door and getting a little closer to the old man.
"Yasser! you'd des nat'ally whirl in en fergit 'bout who dey is. 'T
aint so mighty long sence I done tole you 'bout ole Mr. Benjermun Ram
playin' he fiddle at Brer Wolf house, en yer you come en ax me how come
he don't take en play it at 'im 'g'in. W'at kinder lookin' sight 'ud dat
ole creetur a-bin ef he'd jump up en grab he fiddle en go ter playin' on
it eve'y time he year a fuss down de big road?"
The little boy said nothing, but he thought the story would have been a
great deal nicer if Mr. Benjamin Ram could have played one of the
old-time tunes on his fiddle, and while he was thinking about it, the
door opened and Aunt Tempy made her appearance. Her good-humor was
infectious.
"Name er goodness!" she exclaimed, "I lef' you all settin' yer way las'
week; I goes off un I does my wuk, un I comes back, un I fines you
settin' right whar I lef' you. Goodness knows, I dunner whar you gits
yo' vittles. I dunner whar I aint bin sence I lef' you all settin' yer.
I let you know I bin a-usin' my feet un I been a-usin' my han's. Dat 's
me. No use ter ax how you all is, 'kaze you looks lots better'n me."
"Yas, Sis Tempy, we er settin' yer whar you lef' us, en der Lord, he bin
a-pervidin'. W'en de vittles don't come in at de do' hit come down de
chimbly, en so w'at de odds? We er sorter po'ly, Sis Tempy, I'm 'blige
ter you. You know w'at de jay-bird say ter der squinch owl! 'I'm sickly
but sassy.'"
Aunt Tempy laughed as she replied: "I 'speck you all bin a-havin' lots
er fun. Goodness knows I wish many a time sence I bin gone dat I 'uz
settin' down yer runnin' on wid you all. I aint bin gone fur--dat 's so,
yit Mistiss put me ter cuttin'-out, un I tell you now dem w'at cuts out
de duds fer all de niggers on dis place is got ter wuk fum soon in de
mawnin' plum tel bed-time, dey aint no two ways. 'T aint no wuk youk'n
kyar' 'bout wid you needer, 'kaze you got ter spread it right out on de
flo' un git down on yo' knees. I mighty glad I done wid it, 'kaze my
back feel like it done broke in a thous'n pieces. Honey, is Brer Remus
bin a-tellin' you some mo' er dem ole-time tales?"
Aunt Tempy's question gave the little boy an excuse for giving her brief
outlines of some of the stories. One that he seemed to remember
particularly well was the story of how Brother Rabbit and Brother Fox
killed a cow, and how Brother Rabbit got the most and the best of the
beef.
"I done year talk uv a tale like dat," exclaimed Aunt Tempy, laughing
heartily, "but 't aint de same tale. I mos' 'shame' ter tell it."
"You gittin' too ole ter be blushin', Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus with
dignity.
"Well den," said Aunt Tempy, wiping her fat face with her apron: "One
time Brer Rabbit un Brer Wolf tuck'n gone off som'ers un kilt a cow, un
w'en dey come fer ter 'vide out de kyarkiss, Brer Wolf 'low dat bein's
he de biggest he oughter have de mos', un he light in, he did, un do
like he gwine ter take it all. Brer Rabbit do like he don't keer much,
but he keer so bad hit make 'im right sick. He tuck'n walk all 'roun' de
kyarkiss, he did, un snuff de air, un terreckly he say:
"'Brer Wolf!--O Brer Wolf!--is dis meat smell 'zuckly right ter you?'
"Brer Wolf, he cuttin' un he kyarvin' un he aint sayin' nothin'. Brer
Rabbit, he walk all 'roun' un 'roun' de kyarkiss. He feel it un he kick
it. Terreckly he say:
"'Brer Wolf!--O Brer Wolf!--Dis meat feel mighty flabby ter me; how it
feel ter you?'
"Brer Wolf, he year all dat 's said, but he keep on a-cuttin' un a
kyarvin'. Brer Rabbit say:
"'You kin talk er not talk, Brer Wolf, des ez youer min' ter, yit ef I
aint mistooken in de sign, you'll do some tall talkin' 'fo' youer done
wid dis beef. Now you mark w'at I tell you!'
"Brer Rabbit put out fum dar, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back
wid a chunk er fier, un a dish er salt. W'en Brer Wolf see dis, he
say:
"'W'at you gwine do wid all dat, Brer Rabbit?'
"Brer Rabbit laugh like he know mo' dan he gwine tell, un he say:
"'Bless yo' soul, Brer Wolf! I aint gwine ter kyar er poun' er dis meat
home tel I fin' out w'at de matter wid it. No I aint--so dar now!'
"Den Brer Rabbit built 'im a fier un cut 'im off a slishe er steak un
br'ilte it good un done, un den he e't little uv it. Fus' he'd tas'e un
den he'd nibble; den he'd nibble un den he'd tas'e. He keep on tel he
e't right smart piece. Den he went'n sot off little ways like he waitin'
fer sump'n'.
"Brer Wolf, he kyarve un he cut, but he keep one eye on Brer Rabbit.
Brer Rabbit sot up dar same ez Judge on de bench. Brer Wolf, he watch
his motions. Terreckly Brer Rabbit fling bofe han's up ter he head un
fetch a groan. Brer Wolf cut un kyarve un watch Brer Rabbit motions.
Brer Rabbit sorter sway backerds un forrerds un fetch 'n'er groan. Den
he sway fum side to side un holler 'O Lordy!' Brer Wolf, he sorter 'gun
ter git skeer'd un he ax Brer Rabbit w'at de matter. Brer Rabbit, he
roll on de groun' un holler:
"'O Lordy, Lordy! I'm pizen'd, I'm pizen'd! O Lordy! I'm pizen'd! Run
yer, somebody, run yer! De meat done got pizen on it. Oh, do run yer!'
"Brer Wolf git so skeer'd dat he put out fum dar, un he wa'n't out er
sight skacely 'fo' Brer Rabbit jump up fum dar un cut de pidjin-wing, un
't wa'n't so mighty long atter dat 'fo' Brer Rabbit done put all er dat
beef in his smoke-house."
"What became of Brother Wolf?" the little boy inquired.
"Brer Wolf went atter de doctor," continued Aunt Tempy, making little
tucks in her apron, "un w'en he come back Brer Rabbit un de beef done
gone; un, bless goodness, ef it had n't er bin fer de sign whar Brer
Rabbit built de fier, Brer Wolf would er bin mightly pester'd fer ter
fine der place whar de cow bin kilt."
At this juncture, 'Tildy, the house-girl, came in to tell Aunt Tempy
that one of the little negroes had been taken suddenly sick.
"I bin huntin' fer you over de whole blessid place," said 'Tildy.
"No, you aint--no, you aint. You aint bin huntin' nowhar. You know'd
mighty well whar I wuz."
"Law, Mam' Tempy, I can't keep up wid you. How I know you down yer
courtin' wid Unk Remus?"
"Yo' head mighty full er courtin', you nas' stinkin' huzzy!" exclaimed
Aunt Tempy.
Uncle Remus, strange to say, was unmoved. He simply said:
"W'en you see dat ar 'Tildy gal pirootin' 'roun' I boun' you ole Brer
Affikin Jack aint fur off. 'T won't be so mighty long 'fo' de ole
creetur'll show up."
"How you know dat, Unk Remus?" exclaimed 'Tildy, showing her white teeth
and stretching her eyes. "Hit 's de Lord's trufe; Mass Jeems done writ a
letter ter Miss Sally, en' he say in dat letter dat Daddy Jack ax 'im
fer ter tell Miss Sally ter tell me dat he'll be up yer dis week. Dat
ole Affikin ape got de impidence er de Ole Boy. He dunner who he foolin'
'longer!"
LI
MORE TROUBLE FOR BROTHER WOLF
The next night the little boy hardly waited to eat his supper before
going to Uncle Remus's house; and when Aunt Tempy failed to put in an
appearance as early as he thought necessary, he did not hesitate to go
after her. He had an idea that there was a sequel to the story she had
told the night before, and he was right. After protesting against being
dragged around from post to pillar by children, Aunt Tempy said:
"Atter Brer Rabbit tuck'n make out he 'uz pizen'd un git all de beef, 't
wa'n't long 'fo' he chance to meet ole Brer Wolf right spang in de
middle uv de road. Brer Rabbit, he sorter shied off ter one side, but
Brer Wolf hail 'im:
"'W'oa dar, my colty! don't be so gayly. You better be 'shame' yo'se'f
'bout de way you do me w'en we go inter cahoots wid dat beef.'
"Brer Rabbit, he up'n ax Brer Wolf how all his folks. Brer Wolf say:
"'You'll fin' out how dey all is 'fo' dis day gone by. You took'n took
de beef, un now I'm a-gwine ter take'n take you.'
"Wid dis Brer Wolf make a dash at Brer Rabbit, but he des lack a little
bit uv bein' quick 'nuff, un Brer Rabbit he des went a-sailin' thoo de
woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'im, un yer dey had it--fus' Brer Rabbit
un den Brer Wolf. Brer Rabbit mo' soopler dan Brer Wolf, but Brer Wolf
got de 'vantage er de win', un terreckly he push Brer Rabbit so close
dat he run in a holler log.
"Brer Rabbit bin in dat log befo' un he know dey's a hole at de t'er
een', un he des keep on a-gwine. He dart in one een' un he slip out de
udder. He aint stop ter say goo'-bye; bless you! he des keep on gwine.
"Brer Wolf, he see Brer Rabbit run in de holler log, un he say ter
hisse'f:
"'Heyo, dey bin callin' you so mighty cunnin' all dis time, un yer you
done gone un shot yo'se'f up in my trap.'
"Den Brer Wolf laugh un lay down by de een' whar Brer Rabbit went in, un
pant un res' hisse'f. He see whar Brer B'ar burnin' off a new groun', un
he holler un ax 'im fer ter fetch 'im a chunk er fier, un Brer B'ar he
fotch it, en dey sot fier ter de holler log, un dey sot dar un watch it
till it burn plum up. Den dey took'n shuck han's, un Brer Wolf say he
hope dat atter dat dey'll have some peace in de neighborhoods."
Uncle Remus smiled a knowing smile as he filled his pipe, but Aunt Tempy
continued with great seriousness:
"One time atter dat, Brer Wolf, he took'n pay a call down ter Miss
Meadows, un w'en he git dar un see Brer Rabbit settin' up side uv one er
de gals, he like to 'a' fainted, dat he did. He 'uz dat 'stonish'd dat
he look right down-hearted all endurin' uv de party.
"Brer Rabbit, he bow'd his howdies ter Brer Wolf un shuck han's 'long
wid 'im, des like nothin' aint never happen 'twixt 'um, un he up'n
say:
"'Ah-law, Brer Wolf! Youer much mo' my fr'en' dan you ever 'speckted ter
be, un you kin des count on me right straight 'long.'
"Brer Wolf say he feel sorter dat a-way hisse'f, un he ax Brer Rabbit
w'at make 'im change his min' so quick.
"'Bless you, Brer Wolf, I had needs ter change it,' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee.
"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how come.
"'All about bein' burnt up in a holler log, Brer Wolf, un w'en you gits
time I wish you be so good ez ter bu'n me up some mo',' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee.
"Brer Wolf, he ax 'im how so. Brer Rabbit say:
"'I'm fear'd ter tell you, Brer Wolf, 'kaze I don't want de news ter git
out.'
"Brer Wolf vow he won't tell nobody on de top side er de worl'. Brer
Rabbit say:
"I done fin' out, Brer Wolf, dat w'en you git in a holler tree un
somebody sets it a-fier, dat de nat'al honey des oozles out uv it, un
mor'n dat, atter you git de honey all over you, 't aint no use ter try
ter burn you up, 'kaze de honey will puzzuv you. Don't 'ny me dis favor,
Brer Wolf, 'kaze I done pick me out a n'er holler tree,' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee.
"Brer Wolf, he wanter put right out den un dar, un Brer Rabbit say dat
des de kinder man w'at he bin huntin' fer. Dey took deyse'f off un 't
wa'n't long 'fo' dey came ter de tree w'at Brer Rabbit say he done pick
out. W'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf, he so greedy fer ter git a tas'e er de
honey dat he beg un beg Brer Rabbit fer ter let 'im git in de holler.
Brer Rabbit, he hol' back, but Brer Wolf beg so hard dat Brer Rabbit
'gree ter let 'im git in de holler.
"Brer Wolf, he got in, he did, un Brer Rabbit stuff de hole full er dry
leaves un trash, un den he got 'im a chunk er fier un totch 'er off. She
smoked un smoked, un den she bust out in a blaze. Brer Rabbit, he pile
up rocks, un brush, un sticks, so Brer Wolf can't git out. Terreckly
Brer Wolf holler:
"'Gittin' mighty hot, Brer Rabbit! I aint see no honey yit.'
"Brer Rabbit he pile on mo' trash, un holler back:
"'Don't be in no hurry, Brer Wolf; you'll see it un tas'e it too.'
"Fier burn un burn, wood pop like pistol. Brer Wolf, he holler:
"'Gittin' hotter un hotter, Brer Rabbit. No honey come yit.'
"'Hol' still, Brer Wolf, hit'll come.'
"'Gimme a'r, Brer Rabbit; I'm a-chokin'.'
"'Fresh a'r make honey sour. Des hol' still, Brer Wolf!'
"'_Ow!_ she gittin' hotter en hotter, Brer Rabbit!'
"'Des hol' right still, Brer Wolf; mos' time fer de honey!'
"'_Ow! ow!_ I'm a-burnin', Brer Rabbit!'
"'Wait fer de honey, Brer Wolf.'
"'I can't stan' it, Brer Rabbit.'
"'Stan' it like I did, Brer Wolf.'
"Brer Rabbit he pile on de trash un de leaves. He say:
"'I'll gin you honey, Brer Wolf; de same kinder honey you wanted ter
gimme.'
"Un it seem like ter me," said Aunt Tempy, pleased at the interest the
little boy had shown, "dat it done Brer Wolf des right."
LII
BROTHER RABBIT OUTDOES MR. MAN
The little boy had heard Uncle Remus lamenting that his candle was
getting rather short, and he made it his business to go around the house
and gather all the pieces he could find. He carried these to the old
man, who received them with the liveliest satisfaction.
"Now dish yer sorter look lak sump'n', honey. W'en ole Brer Jack come
back, en Sis Tempy git in de habits er hangin' 'roun', we'll des light
some er dese yer, en folks'll come by en see de shine, en dey'll go off
en 'low dat hit 's de night des 'fo' camp-meetin' at ole Remus house.
"I got little piece dar in my chist w'at you brung me long time ergo, en
I 'low ter myse'f dat ef shove ever git ter be push,[66] I'd des draw 'er
out en light 'er up."
"Mamma says Daddy Jack is coming back Sunday," said the little boy.
"Dat w'at I year talk," replied the old man.
"What did he go off for, Uncle Remus?"
"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Jack bleedz ter go en see yo' Unk Jeems. He
b'leeve de worl' go wrong ef he aint do dat. Dat ole nigger b'leeve he
white mon. He come up yer fum down de country whar de Lord done fersook
um too long 'go ter talk 'bout,--he come up yer en he put on mo' a'rs
dan w'at I dast ter do. Not dat I'm keerin', 'kaze goodness knows I
aint, yit I notices dat w'en I has ter go some'rs, dey's allers a great
ter-do 'bout w'at is I'm a-gwine fer, en how long is I'm a-gwine ter
stay; en ef I aint back at de ve'y minit, dars Mars John a-growlin', en
Miss Sally a-vowin' dat she gwine ter put me on de block."[67]
Perhaps Uncle Remus's jealousy was more substantial than he was willing
to admit; but he was talking merely to see what the little boy would
say. The child, however, failed to appreciate the situation, seeing
which the old man quickly changed the subject.
"Times is mighty diffunt fum w'at dey use ter wuz, 'kaze de time has
bin dat ef ole Brer Rabbit had er run'd up wid Brer Jack w'iles he
comin' fum yo' Unk Jeems place, he'd outdone 'im des ez sho' ez de worl'
stan's. Deze days de Rabbits has ter keep out de way er folks, but in
dem days folks had ter keep out der way er ole Brer Rabbit. Aint I
never tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit whirl in en outdo Mr. Man?"
"About the meat tied to the string, Uncle Remus?"
"_Shoo!_ Dat aint a drap in de bucket, honey. Dish yer wuz de time w'en
ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine 'long de big road, en he meet Mr. Man drivin'
'long wid a waggin chock full er money."
"Where did he get so much money, Uncle Remus?"
"Bruisin' 'round en peddlin' 'bout. Mr. Man got w'at lots er folks aint
got,--good luck, long head, quick eye, en slick fingers. But no marter
'bout dat, he got de money; en w'en you sorter grow up so you kin knock
'roun', 't won't be long 'fo' some un'll take en take you off 'roun' de
cornder en tell you dat 't aint make no diffunce whar de money come fum
so de man got it. Dey won't tell you dat in de meeting-house, but dey'll
come mighty nigh it.
"But dat aint needer yer ner dar. Mr. Man, he come a-drivin' 'long de
big road, en he got a waggin full er money. Brer Rabbit, he come
a-lippity-clippitin' 'long de big road, en he aint got no waggin full
er money. Ole Brer Rabbit, he up'n tuck a notion dat dey's sump'n' wrong
some'rs, 'kaze ef dey wa'n't, he 'ud have des ez much waggin en money ez
Mr. Man. He study, en study, en he can't make out how dat is. Bimeby he
up'n holler out:
"'Mr. Man, please, sir, lemme ride.'
"Mr. Man, he tuck'n stop he waggin, en 'low:
"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! how come dis? You comin' one way en I gwine nudder;
how come you wanter ride?'
"Brer Rabbit, he up'n scratch hisse'f on de back er de neck wid he
behime foot, en holler out:
"'Mr. Man, yo' sho'ly can't be 'quainted 'long wid me. I'm one er dem
ar ole-time kinder folks w'at aint a-keerin' w'ich way deyer gwine long
ez deyer ridin'.'"
The little boy laughed a sympathetic laugh, showing that he heartily
endorsed this feature of Brother Rabbit's programme.
"Atter so long a time," Uncle Remus went on, "Mr. Man 'gree ter let Brer
Rabbit ride a little piece. He try ter git Brer Rabbit fer ter ride upon
de seat wid 'im so dey kin git ter 'sputin' 'n'er, but Brer Rabbit say
he fear'd he fall off, en he des tuck'n sot right flat down in de bottom
er de waggin, en make lak he fear'd ter move.
"Bimeby, w'iles dey goin' down hill, en Mr. Man hatter keep he eye on de
hosses, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n fling out a great big hunk er de money.
Dez ez de money hit de groun' Brer Rabbit holler out:
"'_Ow_!'
"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:
"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' you 'bout ter jolt my jaw-bone
a-loose.'
"Dey go on little furder, en Brer Rabbit fling out 'n'er hunk er de
money. W'en she hit de groun', Brer Rabbit holler:
"'_Blam_!'
"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:
"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' I seed a jaybird flyin' 'long, en I
make lak I had a gun.'
"Hit keep on dis a-way twel fus' news you know Mr. Man aint got a sign
er money in dat waggin. Seem lak Mr. Man aint notice dis twel he git a
mighty fur ways fum de place whar Brer Rabbit drap out de las' hunk;
but, gentermens! w'en he do fine it out, you better b'leeve he sot up a
howl.
"'Whar my money? Whar my nice money? Whar my waggin full er purty
money? O you long-year'd rascal! Whar my money? Oh, gimme my money!'
"Brer Rabbit sot dar en lissen at 'im lak he 'stonish'd. Den he up'n
'low:
"'Look out, Mr. Man! folks'll come 'long en year you gwine on dat a-way,
en dey'll go off en say you done gone ravin' 'stracted.'
"Yit Mr. Man keep on holler'n en beggin' Brer Rabbit fer ter gin 'im de
money, en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he git sorter skeer'd en he up'n 'low:
"'Sun gittin' low, Mr. Man, en I better be gittin' 'way fum yer. De
sooner I goes de better, 'kaze ef you keep on lak you gwine, 't won't be
long 'fo' you'll be excusin' me er takin' dat ar money. I'm 'blige' fer
de ride, Mr. Man, en I wish you mighty well.'
"Brer Rabbit got de money," continued Uncle Remus, gazing placidly into
the fire, "en hit 's mighty kuse ter me dat he aint git de waggin en
hosses. Dat 't is!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOOTNOTES:
[66] A plantation saying. It means if hard times get harder. A
briefer form is "w'en shove 'come push"--when the worst comes
to the worst.
[67] That is to say, put him on the block, and sell him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
LIII
BROTHER RABBIT TAKES A WALK
"Eve'y time I run over in my min' 'bout the pranks er Brer Rabbit,"
Uncle Remus continued, without giving the little boy time to ask any
more embarrassing questions about Mr. Man and his wagon full of money,
"hit make me laugh mo' en mo'. He mos' allers come out on top, yit dey
wuz times w'en he hatter be mighty spry."
"When was that, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little boy.
"I min' me er one time w'en de t'er creeturs all git de laugh on 'im,"
responded the old man, "en dey make 'im feel sorter 'shame'. Hit seem
lak dat dey 'uz some kinder bodderment 'mungs' de creeturs en wud went
out dat dey all got ter meet terge'er some'rs en ontangle de
tanglements.
"W'en de time come, dey wuz all un um dar, en dey hilt der confab right
'long. All un um got sump'n' ter say, en dey talk dar, dey did, des lak
dey 'uz paid fer talkin'. Dey all had der plans, en dey jabbered des lak
folks does w'en dey call deyse'f terge'er. Hit come 'bout dat Mr. Dog
git a seat right close by Brer Rabbit, en w'en he open he mouf fer ter
say sump'n', he toofs look so long en so strong, en dey shine so w'ite,
dat it feel mighty kuse.
"Mr. Dog, he'd say sump'n', Brer Rabbit, he'd jump en dodge. Mr. Dog,
he'd laugh, Brer Rabbit, he'd dodge en jump. Hit keep on dis a-way, twel
eve'y time Brer Rabbit'd dodge en jump, de t'er creeturs dey'd slap der
han's terge'er en break out in a laugh. Mr. Dog, he tuck'n tuck a notion
dat dey 'uz laughin' at him, en dis make 'im so mad dat he 'gun ter
growl en snap right smartually, en it come ter dat pass dat w'en Brer
Rabbit'd see Mr. Dog make a motion fer ter say a speech, he'd des drap
down en git und' de cheer.
"Co'se dis make um laugh wuss en wuss, en de mo' dey laugh de madder it
make Mr. Dog, twel bimeby he git so mad he fa'rly howl, en Brer Rabbit
he sot dar, he did, en shuck lak he got er ager.
"Atter w'ile Brer Rabbit git sorter on t'er side, en he make a speech en
say dey oughter be a law fer ter make all de creeturs w'at got tushes
ketch en eat der vittles wid der claws. All un um 'gree ter dis 'cep'
hit 's Mr. Dog, Brer Wolf, en Brer Fox.
"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, "ef all de creeturs aint 'gree,
dey put it off twel de nex' meetin' en talk it over some mo', en dat 's
de way dey done wid Brer Rabbit projick. Dey put it off twel de nex'
time.
"Brer Rabbit got a kinder sneakin' notion dat de creeturs aint gwine do
lak he want um ter do, en he 'low ter Brer Wolf dat he 'speck de bes'
way fer ter do is ter git all de creeturs ter 'gree fer ter have Mr. Dog
mouf sew'd up, 'kaze he toofs look so venomous; en Brer Wolf say dey ull
all go in fer dat.
"Sho' 'nuff, w'en de day done come, Brer Rabbit he git up en say dat de
bes' way ter do is have Mr. Dog mouf sew'd up so he toofs won't look so
venomous. Dey all 'gree, en den Mr. Lion, settin' up in de arm-cheer, he
ax who gwine do de sewin'.
"Den dey all up'n 'low dat de man w'at want de sewin' done, he de man
fer ter do it, 'kaze den he ull know it done bin done right. Brer
Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he 'low:
"'I aint got no needle.'
"Brer B'ar, he sorter feel in de flap er he coat collar, en he 'low:
"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great big one!'
"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study 'g'in, en den he 'low:
"'I aint got no th'ead.'
"Brer B'ar, he tuck'n pull a rav'lin' fum de bottom er he wescut, en he
'low:
"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great long one!'
"Ef it had er bin anybody in de roun' worl' he'd er 'gun ter feel sorter
ticklish," Uncle Remus went on. "But ole Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n lay
he finger 'cross he nose, en 'low:
"'Des hol' um dar fer me, Brer B'ar, en I'll be much 'blige ter you.
_Hit 's des 'bout my time er day fer ter take a walk!_'"
Uncle Remus laughed as heartily as the child, and added:
"Some folks say de creeturs had de grins on Brer Rabbit 'bout dat time;
but I tell you right pine-blank dey aint grin much w'en dey year Brer
Rabbit say dat."
LIV
OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF
At last Daddy Jack returned, and the fact that the little boy had missed
him and inquired about him, seemed to give the old African particular
pleasure. It was probably a new experience to Daddy Jack, and it vaguely
stirred some dim instinct in his bosom that impelled him to greet the
child with more genuine heartiness than he had ever displayed in all his
life. He drew the little boy up to him, patted him gently on the cheek,
and exclaimed:
"Ki! I bin want fer see you bery bahd. I bin-a tell you' nunk Jeem' how
fine noung man you is. 'E ahx wey you no come fer shum. Fine b'y--fine
b'y!"
"Well, ef dat 's de way youer gwine on, Brer Jack, you'll spile dat chap
sho'. A whole sack er salt won't save 'im."
"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Remus," said Aunt Tempy, who had come in.
"Don't seem like he bad like some yuther childun w'at I seen. Bless you,
I know childun w'at'd keep dish yer whole place tarryfied--dat dey
would!"
"Well, sir," said Uncle Remus, shaking his head and groaning, "you all
aint wid dat young un dar much ez I is. Some days w'en dey aint nobody
lookin', en dey aint nobody nowhar fer ter take keer un me, dat ar
little chap dar 'll come down yer en chunk me wid rocks, en 'buze me en
holler at me scan'lous."
The little boy looked so shocked that Uncle Remus broke into a laugh
that shook the cobwebs in the corners; then, suddenly relapsing into
seriousness, he drew himself up with dignity and remarked:
"Good er bad, you can't git 'long wid 'im less'n you sets in ter tellin'
tales, en, Brer Jack, I hope you got some 'long wid you."
Daddy Jack rubbed his hands together, and said:
"Me bin yeddy one tale; 'e mekky me lahff tel I is 'come tire'."
"Fer de Lord sake less have it den!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, with
unction. Whereupon, the small but appreciative audience disposed itself
comfortably, and Daddy Jack, peering at each one in turn, his eyes
shining between his half-closed lids as brightly as those of some wild
animal, began:
"One tam B'er Rabbit is bin traffel 'roun' fer see 'e neighbor folks. 'E
bin mahd wit' B'er Wolf fer so long tam; 'e mek no diffran, 'e come pas'
'e house 'e no see nuttin', 'e no yeddy nuttin'. 'E holler:
"'Hi, B'er Wolf! wey you no fer mek answer wun me ahx you howdy? Wey fer
you is do dis 'fo' me werry face? Wut mekky you do dis?'