Rabbit put out fer ter foller um up. Dey went up de road, en down de
lane, en 'cross de turnip patch, en down a dreen,[58] en up a big gully.
Brer Rabbit, he done de trackin', en eve'y time he fine one, he up'n
holler:--
"'Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar! Yer 'n'er track, en no claw dar!'
"Dey kep' on en kep' on, twel bimeby dey run up wid de creetur. Brer
Rabbit, he holler out mighty biggity:--
"'Heyo dar! W'at you doin'?'
"De creetur look 'roun', but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit
'low:--
"'Oh, you nee'nter look so sullen! We ull make you talk 'fo' we er done
'long wid you! Come, now! W'at you doin' out dar?'
"De creetur rub hisse'f 'gin' a tree des lak you see deze yer house cats
rub 'gin' a cheer, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit holler:--
"'W'at you come pesterin' 'long wid us fer, w'en we ain't bin
a-pesterin' you? You got de consate dat I dunner who you is, but I does.
Youer de same ole Cousin Wildcat w'at my gran'daddy use ter kick en cuff
w'en you 'fuse ter 'spon'. I let you know I got a better man yer dan
w'at my gran'daddy ever is bin, en I boun' you he ull make you talk. Dat
w'at I boun' you.'
"De creetur lean mo' harder 'gin' de tree, en sorter ruffle up he
bristle, but he ain't sayin' nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:--
"'Go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he 'fuse ter 'spon' slap 'im down! Dat de
way my gran'daddy done. You go up dar, Brer Fox, en ef he dast ter try
ter run, I'll des whirl in en ketch 'im.'
"Brer Fox, he sorter jub'ous, but he start todes de creetur. Ole Cousin
Wildcat walk all 'roun' de tree, rubbin' hisse'f, but he ain't sayin'
nothin'. Brer Rabbit, he holler:--
"'Des walk right up en slap 'im down, Brer Fox--de owdashus vilyun! Des
hit 'im a surbinder, en ef he dast ter run, I boun' you I'll ketch 'im.'
"Brer Fox, he went up little nigher. Cousin Wildcat stop rubbin' on de
tree, en sot up on he behime legs wid he front paws in de a'r, en he
balance hisse'f by leanin' 'gin' de tree, but he ain't sayin' nothin'.
Brer Rabbit, he squall out, he did:--
"'Oh, you nee'nter put up yo' han's en try ter beg off. Dat de way you
fool my ole gran'daddy; but you can't fool we-all. All yo' settin' up en
beggin' ain't gwine ter he'p you. Ef youer so humble ez all dat, w'at
make you come pesterin' longer we-all? Hit 'im a clip, Brer Fox! Ef he
run, I'll ketch 'im!'
"Brer Fox see de creetur look so mighty humble, settin' up dar lak he
beggin' off, en he sorter take heart. He sidle up todes 'im, he did, en
des ez he 'uz makin' ready fer ter slap 'im ole Cousin Wildcat draw'd
back en fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach."
Uncle Remus paused here a moment, as if to discover some term strong
enough to do complete justice to the catastrophe. Presently he went
on:--
"Dat ar Cousin Wildcat creetur fotch Brer Fox a wipe 'cross de stomach,
en you mought a yeard 'im squall fum yer ter Harmony Grove. Little mo'
en de creetur would er to' Brer Fox in two. W'ence de creetur made a
pass at 'im, Brer Rabbit knew w'at gwine ter happen, yit all de same he
tuck'n holler:--
"'Hit 'im ag'in, Brer Fox! Hit 'im ag'in! I'm a-backin' you, Brer Fox!
Ef he dast ter run, I'll inabout cripple 'im--dat I will. Hit 'im
ag'in!'
"All dis time w'iles Brer Rabbit gwine on dis a-way, Brer Fox, he 'uz
a-squattin' down, hol'in' he stomach wid bofe han's en des a-moanin':--
"'I'm ruint, Brer Rabbit! I'm ruint! Run fetch de doctor! I'm teetotally
ruint!'
"'Bout dat time, Cousin Wildcat, he tuck'n tuck a walk. Brer Rabbit, he
make lak he 'stonish' dat Brer Fox is hurted. He tuck'n 'zamin' de
place, he did, en he up'n 'low:--
"'Hit look lak ter me, Brer Fox, dat dat owdashus vilyun tuck'n struck
you wid a reapin'-hook.'
"Wid dat Brer Rabbit lit out fer home, en w'en he git out er sight, he
tuck'n shuck he han's des lak cat does w'en she git water on 'er foots,
en he tuck'n laugh en laugh twel it make 'im sick fer ter laugh."
FOOTNOTES:
[57] Gnaws the bark from the trees.
[58] Drain or ditch.
XLV
BRER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE
The little boy thought that the story of how the wildcat scratched
Brother Fox was one of the best stories he had ever heard, and he did
n't hesitate to say so. His hearty endorsement increased Uncle Remus's
good-humor; and the old man, with a broad grin upon his features and
something of enthusiasm in his tone, continued to narrate the adventures
of Brother Rabbit.
"After Brer Fox git hurted so bad," said Uncle Remus, putting an edge
upon his axe with a whetstone held in his hand, "hit wuz a mighty long
time 'fo' he could ramble 'roun' en worry ole Brer Rabbit. Der time
Cousin Wildcat fetch'd 'im dat wipe 'cross de stomach, he tuck'n lay de
blame on Brer Rabbit, en w'en he git well, he des tuck'n juggle wid de
yuther creeturs, en dey all 'gree dat dem en Brer Rabbit can't drink out
er de same branch, ner walk de same road, ner live in de same
settlement, ner go in washin' in de same wash-hole.
"Tooby sho' Brer Rabbit bleedz ter take notice er all dish yer kinder
jugglements en gwines on, en he des tuck'n strenken he house, in de
neighborhoods er de winders, en den he put 'im up a steeple on top er
dat. Yasser! A sho' 'nuff steeple, en he rise 'er up so high dat folks
gwine 'long de big road stop en say, 'Hey! W'at kinder meetin'-house
dat?'"
The little boy laughed loudly at Uncle Remus's graphic delineation of
the astonishment and admiration of the passers-by. The old man raised
his head, stretched his eyes, and seemed to be looking over his
spectacles right at Brother Rabbit's steeple.
"Folks 'ud stop en ax, but Brer Rabbit ain't got time fer ter make no
answer. _He_ hammer'd, _he_ nailed, _he_ knock'd, _he_ lamm'd! Folks go
by, he ain't look up; creeturs come stan' en watch 'im, he ain't look
'roun'; wuk, wuk, wuk, from sun-up ter sun-down, twel dat er steeple git
done. Den ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n draw long breff, en wipe he forrerd, en
'low dat ef dem t'er creeturs w'at bin atter 'im so long is got any de
'vantage er him, de time done come fer um fer ter show it.
"Wid dat he went en got 'im a snack er sump'n' t' eat, en a long piece
er plough-line, en he tole he ole 'oman fer ter put a kittle er water on
de fire, en stan' 'roun' close by, en eve'yt'ing he tell 'er not ter do,
dat de ve'y t'ing she sho'ly mus' do. Den ole Brer Rabbit sot down in he
rockin'-cheer en lookt out fum de steeple fer ter see how de lan' lay.
"'T wa'n't long 'fo' all de creeturs year talk dat Brer Rabbit done stop
wuk, en dey 'gun ter come 'roun' fer ter see w'at he gwine do nex'. But
Brer Rabbit, he got up dar, he did, en smoke he seegyar, en chaw he
'backer, en let he min' run on. Brer Wolf, he stan' en look up at de
steeple, Brer Fox, he stan' en look up at it, en all de t'er creeturs
dey done de same. Nex' time you see a crowd er folks lookin' at sump'n'
right hard, you des watch um, honey. Dey'll walk 'roun' one er 'n'er en
swap places, en dey'll be constant on de move. Dat des de way de
creeturs done. Dey walk 'roun' en punch one er 'n'er en swap places, en
look en look. Ole Brer Rabbit, he sot up dar, he did, en chaw he
'backer, en smoke he seegyar, en let he min' run on.
"Bimeby ole Brer Tarrypin come 'long, en ole Brer Tarrypin bin in
cohoots wid Brer Rabbit so long dat he des nat'ally know dey wuz gwine
ter be fun er plenty 'roun' in dem neighborhoods 'fo' de sun go down.
He laugh 'way down und' de roof er he house, ole Brer Tarrypin did, en
den he hail Brer Rabbit:--
"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! W'at you doin' 'way up in de elements lak dat?'
"'I'm a-sojourneyin' up yer fer ter res' myse'f, Brer Tarrypin. Drap up
en see me.'
"''Twix' you en me, Brer Rabbit, de drappin' 's all one way. S'posin'
you tu'n loose en come. Man live dat high up bleedz ter have wings. I
ain't no high-flyer myse'f. I fear'd ter shake han's wid you so fur off,
Brer Rabbit.'
"'Not so, Brer Tarrypin, not so. My sta'rcase is a mighty limbersome
one, en I'll des let it down ter you.'
"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line.
"'Des ketch holt er dat, Brer Tarrypin,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en up
you comes, _linktum sinktum binktum boo!_' sezee."
"What was that, Uncle Remus?" said the little boy, taking a serious view
of the statement.
"Creetur talk, honey--des creetur talk. Bless yo' soul, chile!" the old
man went on, with a laughable assumption of dignity, "ef you think I got
time fer ter stop right short off en stribbit[59] out all I knows, you er
mighty much mistaken--mighty much mistaken.
"Ole Brer Tarrypin know mighty well dat Brer Rabbit ain't got nothin'
'gin' 'im, yet he got sech a habit er lookin' out fer hisse'f dat he
tuck'n ketch de plough-line in he mouf, he did, en try de strenk un it.
Ole Brer Rabbit, he holler 'Swing on, Brer Tarrypin!' en Brer Tarrypin,
he tuck'n swung on, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he 'uz settin' up dar side er
Brer Rabbit.
"But I wish ter goodness you'd 'a' bin dar," continued Uncle Remus, very
gracefully leaving it to be inferred that _he_ was there; "I wish ter
goodness you'd 'a' bin dar so you could er seed ole Brer Tarrypin w'iles
Brer Rabbit 'uz haulin' 'im up, wid he tail a-wigglin' en he legs all
spraddled out, en him a-whirlin' 'roun' en 'roun' en lookin' skeer'd.
"De t'er creeturs dey see Brer Tarrypin go up safe en soun', en dey see
de vittles passin' 'roun', en dey 'gun ter feel lak dey wanter see de
inside er Brer Rabbit steeple. Den Brer Wolf, he hail 'im:--
"'Heyo dar, Brer Rabbit! Youer lookin' mighty scrumptious way up dar!
How you come on?'
"Brer Rabbit, he look down, he did, en he see who 't is hollerin', en he
'spon':--
"'Po'ly, mighty po'ly, but I thank de Lord I'm able to eat my
'lowance.[60] Won't you drap up, Brer Wolf?'
"'Hit's a mighty clumsy journey fer ter make, Brer Rabbit, yit I don't
keer ef I does.'
"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit let down de plough-line, en Brer Wolf kotch holt,
en dey 'gun ter haul 'im up. Dey haul en dey haul, en w'en Brer Wolf git
mos' ter de top he year Brer Rabbit holler out:--
"'Stir 'roun', ole 'oman, en set de table; but 'fo' you do dat, fetch de
kittle fer ter make de coffee.'
"Dey haul en dey haul on de plough-line, en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit
squall out:--
"'Watch out dar, ole 'oman! You'll spill dat b'ilin' water on Brer
Wolf!'
"En, bless yo' soul!" continued Uncle Remus, turning half around in his
chair to face his enthusiastic audience of one, "dat 'uz 'bout all Brer
Wolf did year, 'kaze de nex' minit down come de scaldin' water, en Brer
Wolf des fetch one squall en turn't hisse'f aloose, en w'en he strak de
groun' he bounce des same ez one er deze yer injun-rubber balls w'at you
use ter play wid 'long in dem times 'fo' you tuck'n broke yo' mammy
lookin'-glass. Ole Brer Rabbit, he lean fum out de steeple en 'pollygize
de bes' he kin, but no 'pollygy ain't gwine ter make ha'r come back
whar de b'ilin' water hit."
"Did they spill the hot water on purpose, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
inquired.
"Now, den, honey, youer crowdin' me. Dem ar creeturs wuz mighty
kuse--mo' speshually Brer Rabbit. W'en it come down ter dat," said Uncle
Remus, lowering his voice and looking very grave, "I 'speck ef youder
s'arch de country fum hen-roost to river-bank,[61] you won't fine a no
mo' kuser man dan Brer Rabbit. All I knows is dat Brer Rabbit en Brer
Tarrypin had a mighty laughin' spell des 'bout de time Brer Wolf hit de
groun'."
FOOTNOTES:
[59] Distribute.
[60] Allowance; ration.
[61] Based on a characteristic negro saying. For instance: "Where's
Jim?" "You can't keep up wid dat nigger. Des let night come, en he's
runnin' fum hen-roost to river-bank." In other words, stealing chickens
and robbing fish baskets.
XLVI
BRER WOLF STILL IN TROUBLE
"En still we er by ourse'fs," exclaimed Uncle Remus, as the little boy
ran into his cabin, the night after he had heard the story of how
Brother Rabbit scalded Brother Wolf. "We er by ourse'fs en time's
a-passin'. Dem ar folks dunner w'at dey er missin'. We er des gittin'
ter dat p'int whar we kin keep de run er creeturs, en it keeps us dat
busy we ain't got time fer ter bolt our vittles skacely.
"I done tell you 'bout Brer Rabbit makin' 'im a steeple; but I ain't
tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit got ole Brer Wolf out'n er mighty bad
fix."
"No," said the little boy, "you have n't, and that's just what I have
come for now."
Uncle Remus looked at the rafters, then at the little boy, and finally
broke into a loud laugh.
"I 'clar' ter goodness," he exclaimed, addressing the imaginary third
person to whom he related the most of his grievances, "I 'clar' ter
goodness ef dat ar chile ain't gittin' so dat he's eve'y whit ez
up-en-spoken ez w'at ole Miss ever bin. Dat he is!"
The old man paused long enough to give the little boy some uneasiness,
and then continued:--
"Atter ole Brer Wolf git de nat'al hide tuck off'n 'im on de 'count er
Brer Rabbit kittle, co'se he hatter go 'way off by hisse'f fer ter let
de ha'r grow out. He 'uz gone so long dat Brer Rabbit sorter 'low ter
hisse'f dat he 'speck he kin come down out'n he steeple, en sorter rack
'roun' mungs de t'er creeturs.
"He sorter primp up, Brer Rabbit did, en den he start out 'pun he
journeys hether en yan.[62] He tuck'n went ter de crossroads, en dar he
stop en choose 'im a road. He choose 'im a road, he did, en den he put
out des lak he bin sent fer in a hurry.
"Brer Rabbit gallop on, he did, talkin' en laughin' wid hisse'f, en
eve'y time he pass folks, he'd tu'n it off en make lak he singin'. He
'uz gwine on dis a-way, w'en fus' news you know he tuck'n year sump'n'.
He stop talkin' en 'gun ter hum a chune, but he ain't meet nobody. Den
he stop en lissen en he year sump'n' holler:--
"'O Lordy! Lordy! Won't somebody come he'p me?'"
The accent of grief and despair and suffering that Uncle Remus managed
to throw into this supplication was really harrowing.
"Brer Rabbit year dis, en he stop en lissen. 'T wa'n't long 'fo' sump'n'
n'er holler out:--
"'O Lordy, Lordy! Please, somebody, come en he'p me.'
"Brer Rabbit, he h'ist up he years, he did, en make answer back:--
"'Who is you, nohow, en w'at de name er goodness de marter?'
"'Please, somebody, do run yer!'
"Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n stan' on th'ee legs fer ter make sho' er gittin'
a good start ef dey 'uz any needs un it, en he holler back:--
"'Whar'bouts is you, en how come you dar?'
"'Do please, somebody, run yer en he'p a po' mizerbul creetur. I'm down
yer in de big gully und' dish yer great big rock.'
"Ole Brer Rabbit bleedz ter be mighty 'tickler in dem days, en he crope
down ter de big gully en look in, en who de name er goodness you 'speck
he seed down dar?"
Uncle Remus paused and gave the little boy a look of triumph, and then
proceeded without waiting for a reply:--
"Nobody in de roun' worl' but dat ar ole Brer Wolf w'at Brer Rabbit done
bin scalted de week 'fo' dat. He 'uz layin' down dar in de big gully,
en, bless gracious! 'pun top un 'im wuz a great big rock, en ef you want
ter know de reason dat ar great big rock ain't teetotally kilt Brer
Wolf, den you'll hatter ax some un w'at know mo' 'bout it dan w'at I
does, 'kaze hit look lak ter me dat it des oughter mash 'im flat.
"Yit dar he wuz, en let 'lone bein' kilt, he got strenk 'nuff lef' fer
ter make folks year 'im holler a mile off, en he holler so lonesome dat
it make Brer Rabbit feel mighty sorry, en no sooner is he feel sorry dan
he hol' he coat-tails out de way en slid down de bank fer ter see w'at
he kin do.
"W'en he git down dar Brer Wolf ax 'im please, sir, kin he he'p 'im wid
de removance er dat ar rock, en Brer Rabbit 'low he 'speck he kin; en
wid dat Brer Wolf holler en tell 'im fer mussy sake won't he whirl in en
do it, w'ich Brer Rabbit tuck'n ketch holt er de rock en hump hisse'f,
en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he git a purchis on it, en, bless yo' soul, he
lif' 'er up des lak nigger at de log-rollin'.
"Hit tu'n out dat Brer Wolf ain't hurted much, en w'en he fine dis out,
he tuck'n tuck a notion dat ef he ev' gwine git he revengeance out'n
Brer Rabbit, right den wuz de time, en no sooner does dat come 'cross he
min' dan he tuck'n grab Brer Rabbit by de nap er de neck en de small er
de back.
"Brer Rabbit he kick en squeal, but 't ain't do no manner er good,
'kaze de mo' w'at he kick de mo' tighter Brer Wolf clamp 'im, w'ich he
squoze 'im so hard dat Brer Rabbit wuz fear'd he 'uz gwine ter cut off
he breff. Brer Rabbit, he 'low:--
"'Well, den, Brer Wolf! Is dish yer de way you thanks folks fer savin'
yo' life?'
"Brer Wolf grin big, en den he up'n 'low:--
"'I'll thank you, Brer Rabbit, en den I'll make fresh meat out'n you.'
"Brer Rabbit 'low, he did:--
"'Ef you talk dat a-way, Brer Wolf, I never is to do yer 'n'er good turn
w'iles I live.'
"Brer Wolf, he grin some mo' en 'low:--
"'Dat you won't, Brer Rabbit, dat you won't! You won't do me no mo' good
turn tel you er done dead.'
"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study ter hisse'f, he did, en den he 'low:
"'Whar I come fum, Brer Wolf, hit's agin' de law fer folks fer to kill
dem w'at done done um a good turn, en I 'speck hit's de law right 'roun'
yer.'
"Brer Wolf say he ain't so mighty sho' 'bout dat. Brer Rabbit say he
willin' fer ter lef' de whole case wid Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Wolf say
he 'gree'ble.
"Wid dat, dey put out, dey did, en make der way ter whar ole Brer
Tarrypin stay; en w'en dey git dar, Brer Wolf he tuck'n tell he side, en
den Brer Rabbit he tuck'n tell he side. Ole Brer Tarrypin put on he
specks en cle'r up he th'oat, en den he 'low:--
"'Dey's a mighty heap er mixness in dish yer 'spute, en 'fo' I kin take
any sides you'll des hatter kyar me fer ter see de place whar'bouts Brer
Wolf wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun' 'im,' sezee.
[Illustration: "EN, BLESS GRACIOUS! DEM AR CREETURS RACKED OFF
FUM DAR EN LEF' OLE BRER WOLF UND' DAT AR ROCK"]
"Sho' 'nuff, dey tuck'n kyar'd ole Brer Tarrypin down de big road twel
dey come ter de big gully, en den dey tuck 'im ter whar Brer Wolf got
kotch und' de big rock. Ole Brer Tarrypin, he walk 'roun', he did, en
poke at de place wid de een' er he cane. Bimeby he shuck he head, he
did, en 'low:
"'I hates might'ly fer ter put you all gents ter so much trouble; yit,
dey ain't no two ways, I'll hatter see des how Brer Wolf was kotch, en
des how de rock wuz layin' 'pun top un 'im,' sezee. 'De older folks
gits, de mo' trouble dey is,' sezee, 'en I ain't 'nyin' but w'at I'm
a-ripenin' mo' samer dan a 'simmon w'at's bin strucken wid de fros','
sezee.
"Den Brer Wolf, he tuck'n lay down whar he wuz w'en Brer Rabbit foun'
'im, en de yuthers dey up'n roll de rock 'pun top un 'im. Dey roll de
rock 'pun 'im," continued Uncle Remus, looking over his spectacles to
see what effect the statement had on the little boy, "en dar he wuz.
Brer Tarrypin, he walk all 'roun' en 'roun', en look at 'im. Den he sot
down, he did, en make marks in de san' wid he cane lak he studyin' 'bout
sump'n' n'er. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he open up:--
"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock gittin' mighty heavy!'
"Brer Tarrypin, he mark in de san', en study, en study. Brer Wolf
holler:--
"'Ow, Brer Tarrypin! Dish yer rock mashin' de breff out'n me.'
"Brer Tarrypin, he r'ar back, he did, en he 'low, sezee:--
"'Brer Rabbit, you wuz in de wrong. You ain't had no business fer ter
come bodderin' 'longer Brer Wolf w'en he ain't bodderin' 'longer you. He
'uz 'ten'in' ter he own business en you oughter bin 'ten'in' ter yone.'
"Dis make Brer Rabbit look 'shame' er hisse'f, but Brer Tarrypin talk
right erlong:--
"'W'en you 'uz gwine down dish yer road dis mawnin', you sho'ly mus' bin
a-gwine som'ers. Ef you _wuz_ gwine som'ers you better be gwine on. Brer
Wolf, he wa'n't gwine nowhars den, en he ain't gwine nowhars now. You
foun' 'im und' dat ar rock, en und' dat ar rock you lef 'im.'
"En, bless gracious!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, "dem ar creeturs racked off
fum dar en lef' ole Brer Wolf und' dat ar rock."
FOOTNOTE:
[62] Hither and yon.
XLVII
BRER RABBIT LAYS IN HIS BEEF SUPPLY
"I wonder where Daddy Jack is," said the little boy, one night after he
had been waiting for some time for Uncle Remus to get leisure to tell
him a story.
Uncle Remus, who was delightfully human in his hypocrisy, as well as in
other directions, leaned back in his chair, looked at the little boy
with an air of grieved resignation, and said:--
"I boun' you does, honey, I boun' you does. Ole Brer Jack look mighty
weazly ter de naked eye, but I lay he's a lots mo' likelier nigger dan
w'at ole Remus is. De time done gone by w'en a po' ole no-'count nigger
lak me kin hol' he han' wid a bran new nigger man lak Brer Jack."
The child stared at Uncle Remus with open-eyed astonishment.
"Now, Uncle Remus! I did n't mean that; you know I did n't," he
exclaimed.
"Bless yo' heart, honey! hit don't pester me. I done got de speunce un
it. Dat I is. Plough-hoss don't squeal en kick w'en dey puts 'n'er hoss
in he place. Brer Jack got de age on 'im but he new ter you. Ole er
young, folks is folks, en no longer'n day 'fo' yistiddy, I year you
braggin' 'bout how de vittles w'at dey feeds you on up at de big house
ain't good ez de vittles w'at yuther childun gits. Nummine ole Remus,
honey; you en Brer Jack des go right erlong en I'll be much 'blige ef
you'll des lemme set in de cornder yer en chunk de fier. Sho'ly I ain't
pas' doin' dat."
The child was troubled to think that Uncle Remus should find it
necessary to depreciate himself, and he made haste to explain his
position.
"I thought that if Daddy Jack was here he could tell me a story while
you are working, so you would n't be bothered."
A broad grin of appreciation spread over Uncle Remus's face. He
adjusted his spectacles, looked around and behind him, and then, seeing
no one but the child, addressed himself to the rafters and cobwebs:--
"Well! well! well! ef dish yer don't beat all! Gentermens! dish yer
little chap yer, he puny in de legs, yit he mighty strong in de head."
He paused, as if reflecting over the whole matter, and then turned to
the child:--
"Is _dat_ w'at make you hone atter Daddy Jack, honey--des 'kaze you
wanter set back dar en lissen at a tale? Now, den, ef you had n't 'a'
got me off'n de track, you'd 'a' bin settin' yer lis'nen at one un um
dis blessid minnit, 'kaze des time I year talk dat Mars John gwine ter
have dat ar long-hornded steer kilt fer beef, hit come 'cross my min'
'bout de time w'ence Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox j'ined in wid one er 'n'er
en kilt a cow."
"Killed a cow, Uncle Remus?"
"Des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar," replied the old man with emphasis.
"Look lak dey wa'n't no kinder doin's w'at dem ar creeturs wa'n't up
ter, mo' speshually ole Brer Rabbit. Day in en day out, fum mawnin' twel
night en fum night twel mawnin', he 'uz constant a-studyin' up some bran
new kinder contrapshun fer ter let de yuther creeturs know he 'uz
some'rs in de neighborhoods.
"Come down ter dat, you kin b'leeve me er not b'leeve me, des ez you er
min' ter; you kin take yo' choosement; but ole Brer Rabbit en ole Brer
Fox, spite er dey fallin' out, dey tuck'n go inter cahoots en kilt a
cow. Seem lak I disremember who de cow b'long ter," continued the old
man, frowning thoughtfully, and thus, by a single stroke, imparting an
air of reality to the story; "but she sho'ly b'long'd ter some er de
neighbors, 'kaze you kin des put it down, right pine-blank, dat Brer
Rabbit ain't gwine ter kill he own cow, en needer is Brer Fox.
"Well, den, dey tuck'n kilt a cow, en 't wa'n't dey own cow, en alter
dey done skunt 'er Brer Rabbit, he up'n 'low, he did, dat ef Brer Fox
wanter git de good er de game, he better run home en fetch a tray er
sump'n fer put de jiblets in."
"Jiblets, Uncle Remus?"
"Tooby sho', honey. Dats w'at we-all calls de liver, de lights, de
heart, en de melt. Some calls um jiblets en some calls um hasletts, but
ef you'll lemme take um en kyar um home, you kin des up en call um mos'
by any name w'at creep inter yo' min'. You do de namin'," the old man
went on, smacking his lips suggestively, "en I'll do de eatin', en ef
I'm de loser, I boun' you won't year no complaints fum me.
"But, law bless me! w'at is I'm a-doin'? De time's a-passin', en I'm
ain't skacely got start on de tale. Dey kilt de cow, dey did, en Brer
Rabbit tell Brer Fox 'bout de jiblets, en w'iles Brer Fox gwine on home
atter de bucket fer ter put um in, he say ter hisse'f dat Brer Rabbit
ain't bad ez he crackt up ter be. But no sooner is Brer Fox outer sight
dan Brer Rabbit cut out de jiblets, he did, en kyar'd um off en hide um.
Den he come back en tuck a piece er de meat en drap blood 'way off de
udder way.
"Bimeby yer come Brer Fox wid he bucket, en w'en he git dar Brer Rabbit
wuz settin' down cryin'. Mon, he 'uz des a-boohoo-in'. Brer Fox, he
'low:--
"'Name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! w'at de marter?'
"''Nuff de marter--'nuff de marter. I wish you'd 'a' stayed yer w'iles
you wuz yer--dat I does, Brer Fox!'
"'How come, Brer Rabbit,--how come?'