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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76586 ***
+
+
+
+
+
+                               NEGRO MYTHS
+
+                                  FROM
+
+                            THE GEORGIA COAST
+
+                         TOLD IN THE VERNACULAR
+
+                                   BY
+
+                      CHARLES C. JONES, JR., LL. D.
+
+                             COLUMBIA, S. C.
+                            THE STATE COMPANY
+                                  1925
+
+
+
+
+                                IN MEMORY
+
+                                   OF
+
+                         MONTE VIDEO PLANTATION,
+
+                               AND OF THE
+
+                             FAMILY SERVANTS
+
+               WHOSE FIDELITY AND AFFECTION CONTRIBUTED SO
+                MATERIALLY TO ITS COMFORT AND HAPPINESS.
+
+
+
+
+                             PREFATORY NOTE
+
+
+Mr. Joel Chandler Harris has, in an admirable way, commended to public
+notice the dialect and folk-lore in vogue among the Negroes of Middle
+Georgia. With fidelity and cleverness has he perpetuated the legends
+and songs once current among these peoples, and now fast lapsing into
+oblivion. There is, however, a field, largely untrodden, in which may
+be found ample opportunity for the exhibition of kindred inquiry and
+humor. We refer to the swamp region of Georgia and the Carolinas,
+where the lingo of the rice-field and the sea-island negroes is _sui
+generis_, and where myths and fanciful stories, often repeated before
+the war, and now seldom heard save during the gayer moods of the old
+plantation darkies, materially differ from those narrated by the sable
+dwellers in the interior.
+
+In confirmation of this suggestion we record the following Negro Myths
+from the Georgia Coast.
+
+Augusta, Georgia, March, 1888.
+
+
+
+
+                                CONTENTS
+
+
+                                                            PAGE
+
+          I. HOW COME BUH ALLIGATUR NEBBER SLEEP FUR FROM
+               DE RIBBER BANK                                  1
+
+         II. BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE RAIN                      4
+
+        III. HOW BUH COOTER FOOL BUH DEER                      5
+
+         IV. BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE TAR BABY              7
+
+          V. BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH ROOSTER                     12
+
+         VI. BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE KING CRAB                15
+
+        VII. DE KING, EH DARTER, BUH WOLF, AN BUH RABBIT      18
+
+       VIII. BUH PATTRIDGE AN BUH RABBIT                      20
+
+         IX. DE OLE MAN AN DE GALLINIPPER                     22
+
+          X. BUH SPARRUH                                      23
+
+         XI. BUH ALLIGATUR AN BUH MASH-HEN                    25
+
+        XII. BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH TURKREY BUZZUD              27
+
+       XIII. BUH WOLF AN BUH RABBIT                           29
+
+        XIV. BUH WOLF AN DE TWO DINNER                        34
+
+         XV. BUH OWL AN BUH ROOSTER                           36
+
+        XVI. BUH LION AN BUH GOAT                             38
+
+       XVII. BUH BEAR AN BUH TIGER                            39
+
+      XVIII. BUH MONKEY AN DE BULL-DOG                        42
+
+        XIX. BUH ELEPHANT AN BUH ROOSTER                      45
+
+         XX. DE PO MAN AN DE SNAKE                            46
+
+        XXI. LEELY GAL, BUH ALLIGATUR, AN DE JAY-BUD          51
+
+       XXII. DE CAT, DE RAT, DE CHEESE, AN DE FOX             53
+
+      XXIII. BUH RABBIT AN DE TARRUH BEASTISES                55
+
+       XXIV. BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE BUTTER               59
+
+        XXV. DE EAGLE AN DE CHILLUN                           63
+
+       XXVI. CHANTICLEER AN DE BAN-YAD ROOSTER                65
+
+      XXVII. BUH RABBIT AN DE GROUN-MOLE                      68
+
+     XXVIII. BUH RABBIT AN DE ROCK-SOUP                       71
+
+       XXIX. DE TWO FREN AND DE BEAR                          73
+
+        XXX. DE OLE MAN AN DET                                75
+
+       XXXI. DE KING AN EH RING                               77
+
+      XXXII. BUH LION, BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN BUH ROCCOON    82
+
+     XXXIII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE PORPUS               88
+
+      XXXIV. DE DEBBLE AN MAY BELLE                           92
+
+       XXXV. DE OLE MAN AN DE COON                            99
+
+      XXXVI. BUH RABBIT AND DE CRAWFISH                      101
+
+     XXXVII. BUH RABBIT AND BUH ELEPHUNT                     102
+
+     XXXVIII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN BUH POSSUM            105
+
+       XXXIX. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE HOLLER TREE        108
+
+          XL. BUH RABBIT AN DE CUNJUR MAN                    111
+
+         XLI. BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN DE FISHERMAN           114
+
+        XLII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE YEARLIN            118
+
+       XLIII. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, DE DOG, AN DE GOOSE      120
+
+        XLIV. BUH SQUIRLE AN’ BUH FOX                        122
+
+         XLV. BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE BUCKRA MAN         124
+
+        XLVI. BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF FUNERAL                 127
+
+       XLVII. DE NEW NIGGER AN EH MOSSA                      130
+
+      XLVIII. BUH RABBIT AN DE KING DARTER                   132
+
+        XLIX. DE SINGLE BALL                                 134
+
+           L. BUH ROCCOON AN BUH POSSUM                      136
+
+          LI. BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT AN DE RAIN                137
+
+         LII. BUH ALLIGATUR, BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF          140
+
+        LIII. DE DYIN BULL-FROG                              144
+
+         LIV. BUH RABBIT, BUH PATTRIDGE, AN DE COW           145
+
+          LV. DE FIDDLER, BUH TIGER, AN BUH BEAR             147
+
+         LVI. DE OLE KING AN DE NOUNG KING                   149
+
+        LVII. BUH GOAT AN BUH WOLF                           151
+
+       LVIII. DENTISTRY AT THE OLD PLANTATION HOME           155
+
+         LIX. THE NEGRO AND THE ALLIGATOR                    161
+
+          LX. SPERITS                                        169
+
+         LXI. DADDY JUPITER’S VISION                         177
+
+
+
+
+                               NEGRO MYTHS
+
+
+
+
+                                   I.
+
+                   HOW COME BUH ALLIGATUR NEBBER SLEEP
+                        FUR FROM DE RIBBER BANK.
+
+
+One time Buh Rabbit, him meet Buh Alligatur, an eh ax um: “Budder, you
+tek life berry onconsarne. Enty you come pon trouble some time?” Buh
+Alligatur, him mek answer: “No, Budder, nuttne nebber bodder me. Me
+dunno wuh you call trouble. Me hab plenty er bittle fuh eat. Me sleep
+an tek me pledjuh. Wuh mek you tink trouble kin come topper me?” Buh
+Rabbit, him berry cunnin. Eh yent say nuttne. Eh know Buh Alligatur
+blan come out de ribber an sun isself in de broom-grass fiel. Buh
+Rabbit, eh laugh oneside to isself an mek plan to pit trouble on Buh
+Alligatur.
+
+De nex day, wen de sun hot, Buh Alligatur come out de ribber. Eh so
+full er fish an crab eh casely kin crawl. Eh drag isself trugh de mash,
+an eh gone in de broom-grass fiel, and tretch isself in de grass, an
+fall fas tersleep. Buh Rabbit bin der watch um all de time. Buh Rabbit
+too scheemy. Now eh pick eh chance. Wen eh tink Buh Alligatur done gone
+tersleep, eh tiptoe ebber so sofe tell eh come right pon top er Buh
+Alligatur. Eh notice um close. Eh yeye shet. Eh duh sleep fuh true.
+Den Buh Rabbit slip back. Eh say to isself: “I guine mek Buh Alligatur
+know wuh call trouble dis day.” Eh trike fire. Eh light one fat pine
+tick, an eh set fire to de broom-grass all roun an roun de fiel. Buh
+Alligatur, eh day in de middle fas tersleep. Eh dunno wuh Buh Rabbit
+up teh. Bimeby de fire, eh biggin fuh roll. Buh Alligatur wake up. Eh
+see de smoke. Eh yeddy de fire duh commin. Eh dunno wuh fur do. De fire
+biggin fur bun um. Eh run dis way, de fire meet um. Eh lick back an try
+tarruh side. De fire meet um day too.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him duh tan off duh watch an duh half kill isself wid
+laugh. Buh Alligatur holler. Eh holler. Eh holler. Nobody yeddy. Nobody
+come. Fire ebry side. No way fur um fur go. Eh cant git out. Man! sir!
+eh mek up eh mine to bus trugh some how. Eh shet eh yeye. Eh cock up eh
+tail, an yuh eh come straight fur de ribber.
+
+Buh Rabbit, eh fall fur laugh. Eh hoop arter Buh Alligatur, an eh say:
+“Hey, Budder! wats de time er day? Enty you bin tell me you nebber
+meet up wid trouble? You run topper um to-day anyhow.”
+
+Buh Alligatur yent hab time fuh mek answer. Eh yent crack eh teet to
+Buh Rabbit. Eh jis is bex wid um is eh kin be. Eh yeye red. Eh tail
+swinge. Eh gone fuh de ribber, an eh fall in head ober heel. De water
+cool um. Eh ketch eh bref. Den eh raise isself on de top er de water an
+eh holler back to Buh Rabbit: “Nummine, Boy, golong dis time. Me know
+who mek all dis trouble fur me. Ef me ebber ketch you close dis ribber,
+me guine larne you how ter come fool long me.”
+
+Buh Rabbit faid Alligatur an ribber tell dis day. From dat day to dis
+you kin nebber ketch Buh Alligatur sleep fur from de bank; an de fus
+time eh yeddy bush crack, er anyting mek rackit, eh leggo eberyting an
+fall right in de water.
+
+
+
+
+                                   II.
+
+                      BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE RAIN.
+
+
+Buh Tukrey Buzzud, him yent hab no sense no how. You watch um.
+
+Wen de rain duh po down, eh set on de fench an eh squinch up isself. Eh
+draw in eh neck, an eh try fur hide eh head, an eh look dat pittyful
+you rale sorry for um. Eh duh half cry, an eh say to isself: “Nummine,
+wen dis rain ober me guine buil house right off. Me yent guine leh dis
+rain lick me dis way no mo.”
+
+Wen de rain done gone, an de win blow, an de sun shine, wuh Buh Tukrey
+Buzzud do? Eh set on de top er de dead pine tree way de sun kin wam um,
+an eh tretch out eh wing, an eh tun roun an roun so de win kin dry eh
+fedder, an eh laugh to isself, an eh say: “Dis rain done ober. Eh yent
+guine rain no mo. No use fur me fuh buil house now.” Caless man dis
+like Buh Tukrey Buzzud.
+
+
+
+
+                                  III.
+
+                   HOW BUH COOTER[1] FOOL BUH DEER.[2]
+
+
+Buh Deer, him kin outrun all de tarruh creetur. Buh Cooter, him cant
+go fast no time. Him kin jis creep, an dat all; but him hab plenty er
+sense.
+
+One day Buh Deer bin a laugh at Buh Cooter becase eh walk so slow. Den
+Buh Cooter, him git mad, an eh tell Buh Deer dat ef eh does slow eh hab
+de bes win, an eh bet Buh Deer eh could beat um to de fibe mile pose.
+Buh Deer, him smile an tuk de bet. Dey gree on nex Monday week fur run
+de race.
+
+Buh Cooter, him call togedder him fren an tole um bout de bet an wen de
+race fur run. Eh gaged fibe er um fur help um. Deese yer Cooter am all
+so much like one anurrer you cant tell one from turrer. So day all come
+inter cohoot an conclude to fool Buh Deer.
+
+One gone to de fus mile pose on de big road. Anurrer gone to de nex
+mile pose, an anurrer to de nex: so dat on de day wen de race fur run,
+Buh Cooter hab a fren at ebery mile pose. Buh Deer nebber bin know
+nuttne bout dis plan.
+
+Wen de time come fur run de race, Buh Deer an Buh Cooter bofe stat off
+togedder. Befo you kin tun roun Buh Deer done gone out uh sight, an lef
+Buh Cooter in de middle er de road duh laugh to isself. Wen Buh Deer
+git to de fus mile pose, day was Buh Cooter day head er um. Buh Deer
+couldnt tell how dat happn. Eh men eh pace. At de nex mile pose day was
+Buh Cooter a crawlin along. Buh Deer git mad. Eh lay isself out ter eh
+berry lenk, but befo eh ketch de nex mile pose eh meet Buh Cooter in de
+road dis a passin er dat pose. Buh Deer jump clean ober um an mek fur
+de nex mile pose. Eh yent bin want fur bleeve eh own yeye wen eh see
+Buh Cooter dere done git head er um agin. Eh so mad eh try fuh kick Buh
+Cooter outer de road, an eh straighten fur de las mile pose. Wen eh git
+day, eh meet Buh Cooter puffin an er blowin an a leanin up gin de pose
+duh laugh at um.
+
+An dat de way Buh Cooter fool Buh Deer an win de bet.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+     [1] Land Terrapin.
+
+     [2] This and two preceding _Myths_ first published in
+         Augusta, Ga., _Chronicle and Constitutionalist_ of
+         March 11, 1883.
+
+
+
+
+                                   IV.
+
+                  BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE TAR BABY.
+
+
+Buh Wolf and Buh Rabbit, dem bin lib nabur. De dry drout come. Ebry
+ting stew up. Water scace. Buh Wolf dig one spring fuh him fuh git
+water. Buh Rabbit, him too lazy an too scheemy fuh wuk fuh isself. Eh
+pen pon lib off tarruh people. Ebry day, wen Buh Wolf yent duh watch
+um, eh slip to Buh Wolf spring, an eh full him calabash long water an
+cah um to eh house fuh cook long and fuh drink. Buh Wolf see Buh Rabbit
+track, but eh couldnt ketch um duh tief de water.
+
+One day eh meet Buh Rabbit in de big road, an eh ax um how eh mek out
+fur water. Buh Rabbit say him no casion fuh hunt water: him lib off
+de jew on de grass. Buh Wolf quire: “Enty you blan tek water outer me
+spring?” Buh Rabbit say: “Me yent.” Buh Wolf say: “You yis, enty me see
+you track?” Buh Rabbit mek answer: “Yent me gone to you spring. Must
+be some edder rabbit. Me nebber bin nigh you spring. Me dunno way you
+spring day.” Buh Wolf no question um no mo; but eh know say eh bin Buh
+Rabbit fuh true, an eh fix plan fuh ketch um.
+
+De same ebenin eh mek Tar Baby, an eh gone an set um right in de middle
+er de trail wuh lead to de spring, an dist in front er de spring.
+
+Soon a mornin Buh Rabbit rise an tun in fuh cook eh bittle. Eh pot
+biggin fuh bun. Buh Rabbit say: “Hey! me pot duh bun. Lemme slip to Buh
+Wolf spring an git some water fuh cool um.” So eh tek eh calabash an
+hop off fuh de spring. Wen eh ketch de spring, eh see de Tar Baby duh
+tan dist een front er de spring. Eh stonish. Eh stop. Eh come close.
+Eh look at um. Eh wait fur um fuh mobe. De Tar Baby yent notice um. Eh
+yent wink eh yeye. Eh yent say nuttne. Eh yent mobe. Buh Rabbit, him
+say: “Hey titter, enty you guine tan one side an lemme git some water?”
+De Tar Baby no answer. Den Buh Rabbit say: “Leely Gal, mobe, me tell
+you, so me kin dip some water outer de spring long me calabash.” De Tar
+Baby wunt mobe. Buh Rabbit say: “Enty you know me pot duh bun? Enty you
+know me hurry? Enty you yeddy me tell you fuh mobe? You see dis han? Ef
+you dont go long and lemme git some water, me guine slap you ober.” De
+Tar Baby stan day. Buh Rabbit haul off an slap um side de head. Eh han
+fastne. Buh Rabbit try fuh pull eh hand back, an eh say: “Wuh you hole
+me han fuh? Lemme go. Ef you dont loose me, me guine box de life outer
+you wid dis tarruh han.” De Tar Baby yent crack eh teet. Buh Rabbit hit
+um, bim, wid eh tarruh han. Dat han fastne too same luk tudder. Buh
+Rabbit say: “Wuh you up teh? Tun me loose. Ef you dont leggo me right
+off, me guine knee you.” De Tar Baby hole um fas. Buh Rabbit skade an
+bex too. Eh faid Buh Wolf come ketch um. Wen eh fine eh cant loosne
+eh han, eh kick de Tar Baby wid eh knee. Eh knee fastne. Yuh de big
+trouble now. Buh Rabbit skade den wus den nebber. Eh try fuh skade de
+Tar Baby. Eh say: “Leely Gal, you better mine who you duh fool long.
+Me tell you, fuh de las time, tun me loose. Ef you dont loosne me han
+an me knee right off, me guine bus you wide open wid dis head.” De
+Tar Baby hole um fas. Eh yent say one wud. Den Buh Rabbit butt de Tar
+Baby een eh face. Eh head fastne same fashion luk eh han an eh knee.
+Yuh de ting now. Po Buh Rabbit done fuh. Eh fastne all side. Eh cant
+pull loose. Eh gib up. Eh bague. Eh cry. Eh holler. Buh Wolf yeddy
+um. Eh run day. Eh hail Buh Rabbit: “Hey, Budder! wuh de trouble? Enty
+you tell me you no blan wisit me spring fuh git water? Who calabash
+dis? Wuh you duh do yuh anyhow?” Buh Rabbit so condemn eh yent hab one
+wud fuh talk. Buh Wolf, him say: “Nummine, I done ketch you dis day.
+I guine lick you now.” Buh Rabbit bague. Eh bague. Eh prommus nebber
+fuh trouble Buh Wolf spring no mo. Buh Wolf laugh at um. Den eh tek an
+loose Buh Rabbit from de Tar Baby, an eh tie um teh one spakleberry
+bush, an eh git switch an eh lick um tel eh tired. All de time Buh
+Rabbit bin a bague an a holler. Buh Wolf yent duh listne ter um, but eh
+keep on duh pit de lick ter um. At las Buh Rabbit tell Buh Wolf: “Dont
+lick me no mo. Kill me one time. Mek fire an bun me up. Knock me brains
+out gin de tree.” Buh Wolf mek answer: “Ef I bun you up, ef I knock you
+brains out, you guine dead too quick. Me guine trow you in de brier
+patch, so de brier kin cratch you life out.” Buh Rabbit say: “Do Buh
+Wolf, bun me: broke me neck, but dont trow me in de brier patch. Lemme
+dead one time. Dont tarrify me no mo.” Buh Wolf yent bin know wuh Buh
+Rabbit up teh. Eh tink eh bin guine tare Buh Rabbit hide off. So, wuh
+eh do? Eh loose Buh Rabbit from de spakleberry bush, an eh tek um by
+de hine leg, and eh swing um roun, an eh trow um way in de tick brier
+patch fuh tare eh hide an cratch eh yeye out. De minnit Buh Rabbit drap
+in de brier patch, eh cock up eh tail, eh jump, an eh holler back to
+Buh Wolf: “Good bye, Budder! Dis de place me mammy fotch me up,--dis de
+place me mammy fotch me up:” an eh gone befo Buh Wolf kin ketch um. Buh
+Rabbit too scheemy.
+
+
+
+
+                                   V.
+
+                      BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH ROOSTER.
+
+
+Buh Fowl-Hawk, him fly ebry day dis way and dat way ober de lan, an eh
+cant fine nuttne fuh eat. Eh hail de Sun one time, an eh tell um eh so
+hongry eh ready fuh drap; dat eh cant git bittle fuh eat; an he dunno
+wuh fuh do. De Sun, eh say: “Budder, ef you kin ketch me in me bed, me
+gree fuh fine you in bittle.” Buh Hawk tek de greement, an eh try berry
+hade fuh come pon topper de Sun in eh bed. But ebry time de Sun done
+git up befo Buh Hawk ketch de place way de Sun sleep. Buh Hawk gib up.
+Eh dead tired. Den eh tun in an consult Buh Rooster. Buh Rooster yeddy
+him tale, and den eh say: “Me tell you, Buh Hawk, wuh you better do.
+You come sleep right ober me back; an wen, soon a mornin, you yeddy me
+knock me wing togedder and crow, you sail right off fuh de Sun house,
+an you kin ketch um befo eh git up from eh bed.” Buh Hawk do dis es Buh
+Rooster tell um. Eh come dat ebenin, an eh set on de tree-limb right
+ober way Buh Rooster duh sleep.
+
+Long befo day duh broke Buh Rooster knock eh wing togarruh an crow.
+Bless yo soul! Buh Fowl-Hawk wake up, eh switch eh tail, eh pitch off
+de tree, an eh mek fur de spot way de Sun blan sleep. Eh ketch um een
+eh big house. Eh day in eh bed. Buh Hawk, eh knock to de do. De Sun
+say: “Who dat?” Buh Hawk mek answer: “Duh me.” De Sun say: “Who you?”
+Buh Hawk say; “Duh me, Budder Hawk.” De Sun quire: “Wuh you want long
+me?” Buh Hawk mek answer: “Enty you bin tell me one day dat ef me kin
+ketch you in you bed you guine fine me? Now me done ketch you in de
+bed. Gimme de bittle you prommus me. Me berry hongry.” De Sun bex. Eh
+wunt come to de do, but eh holler back to Buh Hawk, an eh say: “You tun
+right roun, an you go to de man wuh pint you to ketch me in me bed, an
+you tell um fuh fine you.” Buh Hawk rale disappint. Eh try fuh swade de
+Sun, but de Sun wunt listne ter um; and de Sun dribe um way from him
+house. Buh Hawk mad, an wen eh see eh cant git no bittle from de Sun,
+eh fly back to Buh Rooster. Buh Rooster, him ax um: “Me Budder, how you
+mek out?” Buh Hawk tell um eh yent mek out wut. Den eh up an quaint
+Buh Rooster how de Sun wouldnt gie um no bittle fuh eat; how eh dribe
+um way; an how eh tell um fuh go back to de man wuh pit um on de trail
+fuh ketch um in eh bed, an mek um fine um. Buh Rooster mek answer:
+“Budder, me yent hab no bittle fuh gie you. Me no kin fine you.” Buh
+Hawk say: “Me dead tired. Me berry hongry. Me mus hab me payment.” Buh
+Rooster say: “You cant git no payment outer me. All me got duh me wife
+an me chillun, an me know me yent guine gie you none er dem.” Wen Buh
+Hawk see eh cant swade Buh Rooster fuh fine um, eh try narruh plan. Eh
+leff Buh Rooster, an eh sail way up in de element tell eh done gone
+in de cloud. All de time eh duh watch Buh Rooster. Wen Buh Rooster
+clean forgit Buh Hawk, an leh eh chillun play bout een de grass, befo
+eh know, down drap Buh Fowl-Hawk, an eh ketch up one er dem same Buh
+Rooster chillun. Eh fly off wid um to one big oak tree, an eh pick eh
+bone clean. Buh Rooster holler, but eh cant tetch Buh Hawk. De chicken
+sweet. Buh Hawk feel good. From dat day tell now, Buh Fowl-Hawk blan
+pick eh chance an lib off Buh Rooster chillun.
+
+
+
+
+                                   VI.
+
+                   BUH TUKREY BUZZUD AN DE KING CRAB.
+
+
+You notus Buh Tukrey Buzzud. Him lub lamb, an dead cow, an dead horse,
+an snake, an alligatur, an all kinder varmint. Eh berry lub dead fish
+too, but eh nebber bodder wid crab. You sabe huccom so? Lemme tell you.
+
+One time one fisher-man bin come from fishin. Eh tek out de good
+fish, eh tring um on a mash grass, an eh lef in de boat some leely
+gannet-mullet an catfish wuh eh no want, an one big King Crab wuh eh
+bin ketch duh ribber. De sun hot. De fish done dead. Bimeby eh smell
+bad in de boat. Buh Tukrey Buzzud, wuh bin a grine salt way up in de
+element, scent um, an down eh come. Eh gone in de boat an eh eat up
+de fish wuh day day. Eh dat greedy eh duh hunt fuh mo. Eh see de King
+Crab duh squat een de water duh bottom er de boat. Eh tretch open eh
+wing fuh skade de Crab an mek um come outer de water. Buh Tukrey Buzzud
+faid water. Eh nebber will wet him foot ef eh kin help. De King Crab
+see de Buzzud, an eh crawl up long side de boat. Buh Tukrey Buzzud ben
+ober fuh pick um. De Crab graff Buh Tukrey Buzzud leg wid eh claw.
+Buh Tukrey Buzzud hop an kick. Eh couldnt mek de Crab leggo. De ting
+hot um berry bad. Buh Tukrey Buzzud rise wid de Crab duh heng on ter
+eh leg. Eh sail up in de element. De Crab stick ter um. Buh Tukrey
+Buzzud try ebry plan fuh shake um off. De Crab wunt loose eh grip. Buh
+Tukrey Buzzud tun summerset in de sky. Eh flap eh wing. Eh mek all
+sorter curous motion. Eh cant shake de Crab loose. Bimeby eh try fuh
+bite de Crab. All ob a sutten, de Crab tek eh tarruh claw, an eh fastne
+Buh Tukrey Buzzud roun eh neck. Yuh de big trouble now. One claw hole
+Buh Tukrey Buzzud foot; tarruh claw clamp Buh Tukrey Buzzud roun eh
+neck. De Bud duh choke. Eh gib up. Eh cant go no fudder. Eh dis leggo
+ebryting in de element, an eh fall heel ober head plash in de water.
+De minnit de King Crab fine isself in de ribber, eh loosne eh hole an
+eh gone der bottom. Buh Tukrey Buzzud mose drown. Eh fedder wet. Eh
+splutter, eh wabble, an arter awhile eh manage fuh ketch eh bref, an eh
+mount eh wing, an eh sail off teh one dead libe-oak tree, wuh grow on
+de bank, an eh set down day an eh pick eh fedder, an eh watch de blood
+duh drap from eh neck an leg, an eh say to isself: “Me nebber guine
+bodder long crab gen long as me lib.” An eh nebber did. You show King
+Crab to Buh Tukrey Buzzud, an eh’ll leff um. Eh yent guine nigh um. All
+eh fambly faid um.
+
+
+
+
+                                  VII.
+
+              DE KING, EH DARTER, BUH WOLF, AN BUH RABBIT.
+
+
+One time er King hab er pooty Darter. Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit all two
+bin a spark at um an a cote um. De sanfly bin berry bad. De King tell
+Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit de one wuh kin stan de sanfly de longes bedout
+bresh um way, shill git de gal.
+
+Buh Wolf yent bin so scheemy as Buh Rabbit. Wen dem all was a settin
+fuh de match, Buh Rabbit, him say: “Gentlemans, my fader had a black
+horse. Eh had a white spot yuh, and a red spot day; a white spot yuh,
+and a red spot day; a white spot yuh, and a red spot day.” Ebry time eh
+pint out de place way de spot bin, eh dribe off de sanfly.
+
+Wile dis duh guine on, de sanfly mose eat up Buh Wolf. Eh bleege fur
+cratch an slap. So Buh Rabbit gain de day, an de King gie um eh Darter.
+
+Buh Wolf, him berry sad, an eh wunt talk. All de lady bin a set in de
+piazza long de King an eh Darter. Den Buh Rabbit say: “Come, Buh Wolf,
+leh we broke up. Ef you lemme ride you ter de big gate me guine tun de
+King Darter ober ter you.” Buh Wolf happy. Eh gree fuh leh Buh Rabbit
+ride um. Buh Rabbit light on eh back. Eh hab spur on. Buh Wolf dunno
+nuttne bout dis. Soon es Buh Rabbit git on Buh Wolf back, eh clamp eh
+leg onder Buh Wolf belly, an eh clap spur ter Buh Wolf. Buh Wolf rare
+up. Eh jump. Eh kick. Eh leddown. Eh try ebry way fuh trow Buh Rabbit.
+Buh Rabbit stick ter eh back, an wunt fall off. De mo Buh Wolf rare up
+an kick an pitch, de wus Buh Rabbit spur um. Wen eh fine eh cant trow
+Buh Rabbit, eh tek de big road an lean fuh de gate. Buh Rabbit stick de
+spur in um ebry jump. Buh Wolf run. Eh run. Eh holler. Eh holler. Buh
+Rabbit duh set on eh back an duh spur um, an duh look dess as happy an
+content as eh kin be. Wen dey guine tru de big gate, Buh Rabbit light
+off eh back an jump on top de gate pose. Buh Wolf cant stop run. Eh
+gone. Buh Rabbit shet de gate, an tun back, an jine de compny, an tek
+eh bride.
+
+
+
+
+                                  VIII.
+
+                      BUH PATTRIDGE AN BUH RABBIT.
+
+
+Buh Pattridge and Buh Rabbit jine compny fuh kill cow. Wen dey done
+kill um, dey share de meat equel. Buh Pattridge tek one half; Buh
+Rabbit, him tek tarruh half. Buh Pattridge tote him share home, an cook
+some, an gen um to him chillun. Buh Rabbit, him tay buhhine an watch
+him share. Wen Buh Pattridge an him chillun done eat dem belly full,
+Buh Pattridge gone back to de place way de cow bin kill. Eh meet Buh
+Rabbit duh siddown day duh wait fuh hire somebody fuh cahr him meat ter
+him house. Buh Pattridge, him want mo meat. Eh up an tell Buh Rabbit:
+“Dat cow meat no good. Me cook some an gen to me chillun, an eh kill
+two er um.” Buh Rabbit say: “Eh yent.” Buh Pattridge say: “Me tell you
+eh yiz. Me bin eat some too, an eh mek me feel berry bad. Rattlesnake
+must a bin trike dat cow an pizen um.” Den Buh Pattridge fall on de
+groun, an flutter, flutter, flutter, dis like eh bin guine fuh dead.
+Buh Rabbit tink say de pizen meat been a wuk in um, an eh hop off, an
+eh fetch water, an eh trow um in Buh Pattridge face. Wen Buh Pattridge
+sorter vive, Buh Rabbit tell um eh no want de meat, dat eh guine leff
+um. Den Buh Rabbit wish Buh Pattridge de time er day, an gone teh him
+house. Soon as Buh Rabbit git outer yearin, Buh Pattridge whistle fuh
+him chillun. De gang all bin in de bush duh watch. Den dey all run up
+an cahr de meat to dem house, an cook um an eat um.
+
+De meat bin good, an Buh Pattridge only do dat fuh fool Buh Rabbit an
+git him share too.
+
+
+
+
+                                   IX.
+
+                      DE OLE MAN AN DE GALLINIPPER.
+
+
+An ole man bin a hunt roccoon in de wood. Eh hab eh dog fuh tree de
+coon, an eh hatchich fuh chop down de tree. De dog bark. De ole man
+gone ter um. Eh look up de tree fuh see de coon. Steader de coon, er
+big Gallinipper bin a settin in de crotch er de sweet-gum. De tree so
+big de ole man cant retch round um wid bofe eh arm. De dog bark at de
+Gallinipper. Eh bark. Eh bark. De Gallinipper git bex. Eh light off de
+tree fuh bite de dog. De dog holler an run roun de tree. De Gallinipper
+miss eh lick, an dribe eh bill trugh de tree tell de pint come out on
+tarruh side. De ole man try fuh chop off de een er de Gallinipper bill.
+Wen de Gallinipper see wuh de ole man up teh, eh rare back an try fur
+pull eh bill outer de tree. Eh fastne so tight eh couldnt git um out,
+but eh strain so hebby eh drag de tree up by de root. De ole man dat
+scade eh drop eh hatchich, eh leff eh dog der wood, and eh lean fur
+home.
+
+
+
+
+                                   X.
+
+                              BUH SPARRUH.
+
+
+Buh Sparruh, him berry leetle, but him lub fur brag. Eh yent much fur
+wuk.
+
+One time de Bluefinch, de Trasher, de Red-Bud, de Jay-Bud, de
+Pattridge, and de Sparruh all come inter cohoot ter plant tetter[3] and
+see who kin raise de bigges. Wen de tetter done mek an dig, all de bud
+collec togarruh, an ebry one fotch a tetter ter show wuh kind a crop eh
+mek. De Crow bin de judge. Eh look ober all de tetter, an wen eh fine
+Buh Sparruh no bin bring none, eh ax Buh Sparruh: “Way you tetter?” Buh
+Sparruh biggin fur brag, an eh say: “Me tetter, him heap bigger den
+any me see. Me farruh befo me blan plant tetter, an him tetter bigger
+ner de calf er me leg. Me kin beat me farruh raise tetter. Me yent
+bin bring no tetter wid me case me no want fur mek me fren feel bad.”
+Tarruh bud say: “Nummine, you go fetch you tetter. Leh we see um.” Wen
+Buh Sparruh fine dem all bent pon mek um show eh tetter, eh say: “Well,
+wait pon top me. Me guine git me tetter.” Buh Sparruh gone, an de bud
+all wait. Dem wait tell dem tired, an Buh Sparruh no come back. Den
+Buh Crow, wuh bin de judge, sen Buh Bluefinch fur fine Buh Sparruh,
+an see wuh eh duh do. Buh Bluefinch meet Buh Sparruh duh pick seed in
+one ole fiel. Eh hail um: “Hey! Buh Sparruh! wuh mek you no come back?
+All de tarruh bud duh wait top you fur show you tetter.” Buh Sparruh
+rare isself back, an eh mek answer: “You go tell Buh Crow an de tarruh
+gentlemans me tetter so big me cant tote um.”
+
+Buh Sparruh lie. Eh dis bin a brag. Eh yent nebber bin plant no tetter.
+
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+     [3] Sweet potatoes.
+
+
+
+
+                                   XI.
+
+                     BUH ALLIGATUR AN BUH MASH-HEN.
+
+
+Buh Alligatur nebber does trubble Buh Mash-hen an eh chillun. Enty,
+heap a time, you see Buh Mash-hen duh ketch fiddler on de ribber bank
+close by way Buh Alligatur duh feed, an Buh Alligatur yent lick at um
+wid eh tail, ner skade um? You know huccum dis? Ef you dunno, lemme
+tell you.
+
+One time Buh Alligatur, him been er eat crab. Him bin hab one teet wuh
+hab hole in um. Dat teet duh hot um berry bad. Buh Alligatur blan chaw
+up crab, shell an all. Wen eh der eat dem crab, one er de claw fastne
+in him rotten teet, and hot um so bad eh mek um holler. Eh cant do
+nuttne cept open eh jaw an moan. Eh foot yent long nough fuh pick de
+claw out.
+
+Wile eh bin a moan an suffer, Buh Mash-hen pass by. Buh Alligatur hail
+um an tell um wuh happne, and mek um sensible how bad de claw duh hot
+um, an how eh yent hab de power fuh git um out, an eh bague um fuh
+pull de ting out wid eh bill. Buh Mash-hen yeddy um, but eh fade fur
+trus eh head between Buh Alligatur jaw. Eh spicion say Buh Alligatur
+guine trick um, an kill um, an eat um, an eh tell Buh Alligatur him
+too scheemy. But Buh Alligatur, him schway to Buh Mash-hen dat eh yent
+guine trubble um, an dat ef eh would bleege um an pick de ting out, eh
+would be fren ter um an eh fambly all dem life, an mek all dem tarruh
+Alligatur fren too.
+
+Wen Buh Mash-hen see Buh Alligatur duh bague so harde, an wen eh fine
+out eh bin der tell de trute, eh tek pity on um, an eh pit eh head in
+eh mouf an eh pull out de crab-claw, wuh fastne in eh teet, wid eh bill.
+
+Dat ease Buh Alligatur, an eh tell Buh Mash-hen heap er tenky. An eh
+mek all eh quaintunce sensible er de big faber wuh Buh Mash-hen bin
+done ter um.
+
+Buh Alligatur, him keep eh wud. Ebber sence, Buh Mash-hen kin walk bout
+de mash an de ribber, an buil nes, an ketch fiddler an shrimp all round
+Buh Alligatur, an eh yent try fuh bodder um.
+
+Dat de way Buh Alligatur an Buh Mash-hen come fur lib togerruh luk same
+fambly.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XII.
+
+                  BUH FOWL-HAWK AN BUH TUKREY BUZZUD.
+
+
+Time bin berry harde. Bittle oncommon scace. Buh Fowl-hawk an Buh
+Tukrey Buzzud, dem bin a sail backwud and forrud in de element, duh
+look fuh see wuh dem kin pick up fur eat. Es dem pass one a nurruh,
+Buh Fowl-hawk, him ax Buh Tukrey Buzzud how him mek out. Buh Tukrey
+Buzzud mek answer dat eh yent mek out wut; dat half de time eh cant
+fine nuttne fuh eat; dat eh so hongry eh mos ready fuh perish; but dat
+eh mek up eh mine ter keep on guine, an ter wait on de Lord. Den eh
+quire ob Buh Fowl-hawk how him duh git long dis yer tight time. Buh
+Fowl-hawk, him switch eh tail, an eh say him smarte nough fuh git him
+libbin; dat him dont lack fuh bittle; dat Lord er no Lord, him manage
+fuh fine all him want fuh eat.
+
+Wid dat dem part compny, an gone dem own couse.
+
+Bimeby dem sail pass one anurrer gen, an Buh Fowl-hawk, him call to
+Buh Tukrey Buzzud, an him say: “Enty me bin tell you me hab no trouble
+fuh fine bittle wenebber me want um? You see dat black chicken down
+yander? Me guine ketch um now fuh me dinner.”
+
+Wid dat, eh leff Buh Tukrey Buzzud, an eh mek eh lunge fuh kibber de
+chicken. Stidder eh bin one chicken, eh tun out fuh bin er sharp-pinted
+stump; an befo Buh Fowl-hawk fine out de diffunce, an kin check eh
+speed, eh hit eh bres gin de stump an kill ehself.
+
+Two, tree day arter dat, Buh Tukrey Buzzud bin a sail ober de same
+groun, an eh cotch de scent er someting dead. Eh fole eh wing an eh
+come down. Wen eh come fuh fine out, eh see Buh Fowl-hawk duh led down
+dead. Den eh say: “Enty me bin tell you eh heap better ter wait on de
+Lord stidder trus ter you own luck? You wouldnt yeddy me, an you see
+wuh happne. Now me tun come, an you flesh guine ile me bade.” Wid dat,
+eh eat up Buh Fowl-hawk.
+
+“De man wuh trus in ehself,” moralized Daddy Sandy, “guine fail; wile
+dem dat wait topper de Lord will hab perwision mek fur um.”
+
+
+
+
+                                  XIII.
+
+                         BUH WOLF AN BUH RABBIT.
+
+
+Buh Wolf and Buh Rabbit bin a cote de same Gal. De Gal bin rich an
+berry pooty. Dem tuk tun fuh wisit um. Buh Rabbit, him gone der mornin,
+and Buh Wolf, him gone der ebenin. De Gal harde fuh mek up eh mine. Eh
+sorter courage bofe er um. One mornin Buh Rabbit bin a mek fun er Buh
+Wolf ter de Gal, an eh tell um say Buh Wolf yent duh nuttne mo den eh
+farruh ridin horse.
+
+Wen Buh Wolf pay him wisit de same ebenin, de Gal tell um wuh Buh
+Rabbit bin say bout um. De ting mek Buh Wolf bex, an eh say Buh Rabbit
+lie, an eh guine fetch Buh Rabbit ter de Gal an mek um tek back dat big
+wud befo eh face.
+
+Buh Wolf leff de Gal an gone straight ter Buh Rabbit house. Buh Rabbit
+bin spicion say de Gal guine tell Buh Wolf wuh him bin say bout um; an
+eh know, wen Buh Wolf yeddy, dat eh boun fur tackle um bout um. So Buh
+Rabbit, him fix eh plan.
+
+Wen Buh Wolf git ter Buh Rabbit house, eh fine um all shet up. Eh look
+same luk nobody bin day. Eh knock ter de do. Eh knock. Eh knock. No
+ansur. Eh gone ter de winder. Eh shake um. Nobody mek ansur. Den eh
+holler: “Buh Rabbit, Buh Rabbit!” Arter a while eh yeddy er leely woice
+eenside say: “Who dat?” Buh Wolf ansur: “Duh me, Buh Wolf.” Buh Rabbit
+say: “Wuh you want, Buh Wolf?” Buh Wolf, him say: “Lemme come in, Buh
+Rabbit; me bleege fuh see you on tickler bidness.” Buh Rabbit, him mek
+ansur: “Buh Wolf, me cant see you now; me berry sick; me day in me bed;
+me too weak fuh open de do.” Buh Wolf say: “Buh Rabbit, you mus lemme
+in: you de only man wuh kin ten ter de bidness wuh bring me yuh.” Buh
+Rabbit try fuh pit um off. Eh tell um eh hab high feber, an eh cant
+rise; dat eh back bin er hot um so bad eh cant tun in eh bed. But Buh
+Wolf cist so strong, Buh Rabbit slip to de do, an eh draw de bolt, an
+eh tiptoe back ter eh bed, an den eh say: “Well Budder, ef you mus see
+me, bad off es me yiz, come in.” Wen Buh Wolf come in, eh fine Buh
+Rabbit kibber up in eh bed, duh pant an duh moan berry pittiful. Buh
+Wolf tan by de bed, an eh ax Buh Rabbit: “Enty you tell de Gal, wuh we
+bin a cote, say me bin nuttne but you farruh ridin horse?” Buh Rabbit
+say: “Me nebber did.” Buh Wolf say: “You yiz bin tell um so.” Buh
+Rabbit say: “Me yent.” Den Buh Wolf schway: “De Gal done tell um say
+Buh Rabbit sisso, an eh bleebe de Gal.” Buh Rabbit run Buh Wolf down
+dat eh nebber bin nuse no sich wud. Den Buh Wolf say: “Ef you nebber
+bin say no sich wud, you mus git up an go long me, an knowledge befo de
+Gal dat you nebber bin sisso.” Buh Rabbit hole back. Eh say eh too weak
+fuh git outer de bed, and dat ef eh did get up eh too weak fuh walk ter
+de Gal house. But Buh Wolf foce um. Eh say: “You got ter go. Me guine
+help you outer de bed, an ef you cant tek you foot, me guine tote you.”
+Wen Buh Rabbit fine no chance fur um fuh dodge no mo, an dat Buh Wolf
+boun fuh mek um go, eh git Buh Wolf fuh help um outer de bed. Arter
+eh git on de flo, Buh Rabbit sorter faint way. Buh Wolf tek um up an
+cahr um ter de do, an fan um. Buh Rabbit bin a play possum all de time.
+Wen eh come too, Buh Wolf liff um up an pit um on eh back. Buh Rabbit
+say: “Hole on, Buh Wolf, me cant set on you back dout fall off: me mus
+hab someting fuh steady me; you mus gimme someting fuh me fuh hole on
+ter. Yuh me farruh ole saddle an bridle. Lemme pit dem on you, an den
+me tink me kin manage fuh go long wid you.” Buh Wolf, him yent spicion
+nuttne, an eh tan still an leh Buh Rabbit pit de saddle an bridle on
+um. Onbeknowinst ter Buh Wolf, Buh Rabbit slip behind de do an pit on
+er pair er keen spur. Den Buh Wolf help um on eh back, an state fuh
+trot fuh de Gal house. Buh Rabbit say: “Buh Wolf, dont go so fas: me so
+weak me cant hole on; you mus walk.” Buh Wolf, him haky ter um, an eh
+come down ter a walk. Wen dem retch de abnue wuh lead from de big road
+ter de house way de Gal lib, dem shum all dress een white duh settin
+in de piazza. Soon es dem pass tru de big gate, Buh Rabbit, him gedder
+de range in eh han, an eh slap spur to Buh Wolf. Buh Wolf say: “You
+fool, wuh you duh do?” an eh rare an pitch an try fuh trow Buh Rabbit
+off. Buh Rabbit stick on, an eh clap de spur wus an wus ter Buh Wolf.
+Wen Buh Wolf fine out eh cant do nuttne, eh keep de abnue straight fur
+de house. Wen dem duh nigh de house Buh Rabbit holler ter de Gal: “Wuh
+me bin tell you? Yuh me come pon me farruh ridin horse,” an eh rip
+spur een Buh Wolf an eh hole um tight. De spur hot Buh Wolf so bad eh
+couldnt do nuttne but run. Buh Rabbit tun um dest by de piazza, an eh
+light off eh back, an eh run up ter de Gal, an eh say: “Wuh you tink er
+me farruh ridin horse?” Buh Wolf so painful, so bex, an so shame, eh
+keep on run, an eh nebber come back fur see de Gal no mo.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him too scheemy fuh Buh Wolf. Wen de Gal notus how smate
+Buh Rabbit bin, an how eh mek good eh big wud, eh gen um eh han, an,
+leetle while arter, dem bin git marry.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XIV.
+
+                       BUH WOLF AN DE TWO DINNER.
+
+
+Buh Wolf, him binner inwite ter two dinner de same day an de same time:
+one gen by Cooter Bay, an de tarruh by John Bay. Dem bin bredder, an
+dem lib on two seprite road wuh jine at de fork. Buh Wolf, him so
+greedy him cept bofe inbitation. Wen de time come fuh go, eh dress
+ehself up an eh light out. Wen eh git ter de place way de road fork, eh
+stop an eh consider. Eh want fuh tek bofe road an go ter de two dinner.
+Eh cant tek one an leff tarruh. Eh gone down one road; eh tun back; eh
+tan ter de fork. Eh tek tarruh road; eh come back ter de fork; eh tan
+day gen. Eh state off; eh tun back. Eh state off gen; eh tun back gen.
+Eh cant mek up eh mine which dinner fuh tek an which dinner fuh leff.
+Eh hanker arter bofe. Eh wase eh time. Wile dis bin a guine on, de
+people bin a eat at bofe de dinner.
+
+Bimeby yuh come some er dem, wuh bin eat dinner wid Cooter Bay, duh mek
+dem way home. Dem see Buh Wolf duh tan in de fork er de road, an dem
+hail um, an dem say: “Hi! Buh Wolf, wuh you duh do yuh?” Buh Wolf, him
+mek answer: “Me guine ter Cooter Bay fuh dine long um.” Den dem tell um
+say de dinner done ober; dat dem jist come from day, an dat dem bin hab
+plenty er good bittle fuh eat. Buh Wolf rale cut down case eh loss one
+dinner.
+
+Eh hop off an mek fuh John Bay house fuh git de tarruh dinner. Eh yent
+bin gone no destant befo eh meet dem people duh comin back wuh bin gone
+fuh eat dinner long John Bay. Dem tell um de dinner done ober, an eh
+mights well tun back. Buh Wolf outdone. Eh so greedy eh couldnt mek up
+eh mine which dinner fuh tek. Eh tink eh guine git all two, an eh yent
+git none. Eh gone home dat bex an hongry eh ready fuh kill ehself.
+
+People wuh wunt mek up dem mine in time wuh dem mean fuh do guine git
+leff.
+
+
+
+
+                                   XV.
+
+                         BUH OWL AN BUH ROOSTER.
+
+
+Buh Owl, him bin a great music-meker. Him an Buh Rooster bin good fren.
+Heap er bud blan wisit Buh Rooster house fuh yeddy music an fuh dance.
+Buh Owl, him sing so well an eh pick de banjo so clear, nobody kin
+listen ter um an keep eh foot still; but eh no wan leh nobody shum wen
+eh duh sing an play. Buh Rooster, him always blan hab a dark room fuh
+Buh Owl fuh set in wen eh duh play fuh de bud. Lamp day in day, but eh
+hab shade on um. Buh Owl kin see de bud wuh duh dance, but de bud, dem
+cant see Buh Owl. Buh Owl, him faid light, an eh yent der bole bud no
+how.
+
+One ebenin Buh Owl bin a sing an play oncommon well fuh de bud at Buh
+Rooster house fuh dance. De pahler bin full, but dem yent bin know who
+dat bin a mek de music. Buh Rooster, him bin prommus Buh Owl dat eh
+yent guine tell who duh sing an play. Wen dem all bin dance tel dem
+tired, dem all bague Buh Rooster fuh show dem de man wuh bin mek sich
+pooty music fuh dem fuh dance long. Buh Rooster say him cant. Dem keep
+on bague, tel, at lenk, Buh Rooster gone in tarruh room, an eh tek de
+shade offer de lamp. Wen dem look pon topper Buh Owl, eh yeye so big,
+an eh yez cock up so high, eh skade de people, an dem all holler an run.
+
+Buh Owl, him berry bex case Buh Rooster broke eh wud, an he fall out
+wid Buh Rooster. From dat day Buh Owl hate Buh Rooster, eh wife, an eh
+chillun. Wenebber, duh night, eh yeddy any er um duh crow er der fix
+ehself topper eh roose, eh mek fuh de place an eat um up. Eh yent do,
+in dis wul, fuh man fuh ceive eh fren.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XVI.
+
+                          BUH LION AN BUH GOAT.
+
+Buh Lion bin a hunt, an eh spy Buh Goat duh leddown topper er big rock
+duh wuk eh mout an der chaw. Eh creep up fuh ketch um. Wen eh git close
+ter um eh notus um good. Buh Goat keep on chaw. Buh Lion try fuh fine
+out wuh Buh Goat duh eat. Eh yent see nuttne nigh um ceptin de nekked
+rock wuh eh duh leddown on. Buh Lion stonish. Eh wait topper Buh Goat.
+Buh Goat keep on chaw, an chaw, an chaw. Buh Lion cant mek de ting out,
+an eh come close, an eh say: “Hay! Buh Goat, wuh you duh eat?” Buh Goat
+skade wen Buh Lion rise up befo um, but eh keep er bole harte, an eh
+mek ansur: “Me duh chaw dis rock, an ef you dont leff, wen me done long
+um me guine eat you.” Dis big wud sabe Buh Goat. Bole man git outer
+diffikelty way coward man lose eh life.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XVII.
+
+                         BUH BEAR AN BUH TIGER.
+
+Buh Bear, him tired lib wid eh farruh an eh fambly, an eh tell eh
+farruh eh guine way fuh mek eh own libbin, an eh want um fuh gem
+wuhebber eh hab wuh cummin ter um from de fambly property. Eh farruh
+an eh murrer try fuh swade um fuh stay long dem, but eh say eh mek up
+eh mine fuh go. Den eh farruh tell um eh yent hab nuttne fuh gem cept
+sebbn loaf er bread. Buh Bear, him berry disappint; but wen eh see eh
+yent guine git nuttne mo, eh gree fuh tek um. Eh farruh tell um: “De
+man wuh eat any er dat bread long you will hab fuh rastle long you fuh
+sebbn year.” Buh Bear cahr eh bread, an gone der wood, an mek camp fuh
+ehself. Wen eh bin er eat de bread, Buh Tiger come long an bague um
+fuh some. Buh Bear say: “Buh Tiger, ef you eat any er dis yer bread,
+you haffer rastle long me fuh sebbn year.” Buh Tiger, him answer: “Me
+willin: me hongry; gimme de bread.” Den Buh Bear gen um some, an eh eat
+um. Befo dem part Buh Tiger tell Buh Bear way him house yiz, and gree
+fuh rastle long um de nex mornin. Buh Bear say: “Berry well: me guine
+come ter you house by de time de sun git up, an you will haffer rastle
+long me.”
+
+Soon a mornin Buh Bear gone ter Buh Tiger house an knock ter de do. Buh
+Tiger come out in er hurry, an dey graff hold er one anurrer. Buh Bear
+fling Buh Tiger; an befo eh leh um git up, eh box um side er de head.
+
+Nex day Buh Bear come gen same time, and Buh Tiger meet um, an dem
+rastle, an Buh Bear fling um an hit um side er de head, same place way
+eh bin knock um de day befo. Nex day same ting. Nex day same ting. Nex
+day same ting. De six mornin, wen Buh Bear knock ter Buh Tiger do, Buh
+Tiger yent come out. Eh sen eh wife fuh say eh bin berry sick. Buh Bear
+say eh mus come out. Eh wife tell um; an arter Buh Tiger fine out Buh
+Bear yent guine leff, eh come out. Eh head swell way Buh Bear bin a box
+um. Buh Tiger look bad. Buh Bear hole um gen an eh trow um berry easy,
+an den eh box um gen in de same ole place sider eh head, way eh bin a
+knock um befo, an wuh swell. Eh hot Buh Tiger so bad eh holler. De nex
+mornin, wen Buh Bear come, Buh Tiger bin in eh bed. Eh head tie up,
+an eh wife bin a nuss um. Eh couldnt rastle long Buh Bear no mo. Buh
+Bear, him shame um, an mek um leff eh house. Den Buh Bear mobe in an
+mek ehself satify.
+
+Buh Bear fine out dat de bread wuh eh farruh bin gen um, an wuh eh
+hardly bin want fuh tote long um, done um a heap er good, an git um er
+nice house fuh lib een.
+
+“Wenebber,” added old Daddy Smart, “you farruh gie you anyting, tek um,
+an tenky. You suttenly will fine out dat wuh eh gie you will do you no
+harm, but eh will fetch good luck ter you.”
+
+
+
+
+                                 XVIII.
+
+                       BUH MONKEY AN DE BULL-DOG.
+
+Ebry body cept Buh Monkey bin full er trouble. On ebry side you yeddy
+nuttne cept bout trouble. Trouble yuh, trouble day, trouble ebry way.
+Buh Monkey tell eh wife eh wonder wuh dis ting duh wuh ebry body bin a
+talk bout, an wuh dem all duh call trouble. Him say him cant tell. Den
+Buh Monkey mek up eh mine fuh go teh de Debble, an fine out from um. Eh
+gone. Eh ketch de Debble duh eat eh brukwus; an eh ax um huccum ebry
+body hab trouble cept him. An eh leh de Debble know say him wan fine
+out wuh dis ting duh wuh bin a bodder ebry body, an wuh ebry body call
+trouble. De Debble tell um fuh go een de kitchin an wait topper um, an
+wen eh done eh brukwus him will come out an mek um sensible bout dis
+ting wuh call trouble. Buh Monkey gone ter de kitchin, an tek one chair
+an mek ehself saterfy. Eh jaw duh run water, fuh eh tink ter ehself de
+Debble guine gem some nice brukwus. Eh wait day sich a lenk er time,
+an no brukwus come. Den de Debble come outer de big house duh fetch er
+bag een eh han. De bag done tie up. Eh gen de bag ter Buh Monkey, an
+eh tell um: “Trouble day een dis yer bag. You cahr um tel you git een
+de middle er de ole fiel, an den you open um, an you guine fine out wuh
+call trouble.” Big fiel bin all roun an roun de house. Not a tree nur
+a stump bin in dat fiel. Buh Monkey tek de bag. Eh hebby. Eh state fuh
+home duh tote um. Eh tired befo eh retch de middle er de fiel. Wen eh
+ketch de middle er de fiel, eh top, an eh onloose de bag. Bless God!
+out jump one Bull-Dog, an eh tek right arter Buh Monkey. Eh run. Eh
+run. Eh holler. Eh holler. De Dog day right arter um duh try fuh bite
+um. Wen Buh Monkey git ter de wood, eh state fuh clime de fus tree eh
+come teh. De Dog so close behine um eh snap at um an bite off eh tail.
+Buh Monkey leff eh tail een de dog mouf, an gone up de tree. Eh fine
+one crotch, an eh seddown duh pant an der cry. Eh skade so tell eh
+scacely kin keep eh seat. Eh tail duh bleed. De Dog sed down onder de
+tree, an watch um, an wait fur um fuh come down. Buh Monkey faid fuh
+come down. Ebry time dat Buh Monkey mek motion fuh come down, de Dog
+show eh teet an growl. Night come, and Buh Monkey, him day up de tree.
+Eh fine out fuh true wuh call trouble. Eh dat tired, an sore, an skade,
+eh dunno wuh fuh do. Bout middle der night de Dog hongry, an gone home
+fuh eat eh bittle. Buh Monkey slip down de tree an mek track fuh him
+house. Wen eh meet eh wife an chillun, an show um eh tail wuh bite off,
+an tell um wuh eh bin tru, dem all mek er great miration, an dem all
+conclude dem know nuff bout trouble, an yent want see um no mo. Bad
+plan fuh people fuh hunt trouble wen trouble yent der hunt dem.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XIX.
+
+                      BUH ELEPHANT AN BUH ROOSTER.
+
+Buh Elephant, him bin know Buh Rooster berry well. Dem blan roam
+togerrur, an Buh Rooster blan wake Buh Elephant duh mornin, so eh kin
+hunt eh bittle befo de jew dry.
+
+Dem bin a talk togerrur one day, an Buh Elephant, him bet Buh Rooster
+say him kin eat longer ner him. Buh Rooster, him tek de bet, an dem tun
+in nex mornin, wen de sun jis bin a git up, fuh see who guine win de
+bet. Buh Elephant, him gedder leaf an grass, an eat an eat tel eh full
+an cant eat no mo. Buh Rooster, him sarche de grass fuh seed an wurrum,
+an eh pick an eat. Wen Buh Elephant done full, an der tan onder de tree
+duh flop eh yez, eh see Buh Rooster, dist es spry, duh walk bout an der
+swaller seed an grasshopper an wurrum same luk eh dis biggin fuh eat.
+Buh Elephant gib up. Eh fine eh yent de man wid de bigges belly wuh kin
+eat de longes.
+
+
+
+
+                                   XX.
+
+                         DE PO MAN AN DE SNAKE.
+
+One po Man bin er mek eh libbin long split shingle an cut timber in
+de swamp. Him hab wife, but no chillun. Ebry day, from sunrise tel
+sundown, eh day in de swamp der cut. Try eh bes, eh scacely kin mek
+bread fuh eat.
+
+One berry big Snake--de farruh er all dem tarruh snake wuh lib in
+de swamp--notus de po man. Eh see how hard eh wuk an how little eh
+mek, and eh tek pity on um. One ebenin, dis befo de po man knock off
+wuk, dis snake crawl up ter de log way de man bin er chop, an eh say:
+“Budder, how you der mek out?” De man mek answer: “Me yent mek out wut.
+Me der wuk in dis swamp from sunrise tel dark, day een an day out, an
+try me bes, me scacely kin mek bittle nough fuh me an me wife fuh eat.”
+Den de snake, him say: “Me sorry fuh you, an me willin fuh help you.”
+De man tenk um, an ax um how eh guine help um. De snake say: “You got
+any chillun?” De man say: “No.” De snake quire: “You hab wife?” De man
+say: “Yes.” De snake say: “Kin you keep secret from you wife?” De man
+mek answer say eh kin. Buh Snake tell um eh faid fuh truss um; but wen
+de man bague de snake berry hard fuh try um, de snake gree fuh do so.
+Den de snake tell um eh guine gen um some money nex day, but eh mussne
+tell eh wife way eh git de money. De man mek strong prommus, and so dem
+part.
+
+De nex day, jis befo de po man done task, de snake crawl up. Eh belly
+an eh mouf puff out. Eh spit two quart er silber money on de groun dist
+in front er de po man, an eh say: “You member wuh me bin tell you las
+ebenin? Well, yuh some money me fotch fuh help you. Tek um, but member
+ef you tell you wife way you git um, er who gen um ter you, eh yent
+guine do you no good, an you guine dead a po man.” De man so glad fuh
+git de money eh say: “Tenky, tenky, tenky, me budder; me neber guine
+tell nobody way me git all dis money.” Arter eh leff de swamp fuh gone
+home, de snake spicion say eh bin guine go back on eh prommus an tell
+eh wife: so eh mek up eh mine fuh foller um an see wuh happne.
+
+Eh bin dark wen eh retch de man house. Eh crawl up, an eh leddown dist
+onder de winder, way him kin yeddy all de wud wuh talk in de house. De
+man wife bin a tun roun an der cook supper. Arter him an eh husbun done
+eat, eh husbun say: “Me bin hab big luck ter-day: looker dis money.”
+Den eh pull out de silber and spread um on de table. Eh wife stonish.
+Eh wife glad, an eh say: “Tell me way you bin git all dis money.” De
+man say: “Fren gen um ter me.” Eh wife say: “Wuh fren?” De man say him
+prommus no fuh tell. De wife say but eh mus tell um, an eh bague so
+hard tel de man done furgit eh prommus, an eh up an mek um sensible how
+de ting all happne. Den eh wife say: “Dat snake must hab eh belly full
+er silber money, an me tell you wuh you do ter-morruh. Wen de snake
+come fuh talk long you, you pick you chance an chop eh head off long
+you ax, an tek all de money outer um.” Eh husbun gree fur do dist is
+him say.
+
+Buh Snake, him yeddy ebry wud dem talk, an eh gone to him house in de
+swamp berry bex case de man wuh eh bin befren shouldder gone back on eh
+prommus and mek bad bargain fuh kill um.
+
+De nex day de man watch fuh de snake. Wen de sun duh lean fuh down, an
+de man bin a try fuh split one big log, Buh Snake crawl up long sider
+de log an show ehself ter de man. Dem talk togerrur; an de snake ax
+de man: “You bin show you wife de money wuh me bin gen you?” De man
+answer: “Yes, me yiz.” An den eh ax um: “You bin tell you wife way you
+bin git um?” De man say: “No.” De snake ax um gen: “You sho you no bin
+tell um you git um long me?” De man say: “Me tell you one time ready.
+Wuh mek you ax me dat questun gen? You tink me duh lie?” Wid dat, eh
+mek eh lick fuh chop de snake head off. De snake bin hab eh yeye on um,
+an eh draw back gin de log. De ax miss de snake, an glance back off de
+log an cut de man own leg off. De po man holler fuh somebody fuh come
+fuh help um. Eh day way in de swamp out er yearin, an noboddy yeddy.
+Wen eh duh bleed ter det, an dis befo eh dead, Buh Snake, him say ter
+um: “Enty me bin tell you, wen me gen you dat silber money, ef you tell
+you wife way you git um you guine dead one po man? You prommus me you
+guine keep de secret. Steader dat, you gone home ter you wife, an you
+show um de money, an you tell um way you git um. Mo na dat: you an him
+fix plan fuh kill me wuh bin you fren, an rob me outer wuh money me
+hab leff. Now you see de jedgment wuh come topper you. In try fuh chop
+me head off, you cut you own foot off. You gwine dead in dis yer wood.
+No man ner ooman gwine fine you. Buzzud gwine eat you.”
+
+Eh happne dis is de snake say. De man broke eh wud, an eh dead a po man.
+
+Anybody wuh gwine back on eh prommus, an try fuh harm de pusson wuh
+done um a faber, sho ter meet up wid big trouble.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXI.
+
+                LEELY GAL, BUH ALLIGATUR, AN DE JAY-BUD.
+
+A leely Gal bin a gwine home. Eh come ter de ribber bank, an no boat
+day fuh him fuh git cross. Eh dunno wuffer do. Eh seddown. Eh cry. Day
+binner gwine. Alligatur yeddy um, an eh come day, an eh ax de leely
+Gal wuh de matter. De leely Gal tell um. Den de Alligatur say: “Ef
+you prommus no fuh tell who cahr you ober de ribber, me will pit you
+cross.” De leely Gal prommus, an de Alligatur tek um on eh back and
+ferry um ober all safe.
+
+De nex day de Alligatur duh sun ehself on de ribber bank, an eh yeddy
+er woice say: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober. Yaller-belly
+Alligatur ferry me ober.” Eh listne. Eh tink say de leely Gal bin a
+talk, an dat eh bin broke eh prommus. Eh notus close, an wen eh yeddy
+de woice gen eh see er Blue-Jay bin er talk um een de tree. Dat same
+Blue-Jay bin day de ebenin befo, an bin er see an er yeddy all wuh
+happne, but de leely Gal an de Alligatur nebber bin know.
+
+De Jay-Bud keep a holler: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” De
+Alligatur call to de Jay-Bud, an eh quire: “Wudder dat you say?” An de
+Jay-Bud keep a sing: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” Alligatur,
+him say: “Me hard er yearin. Come close, so me kin yeddy you song.”
+De Bud fly down dist by Buh Alligatur, an eh sing gen: “Yaller-belly
+Alligatur ferry me ober.” Buh Alligatur yeddy um berry well, but eh so
+bex say de Bud done fine out, an der talk eh secret, dat eh want fuh
+kill um sho. So eh say gen: “Me tell you me deef; come close; set on me
+nose, so me kin yeddy wuh you duh sing.” De fool Bud come an light on
+eh nose, an eh holler gen: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” De
+wud yent leff eh mouf befo Buh Alligatur trow open him mouf an ketch
+um, an chaw de life outer um.
+
+Bad plan fur stranger fuh meddle long tarruh people bidness.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXII.
+
+                  DE CAT, DE RAT, DE CHEESE, AN DE FOX.
+
+De Cat an de Rat, dem fine one big piece er cheese een er closet. Dem
+cahr um way fuh share um. Dem cant gree how eh fuh dewide, an dem call
+een de Fox fuh jedge between um.
+
+De Fox, eh berry cunnin, an eh nebber furgit ehself. Eh bring eh
+scale, an eh pit de cheese een um. Den eh tek eh knife an eh cut off
+big piece, an eh pit um one side an eh say dis fuh de jedge. Den eh
+weigh de cheese gen een de scale, an eh tek um out an eh cut off narrur
+slice, an eh pit um one side an eh say dat fuh de jedge.
+
+By dis time eh done tek mo ner half de cheese. Wen eh pit de cheese
+back een de scale, an hole um up gen, Buh Cat an Buh Rat, dem bofe call
+out: “Hole on, Jedge! Dis ting wrong. You gwine tek all we cheese an
+leff we none.” Buh Fox, him berry bex, on eh gedder de cheese an eh
+fole up eh scale, an eh holler out: “Begone, you rogue. You lib pon
+tief, an you gwine tell me how fer do jestice? Good fuh you me only tek
+de cheese, an leh you go wid you life. Me great mine fuh kill you bofe.”
+
+Wid dat, Buh Cat an Buh Rat, dem leff, an Buh Fox, wuh bin de jedge,
+eat all de cheese.
+
+Wen tief git plunder, better fuh dem fuh share um mongst demself den
+trus ter call een bigger rogue fur dewide um.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXIII.
+
+                   BUH RABBIT AN DE TARRUH BEASTISES.
+
+All de animel conjunct togedder fuh buil house an gedder dem winter
+perwision. Buh Rabbit prommus fuh help, but wen dem call pon um fuh
+help tote de pole and de bresh, him mek scuse, say him wife berry sick
+and him bleege fuh tay home an nuss um. All dis bin a lie. Buh Rabbit,
+him scheemy an lazy. Eh always ready fuh mek big brag bout wuh him
+gwine do, but eh nebber does come up ter eh wud. Eh hate fuh wuk, an eh
+lub fuh lib offer tarruh people labuh.
+
+Wen de house done buil, de animel, dem fetch ebry man eh own perwision,
+an pack um way een eh own place way eh kin git um wen fros fall, an de
+grass done dead, an de tree done drap eh leaf an eh fruit. De Possum,
+him bring an pile up pussimmun. De Squirle fetch eh hickry not an eh
+acorn. De Deer, de Elephant, de Cow, dem gedder an pack way grass an
+leaf. De Lion and de Tiger an de Wolf an all dem animel wuh lib offer
+meat, dem ketch dem meat and dry um, an bring um an pit um way een
+de house. De Bud, dem bring dem seed an dem wurrum. De Cooter, him
+hab him corner too, an eh full um long him bittle. Wen ebry body done
+gedder eh perwision, dem shet de do an gone ter dem house fuh ten ter
+dem bidness an wait tel winter come, wen dem gwine lib offer wuh dem
+bin pit way. Buh Rabbit, him bin a dodge bout way nobody kin shum, duh
+notus wuh gwine on, an bin a mek eh plan.
+
+Soon es de house full, an de do shet, an ebry body leff, eh slip een de
+house an pit eh yeye on ebry ting, an mek up eh mine fuh lib topper wuh
+all dem people bin gedder. Eh fix one bed fur ehself. Eh gedder water
+in piggin an calabash fuh lass um, an den eh git two oncommon big horn,
+an eh gone eenside an fassen up de do, an mek ehself saterfy. Eh lib
+day, eh eat, eh sleep, eh pledjur ehself, an eh fine eh bittle right
+ter eh han. Dis wuh Buh Rabbit lub. Nuttne mek um so merry es to lib
+offer tarruh people.
+
+Fros fall, an de animel biggin fuh tink bout dem perwision wuh dem bin
+lay up een de house. Fus come de Deer, an eh try fuh open de do fuh
+git ter him pile er grass. De do fastne. Buh Deer couldnt mek out how
+dat. Eh knock ter de do. Eh knock. Eh knock. Bimeby Buh Rabbit--wuh
+bin a yeddy um all de time--tek eh horn, an eh talk tru um fuh mek er
+woice big, an eh say: “Wudduh dat?” Buh Deer, him sorter skittish, an
+eh faid fuh trus ehself, an de big woice kinder skade um, but eh mek
+out fuh answer: “Duh me, Buh Deer.” Den Buh Rabbit talk tru eh horn:
+“Wuh you want yuh, anyhow?” Buh Deer answer: “Me want fuh come een fuh
+git me bittle wuh me bin pit way fuh me fuh eat der winter.” Buh Rabbit
+answer loud tru eh horn: “You cant come een.” Buh Deer quire: “Who you
+day eenside?” Den Buh Rabbit tek eh biggis horn, an eh holler tru um so
+loud eh mek de house shake: “Better man den ebber bin yuh befo.”
+
+De woice so sewere Buh Deer skade, an eh leff, an eh gone tell all
+dem tarruh animel say big Sperit gone tek de house way dem perwision
+done gedder. De animel stonish, an dem all conclude fuh go een gang
+ter de house an fine out wuh de ting yiz. Wen dem all gedder, dem
+tell de Lion--wuh bin de king beast--fuh quire bout who day eenside.
+Buh Lion, him gone ter de do. All de beastises tan roun fuh yeddy wuh
+gwine happne. Buh Lion knock. No answer. Eh knock gen. No answer. Den
+eh say: “Who duh dat day een yuh?” Buh Rabbit graff eh big horn, an
+eh answer back tru um wid all eh strenk: “Better man den ebber bin yuh
+befo.” De woice soun so outlandish, an eh come wid sich er big noise,
+de beastises all conclude wuh Buh Deer bin tell dem bin so, an dat de
+Sperit, him bin tek persession er de house. Dem faid fuh bus een de do,
+an dem all gree fuh leff. Dem did leff, an dem yent fine out tel dis
+day dat eh been Buh Rabbit wuh fool um, an dat no Sperit bin day none
+tall.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXIV.
+
+                   BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE BUTTER.
+
+Buh Wolf, him hire Buh Rabbit fuh help um wuk eh crap. Eh crap, eh day
+een de grass, an Buh Wolf faid eh gwine loss um. Befo dem state der
+fiel, Buh Rabbit notus say Buh Wolf hab een him house er nice pan er
+fresh butter. Eh mout water fuh git some, but eh shame fuh bague Buh
+Wolf. Buh Rabbit, him berry lub fuh tief, an eh mek eh plan fuh git
+some er dat butter.
+
+Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit done gone der fiel an tun een fuh wuk. De sun
+hot, an befo long Buh Rabbit biggin fuh drap behine. Den all ob er
+sutten eh trow down eh hoe, an eh look way off, an eh cock up eh yez,
+an eh holler out: “Me yeddy you. Me duh comin.” Buh Wolf, him tun roun,
+an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, wuh you duh do? You mus be der tun fool. Nobody
+duh call you.” Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Somebody yiz bin er call
+me, an me know who dem yiz, an wuffer dem duh call me. Enty you sabe me
+duh preacher? Well, me prommus fuh bactize er chile dis berry hour, an
+me mus go fuh keep me pintment.” “Berry well,” answer Buh Wolf, “dont
+you loss no time, fuh dis crap want wuk berry bad.”
+
+Buh Rabbit hop off luk eh bin gwine in anarruh direction from dat
+wuh lead to Buh Wolf house. Wen eh git een de wood, eh slip roun
+onbeknowinst ter Buh Wolf, an gone een him house an eat hebby outer de
+pan er butter. Eh wipe eh mouf, an eh sukkle back tell eh git ter de
+place een de fiel way eh bin leff eh hoe. Eh seem berry merry, an wen
+Buh Wolf ax um ef he done bactize de chile, eh say yes. Den Buh Wolf ax
+um wuh dem bin name de chile, an Buh Rabbit tell um say dem bin call um
+_Fus Biginnin_.
+
+Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit wuk on. Dem binner hoe tetter. De butter sweeten
+Buh Rabbit. Him couldnt stop from tink topper um. Eh biggin fuh want
+mo. De mo eh study bout um de slower eh wuk. Buh Wolf call ter um an
+tell um fuh hurry. Buh Rabbit mek answer an say eh yiz duh hurry.
+Bless you soul! een a little while Buh Rabbit, him drap eh hoe an eh
+holler out: “You right; me bin mose furgit; me comin right off.” Buh
+Wolf, him stonish, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, you must be loss you sense;
+who you duh holler teh? Nobody duh call you.” Buh Rabbit mek answer:
+“Somebody yiz bin a call me. Enty you yeddy um?” Buh Wolf say: “No, me
+no yeddy.” Den Buh Rabbit up an tell um say eh hab gagement fur bactize
+nurrur chile at dis berry hour, an eh mose bin furgit bout um tell
+eh murrer an eh farruh holler ter um outer de wood an member um. Buh
+Wolf mek jection gainst Buh Rabbit gwine, but wen Buh Rabbit tell um
+de chile gwine loss ef eh no git bactize, Buh Wolf lem go. Buh Rabbit
+do dist iz eh bin done befo. Eh gone een Buh Wolf house, eh tek down
+de pan gen, an eh eat mona half de butter. Wen eh ketch de fiel, Buh
+Wolf ax um ef eh done bactize tarruh chile, an eh answer eh yiz. Buh
+Wolf say: “Duh him duh gal er boy?” Buh Rabbit mek answer say: “Him duh
+gal.” “Wuh eh name?” questun Buh Wolf. “_Half-way_,” answer Buh Rabbit.
+
+Dem wuk on tel de sun biggin fuh lean een de wes. Buh Rabbit still duh
+study bout dat butter. Eh yent willin fuh go ter eh home an leff any
+behine. So een de tree hour eh pit eh han up ter eh yez an eh listne.
+Den eh holler out de turd time, an eh say: “Go on, me duh comin.” Buh
+Wolf ax um. “Way you duh gwine now? Enty you done bactize chillun?” Buh
+Rabbit tell um eh hab one mo fuh bactize befo sun down, but eh wunt
+tek um long becase eh lib close by. Den Buh Rabbit slip roun ter Buh
+Wolf house an clean up de las er de butter. Eh yent leff one grain een
+de pan.
+
+Wen eh git back Buh Wolf say: “You bactize dat chillun een er hurry;
+wuh eh name?” Buh Rabbit up an tell um say eh name _Scrapin er de
+bottom_. Buh Wolf, him nebber bin spicion wuh Buh Rabbit bin up teh. De
+time come fuh knock off wuk, an wen Buh Wolf want fuh dock Buh Rabbit
+fuh de time eh loss wen eh bin gone fuh bactize dem tree chillun, Buh
+Rabbit plead so harde case him bin preacher, dat Buh Wolf, him furgib
+um an pay um eh full wager. Den eh inwite Buh Rabbit fuh come long um
+an tek supper wid um. But Buh Rabbit scuse ehself, an light out fer him
+house, an leff Buh Wolf een de fiel. Buh Rabbit berry scheemy. Eh know
+say ef eh did bin gone home wid Buh Wolf eh would er see eh track, an
+fine out who eat eh butter, an dat eh would er lick um.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXV.
+
+                         DE EAGLE AN EH CHILLUN.
+
+De Eagle, him duh er wise bud. Eh mek eh nes on one tall pine tree
+close de ribber, er de sea, way nuttne kin git at um. Eh saterfy wid
+two chillun. Eh tek good care er um. Ebry hour eh fetch um snake an
+fish, an eh garde um from win an rain an fowl-hawk, an mek um grow fas.
+Wen eh wing kibber wid fedder an eh strong nough fur fly, wuh Buh Eagle
+do? Eh wunt leff dem chillun een de nes fuh lazy an lib pon topper eh
+farruh an eh murrer, but eh tek um on eh wing, an eh sail ober de sea,
+an eh tell eh chillun: “De time come fuh you fuh mek you own libbin.
+Me feed you long nough. Now you haffer look out fuh youself.” Wid dat,
+eh fly from onder dem, an de noung bud, wen eh fine out eh murrer yent
+gwine cahr um no furder, an dat dem haffer shif fuh demself, dem try eh
+wing an sail off een de element duh hunt bittle.
+
+People orter tek notus er Buh Eagle an do jes es him do. Wen you
+chillun git big nough fuh wuk, mek um wuk. Dont leh um set bout de
+house duh do nuttne, an duh spek eh farruh an eh murrer fuh fine bittle
+an cloze fuh um. Ef you does, you chillun gwine mek you shame, an eh
+will tun out berry triflin. Eh will keep you dead po, too.
+
+Do same luk Buh Eagle. Mine you chillun well wen dem leetle; an soon es
+dem big nough fuh wuk, mek um wuk.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXVI.
+
+                   CHANTICLEER AN DE BAN-YAD ROOSTER.
+
+You nebber bin see er finer bud den Buh Chanticleer. Eh fedder eh
+glisten same luk silber een de sun. Eh step so high, an eh yent faid
+nuttne. Wen eh crow you could yeddy um all tru de settlement. De hen
+all lub um, an run ter um wenebber him call. Eh can lick all dem tarruh
+rooster; an jist es soon es eh mek motion at dem, dem run.
+
+Befo eh bin fine um out fuh true, day bin er big yaller Rooster een
+de gang wuh try fuh spute Buh Chanticleer, an mek eh brag say eh kin
+lick um. Dem fight. De big yaller Rooster couldnt tan up befo Buh
+Chanticleer. Eh gaff um, eh pick um een eh back, eh knock um ober, an
+eh run um out de yad.
+
+Arter dat, de yaller Rooster faid fuh come nigh Buh Chanticleer. Eh run
+ebry time eh see Buh Chanticleer duh walk towuds um, but eh hab a way
+fuh debble Buh Chanticleer. Eh go way off, an ebry time eh yeddy Buh
+Chanticleer flap eh wing an crow, him do de same. Soon a mornin wen Buh
+Chanticleer crow fuh day, de big yaller Rooster, him crow too. De ting
+bodder Buh Chanticleer, an eh want fuh kill um. Eh try hard fuh fine
+out way eh roose. One day one er de hen wuh blanks ter Buh Chanticleer
+fambly mek um sensible jist way de yaller Rooster blan roose. Den Buh
+Chanticleer, him sen fuh Buh Fox. Eh come, an Buh Chanticleer ax um
+say: “You want one fat Rooster fuh eat?” Buh Fox, him answer: “Yes, me
+berry glad fuh git um, an heap er tenky ter you too.”
+
+Den Buh Chanticleer tell um fuh come de fus moon-shiny night, an him
+will show um way eh kin git a good supper. Buh Fox happy, an eh prommus
+fuh come. Eh did come de fus moon-shiny night, an Buh Chanticleer gone
+long um an pint out de big yaller Rooster duh sleep een one low cedar
+tree. Buh Fox creep up easy, an graff um an eat um. Wen eh done eat um,
+an eh duh lick eh mout, Buh Chanticleer ax um: “How you luk um?” Buh
+Fox mek answer: “Me luk um berry well. Eh bin fat. Eh meat sweet. Me
+luk um summuch me want mo.” Wid dat, an befo Buh Chanticleer kin mek
+out wuh eh tend fuh do, eh jump pon topper Buh Chanticleer, an mash um
+ter det, an eat um up.
+
+Wen you want somebody fuh do you sarbis, call pon you fren, but dont
+trus you eenemy fuh done um.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXVII.
+
+                      BUH RABBIT AN DE GROUN-MOLE.
+
+Day nebber bin a man wuh kin equel Buh Rabbit fuh mek plan fuh lib
+offer tarruh people bedout wuk isself. Groun-mole, bin berry tick. On
+ebry side dem bin er root up de tetter patch, and stroy pinder. Nobody
+know how fuh ketch um, case eh wuk onder de groun, an wen you go fuh
+fine um eh yent dedday.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him see eh chance, an eh tell ebry body him know how fuh
+stroy um. De ting come ter Buh Wolf yez, an eh sen fuh Buh Rabbit. Buh
+Rabbit gone ter Buh Wolf, an eh tell um yes, him hab plan fuh clear
+de fiel er Groun-mole, an dat him wunt charge Buh Wolf nuttne but him
+board an lodgment wile him duh ketch an kill de Groun-mole. Buh Wolf,
+him say Buh Rabbit berry kine, an eh gree fuh fine um. Den Buh Wolf hab
+one nice bed mek up fuh Buh Rabbit, an eh tell eh wife fuh feed um well.
+
+Buh Wolf hab some bidness wuh call um way from home, an eh spec fuh
+gone bout one week. Eh leff Buh Rabbit fuh clean de Groun-mole outer eh
+fiel, an den eh gone. Buh Rabbit, him well saterfy. Ebry mornin, arter
+brukwus, eh mobe off luk eh bin gwine ter Buh Wolf fiel, an nobody shum
+tel dinner time. Arter eh done eat er hebby dinner, eh gone gen tel
+supper time, wen eh come back an eat er hebby supper, an den eh leddown
+der bed.
+
+Nobody kin see any Groun-mole wuh Buh Rabbit der ketch, but eh tell
+Buh Wolf wife dat eh bin er kill heap er dem ebry day, an dat eh gwine
+soon clear de fiel. De ting gone on dis way tel Buh Wolf tun home. Wen
+eh retch eh house eh quire bout Buh Rabbit, an eh wife tell um wuh Buh
+Rabbit bin er say an er do, an dat Buh Rabbit gone der fiel dist arter
+brukwus. Buh Wolf say him gwine see fuh ehself wuh Buh Rabbit duh do,
+an wuh plan eh fix fuh ketch de Groun-mole.
+
+Wen eh git der fiel eh look up an down, an eh yent see no sign er Buh
+Rabbit. Eh notus eh crap, an de Groun-mole duh eat um wus den nebber.
+Eh sarche fuh Buh Rabbit track, an eh cant shum no way. Buh Wolf mek up
+eh mine dat Buh Rabbit yent do de fus ting een de fiel. De sun hot. Buh
+Wolf gone een de edge er de wood, an day eh come pon topper Buh Rabbit
+tretch out een er bed wuh eh bin mek outer pine straw onder one tree,
+fas tersleep. Eh yent bin study bout Buh Wolf, er de Groun-mole wuh bin
+er bodder de fiel. Buh Wolf slip up, an eh graff um tight. Buh Rabbit
+so skade eh furgit fuh lie, an Buh Wolf mek um confess eh yent know how
+fuh ketch Groun-mole, dat eh nebber did kill none, an dat eh bin lib
+offer Buh Wolf bittle ebber sence eh leff.
+
+Buh Wolf, him so bex eh git grape wine an eh tie Buh Rabbit han an
+foot, an eh lick um tel eh tired. All dis time Buh Rabbit bin eh holler
+an er bague. At lenk Buh Wolf loose um, an run um offer de place.
+
+Eh yent offen Buh Rabbit ketch at him trick, but eh meet eh match dis
+time.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXVIII.
+
+                       BUH RABBIT AN DE ROCK-SOUP.
+
+Anurrer way Buh Rabbit hab fuh mek eh libbin bedout wuk bin dis. Eh hab
+een eh pocket er pooty, smoode rock, bout de size ob er tukrey agg. Wid
+dem people wuh no quaintun wid um eh pass ehself off fuh er fus-class
+cook, an eh tell um say eh hab one rock wuh mek pruppus fuh gie soup de
+bes tase; an dat de soup wuh mek long dat rock sweeter den all edder
+soup.
+
+Eh gone ter Buh Bear house, an Buh Bear hearky ter um, an gage um fuh
+mek some soup long eh rock. Buh Rabbit pit on de pot, an eh bile water
+een um long de stone. Den eh call fuh meat, an wegetable, an all kind
+er seaznin, an eh stir um an eh cook um all togerrur, an eh did mek er
+nice soup. Eh fool Buh Bear, an eh mek um bliebe say eh bin de rock
+wuh gib sich er rich flaber ter de soup, wen de fac bin say de rock
+yent hab nuttne fuh do long um, but de tarruh ting wuh gone een de pot,
+dem duh de ting wuh mek de soup. Buh Rabbit git big dinner at Buh Bear
+house dat day.
+
+Anurrer time, wen eh bin berry hongry, eh gone ter Buh Cooter house, an
+eh fool um same fashion, an eh git er hebby dinner day too.
+
+Eh do dis way fuh some time, guine from house teh house.
+
+At lenk eh miss an gone ter Buh Fox house, an tell um bout eh
+rock-soup. Buh Fox, him no fool. Him duh er smate man, an eh see tru de
+ting right off. But eh yent leh Buh Rabbit see dat eh spicion anyting,
+an eh tell um fuh go head an mek eh soup. Eh han out wuhebber Buh
+Rabbit call fuh, an eh wait topper um tel de soup done. Den eh tase um,
+an wen eh fine eh tase same luk any edder soup mek long de ting wuh eh
+han Buh Rabbit fuh pit een de pot, eh tek Buh Rabbit rock, an eh trow
+um down de well, an eh cuss Buh Rabbit fur er swindler, an mek um shame
+befo all eh fambly, an mek um leff.
+
+Buh Rabbit an Buh Fox, bofe er dem berry cunnin, but dis time Buh Fox
+him cunnin moner Buh Rabbit.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXIX.
+
+                         DE TWO FREN AN DE BEAR.
+
+Two fren, dem bin a mek one journey togerruh. Dem haffer go tru one
+tick swamp wuh full er bear an edder warmint. Dem prommus fuh tan ter
+one anurrer, an help one anurrer out ef de warmint should tack dem. Dem
+yent bin git half way tru de swamp wen one big black Bear jump outer de
+bush an mek fur dem. Steader one er dem tan fur help fight um, eh leff
+eh fren an clime one tree. De tarruh fren bin yeddy say Bear no gwine
+eat dead people, so him leddown on de groun, an hole eh bref, an shet
+eh yeye, an mek out say him bin dead. De Bear come up ter um, an smell
+um, an tun um ober, an try fuh ketch eh bref. Wen eh fine eh cant ketch
+eh bref, eh gone off leely way an eh watch um. Den eh tun back an smell
+um gen, an notus um close. At lenk eh mek up eh mine say de man bin
+dead fuh true; an wid dat eh leff um fuh good an gone back der wood.
+All dis time de tarruh fren duh squinch ehself up een de tree duh watch
+wuh bin gwine on. Eh dat skade eh wunt do nuttne fuh help eh fren, er
+try fuh run de Bear off.
+
+Wen eh fine de Bear done gone fuh sho, eh holler ter him fren say:
+“Wuh de Bear bin tell you? Him an you seem luk you bin hab close
+combersation.” Den eh fren mek answer: “Eh bin tell me nebber fuh trus
+nobody wuh call ehself fren, an wuh gwine run luk er coward soon es
+trouble come.”
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXX.
+
+                           DE OLE MAN AN DET.
+
+One Ole Man bin berry tired long wuk. Him want fuh stop an tek eh
+pledjur all day een him house. Eh bex long de Buckra wuh gie um task,
+an mek um ten ter um. Eh constant duh pray, so people kin yeddy um, dat
+Det would come an cahr way eh Mossa, an eh Mistis, an de Obersheer.
+De Obersheer him yeddy wuh de Ole Man bin a pray fuh, an eh tell de
+Mossa, an dem fix plan fuh hab fun long de Ole Man. Wen night come, an
+ebryting on de plantation done gone bed, de Mossa, him tek one long
+white gown wuh ketch down ter eh foot, an eh pit um on, an eh gone ter
+de Ole Man house. Eh push de do open, an day bin de Ole Man duh siddown
+on eh bench duh nod by de fire. De Ole Man yeddy say some body come
+ter him do, an wen eh tun roun fuh look, eh see one tall somebody all
+wrop up head an yez een white. Eh git skade, an tink duh Sperit. Eh
+quire: “Who duh dat?” De Sperit, wuh bin de Mossa dress up een de white
+gown wuh kibber um all ober, mek answer way down een him troat: “Duh
+me, Det, wuh you bin a pray fuh.” Den de Ole Man say: “You come fuh
+Mossa?” De Sperit shake eh head. Eh say gen: “You come fuh Mistis?” De
+Sperit shake eh head gen. De Ole Man quire gen: “Den you musser come
+fuh de Obersheer?” De Sperit shake eh head gen. De Ole Man rale skade
+now, an eh study fuh leely while, an den eh questun gen: “Ef you no
+come fuh Mossa, ner Mistis, ner de Obersheer, who de Debbie you come
+fuh?” Den de Sperit, eh bow eh head low an eh mek answer: “Me come fuh
+you.” De Ole Man hair rise. Eh git up. Eh bus tru de back do. Eh run
+tru de gaden, an eh mek fuh de wood. Nobody yent shum tel arter brukwus
+next mornin, an den eh tell ebry body say Det bin come fur um last
+night, but dat him bin dodge um. Arter dat nobody ebber yeddy um mek no
+mo prayer bout Det.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXXI.
+
+                           DE KING AN EH RING.
+
+One time dere was a King wuh bin done git marry, an eh bin hab one fine
+Ring wuh him bin call eh gagement Ring. Dat King, him bin hab tree
+serbant wuh wait bout him table, an clean him shoes, an do wuhebber
+him want um fuh do. Dem bin tek tun een clean de shoes. One clean um
+one mornin, anurrur one clean um nex mornin, an de edder one clean um
+de nex. One er dem serbant tief de King Ring. De King try fuh fine out
+which one er de tree bin tek um, an eh fail. Dem wunt tell topper one
+anurrur, an de ting bodder de King berry bad. Eh faid say ef eh cant
+git back eh gagement Ring all eh good luck gwine leff um. Eh call een
+eh fren an wise man fuh help um pint out de tief an fine dat Ring, an
+dem cant.
+
+One day de King notus er strange man duh walk bout him gaden, an eh
+sen an hab um brung ter um. Wen eh questun um, de man tell um say him
+bin a po man, an dat eh mek eh libbin by cunjur. De King tell um eh
+bin dis de man eh duh hunt fur, an eh want um fuh fine eh Ring. Eh mek
+um quaintun bout wen de Ring tuk, an who eh tink tief um; an eh say
+eh gwine gie um fibe day time fuh pint out de man wuh bin tek de Ring,
+an mek um tun um. Mo na dat, eh prommus um big money ef eh git back de
+Ring widin de fibe day; but eh treaten um fuh kill um ef eh fail fuh
+fine um eenside dat time. Eh charge eh serbant fuh tek good care er de
+conjur man, an feed um high.
+
+De rale name er dis cunjur man bin _Robin_, but him yent bin gib dis
+name ter de King.
+
+De cunjur man try fuh fine out de tief, but eh miss. Four day gone,
+an de Ring yent fine. De cunjur man, him berry sad, an eh faid say eh
+gwine fail, an de King gwine tek eh head off.
+
+De mornin ob de fibe day de King git up soon, an pledjur ehself by
+tek er walk een eh gaden. Wile eh duh tan onder one berry tree, one
+robin-red-bres, wuh bin er eat de berry, choke an fall der groun. De
+King pick um up, an eh dead in eh han. Den eh tek um, an wrop um up
+een eh henkerchef, an pit um een eh hat. Eh sen fuh de cunjur man, an
+eh tell um eh time mose out, an dat ef eh no fine de Ring by sundown
+eh gwine kill um. Eh say ter um, moöber, dat eh doubt um, an dat eh
+yent bliebe eh kin cunjur none tall; dat ef eh kin cunjur eh mus tell
+um right off wuh eh got een him hat. De cunjur man so skade eh yent say
+nuttne cept pity ehself, an say: “Po Robin! Po Robin!” De King tek um
+say eh bin mean de bud, an eh confidance rise, an eh mek answer: “You
+right, me yiz hab one robin een me hat; an becase you tell true, me
+gwine gie you six day mo fuh fine out who tief de Ring.” De cunjur man
+rale glad, an de ting mek de King an all eh fren an de serbant bliebe
+say eh kin cunjur fur true. De tree serbant wuh bin een cohoot fuh tief
+de Ring, an wuh bin know all bout um, biggin fuh faid say dem bin gwine
+fuh git fine out.
+
+De nex mornin, wen one er dem serbant come down wid de King shoes, de
+cunjur man pint eh finger at um an eh say: “You duh one er de tief.” De
+man look condemn, but eh mek answer, say: “Him yent.” De nex mornin wen
+de tarrur serbant fetch de King shoes down fuh clean um, de cunjur man
+pint him finger at um an eh say: “You duh nudder one er dem tief.” De
+man rale skade, but eh schway say him yent know nuttne bout de Ring. De
+nex mornin wen de edder serbant duh clean de King shoes, de cunjur man
+gone up ter um an pint eh finger right een eh face, an eh say: “You duh
+de tird man wuh know bout dis Ring an help fuh tief um.” De man yeye
+fall, but him wouldnt confess.
+
+Dat same ebenin all tree dem serbant, dem come ter de cunjur man an
+fetch de Ring, an confess say dem been tek um, an dem bague de cunjur
+man fuh fix plan fuh clear dem. Him so glad him git de Ring him prommus
+fuh do dist as dem say. So eh tell dem fuh fetch one big tukrey-gobbler
+ter um. Dem gone an ketch de biggis een de gang, an brung um ter de
+cunjur man. Eh tek de Ring an eh mix um long cornflour, an eh poke em
+een de tukrey-gobbler craw. Den eh mark de bud so him kin know um gen,
+an eh tun um loose.
+
+De cunjur man, him gone right off ter de King, an eh tell um say him
+kin pint out way de Ring day. De King, him berry glad, an eh collec all
+him fren fuh see de cunjur man pint out de Ring. Wen dem all gedder,
+de conjur man, him ax de King fuh hab all him tukrey dribe befo um. De
+King him do so, an as de tukrey bin er walk pass, de conjur man pint
+out one big tukrey-gobbler an tell de King say him hab de Ring een
+him craw. Wid dat, de King mek one er him serbant ketch de gobbler an
+rip open eh craw, an day, sho nuff, was de Ring. De King, him bin so
+rejoice eh gib high praise ter de cunjur man, an eh gie um big money,
+an mek um rich. De tree serbant too, wuh bin de tief, dem so happy
+cause de cunjur man yent spose dem ter de King dat dem mek present ter
+um too, an bin eh fren all dem life.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXXII.
+
+             BUH LION, BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN BUH ROCCOON.
+
+Buh Lion, him bin keep er bank. Een dat bank him hab chicken, en
+hog, en sheep. Buh Fox, him marry ter Buh Coon darter. Buh Fox
+farruh-een-law, him bin er rogue. Buh Coon an Buh Rabbit mek er plan
+fuh rob Buh Lion bank, an dem usen fuh tek ting outer um ebry now en
+den, an nobody kin fine out who duh de tief. Buh Fox, Buh Rabbit, an
+Buh Coon, dem day fas fren, an dem constant keep compny. Buh Rabbit him
+tell Buh Lion, say him know de man wuh duh rob him bank, but eh yent
+want talk eh name, an eh vise Buh Lion fuh set steel trap fuh ketch
+de tief. Buh Lion do es him say, an de nex night, wen Buh Coon, Buh
+Fox, an Buh Rabbit gone fuh rob de bank gen, Buh Coon, him walk topper
+de trap an eh ketch um by eh foot. De ting broke Buh Coon leg, an eh
+hot um berry bad, but eh faid fuh holler, case, ef eh did holler, eh
+know Buh Lion gwine run day an kill um. So eh leddown an moan, an beg
+eh fren fuh help um. Buh Fox an Buh Rabbit, dem study ober de ting,
+an dem mek up dem mine say ef Buh Lion fine Buh Coon een de trap, eh
+not only gwine kill Buh Coon, but eh will sen an kill all eh fambly.
+Den dem conclude dat de bes ting fuh do bin dat Buh Fox--wuh bin him
+son-een-law--mus tek one swode an chop Buh Coon head off an bury um,
+an dat eh skin Buh Coon an bury eh hide an eh cloze, an leff Buh Coon
+nekked een de trap, so nobody kin tell who bin ketch.
+
+Buh Fox, him do es dem gree. De nex mornin wen Buh Lion zamine eh trap,
+eh fine de tief done ketch. Eh call een eh fren fuh consult, but es de
+body done strip, an eh head done cut off an gone, nobody could mek up
+eh mine who de tief bin. Buh Lion, him say him gwine fine out who de
+tief yiz, an who de man wuh cut eh head off an skin um.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him come up bout dis time, an him swade Buh Lion fuh sen
+fuh one cart, an pit de dead body een um, an leh one er eh han heng
+ober one side er de cart, an gedder him soldier an pit one gang on de
+leff han side an de tarruh gang on de right han side, an mek de music
+go befo, an leh dem all march down de middle er de street een Buh Lion
+town all de lenk er de street; an ef de soldier yeddy anybody duh
+scream an duh cry een any one er de house, den de soldier mus go ter
+dat house an kill ebry body wuh lib day, case dat mus be de fambly er
+de tief. Buh Lion, him well please, an him gie order, an hab de ting
+done jes es Buh Rabbit bin plan.
+
+Wen de compny bin er march wid de dead body er de tief een de cart, jes
+es dem come befo de do er de house way Buh Fox lib, wuh bin marry Buh
+Roccoon darter, him wife bin er look outer de winder, an eh see eh pa
+han duh heng ober de side er de cart, an eh know um, an eh holler an
+scream an fall down an faint way. Den de soldier wuh bin on de right
+han side er de cart, dem run ter de house way dem yeddy de screamin an
+de hollerin, an dem bus een de do an gone een fuh kill de whole fambly.
+Buh Fox, wen eh see wuh happne, tek one knife an eh cut off one er him
+finger, an eh run to de do, an eh meet de soldier, an eh show um eh
+han der bleed, an eh tell um say eh bin dis loose one er eh finger, an
+eh wife dat scade wen eh see wuh happne ter um, dat eh holler an faint
+way. So Buh Fox fool de soldier, an dem gone back an jine de compny
+an march on. Dat night dem camp een de en er de street, an halfer de
+soldier bin on one side de cart, an tarruh half bin on tarruh side duh
+guade de body er de tief wuh head cut off.
+
+Wen Buh Fox wife come teh, eh spicion say Buh Fox bin know who kill
+eh pa,--wuh bin Buh Roccoon,--an eh tell eh husbun, Buh Fox, say ef
+eh dont git eh pa body an bring um ter um dat berry night, eh gwine
+tell Buh Lion him bliebe de one wuh cut eh farruh--Buh Coon--head off
+an hide um, duh eh own husbun,--Buh Fox. Buh Fox tell um say him yent
+know nuttne bout de ting, an eh try fuh swade um no fuh go nigh Buh
+Lion. Wen eh fine eh wife mine done mek up, an no way fuh him fuh git
+out cept fuh fetch Buh Coon body ter eh wife, eh gone ter Buh Rabbit
+fuh vise um an fuh help um. Buh Rabbit, him yeddy all wuh Buh Fox hab
+fuh say, an den eh say: “Me tell you wuh you do. To-night gwine cole.
+Dem soldier duh camp der street, an dem yent hab no fire. Dem berry lub
+rum. Bout middle night you tek you horse an you paint one side er um
+white, an de tarruh side er um black. You cahr two jug er rum, an you
+ride ter de camp, an you gie one jug ter de gang er soldier wuh day on
+de right, an de edder jug ter de tarruh gang wuh day on de leff, an wen
+dem drunk you kin tek Buh Coon body outer de cart an cahr um home.”
+
+Buh Fox, him wrop him head an yez up so nobody kin know um, an eh paint
+eh horse one side white an tarruh side black, an eh tek eh two jug er
+rum an eh ride ter de camp, an eh do dis es Buh Rabbit bin tell um fuh
+do. De soldier, dem berry glad fuh git de rum. Dem tink two man fetch
+um,--one duh ride er white horse, an de edder duh ride er black horse.
+Dem drink tell dem drunk, an den Buh Fox slip way wid Buh Coon body
+ter eh wife house, an him an eh wife bury um een de gaden same night
+onbeknowinst ter ebry body.
+
+De nex mornin wen de soldier wake up, de cart day day, but de body
+done gone. De soldier wuh camp on de leff, dem say de man wuh ride on
+er white horse mus er tief um; an de soldier wuh camp on de right, dem
+say de man wuh ride on er black horse him mus er tief um. So Buh Fox
+cuhfuse dem two gang er soldier, an dem nebber did fine um out.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him scheemy mona all dem tarruh cretur. Him do all dis, an
+yet him stay fren wid Buh Lion, Buh Fox, an wid Buh Coon fambly.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXXIII.
+
+                   BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE PORPUS.
+
+Ebber sence dat time wen Buh Wolf ketch Buh Rabbit duh tief water outer
+him spring, an eh bin tie um ter de spakleberry bush an lick um, Buh
+Rabbit hate Buh Wolf an mek plan fuh git eben wid um.
+
+Dem all two lub fish. Buh Rabbit an Buh Porpus bin good fren, an many
+er time Buh Porpus blan gie Buh Rabbit some er de fish wuh him der
+ketch. One day, Buh Porpus, him bin berry lucky een eh fishin, an eh
+fetch fuh Buh Rabbit mo ner two quart er gannet mullet, and blow um on
+de bank way Buh Rabbit kin git um dout wet eh foot. Buh Rabbit, him
+tell um heap er tenky, an eh cahr um ter him house. Befo eh part compny
+wid Buh Porpus, eh tell um how Buh Wolf bin ketch um an tie um an lick
+um, how eh bex long Buh Wolf, an how eh want Buh Porpus fuh help um fuh
+punish Buh Wolf. Den dem mek plan lucker dis: Buh Porpus bin fuh come
+back ter de same place nex day an leh Buh Rabbit tie grapewine roun um,
+so Buh Wolf kin pull um outer de water fuh eat um. Wen Buh Wolf tek eh
+holt fuh pull Buh Porpus outer de water, den Buh Porpus wus teh mek
+eh flut an juk Buh Wolf een de ribber an drown um. So dey gree, an Buh
+Rabbit gone home long eh fish.
+
+Wen eh git ter eh house eh sen one er him gal to Buh Wolf house fuh
+tell um him hab some nice fish, an ter eenwite Buh Wolf an him fambly
+fuh tek brukwus long um nex mornin. Buh Wolf, him well please, an eh
+say him an eh fambly gwine come wid pledjur.
+
+Dem did come. De fish sweet. Buh Wolf, him an eh wife an eh chillun joy
+um berry much. Buh Wolf ax Buh Rabbit way eh git de fish, an Buh Rabbit
+tell um say him fren, Buh Porpus, blan ketch um fur um, an dat him hab
+er pintment dat berry day wid Buh Porpus. Buh Wolf bague Buh Rabbit fuh
+leh him go long too, an see ef him couldnt mek rangement wid Buh Porpus
+fuh fine him een fish. Buh Rabbit say him willin; so dem finish brukwus
+an gone fuh meet Buh Porpus.
+
+Es dem duh gwine Buh Rabbit tell Buh Wolf say Porpus meat berry nice,
+an eh tink mebbe dem kin ketch Buh Porpus an eat um. Buh Wolf quire:
+“How you gwine do um?” Den Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Me tell you
+how we gwine wuk dis ting. Me good fren ter Buh Porpus, an wen we git
+ter de ribber bank me gwine tell Buh Porpus leh we hab er game, an see
+who kin pull de strongis. Den we will tek er grape-wine an tie um roun
+Buh Porpus head, an you an me will tek turrer een, an we sholy kin drag
+Buh Porpus outer de ribber; an wen we git um out eh gwine dead, an we
+will hab heap er bittle fuh eat.” Buh Wolf, him no bin know de plan wuh
+Buh Rabbit aready done fix wid Buh Porpus, an so eh gree ter all wuh
+Buh Rabbit bin say.
+
+Wen dem git ter de ribber bank, day was Buh Porpus duh wait fur Buh
+Rabbit. Buh Rabbit mek um quaintum wid Buh Wolf, an arter er while Buh
+Wolf ax Buh Porpus fuh fine um een fish same luk eh fine Buh Rabbit, an
+Buh Porpus gree fur do so. Den Buh Rabbit, him say: “Leh we hab some
+fun, an see who kin pull de strongis: Buh Porpus genst me an Buh Wolf.”
+Buh Porpus say him willin. Wid dat, Buh Rabbit git one long grape-wine,
+an eh tie one een roun Buh Porpus head, an de tarruh een eh tie fus
+roun Buh Wolf body, an den roun him own; but eh leff de een loose, so
+him kin slip out. Den eh gie de wud fuh pull. Es eh done dat eh slip
+outer de wine, an leff Buh Wolf lone fuh pull genst Buh Porpus. At
+de fus, wen Buh Porpus ease isself off een de ribber, eh pull sorter
+light, an den eh gie way, and Buh Wolf, him tought him gwine outpull
+um. But een er leely while Buh Porpus sorter hump eh back an flut eh
+tail, an yuh Buh Wolf come fuh de water. Eh dig eh paw een de san, an
+eh holler ter Buh Rabbit fuh tun um loose; but Buh Rabbit wouldnt tetch
+um, an so Buh Porpus drag um, duh scuffle an duh holler, clean een de
+ribber an onder de water, an drown Buh Wolf. Arter dat Buh Porpus swim
+back ter de bank an Buh Rabbit tek off de grape-wine from roun eh neck,
+an dem leff Buh Wolf een de water fuh shark an alligatur fuh eat.
+
+Buh Rabbit an Buh Porpus done Buh Wolf er mean trick.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXXIV.
+
+                         DE DEBBLE AN MAY BELLE.
+
+De Debble, him kin tek all sorter shape fuh cahr out him plan an fool
+people. Sometime eh mek isself inter wolf fuh kill you sheep. Narruh
+time eh tek de shape er alligatur fuh worry you duck an goose. Den
+eh look lucker white deer, an eh fly tru de wood, dout mek no noise,
+fuh skade people duh walk long de big road. Den eh come same lucker
+owl, an eh holler down you chimbly an eh tarrify ebry body wen dem duh
+tun flour een de pot. Den wen you sick, eh gone eensider you lucker a
+wurrum, an eh gie you all sorter misry. Den gen, eh kin tek de shape
+er man, en pass isself off fur great gentleman long de lady. Day yent
+nuttne wuh de Debble cant do ef eh mek up eh mine ter um.
+
+One time day was a berry pooty noung ooman name May Belle. Him farruh
+bin rich, an eh dress um up ter de notch, an eh gie um saddle horse
+fuh ride, an carriage fuh dribe, an plenty er serbant fuh wait on um,
+an ebry good bittle fuh eat, an rockin-chair fuh set een, an orgin fuh
+play topper. All de noung man een de county bin er cote um an er try
+fuh marry um.
+
+One day one strange man come fuh wisit um. Eh dress up better ner all
+dem tarruh gentlemans. Eh hab on new beber hat, wuh shine lucker glass,
+an eh hab side whisker comb so nice, an glub on eh han, an new cloze,
+an eh dribe up een er fine carriage wid four horse, an de driber hab er
+keen lash wuh pop so clear you could yeddy um way down de road.
+
+De noung lady tek wid um right off. Eh hab sich er good manners, an
+eh talk so perlite, an eh ack so rich, ebry body gie way ter um, an
+eh outshine all dem tarruh Buckra wuh bin er cote de gal, an eh marry
+um befo de week out, an eh tek um een eh carriage, an eh dribe um off
+ter him house. Dat house bin een er deestant part er de country, buil
+on er hill. Nobody bin lib close. Eh bin de fines house een de whole
+settlement. Eh hab piazza all roun an roun, an eenside ebry ting look
+berry nice an pooty.
+
+Wen dem dribe up ter de step, de Debble, wuh bin de husbun, han eh
+Bride een de pahler, an set um een one rockin-chair, an tell um de
+whole house blanks ter um, an eh mus mek isself saterfy an joy isself.
+
+Ebry ting gone long berry well fur some time, an de noung wife hab ebry
+ting him call fur. One mornin, wen eh husbun leff de house fur ten ter
+eh bidness, an eh wife bin er ramble bout de room, eh fine one key duh
+heng up by isself. Eh wonder wuh key dat, an wuh do eh open. Eh tek um
+an eh try one lock arter anurrer, but de key wunt fit. Bimeby eh gone
+duh garret, an eh see one do up day wuh bin lock. Eh pit de key ter de
+hole an eh onlock de do, an wen eh open um lo! an behole! eh see een de
+closet tree noung ooman duh heng up long dem neck, an dem bin all dead.
+De ting skade de gal so bad eh scacely hab han fuh shet de do an lock
+um gen. But arter a while eh manage fuh do dat, an den eh mek hase an
+heng de key way eh bin fine um. De Bride faid fuh ax eh husbun bout de
+ting. All eh joy done gone. Eh want fuh git way, but him dunno how fuh
+do um. Eh yent hab nobody fuh truss fuh sen ter eh farruh an bredder
+fuh come an tek um way.
+
+Eh husbun bin gen um one nice ridin horse fuh tek eh pledjur long ebry
+mornin an ebenin. De Debble so busy eh wife haffer ride by isself. De
+po gal yent say nuttne ter nobody bout wuh eh see een de closet der
+garret. Eh hide eh feelin, but eh berry onsaterfy een eh mine.
+
+De nex mornin, wen eh bin er tek eh ride, soon es eh git outer yearin,
+eh biggin fuh cry, an fuh pity isself, an say eh wish eh bin back ter
+eh farruh house, an talk eh mine dat eh faid eh husbun, wen eh git
+tired long um, gwine kill um an heng um long de tarruh ooman wuh day
+een de closet duh garret. Him no know de horse wuh him duh ride bin
+a yeddy um, an duh notus wuh him duh say. All ob er sutten de horse
+open eh mout, an eh ax eh missis: “Enty you know who you marry ter?
+You husbun duh de Debble, an wen eh saterfy long you eh gwine bex wid
+you an kill you same luk eh done kill dem tarruh wife wuh eh bin hab
+befo eh bring you yuh.” De po ooman dat skade eh ready fuh fall off.
+Eh mose faint way. Eh heart duh flutter een eh bres. All eh strenk gie
+way. Eh cry. Eh gib up fuh loss. Den eh bague de horse fuh pity um, an
+help um, an tek um back ter him fambly. De horse sorry fur um, an eh
+prommus fuh try an sabe um, but eh tell um fuh keep eh mout shet, an
+mek no rackit bout de ting. Mo na dat, eh tell um, de nex mornin wen eh
+come fuh ride, eh mus fetch een eh pocket four big nail wuh day on de
+mantlepiece een de Debble room, an dem will help um fuh git way.
+
+De po ooman tenk um berry much, an dem gone back an nobody bin know
+bout dis plan. De nex mornin wen de Debble, wuh bin him husbun, leff
+de house an gone fuh mine eh bidness, eh wife fine de nail dis es de
+horse bin say, an eh pit um een eh pocket. Den eh call fuh him ridin
+horse same luk eh ebber done, an eh gone down de road fuh ride. Soon es
+eh git outer de sight er de house, de good horse eh men eh pace; an,
+befo de middle er de day, eh tell eh missis fuh drap one er dem nail
+een de road. Eh missis did drap um, an right off one big bank er san
+riz up clean cross de road, so nobody could dribe ober. Wen night come
+on dem drap anurrur nail, middle night anurrer, an es de sun duh rise
+dem drap de las one. Ebry time de nail drap, de big bank er san rise up
+an shet up de road. De horse run so fas eh retch de ooman farruh house
+by brukwus time een de mornin. Eh fambly stonish fuh see um, an wen eh
+tell dem wuh mek eh come back, eh farruh an eh bredder git dem gun fur
+shoot de Debble ef eh come fuh tek de gal back.
+
+Wen de Debble fine out say eh wife yent come back from ride, eh biggin
+fuh spicion someting; an arter dinner eh git een eh carriage fuh hunt
+eh wife. Eh tek de big road, an eh mek eh driber pit de lick ter de
+horse, but eh cant see ner yeddy nuttne bout eh wife. Bimeby eh come
+pon topper de fus bank er san een de road, an den him bin know right
+off wuh happne. Eh mek eh horse grabble tru, an den eh dribe straight
+fur eh farruh-een-law house. Eh blow eh hot bref behine eh horse, an eh
+mek um run lucker de win. Eh haffer stop fuh git tru dem tarruh bank
+er san wuh de edder nail bin mek, an so eh loss eh time an nebber did
+obertek eh wife. Wen eh tun een de abnue wuh lead ter eh wife farruh
+house, eh see eh wife an all eh fambly day een de piazza duh watch de
+road. Eh farruh-een-law an eh bredder-een-law hab gun een dem han. De
+Debble, him no faid gun, an eh dribe right up, an eh ax eh wife wuh
+mek um run way. Befo eh kin answer, eh tell um fuh git right een de
+carriage an go back home long um. Eh wife say eh wunt, an eh hole on
+ter eh farruh. Den de Debble git berry bex an schway say him gwine cahr
+um any how. Wid dat, eh light outer de carriage an mek fuh de piazza
+fuh graff eh wife. Eh farruh an eh bredder tell um fuh tan back an leh
+de gal lone. De Debble wunt yeddy dem, an es eh rise de step de farruh
+an de bredder er de noung ooman shoot de Debble long buck-shot. De shot
+drap offer um dout hot um, an eh come right on. Dist es eh bin guine
+tek de gal eh change eh mine, an eh tun ter eh old self, wid eh forky
+tail, an eh claw, an eh batwing, an eh owl yez, an eh blow fire outer
+eh mout, an eh bun up eh wife, an him farruh, an him murrer, an him
+bredder, an de house, an ebry ting wuh day een um. Not a ting leff fuh
+show way de house bin. Eh bun up de horse too wuh bin help eh wife fuh
+run way. Den eh change back ter de shape er a man dist es befo, an eh
+git een him carriage, an eh dribe back ter him house same luk nuttne
+bin happne.
+
+“De Debble,” added Daddy Cudjo, as he concluded this story, “duh de
+wus ting een dis wul an de nex. Me nebber gwine hab nuttne fuh do long
+um. Me faid um wus den rattlesnake; an dat ting wuh dem call Hell, me
+nebber wan shum ner go nigh um.”
+
+
+
+
+                                  XXXV.
+
+                         DE OLE MAN AN DE COON.
+
+One time er rich Buckra hab er senserble ole man serbant wuh come from
+Afreka. Dis ole nigger bin know ebryting bout ebryting. Nobody could
+tun um wid questun. Eh Mossa try um heap er time, an eh ebber did mek
+right answer. Eh fren try um too, an dem nebber ketch um duh miss. De
+Buckra brag heaby on de ole man, an berry offne eh win bet topper um.
+One day de Buckra man gen er big dinner, an eh eenwite heap er fren ter
+him house. Eh lay er wager say nobody kin ax eh ole serbant er questun
+wuh him couldnt answer, an eh gie eh fren lief fuh try de ole man any
+fashion dem want. De money pit up, an de fren call one boy, wuh bin
+er wuk bout de lot, an dem sen um der wood fuh ketch one coon. De boy
+gone wid eh dog. Wen dinner done ober, an de gentlemans duh set een
+de piazza duh talk, de boy come back wid er roccoon. Dem call fuh er
+barrel, an dem tek de coon an pit um een an head um up complete, so
+nobody kin see wuh day eenside.
+
+Den dem sen fuh de ole Afreka nigger. Eh bin er hoe cotton der fiel, an
+nobody bin tell um wuh mek dem sen fuh um. Eh come; an den eh Mossa
+say: “Ole man, we sen fuh you fuh tell we wuh day een dis barrel.” De
+ole man look at um, an walk roun um, an notus um close, an listne fuh
+see ef eh could yeddy anyting duh mobe. All de gentlemans duh watch
+um. Wen de ole man mek up eh mine eh couldnt fine out wuh day een de
+barrel, eh stop, eh study, eh cratch eh head, an den eh mek answer:
+“Mossa, hoona done head de ole coon dis time.”
+
+Eh no bin know say him bin er speak er true wud bout wuh bin een de
+barrel. Eh bin er talk bout ehself wen eh say dem bin head de ole coon
+dis time, but eh Mossa an de tarruh gentlemans no know, and dem all gie
+de ole man big praise. Eh Mossa win de bet, an eh share de silber money
+wid de ole man.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXXVI.
+
+                       BUH RABBIT AN DE CRAWFISH.
+
+Arter Buh Wolf bin lick Buh Rabbit an trow um een de brier patch case
+eh ketch um der tief water outer him spring, Buh Rabbit faid fuh meet
+Buh Wolf, an him leff an gone buil ehself new house een Buh Bear
+settlement. Buh Bear, him hab well, an steader Buh Rabbit fine him own
+water, eh blan slip ter Buh Bear well an tief water outer um. Buh Bear
+fine dis out, but Buh Rabbit so scheemy Buh Bear couldnt pit eh han
+topper um fuh ketch um. So eh git one big crawfish an eh pit um een de
+well, an eh tell um fuh gard de well, an fastne ebrybody wuh come day
+fuh tief water.
+
+De nex time Buh Rabbit gone der well long him calabash fuh git some
+water, de fus ting eh know de crawfish grab um by eh tail. Buh Rabbit
+holler, an een eh pull way eh leff eh tail een de crawfish claw. An dat
+de way Buh Rabbit come fuh loss eh tail. Eh tail stumpy tel dis day.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXXVII.
+
+                       BUH RABBIT AN BUH ELEPHUNT.
+
+You ebber notus say Buh Elephunt yez all de time duh heng down, an eh
+cant cock um up luk de tarruh creetuh? Eh hinge to eh yez look luk eh
+broke. You know wuh mek so? Ef you yent know, lemme tell you.
+
+Buh Rabbit an Buh Elephunt, dem blan ramble tru de same wood. Buh
+Rabbit, him lib offer de noung grass, an Buh Elephunt, him eat de tree
+limb. Dem bin quaintun wid one anurrur; an, weneber dem meet, dem nusen
+fuh pass de time er day. Buh Rabbit, him too leetle fuh Buh Elephunt
+fuh keep compny long.
+
+Een de spring er de year Buh Rabbit bin mek eh nes onder one bush,
+an eh line um an eh kibber um ober complete long sofe dry grass. Eh
+hab tree leely chillun een dat nes. One day Buh Elephunt bin er hunt
+eh bittle, an eh gone miss an mash topper Buh Rabbit nes, an kill eh
+chillun. Buh Rabbit no bin day at de time, an wen eh git back eh fine
+eh nes done broke up, an all tree eh chillun squash flat. Eh see by
+de track say Buh Elephunt bin do dat. Eh gone right off an eh tackle
+Buh Elephunt bout um. Buh Elephunt mek answer an say him yent do um;
+him yent know nuttne bout um. Wen Buh Rabbit fine eh cant git no
+saterfaction outer Buh Elephant, eh cut down, an eh berry bex, an eh
+mek plan fuh git eeben wid Buh Elephunt fuh de big damage wuh him bin
+done ter um an eh fambly.
+
+Eh quaintun wid de place way Buh Elephunt blan leddown fuh tek eh res;
+so eh watch um, an wen eh done gone der bed, Buh Rabbit, him slip back
+an eh call eh wife, and dem gedder dry leaf an dead grass, an dem tote
+um ter de spot way Buh Elephunt duh sleep, an dem full all two Buh
+Elephunt yez long de leaf an grass. Den dem trike fire an clap um ter
+de dry grass an leaf wuh dem bin pit een Buh Elephunt yez. Eh blaze up.
+Buh Elephunt wake. Eh couldnt mek out wuh happne. De ting biggin fuh
+bun um bad. Eh holler fuh somebody fuh help um. Eh roll ober an try fuh
+out de fire een eh yez. Eh tek eh trunk an try fuh lick um out, but
+befo de fire done out, eh bun de hinge er all two eh yez, so eh couldnt
+liff um up no mo.
+
+Dat de way Buh Rabbit tek eh rewenge on Buh Elephunt case eh mash eh
+chillun, an dat de reason huccum Buh Elephunt hab flop yez tel ter-day.
+
+
+
+
+                                XXXVIII.
+
+                  BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN BUH POSSUM.
+
+Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf gone long de ribber bank fuh hunt Cooter agg.
+Dem Cooter blan come outer de water wen de tide high, an dig hole een
+de san, an lay dem agg, an kibber dem ober so crow an ting cant fine
+um. Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf come topper nough er Cooter nes, an dem
+gedder de agg an share um equel. Dem pit um een bag, an es dem gin
+gwine home, de agg so fresh an sweet, Buh Rabbit slip eh han een eh bag
+an onbeknowinst ter Buh Wolf eh suck all de agg wuh bin fall ter him
+share befo dem retch de fork er de road way dem gwine part compny.
+
+Buh Wolf tote all him agg home, an gen um ter him wife. Eh yent bin een
+eh house berry long wen up come Buh Rabbit duh puff an der blow. Soon
+es eh ketch eh bref eh say: “Buh Wolf, wuh you bin do long dem Cooter
+agg? Enty you fine out say dem spile? Me bin gib some er mine ter me
+wife, an eh gen um cramp colic right off. Me run all de way fuh tell
+you, so you kin sabe you fambly from sick.”
+
+Buh Wolf nebber spicion say Buh Rabbit bin er tell um lie, an eh tenk
+um berry much, an eh gone git de Cooter agg an trow um way. Buh Rabbit
+notus way Buh Wolf bin trow de agg; an soon es Buh Wolf gone back een
+him house, Buh Rabbit gedder dem up an tote um off een de bush, an
+seddown an biggin fuh eat dem dist es saterfy es kin be.
+
+Eh so happne say Buh Wolf come pon topper Buh Rabbit duh eat dem Cooter
+agg, an eh see right off how Buh Rabbit done fool um. Eh git rale mad,
+an eh mek eh jump fuh graff Buh Rabbit, but Buh Rabbit too quick fur
+um, and eh tek ter eh heel. Buh Wolf push um so tight eh mek um quit de
+groun an tek ter one pussimmon tree. Buh Rabbit so light eh gone out
+on one leely limb way Buh Wolf couldnt foller um ner retch um. Wen Buh
+Wolf fine out eh couldnt pit eh han pon topper Buh Rabbit fuh lick um,
+eh call ter Buh Possum, wuh bin hab house close by, an eh ax um fuh run
+day an watch Buh Rabbit tel him coulder git him ax fuh cut down de tree
+an ketch Buh Rabbit. Buh Possum come, an eh seddown onder de tree duh
+gard Buh Rabbit wile Buh Wolf gone fuh him ax.
+
+Arter er wile Buh Rabbit say: “Buh Possum, dem yer pussimmon berry
+sweet. Enty you want some?” Buh Possum, him mek answer: “Yes, me
+Budder, me berry lub pussimmon, an me will glad fuh git some.” Den Buh
+Rabbit tell um fuh step ter him house an fetch eh fanner fuh ketch de
+pussimmon es eh pick um an drap um. Buh Possum so anxious fuh tase de
+pussimmon eh clean furgit wuh Buh Wolf bin leff um fuh do, an so eh
+gone ter him house fuh git eh fanner. Soon es eh back tun, Buh Rabbit
+slip down de tree an lean fuh home. Wen Buh Wolf come wid eh ax, eh
+fine Buh Rabbit an Buh Possum all two gone. Eh dat bex eh dunno wuffer
+do. Een er leely wile yuh come Buh Possum duh tote he fanner. Buh Wolf
+questun um, an wen eh fine out how Buh Rabbit done fool um an git way,
+eh tun een an cuss Buh Possum an beat um. Eh tek a smart somebody fuh
+head Buh Rabbit.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XXXIX.
+
+                BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE HOLLER TREE.
+
+Arter Buh Rabbit bin fool Buh Wolf bout dem Cooter agg, an slip way
+from Buh Possum, eh faid fuh meet Buh Wolf, an eh walk berry skittish
+ebry time eh lef eh house. Buh Wolf bin on de keen look-out fuh um.
+One day dem meet. Buh Wolf, him say: “Haw! Budder, me got you now. You
+dodge me long time. Ebry man fuh isself.” Wid dat eh tek arter Buh
+Rabbit. Buh Rabbit, him bin quaintun wid all de holler tree een de
+wood, an wen Buh Wolf push um close, eh jump een one er dem. Buh Wolf
+run up an eh say: “Me got you now. Come out an tek you lick, er me
+gwine bun you up een dis tree.” Eh no bin know say narrur holler bin on
+tarruh side er de tree, an dat Buh Rabbit done run clean tru an gone.
+Wen eh couldnt yeddy nuttne from Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf gedder fat pine
+tick, an eh poke um een de holler an eh pit fire ter um. De fire roll,
+an Buh Wolf feed um tell de tree bun down. Eh saterfy say Buh Rabbit
+done bun up, an eh gone home, an eh mek brag ter him fambly say him bin
+stroy Buh Rabbit.
+
+Eh yent bin tree day arter dat wen lo an behole! Buh Wolf meet Buh
+Rabbit duh seddown een de big road, dist es content es ef nuttne bin
+happne, duh leek isself. Buh Wolf hail um an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, dat
+duh you? Enty me bin bun you up tarruh day? Why you duh do duh leek
+youself so happy an content?” Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Budder, dat
+holler way you bin try fuh bun me een, gone ter de top er de tree, an
+eh bin full er honey. De fire melt de honey, an eh run down an kibber
+me all ober. Me yent done git um all offer me tel now. You come tase
+me an see how sweet me yiz.” Buh Wolf so lub honey eh furgit eh spite
+gainst Buh Rabbit, an eh come up an eh taste um, an eh fine out say
+honey bin all ober Buh Rabbit. Den eh ax Buh Rabbit fuh show um one
+holler way him kin git some honey. Buh Rabbit gree fuh do so ef Buh
+Wolf would mek fren wid um. Dem shake ban, and den Buh Rabbit tell Buh
+Wolf fuh foiler um. Eh tek um ter one tree wuh hab holler on one side,
+but wuh shet up on tarruh side, an eh tell Buh Wolf say dat tree full
+er honey, an eh mus git een an crawl up nigh de top es eh could go. Buh
+Wolf trus Buh Rabbit, an eh gone een de holler. Soon es eh git een,
+Buh Rabbit tek one lightwood knot an eh chink up de hole so Buh Wolf
+couldnt come out. Den eh gedder some fat pine, an eh mek fire an eh bun
+Buh Wolf up een de holler. While eh duh bun, Buh Wolf bague an pray Buh
+Rabbit fuh leh um come out, but Buh Rabbit wouldnt yeddy um.
+
+Buh Rabbit leetle fuh true an eh yent strong, but eh berry scheemy an
+eh hab er bad heart.
+
+
+
+
+                                   XL.
+
+                      BUH RABBIT AN DE CUNJUR MAN.
+
+Buh Rabbit greedy fuh hab mo sense den all de tarruh animel. Eh yent
+lub fuh wuk, an eh try heap er scheme fuh git eh libbin outer edder
+people by fool um.
+
+One time eh gone ter one wise Cunjur Man fuh larne um him way, an fuh
+git him knowledge, so him kin stonish tarruh people an mek dem bliebe
+say him bin wise mo ner ebrybody. De Cunjur Man larne um heap er curous
+ting. At las Buh Rabbit ax um fuh gen um eh full knowledge. De Cunjur
+Man say: “Buh Rabbit, you hab sense nough aready.” Buh Rabbit keep on
+bague um, an den de Cunjur Man mek answer: “Ef you kin ketch one big
+rattlesnake an fetch um ter me live, me gwine do wuh you ax me fuh do.”
+
+Buh Rabbit git ehself one long stick an eh gone der wood. Eh hunt tel
+eh fine one whalin ob er rattlesnake duh quile up on one log. Eh pass
+de time er day berry perlite wid um, an arterwards eh bet de snake
+say him yent bin es long as de stick wuh him hab een him han. Buh
+Rattlesnake laugh at um, an eh mek answer dat eh know eh yiz long mo
+na de stick. Fuh settle de bet Buh Rattlesnake tretch ehself out ter
+eh berry lenk on de log, an Buh Rabbit pit de pole long side er um fuh
+medjuh um. Man sir! befo Buh Rattlesnake fine out, Buh Rabbit slip
+one noose roun eh neck an fastne um tight ter de een der de pole. Buh
+Rattlesnake twis ehself, an wrop ehself roun an roun de pole, an try
+fuh git eh head loose, but all eh twis an tun yent do um no good. An so
+Buh Rabbit ketch um, an cahr um ter de Cunjur Man.
+
+De Cunjur Man rale suprise, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, me always bin yeddy
+say you bin hab heap er sense, but now me know dat you got um. Ef you
+kin fool Rattlesnake, you hab all de sense you want.” Wen Buh Rabbit
+keep on bague de Cunjur Man fuh gie um mo sense, de Cunjur Man answer:
+“You go fetch me er swarm er Yaller Jacket, an wen you bring um ter me,
+me prommus you teh gie you all de sense you want.”
+
+Ebrybody know say Yaller Jacket wus den warse, an bee, an hornet. Eh
+sting so bad, an eh berry lub fuh drap topper ebryting wuh come close
+eh nes, an dout gie um any warnin. So wuh Buh Rabbit do? Eh gone an eh
+git one big calabash, an eh crape um out clean, an eh cut one hole een
+um, an eh pit honey een um, an eh tie um on de een er one long pole.
+Den eh hunt tel eh fine er Yaller Jacket nes, an eh set de calabash
+close by um dout worry de Yaller Jacket, an eh leff um day, an eh tan
+off an watch um. Bimeby de Yaller Jacket scent de honey, an dem come
+out de nes an gone een de calabash fuh eat de honey. Wen de calabash
+full er Yaller Jacket, Buh Rabbit slip up an stop de hole, an cahr um
+ter de Cunjur Man. De Cunjur Man mek er great miration ober wuh Buh
+Rabbit bin done, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, you is suttenly de smartest
+ob all de animel, an you sense shill git mo an mo ebry day. Mo na dat,
+me gwine pit white spot on you forrud, so ebrybody kin see you hab de
+bes sense een you head.” An dat de way Buh Rabbit come fuh hab er leely
+tuff er white hair between eh yez.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XLI.
+
+                  BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN DE FISHERMAN.
+
+Buh Rabbit es er soon man. You haffer git up befo day fuh head um.
+Wayebber you fine um, eh yez cock up fuh yeddy ebryting wuh duh gwine
+on. Eh nose duh twis from side ter side fuh ketch all de scent duh
+float een de element, an wen eh walk bout eh hop so light you tink
+der sperit. Eh lub fuh lib close big road an settlement, way him kin
+quaintun wid all wuh happne, an pick eh chance fuh mek eh libbin easy.
+
+One time er Ole Man hab er fish trap wuh mek wid bode. Eh hab er gate.
+Wen de tide duh come een de creek, de gate open an leh de fish een; an
+wen de tide duh gwine back der ribber, de gate shet an stop all de fish
+wuh day een de creek. Ebry low tide de Ole Man tek eh leely waggin an
+wisit eh trap, an collec de fish an pit um een eh waggin an cahr um
+home fuh him an eh fambly fuh eat.
+
+Buh Rabbit watch de Ole Man es eh pass day arter day long de big road,
+an eh hanker arter de fish, but eh yent know rightly how fuh git some.
+Arter er wile eh fix dis plan. De nex time eh see de Ole Man duh comin
+long de road wid eh waggin an fish, eh leddown dist on de adge er de
+road, an eh pant same luk eh bin gwine fuh dead. Es de ole man bin er
+pass long eh notus um, an eh stop, an eh gone ter um an eh ax um wuh
+ail um. Buh Rabbit mek answer een er woice so leely you cacely kin
+yeddy um, an tell um say eh berry sick; dat eh bin gwine home wen eh
+back an eh leg gie out, an eh couldnt trabble no furder. Den eh bague
+de Ole Man fuh tek um up een eh waggin an cahr um long de big road tel
+eh come ter de place way him fuh tun off fuh gwine ter him house. De
+Ole Man gree fuh do so, an eh liff Buh Rabbit up, an eh pit um een eh
+waggin long side de pile er fish. Buh Rabbit leddown luk eh dead. De
+Ole Man back tun ter Buh Rabbit. Een er leely while Buh Rabbit biggin
+fuh slip fish outer de waggin, an trow um, onbeknowinst ter de Ole Man,
+een de bush wuh bin er grow long side er de road. Wen dem mose git ter
+de place way de Ole Man gwine tun out de big road, Buh Rabbit hop outer
+de waggin dout de Ole Man shum, an run back an gedder all de fish wuh
+him bin tief.
+
+Es de Ole Man retch eh big gate, eh look behine fuh see how Buh Rabbit
+duh mek out; an de fus ting eh know Buh Rabbit yent day een de waggin,
+an heap er him fish done missin. Den de Ole Man fine out say Buh Rabbit
+bin fool um an tief eh fish. De Ole Man berry bex, an eh dribe home an
+tell eh wife bout de ting.
+
+Arter Buh Rabbit done gedder de fish wuh eh bin tief outer de Ole Man
+waggin, eh pit um on tring, an eh start fuh tote um ter him house. Buh
+Fox meet um, an eh quire way eh git all dem fish. Buh Rabbit up an tell
+um. Buh Fox say him want git some too. Den Buh Rabbit mek um senserble
+wen de Ole Man gwine come long de road, an eh show um good place fuh
+him fuh wuk eh plan fuh do dist es him bin do.
+
+De nex day Buh Fox tek eh stan sider de big road an wait fuh de Ole Man
+an eh waggin. Befo long yuh eh come. Buh Fox trow isself in de groun,
+an roll ober, an moan berry pitiful. De Ole Man shum, an eh light offer
+eh waggin an run up ter um wid eh big whip een eh han. Buh Fox bin tink
+say de Ole Man gwine pity um, an tek um een eh waggin same luk eh done
+Buh Rabbit. Steader dat, an befo eh fine out, de Ole Man knock um een
+de head wid de butt er eh whip an stunted um. Den eh beat um ter det,
+an eh tek um up an eh trow um een eh waggin, an eh dribe home. Wen eh
+git day eh call eh wife an eh show um de tief wuh bin tek eh fish. De
+Ole Man yent bin know de diffunce tween Buh Rabbit an Buh Fox. Eh tink
+all two bin de same animel.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him no care so eh sabe isself. Him bin know say Buh Fox
+gwine ketch de debble wen de Ole Man come pon topper um.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XLII.
+
+                  BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE YEARLIN.
+
+Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf come inter cohoot fuh kill cow. Dem gone een de
+paster an pick out one fat yearlin, an run um down, an ketch um, an cut
+eh troat. Den dem skin um an share de meat. Buh Wolf claim de bigges
+part, case him hab de bigges fambly. Eh strong mo ner Buh Rabbit, an
+so Buh Rabbit yent hab de power fuh mek um do jestice. But ef Buh Wolf
+hab de strenk, Buh Rabbit hab de bes sense. So wuh Buh Rabbit do? Eh
+tek some salt outer him bag, an eh buil fire, an eh brile some er de
+yearlin meat on de coals, an eh eat um right befo Buh Wolf. Soon es eh
+done eat um, eh cry out an eh say eh hab pain er belly, an eh double
+ehself all up, an eh roll eh yeye, an eh waller all long de groun,
+an eh mek all sorter curous motion an noise. Buh Wolf skaid, an eh
+conclude say de meat yent good. Eh tink say eh pizen Buh Rabbit, an dem
+gree fuh leff um.
+
+Buh Wolf wait tel Buh Rabbit sorter come teh, an den eh help um ter him
+house an tell um goodbye.
+
+Wen sun down an eh biggin fuh dark, Buh Rabbit gedder him fambly, and
+dem gone an git de yearlin meat, an dem cahr um home an dem eat um.
+Nuttne bin ail de meat. Eh bin soun an sweet, an Buh Rabbit do dis fuh
+fool Buh Wolf an git him share too.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XLIII.
+
+               BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, DE DOG, AN DE GOOSE.
+
+Arter dat time wen Buh Rabbit bin play dat trick on Buh Wolf an ride
+um up ter de Gal house wuh dem all two bin er cote, Buh Wolf berry bex
+long Buh Rabbit, an eh wan ketch um fuh gie um good lickin. Buh Rabbit,
+him so smate eh keep outer Buh Wolf way so eh couldnt come pon topper
+um. Buh Wolf hire one dog fuh help um ketch Buh Rabbit. One day de Dog
+meet Buh Rabbit der wood, an dout say one wud ter um, eh lean arter um
+fuh ketch um. Buh Rabbit run, but de Dog push um so tight Buh Rabbit,
+fuh sabe ehself, jump een one holler oak tree. De hole bin too leely
+fuh de Dog fuh foller um, an so Buh Rabbit mek ehself saterfy say eh
+done git way. Bimeby eh yeddy de Dog call one goose, an tell um fuh
+watch de holler tel him kin git some fire an moss fuh smoke Buh Rabbit
+outer de tree. Wen de Dog gone fuh gedder de moss an git de fire, Buh
+Rabbit call ter de Goose an ax um: “How you duh watch me wen you no see
+me?” Wid dat de Goose poke eh long head een de holler fuh look fuh
+Buh Rabbit. Es eh do dat, Buh Rabbit trow rotten wood een eh yeye. Eh
+bline de Goose, an eh draw eh head out, an wile eh duh fight fuh git de
+rotten wood outer eh yeye Buh Rabbit slip out an gone. Wen de Dog come
+back, eh stuff de moss een de holler, an eh pit fire ter um, an eh mek
+er hebby smoke; but eh cant see ner yeddy nuttne bout Buh Rabbit. Den
+eh biggin fuh spicion say Buh Rabbit might er git out, an eh tackle de
+Goose bout um. Eh notus de Goose yeye red an eh duh run water. De Goose
+tell um how Buh Rabbit bin trow rotten wood een eh yeye wen eh bin er
+peep up de holler. Den de Dog know fuh sutten say Buh Rabbit bin wuk
+dat plan fuh git way, an dat eh done gone fuh true. Eh so bex eh cuss
+de Goose fuh er fool, an eh tun on um fuh stroy um. De Goose holler, an
+manage fuh sail way een de element, but eh leff eh fedder een de Dog
+mouf.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XLIV.
+
+                         BUH SQUIRLE AN BUH FOX.
+
+Buh Squirle bin berry busy duh gedder hickry not on de groun fuh pit
+way fuh feed ehself an eh fambly duh winter time. Buh Fox bin er watch
+um, an befo Buh Squirle shum, eh slip up an eh graff um. Buh Squirle,
+eh dat skaid eh trimble all ober, an eh bague Buh Fox fuh lem go. Buh
+Fox tell um say eh bin er try fuh ketch um long time, but eh hab sich
+sharp yeye, an keen yez, an spry leg, eh manage fuh dodge um; an now
+wen eh got um at las, eh mean fuh kill um an eat um. Wen Buh Squirle
+fine out dat Buh Fox yent bin gwine pity um an tun um loose, but dat eh
+fix fuh kill um an eat um, Buh Squirle say teh Buh Fox: “Enty you know
+say nobody oughter eat eh bittle befo eh say grace ober um?” Buh Fox
+him mek answer: “Dat so;” an wid dat eh pit Buh Squirle een front er
+um, an eh fall on eh knee, an eh kibber eh yeye wid eh han, an eh tun
+een fuh say grace.
+
+Wile Buh Fox bin er do dis, Buh Squirle manage fuh slip way; an wen Buh
+Fox open eh yeye, eh see Buh Squirle duh run up de tree way him couldnt
+tetch um.
+
+Buh Fox fine eh couldnt help ehself, an eh call arter Buh Squirle an eh
+say: “Nummine, Boy, you done git way now, but de nex time me clap dis
+han topper you, me gwine eat you fus an say grace arterward.”
+
+Bes plan fuh er man fuh mek sho er eh bittle befo eh say tenky fuh um.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XLV.
+
+                BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE BUCKRA MAN.
+
+Er Buckra man bin hab er gang er sheep. Ebry now an den eh miss one. Eh
+sarche eh fiel, an eh see Buh Wolf track day, an eh mek up eh mine say
+him bin er de one wuh duh tief eh sheep. Eh fix heaper plan fuh ketch
+um, but eh fail. At lenk eh call een Buh Rabbit, case eh hab summuch
+sense, fuh help um. Buh Rabbit, him gree fuh do so ef de Buckra man
+would len um one horse, an would prommus no fuh tell Buh Wolf nuttne
+bout de ting.
+
+De Buckra man gen um de prommus an len um de horse. Buh Rabbit ride de
+horse ter him house, an eh sen wud ter Buh Wolf say him dist bin buy er
+fine ridin horse, an him want um fuh come an tek er ride long um. Buh
+Wolf, him come, an wen eh look topper de horse eh tell Buh Rabbit him
+would lub fuh ride um, but dat him faid say de horse gwine fling um.
+Buh Rabbit mek answer say him mussnt faid; dat him gwine pit saddle on
+de horse, an wen Buh Wolf git een um eh gwine tie eh leg so him cant
+fall off; an, mo ner dat, him gwine git up behine fuh hole um on.
+Arter dat Buh Wolf seem saterfy.
+
+Buh Rabbit trow de saddle on de horse an gelt um tight. Den Buh Wolf
+climb up an tek eh seat. Buh Rabbit tek string, an eh tie Buh Wolf leg
+fas ter de stirrup. Now eh say: “Me gwine git up behine fuh hole you
+on.” Steader dat, wen Buh Wolf yent bin er notus, eh step back, an eh
+tek er bunch er cock-spur an eh lick um onder de horse tail. De ting
+hot de animel so bad, eh jump, an eh pitch, an eh kick up. Buh Wolf
+grab de bridle an juk de horse mouf, an dat mek um rare up. Buh Wolf
+git rale skaid, an eh holler fuh Buh Rabbit fuh tek um off. Buh Rabbit
+tell um fuh hole on tel him kin onloose de saddle. All dis time de
+horse bin er cut sich caper Buh Wolf couldnt manage um, an so eh drap
+de bridle an heng on ter eh mange fuh keep from fall off. Wen de horse
+fine say eh head loose, eh mek fuh home; an befo Buh Wolf fine out eh
+run tru de big gate an roun de house ter de stable. De Buckra man bin
+er set een eh piazza, an eh see wen de horse come up wid Buh Wolf der
+heng topper eh neck. Eh run ter de stable, an eh leh de horse an Buh
+Wolf een. Den eh call eh driber, an dem ontie Buh Wolf an fastne um
+ter one tree. Arter dem bin gen um bout one hundud lash, Buh Rabbit run
+up an bague de Buckra man fuh tun Buh Wolf loose. Eh did tun um loose.
+Buh Wolf nebber did fine out say Buh Rabbit bin fix dis plan fuh pit um
+een de Buckra man han, an eh tell Buh Rabbit heap er tenky fuh de faber
+wuh him bin done ter um.
+
+Ebry time you yeddy bout Buh Rabbit you fine um duh come out head.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XLVI.
+
+                     BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF FUNERAL.
+
+Buh Rabbit fool Buh Wolf so many time, an een sich diffrunt fashion,
+dat eh outdone wid um. Ebry time eh try fuh ketch um fuh lick um, Buh
+Rabbit somehow er narruh slip tru eh han an git way. Buh Wolf, him hire
+edder people fuh wuk plan fuh git de better er Buh Rabbit an pit um
+een eh power, but, bless you soul! dem fail too, an Buh Rabbit, him go
+clear. De ting mose worry Buh Wolf life outer um. Eh fret so bout um
+tel eh biggin fuh tun rale po.
+
+At lenk Buh Wolf gie out say him berry sick. Leely wile arter dat,
+de news come dat Buh Wolf dead. Eh wife eenwite all eh fren ter de
+funeral. Buh Wolf mek sho say eh gwine ketch Buh Rabbit now.
+
+Buh Bear, him bin der de passon. Dog come. Roccoon come. Squirle come.
+Possum come. Cow come. Alligatur an Cooter, dem come. Deer, him bin
+day too. Buh Wolf, him bin er lay out on er bench een de middle er him
+house, kibber ober wid er wite clorte, an eh wife an eh chillun duh tan
+roun um duh cry. Buh Owl, him fetch er spade fuh dig de grabe, an bud
+bin day too fuh sing er hyme.
+
+Wen dem all bin gedder, Buh Rabbit enter dist es careful, an tek eh
+stan jes by de do. Dem wait leely wile fuh Buh Fox, but him sen wud
+say him wife hab feber an him couldnt leff um. Den Buh Bear, him tek
+eh book an eh read um, an eh preach er sarmint. Arter dat de Mockinbud
+raise er chune, an dem all sing.
+
+All dis time Buh Wolf bin er leddown, tretch out ter eh full lenk, and
+stiff lucker eh bin dead fuh true. Eh hole eh bref so tight, nobody
+could yeddy um breave. Wen de preachin an de singin done ober, dem
+all gone up fuh tek dem las look at Buh Wolf befo dem tote um out fuh
+bury um. Dem raise up de clorte wuh bin ober eh face, an eh look dist
+es natrul; an dem tell um goodbye one by one. Buh Rabbit him walk up
+las, an eh yent gone berry close needer. Buh Rabbit always tote eh
+good sense bout um, an eh nebber will run no resk. Es eh come fuh look
+topper Buh Wolf, Buh Wolf bin spec say eh woulder tan so close dat eh
+coulder graff um. But wen eh fine Buh Rabbit sorter skittish, an eh
+duh ease ehself off, eh tek de chance, an, all ober sutten, eh trow
+ehself offer de bench an eh mek arter Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit, him bin
+hab eh yeye on Buh Wolf all de time, an befo Buh Wolf could mek eh way
+tru de crowd an come up long um, Buh Rabbit slip out de back do an trow
+ehself een de brier patch, way Buh Wolf couldnt foller um. De people
+all stonish, an wen dem fine out de trute er de ting, dem berry bex;
+an, befo dem leff, dem bemean Buh Wolf sich er fashion eh bin shame fuh
+show ehself een de settlement fuh many er days. Dat bin er dutty trick
+wuh Buh Wolf play on eh fren and on Buh Rabbit, but Buh Rabbit, him
+outdo um.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XLVII.
+
+                       DE NEW NIGGER AN EH MOSSA.
+
+Er New Nigger notus say eh Mossa heap er time duh seddown wid eh foot
+cross, yent duh say nuttne an yent duh do nuttne, wen him haffer wuk
+all de time. One day eh ax eh Mossa huccum dat. De Buckra man answer:
+“Wen you see me duh seddown, an you tink me duh lazy, same time me duh
+wuk long me head, an duh mek plan, an study pon ting.”
+
+Soon arter dat de Buckra man come pon topper de New Nigger een de fiel.
+De sun hot. Eh bin drap eh hoe, an bin er seddown on de cotton bed duh
+res ehself. De Buckra man git bex case de Nigger bin er glec eh wuk, an
+eh say ter um: “Huccum you stop de wuk wuh me bin gen you fuh do? Wuh
+mek you duh lazy disher fashion?” Den de New Nigger, him mek answer:
+“Mossa, me duh wuk long me head.” Wen de Buckra man quire wuh kind er
+head wuk him duh do, de New Nigger say: “Mossa, ef you see tree pigeon
+duh set on dat tree limb, an you shoot an kill one er dem, how many
+gwine leff?” Eh Mossa reply: “Any fool kin tell dat. Ob scource two
+gwine leff.” De New Nigger, him mek answer: “No, Mossa, you miss. Ef
+you shoot an kill one er dem pigeon, de edder two boun fuh fly way, an
+none gwine leff.”
+
+De Buckra man bleege fuh laugh, an eh yent do nuttne ter de New Nigger
+case eh glec eh wuk.
+
+
+
+
+                                 XLVIII.
+
+                      BUH RABBIT AN DE KING DARTER.
+
+Dere was er King wuh bin hab er pooty Darter, an heap er people bin er
+cote um. De gal couldnt mek up eh mine which one fuh tek, an so eh ax
+eh farruh fuh help um pick. Den eh farruh, wuh bin de King, gen out wud
+say de one wuh kin fetch ter um de Alligatur yeye teet, an water from
+de Deer yeye, shill hab eh Darter.
+
+All dem wuh bin er cote de gal fix plan fuh git dem ting, but dem fail.
+Ebry body bin faid Alligatur, an nobody could outrun Buh Deer. Buh
+Rabbit, him bin berry lub de gal, an him hanker arter marry um, so eh
+study bout de ting an mek eh scheme. Eh tek eh fiddle an eh gone ter
+de ribber bank, an eh play er funny chune, an eh sing er funny song.
+Buh Alligatur yeddy um; an bimeby eh crawl outer de mash grass, an
+eh leddown close by Buh Rabbit, so him kin ketch all wuh Buh Rabbit
+der play an der sing. Buh Rabbit do eh bes, an de ting tickle Buh
+Alligatur so bad eh laugh berry harty. Buh Rabbit play an sing, an pick
+eh chance, an wen Buh Alligatur duh shet eh yeye an open eh mout fuh
+laugh, eh tek eh fiddle bow an, all ob er sutten, eh knock one er Buh
+Alligatur yeye teet outer eh head. Befo eh fine out, Buh Rabbit done
+pick up de teet an gone.
+
+Den Buh Rabbit notus way Buh Deer blan ramble der wood, an eh dig er
+deep hole, an eh kibber um ober complete long dut, an pine straw, an
+oak leaf. Eh hide een de bush oneside duh watch. Bimeby Buh Deer, him
+come long duh eat grass, an befo eh fine out, de groun gie way onder eh
+foot, an eh drap bottom er de hole. Buh Deer dat skaid eh dunno wuffer
+do. Eh scuffle. Eh holler, but eh couldnt git out. Buh Rabbit run day,
+an eh tell um say dog bin on eh track, an dat dem mose git day. Wid dat
+Buh Deer gib up, an biggin fuh cry. Den Buh Rabbit, him slip een de
+hole wid er leely calabash, an eh ketch de water duh run down from Buh
+Deer yeye. Arter dat eh gone home, an eh tek de Alligatur yeye teet, an
+de calabash wuh hab de Deer yeye water een um, an eh light out fuh de
+King house.
+
+Wen him show de King wuh him bring, de King gree say Buh Rabbit head er
+all dem wuh bin er cote him Darter, an eh gen um de gal, an dem bin hab
+er hebby weddin.
+
+
+
+
+                                  XLIX.
+
+                             DE SINGLE BALL.
+
+Er Buckra man bin berry lub fuh hunt deer. Eh nussen fuh brag too. Eh
+hab er Serbant wuh always gone wid um der wood fuh dribe de deer. Him
+bin berry fond er eh Mossa, an eh ready any time fuh schway ter de tale
+wuh him tell bout how much deer dem kill, an way dem shoot um. One time
+dis Buckra man bin tell eh fren say him shoot er deer long er rifle,
+an wen eh gone fuh zamine um, eh fine say de ball shoot off eh hine
+foot an hit um een eh yez. Him fren couldnt see how dat happne, an dem
+yent bin want fuh bleeve de tale. Den de hunter man call pon topper him
+Serbant fuh proobe wuh him bin say. De Serbant speak de wud same luk
+him Mossa bin talk um. Den de gentlemans ax um how de same ball could
+er hit de deer een eh hine foot an een eh yez same time. De Nigger
+cratch eh head, an den eh mek answer: “Gentlemans, me spec wen Mossa
+fire pon topper um, de deer mus be bin er bresh fly offer eh yez wid eh
+hine foot.” Dat sorter saterfy de gentlemans, an sabe de Buckra man wud.
+
+Arter de gentlemans done gone, de Serbant call eh Mossa one side an eh
+say: “Mossa, me willin fuh back anyting you say bout hunt an kill deer,
+but lemme bague you nex time you tell bout how you shoot um, you pit de
+hole closer. Dis time you mek um so fur apart, me hab big trouble fur
+git um togerruh.”
+
+
+
+
+                                   L.
+
+                       BUH ROCCOON AN BUH POSSUM.
+
+Buh Roccoon ax Buh Possum wuh mek, wen de dog tackle um, eh double up
+ehself, an kibber eh yeye wid eh han, an wunt fight lucker man an lick
+de dog off. Buh Possum grin eh teet same lucker fool, an eh say, wen de
+dog come pon topper um, dem tickle him rib so bad long dem mout dat him
+bleege ter laugh; an so him furgit fuh fight.
+
+Coward man hab all kind er lie fuh tell fuh scuse ehself.
+
+
+
+
+                                   LI.
+
+                    BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE RAIN.
+
+Buh Wolf bin er set een de do er him house duh play eh fiddle. Lord
+er massy! how dat animel did mek dat fiddle talk! Buh Wolf yeye shet
+tight, an eh dis bin er rock from side ter side, an draw eh bow teh eh
+berry lenk, en der pat de time wid eh foot. Er hebby shower er rain
+come on. Buh Rabbit, him bin een de big road not fur from Buh Wolf
+house. Buh Rabbit yent lub rain, an eh try fuh shelter ehself onder er
+oak tree wuh kibber wid long moss. De rain lick um een eh yez, an eh
+leff fuh hunt better place. Es eh pass by Buh Wolf house, eh notus Buh
+Wolf duh set een de do duh play eh fiddle. Buh Wolf so tek up wid eh
+play dat eh shet eh yeye an yent duh watch wuh gwine on roun um. So Buh
+Rabbit mek up eh mine fuh slip een de do pass Buh Wolf, an set een him
+house tel de rain done ober. Buh Rabbit foot so sofe nobody kin yeddy
+um wen eh walk. Him no know, but Buh Wolf ketch sight er um outer de
+corner ob him yeye wen Buh Rabbit hop een de do an run back side er de
+room. Eh sed down day an mek ehself saterfy, an duh wait topper de
+rain. Buh Wolf him yent leh Buh Rabbit know say him shum, but eh biggin
+fuh tun eh chune, an eh play an eh sing: “Tenk God, rain done sen meat
+een me house. Tenk God, rain done sen meat een me house.” Buh Rabbit
+yeddy; an eh spicion say Buh Wolf smell um, an fine out say him bin een
+eh house. Buh Rabbit hair rise, an eh want fuh git out, but eh faid fuh
+slip back trough de do way Buh Wolf bin er sed down. Buh Rabbit berry
+oneasy een eh mine, an eh duh consider plan fuh mek eh scape.
+
+Buh Wolf house buil on de groun senker hog pen. Eh mek wid pole. Him
+bin tink say him got Buh Rabbit safe, an so eh keep on play eh fiddle
+an sing: “Tenk God, rain done sen meat een me house. Tenk God, rain
+done sen meat een me house.” Wile Buh Wolf duh mek ehself saterfy say
+him hab Buh Rabbit an gwine eat um soon es de rain done ober, Buh
+Rabbit duh grabble, grabble, grabble onder de bottom er de pole, tel eh
+mek hole big nough, an den eh slip out, onbeknowinst teh Buh Wolf, an
+hop roun teh de front do, an eh holler teh Buh Wolf: “You duh sing an
+der play, ‘Tenk God, rain done sen meat een you house,’ but you yent
+eat um yet, an you yent gwine eat um.” Wid dat eh leff right befo Buh
+Wolf face. Buh Wolf rale disappint. Eh loss eh dinner. Eh gone an eh
+heng up eh fiddle, an eh say teh ehself: “Me tought sho me bin hab um,
+but Rabbit beat my time.”
+
+
+
+
+                                  LII.
+
+                 BUH ALLIGATUH, BUH RABBIT, AN BUH WOLF.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him bin er tief Buh Alligatuh agg. Buh Alligatuh ketch um
+topper eh nes. Eh graff um an eh pit um een one crocus bag, an eh tie
+up de een er de bag tight, an eh heng um on one tree lim, an eh gone
+home fuh git eh lash fuh lick Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit dat skaid eh yeye
+big moner saucer. Eh duh trimble een de bag, an duh peep trough de
+crack een de crocus fuh notus wuh gwine happne.
+
+Bimeby eh see Buh Wolf duh ramble dat way. Soon es Buh Wolf come anigh
+um, Buh Rabbit biggin fuh sing say him gwine teh Hebben, way him will
+hab nuttne fuh do cept joy ehself; way him will hab no corn fuh grine,
+no tetter fuh dig, no cotton fuh pick, no rice fuh hoe, an no chillun
+fuh mine. Buh Rabbit mek tense luk him so happy case de Lord dist er
+commin fuh tek um right up eenter de element.
+
+Buh Wolf stop. Eh listne teh Buh Rabbit. Eh yeddy close, an den eh say:
+“Buh Rabbit, enty dat duh you woice?” Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Yes,
+Budder, dis duh me.” Den Buh Wolf ax um wuh eh duh do een dat crocus
+bag. Buh Rabbit tell um say him dist fix ehself dat er way so de Lord
+kin fine um handy fuh tek um right up eenter Hebben; an den eh say:
+“Good-bye, Buh Wolf, I leff all me trial behine; you no gwine see me no
+mo; me gwine leff right off fuh Hebben.” Buh Wolf now, him yent hab no
+better sense den fuh bleebe wuh Buh Rabbit duh talk; an eh bague Buh
+Rabbit fuh leh him jine um an go long um. Buh Rabbit, him mek answer:
+“Me Budder, me glad fuh bleege you, but de good Lord tell me say only
+one at er time kin enter Hebben. Two an two cant go day.” Buh Wolf
+bague. Eh bague. At lenk Buh Rabbit mek tense say eh gie way caze Buh
+Wolf bague um so bad, an eh say: “Well, Budder, you seem so anxious me
+gwine leh you tek me chance dis time, an me will haffer wait topper de
+Lord tel narruh tun.”
+
+Wid dat eh tell Buh Wolf fuh loose de bag offer de tree lim, an ontie
+um. Arter Buh Wolf done do dis, Buh Rabbit git out, an Buh Wolf tek
+eh place een de bag. Buh Rabbit tie up de mout er de bag berry tight,
+an heng um gen on de tree lim. Buh Wolf, lucker fool, duh set eenside
+duh spec fuh rise ter Hebben. Buh Rabbit now, eh so glad eh free, eh
+hop off one side an hide ehself een one gall-berry ticket, way nobody
+kin shum, an cock eh yez fuh notus wuh gwine happne. Eh know say big
+trouble gwine come topper Buh Wolf.
+
+Eh yent bin berry long wen yuh come Buh Alligatuh duh tote er keen
+black lash. Eh gone right up ter de bag, an eh gen um er nasty cut.
+Den eh haul back an eh gen de bag anurrer whaling ub er lick. Eh no
+bin know say Buh Rabbit bin git out, an dat Buh Wolf bin eenside. Buh
+Wolf couldnt mek out wuh bin gwine on. De lick hot um so bad eh holler
+out: “Wudder dat? Who duh dat? Wuh hoona duh do long me? Lemme lone.”
+Buh Alligatuh so bex eh yent yeddy say eh bin Buh Wolf woice, an eh
+keep duh pile on de lick tell eh tare de crocus an cut de bag down. Buh
+Wolf all lick up so eh casely kin walk. Wen eh scuffle outer de bag,
+Buh Alligatuh fine out fuh de fus time say eh binner whale up Buh Wolf,
+steader Buh Rabbit wuh bin tief eh agg. Den Buh Alligatuh ax Buh Wolf
+pardon, an mek um tell um huccum Buh Rabbit bin fool um an git um fuh
+tek eh place een de bag. Buh Alligatuh bex an sorry all two: eh bex
+caze Buh Rabbit play dat trick an git way; eh sorry caze Buh Wolf beat
+up so sewere. All dis time Buh Rabbit duh squat een de bush, way eh kin
+see an yeddy ebry ting, duh half kill ehself wid laugh.
+
+All de sorry wuh Buh Alligatuh bin sorry fuh Buh Wolf yent bin done
+um no good. Eh bin bruise up so bad eh haffer tek eh bed fuh mona two
+week, an all dat time Buh Wolf fambly mose dead long hongry.
+
+Buh Alligatuh an Buh Wolf all two mek plan fuh ketch Buh Rabbit, but
+dem nebber did obertek um. No matter wuh de trouble, Buh Rabbit always
+hab sense nough fuh clear ehself. Eh yent hab dem long yez an big yeye
+fuh nuttne.
+
+
+
+
+                                  LIII.
+
+                           DE DYIN BULL-FROG.
+
+One time er ole Bull-Frog bin berry sick an spectin fuh dead. All eh
+fren een de pon collec roun um an eh fambly, fuh nuss um an tek dem
+las look at um. Dat ole Frog bin hab er noung wife an heap er leely
+chillun. Eh berry trouble een eh breas bout who gwine mine eh fambly
+arter eh gone. Wen eh woice biggin fuh fail um, an dist befo eh dead,
+eh say: “Me fren, who gwine tek me wife wen de breaf leff dis yer
+body?” Eh fren all holler out at de top er dem woice: “Me me. Me me. Me
+me.” Den eh quire: “Who er you gwine mine me leely chillun?” Fuh some
+time eh yent yeddy no answer; an den de answer come back ter um one by
+one from all ober de pon, an een er deep woice: “Yent der me. Yent der
+me. Yent der me.”
+
+Heap er people willin’ fuh notus er pooty noung widder, wen dem no want
+bodder long narruh man chillun.
+
+
+
+
+                                  LIV.
+
+                  BUH RABBIT, BUH PATTRIDGE, AN DE COW.
+
+Buh Rabbit, him berry greedy, an him lub fuh tell lie. Him an Buh
+Pattridge mek greement fuh kill Cow. Buh Pattridge ax Buh Rabbit: “Way
+we gwine butcher um?” Buh Rabbit say: “Less we dribe um close up ter my
+house befo we kill um.” Dem done dat, an arter dem kill an skin de Cow,
+dem cut um up fuh share um. Den Buh Rabbit tell Buh Pattridge: “You
+tek one er de fore-quarter, caze you know you leetle an cant tote much
+one time, an me radder you tek de fore-quarter anyhow, caze eh nex de
+heart, an eh mo sweeter den de res er de meat.” So Buh Pattridge tek
+one er de fore-quarter an leff fuh him house.
+
+Soon es Buh Pattridge gone duh tote eh meat home, Buh Rabbit tun een
+an tote all de res er de Cow ter him house, an pit um een eh room, an
+lock de do. Den eh stan outside duh watch fuh see wen Buh Pattridge
+would er come back fuh mo meat, so dem all two could er meet same time
+at de place way dem bin butcher de Cow. Buh Rabbit leh Buh Pattridge
+git er leely way ahead er um es dem gwine back ter de spot way de Cow
+bin kill, an wen eh come up eh say: “Hi! Buh Pattridge, way all de
+meat gone?” Buh Pattridge, him mek answer: “Me dis bin gwine ax you wuh
+you bin do wid all de meat.” Buh Rabbit say: “How you kin ax me sich er
+question, wen me bin see er whole gang er Pattridge dis gone from yuh?
+Me sho say you an you fambly bin come back fuh tek anarruh tun long de
+meat.” Buh Pattridge mek answer say him an eh fambly nebber bin nigh de
+Cow sence eh fus leff um. Den Buh Rabbit schway say: “Ef eh yender you,
+somebody else muster tief de Cow meat wen we all two bin gone;” an so
+eh fool Buh Pattridge, an mek um bleebe say strange people muster slip
+up an cahr off de meat, wen all de time him binner de tief, an hab um
+lock up safe een him house.
+
+You nebber kin trus Buh Rabbit. Eh all fuh ehself; an ef you listne ter
+him tale, eh gwine cheat you ebry time, an tell de bigges lie dout wink
+eh yeye.
+
+
+
+
+                                   LV.
+
+                   DE FIDDLER, BUH TIGER, AN BUH BEAR.
+
+Long time ago dere bin er Ebo man wuh bin er great fiddler. Eh know
+better den all dem tarruh people wuffer do long fiddle. Wen eh lean
+back, an shet eh yeye, an draw eh bow fuh tru, nobody wuh yeddy kin
+keep from shuffle eh foot. Ebry body roun de settlement blan gage um
+fuh mek de music fuh dem fuh dance. One day eh bin gwine fuh keep eh
+gagement fuh play at er party. Eh hab eh fiddle een er bag. Es eh bin
+der walk tru er deep swamp, Buh Tiger an Buh Bear tek eh track an run
+um. De man skaid wus den bad, but eh wunt drap eh fiddle. Eh clime one
+tree an fix ehself een one crotch. Fus ting eh know, Buh Tiger biggin
+fuh crawl up de tree fuh ketch um. De man holler and try fuh skaid de
+beas, but eh wunt skaid. Eh keep on duh clime up. Den de man draw eh
+fiddle an eh bow outer de bag, an biggin fuh play wid all eh strenk.
+Buh Tiger bleege fuh stop teh listne ter um. Een er leely wile de chune
+sweeten Buh Tiger so bad eh forgit ter foller de man, an eh tun roun an
+come down de tree, an him an Buh Bear graff han, an all two set een
+fuh dance. De faster de fiddler play, de faster dem dance. Dem gone
+roun an roun, up an down, tel dem dead tired. At lenk dem all two so
+outdone dem bleege fuh drap der groun an try fuh ketch dem win. Dem
+cant dance er foot furder, an dem duh try fuh keep de time long dem
+head.
+
+Wen de Fiddler notus how complete dem outdone, eh slip down de tree,
+an tek eh foot een eh han, an lean fuh de place way eh bin gwine. Buh
+Tiger an Buh Bear yent hab strenk fuh foller um: an so eh music sabe um.
+
+
+
+
+                                  LVI.
+
+                      DE OLE KING AN DE NOUNG KING.
+
+Er ole King yeddy say dem gwine pit er noung King een him place. De
+ting worry um an mek um bex. Eh want fuh keep eh trone: so eh gen order
+teh eh head man fuh mek him soldier kill all de ole people een de
+nation, so de noung King shant hab no wise pusson fuh help um cahr on
+de bidness er de kingdom. De soldier tek dem gun an dem club, an dem
+massacree all de ageable people een de lan.
+
+Den de ole King sen wud teh de noung King, wuh de people bin pick out
+fuh rule ober dem, dat eh mus fetch um er fat hog, but eh musnt be
+eider er sow-hog, neider er bo-hog, but eh mus be er fat hog.
+
+Wen de noung King git de message, eh tun dis answer: “Tell de ole King
+say me hab er fat barruh een de pen, an him mus come fur um; but eh
+musnt come een de day, ner eh musnt come fuh um een de night.” De ole
+King, wen eh yeddy dis message, mek up eh mine say de noung King mus
+hab heap er sense, er else some wise man muster help um; an eh couldnt
+see how dat kin be, case all de ole an de wise people een de nation
+done kill. Eh no bin know dat wen de order gie fuh stroy all de ole
+people een de kingdom, de noung King hide eh farruh een one holler
+tree, an so eh mek eh scape from de soldier, an bin day fuh gen eh son
+sense.
+
+De noung King tun sich er smart answer, wid de help er eh farruh, dat
+de ole King couldnt mek out wuh time fuh gone fuh de fat hog; an so
+eh gib up, an de noung King, befo long, come an tun um out an tek eh
+office.
+
+
+
+
+                                  LVII.
+
+                          BUH GOAT AN BUH WOLF.
+
+Buh Goat berry faid tunder an lightnin an rain. One day big tunder
+storm rise een de wes, an eh rain, an eh lightnin, an eh hail. Buh
+Goat an eh wife bin er feed een de wood close by Buh Wolf house. Wen
+de lightnin flash, an de tunder roll, an de rain po down, dem faid fuh
+stay een de wood, an dem run teh Buh Wolf house, an dem bague um fuh
+leh dem come een tel de storm done ober. Buh Wolf tell dem yes; an eh
+tun Buh Goat an eh wife een de shedroom, an eh shet de do behine dem
+an latch um. Buh Wolf shedroom yent bin hab bode flo. Eh mek topper
+de neked dut. Arter Buh Wolf done shet up Buh Goat an eh wife, eh git
+eh fiddle an eh biggin fuh play an sing: “Tenky goolly God, tunder
+an lightnin done sen meat een me house. Tenky goolly God, tunder an
+lightnin done sen meat een me house.” Buh Goat wife yeddy wuh Buh Wolf
+bin er play an sing, an eh say teh eh husbun: “Enty you yeddy wuh
+Buh Wolf duh play an duh sing: ‘Tenky goolly God, tunder an lightnin
+done sen meat een me house’? Him gwine kill an eat we. Better leh we
+grabble out an leff.” All dis time Buh Wolf wife bin er tell eh husbun:
+“You better mine wuh you duh sing. You better keep you mout shet. Buh
+Goat an eh wife gwine yeddy wuh you duh say.” Buh Wolf wouldnt listen
+ter um. Eh wouldnt stop. Him say de rain duh fall so hebby Buh Goat an
+him wife couldnt mek out wuh him duh sing. Wile dis bin er gwine on,
+Buh Goat an eh wife busy duh grabble, grabble, grabble onder de sill er
+de shedroom tel dem mek hole big nough fuh dem fuh crawl out, an den
+dem slip out an gone.
+
+Wen de rain stop, Buh Wolf heng up eh fiddle an gone git eh knife,
+an pit eh pot on de fire, en sharpen eh knife on de pot rim. Den eh
+onlatch de shedroom do an gone een fuh cut de troat er Buh Goat an eh
+wife. De fus ting eh fine out, Buh Goat an eh wife done gone. Eh holler
+back ter him wife an eh say: “Ole ooman! Buh Goat an eh wife git way.”
+De ole ooman--wuh bin Buh Wolf wife--mek answer: “Enty me bin tell
+you say Buh Goat an eh wife gwine yeddy? Duh you mek dat. Ef you bin
+do es me bin tell you, an keep you big mout shet, you bin hab um all
+two now.” Den Buh Wolf an eh wife biggin fuh quarrel an fight caze Buh
+Wolf skaid Buh Goat an eh wife an lem git way. Buh Wolf wife lick eh
+husbun tel eh holler, an eh tell um eh shant stay een de house bedout
+eh fine um een meat. Buh Wolf bague berry hard, an eh prommus say ef eh
+wife lem go him will hunt an fetch bittle right off. Den eh wife tun um
+loose, an Buh Wolf gone fuh git meat.
+
+Een de arternoon er de same day, wile Buh Wolf bin er hunt bittle,
+eh meet up wid Buh Goat, an eh ax um: “Buh Goat, wuh sort er mean
+trick dat wuh you bin do me dis mornin?” Buh Goat, him bex, an him
+mek answer: “How you hab de face fuh talk long me an ax me sich er
+question? Enty you bin fix fuh kill me an me wife dis mornin arter you
+done gie we de freedom er you house? Enty we yeddy you sing an tenk de
+Lord case tunder an lightnin sen meat een you house? You hab er bad
+heart. You no duh frien.” Buh Wolf, him say: “You mek mistake. Me no
+bin gwine hot you. Me dist bin er fun.” Buh Goat answer: “Yes, you yiz
+bin mek up you mine fuh kill we. Haw Buck! me lub my life dist es much
+es you lub yourn, an me no want hab nuttne mo fuh do long you.” Wen
+Buh Wolf fine eh couldnt fool Buh Goat, eh change eh chune an eh say:
+“Go long, Boy. You git way one time, but narruh chance gwine come; an
+de nex time me git you een me power me yent gwine wait topper nuttne,
+but me gwine pick you bone right off.” Buh Goat laugh at um, an eh
+answer: “Now you done speak you mine, lemme tell you, you nebber gwine
+git narruh chance fuh ketch me. Me boun fuh watch you.” An so dem part
+company. Buh Goat nebber did trus Buh Wolf from dat day tel dis.
+
+
+
+
+                                 LVIII.
+
+                  DENTISTRY AT THE OLD PLANTATION HOME.
+
+The incident which we relate occurred some forty years ago at one
+of those beautiful plantations in the swamp-region of Georgia,
+where the magnolia grandiflora and the live-oak mingled their noble
+shadows,--where the cultivation of rice and sea-island cotton engaged
+the attention of the agriculturalist,--where generous hospitality and
+a patriarchal civilization abode,--and where, at a remove from city,
+all operations were conducted within the limits of the liberal domain,
+and through the intervention of means and servants appurtenant to the
+long-established and abundant home.
+
+Prominent among the domestics on this plantation was Daddy Jack. A
+favorite servant, intelligent, obedient, courteous, and with the
+manners of the old school, he was now verging upon sixty. Among other
+duties devolved upon him was the general supervision of the plantation
+infirmary where the sick were carefully nursed and supplied with
+medicine and suitable food. Acquiring considerable knowledge in the
+treatment of ordinary diseases incident to climate and exposure,
+he had become, in the estimation of his fellow-servants, a famous
+leech; and was at all times prepared, with entire self-possession
+and dignity, to indulge in blood-letting, to administer purgatives,
+prescribe hot baths, and recommend tonics. A pint of blood to reduce
+the pulse, then ten grains of calomel, followed in the morning by half
+a teacup of castor-oil containing three or four drops of turpentine
+to impart additional potency to the dose, and finally snake-root tea
+to brace up the halting system, constituted the practice in vogue in
+cases of ordinary fever. If this vigorous treatment failed of the
+desired effect, a repetition was generally resolved upon; and so
+the patient, sometimes enfeebled to such a degree that he no longer
+afforded attractive food for disease, slowly recovered in spite of
+this San Grado regimen. As a supplement to his professional labors
+as a physician, Daddy Jack indulged, in a rude way, in the art of
+dentistry. He understood how to cut around an aching tooth with the
+same lancet which he employed in blood-letting from the arm. He knew
+how to annihilate an exposed and throbbing nerve with a ten-penny nail
+heated red-hot. With the use of an old-fashioned extractor, with which
+to pry out an offending molar tooth, sometimes even at the expense
+of a fractured jaw, he was familiar. In the absence of a suitable
+instrument, a strong twine string, well waxed, sufficed to pull out an
+incisor.
+
+On one occasion a strolling Yankee dentist visited the neighborhood.
+For the first time Jack beheld sundry appliances which modern ingenuity
+had devised for the facile extraction of teeth. In his old methods he
+at once lost confidence. Application was made to his master for the
+immediate purchase of certain designated lancets, and for pairs of
+forceps, both straight and curved. His wish was gratified, and the
+plantation was notified that he now possessed instruments with which
+teeth might be extracted readily and with the least amount of pain.
+An era of increased practice and of enlarged professional emolument
+quickly dawned. It really appeared as if there was scarcely a negro
+upon the plantation who did not have at least one tooth which “hot
+um,” and which “eh wan Buh Jack fuh pull out fuh um.” The old man’s
+services were frequently called into requisition, and his reputation so
+increased that numbers from adjacent plantations sought and obtained
+relief at his hands.
+
+One bright spring morning, a stalwart young carpenter, John by name,
+who had been suffering from a decayed jaw-tooth of huge proportions,
+presented himself with swollen face and most lugubrious countenance.
+The customary fee of a quarter of a dollar was paid in advance, and
+Daddy Jack made ready for the operation. Seating John in a wooden chair
+in the yard, and with his face turned to the sun so that the old man
+could “git er fair sight at de teet,” Jack proceeded with his lancet
+to separate the tooth, as far as practicable, from the engorged and
+circumjacent gum. John squirmed and indulged in heart-rending groans.
+As the cutting proceeded and the blood trickled from the corners
+of John’s mouth, Jack encouraged his demoralized patient with the
+injunction: “Tan ter um luk er man, me son. Eh yen gwine hot you much.
+Eh yen gwine tek long. Me mose done. Me soon git um out.”
+
+This preliminary operation concluded, Jack produced his forceps. John,
+already appalled at the suffering which he had endured, gazed upon
+the instrument with eyes as big as saucers, and resolutely closed
+his mouth. To Jack’s command that he open it, he responded: “De teet
+yent duh hot me no mo. I gwine.” After much persuasion Jack prevailed
+upon him to open his mouth and let him “tek de ting out.” At length
+the old man firmly grasped the tooth with the forceps, and began to
+haul away at it. As he pulled, John commenced to rise from his seat.
+Jack endeavored, with the left hand, to keep him down, while he tugged
+lustily at the tooth with his right. All to no purpose. John was
+quickly upon his feet, and then upon tiptoe, so that Jack could no
+longer operate to any advantage. It seemed as if for once the sable
+dentist was to be baffled in his aim. Nothing daunted, however, and
+muttering imprecations upon his unfortunate victim, he slowly backed
+across the yard, drawing John after him,--who meanwhile was giving
+utterance to the most miserable and unearthly sounds from his bloody
+jaws, and attempting, with uplifted hands, to arrest the traction
+of the resolute old man, who refused for an instant to relax his
+hold,--until he reached a flight of steps which led up to the main room
+of the smoke-house. Here he hoped to acquire the advantage which he
+so much desired. Ascending backward three of the steps, and quickly
+placing his right foot upon John’s shoulder, so as to keep him below
+and thus obtain an additional purchase, with one supreme effort he
+succeeded in compassing his purpose. The tooth came out so suddenly
+that the old man, losing his balance, fell heavily against the door of
+the smoke-house, while John tumbled in the opposite direction, yelling
+with pain, and protesting that “Uncle Jack done broke eh jaw.”
+
+Recovering himself in a trice, and holding aloft the forceps, which
+still infolded in its remorseless fangs the gory molar, with an
+indescribable air of commingled dignity, scorn, and triumph addressing
+the discomfited victim of his professional skill, old Jack exclaimed:
+“Haw, Boy! when I graff my han on er teet, eh bown fuh come, er de jaw
+pop,--one er tarruh.”
+
+In after years the old man often recurred with manifest pride and
+satisfaction to this incident, and frequently cited this exploit in
+confirmation of his boast “dat no nigger teet ebber yet did git de
+better er me.”
+
+
+
+
+                                  LIX.
+
+                      THE NEGRO AND THE ALLIGATOR.
+
+Foremost among the reptiles which excited the curiosity and aroused
+the fears of the Georgia colonists, upon their first acquaintance
+with them, were the alligators. Francis Moore, keeper of the stores,
+describing them in 1736, says: “They are terrible to look at,
+stretching open an horrible large mouth big enough to swallow a Man,
+with Rows of dreadful large sharp Teeth, and Feet like Draggons, armed
+with great Claws, and a long Tail which they throw about with great
+Strength, and which seems their best Weapon, for their Claws are feebly
+set on, and the Stiffness of their Necks hinders them from turning
+nimbly to bite.” In order to dissipate the general terror which these
+strange saurians inspired, Mr. Oglethorpe, having wounded and caught
+one of them, caused it to be carried to Savannah, where he “made the
+boys bait it with sticks, and finally pelt and beat it to death.”
+
+To the European, newly landed on these shores, the alligator was
+indeed a novelty, repulsive and provocative of dread. Not so with the
+negro. His ancestors were well acquainted with the African crocodile,
+and their descendants, dwelling in this marsh region filled with
+swamps and cypress ponds, and permeated with lagoons, creeks, and
+rivers--the habitat of this formidable reptile--were from childhood
+familiar with its roar, and entirely accustomed to its unsightly
+appearance and habits. Among these sable myth-makers it figured as
+an important _dramatis persona_. Of the dogs, geese, ducks, and hogs
+of the plantation hands it was an avowed and a voracious enemy. When
+skinned and thoroughly boiled, its tail was esteemed by many as a
+savory article of food. For the cure of rheumatism its oil was held
+in special repute, and the exuded musk was collected for medicinal
+uses. Its skin, rudely tanned, entered largely into the composition
+of home-made pouches and shoes. Whistles and powder-charges were
+fabricated from the tusks, which also served a good turn for the
+pickaninnies to rub their swollen gums against, and to cut their first
+teeth upon. A constant depredator was the alligator upon the fish-traps
+which guarded the mouths of the short creeks emptying into the rivers.
+Upon the reflux of the tide, entering the inclosure, this reptile
+gorged itself upon the fishes there detained, and incurred the wrath
+of Cuffee, whose frying-pan was thus cheated out of its anticipated
+evening broil. Hence it came to pass that the alligator was regarded by
+the negro both as an enemy and as desirable game. During the spring and
+summer they frequently met, and whenever the former could be taken at a
+disadvantage its life was forfeit to the opportunity. It was killed in
+rice-field ditches, in shallow ponds, and occasionally upon land. The
+hoe, the axe, a fence rail, and the club were the offensive weapons;
+and loud were the cries and great was the fun while the struggling
+reptile was being beaten to death. In the back-waters and in swamps
+where the alligators made their nests, reared their young, and dug
+their holes, the negroes, during their leisure hours, were fond of
+capturing them by means of a heavy iron hook fastened to the end of a
+long, stout pole. This was thrust into the hole where the reptile lay.
+While snapping at the hook, with its irritating prong, the alligator
+was in the end securely caught with the barb, and then came the tug of
+war. It was in no wise an easy operation to draw from its hiding-place
+one of these reluctant, excited, and revolving monsters. For this
+purpose the combined strength of several stalwart men barely sufficed.
+The frolic was joyous, and the exultant shouts of those engaged in the
+sport awakened strange echoes in the depths of the dank and moss-clad
+swamps.
+
+If we may credit the text of the “Brevis Narratio” of Le Moyne de
+Morgues, the Florida Indians were addicted to similar sport, and Plate
+XXVI may well be claimed in practical illustration of the amusement to
+which we are now alluding.
+
+During the period of hibernation the negroes often dug these reptiles
+out of their holes. Sometimes the alligator attained huge proportions,
+measuring, from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, fourteen
+feet. It was fond of a given locality, and exercised exclusive dominion
+over some favorite bend in the river, some chosen part of a lake, or
+some attractive pool in the swamp. The patriarch, with its attendant
+consort and progeny, there reigned supreme, unless, after severe
+battle, it was driven away by one more powerful.
+
+In ante-bellum days, when firearms were denied to the negro population,
+alligators were far more numerous than they are at present. The great
+demand for their skins which has arisen of late, the use of the rifle
+in the hands of the tourist, and the employment of the shot-gun by
+the freedmen have united in causing a frightful mortality among these
+reptiles. Bartram says that when he visited the River St. John the
+alligators at one point “were in such incredible numbers, and so close
+together from shore to shore, that it would have been easy to have
+walked across on their heads, had the animals been harmless.”
+
+For the capture of animals drinking at the water’s edge, or swimming
+in lake or river, the tail was employed. A stunning blow having thus
+been delivered, the victim was caught in the open jaws, and thence
+transported to the dwelling-place of the reptile, where it was guarded
+until decomposition had fairly supervened. It was then eaten at leisure
+and with apparent relish. Sometimes days were allowed to elapse before
+the slain animal or bird became suitably seasoned for the feast.
+
+While hogs, dogs, calves, sheep, geese, and ducks were often captured
+by alligators, they seldom attacked human beings. Of mankind they
+apparently entertained an inborn fear, and would quit the part of the
+river or lagoon in which men or even boys were swimming. Instances are
+rare in which human life has been sacrificed to the voracity of these
+monsters. The writer remembers several occasions, however, on which
+men and children were attacked by alligators. He will be pardoned for
+recalling one of them.
+
+Sawney had a wife who resided upon a neighboring plantation. It was
+his habit to visit his wife every Saturday night, and remain with her
+until Monday morning. On these journeys he would carry a bag containing
+provisions and such choice morsels as he had been able, during the
+week, to accumulate for his better half. Near the negro quarter, where
+he resided on the home-plantation, was a small creek, in which the tide
+ebbed and flowed. A large log furnished convenient means for crossing
+it. On the night in question, shortly after dark, Sawney shouldered
+his well-filled bag and set out for his wife’s house. The tide was
+flowing into the creek. Instead of crossing on the log, he saw fit to
+descend the gentle bank and wade through the water. It was not more
+than half-leg deep, and the creek was only some ten yards wide. When
+he was in the middle of the stream his attention was attracted by a
+movement in the water. Instead of getting out upon the bank, which he
+could readily have done, he paused, and began to parley with what, in
+the darkness, he conceived to be a “sperit.” “Tan back, Mossa Sperit,
+an lemme pass. Tan back, Mossa Sperit; me do you no harm.” In this
+idiotic and frightened manner he stood idly talking, until what proved
+to be a large alligator approached and laid violent hold of his right
+leg. He was quickly thrown down by the reptile. In the confusion which
+ensued, and amid the struggles and yells of the negro, the alligator
+for the moment relaxed its hold, and was attracted by the fallen bag,
+which it tore in pieces. Sawney had so completely lost his wits, was
+so terrified, and was suffering so much pain, that he neglected to
+improve the opportunity thus afforded, and betake himself to flight. He
+remained rooted to the spot, howling, praying, and calling for help.
+Having in a little while disposed of the bag, the alligator renewed
+its attack upon the frightened negro, threw him down, broke his left
+arm, and frightfully lacerated it and one of his legs.
+
+The negroes at the quarter hard by, hearing the noise and cries for
+help, armed with torches, hoes, axes, and billets, rushed to the spot
+just in time to save the life of the unfortunate man. The alligator was
+beaten to death. It measured nearly eleven feet, and was very stout.
+Sawney’s wounds proved well-nigh fatal. He was confined to his cabin
+for quite three months, and, during that time, required and received
+the careful attention of a competent surgeon.
+
+The lazy way in which the negro was in the habit of fishing, perched
+upon a tussock, with feet and rod trailing in the water, somnolent and
+in utter silence, did sometimes invite and receive a flirt from the
+tail of the reigning alligator, defending its preserves against all
+poachers.
+
+The old memories are fast drifting away into the shadows, and the
+modern negro and the alligator of the present are but partial types of
+things that were.
+
+
+
+
+                                   LX.
+
+                                SPERITS.
+
+Among the negroes of the coast region of Georgia and the Carolinas a
+belief in the existence of ghosts, “sperits,” and superhuman influences
+was very general. Especially did it obtain among the ordinary
+field-hands and those least educated. Comparatively few there were
+who could lift themselves entirely above the superstitious fears born
+in Africa and perpetuated by tradition in their new home. Memories of
+Fetichism, of Totemism, and of Anthropomorphism were strangely mingled
+with the teachings of Christianity, and in their religious exercises
+the emotional predominated over the intellectual. The potency of charms
+and philters was freely admitted, and it was necessary to restrain the
+practice of Fetichism by positive inhibition, or by labored persuasion
+of its utter absurdity. The fabrication of Fetiches, and their sale
+to those who desired to utilize the powers of the deities which they
+were supposed to represent, were monopolized by old women, who derived
+considerable gain from this calling. The idea was by such means to
+conjure the neighbor against whom enmity was cherished, and thus
+subject him or her to the malign influences of the spirit or demon
+whose power was supposed to inhere in the evil charm.
+
+The ordinary Fetich consisted of a bunch of rusty nails, bits of red
+flannel, and pieces of brier-root tied together with a cotton string. A
+toad’s foot, a snake’s tooth, a rabbit’s tail, or a snail’s shell was
+sometimes added. In price it varied from twenty-five cents to a dollar.
+To insure the efficacy of the desired spell, it was necessary that
+the charm should be secretly deposited under the pillow of the party
+to be affected, placed upon the post of a gate through which he would
+pass, or buried beneath the doorsteps of his cabin. Once persuaded of
+the fact that he had been thus conjured, the patient became possessed
+of superstitious fears, and often complained of bodily “miseries,”
+which apparently defied the power of the healing art, and were wholly
+dissipated only when some atonement was made for the alleged wrong, or
+payment offered to have the spell broken through the intervention of
+the conjurer who had devised it.
+
+In the conduct of plantations, difficulty and annoyance were not
+infrequently experienced from the interference of these old negro
+women,--conjurers,--who, in plying their secret trade, gave rise to
+disturbances and promoted strife and disquietude.
+
+To the apprehension of the common field-hand there was no gainsaying
+the fact that the spirits of the departed walked the earth and
+revisited the scenes of their former occupancy. It was not accorded
+to every one to see and to commune with them. Only those “born with
+a caul” were capable of doing so. Such were never terrified by these
+ghostly visitors. By their fellows they were held in special esteem.
+To this favored class did July belong. I inquired, on one occasion,
+whether he believed in ghosts and could see spirits. “Yes, Mossa,” was
+his reply, “me kin shum. You know me bin born wid caul. People wuh no
+bin born wid caul kin yeddy sperit, but dem cant shum. Sperit kin skade
+um, too, but dem cant skade me. Me kin walk long um der road, talk ter
+um een de bush, see dem een me bed, and yeddy um een de grabe yad. Me
+an sperit good fren.”
+
+How do they look? “Same luk wen dem bin libe, ceptin dem look lucker
+shadder, an dem walk backwuds, an dem face tun backwud, an de heel teh
+eh foot day way eh toe orter be. Dem dont tetch de groun wid dem foot,
+but dem sorter dis skim pon topper de grass. Dem so light dem cant mek
+track.”
+
+What garments do they wear? “Same cloze wuh dem bury een. Way dem gwine
+git any mo? De cloze hab eh shape, but you kin see dey yent nuttne
+eenside er um.”
+
+What do they do? “Nuttne, so fur es me know, cept walk bout, wisit dem
+ole home, an notus wuh duh gwine on sence dem leff.”
+
+Do they ever trouble anybody? “No, me nebber see dem trubble nobody.
+Dem wunt talk ter you. Dem go een gang ob two er tree, an wander bout
+tel sich an sich er time, wen dem haffer go back ter dem grabe. Me see
+dem wuk dem mouf same luk dem bin er talk ter one anurrer, an shake dem
+head, an pint dem finger. Dem onderstan one anurrer. Me bin question
+dem mo na once, but dem nebber will mek answer. Heap er time me jine
+compny wid dem der big road, an try fuh gage dem een conbersation, an
+fine out who dem yis, an how dey mek out; but dem nebber will tell me,
+an, befo long, look luk dem git bex, an den dey fade way een de wood an
+leff me lone een de road.”
+
+Can you recognize them? “Yes, Mossa, ef I bin know dem befo dey dead,
+I kin know dem now. Me kin see dem dist es plain es me kin see you
+now. Only tarruh night me bin comin from Barnedo plantation. Dest es I
+cross de causeway an rise de hill by Shannul ole buryin-groun me see
+Miley,--wuh bin dead de year arter freedom,--duh lean genst one oak
+tree sider de road. Day dis biggin fuh broke. Me gone up ter um an me
+try fuh pass de time er day wid um, fuh me yent bin see um sence dat
+rainy ebenin wen we bury um in Shannul. Miley look say eh bin want fuh
+ax me someting; an den, all ob a sutten, eh check isself, an eh tun
+roun an mek off fuh de grabe-yad. Me foller um, an wen eh come teh eh
+own grabe eh pit eh head down, an eh gie two er tree whul, an down eh
+gone. Me walk up en sarche de grabe. Me cant fine out how Miley git
+een. De grass yent mash. De groun yent broke; no hole day: an yet me
+see um, wid me own yeye, gone down, head foremose, een eh grabe.
+
+“Las winter me en George bin er hunt possum een Jerrido bottom. We bin
+ketch two fat possum, an dest befo we mek up we mine fuh go back home
+we buil one fire fuh wam weself. De night berry cole. Wen we bin er wam
+we han an we foot roun de fire, yuh come ole Uncle Andrew, wuh nusen
+ter dribe fur ole Mossa, an ole Uncle Jupter, wuh bin de gadner, an ole
+Aunt Peggy. Dem walk up tarrur side de fire an look at we, but dem yent
+bin crack eh teet ter we. Me see dem plain, en me try fuh pint dem out
+to George. Him couldnt shum, cause George yent bin born wid caul. De
+dog nebber notus um. Bimeby George hair biggin fuh rise. George skade,
+an we leff fuh de nigger house.
+
+“You member Jacob wuh dem bin heng een de Boro? Well, me an Sam meet um
+one moon-shiny night een de big road, wid de een er de rope tie roun
+eh neck. Me kin tell you bout heap er people me bin meet an see arter
+dem done dead an bury. Me shum mose ebry night. Me kin show you some
+ter-night ef you bin born wid caul. Many time dem people wuh cant see
+sperit come pon top dem an dunno nuttne bout um. Enty wen you duh walk
+long de road der night you suttenly feel hot win bresh by you cheek?
+Enty you sometime smell dead man finger? Enty you yeddy bush crack der
+wood wen de win yent der blow? Dem duh sperit, but you no know. Sperit
+der walk close by you, but you no shum. Me could pint dem out an tell
+you who dem yiz.”
+
+Are you not afraid of these spirits? “No, Mossa; wuh me gwine fade um
+fuh? Dem nuttne cept de shape er people wid de sperit eenside. De bone
+an meat done leff um. Dem cant hot nobody. Eh breff cant pizen you; an
+ef eh did knock at you, eh dis same es ef win try fuh hit you.”
+
+Why do they come out of their graves? “Me dunno, cept dem want fuh see
+one anurrer, an wisit dem ole home, an look pon topper dem ole fren.”
+
+Are they all grown? “No, sir; you see dem all size, leetle an big, man
+an ooman, gal an boy, an leely baby. My leely Sue, wuh dead, blan come
+an play bout de house ebry now an den. One time me try fuh ketch um up
+in me arm, but me han gone clean tru um dis luk er shadder, an den eh
+wanish, an me so sorry.”
+
+These notions of July may be accepted as typifying the belief on this
+subject entertained by the great majority of the negroes on the coast.
+Many went a step further, and invested these ghosts and “sperits” with
+the ability to intervene in mundane affairs, and to entail harm and
+misfortune upon those with whom they had not lived amicably while in
+the flesh. It was the belief of some of the African tribes that the
+power of a ghost bore some relation to that which the being possessed
+when alive, and it may be that an inherited thought affords at least a
+partial explanation of the ideas still entertained by their descendants
+upon the shores of this New World.
+
+
+
+
+                                  LXI.
+
+                         DADDY JUPITER’S VISION.
+
+     Dreams are intimately associated with the lower forms of
+     religion.... During sleep the spirit seems to desert the
+     body; and as in dreams we visit other localities and even
+     other worlds, living as it were a separate and different
+     life, the two phenomena are not unnaturally regarded as the
+     complements of one another.--SIR JOHN LUBBOCK.
+
+
+Daddy Jupiter was an old man when I first knew him. In the capacity of
+a body servant he had accompanied his master during the campaign of
+1812-15; and this fact, apart from his excellent character, elevated
+him in the esteem of all. For many years prior to his death he was
+practically “off duty,” keeping in-doors whenever he did not feel
+entirely well, and in pleasant weather working in the vegetable garden.
+He was fond of his chickens and pigs, and cultivated on his own account
+a small patch where arrowroot, long collards, sugar-cane, tanniers,
+ground-nuts, benne, gourds, and watermelons grew in commingled
+luxuriance. A widower and without children, he led, in the main, a
+retired life; seldom visiting at the houses of the other negroes on
+the plantation, but always chatting pleasantly with all who came to
+see him. At the “Praise-House” his seat was never vacant when his
+health permitted him to be present, and he filled the office of a
+“watchman” upon the plantation. It was the duty of one occupying that
+station to advise in spiritual matters, to lead in the semi-weekly
+prayer-meetings, to set an example which others might well follow,
+and to counsel in all religious difficulties. Although somewhat
+quick-tempered, and jealous of that respect which he deemed his due
+from others, he was upright, honest, full of Christian sentiment, and
+pronounced in his condemnation of everything savoring of evil. In a
+word, he was a man of good reputation, enjoyed the confidence of his
+fellows, stood high in his church, and was supposed to be in special
+favor with the Lord.
+
+During the winter preceding his death Jupiter suffered much from
+rheumatism. For weeks together he ventured no further than the door of
+his cabin, where he would sit and sun himself and smoke his clay pipe.
+A negro lad, Cæsar by name, had been deputed to cook for him, to wait
+upon him, and to minister to his needs.
+
+I called one morning to see the old man, to inquire after his health,
+and to ascertain whether his wants were properly supplied. For an hour
+and more he entertained me, as was his wont, with tales of the olden
+time, and was evidently in excellent spirits. As I was about to depart,
+Cæsar said: “Mossa, Uncle Jupter bin hab er wision las night. Leh him
+tell you bout um.” My curiosity being excited, I resumed my seat,
+and inquired: “Daddy, is that true? Have you had a vision?” “Yes, me
+chile,” he answered, “me suttenly did hab er wision, an er berry good
+one too.” “Tell me about it,” I rejoined. “Well, yeddy me,” replied the
+old man, and he spoke as follows:--
+
+“Las night, dis befo fus fowl crow, me bin er leddown een me bed. De
+moon done set. Cæsar, him bin ter sleep by de fire een de tarruh room.
+Eberyting on de plantation gone bed. Me bin study bout de time wen
+ole Jupter hab ter meet him Lord and Master, an me berry happy een me
+bussum. Den me drap ter sleep. How long me bin ter sleep me dunno,
+but all ob er sutten pear like ebry shingle an boad hab er crack, an
+de light stream tru, an de room bin bright es day. Wile me duh wonder
+wudduh dat, four leely angel, wuh dress een wite an hab wing on eh
+back, fly een de room. Two light topper de foot er de bed, an one on
+arur side er me. My! but dem bin pooty! Me see heap er pooty wite
+chillun een me time, but me nebber bin see nuttne teh come up ter dem,
+nur ter ketch nigh um. Dem look pon topper me so kind, an dey open
+an shet dem wing, an mek sich a cool breeze een de house. Bimeby me
+retch out me han fuh tell de one huddy wuh bin tan close me bed on de
+right side, but eh draw back, an eh say: ‘Jupter, we come fuh leh you
+know de blessed Jesus duh commin fuh cahr you up ter Hebben an show
+you de seat wuh eh hab ready fur you.’ Me dat glad me yent hab bref
+fuh mek ansur. Me hard fuh bleebe me own yez. Me harte rise up een me
+troat, an me yent duh say nuttne, but me duh watch fur de Lord. Soon de
+blessed Jesus, wid de print er de nail een eh han an eh foot, an wid de
+star on eh head, drap right down tru de top er de house dout crack er
+shingle, an eh call me name, an eh tell me fuh rise, an eh pit eh han
+onder me shoulder, an eh liff me up light es er fedder. Me ole cloze
+an me ole body leff behine, an somehow narruh me sperit, him keep de
+shape er de body. Den eh pit eh han onder me arm, an eh cahr me way up
+eenter de element, beyant de sun an de moon an de star, an de leely
+angel duh foller we. We gone an we gone way up tel we git ter er big
+alablaster house, wid high piazza all roun an roun, wuh shine same luk
+de sun, buil in de middle er a beautiful gaden wid flower, an fruit, an
+hummin-bud, an butterfly, an angel wid harp duh sing an duh joy ehself
+onder de tree. Dis es we git ter de big gate, wuh mek wid pearl, eh
+swing open dout tetch um, an de blessed Jesus lead dis poor ole nigger
+up de shinin pate to de big house way de Lord lib.
+
+“We gone up de step an enter de pahler, way de great God bin er set on
+eh golden trone. Den de blessed Jesus mek de good Lord sensible dat dis
+duh Jupter wuh him hab sabe, an dat eh fetch um fuh show um eh seat
+wuh eh done prepare fur um. Wid dat de Lord, him call teh one angel,
+an eh tell um fuh bring one chair an set um down befo eh trone. Soon
+es dis bin done eh say: ‘Jupter, yuh you chair; set een um. Eh blants
+ter you.’ Mossa, you nebber bin see sech chair een all you life. Eh hab
+gold rocker ter um. Eh hab welwit cushin een eh bottom. Eh hab high
+back, an eh arm stuff. Eh so soffe an easy. Eh look pootier den dat big
+rockin chair wuh ole Mossa bin gib Missy wen eh marry you farruh. Me
+shame fuh set een de chair, but de blessed Jesus, him courage me, an me
+tek me seat, an me so tankful dat me hab one chair een de mansion een
+de sky.
+
+“Den de blessed Jesus tell anurruh angel fuh bring me some milk an
+honey fuh drink. Eh bring um een a nice glass tumbler, an eh gen me fuh
+drink. Me tase um, an eh sweet mone anyting me ebber drink een me life.
+Eh tell me fuh drink um down, an wen me drink all outer de glass, an me
+yeye ketch sight er de bottom er de tumbler, me see some speck. De ting
+trouble me, fuh me dunno wuh mek speck day een de bottom er dat clean
+tumbler. Den de blessed Master notus me, an eh say: ‘Dont fret, Jupter;
+dem speck duh you sin, but now dem all leff behine.’
+
+“All dis time me bin er set wid me face tun way from de Lord an eh
+trone, cause eh so great an bright me couldnt look pon topper um.
+Mossa, me cant scribe wuh me see an yeddy een dat Hebben. Eh yent fuh
+tell. De blessed Jesus tek me tru de gaden, down by de ribber, an een
+de orchud way de bigges peach, an fig, an orange, an pomegranate, an
+watermillion, an all kin der fruit der grow. Me see heap er good
+people wuh me bin know befo eh dead. Ole Mossa, Cappne Maxwell, ole Mr.
+Ashmore, Buh Jack, Sister Masha, me own Dinah, an mo bin day, an dem
+all hab harp, an bin der sing, an walk bout, an der pledjur ehself. Dem
+glad fuh see me too, an gen me de right han er fellership.
+
+“Arter me bin in Hebben good wile, de blessed Master, him say: ‘Come,
+Jupter, I gwine show you way de bad people go.’ Den eh lead me down to
+one bottom wuh dark an kibber wid cloud. In de fur een me see smoke duh
+rise, an me yeddy people duh cry an duh holler so bad. Wen we git ter
+dat spot, lo an behole! day was de mouf er Hell. Satan, him bin day wid
+eh pitchfork, an eh black head wid screech-owl yez, an eh red yeye, an
+eh claw-han, an eh forky tail. Eh tan right at de mouf er de big hole
+way de smoke an de fire duh bile out. Fas as de tarruh debble bring
+sinner ter um, eh push um wid eh pitchfork an eh trow um een de fire.
+Lord Amighty! Mossa, how dem sinner did kick an holler an try fuh pull
+way! But twant no use. De minnit ole Satan graff eh claw on um eh gone,
+an you could yeddy um duh fry een de fire same luk fat een me pan yuh.
+Me bin rale skade. De ting mek me sick. Me hole on ter me Jesus, an him
+tell me not teh fade, dat nuttne shill trouble me.
+
+“Dis at dat time me wake. Me hair bin a rise on me head, an wen me come
+fuh fine out me bin een me own bed, an fowl bin a crow fuh day. Oh,
+Mossa! dat ting wuh dem call Hell duh a bad place. Me no wan shum no
+mo, an me yent gwine day nurrer. Enty de blessed Jesus done show me de
+chair wuh eh done sabe fuh me een Hebben? Yes, Mossa, me seat eh fix,
+an ole Jupter ready fur go wenebber de Lord call.”
+
+He was indeed prepared, and early in the spring we laid him to rest
+beneath the venerable live-oaks which, with their solemn arms, guarded
+the plantation burying-ground. Then, not in a vision, but in reality,
+as we believe, the good old man claimed and was accorded his seat in
+the “mansion not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.”
+
+
+
+
+                                GLOSSARY
+
+
+  _Abnue_, avenue
+  _Agg_, egg
+  _All ob er sutten_, quickly and unexpectedly
+  _An_, and
+  _Arter_, after
+  _Arur_, each, either
+  _Ax_, ask
+
+  _Bactize_, baptize
+  _Bague_, to beg
+  _Barruh_, barrow
+  _Beber_, beaver
+  _Bedout_, without
+  _Ben_, bend, bent, been
+  _Berry_, very
+  _Bes_, best
+  _Bex_, vex, vexed
+  _Bidness_, business
+  _Biggin_, begin, began
+  _Bimeby_, by and by, presently
+  _Binner_, was, were
+  _Bittle_, victuals
+  _Blan_, in the habit of, accustomed to
+  _Blanks_⎫
+  _Blants_⎭ belongs to
+  _Bleebe_, believe
+  _Bleege_, obliged, compelled
+  _Bodder_, to bother
+  _Bode_, board, boards
+  _Bofe_, both
+  _Bole_, bold
+  _Boun_, resolved upon, forced to
+  _Bredder_, brother
+  _Bref_, breath
+  _Bres_, breast
+  _Bresh_, brush-wood, to brush
+  _Broke up_, to leave, to depart
+  _Brukwus_, breakfast
+  _Buckra_, white man
+  _Bud_, bird
+  _Budduh_⎫
+  _Buh_   ⎭ brother
+  _Buhhine_, behind
+  _Bun_, burn
+  _Buss_, burst, or break through
+
+  _Cahr_, carry
+  _Caze_, because
+  _Ceive_, deceive
+  _Cept_, accept, accepted, except
+  _Chillun_, children
+  _Chimbly_, chimney
+  _Chune_, tune
+  _Cist_, insist
+  _Clorte_, cloth
+  _Cloze_, clothes
+  _Cohoot_, bargain, agreement
+  _Cole_, cold
+  _Conjunct_, agree to, conclude
+  _Cote_, court
+  _Crack eh teet_, make answer
+  _Crap_, crop
+  _Crape_, scrape
+  _Cratch_, scratch
+  _Cut down_, disappointed, chagrined
+
+  _Darter_, daughter
+  _Day_, there, is, to be, am
+  _Day day_, to be there
+  _Den_, then
+  _Der_, was, were, into
+  _Dest_⎫
+  _Dist_⎭ just, only
+  _Destant_, distant, distance
+  _Det_, death
+  _Diffunce_, difference
+  _Disher_, this
+  _Do_, door
+  _Dout_, without
+  _Drap_, drop, dropped
+  _Duh_, was, were
+  _Dunno_, don’t know
+  _Dut_, dirt
+
+  _Edder_, other
+  _Eeben_, even
+  _Een_, in, end
+  _Eenwite_, invite
+  _Ef_, if
+  _Eh_, he, she, it, his, her, its
+  _Element_, the sky, upper air
+  _En_, end
+  _Enty_, are you not, are they not, do you not, do they not, is it not
+
+  _Faber_, favor
+  _Faid_, to be afraid
+  _Fambly_, family
+  _Fanner_, a shallow basket
+  _Farruh_⎫
+  _Farrur_⎭ father
+  _Feber_, fever
+  _Fedder_, feather, feathers
+  _Fiel_, field
+  _Fine_, supply with food, find
+  _Flaber_, flavor
+  _Flo_, floor
+  _Flut_, flirt
+  _Foce_, force
+  _Forrud_, forehead
+  _Fren_, friend
+  _Fros_, frost
+  _Fuh_, for
+  _Fuh sutten_, for a certainty
+  _Fuss_, first
+
+  _Gage_, engage, hire
+  _Gedder_, gather, collect
+  _Gelt_, to girt
+  _Gem_, to give
+  _Gen_, gave, again
+  _Gie_, give
+  _Gimme_, give me
+  _Glec_, neglect
+  _Glub_, gloves
+  _Gooly_, good
+  _Graff_, grab
+  _Gree_, agree, consent
+  _Grine salt_, fly round and round
+  _Guine_⎫
+  _Gwine_⎭ going, going to
+
+  _Haffer_, have to, had to
+  _Hair rise_, badly frightened
+  _Haky_ ⎫
+  _Harky_⎭ hearken to, heed
+  _Han_, hand
+  _Hanker_, long for, desire
+  _Hatchich_, hatchet
+  _Head_, get the better of
+  _Head um_, get ahead of him
+  _Hebby_, heavy
+  _Holler_, halloo, hollow
+  _Hoona_, you
+  _Hot_, to hurt
+  _Huccum_, how happens it, why, how come
+  _Huddy_, how d’ye do
+
+  _Ile me bade_, grease my mouth
+  _Isself_, himself, herself, itself, themselves
+
+  _Jew_, dew
+  _Jist_, just
+  _Juk_, jerk
+
+  _Ketch_, catch, reach to, approach
+  _Kibber_, cover
+  _Kine_, kind
+  _Knowledge_, acknowledge, admit
+
+  _Labuh_, labor
+  _Lass_, to suffice for, to last
+  _Lean fuh_, set out for
+  _Led-down_, lay down
+  _Leek_, to lick with the tongue
+  _Leely_ ⎫
+  _Leetle_⎭ little
+  _Leff_, to leave, did leave, left
+  _Leggo_, to let go
+  _Leh_, let
+  _Lemme_, let me
+  _Lenk_, length
+  _Libbin_, living
+  _Lick_, to whip, stroke of the whip
+  _Lickin_, whipping
+  _Lick back_, turn rapidly back
+  _Lief_, leave, permission
+  _Light on_, to mount
+  _Light out_, to start off
+  _Long_, with, from
+  _Lub_, love
+  _Luk_   ⎫
+  _Lucker_⎭ like
+
+  _Mange_, mane
+  _Medjuh_, measure
+  _Mek_, make, made
+  _Mek fuh_, to go to
+  _Mek out_, fare, thrive, succeed
+  _Member_, to remind
+  _Men eh pace_, increase his speed
+  _Mine_, mind, heed, take care of
+  _Miration_, wonder, astonishment
+  _Mo_, more
+  _Moober_, moreover
+  _Mona_ ⎫
+  _Moner_⎭ more than
+  _Mona dat_, more than that
+  _Mose_, almost
+  _Mossa_, master
+  _Mouf_⎫
+  _Mout_⎭ mouth
+  _Murrer_, mother
+  _Mussne_, must not
+  _Muster_, must have
+
+  _Nabor_, neighbor
+  _Narruh_, another
+  _Nebber_, never
+  _Nekked_, naked
+  _Nes_, nest
+  _New Nigger_, a negro fresh from Africa
+  _Nigh_, to draw near to
+  _Notus_, notice, observe
+  _Noung_, young
+  _Nudder_, another
+  _Nuff_, enough
+  _Nummine_, never mind
+  _Nurrer_, neither, another
+  _Nuse_, use, employ
+  _Nussen_, used to, accustomed to
+  _Nuss_, nurse
+  _Nuttne_, nothing
+
+  _Obersheer_, overseer
+  _Offer_, off of
+  _Ole_, old
+  _Ooman_, woman, women
+  _Out_, to go out, to extinguish
+  _Outer_, out of
+
+  _Pahler_, parlor
+  _Passon_, parson
+  _Pate_, path
+  _Pen pon_, depend upon
+  _Perwision_, provisions
+  _Pinder_, ground-nuts, peanuts
+  _Pint_, direct, directed, point
+  _Pintment_, appointment
+  _Pit_, put, apply
+  _Playpossum_, to fool, to practice deceit
+  _Pledjuh_, pleasure
+  _Po_, poor, pour
+  _Pon_, upon
+  _Pooty_, pretty
+  _Pose_, post
+  _Prommus_, promise
+  _Pruppus_, on purpose
+  _Pusson_, person
+
+  _Quaintun_, acquainted with
+  _Quaintance_, acquaintances
+  _Quile_, to coil, coiled
+  _Quire_, to inquire, inquired
+
+  _Rale_, very truly, really
+  _Range_, reins
+  _Rastle_, to wrestle
+  _Retch_, to reach, to arrive at
+  _Ribber_, river
+  _Riz_, rose
+  _Roose_, roost
+
+  _Sabe_, to know
+  _San_, sand
+  _Sarbis_, service, kindness
+  _Satify_ ⎫
+  _Saterfy_⎭ satisfied, happy, content
+  _Scace_, scarce
+  _Schway_, to swear, swore
+  _Scuse_, excuse
+  _Seaznin_, seasoning
+  _Sebbn_, seven
+  _Sed_, sit, sat
+  _Sed-down_, sit down, sat down
+  _Shet_, shut
+  _Sho_, sure
+  _Sholy_, surely
+  _Shum_, to see it, see him, see her, see them
+  _Sider_, on the side of
+  _Sisso_, say so
+  _Skade_, scared
+  _Smate_, smart
+  _Sofe_, soft
+  _Soon man_, very smart, wide-awake man
+  _Sorter_, sort of, after a fashion
+  _Sparruh_, sparrow
+  _Spec_, expect
+  _Spose_, expose
+  _Spute_, contest the championship with
+  _State_, start, begin
+  _Steader_⎫
+  _Stidder_⎭ instead of
+  _Straighten fur_, run rapidly for
+  _Stroy_, destroy
+  _Sukkle_, circle, fly around
+  _Summuch_, so much
+  _Sutten_, certain, sudden
+  _Suttenly_, certainly, suddenly
+  _Swade_, persuade
+  _Swode_, sword
+
+  _Tack_, to attack
+  _Tackle_, to hold to account
+  _Tan_, to stand
+  _Tarrify_, to terrify, to annoy
+  _Tarruh_ ⎫
+  _Turruh_ ⎭ the other
+  _Tase_, to taste, taste
+  _Tay_, stay
+  _Tek_, take
+  _Tek wid um_, pleased with him, her, or it
+  _Tek you foot_, to walk
+  _Tel_, until
+  _Ten_, attend to
+  _Tend_, intend
+  _Tenk_  ⎫
+  _Tenky_ ⎭ to thank, thanks
+  _Ter_ ⎫
+  _Teh_ ⎭ to
+  _Tetch_, touch
+  _Tetter_, potatoes
+  _Tick_, thick, abundant, a stick
+  _Ticket_, thicket
+  _Tickler_, particular
+  _Tief_, to steal, thief
+  _Ting_, thing
+  _Tird_, third
+  _Titter_, sister
+  _Togerruh_, together
+  _Tole_, told
+  _Topper_, on top of, on
+  _Tote_, carry
+  _Trabble_, travel
+  _Tru_, through
+  _Truss_, trust
+  _Trute_, truth
+  _Tuff_, tuft
+  _Tuk_, took
+  _Tun_, turn, return
+  _Tun flour_, to cook hominy
+
+  _Up ter de notch_, in the best style
+  _Usen_, to be in the habit of
+
+  _Vise_, to advise
+  _Vive_, revive
+
+  _Wan_, to want, to wish, want
+  _Warse_, wasp
+  _Wase_, waste
+  _Way_, where
+  _Wayebber_, wherever
+  _Whalin ob er_, enormous, severe
+  _Wid_, with
+  _Wile_, while
+  _Win_, wind
+  _Wine_, vine
+  _Wish de time er day_, to say good-bye, how d’ye do
+  _Wud_, word
+  _Wudduh dat_, what is that
+  _Wuffer_, what for, why, what to
+  _Wuh_, what, which, who
+  _Wuhebbuh_, whatever
+  _Wuk_, work
+  _Wul_, world
+  _Wunt_, will not, would not
+  _Wurrum_, worms
+  _Wus_, worse
+  _Wus den nebber_, worse than ever
+  _Wut_, worth
+
+  _Yad_, yard
+  _Yearin_, hearing
+  _Yeddy_, to hear, to hearken to
+  _Yender_ ⎫
+  _Yent_   ⎭ not, was not, were not
+  _Yent day day_, is not there, are not there
+  _Yeye_, eye, eyes
+  _Yez_, ear, ears
+  _Yiz_, am, is, to be, did
+  _Yuh_, here
+
+  _Zamine_, examine
+
+
+NUMBERS
+
+  _One_, one
+  _Two_, two
+  _Tree_, three
+  _Fo_, four
+  _Fibe_, five
+  _Six_, six
+  _Sebbn_, seven
+  _Eight_, eight
+  _Nine_, nine
+  _Ten_, ten
+  _Lebbn_, eleven
+  _Twelbe_, twelve
+  _Tirteen_, thirteen
+  _Foteen_, fourteen
+  _Fifteen_, fifteen
+  _Sixteen_, sixteen
+  _Sebbnteen_, seventeen
+  _Eighteen_, eighteen
+  _Nineteen_, nineteen
+  _Twenty_, twenty
+  _Tirty_, thirty
+  _Forty_, forty
+  _Fifty_, fifty
+  _Sixty_, sixty
+  _Sebbnty_, seventy
+  _Eighty_, eighty
+  _Ninety_, ninety
+  _One hundud_, one hundred
+  _One tousan_, one thousand
+
+
+MONTHS OF THE YEAR
+
+  _Jinnywerry_, January
+  _Febbywerry_, February
+  _Mache_, March
+  _Aprul_, April
+  _May_, May
+  _June_, June
+  _Jully_, July
+  _Augus_, August
+  _Sectember_, September
+  _October_, October
+  _Nowember_, November
+  _December_, December
+
+
+DAYS OF THE WEEK
+
+  _Mundy_, Monday
+  _Chuseday_, Tuesday
+  _Wensday_, Wednesday
+  _Tursday_, Thursday
+  _Friday_, Friday
+  _Sattyday_, Saturday
+  _Sunday_, Sunday
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber’s Note
+
+Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like
+this_. Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and were moved to the end
+of the story in which the anchor occurs. The following were amended:
+
+  Added close quotation mark to sentence:
+    “Tenky, tenky, ... me git all dis money.”
+  Changed ‘heaper’ to ‘heap er’ ... eenwite heap er fren ...
+  Changed ‘ob er’ to ‘ober’ ... all ober sutten, ...
+  Changed ‘XLI’ to ‘LXI’ for final chapter number.
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76586 ***