gagner la course, lui dire oui tout cela compere Tortue vouloir.
43. Landimin bon matin, ton zabitan semble pou oua
Lendemain bon matin, tous habitants assembler pour voir
44. gran lacourse. Can lhair rive, compair Chivreil ave
grande la course. Quand l'heure arriver, compere Chevreuil avec
45. compair Torti tou le de pare. Jige la crie: "Go!" e ye
compere Tortue tous les deux prepares. Juge la crier: "Go!" et
eux
46. parti galope. Tan compair Chivreil rive cote primie
partir galopper. Temps compere Chevreuil arriver cote premier
47. zalon, li hele: "Halo, compair Torti!" "Mo la, compair
jalon, lui heler: "Halo, compere Tortue!" "Moi la, compere
48. Chivreil!" Tan ye rive dezieme zalon, compair Chivreil
Chevreuil!" Temps eux arriver deuxieme jalon, compere Chevreuil
49. siffle: "Fioute!" Compair Torti reponne: "Croak!" Troisieme
siffler: "Fioute!" Compere Tortue repondre: "Croak!" Troisieme
50. zalon boute, compair Torti tink-a-tink ave compair
jalon au bout, compere Tortue tingue-a-tingue avec compere
51. Chivreil. "Diabe! Torti la galope pli vite
Chevreuil. "Diable! Tortue la galopper plus vite
52. pace stimbotte; fo mo grouye mo cor." Tan compair
passe steamboat; faut moi grouiller mon corps." Temps compere
53. Chivreil rive cote nevieme zalon, li oua compair Torti
Chevreuil arriver cote neuvieme jalon, lui voir compere Tortue
54. ape patchiou dan dolo. Li mete ton so laforce
apres _patchiou_! dans de l'eau. Lui mettre toute sa la force
55. dihior pou aien; avan li rive cote bite, li tende
dehors pour rien; avant lui arriver cote but, lui entendre
56. ton monne ape hele: "Houra! houra! pou compair Torti!"
tout monde apres heler: "Hourra! hourra! pour compere Tortue!"
57. Tan li rive, li oua compair Torti on la garlie ape
Temps lui arriver, lui voir compere Tortue en la galerie apres
58. brasse Mamzel Calinda. Ca fe li si tan mal, li
embrasser Mlle. Calinda. Cela faire lui si tant mal, lui
59. sape dan boi. Compair Torti maie ave Mamzel Calinda
s'echapper dans bois. Compere Tortue marier avec Mlle. Calinda
60. samedi ape vini, e tou monne manze, boi, jika
samedi apres venir, et tout monde manger, boire jusqu'a
61. y tchiak.[i_22]
eux griser.
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 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.
J. C. H.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTES:
[i_1] _Uncle Remus; His Songs and His Sayings._ The Folk-Lore of the
Old Plantation. New York: D. Appleton & Co. 1880.
[i_2] _Amazonian Tortoise Myths_, pp. 2, 3.
[i_3] Page 10.
[i_4] _Kaffir Folk-Lore_; or, _A Selection from the Traditional Tales
current among the People living on the Eastern Border of the
Cape Colony_. London, 1882.
[i_5] _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, p. 43.
[i_6] Professor Hartt, in his _Amazonian Tortoise Myths_, relates the
story of "The Jabuti that Cheated the Man." The Jabuti is
identical with Brother Terrapin. The man carried the Jabuti to
his house, put him in a box, and went out. By and by the Jabuti
began to sing, just as Brother Rabbit did. The man's children
listened, and the Jabuti stopped. The children begged him to
continue, but to this he replied: "If you are pleased with my
singing, how much more would you be pleased if you could see
me dance." The children thereupon took him from the box, and
placed him in the middle of the floor, where he danced, to
their great delight. Presently, the Jabuti made an excuse to
go out, and fled. The children procured a stone, painted it
like the tortoise, and placed it in the box. After a while
the man returned, took the painted stone from the box and
placed it on the fire, where it burst as soon as it became
heated. Meantime, the Jabuti had taken refuge in a burrow
having two openings, so that, while the man was looking in
at one opening, the tortoise would appear at another. Professor
Hartt identifies this as a sun-myth--the slow-sun (or tortoise)
escaping from the swift-moon (or man).
[i_7] _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, p. 84.
[i_8] Page 89.
[i_9] _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, p. 178.
[i_10] Page 111.
[i_11] _Kaffir Folk-Lore_, p. 166.
[i_12] _Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings_, xix. p. 88.
[i_13] _Amazonian Tortoise Myths_, p. 29.
[i_14] _Reynard, the Fox, in South Africa_; or, _Hottentot Fables and
Tales_. By W. H. I. Bleek, Ph. D. London, 1864.
[i_15] Page 32.
[i_16] Bleek, p. 23.
[i_17] _O'Selvagem_, p. 237. Quoted by Mr. Herbert H. Smith, in his
work _Brazil and the Amazons_.
[i_18] Page 37.
[i_19] The first volume.
[i_20] D. G. Brinton's _Myths_, pp. 161-170.
[i_21] _The American Journal of Philology_, vol. iii. no. 11.
[i_22] _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._
--------------------------------------------------------------------
NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS
I
MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE
It had been raining all day so that Uncle Remus found it impossible to
go out. The storm had begun, the old man declared, just as the chickens
were crowing for day, and it had continued almost without intermission.
The dark gray clouds had blotted out the sun, and the leafless limbs of
the tall oaks surrendered themselves drearily to the fantastic gusts
that drove the drizzle fitfully before them. The lady to whom Uncle
Remus belonged had been thoughtful of the old man, and 'Tildy, the
house-girl, had been commissioned to carry him his meals. This
arrangement came to the knowledge of the little boy at supper time, and
he lost no time in obtaining permission to accompany 'Tildy.
Uncle Remus made a great demonstration over the thoughtful kindness of
his "Miss Sally."
"Ef she aint one blessid w'ite 'oman," he said, in his simple, fervent
way, "den dey aint none un um 'roun' in deze parts."
With that he addressed himself to the supper, while the little boy sat
by and eyed him with that familiar curiosity common to children. Finally
the youngster disturbed the old man with an inquiry:
"Uncle Remus, do geese stand on one leg all night, or do they sit down
to sleep?"
"Tooby sho' dey does, honey; dey sets down same ez you does. Co'se, dey
don't cross der legs," he added, cautiously, "kase dey sets down right
flat-footed."
"Well, I saw one the other day, and he was standing on one foot, and I
watched him and watched him, and he kept on standing there."
"Ez ter dat," responded Uncle Remus, "dey mought stan' on one foot an'
drap off ter sleep en fergit deyse'f. Deze yer gooses," he continued,
wiping the crumbs from his beard with his coat-tail, "is mighty kuse
fowls; deyer mighty kuse. In ole times dey wuz 'mongs de big-bugs, en in
dem days, w'en ole Miss Goose gun a-dinin', all de quality wuz dere.
Likewise, en needer wuz dey stuck-up, kase wid all der kyar'n's on, Miss
Goose wer'n't too proud fer ter take in washin' fer de neighborhoods, en
she make money, en get slick en fat lak Sis Tempy.
"Dis de way marters stan' w'en one day Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey wuz
settin' up at de cotton-patch, one on one side de fence, en t'er one on
t'er side, gwine on wid one er n'er, w'en fus' news dey know, dey year
sump'n--_blim_, _blim_, _blim_!
"Brer Fox, he ax w'at dat fuss is, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'spon' dat
it's ole Miss Goose down at de spring. Den Brer Fox, he up'n ax w'at she
doin', en Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat she battlin' cloze."
[Illustration: MR. FOX AND MISS GOOSE]
"Battling clothes, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy.
"Dat w'at dey call it dem days, honey. Deze times, dey rubs cloze on
deze yer bodes w'at got furrers in um, but dem days dey des tuck'n tuck
de cloze en lay um out on a bench, en ketch holt er de battlin'-stick en
natally paddle de fillin' outen um.
"W'en Brer Fox year dat ole Miss Goose wuz down dar dabblin' in soapsuds
en washin' cloze, he sorter lick he chops, en 'low dat some er dese
odd-come-shorts he gwine ter call en pay he 'specks. De minnit he say
dat, Brer Rabbit, he know sump'n' 'uz up, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he
'speck he better whirl in en have some fun w'iles it gwine on. Bimeby
Brer Fox up'n say ter Brer Rabbit dat he bleedzd ter be movin' 'long
todes home, en wid dat dey bofe say good-bye.
"Brer Fox, he put out ter whar his fambly wuz, but Brer Rabbit, he slip
'roun', he did, en call on ole Miss Goose. Ole Miss Goose she wuz down
at de spring, washin', en b'ilin', en battlin' cloze; but Brer Rabbit he
march up en ax her howdy, en den she tuck'n ax Brer Rabbit howdy.
"'I'd shake han's 'long wid you, Brer Rabbit,' sez she, 'but dey er all
full er suds,' sez she.
"'No marter 'bout dat, Miss Goose,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'so long ez
yo' will's good,' sezee."
"A goose with hands, Uncle Remus!" the little boy exclaimed.
"How you know goose aint got han's?" Uncle Remus inquired, with a
frown. "Is you been sleepin' longer ole man Know-All? Little mo' en
you'll up'n stan' me down dat snakes 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."
Uncle Remus paused here, but presently continued:
"Atter ole Miss Goose en Brer Rabbit done pass de time er day wid one er
n'er, Brer Rabbit, he ax 'er, he did, how she come on deze days, en Miss
Goose say, mighty po'ly.
"'I'm gittin' stiff en I'm gittin' clumpsy,' sez she, 'en mo'n dat I'm
gittin' bline,' sez she. 'Des 'fo' you happen 'long, Brer Rabbit, I drap
my specks in de tub yer, en ef you'd 'a' come 'long 'bout dat time,' sez
ole Miss Goose, sez she, 'I lay I'd er tuck you for dat nasty, owdashus
Brer Fox, en it ud er bin a born blessin' ef I had n't er scald you wid
er pan er b'ilin' suds,' sez she. 'I'm dat glad I foun' my specks I
dunner w'at ter do,' sez ole Miss Goose, sez she.
"Den Brer Rabbit, he up'n say dat bein's how Sis Goose done fotch up
Brer Fox name, he got sump'n' fer ter tell 'er, en den he let out 'bout
Brer Fox gwine ter call on 'er.
"He comin' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'he comin' sho', en w'en he come hit
'll be des 'fo' day,' sezee.
"Wid dat, ole Miss Goose wipe 'er han's on 'er apun, en put 'er specks
up on 'er forrerd, en look lak she done got trouble in 'er mine.
"'Laws-a-massy!' sez she, 'spozen he come, Brer Rabbit! W'at I gwine do?
En dey aint a man 'bout de house, n'er,' sez she.
"Den Brer Rabbit, he shot one eye, en he say, sezee:
"'Sis Goose, de time done come w'en you bleedzd ter roos' high. You look
lak you got de dropsy,' sezee, 'but don't mine dat, kase ef you don't
roos' high, youer goner,' sezee.
"Den ole Miss Goose ax Brer Rabbit w'at she gwine do, en Brer Rabbit he
up en tell Miss Goose dat she mus' go home en tie up a bundle er de
w'ite folks' cloze, en put um on de bed, en den she mus' fly up on a
rafter, en let Brer Fox grab de cloze en run off wid um.
"Ole Miss Goose say she much 'blige, en she tuck'n tuck her things en
waddle off home, en dat night she do lak Brer Rabbit say wid de bundle
er cloze, en den she sont wud ter Mr. Dog, en Mr. Dog he come down, en
say he'd sorter set up wid 'er.
"Des 'fo' day, yer come Brer Fox creepin' up, en he went en push on de
do' easy, en de do' open, en he see sump'n' w'ite on de bed w'ich he
took fer Miss Goose, en he grab it en run. 'Bout dat time Mr. Dog sail
out fum und' de house, he did, en ef Brer Fox had n't er drapt de cloze,
he'd er got kotch. Fum dat, wud went 'roun' dat Brer Fox bin tryin' ter
steal Miss Goose cloze, en he come mighty nigh losin' his stannin' at
Miss Meadows. Down ter dis day," Uncle Remus continued, preparing to
fill his pipe, "Brer Fox b'leeve dat Brer Rabbit wuz de 'casion er Mr.
Dog bein' in de neighborhoods at dat time er night, en Brer Rabbit aint
'spute it. De bad feelin' 'twix' Brer Fox en Mr. Dog start right dar, en
hits bin agwine on twel now dey aint git in smellin' distuns er one er
n'er widout dey's 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. "Kase de las' time I uz up dar, I had my eye
on Miss Sally mighty nigh de whole blessid time, en w'en you see Miss
Sally rustlin' 'roun' makin' lak she fixin' things up dar on de
mantle-shelf, en bouncin' de cheers 'roun', en breshin' dus' whar dey
aint no dus', en flyin' 'roun' singin' sorter louder dan common, den I
des knows sump'n' done gone en rile 'er."
"Why, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy; "Mamma was just glad
because I was feeling so good."
"Mought er bin," the old man remarked, in a tone that was far from
implying conviction. "Ef 't wa'n't dat, den she wuz gittin' tired er
seem' me lounjun' 'roun' up dar night atter night, en ef 't wa'n't dat,
den she wuz watchin' a chance fer ter preach ter yo' pa. Oh, I done bin
know Miss Sally long fo' yo' pa is!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response
to the astonishment depicted upon the child's face. "I bin knowin' 'er
sence she wuz so high, en endurin' er all dat time I aint seed no mo'
up'n spoken' w'ite 'oman dan w'at 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.
"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.
"Well, atter Brer Fox done git rested fum keepin' out er de way er Mr.
Dog, en sorter ketch up wid his rations, he say ter hisse'f dat he be
dog his cats ef he don't slorate ole Brer Rabbit ef it take 'im a mont';
en dat, too, on top er all de 'spe'unce w'at he done bin had wid um.
Brer Rabbit he sorter git win' er dis, en one day, w'iles he gwine 'long
de road studyin' how he gwineter hol' he hand wid Brer Fox, he see a
great big Hoss layin' stretch out flat on he side in de pastur'; en he
tuck'n crope up, he did, fer ter see ef dish yer Hoss done gone en die.
He crope up en he crope 'roun', en bimeby he see de Hoss switch he tail,
en den Brer Rabbit know he 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:
"'Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Come back! I got some good news fer you. Come
back, Brer Fox,' sezee.
"Brer Fox, he tu'n 'roun', he did, en w'en he see who callin' 'im, he
come gallopin' back, kaze it seem like dat des ez gooder time ez any fer
ter nab Brer Rabbit; but 'fo' he git in nabbin' distance, Brer Rabbit he
up'n say, sezee:
"'Come on, Brer Fox! I done fine de place whar you kin lay in fresh meat
'nuff fer ter las' you plum twel de middle er nex' year,' sezee.
"Brer Fox, he ax wharbouts, en Brer Rabbit, he say, right over dar in de
pastur', en Brer Fox ax w'at is it, en Brer Rabbit, he say w'ich 'twuz a
whole Hoss layin' down on de groun' whar dey kin ketch 'im en tie 'im.
Wid dat, Brer Fox, he say come on, en off dey put.
"W'en dey got dar, sho' nuff, dar lay de Hoss all stretch out in de sun,
fas' 'sleep, en den Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit, dey had a 'spute 'bout how
dey gwine ter fix de Hoss so he can't git loose. One say one way en de
yuther say n'er way, en dar dey had it, twel atter w'ile Brer Rabbit, he
say, sezee:
"'De onliest plan w'at I knows un, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'is fer you ter git
down dar en lemme tie you ter de Hoss tail, en den, w'en he try ter git
up, you kin hol' 'im down,' sezee. 'Ef I wuz big man like w'at you is,'
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'you mought tie me ter dat Hoss' tail, en ef I
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.
"Brer Fox sorter jubus 'bout dis, but he bleedzd ter play biggity 'fo'
Brer Rabbit, en he tuck'n 'gree ter de progrance, en den Brer Rabbit, he
tuck'n tie Brer Fox ter de Hoss' tail, en atter he git 'im tie dar hard
en fas', he sorter step back, he did, en put he han's 'kimbo, en grin,
en den he say, sezee:
"Ef ever dey wuz a Hoss kotch, den we done kotch dis un. Look sorter lak
we done put de bridle on de wrong een',' sezee, 'but I lay Brer Fox is
got de strenk fer ter hol' 'im,' sezee.
"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit cut 'im a long switch en trim it up, en w'en he
get it fix, up he step en hit de Hoss a rap--_pow!_ De Hoss 'uz dat
s'prise at dat kinder doin's dat he make one jump, en lan' on he foots.
W'en he do dat, dar wuz Brer Fox danglin' in de a'r, en Brer Rabbit, he
dart out de way en holler:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! I'll stan' out yer en see fa'r
play. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down!'
"Co'se, w'en de Hoss feel Brer Fox hangin' dar onter he tail, he thunk
sump'n' kuse wuz de marter, en dis make 'im jump en r'ar wusser en
wusser, en he shake up Brer Fox same like he wuz a rag in de win', en
Brer Rabbit, he jump en holler:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
yo' grip, en hol' 'im down,' sezee.
"De Hoss, he jump en he hump, en he rip en he r'ar, en he snort en he
t'ar. But yit Brer Fox hang on, en still Brer Rabbit skip 'roun' en
holler:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! You got 'im whar he can't needer back ner
squall. Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!' sezee.
"Bimeby, w'en Brer Fox git chance, he holler back, he did:
"'How in de name er goodness I gwine ter hol' de Hoss down 'less I git
my claw in de groun'?'
"Den Brer Rabbit, he stan' back little furder en holler little louder:
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox! Hol' 'im down! You got 'im now, sho'! Hol'
'im down!'
"Bimeby de Hoss 'gun ter kick wid he behime legs, en de fus' news you
know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in de stomach dat fa'rly make 'im squall,
en den he kick 'im ag'in, en dis time he break Brer Fox loose, en sont
'im a-whirlin'; en Brer Rabbit, he keep on a-jumpin' 'roun' en
hollerin':
"'Hol' 'im down, Brer Fox!'"
"Did the fox get killed, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"He wa'n't 'zackly kilt, honey," replied the old man, "but he wuz de
nex' do' ter't. He 'uz all broke up, en w'iles he 'uz gittin' well, hit
sorter come 'cross he min' dat Brer Rabbit done play n'er game on 'im."
III
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."
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 roach,[1] en bow, en scrape he foot, en talk
mighty nice en slick.
"'Howdy, Little Gal,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; 'how you come on?' sezee.
"Den de Little Gal, she 'spon' howdy, she did, en she ax Brer Rabbit how
he come on, en Brer Rabbit, he 'low he mighty po'ly, en den he ax ef dis
de Little Gal w'at 'er pa live up dar in de big w'ite house, w'ich de
Little Gal, she up'n say 'twer'. Brer Rabbit, he say he mighty glad,
kaze he des bin up dar fer to see 'er pa, en he say dat 'er pa, he sont
'im out dar fer ter tell de Little Gal dat she mus' open de gyardin-gate
so Brer Rabbit kin go in en git some truck. Den de Little Gal, she jump
'roun', she did, en she open de gate, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit, he hop
in, he did, en got 'im a mess er greens, en hop out ag'in, en w'en he
gwine off he make a bow, he did, en tell de Little Gal dat he much
'blije', en den atter dat he put out fer home.
"Nex' day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, twel he see de Little Gal
come out ter play, en den he put up de same tale, en walk off wid a n'er
mess er truck, en hit keep on dis a-way, twel bimeby Mr. Man, he 'gun
ter miss his greens, en he keep on a-missin' un um, twel he got ter
excusin' eve'ybody on de place er 'stroyin' un um, en w'en dat come ter
pass, de Little Gal, she up'n say:
"'My goodness, pa!' sez she, 'you done tole Mr. Rabbit fer ter come and
make me let 'im in de gyardin atter some greens, en aint he done come
en ax me, en aint I done gone en let 'im in?' sez she.
"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:
"'Nex' time Mr. Rabbit come, you tak'n tu'n 'im in, en den you run des
ez fas' ez you kin en come en tell me, kase I got some bizness wid dat
young chap dat 's bleedze ter be 'ten' ter,' sezee.
"Sho' nuff, nex' mawnin' dar wuz de Little Gal playin' 'roun', en yer
come Brer Rabbit atter he 'lowance er greens. He wuz ready wid de same
tale, en den de Little Gal, she tu'n 'im in, she did, en den she run up
ter de house en holler:
"'O pa! pa! O pa! Yer Brer Rabbit in de gyardin now! Yer he is, pa!'
[Illustration: BROTHER RABBIT AND THE LITTLE GIRL]
"Den Mr. Man, he rush out, en grab up a fishin'-line w'at bin hangin' in
de back po'ch, en mak fer de gyardin, en w'en he git dar, dar wuz Brer
Rabbit tromplin' 'roun' on de strawbe'y-bed en mashin' down de
termartusses. W'en Brer Rabbit see Mr. Man, he squot behime a collud
leaf, but 't wa'n't no use. Mr. Man done seed him, en 'fo' you kin
count 'lev'm, he done got ole Brer Rabbit tie hard en fas' wid de
fishin'-line. Atter he got him tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, en
say, sezee: