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- height: 4px; - border-width: 4px 0 0 0; /* remove all borders except the top one */ - border-style: solid; - border-color: #000000; - clear: both; } - </style> -</head> -<body> -<h1 class="pg">The Project Gutenberg eBook, Daddy Jake the Runaway, by Joel Chandler -Harris</h1> -<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States -and most other parts of the world 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 <a -href="http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you are not -located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this ebook.</p> -<p>Title: Daddy Jake the Runaway</p> -<p> And Short Stories Told after Dark</p> -<p>Author: Joel Chandler Harris</p> -<p>Release Date: November 29, 2019 [eBook #60804]</p> -<p>Language: English</p> -<p>Character set encoding: UTF-8</p> -<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY JAKE THE RUNAWAY***</p> -<p> </p> -<h4>E-text prepared by Richard Tonsing, David Edwards,<br /> - and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> - (<a href="http://www.pgdp.net">http://www.pgdp.net</a>)<br /> - from page images generously made available by<br /> - Internet Archive<br /> - (<a href="https://archive.org">https://archive.org</a>)</h4> -<p> </p> -<table border="0" style="background-color: #ccccff;margin: 0 auto;" cellpadding="10"> - <tr> - <td valign="top"> - Note: - </td> - <td> - Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - <a href="https://archive.org/details/daddyjakerunaway00harruoft"> - https://archive.org/details/daddyjakerunaway00harruoft</a> - </td> - </tr> -</table> -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> - -<div class='section ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>DADDY JAKE</div> - <div>THE RUNAWAY</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div id='Frontispiece' class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>JUDGE RABBIT AND THE FAT MAN.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='titlepage'> - -<div class='figleft id002'> -<img src='images/titlepagea.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='figright id002'> -<img src='images/titlepageb.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h1 class='c002'>DADDY JAKE<br /> THE RUNAWAY<br /> <span class='large'>AND SHORT STORIES TOLD AFTER DARK</span></h1> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='small'>BY</span></div> - <div class='c004'><span class='xlarge'>“UNCLE REMUS”</span></div> - <div>JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id003'> -<img src='images/titlepagec.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>NEW YORK</div> - <div><span class='large'>THE CENTURY CO.</span></div> - <div>1898</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>Copyright, 1889, by</div> - <div><span class='sc'>Joel Chandler Harris</span>.</div> - <div class='c003'><span class='small'>THE DE VINNE PRESS, NEW YORK.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>CONTENTS</h2> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary='CONTENTS'> -<colgroup> -<col width='2%' /> -<col width='91%' /> -<col width='5%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c006'> </td> - <td class='c006'> </td> - <td class='c007'><span class='small'><span class='sc'>Page</span></span></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>Daddy Jake, the Runaway</span>:</td> - <td class='c007'> </td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'> </td> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>Chapter I</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_1'>1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'> </td> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>Chapter II</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_28'>28</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'> </td> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>Chapter III</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_53'>53</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>How a Witch was Caught</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_83'>83</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>The Little Boy and his Dogs</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_93'>93</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>How Black Snake Caught the Wolf</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_108'>108</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>Why the Guineas Stay Awake</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_118'>118</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>How the Terrapin was Taught to Fly</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_123'>123</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>The Creature with no Claws</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_134'>134</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>Uncle Remus’s Wonder Story</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_139'>139</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>The Rattlesnake and the Polecat</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_149'>149</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>How the Birds Talk</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_152'>152</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>The Foolish Woman</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_165'>165</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>The Adventures of Simon and Susanna</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_171'>171</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>Brother Rabbit and the Gingercakes</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_183'>183</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006' colspan='2'><span class='sc'>Brother Rabbit’s Courtship</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_188'>188</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary='ILLUSTRATIONS'> -<colgroup> -<col width='82%' /> -<col width='17%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c006'> </td> - <td class='c007'><span class='small'><span class='sc'>Page</span></span></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>Judge Rabbit and the Fat Man,</span></td> - <td class='c007'><span class='sc'><a href='#Frontispiece'>Frontispiece</a></span></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>The Youngsters Saw Daddy Jake, and Went Running After Him.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_9'>9</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>The Field-hands were Singing as they Picked the Opening Cotton.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_19'>19</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>‘Maybe he Knows Where Daddy Jake is,’ said Lillian.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>The Field-hands Discussed the Matter.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_29'>29</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>The Miller and his Children.</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_41'>41</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>An’ Ole Man Jake, he dar too.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_49'>49</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>Lucien Saw Him, and Rushed Toward Him.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_57'>57</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>Poor Old Sue Tells her Story.</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_63'>63</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>Mr. Rabbit Squall Out, ‘Coon Dead!’</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_71'>71</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>Den de Frogs dey Went to Work Sho Nuff.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_75'>75</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>The Old Negro Put his Hands to his Mouth and Called.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_79'>79</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>She Stood dar a Minit, dat Ole Black Cat Did.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_87'>87</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“‘<span class='sc'>All Ready, now. Stick yo’ Head In.</span>’”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_105'>105</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“<span class='sc'>En Eve’y Time He Swung Mr. Black Snake Tuck ’n Lash ’Im wid he Tail.</span>”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_115'>115</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'>“‘<span class='sc'>Brer Tarrypin, How You Feel?</span>’”</td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_127'>127</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>Billy Big-Eye and Tommy Long-Wing.</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_159'>159</a></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c006'><span class='sc'>Simon Shakes the Pebbles.</span></td> - <td class='c007'><a href='#Page_175'>175</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<div class='section ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c001'> - <div>DADDY JAKE</div> - <div>THE RUNAWAY</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_1'>1</span> - <h2 class='c005'>DADDY JAKE, THE RUNAWAY</h2> -</div> - -<h3 class='c008'><span class='sc'>Chapter I</span></h3> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c009'>One fine day in September, in the year 1863, -there was quite an uproar on the Gaston -plantation, in Putnam County, in the State of -Georgia. Uncle Jake, the carriage-driver, was -missing. He was more than fifty years old, and -it was the first time he had been missing since -his mistress had been big enough to call him. -But he was missing now. Here was his mistress -waiting to order the carriage; here was his master -fretting and fuming; and here were the two little -children, Lucien and Lillian, crying because they -didn’t know where Uncle Jake was—“Daddy -Jake,” who had heretofore seemed always to be -within sound of their voices, ready and anxious -to amuse them in any and every way.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Then came the news that Daddy Jake had actually -run away. This was, indeed, astounding -<span class='pageno' id='Page_2'>2</span>news, and although it was brought by the son of -the overseer, none of the Gastons would believe -it, least of all Lucien and Lillian. The son of the -overseer also brought the further information that -Daddy Jake, who had never had an angry word -for anybody, had struck the overseer across the -head with a hoe-handle, and had then taken to -the woods. Dr. Gaston was very angry, indeed, -and he told the overseer’s son that if anybody -was to blame it was his father. Mrs. Gaston, -with her eyes full of tears, agreed with her husband, -and Lucien and Lillian, when they found -that Daddy Jake was really gone, refused to be -comforted. Everybody seemed to be dazed. As -it was Saturday, and Saturday was a holiday, the -negroes stood around their quarters in little groups -discussing the wonderful event. Some of them -went so far as to say that if Daddy Jake had taken -to the woods it was time for the rest of them to -follow suit; but this proposition was hooted down -by the more sensible among them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Nevertheless, the excitement on the Gaston -plantation ran very high when it was discovered -that a negro so trusted and so trustworthy as -Daddy Jake had actually run away; and it was -not until all the facts were known that the other -negroes became reconciled to Daddy Jake’s absence. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span>What were the facts? They were very -simple, indeed; and yet, many lads and lasses -who read this may fail to fully comprehend them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>In the first place, the year in which Daddy -Jake became a fugitive was the year 1863, and -there was a great deal of doubt and confusion in -the South at that time. The Conscription Act -and the Impressment Law were in force. Under -the one, nearly all the able-bodied men and boys -were drafted into the army; and under the other, -all the corn and hay and horses that the Confederacy -needed were pressed into service. This -state of things came near causing a revolt in some -of the States, especially in Georgia, where the laws -seemed to bear most heavily. Something of this -is to be found in the history of that period, but -nothing approaching the real facts has ever been -published. After the Conscription Act was passed -the planters were compelled to accept the services -of such overseers as they could get, and the one -whom Dr. Gaston had employed lacked both experience -and discretion. He had never been -trained to the business. He was the son of a -shoemaker, and he became an overseer merely -to keep out of the army. A majority of those -who made overseeing their business had gone to -the war either as volunteers or substitutes, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>very few men capable of taking charge of a large -plantation were left behind.</p> - -<p class='c010'>At the same time overseers were a necessity -on some of the plantations. Many of the planters -were either lawyers or doctors, and these, if -they had any practice at all, were compelled to -leave their farming interests to the care of agents; -there were other planters who had been reared -in the belief that an overseer was necessary on a -large plantation; so that, for one cause and another, -the overseer class was a pretty large one. -It was a very respectable class, too; for, under -ordinary circumstances, no person who was not -known to be trustworthy would be permitted to -take charge of the interests of a plantation, for -these were as varied and as important as those -of any other business.</p> - -<p class='c010'>But in 1863 it was a very hard matter to get a -trustworthy overseer; and Dr. Gaston, having a -large practice as a physician, had hired the first -person who applied for the place, without waiting -to make any inquiries about either his knowledge -or his character; and it turned out that his overseer -was not only utterly incompetent, but that -he was something of a rowdy besides. An experienced -overseer would have known that he was -employed, not to exercise control over the house-servants, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>but to look after the farm-hands; but -the new man began business by ordering Daddy -Jake to do various things that were not in the -line of his duty. Naturally, the old man, who -was something of a boss himself, resented this -sort of interference. A great many persons were -of the opinion that he had been spoiled by -kind treatment; but this is doubtful. He had -been raised with the white people from a little -child, and he was as proud in his way as he was -faithful in all ways. Under the circumstances, -Daddy Jake did what other confidential servants -would have done; he ignored the commands of -the new overseer, and went about his business as -usual. This led to a quarrel—the overseer doing -most of the quarreling. Daddy Jake was on -his dignity, and the overseer was angry. Finally, -in his fury, he struck the old negro with a strap -which he was carrying across his shoulders. The -blow was a stinging one, and it was delivered -full in Uncle Jake’s face. For a moment the old -negro was astonished. Then he became furious. -Seizing an ax-handle that happened to be close -to his hand, he brought it down upon the head -of the overseer with full force. There was a tremendous -crash as the blow fell, and the overseer -went down as if he had been struck by a pile-driver. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>He gave an awful groan, and trembled -a little in his limbs, and then lay perfectly still. -Uncle Jake was both dazed and frightened. He -would have gone to his master, but he remembered -what he had heard about the law. In those -days a negro who struck a white man was tried -for his life, and if his guilt could be proven, he -was either branded with a hot iron and sold to a -speculator, or he was hanged.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The certainty of these punishments had no -doubt been exaggerated by rumor, but even the -rumor was enough to frighten the negroes. -Daddy Jake looked at the overseer a moment, -and then stopped and felt of him. He was motionless -and, apparently, he had ceased to -breathe. Then the old negro went to his cabin, -gathered up his blanket and clothes, put some -provisions in a little bag, and went off into the -woods. He seemed to be in no hurry. He -walked with his head bent, as if in deep thought. -He appeared to understand and appreciate the situation. -A short time ago he was the happy and -trusted servant of a master and mistress who had -rarely given him an unkind word; now he was a -fugitive—a runaway. As he passed along by -the garden palings he heard two little children -playing and prattling on the other side. They -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>were talking about him. He paused and listened.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Daddy Jake likes me the best,” Lucien was -saying, “because he tells me stories.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No,” said Lillian, “he likes me the best, -’cause he tells me all the stories and gives me -some gingercake, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The old negro paused and looked through the -fence at the little children, and then he went on -his way. But the youngsters saw Daddy Jake, -and went running after him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let me go, Uncle Jake!” cried Lucien. “Le’ -me go, too!” cried Lillian. But Daddy Jake -broke into a run and left the children standing in -the garden, crying.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was not very long after this before the whole -population knew that Daddy Jake had knocked -the overseer down and had taken to the woods. -In fact, it was only a few minutes, for some of -the other negroes had seen him strike the overseer -and had seen the overseer fall, and they lost no -time in raising the alarm. Fortunately the overseer -was not seriously hurt. He had received a -blow severe enough to render him unconscious -for a few minutes,—but this was all; and he was -soon able to describe the fracas to Dr. Gaston, -which he did with considerable animation.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>“And who told you to order Jake around?” -the doctor asked.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, I just thought I had charge of the -whole crowd.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You were very much mistaken, then,” said -Doctor Gaston, sharply; “and if I had seen you -strike Jake with your strap, I should have been -tempted to take my buggy-whip and give you a -dose of your own medicine.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>As a matter of fact, Doctor Gaston was very -angry, and he lost no time in giving the new -overseer what the negroes called his “walking-papers.” -He paid him up and discharged him on -the spot, and it was not many days before everybody -on the Gaston plantation knew that the man -had fallen into the hands of the Conscription officers -of the Confederacy, and that he had been sent -on to the front.</p> - -<p class='c010'>At the same time, as Mrs. Gaston herself remarked, -this fact, however gratifying it might be, -did not bring Daddy Jake back. He was gone, -and his absence caused a great deal of trouble on -the plantation. It was found that half-a-dozen -negroes had to be detailed to do the work which -he had voluntarily taken upon himself—one to -attend to the carriage-horses, another to look after -the cows, another to feed the hogs and sheep, -and still others to look after the thousand and one -little things to be done about the “big house.” -But not one of them, nor all of them, filled Daddy -Jake’s place.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span> -<img src='images/p009.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“THE YOUNGSTERS SAW DADDY JAKE, AND WENT RUNNING AFTER HIM.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>Many and many a time Doctor Gaston walked -up and down the veranda wondering where the -old negro was, and Mrs. Gaston, sitting in her -rocking-chair, looked down the avenue day after -day, half expecting to see Daddy Jake make his -appearance, hat in hand and with a broad grin on -his face. Some of the neighbors, hearing that -Uncle Jake had become a fugitive, wanted to get -Bill Locke’s “track-dogs” and run him down, but -Doctor Gaston and his wife would not hear to -this. They said that the old negro wasn’t used -to staying in the woods, and that it wouldn’t be -long before he would come back home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Doctor Gaston, although he was much troubled, -looked at the matter from a man’s point of view. -Here was Daddy Jake’s home; if he chose to -come back, well and good; if he didn’t, why, it -couldn’t be helped, and that was an end of the -matter. But Mrs. Gaston took a different view. -Daddy Jake had been raised with her father; he -was an old family servant; he had known and -loved her mother, who was dead; he had nursed -Mrs. Gaston herself when she was a baby; in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>short, he was a fixture in the lady’s experience, -and his absence worried her not a little. She -could not bear to think that the old negro was -out in the woods without food and without shelter. -If there was a thunderstorm at night, as -there sometimes is in the South during September, -she could hardly sleep for thinking about the -old negro.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Thinking about him led Mrs. Gaston to talk -about him very often, especially to Lucien and -Lillian, who had been in the habit of running out -to the kitchen while Daddy Jake was eating his -supper and begging him to tell a story. So far -as they were concerned, his absence was a personal -loss. While Uncle Jake was away they -were not only deprived of a most agreeable companion, -but they could give no excuse for not -going to bed. They had no one to amuse them -after supper, and, as a consequence, their evenings -were very dull. The youngsters submitted -to this for several days, expecting that Daddy -Jake would return, but in this they were disappointed. -They waited and waited for more than -a week, and then they began to show their impatience.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I used to be afraid of runaways,” said Lillian -one day, “but I’m not afraid now, ’cause Daddy -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>Jake is a runaway.” Lillian was only six years -old, but she had her own way of looking at -things.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Pshaw!” exclaimed Lucien, who was nine, -and very robust for his age; “I never was afraid -of runaways. I know mighty well they wouldn’t -hurt me. There was old Uncle Fed; he was a -runaway when Papa bought him. Would he -hurt anybody?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But there might be some bad ones,” said Lillian, -“and you know Lucinda says Uncle Fed is a -real, sure-enough witch.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Lucinda!” exclaimed Lucien, scornfully. -“What does Lucinda know about witches? If -one was to be seen she wouldn’t stick her head -out of the door to see it. She’d be scared to -death.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, and so would anybody,” said Lillian, -with an air of conviction. “I know I would.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, of course,—a little girl,” explained Lucien. -“Any little girl would be afraid of a witch, -but a great big double-fisted woman like Lucinda -ought to be ashamed of herself to be afraid of -witches, and that, too, when everybody knows -there aren’t any witches at all, except in the -stories.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I heard Daddy Jake telling about a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>witch that turned herself into a black cat, and -then into a big black wolf,” said Lillian.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, that was in old times,” said Lucien, -“when the animals used to talk and go on like -people. But you never heard Daddy Jake say -he saw a witch,—now, did you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No,” said Lillian, somewhat doubtfully; “but -I heard him talking about them. I hope no witch -will catch Daddy Jake.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Pshaw!” exclaimed Lucien. “Daddy Jake -carried his rabbit-foot with him, and you know -no witch can bother him as long as he has his -rabbit-foot.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said Lillian, solemnly, “if he’s got his -rabbit-foot and can keep off the witches all night, -he won’t come back any more.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But he <i>must</i> come,” said Lucien. “I’m going -after him. I’m going down to the landing -to-morrow, and I’ll take the boat and go down -the river and bring him back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, may I go, too?” asked Lillian.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes,” said Lucien, loftily, “if you’ll help me -get some things out of the house and not say anything -about what we are going to do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Lillian was only too glad to pledge herself to -secrecy, and the next day found the two children -busily preparing for their journey in search of -Daddy Jake.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>The Gaston plantation lay along the Oconee -River in Putnam County, not far from Roach’s -Ferry. In fact, it lay on both sides of the river, -and, as the only method of communication was -by means of a bateau, nearly everybody on the -plantation knew how to manage the boat. There -was not an hour during the day that the bateau -was not in use. Lucien and Lillian had been -carried across hundreds of times, and they were -as much at home in the boat as they were in a -buggy. Lucien was too young to row, but he -knew how to guide the bateau with a paddle -while others used the oars.</p> - -<p class='c010'>This fact gave him confidence, and the result -was that the two children quietly made their arrangements -to go in search of Daddy Jake. -Lucien was the “provider,” as he said, and -Lillian helped him to carry the things to the -boat. They got some meal-sacks, two old quilts, -and a good supply of biscuits and meat. Nobody -meddled with them, for nobody knew what -their plans were, but some of the negroes remarked -that they were not only unusually quiet, -but very busy—a state of things that is looked -upon by those who are acquainted with the ways -of children as a very bad sign, indeed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The two youngsters worked pretty much all -day, and they worked hard; so that when night -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>came they were both tired and sleepy. They -were tired and sleepy, but they managed to -cover their supplies with the meal-sacks, and the -next morning they were up bright and early. -They were up so early, indeed, that they thought -it was a very long time until breakfast was ready; -and, at last, when the bell rang, they hurried to the -table and ate ravenously, as became two travelers -about to set out on a voyage of adventure.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was all they could do to keep their scheme -from their mother. Once Lillian was on the -point of asking her something about it, but Lucien -shook his head, and it was not long before the -two youngsters embarked on their journey. -After seating Lillian in the bateau, Lucien unfastened -the chain from the stake, threw it into -the boat, and jumped in himself. Then, as the -clumsy affair drifted slowly with the current, he -seized one of the paddles, placed the blade -against the bank, and pushed the bateau out into -the middle of the stream.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was the beginning of a voyage of adventure, -the end of which could not be foretold; but the -sun was shining brightly, the mocking-birds were -singing in the water-oaks, the blackbirds were -whistling blithely in the reeds, and the children -were light-hearted and happy. They were going -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>to find Daddy Jake and fetch him back home, -and not for a moment did it occur to them that -the old negro might have gone in a different direction. -It seemed somehow to those on the -Gaston plantation that whatever was good, or -great, or wonderful had its origin “down the -river.” Rumor said that the biggest crops were -grown in that direction, and that there the negroes -were happiest. The river, indeed, seemed -to flow to some far-off country where everything -was finer and more flourishing. This was the -idea of the negroes themselves, and it was natural -that Lucien and Lillian should be impressed -with the same belief. So they drifted down the -river, confident that they would find Daddy Jake. -They had no other motive—no other thought. -They took no account of the hardships of a voyage -such as they had embarked on.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Lazily, almost reluctantly as it seemed, the -boat floated down the stream. At first, Lucien -was inclined to use the broad oar, but it appeared -that when he paddled on one side the -clumsy boat tried to turn its head up stream on -the other side, and so, after a while, he dropped -the oar in the bottom of the boat.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The September sun was sultry that morning, -but, obeying some impulse of the current, the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>boat drifted down the river in the shade of the -water-oaks and willows that lined the eastern -bank. On the western bank the Gaston plantation -lay, and as the boat floated lazily along the -little voyagers could hear the field-hands singing -as they picked the opening cotton. The song -was strangely melodious, though the words were -ridiculous.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>My dog’s a ’possum dog,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - <div class='line'>He cross de creek upon a log,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>He run de ’possum up a tree,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - <div class='line'>He good enough fer you an’ me,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Kaze when it come his fat’nin time,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - <div class='line'>De ’possum eat de muscadine,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>He eat till he kin skacely stan’,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - <div class='line'>An’ den we bake him in de pan,</div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Here, Rattler! here!</i></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span> -<img src='images/p019.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“THE FIELD-HANDS WERE SINGING AS THEY PICKED THE OPENING COTTON.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>It was to the quaint melody of this song that -the boat rocked and drifted along. One of the -negroes saw the children and thought he knew -them, and he called to them, but received no reply; -and this fact was so puzzling that he went -back and told the other negroes that there was -some mistake about the children. “Ef dey’d ’a’ -bin our chillun,” he said, “dey’d ’a’ hollered back -at me, sho’.” Whereupon the field-hands resumed -their work and their song, and the boat, gliding -southward on the gently undulating current, was -soon lost to view.</p> - -<p class='c010'>To the children it seemed to be a very pleasant -journey. They had no thought of danger. -The river was their familiar friend. They had -crossed and recrossed it hundreds of times. They -were as contented in the bateau as they would -have been in their mother’s room. The weather -was warm, but on the river and in the shade of -the overhanging trees the air was cool and refreshing. -And after a while the current grew -swifter, and the children, dipping their hands in -the water, laughed aloud.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Once, indeed, the bateau, in running over a long -stretch of shoals, was caught against a rock. An -ordinary boat would have foundered, but this boat, -clumsy and deep-set, merely obeyed the current. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>It struck the rock, recoiled, touched it again, and -then slowly turned around and pursued its course -down the stream. The shoals were noisy but -harmless. The water foamed and roared over the -rocks, but the current was deep enough to carry -the bateau safely down. It was not often that a -boat took that course, but Lucien and Lillian had -no sense of fear. The roaring and foaming of -the water pleased them, and the rushing and whirling -of the boat, as it went dashing down the rapids, -appeared to be only part of a holiday frolic. After -they had passed the shoals, the current became -swifter, and the old bateau was swept along at a -rapid rate. The trees on the river bank seemed -to be running back toward home, and the shadows -on the water ran with them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Sometimes the boat swept through long -stretches of meadow and marsh lands, and then -the children were delighted to see the sandpipers -and killdees running along the margin of the -water. The swallows, not yet flown southward, -skimmed along the river with quivering wing, and -the kingfishers displayed their shining plumage -in the sun. Once a moccasin, fat and rusty, frightened -by the unexpected appearance of the young -voyagers, dropped into the boat; but, before Lucien -could strike him with the unwieldy oar, he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>tumbled overboard and disappeared. Then the -youngsters ate their dinner. It was a very dry -dinner; but they ate it with a relish. The crows, -flying lazily over, regarded them curiously.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I reckon they want some,” said Lucien.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, they can’t get mine,” said Lillian, “’cause -I <i>jest</i> about got enough for myself.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>They passed a white man who was sitting on -the river bank, with his coat off, fishing.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where under the sun did you chaps come -from?” he cried.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Up the river,” replied Lucien.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where in the nation are you going?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Down the river.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Maybe he knows where Daddy Jake is,” said -Lillian. “Ask him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, he wouldn’t know Daddy Jake from a -side of sole leather,” exclaimed Lucien.</p> - -<p class='c010'>By this time the boat had drifted around a bend -in the river. The man on the bank took off his -hat with his thumb and forefinger, rubbed his -head with the other fingers, drove away a swarm -of mosquitoes, and muttered, “Well, I’ll be -switched!” Then he went on with his fishing.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Meanwhile the boat drifted steadily with the -current. Sometimes it seemed to the children -that the boat stood still, while the banks, the trees, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>and the fields moved by them like a double panorama. -Queer-looking little birds peeped at them -from the bushes; fox-squirrels chattered at them -from the trees; green frogs greeted them by plunging -into the water with a squeak; turtles slid noiselessly -off the banks at their approach; a red fox -that had come to the river to drink disappeared like -a shadow before the sun; and once a great white -crane rose in the air, flapping his wings heavily.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Altogether it was a very jolly journey, but after -a while Lillian began to get restless.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you reckon Daddy Jake will be in the -river when we find him?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Lucien himself was becoming somewhat tired, -but he was resolved to go right on. Indeed, he -could not do otherwise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, who ever heard of such a thing?” he -exclaimed. “What would Daddy Jake be doing -in the water?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, how are we’s to find him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, we’ll find him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I want to find him right now,” said Lillian, -“and I want to see Mamma, and Papa, and my -dollies.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said Lucien with unconscious humor, -“if you don’t want to go, you can get out and -walk back home.” At this Lillian began to cry.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span> -<img src='images/p025.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“‘MAYBE HE KNOWS WHERE DADDY JAKE IS,’ SAID LILLIAN.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>“Well,” said Lucien, “if Daddy Jake was over -there in the bushes and was to see you crying because -you didn’t want to go and find him, he’d -run off into the woods and nobody would see him -any more.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Lillian stopped crying at once, and, as the afternoon -wore on, both children grew more cheerful; -and even when twilight came, and after it the -darkness, they were not very much afraid. The -loneliness—the sighing of the wind through the -trees, the rippling of the water against the sides -of the boat, the hooting of the big swamp-owl, the -cry of the whippoorwill, and the answer of its -cousin, the chuck-will’s-widow—all these things -would have awed and frightened the children. But, -shining steadily in the evening sky, they saw the -star they always watched at home. It seemed to -be brighter than ever, this familiar star, and they -hailed it as a friend and fellow-traveler. They -felt that home couldn’t be so far away, for the star -shone in its accustomed place, and this was a -great comfort.</p> - -<p class='c010'>After a while the night grew chilly, and then -Lucien and Lillian wrapped their quilts about -them and cuddled down in the bottom of the boat. -Thousands of stars shone overhead, and it seemed -to the children that the old bateau, growing tired -of its journey, had stopped to rest; but it continued -to drift down the river.</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span> - <h3 class='c008'><span class='sc'>Chapter II</span></h3> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c009'>You may be sure there was trouble on the -Gaston place when night came and the children -did not return. They were missed at dinner-time; -but it frequently happened that they -went off with some of the plantation wagons, or -with some of the field-hands, and so nothing was -thought of their absence at noon; but when night -fell and all the negroes had returned from their -work, and there was still no sign of the children, -there was consternation in the big house and -trouble all over the plantation. The field-hands, -returned from their work, discussed the matter -at the doors of their cabins and manifested considerable -anxiety.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span> -<img src='images/p029.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“THE FIELD-HANDS DISCUSSED THE MATTER.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>At first the house-servants were sent scurrying -about the place hunting for the truants. Then -other negroes were pressed into service, until, -finally, every negro on the place was engaged in -the search, and torches could be seen bobbing -up and down in all parts of the plantation. The -negroes called and called, filling the air with -their musical halloos, but there was no reply save -from the startled birds, or from the dogs, who -seemed to take it for granted that everybody was -engaged in a grand ’possum hunt, and added the -strength of their own voices to the general -clamor.</p> - -<p class='c010'>While all this was going on, Mrs. Gaston was -pacing up and down the long veranda wringing -her hands in an agony of grief. There was but -one thought in her mind—the <i>river</i>, the <span class='fss'>RIVER</span>! -Her husband in the midst of his own grief tried -to console her, but he could not. He had almost -as much as he could do to control himself, and -there was in his own mind—the <span class='fss'>RIVER</span>!</p> - -<p class='c010'>The search on the plantation and in its vicinity -went on until nearly nine o’clock. About that -time Big Sam, one of the plough-hands, who -was also a famous fisherman, came running to -the house with a frightened face.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Marster,” he exclaimed, “de boat gone—she -done gone!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I knew it!” exclaimed Mrs. Gaston—“the -river, the river!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well!” said Doctor Gaston, “the boat must -be found. Blow the horn!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Big Sam seized the dinner-horn and blew a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>blast that startled the echoes for miles around. -The negroes understood this to be a signal to -return, and most of them thought that the children -had been found, so they came back laughing and -singing, and went to the big house to see the -children.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wh’abouts you fine um, marster?” asked the -foreman.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They haven’t been found, Jim,” said Dr. -Gaston. “Big Sam says that the boat is gone -from the landing, and that boat must be found -to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Marster,” said a negro, coming forward out -of the group, “I seed a boat gwine down stream -dis mornin’. I wuz way up on de hill—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And you didn’t come and tell me?” asked -Dr. Gaston in a severe tone.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, suh, I hollered at um, an’ dey ain’t make -no answer, an’ den it look like ter me ’t wuz dem -two Ransome boys. Hit mos’ drap out’n my -min’. An’ den you know, suh, our chillun ain’t -never had no doin’s like dat—gittin’ in de boat -by dey own-alone se’f an’ sailin’ off dat a-way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said Dr. Gaston, “the boat must be -found. The children are in it. Where can we -get another boat?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I got one, suh,” said Big Sam.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>“Me, too, marster,” said another negro.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then get them both, and be quick about it!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah-yi, suh,” was the response, and in a moment -the group was scattered, and Big Sam -could be heard giving orders in a loud and an energetic -tone of voice. For once he was in his -element. He could be foreman on the Oconee -if he couldn’t in the cotton-patch. He knew -every nook and cranny of the river for miles up -and down; he had his fish-baskets sunk in many -places, and the overhanging limbs of many a tree -bore the marks of the lines of his set-hooks. So -for once he appointed himself foreman, and took -charge of affairs. He and Sandy Bill (so-called -owing to the peculiar color of his hair) soon had -their boats at the landing. The other negroes -were assembled there, and the most of them had -torches.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Marster,” said Big Sam, “you git in my boat, -an’ let little Willyum come fer ter hol’ de torch. -Jesse, you git in dar wid Sandy Bill. Fling a -armful er light’ood in bofe boats, boys, kaze we -got ter have a light, and dey ain’t no tellin’ how -fur we gwine.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The fat pine was thrown in, everything made -ready, and then the boats started. With one -sweep of his broad paddle, Big Sam sent his boat -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>into the middle of the stream, and, managed by -his strong and willing arms, the clumsy old bateau -became a thing of life. Sandy Bill was not -far behind him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The negroes used only one paddle in rowing, -and each sat in the stern of his boat, using the -rough but effective oar first on one side and then -the other.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id003'> -<img src='images/p034.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>From a window, Mrs. Gaston watched the -boats as they went speeding down the river. By -her side was Charity, the cook.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>“Isn’t it terrible!” she exclaimed, as the boats -passed out of sight. “Oh, what shall I do?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“’T would be mighty bad, Mist’iss, <i>ef</i> dem -chillun wuz los’; but dey ain’t no mo’ los’ dan I -is, an’ I’m a-standin’ right yer in de cornder by -dish yer cheer.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not lost! Why, of course they are lost. Oh, -my darling little children!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No ’m, dey ain’t no mo’ los’ dan you is. Dey -tuck dat boat dis mornin’, an’ dey went atter ole -man Jake—dat’s whar dey er gone. Dey ain’t -gone nowhar else. Dey er in dat boat right -now; dey may be asleep, but dey er in dar. -Ain’t I year um talkin’ yistiddy wid my own -years? Ain’t I year dat ar Marse Lucien boy ’low -ter he sister dat he gwine go fetch ole man Jake -back? Ain’t I miss a whole can full er biscuits? -Ain’t I miss two er dem pies w’at I lef’ out dar -in de kitchen? Ain’t I miss a great big hunk er -light-bread? An’ who gwine dast ter take um -less’n it’s dem ar chillun? Dey don’t fool me, -mon. I’m one er de oldest rats in de barn—I -is dat!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Charity’s tone was emphatic and energetic. -She was so confident that her theory was the -right one that she succeeded in quieting her -mistress somewhat.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>“An’ mo’ ’n dat,” she went on, seeing the -effect of her remarks, “dem chillun ’ll come -home yer all safe an’ soun’. Ef Marster an’ dem -niggers don’t fetch um back, dey ’ll come deyse’f; -an’ old man Jake ’ll come wid um. You -min’ wa’t I tell you. You go an’ go ter bed, -honey, an’ don’t pester yo’se’f ’bout dem chillun. -I’ll set up yer in the cornder an’ nod, an’ keep -my eyes on w’at’s gwine on outside.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But Mrs. Gaston refused to go to bed. She -went to the window, and away down the river -she could see the red light of the torches projected -against the fog. It seemed as if it were -standing still, and the mother’s heart sank within -her at the thought. Perhaps they had found the -boat—empty! This and a thousand other cruel -suggestions racked her brain.</p> - -<p class='c010'>But the boats were not standing still; they -were moving down the river as rapidly as four -of the stoutest arms to be found in the county -could drive them. The pine torches lit up both -banks perfectly. The negroes rowed in silence -a mile or more, when Big Sam said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Marster, kin we sing some?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Does it seem to be much of a singing matter, -Sam?” Dr. Gaston asked, grimly.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, suh, it don’t; but singin’ he’ps ’long -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>might’ly w’en you workin’, mo’ speshually ef you -er doin’ de kind er work whar you kin sorter hit -a lick wid the chune—kinder keepin’ time, like.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dr. Gaston said nothing, and Big Sam went on:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“’Sides dat, Marster, we-all useter sing ter -dem chillun, an’ dey knows our holler so well dat -I boun’ you ef dey wuz ter year us singin’ an’ -gwine on, dey’d holler back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said Dr. Gaston, struck by the suggestion, -“sing.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bill,” said Big Sam to the negro in the other -boat, “watch out for me; I’m gwine away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You’ll year fum me w’en you git whar you -gwine,” Sandy Bill replied.</p> - -<p class='c010'>With that Big Sam struck up a song. His -voice was clear and strong, and he sang with a -will.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Oh. Miss Malindy, you er lots too sweet for me;</div> - <div class='line in2'>I cannot come to see you</div> - <div class='line'>Ontil my time is free—</div> - <div class='line in2'>Oh, den I’ll come ter see you,</div> - <div class='line'>An’ take you on my knee.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Oh, Miss Malindy, now don’t you go away;</div> - <div class='line in2'>I cannot come to see you</div> - <div class='line'>Ontil some yuther day—</div> - <div class='line in2'>Oh, den I’ll come ter see you—</div> - <div class='line'>Oh, den I’ll come ter stay.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>Oh, Miss Malindy, you is my only one;</div> - <div class='line in2'>I cannot come ter see you</div> - <div class='line'>Ontil de day is done—</div> - <div class='line in2'>Oh, den I’ll come ter see you,</div> - <div class='line'>And we’ll have a little fun.</div> - </div> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Oh, Miss Malindy, my heart belongs ter you;</div> - <div class='line in2'>I cannot come ter see you</div> - <div class='line'>Ontil my work is thoo’.</div> - <div class='line in2'>Oh, den I’ll come ter see you,</div> - <div class='line'>I ’ll come in my canoe.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>The words of the song, foolish and trivial as -they are, do not give the faintest idea of the -melody to which it was sung. The other negroes -joined in, and the tremulous tenor of little -Willyum was especially effective. The deep dark -woods on either side seemed to catch up and -echo back the plaintive strain. To a spectator -on the bank, the scene must have been an uncanny -one—the song with its heart-breaking -melody, the glistening arms and faces of the two -gigantic blacks, the flaring torches, flinging their -reflections on the swirling waters, the great gulfs -of darkness beyond—all these must have been -very impressive. But these things did not occur -to those in the boats, least of all to Dr. Gaston. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>In the minds of all there was but one thought—the -children.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The negroes rowed on, keeping time to their -songs. Their arms appeared to be as tireless as -machinery that has the impulse of steam. Finally -Big Sam’s boat grounded.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hol’ on dar, Bill!” he shouted. “Watch -out!” He took the torch from the little negro -and held it over his head, and then behind him, -peering into the darkness beyond. Then he -laughed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De Lord he’p my soul!” he exclaimed; “I -done clean fergit ’bout Moccasin Shoals! Back -yo’ boat, Bill.” Suiting the action to the word, -he backed his own, and they were soon away -from the shoals.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, den,” he said to Bill, “git yo’ boat in -line wid mine, an’ hol’ yo’ paddle in yo’ lap.” -Then the boats, caught by the current, moved -toward the shoals, and one after the other touched -a rock, turned completely around, and went -safely down the rapids, just as the children’s boat -had done in the forenoon. Once over the shoals, -Big Sam and Sandy Bill resumed their oars and -their songs, and sent the boats along at a rapid -rate.</p> - -<p class='c010'>A man, sitting on the river bank, heard them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>coming, and put out his torch by covering it with -sand. He crouched behind the bushes and -watched them go by. After they had passed he -straightened himself, and remarked:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I’ll be switched!” Then he relighted -his torch, and went on with his fishing. It was -the same man that Lucien and Lillian had seen.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boats went on and on. With brief intervals -the negroes rowed all night long, but Dr. -Gaston found no trace of his children. In sheer -desperation, however, he kept on. The sun rose, -and the negroes were still rowing. At nine -o’clock in the morning the boats entered Ross’s -mill-pond. This Dr. Gaston knew was the end -of his journey. If the boat had drifted into this -pond, and been carried over the dam, the children -were either drowned or crushed on the rocks below. -If their boat had not entered the pond, -then they had been rescued the day before by -some one living near the river.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was with a heavy heart that Dr. Gaston -landed. And yet there were no signs of a tragedy -anywhere near. John Cosby, the miller, fat and -hearty, stood in the door of the mill, his arms akimbo, -and watched the boats curiously. His children -were playing near. A file of geese was marching -down to the water, and a flock of pigeons was -sailing overhead, taking their morning exercise. -Everything seemed to be peaceful and serene. -As he passed the dam on his way to the mill, Dr. -Gaston saw that there was a heavy head of water, -but possibly not enough to carry a large bateau -over; still—the children were gone!</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span> -<img src='images/p041.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>THE MILLER AND HIS CHILDREN</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>The puzzled look on the miller’s face disappeared -as Dr. Gaston approached.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, the gracious goodness!” he exclaimed. -“Why, howdy, Doc.—howdy! Why, I ’m right -down glad to see you. Whichever an’ whichaway -did you come?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“My little children are lost,” said Dr. Gaston, -shaking the miller’s hand. The jolly smile on -John Cosby’s face disappeared as suddenly as if it -had been wiped out with a sponge.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, that’s too bad—too bad,” he exclaimed, -looking at his own rosy-cheeked little -ones standing near.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They were in a bateau,” said Dr. Gaston, -“and I thought maybe they might have drifted -down here and over the mill-dam.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The miller’s jolly smile appeared again. “Oh, -no, Doc.—no, no! Whichever an’ whichaway -they went, they never went over that dam. In -time of a freshet, the thing might be did; but not -now. Oh, no! Ef it lies betwixt goin’ over that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>dam an’ bein’ safe, them babies is jest as safe an’ -soun’ as mine is.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think,” said Dr. Gaston, “that they started -out to hunt Jake, my carriage-driver, who has run -away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Jake run away!” exclaimed Mr. Cosby, growing -very red in the face. “Why, the impident -scoundull! Hit ain’t been three days sence the -ole rascal wuz here. He come an’ ’lowed that some -of your wagons was a-campin’ out about two mile -from here, an’ he got a bushel of meal, an’ said that -if you didn’t pay me the money down I could take -it out in physic. The impident ole scoundull! -An’ he was jest as ’umble-come-tumble as you -please—a-bowin’, an’ a-scrapin’, an’ a-howdy-do-in’.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But the old miller’s indignation cooled somewhat -when Dr. Gaston briefly told him of the incident -which caused the old negro to run away.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit sorter sticks in my gizzard,” he remarked, -“when I hear tell of a nigger hittin’ a white man; -but I don’t blame Jake much.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And now,” said Dr. Gaston, “I want to ask -your advice. You are a level-headed man, and I -want to know what you think. The children got -in the boat, and came down the river. There is -no doubt in my mind that they started on a wild-goose -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>chase after Jake; but they are not on the -river now, nor is the boat on the river. How do -you account for that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Doc., if you want my naked beliefs about -it, I’ll give ’em to you, fa’r an’ squar’. It’s my -beliefs that them youngsters have run up agin old -Jake somewhar up the river, an’ that they are jest -as safe’an’ soun’ as you is. Them’s my beliefs.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But what has become of the boat?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I’ll tell you. Old Jake is jest as cunning -as any other nigger. He took an’ took the -youngsters out, an’ arterwards he drawed the boat -out on dry land. He rightly thought there would -be pursuit, an’ he didn’t mean to be ketched.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then what would you advise me to do?” asked -Dr. Gaston.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The old man scratched his head.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Doc., I’m a-talkin’ in the dark, but it’s -my beliefs them youngsters ’ll be at home before -you can get there to save your life. Jake may not -be there, but if he’s found the boy an’ gal, he ’ll -carry ’em safe home. Now you mind what I tell -you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dr. Gaston’s anxiety was too great to permit -him to put much confidence in the old miller’s prediction. -What he said seemed reasonable enough, -but a thousand terrible doubts had possession of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>the father’s mind. He hardly dared go home without -the children. He paced up and down before -the mill, a most miserable man. He knew not -where to go or what to do.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Cosby, the miller, watched him awhile, and -shook his head. “If Doc. don’t find them youngsters,” -he said to himself, “he ’ll go plum deestracted.” -But he said aloud:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Doc., you an’ the niggers must have a -breathing-spell. We’ll go up to the house an’ see -ef we can’t find somethin’ to eat in the cubberd, -an’ arterwards, in the time you are restin’, we’ll -talk about findin’ the youngsters. If there’s any -needcessity, I’ll go with you. My son John can run -the mill e’en about as good as I can. We’ll go -up yan to ’Squire Ross’s an’ git a horse or two, -an’ we’ll scour the country on both sides of the -river. But you’ve got to have a snack of somethin’ -to eat, an’ you’ve got to take a rest. Human -natur’ can’t stand the strain.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Torn as he was by grief and anxiety, Dr. Gaston -knew this was good advice. He gratefully -accepted John Cosby’s invitation to breakfast, as -well as his offer to aid in the search for the lost -children. After Doctor Gaston had eaten, he sat -on the miller’s porch and tried to collect his -thoughts so as to be able to form some plan of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>search. While the two men were talking, they -heard Big Sam burst out laughing. He laughed -so loud and heartily that Mr. Cosby grew angry, -and went into the back yard to see what the fun -was about. In his heart the miller thought the -negroes were laughing at the food his wife had -set before them, and he was properly indignant.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, well,” said he, “what’s this I hear? -Two high-fed niggers a-laughin’ beca’se their -master’s little ones are lost and gone! And has -it come to this? A purty pass, a mighty purty -pass!” Both the negroes grew very serious -at this.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mars’ John, we-all was des projickin’ wid -one an’er. You know how niggers is w’en dey -git nuff ter eat. Dey feel so good dey ’bleege -ter holler.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Cosby sighed, and turned away. “Well,” -said he, “I hope niggers ’s got souls, but I know -right p’int-blank that they ain’t got no hearts.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Now, what was Big Sam laughing at?</p> - -<p class='c010'>He was laughing because he had found out -where Lucien and Lillian were. How did he -find out? In the simplest manner imaginable. -Sandy Bill and Big Sam were sitting in Mr. -Cosby’s back yard eating their breakfast, while -little Willyum was eating his in the kitchen. It -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>was the first time the two older negroes had had -an opportunity of talking together since they -started from home the day before.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sam,” said Sandy Bill, “did you see whar de -chillun landed w’en we come ’long des a’ter sun-up -dis mornin’?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dat I didn’t,” said Sam, wiping his mouth -with the back of his hand—“dat I didn’t, an’ ef I -had I’d a hollered out ter Marster.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dat w’at I wuz feared un,” said Sandy Bill.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Feared er what?” asked Big Sam.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Feared you’d holler at Marster ef you seed -whar dey landed. Dat how come I ter run foul -er yo’ boat.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Look yer, nigger man, you ain’t done gone -’stracted, is you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Shoo, chile! don’t talk ter me ’bout gwine -’stracted. I got ez much sense ez Ole Zip Coon.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den whyn’t you tell Marster? Ain’t you -done see how he troubled in he min’?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I done see dat, en it makes me feel bad; but -t’er folks got trouble, too, lots wuss’n Marster.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Is dey los’ der chillun?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes—Lord! dey done los’ eve’ybody. But -Marster ain’t los’ no chillun yit.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den wat we doin’ way down yer?” asked Big -Sam in an angry tone.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span> -<img src='images/p049.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“AN’ OLE MAN JAKE, HE DAR TOO.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>“Le’ me tell you,” said Sandy Bill, laying his -hand on Big Sam’s shoulder; “le’ me tell you. -Right cross dar fum whar I run foul er yo’ boat is -de biggest cane-brake in all creation.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know ’im,” said Big Sam. “Dey calls ’im -Hudson’s cane-brake.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now you talkin’,” said Sandy Bill. “Well, -ef you go dar you ’ll fin’ right in the middle er -dat cane-brake a heap er niggers dat you got -’quaintance wid—Randall Spivey, an’ Crazy Sue, -an’ Cupid Mitchell, an’ Isaiah Little—dey er all -dar; an’ ole man Jake, he dar too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Look yer, nigger,” Sam exclaimed, “how you -know?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I sent ’im dar. He come by me in de fiel’ -an’ tole me he done kilt de overseer, an’ I up an’ -tell ’im, I did, ‘Make fer Hudson’s cane-brake,’ -an’ dar ’s right whar he went.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was at this point that Big Sam’s hearty -laughter attracted the attention of Dr. Gaston -and Mr. Cosby.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, den,” said Sandy Bill, after the miller -had rebuked them and returned to the other side -of the house, “now, den, ef I’d ’a’ showed Marster -whar dem chillun landed, en tole ’im whar dey -wuz, he’d ’a’ gone ’cross dar, en seed dem niggers, -an’ by dis time nex’ week ole Bill Locke’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>nigger-dogs would ’a’ done run um all in jail. -You know how Marster is. He think kaze he -treat his niggers right dat eve’ybody else treat -der’n des dat a-way. But don’t you worry ’bout -dem chillun.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Was it possible for Sandy Bill to be mistaken?</p> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span> - <h3 class='c008'><span class='sc'>Chapter III</span></h3> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c009'>Lucien and Lillian, cuddled together in the -bottom of their boat, were soon fast asleep. -In dreams of home their loneliness and their troubles -were all forgotten. Sometimes in the starlight, -sometimes in the dark shadows of the overhanging -trees, the boat drifted on. At last, toward -morning, it was caught in an eddy and carried -nearer the bank, where the current was almost -imperceptible. Here the clumsy old bateau rocked -and swung, sometimes going lazily forward, and -then as lazily floating back again.</p> - -<p class='c010'>As the night faded away into the dim gray of -morning, the bushes above the boat were thrust -softly aside and a black face looked down upon -the children. Then the black face disappeared -as suddenly as it came. After awhile it appeared -again. It was not an attractive face. In the dim -light it seemed to look down on the sleeping children -with a leer that was almost hideous. It was -the face of a woman. Around her head was a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>faded red handkerchief, tied in a fantastic fashion, -and as much of her dress as could be seen was -ragged, dirty, and greasy. She was not pleasant -to look upon, but the children slept on unconscious -of her presence.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Presently the woman came nearer. On the -lower bank a freshet had deposited a great heap -of sand, which was now dry and soft. The woman -sat down on this, hugging her knees with her -arms, and gazed at the sleeping children long and -earnestly. Then she looked up and down the -river, but nothing was to be seen for the fog that -lay on the water. She shook her head and muttered:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit ’s p’izen down yer for dem babies. Yit -how I gwine git um out er dar?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>She caught hold of the boat, turned it around, -and, by means of the chain, drew it partially on -the sand-bank. Then she lifted Lillian from the -boat, wrapping the quilt closer about the child, -carried her up the bank, and laid her beneath the -trees where no dew had fallen. Returning, she -lifted Lucien and placed him beside his sister. -But the change aroused him. He raised himself -on his elbow and rubbed his eyes. The negro -woman, apparently by force of habit, slipped behind -a tree.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>“Where am I?” Lucien exclaimed, looking -around in something of a fright. He caught sight -of the frazzled skirt of the woman’s dress. “Who -is there behind that tree?” he cried.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nobody but me, honey—nobody ner nothin’ -but po’ ole Crazy Sue. Don’t be skeerd er me. -I ain’t nigh ez bad ez I looks ter be.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was now broad daylight, and Lucien could -see that the hideous ugliness of the woman was -caused by a burn on the side of her face and neck.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wasn’t I in a boat?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, honey; I brung you up yer fer ter keep -de fog fum pizenin’ you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I dreamed the Bad Man had me,” said Lucien, -shivering at the bare recollection.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, honey; ’t want nobody ner nothin’ but -po’ ole Crazy Sue. De boat down dar on de -sand-bank, an’ yo’ little sissy layin’ dar soun’ -asleep. Whar in de name er goodness wuz you-all -gwine, honey?” asked Crazy Sue, coming -nearer.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We were going down the river hunting for -Daddy Jake. He’s a runaway now. I reckon -we’ll find him after a while.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Is you-all Marse Doc. Gaston’ chillun?” -asked Crazy Sue, with some show of eagerness.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, of course we are,” said Lucien.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>Crazy Sue’s eyes fairly danced with joy. She -clasped her hands together and exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Lord, honey, I could shout,—I could des -holler and shout; but I ain’t gwine do it. You -stay right dar by yo’ little sissy till I come back; -I want ter run an’ make somebody feel good. -Now, don’t you move, honey. Stay right dar.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>With that Crazy Sue disappeared in the -bushes. Lucien kept very still. In the first -place, he was more than half frightened by the -strangeness of his surroundings, and, in the second -place, he was afraid his little sister would -wake and begin to cry. He felt like crying a -little himself, for he knew he was many miles -from home, and he felt very cold and uncomfortable. -Indeed, he felt very lonely and miserable; -but just when he was about to cry and call -Daddy Jake, he heard voices near him. Crazy -Sue came toward him in a half-trot, and behind -her—close behind her—was Daddy Jake, his -face wreathed in smiles and his eyes swimming -in tears. Lucien saw him and rushed toward -him, and the old man stooped and hugged the -boy to his black bosom.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, honey,” he exclaimed, “whar de name -er goodness you come f’um! Bless you! ef my -eyes wuz sore de sight un you would make um -well. How you know whar yo’ Daddy Jake is?”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span> -<img src='images/p057.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“LUCIEN SAW HIM AND RUSHED TOWARD HIM.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>“Me and sister started out to hunt you,” said -Lucien, whimpering a little, now that he had -nothing to whimper for, “and I think you are -mighty mean to run off and leave us all at home.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now you talkin’, honey,” said Daddy Jake, -laughing in his old fashion. “I boun’ I’m de -meanes’ ole nigger in de Nunited State. Yit, -ef I’d ’a’ know’d you wuz gwine ter foller me up -so close, I’d ’a’ fotch you wid me, dat I would! -An’ dar’s little Missy,” he exclaimed, leaning -over the little girl, “an’ she’s a-sleepin’ des ez -natchul ez ef she wuz in her bed at home. What -I tell you-all?” he went on, turning to a group -of negroes that had followed him,—Randall, Cupid, -Isaiah, and others,—“What I tell you-all? -Ain’t I done bin’ an’ gone an’ tole you dat deze -chillun wuz de out-doin’est chillun on de top-side -er de roun’ worl’?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The negroes—runaways all—laughed and -looked pleased, and Crazy Sue fairly danced. -They made so much fuss that they woke Lillian, -and when she saw Daddy Jake she gave one -little cry and leaped in his arms. This made -Crazy Sue dance again, and she would have kept -it up for a long time, but Randall suggested to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>Daddy Jake that the boat ought to be hauled -ashore and hidden in the bushes. Crazy Sue -stayed with the children while the negro men -went after the boat. They hauled it up the bank -by the chain, and then they lifted and carried it -several hundred yards away from the river, and -hid it in the thick bushes and grass.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now,” said Daddy Jake, when they had returned -to where they left the children, “we got -ter git away f’um yer. Dey ain’t no tellin’ w’at -gwine ter happen. Ef deze yer chillun kin slip -up on us dis away w’at kin a grown man do?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The old man intended this as a joke, but the -others took him at his word, and were moving -off. “Wait!” he exclaimed. “De chillun bleeze -ter go whar I go. Sue, you pick up little Missy -dar, an’ I’ll play hoss fer dish yer chap.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Crazy Sue lifted Lillian in her arms, Daddy -Jake stooped so that Lucien could climb up on -his back, and then all took up their march for -the middle of Hudson’s cane-brake. Randall -brought up the rear in order, as he said, to “stop -up de holes.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was a narrow, slippery, and winding path in -which the negroes trod—a path that a white man -would have found difficult to follow. It seemed -to lead in all directions; but, finally, it stopped -on a knoll high and dry above the surrounding -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>swamp. A fire was burning brightly, and the -smell of frying meat was in the air. On this -knoll the runaway negroes had made their camp, -and for safety they could not have selected a -better place.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was not long before Crazy Sue had warmed -some breakfast for the children. The negroes -had brought the food they found in the boat, and -Crazy Sue put some of the biscuits in a tin bucket, -hung the bucket on a stick, and held it over the -fire. Then she gave them some bacon that had -been broiled on a stone, and altogether they -made a hearty breakfast.</p> - -<p class='c010'>During the morning most of the negro men -stayed in the cane-brake, some nodding and some -patching their clothes, which were already full -of patches. But after dinner, a feast of broiled -fish, roasted sweet potatoes, and ash-cake, they -all went away, leaving Crazy Sue to take care -of the children. After the men had all gone, the -woman sat with her head covered with her arms. -She sat thus for a long time. After a while Lucien -went to her and put his hand on her shoulder.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What’s the matter?” he asked.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nothin’, honey; I wuz des a-settin’ yer -a-studyin’ an’ a-studyin’. Lots er times I gits -took dat a-way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What are you studying about?” said Lucien.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>“’Bout folks. I wuz des a-studyin’ ’bout folks, -an’ ’bout how come I whar I is, w’en I oughter -be somers else. W’en I set down dis a-way, I -gits dat turrified in de min’ dat I can’t stay on de -groun’ sca’cely. Look like I want ter rise up in -de elements an’ fly.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What made you run away?” Lucien asked -with some curiosity.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you know, honey,” said Crazy Sue, -after a pause, “my marster ain’t nigh ez good ter -his niggers ez yo’ pa is ter his’n. ’Tain’t dat my -marster is any mo’ strick, but look like hit fret -’im ef he see one er his niggers settin’ down anywheres. -Well, one time, long time ago, I had -two babies, an’ dey wuz twins, an’ dey wuz des -’bout ez likely little niggers ez you ever did see. -De w’ite folks had me at de house doin’ de -washin’ so I could be where I kin nurse de babies. -One time I wuz settin’ in my house nursin’ un -um, an’ while I settin’ dar I went fast ter sleep. -How long I sot dar ’sleep, de Lord only knows, -but w’en I woked up, Marster wuz stan’in in de -do’, watchin’ me. He ain’t say nothin, yit I -knowed dat man wuz mad. He des turn on his -heel an’ walk away. I let you know I put dem -babies down an’ hustled out er dat house mighty -quick.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span> -<img src='images/p063.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>POOR OLD SUE TELLS HER STORY.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>“Well, sir, dat night de foreman come ’roun’ -an’ tole me dat I mus’ go ter de fiel’ de nex’ -mornin’. Soon ez he say dat, I up an’ went -ter de big house an’ ax Marster w’at I gwine -do wid de babies ef I went ter de fiel’. He stood -an’ look at me, he did, an’ den he writ a note out -er his pocket-book, an’ tol’ me ter han’ it ter de -overseer. Dat w’at I done dat ve’y night, an’ de -overseer, he took an’ read de note, an’ den he -up an’ say dat I mus’ go wid de hoe-han’s, way -over ter de two-mile place.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I went, kaze I bleeze ter go; yit all day long, -whiles I wuz hoein’ I kin year dem babies cryin’. -Look like sometimes dey wuz right at me, an’ -den ag’in look like dey wuz way off yander. I -kep’ on a-goin’ an’ I kep’ on a-hoein’, an’ de babies -kep’ on a-famishin’. Dey des fade away, -an’ bimeby dey died, bofe un um on the same -day. On dat day I had a fit an’ fell in de fier, -an’ dat how come I burnt up so.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Look like,” said the woman, marking on the -ground with her bony forefinger—“look like I -kin year dem babies cryin’ yit, an’ dat de reason -folks call me Crazy Sue, kaze I kin year um cryin’ -an’ yuther folks can’t. I’m mighty glad dey -can’t, kaze it ’ud break der heart.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why didn’t you come and tell Papa about -it?” said Lucien, indignantly.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>“Ah, Lord, honey!” exclaimed Crazy Sue, -“yo’ pa is a mighty good man, an’ a mighty good -doctor, but he ain’t got no medicine wa’t could ’a’ -kyored me an’ my marster.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>In a little while Daddy Jake put in an appearance, -and the children soon forgot Crazy Sue’s -troubles, and began to think about going home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Daddy Jake,” said Lucien, “when are you -going to take us back home?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want to go right now,” said Lillian.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Daddy Jake scratched his head and thought -the matter over.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dey ain’t no use talkin’,” said he, “I got ter -carry you back an’ set you down in sight er de -house, but how I gwine do it an’ not git kotched? -Dat w’at troublin’ me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, Papa ain’t mad,” said Lucien. “I -heard him tell that mean old overseer he had a -great mind to take his buggy whip to him for -hitting you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ain’t dat man dead?” exclaimed Daddy Jake -in amazement.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, he ain’t,” said Lucien. “Papa drove -him off the place.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I be blest!” said the old man with a -chuckle. “W’at kinder head you reckon dat -w’ite man got?—Honey,” he went on, growing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>serious again, “is you <i>sholy sho</i> dat man ain’t -dead?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Didn’t I see him after you went away? -Didn’t I hear Papa tell him to go away? Didn’t -I hear Papa tell Mamma he wished you had -broken his neck? Didn’t I hear Papa tell -Mamma that you were a fool for running away?” -Lucien flung these questions at Daddy Jake with -an emphasis that left nothing to be desired.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said Daddy Jake, “dat mus’ be so, an’ -dat bein’ de case, we’ll des start in de mornin’ -an’ git home ter supper. We’ll go over yander -ter Marse Meredy Ingram’s an’ borry his carriage -an’ go home in style. I boun’ you, dey’ll all be -glad to see us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Daddy Jake was happy once more. A great -burden had been taken from his mind. The -other negroes when they came in toward night -seemed to be happy, too, because the old man -could go back home; and there was not one but -would have swapped places with him. Randall -was the last to come, and he brought a big, fat -chicken.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I wuz cornin’ ’long cross de woods des now,” -he said, winking his eye and shaking his head at -Daddy Jake, “an’, bless gracious, dis chicken -flew’d right in my han’. I say ter myse’f, I did, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>‘Ole lady, you mus’ know we got comp’ny at our -house,’ an’ den I clamped down on ’er, an’ yer -she is. Now, ’bout dark, I’ll take ’er up yander -an’ make Marse Ingram’s cook fry ’er brown fer -deze chillun, an’ I’ll make ’er gimme some milk.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Crazy Sue took the chicken, which had already -been killed, wet its feathers thoroughly, rolled it -around in the hot embers, and then proceeded to -pick and clean it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Randall’s programme was carried out to the -letter. Mr. Meredith Ingram’s cook fried the -chicken for him, and put in some hot biscuit for -good measure, and the milker gave him some -fresh milk, which she said would not be missed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The children had a good supper, and they -would have gone to sleep directly afterward, but -the thought of going home with Daddy Jake -kept them awake. Randall managed to tell -Daddy Jake, out of hearing of the children, that -Dr. Gaston and some of his negroes had been -seen at Ross’s mill that morning.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said Daddy Jake, “I bleeze ter beat -Marster home. Ef he go back dar widout de chillun, -my mistiss’ll drap right dead on de flo’.” -This was his only comment.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Around the fire the negroes laughed and joked, -and told their adventures. Lillian felt comfortable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>and happy, and as for Lucien, he himself felt -a hero. He had found Daddy Jake, and now he -was going to carry him back home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Once, when there was a lull in the talk, Lillian -asked why the frogs made so much fuss.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I speck it’s kaze dey er mad wid Mr. Rabbit,” -said Crazy Sue. “Dey er tryin’ der best -ter drive ’im outen de swamp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What are they mad with the Rabbit for?” -asked Lucien, thinking there might be a story in -the explanation.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit’s one er dem ole-time fusses,” said Crazy -Sue. “Hit’s most too ole ter talk about.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t you know what the fuss was about?” -asked Lucien.</p> - -<p class='c012'>“Well,” said Crazy Sue, “one time Mr. Rabbit -an’ Mr. Coon live close ter one anudder in de -same neighborhoods. How dey does now, I ain’t -a-tellin’ you; but in dem times dey wa’n’t no hard -feelin’s ’twix’ um. Dey des went ’long like two -ole cronies. Mr. Rabbit, he wuz a fisherman, -and Mr. Coon, he wuz a fisherman—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And put ’em in pens,” said Lillian, remembering -an old rhyme she had heard.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, honey, dey ain’t no Willium-Come-Trimbletoe -in dis. Mr. Rabbit an’ Mr. Coon wuz -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>bofe fishermans, but Mr. Rabbit, he kotch fish, an’ -Mr. Coon, he fished fer frogs. Mr. Rabbit, he -had mighty good luck, an’ Mr. Coon, he had -mighty bad luck. Mr. Rabbit, he got fat an’ -slick, an’ Mr. Coon, he got po’ an’ sick.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit went on dis a-way tell one day Mr. Coon -meet Mr. Rabbit in de big road. Dey shook -han’s, dey did, an’ den Mr. Coon, he ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Brer Rabbit, whar you git sech a fine chance -er fish?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit laugh an’ say: ‘I kotch um outen -de river, Brer Coon. All I got ter do is ter bait -my hook,’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den Mr. Coon shake his head an’ ’low: ‘Den -how come I ain’t kin ketch no frogs?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit sat down in de road an’ scratched -fer fleas, an’ den he ’low: ‘Hit’s kaze you done -make um all mad, Brer Coon. One time in de -dark er de moon, you slipped down ter de branch -an’ kotch de ole King Frog; an’ ever sence dat -time, w’enever you er passin’ by, you kin year um -sing out, fus’ one an’ den anudder—<i>Yer he come! -Dar he goes! Hit ’im in de eye; hit ’im in de eye! -Mash ’im an’ smash ’im; mash ’im an’ smash ’im!</i> -Yasser, dat w’at dey say. I year um constant, -Brer Coon, an’ dat des w’at dey say.’</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span> -<img src='images/p071.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“MR. RABBIT SQUALL OUT, ‘COON DEAD!’”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>“Den Mr. Coon up an’ say: ‘Ef dat de way -dey gwine on, how de name er goodness kin I -ketch um, Brer Rabbit? I bleeze ter have sump’n -ter eat fer me an’ my fambly connection.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit sorter grin in de cornder er his -mouf, an’ den he say: ‘Well, Brer Coon, bein’ ez -you bin so sociable ’long wid me, an’ ain’t never -showed yo’ toofies w’en I pull yo’ tail, I’ll des -whirl in an’ he’p you out.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Coon, he say: ‘Thanky, thanky-do, Brer -Rabbit.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit hung his fish on a tree lim’, an’ -say: ‘Now, Brer Coon, you bleeze ter do des like -I tell you.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Coon ’lowed dat he would ef de Lord -spared ’im.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den Mr. Rabbit say: ‘Now, Brer Coon, you -des rack down yander, an’ git on de big san’-bar -’twix’ de river an’ de branch. W’en you git dar -you mus’ stagger like you sick, and den you mus’ -whirl roun’ an’ roun’ an’ drap down like you dead. -After you drap down, you must sorter jerk yo’ legs -once er twice, an’ den you mus’ lay right still. -Ef fly light on yo’ nose, let ’im stay dar. Don’t -move; don’t wink yo’ eye; don’t switch yo’ tail. -Des lay right dar, an’ ’t won’t be long ’fo’ you -year f’um me. Yit don’t you move till I give de -word.’</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>“Mr. Coon, he paced off, he did, an’ done des -like Mr. Rabbit tol’ ’im. He staggered roun’ on -de san’-bank, an’ den he drapped down dead. -Atter so long a time, Mr. Rabbit come lopin’ ’long, -an’ soon’s he git dar, he squall out, ‘Coon dead!’ -Dis rousted de frogs, an’ dey stuck dey heads up -fer ter see w’at all de rippit wuz ’bout. One great -big green un up an’ holler, <i>W’at de matter? -W’at de matter?</i> He talk like he got a bad col’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit ’low: ‘Coon dead!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Frog say: <i>Don’t believe it! Don’t believe it!</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“N’er frog say: <i>Yes, he is! Yes, he is!</i> Little -bit er one say: <i>No, he ain’t! No, he ain’t!</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dey kep’ on ’sputin’ an’ ’sputin’, tell bimeby -hit look like all de frogs in de neighborhoods wuz -dar. Mr. Rabbit look like he ain’t a-yearin’ ner -a-keerin’ wa’t dey do er say. He sot dar in de san’ -like he gwine in mournin’ fer Mr. Coon. De Frogs -kep’ gittin’ closer an’ closer. Mr. Coon, he ain’t -move. W’en a fly’d git on ’im Mr. Rabbit he’d -bresh ’im off.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bimeby he ’low: ‘Ef you want ter git ’im -outen de way, now’s yo’ time, Cousin Frogs. -Des whirl in an’ bury him deep in de san’.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Big ole Frog say: <i>How we gwine ter do it? -How we gwine ter do it?</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit ’low: ‘Dig de san’ out fum under -’im an’ let ’im down in de hole.’</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span> -<img src='images/p075.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“DEN DE FROGS DEY WENT TO WORK SHO NUFF.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>“Den de Frogs dey went ter work sho nuff. -Dey mus’ ’a’ bin a hunderd un um, an’ dey make -dat san’ fly, mon. Mr. Coon, he ain’t move. De -Frogs, dey dig an’ scratch in de san’ tell atter while -dey had a right smart hole, an’ Mr. Coon wuz -down in dar.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bimeby big Frog holler: <i>Dis deep nuff? Dis -deep nuff?</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit ’low: ‘Kin you jump out?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Big Frog say: <i>‘Yes, I kin! Yes, I kin!’</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit say: ‘Den’t ain’t deep nuff.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de Frogs dey dig an’ dey dig, tell, bimeby, -Big Frog say: <i>Dis deep nuff? Dis deep nuff?</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit ’low: ‘Kin you jump out?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Big Frog say: <i>I dess kin! I dess kin!</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit say: ‘Dig it deeper.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De Frogs keep on diggin’ tell bimeby, big -Frog holler out: <i>Dis deep nuff? Dis deep nuff?</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit ’low: ‘Kin you jump out?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Big Frog say: <i>No, I can’t! No, I can’t! -Come he’p me! Come he’p me!</i></p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Rabbit bust out laughin’, and holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<span class='sc'>Rise up, Sandy, an’ git yo’ Meat!</span>’ an’ -Mr. Coon riz.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Lucien and Lillian laughed heartily at this -queer story, especially the curious imitation of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>frogs both big and little that Crazy Sue gave. -Lucien wanted her to tell more stories, but Daddy -Jake said it was bedtime; and the children were -soon sound asleep.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The next morning Daddy Jake had them up -betimes. Crazy Sue took Lillian in her arms, -and Daddy Jake took Lucien on his back. As -they had gone into the cane-brake, so they came -out. Randall and some of the other negroes -wanted to carry Lillian, but Crazy Sue wouldn’t -listen to them. She had brought the little girl -in, she said, and she was going to carry her out. -Daddy Jake, followed by Crazy Sue, went in the -direction of Mr. Meredith Ingram’s house. It -was on a hill, more than a mile from the river, -and was in a grove of oak-trees. As they were -making their way through a plum orchard, not far -from the house, Crazy Sue stopped.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Jake,” she said, “dis is all de fur I’m -gwine. I’m ’mos’ too close ter dat house now. -You take dis baby an’ let dat little man walk. -’Tain’t many steps ter whar you gwine.” -Crazy Sue wrung Daddy Jake’s hand, stooped -and kissed the children, and with a “God bless -you all!” disappeared in the bushes, and none of -the three ever saw her again.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span> -<img src='images/p079.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“THE OLD NEGRO PUT HIS HANDS TO HIS MOUTH AND CALLED.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>Mr. Meredith Ingram was standing out in his -front yard, enjoying a pipe before breakfast. He -was talking to himself and laughing when Daddy -Jake and the children approached.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Howdy, Mars’ Meredy,” said the old negro, -taking off his hat and bowing as politely as he -could with the child in his arms. Mr. Ingram -looked at him through his spectacles and over -them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ain’t that Gaston’s Jake?” he asked, after he -had examined the group.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yasser,” said Daddy Jake, “an’ deze is my -marster’s little chillun.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Ingram took his pipe out of his mouth.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, what in the world!—Why, what under -the sun!—Well, if this doesn’t beat—why, what -in the nation!”—Mr. Ingram failed to find words -to express his surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Daddy Jake, however, made haste to tell Mr. -Ingram that the little ones had drifted down the -river in a boat, that he had found them, and -wished to get them home just as quickly as he -could.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“My marster bin huntin’ fer um, suh,” said the -old negro, and I want ter beat him home, kaze ef -he go dar widout deze chillun, my mistiss’ll be -a dead ’oman—she cert’n’y will, suh.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, well, well!” exclaimed Mr. Ingram. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>“If this don’t beat—why, of course, I’ll send -them home. I’ll go with ’em myself. Of course -I will. Well, if this doesn’t—George! hitch up -the carriage. Fetch out Ben Bolt and Rob Roy, -and go and get your breakfast. Jake, you go -and help him, and I’ll take these chaps in the -house and warm ’em up. Come on, little ones. -We’ll have something to eat and then we’ll go -right home to Pappy and Mammy.” They went -in, Mr. Ingram muttering to himself, “Well, if -this doesn’t beat—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>After breakfast Mr. Ingram, the children, -Daddy Jake, and George, the driver, were up -and away, as the fox-hunters say. Daddy Jake -sat on the driver’s seat with George, and urged -on the horses. They traveled rapidly, and it is -well they did, for when they came in sight of the -Gaston place, Daddy Jake saw his master entering -the avenue that led to the house. The old -negro put his hands to his mouth and called so -loudly that the horses jumped. Doctor Gaston -heard him and stopped, and in a minute more -had his children in his arms, and that night there -was a happy family in the Gaston house. But -nobody was any happier than Daddy Jake.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span> - <h2 class='c005'>HOW A WITCH WAS CAUGHT</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>The little boy sat in a high chair and used his -legs as drumsticks, much to the confusion -of Uncle Remus, as it appeared. After a while -the old man exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, my goodness en de gracious! how you -ever in de roun’ worl’ er anywheres else speck -me fer ter make any headway in tellin’ a tale -wiles all dish yer racket gwine on? I don’t want -ter call nobody’s pa, kase he mos’ allers talks too -loud, en if I call der ma’t won’t make so mighty -much difference, kase she done got so usen ter it -dat she dunner w’en dey er makin’ any fuss. I -believe dat ef everything wuz ter git right good -en still on deze premises des one time, you’ ma -would in about die wid de headache. Anyway, -she’d be mighty sick, bekaze she ain’t usen ter -not havin’ no fuss, en she des couldn’t git ’long -widout it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you right now, I’d be afeard fer ter tell -any tale roun’ yer, kaze de fust news I know’d -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>I’d git my eyes put out, er my leg broke, er -sump’n’ n’er. I knows deze yer w’ite chillun, -mon! dat I does; I knows um. Dey’ll git de -upper hand er de niggers ef de Lord spar’s um. -En he mos’ inginner’lly spar’s um.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, ef you want ter hear dish yer tale -w’at I bin tu’nin’ over in my min’ you des got ter -come en set right yer in front er me, whar I kin -keep my two eyes on you; kaze I ain’t gwine ter -take no resks er no foolishness. Now, den, you -des better behave, bekaze hit don’t cost me nothin’ -fer ter cut dis tale right short off.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One time der wuz a miller man w’at live by -a river en had a mill. He wuz a mighty smart -man. He tuck so much toll dat he tuck ’n buyed -’im a house, en’ he want ter rent dat ’ar house out -ter folks, but de folks dey ’lowed dat de house wuz -ha’nted. Dey’d come ’en rent de house, dey -would, en move in dar, en den go upsta’rs en go -ter bed. Dey’d go ter bed, dey would, but dey -couldn’t sleep, en time it got day dey’d git out -er dat house.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De miller man, he ax’d um w’at de matter wuz, -but dey des shuck der head en’ ’low de house wuz -ha’nted. Den he tuck ’n try ter fine out w’at -kind er ha’nt she wuz dat skeer folks. He sleep -in de house, but he ain’t see nothin’, en de mos’ -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>w’at he year wuz a big ole gray cat a-promenadin’ -roun’ en hollerin’. Bimeby hit got so dat dey -want no fun in havin’ de ha’nted house, en w’en -folks’d come ’long de miller man, he’d des up -en tell um dat de house ’uz ha’nted. Some ’ud -go up en some wouldn’t, but dem w’at went up -didn’t stay, kaze des ’bout bedtime dey’d fetch -a yell en des come a-rushin’ down, en all de money -in de Nunited States er Georgy wouldn’t git um -fer ter go back up dar.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit went on dis away twel one time a preacher -man com’ ’long dar en say he wanted some’rs ter -stay. He was a great big man, en he look like -he wuz good accordin’. De miller man say he -hate mighty bad for to discommerdate ’im, but he -des pintedly ain’t got no place whar he kin put -’im ’cep’ dat ’ar ha’nted house. De preacher man -say he des soon stay dar ez anywhar’s, kase he -bin livin’ in deze low-groun’s er sorrer too long -fer ter be sot back by any one-hoss ha’nts. De -miller man ’lowed dat he wuz afeard de ha’nts ’ud -worry ’im might’ly, but de preacher man ’low, he -did, dat he use ter bein’ worried, en he up en tell -de miller man dat he’d a heap rather stay in de -house wid de ha’nt, no matter how big she is, -dan ter stay out doors in de rain.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So de miller man, he ’low he ain’t got no mo’ -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>’pology fer ter make, bekaze ef de preacher man -wuz ready fer ter face de ha’nts and set up dar en -out blink um, dey wouldn’t be nobody in de -roun’ worl’ no gladder dan ’im. Den de miller -man showed de preacher man how ter git in de -house en had ’im a great big fier built. En atter -de miller man wuz done gone, de preacher man -drawed a cheer up ter de fier en waited fer de -ha’nts, but dey ain’t no ha’nts come. Den w’en -dey ain’t no ha’nts come, de preacher man tuck ’n -open up he satchel en got ’im out some spar’ ribs -en sot um by de fier fer ter cook, en den he got -down en said he pra’rs, en den he got up en read -he Bible. He wuz a mighty good man, mon, en -he prayed en read a long time. Bimeby, w’en -his spar’ ribs git done, he got some bread out’n -he satchel, en fixed fer ter eat his supper.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By de time he got all de meat off’n one er de -ribs, de preacher man listened, en he year’d a -monst’us scramblin’ en scratchin’ on de wall. He -look aroun’, he did, en dar wuz a great big black -cat a-sharpenin’ ’er claws on de door facin’. -Folks, don’t talk! dat ’ar cat wuz er sight! Great -long w’ite toofs en great big yaller eye-balls -a-shinin’ like dey wuz lit up way back in ’er head. -She stood dar a minit, dat ole black cat did, en -den she ’gun ter sidle up like she wuz gwine ter -mount dat preacher man right dar en den. But -de preacher man, he des shoo’d at ’er, en it seem -like dis sorter skeer’d ’er, kaze she went off.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span> -<img src='images/p087.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“SHE STOOD DAR A MINIT, DAT OLE BLACK CAT DID.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>“But de preacher man, he kep’ his eye open, -en helt on ter his spar’ rib. Present’y he year -de ole black cat comin’ back, en dis time she -fotch wid ’er a great big gang er cats. Dey wuz -all black des like she wuz, en der eye-balls -<i>shineded</i> en der lashes wuz long en w’ite. Hit -look like de preacher man wuz a-gwine ter git -surroundered.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dey come a-sidlin’ up, dey did, en de ole -black cat made a pass at de preacher man like -she wuz a-gwine ter t’ar he eyes out. De -preacher man dodged, but de nex’ pass she made -de preacher man fotch ’er wipe with his spar’ rib -en cut off one er ’er toes. Wid dat de ole black cat -fotch a yell dat you might a yeard a mile, en den -she gin ’erself a sort er a twis’ en made her disappearance -up de chimbley, en w’en she do dat -all de yuther cats made der disappearance up -de chimbley. De preacher man he got up, he -did, en looked und’ de bed fer ter see ef he kin -fine any mo’ cats, but dey wuz all done gone.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den he tuck ’n pick up de cat toe w’at he -done knock off wid de spar’ rib, en wrop it up in -a piece er paper en put it in he pocket. Den he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>say his pra’rs some mo’, en went ter bed en slep’ -right straight along twel broad daylight, en -nuthin’ ain’t dast ter bodder ’im.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nex’ mornin’ de preacher man got up, he -did, en say his pra’rs en eat his breakkus, en den -he ’low ter hisse’f dat he’ll go by en tell de miller -man dat he mighty much erblige. ’Fo’ he start, -hit come ’cross he min’ ’bout de cats w’at pester -’im de night befo’, and he tuck ’n feel in he -pockets fer de big black cat toe w’at he done cut -off wid de spar’ rib. But it seems like de toe -done grow in de night, en bless goodness! w’en -he unwrop it ’t want nuthin’ less dan a great big -finger wid a ring on it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So de preacher man tuck ’n fix up all his contrapments, -en den call on de miller man en tol’ -’im he wuz mighty much erblige kaze he let ’im -stay in de house. De miller man wuz ’stonish’ -fer ter see de preacher man, kaze he knew dat -w’en folks stay all night in dat house dey ain’t -come down no mo’. He wuz ’stonish’, but he -didn’t say much. He des stan’ still en wunder.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But de preacher man, he up ’n ax ’bout de -miller man’s wife, en say he wants ter see ’er en -tell ’er good-bye, bein’ ez how dey ’d all bin so -good. So de miller man, he tuck ’n kyar de -preacher inter de room whar his wife wuz layin’ -<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>in bed. De ole ’oman had de counterpin drawed -up und’ ’er chin, but she look mighty bad roun’ -de eyes. Yit, she tuck ’n’ howdied de preacher -man en tole ’im he wuz mighty welcome.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dey talk en talk, dey did, en atter w’ile de -preacher man hoi’ out his han’ fer ter tell de ’oman -good-bye; but de ’oman, she belt out ’er lef’ han’, -she did, like she want dat fer ter git shucken. -But de preacher man wouldn’t shake dat un. He -say dat ain’t nigh gwine ter do, bekaze w’en folks -got any perliteness lef’ dey don’t never hol’ out -de lef’ han’. De ’oman she say her right wuz -cripple, but her ole man ’low he ain’t never hear -’bout dat befo’, en den he tuck’n make ’er pull it -out from und’ de kivver, en den dey seed dat one -er ’er fingers wuz done clean gone. De miller -man he up ’n ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘How come dis?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De ’oman she ’low, ‘I cut it off.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De miller man he ’low, ‘How you cut it off?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De ’oman she ’low, ‘I knock it off?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De miller man he ’low, ‘Wharbouts you -knock it off?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De ’oman she ’low, ‘I broke it off’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De miller man he ’low, ‘When you break it -off?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de ’oman she ain’t say nuthin’. She des -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>lay dar, she did, en pant en look skeered. De -preacher man he study a little en den he say he -speck he kin kyo’ dat han’, en he tuck de finger -out ’n he pocket en tried it on de ’oman’s han’, en it -fit! Yassar! it fit in de place right smick smack -smoove. Den de preacher man he up en tell de -miller man dat de ’oman wuz a witch, en wid dat -de ’oman fetched a yell en kivvered ’er head wid -de counterpin.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yit dis ain’t do ’er no good, kaze de preacher -man say he done look in de books en de onliest -way fer ter kyo’ a witch is ter bu’n ’er; en it ain’t -look so bad, nuther, kaze when dey tied ’er she -tuck ’n tu’n ter be a great big black cat, en dat’s -de way she wuz w’en she wuz burnt.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span> - <h2 class='c005'>THE LITTLE BOY AND HIS DOGS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>“Uncle Remus’s little patron seemed to be -so shocked at the burning of the woman that -the old man plunged at once into a curious story -about a little boy and his two dogs.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One time,” said Uncle Remus, scratching his -head as if by that means to collect his scattered -ideas, “dere wuz a ’oman livin’ ’longside er de big -road, en dish yer ’oman she had one little boy. -Seem like ter me dat he mus’ ’a’ bin des ’bout -yo’ size. He mout ’a’ bin a little broader in de -shoulder en a little longer in de leg, yit, take ’im -up one side en down de udder, he wuz des ’bout -yo’ shape en size. He wuz a mighty smart little -boy, en his mammy sot lots by ’im. Seem like -she ain’t never have no luck ’cept’n ’long wid dat -boy, kaze dey wuz one time w’en she had a little -gal, en, bless yo’ soul! somebody come ’long en -tote de little gal off, en w’en dat happen de ’oman -ain’t have no mo’ little gal, en de little boy ain’t -have no mo’ little sister. Dis make bofe er um -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>mighty sorry, but look like de little boy wuz de -sorriest, kaze he show it de mosest.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Some days he’d take a notion fer ter go en -hunt his little sister, en den he’d go down de big -road en clam a big pine-tree, en git right spang -in de top, en look all roun’ fer ter see ef he can’t -see his little sister some’rs in de woods. He -couldn’t see ’er, but he’d stay up dar in de -tree en swing in de win’ en ’low ter hisself dat -maybe he mout see ’er bimeby.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One day, w’iles he wuz a-settin’ up dar, he see -two mighty fine ladies walkin’ down de road. He -clam down out’n de tree, he did, en run en tol’ his -mammy. Den she up en ax:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘How is dey dress, honey?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Mighty fine, mammy, mighty fine, puffy-out -petticoats en long green veils.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘How des dey look, honey?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Spick span new, mammy.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Dey ain’t none er our kin, is dey, honey?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Dat dey ain’t, mammy—dey er mighty fine -ladies.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De fine ladies, dey come on down de road, -dey did, en stop by de ’oman’s house, en beg ’er -fer ter please en gi’ um some water. Dey little -boy, he run en fetch ’em a gourd full, en dey put -de gourd und’ der veils, en drunk, en drunk, en -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>drunk des like dey wuz mighty nigh perish fer -water. De little boy watch um. ’Reckly he holler -out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Mammy, mammy! W’at you recken? Dey -er lappin’ de water.’ De woman hollered back:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I recken dat’s de way de quality folks does, -honey.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de ladies beg fer some bread, en de little -boy tuck um a pone. Dey eat it like dey wuz -mighty nigh famish fer bread. Bimeby de little -boy holler out en say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Mammy, mammy! W’at you recken? Dey -er got great long tushes.’ De ’oman, she holler -back:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“’ I recken all de quality folks is got um, -honey.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de ladies ax fer some water fer to wash -der han’s, en de little boy brung um some. He -watch um, en bimeby he holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Mammy, mammy! W’at you recken? Dey -got little bit er hairy han’s en arms.’ De ’oman, -she holler back:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I recken all de quality folks is got um, -honey.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de ladies beg de ’oman fer ter please en -let de little boy show um whar de big road forks. -But de little boy don’t want ter go. He holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>“‘Mammy, folks don’t hatter be showed whar -de road forks’; but de oman she ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I recken de quality folks does, honey.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De little boy, he ’gun ter whimpie en cry kaze -he don’t want ter go wid de ladies, but de ’oman -say he oughter be ’shame er hisse’f fer ter be -gwine on dat away ’fo’ de quality folks, en mo’ -’n dat, he mout run upon his little sister en fetch -’er home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now dish yer little boy had too mighty bad -dogs. One er um wuz name Minnyminny Morack, -en de t’er one wuz name Follerlinsko, en -dey wuz so bad dey hatter be tied in de yard day -en night, ’cep’ w’en dey wuzent a-huntin’. So -de little boy, he went en got a pan er water en sot -’im down in de middle er de flo’, en den he went -en got ’im a willer lim’, en he stuck it in de groun’. -Den he ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Mammy, w’en de water in dish yer pan tu’ns -ter blood, den you run out en tu’n loose Minnyminny -Morack en Follerlinsko, en den w’en you -see dat dar wilier lim’ a-shakin’, you run en sick -um on my track.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De ’oman, she up an’ say she’d tu’n de dogs -loose, en den de little boy he stuck his han’s in -he pockets en went on down de road a wisserlin’ -des same ez enny yuther little boy, ’cep’ dat he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>wuz lots smarter. He went on down de road, he -did, en de fine quality ladies dey come on behin’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De furder he went de faster he walk. Dis -make de quality ladies walk fas’, too, en ’t want -so mighty long ’fo’ de little boy year um makin’ a -mighty kuse fuss, en w’en he t’un ’roun’, bless -gracious! dey wuz a-pantin’, kaze dey wuz so -tired en hot. De little boy ’low ter hisse’f dat it -mighty kuse how ladies kin pant same es a wil’ -varment, but he say he speck dat de way de -quality ladies does w’en dey gits hot en tired, en -he make like he can’t year um, kaze he want ter -be nice en perlite.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Atter a w’ile, w’en de quality ladies t’ink de -little boy want lookin’ at um, he seed one er um -drap down on ’er all-fours en trot ’long des like a -varmint, en’t want long ’fo’ de yuther one drapt -down on ’er all-fours. Den de little boy ’lowed:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“<i>Shoo!</i> Ef dat de way quality ladies res’ derse’f -w’en dey git tired I reckon a little chap ’bout -my size better be fixin fer ter res’ hisse’f.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So he look ’roun’, he did, en he tuck ’n pick -’im out a great big pine-tree by de side er de -road, en ’gun to clam it. Den w’en dey see dat, -one er de quality ladies ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘My goodness! W’at in de worl’ you up ter -now?’ Little boy he say, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>“‘I’m des a-clamin’ a tree fer ter res’ my -bones.’ Ladies, dey ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Whyn’t you res’ um on de groun’?’ Little -boy say, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Bekaze I like ter git up whar it cool en -high.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De quality ladies, dey tuck ’n walk ’roun’ en -’roun’ de tree like dey wuz medjun it fer ter see -how big it is. Bimeby, atter w’ile dey say, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Little boy, little boy! you better come down -frum dar en show us de way ter de forks er de -road.’ Den de little boy ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Des keep right on, ladies—you’ll fin’ de -forks er de road; you can’t miss um. I’m afeard -fer ter come down, kaze I might fall en hurt some -er you all.’ De ladies dey say, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘You better come down yer ’fo’ we run en -tell yo’ mammy how bad you is.’ De little boy -’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘W’iles you er tellin’ ’er please um’ tell ’er how -skeerd I is.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de quality ladies got mighty mad. Dey -walked ’roun’ dat tree en fairly snorted. Dey -pulled off der bonnets, en der veils, en der dresses, -en, lo en beholes! de little boy seen dey wuz two -great big pant’ers. Dey had great big eyes, en -big sharp tushes, en great long tails, en dey look -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>up at de little boy en growl en grin at ’im twel he -come mighty nigh havin’ a chill. Dey tried ter -clam de tree, but dey had done trim der claws so -dey could git on gloves, en dey couldn’t clam -no mo’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den one er um sot down in de road en made -a kuse mark in de san’, en der great long tails -tu’n’d ter axes, en no sooner is der tails tu’n ter -axes den dey ’gun ter cut de tree down. I ain’t -dast ter tell you how sharp dem axes wuz, kase -you wouldn’t nigh b’lieve me. One er um stood -on one side er de tree, en de yuther one stood on -de yuther side, en dey whack at dat tree like dey -wuz takin’ a holiday. Dey whack out chips ez -big ez yo’ hat, en’t want so mighty long ’fo’ de -tree wuz ready fer ter fall.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But w’iles de little boy wuz settin’ up dar, -skeerd mighty nigh ter def, hit come inter his -min’ dat he had some eggs in his pocket w’at he -done brung wid ’im fer ter eat w’enever he git -hongry. He tuck out one er de eggs en broke -it, en say: ‘Place, fill up!’ en, bless yo’ soul! de -place fill up sho ’nuff, en de tree look des ’zackly -like nobody ain’t bin a-cuttin’ on it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But dem ar pant’ers dey wuz werry vig’rous. -Dey des spit on der han’s en cut away. W’en -dey git de tree mighty nigh cut down de little boy -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>he pull out ’n’er egg en broke it, en say, ‘Place, -fill up!’ en by de time he say it de tree wuz done -made soun’ agin. Dey kep’ on dis away twel de -little boy ’gun ter git skeerd agin. He done -broke all he eggs, ’ceptin’ one, en dem ar creeturs -wuz des a-cuttin’ away like dey wuz venomous, -w’ich dey mos’ sholy wuz.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Des ’bout dat time de little boy mammy -happen ter stumble over de pan er water w’at wuz -settin’ down on de flo’, en dar it wuz all done tu’n -ter blood. Den she tuck ’n run en unloose Minnyminny -Morack en Follerlinsko. Den w’en she -do dat she see de wilier lim’ a-shakin’, en den she -put de dogs on de little boy track, en away dey -went. De little boy year um a-comin’, en he -holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Come on, my good dogs. Here, dogs, -here.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De pant’ers dey stop choppin’ en lissen. -One ax de yuther one w’at she year. Little boy -say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘You don’ year nothin’. Go on wid yo’ choppin.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De pant’ers dey chop some mo’, en den dey -think dey year de dogs a-comin’. Den dey try -der bes fer ter git away, but’t want no use. Dey -ain’t got time fer ter change der axes back inter -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>tails, en co’se dey can’t run wid axes draggin’ behin’ -um. So de dogs cotch um. De little boy, he -’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Shake um en bite um. Drag um ’roun’ en -’roun’ twel you drag um two mile.’ So de dogs -dey drag um ’roun’ two mile. Den de little boy -say, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Shake um en t’ar um. Drag um ’roun’ en -’roun’ twel you drag um ten mile.’ So dey drag -um ten mile, en by de time dey got back, de pant’ers -wuz col’ en stiff.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de little boy clum down out ’n de tree, en -sot down fer ter res’ ’hisse’f. Bimeby atter w’ile, -he ’low ter hisse’f dat bein’ he hay so much fun, -he b’lieve he takes his dogs en go way off in de -woods fer ter see ef he can’t fin’ his little sister. -He call his dogs, he did, en went off in de woods, -en dey ain’t bin gone so mighty fur ’fo’ he seed a -house in de woods away off by itse’f.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De dogs dey went up en smelt ’roun’, dey did, -en come wid der bristles up, but de little boy ’low -he’d go up dar anyhow en see w’at de dogs wuz -mad ’bout. So he call de dogs en went todes de -house, en w’en he got close up he saw a little gal -totin’ wood en water. She wuz a mighty purty -little gal, kaze she had a milk-white skin, en great -long yaller hair; but ’er cloze wuz all in rags, en -<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>she wuz cryin’ kaze she hatter work so hard. -Minnyminny Morack en Follerlinsko wagged der -tails w’en dey seed de little gal, en de little boy -know’d by dat dat she wuz his sister.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So he went up en ax er w’at ’er name is, en she -say she dunner w’at ’er name is, kaze she so skeerd -she done fergit. Den he ax ’er w’at de name er -goodness she cryin’ ’bout, en she say she cryin’ -kaze she hatter work so hard. Den he ax ’er who -de house belong ter, en she ’low it b’long ter a -great big ole black B’ar, en dis old B’ar make ’er -tote wood en water all de time. She say de -water is ter go in de big wash-pot, en de wood is -fer ter make de pot bile, en de pot wuz ter cook -folks w’at de great big ole B’ar brung home ter -he chilluns.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De little boy didn’t tell de little gal dat he -wuz ’er br’er, but he ’low dat he was gwine ter -stay en eat supper wid de big ole B’ar. De little -girl cried en ’low he better not, but de little boy -say he ain’t feared fer ter eat supper wid a B’ar. -So dey went in de house, en w’en de little boy got -in dar, he seed dat de B’ar had two great big -chilluns, en one er um wuz squattin’ on de bed, en -de yuther one wuz squattin down in de h’ath. De -chilluns, dey wuz bofe er um name Cubs, fer short, -but de little boy want skeerd er um, kaze dar wuz -<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>his dogs fer ter make way wid um ef dey so much -ez roll der eye-ball.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De ole B’ar wuz a mighty long time comin’ -back, so de little gal she up ’n fix supper, anyhow, -en de little boy he tuck ’n scrouge Cubs fus on -one side en den on yuther, en him en de little gal -got much ez dey want. Atter supper de little boy -tole de little gal dat he’d take en comb ’er ha’r -des ter w’ile away de time; but de little gal ha’r -ain’t bin comb fer so long, en it am got in such a -tankle, dat it make de po’ creetur cry fer ter hear -anybody talkin’ ’bout combin’ un it. Den de little -boy ’low he ain’t gwine ter hurt ’er, en he tuck ’n -warm some water in a pan en put it on ’er ha’r, en -den he comb en curlt it des ez nice as you mos’ -ever see.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’en de ole B’ar git home he wuz mighty -tuck ’n back w’en he seed he had com’ny, en w’en -he see um all settin’ down like dey come den fer -ter stay. But he wuz mighty perlite, en he shuck -han’s all ’roun’, en set down by de fier en dry his -boots, en ax ’bout de craps, en ’low dat de wedder -would be monstus fine ef dey could git a little -season er rain.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den he tuck ’n make a great ’miration over -de little gal’s ha’r, en he ax de little boy how in -de roun’ worl’ kin he curl it en fix it so nice. De -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>little un ’low it’s easy enough. Den de ole B’ar -say he b’lieve he like ter git his ha’r curlt up dat -way, en de little boy say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Fill de big pot wid water.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De ole B’ar filled de pot wid water. Den de -little boy say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Buil’ a fier und’ de pot en heat de water hot.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’en de water got scaldin’ hot, de little boy -say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘All ready, now. Stick yo’ head in. Hit ’s -de onliest way fer ter make yo’ ha’r curl.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de ole B’ar stuck he head in de water, -en dot wuz de las’ er him, bless gracious! De -scaldin’ water curlt de ha’r twel it come off, en I -speck dat whar dey get de idee ’bout puttin’ b’ar -grease on folks’ ha’r. De young b’ars dey cry -like ever’ting w’en dey see how der daddy bin -treated, en dey want bite and scratch de little boy -en his sister, but dem dogs—dat Minnyminny -Morack en dat Follerlinsko—dey des laid holt -er dem dar b’ars, en dey want enough lef’ er um -ter feed a kitten.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What did they do then?” asked the little boy -who had been listening to the story. The old -man took off his spectacles and cleaned the glasses -on his coat-tail.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span> -<img src='images/p105.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“ALL READY, NOW. STICK YO’ HEAD IN.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>“Well, sir,” he went on, “de little boy tuck ’n -kyard his sister home, an’ his mammy says she -ain’t never gwine ter set no sto’ by folks wid fine -cloze, kaze dey so ’ceitful; no, never, so long as -de Lord mout spar’ ’er. En den, atter dat, dey -tuck ’n live terge’er right straight ’long, en ef it -hadn’t but a bin fer de war, dey’d a bin a-livin’ -dar now. Bekaze war is a mighty dangersome -business.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span> - <h2 class='c005'>HOW BLACK SNAKE CAUGHT THE WOLF</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>“One time,” said Uncle Remus, putting the -“noses” of the chunks together with his -cane, so as to make a light in his cabin, “Brer -Rabbit en ole Brer Wolf wuz gwine down de road -terge’er, en Brer Wolf, he ’low dat times wuz -mighty hard en money skace. Brer Rabbit, he -’gree ’long wid ’im, he did, dat times wuz mighty -tight, en he up en say dat ’t wuz in about much -ez he kin do fer ter make bofe en’s meet. He -’low, he did:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Brer Wolf, you er gittin’ mighty ga’nt, en ’t -won’t be so mighty long ’fo’ we’ll batten be tuck -up en put in de po’-house. W’at make dis?’ says -Brer Rabbit, sezee: ‘I be bless ef I kin tell, kaze -yer er all de creeturs gittin’ ga’nt w’iles all de reptules -is a-gittin’ seal fat. No longer ’n yistiddy, I -wuz comin’ along throo de woods, w’en who should -I meet but ole Brer Snake, en he wuz dat put dat -he ain’t kin skacely pull he tail ’long atter he -head. I ’low ter mese’f, I did, dat dish yer country -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>gittin’ in a mighty bad way w’en de creeturs -is got ter go ’roun’ wid der ribs growin’ terge’er -w’iles de reptules layin’ up in de sun des nat’ally -fattenin’ on der own laziness. Yessar, dat w’at -I ’lowed.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Wolf, he say, he did, dat if de reptules -wuz gittin’ de ’vantage er de creeturs dat away, -dat hit wuz ’bout time fer ter clean out de reptules -er leaf de country, en he ’low, fuddermo’, dat he -wuz ready fur ter jine in wid de patter-rollers en -drive um out.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But Brer Rabbit, he ’low, he did, dat de bes’ -way fer ter git ’long wuz ter fin’ out whar’bouts -de reptules hed der smoke-’house en go in dar -en git some er de vittles w’at by good rights -b’long’d ter de creeturs. Brer Wolf say maybe -dis de bes’ way, kaze ef de reptules git word dat -de patter-rollers is a-comin’ dey ’ll take en hide de -gingercakes, en der simmon beer, en der w’atzis-names, -so dat de creeturs can’t git um. By dis -time dey come ter de forks er de road, en Brer -Rabbit he went one way, en Brer Wolf he went -de yuther.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Whar Brer Wolf went,” Uncle Remus went -on, with increasing gravity, “de goodness knows, -but Brer Rabbit, he went on down de road todes -he own house, en w’iles he wuz lippitin’ long, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>nibblin’ a bite yer en a bite dar, he year a mighty -kuse fuss in de woods. He lay low, Brer Rabbit -did, en lissen. He look sharp, he did, en bimeby -he ketch a glimp’ er ole Mr. Black Snake gwine -’long thoo de grass. Brer Rabbit, he lay low en -watch ’im. Mr. Black Snake crope ’long, he did, -des like he wuz greased. Brer Rabbit say ter hisse’f:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Hi! dar goes one er de reptules, en ez she -slips she slides ’long.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yit, still he lay low en watch. Mr. Black -Snake crope ’long, he did, en bimeby he come -whar dey wuz a great big poplar-tree. Brer Rabbit, -he crope on his belly en follow ’long atter. -Mr. Black Snake tuck ’n circle all ’roun’ de tree, -en den he stop en sing out:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario wo!</div> - <div class='line'>Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario wo!’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“En den, mos’ ’fo’ Brer Rabbit kin wink he -eye, a door w’at wuz in de tree flew’d open, en -Mr. Black Snake tuck ’n crawl in. Brer Rabbit -’low, he did:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Ah-yi! Dar whar you stay! Dar whar you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>keeps yo’ simmon beer! Dar whar you hides yo’ -backbone en spar’ ribs. Ah-yi!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’en Mr. Black Snake went in de house, -Brer Rabbit crope up, he did, en lissen fer ter -see w’at he kin year gwine on in dar. But he -ain’t year nothin’. Bimeby, w’iles he settin’ ’roun’ -dar, he year de same song:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario, wo!</div> - <div class='line'>Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario wo!’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“En mos’ ’fo’ Brer Rabbit kin hide in de weeds, -de door hit flew’d open, en out Mr. Black Snake -slid. He slid out, he did, en slid off, en atter he -git out er sight, Brer Rabbit, he tuck ’n went -back ter de poplar-tree fer ter see ef he kin git in -dar. He hunt ’roun’ en he hunt ’roun’, en yit ain’t -fin’ no door. Den he sat up on he behin’ legs, -ole Brer Rabbit did, en low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Hey! w’at kinder contrapshun dish yer? I -seed a door dar des now, but dey ain’t no door -dar now.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole Brer Rabbit scratch he head, he did, en -bimeby hit come inter he min’ dat maybe de song -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>got sump’n ’n’er ter do wid it, en wid dat he -chuned up, he did, en sing:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘<i>Watsilla, watsilla,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>Bandario, wo-haw!</i>’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“Time he say fus’ part, de door sorter open, -but w’en he say de las’ part hit slammed shet ag’in. -Den he chune up some mo’:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line'>Bandario, wo-haw!’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“Time he say de fus’ part de door open little -ways, but time he say de las’ part hit slammed -shet ag’in. Den Brer Rabbit ’low he ’d hang -’roun’ dar en fin’ out w’at kind er hinges dat er -door wuz a-swingin’ on. So he stays ’roun’ dar, -he did, twel bimeby Mr. Black Snake came ’long -back. Brer Rabbit crope up, he did, en he year -’im sing de song:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario wo!</div> - <div class='line'>Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario wo!’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de door open, en Mr. Black Snake, he -slid in, en Brer Rabbit, he lipped off in de bushes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>en sung de song by hisse’f. Den he went home -en tuck some res’, en nex’ day he went back; en -w’en Mr. Black Snake come out en went off, Brer -Rabbit, he tuck ’n sing de song, en de door hewed -open, en in he went. He went in, he did, en -w’en he got in dar, he fin’ lots er goodies. He -fin’ cakes en sausages, en all sort er nice doin’s. -Den he come out, en de nex’ day he went he tole -Ole Brer Wolf, en Brer Wolf, he’low dat, bein’ ez -times is hard, he b’lieve he ’ll go ’long en sample -some er Mr. Black Snake’s doin’s.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dey went, dey did, en soon ez dey fin’ dat -Mr. Black Snake is gone, Brer Rabbit he sing -de song, en de door open, en in he went. He -went in dar, he did, en he gobbled up his bellyful, -en w’iles he doin’ dis Brer Wolf he gallop -’roun’ en ’roun’, tryin’ fer ter git in. But de door -done slam shet, en Brer Wolf ain’t know de song. -Bimeby Brer Rabbit he come out, he did, lickin’ -he chops en wipin’ he mustash, en Brer Wolf ax -’im w’at de name er goodness is de reason he -ain’t let ’im go in ’long wid ’im.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit, he vow, he did, dat he ’spected -any gump ’ud know dat somebody got ter stay -outside en watch w’iles de yuther one wuz on de -inside. Brer Wolf say he ain’t thunk er dat, en -den he ax Brer Rabbit fer ter let ’im in, en please -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>be so good ez ter stay out dar en watch w’iles he -git some er de goodies.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wid dat Brer Rabbit, he sung de song:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario wo!</div> - <div class='line'>Watsilla, watsilla,</div> - <div class='line in4'>Consario wo!’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“He sung de song, he did, en de door flew’d -open, en Brer Wolf he lipt in, en gun ter gobble -up de goodies. Brer Rabbit, he stayed outside, -en make like he gwine ter watch. Brer Wolf, he -e’t en e’t, en he keep on a-eatin’. Brer Rabbit, -he tuck en stan’ off in de bushes, en bimeby he -year Mr. Black Snake a-slidin’ thoo de grass. -Brer Rabbit, he ain’t say nothin’. He ’low ter -hisse’f, he did, dat he was dar ter watch, en dat -w’at he gwine ter do ef de good Lord spar’ ’im. -So he set dar en watch, en Mr. Black Snake, he -come a-slidin’ up ter de house en sing de song, -en den de door flew’d open en in he went.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit set dar en watch so hard, he did, -dat it look like he eyes gwine to pop out. ’T want -long ’fo’ he year sump’n ’n’er like a scuffle gwine -on in de poplar-tree, en, fus’ news you know, Brer -Wolf come tumberlin’ out. He come tumberlin’ -out, he did, en down he fell, kaze Mr. Black -Snake got ’im tie hard en fas’ so he ain’t kin run.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span> -<img src='images/p115.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“EN EVE’Y TIME HE SWUNG MR. BLACK SNAKE TUCK ’N LASH ’IM WID HE TAIL.”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>“Den, atter so long a time, Mr. Black Snake -tuck ’n tie Brer Wolf up ter a lim’, en dar dat -creetur swung ’twixt de hevin en de yeth. He -swung en swayed, en eve’y time he swung Mr. -Black Snake tuck ’n lash ’im wid he tail, en eve’y -time he lash ’im Brer Rabbit holler out, he did:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Sarve ’im right! sarve ’im right!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“En I let you know,” said the old man, refilling -his pipe, “dat w’en Mr. Black Snake git thoo -wid dat creetur, he ain’t want no mo’ goodies.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span> - <h2 class='c005'>WHY THE GUINEAS STAY AWAKE</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>One night when the little boy was waiting patiently -for Uncle Remus to tell him a story, -the guineas began to scream at a great rate, and -they kept it up for some time.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah, Lord!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, blowing -the ashes from a sweet potato that had been -roasting in the embers. “Ah, Lord! dem ar -creeturs is mighty kuse creeturs. I boun’ you -ef you go up dar whar dey is right now, you’ll -fin’ some kind er varmint slippin’ ’roun’ und’ de -bushes. Hit mout be ole Brer Fox. I won’t say -p’intedly dat it’s Brer Fox,” the old man continued, -with the air of one who is willing to assert only -what he can prove, “yit it mout be. But ne’er -min’ ’bout dat; Brer Fox er no Brer Fox, dem -guinea hens ain’t gwine ter be kotch. De varments -kin creep up en slip up ez de case may be, -but dey ain’t gwine to slip up en ketch dem creeturs -asleep.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>“Don’t the guineas ever sleep, Uncle Remus?” -the little boy inquired. His curiosity was whetted.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I ’speck dey does sleep,” replied the old -man. “Yasser, dey er bleege ter sleep, but dey -ain’t bin kotch at it—leastways, dey aint bin -kotch at it not sence Brer Fox crope up on -um long time ago. He kotch um a-snorin’ den, -but he ain’t kotch um sence, en he ain’t gwine -kotch um no mo’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You may go ter bed now,” Uncle Remus went -on, in a tone calculated to carry conviction with -it, “you may go ter bed en go ter sleep right -now, but wake up w’enst you will en you’ll year -dem guineas a-cacklin’ en a confabbin’ out dar -des same ez ef’t wuz broad daylight. Seem like -dey ain’t gwine ter fergit de time w’en Brer Fox -crope up on um, en kotch um ’sleep.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“When was that, Uncle Remus?” the little -boy asked, as he settled himself in the split-bottom -chair in anticipation of a story.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said the old man, noticing the movement, -“you nee’n ter primp yo’se’f fer no great -long tale, honey, kaze dish yer tale ain’t skacely -long nuff fer ter tie a snapper on. Yit sech es ’t -is you er mo’ dan welcome.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One time ’way long back yander dem guineas -wuz des ez drowsy w’en night come ez any er de -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>yuther folks. Dey ’d go ter roos’, dey would, -en dey ’d drap off ter sleep time der head totch -de piller.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The pillow, Uncle Remus!” exclaimed the -little boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said the old man, rubbing his hand -over his weatherbeaten face to hide a smile, -“hit’s all de same. In dem days dey could ’a’ -had pillers ef dey ’d a-wanted um, en bolsters, too, -fer dat matter, en likewise fedder-beds, kaze dey -wouldn’t ’a’ had ter go no fur ways fer de fedders.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But ne’er mind ’bout dat; no sooner did dey -git up on de roos’ dan dey drap off ter sleep, en dey -kep’ on dat away twel bimeby one time Brer Fox -made up he min’ dat he better be kinder sociable -en pay um a call atter dey done gone ter bed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dar wuz times,” continued Uncle Remus, as -if endeavoring to be perfectly fair and square to -all the parties concerned, “w’en Brer Fox tuck -a notion fer ter walk ’bout in de daytime, but -mos’ allers inginer’lly he done he pomernadin’ -’twix’ sundown en sun-up. I dunner w’at time -er night hit wuz w’en Brer Fox call on de guineas, -but I speck’t wuz long todes de shank er de -evenin’, ez you may say.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yit, soon er late, w’en he got ter whar de -guineas live at, he foun’ um all soun’ asleep. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>Now, some folks w’en dey go anywhars fer ter -make deyse’f sociable, en fin’ eve’ybody fas’ asleep, -would ’a’ tu’n ’roun’ en made der way back home; -but Brer Fox ain’t dat kind er man. Dem guineas -roos’ so low en dey look so fine en fat dat it -make Brer Fox feel like dey wuz his fus’ cousin.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He sot down on his hunkers, Brer Fox did, -en he look at um en grin. Den he ’low ter hisse’f:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I’ll des shake han’s wid one un um en den -I’ll go.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” continued Uncle Remus, “Brer Fox -went up en shuck han’s wid one un um, en he -must ’a’ squoze mighty hard, kaze de guinea -make a mighty flutterment; en he mus’ ’a’ helt -on wid a mighty tight grip, kaze w’en he tuck -off his hat en bowed good-by de guinea went -’long wid ’im.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, suh,” said the old man solemnly, “you -never is year tell er sech a racket ez dem guineas -kicked up w’en dey ’skiver dat Brer Fox done -make off wid one un um. Dey squall en dey -squall twel dey rousted up de whole neighborhoods. -De dogs got ter barkin’, de owls got ter -hootin’, de hosses got ter kickin’, de cows got ter -lowin’, en de chickens got ter crowin’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“En mo’ dan dat,” Uncle Remus continued, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>“de guineas wuz dat skeered dat dey tu’n right -pale on de neck en on de gills, en ef you don’t -b’lieve me you kin go up dar in de gyarden en -look at um fer yo’se’f.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But the little boy had no idea of going. He -saw by Uncle Remus’s air of preoccupation that -the story was not yet concluded.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“En mo’ dan dat,” said the old man, after a -short pause, “dey got skeerd so bad dat from -dat day ter dis dey don’t sleep soun’ at night. -Dey may squat ’roun’ in de shade en nod in de -daytime, dough I ain’t kotch um at it, en dey may -sort er nod atter dey go ter roos’ at night; but -ef a betsey bug flies by um, er yit ef a sparrer -flutters in de bushes, dey er wide awake; dey -mos’ sholy is.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit seem like ter me,” Uncle Remus continued, -“dat dey mus’ be ha’nted in der dreams by -ole Brer Fox, kaze all times er night you kin -year um gwine on:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>L-o-o-o-o-k, look, look! Dar he is, dar he -is! Go ’way, go ’way!</i>’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Some folks say dat dey holler, ‘<i>Pot-rack! -pot-rack!</i>’ but dem w’at talk dat away is mostly -w’ite folks, en dey ain’t know nuthin’ ’t all ’bout -dem ole times. Mars John en Miss Sally mout -know, but ef dey does I ain’t year um sesso.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span> - <h2 class='c005'>HOW THE TERRAPIN WAS TAUGHT TO FLY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>Uncle Remus had the weakness of the -genuine story-teller. When he was in the -humor, the slightest hint would serve to remind -him of a story, and one story would recall another. -Thus, when the little boy chanced to -manifest some curiosity in regard to the whippoorwill, -which, according to an old song, had -performed the remarkable feat of carrying the -sheep’s corn to mill, the old man took great pains -to describe the bird, explaining, in his crude way, -how it differed from the chuck-will’s-widow, which -is frequently mistaken for the whippoorwill, especially -in the South. Among other things, -he told the child how the bird could fly through -the darkness and flap its wings without making -the slightest noise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy had a number of questions to ask -about this, and the talk about flying reminded -Uncle Remus of a story. He stopped short in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>his explanations and began to chuckle. The -little boy asked him what the matter was.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Shoo, honey!” said the old man, “w’en you -git ole ez I is, en yo’ ’membunce cropes up en -tickles you, you ’ll laugh too, dat you will. Talkin’ -all ’bout dish yer flyin’ business fotch up in -my min’ de time w’en ole Brer Tarrypin boned -ole Brer Buzzard fer ter l’arn him how ter fly. -He got atter ’im, en he kep’ atter ’im; he begged -en ’swaded, en ’swaded en he begged. Brer Buzzard -tole ’im dat dey wuz mos’ too much un ’im in -one place, but Brer Tarrypin, he des kep on atter -’im, en bimeby Brer Buzzard ’low dat ef nothin’ -else ain’t gwine do ’im, he’ll des whirl in en gin ’im -some lessons in flying fer ole ’quaintance sakes.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dis make ole Brer Tarrypin feel mighty -good, en he say he ready fer ter begin right now, -but Brer Buzzard say he ain’t got time des den, -but he’ll be sho’ en come ’roun’ de nex’ day en -gin ole Brer Tarrypin de fus’ lesson.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole Brer Tarrypin, he sot dar en wait, he -did, en dough he nodded yer en dar thro’ de -night, hit look like ter ’im dat day ain’t never -gwine ter come. He wait en he wait, he did, but -bimeby de sun riz, en’t want so mighty long atter -dat ’fo’ yer come Brer Buzzard sailin’ ’long. He -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>sailed ’roun’ en ’roun’, en eve’y time he sail ’roun’ -he come lower, en atter w’ile he lit.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He lit, he did, en pass de time er day wid -Brer Tarrypin en ax ’im is he ready. Brer Tarrypin -’low he been ready too long ter talk ’bout, en -w’en Brer Buzzard year dis, he tuck ’n squot in -de grass en ax Brer Tarrypin fer ter crawl upon -he back. But Brer Buzzard back mighty slick, -en de mo’ Brer Tarrypin try fer ter crawl up, de -mo’ wa’l he slip back. But he tuck ’n crawl up -atter w’ile, en w’en he git sorter settled down, he -’low, he did:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘You kin start now, Brer Buzzard, but you’ll -hatter be mighty keerful not ter run over no -rocks en stumps, kaze ef dish yer waggin gits ter -joltin’, I ’m a goner,’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Buzzard, he tuck ’n start off easy, en he -move so slick en smoove en swif’ dat Brer Tarrypin -laugh en ’low dat he ain’t had no sech sweet -ridin’ sence he crossed de river in a flat. He sail -’roun’ en ’roun’, he did, en gun Brer Tarrypin a -good ride, en den bimeby he sail down ter de -groun’ en let Brer Tarryin slip off’n he back.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nex’ day he come ’roun’ agin, ole Brer Buzzard -did, en gun Brer Tarrypin ’n’er good ride, -en de nex’ day he done de same, en he keep on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>doin’ dis away, twel atter w’ile Brer Tarrypin got -de consate dat he kin do some fly’n’ on he own -hook. So he up en ax Brer Buzzard for call -’roun’ one mo’ time, en gin ’im a good start.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Here Uncle Remus paused to chuckle a moment, -and then went on—</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Gentermens! It tickles me eve’y time it come -in my min’, dat it do! Well, sir, ole Brer Buzzard -wuz dat full er rascality dat he ain’t got no -better sense dan ter come, en de nex’ day he sail -up, he did, bright en yearly. He lit on de grass, -en ole Brer Tarrypin, he crope up on he back, -en den Brer Buzzard riz. He riz up in de elements, -now, en w’en he git up dar he sorter -fetched a flirt en a swoop en slid out from under -Brer Tarrypin.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole Brer Tarrypin, he flapped he foots en -wagged he head en shuck he tail, but all dis ain’t -done no good. He start off right-side up, but he -ain’t drap fur, ’fo’ he ’gun ter turn somersets up -dar, en down he come on he back—<i>kerblam—m—m—</i>! -En ef it hadn’t but er bin fer de -strenk er he shell, he’d er got bust wide open. -He lay dar, ole Brer Tarrypin did, en try ter -ketch he breff, en he groan en he pant like eve’y -minnit gwine ter be nex’.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span> -<img src='images/p127.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>“BRER TARRYPIN, HOW YOU FEEL?”</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span>“Ole Brer Buzzard, he sail ’roun’, he did, en -look at Brer Tarrypin, en bimeby he lit fer ter -make inquirements.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Brer Tarrypin, how you feel?’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Brer Buzzard, I’m teetotally ruint,’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Well, Brer Tarrypin, I tole you not ter try -ter fly,’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Hush up, Brer Buzzard!’ sezee; ‘I flew’d -good ez anybody, but you fergot ter l’arn me -how ter light. Flyin’ is easy as fallin’, but I -don’t speck I kin l’arn how ter light, en dat’s whar -de trouble come in,’ sezee.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Uncle Remus laughed as heartily at the result -of Brother Terrapin’s attempts to fly as if he had -heard of them for the first time; but before the -little boy could ask him any questions, he remarked:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, de goodness en de gracious! dat put -me in min’ er de time w’en ole Brer Rabbit make -a bet wid Brer Fox.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How was that, Uncle Remus?” the child inquired.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ef I ain’t make no mistakes,” responded Uncle -Remus, with the air of one who was willing -to sacrifice everything to accuracy, “ole Brer -Rabbit bet Brer Fox dat he kin go de highest up -in de elements, en not clam no holler tree nudder. -Brer Fox, he tuck ’im up, en dey ’pinted de -day fer de trial ter come off.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>“W’iles dey wuz makin’ all der ’rangerments, -Brer Fox year talk dat Brer Rabbit have done -gone en hire Brer Buzzard fer ter tote ’im ’way -’bove de tops er de trees. Soon’s he year dis, -Brer Fox went ter Brer Buzzard, he did, en tole -’im dat he gin ’im a pot er gol’ ef he’d whirl in -en kyar Brer Rabbit clean out ’n de county. -Brer Buzzard ’low dat he wuz de ve’y man fer ter -do dat kind er bizness.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So den w’en de time come fer de trial, Brer -Fox, he wuz dar, en Brer Rabbit, he wuz dar, en -Brer Buzzard, he wuz dar, en lots er de yuther -creeturs. Dey flung cross en piles fer ter see -w’ich gwine ter start fus’, en it fell ter Brer Fox. -He look ’roun’, old Brer Fox did, en wink at -Brer Buzzard, an Brer Buzzard, he wink back -good ez he kin. Wid dat, Brer Fox tuck a runnin’ -start en clam a leanin’ tree. Brer Rabbit -say dat better dan he ’spected Brer Fox kin do, -but he ’low he gwine ter beat dat. Den he tuck -’n jump on Brer Buzzard back, en Brer Buzzard -riz en sail off wid ’im. Brer Fox laugh w’en he -see dis, en ’low, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Folks, ef you all got any intruss in ole Brer -Rabbit, you des better tell ’im good-by, kaze you -won’t see ’im no mo’ in dese diggin’s.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dis make all de yuther creeturs feel mighty -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>good, kaze in dem days ole Brer Rabbit wuz a -tarrifier, dat he wuz. But dey all sot dar, dey did, -en keep der eye on Brer Buzzard, w’ich he keep -on gittin’ higher en higher, en littler en littler. -Dey look en dey look, en bimeby dey sorter see -Brer Buzzard flop fus’ one wing, en den de yuther. -He keep on floppin’ dis away, en eve’y time he -flop, he git nigher en nigher de groun’. He flop -en fall, en flop en fall, en circle ’roun’, en bimeby -he come close ter de place whar he start fum, en -him en Brer Rabbit come down <i>ker-flip</i>! En -Brer Rabbit ain’t no sooner hit de groun’ dan he -rush off in de bushes, en sot dar fer ter see w’at -gwine ter happen nex’.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But, Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, “why -didn’t Brother Buzzard carry Brother Rabbit off, -and get the pot of gold?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bless yo’ soul, honey, dey wuz some mighty -good reasons in de way! W’en ole Brer Buzzard -got ’way up in de elements, he ’low, he did:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘We er gwine on a mighty long journey, Brer -Rabbit.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit he laugh like a man w’at’s -a-drivin’ a plow-hoss wid a badoon bit.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘You may be a-gwine on a long journey, Brer -Buzzard; I don’t ’spute dat,’ sezee, ‘but it’ll be atter -you done kyar’d me back whar we start fum.’</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>“Den Brer Buzzard he up en tell Brer Rabbit -’bout de bargain he done make wid Brer Fox. -Dis make Brer Rabbit laugh wuss ’n befo’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Law, Brer Buzzard’, sezee, ‘w’en it come ter -makin’ dat kinder bargain, you oughter make it -wid me, kaze I’m a long ways a better trader dan -w’at Brer Fox is.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Buzzard he don’t ’spon’ ter dat, but he -keep on flyin’ higher en higher, en furder en furder -away. Bimeby Brer Rabbit ’gun ter git kinder -oneasy, en he ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Look like ter me we done got fur ’nuff, Brer -Buzzard,’ sezee, ’en I’ll be mighty much erbleege -ef you kyar me back.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Buzzard keep on flyin’ furder. Bimeby -Brer Rabbit ax ’im ag’in, but Brer Buzzard keep -on flyin’ furder. Den ole Brer Rabbit he ’low, -sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Ef I got ter des nat’ally <i>make</i> you go back, -I speck I better start in right now,’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wid dat Brer Rabbit retch down, he did, en -bit Brer Buzzard under de wing.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy clapped his hands and laughed -at this, and Uncle Remus laughed in sympathy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yesser,” the old man went on, “ole Brer -Rabbit retch down en bit Brer Buzzard under de -wing, right spang in he most ticklish en tender-some -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>spot. Co’se dis make Brer Buzzard shet -he wing quick, en w’en he shet he wing, he bleedge -ter fall some. Den w’en he open de wing out -en ketch hisse’f, Brer Rabbit holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Is you gwine back, Brer Buzzard?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Buzzard ain’t say nuthin’, en den Brer -Rabbit retch down en bit ’im under de yuther -wing. It keep on dis away twel it got so dat -Brer Rabbit kin guide Brer Buzzard along des -same ez ef he done bin broke ter harness, en -dat’s de way he made ’im kyar ’im back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy enjoyed these stories very much, -and was very sorry to see that Uncle Remus -was not in the humor for telling any more. Perhaps -his store was exhausted. At any rate, the -old man flatly refused to cudgel his memory for -another legend.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span> - <h2 class='c005'>THE CREATURE WITH NO CLAWS</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>“W’en you git a leetle bit older dan w’at -you is, honey,” said Uncle Remus to the -little boy, “you’ll know lots mo’ dan you does -now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The old man had a pile of white oak splits by -his side, and these he was weaving into a chair-bottom. -He was an expert in the art of “bottoming -chairs,” and he earned many a silver -quarter in this way. The little boy seemed to -be much interested in the process.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit’s des like I tell you,” the old man went -on; “I done had de speunce un it. I done got -so now dat I don’t b’lieve w’at I see, much less -w’at I year. It got ter be whar I kin put my -han’ on it en fumble wid it. Folks kin fool deyse’f -lots wuss dan yuther folks kin fool um, en ef -you don’t b’lieve w’at I’m a-tellin’ un you, you -kin des ax Brer Wolf de nex’ time you meet ’im -in de big road.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>“What about Brother Wolf, Uncle Remus?” -the little boy asked, as the old man paused to refill -his pipe.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, honey, ’t ain’t no great long rigamarole; -hit’s des one er deze yer tales w’at goes in a gallop -twel hit gits ter de jumpin’-off place.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One time Brer Wolf wuz gwine ’long de big -road feelin’ mighty proud en high-strung. He -wuz a mighty high-up man in dem days, Brer -Wolf wuz, en mos’ all de yuther creeturs wuz -feard tin ’im. Well, he wuz gwine ’long lickin’ -his chops en walkin’ sorter stiff-kneed, w’en he -happen ter look down ’pon de groun’ en dar he -seed a track in de san’. Brer Wolf stop, he did, -en look at it, en den he ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Heyo! w’at kind er creetur dish yer? Brer -Dog ain’t make dat track, en needer is Brer Fox. -Hit’s one er deze yer kind er creeturs w’at ain’t -got no claws. I’ll des ’bout foller ’im up, en ef -I ketch ’im he’ll sholy be my meat.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dat de way Brer Wolf talk. He followed -’long atter de track, he did, en he look at it close, -but he ain’t see no print er no claw’. Bimeby de -track tuck ’n tu’n out de road en go up a dreen -whar de rain done wash out. De track wuz plain -dar in de wet san’, but Brer Wolf ain’t see no -sign er no claws.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>“He foller en foller, Brer Wolf did, en de track -git fresher en fresher, but still he ain’t see no -print er no claw. Bimeby he come in sight er -de creetur, en Brer Wolf stop, he did, en look at -’im. He stop stock-still en look. De creetur -wuz mighty quare lookin’, en he wuz cuttin’ up -some mighty quare capers. He had big head, -sharp nose, en bob tail, en he wuz walkin’ ’roun’ -en ’roun’ a big dog-wood tree, rubbin’ his sides -ag’in it. Brer Wolf watch ’im a right smart while, -en den he ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Shoo! dat creetur done bin in a fight en los’ -de bes’ part er he tail, en mo’ ’n dat, he got de -eatch, kaze ef he ain’t got de eatch w’at make he -scratch hisse’f dat away? I lay I ’ll let ’im know -who he foolin’ ’long wid.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Atter while, Brer Wolf went up a leetle -nigher de creetur, en holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Heyo, dar! w’at you doin’ scratchin’ yo’ -scaly hide on my tree, en tryin’ fer ter break hit -down?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De creetur ain’t make no answer. He des -walk ’roun’ en ’roun’ de tree scratchin’ he sides -en back. Brer Wolf holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I lay I ’ll make you year me ef I hatter come -dar whar you is.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De creetur des walk ’roun’ en ’roun’ de tree, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>en ain’t make no answer. Den Brer Wolf hail -’im ag’in, en talk like he mighty mad:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Ain’t you gwine ter min’ me, you imperdent -scoundul? Ain’t you gwine ter mozey outer my -woods en let my tree ’lone?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wid dat, Brer Wolf march todes des creetur -des like he gwine ter squ’sh ’im in de groun’. De -creetur rub hisse’f ag’in de tree en look like he -feel mighty good. Brer Wolf keep on gwine -todes ’im, en bimeby w’en he git sorter close de -creetur tuck ’n sot up on his behime legs des like -you see squir’ls do. Den Brer Wolf, he ’low, he -did:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Ah-yi! you beggin’, is you? But ’t ain’t -gwine ter do you no good. I mout er let you off -ef you’d a-minded me w’en I fus’ holler atter you, -but I ain’t gwine ter let you off now. I’m -a-gwine ter l’arn you a lesson dat’ll stick by -you.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den de creetur sorter wrinkle up his face en -mouf, en Brer Wolf ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Oh, you neenter swell up en cry, you ’ceitful -vilyun. I’m a-gwine ter gi’ you a frailin’ dat -I boun’ yer won’t forgit.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Wolf make like he gwine ter hit de -creetur, en den——”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Here Uncle Remus paused and looked all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>around the room and up at the rafters. When -he began again his voice was very solemn.</p> - -<p class='c010'>——“Well, suh, dat creetur des fotch one swipe -dis away, en ’n’er swipe dat away, en mos’ ’fo’ -you kin wink yo’ eye-balls, Brer Wolf hide wuz -mighty nigh teetotally tor’d off’n ’im. Atter dat -de creetur sa’ntered off in de woods, en ’gun ter -rub hisse’f on ’n’er tree.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What kind of a creature was it, Uncle Remus?” -asked the little boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, honey,” replied the old man in a confidential -whisper, “hit wa’n’t nobody on de top-side -er de yeth but ole Brer Wildcat.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span> - <h2 class='c005'>UNCLE REMUS’S WONDER STORY</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>There was one story that the little boy whom -Uncle Remus delighted to entertain asked -for with great regularity, perhaps because it has -in it an element of witchcraft, and was as marvelous -as it was absurd. Sometimes Uncle Remus -pretended to resent this continued demand for the -story, although he himself, like all the negroes, -was very superstitious, and believed more or less -in witches and witchcraft.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dat same ole tale,” he would say. “Well! -well! well! W’en is we gwine ter year de las’ un -it? I done tole you dat tale so much dat it make -my flesh crawl, kaze I des know dat some er deze -yer lonesome nights I’ll be a-settin’ up yer by de -fier atter you done gone. I’ll be a-settin’ up yer -dreamin’ ’bout gwine ter bed, en sumpin’ ’n’er ’ll -come a-clawin’ at de do’, en I’ll up en ax, ‘Who -dat?’ En dey’ll up en ’spon’, ‘Lemme in.’ En -I’ll ondo de do’, en dat ole creetur’ll walk in, en -dat’ll be de las’ er po’ ole Remus’ En den w’en -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>dat come ter pass, who gwine take time fer ter -tell you tales? Dat w’at I like ter know.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy, although he well knew that -there were no witches, would treat this statement -with gravity, as the story to him was as fascinating -as one of the “Thousand and One Nights.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Uncle Remus,” he would say, “just tell -it this time!” Whereupon the old negro, with the -usual preliminary flourishes, began:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One time, ’way back yander, w’en de moon -wuz lots bigger dan w’at she is now, dar wuz er -ole Witch-Wolf livin’ ’way off in de swamp, en -dish yer ole Witch-Wolf wuz up to ter all sorts er -contrariness. Look like she wuz cross-ways wid -de whole er creation. W’en she wa’n’t doin’ devilment, -she wuz studyin’ up devilment. She had a -mighty way, de ole Witch-Wolf did, dat w’en she -git hungry she’d change ’erse’f ter be a ’oman. -She could des shet ’er eye en smack ’er mouf, en -stiddier bein’ a big black wolf, wid long claws en -green eye-balls, she’d come ter be the likelies’ -lookin’ gal dat you mos’ ever seed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It seem like she love ter eat folks, but’fo’ she -kin eat urn she hatter marry um; en w’en she -take a notion, she des change ’erse’f ter be a likely -lookin’ gal, en sails in en git married. Den w’en -she do dat, she des take en change ’erse’f back -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>ter be a wolf, en eat um up raw. Go whar you -kin, en whar you mout, en yit I don’t ’speck you -kin fin’ any wuss creetur dan w’at dis ole Witch-Wolf -wuz.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, at de same time w’en dis ole Witch-Wolf -gwine on dis away, dey wuz a man livin’ in -de neighborhood w’at she took a mighty notion -fer ter marry. De man had lan’, but she ain’t -want de lan’; de man had hosses, but she ain’t -want de hosses; de man had cows, but she ain’t -want de cows. She des nat’ally want de man -hisse’f, kaze he mighty fat en nice.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did she want to marry him, Uncle Remus?” -the little boy asked, as though the tale were true, -as indeed it seemed to be while Uncle Remus -was telling it and acting it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Tooby sho’, honey! Dat ’zactly w’at she -want. She want ter marry ’im, en eat ’im up. -Well, den, w’en she git eve’ything good en ready, -she des tuck ’n back ’er years, en bat ’er eyes, en -smack ’er mouf, and dar she wuz—a likely young -gal! She up en got ter de lookin’-glass, she did, -en swinge ’er ha’r wid de curlin’-tongs, en tie -ribbons on ’er cloze, en fix up ’er beau-ketchers. -She look nice, fit ter kill, now. Den she tuck ’n -pass by de man house, en look back en snicker, -en hol’ ’er head on one side, en sorter shake out -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>’er cloze, en put ’er han’ up fer ter see ef de ha’rpins -in der place. She pass by dis away lots er -times, en bimeby de man kotch a glimp’ un ’er; -en no sooner is he do dis dan she wave her hankcher. -De man he watch ’er en watch er, en bimeby, -atter she kep’ on whippin’ by, he come out en -hail ’er. En den she tuck ’n stop, en nibble at ’er -fan en fumble wid ’er hankcher, en dey tuck ’n -stan’ dar, dey did, en pass de time er day. Atter -dat de sun never riz en set widout she hol’ some -confab wid de man; en ’t want long ’fo’ de man -took a notion dat she de very gal fer a wife, w’at -he bin a-huntin’ fer. Wid dat dey des got right -down ter ole-fashion courtin’. Dey’d laugh, dey’d -giggle, dey ’d’spute, dey’d pout. You ain’t -never seen folks a-courtin’, is you, honey?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy never had, and he said so.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, den,” Uncle Remus would continue, -“you ain’t none de wuss off fer dat, kaze dey -ain’t nuthin’ in de roun’ worl’ dat’ll turn yo’ stomach -quicker. But dar dey wuz, en de ole Witch-Wolf -make sho’ she wuz gwine ter git de man; -let lone dat, de man he make sho’ he wuz gwine -ter git de gal. Yit de man he belt back, en ef de -Witch-Wolf hadn’t er bin afeard she’d drap de -fat in de fier, she’d er des come right out en pop -de question den en dar. But de man he helt -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>back en helt back, en bimeby he say ter hisse’f, -he did, dat he ’speck he better make some inquirements -’bout dis yer gal. Yit who sh’ll he go ter?</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He study en study, en atter w’ile hit come -’cross he min’ dat he better go en ax ole Jedge -Rabbit ’bout ’er, bein’ ez he bin livin’ ’roun’ dar a -mighty long time.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole Jedge Rabbit,” Uncle Remus would explain, -“done got ole in age en gray in de min’. -He done sober up en settle down, en I let you -know dey want many folks in dem diggin’s but -w’at went ter ole Jedge Rabbit w’en dey git in -trouble. So de man he went ter Jedge Rabbit -house en rap at de do’. Jedge Rabbit, he ’low, -he did, ‘Who dat?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man he up en ’spon’, ‘Hit’s me.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den Jedge Rabbit ’gin ter talk like one er -deze yer town lawyers. He ’low, he did, ‘Mighty -short name fer grown man. Gimme de full entitlements.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man he gun um ter ’im, en den ole Jedge -Rabbit open de do’ en let ’im in. Dey sot dar by -de fier, dey did, twel bimeby’t want long ’fo’ de -man ’gun ter tell ’im ’bout dish yer great gal w’at -he bin courtin’ ’long wid. Bimeby Jedge Rabbit -ax ’im, sezee, ‘W’at dish yer great gal name?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man he ’low, ‘Mizzle-Mazzle,’</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>“Jedge Rabbit look at de man sort er like he -takin’ pity on ’im, en den he tuk he cane en make -a mark in de ashes. Den he ax de man how ole -is dish yer great gal. Man tol’ ’im. Jedge Rabbit -make ’n’er mark in de ashes. Den he ax de -man is she got cat eyes. Man sort er study ’bout -dis, but he say he ’speck she is. Jedge Rabbit -make ’n’er mark. Den he ax is ’er years peaked -at de top. Man ’low he disremember, but he -speck dey is. Jedge Rabbit make ’n’er mark in -de ashes. Den he ax is she got yaller ha’r. Man -say she is. Jedge Rabbit make ’n’er mark. Den -he ax is ’er toofs sharp. Man say dey is. Jedge -Rabbit make ’n’er mark. Atter he done ax all dis, -Jedge Rabbit got up, he did, en went ’cross de -room ter de lookin’-glass. W’en he see hisse’f -in dar, he tuck ’n shet one eye, <i>s-l-o-w</i>. Den he -sot down en leant back in de cheer, en ’low, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I done had de idee in my head dat ole Mizzle-Mazzle -done moof out ’n de country, en yit -yer she is gallopin’ ’roun’ des ez natchul ez a -dead pig in de sunshine!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man look ’stonish, but he ain’t say nuthin’. -Jedge Rabbit keep on talkin’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘You ain’t never bin trouble’ wid no trouble -yit, but ef you wan’ ter be trouble’ wid trouble -dat’s double en thribble trouble, you des go en -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>marry ole Mizzle-Mazzle,’ sezee. ‘You nee’nter -b’lieve me less ’n you wan’ ter,’ sezee. ‘Des go -’long en marry ’er,’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man he look skeerd. He up en ’low, he did, -‘W’at de name er goodness I gwine do?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole Jedge Rabbit look sollumcolly. ‘You -got any cows?’ sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man say he got plenty un um.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Well, den,’ sez ole Jedge Rabbit, sezee, ‘ax -’er ef she kin keep house. She’ll say yasser. -Ax ’er ef she kin cook. She’ll say yasser. Ax -er ef she kin scour. She’ll say yasser. Ax -’er ef she kin wash cloze. She’ll say yasser. -Ax ’er ef she kin milk de red cow. Den see -w’at she say.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man, he ’low, he did, dat he mighty much -erbleege ter ole Jedge Rabbit, en wid dat he -make he bow en tuck he leaf. He went home, -he did, en w’en he git dar, sho’ ’nuff dar wuz -dish yer nice-lookin’ gal a pommynadin’ up en -down de road, en shakin’ ’er hankcher. Man, -he hail ’er, he did, en ax ’er how she come on. -She ’low she purty well, en how do he do. Man -say he feelin’ sort er po’ly. Den she up en ax -’im w’at de matter. Man say he ’speck he feel -po’ly kaze he so powerful lonesome. Den dish -yer nice-lookin’ gal, she ax ’im w’at make he so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>powerful lonesome. Man he say he ’speck he so -powerful lonesome kase he want ter marry.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Time de man come out so flat-footed ’bout -marryin’, de gal, she ’gun ter work wid ’er fan, -en chaw at ’er hankcher. Den, atter w’ile, she -up en ax ’im who he wan’ ter marry. Man ’low -he ain’t no ways ’tickler, kase he des want somebody -fer ter take keer er de house w’en he gone, -en fer ter set down by de fier, en keep ’im comp’ny -w’en he at home. Den he up en ax de gal -kin she keep house. De gal she ’low, ‘Yasser!’ -Den he ax ’er ef she kin cook. She ’low, ‘Yasser!’ -Den he ax ’er ef she kin scour. She ’low, -‘Yasser!’ Den he ax ’er ef she kin wash cloze. -She ’low, ‘Yasser!’ Den he ax ’er ef she kin -milk de red cow. Wid dat she flung up ’er -han’s, en fetched a squall dat make de man jump.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Law!’ sez she, ‘does you speck I’m a-gwine -ter let dat cow hook me?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man, he say de cow des ez gentle ez a dog.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Does you speck I’m a-gwine ter let dat cow -kick me crank-sided?’ sez she.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Man, he ’low, he did, dat de cow won’t kick, -but dat ar gal she tuck ’n make mo’ skuses dan -dey is frogs in de spring branch, but bimeby she -say she kin try. But she ’low dat fus’ ’fo’ she try -dat she’ll show ’im how she kin keep house. So -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>the nex’ mornin’ yer she come, en I let you know -she sailed in dar, en sot dat house ter rights ’fo’ -some wimmen folks kin tun ’roun’. Man, he say, -he did, dat she do dat mighty nice.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nex’ day, de gal sot in en got dinner. Man -say, he did, dat dey ain’t nobody w’at kin beat -dat dinner. Nex’ day, she sot in en scoured, en -she make that flo’ shine same ez a lookin’-glass. -Man, he say dey ain’t nobody in dat neighborhoods -kin beat dat scourin’. Nex’ day, she come -fer ter milk de red cow, en de man, he ’low ter -hisse’f, he did, dat he gwine ter see w’at make she -don’t like ter milk dat cow.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal come, she did, en git de milk-piggin’, -en scald it out, en den she start fer de cow-lot. -Man, he crope ’long atter de gal fer ter watch ’er. -Gal went on, en w’en she come ter de lot dar wuz -de red cow stan’in’ in de fence-cornder wallopin’ -’er cud. Gal, she sorter shuck de gate, she did, -en holler, ‘Sook, cow! Sook, cow!’ Cow, she -pearten up at dat, kaze she know w’en folks call -’er dat away, she gwine ter come in fer a bucket -er slops.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“She pearten up, de red cow did, en start todes -de gate, but, gentermens! time she smell dat gal, -she ’gun a blate like she smell blood, en paw’d de -groun’ en shuck ’er head des like she fixin’ fer ter -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>make fight. Man, he ’low ter hisse’f dat dish -yer kinder business mighty kuse, en he keep on -watchin’. Gal, she open de gate, but stiddier de -cow makin’ fight, she ’gun ter buck. Gal, she say, -‘So, cow! so, cow, so!’ but de cow she hist her -tail in de elements, en run ’roun’ dat lot like de -dogs wuz atter ’er. Gal, she foller on, en hit -sorter look like she gwine ter git de cow hemmed -up in a cornder, but de cow ain’t got no notion er -dis, en bimeby she whirl en make a splunge at de -gal, en ef de gal hadn’t er lipt de fence quick es -she did de cow would er got ’er. Ez she lipt de -fence, de man seed ’er foots, en, lo en beholes, dey -wuz wolf foots! Man, he holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘You oughter w’ar shoes w’en you come -a-milkin’ de red cow!’ en wid dat, de ole Witch-Wolf -gun a twist, en fetched a yell, en made ’er -disappearance in de elements.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Here Uncle Remus paused awhile. Then he -shook his head, and exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“’T ain’t no use! Dey may fool folks, but cows -knows wil’ creeturs by der smell.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span> - <h2 class='c005'>THE RATTLESNAKE AND THE POLECAT</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>“I lay ’t won’t be long,” said Uncle Remus, - as the little boy drew his chair closer to the -broad fireplace, “’fo’ I’ll hatter put on a backlog -en pile’ up de chunks. Dem w’at gits up -’bout de crack er day like I does is mighty ap’ fer -ter fin’ de a’r sorter fresh deze mornin’s. Fus’ -news you know old Jack Frost ’ll be a-blowin’ his -horn out dar in de woods, en he ’ll blow it so hard -dat he ’ll jar down de hick’ry-nuts, de scalybarks, -de chinkapins, en de bullaces, en den ole Brer -’Possum will begin fer ter take his promenades, -en ef I don’t ketch ’im hit ’ll be kaze I’m too stiff -in my j’ints fer ter toiler ’long atter de dogs.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dish yer kinder freshness in de a’r w’at make -yo’ breff smoke w’en you blow it outen yo’ mouf,” -continued Uncle Remus, “puts me in de min’ er -de time w’en Brer Polecat wuz a-huntin’ fer a new -house. De wedder wuz gittin’ kinder shivery, en -Brer Polecat he sot out ter fin’ a good warm place -whar he kin stay w’en de freeze come on.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>“He mozey ’long, Brer Polecat did, twel he -come ter Brer Rattlesnake house, w’ich it wuz in -a holler tree. Brer Polecat knock at de do’. -Brer Rattlesnake ’low, ‘Who dat?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Polecat ’spon’, ‘Hit’s me; open de do’.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rattlesnake say, ‘W’at you want?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Polecat say, ‘Hit mighty cool out yer.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rattlesnake ’low, ‘Dat w’at I year folks -say.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Polecat up en ’spon’, sezee, ‘Hit too -col’ fer ter stan’ out yer.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Dat w’at I year tell,’ says Brer Rattlesnake, -sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I wanter come in dar whar hit’s warm,’ says -Brer Polecat, sezee.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rattlesnake ’low dat two in dat house -would be a big crowd.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Polecat say he got de name er bein’ a -mighty good housekeeper.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rattlesnake say hit mighty easy fer -anybody fer ter keep tother folks’ house.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Polecat say he gwine come in anyhow.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rattlesnake ’low, ‘Dey ain’t no room -in yer fer you.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Polecat laugh en say: ‘Shoo, Brer -Rattlesnake! eve’ybody gives me room. I go -’long de road, I does, en meet Mr. Man. I walks -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>right todes ’im, en he bleege ter gi’ me room. I -meet all de critturs, en dey bleege ter gi’ me -room.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rattlesnake say, ‘Dat w’at I year tell.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Polecat ’low, ‘Don’t you pester yo’se’f -’bout room. You des lemme git in dar whar you -is, en <i>I’ll make room</i>!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wid dat Brer Rattlesnake shot de do’ er his -house en sprung de latch, en atter so long a time -Brer Polecat went pacin’ off some’rs else.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span> - <h2 class='c005'>HOW THE BIRDS TALK</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>Uncle Remus was not a “field hand”; that -is to say, he was not required to plow and -hoe and engage in the rough work on the plantation.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was his business to keep matters and things -straight about the house, and to drive the carriage -when necessary. He was the confidential family -servant, his attitude and his actions showing that -he considered himself a partner in the various interests -of the plantation. He did no great amount -of work, but he was never wholly idle. He -tanned leather, he made shoes, he manufactured -horse-collars, fish-baskets, foot-mats, scouring-mops, -and ax-handles for sale; he had his own -watermelon- and cotton-patches; he fed the hogs, -looked after the cows and sheep, and, in short, -was the busiest person on the plantation.</p> - -<p class='c010'>He was reasonably vain of his importance, and -the other negroes treated him with great consideration. -They found it to their advantage to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>do so, for Uncle Remus was not without influence -with his master and mistress. It would be difficult -to describe, to the satisfaction of those not -familiar with some of the developments of slavery -in the South, the peculiar relations existing between -Uncle Remus and his mistress, whom he -called “Miss Sally.” He had taken care of her -when she was a child, and he still regarded her -as a child.</p> - -<p class='c010'>He was dictatorial, overbearing and quarrelsome. -These words do not describe Uncle Remus’s -attitude, but no other words will do. -Though he was dictatorial, overbearing and quarrelsome, -he was not even grim. Beneath everything -he said there was a current of respect and -affection that was thoroughly understood and appreciated. -All his quarrels with his mistress -were about trifles, and his dictatorial bearing was -inconsequential. The old man’s disputes with his -“Miss Sally” were thoroughly amusing to his -master, and the latter, when appealed to, generally -gave a decision favorable to Uncle Remus.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Perhaps an illustration of one of Uncle Remus’s -quarrels will give a better idea than any attempt -at description. Sometimes, after tea, Uncle Remus’s -master would send the house-girl for him, -under pretense of giving him orders for the next -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>day, but really for the purpose of hearing him -quarrel. The old man would usually enter the -house by way of the dining-room, leaving his hat -and his cane outside. He would then go to the -sitting-room and announce his arrival, whereupon -his master would tell him what particular work -he wanted done, and then Uncle Remus would -say, very humbly:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Miss Sally, you ain’t got no cold vittles, nor -no piece er pie, nor nuthin’, layin’ ’roun’ yer, is -you? Dat ar Tildy gal say you all have a -mighty nice dinner ter-day.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, there’s nothing left. I gave the last to -Rachel.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I dunner w’at business dat ar nigger got -comin’ up yer eatin’ Mars John out er house en -home. I year tell she l’arnin’ how to cook, en -goodness knows, ef eatin’ gwine ter make anybody -cook good, she de bes’ cook on dis hill.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, she earns what she eats, and that’s more -than I can say for some of the others.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I lay ef ole miss’ wuz ’live, she ’d sen’ dat ar -nigger ter de cotton-patch. She would, mon; -she’d sen’ er dar a-whirlin’. Nigger w’at wrop -up ’er ha’r wid a string ain’t never seed de day -w’en dey kin go on de inside er ole miss’ kitchen, -let ’lone mommuck up de vittles. Now, I boun’ -you dat!”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>“Well, there’s nothing here for you, and if there -was you wouldn’t get it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, ’m, dat’s so. I done know dat long time -ago. All day long, en half de night, hit ’s ‘Remus, -come yer,’ en ‘Remus, go dar,’ ’ceppin’ w’en it ’s -eatin’-time, en w’en dat time come, dey ain’t nobody -dast ter name de name er Remus. Dat -Rachel nigger new ter de business, yet she mighty -quick fer ter l’arn how ter tote off de vittles, en -how ter make all de chillun on de place do ’er -er’ns.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“John,” to her husband, “I put some cold potatoes -for the children on the sideboard in the -dining-room. Please see if they are still there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nummine ’bout gittin’ up, Mars John. All -de taters is dar. Old Remus ain’t never ’grudge -w’at dem po’ little chillun gits. Let ’lone dat; -dey comes down ter my house, en dey looks so -puny en lonesome dat I ’vides my own vittles wid -um. Goodness knows, I don’t ’grudge de po’ -creeturs de little dey gits. Good-night, Mars -John! Good-night, Miss Sally!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Take the potatoes, Remus,” said Mars John.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’m mighty much erbleege ter you,” said Uncle -Remus, putting the potatoes in his pocket, “en -thanky too; but I ain’t gwine ter have folks sayin’ -dat ole Remus tuck ’n sneaked up yer en tuck de -vittles out er deze yer chillun’s mouf, dat I ain’t.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>The tone in which Uncle Remus would carry on -his quarrels was inimitable, and he generally succeeded -in having his way. He would sometimes -quarrel with the little boy to whom he told the -stories, but either by dint of coaxing, or by means -of complete silence, the youngster usually managed -to restore the old man’s equanimity.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Uncle Remus,” said the boy, “it ’s mighty -funny that the birds and the animals don’t talk -like they used to.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who say dey don’t?” the old man cried, with -some show of indignation. “Who say dey don’t? -Now, dat ’s des w’at I’d like ter know.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Uncle Remus’s manner implied that he was only -waiting for the name of the malicious person to go -out and brain him on the spot.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” replied the child, “I often listened at -them, but I never hear them say a word.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah-yi!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of -exultation; “dat’s diffunt. Now, dat’s diffunt. De -creeturs talk des ’bout like dey allus did, but folks -ain’t smart ez dey used ter wuz. You kin year -de creeturs talkin’, but you dunner w’at dey say. -Yit I boun’ you ef I wuz ter pick you up, en set -you down in de middle er de Two-Mile Swamp, -you’d year talkin’ all night long.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy shivered at the suggestion.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>“Uncle Remus, who talks out there in the -swamp?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“All de creeturs, honey, all de creeturs. Mo’ -speshually ole man Owl, en all he famberly connexion.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Have you ever heard them, Uncle Remus?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Many’s en many’s de time, honey. W’en I -gits lonesome wid folks, I des up en takes down -my walkin’ cane, I does, en I goes off dar whar -I kin year um, en I sets dar en feels dez es familious -ez w’en I’m a-settin’ yer jawin’ ’long er -you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What do they say, Uncle Remus?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It seems like ter me,” said the old man, frowning, -as if attempting to recall familiar names, -“dat one er um name Billy Big-Eye, en t’er one -name Tommy Long-Wing. One er um sets in -a poplar-tree on one side er de swamp, en t’er -one sets in a pine on t’er side,” Uncle Remus -went on, as the child went a little closer to him. -“W’en night come, good en dark, Billy Big-Eye -sorter cle’r up he th’oat en ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Tom!</i> Tommy <i>Long</i>-Wing! <i>Tom!</i> Tommy -<i>Long</i>-Wing!’”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Uncle Remus allowed his voice to rise and fall, -giving it a far-away but portentous sound, the intonation -being a weirdly-exact imitation of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>hooting of a large swamp-owl. The italicized -words will give a faint idea of this intonation.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den,” Uncle Remus went on, “ole Tommy -Long-Wing he’d wake up en holler back:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Who</i>—who dat a-<i>call</i>in’? <i>Who</i>—who dat -a-<i>call</i>in’?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Bill</i>—Billy <i>Big</i>-Eye! <i>Bill</i>—Billy <i>Big</i>-Eye!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Whyn’t</i> you come <i>down</i>—come <i>down</i> ter -<i>my</i> house?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I <i>coodn’t</i>—I <i>coodn’t</i> come down to <i>yo’</i> -house!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Tom</i>—Tommy <i>Long</i>-Wing! Why <i>coodn’t</i> -you?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Had <i>coom</i>penny, <i>Bill</i>—Billy <i>Big</i>-Eye! Had -<i>coom</i>penny!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Who</i>—who wuz de <i>coom</i>penny?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Heel</i> Tap ’n <i>his</i> wife, <i>Deel</i> Tap ’n <i>his</i> wife, -en I don’t know <i>who</i>-all, <i>who</i>-all, <i>who</i>-all!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ez ter Heel Tap en Deel Tap,” Uncle Remus -continued, noticing a puzzled expression on -the child’s face, “I dunno ez I ever bin know anybody -edzackly wid dat name. Some say dat’s de -name er de Peckerwoods en de Yallerhammers, -but I speck w’en we git at de straight un it, dey -er all in de Owl famberly.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who heard them talking that way, Uncle -Remus?” asked the little boy.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span> -<img src='images/p159.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>BILLY BIG-EYE AND TOMMY LONG-WING.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>“Goodness en de gracious, honey!” exclaimed -Uncle Remus, “you don’t ’speckt er ole nigger -like I is fer ter note all deze yer folks’ name in he -head, does you? S’pose’n de folks w’at year um -done gone and move off, w’at good it gwine do -you fer ter git der name? S’pose’n dey wuz settin’ -right yer ’long side er you, w’at good dat -gwine do? De trufe’s de trufe, en folks’ name -ain’t gwine make it no trufer. Yit w’en it come -ter dat, I kin go ter de do’ dar, en fetch a whoop, -en fin’ you lots er niggars w’at done bin year dat -Owl famberly gwine on in de swamp dar. En -you ne’en ter go no fudder dan Becky’s Bill, nudder. -W’en dat niggar wuz growin’ up, he went -frolickin’ ’roun’, en one night he come froo de -Two-Mile Swamp.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He come froo dar,” Uncle Remus went on, -emphasizing the seriousness of the situation by a -severe frown, “des ez soople in de min’ ez w’at -you is dis blessid minnit. He come ’long, he did, -en de fus’ news you know a great big ole owl -flew’d up in a tree en snap he bill des like somebody -crackin’ a whip. Becky’s Bill make like he -ain’t take no notice, but he sorter men’ he gait. -Present’y, ole Mr. Owl flew’d up in ’n’er tree -little ways ahead, en smack he mouf. Den -he holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>“‘<i>Who</i> cooks—<i>who</i> cooks—<i>who</i> cooks fer -<i>you</i>-all?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Becky’s Bill move on—he make like he ain’t -year nothing. Ole Mr. Owl holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Who</i> cooks—<i>who</i> cooks—who <i>cooks</i> fer -<i>you</i>-all?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By dat time Becky’s Bill done git sorter -skeerd, en he stop en say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Well, sir, endurin’ er de week, mammy, she -cooks, but on Sundays, en mo’ speshually ef dey -got comp’ny, den ole Aunt Dicey, she cooks.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole Mr. Owl, he ruffle up he fedders, he did, -en smack he mouf, en look down at Becky’s Bill, -en ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Who</i> cooks—<i>who</i> cooks—<i>who</i> cooks fer -<i>you</i>-all?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Becky’s Bill, he take off he hat, he did, en -’low, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Well, sir, hit’s des like I tell you. Mo’ inginer’lly -endurin’ er de week, mammy, she cooks, -but on Sundays, mo’ speshually w’en dey got -comp’ny, ole Aunt Dicey, she cooks.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole Mr. Owl, he keep axin’, en Becky’s Bill -keep on tellin’ twel, bimeby, Becky’s Bill, he got -skeerd, en tired, en mad, en den he le’pt out fum -dar en he run home like a quarter-hoss; en now -ef you git ’im in dat swamp you got ter go ’long -wid ’im.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>The little boy sat and gazed in the fire after -Uncle Remus had paused. He evidently had no -more questions to ask. After a while the old -man resumed:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But ’t ain’t des de owls dat kin talk. I des -want you ter git up in de mornin’ en lissen at de -chickens. I kin set right yer en tell you des -zackly w’at you ’ll year um say.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy laughed, and Uncle Remus -looked up into the rafters to hide a responsive -smile.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De old Dominicker Hen, she ’ll fly off’n ’er -nes’ in de hoss-trough, en squall out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘<i>Aigs</i> I <i>lay</i> eve’y <i>day</i> en yer dey <i>come</i> en -<i>take</i> um <i>’way</i>! I <i>lay</i>, I <i>lay</i>, I <i>lay</i>, en yit I hatter -go <i>bare</i>-footed, <i>bare</i>-footed, <i>bare</i>-footed! Ef I -<i>lay</i>, en lay twel <i>dooms</i>day, I know I’ll hatter go -<i>bare</i>-footed, <i>bare</i>-footed, <i>bare-</i>footed!’”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Uncle Remus managed to emphasize certain -words so as to give a laughably accurate imitation -of a cackling hen. He went on:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, den, w’en de rooster year de Dominicker -Hen a-cacklin’, I boun’ you he gwine ter jine in. -He’ll up en say, sezee:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Yo’ foot so <i>big</i>, yo’ foot so <i>wide</i>, yo’ foot so <i>long</i>. -I can’t git a shoe <i>ter</i>-fit-it, <i>ter</i>-fit-it, <i>ter</i>-fit-it!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“En den dar dey ’ll have it, up en down, -qua’llin’ des like sho’-nuff folks.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>The little boy waited for Uncle Remus to go -on, but the old man was done. He leaned back -in his chair and began to hum a tune.</p> - -<p class='c010'>After a while the youngster said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Uncle Remus, you know you told me that -you’d sing me a song every time I brought you -a piece of cake.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I ’speckt I did, honey—I ’speckt I did. Ole -ez I is, I got a mighty sweet toofe. Yit I ain’t -see no cake dis night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Here it is,” said the child, taking a package -from his pocket.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yasser!” exclaimed the old man, with a -chuckle, “dar she is! En all wrop up, in de bargain. -I ’m mighty glad you helt ’er back, honey, -kaze now I can take dat cake en chune up wid ’er -en sing you one er dem ole-time songs, en folks -gwine by ’ll say we er kyar’n on a camp-meetin’.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span> - <h2 class='c005'>THE FOOLISH WOMAN</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>“W’en you see dese yer niggers w’at wrop de -ha’r wid a string,” said Uncle Remus to -the little boy one day, apropos of nothing in particular -except his own prejudices, “you des keep -yo’ eye on um. You des watch um, kaze ef you -don’t dey’ll take en trip you up—dey will dat, dez -ez sho’ ez de worl’. En ef you don’t b’lieve me, -you kin des’ ax yo’ mammy. Many’s en many’s de -time is Miss Sally driv niggers out ’n de big house -yard kaze dey got der ha’r wrop up wid a string. -I bin lookin’ en peepin’, en lis’nin’ en eavesdrappin’ -in dese low groun’s a mighty long time, en I -ain’t ne’er sot eyes on no nigger w’at wrop der -ha’r wid a string but w’at dey wuz de meanes’ -kind er nigger. En if you ax anybody w’at know -’bout niggers dey’ll tell you de same.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But, Uncle Remus,” said the little boy protestingly, -“doesn’t Aunt Tempy wrap her hair with -a string?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who? Sis Tempy? Shoo!” exclaimed the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>old man scornfully. “Why, whar yo’ eyes, honey? -Nex’ time you see Sis Tempy, you take en look -at ’er right close, en ef ’er ha’r ain’t platted den -I’m a Chinee. Now, dat’s what!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, they don’t bother me,” said the little boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dat dey don’t!” exclaimed Uncle Remus enthusiastically. -“Dey don’t dast ter, kaze dey -know ef dey do, dey’ll have old Remus atter um, -en mean ez dey is, dey know hit ain’t gwine ter -do ter git de ole nigger atter um.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit seem like ter me dat one time I year a -mighty funny tale ’bout one er deze yer niggers -w’at wrop der ha’r wid a string, but I speck it mos’ -too late fer ter start in fer ter tell a tale—kaze -present’y you’ll be a-settin’ up dar in dat cheer -dar fas’ ’sleep, en I’m a-gittin’ too ole en stiff fer -ter be totin’ you roun’ yer like you wuz a sack er -bran.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I’m not sleepy, Uncle Remus,” the little -boy exclaimed. “Please tell me the story.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The old man stirred the embers with the end -of his cane, and seemed to be in a very solemn -mood. Presently he said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“’T ain’t so mighty much of a tale, yit it ’ll do -fer ter go ter bed on. One time dey wuz a nigger -man w’at tuck ’n married a nigger ’oman, en dish -yer nigger ’oman kep’ ’er h’ar wrop up wid a string -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>night en day. Dey married, en dey went home -ter housekeepin’. Dey got um some pots, en dey -got um some kittles, en dey got um some pans, en -dey got um some dishes, en dey start in, dey did, -des like folks does w’en dey gwine ter stay at home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dey rocked on, dey did,” said Uncle Remus, -scratching his head with some earnestness, “en -it seem like dey wuz havin’ a mighty good time; -but one day w’en dish yer nigger man wuz gone ter -town atter some vittles, the nigger ’oman she ’gun -ter git fretted. Co’se, honey, you dunner how de -wimmen folks goes on, but I boun’ you’ll know -’fo’ you gits ez ole en ez crippled up in de j’ints ez -w’at I is. Well, dish yer nigger ’oman, she ’gun -ter fret en ter worry, en bimeby she got right -down mad.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But what did she get mad about, Uncle Remus?” -the little boy asked.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir,” said the old man condescendingly, -“I’ll up en tell you. She wuz des like yuther -wimmen folks, en she got fretted kase de days -wuz long en de wedder hot. She got mad en she -stayed mad. Eve’y time she walked ’cross de -flo’ de dishes ud rattle in de cubberd, en de mo’ -she’d fix um de wuss dey’d rattle. Co’se, dis -make ’er lots madder dan w’at she wuz at fust, en -bimeby she tuck ’n holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>“‘W’at make you rattle?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dishes dey keep on a-rattlin’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘What make you rattle so? I ain’t gwine ter -have no rattlin’ ’roun’ yer!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dishes dey keep on a-rattlin’ en a-rattlin’. -De ’oman she holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Who you rattlin’ at? I ’m de mistiss er dis -house. I ain’t gwine ter have none er yo’ rattlin’ -’roun’ yer!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dishes dey rattle en rattle. De ’oman, she -holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Stop dat rattlin’. I ain’t gwine ter have you -sassin’ back at me dat way. I ’m de mistiss er -dis house!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den she walked up en down, en eve’y time -she do dat de dishes dey rattle wuss en wuss. -Den she holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Stop dat sassin’ at me, I tell you! I’m de -mistiss in dis house!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yit de dishes keep on rattlin’ en shakin’, en -bimeby de ’oman run ter de cubberd, she did, en -grab de dishes en fling um out in de yard, en no -sooner’s she do dis dan dey wuz busted all ter -flinders.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you w’at, mon,” said Uncle Remus, after -pausing a moment to see how this proceeding -had affected the little boy. “I tell you w’at, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>mon, wimmen folks is mighty kuse. Dey is dat, -des ez sho’ ez de worl’. Bimeby de nigger man -come home, en w’en he see all de dishes broke up -he wuz ’stonish’, but he ain’t say nuthin’. He des -look up at de sun fer ter see w’at time it is, en -feel er hisse’f fer ter see ef he well. Den he up -’n holler:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Ole ’oman, yer some fish w’at I bring you. -I speck you better clean um fer dinner.’ De -’oman, she ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Lay um down dar.’ De man, he tuck en -lay um down en draw’d a bucket er water out er -de well.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den, bimeby, de ’oman, she come out en start -ter clean de fish. She pick um up, she did, en -start ter scrape de scales off, but she sees der eyes -wide open, en she ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Shet dem eyes! Don’t you be a-lookin’ at -me!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Fish, dey keep on a-lookin’. ’Oman, she -holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Shet up dem eyes, I tell you! I ’m de mistiss -er dish yer house!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Fish, dey keep der eyes wide open. ’Oman, -she squall out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Shet dem eyes, you impident villyuns! I’m -de mistiss in dish yer house!’</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>“Fish, dey helt der eyes wide open, en den de -’oman tuck en flung um in de well.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And then what?” asked the little boy, as -Uncle Remus paused.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah, Lord, honey! You too hard fer me now. -De ’oman tuck ’n ’stroy de dishes, en den she -flung de fishes in de well, en dey des nat’ally ruint -de well. I dunner w’at de man say, but ef he -wuz like de balance un um, he des sot down en -lit his pipe, en tuck a smoke en den lit out fer -bed. Dat’s de way men folks does, en ef you -don’t b’lieve me yo kin ax yo’ pa, but fer de -Lord’s sake don’t ax ’im whar Miss Sally kin year -you, kaze den she’ll light on me, en mo’ ’n dat, -she won’t save me no mo’ col’ vittles.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span> - <h2 class='c005'>THE ADVENTURES OF SIMON AND SUSANNA<a id='r1' /><a href='#f1' class='c014'><sup>[1]</sup></a></h2> -</div> - -<div class='footnote' id='f1'> -<p class='c012'><a href='#r1'>1</a>. It may be of interest to those who approach Folk-Lore stories from the -scientific side, to know that this story was told to one of my little boys -three years ago by a negro named John Holder. I have since found a -variant (or perhaps the original) in Theal’s “Kaffir Folk-Lore.”</p> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c015'>“I got one tale on my min’,” said Uncle Remus -to the little boy one night. “I got one -tale on my min’ dat I ain’t ne’er tell you; I dunner -how come; I speck it des kaze I git mixt up in -my idees. Deze is busy times, mon, en de mo’ -you does de mo’ you hatter do, en w’en dat de -case, it ain’t ter be ’spected dat one ole broke-down -nigger kin ’member ’bout eve’ything.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What is the story, Uncle Remus?” the little -boy asked.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, honey,” said the old man, wiping his -spectacles, “hit sorter run dis away: One time -dey wuz a man w’at had a mighty likely daughter.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Was he a white man or a black man?” the -little boy asked.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I ’clar’ ter gracious, honey!” exclaimed the -old man, “you er pushin’ me mos’ too close. Fer -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>all I kin tell you, de man mout er bin ez w’ite ez -de driven snow, er he mout er bin de blackes’ -Affi’kin er de whole kit en bilin’. I’m des tellin’ -you de tale, en you kin take en take de man en -w’itewash ’im, er you kin black ’im up des ez you -please. Dat’s de way I looks at it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, one time dey wuz a man, en dish yer -man he had a mighty likely daughter. She wuz -so purty dat she had mo’ beaus dan w’at you got -fingers en toes. But de gal daddy, he got his -spishuns ’bout all un um, en he won’t let um -come ’roun’ de house. But dey kep’ on pesterin’ -’im so, dat bimeby he give word out dat de man -w’at kin clear up six acres er lan’ en roll up de -logs, en pile up de bresh in one day, dat man -kin marry his daughter.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“In co’se, dis look like it unpossible, en all de -beaus drap off ’ceppin’ one, en he wuz a great -big strappin’ chap w’at look like he kin knock a -steer down. Dis chap he wuz name Simon, en -de gal, she wuz name Susanna. Simon, he love -Susanna, en Susanna, she love Simon, en dar it -went.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, Simon, he went ter de gal daddy, -he did, en he say dat ef anybody kin clear up dat -lan’, he de one kin do it, least’ways he say he -gwine try mighty hard. De ole man, he grin en -<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>rub his han’s terge’er, he did, en tole Simon ter -start in in de mornin’. Susanna, she makes out -she wuz fixin’ sumpin in de cubberd, but she -tuck ’n kiss ’er han’ at Simon, en nod ’er head. -Dis all Simon want, en he went out er dar des -ez happy ez a jay-bird atter he done robbed a -sparrer-nes’.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, den,” Uncle Remus continued, settling -himself more comfortably in his chair, “dish yer -man wuz a witch.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, I thought a witch was a woman,” said -the little boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The old man frowned and looked into the fire.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir,” he remarked with some emphasis, -“ef you er gwine ter tu’n de man inter a ’oman, -den dey won’t be no tale, kaze dey’s bleege ter -be a man right dar whar I put dis un. Hit ’s -des like I tole you ’bout de color er de man. -Black ’im er whitewash ’im des ez you please, en -ef you want ter put a frock on ’im ter boot, hit -ain’t none er my business; but I’m gwine ter’low -he wuz a man ef it’s de las’ ac’.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The little boy remained silent, and Uncle Remus -went on:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, den, dish yer man was a witch. He -could cunjer folks, mo’ ’speshually dem folks w’at -ain’t got no rabbit foot. He bin at his cunjerments -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>so long, dat Susanna done learn mos’ all -his tricks. So de nex’ mornin’ w’en Simon come -by de house fer ter borry de ax, Susanna she run -en got it fer ’im. She got it, she did, en den -she sprinkles some black san’ on it, en say, ‘Ax, -cut; cut, ax.’ Den she rub ’er ha’r ’cross it, en -give it ter Simon. He tuck de ax, he did, en -den Susanna say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Go down by de branch, git sev’n w’ite pebbles, -put um in dis little cloth bag, en whenever -you want the ax ter cut, shake um up.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Simon, he went off in de woods, en started in -ter clearin’ up de six acres. Well, sir, dem pebbles -en dat ax, dey done de work—dey did dat. Simon -could ’a’ bin done by de time de dinner-horn -blowed, but he hung back kaze he ain’t want de -man fer ter know dat he doin’ it by cunjerments.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’en he shuck de pebbles de ax ’ud cut, en -de trees ’ud fall, en de lim’s ’ud drap off, en de -logs ’ud roll up terge’er, en de bresh ’ud pile -itself up. Hit went on dis away twel by de time -it wuz two hours b’ sun, de whole six acres wuz -done cleaned up.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“’Bout dat time de man come ’roun’, he did, -fer ter see how de work gittin’ on, en, mon! he -wuz ’stonish’. He ain’t know w’at ter do er say. -He ain’t want ter give up his daughter, en yit he -ain’t know how ter git out ’n it. He walk ’roun’ -en ’roun’, en study, en study, en study how he -gwine rue de bargain. At las’ he walk up ter -Simon, he did, en he say:</p> - -<div class='figcenter id004'> -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span> -<img src='images/p175.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p>SIMON SHAKES THE PEBBLES.</p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>“‘Look like you sort er forehanded wid your -work.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Simon, he ’low: ‘Yasser, w’en I starts in on -a job I’m mighty restless twel I gits it done. -Some er dis timber is rough en tough, but I bin -had wuss jobs dan dis in my time.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De man say ter hisse’f: ‘W’at kind er folks -is dis chap?’ Den he say out loud: ‘Well, -sence you er so spry, dey’s two mo’ acres ’cross -de branch dar. Ef you’ll clear dem up ’fo’ supper -you kin come up ter de house en git de gal.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Simon sorter scratch his head, kaze he dunner -whedder de pebbles gwine ter hol’ out, yit he -put on a bol’ front en he tell de man dat he’ll go -’cross dar en clean up de two acres soon ez he -res’ a little.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De man he went off home, en soon ’s he git -out er sight, Simon went ’cross de branch en -shook de pebbles at de two acres er woods, en ’t -want no time skacely ’fo’ de trees wuz all cut -down en pile up.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De man, he went home, he did, en call up -Susanna, en say:</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>“‘Daughter, dat man look like he gwine git -you, sho’.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Susanna, she hang ’er head, en look like she -fretted, en den she say she don’t keer nuthin’ fer -Simon, nohow.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, I thought she wanted to marry him,” -said the little boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, honey, w’en you git growed up, en git -whiskers on yo’ chin, en den atter de whiskers -git gray like mine, you’ll fin’ out sump’n ’n’er -’bout de wimmin folks. Dey ain’t ne’er say -’zackly w’at dey mean, none er um, mo’ ’speshually -w’en dey er gwine on ’bout gittin’ married.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, dar wuz dat gal Susanna what I ’m a-tellin’ -you ’bout. She mighty nigh ’stracted ’bout -Simon, en yit she make ’er daddy b’lieve dat she -’spize ’im. I ain’t blamin’ Susanna,” Uncle Remus -went on with a judicial air, “kase she know -dat ’er daddy wuz a witch en a mighty mean one -in de bargain.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, atter Susanna done make ’er daddy -b’lieve dat she ain’t keerin’ nothin’ ’t all ’bout Simon, -he ’gun ter set his traps en fix his tricks. -He up ’n tell Susanna dat atter ’er en Simon git -married dey mus’ go upsta’rs in de front room, en -den he tell ’er dat she mus’ make Simon go ter -bed fus’. Den de man went upsta’rs en tuck ’n -<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>tuck all de slats out’n de bedstid ceppin one at de -head en one at de foot. Atter dat he tuck ’n -put some foot-valances ’roun’ de bottom er de bed—des -like dem w’at you bin see on yo’ gran’ma -bed. Den he tuck ’n sawed out de floor und’ de -bed, en dar wuz de trap all ready.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, Simon come up ter de house, en de -man make like he mighty glad fer ter see ’im, but -Susanna, she look like she mighty shy. No -matter ’bout dat; atter supper Simon en Susanna -got married. Hit ain’t in de tale wedder dey -sont fer a preacher er wedder dey wuz a squire -browsin’ ’roun’ in de neighborhoods, but dey had -cake wid reezins in it, en some er dish yer silly-bug -w’at got mo’ foam in it dan dey is dram, en -dey had a mighty happy time.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’en bedtime come, Simon en Susanna went -upsta’rs, en w’en dey got in de room, Susanna -kotch ’im by de han’, en helt up her finger. Den -she whisper en tell ’im dat ef dey don’t run away -fum dar dey bofe gwine ter be kilt. Simon ax -’er how come, en she say dat ’er daddy want ter -kill ’im kase he sech a nice man. Dis make Simon -grin; yit he wuz sorter restless ’bout gittin’ -’way fum dar. But Susanna, she say wait. She -say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Pick up yo’ hat en button up yo’ coat. Now, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>den, take dat stick er wood dar en hol’ it ’bove -yo’ head.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’iles he stan’in’ dar, Susanna got a hen egg -out ’n a basket, den she got a meal-bag, en a -skillet. She ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Now, den, drap de wood on de bed.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Simon done des like she say, en time de -wood struck de bed de tick en de mattruss went -a-tumblin’ thoo de floor. Den Susanna tuck Simon -by de han’ en dey run out de back way ez -hard ez dey kin go.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De man, he wuz down dar waitin’ fer de bed -ter drap. He had a big long knife in he han’, en -time de bed drapped, he lit on it, he did, en stobbed -it scan’lous. He des natchully ripped de tick -up, en w’en he look, bless gracious, dey ain’t no -Simon dar. I lay dat man wuz mad den. He -snorted ’roun’ dar twel blue smoke come out’n his -nose, en his eye look red like varmint eye in de -dark. Den he run upsta’rs en dey ain’t no Simon -dar, en nudder wuz dey any Susanna.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Gentermens! den he git madder. He rush -out, he did, en look ’roun’, en ’way off yander he -see Simon en Susanna des a-runnin’, en a-holdin’ -one nudder’s han’.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, “I -thought you said it was night?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dat w’at I said, honey, en I ’ll stan’ by it. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>Yit, how many times dis blessed night is I got -ter tell you dat de man wuz a witch? En bein’ a -witch, co’se he kin see in de dark.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, dish yer witch-man, he look off en he -see Simon en Susanna runnin’ ez hard ez dey -kin. He put out atter um, he did, wid his knife -in his han’, an’ he kep’ on a gainin’ on um. Bimeby, -he got so close dat Susanna say ter Simon:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Fling down yo’ coat.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Time de coat tech de groun’, a big thick -woods sprung up whar it fell. But de man, he -cut his way thoo it wid de knife, en kep’ on -a-pursuin’ atter um.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bimeby, he got so close dat Susanna drap de -egg on de groun’, en time it fell a big fog riz up -fum de groun’, en a little mo’ en de man would a -got los’. But atter so long a time fog got blowed -away by de win’, en de man kep’ on a-pursuin’ -atter um.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bimeby, he got so close dat Susanna drap de -meal-sack, en a great big pon’ er water kivered -de groun’ whar it fell. De man wuz in sech a -big hurry dat he tried ter drink it dry, but he -ain’t kin do dis, so he sot on de bank en blow’d -on de water wid he hot breff, en atter so long a -time de water made hits disappearance, en den he -kep’ on atter um.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Simon en Susanna wuz des a-runnin’, but run -<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>ez dey would, de man kep’ a-gainin’ on um, en he -got so close dat Susanna drapped de skillet. Den -a big bank er darkness fell down, en de man ain’t -know which away ter go. But atter so long a -time de darkness lif’ up, en de man kep’ on a-pursuin’ -atter um. Mon, he made up fer los’ time, -en he got so close dat Susanna say ter Simon:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Drap a pebble.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Time Simon do dis a high hill riz up, but de -man clum it en kep’ on atter um. Den Susanna -say ter Simon:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Drap nudder pebble.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Time Simon drap de pebble, a high mountain -growed up, but de man crawled up it en kep’ -on atter um. Den Susanna say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Drap de bigges’ pebble.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No sooner is he drap it dan a big rock wall -riz up, en hit wuz so high dat de witch-man can’t -git over. He run up en down, but he can’t find -no end, en den, atter so long a time, he turn -’roun’ en go home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“On de yuther side er dis high wall, Susanna -tuck Simon by de han’, en say:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Now we kin res’.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“En I reckon,” said the old man slyly, “dat -we all better res’.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span> - <h2 class='c005'>BROTHER RABBIT AND THE GINGERCAKES.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>“Now, I des tell you w’at, honey,” said Uncle -Remus to the little boy, “if you wan’ ter -year dish yer tale right straight thro’, widout any -balkin’ er stallin’, you’ll des hatter quit makin’ -any fuss. Kaze w’en der’s any fuss gwine on -hit mos’ allers inginner’lly gits me mixt up, en -w’en I gits mixt up I ain’t wuth nuthin’ ’t all -skacely fer tellin’ a tale, en ef you don’t b’lieve -me, you may des ax some er my blood kin. -Now, den, you des set right whar you is en stop -you behavishness. Kaze de fus’ time you wink -loud, you got ter git right up on de bed-pos’ dar -en ride straddle.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So, den! Well, one time Brer Mink en Brer -Coon en Brer Polecat all live terge’er in de same -settlement. Let ’lone dat, dey live in de same -house, en de house w’at dey live in wuz made in -de resemble uv a great big holler log. In dem -days, Brer Polecat wuz de king er de creeturs -<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>w’at run ’bout atter dark, en you better make up -yo’ min’ dat he made um stan’ ’roun’ might’ly.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, “I -thought Brother Rabbit—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, de goodness en de gracious! ain’t I ax -you fer ter please ma’am don’t make no fuss? -Kaze I know mighty well Brer Rabbit use ter be -de slickes’ en de suples’, but dey ’bleege ter be a -change, kase ’t ain’t in natur’ fer de ’t’er creeturs -not ter kotch on ter his ins en his outs, en I speck -dat de time w’en dey fin’ ’im out is de time w’en -ole Brer Polecat got ter be de king er de creeturs—dat’s -what I speck.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But no matter ’bout dat—by hook er by -crook, Brer Polecat come ter be de king er de -creeturs, en w’en he come ter be dat dey’d all -er um go a long ways out er de way fer ter take -off der hats en bow der howdies, dey would, en -some un um would tag atter ’im, en laugh eve’y -time Brer Polecat laughed, en grin eve’y time he -grinned.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’iles dish yer wuz gwine on Brer Rabbit -wuz in de crowd, en he wuz des ez big a man ez -any er um, en I dunner ef he want de bigges’. -Well, Brer Rabbit he move en secondary<a id='r2' /><a href='#f2' class='c014'><sup>[2]</sup></a> dat -bein’ ez how Brer Polecat wuz sech a nice king -<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>dey oughter pass a law dat eve’y time de yuther -creeturs meet um in de road dey mus’ shet der -eyes en hol’ der nose. Some er um say dey -don’t min’ holdin’ der nose, but dey don’t like -dish yer way er shettin’ der eyes, kaze dey mout -run up agin a tree, er stick a brier in der foot; -but Brer Rabbit, he up en ’low, he did, dat ’t wuz -des ’bout ez little ez dey kin do ter shet der eye -en hol’ der nose w’en dey git war sech a nice king -is, en so dey all hatter come ’roun’.</p> - -<div class='footnote' id='f2'> -<p class='c010'><a href='#r2'>2</a>. Moved and seconded.</p> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“De nex’ day atter all dis happen, Brer Rabbit -he come by de house whar ole King Polecat -live ’long wid Brer Coon en Brer Mink. Brer -Coon he wuz a great han’ fer ter bake gingercake. -Fur en wide de folks knowd ’bout Brer -Coon gingercakes, en dey couldn’t be no camp-meetin’ -’roun’ in dem diggin’s, but w’at he wuz -hangin’ on de aidges sellin’ his gingercakes en -his ’simmon beer; en it seem like eve’y time Brer -Rabbit see Brer Coon dat he whirl right in en git -hongry fer gingercakes.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So de nex’ day after dey done fix it all up -’bout ole King Polecat, Brer Rabbit he come -sailin’ by Brer Coon’s house, en he ax ’im ef he -got any gingercakes fer ter sell. Brer Coon -’low, he did, dat he got um des ez fine ez fine kin -be, en Brer Rabbit say he b’lieve he’ll buy some, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>en wid dat he run his han’ in his pocket, he did, -en pull out de change en bought ’im a great big -stack er gingercakes.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den he tuck ’n ax Brer Coon ef he won’t keep -his eye on de gingercakes wiles he go git some -gyarlic fer to eat wid um. Brer Coon ’low he’ll -take keer un um de bes’ w’at he kin. Brer Rabbit -rush off, en des ’bout dat time ole King Polecat -come in sight. In de accordance er de rules, -soon ez Brer Coon see ole King Polecat he mus’ -shet he eye en hol’ he nose; and w’iles Brer Coon -doin’ dis, ole King Polecat walk up, he did, en -grab de gingercakes en make off wid um. Co’se, -w’en Brer Rabbit come lippitin’ back, he hunt -fer he gingercakes, but he can’t fine um nowhar. -Den he holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘My goodness, Brer Coon! Whar my gingercakes?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“All Brer Coon kin say is dat he ain’t see nobody -take de gingercakes. Brer Rabbit ’low, he -did, dat dis a mighty quare way fer ter do a man -w’at done bought de gingercakes en pay fer um. -Yit he say he ’bleege ter have some, en so he tuck -’n pitch in en buy ’ner stack un um. Den he ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Now, den, I done got de gyarlic fer ter go -wid um, en I’ll des ’bout squat right down yer -en watch deze yer gingercakes my own se’f.’</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>“So he squat down en fix hisse’f, en des ’bout -de time w’en he wuz ready fer ter ’stroy de gingercakes, -yer come old King Polecat. Brer Rabbit, -he got up, he did, en made a bow, en den he -helt he nose en make like he wuz a-shettin’ he -eyes. Ole King Polecat, he come ’long, he did, -en start fer ter pick up de gingercakes, but Brer -Rabbit holler out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Drap dem gingercakes!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ole King Polecat jump back en look like his -feelin’s bin hurted, en he squall out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘My goodness! How come yo’ eye open? -How come you break up de rules dat away?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit pick up de gingercakes, en -’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘I kin hol’ my nose ez good ez de nex’ man, -but I can’t shet my eyes ter save my life, kaze dey -er so mighty big!’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dis make ole King Polecat mad enough fer -ter eat all de gingercakes w’at Brer Coon got in -de chist, but he can’t help hisse’f, kaze he know -dat ef Brer Rabbit tu’n agin ’im, he won’t be -much uv a king in dat ar country. Atter dat it -got so dat Brer Rabbit kin put down his gingercakes -anywheres he want ter; en folks ’low dat -he wuz mighty nigh ez big a man ez ole King -Polecat.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span> - <h2 class='c005'>BROTHER RABBIT’S COURTSHIP.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='drop-capa0_0_6 c013'>One night, as the little boy went tripping -down the path to Uncle Remus’s cabin, he -thought he heard voices on the inside. With a -gesture of vexation he paused at the door and -listened. If the old man had company, the -youngster knew, by experience, that he would -get no story that night. He could hear Uncle -Remus talking as if carrying on an animated -conversation. Presently he crept up to the door, -which was ajar, and peeped in. There was nobody -in sight but the old darkey, and the little -boy went in. Uncle Remus made a great pretense -of being astonished.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Were you just talking to yourself, Uncle Remus?” -asked the little boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yasser,” said the old man with a serious air, -“dat des w’at I wuz a-doin’. I done clean fergit -myse’f. I year tell dat dem w’at take en talk -’long wid deyse’f dat dey owe de Ole Boy a day’s -work. Ef dat de state er de case den he done -<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>got my name down on de books, en hit’s all on -account er deze yer uppity-biggity niggers w’at -come ’long yer little w’ile ago en ax me ter go -’way off yan ter de Spivey place whar Nancy’s -Jim gwine ter git married.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I wuz settin’ yer runnin’ on in my min’,” -Uncle Remus continued, “’bout de time w’en -Brer Rabbit went a-courtin’. I boun’ you dey -ain’t bin no sech courtin’ sence dat day, en dey -ain’t gwine ter be no mo’ sech.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Here Uncle Remus paused and leaned back in -his chair, gazing thoughtfully at the rafters. He -paused so long that the little boy finally asked -him if he couldn’t tell about Brother Rabbit’s -wonderful courtship.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, honey,” said the old man, “you haf ter -gi’ me time fer to shet my eye-balls en sorter feel -’roun’ ’mongst my reckermembunce atter de -wharfo’es en de whatsisnames. Kaze I’m like a -broke-down plow-mule: I’ll go ’long ef you lemme -take my time, but ef you push me, I’ll stop -right in de middle er de row.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I can wait until bedtime,” the little boy remarked, -“and then I’ll have to go.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dat’s so,” Uncle Remus assented cheerfully, -“en bein’ ez dat’s de case, we haf ter be sorter -keerful. Lemme go ’roun’ de stumps en over de -<span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>roots, en git in meller groun’, en den we kin des -back right ’long.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now den! You done year talk er Miss -Meadows en de gals, en ’bout how Brer Rabbit -bin gwine dar so much. Well, hit done happen -so dat Brer Rabbit wuz tuck wid a-likin’ er one -er de gals. Dis make ’im sorter glad at de offstart, -but bimeby he ’gun ter git droopy. He -laid ’roun’ en sot ’bout, he did, en look like he -studyin’ ’bout sump’n ’n’er way off yander.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit went on dis away twel bimeby Miss -Meadows, she up en ax Brer Rabbit w’at de -name er sense is de matter ’long wid ’im, en Brer -Rabbit, he feel so bad dat he up en ’spon’, he -did, dat he dead in love wid one er de gals. Den -Miss Meadows, she ax ’im w’at de reason he ain’t -tell de gal dat he want ter be ’er b’ide-g’oom. -Brer Rabbit say he ’shame’. Miss Meadows, she -toss ’er head, she did, en ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Ya-a-a-s! You look like you ’shame’, now -don’t you? You mout er bin ’shame’ ’fo’ hens -had der toofies pulled out, but you ain’t bin -’shame’ sence. I done see you cut up too many -capers; I know dey ain’t no gal on de top side -er de yeth w’at kin faze you,’ sez Miss Meadows, -sez she.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den Brer Rabbit ’low dat he skeerd de gal -<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>won’t have ’im, but Miss Meadows ’fuse ter hol’ -any mo’ confab wid ’im; she des broke out singin’ -en washin’ de dishes, en w’at wid de chune en de -clatter er de dishes Brer Rabbit can’t year his -own years. Bimeby, he tuck ’n sneak out, he -did, en went en sot in de shade by de spring.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He ain’t set dar long ’fo’ yer come de gal -w’at he bin studyin’ ’bout. She had a pail in ’er -han’ en she wuz comin’ atter water. She come -’long down de paff swingin’ de pail in her han’ -en singin’.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What did she sing, Uncle Remus?” the little -boy asked, becoming more and more interested.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The old darkey looked slyly at the youngster, -and chuckled softly to himself. Presently he -said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hit wuz sorter like dis, ef I ain’t make no -mistakes in de chune:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘<i>Oh, says de woodpecker, peckin’ on de tree,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>Once I courted Miss Kitty Killdee,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>But she proved fickle en fum me fled,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>En sence dat time my head bin red.</i>’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit bin feelin’ mighty droopy en -low-spereted all de mornin’, but time he year de -gal singin’, he hist up his years en look sassy, en -<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>wen she stop singin’ he broke out en ’gun ter -sing hisse’f. He sung dish yer kinder chune:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘<i>Katy, Katy! won’t you marry?</i></div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Katy, Katy! choose me den!</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>Mammy say ef you will marry</i></div> - <div class='line in2'><i>She will kill de turkey hen;</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>Den we’ll have a new convention,</i></div> - <div class='line in2'><i>Den we’ll know de rights er men.</i>’”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, I ’ve heard grandma sing that song,” -exclaimed the little boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Tooby sho’ you is—tooby sho’ you is, -honey,” said Uncle Remus, assuming an argumentative -air that was irresistibly comic. “Ef -Brer Rabbit kin sing dat chune, w’at gwine hender -w’ite folks fum singin’ it? Bless yo’ soul, -w’ite folks smart, mon, en I lay der ain’t no chune -w’at Brer Rabbit kin sing dat dey can’t reel off.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, suh, de gal year Brer Rabbit singin’, -en she sorter toss ’er head en giggle. Brer Rabbit -he look at ’er sideways en sorter grin. Den -Brer Rabbit ’low:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“‘Mornin’, ma’m; how you come on dis fine -mornin’?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal say: ‘I’m des toler’ble; how you do -yo’se’f?’</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>“Brer Rabbit ’low, he did: ‘I thank you, -ma’m, I’m right po’ly. I ain’t bin feelin’ ter say -reely peart in mighty nigh a mont’.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal laugh en say: ‘Dat w’at I year tell. -I speck you in love, Brer Rabbit. You ought -ter go off some’rs en git you a wife.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dis make Brer Rabbit feel sorter ’shame’, en -he hung his head en make marks in de san’ wid -his foots. Bimeby he say: ‘How come, ma’m, -dat you don’t git married?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal laugh wuss ’n wuss, en atter she kin -ketch ’er breff she ’low: ‘Lordy, Brer Rabbit! -I got too much sense—<i>mysef</i>—fer ter be gittin’ -married widout no sign er no dream.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den Brer Rabbit say: ‘W’at kinder sign -does you want, ma’m?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal ’low: ‘Des any kinder sign; don’t -make no diffunce w’at. I done try all de spells, -en I ain’t see no sign yit.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit say: ‘W’at kinder spells is you -done tried, ma’m?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal ’low: ‘Dey ain’t no tellin’, Brer Rabbit, -dat dey ain’t. I done try all dat I year talk -’bout. I tuck ’n fling a ball er yarn outen de window -at midnight, en dey ain’t nobody come en -wind it. I tuck a lookin’-glass en look down in -de well en I ain’t see nothin’ ’t all. I tuck a hard-b’iled -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>egg en scoop de yaller out, en fill it up wid -salt en eat it widout drinkin’ any water. Den I -went ter bed, but I ain’t dream ’bout a blessed soul. -I went out ’twix’ sunset and dark en fling hempseed -over my lef’ shoulder, but I ain’t see no beau yit.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit, he ’low, he did: ‘Ef you’d -a-tole me w’en you wuz a-gwine, ma’am, I lay -you’d ’a’ seed a beau.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal, she giggle, en say: ‘Oh, hush, Brer -Rabbit! Ef you don’t g’ way fum yer I gwine -hit you! You too funny fer anything. W’at -beau you speck I’d ’a’ seed?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Brer Rabbit, he up en ’low, he did: ‘You’d -’a’ seed me, ma’am, dat’s who you’d a seed.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal, she look at Brer Rabbit des like ’er -feelin’s is bin hurted, en say: ‘Ain’t you ’shame’ -er yo’se’f ter be talkin’ dat away en makin’ fun? -I’m a-gwine away fum dis spring, kaze’t ain’t no -place fer me.’ Wid dat de gal fotch ’er frock a -flirt, en went up de paff like de patter-roller wuz -atter her.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“She went so quick en so fas’ dat she lef’ ’er -pail, en Brer Rabbit, he tuck ’n fill it full er water, -en kyar it on up ter de house whar Miss Meadows -en de gals live at. Atter so long a time, he -came on back ter de spring, en he sot dar, he did, -en study en study. He pull his mustaches en -<span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>scratch his head, en bimeby, atter he bin settin’ -dar a mighty long time, he jump up en crack his -heels terge’er, en den he laugh fit ter kill hisse’f.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He ’low: ‘You want a sign, does you? Well, -I’m a gwine ter gi’ you one, ma’m, en ef dat -don’t do you, I’ll gi’ you mo’ dan one.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal done gone, but Brer Rabbit, he hang -’roun’ dar, he did, en lay his plans. He laid um -so good dat wen dark come he had um all fixt. -De fus’ thing w’at he done, he went down ter de -cane-brake en dar he cut ’im a long reed like dem -w’at you see me bring Mars John fer fishin’-pole.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How did he cut it?” the little boy asked.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He gnyaw it, honey; he des natchully gnyaw -it. Den w’en he do dat, he tuck ’n make a hole -in it fum eend to eend, right thoo de j’ints. W’en -dark come, Brer Rabbit tuck his cane en made -his way ter de house whar Miss Meadows en de -gals stay at. He crope up, he did, en lissen, en -he year um talkin’ en laughin’ on de inside. -Seem like dey wuz done eatin’ supper en settin’ -’roun’ de fireplace.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bimeby de gal say: ‘W’at you reckon? I -seed Brer Rabbit down at de spring.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“T’er gal say: ‘W’at he doin’ down dar?’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal say: ‘I speck he wuz gwine a-gallantin’; -he mos’ sholy did look mighty slick.’</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>“T’er gal say: ‘I’m mighty glad ter year dat, -kase de las’ time I seed ’im hit look like his britches -wuz needin’ patchin’.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dis kinder talk make Brer Rabbit look kinder -sollumcolly. But de gal, she up en ’low: ‘Well, -he ain’t look dat away ter-day, bless you! He -look like he des come outen a ban’box.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Miss Meadows, she hove a sigh, she did, en -say: ‘Fine er no fine, I wish ’im er some yuther -man er ’oman would come en wash up dese yer -dishes, kaze my back is dat stiff twel I can’t -skacely stan’ up straight.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Den dey all giggle, but de gal say: ‘You all -shan’t talk ’bout Brer Rabbit behin’ his back. -He done say he gwine ter be my beau.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Miss Meadows, she ’low: ‘Well, you better -take ’im en make sump’n er somebody outer ’im.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“De gal laugh en say: ‘Oh, no! I done tole -’im dat ’fo’ I git married, I got ter have some sign, -so I ’ll know p’intedly w’en de time done come.’</p> - -<p class='c010'>“W’en Brer Rabbit yer dis, he got in a big -hurry. He tuck one eend er de reed en stuck it -in de crack er de chimbley, en den he run ter de -yuther eend, w’ich it wuz layin’ out in de weeds -en bushes. W’en he git dar, he held it up ter -his head en lissen, en he kin year um des ez plain -ez ef dey wuz right at ’im.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>“Miss Meadows ax de gal w’at kinder sign -she want, en de gal she say she don’t keer w’at -kinder one ’t is, des so hit’s a sign. ’Bout dat -time Brer Rabbit put his mouf ter de reed, en -talk like he got a bad col’. He sing out, he did:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘<i>Some likes cake, en some likes pie,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>Some loves ter laugh, en some loves ter cry,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>But de gal dat stays single will die, will die!</i>’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“Miss Meadows ’low: ‘Who dat out dar?’ -Den dey got a light en hunted all ’roun’ de place -en und’ de house, but dey ain’t see nuthin’ ner -nobody. Dey went back en sot down, dey did, -but ’t want long ’fo’ Brer Rabbit sing out:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘<i>De drouth ain’t wet en de rain ain’t dry,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>Whar you sow yo’ wheat you can’t cut rye,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>But de gal dat stays single will die, will die.</i>’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>“Miss Meadows, en de gals wuz dat ’stonished -dat dey ain’t know w’at ter do, en bimeby Brer -Rabbit, he sing out ag’in:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c011'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“‘<i>I wants de gal dat’s atter a sign,</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>I wants de gal en she mus’ be mine—</i></div> - <div class='line'><i>She’ll see ’er beau down by de big pine.</i>’</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>“En sho’ nuff,” Uncle Remus continued, “de -nex’ mornin’ w’en de gal went down by de big -pine, dar sot Brer Rabbit dez ez natchul ez life. -De gal, she make out, she did, dat she des come -down dar atter a chaw er rozzum. Dey jawered -’roun’ a right smart, en ’spute ’long wid one ’n’er. -But Brer Rabbit, he got de gal.”</p> - -<div class='pbb'> -<p> </p> - <hr class='pb c004' /> -<p> </p> -</div> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c005'>TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE</h2> -</div> - <ol class='ol_1 c003'> - <li>Silently corrected typographical errors and variations in spelling. - - </li> - <li>Anachronistic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings retained as printed. - - </li> - <li>Footnotes have been re-indexed using numbers. - </li> - - <li>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain. - </li> - </ol> -</div> - -<p> </p> -<p> </p> -<hr class="full" /> -<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DADDY JAKE THE RUNAWAY***</p> -<p>******* This file should be named 60804-h.htm or 60804-h.zip *******</p> -<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> -<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/6/0/8/0/60804">http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/8/0/60804</a></p> -<p> -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed.</p> - -<p>Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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