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By the same Author.
IN PREPARATION,
Mingo and Other
Sketches,
BY
JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS,
Author of "Nights with Uncle Remus."
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND
COMPANY, Publishers,
BOSTON.
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MYTHS AND LEGENDS
of
THE OLD PLANTATION
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY
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By JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
All rights reserved.
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CONTENTS.
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
| Chapter | Page |
| MISS MEADOWS AND BROTHER RABBIT | Frontispiece. |
| MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE | Face page 4 |
| BROTHER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL | " 14 |
| BROTHER RABBIT'S ASTONISHING PRANK | " 24 |
| MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE | " 46 |
| BROTHER FOX, BROTHER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S DAUGHTER | " 70 |
| BROTHER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS | " 82 |
| A DREAM AND A STORY | " 96 |
| BROTHER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE | " 112 |
| WHY BROTHER BEAR HAS NO TAIL | " 118 |
| AFRICAN JACK | " 136 |
| WHY THE ALLIGATOR'S BACK IS ROUGH | " 148 |
| BROTHER WOLF SAYS GRACE | " 154 |
| WHY THE GUINEA FOWLS ARE SPECKLED | " 200 |
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| BROTHER RABBIT AND THE MOSQUITOES | Face page 220 |
| THE PIMMERLY PLUM | " 232 |
| BROTHER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS | " 240 |
| BROTHER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE | " 286 |
| BROTHER RABBIT AND MR. WILDCAT | " 296 |
| BROTHER RABBIT TIES MR. LION | " 336 |
| HOW THE BEAR NURSED THE LITTLE ALLIGATOR | " 354 |
| GOOD-NIGHT | " 416 |
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INTRODUCTION.
THE volume [note] containing an instalment of thirty-four negro legends, which was given to the public three years ago, was accompanied by an apology for both the matter and the manner. Perhaps such an apology is more necessary now than it was then; but the warm reception given to the book on all sides—by literary critics, as well as by ethnologists and students of folk-lore, in this country and in Europe—has led the author to believe that a volume embodying everything, or nearly everything, of importance in the oral literature of the negroes of the Southern States, would be as heartily welcomed.
The thirty-four legends in the first volume were merely selections from the large body of plantation folk-lore familiar to the author from his childhood, and these selections were made less with an eye to their ethnological importance than with a view to presenting certain quaint and curious race characteristics, of which the world at large had had either vague or greatly exaggerated notions.
The first book, therefore, must be the excuse and apology for the present volume.
Indeed, the first book made the second a necessity; for, immediately upon its
appearance, letters and correspondence began to pour in upon the author from all
parts of the South. Much of this correspondence
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was very valuable, for it
embodied legends that had escaped the author's memory, and contained hints and
suggestions that led to some very interesting discoveries. The result is, that the
present volume is about as complete as it could be made under the circumstances,
though there is no doubt of the existence of legends and myths, especially upon the
rice plantations, and Sea Islands of the Georgia and Carolina sea-coast, which, owing
to the difficulties that stand in the way of those who attempt to gather them, are
not included in this collection.
It is safe to say, however, that the best and most characteristic of the legends current on the rice plantations and Sea Islands, are also current on the cotton plantations. Indeed, this has been abundantly verified in the correspondence of those who kindly consented to aid the author in his efforts to secure stories told by the negroes on the sea-coast. The great majority of legends and stories collected and forwarded by these generous collaborators had already been collected among the negroes on the cotton plantations and uplands of Georgia and other Southern States. This will account for the comparatively meagre contribution which Daddy Jack, the old African of the rice plantations, makes towards the entertainment of the little boy.
The difficulty of verifying the legends, which came to hand from various sources, has
been almost as great as the attempt to procure them at first hands. It is a
difficulty hard to describe. It is sometimes amusing, and sometimes irritating, but
finally comes to be recognized as the result of a very serious and impressive
combination of negro characteristics. The late Professor Charles F. Hartt, of Cornell
University, in his admirable monograph [note] on the
folk-lore of
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the Amazon regions of Brazil, found
the same difficulty among the Amazonian Indians. Exploring the Amazonian valley,
Professor Hartt discovered that a great body of myths and legends had its existence
among the Indians of that region. Being aware of the great value of these myths, he
set himself to work to collect them; but for a long time he found the task an
impossible one, for the whites were unacquainted with the Indian folk-lore, and
neither by coaxing nor by offers of money could an Indian be persuaded to relate a
myth. In most instances, Professor Hartt was met with statements to the effect that
some old woman of the neighborbood was the story-teller, who could make him laugh
with tales of the animals; but he never could find this old woman.
But one night, Professor Hartt heard his Indian steersman telling the Indian boatmen a story in order to keep them awake. This Indian steersman was full of these stories, but, for a long time, Professor Hartt found it impossible to coax this steersman to tell him another. He discovered that the Indian myth is always related without mental effort, simply to pass the time away, and that all the surroundings must be congenial and familiar.
In the introduction to the first volume of "Uncle Remus" [note] occurs this statement: "Curiously enough, I have found few negroes who will acknowledge to a stranger that they know anything of these legends; and yet to relate one is the surest road to their confidence and esteem."
This statement was scarcely emphatic enough. The thirty-four legends in the first
volume were comparatively easy to verify, for the reason that they were the most
popular among the negroes, and were easily remembered. This is
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also true of many stories in the
present volume; but some of them appear to be known only to the negroes who have the
gift of story-telling,--a gift that is as rare among the blacks as among the whites.
There is good reason to suppose, too, that many of the negroes born near the close of
the war or since, are unfamiliar with the great body of their own folk-lore. They
have heard such legends as the "Tar- Baby" story and "The Moon in the Mill-Pond," and
some others equally as graphic; but, in the tumult and confusion incident to their
changed condition, they have had few opportunities to become acquainted with that
wonderful collection of tales which their ancestors told in the kitchens and cabins
of the Old Plantation. The older negroes are as fond of the legends as ever, but the
occasion, or the excuse, for telling them becomes less frequent year by year.
With a fair knowledge of the negro character, and long familiarity with the manifold peculiarities of the negro mind and temperament, the writer has, nevertheless, found it a difficult task to verify such legends as he had not already heard in some shape or other. But, as their importance depended upon such verification, he has spared neither pains nor patience to make it complete. The difficulties in the way of this verification would undoubtedly have been fewer if the writer could have had an opportunity to pursue his investigations in the plantation districts of Middle Georgia; but circumstances prevented, and he has been compelled to depend upon such opportunities as casually or unexpectedly presented themselves.
One of these opportunities occurred in the summer of 1882, at Norcross, a little
railroad station, twenty miles north-east of Atlanta. The writer was waiting to take
the train to Atlanta, and this train, as it fortunately
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happened, was delayed. At the
station were a number of negroes, who had been engaged in working on the railroad. It
was night, and, with nothing better to do, they were waiting to see the train go by.
Some were sitting in little groups up and down the platform of the station, and some
were perched upon a pile of cross-ties. They seemed to be in great good-humor, and
cracked jokes at each other's expense in the midst of boisterous shouts of laughter.
The writer sat next to one of the liveliest talkers in the party; and, after
listening and laughing awhile, told the "Tar Baby" story by way of a feeler, the
excuse being that some one in the crowd mentioned "Ole Molly Har'." The story was
told in a low tone, as if to avoid attracting attention, but the comments of the
negro, who was a little past middle age, were loud and frequent. "Dar now!" he would
exclaim, or, "He's a honey, mon!" or, "Gentermens! git out de way, an' gin 'im
room!"
These comments, and the peals of unrestrained and unrestrainable laughter that
accompanied them, drew the attention of the other negroes, and before the climax of
the story had been reached, where Brother Rabbit is cruelly thrown into the
brier-patch, they had all gathered around and made themselves comfortable. Without
waiting to see what the effect of the "Tar Baby" legend would be, the writer told the
story of "Brother Rabbit and the Mosquitoes," and this had the effect of convulsing
them. Two or three could hardly wait for the conclusion, so anxious were they to tell
stories of their own. The result was that, for almost two hours, a crowd of thirty or
more negroes vied with each other to see which could tell the most and the best
stories. Some told them poorly, giving only meagre outlines, while others told them
passing well; but one or two, if their language
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and their gestures could have
been taken down, would have put Uncle Remus to shame. Some of the stories told had
already been gathered and verified, and a few had been printed in the first volume;
but the great majority were either new or had been entirely forgotten. It was night,
and impossible to take notes; but that fact was not to be regretted. The darkness
gave greater scope and freedom to the narratives of the negroes, and but for this
friendly curtain, it is doubtful if the conditions would have been favorable to
story-telling. But however favorable the conditions might have been, the appearance
of a note-book and pencil would have dissipated them as utterly as if they had never
existed. Moreover, it was comparatively an easy matter for the writer to take the
stories away in his memory, since many of them gave point to a large collection of
notes and unrelated fragments already in his possession.
Theal, in the preface to his collection of Kaffir Tales, [note] lays great stress upon the fact that the
tales he gives "have all undergone a thorough revision by a circle of natives. They
were not only told by natives, but were copied down by natives." It is more than
likely that his carefulness in this respect has led him to overlook a body of
folk-lore among the Kaffirs precisely similar to that which exists among the negroes
of the Southern States. If comparative evidence is worth anything,—
and it may be worthless in this instance,—
the educated natives have "cooked" the stories to suit themselves. In the
"Story of the Bird that Made Milk," the children of Masilo tell other children that
their father has a bird which makes milk. [note] The others
asked to
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see the bird, whereupon Masilo's
children took it from the place where their father has concealed it, and ordered it
to make milk. Of this milk the other children drank greedily, and then asked to see
the bird dance. The bird was untied, but it said the house was too small, and the
children carried it outside. While they were laughing and enjoying themselves the
bird flew away, to their great dismay. Compare this with the story of how the little
girl catches Brother Rabbit in the garden (of which several variants are given), and
afterwards unties him in order to see him dance. [note] There is still another version of this story, where
Mr. Man puts a bridle on Brother Rabbit and ties him to the fence. Mr. Man leaves the
throat-latch of the bridle unfastened, and so Brother Rabbit slips his head out, and
afterwards induces Brother Fox to have the bridle put on, taking care to fasten the
throat-latch.
The Brother Rabbit of the negroes is the hare, and what is "The Story of
Hlakanyana" [note] but the story of the hare and
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other animals curiously tangled,
and changed, and inverted? Hlakanyana, after some highly suggestive adventures, kills
two cows and smears the blood upon a sleeping boy. [note] The men find the cows dead, and
ask who did it. They then see the blood upon the boy, and kill him, under the
impression that he is the robber. Compare this with the story in the first volume of
Uncle Remus, where Brother Rabbit eats the butter, and then greases Brother Possum's
feet and mouth, thus proving the latter to be the rogue. Hlakanyana also eats all the
meat in the pot, and smears fat on the mouth of a sleeping old man. Hlakanyana's feat
of pretending to cure an old woman, by cooking her in a pot of boiling water, is
identical with the negro story of how Brother Rabbit disposes of Grinny-Granny Wolf.
The new story of Brother Terrapin and Brother Mink, relating how they had a diving-
match, in order to see who should become the possessor of a string of fish, is a
variant of the Kaffir story of Hlakanyana's diving-match with the boy for some birds.
Hlakanyana eats the birds while the boy is under water, and Brother Terrapin disposes
of the fish in the same way; but there is this curious difference: while Hlakanyana
has aided the boy to catch the birds, Brother Terrapin has no sort of interest in the
fish. The negro story of how Brother Rabbit nailed Brother Fox's tail to the roof of
the house, and thus succeeded in getting the Fox's dinner, is identical with
Hlakanyana's feat of sewing the Hyena's tail to the thatch. When this had been
accomplished, Hlakanyana ate all the meat in the pot, and threw the bones at the
Hyena.
But the most curious parallel of all exists between an episode in "The Story of
Hlalkanyana," and the story of how the Bear nursed the Alligators (p. 353). This
story was
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gathered by Mrs. Helen S.
Barclay, of Darien, Georgia, whose appreciative knowledge of the character and
dialect of the coast negro has been of great service to the writer. Hlakanyana came
to the house of a Leopardess, and proposed to take care of her children while the
Leopardess went to hunt animals. To this the Leopardess agreed. There were four cubs,
and, after the mother was gone, Hlakanyana took one of the cubs and ate it. When the
Leopardess returned, she asked for her children, that she might suckle them.
Hlakanyana gave one, but the mother asked for all. Hlakanyana replied that it was
better one should drink and then another; and to this the Leopardess agreed. After
three had suckled, he gave the first one back a second time. This continued until the
last cub was eaten, whereupon Hlakanyana ran away. The Leopardess saw him, and gave
pursuit. He ran under a big rock, and began to cry for help. The Leopardess asked him
what the matter was. "Do you not see that this rock is falling?" replied Hlakanyana.
"Just hold it up while I get a prop and put under it." While the Leopardess was thus
engaged, he made his escape. This, it will be observed, is the climax of a negro
legend entirely different from Daddy Jack's story of the Bear that nursed the
Alligators, though the rock becomes a fallen tree. In the "Story of the Lion and the
Little Jackal," [note] the same climax takes the shape of an
episode. The Lion pursues the Jackal, and the latter runs under an overhanging rock,
crying "Help! help! this rock is falling on me!" The Lion goes for a pole with which
to prop up the rock, and so the Jackal escapes. It is worthy of note that a tortoise
or terrapin, which stands next to Brother Rabbit in the folk-lore of the Southern
negroes, is the cause of Hlakanyana's death. He places a
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Tortoise on his back and carries
it home. His mother asks him what he has there, and he tells her to take it off his
back. But the Tortoise would not be pulled off, Hlakanyana's mother then heated some
fat, and attempted to pour it on the Tortoise, but the Tortoise let go quickly, and
the fat fell on Hlakanyana and burnt him so that he died. The story concludes: "That
is the end of this cunning little fellow."
Theal also gives the story of Demane and Demazana, [note] a brother and sister, who were compelled to run away from their relatives on account of bad treatment. They went to live in a cave which had a very strong door. Demane went hunting by day, and told his sister not to roast any meat in his absence, lest the cannibals should smell it and discover their hiding-place. But Demazana would not obey. She roasted some meat, a cannibal smelt it, and went to the cave, but found the door fastened. Thereupon he tried to imitate Demane's voice, singing:
The cannibal's voice was hoarse, and the girl would not let him in. Finally, he has
his throat burned with a hot iron, his voice is changed, and the girl is deceived. He
enters and captures her. Compare this with the story of the Pigs, and also with the
group of stories of which Daddy Jack's "Cutta Cord-la!" is the most characteristic.
In Middle Georgia, it will be observed, Brother Rabbit and his children
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are substituted for the boy and his
sister; though Miss Devereux, of Raleigh, North Carolina, who, together with her
father, Mr. John Devereux, has laid the writer under many obligations, gathered a
story among the North Carolina negroes in which the boy and the sister appear. But to
return to the Kaffir story: When the cannibal is carrying Demazana away, she drops
ashes along the path. Demane returns shortly after with a swarm of bees which he has
captured, and finds his sister gone. By means of the ashes, he follows the path until
he comes to the cannibal's house. The family are out gathering wood, but the cannibal
himself is at home, and has just put Demazana in a big bag where he intends to keep
her until the fire is made. The brother asks for a drink of water. The cannibal says
he will get him some if he will promise not to touch his bag. Demane promises; but,
while the cannibal is gone for the water, he takes his sister out of the bag and
substitutes the swarm of bees. When the cannibal returns with the water, his family
also return with the firewood. He tells his wife there is something nice in the bag,
and asks her to bring it. She says it bites. He then drives them all out, closes the
door, and opens the bag. The bees fly out aud sting him about the head and eyes until
he can no longer see. Compare this with the negro story (No. LXX.) of how Brother Fox
captures Brother Terrapin. Brother Terrapin is rescued by Brother Rabbit, who
substitutes a hornet's nest. This story was told to the writer by a colored Baptist
preacher of Atlanta, named Robert Dupree, and also by a Henry County negro, named
George Ellis.
Compare, also, the Kaffir "Story of the Great Chief of the Animals," [note] with the negro story of "The Fate of Mr. Jack
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Sparrow." [note] In the Kaffir story, a woman sees the chief of the
animals and calls out that she is hunting for her children. The animal replies:
"Come, nearer; I cannot hear you." He then swallows the woman. In the negro story,
Mr. Jack Sparrow has something to tell Brother Fox; but the latter pretends he is
deaf, and asks Jack Sparrow to jump on his tail, on his back, and finally on his
tooth. There is a variant of this story current among the coast negroes where the
Alligator is substituted for the Fox. The Kaffir "Story of the Hare," is almost
identical with the story of Wattle Weasel in the present volume. The story of Wattle
Weasel was among those told by the railroad hands at Norcross, but had been
previously sent to the writer by a lady in Selma, Alabama, and by a correspondent in
Galveston. In another Kaffir story, the Jackal runs into a hole under a tree, but the
Lion catches him by the tail. The Jackal cries out: That is not my tail you have hold
of. It is a root of the tree. If you don't believe, take a stone and strike it and
see if any blood comes." The Lion goes to hunt for a stone, and the Jackal crawls far
into the hole. In the first volume of Uncle Remus, Brother Fox tries to drown Brother
Terrapin; but the latter declares that his tail is a stump-root, and so escapes. The
Amazonian Indians tell of a Jaguar who catches a Tortoise by the hind leg as he is
disappearing in his hole; but the Tortoise convinces him that he is holding a
tree-root. [note] In the Kaffir story of the Lion and the
Jackal, the latter made himself some horns from beeswax in order to attend a meeting
of the horned cattle. He sat near the fire and went to sleep, and the horns melted,
so that he was discovered and pursued by the Lion. In a negro story that is
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very popular, Brother Fox ties two
sticks to his head, and attends the meeting of the horned cattle, but is cleverly
exposed by Brother Rabbit.
There is a plantation proverb current among the negroes which is very expressive. Thus, when one accidentally steps in mud or filth, he consoles himself by saying "Good thing foot aint got no nose." Among the Kaffirs there is a similar proverb,— "The foot has no nose,"—but Mr. Theal's educated natives have given it a queer meaning. It is thus interpreted: "This proverb is an exhortation to be hospitable. It is as if one said: Give food to the traveller, because when you are on a journey your foot will not be able to smell out a man whom you have turned from your door, but, to your shame, may carry you to his." It need not be said that this is rather ahead of even the educated Southern negroes.
To compare the negro stories in the present volume with those translated by Bleek [note] would extend this introduction beyond its prescribed limits,
but such a comparison would show some very curious parallels. It is interesting to
observe, among other things, that the story of How the Tortoise Outran the Deer,—
current among the Amazonian Indians, and among the negroes of the South,—
the deer sometimes becoming the Rabbit in the South, and the carapato, or cow-tick, sometimes taking the place of the
Tortoise on the Amazonas,—
has a curious counterpart in the Hottentot Fables. [note] One day, to quote from
Bleek, "the Tortoises held a council how they might hunt Ostriches, and they said:
'Let us, on both sides, stand in rows, near each other, and let one go to hunt
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the Ostriches, so that they must
flee along through the midst of us.' They did so, and as they were many, the
Ostriches were obliged to run along through the midst of them. During this they did
not move, but, remaining always in the same places, called each to the other: 'Are
you there?' and each one answered: 'I am here.' The Ostriches, hearing this, ran so
tremendously that they quite exhausted their strength, and fell down. Then the
Tortoises assembled by and by at the place where the Ostriches had fallen, and
devoured them." There is also a curious variant [note] of the negro story of
how Brother Rabbit escapes from Brother Fox by persuading him to fold his hands and
say grace. In the Hottentot story, the Jackal catches the Cock, and is about to eat
him, when the latter says: "Please pray before you kill me, as the white man does."
The Jackal desires to know how the white man prays. "He folds his hands in praying,"
says the Cock. This the Jackal does, but the Cock tells the Jackal he should also
shut his eyes. Whereupon the Cock flies away.
In his preface, Bleek says that the Hottentot fable of the White Man and the Snake is
clearly of European origin; but this is at least doubtful. The Man rescues the Snake
from beneath a rock, whereupon the Snake announces her intention of biting her
deliverer. The matter is referred to the Hyena, who says to the Man: "If you were
bitten, what would it matter?" But the Man proposed to consult other wise people
before being bit, and after a while they met the Jackal. The case was laid before
him. The Jackal said he would not believe that the Snake could be covered by a stone
so that she could not rise, unless he saw it with his two eyes. The Snake submitted
to the test, and when she was
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covered by the stone the Jackal
advised the Man to go away and leave her. Now, there is not only a variant of this
story current among the Southern negroes (which is given in the present volume),
where Brother Rabbit takes the place of the Man, Brother Wolf the place of the Snake,
and Brother Terrapin the place of the Jackal, but Dr. Couto De Magalhães [note] gives in modern Tupi, a story where the Fox or Opossum finds a Jaguar in a
hole. He helps the Jaguar out, and the latter then threatens to eat him. The Fox or
Opossum proposes to lay the matter before a wise man who is passing by, with the
result that the Jaguar is placed back in the hole and left there.
With respect to the Tortoise myths, and other animal stories gathered on the Amazons,
by Professor Hartt, and Mr. Herbert Smith, it may be said that all or nearly all of
them, have their variants among the negroes of the Southern plantations. This would
constitute a very curious fact if the matter were left where Professor Hartt left it
when his monograph was written. In that monograph [note] he says: "The myths I have
placed on record in this little paper have, without doubt, a wide currency on the
Amazonas, but I have found them only among the Indian population, and they are all
collected in the Lingua Geral. All my attempts to obtain myths from the negroes on
the Amazonas proved failures. Dr. Couto de Magalhães, who has recently
followed me in these researches, has had the same experience. The probability,
therefore, seems to be that the myths are indigenous, but I do not yet consider the
case proven." Professor Hartt lived to prove just the contrary; but, unfortunately,
he did
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not live to publish the result
of his investigations. Mr. Orville A. Derby, a friend of Professor Hartt, writes as
follows from Rio de Janeiro:
In reading the preface to Uncle Remus, [note] it occurred to me that an observation made by my late friend Professor Charles Fred. Hartt, would be of interest to you.
At the time of the publication of his Amazonian Tortoise Myths, Professor Hartt was in doubt whether to regard the myths of the Amazonian Indians as indigenous or introduced from Africa. To this question he devoted a great deal of attention, making a careful and, for a long time, fruitless search among the Africans of this city for some one who could give undoubted African myths. Finally he had the good fortune to find an intelligent English-speaking Mina black, whose only knowledge of Portuguese was a very few words which he had picked up during the short time he had been in this country, a circumstance which strongly confirms his statement that the myths related by him were really brought from Africa. From this man Professor Hartt obtained variants of all or nearly all of the best known Brazilian animal myths and convinced himself that this class is not native to this country. The spread of these myths among the Amazonian Indians is readily explained by the intimate association of the two races for over two hundred years, the taking character of the myths, and the Indian's love for stories of this class, in which he naturally introduces the animals familiar to him. . . . . . .
Those who are best acquainted with the spirit, movement, and motive of African
legends will accept Mr. Derby's statement as conclusive. It has been suspected even
by Professor J. W. Powell, of the Smithsonian Institution, that the
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Southern negroes obtained their
myths and legends from the Indians, but it is impossible to adduce in support of such
a theory a scintilla of evidence that cannot be used in support of just the opposite
theory—namely: that the Indians borrowed their stories from the negroes. The truth
seems to be that, while both the Indians and the negroes have stories peculiar to
their widely different races and temperaments, and to their widely different ideas of
humor, the Indians have not hesitated to borrow from the negroes. The "Tar Baby"
story, which is unquestionably a negro legend in its conception, is current among
many tribes of Indians. So with the story of how the Rabbit makes a riding-horse of
the Fox or the Wolf. This story is also current among the Amazonian Indians. The same
may be said of the negro coast story "Why the Alligator's Back is Rough." Mr. W. O.
Tuggle, of Georgia, who has recently made an exhaustive study of the folk-lore of the
Creek Indians, has discovered among them many legends, which were undoubtedly
borrowed from the negroes, including those already mentioned, the story of how the
Terrapin outran the Deer, and the story of the discontented Rabbit, who asks his
Creator to give him more sense. In the negro legend, it will be observed, the Rabbit
seeks out Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, the old Witch-Rabbit. It may be mentioned here, that
the various branches of the Algonkian family of Indians, allude to the Great White
Rabbit as their common ancestor. [note] All inquiries
among the negroes, as to the origin and personality of Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, elicit
but two replies. Some know, or even pretend to know, nothing about her. The rest say,
with entire unanimity, "Hit's des de old Witch-Rabbit w'at you done year'd talk
un 'fo' now.
It's this the old With-Rabbit what you done heard talking
before now. " Mrs. Prioleau, of Memphis, sent
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the writer a negro story in
which the name "Big-Money" was vaguely used. It was some time before that story could
be verified. In conversation one day with a negro, casual allusion was made to
"Big-Money." "Aha!" said the negro, "Now I know. You talkin' 'bout ole Mammy-Bammy Big-Money
You talking about old Mammy-Bammy Big-Money ," and then he went on to tell, not only the story which Mrs. Prioleau had
kindly sent, but the story of Brother Rabbit's visit to the old Witch-Rabbit.
Mr. Tuggle's collection of Creek legends will probably be published under the
auspices of the Smithsonian Institution, and it will form a noteworthy contribution
to the literature of American folk-lore. In the Creek version of the origin of the
ocean, the stream which the Lion jumps across is called Throwing-Hot-Ashes-on-You.
Another Creek legend, which bears the ear-marks of the negroes, but which the writer
has been unable to find among them, explains why the Possum has no hair on his tail.
It seems that Noah, in taking the animals into the ark, forgot the Possums, but a
female Possum clung to the side of the vessel, and her tail dragging in the water,
all the hair came off. No male Possum, according to the story, was saved. Mr. Tuggle
has also found among the Creeks a legend which gives the origin of fire. One time, in
the beginning, the people all wanted fire, and they came together to discuss the best
plan of getting it. It was finally agreed that the Rabbit (Chufee) should go for it.
He went across the great water to the east, and was there received with acclamation
as a visitor from the New World. A great dance was ordered in his honor. They danced
around a large fire, and the Rabbit entered the circle dressed very gayly. He had a
peculiar cap upon his head, and in this cap, in place of feathers, he had stuck four
sticks of resin, or resinous pine. As the
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people danced, they came near
the fire in the centre of the circle, and the Rabbit also approached near the fire.
Some of the dancers would reach down and touch the fire as they danced, while the
Rabbit, as he came near the fire, would bow his head to the flame. No one thought
anything of this, and he continued to bow to the fire, each time bowing his head
lower. At last he touched the flame with his cap, and the sticks of resin caught on
fire and blazed forth. Away he ran, the people pursuing the sacrilegious visitor. The
Rabbit ran to the great water, plunged in, and swam away to the New World; and thus
was fire obtained for the people.
The student of folk-lore, who will take into consideration the widely differing
peculiarities and characteristics of the negroes and the Indians, will have no
difficulty, after making due allowance for the apparent universality of all primitive
folk-stories, in distinguishing between the myths or legends of the two races, though
it sometimes happens, as in the case of the negro story of the Rabbit, the Wildcat,
and the Turkeys, that the stories are built upon until they are made to fit the
peculiarities of the race that borrows them. The Creek version of the Rabbit,
Wildcat, and Turkey story is to the effect that the Wildcat pretended to be dead, and
the Rabbit persuaded the Turkeys to go near him. When they are near enough, the
Rabbit exclaims: "Jump up and catch a red-leg! jump up and catch a red-leg!" The
Wildcat catches one, and proceeds to eat it, whereupon the Turkeys pursue the Rabbit,
and peck and nip him until his tail comes off, and this is the reason the Rabbit has
a short tail. The Creeks, as well as other tribes, were long in contact with the
negroes, some of them were owners of slaves, and it is perhaps in this way that the
animal
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stories of the two races became
in a measure blended. The discussion of this subject cannot be pursued here, but it
is an interesting one. It offers a wide field for both speculation and
investigation.
The "Cutta Cord-la" story (p. 241) of Daddy Jack is in some respects unique. It was sent to the writer by Mrs. Martha B. Washington, of Charleston, South Carolina, and there seems to be no doubt that it originated in San Domingo, or Martinique. The story of how Brother Rabbit drove all the other animals out of the new house they had built, by firing a cannon and pouring a tub of water down the stairway, has its variant in Demerara. Indeed, it was by means of this variant, sent by Mr. Wendell P. Garrison, of "The Nation" (New York), that the negro story was procured.
In the introduction to the first volume of Uncle Remus, a lame apology was made for
inflicting a book of dialect upon the public. Perhaps a similar apology should be
made here; but the discriminating reader does not need to be told that it would be
impossible to separate these stories from the idiom in which they have been recited
for generations. The dialect is a part of the legends themselves, and to present them
in any other way would be to rob them of everything that gives them vitality. The
dialect of Daddy Jack, which is that of the negroes on the Sea Islands and the rice
plantations, though it may seem at first glance to be more difficult than that of
Uncle Remus, is, in reality, simpler and more direct. It is the negro dialect in its
most primitive state—the "Gullah" talk of some of the negroes on the Sea Islands,
being merely a confused and untranslatable mixture of English and African words. In
the introductory notes to "Slave Songs of the United States" may be found an
exposition of Daddy Jack's dialect as complete as any that
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can be given here. A key to the
dialect may be given very briefly. The vocabulary is not an extensive one—more
depending upon the manner, the form of expression, and the inflection, than upon the
words employed. It is thus an admirable vehicle for story-telling. It recognizes no
gender, and scorns the use of the plural number except accidentally. "'E" stands for
"he" "she" or "it," and "dem" may allude to one thing, or may include a thousand. The
dialect is laconic and yet rambling, full of repetitions, and abounding in curious
elisions, that give an unexpected quaintness to the simplest statements. A glance at
the following vocabulary will enable the reader to understand Daddy Jack's dialect
perfectly, though allowance must be made for inversions and elisions.
-
B'er,
- brother. Beer,
- bear. Bittle,
- victuals. Bre't,
- breath. Buckra,
- white man, overseer, boss. Churrah, churray,
- spill, splash. Da,
- the, that. Dey-dey,
- here, down there, right here. Dey,
- there. Enty,
- ain't he? an exclamation of astonishment or assent. Gwan,
- going. Leaf,
- leave. Lif,
- live. Lil, lil-a, or lilly,
- little. Lun,
- learn. Mek,
- make. Oona,
- you, all of you. Neat', or nead,
- underneath, beneath. Sem,
- same. Shum,
- see them, saw them. Tam,
- time. 'Tan',
- stand. Tankee,
- thanks, thank you. Tark, or tahlk,
- talk. Tek,
- take. Teer,
- tear. T'ink, or t'ought,
- think, thought. Titty, or titter,
- sissy, sister. T'row,
- throw. Trute,
- truth. Turrer,
- or tarrah, the other. Tusty,
- thirsty. Urrer,
- other. Wey,
- where. Wun,
- when. Wut,
- what. Y'et or ut,
- earth. Yeddy, or yerry,
- heard, hear. Yent,
- aint, isn't.
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The trick of adding a vowel to sound words is not unpleasing to the ear. Thus: "I bin-a wait fer you; come-a ring-a dem bell. Wut mek-a (or mekky) you stay so?" "Yeddy," "yerry," and probably "churry" are the result of this—heard-a, yeard-a, yeddy; hear-a, year-a, yerry; chur-a churray. When "eye" is written "y-eye," it is to be pronounced "yi." In such words as "back," "ax," a has the sound of ah. They are written "bahk," "ahx."
Professor J. A. Harrison of the Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia,
has recently written a paper on "The Creole patois of Louisiana," [note] which is full of interest to those interested
in the study of dialects. In the course of his paper, Professor Harrison says: "Many
philologists have noted the felicitous αіɩоπíÇɛɩʋ
of Uncle Remus in the negro dialect of the South. The Creole lends itself no less
felicitously to the récit and to the conte, as we may
say on good authority. The fables of La Fontaine and Perrin, and the Gospel of St.
John have, indeed, been translated into the dialect of San Domingo or Martinique;
lately we have had a Greek plenipotentiary turning Dante into the idiom of New
Hellas; what next? Any one who has seen the delightful 'Chansons Canadiennes' of M.
Ernest Gagnon (Quebec, 1880) knows what pleasant things may spring from the naïve
consciousness of the people. The Creole of Louisiana lends itself admirably to those
petits poèmes, those simple little dramatic tales,
compositions, improvisations, which, shunning the regions of abstraction and
metaphysics, recount the experiences of a story-teller, put into striking and
pregnant syllabuses the memorabilia of some simple life, or sum up in pointed
monosyllables the humor of plantation anecdote." Professor Harrison alludes to
interesting examples of the
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Creole negro dialect that occur
in the works of Mr. George W. Cable, and in "L'Habitation Saint-Ybars," by Dr. Alfred
Mercier, an accomplished physician and litterateur of New
Orleans. In order to show the possibilities of the Creole negro dialect, the
following Conte Nègre, after Dr. Mercier, is given.
The story is quoted by Professor Harrison, and the literal interlinear version is
inserted by him to give a clue to the meaning. The Miss Meadows of the Georgia negro,
it will be perceived, becomes Mamzel Calinda, and the story is one with which the
readers of the first volume of Uncle Remus are familiar. It is entitled "Mariage
Mlle. Calinda."
-
1:Dan tan lé zote foi, compair Chivreil avé compairDans temps les autres fois, compère Chevreuil avec compère
-
2:Torti té tou lé dé apé fé lamou à Mamzel Calinda.Tortue étaient tous les deux après faire l'amour à Mademoiselle Calinda.>
-
3:Mamzel Calinda té linmin mié compair Chivreil, cofairMlle. Calinda avait aimé mieux compère Chevreuil, [pour] quoi faire
-
4:li pli vaïan; mé li té linmin compair Torti oucite,le plus vaillant; mais elle avait aimé compère Tortue aussi,
-
5:li si tan gagnin bon tchor! Popa Mamzel Calinda di li:il si tant gagner bon cœur! Papa Mlle. Calinda dire lui:
-
6:"Mo fie, li tan to maïé; fo to soizi cila to oulé." Landimin,"Ma fille, il (est) temps te marier; faut te choisir cela tu voulez." Lendemain,
-
7:compair Chivreil avé compair Torti rivé tou yé dé coté Mlle. C.compère Chevreuil avec compère Tortue arriver tous eux de côté Mlle. C.
-
8:Mamzel C., qui té zonglé tou la nouite, di yé: "Michié Chivreil avéMlle. C., qui avait songé toute la nuit, dire eux: "Monsieur Chevreuil avec
-
9:Michié Torti, mo papa oulé mo maïe. Mo pa oulé di ainMonsieur Tortue, mon papa vouloir me marier. Moi pas vouloir dire un
-
10:dan ouzote non. Ouzote a galopé ain lacourse dice foi catedans vous autres non. Vous autres va galopper une la course dix fois quatre
-
11:narpan; cila qui sorti divan, ma maïe avé li. Apé diminarpents; cela qui sortir devant, moi va marier avec lui. Après demain
-
12:dimance, ouzote a galopé." Yé parti couri, compair Chivreildimanche, vous autres va galopper." Eux partir courir, compère Chevreuil
-
13:zo tchor contan; compair Torti apé zonglé li-minme:son cœur content; compère Tortue après songer lui-même:
-
14:"Dan tan pacé, mo granpopa bate compair Lapin pou"Dans temps passé, mon grandpapa battre compère Lapin pour
-
15:galopé. Pa conin coman ma fé pou bate compair Chivreil."galopper. Pas conner (= connaître) comment moi va faire pour battre compère Chevreuil."
-
16:Dan tan cila, navé ain vié, vié cocodri qui té gagninDans temps cela en avait un vieux, vieux crocodile qui avait gagné
-
17:plice pacé cincante di zan. Li té si malin, yé té pélé liplus passé cinquante dix ans. Lui était si malin, eux avaient appelé lui
-
18:compair Zavoca. La nouite vini, compair Torti couri trouvécompère Avocat. La nuit venir, compère Tortue courir trouver
-
19:compair Zavoca, é conté li coman li baracé pou socompère Avocat, et conter lui comment lui embarrasser pour sa
-
20:lacourse. Compair Zavoca di compair Torti: "Mo benla course. Compère Avocat dire compère Tortue: "Moi bien
-
21:oulé idé toi, mo gaçon; nou proce minme famie; la tairvouloir aider toi, mon garçon; nous proche même famille; la terre
-
22:avé do lo minme kichoge pou nizote. Mo zonglé zafairavec de l'eau même quelquechose pour nous autres. Moi va songer cette affaire
-
23:To vini dimin bon matin; ma di toi qui pou fé."Toi venir demain bon matin; moi va dire toi que pour faire."
-
24:Compair Torti couri coucé; mé li pas dromi boucouCompère Tortue courir coucher; mais lui pas dormir beaucoup,
-
25:li té si tan tracassé. Bon matin li parti courilui était si tant tracassé. Bon matin lui partir courir
-
26:coté compair Zavoca. Compair Zavoca dija diboute apécôté compère Avocat. Compère Avocat déjà debout après
-
27:boi so café. "Bonzou, Michié Zavoca." "Bouzou, moboire son café. "Bonjour, Monsieur Avocat." "Bonjour, mon
-
28:gaçon. Zafair cila donne moin boucou traca; min mogarçon. Cette affaire cela donne moi beaucoup tracas; mais moi
-
29:cré ta bate compair Chivreil, si to fé mékié ma di toi.crois toi va battre compère Chevreuil, si toi fais métier moi va dire toi.
-
30:"Vouzote a pranne jige jordi pou misiré chimin au ra"Vous autres va prendre juge aujourd'hui pour mesurer chemin au ras
-
31:bayou; chac cate narpan mété jalon. Compair Chivreil abayou; chaque quatre arpents mettez jalon. Compère Chevreuil va
-
32:galopé on la tair; toi, ta galopé dan dolo. To ben comprannegalopper en la terre; toi, tu va galopper dans de l'eau. Toi bien comprendre
-
33:ça mo di toi?" "O, oui, compair Zavoca, mo bencela moi dire toi?" "O, oui, compère Avocat, moi bien
-
34:couté tou ça vapé di." "A soua, can la nouite vini,écouter tout cela vous après dire." "Le soir, quand la nuit venir,
-
35:ta couri pranne nef dan to zami, é ta chaché aine dantoi va courir prendre neuf dans tes amis, et toi va cacher un dans
-
36:zerb au ra chakène zalon yé. Toi, ta couri caché au raherbe au ras chacun jalon eux. Toi, toi va courir cacher au ras
-
37:la mison Mamzel Calinda. To ben compranne ça mo di toi?"la maison Mlle. Calinda. Toi bien comprendre cela moi dire toi?"
-
38:"O, oui, compair Zavoca, mo tou compranne mékié ça vou"O, oui, compère Avocat, moi tout comprendre métier cela vous
-
39:di." "Eben! couri paré pou sové lonnair nou nachion,"dire." "Eh bien! courir préparer pour sauver l'honneur notre nation."
-
40:Compair Torti couri coté compair Chivreil é rangé touCompère Tortue courir côté compère Chevreuil et arranger tout
-
41:kichoge compair Zavoca di li. Compair Chivreil si tan sirequelquechose compère Avocat dire lui. Compère Chevreuil si tant sûr
-
42:gagnin lacourse, li di oui tou ça compair Torti oulé.gagner la course, lui dire oui tout cela compère Tortue vouloir
-
43:Landimin bon matin, tou zabitan semblé pou ouaLendemain bon matin, tous habitants assembler pour voir
-
44:gran lacourse. Can lhair rivé, compair Chivreil avégrande la course. Quand l'heure arriver, compère Chevreuil avec
-
45:compair Torti tou lé dé paré. Jige la crié: "Go!" é yécompère Tortue tous les deux préparés. Juge là crier: "Go!" et eux
-
46:parti galopé. Tan compair Chivreil rivé coté primiépartir galopper. Temps compère Chevreuil arriver côté premier
-
47:zalon, li hélé: "Halo, compair Torti!" "Mo la, compairjalon, lui héler: "Halo, compère Tortue!" "Moi là, compère
-
48:Chivreil!" Tan yé rivé dézième zalon, compair ChivreilChevreuil!" Temps eux arriver deuxième jalon, compère Chevreuil
-
49:siffle: "Fioute!" Compair Torti réponne: "Croak!" Troisièmesiffler: "Fioute!" Compère Tortue répondre: "Croak!" Troisième
-
50:zalon bouté, compair Torti tink-à-tink avé compairjalon au bout, compère Tortue tingue-à-tingue avec compère
-
51:Chivreil. "Diâbe! Torti la galopé pli viteChevreuil. "Diable! Tortue là galopper plus vite
-
52:pacé stimbotte; fo mo grouyé mo cor." Tan compairpassé steamboat; faut moi grouiller mon corps." Temps compère
-
53:Chivreil rivé coté névième zalon, li oua compair TortiChevreuil arriver côté neuvième jalon, lui voir compère Tortue
-
54:apé patchiou dan dolo. Li mété tou so laforceaprès patchiou! dans de l'eau. Lui mettre toute sa la force
-
55:dihior pou aïen; avan li rivé coté bite, li tendédehors pour rien; avant lui arriver côté but, lui entendre
-
56:tou monne apé hélé: "Houra! houra! pou compair Torti!"tout monde après héler: "Hourra! hourra! pour compère Tortue!"
-
57:Tan li rivé, li oua compair Torti on la garlie apéTemps lui arriver, lui voir compère Tortue en la galerie après
-
58:brassé Mamzel Calinda. Ça fé Ii si tan mal, liembrasser Mlle. Calinda. Cela faire lui si tant mal, lui
-
59:sapé dan boi. Compair Torti maïé avé Mamzel Calindas'échapper dans bois. Compère Tortue marier avec Mlle. Calinda
-
60:samedi apé vini, é tou monne manzé, boi, jikasamedi après venir, et tout monde manger, boire jusqu'à
-
61:y tchiak.Tchiak is the name given by the Creole negroes to the starling, which, Dr. Mercier tells me, is applied adjectively to express various states of spirituous exhilaration.--Note by Prof. Harrison.eux griser.
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har1883.2007.001.0043.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0044.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0045.jpg
It only remains to be said that none of the stories given in the present volume are
"cooked." They are given in the simple but picturesque language of the negroes, just
as the negroes tell them. The Ghost-story, in which the dead woman returns in search
of the silver that had been placed upon her eyes, is undoubtedly of white origin; but
Mr. Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) heard it among the negroes of Florida, Missouri,
where it was "The Woman with the Golden Arm." Fortunately, it was placed in the mouth
of 'Tildy, the house-girl, who must be supposed to have heard her mistress tell it.
But it has been negroized to such an extent that it may be classed as a negro legend;
and it is possible that the white version is itself based upon a
har1883.2007.001.0046.jpg
negro story. At any rate, it was
told to the writer by different negroes ; and he saw no reason to doubt its
authenticity until after a large portion of the book was in type. His relations to
the stories are simply those of editor and compiler. He has written them as they came
to him, and he is responsible only for the setting. He has endeavored to project them
upon the background and to give them the surroundings which they had in the old days
that are no more; and it has been his purpose to give in their recital a glimpse of
plantation life in the South before the war. If the reader, therefore, will exercise
his imagination to the extent of believing that the stories are told to a little boy
by a group of negroes on a plantation in Middle Georgia, before the war, he will need
neither foot-note nor explanation to guide him.
In the preparation of this volume the writer has been placed under obligations to many kind friends. But for the ready sympathy and encouragement of the proprietors of "The Atlanta Constitution"--but for their generosity, it may be said--the writer would never have found opportunity to verify the stories and prepare them for the press. He is also indebted to hundreds of kind correspondents in all parts of the Southern States, who have interested themselves in the work of collecting the legends. He is particularly indebted to Mrs. Helen S. Barclay, of Darien, to Mr. W. O. Tuggle, to Hon. Charles C. Jones, Jr., to the accomplished daughters of Mr. Griswold, of Clinton, Georgia, and to Mr. John Devereux, Jr., and Miss Devereux, of Raleigh, North Carolina.
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NOTE.
To give a cue to the imagination of the reader, it may be necessary to state that the stories related in this volume are supposed to be told to a little boy on a Southern plantation, before the war, by an old family servant.
har1883.2007.001.0049.jpg
NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS.
I.
MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE.
It had been raining all day so that Uncle Remus found it impossible to go out. The storm had begun, the old man declared, just as the chickens were crowing for day, and it had continued almost without intermission. The dark gray clouds had blotted out the sun, and the leafless limbs of the tall oaks surrendered themselves drearily to the fantastic gusts that drove the drizzle fitfully before them. The lady to whom Uncle Remus belonged had been thoughtful of the old man, and 'Tildy, the house-girl, had been commissioned to carry him his meals. This arrangement came to the knowledge of the little boy at supper time, and he lost no time in obtaining permission to accompany 'Tildy.
Uncle Remus made a great demonstration over the thoughful kindness of his "Miss Sally."
"Ef she aint one blessid w'ite 'oman," "If she ain't one blessed white woman," he said, in his simple, fervent way, "den dey aint none un um 'roun' in deze parts." "then they ain't none of them around these parts."
With that he addressed himself to the supper, while the little boy sat by and eyed
him with that familiar curiosity
har1883.2007.001.0050.jpg
common to children.
Finally the youngster disturbed the old man with an inquiry:
"Uncle Remus, do geese stand on one leg all night, or do they sit down to sleep?"
"Tooby sho' dey does, honey; dey sets down same ez you does. Co'se, dey don't cross der legs," “To be sure they does, honey; they sit down same as you does. Course, they don’t cross their legs,” he added, cautiously, "kase dey sets down right flat-footed." “because they set down right flat-footed.”
"Well, I saw one the other day, and he was standing on one foot, and I watched him and watched him, and he kept on standing there."
"Ez ter dat," As to that," responded Uncle Remus, "dey mought stan' on one foot an drap off ter sleep en fergit deyse'f. Deze yer gooses," “they might stand on one foot and drop off to sleep and forget theyselves. These your gooses,” he continued, wiping the crumbs from his beard with his coat-tail, "is mighty kuse fowls; deyer mighty kuse. In ole times dey wuz 'mongs de big-bugs, en in dem days, w'en ole Miss Goose gun a dinin', all de quality wuz dere. Likewise, en needer wuz dey stuck-up, kase wid all der kyar'n's on, Miss Goose wer'n't too proud fer ter take in washin' fer de neighborhoods, en she make money, en get slick en fat lak Sis Tempy. “is mighty curious fowls; they are mighty curious. In old times they was among the big-bugs, and in those days when old Miss Goose gone a dining, all the quality was there. Likewise, and neither was they stuck-up, because with all their carryings-on, Miss Goose weren’t too proud for to take in washing for the neighborhoods, and she make money and get slick and fat like Sis Tempy.
"Dis de way marters stan' w'en one day Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey wuz settin' up at de cotton-patch, one on one side de fence, en t'er one on t'er side, gwine on wid one er n'er, w'en fus' news dey know, dey year sump'n—blim, blim, blim! This the way matters stand when one day Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, they was sitting up at the cotton-patch, one on one side of the fence and the other on the other side, going on with one another, when first news they know, they hear somethin—blim blim blim!
"Brer Fox, he ax w'at dat fuss is, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat it's ole Miss Goose down at de spring. Den Brer Fox, he up'n ax w'at she doin', en Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat she battlin' cloze." “Brer Fox, he ask what that fuss is, and Brer Rabbit, he up and respond that it’s ole Miss Goose down at the spring. Then Brer Fox, he up and ask what she doing, and Brer Rabbit, he say, says he that she battling clothes.
har1883.2007.001.0051.jpg
"Battling clothes, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy.
"Dat w'at dey call it dem days, honey. Deze times, dey rubs cloze on deze yer bodes w'at got furrers in um, but dem days dey des tuck'n tuck de cloze en lay um out on a bench, en ketch holt er de battlin'-stick en natally paddle de fillin' outen um. “That what they call it them days, honey. These times, they rubs clothes on these here boards what got furrows in them, but them days they just took and took the clothes an lay them out on a bench, and catch hold of the battling-stick and naturally paddled the filling out of them.
"W'en Brer Fox year dat ole Miss Goose wuz down dar dabblin' in soapsuds en washin' cloze, he sorter lick he chops, en 'low dat some er dese odd-come-shorts he gwine ter call en pay he 'specks. De minnit he say dat, Brer Rabbit, he know sump'n 'uz up, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he 'speck he better whirl in en have some fun w'iles it gwine on. Bimeby Brer Fox up'n say ter Brer Rabbit, dat he bleedzd ter be movin' 'long todes home, en wid dat dey bofe say good-bye. “When Brer Fox hear that old Miss Goose was down there dabbling in soap suds and washing clothes, he sort of lick his chops, and allow that some of these odd-come-shorts he going to call and pay he respects. The minute he say that, Brer Rabbit, he know something was up, and he allow to hisself that he expect he better whirl in and have some fun while it going on. By and by Brer Fox up and sat to Brer Rabbit, that he pleased to be moving along towards home, and with that they both say good-bye.
"Brer Fox, he put out ter whar his fambly wuz, but Brer Rabbit, he slip 'roun', he did, en call on ole Miss Goose. Ole Miss Goose she wuz down at de spring, washin', en b'ilin', en battlin' cloze; but Brer Rabbit he march up en ax her howdy, en den she tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit howdy. “Brer Fox, he put out to where his family was, but Brer Rabbit, he slip around, he did, and call on ole Miss Goose. Ole Miss Goose she was down at the spring, washing, and boiling, and battling clothes; but Brer Rabbit he march up and ask her howdy, and then she took and ask Brer Rabbit howdy.
"'I'd shake han's 'long wid you, Brer Rabbit,' sez she, 'but dey er all full er suds,' sez she. "’I’d shake hands along with you, Brer Rabbit,’ says she, ‘but they are all full of suds,’ says she.
"'No marter 'bout dat, Miss Goose,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'so long ez yo' will's good,' sezee. "'No matter about that, Miss Goose,’ says Brer Rabbit, says he, 'so long as you will’s good,' says he.
"A goose with hands, Uncle Remus!" the little boy exclaimed.
"How you know goose aint got han's?"
"How you know geese ain't got hands?"
Uncle Remus inquired, with a frown. "Is you been sleepin' longer ole
har1883.2007.001.0052.jpg
man
Know-All? Little mo' en you'll up'n stan' me down dat snakes aint got no
foots, and yit you take en lay a snake down yer 'fo' de fier, en his foots
'll come out right 'fo' yo' eyes."
"Have you been sleeping longer old
har1883.2007.001.0052.jpg
man Know-All?
Little more and you’ll up and stand me down that snakes ain’t got no foots,
and yet you take and lay a snake down here before the fire, and his foots
will come out right before your eyes.”
Uncle Remus paused here, but presently continued:
"Atter ole Miss Goose en Brer Rabbit done pass de time er day wid one er n'er, Brer Rabbit, he ax 'er, he did, how she come on deze days, en Miss Goose say, mighty po'ly. “After old Miss Goose and Brer Rabbit done pass the time of day with one another, Brer Rabbit, he ask her, he did how she come on these days, and Miss Goose say, mighty politely.
"'I'm gittin' stiff en I'm gittin' clumpsy,' sez she, 'en mo'n dat I'm gittin' bline,' sez she. 'Des 'fo' you happen 'long, Brer Rabbit, I drap my specks in de tub yer, en ef you'd 'a' come 'long 'bout dat time,' sez ole Miss Goose, sez she, 'I lay I'd er tuck you for dat nasty, owdashus Brer Fox, en it ud er bin a born blessin' ef I hadn't er scald you wid er pan er b'ilin suds,' sez she. 'I'm dat glad I foun' my specks I dunner w'at ter do,' sez ole Miss Goose, sez she. "'I’m getting stiff and I’m getting clumsy,'says she, 'and more than that I'm getting blind,' says she. 'Just before you happen along, Brer Rabbit, I drop my spectacles in the tub here, and if you’d have come along about that time,' says ole Miss Goose, says she 'I lay I’d have took you for that nasty, audacious Brer Fox, and it would have been a born blessing if I hadn’t of scald you with a pan of boiling suds,' says she. I’m that glad I found my spectacles I don’t know what to do, says ole Miss Goose, says she.
"Den Brer Rabbit, he up'n say dat bein's how Sis Goose done fotch up Brer Fox name, he got sump'n fer ter tell 'er, en den he let out 'bout Brer Fox gwine ter call on 'er. "Then Brer Rabbit, he up and say that being how Sis Goose done fetch up Brer Fox name, he got something for to tell her, and then he let out about Brer Fox going to call on her.
"'He comin',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'he comin' sho', en w'en he come hit'll be des 'fo' day,' sezee. "'He coming,' says Brer Rabbit, says he; 'he coming sure, and when he come it’ll be just before day,' says he.
"'Wid dat, ole Miss Goose wipe 'er han's on 'er apun, en put 'er specks up on 'er forrerd, en look lak she done got trouble in 'er mine. “With that, ole Miss Goose wipe her hands on her apron, and put her spectacles up on her forehead, and look like she done got trouble on her mind.
"'Laws-a-massy!' sez she, 'spozen he come, Brer Rabbit! W'at I gwine do? En dey aint a man 'bout de house, n'er,' sez she. "'Lord-a-mercy!' says she, 'suppose he come, Brer Rabbit! What I going do? And they ain’t a man about the house, neither,' says she.
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har1883.2007.001.0054.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0055.jpg
"Den Brer Rabbit, he shot one eye, en he say, sezee: "Then Brer Rabbit, he shut one eye, and he say, says he:
"'Sis Goose, de time done come w'en you bleedzd ter roos' high. You look lak you got de dropsy,' sezee, 'but don't mine dat, kase ef you don't roos' high, youer goner,' sezee. "'Sis Goose, the time done come when you pleased to roost high. You look like you got the dropsy,' says he, 'but don’t mind that, because if you don’t roost high, you’re a goner,' says he.
"Den ole Miss Goose ax Brer Rabbit w'at she gwine do, en Brer Rabbit he up en tell Miss Goose dat she mus' go home en tie up a bundle er de w'ite folks cloze, en put um on de bed, en den she mus' fly up on a rafter, en let Brer Fox grab de cloze en run off wid um. "Then ole Miss Goose ask Brer Rabbit what she going to do, and Brer Rabbit he up and tell Miss Goose that she must go home and tie up a bundle of the white folk’s clothes, and put them on the bed, and then she must fly up on a rafter, and let Brer Fox grab the clothes and run off with them.”
"Ole Miss Goose say she much 'blige, en she tuck'n tuck her things en waddle off home, en dat night she do lak Brer Rabbit say wid de bundle er cloze, en den she sont wud ter Mr. Dog, en Mr. Dog he come down, en say he'd sorter set up wid 'er. “Ole miss Goose say she much obliged and she took and took her things and waddle off home, and that night she do like Brer Rabbit say with the bundle of clothes, and then she sent word to Mr. Dog, and Mr. Dog he come down, and say he’d set up with her.
"Des 'fo' day, yer come Brer Fox creepin'
up, en he went en push on de do' easy, en de do' open, en he see sump'n
w'ite on de bed w'ich he took fer Miss Goose, en he grab it en run. 'Bout
dat time Mr. Dog sail out fum und' de house, he did, en ef Brer Fox hadn't
er drapt de cloze, he'd er got kotch. Fum dat, wud went 'roun' dat Brer Fox
bin tryin ter steal Miss Goose cloze, en he come mighty nigh losin' his
stannin' at Miss Meadows. Down ter dis day," Uncle Remus continued,
preparing to fill his pipe, "Brer Fox b'leeve dat Brer Rabbit
wuz de 'casion er Mr. Dog bein' in de neighborhoods at dat time er night, en
Brer Rabbit aint 'spute it. De bad feelin' 'twix' Brer Fox en Mr. Dog
har1883.2007.001.0056.jpg
start right
dar, en hits bin agwine on twel now dey aint git in smellin' distuns er one
er n'er widout deys a row."
“Just before day, here come Brer Fox creeping up, and he went
and push on the door easy, and the door open, and he see something white on
the bed which he took for Miss Goose, and he grab it and he run. About that
time Mr. Dog sail out from under the house, he did, and if Brer Fox hadn’t
of dropped the clothes, he have got caught. From that, word went round that
Brer Fox been trying to steal Miss Goose clothes, and he come might nigh
loosing his standing at Miss Meadows. Down to this day,” Uncle Remus
continued, preparing to fill his pipe, “Brer Fox believe that
Brer Rabbit was the occasion of Mr. Dog being in the neighborhoods at that
time of night, and Brer Rabbit ain’t dispute it. The Bad feeling between
Brer Fox and Mr. Dog
har1883.2007.001.0056.jpg
start right
there, and hits been a-going on to well now they ain’t get in smelling
distance of one or another without days in a row.”
II.
BROTHER FOX CATCHES MR. HORSE.
There was a pause after the story of old Miss Goose. The culmination was hardly sensational enough to win the hearty applause of the little boy, and this fact appeared to have a depressing influence upon Uncle Remus. As he leaned slightly forward, gazing into the depths of the great fireplace, his attitude was one of pensiveness.
"I 'speck I done wo' out my welcome up at de big house," he said, after a while. "I mos' knows I is," he continued, setting himself resignedly in his deep-bottomed chair. "Kaze de las' time I uz up dar, I had my eye on Miss Sally mighty nigh de whole blessid time, en w'en you see Miss Sally rustlin' 'roun' makin' lak she fixin' things up dar on de mantle-shelf, en bouncin' de cheers 'roun', en breshin' dus' whar dey aint no dus', en flyin' 'roun' singin' sorter louder dan common, den I des knows sump'n' done gone en rile 'er. “I expect I done wore out my welcome up at the big house,” he said, after a while. “I most knows I is,” he continued, setting himself resignedly in his deep-bottomed chair. “Because the last time I was up there, I had my eye on Miss Sally mighty nigh the whole blessed time, and when you see Miss Sally rustling around, making like she fixing things up there on the mantle-shelf, and bouncing the chairs around and brushing dust where they ain’t no dust, and flying around singing sorter louder than common, then I just knows something done gone and rile her.”
"Why, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy; "Mamma was just glad because I was feeling so good."
"Mought er bin," the old man
remarked, in a tone that
har1883.2007.001.0057.jpg
was far from implying conviction.
"Ef 'twa'n't dat, den she wuz gittin' tired er seein' me
lounjun' 'roun' up dar night atter night, en ef 'twa'n't dat, den she wuz
watchin' a chance fer ter preach ter yo' pa. Oh, I done bin know Miss Sally
long fo' yo' pa is!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to the
astonishment depicted upon the child's face. "I bin knowin' 'er
sence she wuz so high, en endurin' er all dat time I aint seed no mo' up'n
spoken w'ite 'oman dan w'at Miss Sally is.
"Might have been," the old man remarked, in a tone that
har1883.2007.001.0057.jpg
was far from implying conviction.
"If it wasn’t that, then she was getting tired of seeing me
just lounging around up there night after night, and if it wasn’t that, then
she was watching a chance for to preach to your pa. Oh, I done been know
Miss Sally long before your pa is!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response
to the astonishment depicted upon the child's face. "I been
knowing her since she was so high, and enduring her all that time I ain’t
seen no more outspoken white woman than what Miss Sally is.
"But dat aint needer yer ner dar. You done got so youk'n rush down yer des like you useter, en we kin set yer en smoke, en tell tales, en study up 'musements same like we wuz gwine on 'fo' you got dat splinter in yo' foot. "But that ain’t neither here nor there. You done got so you can rush down here just like you used to, and we can set here and smoke, and tell tales, and study up amusements some like we was going on before you got that splinter in your foot.
"I mines me er one time"—with an infectious laugh—"w'en ole Brer Rabbit got Brer Fox in de wuss trubble w'at a man wuz mos' ever got in yit, en dat 'uz w'en he fool 'im 'bout de hoss. Aint I never tell you 'bout dat? But no marter ef I is. Hoe-cake aint cook done good twel hit's turnt over a couple er times. "I reminds me of one time"—with an infectious laugh—"when old Brer Rabbit got Brer Fox in the worst trouble what a man was most ever got in yet, and that was when he fool him about the horse. Ain’t I never tell you about that? But no matter if I is. Hoe-cake ain’t cook done good until its turned over a couple of times.
"Well, atter Brer Fox done git rested fum keepin' out
er de way er Mr. Dog, en sorter ketch up wid his rations, he say ter hisse'f
dat he be dog his cats ef he don't slorate ole Brer Rabbit ef it take 'im a
mont'; en dat, too, on top er all de 'spe'unce w'at he done bin had wid um.
Brer Rabbit he sorter git win' er dis, en one day, w'iles he gwine 'long de
road studyin' how he gwineter hol' he hand wid Brer Fox, he see a great big
Hoss layin' stretch out flat on he side in de pastur'; en he tuck'n crope
up,
har1883.2007.001.0058.jpg
he did, fer
ter see ef dish yer Hoss done gone en die. He crope up en he crope 'roun',
en bimeby he see de Hoss switch he tail, en den Brer Rabbit know he aint
dead. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit lope back ter de big road, en mos' de fus' man
w'at he see gwine on by wuz Brer Fox, en Brer Rabbit he tuck atter 'im, en
holler:
"Well, after Brer Fox done got rested from keeping out of the way of Mr.
Dog, and sort of catch up with his rations, he say to himself that he be dog
his cats if he don’t slorate ole Brer Rabbit if it take him a month; en
that, too, on top of all the ‘spe’unce what he done been had with him. Brer
Rabbit he sort of get wind of this, and one day, while he going along the
road studying how he going to hold he hand with Brer Fox, he see a great big
horse laying stretch out flat on the side on the pasture; and he took and
creep up,
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he did, for
to see if this here horse done gone and die. He creep up and he creep
around, and by and by he see the horse swish his tail, and then Brer Rabbit
know he ain’t dead. With that, Brer Rabbit lope back up to the big road, and
most the first man what he see going on by was Brer Fox, and Brer Rabbit he
took after him, and holler:
"'Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Come back! I got some good news fer you. Come back, Brer Fox,' sezee. "'Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Come back! I got some good news for you. Come back, Brer Fox,' says he.
"Brer Fox, he tu'n 'roun', he did, en w'en he see who callin' 'im, he come gallopin' back, kaze it seem like dat des ez gooder time ez any fer ter nab Brer Rabbit; but 'fo' he git in nabbin' distance, Brer Rabbit he up'n say, sezee: "Brer Fox, he turn around, he did, and when he see who calling him, he come galloping back, because it seem like that this is good a time as any for to nab Brer Rabbit; but before he get in nabbing distance, Brer Rabbit he up and say, says he:
"'Come on, Brer Fox! I done fine de place whar you kin lay in fresh meat 'nuff fer ter las' you plum twel de middle er nex' year,' sezee. "'Come on Brer Fox! I done fine the place where you can lay in fresh meat enough for to last you plum until the middle of next year,’ says he.
"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts, en Brer Rabbit, he say, right over dar in de pastur', en Brer Fox ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say w'ich 'twuz a whole Hoss layin down on de groun' whar dey kin ketch 'im en tie 'im. Wid dat, Brer Fox, he say come on, en off dey put. “Brer Fox, he ask whereabouts, and Brer Rabbit, he say, right over there in the pasture, and Brer Fox ask what it is, and Brer Rabbit, he say which it was a whole horse laying down on the ground where they can catch him and tie him. With that, Brer Fox, he say come on, and off they put.
"W'en dey got dar, sho' nuff, dar lay de Hoss all stretch out in de sun, fas' 'sleep, en den Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey had a 'spute 'bout how dey gwineter fix de Hoss so he can't git loose. One say one way en de yuther say n'er way, en dar dey had it, twel atter w'ile Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee: “When they got there, sure enough, there lay the horse all stretch out in the sun, fast asleep, and then Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, they has a dispute about how they going to fix the horse so he can’t get loose. One say one way and the other say another way, and there they had it, until after while Brer Rabbit, he say, says he:
"'De onliest plan w'at I knows
un, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'is fer you ter git down
dar en lemme tie you ter de Hoss'
har1883.2007.001.0059.jpg
tail, en den, w'en he try
ter git up, you kin hol' 'im down,' sezee. 'Ef
I wuz big man like w'at you is,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'you mought tie me ter dat Hoss' tail, en ef I aint
hol' 'im down, den Joe's dead en Sal's a widder. I des knows you kin hol'
'im down,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but yit, ef
you 'feared, we des better drap dat idee en study out some yuther
plan,' sezee.
"'The onliest plan what I knows one, Brer Fox,’
says he, 'is for you to get down there and let me tie
you to the horse’s
har1883.2007.001.0059.jpg
tail, and then, when he try
to get up, you can hold him down,' says he. 'If
I was big man like what you is,' says Brer Rabbit, says he, 'you might tie me to that horse tail, and if I ain’t
hold him down, the Joe’s dead and Sal’s a widow. I just knows you can
hold him down,' says Brer Rabbit, says he, 'but
yet if you afraid, we just better drop that idea and study out some other
plan,' says he.
"Brer Fox sorter jubus 'bout dis, but he bleedzd ter play biggity 'fo' Brer Rabbit, en he tuck'n 'gree ter de progrance, en den Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n tie Brer Fox ter de Hoss' tail, en atter he git 'im tie dar hard en fas', he sorter step back, he did, en put he han's 'kimbo, en grin, en den he say, sezee: "Brer Fox sort of dubious about this, but he pleased to play biggity for Brer Rabbit, and he took and agree to the progrance, and then Brer Rabbit, he took and tie Brer Fox to the horse’s tail, and after he get him tie there hard and fast, he sort of step back, he did, and put he hands akimbo, and grin, and then he say, says he:
"'Ef ever dey wuz a Hoss kotch, den we done kotch dis un. Look sorter lak we done put de bridle on de wrong een',' sezee, 'but I lay Brer Fox is got de strenk fer ter hol' 'im,' sezee. "'If ever they was a horse caught, then we done caught this one. Look sort of like we done put the bridle on the wrong end,’ says he, 'but I lay Brer Fox is got the strength for to hold him,' says he.
"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit cut 'im a long switch en trim it up, en w'en he get it fix, up he step en hit de Hoss a rap—pow! De Hoss 'uz dat s'prise at dat kinder doin's dat he make one jump, en lan' on he foots. W'en he do dat, dar wuz Brer Fox danglin' in de a'r, en Brer Rabbit, he dart out de way en holler: "With that, Brer Rabbit cut him a long switch and trim it up, and when he get it fix, up he step and hit the horse a rap—pow! The horse was that surprised at that kind of doings that he make one jump, and land on he foots. When he do that, there was Brer Fox dangling in the air, and Brer Rabbit, he dart out the way and holler:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! I'll stan' out yer en see fa'r play. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down!' "'Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down! I’ll stand out here and see fair play. Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down!'
"Co'se, w'en de Hoss feel Brer Fox hangin' dar onter
he tail, he thunk sump'n kuse wuz de marter, en dis make 'im jump en r'ar
wusser en wusser, en he shake up Brer
har1883.2007.001.0060.jpg
Fox same like
he wuz a rag in de win', en Brer Rabbit, he jump en holler:
"Of course, when the horse feel Brer Fox hanging there onto he tail, he
think something curious was the matter, and this make him jump and rear
worse and worse, and he shake up Brer
har1883.2007.001.0060.jpg
Fox same like
he was a rag in the wind, and Brer Rabbit, he jump and holler:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol' yo' grip, en hol' 'im down,' sezee. "'Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down! You got him now, sure! Hold your grip and hold him down,' says he.
"De Hoss, he jump en he hump, en he rip en he r'ar, en he snort en he t'ar. But yit Brer Fox hang on, en still Brer Rabbit skip 'roun' en holler: "The horse, he jump and he hump, and he rip and he roar, and he snort and he tear. But yet Brer Fox hang on, and still Brer Rabbit skip around and holler:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! You got 'im whar he can't needer back ner squall. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!' sezee. "'Hold him down, Brer Fox! You got him where he can’t neither back nor squall. Hold him down, Brer Fox!' says he.
"Bimeby, w'en Brer Fox git chance, he holler back, he did: "By and by, when Brer Fox get a chance, he holler back, he did:
"'How in de name er goodness I gwineter hol' de Hoss down 'less I git my claw in de groun'?' "'How in the name of goodness I going to hold the horse down unless I get my claw in the ground?'
"Den Brer Rabbit, he stan' back little furder en holler little louder: "Then Brer Rabbit, he stand back a little further and holler a little louder:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down ! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol' 'im down!' "'Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down! You got him now, sure! Hold him down!'
"Bimeby de hoss 'gun ter kick wid he behime legs, en de fus' news you know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in de stomach dat fa'rly make 'im squall, en den he kick 'im ag'in, en dis time he break Brer Fox loose, en sont 'im a-whirlin'; en Brer Rabbit, he keep on a-jumpin' 'roun' en hollerin': "By and by the horse begun to kick with his behind legs, and the first news you know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in the stomach that fairly make him squeal, and then he kick him again, and this time he break Brer Fox loose, and sent him a-whirling; and Brer Rabbit, he keep on a-jumping round and hollering:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!'" "'Hold him down, Brer Fox!'"
"Did the fox get killed, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"He wa'n't 'zackly kilt, honey,"
replied the old man,
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"but he wuz de nex' do' ter't. He 'uz all broke up, en w'iles
he 'uz gittin' well, hit sorter come 'cross he min' dat Brer Rabbit done
play n'er game on 'im."
"He wasn’t exactly killed, honey," replied the old man,
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"but he was the next door to it. He was all broke up, and while
he was getting well, it sort of come across his mind that Brer Rabbit done
play another game on him."
III.
BROTHER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL.
"What did Brother Rabbit do after that?" the little boy asked, presently.
"Now, den, you don't wanter push ole Brer Rabbit too close," replied Uncle Remus, significantly. "He mighty tender-footed creetur, en de mo' w'at you push 'im, de furder he lef' you." "Now, then, you don't want to push ole Brer Rabbit too close," replied Uncle Remus, significantly. "He mighty tender-footed creature, and the more what you push him, the further he left you."
There was prolonged silence in the old man's cabin, until, seeing that the little boy was growing restless enough to cast several curious glances in the direction of the tool-chest in the corner, Uncle Remus lifted one leg over the other, scratched his head reflectively, and began:
"One time, atter Brer Rabbit done bin trompin' 'roun'
huntin' up some sallid fer ter make out he dinner wid, he fine hisse'f in de
neighborhoods er Mr. Man house, en he pass 'long twel he come ter de
gyardin-gate, en nigh de gyardin-gate he see Little Gal playin' 'roun' in de
san'. W'en Brer Rabbit look 'twix' de gyardin-palin's en see de colluds, en
de sparrer-grass, en de yuther gyardin truck growin' dar, hit make he mouf
water. Den he take en walk up ter de Little Gal, Brer Rabbit did, en pull he
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roach, en bow, en scrape he foot, en talk mighty nice en
slick.
"One time, after Brer Rabbit done been tromping around hunting up some
salad for to make out he dinner with, he fine himself in the neighborhood of
Mr. Man house, and he pass along until he come to the garden-gate, and nigh
the garden-gate he see Little Gal playing around in the sand. When Brer
Rabbit look between the garden-palings and see the collards, and the
sparrow-grass, and the other garden truck growing there, it make his mouth
water. Then he take and walk up to the Little Gal, Brer Rabbit did, an pull
he
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roach, and scrape his foot, and talk mighty nice and
slick.
"'Howdy, Little Gal,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'how you come on?' sezee. "'Howdy, Little Gal,' says Brer Rabbit, says he; 'how you come on?' says he.
"Den de Little Gal, she 'spon' howdy, she did, en she ax Brer Rabbit how he come on, en Brer Rabbit, he 'low he mighty po'ly, en den he ax ef dis de Little Gal w'at 'er pa live up dar in de big w'ite house, w'ich de Little Gal, she up'n say twer'. Brer Rabbit, he say he mighty glad, kaze he des bin up dar fer to see 'er pa, en he say dat 'er pa, he sont 'im out dar fer ter tell de Little Gal dat she mus' open de gyardin-gate so Brer Rabbit kin go in en git some truck. Den de Little Gal, she jump 'roun', she did, en she open de gate, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he hop in, he did, en got 'im a mess er greens, en hop out ag'in, en w'en he gwine off he make a bow, he did, en tell de Little Gal dat he much 'blije', en den atter dat he put out fer home. Then the Little Gal, she respond howdy, she did, and she ask Brer Rabbit how he come on, and Brer Rabbit, he allow he mighty po'ly, and then he ask if this the Little Gal what her pa live up there in the big white house, which the Little Gal, she up and say it were. Brer Rabbit, he say he mighty glad, because he just been up up there for to see her pa, and he say that her pa, he sent him out there for to tell the Little Gal that she must open the garden-gate so Brer Rabbit can go in and get some truck. Then the Little Gal, she jump 'round, she did, and she open the gate, and with that, Brer Rabbit, he hop in, he did, and got him a mess of greens, and hop out again, and when he going off he make a bow, he did, and tell the Little Gal that he much obliged, and the after that he put out for home.
"Nex' day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, twel he see de Little Gal come out ter play, en den he put up de same tale, en walk off wid a n'er mess er truck, en hit keep on dis away, twel bimeby Mr. Man, he 'gun ter miss his greens, en he keep on a-missin' un um, twel he got ter excusin' eve'ybody on de place er 'stroyin un um, en w'en dat come ter pass', de Little Gal, she up'n say: "Next day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, until he see the Little Gal come out to play, and then he put up the same tale, and walk off with another mess of truck, and it keep on this this away, until by and by Mr. Man, he going to miss his greens, and he keep on a-missing on them, until he got to excusing everybody on the place or storying on them, and when that come to pass, the Little Gal, she up and say:
"'My goodness, pa!' sez she, 'you done tole Mr. Rabbit fer ter come and make me let 'im in de gyardin atter some greens, en aint he done come en ax me, en aint I done gone en let 'im in?' sez she. "'My goodness, pa!' says she, 'you done told Mr. Rabbit for to come and make me let him in the garden after some greens, and ain't he done come and ask me, and ain't I done gone and let him in?' says she.
har1883.2007.001.0063.jpg
"Mr. Man aint hatter study long 'fo' he see how de lan' lay, en den he laff, en tell de Little Gal dat he done gone en disremember all 'bout Mr. Rabbit, en den he up'n say, sezee: Mr. Man ain't have to study long before he see how the land lay, and then he laugh, and tell the Little Gal that he done gone and disremember all about Mr. Rabbit, and then he up and say, says he:
"'Nex' time Mr. Rabbit come, you tak'n tu'n 'im in, en den you run des ez fas' ez you kin en come en tell me, kase I got some bizness wid dat young chap dat's bleedze ter be 'ten' ter,' sezee. "'Next time Mr. Rabbit come, you take and turn him in, and then you run just as fast as you can and come and tell me, because I got some business with that young chap that’s pleased to be attended to,' says he.
"Sho nuff, nex' mawnin' dar wuz de Little Gal playin' roun', en yer come Brer Rabbit atter he 'lowance er greens. He wuz ready wid de same tale, en den de Little Gal, she tu'n 'im in, she did, en den she run up ter de house en holler: "Sure enough, next morning there was the Little Gal playing round, and here come Brer Rabbit after his allowance of greens. He was ready with the same tale, and then the Little Gal, she turn him in, she did, and the she run up to the house and holler:
"'O pa! pa! O pa! Yer Brer Rabbit in de gyardin now! Yer he is, pa!' "'O pa! pa! O pa! Here Brer Rabbit in the gardin now! Here he is, pa!'
"Den Mr. Man, he rush out, en grab up a fishin'-line w'at bin hangin' in de back po'ch, en mak fer de gyardin, en w'en he git dar, dar wuz Brer Rabbit tromplin' 'roun' on de strawbe'y-bed en mashin' down de termartusses. W'en Brer Rabbit see Mr. Man, he squot behime a collud leaf, but 'twa'n't no use. Mr. Man done seed him, en 'fo' you kin count 'lev'm, he done got ole Brer Rabbit tie hard en fas' wid de fishin'-line. Atter he got him tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, en say, sezee: "Then Mr. Man, he rush out, and grab up a fishing-line what been hanging in the back porch, and he make for the garden, and when he get there, there was Brer Rabbit trampling around on the strawberry-bed and mashing down the tomatoes. When Brer Rabbit see Mr. Man, he squat behind a collard leaf, but it wasn’t no use. Mr. Man done seen him, and before you can count eleven, he done got ole Brer Rabbit tie hard and fast with the fishing-line. After he got him tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, and say, says he:
"'You done bin fool me lots er time,
but dis time youer mine. I'm gwine ter take you en gin you a
larrupin',' sezee, 'en den I'm gwine ter skin you en
nail yo' hide on de stable do',' sezee; 'en den ter
make sho dat you git de right kinder larrupin', I'll des step up ter de
house,' sezee,
har1883.2007.001.0064.jpg
'en fetch de little red cowhide, en den I'll take en gin
you brinjer,' sezee.
"'You done been fool me lots of time, but this time
you’re mine. I’m going to take you and gin you a larruping,' says he,
'and then I’m going to skin you and nail your hide on
the stable door,' says he; 'and then to make sure
that you get the right kind of larruping, I’ll just step up to the
house,' says he,
har1883.2007.001.0064.jpg
'and fetch the little red cowhide, and then I'll take and
gin you brinjer,' says he.
"Den Mr. Man call to der Little Gal ter watch Brer Rabbit w'iles he gone. "Then Mr. Man call to the Little Gal to watch Brer Rabbit whiles he gone.
"Brer Rabbit aint sayin' nothin', but Mr. Man aint mo'n out de gate 'fo' he 'gun ter sing; en in dem days Brer Rabbit wuz a singer, mon," “Brer Rabbit ain’t saying nothing, but Mr. Man ain’t more than out the gate before he begun to sing; and in them days Brer Rabbit was a singer, man,” continued Uncle Remus, with unusual emphasis, "en w'en he chuned up fer ter sing he make dem yuther creeters hol' der bref." “and when he tuned up for to sing he make them other creatures hold their breath.”
"What did he sing, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"Ef I aint fergit dat song off'n my min'," said Uncle Remus, looking over his spectacles at the fire, with a curious air of attempting to remember something, "hit run sorter dish yer way: "If I ain’t forget that song off of my mind," said Uncle Remus, looking over his spectacles at the fire, with a curious air of attempting to remember something, it run sort of this here way:
"W'en de Little Gal year dat, she laugh, she did, and
she up'n ax Brer Rabbit fer ter sing some mo', but Brer Rabbit, he sorter
cough, he did, en 'low dat he got a mighty bad ho'seness down inter he
win'pipe some'rs. De Little Gal, she swade, en
swade, en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low dat he kin dance mo' samer dan
w'at he kin sing.
"When the Little Gal hear that, she laugh, she did, and she up and ask
Brer Rabbit for to sing some more, but Brer Rabbit, he sort of cough, he
did, and allow that he got a mighty bad horseness down into he windpipes
somewheres. The Little Gal, she persuaded, and
persuaded, and by and by Brer Rabbit, he up and allow that he can dance mo'
samer than what he can sing.
[note]
har1883.2007.001.0065.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0066.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0067.jpg
Den de Little Gal, she ax 'im wont he dance, en Brer
Rabbit, he 'spon' how in de name er goodness kin a man dance w'iles he all
tie up dis away, en den de Little Gal, she say she kin ontie 'im, en Brer
Rabbit, he say he aint keerin' ef she do. Wid dat de Little Gal, she retch
down en onloose de fish-line, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter stretch hisse'f en
look 'roun'."
Then the Little Gal, she ask him won’t he dance, and Brer Rabbit, he
respond how in the name of goodness can a man dance while he all tie up this
away, and then the Little Gal, she say she can untie him, and Brer Rabbit,
he say he ain’t caring if she do. With that the Little Gal, she reach down
and loosen the fish-line, and Brer Rabbit, he sort of stretch himself and
look around."
Here Uncle Remus paused and sighed, as though he had relieved his mind of a great burden. The little boy waited a few minutes for the old man to resume, and finally he asked:
"Did the Rabbit dance, Uncle Remus?"
"Who? Him?" exclaimed the old man, with a queer affectation of elation. "Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Rabbit gedder up his foots und' 'im, en he dance outer dat gyardin, en he dance home. He did dat! Sho'ly you don't speck dat a ole-timer w'at done had 'spe'unce like Brer Rabbit gwine ter stay dar en let dat ar Mr. Man sackyfice 'im? Shoo! Brer Rabbit dance, but he dance home. You year me!" "Who? Him?" exclaimed the old man, with a queer affectation of elation. "Bless your soul, honey! Brer Rabbit gather up his foots under him, and he dance out of that garden, and he dance home. He did that! Surely you don’t expect that a old-timer what done had experience like Brer Rabbit going to stay there and let that there Mr. Man sacrifice him? Shoo! Brer Rabbit dance, but he dance home. You hear me!"
IV.
HOW BROTHER FOX WAS TOO SMART.
Uncle Remus chuckled a moment over the escape of Brother Rabbit, and then turned his
gaze upward toward the cobwebbed gloom that seemed to lie just beyond the
har1883.2007.001.0068.jpg
rafters. He sat thus
silent and serious a little while, but finally squared himself around in his chair
and looked the little boy full in the face. The old man's countenance expressed a
curious mixture of sorrow and bewilderment. Catching the child by the coat-sleeve,
Uncle Remus pulled him gently to attract his attention.
"Hit look like ter me," "It look like to me," he said, presently, in the tone of one approaching an unpleasant subject, "dat no longer'n yistiddy I see one er dem ar Favers chillun clim'in' dat ar big red-oak out yan', en den it seem like dat a little chap 'bout yo' size, he tuck'n start up ter see ef he can't play smarty like de Favers's yearlin's. I dunner w'at in de name er goodness you wanter be a copyin' atter dem ar Faverses fer. Ef youer gwine ter copy atter yuther folks, copy atter dem w'at's some 'count. Yo' pa, he got de idee dat some folks is good ez yuther folks; but Miss Sally, she know better. She know dat dey aint no Favers 'pon de top side er de yeth w'at kin hol' der han' wid de Abercrombies in p'int er breedin' en raisin'. Dat w'at Miss Sally know. I bin keepin' track er dem Faverses sence way back yan' long 'fo' Miss Sally wuz born'd. Ole Cajy Favers, he went ter de po'house, en ez ter dat Jim Favers, I boun' you he know de inside er all de jails in dish yer State er Jawjy. Dey allers did hate niggers kaze dey aint had none, en dey hates um down ter dis day. "that no longer than yesterday I see one of them there Favers children climbing that there big red-oak out yonder, and then it seem like that a little chap about your size, he taken start up to see if he can't play smarty like the Favers's yearlings. I don't know what in the name of goodness you want to be a copying after them there Faverses for. If you're going to copy after other folks, copy after them what's some account. Your pa, he got the idea that some folks is good as other folks; but Miss Sally, she know better. She know that they ain't no Faverses upon the top side of the earth what kin hold the hand with the Ambercrombies in point of breeding and raising. That what Miss Sally know. I been keeping track of them Favers since way back and long before Miss Sally was borned. Old Cajy Favers, he went to the poorhouse, and as to that Jim Favers, I bound you he know the inside of all the jails in this here State of Georgia. They always did hate niggers because they ain't had none, and they hates them down to this day.
"Year 'fo' las',"
"Year before last," Uncle Remus continued, "I year yo' Unk' Jeems Abercrombie tell dat same Jim
Favers dat ef he lay de weight er he han' on one er his niggers, he'd slap a
load er buck-shot in 'im; en, bless yo' soul, honey,
har1883.2007.001.0069.jpg
yo' Unk' Jeems wuz des de
man ter do it. But dey er monst'us perlite unter me, dem Faverses
is,"
"I hear your Uncle James Abercrombie tell that same Jim Favers that if he
lay the weight of he hand on one of his niggers, he'd slap a load of
buck-shot in him; and, bless your soul, honey,
har1883.2007.001.0069.jpg
your Uncle James was just
the man to do it. But they are monstrous polite unto me, them Faverses
is," pursued the old man, allowing his indignation, which had risen to a
white heat, to cool off, "en dey better be,"
"and they better be," he added, spitefully, "kase I knows der pedigree fum de fus' ter de las', en
w'en I gits my Affikin up, dey aint nobody, 'less it's Miss Sally 'erse'f,
w'at kin keep me down.
"because I knows their pedigree from the first to the last, and when I
gets my affection up, thay ain't nobody, unless it's Miss Sally herself,
what can keep me down.
"But dat aint needer yer ner dar," "But that ain't neither here nor there," said Uncle Remus, renewing his attack upon the little boy. "W'at you wanter go copyin' atter dem Favers chillun fer? Youer settin' back dar, right dis minnit, bettin' longer yo'se'f dat I aint gwine ter tell Miss Sally, en dar whar youer lettin' yo' foot slip, kaze I'm gwine ter let it pass dis time, but de ve'y nex' time w'at I ketches you in hollerin' distuns er dem Faverses, right den en dar I'm gwine ter take my foot in my han' en go en tell Miss Sally, en ef she don't natally skin you 'live, den she aint de same 'oman w'at she useter be. "What you want to go copying after them favers children for? You're sitting back there, right this minute, betting longer yourself that I ain't going to tell Miss Sally, and there where you're letting your foot slip, because I'm going to let it pass this time, but the very next time what I catches you in hollering distance of them Faverses, right then and there I'm going to take my foot in my hand and go and tell Miss Sally, and if she don't naturally skin you alive, then she ain't the same woman what she used to be.
"All dish yer copyin' atter deze yer Faverses put me in min' er de time w'en Brer Fox got ter copyin' atter Brer Rabbit. I done tole you 'bout de time w'en Brer Rabbit git de game fum Brer Fox by makin' like he dead?" "All this your copying after these here Faverses put me in mind of the time when Brer Fox got to copying after Brer Rabbit. I done told you about the time when Brer Rabbit Get the game from Brer Fox by making like he dead? [note]
The little boy remembered it very distinctly, and said as much.
"Well, den, old Brer Fox, w'en he see how slick de
trick wuk wid Brer Rabbit, he say ter hisse'f dat he
har1883.2007.001.0070.jpg
b'leeve
he'll up' n try de same kinder game on some yuther man, en he keep on
watchin' fer he chance, twel bimeby, one day, he year Mr. Man comin' down de
big road in a one- hoss waggin, kyar'n some chickens, en some eggs, en some
butter, ter town. Brer Fox year 'im comin', he did, en w'at do he do but go
en lay down in de road front er de waggin. Mr. Man, he druv 'long, he did,
cluckin' ter de hoss en hummin' ter hisse'f, en w'en dey git mos' up ter
Brer Fox, de hoss, he shy, he did, en Mr. Man, he tuck'n holler Wo! en de
hoss, he tuck'n wo'd. Den Mr. Man, he look down, en he see Brer Fox layin'
out dar on de groun' des like he cole en stiff, en we'n Mr. Man see dis, he
holler out:
"Well, then, old Brer Fox, when he see how slick the trick work with Brer
Rabbit, he say to hisself that he
har1883.2007.001.0070.jpg
believe
he'll up and try the same kind of game on some other man, and he keep on
watching for the chance, until by and by, one day, he hear Mr. Man coming
down the big road in a one-horse wagon, carrying some chickens, and some
eggs, and some butter, to town. Brer Fox hear him coming, he did, and what
do he do but go and lay down in the road front of the wagon. Mr. Man, he
drove along, he did, clucking to the horse and humming to hisself, and when
they get most up to Brer Fox, the horse, he shy, he did, and Mr. Man, he
tooking holler Woah! and the horse, he tooking woah-ed. Then Mr. Man, he
look down, and he see Brer Fox laying out there on the ground just like he
cold and stiff, and when Mr. Man see this, he holler out:
"'Heyo! Dar de chap w'at been nabbin' up my chickens, en somebody done gone en shot off a gun at 'im, w'ich I wish she'd er bin two guns—dat I does!' 'Hey! There the chap what been nabbing up my chickens, and somebody done gone and shot off a gun at him, which I wish she'd of been two guns—that I does!'
"Wid dat, Mr. Man, he druv on en lef' Brer Fox layin' dar. Den Brer Fox, he git up en run 'roun' thoo de woods en lay down front er Mr. Man ag'in, en Mr. Man come drivin' 'long, en he see Brer Fox, en he say, sezee: "With that, Mr. Man, he drove on and left. Brer Fox laying there. Then Brer Fox, he get up and run around through the woods and lay down front of Mr. Man again, and Mr. Man come driving along, and he see Brer Fox, and he say, says he:
"'Heyo! Yer de ve'y chap what been 'stroyin' my pigs. Somebody done gone en kilt 'im, en I wish dey'd er kilt 'im long time ago.' 'Hey! Here the very chap what been destroying my pigs. Somebody done gone and killed him, and I wish they'd of killed him long time ago.'
"Den Mr. Man, he druv on, en de waggin-w'eel come
mighty nigh mashin' Brer Fox nose; yit, all de same, Brer Fox lipt up en run
'roun' 'head er Mr. Man, en lay down in de road, en w'en Mr. Man come 'long,
dar he wuz all stretch out like he big 'nuff fer ter fill a two-
har1883.2007.001.0071.jpg
bushel baskit, en he look
like he dead 'nuff fer ter be skint. Mr. Man druv up, he did, en stop. He
look down pun Brer Fox, en den he look all 'roun' fer ter see w'at de
'casion er all deze yer dead Fox is. Mr. Man look all 'roun', he did, but he
aint see nothin', en needer do he year nothin'. Den he set dar en study, en
bimeby he 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he had better 'zamin' w'at kinder
kuse zeeze [note] done bin got inter Brer Fox fambly, en wid dat he
lit down outer de waggin, en feel er Brer Fox year; Brer Fox year feel right
wom. Den he feel Brer Fox neck; Brer Fox neck right wom. Den he feel er Brer
Fox in de short ribs; Brer Fox all soun' in de short ribs. Den he feel er
Brer Fox lim's; Brer Fox all soun' in de lim's. Den he tu'n Brer Fox over,
en, lo en beholes, Brer Fox right limber. W'en Mr. Man see dis, he say ter
hisse'f, sezee:
"Then Mr. Man, he drove on, and the wagon-wheel come mighty nigh mashing
Brer Fox nose; yet, all the same, Brer Fox leapt up and run around ahead of
Mr. Man, and he lay down in the road, and when Mr. Man come along, there he
was all stretch out like he big enough to fill a two-
har1883.2007.001.0071.jpg
bushel basket, and he look
like he dead enough for to be skinned. Mr. Man drove up, he did, and stop.
He look down upon Brer Fox, and then he look all around for to see what the
occasion of all these here dead Fox is. Mr. Man look all around, he did, but
he ain't see nothing, and neither do he hear nothing. Then he sat there and
study, and by and by he allow to hisself, he did, that he had better examine
what kind of kuse disease
done been got into Brer Fox family, and with that he let down out of the
wagon, and feel of Brer Fox ear; Brer Fox ear feel right
warm. Then he feel Brer Fox neck; Brer Fox neck right warm. Then he feel of
Brer Fox in the short ribs; Brer Fox all sound in the short ribs. The he
feel of Brer Fox limbs; Brer Fox all sound in the limbs. Then he turn Brer
Fox over, and, lo and behold, Brer Fox right limber. When Mr. Man see this,
he say to hisself, says he:
"'Heyo, yer! how come dis? Dish yer
chicken-nabber look lak he dead, but dey aint no bones broked, en I aint
see no blood, en needer does I feel no bruise; en mo'n dat he wom en he
limber,' sezee. 'Sump'n' wrong yer, sho'! Dish yer
pig-grabber mought be dead, en den ag'in he
moughtent,' sezee; 'but ter make sho' dat he is,
I'll des gin 'im a whack wid my w'ip-han'le,' sezee; en wid dat, Mr.
Man draw back en fotch Brer Fox a clip behime de years—pow!—en de lick come so hard en it come so quick dat Brer Fox thunk
sho' he's a goner; but 'fo' Mr. Man kin draw back fer ter fetch 'im a n'er
wipe, Brer Fox, he
har1883.2007.001.0072.jpg
scramble ter
his feet, he did, en des make tracks 'way fum dar."
'Hey, here! how come this? This here chicken-nabber look
like he dead, but they ain't no bones broken, and I see no blood, and
neither does I feel no bruise; an more than that he warm and limber,'
says he. Something wrong here, sure! This her pig grabber
ought be dead, and then again he
oughtn't,' says he; 'but to make sure that he is,
I'll just give him a whack with my whip-handle' says he; and with
that, Mr. Man draw back and fetch Brer Fox a clip behind the ears —pow!—and the lick come so hard and it come so quick
that Brer Fox thought sure he's a goner; but before Mr. Man can draw back
for to fetch him another wipe, Brer Fox, he
har1883.2007.001.0072.jpg
scramble to
his feet, he did, and just make tracks away from there."
Uncle Remus paused and shook the cold ashes from his pipe, and then applied the moral:
"Dat w'at Brer Fox git fer playin' Mr. Smarty en copyin' atter yuther folks, en dat des de way de whole Smarty fambly gwine ter come out." "That what Brer Fox get for playing Mr. Smarty and copying after other folks, and that just the way the whole Smarty family going to come out."
V.
BROTHER RABBIT'S ASTONISHING PRANK.
"I speck dat 'uz de reas'n w'at make ole Brer Rabbit git 'long so well, kaze he aint copy atter none er de yuther creeturs," "I expect that was the reason what make old brer Rabbit get along so well, because he ain't copy after none of the other creatures," Uncle Remus continued, after a while. "W'en he make his disappearance 'fo' um, hit 'uz allers in some bran new place. Dey aint know wharbouts fer ter watch out fer 'im. He wuz de funniest creetur er de whole gang. Some folks moughter call him lucky, en yit, w'en he git in bad luck, hit look lak he mos' allers come out on top. Hit look mighty kuse now, but 'twan't kuse in dem days, kaze hit 'uz done gun up dat, strike 'im w'en you might en whar you would, Brer Rabbit wuz de soopless creeter gwine. "When he make his disappearance before them, it was always in some brand new place They ain't know whereabouts for to watch out for him. he was the funniest creature of the whole gang. Some folks ought to call him lucky, and yet, when he get in bad luck, it look like he most always come out on top. It look mighty kuse now, but it wasn't kuse in them days, because it was done gone up that, strike him when you might and where you would, Brer Rabbit was the supplest creature going.
"One time, he sorter tuck a notion, ole Brer Rabbit did, dat he'd pay Brer B'ar a call, en no sooner do de notion strike 'im dan he pick hisse'f up en put out fer Brer B'ar house." "one time, he sort of took a notion, old Brer Rabbit did, that he'd pay Brer B'ar a call, and no soon do the notion strike him than he pick hisself up and put out for Brer B'ar house."
har1883.2007.001.0073.jpg
"Why, I thought they were mad with each other," the little boy exclaimed.
"Brer Rabbit make he call w'en Brer B'ar en his fambly wuz off fum home," "Brer Rabbit make he call when Brer B'ar and his family was off from home," Uncle Remus explained, with a chuckle which was in the nature of a hearty tribute to the crafty judgment of Brother Rabbit.
"He sot down by de road, en he see um go by,—ole Brer B'ar en ole Miss B'ar, en der two twin-chilluns, w'ich one un um wuz name Kubs en de t'er one wuz name Klibs." "He sat down by the road, and he see them go by,—old Brer B'ar and old Miss B'ar, and their two twin-children, which one of them was name Kubs and the other one was name Klibs.
The little boy laughed, but the severe seriousness of Uncle Remus would have served for a study, as he continued:
"Ole Brer B'ar en Miss B'ar, dey went 'long ahead, en Kubs en Klibs, dey come shufflin' en scramblin' 'long behime. W'en Brer Rabbit see dis, he say ter hisse'f dat he 'speck he better go see how Brer B'ar gittin' on; en off he put. En 'twa'n't long n'er 'fo' he 'uz ransackin' de premmuses same like he 'uz sho' 'nuff patter-roller. W'iles he wuz gwine 'roun' peepin' in yer en pokin' in dar, he got ter foolin' 'mong de shelfs, en a bucket er honey w'at Brer B'ar got hid in de cubbud fall down en spill on top er Brer Rabbit, en little mo'n he'd er bin drown. Fum head ter heels dat creetur wuz kiver'd wid honey; he wa'n't des only bedobble wid it, he wuz des kiver'd. He hatter set dar en let de natal sweetness drip outen he eyeballs 'fo' he kin see he han' befo' 'im, en den, atter he look 'roun' little, he say to hisse'f; sezee: "Old Brer B'ar and Miss B'ar, they went along ahead, and Kubs and Klibs, they come Shuffling and scrambling along behind. When Brer Rabbit see this, he say to hisself that he expect he better go see how Brer B'ar getting on; and off he put. And it wasn't long neither before he was ransacking the premises same like he was sure enough patter-roller. While he was going around peeping in there and poking in there, he got to fooling among the shelves, and a bucket of honey what Brer B'ar got hid in the cubbord fall down and spill on top of brer Rabbit, and little more and he'd been drown. From head to heels that creature was covered with honey; he wasn't just only bedabble with it, he was covered. he had to sit there and let the natural sweetness drip out of his eyeballs before he can see his hand before him, and then, after he look around a little, he say to hisself, says he:
"'Heyo, yer! W'at I gwine do now? Ef I go out
har1883.2007.001.0074.jpg
in de
sunshine, de bumly-bees en de flies dey'll swom up'n take me, en if I
stay yer, Brer B'ar'll come back en ketch me, en I dunner w'at in de name
er gracious I gwine do.'
'Hey, there! What I going do now? If I go out
har1883.2007.001.0074.jpg
in the
sunshine, the bumblebees and the flies they'll swarm up an take me, and
if I stay here, Brer B'ar'll come back and catch me, and I don't know
what in the name of gracious I going do."
"Ennyhow, bimeby a notion strike Brer Rabbit, en he tip 'long twel he git in de woods, en w'en he git out dar, w'at do he do but roll in de leafs en trash en try fer ter rub de honey off'n 'im dat a-way. He roll, he did, en de leafs dey stick; Brer Rabbit roll, en de leafs dey stick, en he keep on rollin' en de leafs keep on stickin', twel atter w'ile Brer Rabbit wuz de mos' owdashus-lookin' creetur w'at you ever sot eyes on. En ef Miss Meadows en de gals could er seed 'im den en dar, dey wouldn't er bin no mo' Brer Rabbit call at der house; 'deed, en dat dey wouldn't. "Anyhow, by and by a notion strike Brer Rabbite, and he tip along until he get in the woods, and when he get out there, what do he do but roll the leaves and trash and try for to rub the honey off of him that-a-way. He roll, he did, and the leaves they stick; Brer Rabbit roll, and the leaves they stick, and he kept on rolling and the leaves keep on sticking, until after while Brer Rabbit was the most audacious-looking creature what you ever set eyes on. And if Miss Meadows and the gals could of seed him then and then, they wouldn't of been no more Brer Rabbit call at their house; indeed, in that they wouldn't."
"Brer Rabbit, he jump 'roun', he did, en try ter shake de leafs off'n 'im, but de leafs, dey aint gwine ter be shuck off. Brer Rabbit, he shake en he shiver, but de leafs dey stick; en de capers dat creetur cut up out dar in de woods by he own-alone se'f wuz scan'lous—dey wuz dat; dey wuz scan'lous. "Brer Rabbit, he jump around, he did, and try to shake the leaves off of him, but the leaves, they ain't going to be shook off. Brer Rabbit, he shake and he shiver, but the leaves ther stick; and the capers that creature cut up out there in the woods by he own-alone self was scandalous—they was that; they was scandalous.
"Brer Rabbit see dis wa'n't gwine ter do, en he 'low
ter hisse'f dat he better be gittin' on todes home, en off he put. I 'speck
you done year talk ez deze yer booggers w'at gits atter bad
chilluns,"
"Brer Rabbit see this wasn't going to do, and he allow hisself that he
better be getting on towards home, and off he put. I expect you done hear
talk of these here boogers what gets after bad
childrens," continued Uncle Remus, in a tone so seriously confidential as to be
altogether depressing; "well, den, des 'zactly dat away Brer Rabbit look, en
ef you'd er seed 'im you'd er made sho' he de gran'-daddy er all de boogers.
Brer Rabbit pace 'long, he did, en ev'y motion he make, de leafs dey'd go
swishy-swushy,
har1883.2007.001.0075.jpg
splushy-splishy, en, fum de fuss he make en de way
he look, you'd er tuck 'im ter be de mos' suvvigus varment w'at disappear
fum de face er de yeth sence ole man Noah let down de draw-bars er de ark en
tu'n de creeturs loose; en I boun' ef you'd er struck up long wid 'im, you'd
er been mighty good en glad ef you'd er got off wid dat.
"well, then, just exactly that away Brer Rabbit look, and if you'd of seed
him you'd of made sure he de grand-daddy of all the boogers. Brer Rabbit
pace along, he did, and every motion he make, the leaves they'd go swishy-swushy,
har1883.2007.001.0075.jpg
splushy-splishy, and, from the fuss he make and the
way he look, you'd of took him to be the most suvvigus
varment what disappear from the face of the earth since old man Noah let
down the draw-bars of the ark and turn the creatures loose; and I bound if
you'd of struck up long with him, you'd of been mighty good and glad if
you'd of got off with that.
"De fus' man w'at Brer Rabbit come up wid wuz ole Sis Cow, en no sooner is she lay eyes on 'im dan she h'ist up 'er tail in de elements, en put out like a pack er dogs wuz atter 'er. Dis make Brer Rabbit laff, kaze he know dat w'en a ole settle' 'oman like Sis Cow run 'stracted in de broad open day-time, dat dey mus' be sump'n' mighty kuse 'bout dem leafs en dat honey, en he keep on a-rackin' down de road. De nex' man w'at he meet wuz a black gal tollin' a whole passel er plantation shotes, en w'en de gal see Brer Rabbit come prancin' 'long, she fling down 'er basket er corn en des fa'rly fly, en de shotes, dey tuck thoo de woods, en sech n'er racket ez dey kick up wid der runnin', en der snortin', en der squealin' aint never bin year in dat settlement needer befo' ner since. Hit keep on dis away long ez Brer Rabbit meet anybody—dey des broke en run like de Ole Boy wuz atter um. "The first man what Brer Rabbit come up with was old Sis Cow, and no sooner is she lay eyes on him than she hikes up her tail in the elements, and put out like a pack of dogs was after her. This make Brer Rabbit laugh, because he know that when a old settled woman like Sis Cow run distracted in the broad open day-time, that they must be somthing mighty kuse about the leaves and that honey, and he keep on a-racking down the road. The next man what he meet was a black gal tolling a whole parcel of plantation shoots, and when the gal see Brer Rabbit come prancing along, she fling down her basket of corn and just fairly fly, and the shoots, they took through the woods, and such another racket as they kick up with the running, and the snorting, and the squealing ain't never been hear in that settlement neither before nor since. It keep on this-a-way long as Brer Rabbit meet anybody—they just broke and run like the Old Boy was after them.
"C'ose, dis make Brer Rabbit feel monst'us biggity, en
he 'low ter hisse'f dat he 'speck he better drap 'roun' en skummish in de
neighborhoods er Brer Fox house. En w'iles he wuz stannin' dar runnin' dis
'roun' in he min', yer come old Brer B'ar en all er he fambly. Brer Rabbit,
he git crossways de road, he did, en he sorter sidle todes um. Ole Brer
B'ar, he stop en look, but Brer Rabbit, he
har1883.2007.001.0076.jpg
keep on
sidlin' todes um. Ole Miss B'ar, she stan' it long ez she kin, en den she
fling down 'er parrysol en tuck a tree. Brer B'ar look lak he gwine ter
stan' his groun', but Brer Rabbit he jump straight up in de a'r en gin
hisse'f a shake, en, bless yo' soul, honey! ole Brer B'ar make a break, en
dey tells me he to' down a whole panel er fence gittin' 'way fum dar. En ez
ter Kubs en Klibs, dey tuck der hats in der han's, en dey went skaddlin'
thoo de bushes des same ez a drove er hosses."
"Of course, this make Brer Rabbit feel monstrously biggity, and he allow
to hisself that he expect he better drop around and
skirmish in the neighborhoods of Brer Fox house. And
whiles he was standing there running this around in he mind, here come old
Brer B'ar and all of the family. Brer Rabbit, he get crossways the road, he
did, and he sorter siddle towards them. Old Brer B'ar, he stop and look, but
Brer Rabbit he
har1883.2007.001.0076.jpg
keeping on
siddling towards them. Old Miss B'ar, she stand it long as she can, and then
she fling down her parasol and took a tree. Brer B'ar look like he going to
stand his ground, but Brer Rabbit he jump straight up in the air and
give hisself a shake, and, bless your soul, honey! old
Brer B'ar make a break, and the tells me he tore down a whole panel of fench
getting away from there. And as to Kubs and Klibs, they took their hats in
their hands, and they went skedaddling through the bushes
just the same as a drove of horses."
"And then what?" the little boy asked.
"Brer Rabbit p'raded on down de road," "Brer Rabbit paraded on down the road," continued Uncle Remus, "en bimeby yer come Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, fixin' up a plan fer ter nab Brer Rabbit, en dey wuz so intents on der confab dat dey got right on Brer Rabbit 'fo' dey seed 'im; but, gentermens! w'en dey is ketch a glimpse un 'im, dey gun 'im all de room he want. Brer Wolf, he try ter show off, he did, kase he wanter play big 'fo' Brer Fox, en he stop en ax Brer Rabbit who is he. Brer Rabbit, he jump up en down in de middle er de road, en holler out: "and by and by here come Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, fixing up a plan fBrer Rabbit before they seed him; but, gentlemens! when they is catch a glimpse on him, they give him all the room he want. Brer Wolf, he try to show off, he did, because he want to play big before Brer Fox, and he stop and ask Brer Rabbit who he is. Brer Rabbit, he jump up and down in the middle of the road, and holler out:
"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust. [note] I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de man I'm atter!' 'I'm the Wull-er-de-Wust. I'm the Wull-er-de-Wust, and you're the man I'm after!'
"Den Brer Rabbit jump up en down en make lak he gwine atter Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, en de way dem creeturs lit out fum dar wuz a caution. "Then Brer Rabbit jump up and down and make like he going after Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, and the way them creatures lit out from there was a caution.
"Long time atter dat,"
"Long time after that," continued Uncle Remus folding his hands placidly in his lap, with
the air of one who has
har1883.2007.001.0077.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0078.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0079.jpg
performed a pleasant duty,—"long time atter dat, Brer Rabbit come up wid Brer Fox
en Brer Wolf, en he git behime a stump, Brer Rabbit did, en holler
out:
"long time after that, Brer Rabbit come up with Brer Fox and Brer Wolf,
and he get behind a stump, Brer Rabbit did, and holler out:
"'I'm de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de mens I'm atter!' 'I'm the Wull-er-de-Wust, and you're the mens I'm after!'
"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf, dey broke, but 'fo' dey got outer sight en outer year'n', Brer Rabbit show hisse'f, he did, en laugh fit ter kill hisse'f. Atterwuds, Miss Meadows she year 'bout it, en de nex' time Brer Fox call, de gals dey up en giggle, en ax 'im ef he aint feard de Wull-er-de-Wust mought drap in." "Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, they broke, but before the got out of sight and out of hearing, Brer Rabbit show hisself, he did, and laugh fit to kill hisself. Afterwards, Miss Meadows she hear about it, and the next time Brer Fox call, the gals they up and giggle, and ask him if he ain't feared the Wull-er-de-Wust might drop in."
VI.
BROTHER RABBIT SECURES A MANSION.
The rain continued to fall the next day, but the little boy made arrangements to go with 'Tildy when she carried Uncle Remus his supper. This happened to be a waiter full of things left over from dinner. There was so much that the old man was moved to remark:
"I cl'ar ter gracious, hit look lak Miss Sally done
got my name in de pot dis time, sho'. I des wish you look at dat pone er
co'n-bread, honey, en dem ar greens, en see ef dey aint got Remus writ
some'rs on um. Dat ar chick'n fixin's, dey look lak deyer good, yet 'taint
familious wid me lak dat ar bile ham. Dem ar sweet-taters, dey stan's fa'r
har1883.2007.001.0080.jpg
fer
dividjun, but dem ar puzzuv, [note] I lay dey fit yo'
palate mo' samer dan dey does mine. Dish yer hunk er beef, we kin talk 'bout
dat w'en de time come, en dem ar biscuits, I des nat'ally knows Miss Sally
put um in dar fer some little chap w'ich his name I aint gwine ter call in
comp'ny."
"I declare to gracious, it loot like Miss Sally done got my name in the
pot this time, sure. I just wish you look at that portion
of corn-bread, honey, and them there greens, and see if they ain't got Remus
writ somewheres on them. That there chicken fixings, they look like they are
good, yet it ain't familiar with me like that there pile
ham Them there sweet-potatoes, they stads fair
har1883.2007.001.0080.jpg
for
division, but them there preserves,I
lay they fit your palate more samer than they does mine. This here hunk of
beef, we can talk about that when the time come, and them there biscuits, I
just naturally knows Miss Sally put them in there for some little chap which
his name I ain't going to call in company.
It was easy to perceive that the sight of the supper had put Uncle Remus in rare good-humor. He moved around briskly, taking the plates from the waiter and distributing them with exaggerated carefulness around upon his little pine table. Meanwhile he kept up a running fire of conversation.
"Folks w'at kin set down en have der vittles brung en put down right spang und' der nose—dem kinder folks aint got no needs er no umbrell. Night 'fo' las', w'iles I wuz settin' dar in de do', I year dem Willis-whistlers, en den I des knowed we 'uz gwine ter git a season." "Folks what can sit down and have the vittles brung and put down right spang under their nose—them kind of folks ain't got no needs of no umbrella. Night before last, whiles I was sitting there in the door, I hear them Willis-whistlers, and then I just knowed we was going to get a season." [note]
"The Willis-whistlers, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy."What are they?"
"Youer too hard fer me now, honey. Dat wat I knows I
don't min' tellin', but w'en you axes me 'bout dat wat I dunno, den youer
too hard fer me, sho'. Deze yer Willis-whistlers, dey bangs my time, en I
bin knockin' 'roun' in dish yer low-groun' now gwine on eighty year. Some
folks wanter make out deyer frogs, yit I wish dey p'int out unter me how
frogs kin holler so dat de nigher
har1883.2007.001.0081.jpg
you come t'um, de furder you
is off; I be mighty glad ef some un 'ud come 'long en tell me dat. Many en
many's de time is I gone atter deze yer Willis-whistlers, en, no diffunce
whar I goes, deyer allers off yander. You kin put de shovel in de fier en
make de squinch-owl hush he fuss, en you kin go out en put yo' han' on de
trees en make deze yere locus'-bugs quit der racket, but dem ar
Willis-whistlers deyer allers 'way off yander."
"You're too hard for me now, honey. That what I knows I don't mind
telling, but when you asks me about what I don't know, then you're too hard
for me, sure. These here Willis-whistlers, they bangs my time, and I been
knocking around in this here low-ground now going on eighty year. Some folks
want to make out they're frogs, yet I wish they point out unto me how frogs
can holler so that the nigher
har1883.2007.001.0081.jpg
you come to them, the
further you is off; I'd be mighty glad if someone would come along and tell
me that. Many and manys the time is I gone after there here
Willis-whistlers, and, no difference where I goes, they're always off
yonder. You can put the shovel in the fire and make the
screech-owl hush he fuss, and you can go out and put
your hand on the trees and make there here locust-bugs quit their racket,
but them there Willis-whistlers, they're always away off yonder."
[note]
Suddenly Uncle Remus paused over one of the dishes, and exclaimed:
"Gracious en de goodness! W'at kinder doin's is dis Miss Sally done gone en sont us?" "Gracious and the goodness! What kind of doings is this Miss Sally done gone and sent us?"
"That," said the little boy, after making an investigation, "is what mamma calls a floating island."
"Well, den then ," Uncle Remus remarked, in a relieved tone, "dat's diffunt. I wuz mos' fear'd it 'uz some er dat ar syllabub, w'ich a whole jugful aint ska'cely 'nuff fer ter make you seem like you dremp 'bout smellin' dram. Ef I'm gwine ter be fed on foam," "that's different. I was most feared it was some of that there syllabub, which a whole jugful ain't scarcely enough for to make you seem like you drape about smelling dram. If I'm going to be fed on foam," continued the old man, by way of explaining his position on the subject of syllabub, "let it be foam, en ef I'm gwine ter git dram, lemme git in reach un it w'ile she got some strenk lef'. Dat's me up and down. W'en it come ter yo' floatin' ilun, des gimme a hunk er ginger-cake en a mug er 'simmon-beer, en dey wont fine no nigger w'ats got no slicker feeling' dan w'at I is. "let it be foam, and if I'm going to get dram, let me get in reach of it while she got got some strength left. That's me up and down. When it come to your floating island, just give me a hunk of ginger-cake and a mug of persimmon-beer, and they won't find no nigger what's got no slicker feeling than what I is.
har1883.2007.001.0082.jpg
"Miss Sally mighty kuse w'ite 'oman," "Miss Sally mighty kuse white woman," Uncle Remus went on. "She sendin' all deze doin's en fixin's down yer, en I 'speck deyer monst'us nice, but no longer'n las' Chuseday she had all de niggers on de place, big en little, gwine squallin' 'roun' fer Remus. Hit 'uz Remus yer en Remus dar, en, lo en beholes, w'en I come ter fine out, Miss Sally want Remus fer ter whirl in en cook 'er one er deze yer ole-time ash-cakes. She bleedzd ter have it den en dar; en w'en I git it done, Miss Sally, she got a glass er buttermilk, en tuck'n sot right flat down on de flo', des like she useter w'en she wuz little gal." "She sending all these doings and fixings down there, and I expect they're monstrous nice, but no longer than last Tuesday she had all the niggers on the place, big and little, going squealing around for Remus. It was Remus here and Remus there, and, low and behold, when I come to find out, Miss Sally want Remus for to whirl in and cook her one of these old-time ash-cakes. She pleased to have it then and there; and when I get it done, Miss Sally, she got a glass of buttermilk, and took them and sat right flat down on the floor, just like she used to when she was a little gal." The old man paused, straightened up, looked at the child over his spectacles, and continued, with emphasis: "En I be bless ef she aint eat a hunk er dat ash-cake mighty nigh ez big ez yo' head, en den she tuck'n make out 'twa'n't cook right. "And I be bless if she ain't eat a hunk of that ash-cake might nigh as big as your head, and then she took and make out it wasn't cook right.
"Now, den, honey, all deze done fix. You set over dar, and I'll set over yer, en 'twix' en 'tween us we'll sample dish yer truck en see w'at is it Miss Sally done gone en sont us; en w'iles we er makin' 'way wid it, I'll sorter rustle 'roun' wid my 'membunce, en se ef I kin call ter min' de tale 'bout how ole Brer Rabbit got 'im a two-story house widout layin' out much cash." "Now, then, honey, all these done fix. You sit over there, and I'll sit over here, and betwixt and between us we'll sample this here trick and see what it is Miss Sally done gone and sent us; and whiles we are making away with it, I'll sort of rustle around with my remembrance, and see if I can call to mind the tale about how old Brer Rabbit got him a two-story house without laying out much cash."
Uncle Remus stopped talking a little while and pretended to be trying to remember something,—an effort that was accompanied by a curious humming sound in his throat. Finally, he brightened up and began:
"Hit tu'n out one time dat a whole lot er de creeters
tuck a notion dat dey'd go in cahoots wid buil'n' un um a
har1883.2007.001.0083.jpg
house. Ole Brer B'ar, he was
'mongs' um, en Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, en Brer 'Possum. I
wont make sho', but it seem like ter me dat plum down ter ole Brer Mink 'uz
'mongs' um. Leas'ways, dey wuz a whole passel un um, en dey whirl in, dey
did, en dey buil' de house in less'n no time. Brer Rabbit, he make lak it
make he head swim fer ter climb up on de scaffle, en likewise he say it make
'im ketch de palsy fer ter wuk in de sun, but he got 'im a squar', en he
stuck a pencil behime he year, en he went 'roun' medjun [note] en
markin'—medjun en markin'—en he wuz dat busy dat de yuther creeturs say ter
deyse'f he doin' monst'us sight er wuk, en folks gwine 'long de big road say
Brer Rabbit doin' mo' hard wuk dan de whole kit en bilin' un um. Yit all de
time Brer Rabbit aint doin' nothin', en he des well bin layin' off in de
shade scratchin' de fleas off'n 'im. De yuther creeturs, dey buil' de house,
en, gentermens! she 'uz a fine un, too, mon. She'd 'a' bin a fine un deze
days, let 'lone dem days. She had er upsta'rs en downsta'rs, en chimbleys
all 'roun', en she had rooms fer all de creeturs w'at went inter cahoots en
hope make it.
"It turn out one time that a whole lot of the creatures took a notion that
they'd go in cahoots with building of them a
har1883.2007.001.0083.jpg
house. Old Brer B'ar, he was
amongst them, and Brer Fox, and Brer Wolf, and Brer 'Coon, and Brer 'Possum.
I won't make sure, but it seem like to me that plum down to old Brer Mink
was amongst them. Leastways, they was a whole parcel of
them, they whirl in, they did, and they built the house in less than no
time. Brer Rabbit, he make like it make he head swim for to climb up on the
scafolding, and likewise he say it make him catch the palsy for to work in
the sun, but he got him a square, and he stuck a pencil behind he ear, and
he went round measuring
and marking—measuring and marking—and he was that busy that the other
creatures say to theyself he doing more hard work that the whole
kit and billing of them. Yet all the time Brer Rabbit
ain't doing nothing, and he just well been laying off in the shade
scratching the fleas off of him. The other creatures, they build the house,
and gentlemens! she was a fine one, too, man. She'd of been a fine one these
days, let alone them days. She had her upstairs and her downstairs, and
chimneys all around, and she had rooms for all the creatures what went into
cahoots and help make it.
"Brer Rabbit, he pick out one er de upsta'rs rooms, en
he tuck'n' got 'im a gun, en one er deze yer brass cannons, en he tuck'n'
put um in dar w'en de yuther creeturs aint lookin', en den he tuck'n' got
'im a tub er nasty slop- water, w'ich likewise he put in dar w'en dey aint
lookin'. So den, w'en dey git de house all fix, en w'iles dey wuz
har1883.2007.001.0084.jpg
all
a-settin' in de parlor atter supper, Brer Rabbit, he sorter gap en stretch
hisse'f, en make his 'skuses en say he b'leeve he'll go ter he room. W'en he
git dar, en w'iles all de yuther creeturs wuz a-laughin' an a-chattin' des
ez sociable ez you please, Brer Rabbit, he stick he head out er de do' er he
room en sing out:
"Brer Rabbit, he pick out one of the upstairs rooms, and he took and got
him a gun, and one of these here brass cannons, and he took and put them in
there when the other creatures ain't looking, and then he took and got him a
tub of nasty slop-water, which likewise he put in there when they ain't
looking. So then, when they get the house all fix, and whiles they was
har1883.2007.001.0084.jpg
all
a-setting in the parlor after supper, Brer Rabbit, he sort of gap and
stretch hisself, and make his excuses and say he believe he'll go to he
room. When he get there, and whiles all the other creatures was a-laughing
and a-chatting just as sociable as you please, Brer Rabbit, he stick he head
out of the door of he room and sing out:
" 'W'en a big man like me wanter set down, wharbouts he gwine ter set?' sezee. 'When a big man like me want to sit down, wherabouts he going to sit?' says he.
"Den de yuther creeturs dey laugh, en holler back: "Then the other creatures they laugh, and holler back:
"'Ef big man like you can't set in a cheer, he better set down on de flo'.' "If big man like you can't sit in a chair, he better sit down on the floor.'
"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm a gwine ter set down,' sezee. 'Watch out down there, then' says old Brer Rabbit, says he. 'Because I'm a going to sit down,' says he.
"Wid dat, bang! went Brer Rabbit gun. Co'se, dis sorter 'stonish de creeturs, en dey look 'roun' at one er n'er much ez ter say, W'at in de name er gracious is dat? Dey lissen en lissen, but dey don't year no mo' fuss, en 'twa'n't long 'fo' dey got ter chattin' en jabberin' some mo'. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit stick he head outer he room do', en sing out: "With that, bang! went brer Rabbit gun. Of course, this sort of astonish the creatures, and they look around at one another much as to say, What in the name of gracious is that? They listen, but they don't hear no more fuss, and it wasn't long before they got to chatting and jabbering some more. By and by, Brer Rabbit stick he head out of he room door, and sing out:
"'W'en a big man like me wanter sneeze, wharbouts he gwine ter sneeze at?' 'When a big man like me want to sneeze, whereabouts he going to sneeze at?'
"Den de yuther creeturs, dey tuck'n' holler back: "Then the other creatures, they took and holler back:
"'Ef big man like you aint a gone gump, he kin sneeze anywhar he please.' 'If big man like you ain't a gone gimp, he can sneeze anywhere he please.'
"'Watch out down dar, den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze I'm gwineter tu'n loose en sneeze right yer,' sezee. 'Watch out down there, then,' says Brer Rabbit, says he. 'Because I'm going to turn loose and sneeze right here,'
"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let off his cannon—bulderum- m-m! De winder-glass dey shuck en rattle,
en de house
har1883.2007.001.0085.jpg
shuck like she gwine ter
come down, en ole Brer B'ar, he fell out de rockin'-cheer—kerblump! W'en de creeturs git sorter settle, Brer 'Possum en Brer
Mink, dey up'n' 'low dat Brer Rabbit got sech a monst'us bad cole, dey
b'leeve dey'll step out and git some fresh a'r, but dem yuther creeturs, dey
say dey gwine ter stick it out; en atter w'ile, w'en dey git der h'ar smoove
down, dey 'gun ter jower 'mongs' deyse'f. 'Bout dat time, w'en dey get in a
good way, Brer Rabbit, he sing out:
"With that, Brer Rabbit let off his cannon—bulderum-
m-m! The window-glass they shook and rattle, and the house
har1883.2007.001.0085.jpg
shook like she going to come
down, and old Brer B'ar, he fell out the rocking-chair—kerblump! When the creatures get sort of settle, Brer 'Possum and
Brer Mink, they up and allow that Brer Rabbit got such a monstrous bad cole,
they believe they'll step out and get some fresh air, but them other
cretures, they say they going to stick it out; and after while, when they
get there hair smooth down, they begun to jower amongst theyself. About that
time, when they get in a good way, Brer Rabbit, he sing out:
"'When a big man like me take a chaw terbacker, wharbouts he gwine ter spit?' 'When a big man like me take a chew tobacco, whereabouts he going to spit?'
"Den de yuther creeturs, dey holler back, dey did, sorter like deyer mad: "Then the other creatures, they holler back, they did, sort of like they're mad:
"'Big man er little man, spit whar you please.' 'Big man or little man, spit where you please.'
"Den Brer Rabbit, he squall out: "Then Brer Rabbit, he squeal out:
"'Dis de way a big man spit!' en wid dat he tilt over de tub er slop-water, en w'en de yuther creeturs year it come a-sloshin' down de sta'r-steps, gentermens! dey des histed deyse'f outer dar. Some un um went out de back do', en some un um went out de front do', en some un um fell out de winders; some went one way en some went n'er way; but dey all went sailin' out." "'This the way a big man spit!' and with that he tilt over the tub of slop-water, and when the other creatures hear it come a-sloshing down the stair-steps, gentlemens! they just hoisted theyself out of there. Some of them went out the back door, and some of them went out the front door, and some of them fell out the windows; some went one way and some went another way; but they all went sailing out."
"But what became of Brother Rabbit?" the little boy asked.
"Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n' shot up de house en
fassen de winders, en den he go ter bed, he did, en pull de coverled up
'roun' he years, en he sleep like a man w'at aint owe nobody nuthin'; en
needer do he owe um, kaze ef dem yuther creeturs gwine git skeer'd en run
off fum
har1883.2007.001.0086.jpg
der own
house, w'at bizness is dat er Brer Rabbit? Dat w'at I like ter know."
"Brer Rabbit, he just took and shut up the house and fasten the windows,
and then he go to bed, he did, and pull the covers up
around he ears, and he sleep like a man what ain't owe nobody nothing; and
neither do he owe them, because if them other creatures hadn't going get
scared and run off from
har1883.2007.001.0086.jpg
their own
house, what business is that of Brer Rabbit? That what I like to
know."
VII.
MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN.
Uncle Remus sighed heavily as he lifted the trivet on the head of his walking-cane, and hung it carefully by the side of the griddle in the cavernous fireplace.
"Folks kin come 'long wid der watchermaycollums," "Folks can come along with the watermelons," he said, presently, turning to the little boy, who was supplementing his supper by biting off a chew of shoemaker's-wax, "en likewise dey kin fetch 'roun' der watziznames. Dey kin walk biggity, en dey kin talk biggity, en, mo'n dat, dey kin feel biggity, but yit all de same deyer gwine ter git kotch up wid. Dey go 'long en dey go 'long, en den bimeby yer come trouble en snatch um slonchways, en de mo' bigger w'at dey is, de wusser does dey git snatched." "and likewise they can fetch around their what's-his-names. They can walk biggity, and they can talk biggity, and more than that, they can feel biggity, but it all the same they're going to get caught up with. They go along and they go along, and then by and by here come trouble and snatch them sideways, and the more bigger what they is, the worser does they get snatched.
The little boy didn't understand this harangue at all, but he appreciated it because he recognized it as the prelude to a story.
"Dar wuz Mr. Lion,"
"There was Mr. Lion," Uncle Remus went on; "he tuck'n' sot hisse'f up fer ter be de boss er all
de yuther
har1883.2007.001.0087.jpg
creeturs, en he feel so
biggity dat he go ro'in' en rampin' 'roun' de neighborhoods 'wuss'n dat ar
speckle bull w'at you see down at yo' Unk' Jeems Abercrombie place las'
year. He went ro'in' 'roun', he did, en eve'ywhar he go he year talk er Mr.
Man. Right in de middle er he braggin', some un 'ud up'n' tell 'im 'bout
w'at Mr. Man done done. Mr. Lion, he say he done dis, en den he year 'bout
how Mr. Man done dat. Hit went on dis a-way twel bimeby Mr. Lion shake he
mane, he did, en he up'n' say dat he gwine ter s'arch 'roun' en 'roun', en
high en low, fer ter see ef he can't fine Mr. Man, en he 'low, Mr. Lion did,
dat w'en he do fine 'im, he gwine ter tu'n in en gin Mr. Man sech n'er
larrupin' w'at nobody aint never had yit. Dem yuther creeturs, dey tuck'n'
tell Mr. Lion dat he better let Mr. Man 'lone, but Mr. Lion say he gwine ter
hunt 'im down spite er all dey kin do.
"he took and sat hisself up for to be the boss of all the other
har1883.2007.001.0087.jpg
creatures, and he feel so
biggity that he go rolling and ramping around the neighborhoods
worse than that there special bull
what you see down at your Uncle James Abercrombie place
last year. He went rolling around, he did, and everywhere he go he hear talk
of Mr. Man. Right in the middle of he bragging, some one would up and tell
him about what Mr. Man done done. Mr. Lion, he say he done this, and then he
hear about how Mr. Man done that. It went on this-a-way until by and by Mr.
Lion shake he man, he did, and he up and say that he going to search around
and around, and high and low, for to see if he going to
turn in and give Mr. Man such
another larruping what nobody ain't never had yet. Them
other creatures, they took and tell Mr. Lion that he better let Mr. Man
alone, but Mr. Lion say he going to hunt him down spite of all they can
do.
"Sho' nuff, atter he done tuck some res', Mr. Lion, he put out down de big road. Sun, she rise up en shine hot, but Mr. Lion, he keep on; win', hit come up en blow, en fill de elements full er dust; rain, hit drif' up en drizzle down; but Mr. Lion, he keep on. Bimeby, w'iles he gwine on dis away, wid he tongue hangin' out, he come up wid Mr. Steer, grazin' 'long on de side er de road. Mr. Lion, he up'n' ax 'im howdy, he did, monst'us perlite, en Mr. Steer likewise he bow en scrape en show his manners. Den Mr. Lion, he do lak he wanter have some confab wid 'im, en he up'n' say, sezee: "Sure enough, after he done took some rest, Mr. Lion, he put out down the big road. Sun, she rise up and shine hot, but Mr. Lion, he keep on; wind, it come up and blow, and fill the elements full of dust; rain, it drift up and drizzle down; but Mr. Lion, he come up with Mr. Steer, grazing along on the side of the road. Mr. Lion, he up and ask him howdy, he did, monstrous polite, and Mr. Steer likewise he bow and scrape and show his manners. Then Mr. Lion, he do like he want to have some confab with him, and he up and say, says he:
"'Is dey anybody 'roun' in deze parts name Mr. Man?' sezee. 'Is they anybody around in these parts name Mr. Man?' says he.
har1883.2007.001.0088.jpg
"'Tooby sho' dey is,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee; 'anybody kin tell you dat. I knows 'im mighty well,' sezee. 'To be sure they is,' says Mr. Steer, says he; 'anybody can tell you thet. I knows him mighty well,'
"'Well, den, he de ve'y chap I'm atter,' sezee. 'Well, then, he the very chap I'm after,' says he.
"'W'at mought be yo' bizness wid Mr. Man?' sez Mr. Steer, sezee. 'What might be your business with Mr. Man?' says Mr. Steer, says he.
"'I done come dis long ways fer ter gin 'im a larrupin,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee. 'I'm gwine ter show 'im who de boss er deze neighborhoods,' sezee, en wid dat Mr. Lion, he shake he mane, en switch he tail, en strut up en down wuss'n one er deze yer town niggers. 'I done come this long ways for to give him a larruping, says Mr. Lion, says he. 'I'm going to show him who the boss of these neighborhoods,' says he, and with that Mr. Lion, he shake he mane, and switch he tail, and strut up and down worse than one of these here town niggers.
"'Well, den, ef dat w'at you come atter,' sez Mr. Steer, sezee. 'you des better slew yo'se'f 'roun' en p'int yo' nose todes home, kaze you fixin' fer ter git in sho' 'nuff trouble,' sezee. 'Well then, if that what you come after,' says Mr. Steer, says he. 'you just better slow yourself around and point your nose towards home, because you fixing for to get in sure enough trouble,' says he.
"'I'm gwine ter larrup dat same Mr. Man,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee; 'I done come fer dat, en dat w'at I'm gwine ter do,' sezee. 'I'm going to larrup that some Mr. Man,' says Mr. Lion, says he; 'I done come for that, and that what I'm going to do,' says he.
"Mr. Steer, he draw long breff, he did, en chaw he cud slow, en atter w'ile he say, sezee: "Mr. Steer, he draw long breath, he did, and chew he cud slow, and after while he say, says he:
"'You see me stannin' yer front er yo' eyes, en you see how big I is, en w'at long, sharp hawns I got. Well, big ez my heft is, en sharp dough my hawns be, yit Mr. Man, he come out yer en he ketch me, en he put me und' a yoke, en he hitch me up in a kyart, en he make me haul he wood, en he drive me anywhar he min'ter. He do dat. Better let Mr. Man 'lone,' sezee. 'Ef you fool 'long wid 'im, watch out dat he don't hitch you up en have you prancin' 'roun' yer pullin' he kyart,' sezee. 'you see me standing here front of your eyes, and you see how big I is, and what long, sharp horns I got. Well, big as my heft is, and sharp though my horns be, yet Mr. Man, he come out and catch me, and he put me under a yoke, and he hitch me up in a cart, and he make me haul wood, and he drive me anywhere he mind to. He do that. Better let Mr. Man alone,' says he. 'If you fool along with him, watch out the he don't hitch you up and have you prancing around here pulling the cart,' says he.
har1883.2007.001.0089.jpg
"Mr. Lion, he fotch a roar, en put out down de road, en 'twa'n't so mighty long 'fo' he come up wid Mr. Hoss, w'ich he wuz a-nibblin' en a-croppin' de grass. Mr. Lion make hisse'f know'd, en den he tuck'n' ax Mr. Hoss do he know Mr. Man. "Mr. Lion, he fetch a roar, and put out down the road, and it wasn't so mighty long before he come up with Mr. Hoss, which he was a-nibbling and a-cropping the grass. Mr. Lion make hisself knowed, and then he took and ask Mr. Hoss do he know Mr. Man.
"'Mighty well,' sez Mr. Hoss, sezee, 'en mo'n dat, I bin a-knowin' 'im a long time. W'at you want wid Mr. Man?' sezee. "'Mighty well,' says Mr. Hoss, says he, 'and more than that, I been knowing him a long time. What you want with Mr. Man? says he.
"'I'm a huntin' 'im up fer ter larrup 'im,' sez Mr. Lion, sezee. 'Dey tels me he mighty stuck up,' sezee, 'en I gwine take 'im down a peg,' sezee. "'I'm a hunting him up for to larrup him,' says Mr. Lion, says he. 'They tells me he mighty stuck up,' says he, 'and I going to take him down a peg,' says he.
"Mr. Hoss look at Mr. Lion like he sorry, en bimeby he up'n say: "Mr. Hoss look at Mr. Lion like he sorry, and by and by he up and say:
"'I 'speck you better let Mr. Man 'lone,' sezee. 'You see how big I is, en how much strenk w'at I got, en how tough my foots is,' sezee; 'well dish yer Mr. Man, he kin take'n' take me en hitch me up in he buggy, en make me haul 'im all 'roun', en den he kin take'n' fassen me ter de plow en make me break up all his new groun',' sezee. 'You better go 'long back home. Fus' news you know, Mr. Man'll have you breakin' up his new groun',' sezee. "'I expect you better let Mr. Man alone,' says he. 'You see how big I is, and how much strength what I got, and how tough my foots is,' says he; 'well this here Mr. Man, he can take and take me and hitch me up in the buggy, and make me haul him all around, and then he can take and fasten me to the plow and make me break up all his new ground,' says he. 'You better go along back home. First news you know, Mr. Man'll have you breaking up his new ground,' says he.
"Spite er all dis, Mr. Lion, he shake he mane en say he gwine ter larrup Mr. Man anyhow. He went on down de big road, he did, en bimeby he come up wid Mr. Jack Sparrer, settin' up in de top er de tree. Mr. Jack Sparrer, he whirl 'roun' en chirp, en flutter 'bout up dar, en 'pariently make a great 'miration. "Spite of all this, Mr. Lion, he shake he mane and say he going to larrup Mr. Ma anyhow. he went on down the big road, he did, and by and by he come up with Mr. Jack Sparrer, sitting up in the top of the tree. Mr. Jack Sparrer, he whirl around and chirp, and flutter about up there, and apparently make a great admiration.
"'Heyo yer!' sezee; 'who'd er 'speckted fer ter see
har1883.2007.001.0090.jpg
Mr. Lion
'way down yer in dis neighborhoods?' sezee. 'Whar you gwine, Mr. Lion?' sezee.
"'Hello there! says he; 'who'd of expected for to see
har1883.2007.001.0090.jpg
Mr. Lion
away down here in this neighborhoods?' says he. 'Where you going, Mr. Lion?' says he.
"Den Mr. Lion ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer know Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer say he know Mr. Man mighty well. Den Mr. Lion, he ax ef Mr. Jack Sparrer know whar he stay, w'ich Mr. Jack Sparrer say dat he do. Mr. Lion ax wharbouts is Mr. Man, en Mr. Jack Sparrer say he right 'cross dar in de new groun', en he up'n' ax Mr. Lion w'at he want wid 'im, w'ich Mr. Lion 'spon' dat he gwine larrup Mr. Man, en wid dat, Mr. Jack Sparrer, he up'n' say, sezee: "Then Mr. Lion ask if Mr. Jack Sparrer know Mr. Man, and Mr. Jack Sparrer say he know Mr. Man mighty well. Then Mr. Lion, he ask if Mr. Jack Sparrer know whereabouts he stay, which Mr. Jack Sparrer say that he do. Mr. Lion ask whereabouts is Mr. Man, and Mr. Jack Sparrer say he right across there in the new ground, and he up and ask Mr. Lion what he want with him, which Mr. Lion respond that he going larrup Mr. Man, and with that, Mr. Jack Sparrer, he up and say, says he:
"'You better let Mr. Man 'lone. You see how little I is, en likewise how high I kin fly; yit, 'spite er dat, Mr. Man, he kin fetch me down w'en he git good and ready,' sezee. 'You better tuck yo' tail en put out home,' sez Mr. Jack Sparrer, sezee, 'kaze bimeby Mr. Man'll fetch you down,' sezee. "'You better let Mr. Man alone. You see how little I is, and likewise how high I can fly; yet, in spite of all that, Mr. Man, he can fetch me down when he get good and ready,' says he. 'You better tuck your tail and put out for home,' says Mr. Jack Sparrer, says he, 'because by and by Mr. Man'll fetch you down,' says he.
"But Mr. Lion des vow he gwine atter Mr. Man, en go he
would, en go he did. He aint never see Mr. Man, Mr. Lion aint, en he dunner
w'at he look lak, but he go on todes de new groun'. Sho' 'nuff, dar wuz Mr.
Man, out dar maulin' rails fer ter make 'im a fence. He 'uz rippin' up de
butt cut, Mr. Man wuz, en he druv in his wedge en den he stuck in de glut.
He 'uz splittin' 'way, w'en bimeby he year rustlin' out dar in de bushes, en
he look up, en dar wuz Mr. Lion. Mr. Lion ax 'im do he know Mr. Man, en Mr.
Man 'low dat he know 'im mo' samer dan ef he wer' his twin brer. Den Mr.
Lion 'low dat he wanter see 'im, en den Mr. Man say, sezee, dat ef
har1883.2007.001.0091.jpg
Mr. Lion will come stick his
paw in de split fer ter hol' de log open twel he git back, he go fetch Mr.
Man. Mr. Lion he march up en slap his paw in de place, en den Mr. Man, he
tuck'n' knock de glut out, en de split close up, en dar Mr. Lion wuz. Mr.
Man, he stan' off en say, sezee:
"But Mr. Lion just vow he going after Mr. Man, and go he would, and go he
did. He ain't never see Mr. Man, Mr. Lion ain't, and he don't know what he
look like, but he go on towards the new ground. Sure enough, there was Mr.
Man, out there mauling rails for to make him a fence. he was ripping up the
butt cut, Mr. Man was, and he drove in his wedge and then he stuck in the
glut. He was splitting away, when by and by he hear
rustling out there in the bushes, and he look up, and there was Mr. Lion.
Mr. Lion ask him do he know Mr. Man, and Mr. Man allow that he know him more
samer than if he were his twin brother. Then Mr. Lion allow that he want to
see him, and then Mr. Man say, says he, that if
har1883.2007.001.0091.jpg
Mr. Lion will come stick his
paw in the split for to hold the log open until he get back, he go fetch Mr.
Man. Mr. Lion he march up and slap his paw in the place, and then Mr. Man,
he took and knock the glut out, and the split close up, and there Mr. Lion
was. Mr. Man, he stand off and say, says he:
"'Ef you'd 'a' bin a steer er hoss, you mought er run'd, en ef you'd 'a' bin a sparrer, you mought er flew'd, but yer you is, en you kotch yo'se'f,' sezee. "'If you'd a been a steer or horse, you might of runned, and if you'd have been a sparrow, you might of flewed, but here you is, and you catch yourself,' says he.
"Wid dat, Mr. Man sa'nter out in de bushes en cut 'im a hick'ry, en he let in on Mr. Lion, en he frail en frail 'im twel frailin' un 'im wuz a sin. En down ter dis day," "With that, Mr. Man saunter out in the bushes and cut him a hickory, and he let in on Mr. Lion, and he flail and flail him until flailing of him was a sin. And down to this day," continued Uncle Remus, in a tone calculated to destroy all doubt, "you can't git no Lion ter come up whar dey's a Man a-maulin' rails en put he paw in de split. Dat you can't!" "you can't get no Lion to come up where they's a Man a-mauling rails and put he paw in the split. That you can't!"
VIII.
THE STORY OF THE PIGS.
Uncle Remus relapsed into silence again, and the little boy, with nothing better to do, turned his attention to the bench upon which the old man kept his shoemaker's tools. Prosecuting his investigations in this direction, the youngster finally suggested that the supply of bristles was about exhausted.
har1883.2007.001.0092.jpg
"I dunner w'at Miss Sally wanter be sendin' un you down yer fer, ef you gwine ter be stirr'n' en bodderin' 'longer dem ar doin's," I don't know what Miss Sally wants to be sending of you down here for, if you going to be stirring and bothering along of them there doings," exclaimed Uncle Remus, indignantly. "Now don't you scatter dem hog-bristle! De time wuz w'en folks had a mighty slim chance fer ter git bristle, en dey aint no tellin' w'en dat time gwine come ag'in. Let 'lone dat, de time wuz w'en de breed er hogs wuz done run down ter one po' little pig, en it look lak mighty sorry chance fer dem w'at was bleedzd ter have bristle." "Now don't you scatter them hog-bristle! The time was when folks had a mighty slim chance for to get bristle, and they ain't no telling when that time going come again. Let alone that, the time was when the breed of hogs was done run down to one poor little pig, and it look like mighty sorry chance for them what was pleased to have bristle."
By this time Uncle Remus's indignation had vanished, disappearing as suddenly and unexpectedly as it came. The little boy was curious to know when and where and how the bristle famine occurred.
"I done tole you 'bout dat too 'long 'go ter talk 'bout," "I done told you about that too along ago to talk about," the old man declared; but the little boy insisted that he had never heard about it before, and he was so persistent that at last Uncle Remus, in self-defence, consented to tell the story of the Pigs.
"One time, 'way back yander, de ole Sow en er chilluns wuz all livin' longer de yuther creeturs. Hit seem lak ter me dat de ole Sow wuz a widder 'oman, en ef I don't run inter no mistakes, hit look like ter me dat she got five chilluns. Lemme see," "One time, away back yonder, the old Sow and her childrens was all living longer the other creatures. It seem like to me that the old Sow was a widowed woman, and if I don't run into no mistakes, it loke like to me that she got five childrens. Let me see," continued Uncle Remus, with the air of one determined to justify his memory by a reference to the record, and enumerating with great deliberation,—"dar wuz Big Pig, en dar wuz Little Pig, en dar wuz Speckle Pig, en dar wuz Blunt, en las' en lonesomes', dar wuz Runt. "There was Big Pig, and there was little Pig, and there was Speckle Pig, and there was Blunt, and last and lonesomest, there was Runt
"One day, deze yer Pig ma she know she gwine kick
har1883.2007.001.0093.jpg
de bucket, and she tuck'n'
call up all 'er chilluns en tell um dat de time done come w'en dey got ter
look out fer deyse'f, en den she up'n' tell um good ez she kin, dough 'er
breff mighty scant, 'bout w'at a bad man is ole Brer Wolf. She say, sez she,
dat if dey kin make der 'scape from ole Brer Wolf, dey'll be doin' monst'us
well. Big Pig 'low she aint skeer'd, Speckle Pig 'low she aint skeer'd,
Blunt, he say he mos' big a man ez Brer Wolf hisse'f, en Runt, she des
tuck'n' root 'roun' in de straw en grunt. But ole Widder Sow, she lay dar,
she did, en keep on tellin' um dat dey better keep der eye on Brer Wolf,
kaze he mighty mean en 'seetful man.
"One day, these here Pig ma she know she going kick
har1883.2007.001.0093.jpg
the bucket, and she took and
call up all of her childrens and tell them that the time done come when they
got to look out for theyself, and then she up and tell them good as she can,
though her breath mighty scant, about what a bad man is old Brer Wolf. She
say, says she, that if they can make their escape from old Brer Wolf,
they'll be doing monstrous well. Big Pig allow she ain't scared, Speckle Pig
allow she ain't scared, Blunt, he say he most big a man as Brer Wolf
hisself, and Runt, she just took and root around in the straw and grunt. But
old Widder Sow, she lay there, she did, and keep on telling them that they
better keep their eye on Brer Wolf, because he mighty mean and
resentful man.
"Not long atter dat, sho' 'nuff ole Miss Sow lay down en die, en all dem ar chilluns er hern wuz flung back on deyse'f, en dey whirl in, dey did, en dey buil' um all a house ter live in. Big Pig, she tuck'n' buil' 'er a house outer bresh; Little Pig, she tuck'n' buil' a stick house; Speckle Pig, she tuck'n' buil' a mud house; Blunt, he tuck'n' buil' a plank house; en Runt, she don't make no great ter-do, en no great brags, but she went ter wuk, she did, en buil' a rock house. "Not long after that, sure enough old Miss Sow lay down and die, and all them there childrens her herd was flung back on theyself, and the whirl in, they did, and they build them all a house to live in. Big Pig, she took and built her a house out of brush; Little Pig, she took and built a stick house; Speckle Pig, she took and built a mud house; Blunt, he took and built a plank house; and Runt, she don't make no great to-do, and no great brags, but she went to work, she did, and built a rock house.
"Bimeby, w'en dey done got all fix, en marters wuz
sorter settle, soon one mawnin' yer come ole Brer Wolf, a-lickin' un his
chops en a-shakin' un his tail. Fus' house he come ter wuz Big Pig house.
Brer Wolf walk ter de do', he did, en he knock sorter saf'—blim! blim! blim! Nobody aint answer. Den he knock
loud—blam! blam! blam! Dis wake up Big Pig, en
she come ter de do', en
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she ax who
dat. Brer Wolf 'low it's a fr'en', en den he sing out:
"By and by, when the done got all fix, and matters was sort of settle,
soon one morning here come old Brer Wolf, a-licking of his chops and
a-shaking of his tail. First house he come to was Big Pig House. Brer Wolf
walk to the door, he did, and he knock sort of safe—blim!
blim! blim! Nobody ain't answer. Then he knock loud—blam! blam! blam! This wake up Big Pig, and she come
to the door, and
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she ask who
that. Brer Wolf allow it's a friend, and then he sing out:
"Still Big Pig ax who dat, en den Brer Wolf, he up'n' say, sezee: "Still Big Pig ask who that, and then Brer Wolf, he up and say, says he:
"'How yo' ma?' sezee. "'How your ma?' says he.
"'My ma done dead,' sez Big Pig, sezee, 'en 'fo' she die she tell me fer ter keep my eye on Brer Wolf. I sees you thoo de crack er de do', en you look mighty like Brer Wolf,' sezee. "'My ma done dead,' says Big Pig, says he, 'and before she die she tell me for to keep my eye on Brer Wolf. I sees you through the crack of the door, and you look might like Brer Wolf,' says he.
"Den ole Brer Wolf, he draw a long breff lak he feel mighty bad, en he up'n' say, sezee: "Then old Brer Wolf, he draw a long breath like he feel mighty bad, and he up and say, says he:
"'I dunner w'at change yo' ma so bad, less'n she 'uz out'n 'er head. I year tell dat ole Miss Sow wuz sick, en I say ter myse'f dat I'd kinder drap 'roun' en see how de ole lady is, en fetch 'er dish yer bag er roas'n'-years. Mighty well does I know dat ef yo' ma wuz yer right now, en in 'er min', she'd take de roas'n'-years en be glad fer ter git um, en mo'n dat, she'd take'n' ax me in by de fire fer ter wom my han's,' sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee. "'I don't know what change your ma so bad, unless she was out of her head. I hear tell that old Miss Sow was sick, and I say to myself that I'd kind of drop around and see how the old lady is, and fetch her this here bag of roasting-ears. Mighty well does I know that if your ma was here right now, and in her mind, she'd take the roasting-ears and be glad for to get them, and more and that, she'd take and ask me in by the fire for to warm my hands,' says old Brer Wolf.
"De talk 'bout de roas'n'-ears make Big Pig mouf water, en bimeby, atter some mo' palaver, she open de do' en let Brer Wolf in, en bless yo' soul, honey! dat uz de las' er Big Pig. She aint had time fer ter squeal en needer fer ter grunt 'fo' Brer Wolf gobble 'er up. "The talk about the roasting-ears make Big Pig mouth water, and by and by, after some more palaver, she open the door and let Brer Wolf in, and bless your soul, honey! that was the last of Big Pig. She ain't had time for to squeal and neither for to grunt before Brer Wolf gobble her up.
"Next day, ole Brer Wolf put up de same game on Little
Pig; he go en he sing he song, en Little Pig, she
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tuck'n' let 'im in, en den
Brer Wolf he tuck'n' 'turn de compelerments [note] en let Little
Pig in."
"Next day, old Brer Wolf put up the same game on Little Pig; he go an he
sing he song, and Little Pig, she
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took and let him in, and
then Brer Wolf he took and return the compliments and let Little Pig
in."
Here Uncle Remus laughed long and loud at his conceit, and he took occasion to repeat it several times.
"Little Pig, she let Brer Wolf in, en Brer Wolf, he let Little Pig in, en w'at mo' kin you ax dan dat? Nex' time Brer Wolf pay a call, he drop in on Speckle Pig, en rap at de do' en sing his song: "Little Pig, she let Brer Wolf in, and Brer Wolf, he let Little Pig in, and what more can you ask than that? Next time Brer Wolf pay a call, he drop in on Speckle Pig, and rap at the door and sing his song:
"But Speckle Pig, she kinder 'spicion sump'n', en she 'fuse ter open de do'. Yit Brer Wolf mighty 'seetful man, en he talk mighty saf' en he talk mighty sweet. Bimeby, he git he nose in de crack er de do' en he say ter Speckle Pig, sezee, fer ter des let 'im git one paw in, en den he wont go no furder. He git de paw in, en den he beg fer ter git de yuther paw in, en den w'en he git dat in he beg fer ter git he head in, en den w'en he git he head in, en he paws in, co'se all he got ter do is ter shove de do' open en walk right in; en w'en marters stan' dat way, 'twa'n't long 'fo' he done make fresh meat er Speckle Pig.
"Nex' day, he make way wid Blunt, en de day atter, he 'low dat he make a pass at
Runt. Now, den, right dar whar ole Brer Wolf slip up at. He lak some folks w'at I
knows. He'd 'a' bin mighty smart, ef he hadn't er bin too smart. Runt wuz de
littles' one er de whole gang, yit
har1883.2007.001.0096.jpg
all de same news
done got out dat she 'uz pestered wid sense like grown folks.
"Brer Wolf, he crope up ter Runt house, en he got un'need de winder, he did, en he sing out:
"But all de same, Brer Wolf can't coax Runt fer ter open de do', en needer kin he break in, kaze de house done made outer rock. Bimeby Brer Wolf make out he done gone off, en den atter while he come back en knock at de do'—blam, blam, blam! "But all the same, Brer Wolf can't coax Runt for to open the door, and neither can he break in, because the house done made out of rock. By and by Brer Wolf make out he done gone off, and the after while he come back and knock at the door—blam, blam, blam!
"Runt she sot by de fier, she did, en sorter scratch 'er year, en holler out: "Runt she sat by the fire, she did, and sort of scratch her ear, and holler out:
"'Who dat?' sez she. 'Who that?' says she.
"‘Hit's Speckle Pig,' sez ole Brer Wolf, sezee, 'twix' a snort en a grunt. ‘I fotch yer some peas fer yo' dinner!' 'It's Speckle Pig,' says old Brer Wolf, says he, between a snort and a grunt. 'I fetch you some peas for your dinner!'
"Runt, she tuck'n' laugh, she did, en holler back: "Runt, she took and laugh, she did, and holler back:"
"'Sis' Speckle Pig aint never talk thoo dat many toofies.' "'Sister Speckle Pig ain't never talk through that many tooths.'
"Brer Wolf go off 'g'in, en bimeby he come back en knock. Runt she sot en rock, en holler out: "Brer Wolf go off again, and by and by he come back and knock. Runt she sat and rock, and holler out:
"'Who dat?' "'Who that?'
"'Big Pig,' sez Brer Wolf. ‘I fotch some sweet-co'n fer yo' supper.' 'Big Pig,' says Brer Wolf. 'I fetch some sweet-corn for your supper.'
"Runt, she look thoo de crack un'need de do', en laugh en say, sez she: "Runt, she look through the crack underneath the door, and laugh and say, says she:
"'Sis Big Pig aint had no ha'r on 'er huff.' 'Sister Big Pig ain't had no hair on her hoof.'
har1883.2007.001.0097.jpg
"Den old Brer Wolf, he git mad, he did, en say he gwine come down de chimbley, en Runt, she say, sez she, dat de onliest way w'at he kin git in; en den, w'en she year Brer Wolf clam'in' up on de outside er de chimbley, she tuck'n' pile up a whole lot er broom sage front er de h'a'th, en w'en she year 'im clam'in' down on de inside, she tuck de tongs en shove de straw on de fier, en de smoke make Brer Wolf head swim, en he drap down, en 'fo' he know it, he 'uz done bu'nt ter a cracklin'; en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Wolf. Leas'ways," "Then old Brer Wolf, he get mad, he did, and say he going come down the chimney, and Runt, she say, says she, that the onliest way what he can get in; and then, when she hear Brer Wolf climbing up on the outside of the chimney, she took and pile up a whole lot of broom sage front of the heath, and when she hear him climbing down on the inside, she took the tongs and shove the straw on the fire, and the smoke make Brer Wolf head swim, and he drop down, and before he know it, he was done burnt to a crackling; and that was the last of old Brer Wolf. Leastways," added Uncle Remus, putting in a cautious proviso to fall back upon in case of an emergency, "leas'ways, hit 'uz de las' er dat Brer Wolf." "leastways, it was the last of that Brer Wolf."
IX.
MR. BENJAMIN RAM AND HIS WONDERFUL FIDDLE.
"I 'speck you done year tell er ole man Benjermun Ram," "I expect you done hear tell of old man Benjermun Ram," said Uncle Remus, with a great affectation of indifference, after a pause.
>"Old man who?" asked the little boy.
"Old man Benjermun Ram. I'speck you done year tell er him too long 'go ter talk 'bout." "Old man Benjermun Ram. I expect you done hear tell of him too long ago to talk about."
"Why, no, I haven't, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy, protesting and laughing. "He must have been a mighty funny old man."
har1883.2007.001.0098.jpg
"Dat's ez may be," "That's as may be," responded Uncle Remus, sententiously. "Fun deze days wouldn't er counted fer fun in dem days; en many's de time w'at I see folks laughin'," "Fun these days wouldn't of counted for fun in them days; and many's the time what I see folks laughing," continued the old man, with such withering sarcasm that the little boy immediately became serious,—"many's de time w'at I sees um laughin' en laughin', w'en I lay dey aint kin tell w'at deyer laughin' at deyse'f. En 'taint der laughin' w'at pesters me, nudder," many's the time what I sees them laughing and laughing, when I lay they ain't can tell me what they're laughing at theyself. And it ain't their laughing what pesters me, neither," —relenting a little,—"hit's dish yer ev'lastin' snickle en giggle, giggle en snickle." "it's this here everlasting snickle and giggle, giggle and snickle."
Having thus mapped out, in a dim and uncertain way, what older people than the little boy might have been excused for accepting as a sort of moral basis, Uncle Remus proceeded:
"Dish yer Mr. Benjermun Ram, w'ich he done come up
inter my min', wuz one er deze yer ole-timers. Dey tells me dat he 'uz a
fiddler fum away back yander—one er dem ar kinder fiddlers w'at can't git de
chune down fine 'less dey pats der foot. He stay all by he own-alone se'f
'way out in de middle un a big new-groun', en he sech a handy man fer ter
have at a frolic dat de yuther creeturs like 'im mighty well, en w'en dey
tuck a notion fer ter shake der foot, w'ich de notion tuck'n' struck um
eve'y once in a w'ile, nuthin' 'ud do but dey mus' sen' fer ole man
Benjermun Ram en he fiddle; en dey do say,"
"This here Mr. Benjermun Ram, which he done come up into my mind, was one
of these here old-timers. They tells me that he was a fiddler from away back
yonder—one of the there kind of fidlers what can't get the tune down fine
unless they pats their foot. He stay all by he own-alone self away out in
the middle of a big new-ground, and he such a handy man for to have at a
frolic that the other creatures like him mighty well, and when they took a
notion for to shake their foot, which the notion took and struck the every
once in a while, nothing would do but they must send for old man Mr.
Benjermun Ram and he fiddle; and they do say," continued Uncle Remus, closing his eyes in a sort of ecstasy, "dat w'en he squar' hisse'f back in a cheer, en git in
a weavin' way, he kin des snatch dem ole-time chunes fum
har1883.2007.001.0099.jpg
who lay de rail. [note] En den, w'en de frolic wuz
done, dey'd all fling in, dem yuther creeturs would, en fill up a bag er
peas fer ole Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter kyar home wid'im.
"that when he square hisself back in a cheer, and git in a weaving way, he
can just snatch them old-time tunes from
har1883.2007.001.0099.jpg
who lay the rail. And then, when the frolic
was done , they'd all fling in, the other creatures would, and fill up a bag
of peas for old Mr. Menjermun Ram for to carry home with him.
"One time, des 'bout Christmas, Miss Meadows en Miss
Motts en de gals, dey up'n' say dat dey'd sorter gin a blow-out, en dey got
wud ter ole man Benjermun Ram w'ich dey 'speckted 'im fer ter be on han'.
W'en de time done come fer Mr. Benjermun Ram fer ter start, de win' blow
cole en de cloud 'gun ter spread out 'cross de elements—but no marter fer
dat; ole man Benjermun Ram tuck down he walkin'-cane, he did, en tie up he
fiddle in a bag, en sot out fer Miss Meadows. He thunk he know de way, but
hit keep on gittin' col'er en col'er, en mo' cloudy, twel bimeby, fus' news
you know, ole Mr. Benjermun Ram done lose de way. Ef he'd er kep' on down de
big road fum de start, it moughter bin diffunt, but he tuck a nigh-cut, en
he aint git fur 'fo’ he done los' sho' 'nuff. He go dis away, en he go dat
away, en he go de yuther way, yit all de same he wuz done los'. Some folks
would er sot right flat down whar dey wuz en study out de way, but ole man
Benjermun Ram aint got wrinkle on he hawn fer nothin', kaze he done got de
name er ole Billy Hardhead long ‘fo’ dat. Den a'g'in, some folks would er
stop right still in der tracks en holler en bawl fer ter see ef dey can't
roust up some er de neighbors, but ole Mr. Benjermun Ram, he des stick he
jowl in de win', he did, en he march right on des 'zackly like he know he
aint gwine de wrong way. He keep on, but 'twa'nt long 'fo’ he 'gun ter
har1883.2007.001.0100.jpg
feel right
lonesome, mo' speshually w'en hit come up in he min' how Miss Meadows en de
gals en all de comp'ny be bleedz ter do de bes' dey kin bidout any fiddlin';
en hit kinder make he marrer git cole w'en he study 'bout how he gotter
sleep out dar in de woods by hisse'f.
"One time, just about Christmas, Miss Meadows and Miss Motts and the gall,
they up and say that they'd sort of gin a blow-out, and
they got word to old man Benjermun Ram which ther expected him for to be on
hand. When the time done come for Mr. Benjermun Ram for to start, the wind
blow cold and the cloud begun to spread out across the elements—but no
matter for that; old man Benjermun Ram took down his walking-cane, he did,
and tie up the fiddle in a bag, and sat out for Miss Meadows. He thunk he
know the way, but it keep getting colder and colder, and more cloudy, until
by and by, first news you know, old Mr. Benjermun Ram done lose his way. If
he's of kept on down the big road from the start, it might of ben different,
but he tok a nigh-cut, and he ain't get far before he done lost sure enough.
He go this a-way, and he go that a-way, and he go the other way, yet all the
same he was done lost. Some would would of sat right down on he
hand for nothing, because he done got the name of old
Billy Hardhead long before that. Then again, some folks would of stop right
still in their tracks and holler and bawl for to see if they can't roust up
some of the neighbors, but old Mr. Benjermun Ram, he just stick he jowl in
the wind, he did, and he march right on just exactly like he know he ain't
going the wrong way. He keep on, but it ain't long before he begun to
har1883.2007.001.0100.jpg
feel right
lonesome, most especially when it come up in he mind how Miss Meadows and
the gals and all the company be pleased to do the best they can
without any fiddling; and it kind of make he
mane get cold when he study about how he got to sleep
out there in the woods by hisself.
Yit, all de same, he keep on twel de' dark 'gun ter drap down, en den he keep on still, en bimeby he come ter a little rise whar dey wuz a clay-gall. W'en he git dar he stop en look 'roun', he did, en 'way off down in de holler, dar he see a light shinin', en w'en he see dis, ole man Benjermun Ram tuck he foot in he han', en make he way todes it des lak it de ve'y place w'at he bin huntin'. 'Twa'n't long 'fo’ he come ter de house whar de light is, en, bless you soul, he don't make no bones er knockin'. Den somebody holler out: "Yet, all the same, he keep on until the dark begun to drop down, and then he keepn on still, and by and by he come to a little rise where they was a clay-gall. When he get there he stop and look around, he did, and away off in the holler, there he see a light shining, and when he see this, old man Benjermun Ram took he foot in he hand, and make he way toward it just like it the very place what he been hunting. It ain't long before he come to the house where the light is, and, bless you soul, he don't make no bones of knocking. The somebody holler out:
"'Who dat?' 'Who that?'
"'I'm Mr. Benjermun Ram, en I done lose de way, en I come fer ter ax you ef you can't take me in fer de night,' sezee. "'I'm Mr. Benjermun Ram, and I done lose the way, and I come for to ask you if you can't take me in for the night,' says he.
"In common," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz a mighty rough-en-spoken somebody, but you better b'leeve he talk monst'us perlite dis time. "old Mr. Benjermun Ram was a mighty roung-and-spoken somebody, but you better believe he talk monstrous polite this time.
"Den some un on t'er side er de do' ax Mr. Benjermun
Ram fer ter walk right in, en wid dat he open de do' en walk in, en make a
bow like fiddlin' folks does w'en dey goes in comp'ny; but he aint no sooner
make he bow en look 'roun' twel he 'gun ter shake en shiver lak he done bin
strucken wid de swamp-ager, kaze, settin right dar 'fo’ de fier wuz ole Brer
Wolf, wid his toofies showin' up all
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har1883.2007.001.0102.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0103.jpg
w'ite en shiny like dey wuz
bran new. Ef ole Mr. Benjermun Ram aint bin so ole en stiff I boun' you he'd
er broke en run, but 'mos' 'fo' he had time fer ter study 'bout gittin'
'way, ole Brer Wolf done bin jump up en shet de do' en fassen 'er wid a
great big chain. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram he know he in fer't, en he tuck'n put
on a bol' face ez he kin, but he des nat'ally hone [note] fer ter be los' in de woods some mo'. Den
he make n'er low bow, en he hope Brer Wolf and all his folks is well, en den
he say, sezee, dat he des drap in fer ter wom hisse'f, en 'quire uv de way
ter Miss Meadows', en ef Brer Wolf be so good ez ter set 'im in de road
ag'in, he be off putty soon en be much 'blige in de bargains.
"Then some one on the other side of the door ask Mr. Benjermun Ram for to
walk right in, and with that he open the door and walk in, and make a bow
like fiddling folks does when they go in company; but he ain't no sooner
make he bow and look around until he begun to shake and shiver like he done
been stricken with the swamp-ager, because, setting right
there before the fire was old Brer Wolf, with his tooths showing up all
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har1883.2007.001.0103.jpg
white and shiny like they
was brand new. If old Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't been so old and stiff I bound
you he'd of broke and run, but almost before he had time for to study about
getting away, old Brer Wolf done been jump up and and shut the door and
fasten her with a great big chain. Old Mr. Benjermun Ram he know he in for
it, and he took and put on a bold face as he can, but he just naturally hone
for to be lost in the
woods some more. Then he make another low bow and he hope
Brer Wolf and all his folks is well, and then he say, says he, that he just
drape in for to warm hisself, and acquire of the way to Miss Meadows', and
if Brer Wolf be so good as to set him in the road again, he be off pretty
soon and be much obliged in the bargains.
"‘Tooby sho', Mr. Ram,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee, w'iles he lick he chops en grin; ‘des put yo' walkin'-cane in de cornder over dar, en set yo' bag down on de flo', en make yo'se'f at home,' sezee. ‘We aint got much,' sezee, ‘but w'at we is got is yone w'iles you stays, en I boun' we'll take good keer un you,' sezee; en wid dat Brer Wolf laugh en show his toofies so bad dat ole man Benjermun Ram come mighty nigh havin' n'er ager. "'To be sure, Mr. Ram,' say Brer Wolf, says he, whiles he lick he chops and grin; 'just put your walking-cane in the coridor over there, and set your bag down on the floor, and make yourself at home,' says he. 'but what we is got is gone whiles you stays, and I bound we'll take good care of you,' says he; and with that Brer Wolf laugh and show his teeths so bad that old man Benjermun Ram come mighty nigh having another ager
"Den Brer Wolf tuck'n flung 'n'er lighter'd-knot on de fier, en den he slip inter de back room, en present'y, w'iles ole Mr. Benjermun Ram wuz settin' dar shakin' in he shoes, he year Brer Wolf whispun' ter he ole 'oman: "Then Brer Wolf took and flung another lightered-knot on the fire, and then he slip into the back room, and presently, whiles old Mr. Benjermun Ram was sitting there shaking in he shoes, he hear Brer Wolf whispering to he old woman:
"‘Ole 'oman! ole 'oman! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat
har1883.2007.001.0104.jpg
—fresh
meat fer supper! Fling 'way yo' smoke meat-- fresh meat fer
supper!'
'Old woman! old woman! Fling away your smoke meat
har1883.2007.001.0104.jpg
—fresh
meat for supper! Fling away your smoke meat—fresh meat for supper!'
"Den ole Miss Wolf, she talk out loud, so Mr. Benjermun Ram kin year: "Then old Miss Wlf, she talk out loud, so Mr. Benjermun Ram can hear:
"‘Tooby sho' I'll fix 'im some supper. We er 'way off yer in de woods, so fur fum comp'ny dat goodness knows I'm mighty glad ter see Mr. Benjermun Ram.' 'To be sure I'll fix him some supper. We are away off here in the woods, so far from company that goodness knows I'm mighty glad to see Mr. Benjermun Ram.'
"Den Mr. Benjermun Ram year ole Miss Wolf whettin' 'er knife on a rock—shirrah! shirrah! shirrah!— en ev'y time he year de knife say shirrah! he know he dat much nigher de dinner-pot. He know he can't git 'way, en w'iles he settin' dar studyin', hit 'come 'cross he min' dat he des mought ez well play one mo' chune on he fiddle 'fo’ de wuss come ter de wuss. Wid dat he ontie de bag en take out de fiddle, en 'gun ter chune 'er up—plink, plank, plunk, plink! plunk, plank, plink, plunk!" "The Mr. Benjermun Ram hear old Miss Wolf whetting her knife on a rock—sirrah! sirrah! sirrah!— and every time he hear the knife say sirrah! he know he that much nigher de dinner-pot. He know he can't get away, and whiles he sitting there studying, it come across he mind that he just might as well play one more tune on he fiddle, and begun to tune her up—plink, plank, plunk, plink! plunk, plank, plink, plunk!"
Uncle Remus's imitation of the tuning of a fiddle was marvellous enough to produce a startling effect upon a much less enthusiastic listener than the little boy. It was given in perfect good faith, but the serious expression on the old man's face was so irresistibly comic that the child laughed until the tears ran down his face. Uncle Remus very properly accepted this as a tribute to his wonderful resources as a story-teller, and continued, in great good-humor:
"W'en ole Miss Wolf year dat kinder fuss, co'se she
dunner w'at is it, en she drap 'er knife en lissen. Ole Mr. Benjermun Ram
aint know dis, en he keep on chunin'
har1883.2007.001.0105.jpg
up--plank, plink, plunk, plank! Den ole Miss Wolf, she tuck'n' hunch
Brer Wolf wid 'er elbow, en she say, sez she:
"When old Miss Wolf hear that kind of fuss, because she don't know what is
it, and she drape her knife and listen. Old Mr. Benjermun Ram ain't know
this, and he keep on tuning
har1883.2007.001.0105.jpg
up—plank,
plink, plunk, plank! Then old Miss Wolf, she took and hunch Brer
Wolf with her elbow, and she say, says she:
"‘Hey, ole man! w'at dat?' 'Hey, old man! what that?'
"Den bofe un um cock up der years en lissen, en des 'bout dat time, ole Mr. Benjermun Ram he sling de butt er de fiddle up und' he chin, en struck up one er dem ole-time chunes." "Then both of them cock up their ears an listen, and just about that time, old Mr. Benjermun Ram he sling the butt of the fiddle up under he chin, and struck up one of them old-time tunes."
"Well, what tune was it, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, with some display of impatience.
"Ef I aint done gone en fergit dat chune off'n my min'," "If I ain't done gone and forgit that tune off in my mind," continued Uncle Remus; "hit sorter went like dat ar song 'bout ‘Sheep shell co'n wid de rattle er his ho'n,' en yit hit mout er been dat ar yuther one 'bout ‘Roll de key, ladies, roll dem keys.' Brer Wolf en ole Miss Wolf, dey lissen en lissen, en de mo' w'at dey lissen de skeerder dey git, twel bimeby dey tuck ter der heels en make a break fer de swamp at de back er de house des lak de patter-rollers wuz atter um. "it sort of went like that there song about 'Sheep shell cone with the rattle of his horn,' and yet it must of been that there other one about 'Roll the key, ladies, roll them keys.' Brer Wolf and old Miss WOlf, they listen and listen, and the more what they listen the scareder they get, until by and by they took their heels and make a break for the swamp at the back of the house just like the patter-rollers was after them.
"W'en ole man Benjermun Ram sorter let up wid he fiddlin', he don't see no Brer Wolf, en he don't year no ole Miss Wolf. Den he look in de back room; no Wolf dar. Den he look in de back po'ch; no Wolf dar. Den he look in de closet en de cubberd; no Wolf aint dar yit. Den ole Mr. Benjermun Ram, he tuck'n' shot all de do's en lock um, en he s'arch 'roun' en he fine some peas en fodder in de lof', w'ich he et um fer he supper, en den he lie down front er de fier en sleep soun' ez a log. "When old man Benjermun Ram sort of let up with he fiddling, he don't see no Brer Wolf, and he don't hear no old Miss Wolf. Then he look in the back room; no Wolf there. Then he look in the back porch; no Wolf there. Then he look in the closet and the cubbard; no Wolf ain't there yet. Then old Mr. Benjermun Ram, he took and shot all the doors and lock them, and he search around and he find some peas and fodder in the loft, which he eat them for he supper, and then he lie down front of the fire and sleep sound as a log.
"Nex' mawnin' he 'uz up en stirrin' monst'us soon, en
har1883.2007.001.0106.jpg
he put out
fum dar, en he fine de way ter Miss Meadows' time 'nuff fer ter play at de
frolic. W'en he git dar, Miss Meadows en de gals, dey run ter de gate fer
ter meet 'im, en dis un tuck he hat, en dat un tuck he cane, en t'er'n tuck
he fiddle, en den dey up'n' say:
"Next morning he was up and stirring monstrous soon, and
har1883.2007.001.0106.jpg
he put out
from there, and he find the way to Miss Meadows' time enough for to play at
the frolic. When he get there, Miss Meadows and the gals, they run to the
gate for to meet him, and this one took he hat, and this one took he cane,
and the other one took he fiddle, and then they up and say:
"‘Law, Mr. Ram! whar de name er goodness is you bin? We so glad you come. Stir 'roun' yer, folks, en git Mr. Ram a cup er hot coffee.' 'Law, Mr. Ram! where the name of goodness is you been? We so glad you come. Stir around here, folks, and get Mr. Ram a cup of hot coffee.'
"Dey make a mighty big ter-do 'bout Mr. Benjermun Ram, Miss Meadows en Miss Motts en de gals did, but 'twix' you en me en de bedpos', honey, dey'd er had der frolic wh'er de ole chap 'uz dar er not, kaze de gals done make 'rangerments wid Brer Rabbit fer ter pat fer um, en in dem days Brer Rabbit wuz a patter, mon. He mos' sho'ly wuz." "They make a mighty big to-do about Mr. Benjermun Ram, Miss Meadows and Miss Motts and the gals did, but betwixt you and me and the bedpost, honey, they'd of had their frolic whether the old chap was there or not, because the gals done make arrangements with Brer Rabbit for to pat for them, and in them days Brer Rabbit was a patter, man, He most surely was."
X.
BROTHER RABBIT'S RIDDLE.
"Could Brother Rabbit pat a tune, sure enough, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy, his thoughts apparently dwelling upon the new accomplishment of Brother Rabbit at which the old man had hinted in his story of Mr. Benjamin Ram. Uncle Remus pretended to be greatly surprised that anyone could be so unfamiliar with the accomplishments of Brother Rabbit as to venture to ask such a question. His response was in the nature of a comment:
"Name er goodness! w'at kinder pass dish yer we comin'
ter w'en a great big grow'd up young un axin' 'bout
har1883.2007.001.0107.jpg
Brer Rabbit? Bless yo' soul,
honey! dey wa'n't no chune gwine dat Brer Rabbit can't pat. Let 'lone dat,
w'en dey wuz some un else fer ter do de pattin', Brer Rabbit kin jump out
inter de middle er de flo' en des nat'ally shake de eyel'ds off'en dem
yuther creeturs. En 'twa'nt none er dish yer bowin' en scrapin', en slippin'
en slidin', en han's all 'roun', w'at folks does deze days. Hit uz dish yer
up en down kinder dancin', whar dey des lips up in de a'r fer ter cut de
pidjin-wing, en lights on de flo' right in de middle er de double-shuffle.
Shoo! Dey aint no dancin' deze days; folks' shoes
too tight, en dey aint got dat limbersomeness in de hips w'at dey useter is.
Dat dey aint.
"Name of goodness! what kind of pass dish are we coming
to when a great big growed up young one asking about
har1883.2007.001.0107.jpg
Brer Rabbit? Bless your
soul, honey! they wasn't no tune going that Brer Rabbit can't pat. Let alone
that, when they was some one else for to do the patting, Brer Rabbit can
jump out into the middle of the floor and just naturally shake the eyelids
off of them other creatures. And it wasn't none of the here bowing and
scraing, and slipping and sliding, and hands all around, what folks does
these days. It was this here up and down kind of dancing, where in the
middle of the double-shuffle. Shoo! They ain't no
dancing these days; folks' shoes too tight, and they ain't got that
limbersomeness in the hips what they used to is. That they ain't.
"En yit," "And yet," Uncle Remus continued, in a tone which seemed to imply that he deemed it necessary to apologize for the apparent frivolity of Brother Rabbit,—"en yit de time come w'en old Brer Rabbit 'gun ter put dis en dat tergedder, en de notion strak 'im dat he better be home lookin' atter de intruss er he fambly, 'stidder trapesin' en trollopin' 'roun' ter all de frolics in de settlement. He tuck'n' study dis in he min' twel bimeby he sot out 'termin' fer ter 'arn he own livelihoods, en den he up'n' lay off a piece er groun' en plant 'im a tater-patch. "and yet the time come when old Brer Rabbit begun to put this and that together, and the notion struck him that he better be home looking after the interests of he family, instead of trapesing and trolloping around to all the frolics in the settlement. He took and study this in he mind until by and by he sort out determined for to earn he own livelihoods, and then he up and lay off a piece of ground and plant him a potato-patch.
"Brer Fox, he see all dish yer gwine on, he did, en he
'low ter hisse'f clat he 'speck Brer Rabbit rashfulness done bin supjued
kaze he skeer'd, en den Brer Fox make up his min' dat he gwine ter pay Brer
Rabbit back fer all he 'seetfulness. He start in, Brer Fox did, en fum dat
time forrerd he aggervate Brer Rabbit 'bout he tater-patch. One night he
leave de draw-bars down, 'n'er night he
har1883.2007.001.0108.jpg
fling off de
top rails, en nex' night he t'ar down a whole panel er fence, en he keep on
dis away twel 'pariently Brer Rabbit dunner w'at ter do. All dis time Brer
Fox keep on foolin' wid de tater-patch, en w'en he see w'ich Brer Rabbit
aint makin' no motion, Brer Fox 'low dat he done skeer'd sho' 'nuff, en dat
de time done come fer ter gobble him up bidout lief er license. So he call
on Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox did, en he ax 'im will he take a walk. Brer Rabbit,
he ax wharbouts. Brer Fox say, right out yander. Brer Rabbit, he ax w'at is
dey right out yander? Brer Fox say he know whar dey some mighty fine
peaches, en he want Brer Rabbit fer ter go 'long en climb de tree en fling
um down. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do, mo' speshually fer ter
'blige Brer Fox.
"Brer Fox, he see all this here going on, he did, and he alow to hisself
that he expect Brer Rabbit rashfulness done been
subdued because he scared, and then brer Fox make up his mind that he going
to pay Brer Rabbit back for all he deceitfulness. He start in, Brer Fox did,
and from that time forward he aggravate Brer Rabbit about he potato-patch.
one night he leave the draw-bars down, another night he
har1883.2007.001.0108.jpg
fling off
the top rails, and next night he tear down a whole panel of fence, and he
keep on this a-way until apparently Brer Rabbit don't know what to do. All
this time Brer Fox keep on fooling with the potato-patch, and when he see
which Brer Rabbit ain't making no motion, Brer Fox allow that he done scared
sure enough, and that time done come for to gobble him up
without life or licence. So he call on Brer Rabbit,
Brer Fox did, and he ask him will he take a walk. Brer Rabbit, he ask
whereabouts. Brer Fox say, right out yonder. Brer Rabbit, he ask what is
they right out yonder? Brer Fox say he know where they some mighty fine
peaches, and he want Brer Rabbit for to go along and climb the tree and flng
them down. Brer Rabbit say he don't care if he do, most especially for to
oblige Brer Fox.
"Dey sot out, dey did, en atter w'ile, sho' 'nuff, dey come ter de peach-orchud, en Brer Rabbit, w'at do he do but pick out a good tree, en up he clum. Brer Fox, he sot hisse'f at de root er de tree, kaze he 'low dat w'en Brer Rabbit come down he hatter come down backerds, en den dat 'ud be de time fer ter nab 'im. But, bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit dun see w'at Brer Fox atter 'fo' he clum up. W'en he pull de peaches, Brer Fox say, sezee: "They sort out, they did, and after while, sure enough, they come to the peach-orchard, and Brer Rabbit, what do he do but pick out a good tree, and up he climb. Brer Fox, he sat hisself at the root of the tree, because he alow that when Brer Rabbit come down he have to come down backwards, and then that would be the time for to nab him. But, bless your soul, Brer Rabbit done see what Brer Fox after before he climb up. When he pull the peaches, Brer Fox say, says he:
"'Fling um down yer, Brer Rabbit—fling um right down yer so I kin ketch um,' sezee. "'Fling them down here, Brer Rabbit—fling them right down here so I can catch them,' says he.
"Brer Rabbit, he sorter wunk de furdest eye fum Brer Fox, en he holler back, he did: "Brer Rabbit, he sort of winked the furthes eye from Brer Fox, and he holler back, he did:
"'Ef I fling um down dar whar
you is, Brer Fox, en you misses um, dey'll git squshed,' sezee, 'so I'll des
har1883.2007.001.0109.jpg
sorter pitch um out
yander in de grass whar dey wont git bus',' sezee.
"'If I fling them down there where you is, Brer Fox,
and you misses them, they'll get squished,' says he, 'so I'll just
har1883.2007.001.0109.jpg
sort of pitch them out
yonder in the grass where they won't get bust,' says he.
"Den he tuck'n' flung de peaches out in de grass, en w'iles Brer Fox went atter um, Brer Rabbit, he skint down outer de tree, en hustle hisse'f twel he git elbow- room. W'en he git off little ways, he up'n' holler back ter Brer Fox dat he got a riddle he want 'im ter read. Brer Fox, he ax w'at is it. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he gun it out ter Brer Fox lak a man sayin' a speech: "Then he took and flung the peaches out in the grass, and whiles Brer Fox went after them, Brer Rabbit, he skinned down out of the tree, and hustler hisself until he get elbow-room. When he get off little ways, he up and holler back to Brer Fox that he got a riddle he want him to read. Brer Fox, he ask what it is. With that, Brer Rabbit, he gun it out to Brer Fox like a man saying a speech:
"Ole Brer Fox scratch he head en study, en study en scratch he head, but de mo' he study de wuss he git mix up wid de riddle, en atter w'ile he tuck'n' tell Brer Rabbit dat he dunno how in de name er goodness ter onriddle dat riddle. "Old Brer Fox scratch he head and study, and study and scratch he head, but the more he study the worse he get mix up with the riddle, and after while he took and tell Brer Rabbit that he don't know how in the name of goodness to un-riddle that riddle.
"'Come en go 'longer me,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en I boun' you I show you how ter read dat same riddle. Hit's one er dem ar kinder riddle,' sez ole man Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich 'fo' you read 'er, you got ter eat a bait er honey, en I done got my eye sot on de place whar we kin git de honey at,' sezee. "'Come and go along of me,' says old Brer Rabbit, says he, 'and I bound you I show you how to read that same riddle,' says old man Rabbit, says he, 'which before you read her, you got to eat a bait of honey, and I done got my eye set on the place where we can get the honey at,' says he.
"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts is it, en Brer Rabbit, he
say up dar in ole Brer B'ar cotton-patch, whar he got a whole passel er
bee-gums. Brer Fox, he 'low, he did, dat he aint got no sweet-toof much, yit
he wan ter git at
har1883.2007.001.0110.jpg
de innerds
er dat ar riddle, en he don't keer ef he do go 'long.
"Brer Fox, he ask whereabouts is it, and Brer Rabbit, he say up there in
old Brer B'ar cotton-patch, where he got a whole passle
of bee-gums. Brer Fox, he alow, he did, that he ain't fot
no sweet-tooth much, yet he want to get at
har1883.2007.001.0110.jpg
The innards
of that riddle, and he don't care if he do go along.
"Dey put out, dey did, en 'twa'n't long 'fo' dey come ter ole Brer B'ar bee-gums, en ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n' gun um a rap wid he walkin'-cane, des lak folks thumps water-millions fer ter see ef dey er ripe. He tap en he rap, en bimeby he come ter one un um w'ich she soun' like she plum full, en den he go 'roun' behime it, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he up'n' say, sezee: "They put out, they did, and it wasn't long before they come to old Brer B'ar bee-gums, and old Brer Rabbit, he up and gun them up a rap with he walking-cane, just like folks thumps watermelons for to see if they are ripe. He tap and he rap, and by and by he come to one of them which she sound like she plum full, and then he go around behind it, old brer Rabbit did, and he up and say, says he:
"'I'll des sorter tilt 'er up, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'en you kin put yo' head und' dar en git some er de drippin's,' sezee. "'I'll just sort of tilt her up, Brer Fox,' says he, 'and you can put your head ender there and get some of the drippings,' says he.
"Brer Rabbit, he tilt her up, en, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox, he jam he head un'need de gum. Hit make me laugh," "Brer Rabbit, he tilt her up, and, sure enough, Brer Fox, he jam he head underneath the gum. It make me laugh, Uncle Remus continued, with a chuckle, "fer ter see w'at a fresh man is Brer Fox, kaze he aint no sooner stuck he head un'need dat ar bee-gum, dan Brer Rabbit turnt 'er aloose, en down she come—ker-swosh!—right on Brer Fox neck, en dar he wuz. Brer Fox, he kick; he squeal; he jump; he squall; he dance; he prance; he beg; he pray; yit dar he wuz, en w'en Brer Rabbit git 'way off, en tu'n 'roun' fer ter look back, he see Brer Fox des a-wigglin' en a-squ'min', en right den en dar Brer Rabbit gun one ole-time whoop, en des put out fer home. "for to see what a fresh man is Brer Fox, because he ain't no sooner stuck he head underneath that there bee-gum, than Brer Rabbit turned her a-loose, and down she came—ker-swosh!—right on Brer Fox neck, and there he was. Brer Fox, he kickl he squeal; he jump; he squall; he dance; he prance; he beg; he pray; yet there he was, and when Brer Rabbit get way off, and turn around for to look back, he see Brer Fox just a-wiggling and a-squirming, and right then and there Brer Rabbit begun one old-time whoop, and just put out for home.
"W'en he git dar, de fus' man he see wuz Brer Fox gran'daddy, w'ich folks all call 'im Gran'sir' Gray Fox. W'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he say, sezee: "When he get there, the first man he see was Brer Fox grandaddy, which folks all call him Gran'sir' Gray Fox. When Brer Rabbit see him, he say, says he:
"'How you come on, Gran'sir' Gray Fox?' 'How you come on, Gran'sir' Gray Fox?
"'I still keeps po'ly, I'm
'blije ter you, Brer Rabbit.'
har1883.2007.001.0111.jpg
sez Gran'sir' Gray Fox,
sezee. 'Is you seed any sign er my gran'son dis
mawnin'?' sezee.
"'I still keeps poorly, I'm
oblige to you, Brer Rabbit.'
har1883.2007.001.0111.jpg
says Gran'sir' Gray Fox,
says he. 'Is you seed any sign of my grandson
this morning?' says he.
"Wid dat Brer Rabbit laugh en say w'ich him en Brer Fox bin a-ramblin' 'roun' wid one er 'n'er havin' mo' fun dan w'at a man kin shake a stick at. "With that Brer Rabbit laugh and say which him and Brer Fox been a-rambling aroung with one of another having more fun that what a man can shake a stick at.
"'We bin a-riggin' up riddles en a-readin' un um,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Brer Fox is settin' off some'rs in de bushes right now, aimin' fer ter read one w'at I gun 'im. I'll des drap you one,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'w'ich, ef you kin read it, hit'll take you right spang ter whar yo' gran'son is, en you can't git dar none too soon,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. "'We been a-rigging up riddles and a-reading of them,' says Brer Rabbit, says he. 'Brer Fox is sitting off somewheres in the bushes right nor, aiming for to read one what I gun him. I'll just drop you one,' says old Brer Rabbit, says he, 'which, if you can read it, it'll take you right sprang to where your grandson is, and you can't get there none too soon,' says Brer Rabbit, says he.
"Den ole Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he up'n' ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he sing out, he did: "Then old Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he ap and ask what is it, and Brer Rabbit, he sing out, he did:
"Gran'sir Gray Fox, he tuck a pinch er snuff en cough easy ter hisse'f, en study en study, but he aint make it out, en Brer Rabbit, he laugh en sing: "Gran'sir' Gray Fox, he took a pinch of snuff and cough easy to hisself, and study and study, but he ain't make it out, and Brer Rabbit, he laugh and sing:
" 'Bee-gum mighty big fer ter make Fox collar, Kin you tell w'at's good fer a head in a holler?' 'Bee-gum mighty big for to make Fox collar, can you tell what's good for a head in a holler?'
"Atter so long a time, Gran'sir' Gray Fox sorter ketch a glimpse er w'at Brer Rabbit tryin' ter gin 'im, en he tip Brer Rabbit good-day, en shuffle on fer ter hunt up he gran'son." "After so long a time, Gran'sir' Gray Fox sort of catch a glimpse of what Brer Rabbit trying to gin him, and he tip Brer Rabbit good-day, and suffle on for to hunt up he grandson."
har1883.2007.001.0112.jpg
"And did he find him, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"Tooby sho', honey. Brer B'ar year de racket w'at Brer Fox kickin' up, en he go down dar fer ter see w'at de marter is. Soon ez he see how de lan' lay, co'se he tuck a notion dat Brer Fox bin robbin' de bee-gums, en he got 'im a han'ful er hick'ries, Brer B'ar did, en he let 'in on Brer Fox en he wom he jacket scannerlous, en den he tuck'n' tu'n 'im loose; but 'twa'n't long 'fo' all de neighbors git wud dat Brer Fox bin robbin' Brer B'ar bee-gums." "To be sure, honey. Brer B'ar hear the racket what Brer Fox kicking up, and he go down there for to see what the matter is. Soon as he see how the land lay, course he took a notion that Brer Fox been robbing the bee-gums, and he got him a handful of hickeries, Brer B'ar did, and he let in on Brer Fox and he warm he jacket scandalous, and then he took and turn him loose; but it wasn't long before all the neighbors get word that Brer Fox been robbing Brer B'ar bee-gums."
XI.
HOW MR. ROOSTER LOST HIS DINNER.
It seemed that the rainy season had set in in earnest, but the little boy went down to Uncle Remus's cabin before dark. In some mysterious way, it appeared to the child, the gloom of twilight fastened itself upon the dusky clouds, and the great trees without, and the dismal perspective beyond, gradually became one with the darkness. Uncle Remus had thoughtfully placed a tin pan under a leak in the roof, and the drip-drip-drip of the water, as it fell in the resonant vessel, made a not unmusical accompaniment to the storm.
The old man fumbled around under his bed, and presently dragged forth a large bag
filled with lightwood knots, which, with an instinctive economy in this particular
direction, he had stored away for an emergency. A bright
har1883.2007.001.0113.jpg
but flickering flame was the result
of this timely discovery, and the effect it produced was quite in keeping with all
the surrounding. The rain, and wind, and darkness held sway without, while within,
the unsteady lightwood blaze seemed to rhyme with the drip-drip-drip in the pan. Sometimes the shadow of Uncle Remus, as he leaned
over the hearth, would tower and fill the cabin, and again it would fade and
disappear among the swaying and swinging cobwebs that curtained the rafters.
"W'en bed-time come, honey," "When bed-time come, honey," said Uncle Remus, in a soothing tone, "I'll des snatch down yo' pa buggy umbrell' fum up dar in de cornder, des lak I bin a-doin', en I'll take'n' take you und' my arm en set you down on Miss Sally h'a'th des ez dry en ez worn ez a rat'-nes' inside a fodder-stack." "I'll just snatch down your pa buggy umbrella from up there in the corner, just like I been a-doing, and I'll take and take you under my arm and set you down on Miss Sally hearth just as dry as a rat's-nest insider a fodder-stack.
At this juncture 'Tildy, the house-girl, rushed in out of the rain and darkness with a water-proof cloak and an umbrella, and announced her mission to the little boy without taking time to catch her breath.
"Miss Sally say you got ter come right back," "Miss Sally say you got to come right back," she exclaimed. "Kaze she skeerd lightnin' gwine strak 'roun' in yer 'mongs' deze high trees some'rs." "Because she scared lightning going strike around in here amongst these high trees somewheres."
Uncle Remus rose from his stooping posture in front of the hearth and assumed a threatening attitude.
"Well, is anybody year de beat er dat!" "Well, is anybody hear the beat of that!" was his indignant exclamation. "Look yer, gal! don't you come foolin' 'longer me—now, don't you do it. Kaze ef yer does, I'll take'n' hit you a clip w'at'll put you ter bed 'fo' bed-time comes. Dat's w'at!" "Look here, gal! don't you come fooling along of me—now don't you do it. Because if your does, I'll take nd hit you a clip what'll put you to bed before bed-time comes. That's what!"
har1883.2007.001.0114.jpg
"Lawdy! w'at I done gone en done ter Unk' Remus now?" "Lordy! what I dont gone and dont to Uncle Remus now?" asked 'Tildy, with a great affectation of innocent ignorance.
"I'm gwine ter put on my coat en take dat ar umbrell', en I'm gwine right straight up ter de big house en ax Miss Sally ef she sont dat kinder wud down yer, w'en she know dat chile sittin' yer 'longer me. I'm gwine ter ax her," I'm going to put on my coat and take that there umbrella, and I'm going right straight up to the big house and ask Miss Sally if she sent that kind of word down here, when she know that child sitting here along of me. I'm going to ask her." continued Uncle Remus, "en if she aint sont dat wud, den I'm gwine ter fetch myse'f back. Now, you des watch my motions." "and if she ain't sent that word, then I'm going to fetch myself back. Now, you just watch my motions."
"Well, I year Miss Sally say she 'feard lightnin' gwine ter strak some'rs on de place," "Well, I hear Miss Sally say she afraid lightning going to strike somewheres on the place," said 'Tildy, in a tone which manifested her willingness to compromise all differences, "en den I axt 'er kin I come down yer, en den she say I better bring deze yer cloak en pairsol." "and then I asked her cn I come down here, and then she say I better bring these here cloak and pairsol."
"Now you dun brung um," "now you done brung them," responded Uncle Remus, "you des better put um in dat cheer over dar, en take yo'se'f off. Thunder mighty ap' ter hit close ter whar deze here slick-head niggers is." "you just better put them in that cheer over there, and take yourself off. Thunder mighty apt to hit close to where these here slick-headed niggers is."
But the little boy finally prevailed upon the old man to allow 'Tildy to remain, and after a while he put matters on a peace footing by inquiring if roosters crowed at night when it was raining.
"Dat dey duz," "That they does," responded Uncle Remus. "Wet er dry, dey flops der wings en wakes up all de neighbors. Law, bless my soul!" "Wet or dry, they flops their wings and wakes up all the neighbors. Lord, bless my soul!" he exclaimed, suddenly, "w'at make I done gone en fergit 'bout Mr. Rooster?" "what make I done gone and forget about Mr Rooster?"
"What about him?" inquired the little boy.
"One time, 'way back yander,"
"One time, a-way back yonder," said Uncle Remus,
har1883.2007.001.0115.jpg
knocking the ashes off his hands and
knees, "dey wuz two plan'ations right 'longside one er ne'r,
en on bofe er deze plan'ations wuz a whole passel of fowls. Dey was mighty
sociable in dem days, en it tu'n out dat de fowls on one plan'ation gun a
party, w'ich dey sont out der invites ter de fowls on de 't'er
plan'ation.
"they was two plantations right alongside one another, and on both of
these plantations was a whole passel of fowls. They was
mighty sociable in them days, and it turn out that the fowls on the one
plantation begun a party, which they sent out the invites to the fowls on
the other plantation.
"W'en de day come, Mr. Rooster, he blow his hawn, he did, en 'semble um all tergedder, en atter dey 'semble dey got in line. Mr. Rooster, he tuck de head, en atter 'im come ole lady Hen en Miss Pullet, en den dar wuz Mr. Peafowl, en Mr. Tukkey Gobbler, en Miss Guinny Hen, en Miss Puddle Duck, en all de balance un um. Dey start off sorter raggedy, but 'twa'nt long 'fo' dey all kotch de step, en den dey march down by de spring, up thoo de hoss-lot en 'cross by de gin-house, en 'twa'n't long 'fo' dey git ter whar de frolic wuz. "When the day come, Mr. Roost, he blow his horn, he did, and assemble them all together, and after they assemble they got in line. Mr. Rooster, he took the head, and after him come old lady Hen and Miss Pullet, and then there was Mr. Peafowl, and Mr. Tukkey Gobbler, and Miss Guinny Hen, and Miss Puddle Duck, and all the blalance of them. They start off sort of raggedy, but is wasn't long before they all catch the step, and then they march down by the spring, up through the horse-lot and across by the gin-house, and it wasn't long before they get to where the frolic was.
"Dey dance, en dey play, en dey sing. Mo' 'speshually did dey play en sing dat ar song w'ich it run on lak dis: "They dance, and they play, and they sing. Most especially did they play and sing that there song which it run on like this:
"Dey wuz gwine on dis away, havin' del' 'musements,
w'en, bimeby, ole Mr. Peafowl, he got on de comb er de barn en blow de
dinner-hawn. Dey all wash der face en han's in de back-po'ch, en den dey
went in ter dinner. W'en dey git in dar, dey don't see nothin' on de table
but a great big pile er co'n-bread. De pones was pile up on
har1883.2007.001.0116.jpg
pones, en on
de top wuz a great big ash-cake. Mr. Rooster, he look at dis en he tu'n up
he nose, en bimeby, atter aw'ile, out he strut. Ole Miss Guinny Hen, she
watchin' Mr. Rooster motions, en w'en she see dis, she take'n' squall out,
she did:
"They was going on this a-way, having del' amusements,
when, by and by, old Mr. Peafowl, he got on the comb of the barn and blow
the dinner-horn. They all wash their face and hands in the back porch, and
then they went in to dinner. When they get in there, they don't see nothing
on the table but a great big pile of corn-bread. The
pones was pile up on
har1883.2007.001.0116.jpg
pones, and on the top was a great big ash-cake. Mr.
Rooster, he look at this and he turn up he nose, and by and by, after a
while, out he strut. Old Miss Guinny Hen, she watching Mr. Rooster motions,
and while she see this, she take and squeal out, she did:
"‘Pot-rack! Pot-rack! Mr. Rooster gone back! Pot- rack! Pot-rack! Mr. Rooster gone back!'
"Wid dat dey all make a great ter-do. Miss Hen en Miss Pullet, dey cackle en squall, Mr. Gobbler, he gobble, en Miss Puddle Duck, she shake 'er tail en say, quickity-quack-quack. But Mr. Rooster, he ruffle up he cape, en march on out. "With that they all make a great to-do. Miss Hen and Miss Pullet, they cackle and squeal, Mr Gobbler, he gobble, and Miss Puddle Duck, she shake her tail and say, quickity-quack-quack. But Mr. Rooster, he ruffle up he cape, and march out."
"Dis sorter put a damper on de yuthers, but 'fo' Mr.
Rooster git outer sight en year'n dey went ter wuk on de pile w'at wuz
'pariently co'n-bread, en, lo en beholes, un'need dem pone er bread wuz a
whole passel er meat en greens, en bake' taters, en bile' turnips. Mr.
Rooster, he year de ladies makin' great 'miration, en he stop en look thoo
de crack, en dar he see all de doin's en fixin's. He feel mighty bad, Mr.
Rooster did, w'en he see all dis, en de yuther fowls dey holler en ax 'im
fer ter come back, en he craw, w'ich it mighty empty, likewise, it up'n' ax
'im, but he mighty biggity en stuck up, en he strut off, crow in' ez he go;
but he 'speunce er dat time done las' him en all er his fambly down ter dis
day. En you neenter take my wud fer't, ne'r, kaze ef you'll des keep yo' eye
open en watch, you'll ketch a glimse er ole Mr. Rooster folks scratchin'
whar dey specks ter fine der rations, en mo' dan dat, dey'll scratch wid der
har1883.2007.001.0117.jpg
rations in plain sight.
Since dat time, dey aint none er de Mr. Roosters bin fool' by dat w'at dey
see on top. Dey aint res' twel dey see w'at und' dar. Dey'll scratch spite
er all creation."
"This sort of put a damper on the others, but before Mr. Rooster get out
of sight and hearing they went to work on the pile what was apparently
corn-bread, and, lo and behold, underneather them pone of
bread was a whole passel of meat and greens, and baked potatoes, and
biled turnips. Mr Rooster, he hear the ladies making
great admiration, and he stop and look through the crack , and there he see
all the doings and fixings. He feel mighty bad, Mr. Rooster did, when he see
all this, and the other fowls they holler and ask him for to come back, and
he crow, which it might empty, likewise, it up and ask him, but he mighty
biggity and stuck up, and he strut off, crowing as he go; but he
'speunce of that time done last him and all his family
down to this day. And you neenter take my word for it,
neither, because if you'll just keep your eye open nd watch, you'll catch a
glimpse of old Mr. Rooster folks scratching where they expect to find the
rations, and more than that, they'll scratch with their
har1883.2007.001.0117.jpg
rations in plain sight.
Since that time, they ain't none of the Mr. Roosters been fooling by what
they see on top. They ain't rest until they see what under there. They'll
scratch despite of all creation."
"Dat's de Lord's truth!" "That's the Lord's truth!" said 'Tildy, with unction. "I done seed um wid my own eyes. Dat I is." "I done see-ed them with my own eyes. That I is."
This was 'Tildy's method of renewing peaceful relations with Uncle Remus, but the old man was disposed to resist the attempt.
"You better be up yander washin' up dishes, stidder hoppin' down yer wid er whole packet er stuff w'at Miss Sally aint dreamp er sayin'." "You better be up yonder washing up dishes, instead of hopping down here with a whole packet of stuff what Mis Sally ain't dreamed of saying."
XII.
BROTHER RABBIT BREAKS UP A PARTY.
As long as Uncle Remus allowed 'Tildy to remain in the cabin, the little boy was not
particularly interested in preventing the perfunctory abuse which the old man might
feel disposed to bestow upon the complacent girl. The truth is, the child's mind was
occupied with the episode in the story of Mr. Benjamin Ram which treats of the style
in which this romantic old wag put Mr. and Mrs. Wolf to flight by playing a tune upon
his fiddle. The little boy was particularly struck with this remarkable feat, as many
a youngster before him had been, and he made bold to recur to it again by asking
Uncle remus for all the details.
har1883.2007.001.0118.jpg
It was plain to the
latter that the child regarded Mr. Ram as the typical hero of all the animals, and
this was by no means gratifying to the old man. He answered the little boy's
questions as well as he could, and, when nothing more remained to be said about Mr.
Ram, he settled himself back in his chair and resumed the curious history of Brother
Rabbit:
"Co'se Mr. Ram mighty smart man. I aint 'spute dat; but needer Mr. Ram ner yet Mr. Lam is soon creeturs lak Brer Rabbit. Mr. Benjermun Ram, he tuck'n' skeer off Brer Wolf en his ole 'oman wid his fiddle, but, bless yo' soul, ole Brer Rabbit he gone en done wuss'n dat." "Course Mr. Ram mighty smart man. I ain't dispute that; but neither Mr Ram nor yet Mr. Lam is soon creatures like Brer Rabbit. Mr. Benjermun Ram, he took and scared off Brer Wolf and his old woman with his fiddle, but, bless your soul, old Brer Rabbit he gone and done worse than that."
"What did Brother Rabbit do?" asked the little boy.
"One time," said Uncle Remus, "Brer Fox, he tuck'n' ax some er de yuther creeturs ter he house. He ax Brer B'ar, en Brer Wolf, en Brer 'Coon, but he aint ax Brer Rabbit. All de same, Brer Rabbit got win' un it, en he 'low dat ef he don't go, he speck he have much fun ez de nex' man. "Brer Fox, he took and ask some of the other creatures to he house. He ask Brer B'ar, and Brer Wolf, and Brer 'Coon, but he ain't ask Brer Rabbit. All the same, Brer Rabbit got wind of it, and he allow that if he don't go, he expect he have as much fun as the next man.
"De creeturs w'at git de invite, dey tuck'n' 'semble at Brer Fox house, en Brer Fox, he ax um in en got um cheers, en dey sot dar en laugh en talk, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox, he fotch out a bottle er dram en lay 'er out on de side-bode, en den he sorter step back en say, sezee: "The creature what get the invite, they took and assemble at Brer Fox house, and Brer Fox, he ask them in and got them chairs, and they sat there and laugh and talk, until, by and bye, Brer Fox, he fetch out a bottle of dram and lay her out on the side-board, and then he sort of step back and say, says he:
"'Des step up, gentermens, en he'p yo'se'f,' en you better b'lieve dey he'p derse'f. 'Just step up, gentlemens, and help yourself,' and you better believe they help theirself.
"W'iles dey wuz drinkin' en drammin' en gwine on, w'at
you speck Brer Rabbit doin'? You des well make up yo' min' dat Brer Rabbit
monst'us busy, kase he 'uz sailin'
har1883.2007.001.0119.jpg
'roun' fixin' up his tricks.
Long time 'fo' dat, Brer Rabbit had bin at a bobbycue whar dey wuz a muster,
en w'iles all de folks 'uz down at de spring eatin' dinner, Brer Rabbit he
crape up en run off wid one er de drums. Dey wuz a big drum en a little
drum, en Brer Rabbit he snatch up de littles' one en run home.
"Whiles they was drinking and dramming and going on, what you expect Brer
Rabbit doing? You just well make up your mind that Brer Rabbit monstrous
busy, because he was sailing
har1883.2007.001.0119.jpg
around fixing up his tricks.
Long time before that, Brer Rabbit had been at a barbecue where ther was a
master, and whiles all the folks was down at the
spring eating dinner, Brer Rabbit he creep up and run off with one of the
drums. They was a big drum and a little drum, and Brer Rabbit he snatch up
the littlest one and run home.
"Now, den, w'en he year 'bout de yuther creeturs gwine ter Brer Fox house, w'at do Brer Rabbit do but git out dis rattlin' drum en make de way down de road todes whar dey is. He tuck dat drum," "Now, then, when he hear about the other creatures going to Brer Fox house, what do Brer Rabbit do but get out this rattling drum and make the way down the road towards where they is. He took that drum," continued Uncle Remus, with great elation of voice and manner, "en he went down de road todes Brer Fox house, en he make 'er talk like thunner mix up wid hail. Hit talk lak dis: "and he went down the road towards Brer Fox house, and he make her talk like thunder mix up with hail. It talk like this:
"'Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum-- diddybum!'
"De creeturs, dey 'uz a-drinkin', en a-drammin', en a-gwine on at a terrible rate, en dey aint year de racket, but all de same, yer come Brer Rabbit: "The creatures, they was a-drinking, and a-dramming, and a-going on at a terrible rate, and they ain't hear the racket, but all the same, here come Brer Rabbit:
"'Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum-- diddybum!'
"Bimeby Brer 'Coon, w'ich he allers got one year hung out fer de news, he up'n' ax Brer Fox w'at dat, en by dat time all de creeturs stop en lissen; but all de same, yer come Brer Rabbit: "By and by brer 'Coon, which he always got one ear hung out for the news, he up an ask Brer Fox what that, and by that time all the creatures stop and listen; but all the same, here come Brer Rabbit:
"'Diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum-- diddybum!'
"De creeturs dey keep on lis'nin', en Brer Rabbit keep on gittin' nigher, twel bimeby Brer 'Coon retch und' de cheer for he hat, en say, sezee: "The creatures they keep on listening, and Brer Rabbit keep on getting nigher, until by and by Brer 'Coon reach under the chair for he hat, and say, says he:
har1883.2007.001.0120.jpg
"'Well, gents, I speck I better be gwine. I tole my ole 'oman dat I wont be gone a minnit, en yer 'tis 'way 'long in de day.' 'Well, gents, I expect I better be going. I told my old woman that I won't be gone a minute, and here it is a-way along in the day.'
"Wid dat Brer 'Coon, he skip out, but he aint git much furder dan de back gate, 'fo' yer come all de yuther creeturs like dey 'uz runnin' a foot-race, en ole Brer Fox wuz wukkin' in de lead." "With that Brer 'Coon, he skip out, but he ain't get much farther than the back gate, before here come all the other creatures like they was running a foot-race, and old Brer Fox was walking in the lead."
"Dar, now!" "There, now!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with great fervor.
"Yasser! dar dey wuz, en dar dey went," "Yes sir! there they was, and there they went," continued Uncle Remus. "Dey tuck nigh cuts, en dey scramble over one er n'er, en dey aint res' twel dey git in de bushes. "They took night cuts, and they sramble over one another, and they ain't rest until the get in the bushes.
"Ole Brer Rabbit, he came on down de road—diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum—en bless gracious! w'en he git ter Brer Fox house dey aint nobody dar. Brer Rabbit is dat owdacious, dat he hunt all 'roun' twel he fine de a'r-hole er de drum, en he put his mouf ter dut en sing out, sezee: "Old Brer Rabbit, he came on down the raod—diddybum, diddybum, diddybum-bum-bum—and bless gracious! when he get to Brer Fox house they ain't nobody there. Brer Rabbit is that audacious, that he hunt all around until he find the air-hole of the drum, and he put his mouth to that and sing out, says he:
"'Is dey anybody home?' en den he answer hisse'f, sezee, 'Law, no, honey—folks all gone.' "'Is they anybody home?' and then he answer hisself, says he, 'Lord, no, honey—folks all done.'
"Wid dat, ole Brer Rabbit break loose en laugh, he did, fit ter kill hisse'f, en den he slam Brer Fox front gate wide open, en march up ter de house. W'en he git dar, he kick de do' open en hail Brer Fox, but nobody aint dar, en Brer Rabbit he walk in en take a cheer, en make hisse'f at home wid puttin' his foots on de sofy en spittin' on de flo'. "With that, old Brer Rabbit break loose and laugh, he did, fit to kill hisself, and then he slam Brer Fox gate wide open, and march up to the house. When he get there, he kick the door open and hail Brer Fox, but nobody ain't there, and Brer Rabbit he walk in and take a cheer, and make hisself at home with putting his foots on the sofa and spitting on the floor.
"Brer Rabbit aint sot dar long ’fo’ he ketch a whiff er de dram—" "Brer Rabbit ain't sat there long before he catch a whiff of the dram—"
har1883.2007.001.0121.jpg
"You year dat?" "You hear that? exclaimed 'Tildy, with convulsive admiration.
"—'Fo' he ketch a whiff er de dram, en den he see it on de side-bode, en he step up en drap 'bout a tumbeler full some'rs down in de neighborhoods er de goozle. Brer Rabbit mighty lak some folks I knows. He tuck one tumbeler full, en 'twa'n't long 'fo' he tuck 'n'er'n, en w'en a man do dis away," "—Before he catch a whiff og the dram, and then he see it on the side-board, and he step up and drop about a tumbler full somewheres down in the neighborhood of the goozle. Brer Rabbit mighty like some folks I knows. He took one tumbler full, and it wasn't long before he took another, and when a man do this away," continued Uncle Remus, somewhat apologetically, "he bleedz ter git drammy." "he pleased to get drammy."
"Truth, too!" said 'Tildy, by way of hearty confirmation.
"All des time de yuther creeturs wuz down in de bushes lissenin' fer de diddybum, en makin' ready fer ter light out fum dar at de drop uv a hat. But dey aint year no mo' fuss, en bimeby Brer Fox, he say he gwine back en look atter he plunder, en de yuther creeturs say dey b'leeve dey'll go 'long wid 'im. Dey start out, dey did, en dey crope todes Brer Fox house, but dey crope mighty keerful, en I boun' ef somebody'd 'a' shuck a bush, dem ar creeturs 'ud a nat'ally to' up de ye'th gittin' 'way fum dar. Yit dey still aint year no fuss, en dey keep on creepin' twel dey git in de house. "All this time the other creatures was down in the bushes listening for the diddybum, and making ready for to light out from there at the drop of a hat. But they ain't hear no more fuss, and by and by Brer Fox, he say that he going back and look after he plunder, and the other creatures say they believe they'll go along with him. They start out, they did, and they creeped towards Brer Fox house, but they creeped mighty careful, and I bound if somebody'd a-shook a bush, them there creatures would a naturally to' up the ye'th getting away from there. Yet they still ain't hear no fuss and they keep on creeping, until they get in the house.
"W'en dey git in dar, de fus' sight dey see wuz ole Brer Rabbit stannin' up by de dram-bottle mixin' up a toddy, en he wa'n't so stiff-kneed n'er, kase he sorter swage fum side ter side, en he look lak he mighty limbersome, w'ich, goodness knows, a man bleedz ter be limbersome w'en he drink dat kinder licker w'at Brer Fox perwide fer dem creeturs. "When they get in there, the first sight they see was old brer Rabbit standing up by the dram-bottle mixing up a toddy, and he wasn't so stiff-kneed either neither, because he sort of swung from side to side, and he look mighty limbersome, which, goodness knows, a man pleased to be limbersome when he drank that kind of liquor what Brer Fox provide for them creatures.
har1883.2007.001.0122.jpg
"W'en Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit makin' free wid he doin's dat away, w'at you speck he do?" "When Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit making free with he doings that away, what do you expect he do?" inquired Uncle Remus, with the air of one seeking general information.
"I speck he cusst," "I expect he cussed." said 'Tildy, who was apt to take a vividly practical view of matters.
"He was glad," said the little boy, "because he had a good chance to catch Brother Rabbit."
"Tooby sho' he wuz," "To be sure he was," continued Uncle Remus, heartily assenting to the child's interpretation of the situation; "tooby sho' he wuz. He stan' dar, Brer Fox did, en he watch Brer Rabbit motions. Bimeby he holler out, sezee: "to be sure he was. He stand there, Brer Fox did, and he watch Brer Rabbit motions. By and by he holler out, says he:
"'Ah yi! A corruption of "aye, aye." It is used
as an expression of triumph, and its enployment in this connection is
both droll and picturesque. [back]
"Seem like I done tole you dat Brer Rabbit done gone en tuck mo' dram dan w'at 'uz good fer he wholesome. Yit he head aint swim so bad dat he dunner w'at he doin', en time he lay eyes on Brer Fox, he know he done got in close quarters. Soon ez he see dis, Brer Rabbit make like he bin down in de cup mo' deeper dan w'at he is, en he stagger 'roun' like town gal stannin' in a batteau, en he seem lak he des ez limber ez a wet rag. He stagger up ter Brer Fox, he did, en he roll he eyeballs 'roun', en slap 'im on he back en ax 'im how he ma. Den w'en he see de yuther creeturs," "Seem like I done told you that brer Rabbit done gone took more dram than what was good for he wholesome. Yet he heas ain't swim so bad that he don't know what he doing, and time he lay eyes on Brer Fox, he know he done got in close quarters. Soon as he see this, Brer Rabbit make like he been down in the cup more deeper that what he is, and he stagger around like a town gal satnding in a batteau, and he roll he eyeballs around, and slap him on the back and ask how he ma. Then when he see the other creatures," continued Uncle Remus, "he holler out, he did:
"'Vents yo' uppance, gentermens!
Vents yo'
Southern readers
will rccognize this and "han'-roomance" as terms used by negroes in
playing marbles,—a favorite game on the plantations Sunday afternoons.
These terms were curt and expressive enough to gain currency among the
whites. [back]
har1883.2007.001.0123.jpg
uppance!
har1883.2007.001.0123.jpg
uppance! If you'll just gimme han-roomance and come one at a
time, the tussle will last longer. How you all come on now, anyhow?"
says he.
"Ole Brer Rabbit talk so kuse dat de yuther creeturs have mo' fun dan w'at youk'n shake a stick at, but bimeby Brer Fox say dey better git down ter business, en den dey all cloze in on Brer Rabbit, en dar he wuz. "Old Brer Rabbit talk so curious that the other creatures have more fun that what you can shake a stick at, but by and by Brer Fox say they'd better get down to business, and then they all close in on Brer Rabbit, and there he was."
"In dem days, ole man B'ar wuz a jedge 'mongs' de
creeturs, en dey all ax 'im w'at dey gwine do 'long wid Brer Rabbit, en
Jedge B'ar, he put on his specks, en cle'r up his throat, en say dat de bes'
way ter do wid a man w'at kick up sech a racket, en run de neighbors outer
der own house, en go in dar en level Levy. [back]
"Den Brer Rabbit, he make out he skeerd, en he holler en cry, en beg um, in de name er goodness, don't fling 'im in de spring branch, kaze dey all know he dunner how ter swim; but ef dey bleedz fer ter pitch 'im in, den for mussy sake gin 'im a walkin'-cane, so he kin have sumpin' ter hol' ter w'iles he drownin'. "Then Brer Rabbit, he make out he scared, and he holler and cry, and beg them, in the name of goodness, don't fling him in the spring branch, because they all know he don't know how to swim; but if they pleased for to pitch him in, then for mercy sake give him a walking-cane, so he can have something to hold to whiles he drowning.
har1883.2007.001.0124.jpg
"Ole Brer B'ar scratch his head en say, sezee, dat, fur ez his 'membunce go back, he aint come 'cross nothin' in de lawyer-book ter de contraries er dat, en den dey all 'gree dat Brer Rabbit kin have a walkin'-cane. "Old Brer B'ar scratch his head and say, says he, far as his remembrance go back, he ain't come across nothing in the lawyer-book to the contrary of that, and then they all agree that Brer Rabbit can have a walking-cane.
"Wid dat, dey ketch up Brer Rabbit en put 'im in a wheelbarrow en kyar 'im down ter de branch, en fling 'im in." "With that, they catch up Brer Rabbit and put him in a wheelbarrow and carry him down to the branch, and fling him in."
"Eh-eh!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with well-feigned astonishment.
"Dey fling 'im in," "They fling him in," continued Uncle Remus, "en Brer Rabbit light on he foots, same ez a tomeat, en pick his way out by de helps er de walkin'-cane. De water wuz dat shaller dat it don't mo'n come over Brer Rabbit slipper, en w'en he git out on t'er side, he holler back, sezee: "and Brer Rabbit light on he foots, same as a tomeat, and pick his way out by the helps of the walking-cane. The water was that shallower that it don't more than come over Brer Rabbit slipper, and when he git out on the other side, he holler back, says he:
"‘So long Brer Fox!'"
XIII.
BROTHER FOX, BROTHER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S
DAUGHTER.
Notwithstanding Brother Rabbit's success with the drum, the little boy was still
inclined to refer to Mr. Benjamin Ram and his fiddle; but Uncle Remus was not, by any
means, willing that such an ancient vagabond as Mr. Ram should figure as a hero, and
he said that,
har1883.2007.001.0125.jpg
while it was possible that Brother
Rabbit was no great hand with the fiddle, he was a drummer, and a capital singer to
boot. Furthermore, Uncle Remus declared that Brother Rabbit could perform upon the
quills,
The veritable Pan's pipes. A simple but very effective musical instrument made of reeds, and in great favor on the plantations. [back]
an accomplishment to which none of the other animals could lay claim. There was a time, too, the old man pointedly suggested, when the romantic rascal used his musical abilities to win the smiles of a nice young lady of quality—no less a personage, indeed, than King Deer's daughter. As a matter of course, the little boy was anxious to hear the particulars, and Uncle Remus was in nowise loath to give them."W'en you come ter ax me 'bout de year en day er de mont'," "When you come to ask me about the year and day of the month," said the old man, cunningly arranging a defence against criticism, "den I'm done, kaze de almanick w'at dey got in dem times wont pass muster deze days, but, let 'lone dat, I speck dey aint had none yit; en ef dey is, dey aint none bin handed down ter Remus. "then I'm done, because the almanack what they got in them times won't pass muster these days, but, let alone that, I expect they ain't had none yet; and if they is, they ain't none been handed down to Remus.
"Well, den, some time 'long in dar, ole Brer Fox en
Brer Rabbit got ter flyin' 'roun' King Deer daughter. Dey tells me she 'uz a
monst'us likely gal, en I speck may be she wuz; leas'ways, Brer Fox, he
hanker atter 'er, en likewise Brer Rabbit, he hanker atter 'er. Ole King
Deer look lak he sorter lean todes Brer Fox, kaze ter a settle man like him,
hit seem lak dat Brer Fox kin stir 'roun' en keep de pot a b'ilin', mo'
speshually bein's he de bigges'. Hit go on dis away twel hardly a day pass
har1883.2007.001.0126.jpg
dat one er
de yuther er dem creeturs don't go sparklin' 'roun' King Deer daughter, en
it got so atter w'ile dat all day long Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox keep de front
gate a skreakin', en King Deer daughter aint ska'cely had time fer ter eat a
meal vittels in no peace er min'.
"Well, then, some time along in there, old Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit got to
flying around King Deer daughter. They tells me she was a monstrous likely
gal, and I expect maybe she was; leastways, Brer Fox, he hanker after her,
and likewise Brer Rabbit, he hanker after her. Old King Deer look like he
sort of lean towards Brer Fox, because to a settle man like him, it seem
like that Brer Fox can stir around and keep the pot a-boiling, most
especially being as he the biggest. It go on this a-way until hardly a day
pass
har1883.2007.001.0126.jpg
that one or
the other of them creatures don't go sparkling around King Deer daughter,
and it got so after a while that all day long Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox keep
the front gate a screaching, and King Dear daughter ain't scarcely had time
for to eat a meal vittels in no peace of mind.
"In dem days,"
"In them days," pursued Uncle Remus, in a tone of unmistakable historical fervor, "w'en a creetur go a courtin' dey wa'n't none er dish
yer bokay doin's mix' up 'longer der co'tship, en dey aint cut up no capers
like folks does now. Stidder scollopin' 'roun' en bowin' en scrapin', dey
des go right straight atter de gal. Ole Brer Rabbit, he mouter had some
bubby-blossoms A
species of sweet-shrub growing wild in the South. [back]
"En I bet," "And I bet," said 'Tildy, by way of comment, and looking as though she wanted to blush, "dat dey wa'n't 'shame', nuther." "that they wasn't ashamed, neither."
"Dey went 'long dis away," "They went along this a-way," continued Uncle Remus, "twel it 'gun ter look sorter skittish wid Brer Rabbit, kaze old King Deer done good ez say, sezee, dat he gwine ter take Brer Fox inter de fambly. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did, dat dis aint gwine ter do, en he study en study how he gwine ter cut Brer Fox out. "until it begun to look sort of skittish with Brer Rabbit, because old King deer done good and say, says he, that he going to take Brer Fox into the family. Brer Rabbit, he allow, he did, that this ain't going to do, and he study and study how he going to cut Brer Fox out.
"Las', one day, w'iles he gwine thoo King Deer pastur'
lot, he up wid a rock en kilt two er King Deer goats. W'en he git ter de
house, he ax King Deer daughter whar'bouts her pa, en she up'n' say she go
call 'im, en w'en
har1883.2007.001.0127.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0128.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0129.jpg
Brer Rabbit see 'im, he ax
w'en de weddin' tuck place, en King Deer ax w'ich weddin', en Brer Rabbit
say de weddin' 'twix' Brer Fox en King Deer daughter. Wid dat, ole King Deer
ax Brer Rabbit w'at make he go on so, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n' 'spon' dat he
see Brer Fox makin' monst'us free wid de fambly, gwine 'roun' chunkin' de
chickens en killin' up de goats.
"Last, one day, whiles he going through King Deer pasture lot, he up with
a rock and killed two of King Deer goats. When he get to the house he ask
King Deer daughter wherabouts her pa, and she up and say she go call him,
and when
har1883.2007.001.0127.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0128.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0129.jpg
Brer Rabbit see him, he ask
when the wedding take place, and King Deer ask which wedding, and Brer
Rabbit say the wedding betwixt Brer Fox and King Deer daughter. With that,
old King Deer ask Brer Rabbit what make he go on so, and Brer Rabbit, he up
and respond that he see Brer Fox making monstrous free with the family,
going around chunking the chickens and killing the goats.
"Ole King Deer strak he walkin'-cane down 'pon de flo', en 'low dat he don't put no 'pennunce in no sech tale lak dat, en den Brer Rabbit tell 'im dat ef he'll des take a walk down in de pastur' lot, he kin see de kyarkiss er de goats. Ole King Deer, he put out, en bimeby he come back, en he 'low he gwine ter settle marters wid Brer Fox ef it 'take 'im a mont'. "Old king Deer struck he walking-cane down upon the floor, and allow that he don't put no comeuppance in no such a tale like that, and then Brer Rabbit tell him that if he'll just take a walk down in the pasture lot, he can see the carcasses of the goats. Old King Deer, he put out, and by and by he come back, and he allow he going to settle matters with Brer Fox if it take him a month.
"Brer Rabbit say he a good frien' ter Brer Fox, en he aint got no room ter talk 'bout 'im, but yit w'en he see 'im 'stroyin' King Deer goats en chunkin' at his chickens, en rattlin' on de palin's fer ter make de dog bark, he bleedz ter come lay de case 'fo' de fambly. "Brer Rabbit say he a good friend to Brer Fox, and he ain't got no rom to talk about him, but yet when he see him destroying King Deer goats and chunking at his chickens, and rattling on the palings for to make the dogs bark, he pleased to come lay the case before the family.
"'En mo'n dat,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'I'm de man w'at kin make Brer Fox come en stan' right at de front gate en tell you dat he is kill dem goat; en ef you des wait twel ter-night, I wont ax you ter take my wud,' sezee. "'And more than that, says old Brer Rabbit, says he, 'I'm the man what can make Brer fox come and stand right at the front gate and tell you that he is kill them goat; and if you just wait until tonight, I won't ask you to take my word,' says he.
"King Deer say ef Brer Rabbit man 'nuff ter do dat,
den he kin git de gal en thanky, too. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit jump up en crack
he heels tergedder, en put out fer ter fine Brer Fox. He aint git fur 'fo'
he see Brer
har1883.2007.001.0130.jpg
Fox comin'
down de road all primp up. Brer Rabbit, he sing out, he did:
"King Deer say if Brer Rabbit man enough to do that, then he can get the
gal and thanky, too. With that, Brer Rabbit jump up and crack he heels
together, and put out for to find Brer Fox. He ain't get far before he see
Brer
har1883.2007.001.0130.jpg
Fox coming
down that road all primp up. Brer Rabbit, he sing out, he did:
"'Brer Foxy, whar you gwine?' 'Brer Foxy, where you going?'
"En Brer Fox, he holler back: "And Brer Fox, he holler back:
"'Go 'way, Rab; don't bodder wid me. I'm gwine fer ter see my gal.' 'Go away, Rab; don't bother with me. I'm going for to see my gal.'
"Brer Rabbit, he laugh 'way down in his stomach, but he don't let on, en atter some mo' chat, he up'n' say dat ole King Deer done tell 'im 'bout how Brer Fox gwine ter marry he daughter, en den he tell Brer Fox dat he done promise King Deer dat dey'd drap 'roun' ter-night en gin 'im some music. "Brer Rabbit, he laugh a-way down in his stomach, but he don't let on, and after some more chat, he up and say that old King Deer done tell him about how Brer Fox going to marry he daughter, and then he tell Brer Fox that he done promise King Deer that they'd drop around tonight and gin him some music.
"'En I up'n' tole 'im,' sez
Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'dat de music w'at we can't make
aint wuth makin',—me wid my quills, en you wid yo' tr'angle. Triangle. [back]
"In a 'casion lak dis, Brer Fox say he de ve'y man w'at Brer Rabbit huntin', en he 'low dat he'll des 'bout put off payin' he call ter King Deer house en go wid Brer Rabbit fer ter practise on dat song. "In an occasion like this, Brer Fox say he the very man what Brer Rabbit hunting, and he allow that he'll just about put off paying he call to King Deer house and go with Brer Rabbit for to practice on that song.
"Den Brer Rabbit, he git he quills en Brer Fox he git
he tr'angle, en dey went down on de spring branch en dar dey sing en play,
twell dey git it all by heart. Ole Brer Rabbit, he make up de song he own
se'f, en he fix it
That is to say,
Brother Rabbit sang the air and Brother Fox the refrain. [back]
har1883.2007.001.0131.jpg
so dat he sing de call, lak
de captain er de co'n-pile, en ole Brer Fox, he hatter sing de answer."
At this point Uncle Remus paused to indulge in one of his suggestive chuckles, and then proceeded:
"Don't talk 'bout no songs ter me. Gentermens! dat 'uz a funny song fum de wud go. Bimeby, w'en dey practise long time, dey gits up en goes 'roun' in de neighborhoods er King Deer house, en w'en night come dey tuck der stan' at de front gate, en atter all got still, Brer Rabbit, he gun de wink, en dey broke loose wid der music. Dey played a chune er two on de quills en tr'angle, en den dey got ter de song. Ole Brer Rabbit, he got de eall, en he open up lak dis: "Don't talk about no songs to me. Gentlemens! that was a funny song from the word go. By and by, when they practice long time, they gets up and goes around in the neighborhoods of King Deer house, and when night come they took their stand at the front gate, and after all got still, Brer Rabbit, he begun the wink, and they brok loose with their music. They played a tune or two and the quills and triangle, and then they got to the song. Old Brer Rabbit, he got the call, and he open up like this:
en den Brer Fox, he make answer: and then Brer Fox, he make answer:
Den de quills en de tr'angle, dey come in, en den Brer Rabbit pursue on wid de call: Then the quills and the triangle, they come in, and then Brer Rabbit pursue on with the call:
en den Brer Fox, he jine in wid de answer:
En des 'bout dat time King Deer, he walk outer de gate en hit Brer Fox a clip wid
his walkin'-cane, cn he foller it up wid 'n'er'n, dat make Brer Fox fa'rly squall,
en you des
har1883.2007.001.0132.jpg
better b'lieve he
make tracks 'way fum dar, en de gal she come out, en dey ax Brer Rabbit in."
"Did Brother Rabbit marry King Deer's daughter, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"Now, den, honey, you're crowdin' me," responded the old man. "Dey ax 'im in, en dey gun 'im a great big hunk er chicken-pie, but I won't make sho' dat he tuck'n' marry de gal. De p'int wid me is de way Brer Rabbit run Brer Fox off fum dar."
XIV.
BROTHER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BROTHER BUZZARD.
There was a pause here, which was finally broken by 'Tildy, whose remark was in the shape of a very undignified yawn. Uncle Remus regarded her for a moment with an expression of undisguised scorn, which quickly expressed itself in words:
"Ef you'd er bin outer de house dat whack, you'd er tuck us all in. Pity dey aint some place er 'n'er whar deze yer trollops kin go en l'arn manners."
'Tildy, however, ignored the old man, and, with a toss of her head, said to the little boy in a cool, exasperating tone, employing a pet name she had heard the child's mother use:
"Well, Pinx, I speck we better go. De rain done mos'
har1883.2007.001.0133.jpg
hilt up now, en bimeby de stars'll
be a-shinin'. Miss Sally lookin' fer you right now."
"You better go whar you gwine, you triflin' huzzy, you!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "You better go git yo' Jim Crow kyard en straighten out dem wrops in yo' ha'r. I allers year w'ite folks say you better keep yo' eye on niggers w'at got der ha'r wrop up in strings. Now I done gun you fa'r warnin's."
"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, when the old man's wrath had somewhat subsided, "why do they call them Jim Crow cards?"
"I be bless ef I know, honey, 'ceppin' it's kaze dey er de onliest machine wa't deze yer low-life niggers kin oncomb der kinks wid. Now, den," continued the old man, straightening up and speaking with considerable animation, "dat min's me 'bout a riddle w'at been runnin' 'roun' in my head. En dat riddle--it's de outdoin'es' riddle w'at I mos' ever year tell un. Hit go lak dis: Ef he come, he don't come; ef he don't come, he come. Now, I boun' you can't tell w'at is dat."
After some time spent in vain guessing, the little boy confessed that he didn't know.
"Hit's crow en co'n," said UncleRemus, sententiously.
"Crow and corn, Uncle Remus?"
"Co'se, honey. Crow come, de co'n don't come; crow don't come, den de co'n come."
"Dat's so," said 'Tildy. "I done see um pull up co'n, en I done see co'n grow w'at dey don't pull up."
If 'Tildy thought to propitiate Uncle Remus, she was
har1883.2007.001.0134.jpg
mistaken. He scowled
at her, and addressed himself to the little boy:
"De Crow, he mighty close kin ter de Buzzud, en dat puts me in min' dat we aint bin a-keepin' up wid ole Brer Buzzud close ez we might er done. "The Crow, he mighty close kin to the Buzzard, and that puts me in mind that we aint been a-keeping up with old Brother Bear close as we might have done.
"W'at de case mout be deze days, I aint a-sayin', but, in dem times, ole Brer Tarrypin love honey mo' samer dan Brer B'ar, but he wuz dat flat-footed dat, w'en he fine a bee-tree, he can't climb it, en he go so slow dat he can't hardly fine um. Bimeby, one day, w'en he gwine 'long down de road des a-honin' atter honey, who should he meet but ole Brer Buzzud. "What the cast might be these days, I aint a-saying, but, in them times, old Brother Tarrypin love honey, more samer than Brother Bear, but he was that float-footed that, when he find a bee-tree, he can't climb it, and he go slow dat he can't hardly find them. By and By, one day, when he going along down the road there was a-hunting after honey, who should he meet but old Brother Buzzard.
"Dey shuck han's mighty sociable en ax 'bout de news er de neighborhoods, en den, atter w'ile, Brer Tarrypin say ter ole Brer Buzzud, sezee, dat he wanter go inter cahoots wid 'im 'longer gittin' honey, en 'twa'n't long 'fo’ dey struck a trade. Brer Buzzud wuz ter fly 'roun' en look fer de bee-tree, en Brer Tarrypin he wuz ter creep en crawl, en hunt on de groun'. "They shook hands mighty sociable and asked about the news of the neighborhoods, and the, after a while, Brother Tarrypin say to old Brother Buzzard, says, that he want to go into cahoots with him longer getting honey, and it wasn't long before they struck a trade. Brother Buzzard was to fly around and look for the bee-tree, and Brother Tarrypin he was to creep and crawl, and hunt on the ground.
"Dey start out, dey did, ole Brer Buzzud sailin'
'roun' in de elements, en ole Brer Tarrypin shufflin' en shamblin' on de
groun'. 'Mos' de ve'y fus' fiel' w'at he come ter, Brer Tarrypin strak up
wid a great big bumbly-bee nes' in de groun'. He look 'roun', ole Brer
Tarrypin did, en bimeby he stick he head in en tas'e de honey, en den he
pull it out en look all 'roun' fer ter see ef he kin ketch a glimpse er Brer
Buzzud; but Brer Buzzud don't seem lak he nowhar. Den Brer Tarrypin say to
hisse'f, sezee, dat he speck dat bumbly-bee honey aint de kinder honey w'at
har1883.2007.001.0135.jpg
dey been talkin' 'bout, en
dey aint no great shakes er honey dar nohow. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin crope
inter de hole en gobble up de las' drop er de bumbly-bee honey by he
own-alone se'f. Atter he done make 'way wid it, he come out, he did, en he
whirl in en lick it all off'n his footses, so ole Brer Buzzud can't tell dat
he done bin git a mess er honey.
"They start out, they did, old Brother Buzzard sailing around in the
elements, and old Brother Tarrypin shuffling and shambling on the ground.
Almost the very first field what he come to, Brother Tarrypin
strak up with a great big bumbly-bee nest in the
ground. He looked around, old Brother Tarrypin did, and by and by he stick
his head in and taste the honey, and then he pull it out and look all around
for to seeif he can ketch a glimpse of Brother Buzzard; but Brother Buzzard
don't seem like he no where. Then Brother Tarrypin say to hisself, says,
that he suspects that bumbly-bee honey aint the kind of honey what
har1883.2007.001.0135.jpg
they been talking about, and
they aint not great shakes of honey there no how. With that, Brother
Tarrypin crope into the hole and gobble up the last drop
of the bumbly-bee honey by his own-alone self. After he done make away with
it, he come out, he did, and he whirl in and lick it all off of his
footsies, so old Brother Buzzard can't tell dat he done been got a mess of
honey.
"Den ole Brer Tarrypin stretch out he neck en try ter lick de honey off'n he back, but he neck too short; en he try ter scrape it off up 'g'in' a tree, but it don't come off; en den he waller on de groun', but still it don't come off. Den old Brer Tarrypin jump up, en say ter hisse'f dat he'll des 'bout rack off home, en w'en Brer Buzzud come he kin lie on he back en say he sick, so ole Brer Buzzud can't see de honey. "Then old Brother Tarrypin stretch out his neck and try to lick the honey off of his back, but his neck too short; and he try to scrape it off up against a tree, but it don't come off; and den he wallow on the ground, but still it don't come off. Then old Brother Tarrypin jump up, and say to hisself that he'll just about rack off home, and when Brother Buzzard come he can lie on his back and say he sick, so old Brother Buzzard can't see the honey.
"Brer Tarrypin start off, he did, but he happen ter look up, en, lo en beholes, dar wuz Brer Buzzud huv'rin' right spang over de spot whar he is. Brer Tarrypin know Brer Buzzud bleedz ter see 'im ef he start off home, en mo'n dat, he know he be fine out ef he don't stir 'roun' en do sump'n' mighty quick. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin shuffle back ter de bumbly-bee nes' swif' ez he kin, en buil' 'im a fier in dar, en den he crawl out en holler: Brother Tarrypin start off, he did, but he happen to look up, and, low and behold, there was Brother Buzzard hovering right spang over the spot where he is. Brother Tarrypin know Brer Buzzard pleased to see them if he star of home, and more than that he knew he be fine out if he don't stir around and do something mighty quick. With that, Brother Tarrypin shuffle back to de bumbly- bees nest swift as he can, and build them a fire in that, and then he cral out and holler:
"'Brer Buzzud! O Brer Buzzud! Run yer, fer gracious sake, Brer Buzzud, en look how much honey I done fine! I des crope in a little ways, en it des drip all down my back, same like water. Run yer, Brer Buzzud! Half yone en half mine, Brer Buzzud!' "'Brother Buzzard! O Brother Buzzard! Run over here, for graciou sake, Brother Buzzard, and look hom much honey I done foid. I there's crept in a little ways, and it does drip all down my back, same like water. Run you, Brother Buzzard! Half is your and hald mine, Brother Buzzard!'
"Brer Buzzud, he flop down, en he laugh en say he
har1883.2007.001.0136.jpg
mighty glad,
kaze he done git hongry up dar whar he bin. Den Brer Tarrypin tell Brer
Buzzud fer ter creep in little ways en tas'e en see how he like um, w'iles
he take his stan' on de outside en watch fer somebody. But no sooner is Brer
Buzzud crope in de bumbly-bee nes' dan Brer Tarrypin take'n' roll a great
big rock front er de hole. Terreckly, de fier 'gun ter bu'n Brer Buzzud, en
he sing out like a man in trouble:
"Brother Buzzard, he flap down, and laugh and say he
har1883.2007.001.0136.jpg
mighty glad,
cause he done got hungry up there where he been. Then Brother Tarrypin tell
Brother Buzzard for to creep in a little ways and taste and see how he like
thme, while he tkes his stand on the outside and watch for somebody. But no
sooner is Brother Buzzard crept in the bumbly-bee nest than Brother Tarrypin
take and roll a great big rock in front of the hole. Directly, the
the fire gone to the bun Brother Buzzard, and he sang
out like a man in trouble:
"'Sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin--sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin!' "'Somthing's biting me, Brother Tarrypin--something's biting me, Brother Tarrypin!'
"Den ole Brer Tarrypin, he holler back: "The old Brother Tarrypin, he holler back:
"‘It's de bumbly-bees a-stingin' you, Brer Buzzud; stan' up en flop yo' wings, Brer Buzzud. Stan' up en flop yo' wings, Brer Buzzud, en you'll drive um off,' sezee. "'It's the bumbly-bees a-stinging you, Brother Buzzard; stand up and flap your wings, Brother Buzzard. Stand up and flap your wings, Brother Buzzard and you'll drive them off,' says he.
"Brer Buzzud flop en flop he wings, but de mo' w'at he flop, de mo' he fan de fier, en twa'n't long 'fo' he done bodaciously bu'n up, all 'ceppin' de big een er his wing- fedders, en dern ole Brer Tarrypin tuck en make inter some quills, w'ich he go 'roun' a-playin un um, en de chune w'at he play was dish yer: "Brother Buzzard flapped and flapped his wings, but the more what he flapped, the more he fanned the fier, and twern't long before he done bodaciously burned up, all execpting the big end of his wing feather, and then old Brother Tarryping took and make into quils, which he go around a-playing on them, and the tune what he play was this here:
har1883.2007.001.0137.jpg
XV.
BROTHER FOX COVETS THE QUILLS.
"That must have been a mighty funny song," said the little boy.
"Fun one time aint fun n'er time; some folks fines fun whar yuther folks fines trouble. Pig may laugh w'en he see de rock a-heatin', but dey aint no fun dar fer de pig. "Fun one time aint fun in every time; some folks find fun where other folks find trouble. Pig may laugh when he see the rock a-heating, but they aint no fun that for the pig.
An allusion to the primitive mode of cleaning hogs by heating rocks, and placing them in a barrel or tank of water. [back]
"Yit, fun er no fun, dat de song w'at Brer Tarrypin play on de quills: "Yet, fun or no fun, that's the song what Brother Tarrypin play on the quills:
"Nobody dunner whar de quills cum fum, kase Brer Tarrypin, he aint makin' no brags how he git um; yit ev'ybody want um on account er der playin' sech a lonesome "Nobody don't know where the quills some from, cause Brother Tarrypin, he aint making no brags how he got them; yet everybody want them on account of there playing such a lonesome This word "lonesome," as used by the negroes, is the equivalent of "thrilling," "romantic," etc., and in that sense is very expressive.
chune, en ole Brer Fox, he want um wuss'n all. He beg en he beg Brer Tarrypin fer ter sell 'im dem quills; but Brer Tarrypin, he hol' on t'um tight, en say eh-eh! Den he ax Brer Tarrypin fer ter loan um t'um des a week, so he kin play fer he chilluns, but Brer Tarrypin, he shake he head en put he foot down, en keep on playin': tune, and old Brother Fox, he want them worst of all. He beg and beg Brother Tarrypin for to sell him them quills; but Brother Tarrypin, he hold on to them tigh, and say eh-eh! Den he ask Brother Tarrypin for to laon them to him this just a week, so he anc play for his children, but Brother Tarrypin, he sake his head and put his foot down, and keep on playing:
har1883.2007.001.0138.jpg
"But Brer Fox, he aint got no peace er min' on account er dem quills, en one day he meet Brer Tarrypin en he ax 'im how he seem ter segashuate "But Brother Fox, he aint got no peace of mind on account of them quills, and one day he meet Brother Tarrypin and he ask him how he seem to segashuate
An inquiry after his health. Another form is: "How does yo' corporosity seem ter segashuate?" "How does your corporosity see to segashuate?" [back]
en he fambly en all he chilluns; en den Brer Fox ax Brer Tarrypin ef he can't des look at de quills, kaze he got some goose-fedders at he house, en if he kin des get a glimpse er Brer Tarrypin quills, he speck he kin make some mighty like um. and his family and all his children; and the Brother Fox ask Brother Tarrypin if he can't the look at the quills, caouse he got some goose-feathers at his house, and if he can just get a glimpse of Brer Tarrypin quills, he speck he can make some mighty like them."Brer Tarrypin, he study 'bout dis, but he hate ter 'ny small favors like dat, en bimeby he hol' out dem quills whar Brer Fox kin see um. Wid dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n' juk de quills outen Brer Tarrypin han', he did, and dash off des ez hard ez he kin go. Brer Tarrypin, he holler en holler at 'im des loud ez he kin holler, but he know he can't ketch 'im, en he des sot dar, Brer Tarrypin did, en look lak he done los' all de kin-folks w'at he got in de roun' worrul'. "Brother Tarrypin, he study about this, but he hat to do any small favors like that, and by and by he hold out them quils where Brother Tarrypin han, he did, and dash off just as hard as he can go. Brother Tarrypin, he holler and holler at him just as loud as he can holler, but he know he can't catch him, and he just sat there, Brother Tarrypin did, and look like he done lost all the kin-folks what he got in the round world.
"Atter dis, Brer Fox he strut 'roun' en play mighty biggity, en eve'y time he meet Brer Tarrypin in de road he walk all 'roun' 'im en play on de quills like dis: "After this, Brother Fox he strut around and play might biggity, and every time he meet Brother Tarrypin in the road he walk all around him and play on the quills like this:
"Brer Tarrypin, he feel mighty bad, but he aint sayin'
nothin.' Las', one day w'iles old Brer Tarrypin was settin' on a log sunnin'
hisse'f, yer come Brer Fox playin' dat same old chune on de quills, but Brer
Tarrypin, he stay still. Brer Fox, he come up little nigher en play, but
Brer Tarrypin, he keep he eyes shot en he stay still. Brer Fox,
"Brother Tarrypin, he feel mighty bad, but he aint saying nothing. ' At
last, one day whiles old Brother Tarrypin was sitting on a long sunning
hisself, here come Brother Fox playing that same old tune on the quill, but
Brother Tarrypin, he stay still. Brother Fox, he come up little nearer and
play, but Brother Tarrypin, he keep his eys shut and he stay still. Brother
Fox,
har1883.2007.001.0139.jpg
he come nigher en git on de log; Brer Tarrypin aint
sayin nothin'. Brer Fox still git up nigher en play on de quills; still Brer
Tarrypin aint sayin' nothin'.
he come nigher, nearer and got on the log; quills;
still Brother Tarrypin ain't saying nothing.
"'Brer Tarrypin mighty sleepy dis mawnin',' sez Brer Fox, sezee. "'Brother Tarrypin mighty sleepy this morning,'says Brother Fox, says he.
"Still Brer Tarrypin keep he eyes shot en stay still. Brer Fox keep on gittin' nigher en nigher, twel bimeby Brer Tarrypin open he eyes en he mouf bofe, en he make a grab at Brer Fox en miss 'im. "Still Brother Tarrypin keep his eyes shut and say still. Brother Fox keep on gitting nearer and nearer, till by and by Brother Tarrypin open his eyes and his mouth both, and he make a grab at Brother Fox and miss him.
"But hol' on!"
"But hold on!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to an expression of intense
disappointment in the child's face. "You des wait a minnit. Nex' mawnin', Brer Tarrypin take hisse'f off en
waller in a mud-hole, en smear hisse'f wid mud twel he look des 'zackly lak
a clod er dirt. Den he crawl off en lay down un'need a log whar he know Brer
Fox come eve'y mawnin' fer ter freshen Exercise himself. [back]
"Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en terreckly yer come Brer Fox. Time he git dar, Brer Fox 'gun ter lip backerds en forerds 'cross de log, and Brer Tarrypin he crope nigher en nigher, twel bimeby he make a grab at Brer Fox en kotch him by de foot. Dey tells me," "Brother Tarrypin lay there, he did, and directly here come Brother Fox. Time he got there, Brother Fox gone turned a flip backwards and fowards across the log, and Brother Tarrypin he crept nearer and nearer, till by and by he make a grab at Brother Fox and caught him by the foot. They tells me," continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his hands together in token of great satisfaction,--"dey tells me dat w'en Brer Tarrypin ketch holt, hit got ter thunder 'fo’ he let go. All I know, Brer Tarrypin git Brer Fox by de foot, en he hilt 'im dar. Brer Fox he jump en he r'ar, but Brer Tarrypin done got 'im. Brer Fox, he holler out: "they tells me that when Brother Tarrypin done got him. Brother Fox he holler out:
"'Brer Tarrypin. please lemme go!' "'Brother Tarrypin. please let me go!'
har1883.2007.001.0140.jpg
"Brer Tarrypin talk way down in his th'oat: "Brother Tarrypin talk way down in his throat:
"'Gim' my quills!' 'Give me my quills!'
"'Lemme go en fetch um.' 'Let me go and fetch them.'
"'Gim' my quills!' 'Give me my quills!'
"'Do pray lemme go git um.' 'Do pray let me go get them.'
"'Gim' my quills!' 'Give me my quills!'
"En, bless gracious! dis all Brer Fox kin git outer Brer Tarrypin. Las', Brer Fox foot hu't 'im so bad dat he bleedz ter do sump'n, en he sing out fer his ole 'oman fer ter fetch de quills, but he ole 'oman, she busy 'bout de house, en she don't year 'im. Den he call he son, w'ich he name Tobe. He holler en bawl, en Tobe make answer: "And, bless gracious! this all Brother Fox can get out of Brother Tarrypin. Last, Brother Fox foot hurt him so bad that he pleased to do something, and he sing out for his old woman for to fetch the quills, but his old woman, she busy about the house, and she don't hear him. Then he call his son, which his name Tobe. He holler and bawl, and Tobe make answer:
"'Tobe! O Tobe! You Tobe!'
"'W'at you want, daddy?' 'What you want, daddy?'
"'Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills.' 'Fetch Bother Tarrypin's quills.'
"'W'at you say, daddy? Fetch de big tray ter git de honey in ?' 'What you say, daddy? Fetch the big tray to get the honey in?'
"'No, you crazy-head! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!' 'No, you crazy-head! Fetch Brother Tarrypin quills!'
"'W'at you say, daddy? Fetch de dipper ter ketch de minners in?' 'What you say, daddy? Fetch the dipper for to catch the minners in?'
"'No, you fool! Fetch Brer Tarrypin quills!' "'No, you fool! Fetch Brother Tarrypin's quills!'
"'W'at you say, daddy ? Water done been spill?'
"Hit went on dis away twel atter
w'ile ole Miss Fox year de racket, en den she lissen, en she know dat 'er
ole man holler'n' fer de quills, en she fotch um out en gun um ter Brer
Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin, he let go he holt. He let go he
holt,"
"Hit went on this way till after a while old Miss Fox hear
the racket, and then she listened, and she know that her old man hollering
for the quill, and she fetched them out and gave them to Brother Tarrypin,
and Brother Tarrypin, he let go his hold. He let go his
hold," Uncle Remus went on, "but long time
har1883.2007.001.0141.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0142.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0143.jpg
atter dat, w'en Brer Fox go ter pay he calls, he
hatter go hoppity-fetchity,
hoppity-fetchity."
after that, when Brother Fox go to pay
his calls, he have to go hoppity-fetchity,
hoppity-fetchity.
The old man folded his hands in his lap, and sat quietly gazing into the lightwood fire. Presently he said:
"I speck Miss Sally blessin' us all right now, en fus' news you know she'll h'ist up en have Mars John a- trapesin' down yer; en ef she do dat, den ter-morrer mawnin' my brekkuss'll be col', en lakwise my dinner, en ef dey's sump'n' w'at I 'spizes hits col' vittels." "I suspect Miss Sally blessing us all right now, and first news you know she'll h'ist, hissiedup and have Master John a trapesing down here; and if she do that, then tomorrow morning my breakfast will be cold, and likewise my dinner, and if there's something what I despise it;s cold vittles."
Thereupon Uncle Remus arose, shook himself, peered out into the night to discover that the rain had nearly ceased, and then made ready to carry the little boy to his mother. Long before the chickens had crowed for midnight, the child, as well as the old man, had been transported to the land where myths and fables cease to be wonderful,--the land of pleasant dreams.
XVI.
HOW BROTHER FOX FAILED TO GET HIS GRAPES.
One night the little boy failed to make his appearance at the accustomed hour, and
the next morning the intelligence that the child was sick went forth from the "big
house." Uncle Remus was told that it had been necessary
har1883.2007.001.0144.jpg
during the night to
call in two physicians. When this information was imparted to the old man, there was
an expression upon his countenance of awe not unmixed with indignation. He gave vent
to the latter:
"Dar now! Two un um! W'en dat chile rize up, ef rize up he do, he'll des natally be a shadder. Yer I is, gwine on eighty year, en I aint tuck none er dat ar docter truck yit, ceppin' it's dish yer flas' er poke-root w'at ole Miss Favers fix up fer de stiffness in my j'ints. Dey'll come en dey'll go, en dey'll po' in der jollup yer en slap on der fly-plarster dar, en sprinkle der calomy yander, twel bimeby dat chile won't look like hisse'f. Dat's wat! En mo'n dat, hit's mighty kuse unter me dat ole folks kin go 'long en stan' up ter de rack en gobble up der 'lowance, en yit chilluns is got ter be strucken down. Ef Miss Sally'll des tu'n dem docter mens loose onter me, I lay I lick up der physic twel dey go off 'stonish'd." "There now! Two of them! When that child rise up, if rise up he do, he'll just naturally be a shadder. Here I is, going on eighty year, and I aint took none of that at the doctor truck yet, excepting it's this here flash of poke-root what old Miss Faver fix up for the stiffness in my joints. They'll come and they go, and they'll pour in there jollup here and slap on the fly-plaster there, and sprinkle the calomy younder, till by and by that child won't look like hisself. That's what! And more than that, it's mighty curious under me that old folks can go along and stand up to the rack and gobble up there allowance, and yet children is got to be strucken down. If Miss Sally'll just turn them doctor me loose onto me, I lay I lick up their physic till they go off astonished.
But no appeal of this nature was made to Uncle Remus. The illness of the little boy
was severe, but not fatal. He took his medicine and improved, until finally even the
doctors pronounced him convalescent. But he was very weak, and it was a fortnight
before he was permitted to leave his bed. He was restless, and yet his term of
imprisonment was full of pleasure. Every night after supper Uncle Remus would creep
softly into the back piazza, place his hat carefully on the floor, rap gently on the
door by way of announcement, and so pass into the nursery. How patient his vigils,
how tender his ministrations, only the mother of the little boy knew; how comfortable
and refreshing
har1883.2007.001.0145.jpg
the change from the bed to the strong
arms of Uncle Remus, only the little boy could say.
Almost the first manifestation of the child's convalescence was the renewal of his interest in the wonderful adventures of Brother Rabbit, Brother Fox, and the other brethren who flourished in that strange past over which this modern Aesop had thrown the veil of fable. "Miss Sally," as Uncle Remus called the little boy's mother, sitting in an adjoining room, heard the youngster pleading for a story, and after a while she heard the old man clear up his throat with a great affectation of formality and begin.
"Dey aint skacely no p'int whar ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer Fox made der 'greements side wid one er n'er; let 'lone dat, dey wuz one p'int 'twix' um w'ich it wuz same ez fier en tow, en dat wuz Miss Meadows en de gals. Little ez you might speck, dem same creeturs wuz bofe un um flyin' 'roun' Miss Meadows en de gals. Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd go dar, en dar he'd fine ole Brer Fox settin' up gigglin' wid de gals, en den he'd skuze hisse'f, he would, en gallop down de big road a piece, en paw up de san' same lak dat ar ball-face steer w'at tuck'n tuck off yo' pa' coat-tail las' Feberwary. En lakwise ole Brer Fox, he'd sa'nter in, en fine old man Rab. settin' 'longside er de gals, en den he'd go out down de road en grab a simmon-bush in he mouf, en natally gnyaw de bark off'n it. In dem days, honey," "They aint exactly no point where Brother Rabbit and old Brother Fox mad the agreements side with one or the other; let alon that, they was one point between them which it was same as fier in toe, and dat was Miss Meadows and the gals. Little as you might suspect, them same creatures was both of them flying around Miss Meadows and the gals. Old Brother Rabbit, he'd go there, and there he'd find old Brother Fox settin gup giggling with the gals, and then he's excuse hisself, he would and gallop down the big road a piece, and paw up the exactsame lake that our ball-face steer what tuck'n tuck off your pa's coat-til last February. And likewise old Brother Fox, he'd saunter in, and find old man Rab. setting alongside of the gals, and then he'd go out down the road and grab a simmon-bush in his mouth, and naturally gnawed the bark off of it. In them days, honey," continued Uncle Remus, responding to a look of perplexity on the child's face, "crceturs wuz wuss dan w'at dey is now. Dey wuz dat --lots wuss. "creatures was worst than what they is now. They was that--lots worst.
har1883.2007.001.0146.jpg
"Dey went on dis a way twel, bimeby, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter cas' 'roun', he did, fer ter see ef he can't bus' inter some er Brer Fox 'rangerments, en, atter w'ile, one day w'en he wer' settin' down by de side er de road wukkin up de diffunt oggyment w'at strak pun he mine, en fixin' up he tricks, des 'bout dat time he year a clatter up de long green lane, en yer come ole Brer Fox-- too-bookity--bookity--bookity-book--lopin' 'long mo' samer dan a bay colt in de bolly-patch. En he wuz all primp up, too, mon, en he look slick en shiny lak he des come outen de sto'. Ole man Rab., he sot dar, he did, en w'en ole Brer Fox come gallopin' long, Brer Rabbit, he up'n hail 'im. Brer Fox, he fotch up, en dey pass de time er day wid one er nudder monst'us perlite; en den, bimeby atter w'ile, Brer Rabbit, he up'n say, sezee, dat he got some mighty good news fer Brer Fox; en Brer Fox, he up'n ax 'im w'at is it. Den Brer Rabbit, he sorter scratch he year 'wid his behime foot en say, sezee: "They went on this a way till, by and by, Brother Rabbit gone to cast around, he did, for to see if he can't bust into Brother Fox arrangments, and, after a while, one day when he were setting down by the side of the road working up the different oggyment what struck upon his mind, and fixing up his tricks, just about that time he hear a clatter up the long green lane, and here come old Brother Fox-- too-bookity--bookity--bookity-book--loping along the same than a bay colt in the bolly-patch. And he was all primped up, too, man, and he look slick and shiny like he just come out of the store. Old man Rab., he saw there, he did, and when old Brother Fox come galloping along, Brother Rabbit, he up and hailed him. Brother Fox, he fetch up, and they pass the time of day with one another monstrous polite; and then, by and by after a while, Brother Rabbit, he up and say, says he, that he got some mighty good news for Brother Fox; and Brother Fox, he up and ask him what is it. Then Brother Rabbit, he sorter scratch his ear with his behind foot and say, says he:
"'I wuz takin' a walk day 'fo' yistiddy,' sezee, 'w'en de fus' news I know'd I run up gin de bigges' en de fattes' bunch er grapes dat I ever lay eyes on. Dey wuz dat fat en dat big,' sezee, 'dat de natal juice wuz des drappin' fum um, en de bees wuz a swawmin' atter de honey, en little ole Jack Sparrer en all er his fambly conneckshun wuz skeetin' 'roun' dar dippin' in der bills,' sezee. "'I was taking a walk day before yesterday,' says he, 'when the first news I knew I run up gin de bigges' and the fattest bunch or grapes that I ever lay eyes on. They was that fat and that big,' says he, 'that the natal juice was just dropping from them, and the bees was a swarming after the honey, and little old Jack Sparrer and all of his family connections was skeetin around there dipping in their bills,' says he.
"Right den en
dar,"
"Right then and
there," Uncle Remus went on, "Brer Fox mouf 'gun ter water, en he look outer he eye like
he de bes' frien' w'at Brer Rabbit got in de roun' worl'. He
har1883.2007.001.0147.jpg
done fergit all 'bout de
gals, en he sorter sidle up ter Brer Rabbit, he did, en he say,
sezee:
"Brother Fox mouth begun to water, and he look out of his eye
like he the best friend what Brother Rabbit got in the round world. He
har1883.2007.001.0147.jpg
done forgot all about the
gals, and he sort of sidle up to Brother Rabbit, he did,
and he say, says he:
"'Come on, Brer Rabbit,' sezee, 'en less you'n me go git dem ar grapes 'fo’ deyer all gone,' sezee. En den ole Brer Rabbit, he laff, he did, en up'n 'spon', sezee: "'Come on, Brother Rabbit,' says he, 'en less you and me go get them our grapes before they're all gone,' says he. and then old Brother Rabbit, he laugh, he did, and up and responded, says he:
"'I hungry myse'f, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'but I aint hankerin' atter grapes, en I'll be in monst'us big luck ef I kin rush 'roun' yer some'rs en scrape up a bait er pusley time nuff fer ter keep de breff in my body. En yit,' sezee, 'ef you take'n rack off atter deze yer grapes, w'at Miss Meadows en de gals gwine do? I lay dey got yo' name in de pot,' sezee. "'I hungry myself, Brother Fox,' says he,'but I aint hankerin' after grapes, and I'll be in monstrous big luch if I can rush around your somewheres and scrape up a bait or pusley time enough for to keep the breath in my body. And yet,' says he,'if you take and rack off after these here grapes, what Miss Meadows and the gals going to do? I lay they got your name in the pot,' says he.
"'Ez ter dat,' sez ole Brer Fox, sezee, 'I kin drap 'roun' en see de ladies atterwards,' sezee. "'Asto tht,' sez old Brother Fox, says he, 'I can drap around and see the ladies afterwards,' says he.
"'Well, den, ef dat's yo' game,' sez ole man Rab., sezee, 'I kin squot right flat down yer on de groun' en p'int out de way des de same ez leadin' you dar by de han',' sezee; en den Brer Rabbit sorter chaw on he cud lak he gedder'n up his 'membunce, en he up'n say, sezee: "'Well, then, if that's your game,' says old man Rab., says he, 'I can squat right flat down there on the ground and point out the way just the same as leading you there by the hand,' says; and then say, says he:
"'You know dat ar place whar you went atter sweetgum fer Miss Meadows en de gals t'er day?' sezee. "'You know that is the place where you went after sweetgum for Miss Meadow and the gals the other day?' says he.
"Brer Fox 'low dat he know dat ar place same ez he do he own tater-patch. "Brother Fox below that he know that is the place same as he do his own tater-patch.
"'Well, den,' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee, 'de grapes aint dar. You git ter de
sweetgum,' sezee, 'en den you go up de branch
twel you come ter a little patch er bamboo- brier--but de grapes aint
dar. Den you follow yo' lef' han' en strike 'cross de hill twel you come
ter dat big red-
har1883.2007.001.0148.jpg
oak root
--but de grapes aint dar. On you goes down de hill twel you come ter n'er
branch, en on dat branch dars a dog-wood tree leanin' 'way over, en nigh
dat dogwood dars a vine, en in dat vine, dar you'll fine yo' grapes.
Deyer dat ripe,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘dat dey look like deyer done melt tergedder, en I speck you'll fine um
full er bugs, but you kin take dat fine bushy tail er yone, Brer
Fox,' sezee, ‘en bresh dem bugs
away.'
"'Well, the,' says Brother Rabbit, says he,'the grapes aint therr. You get to de sweetgum,'
says Brother Rabbit, says he, 'and then you go up the
brand till you come to a little patch of bamboo- briar--but the grapes
aint there. Then you follow up left hand and strike across the hill till
you come to that big red-
har1883.2007.001.0148.jpg
oak root
--but the graped aint there. On you goes down the hill till you come to
another branch, and on that branks ther's a dog-wod tree leaning way
over, an near that dogwood there's a vine, and in that vine, there you'll
find your grapes. They're that ripe,' says Brother Rabbit, says he,
'that they look like they're done melt together,
and I suspect you'll find them full of bugs, but you can take that fin
bushy tail of yone, Brother Fox, says he, 'en
brush them bugs away.'
"Brer Fox 'low he much 'blige, en den he put out atter de grapes in a han'-gallop, en w'en he done got outer sight, en likewise outer year'n, Brer Rabbit, he take'n git a blade er grass, he did, en tickle hisse'f in de year, en den he holler en laff, en laff en holler, twel he hatter lay down fer ter git he breff back 'gin. "Brother Fox low he much obliged, and then he put out after the grapes in a hand-gallop, and when he done got out of sight, and likewise out of ear, Brother Rabbit, he take and got a blade or grass, he did, and he tickle hisself in the ear, and then he holler and laugh, and laugh and holler, till he had to lay down for to get his breath back again.
"Den, atter so long time, Brer Rabbit he jump up, he do, en take atter Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he aint look ter de right ner de lef', en needer do he look behime; he des keep a rackin' 'long twel he come ter de sweetgum-tree, en den he tu'n up de branch twel he come ter de bamboo- brier, en den he tu'n squar ter de lef' twel he come ter de big red-oak root, en den he keep on down he hill twel he come ter de yuther branch, en dar he see de dogwood; en mo'n dat, dar nigh de dogwood he see de vine, en in dat vine dar wuz de big bunch er grapes. Sho' nuff, dey wuz all kivvud wid bugs. "Then, after so long time, Brother Rabbit he jump up, he do, and take after Brother Fox, but Brother Fox, he aint look to the right nor the left, and neither do he look behind him; he just keep a racking along till he come to the sweetgum-tree, and then he tu'n, turn, took up the branch till he come to the bamboo- briar, and then he turn square to the left till he come to the big red oak root, and then he keep on down the hill till he come to the other branche, and ther he see the dogwood; and morn than that, there near the dogwood he see the vine, and in that vine there was the big bunch of grapes. Sure enoug, the was all covered with bugs.
"Ole Brer Rabbit, he'd bin a pushin' 'long atter Brer
Fox, but he des hatter scratch gravel fer ter keep up. Las' he hove in
sight, en he lay off in de weeds, he did, fer ter watch Brer Fox motions.
Present'y Brer Fox
har1883.2007.001.0149.jpg
crope up de leanin'
dogwood-tree twel he come nigh de grapes, en den he sorter ballunce hisse'f
on a lim' en gun um a swipe wid his big bushy tail, fer ter bresh off de
bugs. But, bless yo' soul, honey! no sooner is he done dat dan he fetch a
squall w'ich Miss Meadows vow atterwards she year plum ter her house, en
down he come-- ker-blim!"
"Old Brother Rabbit, he'd been a pushing a long after Brother Fox, but he
just had to scratch gravel for to keep up. Last he hove,
hovered in sight, and he lay off in the weeds, he did, for to
watch Brother Fox motions. Presently Brother Fox
har1883.2007.001.0149.jpg
crept up the leaning
dogwood-tree till he come near the grapes, and then he sorter ballance
hisself on a limb and gave them a swipe with his busy tail, for to brush off
the bugs. But bless your soul, honey! no sooner is he dont that he fetch a
squal wich Miss Meadows vow afterwards she hear plum to her house, and down
he come--ka-blum!"
"What was the matter, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked.
"Law, honey! dat seetful Brer Rabbit done fool ole Brer Fox. Dem ar grapes all so fine wuz needer mo' ner less dan a great big was'-nes', en dem bugs wuz deze yer red wassies--deze yer speeshy wat's rank pizen fum een' ter een'. W'en Brer Fox drap fum de tree de wassies dey drap wid 'im, en de way dey wom ole Brer Fox up wuz sinful. Dey aint mo'n tetch 'im 'fo’ dey had 'im het up ter de b'ilin' p'int. Brer Fox, he run, en he kick, en he scratch, en he bite, en he scramble, en he holler, en he howl, but look lak dey git wuss en wuss. One time, hit seem lak Brer Fox en his new 'quaintance wuz makin' todes Brer Rabbit, but dey aint no sooner p'int dat way, dan ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n make a break, en he went sailin' thoo de woods wuss'n wunner dese whully-win's, en he ain't stop twel he fetch up at Miss Meadows. "Lord, honey!, that deceitful Brother Rabbit done fool old Brother Box. Them are grapes all so fine was neither more nor less that a great big wasp's nest; and them bugs was these here red wassies--these here species what is raned pizen from end to end. When Brother Fox drop from the tree of wassies they drop with him, and the way wom old Brother Fox up was sinful. They aint more than touched him before they hd him hot up to the boiling point. Brother Fox, he run, and he kick, and he scratch, and he bite, en he scramble, and he holler, and he howl, but look like they got worst and worst. One time, it seem like Brother Fox and his new acquaintance was making towards Brother Rabbit, but they aint no sooner point that way, than old Brother Rabbit, he up and make a break, and he went through the woods worst than wunner these whully-win's, and he ain't stop till he fetch up at Miss Meadows.
"Miss Meadows en de gals, dey ax 'im, dey did, wharbouts wuz Brer Fox, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat he done gone a grape-huntin', en den Miss Meadows, she 'low, she did: "Miss Meadows and the gals, the asked him, they did, whereabouts was Brother Fox, and Brother Rabbit, he up and responed that he dont gone a grape-hunting, and then Miss Meadows, she low, she did:
"'Law, gals! is you ever year de beat er dat? En dat,
har1883.2007.001.0150.jpg
too, w'en
Brer Fox done say he comin' ter dinner,' sez she. 'I lay I done wid Brer
Fox, kaze you can't put no pennunce in deze yer men-folks,' sez she. 'Yer de
dinner bin done dis long time, en we bin a waiting lak de quality. But now
I'm done wid Brer Fox,' sez she.
"'Lord, gals! is you ever hear the beat of that? And that,
har1883.2007.001.0150.jpg
too, when
Brother Fox done say he coming to dinner,' says she. 'I lay I done with
Brother Fox, cause you can't put penance in these here men-folks,' says she.
'Here the dinner been done this long time, and we bin waiting like the
quality. But now I'm done with Brother Fox,' says she.
"Wid dat, Miss Meadows en de gals dey ax Brer Rabbit fer ter stay ter dinner, en Brer Rabbit, he sorter make like he wan ter be skuze, but bimeby he tuck a cheer en sot um out. He tuck a cheer," "With that, Miss Meadows and the gals they ask Brother Rabbit for to stay to dinner, and Brother Rabbit, he sort of make like he want to be excused, but by and by he took a chair and sot, sat, sought them out. He took a chair," continued Uncle Remus, "en he aint bin dar long twel he look out en spy ole Brer Fox gwine 'long by, en w'at do Brer Rabbit do but call Miss Meadows en de gals en p'int 'im out? Soon's dey seed 'im dey sot up a monst'us gigglement, kaze Brer Fox wuz dat swell up twel little mo'n he'd a bus'. He head wuz swell up, en down ter he legs, dey wuz swell up. Miss Meadows, she up'n say dat Brer Fox look like he done gone en got all de grapes dey wuz in de neighberhoods, en one er de yuther gals, she squeal, she did, en say: "and he aint been there long till he look and spy old Brother Fox going along by, and what do Brother Rabbit do but call Miss Meadows and the gals and point him out? Soon's they saw him they set up a monstrous gigglement, cause Brother Fox was that swell up till little more he'd have burst. His head was swell up, and down to his legs, they was swell up. Miss Meadows, she up and say that Brother Fox look like he done gone and got all the grapes they was in the neighborhoods, and one of the other gals, she squeal, she did and say:
"'Law, aint you 'shame', en right yer 'fo' Brer Rabbit!' "'Lord, aint you ashamed, and right here before Brother Rabbit!'
"En den dey hilt der han's 'fo' der face en giggle des like gals duz deze days." "And then they hid their hands before their face and giggle just like gals does these days."
har1883.2007.001.0151.jpg
XVII.
MR. FOX FIGURES AS AN
INCENDIARY.
The next night the little boy had been thoughtful enough to save some of his supper for Uncle Remus, and to this "Miss Sally" had added, on her own account, a large piece of fruit-cake. The old man appeared to be highly pleased.
"Ef ders enny kinder cake w'at I likes de mos', hits dish yer kine w'at's got reezins strowed 'mongs' it. Wid sick folks, now," "If there's any kind of cake what I likes the most, it's this here kind what's got raisins strowed amongst it. With sick folks, now," he continued, holding up the cake and subjecting it to a critical examination, "dish yer hunk 'ud mighty nigh las' a mont', but wid a well man lak I is, hit won't las' a minnit." "this here hunk would mighty near last a, up to a critical examination,
And it didn't. It disappeared so suddenly that the little boy laughed aloud, and wanted Uncle Remus to have some more cake; but the latter protested that he didn't come there "fer ter git founder'd," "for to get foundered," but merely to see "ef somebody's strenk uz strong nuff fer ter stan' n'er tale." "if somebody's strength is strong enough for to stand another tale." The little boy said if Uncle Remus meant him, he was sure his health was good enough to listen to any number of stories. Whereupon, the old man, without any tantalizing preliminaries, began:
"Brer Fox done bin fool so much by Brer Rabbit dat he
sorter look 'roun' fer ter see ef he can't ketch up wid
har1883.2007.001.0152.jpg
some er de
yuther creeturs, en so, one day, w'iles he gwine long down de big road, who
should he strak up wid but old Brer Tarrypin. Brer Fox sorter lick his
chops, en 'low dat ef he kin fling ennybody en gin um all-under holt, Brer
Tarrypin de man, en he march up, mighty biggity, like he gwine ter make
spote un 'im. W'en he git up nigh nuff, Brer Fox hail 'im:
"Brother Fox done been fooled so much by Brother Rabbit that he sort of
look around for to see if he can't ketch up with
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some of the
other creature, and so, one day, whiles he going long down the big road, who
should he strike up with but old Brother Tarrypin. Brother Fox sort of lick
his chops, and 'low that if he can fling anybody and get them all-under
hold, Brother Tarrypin the man, and he march up, might biggity, like he
going to make spote un him. When he get up near enough,
Brother Fox hail him:
"‘How you speck you fine yo'se'f dis mawnin', Brer Tarrypin?' sezee. "'How you suspect you find yourself this morning, Brother Tarrypin?' says he.
"‘Slow, Brer Fox--mighty slow,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. ‘Day in en day out I'm mighty slow, en it look lak I'm a-gittin' slower; I'm slow en po'ly, Brer Fox-- how you come on?' sezee. "'Slow, Brother Fox--mighty slow,' says Brother Tarrypin, says he. 'Day in and day out I'm mighty slow, and it look like I'm a-getting slower; I'm slow and po'ly, poorly, Brother Fox-- how you come one?' says he.
"‘Oh, I'm slanchindickler, same ez I allers is,' sez Brer Fox, sezee. ‘W'at make yo' eye so red, Brer Tarrypin?' sezee. "'Oh, I'm slanchindickler, same as I always is,' says Brother Fox, says he. 'What make you eye so red, Brother Tarrypin?'
"‘Hit's all 'longer de trouble I see, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. ‘I see trouble en you see none; trouble come en pile up on trouble,' sezee. "'It's all 'longer, belong of the trouble I see, Brother Fox,' says Brother Tarrypin, says he.'I see trouble and you see none; trouble come and pile up on trouble,' says he.
"'Law, Brer Tarrypin!' sez Brer Fox, sezee, ‘you aint see no trouble yit. Ef you wanter see sho' nuff trouble, you des oughter go 'longer me; I'm de man w'at kin show you trouble,' sezee. "'Lord, Brother Tarrypin!' says Brother Fox, says he, 'you aint seen no trouble yet. If you want to see shore enough trouble, you just ought to go along with me; I'm the man what can show you trouble.' says he.
"‘Well, den,' sez ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'ef youer de man w'at kin show me trouble, den I'm de man w'at want a glimpse un it,' sezee. "'Well, the,' says old Brother Tarrypin, says he, 'if you are the man what can show me trouble, then I'm the man what wanat a glimpse of it,' says he.
"Den Brer Fox, he ax Brer Tarrypin is he seed de Ole
Boy, en den Brer Tarrypin, he make answer dat he aint
har1883.2007.001.0153.jpg
seed 'im yit, but he year
tell un 'im. Wid dat, Brer Fox 'low de Ole Boy de kinder trouble he bin
talkin' 'bout, en den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax how he gwine see 'im. Brer
Fox, he tak'n lay out de pogrance, en he up'n tell Brer Tarrypin dat ef
he'll step up dar in de middle er dat ole broom-sage fiel', en squot dar a
spell, 'twon't be no time 'fo' he'll ketch a glimpse er de Ole Boy.
"Then Brother Fox, he ask Brother Tarrypin if he seeed the Old Boy, and
then Brother Tarrypin, he make answer that he aint
har1883.2007.001.0153.jpg
seed him yet, but he hear
tell on him. With that Brother Fox 'low the Old Boy the kind of trouble he
been talking about, and then Brother Tarrypin, he up and ask how he going to
see him. Brother Fox, he take and lay out the pogrance,
and he up and tell Brother Tarrypin that if he'll step up there in the
middle of the old broom-sage field, and squot there a
spell, it wont be not time before he'll catch a glimpse of the Old
Boy.
"Brer Tarrypin know'd ders sump'n wrong some'rs, yit he mos' too flat-flooted fer ter have enny scuffle wid Brer Fox, en he say ter hisse'f dat he'll go 'long en des trus'ter luck; en den he 'low dat ef Brer Fox he'p 'im 'cross de fence, he b'lieve he'll go up en resk one eye on de Old Boy. Co'se Brer Fox hope 'im 'cross, en no sooner is he good en gone, dan Brer Fox, he fix up fer ter make 'im see trouble. He lipt out ter Miss Meadows house, Brer Fox did, en make like he wanter borry a chunk er fier fer ter light he pipe, en he tuck dat chunk, en he run 'roun' de fiel', en he sot de grass a fier, en 'twan't long 'fo' it look lak de whole face er de yeth waz a-blazin' up." "Brother Tarrypin known there was something wrong somewheres, yet he much too flat-footed for to have any scuffle with Brother Fox, and he say to hisself that he'll go along and just trust luck; and then he 'low that if Brother Fox help him across the fence, he believe he'll go up and risk one eye on the Old Boy. Of course Brother Fox hope, help him across, and not sooner is he good and gone, than Brother Fox, he fix up for to make him see trouble. He lift out to Miss Meadows house, Brother Fox did, and make like he want to borrow a chunk of fier for to light his pipe, and he took that chunk, and he run around the field', and he sat the grass a fire, and twernt long before it look like the whold face of the earth was a-blazing up."
"Did it burn the Terrapin up?" interrupted the little boy.
"Don't push me, honey; don't make me git de kyart 'fo'
de hoss. W'en ole Brer Tarrypin 'gun ter wade thoo de straw, de ve'y fus'
man w'at he strak up wid wuz ole man Rabbit layin' dar sleepin' on de shady
side uv a tussock. Brer Rabbit, he one er deze yer kinder mens w'at sleep
wid der eye wide open, en he wuz 'wake d'reckly he year Brer Tarrypin
scufflin' en scramblin' 'long thoo de
har1883.2007.001.0154.jpg
grass. Atter
dey shuck han's en ax 'bout one er n'er fambly, hit aint take long fer Brer
Tarrypin fer ter tell Brer Rabbit w'at fotch 'im dar, en Brer Rabbit, he
up'n say, sezee:
"Don't push me, honey; don't make me get the cart before the horse. When
old Brother Tarrypin begun to wade through the straw, the very first man
what he struck up with was old man Rabbit laying there sleeping on the shady
side of a tussock. Brother Rabbit, he one of there kind
of men what sleep with the eye wide open, and he was awake directly he hear
Brother Tarrypin scuffling and scrambling along through the
har1883.2007.001.0154.jpg
grass. After
the shook hands and ask about one of another family, it aint take long for
Brother Tarrypin for to tell Brother Rabbit what fetch him there, and
Brother Rabbit, he up and say, says he:
"'Hit's des natally a born blessin dat you struck up wid me w'en you did,' sezee, 'kaze little mo' en bofe un us would a bin bobbycu'd,' sezee. "'It's just a naturally born blessing that you struck up with me when you did,' says he, 'cause little more and both of us would a been boobycu'd,' says he.
"Dis kinder tarrify Brer Tarrypin, en he say he wanter git out fum dar; but Brer Rabbit he 'low he'd take keer un 'im, en he tuck'n tuck Brer Tarrypin in de middle er de fiel' whar dey wuz a big holler stump. Onter dis stump Brer Rabbit lif' Brer Tarrypin, en den he lip up hisse'f en crope in de holler, en, bless yo' soul, honey, w'en de fier come a-snippin' en a-snappin', dar dey sot des ez safe en ez snug ez you iz in yo' bed dis minit. "This kind of terrify Brother Tarrypin, and he say he want to get out from there; but Brother Rabbit he 'low he'd take care of him, and he tuck'n tuck, took and tuck Brother Tarrypin in the middle of the field where they was a bid hollow stump. Onto this stump Brother Rabbit lift Brother Tarrypin, and then he lift up hisself and crept in the hollow, and, bless your soul, honey, when the fire come a-snipping and a-snapping, there they sat just as safe and as snug as you is in your bed this minute.
"'W'en de blaze blow over, Brer Tarrypin look 'roun', en he see Brer Fox runnin' up'n down de fence lak he huntin' sump'n. Den Brer Rabbit, he stick his head up outen de hole, en likewise he seed 'im, and den he holler like Brer Tarrypin" "'When the blaze blow over, Brother Tarryping look around, and he see Brother Fox running up and down the fence like he hunting something. Then Brother Rabbit, he stick his head up out of the hole, and likewise he seed him, and then he holler like Brother Tarrypin" (Here Uncle Remus puckered his voice, so to say, in a most amusing squeak):
"'Brer Fox! Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Run yer-- we done kotch Brer Rabbit!' 'Brother Fox! Brother Fox! O Brother Fox! Run here-- we done caught Brother Rabbit!'
"En den Brer Fox, he jump up on de top rail er de fence en fetch a spring dat lan' 'im 'way out in de bu'nin' grass, en it hurted 'im en sting 'im in de footses dat bad, dat he squeal en he roll, en de mo' he roll de wus it bu'n him, en Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin dey des holler en laff. Bimeby Brer Fox git out, en off he put down de road, limpin' fus on one foot en den on de yuther." "And then Brother Fox, he jump up on the top rail of the fence and fetch a spring that lang' him way out in the burning grass, and it hurted him and sting him in the footsies that bad, that he squeal and he roll, and the more he roll, and the more he roll the worst it burn him, and brother Rabbit and Brother Tarrypin they just holler and laugh. By and By Brother Fox get out, and off he put down the road, limping first on one foot and then the other."
har1883.2007.001.0155.jpg
The little boy laughed, and then there was a long silence --so long, indeed, that Uncle Remus's "Miss Sally," sewing in the next room, concluded to investigate it. An exceedingly interesting tableau met her sight. The little child had wandered into the land of dreams with a smile on his face. He lay with one of his little hands buried in both of Uncle Remus's, while the old man himself was fast asleep, with his head thrown back and his mouth wide open. "Miss Sally" shook him by the shoulder and held up her finger to prevent him from speaking. He was quiet until she held the lamp for him to get down the back steps, and then she heard him say, in an indignantly mortified tone:
"Now den, Miss Sally'll be a-riggin' me 'bout noddin', but stidder dat she better be glad dat I aint bus loose en sno' en 'larm de house--let 'lone dat sick baby. Dat's w'at!" "Now then, Miss Sally'll be a-riggin' me about nodding, but stidder that she better be glad that I aint bus loose and sno' and alarm the house--let alone that sick baby. That's what!"
XVIII.
A DREAM AND A STORY.
"I dreamed all about Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit last night, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy when the old man came in after supper and took his seat by the side of the trundle-bed; "I dreamed that Brother Fox had wings and tried to catch Brother Rabbit by flying after him."
"I don't 'spute it, honey, dat I
don't!"
"I don't dispute it, honey, that I don't!" replied the
old
har1883.2007.001.0156.jpg
man, in a tone which
implied that he was quite prepared to believe the dream itself was true. "Manys en manys de time, deze long
nights en deze rainy spells, dat I sets down dar in my house over ag'in de
chimbley-jam--I sets dar en I dozes, en it seem lak dat ole Brer Rabbit,
he'll stick he head in de crack er de do' en see my eye periently shot, en
den he'll beckon back at de yuther creeturs, en den dey'll all come slippin'
in on der tip-toes, en dey'll set dar en run over de ole times wid one er
n'er, en crack der jokes same ez dey useter. En den ag'in,"
"Manys and manys of time, these long nights and these rainy spells, that I
sets down there in my house over again the chimbley-jam--I sets there and I
dozes, and it seem like that old Brother Rabbit, he'll stick his head in the
crack of the door and see my eye permanently shut, and then he'll beckon
back at the other creatures, and then they'll all come slipping in on their
tip-toes, and they'll set there and run over the old times with one another,
and crack their jokes same as they use to. And the
again," continued the old man, shutting his eyes and giving to
his voice a gruesome intonation quite impossible to describe,--"en den ag'in hit look lak dat Brer
Rabbit'll gin de wink all 'roun', en den dey'll tu'n in en git up a reg'lar
juberlee. Brer Rabbit, he'll retch up en take down de trivet, en Brer Fox,
he'll snatch up de griddle, en Brer B'ar, he'll lay holt er de pot-hooks, en
ole Brer Tarrypin, he'll grab up de fryin'- pan, en dar dey'll have it, up
en down, en 'roun' en 'roun'. Hit seem like ter me dat ef I kin git my mine
smoove down en ketch up some er dem ar chunes w'at dey sets dar en plays,
den I'd lean back yer in dish yer cheer en I'd intrance you wid um, twel, by
dis time termorrer night, you'd be settin' up dar at de supper-table
'sputin' 'longer yo' little brer 'bout de 'lasses pitcher. Dem creeturs dey
sets dar,"
"and then again it look like that Brother Rabbit'll begin the wink all
around, and then they'll tune in and get a regular jamboree. Brother Rabbit,
he'll retch up and take down the trivet, and Brother Fox,
hw'll snatch up the griddle, and Brother Bear, he'll lay hold of the
pot-hooks, and old Brother Tarrypin, he'll grab up the frying-pan, and there
they'll have it, up and down and around and around. It seem like to me that
if I can get my mind smooth down and catch up some of them there tunes what
they sets there and plays, then I'd lean back here in this here chair and
I'd entrance you with them, till by this time tomorrow night, you'd be
setting up there at the supper-table disputing along with your little
brother about the molasses pitcher. Them creatures they sets
there," Uncle Remus went on, "en dey plays dem kinder chunes w'at moves you fum 'way
back yander; en manys de time w'en I gits lonesome kaze dey aint nobody year
um 'ceppin' it's me. Dey aint no tell in' de chumes dey is in dat trivet, en
in dat griddle, en in dat fryin'-pan
har1883.2007.001.0157.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0158.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0159.jpg
er mine; dat dey aint. W'en
dem creeturs walks in en snatches um down, dey lays Miss Sally's pianner in
de shade, en Mars John's flute, hit aint no-whars."
and they plays them kind of tunes what moves you from way back yonder; and
manys the time when I gets lonesome cause they aint nobody here thm except
if it's me. They aint no tell in the tunes they is in that trivet, and in
that gribble, and in that frying-pan pb
facs="har1883.2007.001.0157.jpg"/>
har1883.2007.001.0158.jpg
har1883.2007.001.0159.jpg
of mine; that they aint.
When them creatures walks in and snatches them down, they lays Miss Sally's
piano in the shade, Master John's flute, it aint no-wheres."
"Do they play on them just like a band, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little boy, who was secretly in hopes that the illusion would not be destroyed.
"Dey comes des lak I tell you, honey. W'en I shets my eyes en dozes, dey comes en dey plays, but w'en I opens my eyes dey aint dar. Now, den, w'en dat's de shape er marters, w'at duz I do? I des shets my eyes en hol' um shot, en let um come en play dem ole time chunes twel long atter bed-time done come en gone." "They comes just like I tell you, honey. When I shuts my eyes and dozes, the comes and they plays, but when I opens my eyes they aint there. Now, then, when that's the shape of matters, what does I do? I just shuts my eyes and hold them shut, and let them come and play them old time tunes till long after bed-time done come and gone."
Uncle Remus paused, as though he expected the little boy to ask some question or make some comment, but the child said nothing, and presently the old man resumed, in a matter-of-fact tone:
"Dat dream er yone, honey, 'bout Brer Fox wid wings, fetches up de time w'en Brer Fox en Brer Wolf had der fallin' out wid one er n'er--but I speck I done tole you 'bout dat." "That dream of yours, honey, aobut Brother Fox with wings, fetches up the time when Brother Fox and Brother Wolf had the falling out with one another--but I suspect I dont told you about that."
"Oh, no, you haven't, Uncle Remus! You know you haven't!" the little boy exclaimed.
"Well, den, one day, atter so long a time, Brer Wolf
en Brer Fox dey got ter 'sputin' 'longer one er n'er. Brer Wolf, he tuck'n
'buse Brer Fox kaze Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool 'im, en den Brer Fox, he
tuck'n quol back at Brer Wolf, kaze Brer Wolf let ole man Rabbit lakwise
fool 'im. Dey keep on 'sputin' en 'sputin', twel bimeby dey clinch, en Brer
Wolf bein' de bigges' man, 'twouldn't
har1883.2007.001.0160.jpg
a bin long
'fo' he'd a wool Brer Fox, but Erer Fox, he watch he chance, he did, en he
gin 'im leg bail."
"Well, then, one day, after so long a time, Brother Wolf and Brother Fox
they got to disputing along with one of another. Brother Wolf, he took and
'buse Brother Fox cause Brother Fox let Brother Rabbit
fool him, and then Brother Fox, he took and quol, called
back at Brother Wolf, cause Brother Wolf let old man Rabbit likewise fool
him. They keep on disputing and disputing, till by and by the clinch, and
Brother Wolf being the biggest man, wouldn't
har1883.2007.001.0160.jpg
a been long
before he'd a wool Brother Fox, but Erer, Brother, he
watch his chance, he did, andhe gin him leg bail."
"Gave him what, Uncle Remus?"
"Gin 'im leg bail, honey. He juk loose fum Brer Wolf, Brer Fox did, en, gentermens, he des mosey thoo de woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter'm, he did, en dar dey had it, en Brer Wolf push Brer Fox so close, dat de onliest way Brer Fox kin save he hide is ter fine a hole some'rs, en de fus holler tree dat he come 'cross, inter it he dove. Brer Wolf fetcht a grab at 'im, but he wuz des in time fer ter be too late. "Gin 'im, him leg bail, honey. He jerk loose from Brother Wolf, Brother Fox did, and, gentlemen, he just mosey through the woods. Brother Wold, he took after him, he did, and there they had it, and Brother Wolf push Brother Fox so close, that the onliest way Brother Fox can save his hide is to find a hole somewheres, and the first hollow tree that he com across, into it he dove. Brother Wolf fetched a grab at him, but he was just in time for to be too late.
"Den Brer Wolf, he sot dar, he did, en he study en study how he gwine git Brer Fox out, en Brer Fox, he lay in dar, he did, en he study en study w'at Brer Wolf gwine do. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he tuck'n gedder up a whole lot er chunks, en rocks, en sticks, en den he tuck'n fill up de hole whar Brer Fox went in so Brer Fox can't git out. W'iles dis wuz gwine on, ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he wuz sailin' 'roun' 'way up in de elements, wid he eye peel fer bizness, en 'twan't long 'fo' he glance lit on Brer Wolf, en he 'low ter hisse'f, sezee: "The Brother Wolf, he sat there, he did, and he study and study how he going to get Brother Fox our, and Brother Fox, he lay in there, he did, and he study and study what Brother Wolf going to do. By and By, Brother Wolf, he took and gathered up a whole lot of chunks, and rocks, and sticks, and then he took and fill up the hole where Brother Fox went in so Brother Fox can't get out. Whiles this was going on, old Brother Turkey Buzzard, he was sailing around away up in the elements, with his eye peel for business, and twasn't long before he glance light on Brother Wolf, and he 'low to his hisself, says he:
"'I'll des sorter flop down,' sezee, 'en look inter dis, kase ef Brer Wolf hidin' he dinner dar wid de expeck'shun er findin' it dar w'en he come back, den he done gone en put it in de wrong place,' sezee. "I'll just sort of flap down,' says he, 'en look into this, cause if Brother Wolf hiding his dinner there with the exception of finding it there when he come back, then he done gone and put it in the wrong place,' says he.
"Wid dat ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he flop down en sail
'roun' nigher, en he soon see dat Brer Wolf aint hidin' no dinner. Den he
flop down furder, ole Brer Buzzud did, twel he lit on de top er de holler
tree. Brer
har1883.2007.001.0161.jpg
Wolf, he done kotch a
glimpse er ole Brer Buzzud shadder, but he keep on puttin' chunks en rocks
in de holler. Den, present'y, Brer Buzzud, he open up:
"With that old Brother Turkey Buzzard, he flap down and sail around
nearer, and he soon see that Brother Wolf aint hiding no dinner. The he flap
down further, old Brother Buzzard did, till he lit on the top of the hollow
tree. Brother
har1883.2007.001.0161.jpg
Wolf, he done caught a
glimpse of old Brother Buzzard shaddow, but he keep on putting chunks and
rocks in the hollow. Then, presently, Brother Buzzard, he open up:
"‘W'at you doin' dar, Brer Wolf?' "'What you doing there, Brother Wolf?'
"‘Makin' a toom-stone, Brer Buzzud.' "'Making a tomb-stone, Brother Buzzard.'
"Co'se Brer Buzzud sorter feel like he got intruss in marters like dis, en he holler back: "Of course Brother Buzzard sort of feel like he got intreset in matter like this, and he holler back:
"‘Who dead now, Brer Wolf?'
"‘Wunner yo' 'quaintance, w'ich he name Brer Fox, Brer Buzzud.' "'One of your acquaintance, which his name Brother Fox, Brother Buzzard.'
"‘W'en he die, Brer Wolf?' "'When he die, Brother Wolf?'
"‘He aint dead yit, but he won't las' long in yer, Brer Buzzud.' "'He aint dead yet, but he won't last long in here, Brother Buzzard.'
"Brer Wolf, he keep on, he did, twel he done stop up de hole good, en den he bresh de trash off'n his cloze, en put out fer home. Brer Tukky Buzzud, he sot up dar, he did, en ontankle his tail fedders, en lissen en lissen, but Brer Fox, he keep dark, en Brer Buzzud aint year nuthin'. Den Brer Buzzud, he flop he wings en sail away. "Brother Wolf, he keep on, he did, till he done stop up the hole good, and then be brush the trash off of his cloths, and put out for home. Brother Turkey Buzzard, he sat up there, he did, and untangle his feather, and listen and listen, but Brother Fox, he keep dark, and Brother Buzzard aint hear nothing. Then Brother Buzzard, he flap his wings and sail away.
"Bimeby, nex' day, bright en early, yer he come back, en he sail all 'roun' en 'roun' de tree, but Brer Fox he lay low en keep dark, en Brer Buzzud aint year nuthin'. Atter w'ile, Brer Buzzud he sail 'roun' ag'in, en dis time he sing, en de song w'at he sing is dish yer: "By and by, next day, bright and early, here he come back, and he sail all around and around the tree, but Brother Fox he lay low and keep dark, and Brother Buzzard aint hear nothing. After a while Brother Buzzard he sail around again, and this time he sing, and the song what he sing is there here:
"Den he sail all 'roun' en 'roun' n'er time en listen, en bimeby he year Brer Fox sing back: "Then he sail all around and around another time and listem, and by and by he hear Brother Fox sing back:
har1883.2007.001.0162.jpg
"Beer, Uncle Remus? What kind of beer did they have then?" the little boy inquired.
"Now, den, honey, youer gittin' me up in a close cornder," "Now, then, honey, you are getting me up in a close corner," responded the old man, in an unusually serious tone. "Beer is de way de tale runs, but w'at kinder beer it moughter bin aint come down ter me--en yit hit seem lak I year talk some'rs dat dish yer beer wus mos' prins'ply 'simmon beer." "Beer is the way the tale runs, but what kind of beer it might of been aint come down to me--and yet it seem like I hear talk somewhere's that this here beer was most principally persimmon beef."
This seemed to satisfy the small but exacting audience, and Uncle Remus continued:
"So, den, w'en Brer Buzzud year Brer Fox sing back, he 'low he aint dead, en wid dat, Brer Buzzud, he sail off en 'ten' ter he yuther business. Nex' day back he come, en Brer Fox, he sing back, he did, des ez lively ez a cricket in de ashes, en it keep on dis way twel Brer Fox stomach 'gun ter pinch him, en den he know dat he gotter study up some kinder plans fer ter git out fum dar. N'er day pass, en Brer Fox, he tuck'n lay low, en it keep on dat away twel hit look like ter Brer Fox, pent up in dar, dat he mus' sholy pe'sh. Las', one day Brer Buzzud Come sailin' all 'roun' en 'roun' wid dat "So, then when Brother Buzzard hear Brother Fox sing back, he 'low, knowed he aint dead, and with that, Brother Buzzard, he sail off and attend to other business. Next day back he come, and Brother Fox, he sing back, he did just as lively as a cricket in the ashes, and it keep on this way till Brother Fox stomach begun to pinch him, and then he know that he got to study up some kind of plans for to et out from there. Another day pass, and Brother Fox, he tuck and lay low, and it keep on that way till it look like to Brother Fox, pent up in there, that he must surely perish. Las', At last, Last, Alas, one day Brother Buzzard Come sailing all around and around with that
but Brer Fox, he keep dark, en Brer Buzzud, he tuck'n
spishun dat Brer Fox Wuz done dead. Brer Buzzud, he keep on singin', en Brer
Fox he keep on layin low, twel bimeby Brer Buzzud lit en 'gun ter cle'r 'way
de trash en
har1883.2007.001.0163.jpg
truck fum de holler. He
hop up, he did, en tuck out one chunk, en den he hop back en lissen, but
Brer Fox stay still. Den Brer Buzzud hop up en tuck out n'er chunk, en den
hop back en lissen, en all dis time Brer Fox mouf 'uz waterin' w'iles he lay
back in dar en des natally honed atter Brer Buzzud. Hit went on dis away,
twel des 'fo' he got de hole unkivvud, Brer Fox, he break out he did, en
grab Brer Buzzud by de back er de neck. Dey wuz a kinder scuffle mongs' um,
but 'twan't fer long, en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Tukky Buzzud."
but Brother Fox, he keep dark, and Brother Buzzard, he took a suspicion
that Brother Fox Was done dead. Brother Buzzard, he keep on singing, and
Brother Fox he keep on laying low, till by and by Brother Buzzard lit in and
begun to clear away the trash and
har1883.2007.001.0163.jpg
truck from the hollow. He
hop up, he did, and took out one chunk, and then he hop back and listen, but
Brother Fox stay still. Then Brother Buzzard hop up and took out another
chunk, and then hop back and listen, and all this time Brother Fox, mouth is
watering whiles he lay back in there and just naturally
honed after Brother Buzzard. It went on this way, till
just before he got the hole uncovered, Brother Fox, he break out he did, and
grab Brother Buzzard by the back of the neck. There was a kind of a scuffle
amongst them, but twasn't before long, and that was the last of old Brother
Turkey Buzzard."
XIX.
THE MOON IN THE
MILL-POND.
One night when the little boy made his usual visit to Uncle Remus, he found the old man sitting up in his chair fast asleep. The child said nothing. He was prepared to exercise a good deal of patience upon occasion, and the occasion was when he wanted to hear a story. But, in making himself comfortable, he aroused Uncle Remus from his nap.
"I let you know, honey," said the old man, adjusting his
spectacles, and laughing rather sheepishly,--"I let you know, honey, w'en I git's my head r'ar'd back
dut away, en my eyeleds shot, en my mouf open, en my chin p'intin' at de
rafters, den dey's some mighty quare gwines on in
har1883.2007.001.0164.jpg
my min'. Dey
is dat, des ez sho ez youer settin' dar, W'en I fus year you comin' down de
paf,"
"I let you know, honey when I gets my head r'ar'd back
that way, and my eyelids shut, and my mouth open, and my chin pointing at
the rafters, then there's something might queer going on in
har1883.2007.001.0164.jpg
my mind.
There is that, just as sure as you're sitting there, When I first hear you
coming down the path," Uncle Remus contiuned, rubbing his
beard thoughtfully, "I 'uz sorter
fear'd you mought 'spicion dat I done gone off on my journeys fer ter see
ole man Nod."
"I was sort of a feared you might suspicion that I done
gone off on my journeys for to see old man Nod."
This was accompanied by a glance of inquiry, to which the little boy thought it best to respond.
"Well, Uncle Remus," he said, "I did think I heard you snoring when I came in."
"Now you see dat!" "Now you see that!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of grieved astonishment; "you see dat! Man can't lean hisse'f 'pun his 'membunce, 'ceppin' dey's some un fer ter come high-primin' roun' en 'lowin' dat he done gone ter sleep. Shoo! W'en you stept in dat do' dar I 'uz right in 'mungs some mighty quare notions--mighty quare notions. Dey aint no two ways; ef I 'uz ter up en let on 'bout all de notions w'at I gits in 'mungs, folks 'ud hatter come en kyar me off ter de place whar dey puts 'stracted people. "you see that! Man can't lean hisself upon his remembrance, excpeting there's some one for to come high-primin' around and knowning that he done gone to sleep. Shoo! When you stepped in that door there I was right in amongst some mighty queer notions--mighty queer notions. They aint no two ways; if I was to up and let on about all the notion what I gets in amongst, folks'd have to come and carry off to the place where they puts distracted people.
"Atter I sop up my
supper,"
"After I sop, slurp my
supper," Uncle Remus went on, "I tuck'n year some flutterments up dar 'mungs de
rafters, en I look up, en dar wuz a Bat sailin' 'roun'. 'Roun' en roun', en
'roun' she go--und' de rafters, 'bove de rafters --en ez she sail she make
noise lak she grittin' 'er toofies. Now, w'at dat Bat atter, I be bless ef I
kin tell you, but dar she wuz; 'roun' en 'roun', over en under. I ax 'er
w'at do she want up dar, but she aint got no time fer ter tell; 'roun' en
'roun', en over en under. En bimeby, out she flip, en I boun' she grittin'
'er toofies en gwine 'roun'
har1883.2007.001.0165.jpg
en 'roun' out dar, en
dodgin' en flippin' des lak de elements wuz full er rafters en
cobwebs.
"I took and hear flutterments up there amongst the rafters, and I look up,
and there was a Bat sailing around. Around and around, and around she
go--under the rafters, above the rafters --and as she sail she make noise
like she gritting her toofies, toffees. Now, what tht
Bat after, I be blessed if I can tell you, but there she was; around and
around over and under. I ask her what do she want up ther, but she aint got
not time for to tell; around and around, and over and under. And by and by,
out she flip, and I bound she grittin' 'er
toffies and going around
har1883.2007.001.0165.jpg
and around out there, and
dodging and flipping just like the elements was full of rafters and
cobwebx.
"W'en she flip out I le'nt my head back, I did, en 'twa'nt no time 'fo' I git mix up wid my notions. Dat Bat wings so limber en 'er will so good dat she done done 'er day's work dar 'fo' you could 'er run ter de big house en back. De Bat put me in min' er folks," "When she flipout I leaned my head back, I did, and twasn't no time before I get mixed up with my notions. That Bat wings so limber and her will so good that she done done her days work there bore you could of run to the big house and back. The Bat put me in mind of folks," continued Uncle Remus, settling himself back in his chair, "en folks put me in min' er de creeturs." "and folks put me in mind of the creatures."
Immediately the little boy was all attention.
"Dey wuz times," "There were times," said the old man, with something like a sigh, "w'en de creeturs 'ud segashuate tergedder des like dey aint had no fallin' out. Dem wuz de times w'en ole Brer Rabbit 'ud 'ten' lak he gwine quit he 'havishness, en dey'd all go 'roun' des lak dey b'long ter de same fambly connexion. "when the creatures 'ud segashuate together just like they aint had no falling out. Them was the times when old Brother Rabbit would pretend like he going to quit his 'havishness, and they'd all go around just like they belong to the same family connection.
"One time atter dey bin gwine in cohoots dis away, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter feel his fat, he did, en dis make 'im git projecky terreckly. De mo' peace w'at dey had, de mo' wuss Brer Rabbit feel, twel bimeby he git restless in de min'. W'en de sun shine he'd go en layoff in de grass en kick at de gnats, en nibble at de mullen stalk en waller in de san'. One night atter supper, w'iles he 'uz romancin' 'roun', he run up wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en atter dey shuck han's dey sot down on de side er de road en run on 'bout ole times. Dey talk en dey talk, dey did, en bimeby Brer Rabbit say it done come ter dat pass whar he bleedz ter have some fun, en Brer Tarrypin 'low dat Brer Rabbit des de ve'y man he bin lookin fer. "One time after they been going in cahoots this way, Brother Rabbit begun to feel his fat, he did, and this make him get projecky directly. The more peace what they had, the more worse Brother Ravvit feel, till by and by he got restless in the mind. When the sun shine he'd go and layoff in the grass and kick at the gnats, and nibble at the mellon stalk while in the sand. One night after supper, whiles he was romancing around, he run up with old Brother Tarrypin, and after they shook hands they sat down on the side of the road and run on about old times. They talk and they talk, they did, and by and by Brother Rabbit say it done come to that pass where he pleased to have some fun, and Brother Tarrypin 'low that Brother Rabbit this the very man he been looking for.
har1883.2007.001.0166.jpg
"'Well den,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'we'll des put Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar on notice, en termorrer night we'll meet down by de mill-pon' en have a little fishin' frolic. I'll do de talkin',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘en you kin set back en say yea,' sezee. "'Well the,' says Brother Rabbit, says he,'we'll just put Brother Fox, and Brother Wolf, and Brother Bear on notice, and tomorrow night we'll meet down by the mill-pond and have a little fishining frolic. I'll do the talking,' says Brother Rabbit, says he, 'and you can set back and say yeah,' says he.
"Brer Tarrypin laugh. "Brother Tarrypin laugh.
"‘Ef I aint dar,' sezee, ‘den you may know de grasshopper done fly 'way wid me,' sezee. "'If I ain't there,' says he, 'then you may know the grasshopper done fly away with me,' says he.
"‘En you neenter bring no fiddle, n'er,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘kaze dey aint gwineter be no dancin' dar,' sezee. "'And you neenter, need to bring no fiddle, never,' says Brother Rabbit, says he, 'cause they ain't going to be no dancing there,' says he.
"Wid dat,""With that," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit put out fer home, en went ter bed, en Brer Tarrypin bruise 'roun' en make his way todes de place so he kin be dar 'gin 'de 'p'inted time. "Brother Rabbit put out for home, and went to bed, and Brother Tarrypin bruise around and make his way towards the place so he can be there 'gin the appointed time.
"Nex' day Brer Rabbit sont wud ter de yuther creeturs, en dey all make great 'miration, kaze dey aint think 'bout dis deyse'f. Brer Fox, he 'low, he did, dat he gwine atter Miss Meadows en Miss Motts, en de yuther gals. "Next day Brother Rabbit sont would to the other creatures, and they all make great migration, cause they ain't think about this themself. Brother Fox, he say, he did, that he going after Miss Meadows and Miss Motts, and the other gals.
"Sho nuff, w'en de time come dey wuz all dar. Brer B'ar, he fotch a hook en line; Brer Wolf, he fotch a hook en line; Brer Fox, he fotch a dip-net, en Brer Tarrypin, not ter be outdone, he fotch de bait." "Sure enough, when the time come they was all there. Brother Bear, he fetched a hook and line; Brother Wolf, he fetched a hook and line; Brother Fox, he fetched a dip-net, and Brother Tarrypin, not to be outdone, he fetched the bait."
"What did Miss Meadows and Miss Motts bring?" the little boy asked.
Uncle Remus dropped his head slightly to one side, and looked over his spectacles at the little boy.
"Miss Meadows en Miss
Motts,
Miss Meadows and Miss Motts, " he continued, "dey
har1883.2007.001.0167.jpg
tuck'n stan' way back fum
de aidge er de pon' en squeal eve'y time Brer Tarrypin shuck de box er bait
at um. Brer B'ar 'low he gwine ter fish fer mud-cats; Ber Wolf 'low he gwine
ter fish fer horneyheads; Brer Fox 'low he gwine ter fish fer peerch fer de
ladies; Brer Tarrypin 'low he gwine ter fish fer minners, en Brer Rabbit
wink at Brer Tarrypin' en 'low he gwine ter fish fer
suckers.
"they
har1883.2007.001.0167.jpg
took and stand way back
from the edge of the pond and squeal every time Brother Tarrypin shook the
box of bait at them. Brother Bear say he going to fish for mud-cats; Brother
Wolf say he going to fish for horneyhears; Brother Fox say he going to fish
for peerch for the ladies; Brother Tarrypin say he going to fish for
minnows, and Brother Rabbit wink at Brother Tarrypin and say he going to fis
for suckers.
"Dey all git ready, dey did, en Brer Rabbit march up ter de pon' en make fer ter th'ow he hook in de water, but des 'bout dat time hit seem lak he see sump'n. De t'er creeturs, dey stop en watch his motions. Brer Rabbit, he drap he pole, he did, en he stan' dar scratchin' he head en lookin' down in de water. "They all got ready, they did, and Brother Rabbit march up to the pond and make for to throw his hook in the water, but just about that time it seem like he see somthin. The there creatures, they stop and watch his motions. Brother Rabbit, he dropped his pole, he did, and he stand there scratching his head and looking down in the water.
"De gals dey 'gun ter git oneasy w'en dey see dis, en Miss Meadows, she up en holler out, she did: "The gals they begun to get ansy when the see this, and Miss Meadows, she up and holler out, she did:
"'Law, Brer Rabbit, w'at de name er goodness de marter in dar?' "Lord, Brother Rabbit, what the name of goodness the matter in there?'
"Brer Rabbit scratch he head en look in de water. Miss Motts, she hilt up 'er petticoats, she did, en 'low she monstus fear'd er snakes. Brer Rabbit keep on scratchin' en lookin'. "Brother Rabbit scratch his head and look in the water. Miss Motts, she held up her petticoats, she did, and say she monstrous feared of snakes. Brother Rabbit keep on scratchining and looking.
"Bimeby he fetch a long bref, be did, en he 'low: "By and by he fetched a long breath, he did, and he say:
"'Ladies en gentermuns all, we des might ez well make tracks fum dish yer place, kaze dey aint no fishin' in dat pon' for none er dish yer crowd.' 'Ladies and gentlmen all, we just might as well make tracks from this here place, cause they ain't no fishing in that pond for none of this here crowd.'
"'Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin, he scramble up ter de aidge en look over, en he shake he head, and 'low: "'With that, Brother Tarrypin, he scramble up to the edge and look over, and he shake his head, and say:
har1883.2007.001.0168.jpg
"'Tooby sho'--tooby sho'! Tut-tut-tut!' en den he crawl back, he did, en do lak he wukkin' he min'. and then he crawl back, he did, and do like he working his mind.
"'Don't be skeert, ladies, kaze we er boun' ter take keer un you, let come w'at will, let go w'at mus',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Accidents got ter happen unter we all, des same ez dey is unter yuther folks; en dey aint nuthin' much de marter, 'ceppin' dat de Moon done drap in de water. Ef you don't b'leeve me you kin look fer yo'se'f,' sezee. "'Don't be scared, ladies, cause we are bound to take care of you, let come what will, let go what must,' says Brother Rabbit, says he.'Accidents got to happen unto we all, the same as they is unto other folks; and they ain't nothing much the matter, exepting that the Moon done drop in the water. If you don't believe me you can look for yourself,' says he.
"Wid dat dey all went ter de bank en lookt in; en, sho nuff, dar lay de Moon, a-swingin' an' a-swayin' at de bottom er de pon'."
The little boy laughed. He had often seen the reflection of the sky in shallow pools of water, and the startling depths that seemed to lie at his feet had caused him to draw back with a shudder.
"Brer Fox, he look in, he did, en he 'low, 'Well, well, well!' Brer Wolf, he look in, en he 'low, 'Mighty bad, mighty bad!' Brer B'ar, he look in, en he 'low, 'Tum, tum, tum!' De ladies dey look in, en Miss Meadows she squall out, ‘Ain't dat too much?' Brer Rabbit, he look in ag'in, en he up en 'low, he did: "Brother Fox, he look in, he did, and he say, "Well, well, well!' Brother Wolf he look in, and he say "Might bad, mighty bad!' Brother Bear, he look in, and he say, 'Tum, tum, tum!' The ladies they look in, and Miss Meadows she squall out, 'Ain't that too much?' Brother Rabbit, he look in again and he up and say, he did:
"'Ladies en gentermuns, you all kin hum en haw, but less'n we gits dat Moon out er de pon', dey aint no fish kin be ketch 'roun' yer dis night; en ef you'll ax Brer Tarrypin, he'll tell you de same.' 'Ladies and gentlemen, you all can hum and haw, but unless we get that Moon out of the pond, they ain't no fishing can be caught around here this night; and if you'll ask Brother Tarrypin, he'll tell you the same.'
"Den dey ax how kin dey git de Moon out er dar, en
Brer Tarrypin 'low dey better lef' dat wid Brer Rabbit.
har1883.2007.001.0169.jpg
Brer Rabbit he shot he
eyes, he did, en make lak he wukkin he min'. Bimeby, he up'n 'low:
"Then they ask how can they get the Moon out of there, and Brother
Tarrypin say they better leave that with Brother Rabbit.
har1883.2007.001.0169.jpg
Brother Rabbit he shut his
eyes, he did, and make like he was working his mind. By and by, he up and
say:
"'De nighes' way out'n dish yer diffikil is fer ter sen' roun' yer too ole Mr. Mud-Turkle en borry his sane, en drag dar Moon up fum dar,' sezee. "'The nearest way out of this here difficulty is for to send round here to old Mr. Mud-Turtle and borrow his sane, sand, and drag the Moon up from there,' says he.
"'I 'clar' ter gracious I mighty glad you mention dat,' says Brer Tarrypin, sezee. 'Mr. Mud-Turkle is setch clos't kin ter me dat I calls 'im Unk Muck, en I lay ef you sen' dar atter dat sane you won't fine Unk Muck so mighty disaccomerdatin'.' "'I declare to gracious I mightly glad you mentioned that,' says Brother Tarrypin, says he. 'Mr. Mud-Turtle is such closest kin to me that I calls 'him Uncle Muck, and I lay if you send there after that san you won't find Uncle Muck so mighty disaccomodatng.'
"Well," continued Uncle Remus, after one of his tantalizing pauses, "dey sont atter de sane, en wiles Brer Rabbit wuz gone, Brer Tarrypin, he 'low dat he done year tell time en time ag'in dat dem w'at fine de Moon in de water en fetch 'im out, lakwise dey ull fetch out a pot er money. Dis make Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar feel mighty good, en dey 'low, dey did, dat long ez Brer Rabbit been so good ez ter run atter de sane, dey ull do de sanein'. "they sent after the sane, and while Brother Rabbit was gone, Brother Tarrypin, he say that he done hear tell time and time again that them what find the Moon in the water and fetch him out, likewise the will fetch out a pot of money. This make Brother Fox, and Brother Wolf, and Brother Bear feel mighty good, and they say, they did, that long as Brother Rabbit been so good as to run after the sane, they whill do the saneing
"Time Brer Rabbit git back, he see how de lan' lay, en he make lak he wanter go in atter de Moon. He pull off he coat, en he 'uz fixin' fer ter shuck he wescut, but de yuther creeturs dey 'low dey wan't gwine ter let dry- foot man lak Brer Rabbit go in de water. So Brer Fox, he tuck holt er one staff er de sane, Brer Wolf he tuck holt er de yuther staff, en Brer B'ar he wade' long behime fer ter lif' de sane 'cross logs en snags. "Time Brother Rabbit get back, he see how the land lay, and he make like he want to go in after the Moon. He pull off his coat, and he was fixing for to shake his wescut, but the other creatures they say they weren't going to let dry- foot man like Brother Rabbit go in the water. So Brother Fox, he took hold of one staff of the sane, Brother Wolf he took hold of the other staff, and Brother Bear he wade long behind for to life the sane across logs and snags.
"Dey make one haul--no Moon; n'er haul--no Moon; n'er
haul--no Moon. Den bimeby dey git out furder
har1883.2007.001.0170.jpg
fum de bank.
Water run in Brer Fox year, he shake he head; water run in Brer Wolf year,
he shake he head; water run in Brer B'ar year, he shake he head. En de fus
news you know, w'iles dey wuz a-shakin', dey come to whar de bottom shelfed
off. Brer Fox he step off en duck hisse'f; den Brer Wolf duck hisse'f; en
Brer B'ar he make a splunge en duck hisse'f; en, bless gracious, dey kick en
splatter twel it look lak dey 'uz gwine ter slosh all de water outer de mill
pon'.
"They make one haul--no Moon; another haul--no Moon; antoher haul--no
Moon. The by and by the get out further
har1883.2007.001.0170.jpg
from the
bank. Water run in Brother Fox's ear, he shake his head; water run in
Brother Wolf's ear, he shake his head; water run in Brother Bear's ear, he
shake his head. And the first news you know, while they was a-shaking, they
come to where a bottom shelved off. Brother Fox he stop off and duck
hisself; and, bless gracious, they kick and spatter till it look like they
was going to slosh all the water out of the mill pond.
"W'en dey come out, de gals 'uz all a-snickerin' en a- gigglin', en dey well mought, 'kase go whar you would, dey want no wuss lookin' creeturs dan dem; en Brer Rabbit, he holler, sezee: "When they come out, the gals was all a-snickering and a-giggleing, and they well might, cause go where you would, there werent no worst looking creatures than them; and Brother Rabbit, he holler, says he:
"'I speck you all, gents, better go home en git some dry duds, en n'er time we'll be in better luck,' sezee. 'I hear talk dat de Moon'll bite at a hook ef you take fools fer baits, en I lay dat's de onliest way fer ter ketch 'er,' sezee. "'I suspect you all, gents, better go home and get some dry duds, and next time we'll be in better luck,' says he.
"Brer Fox en Brer Wolf en Brer B'ar went drippin' off, en Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin, dey went home wid de gals." "Brother Fox and Brother Wolf and Brother Bear went dripping off, and Brother Rabbit and Brother Tarrypin, they went home with the gals."
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XX.
BROTHER RABBIT TAKES SOME EXERCISE.
One night while the little boy was sitting in Uncle Remus's cabin, waiting for the old man to finish his hoe-cake, and refresh his memory as to the further adventures of Brother Rabbit, his friends and his enemies, something dropped upon the top of the house with a noise like the crack of a pistol. The little boy jumped, but Uncle Remus looked up and exclaimed, "Ah-yi!" in a tone of triumph.
"What was that, Uncle Remus?" the child asked, after waiting a moment to see what else would happen.
"News fum Jack Fros', honey. W'en dat hick'y-nut tree out dar year 'im comin' she 'gins ter drap w'at she got. I mighty glad," "News from Jack Frost, honey, When that hickory-nut tree out there hear him coming she begins to drop what she got. I might glad," he continued, scraping the burnt crust from his hoe-cake with an old case-knife, "I mighty glad hick'y-nuts aint big en heavy ez grinestones." "I mighty glad hickory-nuts ain't big and heavy as grindstones."
He waited a moment to see what effect this queer statement would have on the child.
"Yasser, I mighty glad--dat I is. 'Kase of hick'y- nuts 'uz big ez grine-stones dish yer ole callyboose 'ud be a leakin' long 'fo' Chris'mus." "Yes sir, I mighty glad--dat I is. Because if hickory-nuts was big as grind-stones this here old callyboose would be leaking long before Christmas."
Just then another hickory-nut dropped upon the roof, and the little boy jumped again. This seemed to amuse Uncle Remus, and he laughed until he was near to choking himself with his smoking hoe-cake.
har1883.2007.001.0172.jpg
"You does des 'zackly lak ole Brer Rabbit done, I 'clar' to gracious ef you don't!" "You does just exactly like old Brother Rabbit done, I declare to gracious if you don't! the old man cried, as soon as he could get his breath; "dez zackly fer de worl'." "just exactly for the wold.
The child was immensely flattered, and at once he wanted to know how Brother Rabbit did. Uncle Remus was in such good humor that he needed no coaxing. He pushed his spectacles back on his forehead, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and began:
"Hit come 'bout dat soon one mawnin' todes de fall er de year, Brer Rabbit wuz stirrin' 'roun' in de woods atter some bergamot fer ter make 'im some h'ar-grease. De win' blow so col' dat it make 'im feel right frisky, en eve'y time he year de bushes rattle he make lak he skeerd. He 'uz gwine on dis away, hoppity-skippity, w'en bimeby he year Mr. Man cuttin' on a tree way off in de woods. He fotch up, Brer Rabbit did, en lissen fus wid one year en den wid de yuther. "It come about soon one morning towards the fall of the year, Brother Rabbit was stirring aournd in the woods after some bergamot for to make him some hair-grease. The wind blow so cold that it make him feel right frisky, and every time he hear the bushes rattle he make like he skeerd. He was going on this way, hoppity-skippity, when by and by he hear Mr. Man cutting on a tree way off in the woods. He fetched up, Brother Rabbit did, and listened first with one ear then with the other.
"Man, he cut en cut, en Brer Rabbit, he lissen en lissen. Bimeby, w'iles all dis was gwine on, down come de tree--kubber-lang-bang-blam! Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n jump des lak you jump, en let 'lone dat, he make a break, he did, en he lipt out fum dar lak de dogs wuz atter 'im." "Man, he cut and cut, and Brother Rabbit, he listened and listened. By and by, whiles all this was going on, dawn come the tree--kubber-lang-bang-blam! Brother Rabbit, he tuck and jump just liek you jump and let alone that, he make a break, he did, and he lept out from there like the dogs was after him."
"Was he scared, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"Skeerd! Who? Him? Shoo! don't
you fret yo'se'f 'bout Brer Rabbit, honey. In dem days dey want nothin'
gwine dat kin skeer Brer Rabbit. Tooby sho', he tuck
har1883.2007.001.0173.jpg
keer hisse'f, en ef you
know de man w'at 'fuse ter take keer hisse'f, I lak mighty well ef you p'int
'im out. Deed'n dat I would!"
"Scared! Who? Him? Shoo! don't you fret yourself
about Brother Rabbit, honey. In them days weren't nothing going that can
scare Brother Rabbit. To be sure, he took
har1883.2007.001.0173.jpg
care hisself, I like
mighty well if you point him out. Indeed that I would!"
Uncle Remus seemed to boil over with argumentative indignation.
"Well, den," "Well, then," he continued, "Brer Rabbit run twel he git sorter het up like, en des 'bout de time he makin' ready fer ter squat en ketch he win', who should he meet but Brer Coon gwine home atter settin' up wid ole Brer Bull-Frog. Brer Coon see 'im runnin', en he hail 'im. "Brother Rabbit run till he got sort of heat up like, and just about the time he making ready for to squat and catch his wind, who should he meet but Brother Coon going home after setting up with old Brother Bull-Frog. Brother Coon see him running, and he hailed him.
"'W'at yo' hurry, Brer Rabbit?' 'What your hurry, Brother Rabbit?'
"'Aint got time ter tarry.' 'Aint got time to tarry.'
"'Folks sick?'
"'No, my Lord! Aint got time ter tarry!' 'No, my Lord! Aint got time to tarry!'
"'Tryin' yo' soopleness?' 'Trying your soopleness?'
"'No, my Lord! Aint got time ter tarry!' 'No, my Lord! Aint got time to tarry!'
"'Do pray, Brer Rabbit, tell me de news!' 'Do pray, Brother Rabbit, tell me the news!'
"'Mighty big fuss back dar in de woods. Aint got time ter tarry!' 'Mighty big fuss back there in the woods. Ain't got time to tarry!'
"Dis make Brer Coon feel mighty skittish, 'kaze he fur ways from home, en he des lipt out, he did, en went a b'ilin' thoo de woods. Brer Coon aint gone fur twel he meet Brer Fox. "This make Brother Coon feel mighty skittish, cause his far ways from home, and he just lept out, he did, and went a b'liln' through the woods. Brother Coon aint gone far till he meet Brother Fox.
"'Hey, Brer Coon, whar you gwine?' 'Hey, Brother Coon, where you going?'
"'Aint got time ter 'tarry!' 'Aint got time to 'tarry!'
"'Gwine at' de doctor?' 'Going at the doctor?'
"'No, my Lord! Aint got time ter tarry.' 'No my Lord! Aint got time to tarry.'
"'Do pray, Brer Coon, tell me de news.' 'Do pray, Brother Coon, tell me the news.'
har1883.2007.001.0174.jpg
"‘Mighty quare racket back dar in de woods! Aint got time ter tarry!' 'Mighty queer racket back there in the woods! Ain't got time to tarry!'
"Wid dat, Brer Fox lipt out, he did, en fa'rly split de win'. He aint gone fur twel he meet Brer Wolf. "With dat, Brother Fox lept out, he did, and fairly split the wind. He aint gone far till he meet Brother Wolf.
"‘Hey, Brer Fox! Stop en res' yo'se'f!' 'Hey, Brother Fox! Stop on rest yourself!'
"‘Aint got time ter tarry!' 'Aint got time to tarry!'
"'Who bin want de doctor?' 'Who been want the doctor?'
"'No'ne, my Lord! Aint got time ter tarry!' 'None, my Lord! Ain't got time to tarry!'
"'Do pray, Brer Fox, good er bad, tell me de news.' 'Do pray, Brother Fox, good or bad, tell me the news.'
"'Mighty kuse fuss back dar in de woods! Aint got time ter tarry!' 'Mighty curious fuss back there in the woods! Ain't got time to tarry!'
"Wid dat, Brer Wolf shuck hisse'f loose fum de face er de yeth, an he aint git fur twel he meet Brer B'ar. Brer B'ar he ax, en Brer Wolf make ans'er, en bimeby Brer B'ar he fotch a snort en runn'd off; en, bless gracious! twant long 'fo' de las' one er de creeturs wuz a skaddlin' thoo de woods lak de Ole Boy was atter um--en all 'kaze Brer Rabbit year Mr. Man cut tree down. "With that, Brother Wolf shuck hisself loose from the face of the Earth, and he ain't got far till he meet Brother Bear. Brother Bear he ask, and Brother Wolf make answer, and by and by Brother Bear he fetched a snort and runned off; and, bless gracious! twern't long before the last one of the creatures was a skaddling through the woods like the Old Boy was after him--and all cause Brother Rabbit hear Mr. Man cut tree down.
"Dey run'd en dey run'd," "Dey ran and they ran" Uncle Remus went on, "twel dey come ter Brer Tarrypin house, en dey sorter slack up 'kaze dey done mighty nigh los' der win'. Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax um wharbouts dey gwine, en dey 'low dey wuz a monstus tarryfyin' racket back dar in de woods. Brer Tarrypin, he ax w'at she soun' lak. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno, den dey all say dey dunno. Den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n ax who year dis monstus racket. One say he dunno, n'er say he dunno, den dey all say dey dunno. Dis make ole Brer Tarrypin laff 'way down in he insides, en he up'n say, sezee: "till the come to Brother Tarrypin house, and they sort of slack up cause they done mighty near lost their wind. Brother Tarrypin, he up and ask them whereabouts they going, and they say they was a monstrous tarryfyin racket back there in the woods. Brother Tarrypin, he ask what she sound like. One say he don't know, another say he don't know, then they all say they don't know. Then Brother Tarrypin, he up and ask who hear this monstrous racket. One say he don't know, another say he don't, then they all say don't. This make old Brother Tarrypin laugh way down in his insides, and he up and say, says he:
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"'You all kin run 'long ef you feel skittish,' 'You all kin run along if you feel skittish,' sezee. 'Atter I cook my brekkus en wash up de dishes, ef I gits win' er any 'spicious racket maybe I mought take down my pairsol en foller long atter you,' sezee. "'You all can run along if you feel skittish,' 'You all can run along if you feel skittish,' says he.'After I cook breakfast and wash up the dishes, if I gets wind of any suspicious racket maybe I might take down my parosal and follow long after you,' says he.
"W'en de creeturs come ter make inquirements 'mungs one er n'er 'bout who start de news, hit went right spang back ter Brer Rabbit, but, lo en beholes! Brer Rabbit aint dar, en it tu'n out dat Brer Coon is de man w'at seed 'im las'. Den dey got ter layin' de blame un it on one er n'er, en little mo' en dey'd er fit dar scan'lous, but ole Brer Tarrypin, he up'n 'low dat ef dey want ter git de straight un it, dey better go see Brer Rabbit. "When the creatures come to make inquirements amongst one another about who start the news, it went right spang back to Brother Rabbit, but, low and behold! Brother Rabbit ain't there, and it turn out that Brother Coon is the man what seen him last. Then they got to laying the blame or it on one another, and little more an they'd of fit there scan'lous, but old Brother Tarrypin, he up and say that if they want to get the straight on it, they better go see Brother Rabbit.
"All de creeturs wuz 'gree'ble, en dey put out ter Brer Rabbit house. W'en dey git dar, Brer Rabbit wuz a-settin' cross-legged in de front po'ch winkin' he eye at de sun. Brer B'ar, he speak up: "All the creatures was agreeable, and they put out to Brother Rabbit house. When they get there, Brother Rabbit was a-sitting crossed-legged in the front porch winking his eye at the sun. Brother Bear, he speak up:
"'W'at make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?' 'What make you fool, me Brother Rabbit?'
"'Fool who, Brer B'ar?' 'Fool who, Brother Bear?'
"'Me, Brer Rabbit, dat's who.' 'Me, Brother Rabbit, that's who.'
"'Dish yer de fus' tim’ I seed you dis day, Brer B'ar, en you er mo' dan welcome ter dat.' 'This here the first time I seen you this day, Brother Bear, and you are more than welcome to that.'
"Dey all ax 'im en git de same ans'er, en den Brer Coon put in: "They all ask him and get the same answer, and then Brother Raccoon put in:
"'W'at make you fool me, Brer Rabbit?' 'What make you fool me, Brother Rabbit?'
"'How I fool you, Brer Coon?' 'How I fool you, Brother Raccoon?'
"'You make lak dey wuz a big racket, Brer Rabbit.' 'You make like there was a big racket, Brother Rabbit.'
"'Dey sholy wuz a big racket, Brer Coon' 'There surely was a big racket, Brother Raccoon
"'W'at kinder racket, Brer Rabbit?' 'What kind or racket, Brother Rabbit?'
"'Ah-yi! You oughter ax me dat fus', Brer Coon.' You ought to ask me that first, Brother Raccoon.'
har1883.2007.001.0178.jpg
"'I axes you now, Brer Rabbit.' 'I ask you now, Brother Rabbit.'
"'Mr. Man cut tree down, Brer Coon.' 'Mr. Man cut tree down, Brother Raccoon
"'Co'se dis make Brer Coon feel like a nat'al-born Slink, en 'twa'n't long 'fo' all de creeturs make der bow ter Brer Rabbit en mozey off home." "'Of course this make Brother Raccoon feel like a natural born Slink, and twern't long before all the creatures make their bow to Brother Rabbit and mozey off hom."
"Brother Rabbit had the best of it all along," said the little boy, after waiting to see whether there was a sequel to the story.
"Oh, he did dat away!" "Oh, he did that away!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Brer Rabbit was a mighty man in dem days." "Brother Rabbit was a might man in them days."
XXI.
WHY BROTHER BEAR HAS NO
TAIL.
"I 'clar' ter gracious, honey," "I declare to gracious, honey," Uncle Remus exclaimed one night, as the little boy ran in, "you sholy aint chaw'd yo' vittles. Hit aint bin no time, skacely, sence de supper-bell rung, en ef you go on dis away, you'll des nat'ally pe'sh yo'se'f out." "you surely aint chewed your vittles. It aint been no time, scarcely, since the supper-bell rung, and if you go on this way, you'll just naturally pe'sh yourself out."
"Oh, I wasn't hungry," said the little boy. "I had something before supper, and I wasn't hungry anyway."
The old man looked keenly at the child, and presently he said:
"De ins en de outs er dat kinder talk all come ter de
same p'int in my min'. Youer bin a-cuttin' up at de table, en Mars. John, he
tuck'n sont you 'way fum dar, en w'iles
har1883.2007.001.0179.jpg
he think youer off some'rs
a-snifflin' en a-feelin' bad, yer you is a-high-primin' 'roun' des lak you
done had mo' supper dan de King er Philanders."
"The ins and the outs of taht kind of talk all come to the same point in
my mind. You've been a-cutting up at the table, and Master John, he tuck and
sont you away from there, and whiles
har1883.2007.001.0179.jpg
he think you're off some
wheres a-sniffling and a-feeling bad, here you is a-high-priming around just
like you done had more supper than the King of
Flanders."
Before the little boy could inquire about the King of Philanders he heard his father calling him. He started to go out, but Uncle Remus motioned him back.
"Des set right whar you is, honey,--des set right still." "Just set right where you is, honey,--just set right still."
Then Uncle Remus went to the door and answered for the child; and a very queer answer it was--one that could be heard half over the plantation:
"Mars. John, I wish you en Miss Sally be so good ez ter let dat chile 'lone. He down yer cryin' he eyes out, en he aint bodderin' 'long er nobody in de roun' worl'." "Master John, I wish you and Miss Sally be so good as to let that child alone. He down here crying his eyes out, and he aint boddering along of nobdy in the round world."
Uncle Remus stood in the door a moment to see what the reply would be, but he heard none. Thereupon he continued, in the same loud tone:
"I aint bin use ter no sich gwines on in Ole Miss time, en I aint gwine git use ter it now. Dat I aint." "I aint been use to no such goings on in Old Miss time, and I aint going get use to it now. That I aint."
Presently Tildy, the house-girl, brought the little boy his supper, and the girl was no sooner out of hearing than the child swapped it with Uncle Remus for a roasted yam, and the enjoyment of both seemed to be complete.
"Uncle Remus," said the little boy, after a while, "you know I wasn't crying just now."
"Dat's so, honey," "That's so, honey," the old man replied, "but 'twouldn't er bin long 'fo' you would er bin, kaze Mars. John bawl out lak a man w'at got a strop in he han', so w'at de diff'unce?" "but it wouldn't of been long before you would of been, casue Master John bawl out like a man what got a strap in his hand, so what the difference?"
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When they had finished eating, Uncle Remus busied himself in cutting and trimming some sole-leather for future use. His knife was so keen, and the leather fell away from it so smoothly and easily, that the little boy wanted to trim some himself. But to this Uncle Remus would not listen.
"'Taint on'y chilluns w'at got de consate er doin' eve'ything dey see yuther folks do. Hit's grown folks w'at oughter know better," "Twasn't only children what got the consate or concept of doing everything they see other folks do. It's grown folks what ought to know better," said the old man. "Dat's des de way Brer B'ar git his tail broke off smick-smack-smoove, en down ter dis day he de funniest-lookin' creetur w'at wobble on top er dry ground." "That's just the way Brother Bear get his tail brok off smick-smack-smoove, and down to this day he the funniest-looking creature what wobble or walked on top of dry ground."
Instantly the little boy forgot all about Uncle Remus' sharp knife.
"Hit seem lak dat in dem days Brer Rabbit en Brer Tarrypin done gone in cohoots fer ter outdo de t'er creeturs. One time Brer Rabbit tuck'n make a call on Brer Tarrypin, but w'en he git ter Brer Tarrypin house, he year talk fum Miss Tarrypin dat her ole man done gone fer ter spen' de day wid Mr. Mud-Turkle, w'ich dey wuz blood kin. Brer Rabbit he put out atter Brer Tarrypin, en w'en he got ter Mr. Mud-Turkle house, dey all sot up, dey did, en tole tales, en den w'en twelf er'clock come dey had crawfish fer dinner, en dey 'joy deyse'f right erlong. Atter dinner dey went down ter Mr. Mud-Turkle mill-pon', en w'en dey git dar Mr. Mud-Turkle en Brer Tarrypin dey 'muse deyse'f, dey did, wid slidin' fum de top uv a big slantin' rock down inter de water. "It seem like that in them days Brother Rabbit and Brother Tarrypin done gone in cahoots for to out do the other creatures. One time Brother Rabbit took and made a call on Brother Tarrypin, but when he got there Brother Tarrypin house, he here talk from Miss Tarrypin that her old man done gone for to spend the day with Mr. Mud-Turtle, which they was blood kin. Brother Rabbt he put out after Brother Tarrypin, and when he got to Mr. Mud-Turtle house, they all sat up, they did, and told tales, and then when twelve o'clock come they had crawfish for dinner, and they enjoy theyselves right erelong. After dinner they went down to Mr. Mud-Turtle mill-pond, and when they got ther Mr. Mud-Turtle and Brother Tarrypin they amused theyselves, they did, with sliding from the top of a big slanting rock down into the water.
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"I speck you moughter seen rocks in de water 'fo' now, whar dey git green en slipp'y," "I suspect you might of seen rocks in the water before now, wher they get green and slippy," said Uncle Remus.
The little boy had not only seen them, but had found them to be very dangerous to walk upon, and the old man continued:
"Well, den, dish yer rock wuz mighty slick en mighty slantin'. Mr. Mud-Turkle, he'd crawl ter de top, en tu'n loose, en go a-sailin' down inter de water--kersplash! Ole Brer Tarrypin, he'd foller atter, en slide down inter de water--kersplash! Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot off, he did, en praise um up. "Well, then, this here rock was mighty slick and mighty slanting. Mr. Mud-Turtle, he'd crawl to the top, and turn loose, and go a sailing down into the water--"kerslpash! Old Brother Tarrypin, he'd follw after, and slide down into the water--kersplash! Old Brother Rabbit, he sat off, he did, and praised them up.
"W'iles dey wuz a-gwine on dis away, a-havin' der fun, en 'joyin' deyse'f, yer come ole Brer B'ar. He year um 'laffin' en holl'in', en he hail 'um. "Whiles they was a-going on this way, a-having their fun, and enjoying theyselves, here come old Brother Bear. He hear them laughing and hollering, and he hail them.
"'Heyo, folks! W'at all dis? Ef my eye aint 'ceive me, dish yer's Brer Rabbit, en Brer Tarrypin, en old Unk' Tommy Mud-Turkle,' sez Brer B'ar, sezee. "'Heyo, folks! What all this? If my eye aint deceiving me, this here Brother Rabbit, and Brother Tarrypin, and old Unckle Tommy Mud-Turtle,' says Brother Bear, says he.
"'De same,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘en yer we is 'joyin' de day dat passes des lak dey wan't no hard times.' "'The same,' says Brother Rabbit, says he, 'and yes we is enjoying the day that passes just like there weren't no hard times.'
"'Well, well, well!' sez ole Brer B'ar, sezee, 'a-slippin' en a-slidin' en makin' free! En w'at de matter wid Brer Rabbit dat he aint j'inin' in?' sezee. "'Well, well, well!' says old Brother Bear, says he, 'a-slipping and a-sliding and making free! And what the matter with Brother Rabbit that he aint joining in?' says he.
"Ole Brer Rabbit he wink at Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin he hunch Mr. Mud-Turkle, en den Brer Rabbit he up'n 'low, he did: "Old Brother Rabbit he wink at Brother Tarrypin, and Brother Tarrypin he hunch Mr. Mud-Turtle, and then Brother Rabbit he up and allow, he did:
"'My goodness, Brer B'ar! you
can't 'speck a man fer ter slip en slide de whole blessid day, kin you? I
done had my fun, en now I'm a-settin' out yer lettin' my cloze
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dry.
Hit's tu'n en tu'n about wid me en deze gents w'en dey's any fun gwine
on,' sezee.
"'My goodness, Brother Bear! you can't suspect a man
for to slip and slide the whole blessed day, can you? I done had my fun,
and now I'm a-setting out here letting my clothes
har1883.2007.001.0182.jpg
dry. It's
tu'n and tu'n about with me and
these gents when there's any fun going on,' says he.
"'Maybe Brer B'ar might jine in wid us,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee. "'Maybe Brother Bear might join with us,' says Brother Tarrypin, says he.
"Brer Rabbit he des holler en laff. "Brother Rabbit he just hollered and laughed.
"'Shoo!' sezee, 'Brer B'ar foot too big en he tail too long fer ter slide down dat rock,' sezee. "'Shoo!' says he, 'Brother Bear foot too big and his tail too long for to slide down that rock,' says he.
"Dis kinder put Brer B'ar on he mettle, en he up'n 'spon', he did: "This kind of put Brother Bear on his mette, and he up and respond, he did:
"'Maybe dey is, en maybe dey aint, yit I aint afeared ter try.' 'Maybe they is, and maybe they aint, yet I aint a feared to try.'
"'Shoo!' sezee, 'Brer B'ar foot too big en he tail too long fer ter slide down dat rock,' sezee.
"Dis kinder put Brer B'ar on he mettle, en he up'n 'spon', he did:
"'Maybe dey is, en maybe dey aint, yit I aint afeared ter try.'
"Wid dat de yuthers tuck'n made way fer 'im, en ole Brer B'ar he git up on de rock, he did, en squot down on he hunkers, en quile he tail und' 'im, en start down. Fus' he go sorter slow, en he grin lak he feel good; den he go sorter peart, en he grin lak he feel bad; den he go mo' pearter, en he grin lak he skeerd; den he strack de slick part, en, gentermens! he swaller de grin en fetch a howl dat moughter bin yeard a mile, en he hit de water lak a chimbly a-fallin'. "With that the others took and made way for him, and old Brother Bear he got up on the rock, he did, and squat down down on he hunkers, and quile his tail under him, and start down. First he go sort of slow, and he grin like he feel good; then he go sort of peart, and he grin like he feel bad; then he more pearter, and he grin like he scared; then he struck the slick part, and gentlemens! he swallowed the grin and fetch a howl that might of been heard a mile, and he hit the water like a chimney a-falling.
"You kin gimme denial," "You can give me denial," Uncle Remus continued after a little pause, "but des ez sho' ez you er settin' dar, w'en Brer B'ar slick'd up en flew down dat rock, he break off he tail right smick-smack-smoove, en mo'n dat, w'en he make his disappear'nce up de big road, Brer Rabbit holler out: "but just as sure as you are sitting there, when Brother Bear slicked up and flew down that rock, he break off his tail right smick-smack-smooth, and more than that, when he make his disappearance up the big road, Brother Rabbit holler out:
"'Brer B'ar!--O Brer B'ar! I year tell dat flaxseed poultices is mighty good fer so' places!' 'Brer Bear!--O Brother Bear! I hear tell that flaxsee poultices is might good for such places!'
"Yit Brer B'ar ain't look back." "Yet Brother Bear aint look back."
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XXII.
HOW BROTHER RABBIT FRIGHTENED HIS
NEIGHBORS.
When Uncle Remus was in a good humor he turned the most trifling incidents into excuses for amusing the little boy with his stories. One night while he was hunting for a piece of candle on the shelf that took the place of a mantel over the fireplace, he knocked down a tin plate. It fell upon the hearth with a tremendous clatter.
"Dar now!" "There now!" exclaimed Uncle Remus. "Hit's a blessin' dat dat ar platter is got mo' backbone dan de common run er crockery, 'kaze 'twould er bin bust all ter flinderations long time ago. Dat ar platter is got dents on it w'at Miss Sally put dar w'en she 'uz a little bit er gal. Yet dar 'tis, en right dis minnit hit'll hol' mo' vittles dan w'at I got ter put in it. "It's a blessing that that are platter is got more backbone than the common run of crockery, cause twould of been bust all to flinderations long time ago. That our platter is got dents on it what Miss Sally put there when she was a litte bit of gal. Yet there it is, and right this minute it'll hold my vittles then what I got to put in it.
"I lay," the old man continued, leaning his hand against the chimney and gazing at the little boy reflectively,--"I lay ef de creeturs had a bin yer w'iles all dat clatterment gwine on dey'd a lef' bidout tellin' anybody good bye. All 'ceppin' Brer Rabbit. Bless yo' soul, he'd er stayed fer ter see de fun, des lak he did dat t'er time w'en he skeer um all so. I 'speck I done tole you 'bout dat." "I lay if the creatures had a been here whiles all that clatterment going on they'd of left without telling anybody good bye. All excepting Brother Rabbit. Bless your soul, he'd of stayed for to see the fun, just like he did that other time when he scared them all so. I suspect I done told you about that."
"When he got the honey on him and rolled in the leaves?"
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Uncle Remus thought a moment.
"Ef I make no mistakes in my 'membunce, dat wuz de time w'en he call hisse'f de Wull-er-de-Wust." "If I make no mistakes in my rememberance, that was the time when he call hisself the Wull-er-de-Wust."
The little boy corroborated Uncle Remus' memory.
"Well, den, dish yer wuz n'er time, en he lak ter skeer um plum out'n de settlement. En it all come 'bout 'kaze dey wanter play smarty." "Well, then, this here was never time, and he like to scared them plum out and of settlement. And it all come about cause they want to play smarty."
"Who wanted to play smarty, Uncle Remus?" asked the child.
"Oh, des dem t'er creeturs. Dey wuz allers a-layin' traps fer Brer Rabbit en gittin' cotch in um deyse'f, en dey wuz allers a-pursooin' atter 'im day in en day out. I aint 'nyin' but w'at some er Brer Rabbit pranks wuz mighty ha'sh, but w'y'n't dey let 'im 'lone deyse'f?" "Oh, just them creatures. They was always a-laying traps for Brother Rabbit and getting caught in them theyself, and they was always a-pursuing after him day in and day out. I aint denying but what some of Brother Rabbit pranks was mightly harsh but whyn't they let him alone theyself?"
Naturally, the little boy was not prepared to meet these arguments, even had their gravity been less impressive, so he said nothing.
"In dem days," "In them days," Uncle Remus went on, "de creeturs wuz same lak folks. Dey had der ups en dey had der downs; dey had der hard times, and dey had der saf' times. Some seasons der craps 'ud be good, en some seasons dey'd be bad. Brer Rabbit, he far'd lak de res' un um. W'at he'd make, dat he'd spen'. One season he tuck'n made a fine chance er goobers, en he 'low, he did, dat ef dey fetch 'im anywhars nigh de money w'at he speck dey would, he go ter town en buy de truck w'at needcessity call fer. "the creatures was same like folks. They had their ups and they had their downs; they had their hard times, and they had their soft times. Some seasons the crops would be good, and some seasons they'd be bad. Brother Rabbit, he faired like the rest of them. What he'd make, that he'd spend. One season he took and made a fine chane or goobers, and he allow, he did, that if they fetch him anywheres nigh de money what he suspect they would, he got to town and buy the truck what necessity call for.
"He aint no sooner say dat dan ole Miss Rabbit, she
vow, she did, dat it be a scannul en a shame ef he don't
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whirl in en git sevin tin
cups fer de chilluns fer ter drink out'n, en sevin tin plates fer'm fer ter
sop out'n, en a coffee-pot fer de fambly. Brer Rabbit say dat des zackly
w'at he gwine do, en he 'low, he did, dat he gwine ter town de comin'
We'n'sday."
"He ain't no sooner say that than old Miss Rabbit, she vow, she did, that
it be a scandel and a shame if he don't
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whirl in and get seven tin
cups for the children for to drink out of, and seven tin plates for them to
soup out of, and a coffee-pot for the famliy. Brother Rabbit say that just
exactly what he going to do, and he allow, he did, that he going to town the
coming Wednesday."
Uncle Remus paused, and indulged in a hearty laugh before he resumed:
"Brer Rabbit wa'n't mo'n out'n de gate 'fo' Miss Rabbit, she slap on 'er bonnet, she did, en rush 'cross ter Miss Mink house, en she aint been dar a minnit 'fo' she up'n tell Miss Mink dat Brer Rabbit done promise ter go ter town We'n'sday comin' en git de chilluns sump'n. Co'se, we'n Mr. Mink come horne, Miss Mink she up'n 'low she want ter know w'at de reason he can't buy sump'n fer his chilluns same ez Brer Rabbit do fer his'n, en dey quo'll en quo'll des lak folks. Atter dat Miss Mink she kyar de news ter Miss Fox, en den Brer Fox he tuck'n got a rakin' over de coals. Miss Fox she tell Miss Wolf, en Miss Wolf she tell Miss B'ar, en 'twant long 'fo' ev'ybody in dem diggins know dat Brer Rabbit gwine ter town de comin' We'n'sday fer ter get his chilluns sump'n; en all de yuther creeturs' chilluns ax der ma w'at de reason der pa can't git dem sump'n. So dar it went. "Brother Rabbit wouldn't move out of the gate for Miss Rabbit, she slap on her bonnet, she did, and rush across to Miss Mink house, and she ain't been there a minute before she up and tell Miss Mink that Brother Rabbit done promise to go to town Wednesday coming and get the children something. Of course, when Mr. Mink come home, Miss Mink she up and allow she want to know what the reason he can't buy something for his children same as Brother Rabbit do for his, and they quarrel and quarrel just like folks. After that Miss Mink she carry the news to Miss Fox, and then Brother Fox he took and got a raking over de the coals. Miss Fox she tell Miss Wolf, and Miss Wolf she tell Miss Bear, and it wasn't long before everybody in them diggings know that Brother Rabbit going to town the coming Wednesday for to get his children something; and all the other creatures children ask their ma what the reason their pa can't get them something. So there it went
"Brer Fox, en Brer Wolf, en Brer B'ar, dey make up der mines, dey did, dat ef dey gwine ter ketch up wid Brer Rabbit, dat wuz de time, en dey fix up a plan dat dey'd lay fer Brer Rabbit en nab 'im w'en he come back fum town. Dey tuck'n make all der 'rangerments, en wait fer de day. "Brother Fox, and Brother Wolf, and Brother Bear, they make up their minds, the did, that if they going to catch up with Brother Rabbit, that was the time, and they fix up a plan that they'd lay for Brother Rabbit and nab him when he come back from town. They took and make all their arrangements, and wait for the day.
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"Sho nuff, w'en We'n'sday come, Brer Rabbit e't he brekkus 'fo' sun-up, en put out fer town. He tuck'n got hisse'f a dram, en a plug er terbarker, en a pocket-hank- cher, en he got de ole 'oman a coffee-pot, en he got de chillun sevin tin cups en sevin tin plates, en den todes sundown he start back home. He walk 'long, he did, feelin' mighty biggity, but bimeby w'en he git sorter tired, he sot down und' a black-jack tree, en 'gun to fan hisse'f wid one er der platters. "Sure enough, when Wednesday come, Brother Rabbit ate his breakfast before sun-up, and put out for town. He took and got hisself a dram, and a plug to terbarker, and a pocket-handkercheif, and he got the old woman a coffee-pot, and he got the children seven tin cups and seven tin plates, and then towards sundown he start back home. He walk along, he did, feeling mighty biggity, but by and by when he got sort of tired, he sat down under a black-jack tree, and begun to fan hisself with one of the platter.
"W'iles he doin' dis a little bit er teenchy
sap-sucker run up'n down de tree en keep on makin' mighty quare fuss. Atter
w'ile Brer Rabbit tuck'n shoo at 'im wid de platter. Seem lak dis make de
teenchy little sap-sucker mighty mad, en he rush out on a lim' right over
Brer Rabbit, en he sing out:
"He keep on singin' dis, he did, twel Brer Rabbit 'gun ter look 'roun', en he aint no sooner do dis dan he see marks in de san' whar sum un done bin dar 'fo' 'im, en he look little closer en den he see w'at de sap-sucker drivin' at. He scratch his head, Brer Rabbit did, en he 'low ter hisse'f: "He keep on singing this, he did, till Brother Rabbit begun to look around, and he ain't no sooner do this than he see marks in the sand where some one done been there before him, and he look little closer and then he see what the sap-sucker driving at. He scratch his head, Brother Rabbit did, and he allow to hisself:
"'Ah-yi! Yer whar Brer Fox
been settin', en dar de print er he nice bushy tail. Yer whar Brer Wolf
bin settin', en dar de print er he fine long tail. Yer whar
har1883.2007.001.0189.jpg
Brer B'ar bin squattin'
on he' hunkers, en dar de print w'ich he aint got no tail. Dey er all bin
yer, en I lay dey er hidin' out in de big gully down dar in de
holler.'
'Ah-yi! You're where Brother Fox been sitting, and there the print of
his nice bushy tail. You're where Brother Wolf been sitting, and there
print of his fine long tail. You're where
har1883.2007.001.0189.jpg
Brother Bear been
squatting on his hunkers, and there the print which he ain't got no tail.
They've all been here, and I lay the are hiding out in the big gully down
there in the hollow.'
"Wid dat, ole man Rab tuck'n put he truck in de bushes, en den he run 'way 'roun' fer ter see w'at he kin see. Sho nuff," "With that, old man Rab took and put his truck in the bushes, and then he run away round for to see what he can see. Sure enough," continued Uncle Remus, with a curious air of elation,--sho nuff, w'en Brer Rabbit git over agin de big gully down in de holler, dar dey wuz. Brer Fox, he 'uz on one side er de road, en Brer Wolf 'uz on de t'er side; en ole Brer B'ar he 'uz quiled up in de gully takin' a nap. Sure enough, when Brother Rabbit get over again the big gully down in the hollow, ther they was. Brother Fox, he was on one side of the road, and Brother Wolf was on the other side; and old Brother Bear he was curled in the gully taking a nap.
"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n peep at um, he did, en he lick he foot en roach back he h'ar, en den hol' his han's 'cross he mouf en laff lak some chilluns does w'en dey think dey er foolin' der ma." "Brother Rabbit, he took and peep at them, he did, and he lick his foot and roach back his hair, and then hold his hands across his mouth and laugh like some children does when they think they are fooling their ma."
"Not me , Uncle Remus--not me!" exclaimed the little boy promptly.
"Heyo dar! don't kick 'fo' you er spurred, honey! Brer Rabbit, he seed um all dar, en he tuck'n grin, he did, en den he lit out t'er whar he done lef' he truck, en w'en he git dar he dance 'roun' en slap hise'f on de leg, en make all sorts er kuse motions. Den he go ter wuk en tu'n de coffee-pot upside down en stick it on he head; den he run he gallus thoo de han'les er de cups, en sling um crosst he shoulder; den he 'vide de platters, some in one han' en some in de yuther. Atter he git good en ready, he crope ter de top er de hill, he did, en tuck a runnin' start, en flew down like a harrycane--rickety, rackety, slambang!" "Hey ho there! don't kick before you're spurred, honey! Brother Rabbit, he seed them all there, and he took and grin he did, and then he lit out of there where he done left his truck, and when he get there he dance around and slap hisself on the leg, and make all sorts of curious motions. Then he go to work and took the coffee-pot upside down and stick it on his head; then he run his glasses through the handles of the cups, and sling them acrossed his shoulder; then he divided the platters, some in one hand and some in the other. After he got good and ready, he crept to the top of the hil, he did, and took a running start, and flew down like a hurrican--rickety, rackety, slambang!"
har1883.2007.001.0190.jpg
The little boy clapped his hands enthusiastically.
"Bless yo' soul, dem creeturs aint year no fuss lak dat, en dey aint seed no man w'at look lak Brer Rabbit do, wid de coffee-pot on he head, en de cups a-rattlin' on he gallus, en de platters a-wavin' en a-shinin' in de a'r. "Bless your soul, them creatures ain't here no fuss like that, and they ain't seen no man what look like Brother Rabbit do, with the coffee-pot on his head, and the cups a-rattling on his glasses, and the platters a-waving and a shining in the air.
"Now, mine you, ole Brer B'ar wuz layin' off up de gully takin' a nap, en de fuss skeer 'im so bad dat he make a break en run over Brer Fox. He rush out in de road, he did, en w'en he see de sight, he whirl roun' en run over Brer Wolf. Wid der scramblin' en der scuf- flin', Brer Rabbit got right on um 'fo' dey kin git away. He holler out’ he did: "Now, mind you, old Brother Bear was laying off up the gully taking a nap, and the fuss scared him so bad that he make a break and run over Brother Fox. He rush out in the road, he did, and when he see the sight, he whirl around and run over Brother Wolf. With the scrambling and the scuffling. Brother Rabbit got right on them before they can get away. He holler out' he did:
"'Gimme room! Tu'n me loose! I'm ole man Spewter-Splutter wid long claws, en scales on my back! I'm snaggle-toofed en double-j'inted! Gimme room!' 'Give me room! Turn me loose! I'm old man Spewter-Splutter Give me room!'
"Eve'y time he'd fetch a whoop, he'd rattle de cups en slap de platters tergedder--rickety, rackety, slambang! En I let you know w'en dem creeturs got dey lim's ter- gedder dey split de win', dey did dat. Ole Brer B'ar, he struck a stump w'at stan' in de way, en I aint gwine tell you how he to' it up kaze you won't b'leeve me, but de next mawnin' Brer Rabbit en his chilluns went back dar, dey did, an dey got nuff splinters fer ter make um kin'lin' wood all de winter. Yasser! Des ez sho ez I'm a-settin' by dish yer h'ath." "Every time he'd fetch a whoop, he'd rattle the cups and slap the platters together-- rickety, rackety, slambang! And I let you know when them creatures got they limbs together the split the wind, they did that. Old Brother Bear, he struck a stump what's standing in the way, and I ain't going to tell you how he took it up cause you won't believe me, but the next morning Brother Rabbit and his children went back there, they did, and they got enough splinters for to make them kindling wood all the winter. Yes sir! Just as sure as I'm sitting by this here hearth.
har1883.2007.001.0191.jpg
XXIII.
MR. MAN HAS SOME
MEAT.
The little boy sat watching Uncle Remus sharpen his shoe-knife. The old man's head moved in sympathy with his hands, and he mumbled fragments of a song. Occasionally he would feel of the edge of the blade with his thumb, and then begin to sharpen it again. The comical appearance of the venerable darkey finally had its effect upon the child, for suddenly he broke into a hearty peal of laughter; whereupon Uncle Remus stopped shaking his head and singing his mumbly-song, and assumed a very dignified attitude. Then he drew a long, deep breath, and said:
"W'en folks git ole en strucken wid de palsy, dey mus' speck ter be laff'd at. Goodness knows, I bin use ter dat sence de day my whiskers 'gun to bleach." "When folks get old and shrucken with the palsy, they must expect to be laughed at. Goodness knows, I been use to that since they day my whiskers begun to bleach."
"Why, I wasn't laughing at you, Uncle Remus; I declare I wasn't," cried the little boy. "I thought maybe you might be doing your head like Brother Rabbit did when he was fixing to cut his meat."
Uncle Remus' seriousness was immediately driven away by a broad and appreciative grin.
"Now, dat de way ter talk, honey, en I boun' you wan't
fur wrong, n'er, kaze fer all dey'll tell you dat Brer Rabbit make he livin'
'long er nibblin' at grass en greens, hit 'twan't dat away in dem days,
'kaze I got in my membunce
har1883.2007.001.0192.jpg
right now de
'casion whar Brer Rabbit is tuck'n e't meat."
"Now, that the way to talk, honey, and I bound you want it for wrong,
never, cause for all they'll tell you that Brothe
Rabbit make his living long of nibbling at grass and greens, it wasn't that
way in them days, cause I got in my rememberance
har1883.2007.001.0192.jpg
right now
the occasion where Brother Rabbit is took and ate meat."
The little boy had learned that it was not best to make any display of impatience, and so he waited quietly while Uncle Remus busied himself with arranging the tools on his shoe-bench. Presently the old man began:
"Hit so happen dat one day Brer Rabbit meet up wid Brer Fox, en w'en dey 'quire atter der corporosity, dey fine out dat bofe un um mighty po'ly. Brer Fox, he 'low, he do, dat he monstus hongry, en Brer Rabbit he 'spon' dat he got a mighty hankerin' atter vittles hisse'f. Bimeby dey look up dey big road, en dey see Mr. Man comin' 'long wid a great big hunk er beef und' he arm. Brer Fox he up'n 'low, he did, dat he lak mighty well fer ter git a tas'e er dat, en Brer Rabbit he 'low dat de sight er dat nice meat all lineded wid taller is nuff fer ter run a body 'stracted. "It so happen that on day Brother Rabbit meet up with Brother Fox, and when they inquire after the coporosity, they find out that both of um might poorly. Brothe rFox, he allow, he do, that he montrous hungry, and Brother Rabbit he respon that he got a mighty hankering after vittle hisself. By and by they look up the big road, and they see Mr. Man coming along with a great big hunk of beef under his arm. Brother Fox he up and allow, he did, that he like mighty well for to get a tast of that, and Brother Rabbit he allow that the sight of that nice meat all lineded with taller is enough for to run a body distracted.
"Mr. Man he come en he come 'long. Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox dey look en dey look at 'im. Dey wink der eye en der mouf water. Brer Rabbit he 'low he bleedz ter git some er dat meat. Brer Fox he 'spon', he did, dat it look mighty fur off ter him. Den Brer Rabbit tell Brer Fox fer ter foller 'long atter 'im in hailin' distuns, an wid dat he put out, he did, en 'twan't long 'fo' he kotch up wid Mr. Man. "Mr. Man he come and he come along. Brother Rabbit and Brother Fox the look and they look at him. They wind their eye and their mouth water. Brother Rabbit he allow was pleased to get some of that meat. Brother Fox he respond, he did, that it look mighty far off to him. Then Brother Rabbit tell Brother Fox for to follw along after him in hailing distance, on with that he put out, he did, and it wasn't long before he caught up with Mr. Man.
"Dey pass de time er day, en den dey went joggin'
'long de road same lak dey 'uz gwine 'pun a journey. Brer Rabbit he keep on
snuffin' de a'r. Mr. Man up'n ax 'im is he got a bad cole, en Brer Rabbit
'spon' dat he smell
har1883.2007.001.0193.jpg
sump'n' w'ich it don't
smell like ripe peaches. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit 'gun to hol' he nose, he did,
an atter w'ile he sing out:
"They pass the time of day, and then they went jogging along the road same
like they was going upon a journey. Brother Rabbit he keep on sniffing the
air. Mr. Man up and ask him is he got a bad cold, and Brother Rabbit respond
that he smell
har1883.2007.001.0193.jpg
something which it don't
smell like ripe peaches. By and by, Brother Rabbit begun to hold his nose,
he did, and after while he sing out:
"'Gracious en de goodness, Mr. Man! hit's dat meat er yone. Phew! Whar'bouts is you pick up dat meat at?' 'Gracious and the goodness, Mr. Man! it's that meat of yours.Phew! Where abouts is you pick up that meat at?'
"Dis make Mr. Man feel sorter 'shame hisse'f, en ter make marters wuss, yer come a great big green fly a-zoonin' 'roun'. Brer Rabbit he git way off on ter side er de road, en he keep on hol'in' he nose. Mr. Man, he look sorter sheepish, be did, en dey aint gone fur 'fo' he put de meat down on de side er de road, en he tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit w'at dey gwine do 'bout it. Brer Rabbit he 'low, he did: "This make Mr. Man feel sorter ashamed hisself, and to make matter worst, here come a great big green fly a-zooming around. Brother Rabbit he get way off on the side of the road, and he keep on holding his nose. Mr. Man, he look sort of sheepish, he did, and they ain't gone far before he put the meat down on the side of the road, and he took and ask Brother Rabbit what they going to do about it. Brother Rabbit allow, he did:
"'I year tell in my time dat ef you take'n drag a piece er meat thoo' de dus' hit'll fetch back hits freshness. I aint no superspicious man myse'f,' sezee, 'en I aint got no 'speunce wid no sech doin's, but dem w'at tell me say dey done try it. Yit I knows dis,' says Brer Rabbit, sezee,--'I knows dat 'taint gwine do no harm, kase de grit w'at gits on de meat kin be wash off,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. "'I hear tell in my time that if you take and drag a piece of meat through the dust it'll fetch back it's freshness. I ain't no supersticious man myself,' says he, 'and I ain't got no expense with no such doings, but them what tell me say they done try it. Yet I knows this,' says Brother Rabbit, says he,-- 'I knows that it ain't going do no harm, cause the grit what gits on the meat can be washed off,' says Brother Rabbit, says he.
"'I aint got no string,' sez Mr. Man, sezee. "'I ain't got no string,' says Mr. Man, says he.
"Brer Rabbit laff hearty, but still he hol' he nose. "Brother Rabbit laugh hearty, but still he hold his nose.
"'Time you bin in de bushes long ez I is, you won't miss strings,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Time you been in the bushes long as I is, you won't miss strings,' syas Brother Rabbit, says he.
"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lipt out, en he aint gone long 'fo he come hoppin' back wid a whole passel er bamboo vines all tied tergedder. Mr. Man, he 'low: "With that Brother Rabbit lept out, and he ain't gone long before he come hopping back with a whole passel of bamboo vines all tied together. Mr. Man, he allow:
"'Dat line mighty long.' 'That line mighty long.'
har1883.2007.001.0194.jpg
"Brer Rabbit he 'low: "Brother Rabbit he allow:
"‘Tooby sho', you' want de win' fer ter git 'twix' you en dat meat.' 'To by sure, you want the wind for to get between you and that meen.
"Den Mr. Man tuck'n tied de bamboo line ter de meat. Brer Rabbit he broke off a 'simmon bush, he did, en 'low dat he'd stay behime en keep de flies off. Mr. Man he go on befo' en drag de meat, en Brer Rabbit he stay behime, he did, en take keer un it." "Then Mr. Man took and tied the bamboo line to the meat. Brother Rabbit he broke off a persimmon bush, he did, and allow that he'd stay behind and keep the flies off. Mr. Man he go on before and drag the meat, and Brother Rabbit he stay behind, he did, and take care of it."
Here Uncle Remus was compelled to pause and. laugh before he could proceed with the story.
"En he is take keer un it, mon--dat he is. He tuck'n git 'im a rock, en w'iles Mr. Man gwine 'long bidout lookin' back, he ondo de meat en tie de rock ter de bamboo line, en w'en Brer Fox foller' on, sho' 'nuff, dar lay de meat. Mr. Man, he drug de rock, he did, en Brer Rabbit he keep de flies off, twel atter dey gone on right smart piece, en den w'en Mr. Man look 'roun', whar wuz ole man Rabbit? "And he take care of it, man--that he is. He took and get him a rock and whiles Mr. Man going along without looking back, he undo the meat and tie the rock to the bamboo line, and when Brother Fox follow on, sure enough, there lay the meat. Mr. Man, he drug the rock, he did and Brother Rabbit he keep the flies off, till after they gone right smart piece, and then when Mr. Man look around, where was old man Rabbit?
"Bless yo' soul, Brer Rabbit done gone back en jine Brer Fox, en he wuz des in time, at dat, 'kase little mo' en Brer Fox would 'a' done bin outer sight en yearin'. En so dat de way Brer Rabbit git Mr. Man meat." "Bless your soul, Brother Rabbit done gone back and join Brother Fox, and he was just in time, at that, cause a little more and Brother Fox would a done been out of sight and hearing. And so that was Brother Rabbit get Mr. Man meat."
The little boy reflected a little, and then said:
"Uncle Remus, wasn't that stealing?"
"Well, I tell you 'bout dat,
honey,"
"Well, I tell you about that, honey," responded the old
man, with the air of one who is willing to compromise. "In dem days de creeturs bleedz ter look out fer deyse'f,
mo' speshually dem w'at aint got hawn an' huff. Brer
har1883.2007.001.0195.jpg
Rabbit aint got no hawn
an' huff, en he bleedz ter be he own lawyer."
"In them days the
creatures pleased to look out for theyselves, most especially them what
ain't got hawn and huff. Brother
har1883.2007.001.0195.jpg
Rabbit ain't go not
hawn and huff, and he pleased to be his own
lawyer."
Just then the little boy heard his father's buggy rattling down the avenue, and he ran out into the darkness to meet it. After he was gone, Uncle Remus sat a long time rubbing his hands and looking serious. Finally he leaned back in his chair, and exclaimed:
"Dat little chap gittin' too much fer ole Remus--dat he is!" "That little chap getting too much for old Remus--that he is!"
XXIV.
HOW BROTHER RABBIT GOT THE
MEAT.
When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the cabin was dark and empty and the door shut. The old man was gone. He was absent for several nights, but at last one night the little boy saw a welcome light in the cabin, and he made haste to pay Uncle Remus a visit. He was full of questions:
"Goodness, Uncle Remus! Where in the world have you been? I thought you were gone for good. Mamma said she reckoned the treatment here didn't suit you, and you had gone off to get some of your town friends to hire you."
"Is Miss Sally tell you dat, honey ? Well, ef she aint
de beatenes' w'ite 'oman dis side er kingdom come, you kin des shoot me.
Miss Sally tuck'n writ me a pass wid
har1883.2007.001.0196.jpg
her own
han's fer to go see some er my kin down dar in de Ashbank settlement. Yo'
mammy quare 'oman, honey, sho'!
"Is Miss Sally tell you that, honey? Well, if she ain't the
beatenest white woman this side of kingdome come, you
can just shoot me. Miss Sally took and wrote me a pass with
har1883.2007.001.0196.jpg
her own
hands for to go see some of my kin down there in the Ashbank settlement.
Your mammy queer woman, honey, sure!
"En yit, w'at de good er my stayin' yer? T'er night, I aint mo'n git good en started 'fo' you er up en gone, en I aint seed ha'r ner hide un you sence. W'en I see you do dat, I 'low ter myse'f' dat hit's des 'bout time fer ole man Remus fer ter pack up he duds an go hunt comp'ny some'r's else." "And yet, what the good of my staying here? Tonight, I ain't mo'n get good and started before you are up and gone, and I ain't seed hair nor hide of you since. When I see you do that, I allow to myself that it's just about time old man Remus for to pack up his duds and go hunt company somewheres else."
"Well, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in a tone of expostulation, "didn't Brother Fox get the meat, and wasn't that the end of the story?"
Uncle Remus started to laugh, but he changed his mind so suddenly that the little boy was convulsed. The old man groaned and looked at the rafters with a curious air of disinterestedness. After a while he went on with great seriousness:
"I dunner w'at kinder idee folks got 'bout Brer Rabbit nohow, dat I don't. S'pozen you lays de plans so some yuther chap kin git a big hunk er goody, is you gwine ter set off some'r's en see 'im make way wid 'it?" "I don't know what kind of idea folks got about Brother Rabbit now, that I don't know. Supposing you lays the plan so some other chap can get a big hunk of goody, and is you going to set off somewheres and see them make way with it?"
"What kind of goody, Uncle Remus?"
"Dish yer kinder goody w'at town folks keeps. Mint draps and reezins, en sweet doin's lak Miss Sally keep und' lock en key . Well, den, if you gits some er dat, er may be some yuther kinder goody, w'ich I wish 'twuz yer right dis blessid minnit, is you gwine ter set quile up in dat cheer en let n'er chap run off wid it? Dat you aint --dat you aint!" "This here kind of goody what town folks keeps. Mint drops and raisins and sweet doings like Miss Sally keep under lock and key. Well, then, if you gets some of that, or maybe some other kind of goody, which I wish it was you right just blessed minute, is you going to set quite up in that chair and let another chap run off with it? That you ain't--that you ain't!"
har1883.2007.001.0197.jpg
"Oh, I know!" exclaimed the little boy. "Brother Rabbit went back and made Brother Fox give him his part of the meat."
"Des lak I tell you, honey; dey wan't no man mungs de creeturs w'at kin stan' right flat-footed en wuk he min' quick lak Brer Rabbit. He tuck'n tie de rock on de string, stidder de meat, en he pursue long att’r it, he did, twel Mr. Man tu'n a ben' in de road, en den Brer Rabbit, he des lit out fum dar--terbuckity-buckity, buck-buck- buckity! en 'twan't long 'fo' he tuck'n kotch up wid Brer Fox. Dey tuck de meat, dey did, en kyar'd it way off in de woods, en laid it down on a clean place on de groun'. "Just like I tell you, honey; they wanted no man among the creatures what can stand right flat-footed and work his mind quick like Brother Rabbit. He took and tie the rock on the string, instead of the meat, and he pursue long after it, he did, till Mr. Man turn a bend in the road, and then Brother Rabbit, he just lit out from there--terbuckity-buckity, buck-buck- buckity! and it wasn't long before he took and caught up with Brother Fox. They took the meat, they did, and carried it way off in the woods, and laid it down on a clean place on the ground.
"Dey laid it down, dey did," "They laid it down, they did," continued Uncle Remus, drawing his chair up closer to the little boy, "en den Brer Fox 'low dey better sample it, en Brer Rabbit he 'gree. Wid dat, Brer Fox he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en he shut bofe eyes, he did, en he chaw en chaw, en tas'e en tas'e, en chaw en tas'e. Brer Rabbit, he watch 'im, but Brer Fox, he keep bofe eyes shot, en he chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw." "and then Brother Fox allow they better sample it, and Brother Rabbit he agreed. With that, Brother Fox he took and knaw off a hunk, and he shut both eyes, he did, and he chaw and chaw, and tast and taste, and chaw and taste. Brother Rabbit, he watch him, but Brother Fox, he keep both eyes shut, and he chaw and taste, and taste and chaw."
Uncle Remus not only furnished a pantomime accompaniment to this recital by shutting his eyes and pretending to taste, but he lowered his voice to a pitch of tragical significance in reporting the dialogue that ensued:
"Den Brer Fox smack he mouf en look at de meat mo' closeter, en up'n 'low: "Then Brother Fox smack his mouth and look at the meat more closer, and up and allow:
"'Brer Rabbit, hit's lam'! 'Brother Rabbit, it's lamb! '
"'No, Brer Fox! sho'ly not!' 'No, Brother Fox! surely not!'
"'Brer Rabbit, hit's lam!' 'Brother Rabbit, it's lamb!'
har1883.2007.001.0198.jpg
"'Brer Fox, tooby sho'ly not!' 'Brother Fox, to be surely not!'
"Den Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n gnyaw off a hunk, en he shot bofe eyes, en chaw en tas'e, en tas'e en chaw. Den he smack he mouf, en up'n 'low: "Then Brother Rabbit, he took and knaw off a hunk, and he shut both eyes, and chaw and taste, and taste and chaw. Then he smack his mouth, and up and allow:
"'Brer Fox, hit's shote! 'Brother Fox, it's shote!
"'Brer Rabbit, you foolin' me!' 'Brother Rabbit, you fooling me!'
"'Brer Fox, I vow hit's shote!' 'Brother Fox, I vow it's shote!
"'Brer Rabbit, hit des can't be!' 'Brother Rabbit, it just can't be!'
"'Brer Fox, hit sho'ly is!' 'Brother Fox, it surely is!'
"Dey tas'e en dey 'spute, en dey 'spute en dey tas'e. Atter w'ile, Brer Rabbit make lak he want some water, en he rush off in de bushes, en d'reckly yer he come back wipin' he mouf en cl'erin' up he th'oat. Den Brer Fox he want some water sho' nuff: "They taste and they dispute, and they dispute and they taste. After a while, Brother Rabbit make like he want some water, and he rush off in the bushes, and directly here he come back wiping his mouth and clearing up his throat. Then Brother Fox he want some water sure enough:
"'Brer Rabbit, whar you fin' de spring?' 'Brother Rabbit, where you find the spring?'
"'Cross de road, en down de hill en up de big gully.' 'Cross the road, and down the hill and up the big gullly.'
"Brer Fox, he lope off, he did, en atter he gone Brer Rabbit totch he year wid he behime foot lak he flippin' 'im good-bye. Brer Fox, he cross de road en rush down de hill, he did, yit he aint fin' no big gully. He keep on gwine twel he fin' de big gully, yit he aint fin' no spring. "Brother Fox, he lept off, he did, and after he gone Brother Rabbit touch his ear with his behind foot like he flipping him good-bye. Brother Fox, he cross the road and rush down the hill, he did, yet ain't find no big gully. He keep on going till he find the big gully, yet he ain't find no big gully. He keep on going till he find the big gully, yet he ain't find no spring.
"W'iles all dish yer gwine on, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n
grabble a hole in de groun', he did, en dat hole he hid de meat. Atter he
git it good en hid, he tuck'n cut 'im a long keen hick'ry, en atter so long
a time, w'en he year Brer Fox comin' back he got in a clump er bushes, en
tuck dat hick'ry en let in on a saplin', en ev'y time
har1883.2007.001.0199.jpg
he hit de saplin', he 'ud
squall out, Brer Rabbit would, des lak de patter-rollers had 'im:
"Whiles all this here going on, Brother Rabbit he took
grabble a hole in the ground, he did, and that hole he
hid the meat. After he got it good and hid, he took and cut him a long keen
hickory, and after so long a time, when he hear Brother Fox coming back he
got in a clump or bushes, and took that hickory and let in on a sapling, and
every time
har1883.2007.001.0199.jpg
he hit the sapling, he
would squall out, Brother Rabbit would, just like the patter-rollers had
him:
"Pow, pow! 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man!'--Pow, pow! 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man!'--Chippy-row, pow! 'Oh, Lordy, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo' meat!' 'Oh, Lordy, Mr. Man! Brother Fox took your meat!' --Pow! 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man! Brer Fox tuck yo' meat!' 'Oh, pray, Mr. Man! Brother Fox took your meat!' "
Every time Uncle Remus said "Pow!" he struck himself in the palm of his hand with a shoe-sole by way of illustration.
"'Co'se," "'Cause," he went on, "w'en Brer Fox year dis kinder doin's, he fotch up, he did, en lissen, en ev'y time he year de hick'ry come down pow! he tuck'n grin en 'low ter hisse'f, ‘Ah-yi ! you fool me 'bout de water! Ah-yi! you fool me 'bout de water!' "when Brother Fox hear this kind of doings, he fetch up, he did, and listened, and every time he hear the hickory come down pow! he took and grinned and allow to hisself, 'Ah-y! you fool me about the water! Ah-yi! you fool me about the water!'
"Atter so long a time, de racket sorter die out, en seem lak Mr. Man wuz draggin' Brer Rabbit off. Dis make Brer Fox feel mighty skittish. Bimeby Brer Rabbit come a cally-hootin' back des a-holler in': "After so long a time, the racket sor of die out, and seem like Mr. Man was dragging Brother Rabbit off. This make Brother Fox feel mighty skittish. By and by Brother Rabbit come a cally-hooting back just a- hollering:
"'Run, Brer Fox, run! Mr. Man say he gwine to kyar dat meat up de road ter whar he son is, en den he's a-comin' back atter you. Run, Brer Fox, run!' 'Run, Brother Fox, run! Mr. Man say he going to carry that meat up the road to where his son is, and then he's a-coming back after you. Run Brother Fox, run!'
"En I let you know," "and I let you know," said Uncle Remus, leaning back and laughing to see the little boy laugh, "I let you know Brer Fox got mighty skace in dat neighborhood!" "I let you know Brother Fox got mighty scarce in that neighborhood!"
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XXV.
AFRICAN JACK.
Usually, the little boy, who regarded himself as Uncle Remus' partner, was not at all pleased when he found the old man entertaining, in his simple way, any of his colored friends; but he was secretly delighted when he called one night and found Daddy Jack sitting by Uncle Remus's hearth. Daddy Jack was an object of curiosity to older people than the little boy. He was a genuine African, and for that reason he was known as African Jack, though the child had been taught to call him Daddy Jack. He was brought to Georgia in a slave-ship when he was about twenty years old, and remained upon one of the sea-islands for several years. Finally, he fell into the hands of the family of which Uncle Remus's little partner was the youngest representative, and became the trusted foreman of a plantation, in the southern part of Georgia, known as the Walthall Place. Once every year he was in the habit of visiting the Home Place in Middle Georgia, and it was during one of these annual visits that the little boy found him in Uncle Remus's cabin.
Daddy Jack appeared to be quite a hundred years old, but he was probably not more
than eighty. He was a little, dried-up old man, whose weazened, dwarfish appearance,
while it was calculated to inspire awe in the minds of the superstitious, was not
without its pathetic suggestions.
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The child had been told that the
old African was a wizard, a conjurer, and a snake-charmer; but he was not afraid,
for, in any event,--conjuration, witchcraft, or what not,--he was assured of the
protection of Uncle Remus.
As the little boy entered the cabin Uncle Remus smiled and nodded pleasantly, and made a place for him on a little stool upon which had been piled the odds and ends of work. Daddy Jack paid no attention to the child; his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.
"Go en shake han's, honey, en tell Daddy Jack howdy. He laks good chilluns." "Go on shake hands, honey, and tell Daddy Jack howdy. He likes good children Then to Daddy Jack: "Brer Jack, dish yer de chap w'at I bin tellin' you 'bout." "Brother Jack, this here the cahp what i been telling you about."
The little boy did as he was bid, but Daddy Jack grunted ungraciously and made no response to the salutation. He was evidently not fond of children. Uncle Remus glanced curiously at the dwarfed and withered figure, and spoke a little more emphatically:
"Brer Jack, ef you take good look at dis chap, I lay you’ll see mo'n you speck ter see. You'll see sump'n' dat'll make you grunt wusser dan you grunted deze many long year. Go up dar, honey, whar Daddy Jack kin see you." "Brother Jack, if you take good look at this chap, I lay you'll see more than you suspect to see. You'll see something that'll make you grunt worers than you grunted these many long year. Go up there, honey, where Daddy Jack can see you."
The child went shyly up to the old African and stood at his knee. The sorrows and perplexities of nearly a hundred years lay between them; and now, as always, the baffled eyes of age gazed into the Sphinx-like face of youth, as if by this means to unravel the mysteries of the past and solve the problems of the future.
Daddy Jack took the plump, rosy hands of the little
har1883.2007.001.0202.jpg
boy in his black,
withered ones, and gazed into his face so long and steadily, and with such curious
earnestness, that the child didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Presently the old
African flung his hands to his head, and rocked his body from side to side, moaning
and mumbling, and talking to himself, while the tears ran down his face like
rain.
"Ole Missy! Ole Missy! 'E come back! I bin shum dey-day, I bin shum de night! I bin yeddy 'e v'ice, I bin yeddy de sign!" "Old Missy! Old Missy! He come back! I been shum the day, I been shum the night! I been yeddyof advice, I been yeddy of sign!"
"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, into whose arms the little boy had fled; "I des know'd dat 'ud fetch 'im. Hit's bin manys de long days sence Brer Jack seed ole Miss, yit ef he aint seed 'er dat whack, den I aint settin' yer." "I just knew that would fetch him. It's been manys the long setting here."
har1883.2007.001.0203.jpg
After a while Daddy Jack ceased his rocking, and his moaning, and his crying, and sat gazing wistfully into the fireplace. Whatever he saw there fixed his attention, for Uncle Remus spoke to him several times without receiving a response. Presently, however, Daddy Jack exclaimed with characteristic, but laughable irrelevance:
"I no lakky dem gal wut is bin-a stan' pidjin-toe. Wun 'e fetch pail er water on 'e head, water churray, churray. I no lakky dem gal wut tie 'e wool up wit' string; mekky him stan' ugly fer true. I bin ahx da' 'Tildy gal fer marry me, un'e no crack 'im bre't' fer mek answer 'cep' 'e bre'k out un lahf by me werry face. Da' gal do holler un lahf un stomp 'e fut dey-dey, un dun I shum done gone pidjin-toe. Oona bin know da' 'Tildy gal?" "I no likey them gal what is been-a standing pidgeon-toe. When she fetch pail of water on she head, water churray, churray. I no likey them gal what tie me wool up with string; makey him stand ugly for true. I been ask the Tildy gal for marry me, and no creack him better for make answer except he break out and laugh by me very face. The gal do holler and laugh and stomp her foot dey-dey, and then I shum done gone pidgeon-toe. Oona been knew the Tildy gal?"
"I bin a-knowin' 'dat gal," "I been a-knowing that gal," said Uncle Remus, grimly regarding the old African; "I bin a-knowin' dat gal now gwine on sence she 'uz knee-high ter one er deze yer puddle-ducks; en I bin noticin' lately dat she mighty likely nigger." "I been a-knowing that gal now going on since she was knee-high to one of these here puddle-ducks; and I been noticing lately that she maighty likely nigger."
"Enty!"
"Isn't she!"
exclaimed Daddy Jack, enthusiastically, "I did bin mek up ter da' lilly gal troo t'ick un t'in. I
bin fetch 'im one fine 'possum, un mo' ez one, two, t'ree peck-a taty, un
bumbye I bin fetch 'im one bag pop-co'n. Wun I bin do dat, I is fley roun'
da' lilly gal so long tam, un I yeddy 'im talk wit' turrer gal. 'E do say:
'Daddy Jack fine ole man fer true.' Dun I is bin talk: 'Oona no call-a me
Daddy Jack wun dem preacher man come
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fer marry
we.' Dun da' lilly gal t'row 'e head back; 'e squeal lak filly in
canebrake."
"I did been make up to that lilly gal through thick and thin. I been fetch
him one fine possum, and more than one, two, three peck-a taty, and by and
by I been fetch him one bag pop-corn. When I been do that, I is
fley around the lilly gal so long time, and I ready
him talk with turrer gal. He do say: 'Daddy Jack fine old
man for true.' Then I is been talk: 'Oona no call-a me
Daddy Jack when them preacher man come
har1883.2007.001.0204.jpg
for marry
we. Then the lilly gal throw her head back; she squeal like filly in
canebrake."
The little boy understood this rapidly-spoken lingo perfectly well, but he would have laughed anyhow, for there was more than a suggestion of the comic in the shrewd seriousness that seemed to focus itself in Daddy Jack's pinched and wrinkled face.
"She tuck de truck w'at you tuck'n fotch 'er," "She took the truck what you took and fetch her," said Uncle Remus, with the air of one carefully and deliberately laying the basis of a judicial opinion, "en den w'en you sail in en talk bizness, den she up en gun you de flat un 'er foot en de back un 'er han', en den, atter dat, she tuck'n laff en make spote un you." "and then when you sail in and talk business, then she up and gun you the flat of her foot and back of her hand, and then, after that, she took and laugh and make spote of you."
"Enty!" "Isn't she!" assented Daddy Jack, admiringly.
"Well, den, Brer Jack, youer mighty ole, en yit hit seem lak youer mighty young; kaze a man w'at aint got no mo' speunce wid wimmen folks dan w'at you is neenter creep 'roun' yer call in' deyse'f ole. Dem kinder folks aint ole nuff, let 'lone bein' too ole. W'en de gal tuck'n laff, Brer Jack, w'at 'uz yo' nex' move?" "Well, then, Brother Jack, you're mighty old, and yet it seem like you're mighty young; cause a man what ain't got no more experience with women folks than what you is neenter creep around here calling theyself old. Them kind of folks ain't old enough, let alon being too old. When the gal took and laugh, Brother Jack, what was your next move?" demanded Uncle Remus, looking down upon the shrivelled old man with an air of superiority.
Daddy Jack shut his shrewd little eyes tightly and held them so, as if by that means to recall all the details of the flirtation. Then he said:
"Da' lilly gal is bin tek dem t'ing. 'E is bin say
'T'anky, t'anky.' Him eaty da' 'possum, him eaty da' pop-co'n, him roas'n
da' taty. 'E do say, 'T'anky, t'anky!' Wun I talk marry, 'e is bin ris 'e
v'ice un
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squeal lak lilly pig stuck
in 'e t'roat. 'E do holler: 'Hi, Daddy Jack! wut is noung gal gwan do wit'
so ole man lak dis?' Un I is bin say: 'Wut noung gal gwan do wit' ole
Chrismus' cep' 'e do 'joy 'ese'f?' Un da lil gal 'e do lahff un flut 'ese'f
way fum dey-dey."
"The lilly gal is been take them things. 'e is been say
'Thanky, thanky.' Him eaty the opossum, him eaty the popcorn, him roasting
the taty. He do say, 'Thanky, thanky!' When I talk marry,
he is been raise his voice and squeal like pig stuck in he throat. He do
holler: 'Hi, Daddy Jack! what is noung gal gonna do with
so old man like this?' And I been say: 'What noung gal
gonna do with old Christmas excepting she do enjoy herself?' And the lil gal
she do laugh and flurt herself way from day-day."
"I know'd a nigger one time," said Uncle Remus, after pondering a
moment, "w'at tuck a notion dat he
want a bait er 'simmons, en de mo' w'at de notion tuck 'im de mo' w'at he
want um, en bimeby, hit look lak he des natally erbleedz ter have um. He
want de 'simmons, en dar dey is in de tree. He mouf water, en dar hang de
'simmons. Now, den, w'at do dat nigger do? W'en you en me en dish yer chile
yer wants 'simmons, we goes out en shakes de tree, en ef deyer good en ripe,
down dey comes, en ef deyer good en green, dar dey stays. But dish yer
yuther nigger, he too smart fer dat. He des tuck'n tuck he stan' und' de
tree, en he open he mouf, he did, en wait fer de 'simmons fer ter drap in
dar. Dey aint none drap in yit,"
"what took a notion that he want
a bait a persimmons, and the more what the notion took him the more what he
want them, and by and by, it look like he just naturally pleased to have
them. He want the persimmons, and there they is in the tree. His mouth
water, and there hang the persimmons, we goes out and shakes the tree, and
if they're good and ripe, down they comes, and if they're good and green,
there they stays. But this here other nigger, he too smart for that. He just
took and took his stand under the tree, and he open his mouth, he did, and
wait for the persimmons for to drop in there. They ain't non drop in yet,"
continued Uncle Remus, gently knocking the cold ashes out of his pipe; "en w'at's mo', dey aint none gwine
ter drap in dar. Dat des zackly de way wid Brer Jack yer, 'bout marryin'; he
stan' dar, he do, en he hol’ bofe han's wide open en he speck de gal gwine
ter drap right spang in um. Man want gal, he des got ter grab 'er--dat's
w'at. Dey may squall en dey may flutter, but flutter'n' en squallin' aint
done no damage yit ez I knows un, en 'taint gwine ter. Young chaps kin make
great 'miration 'bout gals, but w'en dey gits ole ez I is, dey ull know dat
folks is folks, en w'en it come ter
har1883.2007.001.0206.jpg
bein' folks,
de wimmen ain gut none de 'vantage er de men. Now dat's des de plain up en
down tale I'm a tellin' un you."
"and what's more, they ain't none going to drop in there. That just
exactly the way with Brother Jack here, about marrying; he standing there,
he do, and he hold both hands wide open and expect the gal going to drop
right spang in them. Man want gal, he just got to grab her--that's what.
They may squall and they may flutter, but fluttering and squalling ain't no
damage yet as I knows one, and it ain't going to. Young chaps can make great
admiration about gals, but when they gets old as I is, they'll know that
folks is folks, and when it come to
har1883.2007.001.0206.jpg
being folks,
the women ain't got none the advantage of the men. Now that's just the plain
up and down tal I'm a telling you."
This deliverance from so respectable an authority seemed to please Daddy Jack immensely. He rubbed his withered hands together, smacked his lips and chuckled. After a few restless movements he got up and went shuffling to the door, his quick, short steps causing Uncle Remus to remark:
"De gal w'at git ole Brer Jack 'ull git a natchul pacer, sho'. He move mo' one-sideder dan ole Zip Coon, w'ich he rack up de branch all night long wid he nose p'int lak he gwine 'cross." "The gal what get old Brother Jack'll get a natural pacer, sure. He move more one-side there than old Zip Coon, which he rack up the branch all night long with his nose pink like he going across."
While the little boy was endeavoring to get Uncle Remus to explain the nature of Daddy Jack's grievances, muffled laughter was heard outside, and almost immediately 'Tildy rushed in the door. 'Tildy flung herself upon the floor and rolled and laughed until, apparently, she could laugh no more. Then she seemed to grow severely angry. She arose from the floor and flopped herself down in a chair, and glared at Uncle Remus with indignation in her eyes. As soon as she could control her inflamed feelings, she cried:
"W'at is I done ter you, Unk' Remus? 'Fo' de Lord, ef anybody wuz ter come en tole me dat you gwine ter put de Ole Boy in dat ole Affikin nigger head, I wouldn't er b'leeved um--dat I wouldn't. Unk' Remus, w'at is I done ter you?" "What is I done to you, Uncle Remus? Before the Lord, if anybody was to come and tell me that you going to put Old Boy in that old African nigger head, I wouldn't of believed them-- dat I wouldn't. Uncle Remus, what is I done to you?"
har1883.2007.001.0207.jpg
Uncle Remus made no direct response; but he leaned over, reached out his hand, and picked up an unfinished axe-helve that stood in the corner. Then he took the little boy by the arm, and pushed him out of the way, saying in his gentlest and most persuasive tone:
"Stan' sorter 'roun' dar, honey, kase w' en de splinters 'gin ter fly, I want you ter be out'n de way. Miss Sally never gimme 'er fergivance in de 'roun' worl' ef you 'uz ter git hurted on account er de frazzlin' er dish yer piece er timber." "Stand sort of around there, honey cause when the splinters begin to fly, I want you to be out of the way. Miss Sally never give me her forgivness in the round world if you was to get hurted on account of the frazzling of this here piece of timber."
Uncle Remus's movements and remarks had a wonderful effect on 'Tildy. Her anger disappeared, her eyes lost their malignant expression, and her voice fell to a conversational tone.
"Now, Unk' Remus, you oughtn't ter do me dat a-way, kase' I aint done nothin' ter you. I 'uz settin' up yon' in Aunt Tempy house, des now, runnin' on wid Riah, en yer come dat ole Affikin Jack en say you say he kin marry me ef he ketch me, en he try ter put he arm 'roun' me en kiss me." "Now, Uncle Remus, you ought not to do me that a-way, cuase I ain't done nothing to you. I was setting up yonder in Aunt Tempy house, just now, running on with Riah, and here come that old African Jack and say you say he can marry me if he catch me, and he try to put his arm around me and kiss me."
'Tildy tossed her head and puckered her mouth at the bare remembrance of it.
"W'at wud did you gin Brer Jack?" "What word did you give Brother Jack?" inquired Uncle Remus, not without asperity.
"W'at I gwine tell him?" "What I going to tell him? exclaimed 'Tildy disdainfully. "I des tuck'n up en tole 'im he foolin' wid de wrong nigger." "I just took and up and told him he fooling with the wrong nigger."
'Tildy would have continued her narration, but just at that moment the shuffling of
feet was heard outside, and
har1883.2007.001.0208.jpg
Daddy Jack came in,
puffing and blowing and smiling. Evidently he had been hunting for 'Tildy in every
house in the negro quarter.
"Hi!" he exclaimed, "lil gal, 'e bin skeet sem lak ma'sh hen. 'E no run no mo." "little gal, she been skeet, sweet seem like ma'sh hen. She no run no more."
"Pick 'er up, Brer Jack," "Pick her up, Brother Jack," exclaimed Uncle Remus; "she's yone." "she's young."
'Tildy was angry as well as frightened. She would have fled, but Daddy Jack stood near the door.
"Look yer, nigger man!" "Look here, nigger man!" she exclaimed, "ef you come slobbun 'roun' me, I'll take one er deze yer dog-iuns en brain you wid it. I aint gwine ter have no web-foot nigger follerin' atter me. Now you des come!--I aint feard er yo' cunjun. Unk' Remus, ef you got any intruss in dat ole Affikin ape, you better make 'im lemme 'lone. G'way fum yer now!" "if you come slobbering around me, I'll take one of these here dog-iuns and brain you with it. I ain't going to have no web-foot nigger following after me. Now you just come!--I ain't feared of your conjuring. Uncle Remus, if you got any interest in that old African ape, you better make him leave me alone. Go away from here now!"
All this time Daddy Jack was slowly approaching 'Tildy, bowing and smiling, and looking quite dandified, as Uncle Remus afterward said. Just as the old African was about to lay hands upon 'Tildy, she made a rush for the door. The movement was so unexpected that Daddy Jack was upset. He fell upon Uncle Remus's shoe-bench, and then rolled off on the floor, where he lay clutching at the air, and talking so rapidly that nobody could understand a word he said. Uncle Remus lifted him to his feet, with much dignity, and it soon became apparent that he was neither hurt nor angry. The little boy laughed immoderately, and he was still laughing when 'Tildy put her head in the door and exclaimed:
har1883.2007.001.0209.jpg
"Unk' Remus, I aint kilt dat ole nigger, is I? Kaze ef I got ter go ter de gallus, I want to go dar fer sump'n n'er bigger'n dat." "Uncle Remus, I ain't killed that old nigger, is I? Cause if I got to go to the gallows, I want to go for something near bigger than that?"
Uncle Remus, disdained to make any reply, but Daddy Jack chuckled and patted himself on the knee as he cried:
"Come 'long, lilly gal! come 'long! I no mad. I fall down dey fer laff. Come 'long, lilly gal, come 'long." "Come along, lilly gal! come along! I no mad. I fall down there for a laugh. Coem along lilly gal! come along."
'Tildy went on laughing loudly and talking to herself. After awhile Uncle Remus said:
"Honey, I speck Miss Sally lookin' und' de bed en axin' whar you is. You better leak out fum yer now, en by dis time ter-morrer night I'll git Brer Jack all primed up, en he'll whirl in en tell you a tale." "Honey, I suspect Miss Sally looking under the bed and asking where you is. You better leak out from here now, and by this time tomorrow night I'll get Brother Jack all primed up, and he'll whirl in and tell you a tale."
Daddy Jack nodded assent, and the little boy ran laughing to the "big house."
XXVI.
WHY THE ALLIGATOR'S BACK IS
ROUGH.
The night after the violent flirtation between Daddy Jack and 'Tildy, the latter
coaxed and bribed the little boy to wait until she had finished her work about the
house. After she had set things to rights in the dining- room and elsewhere, she took
the child by the hand, and together they went to Uncle Remus's cabin. The old
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man was making a
door-mat of shucks and grass and white-oak splits, and Daddy Jack was dozing in the
corner.
"W'at I tell you, Brer Jack?" "What I tell you, Brother Jack?" said Uncle Remus, as 'Tildy came in. "Dat gal atter you, mon!" "That gal after you, man!"
"Fer de Lord sake, Unk' Remus, don't start dat ole nigger. I done promise Miss Sally dat I wont kill 'im, en I like ter be good ez my word; but ef he come foolin' longer me I'm des natally gwine ter onj'int 'im. Now you year me say de word." "For the Lord sake, Uncle Remus, don't start that old nigger. I done promise Miss Sally that I won't kill him, and I like to be good as my word; but if he come fooling longer me I'm just naturally going to onj'int him. Now you hear me say the word."
But Daddy Jack made no demonstration. He sat with his eyes closed, and paid no attention to 'Tildy. After awhile the little boy grew restless, and presently he said:
"Daddy Jack, you know you promised to tell me a story to-night."
"He wukkin' wid it now, honey," "He working with it now, honey," said Uncle Remus, soothingly. "Brer Jack," "Brother Jack," he continued, "wa'n't dey sump'n' n'er 'bout ole man Yalligater?" "wasn't they something or anther about old man Alligator?"
"Hi!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, arousing himself, "'e 'bout B'er 'Gater fer true. Oona no bin see da' B'er 'Gater?" "'e about Brother Alligator for true. Oona no been see the Brother Alligator?"
The child had seen one, but it was such a very little one he hardly knew whether to claim an acquaintance with Daddy Jack's 'Gater.
"Dem all sem," "Them all same," continued Daddy Jack. "Big mout', pop-eye, walk on 'e belly; 'e is bin got bump, bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, bump, bump, bump 'pon 'e tail. E dife 'neat' de water, 'e do lif 'pon de lan'. "Big mouth, pop-eye, walk on his belly; he is ben got bump, bump, bump upon the back, bump, bump, bump upon the tail. He dive beneath the water, he do live upon the land.
har1883.2007.001.0211.jpg
"One tam Dog is bin run B'er Rabbit, tel 'e do git tire; da' Dog is bin run 'im tell him ent mos' hab no bre't' in 'e body; 'e hide 'ese'f by de crik side. 'E come close 'pon B'er 'Gater, en B'er 'Gater, 'e do say: "One time Dog is been run Brother Rabbit, till he do get tired; the Dog is been run him till him most have no breath in his body; he hide hisself by the creek side. He come close upon Brother Alligator, he do say:
"'Ki, B'er Rabbit! wut dis is mek you blow so? Wut mekky you' bre't' come so?' 'Hi, Brother Rabbit! what this is make you blow so? What makky you breath come so?'
"'Eh-eh! B'er 'Gater, I hab bin come 'pon' trouble. Dog, 'e do run un-a run me.' 'Eh-eh! Brother Alligator, I have been come upon trouble. Dog,he do run un-a run me.'
"'Wey you no fetch 'im 'long, B'er Rabbit? I is bin git fat on all da' trouble lak dem. I proud fer yeddy Dog bark, ef 'e is bin fetch-a me trouble lak dem.' 'Where you fetch him along, Brother Rabbit? I is been get fat on all the trouble like them. I proud for yeddy Dog bark, if he is been fetch-a me trouble like them.'
"'Wait, B'er 'Gater! Trouble come bisitin' wey you lif; 'e mekky you' side puff; 'e mekky you' bre't' come so.' 'Wait, Brother Alligator! Trouble come visiting where you live; he makey your side puff; he makey your breath come so.'
"'Gater, he do flup 'e tail un 'tretch 'ese'f, un lahff. 'E say: "'Alligator, he do flup/fluff up his tail and stretch hisself, and laugh. He say:
"'I lak fer see dem trouble. Nuddin' no bodder me. I ketch-a dem swimp, I ketch-a dem crahb, I mekky my bed wey de sun shiun hot, un I do 'joy mese'f. I proud fer see dem trouble.' 'I like for see them trouble. Nothing no bother me. I catch-a them shrimp, I cath-a them crab, I makey my bed where the sun shine hot, and I do enjoy meself. I proud for see them trouble.
"''E come 'pon you, B'er 'Gater, wun you bin hab you' eye shed; 'e come 'pon you fum de turrer side. Ef 'e no come 'pon you in da crik, dun 'e come 'pon you in da broom-grass.' 'He come upon you, Brother Alligator, when you been have your eye shed; he come upon you from the other side. If he no come upon you in the creek, then he come upon you in the broom-groass.'
"'Dun I shekky um by de han', Brer Rabbit; I ahx um howdy.' 'Then I shakey him by the hand, Brother Rabbit; I ask him howdy.'
"'Eh-eh, B'er 'Gater! you bin-a lahff at me; you no lahff wun dem trouble come. Dem trouble bin ketch-a you yit.' 'Eh-eh, Brother Gator! you been-a laugh at me; you no laugh when them trouble come. Them trouble been catch-a you yet.' "
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Daddy Jack paused to wipe his face. He had reported the dialogue between Brother Rabbit and Brother Alligator with considerable animation, and had illustrated it as he went along with many curious inflections of the voice, and many queer gestures of head and hands impossible to describe here, but which added picturesqueness to the story. After awhile he went on:
"B'er Rabbit, 'e do blow un 'e do ketch um bre't'. 'E pit one year wey Dog is bin-a bark; 'e pit one eye 'pon B'er 'Gater. 'E lissen, 'e look; 'e look, 'e lissen. 'E no yeddy Dog, un 'e comforts come back. Bumbye B'er 'Gater, e' come drowsy; 'e do nod, nod, un 'e head sway down, tel ma'sh-grass tickle 'e nose, un 'e do cough sem lak 'e teer up da crik by da root. 'E no lak dis place fer sleep at, un 'e is crawl troo da ma'sh 'pon dry lan' ; 'e is mek fer da broom-grass fiel'. 'E mek 'e bed wid 'e long tail, un 'e is 'tretch 'ese'f out at 'e lenk. 'E is shed 'e y-eye, un opun 'e mout', un tek 'e nap. "Brother Rabbit, he do blow and he do catch them bre't. He put one ear where Dog is bin-a bark; he put one eye upon Brother Alligator. He listen, he look; he look, he listen. He no yeddy Dog, and he comforts come back. By and by Brother Alligator, he come drowsy; he do nod, nod, and his head sway down till marsh-grass tickle his nose, and he do cough seem like he tear up the creek by the root. He no like this place for sleep at, and he is crawl through the marsh upon dry land; he is make for that broom-grass field. He make his bed with his long tail, and he is stretch hisself out at his length. He is shed his y-eye, and open his mouth, and take a nap.
"B'er Rabbit, 'e do hol' 'e y-eye 'pon B'er 'Gater.
Him talk no wud; him wallup 'e cud; him stan' still. B'er 'Gater, 'e do tek
'e nap; B'er Rabbit 'e do watch. Bumbye, B'er 'Gater bre't', 'e do come loud; 'e is bin sno' hard! 'E
dream lilly dream; 'e wuk 'e fut un shek 'e tail in 'e dream. B'er Rabbit
wink 'e y-eye, un 'e do watch. B'er 'Gater, he do leaf 'e dream bahine, un
'e sleep soun'. B'er Rabbit watch lil, wait lil. Bumbye, 'e do go wey fier
bu'n in da' stump, un 'e is fetch some. 'E say 'Dis
day I is mek you know dem trouble; I is mek you know dem well.' 'E
hop 'roun' dey-dey, un 'e
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do light da' broom-grass;
'e bu'n, bu'n--bu'n, bu'n; 'e do bu'n smaht.
"Brother Rabbit, he do hold his y-eye upon Brother Alligator. Him talk no
word; him wallup his cud; him stand still. Brother Alligator
bre't', he do come loud; he is
been snow
hard! he dream lilly dream; he work his foot and
shake his tail in the dream. Brother Rabbit wink his y-eye, and he do watch.
Brother Alligator, he do leave his dream behind, and he sleep sound. Brother
Rabbit watch lil, wait lil. By and by, he do go where fire burn in the
stump, and he is fetch some. He say 'This day I is
make you know them trouble; I is make you know them well.' He hop
around there-there, and he
har1883.2007.001.0213.jpg
do light the broom-grass;
he burn, burn--burn, burn,; he do burn smart.
"B'er 'Gater, 'e is dream some mo' lilly dream. 'E do wuk 'e fut, 'e do shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n, bu'n; B'er 'Gater dream. 'E dream da sun is shiun' hot; 'e wom 'e back, 'e wom 'e belly; 'e wuk 'e fut, e' shek 'e tail. Broom-grass bu'n high, 'e bu'n low; 'e bu'n smaht, e' bu'n hot. Bumbye, B'er 'Gater is wek fum 'e dream; 'e smell-a da' smoke, 'e feel-a da' fier. 'E run dis way, 'e run turrer way; no diffran' wey 'e is run, dey da' smoke, dey da fier. Bu'n, bu'n, bu'n! B'er 'Gater lash 'e tail, un grine 'e toof. Bumbye,'e do roll un holler: "Brother Alligator, he is dream some more lilly dream. He do work his foot, he do shake his tail. Broom-grass burn, burn; Brother Alligator dream. He dream the sun is shining hot; he warm his backk, he warm his belly; he work his foot, he shake his tail. Broom-grass burn high, he burn low; he burn smart, he burn hot. By and by, Brother Alligator is wake from his dream; he smell-a the smoke, he feel-a the fire. He run this way, 'he run the other way; no differant where he is run, there the smoke, there the fire. Burn, burn, burn! Brother Alligator lash his tail, and grind his teeth. By and by, he do roll and holler:
"'Trouble, trouble, trouble! Trouble, trouble!'
"B'er Rabbit, 'e is stan' pas' da' fier, un 'e do say: "Brother Rabbit, he is stand past the fire, and he do say:
"'Ki! B'er 'Gater! Wey you fer l'arn-a dis talk 'bout dem trouble?' 'Ki/Hi Brother Alligator! Where you for learned-a this talk about them trouble?'
"B'er 'Gater, 'e lash 'e tail, 'e fair teer da'
ye't, Tear the
earth. [back]
"'Oh, ma Lord! Trouble! 'Oh, my Lord! Trouble! Trouble, trouble, trouble!'
"'Shekky um by de han', B'er 'Gater. Ahx um howdy!' 'Shakey um by the hand, Brother Alligator. Ask them howdy!
"'Ow, ma Lord! 'Ow, my Lord! Trouble, trouble, trouble!'
"'Lahff wit' dem trouble,
B'er 'Gater, lahff wit' dem! Ahx dem is dey he'lt' bin well! You
bin-a-cry fer dey 'quaintun ', Acquaintance. [back]
"B'er 'Gater come so mad, 'e mek dash troo da' broom-
grass; 'e fair teer um down. 'E bin scatter da' fier wide
har1883.2007.001.0214.jpg
'part, un 'e
do run un dife in da' crik fer squinch da' fier 'pon e' bahk. 'E bahk
swivel, 'e tail swivel wit' da' fier, un fum dat dey is bin stan' so. Bump,
bump 'pon 'e tail; bump, bump 'pon 'e bahk, wey da' fier bu'n."
"Brother Alligator come so mad, he make dask through the broom- grass; he
fair tear them down. He been scatter the fire wide
har1883.2007.001.0214.jpg
apart, and
he do run and dive in the creek for squench the fire upon his back. He back
swivel, he tail swivel with the fire, and from that they is been stand so.
Bump, bump upon his tail; bump, bump, upon his back, where the fire
burn."
"Hit's des lak Brer Jack tell you, honey," "It's just like Brother Jack tell you, honey," said Uncle Remus, as Daddy Jack closed his eyes and relapsed into silence. "I done seed um wid my own eyes. En deyer mighty kuse creeturs, mon'. Dey back is all ruffed up en down ter dis day en time, en mo'n dat, you aint gwineter ketch Brer Rabbit rackin' 'roun' whar de Yallergaters is. En de Yallergaters deyse'f, w'en dey years any crackin' en rattlin' gwine on in de bushes, dey des makes a break fer de creek en splunges in." "I done seen them with my own eyes. And they're mighty curious creatures, man. They back is all ruffed up and down to this day and time, and moon that, you ain't going to catch Brother Rabbit racking around where the Alligators is. And the Alligators theyselfs, when they hears any cracking and rattling going on in the bushes, they just makes a break for the creek and splunges in."
"Enty!" "Isn't he!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, with momentary enthusiasm. "'E do tu'n go da' bahnk, un dife 'neat' da' crik. 'E bin so wom wit' da' fier, 'e mek de crik go si-z-z-z!" "He do turn go the bank, and dive beneath the creek. He been so warm with the fire, he make the creek go si-z-z-!"
Here Daddy Jack looked around and smiled. His glance fell on 'Tildy, and he seemed suddenly to remember that he had failed to be as polite as circumstances demanded.
"Come-a set nex' me, lilly gal. I gwan tell you one tale." "Come-a sit next me, lilly gal. I going to telly you one tale."
"Come 'long, Pinx," "Come along, Pinx," said 'Tildy, tossing her head disdainfully, and taking the little boy by the hand. "Come 'long, Pinx; we better be gwine. I done say I won't kill dat ole nigger man. Yit ef he start atter me dis blessid night, I lay I roust de whole plantation. Come on, honey; less go." "Come along, Pinx; we better be going. I done say I won't kill that old nigger man. Yet if he start me this blessed night, I lay I roust the whole plantation. Come on, honey; let's go."
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The little boy was not anxious to go, but Uncle Remus seconded 'Tildy's suggestion.
"Better let dat gal mozey 'long, honey, kaze she mout start in fer ter cut up some 'er capers in yer, en I hate mighty bad ter bus' up dis yer axe-helve, w'ich I'm in needs un it eve'y hour er de day." "Better let that gal mozey along, honey, cause she might start in for to cut up some her caper in here, and I hate mighty bac to bust up this here axe-halve, which i'm in needs of it every hour of the day."
Whereupon the two old negroes were left sitting by the hearth.
XXVII.
BROTHER WOLF SAYS
GRACE.
'Tildy, the house-girl, made such a terrible report of the carryings on of Daddy Jack
that the little boy's mother thought it prudent not to allow him to visit Uncle Remus
so often. The child amused himself as best he could for several nights, but his
playthings and picture-books finally lost their interest. He cried so hard to be
allowed to go to see Uncle Remus that his mother placed him under the care of Aunt
Tempy,--a woman of large authority on the place, and who stood next to Uncle Remus in
the confidence of her mistress. Aunt Tempy was a fat, middle-aged woman, who always
wore a head-handkerchief, and kept her sleeves rolled up, displaying her plump, black
arms, winter and summer. She never hesitated to exercise her authority, and the
younger negroes on the place regarded her as a tyrant; but in spite of her loud voice
and brusque manners she was
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thoroughly
good-natured, usually good-humored, and always trustworthy. Aunt Tempy and Uncle
Remus were secretly jealous of each other, but they were careful never to come in
conflict, and, to all appearances, the most cordial relations existed between
them.
"Well de goodness knows!" "Well the goodness knows!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, as Aunt Tempy went in with the little boy. "How you come on, Sis Tempy? De rainy season aint so mighty fur off w'en you come a-sojourneyin' in dis house. Ef I'd a-know'd you'd a-bin a-comin' I'd a-sorter steered 'roun' en bresh'd de cobwebs out'n de cornders." "How you come, Sister Tempy? The rainy season ain't so mighty far off when you come a-sojourneying in this house. If I'd a-know'd you'd a-been a coming I'd a-sort of steered around and brushed the cobwebs out of the corners."
"Don't min' me, Brer Remus. Luck in de house whar de cobwebs hangs low. I 'uz des a-passin'--a-passin' 'long--en Miss Sally ax me ef I kin come fur ez de do' wid dat chile dar, but bless you, taint in my manners ter tu'n back at de do'. How you come on, Brer Remus?" "Don't mind me, Brother Remus. Luck in the house where they cobwebs hangs low. I was just a-passing--a--passing along--and Miss Sally ask me if I can come far as they do with that child there, but bless you, it ain't in my manner to turn back at the door. How you come on Brother Remus?"
"Po'ly, Sis Tempy; en yit I aint complainin'. Pain yer, en a ketch yander, wid de cramps th'ow'd in, aint no mo' dan ole folks kin speck. How you is, Sis Tempy?" "Probably, Sister Tempy; and yet I ain't complaining. Pain here, and a catch yonder, with the cramps throw'd in, ain't no more than old folks can expect. How you is Sister Tempy?"
"I thank de Lord I'm able to crawl, Brer Remus, en dat's 'bout all. Ef I wa'n't so sot in my ways, deze yer niggers would er run me 'stracted d'reckly." "I thank the Lord I'm able to crawl, Brother Remus, and that's about all. If I wasn't so set in my ways, these here niggers would of run me distracted directly."
Daddy Jack was sitting in the corner laughing and talking to himself, and the little boy watched him not without a feeling of awe. After a while he said:
"Uncle Remus, won't Daddy Jack tell us a story to-night?"
"Now, den, honey,"
"Now,
then honey,"
responded the old man,
"we aint got ter push Brer Jack too closte; we
ull des hatter creep
har1883.2007.001.0219.jpg
up on 'im en ketch 'im fer
er tale wence he in de humors. Sometime hoss pull, sometime he aint pull.
You aint bin down yer so long, hit sorter look lak it my tu'n; kaze it done
come 'cross my 'membunce dat dey wuz one time w'en Brer Wolf kotch Brer
Rabbit, w'ich I aint never gun it out ter you yit."
"we ain't got to push Brother Jack to closte; we will
just have to creep
har1883.2007.001.0219.jpg
up on him and cath him for
a tale one he in the humors. Sometime hoss pull, sometime he ain't pull. You
ain't been down here so long, it sort a look like it my town; cause it done
come across my rememberance that they was one time when Brother Wolf caught
Brother Rabbit, which I ain't never gun it out to you
yet."
"Brother Wolf caught Brother Rabbit, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the little boy, incredulously.
"Yasser! dat's de up en down un it, sho," "Yes sir! that's the up and down of it, shot," responded the old man with emphasis, "en I be mighty glad ef Sis Tempty yer will 'scuze me w'iles I runs over de tale 'long wid you." "and I be mighty glad if Sister Tempty/Tempy here will excuse me whiles I runs over the tale along with you."
"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, don't pay no 'tention ter me," "Bless your soul, Brother Remus, don't pay no attention to me," said Aunt Tempy, folding her fat arms upon her ample bosom, and assuming an attitude of rest and contentment. "I'm bad ez de chillun 'bout dem ole tales, 'kase I kin des set up yer un lissen at um de whole blessid night, un a good part er de day. Yass, Lord!" "I'm bad as the children about them old tales, caus I can just sit up here and listen to them the whole blessed night, and a good part of the day. Yes, Lord!"
"Well, den,"
"Well,
then," said Uncle Remus, "we ull des huddle up yer en see w'at 'come er Brer
Rabbit w'en ole Brer Wolf kotch 'im. In dem days,"
"we you'll
just huddle up here and see what come of Brother Rabbit when old Brother
Wolf caught him. In them days," he continued, looking at
Daddy Jack and smiling broadly, "de
creeturs wux constant gwine a-courtin'. Ef 'twan't Miss Meadows en de gals
dey wuz flyin' 'roun', hit 'uz Miss Motts. Dey wuz constant a-courtin'. En
'twan't none er dish yer 'Howdy-do- ma'm-I-speck-I-better-be-gwine,' n'er.
Hit 'uz go atter brekkus and stay twel atter supper. Brer Rabbit, he got tuk
wid a-likin' fer Miss Motts, en soon one mawnin', he tuck'n slick hisse'f
up, he did, en put out ter call on 'er.
har1883.2007.001.0220.jpg
W'en Brer
Rabbit git ter whar Miss Motts live, she done gone off some'rs.
"the creatures was constant going a-courting. If it wasn't Miss Meadows
and the gals they was flying around, it was Miss Motts. They was constant
a-couring. And it wasn't none of this here 'Howdy-do-
ma'm-I-expect-I-better- be-going, never. It was go after breakfast and stay
till after supper. Brother Rabbit, he got took with a-liking for Miss Motts,
and soon one morning, he took and slick hisself up, he did, and put out to
call on her.
har1883.2007.001.0220.jpg
When Brother
Rabbit get to where Miss Motts live, she done gone of
somewheres.
"Some folks 'ud er sot down en wait twel Miss Motts come back, en den ag'in some folks 'ud er tuck der foot in der han' en went back; but old Brer Rabbit, he aint de man fer ter be outdone, en he des tuck'n go in de kitchen en light he seegyar, en den he put out fer ter pay a call on Miss Meadows en de gals. "Some folks would of sat down and wait till Miss Motts come back, and then again some folks would of took the foot in there hand and went back; but old Brother Rabbit, he ain't the man for to be outdone, and he just took and go in the kitchen and light his cigar, and den he put out fer to pay a call on Miss Meadows and the gals.
"W'en he git dar, lo en beholes, he fine Miss Motts dar, en he tipped in, ole Brer Rabbit did, en he galanted 'roun' mungs um, same lak one er dese yer town chaps, w'at you see come out ter Harmony Grove meetin'-house. De talk en dey laff; dey laff en dey giggle. Bime by, 'long todes night, Brer Rabbit 'low he better be gwine. De wimmen folks dey all ax 'im fer ter stay twel atter supper, kaze he sech lively comp'ny, but Brer Rabbit fear'd some er de yuther creeturs be hidin' out fer 'im; so he tuck'n pay his 'specks, he did, en start fer home. "When he get there, lo and behold, he find Miss Motts there, and he tipped in, old Brother Rabbit did, and he galanted around among them, same like one of these here town chaps, what you see come out to Harmony Grove meeting-house. The talk and the laugh; they laugh and they giggle. By and by, along towards night, Brother Rabbit allow he better be going. The women folks they all ask him for to stay till after supper, cause he such lively company, but Brother Rabbit feared some of the other creatures be hiding out for him; so he took and pay his respects, he did, and start for hom.
"He aint git fur twel he come up wid a great big basket settin' down by de side er de big road. He look up de road; he aint see nobody. He look down de road; he aint see nobody. He look befo', he look behime, he look all 'roun'; he aint see nobody. He lissen, en lissen; he aint year nothin'. He wait, en he wait; nobody aint come. "He ain't got far till he come up with a great big basket setting down by the side of the big road. He look up the road; he ain't see nobody. He look down the road; he ain't see nobody. He look before, he look behind, he look all around; he ain't see nobody. He listen, and listen; he ain't hear nothing. He wait, and he wait; nobody ain't come.
"Den, bimeby Brer Rabbit go en peep in de basket, en
it seem lak it half full er green truck. He retch he han' in, he did, en git
some en put it in he mouf. Den he shet he eye en do lak he studyin' 'bout
sump'n. Atter w'ile,
har1883.2007.001.0221.jpg
he 'low ter hisse'f, 'Hit look lak sparrer-grass, hit feel like
sparrer-grass, hit tas'e lak sparrer-grass, en I be bless ef 'taint
sparrer-grass.'
"Then, by and by Brother Rabbit go and peep in the basket, and it seem
like it half full of green truck. He reach his hand in, he did, and get some
and put it in his mouth. Then he shut his eye and do like he studying about
something. After while,
har1883.2007.001.0221.jpg
he allow to hisself'It look like sparrer- grass, it feel like
sparrer-grass, it taste like sparrar-grass, and I be bless if it ain't
sparrer-grass.'
"Wid dat Brer Rabbit jump up, he did, en crack he heel tergedder, en he fetch one leap en lan' in de basket, right spang in 'mungs de sparrer-grass. Dar whar he miss he footin'," "With that Brother Rabbit jump up, he did, and crack his heel together, and he fetch one leap and land in the basket, right spang in amongs the sparrer-grass. There where he miss his footing," continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his beard meditatively, "kaze w'en he jump in' mungs de sparrer- grass, right den en dar he jump in 'mungs ole Brer Wolf, w'ich he wer' quile up at de bottom." "cause when he jump in amongs the sparrer- grass, righ then and there he jump in amongs old Brother Wolf, which he were curled at the bottom."
"Dar now!" "There now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically. "W'at I tell you? W'at make him pester t'er folks doin's ? I boun' Brer Wolf nail't 'im." "What I tell you? What make him pester the other folks doings? I bound Brother Wolf nail it him."
"Time Brer Wolf grab 'im," "Time Brother Wolf grab him," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit knowed he uz a gone case; yit he sing out, he did: "Brother Rabbit knowned he was a gone case; yet he sing out, he did:
"‘I des try in' ter skeer you, Brer Wolf; I des tryin' ter skeer you. I know'd you 'uz in dar, Brer Wolf. I know'd you by de smell!' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. "'I just trying to scare you, Brother Wolf; I just trying to scare you. I knowed you was in there, Brother Wolf. I knowed you by the smell!' says Brother Rabbit, says he.
"Ole Brer Wolf grin, he did, en lick he chops, en up'n say: "Old Brother Wolf grin, he did, and lick his chops, and up and say:
"‘Mighty glad you know'd me, Brer Rabbit, kaze I know'd you des time you drapt in on me. I tuck'n tell Brer Fox yistiddy dat I 'uz gwine take a nap 'longside er de road, en I boun' you 'ud come 'long en wake me up, en' sho' nuff, yer you come en yer you is,' sez Brer wolf, sezee." "'Mighty glad you knowed me, Brother Rabbit, cause I knowed you just time you dropped in on me. I took and tell Brother Fox yesterday that I was going take a nap alongside of the road, and I bound you would come along and wake me up, and sure enough, here you come and here you is,' says Brother Wolf, says he."
"Oh-ho, Mr. Rabbit! How you feel now?" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, her sympathies evidently with Brother Wolf.
har1883.2007.001.0222.jpg
"W'en Brer Rabbit year dis," "When Brother Rabbit hear this," said Uncle Remus, paying no attention to the interruption, "he 'gun ter git mighty skeer'd, en he whirl in beg Brer Wolf fer ter please tu'n 'im loose; but dis make Brer Wolf grin wusser, en he toof look so long en shine so w'ite, en he gum look so red, dat Brer Rabbit hush up en stay still. He so skeerd dat he bref come quick, en he heart go lak flutter-mill. He chune up lak he gwine cry: "he begun to get mighty scared and he whirl in beg Brother Wolf for to please turn him loose; but this make Brother Wolf grin worser, and he teeth look so long and shine so white, and his gum look so red, that Brother Rabbit hush up and stay still. He so scared that he breath come quick, and his heart go like flutter-mill. He chune up like he going to cry:
"'Whar you gwine kyar me, Brer Wolf?' 'Where you going to carry me, Brother Wolf?'
"'Down by de branch, Brer Rabbit.' 'Down by the branch, Brother Rabbit.'
"'W'at you gwine down dar fer, Brer Wolf?' 'What you going down there for, Brother Wolf?'
"'So I kin git some water ter clean you wid atter I done skunt you, Brer Rabbit.' 'So I can get some water to clean you with after I done skinned you, Brther Rabbit.'
"'Please, sir, lemme go, Brer Wolf.' 'Please, sir, let me go, Brother Wolf.'
"'You talk so young you make me laff, Brer Rabbit.' 'You talk so young you make me laugh, Brother Rabbit.'
"'Dat sparrer-grass done make me sick, Brer Wolf.' 'That sparrer-grass done make me sick, Brother Wolf.'
"'You ull be sicker'n dat 'fo' I git done wid you, Brer Rabbit.' 'You'll be sicker than that before I get done with you, Brother Rabbit.'
"'Whar I come fum nobody dast ter eat sick folks, Brer Wolf.' 'Where I come from nobody has to eat sick folks, Brother Wolf.'
"'Whar I come fum dey aint dast ter eat no yuther kin', Brer Rabbit.' 'Where I come from they ain't has to eat no other kin/kind, Brother Rabbit.' "
"'Ole Mr. Rabbit wuz a-talkin', mon," "'Old Mr. Rabbit was a-talking, man," said Aunt Tempy, with a chuckle that caused her to shake like a piece of jelly.
"Dey went on dis away,"
"They went on this a-way,' continued Uncle Remus, "plum twel dey git ter de branch.
Brer Rabbit, he beg en cry, en cry en beg, en Brer Wolf, he 'fuse en grin,
en grin en 'fuse. W'en dey come ter de branch, Brer Wolf lay Brer Rabbit
down on de groun' en hilt 'im dar, en den he
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study how he gwine make
way wid 'im. He study en he study, en w'iles he studyin' Brer Rabbit, he
tuck'n study some on he own hook.
"plum till they get to the branch. Brother Rabbit, he beg and cry, and cry
and beg, and Brother Wolf, he refuse and grin, and grin and refuse. When
they come to the branch, Brother Wolf lay Brother Rabbit down on the ground
and held him there, and then he
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study how he going make
way with him. He study and he study, and whiles he studying Brother Rabbit,
he took and study some on his own hook.
"Den w'en it seem lak Brer Wolf done fix all de 'rangerments, Brer Rabbit, he make lak he cryin' wusser en wusser; he des fa'rly blubber." "Then when it seem like Brother Wolf done fix all the arrangments, Brother Rabbit, he make like he crying worser and worser; he just fairly blubber."
Uncle Remus gave a ludicrous imitation of Brother Rabbit's wailings.
"'Ber--ber--Brer Wooly--ooly--oolf! Is you gwine--is you gwine ter sakerfice-t me right now--ow --ow?' "Bro--bro--Brother Wooly--ooly--oolf! Is you going--is you going to sacrifice-t me right now--ow--ow?'
"‘Dat I is, Brer Rabbit; dat I is.' 'That I is, Brother Rabbit; that I is.'
"‘Well, ef I blee-eedz ter be kilt, Brer Wooly--ooly --oolf, I wants ter be kilt right, en ef I blee-eedz ter be e't, I wants ter be e't ri--ight, too, now!' 'Well, if I plea-sed to be killed, Brother Wooly--ooly --oolf, I wants to be killed right, nd If I plea-sed to be ate, I wants to be ate ri--ight, too, now!'
"‘How dat, Brer Rabbit?' 'How that, Brother Rabbit?'
"‘I want you ter show yo' p'liteness, Brer Wooly-- ooly--oolf!' 'I want to show your politeness, Brother Wooly--ooly--oolf!'
"‘How I gwine do dat, Brer Rabbit?' 'How I going do that, Brother Rabbit?'
"‘I want you ter say grace, Brer Wolf, en say it quick, kase I gittin' mighty weak.' 'I want you to say grace, Brother Wolf, and say it quick, cause I getting mighty weak.'
"‘How I gwine say grace, Brer Rabbit?' 'How I going to say grace, Brother Rabbit?'
"‘Fol' yo' han's und' yo' chin, Brer Wolf, en shet yo' eyes, en say: ‘Bless us en bine us, en put us in crack whar de Ole Boy can't fine us.' Say it quick, Brer Wolf, kaze I failin' mighty fas'.' 'Fold your hands under your chin, Brother Wolf, and shut your eyes, and say: 'Bless us and bind us, and put us in crack where the Old Boy can't find us.' Say it quick, Brother Wolf, cause I failing mighty fast.' "
"Now aint dat des too much!" "Now ain't that just too much!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, as delighted as the little boy. Uncle Remus laughed knowingly and went on:
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"Brer Wolf, he put up he han's, he did, en shot he eyes, en low, 'Bless us en bine us'; but he aint git no furder, kaze des time he take up he han's, Brer Rabbit fotch a wiggle, he did, en lit on he foots, en he des nataly lef a blue streak behime 'im." Brother Wolf, he put up his hands, he did, and shut his eyes, and allow, 'Bless us and bind us; but he ain't get no further, cause just time he take up his hands, Brother Rabbit fetch a wiggle, he did, and let on his foots, and he just naturally left a blue streak behind him."
"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, while Aunt Tempy allowed her arms to drop helplessly from her lap as she cried "Dar now!" "There now!" and the little boy clasped his hands in an ecstasy of admiration.
"Oh, I just knew Brother Rabbit would get away," the child declared.
"Dat's right, honey," "That's right, honey," said Uncle Remus. "You put yo' pennunce in Brer Rabbit en yo' wont be fur out er de way." "You put your penance in Brother Rabbit and you wont be far out of the way."
There was some further conversation among the negroes, but it was mostly plantation gossip. When Aunt Tempy rose to go, she said:
"Goodness knows, Brer Remus, ef dis de way you all runs on, I'm gwine ter pester you some mo'. Hit come 'cross me like ole times, dat it do." "Goodness knows, Brother Remus, if this the way you all runs on, I'm going to pester you more. It come across me like old times, that it do."
"Do so, Sis Tempy, do so," "Do so, Sister Tempy, do so," said Uncle Remus, with dignified hospitality. "You allers fine a place at my h'ath. Ole times is in about all we got left'." "You always find a place at my hearth. Old times in about all we got left."
"Trufe, too!" "Truth, too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy; and with that she took the child by the hand and went out into the darkness.
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XXVIII.
SPIRITS, SEEN AND
UNSEEN.
It was not many nights before the same company was gathered in Uncle Remus's cabin,--Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy. The conversation took a turn that thrilled the child with mingled fear and curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired as to the state of Aunt Tempy's health, when the latter came in, and her response was:
"I feelin' mighty creepy, Brer Remus, sho'. Look like I bleedz ter hunt compn'y. we'n I come 'long down I felt dat skittish twel ef a leaf had blow'd 'crost de paff, I'd 'a' des in about drapt in my tracks." "I feeling mighty creepy, Brother Remus, shoot. Look like I please to hunt company. W/when I come along down I felt that skittish till if a leaf had blowed acrossed the path, I'd just in about dropped in my tracks."
"How come dat, Sis Tempy?" "How come that, Sister Tempy?" Uncle Remus inquired.
"You know dat little gal er Riah's? Well, I uz settin'
up dar in my house 'w'ile ergo, w'en, bless gracious! fus news I know, I
year dat chile talkin' in the yuther room. I 'low ter myself, she aint
talkin' ter Riah, kaze Riah aint come yit, un den I crope up, un dar wuz de
chile settin' right flat in de middle er de flo', laflin un talkin' un
makin' motions like she see somebody in de cornder. I des stood dar un watch
'er, un I aint a livin' human ef she don't do like dey uz somebody er n'er
in dar wid 'er. She ax um fer ter stay on dey own side, un den, w'en it seem
like dey come todes 'er, den she say she gwine git a switch un drive um
back. Hit make
har1883.2007.001.0228.jpg
me feel so
cole un kuse dat I des tuck'n' come 'way fum dar, un ef dey's sump'n n'er
dar, hit'll be dem un Riah fer't."
"You know that little gal of Riah's? Well, I was sitting up there in my
house while ago, when, bless gracious! first news I know, I hear that child
talking in the other room. I allow to myself, she ain't talking to Riah,
cause Riah ain't come yet, and then I crept up, and there was the child
sitting right flat in the middle of the floor, laughing and talking and
making motions like she see somebody in the corner. I just stood there and
watch her, and I ain't a living human if she don't do like they was somebody
or another there with her. She ask them for to stay on they own side, and
then, when it seem like they come towards her, then she say she going get a
switch and drive them back. It make
har1883.2007.001.0228.jpg
me feel so
cool and curious that I just took and come away from there, and if there's
something in there, it'll be them and Riah for it."
"'E do talk wid ghos'; 'e is bin larf wit' harnt," "He do talk with ghost; he is been laugh with haunt," exclaimed Daddy Jack.
"I speck dat's 'bout de upshot un it," "I suspect that's about the upshot of it," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me dat w'ence you year chilluns talkin' en gwine on periently wid deyse'f, der er bleedz ter see ha'nts." "They tells me that once you hear children talking and going on apparently with theyself, they are pleased to see haunts.
The little boy moved his stool closer to his venerable partner. Daddy Jack roused himself.
"Oona no bin-a see dem ghos'? Oona no bin-a see dem harnt? Hi! I is bin-a see plenty ghos'; I no 'fraid dem; I is bin-a punch dem 'way wit' me cane. I is bin-a shoo dem 'pon dey own siëd da road. Dem is bin walk w'en da moon stan' low; den I is bin shum. Oona no walk wit' me dun. 'E berry bahd. Oona call, dey no answer. Wun dey call, hol' you' mout' shet. 'E berry bahd fer mek answer, wun da' harnt holler. Dem call-a you 'way fum dis lan'. I yeddy dem call; I shetty me y-eye, I shekkey me head. "Oona no been-a see them ghost? Oona no been-a see them haunt? Hi! I is been-a see plenty ghosts; I no afraid them; I si been-a punch them away with me care. I si been-a shoo them upon they own side the road. Them is been walk when the moon stand low; then I is been shum. Oona no walk with me then. He bery bad. Oona call, there no answer. When they call, hold your mouth shut. He very bad for make answer, when the haunt holler. Them call-a you away from this land. I heardy them call; I shutty me y-eye, I shakey me head.
"Wum I is bin noung mahn, me der go fer git water, un
wun I der dip piggin 'neat' da' crik, I yeddy vi'ce fer call me--‘Jahck! O Jahck!' I stan', I lissen, I yeddy de
vi'ce--'Jahck! Jahck! O Jahck!' I tink 'e bin
Titty Ann; Sissy
Ann. [back]
"'Wey you bin call-a me, Titty Ann?' Titty Ann 'tretch 'e y-eye big: "'Where you been call-a me, Sissy Ann?' Sissy Ann strectch his y-eye big:
har1883.2007.001.0229.jpg
"'I no bin-a call. Dead ghos' is bin-a call. Dem harnt do call-a you.' "'I no been-a call. Dead ghost is been-a call. Them haunt do call-a you.'
"Dun I rise me y-eye, un I is bin shum gwan by sundown; 'e is bin gwun bahckwud. I tell Titty Ann fer look at we nuncle, gwan bahckwud by sundown. Titty Ann pit 'e two han' 'pon me y-eyes, un 'e do bline me. 'E say I bin-a see one dead ghos'." "Then I rise me y-eye, and I is been shum gone by sundown; he is been gone backward. I tell Sissy Ann for look at we nuncle, gone backward by sundown. Sissy Ann put his two hands upon my y-eyes, and he do blind me. He say I been-a see one dead ghost."
"What then, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy, as the old African paused.
"Ki! nuff dun. Kaze bumbye, so long tam, folks come fetch-a we nuncle 'tretch out. 'E is bin-a tek wit' da' hecup; 'e trow 'e head dis way; 'e trow 'e head dat way." "Ki! enough done. Casue by and by, so long time, folks come fetch-a we nuncle stretch out. He is been-a tek with that hecup; he through his head this way; he throw his head that way." Daddy Jack comically suited the action to the word. "'E is bin tek-a da' hecup; da' hecup is bin tek um--da' cramp is bin fetch um. I is bin see mo' dead ghos', but me no spot um lak dis. He is been tek-a the hecup; the hecup is been tek/take them--the cramp is been fetch them. I is been see more dead ghosts, but me no spot them like this. "
"I boun' you is," "I bound you is," said Uncle Remus. "Dey tells me, Brer Jack," "They tells me Brother Jack," he continued, "dat w'en you meets up wid one er deze ha'nts, ef you'll tak'n' tu'n yo' coat wrong- sud-outerds, dey won't use no time in makin der disappearance." "that when you meets up with one of these haunts, if you'll take and turn your coat wrong- southwards, they won't lose not time in making the disappearance."
"Hey!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "tu'n coat no fer skeer dead ghos'. 'E
skeer dem Jack-me-Lantun. One tam I is bin-a mek me way troo t'ick swamp. I
do come hot, I do come cole. I feel-a me bahck quake; me br'et' come fahs'.
I look; me ent see nuttin'; I lissen; me ent yeddy nuttin. I look, dey de
Jack-me-Lantun mekkin 'e way troo de bush; 'e comin' stret by me. 'E light
bin-a flick-flicker; 'e git close un close. I yent kin
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stan' dis;
ono foot git heffy, da' heer 'pon me head lif' up. Da' Jack-me-Lantun, 'e
git-a high, 'e git-a low, 'e come close. Dun I t'ink I bin-a yeddy ole folks
talk tu'n you' coat-sleef wun da Jack-me-Lantum is
bin run you. I pull, I twis', I yerk at dem jacket; 'e yent come. 'E is bin
grow on me babck. Jack-me-Lantun fly close. I say me pray 'pon da jacket; 'e
is bin-a yerk loose; da sleef e do tu'n. Jack-me-Lantun, 'e see dis, 'e lif'
up, 'e say 'Phew!' 'E done gone! Oona no walk in da'
swamp 'cep' you is keer you' coat cross da' arm. Enty!"
"turn coat no for scared dead ghost. He scared them Jack-me-Latern. One
time I is been-a mek me way through thick swamp. I do come hot, I do come
cold. I feel-a me back quack; me breath come fast. I look; me ain't see
nothing; I listen; me ain't heady nothing. I look, there the Jack-me-Latern
makking his way through the bush; he coming straight by me. He light been-a
flick-flicker; he get close and close. I ain't can
har1883.2007.001.0230.jpg
stand this;
ono foot get heavy, the hair upon my head lift up. The
Jack-me-Latern, he get-a high, he get-a low, he come close The I think i
been-a heardy old folks talk turn you coat-sleeve
when the Jack-me-Latern is been around you. I pull, I twist, I jerk at them
jacket; he ain't come. He is been grow on my back. Jack-me-Latern fly close.
I say my pray upon the jacket; he is been-a jerk loose; the sleeve he do
turn. Jack-me-Latern, he see just, he ift up, he say Phew!' He done gone! Oona no walk in the swamp
except you is carry your coat cross the arm. Isn't
he!
"Dat w'at make me say," "That what make me say," remarked Aunt Tempy, with a little shiver, "dat 'oman like me, w'at aint w'ar no jacket, aint got no business traipsin un trollopin' 'roun' thoo the woods atter dark." "that woman like me, what ain't what wear no jacket, ain't got no business traipsiong and trolloping around through the woods after dark."
"You mout tu'n yo' head-hankcher, Sis Tempy," "Your mouth turn your head-handkerchief, Sister Tempy," said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, "en ef dat aint do no good den you kin whirl in en gin um leg-bail." "and if that ain't do no good then you can whirl in and give them leg-bail."
"I year tell,"
"I hear tell," continued Aunt Tempy, vouchsafing no
reply to Uncle Remus, "dat dish
yer Jacky-ma-Lantun is a sho nuff sperit. Sperits aint gwine to walk un walk
less'n dey got sump'n n'er on der min', un I year tell dat dish yer
Jacky-ma-Lantun is 'casioned by a man w'at got kilt. Folks kilt 'im un tuck
his money, un now his ha'nt done gone un got a light fer ter hunt up whar
his money is. Mighty kuse ef folks kin hone atter money w'en dey done gone. I dunner w'at he wanter be ramblin' 'roun wid a
light w'en he done dead. Ef anybody got any hard
feelin's 'g'in me, I want um ter take
har1883.2007.001.0231.jpg
it out w'ile deyer in de
flesh, we'n dey come a ha'ntin' me, den I'm done--I'm des done."
"that this here Jacky-my-Latern is a sure enough spirit. Spirits ain't
going to walk and walk less and they got something near the mind, and I hear
tell that this here Jacky-my-Latern is occasioned by a man what got killed.
Folks killed him and took his money, and now his hadn't gone and got a light
for to hunt up where his money is. Mighty curious if folks can hunt after
money when they done gone. I don't know what he want
to be rambling around with a light when he done dead. If anybody got any hard feelings g'in me, I
want them to take
har1883.2007.001.0231.jpg
it out while they are in
the flesh, when they come a haunting me, then I'm done--I'm just done."
"Are witches spirits?" the little boy asked.
The inquiry was not especially directed at Daddy Jack, but Daddy Jack was proud of his reputation as a witch, and he undertook to reply:
"None 't all. Witch,'e no dead ghos'--'e life folks, wey you shekky han' wit'. Oona witch mebbe; how you is kin tell?" "None at all. Witch, he no dead ghost--he life folks, where you shakey hand with. Oona witch maybe; how you can tell? "
Here Daddy Jack turned his sharp little eyes upon the child. The latter moved closer to Uncle Remus, and said he hoped to goodness he wasn't a witch.
"How you is kin tell diffran 'cep' you bin fer try um?" "How you is can tell different except you been for try them?" continued Daddy Jack. "'E good ting fer be witch; 'e mek-a dem folks fred. 'E mek-a dem fred; 'e mek-a dem hol' da' bre't', wun dey is bin-a come by you' place." "He good thing for be witch; he make-a them fold afraid. He make-a them afraid; he mek-a them hold the breath, when they is been-a come by your place."
"In de name er de Lord, Daddy Jack, how kin folks tell wh'er dey er witches er no?" "In the name of the Lord, Daddy Jack, how can folks tell where they are witches or no? asked Aunt Tempy.
"Oo! 'e easy nuff. Wun da' moon is shiun low, wet-a you' han' wit' da' pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer 'pon 'e nose; git 'pon' 'e bahck. Mus' hol' um by 'e year; mus' go gallop, gallop down da' lane, tell 'e do come 'cross one-a big gully. Mus' holler, ‘Double, double, double up! double, double, double up! Heifer jump, oona witch; heifer no jump, oona no witch." "Oo! he easy enough. When the moon is shining low, wet-a your handwith the pot-licker grease; rub noung heifer upon his nose; get upon his back. Must hold him by his ear; must go gallop down the lane, till he do come across one-a big gully. Must holler,'Double, double, double up! double, double, double up! Heifer jump, oona witch; heifer no jump, oona no witch."
"Did you ever ride a heifer, Daddy Jack?" asked the little boy.
"Mo' tam es dem," "More time as them," replied the old negro, holding up the crooked fingers of one withered hand.
har1883.2007.001.0232.jpg
"Did--did she jump across the big gully?"
The child's voice had dropped to an awed whisper, and there was a glint of malicious mischief in Daddy Jack's shrewd eyes, as he looked up at Uncle Remus. He got his cue. Uncle Remus groaned heavily and shook his head.
"Hoo!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, "wun I is bin-a tell all, dey no mo' fer tell. Mus' kip some fer da' Sunday. Lilly b'y no fred dem witch; 'e no bodder lilly b'y. Witch, 'e no rassel wit' 'e ebry-day 'quaintan'; 'e do go pars 'e own place." "when I is been-a tell all, they no more for tell. must keep some for the Sunday. Little boy no afraid them witch; he do go past he own place."
It was certainly reassuring for the child to be told that witches didn't trouble little boys, and that they committed their depredations outside of their own neighborhood.
"I is bin-a yeddy dem talk 'bout ole witch. 'E do leaf 'e skin wey 'e is sta't fum. Man bin-a come pars by; 'e is fine dem skin. 'E say: "I is bin-a heardy them talk about old witch. He do leave his skin where he is start from. Man bin-a come past by; his is fine them skin. He say:
"‘Ki! 'E one green skin; I fix fer dry um.' "'Ki! He one green skin; I fix for dry them.'
"Man hang um by da' fier. Skin,'e do swink, 'e do
swivel. Bumbye 'e do smell-a bahd; man, 'e hol' 'e nose. 'E do wait. Skin
swink, skin stink, skin swivel. 'E do git so bahd, man pitch um in da' ya'd.
'E wait; 'e is wait, 'e is lissen. Bumbye,'e yeddy da' witch come. Witch, 'e
do sharp' 'e claw on-a da' fence; 'e is snap 'e jaw--flick! flick! flick! 'E come-a hunt fer him skin. 'E fine un. 'E
trey um on dis way; 'e no fit. 'E trey 'um on dat way; 'e no fit. 'E trey um
on turrer way; 'e no fit. 'E pit um 'pon 'e head; skin 'e no fit. 'E
har1883.2007.001.0233.jpg
pit um 'pon 'e foot; skin
'e no fit. 'E cuss, 'e sweer; skin 'e no fit. 'E cut 'e caper; skin 'e no
fit. Bumbye 'e holler:
"Man hang them by the fire. Skin, he do swing, he do swivel. By and by he
do smell-a bad; man, he hold his nose. He do wait. Skin swing, skin stink,
skin swivel. By and by he do get so bad, man pitch them in the yard. He
wait; he is wait, he is listen. By and by, he heardy the witch come. Witch
he do sharp he claw on-a the fence; he is snap his jaw--flick! flick! flick! He come-a hunt for him skin. He find one. He
try them on this way; he no fit. He try them on that way; he no fit. He try
them on the other way; he no fit. He put them upon his head; skin he no fit.
He
har1883.2007.001.0233.jpg
put him upon his foot;
skin he no fit. He cuss, he swear; skin he no fit. He cut his caper; skin he
no fit. By and by he holler:
"'Tiss-a me, Skin! wey you no know me? Skin, 'tiss-a me! wey you no know me?" "'Tiss/Listen-a me, Skin! why you know me? Skin, 'tiss/listen-a me! why you no know me?"
"Skin, 'e no talk nuttin' 'tall. Witch 'e do jump, 'e do holler; à mek no diffran. Skin 'e talk nuttin' 'tall. Man, 'e tekky to'ch, 'e look in ya'd. 'E see big blahck Woolf lay by da' skin. 'E toof show; 'e y-eye shiün. Man drife um 'way; 'e is come bahck. Man bu'n da' skin; 'e is bin-a come bahck no mo'." "Skin, he no talk nothing at all. Witch he do jump, he do holler; à make no difference. Skin he talk nothin at all. Man, he taky touch, he look in hard. He see big black Woolf lay by the skin. He tooth show;he y-eye shiün. Man drive them away; he is come back. Man burn the skin; he is been-a come back no more."
The little boy asked no more questions. He sat silent while the others talked, and then went to the door and looked out. It was very dark, and he retumed to his stool with a troubled countenance.
"Des wait a little minnit, honey," "Just wait a little minute, honey," said Uncle Remus, dropping his hand caressingly on the child's shoulder. "I bleedz ter go up dar ter de big house fer ter see Mars John, en I'll take you 'long fer comp'ny." "I pleased to go up there to the big house for to see Master John, and I'll take you along for company."
And so, after a while, the old man and the little boy went hand in hand up the path.
har1883.2007.001.0234.jpg
XXIX.
A GHOST STORY.
The next time the little boy visited Uncle Remus he persuaded 'Tildy to go with him. Daddy Jack was in his usual place, dozing and talking to himself, while Uncle Remus oiled the carriage-harness. After a while Aunt Tempy came in.
The conversation turned on Daddy Jack's story about "haunts" and spirits. Finally 'Tildy said:
"W'en it come ter tales 'bout ha'nts," "When it come to tales about haunts," said she, "I year tell er one dat'll des natally make de kinks on yo' head onquile deyse'f." "I hear tell of one taht'll just naturally make the kinks on your head uncurl theyself."
"W'at tale dat, chile?" "What tale that, child?" asked Aunt Tempy.
"Unk' Remus, mus' I tell it?" "Uncle Remus, must I tell it?"
"Let 'er come," "Let her come," said Uncle Remus.
"Well, den,"
"Well, then," said 'Tildy, rolling her eyes back and
displaying her white teeth, "one
time dey wuz a 'Oman en a Man. Seem like dey live close ter one er n'er, en
de Man he sot his eyes on de 'Oman, en de 'Oman, she des went 'long en ten'
ter her bizness. Man, he keep his eyes sot on 'er. Bimeby, de 'Oman, she
ten' ter her bizness so much tell she tuck'n tuck sick en die. Man, he up'n
tell de folks she dead, en de folks dey come en fix 'er. Dey lay 'er out, en
dey light some candles, en dey
har1883.2007.001.0235.jpg
sot up wid 'er, des like
folks does now; en dey put two great big roun' shiny silver dollars on 'er
eyes fer ter hol' 'er eyeleds down."
"one time there was a Woman and a Man. Seem like they live close to one or
another, and the Man he set his eyes on the Woman, and the Woman, she just
went along and tend to her business. Man, he keep his eyes set on her. By
and by, the Woman, she tend to her business so much till she took and took
sick and die. Man, he up and tell the folks she dead, and the folks they
come and fix her. They lay her out, and theh light some candles, and they
har1883.2007.001.0235.jpg
set up with her, just like
folks does now; and they [ut two great big round shiny silver dollars on her
eyes for to hold her eyelids down."
In describing the silver dollars 'Tildy joined the ends of her thumbs and fore-fingers together, and made a figure as large as a saucer.
"Dey wuz lots bigger dan dollars is deze days," "They was lots bigger than dollars is these days," she continued, "en dey look mighty purty. Seem like dey wuz all de money de 'Oman got, en de folks dey put um on 'er eyeleds fer to hol' um down. Den w'en de folks do dat dey call up de Man en take'n tell 'im dat he mus' dig a grave en bury de 'Oman, en den dey all went off 'bout der bizness. "and they look mighty pretty. Seem like they was all the money the Woman got, and the folks they put them on her eyelids for to hold them down. Then when the folks do that they call up Man and take and tell him that he must dig a grave and bury the Woman, and then they all went off about their business.
"Well, den, de Man, he tuck'n dig de grave en make ready fer ter bury de 'Oman. He look at dat money on 'er eyeleds, en it shine mighty purty. Den he tuck it off en feel it. Hit feel mighty good, but des 'bout dat time de Man look at de 'Oman, en he see 'er eyeleds open. Look like she lookin' at 'im, en he take'n put de money whar he git it fum. "Well, then, the Man, he took and dig the grave and make ready for to bury the Woman. He look at that money on her eyelids, and it shine mighty pretty. Then he took it off and feel it. It feel good, but just about that time the Man look at the Woman, and he see her eyelids open. Look like she looking at him, and he take and put the money where he get it from.
"Well, den, de Man, he take'n git a waggin en haul de 'Oman out ter de buryin'-groun', en w'en he git dar he fix ever'thing, en den he grab de money en kivver up de grave right quick. Den he go home, en put de money in a tin box en rattle it 'roun'. Hit rattle loud en hit rattle nice, but de Man, he aint feel so good. Seem like he know de 'Oman eyeled stretch wide open lookin' fer 'im. Yit he rattle de money 'roun', en hit rattle loud en hit rattle nice. "Well, then, the Man, he take and get a working and haul the Woman out to the burying-ground, and when he get there he fix everything, and then he grab the money and cover up the grave right qucik. Then he go home, and put the money in a tin box and rattle it around. It rattle loud and it rattle nice, but the Man, he ain't feel so good. Seem like he know the Woman eyelid stretch wide open looking for him. Yet he rattle the mony around, and it rattle loud and it rattle nice.
"Well, den, de Man, he take'n put de tin box w'at de
har1883.2007.001.0236.jpg
money in on
de mantel-shel-uf. De day go by, en de night come, en w'en night come de
win' 'gun ter rise up en blow. Hit rise high, hit blow strong. Hit blow on
top er de house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow 'roun' de house. Man, he
feel quare. He set by de fier en lissen. Win' say 'Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!' Man lissen. Win' holler en cry. Hit blow top er
de house, hit blow und' de house, hit blow roun' de house, hit blow in de
house. Man git closte up in de chimbly-jam. Win' fin' de cracks en blow in
um. 'Bizzy, bizzy, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!'
"Well, then, the Man he take and put the tin box what the
har1883.2007.001.0236.jpg
money in on
the mantle-shelf-uf. The day go by, and the night come, and when night come
the wind begun to rise up and blow. It rise high, it blow strong. It blow on
top of the house, it blow under the house, it blow around the house. Man, he
feel queer. He set by the fire and listen. Wind say 'Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!' Man listen. Wind holler and cry, It blow top of
the house, it blow under the house, it blow around the house, it blow top of
the house, it blow under the house, it blow around the house, it blow in the
house. Man get close up in the chimmney-jam. Wind find the cracks and blow
in them.'Bizzy, bizzy, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!'
"Well, den, Man, he lissen, lissen, but bimeby he git tired er dis, en he low ter hisse'f dat he gwine ter bed. He tuck'n fling a fresh light'd knot in de fier, en den he jump in de bed, en quile hisse'f up en put his head und' de kiwer. Win' hunt fer de crack--bizzy-buzz, bizzy- buzz, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o-o! Man keep his head und' de kivver. Light'd knot flar' up en flicker. Man aint dast ter move. Win' blow en w'issel Phew-fee-e-e-e! Light'd knot flicker en flar'. Man, he keep his head kivvud. "Well, then, Man, he listen, listen, but by and by he get tired of this, and he allow to hisself that he going to bed, and curl hisself up and put his head under the cover. Wind hunt for the crack--bizzy-buzz, bizzy- buzz, buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o-o! Man keep his head under the cover. Lighted knot flare up and flicker. Man ain't dares to move. Wind blow and wistle Phew-fee-e-e-e! Lighted knot flicker and flare. Man, he keep his head covered.
"Well, den, Man lay dar, en git skeer'der en skeer'der. He aint dast ter wink his eye skacely, en seem like he gwine ter have swamp agur. W'iles he layin'dar shakin', en de win' a blowin', en de fier flickin', he year some yuther kind er fuss. Hit mighty kuse kind er fuss. Clinkity, clinkalinkle! Man 'low: "Well, then, Man lay there, and get scareder and scareder. He ain't dares to wink his eye scarcely, and seem like he going to have swamp agur. Whiles he laying there shaking, and the wind a blowing, and the fire flicking, he hear some other kind of fuss. It mighty curious kind of fuss. Clinkity,clinkalinkle! Man allow:
"'Hey! who stealin' my money?' "'Hey! who stealing my money?'
"Yit he keep his head kivvud w'iles he lay en lissen.
He year de win' blow, en den he year dat yuther kinder fuss--Clinkity, clink, clinkity, clinkalinkle! Well,
har1883.2007.001.0237.jpg
den, he fling off de
kivver en sot right up in de bed. He look, he aint see nothin'. De fier
flicker en flar' en de win' blow. Man go en put chain en bar 'cross de do'.
Den he go back to bed, en he aint mo'n totch his head on de piller tell he
year de yuther fuss--clink, clink, clinkity,
clinkalinkle! Man rise up, he aint see nothin' 'tall. Mighty
quare!
"Yet he keep his head coverd whiles he lay and listen. He hear the wind
blow, and then he hear that other kind of fuse--Clinkity,
clink, clinkity, clinkalinkle! Well,
har1883.2007.001.0237.jpg
then, he fling off the
cover and sat right up in the bed. He look, he ain't see nothing. The fire
flicker and flare and the wind blow. Man go and put chain and bar across the
door. Then he go back to bed, and he ain't more than touched his head on the
pillow till he hear the other fuss--clink, clink,
clinkity, clinkalinkle! Man rise up, he ain't see nothing at all.
Mighty queer!
"Des 'bout time he gwine ter lay down 'gin', yer come de fuss--clinkity, clinkalinkle. Hit soun' like it on de mantel-shel-uf; 'let 'lone dat, hit soun' like it in de on de mantel-shel-uf; 'let 'lone dat, hit soun' like it de money in de tin box on de mantel-shel-uf. Man say: "Just about time he going to lay down again, here come the fuss--clinkity, clinkalinkle. It sound like ti on the mantel-shelf-uf; let alone that, it sound like it in de on de mantel-shelf-uf; let alone that, it sound like it the money in the tin box on the mantel-shelf-uf. Man say:
"'Hey! rat done got in box!' "'Hey! rat done got in box!'
"Man look; no rat dar. He shet up de box, en set it down on de shel-uf. Time he do dat yer come de fuss-- clinkity, clinkity, clinkalinkle! Man open de box en look at de money. Dem two silver dollars layin' in dar des like he put um. W'iles de man dun dis, look like he kin year sump'n say 'way off yander: "Man look; no rat there, He shut up the box, and set it down on the shelf-uf. Time he do that here come the fuss-- clinkity, clinkity, clinkalinkle! Man open the box and look at the money. Them two silver dollars laying in there just like he put them. Whiles the man done this, look like he can hear something say a-way off yonder:
"'Whar my money? Oh, gimme my money!' "'Where my money? Oh, give me my money!'
"Man, he sot de box back on de shel-uf, en time he put it down he year de money rattle--clinkity, clinkalinkle, clink!--en den fum 'way off yander sump'n say: "Man, he sat the box back on the shelf-uf, and time put it down he hear the money rattle-- clinkity, clinkalinkle, clink!--and then from a-way off yonder something say:
"'Oh, gim me my money! I want my money!' "'"Oh, give me my money! I want my money!'
"Well, den, de Man git skeer'd sho nuff, en he got er
flat-iün en put on de tin box, en den he tuck'n pile all de cheers
'gin de do', en run en jump in de bed. He des know dey's a booger comin'.
Time he git in bed en kivver
har1883.2007.001.0238.jpg
his head, de
money rattle louder, en sump'n cry 'way off yander:
"Well, then, the Man get scared sure enough, and he got her
flat-iün and put on the tin box, and then he took and pile all the
chairs again of do, and run and jump in the bed. He just know they's a
booger coming. Time he get in bed and cover
har1883.2007.001.0238.jpg
his head,
the money rattle louder, and something cry way off yonder:
"‘I want my money! Oh, gim me my money!' "'I want my money! Oh, give me my money!'
"Man, he shake en he shiver; money, hit clink en rattle; booger, hit holler en cry. Booger come closter, money clink louder. Man shake wusser en wusser. Money say: ‘Clinkity, clinkalinkle!' Booger cry, ‘Oh, gim me my money!' Man holler, ‘O Lordy, Lordy!' "Man, he shake and shiver; money, it clink and rattle; booger, it holler and cry. Booger come closer, money clink louder. Man shake worser and worser. Money say: 'Clinkity, clinkalinkle!' Booger cry,'Oh give me my money!' Man holler, ' O Lordy, Lordy!'
"Well, den, hit keep on dis away, tell dreckly Man year de do' open. He peep fum und' de kivver, en in walk de 'Oman w'at he done bury in de buryin'-groun'. Man shiver en shiver, win' blow en blow, money rattle en rattle, 'Oman cry en cry. ‘Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!' sez de win'; ‘Clinkalink!' sez de box; ‘Oh, gim me my money!' sez de 'Oman; ‘O Lordy!' sez de Man. 'Oman year de money, but look like she aint kin see, en she grope 'roun', en grope 'roun', en grope 'roun' wid 'er han' h'ist in de a'r des dis away." "Well, then it keep on this a-way, till directly Man hear the door open. He peep from under the cover, and in walk the Woman what he done bury in the burying-ground. Man shiver and shiver, wind blow and blow, money rattle and rattle, Woman cry and cry. 'Buzz-zoo-o-o-o-o!' says the wind; ‘Clinkalink!' says the box; ‘Oh, give me my money!' says the Woman; 'O Lordy!' says the Man. Woman hear the money, but look like she ain't can see, and she grope around, and grope around, and grope around with her hand h'ist/just in the are just this a-way."
Here 'Tildy stood up, pushed her chair back with her foot, raised her arms over her head, and leaned forward in the direction of Daddy Jack.
"Win' blow, fier flicker, money rattle, Man shake en shiver, 'Oman grope 'roun' en say, ‘Gim me my money! Oh, who got my money?'" "Wind blow, fire flicker, money rattle, Man shake and shiver, Woman grope around and say, ' Give me my money! Oh, who got my money?'"
'Tildy advanced a few steps.
"Money look like it gwine ter t'ar de tin box all ter flinders. 'Oman grope en cry, grope en cry, tell bimeby she jump on de man en holler: "Money look like it going to tear the tin box all to flingers. Woman grope and cry, grope and cry, tell by and by she jump on the man and holler:
"‘You got my money!'" "'You got my money!'"
har1883.2007.001.0239.jpg
As she reached this climax, 'Tildy sprang at Daddy Jack and seized him, and for a few moments there was considerable confusion in the corner. The little boy was frightened, but the collapsed appearance of Daddy Jack convulsed him with laughter. The old African was very angry. His little eyes glistened with momentary malice, and he shook his cane threateningly at 'Tildy. The latter coolly adjusted her ear-rings, as she exclaimed:
"Dar, now! I know'd I'd git even wid de ole vilyun. Come a-callin' me pidjin-toed!" "There, now! I know'd I'd get even with the old villian. Come a-calling me pigeon-toed!"
"Better keep yo' eye on 'im, chile," "Better keep your eye on him, child," said Aunt Tempy. "He 'witch you, sho." "He bewitch you, sure."
"'Witch who? Ef he come witchin' 'roun' me, I lay, I break his back. I tell you dat right pine-blank." "Bewitch who? If he come witching around me, I lay, I break his back. I tell you that right pine-blank."
XXX.
BROTHER RABBIT AND HIS FAMOUS
FOOT.
The little boy was very glad, one night shortly after he had heard about Daddy Jack's ghosts and witches and 'Tildy's "ha'nts," "haunts to find Uncle Remus alone in his cabin. The child liked to have his venerable partner all to himself. Uncle Remus was engaged in hunting for tobacco crumbs with which to fill his pipe, and in turning his pockets a rabbit foot dropped upon the hearth.
"Grab it, honey!" he exclaimed. "Snatch it up off'n
har1883.2007.001.0240.jpg
de h'ath. In
de name er goodness, don't let it git in de embers; kase ef dat ar rabbit
foot git singe, I'm a goner, sho!"
"Snatch it up off of
har1883.2007.001.0240.jpg
the hearth.
In the name of goodness, don't let it get in the embers; cause if that there
rabbit foot get singed, I'm a goner, sure!"
It was the hind foot of a rabbit, and a very large one at that, and the little boy examined it curiously. He was in thorough sympathy with all the superstitions of the negroes, and to him the rabbit foot appeared to be an uncanny affair. He placed it carefully on Uncle Remus's knee, and after the pipe had been filled, he asked:
"What do you carry that for, Uncle Remus?"
"Well, honey," responded the old man, grimly, "ef you want me ter make shorts out'n a mighty long tale, dat rabbit foot is fer ter keep off boogers. W'en I hatter run er'n's fer myse'f all times er night, en take nigh cuts thoo de woods, en 'cross by de buryin'-groun', hits monst'us handy fer ter have dat ar rabbit foot. Keep yo' head studdy, now; mine yo' eye; I aint sayin' deyer any boogers anywhars. Brer Jack kin say w'at he mineter; I aint sayin' nothin'. But yit, ef dey wuz any, en dey come slinkin' atter me, I let you know dey'd fine out terreckly dat de ole nigger heel'd wid rabbit foot. I'ud hol' it up des dis away, en I boun' you I'd shoo um off'n de face er de yeth. En I tell you w'at," "if you want me to make shorts out of a mighty long tale, that rabbit foot is for to keep off boogers. When I have to run or n's for myself all time of night, and take nigh cuts throw the woods, and across the burying-grounds, its monstrous handy for to have that there rabbit foot. Keep your hand steady, now; mind your eye; I ain't saying there're any boogers anywheres. Brother Jack can say what he mineter; I ain't saying nothing. But yet, if there was any, and they come slinking after me, I let you know they'd find out directly that the old nigger healed with rabbit foot. I'd hold it up just this a-way, and I bound you I'd shoo them off the face of the earth. And I tell you what," continued Uncle Remus, seeing that the little boy was somewhat troubled, "w'en it come to dat pass dat you gotter be dodgin' 'roun' in de dark, ef you'll des holler fer me, I'll loan you dish yer rabbit foot, en you'll be des ez safe ez you is w'en Miss Sally stannin' by yo' bed wid a lit can'le in ' er han'. "when it come to that pass that you got to be dodging aroun in the dark, if you'll just holler for me, I'll loan you this here rabbit foot, and you'll be just as safe as you is when Miss Sally standing by your bed with a lit candle in her hand.
har1883.2007.001.0241.jpg
"Strip er red flannil tied 'roun'
yo' arm'll keep off de rheumatis; stump-water'll kyo 'spepsy; some good fer
one 'zeeze, Disease. [back]
If, as some ethnologists claim, the animal myths are relics of zoötheism, there can scarcely be a doubt that the practice here described by Uncle Remus is the survival of some sort of obeisance or genuflexion by which the negroes recognized the presence of the Rabbit, the great central figure and wonder-worker of African mythology. [back]
Uncle Remus made a practical illustration by drawing a cross-mark in the ashes on the hearth.
"Well, but, Uncle Remus, what good does all this do?" the little boy asked.
"Lots er good, honey; bless yo' soul, lots er good. W'en rabbit crosses yo' luck, w'at you gwine do, less'n you sets down en crosses it out, right den and dar? I year talk er folks shootin' rabbit in de big road, yit I notices dat dem w'at does de shootin' aint come ter no good een'--dat w'at I notices." "Lots of good, honey; bless your soul, lots of good. When rabbit crosses your luck, what you going to do, unless you sets down and crosses it out, right then and there? I hear talk of folks, shooting rabbit in the big road, yet I notices that them what does do shooting ain't come to no good even--that what I notices."
"Uncle Remus," the little boy asked, after a while,
har1883.2007.001.0242.jpg
"how did people happen to find out about the rabbit's foot?"
"Oh, you let folks 'lone fer dat, honey! You des let um 'lone. W'at de wimmen aint up'n tell bidout anybody axin' un um, folks mighty ap' fer ter fine out fer deyse'f. De wimmen, dey does de talkin' en de flyin', en de mens, dey does de walkin' en de pryin', en betwixt en betweenst um, dey aint much dat don't come out. Ef don't come out one day it do de nex', en so she goes--Ant'ny over, Ant'ny under--up one row en down de udder, en clean acrosst de bolly-patch!" "Oh, you let folks alone for that, honey! You just let them alone. What the women ain't up and tell bidout anybody asking one of them, folks mighty app for to find out for theyself. The women, they does the talking and they flying, and the mens, they does the walking and the prying, and betweixt and betweenst them, there ain't much that don't come out. If don't come out one day it do the next, and so she goes--Ain't any over, Ain't any under--up one row and down the other, and clean acrossed the bolly-patch!"
It may be that the child didn't understand all this, but he had no doubt of its wisdom, and so he waited patiently for developments.
"Dey's a tale 'bout de rabbit foot," "There's a tale about the rabbit foot," continued Uncle Remus, "but yo' eye look watery, like ole man Nod 'bout ter slip up behime you; en let 'lone dat, I speck Miss Sally clock clickin' fer you right now." "but your eye look watery, like old man Nod about to slip up behind me now."
"Oh, no, it isn't, Uncle Remus," said the child, laughing. "Mamma said she'd make 'Tildy call me."
"Dar, now!"
"There, now!" exclaimed the old man, indignantly, "'Tildy dis en 'Tildy dat. I dunner
w'at yo' mammy dreamin' 'bout fer ter let dat nigger gal be a-holl'in' en
a-bawlin' atter you all 'roun' dish yer plan'ation. She de mos' uppity
nigger on de hill, en de fus' news you know dey ull all hatter make der bows
en call 'er Mistiss. Ef ole Miss wuz 'live, dey wouldn't be no sech gwines
on roun yer. But nummine. Never mind. [back]
har1883.2007.001.0243.jpg
up front er my do', en I
lay you'll year squallin'. Now, den,"
"'Tildy this and 'Tildy that. I don't know what your mammy dreaming about
for to let that nigger gal be a-hollering and a-bawling after you all around
this here plantation. She the most uppity nigger on the hill, and the first
news you know they will all have to make the bows and call her Mistress. If
old Miss was alive they wouldn't be no such goings on around here. But
nevermind. You just let her come a-cutting
har1883.2007.001.0243.jpg
up front of my door, and I
lay you'll hear squalling. Now then," continued the old
man, settling himself back in his chair, "wharbouts wuz I?"
"whereabouts was I?"
"You said there was a tale about the rabbit foot," the little boy replied.
"So dey is, honey! so dey is!" "So they is, honey! so they is!" Uncle Remus exclaimed, "but she got so many crooks en tu'ns in 'er dat I dunner but w'at I aint done gone en fergotted some un um off'n my min'; kaze ole folks lak me knows lots mo' dan w'at dey kin 'member. "but she got so many crooks and turns in there that I don't know but what I ain't done and forgotted some one them off in my mind; cause old folks like me knows lots more than what they can remember.
"In de days w'ence Brer Rabbit wuz sorter keepin' de
neighborhoods stirred up, de yuther creeturs wuz studyin' en studyin' de
whole blessid time how dey gwine ter nab 'im. Dey aint had no holiday yit,
kaze w'en de holiday come, dey'd go ter wuk, dey would, en juggle wid one er
n'er fer ter see how dey gwine ter ketch up with Brer Rabbit. Bimeby, w'en
all der plans, en der traps, en der jugglements aint do no good, dey all
'gree, dey did, dat Brer Rabbit got some cunjerment w'at he trick um wid.
Brer B'ar, he up'n low, he did, dat he boun' Brer Rabbit is a nat'al bawn
witch; Brer Wolf say, sezee, dat he speck Brer Rabbit des in cahoots wid a
witch; en Brer Fox, he vow dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck dan smartness. Den
Jedge B'ar, he drap he head one side, he did, en he ax how come Brer Rabbit
got all de luck on he own side. De mo' dey ax, de mo' dey git pestered, en
de mo' dey git pestered, de wuss dey worry. Day in en day out dey wuk 'wid
dis puzzlement; let 'lone dat, dey sot up nights; en bimeby dey 'gree
har1883.2007.001.0244.jpg
'mungs
deyse'f dat dey better make up wid Brer Rabbit, en see ef dey can't fine out
how come he so lucky.
"In the days when Brother Rabbit was sort of keeping the heighborhoods
stirred up, the other creatures was studying and studying the whole blessed
time how they going to nab him. They ain't had no holiday yet, cause when
the holiday come, they'd got to work, they would, and juggle with one or
another for to see how they going to catch up with Brother Rabbit. By and
by, when all their plans, and the traps, and their jugglements ain't do no
good, they all agree, they did, that Brother Rabbit got some conjurement
what he trick them with. Brother Bear, he up and allow, he did, that he
bound Brother Rabbit is a natural born witch; Brother Wolf say, says he,
that he suspect Brother Rabbit just in cahoots with a witch; and Brother
Fox, he vow that Brother Rabbit got more luch than smartness. Then Juge
Bear, he drop his head one side, he did, and he ask how come Brother Rabbit
got all the luck on his own side. The more they ask, the mroe they get
pestered, and the more they get pestered, the worse they worry. Day in and
day out they work with the puzzlement; let alone that, they sat up nights;
and by and by they agree
har1883.2007.001.0244.jpg
amongs
theyself that they better make up with Brother Rabbit, and shee if they
can't find out how come he so lucky.
"W'iles all dis gwine on, ole Brer Rabbit wuz
a-gallopin' 'roun' fum Funtown ter Frolicville, a-kickin' up de devilment en
terrifyin' de neighborhoods. Hit keep on dis away, twel one time, endurin'
de odd-come-shorts, Sometime, any time, no time. Thus: "Run fetch me de ax, en I wait on you
one er deze odd-come-shorts." [back]
"I done fergit," "I done forgot," said Uncle Remus, scratching his head gravely, "w'ich one er dem chilluns wuz ailin'. Hit mout er bin Kubs, en hit mout er bin Klibs; but no marter fer dat. W'en ole Miss Rabbit git dar, ole Miss B'ar wuz a-settin' up in de chimbly-cornder des a-dosin' en a-nussin' de young un; en all de wimmin er de neighborhoods wuz dar, a-whispun en a-talkin', des fer all de worl' lak wimmin does deze days. It uz: "which one of them children was ailing. It might of been Kubs, and it might of been Klibs; but no matter for that. When old Miss Rabbit get there, old Miss Bear was a-sitting up in the chimeny-corner just a-dosing and a nursing the youngin; and all the women of the neighborhoods was there, a-whispering and a-talking, just fer all the world like women does these days. It uz
"‘Come right in, Sis Rabbit! I mighty proud to see you. I mighty glad you fotch yo' knittin', kaze I'm pow'ful po' comp'ny w'en my chillun sick. Des fling yo' bonnet on de bed dar. I'm dat flustrated twel I dunner w'ich een's up, skacely. Sis Wolf, han' Sis Rabbit dat rockin'-cheer dar, kaze 'taint no one step fum her house ter mine.' 'Come right in, Sister Rabbit! I mighty proud to see you. I mighty glad you fetched your knitting, cause I'm powerful poor company when my children sick. Just fling your bonnet on the bed there. I'm that flustrated till I don't know which end's up, scarcely. Sister Wolf, hand Sister Rabbit that rocking-chair there, cause it ain't no one step from her house to mine.'
"Dat de way ole Miss B'ar run
on,"
"That the way old Miss Bear run on," continued Uncle
har1883.2007.001.0245.jpg
Remus, "en dey set dar en dey chatter an dey
clatter. Ole Brer Wolf, he 'uz settin' out on de back peazzer smokin' en
noddin'. He 'ud take en draw a long whiff, he would, en den he 'ud drap off
ter noddin' en let de smoke oozle out thoo he noze. Bimeby ole Sis Rabbit
drap 'er knittin' in 'er lap, en sing out, sez she:
"and they sit there and they chatter and they clatter. Old Brother Wolf,
he was sitting out the back peazzer smokind and nodding.
He would take and draw a long whiff, he would, and then he would drop off to
nodding and let the smoke oozle out through his nose. By and by old Sister
Rabbit drop her knitting in her lap, and sing out, says
she:
"‘Law, Sis B'ar! I smells 'barker smoke,' sez she. "Lord, Sister Bear! I smelss 'barker smoke,' says she.
"Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt up de sick baby, en swap it fum one knee ter de yuther, en 'low: "Old Sister Bear, she jolt up the sick baby, and swap it from one knee to the other, and allow:
"'My ole man bin smokin' 'roun' yer de whole blessid day, but soon'z dish yer chile tuck sick, I des tuck'n tole 'im, sez I, fer ter take hisse'f off in de woods whar he b'long at, sez I. Yessum! I did dat! I pities any 'oman w'at 'er ole man is fe'r'verlastin' stuck 'roun' de house w'en dey's any sickness gwine on,' sez she. "'My old man been smoking around here the whole blessed day, but soons this here child took sick, I just took and told him, says I, for to take hisself off in the woods where he belong at, says I. Yes ma'am! I did that! I pities any woman what her old man is foreverlasting stuck around the house when there is any sickness going on,' says she.
"Ole Brer Wolf sot out dar on de back peazzer, en he shot one eye, he did, en open um 'g'in, en let de smoke oozle out'n he nose. Sis B'ar, she jolt de sick baby en swap it fum one knee ter de yuther. Dey sot dar en talk twel bimeby der confab sorter slack up. Fus news dey know Sis Rabbit drap 'er knittin' en fling up 'er han's en squall out: "Old Brother Wolf sat out there on the back peazzer, and he shot one eye, he did, and open them again, and let the smoke oozle out of his nose. Sister Bear, she jolt the sick baby and swap it from one knew to the other. They sat there and talk till by and by there confab/conversation sort of slack up. First news they know Sister Rabbit drop her knitting and fling up her hand and squall out:
"‘De gracious en de goodness! Ef I aint done come traipsin off en ler my ole man money-pus, en he got sump'n in dar w'at he wont take a purty fer, needer! I'm dat fergitful,' sez she, ‘twel hit keep me mizerbul mighty nigh de whole time,' sez she. "'The gracious and the goodness! If I ain't done come traiping off and lure my old man money-purse, and he got something in there what he wont take a purty/pretty for, neither! I'm that forgetful,' says she, 'till it keep me miserable mighty near the whold time,' says she.
"Brer Wolf, he lif' up he year en open he eye, en let
de smoke oozle out'n he nose. Sis B'ar, she jolt de sick
har1883.2007.001.0246.jpg
baby wuss en
wuss, en bimeby, she up'n say, sez she:
"Brother Wolf, he lift up his ear and open his eye, and let the smoke
oozle out of his nose. Sister Bear, she jolt the sick
har1883.2007.001.0246.jpg
baby worse
and worse, and by and by, she up and say, says she:
"‘I mighty glad 'taint me, dat I is,' sez she, ‘bekase ef I wuz ter lef' my ole man money-pus layin' 'roun' dat away, he'd des nat'ally rip up de planks in de flo', en t'ar all de bark off'n de trees,' sez she. "'I mighty glad it ain't me, that I is,' says she, 'because if I was to left my old man money-purse laying around that a-way, he'd just naturally rip ud the planks in the floor, and tear all the bark off of the trees,' says she.
"Ole Miss Rabbit, she sot dar, she did, en she rock en study, en study en rock, en she dunner w'at ter do. Ole Sis B'ar, she jolt en jolt de baby. Ole Brer Wolf, he let de 'barker smoke oozle thoo he nose, he did, en den he open bofe eyes en lay he pipe down. Wid dat, he crope down de back steps en lit out fer Brer Rabbit house. Brer Wolf got gait same lak race-hoss, en it aint take 'im long fer ter git whar he gwine. W'en he git ter Brer Rabbit house, he pull de latch-string en open de do', en w'en he do dis, one er de little Rabs wake up, en he holler out: "Old Miss Rabbit, she sat there, she did, and she rock and studym and study and rock, and she don't know what to do. Old Sister Bear, she jolt and jolt the baby. Old Brother Wolf, he let the 'barker smoke oozle through his nose, he did, and then he open both eyes and lay his pipe down. With that, he crept down the back steps and lit out for Brother Rabbit house. Brother Wolf got gait like race-horse, and it ain't take him long for to get where he going. When he get to Brother Rabbit house, he pull the latch-string and open the dorr, and when he do this, one of the little Rabbits wake up, and he holler out:
"‘Dat you, mammy?' "'That you, mammy?'
"Den Brer Wolf wish he kin sing ‘Bye-O-Baby,' but fo' he kin make answer, de little Rab holler out 'g'in: "Then Brother Wolk wish he cn sing 'Bye-O-Baby,' but before he can make answer, the little Rabbit holler out again:
"‘Dat you, mammy?' "'That you, mammy?'
"Ole Brer Wolf know he got ter do sump'n, so he tuck'n w'isper, he did: "Old Brother Wolf know he got to do something, so he took and whisper, he did:
"‘Sh-sh-sh! Go ter sleep, honey. De boogers 'll git you!' en wid dat de little Rab 'gun ter whimple, en he whimple hisse'f off ter sleep. "'Sh-sh-sh! Go to sleep, honey. The boogers'll get you!' and with that the little Rabbit begun to whimple, and he whimple hisself off to sleep.
"Den w'en it seem lak de little
Rabs, w'ich dey wuz mighty nigh forty-eleven un um, is all gone ter sleep,
Brer Wolf he crope 'roun', he did, en feel on de mantel-shelf,
har1883.2007.001.0247.jpg
en feel, en feel, twel he
come ter ole Brer Rabbit money-pus. Ef he want so light wid he
han',"
"Then when it seem like the little Rabbits, which the was
mighty nigh forty-eleven of them, is all gone to sleep, Brother Wolf he
crept around, he did, and fell on the mantel-shelf,
har1883.2007.001.0247.jpg
and feel, and feel, till
he come to old Brother Rabbit money-purse. If he want so light with his
hand," Uncle Remus went on, glancing quizzically at the
child, "he'd a knock off de
pollygollic vial w'at ole Miss Rabbit put up dar. But nummine! Brer Wolf, he
feel, en feel, twel he come ter de money-pus, en he grab dat, he did, en he
des flew'd away fum dar.
"he'd a knock off the pollygollic vial what old Miss Rabbit put up there.
But nevermind! Brother Wolf, he feel, and feel, till he come to the
money-purse, and he grab that, he did, and he just flew away from
there.
"W'en he git out er sight en year'n', Brer Wolf look
at de money-pus, en see w'at in it. Hit 'uz one er deze yer kinder money-puz
wid tossle on de een' en shiny rings in de middle. Brer Wolf look in dar fer
ter see w'at he kin see. In one een' dey wuz a piece er calamus-root en some
collard-seeds, en in de t'er een' dey wuz a great big rabbit foot. Dis make
Brer Wolf feel mighty good, en he gallop off home wid de shorance Assurance. [back]
Here Uncle Remus paused and betrayed a disposition to drop off to sleep. The little boy, however, touched him upon the knee, and asked him what Brother Rabbit did when he found his foot was gone. Uncle Remus laughed and rubbed his eyes.
"Hit's mighty kuse 'bout Brer Rabbit, honey. He aint miss dat money-pus fer mighty long time, yit w'en he do miss it, he miss it mighty bad. He miss it so bad dat he git right-down sick, kaze he know he bleedz ter fine dat ar foot let go w'at may, let come w'at will. He study en he study, yit 'taint do no good, en he go all 'roun' 'lowin' ter hisse'f: "It's mighty curious about Brother Rabbit, honey. He ain't miss that money-purse for mighty long time, yet when he do miss it, he miss it mighty bad. He miss it so bad that he get right-down sick, cause he know he pleased to find that our foot let go what may, let come what will. He study and he study, yet it ain't do no good, and he go all around allowing to hisself:
har1883.2007.001.0248.jpg
"'I know whar I put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um; I know whar I put dat foot, yit I dunner whar I lef' um.' "'I know where I put that foot, yet I don't know where I left them; I know where I put that foot yet I don't know where I left them.'
"He mope en he mope 'roun'. Look lak Brer Wolf got all de luck en Brer Rabbit aint got none. Brer Wolf git fat, Brer Rabbit git lean; Brer Wolf run fas', Brer Rabbit lope heavy lak ole Sis Cow; Brer Wolf feel funny, Brer Rabbit feel po'ly. Hit keep on dis away, twel bimeby Brer Rabbit know sump'n n'er bleedz ter be done. Las' he make up he min' fer ter take a journey, en he fix up he tricks, he do, en he go en see ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money." "He mope and he mope around. Look like Brother Wolf got all the luck and Brother Rabbit ain't got none. Brother Wolf get fat, Brother Rabbit get lean; Brother Wolf run fast, Brother Rabbit lope heavy like old Sister Cow; Brother Wolf feel funny, Brother Rabbit feel poorly. It keep on this a-way, till by and by Brother Ravvit know something another pleased to be done. Last he make up he mind for to take a journey, and he fix up tricks, he do, and he go and see old Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money."
"And who was old Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, Uncle Remus?" the little boy inquired.
"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of triumph, "I know'd w'en I fotch dat ole creetur name up, dey want gwine ter be no noddin' 'roun' dish yer h'ath. In dem days," "I know'd when I fetched that old creature name up, they weren't going to be no nodding around this here hearth. In them days," he continued, "dey wuz a Witch-Rabbit, en dat wuz her entitlements--ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money. She live way off in a deep, dark swamp, en ef you go dar you hatter ride some, slide some; jump some, hump some; hop some, flop some; walk some, balk some; creep some, sleep some; fly some, cry some; foller some, holler some; wade some, spade some; en ef you aint monst'us keerful you aint git dar den. Yit Brer Rabbit he git dar atter so long a time, en he mighty nigh wo' out. "they was a Witch-Rabbit, and that was her entitlements--old Aunt Mammy-Bmmy Big-Money. She live way off in a deep, dark swamp, and if you go there you have to ride some, slide some; jump some, hump some; hop some, flop some; walk some, balk some, creap some; sleep some; fly some, cry some; follow some, holler some; wade some, spade some; and if you ain't monstrous careful you ain't get there then. Yet Brother Rabbit he get there after so long a time, and he mighty near wore out.
"He sot down, he did, fer ter res' hisse'f, en bimeby
he see black smoke comin' outer de hole in de groun' whar de ole
Witch-Rabbit stay. Smoke git blacker and blacker,
har1883.2007.001.0249.jpg
en atter w'ile Brer Rabbit
know de time done come fer 'im ter open up en tell w'at he want."
"He sat down, he did, for to rest hisself, and by and by he see black
smoke coming out of the hole in the ground where the old Witch-Rabbit stay.
Smoke get black and blacker,
har1883.2007.001.0249.jpg
and after a while Brother
Rabbit know the time done come for him to open up and tell what he
want."
As Uncle Remus interpreted the dialogue, Brother Rabbit spoke in a shrill, frightened tone, while the voice of the Rabbit-Witch was hoarse and oracular:
"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I needs yo' he'p.' 'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I needs your help.'
"'Son Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?' 'Son Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'
"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I los' de foot you gim me.' 'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, I lost the foot you give me.'
"'O Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?' 'O Riley Rabbit, why so? Son Riley Rabbit, why so?'
"'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, my luck done gone. I put dat foot down 'pon de groun'. I lef' um dar I know not whar.' 'Mammy-Bammy Big-Money, my luck done gone. I put that foot down upon the ground. I left them there I know where.'
"'De Wolf done tuck en stole yo' luck, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley. Go fine de track, go git hit back, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.' 'The Wolf done took and stole your luck, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley. Go find the track, go get it back, Son Riley Rabbit, Riley.'
"Wid dat," "With that," continued Uncle Remus, "ole Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money sucked all de black smoke back in de hole in de groun', and Brer Rabbit des put out fer home. W'en he git dar, w'at do he do? Do he go off in a cornder by hisse'f, en wipe he weepin' eye? Dat he don't--dat he don't. He des tuck'n wait he chance. He wait en he wait; he wait all day, he wait all night; he wait mighty nigh a mont'. He hang 'roun' Brer Wolf house; he watch en he wait. "old Aunt Mammy-Bammy Big-Money sucked all the black smoke back in the hole in the ground, and Brother Rabbit just put out for home. When he get there, what he do? Do he go off in a corner by hisself, and wipe his weeping eye? That he don't--that he don't. He just took and wait his chance. He wait and he wait; he wait all day, he wait all night; he wait mighty near a month. he hand around Brother Wolf house; he watch and he wait.
"Bimeby, one day, Brer Rabbit git de news dat Brer
Wolf des come back fum a big frolic. Brer Rabbit know
har1883.2007.001.0250.jpg
he time
comin', en he keep bofe eye open en bofe years h'ist up. Nex' mawnin' atter
Brer Wolf git back fum de big frolic, Brer Rabbit see 'im come outer de
house en go down de spring atter bucket water. Brer Rabbit, he slip up, he
did, en he look in. Ole Miss Wolf, she 'uz sailin' 'roun' fryin' meat en
gittin' brekkus, en dar hangin' 'cross er cheer wuz Brer Wolf wes'cut where
he keep he money-pus. Brer Rabbit rush up ter do' en pant lak he mighty nigh
fag out. He rush up, he did, en he sing out:
"By and by, one day, Brother Rabbit get the news that Brother Wolf just
come back from a big frolic. Brother Rabbit know
har1883.2007.001.0250.jpg
his time
coming, and he keep both eye open and both ears hoist up. Next morning after
Brother Wolf get back from the big frolic, Brother Rabbit see him come out
of the house and go down the spring after bucket water. Brother Rabbit, he
slip up, he did, and he look in. Old Miss Wolf, she was sailing around
frying meat and getting breakfast, and there hanging across the chair was
Brother Wolf wescut where he keep his money-purse. Brother Rabbit rush up
the door and pant like he mighty near fag out. He rush up, he did, and he
sing out:
"‘Mawnin', Sis Wolf, mawnin'! Brer Fox sont me atter de shavin'-brush, w'ich he keep it in dat ar money-pus w'at I loant 'im.' 'Morning, Sister Wolf, morning! Brother Fox sent me after the shaving-brush, which he keep it in that there money-purse what I loant him.'
"Sis Wolf, she fling up 'er han's en let um drap, en she laugh en say, sez she: "Sister Wolf, she fling up her hands and let them drop, and she laugh and say, says she:
"‘I 'clar' ter gracious, Brer Rabbit! You gimme sech a tu'n, dat I aint got room ter be perlite skacely.' 'I declare to gracious, Brother Rabbit! You give me such a turn, that I ain't got room to polite scarcely.'
"But mos' 'fo' she git de wuds out'n 'er mouf, Brer Rabbit done grab de money-pus en gone!" "But most before she get the woods out of her mouth, Brother Rabbit done grabe the money-purse and gone!"
"Which way did he go, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked, after a while.
"Well, I tell you dis," "Well, I tell you this," Uncle Remus responded emphatically, "Brer Rabbit road aint lay by de spring; I boun' you dat!" "Brother Rabbit road ain't lay by the spring; I bound you that!"
Presently Tildy put her head in the door to say that it was bedtime, and shortly afterward the child was dreaming that Daddy Jack was Mammy-Bammy Big-Money in disguise.
har1883.2007.001.0251.jpg
XXXI.
"IN SOME LADY'S
GARDEN."
When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the old man was engaged in the somewhat tedious operation of making shoe-pegs. Daddy Jack was assorting a bundle of sassafras roots, and Aunt Tempy was transforming a meal-sack into shirts for some of the little negroes,--a piece of economy of her own devising. Uncle Remus pretended not to see the child.
"Hit's des lak I tell you all," "It's just like I tell you all," he remarked, as if renewing a conversation; "I monst'us glad dey aint no bad chilluns on dis place fer ter be wadin' in de spring-branch, en flingin' mud on de yuther little chilluns, w'ich de goodness knows dey er nasty 'nuff bidout dat. I monst'us glad dey aint none er dat kinder young uns 'roun' yer--I is dat." "I monstrous glad they ain't no bad children on this place for to be wading in the spring-branch, and flinging mud on other little children, which the goodness knows they are nasty enough without that. I monstrous glad they ain't none of that kind of young ones around here--I is that."
"Now, Uncle Remus," exelaimed the little boy, in an injured tone, "somebody's been telling you something on me."
The old man appeared to be very much astonished.
"Heyo! whar you bin hidin', honey? Yer 'tis mos' way
atter supper en you aint in de bed yit. Well--well --well! Sit over ag'in de
chimbly jam dar whar you kin dry dem shoes. En de ve'y nex' time w'at I see
you wadin' in dat branch, wid de sickly season comin' on, I'm a gwine ter
take you 'cross my shoulder en kyar you ter
har1883.2007.001.0252.jpg
Miss Sally,
en ef dat aint do no good, den I'll kyar you ter Mars John, en ef dat aint
do no good, den I'm done wid you, so dar now!"
"Heyo! where you been hiding, honey? Here it is most way after supper and
you ain't in the bed yet. Well--well --well! Sit over again the chimney jam
there where you can dry them shoes. And the very next time what I see you
wading in that branch, with the sickly season coming on, I'm going to take
you across my shoulder and carry you to
har1883.2007.001.0252.jpg
Miss Sally,
and if that ain't do no good, then I'll carry you to Master John, and if
that ain't do no good, them I'm done with you, so there now!"
The little boy sat silent a long time, listening to the casual talk of Uncle Remus and his guests, and watching the vapor rise from his wet shoes. Presently there was a pause in the talk, and the child said:
"Uncle Remus, have I been too bad to hear a story?"
The old man straightened himself up and pushed his spectacles back on his forehead.
"Now, den, folks, you year w'at he say. Shill we pursue on atter de creeturs? Shill er shant?" "Now, then, folks, you hear what he say. Shall we pursue after the creatures? Shall or shant?"
"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus; I mos' 'shame' myse'f, yit I tell you de Lord's trufe, I'm des ez bad atter dem ar tales ez dat chile dar." "Bless your soul, Brother Remus, I most ashamed myself, yet I tell you the Lord's truth, I'm just as bad after them tales as that child there."
"Well, den," "Well, then," said Uncle Remus, "a tale hit is. One time dey wuz a man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin. He had a gyardin, en he had a little gal fer ter min' it. I don't speck dish yer gyardin wuz wide lak Miss Sally gyardin, but hit 'uz lots longer. Hit 'uz so long dat it run down side er de big road, 'cross by de plum thicket, 'en back up de lane. Dish yer gyardin wuz so nice en long dat it tuck'n 'track de 'tention er Brer Rabbit; but de fence wuz built so close en so high dat he can't git in nohow he kin fix it." "a tale it is. One time there was a man, and this here man he had a garden. He had a garden, and he had a little gal for to mind it. I don't suspect this here garden was wide like Miss Sally garden, but it was lots longer. It was so long that it run down side of the big road, across by the plum thicket, and back up the land. This here garden was so nice and long that it took and attract the attention of Brother Rabbit; but the fence was built so close and so high that he can't get in nohow he can fix it."
"Oh, I know about that!" exclaimed the little boy. "The man catches Brother Rabbit and ties him, and the girl lets him loose to see him dance."
har1883.2007.001.0253.jpg
Uncle Remus dropped his chin upon his bosom. He seemed to be humbled.
"Sis Tempy," "Sister Tempy," he said, with a sigh, "you'll hatter come in some time w'en we aint so crowded, en I'll up en tell 'bout Billy Malone en Miss Janey." "you'll have to come in some time when we ain't so crowded, and I'll up and tell about Billy Malone and Miss Janey."
"That wasn't the story I heard, Uncle Remus," said the little boy. "Please tell me about Billy Malone and Miss Janey."
"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a triumphant smile;