udder 'low he is. So dar dey had it. Dey stretch out dey
+neck en step high wid dey foot, yit dey ain't git too close ter Mr.
+Wildcat.</p>
+
+<p>"He lay dar, he did, en he ain't move. Win' ruffle up he ha'r, yit he
+ain't move; sun shine down 'pun 'im, yit he ain't move. De turkeys dey
+gobble en dey yelp, but dey ain't go no nigher; dey holler en dey
+'spute, but dey ain't go no nigher; dey stretch dey neck en dey lif' dey
+foot high, yit dey ain't go no nigher.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Wildcat git tired er waitin', en
+he jump up, he did, en make a dash at de nighest turkey; but dat turkey
+done fix, on w'en Mr. Wildcat come at 'im, he des riz in de a'r, en Mr.
+Wildcat run und' 'im. Den he tuck'n run at 'n'er one, en dat un fly up;
+en dey keep on dat a-way twel 't wa'n't long 'fo' Mr. Wildcat wuz so
+stiff in de j'ints en so short in de win' dat he des hatter lay down on
+de groun' en res', en w'en he do dis, ole Brer Gibley Gobler en all er
+he folks went on 'bout dey own business; but sence dat day deyer
+constant a-'sputin' 'long wid deyse'f en eve'ybody w'at come by. Ef you
+don't b'leeve me," with an air of disposing of the whole matter
+judicially, "you kin des holler at de fus' Gobbler w'at you meets, en ef
+he 'fuse ter holler back atter you, you kin des use my head fer a hole
+in de wall; en w'at mo' kin you ax dan dat?"</p>
+
+<p>"What became of Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, Brer Rabbit tuck'n lef' dem low-groun's. W'iles de 'sputin'
+wuz gwine on, he tuck'n bowed his good-byes, en den he des put out fum
+dar. Nex' day ole Brer Gibley Gobbler tuck'n sent 'im a turkey wing fer
+ter make a fan out'n, en Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n sent it ter Miss Meadows
+en de gals. En I let you know," continued the old man, chuckling
+heartily to himself, "dey make great 'miration 'bout it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="link"><a name="ram" id="ram"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/ram.png" width="400" height="268" alt="Mr. Benjamin Ram Defends Himself" title="" />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>
+<span class="caption">Mr. Benjamin Ram Defends Himself</span>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>
+XLIX<br /><br />
+
+MR. BENJAMIN RAM DEFENDS HIMSELF</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">I 'speck</span> we all dun gone en fergot ole Mr. Benjermun Ram off'n our
+min'," said Uncle Remus, one night, as the little boy went into the
+cabin with a large ram's horn hanging on his arm.</p>
+
+<p>"About his playing the fiddle and getting lost in the woods!" exclaimed
+the child. "Oh, no, I have n't forgotten him, Uncle Remus. I remember
+just how he tuned his fiddle in Brother Wolf's house."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's me!" said Uncle Remus with enthusiasm; "dat's me up en down. Mr.
+Ram des ez fresh in my min' now ez he wuz de day I year de tale. Dat ole
+creetur wuz a sight, mon. He mos' sho'ly wuz. He wrinkly ole hawn en de
+shaggy ha'r on he neck make 'im look mighty servigous,<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> en w'ence he
+shake he head en snort, hit seem lak he gwine ter fair paw de yeth fum
+und' 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Fox bin pickin' up ole Mr. Benjermun Ram chilluns w'en dey git
+too fur fum home, but look lak he ain't never bin git close ter de ole
+creetur.</p>
+
+<p>"So one time w'en he 'uz comin' on down de road, talkin' 'long wid Brer
+Wolf, he up'n 'low, ole Brer Fox did, dat he mighty hongry in de
+neighborhoods er de stomach. Dis make Brer Wolf look lak he 'stonish'd,
+en he ax Brer Fox how de name er goodness come he hongry w'en ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram layin' up dar in de house des a-rollin' in fat.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Fox tuck'n 'low, he did, dat he done bin in de habits er
+eatin' Mr. Benjermun Ram chillun, but he sorter fear'd er de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>ole
+creetur 'kaze he look so bad on de 'count er he red eye en he wrinkly
+hawn.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf des holler en laugh, en den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Lordy, Brer Fox! I dunner w'at kinder man is you, nohow! W'y, dat ar
+ole creetur ain't never hurted a flea in all he born days&mdash;dat he
+ain't,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he look at Brer Wolf right hard, he did, en den he up'n
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, Brer Wolf! manys de time dat you bin hongry 'roun' in deze
+diggin's en I ain't year talk er you makin' a meal off'n Mr. Benjermun
+Ram,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox talk so close ter de fatal trufe, dat Brer Wolf got tooken wid
+de dry grins, yit he up'n 'spon', sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I des lak ter know who in de name er goodness wanter eat tough creetur
+lak dat ole Mr. Benjermun Ram&mdash;dat w'at I lak ter know,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he holler en laugh, he did, en den he up'n say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah-yi, Brer Wolf! You ax me w'at I goes hongry fer, w'en ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram up dar in he house, yit you done bin hongry manys en manys
+de time, en still ole Mr. Benjermun Ram up dar in he house. Now, den,
+how you gwine do in a case lak dat?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he strak de een' er he cane down 'pun de groun', en he say,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I done say all I got ter say, en w'at I say, dat I'll stick ter. Dat
+ole creetur lots too tough.'</p>
+
+<p>"Hongry ez he is, Brer Fox laugh way down in he stomach. Atter w'ile he
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den, Brer Wolf, stidder 'sputin' 'longer you, I'm gwine do w'at
+you say; I'm gwine ter go up dar en git a bait er ole Mr. Benjermun Ram,
+en I wish you be so good ez ter go 'long wid me fer comp'ny,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf jaw sorter fall w'en he year dis, en he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>"'Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I druther go by my own&mdash;'lone se'f,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'you better make 'as'e,' sezee,
+''kaze 't ain't gwine ter take me so mighty long fer ter go up dar en
+make hash out'n ole Mr. Benjermun Ram,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf know mighty well," said Uncle Remus, snapping his huge tongs
+in order to silence a persistent cricket in the chimney, "dat ef he dast
+ter back out fum a banter lak dat he never is ter year de las' un it fum
+Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals, en he march off todes Mr.
+Benjermun Ram house.</p>
+
+<p>"Little puff er win' come en blow'd up some leafs, en Brer Wolf jump lak
+somebody shootin' at 'im, en he fly mighty mad w'en he year Brer Fox
+laugh. He men' he gait, he did, en 't wa'n't 'long 'fo' he 'uz knockin'
+at Mr. Benjermun Ram do'.</p>
+
+<p>"He knock at de do', he did, en co'se he 'speck somebody fer ter come
+open de do'; but stidder dat, lo' en beholes yer come Mr. Benjermun Ram
+'roun' de house. Dar he wuz&mdash;red eye, wrinkly hawn en shaggy head. Now,
+den, in case lak dat, w'at a slim-legged man lak Brer Wolf gwine do? Dey
+ain't no two ways, he gwine ter git 'way fum dar, en he went back ter
+whar Brer Fox is mo' samer dan ef de patter-rollers wuz atter 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he laugh en he laugh, en ole Brer Wolf, he look mighty glum.
+Brer Fox ax 'im is he done kilt en e't Mr. Benjermun Ram, en ef so be,
+is he lef' any fer him. Brer Wolf say he ain't feelin' well, en he don't
+lak mutton nohow. Brer Fox 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You may be puny in de min', Brer Wolf, but you ain't feelin' bad in de
+leg, 'kaze I done seed you wuk um.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf 'low he des a-runnin' fer ter see ef 't won't mak 'im feel
+better. Brer Fox, he say, sezee, dat w'en he feelin' puny, he ain't ax
+no mo' dan fer somebody fer ter git out de way en let 'im lay down.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey went on in dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby Brer Fox ax Brer Wolf ef
+he'll go wid 'im fer ter ketch Mr. Benjermun Ram. Brer Wolf, he 'low, he
+did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span>"'Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I fear'd you'll run en lef' me dar fer ter do all de
+fightin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he 'low dat he'll fix dat, en he tuck'n got 'im a
+plough-line, en tied one een' ter Brer Wolf en t'er een' ter he own
+se'f. Wid dat dey put out fer Mr. Benjermun Ram house. Brer Wolf, he
+sorter hang back, but he 'shame' fer ter say he skeer'd, en dey went on
+en went on plum twel dey git right spang up ter Mr. Benjermun Ram house.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en dey git dar, de ole creetur wuz settin' out in de front po'ch
+sorter sunnin' hisse'f. He see um comin', en w'en dey git up in hailin'
+distance, he sorter cle'r up he th'oat, he did, en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I much 'blije to you, Brer Fox, fer ketchin' dat owdashus vilyun en
+fetchin' 'im back. My smoke-'ouse runnin' short, en I'll des chop 'im up
+en pickle 'im. Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in!'</p>
+
+<p>"Des 'bout dat time ole Miss Ram see dem creeturs a-comin', en
+gentermens! you mought er yeard er blate plum ter town. Mr. Benjermun
+Ram, he sorter skeer'd hisse'f, but he keep on talkin':&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in! Don't you year my ole 'oman
+cryin' fer 'im? She ain't had no wolf meat now in gwine on mighty nigh a
+mont'. Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in!'</p>
+
+<p>"Fus' Brer Wolf try ter ontie hisse'f, den he tuck'n broke en run'd, en
+he drag ole Brer Fox atter 'im des lak he ain't weigh mo'n a poun', en I
+let you know hit 'uz many a long day 'fo' Brer Fox git well er de
+thumpin' he got."</p>
+
+<p>"Uncle Remus," said the little boy after a while, "I thought wolves
+always caught sheep when they had the chance."</p>
+
+<p>"Dey ketches lam's, honey, but bless yo' soul! dey ain't ketch deze yer
+ole-time Rams wid red eye en wrinkly hawn."</p>
+
+<p>"Where was Brother Rabbit all this time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, honey, don't less pester wid ole Brer Rabbit right <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>now. Des
+less gin 'im one night rest, mo' speshually w'en I year de seven stares
+say yo' bed-time done come. Des take yo' foot in yo' han' en put right
+out 'fo' Miss Sally come a-callin' you, 'kaze den she'll say I'm
+a-settin' yer a-noddin' en not takin' keer un you."</p>
+
+<p>The child laughed and ran up the path to the big-house, stopping a
+moment on the way to mimic a bull-frog that was bellowing at a
+tremendous rate near the spring.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="L" id="L"></a>L<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT PRETENDS TO BE POISONED</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Not</span> many nights after the story of how Mr. Benjamin Ram frightened
+Brother Wolf and Brother Fox, the little boy found himself in Uncle
+Remus's cabin. It had occurred to him that Mr. Ram should have played on
+his fiddle somewhere in the tale, and Uncle Remus was called on to
+explain. He looked at the little boy with an air of grieved
+astonishment, and exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I be bless if I ever year der beat er dat. Yer you bin
+a-persooin' on atter deze yer creeturs en makin' der 'quaintunce, en yit
+look lak ef you 'uz ter meet um right up dar in der paff you'd fergit
+all 'bout who dey is."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, no, I would n't, Uncle Remus!" protested the child, glancing at the
+door and getting a little closer to the old man.</p>
+
+<p>"Yasser! you'd des nat'ally whirl in en fergit 'bout who dey is. 'T
+ain't so mighty long sence I done tole you 'bout ole Mr. Benjermun Ram
+playin' he fiddle at Brer Wolf house, en yer you come en ax me how come
+he don't take en play it at 'im 'g'in. W'at kinder lookin' sight 'ud dat
+ole creetur a-bin ef he'd jump up en grab he fiddle en go ter playin' on
+it eve'y time he year a fuss down de big road?"</p>
+
+<p>The little boy said nothing, but he thought the story would <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>have been a
+great deal nicer if Mr. Benjamin Ram could have played one of the
+old-time tunes on his fiddle, and while he was thinking about it, the
+door opened and Aunt Tempy made her appearance. Her good-humor was
+infectious.</p>
+
+<p>"Name er goodness!" she exclaimed, "I lef' you all settin' yer way las'
+week; I goes off un I does my wuk, un I comes back, un I fines you
+settin' right whar I lef' you. Goodness knows, I dunner whar you gits
+yo' vittles. I dunner whar I ain't bin sence I lef' you all settin' yer.
+I let you know I bin a-usin' my feet un I been a-usin' my han's. Dat's
+me. No use ter ax how you all is, 'kaze you looks lots better'n me."</p>
+
+<p>"Yas, Sis Tempy, we er settin' yer whar you lef' us, en der Lord, he bin
+a-pervidin'. W'en de vittles don't come in at de do' hit come down de
+chimbly, en so w'at de odds? We er sorter po'ly, Sis Tempy, I'm 'blige
+ter you. You know w'at de jay-bird say ter der squinch owl! 'I'm sickly
+but sassy.'"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Tempy laughed as she replied: "I 'speck you all bin a-havin' lots
+er fun. Goodness knows I wish many a time sence I bin gone dat I 'uz
+settin' down yer runnin' on wid you all. I ain't bin gone fur&mdash;dat's so,
+yit Mistiss put me ter cuttin'-out, un I tell you now dem w'at cuts out
+de duds fer all de niggers on dis place is got ter wuk fum soon in de
+mawnin' plum tel bed-time, dey ain't no two ways. 'T ain't no wuk youk'n
+kyar' 'bout wid you needer, 'kaze you got ter spread it right out on de
+flo' un git down on yo' knees. I mighty glad I done wid it, 'kaze my
+back feel like it done broke in a thous'n pieces. Honey, is Brer Remus
+bin a-tellin' you some mo' er dem ole-time tales?"</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Tempy's question gave the little boy an excuse for giving her brief
+outlines of some of the stories. One that he seemed to remember
+particularly well was the story of how Brother Rabbit and Brother Fox
+killed a cow, and how Brother Rabbit got the most and the best of the
+beef.</p>
+
+<p>"I done year talk uv a tale like dat," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>laughing
+heartily, "but 't ain't de same tale. I mos' 'shame' ter tell it."</p>
+
+<p>"You gittin' too ole ter be blushin', Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus with
+dignity.</p>
+
+<p>"Well den," said Aunt Tempy, wiping her fat face with her apron: "One
+time Brer Rabbit un Brer Wolf tuck'n gone off som'ers un kilt a cow, un
+w'en dey come fer ter 'vide out de kyarkiss, Brer Wolf 'low dat bein's
+he de biggest he oughter have de mos', un he light in, he did, un do
+like he gwine ter take it all. Brer Rabbit do like he don't keer much,
+but he keer so bad hit make 'im right sick. He tuck'n walk all 'roun' de
+kyarkiss, he did, un snuff de air, un terreckly he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Wolf!&mdash;O Brer Wolf!&mdash;is dis meat smell 'zuckly right ter you?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he cuttin' un he kyarvin' un he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer
+Rabbit, he walk all 'roun' un 'roun' de kyarkiss. He feel it un he kick
+it. Terreckly he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Wolf!&mdash;O Brer Wolf!&mdash;Dis meat feel mighty flabby ter me; how it
+feel ter you?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he year all dat's said, but he keep on a-cuttin' un a
+kyarvin'. Brer Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You kin talk er not talk, Brer Wolf, des ez youer min' ter, yit ef I
+ain't mistooken in de sign, you'll do some tall talkin' 'fo' youer done
+wid dis beef. Now you mark w'at I tell you!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit put out fum dar, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back
+wid a chunk er fier, un a dish er salt. W'en Brer Wolf see dis, he
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'at you gwine do wid all dat, Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit laugh like he know mo' dan he gwine tell, un he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Bless yo' soul, Brer Wolf! I ain't gwine ter kyar er poun' er dis meat
+home tel I fin' out w'at de matter wid it. No I ain't&mdash;so dar now!'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>"Den Brer Rabbit built 'im a fier un cut 'im off a slishe er steak un
+br'ilte it good un done, un den he e't little uv it. Fus' he'd tas'e un
+den he'd nibble; den he'd nibble un den he'd tas'e. He keep on tel he
+e't right smart piece. Den he went'n sot off little ways like he waitin'
+fer sump'n'.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he kyarve un he cut, but he keep one eye on Brer Rabbit.
+Brer Rabbit sot up dar same ez Judge on de bench. Brer Wolf, he watch
+his motions. Terreckly Brer Rabbit fling bofe han's up ter he head un
+fetch a groan. Brer Wolf cut un kyarve un watch Brer Rabbit motions.
+Brer Rabbit sorter sway backerds un forrerds un fetch 'n'er groan. Den
+he sway fum side to side un holler 'O Lordy!' Brer Wolf, he sorter 'gun
+ter git skeer'd un he ax Brer Rabbit w'at de matter. Brer Rabbit, he
+roll on de groun' un holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'O Lordy, Lordy! I'm pizen'd, I'm pizen'd! O Lordy! I'm pizen'd! Run
+yer, somebody, run yer! De meat done got pizen on it. Oh, do run yer!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf git so skeer'd dat he put out fum dar, un he wa'n't out er
+sight skacely 'fo' Brer Rabbit jump up fum dar un cut de pidjin-wing, un
+'t wa'n't so mighty long atter dat 'fo' Brer Rabbit done put all er dat
+beef in his smoke-house."</p>
+
+<p>"What became of Brother Wolf?" the little boy inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf went atter de doctor," continued Aunt Tempy, making little
+tucks in her apron, "un w'en he come back Brer Rabbit un de beef done
+gone; un, bless goodness, ef it had n't er bin fer de sign whar Brer
+Rabbit built de fier, Brer Wolf would er bin mightly pester'd fer ter
+fine der place whar de cow bin kilt."</p>
+
+<p>At this juncture, 'Tildy, the house-girl, came in to tell Aunt Tempy
+that one of the little negroes had been taken suddenly sick.</p>
+
+<p>"I bin huntin' fer you over de whole blessid place," said 'Tildy.</p>
+
+<p>"No, you ain't&mdash;no, you ain't. You ain't bin huntin' nowhar. You know'd
+mighty well whar I wuz."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>"Law, Mam' Tempy, I can't keep up wid you. How I know you down yer
+courtin' wid Unk Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yo' head mighty full er courtin', you nas' stinkin' huzzy!" exclaimed
+Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus, strange to say, was unmoved. He simply said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"W'en you see dat ar 'Tildy gal pirootin' 'roun' I boun' you ole Brer
+Affikin Jack ain't fur off. 'T won't be so mighty long 'fo' de ole
+creetur'll show up."</p>
+
+<p>"How you know dat, Unk Remus?" exclaimed 'Tildy, showing her white teeth
+and stretching her eyes. "Hit's de Lord's trufe; Mass Jeems done writ a
+letter ter Miss Sally, en' he say in dat letter dat Daddy Jack ax 'im
+fer ter tell Miss Sally ter tell me dat he'll be up yer dis week. Dat
+ole Affikin ape got de impidence er de Ole Boy. He dunner who he foolin'
+'longer!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LI" id="LI"></a>LI<br /><br />
+
+MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> next night the little boy hardly waited to eat his supper before
+going to Uncle Remus's house; and when Aunt Tempy failed to put in an
+appearance as early as he thought necessary, he did not hesitate to go
+after her. He had an idea that there was a sequel to the story she had
+told the night before, and he was right. After protesting against being
+dragged around from post to pillar by children, Aunt Tempy said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Atter Brer Rabbit tuck'n make out he 'uz pizen'd un git all de beef, 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' he chance to meet ole Brer Wolf right spang in de
+middle uv de road. Brer Rabbit, he sorter shied off ter one side, but
+Brer Wolf hail 'im:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'W'oa dar, my colty! don't be so gayly. You better be 'shame' yo'se'f
+'bout de way you do me w'en we go inter cahoots wid dat beef.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>"Brer Rabbit, he up'n ax Brer Wolf how all his folks. Brer Wolf say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You'll fin' out how dey all is 'fo' dis day gone by. You took'n took
+de beef, en now I'm a-gwine ter take'n take you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dis Brer Wolf make a dash at Brer Rabbit, but he des lack a little
+bit uv bein' quick 'nuff, en Brer Rabbit he des went a-sailin' thoo de
+woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'im, en yer dey had it&mdash;fus' Brer Rabbit
+en den Brer Wolf. Brer Rabbit mo' soopler dan Brer Wolf, but Brer Wolf
+got de 'vantage er de win', en terreckly he push Brer Rabbit so close
+dat he run in a holler log.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit bin in dat log befo' en he know dey's a hole at de t'er
+een', en he des keep on a-gwine. He dart in one een' en he slip out de
+udder. He ain't stop ter say goo'-bye; bless you! he des keep on gwine.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he see Brer Rabbit run in de holler log, en he say ter
+hisse'f:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, dey bin callin' you so mighty cunnin' all dis time, en yer you
+done gone en shot yo'se'f up in my trap.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Wolf laugh en lay down by de een' whar Brer Rabbit went in, en
+pant en res' hisse'f. He see whar Brer B'ar burnin' off a new groun', en
+he holler en ax 'im fer ter fetch 'im a chunk er fier, en Brer B'ar he
+fotch it, en dey sot fier ter de holler log, en dey sot dar en watch it
+till it burn plum up. Den dey took'n shuck han's, en Brer Wolf say he
+hope dat atter dat dey'll have some peace in de neighborhoods."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus smiled a knowing smile as he filled his pipe, but Aunt Tempy
+continued with great seriousness:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One time atter dat, Brer Wolf, he took'n pay a call down ter Miss
+Meadows, en w'en he git dar en see Brer Rabbit settin' up side uv one er
+de gals, he like to 'a' fainted, dat he did. He 'uz dat 'stonish'd dat
+he look right down-hearted all endurin' uv de party.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>"Brer Rabbit, he bow'd his howdies ter Brer Wolf un shuck han's 'long
+wid 'im, des like nothin' ain't never happen 'twixt 'um, en he up'n
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah-law, Brer Wolf! Youer much mo' my fr'en' dan you ever 'speckted ter
+be, en you kin des count on me right straight 'long.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf say he feel sorter dat a-way hisse'f, en he ax Brer Rabbit
+w'at make 'im change his min' so quick.</p>
+
+<p>"'Bless you, Brer Wolf, I had needs ter change it,' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how come.</p>
+
+<p>"'All about bein' burnt up in a holler log, Brer Wolf, en w'en you gits
+time I wish you be so good ez ter bu'n me up some mo',' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how so. Brer Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm fear'd ter tell you, Brer Wolf, 'kaze I don't want de news ter git
+out.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf vow he won't tell nobody on de top side er de worl'. Brer
+Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I done fin' out, Brer Wolf, dat w'en you git in a holler tree en
+somebody sets it a-fier, dat de nat'al honey des oozles out uv it, en
+mor'n dat, atter you git de honey all over you, 't ain't no use ter try
+ter burn you up, 'kaze de honey will puzzuv you. Don't 'ny me dis favor,
+Brer Wolf, 'kaze I done pick me out a n'er holler tree,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf, he wanter put right out den en dar, en Brer Rabbit say dat
+des de kinder man w'at he bin huntin' fer. Dey took deyse'f off en 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' dey came ter de tree w'at Brer Rabbit say he done pick
+out. W'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf, he so greedy fer ter git a tas'e er de
+honey dat he beg en beg Brer Rabbit fer ter let 'im git in de holler.
+Brer Rabbit, he hol' back, but Brer Wolf beg so hard dat Brer Rabbit
+'gree ter let 'im git in de holler.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span>"Brer Wolf, he got in, he did, en Brer Rabbit stuff de hole full er dry
+leaves en trash, en den he got 'im a chunk er fier en totch 'er off. She
+smoked en smoked, en den she bust out in a blaze. Brer Rabbit, he pile
+up rocks, en brush, en sticks, so Brer Wolf can't git out. Terreckly
+Brer Wolf holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Gittin' mighty hot, Brer Rabbit! I ain't see no honey yit.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit he pile on mo' trash, en holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't be in no hurry, Brer Wolf; you'll see it en tas'e it too.'</p>
+
+<p>"Fier burn en burn, wood pop like pistol. Brer Wolf, he holler:</p>
+
+<p>"'Gittin' hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit. No honey come yit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Hol' still, Brer Wolf, hit'll come.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Gimme a'r, Brer Rabbit; I'm a-chokin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Fresh a'r make honey sour. Des hol' still, Brer Wolf!'</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Ow!</em> she gittin' hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Des hol' right still, Brer Wolf; mos' time fer de honey!'</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Ow! ow!</em> I'm a-burnin', Brer Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wait fer de honey, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"'I can't stan' it, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Stan' it like I did, Brer Wolf.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit he pile on de trash en de leaves. He say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll gin you honey, Brer Wolf; de same kinder honey you wanted ter
+gimme.'</p>
+
+<p>"En it seem like ter me," said Aunt Tempy, pleased at the interest the
+little boy had shown, "dat it done Brer Wolf des right."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LII" id="LII"></a>LII<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> little boy had heard Uncle Remus lamenting that his candle was
+getting rather short, and he made it his business to go around the house
+and gather all the pieces he could find. He carried these <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span>to the old
+man, who received them with the liveliest satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>"Now dish yer sorter look lak sump'n', honey. W'en ole Brer Jack come
+back, en Sis Tempy git in de habits er hangin' 'roun', we'll des light
+some er dese yer, en folks'll come by en see de shine, en dey'll go off
+en 'low dat hit's de night des 'fo' camp-meetin' at ole Remus house.</p>
+
+<p>"I got little piece dar in my chist w'at you brung me long time ergo, en
+I 'low ter myse'f dat ef shove ever git ter be push,<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> I'd des draw 'er
+out en light 'er up."</p>
+
+<p>"Mamma says Daddy Jack is coming back Sunday," said the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Dat w'at I year talk," replied the old man.</p>
+
+<p>"What did he go off for, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Jack bleedz ter go en see yo' Unk Jeems. He
+b'leeve de worl' go wrong ef he ain't do dat. Dat ole nigger b'leeve he
+white mon. He come up yer fum down de country whar de Lord done fersook
+um too long 'go ter talk 'bout,&mdash;he come up yer en he put on mo' a'rs
+dan w'at I dast ter do. Not dat I'm keerin', 'kaze goodness knows I
+ain't, yit I notices dat w'en I has ter go some'rs, dey's allers a great
+ter-do 'bout w'at is I'm a-gwine fer, en how long is I'm a-gwine ter
+stay; en ef I ain't back at de ve'y minit, dars Mars John a-growlin', en
+Miss Sally a-vowin' dat she gwine ter put me on de block."<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a></p>
+
+<p>Perhaps Uncle Remus's jealousy was more substantial than he was willing
+to admit; but he was talking merely to see what the little boy would
+say. The child, however, failed to appreciate the situation, seeing
+which the old man quickly changed the subject.</p>
+
+<p>"Times is mighty diffunt fum w'at dey use ter wuz, 'kaze de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span>time has
+bin dat ef ole Brer Rabbit had er run'd up wid Brer Jack w'iles he
+comin' fum yo' Unk Jeems place, he'd outdone 'im des ez sho' ez de worl'
+stan's. Deze days de Rabbits has ter keep out de way er folks, but in
+dem days folks had ter keep out der way er ole Brer Rabbit. Ain't I
+never tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit whirl in en outdo Mr. Man?"</p>
+
+<p>"About the meat tied to the string, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Shoo!</em> Dat ain't a drap in de bucket, honey. Dish yer wuz de time w'en
+ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine 'long de big road, en he meet Mr. Man drivin'
+'long wid a waggin chock full er money."</p>
+
+<p>"Where did he get so much money, Uncle Remus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Bruisin' 'round en peddlin' 'bout. Mr. Man got w'at lots er folks ain't
+got,&mdash;good luck, long head, quick eye, en slick fingers. But no marter
+'bout dat, he got de money; en w'en you sorter grow up so you kin knock
+'roun', 't won't be long 'fo' some un'll take en take you off 'roun' de
+cornder en tell you dat 't ain't make no diffunce whar de money come fum
+so de man got it. Dey won't tell you dat in de meeting-house, but dey'll
+come mighty nigh it.</p>
+
+<p>"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar. Mr. Man, he come a-drivin' 'long de
+big road, en he got a waggin full er money. Brer Rabbit, he come
+a-lippity-clippitin' 'long de big road, en he ain't got no waggin full
+er money. Ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n tuck a notion dat dey's sump'n' wrong
+some'rs, 'kaze ef dey wa'n't, he 'ud have des ez much waggin en money ez
+Mr. Man. He study, en study, en he can't make out how dat is. Bimeby he
+up'n holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Man, please, sir, lemme ride.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Man, he tuck'n stop he waggin, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! how come dis? You comin' one way en I gwine nudder;
+how come you wanter ride?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he up'n scratch hisse'f on de back er de neck wid he
+behime foot, en holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span>"'Mr. Man, yo' sho'ly can't be 'quainted 'long wid me. I'm one er dem
+ar ole-time kinder folks w'at ain't a-keerin' w'ich way deyer gwine long
+ez deyer ridin'.'"</p>
+
+<p>The little boy laughed a sympathetic laugh, showing that he heartily
+endorsed this feature of Brother Rabbit's programme.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter so long a time," Uncle Remus went on, "Mr. Man 'gree ter let Brer
+Rabbit ride a little piece. He try ter git Brer Rabbit fer ter ride upon
+de seat wid 'im so dey kin git ter 'sputin' 'n'er, but Brer Rabbit say
+he fear'd he fall off, en he des tuck'n sot right flat down in de bottom
+er de waggin, en make lak he fear'd ter move.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby, w'iles dey goin' down hill, en Mr. Man hatter keep he eye on de
+hosses, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n fling out a great big hunk er de money.
+Dez ez de money hit de groun' Brer Rabbit holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Ow</em>!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' you 'bout ter jolt my jaw-bone
+a-loose.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey go on little furder, en Brer Rabbit fling out 'n'er hunk er de
+money. Wen she hit de groun', Brer Rabbit holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Blam</em>!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' I seed a jaybird flyin' 'long, en I
+make lak I had a gun.'</p>
+
+<p>"Hit keep on dis a-way twel fus' news you know Mr. Man ain't got a sign
+er money in dat waggin. Seem lak Mr. Man ain't notice dis twel he git a
+mighty fur ways fum de place whar Brer Rabbit drap out de las' hunk;
+but, gentermens! w'en he do fine it out, you better b'leeve he sot up a
+howl.</p>
+
+<p>"'Whar my money? Whar my nice money? Whar my waggin <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span>full er purty
+money? O you long-year'd rascal! Whar my money? Oh, gimme my money!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit sot dar en lissen at 'im lak he 'stonish'd. Den he up'n
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Look out, Mr. Man! folks'll come 'long en year you gwine on dat a-way,
+en dey'll go off en say you done gone ravin' 'stracted.'</p>
+
+<p>"Yit Mr. Man keep on holler'n en beggin' Brer Rabbit fer ter gin 'im de
+money, en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he git sorter skeer'd en he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sun gittin' low, Mr. Man, en I better be gittin' 'way fum yer. De
+sooner I goes de better, 'kaze ef you keep on lak you gwine, 't won't be
+long 'fo' you'll be excusin' me er takin' dat ar money. I'm 'blige' fer
+de ride, Mr. Man, en I wish you mighty well.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit got de money," continued Uncle Remus, gazing placidly into
+the fire, "en hit's mighty kuse ter me dat he ain't git de waggin en
+hosses. Dat 't is!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LIII" id="LIII"></a>LIII<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT TAKES A WALK</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Eve'y</span> time I run over in my min' 'bout the pranks er Brer Rabbit,"
+Uncle Remus continued, without giving the little boy time to ask any
+more embarrassing questions about Mr. Man and his wagon full of money,
+"hit make me laugh mo' en mo'. He mos' allers come out on top, yit dey
+wuz times w'en he hatter be mighty spry."</p>
+
+<p>"When was that, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"I min' me er one time w'en de t'er creeturs all git de laugh on 'im,"
+responded the old man, "en dey make 'im feel sorter 'shame'. Hit seem
+lak dat dey 'uz some kinder bodderment <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span>'mungs' de creeturs en wud went
+out dat dey all got ter meet terge'er some'rs en ontangle de
+tanglements.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en de time come, dey wuz all un um dar, en dey hilt der confab right
+'long. All un um got sump'n' ter say, en dey talk dar, dey did, des lak
+dey 'uz paid fer talkin'. Dey all had der plans, en dey jabbered des lak
+folks does w'en dey call deyse'f terge'er. Hit come 'bout dat Mr. Dog
+git a seat right close by Brer Rabbit, en w'en he open he mouf fer ter
+say sump'n', he toofs look so long en so strong, en dey shine so w'ite,
+dat it feel mighty kuse.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Dog, he'd say sump'n', Brer Rabbit, he'd jump en dodge. Mr. Dog,
+he'd laugh, Brer Rabbit, he'd dodge en jump. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel
+eve'y time Brer Rabbit'd dodge en jump, de t'er creeturs dey'd slap der
+han's terge'er en break out in a laugh. Mr. Dog, he tuck'n tuck a notion
+dat dey 'uz laughin' at him, en dis make 'im so mad dat he 'gun ter
+growl en snap right smartually, en it come ter dat pass dat w'en Brer
+Rabbit'd see Mr. Dog make a motion fer ter say a speech, he'd des drap
+down en git und' de cheer.</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se dis make um laugh wuss en wuss, en de mo' dey laugh de madder it
+make Mr. Dog, twel bimeby he git so mad he fa'rly howl, en Brer Rabbit
+he sot dar, he did, en shuck lak he got er ager.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter w'ile Brer Rabbit git sorter on t'er side, en he make a speech en
+say dey oughter be a law fer ter make all de creeturs w'at got tushes
+ketch en eat der vittles wid der claws. All un um 'gree ter dis 'cep'
+hit's Mr. Dog, Brer Wolf, en Brer Fox.</p>
+
+<p>"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, "ef all de creeturs ain't 'gree,
+dey put it off twel de nex' meetin' en talk it over some mo', en dat's
+de way dey done wid Brer Rabbit projick. Dey put it off twel de nex'
+time.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit got a kinder sneakin' notion dat de creeturs ain't gwine do
+lak he want um ter do, en he 'low ter Brer Wolf dat <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span>he 'speck de bes'
+way fer ter do is ter git all de creeturs ter 'gree fer ter have Mr. Dog
+mouf sew'd up, 'kaze he toofs look so venomous; en Brer Wolf say dey ull
+all go in fer dat.</p>
+
+<p>"Sho' 'nuff, w'en de day done come, Brer Rabbit he git up en say dat de
+bes' way ter do is have Mr. Dog mouf sew'd up so he toofs won't look so
+venomous. Dey all 'gree, en den Mr. Lion, settin' up in de arm-cheer, he
+ax who gwine do de sewin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Den dey all up'n 'low dat de man w'at want de sewin' done, he de man
+fer ter do it, 'kaze den he ull know it done bin done right. Brer
+Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't got no needle.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer B'ar, he sorter feel in de flap er he coat collar, en he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great big one!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study 'g'in, en den he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't got no th'ead.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer B'ar, he tuck'n pull a rav'lin' fum de bottom er he wescut, en he
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great long one!'</p>
+
+<p>"Ef it had er bin anybody in de roun' worl' he'd er 'gun ter feel sorter
+ticklish," Uncle Remus went on. "But ole Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n lay
+he finger 'cross he nose, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Des hol' um dar fer me, Brer B'ar, en I'll be much 'blige ter you.
+<em>Hit's des 'bout my time er day fer ter take a walk!</em>'"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus laughed as heartily as the child, and added:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Some folks say de creeturs had de grins on Brer Rabbit 'bout dat time;
+but I tell you right pine-blank dey ain't grin much w'en dey year Brer
+Rabbit say dat."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span>
+<a name="LIV" id="LIV"></a>LIV<br /><br />
+
+OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">At</span> last Daddy Jack returned, and the fact that the little boy had missed
+him and inquired about him, seemed to give the old African particular
+pleasure. It was probably a new experience to Daddy Jack, and it vaguely
+stirred some dim instinct in his bosom that impelled him to greet the
+child with more genuine heartiness than he had ever displayed in all his
+life. He drew the little boy up to him, patted him gently on the cheek,
+and exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Ki! I bin want fer see you bery bahd. I bin-a tell you' nunk Jeem' how
+fine noung m&agrave;n you is. 'E ahx wey you no come fer shum. Fine b'y&mdash;fine
+b'y!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, ef dat's de way youer gwine on, Brer Jack, you'll spile dat chap
+sho'. A whole sack er salt won't save 'im."</p>
+
+<p>"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Remus," said Aunt Tempy, who had come in.
+"Don't seem like he bad like some yuther childun w'at I seen. Bless you,
+I know childun w'at'd keep dish yer whole place tarryfied&mdash;dat dey
+would!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir," said Uncle Remus, shaking his head and groaning, "you all
+ain't wid dat young un dar much ez I is. Some days w'en dey ain't nobody
+lookin', en dey ain't nobody nowhar fer ter take keer un me, dat ar
+little chap dar 'll come down yer en chunk me wid rocks, en 'buze me en
+holler at me scan'lous."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy looked so shocked that Uncle Remus broke into a laugh
+that shook the cobwebs in the corners; then, suddenly relapsing into
+seriousness, he drew himself up with dignity and remarked:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Good er bad, you can't git 'long wid 'im less'n you sets in ter tellin'
+tales, en, Brer Jack, I hope you got some 'long wid you."</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack rubbed his hands together, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Me bin yeddy one tale; 'e mekky me lahff tel I is 'come tire'."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span>"Fer de Lord sake less have it den!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, with
+unction. Whereupon, the small but appreciative audience disposed itself
+comfortably, and Daddy Jack, peering at each one in turn, his eyes
+shining between his half-closed lids as brightly as those of some wild
+animal, began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One tam B'er Rabbit is bin traffel 'roun' fer see 'e neighbor folks. 'E
+bin mahd wit' B'er Wolf fer so long tam; 'e mek no diffran, 'e come pas'
+'e house 'e no see nuttin', 'e no yeddy nuttin'. 'E holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi, B'er Wolf! wey you no fer mek answer wun me ahx you howdy? Wey fer
+you is do dis 'fo' me werry face? Wut mekky you do dis?'</p>
+
+<p>"'E wait, 'e lissun; nuttin' no mek answer. B'er Rabbit, 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come-a show you'se'f, B'er Wolf! Come-a show you'se'f. Be 'shame' fer
+not show you'se'f wun you' 'quaintun' come bisitin' wey you lif!'</p>
+
+<p>"Nuttin' 't all no mek answer, un B'er Rabbit 'come berry mahd. 'E 'come
+so mahd 'e stomp 'e fut un bump 'e head 'pon da fence-side. Bumbye 'e
+tek heart, 'e y-opun da do', 'e is look inside da house. Fier bu'n in da
+chimbly, pot set 'pon da fier, ole ooman sed by da pot. Fier bu'n, pot,
+'e bile, ole ooman, 'e tek 'e nap.</p>
+
+<p>"Da ole ooman, 'e ole Granny Wolf; 'e cripple in 'e leg, 'e bline in 'e
+y-eye, 'e mos' deaf in 'e year. 'E deaf, but 'e bin yeddy B'er Rabbit
+mek fuss at da do', un 'e is cry out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come-a see you' ole Granny, me gran'son&mdash;come-a see you' Granny! Da
+fier is bin bu'n, da pot is bin b'ile; come-a fix you' Granny some
+bittle,<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> me gran'son.'"</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack's representation of the speech and action of an old woman was
+worth seeing and hearing. The little boy laughed, and Uncle Remus smiled
+good-humoredly; but Aunt Tempy <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>looked at the old African with
+open-mouthed astonishment. Daddy Jack, however, cared nothing for any
+effect he might produce. He told the story for the story's sake, and he
+made no pause for the purpose of gauging the appreciation of his
+audience.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e is bin mek 'ese'f comfuts by da fier. Bumbye, 'e
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi, Granny! I bin cripple mese'f; me y-eye bin-a come bline. You mus'
+bile-a me in da water, Granny, so me leg is kin come well, en so me
+y-eye kin come see.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e mighty ha'd fer fool. 'E bin tek 'im one chunk woot, 'e
+drap da woot in da pot. 'E bin say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I is bin feelin' well, me Granny. Me leg, 'e comin' strong, me y-eye
+'e fix fer see.'</p>
+
+<p>"Granny Wolf, 'e shek 'e head; 'e cry:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me one leg cripple, me turrer leg cripple; me one eye bline, me turrer
+y-eye bline. Wey you no fer pit me in da pot fer mek me well?'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit laff in 'e belly; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hol' you'se'f still, me Granny; I fix you one place in da pot wey you
+is kin fetch-a back da strenk in you' leg en da sight in you' eye. Hol'
+still, me Granny!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e is bin tekky da chunk y-out da pot; 'e tekky da chunk,
+en 'e is bin pit Granny Wolf in dey place. 'E tetch da water, 'e
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow! tekky me way fum dis!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit say 'tiss not da soon 'nuff tam. Granny Wolf, 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow! tekky me way fum dis! 'E bin too hot!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e no tekky da Mammy Wolf fum da pot, en bumbye 'e die in
+dey. B'er Rabbit 'e tek 'e bone en t'row um 'way; 'e leaf da meat. 'E
+tek Granny Wolf frock, 'e tu'n um 'roun', 'e pit um on; 'e tek Granny
+Wolf cap, 'e tu'n 'roun', 'e <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span>pit um on. 'E sed deer by da fier, 'e hol'
+'e'se'f in 'e cheer sem lak Granny Wolf.</p>
+
+<p>"Bumbye B'er Wolf is bin-a come back. 'E walk in 'e house, 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me honkry, Grinny-Granny! Me honkry, fer true!'</p>
+
+<p>"'You' dinner ready, Grin'son-Gran'son!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf, 'e look in da pot, 'e smell in da pot, 'e stir in da pot. 'E
+eat 'e dinner, 'e smack 'e mout'."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy shuddered, and Aunt Tempy exclaimed, "In de name er de
+Lord!" The old African paid no attention to either.</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf eat 'e dinner; 'e call 'e chilluns, 'e ahx um is dey no want
+nuttin' 't all fer eat. 'E holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'We no kin eat we Grinny-Granny!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e run 'way fum dey-dey; 'e holler back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'B'er Wolf, you is bin eat you' Grinny-Granny.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf bin-a git so mad 'e yent mos' kin see. 'E yeddy B'er Rabbit
+holler, en 'e try fer ketch um. 'E feer teer up da grass wey 'e run
+'long. Bumbye 'e come 'pon B'er Rabbit. 'E is bin push um ha'd. B'er
+Rabbit run un-a run tel 'e yent kin run no mo'; 'e hide 'neat' leanin'
+tree. B'er Wolf, 'e fine um; B'er Rabbit 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hi! B'er Wolf! mek 'as'e come hol' up da tree, 'fo' 'e is fall
+dey-dey; come-a hol' um, B'er Wolf, so I is kin prop um up.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Wolf, 'e hol' up da tree fer B'er Rabbit; 'e hol' um till 'e do
+come tire'. B'er Rabbit gone!"</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack paused. His story was ended. The little boy drew a long
+breath and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I did n't think Brother Rabbit would burn anybody to death in a pot of
+boiling water."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat," said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, "wuz endurin' er de dog days. Dey
+er mighty wom times, mon, dem ar dog days is."</p>
+
+<p>This was intended to satisfy such scruples as the child might <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span>have, and
+it was no doubt successful, for the youngster said no more, but watched
+Uncle Remus as the latter leisurely proceeded to fill his pipe.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LV" id="LV"></a>LV<br /><br />
+
+HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span> chipped the tobacco from the end of a plug, rubbed it
+between the palms of his hands, placed it in his pipe, dipped the pipe
+in the glowing embers, and leaned back in his chair, and seemed to be
+completely happy.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit mought not er bin endurin' er de dog days," said the old man,
+recurring to Daddy Jack's story, "'kaze dey wuz times dat w'en dey push
+ole Brer Rabbit so close he 'uz des bleedz ter git he revengeance out'n
+um. Dat mought er bin de marter 'twix' him en ole Grinny-Granny Wolf,
+'kaze w'en ole Brer Rabbit git he dander up, he 'uz a monst'us bad man
+fer ter fool wid.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey tuck atter 'im," continued Uncle Remus, "en dey 'buzed 'im, en dey
+tried ter 'stroy 'im, but dey wuz times w'en de t'er creeturs bleedz ter
+call on 'im fer ter he'p 'em out dey trouble. I ain't nev' tell you
+'bout little Wattle Weasel, is I?" asked the old man, suddenly turning
+to the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>The child laughed. The dogs on the plantation had killed a weasel a few
+nights before,&mdash;a very cunning-looking little animal,&mdash;and some of the
+negroes had sent it to the big house as a curiosity. He connected this
+fact with Uncle Remus's allusions to the weasel. Before he could make
+any reply, however, the old man went on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"No, I boun' I ain't, en it come 'cross me right fresh en hot time I
+year talk er Brer Wolf eatin' he granny. Dey wuz one time w'en all de
+creeturs wuz livin' in de same settlement en usin' out'n de same spring,
+en it got so dat dey put all dey butter in de same piggin'. Dey put it
+in dar, dey did, en dey put it in de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>spring-house, en dey'd go off en
+'ten' ter dey business. Den w'en dey come back dey'd fine whar some un
+been nibblin' at dey butter. Dey tuck'n hide dat butter all 'roun' in de
+spring-house; dey sot it on de rafters, en dey bury it in de san'; yit
+all de same de butter 'ud come up missin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby it got so dey dunner w'at ter do; dey zamin' de tracks, en dey
+fine out dat de man w'at nibble dey butter is little Wattle Weasel. He
+come in de night, he come in de day; dey can't ketch 'im. Las' de
+creeturs tuck'n helt er confab, en dey 'gree dat dey hatter set some un
+fer ter watch en ketch Wattle Weasel.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink wuz de fus' man 'p'inted, 'kaze he wa'n't mo'n a half a
+han'<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> no way you kin fix it. De t'er creeturs dey tuck'n went off ter
+dey wuk, en Brer Mink he tuck'n sot up wid de butter. He watch en he
+lissen, he lissen en he watch; he ain't see nothin', he ain't year
+nothin'. Yit he watch, 'kaze der t'er creeturs done fix up a law dat ef
+Wattle Weasel come w'iles somebody watchin' en git off bidout gittin'
+kotch, de man w'at watchin' ain't kin eat no mo' butter endurin' er dat
+year.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink, he watch en he wait. He set so still dat bimeby he git de
+cramps in de legs, en des 'bout dat time little Wattle Weasel pop he
+head und' de do'. He see Brer Mink, en he hail 'im:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, Brer Mink! you look sorter lonesome in dar. Come out yer en less
+take a game er hidin'-switch.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink, he wanter have some fun, he did, en he tuck'n jine Wattle
+Weasel in de game. Dey play en dey play twel, bimeby, Brer Mink git so
+wo' out dat he ain't kin run, skacely, en des soon ez dey sets down ter
+res', Brer Mink, he draps off ter sleep. Little Wattle Weasel, so mighty
+big en fine, he goes en nibbles up de butter, en pops out de way he come
+in.</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="on" id="on"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 408px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0382.jpg" class="jpg" width="408" height="600" alt="&quot;HE SORTER HUNCH BRER POSSUM IN DE SHORT RIBS, EN AX &#39;IM
+HOW HE COME ON&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;HE SORTER HUNCH BRER POSSUM IN DE SHORT RIBS, EN AX &#39;IM
+HOW HE COME ON&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0382l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"De creeturs, dey come back, dey did, en dey fine de butter nibbled, en
+Wattle Weasel gone. Wid dat, dey marks Brer Mink <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>down, en he ain't
+kin eat no mo' butter dat year. Den dey fix up 'n'er choosement en
+'p'int Brer Possum fer ter watch de butter.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Possum, he grin en watch, and bimeby, sho' 'nuff, in pop little
+Wattle Weasel. He come in, he did, en he sorter hunch Brer Possum in de
+short ribs, en ax 'im how he come on. Brer Possum mighty ticklish, en
+time Wattle Weasel totch 'im in de short ribs, he 'gun ter laugh. Wattle
+Weasel totch 'im ag'in en laugh wusser, en he keep on hunchin' 'im dat
+a-way twel bimeby Brer Possum laugh hisse'f plum outer win', en Wattle
+Weasel lef 'im dar en nibble up de butter.</p>
+
+<p>"De creeturs, dey tuck'n mark Brer Possum down, en 'p'int Brer Coon.
+Brer Coon, he tuck'n start in all so mighty fine; but w'iles he settin'
+dar, little Wattle Weasel banter 'im fer a race up de branch. No sooner
+say dan yer dey went! Brer Coon, he foller de tu'ns er de branch, en
+little Wattle Weasel he take'n take nigh cuts, en 't wa'n't no time 'fo'
+he done run Brer Coon plum down. Den dey run down de branch, and 'fo'
+Brer Coon kin ketch up wid 'im, dat little Wattle Weasel done got back
+ter de noggin er butter, en nibble it up.</p>
+
+<p>"Den de creeturs tuck'n mark Brer Coon down, dey did, en 'p'int Brer Fox
+fer ter watch de butter. Wattle Weasel sorter 'fear'd 'er Brer Fox. He
+study long time, en den he wait twel night. Den he tuck'n went 'roun' in
+de ole fiel' en woke up de Killdees<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> en druv 'roun' todes de
+spring-house. Brer Fox year um holler, en it make he mouf water. Bimeby,
+he 'low ter hisse'f dat 't ain't no harm ef he go out en slip up on
+one."</p>
+
+<p>"Dar now!" said Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox tuck'n slip out, en Wattle Weasel he slicked in, en bless yo'
+soul! dar goes de butter!"</p>
+
+<p>"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox he git marked down," continued Uncle Remus, "en den de
+creeturs tuck'n 'p'int Brer Wolf fer ter be dey watcher. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span>Brer Wolf, he
+sot up dar, he did, en sorter nod, but bimeby he year some un talkin'
+outside de spring-house. He h'ist up he years en lissen. Look lak some
+er de creeturs wuz gwine by, en talkin' 'mungs' deysef'; but all Brer
+Wolf kin year is dish yer:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I wonder who put dat ar young sheep down dar by de chinkapin tree, en
+I like ter know wharbouts Brer Wolf is.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den it seem lak dey pass on, en ole Brer Wolf, he fergotted w'at he in
+dar fer, en he dash down ter de chinkapin tree, fer ter git de young
+sheep. But no sheep dar, en w'en he git back, he see signs whar Wattle
+Weasel done bin in dar en nibble de butter.</p>
+
+<p>"Den de creeturs tuck'n mark Brer Wolf down, en 'p'int Brer B'ar fer ter
+keep he eye 'pun de noggin er butter. Brer B'ar he tuck'n sot up dar, he
+did, en lick he paw, en feel good. Bimeby Wattle Weasel come dancin' in.
+He 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, Brer B'ar, how you come on? I 'low'd I yeard you snortin' in
+yer, en I des drapt in fer ter see.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer B'ar tell him howdy, but he sorter keep one eye on 'im. Little
+Wattle Weasel 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'En you got ticks on yo' back, Brer B'ar?'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Wattle Weasel 'gun ter rub Brer B'ar on de back en scratch 'im
+on de sides, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'uz stretch out fast asleep en
+sno'in' lak a saw-mill. Co'se Wattle Weasel git de butter. Brer B'ar he
+got marked down, and den de creeturs ain't know w'at dey gwine do
+skacely.</p>
+
+<p>"Some say sen' fer Brer Rabbit, some say sen' fer Brer Tarrypin; but
+las' dey sent fer Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit, he tuck a notion dat dey 'uz
+fixin' up some kinder trick on 'im, en dey hatter beg mightily, mon,
+'fo' he 'ud come en set up 'longside er dey butter.</p>
+
+<p>"But bimeby he 'greed, en he went down ter de spring-house en look
+'roun'. Den he tuck'n got 'im a twine string, en hide hisse'f whar he
+kin keep he eye on de noggin er butter. He ain't <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span>wait long 'fo' yer
+come Wattle Weasel. Des ez he 'bout ter nibble at de butter, Brer Rabbit
+holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Let dat butter 'lone!'</p>
+
+<p>"Wattle Weasel jump back lak de butter bu'nt 'im. He jump back, he did,
+en say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sho'ly dat mus' be Brer Rabbit!'</p>
+
+<p>"'De same. I 'low'd you'd know me. Des let dat butter 'lone.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Des lemme git one little bit er tas'e, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Des let dat butter 'lone.'</p>
+
+<p>"Den Wattle Weasel say he want er run a race. Brer Rabbit 'low he tired.
+Wattle Weasel 'low he want er play hidin'. Brer Rabbit 'low dat all he
+hidin' days is pas' en gone. Wattle Weasel banter'd en banter'd 'im, en
+bimeby Brer Rabbit come up wid a banter er he own.</p>
+
+<p>"'I'll take'n tie yo' tail,' sezee, 'en you'll take'n tie mine, en den
+we'll see w'ich tail de strongest.' Little Wattle Weasel know how weakly
+Brer Rabbit tail is, but he ain't know how strong Brer Rabbit bin wid he
+tricks. So dey tuck'n tie der tails wid Brer Rabbit twine string.</p>
+
+<p>"Wattle Weasel wuz ter stan' inside en Brer Rabbit wuz ter stan'
+outside, en dey wuz ter pull 'gin' one er n'er wid dey tails. Brer
+Rabbit, he tuck'n slip out'n de string, en tie de een' 'roun' a tree
+root, en den he went en peep at Wattle Weasel tuggin' en pullin'. Bimeby
+Wattle Weasel 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come en ontie me, Brer Rabbit, 'kaze you done outpull me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en chaw he cud, en look lak he feel sorry
+'bout sump'n'. Bimeby all de creeturs come fer ter see 'bout dey butter,
+'kaze dey fear'd Brer Rabbit done make way wid it. Yit w'en dey see
+little Wattle Weasel tie by de tail, dey make great 'miration 'bout Brer
+Rabbit, en dey 'low he de smartest one er de whole gang."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span>
+<a name="LVI" id="LVI"></a>LVI<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT TIES MR. LION</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">There</span> was some comment and some questions were asked by the little boy
+in regard to Wattle Weasel and the other animals; to all of which Uncle
+Remus made characteristic response. Aunt Tempy sat with one elbow on her
+knee, her head resting in the palm of her fat hand. She gazed intently
+into the fire, and seemed to be lost in thought. Presently she
+exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, de Lord he'p my soul!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's de promise, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, solemnly.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Tempy laughed, as she straightened herself in her chair, and
+said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I des knowed dey wuz sump'n' 'n'er gwine 'cross my min' w'en I year
+talk 'bout dat ar sheep by de chinkapin tree."</p>
+
+<p>"Out wid it, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, by way of encouragement; "out
+wid it; free yo' min', en des make yo'se'f welcome."</p>
+
+<p>"No longer'n Sunday 'fo' las', I 'uz 'cross dar at de Spivey place en I
+tuck'n year'd a nigger man tellin' de same tale, en I 'low ter myse'f
+dat I'd take'n take it en kyar' it home en gin it out w'en I come ter
+pass de time wid Brer Remus en all uv um. I 'low ter myse'f I'll take it
+en kyar' it dar, en I'll des tell it my own way."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, approvingly, "me en dish yer chap, we er
+willin' en a-waitin', en ez fer Brer Jack over dar, we kin say de same
+fer him, 'kaze I up en year 'im draw mighty long breff des now lak he
+fixin' fer ter snort. But you neenter min' dat ole creetur, Sis Tempy.
+Des push right ahead."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah-h-h-e-e!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, snapping his bright little eyes at
+Uncle Remus with some display of irritation; "you <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span>tek-a me fer be sleep
+ebry tam I shed-a me y-eye, you is mek fool-a you'se'f. <em>Warrah yarrah
+garrah tarrah!</em>"<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a></p>
+
+<p>"Brer Remus!" said Aunt Tempy, in an awed whisper, "maybe he's a-cunju'n
+un you."</p>
+
+<p>"No-no!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, snappishly, "me no cuncher no'n' 't all.
+Wun me cuncher you all you yeddy bone crack. Enty!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in de name er de Lord, don't come a-cunju'n wid me, 'kaze I'm des
+as peaceable ez de day's long," said Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus smiled and closed his eyes with an air of disdain, caught
+from his old Mistress, the little boy's grandmother, long since dead.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell yo' tale, Sis Tempy," he said pleasantly, "en leave de talk er
+cunju'n ter de little nigger childun. We er done got too ole fer dat
+kinder foolishness."</p>
+
+<p>This was for the ear of the little boy. In his heart Uncle Remus was
+convinced that Daddy Jack was capable of changing himself into the
+blackest of black cats, with swollen tail, arched back, fiery eyes, and
+protruding fangs. But the old man's attitude reassured Aunt Tempy, as
+well as the child, and forthwith she proceeded with her story:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Hit seem like dat one time w'en Brer Rabbit fine hisse'f way off in de
+middle er de woods, de win' strike up un 'gun ter blow. Hit blow down on
+de groun' en it blow up in de top er de timber, en it blow so hard twel
+terreckerly Brer Rabbit tuck a notion dat he better git out fum dar 'fo'
+de timber 'gun ter fall.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he broke en run, en, Man&mdash;Sir!<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> w'en dat creetur run'd
+he run'd, now you year w'at I tell yer! He broke en run, he did, en he
+fa'rly flew 'way fum dar. W'iles he gwine <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span>'long full tilt, he run'd
+ag'in' ole Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he hail 'im:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! Wat yo' hurry?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Run, Mr. Lion, run! Dey's a harrycane comin' back dar in de timbers.
+You better run!'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make Mr. Lion sorter skeer'd. He 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I mos' too heavy fer ter run fur, Brer Rabbit. W'at I gwine do?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Lay down, Mr. Lion, lay down! Git close ter de groun'!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion shake his head. He 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef win' lierbul fer ter pick up little man like you is, Brer Rabbit,
+w'at it gwine do wid big man like me?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Hug a tree, Mr. Lion, hug a tree!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion lash hisse'f wid his tail. He 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat I gwine do ef de win' blow all day en a good part er de night,
+Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Lemme tie you ter de tree, Mr. Lion! lemme tie you ter de tree!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion, he tuk'n 'gree ter dis, en Brer Rabbit, he got 'im a hick'ry
+split<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> en tie 'im hard en fast ter de tree. Den he tuck'n sot down,
+ole Brer Rabbit did, en wash his face en han's des same ez you see de
+cats doin'. Terreckerly Mr. Lion git tired er stan'in' dar huggin' de
+tree, en he ax Brer Rabbit w'at de reason he ain't keep on runnin', en
+Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low dat he gwine ter stay der en take keer Mr.
+Lion.</p>
+
+<p>"Terreckerly Mr. Lion say he ain't year no harrycane. Brer Rabbit say he
+ain't needer. Mr. Lion say he ain't year no win' a-blowin'. Brer Rabbit
+say he ain't needer. Mr. Lion say he ain't so much ez year a leaf
+a-stirrin'. Brer Rabbit say he ain't needer. Mr. Lion sorter study, en
+Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en wash his face en lick his paws.</p>
+
+<p>"Terreckerly Mr. Lion ax Brer Rabbit fer ter onloose 'im.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span>Brer Rabbit say he fear'd. Den Mr. Lion git mighty mad, en he 'gun ter
+beller wuss'n one er deze yer bull-yearlin's. He beller so long en he
+beller so loud twel present'y de t'er creeturs dey 'gun ter come up fer
+ter see w'at de matter.</p>
+
+<p>"Des soon ez dey come up, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n 'gun ter talk biggity
+en strut 'roun', en, Man&mdash;Sir! w'en dem yuthers see dat Brer Rabbit done
+got Mr. Lion tied up, I let you know dey tuck'n walked way 'roun' 'im,
+en 't wuz many a long day 'fo' dey tuck'n pestered ole Brer Rabbit."</p>
+
+<p>Here Aunt Tempy paused. The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit tied
+Mr. Lion for; but she did n't know; Uncle Remus, however, came to the
+rescue.</p>
+
+<p>"One time long 'fo' dat, honey, Brer Rabbit went ter de branch fer ter
+git a drink er water, en ole Mr. Lion tuck'n druv 'im off, en fum dat
+time out Brer Rabbit bin huntin' a chance fer ter ketch up wid 'im."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's so," said Aunt Tempy, and then she added:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I 'clare I ain't gwine tell you all not na'er n'er tale, dat I ain't.
+'Kaze you des set dar en you ain't crack a smile fum de time I begin. Ef
+dat'd 'a' bin Brer Remus, now, dey'd 'a' bin mo' gigglin' gwine on dan
+you kin shake a stick at. I'm right down mad, dat I is."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I tell you dis, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, with unusual
+emphasis, "ef deze yer tales wuz des fun, fun, fun, en giggle, giggle,
+giggle, I let you know I'd a-done drapt um long ago. Yasser, w'en it
+come down ter gigglin' you kin des count ole Remus out."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>
+<a name="LVII" id="LVII"></a>LVII<br /><br />
+
+MR. LION'S SAD PREDICAMENT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> discussion over Aunt Tempy's fragmentary story having exhausted
+itself, Daddy Jack turned up his coat collar until it was as high as the
+top of his head, and then tried to button it under his chin. If this
+attempt had been successful, the old African would have presented a
+diabolical appearance; but the coat refused to be buttoned in that
+style. After several attempts, which created no end of amusement for the
+little boy, Daddy Jack said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion, 'e no hab bin sma't lak B'er Rabbit. 'E strong wit' 'e fut, 'e
+strong wit' 'e tush, but 'e no strong wit' 'e head. 'E bery foolish,
+'cep' 'e is bin hab chance ter jump 'pon dem creetur.</p>
+
+<p>"One tam 'e bin come by B'er Rabbit in da road; 'e ahx um howdy; 'e ahx
+um wey 'e gwan. B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan git fum front de Buckra M&agrave;n wut
+bin comin' 'long da road. B'er Rabbit say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hide you'se'f, B'er Lion; da Buckra ketch-a you fer true; 'e is bin
+ketch-a you tam he pit 'e y-eye 'pon you; 'e mekky you sick wit' sorry.
+Hide fum da Buckra, B'er Lion!'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion, 'e shekky 'e head; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! Me no skeer da Buckra M&agrave;n. I glad fer shum. I ketch um en I kyar
+um wey I lif; me hab da Buckra M&agrave;n fer me bittle. How come you bein'
+skeer da Buckra M&agrave;n, B'er Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit look all 'bout fer see ef da Buckra bin comin'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me hab plenty reason, B'er Lion. Da Buckra M&agrave;n shoot-a wit' one gun.
+'E r'ise um too 'e y-eye, 'e p'int um stret toze you; 'e say <em>bang!</em> one
+tam, 'e say <em>bang!</em> two tam: dun you is bin git hu't troo da head en
+cripple in da leg.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lion, 'e shek 'e head; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span>"'Me no skeer da Buckra M&agrave;n. I grab-a da gun. I ketch um fer me
+brekwus.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Him quare fer true. Me skeer da Buckra, me no skeer you; but you no
+skeer da Buckra. How come dis?'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion lash 'e tail; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me no skeer da Buckra, but me skeer da Pa'tridge; me berry skeer da
+Pa'tridge.'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e kin lahff no mo'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'How come you skeer da Pa'tridge? 'E fly wun you wink-a you' eye; 'e
+run en 'e fly. Hoo! me no skeer 'bout dem Pa'tridge. Me skeer da
+Buckra.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion, 'e look all 'bout fer see ef da Pa'tridge bin comin'. 'E
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I skeer da Pa'tridge. Wun me bin walk in da bushside, da Pa'tridge 'e
+hol' right still 'pon da groun' tel me come dey-dey, en dun 'e fly
+up&mdash;<em>fud-d-d-d-d-d-e-e!</em> Wun 'e is bin do dat me is git-a skeer berry
+bahd.'"</p>
+
+<p>No typographical device could adequately describe Daddy Jack's imitation
+of the flushing of a covey of partridges, or quail; but it is needless
+to say that it made its impression upon the little boy. The old African
+went on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e holler un lahff; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me no skeer da Pa'tridge. I bin run dem up ebry day. Da no hu't-a you,
+B'er Lion. You hol' you' eye 'pon da Buckra M&agrave;n. Da Pa'tridge, 'e no hab
+no gun fer shoot-a you wit'; da Buckra, 'e is bin hab one gun two
+tam.<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> Let da Pa'tridge fly, B'er Lion; but wun da Buckra Man come you
+bes' keep in de shady side. I tell you dis, B'er Lion.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion, 'e stan' um down 'e no skeer da Buckra M&agrave;n, en bimeby 'e say
+goo'-bye; 'e say 'e gwan look fer da Buckra M&agrave;n fer true.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>"So long tam, B'er Rabbit is bin yeddy one big fuss in da timber; 'e
+yeddy da Lion v'ice. B'er Rabbit foller da fuss tel 'e is bin come 'pon
+da Lion wey 'e layin' 'pon da groun'. Da Lion, 'e is moan; 'e is groan;
+'e is cry. 'E hab hole in 'e head, one, two, t'ree hole in 'e side; 'e
+holler, 'e groan. B'er Rabbit, 'e ahx um howdy. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki, B'er Lion, wey you hab fine so much trouble?'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion, 'e moan, 'e groan, 'e cry; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow, ma Lord! I hab one hole in me head, one, two, t'ree hole in me
+side, me leg bin bruk!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit bin hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e look skeer. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki, B'er Lion! I no know da Pa'tridge is so bahd lak dat. I t'ink 'e
+fly 'way un no hu't-a you. Shuh-shuh! wun I see dem Pa'tridge I mus' git
+'pon turrer side fer keep me hide whole.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion, 'e groan, 'e moan, 'e cry. B'er Rabbit, 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Da Pa'tridge, 'e berry bahd; 'e mus' bin borry da Buckra M&agrave;n gun.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da Lion, 'e groan, 'e cry:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''E no da Pa'tridge no'n 'tall. Da Buckra M&agrave;n is bin stan' way off un
+shoot-a me wit' 'e gun. Ow, ma Lord!'</p>
+
+<p>"B'er Rabbit, 'e h'ist 'e han'; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wut I bin tell-a you, B'er Lion? Wut I bin tell you 'bout da Buckra
+M&agrave;n? Da Pa'tridge no hu't-a you lak dis. 'E mek-a da big fuss, but 'e no
+hu't-a you lak dis. Da Buckra M&agrave;n, 'e no mek no fuss 'cep' 'e p'int 'e
+gun at you&mdash;<em>bang!</em>'"</p>
+
+<p>"And what then?" the little boy asked, as Daddy Jack collapsed in his
+seat, seemingly forgetful of all his surroundings.</p>
+
+<p>"No'n 't all," replied the old African, somewhat curtly.</p>
+
+<p>"De p'ints er dat tale, honey," said Uncle Remus, covering the
+brusqueness of Daddy Jack with his own amiability, "is des 'bout lak
+dis, dat dey ain't no use er dodgin' w'iles dey's a big fuss gwine on,
+but you better take'n hide out w'en dey ain't no <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span>racket; mo' speshually
+w'en you see Miss Sally lookin' behine de lookin'-glass fer dat ar
+peach-lim' w'at she tuck'n make me kyar up dar day 'fo' yistiddy; yit
+w'en she fine it don't you git too skeer'd, 'kaze I tuck'n make some
+weak places in dat ar switch, en Miss Sally won't mo'n strak you wid it
+'fo' hit'll all come onjinted."</p>
+
+<p>Parts of this moral the little boy understood thoroughly, for he
+laughed, and ran to the big house, and not long afterwards the light
+went out in Uncle Remus's cabin; but the two old negroes sat and nodded
+by the glowing embers for hours afterwards, dreaming dreams they never
+told of.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LVIII" id="LVIII"></a>LVIII<br /><br />
+
+THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Uncle Remus</span>," said the little boy, one night shortly after Daddy Jack's
+story of the lion's sad predicament, "mamma says there are no lions in
+Georgia, nor anywhere in the whole country."</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho'ly not, honey; tooby sho'ly not!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "I
+dunner who de name er goodness bin a-puttin' dat kinder idee in yo'
+head, en dey better not lemme fine um out, needer, 'kaze I'll take en
+put Mars John atter um right raw en rank, dat I will."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you know Daddy Jack said that Brother Rabbit met the Lion coming
+down the road."</p>
+
+<p>"Bless yo' soul, honey! dat's 'way 'cross de water whar ole man Jack
+tuck'n come fum, en a mighty long time ergo at dat. Hit's away off yan,
+lots furder dan Ferginny yit. We-all er on one side de water, en de
+lions en mos' all de yuther servigous creeturs, dey er on t'er side.
+Ain't I never tell you how come dat?"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>The little boy shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, <em>sir</em>! I dunner w'at I bin doin' all dis time dat I ain't tell
+you dat, 'kaze dat's whar de wussest kinder doin's tuck'n happen.
+Yasser! de wussest kinder doin's; en I'll des whirl in en gin it out
+right now 'fo' ole man Jack come wobblin' in.</p>
+
+<p>"One time way back yander, 'fo' dey wuz any folks a-foolin' 'roun', Mr.
+Lion, he tuck'n tuck a notion dat he'd go huntin', en nothin' 'ud do 'im
+but Brer Rabbit must go wid 'im. Brer Rabbit, he 'low dat he up fer any
+kinder fun on top side er de groun'. Wid dat dey put out, dey did, en
+dey hunt en hunt clean 'cross de country.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion, he'd lam aloose en miss de game, en den Brer Rabbit, he'd lam
+aloose en fetch it down. No sooner is he do dis dan Mr. Lion, he'd
+squall out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit's mine! hit's mine! I kilt it!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion sech a big man dat Brer Rabbit skeer'd ter 'spute 'long wid
+'im, but he lay it up in he min' fer to git even wid 'im. Dey went on en
+dey went on. Mr. Lion, he'd lam aloose en miss de game, en ole Brer
+Rabbit, he'd lam aloose en hit it, en Mr. Lion, he'd take'n whirl in en
+claim it.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey hunt all day long, en w'en night come, dey 'uz sech a fur ways fum
+home dat dey hatter camp out. Dey went on, dey did, twel dey come ter a
+creek, en w'en dey come ter dat, dey tuck'n scrape away de trash en
+built um a fire on de bank, en cook dey supper.</p>
+
+<p>"Atter supper dey sot up dar en tole tales, dey did, en Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n brag 'bout w'at a good hunter Mr. Lion is, en Mr. Lion, he leant
+back on he yelbow, en feel mighty biggity. Bimeby, w'en dey eyeleds git
+sorter heavy, Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm a monst'us heavy sleeper, Mr. Lion, w'en I gits ter nappin', en I
+hope en trus' I ain't gwine 'sturb you dis night, yit I got my doubts.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>"Mr. Lion, he roach he ha'r back outen he eyes, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'm a monst'us heavy sleeper myse'f, Brer Rabbit, en I'll feel mighty
+glad ef I don't roust you up in de co'se er de night.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n change his terbacker fum one side he mouf ter de
+yuther, he did, en he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you sno' des' fo'
+you git soun' asleep.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion, he tuck'n draw in he breff sorter hard, en show Brer Rabbit;
+den Brer Rabbit 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you sno' atter yo
+done git soun' asleep.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion, he tuck'n suck in he breff, en eve'y time he suck in he breff
+it soun' des lak a whole passel er mules w'en dey whinney atter fodder.
+Brer Rabbit look 'stonish'. He roll he eye en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I year tell youer mighty big man, Mr. Lion, en you sho'ly is.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion, he hol' he head one side en try ter look 'shame', but all de
+same he ain't feel 'shame'. Bimeby, he shot he eye en 'gun ter nod, den
+he lay down en stretch hisse'f out, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'gun ter
+sno' lak he sno' w'en he ain't sleepin' soun'.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he lay dar. He ain't sayin' nothin'. He lay dar wid one
+year h'ist up en one eye open. He lay dar, he did, en bimeby Mr. Lion
+'gun ter sno' lak he sno' w'en he done gone fas' ter sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en ole Brer Rabbit year dis, he git up fum dar, en sprinkle hisse'f
+wid de cole ashes 'roun' de fier, en den he tuck'n fling er whole passel
+der hot embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he jump up, he did, en ax who done
+dat, en Brer Rabbit, he lay dar en kick at he year wid he behime foot,
+en holler '<em>Ow!</em>'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion see de ashes on Brer Rabbit, en he dunner w'at ter t'ink. He
+look all 'roun', but he ain't see nothin'. He drap he head <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>en lissen,
+but he ain't year nothin'. Den he lay down 'g'in en drap off ter sleep.
+Atter w'ile, w'en he 'gun ter sno' lak he done befo', Brer Rabbit, he
+jump up en sprinkle some mo' cole ashes on hisse'f, en fling de hot
+embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion jump up, he did, en holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dar yo is 'g'in!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he kick en squall, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You oughter be 'shame' yo'se'f, Mr. Lion, fer ter be tryin' ter bu'n
+me up.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion hol' up he han's en des vow 't ain't him. Brer Rabbit, he look
+sorter jubous, but he ain't say nothin'. Bimeby he holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Phewee! I smells rags a-bu'nin'!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Lion, he sorter flinch, he did, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''T ain't no rags, Brer Rabbit; hit's my ha'r a-sinjin'.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey look all 'roun', dey did, but dey ain't see nothin' ner nobody.
+Brer Rabbit, he say he gwine do some tall watchin' nex' time, 'kaze he
+boun' ter ketch de somebody w'at bin playin' dem kinder pranks on um.
+Wid dat, Mr. Lion lay down 'g'in, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he drap ter
+sleep.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," continued Uncle Remus, taking a long breath, "de ve'y same
+kinder doin's tuck'n happen. De cole ashes fall on Brer Rabbit, en de
+hot embers fall on Mr. Lion. But by de time Mr. Lion jump up, Brer
+Rabbit, he holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I seed um, Mr. Lion! I seed um! I seed de way dey come fum 'cross de
+creek! Dey mos' sho'ly did!'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Mr. Lion, he fetch'd a beller en he jumped 'cross de creek. No
+sooner is he do dis," Uncle Remus went on in a tone at once impressive
+and confidential, "no sooner is he do dis dan Brer Rabbit cut de string
+w'at hol' de banks togedder, en, lo en beholes, dar dey wuz!"</p>
+
+<p>"What was, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, more amazed than he had
+been in many a day.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span>"Bless yo' soul, honey, de banks! Co'se w'en Brer Rabbit tuck'n cut de
+string, de banks er de creek, de banks, dey fall back, dey did, en Mr.
+Lion can't jump back. De banks dey keep on fallin' back, en de creek
+keep on gittin' wider en wider, twel bimeby Brer Rabbit en Mr. Lion
+ain't in sight er one er n'er, en fum dat day to dis de big waters bin
+rollin' 'twix' um."</p>
+
+<p>"But, Uncle Remus, how could the banks of a creek be tied with a
+string?"</p>
+
+<p>"I ain't ax um dat, honey, en darfo' yo'll hatter take um ez you git um.
+Nex' time de tale-teller come 'roun' I'll up'n ax 'im, en ef you ain't
+too fur off, I'll whirl in en sen' you wud, en den you kin go en see fer
+yo'se'f. But 't ain't skacely wuth yo' w'ile fer ter blame me, honey,
+'bout de creek banks bein' tied wid a string. Who put um dar, I be bless
+ef <em>I</em> knows, but I knows who onloose um, dat w'at I knows!"</p>
+
+<p>It is very doubtful if this copious explanation was satisfactory to the
+child, but just as Uncle Remus concluded, Daddy Jack came shuffling in,
+and shortly afterwards both Aunt Tempy and 'Tildy put in an appearance,
+and the mind of the youngster was diverted to other matters.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LIX" id="LIX"></a>LIX<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT GETS BRER FOX'S DINNER</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">After</span> the new-comers had settled themselves in their accustomed places,
+and 'Tildy had cast an unusual number of scornful glances at Daddy Jack,
+who made quite a pantomime of his courtship, Uncle Remus startled them
+all somewhat by breaking into a loud laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"I boun' you," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, grinning with enthusiastic
+sympathy, "I boun' you Brer Remus done fine out some mo' er Brer Rabbit
+funny doin's; now I boun' you dat."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span>"You hit it de fus' clip, Sis Tempy, I 'clar' ter gracious ef you
+ain't. You nailed it! You nailed it," Uncle Remus went on, laughing as
+boisterously as before, "des lak ole Brer Rabbit done."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy was very prompt with what Uncle Remus called his
+"inquirements," and the old man, after the usual "hems" and "haws,"
+began.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit run'd 'cross my min' des lak a rat 'long a rafter, de way ole Brer
+Rabbit tuk'n done Brer Fox. 'Periently, atter Brer Rabbit done went en
+put a steeple on top er he house, all de yuther creeturs wanter fix up
+dey house. Some put new cellars und' um, some slapped on new
+winder-blines, some one thing and some er n'er, but ole Brer Fox, he
+tuck a notion dat he'd put some new shingles on de roof.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n year tell er dis, en nothin'd do but he mus'
+rack 'roun' en see how ole Brer Fox gittin' on. W'en he git whar Brer
+Fox house is, he year a mighty lammin' en a blammin' en lo en beholes,
+dar 'uz Brer Fox settin' straddle er de comb er de roof nailin' on
+shingles des hard ez he kin.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit cut he eye 'roun' en he see Brer Fox dinner settin' in de
+fence-cornder. Hit 'uz kivered up in a bran new tin pail, en it look so
+nice dat Brer Rabbit mouf 'gun ter water time he see it, en he 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he bleedz ter eat dat dinner 'fo' he go 'way fum dar.</p>
+
+<p>"Den Brer Rabbit tuck'n hail Brer Fox, en ax 'im how he come on. Brer
+Fox 'low he too busy to hol' any confab. Brer Rabbit up en ax 'im w'at
+is he doin 'up dar. Brer Fox 'low dat he puttin' roof on he house 'g'in
+de rainy season sot in. Den Brer Rabbit up en ax Brer Fox w'at time is
+it, en Brer Fox, he 'low dat hit's wukkin time wid him. Brer Rabbit, he
+up en ax Brer Fox ef he ain't stan' in needs er some he'p. Brer Fox, he
+'low he did, dat ef he does stan' in needs er any he'p, he dunner whar
+in de name er goodness he gwine to git it at.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span>"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit sorter pull he mustarsh, en 'low dat de time wuz
+w'en he 'uz a mighty handy man wid a hammer, en he ain't too proud fer
+to whirl in en he'p Brer Fox out'n de ruts.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox 'low he be mighty much erblige, en no sooner is he say dat dan
+Brer Rabbit snatched off he coat en lipt up de ladder, en sot in dar en
+put on mo' shingles in one hour dan Brer Fox kin put on in two.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, he 'uz a rattler&mdash;ole Brer Rabbit wuz," Uncle Remus exclaimed,
+noticing a questioning look in the child's face. "He 'uz a rattler, mon,
+des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. Dey wa'n't no kinder wuk dat Brer
+Rabbit can't put he han' at, en do it better dan de nex' man.</p>
+
+<p>"He nailed on shingles plum twel he git tired, Brer Rabbit did, en all
+de time he nailin', he study how he gwine git dat dinner. He nailed en
+he nailed. He 'ud nail one row, en Brer Fox 'ud nail 'n'er row. He
+nailed en he nailed. He kotch Brer Fox en pass 'im&mdash;kotch 'im en pass
+'im, twel bimeby w'iles he nailin' 'long Brer Fox tail git in he way.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he dunner w'at de name er
+goodness make folks have such long tails fer, en he push it out de way.
+He ain't no mo'n push it out'n de way, 'fo' yer it come back in de way.
+Co'se," continued Uncle Remus, beginning to look serious, "w'en dat's de
+case dat a soon man lak Brer Rabbit git pester'd in he min', he bleedz
+ter make some kinder accidents some'rs.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey nailed en dey nailed, en, bless yo' soul! 't wa'n't long 'fo' Brer
+Fox drap eve'yt'ing en squall out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nail my tail. He'p me, Brer
+Rabbit, he'p me! You done nail my tail!'"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus waved his arms, clasped and unclasped his hands, stamped
+first one foot and then the other, and made various other demonstrations
+of grief and suffering.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>"Brer Rabbit, he shot fus' one eye en den de yuther en rub hisse'f on
+de forrerd, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Sho'ly I ain't nail yo' tail, Brer Fox; sho'ly not. Look right close,
+Brer Fox, be keerful. Fer goodness sake don' fool me, Brer Fox!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, <em>he</em> holler, <em>he</em> squall, <em>he</em> kick, <em>he</em> squeal.</p>
+
+<p>"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nailed my tail. Onnail me, Brer
+Rabbit, onnail me!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he make fer de ladder, en w'en he start down, he look at
+Brer Fox lak he right down sorry, en he up'n 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, well, well! Des ter t'ink dat I should er lamm'd aloose en nail
+Brer Fox tail. I dunner w'en I year tell er anyt'ing dat make me feel so
+mighty bad; en ef I had n't er seed it wid my own eyes I would n't er
+bleev'd it skacely&mdash;dat I would n't!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox holler, Brer Fox howl, yit 't ain't do no good. Dar he wuz wid
+he tail nail hard en fas'. Brer Rabbit, he keep on talkin' w'iles he
+gwine down de ladder.</p>
+
+<p>"'Hit make me feel so mighty bad,' sezee, 'dat I dunner w'at ter do.
+Time I year tell un it, hit make a empty place come in my stomach,' sez
+Brer Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"By dis time Brer Rabbit done git down on de groun', en w'iles Brer Fox
+holler'n, he des keep on a-talkin'.</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey's a mighty empty place in my stomach,' sezee, 'en ef I ain't run'd
+inter no mistakes dey's a tin-pail full er vittles in dish yer
+fence-cornder dat'll des 'bout fit it,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"He open de pail, he did, en he eat de greens, en sop up de 'lasses, en
+drink de pot-liquor, en w'en he wipe he mouf 'pun he coat-tail, he up'n
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I dunner w'en I bin so sorry 'bout anything, ez I is 'bout Brer Fox
+nice long tail. Sho'ly, sho'ly my head mus' er bin wool-getherin' w'en I
+tuck'n nail Brer Fox fine long tail,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee.</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="long" id="long"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 410px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0383.jpg" class="jpg" width="410" height="600" alt="&quot;&#39;I DUNNER W&#39;EN I BIN SO SORRY &#39;BOUT ANYTHING, EZ I IS
+&#39;BOUT BRER FOX NICE LONG TAIL&#39;&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;&#39;I DUNNER W&#39;EN I BIN SO SORRY &#39;BOUT ANYTHING, EZ I IS
+&#39;BOUT BRER FOX NICE LONG TAIL&#39;&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0383l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span>"Wid dat, he tuck'n skip out, Brer Rabbit did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo'
+he 'uz playin' he pranks in some yuther parts er de settlement."</p>
+
+<p>"How did Brother Fox get loose?" the little boy asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you let Brer Fox 'lone fer dat," responded Uncle Remus. "Nex' ter
+Brer Rabbit, ole Brer Fox wuz mos' de shiftiest creetur gwine. I boun'
+you he tuck'n tuck keer hisse'f soon ez Brer Rabbit git outer sight en
+year'n."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span>
+</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<div class="link"><a name="alligators" id="alligators"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span><br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span>
+<img src="images/alligator.png" width="400" height="321" alt="How the Bear nursed the Little Alligator" title="" />
+<span class="caption">How the Bear nursed the Little Alligator</span>
+</div>
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span>
+LX<br /><br />
+
+HOW THE BEAR NURSED THE LITTLE ALLIGATORS</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">While</span> the negroes were talking of matters which the little boy took
+little or no interest in, he climbed into Uncle Remus's lap, as he had
+done a thousand times before. Presently the old man groaned, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I be bless ef I know w'at de marter, honey. I dunner whe'er I'm
+a-gittin' fibble in de lim's, er whe'er youer outgrowin' me. I lay I'll
+hatter sen' out en git you a nuss w'at got mo' strenk in dey lim's dan
+w'at I is."</p>
+
+<p>The child protested that he was n't very heavy, and that he would n't
+have any nurse, and the old man was about to forget that he had said
+anything about nurses, when Daddy Jack, who seemed to be desirous of
+appearing good-humored in the presence of 'Tildy, suddenly exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Me bin yeddy one tale 'bout da tam w'en da lil Bear is bin nuss da
+'Gator chilluns. 'E bin mek fine nuss fer true. 'E stan' by dem lilly
+'Gator tel dey no mo' fer stan' by."</p>
+
+<p>Seeing that Daddy Jack manifested symptoms of going to sleep, the little
+boy asked if he would n't tell the story, and, thus appealed to, the old
+African began:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One tam dey is bin one ole Bear; 'e big un 'e strong. 'E lif way in da
+swamp; 'e hab nes' in da holler tree. 'E hab one, two lilly Bear in da
+nes'; 'e bin lub dem chillun berry ha'd. One day, 'e git honkry; 'e tell
+'e chillun 'e gwan 'way off fer git-a some bittle fer eat; 'e tell dem
+dey mus' be good chillun un stay wey dey lif. 'E say 'e gwan fer fetch
+dem one fish fer dey brekwus. Dun 'e gone off.</p>
+
+<p>"Da lil Bear chillun hab bin 'sleep till dey kin sleep no mo'. <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span>Da sun,
+'e der shine wom, 'e mekky lilly Bear feel wom. Da lil boy Bear, 'e rub
+'e y-eye, 'e say 'e gwan off fer hab some fun. Da lil gal Bear, 'e
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wut will we mammy say?'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil boy Bear, 'e der lahff. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me gwan down by da crik side fer ketch some fish 'fo' we mammy come.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil gal Bear, 'e look skeer; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'We mammy say somet'ing gwan git-a you. Min' wut 'e tell you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil boy Bear, 'e keep on lahff. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Shuh-shuh! 'E yent nebber know less you tell um. You no tell um, me
+fetch-a you one big fish.'</p>
+
+<p>"Lil boy Bear, 'e gone! 'E gone by da crik side, 'e tek 'e hook, 'e tek
+'e line, 'e is go by da crik side fer ketch one fish. Wun 'e come
+dey-dey, 'e see somet'ing lay dey in de mud. 'E t'ink it bin one big
+log. 'E lahff by 'ese'f; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"''E one fine log fer true. Me 'tan' 'pon da log fer ketch-a da fish fer
+me lil titty.'<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p>
+
+<p>"Lil boy Bear, 'e der jump down; 'e git 'pon da log; 'e fix fer fish; 'e
+fix 'e hook, 'e fix 'e line. Bumbye da log moof. Da lil boy Bear
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow ma Lordy!'</p>
+
+<p>"'E look down; 'e skeer mos' dead. Da log bin one big 'Gator. Da 'Gator
+'e swim 'way wit' da lil boy Bear 'pon 'e bahck. 'E flut 'e tail, 'e
+knock da lil boy Bear spang in 'e two han'. 'E grin <em>wide</em>, 'e feel da
+lil boy Bear wit' 'e nose; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I tekky you wey me lif; me chillun is hab you fer dey brekwus.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da 'Gator, 'e bin swim toze da hole in da bank wey 'e lif. 'E come by
+da hole, 'e ca' da lil boy Bear in dey. 'E is call up 'e chillun; 'e
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span>"'Come see how fine brekwus me bin brung you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da ole 'Gator, 'e hab seben chillun in 'e bed. Da lil boy Bear git
+skeer; 'e holler, 'e cry, 'e beg. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Please</em>, Missy 'Gator, gib me chance fer show you how fine nuss me
+is&mdash;<em>please</em>, Missy 'Gator. Wun you gone 'way, me min' dem chillun, me
+min' um well.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da 'Gator flut 'e tail; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I try you dis one day; you min' dem lil one well, me luf you be.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da ole 'Gator gone 'way; 'e luf da lil boy Bear fer min' 'e chillun. 'E
+gone git somet'ing fer dey brekwus. Da lil boy Bear, 'e set down
+dey-dey; 'e min' dem chillun; 'e wait en 'e wait. Bumbye, 'e is git
+honkry. 'E wait en 'e wait. 'E min' dem chillun. 'E wait en 'e wait. 'E
+'come so honkry 'e yent mos' kin hol' up 'e head. 'E suck 'e paw. 'E
+wait en 'e wait. Da 'Gator no come. 'E wait en 'e wait. Da 'Gator no
+come some mo'. 'E say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow! me no gwan starf mese'f wun da planty bittle by side er me!'</p>
+
+<p>"Da lil boy Bear grab one da lil 'Gator by 'e neck; 'e tek um off in da
+bush side; 'e der eat um up. 'E no leaf 'e head, 'e no leaf 'e tail; 'e
+yent leaf nuttin' 't all. 'E go bahck wey da turrer lil 'Gator bin
+huddle up in da bed. 'E rub 'ese'f 'pon da 'tomach; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hoo! me feel-a too good fer tahlk 'bout. I no know wut me gwan fer
+tell da ole 'Gator wun 'e is come bahck. Ki! me no keer. Me feel too
+good fer t'ink 'bout dem t'ing. Me t'ink 'bout dem wun da 'Gator is bin
+come; me t'ink 'bout dem bumbye wun da time come fer t'ink.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da lil boy Bear lay down; 'e quile up in da 'Gator bed; 'e shed 'e
+y-eye; 'e sleep ha'd lak bear do wun ef full up. Bumbye, mos' toze
+night, da 'Gator come; 'e holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hey! lil boy Bear! How you is kin min' me chillun wun you is gone fer
+sleep by um?'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span>"Da lil boy Bear, 'e set up 'pon 'e ha'nch; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me y-eye gone fer sleep, but me year wide 'wake.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da 'Gator flut 'e tail; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wey me chillun wut me leaf you wit'?'</p>
+
+<p>"Da lil boy Bear 'come skeer; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey all dey-dey, Missy 'Gator. Wait! lemme count dem, Missy 'Gator.</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Yarrah one, yarrah narrah,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Yarrah two 'pon top er tarrah,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Yarrah t'ree pile up tergarrah!</em>'<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Da 'Gator y-open 'e mout', 'e grin wide; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Oona nuss dem well, lil boy Bear; come, fetch-a me one fer wash en git
+'e supper.'</p>
+
+<p>"Da lil boy Bear, 'e ca' one, 'e ca' nurrer, 'e ca' turrer, 'e ca' um
+all tel 'e ca' six, den 'e come skeer. 'E t'ink da 'Gator gwan fine um
+out fer true. 'E stop, 'e yent know wut fer do. Da 'Gator holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Fetch-a me turrer!'</p>
+
+<p>"Da lil boy Bear, 'e grab da fus' one, 'e wullup um in da mud, 'e ca' um
+bahck. Da 'Gator bin wash un feed um fresh; 'e yent know da diffran.</p>
+
+<p>"Bumbye, nex' day mornin', da 'Gator gone 'way. Da lil boy Bear stay fer
+nuss dem lil 'Gator. 'E come honkry; 'e wait, but 'e come mo' honkry. 'E
+grab nurrer lil 'Gator, 'e eat um fer 'e dinner. Mos' toze night, da
+'Gator come. It sem t'ing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wey me chillun wut me leaf you fer nuss?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey all dey-dey, Missy 'Gator. Me count um out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Yarrah one, yarrah narrah,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Yarrah two 'pon top er tarrah,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Yarrah t'ree pile up tergarrah!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"'E ca' um one by one fer wash en git dey supper. 'E ca' two <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span>bahck two
+tam. Ebry day 'e do dis way tel 'e come at de las'. 'E eat dis one, en
+'e gone luf da place wey da 'Gator lif. 'E gone down da crik side tel 'e
+is come by da foot-log, en 'e is run 'cross <em>queek</em>. 'E git in da bush,
+'e fair fly tel 'e is come by da place wey 'e lil titty bin lif. 'E come
+dey-dey, en 'e yent go 'way no mo'."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LXI" id="LXI"></a>LXI<br /><br />
+
+WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> little boy was not particularly pleased at the summary manner in
+which the young Alligators were disposed of; but he was very much amused
+at the somewhat novel method employed by the Bear to deceive the old
+Alligator. The negroes, however, enjoyed Daddy Jack's story immensely,
+and even 'Tildy condescended to give it her approval; but she qualified
+this by saying, as soon as she had ceased laughing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I 'clar' ter goodness you all got mighty little ter do fer ter be
+settin' down yer night atter night lis'nin' at dat nigger man."</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack nodded, smiled, and rubbed his withered hands together
+apparently in a perfect ecstasy of good-humor, and finally said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Oona come set-a by me, lil gal. 'E berry nice tale wut me tell-a you.
+Come sit-a by me, lil gal;'e berry nice tale. Ef you no want me fer
+tell-a you one tale, dun you is kin tell-a me one tale."</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" exclaimed 'Tildy, contemptuously, "you'll set over dar in dat
+cornder en dribble many's de long day 'fo' I tell you any tale."</p>
+
+<p>"Look yer, gal!" said Uncle Remus, pretending to ignore the queer
+courtship that seemed to be progressing between Daddy Jack and 'Tildy,
+"you gittin' too ole fer ter be sawin' de a'r wid yo 'head en squealin'
+lak a filly. Ef you gwine ter set wid folks, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>you better do lak folks
+does. Sis Tempy dar ain't gwine on dat a-way, en she ain't think 'erse'f
+too big fer ter set up dar en jine in wid us en tell a tale, needer."</p>
+
+<p>This was the first time that Uncle Remus had ever condescended to accord
+'Tildy a place at his hearth on an equality with the rest of his
+company, and she seemed to be immensely tickled. A broad grin spread
+over her comely face as she exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Oh!</em> I 'clar' ter goodness, Unk Remus, I thought dat ole nigger man
+wuz des a-projickin' 'long wid me. Ef it come down ter settin' up yer
+'long wid you all en tellin' a tale, I ain't 'nyin' but w'at I got one
+dat you all ain't never year tell un, 'kaze dat ar Slim Jim w'at Mars
+Ellick Akin got out'n de speckerlater waggin,<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> he up'n tell it dar at
+Riah's des 'fo' de patter-rollers tuck'n slipt up on um."</p>
+
+<p>"Dar now!" remarked Aunt Tempy. 'Tildy laughed boisterously.</p>
+
+<p>"W'at de patter-rollers do wid dat ar Slim Jim?" Uncle Remus inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Done nothin'!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with an air of humorous scorn. "Time
+dey got in dar Slim Jim 'uz up de chimbly, en Riah 'uz noddin' in one
+cornder en me in de udder. Nobody never is ter know how dat ar long-leg
+nigger slick'd up dat chimbly&mdash;dat dey ain't. He put one foot on de
+pot-rack,<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> en whar he put de t'er foot <em>I</em> can't tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"What was the story?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"I boun' fer you, honey!" exclaimed Uncle Remus.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den," said 'Tildy, settling herself comfortably, and bridling a
+little as Daddy Jack manifested a desire to give her his undivided
+attention,&mdash;"well, den, dey wuz one time w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'uz bleedz
+ter go ter town atter sump'n' 'n'er fer his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span>famerly, en he mos' 'shame'
+ter go 'kaze his shoes done wo' tetotally out. Yit he bleedz ter go, en
+he put des ez good face on it ez he kin, en he take down he walkin'-cane
+en sot out des ez big ez de next un.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, ole Brer Rabbit go on down de big road twel he come ter de
+place whar some folks bin camp out de night befo', en he sot down by de
+fier, he did, fer ter wom his foots, 'kaze dem mawnin's 'uz sorter cole,
+like deze yer mawnin's. He sot dar en look at his toes, en he feel
+mighty sorry fer hisse'f.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, he sot dar, he did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he year sump'n'
+'n'er trottin' down de road, en he tuck'n look up en yer come Mr. Dog
+a-smellin' en a-snuffin' 'roun' fer ter see ef de folks lef' any scraps
+by der camp-fier. Mr. Dog 'uz all dress up in his Sunday-go-ter-meetin'
+cloze, en mo'n dat, he had on a pa'r er bran new shoes.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, w'en Brer Rabbit see dem ar shoes he feel mighty bad, but he
+ain't let on. He bow ter Mr. Dog mighty perlite, en Mr. Dog bow back, he
+did, en dey pass de time er day, 'kaze dey 'uz ole 'quaintance. Brer
+Rabbit, he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Mr. Dog, whar you gwine all fix up like dis?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I gwine ter town, Brer Rabbit; whar you gwine?'</p>
+
+<p>"'I thought I go ter town myse'f fer ter git me new pa'r shoes, 'kaze my
+ole uns done wo' out en dey hu'ts my foots so bad I can't w'ar um. Dem
+mighty nice shoes w'at you got on, Mr. Dog; whar you git um?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Down in town, Brer Rabbit, down in town.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey fits you mighty slick, Mr. Dog, en I wish you be so good ez ter
+lemme try one un um on.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit talk so mighty sweet dat Mr. Dog sot right flat on de
+groun' en tuck off one er de behime shoes, en loant it ter Brer Rabbit.
+Brer Rabbit, he lope off down de road en den he come back. He tell Mr.
+Dog dat de shoe fit mighty nice, but wid des one un um on, hit make 'im
+trot crank-sided.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span>"Well, den, Mr. Dog, he pull off de yuther behime shoe, en Brer Rabbit
+trot off en try it. He come back, he did, en he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dey mighty nice, Mr. Dog, but dey sorter r'ars me up behime, en I
+dunner 'zackly how dey feels.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make Mr. Dog feel like he wanter be perlite, en he take off de
+befo' shoes, en Brer Rabbit put um on en stomp his foots, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Now dat sorter feel like shoes;' en he rack off down de road, en w'en
+he git whar he oughter tu'n 'roun', he des lay back he years en keep on
+gwine; en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he git outer sight.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Dog, he holler, en tell 'im fer ter come back, but Brer Rabbit keep
+on gwine; Mr. Dog, he holler, Mr. Rabbit, he keep on gwine. En down ter
+dis day," continued 'Tildy, smacking her lips, and showing her white
+teeth, "Mr. Dog bin a-runnin' Brer Rabbit, en ef you'll des go out in de
+woods wid any Dog on dis place, des time he smell de Rabbit track he'll
+holler en tell 'im fer ter come back."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's de Lord's trufe!" said Aunt Tempy.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LXII" id="LXII"></a>LXII<br /><br />
+
+BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Daddy Jack</span> appeared to enjoy 'Tildy's story as thoroughly as the little
+boy.</p>
+
+<p>"'E one fine tale. 'E mekky me lahff tell tear is come in me y-eye," the
+old African said. And somehow or other 'Tildy seemed to forget her
+pretended animosity to Daddy Jack, and smiled on him as pleasantly as
+she did on the others. Uncle Remus himself beamed upon each and every
+one, especially upon Aunt Tempy; and the little boy thought he had never
+seen everybody in such good-humor.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>"Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, "I 'speck it's yo' time fer ter put in."</p>
+
+<p>"I des bin rackin' my min'," said Aunt Tempy, thoughtfully. "I see you
+fixin' dat ar hawn, en terreckerly hit make me think 'bout a tale w'at I
+ain't year none en you tell yit."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus was polishing a long cow's-horn, for the purpose of making a
+hunting-horn for his master.</p>
+
+<p>"Hit come 'bout one time dat all de creeturs w'at got hawns tuck a
+notion dat dey got ter meet terge'er en have a confab fer ter see how
+dey gwine take ker deyse'f, 'kaze dem t'er creeturs w'at got tush en
+claw, dey uz des a-snatchin' um fum 'roun' eve'y cornder."</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho'!" said Uncle Remus, approvingly.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey sont out wud, de hawn creeturs did, en dey tuck'n meet terge'er
+'way off in de woods. Man&mdash;Sir!&mdash;dey wuz a big gang un um, en de muster
+dey had out dar 't wa'n't b'ar tellin' skacely. Mr. Bull, he 'uz dar, en
+Mr. Steer, en Miss Cow"&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"And Mr. Benjamin Ram, with his fiddle," suggested the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>&mdash;"Yes, 'n Mr. Billy Goat, en Mr. Unicorn"&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"En ole man Rinossyhoss," said Uncle Remus.</p>
+
+<p>&mdash;"Yes, 'n lots mo' w'at I ain't know de names un. Man&mdash;Sir!&mdash;dey had a
+mighty muster out dar. Ole Brer Wolf, he tuck'n year 'bout de muster, en
+he sech a smarty dat nothin' ain't gwine do but he mus' go en see w'at
+dey doin'.</p>
+
+<p>"He study 'bout it long time, en den he went out in de timber en cut 'im
+two crooked sticks, en tie um on his head, en start off ter whar de hawn
+creeturs meet at. W'en he git dar Mr. Bull ax 'im who is he, w'at he
+want, whar he come frum, en whar he gwine. Brer Wolf, he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ba-a-a! I'm name little Sook Calf!'"</p>
+
+<p>"Eh-eh! Look out, now!" exclaimed 'Tildy, enthusiastically.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Bull look at Brer Wolf mighty hard over his specks, but <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span>atter a
+w'ile he go off some'rs else, en Brer Wolf take his place in de muster.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, bimeby, terreckerly, dey got ter talkin' en tellin' der
+'sperence des like de w'ite folks does at class-meetin'. W'iles dey 'uz
+gwine on dis a-way, a great big hoss-fly come sailin' 'roun', en Brer
+Wolf tuck'n fergit hisse'f, en snap at 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"All dis time Brer Rabbit bin hidin' out in de bushes watchin' Brer
+Wolf, en w'en he see dis he tuck'n break out in a laugh. Brer Bull, he
+tuck'n holler out, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Who dat laughin' en showin' der manners?'</p>
+
+<p>"Nobody ain't make no answer, en terreckerly Brer Rabbit holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>O kittle-cattle, kittle-cattle, whar yo' eyes?</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Who ever see a Sook Calf snappin' at flies?</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"De hawn creeturs dey all look 'roun' en wonder w'at dat mean, but
+bimeby dey go on wid dey confab. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' a flea tuck'n bite
+Brer Wolf 'way up on de back er de neck, en 'fo' he know what he doin',
+he tuck'n squat right down en scratch hisse'f wid his behime foot."</p>
+
+<p>"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Dar you is!" said 'Tildy.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n broke out in 'n'er big laugh en 'sturb um all,
+en den he holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Scritchum-scratchum, lawsy, my laws!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Look at dat Sook Calf scratchin' wid claws!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf git mighty skeer'd, but none er de hawn creeturs ain't take
+no notice un 'im, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit holler out ag'in:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Rinktum-tinktum, ride 'im on a rail!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Dat Sook Calf got a long bushy tail!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"De hawn creeturs, dey go on wid der confab, but Brer Wolf git skeerder
+en skeerder, 'kaze he notice dat Mr. Bull got his <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span>eye on 'im. Brer
+Rabbit, he ain't gin 'im no rest. He holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>One en one never kin make six,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Sticks ain't hawns, en hawns ain't sticks!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Wolf make ez ef he gwine 'way fum dar, en he wa'n't none
+too soon, needer, 'kaze ole Mr. Bull splunge at 'im, en little mo' en
+he'd er nat'ally to' 'im in two."</p>
+
+<p>"Did Brother Wolf get away?" the little boy asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Yas, Lord!" said Aunt Tempy, with unction; "he des scooted 'way fum
+dar, en he got so mad wid Brer Rabbit, dat he tuck'n play dead, en wud
+went 'roun' dat dey want all de creeturs fer ter go set up wid 'im. Brer
+Rabbit, he went down dar fer ter look at 'im, en time he see 'im, he
+ex:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Is he grin yit?'</p>
+
+<p>"All de creeturs dey up'n say he ain't grin, not ez dey knows un. Den
+Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den, gentermuns all, ef he ain't grin, den he ain't dead good.
+In all my 'speunce folks ain't git dead good tel dey grins.'<a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a></p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit talk dat a-way, he tuck'n grin fum year
+ter year, en Brer Rabbit, he picked up his hat en walkin'-cane en put
+out fer home, en w'en he got 'way off in de woods he sot down en laugh
+fit ter kill hisse'f."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus had paid Aunt Tempy the extraordinary tribute of pausing in
+his work to listen to her story, and when she had concluded it, he
+looked at her in undisguised admiration, and exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"I be bless, Sis Tempy, ef you ain't wuss'n w'at I is, en I'm bad
+'nuff', de Lord knows I is!"</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span>
+<a name="LXIII" id="LXIII"></a>LXIII<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX AND THE WHITE MUSCADINES</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">Aunty Tempy</span> did not attempt to conceal the pleasure which Uncle Remus's
+praise gave her. She laughed somewhat shyly, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Bless you, Brer Remus! I des bin a-settin' yer l'arnin'. 'Sides dat,
+Chris'mus ain't fur off en I 'speck we er all a-feelin' a sight mo'
+humorsome dan common."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's so, Sis Tempy. I 'uz comin' thoo de lot des 'fo' supper, en I
+seed de pigs runnin' en playin' in de win', en I 'low ter myse'f, sez I,
+'Sholy dey's a-gwine ter be a harrycane,' en den all at once hit come in
+my min' dat Chris'mus mighty close at han', en den on ter dat yer come
+de chickens a-crowin' des now en 't ain't nine er'clock. I dunner how de
+creeturs know Chris'mus comin', but dat des de way it stan's."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy thought it was time enough to think about Christmas when
+the night came for hanging up his stockings, and he asked Uncle Remus if
+it was n't his turn to tell a story. The old man laid down the piece of
+glass with which he had been scraping the cow's horn, and hunted around
+among his tools for a piece of sandpaper before he replied. But his
+reply was sufficient. He said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One time w'iles Brer Rabbit wuz gwine thoo de woods he tuck'n strak up
+wid ole Brer Fox, en Brer Fox 'low, he did, dat he mighty hongry. Brer
+Rabbit 'low dat he ain't feelin' dat a-way hisse'f, 'kaze he des bin en
+had er bait er w'ite muscadimes, en den he tuck'n smack he mouf en lick
+he chops right front er Brer Fox. Brer Fox, he ax, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Brer Rabbit, whar de name er goodness is deze yer w'ite muscadimes, en
+how come I'm ain't never run 'crosst um?' sezee.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span>"'I dunner w'at de reason you ain't never come up wid um,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee; 'some folks sees straight, some sees crooked, some sees
+one thing, some sees 'n'er. I done seed dem ar w'ite muscadimes, en let
+'lone dat, I done wipe um up. I done e't all dey wuz on one tree, but I
+lay dey's lots mo' un um 'roun' in dem neighborhoods,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Fox mouf 'gun to water, en he git mighty restless.</p>
+
+<p>"'Come on, Brer Rabbit; come on! Come show me whar dem ar w'ite
+muscadimes grows at,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he sorter hang back. Brer Fox, he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come on, Brer Rabbit, come on!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he hang back, en bimeby he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! You wanter git me out dar in de timber by myse'f en
+do sump'n' ter me. You wanter git me out dar en skeer me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Fox, he hol' up he han's, he do, en he 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I des 'clar' 'fo' gracious, Brer Rabbit, I ain't gwine do no sech uv a
+thing. I dunner w'at kinder 'pinion you got 'bout me fer ter have sech
+idee in yo' head. Come on, Brer Rabbit, en less we go git dem ar w'ite
+muscadimes. Come on, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! I done year talk er you playin' so many prank wid
+folks dat I fear'd fer ter go 'way off dar wid you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey went on dat a-way," continued Uncle Remus, endeavoring to look at
+the little boy through the crooked cow's horn, "twel bimeby Brer Fox
+promise he ain't gwine ter bodder 'long er Brer Rabbit, en den dey
+tuck'n put out. En whar you 'speck dat ar muscheevous Brer Rabbit tuck'n
+kyar' Brer Fox?"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus paused and gazed around upon his audience with uplifted
+eyebrows, as if to warn them to be properly astonished. Nobody made any
+reply, but all looked expectant, and Uncle Remus went on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"He ain't kyar 'im nowhars in de roun' worl' but ter one er deze yer
+great big scaly-bark trees. De tree wuz des loaded down <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span>wid
+scaly-barks, but dey wa'n't ripe, en de green hulls shined in de sun des
+lak dey ben whitewash'. Brer Fox look 'stonish'. Atter w'ile he up'n
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Is dem ar de w'ite muscadimes? Mighty funny I ain't fine it out 'fo'
+dis.'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Rabbit, he scratch hisse'f en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Dems um. Dey may n't be ripe ez dem w'at I had fer my brekkus, but
+dems de w'ite muscadimes sho' ez youer bawn. Dey er red bullaces<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> en
+dey er black bullaces, but deze yer, dey er de w'ite bullaces.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine git um?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll des hatter do lak I done.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How wuz dat?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll hatter clam fer 'm.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine clam?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Grab wid yo' han's, clam wid yo' legs, en I'll
+push behime!'"</p>
+
+<p>"Man&mdash;Sir!&mdash;he's a-talkin' now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he clum, en Brer Rabbit, he push, twel, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox
+got whar he kin grab de lowmos' lim's, en dar he wuz! He crope on up, he
+did, twel he come ter whar he kin retch de green scaly-bark, en den he
+tuck'n pull one en bite it, en, gentermens! hit uz dat rough en dat
+bitter twel little mo' en he'd 'a' drapt spang out'n de tree.</p>
+
+<p>"He holler '<em>Ow!</em>' en spit it out'n he mouf des same ez ef 't wuz rank
+pizen, en he make sech a face dat you would n't b'leeve it skacely
+less'n you seed it. Brer Rabbit, he hatter cough fer ter keep fum
+laughin', but he make out ter holler, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come down, Brer Fox! Dey ain't ripe. Come down en less go some'rs
+else.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox start down, en he git 'long mighty well twel he <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span>come ter de
+lowmos' lim's, en den w'en he git dar he can't come down no furder,
+'kaze he ain't got no claw fer cling by, en not much leg fer clamp.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit keep on hollerin', 'Come down!' en Brer Fox keep on
+studyin' how he gwine ter come down. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Come on, Brer Fox! I tuck'n push you up, en ef I 'uz dar whar you is,
+I'd take'n push you down.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox sat dar on de lowmos' lim's en look lak he skeer'd. Bimeby
+Brer Rabbit tuck he stan' 'way off fum de tree, en he holler, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef you'll take'n jump out dis way, Brer Fox, I'll ketch you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox look up, he look down, he look all 'roun'. Brer Rabbit come
+little closer, en 'low, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Hop right down yer, Brer Fox, en I'll ketch you.'</p>
+
+<p>"Hit keep on dis a-way, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox tuck a notion to jump, en
+des ez he jump Brer Rabbit hop out de way en holler, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'<em>Ow!</em> Scuze me, Brer Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot! Scuze me, Brer
+Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot!'</p>
+
+<p>"En dat ole Brer Fox," continued Uncle Remus, dropping his voice a
+little, "dat ole Brer Fox, gentermens! you oughter bin dar! He hit de
+groun' like a sack er taters, en it des nat'ally knock de breff out'n
+'im. W'en he git up en count hisse'f fer ter see ef he all dar, he ain't
+kin walk skacely, en he sat dar en lick de so' places a mighty long time
+'fo' he feel lak he kin make he way todes home."</p>
+
+<p>When the little boy wanted to know what became of Brother Rabbit Uncle
+Remus said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Shoo! don't you pester 'bout Brer Rabbit. He kick up he heels en put
+out fum dar." Then he added: "Dem ar chick'ns crowin' 'g'in, honey. Done
+gone by nine er'clock. Scoot out fum dis. Miss Sally'll be a-rakin' me
+over de coals."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span>
+<a name="LXIV" id="LXIV"></a>LXIV<br /><br />
+
+MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">One</span> night the little boy ran into Uncle Remus's cabin singing:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"<em>T-u Turkey, t-u Ti,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>T-u Turkey Buzzard's eye!</em>"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus, Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and 'Tildy were all sitting around
+the fire, for the Christmas weather was beginning to make itself rather
+severely felt. As they made room for the child, Daddy Jack flung his
+head back, and took up the song, beating time with his foot:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>T-u Tukry, t-u Ti,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>T-u Tukry-Buzzud y-eye!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>T-u Tukry, t-u Ting,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>T-u Tukry-Buzzud wing!</em>"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Deyer mighty kuse creeturs," said 'Tildy, who was sitting rather nearer
+to Daddy Jack than had been her custom,&mdash;a fact to which Aunt Tempy had
+already called the attention of Uncle Remus by a motion of her head,
+causing the old man to smile a smile as broad as it was wise. "Deyer
+mighty kuse, an' I'm fear'd un um," 'Tildy went on. "Dey looks so
+lonesome hit makes me have de creeps fer ter look at um."</p>
+
+<p>"Dey no hu't-a you," said Daddy Jack, soothingly. "You flut you' han'
+toze um dey fly 'way fum dey-dey."</p>
+
+<p>"I dunno 'bout dat," said 'Tildy. "Deyer bal'-headed, en dat w'at make
+me 'spize um."</p>
+
+<p>Daddy Jack rubbed the bald place on his head with such a comical air
+that even 'Tildy laughed. The old African retained his good-humor.</p>
+
+<p>"You watch dem Buzzud," he said after awhile, addressing himself
+particularly to the little boy. "'E fly high, 'e fly low, 'e fly 'way
+'roun'. Rain come, 'e flup 'e wings, 'e light 'pon dead <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span>pine. Rain
+fall, 'e hug 'ese'f wit' 'e wing, 'e scrooge 'e neck up. Rain come, win'
+blow, da Buzzud bin-a look ragged. Da Buzzud bin-a wink 'e y-eye, 'e
+say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Wun da win' fer stop blow en da rain fer stop drip, me go mek me one
+house. Me mek um tight fer keep da rain out; me pit top on strong fer
+keep da win' out.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dun da rain dry up en da win' stop. Da Buzzud, 'e stan' 'pon top da
+dead pine. Wun da sun bin-a shine, 'e no mek um no house no'n 't all. 'E
+stay 'pon da dead pine; 'e 'tretch 'e wing wide open; 'e bin dry hisse'f
+in da sun. 'E hab mek no house sence 'e bin born. 'E one fool bud."</p>
+
+<p>"En yit," said Uncle Remus, with a grave, judicial air, "I year tell er
+one time w'en ole Brer Buzzard wa'n't so mighty fur outer de way wid he
+notions."</p>
+
+<p>"Me yent yeddy tahlk 'bout dis," Daddy Jack explained.</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck not," responded Uncle Remus. "Hit seem lak dat dey wuz one
+time w'en Mr. Hawk come sailin' 'roun' huntin' fer sump'n' 'n'er t' eat,
+en he see Brer Buzzard settin' on a dead lim', lookin' mighty lazy en
+lonesome.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'How you come on, Brer Buzzard?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm mighty po'ly, Brer Hawk; po'ly en hongry.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'W'at you waitin' yer fer ef you hongry, Brer
+Buzzard?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm a-waitin' on de Lord.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Better run en git yo' brekkus, Brer Buzzard, en den
+come back en wait.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'No, Brer Hawk, I'll go bidout my brekkus druther
+den be biggity 'bout it.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, he 'low, sezee, 'Well, den, Brer Buzzard, you got yo' way en
+I got mine. You see dem ar chick'ns, down dar in Mr. Man hoss-lot? I'm
+a-gwine down dar en git one un um, en den I'll come back yer en wait
+'long wid you.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span>"Wid dat, Mr. Hawk tuck'n sail off, en Brer Buzzard drop he wings down
+on de lim' en look mighty lonesome. He sot dar en look mighty lonesome,
+he did, but he keep one eye on Mr. Hawk.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, he sail 'roun' en 'roun', en he look mighty purty. He sail
+'roun' en 'roun' 'bove de hoss-lot&mdash;'roun' en 'roun'&mdash;en bimeby he dart
+down at chick'ns. He shot up he wings en dart down, he did, des same ef
+he 'uz fired out'n a gun."</p>
+
+<p>"Watch out, pullets!" exclaimed 'Tildy, in a tone of warning.</p>
+
+<p>"He dart down, he did," continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his hand
+thoughtfully across the top of his head, "but stidder he hittin' de
+chick'ns, he tuck'n hit 'pon de sharp een' un a fence-rail. He hit dar,
+he did, en dar he stuck."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.</p>
+
+<p>"Dar he stuck. Brer Buzzard sot en watch 'im. Mr. Hawk ain't move. Brer
+Buzzard sot en watch 'im some mo'. Mr. Hawk ain't move. He done stone
+dead. De mo' Brer Buzzard watch 'im de mo' hongrier he git, en bimeby he
+gedder up he wings, en sorter clean out he year wid he claw, en 'low,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I know'd de Lord 'uz gwineter pervide.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Trufe too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy. "'T ain't bin in my min' dat Buzzard
+got sense lak dat!"</p>
+
+<p>"Dar's whar you missed it, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus gravely. "Brer
+Buzzard, he tuck'n drap down fum de dead lim', en he lit on Mr. Hawk, en
+had 'im fer brekkus. Hit's a mighty 'roun' about way fer ter git
+chick'n-pie, yit hit's lots better dan no way."</p>
+
+<p>"I 'speck Hawk do tas'e like chicken," remarked 'Tildy.</p>
+
+<p>"Dey mos' sho'ly does," said Uncle Remus, with emphasis.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span>
+<a name="LXV" id="LXV"></a>LXV<br /><br />
+
+MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">I year</span> tell er one time," said 'Tildy, "w'en ole Mr. Hawk tuck'n kotch
+Brer Rabbit, but 't ain't no tale like dem you all bin tellin'."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell it, anyhow, 'Tildy," said the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, 't ain't no tale, I tell you dat now. One time Brer Rabbit wuz
+gwine 'long thoo de bushes singin' ter hisse'f, en he see a shadder pass
+befo' 'im. He look up, en dar 'uz Mr. Hawk sailin' 'roun' en 'roun'.
+Time he see 'im, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter kick up en sassy 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk ain't pay no 'tention ter dis. He des sail all 'roun' en
+'roun'. Eve'y time he sail 'roun', he git little closer, but Brer Rabbit
+ain't notice dis. He too busy wid his devilment. He shuck his fis' at
+Mr. Hawk, en chunk'd at 'im wid sticks;<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> en atter w'ile he tuck'n make
+out he got a gun, en he tuck aim at Mr. Hawk, en 'low'd, 'Pow!' en den
+he holler en laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"All dis time Mr. Hawk keep on sailin' 'roun' en 'roun' en gittin'
+nigher en nigher, en bimeby down he drapt right slambang on Brer Rabbit,
+en dar he had 'im. Brer Rabbit fix fer ter say his pra'rs, but 'fo' he
+do dat, he talk to Mr. Hawk, en he talk mighty fergivin'. He 'low he
+did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I 'uz des playin', Mr. Hawk; I 'uz dez a-playin'. You oughtn' ter fly
+up en git mad wid a little bit er man like me.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk ruffle up de fedders on his neck en say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't flyin' up, I'm a-flyin' down, en w'en I fly up, I'm a-gwine
+ter fly 'way wid you. You bin a-playin' de imp 'roun' in dis settlement
+long 'nuff, en now ef you got any will ter make, you better make it
+quick, 'kaze you ain't got much time.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit cry. He say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span>"'I mighty sorry, Mr. Hawk, dat I is. I got some gol' buried right over
+dar in fence cornder, en I wish in my soul my po' little childuns know
+whar 't wuz, 'kaze den dey could git long widout me fer a mont' er two.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk 'low, 'Whar'bouts is all dis gol'?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit low, 'Right over dar in de fence-cornder.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk say show it ter 'im. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
+en he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I'd 'a' done show'd it ter you long 'fo' dis, but you hol' me so
+tight, I can't wink my eye skacely, much less walk ter whar de gol' is.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk say he fear'd he gwineter try ter git 'way. Brer Rabbit say
+dey ain't no danger er dat, 'kaze he one er deze yer kinder mens w'en
+dey er kotch once deyer kotch fer good.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk sorter let Brer Rabbit loose, en dey went todes de
+fence-cornder. Brer Rabbit, he went 'long so good dat dis sorter ease
+Mr. Hawk min' 'bout he gittin' 'way. Dey got ter de place en Brer Rabbit
+look all 'roun', en den he frown up like he got some mighty bad
+disap'intment, en he say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You may b'lieve me er not, Mr. Hawk, but we er on de wrong side er de
+fence. I hid dat gol' some'rs right in dat cornder dar. You fly over en
+I'll go thoo.'</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho' dis look fa'r, en Brer Rabbit, he crope thoo' de fence, en
+Mr. Hawk flew'd 'cross. Time he lit on t'er side, Mr. Hawk year Brer
+Rabbit laugh."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit laughed for, as 'Tildy paused
+to adjust a flaming red ribbon-bow pinned in her hair.</p>
+
+<p>"'Kaze dey wuz a brier-patch on t'er side de fence," said 'Tildy, "en
+Brer Rabbit wuz in dar."</p>
+
+<p>"I boun' you!" Aunt Tempy exclaimed. "He 'uz in dar, en dar he stayed
+tel Mr. Hawk got tired er hangin' 'roun' dar."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Lord, chile!" said Uncle Remus, with the candor of an expert, "some
+er dat tale you got right, en some you got wrong."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span>"Oh, I know'd 't wa'n't no tale like you all bin tellin'," replied
+'Tildy, modestly.</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho' 't is," continued Uncle Remus, by way of encouragement; "but
+w'iles we gwine 'long we better straighten out all de kinks dat'll b'ar
+straightenin'."</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness knows I ain't fittin' ter tell no tale," persisted 'Tildy.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't run yo'se'f down, gal," said Uncle Remus, encouragingly; "ef
+dey's to be any runnin' down let yuther folks do it; en, bless yo' soul,
+dey'll do 'nuff un it bidout waitin' fer yo' lettin'.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, old man Hawk,&mdash;w'ich dey call 'im Billy Blue-tail in my day
+en time,&mdash;ole man Hawk, he tuck'n kotch Brer Rabbit des lak you done
+said. He kotch 'im en he hilt 'im in a mighty tight grip, let 'lone dat
+he hilt 'im so tight dat it make Brer Rabbit breff come short lak he des
+come off'n a long jurney.</p>
+
+<p>"He holler en he beg, but dat ain't do no good; he squall en he cry, but
+dat ain't do no good; he kick en he groan, but dat ain't do no good. Den
+Brer Rabbit lay still en study 'bout w'at de name er goodness he gwine
+do. Bimeby he up'n 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'I dunner w'at you want wid me, Mr. Hawk, w'en I ain't a mouf full fer
+you, skacely!'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'I'll make way wid you, en den I'll go ketch me a
+couple er Jaybirds.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dis make Brer Rabbit shake wid de allovers, 'kaze ef dey's any kinder
+creetur w'at he nat'ally 'spize on de topside er de yeth, hit's a
+Jaybird.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Do, pray, Mr. Hawk, go ketch dem Jaybirds fus',
+'kaze I can't stan' um bein' on top er me. I'll stay right yer, plum
+twel you come back,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh, Brer Rabbit, you done bin fool too many folks.
+You ain't fool me,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Ef you can't do dat, Mr. Hawk, den de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span>bes' way
+fer you ter do is ter wait en lemme git tame, 'kaze I'm dat wil' now dat
+I don't tas'e good.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Well, den, ef dat won't do, you better wait en
+lemme grow big so I'll be a full meal er vittles.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Now youer talkin' sense!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'En I'll rush 'roun' 'mungs' de bushes, en drive
+out Pa'tridges fer you, en we'll have mo' fun dan w'at you kin shake a
+stick at.'</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Hawk sorter study 'bout dis, en Brer Rabbit, he beg en he 'splain,
+en de long en de short un it wuz," said Uncle Remus, embracing his knee
+with his hands, "dat Brer Rabbit tuck'n git loose, en he ain't git no
+bigger, en needer is he druv no Pa'tridges fer Mr. Hawk."</p>
+
+<p>"De Lord he'p my soul!" exclaimed 'Tildy, and this was the only comment
+made upon this extraordinary story.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LXVI" id="LXVI"></a>LXVI<br /><br />
+
+THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">All</span> this talk about Hawks and Buzzards evidently reminded Daddy Jack of
+another story. He began to shake his head and mumble to himself; and,
+finally, when he looked around and found that he had attracted the
+attention of the little company, he rubbed his chin and grinned until
+his yellow teeth shone in the firelight like those of some wild animal,
+while his small eyes glistened under their heavy lids with a suggestion
+of cunning not unmixed with ferocity.</p>
+
+<p>"Talk it out, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus; "talk it out. All nex' week
+we'll be a-fixin' up 'bout Chris'mus. Mars Jeems, he's a-comin' up, en
+Miss Sally'll have lots er yuther comp'ny. 'Tildy yer, she'll be busy,
+en dish yer little chap, he won't have <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span>no time fer ter be settin' up
+wid de ole niggers, en Sis Tempy, she'll have 'er han's full, en ole
+Remus, he'll be a-pirootin' 'roun' huntin' fer dat w'at he kin pick up.
+Time's a-passin', Brer Jack, en we all er passin' wid it. Des whirl in
+en gin us de upshot er w'at you got in yo' min'."</p>
+
+<p>"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, by way of approval. "One time dey bin two
+bud. One bin sma't bud; da turrer, 'e bin fool bud. Dey bin lif in da
+sem countree; da bin use in da sem swamp. Da sma't bud, 'e is bin come
+'pon da fool bud; 'e bin tahlk. 'E bin say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ki! you long in da leg, you deep in da craw. You bin 'tan' well; you
+bin las' long tam.'</p>
+
+<p>"Fool bud, 'e look proud, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me no mekky no brag.'</p>
+
+<p>"Sma't bud, 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Less we try see fer how long tam we is kin go 'dout bittle un drink.'</p>
+
+<p>"Fool bud, 'e 'tretch 'e neck, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'All-a right; me beat-a you all day ebry day. Me beat-a you all da
+tam.'</p>
+
+<p>"Sma't bud, 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef you bin 'gree wit' dis, less we tek we place. You git 'pon da
+crik-side en tekky one ho'n, I git 'pon da tree y-up dey, en tekky
+nurrer ho'n. Less we 'tan' dey-dey tel we see how long tam we is kin do
+'dout bittle en drink. Wun I blow 'pon me ho'n dun you blow 'pon you'
+ho'n fer answer me; me blow, you blow, dun we bote blow.'</p>
+
+<p>"Fool bud walk 'bout big; 'e say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Me will do um!'</p>
+
+<p>"Nex' day mornin' come. Da sma't bud bin tekky one ho'n un fly 'pon da
+tree. De fool bud bin tekky one nurrer ho'n en set by da crik-side. Dey
+bin sta't in fer starf deyse'f. Da fool bud, 'e stay by da crik-side wey
+dey bin no'n 't all fer eat; 'e no kin <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span>fin' no bittle dey-dey. Sma't
+bud git in da tree da y-ant en da bug swa'm in da bark plenty. 'E pick
+dem ant, 'e y-eat dem ant; 'e pick dem bug, 'e y-eat dem bug. 'E pick
+tel 'e craw come full; he feel berry good.</p>
+
+<p>"Fool bud, 'e down by da crik-side. 'E set down, 'e come tire'; 'e 'tan'
+up, 'e come tire'; 'e walk 'bout, 'e come tire'. 'E 'tan' 'pon one leg,
+he 'tan' 'pon turrer; 'e pit 'e head need 'e wing; still he come tire'.
+Sma't bud shed 'e y-eye; 'e feel berry good. Wun 'e come hongry, 'e pick
+ant, 'e pick bug, tel 'e hab plenty, toze dinner-time 'e pick up 'e
+ho'n, 'e toot um strong&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Tay-tay, tenando wanzando waneanzo!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Fool bud craw bin empty, but 'e hab win'. 'E tekky da ho'n, 'e blow
+berry well; he mek um say:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Tay-tay tenando wanzando olando!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Sma't bud pick ant plenty; 'e git full up. 'E wait tel mos' toze
+sundown; 'e blow 'pon da ho'n&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"'<em>Tay-tay tenando wanzando waneanzo!</em>'<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>"Fool bud mek answer, but 'e come weak; 'e yent hab eat nuttin' 't all.
+Soon nex' day mornin' sma't bud tek 'e ho'n en toot um. 'E done bin eat,
+'e done bin drink dew on da leaf. Fool bud, 'e toot um ho'n, 'e toot um
+slow.</p>
+
+<p>"Dinner-time, sma't bud bin tek 'e ho'n en blow; 'e yent bin honkry no'n
+'t all; 'e hab good feelin'. Fool bud toot um ho'n; 'e toot um slow.
+Night tam come, 'e no toot um no mo'. Sma't bud come down, 'e fin' um
+done gone dead.</p>
+
+<p>"Watch dem 'ceitful folks; 'e bin do you bad."<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a></p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span>
+<a name="LXVII" id="LXVII"></a>LXVII<br /><br />
+
+OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first">"<span class="smcap">Dat</span> tale," said Uncle Remus, "puts me in min' er de time w'en ole Brer
+Tarrypin had a tussel wid Brer Mink. Hit seem lak," he went on, in
+response to inquiries from the little boy, "dat dey bofe live 'roun' de
+water so much en so long dat dey git kinder stuck up long wid it.
+Leasways dat 'uz de trouble wid Brer Mink. He jump in de water en swim
+en dive twel he 'gun ter b'leeve dey wa'n't nobody kin hol' der han'
+long wid 'im.</p>
+
+<p>"One day Brer Mink 'uz gwine long down de creek wid a nice string er
+fish swingin' on he walkin'-cane, w'en who should he meet up wid but ole
+Brer Tarrypin. De creeturs 'uz all hail feller wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en
+no sooner is he seed Brer Mink dan he bow 'im howdy. Ole Brer Tarrypin
+talk 'way down in he th'oat lak he got bad col'. He 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Heyo, Brer Mink! Whar you git all dem nice string er fish?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink 'uz mighty up-en-spoken in dem days. He 'low, he did:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Down dar in de creek, Brer Tarrypin.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin look 'stonish'. He say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, well, well! In de creek! Who'd er b'leev'd it?'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Whar I gwine ketch um, Brer Tarrypin, ef I ain't
+ketch um in de creek?'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'Dat's so, Brer Mink; but a highlan' man lak
+you gwine in de creek atter fish! Hit looks turrible, Brer Mink&mdash;dat
+w'at it do; hit des looks turrible!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Looks er no looks, dar whar I got um.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin sorter sway he head fum side ter side, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef dat de case, Brer Mink, den sho'ly you mus' be one er dem ar kinder
+creeturs w'at usen ter de water.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span>"'Dat's me,' sez Brer Mink, sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Well, den,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'I'm a highlan' man myse'f, en
+it's bin a mighty long time sence I got my foots wet, but I don't min'
+goin' in washin' 'long wid you. Ef youer de man you sez you is, you kin
+outdo me,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink, sezee: 'How we gwine do, Brer Tarrypin?'</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'We 'ull go down dar ter de creek, en de man
+w'at kin stay und' de water de longest, let dat man walk off wid dat
+string er fish.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink, sezee: 'I'm de ve'y man you bin lookin' fer.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink say he don't wanter put it off a minnit. Go he would, en go
+he did. Dey went down ter creek en make der 'rangerments. Brer Mink lay
+he fish down on der bank, en 'im en ole Brer Tarrypin wade in. Brer
+Tarrypin he make great 'miration 'bout how col' he water is. He flinch,
+he did, en 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow, Brer Mink! Dish yer water feel mighty col' and 't ain't no mo'n up
+ter my wais'. Goodness knows how she gwine feel w'en she git up und' my
+chin.'</p>
+
+<p>"Dey wade in, dey did, en Brer Tarrypin say, sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Now, den, Brer Mink, we'll make a dive, en de man w'at stay und' de
+water de longest dat man gits de fish.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink 'low dat's de way he look at it, en den Brer Tarrypin gun de
+wud, en und' dey went. Co'se," said Uncle Remus, after a little pause,
+"Brer Tarrypin kin stay down in de water longer'n Brer Mink, en Brer
+Mink mought er know'd it. Dey stay en dey stay, twel bimeby Brer Mink
+bleedz ter come up, en he tuck'n kotch he breff, he did, lak he mighty
+glad fer ter git back ag'in. Den atter w'ile Brer Tarrypin stuck he nose
+out er de water, en den Brer Mink say Brer Tarrypin kin beat 'im. Brer
+Tarrypin 'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'No, Brer Mink; hit's de bes' two out er th'ee. Ef I beats you dis time
+den de fish, deyer mine; ef I gits beated, den we kin take 'n'er trial.'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span>"Wid dat, down dey went, but Brer Tarrypin ain't mo'n dove 'fo' up he
+come, en w'iles Brer Mink 'uz down dar honin' fer fresh a'r, he tuck'n
+gobble up de las' one er de fish, ole Brer Tarrypin did. He gobble up de
+fish, en he 'uz fixin' fer ter pick he toof, but by dis time Brer Mink
+bleedz ter come up, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he tuck'n slid down in de
+water. He slid so slick," said Uncle Remus, with a chuckle, "dat he
+ain't lef' a bubble. He ain't stay down long, n'er, 'fo' he come up en
+he make lak he teetotally out er win'.</p>
+
+<p>"Ole Brer Tarrypin come up, he did, en look 'roun', en 'fo' Brer Mink
+kin say a wud, he holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Youer nice man, Brer Mink! Youer mighty nice man!'</p>
+
+<p>"'Wat I done now, Brer Tarrypin?'</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't ax me. Look up dar whar you bin eatin' dem fish en den ax
+yo'se'f. Youer mighty nice man!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink look 'roun' en, sho' 'nuff, de fish done gone. Ole Brer
+Tarrypin keep on talkin':&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You tuck'n come up fust, en w'iles I bin down dar in de water,
+nat'ally achin' fer lack er win', yer you settin' up chawin' on de fish
+w'ich dey oughter bin mine!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Mink stan' 'im down dat he ain't eat dem fish; he 'ny it ter de
+las', but ole Brer Tarrypin make out he don't b'leeve 'im. He say,
+sezee:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You'll keep gwine on dis a-way, twel atter w'ile you'll be wuss'n Brer
+Rabbit. Don't tell me you ain't git dem fish, Brer Mink, 'kaze you know
+you is.'</p>
+
+<p>"Hit sorter make Brer Mink feel proud 'kaze ole Brer Tarrypin mix 'im up
+wid Brer Rabbit, 'kaze Brer Rabbit wuz a mighty man in dem days, en he
+sorter laugh, Brer Mink did, lak he know mo' dan he gwine tell. Ole Brer
+Tarrypin keep on grumblin'.</p>
+
+<p>"'I ain't gwine ter git mad long wid you, Brer Mink, 'kaze hit's a
+mighty keen trick, but you oughter be 'shame' yo'se'f fer ter be playin'
+tricks on a ole man lak me&mdash;dat you ought!'</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span>"Wid dat ole Brer Tarrypin went shufflin' off, en atter he git outer
+sight he draw'd back in he house en shot de do' en laugh en laugh twel
+dey wa'n't no fun in laughin'."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LXVIII" id="LXVIII"></a>LXVIII<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> next time the little boy had an opportunity to visit Uncle Remus the
+old man was alone, but he appeared to be in good spirits. He was
+cobbling away upon what the youngster recognized as 'Tildy's Sunday
+shoes, and singing snatches of a song something like this:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"<em>O Mr. Rabbit! yo' eye mighty big&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i2"><em>Yes, my Lord! dey er made fer ter see;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>O Mr. Rabbit! yo' tail mighty short&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i2"><em>Yes, my Lord! hit des fits me!</em>"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The child waited to hear more, but the song was the same thing over and
+over again&mdash;always about Brother Rabbit's big eyes and his short tail.
+After a while Uncle Remus acknowledged the presence of his little
+partner by remarking:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir, we er all yer. Brer Jack and Sis Tempy en dat ar 'Tildy
+nigger may be a-pacin' 'roun' lookin' in de fence-cornders fer
+Chris'mus, but me en you en ole Brer Rabbit, we er all yer, en ef we
+ain't right on de spot, we er mighty close erroun'. Yasser, we is dat;
+mo' speshually ole Brer Rabbit, wid he big eye and he short tail. Don't
+tell me 'bout Brer Rabbit!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a great apparent
+enthusiasm, "'kaze dey ain't no use er talkin' 'bout dat creetur."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy was very anxious to know why.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I tell you," said the old man. "One time dey wuz a monst'us dry
+season in de settlement whar all de creeturs live at, en drinkin'-water
+got mighty skace. De creeks got low, en de <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span>branches went dry, en all de
+springs make der disappearance 'cep'n one great big un whar all de
+creeturs drunk at. Dey'd all meet dar, dey would, en de bigges' 'ud
+drink fus', en by de time de big uns all done swaje der thuss<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> dey
+wa'n't a drap lef' fer de little uns skacely.</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se Brer Rabbit 'uz on de happy side. Ef anybody gwine git water Brer
+Rabbit de man. De creeturs 'ud see he track 'roun' de spring, but dey
+ain't nev' ketch 'im. Hit got so atter w'ile dat de big creeturs 'ud
+crowd Brer Fox out, en den 't wa'n't long 'fo' he hunt up Brer Rabbit en
+ax 'im w'at he gwine do.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he up 'n tell Brer Fox fer ter go
+home en rub some 'lasses all on hisse'f en den go out en waller in de
+leafs. Brer Fox ax w'at he mus' do den, en Brer Rabbit say he mus' go
+down by de spring, en w'en de creeturs come ter de spring fer ter git
+dey water, he mus' jump out at um, en den atter dat he mus' waller lak
+he one er dem ar kinder varment w'at got bugs on um.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox, he put out fer home, he did, en w'en he git dar he run ter de
+cubbud<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> en des gawm hisse'f wid 'lasses, en den he went out in de
+bushes, he did, en waller in de leafs en trash twel he look mos' bad ez
+Brer Rabbit look w'en he play Wull-er-de-Wust on de creeturs.</p>
+
+<p>"W'en Brer Fox git hisse'f all fix up, he went down ter de spring en
+hide hisse'f. Bimeby all de creeturs come atter der water, en w'iles dey
+'uz a-scuffin' en a-hunchin', en a-pushin' en a-scrougin', Brer Fox he
+jump out'n de bushes, en sorter switch hisse'f 'roun', en, bless yo'
+soul, he look lak de Ole Boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Wolf tuck'n see 'im fus', en he jump spang over Brer B'ar head.
+Brer B'ar, he lip back, en ax who dat, en des time he do dis de t'er
+creeturs dey tuck'n make a break, dey did, lak punkins rollin' down
+hill, en mos' 'fo' youk'n wink yo' eye-ball, Brer Fox had de range er de
+spring all by hisse'f.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span>"Yit 't wa'n't fur long, 'kaze 'fo' de creeturs mov'd fur, dey tuck'n
+tu'n 'roun', dey did, en crope back fer ter see w'at dat ar skeery
+lookin' varment doin'. W'en dey git back in seein' distuns dar 'uz Brer
+Fox walkin' up en down switchin' hisse'f.</p>
+
+<p>"De creeturs dunner w'at ter make un 'im. Dey watch, en Brer Fox march;
+dey watch, en he march. Hit keep on dis a-way twel bimeby Brer Fox 'gun
+ter waller in de water, en right dar," continued Uncle Remus, leaning
+back to laugh, "right dar 'uz whar Brer Rabbit had 'im. Time he 'gun ter
+waller in de water de 'lasses 'gun ter melt, en 't wa'n't no time
+skacely 'fo' de 'lasses en de leafs done all wash off, en dar 'uz ole
+Brer Fox des ez natchul ez life.</p>
+
+<p>"De fus' Brer Fox know 'bout de leafs comin' off, he year Brer B'ar
+holler on top er de hill:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'You head 'im off down dar, Brer Wolf, en I'll head 'im off 'roun'
+yer!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox look 'roun' en he see all de leafs done come off, en wid dat
+he make a break, en he wa'n't none too soon, n'er, 'kaze little mo' en
+de creeturs 'ud 'a' kotch 'im."</p>
+
+<p>Without giving the little boy time to ask any questions, Uncle Remus
+added another verse to his Rabbit song, and harped on it for several
+minutes:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"<em>O Mr. Rabbit! yo' year mighty long&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i2"><em>Yes, my Lord! dey made fer ter las';</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>O Mr. Rabbit! yo' toof mighty sharp&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i2"><em>Yes, my Lord! dey cuts down grass!</em>"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span>
+<a name="LXIX" id="LXIX"></a>LXIX<br /><br />
+
+BRER FOX'S FISH-TRAP</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> little boy wanted Uncle Remus to sing some more; but before the old
+man could either consent or refuse, the notes of a horn were heard in
+the distance. Uncle Remus lifted his hand to command silence, and bent
+his head in an attitude of attention.</p>
+
+<p>"Des listen at dat!" he exclaimed, with some show of indignation. "Dat
+ain't nothin' in de roun' worl' but ole man Plato wid dat tin hawn er
+his'n, en I boun' you he's a-drivin' de six mule waggin, en de waggin
+full er niggers fum de River place, en let 'lone dat, I boun' you deyer
+niggers strung out behime de waggin fer mo'n a mile, en deyer all er
+comin' yer fer ter eat us all out'n house en home, des 'kaze dey year
+folks say Chris'mus mos' yer. Hit's mighty kuse unter me dat ole man
+Plato ain't done toot dat hawn full er holes long 'fo' dis.</p>
+
+<p>"Yit I ain't blamin' um," Uncle Remus went on, with a sigh, after a
+little pause. "Dem ar niggers bin livin' 'way off dar on de River place
+whar dey ain't no w'ite folks twel dey er done in about run'd wil'. I
+ain't a-blamin' um, dat I ain't."</p>
+
+<p>Plato's horn&mdash;a long tin bugle&mdash;was by no means unmusical. Its range was
+limited, but in Plato's hands its few notes were both powerful and
+sweet. Presently the wagon arrived, and for a few minutes all was
+confusion, the negroes on the Home place running to greet the
+new-comers, who were mostly their relatives. A stranger hearing the
+shouts and outcries of these people would have been at a loss to account
+for the commotion.</p>
+
+<p>Even Uncle Remus went to his cabin door, and, with the little boy by his
+side, looked out upon the scene,&mdash;a tumult lit up by torches of resinous
+pine. The old man and the child were recognized, and for a few moments
+the air was filled with cries of:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Howdy, Unk Remus! Howdy, little Marster!"</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span>After a while Uncle Remus closed his door, laid away his tools, and
+drew his chair in front of the wide hearth. The child went and stood
+beside him, leaning his head against the old negro's shoulder, and the
+two&mdash;old age and youth, one living in the Past and the other looking
+forward only to the Future&mdash;gazed into the bed of glowing embers
+illuminated by a thin, flickering flame. Probably they saw nothing
+there, each being busy with his own simple thoughts; but their shadows,
+enlarged out of all proportion, and looking over their shoulders from
+the wall behind them, must have seen something, for, clinging together,
+they kept up a most incessant pantomime; and Plato's horn, which sounded
+again to call the negroes to supper after their journey, though it
+aroused Uncle Remus and the child from the contemplation of the fire,
+had no perceptible effect upon the Shadows.</p>
+
+<p>"Dar go de vittles!" said Uncle Remus, straightening himself. "Dey tells
+me dat dem ar niggers on de River place got appetite same ez a mule. Let
+'lone de vittles w'at dey gits from Mars John, dey eats oodles en oodles
+er fish. Ole man Plato say dat de nigger on de River place w'at ain't
+got a fish-baskit in de river er some intruss<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> in a fish-trap ain't no
+'count w'atsomever."</p>
+
+<p>Here Uncle Remus suddenly slapped himself upon the leg, and laughed
+uproariously; and when the little boy asked him what the matter was, he
+cried out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir! Ef I ain't de fergittenest ole nigger twix' dis en
+Phillimerdelphy! Yer 't is mos' Chris'mus en I ain't tell you 'bout how
+Brer Rabbit do Brer Fox w'ence dey bofe un um live on de river. I dunner
+w'at de name er sense gittin' de marter 'long wid me."</p>
+
+<p>Of course the little boy wanted to know all about it, and Uncle Remus
+proceeded:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"One time Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit live de on river. Atter dey bin livin'
+dar so long a time, Brer Fox 'low dat he got a mighty <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span>hankerin' atter
+sump'n' 'sides fresh meat, en he say he b'leeve he make 'im a fish-trap.
+Brer Rabbit say he wish Brer Fox mighty well, but he ain't honin' atter
+fish hisse'f, en ef he is he ain't got no time fer ter make no
+fish-trap.</p>
+
+<p>"No marter fer dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n got 'im out some timber, he did,
+en he wuk nights fer ter make dat trap. Den w'en he git it done, he
+tuck'n hunt 'im a good place fer ter set it, en de way he sweat over dat
+ar trap wuz a sin&mdash;dat 't wuz.</p>
+
+<p>"Yit atter so long a time, he got 'er sot, en den he tuck'n wash he face
+en han's en go home. All de time he 'uz fixin' un it up, Brer Rabbit 'uz
+settin' on de bank watchin' 'im. He sot dar, he did, en play in de
+water, en cut switches fer ter w'ip at de snake-doctors,<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> en all dat
+time Brer Fox, he pull en haul en tote rocks fer ter hol' dat trap
+endurin' a freshet.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox went home en res' hisse'f, en bimeby he go down fer ter see ef
+dey any fish in he trap. He sorter fear'd er snakes, but he feel 'roun'
+en he feel 'roun', yit he ain't feel no fish. Den he go off.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby, 'long todes de las' er de week, he go down en feel 'roun'
+'g'in, yit he ain't feel no fish. Hit keep on dis a-way twel Brer Fox
+git sorter fag out. He go en he feel, but dey ain't no fish dar. Atter
+w'ile, one day, he see de signs whar somebody bin robbin' he trap, en he
+'low ter hisse'f dat he'll des in 'bout watch en fine out who de
+somebody is.</p>
+
+<p>"Den he tuck'n got in he boat en paddle und' de bushes on de bank en
+watch he fish-trap. He watch all de mornin'; nobody ain't come. He watch
+all endurin' er atter dinner; nobody ain't come. 'Long todes night, w'en
+he des 'bout makin' ready fer ter paddle off home, he year fuss on t'er
+side de river, en lo en beholes, yer come Brer Rabbit polin' a boat
+right todes Brer Fox fish-trap.</p>
+
+<p>"Look lak he dunner how to use a paddle, en he des had 'im <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span>a long pole,
+en he'd stan' up in de behime part er he boat, en put de een' er de pole
+'gin' de bottom, en shove 'er right ahead.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox git mighty mad w'en he see dis, but he watch en wait. He 'low
+ter hisse'f, he did, dat he kin paddle a boat pearter dan anybody kin
+pole um, en he say he sho'ly gwine ketch Brer Rabbit dis time.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit pole up ter de fish-trap, en feel 'roun' en pull out a
+great big mud-cat; den he retch in en pull out 'n'er big mud-cat; den he
+pull out a big blue cat, en it keep on dis a-way twel he git de finest
+mess er fish you mos' ever laid yo' eyes on.</p>
+
+<p>"Des 'bout dat time, Brer Fox paddle out fum und' de bushes, en make
+todes Brer Rabbit, en he holler out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ah-yi! Youer de man w'at bin robbin' my fish-trap dis long time! I got
+you dis time! Oh, you nee'nter try ter run! I got you dis time sho'!'</p>
+
+<p>"No sooner said dan no sooner done. Brer Rabbit fling he fish in he boat
+en grab up de pole en push off, en he had mo' fun gittin' 'way fum dar
+dan he y-ever had befo' in all he born days put terge'er."</p>
+
+<p>"Why did n't Brother Fox catch him, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.</p>
+
+<p>"<em>Shoo!</em> Honey, you sho'ly done lose yo' min' 'bout Brer Rabbit."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't see how he could get away."</p>
+
+<div class="anchor"><a name="eyes" id="eyes"></a></div>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/illus-0384.jpg" class="jpg" width="600" height="412" alt="&quot;HE GIT DE FINEST MESS ER FISH YOU MOS&#39; EVER LAID YO&#39;
+EYES ON&quot;" title="" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;HE GIT DE FINEST MESS ER FISH YOU MOS&#39; EVER LAID YO&#39;
+EYES ON&quot;</span>
+<p class="image"><a href="images/illus-0384l.jpg">View larger image</a><br />
+<a href="#illustrations">Back to List of Illustrations</a></p>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Ef you'd er bin dar you'd er seed it, dat you would. Brer Fox, he wuz
+dar, en he seed it, en Brer Rabbit, he seed it, en e'en down ter ole
+Brer Bull-frog, a-settin' on de bank, he seed it. Now, den," continued
+Uncle Remus, spreading out the palm of his left hand like a map and
+pointing at it with the forefinger of his right, "w'en Brer Rabbit pole
+he boat, he bleedz ter set in de behime een', en w'en Brer Fox paddle he
+boat, <em>he</em> bleedz ter set in de behime een'. Dat bein' de state er de
+condition, how Brer Fox gwine ketch 'im? I ain't 'sputin' but w'at he
+kin paddle pearter <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span>dan Brer Rabbit, but de long en de shorts un it
+is, de pearter Brer Fox paddle de pearter Brer Rabbit go."</p>
+
+<p>The little boy looked puzzled. "Well, I don't see how," he exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, sir!" continued Uncle Remus, "w'en de nose er Brer Fox boat git
+close ter Brer Rabbit boat all Brer Rabbit got ter do in de roun' worl'
+is ter take he pole en put it 'gin' Brer Fox boat en push hisse'f out de
+way. De harder he push Brer Fox boat back, de pearter he push he own
+boat forrerd. Hit look mighty easy ter ole Brer Bull-frog settin' on de
+bank, en all Brer Fox kin do is ter shake he fist en grit he toof,
+w'iles Brer Rabbit sail off wid de fish."</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LXX" id="LXX"></a>LXX<br /><br />
+
+BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> arrival of the negroes from the River place added greatly to the
+enthusiasm with which the Christmas holidays were anticipated on the
+Home place, and the air was filled with laughter day and night. Uncle
+Remus appeared to be very busy, though there was really nothing to be
+done except to walk around and scold at everybody and everything, in a
+good-humored way, and this the old man could do to perfection.</p>
+
+<p>The night before Christmas eve, however, the little boy saw a light in
+Uncle Remus's cabin, and he interpreted it as in some sort a signal of
+invitation. He found the old man sitting by the fire and talking to
+himself:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Ef Mars John and Miss Sally 'specks me fer ter keep all deze yer
+niggers straight deyer gwine ter be diserp'inted,&mdash;dat dey is. Ef dey
+wuz 'lev'm Remuses 't would n't make no diffunce, let 'long one po' ole
+cripple creetur lak me. Dey ain't done no damage yit, but I boun' you by
+termorrer night dey'll tu'n loose en tu'n de whole place upside down, en
+t'ar it up by de roots, en den <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span>atter hit's all done gone en done,
+yer'll come Miss Sally a-layin' it all at ole Remus do'. Nigger ain't
+got much chance in deze yer low-groun's, mo' speshually w'en dey gits
+ole en cripple lak I is."</p>
+
+<p>"What are they going to do to-morrow night, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
+inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"Now w'at make you ax dat, honey?" exclaimed the old man, in a grieved
+tone. "You knows mighty well how dey done las' year en de year 'fo' dat.
+Dey tuck'n cut up 'roun' yer wuss'n ef dey 'uz wil' creeturs, en
+termorrer night dey'll be a-hollin' en whoopin' en singin' en dancin'
+'fo' it git dark good. I wish w'en you go up ter de big house you be so
+good ez ter tell Miss Sally dat ef she want any peace er min' she better
+git off'n de place en stay off twel atter deze yer niggers git dey fill
+er Chris'mus. Goodness knows, she can't 'speck a ole cripple nigger lak
+me fer ter ketch holt en keep all deze yer niggers straight."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus would have kept up his vague complaints, but right in the
+midst of them Daddy Jack stuck his head in at the door, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Oona bin fix da' 'Tildy gal shoe. Me come fer git dem shoe; me come fer
+pay you fer fix dem shoe."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus looked at the grinning old African in astonishment. Then
+suddenly the truth dawned upon him and he broke into a loud laugh.
+Finally he said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Come in, Brer Jack! Come right 'long in. I'm sorter po'ly myse'f, yit
+I'll make out ter make you welcome. Dey wuz a quarter dollar gwine inter
+my britches-pocket on de 'count er dem ar shoes, but ef youer gwine ter
+pay fer um 't won't be but a sev'mpunce."</p>
+
+<p>Somehow or other Daddy Jack failed to relish Uncle Remus's tone and
+manner, and he replied, with some display of irritation:</p>
+
+<p>"Shuh-shuh! Me no come in no'n 't all. Me no pay you se'mpunce. Me come
+fer pay you fer dem shoe; me come fer tek um 'way fum dey-dey."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span>"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Jack, I dunno 'bout dat. De las' time I year
+you en 'Tildy gwine on, she wuz 'pun de p'ints er knockin' yo' brains
+out. Now den, s'pozen I whirls in en gins you de shoes, en den 'Tildy
+come 'long en ax me 'bout um, w'at I gwine say ter 'Tildy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Me pay you fer dem shoe," said Daddy Jack, seeing the necessity of
+argument, "un me tek um wey da lil 'Tildy gal bin stay. She tell me fer
+come git-a dem shoe."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, yer dey is," said Uncle Remus, sighing deeply as he handed
+Daddy Jack the shoes. "Yer dey is, en youer mo' dan welcome, dat you is.
+But spite er dat, dis yer quarter you flingin' 'way on um would er done
+you a sight mo' good dan w'at dem shoes is."</p>
+
+<p>This philosophy was altogether lost upon Daddy Jack, who took the shoes
+and shuffled out with a grunt of satisfaction. He had scarcely got out
+of hearing before 'Tildy pushed the door open and came in. She hesitated
+a moment, and then, seeing that Uncle Remus paid no attention to her,
+she sat down and picked at her fingers with an air quite in contrast to
+her usual "uppishness," as Uncle Remus called it.</p>
+
+<p>"Unk Remus," she said, after awhile, in a subdued tone, "is dat old
+Affikin nigger bin yer atter dem ar shoes?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yas, chile," replied Uncle Remus, with a long-drawn sigh, "he done bin
+yer en got um en gone. Yas, honey, he done got um en gone; done come en
+pay fer 'm, en got um en gone. I sez, sez I, dat I wish you all mighty
+well, en he tuck'n tuck de shoes en put. Yas, chile, he done got um en
+gone."</p>
+
+<p>Something in Uncle Remus's sympathetic and soothing tone seemed to
+exasperate 'Tildy. She dropped her hands in her lap, straightened
+herself up and exclaimed:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Yas, I'm is gwine ter marry dat ole nigger an' I don't keer who knows
+it. Miss Sally say she don't keer, en t'er folks may keer ef dey wanter,
+en much good der keerin' 'll do um."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span>'Tildy evidently expected Uncle Remus to make some characteristic
+comment, for she sat and watched him with her lips firmly pressed
+together and her eyelids half-closed,&mdash;an attitude of defiance
+significant enough when seen, but difficult to describe. But the old man
+made no response to the challenge. He seemed to be very busy. Presently
+'Tildy went on:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Somebody bleedz to take keer er dat ole nigger, en I dunner who gwine
+ter do it ef I don't. Somebody bleedz ter look atter 'im. Good win' come
+'long hit 'ud in about blow 'im 'way ef dey wa'n't somebody close 'roun'
+fer ter take keer un 'im. Let 'lone dat, I ain't gwineter have dat ole
+nigger man f'ever 'n 'ternally trottin' atter me. I tell you de Lord's
+trufe, Unk Remus," continued 'Tildy, growing confidential, "I ain't had
+no peace er min' sence dat ole nigger man come on dis place. He des bin
+a-pacin' at my heels de whole blessed time, en I bleedz ter marry 'im
+fer git rid un 'im."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Uncle Remus, "hit don't s'prize me. You marry en den youer
+des lak Brer Fox wid he bag. You know w'at you put in it, but you dunner
+w'at you got in it."</p>
+
+<p>'Tildy flounced out without waiting for an explanation, but the mention
+of Brother Fox attracted the attention of the little boy, and he wanted
+to know what was in the bag, how it came to be there, and all about it.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den," said Uncle Remus, "hit's a tale, en a mighty long tale at
+dat, but I'll des hatter cut it short, 'kaze termorrer night you'll
+wanter be a-settin' up lis'nen at de kyar'n's on er dem ar niggers,
+w'ich I b'leeve in my soul dey done los' all de sense dey ever bin
+bornded wid.</p>
+
+<p>"One time Brer Fox wuz gwine on down de big road, en he look ahead en he
+see ole Brer Tarrypin makin' he way on todes home. Brer Fox 'low dis a
+mighty good time fer ter nab ole Brer Tarrypin, en no sooner is he thunk
+it dan he put out back home, w'ich 't wa'n't but a little ways, en he
+git 'im a bag. He come back, he <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span>did, en he run up behime ole Brer
+Tarrypin en flip 'im in de bag en sling de bag 'cross he back en go
+gallin'-up back home.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin, he holler, but 't ain't do no good, he rip en he r'ar,
+but 't ain't do no good. Brer Fox des keep on a-gwine, en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he had ole Brer Tarrypin slung up in de cornder in de bag, en de
+bag tied un hard en fas'.</p>
+
+<p>"But w'iles all dis gwine on," exclaimed Uncle Remus, employing the tone
+and manner of some country preacher he had heard, "whar wuz ole Brer
+Rabbit? Yasser&mdash;dats it, whar wuz he? En mo'n dat, w'at you 'speck he
+'uz doin' en whar you reckon he wer' gwine? Dat's de way ter talk it;
+whar'bouts wuz he?"</p>
+
+<p>The old man brought his right hand down upon his knee with a thump that
+jarred the tin-plate and cups on the mantel-shelf, and then looked
+around with a severe frown to see what the chairs and the work-bench,
+and the walls and the rafters, had to say in response to his remarkable
+argument. He sat thus in a waiting attitude a moment, and then, finding
+that no response came from anything or anybody, his brow gradually
+cleared, and a smile of mingled pride and satisfaction spread over his
+face, as he continued in a more natural tone:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Youk'n b'leeve me er not b'leeve des ez youer min' ter, but dat ar
+long-year creetur&mdash;dat ar hoppity-skippity&mdash;dat ar
+up-en-down-en-sailin'-'roun' Brer Rabbit, w'ich you bin year me call he
+name 'fo' dis, he wa'n't so mighty fur off w'iles Brer Fox gwine 'long
+wid dat ar bag slung 'cross he back. Let 'lone dat, Brer Rabbit 'uz
+settin' right dar in de bushes by de side er de road, en w'ence he see
+Brer Fox go trottin' by, he ax hisse'f w'at is it dat creetur got in dat
+ar bag.</p>
+
+<p>"He ax hisse'f, he did, but he dunno. He wunder en he wunder, yit de mo'
+he wunder de mo' he dunno. Brer Fox, he go trottin' by, en Brer Rabbit,
+he sot in de bushes en wunder. Bimeby he 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat
+Brer Fox ain't got no busi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span>ness fer ter be trottin' 'long down de road,
+totin' doin's w'ich yuther folks dunner w'at dey is, en he 'low dat dey
+won't be no great harm done ef he take atter Brer Fox en fine out w'at
+he got in dat ar bag.</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he put out. He ain't got no bag fer ter tote, en
+he pick up he foots mighty peart. Mo'n dat, he tuck'n tuck a nigh-cut,
+en by de time Brer Fox git home, Brer Rabbit done had time fer ter go
+'roun' by de watermillion-patch en do some er he devilment, en den atter
+dat he tuck'n sot down in de bushes whar he kin see Brer Fox w'en he
+come home.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid de bag slung 'cross he back. He onlatch de
+do', he did, en he go in en sling Brer Tarrypin down in de cornder, en
+set down front er de h'ath fer ter res' hisse'f."</p>
+
+<p>Here Uncle Remus paused to laugh in anticipation of what was to follow.</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox ain't mo'n lit he pipe," the old man continued, after a
+tantalizing pause, "'fo' Brer Rabbit stick he head in de do' en
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! You better take yo' walkin'-cane en run down yan.
+Comin' 'long des now I year a mighty fuss, en I look 'roun' en dar wuz a
+whole passel er folks in yo' watermillion-patch des a-tromplin' 'roun'
+en a-t'arin' down. I holler'd at um, but dey ain't pay no 'tention ter
+little man lak I is. Make 'a'se, Brer Fox! make 'a'se! Git yo' cane en
+run down dar. I'd go wid you myse'f, but my ole 'oman ailin' en I bleedz
+ter be makin' my way todes home. You better make 'a'se, Brer Fox, ef you
+wanter git de good er yo' watermillions. Run, Brer Fox! run!'</p>
+
+<p>"Wid dat Brer Rabbit dart back in de bushes, en Brer Fox drap he pipe en
+grab he walkin'-cane en put out fer he watermillion-patch, w'ich 't wer'
+down on de branch; en no sooner is he gone dan ole Brer Rabbit come out
+de bushes en make he way in de house.</p>
+
+<p>"He go so easy dat he ain't make no fuss; he look 'roun' en dar <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span>wuz de
+bag in de cornder. He kotch holt er de bag en sorter feel un it, en time
+he do dis, he year sump'n' holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ow! Go 'way! Lem me 'lone! Tu'n me loose! Ow!'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit jump back 'stonish'd. Den 'fo' you kin wink yo' eye-ball,
+Brer Rabbit slap hisse'f on de leg en break out in a laugh. Den he up'n
+'low:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Ef I ain't make no mistakes, dat ar kinder fuss kin come fum nobody in
+de roun' worl' but ole Brer Tarrypin.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin, he holler, sezee: 'Ain't dat Brer Rabbit?'</p>
+
+<p>"'De same,' sezee.</p>
+
+<p>"'Den whirl in en tu'n me out. Meal dus' in my th'oat, grit in my eye,
+en I ain't kin git my breff, skacely. Tu'n me out, Brer Rabbit.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin talk lak somebody down in a well. Brer Rabbit, he holler
+back:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Youer lots smarter dan w'at I is, Brer Tarrypin&mdash;lots smarter. Youer
+smarter en pearter. Peart ez I come yer, you is ahead er me. I know how
+you git in de bag, but I dunner how de name er goodness you tie yo'se'f
+up in dar, dat I don't.'</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Tarrypin try ter splain, but Brer Rabbit keep on laughin', en he
+laugh twel he git he fill er laughin'; en den he tuck'n ontie de bag en
+take Brer Tarrypin out en tote 'im 'way off in de woods. Den, w'en he
+done dis, Brer Rabbit tuck'n run off en git a great big hornet-nes' w'at
+he see w'en he comin' long&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"A hornet's nest, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the little boy, in amazement.</p>
+
+<p>"Tooby sho', honey. 'T ain't bin a mont' sence I brung you a great big
+hornet-nes', en yer you is axin' dat. Brer Rabbit tuck'n slap he han'
+'cross de little hole whar de hornets goes in at, en dar he had um. Den
+he tuck'n tuck it ter Brer Fox house, en put it in de bag whar Brer
+Tarrypin bin.</p>
+
+<p>"He put de hornet-nes' in dar," continued Uncle Remus, lowering his
+voice, and becoming very grave, "en den he tie up <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span>de bag des lak he
+fine it. Yit 'fo' he put de bag back in de cornder, w'at do dat creetur
+do? I ain't settin' yer," said the old man, seizing his chair with both
+hands, as if by that means to emphasize the illustration, "I ain't
+settin' yer ef dat ar creetur ain't grab dat bag en slam it down 'g'in
+de flo', en hit it 'g'in de side er de house twel he git dem ar hornets
+all stirred up, en den he put de bag back in de cornder, en go out in de
+bushes ter whar Brer Tarrypin waitin', en den bofe un um sot out dar en
+wait fer ter see w'at de upshot gwine ter be.</p>
+
+<p>"Bimeby, yer come Brer Fox back fum he watermillion-patch en he look lak
+he mighty mad. He strak he cane down 'pun de groun', en do lak he gwine
+take he revengeance out'n po' ole Brer Tarrypin. He went in de do', Brer
+Fox did, en shot it atter 'im. Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin lissen', but
+dey ain't year nothin'.</p>
+
+<p>"But bimeby, fus' news you know, dey year de mos' owdashus racket, tooby
+sho'. Seem lak, fum whar Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin settin' dat dey
+'uz a whole passel er cows runnin' 'roun' in Brer Fox house. Dey year de
+cheers a-fallin', en de table turnin' over, en de crock'ry breakin', en
+den de do' flew'd open, en out come Brer Fox, a-squallin' lak de Ole Boy
+wuz atter 'im. En sech a sight ez dem t'er creeturs seed den en dar
+ain't never bin seed befo' ner sence.</p>
+
+<p>"Dem ar hornets des swarmed on top er Brer Fox. 'Lev'm dozen un um 'ud
+hit at one time, en look lak dat ar creetur bleedz ter fine out fer
+hisse'f w'at pain en suffin' is. Dey bit 'im en dey stung 'im, en fur ez
+Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin kin year 'im, dem hornets 'uz des a-nailin'
+'im. Gentermens! dey gun 'im binjer!</p>
+
+<p>"Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin, dey sot dar, dey did, en dey laugh en
+laugh, twel bimeby, Brer Rabbit roll over en grab he stomach, en
+holler:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't, Brer Tarrypin! don't! One giggle mo' en you'll hatter tote me.'</p>
+
+<p>"En dat ain't all," said Uncle Remus, raising his voice. "I <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span>know a
+little chap w'ich ef he set up yer 'sputin' 'longer me en de t'er
+creeturs, he won't have much fun termorrer night."</p>
+
+<p>The hint was sufficient, and the little boy ran out laughing.</p>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2><a name="LXXI" id="LXXI"></a>LXXI<br /><br />
+
+THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS</h2>
+
+
+<p class="first"><span class="smcap">The</span> day and the night before Christmas were full of pleasure for the
+little boy. There was pleasure in the big house, and pleasure in the
+humble cabins in the quarters. The peculiar manner in which the negroes
+celebrated the beginning of the holidays was familiar to the child's
+experience, but strange to his appreciation, and he enjoyed everything
+he saw and heard with the ready delight of his years,&mdash;a delight, which,
+in this instance, had been trained and sharpened, if the expression may
+be used, in the small world over which Uncle Remus presided.</p>
+
+<p>The little boy had a special invitation to be present at the marriage of
+Daddy Jack and 'Tildy, and he went, accompanied by Uncle Remus and Aunt
+Tempy. It seemed to be a very curious affair, but its incongruities made
+small impression upon the mind of the child.</p>
+
+<p>'Tildy wore a white dress and had a wreath of artificial flowers in her
+hair. Daddy Jack wore a high hat, which he persisted in keeping on his
+head during the ceremony, and a coat the tails of which nearly dragged
+the floor. His bright little eyes glistened triumphantly, and he grinned
+and bowed to everybody again and again. After it was all over, the
+guests partook of cake baked by Aunt Tempy, and persimmon beer brewed by
+Uncle Remus.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed, however, that 'Tildy was not perfectly happy; for, in
+response to a question asked by Aunt Tempy, she said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Yes'm, I'm gwine down de country 'long wid my ole man, an' I lay ef
+eve'ything don't go right, I'm gwineter pick up en come right back."</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span>"No-no!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "'e no come bahck no'n 't all. 'E bin
+stay dey-dey wit' 'e nice ole-a m&agrave;n."</p>
+
+<p>"You put yo' pennunce in dat!" said 'Tildy, scornfully. "Dey ain't
+nobody kin hol' me w'en I takes a notion, 'cep'n hit's Miss Sally; en,
+goodness knows, Miss Sally ain't gwine ter be down dar."</p>
+
+<p>"Who Miss Sally gwine put in de house?" Aunt Tempy asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Humph!" exclaimed 'Tildy, scornfully, "Miss Sally say she gwine take
+dat ar Darkess<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> nigger en put 'er in my place. En a mighty nice mess
+Darkess gwine ter make un it! Much she know 'bout waitin' on w'ite
+folks! Many's en many's de time Miss Sally'll set down in 'er
+rockin'-cheer en wish fer 'Tildy&mdash;many's de time."</p>
+
+<p>This was 'Tildy's grievance,&mdash;the idea that some one could be found to
+fill her place; and it is a grievance with which people of greater
+importance than the humble negro house-girl are more or less familiar.</p>
+
+<p>But the preparations for the holidays went on in spite of 'Tildy's
+grievance. A large platform, used for sunning wheat and seed cotton, was
+arranged by the negroes for their dance, and several wagon-loads of
+resinous pine&mdash;known as lightwood&mdash;were placed around about it in little
+heaps, so that the occasion might lack no element of brilliancy.</p>
+
+<p>At nightfall the heaps of lightwood were set on fire, and the little
+boy, who was waiting impatiently for Uncle Remus to come for him, could
+hear the negroes singing, dancing, and laughing. He was just ready to
+cry when he heard the voice of his venerable partner.</p>
+
+<p>"Is dey a'er passenger anywhar's 'roun' yer fer Thumptown? De stage done
+ready en de hosses a-prancin'. Ef dey's a'er passenger 'roun' yer, I lay
+he des better be makin' ready fer ter go."</p>
+
+<p>The old man walked up to the back piazza as he spoke, held out his
+strong arms, and the little boy jumped into them with an <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span>exclamation of
+delight. The child's mother gave Uncle Remus a shawl to wrap around the
+child, and this shawl was the cause of considerable trouble, for the
+youngster persisted in wrapping it around the old man's head, and so
+blinding him that there was danger of his falling. Finally, he put the
+little boy down, took off his hat, raised his right hand, and said:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den, I bin a-beggin' un you fer ter quit yo' 'haveishness des long
+ez I'm a-gwinter, en I ain't gwine beg you no mo', 'kaze I'm des
+teetotally wo' out wid beggin', en de mo' I begs de wuss you gits. Now
+I'm done! You des go yo' ways en I'll go mine, en my way lays right
+spang back ter de big house whar Miss Sally is. Dat's whar I'm a-gwine!"</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus started to the house with an exaggerated vigor of movement
+comical to behold; but, however comical it may have been, it had its
+effect. The little boy ran after him, caught him by the hand, and made
+him stop.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Uncle Remus, <em>please</em> don't go back. I was just playing."</p>
+
+<p>Uncle Remus's anger was all pretence, but he managed to make it very
+impressive.</p>
+
+<p>"My playin' days done gone too long ter talk 'bout. When I plays, I
+plays wid wuk, dat w'at I plays wid."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the child, who had tactics of his own, "if I can't play
+with you, I don't know who I am to play with."</p>
+
+<p>This touched Uncle Remus in a very tender spot. He stopped in the path,
+took off his spectacles, wiped the glasses on his coat-tail, and said
+very emphatically:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Now den, honey, des lissen at me. How de name er goodness kin you call
+dat playin', w'ich er little mo' en I'd er fell down on top er my head,
+en broke my neck en yone too?"</p>
+
+<p>The child promised that he would be very good, and Uncle Remus picked
+him up, and the two made their way to where the negroes had congregated.
+They were greeted with cries of "Dar's Unk Remus!" "Howdy, Unk Remus!"
+"Yer dey is!" "Ole man <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span>Remus don't sing; but w'en he do
+sing&mdash;gentermens! des go 'way!"</p>
+
+<p>All this and much more, so that when Uncle Remus had placed the little
+boy upon a corner of the platform, and made him comfortable, he
+straightened himself with a laugh and cried out:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>"Howdy, boys! howdy all! I des come up fer ter jine in wid you fer one
+'roun' fer de sakes er ole times, ef no mo'."</p>
+
+<p>"I boun' fer Unk Remus!" some one said. "Now des hush en let Unk Remus
+'lone!" exclaimed another.</p>
+
+<p>The figure of the old man, as he stood smiling upon the crowd of
+negroes, was picturesque in the extreme. He seemed to be taller than all
+the rest; and, notwithstanding his venerable appearance, he moved and
+spoke with all the vigor of youth. He had always exercised authority
+over his fellow-servants. He had been the captain of the corn-pile, the
+stoutest at the log-rolling, the swiftest with the hoe, the neatest with
+the plough, and the plantation hands still looked upon him as their
+leader.</p>
+
+<p>Some negro from the River place had brought a fiddle, and, though it was
+a very feeble one, its screeching seemed to annoy Uncle Remus.</p>
+
+<p>"Put up dat ar fiddle!" he exclaimed, waving his hand. "Des put 'er up;
+she sets my toof on aidje. Put 'er up en les go back ter ole times. Dey
+ain't no room fer no fiddle 'roun' yer, 'kaze w'en you gits me started
+dat ar fiddle won't be nowhars."</p>
+
+<p>"Dat's so," said the man with the fiddle, and the irritating instrument
+was laid aside.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, den," Uncle Remus went on, "dey's a little chap yer dat you'll all
+come ter know mighty well one er deze odd-come-shorts, en dish yer
+little chap ain't got so mighty long fer ter set up 'long wid us. Dat
+bein' de case we oughter take 'n put de bes' foot fo'mus' fer ter
+commence wid."</p>
+
+<p>"You lead, Unk Remus! You des lead en we'll foller."</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon the old man called to the best singers among the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span>negroes and
+made them stand near him. Then he raised his right hand to his ear and
+stood perfectly still. The little boy thought he was listening for
+something, but presently Uncle Remus began to slap himself gently with
+his left hand, first upon the leg and then upon the breast. The other
+negroes kept time to this by a gentle motion of their feet, and finally,
+when the thump&mdash;thump&mdash;thump of this movement had regulated itself to
+suit the old man's fancy, he broke out with what may be called a
+Christmas dance song.</p>
+
+<p>His voice was strong, and powerful, and sweet, and its range was as
+astonishing as its volume. More than this, the melody to which he tuned
+it, and which was caught up by a hundred voices almost as sweet and as
+powerful as his own, was charged with a mysterious and pathetic
+tenderness.</p>
+
+<p>The fine company of men and women at the big house&mdash;men and women who
+had made the tour of all the capitals of Europe&mdash;listened with swelling
+hearts and with tears in their eyes as the song rose and fell upon the
+air&mdash;at one moment a tempest of melody, at another a heart-breaking
+strain breathed softly and sweetly to the gentle winds. The song that
+the little boy and the fine company heard was something like
+this&mdash;ridiculous enough when put in cold type, but powerful and
+thrilling when joined to the melody with which the negroes had invested
+it:&mdash;</p>
+
+<h4 class="hon"><em>MY HONEY, MY LOVE</em></h4>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><em>Hit's a mighty fur ways up de Far'well Lane,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>You may ax Mister Crow, you may ax Mr. Crane,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Dey'll make you a bow, en dey'll tell you de same,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Hit's a mighty fur ways fer to go in de night,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>My honey, my love, my heart's delight&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+</div>
+<div class="stanza"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Mister Mink, he creep twel he wake up de snipe,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Mister Bull-Frog holler,</em> Come-a-light my pipe <em>,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>En de Pa'tridge ax, Ain't yo' peas ripe?</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Better not walk erlong dar much atter night,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>My honey, my love, my heart's delight&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+</div>
+<div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><em>De Bully-Bat fly mighty close ter de groun',</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Mister Fox, he coax 'er, Do come down!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Mister Coon, he rack all 'roun' en 'roun',</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>In de darkes' night, oh, de nigger, he's a sight!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>My honey, my love, my heart's delight&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><em>Oh, flee, Miss Nancy, flee ter my knee,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>'Lev'm big fat coons lives in one tree,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Oh, ladies all, won't you marry me?</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Tu'n lef', tu'n right, we 'ull dance all night,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>My honey, my love, my heart's delight&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0"><em>De big Owl holler en cry fer his mate,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Oh, don't stay long! Oh, don't stay late!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Hit ain't so mighty fur ter de Good-by Gate,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>Whar we all got ter go w'en we sing out de night,</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i0"><em>My honey, my love, my heart's delight&mdash;</em><br /></span>
+<span class="i6"><em>My honey, my love!</em><br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span>After a while the song was done, and other songs were sung; but it was
+not long before Uncle Remus discovered that the little boy was fast
+asleep. The old man took the child in his arms and carried him to the
+big house, singing softly in his ear all the way; and somehow or other
+the song seemed to melt and mingle in the youngster's dreams. He thought
+he was floating in the air, while somewhere near all the negroes were
+singing, Uncle Remus's voice above all the rest; and then, after he had
+found a resting-place upon a soft warm bank of clouds, he thought he
+heard the songs renewed. They grew fainter and fainter in his dreams
+until at last (it seemed) Uncle Remus leaned over him and sang</p>
+
+<h4>GOOD-NIGHT</h4>
+
+
+<p class="link"><a href="#contents">Back to Contents</a></p>
+
+<hr />
+<h2>FOOTNOTES:</h2>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Topknot, foretop.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Persuaded.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <em>Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings</em>, p. 70 (New York:
+D. Appleton &amp; Co.).</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Disease.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Or Wull-er-de-Wuts. Probably a fantastic corruption of
+"will-o'-the-wisp," though this is not by any means certain.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Preserves.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> In the South, a rain is called a "season," not only by the
+negroes, but by many white farmers.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> It is a far-away sound that might be identified with one of
+the various undertones of silence, but it is palpable enough (if the
+word may be used) to have attracted the attention of the humble
+philosophers of the old plantation.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Measuring.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Compliments.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> That is, from the foundation, or beginning.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> To pine or long for anything. This is a good old English
+word, which has been retained in the plantation vocabulary.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> A corruption of "aye, aye." It is used as an expression of
+triumph and its employment in this connection is both droll and
+picturesque.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Southern readers will recognize this and "han'-roomance" as
+terms used by negroes in playing marbles,&mdash;a favorite game on the
+plantations Sunday afternoons. These terms were curt and expressive
+enough to gain currency among the whites.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Levy.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> The veritable Pan's pipes. A simple but very effective
+musical instrument made of reeds, and in great favor on the
+plantations.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> A species of sweet-shrub growing wild in the South.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Triangle.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> That is to say, Brother Rabbit sang the air and Brother Fox
+the refrain.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> An allusion to the primitive mode of cleaning hogs by
+heating rocks, and placing them in a barrel or tank of water.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> This word "lonesome," as used by the negroes, is the
+equivalent of "thrilling," "romantic," etc., and in that sense is very
+expressive.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> An inquiry after his health. Another form is: "How does yo'
+corporosity seem ter segashuate?"</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Exercise himself.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Tear the earth.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Acquaintance.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Sissy Ann.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Disease.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> If, as some ethnologists claim, the animal myths are relics
+of zo&ouml;theism, there can scarcely be a doubt that the practice here
+described by Uncle Remus is the survival of some sort of obeisance or
+genuflexion by which the negroes recognized the presence of the Rabbit,
+the great central figure and wonder-worker of African mythology.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Never mind.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Sometime, any time, no time. Thus: "Run fetch me de ax, en
+I'll wait on you one er deze odd-come-shorts."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Assurance.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Forehead.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> During slavery, the ringing of the nine-o'clock bell in the
+towns and villages at night was the signal for all negroes to retire to
+their quarters.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> A mixture of "complacent" and "placid." Accent on the
+second syllable.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> A version of this story makes Brother Rabbit capture a
+swarm of bees. Mr. W. O. Tuggle, of Georgia, who has made an exhaustive
+study of the Creek Indians, has discovered a variant of the legend. The
+Rabbit (Chufee) becomes alarmed because he has nothing but the
+nimbleness of his feet to take him out of harm's way. He goes to his
+Creator and begs that greater intelligence be bestowed upon him.
+Thereupon the snake test is applied, as in the negro story, and the
+Rabbit also catches a swarm of gnats. He is then told that he has as
+much intelligence as there is any need for, and he goes away satisfied.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Let us; let's; less.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> G hard.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Feeble.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Say so.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Proper and particular.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> In these latter days a man with the whimzies, or whimsies,
+is known simply as a crank.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> The information in parentheses is imparted in a low,
+impressive, confidential tone.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Is it necessary to say that the wiggletail is the embryo
+mosquito?</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Galloping.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> G hard as in give.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> This story, the funniest and most characteristic of all the
+negro legends, cannot be satisfactorily told on paper. It is full of
+action, and all the interest centres in the gestures and grimaces that
+must accompany an explanation of Brother Rabbit's method of disposing of
+the mosquitoes. The story was first called to my attention by Mr. Marion
+Erwin, of Savannah, and it is properly a coast legend, but I have heard
+it told by three Middle Georgia negroes.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Point-blank.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> In another version of this story current among the negroes
+the sweet-gum tree takes the place of the sycamore.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> A species of hickory-nut. The tree sheds its bark every
+year, hence the name, which is applied to both tree and fruit.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> The king-bird.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> See <em>Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings</em>, p. 79.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> "'E mek up one sing." She composed a song and taught the
+child the refrain.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Move; he ain't move he tail; he hasn't even moved his
+tail.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Before he see um.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Squeeze.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Earth. Uncle Remus would say "Yeth."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Gnaws the bark from the trees.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Drain or ditch.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Distribute.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Allowance; ration.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Based on a characteristic negro saying. For instance:
+"Where's Jim?" "You can't keep up wid dat nigger. Des let night come, en
+he's runnin' fum hen-roost to river-bank." In other words, stealing
+chickens and robbing fish baskets.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Hither and yon.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> As if.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> No doubt this means that Brother Rabbit's proposition was
+pleasant and plausible.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Wild; fierce; dangerous; courageous. The accent is on the
+second syllable, ser-<em>vi</em>-gous; or, ser-<em>vi</em>-gus, and the g is hard.
+Aunt Tempy would have said "vigrous."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> A plantation saying. It means if hard times get harder. A
+briefer form is "w'en shove 'come push"&mdash;when the worst comes to the
+worst.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> That is to say, put him on the block, and sell him.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> Victuals.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> That is, could do no more than half the work of a man.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Killdeers&mdash;a species of plover.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> This is simply "gullah" negro talk intended to be
+unintelligible, and therefore impressive. It means "One or the other is
+as good as t'other."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> An expression used to give emphasis and to attract
+attention; used in the sense that Uncle Remus uses "Gentermens!"</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Hickory withe.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> One gun two times is a double-barrelled gun.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> Sissy.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Here is one, here's another; here are two on top of
+t'other; here are three piled up together.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Speculator's wagon.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> A bar of iron across the fireplace, with hooks to hold the
+pots and kettles. The original form of the crane.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> See <em>Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings</em>, p. 60.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> Another name for muscadines.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> That is to say, threw sticks at Mr. Hawk.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Mrs. H. S. Barclay, of Darien, who sends this story, says
+it was told by a native African woman, of good intelligence, who claimed
+to be a princess. She had an eagle tattoed on her bosom&mdash;a sign of
+royalty.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Assuaged their thirst.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Cupboard.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Interest.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> Dragon-flies.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Dorcas.</p></div>
+
+
+
+
+<div id="tn">
+<p class="first center"><a name="Transcribers_Note" id="Transcribers_Note"></a><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></p>
+
+<p class="first">Punctuation and inconsistencies in language and dialect found in
+the original book have been retained.</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris
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+</body>
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+Project Gutenberg's Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Nights With Uncle Remus
+
+Author: Joel Chandler Harris
+
+Illustrator: Milo Winter
+
+Release Date: January 26, 2008 [EBook #24430]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Jacqueline Jeremy and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+    NIGHTS WITH
+    UNCLE REMUS
+
+    BY
+
+    JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
+
+    WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MILO WINTER
+
+    [Illustration]
+
+    BOSTON AND NEW YORK
+    HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
+    The Riverside Press Cambridge
+    1917
+
+
+    COPYRIGHT, 1851, 1853, 1909, AND 1911, BY THE CENTURY CO.
+    COPYRIGHT, 1885, BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
+    COPYRIGHT, 1911, BY ESTHER LA ROSE HARRIS
+    COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
+
+    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
+
+    _Published October 1917_
+
+
+
+
+PUBLISHERS' NOTE
+
+
+Nights With Uncle Remus is a story-book dearly loved by children.
+Besides that, it is an important contribution to the study of
+Afro-American folk-lore, and through many years of popularity it
+has carried a long and learned Introduction, of great interest to
+students but rather forbidding in aspect to youthful readers. In
+this new edition, which has been prepared especially for children,
+and illustrated in colors by an artist who knows how to please them
+as well as their elders, the Introduction has been omitted, but the
+stories and their charming setting have been left intact.
+
+_June, 1917_
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+      I. MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE                                3
+
+     II. FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE                                 7
+
+    III. BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL                      11
+
+     IV. BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT                          14
+
+      V. BRER RABBIT'S ASTONISHING PRANK                      18
+
+     VI. BRER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION                        22
+
+    VII. MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN                           27
+
+   VIII. THE STORY OF THE PIGS                                31
+
+     IX. MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE            35
+
+      X. BRER RABBIT'S RIDDLE                                 41
+
+     XI. HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER                      49
+
+    XII. BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY                        53
+
+   XIII. BRER FOX, BRER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S DAUGHTER      58
+
+    XIV. BRER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BRER BUZZARD                  62
+
+     XV. BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS                           66
+
+    XVI. HOW BRER FOX FAILED TO GET HIS GRAPES                70
+
+   XVII. BRER FOX FIGURES AS AN INCENDIARY                    75
+
+  XVIII. A DREAM AND A STORY                                  79
+
+    XIX. THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND                            83
+
+     XX. BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE                      89
+
+    XXI. WHY BRER BEAR HAS NO TAIL                            97
+
+   XXII. HOW BRER RABBIT FRIGHTENED HIS NEIGHBORS            100
+
+  XXIII. MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT                               105
+
+   XXIV. HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT                        108
+
+    XXV. AFRICAN JACK                                        112
+
+   XXVI. WHY THE ALLIGATOR'S BACK IS ROUGH                   119
+
+  XXVII. BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE                                123
+
+ XXVIII. SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN                            129
+
+   XXIX. A GHOST STORY                                       134
+
+    XXX. BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT                     141
+
+   XXXI. "IN SOME LADY'S GARDEN"                             149
+
+  XXXII. BRER 'POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE                        156
+
+ XXXIII. WHY THE GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED                   162
+
+  XXXIV. BRER RABBIT'S LOVE-CHARM                            166
+
+   XXXV. BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST                       170
+
+  XXXVI. BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM                            174
+
+ XXXVII. BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES                      179
+
+XXXVIII. THE PIMMERLY PLUM                                   185
+
+  XXXIX. BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS                     195
+
+     XL. "CUTTA CORD-LA!"                                    200
+
+    XLI. AUNT TEMPY'S STORY                                  204
+
+   XLII. THE FIRE-TEST                                       209
+
+  XLIII. THE CUNNING SNAKE                                   214
+
+   XLIV. HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART                          218
+
+    XLV. BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE                      225
+
+   XLVI. BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE                          229
+
+  XLVII. BRER RABBIT LAYS IN HIS BEEF SUPPLY                 234
+
+ XLVIII. BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT                         238
+
+   XLIX. MR. BENJAMIN RAM DEFENDS HIMSELF                    245
+
+      L. BRER RABBIT PRETENDS TO BE POISONED                 249
+
+     LI. MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF                          253
+
+    LII. BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN                         256
+
+   LIII. BRER RABBIT TAKES A WALK                            260
+
+    LIV. OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF                              263
+
+     LV. HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT                        267
+
+    LVI. BRER RABBIT TIES MR. LION                           272
+
+   LVII. MR. LION'S SAD PREDICAMENT                          276
+
+  LVIII. THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN                             279
+
+    LIX. BRER RABBIT GETS BRER FOX'S DINNER                  283
+
+     LX. HOW THE BEAR NURSED THE LITTLE ALLIGATORS           291
+
+    LXI. WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT                        295
+
+   LXII. BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE                     298
+
+  LXIII. BRER FOX AND THE WHITE MUSCADINES                   302
+
+   LXIV. MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD                           306
+
+    LXV. MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT                            309
+
+   LXVI. THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD                  312
+
+  LXVII. OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH                    315
+
+ LXVIII. BRER FOX MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE                      318
+
+   LXIX. BRER FOX'S FISH TRAP                                321
+
+    LXX. BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN                   325
+
+   LXXI. THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS                          333
+
+
+
+
+ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+UNCLE REMUS AND THE LITTLE BOY                            _Frontispiece_
+
+"HE TO' DOWN A WHOLE PANEL ER FENCE GITTIN' 'WAY FUM DAR"             20
+
+"BRER RABBIT TURNT 'ER ALOOSE, EN DOWN SHE COME--_KER-SWOSH!_"        44
+
+"'BRER TARRYPIN, PLEASE LEMME GO!'"                                   68
+
+"'_AH-YI!_ YOU OUGHTER AX ME DAT FUS', BRER COON'"                    92
+
+"BRER RABBIT FOTCH A WIGGLE, HE DID, EN LIT ON HE FOOTS"             128
+
+"'EF YOU GIT ANY MO' SENSE, SON RILEY, YOU'LL BE DE RUINATION EV
+DE WHOLE SETTLEMENT'"                                                174
+
+"DE LITTLE RABS, DEY PROMISE DAT DEY WON'T OPEN DE DO' FER NOBODY"   212
+
+"EN, BLESS GRACIOUS! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF FUM DAR EN LEF'
+OLE BRER WOLF UND' DAT AR ROCK"                                      232
+
+"HE SORTER HUNCH BRER POSSUM IN DE SHORT RIBS, EN AX 'IM HOW HE
+COME ON"                                                             268
+
+"'I DUNNER W'EN I BIN SO SORRY 'BOUT ANYTHING EZ I IS 'BOUT BRER
+FOX NICE LONG TAIL'"                                                 286
+
+"HE GIT DE FINEST MESS ER FISH YOU MOS' EVER LAID YO' EYES ON"       324
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE]
+
+NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS
+
+I
+
+MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE
+
+
+It had been raining all day so that Uncle Remus found it impossible to
+go out. The storm had begun, the old man declared, just as the chickens
+were crowing for day, and it had continued almost without intermission.
+The dark gray clouds had blotted out the sun, and the leafless limbs of
+the tall oaks surrendered themselves drearily to the fantastic gusts
+that drove the drizzle fitfully before them. The lady to whom Uncle
+Remus belonged had been thoughtful of the old man, and 'Tildy, the
+house-girl, had been commissioned to carry him his meals. This
+arrangement came to the knowledge of the little boy at supper time, and
+he lost no time in obtaining permission to accompany 'Tildy.
+
+Uncle Remus made a great demonstration over the thoughtful kindness of
+his "Miss Sally."
+
+"Ef she ain't one blessid w'ite 'oman," he said, in his simple, fervent
+way, "den dey ain't none un um 'roun' in deze parts."
+
+With that he addressed himself to the supper, while the little boy sat
+by and eyed him with that familiar curiosity common to children. Finally
+the youngster disturbed the old man with an inquiry:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, do geese stand on one leg all night, or do they sit down
+to sleep?"
+
+"Tooby sho' dey does, honey; dey sets down same ez you does. Co'se, dey
+don't cross der legs," he added, cautiously, "kase dey sets down right
+flat-footed."
+
+"Well, I saw one the other day, and he was standing on one foot, and I
+watched him and watched him, and he kept on standing there."
+
+"Ez ter dat," responded Uncle Remus, "dey mought stan' on one foot en
+drap off ter sleep en fergit deyse'f. Deze yer gooses," he continued,
+wiping the crumbs from his beard with his coat-tail, "is mighty kuse
+fowls; deyer mighty kuse. In ole times dey wuz 'mongs de big-bugs, en in
+dem days, w'en ole Miss Goose gun a-dinin', all de quality wuz dere.
+Likewise, en needer wuz dey stuck-up, kase wid all der kyar'n's on, Miss
+Goose wer'n't too proud fer ter take in washin' fer de neighborhoods, en
+she make money, en get slick en fat lak Sis Tempy.
+
+"Dis de way marters stan' w'en one day Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey wuz
+settin' up at de cotton-patch, one on one side de fence, en t'er one on
+t'er side, gwine on wid one er n'er, w'en fus' news dey know, dey year
+sump'n--_blim_, _blim_, _blim_!
+
+"Brer Fox, he ax w'at dat fuss is, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat
+it's ole Miss Goose down at de spring. Den Brer Fox, he up'n ax w'at she
+doin', en Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat she battlin' cloze."
+
+"Battling clothes, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy.
+
+"Dat w'at dey call it dem days, honey. Deze times, dey rubs cloze on
+deze yer bodes w'at got furrers in um, but dem days dey des tuck'n tuck
+de cloze en lay um out on a bench, en ketch holt er de battlin'-stick en
+natally paddle de fillin' outen um.
+
+"W'en Brer Fox year dat ole Miss Goose wuz down dar dabblin' in soapsuds
+en washin' cloze, he sorter lick he chops, en 'low dat some er dese
+odd-come-shorts he gwine ter call en pay he 'specks. De minnit he say
+dat, Brer Rabbit, he know sump'n' 'uz up, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he
+'speck he better whirl in en have some fun w'iles it gwine on. Bimeby
+Brer Fox up'n say ter Brer Rabbit dat he bleedzd ter be movin' 'long
+todes home, en wid dat dey bofe say good-bye.
+
+"Brer Fox, he put out ter whar his fambly wuz, but Brer Rabbit, he slip
+'roun', he did, en call on ole Miss Goose. Ole Miss Goose she wuz down
+at de spring, washin', en b'ilin', en battlin' cloze; but Brer Rabbit he
+march up en ax her howdy, en den she tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit howdy.
+
+"'I'd shake han's 'long wid you, Brer Rabbit,' sez she, 'but dey er all
+full er suds,' sez she.
+
+"'No marter 'bout dat, Miss Goose,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'so long ez
+yo' will's good,' sezee."
+
+"A goose with hands, Uncle Remus!" the little boy exclaimed.
+
+"How you know goose ain't got han's?" Uncle Remus inquired, with a
+frown. "Is you been sleepin' longer ole man Know-All? Little mo' en
+you'll up'n stan' me down dat snakes ain't got no foots, and yit you
+take en lay a snake down yer 'fo' de fier, en his foots 'll come out
+right 'fo' yo' eyes."
+
+Uncle Remus paused here, but presently continued:--
+
+"Atter ole Miss Goose en Brer Rabbit done pass de time er day wid one er
+n'er, Brer Rabbit, he ax 'er, he did, how she come on deze days, en Miss
+Goose say, mighty po'ly.
+
+"'I'm gittin' stiff en I'm gittin' clumpsy,' sez she, 'en mo'n dat I'm
+gittin' bline,' sez she. 'Des 'fo' you happen 'long, Brer Rabbit, I drap
+my specks in de tub yer, en ef you'd 'a' come 'long 'bout dat time,' sez
+ole Miss Goose, sez she, 'I lay I'd er tuck you for dat nasty, owdashus
+Brer Fox, en it ud er bin a born blessin' ef I had n't er scald you wid
+er pan er b'ilin' suds,' sez she. 'I'm dat glad I foun' my specks I
+dunner w'at ter do,' sez ole Miss Goose, sez she.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he up'n say dat bein's how Sis Goose done fotch up
+Brer Fox name, he got sump'n' fer ter tell 'er, en den he let out 'bout
+Brer Fox gwine ter call on 'er.
+
+"He comin' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'he comin' sho', en w'en he come hit
+'ll be des 'fo' day,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, ole Miss Goose wipe 'er han's on 'er apun, en put 'er specks
+up on 'er forrerd, en look lak she done got trouble in 'er mine.
+
+"'Laws-a-massy!' sez she, 'spozen he come, Brer Rabbit! W'at I gwine do?
+En dey ain't a man 'bout de house, n'er,' sez she.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he shot one eye, en he say, sezee:--
+
+"'Sis Goose, de time done come w'en you bleedzd ter roos' high. You look
+lak you got de dropsy,' sezee, 'but don't mine dat, kase ef you don't
+roos' high, youer goner,' sezee.
+
+"Den ole Miss Goose ax Brer Rabbit w'at she gwine do, en Brer Rabbit he
+up en tell Miss Goose dat she mus' go home en tie up a bundle er de
+w'ite folks' cloze, en put um on de bed, en den she mus' fly up on a
+rafter, en let Brer Fox grab de cloze en run off wid um.
+
+"Ole Miss Goose say she much 'blige, en she tuck'n tuck her things en
+waddle off home, en dat night she do lak Brer Rabbit say wid de bundle
+er cloze, en den she sont wud ter Mr. Dog, en Mr. Dog he come down, en
+say he'd sorter set up wid 'er.
+
+"Des 'fo' day, yer come Brer Fox creepin' up, en he went en push on de
+do' easy, en de do' open, en he see sump'n' w'ite on de bed w'ich he
+took fer Miss Goose, en he grab it en run. 'Bout dat time Mr. Dog sail
+out fum und' de house, he did, en ef Brer Fox had n't er drapt de cloze,
+he'd er got kotch. Fum dat, wud went 'roun' dat Brer Fox bin tryin' ter
+steal Miss Goose cloze, en he come mighty nigh losin' his stannin' at
+Miss Meadows. Down ter dis day," Uncle Remus continued, preparing to
+fill his pipe, "Brer Fox b'leeve dat Brer Rabbit wuz de 'casion er Mr.
+Dog bein' in de neighborhoods at dat time er night, en Brer Rabbit ain't
+'spute it. De bad feelin' 'twix' Brer Fox en Mr. Dog start right dar, en
+hits bin agwine on twel now dey ain't git in smellin' distuns er one er
+n'er widout dey's a row."
+
+
+
+
+II
+
+BRER FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE
+
+
+There was a pause after the story of old Miss Goose. The culmination was
+hardly sensational enough to win the hearty applause of the little boy,
+and this fact appeared to have a depressing influence upon Uncle Remus.
+As he leaned slightly forward, gazing into the depths of the great
+fireplace, his attitude was one of pensiveness.
+
+"I 'speck I done wo' out my welcome up at de big house," he said, after
+a while. "I mos' knows I is," he continued, setting himself resignedly
+in his deep-bottomed chair. "Kase de las' time I uz up dar, I had my eye
+on Miss Sally mighty nigh de whole blessid time, en w'en you see Miss
+Sally rustlin' 'roun' makin' lak she fixin' things up dar on de
+mantle-shelf, en bouncin' de cheers 'roun', en breshin' dus' whar dey
+ain't no dus', en flyin' 'roun' singin' sorter louder dan common, den I
+des knows sump'n' done gone en rile 'er."
+
+"Why, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy; "Mamma was just glad
+because I was feeling so good."
+
+"Mought er bin," the old man remarked, in a tone that was far from
+implying conviction. "Ef 't wa'n't dat, den she wuz gittin' tired er
+seem' me lounjun' 'roun' up dar night atter night, en ef 't wa'n't dat,
+den she wuz watchin' a chance fer ter preach ter yo' pa. Oh, I done bin
+know Miss Sally long fo' yo' pa is!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response
+to the astonishment depicted upon the child's face. "I bin knowin' 'er
+sence she wuz so high, en endurin' er all dat time I ain't seed no mo'
+up'n spoken' w'ite 'oman dan w'at Miss Sally is.
+
+"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar. You done got so youk'n rush down yer
+des like you useter, en we kin set yer en smoke, en tell tales, en
+study up 'musements same like we wuz gwine on 'fo' you got dat splinter
+in yo' foot.
+
+"I mines me er one time"--with an infectious laugh--"w'en ole Brer
+Rabbit got Brer Fox in de wuss trubble w'at a man wuz mos' ever got in
+yit, en dat 'uz w'en he fool 'im 'bout de hoss. Ain't I never tell you
+'bout dat? But no marter ef I is. Hoe-cake ain't cook done good twel
+hit's turnt over a couple er times.
+
+"Well, atter Brer Fox done git rested fum keepin' out er de way er Mr.
+Dog, en sorter ketch up wid his rations, he say ter hisse'f dat he be
+dog his cats ef he don't slorate ole Brer Rabbit ef it take 'im a mont';
+en dat, too, on top er all de 'spe'unce w'at he done bin had wid um.
+Brer Rabbit he sorter git win' er dis, en one day, w'iles he gwine 'long
+de road studyin' how he gwineter hol' he hand wid Brer Fox, he see a
+great big Hoss layin' stretch out flat on he side in de pastur'; en he
+tuck'n crope up, he did, fer ter see ef dish yer Hoss done gone en die.
+He crope up en he crope 'roun', en bimeby he see de Hoss switch he tail,
+en den Brer Rabbit know he ain't dead. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit lope back
+ter de big road, en mos' de fus' man w'at he see gwine on by wuz Brer
+Fox, en Brer Rabbit he tuck atter 'im, en holler:--
+
+"'Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Come back! I got some good news fer you. Come
+back, Brer Fox,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he tu'n 'roun', he did, en w'en he see who callin' 'im, he
+come gallopin' back, kaze it seem like dat des ez gooder time ez any fer
+ter nab Brer Rabbit; but 'fo' he git in nabbin' distance, Brer Rabbit he
+up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Fox! I done fine de place whar you kin lay in fresh meat
+'nuff fer ter las' you plum twel de middle er nex' year,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts, en Brer Rabbit, he say, right over dar in de
+pastur', en Brer Fox ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say w'ich 'twuz a
+whole Hoss layin' down on de groun' whar dey kin ketch 'im en tie 'im.
+Wid dat, Brer Fox, he say come on, en off dey put.
+
+"W'en dey got dar, sho' nuff, dar lay de Hoss all stretch out in de sun,
+fas' 'sleep, en den Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey had a 'spute 'bout how
+dey gwine ter fix de Hoss so he can't git loose. One say one way en de
+yuther say n'er way, en dar dey had it, twel atter w'ile Brer Rabbit, he
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'De onliest plan w'at I knows un, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'is fer you ter git
+down dar en lemme tie you ter de Hoss tail, en den, w'en he try ter git
+up, you kin hol' 'im down,' sezee. 'Ef I wuz big man like w'at you is,'
+sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'you mought tie me ter dat Hoss' tail, en ef I
+ain't hol' 'im down, den Joe's dead en Sal's a widder. I des knows you
+kin hol' 'im down,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but yit, ef you 'feared, we
+des better drap dat idee en study out some yuther plan,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox sorter jubus 'bout dis, but he bleedzd ter play biggity 'fo'
+Brer Rabbit, en he tuck'n 'gree ter de progrance, en den Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n tie Brer Fox ter de Hoss' tail, en atter he git 'im tie dar hard
+en fas', he sorter step back, he did, en put he han's 'kimbo, en grin,
+en den he say, sezee:--
+
+"Ef ever dey wuz a Hoss kotch, den we done kotch dis un. Look sorter lak
+we done put de bridle on de wrong een',' sezee, 'but I lay Brer Fox is
+got de strenk fer ter hol' 'im,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit cut 'im a long switch en trim it up, en w'en he
+get it fix, up he step en hit de Hoss a rap--_pow!_ De Hoss 'uz dat
+s'prise at dat kinder doin's dat he make one jump, en lan' on he foots.
+W'en he do dat, dar wuz Brer Fox danglin' in de a'r, en Brer Rabbit, he
+dart out de way en holler:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! I'll stan' out yer en see fa'r
+play. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down!'
+
+"Co'se, w'en de Hoss feel Brer Fox hangin' dar onter he tail, he thunk
+sump'n' kuse wuz de marter, en dis make 'im jump en r'ar wusser en
+wusser, en he shake up Brer Fox same like he wuz a rag in de win', en
+Brer Rabbit, he jump en holler:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
+yo' grip, en hol' 'im down,' sezee.
+
+"De Hoss, he jump en he hump, en he rip en he r'ar, en he snort en he
+t'ar. But yit Brer Fox hang on, en still Brer Rabbit skip 'roun' en
+holler:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! You got 'im whar he can't needer back ner
+squall. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!' sezee.
+
+"Bimeby, w'en Brer Fox git chance, he holler back, he did:--
+
+"'How in de name er goodness I gwine ter hol' de Hoss down 'less I git
+my claw in de groun'?'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he stan' back little furder en holler little louder:--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
+'im down!'
+
+"Bimeby de Hoss 'gun ter kick wid he behime legs, en de fus' news you
+know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in de stomach dat fa'rly make 'im squall,
+en den he kick 'im ag'in, en dis time he break Brer Fox loose, en sont
+'im a-whirlin'; en Brer Rabbit, he keep on a-jumpin' 'roun' en
+hollerin':--
+
+"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!'"
+
+"Did the fox get killed, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"He wa'n't 'zackly kilt, honey," replied the old man, "but he wuz de
+nex' do' ter't. He 'uz all broke up, en w'iles he 'uz gittin' well, hit
+sorter come 'cross he min' dat Brer Rabbit done play n'er game on 'im."
+
+
+
+
+III
+
+BRER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL
+
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do after that?" the little boy asked presently.
+
+"Now, den, you don't wanter push ole Brer Rabbit too close," replied
+Uncle Remus significantly. "He mighty tender-footed creetur, en de mo'
+w'at you push 'im, de furder he lef' you."
+
+There was prolonged silence in the old man's cabin, until, seeing that
+the little boy was growing restless enough to cast several curious
+glances in the direction of the tool chest in the corner, Uncle Remus
+lifted one leg over the other, scratched his head reflectively, and
+began:--
+
+"One time, atter Brer Rabbit done bin trompin' 'roun' huntin' up some
+sallid fer ter make out he dinner wid, he fine hisse'f in de
+neighborhoods er Mr. Man house, en he pass 'long twel he come ter de
+gyardin-gate, en nigh de gyardin-gate he see Little Gal playin' 'roun'
+in de san'. Wen Brer Rabbit look 'twix' de gyardin-palin's en see de
+colluds, en de sparrer-grass, en de yuther gyardin truck growin' dar,
+hit make he mouf water. Den he take en walk up ter de Little Gal, Brer
+Rabbit did, en pull he roach,[1] en bow, en scrape he foot, en talk
+mighty nice en slick.
+
+"'Howdy, Little Gal,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'how you come on?' sezee.
+
+"Den de Little Gal, she 'spon' howdy, she did, en she ax Brer Rabbit how
+he come on, en Brer Rabbit, he 'low he mighty po'ly, en den he ax ef dis
+de Little Gal w'at 'er pa live up dar in de big w'ite house, w'ich de
+Little Gal, she up'n say 'twer'. Brer Rabbit, he say he mighty glad,
+kaze he des bin up dar fer to see 'er pa, en he say dat 'er pa, he sont
+'im out dar fer ter tell de Little Gal dat she mus' open de gyardin-gate
+so Brer Rabbit kin go in en git some truck. Den de Little Gal, she jump
+'roun', she did, en she open de gate, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he hop
+in, he did, en got 'im a mess er greens, en hop out ag'in, en w'en he
+gwine off he make a bow, he did, en tell de Little Gal dat he much
+'blije', en den atter dat he put out fer home.
+
+"Nex' day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, twel he see de Little Gal
+come out ter play, en den he put up de same tale, en walk off wid a n'er
+mess er truck, en hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Man, he 'gun
+ter miss his greens, en he keep on a-missin' un um, twel he got ter
+excusin' eve'ybody on de place er 'stroyin' un um, en w'en dat come ter
+pass, de Little Gal, she up'n say:--
+
+"'My goodness, pa!' sez she, 'you done tole Mr. Rabbit fer ter come and
+make me let 'im in de gyardin atter some greens, en ain't he done come
+en ax me, en ain't I done gone en let 'im in?' sez she.
+
+"Mr. Man ain't hatter study long 'fo' he see how de lan' lay, en den he
+laff, en tell de Little Gal dat he done gone en disremember all 'bout
+Mr. Rabbit, en den he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'Nex' time Mr. Rabbit come, you tak'n tu'n 'im in, en den you run des
+ez fas' ez you kin en come en tell me, kase I got some bizness wid dat
+young chap dat's bleedze ter be 'ten' ter,' sezee.
+
+"Sho' nuff, nex' mawnin' dar wuz de Little Gal playin' 'roun', en yer
+come Brer Rabbit atter he 'lowance er greens. He wuz ready wid de same
+tale, en den de Little Gal, she tu'n 'im in, she did, en den she run up
+ter de house en holler:--
+
+"'O pa! pa! O pa! Yer Brer Rabbit in de gyardin now! Yer he is, pa!'
+
+"Den Mr. Man, he rush out, en grab up a fishin'-line w'at bin hangin' in
+de back po'ch, en mak fer de gyardin, en w'en he git dar, dar wuz Brer
+Rabbit tromplin' 'roun' on de strawbe'y-bed en mashin' down de
+termartusses. W'en Brer Rabbit see Mr. Man, he squot behime a collud
+leaf, but 't wa'n't no use. Mr. Man done seed him, en 'fo' you kin
+count 'lev'm, he done got ole Brer Rabbit tie hard en fas' wid de
+fishin'-line. Atter he got him tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, en
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'You done bin fool me lots er time, but dis time you er mine. I'm gwine
+ter take you en gin you a larrupin',' sezee, 'en den I'm gwine ter skin
+you en nail yo' hide on de stable do',' sezee; 'en den ter make sho dat
+you git de right kinder larrupin', I'll des step up ter de house,'
+sezee, 'en fetch de little red cowhide, en den I'll take en gin you
+brinjer,' sezee.
+
+"Den Mr. Man call to der Little Gal ter watch Brer Rabbit w'iles he
+gone.
+
+"Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nothin', but Mr. Man ain't mo'n out de gate
+'fo' he 'gun ter sing; en in dem days Brer Rabbit wuz a singer, mon,"
+continued Uncle Remus, with unusual emphasis, "en w'en he chuned up fer
+ter sing he make dem yuther creeturs hol' der bref."
+
+"What did he sing, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Ef I ain't fergit dat song off'n my min'," said Uncle Remus, looking
+over his spectacles at the fire, with a curious air of attempting to
+remember something, "hit run sorter dish yer way:--
+
+    "'_De jay-bird hunt de sparrer-nes',
+    De bee-martin sail all 'roun';
+    De squer'l, he holler from de top er de tree,
+    Mr. Mole, he stay in de groun';
+    He hide en he stay twel de dark drop down--
+    Mr. Mole, he hide in de groun'._'
+
+"W'en de Little Gal year dat, she laugh, she did, and she up'n ax Brer
+Babbit fer ter sing some mo', but Brer Rabbit, he sorter cough, he did,
+en 'low dat he got a mighty bad ho'seness down inter he win'pipe
+some'rs. De Little Gal, she swade,[2] en swade, en bimeby Brer Rabbit,
+he up 'n 'low dat he kin dance mo' samer dan w'at he kin sing. Den de
+Little Gal, she ax' im won't he dance, en Brer Rabbit, he 'spon' how in
+de name er goodness kin a man dance w'iles he all tie up dis a-way, en
+den de Little Gal, she say she kin ontie 'im, en Brer Rabbit, he say he
+ain't keerin' ef she do. Wid dat de Little Gal, she retch down en
+onloose de fish-line, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter stretch hisse'f en look
+'roun'."
+
+Here Uncle Remus paused and sighed, as though he had relieved his mind
+of a great burden. The little boy waited a few minutes for the old man
+to resume, and finally he asked:--
+
+"Did the Rabbit dance, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Who? Him?" exclaimed the old man, with a queer affectation of elation.
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Rabbit gedder up his foots und' 'im, en he
+dance outer dat gyardin, en he dance home. He did dat! Sho'ly you don't
+'speck' dat a ole-timer w'at done had 'spe'unce like Brer Rabbit gwine
+ter stay dar en let dat ar Mr. Man sackyfice 'im? _Shoo!_ Brer Rabbit
+dance, but he dance home. You year me!"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] Topknot, foretop.
+
+[2] Persuaded.
+
+
+
+
+IV
+
+BRER FOX COPIES BRER RABBIT
+
+
+Uncle Remus chuckled a moment over the escape of Brother Rabbit, and
+then turned his gaze upward toward the cobwebbed gloom that seemed to
+lie just beyond the rafters. He sat thus silent and serious a little
+while, but finally squared himself around in his chair and looked the
+little boy full in the face. The old man's countenance expressed a
+curious mixture of sorrow and bewilderment. Catching the child by the
+coat-sleeve, Uncle Remus pulled him gently to attract his attention.
+
+"Hit look like ter me," he said presently, in the tone of one
+approaching an unpleasant subject, "dat no longer'n yistiddy I see one
+er dem ar Favers chillun clim'in' dat ar big red-oak out yan', en den it
+seem like dat a little chap 'bout yo' size, he tuck'n start up ter see
+ef he can't play smarty like de Favers's yearlin's. I dunner w'at in de
+name er goodness you wanter be a-copyin' atter dem ar Faverses fer. Ef
+you er gwine ter copy atter yuther folks, copy atter dem w'at's some
+'count. Yo' pa, he got de idee dat some folks is good ez yuther folks;
+but Miss Sally, she know better. She know dat dey ain't no Favers 'pon
+de top side er de yeth w'at kin hol' der han' wid de Abercrombies in
+p'int er breedin' en raisin'. Dat w'at Miss Sally know. I bin keepin'
+track er dem Faverses sence way back yan' long 'fo' Miss Sally wuz
+born'd. Ole Cajy Favers, he went ter de po'house, en ez ter dat Jim
+Favers, I boun' you he know de inside er all de jails in dish yer State
+er Jawjy. Dey allers did hate niggers kase dey ain't had none, en dey
+hates um down ter dis day.
+
+"Year 'fo' las'," Uncle Remus continued, "I year yo Unk' Jeems
+Abercrombie tell dat same Jim Favers dat ef he lay de weight er he han'
+on one er his niggers, he'd slap a load er buck shot in 'im; en, bless
+yo' soul, honey, yo' Unk' Jeems wuz des de man ter do it. But dey er
+monst'us perlite unter me, dem Faverses is," pursued the old man,
+allowing his indignation, which had risen to a white heat, to cool off,
+"en dey better be," he added spitefully, "kase I knows der pedigree fum
+de fus' ter de las', en w'en I gits my Affikin up, dey ain't nobody,
+'less it's Miss Sally 'erse'f, w'at kin keep me down.
+
+"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar," said Uncle Remus, renewing his
+attack upon the little boy. "W'at you wanter go copyin' atter dem Favers
+chillun fer? Youer settin' back dar, right dis minnit, bettin' longer
+yo'se'f dat I ain't gwine ter tell Miss Sally, en dar whar youer lettin'
+yo' foot slip, kaze I'm gwine ter let it pass dis time, but de ve'y nex'
+time w'at I ketches you in hollerin' distuns er dem Faverses, right den
+en dar I'm gwine ter take my foot in my han' en go en tell Miss Sally,
+en ef she don't natally skin you 'live, den she ain't de same 'oman w'at
+she useter be.
+
+"All dish yer copyin' atter deze yer Faverses put me in min' er de time
+w'en Brer Fox got ter copyin' atter Brer Rabbit. I done tole you 'bout
+de time w'en Brer Rabbit git de game fum Brer Fox by makin' like he
+dead?"[3]
+
+The little boy remembered it very distinctly, and said as much.
+
+"Well, den, ole Brer Fox, w'en he see how slick de trick wuk wid Brer
+Rabbit, he say ter hisse'f dat he b'leeve he'll up'n try de same kinder
+game on some yuther man, en he keep on watchin' fer he chance, twel
+bimeby, one day, he year Mr. Man comin' down de big road in a one-hoss
+waggin, kyar'n some chickens, en some eggs, en some butter, ter town.
+Brer Fox year 'im comin', he did, en w'at do he do but go en lay down in
+de road front er de waggin. Mr. Man, he druv 'long, he did, cluckin' ter
+de hoss en hummin' ter hisse'f, en w'en dey git mos' up ter Brer Fox, de
+hoss, he shy, he did, en Mr. Man, he tuck'n holler Wo! en de hoss, he
+tuck'n wo'd. Den Mr. Man, he look down, en he see Brer Fox layin' out
+dar on de groun' des like he cole en stiff, en w'en Mr. Man see dis, he
+holler out:--
+
+"'Heyo! Dar de chap w'at been nabbin' up my chickens, en somebody done
+gone en shot off a gun at 'im, w'ich I wish she'd er bin two guns--dat I
+does!'
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Man he druv on en lef Brer Fox layin' dar. Den Brer Fox,
+he git up en run 'roun' thoo de woods en lay down front er Mr. Man
+ag'in, en Mr. Man come drivin' 'long, en he see Brer Fox, en he say,
+sezee;--
+
+"'Heyo! Yer de ve'y chap what been 'stroyin' my pigs. Somebody done gone
+en kilt 'im, en I wish dey'd er kilt 'im long time ago.'
+
+"Den Mr. Man, he druv on, en de waggin-w'eel come mighty nigh mashin'
+Brer Fox nose; yit, all de same, Brer Fox lipt up en run 'roun' 'head er
+Mr. Man, en lay down in de road, en w'en Mr. Man come 'long, dar he wuz
+all stretch out like he big 'nuff fer ter fill a two-bushel baskit, en
+he look like he dead 'nuff fer ter be skint. Mr. Man druv up, he did, en
+stop. He look down pun Brer Fox, en den he look all 'roun' fer ter see
+w'at de 'casion er all deze yer dead Fox is. Mr. Man look all 'roun', he
+did, but he ain't see nothin', en needer do he year nothin'. Den he set
+dar en study, en bimeby he 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he had better
+'zamin' w'at kinder kuse zeeze[4] done bin got inter Brer Fox fambly, en
+wid dat he lit down outer de waggin, en feel er Brer Fox year; Brer Fox
+year feel right wom. Den he feel Brer Fox neck; Brer Fox neck right wom.
+Den he feel er Brer Fox in de short ribs; Brer Fox all soun' in de short
+ribs. Den he feel er Brer Fox lim's; Brer Fox all soun' in de lim's. Den
+he tu'n Brer Fox over, en, lo en beholes, Brer Fox right limber. Wen Mr.
+Man see dis, he say ter hisse'f, sezee:--
+
+"'Heyo, yer! how come dis? Dish yer chicken-nabber look lak he dead, but
+dey ain't no bones broked, en I ain't see no blood, en needer does I
+feel no bruise; en mo'n dat he wom en he limber,' sezee. 'Sump'n' wrong
+yer, sho'! Dish yer pig-grabber _mought_ be dead, en den ag'in he
+moughtent,' sezee; 'but ter make sho' dat he is, I'll des gin 'im a
+whack wid my w'ip-han'le,' sezee; en wid dat, Mr. Man draw back en fotch
+Brer Fox a clip behime de years--_pow!_--en de lick come so hard en it
+come so quick dat Brer Fox thunk sho' he's a goner; but 'fo' Mr. Man kin
+draw back fer ter fetch 'im a n'er wipe, Brer Fox, he scramble ter his
+feet, he did, en des make tracks 'way fum dar."
+
+Uncle Remus paused and shook the cold ashes from his pipe, and then
+applied the moral:--
+
+"Dat w'at Brer Fox git fer playin' Mr. Smarty en copyin' atter yuther
+foks, en dat des de way de whole Smarty fambly gwine ter come out."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[3] _Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings_, p. 70 (New York: D.
+Appleton & Co.).
+
+[4] Disease.
+
+
+
+
+V
+
+BRER RABBIT'S ASTONISHING PRANK
+
+
+"I 'speck dat 'uz de reas'n w'at make ole Brer Rabbit git 'long so well,
+kaze he ain't copy atter none er de yuther creeturs," Uncle Remus
+continued, after a while. "Wen he make his disappearance 'fo' um, hit
+'uz allers in some bran new place. Dey ain't know wharbouts fer ter
+watch out fer 'im. He wuz de funniest creetur er de whole gang. Some
+folks moughter call him lucky, en yit, w'en he git in bad luck, hit look
+lak he mos' allers come out on top. Hit look mighty kuse now, but 't
+wa'n't kuse in dem days, kaze hit 'uz done gun up dat, strike 'im w'en
+you might en whar you would, Brer Rabbit wuz de soopless creetur gwine.
+
+"One time, he sorter tuck a notion, ole Brer Rabbit did, dat he'd pay
+Brer B'ar a call, en no sooner do de notion strike 'im dan he pick
+hisse'f up en put out fer Brer B'ar house."
+
+"Why, I thought they were mad with each other," the little boy
+exclaimed.
+
+"Brer Rabbit make he call w'en Brer B'ar en his fambly wuz off fum
+home," Uncle Remus explained, with a chuckle which was in the nature of
+a hearty tribute to the crafty judgment of Brother Rabbit.
+
+"He sot down by de road, en he see um go by,--ole Brer B'ar en ole Miss
+B'ar, en der two twin-chilluns, w'ich one un um wuz name Kubs en de t'er
+one wuz name Klibs."
+
+The little boy laughed, but the severe seriousness of Uncle Remus would
+have served for a study, as he continued:--
+
+"Ole Brer B'ar en Miss B'ar, dey went 'long ahead, en Kubs en Klibs, dey
+come shufflin' en scramblin' 'long behime. W'en Brer Rabbit see dis, he
+say ter hisse'f dat he 'speck he better go see how Brer B'ar gittin' on;
+en off he put. En 't wa'n't long n'er 'fo' he 'uz ransackin' de
+premmuses same like he 'uz sho' 'nuff patter-roller. Wiles he wuz gwine
+'roun' peepin' in yer en pokin' in dar, he got ter foolin' 'mong de
+shelfs, en a bucket er honey w'at Brer B'ar got hid in de cubbud fall
+down en spill on top er Brer Rabbit, en little mo'n he'd er bin drown.
+Fum head ter heels dat creetur wuz kiver'd wid honey; he wa'n't des only
+bedobble wid it, he wuz des kiver'd. He hatter set dar en let de natal
+sweetness drip outen he eyeballs 'fo' he kin see he han' befo' 'im, en
+den, atter he look' 'roun' little, he say to hisse'f, sezee:--
+
+"'Heyo, yer! W'at I gwine do now? Ef I go out in de sunshine, de
+bumly-bees en de flies dey'll swom up'n take me, en if I stay yer, Brer
+B'ar'll come back en ketch me, en I dunner w'at in de name er gracious I
+gwine do.'
+
+"Ennyhow, bimeby a notion strike Brer Rabbit, en he tip 'long twel he
+git in de woods, en w'en he git out dar, w'at do he do but roll in de
+leafs en trash en try fer ter rub de honey off'n 'im dat a-way. He roll,
+he did, en de leafs dey stick; Brer Rabbit roll, en de leafs dey stick,
+en he keep on rollin' en de leafs keep on stickin', twel atter w'ile
+Brer Rabbit wuz de mos' owdashus-lookin' creetur w'at you ever sot eyes
+on. En ef Miss Meadows en de gals could er seed 'im den en dar, dey
+would n't er bin no mo' Brer Rabbit call at der house; 'deed, en dat dey
+would n't.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he jump 'roun', he did, en try ter shake de leafs off'a
+'im, but de leafs, dey ain't gwine ter be shuck off. Brer Rabbit, he
+shake en he shiver, but de leafs dey stick; en de capers dat creetur cut
+up out dar in de woods by he own-alone se'f wuz scan'lous--dey wuz dat;
+dey wuz scan'lous.
+
+"Brer Rabbit see dis wa'nt gwine ter do, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he
+better be gittin' on todes home, en off he put. I 'speck you done year
+talk er deze yer booggers w'at gits atter bad chilluns," continued Uncle
+Remus, in a tone so seriously confidential as to be altogether
+depressing; "well, den, des 'zactly dat a-way Brer Rabbit look, en ef
+you'd er seed 'im you'd er made sho' he de gran'-daddy er all de
+booggers. Brer Rabbit pace 'long, he did, en ev'y motion he make, de
+leafs dey'd go _swishy-swushy_, _splushy-splishy_, en, fum de fuss he
+make en de way he look, you'd er tuck 'im ter be de mos' suvvigus
+varment w'at disappear fum de face er de yeth sence ole man Noah let
+down de draw-bars er de ark en tu'n de creeturs loose; en I boun' ef
+you'd er struck up long wid 'im, you'd er been mighty good en glad ef
+you'd er got off wid dat.
+
+"De fus' man w'at Brer Rabbit come up wid wuz ole Sis Cow, en no sooner
+is she lay eyes on 'im dan she h'ist up 'er tail in de elements, en put
+out like a pack er dogs wuz atter 'er. Dis make Brer Rabbit laff, kaze
+he know dat w'en a ole settle' 'oman like Sis Cow run 'stracted in de
+broad open day-time, dat dey mus' be sump'n' mighty kuse 'bout dem leafs
+en dat honey, en he keep on a-rackin' down de road. De nex' man w'at he
+meet wuz a black gal tollin' a whole passel er plantation shotes, en
+w'en de gal see Brer Rabbit come prancin' 'long, she fling down 'er
+basket er corn en des fa'rly fly, en de shotes, dey tuck thoo de woods,
+en sech n'er racket ez dey kick up wid der runnin', en der snortin', en
+der squealin' ain't never bin year in dat settlement needer befo' ner
+since. Hit keep on dis a-way long ez Brer Rabbit meet anybody--dey des
+broke en run like de Ole Boy wuz atter um.
+
+    [Illustration: "HE TO' DOWN A WHOLE PANEL ER FENCE GITTEN
+    'WAY FUM DAR"]
+
+"Co'se, dis make Brer Rabbit feel monst'us biggity, en he 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he 'speck he better drap 'roun' en skummish in de
+neighborhoods er Brer Fox house. En w'iles he wuz stannin' dar runnin'
+dis 'roun' in he min', yer come old Brer B'ar en all er he fambly. Brer
+Rabbit, he git crossways de road, he did, en he sorter sidle todes um.
+Ole Brer B'ar, he stop en look, but Brer Rabbit, he keep on sidlin'
+todes um. Ole Miss B'ar, she stan' it long ez she kin, en den she fling
+down 'er parrysol en tuck a tree. Brer B'ar look lak he gwine ter stan'
+his groun', but Brer Rabbit he jump straight up in de a'r en gin hisse'f
+a shake, en, bless yo' soul, honey! ole Brer B'ar make a break, en dey
+tells me he to' down a whole panel er fence gittin' 'way fum dar. En
+ez ter Kubs en Klibs, dey tuck der hats in der han's, en dey went
+skaddlin' thoo de bushes des same ez a drove er hosses."
+
+"And then what?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Brer Rabbit p'raded on down de road," continued Uncle Remus, "en bimeby
+yer come Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, fixin' up a plan fer ter nab Brer
+Rabbit, en dey wuz so intents on der confab dat dey got right on Brer
+Rabbit 'fo' dey seed 'im; but, gentermens! w'en dey is ketch a glimpse
+un 'im, dey gun 'im all de room he want. Brer Wolf, he try ter show off,
+he did, kase he wanter play big 'fo' Brer Fox, en he stop en ax Brer
+Rabbit who is he. Brer Rabbit, he jump up en down in de middle er de
+road, en holler out:--
+
+"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust.[5] I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de man I'm
+atter!'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit jump up en down en make lak he gwine atter Brer Fox en
+Brer Wolf, en de way dem creeturs lit out fum dar wuz a caution.
+
+"Long time atter dat," continued Uncle Remus, folding his hands placidly
+in his lap, with the air of one who has performed a pleasant
+duty,--"long time atter dat, Brer Rabbit come up wid Brer Fox en Brer
+Wolf, en he git behime a stump, Brer Rabbit did, en holler out:--
+
+"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de mens I'm atter!'
+
+"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, dey broke, but 'fo' dey got outer sight en outer
+yar'n', Brer Rabbit show hisse'f, he did, en laugh fit ter kill hisse'f.
+Atterwuds, Miss Meadows she year 'bout it, en de nex' time Brer Fox
+call, de gals dey up en giggle, en ax 'im ef he ain't feard de
+Wull-er-de-Wust mought drap in."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[5] Or Wull-er-de-Wuts. Probably a fantastic corruption of
+"will-o'-the-wisp," though this is not by any means certain.
+
+
+
+
+VI
+
+BRER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION
+
+
+The rain continued to fall the next day, but the little boy made
+arrangements to go with 'Tildy when she carried Uncle Remus his supper.
+This happened to be a waiter full of things left over from dinner. There
+was so much that the old man was moved to remark:--
+
+"I cl'ar ter gracious, hit look lak Miss Sally done got my name in de
+pot dis time, sho'. I des wish you look at dat pone er co'n-bread,
+honey, en dem ar greens, en see ef dey ain't got Remus writ some'rs on
+um. Dat ar chick'n fixin's, dey look lak deyer good, yet 'taint
+familious wid me lak dat ar bile ham. Dem ar sweet-taters, dey stan's
+fa'r fer dividjun, but dem ar puzzuv,[6] I lay dey fit yo' palate mo'
+samer dan dey does mine. Dish yer hunk er beef, we kin talk 'bout dat
+w'en de time come, en dem ar biscuits, I des nat'ally knows Miss Sally
+put um in dar fer some little chap w'ich his name I ain't gwine ter call
+in comp'ny."
+
+It was easy to perceive that the sight of the supper had put Uncle Remus
+in rare good-humor. He moved around briskly, taking the plates from the
+waiter and distributing them with exaggerated carefulness around upon
+his little pine table. Meanwhile he kept up a running fire of
+conversation.
+
+"Folks w'at kin set down en have der vittles brung en put down right
+spang und' der nose--dem kinder folks ain't got no needs er no umbrell.
+Night 'fo' las', w'iles I wuz settin' dar in de do', I year dem
+Willis-whistlers, en den I des knowed we 'uz gwine ter git a season."[7]
+
+"The Willis-whistlers, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy. "What are
+they?"
+
+"Youer too hard fer me now, honey. Dat w'at I knows I don't min'
+tellin', but w'en you axes me 'bout dat w'at I dunno, den youer too hard
+fer me, sho'. Deze yer Willis-whistlers, dey bangs my time, en I bin
+knockin' 'roun' in dish yer low-groun' now gwine on eighty year. Some
+folks wanter make out deyer frogs, yit I wish dey p'int out unter me how
+frogs kin holler so dat de nigher you come t'um, de furder you is off; I
+be mighty glad ef some un 'ud come 'long en tell me dat. Many en many's
+de time is I gone atter deze yer Willis-whistlers, en, no diffunce whar
+I goes, deyer allers off yander. You kin put de shovel in de fier en
+make de squinch-owl hush he fuss, en you kin go out en put yo' han' on
+de trees en make deze yere locus'-bugs quit der racket, but dem ar
+Willis-whistlers deyer allers 'way off yander."[8]
+
+Suddenly Uncle Remus paused over one of the dishes, and exclaimed:--
+
+"Gracious en de goodness! W'at kinder doin's is dis Miss Sally done gone
+sont us?"
+
+"That," said the little boy, after making an investigation, "is what
+mamma calls a floating island."
+
+"Well, den," Uncle Remus remarked, in a relieved tone, "dat's diffunt. I
+wuz mos' fear'd it 'uz some er dat ar sillerbug, w'ich a whole jugful
+ain't ska'cely 'nuff fer ter make you seem like you dremp 'bout smellin'
+dram. Ef I'm gwine ter be fed on foam," continued the old man, by way of
+explaining his position on the subject of syllabub, "let it be foam, en
+ef I'm gwine ter git dram, lemme git in reach un it w'ile she got some
+strenk lef'. Dat's me up an down. W'en it come ter yo' floatin' ilun,
+des gimme a hunk er ginger-cake en a mug er 'simmon-beer, en dey won't
+fine no nigger w'ats got no slicker feelin's dan w'at I is.
+
+"Miss Sally mighty kuse w'ite 'oman," Uncle Remus went on. "She sendin'
+all deze doin's en fixin's down yer, en I 'speck deyer monst'us nice,
+but no longer'n las' Chuseday she had all de niggers on de place, big en
+little, gwine squallin' 'roun' fer Remus. Hit 'uz Remus yer en Remus
+dar, en, lo en beholes, w'en I come ter fine out, Miss Sally want Remus
+fer ter whirl in en cook 'er one er deze yer ole-time ash-cakes. She
+bleedzd ter have it den en dar; en w'en I git it done, Miss Sally, she
+got a glass er buttermilk, en tuck'n sot right flat down on de flo', des
+like she useter w'en she wuz little gal." The old man paused,
+straightened up, looked at the child over his spectacles, and continued,
+with emphasis: "En I be bless ef she ain't eat a hunk er dat ash-cake
+mighty nigh ez big ez yo' head, en den she tuck'n make out 't wa'n't
+cook right.
+
+"Now, den, honey, all deze done fix. You set over dar, and I'll set over
+yer, en 'twix' en 'tween us we'll sample dish yer truck en see w'at is
+it Miss Sally done gone en sont us; en w'iles we er makin' 'way wid it,
+I'll sorter rustle 'roun' wid my 'membunce, en see ef I kin call ter
+min' de tale 'bout how ole Brer Rabbit got 'im a two-story house widout
+layin' out much cash."
+
+Uncle Remus stopped talking a little while and pretended to be trying to
+remember something,--an effort that was accompanied by a curious humming
+sound in his throat. Finally, he brightened up and began:--
+
+"Hit tu'n out one time dat a whole lot er de creeturs tuck a notion dat
+dey'd go in coboots wid buil'n' un um a house. Ole Brer B'ar, he was
+'mongs' um, en Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, en Brer 'Possum. I
+won't make sho', but it seem like ter me dat plum down ter ole Brer Mink
+'uz 'mongs' um. Leas'ways, dey wuz a whole passel un um, en dey whirl
+in, dey did, en dey buil' de house in less'n no time. Brer Rabbit, he
+make lak it make he head swim fer ter climb up on de scaffle, en
+likewise he say it make 'im ketch de palsy fer ter wuk in de sun, but he
+got 'im a squar', en he stuck a pencil behime he year, en he went
+'roun' medjun[9] en markin'--medjun en markin'--en he wuz dat busy dat
+de yuther creeturs say ter deyse'f he doin' monst'us sight er wuk, en
+folks gwine 'long de big road say Brer Rabbit doin' mo' hard wuk dan de
+whole kit en bilin' un um. Yit all de time Brer Rabbit ain't doin'
+nothin', en he des well bin layin' off in de shade scratchin' de fleas
+off'n 'im. De yuther creeturs, dey buil' de house, en, gentermens! she
+'uz a fine un, too, mon. She'd 'a' bin a fine un deze days, let 'lone
+dem days. She had er upsta'rs en downsta'rs, en chimbleys all 'roun', en
+she had rooms fer all de creeturs w'at went inter cahoots en hope make
+it.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he pick out one er de upsta'rs rooms, en he tuck'n' got
+'im a gun, en one er deze yer brass cannons, en he tuck'n' put um in dar
+w'en de yuther creeturs ain't lookin', en den he tuck'n' got 'im a tub
+er nasty slop-water, w'ich likewise he put in dar w'en dey ain't
+lookin'. So den, w'en dey git de house all fix, en w'iles dey wuz all
+a-settin' in de parlor atter supper, Brer Rabbit, he sorter gap en
+stretch hisse'f, en make his 'skuses en say he b'leeve he'll go ter he
+room. W'en he git dar, en w'iles all de yuther creeturs wuz a-laughin'
+en a-chattin' des ez sociable ez you please, Brer Rabbit, he stick he
+head out er de do' er he room en sing out:--
+
+"'Wen a big man like me wanter set down, wharbouts he gwine ter set?'
+sezee.
+
+"Den de yuther creeturs dey laugh, en holler back:--
+
+"'Ef big man like you can't set in a cheer, he better set down on de
+flo'.'
+
+"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm a
+gwine ter set down,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, _bang!_ went Brer Rabbit gun. Co'se, dis sorter 'stonish de
+creeturs, en dey look 'roun' at one er n'er much ez ter say, W'at in de
+name er gracious is dat? Dey lissen en lissen, but dey don't year no mo'
+fuss, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey got ter chattin' en jabberin' some
+mo'. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit stick he head outer he room do', en sing out:--
+
+"'Wen a big man like me wanter sneeze, wharbouts he gwine ter sneeze
+at?'
+
+"Den de yuther creeturs, dey tuck'n holler back:--
+
+"'Ef big man like you ain't a-gone gump, he kin sneeze anywhar he
+please.'
+
+"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm gwine ter
+tu'n loose en sneeze right yer,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let off his cannon--_bulderum-m-m!_ De
+winder-glass dey shuck en rattle, en de house shuck like she gwine ter
+come down, en ole Brer B'ar, he fell out de rockin'-cheer--_kerblump!_
+W'en de creeturs git sorter settle, Brer 'Possum en Brer Mink, dey up'n
+'low dat Brer Rabbit got sech a monst'us bad cole, dey b'leeve dey'll
+step out and git some fresh a'r, but dem yuther creeturs, dey say dey
+gwine ter stick it out; en atter w'ile, w'en dey git der h'ar smoove
+down, dey 'gun ter jower 'mongs' deyse'f. 'Bout dat time, w'en dey get
+in a good way, Brer Rabbit, he sing out:--
+
+"'W'en a big man like me take a chaw terbacker, wharbouts he gwine ter
+spit?'
+
+"Den de yuther creeturs, dey holler back, dey did, sorter like deyer
+mad:--
+
+"'Big man er little man, spit whar you please.'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he squall out:--
+
+"'Dis de way a big man spit!' en wid dat he tilt over de tub er
+slop-water, en w'en de yuther creeturs year it come a-sloshin' down de
+sta'r-steps, gentermens! dey des histed deyse'f outer dar. Some un um
+went out de back do', en some un um went out de front do', en some un um
+fell out de winders; some went one way en some went n'er way; but dey
+all went sailin' out."
+
+"But what became of Brother Rabbit?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n shot up de house en fassen de winders, en
+den he got ter bed, he did, en pull de coverled up 'roun' he years, en
+he sleep like a man w'at ain't owe nobody nuthin'; en needer do he owe
+um, kaze ef dem yuther creeturs gwine git skeer'd en run off fum der own
+house, w'at bizness is dat er Brer Rabbit? Dat w'at I like ter know."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[6] Preserves.
+
+[7] In the South, a rain is called a "season," not only by the negroes,
+but by many white farmers.
+
+[8] It is a far-away sound that might be identified with one of the
+various undertones of silence, but it is palpable enough (if the word
+may be used) to have attracted the attention of the humble philosophers
+of the old plantation.
+
+[9] Measuring.
+
+
+
+
+VII
+
+MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN
+
+
+Uncle Remus sighed heavily as he lifted the trivet on the head of his
+walking-cane, and hung it carefully by the side of the griddle in the
+cavernous fireplace.
+
+"Folks kin come 'long wid der watchermaycollums," he said presently,
+turning to the little boy, who was supplementing his supper by biting
+off a chew of shoemaker's-wax, "en likewise dey kin fetch 'roun' der
+watziznames. Dey kin walk biggity, en dey kin talk biggity, en mo'n dat,
+dey kin feel biggity, but yit all de same deyer gwine ter git kotch up
+wid. Dey go 'long en dey go 'long, en den bimeby yer come trouble en
+snatch um slonchways, en de mo' bigger w'at dey is, de wusser does dey
+git snatched."
+
+The little boy did n't understand this harangue at all, but he
+appreciated it because he recognized it as the prelude to a story.
+
+"Dar wuz Mr. Lion," Uncle Remus went on; "he tuck'n sot hisse'f up fer
+ter be de boss er all de yuther creeturs, en he feel so biggity dat he
+go ro'in' en rampin' 'roun' de neighborhoods wuss'n dat ar speckle bull
+w'at you see down at yo' Unk' Jeems Abercrombie place las' year. He went
+ro'in' 'roun', he did, en eve'ywhar he go he year talk er Mr. Man. Right
+in de middle er he braggin', some un 'ud up'n tell 'im 'bout w'at Mr.
+Man done done. Mr. Lion, he say he done dis, en den he year 'bout how
+Mr. Man done dat. Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby Mr. Lion shake he
+mane, he did, en he up'n say dat he gwine ter s'arch 'roun' en 'roun',
+en high en low, fer ter see ef he can't fine Mr. Man, en he 'low, Mr.
+Lion did, dat w'en he do fine 'im, he gwine ter tu'n in en gin Mr. Man
+sech n'er larrupin' w'at nobody ain't never had yit. Dem yuther
+creeturs, dey tuck'n tell Mr. Lion dat he better let Mr. Man 'lone, but
+Mr. Lion say he gwine ter hunt 'im down spite er all dey kin do.
+
+"Sho' nuff, atter he done tuck some res', Mr. Lion, he put out down de
+big road. Sun, she rise up en shine hot, but Mr. Lion, he keep on; win',
+hit come up en blow, en fill de elements full er dust; rain, hit drif'
+up en drizzle down; but Mr. Lion, he keep on. Bimeby, w'iles he gwine on
+dis a-way, wid he tongue hangin' out, he come up wid Mr. Steer, grazin'
+'long on de side er de road. Mr. Lion, he up'n ax 'im howdy, he did,
+monst'us perlite, en Mr. Steer likewise he bow en scrape en show his
+manners. Den Mr. Lion, he do lak he wanter have some confab wid 'im, en
+he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'Is dey anybody 'roun' in deze parts name Mr. Man?' sezee.
+
+"'Tooby sho' dey is,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee; 'anybody kin tell you dat. I
+knows 'im mighty well,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den, he de ve'y chap I'm atter,' sezee.
+
+"'W'at mought be yo' bizness wid Mr. Man?' sez Mr. Steer, sezee.
+
+"'I done come dis long ways fer ter gin 'im a larrupin',' sez Mr. Lion,
+sezee. 'I'm gwine ter show 'im who de boss er deze neighborhoods,'
+sezee, en wid dat Mr. Lion, he shake he mane, en switch he tail, en
+strut up en down wuss'n one er deze yer town niggers.
+
+"'Well, den, ef dat w'at you come atter,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee, 'you des
+better slew yo'se'f 'roun' en p'int yo' nose todes home, kaze you fixin'
+fer ter git in sho' 'nuff trouble,' sezee.
+
+"'I'm gwine ter larrup dat same Mr. Man,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee; 'I done
+come fer dat, en dat w'at I'm gwine ter do,' sezee.
+
+"Mr. Steer, he draw long breff, he did, en chaw he cud slow, en atter
+w'ile he say, sezee:--
+
+"'You see me stannin' yer front er yo' eyes, en you see how big I is, en
+w'at long, sharp hawns I got. Well, big ez my heft is, en sharp dough my
+hawns be, yit Mr. Man, he come out yer en he ketch me, en he put me und'
+a yoke, en he hitch me up in a kyart, en he make me haul he wood, en he
+drive me anywhar he min' ter. He do dat. Better let Mr. Man 'lone,'
+sezee. 'If you fool 'long wid 'im, watch out dat he don't hitch you up
+en have you prancin' 'roun' yer pullin' he kyart,' sezee.
+
+"Mr. Lion, he fotch a roar, en put out down de road, en 't wa'n't so
+mighty long 'fo' he come up wid Mr. Hoss, w'ich he wuz a-nibblin' en
+a-croppin' de grass. Mr. Lion make hisse'f know'd, en den he tuck'n ax
+Mr. Hoss do he know Mr. Man.
+
+"'Mighty well,' sez Mr. Hoss, sezee, 'en mo'n dat, I bin a-knowin' 'im a
+long time. W'at you want wid Mr. Man?' sezee.
+
+"'I'm a-huntin' 'im up fer ter larrup 'im,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee. 'Dey
+tells me he mighty stuck up,' sezee, 'en I gwine take 'im down a peg,'
+sezee.
+
+"Mr. Hoss look at Mr. Lion like he sorry, en bimeby he up'n say:--
+
+"'I 'speck you better let Mr. Man 'lone,' sezee. 'You see how big I is,
+en how much strenk w'at I got, en how tough my foots is,' sezee; 'well
+dish yer Mr. Man, he kin take'n take me en hitch me up in he buggy, en
+make me haul 'im all 'roun', en den he kin take'n fassen me ter de plow
+en make me break up all his new groun',' sezee. 'You better go 'long
+back home. Fus' news you know, Mr. Man'll have you breakin' up his new
+groun',' sezee.
+
+"Spite er all dis, Mr. Lion, he shake he mane en say he gwine ter larrup
+Mr. Man anyhow. He went on down de big road, he did, en bimeby he come
+up wid Mr. Jack Sparrer, settin' up in de top er de tree. Mr. Jack
+Sparrer, he whirl 'roun' en chirp, en flutter 'bout up dar, en
+'pariently make a great 'miration.
+
+"'Heyo yer!' sezee; 'who'd er 'speckted fer ter see Mr. Lion 'way down
+yer in dis neighborhoods?' sezee. 'Whar you gwine, Mr. Lion?' sezee.
+
+"Den Mr. Lion ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer know Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer
+say he know Mr. Man mighty well. Den Mr. Lion, he ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer
+know whar he stay, w'ich Mr. Jack Sparrer say dat he do. Mr. Lion ax
+wharbouts is Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer say he right 'cross dar in de
+new groun', en he up'n ax Mr. Lion w'at he want wid 'im, w'ich Mr. Lion
+'spon' dat he gwine larrup Mr. Man, en wid dat, Mr. Jack Sparrer, he
+up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'You better let Mr. Man 'lone. You see how little I is, en likewise how
+high I kin fly; yit, 'spite er dat, Mr. Man, he kin fetch me down w'en
+he git good en ready,' sezee. 'You better tuck yo' tail en put out
+home,' sez Mr. Jack Sparrer, sezee, 'kaze bimeby Mr. Man 'll fetch you
+down,' sezee.
+
+"But Mr. Lion des vow he gwine atter Mr. Man, en go he would, en go he
+did. He ain't never see Mr. Man, Mr. Lion ain't, en he dunner w'at he
+look lak, but he go on todes de new groun'. Sho' 'nuff, dar wuz Mr. Man,
+out dar maulin' rails fer ter make 'im a fence. He 'uz rippin' up de
+butt cut, Mr. Man wuz, en he druv in his wedge en den he stuck in de
+glut. He 'uz splittin' 'way, w'en bimeby he year rustlin' out dar in de
+bushes, en he look up, en dar wuz Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion ax 'im do he know
+Mr. Man, en Mr. Man 'low dat he know 'im mo' samer dan ef he wer' his
+twin brer. Den Mr. Lion 'low dat he wanter see' im, en den Mr. Man say,
+sezee, dat ef Mr. Lion will come stick his paw in de split fer ter hol'
+de log open twel he git back, he go fetch Mr. Man. Mr. Lion he march up
+en slap his paw in de place, en den Mr. Man, he tuck'n' knock de glut
+out, en de split close up, en dar Mr. Lion wuz. Mr. Man, he stan' off en
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'Ef you'd 'a' bin a steer er hoss, you mought er run'd, en ef you'd
+'a' bin a sparrer, you mought er flew'd, but yer you is, en you kotch
+yo'se'f,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Man sa'nter out in de bushes en cut 'im a hick'ry, en he
+let in on Mr. Lion, en he frail en frail 'im twel frailin' un 'im wuz a
+sin. En down ter dis day," continued Uncle Remus, in a tone calculated
+to destroy all doubt, "you can't git no Lion ter come up whar dey 's a
+Man a-maulin' rails en put he paw in de split. Dat you can't!"
+
+
+
+
+VIII
+
+THE STORY OF THE PIGS
+
+
+Uncle Remus relapsed into silence again, and the little boy, with
+nothing better to do, turned his attention to the bench upon which the
+old man kept his shoemaker's tools. Prosecuting his investigations in
+this direction, the youngster finally suggested that the supply of
+bristles was about exhausted.
+
+"I dunner w'at Miss Sally wanter be sendin' un you down yer fer, ef you
+gwine ter be stirr'n' en bodderin' 'longer dem ar doin's," exclaimed
+Uncle Remus, indignantly. "Now don't you scatter dem hog-bristle! De
+time wuz w'en folks had a mighty slim chance fer ter git bristle, en dey
+ain't no tellin' w'en dat time gwine come ag'in. Let 'lone dat, de time
+wuz w'en de breed er hogs wuz done run down ter one po' little pig, en
+it look lak mighty sorry chance fer dem w'at was bleedzd ter have
+bristle."
+
+By this time Uncle Remus's indignation had vanished, disappearing as
+suddenly and unexpectedly as it came. The little boy was curious to know
+when and where and how the bristle famine occurred.
+
+"I done tole you 'bout dat too long 'go ter talk 'bout," the old man
+declared; but the little boy insisted that he had never heard about it
+before, and he was so persistent that at last Uncle Remus, in
+self-defence, consented to tell the story of the Pigs.
+
+"One time, 'way back yander, de ole Sow en er chilluns wuz all livin'
+'longer' de yuther creeturs. Hit seem lak ter me dat de ole Sow wuz a
+widder 'oman, en ef I don't run inter no mistakes, hit look like ter me
+dat she got five chilluns. Lemme see," continued Uncle Remus, with the
+air of one determined to justify his memory by a reference to the
+record, and enumerating with great deliberation,--"dar wuz Big Pig, en
+dar wuz Little Pig, en dar wuz Speckle Pig, en dar wuz Blunt, en las' en
+lonesomes' dar wuz Runt.
+
+"One day, deze yer Pig ma she know she gwine kick de bucket, and she
+tuck'n call up all 'er chilluns en tell um dat de time done come w'en
+dey got ter look out fer deyse'f, en den she up'n tell um good ez she
+kin, dough 'er breff mighty scant, 'bout w'at a bad man is ole Brer
+Wolf. She say, sez she, dat if dey kin make der 'scape from ole Brer
+Wolf, dey'll be doin' monst'us well. Big Pig 'low she ain't skeer'd,
+Speckle Pig 'low she ain't skeer'd, Blunt, he say he mos' big a man ez
+Brer Wolf hisse'f, en Runt, she des tuck'n root 'roun' in de straw en
+grunt. But ole Widder Sow, she lay dar, she did, en keep on tellin' um
+dat dey better keep der eye on Brer Wolf, kaz he mighty mean en 'seetful
+man.
+
+"Not long atter dat, sho' 'nuff ole Miss Sow lay down en die, en all dem
+ar chilluns er hern wuz flung back on deyse'f, en dey whirl in, dey did,
+en dey buil' um all a house ter live in. Big Pig, she tuck'n buil' 'er a
+house outer bresh; Little Pig, she tuck'n buil' a stick house; Speckle
+Pig, she tuck'n buil' a mud house; Blunt, he tuck'n buil' a plank house;
+en Runt, she don't make no great ter-do, en no great brags, but she went
+ter wuk, she did, en buil' a rock house.
+
+"Bimeby, w'en dey done got all fix, en marters wuz sorter settle, soon
+one mawnin' yer come ole Brer Wolf, a-lickin' un his chops en a-shakin'
+un his tail. Fus' house he come ter wuz Big Pig house. Brer Wolf walk
+ter de do', he did, en he knock sorter saf'--_blim! blim! blim!_ Nobody
+ain't answer. Den he knock loud--_blam! blam! blam!_ Dis wake up Big
+Pig, en she come ter de do', en she ax who dat. Brer Wolf 'low it's a
+fr'en', en den he sing out:
+
+    "'_Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,
+    I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in._'
+
+"Still Big Pig ax who dat, en den Brer Wolf, he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'How yo' ma?' sezee.
+
+"'My ma done dead,' sez Big Pig, sezee, 'en 'fo' she die she tell me fer
+ter keep my eye on Brer Wolf. I sees you thoo de crack er de do', en you
+look mighty like Brer Wolf,' sezee.
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf, he draw a long breff lak he feel mighty bad, en he
+up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"I dunner w'at change yo' ma so bad, less'n she 'uz out'n er head. I
+year tell dat ole Miss Sow wuz sick, en I say ter myse'f dat I'd kinder
+drap 'roun' en see how de ole lady is, en fetch 'er dish yer bag er
+roas'n'-years. Mighty well dose I know dat ef yo' ma wuz yer right now,
+en in 'er min', she 'd take de roas'n'-years en be glad fer ter git um,
+en mo'n dat, she'd take'n ax me in by de fire fer ter worn my han's,'
+sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"De talk 'bout de roas'n'-years make Big Pig mouf water, en bimeby,
+atter some mo' palaver, she open de do' en let Brer Wolf in, en bless
+yo' soul, honey! dat uz de las' er Big Pig. She ain't had time fer ter
+squeal en needer fer ter grunt 'fo' Brer Wolf gobble 'er up.
+
+"Next day, ole Brer Wolf put up de same game on Little Pig; he go en he
+sing he song, en Little Pig, she tuck'n let 'im in, en den Brer Wolf he
+tuck'n 'turn de compelerments[10] en let Little Pig in."
+
+Here Uncle Remus laughed long and loud at his conceit, and he took
+occasion to repeat it several times.
+
+"Little Pig, she let Brer Wolf in, en Brer Wolf, he let Little Pig in,
+en w'at mo' kin you ax dan dat? Nex' time Brer Wolf pay a call, he drop
+in on Speckle Pig, en rap at de do' en sing his song:--
+
+    "'_Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,
+    I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in._'
+
+"But Speckle Pig, she kinder 'spicion sump'n', en she 'fuse ter open de
+do'. Yit Brer Wolf mighty 'seetful man, en he talk mighty saf' en he
+talk mighty sweet. Bimeby, he git he nose in de crack er de do' en he
+say ter Speckle Pig, sezee, fer ter des let 'im git one paw in, en den
+he won't go no furder. He git de paw in, en den he beg fer ter git de
+yuther paw in, en den w'en he git dat in he beg fer ter git he head in,
+en den w'en he git he head in, en he paws in, co'se all he got ter do is
+ter shove de do' open en walk right in; en w'en marters stan' dat way,
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' he done make fresh meat er Speckle Pig.
+
+"Nex' day, he make way wid Blunt, en de day atter, he 'low dat he make a
+pass at Runt. Now, den, right dar whar ole Brer Wolf slip up at. He lak
+some folks w'at I knows. He'd 'a' bin mighty smart, ef he had n't er bin
+too smart. Runt wuz de littles' one er de whole gang, yit all de same
+news done got out dat she 'uz pestered wid sense like grown folks.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he crope up ter Runt house, en he got un'need de winder, he
+did, en he sing out:--
+
+    "'_Ef you'll open de do' en let me in,
+    I'll wom my han's en go home ag'in._'
+
+"But all de same, Brer Wolf can't coax Runt fer ter open de do', en
+needer kin he break in, kaze de house done made outer rock. Bimeby Brer
+Wolf make out he done gone off, en den atter while he come back en knock
+at de do'--_blam, blam, blam!_
+
+"Runt she sot by de fier, she did, en sorter scratch 'er year, en holler
+out:--
+
+"'Who dat?' sez she.
+
+"'Hit's Speckle Pig,' sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee, 'twix' a snort en a
+grunt. 'I fotch yer some peas fer yo' dinner!'
+
+"Runt, she tuck'n laugh, she did, en holler back:--
+
+"'Sis Speckle Pig ain't never talk thoo dat many toofies.'
+
+"Brer Wolf go off 'g'in, en bimeby he come back en knock. Runt she sot
+en rock, en holler out:--
+
+"'Who dat?'
+
+"'Big Pig,' sez Brer Wolf. 'I fotch some sweet-co'n fer yo' supper.'
+
+"Runt, she look thoo de crack un'need de do', en laugh en say, sez
+she:--
+
+"'Sis Big Pig ain't had no ha'r on 'er huff.'
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf, he git mad, he did, en say he gwine come down de
+chimbley, en Runt, she say, sez she, dat de onliest way w'at he kin git
+in; en den, w'en she year Brer Wolf clam'in' up on de outside er de
+chimbley, she tuck'n pile up a whole lot er broom sage front er de
+h'a'th, en w'en she year 'im clam'in' down on de inside, she tuck de
+tongs en shove de straw on de fier, en de smoke make Brer Wolf head
+swim, en he drap down, en 'fo' he know it he 'uz done bu'nt ter a
+cracklin'; en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Wolf. Leas'ways," added Uncle
+Remus, putting in a cautious proviso to fall back upon in case of an
+emergency, "leas'ways, hit 'uz de las' er dat Brer Wolf."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[10] Compliments.
+
+
+
+
+IX
+
+MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE
+
+
+"I 'speck you done year tell er ole man Benjermun Ram," said Uncle
+Remus, with a great affectation of indifference, after a pause.
+
+"Old man who?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Ole man Benjermun Ram. I 'speck you done year tell er him too long 'go
+ter talk 'bout."
+
+"Why, no, I have n't, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy, protesting
+and laughing. "He must have been a mighty funny old man."
+
+"Dat's ez may be," responded Uncle Remus, sententiously. "Fun deze days
+would n't er counted fer fun in dem days; en many's de time w'at I see
+folks laughin'," continued the old man, with such withering sarcasm that
+the little boy immediately became serious,--"many's de time w'at I sees
+um laughin' en laughin', w'en I lay dey ain't kin tell w'at deyer
+laughin' at deyse'f. En 'taint der laughin' w'at pesters me,
+nudder,"--relenting a little,--"hit's dish yer ev'lastin' snickle en
+giggle, giggle en snickle."
+
+Having thus mapped out, in a dim and uncertain way, what older people
+than the little boy might have been excused for accepting as a sort of
+moral basis, Uncle Remus proceeded:--
+
+"Dish yer Mr. Benjermun Ram, w'ich he done come up inter my min', wuz
+one er dezeyer ole-timers. Dey tells me dat he 'uz a fiddler fum away
+back yander--one er dem ar kinder fiddlers w'at can't git de chune down
+fine 'less dey pats der foot. He stay all by he own-alone se'f way out
+in de middle un a big new-groun', en he sech a handy man fer ter have at
+a frolic dat de yuther creeturs like 'im mighty well, en w'en dey tuck a
+notion fer ter shake der foot, w'ich de notion tuck'n struck um eve'y
+once in a w'ile, nuthin' 'ud do but dey mus' sen' fer ole man Benjermun
+Ram en he fiddle; en dey do say," continued Uncle Remus, closing his
+eyes in a sort of ecstasy, "dat w'en he squar' hisse'f back in a cheer,
+en git in a weavin' way, he kin des snatch dem ole-time chunes fum who
+lay de rail.[11] En den, w'en de frolic wuz done, dey'd all fling in, dem
+yuther creeturs would, en fill up a bag er peas fer ole Mr. Benjermun
+Ram fer ter kyar home wid 'im.
+
+"One time, des 'bout Christmas, Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals,
+dey up'n say dat dey 'd sorter gin a blowout, en dey got wud ter ole man
+Benjermun Ram w'ich dey 'speckted 'im fer ter be on han'. Wen de time
+done come fer Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter start, de win' blow cole en de
+cloud 'gun ter spread out 'cross de elements--but no marter fer dat; ole
+man Benjermun Ram tuck down he walkin'-cane, he did, en tie up he fiddle
+in a bag, en sot out fer Miss Meadows. He thunk he know de way, but hit
+keep on gittin' col'er en col'er, en mo' cloudy, twel bimeby, fus' news
+you know, ole Mr. Benjermun Ram done lose de way. Ef he'd er kep' on
+down de big road fum de start, it moughter bin diffunt, but he tuck a
+nigh-cut, en he ain't git fur 'fo' he done los' sho' 'nuff. He go dis
+a-way, en he go dat a-way, en he go de yuther way, yit all de same he
+wuz done los'. Some folks would er sot right flat down whar dey wuz en
+study out der way, but ole man Benjermun Ram ain't got wrinkle on he
+hawn fer nothin', kaze he done got de name er ole Billy Hardhead long
+'fo' dat. Den ag'in, some folks would er stop right still in der tracks
+en holler en bawl fer ter see ef dey can't roust up some er de
+neighbors, but ole Mr. Benjermun Ram, he des stick he jowl in de win',
+he did, en he march right on des 'zackly like he know he ain't gwine de
+wrong way. He keep on, but 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'gun ter feel right
+lonesome, mo' speshually w'en hit come up in he min' how Miss Meadows en
+de gals en all de comp'ny be bleedz ter do de bes' dey kin bidout any
+fiddlin'; en hit kinder make he marrer git cole w'en he study 'bout how
+he gotter sleep out dar in de woods by hisse'f.
+
+"Yit, all de same, he keep on twel de dark 'gun ter drap down, en den he
+keep on still, en bimeby he come ter a little rise whar dey wuz a
+clay-gall. W'en he git dar he stop en look 'roun', he did, en 'way off
+down in de holler, dar he see a light shinin', en w'en he see dis, ole
+man Benjermun Ram tuck he foot in he han', en make he way todes it des
+lak it de ve'y place w'at he bin huntin'. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' he come
+ter de house whar de light is, en, bless you soul, he don't make no
+bones er knockin'. Den somebody holler out:--
+
+"'Who dat?'
+
+"'I'm Mr. Benjermun Ram, en I done lose de way, en I come fer ter ax you
+ef you can't take me in fer de night,' sezee.
+
+"In common," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz a mighty
+rough-en-spoken somebody, but you better b'leeve he talk monst'us
+perlite dis time.
+
+"Den some un on t'er side er de do' ax Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter walk
+right in, en wid dat he open de do' en walk in, en make a bow like
+fiddlin' folks does w'en dey goes in comp'ny; but he ain't no sooner
+make he bow en look 'roun' twel he 'gun ter shake en shiver lak he done
+bin strucken wid de swamp-ager, kaze, settin' right dar 'fo' de fier wuz
+ole Brer Wolf, wid his toofies showin' up all w'ite en shiny like dey
+wuz bran new. Ef ole Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't bin so ole en stiff I boun'
+you he'd er broke en run, but 'mos' 'fo' he had time fer ter study 'bout
+gittin' 'way, ole Brer Wolf done bin jump up en shet de do' en fassen
+'er wid a great big chain. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram he know he in fer't, en
+he tuck'n put on a bol' face ez he kin, but he des nat'ally hone[12] fer
+ter be los' in de woods some mo'. Den he make n'er low bow, en he hope
+Brer Wolf and all his folks is well, en den he say, sezee, dat he des
+drap in fer ter wom hisse'f, en 'quire uv de way ter Miss Meadows', en
+ef Brer Wolf be so good ez ter set 'im in de road ag'in, he be off putty
+soon en be much 'blige in de bargains.
+
+"'Tooby sho', Mr. Ram,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee, w'iles he lick he chops en
+grin; 'des put yo' walkin'-cane in de cornder over dar, en set yo' bag
+down on de flo', en make yo'se'f at home,' sezee. 'We ain't got much,'
+sezee, 'but w'at we is got is yone w'iles you stays, en I boun' we'll
+take good keer un you,' sezee; en wid dat Brer Wolf laugh en show his
+toofies so bad dat ole man Benjermun Ram come mighty nigh havin' 'n'er
+ager.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf tuck'n flung 'n'er lighter'd-knot on de fier, en den he
+slip inter de back room, en present'y, w'iles ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz
+settin' dar shakin' in he shoes, he year Brer Wolf whispun' ter he ole
+'oman:--
+
+"'Ole 'oman! ole 'oman! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat--fresh meat fer
+supper! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat--fresh meat fer supper!'
+
+"Den ole Miss Wolf, she talk out loud, so Mr. Benjermun Ram kin year:--
+
+"'Tooby sho' I'll fix 'im some supper. We er 'way off yer in de woods,
+so fur fum comp'ny dat goodness knows I'm mighty glad ter see Mr.
+Benjermun Ram.'
+
+"Den Mr. Benjermun Ram year ole Miss Wolf whettin' 'er knife on a
+rock--_shirrah! shirrah! shirrah!_--en ev'y time he year de knife say
+_shirrah!_ he know he dat much nigher de dinner-pot. He know he can't
+git 'way, en w'iles he settin' dar studyin', hit come 'cross he min' dat
+he des mought ez well play one mo' chune on he fiddle 'fo' de wuss come
+ter de wuss. Wid dat he ontie de bag en take out de fiddle, en 'gun ter
+chune 'er up--_plink, plank, plunk, plink! plunk, plank, plink, plunk!_"
+
+Uncle Remus's imitation of the tuning of a fiddle was marvellous enough
+to produce a startling effect upon a much less enthusiastic listener
+than the little boy. It was given in perfect good faith, but the serious
+expression on the old man's face was so irresistibly comic that the
+child laughed until the tears ran down his face. Uncle Remus very
+properly accepted this as a tribute to his wonderful resources as a
+story-teller, and continued, in great good-humor:--
+
+"W'en ole Miss Wolf year dat kinder fuss, co'se she dunner w'at is it,
+en she drap 'er knife en lissen. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't know dis,
+en he keep on chunin' up--_plank, plink, plunk, plank!_ Den ole Miss
+Wolf, she tuck'n hunch Brer Wolf wid 'er elbow, en she say, sez she:--
+
+"'Hey, ole man! w'at dat?"
+
+"Den bofe un um cock up der years en lissen, en des 'bout dat time ole
+Mr. Benjermun Ram he sling de butt er de fiddle up und' he chin, en
+struck up one er dem ole-time chunes."
+
+"Well, what tune was it, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, with some
+display of impatience.
+
+"Ef I ain't done gone en fergit dat chune off'n my min'," continued
+Uncle Remus; "hit sorter went like dat ar song 'bout 'Sheep shell co'n
+wid de rattle er his ho'n,' en yit hit mout er been dat ar yuther one
+'bout 'Roll de key, ladies, roll dem keys.' Brer Wolf en ole Miss Wolf,
+dey lissen en lissen, en de mo' w'at dey lissen de skeerder dey git,
+twel bimeby dey tuck ter der heels en make a break fer de swamp at de
+back er de house des lak de patter-rollers wuz atter um.
+
+"W'en ole man Benjermun Ram sorter let up wid he fiddlin', he don't see
+no Brer Wolf, en he don't year no ole Miss Wolf. Den he look in de back
+room; no Wolf dar. Den he look in de back po'ch; no Wolf dar. Den he
+look in de closet en de cubberd; no Wolf ain't dar yit. Den ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram, he tuck'n shot all de do's en lock um, en he s'arch
+'roun' en he fine some peas en fodder in de lof', w'ich he et um fer he
+supper, en den he lie down front er de fier en sleep soun' ez a log.
+
+"Nex' mawnin' he 'uz up en stirrin' monst'us soon, en he put out fum
+dar, en he fine de way ter Miss Meadows' time 'nuff fer ter play at de
+frolic. W'en he git dar, Miss Meadows en de gals, dey run ter de gate
+fer ter meet 'im, en dis un tuck he hat, en dat un tuck he cane, en
+t'er'n tuck he fiddle, en den dey up'n say:--
+
+"'Law, Mr. Ram! whar de name er goodness is you bin? We so glad you
+come. Stir 'roun' yer, folks, en git Mr. Ram a cup er hot coffee.'
+
+"Dey make a mighty big ter-do 'bout Mr. Benjermun Ram, Miss Meadows en
+Miss Motts en de gals did, but 'twix' you en me en de bedpos', honey,
+dey'd er had der frolic wh'er de ole chap 'uz dar er not, kaze de gals
+done make 'rangerments wid Brer Rabbit fer ter pat fer um, en in dem
+days Brer Rabbit wuz a patter, mon. He mos' sholy wuz."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[11] That is, from the foundation, or beginning.
+
+[12] To pine or long for anything. This is a good old English word,
+which has been retained in the plantation vocabulary.
+
+
+
+
+X
+
+BRER RABBIT'S RIDDLE
+
+
+"Could Brother Rabbit pat a tune, sure enough, Uncle Remus?" asked the
+little boy, his thoughts apparently dwelling upon the new accomplishment
+of Brother Rabbit at which the old man had hinted in his story of Mr.
+Benjamin Ram. Uncle Remus pretended to be greatly surprised that any one
+could be so unfamiliar with the accomplishments of Brother Rabbit as to
+venture to ask such a question. His response was in the nature of a
+comment:--
+
+"Name er goodness! w'at kinder pass dish yer we comin' ter w'en a great
+big grow'd up young un axin' 'bout Brer Rabbit? Bless yo' soul, honey!
+dey wa'n't no chune gwine dat Brer Rabbit can't pat. Let 'lone dat, w'en
+dey wuz some un else fer ter do de pattin', Brer Rabbit kin jump out
+inter de middle er de flo' en des nat'ally shake de eyel'ds off'en dem
+yuther creeturs. En 't wa'n't none er dish yer bowin' en scrapin', en
+slippin' en slidin', en han's all 'roun', w'at folks does deze days. Hit
+uz dish yer up en down kinder dancin', whar dey des lips up in de a'r
+fer ter cut de pidjin-wing, en lights on de flo' right in de middle er
+de double-shuffle. _Shoo!_ Dey ain't no dancin' deze days; folks' shoes
+too tight, en dey ain't got dat limbersomeness in de hips w'at dey uster
+is. Dat dey ain't.
+
+"En yit," Uncle Remus continued, in a tone which seemed to imply that he
+deemed it necessary to apologize for the apparent frivolity of Brother
+Rabbit,--"en yit de time come w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'gun ter put dis en
+dat tergedder, en de notion strak 'im dat he better be home lookin'
+atter de intruss er he fambly, 'stidder trapesin' en trollopin' 'roun'
+ter all de frolics in de settlement. He tuck'n study dis in he min' twel
+bimeby he sot out 'termin' fer ter 'arn he own livelihoods, en den he
+up'n lay off a piece er groun' en plant 'im a tater-patch.
+
+"Brer Fox, he see all dish yer gwine on, he did, en he 'low ter hisse'f
+dat he 'speck Brer Rabbit rashfulness done bin supjued kaze he skeer'd,
+en den Brer Fox make up his min' dat he gwine ter pay Brer Rabbit back
+fer all he 'seetfulness. He start in, Brer Fox did, en fum dat time
+forrerd he aggervate Brer Rabbit 'bout he tater-patch. One night he
+leave de draw-bars down, 'n'er night he fling off de top rails, en nex'
+night he t'ar down a whole panel er fence, en he keep on dis a-way twel
+'pariently Brer Rabbit dunner w'at ter do. All dis time Brer Fox keep on
+foolin' wid de tater-patch, en w'en he see w'ich Brer Rabbit ain't
+makin' no motion, Brer Fox 'low dat he done skeer'd sho' 'nuff, en dat
+de time done come fer ter gobble him up bidout lief er license. So he
+call on Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox did, en he ax 'im will he take a walk.
+Brer Rabbit, he ax wharbouts. Brer Fox say, right out yander. Brer
+Rabbit, he ax w'at is dey right out yander? Brer Fox say he know whar
+dey some mighty fine peaches, en he want Brer Rabbit fer ter go 'long en
+climb de tree en fling um down. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
+mo' speshually fer ter 'blige Brer Fox.
+
+"Dey sot out, dey did, en atter w'ile, sho' 'nuff, dey come ter de
+peach-orchud, en Brer Rabbit, w'at do he do but pick out a good tree, en
+up he clum. Brer Fox, he sot hisse'f at de root er de tree, kaze he 'low
+dat w'en Brer Rabbit come down he hatter come down backerds, en den dat
+'ud be de time fer ter nab 'im. But, bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit dun see
+w'at-Brer Fox atter 'fo' he clum up. W'en he pull de peaches, Brer Fox
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'Fling um down yer, Brer Rabbit--fling um right down yer so I kin
+ketch um,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter wunk de furdest eye fum Brer Fox, en he holler
+back, he did:--
+
+"'Ef I fling um down dar whar you is, Brer Fox, en you misses um, dey'll
+git squshed,' sezee, 'so I'll des sorter pitch um out yander in de grass
+whar dey won't git bus',' sezee.
+
+"Den he tuck'n flung de peaches out in de grass, en w'iles Brer Fox went
+atter um, Brer Rabbit, he skint down outer de tree, en hustle hisse'f
+twel he git elbow-room. Wen he git off little ways, he up 'n holler back
+ter Brer Fox dat he got a riddle he want 'im ter read. Brer Fox, he ax
+w'at is it. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he gun it out ter Brer Fox lak a man
+sayin' a speech:--
+
+    "'_Big bird rob en little bird sing,
+    De big bee zoon en little bee sting,
+    De little man lead en big hoss foller--
+    Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?_'
+
+"Ole Brer Fox scratch he head en study, en study en scratch he head, but
+de mo' he study de wuss he git mix up wid de riddle, en atter w'ile he
+tuck'n tell Brer Rabbit dat he dunno how in de name er goodness ter
+onriddle dat riddle.
+
+"'Come en go 'longer me,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en I boun' you I
+show you how ter read dat same riddle. Hit's one er dem ar kinder
+riddle,' sez ole man Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich 'fo' you read 'er you got ter
+eat a bait er honey, en I done got my eye sot on de place whar we kin
+git de honey at,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say up dar in ole
+Brer B'ar cotton-patch, whar he got a whole passel er bee-gums. Brer
+Fox, he 'low, he did, dat he ain't got no sweet-toof much, yit he wanter
+git at de innerds er dat ar riddle, en he don't keer ef he do go 'long.
+
+"Dey put out, dey did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey come ter ole Brer B'ar
+bee-gums, en ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n gun um a rap wid he walkin'-cane,
+des lak folks thumps water-millions fer ter see ef dey er ripe. He tap
+en he rap, en bimeby he come ter one un um w'ich she soun' like she plum
+full, en den he go 'roun' behime it, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he up'n
+say, sezee:--
+
+"'I'll des sorter tilt 'er up, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'en you kin put yo'
+head und' dar en git some er de drippin's,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tilt her up, en, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox, he jam he head
+un'need de gum. Hit make me laugh," Uncle Remus continued, with a
+chuckle, "fer ter see w'at a fresh man is Brer Fox, kaze he ain't no
+sooner stuck he head un'need dat ar bee-gum, dan Brer Rabbit turnt 'er
+aloose, en down she come--_ker-swosh!_--right on Brer Fox neck, en dar
+he wuz. Brer Fox, he kick; he squeal; he jump; he squall; he dance; he
+prance; he beg; he pray; yit dar he wuz, en w'en Brer Rabbit git way
+off, en tu'n 'roun' fer ter look back, he see Brer Fox des a-wigglin' en
+a-squ'min', en right den en dar Brer Rabbit gun one ole-time whoop, en
+des put out fer home.
+
+"W'en he git dar, de fus' man he see wuz Brer Fox gran'daddy, w'ich
+folks all call 'im Gran'sir' Gray Fox. W'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'How you come on, Gran'sir' Gray Fox?'
+
+"'I still keeps po'ly, I'm 'blije ter you, Brer Rabbit,' sez Gran'sir'
+Gray Fox, sezee. 'Is you seed any sign er my gran'son dis mawnin'?'
+sezee.
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit laugh en say w'ich him en Brer Fox bin a-ramblin'
+'roun' wid one er'n'er havin' mo' fun dan w'at a man kin shake a stick
+at.
+
+"'We bin a-riggin' up riddles en a-readin' un um,' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee. 'Brer Fox is settin' off some'rs in de bushes right now, aimin'
+fer ter read one w'at I gun 'im. I'll des drap you one,' sez ole Brer
+Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich, ef you kin read it, hit'll take you right spang
+ter whar yo' gran'son is, en you can't git dar none too soon,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+    [Illustration: "BRER RABBIT TURNT 'ER ALOOSE, EN DOWN SHE
+    COME--_KER-SWOSH!_"]
+
+"Den ole Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he up'n ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he
+sing out, he did:--
+
+    "'_De big bird rob en little bird sing;
+    De big bee zoon en little bee sting,
+    De little man lead en big hoss foller--
+    Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?_'
+
+"Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he tuck a pinch er snuff en cough easy ter hisse'f,
+en study en study, but he ain't make it out, en Brer Rabbit, he laugh en
+sing:--
+
+    "'_Bee-gum mighty big fer ter make Fox collar,
+    Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?_'
+
+"Atter so long a time, Gran'sir' Gray Fox sorter ketch a glimpse er w'at
+Brer Rabbit tryin' ter gin 'im, en he tip Brer Rabbit good-day, en
+shuffle on fer ter hunt up he gran'son."
+
+"And did he find him, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Tooby sho', honey. Brer B'ar year de racket w'at Brer Fox kickin' up,
+en he go down dar fer ter see w'at de marter is. Soon ez he see how de
+lan' lay, co'se he tuck a notion dat Brer Fox bin robbin' de bee-gums,
+en he got 'im a han'ful er hick'ries, Brer B'ar did, en he let in on
+Brer Fox en he wom he jacket scannerlous, en den he tuck'n tu'n 'im
+loose; but 't wa'n't long 'fo' all de neighbors git wud dat Brer Fox bin
+robbin' Brer B'ar bee-gums."
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: How Mr. Rooster lost his Dinner]
+
+XI
+
+HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER
+
+
+It seemed that the rainy season had set in in earnest, but the little
+boy went down to Uncle Remus's cabin before dark. In some mysterious
+way, it appeared to the child, the gloom of twilight fastened itself
+upon the dusky clouds, and the great trees without, and the dismal
+perspective beyond, gradually became one with the darkness. Uncle Remus
+had thoughtfully placed a tin pan under a leak in the roof, and the
+_drip-drip-drip_ of the water, as it fell in the resonant vessel, made a
+not unmusical accompaniment to the storm.
+
+The old man fumbled around under his bed, and presently dragged forth a
+large bag filled with lightwood knots, which, with an instinctive
+economy in this particular direction, he had stored away for an
+emergency. A bright but flickering flame was the result of this timely
+discovery, and the effect it produced was quite in keeping with all the
+surroundings. The rain, and wind, and darkness held sway without, while
+within, the unsteady lightwood blaze seemed to rhyme with the
+_drip-drip-drip_ in the pan. Sometimes the shadow of Uncle Remus, as he
+leaned over the hearth, would tower and fill the cabin, and again it
+would fade and disappear among the swaying and swinging cobwebs that
+curtained the rafters.
+
+"W'en bed-time come, honey," said Uncle Remus, in a soothing tone, "I'll
+des snatch down yo' pa buggy umbrell' fum up dar in de cornder, des lak
+I bin a-doin', en I'll take'n take you und' my arm en set you down on
+Miss Sally h'a'th des ez dry en ez wom ez a rat'-nes' inside a
+fodder-stack."
+
+At this juncture 'Tildy, the house-girl, rushed in out of the rain and
+darkness with a water-proof cloak and an umbrella, and announced her
+mission to the little boy without taking time to catch her breath.
+
+"Miss Sally say you got ter come right back," she exclaimed. "Kaze she
+skeerd lightin' gwine strak 'roun' in yer 'mongs' deze high trees
+some'rs."
+
+Uncle Remus rose from his stooping posture in front of the hearth and
+assumed a threatening attitude.
+
+"Well, is anybody year de beat er dat!" was his indignant exclamation.
+"Look yer, gal! don't you come foolin' 'longer me--now, don't you do it.
+Kaze ef yer does, I'll take'n hit you a clip w'at'll put you ter bed
+'fo' bed-times come. Dat's w'at!"
+
+"Lawdy! w'at I done gone en done ter Unk' Remus now?" asked 'Tildy, with
+a great affectation of innocent ignorance.
+
+"I'm gwine ter put on my coat en take dat ar umbrell', en I'm gwine
+right straight up ter de big house en ax Miss Sally ef she sont dat
+kinder wud down yer, w'en she know dat chile sittin' yer 'longer me. I'm
+gwine ter ax her," continued Uncle Remus, "en if she ain't sont dat wud,
+den I'm gwine ter fetch myse'f back. Now, you des watch my motions."
+
+"Well, I year Miss Sally say she 'feard lightnin' gwine ter strak
+some'rs on de place," said 'Tildy, in a tone which manifested her
+willingness to compromise all differences, "en den I axt 'er kin I come
+down yer, en den she say I better bring deze yer cloak en pairsol."
+
+"Now you dun brung um," responded Uncle Remus, "you des better put um in
+dat cheer over dar, en take yo'se'f off. Thunder mighty ap' ter hit
+close ter whar deze here slick-head niggers is."
+
+But the little boy finally prevailed upon the old man to allow 'Tildy to
+remain, and after a while he put matters on a peace footing by inquiring
+if roosters crowed at night when it was raining.
+
+"Dat dey duz," responded Uncle Remus. "Wet er dry, dey flops der wings
+en wakes up all de neighbors. Law, bless my soul!" he exclaimed
+suddenly, "w'at make I done gone en fergit 'bout Mr. Rooster?"
+
+"What about him?" inquired the little boy.
+
+"One time, 'way back yander," said Uncle Remus, knocking the ashes off
+his hands and knees, "dey wuz two plan'ations right 'longside one er
+'ne'r, en on bofe er deze plan'ations wuz a whole passel of fowls. Dey
+wuz mighty sociable in dem days, en it tu'n out dat de fowls on one
+plan'ation gun a party, w'ich dey sont out der invites ter de fowls on
+de 't'er plan'ation.
+
+"W'en de day come, Mr. Rooster, he blow his hawn, he did, en 'semble um
+all tergedder, en atter dey 'semble dey got in line. Mr. Rooster, he
+tuck de head, en atter 'im come ole lady Hen en Miss Pullet, en den dar
+wuz Mr. Peafowl, en Mr. Tukkey Gobbler, en Miss Guinny Hen, en Miss
+Puddle Duck, en all de balance un um. Dey start off sorter raggedy, but
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' dey all kotch de step, en den dey march down by de
+spring, up thoo de hoss-lot en 'cross by de gin-house, en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' dey git ter whar de frolic wuz.
+
+"'Dey dance, en dey play, en dey sing. Mo' 'speshually did dey play en
+sing dat ar song w'ich it run on lak dis:--
+
+    "'_Come under, come under,
+    My honey, my love, my own true love;
+    My heart bin a-weepin'
+    Way down in Galilee._'
+
+"Dey wuz gwine on dis a-way, havin' der 'musements, w'en, bimeby, ole
+Mr. Peafowl, he got on de comb er de barn en blow de dinner-hawn. Dey
+all wash der face en ban's in de back po'ch, en den dey went in ter
+dinner. W'en dey git in dar, dey don't see nothin' on de table but a
+great big pile er co'n-bread. De pones was pile up on pones, en on de
+top wuz a great big ash-cake. Mr. Rooster, he look at dis en he tu'n up
+he nose, en bimeby, atter aw'ile, out he strut. Ole Miss Guinny Hen, she
+watchin' Mr. Rooster motions, en w'en she see dis, she take'n squall
+out, she did:--
+
+"_'Pot-rack! Pot-rack!_ Mr. Rooster gone back! _Pot-rack! Pot-rack!_ Mr.
+Rooster gone back!'
+
+"Wid dat dey all make a great ter-do. Miss Hen en Miss Pullet, dey
+cackle en squall, Mr. Gobbler, he gobble, en Miss Puddle Duck, she shake
+'er tail en say, _quickity-quack-quack_. But Mr. Rooster, he ruffle up
+he cape, en march on out.
+
+"Dis sorter put a damper on de yuthers, but 'fo' Mr. Rooster git outer
+sight en year'n dey went ter wuk on de pile w'at wuz 'pariently
+co'n-bread, en, lo en beholes, un'need dem pone er bread wuz a whole
+passel er meat en greens, en bake' taters, en bile' turnips. Mr.
+Rooster, he year de ladies makin' great 'miration, en he stop en look
+thoo de crack, en dar he see all de doin's en fixin's. He feel mighty
+bad, Mr. Rooster did, w'en he see all dis, en de yuther fowls dey holler
+en ax 'im fer ter come back, en he craw, w'ich it mighty empty,
+likewise, it up'n ax 'im, but he mighty biggity en stuck up, en he strut
+off, crowin' ez he go; but he 'speunce er dat time done las' him en all
+er his fambly down ter dis day. En you neenter take my wud fer't, ne'r,
+kaze ef you'll des keep yo' eye open en watch, you'll ketch a glimse er
+ole Mr. Rooster folks scratchin' whar dey 'specks ter fine der rations,
+en mo' dan dat, dey'll scratch wid der rations in plain sight. Since dat
+time, dey ain't none er de Mr. Roosters bin fool' by dat w'at dey see on
+top. Dey ain't res' twel dey see w'at und' dar. Dey'll scratch spite er
+all creation."
+
+"Dat's de Lord's truth!" said 'Tildy, with unction. "I done seed um wid
+my own eyes. Dat I is."
+
+This was 'Tildy's method of renewing peaceful relations with Uncle
+Remus, but the old man was disposed to resist the attempt.
+
+"You better be up yander washin' up dishes, stidder hoppin' down yer wid
+er whole packet er stuff w'at Miss Sally ain't dreamp er sayin'."
+
+
+
+
+XII
+
+BRER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY
+
+
+As long as Uncle Remus allowed 'Tildy to remain in the cabin, the little
+boy was not particularly interested in preventing the perfunctory abuse
+which the old man might feel disposed to bestow upon the complacent
+girl. The truth is, the child's mind was occupied with the episode in
+the story of Mr. Benjamin Ram which treats of the style in which this
+romantic old wag put Mr. and Mrs. Wolf to flight by playing a tune upon
+his fiddle. The little boy was particularly struck with this remarkable
+feat, as many a youngster before him had been, and he made bold to recur
+to it again by asking Uncle Remus for all the details. It was plain to
+the latter that the child regarded Mr. Ram as the typical hero of all
+the animals, and this was by no means gratifying to the old man. He
+answered the little boy's questions as well as he could, and, when
+nothing more remained to be said about Mr. Ram, he settled himself back
+in his chair and resumed the curious history of Brother Rabbit:--
+
+"Co'se Mr. Ram mighty smart man. I ain't 'spute dat; but needer Mr. Ram
+ner yet Mr. Lam is soon creeturs lak Brer Rabbit. Mr. Benjermun Ram, he
+tuck'n skeer off Brer Wolf en his ole 'oman wid his fiddle, but, bless
+yo' soul, ole Brer Rabbit he gone en done wuss'n dat."
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do?" asked the little boy.
+
+"One time," said Uncle Remus, "Brer Fox, he tuck'n ax some er de yuther
+creeturs ter he house. He ax Brer B'ar, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, but
+he ain't ax Brer Rabbit. All de same, Brer Rabbit got win' un it, en he
+'low dat ef he don't go, he 'speck he have much fun ez de nex' man.
+
+"De creeturs w'at git de invite, dey tuck'n 'semble at Brer Fox house,
+en Brer Fox, he ax um in en got um cheers, en dey sot dar en laugh en
+talk, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox, he fotch out a bottle er dram en lay 'er
+out on de side-bode, en den he sorter step back en say, sezee:--
+
+"'Des step up, gentermens, en he'p yo'se'f,' en you better b'lieve dey
+he'p derse'f.
+
+"Wiles dey wuz drinkin' en drammin' en gwine on, w'at you 'speck Brer
+Rabbit doin'? You des well make up yo' min' dat Brer Rabbit monst'us
+busy, kaze he 'uz sailin' 'roun' fixin' up his tricks. Long time 'fo'
+dat, Brer Rabbit had been at a bobbycue whar dey was a muster, en w'iles
+all de folks 'uz down at de spring eatin' dinner, Brer Rabbit he crope
+up en run off wid one er de drums. Dey wuz a big drum en a little drum,
+en Brer Rabbit he snatch up de littles' one en run home.
+
+"Now, den, w'en he year 'bout de yuther creeturs gwine ter Brer Fox
+house, w'at do Brer Rabbit do but git out dis rattlin' drum en make de
+way down de road todes whar dey is. He tuk dat drum," continued Uncle
+Remus, with great elation of voice and manner, "en he went down de road
+todes Brer Fox house, en he make 'er talk like thunner mix up wid hail.
+Hit talk lak dis:--
+
+"'_Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum--diddybum!_'
+
+"De creeturs, dey 'uz a-drinkin', en a-drammin', en a-gwine on at a
+terrible rate, en dey ain't year de racket, but all de same, yer come
+Brer Rabbit:--
+
+"'_Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum--diddybum!_'
+
+"Bimeby Brer 'Coon, w'ich he allers got one year hung out fer de news,
+he up'n ax Brer Fox w'at dat, en by dat time all de creeturs stop en
+lissen; but all de same, yer come Brer Rabbit:--
+
+"'_Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum--diddybum!_'
+
+"De creeturs dey keep on lis'nin', en Brer Rabbit keep on gittin'
+nigher, twel bimeby Brer 'Coon retch und' de cheer fer he hat, en say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'Well, gents, I 'speck I better be gwine. I tole my ole 'oman dat I
+won't be gone a minnit, en yer 't is 'way 'long in de day.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer 'Coon, he skip out, but he ain't git much furder dan de
+back gate, 'fo' yer come all de yuther creeturs like dey 'uz runnin' a
+foot-race, en ole Brer Fox wuz wukkin' in de lead."
+
+"Dar, now!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with great fervor.
+
+"Yasser! dar dey wuz, en dar dey went," continued Uncle Remus. "Dey tuck
+nigh cuts, en dey scramble over one er 'n'er, en dey ain't res' twel dey
+git in de bushes.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he came on down de road--_diddybum, diddybum,
+diddybum-bum-bum_--en bless gracious! w'en he git ter Brer Fox house dey
+ain't nobody dar. Brer Rabbit is dat ow-dacious, dat he hunt all 'roun'
+twel he fine de a'r-hole en de drum, en he put his mouf ter dat en sing
+out, sezee:--
+
+"'Is dey anybody home?' en den he answer hisse'f, sezee, 'Law, no,
+honey--folks all gone.'
+
+"Wid dat, ole Brer Rabbit break loose en laugh, he did, fit ter kill
+hisse'f, en den he slam Brer Fox front gate wide open, en march up ter
+de house. W'en he git dar, he kick de do' open en hail Brer Fox, but
+nobody ain't dar, en Brer Rabbit he walk in en take a cheer, en make
+hisse'f at home wid puttin' his foots on de sofy en spittin' on de flo'.
+
+"Brer Rabbit ain't sot dar long 'fo' he ketch a whiff er de dram--"
+
+"You year dat?" exclaimed 'Tildy, with convulsive admiration.
+
+"--'Fo' he ketch a whiff er de dram, en den he see it on de side-bode,
+en he step up en drap 'bout a tumbeler full some'rs down in de
+neighborhoods er de goozle. Brer Rabbit mighty lak some folks I knows.
+He tuck one tumbeler full, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he tuck 'n'er'n, en
+w'en a man do dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, somewhat
+apologetically, "he bleedz ter git drammy."
+
+"Truth, too!" said 'Tildy, by way of hearty confirmation.
+
+"All des time de yuther creeturs wuz down hi de bushes lissenin' fer de
+_diddybum_, en makin' ready fer ter light out fum dar at de drop uv a
+hat. But dey ain't year no mo' fuss, en bimeby Brer Fox, he say he gwine
+back en look atter he plunder, en de yuther creeturs say dey b'leeve
+dey'll go 'long wid 'im. Dey start out, dey did, en dey crope todes Brer
+Fox house, but dey crope mighty keerful, en I boun' ef somebody'd 'a'
+shuck a bush, dem ar creeturs 'ud 'a' nat'ally to' up de ye'th gittin'
+'way fum dar. Yit dey still ain't year no fuss, en dey keep on creepin'
+twel dey git in de house.
+
+"W'en dey git in dar, de fus' sight dey see wuz ole Brer Rabbit stannin'
+up by de dram-bottle mixin' up a toddy, en he wa'n't so stiff-kneed
+n'er, kase he sorter swage fum side ter side, en he look lak he mighty
+limbersome, w'ich, goodness knows, a man bleedz ter be limbersome w'en
+he drink dat kinder licker w'at Brer Fox perwide fer dem creeturs.
+
+"W'en Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit makin' free wid he doin's dat a-way, w'at
+you 'speck he do?" inquired Uncle Remus, with the air of one seeking
+general information.
+
+"I 'speck he cusst," said 'Tildy, who was apt to take a vividly
+practical view of matters.
+
+"He was glad," said the little boy, "because he had a good chance to
+catch Brother Rabbit."
+
+"Tooby sho' he wuz," continued Uncle Remus, heartily assenting to the
+child's interpretation of the situation: "tooby sho' he wuz. He stan'
+dar, Brer Fox did, en he watch Brer Rabbit motions. Bimeby he holler
+out, sezee:--
+
+"'Ah yi![13] Brer Rabbit!' sezee. 'Many a time is you made yo' 'scape,
+but now I got you!' En wid dat, Brer Fox en de yuther creeturs cloze in
+on Brer Rabbit.
+
+"Seem like I done tole you dat Brer Rabbit done gone en tuck mo' dram
+dan w'at 'uz good fer he wholesome. Yit he head ain't swim so bad dat he
+dunner w'at he doin', en time he lay eyes on Brer Fox, he know he done
+got in close quarters. Soon ez he see dis, Brer Rabbit make like he bin
+down in de cup mo' deeper dan w'at he is, en he stagger 'roun' like town
+gal stannin' in a batteau, en he seem lak he des ez limber ez a wet rag.
+He stagger up ter Brer Fox, he did, en he roll he eyeballs 'roun', en
+slap 'im on he back en ax 'im how he ma. Den w'en he see de yuther
+creeturs," continued Uncle Remus, "he holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Vents yo' uppance, gentermens! Vents yo' uppance![14] Ef you'll des
+gimme han'-roomance en come one at a time, de tussle 'll las' longer.
+How you all come on, nohow?' sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit talk so kuse dat de yuther creeturs have mo' fun dan
+w'at you k'n shake a stick at, but bimeby Brer Fox say dey better git
+down ter business, en den dey all cloze in on Brer Rabbit, en dar he
+wuz.
+
+"In dem days, ole man B'ar wuz a jedge 'mongs' de creeturs, en dey all
+ax 'im w'at dey gwine do 'long wid Brer Rabbit, en Jedge B'ar, he put on
+his specks, en cle'r up his th'oat, en say dat de bes' way ter do wid a
+man w'at kick up sech a racket, en run de neighbors outer der own house,
+en go in dar en level[15] on de pantry, is ter take 'im out en drown 'im;
+en ole Brer Fox, w'ich he settin' on de jury, he up'n smack he hands
+togedder, en cry, en say, sezee, dat atter dis he bleedz ter b'leeve dat
+Jedge B'ar done got all-under holt on de lawyer-books, kaze dat 'zackly
+w'at dey say w'en a man level on he neighbor pantry.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he make out he skeerd, en he holler en cry, en beg um,
+in de name er goodness, don't fling 'im in de spring branch, kaze dey
+all know he dunner how ter swim: but ef dey bleedz fer ter pitch 'im in,
+den for mussy sake gin' 'im a walkin'-cane, so he kin have sumpin' ter
+hol' ter w'iles he drownin'.
+
+"Ole Brer B'ar scratch his head en say, sezee, dat, fur ez his
+'membunce go back, he ain't come 'cross nothin' in de lawyer-book ter
+de contraries er dat, en den dey all 'gree dat Brer Rabbit kin have a
+walkin'-cane.
+
+"Wid dat, dey ketch up Brer Rabbit en put 'im in a wheelborrow en kyar
+'im down ter de branch, en fling 'im in."
+
+"Eh-eh!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with well-feigned astonishment.
+
+"Dey fling 'im in," continued Uncle Remus, "en Brer Rabbit light on he
+foots, same ez a tomcat, en pick his way out by de helps er de
+walkin'-cane. De water wuz dat shaller dat it don't mo'n come over Brer
+Rabbit slipper, en w'en he git out on t'er side, he holler back,
+sezee:--
+
+"'So long, Brer Fox!'"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[13] A corruption of "aye, aye." It is used as an expression of triumph
+and its employment in this connection is both droll and picturesque.
+
+[14] Southern readers will recognize this and "han'-roomance" as terms
+used by negroes in playing marbles,--a favorite game on the plantations
+Sunday afternoons. These terms were curt and expressive enough to gain
+currency among the whites.
+
+[15] Levy.
+
+
+
+
+XIII
+
+BRER FOX, BRER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S DAUGHTER
+
+
+Notwithstanding Brother Rabbit's success with the drum, the little boy
+was still inclined to refer to Mr. Benjamin Ram and his fiddle; but
+Uncle Remus was not, by any means, willing that such an ancient vagabond
+as Mr. Ram should figure as a hero, and he said that, while it was
+possible that Brother Rabbit was no great hand with the fiddle, he was a
+drummer, and a capital singer to boot. Furthermore, Uncle Remus declared
+that Brother Rabbit could perform upon the quills,[16] an accomplishment
+to which none of the other animals could lay claim. There was a time,
+too, the old man pointedly suggested, when the romantic rascal used his
+musical abilities to win the smiles of a nice young lady of quality--no
+less a personage, indeed, than King Deer's daughter. As a matter of
+course, the little boy was anxious to hear the particulars, and Uncle
+Remus was in nowise loath to give them.
+
+"W'en you come ter ax me 'bout de year en day er de mont'," said the
+old man, cunningly arranging a defence against criticism, "den I'm done,
+kaze de almanick w'at dey got in dem times won't pass muster deze days,
+but, let 'lone dat, I 'speck dey ain't had none yit; en if dey is, dey
+ain't none bin handed down ter Remus.
+
+"Well, den, some time 'long in dar, ole Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit got ter
+flyin' 'roun' King Deer daughter. Dey tells me she 'uz a monst'us likely
+gal, en I 'speck may be she wuz; leas'ways, Brer Fox, he hanker atter
+'er, en likewise Brer Rabbit, he hanker atter 'er. Ole King Deer look
+lak he sorter lean todes Brer Fox, kaze ter a settle man like him, hit
+seem lak dat Brer Fox kin stir 'roun' en keep de pot a-b'ilin', mo'
+speshually bein's he de bigges'. Hit go on dis a-way twel hardly a day
+pass dat one er de yuther er dem creeturs don't go sparklin' 'roun' King
+Deer daughter, en it got so atter w'ile dat all day long Brer Rabbit en
+Brer Fox keep de front gate a-skreakin', en King Deer daughter ain't
+ska'cely had time fer ter eat a meal vittels in no peace er min'.
+
+"In dem days," pursued Uncle Remus, in a tone of unmistakable historical
+fervor, "w'en a creetur go a-courtin' dey wa'n't none er dish yer bokay
+doin's mix' up 'longer der co'tship, en dey ain't cut up no capers like
+folks does now. Stidder scollopin' 'roun' en bowin' en scrapin', dey des
+go right straight atter de gal. Ole Brer Rabbit, he mouter had some
+bubby-blossoms[17] wrop up in his hankcher, but mostly him en Brer Fox
+'ud des drap in on King Deer daughter en 'gin ter cas' sheep-eyes at 'er
+time dey sot down en cross der legs."
+
+"En I bet," said 'Tildy, by way of comment, and looking as though she
+wanted to blush, "dat dey wa'n't 'shame', nuther."
+
+"Dey went 'long dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, "twel it 'gun ter
+look sorter skittish wid Brer Rabbit, kaze ole King Deer done good ez
+say, sezee, dat he gwine ter take Brer Fox inter de fambly. Brer
+Rabbit, he 'low, he did, dat dis ain't gwine ter do, en he study en
+study how he gwine ter cut Brer Fox out.
+
+"Las', one day, w'iles he gwine thoo King Deer pastur' lot, he up wid a
+rock en kilt two er King Deer goats. Wen he git ter de house, he ax King
+Deer daughter whar'bouts her pa, en she up'n say she go call 'im, en
+w'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he ax w'en de weddin' tuck place, en King Deer
+ax w'ich weddin', en Brer Rabbit say de weddin' 'twix' Brer Fox en King
+Deer daughter. Wid dat, ole King Deer ax Brer Rabbit w'at make he go on
+so, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat he see Brer Fox makin' monst'us
+free wid de fambly, gwine 'roun' chunkin' de chickens en killin' up de
+goats.
+
+"Ole King Deer strak he walkin'-cane down 'pon de flo', en 'low dat he
+don't put no 'pennunce in no sech tale lak dat, en den Brer Rabbit tell
+'im dat ef he'll des take a walk down in de pastur' lot, he kin see de
+kyarkiss er de goats. Ole King Deer, he put out, en bimeby he come back,
+en he 'low he gwine ter settle marters wid Brer Fox ef it take 'im a
+mont'.
+
+"Brer Rabbit say he a good frien' ter Brer Fox, en he ain't got no room
+ter talk 'bout 'im, but yit w'en he see 'im 'stroyin' King Deer goats en
+chunkin' at his chickens, en rattlin' on de palin's fer ter make de dog
+bark, he bleedz ter come lay de case 'fo' de fambly.
+
+"'En mo'n dat,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'I'm de man w'at kin make
+Brer Fox come en stan' right at de front gate en tell you dat he is kill
+dem goat; en ef you des wait twel ter-night, I won't ax you ter take my
+wud,' sezee.
+
+"King Deer say ef Brer Rabbit man 'nuff ter do dat, den he kin git de
+gal en thanky, too. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit jump up en crack he heels
+tergedder, en put out fer ter fine Brer Fox. He ain't git fur 'fo' he
+see Brer Fox comin' down de road all primp up. Brer Rabbit, he sing out,
+he did:--
+
+"'Brer Foxy, whar you gwine?' "En Brer Fox, he holler back:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Rab; don't bodder wid me. I'm gwine fer ter see my gal.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he laugh 'way down in his stomach, but he don't let on, en
+atter some mo' chat, he up'n say dat ole King Deer done tell 'im 'bout
+how Brer Fox gwine ter marry he daughter, en den he tell Brer Fox dat he
+done promise King Deer dat dey'd drap 'roun' ter-night en gin 'im some
+music.
+
+"'En I up'n tole 'im,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat de music w'at we
+can't make ain't wuth makin',--me wid my quills, en you wid yo'
+tr'angle.[18] De nex' motion we makes,' sezee, we'll hatter go off
+some'rs en practise up on de song we'll sing, en I got one yer dat'll
+tickle um dat bad,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'twel I lay dey'll fetch out
+a hunk er dat big chicken-pie w'at I see um puttin' in de pot des now,'
+sezee.
+
+"In a 'casion lak dis, Brer Fox say he de ve'y man w'at Brer Rabbit
+huntin', en he 'low dat he'll des 'bout put off payin' he call ter King
+Deer house en go wid Brer Rabbit fer ter practise on dat song.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he git he quills en Brer Fox he git he tr'angle, en
+dey went down on de spring branch, en dar dey sing en play, twel dey git
+it all by heart. Ole Brer Rabbit, he make up de song he own se'f, en he
+fix it so dat he sing de call, lak de captain er de co'n-pile, en ole
+Brer Fox, he hatter sing de answer."[19]
+
+At this point Uncle Remus paused to indulge in one of his suggestive
+chuckles, and then proceeded:--
+
+"Don't talk 'bout no songs ter me. Gentermens! dat 'uz a funny song fum
+de wud go. Bimeby, w'en dey practise long time, dey gits up en goes
+'roun' in de neighborhoods er King Deer house, en w'en night come dey
+tuck der stan' at de front gate, en atter all got still, Brer Rabbit, he
+gun de wink, en dey broke loose wid der music. Dey played a chune er two
+on de quills en tr'angle, en den dey got ter de song. Ole Brer Rabbit,
+he got de call, en he open up lak dis:--
+
+    "'_Some folks pile up mo'n dey kin tote,
+    En dot w'at de marter wid King Deer goat,_'
+
+en den Brer Fox, he make answer:--
+
+    "'_Dat's so, dat's so, en I'm glad dat it's so!_'
+
+Den de quills en de tr'angle, dey come in, en den Brer Rabbit pursue on
+wid de call:--
+
+    "'_Some kill sheep en some kill shote,
+    But Brer Fox kill King Deer goat,_'
+
+en den Brer Fox, he jine in wid de answer:--
+
+    "'_I did, dat I did, en I'm glad dat I did!_'
+
+En des 'bout dat time King Deer, he walk outer de gate en hit Brer Fox a
+clip wid his walkin'-cane, en he foller it up wid 'n'er'n, dat make Brer
+Fox fa'rly squall, en you des better b'lieve he make tracks 'way fum
+dar, en de gal she come out, en dey ax Brer Rabbit in."
+
+"Did Brother Rabbit marry King Deer's daughter, Uncle Remus?" asked the
+little boy.
+
+"Now, den, honey, you're crowdin' me," responded the old man. "Dey ax
+'im in, en dey gun 'im a great big hunk er chicken-pie, but I won't make
+sho' dat he tuck'n marry de gal. De p'int wid me is de way Brer Rabbit
+run Brer Fox off fum dar."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[16] The veritable Pan's pipes. A simple but very effective musical
+instrument made of reeds, and in great favor on the plantations.
+
+[17] A species of sweet-shrub growing wild in the South.
+
+[18] Triangle.
+
+[19] That is to say, Brother Rabbit sang the air and Brother Fox the
+refrain.
+
+
+
+
+XIV
+
+BRER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BRER BUZZARD
+
+
+There was a pause here, which was finally broken by 'Tildy, whose remark
+was in the shape of a very undignified yawn. Uncle Remus regarded her
+for a moment with an expression of undisguised scorn, which quickly
+expressed itself in words:--
+
+"Ef you'd er bin outer de house dat whack, you'd er tuck us all in.
+Pity dey ain't some place er 'n'er whar deze yer trollops kin go en
+l'arn manners."
+
+Tildy, however, ignored the old man, and, with a toss of her head, said
+to the little boy in a cool, exasperating tone, employing a pet name she
+had heard the child's mother use:--
+
+"Well, Pinx, I 'speck we better go. De rain done mos' hilt up now, en
+bimeby de stars'll be a-shinin'. Miss Sally lookin' fer you right now."
+
+"You better go whar you gwine, you triflin' huzzy, you!" exclaimed Uncle
+Remus. "You better go git yo' Jim Crow kyard en straighten out dem wrops
+in yo' ha'r. I allers year w'ite folks say you better keep yo' eye on
+niggers w'at got der ha'r wrop up in strings. Now I done gun you fa'r
+warnin's."
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, when the old man's wrath had
+somewhat subsided, "why do they call them Jim Crow cards?"
+
+"I be bless ef I know, honey, 'ceppin' it's kaze dey er de onliest
+machine w'at deze yer low-life niggers kin oncomb der kinks wid. Now,
+den," continued the old man, straightening up and speaking with
+considerable animation, "dat 'min's me 'bout a riddle w'at been runnin'
+'roun' in my head. En dat riddle--it's de outdoin'es' riddle w'at I mos'
+ever year tell un. Hit go lak dis: Ef he come, he don't come; ef he
+don't come, he come. Now, I boun' you can't tell w'at is dat."
+
+After some time spent in vain guessing, the little boy confessed that he
+did n't know.
+
+"Hit's crow en co'n," said Uncle Remus sententiously.
+
+"Crow and corn, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Co'se, honey. Crow come, de co'n don't come; crow don't come, den de
+co'n come."
+
+"Dat's so," said 'Tildy. "I done see um pull up co'n, en I done see co'n
+grow w'at dey don't pull up."
+
+If 'Tildy thought to propitiate Uncle Remus, she was mistaken. He
+scowled at her, and addressed himself to the little boy:--
+
+"De Crow, he mighty close kin ter de Buzzud, en dat puts me in min' dat
+we ain't bin a-keepin' up wid ole Brer Buzzud close ez we might er done.
+
+"W'at de case mout be deze days, I ain't a-sayin', but, in dem times,
+ole Brer Tarrypin love honey mo' samer dan Brer B'ar, but he wuz dat
+flat-footed dat, w'en he fine a bee-tree, he can't climb it, en he go so
+slow dat he can't hardly fine um. Bimeby, one day, w'en he gwine 'long
+down de road des a-honin' atter honey, who should he meet but ole Brer
+Buzzud.
+
+"Dey shuck han's mighty sociable en ax 'bout de news er de
+neighborhoods, en den, atter w'ile, Brer Tarrypin say ter ole Brer
+Buzzud, sezee, dat he wanter go inter cahoots wid 'im 'longer gittin'
+honey, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey struck a trade. Brer Buzzud wuz ter
+fly 'roun' en look fer de bee-tree, en Brer Tarrypin he wuz ter creep en
+crawl, en hunt on de groun'.
+
+"Dey start out, dey did, ole Brer Buzzud sailin' 'roun' in de elements,
+en ole Brer Tarrypin shufflin' en shamblin' on de groun'. 'Mos' de ve'y
+fus' fiel' w'at he come ter, Brer Tarrypin strak up wid a great big
+bumbly-bee nes' in de groun'. He look 'roun', ole Brer Tarrypin did, en
+bimeby he stick he head in en tas'e de honey, en den he pull it out en
+look all 'roun' fer ter see ef he kin ketch a glimpse er Brer Buzzud;
+but Brer Buzzud don't seem lak he nowhar. Den Brer Tarrypin say to
+hisse'f, sezee, dat he 'speck dat bumbly-bee honey ain't de kinder honey
+w'at dey been talkin' 'bout, en dey ain't no great shakes er honey dar
+nohow. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin crope inter de hole en gobble up de las'
+drop er de bumbly-bee honey by he own-alone se'f. Atter he done make
+'way wid it, he come out, he did, en he whirl in en lick it all off'n
+his footses, so ole Brer Buzzud can't tell dat he done bin git a mess er
+honey.
+
+"Den ole Brer Tarrypin stretch out he neck en try ter lick de honey
+off'n he back, but he neck too short; en he try ter scrape it off up
+'g'in' a tree, but it don't come off; en den he waller on de groun', but
+still it don't come off. Den old Brer Tarrypin jump up, en say ter
+hisse'f dat he'll des 'bout rack off home, en w'en Brer Buzzud come he
+kin lie on he back en say he sick, so ole Brer Buzzud can't see de
+honey.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin start off, he did, but he happen ter look up, en, lo en
+beholes, dar wuz Brer Buzzud huv'rin' right spang over de spot whar he
+is. Brer Tarrypin know Brer Buzzud bleedz ter see 'im ef he start off
+home, en mo'n dat, he know he be fine out ef he don't stir 'roun' en do
+sump'n' mighty quick. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin shuffle back ter de
+bumbly-bee nes' swif' ez he kin, en buil' 'im a fier in dar, en den he
+crawl out en holler:--
+
+"'Brer Buzzud! O Brer Buzzud! Run yer, fer gracious sake, Brer Buzzud,
+en look how much honey I done fine! I des crope in a little ways, en it
+des drip all down my back, same like water. Run yer, Brer Buzzud! Half
+yone en half mine, Brer Buzzud!'
+
+"Brer Buzzud, he flop down, en he laugh en say he mighty glad, kaze he
+done git hongry up dar whar he bin. Den Brer Tarrypin tell Brer Buzzud
+fer ter creep in little ways en tas'e en see how he like um, w'iles he
+take his stan' on de outside en watch fer somebody. But no sooner is
+Brer Buzzud crope in de bumbly-bee nes' dan Brer Tarrypin take'n roll a
+great big rock front er de hole. Terreckly, de fier 'gun ter bu'n Brer
+Buzzud, en he sing out like a man in trouble:--
+
+"'Sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin--sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin!'
+
+"Den ole Brer Tarrypin, he holler back:--
+
+"'It's de bumbly-bees a-stingin' you, Brer Buzzud; stan' up en flop yo'
+wings, Brer Buzzud. Stan' up en flop yo' wings, Brer Buzzud, en you'll
+drive um off,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Buzzud flop en flop he wings, but de mo' w'at he flop, de mo' he
+fan de fier, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he done bodaciously bu'n up, all
+'ceppin' de big een er his wing-fedders, en dem ole Brer Tarrypin tuck
+en make inter some quills, w'ich he go 'roun' a-playin' un um, en de
+chune w'at he play was dish yer:--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee._'"
+
+
+
+
+XV
+
+BRER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS
+
+
+"That must have been a mighty funny song," said the little boy.
+
+"Fun one time ain't fun 'n'er time; some folks fines fun whar yuther
+folks fines trouble. Pig may laugh w'en he see de rock a-heatin', but
+dey ain't no fun dar fer de pig.[20]
+
+"Yit, fun er no fun, dat de song w'at Brer Tarrypin play on de quills:--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee._'
+
+"Nobody dunner whar de quills cum fum, kaze Brer Tarrypin, he ain't
+makin no brags how he git um; yit ev'ybody wants um on account er der
+playin' sech a lonesome[21] chune, en ole Brer Fox, he want um wuss'n
+all. He beg en he beg Brer Tarrypin fer ter sell 'im dem quills; but
+Brer Tarrypin, he hol' on t' um tight, en say eh-eh! Den he ax Brer
+Tarrypin fer ter loan um t' um des a week, so he kin play fer he
+chilluns, but Brer Tarrypin, he shake he head en put he foot down, en
+keep on playin':--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee._'
+
+"But Brer Fox, he ain't got no peace er min' on account er dem quills,
+en one day he meet Brer Tarrypin en he ax 'im how he seem ter
+segashuate[22] en he fambly en all he chilluns; en den Brer Fox ax Brer
+Tarrypin ef he can't des look at de quills, kaze he got some
+goose-fedders at he house, en if he kin des get a glimpse er Brer
+Tarrypin quills, he 'speck he kin make some mighty like um.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he study 'bout dis, but he hate ter 'ny small favors
+like dat, en bimeby he hol' out dem quills whar Brer Fox kin see um. Wid
+dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n juk de quills outen Brer Tarrypin han', he did,
+and dash off des ez hard ez he kin go. Brer Tarrypin, he holler en
+holler at 'im des loud ez he kin holler, but he know he can't ketch 'im,
+en he des sot dar, Brer Tarrypin did, en look lak he done los' all de
+kin-folks w'at he got in de roun' worrul'.
+
+"Atter dis, Brer Fox he strut 'roun' en play mighty biggity, en eve'y
+time he meet Brer Tarrypin in de road he walk all 'roun' 'im en play on
+de quills like dis:--
+
+    "'_I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud;
+    I foolee ole Tarrypin, too._'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he feel mighty bad, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Las',
+one day w'iles ole Brer Tarrypin was settin' on a log sunnin' hisse'f,
+yer come Brer Fox playin' dat same old chune on de quills, but Brer
+Tarrypin, he stay still. Brer Fox, he come up little nigher en play, but
+Brer Tarrypin, he keep he eyes shot en he stay still. Brer Fox, he come
+nigher en git on de log; Brer Tarrypin ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Fox
+still git up nigher en play on de quills; still Brer Tarrypin ain't
+sayin' nothin'.
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin mighty sleepy dis mawnin',' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
+
+"Still Brer Tarrypin keep he eyes shot en stay still. Brer Fox keep on
+gittin' nigher en nigher, twel bimeby Brer Tarrypin open he eyes en he
+mouf bofe, en he make a grab at Brer Fox en miss 'im.
+
+"But hol' on!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to an expression of
+intense disappointment in the child's face. "You des wait a minnit. Nex'
+mawnin', Brer Tarrypin take hisse'f off en waller in a mud-hole, en
+smear hisse'f wid mud twel he look des 'zackly lak a clod er dirt. Den
+he crawl off en lay down un'need a log whar he know Brer Fox come eve'y
+mawnin' fer ter freshen[23] hisse'f.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en terreckly yer come Brer Fox. Time he
+git dar, Brer Fox 'gun ter lip backerds en forerds 'cross de log, and
+Brer Tarrypin he crope nigher en nigher, twel bimeby he make a grab at
+Brer Fox en kotch him by de foot. Dey tells me," continued Uncle Remus,
+rubbing his hands together in token of great satisfaction,--"dey tells
+me dat w'en Brer Tarrypin ketch holt, hit got ter thunder 'fo' he let
+go. All I know, Brer Tarrypin git Brer Fox by de foot, en he hilt 'im
+dar. Brer Fox he jump en he r'ar, but Brer Tarrypin done got 'im. Brer
+Fox, he holler out:--
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, please lemme go!'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin talk way down in his th'oat:--
+
+"'Gim' my quills!'
+
+"'Lemme go en fetch um.'
+
+"'Gim'my quills!'
+
+"'Do pray lemme go git um.'
+
+"'Gim'my quills!'
+
+    [Illustration: "'BRER TARRYPIN. PLEASE LEMME GO!'"]
+
+"En, bless gracious! dis all Brer Fox kin git outer Brer Tarrypin. Las',
+Brer Fox foot hu't 'im so bad dat he bleedz ter do sump'n', en he sing
+out fer his ole 'oman fer ter fetch de quills, but he ole 'oman, she
+busy 'bout de house, en she don't year 'im. Den he call he son, w'ich he
+name Tobe. He holler en bawl, en Tobe make answer:
+
+"'Tobe! O Tobe! You Tobe!'
+
+"'Wat you want, daddy?'
+
+"'Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills.'
+
+"'Wat you say, daddy? Fetch de big tray ter git de honey in?'
+
+"'No, you crazy-head! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!'
+
+"'Wat you say, daddy? Fetch de dipper ter ketch de minners in?'
+
+"'No, you fool! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!'
+
+"'Wat you say, daddy? Water done been spill?'
+
+"Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w'ile ole Miss Fox year de racket, en
+den she lissen, en she know dat 'er ole man holler'n' fer de quills, en
+she fotch um out en gun um ter Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin, he let
+go he holt. He let go he holt," Uncle Remus went on, "but long time
+atter dat, w'en Brer Fox go ter pay he calls, he hatter go
+_hoppity-fetchity, hoppity-fetchity_."
+
+The old man folded his hands in his lap, and sat quietly gazing into the
+lightwood fire. Presently he said:--
+
+"I 'speck Miss Sally blessin' us all right now, en fus' news you know
+she'll h'ist up en have Mars John a-trapesin' down yer; en ef she do
+dat, den ter-morrer mawnin' my brekkuss'll be col', en lakwise my
+dinner, en ef dey's sump'n' w'at I 'spizes hit's col' vittels."
+
+Thereupon Uncle Remus arose, shook himself, peered out into the night to
+discover that the rain had nearly ceased, and then made ready to carry
+the little boy to his mother. Long before the chickens had crowed for
+midnight, the child, as well as the old man, had been transported to the
+land where myths and fables cease to be wonderful,--the land of pleasant
+dreams.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[20] An allusion to the primitive mode of cleaning hogs by heating
+rocks, and placing them in a barrel or tank of water.
+
+[21] This word "lonesome," as used by the negroes, is the equivalent of
+"thrilling," "romantic," etc., and in that sense is very expressive.
+
+[22] An inquiry after his health. Another form is: "How does yo'
+corporosity seem ter segashuate?"
+
+[23] Exercise himself.
+
+
+
+
+XVI
+
+HOW BRER FOX FAILED TO GET HIS GRAPES
+
+
+One night the little boy failed to make his appearance at the accustomed
+hour, and the next morning the intelligence that the child was sick went
+forth from the "big house." Uncle Remus was told that it had been
+necessary during the night to call in two physicians. When this
+information was imparted to the old man, there was an expression upon
+his countenance of awe not unmixed with indignation. He gave vent to the
+latter:--
+
+"Dar now! Two un um! W'en dat chile rize up, ef rize up he do, he'll des
+nat'ally be a shadder. Yer I is, gwine on eighty year, en I ain't tuck
+none er dat ar docter truck yit, ceppin' it's dish yer flas' er
+poke-root w'at ole Miss Favers fix up fer de stiffness in my j'ints.
+Dey'll come en dey'll go, en dey'll po' in der jollup yer, en slap on
+der fly-plarster dar, en sprinkle der calomy yander, twel bimeby dat
+chile won't look like hisse'f. Dat's w'at! En mo'n dat, hit's mighty
+kuse unter me dat ole folks kin go 'long en stan' up ter de rack en
+gobble up der 'lowance, en yit chilluns is got ter be strucken down. Ef
+Miss Sally'll des tu'n dem docter mens loose onter me, I lay I lick up
+der physic twel dey go off 'stonish'd."
+
+But no appeal of this nature was made to Uncle Remus. The illness of the
+little boy was severe, but not fatal. He took his medicine and improved,
+until finally even the doctors pronounced him convalescent. But he was
+very weak, and it was a fortnight before he was permitted to leave his
+bed. He was restless, and yet his term of imprisonment was full of
+pleasure. Every night after supper Uncle Remus would creep softly into
+the back piazza, place his hat carefully on the floor, rap gently on the
+door by way of announcement, and so pass into the nursery. How patient
+his vigils, how tender his ministrations, only the mother of the little
+boy knew; how comfortable and refreshing the change from the bed to the
+strong arms of Uncle Remus, only the little boy could say.
+
+Almost the first manifestation of the child's convalescence was the
+renewal of his interest in the wonderful adventures of Brother Rabbit,
+Brother Fox, and the other brethren who flourished in that strange past
+over which this modern AEsop had thrown the veil of fable. "Miss Sally,"
+as Uncle Remus called the little boy's mother, sitting in an adjoining
+room, heard the youngster pleading for a story, and after a while she
+heard the old man clear up his throat with a great affectation of
+formality and begin.
+
+"Dey ain't skacely no p'int whar ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer Fox made
+der 'greements side wid one er 'n'er; let 'lone dat, dey wuz one p'int
+'twix' 'um w'ich it wuz same ez fier en tow, en dat wuz Miss Meadows en
+de gals. Little ez you might 'speck, dem same creeturs wuz bofe un um
+flyin' 'roun' Miss Meadows en de gals. Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd go dar, en
+dar he'd fine ole Brer Fox settin' up gigglin' wid de gals, en den he'd
+skuze hisse'f, he would, en gallop down de big road a piece, en paw up
+de san' same lak dat ar ball-face steer w'at tuck'n tuck off yo' pa'
+coat-tail las' Feberwary. En lakwise ole Brer Fox, he'd sa'nter in, en
+fine old man Rab. settin' 'longside er de gals, en den he'd go out down
+de road en grab a 'simmon-bush in he mouf, en nat'ally gnyaw de bark
+off'n it. In dem days, honey," continued Uncle Remus, responding to a
+look of perplexity on the child's face, "creeturs wuz wuss dan w'at dey
+is now. Dey wuz dat--lots wuss.
+
+"Dey went on dis a-way twel, bimeby, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter cas' 'roun',
+he did, fer ter see ef he can't bus' inter some er Brer Fox
+'rangerments, en, atter w'ile, one day w'en he wer' settin' down by de
+side er de road wukkin up de diffunt oggyment w'at strak pun he mine, en
+fixin' up he tricks, des 'bout dat time he year a clatter up de long
+green lane, en yer come ole Brer
+Fox_toobookity--bookity--bookity-book--_lopin' 'long mo' samer dan a
+bay colt in de bolly-patch. En he wuz all primp up, too, mon, en he look
+slick en shiny lak he des come outen de sto'. Ole man Rab., he sot dar,
+he did, en w'en ole Brer Fox come gallopin' 'long, Brer Rabbit, he up'n
+hail 'im. Brer Fox, he fotch up, en dey pass de time er day wid one er
+nudder monst'us perlite; en den, bimeby atter w'ile, Brer Rabbit, he
+up'n say, sezee, dat he got some mighty good news fer Brer Fox; en Brer
+Fox, he up'n ax 'im w'at is it. Den Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch he
+year wid his behime foot en say, sezee:--
+
+"'I wuz takin' a walk day 'fo' yistiddy,' sezee, 'w'en de fus' news I
+know'd I run up gin de bigges' en de fattes' bunch er grapes dat I ever
+lay eyes on. Dey wuz dat fat en dat big,' sezee, 'dat de natal juice wuz
+des drappin' fum um, en de bees wuz a-swawmin' atter de honey, en little
+ole Jack Sparrer en all er his fambly conneckshun wuz skeetin' 'roun'
+dar dippin' in der bills,' sezee.
+
+"Right den en dar," Uncle Remus went on, "Brer Fox mouf 'gun ter water,
+en he look outer he eye like he de bes' frien' w'at Brer Rabbit got in
+de roun' worl'. He done fergit all 'bout de gals, en he sorter sidle up
+ter Brer Rabbit, he did, en he say, sezee:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Rabbit,' sezee, 'en less you 'n me go git dem ar grapes
+'fo' deyer all gone,' sezee. En den ole Brer Rabbit, he laff, he did, en
+up'n 'spon', sezee:--
+
+"'I hungry myse'f, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'but I ain't hankerin' atter
+grapes, en I'll be in monst'us big luck ef I kin rush 'roun' yer some'rs
+en scrape up a bait er pusley time nuff fer ter keep de breff in my
+body. En yit,' sezee,' ef you take'n rack off atter deze yer grapes,
+w'at Miss Meadows en de gals gwine do? I lay dey got yo' name in de
+pot,' sezee.
+
+"'Ez ter dat,' sez ole Brer Fox, sezee, 'I kin drap 'roun' en see de
+ladies atterwards,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den, ef dat's yo' game,' sez ole man Rab., sezee, 'I kin squot
+right flat down yer on de groun' en p'int out de way des de same ez
+leadin' you dar by de han',' sezee; en den Brer Rabbit sorter chaw on he
+cud lak he gedder'n up his 'membunce, en he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"'You know dat ar place whar you went atter sweetgum fer Miss Meadows en
+de gals t'er day?' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox 'low dat he know dat ar place same ez he do he own
+tater-patch.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'de grapes ain't dar. You git ter
+de sweetgum,' sezee, 'en den you go up de branch twel you come ter a
+little patch er bamboo brier--but de grapes ain't dar. Den you follow
+yo' lef' han' en strike 'cross de hill twel you come ter dat big red oak
+root--but de grapes ain't dar. On you goes down de hill twel you come
+ter 'n'er branch, en on dat branch dars a dogwood-tree leanin' 'way
+over, en nigh dat dogwood dars a vine, en in dat vine, dar you'll fine
+yo' grapes. Deyer dat ripe,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat dey look
+like deyer done melt tergedder, en I speck you'll fine um full er bugs,
+but you kin take dat fine bushy tail er yone, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'en
+bresh dem bugs away.'
+
+"Brer Fox 'low he much 'blige, en den he put out atter de grapes in a
+han'-gallop, en w'en he done got outer sight, en likewise outer year'n,
+Brer Rabbit, he take'n git a blade er grass, he did, en tickle hisse'f
+in de year, en den he holler en laff, en laff en holler, twel he hatter
+lay down fer ter git he breff back 'gin.
+
+"Den, atter so long time, Brer Rabbit he jump up, he do, en take atter
+Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he ain't look ter de right ner de lef', en
+needer do he look behime; he des keep a-rackin' 'long twel he come ter
+de sweetgum-tree, en den he tu'n up de branch twel he come ter de bamboo
+brier, en den he tu'n squar ter de lef' twel he come ter de big red-oak
+root, en den he keep on down he hill twel he come ter de yuther branch,
+en dar he see de dogwood; en mo'n dat, dar nigh de dogwood he see de
+vine, en in dat vine dar wuz de big bunch er grapes. Sho' nuff, dey wuz
+all kivvud wid bugs.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd bin a-pushin' 'long atter Brer Fox, but he des
+hatter scratch gravel fer ter keep up. Las' he hove in sight, en he lay
+off in de weeds, he did, fer ter watch Brer Fox motions. Present'y Brer
+Fox crope up de leanin' dogwood-tree twel he come nigh de grapes, en den
+he sorter ballunce hisse'f on a lim' en gun um a swipe wid his big bushy
+tail, fer ter bresh off de bugs. But, bless yo' soul, honey! no sooner
+is he done dat dan he fetch a squall w'ich Miss Meadows vow atterwards
+she year plum ter her house, en down he come--_kerblim_!"
+
+"What was the matter, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Law, honey! dat seetful Brer Rabbit done fool ole Brer Fox. Dem ar
+grapes all so fine wuz needer mo' ner less dan a great big was'-nes', en
+dem bugs wuz deze yer red wassies--deze yer speeshy w'at's rank pizen
+fum cen' ter cen'. W'en Brer Fox drap fum de tree de wassies dey drap
+wid 'im, en de way dey wom ole Brer Fox up wuz sinful. Dey ain't mo'n
+tetch' im 'fo' dey had 'im het up ter de b'ilin' p'int. Brer Fox, he
+run, en he kick, en he scratch, en he bite, en he scramble, en he
+holler, en he howl, but look lak dey git wuss en wuss. One time, hit
+seem lak Brer Fox en his new 'quaintance wuz makin' todes Brer Rabbit,
+but dey ain't no sooner p'int dat way, dan ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n make
+a break, en he went sailin' thoo de woods wuss'n wunner dese
+whully-win's, en he ain't stop twel he fetch up at Miss Meadows.
+
+"Miss Meadows en de gals, dey ax 'im, dey did, wharbouts wuz Brer Fox,
+en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat he done gone a-grape-huntin', en den
+Miss Meadows, she 'low, she did:--
+
+"'Law, gals! is you ever year de beat er dat? En dat, too, w'en Brer Fox
+done say he comin' ter dinner,' sez she. 'I lay I done wid Brer Fox,
+kaze you can't put no pennunce in deze yer men-folks,' sez she. 'Yer de
+dinner bin done dis long time, en we bin a-waitin' lak de quality. But
+now I'm done wid Brer Fox,' sez she.
+
+"Wid dat, Miss Meadows en de gals dey ax Brer Rabbit fer ter stay ter
+dinner, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter make like he wanter be skuze, but
+bimeby he tuck a cheer en sot um out. He tuck a cheer," continued Uncle
+Remus, "en he ain't bin dar long twel he look out en spy ole Brer Fox
+gwine 'long by, en w'at do Brer Rabbit do but call Miss Meadows en de
+gals en p'int 'im out? Soon's dey seed 'im dey sot up a monst'us
+gigglement, kaze Brer Fox wuz dat swell up twel little mo'n he'd a bus'.
+He head wuz swell up, en down ter he legs, dey wuz swell up. Miss
+Meadows, she up'n say dat Brer Fox look like he done gone en got all de
+grapes dey wuz in de neighborhoods, en one er de yuther gals, she
+squeal, she did, en say:--
+
+"'Law, ain't you 'shame', en right yer 'fo' Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"En den dey hilt der han's 'fo' der face en giggle des like gals duz
+deze days."
+
+
+
+
+XVII
+
+BRER FOX FIGURES AS AN INCENDIARY
+
+
+The next night the little boy had been thoughtful enough to save some of
+his supper for Uncle Remus, and to this "Miss Sally" had added, on her
+own account, a large piece of fruit-cake. The old man appeared to be
+highly pleased.
+
+"Ef ders enny kinder cake w'at I likes de mos', hit's dish yer kine
+w'at's got reezins strowed 'mongs' it. Wid sick folks, now," he
+continued, holding up the cake and subjecting it to a critical
+examination, "dish yer hunk 'ud mighty nigh las' a mont', but wid a well
+man lak I is, hit won't las' a minnit."
+
+And it did n't. It disappeared so suddenly that the little boy laughed
+aloud, and wanted Uncle Remus to have some more cake; but the latter
+protested that he did n't come there "fer ter git founder'd," but merely
+to see "ef somebody's strenk uz strong 'nuff fer ter stan' 'n'er tale."
+The little boy said if Uncle Remus meant him, he was sure his health was
+good enough to listen to any number of stories. Whereupon, the old man,
+without any tantalizing preliminaries, began:--
+
+"Brer Fox done bin fool so much by Brer Rabbit dat he sorter look 'roun'
+fer ter see ef he can't ketch up wid some er de yuther creeturs, en so,
+one day, w'iles he gwine long down de big road, who should he strak up
+wid but old Brer Tarrypin. Brer Fox sorter lick his chops, en 'low dat
+ef he kin fling ennybody en gin um all-under holt, Brer Tarrypin de man,
+en he march up, mighty biggity, like he gwine ter make spote un 'im.
+W'en he git up nigh 'nuff, Brer Fox hail 'im:--
+
+"'How you 'speck you fine yo'se'f dis mawnin', Brer Tarrypin?' sezee.
+
+"'Slow, Brer Fox--mighty slow,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. 'Day in en day
+out I'm mighty slow, en it look lak I'm a-gittin' slower; I'm slow en
+po'ly, Brer Fox--how you come on?' sezee.
+
+"'Oh, I'm slanchindickler, same ez I allers is,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
+'W'at make yo' eye so red, Brer Tarrypin?' sezee.
+
+"'Hit's all 'longer de trouble I see, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Tarrypin,
+sezee. 'I see trouble en you see none; trouble come en pile up on
+trouble,' sezee.
+
+"'Law, Brer Tarrypin!' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'you ain't see no trouble
+yit. Ef you wanter see sho' 'nuff trouble, you des oughter go 'longer
+me; I'm de man w'at kin show you trouble,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'ef youer de man w'at kin
+show me trouble, den I'm de man w'at want a glimpse un it,' sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Fox, he ax Brer Tarrypin is he seed de Ole Boy, en den Brer
+Tarrypin, he make answer dat he ain't seed 'im yit, but he year tell un
+'im. Wid dat, Brer Fox 'low de Ole Boy de kinder trouble he bin talkin'
+'bout, en den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax how he gwine see 'im. Brer Fox,
+he tak'n lay out de pogrance, en he up'n tell Brer Tarrypin dat ef he'll
+step up dar in de middle er dat ole broom-sage fiel', en squot dar a
+spell, 't won't be no time 'fo' he'll ketch a glimpse er de Ole Boy.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin know'd ders sump'n' wrong some'rs, yit he mos' too
+flat-flooted fer ter have enny scuffle wid Brer Fox, en he say ter
+hisse'f dat he'll go 'long en des trus' ter luck; en den he 'low dat ef
+Brer Fox he'p 'im 'cross de fence, he b'lieve he'll go up en resk one
+eye on de Ole Boy. Co'se Brer Fox hope 'im 'cross, en no sooner is he
+good en gone, dan Brer Fox, he fix up fer ter make 'im see trouble. He
+lipt out ter Miss Meadows house, Brer Fox did, en make like he wanter
+borry a chunk er fier fer ter light he pipe, en he tuck dat chunk, en he
+run 'roun' de fiel', en he sot de grass a fier, en't wa'n't long 'fo' it
+look lak de whole face er de yeth waz a-blazin' up."
+
+"Did it burn the Terrapin up?" interrupted the little boy.
+
+"Don't push me, honey; don't make me git de kyart 'fo' de hoss. W'en ole
+Brer Tarrypin 'gun ter wade thoo de straw, de ve'y fus' man w'at he
+strak up wid wuz ole man Rabbit layin' dar sleepin' on de shady side uv
+a tussock. Brer Rabbit, he one er deze yer kinder mens w'at sleep wid
+der eye wide open, en he wuz 'wake d'reckly he year Brer Tarrypin
+scufflin' en scramblin' 'long thoo de grass. Atter dey shuck han's en ax
+'bout one er n'er fambly, hit ain't take long fer Brer Tarrypin fer ter
+tell Brer Rabbit w'at fotch 'im dar, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'Hit's des na'tally a born blessin' dat you struck up wid me w'en you
+did,' sezee, 'kaze little mo' en bofe un us would 'a' bin bobbycu'd,'
+sezee.
+
+"Dis kinder tarrify Brer Tarrypin, en he say he wanter git out fum dar;
+but Brer Rabbit he 'low he'd take keer un 'im, en he tuck'n tuck Brer
+Tarrypin in de middle er de fiel' whar dey wuz a big holler stump. Onter
+dis stump Brer Rabbit lif' Brer Tarrypin, en den he lip up hisse'f en
+crope in de holler, en, bless yo' soul, honey, w'en de fier come
+a-snippin' en a-snappin', dar dey sot des ez safe en ez snug ez you iz
+in yo' bed dis minnit.
+
+"W'en de blaze blow over, Brer Tarrypin look 'roun', en he see Brer Fox
+runnin' up'n down de fence lak he huntin' sump'n'. Den Brer Rabbit, he
+stick he head up outen de hole, en likewise he seed 'im, and den he
+holler like Brer Tarrypin" (Here Uncle Remus puckered his voice, so to
+say, in a most amusing squeak):
+
+"'Brer Fox! Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Run yer--we done kotch Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"En den Brer Fox, he jump up on de top rail er de fence en fetch a
+spring dat lan' 'im 'way out in de bu'nin' grass, en it hurted 'im en
+sting 'im in de footses dat bad, dat he squeal en he roll, en de mo' he
+roll de wuss it bu'n him, en Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin dey des holler
+en laff. Bimeby Brer Fox git out, en off he put down de road, limpin'
+fus' on one foot en den on de yuther."
+
+The little boy laughed, and then there was a long silence--so long,
+indeed, that Uncle Remus's "Miss Sally," sewing in the next room,
+concluded to investigate it. An exceedingly interesting tableau met her
+sight. The little child had wandered into the land of dreams with a
+smile on his face. He lay with one of his little hands buried in both of
+Uncle Remus's, while the old man himself was fast asleep, with his head
+thrown back and his mouth wide open. "Miss Sally" shook him by the
+shoulder and held up her finger to prevent him from speaking. He was
+quiet until she held the lamp for him to get down the back steps, and
+then she heard him say, in an indignantly mortified tone:--
+
+"Now den, Miss Sally'll be a-riggin' me 'bout noddin', but stidder dat
+she better be glad dat I ain't bus loose en sno' en 'larm de house--let
+'lone dat sick baby. Dat's w'at!"
+
+
+
+
+XVIII
+
+A DREAM AND A STORY
+
+
+"I dreamed all about Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit last night, Uncle
+Remus," exclaimed the little boy when the old man came in after supper
+and took his seat by the side of the trundle-bed; "I dreamed that
+Brother Fox had wings and tried to catch Brother Rabbit by flying after
+him."
+
+"I don't 'spute it, honey, dat I don't!" replied the old man, in a tone
+which implied that he was quite prepared to believe the dream itself was
+true. "Manys en manys de time, deze long nights en deze rainy spells,
+dat I sets down dar in my house over ag'in de chimbley-jam--I sets dar
+en I dozes, en it seem lak dat ole Brer Rabbit, he'll stick he head in
+de crack er de do' en see my eye periently shot, en den he'll beckon
+back at de yuther creeturs, en den dey'll all come slippin' in on der
+tip-toes, en dey'll set dar en run over de ole times wid one er n'er, en
+crack der jokes same ez dey useter. En den ag'in," continued the old
+man, shutting his eyes and giving to his voice a gruesome intonation
+quite impossible to describe,--"en den ag'in hit look lak dat Brer
+Rabbit'll gin de wink all 'roun', en den dey'll tu'n in en git up a
+reg'lar juberlee. Brer Rabbit, he'll retch up en take down de trivet, en
+Brer Fox, he'll snatch up de griddle, en Brer B'ar, he'll lay holt er de
+pot-hooks, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he'll grab up de fryin' pan en dar
+dey'll have it, up en down, en' roun' en 'roun'. Hit seem like ter me
+dat ef I kin git my mine smoove down en ketch up some er dem ar chunes
+w'at dey sets dar en plays, den I 'd lean back yer in dish yer cheer en
+I'd intrance you wid um, twel, by dis time termorrer night, you'd be
+settin' up dar at de supper-table 'sputin' 'longer yo' little brer 'bout
+de 'lasses pitcher. Dem creeturs dey sets dar," Uncle Remus went on, "en
+dey plays dem kinder chunes w'at moves you fum 'way back yander; en
+manys de time w'en I gits lonesome kaze dey ain't nobody year um
+'ceppin' it's me. Dey ain't no tellin' de chunes dey is in dat trivet,
+en in dat griddle, en in dat fryin'-pan er mine; dat dey ain't. W'en dem
+creeturs walks in en snatches um down, dey lays Miss Sally's pianner in
+de shade, en Mars John's flute, hit ain't nowhars."
+
+"Do they play on them just like a band, Uncle Remus?" inquired the
+little boy, who was secretly in hopes that the illusion would not be
+destroyed.
+
+"Dey comes des lak I tell you, honey. W'en I shets my eyes en dozes, dey
+comes en dey plays, but w'en I opens my eyes dey ain't dar. Now, den,
+w'en dat's de shape er marters, w'at duz I do? I des shets my eyes en
+hol' um shot, en let um come en play dem ole time chunes twel long atter
+bed-time done come en gone."
+
+Uncle Remus paused, as though he expected the little boy to ask some
+question or make some comment, but the child said nothing, and presently
+the old man resumed, in a matter-of-fact tone:--
+
+"Dat dream er yone, honey, 'bout Brer Fox wid wings, fetches up de time
+w'en Brer Fox en Brer Wolf had der fallin' out wid one er n'er--but I
+'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."
+
+"Oh, no, you have n't, Uncle Remus! You know you have n't!" the little
+boy exclaimed.
+
+"Well, den, one day, atter so long a time, Brer Wolf en Brer Fox dey got
+ter 'sputin' 'longer one er n'er. Brer Wolf, he tuck'n 'buse Brer Fox
+kaze Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool 'im, en den Brer Fox, he tuck'n quol
+back at Brer Wolf, kaze Brer Wolf let ole man Rabbit lakwise fool 'im.
+Dey keep on 'sputin' en 'sputin', twel bimeby dey clinch, en Brer Wolf,
+bein' de bigges' man, 't would n't a bin long 'fo' he'd a wool Brer Fox,
+but Brer Fox, he watch he chance, he did, en he gin 'im leg bail."
+
+"Gave him what, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Gin 'im leg bail, honey. He juk loose fum Brer Wolf, Brer Fox did, en,
+gentermens, he des mosey thoo de woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'm, he
+did, en dar dey had it, en Brer Wolf push Brer Fox so close, dat de
+onliest way Brer Fox kin save he hide is ter fine a hole some'rs, en de
+fus' holler tree dat he come 'cross, inter it he dove. Brer Wolf fetcht
+a grab at 'im, but he wuz des in time fer ter be too late.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf, he sot dar, he did, en he study en study how he gwine
+git Brer Fox out, en Brer Fox, he lay in dar, he did, en he study en
+study w'at Brer Wolf gwine do. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he tuck'n gedder up a
+whole lot er chunks, en rocks, en sticks, en den he tuck'n fill up de
+hole what Brer Fox went in so Brer Fox can't git out. Wiles dis wuz
+gwine on, ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he wuz sailin' 'roun' 'way up in de
+elements, wid he eye peel fer bizness, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he glance
+lit on Brer Wolf, en he 'low ter hisse'f, sezee:--
+
+"'I'll des sorter flop down,' sezee, 'en look inter dis, kaze ef Brer
+Wolf hidin' he dinner dar wid de expeck'shun er findin' it dar w'en he
+come back, den he done gone en put it in de wrong place,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he flop down en sail 'roun' nigher, en
+he soon see dat Brer Wolf ain't hidin' no dinner. Den he flop down
+furder, ole Brer Buzzud did, twel he lit on de top er de holler tree.
+Brer Wolf, he done kotch a glimpse er ole Brer Buzzud shadder, but he
+keep on puttin' chunks en rocks in de holler. Den, present'y, Brer
+Buzzud, he open up:--
+
+"'W'at you doin' dar, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Makin' a toom-stone, Brer Buzzud.'
+
+"Co'se Brer Buzzud sorter feel like he got intruss in marters like dis,
+en he holler back:--
+
+"'Who dead now, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Wunner yo' 'quaintance, w'ich he name Brer Fox, Brer Buzzud.'
+
+"'Wen he die, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'He ain't dead yit, but he won't las' long in yer, Brer Buzzud.'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he keep on, he did, twel he done stop up de hole good, en
+den he bresh de trash off'n his cloze, en put out fer home. Brer Tukky
+Buzzud, he sot up dar, he did, en ontankle his tail fedders, en lissen
+en lissen, but Brer Fox, he keep dark, en Brer Buzzud ain't year
+nuthin'. Den Brer Buzzud, he flop he wings en sail away.
+
+"Bimeby, nex' day, bright en early, yer he come back, en he sail all
+'roun' en 'roun' de tree, but Brer Fox he lay low en keep dark, en Brer
+Buzzud ain't year nuthin'. Atter w'ile, Brer Buzzud he sail 'roun'
+ag'in, en dis time he sing, en de song w'at he sing is dish yer:--
+
+    "'_Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo,
+    Man out yer wid news fer you!_'
+
+Den he sail all 'roun' en 'roun' n'er time en listen, en bimeby he year
+Brer Fox sing back:--
+
+    "'_Go 'way, go 'way, my little jug er beer,
+    De news you bring, I yeard las' year._'"
+
+"Beer, Uncle Remus? What kind of beer did they have then?" the little
+boy inquired.
+
+"Now, den, honey, youer gittin' me up in a close cornder," responded the
+old man, in an unusually serious tone. "Beer is de way de tale runs, but
+w'at kinder beer it moughter bin ain't come down ter me--en yit hit seem
+lak I year talk some'rs dat dish yer beer wuz mos' prins'ply 'simmon
+beer."
+
+This seemed to satisfy the small but exacting audience, and Uncle Remus
+continued:--
+
+"So, den, w'en Brer Buzzud year Brer Fox sing back, he 'low he ain't
+dead, en wid dat, Brer Buzzud, he sail off en 'ten' ter he yuther
+business. Nex' day back he come, en Brer Fox, he sing back, he did, des
+ez lively ez a cricket in de ashes, en it keep on dis way twel Brer Fox
+stomach 'gun ter pinch him, en den he know dat he gotter study up some
+kinder plans fer ter git out fum dar. N'er day pass, en Brer Fox, he
+tuck'n lay low, en it keep on dat a-way twel hit look like ter Brer Fox,
+pent up in dar, he mus' sholy pe'sh. Las', one day Brer Buzzud come
+sailin' all 'roun' en 'roun' wid dat
+
+    "'_Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo_,'
+
+but Brer Fox, he keep dark en Brer Buzzud, he tuck'n spishun dat Brer
+Fox wuz done dead. Brer Buzzud, he keep on singin', en Brer Fox he keep
+on layin' low, twel bimeby Brer Buzzud lit en 'gun ter cle'r 'way de
+trash en truck fum de holler. He hop up, he did, en tuck out one chunk,
+en den he hop back en lissen, but Brer Fox stay still. Den Brer Buzzud
+hop up en tuck out n'er chunk, en den hop back en lissen, en all dis
+time Brer Fox mouf 'uz waterin' w'iles he lay back in dar en des
+nat'ally honed atter Brer Buzzud. Hit went on dis a-way, twel des 'fo'
+he got de hole unkivvud, Brer Fox, he break out he did, en grab Brer
+Buzzud by de back er de neck. Dey wuz a kinder scuffle 'mongs' um, but
+'t wa'n't fer long, en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Tukky Buzzud."
+
+
+
+
+XIX
+
+THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND
+
+
+One night when the little boy made his usual visit to Uncle Remus, he
+found the old man sitting up in his chair fast asleep. The child said
+nothing. He was prepared to exercise a good deal of patience upon
+occasion, and the occasion was when he wanted to hear a story. But, in
+making himself comfortable, he aroused Uncle Remus from his nap.
+
+"I let you know, honey," said the old man, adjusting his spectacles, and
+laughing rather sheepishly,--"I let you know, honey, w'en I gits my
+head r'ar'd back dat a-way, en my eyeleds shot, en my mouf open, en my
+chin p'intin' at de rafters, den dey's some mighty quare gwines on in my
+min'. Dey is dat, des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. W'en I fus' year you
+comin' down de paf," Uncle Remus continued, rubbing his beard
+thoughtfully, "I 'uz sorter fear'd you mought 'spicion dat I done gone
+off on my journeys fer ter see ole man Nod."
+
+This was accompanied by a glance of inquiry, to which the little boy
+thought it best to respond.
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus," he said, "I did think I heard you snoring when I
+came in."
+
+"Now you see dat!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of grieved
+astonishment; "you see dat! Man can't lean hisse'f 'pun his 'membunce,
+'ceppin' dey's some un fer ter come high-primin' 'roun' en 'lowin' dat
+he done gone ter sleep. _Shoo!_ W'en you stept in dat do' dar I 'uz
+right in 'mungs some mighty quare notions--mighty quare notions. Dey
+ain't no two ways; ef I uz ter up en let on 'bout all de notions w'at I
+gits in 'mungs, folks 'ud hatter come en kyar me off ter de place whar
+dey puts 'stracted people.
+
+"Atter I sop up my supper," Uncle Remus went on, "I tuck'n year some
+flutterments up dar 'mungs de rafters, en I look up, en dar wuz a Bat
+sailin' 'roun'. 'Roun' en 'roun', en 'roun' she go--und' de rafters,
+'bove de rafters--en ez she sail she make noise lak she grittin' 'er
+toofies. Now, w'at dat Bat atter, I be bless ef I kin tell you, but dar
+she wuz; 'roun' en 'roun', over en under. I ax 'er w'at do she want up
+dar, but she ain't got no time fer ter tell; 'roun' en 'roun', en over
+en under. En bimeby, out she flip, en I boun' she grittin' 'er toofies
+en gwine 'roun' en 'roun' out dar, en dodgin' en flippin' des lak de
+elements wuz full er rafters en cobwebs.
+
+"W'en she flip out I le'nt my head back, I did, en 't wa'n't no time
+'fo' I git mix up wid my notions. Dat Bat wings so limber en 'er will
+so good dat she done done 'er day's work dar 'fo' you could 'er run ter
+de big house en back. De Bat put me in min' er folks," continued Uncle
+Remus, settling himself back in his chair, "en folks put me in min' er
+de creeturs."
+
+Immediately the little boy was all attention.
+
+"Dey wuz times," said the old man, with something like a sigh, "w'en de
+creeturs 'ud segashuate tergedder des like dey ain't had no fallin' out.
+Dem wuz de times w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'ud 'ten 'lak he gwine quit he
+'havishness, en dey'd all go 'roun' des lak dey b'long ter de same
+fambly connexion.
+
+"One time atter dey bin gwine in cohoots dis a-way, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter
+feel his fat, he did, en dis make 'im git projecky terreckly. De mo'
+peace w'at dey had, de mo' wuss Brer Rabbit feel, twel bimeby he git
+restless in de min'. W'en de sun shine he'd go en lay off in de grass en
+kick at de gnats, en nibble at de mullen stalk en waller in de san'. One
+night atter supper, w'iles he 'uz romancin' 'roun', he run up wid ole
+Brer Tarrypin, en atter dey shuck han's dey sot down on de side er de
+road en run on 'bout ole times. Dey talk en dey talk, dey did, en bimeby
+Brer Rabbit say it done come ter dat pass whar he bleedz ter have some
+fun, en Brer Tarrypin 'low dat Brer Rabbit des de ve'y man he bin
+lookin' fer.
+
+"'Well den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'we'll des put Brer Fox, en Brer
+Wolf, en Brer B'ar on notice, en termorrer night we'll meet down by de
+mill-pon' en have a little fishin' frolic. I'll do de talkin',' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee, 'en you kin set back en say _yea_,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin laugh.
+
+"'Ef I ain't dar,' sezee, 'den you may know de grasshopper done fly 'way
+wid me,' sezee.
+
+"'En you neenter bring no fiddle, n'er,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'kaze
+dey ain't gwineter be no dancin' dar,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit put out fer home, en
+went ter bed, en Brer Tarrypin bruise 'roun' en make his way todes de
+place so he kin be dar 'gin de 'p'inted time.
+
+"Nex' day Brer Rabbit sont wud ter de yuther creeturs, en dey all make
+great 'miration, kaze dey ain't think 'bout dis deyse'f. Brer Fox, he
+'low, he did, dat he gwine atter Miss Meadows en Miss Motts, en de
+yuther gals.
+
+"Sho' nuff, w'en de time come dey wuz all dar. Brer B'ar, he fotch a
+hook en line; Brer Wolf, he fotch a hook en line; Brer Fox, he fotch a
+dip-net, en Brer Tarrypin, not ter be outdone, he fotch de bait."
+
+"What did Miss Meadows and Miss Motts bring?" the little boy asked.
+
+Uncle Remus dropped his head slightly to one side, and looked over his
+spectacles at the little boy.
+
+"Miss Meadows en Miss Motts," he continued, "dey tuck'n stan' way back
+fum de aidge er de pon' en squeal eve'y time Brer Tarrypin shuck de box
+er bait at um. Brer B'ar 'low he gwine ter fish fer mud-cats; Brer Wolf
+'low he gwine ter fish fer horneyheads; Brer Fox 'low he gwine ter fish
+fer peerch fer de ladies; Brer Tarrypin 'low he gwine ter fish fer
+minners, en Brer Rabbit wink at Brer Tarrypin en 'low he gwine ter fish
+fer suckers.
+
+"Dey all git ready, dey did, en Brer Rabbit march up ter de pon' en make
+fer ter th'ow he hook in de water, but des 'bout dat time hit seem lak
+he see sump'n'. De t'er creeturs, dey stop en watch his motions. Brer
+Rabbit, he drap he pole, he did, en he stan' dar scratchin' he head en
+lookin' down in de water.
+
+"De gals dey 'gun ter git oneasy w'en dey see dis, en Miss Meadows, she
+up en holler out, she did:--
+
+"'Law, Brer Rabbit, w'at de name er goodness de marter in dar?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit scratch he head en look in de water. Miss Motts, she hilt
+up 'er petticoats, she did, en 'low she monst'us fear'd er snakes. Brer
+Rabbit keep on scratchin' en lookin'.
+
+"Bimeby he fetch a long bref, he did, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Ladies en gentermuns all, we des might ez well make tracks fum dish
+yer place, kaze dey ain't no fishin' in dat pon' fer none er dish yer
+crowd.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin, he scramble up ter de aidge en look over, en he
+shake he head, en 'low:--
+
+"'Tooby sho'--tooby sho'! Tut-tut-tut!' en den he crawl back, he did, en
+do lak he wukkin' he min'.
+
+"'Don't be skeert, ladies, kaze we er boun' ter take keer un you, let
+come w'at will, let go w'at mus',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Accidents
+got ter happen unter we all, des same ez dey is unter yuther folks; en
+dey ain't nuthin' much de marter, 'ceppin' dat de Moon done drap in de
+water. Ef you don't b'leeve me you kin look fer yo'se'f,' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat dey all went ter de bank en lookt in; en, sho' nuff, dar lay de
+Moon, a-swingin' an' a-swayin' at de bottom er de pon'."
+
+The little boy laughed. He had often seen the reflection of the sky in
+shallow pools of water, and the startling depths that seemed to lie at
+his feet had caused him to draw back with a shudder.
+
+"Brer Fox, he look in, he did, en he 'low, 'Well, well, well!' Brer
+Wolf, he look in, en he 'low, 'Mighty bad, mighty bad!' Brer B'ar, he
+look in, en he 'low, 'Tum, tum, tum!' De ladies dey look in, en Miss
+Meadows she squall out, 'Ain't dat too much?' Brer Rabbit, he look in
+ag'in, en he up en 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Ladies en gentermuns, you all kin hum en haw, but less'n we gits dat
+Moon out er de pon', dey ain't no fish kin be ketch 'roun' yer dis
+night; en ef you'll ax Brer Tarrypin, he'll tell you de same.'
+
+"Den dey ax how kin dey git de Moon out er dar, den Brer Tarrypin 'low
+dey better lef' dat wid Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit he shot he eyes, he
+did, en make lak he wukkin' he min'. Bimeby, he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'De nighes' way out'n dish yer diffikil is fer ter sen' 'roun' yer to
+ole Mr. Mud-Turkle en borry his sane, en drag dat Moon up fum dar,'
+sezee.
+
+"'I 'clar' ter gracious I mighty glad you mention dat,' says Brer
+Tarrypin, sezee. 'Mr. Mud-Turkle is setch clos't kin ter me dat I calls
+'im Unk Muck, en I lay ef you sen' dar atter dat sane you won't fine Unk
+Muck so mighty disaccomerdatin'.'
+
+"Well," continued Uncle Remus, after one of his tantalizing pauses, "dey
+sont atter de sane, en w'iles Brer Rabbit wuz gone, Brer Tarrypin, he
+'low dat he done year tell time en time ag'in dat dem w'at fine de Moon
+in de water en fetch 'im out, lakwise dey ull fetch out a pot er money.
+Dis make Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar feel mighty good, en dey
+'low, dey did, dat long ez Brer Rabbit been so good ez ter run atter de
+sane, dey ull do de sanein'.
+
+"Time Brer Rabbit git back, he see how de lan' lay, en he make lak he
+wanter go in atter de Moon. He pull off he coat, en he 'uz fixin' fer
+ter shuck he wescut, but de yuther creeturs dey 'low dey wa'n't gwine
+ter let dryfoot man lak Brer Rabbit go in de water. So Brer Fox, he tuck
+holt er one staff er de sane, Brer Wolf he tuck holt er de yuther staff,
+en Brer B'ar he wade 'long behime fer ter lif' de sane 'cross logs en
+snags.
+
+"Dey make one haul--no Moon; n'er haul--no Moon; n'er haul--no Moon. Den
+bimeby dey git out furder fum de bank. Water run in Brer Fox year, he
+shake he head; water run in Brer Wolf year, he shake he head; water run
+in Brer B'ar year, he shake he head. En de fus' news you know, w'iles
+dey wuz a-shakin', dey come to whar de bottom shelfed off. Brer Fox he
+step off en duck hisse'f; den Brer Wolf duck hisse'f; en Brer B'ar he
+make a splunge en duck hisse'f; en, bless gracious, dey kick en splatter
+twel it look lak dey 'uz gwine ter slosh all de water outer de
+mill-pon'.
+
+"W'en dey come out, de gals 'uz all a-snickerin' en a-gigglin', en dey
+well mought, 'kaze go whar you would, dey wa'n't no wuss lookin'
+creeturs dan dem; en Brer Rabbit, he holler, sezee:--
+
+"'I 'speck you all, gents, better go home en git some dry duds, en n'er
+time we'll be in better luck,' sezee. 'I hear talk dat de Moon'll bite
+at a hook ef you take fools fer baits, en I lay dat's de onliest way fer
+ter ketch 'er,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf en Brer B'ar went drippin' off, en Brer Rabbit en
+Brer Tarrypin, dey went home wid de gals."
+
+
+
+
+XX
+
+BRER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE
+
+
+One night while the little boy was sitting in Uncle Remus's cabin,
+waiting for the old man to finish his hoe-cake, and refresh his memory
+as to the further adventures of Brother Rabbit, his friends and his
+enemies, something dropped upon the top of the house with a noise like
+the crack of a pistol. The little boy jumped, but Uncle Remus looked up
+and exclaimed, "Ah-yi!" in a tone of triumph.
+
+"What was that, Uncle Remus?" the child asked, after waiting a moment to
+see what else would happen.
+
+"News fum Jack Fros', honey. W'en dat hick'y-nut tree out dar year 'im
+comin' she 'gins ter drap w'at she got. I mighty glad," he continued,
+scraping the burnt crust from his hoe-cake with an old case-knife, "I
+mighty glad hick'y-nuts ain't big en heavy ez grinestones."
+
+He waited a moment to see what effect this queer statement would have on
+the child.
+
+"Yasser, I mighty glad--dat I is. 'Kaze ef hick'y-nuts 'uz big ez
+grinestones dish yer ole callyboose 'ud be a-leakin' long 'fo'
+Chris'mus."
+
+Just then another hickory-nut dropped upon the roof, and the little boy
+jumped again. This seemed to amuse Uncle Remus, and he laughed until he
+was near to choking himself with his smoking hoe-cake.
+
+"You does des 'zackly lak ole Brer Rabbit done, I 'clar' to gracious ef
+you don't!" the old man cried, as soon as he could get his breath; "dez
+zackly fer de worl'."
+
+The child was immensely flattered, and at once he wanted to know how
+Brother Rabbit did. Uncle Remus was in such good humor that he needed no
+coaxing. He pushed his spectacles back on his forehead, wiped his mouth
+on his sleeve, and began:--
+
+"Hit come 'bout dat soon one mawnin' todes de fall er de year, Brer
+Rabbit wuz stirrin' 'roun' in de woods atter some bergamot fer ter make
+'im some h'ar-grease. De win' blow so col' dat it make 'im feel right
+frisky, en eve'y time he year de bushes rattle he make lak he skeerd. He
+'uz gwine on dis a-way, hoppity-skippity, w'en bimeby he year Mr. Man
+cuttin' on a tree way off in de woods. He fotch up, Brer Rabbit did, en
+lissen fus' wid one year en den wid de yuther.
+
+"Man, he cut en cut, en Brer Rabbit, he lissen en lissen. Bimeby, w'iles
+all dis was gwine on, down come de tree--_kubber-lang-bang-blam!_ Brer
+Rabbit, he tuck'n jump des lak you jump, en let 'lone dat, he make a
+break, he did, en he lipt out fum dar lak de dogs wuz atter 'im."
+
+"Was he scared, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Skeerd! Who? _Him?_ Shoo! don't you fret yo'se'f 'bout Brer Rabbit,
+honey. In dem days dey wa'n't nothin' gwine dat kin skeer Brer Rabbit.
+Tooby sho', he tuck keer hisse'f, en ef you know de man w'at 'fuse ter
+take keer hisse'f, I lak mighty well ef you p'int 'im out. Deed'n dat I
+would!"
+
+Uncle Remus seemed to boil over with argumentative indignation.
+
+"Well, den," he continued, "Brer Rabbit run twel he git sorter het up
+like, en des 'bout de time he makin' ready fer ter squot en ketch he
+win', who should he meet but Brer Coon gwine home atter settin' up wid
+ole Brer Bull-Frog. Brer Coon see 'im runnin', en he hail 'im.
+
+"'Wat yo' hurry, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Ain't got time ter tarry.'
+
+"'Folks sick?'
+
+"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Tryin' yo' soopleness?'
+
+"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Do pray, Brer Rabbit, tell me de news!'
+
+"'Mighty big fuss back dar in de woods. Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"Dis make Brer Coon feel mighty skittish, 'kaze he fur ways fum home, en
+he des lipt out, he did, en went a-b'ilin' thoo de woods. Brer Coon
+ain't gone fur twel he meet Brer Fox.
+
+"'Hey, Brer Coon, whar you gwine?'
+
+"'Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Gwine at'-de doctor?'
+
+"'No, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry.'
+
+"'Do pray, Brer Coon, tell me de news.'
+
+"'Mighty quare racket back dar in de woods! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Fox lipt out, he did, en fa'rly split de win'. He ain't
+gone fur twel he meet Brer Wolf.
+
+"'Hey, Brer Fox! Stop en res' yo'se'f!'
+
+"'Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Who bin want de doctor?'
+
+"'No'ne, my Lord! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"'Do pray, Brer Fox, good er bad, tell me de news.'
+
+"'Mighty kuse fuss back dar in de woods! Ain't got time ter tarry!'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Wolf shuck hisse'f loose fum de face er de yeth, en he
+ain't git fur twel he meet Brer B'ar. Brer B'ar he ax, en Brer Wolf
+make ans'er, en bimeby Brer B'ar he fotch a snort en run'd off; en,
+bless gracious! 't wa'n't long 'fo' de las' one er de creeturs wuz
+a-skaddlin' thoo de woods lak de Ole Boy was atter um--en all 'kaze Brer
+Rabbit year Mr. Man cut tree down.
+
+"Dey run'd en dey run'd," Uncle Remus went on, "twel dey come ter Brer
+Tarrypin house, en dey sorter slack up 'kaze dey done mighty nigh los'
+der win'. Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax um wharbouts dey gwine, en dey 'low
+dey wuz a monst'us tarryfyin' racket back dar in de woods. Brer
+Tarrypin, he ax w'at she soun' lak. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno,
+den dey all say dey dunno. Den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax who year dis
+monst'us racket. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno, den dey all say
+dey dunno. Dis make ole Brer Tarrypin laff 'way down in he insides, en
+he up'n say, sezee:--
+
+"You all kin run 'long ef you feel skittish,' sezee. 'Atter I cook my
+brekkus en wash up de dishes, ef I gits win' er any 'spicious racket may
+be I mought take down my pairsol en foller long atter you,' sezee.
+
+"Wen de creeturs come ter make inquirements 'mungs one er n'er 'bout who
+start de news, hit went right spang back ter Brer Rabbit, but, lo en
+beholes! Brer Rabbit ain't dar, en it tu'n out dat Brer Coon is de man
+w'at seed 'im las'. Den dey got ter layin' de blame un it on one er
+n'er, en little mo' en dey'd er fit dar scan'lous, but ole Brer
+Tarrypin, he up'n 'low dat ef dey want ter git de straight un it, dey
+better go see Brer Rabbit.
+
+"All de creeturs wuz 'gree'ble, en dey put out ter Brer Rabbit house.
+W'en dey git dar, Brer Rabbit wuz a-settin' cross-legged in de front
+po'ch winkin' he eye at de sun. Brer B'ar, he speak up:--
+
+"'W'at make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Fool who, Brer B'ar?'
+
+"'Me, Brer Rabbit, dat's who.'
+
+    [Illustration: "'_AH-YI_: YOU OUGHTER AX ME DAT FUS', BRER COON'"]
+
+"'Dish yer de fus' time I seed you dis day, Brer B'ar, en you er mo'
+dan welcome ter dat.'
+
+"Dey all ax 'im en git de same ans'er, en den Brer Coon put in:--
+
+"'Wat make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'How I fool you, Brer Coon?'
+
+"'You make lak dey wuz a big racket, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Dey sholy wuz a big racket, Brer Coon.'
+
+"'Wat kinder racket, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'_Ah-yi!_ You oughter ax me dat fus', Brer Coon.'
+
+"'I axes you now, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Mr. Man cut tree down, Brer Coon.'
+
+"Co'se dis make Brer Coon feel like a nat'al-born Slink, en 't wa'n't
+long 'fo' all de creeturs make der bow ter Brer Rabbit en mosey off
+home."
+
+"Brother Rabbit had the best of it all along," said the little boy,
+after waiting to see whether there was a sequel to the story.
+
+"Oh, he did dat a-way!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Brer Rabbit was a mighty
+man in dem days."
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Why Brother Bear has no Tail]
+
+XXI
+
+WHY BRER BEAR HAS NO TAIL
+
+
+"I 'clar' ter gracious, honey," Uncle Remus exclaimed one night, as the
+little boy ran in, "you sholy ain't chaw'd yo' vittles. Hit ain't bin no
+time, skacely, sence de supper-bell rung, en ef you go on dis a-way,
+you'll des nat'ally pe'sh yo'se'f out."
+
+"Oh, I wasn't hungry," said the little boy. "I had something before
+supper, and I wasn't hungry anyway."
+
+The old man looked keenly at the child, and presently he said:--
+
+"De ins en de outs er dat kinder talk all come ter de same p'int in my
+min'. Youer bin a-cuttin' up at de table, en Mars John, he tuck'n sont
+you 'way fum dar, en w'iles he think youer off some'rs a-snifflin' en
+a-feelin' bad, yer you is a-high-primin' 'roun' des lak you done had mo'
+supper dan de King er Philanders."
+
+Before the little boy could inquire about the King of Philanders he
+heard his father calling him. He started to go out, but Uncle Remus
+motioned him back.
+
+"Des set right whar you is, honey,--des set right still."
+
+Then Uncle Remus went to the door and answered for the child; and a very
+queer answer it was--one that could be heard half over the plantation:--
+
+"Mars John, I wish you en Miss Sally be so good ez ter let dat chile
+'lone. He down yer cryin' he eyes out, en he ain't bodderin' 'long er
+nobody in de roun' worl'."
+
+Uncle Remus stood in the door a moment to see what the reply would be,
+but he heard none. Thereupon he continued, in the same loud tone:--
+
+"I ain't bin use ter no sich gwines on in Ole Miss time, en I ain't
+gwine git use ter it now. Dat I ain't."
+
+Presently 'Tildy, the house-girl, brought the little boy his supper, and
+the girl was no sooner out of hearing than the child swapped it with
+Uncle Remus for a roasted yam, and the enjoyment of both seemed to be
+complete.
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a while, "you know I wasn't
+crying just now."
+
+"Dat's so, honey," the old man replied, "but 't would n't er bin long
+'fo' you would er bin, kaze Mars John bawl out lak a man w'at got a
+strop in he han', so w'at de diff'unce?"
+
+When they had finished eating, Uncle Remus busied himself in cutting and
+trimming some sole-leather for future use. His knife was so keen, and
+the leather fell away from it so smoothly and easily, that the little
+boy wanted to trim some himself. But to this Uncle Remus would not
+listen.
+
+"'T ain't on'y chilluns w'at got de consate er doin' eve'ything dey see
+yuther folks do. Hit's grown folks w'at oughter know better," said the
+old man. "Dat's des de way Brer B'ar git his tail broke off
+smick-smack-smoove, en down ter dis day he de funnies'-lookin' creetur
+w'at wobble on top er dry groun'."
+
+Instantly the little boy forgot all about Uncle Remus's sharp knife.
+
+"Hit seem lak dat in dem days Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin done gone in
+cohoots fer ter outdo de t'er creeturs. One time Brer Rabbit tuck'n make
+a call on Brer Tarrypin, but w'en he git ter Brer Tarrypin house, he
+year talk fum Miss Tarrypin dat her ole man done gone fer ter spen' de
+day wid Mr. Mud-Turkle, w'ich dey wuz blood kin. Brer Rabbit he put out
+atter Brer Tarrypin, en w'en he got ter Mr. Mud-Turkle house, dey all
+sot up, dey did, en tole tales, en den w'en twelf er'clock come dey had
+crawfish fer dinner, en dey 'joy deyse'f right erlong. Atter dinner dey
+went down ter Mr. Mud-Turkle mill-pon', en w'en dey git dar Mr.
+Mud-Turkle en Brer Tarrypin dey 'muse deyse'f, dey did, wid slidin' fum
+de top uv a big slantin' rock down inter de water.
+
+"I 'speck you moughter seen rocks in de water 'fo' now, whar dey git
+green en slipp'y," said Uncle Remus.
+
+The little boy had not only seen them, but had found them to be very
+dangerous to walk upon, and the old man continued:--
+
+"Well, den, dish yer rock wuz mighty slick en mighty slantin'. Mr.
+Mud-Turkle, he'd crawl ter de top, en tu'n loose, en go a-sailin' down
+inter de water--_kersplash!_ Ole Brer Tarrypin, he'd foller atter, en
+slide down inter de water--_kersplash!_ Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot off, he
+did, en praise um up.
+
+"W'iles dey wuz a-gwine on dis a-way, a-havin' der fun, en 'joyin'
+deyse'f, yer come ole Brer B'ar. He year um laffin' en holl'in', en he
+hail um.
+
+"'Heyo, folks! W'at all dis? Ef my eye ain't 'ceive me, dish yer's Brer
+Rabbit, en Brer Tarrypin, en ole Unk' Tommy Mud-Turkle,' sez Brer B'ar,
+sezee.
+
+"'De same,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en yer we is 'joyin' de day dat
+passes des lak dey wa'n't no hard times.'
+
+"'Well, well, well!' sez ole Brer B'ar, sezee, 'a-slippin' en a-slidin'
+en makin' free! En w'at de matter wid Brer Rabbit dat he ain't j'inin'
+in?' sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit he wink at Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin he hunch Mr.
+Mud-Turkle, en den Brer Rabbit he up'n 'low, he did:--
+
+"'My goodness, Brer B'ar! you can't 'speck a man fer ter slip en slide
+de whole blessid day, kin you? I done had my fun, en now I'm a-settin'
+out yer lettin' my cloze dry. Hit's tu'n en tu'n about wid me en deze
+gents w'en dey's any fun gwine on,' sezee.
+
+"'Maybe Brer B'ar might jine in wid us,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit he des holler en laff.
+
+"'Shoo!' sezee, 'Brer B'ar foot too big en he tail too long fer ter
+slide down dat rock,' sezee.
+
+"Dis kinder put Brer B'ar on he mettle, en he up'n 'spon', he did:--
+
+"'Maybe dey is, en maybe dey ain't, yit I ain't a-feared ter try.'
+
+"Wid dat de yuthers tuck'n made way fer 'im, en ole Brer B'ar he git up
+on de rock, he did, en squot down on he hunkers, en quile he tail und'
+'im, en start down. Fus' he go sorter slow, en he grin lak he feel good;
+den he go sorter peart, en he grin lak he feel bad; den he go mo'
+pearter, en he grin lak he skeerd; den he strack de slick part, en,
+gentermens! he swaller de grin en fetch a howl dat moughter bin yeard a
+mile, en he hit de water lak a chimbly a-fallin'.
+
+"You kin gimme denial," Uncle Remus continued after a little pause, "but
+des ez sho' ez you er settin' dar, w'en Brer B'ar slick'd up en flew
+down dat rock, he break off he tail right smick-smack-smoove, en mo'n
+dat, w'en he make his disappear'nce up de big road, Brer Rabbit holler
+out:--
+
+"'Brer B'ar!--O Brer B'ar! I year tell dat flaxseed poultices is mighty
+good fer so' places!'
+
+"Yit Brer B'ar ain't look back."
+
+
+
+
+XXII
+
+HOW BRER RABBIT FRIGHTENED HIS NEIGHBORS
+
+
+When Uncle Remus was in a good humor he turned the most trifling
+incidents into excuses for amusing the little boy with his stories. One
+night while he was hunting for a piece of candle on the shelf that took
+the place of a mantel over the fireplace, he knocked down a tin plate.
+It fell upon the hearth with a tremendous clatter.
+
+"Dar now!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Hit's a blessin' dat dat ar platter
+is got mo' backbone dan de common run er crockery, 'kaze 't would er bin
+bust all ter flinderations long time ago. Dat ar platter is got dents on
+it w'at Miss Sally put dar w'en she 'uz a little bit er gal. Yet dar 't
+is, en right dis minnit hit'll hol' mo' vittles dan w'at I got ter put
+in it.
+
+"I lay," the old man continued, leaning his hand against the chimney and
+gazing at the little boy reflectively,--"I lay ef de creeturs had a bin
+yer w'iles all dat clatterment gwine on dey'd a lef' bidout tellin'
+anybody good-bye. All 'ceppin' Brer Rabbit. Bless yo' soul, he'd er
+stayed fer ter see de fun, des lak he did dat t'er time w'en he skeer um
+all so. I 'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."
+
+"When he got the honey on him and rolled in the leaves?"
+
+Uncle Remus thought a moment.
+
+"Ef I make no mistakes in my 'membunce, dat wuz de time w'en he call
+hisse'f de Wull-er-de-Wust."
+
+The little boy corroborated Uncle Remus's memory.
+
+"Well, den, dish yer wuz n'er time, en he lak ter skeer um plum out'n de
+settlement. En it all come 'bout 'kaze dey wanter play smarty."
+
+"Who wanted to play smarty, Uncle Remus?" asked the child.
+
+"Oh, des dem t'er creeturs. Dey wuz allers a-layin' traps fer Brer
+Rabbit en gittin' cotch in um deyse'f, en dey wuz allers a-pursooin'
+atter 'im day in en day out. I ain't 'nyin' but w'at some er Brer Rabbit
+pranks wuz mighty ha'sh, but w'y'n't dey let 'im 'lone deyse'f?"
+
+Naturally, the little boy was not prepared to meet these arguments, even
+had their gravity been less impressive, so he said nothing.
+
+"In dem days," Uncle Remus went on, "de creeturs wuz same lak folks. Dey
+had der ups en dey had der downs; dey had der hard times, and dey had
+der saf' times. Some seasons der craps 'ud be good, en some seasons
+dey'd be bad. Brer Rabbit, he far'd lak de res' un um. W'at he'd make,
+dat he'd spen'. One season he tuck'n made a fine chance er goobers, en
+he 'low, he did, dat ef dey fetch 'im anywhars nigh de money w'at he
+'speck dey would, he go ter town en buy de truck w'at needcessity call
+fer.
+
+"He ain't no sooner say dat dan ole Miss Rabbit, she vow, she did, dat
+it be a scannul en a shame ef he don't whirl in en git sevin tin cups
+fer de chilluns fer ter drink out'n, en sevin tin plates fer 'm fer ter
+sop out 'n, en a coffee-pot fer de fambly. Brer Rabbit say dat des
+zackly w'at he gwine do, en he 'low, he did, dat he gwine ter town de
+comin' We'n'sday."
+
+Uncle Remus paused, and indulged in a hearty laugh before he resumed:--
+
+"Brer Rabbit wa'n't mo'n out'n de gate 'fo' Miss Rabbit, she slap on 'er
+bonnet, she did, en rush 'cross ter Miss Mink house, en she ain't bin
+dar a minnit 'fo' she up'n tell Miss Mink dat Brer Rabbit done promise
+ter go ter town We'n'sday comin' en git de chilluns sump'n'. Co'se, w'en
+Mr. Mink come home, Miss Mink she up'n 'low she want ter know w'at de
+reason he can't buy sump'n' fer his chilluns same ez Brer Rabbit do fer
+his'n, en dey quo'll en quo'll des lak folks. Atter dat Miss Mink she
+kyar de news ter Miss Fox, en den Brer Fox he tuk'n got a rakin' over de
+coals. Miss Fox she tell Miss Wolf, en Miss Wolf she tell Miss B'ar, en
+'t wa'n't long 'fo' ev'ybody in dem diggin's know dat Brer Rabbit gwine
+ter town de comin' We'n'sday fer ter git his chilluns sump'n'; en all de
+yuther creeturs' chilluns ax der ma w'at de reason der pa can't git
+_dem_ sump'n'. So dar it went.
+
+"Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar, dey make up der mines, dey did,
+dat ef dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit, dat wuz de time, en dey
+fix up a plan dat dey'd lay fer Brer Rabbit en nab 'im w'en he come back
+fum town. Dey tuck'n make all der 'rangerments, en wait fer de day.
+
+"Sho' nuff, w'en We'n'sday come, Brer Rabbit e't he brekkus 'fo'
+sun-up, en put out fer town. He tuck'n got hisse'f a dram, en a plug er
+terbarker, en a pocket-hankcher, en he got de ole 'oman a coffee-pot, en
+he got de chillun sevin tin cups en sevin tin plates, en den todes
+sundown he start back home. He walk 'long, he did, feelin' mighty
+biggity, but bimeby w'en he git sorter tired, he sot down und' a
+black-jack tree, en 'gun to fan hisse'f wid one er der platters.
+
+"W'iles he doin' dis a little bit er teenchy sap-sucker run up'n down de
+tree en keep on makin' mighty quare fuss. Atter w'ile Brer Rabbit tuk'n
+shoo at 'im wid de platter. Seem lak dis make de teenchy little
+sap-sucker mighty mad, en he rush out on a lim' right over Brer Rabbit,
+en he sing out:--
+
+    "'_Pilly-pee, pilly-wee!
+    I see w'at he no see!
+    I see, pilly-pee,
+    I see, w'at he no see!_'
+
+"He keep on singin' dis, he did, twel Brer Rabbit 'gun ter look 'roun',
+en he ain't no sooner do dis dan he see marks in de san' whar sum un
+done bin dar 'fo' 'im, en he look little closer en den he see w'at de
+sap-sucker drivin' at. He scratch his head, Brer Rabbit did, en he 'low
+ter hisse'f:--
+
+"'Ah-yi! Yer whar Brer Fox bin settin', en dar de print er he nice bushy
+tail. Yer whar Brer Wolf bin settin', en dar de print er he fine long
+tail. Yer whar Brer B'ar bin squattin' on he hunkers, en dar de print
+w'ich he ain't got no tail. Dey er all bin yer, en I lay dey er hidin'
+out in de big gully down dar in de holler.'
+
+"Wid dat, ole man Rab. tuck'n put he truck in de bushes, en den he run
+'way 'roun' fer ter see w'at he kin see. Sho' nuff," continued Uncle
+Remus, with a curious air of elation,--"sho' nuff, w'en Brer Rabbit git
+over agin de big gully down in de holler, dar dey wuz. Brer Fox, he 'uz
+on one side er de road, en Brer Wolf 'uz on de t'er side; en ole Brer
+B'ar he 'uz quiled up in de gully takin' a nap.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n peep at um, he did, en he lick he foot en roach
+back he h'ar, en den hol' his han's 'cross he mouf en laff lak some
+chilluns does w'en dey t'ink dey er foolin' der ma."
+
+"Not me, Uncle Remus--not me!" exclaimed the little boy promptly.
+
+"Heyo dar! don't kick 'fo' you er spurred, honey! Brer Rabbit, he seed
+um all dar, en he tuck'n grin, he did, en den he lit out ter whar he
+done lef he truck, en w'en he git dar he dance 'roun' en slap hisse'f on
+de leg, en make all sorts er kuse motions. Den he go ter wuk en tu'n de
+coffee-pot upside down en stick it on he head; den he run he gallus thoo
+de han'les er de cups, en sling um crosst he shoulder; den he 'vide de
+platters, some in one han' en some in de yuther. Atter he git good en
+ready, he crope ter de top er de hill, he did, en tuck a runnin' start,
+en flew down like a harrycane--_rickety, rackety, slambang!_"
+
+The little boy clapped his hands enthusiastically.
+
+"Bless yo' soul, dem creeturs ain't year no fuss lak dat, en dey ain't
+seed no man w'at look lak Brer Rabbit do, wid de coffee-pot on he head,
+en de cups a-rattlin' on he gallus, en de platters a-wavin' en a-shinin'
+in de a'r.
+
+"Now, mine you, ole Brer B'ar wuz layin' off up de gully takin' a nap,
+en de fuss skeer 'im so bad dat he make a break en run over Brer Fox. He
+rush out in de road, he did, en w'en he see de sight, he whirl 'roun' en
+run over Brer Wolf. Wid der scramblin' en der scufflin', Brer Rabbit got
+right on um 'fo' dey kin git away. He holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Gimme room! Tu'n me loose! I'm ole man Spewter-Splutter wid long
+claws, en scales on my back! I'm snaggle-toofed en double-j'inted! Gimme
+room!'
+
+"Eve'y time he'd fetch a whoop, he'd rattle de cups en slap de platters
+tergedder--_rickety, rackety, slambang!_ En I let you know w'en dem
+creeturs got dey lim's tergedder dey split de win', dey did dat. Ole
+Brer B'ar, he struck a stump w'at stan' in de way, en I ain't gwine tell
+you how he to' it up 'kaze you won't b'leeve me, but de nex' mawnin'
+Brer Rabbit en his chilluns went back dar, dey did, en dey got nuff
+splinters fer ter make um kin'lin' wood all de winter. Yasser! Des ez
+sho' ez I'm a-settin' by dish yer h'ath."
+
+
+
+
+XXIII
+
+MR. MAN HAS SOME MEAT
+
+
+The little boy sat watching Uncle Remus sharpen his shoe-knife. The old
+man's head moved in sympathy with his hands, and he mumbled fragments of
+a song. Occasionally he would feel of the edge of the blade with his
+thumb, and then begin to sharpen it again. The comical appearance of the
+venerable darkey finally had its effect upon the child, for suddenly he
+broke into a hearty peal of laughter; whereupon Uncle Remus stopped
+shaking his head and singing his mumbly-song, and assumed a very
+dignified attitude. Then he drew a long, deep breath, and said:--
+
+"'Wen folks git ole en stricken wid de palsy, dey mus' 'speck ter be
+laff'd at. Goodness knows, I bin use ter dat sence de day my whiskers
+'gun to bleach."
+
+"Why, I was n't laughing at you, Uncle Remus; I declare I was n't,"
+cried the little boy. "I thought maybe you might be doing your head like
+Brother Rabbit did when he was fixing to cut his meat."
+
+Uncle Remus's seriousness was immediately driven away by a broad and
+appreciative grin.
+
+"Now, dat de way ter talk, honey, en I boun' you wa'n't fur wrong, n'er,
+'kaze fer all dey'll tell you dat Brer Rabbit make he livin' 'long er
+nibblin' at grass en greens, hit 't wa'n't dat a-way in dem days, 'kaze
+I got in my 'membunce right now de 'casion whar Brer Rabbit is tuck'n
+e't meat."
+
+The little boy had learned that it was not best to make any display of
+impatience, and so he waited quietly while Uncle Remus busied himself
+with arranging the tools on his shoe-bench. Presently the old man
+began:--
+
+"Hit so happen dat one day Brer Rabbit meet up wid Brer Fox, en w'en dey
+'quire atter der corporosity, dey fine out dat bofe un um mighty po'ly.
+Brer Fox, he 'low, he do, dat he monst'us hongry, en Brer Rabbit he
+'spon' dat he got a mighty hankerin' atter vittles hisse'f. Bimeby dey
+look up de big road, en dey see Mr. Man comin' 'long wid a great big
+hunk er beef und' he arm. Brer Fox he up 'n 'low, he did, dat he lak
+mighty well fer ter git a tas'e er dat, en Brer Rabbit he 'low dat de
+sight er dat nice meat all lineded wid taller is nuff fer ter run a body
+'stracted.
+
+"Mr. Man he come en he come 'long. Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox dey look en
+dey look at 'im. Dey wink der eye en der mouf water. Brer Rabbit he 'low
+he bleedz ter git some er dat meat. Brer Fox he 'spon', he did, dat it
+look mighty fur off ter him. Den Brer Rabbit tell Brer Fox fer ter
+foller 'long atter 'im in hailin' distuns, en wid dat he put out, he
+did, en 't wa'nt long 'fo' he kotch up wid Mr. Man.
+
+"Dey pass de time er day, en den dey went joggin' 'long de road same lak
+dey 'uz gwine 'pun a journey. Brer Rabbit he keep on snuffin' de a'r.
+Mr. Man up'n ax 'im is he got a bad cole, en Brer Rabbit 'spon' dat he
+smell sump'n' w'ich it don't smell like ripe peaches. Bimeby, Brer
+Rabbit 'gun to hoi' he nose, he did, en atter w'ile he sing out:--
+
+"'Gracious en de goodness, Mr. Man! hit's dat meat er yone. _Phew!_
+Whar'bouts is you pick up dat meat at?'
+
+"Dis make Mr. Man feel sorter 'shame' hisse'f, en ter make marters wuss,
+yer come a great big green fly a-zoonin' 'roun'. Brer Rabbit he git way
+off on t'er side er de road, en he keep on hol'in' he nose. Mr. Man, he
+look sorter sheepish, he did, en dey ain't gone fur 'fo' he put de meat
+down on de side er de road, en he tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit w'at dey gwine
+do 'bout it. Brer Rabbit he 'low, he did:--
+
+"'I year tell in my time dat ef you take'n drag a piece er meat thoo' de
+dus' hit'll fetch back hits freshness. I ain't no superspicious man
+myse'f,' sezee, 'en I ain't got no 'speunce wid no sech doin's, but dem
+w'at tell me say dey done try it. Yit I knows dis,' says Brer Rabbit,
+sezee,--'I knows dat 't ain't gwine do no harm, 'kaze de grit w'at gits
+on de meat kin be wash off,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"'I ain't got no string,' sez Mr. Man, sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit laff hearty, but still he hol' he nose.
+
+"'Time you bin in de bushes long ez I is, you won't miss strings,' sez
+Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lipt out, en he ain't gone long 'fo' he come
+hoppin' back wid a whole passel er bamboo vines all tied tergedder. Mr.
+Man, he 'low:--
+
+"'Dat line mighty long.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he 'low:--
+
+"'Tooby sho', you want de win' fer ter git 'twix' you en dat meat.'
+
+"Den Mr. Man tuck'n tied de bamboo line ter de meat. Brer Rabbit he
+broke off a 'simmon bush, he did, en 'low dat he'd stay behime en keep
+de flies off. Mr. Man he go on befo' en drag de meat, en Brer Rabbit he
+stay behime, he did, en take keer un it."
+
+Here Uncle Remus was compelled to pause and laugh before he could
+proceed with the story.
+
+"En he is take keer un it, mon--dat he is. He tuck'n git 'im a rock, en
+w'iles Mr. Man gwine 'long bidout lookin' back, he ondo de meat en tie
+de rock ter de bamboo line, en w'en Brer Fox foller on, sho' nuff, dar
+lay de meat. Mr. Man, he drug de rock, he did, en Brer Rabbit he keep de
+flies off, twel atter dey gone on right smart piece, en den w'en Mr.
+Man look 'roun', whar wuz ole man Rabbit?
+
+"Bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit done gone back en jine Brer Fox, en he wuz
+des in time, at dat, 'kaze little mo' en Brer Fox would 'a' done bin
+outer sight en yearin'. En so dat de way Brer Rabbit git Mr. Man meat."
+
+The little boy reflected a little, and then said:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, was n't that stealing?"
+
+"Well, I tell you 'bout dat, honey," responded the old man, with the air
+of one who is willing to compromise. "In dem days de creeturs bleedz ter
+look out fer deyse'f, mo' speshually dem w'at ain't got hawn en huff.
+Brer Rabbit ain't got no hawn en huff, en he bleedz ter be he own
+lawyer."
+
+Just then the little boy heard his father's buggy rattling down the
+avenue, and he ran out into the darkness to meet it. After he was gone,
+Uncle Remus sat a long time rubbing his hands and looking serious.
+Finally he leaned back in his chair, and exclaimed:--
+
+"Dat little chap gittin' too much fer ole Remus--dat he is!"
+
+
+
+
+XXIV
+
+HOW BRER RABBIT GOT THE MEAT
+
+
+When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the cabin was dark and
+empty and the door shut. The old man was gone. He was absent for several
+nights, but at last one night the little boy saw a welcome light in the
+cabin, and he made haste to pay Uncle Remus a visit. He was full of
+questions:--
+
+"Goodness, Uncle Remus! Where in the world have you been? I thought you
+were gone for good. Mamma said she reckoned the treatment here did n't
+suit you, and you had gone off to get some of your town friends to hire
+you."
+
+"Is Miss Sally tell you dat, honey? Well, ef she ain't de beatenes'
+w'ite 'oman dis side er kingdom come, you kin des shoot me. Miss Sally
+tuck'n writ me a pass wid her own han's fer ter go see some er my kin
+down dar in de Ashbank settlement. Yo' mammy quare 'oman, honey, sho'!
+
+"En yit, w'at de good er my stayin' yer? T'er night, I ain't mo'n git
+good en started 'fo' you er up en gone, en I ain't seed ha'r ner hide un
+you sence. W'en I see you do dat, I 'low ter myse'f dat hit's des 'bout
+time fer ole man Remus fer ter pack up he duds en go hunt comp'ny
+some'r's else."
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in a tone of
+expostulation, "did n't Brother Fox get the meat, and was n't that the
+end of the story?"
+
+Uncle Remus started to laugh, but he changed his mind so suddenly that
+the little boy was convulsed. The old man groaned and looked at the
+rafters with a curious air of disinterestedness. After a while he went
+on with great seriousness:--
+
+"I dunner w'at kinder idee folks got 'bout Brer Rabbit nohow, dat I
+don't. S'pozen you lays de plans so some yuther chap kin git a big hunk
+er goody, is you gwine ter set off some'r's en see 'im make way wid it?"
+
+"What kind of goody, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Dish yer kinder goody w'at town folks keeps. Mint draps and reezins, en
+sweet doin's lak Miss Sally keep und' lock en key. Well, den, if you
+gits some er dat, er may be some yuther kinder goody, w'ich I wish 't
+wuz yer right dis blessid minnit, is you gwine ter set quile up in dat
+cheer en let n'er chap run off wid it? Dat you ain't--dat you ain't!"
+
+"Oh, I know!" exclaimed the little boy. "Brother Rabbit went back and
+made Brother Fox give him his part of the meat."
+
+"Des lak I tell you, honey; dey wa'n't no man 'mungs de creeturs w'at
+kin stan' right flat-footed en wuk he min' quick lak Brer Rabbit. He
+tuck'n tie de rock on de string, stidder de meat, en he pursue long
+atter it, he did, twel Mr. Man tu'n a ben' in de road, en den Brer
+Rabbit, he des lit out fum dar--_terbuckity-buckity, buck-buck-buckity!_
+en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he tuck'n kotch up wid Brer Fox. Dey tuck de
+meat, dey did, en kyar'd it way off in de woods, en laid it down on a
+clean place on de groun'.
+
+"Dey laid it down, dey did," continued Uncle Remus, drawing his chair up
+closer to the little boy, "en den Brer Fox 'low dey better sample it, en
+Brer Rabbit he 'gree. Wid dat, Brer Fox he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en
+he shut bofe eyes, he did, en he chaw en chaw, en tas'e en tas'e, en
+chaw en tas'e. Brer Rabbit, he watch 'im, but Brer Fox, he keep bofe
+eyes shot, en he chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw."
+
+Uncle Remus not only furnished a pantomime accompaniment to this recital
+by shutting his eyes and pretending to taste, but he lowered his voice
+to a pitch of tragical significance in reporting the dialogue that
+ensued:--
+
+"Den Brer Fox smack he mouf en look at de meat mo' closeter, en up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, _hit's lam'!_'
+
+"'_No_, Brer Fox! _sho'ly not!_'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, _hit's lam'!_'
+
+"'Brer Fox, _tooby sho'ly not!_'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en he shot bofe eyes, en
+chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw. Den he smack he mouf, en up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Brer Fox, _hit's shote!_'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, you foolin' me!'
+
+"'Brer Fox, _I vow hit's shote!_'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, hit des _can't be!_'
+
+"'Brer Fox, _hit sho'ly is!_'
+
+"Dey tas'e en dey 'spute, en dey 'spute en dey tas'e. Atter w'ile, Brer
+Rabbit make lak he want some water, en he rush off in de bushes, en
+d'reckly yer he come back wipin' he mouf en cle'rin' up he th'oat. Den
+Brer Fox he want some water sho' nuff:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, whar you fin' de spring?'
+
+"'Cross de road, en down de hill en up de big gully.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he lope off, he did, en atter he gone Brer Rabbit totch he
+year wid he behime foot lak he flippin' 'im good-bye. Brer Fox, he cross
+de road en rush down de hill, he did, yit he ain't fin' no big gully. He
+keep on gwine twel he fin' de big gully, yit he ain't fin' no spring.
+
+"W'iles all dish yer gwine on, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n grabble a hole in
+de groun', he did, en in dat hole he hid de meat. Atter he git it good
+en hid, he tuck'n cut 'im a long keen hick'ry, en atter so long a time,
+w'en he year Brer Fox comin' back, he got in a clump er bushes, en tuck
+dat hick'ry en let in on a saplin', en ev'y time he hit de saplin', he
+'ud squall out, Brer Rabbit would, des lak de patter-rollers had 'im:--
+
+"_Pow, pow!_ 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man!'--_Pow, pow!_ 'Oh, pray, Mr.
+Man!'--_Chippy-row, pow!_ 'Oh, Lordy, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo'
+meat!'--_Pow!_ 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo' meat!'"
+
+Every time Uncle Remus said "_Pow!_" he struck himself in the palm of
+his hand with a shoe-sole by way of illustration.
+
+"Co'se," he went on, "w'en Brer Fox year dis kinder doin's, he fotch up,
+he did, en lissen, en ev'y time he year de hick'ry come down _pow!_ he
+tuck'n grin en 'low ter hisse'f, 'Ah-yi! you fool me 'bout de water!
+Ah-yi! you fool me 'bout de water!'
+
+"Atter so long a time, de racket sorter die out, en seem lak Mr. Man wuz
+draggin' Brer Rabbit off. Dis make Brer Fox feel mighty skittish. Bimeby
+Brer Rabbit come a-cally-hootin' back des a-hollerin':--
+
+"'Run, Brer Fox, run! Mr. Man say he gwine to kyar dat meat up de road
+ter whar he son is, en den he's a-comin' back atter you. Run, Brer Fox,
+run!'
+
+"En I let you know," said Uncle Remus, leaning back and laughing to see
+the little boy laugh, "I let you know Brer Fox got mighty skace in dat
+neighborhood!"
+
+
+
+
+XXV
+
+AFRICAN JACK
+
+
+Usually, the little boy, who regarded himself as Uncle Remus's partner,
+was not at all pleased when he found the old man entertaining, in his
+simple way, any of his colored friends; but he was secretly delighted
+when he called one night and found Daddy Jack sitting by Uncle Remus's
+hearth. Daddy Jack was an object of curiosity to older people than the
+little boy. He was a genuine African, and for that reason he was known
+as African Jack, though the child had been taught to call him Daddy
+Jack. He was brought to Georgia in a slave-ship when he was about twenty
+years old, and remained upon one of the sea-islands for several years.
+Finally, he fell into the hands of the family of which Uncle Remus's
+little partner was the youngest representative, and became the trusted
+foreman of a plantation, in the southern part of Georgia, known as the
+Walthall Place. Once every year he was in the habit of visiting the Home
+Place in Middle Georgia, and it was during one of these annual visits
+that the little boy found him in Uncle Remus's cabin.
+
+Daddy Jack appeared to be quite a hundred years old, but he was probably
+not more than eighty. He was a little, dried-up old man, whose weazened,
+dwarfish appearance, while it was calculated to inspire awe in the minds
+of the superstitious, was not without its pathetic suggestions. The
+child had been told that the old African was a wizard, a conjurer, and a
+snake-charmer; but he was not afraid, for, in any event,--conjuration,
+witchcraft, or what not,--he was assured of the protection of Uncle
+Remus.
+
+As the little boy entered the cabin Uncle Remus smiled and nodded
+pleasantly, and made a place for him on a little stool upon which had
+been piled the odds and ends of work. Daddy Jack paid no attention to
+the child; his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.
+
+"Go en shake han's, honey, en tell Daddy Jack howdy. He lak good
+chilluns." Then to Daddy Jack: "Brer Jack, dish yer de chap w'at I bin
+tellin' you 'bout."
+
+The little boy did as he was bid, but Daddy Jack grunted ungraciously
+and made no response to the salutation. He was evidently not fond of
+children. Uncle Remus glanced curiously at the dwarfed and withered
+figure, and spoke a little more emphatically:--
+
+"Brer Jack, ef you take good look at dis chap, I lay you'll see mo'n you
+speck ter see. You'll see sump'n' dat'll make you grunt wusser dan you
+grunted deze many long year. Go up dar, honey, whar Daddy Jack kin see
+you."
+
+The child went shyly up to the old African and stood at his knee. The
+sorrows and perplexities of nearly a hundred years lay between them; and
+now, as always, the baffled eyes of age gazed into the Sphinx-like face
+of youth, as if by this means to unravel the mysteries of the past and
+solve the problems of the future.
+
+Daddy Jack took the plump, rosy hands of the little boy in his black,
+withered ones, and gazed into his face so long and steadily, and with
+such curious earnestness, that the child did n't know whether to laugh
+or cry. Presently the old African flung his hands to his head, and
+rocked his body from side to side, moaning and mumbling, and talking to
+himself, while the tears ran down his face like rain.
+
+"Ole Missy! Ole Missy! 'E come back! I bin shum dey-dey, I bin shum de
+night! I bin yeddy 'e v'ice, I bin yeddy de sign!"
+
+"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, into whose arms the little boy had fled;
+"I des know'd dat 'ud fetch 'im. Hit's bin manys de long days sence
+Brer Jack seed Ole Miss, yit ef he ain't seed 'er dat whack, den I ain't
+settin' yer."
+
+After a while Daddy Jack ceased his rocking, and his moaning, and his
+crying, and sat gazing wistfully into the fireplace. Whatever he saw
+there fixed his attention, for Uncle Remus spoke to him several times
+without receiving a response. Presently, however, Daddy Jack exclaimed
+with characteristic but laughable irrelevance:--
+
+"I no lakky dem gal wut is bin-a stan' pidjin-toe. Wun 'e fetch pail er
+water on 'e head, water churray, churray. I no lakky dem gal wut tie 'e
+wool up wit' string; mekky him stan' ugly fer true. I bin ahx da' 'Tildy
+gal fer marry me, un 'e no crack 'im bre't' fer mek answer 'cep' 'e
+bre'k out un lahf by me werry face. Da' gal do holler un lahf un stomp
+'e fut dey-dey, un dun I shum done gone pidjin-toe. Oona bin know da'
+'Tildy gal?"
+
+"I bin a-knowin' dat gal," said Uncle Remus, grimly regarding the old
+African; "I bin a-knowin' dat gal now gwine on sence she 'uz knee-high
+ter one er deze yer puddle-ducks; en I bin noticin' lately dat she
+mighty likely nigger."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, enthusiastically, "I did bin mek up ter
+da' lilly gal troo t'ick un t'in. I bin fetch 'im one fine 'possum, un
+mo' ez one, two, free peck-a taty, un bumbye I bin fetch 'im one bag
+pop-co'n. Wun I bin do dat, I is fley 'roun' da' lilly gal so long tam,
+un I yeddy 'im talk wit' turrer gal. 'E do say: 'Daddy Jack fine ole man
+fer true.' Dun I is bin talk: 'Oona no call-a me Daddy Jack wun dem
+preacher man come fer marry we.' Dun da' lilly gal t'row 'e head back;
+'e squeal lak filly in canebrake."
+
+The little boy understood this rapidly spoken lingo perfectly well, but
+he would have laughed anyhow, for there was more than a suggestion of
+the comic in the shrewd seriousness that seemed to focus itself in Daddy
+Jack's pinched and wrinkled face.
+
+"She tuck de truck w'at you tuck'n fotch 'er," said Uncle Remus, with
+the air of one carefully and deliberately laying the basis of a judicial
+opinion, "en den w'en you sail in en talk bizness, den she up en gun you
+de flat un 'er foot en de back un 'er han', en den, atter dat, she
+tuck'n laff en make spote un you."
+
+"Enty!" assented Daddy Jack, admiringly.
+
+"Well, den, Brer Jack, youer mighty ole, en yit hit seem lak youer
+mighty young; kaze a man w'at ain't got no mo' speunce wid wimmen folks
+dan w'at you is neenter creep 'roun' yer callin' deyse'f ole. Dem kinder
+folks ain't ole nuff, let 'lone bein' too ole. W'en de gal tuck'n laff,
+Brer Jack, w'at 'uz yo' nex' move?" demanded Uncle Remus, looking down
+upon the shrivelled old man with an air of superiority.
+
+Daddy Jack shut his shrewd little eyes tightly and held them so, as if
+by that means to recall all the details of the flirtation. Then he
+said:--
+
+"Da' lilly gal is bin tek dem t'ing. 'E is bin say, 'T'anky, t'anky.'
+Him eaty da' 'possum, him eaty da' pop-co'n, him roas'n da' taty. 'E do
+say, 'T'anky, t'anky!' Wun I talk marry, 'e is bin ris 'e v'ice un
+squeal lak lilly pig stuck in 'e t'roat. 'E do holler: 'Hi, Daddy Jack!
+wut is noung gal gwan do wit' so ole man lak dis?' Un I is bin say: 'Wut
+noung gal gwan do wit' ole Chris'mus' cep' 'e do 'joy 'ese'f?' Un da'
+lil gal 'e do lahff un flut 'ese'f way fum dey-dey."
+
+"I know'd a nigger one time," said Uncle Remus, after pondering a
+moment, "w'at tuck a notion dat he want a bait er 'simmons, en de mo'
+w'at de notion tuck 'im de mo' w'at he want um, en bimeby, hit look lak
+he des nat'ally erbleedz ter have um. He want de 'simmons, en dar dey is
+in de tree. He mouf water, en dar hang de 'simmons. Now, den, w'at do
+dat nigger do? W'en you en me en dish yer chile yer wants 'simmons, we
+goes out en shakes de tree, en ef deyer good en ripe, down dey comes, en
+ef deyer good en green, dar dey stays. But dish yer yuther nigger, he
+too smart fer dat. He des tuck'n tuck he stan' und' de tree, en he open
+he mouf, he did, en wait fer de 'simmons fer ter drap in dar. Dey ain't
+none drap in yit," continued Uncle Remus, gently knocking the cold ashes
+out of his pipe; "en w'at's mo', dey ain't none gwine ter drap in dar.
+Dat des 'zackly de way wid Brer Jack yer, 'bout marryin'; he stan' dar,
+he do, en he hol' bofe han's wide open en he 'speck de gal gwine ter
+drap right spang in um. Man want gal, he des got ter grab 'er--dat's
+w'at. Dey may squall en dey may flutter, but flutter'n' en squallin'
+ain't done no damage yit ez I knows un, en 't ain't gwine ter. Young
+chaps kin make great 'miration 'bout gals, but w'en dey gits ole ez I
+is, dey ull know dat folks is folks, en w'en it come ter bein' folks, de
+wimmen ain gut none de 'vantage er de men. Now dat's des de plain up en
+down tale I'm a-tellin' un you."
+
+This deliverance from so respectable an authority seemed to please Daddy
+Jack immensely. He rubbed his withered hands together, smacked his lips
+and chuckled. After a few restless movements he got up and went
+shuffling to the door, his quick, short steps causing Uncle Remus to
+remark:--
+
+"De gal w'at git ole Brer Jack 'ull git a natchul pacer, sho'. He move
+mo' one-sideder dan ole Zip Coon, w'ich he rack up de branch all night
+long wid he nose p'int lak he gwine 'cross."
+
+While the little boy was endeavoring to get Uncle Remus to explain the
+nature of Daddy Jack's grievances, muffled laughter was heard outside,
+and almost immediately 'Tildy rushed in the door. 'Tildy flung herself
+upon the floor and rolled and laughed until, apparently, she could laugh
+no more. Then she seemed to grow severely angry. She arose from the
+floor and flopped herself down in a chair, and glared at Uncle Remus
+with indignation in her eyes. As soon as she could control her inflamed
+feelings, she cried:--
+
+"Wat is I done ter you, Unk' Remus? 'Fo' de Lord, ef anybody wuz ter
+come en tole me dat you gwine ter put de Ole Boy in dat ole Affikin
+nigger head, I would n't er b'leeved um--dat I would n't. Unk' Remus,
+w'at is I done ter you?"
+
+Uncle Remus made no direct response; but he leaned over, reached out his
+hand, and picked up an unfinished axe-helve that stood in the corner.
+Then he took the little boy by the arm, and pushed him out of the way,
+saying in his gentlest and most persuasive tone:--
+
+"Stan' sorter 'roun' dar, honey, 'kaze w'en de splinters 'gin ter fly, I
+want you ter be out'n de way. Miss Sally never gimme 'er fergivance in
+de roun' worl' ef you 'uz ter git hurted on account er de frazzlin' er
+dish yer piece er timber."
+
+Uncle Remus's movements and remarks had a wonderful effect on 'Tildy.
+Her anger disappeared, her eyes lost their malignant expression, and her
+voice fell to a conversational tone.
+
+"Now, Unk' Remus, you ought n't ter do me dat a-way, 'kaze I ain't done
+nothin' ter you. I 'uz settin' up yon' in Aunt Tempy house, des now,
+runnin' on wid Riah, en yer come dat ole Affikin Jack en say you say he
+kin marry me ef he ketch me, en he try ter put he arm 'roun' me en kiss
+me."
+
+'Tildy tossed her head and puckered her mouth at the bare remembrance of
+it.
+
+"W'at wud did you gin Brer Jack?" inquired Uncle Remus, not without
+asperity.
+
+"W'at I gwine tell him?" exclaimed 'Tildy disdainfully. "I des tuck'n up
+en tole 'im he foolin' wid de wrong nigger."
+
+'Tildy would have continued her narration, but just at that moment the
+shuffling of feet was heard outside, and Daddy Jack came in, puffing and
+blowing and smiling. Evidently he had been hunting for 'Tildy in every
+house in the negro quarter.
+
+"Hi!" he exclaimed, "lil gal, 'e bin skeet sem lak ma'sh hen. 'E no run
+no mo'."
+
+"Pick 'er up, Brer Jack," exclaimed Uncle Remus; "she's yone."
+
+'Tildy was angry as well as frightened. She would have fled, but Daddy
+Jack stood near the door.
+
+"Look yer, nigger man!" she exclaimed, "ef you come slobbun 'roun' me,
+I'll take one er deze yer dog-iuens en brain you wid it. I ain't gwine
+ter have no web-foot nigger follerin' atter me. Now you des come!--I
+ain't feard er yo' cunjun. Unk' Remus, ef you got any intruss in dat ole
+Affikin ape, you better make 'im lemme 'lone. G'way fum yer now!"
+
+All this time Daddy Jack was slowly approaching 'Tildy, bowing and
+smiling, and looking quite dandified, as Uncle Remus afterward said.
+Just as the old African was about to lay hands upon 'Tildy, she made a
+rush for the door. The movement was so unexpected that Daddy Jack was
+upset. He fell upon Uncle Remus's shoe-bench, and then rolled off on the
+floor, where he lay clutching at the air, and talking so rapidly that
+nobody could understand a word he said. Uncle Remus lifted him to his
+feet, with much dignity, and it soon became apparent that he was neither
+hurt nor angry. The little boy laughed immoderately, and he was still
+laughing when 'Tildy put her head in the door and exclaimed:--
+
+"Unk' Remus, I ain't kilt dat ole nigger, is I? 'Kaze ef I got ter go
+ter de gallus, I want to go dar fer sump'n' n'er bigger'n dat."
+
+Uncle Remus disdained to make any reply, but Daddy Jack chuckled and
+patted himself on the knee as he cried:--
+
+"Come 'long, lilly gal! come 'long! I no mad. I fall down dey fer laff.
+Come 'long, lilly gal, come 'long."
+
+'Tildy went on laughing loudly and talking to herself. After awhile
+Uncle Remus said:--
+
+"Honey, I 'speck Miss Sally lookin' und' de bed en axin' whar you is.
+You better leak out fum yer now, en by dis time termorrer night I'll
+git Brer Jack all primed up, en he'll whirl in en tell you a tale."
+
+Daddy Jack nodded assent, and the little boy ran laughing to the "big
+house."
+
+
+
+
+XXVI
+
+WHY THE ALLIGATOR'S BACK IS ROUGH
+
+
+The night after the violent flirtation between Daddy Jack and 'Tildy,
+the latter coaxed and bribed the little boy to wait until she had
+finished her work about the house. After she had set things to rights in
+the dining-room and elsewhere, she took the child by the hand, and
+together they went to Uncle Remus's cabin. The old man was making a
+door-mat of shucks and grass and white-oak splits, and Daddy Jack was
+dozing in the corner.
+
+"W'at I tell you, Brer Jack?" said Uncle Remus, as 'Tildy came in. "Dat
+gal atter you, mon!"
+
+"Fer de Lord sake, Unk' Remus, don't start dat ole nigger. I done
+promise Miss Sally dat I won't kill 'im, en I like ter be good ez my
+word; but ef he come foolin' longer me I'm des nat'ally gwine ter
+onj'int 'im. Now you year me say de word."
+
+But Daddy Jack made no demonstration. He sat with his eyes closed, and
+paid no attention to 'Tildy. After awhile the little boy grew restless,
+and presently he said:--
+
+"Daddy Jack, you know you promised to tell me a story to-night."
+
+"He wukkin' wid it now, honey," said Uncle Remus, soothingly. "Brer
+Jack," he continued, "wa'n't dey sump'n' n'er 'bout ole man Yalligater?"
+
+"Hi!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, arousing himself, "'e 'bout B'er 'Gater fer
+true. Oona no bin see da' B'er 'Gater?"
+
+The child had seen one, but it was such a very little one he hardly
+knew whether to claim an acquaintance with Daddy Jack's 'Gater.
+
+"Dem all sem," continued Daddy Jack. "Big mout', pop-eye, walk on 'e
+belly; 'e is bin got bump, bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, bump, bump, bump
+'pon 'e tail. 'E dife 'neat' de water, 'e do lif 'pon de lan'.
+
+"One tam Dog is bin run B'er Rabbit, tel 'e do git tire; da' Dog is bin
+run 'im tel him ent mos' hab no bre't' in 'e body; 'e hide 'ese'f by de
+crik side. 'E come close 'pon B'er 'Gater, en B'er 'Gater, 'e do say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Rabbit! wut dis is mek you blow so? Wut mekky you' bre't'
+come so?'
+
+"'Eh-eh! B'er 'Gater, I hab bin come 'pon trouble. Dog, 'e do run un-a
+run me.'
+
+"'Wey you no fetch 'im 'long, B'er Rabbit? I is bin git fat on all da'
+trouble lak dem. I proud fer yeddy Dog bark, ef 'e is bin fetch-a me
+trouble lak dem.'
+
+"'Wait, B'er 'Gater! Trouble come bisitin' wey you lif; 'e mekky you'
+side puff; 'e mekky you' bre't' come so.'
+
+"'Gater, he do flup 'e tail un 'tretch 'ese'f, un lahff. 'E say:--
+
+"'I lak fer see dem trouble. Nuddin' no bodder me. I ketch-a dem swimp,
+I ketch-a dem crahb, I mekky my bed wey de sun shiuen hot, un I do 'joy
+mese'f. I proud fer see dem trouble.'
+
+"''E come 'pon you, B'er 'Gater, wun you bin hab you' eye shed; 'e come
+'pon you fum de turrer side. Ef 'e no come 'pon you in da' crik, dun 'e
+come 'pon you in da' broom-grass.'
+
+"'Dun I shekky um by de han', B'er Rabbit; I ahx um howdy.'
+
+"'Eh-eh, B'er 'Gater! you bin-a lahff at me; you no lahff wun dem
+trouble come. Dem trouble bin ketch-a you yit.'"
+
+Daddy Jack paused to wipe his face. He had reported the dialogue between
+Brother Rabbit and Brother Alligator with considerable animation, and
+had illustrated it as he went along with many curious inflections of the
+voice, and many queer gestures of head and hands impossible to describe
+here, but which added picturesqueness to the story. After awhile he went
+on:--
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e do blow un 'e do ketch urn bre't'. 'E pit one year wey
+Dog is bin-a bark; 'e pit one eye 'pon B'er 'Gater. 'E lissen, 'e look;
+'e look, 'e lissen. 'E no yeddy Dog, un 'e comforts come back. Bumbye
+B'er 'Gater, 'e come drowsy; 'e do nod, nod, un 'e head sway down, tel
+ma'sh-grass tickle 'e nose, un 'e do cough sem lak 'e teer up da' crik
+by da' root. 'E no lak dis place fer sleep at, un 'e is crawl troo da'
+ma'sh 'pon dry lan'; 'e is mek fer da' broom-grass fiel'. 'E mek 'e bed
+wid 'e long tail, un 'e is 'tretch 'ese'f out at 'e lenk. 'E is shed 'e
+y-eye, un opun 'e mout', un tek 'e nap.
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e do hol' 'e y-eye 'pon B'er 'Gater. Him talk no wud; him
+wallup 'e cud; him stan' still. B'er 'Gater, 'e do tek 'e nap; B'er
+Rabbit 'e do watch. Bum-bye, B'er 'Gater bre't', 'e do come _loud_; 'e
+is bin sno' _hard!_ 'E dream lilly dream; 'e wuk 'e fut un shek 'e tail
+in 'e dream. B'er Rabbit wink 'e y-eye, un 'e do watch. B'er 'Gater, he
+do leaf 'e dream bahine, un 'e sleep soun'. B'er Rabbit watch lil, wait
+lil. Bumbye, 'e do go wey fier bu'n in da' stump, un 'e is fetch some.
+'E say, 'Dis day I is mek you know dem trouble; I is mek you know dem
+well.' 'E hop 'roun' dey-dey, un 'e do light da' broom-grass; 'e bu'n,
+bu'n--bu'n, bu'n; 'e do bu'n smaht.
+
+"B'er 'Gater, 'e is dream some mo' lilly dream. 'E do wuk 'e fut, 'e do
+shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n, bu'n; B'er 'Gater dream. 'E dream da'
+sun is shiuen' hot; 'e wom 'e back, 'e wom 'e belly; 'e wuk 'e fut, 'e
+shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n high, 'e bu'n low; 'e bu'n smaht, 'e bu'n
+hot. Bumbye, B'er 'Gater is wek fum 'e dream; 'e smell-a da' smoke, 'e
+feel-a da' fier. 'E run dis way, 'e run turrer way; no diffran' wey 'e
+is run, dey da' smoke, dey da' fier. _Bu'n, bu'n, bu'n!_ B'er 'Gater
+lash 'e tail, un grine 'e toof. Bumbye, 'e do roll un holler:--
+
+"'Trouble, trouble, trouble! _Trouble, trouble!_'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e is stan' pas' da' fier, un 'e do say:--
+
+"'Ki! B'er 'Gater! Wey you fer l'arn-a dis talk 'bout dem trouble?'
+
+"B'er 'Gater, 'e lash 'e tail, 'e fair teer da' ye't,[24] un 'e do
+holler:--
+
+"'Oh, ma Lord! Trouble! _Trouble, trouble, trouble!_'
+
+"'Shekky um by de han', B'er 'Gater. Ahx um howdy!'
+
+"'Ow, ma Lord! _Trouble, trouble, trouble!_'
+
+"'Lahff wit' dem trouble, B'er 'Gater, lahff wit' dem! Ahx dem is dey
+he'lt' bin well! You bin-a cry fer dey 'quaintun',[25] B'er 'Gater; now
+you mus' beer wit' dem trouble!'
+
+"B'er 'Gater come so mad, 'e mek dash troo da' broom-grass; 'e fair teer
+um down. 'E bin scatter da' fier wide 'part, un 'e do run un dife in da'
+crik fer squinch da' fier 'pon 'e bahk. 'E bahk swivel, 'e tail swivel
+wit' da' fier, un fum dat dey is bin stan' so. Bump, bump 'pon 'e tail;
+bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, wey da' fier bu'n."
+
+"Hit's des lak Brer Jack tell you, honey," said Uncle Remus, as Daddy
+Jack closed his eyes and relapsed into silence. "I done seed um wid my
+own eyes. En deyer mighty kuse creeturs, mon. Dey back is all ruffed up
+en down ter dis day en time, en mo'n dat, you ain't gwineter ketch Brer
+Rabbit rackin' 'roun' whar de Yallergaters is. En de Yallergaters
+deyse'f, w'en dey years any crackin' en rattlin' gwine on in de bushes,
+dey des makes a break fer de creek en splunges in."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, with momentary enthusiasm. "'E do tu'n go
+da' bahnk, un dife 'neat' da' crik. 'E bin so wom wit' da' fier, 'e mek
+de crik go si-z-z-z!"
+
+Here Daddy Jack looked around and smiled. His glance fell on 'Tildy, and
+he seemed suddenly to remember that he had failed to be as polite as
+circumstances demanded.
+
+"Come-a set nex' em, lilly gal. I gwan tell you one tale."
+
+"Come 'long, Pinx," said 'Tildy, tossing her head disdainfully, and
+taking the little boy by the hand. "Come 'long, Pinx; we better be
+gwine. I done say I won't kill dat ole nigger man. Yit ef he start atter
+me dis blessid night, I lay I roust de whole plantation. Come on, honey;
+less go."
+
+The little boy was not anxious to go, but Uncle Remus seconded 'Tildy's
+suggestion.
+
+"Better let dat gal mosey 'long, honey, 'kaze she mout start in fer ter
+cut up some 'er capers in yer, en I hate mighty bad ter bus' up dis yer
+axe-helve, w'ich I'm in needs un it eve'y hour er de day."
+
+Whereupon the two old negroes were left sitting by the hearth.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[24] Tear the earth.
+
+[25] Acquaintance.
+
+
+
+
+XXVII
+
+BRER WOLF SAYS GRACE
+
+
+'Tildy, the house-girl, made such a terrible report of the carryings on
+of Daddy Jack that the little boy's mother thought it prudent not to
+allow him to visit Uncle Remus so often. The child amused himself as
+best he could for several nights, but his play-things and picture-books
+finally lost their interest. He cried so hard to be allowed to go to see
+Uncle Remus that his mother placed him under the care of Aunt Tempy,--a
+woman of large authority on the place, and who stood next to Uncle Remus
+in the confidence of her mistress. Aunt Tempy was a fat, middle-aged
+woman, who always wore a head-handkerchief, and kept her sleeves rolled
+up, displaying her plump, black arms, winter and summer. She never
+hesitated to exercise her authority, and the younger negroes on the
+place regarded her as a tyrant; but in spite of her loud voice and
+brusque manners she was thoroughly good-natured, usually good-humored,
+and always trustworthy. Aunt Tempy and Uncle Remus were secretly jealous
+of each other, but they were careful never to come in conflict, and, to
+all appearances, the most cordial relations existed between them.
+
+"Well de goodness knows!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, as Aunt Tempy went in
+with the little boy. "How you come on, Sis Tempy? De rainy season ain't
+so mighty fur off w'en you come a-sojourneyin' in dis house. Ef I'd
+a-know'd you'd a-bin a-comin' I'd a-sorter steered 'roun' en bresh'd de
+cobwebs out'n de cornders."
+
+"Don't min' me, Brer Remus. Luck in de house whar de cobwebs hangs low.
+I 'uz des a-passin'--a-passin' 'long--en Miss Sally ax me ef I kin come
+fur ez de do' wid dat chile dar, but bless you, 't ain't in my manners
+ter tu'n back at de do'. How you come on, Brer Remus?"
+
+"Po'ly, Sis Tempy; en yit I ain't complainin'. Pain yer, en a ketch
+yander, wid de cramps th'ow'd in, ain't no mo' dan ole folks kin 'speck.
+How you is, Sis Tempy?"
+
+"I thank de Lord I'm able to crawl, Brer Remus, en dat's 'bout all. Ef I
+wa'n't so sot in my ways, deze yer niggers would er run me 'stracted
+d'reckly."
+
+Daddy Jack was sitting in the corner laughing and talking to himself,
+and the little boy watched him not without a feeling of awe. After a
+while he said:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, won't Daddy Jack tell us a story to-night?"
+
+"Now, den, honey," responded the old man, "we ain't got ter push Brer
+Jack too closte; we ull des hatter creep up on 'im en ketch 'im fer er
+tale wence he in de humors. Sometimes hoss pull, sometime he ain't pull.
+You ain't bin down yer so long, hit sorter look lak it my tu'n; 'kaze it
+done come 'cross my 'membunce dat dey wuz one time w'en Brer Wolf kotch
+Brer Rabbit, w'ich I ain't never gun it out ter you yit."
+
+"Brother Wolf caught Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the little
+boy, incredulously.
+
+"Yasser! dat's de up en down un it, sho'," responded the old man with
+emphasis, "en I be mighty glad ef Sis Tempy yer will 'scuze me w'iles I
+runs over de tale 'long wid you."
+
+"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, don't pay no 'tention ter me," said Aunt
+Tempy, folding her fat arms upon her ample bosom, and assuming an
+attitude of rest and contentment. "I'm bad ez de chillun 'bout dem ole
+tales, 'kaze I kin des set up yer un lissen at um de whole blessid
+night, un a good part er de day. Yass, Lord!"
+
+"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, "we ull des huddle up yer en see w'at
+'come er Brer Rabbit, w'en ole Brer Wolf kotch 'im. In dem days," he
+continued, looking at Daddy Jack and smiling broadly, "de creeturs wuz
+constant gwine a-courtin'. Ef 't wa'n't Miss Meadows en de gals dey wuz
+flyin' 'roun', hit 'uz Miss Motts. Dey wuz constant a-courtin'. En 't
+wa'n't none er dish yer 'Howdy-do-ma'm-I-'speck-I-better-be-gwine,'
+n'er. Hit 'uz go atter brekkus en stay twel atter supper. Brer Rabbit,
+he got tuk wid a-likin' fer Miss Motts, en soon one mawnin', he tuck'n
+slick hisse'f up, he did, en put out ter call on 'er. W'en Brer Rabbit
+git ter whar Miss Motts live, she done gone off some'rs.
+
+"Some folks 'ud er sot down en wait twel Miss Motts come back, en den
+ag'in some folks 'ud er tuck der foot in der han' en went back; but ole
+Brer Rabbit, he ain't de man fer ter be outdone, en he des tuck'n go in
+de kitchen en light he seegyar, en den he put out fer ter pay a call on
+Miss Meadows en de gals.
+
+"W'en he git dar, lo en beholes, he fine Miss Motts dar, en he tipped
+in, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he galanted 'roun' 'mungs um, same lak one
+er dese yer town chaps, w'at you see come out ter Harmony Grove
+meetin'-house. Dey talk en dey laff; dey laff en dey giggle. Bimeby,
+'long todes night, Brer Rabbit 'low he better be gwine. De wimmen folks
+dey all ax 'im fer ter stay twel atter supper, 'kaze he sech lively
+comp'ny, but Brer Rabbit fear'd some er de yuther creeturs be hidin'
+out fer 'im; so he tuck'n pay his 'specks, he did, en start fer home.
+
+"He ain't git fur twel he come up wid a great big basket settin' down by
+de side er de big road. He look up de road; he ain't see nobody. He look
+down de road; he ain't see nobody. He look befo', he look behime, he
+look all 'roun'; he ain't see nobody. He lissen, en lissen; he ain't
+year nothin'. He wait, en he wait; nobody ain't come.
+
+"Den, bimeby Brer Rabbit go en peep in de basket, en it seem lak it half
+full er green truck. He retch he han' in, he did, en git some en put it
+in he mouf. Den he shet he eye en do lak he studyin' 'bout sump'n'.
+Atter w'ile, he 'low ter hisse'f, 'Hit look lak sparrer-grass, hit feel
+lak sparrer-grass, hit tas'e lak sparrer-grass, en I be bless ef 't
+ain't sparrer-grass.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit jump up, he did, en crack he heel tergedder, en he
+fetch one leap en lan' in de basket, right spang in 'mungs de
+sparrer-grass. Dar whar he miss he footin'," continued Uncle Remus,
+rubbing his beard meditatively, "'kaze w'en he jump in 'mungs de
+sparrer-grass, right den en dar he jump in 'mungs ole Brer Wolf, w'ich
+he wer' quile up at de bottom."
+
+"Dar now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically. "W'at I tell you?
+W'at make him pester t'er folks doin's? I boun' Brer Wolf nail't 'im."
+
+"Time Brer Wolf grab 'im," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit knowed he
+'uz a gone case; yit he sing out, he did:--
+
+"'I des tryin' ter skeer you, Brer Wolf; I des tryin' ter skeer you. I
+know'd you 'uz in dar, Brer Wolf, I know'd you by de smell!' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf grin, he did, en lick he chops, en up'n say:--
+
+"'Mighty glad you know'd me, Brer Rabbit, 'kaze I know'd you des time
+you drapt in on me. I tuck'n tell Brer Fox yistiddy dat I 'uz gwine take
+a nap 'longside er de road, en I boun' you 'ud come 'long en wake me
+up, en sho' nuff, yer you come en yer you is,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"Oh-ho, Mr. Rabbit! How you feel now?" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, her
+sympathies evidently with Brother Wolf.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit year dis," said Uncle Remus, paying no attention to
+the interruption, "he 'gun ter git mighty skeer'd, en he whirl in en beg
+Brer Wolf fer ter please tu'n 'im loose; but dis make Brer Wolf grin
+wusser, en he toof look so long en shine so w'ite, en he gum look so
+red, dat Brer Rabbit hush up en stay still. He so skeer'd dat he bref
+come quick, en he heart go lak flutter-mill. He chune up lak he gwine
+cry:--
+
+"'Whar you gwine kyar me, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Down by de branch, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'W'at you gwine down dar fer, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'So I kin git some water ter clean you wid atter I done skunt you, Brer
+Rabbit.'
+
+"'Please, sir, lemme go, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'You talk so young you make me laff, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Dat sparrer-grass done make me sick, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'You'll be sicker'n dat 'fo' I git done wid you, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Whar I come fum nobody dast ter eat sick folks, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'Whar I come fum dey ain't dast ter eat no yuther kin', Brer Rabbit.'"
+
+"Ole Mr. Rabbit wuz a-talkin', mon," said Aunt Tempy, with a chuckle
+that caused her to shake like a piece of jelly.
+
+"Dey went on dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, "plum twel dey git ter
+de branch. Brer Rabbit, he beg en cry, en cry en beg, en Brer Wolf, he
+'fuse en grin, en grin en 'fuse. W'en dey come ter de branch, Brer Wolf
+lay Brer Rabbit down on de groun' en hilt 'im dar, en den he study how
+he gwine make way wid 'im. He study en he study, en w'iles he studyin'
+Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n study some on he own hook.
+
+"Den w'en it seem lak Brer Wolf done fix all de 'rangerments, Brer
+Rabbit, he make lak he cryin' wusser en wusser; he des fa'rly blubber."
+
+Uncle Remus gave a ludicrous imitation of Brother Rabbit's wailings.
+
+"'Ber--ber--Brer Wooly--ooly--oolf! Is you gwine--is you gwine ter
+sakerfice-t me right now--ow--ow?'
+
+"'Dat I is, Brer Rabbit; dat I is.'
+
+"'Well, ef I blee-eedz ter be kilt, Brer Wooly--ooly--oolf, I wants ter
+be kilt right, en ef I blee-eedz ter be e't, I wants ter be e't
+ri--ight, too, now!'
+
+"'How dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'I want you ter show yo' p'liteness, Brer Wooly--ooly--oolf!'
+
+"'How I gwine do dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'I want you ter say grace, Brer Wolf, en say it quick, 'kaze I gittin'
+mighty weak.'
+
+"'How I gwine say grace, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Fol' yo' han's und' yo' chin, Brer Wolf, en shet yo' eyes, en say:
+"Bless us en bine us, en put us in crack whar de Ole Boy can't fine us."
+Say it quick, Brer Wolf, 'kaze I failin' mighty fas'.'"
+
+"Now ain't dat des too much!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, as delighted as the
+little boy. Uncle Remus laughed knowingly and went on:--
+
+"Brer Wolf, he put up he han's, he did, en shot he eyes, en 'low, 'Bless
+us en bine us;' but he ain't git no furder, 'kaze des time he take up he
+han's, Brer Rabbit fotch a wiggle, he did, en lit on he foots, en he des
+nat'ally lef a blue streak behime 'im."
+
+"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, while Aunt Tempy allowed her arms to
+drop helplessly from her lap as she cried "Dar now!" and the little boy
+clasped his hands in an ecstasy of admiration.
+
+"Oh, I just knew Brother Rabbit would get away," the child declared.
+
+    [Illustration: BRER RABBIT FOTCH A WIGGLE, HE DID, EN LIT ON HE FOOTS]
+
+"Dat's right, honey," said Uncle Remus. "You put yo' pennunce in Brer
+Rabbit en yo' won't be fur out er de way."
+
+There was some further conversation among the negroes, but it was mostly
+plantation gossip. When Aunt Tempy rose to go she said:--
+
+"Goodness knows, Brer Remus, ef dis de way you all runs on, I'm gwine
+ter pester you some mo'. Hit come 'cross me like ole times, dat it do."
+
+"Do so, Sis Tempy, do so," said Uncle Remus, with dignified hospitality.
+"You allers fine a place at my h'a'th. Ole times is about all we got
+lef'."
+
+"Trufe, too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy; and with that she took the child by
+the hand and went out into the darkness.
+
+
+
+
+XXVIII
+
+SPIRITS, SEEN AND UNSEEN
+
+
+It was not many nights before the same company was gathered in Uncle
+Remus's cabin,--Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy. The
+conversation took a turn that thrilled the child with mingled fear and
+curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired as to the state of Aunt Tempy's
+health, when the latter came in, and her response was:--
+
+"I feelin' mighty creepy, Brer Remus, sho'. Look like I bleedz ter hunt
+comp'ny. W'en I come 'long down I felt dat skittish twel ef a leaf had
+blow'd 'crost de paff, I'd 'a' des about drapt in my tracks."
+
+"How come dat, Sis Tempy?" Uncle Remus inquired.
+
+"You know dat little gal er Riah's? Well, I 'uz settin' up dar in my
+house 'w'ile ergo, w'en, bless gracious! fus' news I know, I year dat
+chile talkin' in the yuther room. I 'low ter myse'f, she ain't talkin'
+ter Riah, 'kaze Riah ain't come yit, un den I crope up, dar wuz de
+chile settin' right flat in de middle er de flo', laffin' un talkin' un
+makin' motions like she see somebody in de cornder. I des stood dar un
+watch 'er, un I ain't a livin' human ef she don't do like dey 'uz
+somebody er n'er in dar wid 'er. She ax um fer ter stay on dey own side,
+un den, w'en it seem like dey come todes 'er, den she say she gwine git
+a switch un drive um back. Hit make me feel so cole un kuse dat I des
+tuck'n come 'way fum dar, un ef dey's sump'n' n'er dar, hit'll be dem un
+Riah fer't."
+
+"'E do talk wid ghos'; 'e is bin larf wit' harnt," exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"I 'speck dat's 'bout de upshot un it," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me
+dat w'ence you year chilluns talkin' en gwine on periently wid deyse'f,
+der er bleedz ter see ha'nts."
+
+The little boy moved his stool closer to his venerable partner. Daddy
+Jack roused himself.
+
+"Oona no bin-a see dem ghos'? Oona no bin-a see dem harnt? Hi! I is
+bin-a see plenty ghos'; I no 'fraid dem; I is bin-a punch dem 'way wit'
+me cane. I is bin-a shoo dem 'pon dey own sied da' road. Dem is bin walk
+w'en da' moon stan' low; den I is bin shum. Oona no walk wit' me dun. 'E
+berry bahd. Oona call, dey no answer. Wun dey call, hol' you' mout'
+shet. 'E berry bahd fer mek answer, wun da' harnt holler. Dem call-a you
+'way fum dis lan'. I yeddy dem call; I shetty me y-eye, I shekkey me
+head.
+
+"Wun I is bin noung mahn, me der go fer git water, un wun I der dip
+piggin 'neat' da' crik, I yeddy v'ice fer call me--'_Jahck! O Jahck!_' I
+stan', I lissen, I yeddy de v'ice--'_Jahck! Jahck! O Jahck!_' I t'ink 'e
+bin Titty Ann;[26] I ahx um:--
+
+"Wey you bin call-a me, Titty Ann?' Titty Ann 'tretch 'e y-eye big:--
+
+"'I no bin-a call. Dead ghos' is bin-a call. Dem harnt do call-a you.'
+
+"Dun I rise me y-eye, un I is bin shum gwan by sundown; 'e is bin gwan
+bahckwud. I tell Titty Ann fer look at we nuncle, gwan bahckwud by
+sundown. Titty Ann pit 'e two han' 'pon me y-eyes, en 'e do bline me. 'E
+say I bin-a see one dead ghos'."
+
+"What then, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy, as the old African
+paused.
+
+"Ki! nuff dun. 'Kaze bumbye, so long tam, folks come fetch-a we nuncle
+'tretch out. 'E is bin-a tek wit' da' _he_cup; 'e t'row 'e head dis way;
+'e t'row 'e head dat way." Daddy Jack comically suited the action to the
+word. "'E is bin tek-a da' _he_cup; da' _he_cup is bin tek um--da' cramp
+is bin fetch um. I is bin see mo' dead ghos', but me no spot um lak
+dis."
+
+"I boun' you is," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me, Brer Jack," he
+continued, "dat w'en you meets up wid one er deze ha'nts, ef you'll
+take'n tu'n yo' coat wrong-sud-outerds, dey won't use no time in makin'
+der disappearance."
+
+"Hey!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "tu'n coat no fer skeer dead ghos'. 'E
+skeer dem Jack-me-Lantun. One tam I is bin-a mek me way troo t'ick
+swamp. I do come hot, I do come cole. I feel-a me bahck quake; me bre't'
+come fahs'. I look; me ent see nuttin'; I lissen; me ent yeddy nuttin'.
+I look, dey de Jack-me-Lantun mekkin 'e way troo de bush; 'e comin'
+stret by me. 'E light bin-a flick-flicker; 'e git close un close. I yent
+kin stan' dis; one foot git heffy, da' heer 'pon me head lif' up. Da'
+Jack-me-Lantun, 'e git-a high, 'e git-a low, 'e come close. Dun I t'ink
+I bin-a yeddy ole folks talk _tu'n you' coat-sleef_ wun da'
+Jack-me-Lantun is bin run you. I pull, I twis', I yerk at dem jacket; 'e
+yent come. 'E is bin grow on me bahck. Jack-me-Lantun fly close. I say
+me pray 'pon da' jacket; 'e is bin-a yerk loose; da' sleef 'e do tu'n.
+Jack-me-Lantun, 'e see dis, 'e lif' up, 'e say '_Phew!_' 'E done gone!
+Oona no walk in da' swamp 'cep' you is keer you' coat 'cross da' arm.
+Enty!"
+
+"Dat w'at make me say," remarked Aunt Tempy, with a little shiver, "dat
+'oman like me, w'at ain't w'ar no jacket, ain't got no business
+traipsin' un trollopin' 'roun' thoo the woods atter dark."
+
+"You mout tu'n yo' head-hankcher, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus,
+reassuringly, "en ef dat ain't do no good den you kin whirl in en gin um
+leg-bail."
+
+"I year tell," continued Aunt Tempy, vouchsafing no reply to Uncle
+Remus, "dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is a sho' nuff sperit. Sperits
+ain't gwine to walk un walk less'n dey got sump'n' n'er on der min', un
+I year tell dat dish yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is 'casioned by a man w'at got
+kilt. Folks kilt 'im un tuck his money, un now his ha'nt done gone un
+got a light fer ter hunt up whar his money is. Mighty kuse ef folks kin
+hone atter money w'en dey done _gone_. I dunner w'at he wanter be
+ramblin' 'roun' wid a light w'en he done _dead_. Ef anybody got any hard
+feelin's 'gin' me, I want um ter take it out w'ile deyer in de flesh;
+w'en dey come a-ha'ntin' me, den I'm done--I'm des _done_."
+
+"Are witches spirits?" the little boy asked.
+
+The inquiry was not especially directed at Daddy Jack, but Daddy Jack
+was proud of his reputation as a witch, and he undertook to reply.
+
+"None 't all. Witch, 'e no dead ghos'--'e life folks, wey you shekky
+han' wit'. Oona witch mebbe; how you is kin tell?"
+
+Here Daddy Jack turned his sharp little eyes upon the child. The latter
+moved closer to Uncle Remus, and said he hoped to goodness he was n't a
+witch.
+
+"How you is kin tell diffran 'cep' you bin fer try um?" continued Daddy
+Jack. "'E good t'ing fer be witch; 'e mek-a dem folks fred. 'E mek-a dem
+fred; 'e mek-a dem hol' da' bre't', wun dey is bin-a come by you'
+place."
+
+"In de name er de Lord, Daddy Jack, how kin folks tell wh'er dey er
+witches er no?" asked Aunt Tempy.
+
+"Oo! 'e easy nuff. Wun da' moon is shiuen low, wet-a you' han' wit' da'
+pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer 'pon 'e nose; git 'pon 'e bahck.
+Mus' hol' um by 'e year; mus' go gallop, gallop down da' lane, tel 'e do
+come 'cross one-a big gully. Mus' holler, '_Double, double, double up!
+double, double, double up!_' Heifer jump, oona witch; heifer no jump,
+oona no witch."
+
+"Did you ever ride a heifer, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Mo' tam es dem," replied the old negro, holding up the crooked fingers
+of one withered hand.
+
+"Did--did she jump across the big gully?"
+
+The child's voice had dropped to an awed whisper, and there was a glint
+of malicious mischief in Daddy Jack's shrewd eyes, as he looked up at
+Uncle Remus. He got his cue. Uncle Remus groaned heavily and shook his
+head.
+
+"Hoo!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "wun I is bin-a tell all, dey no mo' fer
+tell. Mus' kip some fer da' Sunday. Lilly b'y no fred dem witch; 'e no
+bodder lilly b'y. Witch, 'e no rassel wit' 'e ebry-day 'quaintan'; 'e do
+go pars 'e own place."
+
+It was certainly reassuring for the child to be told that witches did
+n't trouble little boys, and that they committed their depredations
+outside of their own neighborhood.
+
+"I is bin-a yeddy dem talk 'bout ole witch. 'E do leaf 'e skin wey 'e is
+sta't fum. Man bin-a come pars by; 'e is fine dem skin. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki! 'E one green skin; I fix fer dry um.'
+
+"Man hang um by da' fier. Skin, 'e do swink, i' do swivel. Bumbye 'e do
+smell-a bahd; man, 'e hol' 'e nose. 'E do wait. Skin swink, skin stink,
+skin swivel. 'E do git so bahd, man pitch um in da' ya'd. 'E wait; 'e is
+wait, 'e is lissen. Bumbye, 'e yeddy da' witch come. Witch, e' do sharp'
+'e claw on-a da' fence; 'e is snap 'e jaw--_flick! flick! flick!_ 'E
+come-a hunt fer him skin. 'E fine um. 'E trey um on dis way; 'e no fit.
+'E trey um on dat way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um on turrer way; 'e no fit.
+'E pit um 'pon 'e head; skin 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e foot; skin 'e
+no fit. 'E cuss, 'e sweer; skin 'e no fit. 'E cut 'e caper; skin 'e no
+fit. Bumbye 'e holler:--
+
+"''Tiss-a me, Skin! wey you no know me? Skin, 'tiss-a me! wey you no
+know me?'
+
+"Skin, 'e no talk nuttin' 'tall. Witch 'e do jump, 'e do holler; a mek
+no diffran. Skin 'e talk nuttin' 'tall. Man, 'e tekky to'ch, 'e look in
+ya'd. 'E see big blahck Woolf lay by da' skin. E toof show; 'e y-eye
+shiuen. Man drife um 'way; 'e is come bahck. Man bu'n da' skin; 'e is
+bin-a come bahck no mo'."
+
+The little boy asked no more questions. He sat silent while the others
+talked, and then went to the door and looked out. It was very dark, and
+he returned to his stool with a troubled countenance.
+
+"Des wait a little minnit, honey," said Uncle Remus, dropping his hand
+caressingly on the child's shoulder. "I bleedz ter go up dar ter de big
+house fer ter see Mars John, en I'll take you 'long fer comp'ny."
+
+And so, after a while, the old man and the little boy went hand in hand
+up the path.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[26] Sissy Ann.
+
+
+
+
+XXIX
+
+A GHOST STORY
+
+
+The next time the little boy visited Uncle Remus he persuaded 'Tildy to
+go with him. Daddy Jack was in his usual place, dozing and talking to
+himself, while Uncle Remus oiled the carriage-harness. After a while
+Aunt Tempy came in.
+
+The conversation turned on Daddy Jack's story about "haunts" and
+spirits. Finally 'Tildy said:--
+
+"W'en it come ter tales 'bout ha'nts," said she, "I year tell er one
+dat'll des nat'ally make de kinks on yo' head onquile deyse'f."
+
+"W'at tale dat, chile?" asked Aunt Tempy.
+
+"Unk' Remus, mus' I tell it?"
+
+"Let 'er come," said Uncle Remus.
+
+"Well, den," said 'Tildy, rolling her eyes back and displaying her white
+teeth, "one time dey wuz a 'Oman en a Man. Seem like dey live close ter
+one er n'er, en de Man he sot his eyes on de 'Oman, en de 'Oman, she des
+went 'long en 'ten' ter her bizness. Man, he keep his eyes sot on 'er.
+Bimeby, de 'Oman, she 'ten' ter her bizness so much tel she tuck'n tuck
+sick en die. Man, he up'n tell de folks she dead, en de folks dey come
+en fix 'er. Dey lay 'er out, en dey light some candles, en dey sot up
+wid 'er, des like folks does now; en dey put two great big roun' shiny
+silver dollars on 'er eyes fer ter hol' 'er eyeleds down."
+
+In describing the silver dollars 'Tildy joined the ends of her thumbs
+and fore-fingers together, and made a figure as large as a saucer.
+
+"Dey wuz lots bigger dan dollars is deze days," she continued, "en dey
+look mighty purty. Seem like dey wuz all de money de 'Oman got, en de
+folks dey put um on 'er eyeleds fer to hol' um down. Den w'en de folks
+do dat dey call up de Man en take'n tell 'im dat he mus' dig a grave en
+bury de 'Oman, en den dey all went off 'bout der bizness.
+
+"Well, den, de Man, he tuck'n dig de grave en make ready fer ter bury de
+'Oman. He look at dat money on 'er eyeleds, en it shine mighty purty.
+Den he tuck it off en feel it. Hit feel mighty good, but des 'bout dat
+time de Man look at de 'Oman, en he see 'er eyeleds open. Look like she
+lookin' at 'im, en he take'n put de money whar he git it fum.
+
+"Well, den, de Man, he take'n git a waggin en haul de 'Oman out ter de
+buryin'-groun', en w'en he git dar he fix ever'thing, en den he grab de
+money en kivver up de grave right quick. Den he go home, en put de money
+in a tin box en rattle it 'roun.' Hit rattle loud en hit rattle nice,
+but de Man, he ain't feel so good. Seem like he know de 'Oman eyeled
+stretch wide open lookin' fer 'im. Yit he rattle de money 'roun', en hit
+rattle loud en hit rattle nice.
+
+"Well, den, de Man, he take'n put de tin box w'at de money in on de
+mantel-shel-uf. De day go by, en de night come, en w'en night come de
+win' 'gun ter rise up en blow. Hit rise high, hit blow strong. Hit blow
+on top er de house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow 'roun' de house.
+Man, he feel quare. He set by de fier en lissen. Win' say
+'_Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!_' Man lissen. Win' holler en cry. Hit blow top er de
+house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow 'roun' de house, hit blow in de
+house. Man git closte up in de chimbly-jam. Win' fin' de cracks en blow
+in um. '_Bizzy, bizzy, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!_'
+
+"Well, den, Man, he lissen, lissen, but bimeby he git tired er dis, en
+he 'low ter hisse'f dat he gwine ter bed. He tuck'n fling a fresh
+light'd knot in de fier, en den he jump in de bed, en quile hisse'f up
+en put his head und' de kivver. Win' hunt fer de cracks--_bizzy-buzz,
+bizzy-buzz, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o-o!_ Man keep his head und' de kivver.
+Light'd knot flar' up en flicker. Man ain't dast ter move. Win' blow en
+w'issel _Phew-fee-e-e-e!_ Light'd knot flicker en flar'. Man, he keep
+his head kivvud.
+
+"Well, den, Man lay dar, en git skeer'der en skeer'der. He ain't dast
+ter wink his eye skacely, en seem like he gwine ter have swamp agur.
+W'iles he layin' dar shakin', en de win' a-blowin', en de fier flickin',
+he year someyuther kind er fuss. Hit mighty kuse kind er fuss.
+_Clinkity, clinkalinkle!_ Man 'low:--
+
+"'Hey! who stealin' my money?'
+
+"Yit he keep his head kivvud w'iles he lay en lissen. He year de win'
+blow, en den he year dat yuther kinder fuss--_Clinkity, clink, clinkity,
+clinkalinkle!_ Well, den, he fling off de kivver en sot right up in de
+bed. He look, he ain't see nothin'. De fier flicker en flar' en de win'
+blow. Man go en put chain en bar 'cross de do'. Den he go back to bed,
+en he ain't mo'n totch his head on de piller tel he year de yuther
+fuss--_clink, clink, clinkity, clinkalinkle!_ Man rise up, he ain't see
+nothin' 'tall. Mighty quare!
+
+"Des 'bout time he gwine ter lay down 'g'in, yer come de
+fuss--_clinkity, clinkalinkle_. Hit soun' like it on de mantel-shel-uf;
+let 'lone dat, hit soun' like it in de tin box on de mantel-shel-uf; let
+'lone dat, hit soun' like it de money in de tin box on de
+man-tel-shel-uf. Man say:--
+
+"'Hey! rat done got in box!'
+
+"Man look; no rat dar. He shet up de box, en set it down on de shel-uf.
+Time he do dat yer come de fuss--_clinkity, clinkity, clinkalinkle!_ Man
+open de box en look at de money. Dem two silver dollars layin' in dar
+des like he put um. W'iles de man dun dis, look like he kin year sump'n'
+say 'way off yander:--
+
+"'_Whar my money? Oh, gim me my money!_'
+
+"Man, he sot de box back on de shel-uf, en time he put it down he year
+de money rattle--_clinkity, clinkalinkle, clink!_--en den fum 'way off
+yander sump'n' say:--
+
+"'_Oh, gim me my money! I want my money!_'
+
+"Well, den, de Man git skeer'd sho' nuff, en he got er flat-iuen en put
+on de tin box, en den he tuck'n pile all de cheers 'gin' de do', en run
+en jump in de bed. He des know dey's a booger comin'. Time he git in bed
+en kivver his head, de money rattle louder, en sump'n' cry way off
+yander:--
+
+"'_I want my money! Oh, gim me my money!_'
+
+"Man, he shake en he shiver; money, hit clink en rattle; booger, hit
+holler en cry. Booger come closter, money clink louder. Man shake wusser
+en wusser. Money say: _'Clinkity, clinkalinkle!'_ Booger cry, _'Oh, gim
+me my money!'_ Man holler, '_O Lordy, Lordy!_'
+
+"Well, den, hit keep on dis a-way, tel dreckly Man year de do' open. He
+peep fum und' de kivver, en in walk de 'Oman w'at he done bury in de
+buryin'-groun'. Man shiver en shiver, win' blow en blow, money rattle
+en rattle, 'Oman cry en cry. '_Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!_' sez de win';
+'_Clinkalink!_' sez de box; '_Oh, gim me my money!_' sez de 'Oman; '_O
+Lordy!_' sez de Man. 'Oman year de money, but look like she ain't kin
+see, en she grope 'roun', en grope 'roun', en grope 'roun' wid 'er han'
+h'ist in de a'r des dis away."
+
+Here 'Tildy stood up, pushed her chair back with her foot, raised her
+arms over her head, and leaned forward in the direction of Daddy Jack.
+
+"Win' blow, fier flicker, money rattle, Man shake en shiver, 'Oman grope
+'roun' en say, '_Gim me my money! Oh, who got my money?_'"
+
+'Tildy advanced a few steps.
+
+"Money look like it gwine ter t'ar de tin box all ter flinders. 'Oman
+grope en cry, grope en cry, tel bimeby she jump on de man en holler:--
+
+"'_You got my money!_'"
+
+As she reached this climax, 'Tildy sprang at Daddy Jack and seized him,
+and for a few moments there was considerable confusion in the corner.
+The little boy was frightened, but the collapsed appearance of Daddy
+Jack convulsed him with laughter. The old African was very angry. His
+little eyes glistened with momentary malice, and he shook his cane
+threateningly at 'Tildy. The latter coolly adjusted her ear-rings, as
+she exclaimed:--
+
+"Dar, now! I know'd I'd git even wid de ole vilyun. Come a-callin' me
+pidjin-toed!"
+
+"Better keep yo' eye on 'im, chile," said Aunt Tempy. "He 'witch you,
+sho'."
+
+"'Witch who? Ef he come witchin' roun' me, I lay I break his back. I
+tell you dat right pine-blank."
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Brother Rabbit and his Famous Foot]
+
+XXX
+
+BRER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS FOOT
+
+
+The little boy was very glad, one night shortly after he had heard about
+Daddy Jack's ghosts and witches and 'Tildy's "ha'nts," to find Uncle
+Remus alone in his cabin. The child liked to have his venerable partner
+all to himself. Uncle Remus was engaged in hunting for tobacco crumbs
+with which to fill his pipe, and in turning his pockets a rabbit foot
+dropped upon the hearth.
+
+"Grab it, honey!" he exclaimed. "Snatch it up off'n de h'a'th. In de
+name er goodness, don't let it git in de embers; 'kaze ef dat ar rabbit
+foot git singe, I'm a goner, sho'!"
+
+It was the hind foot of a rabbit, and a very large one at that, and the
+little boy examined it curiously. He was in thorough sympathy with all
+the superstitions of the negroes, and to him the rabbit foot appeared to
+be an uncanny affair. He placed it carefully on Uncle Remus's knee, and
+after the pipe had been filled, he asked:--
+
+"What do you carry that for, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Well, honey," responded the old man, grimly, "ef you want me ter make
+shorts out'n a mighty long tale, dat rabbit foot is fer ter keep off
+boogers. W'en I hatter run er'n's fer myse'f all times er night, en take
+nigh cuts thoo de woods, en 'cross by de buryin'-groun', hits monst'us
+handy fer ter have dat ar rabbit foot. Keep yo' head studdy, now; mine
+yo' eye; I ain't sayin' deyer any boogers anywhars. Brer Jack kin say
+w'at he mineter; I ain't sayin' nothin'. But yit, ef dey wuz any, en dey
+come slinkin' atter me, I let you know dey'd fine out terreckly dat de
+ole nigger heel'd wid rabbit foot. I 'ud hol' it up des dis a-way, en I
+boun' you I'd shoo um off'n de face er de yeth. En I tell you w'at,"
+continued Uncle Remus, seeing that the little boy was somewhat troubled,
+"w'en it come to dat pass dat you gotter be dodgin' 'roun' in de dark,
+ef you'll des holler fer me, I'll loan you dish yer rabbit foot, en
+you'll be des ez safe ez you is w'en Miss Sally stannin' by yo' bed wid
+a lit can'le in 'er han'.
+
+"Strip er red flannil tied 'roun' yo' arm'll keep off de rheumatis;
+stump-water 'll kyo 'spepsy; some good fer one 'zeeze,[27] en some good
+fer n'er, but de p'ints is dat dish yer rabbit foot 'll gin you good
+luck. De man w'at tote it mighty ap' fer ter come out right een' up w'en
+dey's any racket gwine on in de neighborhoods, let 'er be whar she will
+en w'en she may; mo' espeshually ef de man w'at got it know 'zactly w'at
+he got ter do. W'ite folks may laugh," Uncle Remus went on, "but w'en
+rabbit run 'cross de big road front er me, w'at does I do? Does I shoo
+at um? Does I make fer ter kill um? Dat I don't--_dat_ I don't! I des
+squots right down in de middle er de road, en I makes a cross-mark in de
+san' des dis way, en den I spits in it."[28]
+
+Uncle Remus made a practical illustration by drawing a cross-mark in the
+ashes on the hearth.
+
+"Well, but, Uncle Remus, what good does all this do?" the little boy
+asked.
+
+"Lots er good, honey; bless yo' soul, lots er good. W'en rabbit crosses
+yo' luck, w'at you gwine do, less'n you sets down en crosses it out,
+right den en dar? I year talk er folks shootin' rabbit in de big road,
+yit I notices dat dem w'at does de shootin' ain't come ter no good
+een'--dat w'at I notices."
+
+"Uncle Remus," the little boy asked, after a while, "how did people
+happen to find out about the rabbit's foot?"
+
+"Oh, you let folks 'lone fer dat, honey! You des let um 'lone. W'at de
+wimmen ain't up'n tell bidout anybody axin' un um, folks mighty ap' fer
+ter fine out fer deyse'f. De wimmen, dey does de talkin' en de flyin',
+en de mens, dey does de walkin' en de pryin', en betwixt en betweenst
+um, dey ain't much dat don't come out. Ef it don't come out one day it
+do de nex', en so she goes--Ant'ny over, Ant'ny under--up one row en
+down de udder, en clean acrosst de bolly-patch!"
+
+It may be that the child did n't understand all this, but he had no
+doubt of its wisdom, and so he waited patiently for developments.
+
+"Dey's a tale 'bout de rabbit foot," continued Uncle Remus, "but yo' eye
+look watery, like ole man Nod 'bout ter slip up behime you; en let 'lone
+dat, I 'speck Miss Sally clock clickin' fer you right now."
+
+"Oh, no, it is n't, Uncle Remus," said the child, laughing. "Mamma said
+she'd make 'Tildy call me."
+
+"Dar, now!" exclaimed the old man, indignantly, "'Tildy dis en 'Tildy
+dat. I dunner w'at yo' mammy dreamin' 'bout fer ter let dat nigger gal
+be a-holl'in' en a-bawlin' atter you all 'roun' dish yer plan'ation. She
+de mos' uppity nigger on de hill, en de fus' news you know dey ull all
+hatter make der bows en call 'er Mistiss. Ef ole Miss wuz 'live, dey
+would n't be no sech gwines on 'roun' yer. But nummine.[29] You des let
+'er come a-cuttin' up front er my do', en I lay you'll year squallin'.
+Now, den," continued the old man, settling himself back in his chair,
+"wharbouts wuz I?"
+
+"You said there was a tale about the rabbit foot," the little boy
+replied.
+
+"So dey is, honey! so dey is!" Uncle Remus exclaimed, "but she got so
+many crooks en tu'ns in 'er dat I dunner but w'at I ain't done gone en
+fergotted some un um off'n my min'; 'kaze ole folks lak me knows lots
+mo' dan w'at dey kin 'member.
+
+"In de days w'ence Brer Rabbit wuz sorter keepin' de neighborhoods
+stirred up, de yuther creeturs wuz studyin' en studyin' de whole blessid
+time how dey gwine ter nab 'im. Dey ain't had no holiday yit, 'kaze w'en
+de holiday come, dey'd go ter wuk, dey would, en juggle wid one er n'er
+fer ter see how dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit. Bimeby, w'en all
+der plans, en der traps, en der jugglements ain't do no good, dey all
+'gree, dey did, dat Brer Rabbit got some cunjerment w'at he trick um
+wid. Brer B'ar, he up'n 'low, he did, dat he boun' Brer Rabbit is a
+nat'al bawn witch; Brer Wolf say, sezee, dat he 'speck Brer Rabbit des
+in cahoots wid a witch; en Brer Fox, he vow dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck
+dan smartness. Den Jedge B'ar, he drap he head one side, he did, en he
+ax how come Brer Rabbit got all de luck on he own side. De mo' dey ax,
+de mo' dey git pestered, en de mo' dey git pestered, de wuss dey worry.
+Day in en day out dey wuk wid dis puzzlement; let 'lone dat, dey sot up
+nights; en bimeby dey 'gree 'mungs deyse'f dat dey better make up wid
+Brer Rabbit, en see ef dey can't fine out how come he so lucky.
+
+"Wiles all dis gwine on, ole Brer Rabbit wuz a-gallopin' 'roun' fum
+Funtown ter Frolicville, a-kickin' up de devilment en terrifyin' de
+neighborhoods. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel one time, endurin' de
+odd-come-shorts,[30] ole Jedge B'ar sont wud dat one er his chilluns done
+bin tooken wid a sickness, en he ax won't ole Miss Rabbit drap 'roun' en
+set up wid 'im. Ole Miss Rabbit, she say, co'se she go, en atter she
+fill 'er satchy full er yerbs en truck, off she put.
+
+"I done fergit," said Uncle Remus, scratching his head gravely, "w'ich
+one er dem chilluns wuz ailin'. Hit mout er bin Kubs, en hit mout er bin
+Klibs; but no marter fer dat. W'en ole Miss Rabbit git dar, ole Miss
+B'ar wuz a-settin' up in de chimbly-cornder des a-dosin' en a-nussin' de
+young un; en all de wimmin er de neighborhoods wuz dar, a-whispun en
+a-talkin', des fer all de worl' lak wimmin does deze days. It 'uz:--
+
+"'Come right in, Sis Rabbit! I mighty proud to see you. I mighty glad
+you fotch yo' knittin', 'kaze I'm pow'ful po' comp'ny w'en my chillun
+sick. Des fling yo' bonnet on de bed dar. I'm dat flustrated twel I
+dunner w'ich een's up, skacely. Sis Wolf, han' Sis Rabbit dat
+rickin'-cheer dar, 'kaze 't ain't no one step fum her house ter mine.'
+
+"Dat de way ole Miss B'ar run on," continued Uncle Remus, "en dey set
+dar en dey chatter en dey clatter. Ole Brer Wolf, he 'uz settin' out on
+de back peazzer smokin' en noddin'. He 'ud take en draw a long whiff, he
+would, en den he 'ud drap off ter noddin' en let de smoke oozle out thoo
+he nose. Bimeby ole Sis Rabbit drap 'er knittin' in 'er lap, en sing
+out, sez she:--
+
+"'Law, Sis B'ar! I smells 'barker smoke,' sez she.
+
+"Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt up de sick baby, en swap it fum one knee ter de
+yuther, en 'low:--
+
+"'My ole man bin smokin' 'roun' yer de whole blessid day, but soon'z
+dish yer chile tuck sick, I des tuck'n tole 'im, sez I, fer ter take
+hisse'f off in de woods whar he b'long at, sez I. Yessum! I did dat! I
+pities any 'oman w'at 'er ole man is fer'verlastin' stuck 'roun' de
+house w'en dey's any sickness gwine on,' sez she.
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf sot out dar on de back peazzer, en he shot one eye, he
+did, en open um 'g'in, en let de smoke oozle out'n he nose. Sis B'ar,
+she jolt de sick baby en swap it fum one knee ter de yuther. Dey sot dar
+en talk twel bimeby der confab sorter slack up. Fus' news dey know Sis
+Rabbit drap 'er knittin' en fling up 'er han's en squall out:--
+
+"'De gracious en de goodness! Ef I ain't done come traipsin' off en lef'
+my ole man money-pus, en he got sump'n' in dar w'at he won't take a
+purty fer, needer! I'm dat fergitful,' sez she, 'twel hit keep me
+mizerbul mighty nigh de whole time,' sez she.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he lif' up he year en open he eye, en let de smoke oozle
+out'n he nose. Sis B'ar, she jolt de sick baby wuss en wuss, en bimeby,
+she up'n say, sez she:--
+
+"'I mighty glad 't ain't me, dat I is,' sez she, 'bekaze ef I wuz ter
+lef' my ole man money-pus layin' 'roun' dat a-way, he'd des nat'ally rip
+up de planks in de flo', en t'ar all de bark off'n de trees,' sez she.
+
+"Ole Miss Rabbit, she sot dar, she did, en she rock en study, en study
+en rock, en she dunner w'at ter do. Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt en jolt de
+baby. Ole Brer Wolf, he let de 'barker smoke oozle thoo he nose, he did,
+en den he open bofe eyes en lay he pipe down. Wid dat, he crope down de
+back steps en lit out fer Brer Rabbit house. Brer Wolf got gait same lak
+race-hoss, en it ain't take 'im long fer ter git whar he gwine. W'en he
+git ter Brer Rabbit house, he pull de latch-string en open de do', en
+w'en he do dis, one er de little Rabs wake up, en he holler out:--
+
+"'Dat you, mammy?'
+
+"Den Brer Wolf wish he kin sing 'Bye-O-Baby,' but 'fo' he kin make
+answer, de little Rab holler out 'g'in:--
+
+"'Dat you, mammy?'
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf know he got ter do sump'n', so he tuck'n w'isper, he
+did:--
+
+"'Sh-sh-sh! Go ter sleep, honey. De boogers'll git you!' en wid dat de
+little Rab 'gun ter whimple, en he whimple hisse'f off ter sleep.
+
+"Den w'en it seem lak de little Rabs, w'ich dey wuz mighty nigh
+forty-eleven un um, is all gone ter sleep, Brer Wolf, he crope 'roun',
+he did, en feel on de mantel-shelf, en feel, en feel, twel he come ter
+ole Brer Rabbit money-pus. Ef he want so light wid he han'," Uncle Remus
+went on, glancing quizzically at the child, "he'd a knock off de
+pollygollic vial w'at ole Miss Rabbit put up dar. But nummine! Brer
+Wolf, he feel, en feel, twel he come ter de money-pus, en he grab dat,
+he did, en he des flew'd away fum dar.
+
+"W'en he git out er sight en year'n', Brer Wolf look at de money-pus,
+en see w'at in it. Hit 'uz one er deze yer kinder money-pus wid tossle
+on de een' en shiny rings in de middle. Brer Wolf look in dar fer ter
+see w'at he kin see. In one een' dey wuz a piece er calamus-root en some
+collard-seeds, en in de t'er een' dey wuz a great big rabbit foot. Dis
+make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en he gallop off home wid de
+shorance[31] un a man w'at done foun' a gol' mine."
+
+Here Uncle Remus paused and betrayed a disposition to drop off to sleep.
+The little boy, however, touched him upon the knee, and asked him what
+Brother Rabbit did when he found his foot was gone. Uncle Remus laughed
+and rubbed his eyes.
+
+"Hit's mighty kuse 'bout Brer Rabbit, honey. He ain't miss dat money-pus
+fer mighty long time, yit w'en he do miss it, he miss it mighty bad. He
+miss it so bad dat he git right-down sick, 'kaze he know he bleedz ter
+fine dat ar foot let go w'at may, let come w'at will. He study en he
+study, yit 't ain't do no good, en he go all 'roun' 'lowin' ter
+hisse'f:--
+
+"'I know whar I put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um; I know whar I
+put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um.'
+
+"He mope en he mope 'roun'. Look lak Brer Wolf got all de luck en Brer
+Rabbit ain't got none. Brer Wolf git fat, Brer Rabbit git lean; Brer
+Wolf run fas', Brer Rabbit lope heavy lak ole Sis Cow; Brer Wolf feel
+funny, Brer Rabbit feel po'ly. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Brer
+Rabbit know sump'n' n'er bleedz ter be done. Las' he make up he min' fer
+ter take a journey, en he fix up he tricks, he do, en he go en see ole
+Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money."
+
+"And who was old Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, Uncle Remus?" the little
+boy inquired.
+
+"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of triumph, "I know'd w'en I
+fotch dat ole creetur name up, dey wa'n't gwine ter be no noddin' 'roun'
+dish yer h'a'th. In dem days," he continued, "dey wuz a Witch-Rabbit,
+en dat wuz her entitlements--ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. She live
+way off in a deep, dark swamp, en ef you go dar you hatter ride some,
+slide some; jump some, hump some; hop some, flop some; walk some, balk
+some; creep some, sleep some; fly some, cry some; foller some, holler
+some; wade some, spade some; en ef you ain't monst'us keerful you ain't
+git dar den. Yit Brer Rabbit he git dar atter so long a time, en he
+mighty nigh wo' out.
+
+"He sot down, he did, fer ter res' hisse'f, en bimeby he see black smoke
+comin' outer de hole in de groun' whar de ole Witch-Rabbit stay. Smoke
+git blacker en blacker, en atter w'ile Brer Rabbit know de time done
+come fer 'im ter open up en tell w'at he want."
+
+As Uncle Remus interpreted the dialogue, Brother Rabbit spoke in a
+shrill, frightened tone, while the voice of the Rabbit-Witch was hoarse
+and oracular:--
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I needs yo' he'p.'
+
+"'Son Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I los' de foot you gim me.'
+
+"'O Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, my luck done gone. I put dat foot down 'pon de
+groun'. I lef um dar I know not whar.'
+
+"'De Wolf done tuck en stole yo' luck, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley. Go fine
+de track, go git hit back, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money sucked
+all de black smoke back in de hole in de groun', and Brer Rabbit des put
+out fer home. W'en he git dar, w'at do he do? Do he go off in a cornder
+by hisse'f, en wipe he weepin' eye? Dat he don't--dat he don't. He des
+tuck'n wait he chance. He wait en he wait; he wait all day, he wait all
+night; he wait mighty nigh a mont'. He hang 'roun' Brer Wolf house; he
+watch en he wait.
+
+"Bimeby, one day, Brer Rabbit git de news dat Brer Wolf des come back
+fum a big frolic. Brer Rabbit know he time comin', en he keep bofe eye
+open en bofe years h'ist up. Nex' mawnin' atter Brer Wolf git back fum
+de big frolic, Brer Rabbit see 'im come outer de house en go down de
+spring atter bucket water. Brer Rabbit, he slip up, he did, en he look
+in. Ole Miss Wolf, she 'uz sailin' 'roun' fryin' meat en gittin'
+brekkus, en dar hangin' 'cross er cheer wuz Brer Wolf wes'cut where he
+keep he money-pus. Brer Rabbit rush up ter do' en pant lak he mighty
+nigh fag out. He rush up, he did, en he sing out:--
+
+"'Mawnin', Sis Wolf, mawnin'! Brer Wolf sont me atter de shavin'-brush,
+w'ich he keep it in dat ar money-pus w'at I 'loant 'im.'
+
+"Sis Wolf, she fling up 'er han's en let um drap, en she laugh en say,
+sez she:--
+
+"'I 'clar' ter gracious, Brer Rabbit! You gimme sech a tu'n, dat I ain't
+got room ter be perlite skacely.'
+
+"But mos' 'fo' she gits de wuds out'n 'er mouf, Brer Rabbit done grab de
+money-pus en gone!"
+
+"Which way did he go, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, after a while.
+
+"Well, I tell you dis," Uncle Remus responded emphatically, "Brer Rabbit
+road ain't lay by de spring; I boun' you dat!"
+
+Presently 'Tildy put her head in the door to say that it was bedtime,
+and shortly afterward the child was dreaming that Daddy Jack was
+Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in disguise.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[27] Disease.
+
+[28] If, as some ethnologists claim, the animal myths are relics of
+zooetheism, there can scarcely be a doubt that the practice here
+described by Uncle Remus is the survival of some sort of obeisance or
+genuflexion by which the negroes recognized the presence of the Rabbit,
+the great central figure and wonder-worker of African mythology.
+
+[29] Never mind.
+
+[30] Sometime, any time, no time. Thus: "Run fetch me de ax, en I'll
+wait on you one er deze odd-come-shorts."
+
+[31] Assurance.
+
+
+
+
+XXXI
+
+"IN SOME LADY'S GARDEN"
+
+
+When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the old man was engaged in
+the somewhat tedious operation of making shoe-pegs. Daddy Jack was
+assorting a bundle of sassafras roots, and Aunt Tempy was transforming
+a meal-sack into shirts for some of the little negroes,--a piece of
+economy of her own devising. Uncle Remus pretended not to see the child.
+
+"Hit's des lak I tell you all," he remarked, as if renewing a
+conversation; "I monst'us glad dey ain't no bad chilluns on dis place
+fer ter be wadin' in de spring-branch, en flingin' mud on de yuther
+little chilluns, w'ich de goodness knows dey er nasty nuff bidout dat. I
+monst'us glad dey ain't none er dat kinder young uns 'roun' yer--I is
+dat."
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in an injured tone,
+"somebody's been telling you something on me."
+
+The old man appeared to be very much astonished.
+
+"Heyo! whar you bin hidin', honey? Yer 't is mos' way atter supper en
+you ain't in de bed yit. Well--well--well! Sit over ag'in in de chimbly
+jam dar whar you kin dry dem shoes. En de ve'y nex' time w'at I see you
+wadin' in dat branch, wid de sickly season comin' on, I'm a-gwine ter
+take you 'cross my shoulder en kyar you ter Miss Sally, en ef dat ain't
+do no good, den I'll kyar you ter Mars John, en ef dat ain't do no good,
+den I'm done wid you, so dar now!"
+
+The little boy sat silent a long time, listening to the casual talk of
+Uncle Remus and his guests, and watching the vapor rise from his wet
+shoes. Presently there was a pause in the talk, and the child said:--
+
+"Uncle Remus, have I been too bad to hear a story?"
+
+The old man straightened himself up and pushed his spectacles back on
+his forehead.
+
+"Now, den, folks, you year w'at he say. Shill we pursue on atter de
+creeturs? Shill er shan't?"
+
+"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, I mos' 'shame' myse'f, yit I tell you de
+Lord's trufe, I'm des ez bad atter dem ar tales ez dat chile dar."
+
+"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, "a tale hit is. One time dey wuz a man,
+en dish yer man he had a gyardin. He had a gyardin, en he had a little
+gal fer ter min' it. I don't 'speck dish yer gyardin wuz wide lak Miss
+Sally gyardin, but hit 'uz lots longer. Hit 'uz so long dat it run down
+side er de big road, 'cross by de plum thicket, en back up de lane. Dish
+yer gyardin wuz so nice en long dat it tuck'n 'track de 'tention er Brer
+Rabbit; but de fence wuz built so close en so high, dat he can't git in
+nohow he kin fix it."
+
+"Oh, I know about that!" exclaimed the little boy. "The man catches
+Brother Rabbit and ties him, and the girl lets him loose to see him
+dance."
+
+Uncle Remus dropped his chin upon his bosom. He seemed to be humbled.
+
+"Sis Tempy," he said, with a sigh, "you'll hatter come in some time w'en
+we ain't so crowded, en I'll up en tell 'bout Billy Malone en Miss
+Janey."
+
+"_That_ wasn't the story I heard, Uncle Remus," said the little boy.
+"_Please_ tell me about Billy Malone and Miss Janey."
+
+"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a triumphant smile; "I 'low'd maybe
+I wa'n't losin' de use er my 'membunce, en sho' nuff I ain't. Now, den,
+we'll des wuk our way back en start fa'r en squar'. One time dey wuz a
+man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin en a little gal. De gyardin wuz
+chock full er truck, en in de mawnin's, w'en de man hatter go off, he
+call up de little gal, he did, en tell 'er dat she mus' be sho' en keep
+ole Brer Rabbit outer de gyardin. He tell 'er dis eve'y mawnin'; but one
+mawnin' he tuck en forgit it twel he git ter de front gate, en den he
+stop en holler back:--
+
+"'O Janey! You Janey! Min' w'at I tell you 'bout ole Brer Rabbit. Don't
+you let 'im get my nice green peas.'
+
+"Little gal, she holler back: 'Yes, daddy.'
+
+"All dis time, Brer Rabbit he 'uz settin' out dar in de bushes dozin'.
+Yit, w'en he year he name call out so loud, he cock up one year en
+lissen, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he bleedz ter outdo Mr. Man. Bimeby,
+Brer Rabbit, he went 'roun' en come down de big road des ez natchul ez
+ef he bin trafflin' some'rs. He see de little gal settin' by de gate, en
+he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Ain't dish yer Miss Janey?'
+
+"Little gal say: 'My daddy call me Janey.'" Uncle Remus mimicked the
+voice and manner of a little girl. He hung his head, looked excessively
+modest, and spoke in a shrill tone. The effect was so comical that even
+Daddy Jack seemed to enjoy it.
+
+"'My daddy call me Janey; w'at yo' daddy call you?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit look on de groun', en sorter study lak folks does w'en dey
+feels bad. Den he look up en 'low:--
+
+"I bin lose my daddy dis many long year, but w'en he 'live he call me
+Billy Malone.' Den he look at de little gal hard en 'low: 'Well, well,
+well! I ain't seed you sence you 'uz a little bit er baby, en now yer
+you is mighty nigh a grown 'oman. I pass yo' daddy in de road des now,
+en he say I mus' come en tell you fer ter gimme a mess er
+sparrer-grass.'
+
+"Little gal, she fling de gate wide open, en let Mr. Billy Malone git de
+sparrer-grass.
+
+"Man come back en see whar somebody done bin tromplin' on de gyardin
+truck, en den he call up de little gal, en up'n ax 'er who bin dar since
+he bin gone; en de little gal, she 'low, she did, dat Mr. Billy Malone
+bin dar. Man ax who in de name er goodness is Mr. Billy Malone. Little
+gal 'low hit's des a man w'at say 'er daddy sont 'im fer ter git some
+sparrer-grass on account er ole acquaintance. Man got his 'spicions, but
+he ain't say nothin'.
+
+"Nex' day, w'en he start off, he holler en tell de little gal fer ter
+keep one eye on ole Brer Rabbit, en don't let nobody git no mo'
+sparrer-grass. Brer Rabbit, he settin' off dar in de bushes, en he year
+w'at de man say, en he see 'im w'en he go off. Bimeby, he sorter run
+'roun', ole Brer Rabbit did, en he come hoppin' down de road, twel he
+git close up by de little gal at de gyardin gate. Brer Rabbit drapt 'er
+his biggest bow, en ax 'er how she come on. Den, atter dat, he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'I see yo' daddy gwine 'long down de road des now, en he gimme a rakin'
+down 'kaze I make 'way wid de sparrer-grass, yit he say dat bein' 's how
+I sech a good fr'en' er de fambly I kin come en ax you fer ter gimme a
+mess er Inglish peas.'
+
+"Little gal, she tuck'n fling de gate wide open, en ole Brer Rabbit, he
+march in, he did, en he git de peas in a hurry. Man come back atter
+w'ile, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Who bin tromplin' down my pea-vines?'
+
+"'Mr. Billy Malone, daddy.'
+
+"Man slap he han' on he forrud;[32] he dunner w'at ter make er all dis.
+Bimeby, he 'low:--
+
+"'W'at kinder lookin' man dish yer Mr. Billy Malone?'
+
+"'Split lip, pop eye, big year, en bob-tail, daddy.'
+
+"Man say he be bless ef he ain't gwine ter make de acquaintance er Mr.
+Billy Malone; en he went ter wuk, he did, en fix 'im up a box-trap, en
+he put some goobers in dar, en he tell de little gal nex' time Mr. Billy
+Malone come fer 'vite 'im in. Nex' mawnin', Man git little ways fum de
+house en tuck'n holler back, he did:--
+
+"'W'atsumever you does, don't you dast ter let nobody git no mo'
+sparrer-grass, en don't you let um git no mo' Inglish peas.'
+
+"Little gal holler back: 'No, daddy.'
+
+"Den, atter dat, 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer come Mr. Billy Malone, hoppin'
+'long down de big road. He drapt a bow, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Mawnin', Miss Janey, mawnin'! Met yo' daddy down de big road, en he
+say dat I can't git no mo' sparrer-grass en green peas but you kin gimme
+some goobers.'
+
+"Little gal, she lead de way, en tell Mr. Billy Malone dar dey is in de
+box. Mr. Billy Malone, he lick he chops, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'You oughter be monst'us glad, honey, dat you got sech a good daddy
+lak dat.'
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Billy Malone wunk he off eye, en jump in de box."
+
+"W'at I done tell you!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.
+
+"He jump in de box," continued Uncle Remus, "en dar he wuz, en ef de
+little gal hadder bin a minnit bigger, I lay she'd 'a' tuck'n done some
+mighty tall winkin'.
+
+"Man ain't gone fur, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back. W'en Brer
+Rabbit year 'im comin' he bounce 'roun' in dar same ez a flea in a
+piller-case, but 't ain't do no good. Trap done fall, en Brer Rabbit in
+dar. Man look thoo de slats, en 'low:--
+
+"'Dar you is--same old hoppum-skippum run en jumpum. Youer de ve'y chap
+I'm atter. I want yo' foot fer ter kyar in my pocket, I want yo' meat
+fer ter put in de pot, en I want yo' hide fer ter w'ar on my head.'
+
+"Dis make cole chill rush up en down Brer Rabbit backbone, en he git
+more 'umble dan a town nigger w'at been kotch out atter nine erclock.[33]
+He holler en cry, en cry en holler:--
+
+"'Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go! I done 'ceive you dis time, but I ain't
+gwine ter 'ceive you no mo'. Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go, des dis
+little bit er time.'
+
+"Man he ain't sayin' nothin'. He look lak he studyin' 'bout somep'n'
+ne'r way off yan', en den he take de little gal by de han' en go off
+todes de house."
+
+"Sho'ly Brer Rabbit time done come now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, in a tone
+of mingled awe and expectation.
+
+Uncle Remus paid no attention to the interruption, but went right on:--
+
+"Hit seem lak dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck dan w'at you kin shake a
+stick at, 'kaze de man en de little gal ain't good en gone skacely twel
+yer come Brer Fox a-pirootin' 'roun'. Brer Fox year Brer Rabbit holl'in'
+en he up'n ax w'at de 'casion er sech gwines on right dar in de broad
+open daylight. Brer Rabbit squall out:--
+
+"'Lordy, Brer Fox! you better make 'as'e 'way fum yer, 'kaze Mr. Man ull
+ketch you en slap you in dish yer box en make you eat mutton twel you
+ull des nat'ally bus' right wide open. Run, Brer Fox, run! He bin
+feedin' me on mutton the whole blessid mawnin' en now he done gone atter
+mo'. Run, Brer Fox, run!'
+
+"Yit, Brer Fox ain't run. He up'n ax Brer Rabbit how de mutton tas'e.
+
+"'He tas'e mighty good 'long at fus', but nuff's a nuff, en too much is
+a plenty. Run, Brer Fox, run! He ull ketch you, sho'!'
+
+"Yit, Brer Fox ain't run. He up'n 'low dat he b'leeve he want some
+mutton hisse'f, en wid dat he onloose de trap en let Brer Rabbit out, en
+den he tuck'n git in dar. Brer Rabbit ain't wait fer ter see w'at de
+upshot gwine ter be, needer--I boun' you he ain't. He des tuck'n gallop
+off in de woods, en he laff en laff twel he hatter hug a tree fer ter
+keep fum drappin' on de groun'."
+
+"Well, but what became of Brother Fox?" the little boy asked, after
+waiting some time for Uncle Remus to proceed.
+
+"Now, den, honey," said the old man, falling back upon his dignity, "hit
+e'en about takes all my spar' time fer ter keep up wid you en Brer
+Rabbit, let 'lone keepin' up wid Brer Fox. Ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n tuck
+keer hisse'f, en now let Brer Fox take keer hisse'f."
+
+"I say de word!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[32] Forehead.
+
+[33] During slavery, the ringing of the nine-o'clock bell in the towns
+and villages at night was the signal for all negroes to retire to their
+quarters.
+
+
+
+
+XXXII
+
+BRER 'POSSUM GETS IN TROUBLE
+
+
+When Uncle Remus began his story of Billy Malone and Miss Janey, Daddy
+Jack sat perfectly quiet. His eyes were shut, and he seemed to be
+dozing; but, as the story proceeded, he grew more and more restless.
+Several times he was upon the point of interrupting Uncle Remus, but he
+restrained himself. He raised his hands to a level with his chin, and
+beat the ends of his fingers gently together, apparently keeping time to
+his own thoughts. But his impatience exhausted itself, and when Uncle
+Remus had concluded, the old African was as quiet as ever. When Brother
+Fox was left so unceremoniously to his fate, Daddy Jack straightened
+himself temporarily and said:--
+
+"Me yent bin-a yerry da tale so. 'E nice, fer true, 'e mek larf come;
+oona no bin-a yerry um lak me."
+
+"No," said Uncle Remus, with grave affability, "I 'speck not. One man,
+one tale; 'n'er man, 'n'er tale. Folks tell um diffunt. I boun' yo' way
+de bes', Brer Jack. Out wid it--en we ull set up yer, en hark at you en
+laff wid you plum twel de chick'ns crow."
+
+Daddy Jack needed no other invitation. He clasped his knee in his hands
+and began:--
+
+"Dey is bin lif one Man wut plan' some pea in 'e geerden. 'E plan' some
+pea, but 'e mek no pea; B'er Rabbit, 'e is fine um. 'E fine um un 'e eat
+um. Man mek no pea, B'er Rabbit 'e 'stroy um so. 'E plan' dem pea; dey
+do grow, un 'e go off. 'E come bahk; pea no dere. B'er Rabbit teer um up
+un mek 'e cud wit' dem. So long tam, Man say 'e gwan ketch um, un 'e no
+ketch um. Man go, B'er Rabbit come; Man come, B'er Rabbit go. Bumbye,
+Man, 'e is git so mad, 'e y-eye bin-a come red; 'e crack 'e toof, 'e do
+cuss. 'E oby 'e gwan ketch B'er Rabbit nohow. Dun 'e is bin-a call 'e
+lilly gal. 'E talk, 'e tell 'im fer let B'er Rabbit go troo da geerden
+gett. Lil gal say yasser. 'E talk, 'e tell 'im wun B'er Rabbit go troo
+da gett, dun 'e mus' shed da gett, un no le'm come pas' no mo'. Lil gal
+say yasser.
+
+"Ole Man is bin-a gone 'bout 'e wuk; lil gal, 'e do lissun. B'er Rabbit,
+'e come tippy-toe, tippy-toe; gone in da geerden; eat dem pea tel 'e
+full up; eat tel he mos' git seeck wit' dem pea. Dun 'e start fer go
+out; 'e fine da gett shed. 'E shek um, 'e no open; 'e push um, 'e no
+open; 'e fair grunt, 'e push so hard, 'e no open. 'E bin-a call da lil
+gal; e' say:--
+
+"'Lil gal, lil gal! cum y-open da gett. 'T is hu't me feelin' fer fine
+da gett shed lak dis.'
+
+"Lil gal no talk nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"''T is-a bin hu't me feelin', lil gal! Come y-open da gett, lil gal,
+less I teer um loose from da hinch.'
+
+"Lil gal v'ice come bahk. 'E talk:
+
+"'Daddy say mus'n'.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit open 'e mout'. 'E say:--
+
+"'See me long sha'p toof? 'E bite you troo un troo!'
+
+"Lil gal skeer; 'e tu'n loose de gett un fly. B'er Rabbit _gone_! Ole
+Man come bahk; 'e ahx 'bout B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say:--
+
+"''E done gone, daddy. I shed da gett, I hol' um fas'. B'er Rabbit bin
+show 'e toof; 'e gwan fer bite-a me troo un troo. I git skeer', daddy.'
+Man ahx:--
+
+"'How 'e gwin fer bite you troo un troo, wun 'e toof fix bite grass?
+B'er Rabbit tell one big tale. 'E no kin bite-a you. Wun 'e come 'g'in,
+you shed dem gett, you hol' um tight, you no le'm go pas' no mo'.' Lil
+gal say yasser.
+
+"Nex' day mawnin', Man go 'long 'bout 'e wuk. Lil gal, 'e play 'roun',
+un 'e play 'roun'. B'er Rabbit, 'e is come tippy-tippy. 'E fine gett
+open; 'e slip in da geerden. 'E chew dem pea, 'e gnyaw dem pea; 'e eat
+tel dem pea tas'e bad. Dun 'e try fer go out; gett shed fas'. 'E no kin
+git troo. 'E push, gett no open; 'e keek wit' um fut, gett no open; 'e
+butt wit' um head, gett no open. Dun 'e holler:--
+
+"'Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. 'E berry bad fer fool wit' ole
+man lak me. I no kin hol' me feelin' down wun you is do lak dis. 'E
+berry bad.'
+
+"Lil gal hol' 'e head down; 'e no say nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Be shame, lil gal, fer do ole man lak dis. Me feelin' git wusser. Come
+y-open de gett 'fo' I is teer um down.'
+
+"Lil gal say: 'Daddy say mus'n'.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit open 'e y-eye wide; 'e is look berry mad. 'E say:--
+
+"'See me big y-eye? I pop dis y-eye stret at you, me kill-a you dead.
+Come y-open da gett 'fo' me y-eye pop.'
+
+"Lil gal skeer fer true. 'E loose de gett, 'e fair fly. B'er Rabbit done
+_gone_! Lil gal daddy bahk. 'E ahx wey is B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say:--
+
+"''E done gone, daddy. I hol' gett fas'; 'e is bin-a 'come berry mad. 'E
+say he gwan pop 'e y-eye at me, shoot-a me dead.' Man say:--
+
+"'B'er Rabbit tell-a too big tale. How 'e gwan shoot-a you wit' 'e
+y-eye? 'E y-eye sem lak turrer folks y-eye. Wun 'e come some mo', you
+shed dem gett, you hol' um fas'.' Lil gal say yasser.
+
+"Nex' day mawnin', Man go, B'er Rabbit come. 'E is ma'ch in da gett un
+eat-a dem pea tel 'e kin eat-a no mo'. 'E sta't out; gett shed. 'E no
+kin come pas'. 'E shek, 'e push, 'e pull; gett shed. Dun 'e holler:--
+
+"'Lil gal, lil gal! come y-open da gett. 'Tis berry bad fer treat you'
+kin lak dis. Come y-open da gett, lil gal. 'Tis full me up wit' sorry
+wun you do lak dis.'
+
+"Lil gal, 'e no say nuttin'. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"''E berry bad fer treat you' kin lak dis. Tu'n go da gett, lil gal.'
+Lil gal say:--
+
+"'How you is kin wit' me, B'er Rabbit?'
+
+"'You' gran'daddy foller at' me nuncle wit' 'e dog. Da mek we is kin.
+Come y-open da gett, lil gal.'"
+
+"Dat ole Rabbit wuz a-talkin', mon!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy,
+enthusiastically.
+
+"Lil gal no say nuttin' 't all!" Daddy Jack went on, with renewed
+animation. "Dun B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'See me long, sha'p toof, lil gal? Me bite-a you troo un troo.' Lil gal
+say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da toof. 'E bite nuttin' 'tall 'cep' 'e bite grass.' B'er
+Rabbit say:--
+
+"'See me big y-eye? I pop um at you, shoot-a you dead.' Lil gal say:--
+
+"Me no skeer da y-eye. 'E sem lak turrer folks y-eye.' B'er Rabbit
+say:--
+
+"'Lil gal, you mek me 'come mad. I no lak fer hu't-a me kin. Look at me
+ho'n! I run you troo un troo.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit lif 'e two year up; 'e p'int um stret at da lil gal. Lil
+gal 'come skeer da ho'n; 'e do tu'n go da gett; 'e fly fum dey-dey."
+
+"Well, ef dat don't beat!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, laughing as heartily as
+the little boy. "Look at um one way, en Rabbit year does look lak sho'
+nuff ho'ns."
+
+"Lil gal tu'n go da gett," Daddy Jack continued; "B'er Rabbit _gone_!
+Man come bahk; 'e ahx wey is B'er Rabbit. Lil gal cry; 'e say 'e skeer
+B'er Rabbit ho'n. Man say 'e is hab no ho'n. Lil gal is stan' um down 'e
+see ho'n. Man say da ho'n is nuttin' 't all but B'er Rabbit year wut 'e
+yeddy wit'. 'E tell lil gal nex' tam B'er Rabbit come, 'e mus' shed da
+gett; 'e mus' run fum dey-dey un leaf um shed. Lil gal say yasser.
+
+"Man gone, B'er Rabbit come. 'E is go in da gett; 'e eat-a dem pea tel
+'e tire'. 'E try fer go pas' da gett, gett shed. 'E call lil gal; lil
+gal _gone_! 'E call, call, call; lil gal no yeddy. 'E try fer fine crack
+in da palin'; no crack dey. 'E try fer jump over; de palin' too high.
+'E 'come skeer; 'e is 'come so skeer 'e squot 'pun da groun'; 'e shek,
+'e shiver.
+
+"Man come bahk. 'E ahx wey B'er Rabbit. Lil gal say 'e in da geerden.
+Man hug lil gal, 'e is lub um so. 'E go in da geerden; 'e fine B'er
+Rabbit. 'E ketch um--'e ca' um off fer kill um; 'e mad fer true. Lil gal
+come holler:--
+
+"'Daddy, daddy! missus say run dere! 'E wan' you come stret dere!'
+
+"Man tie B'er Rabbit in da bag; 'e hang um on tree lim'. 'E say:--
+
+"'I gwan come bahk. I l'arn you fer mek cud wit' me green pea.'
+
+"Man gone fer see 'e missus. Bumbye, B'er 'Possum is bin-a come pas'. 'E
+look up, 'e ketch glimp' da bag 'pun da lim'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki! Wut dis is bin-a hang in da bag 'pun da tree-lim'?' B'er Rabbit
+say:--
+
+"'Hush, B'er 'Possum! 'T is-a me. I bin-a lissen at dem sing in da
+cloud.'
+
+"B'er 'Possum lissen. 'E say:--
+
+"'I no yed dem sing, B'er Rabbit.'
+
+"'Hush, B'er 'Possum! How is I kin yeddy dem sing wun you is mek-a da
+fuss dey-dey?'
+
+"B'er 'Possum, 'e hoi' 'e mout' still, 'cep' 'e do grin. B'er Rabbit
+say:--
+
+"'I yed dem now! I yed dem now! B'er 'Possum, I wish you is yeddy dem
+sing!'
+
+"B'er 'Possum say 'e mout' water fer yeddy dem sing in da cloud. B'er
+Rabbit, 'e say 'e is bin-a hab so long tarn 'quaintun wit' B'er 'Possum,
+'e le'm yeddy dem sing. 'E say:--
+
+"'I git fum da bag. I tu'n-a you in tel you is yeddy dem sing. Dun you
+is git fum da bag, tel I do come bahk un 'joy mese'f.'
+
+"B'er 'Possum, 'e do clam up da tree; 'e git dem bag, 'e bring um down.
+'E tak off da string; 'e tu'n B'er Rabbit go. 'E crawl in un 'e quile
+up. 'E say:--
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'
+
+"'Hi! wait tel da bag it tie, B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!' 'E
+wait.
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'
+
+"'Hi! wait tel I clam da tree, B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!' 'E
+wait.
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing, B'er Rabbit!'
+
+"'Wait tel I fix um 'pun da lim', B'er 'Possum. You yed dem soon nuff!'
+'E wait.
+
+"B'er Rabbit clam down; 'e run 'way fum dey-dey; 'e hide in da bush
+side. Man come bahk. 'E see da bag moof. B'er 'Possum say:--
+
+"'I no yeddy dem sing. I wait fer yed um sing!'
+
+"Man t'ink 'e B'er Rabbit in da bag. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ah-yi-ee! I mekky you yed dem sing!'
+
+"Man teka da bag fum da tree-lim'; 'e do slam da bag 'gin' da face da
+ye't'. 'E tek-a 'e walkin'-cane, un 'e beat B'er 'Possum wut is do um no
+ha'm tel 'e mos' kill um. Man t'ink B'er Rabbit mus' bin dead by dis. 'E
+look in da bag; 'e 'tretch 'e y-eye big; 'e 'stonish'. B'er Rabbit, 'e
+do come fum da bush side; 'e do holler, 'e do laff. 'E say:--
+
+"'You no is ketch-a me! I t'ief you' green pea,--I t'ief um some mo',--I
+t'ief um tel I dead!'
+
+"Man, 'e 'come so mad, 'e is fling hatchet at B'er Rabbit un chop off 'e
+tail."
+
+At this moment Daddy Jack subsided. His head drooped forward, and he was
+soon in the land of Nod. Uncle Remus sat gazing into the fireplace, as
+though lost in reflection. Presently, he laughed softly to himself, and
+said:--
+
+"Dat's des 'bout de long en de short un it. Mr. Man clip off Brer Rabbit
+tail wid de hatchet, en it bleed so free dat Brer Rabbit rush off ter
+de cotton-patch en put some lint on it, en down ter dis day dat lint
+mos' de fus' t'ing you see w'en Brer Rabbit jump out'n he bed en tell
+you good-bye."
+
+"But, Uncle Remus, what became of Brother 'Possum?"
+
+Uncle Remus smacked his lips and looked wise.
+
+"Don't talk 'bout Brer 'Possum, honey, ef dat ar Mr. Man wuz nice folks
+lak we all is, en I ain't 'spute it, he tuck'n tuck Brer 'Possum en
+bobbycue 'im, en I wish I had a great big piece right now. Dat I does."
+
+
+
+
+XXXIII
+
+WHY THE GUINEA-FOWLS ARE SPECKLED
+
+
+One night, while the little boy was watching Uncle Remus broil a piece
+of bacon on the coals, he heard a great commotion among the
+guinea-fowls. The squawking and _pot-racking_ went on at such a rate
+that the geese awoke and began to scream, and finally the dogs added
+their various voices to the uproar. Uncle Remus leaned back in his chair
+and listened.
+
+"I 'speck may be dat's de patter-rollers gwine by," he said, after a
+while. "But you can't put no 'pen'unce in dem ar Guinny-hins, 'kaze
+dey'll wake up en holler ef dey year deyse'f sno'. Dey'll fool you,
+sho'."
+
+"They are mighty funny, anyhow," said the little boy.
+
+"Dat's it!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Dey looks quare, en dey does quare.
+Dey ain't do lak no yuther kinder chick'n, en dey ain't look lak no
+yuther kinder chick'n. Yit folks tell me," the old man went on,
+reflectively, "dat dey er heap mo' kuse lookin' now dan w'at dey use'
+ter be. I year tell dat dey wuz one time w'en dey wuz all blue, 'stid er
+havin' all dem ar teenchy little spots on um."
+
+"Well, how did they get to be speckled, Uncle Remus?" asked the little
+boy, seeing that the old man was disposed to leave the subject and
+devote his attention to his broiling bacon.
+
+Uncle Remus did not respond at once. He turned his meat over carefully,
+watched it a little while, and then adroitly transferred it to the cover
+of a tin bucket, which was made to answer the purpose of a plate. Then
+he searched about in the embers until he found his ash-cake, and in a
+little while his supper was ready to be eaten.
+
+"I ain't begrudgin' nobody nothin'," said Uncle Remus, measuring the
+victuals with his eye; "yit I'm monst'us glad Brer Jack ain't nowhar's
+'roun', 'kaze dey ain't no tellin' de gawm dat ole nigger kin eat. He
+look shaky, en he look dry up, en he ain't got no toof, yit w'ence he
+set hisse'f down whar dey any vittles, he des nat'ally laps hit up. En
+let 'lone dat, he ull wipe he mouf en look' roun' des lak he want mo'.
+Time Miss Sally see dat ole nigger eat one meal er vittles, I boun' you
+he hatter go back down de country. I ain't begrudgin' Brer Jack de
+vittles," Uncle Remus went on, adopting a more conciliatory tone, "dat I
+ain't, 'kaze folks is got ter eat; but, gentermens! you be 'stonish'
+w'en you see Brer Jack 'pesterin' 'long er he dinner."
+
+The little boy sat quiet awhile, and then reminded Uncle Remus of the
+guinea-fowls.
+
+"Tooby sho', honey, tooby sho'! W'at I doin' runnin' on dis-a-way 'bout
+ole Brer Jack? W'at he done ter me? Yer I is gwine on 'bout ole Brer
+Jack, en dem ar Guinny-hins out dar waitin'. Well, den, one day Sis Cow
+wuz a-grazin' 'bout in de ole fiel' en lookin' atter her calf. De wedder
+wuz kinder hot, en de calf, he tuck'n stan', he did, in he mammy
+shadder, so he kin keep cool, en so dat one flip un he mammy tail kin
+keep the flies off'n bofe un um. Atter w'ile, 'long come a drove er
+Guinnies. De Guinnies, dey howdied, en Sis Cow, she howdied, en de
+Guinnies, dey sorter picked 'roun' en sun deyse'f; en Sis Cow, she crap
+de grass en ax um de news er de neighborhoods. Dey went on dis a-way
+twel 't wa'n't long 'fo' dey year mighty kuse noise out dar t'er side
+er de ole fiel'. De Guinnies, dey make great 'miration, des lak dey does
+deze days, en ole Sis Cow fling up 'er head en look all 'roun'. She
+ain't see nothin'.
+
+"Atter w'ile dey year de kuse fuss 'g'in, en dey look 'roun', en bless
+gracious! stan'in' right dar, 'twix' dem en sundown, wuz a great big
+Lion!"
+
+"A Lion, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy, in amazement.
+
+"Des ez sho' ez you er settin' dar, honey,--a great big Lion. You better
+b'leeve dey wuz a monst'us flutterment 'mungs de Guinnies, en ole Sis
+Cow, she looked mighty skeer'd. De Lion love cow meat mos' better dan he
+do any yuther kinder meat, en he shake he head en 'low ter hisse'f dat
+he'll des about ketch ole Sis Cow en eat 'er up, en take en kyar de calf
+ter he fambly.
+
+"Den he tuck'n shuck he head, de Lion did, en make straight at Sis Cow.
+De Guinnies dey run dis a-way, en dey run t'er way, en dey run all
+'roun' en 'roun'; but ole Sis Cow, she des know she got ter stan' 'er
+groun', en w'en she see de Lion makin' todes 'er, she des tuck'n drapt
+'er head down en pawed de dirt. De Lion, he crope up, he did, en crope
+'roun', watchin' fer good chance fer ter make a jump. He crope 'roun',
+he did, but no diffunce which a-way he creep, dar wuz ole Sis Cow hawns
+p'intin' right straight at 'im. Ole Sis Cow, she paw de dirt, she did,
+en show de white er her eyes, en beller way down in 'er stomach.
+
+"Dey went on dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby de Guinnies, dey see dat
+Sis Cow ain't so mighty skeer'd, en den dey 'gun ter take heart. Fus'
+news you know, one un um sorter drap he wings en fuzzle up de fedders en
+run out 'twix' Sis Cow en de Lion. W'en he get dar, he sorter dip down,
+he did, en fling up dirt des lak you see um do in de ash-pile. Den he
+tuck'n run back, he did, en time he git back, 'n'er one run out en raise
+de dus' 'twix' Sis Cow en de Lion. Den 'n'er one, he run out en dip down
+en shoo up de dus'; den 'n'er one run out en dip down, en 'n'er one en
+yit 'n'er one, twel, bless gracious! time dey all run out en dip down
+en raise de dus', de Lion wuz dat blin' twel he ain't kin see he han'
+befo' 'im. Dis make 'im so mad dat he make a splunge at Sis Cow, en de
+old lady, she kotch 'im on her hawns en got 'im down, en des nat'ally
+to' intruls out."
+
+"Did she kill the Lion, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy,
+incredulously.
+
+"Dat she did--dat she did! Yit 't ain't make 'er proud, 'kaze atter de
+Lion done good en dead, she tuck en call up de Guinnies, she did, en she
+'low, dey bin so quick fer ter he'p 'er out, dat she wanter pay um back.
+De Guinnies, dey say, sezee:--
+
+"'Don't bodder 'long er we all, Sis Cow,' sezee. 'You had yo' fun en we
+all had ourn, en 'ceppin' dat ar blood en ha'r on yo' hawn,' sezee, 'dey
+ain't none un us any de wuss off,' sezee.
+
+"But ole Sis Cow, she stan' um down, she did, dat she got ter pay um
+back, en den atter w'ile she ax um w'at dey lak bes'.
+
+"One un um up en make answer dat w'at dey lak bes', Sis Cow, she can't
+gi' um. Sis Cow, she up en 'low dat she dunno 'bout dat, en she ax um
+w'at is it.
+
+"Den de Guinnies, dey tuck'n huddle up, dey did, en hol' er confab wid
+one er 'n'er, en w'iles dey er doin' dis, ole Sis Cow, she tuck'n fetch
+a long breff, en den she call up 'er cud, en stood dar chawin' on it des
+lak she ain't had no tribalation dat day.
+
+"Bimeby one er de Guinnies step out fum de huddlement en make a bow en
+'low dat dey all 'ud be mighty proud ef Sis Cow kin fix it some way so
+dey can't be seed so fur thoo de woods, 'kaze dey look blue in de sun,
+en dey look blue in de shade, en dey can't hide deyse'f nohow. Sis Cow,
+she chaw on 'er cud, en shet 'er eyes, en study. She chaw en chaw, en
+study en study. Bimeby she 'low:--
+
+"'Go fetch me a pail!' Guinny-hin laff!
+
+"'Law, Sis Cow! w'at de name er goodness you gwine do wid a pail?'
+
+"'Go fetch me a pail!'
+
+"Guinny-hin, she run'd off, she did, en atter w'ile yer she come
+trottin' back wid a pail. She sot dat pail down," continued Uncle Remus,
+in the tone of an eye-witness to the occurrence, "en Sis Cow, she tuck
+'er stan' over it, en she let down 'er milk in dar twel she mighty nigh
+fill de pail full. Den she tuck'n make dem Guinny-hins git in a row, en
+she dip 'er tail in dat ar pail, en she switch it at de fust un en
+sprinkle 'er all over wid de milk; en eve'y time she switch 'er tail at
+um she 'low:--
+
+"'I loves dis un!' Den she 'ud sing:--
+
+    "'_Oh, Blue, go 'way! you shill not stay!
+    Oh, Guinny, be Gray, be Gray!_'
+
+"She tuck'n sprinkle de las' one un um, en de Guinnies, dey sot in de
+sun twel dey git dry, en fum dat time out dey got dem little speckles un
+um."
+
+
+
+
+XXXIV
+
+BRER RABBIT'S LOVE-CHARM
+
+
+"Dey wuz one time," said Uncle Remus one night, as they all sat around
+the wide hearth,--Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy in their
+accustomed places,--"dey wuz one time w'en de t'er creeturs push Brer
+Rabbit so close dat he tuck up a kinder idee dat may be he wa'n't ez
+smart ez he mout be, en he study 'bout dis plum twel he git humble ez de
+nex' man. 'Las' he low ter hisse'f dat he better make inquirements--"
+
+"Ki!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, raising both hands and grinning excitedly,
+"wut tale dis? I bin yerry da tale wun I is bin wean't fum me mammy."
+
+"Well, den, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, with instinctive deference to
+the rules of hospitality, "I 'speck you des better whirl in yer en spin
+'er out. Ef you git 'er mix up anywhars I ull des slip in front er you
+en ketch holt whar you lef' off."
+
+With that, Daddy Jack proceeded:--
+
+"One tam, B'er Rabbit is bin lub one noung leddy."
+
+"Miss Meadows, I 'speck," suggested Uncle Remus, as the old African
+paused to rub his chin.
+
+"'E no lub Miss Meadow nuttin' 't all!" exclaimed Daddy Jack,
+emphatically. "'E bin lub turrer noung leddy fum dat. 'E is bin lub
+werry nice noung leddy. 'E lub 'um hard, 'e lub 'um long, un 'e is gwan
+try fer mek dem noung leddy marry wit' 'im. Noung leddy seem lak 'e no
+look 'pon B'er Rabbit, un dis is bin-a mek B'er Rabbit feel werry bad
+all da day long. 'E moof 'way off by 'ese'f; 'e lose 'e fat, un 'e heer
+is bin-a come out. Bumbye, 'e see one ole Affiky mans wut is bin-a hunt
+in da fiel' fer root en yerrub fer mek 'e met'cine truck. 'E see um, un
+he go toze um. Affiky mans open 'e y-eye big; 'e 'stonish'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Rabbit! you' he'lt' is bin-a gone; 'e bin-a gone un lef' you.
+Wut mekky you is look so puny lak dis? Who is bin hu't-a you' feelin'?'
+
+"B'er Rabbit larf wit' dry grins. 'E say:--
+
+"'Shoo! I bin got well. Ef you is see me wun I sick fer true, 't will
+mekky you heer stan' up, I skeer you so.'
+
+"Affiky mans, 'e mek B'er Rabbit stick out 'e tongue; 'e is count B'er
+Rabbit pulse. 'E shekky 'e head; 'e do say:--
+
+"'Hi, B'er Rabbit! Wut all dis? You is bin ketch-a da gal-fever, un 'e
+strak in 'pon you' gizzud.'
+
+"Den B'er Rabbit, 'e is tell-a da Affiky mans 'bout dem noung leddy wut
+no look toze 'im, un da Affiky mans, 'e do say 'e bin know gal sem lak
+dat, 'e is bin shum befo'. 'E say 'e kin fix all dem noung leddy lak
+dat. B'er Rabbit, 'e is feel so good, 'e jump up high; 'e is bin crack
+'e heel; 'e shekky da Affiky mans by de han'.
+
+"Affiky mans, 'e say B'er Rabbit no kin git da gal 'cep' 'e is mek 'im
+one cha'm-bag. 'E say 'e mus' git one el'phan' tush, un 'e mus' git one
+'gater toof, un 'e mus' git one rice-bud bill. B'er Rabbit werry glad
+'bout dis, un 'e hop way fum dey-dey.
+
+"'E hop, 'e run, 'e jump all nex' day night, un bumbye 'e see one great
+big el'phan' come breakin' 'e way troo da woots. B'er Rabbit, 'e say:--
+
+"'Ki! Oona big fer true! I bin-a yeddy talk 'bout dis in me y-own
+countree. Oona big fer true; too big fer be strong.'
+
+"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E tek pine tree in 'e snout; 'e pull um by da roots; 'e toss um way
+off. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Hi! dem tree come 'cause you bin high; 'e no come 'cause you bin
+strong.'
+
+"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E rush troo da woots; 'e fair teer um down. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Hoo! dem is bin-a saplin' wey you 'stroy. See da big pine? Oona no kin
+'stroy dem.'
+
+"El'phan' say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E run 'pon da big pine; da big pine is bin too tough. El'phan' tush
+stick in deer fer true; da big pine hol' um fas'. B'er Rabbit git-a dem
+tush; 'e fetch um wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky mans say el'phan' is
+bin too big fer be sma't. 'E say 'e mus' haf one 'gater toof fer go wit'
+el'phan' tush.
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e do crack 'e heel; 'e do fair fly fum dey-dey. 'E go
+'long, 'e go 'long. Bumbye 'e come 'pon 'gater. Da sun shiuen hot; da
+'gater do 'joy 'ese'f. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Dis road, 'e werry bad; less we mek good one by da crickside.'
+
+"'Gater lak dat. 'E wek 'ese'f up fum 'e head to 'e tail. Dey sta't fer
+clean da road. 'Gater, 'e do teer da bush wit' 'e toof; 'e sweep-a da
+trash way wit' 'e tail. B'er Rabbit, 'e do beat-a da bush down wit' 'e
+cane. 'E hit lef', 'e hit right; 'e hit up, 'e hit down; 'e hit all
+'roun'. 'E hit un 'e hit, tel bumbye 'e hit 'gater in 'e mout' un
+knock-a da toof out. 'E grab um up; 'e gone fum dey-dey. 'E fetch-a da
+'gater toof wey da Affiky mans lif. Affiky mans say:--
+
+"''Gater is bin-a got sha'p toof fer true. Go fetch-a me one rice-bud
+bill.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit gone! 'E go 'long, 'e go 'long, tel 'e see rice-bud
+swingin' on bush. 'E ahx um kin 'e fly.
+
+"Rice-bud say: 'See dis!'
+
+"'E wissle, 'e sing, 'e shek 'e wing; 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'.
+
+"B'er Rabbit say rice-bud kin fly wey da win' is bin blow, but 'e no kin
+fly wey no win' blow.
+
+"Rice-bud say, 'Enty!'
+
+"'E wait fer win' stop blowin'; 'e wait, un 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'.
+
+"B'er Rabbit say rice-bud yent kin fly in house wey dey no win'.
+
+"Rice-bud say, 'Enty!'
+
+"'E fly in house, 'e fly all 'roun' un 'roun'. B'er Rabbit pull de do'
+shed; 'e look at dem rice-bud; 'e say, 'Enty!'
+
+"'E ketch dem rice-bud; 'e do git um bill, 'e fetch um wey da Affiky
+mans lif. Affiky mans says dem rice-bud bill slick fer true. 'E tekky da
+el'phan' tush, 'e tekky da 'gater toof, 'e tekky da rice-bud bill, he
+pit um in lil bag; 'e swing dem bag 'pon B'er Rabbit neck. Den B'er
+Rabbit kin marry dem noung gal. Enty!"
+
+Here Daddy Jack paused and flung a glance of feeble tenderness upon
+'Tildy. Uncle Remus smiled contemptuously, seeing which 'Tildy
+straightened herself, tossed her head, and closed her eyes with an air
+of indescribable scorn.
+
+"I dunner what Brer Rabbit mout er done," she exclaimed; "but I lay ef
+dey's any ole nigger man totin' a cunjer-bag in dis neighborhood, he'll
+git mighty tired un it 'fo' it do 'im any good--I lay dat!"
+
+Daddy Jack chuckled heartily at this, and dropped off to sleep so
+suddenly that the little boy thought he was playing 'possum.
+
+
+
+
+XXXV
+
+BRER RABBIT SUBMITS TO A TEST
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the child, "do you reckon Brother Rabbit really
+married the young lady?"
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey," responded the old man, with a sigh, "hit b'long
+ter Brer Jack fer ter tell you dat. 'T ain't none er my tale."
+
+"Was n't that the tale you started to tell?"
+
+"Who? Me? _Shoo!_ I ain't 'sputin' but w'at Brer Jack tale des ez purty
+ez dey er any needs fer, yit 't ain't none er my tale."
+
+At this, the little boy laid his head upon Uncle Remus's knee and
+waited.
+
+"Now, den," said the old man, with an air of considerable importance,
+"we er got ter go 'way back behime dish yer yallergater doin's w'at Brer
+Jack bin mixin' us up wid. Ef I makes no mistakes wid my 'membunce, de
+place wharbouts I lef' off wuz whar Brer Rabbit had so many 'p'intments
+fer ter keep out de way er de t'er creeturs dat he 'gun ter feel
+monst'us humblyfied. Let um be who dey will, you git folks in a close
+place ef you wanter see um shed der proudness. Dey beg mo' samer dan a
+nigger w'en de patter-rollers ketch 'im. Brer Rabbit ain't ko no
+beggin', 'kaze dey ain't kotch; yit dey come so nigh it, he 'gun ter
+feel he weakness.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit feel dis a-way, do he set down flat er de groun' en
+let de t'er creeturs rush up en grab 'im? He mought do it deze days,
+'kaze times done change; but in dem days he des tuck'n sot up wid
+hisse'f en study 'bout w'at he gwine do. He study en study, en las' he
+up'n tell he ole 'oman, he did, dat he gwine on a journey. Wid dat, ole
+Miss Rabbit, she tuck'n fry 'im up a rasher er bacon, en bake 'im a pone
+er bread. Brer Rabbit tied dis up in a bag en tuck down he walkin' cane
+en put out."
+
+"Where was he going, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Lemme 'lone, honey! Lemme sorter git hit up, like. De trail mighty cole
+'long yer, sho'; 'kaze dish yer tale ain't come 'cross my min' not sence
+yo' gran'pa fotch us all out er Ferginny, en dat's a monst'us long time
+ago.
+
+"He put out, Brer Rabbit did, fer ter see ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money."
+
+"Dat 'uz dat ole Witch-Rabbit," remarked Aunt Tempy, complacently.
+
+"Yasser," continued Uncle Remus, "de ve'y same ole creetur w'at I done
+tell you 'bout w'en Brer Rabbit los' he foot. He put out, he did, en
+atter so long a time he git dar. He take time fer ter ketch he win', en
+den he sorter shake hisse'f up en rustle 'roun' in de grass. Bimeby he
+holler:--
+
+"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money! O Mammy-Bammy Big-Money! I journeyed fur, I
+journeyed fas'; I glad I foun' de place at las'.'
+
+"Great big black smoke rise up out er de groun', en ole Mammy-Bammy
+Big-Money 'low:--
+
+"'Wharfo', Son Riley Rabbit, Riley? Son Riley Rabbit, wharfo'?'
+
+"Wid dat," continued Uncle Remus, dropping the sing-song tone by means
+of which he managed to impart a curious dignity and stateliness to the
+dialogue between Brother Rabbit and Mammy-Bammy Big-Money,--"wid dat
+Brer Rabbit up'n tell 'er, he did, 'bout how he fear'd he losin' de use
+er he min', 'kaze he done come ter dat pass dat he ain't kin fool de
+yuther creeturs no mo', en dey push 'im so closte twel 't won't be long
+'fo' dey'll git 'im. De ole Witch-Rabbit she sot dar, she did, en suck
+in black smoke en puff it out 'g'in, twel you can't see nothin' 't all
+but 'er great big eyeballs en 'er great big years. Atter w'ile she
+'low:--
+
+"'Dar sets a squer'l in dat tree, Son Riley; go fetch dat squer'l
+straight ter me, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit sorter study, en den he 'low, he did:--
+
+"'I ain't got much sense lef', yit ef I can't coax dat chap down from
+dar, den hit's 'kaze I done got some zeeze w'ich it make me fibble in de
+min',' sezee.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit tuck'n empty de provender out'n he bag en got 'im
+two rocks, en put de bag over he head en sot down und' de tree whar he
+squer'l is. He wait little w'ile, en den he hit de rocks
+tergedder--_blip!_
+
+"Squer'l he holler, 'Hey!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit wait little, en den he tuck'n slap de rocks
+tergedder--_blap!_
+
+"Squer'l he run down de tree little bit en holler, 'Heyo!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nothin'. He des pop de rocks
+tergedder--_blop!_
+
+"Squer'l, he come down little furder, he did, en holler, 'Who dat?'
+
+"'Biggidy Dicky Big-Bag!'
+
+"'What you doin' in dar?'
+
+"'Crackin' hick'y nuts.'
+
+"'Kin I crack some?'
+
+"'Tooby sho', Miss Bunny Bushtail; come git in de bag.'
+
+"Miss Bunny Bushtail hang back," continued Uncle Remus, chuckling; "but
+de long en de short un it wuz dat she got in de bag, en Brer Rabbit he
+tuck'n kyar'd 'er ter ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. De ole Witch-Rabbit,
+she tuck'n tu'n de squer'l a-loose, en 'low:--
+
+"'Dar lies a snake in 'mungs' de grass, Son Riley; go fetch 'im yer, en
+be right fas', Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit look 'roun', en sho' nuff dar lay de bigges' kinder
+rattlesnake, all quile up ready fer business. Brer Rabbit scratch he
+year wid he behime leg, en study. Look lak he gwine git in trouble. Yit
+atter w'ile he go off in de bushes, he did, en cut 'im a young
+grape-vine, en he fix 'im a slip-knot. Den he come back. Snake
+'periently look lak he sleep. Brer Rabbit ax 'im how he come on. Snake
+ain't say nothin', but he quile up a little tighter, en he tongue run
+out lak it bin had grease on it. Mouf shot, yit de tongue slick out en
+slick back 'fo' a sheep kin shake he tail. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'Law, Mr. Snake, I mighty glad I come 'cross you,' sezee. 'Me en ole
+Jedge B'ar bin havin' a turrible 'spute 'bout how long you is. We bofe
+'gree dat you look mighty purty w'en youer layin' stretch out full lenk
+in de sun; but Jedge B'ar, he 'low you ain't but th'ee foot long, en I
+stood 'im down dat you 'uz four foot long ef not mo',' sezee. 'En de
+talk got so hot dat I come mighty nigh hittin' 'im a clip wid my
+walkin'-cane, en ef I had I boun' dey'd er bin some bellerin' done
+'roun' dar,' sezee.
+
+"Snake ain't say nothin', but he look mo' complassy[34] dan w'at he bin
+lookin'.
+
+"'I up'n tole ole Jedge B'ar,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat de nex' time
+I run 'cross you I gwine take'n medjer you; en goodness knows I mighty
+glad I struck up wid you, 'kaze now dey won't be no mo' 'casion fer any
+'sputin' 'twix' me en Jedge B'ar,' sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit ax Mr. Snake ef he won't be so good ez ter onquile
+hisse'f. Snake he feel mighty proud, he did, en he stretch out fer all
+he wuff. Brer Rabbit he medjer, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Dar one foot fer Jedge B'ar; dar th'ee foot fer Jedge B'ar; en, bless
+goodness, dar four foot fer Jedge B'ar, des lak I say!'
+
+"By dat time Brer Rabbit done got ter snake head, en des ez de las' wud
+drop out'n he mouf, he slip de loop 'roun' snake neck, en den he had 'im
+good en fas'. He tuck'n drag 'im, he did, up ter whar de ole
+Witch-Rabbit settin' at; but w'en he git dar, Mammy-Bammy Big-Money done
+make 'er disappearance, but he year sump'n' way off yander, en seem lak
+it say:--
+
+"'Ef you git any mo' sense, Son Riley, you'll be de ruination ev de
+whole settlement, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit drag de snake 'long home, en stew 'im down en rub wid
+de grease fer ter make 'im mo' 'soopler in de lim's. Bless yo' soul,
+honey, Brer Rabbit mought er bin kinder fibble in de legs, but he wa'n't
+no ways cripple und' de hat."[35]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[34] A mixture of "complacent" and "placid." Accent on the second
+syllable.
+
+[35] A version of this story makes Brother Rabbit capture a swarm of
+bees. Mr. W. O. Tuggle, of Georgia, who has made an exhaustive study of
+the Creek Indians, has discovered a variant of the legend. The Rabbit
+(Chufee) becomes alarmed because he has nothing but the nimbleness of
+his feet to take him out of harm's way. He goes to his Creator and begs
+that greater intelligence be bestowed upon him. Thereupon the snake test
+is applied, as in the negro story, and the Rabbit also catches a swarm
+of gnats. He is then told that he has as much intelligence as there is
+any need for, and he goes away satisfied.
+
+
+
+
+XXXVI
+
+BRER WOLF FALLS A VICTIM
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, one night, when he found the old man
+sitting alone in his cabin, "did you ever see Mammy-Bammy Big-Money?"
+
+Uncle Remus placed his elbows on his knees, rested his chin in the palms
+of his hands, and gazed steadily in the fire. Presently he said:--
+
+"Wen folks 'gin ter git ole en no 'count, hit look lak der 'membunce git
+slack. Some time hit seem lak I done seed sump'n' n'er mighty nigh de
+make en color er ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, en den ag'in seem lak I
+ain't. W'en dat de case, w'at does I do? Does I stan' tiptoe en tetch de
+rafters en make lak I done seed dat ole Witch-Rabbit, w'en, goodness
+knows, I ain't seed 'er? Dat I don't. No, bless you! I'd say de same in
+comp'ny, much less settin' in yer 'long side er you. De long en de short
+un it," exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis, "is des dis. Ef I bin
+run 'crost ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in my day en time, den she tuck'n
+make 'er disappearance dat quick twel I ain't kotch a glimp' un 'er."
+
+    [Illustration: "'EF YOU GIT ANY MO' SENSE, SON RILEY, YOU'LL BE DE
+    RUINATION EV DE WHOLE SETTLEMENT'"]
+
+The result of this good-humored explanation was that the child did n't
+know whether Uncle Remus had seen the Witch-Rabbit or not, but his
+sympathies led him to suspect that the old man was thoroughly familiar
+with all her movements.
+
+"Uncle Remus," the little boy said, after a while, "if there is another
+story about Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I wish you would tell it to me all by
+my own-alone self."
+
+The idea seemed to please the old man wonderfully, and he chuckled over
+it for several minutes.
+
+"Now, den, honey," he said, after a while, "you hit me whar I'm
+weak--you mos' sho'ly does. Comp'ny mighty good fer some folks en I kin
+put up wid it long ez de nex' un, but you kin des take'n pile comp'ny
+'pun top er comp'ny, en dey won't kyore de liver complaint. W'en you
+talk dat a-way you fetches me, sho', en I'll tell you a tale 'bout de
+ole Witch-Rabbit ef I hatter git down yer on my all-fours en grabble it
+out'n de ashes. Yit dey ain't no needs er dat, 'kaze de tale done come
+in my min' des ez fresh ez ef 't was day 'fo' yistiddy.
+
+"Hit seem lak dat one time atter Brer Wolf tuck'n steal Brer Rabbit
+foot, dey wuz a mighty long fallin'-out 'twix' um. Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n got ashy 'kaze Brer Wolf tuck'n tuck he foot; en Brer Wolf, he
+tuck'n got hot 'kaze Brer Rabbit wuk en wuk 'roun' en git he foot ag'in.
+Hit keep on dis a-way twel bimeby de ole Witch-Rabbit sorter git tired
+er Brer Wolf, en one day she tuck'n sont wud ter Brer Rabbit dat she lak
+mighty well fer ter see 'im.
+
+"Dey fix up der plans, dey did, en 't wa'n't so mighty long 'fo' Brer
+Rabbit run inter Brer Wolf house in a mighty big hurry, en he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'Brer Wolf! O Brer Wolf! I des now come fum de river, en des ez sho'
+ez youer settin' in dat cheer, ole Big-Money layin' dar stone dead.
+Less[36] we go eat 'er up.'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, sho'ly youer jokin'!'
+
+"'Brer Wolf, I'm a-ginin'[37] un you de fatal fack. Come on, less go!'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, is you sho' she dead?'
+
+"'Brer Wolf, she done dead; come on, less go!'
+
+"En go dey did. Dey went 'roun' en dey got all de yuther creeturs, en
+Brer Wolf, livin' so nigh, he let all he chilluns go, en 't wa'n't so
+mighty long 'fo' dey had a crowd dar des lak camp-meetin' times.
+
+"W'en dey git dar, sho' nuff, dar lay ole Big-Money all stretch out on
+de river bank. Dis make Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en he tuck'n stick
+he han's in he pocket en strut 'roun' dar en look monst'us biggity.
+Atter he done tuck'n 'zamine ole Big-Money much ez he wanter, he up'n
+'low, he did, dat dey better sorter rustle 'roun' en make a fa'r
+dividjun. He ax Brer Mink, he ax Brer Coon, he ax Brer 'Possum, he ax
+Brer Tarrypin, he ax Brer Rabbit, w'ich part dey take, en dey all up'n
+'low, dey did, dat bein' ez Brer Wolf de biggest en de heartiest in de
+neighborhoods er de appetite, dey 'speck he better take de fus'
+choosement.
+
+"Wid dat Brer Wolf, he sot down on a log, en hang he head ter one side,
+sorter lak he 'shame' er hisse'f. Bimeby, he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Now, den, folks en fr'en's, sence you shove it on me, de shortes' way
+is de bes' way. Brer Coon, we bin good fr'en's a mighty long time; how
+much er dish yer meat ought a fibble[38] ole man lak me ter take?' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf talk mighty lovin'. Brer Coon snuff de a'r, en 'low:
+
+"'I 'speck you better take one er de fo'-quarters, Brer Wolf,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf look lak he 'stonish'. He lif' up he han's, en 'low:
+
+"'Law, Brer Coon, I tuck you ter be my fr'en', dat I did. Man w'at talk
+lak dat ain't got no feelin' fer me. Hit make me feel mighty lonesome,'
+sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf tu'n 'roun' en talk mighty lovin' ter Brer Mink:--
+
+"'Brer Mink, many's de day you bin a-knowin' me; how much er dish yer
+meat you 'speck oughter fall ter my sheer?' sezee.
+
+"Brer Mink sorter study, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'Bein' ez you er sech a nice man, Brer Wolf, I 'speck you oughter take
+one er de fo'-quarters, en a right smart hunk off'n de bulge er de
+neck,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Brer Mink! Go 'way! You ain't no 'quaintance er mine!'
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf tu'n 'roun' ter Brer 'Possum en talk lovin':
+
+"'Brer 'Possum, I done bin tuck wid a likin' fer you long time 'fo' dis.
+Look at me, en den look at my fambly, en den tell me, ef you be so good,
+how much er dish yer meat gwine ter fall ter my sheer.'
+
+"Brer 'Possum, he look 'roun', he did, en grin, en he up'n 'low:
+
+"'Take half, Brer Wolf, take half!'
+
+"Den ole Brer Wolf holler out:--
+
+"'Shoo, Brer 'Possum! I like you no mo'.'
+
+"Den Brer Wolf tu'n to Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin say Brer Wolf
+oughter take all 'cep' one er de behime quarters, en den Brer Wolf 'low
+dat Brer Tarrypin ain't no fr'en' ter him. Den he up'n ax Brer Rabbit,
+en Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n 'spon', he did:--
+
+"'Gentermuns all! you see Brer Wolf chillun? Well, dey er all monst'us
+hongry, en Brer Wolf hongry hisse'f. Now I puts dis plan straight at
+you: less we all let Brer Wolf have de fus' pass at Big-Money; less tie
+'im on dar, en le'm eat much ez he wanter, en den we kin pick de bones,'
+sezee.
+
+"'Youer my pardner, Brer Rabbit!' sez Brer Wolf, sezee; 'youer my
+honey-pardner!'
+
+"Dey all 'gree ter dis plan, mo' 'speshually ole Brer Wolf, so den dey
+tuck'n tie 'im onter Big-Money. Dey tie 'im on dar, dey did, en den ole
+Brer Wolf look all 'roun' en wunk at de yuthers. Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n
+wunk back, en den Brer Wolf retch down en bite Big-Money on de back er
+de neck. Co'se, w'en he do dis, Big-Money bleedz ter flinch; let 'lone
+dat, she bleedz ter jump. Brer Wolf holler out:--
+
+"'Ow! Run yer somebody! Take me off! She ain't dead! O Lordy! I feel 'er
+move!'
+
+Brer Rabbit holler back:--
+
+"'Nummine de flinchin', Brer Wolf. She done dead; I done year 'er
+sesso[39] 'erse'f. She dead, sho'. Bite er ag'in, Brer Wolf, bite 'er
+ag'in!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit talk so stiff, hit sorter tuck de chill off'n Brer Wolf, en
+he dipt down en bit ole Big-Money ag'in. Wid dat, she 'gun ter move off,
+en Brer Wolf he holler des lak de woods done kotch a-fier:--
+
+"'Ow! O Lordy! Ontie me, Brer Rabbit, ontie me! She ain't dead! Ow! Run
+yer, Brer Rabbit, en ontie me!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he holler back:--
+
+"'She er sho'ly dead, Brer Wolf! Nail 'er, Brer Wolf! Bite 'er! gnyaw
+'er!'
+
+"Brer Wolf keep on bitin', en Big-Money keep on movin' off. Bimeby, she
+git ter de bank er de river, en she fall in--_cumberjoom!_--en dat 'uz
+de las' er Brer Wolf."
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do?" the little boy asked, after a while.
+
+"Well," responded Uncle Remus, in the tone of one anxious to dispose of
+a disagreeable matter as pleasantly as possible, "you know w'at kinder
+man Brer Rabbit is. He des went off some'rs by he own-alone se'f en tuck
+a big laugh."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[36] Let us; let's; less.
+
+[37] G hard.
+
+[38] Feeble.
+
+[39] Say so.
+
+
+
+
+XXXVII
+
+BRER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES
+
+
+The next night Daddy Jack was still away when the little boy went to see
+Uncle Remus, and the child asked about him.
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! don't ax me 'bout Brer Jack. He look lak he
+mighty ole en trimbly, but he mighty peart nigger, mon. He look lak he
+shufflin' 'long, but dat ole nigger gits over groun', sho'. Forty year
+ergo, maybe I mought er kep' up wid 'im, but I let you know Brer Jack is
+away 'head er me. He mos' sho'ly is."
+
+"Why, he's older than you are, Uncle Remus!" the child exclaimed.
+
+"Dat w'at I year tell. Seem lak hit mighty kuse, but sho' ez youer bawn
+Brer Jack is a heap mo' pearter nigger dan w'at ole Remus is. He little,
+yit he mighty hard. Dat's Brer Jack, up en down."
+
+Uncle Remus paused and reflected a moment. Then he went on:--
+
+"Talkin' 'bout Brer Jack put me in min' 'bout a tale w'ich she sho'ly
+mus' er happen down dar in dat ar country whar Brer Jack come fum, en it
+sorter ketch me in de neighborhoods er de 'stonishment 'kaze he ain't
+done up'n tell it. I 'speck it done wuk loose fum Brer Jack 'membunce."
+
+"What tale was that, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Seem lak dat one time w'en eve'ything en eve'ybody was runnin' 'long
+des lak dey bin had waggin grease 'pun um, ole Brer Wolf"--
+
+The little boy laughed incredulously and Uncle Remus paused and frowned
+heavily.
+
+"Why, Uncle Remus! how did Brother Wolf get away from Mammy-Bammy
+Big-Money?"
+
+The old man's frown deepened and his voice was full of anger as he
+replied:--
+
+"Now, den, is I'm de tale, er is de tale me? Tell me dat! Is I'm de
+tale, er is de tale me? Well, den, ef I ain't de tale en de tale ain't
+me, den how come you wanter take'n rake me over de coals fer?"
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus, you know what you said. You said that was the end of
+Brother Wolf."
+
+"I bleedz ter 'spute dat," exclaimed Uncle Remus, with the air of one
+performing a painful duty; "I bleedz ter 'spute it. Dat w'at de tale
+say. Ole Remus is one nigger en de tale, hit's a n'er nigger. Yit I
+ain't got no time fer ter set back yer en fetch out de oggyments."
+
+Here the old man paused, closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and
+sighed. After a while he said, in a gentle tone:--
+
+"So den, Brer Wolf done dead, en yer I wuz runnin' on des same lak he
+wuz done 'live. Well! well! well!"
+
+Uncle Remus stole a glance at the little boy, and immediately relented.
+
+"Yit," he went on, "ef I'm ain't de tale en de tale ain't me, hit ain't
+skacely make no diffunce whe'er Brer Wolf dead er whe'er he's a
+high-primin' 'roun' bodder'n 'longer de yuther creeturs. Dead er no
+dead, dey wuz one time w'en Brer Wolf live in de swamp down dar in dat
+ar country whar Brer Jack come fum, en, mo'n dat, he had a mighty likely
+gal. Look lak all de yuther creeturs wuz atter 'er. Dey 'ud go down dar
+ter Brer Wolf house, dey would, en dey 'ud set up en court de gal, en
+'joy deyse'f.
+
+"Hit went on dis a-way twel atter w'ile de skeeters 'gun ter git
+monst'us bad. Brer Fox, he went flyin' 'roun' Miss Wolf, en he sot dar,
+he did, en run on wid 'er en fight skeeters des es big ez life en
+twice-t ez natchul. Las' Brer Wolf, he tuck'n kotch Brer Fox slappin' en
+fightin' at he skeeters. Wid dat he tuck'n tuck Brer Fox by de off year
+en led 'im out ter de front gate, en w'en he git dar, he 'low, he did,
+dat no man w'at can't put up wid skeeters ain't gwine ter come
+a-courtin' his gal.
+
+"Den Brer Coon, he come flyin' 'roun' de gal, but he ain't bin dar no
+time skacely 'fo' he 'gun ter knock at de skeeters; en no sooner is he
+done dis dan Brer Wolf show 'im de do'. Brer Mink, he come en try he
+han', yit he bleedz ter fight de skeeters, en Brer Wolf ax 'im out.
+
+"Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby all de creeturs bin flyin' 'roun'
+Brer Wolf's gal 'ceppin' it's ole Brer Rabbit, en w'en he year w'at
+kinder treatments de yuther creeturs bin ketchin' he 'low ter hisse'f
+dat he b'leeve in he soul he mus' go down ter Brer Wolf house en set de
+gal out one whet ef it's de las' ack.
+
+"No sooner say, no sooner do. Off he put, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he fine
+hisse'f knockin' at Brer Wolf front do'. Ole Sis Wolf, she tuck'n put
+down 'er knittin' en she up'n low, she did:--
+
+"'Who dat?'
+
+"De gal, she 'uz stannin' up 'fo' de lookin'-glass sorter primpin', en
+she choke back a giggle, she did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Sh-h-h! My goodness, mammy! dat's Mr. Rabbit. I year de gals say he's
+a mighty prop-en-tickler[40] gentermun, en I des hope you ain't gwine ter
+set dar en run on lak you mos' allers does w'en I got comp'ny 'bout how
+much soap-grease you done save up en how many kitten de ole cat got. I
+gits right 'shame' sometimes, dat I does!'"
+
+The little boy looked astonished.
+
+"Did she talk that way to her mamma?" he asked.
+
+"_Shoo_, chile! 'Mungs' all de creeturs dey ain't no mo' kuse creeturs
+dan de gals. Ole ez I is, ef I wuz ter start in dis minnit fer ter tell
+you how kuse de gals is, en de Lord wuz ter spar' me plum twel I git
+done, yo' head 'ud be gray, en Remus 'ud be des twice-t ez ole ez w'at
+he is right now."
+
+"Well, what did her mamma say, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Ole Sis Wolf, she sot dar, she did, en settle 'er cap on 'er head, en
+snicker, en look at de gal lak she monst'us proud. De gal, she tuck'n
+shuck 'erse'f 'fo' de lookin'-glass a time er two, en den she tipt ter
+de do' en open' it little ways en peep out des lak she skeer'd some un
+gwine ter hit 'er a clip side de head. Dar stood ole Brer Rabbit lookin'
+des ez slick ez a race-hoss. De gal, she tuck'n laff, she did, en
+holler:--
+
+"'W'y law, maw! hit's Mr. Rabbit, en yer we bin 'fraid it 'uz some 'un
+w'at ain't got no business 'roun' yer!'
+
+"Ole Sis Wolf she look over 'er specks, en snicker, en den she up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Well, don't keep 'im stannin' out dar all night. Ax 'im in, fer
+goodness sake.'
+
+"Den de gal, she tuck'n drap 'er hankcher, en Brer Rabbit, he dipt down
+en grab it en pass it ter 'er wid a bow, en de gal say she much 'blige,
+'kaze dat 'uz mo' den Mr. Fox 'ud er done, en den she ax Brer Rabbit how
+he come on, en Brer Rabbit 'low he right peart, en den he ax 'er
+wharbouts 'er daddy, en ole Sis Wolf 'low she go fine 'im.
+
+"'T wa'n't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit year Brer Wolf stompin' de mud off'n he
+foots in de back po'ch, en den bimeby in he come. Dey shuck han's, dey
+did, en Brer Rabbit say dat w'en he go callin' on he 'quaintunce, hit
+ain't feel natchul 'ceppin' de man er de house settin' 'roun' some'rs.
+
+"'Ef he don't talk none,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'he kin des set up
+ag'in' de chimbly-jam en keep time by noddin'.'
+
+"But ole Brer Wolf, he one er deze yer kinder mens w'at got de
+whimzies,[41] en he up'n 'low dat he don't let hisse'f git ter noddin'
+front er comp'ny. Dey run on dis a-way twel bimeby Brer Rabbit year de
+skeeters come zoonin' 'roun', en claimin' kin wid 'im."
+
+The little boy laughed; but Uncle Remus was very serious.
+
+"Co'se dey claim kin wid 'im. Dey claims kin wid folks yit, let 'lone
+Brer Rabbit. Manys en manys de time w'en I year um sailin' 'roun' en
+singin' out '_Cousin! Cousin!'_ en I let you know, honey, de skeeters is
+mighty close kin w'en dey gits ter be yo' cousin.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he year um zoonin'," the old man continued, "en he know he
+got ter do some mighty nice talkin', so he up'n ax fer drink er water.
+De gal, she tuck'n fotch it.
+
+"'Mighty nice water, Brer Wolf.' (_De skeeters dey zoon._)[42]
+
+"'Some say it too full er wiggletails,[43] Brer Rabbit.' (_De skeeters,
+dey zoon en dey zoon._)
+
+"'Mighty nice place you got, Brer Wolf.' (_Skeeters dey zoon._)
+
+"'Some say it too low in de swamp, Brer Rabbit.' (_Skeeters dey zoon en
+dey zoon._)
+
+"Dey zoon so bad," said Uncle Remus, drawing a long breath, "dat Brer
+Rabbit 'gun ter git skeer'd, en w'en dat creetur git skeer'd, he min'
+wuk lak one er deze yer flutter-mills. Bimeby, he 'low:--
+
+"'Went ter town t'er day, en dar I seed a sight w'at I never 'speckted
+ter see.'
+
+"'W'at dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Spotted hoss, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'_No_, Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'I mos' sho'ly seed 'im, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he scratch he head, en de gal she hilt up 'er han's en make
+great 'miration 'bout de spotted hoss. (_De skeeters dey zoon, en dey
+keep on zoonin'._) Brer Rabbit, he talk on, he did:--
+
+"''T wa'n't des one spotted hoss, Brer Wolf, 't wuz a whole team er
+spotted hosses, en dey went gallin'-up[44] des lak de yuther hosses,'
+sezee. 'Let 'lone dat, Brer Wolf, my grandaddy wuz spotted,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Gal, she squeal en holler out:--
+
+"'W'y, Brer Rabbit! ain't you 'shame' yo'se'f fer ter be talkin' dat
+a-way, en 'bout yo' own-'lone blood kin too?'
+
+"'Hit's de naked trufe I'm a-ginin'[45] un you,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+(_Skeeter zoon en come closeter._)
+
+"Brer Wolf 'low 'Well--well--well!' Ole Sis Wolf, she 'low 'Tooby
+sho'ly, tooby sho'ly!' (_Skeeter zoon en come nigher en nigher._) Brer
+Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Yasser! Des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar, my grandaddy wuz spotted.
+Spotted all over. (_Skeeter come zoonin' up en light on Brer Rabbit
+jaw._) He wuz dat. He had er great big spot right yer!'"
+
+Here Uncle Remus raised his hand and struck himself a resounding slap on
+the side of the face where the mosquito was supposed to be, and
+continued:--
+
+"No sooner is he do dis dan ne'r skeeter come zoonin' 'roun' en light on
+Brer Rabbit leg. Brer Rabbit, he talk, en he talk:--
+
+"'Po' ole grandaddy! I boun' he make you laff, he look so funny wid all
+dem spots en speckles. He had spot on de side er de head, whar I done
+show you, en den he had n'er big spot right yer on de leg,' sezee."
+
+Uncle Remus slapped himself on the leg below the knee, and was
+apparently so serious about it that the little boy laughed loudly. The
+old man went on:--
+
+"Skeeter zoon en light 'twix' Brer Rabbit shoulder-blades. Den he
+talk:--
+
+"'B'leeve me er not b'leeve me ef you min' to, but my grandaddy had a
+big black spot up yer on he back w'ich look lak saddle-mark.'
+
+"_Blip Brer Rabbit tuck hisse'f on de back!_
+
+"Skeeter sail 'roun' en zoon en light down yer beyan de hip-bone. He
+say he grandaddy got spot down dar.
+
+"_Blip he tuck hisse'f beyan de hip-bone._
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way," continued Uncle Remus, who had given vigorous
+illustrations of Brer Rabbit's method of killing mosquitoes while
+pretending to tell a story, "twel bimeby ole Brer Wolf en ole Sis Wolf
+dey lissen at Brer Rabbit twel dey 'gun ter nod, en den ole Brer Rabbit
+en de gal dey sot up dar en kill skeeters right erlong."
+
+"Did he marry Brother Wolf's daughter?" asked the little boy.
+
+"I year talk," replied Uncle Remus, "dat Brer Wolf sont Brer Rabbit wud
+nex' day dat he kin git de gal by gwine atter 'er, but I ain't never
+year talk 'bout Brer Rabbit gwine. De day atterwuds wuz mighty long
+time, en by den Brer Rabbit moughter had some yuther projick on
+han'."[46]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[40] Proper and particular.
+
+[41] In these latter days a man with the whimzies, or whimsies, is known
+simply as a crank.
+
+[42] The information in parentheses is imparted in a low, impressive,
+confidential tone.
+
+[43] Is it necessary to say that the wiggletail is the embryo mosquito?
+
+[44] Galloping.
+
+[45] G hard as in give.
+
+[46] This story, the funniest and most characteristic of all the negro
+legends, cannot be satisfactorily told on paper. It is full of action,
+and all the interest centres in the gestures and grimaces that must
+accompany an explanation of Brother Rabbit's method of disposing of the
+mosquitoes. The story was first called to my attention by Mr. Marion
+Erwin, of Savannah, and it is properly a coast legend, but I have heard
+it told by three Middle Georgia negroes.
+
+
+XXXVIII
+
+THE PIMMERLY PLUM
+
+
+One night, when the little boy had grown tired of waiting for a story,
+he looked at Uncle Remus and said:--
+
+"I wonder what ever became of old Brother Tarrypin."
+
+Uncle Remus gave a sudden start, glanced all around the cabin, and then
+broke into a laugh that ended in a yell like a view-halloo.
+
+"Well, well, well! How de name er goodness come you ter know w'at
+runnin' on in my min', honey? Mon, you skeer'd me; you sho'ly did; en
+w'en I git skeer'd I bleedz ter holler. Let 'lone dat, ef I keep on
+gittin' skeerder en skeerder, you better gimme room, 'kaze ef I can't
+git 'way fum dar somebody gwine ter git hurted, en deyer gwine ter git
+hurted bad. I tell you dat right pine-blank.[47]
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin!" continued Uncle Remus in a tone of exultation. "Ole
+Brer Tarrypin! Now, who bin year tell er de beat er dat? Dar you sets
+studyin' 'bout ole Brer Tarrypin, en yer I sets studyin' 'bout ole Brer
+Tarrypin. Hit make me feel so kuse dat little mo' en I'd 'a' draw'd my
+Rabbit-foot en shuck it at you."
+
+The little boy was delighted when Uncle Remus went off into these
+rhapsodies. However nonsensical they might seem to others, to the child
+they were positively thrilling, and he listened with rapt attention,
+scarcely daring to stir.
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin? Well, well, well!--
+
+    "'_Wen in he prime
+    He tuck he time!_'
+
+"Dat w'at make he hol' he age so good. Dey tells me dat somebody 'cross
+dar in Jasper county tuck'n kotch a Tarrypin w'ich he got marks cut in
+he back dat 'uz put dar 'fo' our folks went fer ter git revengeance in
+de Moccasin war. Dar whar yo' Unk' Jeems bin," Uncle Remus explained,
+noticing the little boy's look of astonishment.
+
+"Oh!" exclaimed the child, "that was the Mexican war."
+
+"Well," responded Uncle Remus, closing his eyes with a sigh, "I ain't
+one er deze yer kinder folks w'at choke deyse'f wid names. One name
+ain't got none de 'vantage er no yuther name. En ef de Tarrypin got de
+marks on 'im, hit don't make no diffunce whe'er yo' Unk' Jeems
+Abercrombie git his revengeance out'n de Moccasin folks, er whe'er he
+got it out'n de Mackersons."
+
+"Mexicans, Uncle Remus."
+
+"Tooby sho', honey; let it go at dat. But don't less pester ole Brer
+Tarrypin wid it, 'kaze he done b'long ter a tribe all by he own-'lone
+se'f.--I 'clar' ter gracious," exclaimed the old man after a pause, "ef
+hit don't seem periently lak 't wuz yistiddy!"
+
+"What, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Oh, des ole Brer Tarrypin, honey; des ole Brer Tarrypin en a tale w'at
+I year 'bout 'im, how he done tuck'n do Brer Fox."
+
+"Did he scare him, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, as the old man
+paused.
+
+"No, my goodness! Wuss'n dat!"
+
+"Did he hurt him?"
+
+"No, my goodness! Wuss'n dat!"
+
+"Did he kill him?"
+
+"No, my goodness! Lots wuss'n dat!"
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus, what _did_ he do to Brother Fox?"
+
+"Honey!"--here the old man lowered his voice as if about to describe a
+great outrage--"Honey! he tuck'n make a fool out'n 'im!"
+
+The child laughed, but it was plain that he failed to appreciate the
+situation, and this fact caused Uncle Remus to brighten up and go on
+with the story.
+
+"One time w'en de sun shine down mighty hot, ole Brer Tarrypin wuz gwine
+'long down de road. He 'uz gwine 'long down, en he feel mighty tired; he
+puff, en he blow, en he pant. He breff come lak he got de azmy 'way down
+in he win'-pipe; but, nummine! he de same ole Creep-um-crawl-um
+Have-some-fun-um. He 'uz gwine 'long down de big road, ole Brer Tarrypin
+wuz, en bimeby he come ter de branch. He tuck'n crawl in, he did, en got
+'im a drink er water, en den he crawl out on t'er side en set down und'
+de shade un a tree. Atter he sorter ketch he win', he look up at de sun
+fer ter see w'at time er day is it, en, lo en beholes! he tuck'n skivver
+dat he settin' in de shade er de sycamo' tree. No sooner is he skivver
+dis dan he sing de ole song:--
+
+    "'_Good luck ter dem w'at come and go,
+    W'at set in de shade er de sycamo'._'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin he feel so good en de shade so cool, dat 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he got ter noddin', en bimeby he drapt off en went soun' asleep.
+Co'se, Brer Tarrypin kyar he house wid 'im eve'ywhar he go, en w'en he
+fix fer ter go ter sleep, he des shet de do' en pull to de
+winder-shetters, en dar he is des ez snug ez de ole black cat und' de
+barn.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en sleep, en sleep. He dunner how long
+he sleep, but bimeby he feel somebody foolin' 'long wid 'im. He keep de
+do' shet, en he lay dar en lissen. He feel somebody tu'nin' he house
+'roun' en 'roun'. Dis sorter skeer Brer Tarrypin, 'kaze he know dat ef
+dey tu'n he house upside down he ull have all sorts er times gittin'
+back. Wid dat, he open de do' little ways, en he see Brer Fox projickin'
+wid 'im. He open de do' little furder, he did, en he break out in a
+great big hoss-laff, en holler:--
+
+"'Well! well, well! Who'd 'a' thunk it! Ole Brer Fox, cuter dan de
+common run, is done come en kotch me. En he come at sech a time, too! I
+feels dat full twel I can't see straight skacely. Ef dey wuz any
+jealousness proned inter me, I'd des lay yer en pout 'kaze Brer Fox done
+fine out whar I gits my Pimmerly Plum.'
+
+"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, speaking to the child's look of
+inquiry, "de Pimmerly Plum wuz monst'us skace. Leavin' out Brer Rabbit
+en Brer Tarrypin dey wa'n't none er de yuther creeturs dat yuvver got a
+glimp' un it, let 'lone a tas'e. So den w'en Brer Fox year talk er de
+Pimmerly Plum, bless gracious! he h'ist up he head en let Brer Tarrypin
+'lone. Brer Tarrypin keep on laffin' en Brer Fox 'low:--
+
+"'Hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes my mouf water! Whar'bouts de Pimmerly
+Plum?'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he sorter cle'r up de ho'seness in he th'oat, en sing:--
+
+    "'_Poun' er sugar, en a pint er rum,
+    Ain't nigh so sweet ez de Pimmerly Plum!_'
+
+"Brer Fox, he lif' up he han's, he did, en holler:--
+
+"'Oh, hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes me dribble! Whar'bouts dat Pimmerly
+Plum?'
+
+"'You stannin' right und' de tree, Brer Fox!'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, sho'ly not!'
+
+"'Yit dar you stan's, Brer Fox!'
+
+"Brer Fox look up in de tree dar, en he wuz 'stonish'."
+
+"What did he see in the sycamore tree, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little
+boy.
+
+There was a look of genuine disappointment on the old man's face, as he
+replied:--
+
+"De gracious en de goodness, honey! Ain't you nev' is see dem ar little
+bit er balls w'at grow on de sycamo' tree?"[48]
+
+The little boy laughed. There was a huge sycamore tree in the centre of
+the circle made by the carriage way in front of the "big house," and
+there were sycamore trees of various sizes all over the place. The
+little balls alluded to by Uncle Remus are very hard at certain stages
+of their growth, and cling to the tree with wonderful tenacity. Uncle
+Remus continued:--
+
+"Well, den, w'en ole Brer Tarrypin vouch dat dem ar sycamo' balls wuz de
+ginnywine Pimmerly Plum, ole Brer Fox, he feel mighty good, yit he
+dunner how he gwine git at um. Push 'im clos't, en maybe he mought beat
+Brer Tarrypin clammin' a tree, but dish yer sycamo' tree wuz too big fer
+Brer Fox fer ter git he arms 'roun'. Den he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I sees um hangin' dar, Brer Tarrypin, but how I gwine git um?'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin open he do' little ways en holler out:--
+
+"'Ah-yi! Dar whar ole Slickum Slow-come got de 'vantage! Youer mighty
+peart, Brer Fox, yit somehow er nudder you ain't bin a-keepin' up wid
+ole Slickum Slow-come.'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, how de name er goodness does you git um?'
+
+"'Don't do no good fer ter tell you, Brer Fox. Nimble heel make restless
+min'. You ain't got time fer ter wait en git um, Brer Fox.'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, I got all de week befo' me.'
+
+"'Ef I tells you, you'll go en tell all de t'er creeturs, en den dat'll
+be de las' er de Pimmerly Plum, Brer Fox.'
+
+"'Brer Tarrypin, dat I won't. Des try me one time en see.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin shet he eye lak he studyin', en den he 'low:--
+
+"'I tell you how I does, Brer Fox. Wen I wants a bait er de Pimmerly
+Plum right bad, I des takes my foot in my han' en comes down yer ter
+dish yer tree. I comes en I takes my stan'. I gits right und' de tree,
+en I r'ars my head back en opens my mouf. I opens my mouf, en w'en de
+Pimmerly Plum draps, I boun' you she draps right spang in dar. All you
+got ter do is ter set en wait, Brer Fox.'
+
+"Brer Fox ain't sayin' nothin'. He des sot down und' de tree, he did, en
+r'ar'd he head back, en open he mouf, en I wish ter goodness you mought
+er bin had er chance fer ter see 'im settin' dar. He look scan'lous,
+dat's de long en de short un it; he des look scan'lous."
+
+"Did he get the Pimmerly Plum, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"_Shoo!_ How he gwine git plum whar dey ain't no plum?"
+
+"Well, what did he do?"
+
+"He sot dar wid he mouf wide open, en eve'y time Brer Tarrypin look at
+'im, much ez he kin do fer ter keep from bustin' aloose en laffin'. But
+bimeby he make he way todes home, Brer Tarrypin did, chucklin' en
+laffin', en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he meet Brer Rabbit tippin' 'long down
+de road. Brer Rabbit, he hail 'im.
+
+"'W'at 'muze you so mighty well, Brer Tarrypin?'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin kotch he breff atter so long a time, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, I'm dat tickle' twel I can't shuffle 'long, skacely, en
+I'm fear'd ef I up'n tell you de 'casion un it, I'll be tooken wid one
+er my spells whar folks hatter set up wid me 'kaze I laff so loud en
+laff so long.'
+
+"Yit atter so long a time, Brer Tarrypin up'n tell Brer Rabbit, en dey
+sot dar en chaw'd terbacker en kyar'd on des lak sho' 'nuff folks. Dat
+dey did!"
+
+Uncle Remus paused; but the little boy wanted to know what became of
+Brer Fox.
+
+"Hit's mighty kuse," said the old man, stirring around in the ashes as
+if in search of a potato, "but endurin' er all my days I ain't nev' year
+nobody tell 'bout how long Brer Fox sot dar waitin' fer de Pimmerly
+Plum."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[47] Point-blank.
+
+[48] In another version of this story current among the negroes the
+sweet-gum tree takes the place of the sycamore.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Brother Rabbit gets Provisions]
+
+XXXIX
+
+BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS
+
+
+The next time the little boy called on Uncle Remus a bright fire was
+blazing on the hearth. He could see the light shining under the door
+before he went into the cabin, and he knew by that sign that the old man
+had company. In fact, Daddy Jack had returned and was dozing in his
+accustomed corner, Aunt Tempy was sitting bolt upright, nursing her
+contempt, and Uncle Remus was making a curious-looking box. None of the
+negroes paid any attention to the little boy when he entered, but
+somehow he felt that they were waiting for him. After a while Uncle
+Remus finished his curious-looking box and laid it upon the floor. Then
+he lifted his spectacles from his nose to the top of his head, and
+remarked:--
+
+"Now, den, folks, dar she is, en hit's bin so long sence I uv made one
+un um dat she make me sweat. Yasser! She did dat. Howsumev', hit ain't
+make no diffunce wid me. Promise is a promise, dough you make it in de
+dark er de moon. Long time ago, I tuck'n promise one er my passin'
+'quaintance dat some er deze lonesome days de ole nigger 'd whirl in en
+make 'im a rabbit-trap ef he'd des be so good ez to quit he devilment,
+en l'arn he behavishness."
+
+"Is that my rabbit-trap, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the child. He would
+have picked it up for the purpose of examining it, but Uncle Remus waved
+him off with a dignified gesture.
+
+"Don't you dast ter tetch dat ar trap, honey, 'kaze ef you does, dat
+spiles all. I'll des hatter go ter wuk en make it bran-new, en de Lord
+knows I ain't got no time fer ter do dat."
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus, you've had your hands on it."
+
+"Tooby sho' I is--tooby sho' I is! En w'at's mo' dan dat, I bin had my
+han's in tar-water."
+
+"I year talk er dat," remarked Aunt Tempy, with an approving nod.
+
+"Yasser! in de nat'al tar-water," continued Uncle Remus. "You put yo'
+han' in a pa'tridge nes', en he'll quit dem premises dough he done got
+'lev'm dozen aigs in dar. Same wid Rabbit. Dey ain't got sense lak de
+ole-time Rabbit, but I let you know dey ain't gwine in no trap whar dey
+smell folks' han's--dat dey ain't. Dat w'at make I say w'at I does.
+Don't put yo' han' on it; don't tetch it; don't look at it skacely."
+
+The little boy subsided, but he continued to cast longing looks at the
+trap, seeing which Uncle Remus sought to change the current of his
+thoughts.
+
+"She bin er mighty heap er trouble, mon, yet I mighty glad I tuck'n make
+dat ar trap. She's a solid un, sho', en ef dey wuz ter be any skaceness
+er vittles, I lay dat ar trap 'ud help us all out."
+
+"De Lord knows," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, rubbing her fat hands together,
+"I hope dey ain't gwine ter be no famishin' 'roun' yer 'mungs we all."
+
+"Likely not," said Uncle Remus, "yet de time mought come w'en a big
+swamp rabbit kotch in dat ar trap would go a mighty long ways in a
+fambly no bigger dan w'at mine is."
+
+"Mo' speshually," remarked Aunt Tempy, "ef you put dat wid w'at de
+neighbors mought sen' in."
+
+"Eh-eh!" Uncle Remus exclaimed, "don't you put no 'pennunce in dem
+neighbors--don't you do it. W'en famine time come one man ain't no
+better dan no yuther man 'ceppin' he be soopless; en he got ter be
+mighty soople at dat."
+
+The old man paused and glanced at the little boy. The child was still
+looking longingly at the trap, and Uncle Remus leaned forward and
+touched him lightly on the shoulder. It was a familiar gesture, gentle
+and yet rough, a token of affection, and yet a command to attention;
+for the venerable darkey could be imperious enough when surrendering to
+the whims of his little partner.
+
+"All dish yer talk 'bout folks pe'shin' out," Uncle Remus went on with
+an indifferent air, "put me in min' er de times w'en de creeturs tuck'n
+got up a famine 'mungs deyse'f. Hit come 'bout dat one time vittles wuz
+monst'us skace en high, en money mighty slack. Long ez dey wuz any
+vittles gwine 'roun', Brer Rabbit, he 'uz boun' ter git he sheer un um,
+but bimeby hit come ter dat pass dat Brer Rabbit stomach 'gun ter pinch
+'im; en w'iles he gettin' hongry de yuther creeturs, dey 'uz gettin'
+hongry deyse'f. Hit went on dis a-way twel one day Brer Rabbit en Brer
+Wolf meet up wid one er n'er in de big road, en atter dey holler howdy
+dey sat down, dey did, en make a bargain.
+
+"Dey tuck'n 'gree wid one er n'er dat dey sell der mammy en take de
+money en git sump'n' n'er ter eat. Brer Wolf, he 'low, he did, dat bein'
+'s hit seem lak he de hongriest creetur on de face er de yeth, dat he
+sell his mammy fus', en den, atter de vittles gin out, Brer Rabbit he
+kin sell he own mammy en git some mo' grub.
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he chipt in en 'greed, he did, en Brer Wolf, he tuck'n
+hitch up he team, en put he mammy in de waggin, en den him en Brer
+Rabbit druv off. Man come 'long:--
+
+"'Whar you gwine?'
+
+    "'_Gwine 'long down ter town,
+    Wid a bag er co'n fer ter sell;
+    We ain't got time fer ter stop en talk,
+    Yit we wish you mighty well!_'"
+
+"Did they talk poetry that way, Uncle Remus?" the little boy inquired.
+
+"Shoo! lot's wuss dan dat, honey. Dey wuz constant a-gwine on dat a-way,
+en ef I wa'n't gittin' so mighty weak-kneed in de membunce I'd bust
+aloose yer en I'd fair wake you up wid de gwines on er dem ar creeturs.
+
+"Now, den, dey tuck'n kyar Brer Wolf mammy ter town en sell 'er, en dey
+start back wid a waggin-load er vittles. De day wuz a-wanin' den de sun
+wuz a-settin'. De win' tuck'n blow up sorter stiff, en de sun look red
+when she settin'. Dey druv on, en druv on. De win' blow, en de sun shine
+red. Bimeby, Brer Wolf scrooch up en shiver, en 'low:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, I'm a-gittin' mighty cole.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he laugh en 'low:--
+
+"'I'm gittin' sorter creepy myself, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"Dey druv on en druv on. Win' blow keen, sun shine red. Brer Wolf
+scrooch up in little knot. Bimeby he sing out:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, I'm freezin'! I'm dat cole I dunner w'at ter do!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he p'int ter de settin' sun en say:--
+
+"'You see dat great big fier 'cross dar in de woods, Brer Wolf? Well,
+dey ain't nothin' ter hender you fum gwine dar en wommin' yo'se'f en
+I'll wait yer fer you. Gimme de lines, Brer Wolf, en you go wom yo'se'f
+all over.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Wolf, he put out des ez hard ez he kin, fer ter see ef he
+can't fin' de fier; en w'iles he wuz gone, bless goodness, w'at should
+Brer Rabbit do but cut off de hosses' tails en stick um down deep in de
+mud--"
+
+"Le' 'im 'lone, now! Des le' 'im 'lone!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy in an
+ecstasy of admiration.
+
+"He stick de hosses' tails down in de mud," continued Uncle Remus, "en
+den he tuck'n druv de waggin 'way off in de swamp en hide it. Den he
+tuck'n come back, ole Brer Rabbit did, fer ter wait fer Brer Wolf.
+
+"Atter so long a time, sho' 'nuff, yer come Brer Wolf des a-gallin'-up
+back. Brer Rabbit he hail 'im.
+
+"'Is you wom yo'se'f, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, don't talk! Dat de mos' 'seetful fier w'at I had any
+speunce un. I run, en I run, en I run, en de mo' w'at I run de furder
+de fier git. De nigher you come ter dat fier de furder hit's off.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch hisse'f behime de shoulder-blade, en
+'low:--
+
+"'Nummine 'bout de fier, Brer Wolf. I got sump'n' yer dat'll wom you up.
+Ef you ain't nev' bin wom befo', I lay you'll get wom dis time.'
+
+"Dis make Brer Wolf sorter look 'roun', en w'en he see Brer Rabbit
+hol'in' on ter de two hoss-tails, he up'n squall out, he did:--
+
+"'Lawdy mussy, Brer Rabbit! Whar my vittles? Whar my waggin? Whar my
+hosses?'
+
+"'Dey er all right yer, Brer Wolf; dey er all right yer. I stayed dar
+whar you lef' me twel de hosses gun ter git restless. Den I cluck at um,
+en, bless gracious, dey start off en lan' in a quicksan'. W'en dey gun
+ter mire, I des tuck'n tu'n eve'ything a-loose en grab de hosses by de
+tail, en I bin stan'in' yer wishin' fer you, Brer Wolf, twel I done gone
+gray in de min'. I 'low ter myse'f dat I'd hang on ter deze yer
+hoss-tails ef it killt eve'y cow in de islan'. Come he'p me, Brer Wolf,
+en I lay we'll des nat'ally pull de groun' out but w'at we'll git deze
+creeturs out.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Wolf, he kotch holt er one hoss-tail, en Brer Rabbit, he
+kotch holt er de yuther, en w'en dey pull, co'se de tails come out'n de
+mud. Dey stood dar, dey did, en dey look at de tails en den dey look at
+one n'er. Bimeby Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Well, sir, Brer Wolf; we pull so hard twel we pull de tails plum out!'
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf, he dunner w'at ter do, but it 'gun ter git dark, en 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' he tell Brer Rabbit good-by, en off he put fer home.
+Dat ar Brer Rabbit," Uncle Remus went on, "he des tuck'n wait twel Brer
+Wolf git out'n yearin', en den he went into de swamp en druv de hosses
+home en git all de vittles, en he ain't hatter sell he ole mammy n'er.
+Dat he ain't."
+
+
+
+
+XL
+
+"CUTTA CORD-LA!"
+
+
+To all appearances Daddy Jack had taken no interest in Uncle Remus's
+story of the horses' tails, and yet, as soon as the little boy and Aunt
+Tempy were through laughing at a somewhat familiar climax, the old
+African began to twist and fidget in his chair, and mumble to himself in
+a lingo which might have been understood on the Guinea coast, but which
+sounded out of place in Uncle Remus's Middle Georgia cabin. Presently,
+however, his uneasiness took tangible shape. He turned around and
+exclaimed impatiently:--
+
+"Shuh-shuh! w'en you sta't fer tell-a dem tale, wey you no tell um lak
+dey stan'? 'E bery bad fer twis' dem tale 'roun' un 'roun'. Wey you no
+talk um stret?"
+
+"Well, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, smiling good-humoredly upon the
+queer little old man, "ef we done gone en got dat ar tale all twis' up,
+de way fer you ter do is ter whirl in en ontwis' it, en we-all folks 'll
+set up yer en he'p you out plum twel Mars John comes a-hollerin' en
+a-bawlin' atter dish yer baby; en atter he done gone ter bed, den me en
+Sis Tempy yer we ull set up wid you plum twel de chickens crow fer day.
+Dem's de kinder folk we all is up yer. We ain't got many swimps en crabs
+up yer in Putmon county, but w'en it come ter settin' up wid comp'ny en
+hangin' 'roun' atter dark fer ter make de time pass away, we er mighty
+rank. Now den, Brer Jack, I done call de roll wid my eye, en we er all
+yer 'ceppin' dat ar 'Tildy gal, en 't won't be long 'fo' she'll be
+a-drappin' in. Run over in yo' min', en whar my tale 'uz wrong, des
+whirl in en put 'er ter rights."
+
+"Shuh-shuh!" exclaimed the old African, "Oona no git dem tale stret. I
+yed dem wey me lif; 'e soun' lak dis: One tam dem bittle bin git bery
+skace. Da rice crop mek nuttin'; da fish swim low; da bud fly high.
+Hard times bin come dey-dey. 'E so hard, dem creeturs do git honkry fer
+true. B'er Rabbit un B'er Wolf dey come pit bote 'e head tergerrer; dey
+is mek talk how honkry dey is 'way down in da belly.
+
+"Bumbye, B'er Rabbit, 'e shed 'e y-eye, 'e say dey mus' kill dey
+gran'mammy. B'er Wolf say 'e mek 'e y-eye come wat'ry fer yeddy da talk
+lak dat. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Wolf! da water come in you' y-eye wun you is bin honkry. Me
+y-eye done bin-a come wat'ry so long tam befo' I bin talky wit' you
+'bout we gran'mammy.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e der keep on cryin'; 'e wipe 'e y-eye 'pon 'e coat-sleef.
+B'er Rabbit, 'e bin say:--
+
+"'Ef you is bin tek it so ha'd lak dis, B'er Wolf, 'e bery good fer
+kill-a you' gran'mammy fus', so you is kin come glad ag'in.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e go dry 'e y-eye un kill 'e gran'mammy, un dey is bin tek
+'im gran'mammy off un sell um fer bittle. Dun dey is bin eat dis bittle
+day un night tell 'e all done gone. Wun-a tam come fer B'er Rabbit fer
+kill 'e gran'mammy, B'er Wolf, 'e go bisitin' 'im. 'E say:--
+
+"'B'er Rabbit, I is bin-a feel honkry troo un troo. Less we kill-a you'
+gran'mammy.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit lif' up 'e head high; 'e lahff. 'E shekky one year, 'e
+shed-a one eye. 'E say:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, B'er Wolf, you t'ink I gwan kill-a me gran'mammy? Oh, no, B'er
+Wolf! Me no kin do dat.'
+
+"Dis mek B'er Wolf wuss mad den 'e is bin befo'. 'E fair teer de yet'
+wit' 'e claw; 'e yowl sem lak Injun mans. 'E say 'e gwan make B'er
+Rabbit kill 'e gran'mammy nohow.
+
+"B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan see 'im 'bout dis. 'E tek 'e gran'mammy by da
+han'; 'e lead um way off in da woods; 'e hide um in da top one big
+cocoanut tree: 'e tell um fer stay deer."
+
+The mention of a cocoanut tree caused the little boy to glance
+incredulously at Uncle Remus, who made prompt and characteristic
+reply:--
+
+"Dat's it, honey; dat's it, sho'. In dem days en in dem countries dey
+wuz plenty er cocoanut trees. Less we all set back yer en give Brer Jack
+a livin' chance."
+
+"'E hide 'e gran'mammy in top cocoanut tree," continued Daddy Jack, "un
+'e gi' um lilly bahskit wit' cord tie on um. In de day-mawnin', B'er
+Rabbit, 'e is bin go at da foot da tree. 'E make 'e v'ice fine: 'e
+holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Wun 'e granny yeddy dis, 'e let bahskit down wit' da cord, un B'er
+Rabbit 'e fill um wit' bittle un somet'ing t'eat. Ebry day dey is bin-a
+do dis t'ing; ebry day B'er Rabbit is come fer feed 'e granny.
+
+"B'er Wolf 'e watch, 'e lissun; 'e sneak up, 'e creep up, 'e do lissun.
+Bumbye, 'e do yeddy B'er Rabbit call; 'e see da bahskit swing down, 'e
+see um go back. Wun B'er Rabbit bin-a go 'way fum dey-dey, B'er Wolf, 'e
+come by da root da tree. 'E holler; 'e do say:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Shoot-a cord-la!_'
+
+"Da ole Granny Rabbit lissun; 'e bin lissun well. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki! how come dis? Me son is no talky lak dis. 'E no shoot-a da cord
+lak dat.'
+
+"W'en B'er Rabbit come back da granny is bin-a tell um 'bout somet'ing
+come-a holler shoot-a da cord-la, un B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e is kin
+lahff no mo'. B'er Wolf, 'e hidin' close; 'e yed B'er Rabbit crackin' 'e
+joke; 'e is git bery mad.
+
+"Wun B'er Rabbit is gone 'way, B'er Wolf bin-a come back. 'E stan' by da
+tree root; 'e holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Granny Rabbit hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e lissun good. 'E say:
+
+"'I bery sorry, me son, you bin hab so bad col'. You' v'ice bin-a soun'
+rough, me son.'
+
+"Dun Granny Rabbit is bin peep down; 'e bin say:--
+
+"'Hi! B'er Wolf! Go 'way fum dey-dey. You no is bin fool-a me lak dis.
+Go 'way, B'er Wolf!'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e come bery mad; 'e grin tell 'e tush bin shiuen. 'E go in
+da swamp; 'e scratch 'e head; 'e t'ink. Bumbye, 'e go bisitin' one
+Blacksmit', un 'e ahx 'im how kin 'e do fer make 'e v'ce come fine lak
+B'er Rabbit v'ice. Da Blacksmit', 'e say:--
+
+"'Come, B'er Wolf; I run dis red-hot poker in you' t'roat, 'e mekky you
+talk easy.'
+
+"B'er Wolf say, 'Well, I lak you for mekky me v'ice fine.'
+
+"Dun da Blacksmit' run da red-hot poker in B'er Wolf t'roat, un 'e hu't
+um so bad, 'tiss-a bin long tam befo' B'er Wolf kin tekky da long walk
+by da cocoanut tree. Bumbye 'e git so 'e kin come by, un wun 'e git
+dey-dey, 'e holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Da v'ice soun' so nice un fine da' Granny Rabbit is bin t'ink 'e B'er
+Rabbit v'ice, un 'e is bin-a let da bahskit down. B'er Wolf, 'e shekky
+da cord lak 'e is put some bittle in da bahskit, un dun 'e is bin-a git
+in 'ese'f. B'er Wolf, 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit pull on da cord;
+'e do say:--
+
+"'Ki! 'e come he'ffy; 'e he'ffy fer true. Me son, 'e love 'e Granny
+heap.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e do grin; 'e grin, un 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit
+pull; 'e do pull ha'd. 'E pull tel 'e is git B'er Wolf mos' by da top,
+un dun 'e stop fer res'. B'er Wolf look-a down, 'e head swim; 'e look
+up, 'e mout' water; 'e look-a down 'g'in, 'e see B'er Rabbit. 'E git
+skeer, 'e juk on da rope. B'er Rabbit, 'e do holler:--
+
+"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Cutta cord-la!_'
+
+"Da Granny Rabbit cut da cord, un B'er Wolf is fall down un broke 'e
+neck."
+
+
+
+
+XLI
+
+AUNT TEMPY'S STORY
+
+
+The little boy observed that Aunt Tempy was very much interested in
+Daddy Jack's story. She made no remarks while the old African was
+telling it, but she was busily engaged in measuring imaginary quilt
+patterns on her apron with her thumb and forefinger,--a sure sign that
+her interest had been aroused. When Daddy Jack had concluded--when, with
+a swift, sweeping gesture of his wrinkled hand, he cut the cord and
+allowed Brother Wolf to perish ignominiously--Aunt Tempy drew a long
+breath, and said:--
+
+"Dat ar tale come 'cross me des like a dream. Hit put me in mine er one
+w'at I year w'en I wuz little bit er gal. Look like I kin see myse'f
+right now, settin' flat down on de h'ath lis'nin' at ole Unk Monk. You
+know'd ole Unk Monk, Brer Remus. You bleeze ter know'd 'im. Up dar in
+Ferginny. I 'clar' ter goodness, it make me feel right foolish. Brer
+Remus, I des know you know'd Unk Monk."
+
+For the first time in many a day the little boy saw Uncle Remus in a
+serious mood. He leaned forward in his chair, shook his head sadly, as
+he gazed into the fire.
+
+"Ah, Lord, Sis Tempy!" he exclaimed sorrowfully, "don't less we all go
+foolin' 'roun' 'mungs' dem ole times. De bes' kinder bread gits sour.
+W'at's yistiddy wid us wuz 'fo' de worl' begun wid dish yer chile. Dat's
+de way I looks at it."
+
+"Dat's de Lord's trufe, Brer Remus," exclaimed Aunt Tempy with unction,
+"un I mighty glad you call me ter myse'f. Little mo' un I'd er sot right
+yer un 'a' gone 'way back to Ferginny, un all on 'count er dat ar tale
+w'at I year long time ago."
+
+"What tale was that, Aunt Tempy?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Eh-eh, honey!" replied Aunt Tempy, with a display of genuine
+bashfulness; "eh-eh, honey! I 'fraid you all 'll set up dar un laugh me
+outer de house. I ain't dast ter tell no tale 'long side er Brer Remus
+un Daddy Jack yer. I 'fraid I git it all mix up."
+
+The child manifested such genuine disappointment that Aunt Tempy
+relented a little.
+
+"Ef you all laugh, now," she said, with a threatening air, "I'm des
+gwine ter pick up en git right out er dish yer place. Dey ain't ter be
+no laughin', 'kaze de tale w'at I year in Ferginny ain't no laughin'
+tale."
+
+With this understanding Aunt Tempy adjusted her head-handkerchief,
+looked around rather sheepishly, as Uncle Remus declared afterwards in
+confidence to the little boy, and began:--
+
+"Well, den, in de times w'en Brer Rabbit un Brer Fox live in de same
+settlement wid one er 'n'er, de season's tuck'n come wrong. De wedder
+got hot un den a long dry drouth sot in, un it seem like dat de nat'al
+leaf on de trees wuz gwine ter tu'n ter powder."
+
+Aunt Tempy emphasized her statements by little backward and forward
+movements of her head, and the little boy would have laughed, but a
+warning glance from Uncle Remus prevented him.
+
+"De leaf on de trees look like dey gwine ter tu'n ter powder, un de
+groun' look like it done bin cookt. All de truck w'at de creeturs plant
+wuz all parched up, un dey wa'n't no crops made nowhars. Dey dunner w'at
+ter do. Dey run dis a-way, dey run dat a-way; yit w'en dey quit runnin'
+dey dunner whar dey bread comin' frun. Dis de way it look ter Brer Fox,
+un so one day w'en he got a mighty hankerin' atter sumpin' sorter joosy,
+he meet Brer Rabbit in de lane, un he ax um, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, whar'bouts our bread comin' frun?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he bow, he did, un answer, sezee:--
+
+"'Look like it mought be comin' frun nowhar,' sezee."
+
+"You see dat, honey!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, condescending to give the
+story the benefit of his patronage; "You see dat! Brer Rabbit wuz allus
+a-waitin' a chance fer ter crack he jokes."
+
+"Yas, Lord!" Aunt Tempy continued, with considerable more animation; "he
+joke, un joke, but bimeby, he ain't feel like no mo' jokin', un den he
+up'n say, sezee, dat him un Brer Fox better start out'n take der
+fammerlies wid um ter town un swap um off for some fresh-groun' meal; un
+Brer Fox say, sezee, dat dat look mighty fa'r un squar', un den dey
+tuck'n make dey 'greements.
+
+"Brer Fox wuz ter s'ply de waggin un team, un he promise dat he gwine
+ter ketch he fammerly un tie um hard un fast wid a red twine string.
+Brer Rabbit he say, sezee, dat he gwine ter ketch he fammerly un tie um
+all, un meet Brer Fox at de fork er de road.
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, soon in de mawnin', w'en Brer Fox draw up wid he waggin, he
+holler 'Wo!' un Brer Rabbit he tuck'n holler back, 'Wo yo'se'f!' un den
+Brer Fox know dey 'uz all dar. Brer Fox, he tuck'n sot up on de seat, un
+all er he fammerly, dey wuz a-layin' under de seat. Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n put all he fammerly in de behime een' er de waggin, un he say,
+sezee, dat he 'speck he better set back dar twel dey git sorter usen ter
+dey surrounderlings, un den Brer Fox crack he whip, un off dey wen' toze
+town. Brer Fox, he holler ev'y once in a w'ile, sezee:--
+
+"'No noddin' back dar, Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he holler back, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Fox, you miss de ruts en de rocks, un I'll miss de noddin'.'
+
+"But all dat time, bless yo' soul! Brer Rabbit wuz settin' dar ontyin'
+he ole 'oman un he childun, w'ich dey wuz sev'm uv um. W'en he git um
+all ontie, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n h'ist hisse'f on de seat 'long er Brer
+Fox, un dey sot dar un talk un laugh 'bout de all-sorts er times dey
+gwine ter have w'en dey git de co'n meal. Brer Fox sez, sezee, he gwine
+ter bake hoecake; Brer Rabbit sez, sezee, he gwine ter make ashcake.
+
+"Des 'bout dis time one er Brer Rabbit's childun raise hisse'f up easy
+un hop out de waggin. Miss Fox, she sing out:--
+
+    "'_One frun sev'm
+    Don't leave 'lev'm._'
+
+"Brer Fox hunch he ole 'oman wid he foot fer ter make 'er keep still.
+Bimeby 'n'er little Rabbit pop up un hop out. Miss Fox say, se' she:--
+
+    "'_One frun six
+    Leaves me less kicks._'
+
+"Brer Fox go on talkin' ter Brer Rabbit, un Brer Rabbit go on talkin'
+ter Brer Fox, un 't wa'n't so mighty long 'fo' all Brer Rabbit fammerly
+done pop up un dive out de waggin, un ev'y time one 'ud go Miss Fox she
+'ud fit it like she did de yuthers."
+
+"What did she say, Aunt Tempy?" asked the little boy, who was interested
+in the rhymes.
+
+"Des lemme see--
+
+    "'_One frun five
+    Leaves four alive_;
+
+    "'_One frun four
+    Leaves th'ee un no mo'_;
+
+    "'_One frun th'ee
+    Leaves two ter go free_;
+
+    "'_One frun one,
+    Un all done gone_.'"
+
+"What did Brother Rabbit do then?" inquired the little boy.
+
+"Better ax w'at Brer Fox do," replied Aunt Tempy, pleased with the
+effect of her rhymes. "Brer Fox look 'roun' atter w'ile, un w'en he see
+dat all Brer Rabbit fammerly done gone, he lean back un holler 'Wo!' un
+den he say, sezee:--
+
+"'In de name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! whar all yo' folks?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit look 'roun', un den he make like he cryin'. He des fa'rly
+boo-hoo'd, un he say, sezee:--
+
+"'Dar now, Brer Fox! I des know'd dat ef I put my po' little childuns
+in dar wid yo' folks dey'd git e't up. I des know'd it!'
+
+"Ole Miss Fox, she des vow she ain't totch Brer Rabbit fammerly. But
+Brer Fox, he bin wantin' a piece un um all de way, un he begrudge um so
+dat he git mighty mad wid he ole 'oman un de childuns, un he say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'You kin des make de most er dat, 'kaze I'm a-gwine ter bid you good
+riddance dis ve'y day'; un, sho' nuff, Brer Fox tuck'n tuck he whole
+fammerly ter town un trade um off fer co'n.
+
+"Brer Rabbit wuz wid 'em, des ez big ez life un twice ez natchul. Dey
+start back, dey did, un w'en dey git four er five mile out er town, hit
+come 'cross Brer Fox min' dat he done come away un lef' a plug er
+terbacker in de sto', en he say he bleeze ter go back atter it.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat he'll stay en take keer er de waggin,
+w'ile Brer Fox kin run back un git he terbacker. Soon ez Brer Fox git
+out er sight, Brer Rabbit laid de hosses under line un lash un drove de
+waggin home, un put de hosses in he own stable, un de co'n in de
+smoke-house, un de waggin in de barn, un den he put some co'n in he
+pocket, un cut de hosses tails off, un went back up de road twel he come
+ter a quog-mire, un in dat he stick de tails un wait fer Brer Fox.
+
+"Atter w'ile yer he come, un den Brer Rabbit gun ter holler un pull at
+de tails. He say, sezee:--
+
+"'Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer! Youer des in time ef you ain't too late.
+Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer!'
+
+"Brer Fox, he run'd en juk Brer Rabbit away, un say, sezee:--
+
+"'Git out de way, Brer Rabbit! You too little! Git out de way, un let a
+man ketch holt.'
+
+"Brer Fox tuck holt," continued Aunt Tempy, endeavoring to keep from
+laughing, "un he fetch'd one big pull, un I let you know dat 'uz de
+onliest pull he make, 'kaze de tails come out un he tu'n a back
+summerset. He jump up, he did, en 'gun ter grabble in de quog-mire des
+ez hard ez he kin.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he stan' by, un drop some co'n in onbeknowns' ter Brer
+Fox, un dis make 'im grabble wuss un wuss, un he grabble so hard un he
+grabble so long dat 't wa'n't long 'fo' he fall down dead, un so dat 'uz
+de las' er ole Brer Fox in dat day un time."
+
+As Aunt Tempy paused, Uncle Remus adjusted his spectacles and looked at
+her admiringly. Then he laughed heartily.
+
+"I declar', Sis Tempy," he said, after a while, "you gives tongue same
+ez a lawyer. You'll hatter jine in wid us some mo'."
+
+Aunt Tempy closed her eyes and dropped her head on one side.
+
+"Don't git me started, Brer Remus," she said, after a pause; "'kaze ef
+you does you'll hatter set up yer long pas' yo' bedtime."
+
+"I b'leeve you, Sis Tempy, dat I does!" exclaimed the old man, with the
+air of one who has made a pleasing discovery.
+
+
+
+
+XLII
+
+THE FIRE-TEST
+
+
+"We er sorter bin a-waitin' fer Sis Tempy," Uncle Remus remarked when
+the little boy made his appearance the next night; "but somehow er n'er
+look lak she fear'd she hatter up en tell some mo' tales. En yit maybe
+she bin strucken down wid some kinder ailment. Dey ain't no countin' on
+deze yer fat folks. Dey er up one minnit en down de nex'; en w'at make
+it dat a-way I be bless ef I know, 'kaze w'en folks is big en fat look
+lak dey oughter be weller dan deze yer long hongry kinder folks.
+
+"Yit all de same, Brer Jack done come," continued Uncle Remus, "en we
+ull des slam de do' shet, en ef Sis Tempy come she'll des hatter hol'
+'er han's 'fo' 'er face en holler out:--
+
+    "'_Lucky de Linktum, chucky de chin,
+    Open de do' en let me in!_'
+
+"Oh, you kin laugh ef you wanter, but I boun' you ef Sis Tempy wuz ter
+come dar en say de wuds w'at I say, de button on dat ar do' 'ud des
+nat'ally twis' hitse'f off but w'at 't would let 'er in. Now, I boun'
+you dat!"
+
+Whatever doubts the child may have had he kept to himself, for
+experience had taught him that it was useless to irritate the old man by
+disputing with him. What effect the child's silence may have had in this
+instance it is impossible to say, for just then Aunt Tempy came in
+laughing.
+
+"You all kin des say w'at you please," she exclaimed, as she took her
+seat, "but dat ar _Shucky Cordy_ in de tale w'at Daddy Jack done tole,
+bin runnin' 'roun' in my min' en zoonin 'in my years all de time."
+
+"Yer too!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis. "Dat's me up en down.
+Look lak dat ar cricket over dar in de cornder done tuck it up, en now
+he gwine, '_Shucky-cordy! Shucky-cordy!_'"
+
+"Shuh-shuh!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, with vehement contempt, "'e _jutta
+cord-la!_ 'E no 'shucky-cordy' no'n 't all."
+
+"Well, well, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus, soothingly, "in deze low
+groun's er sorrer, you des got ter lean back en make 'lowances fer all
+sorts er folks. You got ter 'low fer dem dat knows too much same ez dem
+w'at knows too little. A heap er sayin's en a heap er doin's in dis
+roun' worl' got ter be tuck on trus'. You got yo' sayin's, I got mine;
+you got yo' knowin's, en I got mine. Man come 'long en ax me how does de
+wum git in de scaly-bark.[49] I tell 'im right up en down, I dunno, sir.
+N'er man come 'long en ax me who raise de row 'twix' de buzzud en de
+bee-martin.[50] I tell 'im I dunno, sir. Yit, 'kaze I dunno," continued
+Uncle Remus, "dat don't hender um. Dar dey is, spite er dat,--wum in de
+scaly-bark, bee-martin atter de buzzud."
+
+"Dat's so," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, "dat's de Lord's trufe!"
+
+"Dat ar pullin' at de string," Uncle Remus went on, "en dat ar hollerin'
+'bout shucky-cordy"--
+
+"_Jutta cord-la!_" said Daddy Jack, fiercely.
+
+"'Bout de watsizname," said Uncle Remus, with a lenient and forgiving
+smile,--"all dish yer hollerin' en gwine on 'bout de watsizname put me
+in min' er one time w'en Brer Rabbit wuz gwine off fum home fer ter git
+a mess er green truck.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit git ready fer ter go, he call all he chilluns up, en
+he tell um dat w'en he go out dey mus' fas'n de do' on de inside, en dey
+mus'n' tu'n nobody in, nohow, 'kaze Brer Fox en Brer Wolf bin layin'
+'roun' waitin' chance fer ter nab um. En he tuck'n tole um dat w'en he
+come back, he'd rap at de do' en sing:
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"De little Rabs, dey hilt up der ban's en promise dat dey won't open de
+do' fer nobody 'ceppin' dey daddy, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n put
+out, he did, at a han'-gallop, huntin' sump'n' n'er ter eat. But all dis
+time, Brer Wolf bin hidin' out behime de house, en he year eve'y wud dat
+pass, en ole Brer Rabbit wa'n't mo'n out'n sight 'fo' Brer Wolf went ter
+de do', en he knock, he did,--_blip, blip, blip!_
+
+"Little Rab holler out, 'Who dat?'
+
+"Brer Wolf he sing:--
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"De little Rabs dey laugh fit ter kill deyse'f, en dey up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf, go 'way! You ain't none er we-all daddy!'
+
+"Ole Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, but eve'y time he thunk er dem
+plump little Rabs, he des git mo' hongry dan befo', en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he 'uz back at de do'--_blap, blap, blap!_
+
+"Little Rab holler: 'Who dat?'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he up'n sing:--
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"De little Rabs dey laugh en roll on de flo', en dey up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! We-all daddy ain't got no bad col' lak dat.'
+
+"Brer Wolf slunk off, but bimeby he come back, en dis time he try mighty
+hard fer ter talk fine. He knock at de do'--_blam, blam, blam!_
+
+"Little Rab holler: 'Who dat?'
+
+"Brer Wolf tu'n loose en sing:--
+
+    "'_I'll stay w'en you away,
+    'Kaze no gol' will pay toll!_'
+
+"Little Rab holler back, he did:--
+
+"'Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! go 'way! We-all daddy kin sing lots puttier dan
+dat. Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! go 'way!'
+
+"Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, en he go 'way out in de woods, en he
+sing, en sing, twel he kin sing fine ez de nex' man. Den he go back en
+knock at de do', en w'en de little Rabs ax who dat, he sing dem de song;
+en he sing so nice, en he sing so fine, dat dey ondo de do', en ole Brer
+Wolf walk in en gobble um all up, fum de fus' ter de las'.
+
+"W'en ole Brer Rabbit git back home, he fine de do' stannin' wide open
+en all de chilluns gone. Dey wa'n't no sign er no tussle; de h'a'th 'uz
+all swep' clean, en eve'ything wuz all ter rights, but right over in de
+cornder he see a pile er bones, en den he know in reason dat some er de
+yuther creeturs done bin dar en make hash outen he chilluns.
+
+    [Illustration: "DE LITTLE RABS, DEY PROMISE DAT DEY WON'T OPEN
+    DE DO' FER NOBODY"]
+
+"Den he go 'roun' en ax um 'bout it, but dey all 'ny it; dey all 'ny it
+ter de las', en Brer Wolf, he 'ny it wuss'n all un um. Den Brer Rabbit
+tuck'n lay de case 'fo' Brer Tarrypin. Ole Brer Tarrypin wuz a mighty
+man in dem days," continued Uncle Remus, with something like a
+sigh,--"a mighty man, en no sooner is he year de state er de condition
+dan he up'n call all de creeturs tergedder. He call um tergedder, he
+did, en den he up'n tell um 'bout how somebody done tuck'n 'stroy all er
+Brer Rabbit chillun, en he 'low dat de man w'at do dat bleedz ter be
+kotch, 'kaze ef he ain't, dey ain't no tellin' how long it'll be 'fo' de
+same somebody'll come 'long en 'stroy all de chillun in de settlement.
+
+"Brer B'ar, he up'n ax how dey gwine fine 'im, en Brer Tarrypin say dey
+er allers a way. Den he 'low:--
+
+"'Less dig a deep pit.'
+
+"'I'll dig de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"Atter de pit done dug, Brer Tarrypin say:--
+
+"'Less fill de pit full er lighter'd knots en bresh.'
+
+"'I'll fill de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"Atter de pit done fill up, Brer Tarrypin say:--
+
+"'Now, den, less set it a-fier.'
+
+"'I'll kindle de fier,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.
+
+"W'en de fier 'gun ter blaze up, Brer Tarrypin 'low dat de creeturs mus'
+jump 'cross dat, en de man w'at 'stroy Brer Rabbit chilluns will drap in
+en git bu'nt up. Brer Wolf bin so uppity 'bout diggin', en fillin', en
+kindlin', dat dey all 'spected 'im fer ter make de fus' trial; but,
+bless yo' soul en body! Brer Wolf look lak he got some yuther business
+fer ter 'ten' ter.
+
+"De pit look so deep, en de fier bu'n so high, dat dey mos' all 'fear'd
+fer ter make de trial, but atter w'ile, Brer Mink 'low dat he ain't
+hunted none er Brer Rabbit chilluns, en wid dat, he tuck runnin' start,
+en lipt across. Den Brer Coon say he ain't hunted um, en over he sailed.
+Brer B'ar say he feel mo' heavy dan he ever is befo' in all he born
+days, but he ain't hurted none er Brer Rabbit po' little chilluns, en
+wid dat away he went 'cross de fier. Dey all jump, twel bimeby hit come
+Brer Wolf time. Den he 'gun ter git skeered, en he mighty sorry 'kaze he
+dig dat pit so deep en wide, en kindle dat fier so high. He tuck sech a
+long runnin' start, dat time he git ter de jumpin' place, he 'uz done
+wo' teetotally out, en he lipt up, he did, en fetch'd a squall en drapt
+right spang in de middle er de fier."
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a while, "did Brother Terrapin
+jump over the fire?"
+
+"Wat Brer Tarrypin gwine jump fer?" responded Uncle Remus, "w'en
+eve'ybody know Tarrypins ain't eat Rabbits."
+
+"Well, you know you said everything was different then," said the child.
+
+"Look yer, Brer Jack," exclaimed Uncle Remus, "ef you got any tale on
+yo' mine, des let 'er come. Dish yer youngster gittin' too long-headed
+fer me; dat he is."[51]
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[49] A species of hickory-nut. The tree sheds its bark every year, hence
+the name, which is applied to both tree and fruit.
+
+[50] The king-bird.
+
+[51] See _Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings_, p. 79.
+
+
+
+
+XLIII
+
+THE CUNNING SNAKE
+
+
+Daddy Jack, thus appealed to, turned half round in his seat, winked his
+bright little eyes very rapidly, and said, with great animation:--
+
+"Hoo! me bin yeddy one sing-tale; me yeddy um so long tam 'go. One tam
+dere bin one ole Affiky ooman, 'e call 'im name Coomba. 'E go walky troo
+da woots, 'e walky troo da fiel. Bumbye 'e is bin come 'pon one
+snake-nes' fill wit' aig. Snake big snake, aig big aig. Affiky oomans is
+bin want-a dem aig so bahd; 'e 'fraid fer tek um. 'E gone home; 'e is
+see dem aig in 'e dream, 'e want um so bahd. Wun da nex' day mornin'
+come, da Affiky oomans say 'e bleeze fer hab dem aig. 'E go 'way, 'e
+bin-a see da snake-nes', 'e is git-a da aig; 'e fetch um at 'e own
+house; 'e cook um fer 'e brekwuss.
+
+"Bumbye da snake bin-a come by 'e nes'. Aig done gone. 'E pit 'e nose
+'pon da groun', 'e is track da Affiky oomans by 'e own house. Snake
+come by da Affiky oomans house; 'e ahx 'bout 'e aig. Affiky oomans say
+'e no hab bin see no aig. Snake see da skin wut bin 'pon 'e aig; 'e ahx
+wut is dis. Affiky oomans no say nuttin' 't all. Snake 'e say:--
+
+"'Wey fer you come brek up me nes' un tekky me aig?'
+
+"Affiky oomans 'e no say nuttin' 't all. 'E toss 'e head, 'e mek lak 'e
+no yeddy da snake v'ice, 'e go 'bout 'e wuk. Snake, 'e say:--
+
+"'Ooman! you is bin yed me v'ice wun me cry out. You bin tekky me aig;
+you is bin 'stroy me chillun. Tek keer you' own; tek keer you' own.'
+
+"Snake gone 'way; 'e slick out 'e tongue, 'e slide 'way. Bumbye de
+Affiky oomans, 'e hab one putty lil pickaninny; 'e lub um ha'd all over.
+'E is mine wut da snake say; 'e tote da pickaninny 'roun' 'pon 'e bahck.
+'E call um Noncy, 'e tote um fur, 'e lub um ha'd.
+
+"Snake, 'e bin-a stay in da bush-side; 'e watch all day, 'e wait all
+night; 'e git honkry fer da pickaninny, 'e want um so bahd. 'E bin slick
+out 'e tongue, 'e bin slide troo da grass, 'e bin hanker fer da
+pickaninny.
+
+"Bumbye da Affiky oomans tote-a da Noncy til 'e git tire; 'e puff, 'e
+blow, 'e wuk 'e gill sem lak cat-fish."
+
+Aunt Tempy burst into loud laughter at this remarkable statement.
+
+"Whoever is year de beat er dat!" she exclaimed. "Daddy Jack, you goes
+on owdashus 'bout de wimmen, dat you does!"
+
+"'E puff, 'e blow, 'e pant; 'e say:--
+
+"'Da pickaninny, 'e der git-a big lak one bag rice. 'E der git-a so
+heffy, me yent mos' know wut fer do. Me yent kin tote um no mo'.'
+
+"Da Affiky oomans is bin-a pit da pickaninny down 'pon da groun'. 'E mek
+up one sing[52] in 'e head, un 'e l'arn da lilly gal fer answer da sing.
+'E do show um how fer pull out da peg in da do'. Snake, 'e is bin lay
+quile up in da bush; 'e say nuttin' 't all.
+
+"Affiky oomans is l'arn-a da pickaninny fer answer da sing, un wun he
+sta't fer go off, 'e say:--
+
+"Pit da peg in da do' un you no y-open um fer nobody 'cep' you is yeddy
+me sing.'
+
+"Lil gal, 'e say yassum, un da Affiky oomans gone off. Snake stay still.
+'E quile up in 'e quile; 'e yent moof[53] 'e tail. Bumbye, toze
+night-time, da Affiky oomans come bahck wey 'e lif. 'E stan' by da do';
+'e talk dis sing:--
+
+    "'_Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy!_'
+
+"'E v'ice 'come finer toze da las' tel 'e do git loud fer true. Da lilly
+gal, 'e do mek answer lak dis:--
+
+    "'_Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!_'
+
+"'E know 'e mammy v'ice, en 'e bin pull out da peg queek. 'E run to 'e
+mammy; 'e mammy der hung um up. Nex' day, 'e da sem t'ing; two, t'ree,
+sev'm day, 'e da sem t'ing. Affiky oomans holler da sing; da lilly gal
+mek answer 'pon turrer side da do'. Snake, 'e lay quile up in da bush.
+'E watch da night, 'e lissun da day; 'e try fer l'arn-a da sing; 'e no
+say nuttin' 't all. Bumbye, one tam wun Affiky oomans bin gone 'way,
+snake, 'e wait 'til 'e mos' tam fer oomans fer come bahck. 'E gone by da
+do'; 'e y-open 'e mout'; 'e say:--
+
+    "'_Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy,
+    Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy,
+    Wullo wullo widdo, me Noncy!_'
+
+"'E try fer mekky 'e v'ice come fine lak da lil gal mammy; 'e der hab
+one rough place in 'e t'roat, un 'e v'ice come big. Lilly gal no mek
+answer. 'E no y-open da do'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Go 'way fum dey-dey! Me mammy no holler da sing lak dat!'
+
+"Snake, 'e try one, two, t'ree time; 'e yent no use. Lilly gal no
+y-open da do', 'e no mek answer. Snake 'e slick out 'e tongue un slide
+'way; 'e say 'e mus' l'arn-a da sing sho' 'nuff.
+
+"Bumbye, da Affiky oomans come bahck. 'E holler da sing:--
+
+    "'_Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy!_'
+
+"Lilly gal say: 'Da' me mammy!' 'E answer da sing:--
+
+    "'_Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!_'
+
+"Snake, 'e quile up in da chimmerly-corner; 'e hol' 'e bre't' fer
+lissun; 'e der l'arn-a da sing. Nex' day mornin' da Affiky oomans bin-a
+gone 'way un lef' da lilly gal all by 'ese'f. All de day long da snake
+'e t'ink about da song; 'e say um in 'e min', 'e say um forwud, 'e say
+um backwud. Bumbye, mos' toze sundown, 'e come at da do'; 'e come, 'e
+holler da sing:--
+
+    "'_Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy,
+    Walla walla witto, me Noncy!_'
+
+"Da lil gal, 'e t'ink-a da snake bin 'e mammy; 'e is answer da sing:--
+
+    "'Adolee! Andoli! Andolo!'
+
+"'E mek answer lak dat, un 'e y-open da do' queek. 'E run 'pon da snake
+'fo' 'e is _shum_.[54] Snake, 'e bin-a hug da lilly gal mo' sem dun 'e
+mammy; 'e is twis' 'e tail 'roun' um; 'e is ketch um in 'e quile. Lilly
+gal 'e holler, 'e squall; 'e squall, 'e holler. Nobody bin-a come by fer
+yeddy um. Snake 'e 'quees'[55] um tight, 'e no l'em go; 'e 'quees' um
+tight, 'e swaller um whole; 'e bre'k-a no bone; 'e tekky da lilly gal
+lak 'e stan'.
+
+"Bumbye da lil mammy come home at 'e house. 'E holler da sing, 'e git-a
+no answer. 'E come skeer'; 'e v'ice shek, 'e body trimple. 'E lissun, 'e
+no yeddy no fuss. 'E push de do' y-open, 'e no see nuttin' 't all; da
+lilly gal gone! Da ooman 'e holler, 'e cry; 'e ahx way 'e lilly gal bin
+gone; 'e no git no answer. 'E look all 'roun', 'e see way da snake bin-a
+'cross da road. 'E holler:--
+
+"'Ow, me Lard! da snake bin come swaller me lil Noncy gal. I gwan hunt
+'im up; I gwan foller da snake pas' da een' da yet'.'[56]
+
+"'E go in da swamp, 'e cut 'im one cane; 'e come bahck, 'e fine da snake
+track, un 'e do foller 'long wey 'e lead. Snake 'e so full wit de lilly
+gal 'e no walk fas'; lil gal mammy, 'e bin mad, 'e go stret 'long. Snake
+'e so full wit' da lilly gal, 'e come sleepy. 'E lay down, 'e shed-a 'e
+y-eye. 'E y-open um no mo'," continued Daddy Jack, moving his head
+slowly from side to side, and looking as solemn as he could. "Da ooman
+come 'pon de snake wun 'e bin lay dar 'sleep; 'e come 'pon 'im, un 'e
+tekky da cane un bre'k 'e head, 'e mash um flat. 'E cut da snake open,
+'e fine da lilly gal sem lak 'e bin 'sleep. 'E tek um home, 'e wash um
+off. Bumbye da lilly gal y-open 'e y-eye, un soon 'e see 'e mammy, 'e
+answer da sing. 'E say:--
+
+    "'_Andolee! Andoli! Andolo!_'"
+
+"Well, well, well!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, sympathetically. "Un de po'
+little creetur wuz 'live?"
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack. No reply could possibly have been more
+prompt, more emphatic, or more convincing.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[52] "'E mek up one sing." She composed a song and taught the child the
+refrain.
+
+[53] Move; he ain't move he tail; he hasn't even moved his tail.
+
+[54] Before he see um.
+
+[55] Squeeze.
+
+[56] Earth. Uncle Remus would say "Yeth."
+
+
+
+
+XLIV
+
+HOW BRER FOX WAS TOO SMART
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, one night when he found the old man
+alone, "I don't like these stories where somebody has to stand at the
+door and sing, do you? They don't sound funny to me."
+
+Uncle Remus crossed his legs, took off his spectacles and laid them
+carefully on the floor under his chair, and made a great pretence of
+arguing the matter with the child.
+
+"Now, den, honey, w'ich tale is it w'at you ain't lak de mos'?"
+
+The little boy reflected a moment and then replied:--
+
+"About the snake swallowing the little girl. I don't see any fun in
+that. Papa says they have snakes in Africa as big around as his body;
+and, goodness knows, I hope they won't get after me."
+
+"How dey gwine git atter you, honey, w'en you settin' up yer 'long side
+er me en de snakes 'way 'cross dar in Affiky?"
+
+"Well, Daddy Jack, he came, and the snakes might come too."
+
+Uncle Remus laughed, more to reassure the child than to ridicule his
+argument.
+
+"Dem ar snakes ain't no water-moccasin, not ez I knows un. Brer Jack bin
+yer mighty long time, en dey ain't no snake foller atter 'im yit."
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus! papa says they have them in shows."
+
+"I 'speck dey is, honey, but who's afear'd er snake stufft wid
+meal-bran? Not none er ole Miss gran'chillun, sho'!"
+
+"Well, the stories don't sound funny to me."
+
+"Dat mought be, yit deyer funny ter Brer Jack, en dey do mighty well fer
+ter pass de time. Atter w'ile you'll be a-gwine 'roun' runnin' down
+ole-Brer Rabbit en de t'er creeturs, en somehow er n'er you'll take'n
+git ole Remus mix up wid um twel you won't know w'ich one un um you er
+runnin' down, en let 'lone dat, you won't keer needer. Shoo, honey! you
+ain't de fus' chap w'at I done tole deze yer tales ter."
+
+"Why, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in a horrified tone, "I
+_would n't_; you _know_ I would n't!"
+
+"Don't tell me!" insisted the old man, "you er outgrowin' me, en you er
+outgrowin' de tales. Des lak Miss Sally change de lenk er yo' britches,
+des dat a-way I got ter do w'ence I whirl in en persoo atter de
+creeturs. Time wuz w'en you 'ud set down yer by dish yer h'a'th, en
+you'd take'n holler en laugh en clap yo' han's w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'ud
+kick outen all er he tanglements; but deze times you sets dar wid yo'
+eyes wide open, en you don't crack a smile. I say it!" Uncle Remus
+exclaimed, changing his tone and attitude, as if addressing some third
+person concealed in the room. "I say it! Stidder j'inin' in wid de fun,
+he'll take'n lean back dar en 'spute 'long wid you des lak grow'd up
+folks. I'll stick it out dis season, but w'en Chrismus come, I be bless
+ef I ain't gwine ter ax Miss Sally fer my remoovance papers, en I'm
+gwine ter hang my bundle on my walkin'-cane, en see w'at kinder dirt dey
+is at de fur een' er de big road."
+
+"Yes!" exclaimed the little boy, triumphantly, "and, if you do, the
+patter-rollers will get you."
+
+"Well," replied the old man, with a curious air of resignation, "ef dey
+does, I ain't gwine ter do lak Brer Fox did w'en Brer Rabbit showed him
+de tracks in de big road."
+
+"How did Brother Fox do, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Watch out, now! Dish yer one er de tales w'at ain't got no fun in it."
+
+"Uncle Remus, please tell it."
+
+"Hol' on dar! Dey mought be a snake some'rs in it--one er deze yer
+meal-bran snakes."
+
+"_Please_, Uncle Remus, tell it."
+
+The old man never allowed himself to resist the artful pleadings of the
+little boy. So he recovered his specks from under the chair, looked up
+the chimney for luck, as he explained to his little partner, and
+proceeded:--
+
+"One day w'en Brer Fox went callin' on Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de
+t'er gals, who should he fine settin' up dar but ole Brer Rabbit?
+Yasser! Dar he wuz, des ez sociable ez you please. He 'uz gwine on wid
+de gals, en w'en Brer Fox drapt in dey look lak dey wuz mighty tickled
+'bout sump'n' n'er Brer Rabbit bin sayin'. Brer Fox, he look sorter
+jub'ous, he did, des lak folks does w'en dey walks up in a crowd whar
+de yuthers all a-gigglin'. He tuck'n kotch de dry grins terreckerly. But
+dey all howdied, en Miss Meadows, she up'n say:--
+
+"'You'll des hatter skuse us, Brer Fox, on de 'count er dish yer
+gigglement. Tooby sho', hit monst'us disperlite fer we-all fer to be
+gwine on dat a-way; but I mighty glad you come, en I sez ter de gals,
+s'I, "'Fo' de Lord, gals! dar come Brer Fox, en yer we is a-gigglin' en
+a-gwine on scan'lous; yit hit done come ter mighty funny pass," s'I, "ef
+you can't run on en laugh 'fo' home folks," s'I. Dat des 'zactly w'at I
+say, en I leave it ter ole Brer Rabbit en de gals yer ef 't ain't.'
+
+"De gals, dey tuck'n jine in, dey did, en dey make ole Brer Fox feel
+right splimmy-splammy, en dey all sot dar en run on 'bout dey neighbors
+des lak folks does deze days. Dey sot dar, dey did, twel atter w'ile
+Brer Rabbit look out todes sundown, en 'low:--
+
+"'Now, den, folks and fr'en's, I bleedz ter say goo' bye. Cloud comin'
+up out yan, en mos' 'fo' we know it de rain 'll be a-po'in' en de grass
+'ll be a-growin'.'"
+
+"Why, that's poetry, Uncle Remus!" interrupted the little boy.
+
+"Tooby sho' 't is, honey! tooby sho' 't is. I des let you know Brer
+Rabbit 'uz a mighty man in dem days. Brer Fox, he see de cloud comin'
+up, en he up'n 'low he 'speck he better be gittin' 'long hisse'f, 'kaze
+he ain't wanter git he Sunday-go-ter-meetin' cloze wet. Miss Meadows en
+Miss Motts, en de gals, dey want um ter stay, but bofe er dem ar
+creeturs 'uz mighty fear'd er gittin' der foots wet, en atter w'ile dey
+put out.
+
+"W'iles dey 'uz gwine down de big road, jawin' at one er 'n'er, Brer
+Fox, he tuck'n stop right quick, en 'low:--
+
+"'Run yer, Brer Rabbit! run yer! Ef my eye ain't 'ceive me yer de signs
+whar Mr. Dog bin 'long, en mo'n dat dey er right fresh.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sidle up en look. Den he 'low:--
+
+"'Dat ar track ain't never fit Mr. Dog foot in de roun' worl'. W'at
+make it mo' bindin',' sezee, 'I done gone en bin 'quainted wid de man
+w'at make dat track, too long 'go ter talk 'bout,' sezee.
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, please, sir, tell me he name.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he laugh lak he makin' light er sump'n' 'n'er.
+
+"'Ef I ain't make no mistakes, Brer Fox, de po' creetur w'at make dat
+track is Cousin Wildcat; no mo' en no less.'
+
+"'How big is he, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'He des 'bout yo' heft, Brer Fox.' Den Brer Rabbit make lak he talkin'
+wid hisse'f. 'Tut, tut, tut! Hit mighty funny dat I should run up on
+Cousin Wildcat in dis part er de worl'. Tooby sho', tooby sho'! Many en
+manys de time I see my ole Grandaddy kick en cuff Cousin Wildcat, twel I
+git sorry 'bout 'im. Ef you want any fun, Brer Fox, right now de time
+ter git it.'
+
+"Brer Fox up'n ax, he did, how he gwine have any fun. Brer Rabbit, he
+'low:--
+
+"'Easy 'nuff; des go en tackle ole Cousin Wildcat, en lam 'im 'roun'.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he sorter scratch he year, en 'low:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, Brer Rabbit, I fear'd. He track too much lak Mr. Dog.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit des set right flat down in de road, en holler en laugh. He
+'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Shoo, Brer Fox! Who'd 'a' thunk you 'uz so skeery? Des come look at
+dish yer track right close. Is dey any sign er claw anywhar's?'
+
+"Brer Fox bleedz ter 'gree dat dey wa'n't no sign er no claw. Brer
+Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Well, den, ef he ain't got no claw, how he gwine ter hu't you, Brer
+Fox?'
+
+"'W'at gone wid he toofs, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Shoo, Brer Fox! Creeturs w'at barks[57] de trees ain't gwine bite.'
+
+"Brer Fox tuck'n tuck 'n'er good look at de tracks, en den him en Brer
+Rabbit put out fer ter foller um up. Dey went up de road, en down de
+lane, en 'cross de turnip patch, en down a dreen,[58] en up a big gully.
+Brer Rabbit, he done de trackin', en eve'y time he fine one, he up'n
+holler:--
+
+"'Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar! Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar!'
+
+"Dey kep' on en kep' on, twel bimeby dey run up wid de creetur. Brer
+Rabbit, he holler out mighty biggity:--
+
+"'Heyo dar! W'at you doin'?'
+
+"De creetur look 'roun', but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit
+'low:--
+
+"'Oh, you nee'nter look so sullen! We ull make you talk 'fo' we er done
+'long wid you! Come, now! W'at you doin' out dar?'
+
+"De creetur rub hisse'f 'gin' a tree des lak you see deze yer house cats
+rub 'gin' a cheer, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit holler:--
+
+"'W'at you come pesterin' 'long wid us fer, w'en we ain't bin
+a-pesterin' you? You got de consate dat I dunner who you is, but I does.
+Youer de same ole Cousin Wildcat w'at my gran'daddy use ter kick en cuff
+w'en you 'fuse ter 'spon'. I let you know I got a better man yer dan
+w'at my gran'daddy ever is bin, en I boun' you he ull make you talk. Dat
+w'at I boun' you.'
+
+"De creetur lean mo' harder 'gin' de tree, en sorter ruffle up he
+bristle, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:--
+
+"'Go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he 'fuse ter 'spon' slap 'im down! Dat de
+way my gran'daddy done. You go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he dast ter try
+ter run, I'll des whirl in en ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he sorter jub'ous, but he start todes de creetur. Ole Cousin
+Wildcat walk all 'roun' de tree, rubbin' hisse'f, but he ain't sayin'
+nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he holler:--
+
+"'Des walk right up en slap 'im down, Brer Fox--de owdashus vilyun! Des
+hit 'im a surbinder, en ef he dast ter run, I boun' you I'll ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he went up little nigher. Cousin Wildcat stop rubbin' on de
+tree, en sot up on he behime legs wid he front paws in de a'r, en he
+balance hisse'f by leanin' 'gin' de tree, but he ain't sayin' nothin'.
+Brer Rabbit, he squall out, he did:--
+
+"'Oh, you nee'nter put up yo' han's en try ter beg off. Dat de way you
+fool my ole gran'daddy; but you can't fool we-all. All yo' settin' up en
+beggin' ain't gwine ter he'p you. Ef youer so humble ez all dat, w'at
+make you come pesterin' longer we-all? Hit 'im a clip, Brer Fox! Ef he
+run, I'll ketch 'im!'
+
+"Brer Fox see de creetur look so mighty humble, settin' up dar lak he
+beggin' off, en he sorter take heart. He sidle up todes 'im, he did, en
+des ez he 'uz makin' ready fer ter slap 'im ole Cousin Wildcat draw'd
+back en fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach."
+
+Uncle Remus paused here a moment, as if to discover some term strong
+enough to do complete justice to the catastrophe. Presently he went
+on:--
+
+"Dat ar Cousin Wildcat creetur fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach,
+en you mought a yeard 'im squall fum yer ter Harmony Grove. Little mo'
+en de creetur would er to' Brer Fox in two. W'ence de creetur made a
+pass at 'im, Brer Rabbit knew w'at gwine ter happen, yit all de same he
+tuck'n holler:--
+
+"'Hit 'im ag'in, Brer Fox! Hit 'im ag'in! I'm a-backin' you, Brer Fox!
+Ef he dast ter run, I'll inabout cripple 'im--dat I will. Hit 'im
+ag'in!'
+
+"All dis time w'iles Brer Rabbit gwine on dis a-way, Brer Fox, he 'uz
+a-squattin' down, hol'in' he stomach wid bofe han's en des a-moanin':--
+
+"'I'm ruint, Brer Rabbit! I'm ruint! Run fetch de doctor! I'm teetotally
+ruint!'
+
+"'Bout dat time, Cousin Wildcat, he tuck'n tuck a walk. Brer Rabbit, he
+make lak he 'stonish' dat Brer Fox is hurted. He tuck'n 'zamin' de
+place, he did, en he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Hit look lak ter me, Brer Fox, dat dat owdashus vilyun tuck'n struck
+you wid a reapin'-hook.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lit out fer home, en w'en he git out er sight, he
+tuck'n shuck he han's des lak cat does w'en she git water on 'er foots,
+en he tuck'n laugh en laugh twel it make 'im sick fer ter laugh."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[57] Gnaws the bark from the trees.
+
+[58] Drain or ditch.
+
+
+
+
+XLV
+
+BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE
+
+
+The little boy thought that the story of how the wildcat scratched
+Brother Fox was one of the best stories he had ever heard, and he did
+n't hesitate to say so. His hearty endorsement increased Uncle Remus's
+good-humor; and the old man, with a broad grin upon his features and
+something of enthusiasm in his tone, continued to narrate the adventures
+of Brother Rabbit.
+
+"After Brer Fox git hurted so bad," said Uncle Remus, putting an edge
+upon his axe with a whetstone held in his hand, "hit wuz a mighty long
+time 'fo' he could ramble 'roun' en worry ole Brer Rabbit. Der time
+Cousin Wildcat fetch'd 'im dat wipe 'cross de stomach, he tuck'n lay de
+blame on Brer Rabbit, en w'en he git well, he des tuck'n juggle wid de
+yuther creeturs, en dey all 'gree dat dem en Brer Rabbit can't drink out
+er de same branch, ner walk de same road, ner live in de same
+settlement, ner go in washin' in de same wash-hole.
+
+"Tooby sho' Brer Rabbit bleedz ter take notice er all dish yer kinder
+jugglements en gwines on, en he des tuck'n strenken he house, in de
+neighborhoods er de winders, en den he put 'im up a steeple on top er
+dat. Yasser! A sho' 'nuff steeple, en he rise 'er up so high dat folks
+gwine 'long de big road stop en say, 'Hey! W'at kinder meetin'-house
+dat?'"
+
+The little boy laughed loudly at Uncle Remus's graphic delineation of
+the astonishment and admiration of the passers-by. The old man raised
+his head, stretched his eyes, and seemed to be looking over his
+spectacles right at Brother Rabbit's steeple.
+
+"Folks 'ud stop en ax, but Brer Rabbit ain't got time fer ter make no
+answer. _He_ hammer'd, _he_ nailed, _he_ knock'd, _he_ lamm'd! Folks go
+by, he ain't look up; creeturs come stan' en watch 'im, he ain't look
+'roun'; wuk, wuk, wuk, from sun-up ter sun-down, twel dat er steeple git
+done. Den ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n draw long breff, en wipe he forrerd, en
+'low dat ef dem t'er creeturs w'at bin atter 'im so long is got any de
+'vantage er him, de time done come fer um fer ter show it.
+
+"Wid dat he went en got 'im a snack er sump'n' t' eat, en a long piece
+er plough-line, en he tole he ole 'oman fer ter put a kittle er water on
+de fire, en stan' 'roun' close by, en eve'yt'ing he tell 'er not ter do,
+dat de ve'y t'ing she sho'ly mus' do. Den ole Brer Rabbit sot down in he
+rockin'-cheer en lookt out fum de steeple fer ter see how de lan' lay.
+
+"'T wa'n't long 'fo' all de creeturs year talk dat Brer Rabbit done stop
+wuk, en dey 'gun ter come 'roun' fer ter see w'at he gwine do nex'. But
+Brer Rabbit, he got up dar, he did, en smoke he seegyar, en chaw he
+'backer, en let he min' run on. Brer Wolf, he stan' en look up at de
+steeple, Brer Fox, he stan' en look up at it, en all de t'er creeturs
+dey done de same. Nex' time you see a crowd er folks lookin' at sump'n'
+right hard, you des watch um, honey. Dey'll walk 'roun' one er 'n'er en
+swap places, en dey'll be constant on de move. Dat des de way de
+creeturs done. Dey walk 'roun' en punch one er 'n'er en swap places, en
+look en look. Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot up dar, he did, en chaw he
+'backer, en smoke he seegyar, en let he min' run on.
+
+"Bimeby ole Brer Tarrypin come 'long, en ole Brer Tarrypin bin in
+cohoots wid Brer Rabbit so long dat he des nat'ally know dey wuz gwine
+ter be fun er plenty 'roun' in dem neighborhoods 'fo' de sun go down.
+He laugh 'way down und' de roof er he house, ole Brer Tarrypin did, en
+den he hail Brer Rabbit:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! W'at you doin' 'way up in de elements lak dat?'
+
+"'I'm a-sojourneyin' up yer fer ter res' myse'f, Brer Tarrypin. Drap up
+en see me.'
+
+"''Twix' you en me, Brer Rabbit, de drappin' 's all one way. S'posin'
+you tu'n loose en come. Man live dat high up bleedz ter have wings. I
+ain't no high-flyer myse'f. I fear'd ter shake han's wid you so fur off,
+Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Not so, Brer Tarrypin, not so. My sta'rcase is a mighty limbersome
+one, en I'll des let it down ter you.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line.
+
+"'Des ketch holt er dat, Brer Tarrypin,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en up
+you comes, _linktum sinktum binktum boo!_' sezee."
+
+"What was that, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy, taking a serious view
+of the statement.
+
+"Creetur talk, honey--des creetur talk. Bless yo' soul, chile!" the old
+man went on, with a laughable assumption of dignity, "ef you think I got
+time fer ter stop right short off en stribbit[59] out all I knows, you er
+mighty much mistaken--mighty much mistaken.
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin know mighty well dat Brer Rabbit ain't got nothin'
+'gin' 'im, yet he got sech a habit er lookin' out fer hisse'f dat he
+tuck'n ketch de plough-line in he mouf, he did, en try de strenk un it.
+Ole Brer Rabbit, he holler 'Swing on, Brer Tarrypin!' en Brer Tarrypin,
+he tuck'n swung on, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'uz settin' up dar side er
+Brer Rabbit.
+
+"But I wish ter goodness you'd 'a' bin dar," continued Uncle Remus, very
+gracefully leaving it to be inferred that _he_ was there; "I wish ter
+goodness you'd 'a' bin dar so you could er seed ole Brer Tarrypin w'iles
+Brer Rabbit 'uz haulin' 'im up, wid he tail a-wigglin' en he legs all
+spraddled out, en him a-whirlin' 'roun' en 'roun' en lookin' skeer'd.
+
+"De t'er creeturs dey see Brer Tarrypin go up safe en soun', en dey see
+de vittles passin' 'roun', en dey 'gun ter feel lak dey wanter see de
+inside er Brer Rabbit steeple. Den Brer Wolf, he hail 'im:--
+
+"'Heyo dar, Brer Rabbit! Youer lookin' mighty scrumptious way up dar!
+How you come on?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he look down, he did, en he see who 't is hollerin', en he
+'spon':--
+
+"'Po'ly, mighty po'ly, but I thank de Lord I'm able to eat my
+'lowance.[60] Won't you drap up, Brer Wolf?'
+
+"'Hit's a mighty clumsy journey fer ter make, Brer Rabbit, yit I don't
+keer ef I does.'
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line, en Brer Wolf kotch holt,
+en dey 'gun ter haul 'im up. Dey haul en dey haul, en w'en Brer Wolf git
+mos' ter de top he year Brer Rabbit holler out:--
+
+"'Stir 'roun', ole 'oman, en set de table; but 'fo' you do dat, fetch de
+kittle fer ter make de coffee.'
+
+"Dey haul en dey haul on de plough-line, en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit
+squall out:--
+
+"'Watch out dar, ole 'oman! You'll spill dat b'ilin' water on Brer
+Wolf!'
+
+"En, bless yo' soul!" continued Uncle Remus, turning half around in his
+chair to face his enthusiastic audience of one, "dat 'uz 'bout all Brer
+Wolf did year, 'kaze de nex' minit down come de scaldin' water, en Brer
+Wolf des fetch one squall en turn't hisse'f aloose, en w'en he strak de
+groun' he bounce des same ez one er deze yer injun-rubber balls w'at you
+use ter play wid 'long in dem times 'fo' you tuck'n broke yo' mammy
+lookin'-glass. Ole Brer Rabbit, he lean fum out de steeple en 'pollygize
+de bes' he kin, but no 'pollygy ain't gwine ter make ha'r come back
+whar de b'ilin' water hit."
+
+"Did they spill the hot water on purpose, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
+inquired.
+
+"Now, den, honey, youer crowdin' me. Dem ar creeturs wuz mighty
+kuse--mo' speshually Brer Rabbit. W'en it come down ter dat," said Uncle
+Remus, lowering his voice and looking very grave, "I 'speck ef youder
+s'arch de country fum hen-roost to river-bank,[61] you won't fine a no
+mo' kuser man dan Brer Rabbit. All I knows is dat Brer Rabbit en Brer
+Tarrypin had a mighty laughin' spell des 'bout de time Brer Wolf hit de
+groun'."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[59] Distribute.
+
+[60] Allowance; ration.
+
+[61] Based on a characteristic negro saying. For instance: "Where's
+Jim?" "You can't keep up wid dat nigger. Des let night come, en he's
+runnin' fum hen-roost to river-bank." In other words, stealing chickens
+and robbing fish baskets.
+
+
+
+
+XLVI
+
+BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE
+
+
+"En still we er by ourse'fs," exclaimed Uncle Remus, as the little boy
+ran into his cabin, the night after he had heard the story of how
+Brother Rabbit scalded Brother Wolf. "We er by ourse'fs en time's
+a-passin'. Dem ar folks dunner w'at dey er missin'. We er des gittin'
+ter dat p'int whar we kin keep de run er creeturs, en it keeps us dat
+busy we ain't got time fer ter bolt our vittles skacely.
+
+"I done tell you 'bout Brer Rabbit makin' 'im a steeple; but I ain't
+tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit got ole Brer Wolf out'n er mighty bad
+fix."
+
+"No," said the little boy, "you have n't, and that's just what I have
+come for now."
+
+Uncle Remus looked at the rafters, then at the little boy, and finally
+broke into a loud laugh.
+
+"I 'clar' ter goodness," he exclaimed, addressing the imaginary third
+person to whom he related the most of his grievances, "I 'clar' ter
+goodness ef dat ar chile ain't gittin' so dat he's eve'y whit ez
+up-en-spoken ez w'at ole Miss ever bin. Dat he is!"
+
+The old man paused long enough to give the little boy some uneasiness,
+and then continued:--
+
+"Atter ole Brer Wolf git de nat'al hide tuck off'n 'im on de 'count er
+Brer Rabbit kittle, co'se he hatter go 'way off by hisse'f fer ter let
+de ha'r grow out. He 'uz gone so long dat Brer Rabbit sorter 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he 'speck he kin come down out'n he steeple, en sorter rack
+'roun' mungs de t'er creeturs.
+
+"He sorter primp up, Brer Rabbit did, en den he start out 'pun he
+journeys hether en yan.[62] He tuck'n went ter de crossroads, en dar he
+stop en choose 'im a road. He choose 'im a road, he did, en den he put
+out des lak he bin sent fer in a hurry.
+
+"Brer Rabbit gallop on, he did, talkin' en laughin' wid hisse'f, en
+eve'y time he pass folks, he'd tu'n it off en make lak he singin'. He
+'uz gwine on dis a-way, w'en fus' news you know he tuck'n year sump'n'.
+He stop talkin' en 'gun ter hum a chune, but he ain't meet nobody. Den
+he stop en lissen en he year sump'n' holler:--
+
+"'O Lordy! Lordy! Won't somebody come he'p me?'"
+
+The accent of grief and despair and suffering that Uncle Remus managed
+to throw into this supplication was really harrowing.
+
+"Brer Rabbit year dis, en he stop en lissen. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' sump'n'
+n'er holler out:--
+
+"'O Lordy, Lordy! Please, somebody, come en he'p me.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he h'ist up he years, he did, en make answer back:--
+
+"'Who is you, nohow, en w'at de name er goodness de marter?'
+
+"'Please, somebody, do run yer!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n stan' on th'ee legs fer ter make sho' er gittin'
+a good start ef dey 'uz any needs un it, en he holler back:--
+
+"'Whar'bouts is you, en how come you dar?'
+
+"'Do please, somebody, run yer en he'p a po' mizerbul creetur. I'm down
+yer in de big gully und' dish yer great big rock.'
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit bleedz ter be mighty 'tickler in dem days, en he crope
+down ter de big gully en look in, en who de name er goodness you 'speck
+he seed down dar?"
+
+Uncle Remus paused and gave the little boy a look of triumph, and then
+proceeded without waiting for a reply:--
+
+"Nobody in de roun' worl' but dat ar ole Brer Wolf w'at Brer Rabbit done
+bin scalted de week 'fo' dat. He 'uz layin' down dar in de big gully,
+en, bless gracious! 'pun top un 'im wuz a great big rock, en ef you want
+ter know de reason dat ar great big rock ain't teetotally kilt Brer
+Wolf, den you'll hatter ax some un w'at know mo' 'bout it dan w'at I
+does, 'kaze hit look lak ter me dat it des oughter mash 'im flat.
+
+"Yit dar he wuz, en let 'lone bein' kilt, he got strenk 'nuff lef' fer
+ter make folks year 'im holler a mile off, en he holler so lonesome dat
+it make Brer Rabbit feel mighty sorry, en no sooner is he feel sorry dan
+he hol' he coat-tails out de way en slid down de bank fer ter see w'at
+he kin do.
+
+"W'en he git down dar Brer Wolf ax 'im please, sir, kin he he'p 'im wid
+de removance er dat ar rock, en Brer Rabbit 'low he 'speck he kin; en
+wid dat Brer Wolf holler en tell 'im fer mussy sake won't he whirl in en
+do it, w'ich Brer Rabbit tuck'n ketch holt er de rock en hump hisse'f,
+en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he git a purchis on it, en, bless yo' soul, he
+lif' 'er up des lak nigger at de log-rollin'.
+
+"Hit tu'n out dat Brer Wolf ain't hurted much, en w'en he fine dis out,
+he tuck'n tuck a notion dat ef he ev' gwine git he revengeance out'n
+Brer Rabbit, right den wuz de time, en no sooner does dat come 'cross he
+min' dan he tuck'n grab Brer Rabbit by de nap er de neck en de small er
+de back.
+
+"Brer Rabbit he kick en squeal, but 't ain't do no manner er good,
+'kaze de mo' w'at he kick de mo' tighter Brer Wolf clamp 'im, w'ich he
+squoze 'im so hard dat Brer Rabbit wuz fear'd he 'uz gwine ter cut off
+he breff. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:--
+
+"'Well, den, Brer Wolf! Is dish yer de way you thanks folks fer savin'
+yo' life?'
+
+"Brer Wolf grin big, en den he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I'll thank you, Brer Rabbit, en den I'll make fresh meat out'n you.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Ef you talk dat a-way, Brer Wolf, I never is to do yer 'n'er good turn
+w'iles I live.'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he grin some mo' en 'low:--
+
+"'Dat you won't, Brer Rabbit, dat you won't! You won't do me no mo' good
+turn tel you er done dead.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study ter hisse'f, he did, en den he 'low:
+
+"'Whar I come fum, Brer Wolf, hit's agin' de law fer folks fer to kill
+dem w'at done done um a good turn, en I 'speck hit's de law right 'roun'
+yer.'
+
+"Brer Wolf say he ain't so mighty sho' 'bout dat. Brer Rabbit say he
+willin' fer ter lef' de whole case wid Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Wolf say
+he 'gree'ble.
+
+"Wid dat, dey put out, dey did, en make der way ter whar ole Brer
+Tarrypin stay; en w'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf he tuck'n tell he side, en
+den Brer Rabbit he tuck'n tell he side. Ole Brer Tarrypin put on he
+specks en cle'r up he th'oat, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'Dey's a mighty heap er mixness in dish yer 'spute, en 'fo' I kin take
+any sides you'll des hatter kyar me fer ter see de place whar'bouts Brer
+Wolf wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun' 'im,' sezee.
+
+    [Illustration: "EN, BLESS GRACIOUS! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF
+    FUM DAR EN LEF' OLE BRER WOLF UND' DAT AR ROCK"]
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, dey tuck'n kyar'd ole Brer Tarrypin down de big road twel
+dey come ter de big gully, en den dey tuck 'im ter whar Brer Wolf got
+kotch und' de big rock. Ole Brer Tarrypin, he walk 'roun', he did, en
+poke at de place wid de een' er he cane. Bimeby he shuck he head, he
+did, en 'low:
+
+"'I hates might'ly fer ter put you all gents ter so much trouble; yit,
+dey ain't no two ways, I'll hatter see des how Brer Wolf was kotch, en
+des how de rock wuz layin' 'pun top un 'im,' sezee. 'De older folks
+gits, de mo' trouble dey is,' sezee, 'en I ain't 'nyin' but w'at I'm
+a-ripenin' mo' samer dan a 'simmon w'at's bin strucken wid de fros','
+sezee.
+
+"Den Brer Wolf, he tuck'n lay down whar he wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun'
+'im, en de yuthers dey up'n roll de rock 'pun top un 'im. Dey roll de
+rock 'pun 'im," continued Uncle Remus, looking over his spectacles to
+see what effect the statement had on the little boy, "en dar he wuz.
+Brer Tarrypin, he walk all 'roun' en 'roun', en look at 'im. Den he sot
+down, he did, en make marks in de san' wid he cane lak he studyin' 'bout
+sump'n' n'er. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he open up:--
+
+"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock gittin' mighty heavy!'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he mark in de san', en study, en study. Brer Wolf
+holler:--
+
+"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock mashin' de breff out'n me.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he r'ar back, he did, en he 'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, you wuz in de wrong. You ain't had no business fer ter
+come bodderin' 'longer Brer Wolf w'en he ain't bodderin' 'longer you. He
+'uz 'ten'in' ter he own business en you oughter bin 'ten'in' ter yone.'
+
+"Dis make Brer Rabbit look 'shame' er hisse'f, but Brer Tarrypin talk
+right erlong:--
+
+"'W'en you 'uz gwine down dish yer road dis mawnin', you sho'ly mus' bin
+a-gwine som'ers. Ef you _wuz_ gwine som'ers you better be gwine on. Brer
+Wolf, he wa'n't gwine nowhars den, en he ain't gwine nowhars now. You
+foun' 'im und' dat ar rock, en und' dat ar rock you lef 'im.'
+
+"En, bless gracious!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, "dem ar creeturs racked off
+fum dar en lef' ole Brer Wolf und' dat ar rock."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[62] Hither and yon.
+
+
+
+
+XLVII
+
+BRER RABBIT LAYS IN HIS BEEF SUPPLY
+
+
+"I wonder where Daddy Jack is," said the little boy, one night after he
+had been waiting for some time for Uncle Remus to get leisure to tell
+him a story.
+
+Uncle Remus, who was delightfully human in his hypocrisy, as well as in
+other directions, leaned back in his chair, looked at the little boy
+with an air of grieved resignation, and said:--
+
+"I boun' you does, honey, I boun' you does. Ole Brer Jack look mighty
+weazly ter de naked eye, but I lay he's a lots mo' likelier nigger dan
+w'at ole Remus is. De time done gone by w'en a po' ole no-'count nigger
+lak me kin hol' he han' wid a bran new nigger man lak Brer Jack."
+
+The child stared at Uncle Remus with open-eyed astonishment.
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus! I did n't mean that; you know I did n't," he
+exclaimed.
+
+"Bless yo' heart, honey! hit don't pester me. I done got de speunce un
+it. Dat I is. Plough-hoss don't squeal en kick w'en dey puts 'n'er hoss
+in he place. Brer Jack got de age on 'im but he new ter you. Ole er
+young, folks is folks, en no longer'n day 'fo' yistiddy, I year you
+braggin' 'bout how de vittles w'at dey feeds you on up at de big house
+ain't good ez de vittles w'at yuther childun gits. Nummine ole Remus,
+honey; you en Brer Jack des go right erlong en I'll be much 'blige ef
+you'll des lemme set in de cornder yer en chunk de fier. Sho'ly I ain't
+pas' doin' dat."
+
+The child was troubled to think that Uncle Remus should find it
+necessary to depreciate himself, and he made haste to explain his
+position.
+
+"I thought that if Daddy Jack was here he could tell me a story while
+you are working, so you would n't be bothered."
+
+A broad grin of appreciation spread over Uncle Remus's face. He
+adjusted his spectacles, looked around and behind him, and then, seeing
+no one but the child, addressed himself to the rafters and cobwebs:--
+
+"Well! well! well! ef dish yer don't beat all! Gentermens! dish yer
+little chap yer, he puny in de legs, yit he mighty strong in de head."
+
+He paused, as if reflecting over the whole matter, and then turned to
+the child:--
+
+"Is _dat_ w'at make you hone atter Daddy Jack, honey--des 'kaze you
+wanter set back dar en lissen at a tale? Now, den, ef you had n't 'a'
+got me off'n de track, you'd 'a' bin settin' yer lis'nen at one un um
+dis blessid minnit, 'kaze des time I year talk dat Mars John gwine ter
+have dat ar long-hornded steer kilt fer beef, hit come 'cross my min'
+'bout de time w'ence Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox j'ined in wid one er 'n'er
+en kilt a cow."
+
+"Killed a cow, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar," replied the old man with emphasis.
+"Look lak dey wa'n't no kinder doin's w'at dem ar creeturs wa'n't up
+ter, mo' speshually ole Brer Rabbit. Day in en day out, fum mawnin' twel
+night en fum night twel mawnin', he 'uz constant a-studyin' up some bran
+new kinder contrapshun fer ter let de yuther creeturs know he 'uz
+some'rs in de neighborhoods.
+
+"Come down ter dat, you kin b'leeve me er not b'leeve me, des ez you er
+min' ter; you kin take yo' choosement; but ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer
+Fox, spite er dey fallin' out, dey tuck'n go inter cahoots en kilt a
+cow. Seem lak I disremember who de cow b'long ter," continued the old
+man, frowning thoughtfully, and thus, by a single stroke, imparting an
+air of reality to the story; "but she sho'ly b'long'd ter some er de
+neighbors, 'kaze you kin des put it down, right pine-blank, dat Brer
+Rabbit ain't gwine ter kill he own cow, en needer is Brer Fox.
+
+"Well, den, dey tuck'n kilt a cow, en 't wa'n't dey own cow, en alter
+dey done skunt 'er Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low, he did, dat ef Brer Fox
+wanter git de good er de game, he better run home en fetch a tray er
+sump'n fer put de jiblets in."
+
+"Jiblets, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Tooby sho', honey. Dats w'at we-all calls de liver, de lights, de
+heart, en de melt. Some calls um jiblets en some calls um hasletts, but
+ef you'll lemme take um en kyar um home, you kin des up en call um mos'
+by any name w'at creep inter yo' min'. You do de namin'," the old man
+went on, smacking his lips suggestively, "en I'll do de eatin', en ef
+I'm de loser, I boun' you won't year no complaints fum me.
+
+"But, law bless me! w'at is I'm a-doin'? De time's a-passin', en I'm
+ain't skacely got start on de tale. Dey kilt de cow, dey did, en Brer
+Rabbit tell Brer Fox 'bout de jiblets, en w'iles Brer Fox gwine on home
+atter de bucket fer ter put um in, he say ter hisse'f dat Brer Rabbit
+ain't bad ez he crackt up ter be. But no sooner is Brer Fox outer sight
+dan Brer Rabbit cut out de jiblets, he did, en kyar'd um off en hide um.
+Den he come back en tuck a piece er de meat en drap blood 'way off de
+udder way.
+
+"Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid he bucket, en w'en he git dar Brer Rabbit
+wuz settin' down cryin'. Mon, he 'uz des a-boohoo-in'. Brer Fox, he
+'low:--
+
+"'Name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! w'at de marter?'
+
+"''Nuff de marter--'nuff de marter. I wish you'd 'a' stayed yer w'iles
+you wuz yer--dat I does, Brer Fox!'
+
+"'How come, Brer Rabbit,--how come?'
+
+"'Man come, Brer Fox, en stole all yo' nice jiblets. I bin a-runnin'
+atter 'im, Brer Fox, but he outrun me.'
+
+"'W'ich a-way he go, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Yer de way he went, Brer Fox; yer whar he drap de blood. Ef you be
+right peart, Brer Fox, you'll ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox he drapt de bucket, he did, en put out atter de man w'at tuck
+de jiblets, en he wa'n't out'n sight good, 'fo' ole Brer Rabbit sail in
+en cut out all de fat en taller, en kyar' it off en hide it. Atter
+w'ile, yer come Brer Fox back des a-puffin' en a-pantin'. He ain't see
+no man. Brer Rabbit, he hail 'im:--
+
+"'You ain't come a minnit too soon, Brer Fox, dat you ain't. W'iles you
+bin gone 'n'er man come 'long en kyar'd off all de taller en fat. He
+went right off dat a-way, Brer Fox, en ef you'll be right peart, you'll
+ketch 'im.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he tuck'n put out, he did, en run, en run, yit he ain't see
+no man. Wiles he done gone Brer Rabbit kyar off one er de behime
+quarters. Brer Fox come back; he ain't see no man. Brer Rabbit holler en
+tell 'im dat 'ne'r man done come en got a behime quarter en run'd off
+wid it.
+
+"Brer Fox sorter study 'bout dis, 'kaze it look lak nobody yuver see de
+like er mens folks passin' by dat one lonesome cow. He make out he gwine
+ter run atter de man w'at steal de behime quarter, but he ain't git fur
+'fo' he tuck'n tu'n 'roun' en crope back, en he 'uz des in time fer ter
+see Brer Rabbit makin' off wid de yuther behime quarter. Brer Fox mighty
+tired wid runnin' hether en yan, en backards en forrerds, but he git so
+mad w'en he see Brer Rabbit gwine off dat a-way, dat he dash up en ax
+'im whar is he gwine wid dat ar beef.
+
+"Brer Rabbit lay de beef down, he did, en look lak he feelin's hurted.
+He look at Brer Fox lak he feel mighty sorry fer folks w'at kin ax
+foolish questions lak dat. He shake he head, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Well, well, well! Who'd 'a' thunk dat Brer Fox would 'a' come axin' me
+'bout dish yer beef, w'ich anybody would er know'd I 'uz a-kyar'n off
+fer ter save fer 'im, so nobody could n't git it?'
+
+"But dish yer kinder talk don't suit Brer Fox, en he tuck'n make a
+motion 'zef[63] ter ketch Brer Rabbit, but Brer Rabbit he 'gun 'im leg
+bail, en dar dey had it thoo de woods twel Brer Rabbit come 'pon a
+holler tree, en inter dat he went, des lak one er deze streaked lizzuds
+goes inter a hole in de san'."
+
+"And then," said the little boy, as Uncle Remus paused, "along came
+Brother Buzzard, and Brother Fox set him to watch the hole, and Brother
+Rabbit said he had found a fat squirrel which he would run out on the
+other side; and then he came out and ran home."
+
+This was the climax of a story that Uncle Remus had told a long time
+before, and he looked at his little partner with astonishment not
+unmixed with admiration.
+
+"I 'clar' ter gracious, honey!" he exclaimed, "ef you hol's on ter yo'
+pra'rs lak you does ter deze yer tales youer doin' mighty well. But
+don't you try ter hol' Brer Rabbit down ter one trick, you won't never
+keep up wid 'im in de 'roun' worl'--dat you won't.
+
+"Ole Brer Buzzard wuz dar, en Brer Fox ax 'im fer ter watch de hole, but
+he ain't bin dar long 'fo' Brer Rabbit sing out:--
+
+"'I got de 'vantage un you, dis whet, Brer Buzzard, I sho'ly is.'
+
+"'How dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"''Kaze I kin see you, en you can't see me.'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Buzzard stuck he head in de hole, en look up; en no sooner
+is he do dis dan Brer Rabbit fill he eyes full er san', en w'iles he
+gone ter de branch fer ter wash it out, Brer Rabbit he come down outer
+de holler, en went back ter whar de cow wuz; en mo' dan dat, Brer Rabbit
+got de ballunce un de beef."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[63] As if.
+
+
+
+
+XLVIII
+
+BRER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a pause, "where did Brother
+Rabbit go when he got out of the hollow tree?"
+
+"Well, sir," exclaimed Uncle Remus, "you ain't gwine ter b'leeve me,
+skacely, but dat owdashus creetur ain't no sooner git out er dat ar tree
+dan he go en git hisse'f mix up wid some mo' trouble, w'ich he git
+mighty nigh skeer'd out'n he skin.
+
+"W'en Brer Rabbit git out'n de holler tree, he tuck'n fling some sass
+back at ole Brer Buzzard, he did, en den he put out down de big road,
+stidder gwine 'long back home en see 'bout he fambly. He 'uz gwine
+'long--_lickety-clickety, clickety-lickety_--w'en fus' news you know he
+feel sump'n' 'n'er drap down 'pun 'im, en dar he wuz. Bless yo' soul,
+w'en Brer Rabbit kin git he 'membunce terge'er, he feel ole Mr. Wildcat
+a-huggin' 'im fum behime, en w'ispun in he year."
+
+"What did he whisper, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"Dis, dat, en de udder, one thing en a nudder."
+
+"But what did he say?"
+
+"De way un it wuz dis," said Uncle Remus, ignoring the child's question,
+"Brer Rabbit, he 'uz gallin'-up down de road, en ole Mr. Wildcat, he 'uz
+layin' stretch' out takin' a nap on a tree-lim' hangin' 'crosst de road.
+He year Brer Rabbit come a-lickity-clickitin' down de road, en he des
+sorter fix hisse'f, en w'en Brer Rabbit come a-dancin' und' de lim', all
+Mr. Wildcat got ter do is ter drap right down on 'im, en dar he wuz. Mr.
+Wildcat hug 'im right up at 'im, en laugh en w'isper in he year."
+
+"Well, Uncle Remus, what did he _say_?" persisted the little boy.
+
+The old man made a sweeping gesture with his left hand that might mean
+everything or nothing, and proceeded to tell the story in his own way.
+
+"Ole Mr. Wildcat hug Brer Rabbit up close en w'isper in he year. Brer
+Rabbit, he kick, he squall. Bimeby he ketch he breff en 'low:--
+
+"'Ow! O Lordy-lordy! W'at I done gone en done now?'
+
+"Mr. Wildcat, he rub he wet nose on Brer Rabbit year, en make cole chill
+run up he back. Bimeby he say:--
+
+"'O Brer Rabbit, I des nat'ally loves you! You bin a-foolin' all er my
+cousins en all er my kinfolks, en 't ain't bin so mighty long sence you
+set Cousin Fox on me, en little mo' en I'd a-to' 'im in two. O Brer
+Rabbit! I des nat'ally loves you,' sezee.
+
+"Den he laugh, en he toofs strak terge'er right close ter Brer Rabbit
+year. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did:--
+
+"Law, Mr. Wildcat, I thunk maybe you mought lak ter have Brer Fox fer
+supper, en dat de reason I sent 'im up ter whar you is. Hit done come
+ter mighty purty pass w'en folks can't be fr'en's 'ceppin' sump'n' 'n'er
+step in 'twix' en 'tween um, en ef dat de case I ain't gwine ter be
+fr'en's no mo'--dat I ain't.'
+
+"Mr. Wildcat wipe he nose on Brer Rabbit year, en he do sorter lak he
+studyin'. Brer Rabbit he keep on talkin'. He 'low:--
+
+"'Endurin' er all dis time, is I ever pester 'long wid you, Mr.
+Wildcat?'
+
+"'No, Brer Rabbit, I can't say ez you is.'
+
+"'No, Mr. Wildcat, dat I ain't. Let 'lone dat, I done my level bes' fer
+ter he'p you out. En dough you done jump on me en skeer me scan'lous,
+yit I'm willin' ter do you 'n'er good tu'n. I year some wild turkeys
+yelpin' out yan', en ef you'll des lem me off dis time, I'll go out dar
+en call um up, en you kin make lak you dead, en dey'll come up en
+stretch dey neck over you, en you kin jump up en kill a whole passel un
+um 'fo' dey kin git out de way.'
+
+"Mr. Wildcat stop en study, 'kaze ef dey er one kinder meat w'at he lak
+dat meat is turkey meat. Den he tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit is he jokin'. Brer
+Rabbit say ef he 'uz settin' off some'rs by he own-'lone se'f he mought
+be jokin', but how de name er goodness is he kin joke w'en Mr. Wildcat
+got 'im hug up so tight? Dis look so pleezy-plozzy[64] dat 't wa'n't long
+'fo' Mr. Wildcat 'low dat he 'uz mighty willin' ef Brer Rabbit mean w'at
+he say, en atter w'ile, bless yo' soul, ef you'd 'a' come 'long dar,
+you'd er seed ole Mr. Wildcat layin' stretch out on de groun' lookin'
+fer all de wul' des lak he done bin dead a mont', en you'd er yeard ole
+Brer Rabbit a-yelpin' out in de bushes des lak a sho' 'nuff tukky-hen."
+
+The little boy was always anxious for a practical demonstration, and he
+asked Uncle Remus how Brother Rabbit could yelp like a turkey-hen. For
+reply, Uncle Remus searched upon his rude mantel-piece until he found a
+reed, which he intended to use as a pipe-stem. One end of this he placed
+in his mouth, enclosing the other in his hands. By sucking the air
+through the reed with his mouth, and regulating the tone and volume by
+opening or closing his hands, the old man was able to produce a
+marvellous imitation of the call of the turkey-hen, much to the delight
+and astonishment of the little boy.
+
+"Ah, Lord!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, after he had repeated the call until
+the child was satisfied, "manys en manys de time is I gone out in de
+woods wid old marster 'fo' de crack er day en call de wile turkeys right
+spang up ter whar we could er kilt um wid a stick. W'en we fus' move yer
+fum Ferginny, dey use ter come right up ter whar de barn sets, en mo'n
+dat I done seed ole marster kill um right out dar by de front gate. But
+folks fum town been comin' 'roun' yer wid der p'inter dogs twel hit done
+got so dat ef you wanter see turkey track you gotter go down dar ter de
+Oconee, en dat's two mile off."
+
+"Did the Wildcat catch the turkeys?" the little boy inquired, when it
+seemed that Uncle Remus was about to give his entire attention to his
+own reminiscences.
+
+"De gracious en de goodness!" exclaimed the old man. "Yer I is runnin'
+on en dar lays Mr. Wildcat waitin' fer Brer Rabbit fer ter help dem
+turkeys up. En 't ain't take 'im long nudder, 'kaze, bless yo' soul, ole
+Brer Rabbit wuz a yelper, mon.
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, atter w'ile yer dey come, ole Brer Gibley Gobbler wukkin'
+in de lead. Brer Rabbit, he run'd en meet um en gun um de wink 'bout ole
+Mr. Wildcat, en by de time dey git up ter whar he layin', Brer Gibley
+Gobbler en all his folks wuz jined in a big 'spute. One 'low he dead,
+'n'er one 'low he ain't, 'n'er one 'low he stiff, udder one 'low he
+ain't, en t'udder 'low he is. So dar dey had it. Dey stretch out dey
+neck en step high wid dey foot, yit dey ain't git too close ter Mr.
+Wildcat.
+
+"He lay dar, he did, en he ain't move. Win' ruffle up he ha'r, yit he
+ain't move; sun shine down 'pun 'im, yit he ain't move. De turkeys dey
+gobble en dey yelp, but dey ain't go no nigher; dey holler en dey
+'spute, but dey ain't go no nigher; dey stretch dey neck en dey lif' dey
+foot high, yit dey ain't go no nigher.
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Wildcat git tired er waitin', en
+he jump up, he did, en make a dash at de nighest turkey; but dat turkey
+done fix, on w'en Mr. Wildcat come at 'im, he des riz in de a'r, en Mr.
+Wildcat run und' 'im. Den he tuck'n run at 'n'er one, en dat un fly up;
+en dey keep on dat a-way twel 't wa'n't long 'fo' Mr. Wildcat wuz so
+stiff in de j'ints en so short in de win' dat he des hatter lay down on
+de groun' en res', en w'en he do dis, ole Brer Gibley Gobler en all er
+he folks went on 'bout dey own business; but sence dat day deyer
+constant a-'sputin' 'long wid deyse'f en eve'ybody w'at come by. Ef you
+don't b'leeve me," with an air of disposing of the whole matter
+judicially, "you kin des holler at de fus' Gobbler w'at you meets, en ef
+he 'fuse ter holler back atter you, you kin des use my head fer a hole
+in de wall; en w'at mo' kin you ax dan dat?"
+
+"What became of Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Well, sir, Brer Rabbit tuck'n lef' dem low-groun's. W'iles de 'sputin'
+wuz gwine on, he tuck'n bowed his good-byes, en den he des put out fum
+dar. Nex' day ole Brer Gibley Gobbler tuck'n sent 'im a turkey wing fer
+ter make a fan out'n, en Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n sent it ter Miss Meadows
+en de gals. En I let you know," continued the old man, chuckling
+heartily to himself, "dey make great 'miration 'bout it."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[64] No doubt this means that Brother Rabbit's proposition was pleasant
+and plausible.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Mr. Benjamin Ram Defends Himself]
+
+XLIX
+
+MR. BENJAMIN RAM DEFENDS HIMSELF
+
+
+"I 'speck we all dun gone en fergot ole Mr. Benjermun Ram off'n our
+min'," said Uncle Remus, one night, as the little boy went into the
+cabin with a large ram's horn hanging on his arm.
+
+"About his playing the fiddle and getting lost in the woods!" exclaimed
+the child. "Oh, no, I have n't forgotten him, Uncle Remus. I remember
+just how he tuned his fiddle in Brother Wolf's house."
+
+"Dat's me!" said Uncle Remus with enthusiasm; "dat's me up en down. Mr.
+Ram des ez fresh in my min' now ez he wuz de day I year de tale. Dat ole
+creetur wuz a sight, mon. He mos' sho'ly wuz. He wrinkly ole hawn en de
+shaggy ha'r on he neck make 'im look mighty servigous,[65] en w'ence he
+shake he head en snort, hit seem lak he gwine ter fair paw de yeth fum
+und' 'im.
+
+"Ole Brer Fox bin pickin' up ole Mr. Benjermun Ram chilluns w'en dey git
+too fur fum home, but look lak he ain't never bin git close ter de ole
+creetur.
+
+"So one time w'en he 'uz comin' on down de road, talkin' 'long wid Brer
+Wolf, he up'n 'low, ole Brer Fox did, dat he mighty hongry in de
+neighborhoods er de stomach. Dis make Brer Wolf look lak he 'stonish'd,
+en he ax Brer Fox how de name er goodness come he hongry w'en ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram layin' up dar in de house des a-rollin' in fat.
+
+"Den Brer Fox tuck'n 'low, he did, dat he done bin in de habits er
+eatin' Mr. Benjermun Ram chillun, but he sorter fear'd er de ole
+creetur 'kaze he look so bad on de 'count er he red eye en he wrinkly
+hawn.
+
+"Brer Wolf des holler en laugh, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'Lordy, Brer Fox! I dunner w'at kinder man is you, nohow! W'y, dat ar
+ole creetur ain't never hurted a flea in all he born days--dat he
+ain't,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he look at Brer Wolf right hard, he did, en den he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Wolf! manys de time dat you bin hongry 'roun' in deze
+diggin's en I ain't year talk er you makin' a meal off'n Mr. Benjermun
+Ram,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox talk so close ter de fatal trufe, dat Brer Wolf got tooken wid
+de dry grins, yit he up'n 'spon', sezee:--
+
+"'I des lak ter know who in de name er goodness wanter eat tough creetur
+lak dat ole Mr. Benjermun Ram--dat w'at I lak ter know,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Fox, he holler en laugh, he did, en den he up'n say:--
+
+"'Ah-yi, Brer Wolf! You ax me w'at I goes hongry fer, w'en ole Mr.
+Benjermun Ram up dar in he house, yit you done bin hongry manys en manys
+de time, en still ole Mr. Benjermun Ram up dar in he house. Now, den,
+how you gwine do in a case lak dat?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he strak de een' er he cane down 'pun de groun', en he say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'I done say all I got ter say, en w'at I say, dat I'll stick ter. Dat
+ole creetur lots too tough.'
+
+"Hongry ez he is, Brer Fox laugh way down in he stomach. Atter w'ile he
+'low:--
+
+"'Well, den, Brer Wolf, stidder 'sputin' 'longer you, I'm gwine do w'at
+you say; I'm gwine ter go up dar en git a bait er ole Mr. Benjermun Ram,
+en I wish you be so good ez ter go 'long wid me fer comp'ny,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf jaw sorter fall w'en he year dis, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I druther go by my own--'lone se'f,' sezee.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'you better make 'as'e,' sezee,
+''kaze 't ain't gwine ter take me so mighty long fer ter go up dar en
+make hash out'n ole Mr. Benjermun Ram,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf know mighty well," said Uncle Remus, snapping his huge tongs
+in order to silence a persistent cricket in the chimney, "dat ef he dast
+ter back out fum a banter lak dat he never is ter year de las' un it fum
+Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals, en he march off todes Mr.
+Benjermun Ram house.
+
+"Little puff er win' come en blow'd up some leafs, en Brer Wolf jump lak
+somebody shootin' at 'im, en he fly mighty mad w'en he year Brer Fox
+laugh. He men' he gait, he did, en 't wa'n't 'long 'fo' he 'uz knockin'
+at Mr. Benjermun Ram do'.
+
+"He knock at de do', he did, en co'se he 'speck somebody fer ter come
+open de do'; but stidder dat, lo' en beholes yer come Mr. Benjermun Ram
+'roun' de house. Dar he wuz--red eye, wrinkly hawn en shaggy head. Now,
+den, in case lak dat, w'at a slim-legged man lak Brer Wolf gwine do? Dey
+ain't no two ways, he gwine ter git 'way fum dar, en he went back ter
+whar Brer Fox is mo' samer dan ef de patter-rollers wuz atter 'im.
+
+"Brer Fox, he laugh en he laugh, en ole Brer Wolf, he look mighty glum.
+Brer Fox ax 'im is he done kilt en e't Mr. Benjermun Ram, en ef so be,
+is he lef' any fer him. Brer Wolf say he ain't feelin' well, en he don't
+lak mutton nohow. Brer Fox 'low:--
+
+"'You may be puny in de min', Brer Wolf, but you ain't feelin' bad in de
+leg, 'kaze I done seed you wuk um.'
+
+"Brer Wolf 'low he des a-runnin' fer ter see ef 't won't mak 'im feel
+better. Brer Fox, he say, sezee, dat w'en he feelin' puny, he ain't ax
+no mo' dan fer somebody fer ter git out de way en let 'im lay down.
+
+"Dey went on in dis a-way, dey did, twel bimeby Brer Fox ax Brer Wolf ef
+he'll go wid 'im fer ter ketch Mr. Benjermun Ram. Brer Wolf, he 'low, he
+did:--
+
+"'Eh-eh, Brer Fox! I fear'd you'll run en lef' me dar fer ter do all de
+fightin'.'
+
+"Brer Fox, he 'low dat he'll fix dat, en he tuck'n got 'im a
+plough-line, en tied one een' ter Brer Wolf en t'er een' ter he own
+se'f. Wid dat dey put out fer Mr. Benjermun Ram house. Brer Wolf, he
+sorter hang back, but he 'shame' fer ter say he skeer'd, en dey went on
+en went on plum twel dey git right spang up ter Mr. Benjermun Ram house.
+
+"W'en dey git dar, de ole creetur wuz settin' out in de front po'ch
+sorter sunnin' hisse'f. He see um comin', en w'en dey git up in hailin'
+distance, he sorter cle'r up he th'oat, he did, en holler out:--
+
+"'I much 'blije to you, Brer Fox, fer ketchin' dat owdashus vilyun en
+fetchin' 'im back. My smoke-'ouse runnin' short, en I'll des chop 'im up
+en pickle 'im. Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in!'
+
+"Des 'bout dat time ole Miss Ram see dem creeturs a-comin', en
+gentermens! you mought er yeard er blate plum ter town. Mr. Benjermun
+Ram, he sorter skeer'd hisse'f, but he keep on talkin':--
+
+"'Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in! Don't you year my ole 'oman
+cryin' fer 'im? She ain't had no wolf meat now in gwine on mighty nigh a
+mont'. Fetch 'im in, Brer Fox! fetch 'im in!'
+
+"Fus' Brer Wolf try ter ontie hisse'f, den he tuck'n broke en run'd, en
+he drag ole Brer Fox atter 'im des lak he ain't weigh mo'n a poun', en I
+let you know hit 'uz many a long day 'fo' Brer Fox git well er de
+thumpin' he got."
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy after a while, "I thought wolves
+always caught sheep when they had the chance."
+
+"Dey ketches lam's, honey, but bless yo' soul! dey ain't ketch deze yer
+ole-time Rams wid red eye en wrinkly hawn."
+
+"Where was Brother Rabbit all this time?"
+
+"Now, den, honey, don't less pester wid ole Brer Rabbit right now. Des
+less gin 'im one night rest, mo' speshually w'en I year de seven stares
+say yo' bed-time done come. Des take yo' foot in yo' han' en put right
+out 'fo' Miss Sally come a-callin' you, 'kaze den she'll say I'm
+a-settin' yer a-noddin' en not takin' keer un you."
+
+The child laughed and ran up the path to the big-house, stopping a
+moment on the way to mimic a bull-frog that was bellowing at a
+tremendous rate near the spring.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[65] Wild; fierce; dangerous; courageous. The accent is on the second
+syllable, ser-_vi_-gous; or, ser-_vi_-gus, and the g is hard. Aunt Tempy
+would have said "vigrous."
+
+
+
+
+L
+
+BRER RABBIT PRETENDS TO BE POISONED
+
+
+Not many nights after the story of how Mr. Benjamin Ram frightened
+Brother Wolf and Brother Fox, the little boy found himself in Uncle
+Remus's cabin. It had occurred to him that Mr. Ram should have played on
+his fiddle somewhere in the tale, and Uncle Remus was called on to
+explain. He looked at the little boy with an air of grieved
+astonishment, and exclaimed:--
+
+"Well, I be bless if I ever year der beat er dat. Yer you bin
+a-persooin' on atter deze yer creeturs en makin' der 'quaintunce, en yit
+look lak ef you 'uz ter meet um right up dar in der paff you'd fergit
+all 'bout who dey is."
+
+"Oh, no, I would n't, Uncle Remus!" protested the child, glancing at the
+door and getting a little closer to the old man.
+
+"Yasser! you'd des nat'ally whirl in en fergit 'bout who dey is. 'T
+ain't so mighty long sence I done tole you 'bout ole Mr. Benjermun Ram
+playin' he fiddle at Brer Wolf house, en yer you come en ax me how come
+he don't take en play it at 'im 'g'in. W'at kinder lookin' sight 'ud dat
+ole creetur a-bin ef he'd jump up en grab he fiddle en go ter playin' on
+it eve'y time he year a fuss down de big road?"
+
+The little boy said nothing, but he thought the story would have been a
+great deal nicer if Mr. Benjamin Ram could have played one of the
+old-time tunes on his fiddle, and while he was thinking about it, the
+door opened and Aunt Tempy made her appearance. Her good-humor was
+infectious.
+
+"Name er goodness!" she exclaimed, "I lef' you all settin' yer way las'
+week; I goes off un I does my wuk, un I comes back, un I fines you
+settin' right whar I lef' you. Goodness knows, I dunner whar you gits
+yo' vittles. I dunner whar I ain't bin sence I lef' you all settin' yer.
+I let you know I bin a-usin' my feet un I been a-usin' my han's. Dat's
+me. No use ter ax how you all is, 'kaze you looks lots better'n me."
+
+"Yas, Sis Tempy, we er settin' yer whar you lef' us, en der Lord, he bin
+a-pervidin'. W'en de vittles don't come in at de do' hit come down de
+chimbly, en so w'at de odds? We er sorter po'ly, Sis Tempy, I'm 'blige
+ter you. You know w'at de jay-bird say ter der squinch owl! 'I'm sickly
+but sassy.'"
+
+Aunt Tempy laughed as she replied: "I 'speck you all bin a-havin' lots
+er fun. Goodness knows I wish many a time sence I bin gone dat I 'uz
+settin' down yer runnin' on wid you all. I ain't bin gone fur--dat's so,
+yit Mistiss put me ter cuttin'-out, un I tell you now dem w'at cuts out
+de duds fer all de niggers on dis place is got ter wuk fum soon in de
+mawnin' plum tel bed-time, dey ain't no two ways. 'T ain't no wuk youk'n
+kyar' 'bout wid you needer, 'kaze you got ter spread it right out on de
+flo' un git down on yo' knees. I mighty glad I done wid it, 'kaze my
+back feel like it done broke in a thous'n pieces. Honey, is Brer Remus
+bin a-tellin' you some mo' er dem ole-time tales?"
+
+Aunt Tempy's question gave the little boy an excuse for giving her brief
+outlines of some of the stories. One that he seemed to remember
+particularly well was the story of how Brother Rabbit and Brother Fox
+killed a cow, and how Brother Rabbit got the most and the best of the
+beef.
+
+"I done year talk uv a tale like dat," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, laughing
+heartily, "but 't ain't de same tale. I mos' 'shame' ter tell it."
+
+"You gittin' too ole ter be blushin', Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus with
+dignity.
+
+"Well den," said Aunt Tempy, wiping her fat face with her apron: "One
+time Brer Rabbit un Brer Wolf tuck'n gone off som'ers un kilt a cow, un
+w'en dey come fer ter 'vide out de kyarkiss, Brer Wolf 'low dat bein's
+he de biggest he oughter have de mos', un he light in, he did, un do
+like he gwine ter take it all. Brer Rabbit do like he don't keer much,
+but he keer so bad hit make 'im right sick. He tuck'n walk all 'roun' de
+kyarkiss, he did, un snuff de air, un terreckly he say:--
+
+"'Brer Wolf!--O Brer Wolf!--is dis meat smell 'zuckly right ter you?'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he cuttin' un he kyarvin' un he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer
+Rabbit, he walk all 'roun' un 'roun' de kyarkiss. He feel it un he kick
+it. Terreckly he say:--
+
+"'Brer Wolf!--O Brer Wolf!--Dis meat feel mighty flabby ter me; how it
+feel ter you?'
+
+"Brer Wolf, he year all dat's said, but he keep on a-cuttin' un a
+kyarvin'. Brer Rabbit say:--
+
+"'You kin talk er not talk, Brer Wolf, des ez youer min' ter, yit ef I
+ain't mistooken in de sign, you'll do some tall talkin' 'fo' youer done
+wid dis beef. Now you mark w'at I tell you!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit put out fum dar, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back
+wid a chunk er fier, un a dish er salt. W'en Brer Wolf see dis, he
+say:--
+
+"'W'at you gwine do wid all dat, Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit laugh like he know mo' dan he gwine tell, un he say:--
+
+"'Bless yo' soul, Brer Wolf! I ain't gwine ter kyar er poun' er dis meat
+home tel I fin' out w'at de matter wid it. No I ain't--so dar now!'
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit built 'im a fier un cut 'im off a slishe er steak un
+br'ilte it good un done, un den he e't little uv it. Fus' he'd tas'e un
+den he'd nibble; den he'd nibble un den he'd tas'e. He keep on tel he
+e't right smart piece. Den he went'n sot off little ways like he waitin'
+fer sump'n'.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he kyarve un he cut, but he keep one eye on Brer Rabbit.
+Brer Rabbit sot up dar same ez Judge on de bench. Brer Wolf, he watch
+his motions. Terreckly Brer Rabbit fling bofe han's up ter he head un
+fetch a groan. Brer Wolf cut un kyarve un watch Brer Rabbit motions.
+Brer Rabbit sorter sway backerds un forrerds un fetch 'n'er groan. Den
+he sway fum side to side un holler 'O Lordy!' Brer Wolf, he sorter 'gun
+ter git skeer'd un he ax Brer Rabbit w'at de matter. Brer Rabbit, he
+roll on de groun' un holler:--
+
+"'O Lordy, Lordy! I'm pizen'd, I'm pizen'd! O Lordy! I'm pizen'd! Run
+yer, somebody, run yer! De meat done got pizen on it. Oh, do run yer!'
+
+"Brer Wolf git so skeer'd dat he put out fum dar, un he wa'n't out er
+sight skacely 'fo' Brer Rabbit jump up fum dar un cut de pidjin-wing, un
+'t wa'n't so mighty long atter dat 'fo' Brer Rabbit done put all er dat
+beef in his smoke-house."
+
+"What became of Brother Wolf?" the little boy inquired.
+
+"Brer Wolf went atter de doctor," continued Aunt Tempy, making little
+tucks in her apron, "un w'en he come back Brer Rabbit un de beef done
+gone; un, bless goodness, ef it had n't er bin fer de sign whar Brer
+Rabbit built de fier, Brer Wolf would er bin mightly pester'd fer ter
+fine der place whar de cow bin kilt."
+
+At this juncture, 'Tildy, the house-girl, came in to tell Aunt Tempy
+that one of the little negroes had been taken suddenly sick.
+
+"I bin huntin' fer you over de whole blessid place," said 'Tildy.
+
+"No, you ain't--no, you ain't. You ain't bin huntin' nowhar. You know'd
+mighty well whar I wuz."
+
+"Law, Mam' Tempy, I can't keep up wid you. How I know you down yer
+courtin' wid Unk Remus?"
+
+"Yo' head mighty full er courtin', you nas' stinkin' huzzy!" exclaimed
+Aunt Tempy.
+
+Uncle Remus, strange to say, was unmoved. He simply said:--
+
+"W'en you see dat ar 'Tildy gal pirootin' 'roun' I boun' you ole Brer
+Affikin Jack ain't fur off. 'T won't be so mighty long 'fo' de ole
+creetur'll show up."
+
+"How you know dat, Unk Remus?" exclaimed 'Tildy, showing her white teeth
+and stretching her eyes. "Hit's de Lord's trufe; Mass Jeems done writ a
+letter ter Miss Sally, en' he say in dat letter dat Daddy Jack ax 'im
+fer ter tell Miss Sally ter tell me dat he'll be up yer dis week. Dat
+ole Affikin ape got de impidence er de Ole Boy. He dunner who he foolin'
+'longer!"
+
+
+
+
+LI
+
+MORE TROUBLE FOR BRER WOLF
+
+
+The next night the little boy hardly waited to eat his supper before
+going to Uncle Remus's house; and when Aunt Tempy failed to put in an
+appearance as early as he thought necessary, he did not hesitate to go
+after her. He had an idea that there was a sequel to the story she had
+told the night before, and he was right. After protesting against being
+dragged around from post to pillar by children, Aunt Tempy said:--
+
+"Atter Brer Rabbit tuck'n make out he 'uz pizen'd un git all de beef, 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' he chance to meet ole Brer Wolf right spang in de
+middle uv de road. Brer Rabbit, he sorter shied off ter one side, but
+Brer Wolf hail 'im:--
+
+"'W'oa dar, my colty! don't be so gayly. You better be 'shame' yo'se'f
+'bout de way you do me w'en we go inter cahoots wid dat beef.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he up'n ax Brer Wolf how all his folks. Brer Wolf say:--
+
+"'You'll fin' out how dey all is 'fo' dis day gone by. You took'n took
+de beef, en now I'm a-gwine ter take'n take you.'
+
+"Wid dis Brer Wolf make a dash at Brer Rabbit, but he des lack a little
+bit uv bein' quick 'nuff, en Brer Rabbit he des went a-sailin' thoo de
+woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'im, en yer dey had it--fus' Brer Rabbit
+en den Brer Wolf. Brer Rabbit mo' soopler dan Brer Wolf, but Brer Wolf
+got de 'vantage er de win', en terreckly he push Brer Rabbit so close
+dat he run in a holler log.
+
+"Brer Rabbit bin in dat log befo' en he know dey's a hole at de t'er
+een', en he des keep on a-gwine. He dart in one een' en he slip out de
+udder. He ain't stop ter say goo'-bye; bless you! he des keep on gwine.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he see Brer Rabbit run in de holler log, en he say ter
+hisse'f:--
+
+"'Heyo, dey bin callin' you so mighty cunnin' all dis time, en yer you
+done gone en shot yo'se'f up in my trap.'
+
+"Den Brer Wolf laugh en lay down by de een' whar Brer Rabbit went in, en
+pant en res' hisse'f. He see whar Brer B'ar burnin' off a new groun', en
+he holler en ax 'im fer ter fetch 'im a chunk er fier, en Brer B'ar he
+fotch it, en dey sot fier ter de holler log, en dey sot dar en watch it
+till it burn plum up. Den dey took'n shuck han's, en Brer Wolf say he
+hope dat atter dat dey'll have some peace in de neighborhoods."
+
+Uncle Remus smiled a knowing smile as he filled his pipe, but Aunt Tempy
+continued with great seriousness:--
+
+"One time atter dat, Brer Wolf, he took'n pay a call down ter Miss
+Meadows, en w'en he git dar en see Brer Rabbit settin' up side uv one er
+de gals, he like to 'a' fainted, dat he did. He 'uz dat 'stonish'd dat
+he look right down-hearted all endurin' uv de party.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he bow'd his howdies ter Brer Wolf un shuck han's 'long
+wid 'im, des like nothin' ain't never happen 'twixt 'um, en he up'n
+say:--
+
+"'Ah-law, Brer Wolf! Youer much mo' my fr'en' dan you ever 'speckted ter
+be, en you kin des count on me right straight 'long.'
+
+"Brer Wolf say he feel sorter dat a-way hisse'f, en he ax Brer Rabbit
+w'at make 'im change his min' so quick.
+
+"'Bless you, Brer Wolf, I had needs ter change it,' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how come.
+
+"'All about bein' burnt up in a holler log, Brer Wolf, en w'en you gits
+time I wish you be so good ez ter bu'n me up some mo',' sez Brer Rabbit,
+sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how so. Brer Rabbit say:--
+
+"'I'm fear'd ter tell you, Brer Wolf, 'kaze I don't want de news ter git
+out.'
+
+"Brer Wolf vow he won't tell nobody on de top side er de worl'. Brer
+Rabbit say:--
+
+"I done fin' out, Brer Wolf, dat w'en you git in a holler tree en
+somebody sets it a-fier, dat de nat'al honey des oozles out uv it, en
+mor'n dat, atter you git de honey all over you, 't ain't no use ter try
+ter burn you up, 'kaze de honey will puzzuv you. Don't 'ny me dis favor,
+Brer Wolf, 'kaze I done pick me out a n'er holler tree,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he wanter put right out den en dar, en Brer Rabbit say dat
+des de kinder man w'at he bin huntin' fer. Dey took deyse'f off en 't
+wa'n't long 'fo' dey came ter de tree w'at Brer Rabbit say he done pick
+out. W'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf, he so greedy fer ter git a tas'e er de
+honey dat he beg en beg Brer Rabbit fer ter let 'im git in de holler.
+Brer Rabbit, he hol' back, but Brer Wolf beg so hard dat Brer Rabbit
+'gree ter let 'im git in de holler.
+
+"Brer Wolf, he got in, he did, en Brer Rabbit stuff de hole full er dry
+leaves en trash, en den he got 'im a chunk er fier en totch 'er off. She
+smoked en smoked, en den she bust out in a blaze. Brer Rabbit, he pile
+up rocks, en brush, en sticks, so Brer Wolf can't git out. Terreckly
+Brer Wolf holler:--
+
+"'Gittin' mighty hot, Brer Rabbit! I ain't see no honey yit.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he pile on mo' trash, en holler back:--
+
+"'Don't be in no hurry, Brer Wolf; you'll see it en tas'e it too.'
+
+"Fier burn en burn, wood pop like pistol. Brer Wolf, he holler:
+
+"'Gittin' hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit. No honey come yit.'
+
+"'Hol' still, Brer Wolf, hit'll come.'
+
+"'Gimme a'r, Brer Rabbit; I'm a-chokin'.'
+
+"'Fresh a'r make honey sour. Des hol' still, Brer Wolf!'
+
+"'_Ow!_ she gittin' hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'Des hol' right still, Brer Wolf; mos' time fer de honey!'
+
+"'_Ow! ow!_ I'm a-burnin', Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'Wait fer de honey, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"'I can't stan' it, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Stan' it like I did, Brer Wolf.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit he pile on de trash en de leaves. He say:--
+
+"'I'll gin you honey, Brer Wolf; de same kinder honey you wanted ter
+gimme.'
+
+"En it seem like ter me," said Aunt Tempy, pleased at the interest the
+little boy had shown, "dat it done Brer Wolf des right."
+
+
+
+
+LII
+
+BRER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN
+
+
+The little boy had heard Uncle Remus lamenting that his candle was
+getting rather short, and he made it his business to go around the house
+and gather all the pieces he could find. He carried these to the old
+man, who received them with the liveliest satisfaction.
+
+"Now dish yer sorter look lak sump'n', honey. W'en ole Brer Jack come
+back, en Sis Tempy git in de habits er hangin' 'roun', we'll des light
+some er dese yer, en folks'll come by en see de shine, en dey'll go off
+en 'low dat hit's de night des 'fo' camp-meetin' at ole Remus house.
+
+"I got little piece dar in my chist w'at you brung me long time ergo, en
+I 'low ter myse'f dat ef shove ever git ter be push,[66] I'd des draw 'er
+out en light 'er up."
+
+"Mamma says Daddy Jack is coming back Sunday," said the little boy.
+
+"Dat w'at I year talk," replied the old man.
+
+"What did he go off for, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Jack bleedz ter go en see yo' Unk Jeems. He
+b'leeve de worl' go wrong ef he ain't do dat. Dat ole nigger b'leeve he
+white mon. He come up yer fum down de country whar de Lord done fersook
+um too long 'go ter talk 'bout,--he come up yer en he put on mo' a'rs
+dan w'at I dast ter do. Not dat I'm keerin', 'kaze goodness knows I
+ain't, yit I notices dat w'en I has ter go some'rs, dey's allers a great
+ter-do 'bout w'at is I'm a-gwine fer, en how long is I'm a-gwine ter
+stay; en ef I ain't back at de ve'y minit, dars Mars John a-growlin', en
+Miss Sally a-vowin' dat she gwine ter put me on de block."[67]
+
+Perhaps Uncle Remus's jealousy was more substantial than he was willing
+to admit; but he was talking merely to see what the little boy would
+say. The child, however, failed to appreciate the situation, seeing
+which the old man quickly changed the subject.
+
+"Times is mighty diffunt fum w'at dey use ter wuz, 'kaze de time has
+bin dat ef ole Brer Rabbit had er run'd up wid Brer Jack w'iles he
+comin' fum yo' Unk Jeems place, he'd outdone 'im des ez sho' ez de worl'
+stan's. Deze days de Rabbits has ter keep out de way er folks, but in
+dem days folks had ter keep out der way er ole Brer Rabbit. Ain't I
+never tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit whirl in en outdo Mr. Man?"
+
+"About the meat tied to the string, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"_Shoo!_ Dat ain't a drap in de bucket, honey. Dish yer wuz de time w'en
+ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine 'long de big road, en he meet Mr. Man drivin'
+'long wid a waggin chock full er money."
+
+"Where did he get so much money, Uncle Remus?"
+
+"Bruisin' 'round en peddlin' 'bout. Mr. Man got w'at lots er folks ain't
+got,--good luck, long head, quick eye, en slick fingers. But no marter
+'bout dat, he got de money; en w'en you sorter grow up so you kin knock
+'roun', 't won't be long 'fo' some un'll take en take you off 'roun' de
+cornder en tell you dat 't ain't make no diffunce whar de money come fum
+so de man got it. Dey won't tell you dat in de meeting-house, but dey'll
+come mighty nigh it.
+
+"But dat ain't needer yer ner dar. Mr. Man, he come a-drivin' 'long de
+big road, en he got a waggin full er money. Brer Rabbit, he come
+a-lippity-clippitin' 'long de big road, en he ain't got no waggin full
+er money. Ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n tuck a notion dat dey's sump'n' wrong
+some'rs, 'kaze ef dey wa'n't, he 'ud have des ez much waggin en money ez
+Mr. Man. He study, en study, en he can't make out how dat is. Bimeby he
+up'n holler out:--
+
+"'Mr. Man, please, sir, lemme ride.'
+
+"Mr. Man, he tuck'n stop he waggin, en 'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! how come dis? You comin' one way en I gwine nudder;
+how come you wanter ride?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he up'n scratch hisse'f on de back er de neck wid he
+behime foot, en holler out:--
+
+"'Mr. Man, yo' sho'ly can't be 'quainted 'long wid me. I'm one er dem
+ar ole-time kinder folks w'at ain't a-keerin' w'ich way deyer gwine long
+ez deyer ridin'.'"
+
+The little boy laughed a sympathetic laugh, showing that he heartily
+endorsed this feature of Brother Rabbit's programme.
+
+"Atter so long a time," Uncle Remus went on, "Mr. Man 'gree ter let Brer
+Rabbit ride a little piece. He try ter git Brer Rabbit fer ter ride upon
+de seat wid 'im so dey kin git ter 'sputin' 'n'er, but Brer Rabbit say
+he fear'd he fall off, en he des tuck'n sot right flat down in de bottom
+er de waggin, en make lak he fear'd ter move.
+
+"Bimeby, w'iles dey goin' down hill, en Mr. Man hatter keep he eye on de
+hosses, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n fling out a great big hunk er de money.
+Dez ez de money hit de groun' Brer Rabbit holler out:--
+
+"'_Ow_!'
+
+"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' you 'bout ter jolt my jaw-bone
+a-loose.'
+
+"Dey go on little furder, en Brer Rabbit fling out 'n'er hunk er de
+money. Wen she hit de groun', Brer Rabbit holler:--
+
+"'_Blam_!'
+
+"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' I seed a jaybird flyin' 'long, en I
+make lak I had a gun.'
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way twel fus' news you know Mr. Man ain't got a sign
+er money in dat waggin. Seem lak Mr. Man ain't notice dis twel he git a
+mighty fur ways fum de place whar Brer Rabbit drap out de las' hunk;
+but, gentermens! w'en he do fine it out, you better b'leeve he sot up a
+howl.
+
+"'Whar my money? Whar my nice money? Whar my waggin full er purty
+money? O you long-year'd rascal! Whar my money? Oh, gimme my money!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit sot dar en lissen at 'im lak he 'stonish'd. Den he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Look out, Mr. Man! folks'll come 'long en year you gwine on dat a-way,
+en dey'll go off en say you done gone ravin' 'stracted.'
+
+"Yit Mr. Man keep on holler'n en beggin' Brer Rabbit fer ter gin 'im de
+money, en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he git sorter skeer'd en he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Sun gittin' low, Mr. Man, en I better be gittin' 'way fum yer. De
+sooner I goes de better, 'kaze ef you keep on lak you gwine, 't won't be
+long 'fo' you'll be excusin' me er takin' dat ar money. I'm 'blige' fer
+de ride, Mr. Man, en I wish you mighty well.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit got de money," continued Uncle Remus, gazing placidly into
+the fire, "en hit's mighty kuse ter me dat he ain't git de waggin en
+hosses. Dat 't is!"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[66] A plantation saying. It means if hard times get harder. A briefer
+form is "w'en shove 'come push"--when the worst comes to the worst.
+
+[67] That is to say, put him on the block, and sell him.
+
+
+
+
+LIII
+
+BRER RABBIT TAKES A WALK
+
+
+"Eve'y time I run over in my min' 'bout the pranks er Brer Rabbit,"
+Uncle Remus continued, without giving the little boy time to ask any
+more embarrassing questions about Mr. Man and his wagon full of money,
+"hit make me laugh mo' en mo'. He mos' allers come out on top, yit dey
+wuz times w'en he hatter be mighty spry."
+
+"When was that, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little boy.
+
+"I min' me er one time w'en de t'er creeturs all git de laugh on 'im,"
+responded the old man, "en dey make 'im feel sorter 'shame'. Hit seem
+lak dat dey 'uz some kinder bodderment 'mungs' de creeturs en wud went
+out dat dey all got ter meet terge'er some'rs en ontangle de
+tanglements.
+
+"W'en de time come, dey wuz all un um dar, en dey hilt der confab right
+'long. All un um got sump'n' ter say, en dey talk dar, dey did, des lak
+dey 'uz paid fer talkin'. Dey all had der plans, en dey jabbered des lak
+folks does w'en dey call deyse'f terge'er. Hit come 'bout dat Mr. Dog
+git a seat right close by Brer Rabbit, en w'en he open he mouf fer ter
+say sump'n', he toofs look so long en so strong, en dey shine so w'ite,
+dat it feel mighty kuse.
+
+"Mr. Dog, he'd say sump'n', Brer Rabbit, he'd jump en dodge. Mr. Dog,
+he'd laugh, Brer Rabbit, he'd dodge en jump. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel
+eve'y time Brer Rabbit'd dodge en jump, de t'er creeturs dey'd slap der
+han's terge'er en break out in a laugh. Mr. Dog, he tuck'n tuck a notion
+dat dey 'uz laughin' at him, en dis make 'im so mad dat he 'gun ter
+growl en snap right smartually, en it come ter dat pass dat w'en Brer
+Rabbit'd see Mr. Dog make a motion fer ter say a speech, he'd des drap
+down en git und' de cheer.
+
+"Co'se dis make um laugh wuss en wuss, en de mo' dey laugh de madder it
+make Mr. Dog, twel bimeby he git so mad he fa'rly howl, en Brer Rabbit
+he sot dar, he did, en shuck lak he got er ager.
+
+"Atter w'ile Brer Rabbit git sorter on t'er side, en he make a speech en
+say dey oughter be a law fer ter make all de creeturs w'at got tushes
+ketch en eat der vittles wid der claws. All un um 'gree ter dis 'cep'
+hit's Mr. Dog, Brer Wolf, en Brer Fox.
+
+"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, "ef all de creeturs ain't 'gree,
+dey put it off twel de nex' meetin' en talk it over some mo', en dat's
+de way dey done wid Brer Rabbit projick. Dey put it off twel de nex'
+time.
+
+"Brer Rabbit got a kinder sneakin' notion dat de creeturs ain't gwine do
+lak he want um ter do, en he 'low ter Brer Wolf dat he 'speck de bes'
+way fer ter do is ter git all de creeturs ter 'gree fer ter have Mr. Dog
+mouf sew'd up, 'kaze he toofs look so venomous; en Brer Wolf say dey ull
+all go in fer dat.
+
+"Sho' 'nuff, w'en de day done come, Brer Rabbit he git up en say dat de
+bes' way ter do is have Mr. Dog mouf sew'd up so he toofs won't look so
+venomous. Dey all 'gree, en den Mr. Lion, settin' up in de arm-cheer, he
+ax who gwine do de sewin'.
+
+"Den dey all up'n 'low dat de man w'at want de sewin' done, he de man
+fer ter do it, 'kaze den he ull know it done bin done right. Brer
+Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'I ain't got no needle.'
+
+"Brer B'ar, he sorter feel in de flap er he coat collar, en he 'low:--
+
+"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great big one!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study 'g'in, en den he 'low:--
+
+"'I ain't got no th'ead.'
+
+"Brer B'ar, he tuck'n pull a rav'lin' fum de bottom er he wescut, en he
+'low:--
+
+"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great long one!'
+
+"Ef it had er bin anybody in de roun' worl' he'd er 'gun ter feel sorter
+ticklish," Uncle Remus went on. "But ole Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n lay
+he finger 'cross he nose, en 'low:--
+
+"'Des hol' um dar fer me, Brer B'ar, en I'll be much 'blige ter you.
+_Hit's des 'bout my time er day fer ter take a walk!_'"
+
+Uncle Remus laughed as heartily as the child, and added:--
+
+"Some folks say de creeturs had de grins on Brer Rabbit 'bout dat time;
+but I tell you right pine-blank dey ain't grin much w'en dey year Brer
+Rabbit say dat."
+
+
+
+
+LIV
+
+OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF
+
+
+At last Daddy Jack returned, and the fact that the little boy had missed
+him and inquired about him, seemed to give the old African particular
+pleasure. It was probably a new experience to Daddy Jack, and it vaguely
+stirred some dim instinct in his bosom that impelled him to greet the
+child with more genuine heartiness than he had ever displayed in all his
+life. He drew the little boy up to him, patted him gently on the cheek,
+and exclaimed:--
+
+"Ki! I bin want fer see you bery bahd. I bin-a tell you' nunk Jeem' how
+fine noung man you is. 'E ahx wey you no come fer shum. Fine b'y--fine
+b'y!"
+
+"Well, ef dat's de way youer gwine on, Brer Jack, you'll spile dat chap
+sho'. A whole sack er salt won't save 'im."
+
+"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Remus," said Aunt Tempy, who had come in.
+"Don't seem like he bad like some yuther childun w'at I seen. Bless you,
+I know childun w'at'd keep dish yer whole place tarryfied--dat dey
+would!"
+
+"Well, sir," said Uncle Remus, shaking his head and groaning, "you all
+ain't wid dat young un dar much ez I is. Some days w'en dey ain't nobody
+lookin', en dey ain't nobody nowhar fer ter take keer un me, dat ar
+little chap dar 'll come down yer en chunk me wid rocks, en 'buze me en
+holler at me scan'lous."
+
+The little boy looked so shocked that Uncle Remus broke into a laugh
+that shook the cobwebs in the corners; then, suddenly relapsing into
+seriousness, he drew himself up with dignity and remarked:--
+
+"Good er bad, you can't git 'long wid 'im less'n you sets in ter tellin'
+tales, en, Brer Jack, I hope you got some 'long wid you."
+
+Daddy Jack rubbed his hands together, and said:--
+
+"Me bin yeddy one tale; 'e mekky me lahff tel I is 'come tire'."
+
+"Fer de Lord sake less have it den!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, with
+unction. Whereupon, the small but appreciative audience disposed itself
+comfortably, and Daddy Jack, peering at each one in turn, his eyes
+shining between his half-closed lids as brightly as those of some wild
+animal, began:--
+
+"One tam B'er Rabbit is bin traffel 'roun' fer see 'e neighbor folks. 'E
+bin mahd wit' B'er Wolf fer so long tam; 'e mek no diffran, 'e come pas'
+'e house 'e no see nuttin', 'e no yeddy nuttin'. 'E holler:--
+
+"'Hi, B'er Wolf! wey you no fer mek answer wun me ahx you howdy? Wey fer
+you is do dis 'fo' me werry face? Wut mekky you do dis?'
+
+"'E wait, 'e lissun; nuttin' no mek answer. B'er Rabbit, 'e holler:--
+
+"'Come-a show you'se'f, B'er Wolf! Come-a show you'se'f. Be 'shame' fer
+not show you'se'f wun you' 'quaintun' come bisitin' wey you lif!'
+
+"Nuttin' 't all no mek answer, un B'er Rabbit 'come berry mahd. 'E 'come
+so mahd 'e stomp 'e fut un bump 'e head 'pon da fence-side. Bumbye 'e
+tek heart, 'e y-opun da do', 'e is look inside da house. Fier bu'n in da
+chimbly, pot set 'pon da fier, ole ooman sed by da pot. Fier bu'n, pot,
+'e bile, ole ooman, 'e tek 'e nap.
+
+"Da ole ooman, 'e ole Granny Wolf; 'e cripple in 'e leg, 'e bline in 'e
+y-eye, 'e mos' deaf in 'e year. 'E deaf, but 'e bin yeddy B'er Rabbit
+mek fuss at da do', un 'e is cry out:--
+
+"'Come-a see you' ole Granny, me gran'son--come-a see you' Granny! Da
+fier is bin bu'n, da pot is bin b'ile; come-a fix you' Granny some
+bittle,[68] me gran'son.'"
+
+Daddy Jack's representation of the speech and action of an old woman was
+worth seeing and hearing. The little boy laughed, and Uncle Remus smiled
+good-humoredly; but Aunt Tempy looked at the old African with
+open-mouthed astonishment. Daddy Jack, however, cared nothing for any
+effect he might produce. He told the story for the story's sake, and he
+made no pause for the purpose of gauging the appreciation of his
+audience.
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e is bin mek 'ese'f comfuts by da fier. Bumbye, 'e
+holler:--
+
+"'Hi, Granny! I bin cripple mese'f; me y-eye bin-a come bline. You mus'
+bile-a me in da water, Granny, so me leg is kin come well, en so me
+y-eye kin come see.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e mighty ha'd fer fool. 'E bin tek 'im one chunk woot, 'e
+drap da woot in da pot. 'E bin say:--
+
+"'I is bin feelin' well, me Granny. Me leg, 'e comin' strong, me y-eye
+'e fix fer see.'
+
+"Granny Wolf, 'e shek 'e head; 'e cry:--
+
+"'Me one leg cripple, me turrer leg cripple; me one eye bline, me turrer
+y-eye bline. Wey you no fer pit me in da pot fer mek me well?'
+
+"B'er Rabbit laff in 'e belly; 'e say:--
+
+"'Hol' you'se'f still, me Granny; I fix you one place in da pot wey you
+is kin fetch-a back da strenk in you' leg en da sight in you' eye. Hol'
+still, me Granny!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e is bin tekky da chunk y-out da pot; 'e tekky da chunk,
+en 'e is bin pit Granny Wolf in dey place. 'E tetch da water, 'e
+holler:--
+
+"'Ow! tekky me way fum dis!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit say 'tiss not da soon 'nuff tam. Granny Wolf, 'e holler:--
+
+"'Ow! tekky me way fum dis! 'E bin too hot!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e no tekky da Mammy Wolf fum da pot, en bumbye 'e die in
+dey. B'er Rabbit 'e tek 'e bone en t'row um 'way; 'e leaf da meat. 'E
+tek Granny Wolf frock, 'e tu'n um 'roun', 'e pit um on; 'e tek Granny
+Wolf cap, 'e tu'n 'roun', 'e pit um on. 'E sed deer by da fier, 'e hol'
+'e'se'f in 'e cheer sem lak Granny Wolf.
+
+"Bumbye B'er Wolf is bin-a come back. 'E walk in 'e house, 'e say:--
+
+"'Me honkry, Grinny-Granny! Me honkry, fer true!'
+
+"'You' dinner ready, Grin'son-Gran'son!'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e look in da pot, 'e smell in da pot, 'e stir in da pot. 'E
+eat 'e dinner, 'e smack 'e mout'."
+
+The little boy shuddered, and Aunt Tempy exclaimed, "In de name er de
+Lord!" The old African paid no attention to either.
+
+"B'er Wolf eat 'e dinner; 'e call 'e chilluns, 'e ahx um is dey no want
+nuttin' 't all fer eat. 'E holler back:--
+
+"'We no kin eat we Grinny-Granny!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e run 'way fum dey-dey; 'e holler back:--
+
+"'B'er Wolf, you is bin eat you' Grinny-Granny.'
+
+"B'er Wolf bin-a git so mad 'e yent mos' kin see. 'E yeddy B'er Rabbit
+holler, en 'e try fer ketch um. 'E feer teer up da grass wey 'e run
+'long. Bumbye 'e come 'pon B'er Rabbit. 'E is bin push um ha'd. B'er
+Rabbit run un-a run tel 'e yent kin run no mo'; 'e hide 'neat' leanin'
+tree. B'er Wolf, 'e fine um; B'er Rabbit 'e holler:--
+
+"'Hi! B'er Wolf! mek 'as'e come hol' up da tree, 'fo' 'e is fall
+dey-dey; come-a hol' um, B'er Wolf, so I is kin prop um up.'
+
+"B'er Wolf, 'e hol' up da tree fer B'er Rabbit; 'e hol' um till 'e do
+come tire'. B'er Rabbit gone!"
+
+Daddy Jack paused. His story was ended. The little boy drew a long
+breath and said:--
+
+"I did n't think Brother Rabbit would burn anybody to death in a pot of
+boiling water."
+
+"Dat," said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, "wuz endurin' er de dog days. Dey
+er mighty wom times, mon, dem ar dog days is."
+
+This was intended to satisfy such scruples as the child might have, and
+it was no doubt successful, for the youngster said no more, but watched
+Uncle Remus as the latter leisurely proceeded to fill his pipe.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[68] Victuals.
+
+
+
+
+LV
+
+HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT
+
+
+Uncle Remus chipped the tobacco from the end of a plug, rubbed it
+between the palms of his hands, placed it in his pipe, dipped the pipe
+in the glowing embers, and leaned back in his chair, and seemed to be
+completely happy.
+
+"Hit mought not er bin endurin' er de dog days," said the old man,
+recurring to Daddy Jack's story, "'kaze dey wuz times dat w'en dey push
+ole Brer Rabbit so close he 'uz des bleedz ter git he revengeance out'n
+um. Dat mought er bin de marter 'twix' him en ole Grinny-Granny Wolf,
+'kaze w'en ole Brer Rabbit git he dander up, he 'uz a monst'us bad man
+fer ter fool wid.
+
+"Dey tuck atter 'im," continued Uncle Remus, "en dey 'buzed 'im, en dey
+tried ter 'stroy 'im, but dey wuz times w'en de t'er creeturs bleedz ter
+call on 'im fer ter he'p 'em out dey trouble. I ain't nev' tell you
+'bout little Wattle Weasel, is I?" asked the old man, suddenly turning
+to the little boy.
+
+The child laughed. The dogs on the plantation had killed a weasel a few
+nights before,--a very cunning-looking little animal,--and some of the
+negroes had sent it to the big house as a curiosity. He connected this
+fact with Uncle Remus's allusions to the weasel. Before he could make
+any reply, however, the old man went on:--
+
+"No, I boun' I ain't, en it come 'cross me right fresh en hot time I
+year talk er Brer Wolf eatin' he granny. Dey wuz one time w'en all de
+creeturs wuz livin' in de same settlement en usin' out'n de same spring,
+en it got so dat dey put all dey butter in de same piggin'. Dey put it
+in dar, dey did, en dey put it in de spring-house, en dey'd go off en
+'ten' ter dey business. Den w'en dey come back dey'd fine whar some un
+been nibblin' at dey butter. Dey tuck'n hide dat butter all 'roun' in de
+spring-house; dey sot it on de rafters, en dey bury it in de san'; yit
+all de same de butter 'ud come up missin'.
+
+"Bimeby it got so dey dunner w'at ter do; dey zamin' de tracks, en dey
+fine out dat de man w'at nibble dey butter is little Wattle Weasel. He
+come in de night, he come in de day; dey can't ketch 'im. Las' de
+creeturs tuck'n helt er confab, en dey 'gree dat dey hatter set some un
+fer ter watch en ketch Wattle Weasel.
+
+"Brer Mink wuz de fus' man 'p'inted, 'kaze he wa'n't mo'n a half a
+han'[69] no way you kin fix it. De t'er creeturs dey tuck'n went off ter
+dey wuk, en Brer Mink he tuck'n sot up wid de butter. He watch en he
+lissen, he lissen en he watch; he ain't see nothin', he ain't year
+nothin'. Yit he watch, 'kaze der t'er creeturs done fix up a law dat ef
+Wattle Weasel come w'iles somebody watchin' en git off bidout gittin'
+kotch, de man w'at watchin' ain't kin eat no mo' butter endurin' er dat
+year.
+
+"Brer Mink, he watch en he wait. He set so still dat bimeby he git de
+cramps in de legs, en des 'bout dat time little Wattle Weasel pop he
+head und' de do'. He see Brer Mink, en he hail 'im:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Mink! you look sorter lonesome in dar. Come out yer en less
+take a game er hidin'-switch.'
+
+"Brer Mink, he wanter have some fun, he did, en he tuck'n jine Wattle
+Weasel in de game. Dey play en dey play twel, bimeby, Brer Mink git so
+wo' out dat he ain't kin run, skacely, en des soon ez dey sets down ter
+res', Brer Mink, he draps off ter sleep. Little Wattle Weasel, so mighty
+big en fine, he goes en nibbles up de butter, en pops out de way he come
+in.
+
+    [Illustration: "HE SORTER HUNCH BRER POSSUM IN DE SHORT RIBS,
+    EN AX 'IM HOW HE COME ON"]
+
+"De creeturs, dey come back, dey did, en dey fine de butter nibbled, en
+Wattle Weasel gone. Wid dat, dey marks Brer Mink down, en he ain't
+kin eat no mo' butter dat year. Den dey fix up 'n'er choosement en
+'p'int Brer Possum fer ter watch de butter.
+
+"Brer Possum, he grin en watch, and bimeby, sho' 'nuff, in pop little
+Wattle Weasel. He come in, he did, en he sorter hunch Brer Possum in de
+short ribs, en ax 'im how he come on. Brer Possum mighty ticklish, en
+time Wattle Weasel totch 'im in de short ribs, he 'gun ter laugh. Wattle
+Weasel totch 'im ag'in en laugh wusser, en he keep on hunchin' 'im dat
+a-way twel bimeby Brer Possum laugh hisse'f plum outer win', en Wattle
+Weasel lef 'im dar en nibble up de butter.
+
+"De creeturs, dey tuck'n mark Brer Possum down, en 'p'int Brer Coon.
+Brer Coon, he tuck'n start in all so mighty fine; but w'iles he settin'
+dar, little Wattle Weasel banter 'im fer a race up de branch. No sooner
+say dan yer dey went! Brer Coon, he foller de tu'ns er de branch, en
+little Wattle Weasel he take'n take nigh cuts, en 't wa'n't no time 'fo'
+he done run Brer Coon plum down. Den dey run down de branch, and 'fo'
+Brer Coon kin ketch up wid 'im, dat little Wattle Weasel done got back
+ter de noggin er butter, en nibble it up.
+
+"Den de creeturs tuck'n mark Brer Coon down, dey did, en 'p'int Brer Fox
+fer ter watch de butter. Wattle Weasel sorter 'fear'd 'er Brer Fox. He
+study long time, en den he wait twel night. Den he tuck'n went 'roun' in
+de ole fiel' en woke up de Killdees[70] en druv 'roun' todes de
+spring-house. Brer Fox year um holler, en it make he mouf water. Bimeby,
+he 'low ter hisse'f dat 't ain't no harm ef he go out en slip up on
+one."
+
+"Dar now!" said Aunt Tempy.
+
+"Brer Fox tuck'n slip out, en Wattle Weasel he slicked in, en bless yo'
+soul! dar goes de butter!"
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"Brer Fox he git marked down," continued Uncle Remus, "en den de
+creeturs tuck'n 'p'int Brer Wolf fer ter be dey watcher. Brer Wolf, he
+sot up dar, he did, en sorter nod, but bimeby he year some un talkin'
+outside de spring-house. He h'ist up he years en lissen. Look lak some
+er de creeturs wuz gwine by, en talkin' 'mungs' deysef'; but all Brer
+Wolf kin year is dish yer:--
+
+"'I wonder who put dat ar young sheep down dar by de chinkapin tree, en
+I like ter know wharbouts Brer Wolf is.'
+
+"Den it seem lak dey pass on, en ole Brer Wolf, he fergotted w'at he in
+dar fer, en he dash down ter de chinkapin tree, fer ter git de young
+sheep. But no sheep dar, en w'en he git back, he see signs whar Wattle
+Weasel done bin in dar en nibble de butter.
+
+"Den de creeturs tuck'n mark Brer Wolf down, en 'p'int Brer B'ar fer ter
+keep he eye 'pun de noggin er butter. Brer B'ar he tuck'n sot up dar, he
+did, en lick he paw, en feel good. Bimeby Wattle Weasel come dancin' in.
+He 'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer B'ar, how you come on? I 'low'd I yeard you snortin' in
+yer, en I des drapt in fer ter see.'
+
+"Brer B'ar tell him howdy, but he sorter keep one eye on 'im. Little
+Wattle Weasel 'low:--
+
+"'En you got ticks on yo' back, Brer B'ar?'
+
+"Wid dat Wattle Weasel 'gun ter rub Brer B'ar on de back en scratch 'im
+on de sides, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'uz stretch out fast asleep en
+sno'in' lak a saw-mill. Co'se Wattle Weasel git de butter. Brer B'ar he
+got marked down, and den de creeturs ain't know w'at dey gwine do
+skacely.
+
+"Some say sen' fer Brer Rabbit, some say sen' fer Brer Tarrypin; but
+las' dey sent fer Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit, he tuck a notion dat dey 'uz
+fixin' up some kinder trick on 'im, en dey hatter beg mightily, mon,
+'fo' he 'ud come en set up 'longside er dey butter.
+
+"But bimeby he 'greed, en he went down ter de spring-house en look
+'roun'. Den he tuck'n got 'im a twine string, en hide hisse'f whar he
+kin keep he eye on de noggin er butter. He ain't wait long 'fo' yer
+come Wattle Weasel. Des ez he 'bout ter nibble at de butter, Brer Rabbit
+holler out:--
+
+"'Let dat butter 'lone!'
+
+"Wattle Weasel jump back lak de butter bu'nt 'im. He jump back, he did,
+en say:--
+
+"'Sho'ly dat mus' be Brer Rabbit!'
+
+"'De same. I 'low'd you'd know me. Des let dat butter 'lone.'
+
+"'Des lemme git one little bit er tas'e, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Des let dat butter 'lone.'
+
+"Den Wattle Weasel say he want er run a race. Brer Rabbit 'low he tired.
+Wattle Weasel 'low he want er play hidin'. Brer Rabbit 'low dat all he
+hidin' days is pas' en gone. Wattle Weasel banter'd en banter'd 'im, en
+bimeby Brer Rabbit come up wid a banter er he own.
+
+"'I'll take'n tie yo' tail,' sezee, 'en you'll take'n tie mine, en den
+we'll see w'ich tail de strongest.' Little Wattle Weasel know how weakly
+Brer Rabbit tail is, but he ain't know how strong Brer Rabbit bin wid he
+tricks. So dey tuck'n tie der tails wid Brer Rabbit twine string.
+
+"Wattle Weasel wuz ter stan' inside en Brer Rabbit wuz ter stan'
+outside, en dey wuz ter pull 'gin' one er n'er wid dey tails. Brer
+Rabbit, he tuck'n slip out'n de string, en tie de een' 'roun' a tree
+root, en den he went en peep at Wattle Weasel tuggin' en pullin'. Bimeby
+Wattle Weasel 'low:--
+
+"'Come en ontie me, Brer Rabbit, 'kaze you done outpull me.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en chaw he cud, en look lak he feel sorry
+'bout sump'n'. Bimeby all de creeturs come fer ter see 'bout dey butter,
+'kaze dey fear'd Brer Rabbit done make way wid it. Yit w'en dey see
+little Wattle Weasel tie by de tail, dey make great 'miration 'bout Brer
+Rabbit, en dey 'low he de smartest one er de whole gang."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[69] That is, could do no more than half the work of a man.
+
+[70] Killdeers--a species of plover.
+
+
+
+
+LVI
+
+BRER RABBIT TIES MR. LION
+
+
+There was some comment and some questions were asked by the little boy
+in regard to Wattle Weasel and the other animals; to all of which Uncle
+Remus made characteristic response. Aunt Tempy sat with one elbow on her
+knee, her head resting in the palm of her fat hand. She gazed intently
+into the fire, and seemed to be lost in thought. Presently she
+exclaimed:--
+
+"Well, de Lord he'p my soul!"
+
+"Dat's de promise, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, solemnly.
+
+Aunt Tempy laughed, as she straightened herself in her chair, and
+said:--
+
+"I des knowed dey wuz sump'n' 'n'er gwine 'cross my min' w'en I year
+talk 'bout dat ar sheep by de chinkapin tree."
+
+"Out wid it, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, by way of encouragement; "out
+wid it; free yo' min', en des make yo'se'f welcome."
+
+"No longer'n Sunday 'fo' las', I 'uz 'cross dar at de Spivey place en I
+tuck'n year'd a nigger man tellin' de same tale, en I 'low ter myse'f
+dat I'd take'n take it en kyar' it home en gin it out w'en I come ter
+pass de time wid Brer Remus en all uv um. I 'low ter myse'f I'll take it
+en kyar' it dar, en I'll des tell it my own way."
+
+"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, approvingly, "me en dish yer chap, we er
+willin' en a-waitin', en ez fer Brer Jack over dar, we kin say de same
+fer him, 'kaze I up en year 'im draw mighty long breff des now lak he
+fixin' fer ter snort. But you neenter min' dat ole creetur, Sis Tempy.
+Des push right ahead."
+
+"Ah-h-h-e-e!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, snapping his bright little eyes at
+Uncle Remus with some display of irritation; "you tek-a me fer be sleep
+ebry tam I shed-a me y-eye, you is mek fool-a you'se'f. _Warrah yarrah
+garrah tarrah!_"[71]
+
+"Brer Remus!" said Aunt Tempy, in an awed whisper, "maybe he's a-cunju'n
+un you."
+
+"No-no!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, snappishly, "me no cuncher no'n' 't all.
+Wun me cuncher you all you yeddy bone crack. Enty!"
+
+"Well, in de name er de Lord, don't come a-cunju'n wid me, 'kaze I'm des
+as peaceable ez de day's long," said Aunt Tempy.
+
+Uncle Remus smiled and closed his eyes with an air of disdain, caught
+from his old Mistress, the little boy's grandmother, long since dead.
+
+"Tell yo' tale, Sis Tempy," he said pleasantly, "en leave de talk er
+cunju'n ter de little nigger childun. We er done got too ole fer dat
+kinder foolishness."
+
+This was for the ear of the little boy. In his heart Uncle Remus was
+convinced that Daddy Jack was capable of changing himself into the
+blackest of black cats, with swollen tail, arched back, fiery eyes, and
+protruding fangs. But the old man's attitude reassured Aunt Tempy, as
+well as the child, and forthwith she proceeded with her story:--
+
+"Hit seem like dat one time w'en Brer Rabbit fine hisse'f way off in de
+middle er de woods, de win' strike up un 'gun ter blow. Hit blow down on
+de groun' en it blow up in de top er de timber, en it blow so hard twel
+terreckerly Brer Rabbit tuck a notion dat he better git out fum dar 'fo'
+de timber 'gun ter fall.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he broke en run, en, Man--Sir![72] w'en dat creetur run'd
+he run'd, now you year w'at I tell yer! He broke en run, he did, en he
+fa'rly flew 'way fum dar. W'iles he gwine 'long full tilt, he run'd
+ag'in' ole Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he hail 'im:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! Wat yo' hurry?'
+
+"'Run, Mr. Lion, run! Dey's a harrycane comin' back dar in de timbers.
+You better run!'
+
+"Dis make Mr. Lion sorter skeer'd. He 'low:--
+
+"'I mos' too heavy fer ter run fur, Brer Rabbit. W'at I gwine do?'
+
+"'Lay down, Mr. Lion, lay down! Git close ter de groun'!'
+
+"Mr. Lion shake his head. He 'low:--
+
+"'Ef win' lierbul fer ter pick up little man like you is, Brer Rabbit,
+w'at it gwine do wid big man like me?'
+
+"'Hug a tree, Mr. Lion, hug a tree!'
+
+"Mr. Lion lash hisse'f wid his tail. He 'low:--
+
+"'Wat I gwine do ef de win' blow all day en a good part er de night,
+Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'Lemme tie you ter de tree, Mr. Lion! lemme tie you ter de tree!'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he tuk'n 'gree ter dis, en Brer Rabbit, he got 'im a hick'ry
+split[73] en tie 'im hard en fast ter de tree. Den he tuck'n sot down,
+ole Brer Rabbit did, en wash his face en han's des same ez you see de
+cats doin'. Terreckerly Mr. Lion git tired er stan'in' dar huggin' de
+tree, en he ax Brer Rabbit w'at de reason he ain't keep on runnin', en
+Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low dat he gwine ter stay der en take keer Mr.
+Lion.
+
+"Terreckerly Mr. Lion say he ain't year no harrycane. Brer Rabbit say he
+ain't needer. Mr. Lion say he ain't year no win' a-blowin'. Brer Rabbit
+say he ain't needer. Mr. Lion say he ain't so much ez year a leaf
+a-stirrin'. Brer Rabbit say he ain't needer. Mr. Lion sorter study, en
+Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en wash his face en lick his paws.
+
+"Terreckerly Mr. Lion ax Brer Rabbit fer ter onloose 'im.
+
+Brer Rabbit say he fear'd. Den Mr. Lion git mighty mad, en he 'gun ter
+beller wuss'n one er deze yer bull-yearlin's. He beller so long en he
+beller so loud twel present'y de t'er creeturs dey 'gun ter come up fer
+ter see w'at de matter.
+
+"Des soon ez dey come up, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n 'gun ter talk biggity
+en strut 'roun', en, Man--Sir! w'en dem yuthers see dat Brer Rabbit done
+got Mr. Lion tied up, I let you know dey tuck'n walked way 'roun' 'im,
+en 't wuz many a long day 'fo' dey tuck'n pestered ole Brer Rabbit."
+
+Here Aunt Tempy paused. The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit tied
+Mr. Lion for; but she did n't know; Uncle Remus, however, came to the
+rescue.
+
+"One time long 'fo' dat, honey, Brer Rabbit went ter de branch fer ter
+git a drink er water, en ole Mr. Lion tuck'n druv 'im off, en fum dat
+time out Brer Rabbit bin huntin' a chance fer ter ketch up wid 'im."
+
+"Dat's so," said Aunt Tempy, and then she added:--
+
+"I 'clare I ain't gwine tell you all not na'er n'er tale, dat I ain't.
+'Kaze you des set dar en you ain't crack a smile fum de time I begin. Ef
+dat'd 'a' bin Brer Remus, now, dey'd 'a' bin mo' gigglin' gwine on dan
+you kin shake a stick at. I'm right down mad, dat I is."
+
+"Well, I tell you dis, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, with unusual
+emphasis, "ef deze yer tales wuz des fun, fun, fun, en giggle, giggle,
+giggle, I let you know I'd a-done drapt um long ago. Yasser, w'en it
+come down ter gigglin' you kin des count ole Remus out."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[71] This is simply "gullah" negro talk intended to be unintelligible,
+and therefore impressive. It means "One or the other is as good as
+t'other."
+
+[72] An expression used to give emphasis and to attract attention; used
+in the sense that Uncle Remus uses "Gentermens!"
+
+[73] Hickory withe.
+
+
+
+
+LVII
+
+MR. LION'S SAD PREDICAMENT
+
+
+The discussion over Aunt Tempy's fragmentary story having exhausted
+itself, Daddy Jack turned up his coat collar until it was as high as the
+top of his head, and then tried to button it under his chin. If this
+attempt had been successful, the old African would have presented a
+diabolical appearance; but the coat refused to be buttoned in that
+style. After several attempts, which created no end of amusement for the
+little boy, Daddy Jack said:--
+
+"Da Lion, 'e no hab bin sma't lak B'er Rabbit. 'E strong wit' 'e fut, 'e
+strong wit' 'e tush, but 'e no strong wit' 'e head. 'E bery foolish,
+'cep' 'e is bin hab chance ter jump 'pon dem creetur.
+
+"One tam 'e bin come by B'er Rabbit in da road; 'e ahx um howdy; 'e ahx
+um wey 'e gwan. B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan git fum front de Buckra Man wut
+bin comin' 'long da road. B'er Rabbit say:--
+
+"'Hide you'se'f, B'er Lion; da Buckra ketch-a you fer true; 'e is bin
+ketch-a you tam he pit 'e y-eye 'pon you; 'e mekky you sick wit' sorry.
+Hide fum da Buckra, B'er Lion!'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e shekky 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'Ki! Me no skeer da Buckra Man. I glad fer shum. I ketch um en I kyar
+um wey I lif; me hab da Buckra Man fer me bittle. How come you bein'
+skeer da Buckra Man, B'er Rabbit?'
+
+"B'er Rabbit look all 'bout fer see ef da Buckra bin comin'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Me hab plenty reason, B'er Lion. Da Buckra Man shoot-a wit' one gun.
+'E r'ise um too 'e y-eye, 'e p'int um stret toze you; 'e say _bang!_ one
+tam, 'e say _bang!_ two tam: dun you is bin git hu't troo da head en
+cripple in da leg.'
+
+"Lion, 'e shek 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da Buckra Man. I grab-a da gun. I ketch um fer me
+brekwus.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff; 'e say:--
+
+"'Him quare fer true. Me skeer da Buckra, me no skeer you; but you no
+skeer da Buckra. How come dis?'
+
+"Da Lion lash 'e tail; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da Buckra, but me skeer da Pa'tridge; me berry skeer da
+Pa'tridge.'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e kin lahff no mo'. 'E say:--
+
+"'How come you skeer da Pa'tridge? 'E fly wun you wink-a you' eye; 'e
+run en 'e fly. Hoo! me no skeer 'bout dem Pa'tridge. Me skeer da
+Buckra.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e look all 'bout fer see ef da Pa'tridge bin comin'. 'E
+say:--
+
+"'I skeer da Pa'tridge. Wun me bin walk in da bushside, da Pa'tridge 'e
+hol' right still 'pon da groun' tel me come dey-dey, en dun 'e fly
+up--_fud-d-d-d-d-d-e-e!_ Wun 'e is bin do dat me is git-a skeer berry
+bahd.'"
+
+No typographical device could adequately describe Daddy Jack's imitation
+of the flushing of a covey of partridges, or quail; but it is needless
+to say that it made its impression upon the little boy. The old African
+went on:--
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e holler un lahff; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no skeer da Pa'tridge. I bin run dem up ebry day. Da no hu't-a you,
+B'er Lion. You hol' you' eye 'pon da Buckra Man. Da Pa'tridge, 'e no hab
+no gun fer shoot-a you wit'; da Buckra, 'e is bin hab one gun two
+tam.[74] Let da Pa'tridge fly, B'er Lion; but wun da Buckra Man come you
+bes' keep in de shady side. I tell you dis, B'er Lion.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e stan' um down 'e no skeer da Buckra Man, en bimeby 'e say
+goo'-bye; 'e say 'e gwan look fer da Buckra Man fer true.
+
+"So long tam, B'er Rabbit is bin yeddy one big fuss in da timber; 'e
+yeddy da Lion v'ice. B'er Rabbit foller da fuss tel 'e is bin come 'pon
+da Lion wey 'e layin' 'pon da groun'. Da Lion, 'e is moan; 'e is groan;
+'e is cry. 'E hab hole in 'e head, one, two, t'ree hole in 'e side; 'e
+holler, 'e groan. B'er Rabbit, 'e ahx um howdy. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Lion, wey you hab fine so much trouble?'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e moan, 'e groan, 'e cry; 'e say:--
+
+"'Ow, ma Lord! I hab one hole in me head, one, two, t'ree hole in me
+side, me leg bin bruk!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit bin hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e look skeer. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ki, B'er Lion! I no know da Pa'tridge is so bahd lak dat. I t'ink 'e
+fly 'way un no hu't-a you. Shuh-shuh! wun I see dem Pa'tridge I mus' git
+'pon turrer side fer keep me hide whole.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e groan, 'e moan, 'e cry. B'er Rabbit, 'e say:--
+
+"'Da Pa'tridge, 'e berry bahd; 'e mus' bin borry da Buckra Man gun.'
+
+"Da Lion, 'e groan, 'e cry:--
+
+"''E no da Pa'tridge no'n 'tall. Da Buckra Man is bin stan' way off un
+shoot-a me wit' 'e gun. Ow, ma Lord!'
+
+"B'er Rabbit, 'e h'ist 'e han'; 'e say:--
+
+"'Wut I bin tell-a you, B'er Lion? Wut I bin tell you 'bout da Buckra
+Man? Da Pa'tridge no hu't-a you lak dis. 'E mek-a da big fuss, but 'e no
+hu't-a you lak dis. Da Buckra Man, 'e no mek no fuss 'cep' 'e p'int 'e
+gun at you--_bang!_'"
+
+"And what then?" the little boy asked, as Daddy Jack collapsed in his
+seat, seemingly forgetful of all his surroundings.
+
+"No'n 't all," replied the old African, somewhat curtly.
+
+"De p'ints er dat tale, honey," said Uncle Remus, covering the
+brusqueness of Daddy Jack with his own amiability, "is des 'bout lak
+dis, dat dey ain't no use er dodgin' w'iles dey's a big fuss gwine on,
+but you better take'n hide out w'en dey ain't no racket; mo' speshually
+w'en you see Miss Sally lookin' behine de lookin'-glass fer dat ar
+peach-lim' w'at she tuck'n make me kyar up dar day 'fo' yistiddy; yit
+w'en she fine it don't you git too skeer'd, 'kaze I tuck'n make some
+weak places in dat ar switch, en Miss Sally won't mo'n strak you wid it
+'fo' hit'll all come onjinted."
+
+Parts of this moral the little boy understood thoroughly, for he
+laughed, and ran to the big house, and not long afterwards the light
+went out in Uncle Remus's cabin; but the two old negroes sat and nodded
+by the glowing embers for hours afterwards, dreaming dreams they never
+told of.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[74] One gun two times is a double-barrelled gun.
+
+
+
+
+LVIII
+
+THE ORIGIN OF THE OCEAN
+
+
+"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, one night shortly after Daddy Jack's
+story of the lion's sad predicament, "mamma says there are no lions in
+Georgia, nor anywhere in the whole country."
+
+"Tooby sho'ly not, honey; tooby sho'ly not!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "I
+dunner who de name er goodness bin a-puttin' dat kinder idee in yo'
+head, en dey better not lemme fine um out, needer, 'kaze I'll take en
+put Mars John atter um right raw en rank, dat I will."
+
+"Well, you know Daddy Jack said that Brother Rabbit met the Lion coming
+down the road."
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey! dat's 'way 'cross de water whar ole man Jack
+tuck'n come fum, en a mighty long time ergo at dat. Hit's away off yan,
+lots furder dan Ferginny yit. We-all er on one side de water, en de
+lions en mos' all de yuther servigous creeturs, dey er on t'er side.
+Ain't I never tell you how come dat?"
+
+The little boy shook his head.
+
+"Well, _sir_! I dunner w'at I bin doin' all dis time dat I ain't tell
+you dat, 'kaze dat's whar de wussest kinder doin's tuck'n happen.
+Yasser! de wussest kinder doin's; en I'll des whirl in en gin it out
+right now 'fo' ole man Jack come wobblin' in.
+
+"One time way back yander, 'fo' dey wuz any folks a-foolin' 'roun', Mr.
+Lion, he tuck'n tuck a notion dat he'd go huntin', en nothin' 'ud do 'im
+but Brer Rabbit must go wid 'im. Brer Rabbit, he 'low dat he up fer any
+kinder fun on top side er de groun'. Wid dat dey put out, dey did, en
+dey hunt en hunt clean 'cross de country.
+
+"Mr. Lion, he'd lam aloose en miss de game, en den Brer Rabbit, he'd lam
+aloose en fetch it down. No sooner is he do dis dan Mr. Lion, he'd
+squall out:--
+
+"'Hit's mine! hit's mine! I kilt it!'
+
+"Mr. Lion sech a big man dat Brer Rabbit skeer'd ter 'spute 'long wid
+'im, but he lay it up in he min' fer to git even wid 'im. Dey went on en
+dey went on. Mr. Lion, he'd lam aloose en miss de game, en ole Brer
+Rabbit, he'd lam aloose en hit it, en Mr. Lion, he'd take'n whirl in en
+claim it.
+
+"Dey hunt all day long, en w'en night come, dey 'uz sech a fur ways fum
+home dat dey hatter camp out. Dey went on, dey did, twel dey come ter a
+creek, en w'en dey come ter dat, dey tuck'n scrape away de trash en
+built um a fire on de bank, en cook dey supper.
+
+"Atter supper dey sot up dar en tole tales, dey did, en Brer Rabbit, he
+tuck'n brag 'bout w'at a good hunter Mr. Lion is, en Mr. Lion, he leant
+back on he yelbow, en feel mighty biggity. Bimeby, w'en dey eyeleds git
+sorter heavy, Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I'm a monst'us heavy sleeper, Mr. Lion, w'en I gits ter nappin', en I
+hope en trus' I ain't gwine 'sturb you dis night, yit I got my doubts.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he roach he ha'r back outen he eyes, en 'low:--
+
+"'I'm a monst'us heavy sleeper myse'f, Brer Rabbit, en I'll feel mighty
+glad ef I don't roust you up in de co'se er de night.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n change his terbacker fum one side he mouf ter de
+yuther, he did, en he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you sno' des' fo'
+you git soun' asleep.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he tuck'n draw in he breff sorter hard, en show Brer Rabbit;
+den Brer Rabbit 'low:--
+
+"'Mr. Lion, I wish you be so good ez ter show me how you sno' atter yo
+done git soun' asleep.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he tuck'n suck in he breff, en eve'y time he suck in he breff
+it soun' des lak a whole passel er mules w'en dey whinney atter fodder.
+Brer Rabbit look 'stonish'. He roll he eye en 'low:--
+
+"'I year tell youer mighty big man, Mr. Lion, en you sho'ly is.'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he hol' he head one side en try ter look 'shame', but all de
+same he ain't feel 'shame'. Bimeby, he shot he eye en 'gun ter nod, den
+he lay down en stretch hisse'f out, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'gun ter
+sno' lak he sno' w'en he ain't sleepin' soun'.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he lay dar. He ain't sayin' nothin'. He lay dar wid one
+year h'ist up en one eye open. He lay dar, he did, en bimeby Mr. Lion
+'gun ter sno' lak he sno' w'en he done gone fas' ter sleep.
+
+"W'en ole Brer Rabbit year dis, he git up fum dar, en sprinkle hisse'f
+wid de cole ashes 'roun' de fier, en den he tuck'n fling er whole passel
+der hot embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion, he jump up, he did, en ax who done
+dat, en Brer Rabbit, he lay dar en kick at he year wid he behime foot,
+en holler '_Ow!_'
+
+"Mr. Lion see de ashes on Brer Rabbit, en he dunner w'at ter t'ink. He
+look all 'roun', but he ain't see nothin'. He drap he head en lissen,
+but he ain't year nothin'. Den he lay down 'g'in en drap off ter sleep.
+Atter w'ile, w'en he 'gun ter sno' lak he done befo', Brer Rabbit, he
+jump up en sprinkle some mo' cole ashes on hisse'f, en fling de hot
+embers on Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion jump up, he did, en holler:--
+
+"'Dar yo is 'g'in!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he kick en squall, en 'low:--
+
+"'You oughter be 'shame' yo'se'f, Mr. Lion, fer ter be tryin' ter bu'n
+me up.'
+
+"Mr. Lion hol' up he han's en des vow 't ain't him. Brer Rabbit, he look
+sorter jubous, but he ain't say nothin'. Bimeby he holler out:--
+
+"'Phewee! I smells rags a-bu'nin'!'
+
+"Mr. Lion, he sorter flinch, he did, en 'low:--
+
+"''T ain't no rags, Brer Rabbit; hit's my ha'r a-sinjin'.'
+
+"Dey look all 'roun', dey did, but dey ain't see nothin' ner nobody.
+Brer Rabbit, he say he gwine do some tall watchin' nex' time, 'kaze he
+boun' ter ketch de somebody w'at bin playin' dem kinder pranks on um.
+Wid dat, Mr. Lion lay down 'g'in, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he drap ter
+sleep.
+
+"Well, den," continued Uncle Remus, taking a long breath, "de ve'y same
+kinder doin's tuck'n happen. De cole ashes fall on Brer Rabbit, en de
+hot embers fall on Mr. Lion. But by de time Mr. Lion jump up, Brer
+Rabbit, he holler out:--
+
+"'I seed um, Mr. Lion! I seed um! I seed de way dey come fum 'cross de
+creek! Dey mos' sho'ly did!'
+
+"Wid dat Mr. Lion, he fetch'd a beller en he jumped 'cross de creek. No
+sooner is he do dis," Uncle Remus went on in a tone at once impressive
+and confidential, "no sooner is he do dis dan Brer Rabbit cut de string
+w'at hol' de banks togedder, en, lo en beholes, dar dey wuz!"
+
+"What was, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, more amazed than he had
+been in many a day.
+
+"Bless yo' soul, honey, de banks! Co'se w'en Brer Rabbit tuck'n cut de
+string, de banks er de creek, de banks, dey fall back, dey did, en Mr.
+Lion can't jump back. De banks dey keep on fallin' back, en de creek
+keep on gittin' wider en wider, twel bimeby Brer Rabbit en Mr. Lion
+ain't in sight er one er n'er, en fum dat day to dis de big waters bin
+rollin' 'twix' um."
+
+"But, Uncle Remus, how could the banks of a creek be tied with a
+string?"
+
+"I ain't ax um dat, honey, en darfo' yo'll hatter take um ez you git um.
+Nex' time de tale-teller come 'roun' I'll up'n ax 'im, en ef you ain't
+too fur off, I'll whirl in en sen' you wud, en den you kin go en see fer
+yo'se'f. But 't ain't skacely wuth yo' w'ile fer ter blame me, honey,
+'bout de creek banks bein' tied wid a string. Who put um dar, I be bless
+ef _I_ knows, but I knows who onloose um, dat w'at I knows!"
+
+It is very doubtful if this copious explanation was satisfactory to the
+child, but just as Uncle Remus concluded, Daddy Jack came shuffling in,
+and shortly afterwards both Aunt Tempy and 'Tildy put in an appearance,
+and the mind of the youngster was diverted to other matters.
+
+
+
+
+LIX
+
+BRER RABBIT GETS BRER FOX'S DINNER
+
+
+After the new-comers had settled themselves in their accustomed places,
+and 'Tildy had cast an unusual number of scornful glances at Daddy Jack,
+who made quite a pantomime of his courtship, Uncle Remus startled them
+all somewhat by breaking into a loud laugh.
+
+"I boun' you," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, grinning with enthusiastic
+sympathy, "I boun' you Brer Remus done fine out some mo' er Brer Rabbit
+funny doin's; now I boun' you dat."
+
+"You hit it de fus' clip, Sis Tempy, I 'clar' ter gracious ef you
+ain't. You nailed it! You nailed it," Uncle Remus went on, laughing as
+boisterously as before, "des lak ole Brer Rabbit done."
+
+The little boy was very prompt with what Uncle Remus called his
+"inquirements," and the old man, after the usual "hems" and "haws,"
+began.
+
+"Hit run'd 'cross my min' des lak a rat 'long a rafter, de way ole Brer
+Rabbit tuk'n done Brer Fox. 'Periently, atter Brer Rabbit done went en
+put a steeple on top er he house, all de yuther creeturs wanter fix up
+dey house. Some put new cellars und' um, some slapped on new
+winder-blines, some one thing and some er n'er, but ole Brer Fox, he
+tuck a notion dat he'd put some new shingles on de roof.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n year tell er dis, en nothin'd do but he mus'
+rack 'roun' en see how ole Brer Fox gittin' on. W'en he git whar Brer
+Fox house is, he year a mighty lammin' en a blammin' en lo en beholes,
+dar 'uz Brer Fox settin' straddle er de comb er de roof nailin' on
+shingles des hard ez he kin.
+
+"Brer Rabbit cut he eye 'roun' en he see Brer Fox dinner settin' in de
+fence-cornder. Hit 'uz kivered up in a bran new tin pail, en it look so
+nice dat Brer Rabbit mouf 'gun ter water time he see it, en he 'low ter
+hisse'f dat he bleedz ter eat dat dinner 'fo' he go 'way fum dar.
+
+"Den Brer Rabbit tuck'n hail Brer Fox, en ax 'im how he come on. Brer
+Fox 'low he too busy to hol' any confab. Brer Rabbit up en ax 'im w'at
+is he doin 'up dar. Brer Fox 'low dat he puttin' roof on he house 'g'in
+de rainy season sot in. Den Brer Rabbit up en ax Brer Fox w'at time is
+it, en Brer Fox, he 'low dat hit's wukkin time wid him. Brer Rabbit, he
+up en ax Brer Fox ef he ain't stan' in needs er some he'p. Brer Fox, he
+'low he did, dat ef he does stan' in needs er any he'p, he dunner whar
+in de name er goodness he gwine to git it at.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit sorter pull he mustarsh, en 'low dat de time wuz
+w'en he 'uz a mighty handy man wid a hammer, en he ain't too proud fer
+to whirl in en he'p Brer Fox out'n de ruts.
+
+"Brer Fox 'low he be mighty much erblige, en no sooner is he say dat dan
+Brer Rabbit snatched off he coat en lipt up de ladder, en sot in dar en
+put on mo' shingles in one hour dan Brer Fox kin put on in two.
+
+"Oh, he 'uz a rattler--ole Brer Rabbit wuz," Uncle Remus exclaimed,
+noticing a questioning look in the child's face. "He 'uz a rattler, mon,
+des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. Dey wa'n't no kinder wuk dat Brer
+Rabbit can't put he han' at, en do it better dan de nex' man.
+
+"He nailed on shingles plum twel he git tired, Brer Rabbit did, en all
+de time he nailin', he study how he gwine git dat dinner. He nailed en
+he nailed. He 'ud nail one row, en Brer Fox 'ud nail 'n'er row. He
+nailed en he nailed. He kotch Brer Fox en pass 'im--kotch 'im en pass
+'im, twel bimeby w'iles he nailin' 'long Brer Fox tail git in he way.
+
+"Brer Rabbit 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he dunner w'at de name er
+goodness make folks have such long tails fer, en he push it out de way.
+He ain't no mo'n push it out'n de way, 'fo' yer it come back in de way.
+Co'se," continued Uncle Remus, beginning to look serious, "w'en dat's de
+case dat a soon man lak Brer Rabbit git pester'd in he min', he bleedz
+ter make some kinder accidents some'rs.
+
+"Dey nailed en dey nailed, en, bless yo' soul! 't wa'n't long 'fo' Brer
+Fox drap eve'yt'ing en squall out:--
+
+"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nail my tail. He'p me, Brer
+Rabbit, he'p me! You done nail my tail!'"
+
+Uncle Remus waved his arms, clasped and unclasped his hands, stamped
+first one foot and then the other, and made various other demonstrations
+of grief and suffering.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he shot fus' one eye en den de yuther en rub hisse'f on
+de forrerd, en 'low:--
+
+"'Sho'ly I ain't nail yo' tail, Brer Fox; sho'ly not. Look right close,
+Brer Fox, be keerful. Fer goodness sake don' fool me, Brer Fox!'
+
+"Brer Fox, _he_ holler, _he_ squall, _he_ kick, _he_ squeal.
+
+"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nailed my tail. Onnail me, Brer
+Rabbit, onnail me!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he make fer de ladder, en w'en he start down, he look at
+Brer Fox lak he right down sorry, en he up'n 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Well, well, well! Des ter t'ink dat I should er lamm'd aloose en nail
+Brer Fox tail. I dunner w'en I year tell er anyt'ing dat make me feel so
+mighty bad; en ef I had n't er seed it wid my own eyes I would n't er
+bleev'd it skacely--dat I would n't!'
+
+"Brer Fox holler, Brer Fox howl, yit 't ain't do no good. Dar he wuz wid
+he tail nail hard en fas'. Brer Rabbit, he keep on talkin' w'iles he
+gwine down de ladder.
+
+"'Hit make me feel so mighty bad,' sezee, 'dat I dunner w'at ter do.
+Time I year tell un it, hit make a empty place come in my stomach,' sez
+Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"By dis time Brer Rabbit done git down on de groun', en w'iles Brer Fox
+holler'n, he des keep on a-talkin'.
+
+"'Dey's a mighty empty place in my stomach,' sezee, 'en ef I ain't run'd
+inter no mistakes dey's a tin-pail full er vittles in dish yer
+fence-cornder dat'll des 'bout fit it,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+"He open de pail, he did, en he eat de greens, en sop up de 'lasses, en
+drink de pot-liquor, en w'en he wipe he mouf 'pun he coat-tail, he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'I dunner w'en I bin so sorry 'bout anything, ez I is 'bout Brer Fox
+nice long tail. Sho'ly, sho'ly my head mus' er bin wool-getherin' w'en I
+tuck'n nail Brer Fox fine long tail,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee.
+
+    [Illustration: "'I DUNNER W'EN I BIN SO SORRY 'BOUT ANYTHING,
+    EZ I IS 'BOUT BRER FOX NICE LONG TAIL'"]
+
+"Wid dat, he tuck'n skip out, Brer Rabbit did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo'
+he 'uz playin' he pranks in some yuther parts er de settlement."
+
+"How did Brother Fox get loose?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Oh, you let Brer Fox 'lone fer dat," responded Uncle Remus. "Nex' ter
+Brer Rabbit, ole Brer Fox wuz mos' de shiftiest creetur gwine. I boun'
+you he tuck'n tuck keer hisse'f soon ez Brer Rabbit git outer sight en
+year'n."
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: How the Bear nursed the Little Alligator]
+
+LX
+
+HOW THE BEAR NURSED THE LITTLE ALLIGATORS
+
+
+While the negroes were talking of matters which the little boy took
+little or no interest in, he climbed into Uncle Remus's lap, as he had
+done a thousand times before. Presently the old man groaned, and said:--
+
+"I be bless ef I know w'at de marter, honey. I dunner whe'er I'm
+a-gittin' fibble in de lim's, er whe'er youer outgrowin' me. I lay I'll
+hatter sen' out en git you a nuss w'at got mo' strenk in dey lim's dan
+w'at I is."
+
+The child protested that he was n't very heavy, and that he would n't
+have any nurse, and the old man was about to forget that he had said
+anything about nurses, when Daddy Jack, who seemed to be desirous of
+appearing good-humored in the presence of 'Tildy, suddenly exclaimed:--
+
+"Me bin yeddy one tale 'bout da tam w'en da lil Bear is bin nuss da
+'Gator chilluns. 'E bin mek fine nuss fer true. 'E stan' by dem lilly
+'Gator tel dey no mo' fer stan' by."
+
+Seeing that Daddy Jack manifested symptoms of going to sleep, the little
+boy asked if he would n't tell the story, and, thus appealed to, the old
+African began:--
+
+"One tam dey is bin one ole Bear; 'e big un 'e strong. 'E lif way in da
+swamp; 'e hab nes' in da holler tree. 'E hab one, two lilly Bear in da
+nes'; 'e bin lub dem chillun berry ha'd. One day, 'e git honkry; 'e tell
+'e chillun 'e gwan 'way off fer git-a some bittle fer eat; 'e tell dem
+dey mus' be good chillun un stay wey dey lif. 'E say 'e gwan fer fetch
+dem one fish fer dey brekwus. Dun 'e gone off.
+
+"Da lil Bear chillun hab bin 'sleep till dey kin sleep no mo'. Da sun,
+'e der shine wom, 'e mekky lilly Bear feel wom. Da lil boy Bear, 'e rub
+'e y-eye, 'e say 'e gwan off fer hab some fun. Da lil gal Bear, 'e
+say:--
+
+"'Wut will we mammy say?'
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e der lahff. 'E say:--
+
+"'Me gwan down by da crik side fer ketch some fish 'fo' we mammy come.'
+
+"Lil gal Bear, 'e look skeer; 'e say:--
+
+"'We mammy say somet'ing gwan git-a you. Min' wut 'e tell you.'
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e keep on lahff. 'E say:--
+
+"'Shuh-shuh! 'E yent nebber know less you tell um. You no tell um, me
+fetch-a you one big fish.'
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e gone! 'E gone by da crik side, 'e tek 'e hook, 'e tek
+'e line, 'e is go by da crik side fer ketch one fish. Wun 'e come
+dey-dey, 'e see somet'ing lay dey in de mud. 'E t'ink it bin one big
+log. 'E lahff by 'ese'f; 'e say:--
+
+"''E one fine log fer true. Me 'tan' 'pon da log fer ketch-a da fish fer
+me lil titty.'[75]
+
+"Lil boy Bear, 'e der jump down; 'e git 'pon da log; 'e fix fer fish; 'e
+fix 'e hook, 'e fix 'e line. Bumbye da log moof. Da lil boy Bear
+holler:--
+
+"'Ow ma Lordy!'
+
+"'E look down; 'e skeer mos' dead. Da log bin one big 'Gator. Da 'Gator
+'e swim 'way wit' da lil boy Bear 'pon 'e bahck. 'E flut 'e tail, 'e
+knock da lil boy Bear spang in 'e two han'. 'E grin _wide_, 'e feel da
+lil boy Bear wit' 'e nose; 'e say:--
+
+"'I tekky you wey me lif; me chillun is hab you fer dey brekwus.'
+
+"Da 'Gator, 'e bin swim toze da hole in da bank wey 'e lif. 'E come by
+da hole, 'e ca' da lil boy Bear in dey. 'E is call up 'e chillun; 'e
+say:--
+
+"'Come see how fine brekwus me bin brung you.'
+
+"Da ole 'Gator, 'e hab seben chillun in 'e bed. Da lil boy Bear git
+skeer; 'e holler, 'e cry, 'e beg. 'E say:--
+
+"'_Please_, Missy 'Gator, gib me chance fer show you how fine nuss me
+is--_please_, Missy 'Gator. Wun you gone 'way, me min' dem chillun, me
+min' um well.'
+
+"Da 'Gator flut 'e tail; 'e say:--
+
+"'I try you dis one day; you min' dem lil one well, me luf you be.'
+
+"Da ole 'Gator gone 'way; 'e luf da lil boy Bear fer min' 'e chillun. 'E
+gone git somet'ing fer dey brekwus. Da lil boy Bear, 'e set down
+dey-dey; 'e min' dem chillun; 'e wait en 'e wait. Bumbye, 'e is git
+honkry. 'E wait en 'e wait. 'E min' dem chillun. 'E wait en 'e wait. 'E
+'come so honkry 'e yent mos' kin hol' up 'e head. 'E suck 'e paw. 'E
+wait en 'e wait. Da 'Gator no come. 'E wait en 'e wait. Da 'Gator no
+come some mo'. 'E say:--
+
+"'Ow! me no gwan starf mese'f wun da planty bittle by side er me!'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear grab one da lil 'Gator by 'e neck; 'e tek um off in da
+bush side; 'e der eat um up. 'E no leaf 'e head, 'e no leaf 'e tail; 'e
+yent leaf nuttin' 't all. 'E go bahck wey da turrer lil 'Gator bin
+huddle up in da bed. 'E rub 'ese'f 'pon da 'tomach; 'e say:--
+
+"'Hoo! me feel-a too good fer tahlk 'bout. I no know wut me gwan fer
+tell da ole 'Gator wun 'e is come bahck. Ki! me no keer. Me feel too
+good fer t'ink 'bout dem t'ing. Me t'ink 'bout dem wun da 'Gator is bin
+come; me t'ink 'bout dem bumbye wun da time come fer t'ink.'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear lay down; 'e quile up in da 'Gator bed; 'e shed 'e
+y-eye; 'e sleep ha'd lak bear do wun ef full up. Bumbye, mos' toze
+night, da 'Gator come; 'e holler:--
+
+"'Hey! lil boy Bear! How you is kin min' me chillun wun you is gone fer
+sleep by um?'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear, 'e set up 'pon 'e ha'nch; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me y-eye gone fer sleep, but me year wide 'wake.'
+
+"Da 'Gator flut 'e tail; 'e say:--
+
+"'Wey me chillun wut me leaf you wit'?'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear 'come skeer; 'e say:--
+
+"'Dey all dey-dey, Missy 'Gator. Wait! lemme count dem, Missy 'Gator.
+
+    "'_Yarrah one, yarrah narrah,
+    Yarrah two 'pon top er tarrah,
+    Yarrah t'ree pile up tergarrah!_'[76]
+
+"Da 'Gator y-open 'e mout', 'e grin wide; 'e say:--
+
+"'Oona nuss dem well, lil boy Bear; come, fetch-a me one fer wash en git
+'e supper.'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear, 'e ca' one, 'e ca' nurrer, 'e ca' turrer, 'e ca' um
+all tel 'e ca' six, den 'e come skeer. 'E t'ink da 'Gator gwan fine um
+out fer true. 'E stop, 'e yent know wut fer do. Da 'Gator holler:--
+
+"'Fetch-a me turrer!'
+
+"Da lil boy Bear, 'e grab da fus' one, 'e wullup um in da mud, 'e ca' um
+bahck. Da 'Gator bin wash un feed um fresh; 'e yent know da diffran.
+
+"Bumbye, nex' day mornin', da 'Gator gone 'way. Da lil boy Bear stay fer
+nuss dem lil 'Gator. 'E come honkry; 'e wait, but 'e come mo' honkry. 'E
+grab nurrer lil 'Gator, 'e eat um fer 'e dinner. Mos' toze night, da
+'Gator come. It sem t'ing:--
+
+"'Wey me chillun wut me leaf you fer nuss?'
+
+"'Dey all dey-dey, Missy 'Gator. Me count um out:--
+
+    "'_Yarrah one, yarrah narrah,
+    Yarrah two 'pon top er tarrah,
+    Yarrah t'ree pile up tergarrah!_'
+
+"'E ca' um one by one fer wash en git dey supper. 'E ca' two bahck two
+tam. Ebry day 'e do dis way tel 'e come at de las'. 'E eat dis one, en
+'e gone luf da place wey da 'Gator lif. 'E gone down da crik side tel 'e
+is come by da foot-log, en 'e is run 'cross _queek_. 'E git in da bush,
+'e fair fly tel 'e is come by da place wey 'e lil titty bin lif. 'E come
+dey-dey, en 'e yent go 'way no mo'."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[75] Sissy.
+
+[76] Here is one, here's another; here are two on top of t'other; here
+are three piled up together.
+
+
+
+
+LXI
+
+WHY MR. DOG RUNS BRER RABBIT
+
+
+The little boy was not particularly pleased at the summary manner in
+which the young Alligators were disposed of; but he was very much amused
+at the somewhat novel method employed by the Bear to deceive the old
+Alligator. The negroes, however, enjoyed Daddy Jack's story immensely,
+and even 'Tildy condescended to give it her approval; but she qualified
+this by saying, as soon as she had ceased laughing:--
+
+"I 'clar' ter goodness you all got mighty little ter do fer ter be
+settin' down yer night atter night lis'nin' at dat nigger man."
+
+Daddy Jack nodded, smiled, and rubbed his withered hands together
+apparently in a perfect ecstasy of good-humor, and finally said:--
+
+"Oona come set-a by me, lil gal. 'E berry nice tale wut me tell-a you.
+Come sit-a by me, lil gal;'e berry nice tale. Ef you no want me fer
+tell-a you one tale, dun you is kin tell-a me one tale."
+
+"Humph!" exclaimed 'Tildy, contemptuously, "you'll set over dar in dat
+cornder en dribble many's de long day 'fo' I tell you any tale."
+
+"Look yer, gal!" said Uncle Remus, pretending to ignore the queer
+courtship that seemed to be progressing between Daddy Jack and 'Tildy,
+"you gittin' too ole fer ter be sawin' de a'r wid yo 'head en squealin'
+lak a filly. Ef you gwine ter set wid folks, you better do lak folks
+does. Sis Tempy dar ain't gwine on dat a-way, en she ain't think 'erse'f
+too big fer ter set up dar en jine in wid us en tell a tale, needer."
+
+This was the first time that Uncle Remus had ever condescended to accord
+'Tildy a place at his hearth on an equality with the rest of his
+company, and she seemed to be immensely tickled. A broad grin spread
+over her comely face as she exclaimed:--
+
+"_Oh!_ I 'clar' ter goodness, Unk Remus, I thought dat ole nigger man
+wuz des a-projickin' 'long wid me. Ef it come down ter settin' up yer
+'long wid you all en tellin' a tale, I ain't 'nyin' but w'at I got one
+dat you all ain't never year tell un, 'kaze dat ar Slim Jim w'at Mars
+Ellick Akin got out'n de speckerlater waggin,[77] he up'n tell it dar at
+Riah's des 'fo' de patter-rollers tuck'n slipt up on um."
+
+"Dar now!" remarked Aunt Tempy. 'Tildy laughed boisterously.
+
+"W'at de patter-rollers do wid dat ar Slim Jim?" Uncle Remus inquired.
+
+"Done nothin'!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with an air of humorous scorn. "Time
+dey got in dar Slim Jim 'uz up de chimbly, en Riah 'uz noddin' in one
+cornder en me in de udder. Nobody never is ter know how dat ar long-leg
+nigger slick'd up dat chimbly--dat dey ain't. He put one foot on de
+pot-rack,[78] en whar he put de t'er foot _I_ can't tell you."
+
+"What was the story?" asked the little boy.
+
+"I boun' fer you, honey!" exclaimed Uncle Remus.
+
+"Well, den," said 'Tildy, settling herself comfortably, and bridling a
+little as Daddy Jack manifested a desire to give her his undivided
+attention,--"well, den, dey wuz one time w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'uz bleedz
+ter go ter town atter sump'n' 'n'er fer his famerly, en he mos' 'shame'
+ter go 'kaze his shoes done wo' tetotally out. Yit he bleedz ter go, en
+he put des ez good face on it ez he kin, en he take down he walkin'-cane
+en sot out des ez big ez de next un.
+
+"Well, den, ole Brer Rabbit go on down de big road twel he come ter de
+place whar some folks bin camp out de night befo', en he sot down by de
+fier, he did, fer ter wom his foots, 'kaze dem mawnin's 'uz sorter cole,
+like deze yer mawnin's. He sot dar en look at his toes, en he feel
+mighty sorry fer hisse'f.
+
+"Well, den, he sot dar, he did, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he year sump'n'
+'n'er trottin' down de road, en he tuck'n look up en yer come Mr. Dog
+a-smellin' en a-snuffin' 'roun' fer ter see ef de folks lef' any scraps
+by der camp-fier. Mr. Dog 'uz all dress up in his Sunday-go-ter-meetin'
+cloze, en mo'n dat, he had on a pa'r er bran new shoes.
+
+"Well, den, w'en Brer Rabbit see dem ar shoes he feel mighty bad, but he
+ain't let on. He bow ter Mr. Dog mighty perlite, en Mr. Dog bow back, he
+did, en dey pass de time er day, 'kaze dey 'uz ole 'quaintance. Brer
+Rabbit, he say:--
+
+"'Mr. Dog, whar you gwine all fix up like dis?'
+
+"'I gwine ter town, Brer Rabbit; whar you gwine?'
+
+"'I thought I go ter town myse'f fer ter git me new pa'r shoes, 'kaze my
+ole uns done wo' out en dey hu'ts my foots so bad I can't w'ar um. Dem
+mighty nice shoes w'at you got on, Mr. Dog; whar you git um?'
+
+"'Down in town, Brer Rabbit, down in town.'
+
+"'Dey fits you mighty slick, Mr. Dog, en I wish you be so good ez ter
+lemme try one un um on.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit talk so mighty sweet dat Mr. Dog sot right flat on de
+groun' en tuck off one er de behime shoes, en loant it ter Brer Rabbit.
+Brer Rabbit, he lope off down de road en den he come back. He tell Mr.
+Dog dat de shoe fit mighty nice, but wid des one un um on, hit make 'im
+trot crank-sided.
+
+"Well, den, Mr. Dog, he pull off de yuther behime shoe, en Brer Rabbit
+trot off en try it. He come back, he did, en he say:--
+
+"'Dey mighty nice, Mr. Dog, but dey sorter r'ars me up behime, en I
+dunner 'zackly how dey feels.'
+
+"Dis make Mr. Dog feel like he wanter be perlite, en he take off de
+befo' shoes, en Brer Rabbit put um on en stomp his foots, en 'low:--
+
+"'Now dat sorter feel like shoes;' en he rack off down de road, en w'en
+he git whar he oughter tu'n 'roun', he des lay back he years en keep on
+gwine; en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he git outer sight.
+
+"Mr. Dog, he holler, en tell 'im fer ter come back, but Brer Rabbit keep
+on gwine; Mr. Dog, he holler, Mr. Rabbit, he keep on gwine. En down ter
+dis day," continued 'Tildy, smacking her lips, and showing her white
+teeth, "Mr. Dog bin a-runnin' Brer Rabbit, en ef you'll des go out in de
+woods wid any Dog on dis place, des time he smell de Rabbit track he'll
+holler en tell 'im fer ter come back."
+
+"Dat's de Lord's trufe!" said Aunt Tempy.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[77] Speculator's wagon.
+
+[78] A bar of iron across the fireplace, with hooks to hold the pots and
+kettles. The original form of the crane.
+
+
+
+
+LXII
+
+BRER WOLF AND THE HORNED CATTLE
+
+
+Daddy Jack appeared to enjoy 'Tildy's story as thoroughly as the little
+boy.
+
+"'E one fine tale. 'E mekky me lahff tell tear is come in me y-eye," the
+old African said. And somehow or other 'Tildy seemed to forget her
+pretended animosity to Daddy Jack, and smiled on him as pleasantly as
+she did on the others. Uncle Remus himself beamed upon each and every
+one, especially upon Aunt Tempy; and the little boy thought he had never
+seen everybody in such good-humor.
+
+"Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, "I 'speck it's yo' time fer ter put in."
+
+"I des bin rackin' my min'," said Aunt Tempy, thoughtfully. "I see you
+fixin' dat ar hawn, en terreckerly hit make me think 'bout a tale w'at I
+ain't year none en you tell yit."
+
+Uncle Remus was polishing a long cow's-horn, for the purpose of making a
+hunting-horn for his master.
+
+"Hit come 'bout one time dat all de creeturs w'at got hawns tuck a
+notion dat dey got ter meet terge'er en have a confab fer ter see how
+dey gwine take ker deyse'f, 'kaze dem t'er creeturs w'at got tush en
+claw, dey uz des a-snatchin' um fum 'roun' eve'y cornder."
+
+"Tooby sho'!" said Uncle Remus, approvingly.
+
+"Dey sont out wud, de hawn creeturs did, en dey tuck'n meet terge'er
+'way off in de woods. Man--Sir!--dey wuz a big gang un um, en de muster
+dey had out dar 't wa'n't b'ar tellin' skacely. Mr. Bull, he 'uz dar, en
+Mr. Steer, en Miss Cow"--
+
+"And Mr. Benjamin Ram, with his fiddle," suggested the little boy.
+
+--"Yes, 'n Mr. Billy Goat, en Mr. Unicorn"--
+
+"En ole man Rinossyhoss," said Uncle Remus.
+
+--"Yes, 'n lots mo' w'at I ain't know de names un. Man--Sir!--dey had a
+mighty muster out dar. Ole Brer Wolf, he tuck'n year 'bout de muster, en
+he sech a smarty dat nothin' ain't gwine do but he mus' go en see w'at
+dey doin'.
+
+"He study 'bout it long time, en den he went out in de timber en cut 'im
+two crooked sticks, en tie um on his head, en start off ter whar de hawn
+creeturs meet at. W'en he git dar Mr. Bull ax 'im who is he, w'at he
+want, whar he come frum, en whar he gwine. Brer Wolf, he 'low:--
+
+"'Ba-a-a! I'm name little Sook Calf!'"
+
+"Eh-eh! Look out, now!" exclaimed 'Tildy, enthusiastically.
+
+"Mr. Bull look at Brer Wolf mighty hard over his specks, but atter a
+w'ile he go off some'rs else, en Brer Wolf take his place in de muster.
+
+"Well, den, bimeby, terreckerly, dey got ter talkin' en tellin' der
+'sperence des like de w'ite folks does at class-meetin'. W'iles dey 'uz
+gwine on dis a-way, a great big hoss-fly come sailin' 'roun', en Brer
+Wolf tuck'n fergit hisse'f, en snap at 'im.
+
+"All dis time Brer Rabbit bin hidin' out in de bushes watchin' Brer
+Wolf, en w'en he see dis he tuck'n break out in a laugh. Brer Bull, he
+tuck'n holler out, he did:--
+
+"'Who dat laughin' en showin' der manners?'
+
+"Nobody ain't make no answer, en terreckerly Brer Rabbit holler out:--
+
+    "'_O kittle-cattle, kittle-cattle, whar yo' eyes?
+    Who ever see a Sook Calf snappin' at flies?_'
+
+"De hawn creeturs dey all look 'roun' en wonder w'at dat mean, but
+bimeby dey go on wid dey confab. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' a flea tuck'n bite
+Brer Wolf 'way up on de back er de neck, en 'fo' he know what he doin',
+he tuck'n squat right down en scratch hisse'f wid his behime foot."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"Dar you is!" said 'Tildy.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n broke out in 'n'er big laugh en 'sturb um all,
+en den he holler out:--
+
+    "'_Scritchum-scratchum, lawsy, my laws!
+    Look at dat Sook Calf scratchin' wid claws!_'
+
+"Brer Wolf git mighty skeer'd, but none er de hawn creeturs ain't take
+no notice un 'im, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit holler out ag'in:--
+
+    "'_Rinktum-tinktum, ride 'im on a rail!
+    Dat Sook Calf got a long bushy tail!_'
+
+"De hawn creeturs, dey go on wid der confab, but Brer Wolf git skeerder
+en skeerder, 'kaze he notice dat Mr. Bull got his eye on 'im. Brer
+Rabbit, he ain't gin 'im no rest. He holler out:--
+
+    "'_One en one never kin make six,
+    Sticks ain't hawns, en hawns ain't sticks!_'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Wolf make ez ef he gwine 'way fum dar, en he wa'n't none
+too soon, needer, 'kaze ole Mr. Bull splunge at 'im, en little mo' en
+he'd er nat'ally to' 'im in two."
+
+"Did Brother Wolf get away?" the little boy asked.
+
+"Yas, Lord!" said Aunt Tempy, with unction; "he des scooted 'way fum
+dar, en he got so mad wid Brer Rabbit, dat he tuck'n play dead, en wud
+went 'roun' dat dey want all de creeturs fer ter go set up wid 'im. Brer
+Rabbit, he went down dar fer ter look at 'im, en time he see 'im, he
+ex:--
+
+"'Is he grin yit?'
+
+"All de creeturs dey up'n say he ain't grin, not ez dey knows un. Den
+Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Well, den, gentermuns all, ef he ain't grin, den he ain't dead good.
+In all my 'speunce folks ain't git dead good tel dey grins.'[79]
+
+"W'en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit talk dat a-way, he tuck'n grin fum year
+ter year, en Brer Rabbit, he picked up his hat en walkin'-cane en put
+out fer home, en w'en he got 'way off in de woods he sot down en laugh
+fit ter kill hisse'f."
+
+Uncle Remus had paid Aunt Tempy the extraordinary tribute of pausing in
+his work to listen to her story, and when she had concluded it, he
+looked at her in undisguised admiration, and exclaimed:--
+
+"I be bless, Sis Tempy, ef you ain't wuss'n w'at I is, en I'm bad
+'nuff', de Lord knows I is!"
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[79] See _Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings_, p. 60.
+
+
+
+
+LXIII
+
+BRER FOX AND THE WHITE MUSCADINES
+
+
+Aunty Tempy did not attempt to conceal the pleasure which Uncle Remus's
+praise gave her. She laughed somewhat shyly, and said:--
+
+"Bless you, Brer Remus! I des bin a-settin' yer l'arnin'. 'Sides dat,
+Chris'mus ain't fur off en I 'speck we er all a-feelin' a sight mo'
+humorsome dan common."
+
+"Dat's so, Sis Tempy. I 'uz comin' thoo de lot des 'fo' supper, en I
+seed de pigs runnin' en playin' in de win', en I 'low ter myse'f, sez I,
+'Sholy dey's a-gwine ter be a harrycane,' en den all at once hit come in
+my min' dat Chris'mus mighty close at han', en den on ter dat yer come
+de chickens a-crowin' des now en 't ain't nine er'clock. I dunner how de
+creeturs know Chris'mus comin', but dat des de way it stan's."
+
+The little boy thought it was time enough to think about Christmas when
+the night came for hanging up his stockings, and he asked Uncle Remus if
+it was n't his turn to tell a story. The old man laid down the piece of
+glass with which he had been scraping the cow's horn, and hunted around
+among his tools for a piece of sandpaper before he replied. But his
+reply was sufficient. He said:--
+
+"One time w'iles Brer Rabbit wuz gwine thoo de woods he tuck'n strak up
+wid ole Brer Fox, en Brer Fox 'low, he did, dat he mighty hongry. Brer
+Rabbit 'low dat he ain't feelin' dat a-way hisse'f, 'kaze he des bin en
+had er bait er w'ite muscadimes, en den he tuck'n smack he mouf en lick
+he chops right front er Brer Fox. Brer Fox, he ax, sezee:--
+
+"'Brer Rabbit, whar de name er goodness is deze yer w'ite muscadimes, en
+how come I'm ain't never run 'crosst um?' sezee.
+
+"'I dunner w'at de reason you ain't never come up wid um,' sez Brer
+Rabbit, sezee; 'some folks sees straight, some sees crooked, some sees
+one thing, some sees 'n'er. I done seed dem ar w'ite muscadimes, en let
+'lone dat, I done wipe um up. I done e't all dey wuz on one tree, but I
+lay dey's lots mo' un um 'roun' in dem neighborhoods,' sezee.
+
+"Ole Brer Fox mouf 'gun to water, en he git mighty restless.
+
+"'Come on, Brer Rabbit; come on! Come show me whar dem ar w'ite
+muscadimes grows at,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter hang back. Brer Fox, he 'low:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Rabbit, come on!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he hang back, en bimeby he 'low:--
+
+"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! You wanter git me out dar in de timber by myse'f en
+do sump'n' ter me. You wanter git me out dar en skeer me.'
+
+"Ole Brer Fox, he hol' up he han's, he do, en he 'low:--
+
+"'I des 'clar' 'fo' gracious, Brer Rabbit, I ain't gwine do no sech uv a
+thing. I dunner w'at kinder 'pinion you got 'bout me fer ter have sech
+idee in yo' head. Come on, Brer Rabbit, en less we go git dem ar w'ite
+muscadimes. Come on, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! I done year talk er you playin' so many prank wid
+folks dat I fear'd fer ter go 'way off dar wid you.'
+
+"Dey went on dat a-way," continued Uncle Remus, endeavoring to look at
+the little boy through the crooked cow's horn, "twel bimeby Brer Fox
+promise he ain't gwine ter bodder 'long er Brer Rabbit, en den dey
+tuck'n put out. En whar you 'speck dat ar muscheevous Brer Rabbit tuck'n
+kyar' Brer Fox?"
+
+Uncle Remus paused and gazed around upon his audience with uplifted
+eyebrows, as if to warn them to be properly astonished. Nobody made any
+reply, but all looked expectant, and Uncle Remus went on:--
+
+"He ain't kyar 'im nowhars in de roun' worl' but ter one er deze yer
+great big scaly-bark trees. De tree wuz des loaded down wid
+scaly-barks, but dey wa'n't ripe, en de green hulls shined in de sun des
+lak dey ben whitewash'. Brer Fox look 'stonish'. Atter w'ile he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Is dem ar de w'ite muscadimes? Mighty funny I ain't fine it out 'fo'
+dis.'
+
+"Ole Brer Rabbit, he scratch hisse'f en 'low:--
+
+"'Dems um. Dey may n't be ripe ez dem w'at I had fer my brekkus, but
+dems de w'ite muscadimes sho' ez youer bawn. Dey er red bullaces[80] en
+dey er black bullaces, but deze yer, dey er de w'ite bullaces.'
+
+"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine git um?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll des hatter do lak I done.'
+
+"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How wuz dat?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll hatter clam fer 'm.'
+
+"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine clam?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Grab wid yo' han's, clam wid yo' legs, en I'll
+push behime!'"
+
+"Man--Sir!--he's a-talkin' now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically.
+
+"Brer Fox, he clum, en Brer Rabbit, he push, twel, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox
+got whar he kin grab de lowmos' lim's, en dar he wuz! He crope on up, he
+did, twel he come ter whar he kin retch de green scaly-bark, en den he
+tuck'n pull one en bite it, en, gentermens! hit uz dat rough en dat
+bitter twel little mo' en he'd 'a' drapt spang out'n de tree.
+
+"He holler '_Ow!_' en spit it out'n he mouf des same ez ef 't wuz rank
+pizen, en he make sech a face dat you would n't b'leeve it skacely
+less'n you seed it. Brer Rabbit, he hatter cough fer ter keep fum
+laughin', but he make out ter holler, sezee:--
+
+"'Come down, Brer Fox! Dey ain't ripe. Come down en less go some'rs
+else.'
+
+"Brer Fox start down, en he git 'long mighty well twel he come ter de
+lowmos' lim's, en den w'en he git dar he can't come down no furder,
+'kaze he ain't got no claw fer cling by, en not much leg fer clamp.
+
+"Brer Rabbit keep on hollerin', 'Come down!' en Brer Fox keep on
+studyin' how he gwine ter come down. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Come on, Brer Fox! I tuck'n push you up, en ef I 'uz dar whar you is,
+I'd take'n push you down.'
+
+"Brer Fox sat dar on de lowmos' lim's en look lak he skeer'd. Bimeby
+Brer Rabbit tuck he stan' 'way off fum de tree, en he holler, sezee:--
+
+"'Ef you'll take'n jump out dis way, Brer Fox, I'll ketch you.'
+
+"Brer Fox look up, he look down, he look all 'roun'. Brer Rabbit come
+little closer, en 'low, sezee:--
+
+"'Hop right down yer, Brer Fox, en I'll ketch you.'
+
+"Hit keep on dis a-way, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox tuck a notion to jump, en
+des ez he jump Brer Rabbit hop out de way en holler, sezee:--
+
+"'_Ow!_ Scuze me, Brer Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot! Scuze me, Brer
+Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot!'
+
+"En dat ole Brer Fox," continued Uncle Remus, dropping his voice a
+little, "dat ole Brer Fox, gentermens! you oughter bin dar! He hit de
+groun' like a sack er taters, en it des nat'ally knock de breff out'n
+'im. W'en he git up en count hisse'f fer ter see ef he all dar, he ain't
+kin walk skacely, en he sat dar en lick de so' places a mighty long time
+'fo' he feel lak he kin make he way todes home."
+
+When the little boy wanted to know what became of Brother Rabbit Uncle
+Remus said:--
+
+"Shoo! don't you pester 'bout Brer Rabbit. He kick up he heels en put
+out fum dar." Then he added: "Dem ar chick'ns crowin' 'g'in, honey. Done
+gone by nine er'clock. Scoot out fum dis. Miss Sally'll be a-rakin' me
+over de coals."
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[80] Another name for muscadines.
+
+
+
+
+LXIV
+
+MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD
+
+
+One night the little boy ran into Uncle Remus's cabin singing:--
+
+    "_T-u Turkey, t-u Ti,
+    T-u Turkey Buzzard's eye!_"
+
+Uncle Remus, Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and 'Tildy were all sitting around
+the fire, for the Christmas weather was beginning to make itself rather
+severely felt. As they made room for the child, Daddy Jack flung his
+head back, and took up the song, beating time with his foot:--
+
+    "'_T-u Tukry, t-u Ti,
+    T-u Tukry-Buzzud y-eye!
+    T-u Tukry, t-u Ting,
+    T-u Tukry-Buzzud wing!_"
+
+"Deyer mighty kuse creeturs," said 'Tildy, who was sitting rather nearer
+to Daddy Jack than had been her custom,--a fact to which Aunt Tempy had
+already called the attention of Uncle Remus by a motion of her head,
+causing the old man to smile a smile as broad as it was wise. "Deyer
+mighty kuse, an' I'm fear'd un um," 'Tildy went on. "Dey looks so
+lonesome hit makes me have de creeps fer ter look at um."
+
+"Dey no hu't-a you," said Daddy Jack, soothingly. "You flut you' han'
+toze um dey fly 'way fum dey-dey."
+
+"I dunno 'bout dat," said 'Tildy. "Deyer bal'-headed, en dat w'at make
+me 'spize um."
+
+Daddy Jack rubbed the bald place on his head with such a comical air
+that even 'Tildy laughed. The old African retained his good-humor.
+
+"You watch dem Buzzud," he said after awhile, addressing himself
+particularly to the little boy. "'E fly high, 'e fly low, 'e fly 'way
+'roun'. Rain come, 'e flup 'e wings, 'e light 'pon dead pine. Rain
+fall, 'e hug 'ese'f wit' 'e wing, 'e scrooge 'e neck up. Rain come, win'
+blow, da Buzzud bin-a look ragged. Da Buzzud bin-a wink 'e y-eye, 'e
+say:--
+
+"'Wun da win' fer stop blow en da rain fer stop drip, me go mek me one
+house. Me mek um tight fer keep da rain out; me pit top on strong fer
+keep da win' out.'
+
+"Dun da rain dry up en da win' stop. Da Buzzud, 'e stan' 'pon top da
+dead pine. Wun da sun bin-a shine, 'e no mek um no house no'n 't all. 'E
+stay 'pon da dead pine; 'e 'tretch 'e wing wide open; 'e bin dry hisse'f
+in da sun. 'E hab mek no house sence 'e bin born. 'E one fool bud."
+
+"En yit," said Uncle Remus, with a grave, judicial air, "I year tell er
+one time w'en ole Brer Buzzard wa'n't so mighty fur outer de way wid he
+notions."
+
+"Me yent yeddy tahlk 'bout dis," Daddy Jack explained.
+
+"I 'speck not," responded Uncle Remus. "Hit seem lak dat dey wuz one
+time w'en Mr. Hawk come sailin' 'roun' huntin' fer sump'n' 'n'er t' eat,
+en he see Brer Buzzard settin' on a dead lim', lookin' mighty lazy en
+lonesome.
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'How you come on, Brer Buzzard?'
+
+"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm mighty po'ly, Brer Hawk; po'ly en hongry.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'W'at you waitin' yer fer ef you hongry, Brer
+Buzzard?'
+
+"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm a-waitin' on de Lord.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Better run en git yo' brekkus, Brer Buzzard, en den
+come back en wait.'
+
+"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'No, Brer Hawk, I'll go bidout my brekkus druther
+den be biggity 'bout it.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, he 'low, sezee, 'Well, den, Brer Buzzard, you got yo' way en
+I got mine. You see dem ar chick'ns, down dar in Mr. Man hoss-lot? I'm
+a-gwine down dar en git one un um, en den I'll come back yer en wait
+'long wid you.'
+
+"Wid dat, Mr. Hawk tuck'n sail off, en Brer Buzzard drop he wings down
+on de lim' en look mighty lonesome. He sot dar en look mighty lonesome,
+he did, but he keep one eye on Mr. Hawk.
+
+"Mr. Hawk, he sail 'roun' en 'roun', en he look mighty purty. He sail
+'roun' en 'roun' 'bove de hoss-lot--'roun' en 'roun'--en bimeby he dart
+down at chick'ns. He shot up he wings en dart down, he did, des same ef
+he 'uz fired out'n a gun."
+
+"Watch out, pullets!" exclaimed 'Tildy, in a tone of warning.
+
+"He dart down, he did," continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his hand
+thoughtfully across the top of his head, "but stidder he hittin' de
+chick'ns, he tuck'n hit 'pon de sharp een' un a fence-rail. He hit dar,
+he did, en dar he stuck."
+
+"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.
+
+"Dar he stuck. Brer Buzzard sot en watch 'im. Mr. Hawk ain't move. Brer
+Buzzard sot en watch 'im some mo'. Mr. Hawk ain't move. He done stone
+dead. De mo' Brer Buzzard watch 'im de mo' hongrier he git, en bimeby he
+gedder up he wings, en sorter clean out he year wid he claw, en 'low,
+sezee:--
+
+"'I know'd de Lord 'uz gwineter pervide.'"
+
+"Trufe too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy. "'T ain't bin in my min' dat Buzzard
+got sense lak dat!"
+
+"Dar's whar you missed it, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus gravely. "Brer
+Buzzard, he tuck'n drap down fum de dead lim', en he lit on Mr. Hawk, en
+had 'im fer brekkus. Hit's a mighty 'roun' about way fer ter git
+chick'n-pie, yit hit's lots better dan no way."
+
+"I 'speck Hawk do tas'e like chicken," remarked 'Tildy.
+
+"Dey mos' sho'ly does," said Uncle Remus, with emphasis.
+
+
+
+
+LXV
+
+MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT
+
+
+"I year tell er one time," said 'Tildy, "w'en ole Mr. Hawk tuck'n kotch
+Brer Rabbit, but 't ain't no tale like dem you all bin tellin'."
+
+"Tell it, anyhow, 'Tildy," said the little boy.
+
+"Well, 't ain't no tale, I tell you dat now. One time Brer Rabbit wuz
+gwine 'long thoo de bushes singin' ter hisse'f, en he see a shadder pass
+befo' 'im. He look up, en dar 'uz Mr. Hawk sailin' 'roun' en 'roun'.
+Time he see 'im, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter kick up en sassy 'im.
+
+"Mr. Hawk ain't pay no 'tention ter dis. He des sail all 'roun' en
+'roun'. Eve'y time he sail 'roun', he git little closer, but Brer Rabbit
+ain't notice dis. He too busy wid his devilment. He shuck his fis' at
+Mr. Hawk, en chunk'd at 'im wid sticks;[81] en atter w'ile he tuck'n make
+out he got a gun, en he tuck aim at Mr. Hawk, en 'low'd, 'Pow!' en den
+he holler en laugh.
+
+"All dis time Mr. Hawk keep on sailin' 'roun' en 'roun' en gittin'
+nigher en nigher, en bimeby down he drapt right slambang on Brer Rabbit,
+en dar he had 'im. Brer Rabbit fix fer ter say his pra'rs, but 'fo' he
+do dat, he talk to Mr. Hawk, en he talk mighty fergivin'. He 'low he
+did:--
+
+"'I 'uz des playin', Mr. Hawk; I 'uz dez a-playin'. You oughtn' ter fly
+up en git mad wid a little bit er man like me.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk ruffle up de fedders on his neck en say:--
+
+"'I ain't flyin' up, I'm a-flyin' down, en w'en I fly up, I'm a-gwine
+ter fly 'way wid you. You bin a-playin' de imp 'roun' in dis settlement
+long 'nuff, en now ef you got any will ter make, you better make it
+quick, 'kaze you ain't got much time.'
+
+"Brer Rabbit cry. He say:--
+
+"'I mighty sorry, Mr. Hawk, dat I is. I got some gol' buried right over
+dar in fence cornder, en I wish in my soul my po' little childuns know
+whar 't wuz, 'kaze den dey could git long widout me fer a mont' er two.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk 'low, 'Whar'bouts is all dis gol'?'
+
+"Brer Rabbit low, 'Right over dar in de fence-cornder.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk say show it ter 'im. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
+en he say:--
+
+"'I'd 'a' done show'd it ter you long 'fo' dis, but you hol' me so
+tight, I can't wink my eye skacely, much less walk ter whar de gol' is.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk say he fear'd he gwineter try ter git 'way. Brer Rabbit say
+dey ain't no danger er dat, 'kaze he one er deze yer kinder mens w'en
+dey er kotch once deyer kotch fer good.
+
+"Mr. Hawk sorter let Brer Rabbit loose, en dey went todes de
+fence-cornder. Brer Rabbit, he went 'long so good dat dis sorter ease
+Mr. Hawk min' 'bout he gittin' 'way. Dey got ter de place en Brer Rabbit
+look all 'roun', en den he frown up like he got some mighty bad
+disap'intment, en he say:--
+
+"'You may b'lieve me er not, Mr. Hawk, but we er on de wrong side er de
+fence. I hid dat gol' some'rs right in dat cornder dar. You fly over en
+I'll go thoo.'
+
+"Tooby sho' dis look fa'r, en Brer Rabbit, he crope thoo' de fence, en
+Mr. Hawk flew'd 'cross. Time he lit on t'er side, Mr. Hawk year Brer
+Rabbit laugh."
+
+The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit laughed for, as 'Tildy paused
+to adjust a flaming red ribbon-bow pinned in her hair.
+
+"'Kaze dey wuz a brier-patch on t'er side de fence," said 'Tildy, "en
+Brer Rabbit wuz in dar."
+
+"I boun' you!" Aunt Tempy exclaimed. "He 'uz in dar, en dar he stayed
+tel Mr. Hawk got tired er hangin' 'roun' dar."
+
+"Ah, Lord, chile!" said Uncle Remus, with the candor of an expert, "some
+er dat tale you got right, en some you got wrong."
+
+"Oh, I know'd 't wa'n't no tale like you all bin tellin'," replied
+'Tildy, modestly.
+
+"Tooby sho' 't is," continued Uncle Remus, by way of encouragement; "but
+w'iles we gwine 'long we better straighten out all de kinks dat'll b'ar
+straightenin'."
+
+"Goodness knows I ain't fittin' ter tell no tale," persisted 'Tildy.
+
+"Don't run yo'se'f down, gal," said Uncle Remus, encouragingly; "ef
+dey's to be any runnin' down let yuther folks do it; en, bless yo' soul,
+dey'll do 'nuff un it bidout waitin' fer yo' lettin'.
+
+"Now, den, old man Hawk,--w'ich dey call 'im Billy Blue-tail in my day
+en time,--ole man Hawk, he tuck'n kotch Brer Rabbit des lak you done
+said. He kotch 'im en he hilt 'im in a mighty tight grip, let 'lone dat
+he hilt 'im so tight dat it make Brer Rabbit breff come short lak he des
+come off'n a long jurney.
+
+"He holler en he beg, but dat ain't do no good; he squall en he cry, but
+dat ain't do no good; he kick en he groan, but dat ain't do no good. Den
+Brer Rabbit lay still en study 'bout w'at de name er goodness he gwine
+do. Bimeby he up'n 'low:--
+
+"'I dunner w'at you want wid me, Mr. Hawk, w'en I ain't a mouf full fer
+you, skacely!'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'I'll make way wid you, en den I'll go ketch me a
+couple er Jaybirds.'
+
+"Dis make Brer Rabbit shake wid de allovers, 'kaze ef dey's any kinder
+creetur w'at he nat'ally 'spize on de topside er de yeth, hit's a
+Jaybird.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Do, pray, Mr. Hawk, go ketch dem Jaybirds fus',
+'kaze I can't stan' um bein' on top er me. I'll stay right yer, plum
+twel you come back,' sezee.
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh, Brer Rabbit, you done bin fool too many folks.
+You ain't fool me,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Ef you can't do dat, Mr. Hawk, den de bes' way
+fer you ter do is ter wait en lemme git tame, 'kaze I'm dat wil' now dat
+I don't tas'e good.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Well, den, ef dat won't do, you better wait en
+lemme grow big so I'll be a full meal er vittles.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Now youer talkin' sense!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'En I'll rush 'roun' 'mungs' de bushes, en drive
+out Pa'tridges fer you, en we'll have mo' fun dan w'at you kin shake a
+stick at.'
+
+"Mr. Hawk sorter study 'bout dis, en Brer Rabbit, he beg en he 'splain,
+en de long en de short un it wuz," said Uncle Remus, embracing his knee
+with his hands, "dat Brer Rabbit tuck'n git loose, en he ain't git no
+bigger, en needer is he druv no Pa'tridges fer Mr. Hawk."
+
+"De Lord he'p my soul!" exclaimed 'Tildy, and this was the only comment
+made upon this extraordinary story.
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[81] That is to say, threw sticks at Mr. Hawk.
+
+
+
+
+LXVI
+
+THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD
+
+
+All this talk about Hawks and Buzzards evidently reminded Daddy Jack of
+another story. He began to shake his head and mumble to himself; and,
+finally, when he looked around and found that he had attracted the
+attention of the little company, he rubbed his chin and grinned until
+his yellow teeth shone in the firelight like those of some wild animal,
+while his small eyes glistened under their heavy lids with a suggestion
+of cunning not unmixed with ferocity.
+
+"Talk it out, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus; "talk it out. All nex' week
+we'll be a-fixin' up 'bout Chris'mus. Mars Jeems, he's a-comin' up, en
+Miss Sally'll have lots er yuther comp'ny. 'Tildy yer, she'll be busy,
+en dish yer little chap, he won't have no time fer ter be settin' up
+wid de ole niggers, en Sis Tempy, she'll have 'er han's full, en ole
+Remus, he'll be a-pirootin' 'roun' huntin' fer dat w'at he kin pick up.
+Time's a-passin', Brer Jack, en we all er passin' wid it. Des whirl in
+en gin us de upshot er w'at you got in yo' min'."
+
+"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, by way of approval. "One time dey bin two
+bud. One bin sma't bud; da turrer, 'e bin fool bud. Dey bin lif in da
+sem countree; da bin use in da sem swamp. Da sma't bud, 'e is bin come
+'pon da fool bud; 'e bin tahlk. 'E bin say:--
+
+"'Ki! you long in da leg, you deep in da craw. You bin 'tan' well; you
+bin las' long tam.'
+
+"Fool bud, 'e look proud, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me no mekky no brag.'
+
+"Sma't bud, 'e say:--
+
+"'Less we try see fer how long tam we is kin go 'dout bittle un drink.'
+
+"Fool bud, 'e 'tretch 'e neck, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:--
+
+"'All-a right; me beat-a you all day ebry day. Me beat-a you all da
+tam.'
+
+"Sma't bud, 'e say:--
+
+"'Ef you bin 'gree wit' dis, less we tek we place. You git 'pon da
+crik-side en tekky one ho'n, I git 'pon da tree y-up dey, en tekky
+nurrer ho'n. Less we 'tan' dey-dey tel we see how long tam we is kin do
+'dout bittle en drink. Wun I blow 'pon me ho'n dun you blow 'pon you'
+ho'n fer answer me; me blow, you blow, dun we bote blow.'
+
+"Fool bud walk 'bout big; 'e say:--
+
+"'Me will do um!'
+
+"Nex' day mornin' come. Da sma't bud bin tekky one ho'n un fly 'pon da
+tree. De fool bud bin tekky one nurrer ho'n en set by da crik-side. Dey
+bin sta't in fer starf deyse'f. Da fool bud, 'e stay by da crik-side wey
+dey bin no'n 't all fer eat; 'e no kin fin' no bittle dey-dey. Sma't
+bud git in da tree da y-ant en da bug swa'm in da bark plenty. 'E pick
+dem ant, 'e y-eat dem ant; 'e pick dem bug, 'e y-eat dem bug. 'E pick
+tel 'e craw come full; he feel berry good.
+
+"Fool bud, 'e down by da crik-side. 'E set down, 'e come tire'; 'e 'tan'
+up, 'e come tire'; 'e walk 'bout, 'e come tire'. 'E 'tan' 'pon one leg,
+he 'tan' 'pon turrer; 'e pit 'e head need 'e wing; still he come tire'.
+Sma't bud shed 'e y-eye; 'e feel berry good. Wun 'e come hongry, 'e pick
+ant, 'e pick bug, tel 'e hab plenty, toze dinner-time 'e pick up 'e
+ho'n, 'e toot um strong--
+
+    "'_Tay-tay, tenando wanzando waneanzo!_'
+
+"Fool bud craw bin empty, but 'e hab win'. 'E tekky da ho'n, 'e blow
+berry well; he mek um say:--
+
+    "'_Tay-tay tenando wanzando olando!_'
+
+"Sma't bud pick ant plenty; 'e git full up. 'E wait tel mos' toze
+sundown; 'e blow 'pon da ho'n--
+
+    "'_Tay-tay tenando wanzando waneanzo!_'
+
+"Fool bud mek answer, but 'e come weak; 'e yent hab eat nuttin' 't all.
+Soon nex' day mornin' sma't bud tek 'e ho'n en toot um. 'E done bin eat,
+'e done bin drink dew on da leaf. Fool bud, 'e toot um ho'n, 'e toot um
+slow.
+
+"Dinner-time, sma't bud bin tek 'e ho'n en blow; 'e yent bin honkry no'n
+'t all; 'e hab good feelin'. Fool bud toot um ho'n; 'e toot um slow.
+Night tam come, 'e no toot um no mo'. Sma't bud come down, 'e fin' um
+done gone dead.
+
+"Watch dem 'ceitful folks; 'e bin do you bad."[82]
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[82] Mrs. H. S. Barclay, of Darien, who sends this story, says it was
+told by a native African woman, of good intelligence, who claimed to be
+a princess. She had an eagle tattoed on her bosom--a sign of royalty.
+
+
+
+
+LXVII
+
+OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH
+
+
+"Dat tale," said Uncle Remus, "puts me in min' er de time w'en ole Brer
+Tarrypin had a tussel wid Brer Mink. Hit seem lak," he went on, in
+response to inquiries from the little boy, "dat dey bofe live 'roun' de
+water so much en so long dat dey git kinder stuck up long wid it.
+Leasways dat 'uz de trouble wid Brer Mink. He jump in de water en swim
+en dive twel he 'gun ter b'leeve dey wa'n't nobody kin hol' der han'
+long wid 'im.
+
+"One day Brer Mink 'uz gwine long down de creek wid a nice string er
+fish swingin' on he walkin'-cane, w'en who should he meet up wid but ole
+Brer Tarrypin. De creeturs 'uz all hail feller wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en
+no sooner is he seed Brer Mink dan he bow 'im howdy. Ole Brer Tarrypin
+talk 'way down in he th'oat lak he got bad col'. He 'low:--
+
+"'Heyo, Brer Mink! Whar you git all dem nice string er fish?'
+
+"Brer Mink 'uz mighty up-en-spoken in dem days. He 'low, he did:--
+
+"'Down dar in de creek, Brer Tarrypin.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin look 'stonish'. He say, sezee:--
+
+"'Well, well, well! In de creek! Who'd er b'leev'd it?'
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Whar I gwine ketch um, Brer Tarrypin, ef I ain't
+ketch um in de creek?'
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'Dat's so, Brer Mink; but a highlan' man lak
+you gwine in de creek atter fish! Hit looks turrible, Brer Mink--dat
+w'at it do; hit des looks turrible!'
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Looks er no looks, dar whar I got um.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin sorter sway he head fum side ter side, en 'low:--
+
+"'Ef dat de case, Brer Mink, den sho'ly you mus' be one er dem ar kinder
+creeturs w'at usen ter de water.'
+
+"'Dat's me,' sez Brer Mink, sezee.
+
+"'Well, den,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'I'm a highlan' man myse'f, en
+it's bin a mighty long time sence I got my foots wet, but I don't min'
+goin' in washin' 'long wid you. Ef youer de man you sez you is, you kin
+outdo me,' sezee.
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'How we gwine do, Brer Tarrypin?'
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'We 'ull go down dar ter de creek, en de man
+w'at kin stay und' de water de longest, let dat man walk off wid dat
+string er fish.'
+
+"Brer Mink, sezee: 'I'm de ve'y man you bin lookin' fer.'
+
+"Brer Mink say he don't wanter put it off a minnit. Go he would, en go
+he did. Dey went down ter creek en make der 'rangerments. Brer Mink lay
+he fish down on der bank, en 'im en ole Brer Tarrypin wade in. Brer
+Tarrypin he make great 'miration 'bout how col' he water is. He flinch,
+he did, en 'low:--
+
+"'Ow, Brer Mink! Dish yer water feel mighty col' and 't ain't no mo'n up
+ter my wais'. Goodness knows how she gwine feel w'en she git up und' my
+chin.'
+
+"Dey wade in, dey did, en Brer Tarrypin say, sezee:--
+
+"'Now, den, Brer Mink, we'll make a dive, en de man w'at stay und' de
+water de longest dat man gits de fish.'
+
+"Brer Mink 'low dat's de way he look at it, en den Brer Tarrypin gun de
+wud, en und' dey went. Co'se," said Uncle Remus, after a little pause,
+"Brer Tarrypin kin stay down in de water longer'n Brer Mink, en Brer
+Mink mought er know'd it. Dey stay en dey stay, twel bimeby Brer Mink
+bleedz ter come up, en he tuck'n kotch he breff, he did, lak he mighty
+glad fer ter git back ag'in. Den atter w'ile Brer Tarrypin stuck he nose
+out er de water, en den Brer Mink say Brer Tarrypin kin beat 'im. Brer
+Tarrypin 'low:--
+
+"'No, Brer Mink; hit's de bes' two out er th'ee. Ef I beats you dis time
+den de fish, deyer mine; ef I gits beated, den we kin take 'n'er trial.'
+
+"Wid dat, down dey went, but Brer Tarrypin ain't mo'n dove 'fo' up he
+come, en w'iles Brer Mink 'uz down dar honin' fer fresh a'r, he tuck'n
+gobble up de las' one er de fish, ole Brer Tarrypin did. He gobble up de
+fish, en he 'uz fixin' fer ter pick he toof, but by dis time Brer Mink
+bleedz ter come up, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he tuck'n slid down in de
+water. He slid so slick," said Uncle Remus, with a chuckle, "dat he
+ain't lef' a bubble. He ain't stay down long, n'er, 'fo' he come up en
+he make lak he teetotally out er win'.
+
+"Ole Brer Tarrypin come up, he did, en look 'roun', en 'fo' Brer Mink
+kin say a wud, he holler out:--
+
+"'Youer nice man, Brer Mink! Youer mighty nice man!'
+
+"'Wat I done now, Brer Tarrypin?'
+
+"'Don't ax me. Look up dar whar you bin eatin' dem fish en den ax
+yo'se'f. Youer mighty nice man!'
+
+"Brer Mink look 'roun' en, sho' 'nuff, de fish done gone. Ole Brer
+Tarrypin keep on talkin':--
+
+"'You tuck'n come up fust, en w'iles I bin down dar in de water,
+nat'ally achin' fer lack er win', yer you settin' up chawin' on de fish
+w'ich dey oughter bin mine!'
+
+"Brer Mink stan' 'im down dat he ain't eat dem fish; he 'ny it ter de
+las', but ole Brer Tarrypin make out he don't b'leeve 'im. He say,
+sezee:--
+
+"'You'll keep gwine on dis a-way, twel atter w'ile you'll be wuss'n Brer
+Rabbit. Don't tell me you ain't git dem fish, Brer Mink, 'kaze you know
+you is.'
+
+"Hit sorter make Brer Mink feel proud 'kaze ole Brer Tarrypin mix 'im up
+wid Brer Rabbit, 'kaze Brer Rabbit wuz a mighty man in dem days, en he
+sorter laugh, Brer Mink did, lak he know mo' dan he gwine tell. Ole Brer
+Tarrypin keep on grumblin'.
+
+"'I ain't gwine ter git mad long wid you, Brer Mink, 'kaze hit's a
+mighty keen trick, but you oughter be 'shame' yo'se'f fer ter be playin'
+tricks on a ole man lak me--dat you ought!'
+
+"Wid dat ole Brer Tarrypin went shufflin' off, en atter he git outer
+sight he draw'd back in he house en shot de do' en laugh en laugh twel
+dey wa'n't no fun in laughin'."
+
+
+
+
+LXVIII
+
+BRER FOX MAKES A NARROW ESCAPE
+
+
+The next time the little boy had an opportunity to visit Uncle Remus the
+old man was alone, but he appeared to be in good spirits. He was
+cobbling away upon what the youngster recognized as 'Tildy's Sunday
+shoes, and singing snatches of a song something like this:--
+
+    "_O Mr. Rabbit! yo' eye mighty big--
+      Yes, my Lord! dey er made fer ter see;
+    O Mr. Rabbit! yo' tail mighty short--
+      Yes, my Lord! hit des fits me!_"
+
+The child waited to hear more, but the song was the same thing over and
+over again--always about Brother Rabbit's big eyes and his short tail.
+After a while Uncle Remus acknowledged the presence of his little
+partner by remarking:--
+
+"Well, sir, we er all yer. Brer Jack and Sis Tempy en dat ar 'Tildy
+nigger may be a-pacin' 'roun' lookin' in de fence-cornders fer
+Chris'mus, but me en you en ole Brer Rabbit, we er all yer, en ef we
+ain't right on de spot, we er mighty close erroun'. Yasser, we is dat;
+mo' speshually ole Brer Rabbit, wid he big eye and he short tail. Don't
+tell me 'bout Brer Rabbit!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a great apparent
+enthusiasm, "'kaze dey ain't no use er talkin' 'bout dat creetur."
+
+The little boy was very anxious to know why.
+
+"Well, I tell you," said the old man. "One time dey wuz a monst'us dry
+season in de settlement whar all de creeturs live at, en drinkin'-water
+got mighty skace. De creeks got low, en de branches went dry, en all de
+springs make der disappearance 'cep'n one great big un whar all de
+creeturs drunk at. Dey'd all meet dar, dey would, en de bigges' 'ud
+drink fus', en by de time de big uns all done swaje der thuss[83] dey
+wa'n't a drap lef' fer de little uns skacely.
+
+"Co'se Brer Rabbit 'uz on de happy side. Ef anybody gwine git water Brer
+Rabbit de man. De creeturs 'ud see he track 'roun' de spring, but dey
+ain't nev' ketch 'im. Hit got so atter w'ile dat de big creeturs 'ud
+crowd Brer Fox out, en den 't wa'n't long 'fo' he hunt up Brer Rabbit en
+ax 'im w'at he gwine do.
+
+"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he up 'n tell Brer Fox fer ter go
+home en rub some 'lasses all on hisse'f en den go out en waller in de
+leafs. Brer Fox ax w'at he mus' do den, en Brer Rabbit say he mus' go
+down by de spring, en w'en de creeturs come ter de spring fer ter git
+dey water, he mus' jump out at um, en den atter dat he mus' waller lak
+he one er dem ar kinder varment w'at got bugs on um.
+
+"Brer Fox, he put out fer home, he did, en w'en he git dar he run ter de
+cubbud[84] en des gawm hisse'f wid 'lasses, en den he went out in de
+bushes, he did, en waller in de leafs en trash twel he look mos' bad ez
+Brer Rabbit look w'en he play Wull-er-de-Wust on de creeturs.
+
+"W'en Brer Fox git hisse'f all fix up, he went down ter de spring en
+hide hisse'f. Bimeby all de creeturs come atter der water, en w'iles dey
+'uz a-scuffin' en a-hunchin', en a-pushin' en a-scrougin', Brer Fox he
+jump out'n de bushes, en sorter switch hisse'f 'roun', en, bless yo'
+soul, he look lak de Ole Boy.
+
+"Brer Wolf tuck'n see 'im fus', en he jump spang over Brer B'ar head.
+Brer B'ar, he lip back, en ax who dat, en des time he do dis de t'er
+creeturs dey tuck'n make a break, dey did, lak punkins rollin' down
+hill, en mos' 'fo' youk'n wink yo' eye-ball, Brer Fox had de range er de
+spring all by hisse'f.
+
+"Yit 't wa'n't fur long, 'kaze 'fo' de creeturs mov'd fur, dey tuck'n
+tu'n 'roun', dey did, en crope back fer ter see w'at dat ar skeery
+lookin' varment doin'. W'en dey git back in seein' distuns dar 'uz Brer
+Fox walkin' up en down switchin' hisse'f.
+
+"De creeturs dunner w'at ter make un 'im. Dey watch, en Brer Fox march;
+dey watch, en he march. Hit keep on dis a-way twel bimeby Brer Fox 'gun
+ter waller in de water, en right dar," continued Uncle Remus, leaning
+back to laugh, "right dar 'uz whar Brer Rabbit had 'im. Time he 'gun ter
+waller in de water de 'lasses 'gun ter melt, en 't wa'n't no time
+skacely 'fo' de 'lasses en de leafs done all wash off, en dar 'uz ole
+Brer Fox des ez natchul ez life.
+
+"De fus' Brer Fox know 'bout de leafs comin' off, he year Brer B'ar
+holler on top er de hill:--
+
+"'You head 'im off down dar, Brer Wolf, en I'll head 'im off 'roun'
+yer!'
+
+"Brer Fox look 'roun' en he see all de leafs done come off, en wid dat
+he make a break, en he wa'n't none too soon, n'er, 'kaze little mo' en
+de creeturs 'ud 'a' kotch 'im."
+
+Without giving the little boy time to ask any questions, Uncle Remus
+added another verse to his Rabbit song, and harped on it for several
+minutes:--
+
+    "_O Mr. Rabbit! yo' year mighty long--
+      Yes, my Lord! dey made fer ter las';
+    O Mr. Rabbit! yo' toof mighty sharp--
+      Yes, my Lord! dey cuts down grass!_"
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[83] Assuaged their thirst.
+
+[84] Cupboard.
+
+
+
+
+LXIX
+
+BRER FOX'S FISH-TRAP
+
+
+The little boy wanted Uncle Remus to sing some more; but before the old
+man could either consent or refuse, the notes of a horn were heard in
+the distance. Uncle Remus lifted his hand to command silence, and bent
+his head in an attitude of attention.
+
+"Des listen at dat!" he exclaimed, with some show of indignation. "Dat
+ain't nothin' in de roun' worl' but ole man Plato wid dat tin hawn er
+his'n, en I boun' you he's a-drivin' de six mule waggin, en de waggin
+full er niggers fum de River place, en let 'lone dat, I boun' you deyer
+niggers strung out behime de waggin fer mo'n a mile, en deyer all er
+comin' yer fer ter eat us all out'n house en home, des 'kaze dey year
+folks say Chris'mus mos' yer. Hit's mighty kuse unter me dat ole man
+Plato ain't done toot dat hawn full er holes long 'fo' dis.
+
+"Yit I ain't blamin' um," Uncle Remus went on, with a sigh, after a
+little pause. "Dem ar niggers bin livin' 'way off dar on de River place
+whar dey ain't no w'ite folks twel dey er done in about run'd wil'. I
+ain't a-blamin' um, dat I ain't."
+
+Plato's horn--a long tin bugle--was by no means unmusical. Its range was
+limited, but in Plato's hands its few notes were both powerful and
+sweet. Presently the wagon arrived, and for a few minutes all was
+confusion, the negroes on the Home place running to greet the
+new-comers, who were mostly their relatives. A stranger hearing the
+shouts and outcries of these people would have been at a loss to account
+for the commotion.
+
+Even Uncle Remus went to his cabin door, and, with the little boy by his
+side, looked out upon the scene,--a tumult lit up by torches of resinous
+pine. The old man and the child were recognized, and for a few moments
+the air was filled with cries of:--
+
+"Howdy, Unk Remus! Howdy, little Marster!"
+
+After a while Uncle Remus closed his door, laid away his tools, and
+drew his chair in front of the wide hearth. The child went and stood
+beside him, leaning his head against the old negro's shoulder, and the
+two--old age and youth, one living in the Past and the other looking
+forward only to the Future--gazed into the bed of glowing embers
+illuminated by a thin, flickering flame. Probably they saw nothing
+there, each being busy with his own simple thoughts; but their shadows,
+enlarged out of all proportion, and looking over their shoulders from
+the wall behind them, must have seen something, for, clinging together,
+they kept up a most incessant pantomime; and Plato's horn, which sounded
+again to call the negroes to supper after their journey, though it
+aroused Uncle Remus and the child from the contemplation of the fire,
+had no perceptible effect upon the Shadows.
+
+"Dar go de vittles!" said Uncle Remus, straightening himself. "Dey tells
+me dat dem ar niggers on de River place got appetite same ez a mule. Let
+'lone de vittles w'at dey gits from Mars John, dey eats oodles en oodles
+er fish. Ole man Plato say dat de nigger on de River place w'at ain't
+got a fish-baskit in de river er some intruss[85] in a fish-trap ain't no
+'count w'atsomever."
+
+Here Uncle Remus suddenly slapped himself upon the leg, and laughed
+uproariously; and when the little boy asked him what the matter was, he
+cried out:--
+
+"Well, sir! Ef I ain't de fergittenest ole nigger twix' dis en
+Phillimerdelphy! Yer 't is mos' Chris'mus en I ain't tell you 'bout how
+Brer Rabbit do Brer Fox w'ence dey bofe un um live on de river. I dunner
+w'at de name er sense gittin' de marter 'long wid me."
+
+Of course the little boy wanted to know all about it, and Uncle Remus
+proceeded:--
+
+"One time Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit live de on river. Atter dey bin livin'
+dar so long a time, Brer Fox 'low dat he got a mighty hankerin' atter
+sump'n' 'sides fresh meat, en he say he b'leeve he make 'im a fish-trap.
+Brer Rabbit say he wish Brer Fox mighty well, but he ain't honin' atter
+fish hisse'f, en ef he is he ain't got no time fer ter make no
+fish-trap.
+
+"No marter fer dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n got 'im out some timber, he did,
+en he wuk nights fer ter make dat trap. Den w'en he git it done, he
+tuck'n hunt 'im a good place fer ter set it, en de way he sweat over dat
+ar trap wuz a sin--dat 't wuz.
+
+"Yit atter so long a time, he got 'er sot, en den he tuck'n wash he face
+en han's en go home. All de time he 'uz fixin' un it up, Brer Rabbit 'uz
+settin' on de bank watchin' 'im. He sot dar, he did, en play in de
+water, en cut switches fer ter w'ip at de snake-doctors,[86] en all dat
+time Brer Fox, he pull en haul en tote rocks fer ter hol' dat trap
+endurin' a freshet.
+
+"Brer Fox went home en res' hisse'f, en bimeby he go down fer ter see ef
+dey any fish in he trap. He sorter fear'd er snakes, but he feel 'roun'
+en he feel 'roun', yit he ain't feel no fish. Den he go off.
+
+"Bimeby, 'long todes de las' er de week, he go down en feel 'roun'
+'g'in, yit he ain't feel no fish. Hit keep on dis a-way twel Brer Fox
+git sorter fag out. He go en he feel, but dey ain't no fish dar. Atter
+w'ile, one day, he see de signs whar somebody bin robbin' he trap, en he
+'low ter hisse'f dat he'll des in 'bout watch en fine out who de
+somebody is.
+
+"Den he tuck'n got in he boat en paddle und' de bushes on de bank en
+watch he fish-trap. He watch all de mornin'; nobody ain't come. He watch
+all endurin' er atter dinner; nobody ain't come. 'Long todes night, w'en
+he des 'bout makin' ready fer ter paddle off home, he year fuss on t'er
+side de river, en lo en beholes, yer come Brer Rabbit polin' a boat
+right todes Brer Fox fish-trap.
+
+"Look lak he dunner how to use a paddle, en he des had 'im a long pole,
+en he'd stan' up in de behime part er he boat, en put de een' er de pole
+'gin' de bottom, en shove 'er right ahead.
+
+"Brer Fox git mighty mad w'en he see dis, but he watch en wait. He 'low
+ter hisse'f, he did, dat he kin paddle a boat pearter dan anybody kin
+pole um, en he say he sho'ly gwine ketch Brer Rabbit dis time.
+
+"Brer Rabbit pole up ter de fish-trap, en feel 'roun' en pull out a
+great big mud-cat; den he retch in en pull out 'n'er big mud-cat; den he
+pull out a big blue cat, en it keep on dis a-way twel he git de finest
+mess er fish you mos' ever laid yo' eyes on.
+
+"Des 'bout dat time, Brer Fox paddle out fum und' de bushes, en make
+todes Brer Rabbit, en he holler out:--
+
+"'Ah-yi! Youer de man w'at bin robbin' my fish-trap dis long time! I got
+you dis time! Oh, you nee'nter try ter run! I got you dis time sho'!'
+
+"No sooner said dan no sooner done. Brer Rabbit fling he fish in he boat
+en grab up de pole en push off, en he had mo' fun gittin' 'way fum dar
+dan he y-ever had befo' in all he born days put terge'er."
+
+"Why did n't Brother Fox catch him, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
+
+"_Shoo!_ Honey, you sho'ly done lose yo' min' 'bout Brer Rabbit."
+
+"Well, I don't see how he could get away."
+
+    [Illustration: "HE GIT DE FINEST MESS ER FISH YOU MOS' EVER
+    LAID YO' EYES ON"]
+
+"Ef you'd er bin dar you'd er seed it, dat you would. Brer Fox, he wuz
+dar, en he seed it, en Brer Rabbit, he seed it, en e'en down ter ole
+Brer Bull-frog, a-settin' on de bank, he seed it. Now, den," continued
+Uncle Remus, spreading out the palm of his left hand like a map and
+pointing at it with the forefinger of his right, "w'en Brer Rabbit pole
+he boat, he bleedz ter set in de behime een', en w'en Brer Fox paddle he
+boat, _he_ bleedz ter set in de behime een'. Dat bein' de state er de
+condition, how Brer Fox gwine ketch 'im? I ain't 'sputin' but w'at he
+kin paddle pearter dan Brer Rabbit, but de long en de shorts un it
+is, de pearter Brer Fox paddle de pearter Brer Rabbit go."
+
+The little boy looked puzzled. "Well, I don't see how," he exclaimed.
+
+"Well, sir!" continued Uncle Remus, "w'en de nose er Brer Fox boat git
+close ter Brer Rabbit boat all Brer Rabbit got ter do in de roun' worl'
+is ter take he pole en put it 'gin' Brer Fox boat en push hisse'f out de
+way. De harder he push Brer Fox boat back, de pearter he push he own
+boat forrerd. Hit look mighty easy ter ole Brer Bull-frog settin' on de
+bank, en all Brer Fox kin do is ter shake he fist en grit he toof,
+w'iles Brer Rabbit sail off wid de fish."
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[85] Interest.
+
+[86] Dragon-flies.
+
+
+
+
+LXX
+
+BRER RABBIT RESCUES BRER TERRAPIN
+
+
+The arrival of the negroes from the River place added greatly to the
+enthusiasm with which the Christmas holidays were anticipated on the
+Home place, and the air was filled with laughter day and night. Uncle
+Remus appeared to be very busy, though there was really nothing to be
+done except to walk around and scold at everybody and everything, in a
+good-humored way, and this the old man could do to perfection.
+
+The night before Christmas eve, however, the little boy saw a light in
+Uncle Remus's cabin, and he interpreted it as in some sort a signal of
+invitation. He found the old man sitting by the fire and talking to
+himself:--
+
+"Ef Mars John and Miss Sally 'specks me fer ter keep all deze yer
+niggers straight deyer gwine ter be diserp'inted,--dat dey is. Ef dey
+wuz 'lev'm Remuses 't would n't make no diffunce, let 'long one po' ole
+cripple creetur lak me. Dey ain't done no damage yit, but I boun' you by
+termorrer night dey'll tu'n loose en tu'n de whole place upside down, en
+t'ar it up by de roots, en den atter hit's all done gone en done,
+yer'll come Miss Sally a-layin' it all at ole Remus do'. Nigger ain't
+got much chance in deze yer low-groun's, mo' speshually w'en dey gits
+ole en cripple lak I is."
+
+"What are they going to do to-morrow night, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
+inquired.
+
+"Now w'at make you ax dat, honey?" exclaimed the old man, in a grieved
+tone. "You knows mighty well how dey done las' year en de year 'fo' dat.
+Dey tuck'n cut up 'roun' yer wuss'n ef dey 'uz wil' creeturs, en
+termorrer night dey'll be a-hollin' en whoopin' en singin' en dancin'
+'fo' it git dark good. I wish w'en you go up ter de big house you be so
+good ez ter tell Miss Sally dat ef she want any peace er min' she better
+git off'n de place en stay off twel atter deze yer niggers git dey fill
+er Chris'mus. Goodness knows, she can't 'speck a ole cripple nigger lak
+me fer ter ketch holt en keep all deze yer niggers straight."
+
+Uncle Remus would have kept up his vague complaints, but right in the
+midst of them Daddy Jack stuck his head in at the door, and said:--
+
+"Oona bin fix da' 'Tildy gal shoe. Me come fer git dem shoe; me come fer
+pay you fer fix dem shoe."
+
+Uncle Remus looked at the grinning old African in astonishment. Then
+suddenly the truth dawned upon him and he broke into a loud laugh.
+Finally he said:--
+
+"Come in, Brer Jack! Come right 'long in. I'm sorter po'ly myse'f, yit
+I'll make out ter make you welcome. Dey wuz a quarter dollar gwine inter
+my britches-pocket on de 'count er dem ar shoes, but ef youer gwine ter
+pay fer um 't won't be but a sev'mpunce."
+
+Somehow or other Daddy Jack failed to relish Uncle Remus's tone and
+manner, and he replied, with some display of irritation:
+
+"Shuh-shuh! Me no come in no'n 't all. Me no pay you se'mpunce. Me come
+fer pay you fer dem shoe; me come fer tek um 'way fum dey-dey."
+
+"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Jack, I dunno 'bout dat. De las' time I year
+you en 'Tildy gwine on, she wuz 'pun de p'ints er knockin' yo' brains
+out. Now den, s'pozen I whirls in en gins you de shoes, en den 'Tildy
+come 'long en ax me 'bout um, w'at I gwine say ter 'Tildy?"
+
+"Me pay you fer dem shoe," said Daddy Jack, seeing the necessity of
+argument, "un me tek um wey da lil 'Tildy gal bin stay. She tell me fer
+come git-a dem shoe."
+
+"Well, den, yer dey is," said Uncle Remus, sighing deeply as he handed
+Daddy Jack the shoes. "Yer dey is, en youer mo' dan welcome, dat you is.
+But spite er dat, dis yer quarter you flingin' 'way on um would er done
+you a sight mo' good dan w'at dem shoes is."
+
+This philosophy was altogether lost upon Daddy Jack, who took the shoes
+and shuffled out with a grunt of satisfaction. He had scarcely got out
+of hearing before 'Tildy pushed the door open and came in. She hesitated
+a moment, and then, seeing that Uncle Remus paid no attention to her,
+she sat down and picked at her fingers with an air quite in contrast to
+her usual "uppishness," as Uncle Remus called it.
+
+"Unk Remus," she said, after awhile, in a subdued tone, "is dat old
+Affikin nigger bin yer atter dem ar shoes?"
+
+"Yas, chile," replied Uncle Remus, with a long-drawn sigh, "he done bin
+yer en got um en gone. Yas, honey, he done got um en gone; done come en
+pay fer 'm, en got um en gone. I sez, sez I, dat I wish you all mighty
+well, en he tuck'n tuck de shoes en put. Yas, chile, he done got um en
+gone."
+
+Something in Uncle Remus's sympathetic and soothing tone seemed to
+exasperate 'Tildy. She dropped her hands in her lap, straightened
+herself up and exclaimed:--
+
+"Yas, I'm is gwine ter marry dat ole nigger an' I don't keer who knows
+it. Miss Sally say she don't keer, en t'er folks may keer ef dey wanter,
+en much good der keerin' 'll do um."
+
+'Tildy evidently expected Uncle Remus to make some characteristic
+comment, for she sat and watched him with her lips firmly pressed
+together and her eyelids half-closed,--an attitude of defiance
+significant enough when seen, but difficult to describe. But the old man
+made no response to the challenge. He seemed to be very busy. Presently
+'Tildy went on:--
+
+"Somebody bleedz to take keer er dat ole nigger, en I dunner who gwine
+ter do it ef I don't. Somebody bleedz ter look atter 'im. Good win' come
+'long hit 'ud in about blow 'im 'way ef dey wa'n't somebody close 'roun'
+fer ter take keer un 'im. Let 'lone dat, I ain't gwineter have dat ole
+nigger man f'ever 'n 'ternally trottin' atter me. I tell you de Lord's
+trufe, Unk Remus," continued 'Tildy, growing confidential, "I ain't had
+no peace er min' sence dat ole nigger man come on dis place. He des bin
+a-pacin' at my heels de whole blessed time, en I bleedz ter marry 'im
+fer git rid un 'im."
+
+"Well," said Uncle Remus, "hit don't s'prize me. You marry en den youer
+des lak Brer Fox wid he bag. You know w'at you put in it, but you dunner
+w'at you got in it."
+
+'Tildy flounced out without waiting for an explanation, but the mention
+of Brother Fox attracted the attention of the little boy, and he wanted
+to know what was in the bag, how it came to be there, and all about it.
+
+"Now, den," said Uncle Remus, "hit's a tale, en a mighty long tale at
+dat, but I'll des hatter cut it short, 'kaze termorrer night you'll
+wanter be a-settin' up lis'nen at de kyar'n's on er dem ar niggers,
+w'ich I b'leeve in my soul dey done los' all de sense dey ever bin
+bornded wid.
+
+"One time Brer Fox wuz gwine on down de big road, en he look ahead en he
+see ole Brer Tarrypin makin' he way on todes home. Brer Fox 'low dis a
+mighty good time fer ter nab ole Brer Tarrypin, en no sooner is he thunk
+it dan he put out back home, w'ich 't wa'n't but a little ways, en he
+git 'im a bag. He come back, he did, en he run up behime ole Brer
+Tarrypin en flip 'im in de bag en sling de bag 'cross he back en go
+gallin'-up back home.
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he holler, but 't ain't do no good, he rip en he r'ar,
+but 't ain't do no good. Brer Fox des keep on a-gwine, en 't wa'n't long
+'fo' he had ole Brer Tarrypin slung up in de cornder in de bag, en de
+bag tied un hard en fas'.
+
+"But w'iles all dis gwine on," exclaimed Uncle Remus, employing the tone
+and manner of some country preacher he had heard, "whar wuz ole Brer
+Rabbit? Yasser--dats it, whar wuz he? En mo'n dat, w'at you 'speck he
+'uz doin' en whar you reckon he wer' gwine? Dat's de way ter talk it;
+whar'bouts wuz he?"
+
+The old man brought his right hand down upon his knee with a thump that
+jarred the tin-plate and cups on the mantel-shelf, and then looked
+around with a severe frown to see what the chairs and the work-bench,
+and the walls and the rafters, had to say in response to his remarkable
+argument. He sat thus in a waiting attitude a moment, and then, finding
+that no response came from anything or anybody, his brow gradually
+cleared, and a smile of mingled pride and satisfaction spread over his
+face, as he continued in a more natural tone:--
+
+"Youk'n b'leeve me er not b'leeve des ez youer min' ter, but dat ar
+long-year creetur--dat ar hoppity-skippity--dat ar
+up-en-down-en-sailin'-'roun' Brer Rabbit, w'ich you bin year me call he
+name 'fo' dis, he wa'n't so mighty fur off w'iles Brer Fox gwine 'long
+wid dat ar bag slung 'cross he back. Let 'lone dat, Brer Rabbit 'uz
+settin' right dar in de bushes by de side er de road, en w'ence he see
+Brer Fox go trottin' by, he ax hisse'f w'at is it dat creetur got in dat
+ar bag.
+
+"He ax hisse'f, he did, but he dunno. He wunder en he wunder, yit de mo'
+he wunder de mo' he dunno. Brer Fox, he go trottin' by, en Brer Rabbit,
+he sot in de bushes en wunder. Bimeby he 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat
+Brer Fox ain't got no business fer ter be trottin' 'long down de road,
+totin' doin's w'ich yuther folks dunner w'at dey is, en he 'low dat dey
+won't be no great harm done ef he take atter Brer Fox en fine out w'at
+he got in dat ar bag.
+
+"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he put out. He ain't got no bag fer ter tote, en
+he pick up he foots mighty peart. Mo'n dat, he tuck'n tuck a nigh-cut,
+en by de time Brer Fox git home, Brer Rabbit done had time fer ter go
+'roun' by de watermillion-patch en do some er he devilment, en den atter
+dat he tuck'n sot down in de bushes whar he kin see Brer Fox w'en he
+come home.
+
+"Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid de bag slung 'cross he back. He onlatch de
+do', he did, en he go in en sling Brer Tarrypin down in de cornder, en
+set down front er de h'ath fer ter res' hisse'f."
+
+Here Uncle Remus paused to laugh in anticipation of what was to follow.
+
+"Brer Fox ain't mo'n lit he pipe," the old man continued, after a
+tantalizing pause, "'fo' Brer Rabbit stick he head in de do' en
+holler:--
+
+"Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! You better take yo' walkin'-cane en run down yan.
+Comin' 'long des now I year a mighty fuss, en I look 'roun' en dar wuz a
+whole passel er folks in yo' watermillion-patch des a-tromplin' 'roun'
+en a-t'arin' down. I holler'd at um, but dey ain't pay no 'tention ter
+little man lak I is. Make 'a'se, Brer Fox! make 'a'se! Git yo' cane en
+run down dar. I'd go wid you myse'f, but my ole 'oman ailin' en I bleedz
+ter be makin' my way todes home. You better make 'a'se, Brer Fox, ef you
+wanter git de good er yo' watermillions. Run, Brer Fox! run!'
+
+"Wid dat Brer Rabbit dart back in de bushes, en Brer Fox drap he pipe en
+grab he walkin'-cane en put out fer he watermillion-patch, w'ich 't wer'
+down on de branch; en no sooner is he gone dan ole Brer Rabbit come out
+de bushes en make he way in de house.
+
+"He go so easy dat he ain't make no fuss; he look 'roun' en dar wuz de
+bag in de cornder. He kotch holt er de bag en sorter feel un it, en time
+he do dis, he year sump'n' holler:--
+
+"'Ow! Go 'way! Lem me 'lone! Tu'n me loose! Ow!'
+
+"Brer Rabbit jump back 'stonish'd. Den 'fo' you kin wink yo' eye-ball,
+Brer Rabbit slap hisse'f on de leg en break out in a laugh. Den he up'n
+'low:--
+
+"'Ef I ain't make no mistakes, dat ar kinder fuss kin come fum nobody in
+de roun' worl' but ole Brer Tarrypin.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin, he holler, sezee: 'Ain't dat Brer Rabbit?'
+
+"'De same,' sezee.
+
+"'Den whirl in en tu'n me out. Meal dus' in my th'oat, grit in my eye,
+en I ain't kin git my breff, skacely. Tu'n me out, Brer Rabbit.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin talk lak somebody down in a well. Brer Rabbit, he holler
+back:--
+
+"'Youer lots smarter dan w'at I is, Brer Tarrypin--lots smarter. Youer
+smarter en pearter. Peart ez I come yer, you is ahead er me. I know how
+you git in de bag, but I dunner how de name er goodness you tie yo'se'f
+up in dar, dat I don't.'
+
+"Brer Tarrypin try ter splain, but Brer Rabbit keep on laughin', en he
+laugh twel he git he fill er laughin'; en den he tuck'n ontie de bag en
+take Brer Tarrypin out en tote 'im 'way off in de woods. Den, w'en he
+done dis, Brer Rabbit tuck'n run off en git a great big hornet-nes' w'at
+he see w'en he comin' long--"
+
+"A hornet's nest, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the little boy, in amazement.
+
+"Tooby sho', honey. 'T ain't bin a mont' sence I brung you a great big
+hornet-nes', en yer you is axin' dat. Brer Rabbit tuck'n slap he han'
+'cross de little hole whar de hornets goes in at, en dar he had um. Den
+he tuck'n tuck it ter Brer Fox house, en put it in de bag whar Brer
+Tarrypin bin.
+
+"He put de hornet-nes' in dar," continued Uncle Remus, lowering his
+voice, and becoming very grave, "en den he tie up de bag des lak he
+fine it. Yit 'fo' he put de bag back in de cornder, w'at do dat creetur
+do? I ain't settin' yer," said the old man, seizing his chair with both
+hands, as if by that means to emphasize the illustration, "I ain't
+settin' yer ef dat ar creetur ain't grab dat bag en slam it down 'g'in
+de flo', en hit it 'g'in de side er de house twel he git dem ar hornets
+all stirred up, en den he put de bag back in de cornder, en go out in de
+bushes ter whar Brer Tarrypin waitin', en den bofe un um sot out dar en
+wait fer ter see w'at de upshot gwine ter be.
+
+"Bimeby, yer come Brer Fox back fum he watermillion-patch en he look lak
+he mighty mad. He strak he cane down 'pun de groun', en do lak he gwine
+take he revengeance out'n po' ole Brer Tarrypin. He went in de do', Brer
+Fox did, en shot it atter 'im. Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin lissen', but
+dey ain't year nothin'.
+
+"But bimeby, fus' news you know, dey year de mos' owdashus racket, tooby
+sho'. Seem lak, fum whar Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin settin' dat dey
+'uz a whole passel er cows runnin' 'roun' in Brer Fox house. Dey year de
+cheers a-fallin', en de table turnin' over, en de crock'ry breakin', en
+den de do' flew'd open, en out come Brer Fox, a-squallin' lak de Ole Boy
+wuz atter 'im. En sech a sight ez dem t'er creeturs seed den en dar
+ain't never bin seed befo' ner sence.
+
+"Dem ar hornets des swarmed on top er Brer Fox. 'Lev'm dozen un um 'ud
+hit at one time, en look lak dat ar creetur bleedz ter fine out fer
+hisse'f w'at pain en suffin' is. Dey bit 'im en dey stung 'im, en fur ez
+Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin kin year 'im, dem hornets 'uz des a-nailin'
+'im. Gentermens! dey gun 'im binjer!
+
+"Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin, dey sot dar, dey did, en dey laugh en
+laugh, twel bimeby, Brer Rabbit roll over en grab he stomach, en
+holler:--
+
+"'Don't, Brer Tarrypin! don't! One giggle mo' en you'll hatter tote me.'
+
+"En dat ain't all," said Uncle Remus, raising his voice. "I know a
+little chap w'ich ef he set up yer 'sputin' 'longer me en de t'er
+creeturs, he won't have much fun termorrer night."
+
+The hint was sufficient, and the little boy ran out laughing.
+
+
+
+
+LXXI
+
+THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
+
+
+The day and the night before Christmas were full of pleasure for the
+little boy. There was pleasure in the big house, and pleasure in the
+humble cabins in the quarters. The peculiar manner in which the negroes
+celebrated the beginning of the holidays was familiar to the child's
+experience, but strange to his appreciation, and he enjoyed everything
+he saw and heard with the ready delight of his years,--a delight, which,
+in this instance, had been trained and sharpened, if the expression may
+be used, in the small world over which Uncle Remus presided.
+
+The little boy had a special invitation to be present at the marriage of
+Daddy Jack and 'Tildy, and he went, accompanied by Uncle Remus and Aunt
+Tempy. It seemed to be a very curious affair, but its incongruities made
+small impression upon the mind of the child.
+
+'Tildy wore a white dress and had a wreath of artificial flowers in her
+hair. Daddy Jack wore a high hat, which he persisted in keeping on his
+head during the ceremony, and a coat the tails of which nearly dragged
+the floor. His bright little eyes glistened triumphantly, and he grinned
+and bowed to everybody again and again. After it was all over, the
+guests partook of cake baked by Aunt Tempy, and persimmon beer brewed by
+Uncle Remus.
+
+It seemed, however, that 'Tildy was not perfectly happy; for, in
+response to a question asked by Aunt Tempy, she said:--
+
+"Yes'm, I'm gwine down de country 'long wid my ole man, an' I lay ef
+eve'ything don't go right, I'm gwineter pick up en come right back."
+
+"No-no!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "'e no come bahck no'n 't all. 'E bin
+stay dey-dey wit' 'e nice ole-a man."
+
+"You put yo' pennunce in dat!" said 'Tildy, scornfully. "Dey ain't
+nobody kin hol' me w'en I takes a notion, 'cep'n hit's Miss Sally; en,
+goodness knows, Miss Sally ain't gwine ter be down dar."
+
+"Who Miss Sally gwine put in de house?" Aunt Tempy asked.
+
+"Humph!" exclaimed 'Tildy, scornfully, "Miss Sally say she gwine take
+dat ar Darkess[87] nigger en put 'er in my place. En a mighty nice mess
+Darkess gwine ter make un it! Much she know 'bout waitin' on w'ite
+folks! Many's en many's de time Miss Sally'll set down in 'er
+rockin'-cheer en wish fer 'Tildy--many's de time."
+
+This was 'Tildy's grievance,--the idea that some one could be found to
+fill her place; and it is a grievance with which people of greater
+importance than the humble negro house-girl are more or less familiar.
+
+But the preparations for the holidays went on in spite of 'Tildy's
+grievance. A large platform, used for sunning wheat and seed cotton, was
+arranged by the negroes for their dance, and several wagon-loads of
+resinous pine--known as lightwood--were placed around about it in little
+heaps, so that the occasion might lack no element of brilliancy.
+
+At nightfall the heaps of lightwood were set on fire, and the little
+boy, who was waiting impatiently for Uncle Remus to come for him, could
+hear the negroes singing, dancing, and laughing. He was just ready to
+cry when he heard the voice of his venerable partner.
+
+"Is dey a'er passenger anywhar's 'roun' yer fer Thumptown? De stage done
+ready en de hosses a-prancin'. Ef dey's a'er passenger 'roun' yer, I lay
+he des better be makin' ready fer ter go."
+
+The old man walked up to the back piazza as he spoke, held out his
+strong arms, and the little boy jumped into them with an exclamation of
+delight. The child's mother gave Uncle Remus a shawl to wrap around the
+child, and this shawl was the cause of considerable trouble, for the
+youngster persisted in wrapping it around the old man's head, and so
+blinding him that there was danger of his falling. Finally, he put the
+little boy down, took off his hat, raised his right hand, and said:--
+
+"Now, den, I bin a-beggin' un you fer ter quit yo' 'haveishness des long
+ez I'm a-gwinter, en I ain't gwine beg you no mo', 'kaze I'm des
+teetotally wo' out wid beggin', en de mo' I begs de wuss you gits. Now
+I'm done! You des go yo' ways en I'll go mine, en my way lays right
+spang back ter de big house whar Miss Sally is. Dat's whar I'm a-gwine!"
+
+Uncle Remus started to the house with an exaggerated vigor of movement
+comical to behold; but, however comical it may have been, it had its
+effect. The little boy ran after him, caught him by the hand, and made
+him stop.
+
+"Now, Uncle Remus, _please_ don't go back. I was just playing."
+
+Uncle Remus's anger was all pretence, but he managed to make it very
+impressive.
+
+"My playin' days done gone too long ter talk 'bout. When I plays, I
+plays wid wuk, dat w'at I plays wid."
+
+"Well," said the child, who had tactics of his own, "if I can't play
+with you, I don't know who I am to play with."
+
+This touched Uncle Remus in a very tender spot. He stopped in the path,
+took off his spectacles, wiped the glasses on his coat-tail, and said
+very emphatically:--
+
+"Now den, honey, des lissen at me. How de name er goodness kin you call
+dat playin', w'ich er little mo' en I'd er fell down on top er my head,
+en broke my neck en yone too?"
+
+The child promised that he would be very good, and Uncle Remus picked
+him up, and the two made their way to where the negroes had congregated.
+They were greeted with cries of "Dar's Unk Remus!" "Howdy, Unk Remus!"
+"Yer dey is!" "Ole man Remus don't sing; but w'en he do
+sing--gentermens! des go 'way!"
+
+All this and much more, so that when Uncle Remus had placed the little
+boy upon a corner of the platform, and made him comfortable, he
+straightened himself with a laugh and cried out:--
+
+"Howdy, boys! howdy all! I des come up fer ter jine in wid you fer one
+'roun' fer de sakes er ole times, ef no mo'."
+
+"I boun' fer Unk Remus!" some one said. "Now des hush en let Unk Remus
+'lone!" exclaimed another.
+
+The figure of the old man, as he stood smiling upon the crowd of
+negroes, was picturesque in the extreme. He seemed to be taller than all
+the rest; and, notwithstanding his venerable appearance, he moved and
+spoke with all the vigor of youth. He had always exercised authority
+over his fellow-servants. He had been the captain of the corn-pile, the
+stoutest at the log-rolling, the swiftest with the hoe, the neatest with
+the plough, and the plantation hands still looked upon him as their
+leader.
+
+Some negro from the River place had brought a fiddle, and, though it was
+a very feeble one, its screeching seemed to annoy Uncle Remus.
+
+"Put up dat ar fiddle!" he exclaimed, waving his hand. "Des put 'er up;
+she sets my toof on aidje. Put 'er up en les go back ter ole times. Dey
+ain't no room fer no fiddle 'roun' yer, 'kaze w'en you gits me started
+dat ar fiddle won't be nowhars."
+
+"Dat's so," said the man with the fiddle, and the irritating instrument
+was laid aside.
+
+"Now, den," Uncle Remus went on, "dey's a little chap yer dat you'll all
+come ter know mighty well one er deze odd-come-shorts, en dish yer
+little chap ain't got so mighty long fer ter set up 'long wid us. Dat
+bein' de case we oughter take 'n put de bes' foot fo'mus' fer ter
+commence wid."
+
+"You lead, Unk Remus! You des lead en we'll foller."
+
+Thereupon the old man called to the best singers among the negroes and
+made them stand near him. Then he raised his right hand to his ear and
+stood perfectly still. The little boy thought he was listening for
+something, but presently Uncle Remus began to slap himself gently with
+his left hand, first upon the leg and then upon the breast. The other
+negroes kept time to this by a gentle motion of their feet, and finally,
+when the thump--thump--thump of this movement had regulated itself to
+suit the old man's fancy, he broke out with what may be called a
+Christmas dance song.
+
+His voice was strong, and powerful, and sweet, and its range was as
+astonishing as its volume. More than this, the melody to which he tuned
+it, and which was caught up by a hundred voices almost as sweet and as
+powerful as his own, was charged with a mysterious and pathetic
+tenderness.
+
+The fine company of men and women at the big house--men and women who
+had made the tour of all the capitals of Europe--listened with swelling
+hearts and with tears in their eyes as the song rose and fell upon the
+air--at one moment a tempest of melody, at another a heart-breaking
+strain breathed softly and sweetly to the gentle winds. The song that
+the little boy and the fine company heard was something like
+this--ridiculous enough when put in cold type, but powerful and
+thrilling when joined to the melody with which the negroes had invested
+it:--
+
+_MY HONEY, MY LOVE_
+
+    _Hit's a mighty fur ways up de Far'well Lane,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    You may ax Mister Crow, you may ax Mr. Crane,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Dey'll make you a bow, en dey'll tell you de same,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Hit's a mighty fur ways fer to go in de night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _Mister Mink, he creep twel he wake up de snipe,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Mister Bull-Frog holler,_ Come-a-light my pipe _,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    En de Pa'tridge ax,_ Ain't yo' peas ripe?
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Better not walk erlong dar much atter night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _De Bully-Bat fly mighty close ter de groun',
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Mister Fox, he coax 'er,_ Do come down!
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Mister Coon, he rack all 'roun' en 'roun',
+                  My honey, my love!
+    In de darkes' night, oh, de nigger, he's a sight!
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _Oh, flee, Miss Nancy, flee ter my knee,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    'Lev'm big fat coons lives in one tree,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Oh, ladies all, won't you marry me?
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Tu'n lef', tu'n right, we 'ull dance all night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+    _De big Owl holler en cry fer his mate,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Oh, don't stay long! Oh, don't stay late!
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Hit ain't so mighty fur ter de Good-by Gate,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    Whar we all got ter go w'en we sing out de night,
+                  My honey, my love!
+    My honey, my love, my heart's delight--
+                  My honey, my love!_
+
+After a while the song was done, and other songs were sung; but it was
+not long before Uncle Remus discovered that the little boy was fast
+asleep. The old man took the child in his arms and carried him to the
+big house, singing softly in his ear all the way; and somehow or other
+the song seemed to melt and mingle in the youngster's dreams. He thought
+he was floating in the air, while somewhere near all the negroes were
+singing, Uncle Remus's voice above all the rest; and then, after he had
+found a resting-place upon a soft warm bank of clouds, he thought he
+heard the songs renewed. They grew fainter and fainter in his dreams
+until at last (it seemed) Uncle Remus leaned over him and sang
+
+    GOOD-NIGHT
+
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[87] Dorcas.
+
+
+    +-------------------------------------------+
+    |Transcriber's Note:                        |
+    |                                           |
+    |Punctuation and inconsistencies in language|
+    |and dialect found in the original book have|
+    |been retained.                             |
+    +-------------------------------------------+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Nights With Uncle Remus, by Joel Chandler Harris
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