Dat Sook Calf got a long bushy tail!_'
"De hawn creeturs, dey go on wid der confab, but Brer Wolf git skeerder
en skeerder, 'kaze he notice dat Mr. Bull got his eye on 'im. Brer
Rabbit, he ain't gin 'im no rest. He holler out:--
"'_One en one never kin make six,
Sticks ain't hawns, en hawns ain't sticks!_'
"Wid dat Brer Wolf make ez ef he gwine 'way fum dar, en he wa'n't none
too soon, needer, 'kaze ole Mr. Bull splunge at 'im, en little mo' en
he'd er nat'ally to' 'im in two."
"Did Brother Wolf get away?" the little boy asked.
"Yas, Lord!" said Aunt Tempy, with unction; "he des scooted 'way fum
dar, en he got so mad wid Brer Rabbit, dat he tuck'n play dead, en wud
went 'roun' dat dey want all de creeturs fer ter go set up wid 'im. Brer
Rabbit, he went down dar fer ter look at 'im, en time he see 'im, he
ex:--
"'Is he grin yit?'
"All de creeturs dey up'n say he ain't grin, not ez dey knows un. Den
Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did:--
"'Well, den, gentermuns all, ef he ain't grin, den he ain't dead good.
In all my 'speunce folks ain't git dead good tel dey grins.'[79]
"W'en Brer Wolf year Brer Rabbit talk dat a-way, he tuck'n grin fum year
ter year, en Brer Rabbit, he picked up his hat en walkin'-cane en put
out fer home, en w'en he got 'way off in de woods he sot down en laugh
fit ter kill hisse'f."
Uncle Remus had paid Aunt Tempy the extraordinary tribute of pausing in
his work to listen to her story, and when she had concluded it, he
looked at her in undisguised admiration, and exclaimed:--
"I be bless, Sis Tempy, ef you ain't wuss'n w'at I is, en I'm bad
'nuff', de Lord knows I is!"
FOOTNOTE:
[79] See _Uncle Remus: His Songs and his Sayings_, p. 60.
LXIII
BRER FOX AND THE WHITE MUSCADINES
Aunty Tempy did not attempt to conceal the pleasure which Uncle Remus's
praise gave her. She laughed somewhat shyly, and said:--
"Bless you, Brer Remus! I des bin a-settin' yer l'arnin'. 'Sides dat,
Chris'mus ain't fur off en I 'speck we er all a-feelin' a sight mo'
humorsome dan common."
"Dat's so, Sis Tempy. I 'uz comin' thoo de lot des 'fo' supper, en I
seed de pigs runnin' en playin' in de win', en I 'low ter myse'f, sez I,
'Sholy dey's a-gwine ter be a harrycane,' en den all at once hit come in
my min' dat Chris'mus mighty close at han', en den on ter dat yer come
de chickens a-crowin' des now en 't ain't nine er'clock. I dunner how de
creeturs know Chris'mus comin', but dat des de way it stan's."
The little boy thought it was time enough to think about Christmas when
the night came for hanging up his stockings, and he asked Uncle Remus if
it was n't his turn to tell a story. The old man laid down the piece of
glass with which he had been scraping the cow's horn, and hunted around
among his tools for a piece of sandpaper before he replied. But his
reply was sufficient. He said:--
"One time w'iles Brer Rabbit wuz gwine thoo de woods he tuck'n strak up
wid ole Brer Fox, en Brer Fox 'low, he did, dat he mighty hongry. Brer
Rabbit 'low dat he ain't feelin' dat a-way hisse'f, 'kaze he des bin en
had er bait er w'ite muscadimes, en den he tuck'n smack he mouf en lick
he chops right front er Brer Fox. Brer Fox, he ax, sezee:--
"'Brer Rabbit, whar de name er goodness is deze yer w'ite muscadimes, en
how come I'm ain't never run 'crosst um?' sezee.
"'I dunner w'at de reason you ain't never come up wid um,' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee; 'some folks sees straight, some sees crooked, some sees
one thing, some sees 'n'er. I done seed dem ar w'ite muscadimes, en let
'lone dat, I done wipe um up. I done e't all dey wuz on one tree, but I
lay dey's lots mo' un um 'roun' in dem neighborhoods,' sezee.
"Ole Brer Fox mouf 'gun to water, en he git mighty restless.
"'Come on, Brer Rabbit; come on! Come show me whar dem ar w'ite
muscadimes grows at,' sezee.
"Brer Rabbit, he sorter hang back. Brer Fox, he 'low:--
"'Come on, Brer Rabbit, come on!'
"Brer Rabbit, he hang back, en bimeby he 'low:--
"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! You wanter git me out dar in de timber by myse'f en
do sump'n' ter me. You wanter git me out dar en skeer me.'
"Ole Brer Fox, he hol' up he han's, he do, en he 'low:--
"'I des 'clar' 'fo' gracious, Brer Rabbit, I ain't gwine do no sech uv a
thing. I dunner w'at kinder 'pinion you got 'bout me fer ter have sech
idee in yo' head. Come on, Brer Rabbit, en less we go git dem ar w'ite
muscadimes. Come on, Brer Rabbit.'
"'Uh-uh, Brer Fox! I done year talk er you playin' so many prank wid
folks dat I fear'd fer ter go 'way off dar wid you.'
"Dey went on dat a-way," continued Uncle Remus, endeavoring to look at
the little boy through the crooked cow's horn, "twel bimeby Brer Fox
promise he ain't gwine ter bodder 'long er Brer Rabbit, en den dey
tuck'n put out. En whar you 'speck dat ar muscheevous Brer Rabbit tuck'n
kyar' Brer Fox?"
Uncle Remus paused and gazed around upon his audience with uplifted
eyebrows, as if to warn them to be properly astonished. Nobody made any
reply, but all looked expectant, and Uncle Remus went on:--
"He ain't kyar 'im nowhars in de roun' worl' but ter one er deze yer
great big scaly-bark trees. De tree wuz des loaded down wid
scaly-barks, but dey wa'n't ripe, en de green hulls shined in de sun des
lak dey ben whitewash'. Brer Fox look 'stonish'. Atter w'ile he up'n
'low:--
"'Is dem ar de w'ite muscadimes? Mighty funny I ain't fine it out 'fo'
dis.'
"Ole Brer Rabbit, he scratch hisse'f en 'low:--
"'Dems um. Dey may n't be ripe ez dem w'at I had fer my brekkus, but
dems de w'ite muscadimes sho' ez youer bawn. Dey er red bullaces[80] en
dey er black bullaces, but deze yer, dey er de w'ite bullaces.'
"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine git um?'
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll des hatter do lak I done.'
"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How wuz dat?'
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'You'll hatter clam fer 'm.'
"Brer Fox, sezee, 'How I gwine clam?'
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Grab wid yo' han's, clam wid yo' legs, en I'll
push behime!'"
"Man--Sir!--he's a-talkin' now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, enthusiastically.
"Brer Fox, he clum, en Brer Rabbit, he push, twel, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox
got whar he kin grab de lowmos' lim's, en dar he wuz! He crope on up, he
did, twel he come ter whar he kin retch de green scaly-bark, en den he
tuck'n pull one en bite it, en, gentermens! hit uz dat rough en dat
bitter twel little mo' en he'd 'a' drapt spang out'n de tree.
"He holler '_Ow!_' en spit it out'n he mouf des same ez ef 't wuz rank
pizen, en he make sech a face dat you would n't b'leeve it skacely
less'n you seed it. Brer Rabbit, he hatter cough fer ter keep fum
laughin', but he make out ter holler, sezee:--
"'Come down, Brer Fox! Dey ain't ripe. Come down en less go some'rs
else.'
"Brer Fox start down, en he git 'long mighty well twel he come ter de
lowmos' lim's, en den w'en he git dar he can't come down no furder,
'kaze he ain't got no claw fer cling by, en not much leg fer clamp.
"Brer Rabbit keep on hollerin', 'Come down!' en Brer Fox keep on
studyin' how he gwine ter come down. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, sezee:--
"'Come on, Brer Fox! I tuck'n push you up, en ef I 'uz dar whar you is,
I'd take'n push you down.'
"Brer Fox sat dar on de lowmos' lim's en look lak he skeer'd. Bimeby
Brer Rabbit tuck he stan' 'way off fum de tree, en he holler, sezee:--
"'Ef you'll take'n jump out dis way, Brer Fox, I'll ketch you.'
"Brer Fox look up, he look down, he look all 'roun'. Brer Rabbit come
little closer, en 'low, sezee:--
"'Hop right down yer, Brer Fox, en I'll ketch you.'
"Hit keep on dis a-way, twel, bimeby, Brer Fox tuck a notion to jump, en
des ez he jump Brer Rabbit hop out de way en holler, sezee:--
"'_Ow!_ Scuze me, Brer Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot! Scuze me, Brer
Fox! I stuck a brier in my foot!'
"En dat ole Brer Fox," continued Uncle Remus, dropping his voice a
little, "dat ole Brer Fox, gentermens! you oughter bin dar! He hit de
groun' like a sack er taters, en it des nat'ally knock de breff out'n
'im. W'en he git up en count hisse'f fer ter see ef he all dar, he ain't
kin walk skacely, en he sat dar en lick de so' places a mighty long time
'fo' he feel lak he kin make he way todes home."
When the little boy wanted to know what became of Brother Rabbit Uncle
Remus said:--
"Shoo! don't you pester 'bout Brer Rabbit. He kick up he heels en put
out fum dar." Then he added: "Dem ar chick'ns crowin' 'g'in, honey. Done
gone by nine er'clock. Scoot out fum dis. Miss Sally'll be a-rakin' me
over de coals."
FOOTNOTE:
[80] Another name for muscadines.
LXIV
MR. HAWK AND BRER BUZZARD
One night the little boy ran into Uncle Remus's cabin singing:--
"_T-u Turkey, t-u Ti,
T-u Turkey Buzzard's eye!_"
Uncle Remus, Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and 'Tildy were all sitting around
the fire, for the Christmas weather was beginning to make itself rather
severely felt. As they made room for the child, Daddy Jack flung his
head back, and took up the song, beating time with his foot:--
"'_T-u Tukry, t-u Ti,
T-u Tukry-Buzzud y-eye!
T-u Tukry, t-u Ting,
T-u Tukry-Buzzud wing!_"
"Deyer mighty kuse creeturs," said 'Tildy, who was sitting rather nearer
to Daddy Jack than had been her custom,--a fact to which Aunt Tempy had
already called the attention of Uncle Remus by a motion of her head,
causing the old man to smile a smile as broad as it was wise. "Deyer
mighty kuse, an' I'm fear'd un um," 'Tildy went on. "Dey looks so
lonesome hit makes me have de creeps fer ter look at um."
"Dey no hu't-a you," said Daddy Jack, soothingly. "You flut you' han'
toze um dey fly 'way fum dey-dey."
"I dunno 'bout dat," said 'Tildy. "Deyer bal'-headed, en dat w'at make
me 'spize um."
Daddy Jack rubbed the bald place on his head with such a comical air
that even 'Tildy laughed. The old African retained his good-humor.
"You watch dem Buzzud," he said after awhile, addressing himself
particularly to the little boy. "'E fly high, 'e fly low, 'e fly 'way
'roun'. Rain come, 'e flup 'e wings, 'e light 'pon dead pine. Rain
fall, 'e hug 'ese'f wit' 'e wing, 'e scrooge 'e neck up. Rain come, win'
blow, da Buzzud bin-a look ragged. Da Buzzud bin-a wink 'e y-eye, 'e
say:--
"'Wun da win' fer stop blow en da rain fer stop drip, me go mek me one
house. Me mek um tight fer keep da rain out; me pit top on strong fer
keep da win' out.'
"Dun da rain dry up en da win' stop. Da Buzzud, 'e stan' 'pon top da
dead pine. Wun da sun bin-a shine, 'e no mek um no house no'n 't all. 'E
stay 'pon da dead pine; 'e 'tretch 'e wing wide open; 'e bin dry hisse'f
in da sun. 'E hab mek no house sence 'e bin born. 'E one fool bud."
"En yit," said Uncle Remus, with a grave, judicial air, "I year tell er
one time w'en ole Brer Buzzard wa'n't so mighty fur outer de way wid he
notions."
"Me yent yeddy tahlk 'bout dis," Daddy Jack explained.
"I 'speck not," responded Uncle Remus. "Hit seem lak dat dey wuz one
time w'en Mr. Hawk come sailin' 'roun' huntin' fer sump'n' 'n'er t' eat,
en he see Brer Buzzard settin' on a dead lim', lookin' mighty lazy en
lonesome.
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'How you come on, Brer Buzzard?'
"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm mighty po'ly, Brer Hawk; po'ly en hongry.'
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'W'at you waitin' yer fer ef you hongry, Brer
Buzzard?'
"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'I'm a-waitin' on de Lord.'
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Better run en git yo' brekkus, Brer Buzzard, en den
come back en wait.'
"Brer Buzzard, sezee, 'No, Brer Hawk, I'll go bidout my brekkus druther
den be biggity 'bout it.'
"Mr. Hawk, he 'low, sezee, 'Well, den, Brer Buzzard, you got yo' way en
I got mine. You see dem ar chick'ns, down dar in Mr. Man hoss-lot? I'm
a-gwine down dar en git one un um, en den I'll come back yer en wait
'long wid you.'
"Wid dat, Mr. Hawk tuck'n sail off, en Brer Buzzard drop he wings down
on de lim' en look mighty lonesome. He sot dar en look mighty lonesome,
he did, but he keep one eye on Mr. Hawk.
"Mr. Hawk, he sail 'roun' en 'roun', en he look mighty purty. He sail
'roun' en 'roun' 'bove de hoss-lot--'roun' en 'roun'--en bimeby he dart
down at chick'ns. He shot up he wings en dart down, he did, des same ef
he 'uz fired out'n a gun."
"Watch out, pullets!" exclaimed 'Tildy, in a tone of warning.
"He dart down, he did," continued Uncle Remus, rubbing his hand
thoughtfully across the top of his head, "but stidder he hittin' de
chick'ns, he tuck'n hit 'pon de sharp een' un a fence-rail. He hit dar,
he did, en dar he stuck."
"Ah-yi-ee!" exclaimed Daddy Jack.
"Dar he stuck. Brer Buzzard sot en watch 'im. Mr. Hawk ain't move. Brer
Buzzard sot en watch 'im some mo'. Mr. Hawk ain't move. He done stone
dead. De mo' Brer Buzzard watch 'im de mo' hongrier he git, en bimeby he
gedder up he wings, en sorter clean out he year wid he claw, en 'low,
sezee:--
"'I know'd de Lord 'uz gwineter pervide.'"
"Trufe too!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy. "'T ain't bin in my min' dat Buzzard
got sense lak dat!"
"Dar's whar you missed it, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus gravely. "Brer
Buzzard, he tuck'n drap down fum de dead lim', en he lit on Mr. Hawk, en
had 'im fer brekkus. Hit's a mighty 'roun' about way fer ter git
chick'n-pie, yit hit's lots better dan no way."
"I 'speck Hawk do tas'e like chicken," remarked 'Tildy.
"Dey mos' sho'ly does," said Uncle Remus, with emphasis.
LXV
MR. HAWK AND BRER RABBIT
"I year tell er one time," said 'Tildy, "w'en ole Mr. Hawk tuck'n kotch
Brer Rabbit, but 't ain't no tale like dem you all bin tellin'."
"Tell it, anyhow, 'Tildy," said the little boy.
"Well, 't ain't no tale, I tell you dat now. One time Brer Rabbit wuz
gwine 'long thoo de bushes singin' ter hisse'f, en he see a shadder pass
befo' 'im. He look up, en dar 'uz Mr. Hawk sailin' 'roun' en 'roun'.
Time he see 'im, Brer Rabbit 'gun ter kick up en sassy 'im.
"Mr. Hawk ain't pay no 'tention ter dis. He des sail all 'roun' en
'roun'. Eve'y time he sail 'roun', he git little closer, but Brer Rabbit
ain't notice dis. He too busy wid his devilment. He shuck his fis' at
Mr. Hawk, en chunk'd at 'im wid sticks;[81] en atter w'ile he tuck'n make
out he got a gun, en he tuck aim at Mr. Hawk, en 'low'd, 'Pow!' en den
he holler en laugh.
"All dis time Mr. Hawk keep on sailin' 'roun' en 'roun' en gittin'
nigher en nigher, en bimeby down he drapt right slambang on Brer Rabbit,
en dar he had 'im. Brer Rabbit fix fer ter say his pra'rs, but 'fo' he
do dat, he talk to Mr. Hawk, en he talk mighty fergivin'. He 'low he
did:--
"'I 'uz des playin', Mr. Hawk; I 'uz dez a-playin'. You oughtn' ter fly
up en git mad wid a little bit er man like me.'
"Mr. Hawk ruffle up de fedders on his neck en say:--
"'I ain't flyin' up, I'm a-flyin' down, en w'en I fly up, I'm a-gwine
ter fly 'way wid you. You bin a-playin' de imp 'roun' in dis settlement
long 'nuff, en now ef you got any will ter make, you better make it
quick, 'kaze you ain't got much time.'
"Brer Rabbit cry. He say:--
"'I mighty sorry, Mr. Hawk, dat I is. I got some gol' buried right over
dar in fence cornder, en I wish in my soul my po' little childuns know
whar 't wuz, 'kaze den dey could git long widout me fer a mont' er two.'
"Mr. Hawk 'low, 'Whar'bouts is all dis gol'?'
"Brer Rabbit low, 'Right over dar in de fence-cornder.'
"Mr. Hawk say show it ter 'im. Brer Rabbit say he don't keer ef he do,
en he say:--
"'I'd 'a' done show'd it ter you long 'fo' dis, but you hol' me so
tight, I can't wink my eye skacely, much less walk ter whar de gol' is.'
"Mr. Hawk say he fear'd he gwineter try ter git 'way. Brer Rabbit say
dey ain't no danger er dat, 'kaze he one er deze yer kinder mens w'en
dey er kotch once deyer kotch fer good.
"Mr. Hawk sorter let Brer Rabbit loose, en dey went todes de
fence-cornder. Brer Rabbit, he went 'long so good dat dis sorter ease
Mr. Hawk min' 'bout he gittin' 'way. Dey got ter de place en Brer Rabbit
look all 'roun', en den he frown up like he got some mighty bad
disap'intment, en he say:--
"'You may b'lieve me er not, Mr. Hawk, but we er on de wrong side er de
fence. I hid dat gol' some'rs right in dat cornder dar. You fly over en
I'll go thoo.'
"Tooby sho' dis look fa'r, en Brer Rabbit, he crope thoo' de fence, en
Mr. Hawk flew'd 'cross. Time he lit on t'er side, Mr. Hawk year Brer
Rabbit laugh."
The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit laughed for, as 'Tildy paused
to adjust a flaming red ribbon-bow pinned in her hair.
"'Kaze dey wuz a brier-patch on t'er side de fence," said 'Tildy, "en
Brer Rabbit wuz in dar."
"I boun' you!" Aunt Tempy exclaimed. "He 'uz in dar, en dar he stayed
tel Mr. Hawk got tired er hangin' 'roun' dar."
"Ah, Lord, chile!" said Uncle Remus, with the candor of an expert, "some
er dat tale you got right, en some you got wrong."
"Oh, I know'd 't wa'n't no tale like you all bin tellin'," replied
'Tildy, modestly.
"Tooby sho' 't is," continued Uncle Remus, by way of encouragement; "but
w'iles we gwine 'long we better straighten out all de kinks dat'll b'ar
straightenin'."
"Goodness knows I ain't fittin' ter tell no tale," persisted 'Tildy.
"Don't run yo'se'f down, gal," said Uncle Remus, encouragingly; "ef
dey's to be any runnin' down let yuther folks do it; en, bless yo' soul,
dey'll do 'nuff un it bidout waitin' fer yo' lettin'.
"Now, den, old man Hawk,--w'ich dey call 'im Billy Blue-tail in my day
en time,--ole man Hawk, he tuck'n kotch Brer Rabbit des lak you done
said. He kotch 'im en he hilt 'im in a mighty tight grip, let 'lone dat
he hilt 'im so tight dat it make Brer Rabbit breff come short lak he des
come off'n a long jurney.
"He holler en he beg, but dat ain't do no good; he squall en he cry, but
dat ain't do no good; he kick en he groan, but dat ain't do no good. Den
Brer Rabbit lay still en study 'bout w'at de name er goodness he gwine
do. Bimeby he up'n 'low:--
"'I dunner w'at you want wid me, Mr. Hawk, w'en I ain't a mouf full fer
you, skacely!'
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'I'll make way wid you, en den I'll go ketch me a
couple er Jaybirds.'
"Dis make Brer Rabbit shake wid de allovers, 'kaze ef dey's any kinder
creetur w'at he nat'ally 'spize on de topside er de yeth, hit's a
Jaybird.
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Do, pray, Mr. Hawk, go ketch dem Jaybirds fus',
'kaze I can't stan' um bein' on top er me. I'll stay right yer, plum
twel you come back,' sezee.
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh, Brer Rabbit, you done bin fool too many folks.
You ain't fool me,' sezee.
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Ef you can't do dat, Mr. Hawk, den de bes' way
fer you ter do is ter wait en lemme git tame, 'kaze I'm dat wil' now dat
I don't tas'e good.'
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh!'
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Well, den, ef dat won't do, you better wait en
lemme grow big so I'll be a full meal er vittles.'
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Now youer talkin' sense!'
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'En I'll rush 'roun' 'mungs' de bushes, en drive
out Pa'tridges fer you, en we'll have mo' fun dan w'at you kin shake a
stick at.'
"Mr. Hawk sorter study 'bout dis, en Brer Rabbit, he beg en he 'splain,
en de long en de short un it wuz," said Uncle Remus, embracing his knee
with his hands, "dat Brer Rabbit tuck'n git loose, en he ain't git no
bigger, en needer is he druv no Pa'tridges fer Mr. Hawk."
"De Lord he'p my soul!" exclaimed 'Tildy, and this was the only comment
made upon this extraordinary story.
FOOTNOTE:
[81] That is to say, threw sticks at Mr. Hawk.
LXVI
THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD
All this talk about Hawks and Buzzards evidently reminded Daddy Jack of
another story. He began to shake his head and mumble to himself; and,
finally, when he looked around and found that he had attracted the
attention of the little company, he rubbed his chin and grinned until
his yellow teeth shone in the firelight like those of some wild animal,
while his small eyes glistened under their heavy lids with a suggestion
of cunning not unmixed with ferocity.
"Talk it out, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus; "talk it out. All nex' week
we'll be a-fixin' up 'bout Chris'mus. Mars Jeems, he's a-comin' up, en
Miss Sally'll have lots er yuther comp'ny. 'Tildy yer, she'll be busy,
en dish yer little chap, he won't have no time fer ter be settin' up
wid de ole niggers, en Sis Tempy, she'll have 'er han's full, en ole
Remus, he'll be a-pirootin' 'roun' huntin' fer dat w'at he kin pick up.
Time's a-passin', Brer Jack, en we all er passin' wid it. Des whirl in
en gin us de upshot er w'at you got in yo' min'."
"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, by way of approval. "One time dey bin two
bud. One bin sma't bud; da turrer, 'e bin fool bud. Dey bin lif in da
sem countree; da bin use in da sem swamp. Da sma't bud, 'e is bin come
'pon da fool bud; 'e bin tahlk. 'E bin say:--
"'Ki! you long in da leg, you deep in da craw. You bin 'tan' well; you
bin las' long tam.'
"Fool bud, 'e look proud, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:--
"'Me no mekky no brag.'
"Sma't bud, 'e say:--
"'Less we try see fer how long tam we is kin go 'dout bittle un drink.'
"Fool bud, 'e 'tretch 'e neck, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:--
"'All-a right; me beat-a you all day ebry day. Me beat-a you all da
tam.'
"Sma't bud, 'e say:--
"'Ef you bin 'gree wit' dis, less we tek we place. You git 'pon da
crik-side en tekky one ho'n, I git 'pon da tree y-up dey, en tekky
nurrer ho'n. Less we 'tan' dey-dey tel we see how long tam we is kin do
'dout bittle en drink. Wun I blow 'pon me ho'n dun you blow 'pon you'
ho'n fer answer me; me blow, you blow, dun we bote blow.'
"Fool bud walk 'bout big; 'e say:--
"'Me will do um!'
"Nex' day mornin' come. Da sma't bud bin tekky one ho'n un fly 'pon da
tree. De fool bud bin tekky one nurrer ho'n en set by da crik-side. Dey
bin sta't in fer starf deyse'f. Da fool bud, 'e stay by da crik-side wey
dey bin no'n 't all fer eat; 'e no kin fin' no bittle dey-dey. Sma't
bud git in da tree da y-ant en da bug swa'm in da bark plenty. 'E pick
dem ant, 'e y-eat dem ant; 'e pick dem bug, 'e y-eat dem bug. 'E pick
tel 'e craw come full; he feel berry good.
"Fool bud, 'e down by da crik-side. 'E set down, 'e come tire'; 'e 'tan'
up, 'e come tire'; 'e walk 'bout, 'e come tire'. 'E 'tan' 'pon one leg,
he 'tan' 'pon turrer; 'e pit 'e head need 'e wing; still he come tire'.
Sma't bud shed 'e y-eye; 'e feel berry good. Wun 'e come hongry, 'e pick
ant, 'e pick bug, tel 'e hab plenty, toze dinner-time 'e pick up 'e
ho'n, 'e toot um strong--
"'_Tay-tay, tenando wanzando waneanzo!_'
"Fool bud craw bin empty, but 'e hab win'. 'E tekky da ho'n, 'e blow
berry well; he mek um say:--
"'_Tay-tay tenando wanzando olando!_'
"Sma't bud pick ant plenty; 'e git full up. 'E wait tel mos' toze
sundown; 'e blow 'pon da ho'n--
"'_Tay-tay tenando wanzando waneanzo!_'
"Fool bud mek answer, but 'e come weak; 'e yent hab eat nuttin' 't all.
Soon nex' day mornin' sma't bud tek 'e ho'n en toot um. 'E done bin eat,
'e done bin drink dew on da leaf. Fool bud, 'e toot um ho'n, 'e toot um
slow.
"Dinner-time, sma't bud bin tek 'e ho'n en blow; 'e yent bin honkry no'n
't all; 'e hab good feelin'. Fool bud toot um ho'n; 'e toot um slow.
Night tam come, 'e no toot um no mo'. Sma't bud come down, 'e fin' um
done gone dead.
"Watch dem 'ceitful folks; 'e bin do you bad."[82]
FOOTNOTE:
[82] Mrs. H. S. Barclay, of Darien, who sends this story, says it was
told by a native African woman, of good intelligence, who claimed to be
a princess. She had an eagle tattoed on her bosom--a sign of royalty.
LXVII
OLD BRER TERRAPIN GETS SOME FISH
"Dat tale," said Uncle Remus, "puts me in min' er de time w'en ole Brer
Tarrypin had a tussel wid Brer Mink. Hit seem lak," he went on, in
response to inquiries from the little boy, "dat dey bofe live 'roun' de
water so much en so long dat dey git kinder stuck up long wid it.
Leasways dat 'uz de trouble wid Brer Mink. He jump in de water en swim
en dive twel he 'gun ter b'leeve dey wa'n't nobody kin hol' der han'
long wid 'im.
"One day Brer Mink 'uz gwine long down de creek wid a nice string er
fish swingin' on he walkin'-cane, w'en who should he meet up wid but ole
Brer Tarrypin. De creeturs 'uz all hail feller wid ole Brer Tarrypin, en
no sooner is he seed Brer Mink dan he bow 'im howdy. Ole Brer Tarrypin
talk 'way down in he th'oat lak he got bad col'. He 'low:--
"'Heyo, Brer Mink! Whar you git all dem nice string er fish?'
"Brer Mink 'uz mighty up-en-spoken in dem days. He 'low, he did:--
"'Down dar in de creek, Brer Tarrypin.'
"Brer Tarrypin look 'stonish'. He say, sezee:--
"'Well, well, well! In de creek! Who'd er b'leev'd it?'
"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Whar I gwine ketch um, Brer Tarrypin, ef I ain't
ketch um in de creek?'
"Ole Brer Tarrypin, sezee: 'Dat's so, Brer Mink; but a highlan' man lak
you gwine in de creek atter fish! Hit looks turrible, Brer Mink--dat
w'at it do; hit des looks turrible!'
"Brer Mink, sezee: 'Looks er no looks, dar whar I got um.'
"Brer Tarrypin sorter sway he head fum side ter side, en 'low:--
"'Ef dat de case, Brer Mink, den sho'ly you mus' be one er dem ar kinder
creeturs w'at usen ter de water.'
"'Dat's me,' sez Brer Mink, sezee.