from Buh Possum, eh faid fuh meet Buh Wolf, an eh walk berry skittish
ebry time eh lef eh house. Buh Wolf bin on de keen look-out fuh um.
One day dem meet. Buh Wolf, him say: “Haw! Budder, me got you now. You
dodge me long time. Ebry man fuh isself.” Wid dat eh tek arter Buh
Rabbit. Buh Rabbit, him bin quaintun wid all de holler tree een de
wood, an wen Buh Wolf push um close, eh jump een one er dem. Buh Wolf
run up an eh say: “Me got you now. Come out an tek you lick, er me
gwine bun you up een dis tree.” Eh no bin know say narrur holler bin on
tarruh side er de tree, an dat Buh Rabbit done run clean tru an gone.
Wen eh couldnt yeddy nuttne from Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf gedder fat pine
tick, an eh poke um een de holler an eh pit fire ter um. De fire roll,
an Buh Wolf feed um tell de tree bun down. Eh saterfy say Buh Rabbit
done bun up, an eh gone home, an eh mek brag ter him fambly say him bin
stroy Buh Rabbit.
Eh yent bin tree day arter dat wen lo an behole! Buh Wolf meet Buh
Rabbit duh seddown een de big road, dist es content es ef nuttne bin
happne, duh leek isself. Buh Wolf hail um an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, dat
duh you? Enty me bin bun you up tarruh day? Why you duh do duh leek
youself so happy an content?” Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Budder, dat
holler way you bin try fuh bun me een, gone ter de top er de tree, an
eh bin full er honey. De fire melt de honey, an eh run down an kibber
me all ober. Me yent done git um all offer me tel now. You come tase
me an see how sweet me yiz.” Buh Wolf so lub honey eh furgit eh spite
gainst Buh Rabbit, an eh come up an eh taste um, an eh fine out say
honey bin all ober Buh Rabbit. Den eh ax Buh Rabbit fuh show um one
holler way him kin git some honey. Buh Rabbit gree fuh do so ef Buh
Wolf would mek fren wid um. Dem shake ban, and den Buh Rabbit tell Buh
Wolf fuh foiler um. Eh tek um ter one tree wuh hab holler on one side,
but wuh shet up on tarruh side, an eh tell Buh Wolf say dat tree full
er honey, an eh mus git een an crawl up nigh de top es eh could go. Buh
Wolf trus Buh Rabbit, an eh gone een de holler. Soon es eh git een,
Buh Rabbit tek one lightwood knot an eh chink up de hole so Buh Wolf
couldnt come out. Den eh gedder some fat pine, an eh mek fire an eh bun
Buh Wolf up een de holler. While eh duh bun, Buh Wolf bague an pray Buh
Rabbit fuh leh um come out, but Buh Rabbit wouldnt yeddy um.
Buh Rabbit leetle fuh true an eh yent strong, but eh berry scheemy an
eh hab er bad heart.
XL.
BUH RABBIT AN DE CUNJUR MAN.
Buh Rabbit greedy fuh hab mo sense den all de tarruh animel. Eh yent
lub fuh wuk, an eh try heap er scheme fuh git eh libbin outer edder
people by fool um.
One time eh gone ter one wise Cunjur Man fuh larne um him way, an fuh
git him knowledge, so him kin stonish tarruh people an mek dem bliebe
say him bin wise mo ner ebrybody. De Cunjur Man larne um heap er curous
ting. At las Buh Rabbit ax um fuh gen um eh full knowledge. De Cunjur
Man say: “Buh Rabbit, you hab sense nough aready.” Buh Rabbit keep on
bague um, an den de Cunjur Man mek answer: “Ef you kin ketch one big
rattlesnake an fetch um ter me live, me gwine do wuh you ax me fuh do.”
Buh Rabbit git ehself one long stick an eh gone der wood. Eh hunt tel
eh fine one whalin ob er rattlesnake duh quile up on one log. Eh pass
de time er day berry perlite wid um, an arterwards eh bet de snake
say him yent bin es long as de stick wuh him hab een him han. Buh
Rattlesnake laugh at um, an eh mek answer dat eh know eh yiz long mo
na de stick. Fuh settle de bet Buh Rattlesnake tretch ehself out ter
eh berry lenk on de log, an Buh Rabbit pit de pole long side er um fuh
medjuh um. Man sir! befo Buh Rattlesnake fine out, Buh Rabbit slip
one noose roun eh neck an fastne um tight ter de een der de pole. Buh
Rattlesnake twis ehself, an wrop ehself roun an roun de pole, an try
fuh git eh head loose, but all eh twis an tun yent do um no good. An so
Buh Rabbit ketch um, an cahr um ter de Cunjur Man.
De Cunjur Man rale suprise, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, me always bin yeddy
say you bin hab heap er sense, but now me know dat you got um. Ef you
kin fool Rattlesnake, you hab all de sense you want.” Wen Buh Rabbit
keep on bague de Cunjur Man fuh gie um mo sense, de Cunjur Man answer:
“You go fetch me er swarm er Yaller Jacket, an wen you bring um ter me,
me prommus you teh gie you all de sense you want.”
Ebrybody know say Yaller Jacket wus den warse, an bee, an hornet. Eh
sting so bad, an eh berry lub fuh drap topper ebryting wuh come close
eh nes, an dout gie um any warnin. So wuh Buh Rabbit do? Eh gone an eh
git one big calabash, an eh crape um out clean, an eh cut one hole een
um, an eh pit honey een um, an eh tie um on de een er one long pole.
Den eh hunt tel eh fine er Yaller Jacket nes, an eh set de calabash
close by um dout worry de Yaller Jacket, an eh leff um day, an eh tan
off an watch um. Bimeby de Yaller Jacket scent de honey, an dem come
out de nes an gone een de calabash fuh eat de honey. Wen de calabash
full er Yaller Jacket, Buh Rabbit slip up an stop de hole, an cahr um
ter de Cunjur Man. De Cunjur Man mek er great miration ober wuh Buh
Rabbit bin done, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, you is suttenly de smartest
ob all de animel, an you sense shill git mo an mo ebry day. Mo na dat,
me gwine pit white spot on you forrud, so ebrybody kin see you hab de
bes sense een you head.” An dat de way Buh Rabbit come fuh hab er leely
tuff er white hair between eh yez.
XLI.
BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN DE FISHERMAN.
Buh Rabbit es er soon man. You haffer git up befo day fuh head um.
Wayebber you fine um, eh yez cock up fuh yeddy ebryting wuh duh gwine
on. Eh nose duh twis from side ter side fuh ketch all de scent duh
float een de element, an wen eh walk bout eh hop so light you tink
der sperit. Eh lub fuh lib close big road an settlement, way him kin
quaintun wid all wuh happne, an pick eh chance fuh mek eh libbin easy.
One time er Ole Man hab er fish trap wuh mek wid bode. Eh hab er gate.
Wen de tide duh come een de creek, de gate open an leh de fish een; an
wen de tide duh gwine back der ribber, de gate shet an stop all de fish
wuh day een de creek. Ebry low tide de Ole Man tek eh leely waggin an
wisit eh trap, an collec de fish an pit um een eh waggin an cahr um
home fuh him an eh fambly fuh eat.
Buh Rabbit watch de Ole Man es eh pass day arter day long de big road,
an eh hanker arter de fish, but eh yent know rightly how fuh git some.
Arter er wile eh fix dis plan. De nex time eh see de Ole Man duh comin
long de road wid eh waggin an fish, eh leddown dist on de adge er de
road, an eh pant same luk eh bin gwine fuh dead. Es de ole man bin er
pass long eh notus um, an eh stop, an eh gone ter um an eh ax um wuh
ail um. Buh Rabbit mek answer een er woice so leely you cacely kin
yeddy um, an tell um say eh berry sick; dat eh bin gwine home wen eh
back an eh leg gie out, an eh couldnt trabble no furder. Den eh bague
de Ole Man fuh tek um up een eh waggin an cahr um long de big road tel
eh come ter de place way him fuh tun off fuh gwine ter him house. De
Ole Man gree fuh do so, an eh liff Buh Rabbit up, an eh pit um een eh
waggin long side de pile er fish. Buh Rabbit leddown luk eh dead. De
Ole Man back tun ter Buh Rabbit. Een er leely while Buh Rabbit biggin
fuh slip fish outer de waggin, an trow um, onbeknowinst ter de Ole Man,
een de bush wuh bin er grow long side er de road. Wen dem mose git ter
de place way de Ole Man gwine tun out de big road, Buh Rabbit hop outer
de waggin dout de Ole Man shum, an run back an gedder all de fish wuh
him bin tief.
Es de Ole Man retch eh big gate, eh look behine fuh see how Buh Rabbit
duh mek out; an de fus ting eh know Buh Rabbit yent day een de waggin,
an heap er him fish done missin. Den de Ole Man fine out say Buh Rabbit
bin fool um an tief eh fish. De Ole Man berry bex, an eh dribe home an
tell eh wife bout de ting.
Arter Buh Rabbit done gedder de fish wuh eh bin tief outer de Ole Man
waggin, eh pit um on tring, an eh start fuh tote um ter him house. Buh
Fox meet um, an eh quire way eh git all dem fish. Buh Rabbit up an tell
um. Buh Fox say him want git some too. Den Buh Rabbit mek um senserble
wen de Ole Man gwine come long de road, an eh show um good place fuh
him fuh wuk eh plan fuh do dist es him bin do.
De nex day Buh Fox tek eh stan sider de big road an wait fuh de Ole Man
an eh waggin. Befo long yuh eh come. Buh Fox trow isself in de groun,
an roll ober, an moan berry pitiful. De Ole Man shum, an eh light offer
eh waggin an run up ter um wid eh big whip een eh han. Buh Fox bin tink
say de Ole Man gwine pity um, an tek um een eh waggin same luk eh done
Buh Rabbit. Steader dat, an befo eh fine out, de Ole Man knock um een
de head wid de butt er eh whip an stunted um. Den eh beat um ter det,
an eh tek um up an eh trow um een eh waggin, an eh dribe home. Wen eh
git day eh call eh wife an eh show um de tief wuh bin tek eh fish. De
Ole Man yent bin know de diffunce tween Buh Rabbit an Buh Fox. Eh tink
all two bin de same animel.
Buh Rabbit, him no care so eh sabe isself. Him bin know say Buh Fox
gwine ketch de debble wen de Ole Man come pon topper um.
XLII.
BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE YEARLIN.
Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf come inter cohoot fuh kill cow. Dem gone een de
paster an pick out one fat yearlin, an run um down, an ketch um, an cut
eh troat. Den dem skin um an share de meat. Buh Wolf claim de bigges
part, case him hab de bigges fambly. Eh strong mo ner Buh Rabbit, an
so Buh Rabbit yent hab de power fuh mek um do jestice. But ef Buh Wolf
hab de strenk, Buh Rabbit hab de bes sense. So wuh Buh Rabbit do? Eh
tek some salt outer him bag, an eh buil fire, an eh brile some er de
yearlin meat on de coals, an eh eat um right befo Buh Wolf. Soon es eh
done eat um, eh cry out an eh say eh hab pain er belly, an eh double
ehself all up, an eh roll eh yeye, an eh waller all long de groun,
an eh mek all sorter curous motion an noise. Buh Wolf skaid, an eh
conclude say de meat yent good. Eh tink say eh pizen Buh Rabbit, an dem
gree fuh leff um.
Buh Wolf wait tel Buh Rabbit sorter come teh, an den eh help um ter him
house an tell um goodbye.
Wen sun down an eh biggin fuh dark, Buh Rabbit gedder him fambly, and
dem gone an git de yearlin meat, an dem cahr um home an dem eat um.
Nuttne bin ail de meat. Eh bin soun an sweet, an Buh Rabbit do dis fuh
fool Buh Wolf an git him share too.
XLIII.
BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, DE DOG, AN DE GOOSE.
Arter dat time wen Buh Rabbit bin play dat trick on Buh Wolf an ride
um up ter de Gal house wuh dem all two bin er cote, Buh Wolf berry bex
long Buh Rabbit, an eh wan ketch um fuh gie um good lickin. Buh Rabbit,
him so smate eh keep outer Buh Wolf way so eh couldnt come pon topper
um. Buh Wolf hire one dog fuh help um ketch Buh Rabbit. One day de Dog
meet Buh Rabbit der wood, an dout say one wud ter um, eh lean arter um
fuh ketch um. Buh Rabbit run, but de Dog push um so tight Buh Rabbit,
fuh sabe ehself, jump een one holler oak tree. De hole bin too leely
fuh de Dog fuh foller um, an so Buh Rabbit mek ehself saterfy say eh
done git way. Bimeby eh yeddy de Dog call one goose, an tell um fuh
watch de holler tel him kin git some fire an moss fuh smoke Buh Rabbit
outer de tree. Wen de Dog gone fuh gedder de moss an git de fire, Buh
Rabbit call ter de Goose an ax um: “How you duh watch me wen you no see
me?” Wid dat de Goose poke eh long head een de holler fuh look fuh
Buh Rabbit. Es eh do dat, Buh Rabbit trow rotten wood een eh yeye. Eh
bline de Goose, an eh draw eh head out, an wile eh duh fight fuh git de
rotten wood outer eh yeye Buh Rabbit slip out an gone. Wen de Dog come
back, eh stuff de moss een de holler, an eh pit fire ter um, an eh mek
er hebby smoke; but eh cant see ner yeddy nuttne bout Buh Rabbit. Den
eh biggin fuh spicion say Buh Rabbit might er git out, an eh tackle de
Goose bout um. Eh notus de Goose yeye red an eh duh run water. De Goose
tell um how Buh Rabbit bin trow rotten wood een eh yeye wen eh bin er
peep up de holler. Den de Dog know fuh sutten say Buh Rabbit bin wuk
dat plan fuh git way, an dat eh done gone fuh true. Eh so bex eh cuss
de Goose fuh er fool, an eh tun on um fuh stroy um. De Goose holler, an
manage fuh sail way een de element, but eh leff eh fedder een de Dog
mouf.
XLIV.
BUH SQUIRLE AN BUH FOX.
Buh Squirle bin berry busy duh gedder hickry not on de groun fuh pit
way fuh feed ehself an eh fambly duh winter time. Buh Fox bin er watch
um, an befo Buh Squirle shum, eh slip up an eh graff um. Buh Squirle,
eh dat skaid eh trimble all ober, an eh bague Buh Fox fuh lem go. Buh
Fox tell um say eh bin er try fuh ketch um long time, but eh hab sich
sharp yeye, an keen yez, an spry leg, eh manage fuh dodge um; an now
wen eh got um at las, eh mean fuh kill um an eat um. Wen Buh Squirle
fine out dat Buh Fox yent bin gwine pity um an tun um loose, but dat eh
fix fuh kill um an eat um, Buh Squirle say teh Buh Fox: “Enty you know
say nobody oughter eat eh bittle befo eh say grace ober um?” Buh Fox
him mek answer: “Dat so;” an wid dat eh pit Buh Squirle een front er
um, an eh fall on eh knee, an eh kibber eh yeye wid eh han, an eh tun
een fuh say grace.
Wile Buh Fox bin er do dis, Buh Squirle manage fuh slip way; an wen Buh
Fox open eh yeye, eh see Buh Squirle duh run up de tree way him couldnt
tetch um.
Buh Fox fine eh couldnt help ehself, an eh call arter Buh Squirle an eh
say: “Nummine, Boy, you done git way now, but de nex time me clap dis
han topper you, me gwine eat you fus an say grace arterward.”
Bes plan fuh er man fuh mek sho er eh bittle befo eh say tenky fuh um.
XLV.
BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE BUCKRA MAN.
Er Buckra man bin hab er gang er sheep. Ebry now an den eh miss one. Eh
sarche eh fiel, an eh see Buh Wolf track day, an eh mek up eh mine say
him bin er de one wuh duh tief eh sheep. Eh fix heaper plan fuh ketch
um, but eh fail. At lenk eh call een Buh Rabbit, case eh hab summuch
sense, fuh help um. Buh Rabbit, him gree fuh do so ef de Buckra man
would len um one horse, an would prommus no fuh tell Buh Wolf nuttne
bout de ting.
De Buckra man gen um de prommus an len um de horse. Buh Rabbit ride de
horse ter him house, an eh sen wud ter Buh Wolf say him dist bin buy er
fine ridin horse, an him want um fuh come an tek er ride long um. Buh
Wolf, him come, an wen eh look topper de horse eh tell Buh Rabbit him
would lub fuh ride um, but dat him faid say de horse gwine fling um.
Buh Rabbit mek answer say him mussnt faid; dat him gwine pit saddle on
de horse, an wen Buh Wolf git een um eh gwine tie eh leg so him cant
fall off; an, mo ner dat, him gwine git up behine fuh hole um on.
Arter dat Buh Wolf seem saterfy.
Buh Rabbit trow de saddle on de horse an gelt um tight. Den Buh Wolf
climb up an tek eh seat. Buh Rabbit tek string, an eh tie Buh Wolf leg
fas ter de stirrup. Now eh say: “Me gwine git up behine fuh hole you
on.” Steader dat, wen Buh Wolf yent bin er notus, eh step back, an eh
tek er bunch er cock-spur an eh lick um onder de horse tail. De ting
hot de animel so bad, eh jump, an eh pitch, an eh kick up. Buh Wolf
grab de bridle an juk de horse mouf, an dat mek um rare up. Buh Wolf
git rale skaid, an eh holler fuh Buh Rabbit fuh tek um off. Buh Rabbit
tell um fuh hole on tel him kin onloose de saddle. All dis time de
horse bin er cut sich caper Buh Wolf couldnt manage um, an so eh drap
de bridle an heng on ter eh mange fuh keep from fall off. Wen de horse
fine say eh head loose, eh mek fuh home; an befo Buh Wolf fine out eh
run tru de big gate an roun de house ter de stable. De Buckra man bin
er set een eh piazza, an eh see wen de horse come up wid Buh Wolf der
heng topper eh neck. Eh run ter de stable, an eh leh de horse an Buh
Wolf een. Den eh call eh driber, an dem ontie Buh Wolf an fastne um
ter one tree. Arter dem bin gen um bout one hundud lash, Buh Rabbit run
up an bague de Buckra man fuh tun Buh Wolf loose. Eh did tun um loose.
Buh Wolf nebber did fine out say Buh Rabbit bin fix dis plan fuh pit um
een de Buckra man han, an eh tell Buh Rabbit heap er tenky fuh de faber
wuh him bin done ter um.
Ebry time you yeddy bout Buh Rabbit you fine um duh come out head.
XLVI.
BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF FUNERAL.
Buh Rabbit fool Buh Wolf so many time, an een sich diffrunt fashion,
dat eh outdone wid um. Ebry time eh try fuh ketch um fuh lick um, Buh
Rabbit somehow er narruh slip tru eh han an git way. Buh Wolf, him hire
edder people fuh wuk plan fuh git de better er Buh Rabbit an pit um
een eh power, but, bless you soul! dem fail too, an Buh Rabbit, him go
clear. De ting mose worry Buh Wolf life outer um. Eh fret so bout um
tel eh biggin fuh tun rale po.
At lenk Buh Wolf gie out say him berry sick. Leely wile arter dat,
de news come dat Buh Wolf dead. Eh wife eenwite all eh fren ter de
funeral. Buh Wolf mek sho say eh gwine ketch Buh Rabbit now.
Buh Bear, him bin der de passon. Dog come. Roccoon come. Squirle come.
Possum come. Cow come. Alligatur an Cooter, dem come. Deer, him bin
day too. Buh Wolf, him bin er lay out on er bench een de middle er him
house, kibber ober wid er wite clorte, an eh wife an eh chillun duh tan
roun um duh cry. Buh Owl, him fetch er spade fuh dig de grabe, an bud
bin day too fuh sing er hyme.
Wen dem all bin gedder, Buh Rabbit enter dist es careful, an tek eh
stan jes by de do. Dem wait leely wile fuh Buh Fox, but him sen wud
say him wife hab feber an him couldnt leff um. Den Buh Bear, him tek
eh book an eh read um, an eh preach er sarmint. Arter dat de Mockinbud
raise er chune, an dem all sing.
All dis time Buh Wolf bin er leddown, tretch out ter eh full lenk, and
stiff lucker eh bin dead fuh true. Eh hole eh bref so tight, nobody
could yeddy um breave. Wen de preachin an de singin done ober, dem
all gone up fuh tek dem las look at Buh Wolf befo dem tote um out fuh
bury um. Dem raise up de clorte wuh bin ober eh face, an eh look dist
es natrul; an dem tell um goodbye one by one. Buh Rabbit him walk up
las, an eh yent gone berry close needer. Buh Rabbit always tote eh
good sense bout um, an eh nebber will run no resk. Es eh come fuh look
topper Buh Wolf, Buh Wolf bin spec say eh woulder tan so close dat eh
coulder graff um. But wen eh fine Buh Rabbit sorter skittish, an eh
duh ease ehself off, eh tek de chance, an, all ober sutten, eh trow
ehself offer de bench an eh mek arter Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit, him bin
hab eh yeye on Buh Wolf all de time, an befo Buh Wolf could mek eh way
tru de crowd an come up long um, Buh Rabbit slip out de back do an trow
ehself een de brier patch, way Buh Wolf couldnt foller um. De people
all stonish, an wen dem fine out de trute er de ting, dem berry bex;
an, befo dem leff, dem bemean Buh Wolf sich er fashion eh bin shame fuh
show ehself een de settlement fuh many er days. Dat bin er dutty trick
wuh Buh Wolf play on eh fren and on Buh Rabbit, but Buh Rabbit, him
outdo um.
XLVII.
DE NEW NIGGER AN EH MOSSA.
Er New Nigger notus say eh Mossa heap er time duh seddown wid eh foot
cross, yent duh say nuttne an yent duh do nuttne, wen him haffer wuk
all de time. One day eh ax eh Mossa huccum dat. De Buckra man answer:
“Wen you see me duh seddown, an you tink me duh lazy, same time me duh
wuk long me head, an duh mek plan, an study pon ting.”
Soon arter dat de Buckra man come pon topper de New Nigger een de fiel.
De sun hot. Eh bin drap eh hoe, an bin er seddown on de cotton bed duh
res ehself. De Buckra man git bex case de Nigger bin er glec eh wuk, an
eh say ter um: “Huccum you stop de wuk wuh me bin gen you fuh do? Wuh
mek you duh lazy disher fashion?” Den de New Nigger, him mek answer:
“Mossa, me duh wuk long me head.” Wen de Buckra man quire wuh kind er
head wuk him duh do, de New Nigger say: “Mossa, ef you see tree pigeon
duh set on dat tree limb, an you shoot an kill one er dem, how many
gwine leff?” Eh Mossa reply: “Any fool kin tell dat. Ob scource two
gwine leff.” De New Nigger, him mek answer: “No, Mossa, you miss. Ef
you shoot an kill one er dem pigeon, de edder two boun fuh fly way, an
none gwine leff.”
De Buckra man bleege fuh laugh, an eh yent do nuttne ter de New Nigger
case eh glec eh wuk.
XLVIII.
BUH RABBIT AN DE KING DARTER.
Dere was er King wuh bin hab er pooty Darter, an heap er people bin er
cote um. De gal couldnt mek up eh mine which one fuh tek, an so eh ax
eh farruh fuh help um pick. Den eh farruh, wuh bin de King, gen out wud
say de one wuh kin fetch ter um de Alligatur yeye teet, an water from
de Deer yeye, shill hab eh Darter.
All dem wuh bin er cote de gal fix plan fuh git dem ting, but dem fail.
Ebry body bin faid Alligatur, an nobody could outrun Buh Deer. Buh
Rabbit, him bin berry lub de gal, an him hanker arter marry um, so eh
study bout de ting an mek eh scheme. Eh tek eh fiddle an eh gone ter
de ribber bank, an eh play er funny chune, an eh sing er funny song.
Buh Alligatur yeddy um; an bimeby eh crawl outer de mash grass, an
eh leddown close by Buh Rabbit, so him kin ketch all wuh Buh Rabbit
der play an der sing. Buh Rabbit do eh bes, an de ting tickle Buh
Alligatur so bad eh laugh berry harty. Buh Rabbit play an sing, an pick
eh chance, an wen Buh Alligatur duh shet eh yeye an open eh mout fuh
laugh, eh tek eh fiddle bow an, all ob er sutten, eh knock one er Buh
Alligatur yeye teet outer eh head. Befo eh fine out, Buh Rabbit done
pick up de teet an gone.
Den Buh Rabbit notus way Buh Deer blan ramble der wood, an eh dig er
deep hole, an eh kibber um ober complete long dut, an pine straw, an
oak leaf. Eh hide een de bush oneside duh watch. Bimeby Buh Deer, him
come long duh eat grass, an befo eh fine out, de groun gie way onder eh
foot, an eh drap bottom er de hole. Buh Deer dat skaid eh dunno wuffer
do. Eh scuffle. Eh holler, but eh couldnt git out. Buh Rabbit run day,
an eh tell um say dog bin on eh track, an dat dem mose git day. Wid dat
Buh Deer gib up, an biggin fuh cry. Den Buh Rabbit, him slip een de
hole wid er leely calabash, an eh ketch de water duh run down from Buh
Deer yeye. Arter dat eh gone home, an eh tek de Alligatur yeye teet, an
de calabash wuh hab de Deer yeye water een um, an eh light out fuh de
King house.
Wen him show de King wuh him bring, de King gree say Buh Rabbit head er
all dem wuh bin er cote him Darter, an eh gen um de gal, an dem bin hab
er hebby weddin.
XLIX.
DE SINGLE BALL.
Er Buckra man bin berry lub fuh hunt deer. Eh nussen fuh brag too. Eh
hab er Serbant wuh always gone wid um der wood fuh dribe de deer. Him
bin berry fond er eh Mossa, an eh ready any time fuh schway ter de tale
wuh him tell bout how much deer dem kill, an way dem shoot um. One time
dis Buckra man bin tell eh fren say him shoot er deer long er rifle,
an wen eh gone fuh zamine um, eh fine say de ball shoot off eh hine
foot an hit um een eh yez. Him fren couldnt see how dat happne, an dem
yent bin want fuh bleeve de tale. Den de hunter man call pon topper him
Serbant fuh proobe wuh him bin say. De Serbant speak de wud same luk
him Mossa bin talk um. Den de gentlemans ax um how de same ball could
er hit de deer een eh hine foot an een eh yez same time. De Nigger
cratch eh head, an den eh mek answer: “Gentlemans, me spec wen Mossa
fire pon topper um, de deer mus be bin er bresh fly offer eh yez wid eh
hine foot.” Dat sorter saterfy de gentlemans, an sabe de Buckra man wud.
Arter de gentlemans done gone, de Serbant call eh Mossa one side an eh
say: “Mossa, me willin fuh back anyting you say bout hunt an kill deer,
but lemme bague you nex time you tell bout how you shoot um, you pit de
hole closer. Dis time you mek um so fur apart, me hab big trouble fur
git um togerruh.”
L.
BUH ROCCOON AN BUH POSSUM.
Buh Roccoon ax Buh Possum wuh mek, wen de dog tackle um, eh double up
ehself, an kibber eh yeye wid eh han, an wunt fight lucker man an lick
de dog off. Buh Possum grin eh teet same lucker fool, an eh say, wen de
dog come pon topper um, dem tickle him rib so bad long dem mout dat him
bleege ter laugh; an so him furgit fuh fight.
Coward man hab all kind er lie fuh tell fuh scuse ehself.
LI.
BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE RAIN.
Buh Wolf bin er set een de do er him house duh play eh fiddle. Lord
er massy! how dat animel did mek dat fiddle talk! Buh Wolf yeye shet
tight, an eh dis bin er rock from side ter side, an draw eh bow teh eh
berry lenk, en der pat de time wid eh foot. Er hebby shower er rain
come on. Buh Rabbit, him bin een de big road not fur from Buh Wolf
house. Buh Rabbit yent lub rain, an eh try fuh shelter ehself onder er
oak tree wuh kibber wid long moss. De rain lick um een eh yez, an eh
leff fuh hunt better place. Es eh pass by Buh Wolf house, eh notus Buh
Wolf duh set een de do duh play eh fiddle. Buh Wolf so tek up wid eh
play dat eh shet eh yeye an yent duh watch wuh gwine on roun um. So Buh
Rabbit mek up eh mine fuh slip een de do pass Buh Wolf, an set een him
house tel de rain done ober. Buh Rabbit foot so sofe nobody kin yeddy
um wen eh walk. Him no know, but Buh Wolf ketch sight er um outer de
corner ob him yeye wen Buh Rabbit hop een de do an run back side er de
room. Eh sed down day an mek ehself saterfy, an duh wait topper de
rain. Buh Wolf him yent leh Buh Rabbit know say him shum, but eh biggin
fuh tun eh chune, an eh play an eh sing: “Tenk God, rain done sen meat
een me house. Tenk God, rain done sen meat een me house.” Buh Rabbit
yeddy; an eh spicion say Buh Wolf smell um, an fine out say him bin een
eh house. Buh Rabbit hair rise, an eh want fuh git out, but eh faid fuh
slip back trough de do way Buh Wolf bin er sed down. Buh Rabbit berry
oneasy een eh mine, an eh duh consider plan fuh mek eh scape.