Uncle Remus, his songs and his sayings

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UNCLE REMUS

(

His S$ngs and His Sayings

By J#EL CHANDLER HARRIS

NEW AND REVISED EDITION
WITH •VER 1»0 ILLUSTRATIONS BY

A. B. FR«ST

PUBLISHERS Gr$sset i:r Dunlai) new y©rk

Copyright, 1880, 1895, by
D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Copyright, 1908, 1921, by
ESTHER LA ROSE HARRIS

dll rights reserved. This book, or parts
thereof, must not be reproduced in any
form without permissior of the publishers.

Printed in the United States of An\eric»

PREFACE AND DEDICATION
TO THE NEW EDITION

To Arthur Burdette Frost:

My dear Frost: I am expected to supply a prelace
for this new edition of my first book — to advance
from behind the curtain, as it were, and make a fresh
bow to the pubhc that has dealt with Uncle Remus
in so gentle and generous a fashion. For this event
the lights are to be rekindled, and I am expected to
respond in some formal way to an encore that marks
the fifteenth anniversary of the book. There have
been other editions — how many I do not remember
— but this is to be an entirely new one, except as to
the matter: new type, new pictures, and new bind-
ing.

But, as frequently happens on such occasions, I
am at a loss for a word. I seem to see before me the
smiling faces of thousands of children — some young
and fresh, and some wearing the friendly marks of
age, but all children at heart — and not an unfriendly
face among them. And out of the confusion, and
while I am trying hard to speak the right word, I
seem to hear a voice lifted above the rest, saying.
"You have made some of us happy." And so I feel my
heart fluttering and my hps trembling, and I have
to bow silently and turn away, and hurry back into
the obscurity that fits me best.

Phantoms! Children of dreams! True, my dear
Frost; but if you could see the thousands of letters

V

PREFACE AND DEDICATION

that have come to me from far and near, and all fresh
from the hearts and hands of children, and from men
and women who have not forgotten how to be chil-
dren, you would not wonder at the dream. And such
a dream can do no harm. Insubstantial though it may
be, I would not at this hour exchange it for all the
fame won by my mightier brethren of the pen —
whom I most humbly salute.

Measured by the material developments that have
compressed years of experience into the space of a
day, thus increasing the possibilities of hfe, if not its
beauty, fifteen years constitute the old age of a book.
Such a survival might almost be said to be due to a
tiny sluice of green sap under the gray bark. Where
it lies in the matter of this book, or what its source —
if, indeed, it be really there — is more of a mystery to
my middle age than it was to my prime.

But it would be no mystery at all if this new edi-
tion were to be more popular than the old one. Do
you know why? Because you have taken it under
your hand and made it yours. Because you have
breathed the breath of life into these amiable breth-
ren of wood and field. Because, by a stroke here and
a touch there, you have conveyed into their quaint
antics the illumination of your own inimitable humor,
which is as true to our sun and soil as it is to the
spirit and essence of the matter set forth.

The book was mine, but now you have made it
yours, both sap and pith. Take it, therefore, my dear
Frost, and believe me, faithfully yours,

Joel Chandler Harris.

vi

INTRODUCTION

I AM advised by my publishers that this book is to
be included in their catalogue of humorous publica-
tions, and this friendly warning gives me an oppor-
tunity to say that however humorous it may be in
effect, its intention is perfectly serious; and, even if it
were otherwise, it seems to me that a volume written
wholly in dialect must have its solemn, not to sa);
melancholy, features. With respect to the Folk-Lore
series, my purpose has been to preserve the legends
themselves in their original simplicity, and to wed
them permanently to the quaint dialect— if, indeed, it
can be called a dialect— through the medium of which
they have become a part of tlie domestic history of
every Southern family; and I have endeavored tn
give to the whole a genuine flavor of tlie old planta-
tion.

Each legend has its variants, but in every instance
I have retained that particular version which seemed
to me to be the most characteristic, and have given it
without embellishment and without exaggeration.

VIU INTRODI^CTION

The dialect, it will be observed, is wholly different
from that of the Hon. Pompey Smash and his literary
descendants, and different also from the intolerable
misrepresentations of the minstrel stage, but it is at
least phonetically genuine. Nevertlieless, if the lan-
guage of Uncle Remus fails to give vivid hints of the
really poetic imagination of the Negro; if it fails to
embody the quaint and homely humor v/hich was his
most prominent characteristic; if it does not suggest a
certain picturesque sensitiveness— a curious exaltation
of mind and temperament not to be defined by words
—then I have reproduced the form of the dialect
merely, and not the essence, and my attempt may be
accounted a failure. At any rate, I trust I have been
successful in presenting what must be, at least to a
large portion of American readers, a new and by no
means unattractive phase of Negro character— a phase
which may be considered a curiously sympathetic
supplement to Mrs. Stowe's wonderful defense of
slavery as it existed in the South. Mrs. Stowe, let me
hasten to say, attacked the possibilities of slavery
with all the eloquence of genius; but the same genius
painted the portrait of the Southern slave-owner, and
defended him.

A nimiber of the plantation legends originally ap-
peared in the columns of a daily newspaper— T/ie At'
lanta Constitution— and in that shape they attracted
the attention of various gentlemen who were kind

INTRODUCTION IX

enough to suggest that they would prove to be valu'
able contributions to myth-literature. It is but fair to
say that ethnological considerations formed no part
of the undertaking which has resulted in the pub-
lication of this volume. Professor J. W. Powell, of tlie
Smithsonian Institution, who is engaged in an inves-
tigation of the mythology of the North American In-
dians, infoiTns me that some of Uncle Remus's stories
appear in a number of different languages, and in
various modified forms, among the Indians; and he ii
of die opinion that they are borrowed by the Negroes
from the red-men. But this, to say the least, is ex-
tremely doubtful, since another investigator (Mr.
Herbert H. Smith, author of Brazil and the Amazons)
has met with some of these stories among tribes of
South American Indians, and one in particular he
has traced to India, and as far east as Siam. Mr. Smith
has been kind enough to send me the proof-sheets ol
his chapter on The Myths and Folk-Lore of the
Amazonian Indians, in which he reproduces some of
the stories which he gathered while exploring the
Amazons.

In the first of his series, a tortoise falls from a tree
upon the head of a jaguar and kills him; in one of
Uncle Remus's stories, the terrapin falls from a shelf
in Miss Meadows's house and stuns the fox, so tliat the
latter fails to catch the rabbit. In the next, a jaguar
catches a tortoise by the hind-leg as he is disappear-

INTRODUCTION

ing in his hole; but the tortoise convinces him he is
holding a root, and so escapes; Uncle Remus tells
how the fox endeavored to drown the terrapin, but
turned him loose because the terrapin declared his
tail to be only a stump-root. Mr. Smith also gives the
story of how the tortoise outran the deer, which is
identical as to incident with Uncle Remus's story of
how Brer Tarrypin outran Brer Rabbit. Then there is
die story of how the tortoise pretended that he was
stronger than the tapir. He tells the latter he can drag
him into tlie sea, but the tapir retorts that he will pull
the tortoise into the forest and kill him besides. The
tortoise thereupon gets a vine-stem, ties one end
around the body of the tapir, and goes to the sea,
where he ties the other end to the tail of a whale. He
then goes into the wood, midway between them both,
and gives the vine a shake as a signal for the pulling
to begin. The struggle between the whale and tapir
goes on until each thinks the tortoise is the strongest
of animals. Compare this with the story of the ten-a-
pin's contest with the bear, in v/hich Miss Meadows's
bed-cord is used instead of a vine-stem. One of the
most characteristic of Uncle Remus's stories is that
in which the rabbit proves to Miss Meadows and the
girls that the fox is his riding-horse. This is almost
identical with a story quoted by Mr. Smith, where
the jaguar is about to marry the deer's daughter. The
cotia— a species of rodent— is also in love with her.

INTRODUCTION XI

and he tells the deer that he can make a riding-horse
of the jaguar. "Well," says the deer, "if you can make
the jaguar cany you, you shall have my daughter."
Thereupon the story proceeds pretty much as Uncle
Remus tells it of the fox and rabbit. The cotia finally
jumps from the jaguar and takes refuge in a hole,
where an owl is set to watch him, but he flings sand
in tlie owl's eyes and escapes. In another story given
by Mr. Smith, the cotia is veiy thirsty, and, seeing a
man coming with a jar on his head, lies down in the
road in front of him, and repeats this until the man
puts down his jar to go back after all the dead cotias
he has seen. This is almost identical with Uncle
Remus's story of how the rabbit robbed the fox of his
game. In a story from Upper Egypt, a fox lies down
in the road in front of a man who is carrying fowls to
market, and finally succeeds in securing them.

This similarity extends to almost every story
quoted by Mr. Smith, and some are so nearly iden-
tical as to point unmistakably to a common origin;
but when and where? When did the Negro or the
North American Indian ever come in contact with
the tribes of South America? Upon this point the au-
tlior of Brazil and the Amazons, who is engaged in
making a critical and comparative study of these
mytli-stories, writes:

"I am not prepared to form a theory about these stories.
There can be no doubt that some of them, found amonji

jOl INTRODUCTION

the Negroes and the Indians, had a common origin. The
most natural solution would be to suppose that they
originated in Africa, and were carried to South America
by the Negro slaves. They are certainly found among the
Red Negroes; but, unfortimately for the African theory, it
is equally certain that they are told by savage Indians of
the Amazons Valley, away up on the Tapajos, Red Negro,
and Tapura. These Indians hardly ever see a Negro, and
their languages are very distinct from the broken Por-
tuguese spoken by the slaves. The form of the stories, as
recounted in the Tupi and Mundurucii languages, seems
to show that they were originally foraied in tliose lan-
guages or have long been adopted in them.

"It is interesting to find a story from Upper Egypt ( that
of the fox who pretended to be dead) identical with an
Amazonian story, and strongly resembling one found by
you among the Negroes. Varnhagen, the Rrazilian his-
torian (now Visconde Je Rio Branco), tried to prove a
relationship between the ancient Egyptians, or other
Turanian stock, and the Tupi Indians. His theory rested
on rather a slender basis, yet it must be confessed that
he had one or two strong points. Do the resemblances
between Old and New World stories point to a similar
conclusion? It would be hard to say with the material
that we now have.

"One thing is certain. The animal stories told by the
Negroes in our Southern States and in Brazil were brought
by them from Africa. Whether they originated there, or
with the Arabs, or Egyptians, or with yet more ancient
nations, must still be an open question. Whether the In-
dians got them from the Negroes or from some earlier
source is equally uncertain. We have seen enough to

INTRODUCTION XIR

know that a very interesting line of investigation has been
opened."

Professor Hartt, in his Amazonian Tortoise Myths,
quotes a story from the Riverside Magazine of
November, 1868, which will be recognized as a vari-
ant of one given by Uncle Remus. I venture to ap-
pend it here, with some necessary verbal and
phonetic alterations, in order to give the reader an
idea of the diflFerence between the dialect of the
cotton plantations, as used by Uncle Remus, and the
lingo in vogue on the rice plantations and Sea Islands
of tlie South Atlantic States:

"One time B'er Deer an' B'er Cooter (Terrapin) was
courtin', and de lady did bin lub B'er Deer mo' so dan
B'er Cooter. She did bin lub B'er Cooter, but she lub B'er
Deer de merest. So de noung lady say to B'er Deer and
B'er Cooter bofe dat dey mus' hab a ten-mile race, an
de one dat beats, she will go marry him.

"So B'er Cooter say to B'er Deer: 'You has got mo'
longer legs dan I has, but I will run you. You run ten mile
on land, and I will run ten mile on de water!'

"So B'er Cooter went an' git nine er his fam'ly, an' put
one at ebery mile-pos', and he hisse'f, what was to run
wid B'er Deer, he was right in front of de young lady's
do', in de broom-grass.

"Dat mornin' at nine o'clock, B'er Deer he did met B'er
Cooter at de fus mile-pos', wey dey was to start fum. So
he call: Well, B'er Cooter, is you ready? Go long!' As he
git on to de nex' mile-pos', he say: 'B'er Cooter!' B'er

Xiv INTRODUCTION

Cooter say: 'Hullo!' B'er Deer say: 'You dere?' B'er
Cooter say: 'Yes, B'er Deer, I dere too.'

"Nex' mile-pos' he jump, B'er Deer say: 'Hullo, B'er
Cooter!' B'er Cooter say: 'Hullo, B'er Deer! you dere
too?' B'er Deer say: 'Ki! it look like you gwine fer tie
me; it look like we gwine fer de gal tie!'

"W'en he git to de nine-mile pos' he tought he git dere
fus, 'cause he mek two jump; so he holler: 'B'er Cooter!'
B'er Cooter answer: 'You dere too?' B'er Deer say: 'It
look like you gwine tie me.' B'er Cooter say: 'Go long,
B'er Deer. I git dere in due season time,' which he does,
and wins de race."

The story of the Rabbit and the Fox, as told by the
Southern negroes, is artistically dramatic in this: it
progresses in an orderly way from a beginning to a
well-defined conclusion, and is full of striking epi-
sodes that suggest the culmination. $t seems to me to
be to a certain extent allegorical, albeit such an in-
terpretation may be unreasonable. At least it is a
fable thoroughly characteristic of the Negro; and it
needs no scientific investigation to show why he
selects as his hero the weakest and most harmless of
all animals, and brings him out victorious in contests
with the bear, the wolf, and the fox. It is not virtue
that triumphs, but helplessness; it is not malice, but
mischievousnessylt would be presumptions in me to
offer an opinion as to the origin of these curious
myth-stories; but, if ethnologists should discover that
they did not originate witli tlie African, the proof to

INTRODUCTION

that effect should be accompanied with a good deal
of persuasive eloquence.

Curiously enough, I have found few Negroes who
will acknowledge to a stranger that they know any.
thing of these legends; and yet to relate one of the
stories is the surest road to their confidence and
esteem. In this way, and in this way only, I have
been enabled to collect and verify the folk-lore in-
cluded in this volume. There is an anecdote about the
Irishman and the rabbit which a number of Negroes
have told to me with great unction, and which is both
funny and characteristic, though I will not undertake
to say that it has its origin with the blacks. One day
an Irishman w^ho had heard people talking about
"mares' nests" was going along the big road— it is
always the big road in contradistinction to neighbor-
hood paths and by-paths, called in the vernacular
"nigh-cuts"— when he came to a pumpkin-patch. The
Irishman had never seen any of this fiuit before, and
he at once concluded that he had discovered a veri-
table mare's nest. Making the most of his opportunity,
he gathered one of the pumpkins in his arms and
went on his way. A pumpkin is an exceedingly awk-
ward thing to carry, and the Irishman had not gone
far before he made a misstep, and stumbled. The
pumpkin fell to the ground, rolled down the hill into
a "brush-heap," and, striking against a stump, was
broken. The story continues in the dialect: "Wen de

XVI INTRODUCTION

punkin roll in de bresli-heap, out jump a rabbit; en
soon's de I'shmuns see dat, he take atter de rabbit en
holler: 'Kworp, coltyl kworp, colty!' but de rabbit, he
des flew." The point of this is obvious.

As to the songs, the reader is warned that it will be
found difBcult to make them conform to the ordinary
rules of versification, nor is it intended that they
should so confonn. They are written, and are intended
to be read, solely witli reference to the regular and
invariable recurrence of the caesura, as, for instance,
the first stanza of the Revival Hymn:

"Oh, what I shill we go | w'en de great | day comes |
Wid de blow | in' er de trumpits | en de bang | in' er de

drums |
How man I y po' sin I ners'll be kotch'd [ out late
En fine | no latch | ter de gold | en gate | "

In other words, the songs depend for their melody
and rhythm upon the musical quality of time, and not
upon long or short, accented or unaccented syllables.
I am persuaded that this fact led Mr. Sidney Lanier,
who is thoroughly familiar with the metrical peculi-
arities of negro songs, into the exhaustive investiga-
tion which has resulted in the publication of his
scholarly treatise on The Science of English Verse.

The difference between the dialect of the legends
and that of the character-sketches, slight as it is^
marks the modifications which the speech of the

INTRODUCTION" XVil

Negro has undergone even where education has
played no part in reforming it. Indeed, save in the
remote country districts, the dialect of the legends
has nearly disappeared. I am perfectly well aware
that the character-sketches are without permanent
interest, but thev are embodied here for the purpose
of presenting a phase of Negro character wholly dis-
tinct from that which I have endeavored to preserve
in the legends. Only in this shape, and with all the
local allusions, would it be possible to adequately
represent the shrewd observations, the curious re-
torts, the homely thrusts, the quaint comments, and
the humorous philosophy of the race of which Uncle
Remus is the type.

If the reader not familiar with plantation life will
imagine that the myth-stories of Uncle Remus are
told night after night to a little boy by an old Negro
who appears to be venerable enough to have lived
during the period which he describes— who has
nothing but pleasant memories of the discipline of
slavery— and who has all the prejudices of caste and
pride of family that were the natural results of the
system; if the reader can imagine all this, he will find
little difficulty in appreciating and sympathizing with
the air of affectionate superiority which Uncle Remus
assumes as he proceeds to unfold the mysteries of
plantation lore to a little child who is the product of
tliat practical reconstruction which has been going

SVUl INTRODUCTION

on to some extent since the war in spite of the poli-
ticians. Uncle Remus describes that reconstruction in
his Story of the War, and I may as well add here for
the benefit of the curious that that story is almost
literally true.

J. C. H.

CONTENTS

PAGE

Legends of the Old Plantation

I.— Uncle Remus initiates the Little Boy ... 3

IL-The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story .... 7

IIL— Why Mr, Possum loves Peace 11

IV.— How Mr. Rabbit was too sharp for Mr. Fox . 16
v.— The Story of the Deluge, and how it came

about 20

VI.— Mr. Rabbit grossly deceives Mr. Fox ... 24

VII.— Mr. Fox is again victimized 30

VIII.— Mr. Fox is "outdone" by Mr. Buzzard . . 36

IX.-Miss Cow falls a Victim to Mr. Rabbit . . 41

X.— Mr. Terrapin appears upon the Scene . . 47

XI.— Mr. Wolf makes a Failure 54

XII.-Mr. Fox tackles Old Man Tarrypin ... 5^

XIII.-The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf 63

XIV.-Mr. Fox and the Deceitful Frogs .... 69
XV.— Mr. Fox goes a-hunting, but Mr. Rabbit bags

the Game 73

XVI.-Old Mr. Rabbit, he's a Good Fisherman . . 76

XVII.-Mr. Rabbit nibbles up the Butter .... 81

XVIII.-Mr. Rabbit fipds his Match at last ... 87

XIX.-The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow , . . . 93

CONTENTS

PACE

XXXIV The Sad Fate of Mr. Fox 168

Plantation Proverbs 175

His Songs

I Revival Hymn 183

n Camp-Meeting Song 184

in Corn-Shucking Song 186

IV The Plough-Hands' Song 190

V Christmas Play-Song 191

VI Plantation Play-Song 193

VII Transcriptions :

1. A Plantation Chant 195

2. A Plantation Serenade .... 197
VIII The Big Bethel Church 198

IX Time Goes by Turns 199

A Story of the War 203

His Sayings

I Jeems Rober'son's Last Illness . . . . 219

II Uncle Remus's Church Experience . . 220

III Uncle Remus and the Savannah Darkey . 224

IV Turnip Salad as a Text 227

V A Confession 228

VI Uncle Remus with the Toothache ... 230

VII The Phonograph 233

VIII Race Improvement 235

IX In the Role of a Tartar 237

X A Case of Measles 239

XI The Emigrants 242

XII As a Murderer 244

XIII His Practical View of Things .... 247

XIV That Deceitful Jug 249

XV The Florida Watermelon 255

XVI Uncle Remus Preaches to a Convert . . 257

XVTI As to Education 259

XVIII A Temperance Reformer 261

XIX As a Weather Prophet 262

XX The Old Man's Troubles 264

XXI The Fourth of July 266

XX

UNCLE REMUS INITIATES THE LITTLE BOY

One eve-
ning recently,
the lady whom
Uncle Remus
calls "Miss
Sally" missed
her little sev-
en - year - old
boy. Making
search for
him tlirough the house and
through the yard, she heard
the sound of voices in the
old man's cabin, and, look-
ing through the window,
saw the child sitting by
Uncle Remus. His head
rested against the old man's
arm, and he was gazing with an expression of the
most intense interest into the rough, weather-beaten

4 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

face, that beamed so kindly upon him. This is what
*'Miss Sally" heard:

"Bimeby, one day, arter Brer Fox bin doin all dat
he could fer ter ketch Brer Rabbit, en Brer Rabbit
bin doin' all he could fer to keep 'im fum it, Brer Fox
say to hisse'f dat he'd put up a game on Brer Rabbit,
en he ain't mo'n got de wuds out'n his mouf twel Brer
Rabbit come a lopin' up de big road, lookin' des ez
plump, en ez fat, en ez sassy ez a Moggin hoss in a
barley-patch.

" 'Hoi' on dar. Brer Rabbit,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'I ain't got time. Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee,
sorter mendin' his licks.

" 'I wanter have some confab wid you. Brer Rab-
bit,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"'All right, Brer Fox, but you better holler fum
whar you stan'. I'm monstus full er fleas dis mawnin'/
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

"1 seed Brer B'ar yistiddy,' sez Brer Fox, sezee,
*en he sorter rake me over de coals kaze you en me
ain't make frens en live naberly, en I told 'im dat I'd
see you.'

"Den Brer Rabbit scratch one year v^id his off
hinefoot sorter jub'usly, en den he ups en sez, sezee:

"'All a settin'. Brer Fox. Spose'n you drap roun'
ter-morrer en take dinner wid me. We ain't got no
great doin's at our house, but I speck de old 'oman en

UNCLE REMUS INITIATES THE LTITLE BOY 5

de chilluns kin sorter scramble roun' en git up sump n
fer ter stay yo' stummuck/

"Im 'greeTDle, Brer Rabbit/ sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'Den 111 'pen' on you,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

"Nex' day, Mr. Rabbit an' Miss Rabbit got up soon,
*fo' day, en raided on a gyarden like Miss Sally's out
dar, en got some cabbiges en some roas'n years, en
some sparrer-grass, en dey fix up a smashin' dinner.
Bimeby one er de little Rabbits, playin' out in de
backyard, come runnin' in hoUerin', 'Oh, ma! oh, mal
I seed Mr. Fox a comin'l' En den Brer Rabbit he
tuck de chilluns by der years en make um set down,
en den him and Miss Rabbit sorter dally roun' waitin'
for Brer Fox. En dey keep on waitin', but no Brer Fox
ain't come. Atter 'while Brer Rabbit goes to de do',
easy like, en peep out, en dar, stickin' fum behime
de cornder, wuz de tip-een'er Brer Fox tail. Den Brer
Rabbit shot de do' en sot down, en put his paws
behime his years en begin fer ter sing:

"T)e place wharbouts you spill de grease.
Right dar youer boun' ter slide,
An' whar you fine a bunch er ha'r.
You'll sholy fine de hide.'

"Nex' day. Brer Fox sont word by Mr. Mink, en
ikuze hisse'f kaze he wuz too sick fer ter come, en
he ax Brer Rabbit fer to come en take dinner wid
him, en Brer Rabbit say he wuz 'gree'ble.

"Bimeby, w'en de shadders wuz at der shortes'.

6

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

Brer Rabbit he sorter brush up en santer down ter
Brer Fox's house, en w'en he got dar, he hear some-
body groanin', en he look in de do' en dar he see
Brer Fox settin' up in a rockin' cheer all wrop up
wid flannil, en he look mighty weak. Brer Rabbit look
aU 'roun', he did, but he ain't see no dinner. De dish-
pan wuz settin' on de table, en close by wuz a kyarv-
in' knife.

*' 'Look like you gwineter have chicken fer dinner,
Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" 'Yes, Brer Rabbit, deyer nice, en fresh, en tender/
sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"Den Brer Rabbit sorter pull his mustarsh, en say:
'You ain't got no calamus root, is you, Brer Fox? I
done got so now dat I can't eat no chicken 'ceppin

THE WONDERFUL TAR-BABY STORY 7

she's seasoned up wid calamus root/ En wid dat Brer
Rabbit lipt out er de do* and dodge 'mong de bushes,
en sot dar watchin' fer Brer Fox; en he am't watch
long, nudder, kaze Brer Fox flung off de flannil en
crope out er de house en got whar he could cloze in
on Brer Rabbit, en bimeby Brer Rabbit holler out:
'Oh, Brer Foxl I'll des put yo' calamus root out yer
on dish yer stump. Better come git it while hit's
fresh,' and wid dat Brer Rabbit gallop oflF home. En
Brer Fox ain't never kotch 'im yit, en w'at's mo',
honey, he ain't gwineter."

n

THE WONDERFUL TAR-BABY STORY

"DroN'T the fox never catch the rabbit. Uncle
Remus?" asked the little boy the next evening.

"He come mighty nigh it, honey, sho's you born-
Brer Fox did. One day atter Brer Rabbit fool 'im wdd
dat calamus root. Brer Fox went ter wuk en got 'im
some tar, en mix it wid some turkentime, en fix up a
contrapshun wat he call a Tar-Baby, en he tuck dish
yer Tar-Baby en he sot 'er in de big road, en den he
lay off in de bushes fer to see what de news wuz
gwineter be. En he didn't hatter wait long, nudder,
kaze bimeby here come Brer Rabbit pacin' down de
road— lippity-clippity, clippity-lippity— dez ez sassy
ez a jay-bird. Brer Fox, he lay low. Brer Rabbit come

8

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

prancin' 'long twel he spy de Tar-Baby, en den he
fotch up on his behime legs like he wus 'stonished. De
Tar-Baby, she sot dar, she did, en Brer Fox, he lay
low.

"*Mawnin'I* sez Brer Rabbit, sezee— 'nice wedder
dis mawnin',' sezee.

"Tar-Baby ain't sayin' nothin', en Brer Fox, he lay
low.

" 'How duz yo' sym'tums seem ter segashuate?* sez
Brer Rabbit, sezee.

"Brer Fox, he wink his eye slow, en lay low, en de
Tar-Baby, she ain't sayin' nothin'.

THE WONDERFUL TAR-BABY STORY

** *How you come on, den? Is you deaf?* sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze if you is, I kin holler louder,"
sezee.

"Tar-Baby stay
still, en Brer Fox,
he lay low.

" 'Youer stuck
up, dat's w'at you
is,' says Brer Rab-
bit, sezee, *en I'm
gwineter kyore
you, dat's w'at I'm
a gwineter
sezee.

"Brer Fox, he
sorter chuckle in
his stummick, he
did, but Tar-Baby ain't sayin' nothin'.

" T'm gwineter lam you howter talk ter 'spect-
tubble fokes ef hit's de las' ack,' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee. 'Ef you don't take oflF dat hat en tell me howdy,
I'm gwineter bus' you wide open,' sezee.

"Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

"Brer Rabbit keep on axin' 'im, en de Tar-Baby,
she keep on sayin' nothin', twel present'y Brer Rab-
bit draw back wid his fis', he did, en blip he tuok 'e:
side er de head. Right dar's whar he broke his mer-
lasses jug. His fis' stuck, en he can'f r>:}ll loose. De tar

10

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

hilt 'im. But Tar-Baby, she stay still, en Brer Fox^
he lay low.

" 'Ef you don't lemme loose, I'll knock you agin,'
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, en wid dat he fotch 'er a wipe
wid de udder han', en dat stuck. Tar-Baby, she ain't
sayin' nothin', en Brer Fox, he lay low.

" 'Tu n me loose, fo' I kick de natal stuflfin' outen
you,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, but de Tar-Baby, she
ain't sayin' nothin'. She des hilt on, en den Brer Rab-
bit lose de use er his feet in de same way. Brer Fox,
he lay low. Den Brer Rabbit squall out dat ef de Tar-
paby don't tu'n 'im loose he butt 'er cranksided. En
"Jen he butted, en his head got stuck. Den Brer Foi»

WHY MR. POSSUM LOVES PEACE 11

he sa'ntered fort', lookin' des ez innercent ez one er
yo' mammy's mockin'-birds.

"*Howdy, Brer Rabbit/ sez Brer Fox, sezee. 'You
look sorter stuck up dis mawnin'/ sezee, en den he
rolled on de groun', en laughed en laughed twel he
couldn't laugh no mo'. 1 speck you'll take dinner
wid me dis time, Brer Rabbit. I done laid in some
calamus root, en I ain't gwineter take no skuse,' sez
Brer Fox, sezee."

Here Uncle Remus paused, and drew a two-pound
yam out of the ashes.

"Did the fox eat the rabbit?" asked the little boy
to whom the story had been told.

"Dat's all de fur de tale goes," replied tlie old man.
"He mout, en den again he moutent. Some say Jedge
B'ar come long en loosed 'im— some say he didn't. I
hear Miss Sally callin'. You better run long."

m

WHY MR. POSSUM LOVES PEACE

"One night," said Uncle Remus— taking Miss Sally's
little boy on his knee, and stroking the child's hair
thoughtfully and caressingly— "one night Brer Possum
call by fer Brer Coon, 'cordin' ter greement, en attei!
gobblin' up a dish er fried greens en smokin' a seeg-
yar, dey rambled fort' fer ter see how de ballance er
de settlement wuz gittin' 'long. Brer Coon, he wuz

12 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

one er deze yer natchul pacers, en he racked long
same ez Mars John's bay pony, en Brer Possum he
went in a han'-gallup; en dey got over heap er groun',
mon. Brer Possum, he got his belly full er 'simmons,
en Brer Coon, he scoop up a 'bunnunce er frogs en
tadpoles. Dey amble 'long, dey did, des ez sociable
ez a basket er kittens, twel bimeby dey hear Mr. Dog
talkin ter hisse'f way off in de woods.

" 'Spozen he runs up on us, Brer Possum, w'at you
gwineter do?' sez Brer Coon, sezee. Brer Possum
sorter laugh 'round de cornders un his mouf .

"'Oh, ef he come. Brer Coon, I'm gwineter stan'
by you,' sez Brer Possum. 'Wat you gwineter do?'
sezee.

" 'Who? me?' sez Brer Coon. 'Ef he run up outer
me, I lay I give 'im one twis',' sezee."

"Did the dog come?" asked the little boy.

"Go 'way, honey!" responded the old man, in an
impressive tone. "Go way! Mr. Dog, he come en he
come a zoonin'. En he ain't wait fer ter say howdy,
nudder. He des sail inter de two un um. De ve'y fus
pas he make Brer Possum fetch a grin fum year ter
year, en keel over like he wuz dead. Den Mr. Dog, he
sail inter Brer Coon, en right dar's whar he drap his
money purse, kaze Brer Coon wuz cut out fer dat
kinder bizness, en he fa'rly wipe up de face er de yeth
wid 'im. You better b'leeve dat w'en Mr. Dog got a
chance to make hisse'f skase he tuck it. en w'at der

WHY MR. POSSUM LOVES PEACE

13

wuz lef iin him went skaddlin' tlioo de woods like hit
wuz shot outen a muskit. En Brer Coon, he sorter

lick his cloze inter shape en rack oflF, en Brer Possum^
he lay dar like he wuz dead, twel bimeby he raise up
sorter keerful like, en w'en he line de coas' cle'r Ke

scramble up en scamper off like sumpin was atter

»• »
mi.

Here Uncle Remus paused long enough to pick up

a hve coal of fire in his fingers, transfer it to the pahn

14 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

of his hand, and tlience to his clay pipe, which he had
been fiUing— a proceeding that was viewed by the
httle boy with undisguised admiration. The old man
then proceeded:

"Nex' time Brer Possum met Brer Coon, Brer
Coon 'fuse ter 'spon' ter his howdy, en dis make Brer
Possum feel mighty bad, seein' ez how dey useter
make so many 'scurshuns tergedder.

" Wat make you hoi' yo' head so high, Brer Coon?*
sez Brer Possum, sezee.

" 'I ain't runnin' wid cowerds deze days,* sez Brer
Coon. 'W'en I wants you 111 sen' fer you,' sezee.

"Den Brer Possum git mighty mad.

" 'Who's enny cowerd?' sezee.

"'You is,' sez Brer Coon, 'dat's who. I ain't so-
shatin* wid dem w'at lays down on de groun' en plays
dead w'en dar's a free fight gwine on,' sezee.

"Den Brer Possum grin en laugh fit to kill hisse'f.

" 'Lor', Brer Coon, you don't speck I done dat kaze
I wuz 'feared, duz you?' sezee. 'W'y I want no mo*
'feared dan you is dis minnit. W'at wuz dey fer ter be
skeered un?' sezee. 'I know'd you'd git away wid
Mr. Dog ef I didn't, en I des lay dar watchin' you
shake him, waitin' fer ter put in w'en de time come,*
sezee.

"Brer Coon tu'n up his nose.

" 'Dat's a mighty likely tale,' sezee, w'en Mr. Dog

WHY MR. POSSUM LOVES PEACE 15

ain't mo n tech you 'f o' you keel over, en lay dar stiff/
sezee.

" 'Dat's des w'at I wuz gwineter tell you TDOut/ sez
Brer Possum, sezee. 'I want no mo' skeer'd dan you
is right now, en' I wuz fixin' fer ter give Mr. Dog a
sample er my jaw,' sezee, iDut I'm de most ticklish
chap w'at you ever laid eyes on, en no sooner did Mr.
Dog put his nose down yer 'mong my ribs dan I got
ter laughin', en I laughed twel I ain't had no use er
my lim's,' sezee, *en it's a mussy unto Mr. Dog dat I
woiz ticklish, kaze a little mo' en I'd e't 'im up,' sezee.
*l don't mine fightin', Brer Coon, no mo' dan you duz,'
sezee, T^ut I declar' ter grashus ef I kin stan' ticklin'.
Git me in a row whar dey ain't no ticklin' lowed, en
I'm your man,' sezee.

16 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"En down ter dis day"— continued Uncle Remus,
watching the smoke from his pipe curl upward over
tlie little boy's head— "down ter dis day, Brer Pos-
sum's bound ter s'render w'en you tech him in de
short ribs, en he'll laugh ef he knows he's gwineter be
smashed fer it."

IV

HOW MR. RABBIT WAS TOO SHARP FOR MR. FOX

'-'"Uncle Remus," said the little boy one evening,
when he had found the old man with little or nothing
to do, "did the fox kill and eat tlie rabbit when he
caught him with the Tar-Baby?"

"Law, honey, ain't I tell you 'bout dat?" replied
the old darkey, chuckling slyly. "I 'clar ter grashus
I ought er tole you dat, but old man Nod wuz ridin'
on my eyeleds 'twel a leetle mo'n I'd a dis'member'd
my own name, en den on to dat here come yo'
mammy hollerin* atter you.

"Wat I tell you w'en I fus' begin? I tole you Brer
Rabbit wuz a monstus soon creetur; leas'ways dat's
w'at I laid out fer ter tell you. Well, den, honey, don't
you go en make no udder calkalashuns, kaze in dem
days Brer Rabbit en his fambly moiz at de head er
de gang w'en enny racket wnz on han', en dar dey
stayed. 'Fo' you begins fer ter wipe yo' eyes 'bout
Brer Rabbit, you wait en see whar'bouts Brer Rabbit

HOW MR. RABBIT WAS TOO SHARP FOR MR. FOX

17

gwineter fetch up at. But dat's needer yer ner dar.

"Wen Brer Fox fine Brer Rabbit mixt up wid de
Tar-Baby, he feel mighty good, en he roll on de
groun' en laflF. Bimeby he up'n say, sezee:

" 'Well, I speck I got you dis time, Brer Rabbit,

m

'"& wfe| , ,

■ /^'^ ■

sezee; 'maybe I ain't, but I speck I is. You been run-
nin' roun' here sassin' atter me a mighty long time,
but I speck you done come ter de een' er de row. You
bin cuttin' up yo' capers en bouncin' 'roun' in dis
neighberhood ontwel you come ter b'leeve yo'se'f de
boss er de whole gang. En den youer allers some'rs
whar you got no bizness,' sez Brer Fox, sezee. 'Who
ax you fer ter come en strike up a 'quaintance wid
dish yer Tar-Baby? En who stuck you up dar whar
you iz? Nobody in de roun' worril. You des tuck en

18 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

jam yo'se'f on dat Tar-Baby widout waitin' fer enny
invite,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'en dar you is, en dar
you'll stay twel I fixes up a bresh-pile and fires her
tip, kaze I'm gwineter bobby-cue you dis day, sho,'
sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"Den Brer Rabbit talk mighty 'umble.

"1 don't keer w'at you do wid me. Brer Fox,'
sezee, 'so you don't fling me in dat brier-patch. Boas'
me. Brer Fox,' sezee, 'but don't fling me in dat brier-
patch,' sezee.

" 'Hit's so much trouble fer ter kindle a fier,' sez
Brer Fox, sezee, 'dat I speck I'll hatter hang you,'
sezee.

" 'Hang me des ez high as you please. Brer Fox,'
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but do fer de Lord's sake
don't fling me in dat brier-patch,' sezee.

"'I ain't got no string,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, *en
now I speck I'll hatter drown you,' sezee.

" 'Drown me des ez deep ez you please, Brer Fox,'
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but do don't fling me in dat
brier-patch,' sezee.

" 'Dey ain't no water nigh,' sez Brer Fox, sezee,
*en now I speck I'll hatter skin you,' sezee.

"'Skin me. Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee,
'snatch out my eyeballs, t'ar out my years by de roots,
en cut off my legs,' sezee, 'but do please, Brer Fox,
don't fling me in dat brier-patch,' sezee.

HOW MR. RABBIT WAS TOO SHARP FOR MR. FOX

19

"Co'se Brer Fox wanter hurt Brer Rabbit bad ez
he kin, so he cotch 'im by de behime legs en slung
'im right in de middle er de brier-patch. Dar wuz a

considerbul flutter whar Brer Rabbit struck de
bushes, en Brer Fox sorter hang 'roun' fer ter see w'at
wuz gwineter happen. Bimeby he hear somebody call
'im, en way up de hill he see Brer Rabbit settin' cross-
legged on a chinkapin log koamin' de pitch outen his
har wid a chip. Den Brer Fox know dat he bin swop off
mighty bad. Brer Rabbit wuz bleedzed fer ter fling
back some er his sass, en he holler out:

"'Bred en bawn in a brier-patch. Brer Fox— bred
en bawn in a brier-patch!' en wid dat he skip out des
ez lively ez a cricket in de embers."

20

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

THE STORY OF THE DELUGE AND HOW IT
CAME ABOUT

"One time," said Uncle Remus— adjusting his spec-
tacles so as to be able to see how to thread a large
darning-needle with which he was patching his coat—
"one time, way back yander, 'fo' you wuz homed,
honey, en 'fo' Mars John er Miss Sally wuz homed—
way back yander 'fo' enny un us wuz homed, de ane-
mils en de creeturs sorter 'lecshuneer roun' 'mong
deyselves, twel at las' dey 'greed fer ter have a 'sem-
bly. In dem days," continued the old man, observing

a look of incredulity on the little boy's face, "in dem
days creeturs had lots mo' sense dan dey got now;

THE STORY OF THE DELUGE 21

let 'lone dat, dey had sense same like folks. Hit was
tech en go wid um, too, mon, en w'en dey make up
der mines wat hatter be done, 'twant mo'n men-
shun'd 'fo' hit wuz done. Well, dey 'lected dat dey
hatter hole er 'sembly fer ter sorter straighten out
marters en hear de complaints, en w'en de day come
dey wuz on han'. De Lion, he wuz dar, kase he wuz
de king, en he hatter be der. De Rhynossyhoss, he
wuz dar, en de Elephent, he wuz dar, en de Cammils,
en de Cows, en plum down ter de Crawfishes, dey
wuz dar. Dey wuz all dar. En w'en de Lion shuck
his mane, en tuck his seat in de big cheer, den de
sesshun begun fer ter commence."

"What did they do. Uncle Remus?" asked the little
boy.

"I can't skacely call to mine 'zackly w'at dey did
do, but dey spoke speeches, en hollered, en cusst, ei>
flung der langwidge 'roun' des like w'en yo' daddy
wuz gwineter run fer de legislater en got lef. How-
somever, dey 'ranged der 'fairs, en splained der biz-
ness. Bimeby, w'ile dey wuz 'sputin' 'longer one er
nudder, de Elephent trompled on one er de Craw-
fishes. Co'se w'en dat creetur put his foot down,
w'atsumever's under dar wuz boun' fer ter be
squshed, en dey wa'n't nuff er dat Crawfish lef fer
ter tell dat he'd bin dar.

"Dis make de udder Crawfishes mighty mad, en
dey sorter swarmed tergedder en draw'd up a kinder

22 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

peramble wid some wharfo'es in it, en read her out in
de 'sembly. But, bless grashusi sech a racket wuz a
gwine on dat nobody ain't hear it, 'ceppin may be de
Mud Turkle en de Spring Lizzud, en dere enfloons
wuz pow'ful lackin*.

"Bimeby, w'iles de Nunicom wuz 'sputin' wid de
Lion, en w'ile de Hyener wuz a laughin' ter hisse'f, de
Elephent squshed anudder one er de Crawfishes, en a
little mon he'd er mint de Mud Turkle. Den de
Crawfishes, w'at dey wuz lef un um, swarmed ter-
gedder en draw'd up anudder peramble wid sum mo'
wharfo'es; but dey might ez well er sung Ole Dan
Tucker ter a harrycane. De udder creeturs wuz too
busy wid der fussin' fer ter 'spon' unto de Crawfishes.
So dar dey wuz, de Crawfishes, en dey didn't know
w'at minnit wuz gwineter be de nex'; en dey kep' on
gittin madder en madder en skeerder en skeerder,
twel bimeby dey gun de wink ter de Mud Turkle en
de Spring Lizzud, en den dey bo'd little holes in de
groun' en went down outer sight."

"Who did, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.

"De Crawfishes, honey. Dey bo'd inter de groun'
en kep' on bo'in twel dey onloost de fountains er de
earf ; en de waters squirt out, en riz higher en higher
twel de hills wuz kivvered, en de creeturs wuz all
clrownded; en all bekaze dey let on mong deyselv&s
dat dey wuz bigger dan de Crawfishes."

THE STORY OF THE DELUGE

23

Then the old man blew the ashes from a smoking
yam, and proceeded to remove the peeling.

"Where was the ark, Uncle Remus?" the little boy
inquired, presently.

"W'ich ark's dat?" asked the old man, in a tone of
well-feigned curiosity.

"Noah's ark," replied the child.

"Don't you pester wid ole man Noah, honey. I
boun' he tuck keer er dat ark. Dat's w'at he wuz dar
fer, en dat's w'at he done. Leas'ways, dat's w'at dey
tells me. But don't you bodder longer dat ark, 'ceppin'
your mammy fetches it up. Dey mout er bin two
deloojes, en den agin dey moutent. Ef dey wuz enny
ark i^ dish yer w'at de Crawfishes brung on, I ain't

24 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTA'HON

heem tell un it, en w'en dey ain't no arks 'roun*, I ain't
got no time fer ter make um en put um in dar. Hit's
gittin' yo' bedtime, honey."

VI

MR. RABBIT GROSSLY DECEIVES MR. FOX

One evening when the little boy, whose nights with
Uncle Remus were as entertaining as those Arabian
ones of blessed memory, had finished supper and hur-
ried out to sit with his venerable patron, he found the
old man in great glee. Indeed, Uncle Remus was talk-
ing and laughing to himself at such a rate that the
little boy was afraid he had company. The truth is.
Uncle Remus had heard the child coming, and, when
the rosy-cheeked chap put his head in at the door,
was engaged in a monologue, the burden of which
seemed to be—

"Ole MoUy Har',
Wat you doin' dar,
Settin' in de cornder
Smokin' yo' seegyar?**

As a matter of course this vague allusion reminded
the little boy of the fact that the wicked Fox was still
in pursuit of the P^bbit, and he immediately put his
curiosity in the shape of a question.

"Uncle Remus, did the Rabbit have to go clean

MR. RABBIT GROSSLY DECEIVES MR. FOX 25

away when he got loose from the Tar-Baby?''

"Bless gracious, honey, dat he didn't. Who? Him?
You dmino nuthin' 'tall 'bout Brer Rabbit ef dat's de
way you puttin' 'im down. Wat he gwine 'way fer?
He moughter stayed sorter close twel de pitch rub
off'n his ha'r, but tweren't menny days 'fo' he wuz
lopin' up en down de neighborhood same ez ever,
en I dunno ef he weren't mo' sassier dan befo'.

"Seem like dat de tale 'bout how he got mixt up
wid de Tar-Baby got 'roun' 'mongst de nabers. Leas'-
ways. Miss Meadows en de gals got win' un' it, en
de nex' time Brer Rabbit paid um a visit Miss
Meadows tackled 'im 'bout it, en de gals spt up a
monstus gigglement. Brer Rabbit, he sot up des ez
cool ez a cowcumber, he did, en let 'em run on."

"Who was Miss Meadows, Uncle Remus?" inquired
the little boy.

"Don't ax me, honey. She •wuz in de tale. Miss
Meadows en de gals wuz, en de tale I give you like
hi't wer' gun ter me. Brer Rabbit, he sot dar, he did,
sorter lam' like, en den bimeby he cross his legs, he
did, and wink his eye slow, en up and say, sezee:

" 'Ladies, Brer Fox wtjz my daddy's ridin'-hoss fer
thirty year; maybe mo', but thirty year dat I knows
un,' sezee; en den he paid um his 'specks, en tip his
beaver, en march oflF, he did, des ez stiff en ez stuck
up ez a fire-stick.

"Nex' day. Brer Fox cum a callin', and w'en he gun

26

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

fer ter laugh Tbout Brer Rabbit, Miss Meadows en(
de gals, dey ups en tells 'im l)out w'at Brer Rabbit

iay. Den Brer Fox
grit his tushes sho'
nuflF, he did, en he
look mighty
dumpy, but w'en
he riz fer ter go
he up en say,
sezee:

" Xadies, I ain't
'sputin* w'at you
say, but I'll make
Brer Rabbit chaw
up his words en
spit um out right
yer whar you kin
see 'im,* sezee, en
wid dat oflF Brer
_ Fox put.

"En w'en he got
in de big road, he
shuck de dew oS'n
his tail, en made
a straight shoot
fer Brer Rabbit's house. W'en he got dar. Brer Rabbit
wuz spectin' un 'im, en de do' wuz shet fas'. Brer
Fox knock. Nobody ain't ans'er. Brer Fox knock.

MR. RABBIT GROSSLY DECLIVES MR. FOX 27

Nobody ans'er. Den he knock agin—blam! blaml Dsn
Brer Rabbit holler out mighty weak:

"Is dat you. Brer Fox? I want you ter run tsn
fetch de doctor. Dat bait er pusly w'at I e't dis
mawnin' is gittin' 'way wid me. Do, please. Brer Fox,
run quick,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

"*I come atter you. Brer Rabbit,' sez Brer Fox,
sezee. 'Dar's gwineter be a party up at Miss Mead-»
ows's,' sezee. "All de gals '11 be dere, en I promus' dat
I'd fetch you. De gals, dey 'lowed dat hit wouldn't be
no party 'ceppin' I fotch you,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"Den Brer Rabbit say he wuz too sick, en Brer
Fox say he wuzzent, en dar dey had it up and down,
'sputin' en contendin'. Brer Rabbit say he can't walk.
Brer Fox say he tote 'im. Brer Rabbit say how? Brer
Fox say in his arms. Brer Rabbit say he drap 'im.
Brer Fox 'low he won't. Bimeby Brer Rabbit say he
go ef Brer Fox tote 'im on his back. Brer Fox say he
would. Brer Rabbit say he can't ride widout a saddle.
Brer Fox say he git de saddle. Brer Rabbit say he
can't set in saddle less he have bridle fer ter hoi' by.
Brer Fox say he git de bridle. Brer Rabbit say he
can't ride widout bline bridle, kaze Brer Fox be
shyin' at stumps 'long de road, en fling 'im off. Bref
Fox say he git bline bridle. Den Brer Rabbit say he
go. Den Brer Fox say he ride Brer Rabbit mos' up
ter Miss Mcadows's, en den he could git down en
walk d-" balance er de way. Brer Rabbit 'greed, en

28

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

den Brer Fox lipt out atter de saddle en de bridle.
"Co'se Brer Rabbit know de game dat Brer Fox
wuz fixin' fer ter play, en he 'termin' fer ter outdo 'im,
en by de time he koam his ha'r en twis' his mustarsh,
«n sorter rig up, yer come Brer Fox, saddle en bridle

on, en lookin' ez peart ez a circus pony. He trot up
ter de do' en stan' dar pawin' de ground en chompin'
de bit same like sho 'nuff boss, en Brer Rabbit he
mount, he did, en dey amble ofiF. Brer Fox can't see
behime wid de bline bridle on, but bimeby he feel
Brer Rabbit raise one er his foots.
" *W'at you doin' now. Brer Rabbit?' sezee.

MR. RABBIT GROSSLY DECEIVES MR. TOX 29

"Short'nin' de lef stir'p, Brer Fox/ sezee.

"Bimeby Brer Rabbit raise up de udder foot.

" 'W'at you doin' now, Brer Rabbit?' sezee.

" 'Pullin' down my pants. Brer Fox,' sezee.

"All de time, bless grashus, honey. Brer Rabbit
wer puttin' on his spuners, en w'en dey got close to
Miss Meadows's, whar Brer Rabbit wuz to git oflF, en
Brer Fox made a motion f er ter stan' still, Brer Rabbit
slap de spurrers into Brer Fox flanks, en you better
b'leeve he got over groun'. W'en dey got ter de house,
Miss Meadows en all de gals wuz settin' on de
peazzer, en stidder stoppin' at de gate. Brer Rabbit
rid on by, he did, en den come gallopin' down de
road en up ter de hoss-rack, w'ich he hitch Brer Fox
at, en den he santer inter de house, he did, en shake
ban's wid de gals, en set dar, smokin' his seegyar same
ez a town man. Bimeby he draw in a long puff, en
den let hit out in a cloud, en squar hisse'f back en
holler out, be did:

"'Ladies, ain't I done tell you Brer Fox wuz de
ridin'-hoss fer our fambly? He sorter losin' his gaif
now, but I speck I kin fetch 'im all right in a mont'
er so,' sezee,

"En den Brer Rabbit sorter grin, he did, en de gals
giggle, en Miss Meadows, she praise up de pony, en
dar wuz Brer Fox hitch fas' ter de rack, en couldn't
hep hisse'f."

^ LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"Is that all," Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy
as the old man paused.

"Dat ain't all, honey, but 'twon't do fer ter give
out too much cloflF fer ter cut one pa'r pants," replied
the old man sententiously.

vn
MR. FOX IS AGAIN VICTIMIZED

VVhen "Miss Sally's" little boy went to Uncle
Remus the next night to hear the conclusion of the
adventure in which the Rabbit made a riding-horse of
tlie Fox to the great enjoyment and gratification of
Miss Meadows and the girls, he found the old man in
a bad humor.

"I ain't tellin' no tales ter bad chilluns," said Uncle
Remus curtly.

"But, Uncle Remus, I ain't bad," said the little boy
plaintively.

"Who dat chunkin' dem chickens dis mawnin'?
Who dat knockin' out fokes's eyes wid dat Yallerbam-
mer sling des 'fo' dinner? Who dat sickin' dat pinter
puppy atter my pig? Who dat scatterin* my ingun
sets? Who dat flingin' rocks on top er my house,
w'ich a little mo* en one un em would er drap spang
on my head?"

"Well, now. Uncle Remus, I didn't go to do it. I
won't do so any more. Please, Uncle Remus, if you

MR. FOX IS AGAIN VICTIMIZED

3X

\vill tell me, I'll run to the house and bring you some
tea-cakes."

"Seein' um's better'n hearin* tell un um," replied
the old man, the severity of his countenance relaxing
somewhat; but tlie little boy darted out, and in a few
minutes came running back with his pockets full and
his hands full.

"I lay yo' mammy 11 'spishun dat de rats' stum-
mucks is widenin' in dis neighborhood w'en she come
fer ter count up 'er cakes," said Uncle Remus, with a
chuckle. "Deze," he continued, dividing the cakes into
two equal parts— "dese I'll tackle now, en dese I'll lay
by fer Sunday.

"Lemme see. I mos' dis'member wharbouts Brer
Fox en Brer Rab-
bit wuz."

"The rabbit rode
the fox to Miss
Meadows's, and
hitched him to the
horse-rack," said
the little boy.

"W'y co'se he
did," said Uncle
Remus. "Cose he
did. Well, Brer

Rabbit rid Brer Fox up, he did, en tied 'im to de
rack., en den sot out in de peazzer vdd de gals a

52 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

smokin* er his seegyar wid mo' proudness dan w'at
you mos' ever see. Dey talk, en dey sing, en dey
play on de peanner, de gals did, twel bimeby hit
come time fer Brer Rabbit fer to be gwine, en he
tell um all good-by, en strut out to de hoss-rack
same's ef he wuz de king er de patter-rollers,* en
den he mount Brer Fox en ride off.

"Brer Fox ain't sayin' nuthin' 'tall. He des rack
off, he did, en keep his mouf shet, en Brer Rabbit
know'd der wuz bizness cookin' up fer him, en he
feel monstus skittish. Brer Fox amble on twel he git
in de long lane, outer sight er Miss Meadows's house,
en den he tu'n loose, he did. He rip en he ra'r, en he
cuss, en he swar; he snort en he cavort."

"What was he doing that for, Uncle Remus?" the
(ittle boy inquired.

He wuz tryin' fer ter fling Brer Rabbit off'n his
back, bless yo' soul! But he des might ez well er
rastle wid his own shadder. Every time he hump
hisse'f Brer Rabbit slap de spurrers in 'im, en dar dey
had it, up en down. Brer Fox fa'rly to' up de groun'
he did, en he jump so high en he jump so quick dat
he mighty nigh snatch his own tail off. Dey kep' on

* Patrols. In the country districts, order was kept on the plan-
tations at night by the knowledge that they were liable to be
visited at any moment by the patrols. Hence a song current among
the negroes, the chorus of which was:

"Run, nigger, run; patter-roller ketch you—
Run, nigger, runj hit's almos' day."

MR. FOX IS AGAIN VTCnMIZED

33

gwine on dis way twel bimeby Brer Fox lay down en
roll over, he did, en dis sorter onsettle Brer Rabbit,

but by de time Brer Fox
got back on his footses
agin. Brer Rabbit wuz
gwine thoo de underbresh
mo' samer dan a race-hoss.
Brer Fox he Ht out atter
'im, he did, en he push
Brer Rabbit so close dat it
wuz 'bout all he could do
fer ter git in a holler tree.
Hole too little fer Brer
Fox fer ter git in, en ho
hatter lay down en res
en gedder his mine terged-
der.

"While he wuz layin'
dar, Mr. Buzzard come
f 1 o p p i n '
'long, en
seein' Brer
Fox stretch
out on de

34 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

groun', he lit en view de premusses. Den Mr. Buz-
zard sorter shake his wing, en put his head on one
side, en say to hisse'f hke, sezee:

" 'Brer Fox dead, en I so sorry,' sezee.

" *No I ain't dead, nudder,' sez Brer Fox, sezee. **I
got ole man Rabbit pent up in yer,' sezee, 'en I'm
a gwine ter git 'im dis time ef it take twel Chris'mus/
sezee.

"Den, atter some mo' palaver. Brer Fox make a
bargain dat Mr. Buzzard wuz ter watch de hole, en
keep Brer Rabbit dar wiles Brer Fox went att-^r his
axe. Den Brer Fox, he lope off, he did, en Mr. Buz-
zard, he tuck up his stan' at de hole. Bimeby, w'en
all git still. Brer Rabbit sorter scramble down close
ter de hole, he did, en holler out:

" 'Brer Fox! Oh! Brer Fox!'

"Brer Fox done gone, en nobody say nuthin'. Den
Brer Rabbit squall out like he wuz mad; sezee:

" 'You needn't talk less you wanter,' sezee; 'I knows
youer dar, en I ain't keerin',' sezee. 'I des wanter tell
you dat I wish mighty bad Brer Tukkey Buzzard
wuz here,' sezee.

"Den Mr. Buzzard try ter talk like Brer Fox:

" 'Wat you want wid Mr. Buzzard?' sezee.

" 'Oh, nuthin' in 'tickler, 'cep' dere's de fattes' gray
squir'l in yer dat ever I see,' sezee, 'en ef Brer Tuk-
key Buzzard wuz 'roun' he'd be mighty glad fer ter
git 'im,' sezee.

MR. FOX IS AGAIN VICTIMIZED

35

"'How Mr. Buzzard gwine ter git 'iin?' sez de
Buzzard, sezee.

" 'Well, dar's a little hole roun on de udder side
er de tree/ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en ef Brer Tukkey

Buzzard wuz here so he could take up his stan' dar,'
sezee, 'I'd drive dat squir'l out,' sezee.

"'Drive 'im out, den,' sez Mr. Buzzard, sezee, 'en
I'll see dat Brer Tukkey Buzzard gits 'im,' sezee.

"Den Brer Rabbit kick up a racket, like he wer'
drivin' sumpin' out, en Mr. Buzzard he rush 'roun*
fer ter ketch de squir'l, en Brer Rabbit, he dash out,
lie did, en he des fly fer home."

At tliis point Uncle Remus took one of the tea-

86 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

cakes, held his head back, opened his mouth,
dropped the cake in with a sudden motion, looked
at tlie litde boy with an expression of astonishment,
and then closed his eyes, and begun to chew, mum-
bling as an accompaniment the plaintive tune of
"Don't you Grieve atter Me."

The seance was over; but, before the little boy
went into the "big house," Uncle Remus laid his
rough hand tenderly on the child's shoulder, and re-
marked, in a confidential tone:

"Honey, you mus' git up soon Chris mus mawnin'
en open de do'; kase I'm gwineter bounce in on
Marse John en Miss Sally, en holler Chris'mus giF
des like I useter endurin' de farmin' days fo' de war,
w'en ole Miss wuz 'live. I bound' dey don't fergit de
ole nigger, nudder. W'en you hear me callin* de
pigs, honey, you des hop up en onfassen de do. I
lay I'll give Marse John one er dese yer 'sprize
parties."

vni

MR. FOX IS "OUTDONE" BY MR. BUZZARD

"Ef I don't run inter no mistakes," remarked
Uncle Remus, as the little boy came tripping m to
see him after supper, "Mr. Tukkey Buzzard wuz
gyardin' de holler whar Brer Rabbit went in at, en
w'ich he come out un."

MR, FOX IS "outdone" BY MR. BUZZARD 37

The silence of the httle boy verified the old man's
recollection.

"Well, Mr. Buzzard, he feel mighty lonesome, he
did, but he done prommust Brer Fox dat he'd stay,
en he 'termin' fer ter sorter hang 'roun' en jine in de
joke. En he ain't hatter wait long, nudder, kase bim&

V*'

eC,,^

by yer come Brer Fox gallopin' thoo de woods wid
his axe on his shoulder.

" 'I low you speck Brer Rabbit gittin' on. Brer Buz-
zard?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

38 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"'Oh, he in dar/ sez Brer Buzzard, sezee. *He
mighty still, dough. I speck he takin' a nap,* sezee.

"'Den I'm des in time fer ter wake 'im up,* sez
Brer Fox, sezee. En wid dat he fling off his coat, en
spit in his han*s, en grab de axe. Den he draw back
en come down on de tree— pow! En eve'y time he
come down wid de axe— pow!— Mr. Buzzard, he step
high, he did, en holler out:

" 'Oh, he in dar. Brer Fox. He in dar, sho.*

"En eve*y time a chip ud fly off, Mr. Buzzard, he*d
jump, en dodge, en hole his head sideways, he would,
en holler:

"'He in dar. Brer Fox. I done heerd 'im. He in
dar, sho.'

"En Brer Fox, he lammed away at dat holler tree,
he did, like a man maulin' rails, twel bimeby, atter he
done got de tree mos' cut thoo, he stop fer ter ketch
his bref, en he seed Mr. Buzzard laughin' behime his
back, he did, en right den en dar, widout gwine enny
fudder. Brer Fox, he smelt a rat. But Mr. Buzzard,
he keep on holler 'n:

"'He in dar. Brer Fox. He in dar, sho. I done
seed 'im.'

"Den Brer Fox, he make like he peepin' up de
holler, en he say, sezee:

" 'Run yer. Brer Buzzard, en look ef dis ain't Brer
Rabbit's foot hanging down yer.'

"En Mr. Buzzard, he come steppin* up, he did,

MR. FOX IS "outdone' BY MR. BUZZARD 39

same ez ef he wer treddin' on kurkle-burs, en he stick
his head in de hole; en no sooner did he done dat dan
Brer Fox grab 'im. Mr. Buzzard flap his wings, en
scramble 'roun' right smartually, he did, but 'twant
no use. Brer Fox had de Vantage er de grip, he did,
en he hilt 'im right down ter de groun*. Den Mr.
Buzzard squall out, sezee:

"'Lemme 'lone, Brer Fox. Tun me loose,* sezee;
'Brer Rabbit'U git out. Youer gittin' close at 'im/
sezee, *en leb'm mo' licks'U fetch 'im,' sezee.

" I'm nigher ter you. Brer Buzzard,' sez Brer Fox,
sezee, 'dan I'll be ter Brer Rabbit dis day,' sezee.
*Wa't you fool me fer?' sezee.

" 'Lemme 'lone, Brer Fox,' sez Mr. Buzzard, sezee;
my ole 'oman waitin' fer me. Brer Rabbit in dar/
sezee.

" 'Dar's a bunch er his fur on dat black-be'y bush/
sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'en dat ain't de way he come,
sezee.

"Den Mr. Buzzard up'n tell Brer Fox how 'twuz»
en he low'd, Mr. Buzzard did, dat Brer Rabbit wuz
de lowdownest w'atsizname w'at he ever run up
wid. Den Brer Fox say, sezee:

" 'Dat's needer here ner dar. Brer Buzzard,' sezee.
*I lef you yer fer ter watch dish yere hole, en I lef
Brer Rabbit in dar. I comes back en I fines you at de
'ole en Brer Rabbit ain't in dar,' sezee. 'I'm gwineter
make you pay fer't. I done bin tampered wid twel

40

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

plum' down ter de sap sucker'U set on a log en sassy
me. I'm gwinter fling you in a bresh-heap en bum
you up/ sezee.

'"Ef you fling me on der fier, Brer Fox, I'll fly
*way/ sez Mr. Buzzard, sezee.

'"Well, den, I'll settle yo' hash right now,' sez
Brer Fox, sezee, en wid dat he grab Mr. Buzzard by
de tail, he did, en make fer ter dash 'im 'gin de
groun', but des 'bout dat time de tail fedders come

MISS COW FALLS A VICTIM TO MR. RABBIT 41

out, en Mr. Buzzard sail off like one er dese yer
berloons; en ez he riz, he holler back:

" 'You gimme good start, Brer Fox,' sezee, en Brer
Fox sot dar en watch 'im fly outer sight."

"But what became of the Rabbit, Uncle Remus?"
asked the little boy.

"Don't you pester 'longer Brer Rabbit, honey, en
don't you fret 'bout 'im. You'll year whar he went
en how he come out. Dish yer cole snap rastles wid
my bones, now," continued the old man, putting on
his hat and picking up his walking-stick. "Hit rastles
wid me monstus, en I gotter rack 'roun' en see if I
kin run up agin some Chris'mus leavin's."

IX
MISS COW FALLS A VICTIM TO MR. RABBIT

"Uncle Remus," said tlie little boy, "what became
of the Rabbit after he fooled the Buzzard, and got
out of the hollow tree?"

*'Who? Brer Rabbit? Bless yo' soul, honey. Brer
Rabbit went skippin' 'long home, he did, des ez sassy
ez a jay-bird at a sparrer's nes'. He went gallopin'
'long, he did, but he feel mighty tired out, en stiff in
his jints, en he wuz mighty nigh dead fcr sumpin fer
ter drink, en bimeby, w'en he got mos' home, he
spied ole Miss Cow feedin' roun' in a fiel', he did, en
he 'teiTnin' fer ter try his han' wid 'er. Brer Rabbit

42

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

know mighty well dat Miss Cow won't give 'im no
milk, kaze she done 'fuse 'im mo'n once, en w'en his
ole 'oman wuz sick, at dat. But never mind dat. Brer
Rabbit sorter dance up 'long side er de fence, he did.
en holler out:
" 'Howdy, Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

11

" 'W'y, howdy, Brer Rabbit,' sez Miss Cow, sez she.

"'How you fine yo'se'f deze days. Sis Cow?' sez
^rer Rabbit, sezee.

" I'm sorter toler'ble, Brer Rabbit; how you come
on?' sez Miss Cow, sez she.

MISS COW FALLS A VICTIM TO MR. RABBIT 43

" 'Oh, I'm des tolerlDle myse'f , Sis Cow; sorter lin-
ger'n' twix' a bauk en a break-down/ sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee.

" 'How yo' fokes, Brer Rabbit?' sez Miss Cow, sez
she.

"'Dey er des middliii', Sis Cow; how Brer BuU
gittin' on?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" 'Sorter so-so,' sez Miss Cow, sez she.

" *Dey er some mighty nice 'simmons up dis tree,
Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en I'd hke mighty
well fer ter have some un um,' sezee.

" 'How you gwineter git um, Brer Rabbit?' sez she.

" *I 'lowed maybe dat I might ax you fer ter butt
'gin de tree, en shake some down. Sis Cow,' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee.

"Cose Miss Cow don't wanter diskommerdate Brer
Rabbit, en she march up ter de 'simmon tree, she
did, en hit it a rap wid'er horns— blam! Now, den,"
continued Uncle Remus, tearing ofiF the comer of a
plug of tobacco and cramming it into his mouth-^
"now, den, dem 'simmons wuz green ez grass, en
na'er one never drap. Den Miss Cow butt de tree—
blim! Na'er 'simmon drap. Den Miss Cow sorter
back off little, en run agin de tree— blip 1 No 'sim-
mons never drap. Den Miss Cow back oflF little fud-
der, she did, en hi'st her tail on 'er back, en come
agin de tree, kerblam! en she come so fas', en she
come so hard, twel one 'er her horns went spang thoo

44

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

a^.

de tree, en dar she wuz. She can't go forreds, en she
can't go backerds. Dis zackly w'at Brer Rabbit waitin'

fer, en he no sooner
seed ole Miss Cow
all fas'en'd up dan
he jump up, he did,
en cut de pidjin-
wing.

..r^

'Come he'p me out,
Brer Rabbit,' sez Miss -'^^^~^
Cow, sez she.

" 'I can't clime. Sis
Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee, 'but I'll run'n
tell Brer Bull,' sezee;
en wid dat Brer Rab-
bit put out fer home,
en 'twan't long 'fo
here he come wid his
ole 'oman en all his
chilluns, en de las' one
er de fambly wuz totin'
a pail. De big uns had
big pails, en de little uns had little pails. En dey all
sroundid ole Miss Cow, dey did, en you hear me.

MISS COW FALLS A VICTIM TO MR. RABBIT 45

honey, dey milk't 'er dry. De ole uns milk't en de
young uns milk't, en den w'en dey done got nufiF,
Brer Rabbit, he up'n say, sezee:

" 1 wish you mighty well. Sis Cow. I 'low'd bein's
how dat you'd hatter sorter camp out all night dat
I'd better come en swaje yo' bag,' sezee."

"Do which. Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.

"Go long, honey! Swaje 'er bag. W'en cows don't
git milk't, der bag swells, en youk'n hear um a
moanin' en a beller'n des like dey wuz gittin' hurtid.
Dat's w'at Brer Rabbit done. He 'sembled his fambly,
he did, en he swaje ole Miss Cow's bag.

"Miss Cow, she stood dar, she did, en she study en
study, en strive fer ter break loose, but de horn done
bin jam in de tree so tight dat twuz way 'fo day in de
momin' 'fo' she loose it. Anyhow hit woiz endurin' er
de night, en atter she git loose she sorter graze 'roun',
she did, fer ter jestify 'er stummuck she 'low'd, ole
Miss Cow did, dat Brer Rabbit be hoppin' 'long dat
way fer ter see how she gittin' on, en she tuck'n lay er
trap fer 'im; en des 'bout sunrise wat'd ole Miss Cow
do but march up ter de 'simmon tree en stick er horn
back in de hole? But, bless yo' soul, honey, w'ile she
wuz croppin' de grass she tuck one moufuU too
menny, kaze w'en she hitch on ter de 'simmon tree
agin. Brer Rabbit wuz settin' in de fence cornder a
watchin' un 'er. Den Brer Rabbit he say ter hisse'f:

" 'Heyo,' sezee. Vat dis yer gwine on now? Hole

46

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

yo' bosses, Sis Cow, twel you hear me cominV sezee.

"En den he crope off down de fence, Brer Rabbit
did, en bimeby here he come— hppity-chppity, clip-
pity-hppity— des a sailin' down de big road.

"'Mornin', Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, liow
you come on dis mornin'?' sezee.

" To'ly, Brer Rabbit, po'ly,' sez Miss Cow, sez she.
""I ain't had no res' all night,' sez she. 1 can't pull
loose,' sez she, l^ut ef you'll come en ketch holt er my
tail. Brer Rabbit,' sez she, 1 reckin may be I kin fetch
my horn out,' sez she. Den Brer Rabbit, he come up
little closer, but he ain't gittin' too close.

" 'I speck I'm nigh nuff. Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee. I'm a mighty puny man, en I might git
trompled,' sezee. 'You do de puUin', Sis Cow,' sezee,
*en I'll do de gruntin',' sezee.

"Den Miss Cow, she pull out 'er horn, she did, en
tuck atter Brer Rabbit, en down de big road dey had
it. Brer Rabbit wid his years laid back, en Miss Cow
wid 'er head down en 'er tail curl. Brer Rabbit kep'

MR. TERRAPIN APPEARS UPON THE SCENE 47

on gainin', en bimeby he dart in a brier-patch, en by
de time Miss Cow come 'long he had his head stickin*
out, en his eyes look big ez Miss Sally's chany sassers.

"'Heyo, Sis Cow! Whar you gwine?' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee.

"'Howdy, Brer Big-Eyes,' sez Miss Cow, sez she.
Is you seed Brer Rabbit go by?'

"'He des dis minit pass,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee,
*en he look mighty sick,' sezee.

"En wid dat. Miss Cow tuck down de road like de
dogs wuz atter 'er, en Brer Rabbit, he des lay down
dar in de brier-patch en roll en laugh twel his sides
hurtid 'im. He bleedzd ter laff. Fox atter 'im. Buzzard
atter 'im, en Cow atter 'im, en dey ain't kotch 'im yit '

X

MR. TERRAPIN APPEARS UPON THE SCENE

"Miss Sally's" little boy again occupying the anx-
ious position of auditor, Uncle Remus took the shovel
and "put de noses er de chunks tergedder," as he ex-
pressed it, and then began:

"One day, atter Sis Cow done run pas' 'er o\^^l
shadder tryin' fer ter ketch 'im. Brer Rabbit tuck'n
low dat he wuz gwineter drap in en see Miss Mead-
ows en de gals, en he got out his piece er lookin'-glass
en primp up, he did, en sot out. Gwine canterin'
long de road, who should Brer Rabbit run up wid

48

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

but ole Brer Tarrypin— de same ole one-en-sixpunce»
Brer Rabbit stop, he did, en rap on de roof er Brer
Tarrypin house."

"On the roof of his house, Uncle Remus?'* inter-
rupted tlie httle boy.

"Co'se honey. Brer Tarrypin kare his house wid
'im. Rain er shine, hot er cole, strike up wid ole Brer

Tarrypin w'en you will en w'ilst you may, en whar
you fine 'im, dar you'll fine his shanty. Hit's des like
I tell you. So den! Brer Rabbit he rap on de roof er
Brer Tarrypin's house, he did, en ax wuz he in, en
Brer Tarrypin 'low dat he wuz, en den Brer Rabbit,

MR. TERRAPIN APPEARS UPON THE SCENE 49

he ax 'im howdy, en den Brer Tanypin he likewise
'spon' howdy, en den Brer Rabbit he say whar wuz
Brer Tarrypin gwine, en Brer Tarrypin, he say w'ich
he wem't gwine nowhar skasely. Den Brer Rabbit
'low he v^aiz on his way fer ter see Miss Meadows en
de gals, en he ax Brer Tarrypin ef he won't jine in en
go long, en Brer Tarrypin. "spon' he don't keer ef he
do, en den dey sot out. Dey had plenty er time fer
confabbin' long de way, but bimeby dey got dar, en
Miss Meadows en de gals dey come ter de do', dey
did, en ax um in, en in dey went.

"Wen de ^ got in. Brer Tarrypin wuz so flat-footed
dat he wuz too low on de flo', en he wem't high nuff
in a cheer, but while dey vnz all scrambling' 'roun'
tryin' fer ter git Brer Tanypin a cheer. Brer Rabbit,
he pick 'im up en put 'im on de shelf whar de water-
bucket sot, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he lay back up dar,
he did, des es proud ez a nigger wid a cook 'possum.

"Co'se de talk fell on Brer Fox, en Miss Meadows
en de gals make a great 'miration 'bout w'at a gaily
ridin'-hoss Brer Fox wuz, en dey make lots er fun, en
laugh en giggle same like gals duz deze days. Brer
Rabbit, he sot dar in de cheer smokin' his seegyar, en
he sorter kler up his th'oat, en say, sezee:

"'I'd er rid 'im over dis mawnin', ladies,' sezee,
TDut I rid 'im so hard yistiddy dat he went lame in
de off fo' leg, en I speck I'll hatter swop 'im off yit,"
sezee.

50 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"Den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n say, sezee:

" 'Well, ef you gwinter sell 'im. Brer Rabbit,' sezee,
'sell him some'rs outen dis naberhood, kase he done
bin yer too long now,' sezee. 'No longer'n day 'fo'
yistiddy,* sezee, 'Brer Fox pass me on de road, en
whatter you reckin he say?* sezee:

" 'Law, Brer Tarrypiii,' sez Miss Meadows, sez she,
you don't mean ter say he oust?' sez she, en den de
gals hilt der fans up f o' der faces.

"'Oh, no, ma'm,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, Tie
didn't cust, but he holler out— "Heyo, Stinkin' JimI" '
sezee.

" 'Oh, my! You hear dat, gals?' sez Miss Meadows^.

sez she; 'Brer Fox call Brer Tarrypin Stinkin' Jim,'
sez she, en den Miss Meadows en de gals make great

MR. TERRAPIN APPEARS UPON THE SCENE 51

wonderment how Brer Fox kin talk dat a way TdouI
nice man like Brer Tarrypin.

"But bless grashus, honey! whilst all dis gwine on,
Brer Fox wuz stannin' at de back do' wid one year at
de cat-hole lissenin*. Eave-drappers don't hear no
good er deyse'f, en de way Brer Fox wuz 'bused dat
day wuz a caution.

"Bimeby Brer Fox stick his head in de do', en
holler out:

"'Good evenin', fokes, I wish you mighty well,
sezee, en wid dat he make a dash for Brer Rabbit, but
Miss Meadows en de gals dey holler en squall, dey
did, en Brer Tarrv-pin he got ter scramblin' roun' up
dar on de shelf, en oJQF he come, en blip he tuck Brer
Fox on de back er de head. Dis sorter stunted Brer
Fox, en w'en he gedder his 'membunce de mos' he
seed wuz a pot er greens turnt over in de fireplace, en
a broke cheer. Brer Rabbit wuz gone, en Brer Tarry-
pin wuz gone, en Miss Meadows en de gals wuz
gone."

"Where did the Rabbit go. Uncle Remus?" the
little boy asked, after a pause.

"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Rabbit he skint up de
chimbly— dats w'at turnt de pot er greens over. Brer
Tarrypin, he crope under de bed, he did, en got
behime de cloze-chist, en Miss Meadows en de gals,
dey run out in de yard.

"Brer Fox^ he sorter look roun' en feel er de back

52 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

er his head, whar Brer Tarr)^m lit, but he don't see
no sine er Brer Rabbit. But de smoke en de ashes
gwine up de chimbly got de best er Brer Rabbit, en
bimeby he sneeze— hucky chow!

"'Ahal' sez Brer Fox, sezee; 'youer dar, is you?'
sezee. 'Well, I'm gwineter smoke you out, ef it takes

fi mont'. Youer mine dis time,' sezee. Brer Rabbit
ain't sayin' nuthin'.

"'Ain't you comin' down?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nuthin'. Den Brer Fox, he
went out atter some wood, he did, en w'en he come
back he hear Brer Rabbit laughin*.

MR. TERRAPIN APPEARS UPON THE SCENE SS

"'Wat you laughin' at. Brer Rabbit?' soz Brer
Fox, sezee.

" 'Can't tell you, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" 'Better tell. Brer Rabbit,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

""Tain't nuthin' but a box er money somebody
done gone en lef up yer in de chink er de chimbly,'
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" 'Don't b'leeve you,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'Look up en see,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, en w'en
Brer Fox look up. Brer Rabbit spit his eyes full er
terbarker joose, he did, en Brer Fox, he make a break
fer de branch, en Brer Rabbit he come down en tola
de ladies good-by.

"'How you git 'im oflF, Brer Rabbit?' sez Miss
Meadows, sez she.

"'Who? me?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee; *w'y I des
tuck en tole 'im dat ef he didn't go 'long home en
stop playin' his pranks on spectubble fokes, dat I'd
take 'im out and th'ash 'im,' sezee."

"And what became of the Terrapin?" asked the
little boy.

"Oh, well den!" exclaimed the old man, "chilluns
can't speck ter know all 'bout eve'ything 'fo' dey git
some res'. Dem eyeleds er yone wanter be propped
wid straws dis minnit."

54 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

XI

MR. WOLF MAKES A FAILURE

"I LAY yo' ma got comp'ny," said Uncle Remus, as
the little boy entered the old man's door with a huge
piece of mince-pie in his hand, 'en ef she ain't got
comp'ny, den she done gone en drap de cubberd key
som'ers whar you done run up wid it."

"Well, I saw the pie lying there, Uncle Remus,
and I just thought I'd fetch it out to you."

"Tooby sho, honey," replied the old man, regard-
ing the child with admiration. "Tooby sho, honey;
dat changes marters. Chrismus doin's is outer date, en
dey ain't got no bizness layin' roun' loose. Dish yer
pie," Uncle Remus continued, holding it up and
measuring it with an experienced eye, "will gimme
strenk fer ter persoo on atter Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit
en de udder creeturs w'at dey roped in long wid um."

Here the old man paused, and proceeded to de-
molish the pie— a feat accomplished in a very short
time. Then he wiped the crumbs from his beard and
began:

"Brer Fox feel so bad, en he git so mad 'bout Brer
Rabbit, dat he dunner w'at ter do, en he look mighty
down-hearted. Bimeby, one day wiles he wuz gwine
long de road, old Brer Wolf come up wid 'im. Wen
dey done howdyin' en axin' atter one nudder's fambly

MR. WOLF MAKES A FAILURE

55

connexshun, Brer Wolf, he 'low, he did, dat der wiiz
sump'n wrong wid Brer Fox, en Brer Fox, he low'd

der wern't, en he went on en laugh en make great
terdo kaze Brer Wolf look like he spishun sump'n.
But Brer Wolf, he got mighty long head, en he sorter
broach 'bout Brer Rabbit's kyar'ns on, kaze de way
dat Brer Rabbit 'ceive Brer Fox done got ter be de
talk er de naberhood. Den Brer Fox en Bier Wolf dey
scrtei palavered on, dey did, twel bimeby Brer WoH

56 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

he up'n say dat he done got plan fix fer ter trap Brer
Rabbit. Den Brer Fox say how. Den Brer Wolf up'n
tell 'im dat de way fer ter git de drap on Brer Rabbit
wuz ter git 'im in Brer Fox house. Brer Fox dun know
Brer Rabbit uv ole, en he know dat sorter game done
wo' ter a frazzle, but Brer Wolf, he talk mighty
'swadin'.

" 'How you gwine git 'im dar?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" Tool 'im dar,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.

'"Who gwine do de foolin'?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" ni do de foolin',' sez Brer Wolf, sezee, 'ef you'll
do de gamin',' sezee.

" 'How you gwine do it?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'You run 'long home, en git on de bed, en make
like you dead, en don't you say nothin' twel Brer
Rabbit come en put his ban's onter you,' sez Brer
Wolf, sezee, 'en ef we don't git 'im fer supper, Joe's
dead en Sal's a widder,' sezee.

"Dis look like mighty nice game, en Brer Fox
'greed. So den he amble off home, en Brer Wolf, he
march oflF ter Brer Rabbit house. W'en he got dar, hit
look like nobody at home, but Brer Wolf he walk up
en knock on de do'— blam! blam! Nobody come. Den
he lam aloose en knock 'gin— bliml blim!

" 'Who dar?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" 'Fr'en',' sez Brer Wolf.

"'Too menny fr'en's spiles de dinner,' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee; 'w'ich un's dis?' sezee.

MR. WOLF MAKES A FAILIIRE

57

"1 fetch bad news. Brer Rabbit,' sez Brer Wolf,
sezee.

" 'Bad news is soon tole,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

"By dis time Brer Rabbit done come ter de do',
wid his head tied up in a red hankcher.

" 'Brer Fox died dis momin'/ sez Brer Wolf, sezee.

"'Whar yo' mo'nin' gown. Brer WoK?' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee.

" 'Gwine atter it now,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee. 1 des
call by fer ter bring de news. I went down ter Brer

Fox house little bit 'go, en dar I foun' 'im stiff,"
sezee.

"Den Brer Wolf lope off. Brer Rabbit sot down en

58 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

scratch liis head, he did, en bimeby he say ter hisse'f
dat he b'leeve he sorter drap 'roun' by Brer Fox house
fer ter see how de Ian' lay. No sooner said'n done. Up
he jump, en out he went. Wen Brer Rabbit got close
ter Brer Fox house, all look lonesome. Den he went
up nigher. Nobody stirrin*. Den he look in, en dar
lay Brer Fox stretch out on de bed des es big ez life.
Den Brer Rabbit make like he talkin' to hisse'f.

"'Nobody 'roun' fer ter look atter Brer Fox— not
even Brer Tukkey Buzzard ain't come ter de funer'l,'
sezee. 1 hope Brer Fox ain't dead, but I speck he is,'
sezee. 'Even dowoi ter Brer Wolf done gone en lef
'im. Hit's de busy season wdd me, but I'll set up wid
*im. He seem like he dead, yit he mayn't be,' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee. 'Wen a man go ter see dead fokes,
dead fokes allers raises up der behime leg en hollers,
wahoo!' sezee.

"Brer Fox he stay still. Den Brer Rabbit he talk
little louder:

" 'Mighty funny. Brer Fox look like he dead, yit he
don't do like he dead. Dead fokes hists der behime
leg en hollers wahoo! w'en a man come ter see um,'
sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

"Sho' nuff, Brer Fox lif up his foot en holler walioo!
en Brer Rabbit he tear out de house like de dogs wuz
atter 'im. Brer Wolf mighty smart, but nex' time you
hear fum 'im, honey, he'll be in trouble. You des hole
yo' breff'n wait."

MR. FOX TACKLES OLD MAN TARRYPIN

59

xn

MR. FOX TACKLES OLD MAN TARRYFIN

"One day," said Uncle Remus, sharpening his knife
on tlie palm of his hand— "one day Brer Fox strike up
wid Brer Tarrypin right in de middle er de big road.
Brer Tarrypin done heerd 'im comin', en he 'low ter
hissef dat he'd sorter keep one eye open; but Brer Fox
wuz monstus perlite, en he open up de confab, he did,
like he ain't see Brer Tarrypin sence de las' freshit.

"'Heyo, Brer Tarr^'pin, whar you bin dis long-
come-short?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'Lounjun 'roun', Brer Fox, lounjun 'roun',' sez
Brer Tarrypin.

ilO LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

" 'You don't look sprucy like you did, Brer Tarry-
pin/ sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"'Lounjun 'roun' en suffer'n', sez Brer Tarrypin,
sezee.

"Den de talk sorter run on like dis:

" 'Wat ail you. Brer Tarrypin? Yo' eye look mighty
red/ sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'Lor', Brer Fox, you dunner w'at trubble is. You
ain't bin lounjun 'roun' en sufFer'n',' sez Brer Tarry-
pin, sezee.

"'Bofe eyes red, en you look like you mighty
weak. Brer Tarrypin,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"'Lor', Brer Fox, you dunner w'at trubble is,' sez
Brer Tarrypin, sezee.

" 'Wat ail you now, Brer Tarrypin?' sez Brer Fox,
sezee.

"'Tuck a walk de udder day, en man come 'long
en sot de fiel' a-fier. Lor', Brer Fox, you dunner w'at
trubble is,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee.

" 'How you git out de fier, Brer Tarrypin?' sez Brer
Fox, sezee.

"'Sot en tuck it. Brer Fox,' sez Brer Tarrypin,
sezee. 'Sot en tuck it, en de smoke siF in my eye, en
de fier scorch my back,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee.

"'Likewise hit bu'n yo' tail off,' sez Brer Fox,
sezee.

" 'Oh, no, dar's de tail. Brer Fox,' sez Brer Tarry-
pin, sezee, en wid dat he oncurl his tail fum under de

MR. FOX TACKLES OLD MAN TARRYPIN 61

^hell, en no sooner did he do dat dan Brer Fox grab
it, en holler out:

"'Oh, yes, Brer Tarrypin! Oh, yes! En so youer
de man w'at lam me on de head at Miss Meadows's is
you? Youer in wid Brer Rabbit, is you? Well, I'm
gwineter out you/

"Brer Tarrypin beg en beg, but 'twan't no use. Brer
Fox done been fool so much dat he look like he
'termin* fer ter have Brer Tarrypin haslett. Den Brer
Tarrypin beg Brer Fox not fer ter drown 'im, but Brer
Fox ain't makin' no prommus, en den he beg Brer Fox
fer ter bu'n' 'im, kase he done useter fier, but Brer Fox
don't say nuthin'. Bimeby Brer Fox drag Brer Tarry-
pin off little ways b'low de spring-'ouse, en souze him
under de water. Den Brer Tarrypin begin fer ter
holler:

" 'Tu'n loose dat stump root en ketch holt er me—
tu'n loose dat stump root en ketch holt er me.*

"Brer Fox he holler back:

" 1 ain't got holt er no stump root, en I is got holt
er you.'

"Brer Tarrypin he keep on hoUer'n:

" 'Ketch holt er me— I'm a drownin'— I'm a drownin*
—tu'n loose de stump root en ketch holt er me.'

"Sho nuff. Brer Fox tu'n loose de tail, en Brer
Tarrypin, he went down ter de bottom— kerblunkity-
blinkl"

No typographical combination or description could

62

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

do justice to the guttural sonorousness— the peculiar
intonation— which Uncle Remus imparted to this

combination. It was so peculiar, indeed, that the littl«
boy asked:

"How did he go to the bottom, Uncle Remus?"

TEIE AWFUL FATE OF MR. WOLF 6ii

"Kerblunkity-blink ! "

"Was he drowned. Uncle Remus?"

"Who? Ole man Tarrypin? Is you drowndid w'cl
yo' ma tucks you in de bed?"

"Well, no," replied the little boy, dubiously.

"Ole man Tarrypin wuz at home I tell you, honey-
Kerblinkity-blunk I "

xm

THE AWFUL FATE OF MR. WOLF

Uncle Remus was half-soling one of his shoes, and
his Miss Sally's little boy had been handling his awls,
his hammers, and his knives to such an extent that the
old man was compelled to assume a threatening atti-
tude; but peace reigned again, and the little boy
perched himself on a chair, watching Uncle Remus
driving in pegs.

"Folks w'at's allers pesterin' people, en bodderin'
'longer dat w'at ain't dem, don't never come ter no
good eend. Dar wuz Brer Wolf; stidder mindin' im
his own bizness, he hatter take en go in pardnerships
wid Brer Fox, en dey want skacely a minnit in de day
dat he want atter Brer Rabbit, en he kep' on en kep'
on twel fus' news you knowed he got kotch up wid-
en he got kotch up wid monstus bad."

"Goodness, Uncle Remus! I thought the Wolf let

64

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

the Rabbit alone, after lie tried to fool him about the
Fox being dead."

"Better lemme tell dish yer my way. Bimeby hit'll
be yo' bed time, en Miss Sally '11 be a hoUerin' atter

Ok. ■ ^

iiSL

you, en you'll be a whimplin' roun', en den Mars
Johnll fetch up de re'r wid dat ar strop w'at I made
fer 'im."

The child laughed, and playfully shook his fist in
the simple, serious face of the venerable old darkey,
but said no more. Uncle Remus waited awhile to be
sure there was to be no other demonstration, and
then proceeded:

"Brer Rabbit ain't see no peace w'atsumever. Hff

THE AWFUL FATE OF MR. WOLF 65

can't leave home 'cap' Brer Wolf 'ud make a raid en
tote off some er de fambly. Brer Rabbit b'ilt 'im a
straw house, en hit wuz tored down; den he made a
house outen pine-tops, en dat went de same way;
den he made 'im a bark house, en dat wuz raided on,
en eve'y time he los' a house he los' one er his chil-
luns. Las' Brer Rabbit got mad, he did, en oust, en
den he went off, he did, en got some kyarpinters, en
dey b'ilt 'im a plank house wid rock foundashuns.
Atter dat he could have some peace en quietness.
He could go out en pass de time er day wid his
neighbors, en come back en set by de fier, en smoke
his pipe, en read de newspapers same like enny man
w'at got a fambly. He made a hole, he did, in de
cellar whar de little Rabbits could hide out w'en dar
wuz much uv a racket in de neighborhood, en de
latch er de front do' kotch on de inside. Brer Wolf,
he see how de Ian' lay, he did, en he lay low. De
little Rabbits was mighty skittish, but hit got so dat
cole chills ain't run up Brer Rabbit's back no mo' w'en
he heerd Brer Wolf go gallopin' by.

"Bimeby, one day w'en Brer Rabbit wuz fixin' fer
ter call on Miss Coon, he heerd a monstrus fuss en
clatter up de big road, en 'mos' 'fo' he could fix his
years fer ter lissen, Brer Wolf run in de do'. De little
Rabbits dey went inter dere hole in de cellar, dey
did, like blowin' out a cannle. Brer Wolf wuz farlv
kiwer'd vdd mud, en mighty nigh outer win'.

66 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"'Oh, do pray save me, Brer Rabbit!' sez Brer
Wolf, sezee. *Do please, Brer Rabbit! de dogs is
ater me, en dey'll t'ar me up. Don t you year um

comin? Oh, do please save me, Brer Rabbit! Hide
me some rs whar de dogs w^on't git me/

"No quicker sed dan done.

" 'Jump in dat big chist dar. Brer Wolf,' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee; 'jump in dar en make yo'se'f at
home.'

"In jump Brer Wolf, dov^oi come the led, en inter
de hasp went de hook, en dar Mr. Wolf wuz. Den
Brer Rabbit went ter de lookin'-glass, he did, en wink

THE AWFUL FATE OF MR. WOLF

67

at hisse'f, en den he draw'd de rockin'-cheer in front
er de fier, he did, en tuck a big chaw terbarker."

"Tobacco, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy, in-
credulously.

"Rabbit terbarker, honey. You know dis yer life
ev'lastin' w'at Miss Sally puts moiig de cloze in de
trunk; well, dat's rabbit terbarker. Den Brer Rabbit
sot dar long tinie, he did, turnin' his mine over en
wukken his thinkin' masheen. Bimeby he got up, en
sorter stir 'roun'. Den Brer Wolf open up:

" Is de dogs all gone. Brer Rabbit?'

"*Seem like I hear one un um smellin' roun' de
chimbly-comder des now.'

"Den Brer Rabbit git de kitde en fill it full er
water, en put it on de fier.

" Wat you doin' now. Brer Rabbit?'

" Tm fixin fer ter make you a nice cup er tea,
Brer Wolf.'

"Den Brer Rabbit
went ter de cubberd ■>-.
en git de gimlet, en — ^^^
commence for ter bo'
little holes in de chist-
led.

" Wat you doin'
now, Brer Rabbit?' ^"

" I'm bo'in' little holes so you kin get bref, Bref
Wolf.'

68 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"Den Brer Rabbit went out en git some mo' wood,
en fling it on de fier.

" 'Wat you doin' now, Brer Rabbit?'

"'I'm a chunkin' up de fier so you won't git cole.
Brer Wolf/

"Den Brer Rabbit went down inter de cellar en
fotch out all his chilluns.

" 'Wat you doin' now, Brer Rabbit?'

" 'I'm a tellin' my chilluns w'at a nice man you is.
Brer WoH/

"En de chilluns, dey had ter put der ban's on der
moufs fer ter keep fum lafiin'. Den Brer Rabbit he
got de kittle en commenced fer to po' de hot water on
de chist-lid.

" 'Wat dat I hear, Brer Rabbit?'

"'You hear de win' a blowin', Brer Wolf/

"Den de water begin fer ter sif' thoo.

"'Wat dat I feel. Brer Rabbit?'

" 'You feels de fleas a bitin', Brer Wolf/

" 'Dey er bitin' mighty hard, Brer Rabbit/

" 'Tu'n over on de udder side, Brer Wolf/

" 'Wat dat I feel now. Brer Rabbit?'

" 'Still you feels de fleas. Brer Wolf/

" 'Dey er eatin' me up. Brer Rabbit,' en dem wuz
de las words er Brer Wolf, kase de scaldin' water
done de bizness,

"Den Brer Rabbit call in his neighbors, he did, en
dey hilt a reg'iar juberlee; en ef you go ter Brer Rab-

MR. FOX AND THE DECEITFUL, FROGS 69

bit's house right now, I dunno but w'at you'll fine
Brer Wolf's hide hangin* in de back-po'ch, en all be-
kaze he wuz so bizzy wid udder fo'kses doin's."

XIV
MR. FOX AND THE DECEITFUL FROGS

When the little boy ran in to see Uncle Remus thu
night after he had told him of the awful fate of Brei
Wolf, tlie only response to his greeting was:

'I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-kerl"

No explanation could convey an adequate id^ of
the intonation and pronunciation which Uncle Remus
brought to bear upon this wonderful word Those
who can recall to mind the peculiar gurgling, jerking,
liquid sound made by pouring water from a large jug,
or the sound produced by throwing several stones in
rapid succession into a pond of deep water, may be
able to form a very faint idea of the sound, but it can
not be reproduced in print. The little' boy was aston-
ished.

"What did you say. Uncle Remus?**

"I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-kerl I-doom-er-ker-kum-
mer-kerl"

"What is that?"

"Dat's TaiTypin talk, dat is. Bless yo' soul, honey,**
continued the old man, brightening up, "w'en you git
ole ez me— w'en you see w'at I sees, en year w'at T

70

LEGENDS OF TEIE OLD PLANTATION

years— de creeturs dat you can't talk wid '11 be mighty
skase— dey will dat. W'y, ders er old gray rat w'at
uses ^bout yer, en time atter time lie comes out w'en
you all done gone ter bed en sets up dar in de comder
en dozes, en me en him talks by de 'our; en w'at dat
old rat dunno ain't down in de spellin' book. Des
now, w'en you run in and broke me up, I vaiz fetchin'

into my mine w'at Brer Tarrypin say ter Brer Fo^
w'en he turn 'im loose in de branch."
"What did he say, Uncle Remus?"

MR. FOX AND THE DECEITFUL FROGS

71

"Dat w'at he said— I-doom-er-ker-kiim-mer-ker»'
Brer Tarrypin wuz at de bottom er de pon', en he taik
back, he did, in bubbles— I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-kerl
Brer Fox, he ain't sayin' nuthin*, but Brer Bull-Frog,

St

■-'^\\\\ml',i?i

settin' on de bank, he hear Brer Tarrypin, fie did, en
he holler back:

T2 LEGENDS OF TEIE OLD PLANTATION

" 'J^g"^^"^^^'™"^^^^^"*^^^' Jug-er-mm-kum-duml'

"Den n'er Frog holler out:

" 'Knee-deep! Knee-deep!'

"Den ole Brer Bull- Frog, he holler back:

" 'Don'-you-ber-lieve-'im! Don't-you-berlieve-*imi"

"Den de bubbles come up fum Brer Tarrypin:

" 'I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!'

"Den n'er Frog sing out:

" 'Wade in! Wade in!'

"Den ole Brer Bull-Frog talk thoo his ho'seness:

* 'Dar-you'll-fine-yo'-brudder! Dar-you'll-fine-yo*-
brudder!'

"Sho nuBF, Brer Fox look over de bank, he did, en
dar wuz n'er Fox lookin' at 'im outer de water. Den
he retch out fer ter shake ban's, en in he went, heels
over head, en Brer Tarrypin bubble out:

" 'I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!' "

"Was the Fox drowned, Uncle Remus?" asked the
little boy.

"He weren't zackly drowndid, honey," replied the
old man, with an air of cautious reserve. "He did
manage fer ter scramble out, but a little mo' en de
Mud Turkic would er got 'im, en den he'd er bin
made hash un worril widout een'."

MR. FOX GOES A-HUNTTNG 73

XV

MR. FOX GOES A-HUNTING, BUT MR. RABBIT
BAGS THE GAME

"Atter Brer Fox hear 'bout how Brer Rabbit
done Brer Wolf," said Uncle Remus, scratching his
head with the point of his awl, "he low, he did, dat
he better not be so brash, en he sorter let Brer Rab-
bit lone. Dey wuz all time seein' one nudder, en
l)unnunce er times Brer Fox could er nab Brer Rab-
bit, but evey time he got de chance, his mine 'ud
sorter rezume 'bout Brer Wolf, en he let Brer Rabbit
lone. Bimeby dey 'gun ter git kinder familious wid
Wunner nudder like dey useter, en it got so Brer
Fox'd call on Brer Rabbit, en dey'd set up en smoke
der pipes, dey would, like no ha'sh feelin's 'd ever
rested 'twixt um.

"Las', one day Brer Fox come long all rig out, en
ax Brer Rabbit fer ter go huntin' wid 'im, but Brer
Rabbit, he sorter feel lazy, en he tell Brer Fox dat
he got some udder fish fer ter fry. Brer Fox feel
mighty sorry, he did, but he say he bleeve he try his
han' enny how, en off he put. He wuz gone all day,
en he had a monstus streak er luck, Brer Fox did, en
he bagged a sight er game. Bimeby, to'rds de shank
er de evenin', Brer Rabbit sorter stretch hisse'f, he
did, en low hit's mos' time fer Brer Fox fer ter git

74

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

long home. Den Brer Rabbit, he went n mounted a
stmnp fer ter see ef he could year Brer Fox comin'.
He ain't bin dar long, twel sho' nuff, yer come Brer

p''^'i<-4-

Fox thoo de woods, singing like a nigger at a frolic.
Brer Rabbit, he lipt down off'n de stump, he did, en
lay down in de road en make like he dead. Brer Fox
he come 'long, he did, en see Brer Rabbit layin' dar.
He tun 'im over, he did, en zamine 'im, en say,
sezee:

" 'Dish yer rabbit dead. He look like he bin dead
long time. He dead, but he mighty fat. He de fattes'

MR. FOX GOES A-HUNTING

75

rabbit w'at I ever see, but he bin dead too long. I
feard ter take 'im home,' sezee.

"Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nuthin'. Brer Fox, he
sorter hck his chops, but he went on en lef Brer
Rabbit lay in' in de road. Dreckly he wuz outer sight.
Brer Rabbit, he jump up, he did, en run roun' thoo de
woods en git befo Brer Fox agin. Brer Fox, he come
up, en dar lay Brer Rabbit, periently cole en stiff.
Brer Fox, he look at Brer Rabbit, en he sorter study,

Atter while he onslung his game-bag, en say ter
hisse'f. sezee:

76 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"'Deze yer rabbits gwine ter was*e. I'll des TdouI
leave my game yer, en I'll go back'n git dat udder
rabbit, en I'll make fokes b'leeve dat I'm ole man
Hunter fum Huntsville,' sezee.

"En wid dat he drapt his game en loped back up
de road atter de udder rabbit, en w'en he got outer
sight, ole Brer Rabbit, he snatch up Brer Fox game
en put out fer home. Nex' time he see Brer Fox he
holler out:

" 'What you kill de udder day, Brer Fox?' sezee.

"Den Brer Fox, he sorter koam his flank wid his
tongue, en holler back:

"1 kotch a han'ful er hard sense, Brer Rabbit,*
sezee.

"Den ole Brer Rabbit, he laff, he did, en up en
spon*, sezee:

"'Ef I'd a know'd you wuz atter dat. Brer Fox,
I'd a loant you some er mine,' sezee."

XVI

OLD MR. RABBIT, HE'S A GOOD FISHERMAN

"Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox wuz like some chiUuns
w'at I knows un," said Uncle Remus, regarding the
little boy, who had come to hear another story, with
an affectation of great solemnity. "Bofe un um wuz
tiUers atter wunner nudder, a pranldn' en a pester'n
roun , but Brer Rabbit did had some peace, kaze Brer

OLD MR. RABBIT, HE'S A GOOD FISHERMAN 77

Fox done got skittish 'bout puttin' de clamps on Brer
Rabbit.

"One day, w'en Brer Rabbit, en Brer Fox, en Brer
Coon, en Brer Bar, en a whole lot un um wuz clearin'
up a new groun' fer ter plant a roas'n'year patch, de
sun 'gun ter git sorter hot, en Brer Rabbit he got
tired; but he didn't let on, kaze he 'fear'd de balance
un um'd call 'im lazy, en he keep on totin' oflF trash en
pilin' up bresh, twel bimeby he holler out dat he
gotter brier in his han', en den he take'n slip off, en

*--«^-^

y.:r^> r, ■' ■., ^^

hunt fer cool place fer ter res'. Atter w'ile he come
'crosst a well wid a bucket hangin' in it.

78 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"'Dat look cool,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, *en cool
I speck she is. I'll des iDout git in dar en take a nap,'
en wid dat in he jump, he did, en he ain't no sooner
fix hisse'f dan de bucket 'gun ter go down."

"Wasn't the Rabbit scared. Uncle Remus?" asked
die little boy.

"Honey, dey ain't been no wusser skeer'd beas*
jsence de worril begin dan dish yer same Brer Rabbit.
He fa'rly had a ager. He know whar he cum fum, but
he dunner whar he gwine. Dreckly he feel de bucket
hit de water, en dar she sot, but Brer Rabbit he keep
mighty still, kaze he dunner w'at minnit gwineter be
de nex'. He des lay dar en shuck en shiver.

"Brer Fox allers got one eye on Brer Rabbit, en
w'en he shp oflF fum de new groun', Brer Fox he sneak
atter 'im. He know Brer Rabbit wuz atter some
projick er nudder, en he tuck'n crope off, he did, en
watch 'im. Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit come to de well
en stop, en den he see 'im jump in de bucket, en
den, lo en beholes, he see 'im go down outer sight.
Brer Fox wuz de mos' 'stonish Fox dat you ever laid
eyes on. He sot off dar in de bushes en study en
study, but he don't make no head ner tails ter dis
kinder bizness. Den he say ter hisse'f, sezee:

" 'Well, ef dis don't bang my times,' sezee, 'den
Joe's dead en Sal's a widder. Right down dar in dat
well Brer Rabbit keep his money hid, en ef 'tain't dat
den he done gone en 'skiver 'd a gole-mine, en ef

OLD MI\. RABBIT, He's A GOOD FISHERMAN 79

*tain't dat, den I'm a gwineter see w'at's in dar/ sezee.

"Brer Fox crope up little nigher, he did, en lissen,
but he don't year no fuss, en he keep on gittin' nigher,
en yit he don't year nutliin'. Bimeby he git up close
en peep down, but he don't see nuthin' en he don't
year nuthin'. All dis time Brer Rabbit mighty nigh
skeer'd outen his skin, en he fear'd fer ter move kaze
de bucket might keel over en spill him out in de
water. Wile he sayin' his pra'rs over like a train er
kyars runnin', ole Brer Fox holler out:

"'Heyo, Brer Rabbitl Who you wizzitin* down
dar?' sezee.

"'Who? Me? Oh, I'm des a fishin'. Brer Fox,' sez
Brer Rabbit, sezee. 1 des say ter myse'f dat I'd sorter
sprize you all wid a mess er fishes fer dinner, en so
here I is, en dar's de fishes. I'm a fishin' fer suckers,
Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" *Is dey many un um down dar, Brer Rabbit?* sez
Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'Lots un um, Brer Fox; scoze en scoze un um.
De water is natally live wid um. Come down en
he'p me haul um in. Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" 'How I gwinter git down, Brer Rabbit?'

" 'Jump inter de bucket. Brer Fox. Hitll fetch you
down all safe en soun'.'

"Brer Rabbit talk so happy en talk so sweet dat
Brer Fox he jump in de bucket, he did, en, ez he
went down, co'se his weight pull Brer Rabbit lAp,

80

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

Wen dey pass one nudder on de half-way ground
Brer Rabbit he sing out:

"'Good-by, Brer Fox, take keer yo* cloze,
Fer dis-is de way de worril goes;
Some goes up en some goes down,
You'll git ter de bottom all safe en sounV *

''W'en Brer Rabbit got out, he gallop off en tole

de fokes w'at de
well b'long ter dat
Brer Fox wuz down
in dar muddyin' up
de drinkin' water, en
den he gallop back
ter de well, en holler
down ter Brer Fox:

" 'Yer come a man wid
a great big gun-
Wen he haul you up,
you jump en run.' "

"What then,
Uncle Remus?"
asked the little boy,
as the old man
paused.

' As a Northern friend suggests that this story may be some-
what obscure, it may be as well to state that the well is supposed
to be suppUed with a rope over a wheel, or pulley, with a bucket
at each end.

MR. RABBIT NIBBLES UP THE BUTTER 81

In des Ijout half n'our, honey, bofe un um wuz
back in de new groun' wukkin des hke dey never
heer'd er no well, ceppin' dat eve'y now'n den Brer
Rabbit'd bust out in er laff, en old Brer Fox, he'd git
a spell er de dry grins."

xvn

MR. RABBIT NIBBLES UP THE BUTTER

"De animils en de creeturs," said Uncle Remus,
shaking his coffee around in the bottom of his tin-
cup, in order to gather up all the sugar, "dey kep' on
gittin' mo' en mo' familious wid wunner nudder, twel
bimeby, 'twan't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit, en Brer Fox, en
Brer Possum got ter sorter bunchin* der perwishuns
tergedder in de same shanty. Atter w'ile de roof
sorter 'gun ter leak, en one day Brer Rabbit, en Brer
Fox, en Brer Possum, 'semble fer ter see ef dey can't
kinder patch her up. Dey had a big day's work in
front un um, en dey fotch der dinner wid um. Dey
lump de vittles up in one pile, en de butter w'at Brer
Fox brung, dey goes en puts in de spring-'ouse fer ter
keep cool, en den dey went ter wuk, en 'twan't long
'fo' Brer Rabbit stummuck 'gun ter sorter growl en
pester 'im. Dat butter er Brer Fox sot heavy on his
mine, en his mouf water eve'y time he 'member 'bout
it. Present'y he say ter hisse'f dat he bleedzd ter have

82

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

a nip at dat butter, en den he lay his plans, he did.
Fus' news you know, w'ile dey wuz all wukkin' long,
Brer Rabbit raise his head quick en fling his years
forrerd en holler out:

"'Here I is. Wat you want wid me?' en off he
put like sump'n wuz atter 'im.

"He sallied 'roun', ole Brer Rabbit did, en atter
he make sho dat nobody ain't foUer'n un 'im, inter de

spring-'ouse he bounces,
en dar he stays twel he
git a bait er butter. Den
he santer on back en go
to wuk.

"'Whar you bin?* sez
Brer Fox, sezee.

"1 hear my chillims
callin' me,' sez Brer Rab-
bit, sezee, 'en I hatter go
see w'at dey want. My
ole 'oman done gone en
tuck mighty sick,' sezee.
"Dey wuk on twel
' ^ bimeby de butter tas'e so

good dat ole Brer Rabbit want some mo'. Den he raise
up his head, he did, en holler out:

" 'Heyo! Hole onl I'm a comin'!' en off he put.
"Dis time he stay right smart w'ile, en w'en he git
back Brer Fox ax him whar he bin.

MR. RABBIT NIBBLES UP THE BUTTER 83

" 'I been ter see my ole 'oman, en she's a sinkin',*
sezee.

"Dreckly Brer Rabbit hear um callin' 'im ag'in en
oflF he goes, en dis time, bless yo' soul, he gits de
butter out so clean dat he kin see hisse'f in de bottom
er de bucket. He scrape it clean en lick it dry, en den
he go back ter wuk lookin' mo* samer dan a nigger
w'at de patter-rollers bin had holt un.

" 'How's yo' ole 'oman dis time?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"I'm oblije ter you, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee, Ijut I'm fear'd she's done gone by now,' en dat
sorter make Brer Fox en Brer Possum feel in moanin*
wid Brer Rabbit.

"Bimeby, w'en dinner-time come, dey all got out
der vittles, but Brer Rabbit keep on lookin' lonesome,
en Brer Fox en Brer Possum dey sorter rustle roun'
fer ter see ef dey can't make Brer Rabbit feel sorter
splimmy."

"What is that. Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.

"Sorter splimmy-splammy, honey— sorter like he in
a crowd— sorter like his ole 'oman ain't dead ez she
mout be. You know how fokes duz w'en dey gits
whar people's a moanin'."

The little boy didn't know, fortunately for him,
and Uncle Remus went on:

"Brer Fox en Brer Possum rustle roun', dey did,
gittin out de vittles, en bimeby Brer Fox, he say,
sezee:

84 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"'Brer Possum, you run down ter de spring en
fetch de butter, en I'll sail 'roun' yer en set de table/
sezee.

"Brer Possum, he lope oflF atter de butter, en
dreckly here he come lopin' back wid his years a
trimblin' en his tongue a hangin' out. Brer Fox, he
holler out:

" 'Wat de matter now. Brer Possum?' sezee.

" *You all better run yer, fokes,' sez Brer Possum,
sezee. 'De las' drap er dat butter done gone!'

" 'Whar she gone?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

" 'Look like she dry up,' sez Brer Possum, sezee.

"Den Brer Rabbit, he look sorter solium, he did,
en he up'n say, sezee.

" 'I speck dat butter melt in somebody mouf,' sezee.

"Den dey went down ter de spring wid Brer Pos-
sum, en sho nuff de butter done gone. Wiles dey wuz
sputin' over de wunderment. Brer Rabbit say he see
tracks all 'roun' dar, en he p'int out dat ef dey '11 all
go ter sleep, he kin ketch de chap w'at stole de butter.
Den dey all lie down en Brer Fox en Brer Possum dey
soon drapt oflF ter sleep, but Brer Rabbit he stay
'wake, en w'en de time come he raise up easy en
smear Brer Possum mouf wid de butter on his paws,
en den he nm off en nibble up de bes' er de dinner
w'at dey lef layin' out, en den he come back en wake
up Brer Fox, en show 'im de butter on Brer Possum
mouf. Den dey wake up Brer Possum, en tell 'im

MR. RABBIT NIBBLES UP THE BUTTER

85

TDOut it, but c'ose Brer Possum 'ny it ter de las'. Brer
Fox, dough, lie's a kinder lawyer, en he argafy dis
w^ay— dat Brer Possum wuz de fus one at de butter.

o

■:^.^

^^(^

en de fus one fer ter miss it, en mo n dat. dar hang de
signs on his mouf. Brer Possum see dat dey got 'im
jammed up in a cornder, en den he up en say dat de
way fer ter ketch de man w'at stole de butter is ter
b'il' a big bresh-heap en set her afier, en all ban's try
ter jump over, en de one w'at fall in, den he de chap
w'at stole de butter. Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox dey

86

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

bofe 'gree, dey did, en dey whirl in en b'iF de bresh-
heap, en dey b'il' her high en dey b'il' her wide, en
den dey totch her off. Wen she got ter blazin' up
good, Brer Rabbit, he tuck de fus turn. He sorter
step back, en look 'roun' en giggle, en over he went
mo' samer dan a bird flyin'. Den come Brer Fox. He
got back little fudder, en spit on his ban's, en lit out
en made de jump, en he come so nigh gittin' in dat
de een er his tail kotch afier. Ain't you never see no

' t r •A*^\s

fox, honey?" inquired Uncle Remus, in a tone that
implied both conciliation and information.

MR. RABBIT FINDS HIS MATCH AT LAST 87

The little boy thought probably he had, but he
wouldn't commit himself.

"Well, den," continued the old man, "nex' time you
see one un um, you look right close en see ef de een'
er his tail ain't w'ite. Hit's des like I tell you. Dey
b'ars de skyar er dat bresh-heap down ter dis day.
Dey er marked— dat's w'at dey is— dey er marked."

"And what about Brother Possum?" asked the little
boy.

"Ole Brer Possum, he tuck a runnin' start, he did,
en he come lumberin' 'long, en he lit— kerblaml—
right in de middle er de fier, en dat wuz de las' er ole
Brer Possum."

"But, Uncle Remus, Brother Possum didn't steal
the butter after all," said the little boy, who was not
at all satisfied with such summaiy injustice.

"Dat w'at make I say w'at I duz, honey. In dis
worril, lots er fokes is gotter suffer fer udder fokes
sins. Look like hit's mighty onwrong; but hit's des
dat away. Tribbalashun seem like she's a waitin'
roun' de comder fer ter ketch one en all un us,
honey."

XVIII

MR. RABBIT FINDS HIS MATCH AT LAST

"Hit look like ter me dat I let on de udder night
dat in dem days w'en de creeturs wuz santer'n 'roun'

88

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

same like fokes, none un um wuz brash niiff fer tel
ketch up wid Brer Rabbit," remarked Uncle Remus,
reflectively.

"Yes," replied the little boy, "that's what you said."
"Well, den," continued the old man with unction,
"dar's whar my membimce gin out, kaze Brer Rab-
bit did git kotched up wid, en hit cool 'im off like
po'in' spring water on one er deze yer biggity fices.'"
"How was that. Uncle Remus?" asked the little
boy.

"One day wen Brer Rabbit wuz gwine lippity-
clippitin' down de road, he meet up wid ole Brer
Tariypin, en atter dey pass de time er day wid wun-

ner nudder.

Brer Rabbit, he

'low dat he wuz

much 'blije ter

Brer Tarrypin

'« fer de han' he

tuck in de rum-

j pus dat day

' ^ down at Miss

' Meadows's."

^^ "When he

dropped off of

the water-shelf on the Fox's head," suggested the

Utde boy.

"Dat's de same time, honey. Den Brer TarrypiQ

MR. RABBIT FINDS HIS MATCH AT LAST 89

low dat Brer Fox run mighty fas' dat day, but dat ef
he'd er bin atter Im stidder Brer Rabbit, he'd er
kotch 'im. Brer Rabbit say he could er kotch 'im
hisse'f but he didn't keer 'bout leavin' de ladies. Dey
keep on talkin', dey did, twel bimeby dey gotter 'spu-
tin TDOut w'ich wuz de swif'es'. Brer Rabbit, he say
he kin outrun Brer Tarrypin, en Brer Tarrypin, he
des vow dat he kin outrun Brer Rabbit. Up en down
dey had it, twel fus news you know Brer Tarrypin say
he got a fifty-dollar bill in de chink er de chimbly at
home, en dat bill done tole 'im dat he could beat Brer
Rabbit in a fa'r race. Den Brer Rabbit say he got a
fifty-dollar bill w'at say dat he kin leave Brer Tarry-
pin so fur behime, dat he could sow barley ez he
went 'long en hit 'ud be ripe nuff fer ter cut by de
time Brer Tarrypin pass dat way.

"Enny how dey make de bet en put up de money,
en old Brer Tukky Buzzard, he wuz summonzd fer
ter be de jedge, en de stakeholder; en 'twan't long 'fo'
all de 'rangements wiiz made. De race wnz a five-mile
heat, en de groun' wuz medjud ofiF, en at de een' er
ev'ey mile a pos' wuz stuck up. Brer Rabbit wuz ter
run down de big road, en Brer Tarrypin, he say he'd
gallup thoo de woods. Fokes tole 'im he could git
long faster in de road, but ole Brer Tarrypin, he know
w'at he doin'. Miss Meadows en de gals en mos' all de
nabers got win' er de fun, en w'en de day wuz sot dey
'termin' fer ter be on han'. Brer Rabbit he train his-

90 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

se'f ev'ey day, en he skip over de groim' des ez gayly
ez a June cricket. Ole Brer Tarrypin, he lay low in de
swamp. He had a wife en th'ee chilluns, old Brer
Tarrypin did, en dey wuz all de ve'y spit en image er
de ole man. Ennybody w'at know one fum de udder
gotter take a spy-glass, en den dey er liT^le fer ter git
fooled.

"Dat's de way marters stan' twel de day er de
race, en on dat day, ole Brer Tarrypn, en his ole
'oman, en his th'ee chilluns, dey got up 'fo' sun-up, en
went ter de place. De ole 'oman, she tuck 'er stan'
nigh de fus' mile-pos', she did, en de chilluns nigh de
udders, up ter de las', en dar old Brer Tarrypin, he
tuck his Stan'. Bimeby, here come de fokes: Jedge
Buzzard, he come, en Miss Meadows en de gals, dey
come, en den yer come Brer Rabbit wid ribbons tied
'roun' his neck en streamin' fum his years. De fokes
all went ter de udder een' er de track fer ter see
how dey come out. Wen de time come Jedge Buz-
zard strut 'roun' en pull out his watch, en holler
out:

" 'Gents, is you ready?'

"Brer Rabbit, he say 'y^^,' en old Miss Tarrypin
holler 'go' fum de aidge er de woods. Brer Rabbit,
he lit out on de rate, en old Miss Tarrypin, she put
out for home. Jedge Buzzard, he riz en skimmed 'long
fer ter see dat de race wuz runned fa'r. Wen Brer
babbit got ter de fus' mile-pos' wunner de Tarrypin

MR. RABBIT FINDS HIS MATCH AT LAST

91

chilliins crawl out de woods, he did, en make fer de
place. Brer Rabbit, he holler out:
" *Whar is

you,
rypin

Brer Tar-

" *Yer I come
a bulgin',' sez
de Tarrypin,
sezee.

"Brer Rabbit
so glad he's
ahead dat he
put out harder
dan ever, en de
Tarrypin, he make fer home. Wen he come ter de
nex* pos', nudder Tarrypin crawl out er de woods.

"*Whar is you, Brer Tarrypin?' sez Brer Rabbity
sezee.

" 'Yer I come a bilinV sez de Tarrypin, sezee.

"Brer Rabbit, he lit out, he did, en come ter nex*
pos', en dar wuz de Tarrypin. Den he come ter nex',
en dar wuz de Tarrypin. Den he had one mo* mile
fer ter run, en he feel like he gittin' bellust. Bimeby,
ole Brer Tarrypin look way oflF down de road en he
see Jedge Buzzard sailin' 'long en he know hit's time
fer 'im fer ter be up. So he scramble outen de woods,
en roll 'cross de ditch, en shuffle thoo de crowd er
folks en git ter de mile-pos' en crawl behime it.

92

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

Bimeby, fus' news you know, yer come Brer Rabbit.
He look 'roiin' en he don't see Brer Tarrypin, en den
he squall out;

" 'Gimme de
money, Brer
Buzzard, Gimme
de moneyl'

"Den Miss
Meadows en de
gals, dey holler
and laflF fit ter
kill deyse'f, en
ole Brer Tarry-
pin, he raise up
"" ' fum behime de

pos' en sez, sezee:

"Ef youll gimme time fer ter ketch my brefF, gents
<en ladies, one en all, I speck 111 finger dat money
myse'f,' sezee, en sho nuflF, Brer Tarrypin tie de pu's
'roun' his neck en skaddle * oflF home."

"But, Uncle Remus," said the litde boy, dolefully,
"that was cheating."

*'Co'se, honey. De creeturs 'gun ter cheat, en den
fokes tuck it up, en hit keep on spreadin'. Hit mighty

* It may be interesting to note here that in all probability the
word "skedaddle," about which there was some controversy during
the war, came from tlie Virginia negro's use of "skaddle," which is
a corruption of "scatter." The matter, however, is hardly worth
referring to.

THE FATE OF MR. JACK SPARROW 93

ketchin', en you mine yo' eye, honey, dat somebody
don't cheat you 'f o' yo' ha'r git giay ez de ole nigger s."

XIX

THE FATE OF MR. JACK SPARROW

"You'll tromple on dat bark twel hit won''t be
fitten fer ter fling 'way, let 'lone make hoss-collars
out'n," said Uncle Remus, as the little boy came run-
ning into his cabin out of the rain. All over the floor
long strips of "wahoo" bark were spread, and these
the old man was weaving into horse-collars.

"I'll sit down. Uncle Remus," said the little boy.

''Well, den, you better, honey," responded the old
man, 'Tcaze I 'spizes fer ter have my wahoo trompled
on. Ef 'twuz shucks, now, hit mout be diffunt, but I'm
a gittin' too ole fer ter be projickin' longer shuck
collars."

For a few minutes the old man went on with his
work, but with a solemn air altogether unusual. Once
or twice he sighed deeply, and the sighs ended in a
prolonged groan, that seemed to the little boy to be
the result of the most unspeakable mental agony. He
knew by experience that he had done something
which failed to meet the approval of Uncle Remus,
and he tried to remember what it was, so as to frame
an excuse; but his memory failed him. He could think
of nothing he had done calculated to stir Uncle

94 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

Remus's grief. He was not exacdy seized with re-
morse, but he was very uneasy. Presently Uncle
Remus looked at him in a sad and hopeless way, and
asked:

"W'at dat long rigmarole you bin tellin' Miss Sally
*bout yo' little brer dis mawnin?"

"Which, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy,
blushing guiltily.

"Dat des w'at I'm a axin* un you now. I hear Miss
Sally say she's a gwineter stripe his jacket, en den I
knowed you bin tellin* on 'im."

"Well, Uncle Remus, he was pulling up your
onions, and then he went and flung a rock at me,**
said the child, plaintively.

"Lemme tell you dis," said the old man, laying
down the section of horse-collar he had been plaiting,
and looking hard at the little boy— "lemme tell you
dis— der ain't no way fer ter make tattlers en tail-
b'arers turn out good. No, dey ain't. I bin mixin'
up wid fokes now gwine on eighty year, en I ain't
seed no tattler come ter no good een'. Dat I ain't.
En ef ole man M'thoozlum wuz hvin' clean twel yit,
he'd up'n tell you de same. Sho ez youer settin' dar.
You 'member w'at 'come er de bird w'at went tattlin*
'romi' 'bout Brer Rabbit?"

The little boy didn't remember, but he was very
anxious to know, and he also wanted to know what
kind of a bird it was that so disgraced itself.

"Hit wuz wun-
ner dese yer uppity
little Jack Sparrers,
I speck," said the
old man; "dey wuz
allers boddern'
longer udder
fokes's bizness, en
dey keeps at it
down ter dis day—
peckin' yer, en
pickin' dar, en
scratchin' out yan-
der. One day, atter
he bin fool by ole
Brer Tarrypin, Brer
Rabbit wuz settin'
down in de woods
studdyin' how he
wuz gwineter git
even. He feel
jnighty lonesome,
an he feel mighty
mad, Brer Rabbit

96 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

did. Tain't put down in de tale, but I speck he cusst
en r'ar'd roun' considerbul. Leas'ways, he wuz settin'
out dar by hisse'f, en dar he sot, en study en study,
twel bimeby he jump up en holler out:

"'Well, dog-gone my cats ef I can't gallop *roun*
ole Brer Fox, en I'm gwineter do it. I'll show Miss
Meadows en de gals dat I'm de boss er Brer Fox/
sezec.

"Jack Sparrer up in de tree, he hear Brer Rabbit,
he did, en he sing out:

" I'm gwine tell Brer Fox! I'm gwine tell Brer Foxl
Chick-a-biddy-win'-a-blowin'-acuns-fallin'! I'm gwine
tell Brer Fox!'"

Uncle Remus accompanied the speech of the bird
with a peculiar whistling sound in his throat, that was
a marvelous imitation of a sparrow's chirp, and the
litde boy clapped his hands with delight, and insisted
on a repetition.

"Dis kinder tarrify Brer Rabbit, en he skasely know
w'at he gwine do; but bimeby he study ter hisse'f dat
de man w'at see Brer Fox fus wuz boun' ter have de
intum, en den he go hoppin' off to'rds home. He
didn't got fur w'en who should he meet but Brer Fox,
en den Brer Rabbit, he open up:

"'Wat dis twix' you en me. Brer Fox?' sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee. 'I hear tell you gwine ter sen' me ter
'struckshun, en nab my fambly, en 'stroy my shanty/
sezee.

THE FATE OF MR. JACK SPARROW

97

" 'Den Brer Fox he git mighty mad.

" 'Who bin teUin' you all dis?' sezee.

"Brer Rabbit make like he didn't want ter tell, but
Brer Fox he 'sist en 'sist, twel at las' Brer Rabbit he
up en tell Brer Fox dat he hear Jack Sparrer say
all dis.

"'Co'se/ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, w'en Brer Jack
Sparrer tell me dat I flew up, I did, en I use some
langwidge w'ich I'm mighty glad dey weren't no
ladies 'round' nowhars so dey could hear me go on/
sezee.

"Brer Fox he sorter gap, he did, en say he speck
he better be sa'nter'n on. But, bless yo' soul, honey.
Brer Fox ain't sa'nter fur, 'fo' Jack Sparrer flipp down
on a 'simmon-bush by de side er de road, en holler
out:

" 'Brer Fox! Oh, Brer Foxl-Brer Fox!'

"Brer Fox he
des sorter can-
ter 'long, he
did, en make
like he don't
hear 'im. Den ^
Jack Sparrer-*^
up'n sing out
agin:

" 'Brer Fox!
Oh, Brer Fox^

98 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

Hole on. Brer Foxl I got some news fer you. Wait
Brer Fox! Hitll 'stonish you/

"Brer Fox he make like he don't see Jack Sparrer,
aer needer do he hear 'im, but bimeby he lay down
by de road, en sorter stretch hisse'f like he fixin' fer
ter nap. De tattlin' Jack Sparrer he flew'd 'long, en
keep on callin' Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he ain't sayin
nuthin'. Den little Jack Sparrer, he hop down on de
groun' en flutter 'roun' 'mongst de trash. Dis sorter
'track Brer Fox 'tenshun, en he look at de tattlin'
bird, en de bird he keep on callin':

" 1 got sump'n fer ter tell you, Brer Fox.'

" 'Git on my tail, little Jack Sparrer,' sez Brer Fox,
sezee, Tcaze I'm de'f in one year, en I can't hear
out'n de udder. Git on my tail,' sezee.

"Den de little bird he up'n hop on Brer Fox's
tail.

" 'Git on my back, little Jack Sparrer, kaze I'm de'f
in one year en I can't hear out'n de udder.'

"Den de little bird hop on his back.

"'Hop on my head, little Jack Sparrer, kaze I'm
de'f in bofe years.'

"Up hop de little bird.

"'Hop on my toof, little Jack Sparrer, kaze I'm
de'f in one year en I can't hear out'n de udder.'

"De tattlin' httle bird hop on Brer Fox's toof, en
den—"

Here Uncle Remus paused, opened wide his moutii

HOW MR. RABBIT SAVED HIS MEAT 99

and closed it again in a way that told the whole
story.*

"Did the Fox eat the bird all— all— up?" asked the
little bov.

"Jedge B ar come long nex' day," replied Uncle
Remus, "en he fine some fedders, en fum dat word
went roun' dat ole man Squinch Owl done kotch nud-
der watzizname."

XX

U0V7 MR. RABBIT SAVED HIS MEAT

"One time," said Uncle Remus, whetting his knife
slowly and thoughtfully on the palm of his hand, and
gazing reflectively in the fire— "one time Brer
Wolf-"

"Why, Uncle Remus!" the little boy broke in, "I
thought you said the Rabbit scalded the Wolf to
death a long time ago."

The old man was fairly caught and he knew it;
but this made litde difference to him. A frown gath-

* An Atlanta friend heard this story in Florida, but an alli-
gator was substituted for the fox, and a little boy for the rabbit.
There is anotlier version in which the impertinent gosling goes to
tell the fox something her mother has said, and is caught; and
there may be other versions. I have adhered to the middle
Georgia version, which is characteristic enough. It may be well to
state that there are different versions of all the stories— the shrewd
narrators of the mythology of the old plantation adapting them*
selves with ready tact to the years, tastes, and expectations of their
iuvenile audiences

100 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

ered on liis usually serene brow as he turned his gaze
upon the child— a frown in which both scoiti and in>
dignation were visible. Then all at once he seemed
to regain control of himself. The frown was chased
away by a look of Christian resignation.

"Dar now! Wat I tell you?" he exclaimed as if ad-
dressing a witness concealed under tlie bed. "Ain't
I done tole you so? Bless grashus! ef chilluns ain't
gittin' so dey knows mo'n ole fokes, en dey'U spute
longer you en spute longer you, ceppin der ma call
am, w'ich I speck twon't be long 'fo* she will, en den
I'll set yere by de chimbly-cornder en git some peace
er mine. Wen ole Miss wuz livin'," continued the old
man, still addressing some imaginary person, "hit 'uz
mo'n enny her chilluns 'ud dast ter do ter come
'sputin' longer me, en Mars John'U tell you de same
enny day you ax 'im."

"Well, Uncle Remus, you know you said the Rab-
bit poured hot water on the Wolf and killed him,"
said the little boy.

The old man pretended not to hear. He was en-
gaged in searching among some scraps of leather
under his chair, and kept on talking to the imaginary
person. Finally, he found and drew forth a nicely
plaited whip-thong with a red snapper all waxed and
knotted.

"I wuz fixin' up a wi'p fer a little chap," he con-
tinued, with a sigh, "but, bless grashus I 'fo' I kin git

HOW MR. RABBIT SAVED HIS MEAT 101

er done, de little chap done grow'd up twel he know
mo'n I duz."

The child's eyes filled with tears and his lips be-
gan to quiver, but he said nothing; whereupon Uncle
Remus immediately melted.

"I 'clar' to goodness," he said, reaching out and
taking the little boy tenderly by the hand, "ef you
ain't de ve'y spit en image er ole Miss w'en I brung
'er de las' news er de war. Hit's des like skeerin' up
a ghos' w'at you ain't fear'd un."

Then diere was a pause, the old man patting the
little child's hand caressingly.

"You ain't mad, is you, honey?" Uncle Remus
asked finally, "kaze ef you is, I'm gwine out yere en
butt my head 'gin de do' jam'."

But the little boy wasn't mad. Uncle Remus had
conquered him and he had conquered Uncle Remus
in pretty much the same way before. But it was some
time before Uncle Remus would go on with tlie story.
He had to be coaxed. At last, however, he settled
himself back in the chair and began:

"Co'se, honey, hit mout er bin ole Brer Wolf, er hit
mout er bin er n'er Brer Wolf; it mout er bin 'fo' he
got kotch up wid, er it mout er bin atterwards. Ez
de tale wer gun to me des dat away I gin it unter
you. One time Brer Wolf wiiz comin' 'long home fum
a fishin' frolic. He s'anter 'long de road, he did, wid
his string er fish 'cross his shoulder, wen fus nev»s

102

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

you know ole Miss Pa'tridge, she liop outer de bushes
en flutter long right at Brer Wolf nose. Brer Woli
he say ter hisse'f dat ole Miss Pa'tridge tryin' fer ter
toll jm 'way ftim her nes', en wid dat he lay his fish
down en put out inter de bushes whar ole Miss
Pa'tridge come fum, en 'bout dat time Brer Rabbit,
he happen long. Dar wuz de fishes, en dar wuz
Brer Rabbit, en w'en dat de case w'at you speck
a sorter innerpen'ent man like Brer Rabbit gwine do?
I kin tell you dis, dat dem fishes ain't stay whar
Brer Wolf put um at, en w'en Brer Wolf come

back dey wuz gone.
"Brer Wolf, he sot
down en scratch his
head, he did, en
study en study, en
den hit sorter rush
inter his mine dat
Brer Rabbit bin long
dar, en den Brer
Wolf, he put out fer
Brer Rabbit house,
en w'en he git dar he
hail 'im. Brer Rabbit,
he dunno nuthin' tall
iDOut no fishes. Brer
Wolf he up'n sav he
bleedzd ter bleeve

HOW MR. RABBIT SAVED ffiS MEAT 103

Brer Rabbit got dem fishes. Brer Rabbit 'ny it up
en down, but Brer Wolf stan' to it dat Brer Rabbit
got dem fishes. Brer Rabbit, he say dat if Brer Wolf
bleeve he got de fishes, den he give Brer Wolf lief
fer ter kill ds bes' cow he got. Brer Wolf, he tuck
Brer Rabbit at his word, en go oflF ter de pastur' en
drive up de cattle en kill Brer Rabbit bes' cow.

"Brer Rabbit, he hate mighty bad fer ter lose his
cow, but he lay nis plans, en he tell his chilluns dat
he gwineter have dat beef yit. Brer Wolf, he bin tuck
up by de patter-rollers 'fo' now, en he mighty skeerd
un um, en fus news you know, yer come Brer Rabbit
hoUerin' en tellin' Brer Wolf dat de patter-rollers
comin'.

"'You run en hide. Brer Wolf,* sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee, 'en I'll stay yer en take keer er de cow twel
you gits back,' sezee.

"Soon's Brer Wolf hear talk er de patter-rollers,
he scramble off inter de underbrush like he bin shot
out'n a gun. En he want mo'n gone 'fo' Brer Rabbit,
he whirl in en skunt de cow en salt de hide down, en
den he tuck'n cut up de kyarkiss en stow it 'way in
de smoke-'ouse, en den he tuck'n stick de een' er de
cow-tail in de groun'. Atter he gone en done all dis,
den Brer Rabbit he squall out fer Brer WoK;

" 'Run yer. Brer Wolf 1 Run yerl Yo' ccw gwine in,
de groun'I Run yerl'

104 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"Wen ole Brer Wolf got dar, w'ich he come er
scootin', dar wnaz Brer Rabbit hol'm' on ter de cow-
tail, fer ter keep it fum gwine in de groun'. Brer
Wolf, he kotch holt, en dey 'gin a pull er two en up
come de tail. Den Brer Rabbit, he wink 'lis ojff eye en
say, sezee:

" 'Dar! de tail done pull out en de cow gone,' sezee.

"But Brer Wolf he wer'n't de n^an fer ter give it
up dat away, en he got 'im a spade, ^n a pick-axe, en
a shovel, en he dig en dig fer dat cow twel diggin
wuz pas' all endu'unce, en ole Brer Rabbit he sot up
dar in his front po'ch en smoke his seegyar. Eve'y
time ole Brer Wolf stuck de pick-axe in de clay, Brer
Rabbit, he giggle ter his chilluns:

*"He diggy, diggy, diggy, but no meat dar! He

^^§§7' ^^§§7' ^^SSY' ^^^ ^^ meat dar!'

"Kase all de time de cow wuz layin' pile up in his
smoke-'ouse, en him en his chilluns wuz eatin' fried
beef an inguns eve'y time dey mouf water.

"Now den, honey, you take dis yer w'ip," con-
tinued the old man, twining the leather thong around
the little boy's neck, "en scamper up ter de big 'ous<
en tell Miss Sally fer ter gin y9u some un it de nex
time she fine yo' tracks in de sugar-bairl/*

MR. RABBIT MEETS HIS MATCH AGAIN 105

XXI
MR. RABBIT MEETS HIS MATCH AGAIN

"Dere wuz nudder man dat sorter play it sharp on
Brer Rabbit," said Uncle Remus, as, by some mysteri-
ous process, lie twisted a liog's bristle into the end of
a piece of thread— an operation which the little boy
watched with great interest. "In dem days," con-
tinued the old man, "de creeturs kyar'd on marters
same ez fokes. Dey went inter fahmin', en I speck ef
de troof wuz ter come out, dey kep' sto', en had dev
camp-meetin' times en der bobbycues' w'en de wed-
der wuz 'greeble."

Uncle Remus evidently thought that the little boy
wouldn't like to hear of any further discomfiture of
Brer Rabbit, who had come to be a sort of hero, and
he was not mistaken.

"I thought the Terrapin was the only one that
fooled the Rabbit," said tlie little boy, dismally.

"Hit's des like I tell you, honey. Dey ain't no
smart man, 'cep' w'at dey's a smarter. Ef ole Brer
Rabbit hadn't er got kotch up wid, de nabers 'ud er
took 'im for a h'ant, en in dem times dey bu'nt
witches 'fo' you could squinch yo* eyeballs. Dey did
dat."

"Who fooled the Rabbit this time?" the httle boy
asked.

xoe

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

When Uncle Remus had the bristle "sot" in the
thread, he proceeded with the story:

"One time Brer Rabbit en ole Brer Buzzard 'eluded
dey'd sorter go snacks, en crap tergedder. Hit wuz a

f^X=a^*i

l^';M

mighty good year, en de truck tu n out monstus well,
but bimeby, w'en de time come fer dividjun, hit
come ter light dat ole Brer Buzzard ain't got nuthin*.
De crap wuz all gone, en dey want nuthin' dar fer
ter show fer it. Brer Rabbit, he make like he in a wuss
fix'n Brer Buzzard, en he mope 'roun', he did, like ho
fear'd dey gwineter sell 'im out.

"Brer Buzzard, he ain't sayin' nuthin', but he keep
Up a monstus thinkin'^ en one day he come 'long en

MR. RABBIT MEETS HIS MATCH AGAIN l.OT

holler en tell Brer Rabbit dat he done fine rich gole-
mine des 'cross de river.

"'You come en go 'longer me, Brer Rabbit/ sez
Brer Tukky Buzzard, sezee. Ill scratch en you kin
grabble, en 'tween de two un us we'll make short
wuk er dat gole-mine,' sezee.

"Brer Rabbit, he wuz high up fer de job, but he
study en study, he did, how he gwinter git 'cross de
water, kaze ev'y time he git his foot wet all de fambly
kotch cole. Den he up'n ax Brer Buzzard how he
gwine do, en Brer Buzzard he up'n say dat he kyar
Brer Rabbit 'cross, en wid dat ole Brer Buzzard, he
squot down, he did, en spread his wings, en Brer
Rabbit, he mounted, en up dey riz." There was a
pause.

"What did the Buzzard do then?" asked the little
boy.

"Dey riz," continued Uncle Remus, "en w'en dey
lit, dey lit in de top er de highest sorter pine, en de
pine w'at dey lit in wuz growin' on er ilun, en de ilun
wuz in de middle er de river, wid de deep water
runnin' all 'roun'. Dey ain't mo'n lit 'fo' Brer Rabbit,
he know w'ich way de win' 'uz blowin', en by de time
ole Brer Buzzard got hisse'f ballunce on a lim'. Brer
Rabbit, he up'n say, sezee:

" 'Wiles we er res'n here, Brer Buzzard, en bein's
you bin so good, I got sump'n fer ter tell you,' sezee.
*I got a gole-mine er my own, one w'at I make my

108

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

se'f, en I speck we better go back ter mine 'fo' we

bodder longer yone/ sezee.
"Den ole Brer Buzzard, he laflF, he did, twel he

.shake, en Brer Rabbit, he sing out:

"Hole on, Brer Buzzard! Don't flop yo' wings w'en

you laflF, kaze den if you
duz, sump'n 'ill drap f um
up yer, en my gole-mine
won't do you no good,
K;en needer will yone do
me no good/

"But 'fo' dey got
down fum dar, Brer
Rabbit done tole all
'bout de crap, en he
hatter promus fer ter
Vide fa'r en squar. So
Brer Buzzard, he kyar

'im back, en Brer Rabbit he walk weak in de knees a

mont' atterwuds."

xxn

A STORY ABOUT THE LITTLE RABBITS

"Fine imi whar you will en w'en you may,'* re-
marked Uncle Remus with emphasis, "good chilluns
allers gits tuck keer on. Dar wuz Brer Rabbit's chil-
luns; dey minded der daddy en mammy fum day's een*

A STORY ABOUT THE UTTLE RABBITS 109

ter day's een'. Wen ole man Rabbit say 'scoot,' dey
scooted, en w'en ole Miss Rabbit say 'scat,' dey
scatted. Dey did dat. En dey kep der cloze clean,
en dey ain't had no smut on der nose nudder."

Involuntarily tlie hand of the little boy went up to
his face, and he scrubbed the end of his nose with his
coat-sleeve.

"Dey wuz good chilluns," continued the old man,
heartily, "en ef dey hadn't er bin, der wuz one time
w'en dey wouldn't er bin no little rabbits— na'er one.
Dat's w'at."

"What time was tliat. Uncle Remus?" the little boy
asked.

"De time w'en Brer Fox drapt in at Brer Rabbit
house, en didn't foun' nobody dar ceppin' de little
Rabbits. Ole Brer Rabbit, he wuz oflF some'rs raiding
on a coUard patch, en ole Miss Rabbit she wuz tendin'
on a quiltin' in de naberhood, en vnles de little Rab-
bits wuz playin' hidin'-switch, in drapt Brer Fox.
De little Rabbits wuz so fat dat dey fa'rly make his
mouf water, but he 'member 'bout Brer Wolf, en he
skeered fer ter gobble um up ceppin' he got some
skuse. De little Rabbits, dey mighty skittish, en dey
sorter huddle deyse'f up tergedder en watch Brer
Fox motions. Brer Fox, he sot dar en study w'at
sorter skuse he gwineter make up. Bimeby he see a
great big stalk er sugar-cane stan'in' up in de comder,
en he cle'r up his th'oat en talk biggit)".

110

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

" Terl you young Rabs dar, sail 'roun' yer en broke

me a piece er dat sweetnin'-tree/ sezee, en den he koff.

"De little Rabbits, dey got out de sugar-cane, dey

did, en dey rastle wid it, en sweat over it, but twan't

no use. Dey
couldn't broke
it. Brer Fox, he
make like he
ain't watchin^,
but he keep on
holler n :

" 'Hurry up
dar, Rabs! Im a
waitin' on you.*
"En de little
Rabbits, dey
hustle roim' en rastle wid it, but they couldn't broke
it. Bimeby dey hear little bird singin' on top er de
house, en de song w'at de little bii'd sing wuz dish
yer:

" 'Take yo' toofies en gnyaw it.
Take yo' toofies en saw it,
Saw it en yoke it,
En den you kin broke it.'

"Den de little Rabbits, dey git mighty glad, en
dey gnyawed de cane mos' 'fo' 'ole Brer Fox could git
his legs oncrosst, en w'en dey kyard 'im de cane. Brer
Fox, he sot dar en study how he gwineter make some

A STORY ABOUT THE LITTLE RABBITS

111

mo' skuse fer nabbin* un urn, en bimeby he git up en
git down de sifter w'at Wuz hangin' on de wall, en
holler out:

"'Come yer, Rabsl Take dish yer sifter, en run
down't de spring en fetch me some fresh water/

"De little Rabbits, dey run down't de spring, en
try ter dip up de water wid de sifter, but co'se hit all
run out, en hit keep on runnin' out, twell bimeby de
little Rabbits sot down en 'gun ter cry. Den de little

bird settin' up in de tree he begin fer ter sing, en dish
yer s de song w'at he sing:

"'Sifter hole water same ez a tray,

Ef you fill it wid moss en dob it wid clay;
De Fox git madder de longer you stay—
FiU it wid moss en dob it wid clay/

"Up dey jump, de little Rabbits did, en dey fix de
sifter so 'twon't leak, en den dev kvar de water ter ole

112 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

Brer Fox. Den Brer Fox he git mighty mad, en p'int
out a great big stick er wood, en tell de little Rabbits
fer ter put dat on de fier. De little chaps dey got
'roun' de wood, dey did, en dey lif' at it so hard twel
dey could see der own sins, but de wood ain't budge.
Den dey hear de litde biid singin', en dish yer*s de
song w'at he sing:

"'Spit in yo' han's en tug it en toll it.
En git behine it, en push it, en pole it;
Spit in yo' ban's en r ar back en roll it/

"En des 'bout de time dey got de wood on de fier,
der daddy, he come skippin' in, en de little bird, he
flew'd away. Brer Fox, he seed his game wuz up, en
"twan't long 'fo' he make his skuse en start fer ter go.

"'You better stay en take a snack wid me. Brer
Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. "Sence Brer Wolf done
quite comin' en settin' up wid me, I gittin' so I feels
right lonesome dese long nights,' sezee.

"But Brer Fox, he button up his coat-collar tight
en des put out fer home. En dat w'at you better do,
honey, kaze I see Miss Sally's shadder sailin' backerds
en for'ds 'fo' de winder, en de fus' news you know
she'll be spectin' un you."

MR. RABBIT AND MR. BEAR 113

xxm

MR. RABBIT AND MR. BEAR

"Dar wuz one season," said Uncle Remus, pulling
thoughtfully at his whiskers, "w'en Brer Fox say to
hisse'f dat he speck he better whirl in en plant a
goober-patch, en in dem days, mon, hit wuz tech en
go. De wud wern't mo n out'n his mouf 'fo' de groun'
*uz brok'd up en de goobers 'uz planted. Ole Brei:
Rabbit, he sot off en watch de motions, he did, en
he sorter shet one eye en sing to his chilluns:

" *Ti-yi! Tungaleel

I eat um pea, I pick um pea.

Hit grow in de groun', hit grow so free;

Ti-yi! dem goober pea.'

^Sho' nuff w'en de goobers *gun ter ripen up, eve'y
time Brer Fox go down ter his patch, he fine whar
somebody bin grabblin' *mongst de vines, en he gil
mighty mad. He sorter speck who de somebody is,
but ole Brer Rabbit he cover his tracks so cute dat
Brer Fox dunner how ter ketch 'im. Bimeby, one day
Brer Fox take a walk all roun' de groun-pea patch,
en 'twan't long 'fo' he fine a crack in de fence whar
de rail done bin rub right smoove, en right dar he
sot 'im a trap. He tuck n ben down a hick'ry saplin*.

114

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

growin' in de fence-cornder, en tie one een' un a
plow-line on de top, en in de udder een' he fix a
loop-knot, en dat he fasten wid a trigger right in de
crack. Nex' mawnin' w'en ole Brer Rabbit come sHp-
pin' 'long en crope thoo de crack, de loop-knot kotch

im behime de fo'legs, en de saplin' flew'd up, en dai
he wuz 'twix' de heavens en de yeth. Dar he swung,
en he fear d he gwineter fall, en he fear'd he wer'n't
gwineter fall Wile he wuz a fixin' up a tale f er Brer

MR. RABBIT AND MR. BEAR 115

Fox, he hear a lumberin' down de road, en present y
yer cum ole Brer B'ar amblin' 'long fum whar he bin
takin' a bee-tree. Brer Rabbit, he hail 'im:

" 'Howdy, Brer B'arl'

"Brer Ba r, he look roun en bimeby he see Brer
Rabbit s win gin' fum de saplin', en he holler out:

"'Heyo, Brer Rabbitl How you come on dis
mawnin'?'

"'Much oblije, I'm middlin'. Brer B'ar/ sez Brer
Rabbit, sezee.

"Den Brer B'ar, he ax Brer Rabbit w'at he doin'
up dar in de elements, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n say he
makin' dollar minnit. Brer B'ar, he say how. Brer
Rabbit say he keepin' crows out'n Brer Fox's groun'-
pea patch, en den he ax Brer B'ar ef he don't wanter
make dollar minnit, kaze he got big fambly er chil-
luns fer to take keer un, en den he make sech nice
skeercrow. Brer B'ar 'low dat he take de job, en den
3rer Rabbit show 'im how ter ben' down de saplin', en
""twan't long 'fo' Brer B'ar wuz swingin' up dar in
Brer Rabbit place. Den Brer Rabbit, he put out fei
Brer Fox house, en w'en he got dar he sing out:

" 'Brer Fox! Oh, Brer Foxl Come out yer. Brer Fox,
en I'll show you de man w'at bin stealin' yo' goobers.'

"Brer Fox, he grab up his walkin'-stick, en bofe
un um went runnin' back down ter der goober-patch,
en w'en dey got dar^ she 'nuff, dar wuz ole Brer B'ar.

116

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

** *0h, yesi youer kotch, is you?' sez Brer Fox, en
'fo' Brer B'ar could 'splain. Brer Rabbit he jump up
en down, en holler out:

"'Hit 'im in de mouf, Brer Fox; hit 'im in de
mouf'; en Brer Fox, he draw back wid de walkin'-
cane, en blip he ^uck 'ini, en eve'y time Brer B'ar*d
try ter 'splain. Brer Fox'd shower down on him.

"Wiles all dis uz gwine on. Brer Rabbit, he slip
ofi en git in a mud -hole en des lef his eyes stickin*
out, kaze he know'd dat Brer B'ar'd be a comin' atter

MR. BEAR CATCHES OLD MR. BULL-FROG 117

'im. she 'nuff, bimeby here come Brer B'ar down de
road, en w'en he git ter de mud-hole, he say:

" 'Howdy, Brer Frog; is you seed Brer Rabbit go
by yer?'

" 'He des gone by,' sez Brer Rabbit, en ole man
B'ar tuck oflF down de road hke a skeer d mule, en
Brer Rabbit, he come out en diy hisse'f in de sun, en
go home ter his fambly same ez enny udder man."

"The Bear didn't catch the Rabbit, tlien?" inquired
the little boy, sleepily.

"Jump up fum dar, honey!" exclaimed Uncle
Remus, by way of reply. "I ain't got no time fer ter
be settin' yer proppin' yo' eyeleds open."

XXIV
MR. BEAR CATCHES OLD MR. BULL-FROG

*'Well, Uncle Remus," said the little boy, count-
ing to see if he hadn't lost a marble somewhere, "the
Bear didn't catch the Rabbit after all, did he?"

"Now you talkin', honey," replied the old man, his
earnest face breaking up into little eddies of smiles
—"now you talkin' sho. 'Taiii't bin proned inter no
Brer B'ar fer ter kotch Brer Rabbit. Hit sorter like
settin' a mule fer ter trap a hummin'-bird. But Brer
B'ar, he tuck'n got hisse'f inter some mo' trubble,
w'ich it look like it mighty easy. Ef folks could make
der hviii' longer gittin' inter trubble," continued the

118

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

old man, lookmg curiously at the little boy, "ole Miss
Favers wouldn't be bodder n yo' ma fer ter borry a
cup full er sugar eve y now en den; en it look like ter

me dat I knows
^p a nigger dat

wouldn't be
squattin' 'roun'
yer makin' dese
yer fish-baskits/'
"How did the
;Bear get into
more trouble.
Uncle Remus?'*
asked the litde
boy.

*'Natchul,
honey. Brer B'ar,
he tuck a notion
dat ole Brer
Bull-frog wuz de
man w'at fool
'im, en he say dat he'd come up wid 'im ef 'twuz a
year atterwuds. But 'twan't no year, an 'twan't no
mont', en mo'n dat, hit wan't skasely a week, w'en
bimeby one day Brer B'ar wuz gwine home fum de
takin' un a bee-tree, en lo en beholes, who should
he see but ole Brer Bull-frog settin' out on de aidge
^r de mud-muddle fas' 'sleepl Brer B'ar drap his axe.

MR. BEAR CATCHES OLD MR. BULL-FROG 119

he did, en crope up, en retch out wid his paw, en
scoop ole Brer Bull-frog in des dis away." Here the
old man used his hand ladle-fashion, by way of illus-
tration. "He scoop 'im in, en dar he wuz. Wen Brer
B'ar got his clampers on 'im good, he sot down en
talk at 'im.

"'Howdy, Brer Bull-frog, howdyl En how yo'
fambly? I hope deyer well, Brer Bull-frog, kaze dis
day you got some bizness wid me w'at'll las' you a
mighty long time.'

"Brer Bull-frog, he dunner w'at ter say. He dunner
wat's up, en he don't say nuthin'. Ole Brer B'ar he
keep runnin' on:

"*Youer de man w'at tuck en fool me 'bout Brer
Rabbit t'er day. You had yo' fun. Brer Bull-frog, en
now I'll git mine.'

"Den Brer Bull-frog, he gin ter git skeerd, he did,
en he up'n say:

"Wat I bin doin'. Brer B'ar? How I bin foolin'
you?'

"Den Brer B'ar laff, en make like he dunno, but
he keep on talkin'.

"*Oh, no. Brer Bull-frog! You ain't de man w'at
stick yo' head up out'n de water en tell me Brer Rab-
bit done gone on by. Oh, nol you ain't de man. I
boun' you ain't. 'Bout dat time, you wuz at home
with yo' fambly, whar you allers is. I dunner what"
you wuz, but I knows whar you is, Brer Bull-frog, en

120 LEGENDS OF THE OUD PLANTATION

hit's you en me fer it. Atter de sun goes down dis
day you don't fool no mo' folks gwine 'long dis road.'

*'Co'se, Brer Bull-frog dunner w'at Brer Bar drivin'
at, but he know sump'n hatter be done, en dat mighty
soon, kaze Brer B'ar 'gun to snap his jaws tergedder
en foam at de mouf, en Brer Bull-frog holler out:

"'Oh, pray. Brer B'arl Lemme off dis time, en I
won't never do so no mo'. Oh, pray. Brer B arl do
lemme off dis time, en I'll show you de fattes' bee-
tree in de woods.'

"Ole Brer B'ar, he chomp his toofies en foam at
de mouf. Brer Bull-frog he des up'n squall:

*' 'Oh, pray. Brer B'arl I won't never do so no mo'I
Oh, pray. Brer B'ar! Lemme off dis time!'

"But ole Brer B'ar say he gwineter make way wid
'im, en den he sot en study, ole Brer B'ar did, how he
gwineter squench Brer Bull-frog. He know he can't
drown 'im, en he ain't got no fier fer ter bu'n 'im, en
he git mighty pestered. Bimeby ole Brer Bull-frog,
he sorter stop his cryin' en his boo-hooin', en he up n
say:

" *Ef you gwineter kill me. Brer B'ar, kyar me ter
dat big flat rock out dar on de aidge er de mill-pon',
whar I kin see my fambly, en atter I see um, den you
kin take you axe en sqush me.'

"Dis look so fa'r and squar' dat Brer B'ar he 'gree,
en he take ole Brer Bull-frog by wunner his behime
legs, en sling his axe on his shouder, en off he put fer

MR. BEAR CATCHES OLD MR. BULL-FROG

121

de big flat rock. When he git dar he lay Brer Bull-
frog down on de rock, en Brer Bull-frog make like he
lookin' 'roun' fer his folks. Den Brer B'ar, he draw
long breff en pick up his axe. Den he spit in his
ban's en draw back en come down on de rock— powl"

"Did he kill the Frog, Uncle Remus?" asked the
little boy, as the old man paused to scoop up a
thimbleful of glowing embers in his pipe.

"'Deed, en dat he didn't, honey. 'Twix* de time
w'en Brer B'ar raise up wid his axe en w'en he come

down wid it, ole Brer Bull-frog he lipt up en dove
down in de mill-pon', kerblink-kerblunki En w'en he
riz way out in de pon' he riz a singin', en dish yer's de
song w'at he sing:

" Ingle-go-jang, my joy, my joy-
Ingle-go-jang, my joy!
I'm right at home, my joy, my joy—
Ingle-go-jang, my joyl' "

122 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"That's a mighty funny song," said the little boy.

"Funny now, I speck/* said the old man, "buV
'twem't funny in dem days, en 'twouldn't be funny
now ef folks know'd much TDOut de Bull-frog lang-
widge ez dey useter. Dat's w'at."

XXV

HOW MR. RABBIT LOST HIS FINE BUSHY TAIL

"One time," said Uncle Remus, sighing heavily
and settling himself back in his seat with an air of
melancholy resignation— "one time Brer Rabbit wuz
gwine 'long down de road shakin' his big bushy tail,
en feelin' des ez scrumpshus ez a bee-martin wid a
fresh bug." Here the old man paused and glanced at
the litde boy, but it was evident that the 3'oungster
had become so accustomed to the marvelous develop-
ments of Uncle Remus's stories, that the extraordi-
nary statement made no unusual impression upon
him. Therefore the old man began again, and this
time in a louder and more insinuating tone:

"One time ole man Rabbit, he wuz gwine 'long
down de road shakin* his long, bushy tail, en feelin'
mighty biggity."

This was effective.

"Great goodness, Uncle Remusl" exclaimed the
little boy in open-eyed wonder, "everybody knows
that rabbits haven't got long, bushy tails."

HOW MR. RABBIT LOST HIS FINE BUSHY TAIL 123

The old man shifted his position in his chair and
allowed his venerable head to drop forward until his
whole appearance was suggestive of the deepest de-
jection; and this was intensified by a groan that
seemed to be the result
of great mental agony.
Finally he spoke, but not
as addressing himself to
the little boy.

"I notices dat dem f okes
w'at makes a great 'mira-
tion 'bout w'at dey knows
is des de fokes w'ich you
can't put no 'pennunce in
w'en de 'cashun come
up. Yer one un um now,
en he done come en ex-
cuse me er lowin dat
rabbits is got long, bushy
tails, w'ich goodness

knows ef I'd a dremp' it, I'd a whirl in en on dremp
it."

**Well, but Uncle Remus, you said rabbits had
long, bushy tails," rephed the htde boy. "Now you
know you did."

"Ef I ain't fergit it oflF'n my mine, I say dat ole
Brer Rabbit wuz gwine down de big road shakin*
his long, bushy tail. Dat w'at I say, en dat I Stan's by."

124

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

The little boy looked puzzled, but he didn't say
anything. After a while the old man continued:

"Now, den, ef dat's 'greed ter, I'm gwine on, en
ef tain't 'greed ter, den I'm gwineter pick up my cane

HOW MH. RABBIT LOST HIS FINE BUSHY TAIL 12S

en look atter my own intrust. I got wuk lyin' 'roun'
yer dat's des natally gittin' moldy."

The little boy still remained quiet, and Uncle Re-
mus proceeded;

"One day Brer Rabbit wuz gwine down de road
shakin' his long, bushy tail, w'en who should he strike
up wid but ole Brer Fox gwine amblin' long wid a
big string er fishl W'en dey pass de time er day wid
wunner nudder. Brer Rabbit, he open up de con-
fab, he did, en he ax Brer Fox whar he git dat nice
string er fish, en Brer Fox, he upn 'spon* dat he
katch um, en Brer Rabbit, he say whar'bouts, en Brer
Fox, he say down at de babtizin' creek, en Brer Rab-
bit he ax how, kaze in dem days dey wuz monstus
fon' er minners, en Brer Fox, he sot down on a log,
he did, en he up'n tell Brer Rabbit dat all he gotter
do fer ter git er big mess er minners is ter go ter
de creek atter sun down, en drap his tail in de water
en set dar twel day-light, en den draw up a whole
armful er fishes, en dem w*at he don't want, he kin
fling back. Right dar's whar Brer Rabbit drap his
watermillion, kaze he tuck'n sot out dat night en
went a fishin*. De wedder wuz sorter cole, en Brer
Rabbit, he got 'im a bottle er dram en put out fer
de creek, en w'en he git dar he pick out a good place,
en he sorter squot down, he did, en let his tail hang
in de water. He sot dar, en he sot dar, en he drunk
his dram, en he think he gwineter freeze, but bimeby

126 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

day come, en dar he wuz. He make a pull, en he feel
like he comin' in two, en he fetch nudder jerk, en lo
en beholes, whar wuz his tail?"

There was a long pause.

"Did it come off. Uncle Remus?" asked the little
boy, presently.

"She did dati" replied the old man with unction.
"She did dat, and dat w'at make all deze yer bob-tail
rabbits w'at you see hoppin' en skaddlin' thoo de
woods."

"Are they all that way just because the old Rabbit
lost his tail in the creek?" asked the little boy.

"Dat's it, honey," replied the old man. "Dat's w'at
dey tells me. Look like dey er bleedzd ter take attei
der pa."

XXVI

MR. TERRAPIN SHOWS HIS STRENGTH

"Brer Tarrypin wuz de out'nes' man," said Uncle
Remus, rubbing his hands together contemplatively,
and chuckling to himself in a very significant manner;
"he wuz de out nes' man er de whole gang. He vmz
dat."

The httle boy sat perfectly quiet, betraying no im-
patience when Uncle Remus paused to hunt, first in
one pocket and then in another, for enough crumbs

MR. TERRAPIN SHOWS HIS STRENGTH

127

of tobacco to replenish his pipe. Presently the old
man proceeded:

"One night Miss Meadows en de gals dey gun a
candy-puUin', en so many er de nabers come in
*sponse ter de invite dat dey hatter put de 'lasses in
de wash pot en b'il' de fier in de yard. Brer B'ar,
he hope * Miss Meadows bring de wood. Brer Fox,

he men' de fier, Brer Wolf, he kep' de dogs oflF, Brer
Rabbit, he grease de bottom er de plates fer ter keep

" Holp; helped.

128 LEGENDS OF THE OUD PLANTATION

de candy fiim stickin', en Brer Tarrypin, he klum up
in a cheer, en say he'd watch en see dat de lasses
didn't bile over. Dey wuz all dere, en dey wem't
cuttin' up no didos, nudder, kaze Miss Meadows, she
done put her foot down, she did, en say dat w'en
dey come ter her place dey hatter hang up a flag
er truce at de front gate en 'bide by it.

"\Vell, den, w'iles dey wuz all a settin' dar en de
lasses wuz a bilin' en a blubberin', dey got ter runnin*
on talkin' mighty biggity. Brer Rabbit, he say he de
swiffes'; but Brer TaiTypin, he rock 'long in de cheer
en watch de 'lasses. Brer Fox, he say he de sharpes',
but Brer Tarrypin he rock 'long. Brer Wolf, he say
he de mos' suwigus, but Brer Tarrypin, he rock en he
rock 'long. Brer B'ar, he say he de mos' stronges', but
Brer Tarrypin he rock, en he keep on rockin'. Bimeby
he sorter shet one eye, en say, sezee:

" 'Hit look like 'periently dat de ole hardshell ain't
nowhars 'longside er dis crowd, yit yer I is, en I'm de
same man w'at show Brer Rabbit dat he ain't de
swiffes'; en I'm de same man w'at kin show Brer B'ar
dat he ain't de stronges',' sezee.

"Den dey all laff en holler, kaze it look like Brer
B'ar mo' stronger dan a steer. Bimeby, Miss Mead-
ows, she up'n ax, she did, how he gwine do it.

"'Gimme a good strong rope,' sez Brer Tarrypin,
sezee, *en lemme git in er puddle er water, en den
let Brer B'ar see ef he kin pull me out,' sezee.

MR. TERRAPIN SHOWS HIS STRENGTH 129

"Den dey all laflF g'in, en Brer B ar, lie ups en sez,
sezee: *We ain't got no rope,' sezee.

" 'No/ sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'en needer is you
got de strenk,' sezee, en den Brer Tarrypin, he rock
en rock 'long, en watch de 'lasses a bilin' en a
blubberin'.

"Atter w'ile Miss Meadows, she up en say, she did,
dat she'd take'n loan de young men her bed-cord, en
w'iles de candy wuz a coolin' in de plates, dey could
all go ter de branch en see Brer Tarrypin kyar out his
projick. Brer Tarrypin," continued Uncle Remus, in
a tone at once confidential and argumentative,
"wem't much bigger'n de pa'm er my han', en it look
mighty funny fer ter year 'im braggin' 'bout how he
kin out-pull Brer B'ar. But dey got de bed-cord atter
w'ile, en den dey all put out ter de branch. Wen
Brer Tarrypin fine de place he wanter, he tuck one
een' er de bed-cord, en gun de yuther een' to Brer
B'ar.

"'Now den, ladies en gents,' sez Brer Tarrypin,
sezee, 'you all go wid Brer B'ar up dar in de woods
en 111 stay yer, en w'en you year me holler, den's de
time fer Brer B'ar fer ter see ef he kin haul in de
slack er de rope. You all take keer er dat ar een'/
sezee, 'en I'll take keer er dish yer een*/ sezee.

"Den dey all put out en lef Brer Tarrypin at de
branch, en w'en dey got good en gone, he dove
down inter de water, he did. en tie de bed-cord hard

130

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

en fas' ter wunner deze yer big clay-roots, en den he
riz up en gin a whoop.

"Brer Bar he wrop de bed-cord roim' his han,' en

wink at de gals, en wid dat he gin a big juk, but Brer
Tanypin ain't budge. Den he take bof ban's en gin
a big pull, but, all de same. Brer Tarrypin ain't budge.
Den he tu'n 'roun', he did, en put de rope cross his
.shoulders en try ter walk oflF wid Brer Tarrypin, but
Brer Tarrypin look like he don't feel like walkin'.
Den Brer Wolf he put in en hope Brer B'ar pull, but
des like he didn't, en den dey all hope 'im, en, bless
grashus! w'iles dey wuz all a pullin'. Brer Tarrypin,
he holler, en ax um w'y dey don't take up de slack.

"WHY MR. POSSUM HAS NO HAIR ON HIS TAIL 131

Den w'en Brer Tarrypin feel um quit pullin', he dove
down, he did, en ontie de rope, en by de time dey got
ter de branch. Brer Tarrypin, he wuz settin' in de
aidge er de water des ez natchul ez de nex' un, en he
up'n say, sezee:

" 'Dat las' puU er yone wuz a mighty stiff im, en a
leetle mo'n you'd er had me,* sezee. 'Youer monstus
stout. Brer B'ar,' sezee, 'en you pulls like a yoke er
steers, but I sorter had de purchis on you,' sezee.

"Den Brer B'ar, bein's his mouf 'gun ter water
atter de sweetnin/ he up'n say he speck de candy's
ripe, en off dey put atter itl"

"It's a wonder," said the little boy, after a while,
"that the rope didn't break."

"Break who?" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a
touch of indignation in his tone— 'Ibreak who? In dem
days, Miss Meadows's bed-cord would a hilt a mule."

This put an end to whatever doubts the child might
have entertained.

xxvn

WHY MR. POSSUM HAS NO HAIR ON HIS TAIL

"Hit look like ter me," said Uncle Remus, frown-
ing, as the little boy came hopping and skipping into
the old man's cabin, "dat I see a young un 'bout yo*
size playin' en makin' free wid dem ar chilluns er ole
Miss Favers's yistiddy, en w'en I seed dat, I drap my

132 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

axe, en I come in yer en sot flat down right what
youer settin' now, en I say ter myse'f dat it's T^out
time fer ole Remus fer ter hang up en quit. Dats
des zackly w'at I say."

**Well, Uncle Remus, they called me," said the little
boy, in a penitent tone. "They come and called me,
and said they had a pistol and some powder over
there."

"Dar nowl" exclaimed the old man, indignantly.
"Dar nowl w'at I bin sayin'? Hit's des a bom bless-
in' dat you wa'n't brung home on a litter wid bofe
eyeballs hangin' out en one year clean gone; dat's
w'at 'tis. Hit's des a born blessin'. Hit hope me up
might'ly de udder day w'en I hear Miss Sally layin*
down de law 'bout you en dem Favers chillun, yit, lo
en beholes, de fus news I knows yer you is han'-in-
glove wid um. Hit's nuff fer ter fetch ole Miss right
up out'n dat berryin'-groun' fum down dar in Putmon
County, en w'at yo' gram'ma wouldn't er stood me en
yo' ma ain't gwineter stan' nudder, en de nex time I
hear 'bout sech a come off ez dis, right den en dar
I'm boun' ter lay de case 'fo' Miss Sally. Dem Favers's
wa'n't no 'count 'fo' de war, en dey wa'n't no 'count
endurin' er de war, en dey ain't no 'count atterwards,
en w'iles my head's hot you ain't gwineter go mixin'
up yo'se'f wid de riff-raff er creashun."

The little boy made no further attempt to justify
his conduct. He was a very wise little boy, and he

WHY MR. POSSUM HAS NO HAIR ON HIS TAIL 133

knew that, in Uncle Remus's eyes, he had been guilty
of a flagi'ant violation of the family code. Therefore,
instead of attempting to justify himself, he pleadnd
guilty, and promised tliat he would never do so any
more. After this there was a long period of silence,
broken only by the vigorous style in which Uncle
Remus puffed away at his pipe. This was the in-
variable result. Whenever tlie old man had occasion
to reprimand the little boy— and the occasions were
frequent— he would relapse into a dignified but stub-
bom silence. Presently the youngster drew forth from
his pocket a long piece of candle. The sharp eyes of
the old man saw it at once.

"Don't you come a tellin' me dat Miss Sally gun
you dat," he exclaimed, "kaze she didn't. En I lay
you hatter be monstus sly 'fo' you gotter chance fer
ter snatch up dat piece er cannle."

'Well, Uncle Remus," the little boy explained, "it
was lying there all by itself, and I just thought I'd
fetch it out to you."

"Dat's so, honey," said Uncle Remus, greatly mol-
lified; "dat's so, kaze by now some er dem yuther
niggers 'ud er done had her lit up. Dey er mighty
biggity, dem house niggers is, but I notices dat dey
don't let nuthin' pass. Dey goes 'long wid der ban's
en der mouf open, en w'at one don't ketch de tother
one do.''

134

LEGENDS OF THE OUD PLANTATION

There was another pause, and finally the little boy
said:

"Uncle Remus, you know you promised to-day to
tell me why the 'Possum has no hair on his tail."

"Law, honey 1 ain't you done gone en f ergot dat
offn yo' mine yit? Hit look like ter me," continued
the old man, leisurely refilling his pipe, "dat she sorter
run like dis: One time ole Brer Possum, he git so
hungry, he did, dat he bleedzd fer ter have a mess er
'simmons. He monstus lazy man, old Brer Possum

wuz, but bimeby his stummick 'gun ter growl en
holler at 'im so dat he des hatter rack 'roun* en hunt
up sump'n; en w'iles he wuz rackin' roim', who sh'd

"WHY MR. POSSUM HAS NO HAIR ON HIS TAIL 135

he run up wid but Brer Rabbit, en dey wuz hail-
fellers, kaze Brer Possum, he ain't bin bodder'n Brer
Rabbit like dem yuther creeturs. Dey sot down by de
side er de big road, en dar dey jabber en confab
mong wunner nudder, twel bimeby old Brer Possum,
he take n tell Brer Rabbit dat he mos* pe'sh out, en
Brer Rabbit, he lip up in de a'r, he did, en smack his
ban's tergedder, en say dat he know right whar Brer
Possum kin git a bait er 'simmons. Den Brer Possum,
he say whar, en Brer Rabbit, he say w'ich 'twuz over
at Brer B'ar's 'simmon orchard."

"Did the Bear have a 'simmon orchard. Uncle
Remus?" the little boy asked.

"Co'se, honey, kaze in dem days Brer B'ar wuz a
bee-hunter. He make his livin' findin' bee trees, en de
way he fine um he plant 'im some 'simmon-trees, w'ich
de bees dey'd come ter suck de 'simmons en den ole
Brer B'ar he'd watch um whar dey'd go, en den he'd
be mighty ap' fer ter come up wid um. No matter
'bout dat, de 'simmon patch 'uz dar des like I tell you,
en ole Brer Possum mouf 'gun ter water soon's he
year talk un um, en mos' 'fo' Brer Rabbit done tellin'
'im de news. Brer Possum, he put out, he did, en
'twa'n't long 'fo' he wuz perch up in de highes' tree
in Brer B'ar 'simmon patch. But Brer Rabbit, he
done 'termin' fer ter see some fun, en w'iles all dis 'uz
gwine on, he run 'roun' ter Brer B'ar house, en holler
en tell 'im w'ich dey wuz somebody 'stroyin' un his

136

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

'simmons, en Brer B'ar, he husde off fer ter ketch *iin.
"Eve'y now en den Brer Possum think he year Brer
B'ar comin' , but he keep on sayin', sezee:

r^^''7^m'€s^

** '111 des git one 'simmon mo' en den 111 go; one
'simmon mo' en den I'll go.'

"Las' he year Brer B'ar comin' sho nuff, but 'twuz

THE END OF MR. BEAR 13T

de same ole chmie— 'One *simmon mo' en den 111 go*
—en des TDOut dat time Brer Bar busted inter de
patch, en gin de tree a shake, en Brer Possum, he
drapt out longer de yuther ripe 'simmons, but time he
totch de groun' he got his foots tergedder, en he lit
out fer de fence same ez a race-hoss, en 'cross dat
patch him en Brer Bar had it, en Brer B'ar gain' eve'y
jump, twel time Brer Possum make de fence Brer B'ar
grab 'im by de tail, en Brer Possum, he went out
'tween de rails en gin a powerful juk en pull his tail
out 'twix Brer B'ar tushes; en, lo en beholes. Brer
B'ar hole so tight en Brer Possum pull so hard dat all
de ha'r come off in Brer B'ar's mouf, w'ich, ef Brer
Rabbit hadn't er happen up wid a go'd er water,
Brer B'ar 'der got strankle.

"Fum dat day ter dis," said Uncle Remus, knocking
the ashes carefully out of his pipe, "Brer Possum ain't
had no ha'r on his tail, en needer do his chilluns."

xxvm

THE END OF MR. BEAR

The next time the little boy sought Uncle Remus
out, he found the old man unusually cheerful and
good-humoured. His rheumatism had ceased to
trouble him, and he was even disposed to be
boisterous. He was singing when the little boy got
near the cabin, and the child paused on the outside to

138 LEGENDS OF -raE OLD PLANTATION

listen to the vigorous but mellow voice of the old
man, as it rose and fell with the burden of the curi-
ously plaintive song— a senseless afiFair so far as the
words were concerned, but sung to a melody almost
thrilling in its sweetness:

"Han' me down my waUcin'-cane

(Hey my Lily! go down de roadl),
Yo' true lover gone down de lane
( Hey my Lily! go down de road! ) ."

The quick ear of Uncle Remus, however, had de-
tected the presence of the little boy, and ho allowed
his song to run into a recitation of nonsense, of which
the following, if it be rapidly spoken, will give a faint
idea:

"Ole M'er Jackson, fines' confraction, fell down
stars fer to git satisfaction; big Bill Fray, he rule
de day, eve'ything he call fer come one, two by three.
Gwine long one day, met Johnny Huby, ax him
grine nine yards er steel fer me, tole me w'ich he
couldn't: den I hist 'im over Hickerson Dickerson's
barn-doors; knock 'im ninety-nine miles under water,
w en he rise, he rise in Pike straddle un a hanspike,
en I leF 'im dar smokin' er de hornpipe, Juba reda
seda breda. Aunt Kate at de gate; I want to eat, she
fry de meat en gimme skin, w'ich I fling it back agin.
Juba!"

All this, rattled off at a rapid rate and with appar-

TEIE END OF MR. BEAR 139

ent seriousness, was calculated to puzzle the little boy,
and he slipped into his accustomed seat with an ex-
pression of awed bewilderment upon his face.

"Hit's all des dat away, honey," continued the old
man, with the air of one who had just given an im-
portant piece of information. "En w'en you bin cas'n
shadders long ez de ole nigger, den you'll fine out
who's w'ich, en w'ich's who."

The little boy made no response. He was in thor-
ough sympathy with all the whims and humors of the
old man, and his capacity for enjoying them was large
enough to include even those he could not under-
stand. Uncle Remus was finishing an axe-handle, and
upon tliese occasions it was his custom to allow the
child to hold one end while he applied sand-paper to
the other. These relations were pretty soon estab-
lished, to the mutual satisfaction of tlie parties most
interested, and the old man continued his remarks,
but this time not at random:

"W'en I see deze yer swell-head folks like dat
'oman w'at come en tell yo' ma 'bout you chunkin'
at her chilluns, w'ich yo ma make Mars John strop
you, hit make my mine run back to ole Brer B'ar. Ole
Brer B'ar, he got de swell-headedness hisse'f, en ef
der v^^z enny swinkin', hit swunk too late fer ter he'p
ole Brer B'ar. Leas'ways dat's w'at dey tells me, en I
ain't never yearn it 'sputed."

140 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

'Was the Bear's head sure enough swelled. Uncle
Remus?"

"Now you talkin', honeyl" exclaimed the old man,

"Goodness! what made it swell?"

This was Uncle Remus's cue. Applying the sand-
paper to tlie axe-helve with gentle vigor, he began:

"One time when Brer Rabbit wuz gwine lopin*
home fum a frolic w'at dey bin havin' up at Miss
Meadows's, who should he happin up wid but ole
Brer B'ar. Co'se, atter w'at done pass 'twix um dey
wa'n't no good feelin's 'tween Brer Rabbit en ole Brer
B'ar, but Brer Rabbit, he wanter save his manners,
en so he holler out:

"Heyo, Brer B'ar! how you come on? I ain't seed
you in a coon's age. How all down at yo' house? How
Miss Brune en Miss Brindle?"

"Who was that. Uncle Remus?" the httle boy in-
terrupted.

"Miss Brune en Miss Brindle? Miss Brune wuz
Brer B'ar's ole 'oman, en Miss Brindle wuz his gal.
Dat w'at dey call um in dem days. So den Brer Rab-
bit, he ax him howdy, he did, en Brer B'ar, he
'spon' dat he wuz mighty po'ly, en dey amble 'long,
dey did, sorter familious like, but Brer Rabbit, he
keep one eye on Brer B'ar, en Brer B'ar, he study how
he gwine nab Brer Rabbit. Las' Brer Rabbit, he up'n
say, sezee?

THE END OF MR. BEAR

141

" 'Brer B ar, I speck I got some bizness cut out far
you/ sezee.

" 'What dat, Brer Rabbit?' sez Brer B'ar, sezee.

" *Wiles I wuz cleanin' up my new-groun' day *fo'
yistiddy/ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'I come 'cross wim-
ner deze yer ole time bee-trees. Hit start holler at de
bottom, en stay holler plum der de top, en de honey's
des natally oozin' out, en ef you'll drap yo' 'gagements
en go longer me,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, you'll git
a bait dat'U las' you en yo' fambly twel de middle er
nex' mont',' sezee.

■ "'Brer B'ar say he much oblije en he b'leeve he'll go
long, en wid dat dey put out fer Brer Rabbit's new-

142

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

,y

:..JMI^I

groun', w'ich twa'n't so mighty fur. Leas'ways, dey
got dar atter w'ile. Ole Brer B'ar, he low dat he kin
smell de honey. Brer Rabbit, he low dat he kin see
de honey-koam. Brer B'ar, he low
dat he can hear de bees a zoonin'.
Dey Stan' 'roun' en talk biggity,
dey did, twel bimeby Brer Rabbit, ^'
he up'n say, sezee:

" 'You do de clim-'in', Brer B'ar,
en 111 do de rushin' 'roun'; you
clime up ter de hole, en 111 take
dis yer pine pole en shove de
honey up whar you kin git 'er/
sezee.

"Ole Brer B'ar, he spit on his
ban's en skint up de tree, en jam
his head in de hole, en sho nuff,
Brer Rabbit, he grab de pine pole,
en de way he stir up dem bees
wuz sinful— dat's w'at it wuz. Hit
sinful. En de bees dey

wuz

swawm'd on Brer B'ar's head, twel
'fo' he could take it out'n de hole

MR. FOX GETS INTO SERIOUS BUSINESS 143

hit wuz done swell up bigger dan dat dinner-pot, en
dar he swung, en ole Brer Rabbit, he dance 'roun*
en sing:

" Tree stan' high, but honey mighty sweet-
Watch dem bees wid stingers on der feet.'

"But dar ole Brer B ar hung, en ef his head ain't
swunk, I speck he hangin' dar yit— dat w'at I speck."

XXIX
MR. FOX GETS INTO SERIOUS BUSINESS

"Hit turn out one time," said Uncle Remus, grind-
ing some crumbs of tobacco between the palms of his
hands, preparatory to enjoying his usual smoke after
supper— "hit turn out one time dat Brer Rabbit make
so free wid de man's collard-patch dat de man he
tuck'n sot a trap fer ole Brer Rabbit."

"Which man was that. Uncle Remus?" asked the
little boy.

"Des a man, honey. Dat*s all. Dat's all I knows
— des wunner dese yer mans w'at you see trollopin
*roun' eve'y day. Nobody ain't never year w'at his
name is, en ef dey did dey kep' de news mighty close
fum me. Ef dish yer man is bleedzd fer ter have a
name, den I'm done, kaze you'll hatter go fudder dan
me. Ef you bleedzd ter know mo* dan w'at I duz,
den youll hatter hunt up some er deze yer niggers

144 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

w'at's sprung up sence I commence fer ter shed my
ha'r."

"Well, I just thought, Uncle Remus," said the little
boy, in a tone remarkable for self-depreciation, "that
the man had a name."

"Tooby sho," replied the old man, with unction^
puffing away at his pipe. "Co'se. Dat w'at make I
say w'at I duz. Dish yer man mout a had a name,
en den ag'in he moutn't. He mout er bin name Slip-
shot Sam, en he mouter bin name ole One-eye Riley,
w'ich ef 'twuz hit ain't bin handed roun' ter me. But
dish yer man, he in de tale, en w'at we gwine do wid
'im? Dats de p'int, kase w'en I git ter huntin' 'roun
mong my 'membunce atter dish yer Mister W'atyoU'
maycoUimi's name, she ain't dar. Now den, less des
call 'im Mr. Man en let 'im go at dat."

The silence of the little boy gave consent.

"One time," said Uncle Remus, carefully taking up
the thread of the story where it had been dropped,
"hit turn out dat Brer Rabbit bin makin' so free wid
Mr. Man's greens en truck dat Mr. Man, he tuck'n sot
a trap for Brer Rabbit, en Brer Rabbit he so greedy
dat he tuck'n walk right spang in it, 'fo' he know
hisse'f. Well, 'twa'p/t long 'fo' yer come Mr. Mai^
broozin' 'roun', en he ain't no sooner see ole Brei
Rabbit dan he smack his ban's tergedder en hoUei
out;

"'Youer nice feller, you is! Yer you bin gobblin

MR. p-OX GETS INTO SERIOUS BUSINESS 145

up my green truck, en now you tryin' ter tote off my
trap. Youer mighty nice chap— dat's w'at you is! But
now dat I got you, I'll des 'bout settle wid you fer de
ole en de new.'

"En wid dat, Mr. Man, he go off, he did, down in
de bushes atter han'ful er switches. Ole Brer Rabbit,
he ain't sayin' nuthin', but he feelin' mighty lonesome,
en he sot dar lookin' like eve'y minnit wuz gwineter
be de nex'. En w'iles Mr. Man wuz off prepa'r'n his
bresh-broom, who should come p'radin' 'long but
Brer Fox. Brer Fox make a great 'miration, he did,
'bout de fix w'at he fine Brer Rabbit in, but Brer Rab-
bit he make like he fit ter kill hisse'f laffin', en he up'n
tell Brer Fox, he did, dat Miss Meadows's fokes want
'im ter go down ter der house in 'tennunce on a
weddin', en he 'low w'ich he couldn't, en dey 'low
how he could, en den bimeby dey take'n tie 'im dar
w'iles dey go atter de preacher, so he be dar' w'en
dey come back. En mc'n dat. Brer Rabbit up'n tell
Brer Fox dat his chillun's mighty low wid de fever, en
he bleedzd ter go atter some pills fer'm, en he ax
Brer Fox fer ter take his place en go down ter Miss
Meadows's en have nice time wid de gals. Brer Fox,
he in fer dem kinder pranks, en 'twa'n't no time 'fo'
Brer Rabbit had ole Brer Fox harness up dar in his
place, en den he make like he got ter make 'as'e en
git de pills fer dem sick chilluns. Brer Rabbit wa'n't
mo'n out er sight 'fo' yer come Mr. Man wid a han'ful

146

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

er hick ries, but w en he see Brer Fox tied up dar, he
look hke he 'stonished.

" 'Heyo!' sez Mr. Man, sezee, 'you done change
£olor, en you done got bigger, en yo' tail done grow

out. Wat kin'er w'atzyname is you, ennyhow?' sezee.
"Brer Fox, he stay still, en Mr. Man, he talk on:
" 'Hit's mighty big luck,' sezee, 'ef w'en I ketch de
chap w'at nibble my greens, likewise I ketch de feller
w'at gnyaw my goose,' sezee, en wid dat he let inter
Brex Fox wid de hick'ries, en de way he play rap-
jacket wuz a caution ter de naberhood. Brer Fox, he

l^fR. FOX GETS INTO SERIOUS BUSINESS 147

juk en he jump, en he squeal en he squall, but Mr.
Man, he shower down on 'im, he did, like fightin' a
red was nes'."

The little boy laughed, and Uncle Remus supple-
mented this indorsement of his descriptive powers
with a most infectious chuckle.

"Bimeby," continued the old man, "de switches,
dey got frazzle out, en Mr. Man, he put out atter mo*,
en w'en he done got fa'rly outer yearin'. Brer Rabbit,
he show'd up, he did, kaze he des bin hidin' out in de
bushes lis'nin' at de racket, en he low hit mighty
funny dat Miss Meadows ain't come 'long, kaze he
done bin down ter de doctor house, en dat's fuddei'
dan de preacher, yit. Brer Rabbit make like he hur-
r 'in' on nome, but Brer Fox, he open up, he did, en
he say:

"'1 thank you fer ter tu'n me loose. Brer Rabbit,
en 111 be 'blije,' sezee, Icaze you done tie me up so
tight dat it make my head swim, en I don't speck I'd
las' fer ter git ter Miss Meadows's,' sezee.

"Brer Rabbit, he sot down sorter keerless like, en
begin fer ter scratch one year like a man studyin'
Ijout sump'n.

"'Dat's so. Brer Fox,' sezee, 'you duz look sorter
stove up. Look like sump'n bin onkoamin' yo' ha'rs,*
sezee.

"Brer Fox ain't sayin' nothin', but Brer Rabbit, he
keep on talkin':

148

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"'Dey ain't no bad feelin's 'twix' us, is dey, Brer
Fox? Kaze ef dey is, I ain't got no time fer ter be
tarryin' 'roun' yer/

"Brer Fox say w'ich he don't have no onfrennel-
viess, en wid dat Brer Rabbit cut Brer Fox loose des
in time fer ter hear Mr. Man w'isserUn up his dogs,
en one went one way en de udder went nudder."

HOW MR. RABBIT SUCCEEDED IN RAISING A DUST 149

XXX

HOW MR. RABBIT SUCCEEDED IN RAISING A DUST

"In dem times," said Uncle Remus, gazing admir-
ingly at himself in a fragment of looking-glass, "Brer
Rabbit, en Brer Fox, en Brer Coon, en dem yuther
creeturs go co'tin' en sparklin* Voun' de naberhood
mo' samer dan folks. 'Twan't no 'Lemme a boss,' ner
'Fetch me my buggy,' but dey des up'n lit out en tote
deyse'f. Dar's ole Brer Fox, he des wheel 'roun' en
fetch his flank one swipe wid 'is tongue en he'd be
koam up; en Brer Rabbit, he des spit on his han' en
twis' it 'roun' 'mongst de roots er his years en his
ha'r'd be roach. Dey wuz dat flirtashus," continued
the old man, closing one eye at his image in the glass,
"dat Miss Meadows en de gals don't se no peace fum
one week een' ter de udder. Chuseday wuz same as
Sunday, en Friday wuz same as Chuseday, en hit
come down ter dat pass dat w'en Miss Meadows 'ud
have chicken-fixins fer dinner, in 'ud drap Brer Fox
en Brer Possum, en w'en she'd have fried greens in
'ud pop ole Brer Rabbit, twel 'las' Miss Meadows, she
tuck'n tell de gals dat she be dad-blame ef she
gwineter keep no tawum. So dey fix it up 'mong
deyse'f. Miss Meadows en de gals did, dat de nex'
time de gents call dey'd gin um a game. De gents,
dey wuz a co'tin. but Miss Meadows, she don't wanter

150 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

marry none un lun, en needer duz de gals, en likewise
dey don't wanter have um pester'n 'roun.' Las', one
Chuseday, Miss Meadows, she tole um dat ef dey
come down ter her house de nex' Sat'day evenin', de
whole caboodle un um ud go down de road a piece,
whar der wuz a big flint rock, en de man w'at could
take a sludge-hammer en knock de dus' out'n dat
rock, he wuz de man w'at 'ud git de pick er de gals.
Dey all say dey gwine do it, but ole Brer Rabbit, he
crope oflF whar der wuz a cool
place under some jimson weeds,
en dar he sot wukkin his mind
how he gwineter git dus' out'n
dat rock. Bimeby, w'ile he wuz
a settin' dar, up he jump en
: crack his heels tergedder en sing
out:

"'Make a bow ter de Buzzard en
den ter de Crow,
Takes a limber-toe gemmun far
ter jump Jim Crow,'

en wid dat he put out for Brer
Coon house en borrer his slip-
pers. Wen Sat'day evenin' come,
dey wuz all dere. Miss Meadows
en de gals, dey wuz dere; en Brer Coon, en Brer Fox,
en Brer Possum, en Brer Tarrypin, dey wuz dere.**

HOW MR. RABBIT SUCCEEDED IN RAISING A DUST 151

"Where was the Rabbit?" the little boy asked.

"Yukn put yo' 'pennunce in ole Brer Rabbit,"
the old man replied, with a chuckle. "He wuz dere,
but he shuflSle up kinder late, kaze w'en Miss
Meadows en de ballunce un um done gone down ter
de place, Brer Rabbit, he crope 'roun' ter de ash-
hopper, en fill Brer Coon slippers full er ashes, en den
he tuck n put um on en march off. He got dar atter
Vile, en soon's Miss Meadows en de gals seed 'im,
dey up*n giggle, en make a great 'miration kaze Brer
Rabbit got on slippers. Brer Fox, he so smart, he
holler out, he did, en say he lay Brer Rabbit got de
groun'-eatch, but Brer Rabbit, he sorter shet one eye,
he did, en say, sezee:

"'1 bin so useter ridin' hoss-back, ez deze ladies
knows, dat I'm gittin' sorter tender-footed;' en dey
don't hear much mo' fum Brer Fox dat day, kaze he
'member how Brer Rabbit done bin en rid him; en hit
'uz des 'bout much ez Miss Meadows en de gals could
do fer ter keep der snickers fum gittin' up a 'sturbance
'mong de congergashun. But, never mine dat, old Brer
Rabbit, he wuz dar, en he so brash dat leetle mo' en
he'd er grab up de sludge-hammer en er open up de
racket 'fo' ennybody gun de word; but Brer Fox, he
shove Brer Rabbit out'n de way en pick up de sludge
hisse'f . Now den," continued the old man, witli pretty
much the air of one who had been the master of sim*
ilar ceremonies, "de progance wuz dish yer: Evey

152

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

gent wer ter have th'ee licks at de rock, en de gent
w'at fetch de dus' he were de one w'at gwineter take
de pick er de gals. Ole Brer Fox, he grab de sludge-
hammer, he did, en he come down on de Tock—blim!

No dus' ain't come. Den he draw back en down he
come agin— blam! No dus' ain't come. Den he spit in
his ban's, en give 'er a big swing en down she come—
kerblap! En yit no dus' ain't flew'd. Den Brer Possum
he mak« triul, en Brer Coon, en all de ballunce un

A PLANTATION WITCH 153

um 'cep' Brer Tarrypin, en he 'low dat he got a crick
in his neck. Den Brer Rabbit, he grab holt er de
sludge, en he lipt up in de a'r en come down on de
rock all at de same time— pou;/— en de ashes, dey
flew'd up so, dey did, dat Brer Fox, he tuck'n had a
sneezin' spell, en Miss Meadows en de gals dey up 'n
koflF. Th'ee times Brer Rabbit jump up en crack his
heels tergedder en come down wid de sludge-ham-
mer—/cer-Z?/am/— en eve'y time he jump up, he holler
out:

"'Stan' f udder, ladies! Yer come de dus'l' en she
nuflF, de dus' come.

"Leas'ways," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rab-
bit got one er de gals, en dey had a weddin' en a big
miar.

"Which of the girls did the Rabbit marry?" asked
the little boy, dubiously.

"I did year tell un 'er name," replied the old man,
with a great affectation of interest, "but look like I
done gone en fergit it off'n my mine. Ef I don't dis-
remember," he continued, "hit wuz Miss Molly Cot-
tontail, en I speck we better let it go at dat."

XXXI

A PLANTATION WITCH

The next time the little boy got permission to call
upon Uncle Remus, the old man was sitting in fiis

154 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

door, with his elbows on his knees and his face buriea
in his hands, and he appeared to be in great trouble.

"What's the matter. Uncle Remus?" the youngster
asked.

"Nuff de matter, honey— mo' dan dey's enny kyo
fer. Ef dey ain't some quare gwines on 'roun' dis
place I ain't name Remus."

The serious tone of the old man caused the little
boy to open his eyes. The moon, just at its full, cast
long, vague, wavering shadows in front of the cabin.
A colony of tree-frogs somewhere in the distance
were treating their neighbors to a serenade, but to
the little boy it sounded like a chorus of lost and long-
forgotten whistlers. The sound was wherever the im-
agination chose to locate it— to the right, to the left,
in the air, on the ground, far away or near at hand,
but always dim and always indistinct. Something in
Uncle Remus's tone exactly fitted all these surround-
ings, and the child nestled closer to the old man.

"Yasser," continued Uncle Remus, with an ominous
sigh and mysterious shake of the head, "ef dey ain't
some quare gwines on in dish yer naberhood, den I'm
de ball-headest creetur 'twix' dis en nex' Jinawerry
wuz a year 'go, w'ich I knows I ain't. Dat's what."

"What is it, Uncle Remus?"

"I know Mars John bin drivin' ChoUy sorter hard
ter-day, en I say ter myse'f dat I'd drap 'round 'bout
dus' en fling nudder year er com in de troff en kinder

A PLANTATION WITCH 155

gin *im a techin* up wid de kurrier-koam; en bless
grashusl I ain't bin in de lot mo'n a minnit 'fo' I seed
sumpn wuz wrong wid de boss, and sho' nuff dar
wuz his mane full er witch-stirrups."

"Full of what, Uncle Remus?"

"Full er witch-stirrups, honey. Ain*t you seed no
witch-stirrups? Well, w'en you see two stran' er ha'r
tied tergedder in a boss's mane, dar you see a witch-
stirrup, en, mo'n dat, dat boss done bin rid by um."

"Do you reckon they have been riding Charley?'"
inquired the little boy.

"Co'se, honey. Tooby sho dey is. Wat else dey bin
doin'?"

"Did you ever see a witch. Uncle Remus?"

"Dat ain't needer yer ner dar. W'en I see cood
track in de branch, I know de coon bin 'long dar.*'

The argument seemed unanswerable, and the little
boy asked, in a confidential tone:

"Uncle Remus, what are
witches like?"

"Dey comes diffunt," re-
sponded the cautious old
darkey. "Dey comes en dey
cunjus fokes. Squinch-owl hol-
ler eve'y time he see a witch,
en w'en you hear de dog
howlin' in de middle er de
night, one un um's mighty ap' ter be prowlin' 'roun'.

156

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

Cunjun fokes kin tell a witch de minnit dey lays der
eyes on it, but dem w'at ain't cunjun, hit's mighty
hard ter tell w'en dey see one, kaze dey might come
in de pearunce un a cow en all kinder creeturs. I ain't

bin useter no cunjun myse'f, but I bin livin' long nuflP
fer ter know w'en you meets up wid a big black cat in
de middle er de road, wid yaller eyeballs, dars yo'
witch fresh fum de Ole Boy. En, fuddermo', I know
dat 'tain't proned inter no dogs fer ter ketch de rab-

A PLANTATION WITCH 137

bit w'at use in a berryin'-groun*. Dey er de mos'
ongodlies' creeturs w'at you ever laid eyes on," con-
tinued Uncle Remus, with unction. "Down dar in
Putmon County yo' Unk Jeems, he make like he
gwineter ketch wunner dem dar graveyard rabbits.
Sho nuflF, out he goes, en de dogs ain't no mo'n got
ter de place fo' up jump de old rabbit right 'mong urn,
en atter runnin' 'roun' a time or two, she skip right
up ter Mars Jeems, en Mars Jeems, he des put de
gun-bairl right on 'er en lammed aloose. Hit tored up
de groun' all 'roun', en de dogs, dey rush up, but dey
wa'n't no rabbit dar; but bimeby Mars Jeems, he
seed de dogs tuckin' der tails 'tween der legs, en he
look up, en dar wuz de rabbit caperin' 'roun' on a
toom stone, en wid dat Mars Jeems say he sorter feel
like de time done come w'en yo' gran'ma was 'speck-
tin' un him home, en he call oflF de dogs en put out.
But dem wuz ha'nts. Witches is deze yer kinder fokes
wat kin drap der body en change inter a cat en a
wolf en all kinder creeturs."

"Papa says there ain't any witches," the little boy
interrupted.

"Mars John ain't live long ez I is," said Uncle
Remus, by way of comment. "He ain't bin broozin'
'roun' all hours er de night en day. I know'd a nigger
w'ich his brer vmz a witch, kaze he up'n tole me how
he tuck'n kyo'd 'im; en he kyo'd 'im good, mon."

158 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"How was that?" inquired the little boy.

"Hit seem like," continued Uncle Remus, "dat
witch fokes is got a slit in de back er de neck, en w'en
dey wanter change derse'f, dey des pull de hide over
der head same ez if 'twuz a shut, en dar dey is."

"Do they get out of their skins?" asked the little
boy, in an awed tone.

"Tooby sho, honey. You see yo* pa pull his shut
oflF? Well, dat dez 'zackly de way dey duz. But dish
yere nigger w'at I'm tellin' you T^out, he kyo'd his
brer de v'ey fus pass he made at him. Hit got so dat
fokes in de settlement didn't have no peace. De chil-
luns 'ud wake up in de mawnins wid der ha'r tangle
up, en wid scratches on um like dey bin thoo a brier-
patch, twel bimeby one day de nigger he 'low dat
he'd set up dat night en keep one eye on his brer; en
sho' nuff dat night, des ez de chickens wuz crowin'
fer twelve, up jump de brer and pull oflF his skin en
sail out'n de house in de shape un a bat, en w'at duz
de nigger do but grab up de hide, and turn it wrong-
sudout'ards en sprinkle it wid salt. Den he lay down
en watch fer ter see w'at de news vniz gwineter be.
Des 'fo' day yer come a big black cat in de do', en de
nigger git up, he did, en druv her away. Bimeby, yer
come a big black dog snuflBn' roun', en de nigger up
wid a chunk en lammed 'im side er de head. Den a
squinch-owl lit on de koam er de house, en de nigger
jam de shovel in de fier en make 'im flew away,

A PLANTATION WITCH 159

Las', yer come a great big black wolf wid his eyes
shiniii' like fier coals, en he grab de hide and rush out.
Twa'n't long 'fo' de nigger year his brer holler'n en
•squallin', en he tuck a light, he did, en went out, en
dar wuz his brer des a waller'n on de groun' en
squirmin' 'roun', kaze de salt on de skin wuz stingin*
wuss'n ef he had his britches lineded wid yaller-
jackets. By nex' mawnin' he got so he could sorter
shuffle 'long, but he gun up cunjun, en ef dere wuz
enny mo' witches in dat settlement dey kep' mighty
close, en dat nigger he ain't skunt hisse'f no mo' not
endurin' er my 'membunce."

The result of this was that Uncle Remus had to
take the little boy by the hand and go with him to
the 'TDig house," which the old man was not loath to
do; and, when tlie child went to bed, he lay awake a
long time expecting an unseemly visitation from
some mysterious source. It soothed him, however, to
hear the strong, musical voice of his sable patron, not
very far away, tenderly contending with a lusty tune;
and to tliis accompaniment the little boy dropped
asleep:

"Hit's eighteen hunder'd, forty-en-eight,
Christ done made dat crooked way straight—

En I don't wanter stay here no longer;
Hit's eighteen hunder'd, forty-en-nine,
Christ done turn dat water inter wine-
En I don't wanter stay here no longer."

160 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

xxxn
"JACKY-MY-LANTERN" *

Upon his next visit to Uncle Remus, the httle boy
was exceedingly anxious to know more about witches,
but tlie old man prudently refrained from exciting the
youngster's imagination any further in that direction.
Uncle Remus had a board across his lap, and, armed
with a mallet and a shoe-knife, was engaged in mak-
ing shoe-pegs.

"Wiles I wTiz crossin* de branch des now," he said,
endeavoring to change the subject, "I come up wid a
Jacky-my-lantern, en she wuz bu'nin' wuss'n a bunch
er lightnin'-bugs, mon. I know'd she wuz a lixin' fer
ter lead me inter dat quogmire down in de swamp,
en I steer'd cle'r un' er. Yasser. I did dat. You ain't
never seed no Jacky-my-lantems, is you, honey?"

The little boy never had, but he had heard of them,
and he wanted to know what tliey were, and there-
upon Uncle Remus proceeded to tell him.

"One time," said the old darkey, transfening his
spectacles from his nose to the top of his head and

* This story is popular on the coast and among the rice-planta-
tions, and, since the publication of some of the animal-myths in the
newspapers, I have received a version of it from a planter in south-
west Georgia; but it seems to me to be an intruder among the
genuine myth-stories of the negroes. It is a trifle too elaborate.
Nevertheless, it is told upon the plantations wifJi great gusto, and
there are several versions in circulation.

"jacky-my-lantern'* 161

leaning his elbows upon his peg-board, "dere wuz a
blacksmif man, en dish yer blacksmif man, he tuck'n
stuck closer by his dram dan he did by his bellus.
Monday mawnin' he'd git on a spree, en all dat week
he'd be on a spree, en de nex' Monday mawnin' he'd
take a fresh start. Bimeby, one day, atter de black-
smif bin spreein' 'roun' en cussin' mightly, he hear a
sorter rustlin' fuss at de do', en in walk de Bad Man."

"Who, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked.

"De Bad Man, honey; de Ole Boy hisse'f right
fresh from de ridjun w'at you year Miss Sally readin'
Tjout. He done hide his hawns, en his tail, en his
hoof, en he come dress up like w'ite fokes. He tuck
off his hat en he bow, en den he tell de blacksmif who
he is, en dat he done come atter 'im. Den de black-
smff, he gun ter cry en beg, en he beg so hard en he
cry so loud dat de Bad Man say he make a trade wid
'im. At de een' er one year de sperit er de blacksmif
wuz to be his'n en endurin' er dat time de blacksmif
mus' put in his hottes' licks in de intruss er de Bad
Man, en den he put a spell on de cheer de blacksmif
was settin' in, en on his sludge-hammer. De man
w'at sot in de cheer couldn't git up less'n de black-
smif let 'im, en de man w'at pick up de sludge 'ud
hatter keep on knockin' wid it twel de blacksmif say
quit; en den he gun 'im money plenty, en off he put.

"De blacksmif, he sail in fer ter have his fun, en he
have so much dat he done clean forgot ^bout his con-

162

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

track, but bimeby, one day he look down de road, en
dar he see de Bad Man comin', en den he know d de

year wuz out. Wen de Bad Man got in de do', de
blacksmif wuz poundin' way at a hoss-shoe, but he
wa'n't so bizzy dat he didn't ax 'im in. De Bad Man
sorter do hke he ain't got no time fer ter tarry, but de
blacksmif say he got some little jobs dat he bleedzd
ter finish up, en den he ax de Bad Man fer ter set
down a minnit; en de Bad Man, he tuck'n sot down,

"jACKY-MY-LANTEBN** 163

en he sot in dat cheer w'at he done conju'd er, co'se,
dar he wuz. Den de blacksmif, he 'gun tcr poke fun
at de Bad Man, en he ax him don't he want a dram,
en won't he hitch his cheer up httle nigher de fier,
en de Bad Man, he beg en he beg, but 'twan't doin'
no good, kase de blacksmif 'low dat he gwineter keep
'im dar twel he promus dat he let 'im off one year mo',
en, sho nuff, de Bad Man promus dat ef de black-
smif let 'im up he give 'im a n'er showin'. So den de
blacksmif gun de wnd, en de Bad Man sa'nter ofi
down de big road, settin' traps en layin' his progance
fer ter ketch mo' sinners.

"De nex' year hit pass same like t'er one. At de
'p'inted time yer come de Ole Boy atter de blacksmif,
but still de blacksmif had some jobs dat he bleedzd ter
finish up, en he ax de Bad Man fer ter take holt er de
sludge en he he'p 'im out; en de Bad Man, he 'low dat
r'er'n be disperlite, he don't keer ef he do hit 'er a biff
er two; en wid dat he grab up de sludge, en dar he
wuz 'gin, kase he done conju'd de sludge so dat who-
somedever tuck 'er up can't put 'er down less'n de
blacksmif say de wud. Dey perlaver'd dar, dey did,
twel bimeby de Bad Man he up'n let 'im off n'er year.

"Well, den, dat year pass same ez t'er one. Mont'
in en mont' out dat man wuz rollin' in dram, en
bimeby yer come de Bad Man. De blacksmif cry en
he holler, en he rip 'roun' en t'ar his ha'r, but hit des
like he didn't, kase de Bad Man grab 'im up en cram

164 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

*im in a bag en tote 'im off. Wiles dey wuz gwine
long dey come up wid a passel er fokes w'at wuz
havin' wunner deze yer fote er July bobbycues, en de
Ole Boy, he 'low dat maybe he kin git some mo*
game, en w'at do he do but jine in wid urn. He jines
in en he talk politics same like t'er fokes, twel bimeby
dinnertime come roun*, en dey ax 'im up, w'ich 'greed
wid his stummuck, en he pozzit his bag undemeed de
table 'longside de udder bags w'at de hongry fokes'd
brung.

"No sooner did de blacksmif git back on de groun'
dan he 'gun ter wuk his way outer de bag. He crope
out, he did, en den he tuck'n change de bag. He
tuck'n tuck a n'er bag en lay it down whar dish yer
bag wuz, en den he crope outer de crowd en lay low
in de underbresh.

"Las', w'en de time come fer ter go, de Ole Boy up
wid his bag en slung her on his shoulder, en off he
put fer de Bad Place. W'en he got dar he tuck'n drap
de bag off'n his back en call up de imps, en dey des
come a squallin' en a caperin', w'ich I speck dey mus'
a bin hongry. Leas'ways dey des swawm'd 'roun',
hoUerin' out:

" 'Daddy, w'at you brung— daddy, w'at you brung?'

"So den dey open de bag, en lo en beholes, out
jump a big bull-dog, en de way he shuck dem little
imps wuz a caution, en he kep' on gnyawin' un \iir
twel de Ole Boy open de gate en t'un 'im out."

JACKY-MY-LANTERN

165

"And what became of the blacksmith?" the httle
boy asked, as Uncle Remus paused to snuff the candle
with his fingers.

"I'm drivin' on 'roun', honey. Atter 'long time,
de blacksmif he tuck'n die, en w'en he go ter de Good
Place de man at de gate ''r.N^
dunner who he is, en he
can't squeeze in. Den he go
down ter de Bad Place, en
knock. De Ole Boy, he
look out, he did, en he
know'd de blacksmif de
minnit he laid eyes on 'im;
but he shake his head en
sav, sezee:

" 'You'll hatter skuze me.
Brer Blacksmif, kase I dun
had 'speunce 'longer you.
You'll hatter go some'rs else
ef you wanter raise enny
racket,' sezee, en wid dat
he shet do do'.

"En dey do say," con-
tinued Uncle Remus, with
unction, "dat sense dat day
de blacksmif bin sorter huv'rin' 'roun' 'twix' de heav-
ens en de ye'th, en dark nights he shine out so fokes
call 'im Jacky-my-lantun. Dat's w'at dey tells me. Hit

166 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

may be wrong er't maybe right, but dat's w'"at I
years.

xxxin
WHY THE NEGRO IS BLACK

One night, while the Httle boy was watching Uncle
Remus twisting and waxing some shoe-thread, he
made what appeared to him to be a very curious dis-
covery. He discovered that the palms of the old
man's hands were as white as his own, and tlie fact
was such a source of wonder that he at last made it
the subject of remark. The response of Uncle Remus
led to the earnest recital of a piece of unwritten his-
tory that must prove interesting to ethnologists.

"Tooby sho de pa'm er my ban's w'ite, honey," he
quietly remarked, "ei\, wen it come ter dat, dey wuz
a time w'en all de w'ite folks 'uz black— blacker dan
me, kaze I done bin yer so long dat I bin sorter
bleach out."

The little boy laughed. He thought Uncle Remus
(vas making him tlie victim of one of his jokes; but
the youngster was riever more mistaken. The old
man was serious. Nevertheless, he failed to rebuke
the ill-timed mirth of the child, appearing to be alto-
gether engrossed in his work. After a while, he re-
sumed:

"Yasser. Fokes dunner w'at bin yit, let lone w'at

WHY THE NEGRO IS BLACK 167

gwinter be. Niggers is niggers now, but de time wuz
w'en we 'uz all niggers tergedder/'

"When was that, Uncle Remus?"

"Way back yander. In dem times we 'uz all un
us black; we uz all niggers tergedder, en 'cordin' ter
all de 'counts w'at I years fokes 'uz gittin' 'long 'bout
ez well in dem days ez dey is now. But atter 'w'ile de
news come dat dere wuz a pon' er water some'rs in
de naberhood, w'ich ef dey'd git inter dey'd be wash
off nice en w'ite, en den one un um, he fine de place
en make er splunge inter de pon', en come out w'ite
ez a town gal. En den, bless grashus! w'en de fokes
seed it, dey make a break fer de pon', en dem w'at
wuz de soopless, dey got in fus' en dey come out
w'ite; en dem w'at wuz de nex' soopless, dey got in
nex', en dey come out merlatters; en dey wuz sech a
crowd un um dat dey mighty nigh use de water up,
w'ich w'en dem yuthers come long, de morest dey
could do wuz ter paddle about wid der foots en
dabble in it wid der ban's. Dem wuz de niggers, en
down ter dis day dey ain't no w'ite 'bout a nigger
'ceppin de pa'ms er der ban's en de soles er der foot."

The little boy seemed to be very much interested in
this new account of the origin of races, and he made
some further inquiries, which elicited from Uncle Re-
mus the following additional particulars:

"De Injun en de Chinee got ter be 'counted long
er de merlatter. I ain't seed no Chinee dat I knows

168 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

un, but dey tells me dey er sorter 'twix' a brown en a
brindle. Dey er all merlatters."

"But mamma says tlie Chinese have straight hair,"
the little boy suggested.

"Co'se, honey," the old man unhesitatingly re-
sponded, "dem w'at git ter de pon' time nuff fer ter
git der head in de water, de water hit onkink der ha'r.
Hit bleedzd ter be dat away."

XXXIV

THE SAD FATE OF MR. FOX

"Now, den," said Uncle Remus, with unusual
gravity, as soon as the little boy, by taking his seat,
announced that he was ready for the evening's enter-
tainment to begin; "now, den, dish yer tale w'at I'm
agwine ter gin you is de las' row er stumps, sho. Dish
yer's whar ole Brer Fox los' his breff, en he ain't fine
it no mo' down ter dis day."

"Did he kill himself. Uncle Remus?" the little boy
asked, with a curious air of concern.

"Hole on dar, honey!" the old man exclaimed, wdth
a great affectation of alarm; "hole on dar! Wait!
Gimme room! I don't wanter tell you no story, en ef
you keep shovin' me forrerd, I mout git some er de
facks mix up 'mong deyse'f. You gotter gimme room
en you gotter gimme time."

The little boy had no other premature questions

THE SAD FATE OF MR. FOX 169

to ask, and, after a pause, Uncle Remus resumed:

"Well, den, one day Brer Rabbit go ter Brer Fox
house, he did, en he put up mighty po' mouf . He say
his ole 'oman sick, en his chilluns cole, en de fier done
gone out. Brer Fox, he feel bad 'bout dis, en he tuck'n
s'ply Brer Rabbit widder chunk er fier. Brer Rabbit
see Brer Fox cookin' some nice beef, en his mouf gun
ter water, but he take de fier, he did, en he put out
to'rds home; but present'y yer he come back, en he
say de fier done gone out. Brer Fox 'low dat he want
er invite to dinner, but he don't say nuthin*, en
bimeby Brer Rabbit he up'n say, sezee:

"'Brer Fox, whar you git so much nice beef?'
sezee, en den Brer Fox he up'n 'spon', sezee:

" 'You come ter my house ter-morrer ef yo' fokes
ain't too sick, en I kin show you whar you kin git
plenty beef mo' nicer dan dish yer,' sezee.

"Well, sho nuff, de nex' day fotch Brer Rabbit, en
Brer Fox say, sezee:

"'Der's a man down yander by Miss Meadows's
w'at got heap er fine cattle, en he gotter cow name
Bookay,' sezee, 'en you des go en say Bookay, en
she'll open her mouf, en you kin jump in en git des
as much meat ez you kin tote,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.

"'Well, I'll go long,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en
you kin jump fus' en den I'll come follerin' atter,*
sezee.

"Wid dat dey put out, en dey went promernadin'

170

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

'roun' mong de cattle, dey did, twel bimeby dey
struck up wid de one dey wuz atter. Brer Fox, he up,

he did, en holler Bookaij, en de cow flung 'er mouf
wide open. Sho nuflF, in dey jump, en w'en dey got
dar. Brer Fox, he say, sezee:

"'You kin cut mos' ennywheres. Brer Rabbit, but
don't cut 'round' de haslett,' sezee.

"Den Brer Rabbit, he holler back, he did: Tm a
gitten me out a roas'n-piece,' sezee.

" 'Roas'n, er bakin', er fryin',' sez Brer Fox, sezee,
'don't git too nigh de haslett,' sezee.

"Dey cut en dey kyarved, en dey kyarved en dey
cut, en w'iles dey wuz cuttin* en kyarvin', en slashin'

THE SAD FATE OF MR. FOX 171

way. Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n hacked inter de haslett,
en wid dat down fell de cow dead.

"'Now, den,' sez Brer Fox, we er gone, sho,*
sezee.

" 'Wat we gwine do?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

" 'I'll git in de maul,' sez Brer Fox, 'en you'll jump
in de gall,' sezee.

"Nex' mawnin' yer cum de man w'at de cow blong
ter, and he ax who kill Bookay. Nobody don't say
nuthin'. Den de man say he'll cut 'er open en see,
en den he whirl in, en twan't no time 'fo' he had 'er
intruls spread out. Brer Rabbit, he crope out'n de
gall, en say, sezee:

"'Mister Man! Oh, Mister Man! I'll tell you who
kill yo' cow. You look in de maul, en dar you'll fine
'im,' sezee.

"Wid dat de man tuck a stick and lam down on de
maul so hard dat he kill Brer Fox stone-dead. Wen
Brer Rabbit see Brer Fox wuz laid out fer good, he
make like he mighty sorry, en he up'n ax de man fer
Brer Fox head. Man say he ain't keerin', en den Brer
Rabbit tuck'n bmng it ter Brer Fox house. Dar he
see ole Miss Fox, en he tell 'er dat he done fotch her
some nice beef w'at 'er ole man sont 'er, but she ain't
gotter look at it twel she go ter eat it.

"Brer Fox son wuz name Tobe, en Brer Rabbit tell
Tobe fer ter keep still w'iles his mammy cook de nice
beef w'at his daddy sont 'im. Tobe he wuz mighty

172 LEGENDS OE THE OLD PLANTATION

hongry, en he look in de pot he did w'iles de cookin*
w^iz gwine on, en dar he see his daddy head, en wid
dat he sot up a howl en tole his mammy. Miss Fox,
she git mighty mad w'en she fine she cookin' her ole
man head, en she call up de dogs, she did, en sickt
'em on Brer Rabbit; en ole Miss Fox en Tobe en de
dogs, dey push Brer Rabbit so close dat he hatter
take a holler tree. Miss Fox, she tell Tobe fer ter stay
dar en mine Brer Rabbit, w'ile she goes en git de ax,
en w'en she gone, Brer Rabbit, he tole Tobe ef he go
ter de branch en git 'im a drink er water dat he'll gin
'im a dollar. Tobe, he put out, he did, en bring some
water in his hat, but by de time he got back Brer
Rabbit done out en gone. Ole Miss Fox, she cut and
cut twel down come de tree, but no Brer Rabbit dar.
Den she lay de blame on Tobe, en she say she gwineter
lash 'im, en Tobe, he put out en run, de ole 'oman
atter 'im. Bimeby, he come up wid Brer Rabbit, en
sot down fer to tell 'im how 'twuz, en w'iles dey wuz
a settin' dar, yer come ole Miss Fox a slippin' up en
grab um bofe. Den she tell um w'at she gwine do.
Brer Rabbit she gwineter kill, en Tobe she gwineter
lam ef its de las' ack. Den Brer Rabbit sez, sezee:

"'Ef you please, ma'am. Miss Fox, lay me on de
grinestone en groun' off my nose so I can't smell no
mo' w'en I'm dead.'

"Miss Fox, she tuck dis ter be a good idee, en she
fetch bofe un um ter de grinestone, en set um up on

THE SAD FATE OF MR. FOX

173

it so dat she could groun oflF Brer Rabbit nose. Den
Brer Rabbit, he up'ii say, sezee:
" 'Ef vou please, ma'am, Miss Fox, Tobe he kin

turn de handle w'iles you goes atter some water fer
ter wet de grinestone,' sezee.

"Co'se, soon'z Brer Rabbit see Miss Fox go atter
de water, he jump down en put out, en dis time he
git clean away."

"And was that the last of the Rabbit, too, Uncle
Remus?" the little boy asked, with something like
a sigh.

174 LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

"Don't push me too close, honey," responded the
old man; "don't shove me up in no cornder. I don't
wanter tell you no stories. Some say dat Brer Rab-
bit's ole 'oman died fum eatin' some pizen-weed, en
dat Brer Rabbit married ole Miss Fox, en some say
not. Some tells one tale en some tells nudder; some
say da fum dat time foiTer'd de Rabbits en de Foxes
make fren's en stay so; some say dey kep on quoUin'.
Hit look like it mixt. Let dem tell you w'at knows.
Dat w'at I years you gits it straight like I yeard it."

There was a long pause, which was finally broken
!by the old man:

"Hit's 'gin de rules fer you ter be noddin' yer,
honey. Bimeby you'll drap off en I'll hatter tote you
up ter de big 'ouse. I hear dat baby cryin', en bimeby
Miss Sally '11 fly up en be a holler'n atter you."

"Oh, I wasn't asleep," the little boy replied. "I was
just thinking."

"Well, dat's diffunt," said the old man. "Ef you'll
clime up on my back," he continued, speaking softly,
"I speck I ain't too ole fer ter be yo' boss fum yer
ter de house. Many en many's de time dat I toted yo'
Unk Jeems dat away, en Mars Jeems wuz heavier sot
dan w'at you is/*

PLANTATION PROVERBS

Big 'possum clime little tree.
Dem w'at eats kin say grace.
Ole man Know-Ail died las' year.
Better de gravy dan no grease 'tall.
Dram ain't good twel you git it.
Lazy fokes' stummucks don't git tired.
Rheumatiz don't he'p at de log-rollin'.
175

176 PLANTATION PROVERBS

Mole don't see w'at his naber doin'.

Save de pacin' mar' fer Sunday.

Don't rain eve'y time de pig squeal.

Crow en corn can't grow in de same fiel'.

Tattlin' 'oman can't make de bread rise.

Rails split 'fo' brelcfus' '11 season de dinner.

Dem w'at knows too much sleeps under de ash-
hopper.

Ef you wanter see yo' ov^ti sins, clean up a new
groun'.

Hog dunner w'ich part un 'im'll season de turnip
salad.

Hit's a blessin' de w'ite sow don't shake de plum-
tree.

Winter grape sour, whedder you kin reach 'im or
not.

Mighty po' bee dat don't make mo' honey dan he
want.

Kwishins on mule's foots done gone out er fashun.

Pigs dunno w'at a pen's fer.

Possum's tail good as a paw.

Dogs don't bite at de front gate.

Colt in de barley-patch kick high.

Jay-bird don't rob his own nes'.

Pullet can't roost too high for de owl

Meat fried 'fo' day won't las' twel night.

Stump water won't kyo de gripes.

De howlin' dog know w'at he sees.

PLANTATION PROVERES 177

Bline hoss don't fall w'en he follers de bit.

Hongry nigger won't w'ar his maul out.

Don't fling away de empty wallet.

Black-snake know de way ter de hin nes*.

Looks won't do ter split rails wid.

Settin' hens don't hanker arter fresh aigs.

Tater-vine growin' w'ile you sleep.

Hit take two birds fer to make a nes'.

Ef you bleedzd ter eat dirt, eat clean dirt.

Tarrypin walk fast 'nuff fer to go visitin'.

Empty smoke-house makes de pullet holler.

Wen coon take water he fixin' fer ter fight.

CoiTi makes mo' at de mill dan it does in de crib.

Good luck say: "Op'n yo' mout en shet yo' eyes."

Nigger dat gets hurt wukkin oughter show de
skyars.

Fiddlin' nigger say hit's long ways ter de dance.

Rooster makes mo' racket dan de hin w'at lay de
aig.

Meller mush-million hollers at you fum over de
fence.

Nigger wid a pocket-han'kcher better be looked
atter.

Rain-crow don't sing no chune, but youk'n 'pen
on 'im.

One-eyed mule can't be handled on de bline side.

Moon may shine, but a lightered knot's might)'
handy.

178

PLANTATION PROVERBS

Licker talks mighty loud w'en it git loose fum de

De proudness un a man don't comit w'en his head's
cold.
Hongry rooster don't cackle w'en he fine a wum.
Some niggers mighty smart, but dey can't drive de
pidgins ter roos'.

You may know de way, but better keep yo' eyes
on de seven stairs.

All de buzzards in de settlement '11 come to de
gray mule's funer'l.

Youk'n hide de fier, but w'at
you gwine do wid de smoke?
Ter-morrow may be de car-
ridge-driver's day for ploughin'.
Hit's a mighty deaf nigger
dat don't year de dinner-ho'n.
Hit takes a bee fer ter git de
sweetness out'n de hoar-houn'
blossom.

Ha'nts don't bodder longer
. ^ hones' folks, but you better go
j/^ 'roun' de grave-yard.

De pig dat runs off wid de
year er com gits litde mo' dan
de cob.

Sleepin' in de fence-comder don't fetch Chrismus
in de kitchen.

PLANTATION PROVERBS 179

De spring-house may freeze, but de niggers '11
keep de shuck-pen warm.

Twix' de bug en de bee-martin *tain't hard ter tell
w'ich gwineter git kotch.

Don't 'sput wid de squinch-owl. Jam de shovel in
de fier.

You'd see mo' er de mink ef he know'd whar de
yard dog sleeps.

Troubles is seasonin'. 'Simmons ain't good twel dey
*er fros'-bit.

Watch out M^'en you'er gittin all you want. Fat'
tenin' hogs ain't in luck.

HIS SONGS

REVIVAL HYMN

Oh, whar shill we go w*en de great

day comes,
Wid de blowin' er de tnimpits en de
bangin' er de drums?
How many po' sinners'll be kotched out late
En fine no latch ter de golden gate?

No use fer ter wait twel ter-morrer!
De sun musn't set on yo' sorrer,
Sin's ez sharp ez a bamboo-brier—
Oh, Lord! fetch de mo'ners up higher!

Wen de nashuns er de earf is a stan'in all aroun*.

Who's a gv/ineter be choosen fer ter w'ar de glory-
crown?

Who's a gwine fer ter stan' stiff-kneed en bol'.

En answer to der name at de callin' er de roll?
You better come now ef you comin'—
Ole Satun is loose en a bummin'—
De wheels er distmckshun is a hummin'—
Oh, come long, sinner, ef you comin'!
1S3

184 HIS SONGS

De song er salvashun is a mighty sweet song,

En de Pairidise win' blow fur en blow strong.

En Aberham's bosom, hit's saft en hit's wide.

En right dar's de place whar de sinners oughter hidel

Oh, you nee'nter be a stoppin' en a lookin';

Ef you fool wid ole Satun you'll git took in;

You'll hang on de aidge en get shook in,

Ef you keep on a stoppin' en a lookin'.

De time is right now, en dish yer's de place-
Let de sun er salvashun shine squar' in yo' face;
Fight de battles er de Lord, fight soon en fight latei
En you'll allers fine a latch ter de golden gate.
No use fer ter wait twel ter-morrer,
De sun musn't set on yo' sorrer—
Sin's ez sharp ez a bamboo-brier.
Ax de Lord fer ter fetch you up higherl

n

CAMP-MEETING SONG"*

Oh, de worril is roun' en de worril is wide—
LordI 'member deze chillun in de mornin'-

* In the days of slavery, the rehgious services held by the
negroes who accompanied their owners to the camp-meetings were
marvels of earnestness and devotion.

CAMP-MEETING SONG 185

Hit's a mighty long ways up de mountain side,
En dey ain't no place fer dem sinners fer ter hide,
En dey ain't no place whar sin kin abide,
Wen de Lord shill come in de mornin'l
Look up en look aroun'.
Fling yo' burden on de groun'.
Hit's a gittin' mighty close on ter momin"!
Smoove away sin's frown-
Retch up en git de crown,
Wat de Lord will fetch in de momin'!

De han' er ridem'shun, hit's hilt out ter you—
Lord! 'member dem sinners in de momin'!
Hit's a mighty pashent han', but de days is but fr^v.
Wen Satun, he'll come a demandin' un his due.
En de stiff-neck sinners '11 be smotin' all fm—
Oh, you better git ready fer de mornin'l
Look up en set yo' face
Todes de green hills er grace
To' de sun rises up in de momin'—
Oh, you better change yo' base.
Hits yo' soul's las' race
Fer de glory dat's a comin' in de mornin'l

De farmer gits ready w'en de lan's all plowed

Fer ter sow dem seeds in de mornin'—
De sperrit may be puny en de flesh may be proud.
But you better cut loose fum de scoffin' crowd.

186 HIS SONGS

En jine dese Christuns w'at's a cryin' out loud
Fer de Lord fer ter come in de momin'l
Shout loud en shout long,
Let de ekkoes ans'er strong,
Wen de sun rises up in de momin'l
Oh, you allers will be wrong
Twel you choose ter belong
Ter de Marster w'at's a comin' in de momin'l

m

CORN-SHUCKING SONG

Oh, de fus news you know de day '11 be a breakin'-

(Hey O! Hi OI Up n down de Bango! *^ )
An' de fier be a burnin' en' de ash-cake a bakin',

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
An' de hen'll be a hollerin' en de boss '11 be a wakin'-

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Better git up, nigger, en give yo'se'f a shakin'—

(HiO, Miss Sindy Ann!)

Oh, honey! w'en you see dem ripe stars a fallin'—
(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)

* So far as I know, "Bango" is a meaningless term, introduced
on account of its sonorous ruggedness.

CORN-SHUCKING SONG 187

Oh, honeyf w'en you year de rain-crow a callin'—
(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)

Oh, honey! w'en you year dat red calf a bawlin'—
(Hey O! Hi OI Up'n down de Bango!)

Den de day time's, a creepin' en a crawlin'—
(HiO, Miss Sindy Ann!)

Fer de los' ell en yard * is a huntin' fer de momin',

(Hi O! git 'long! go way!)
En she'll ketch up widdus 'fo' we ever git dis com in—'

(Oh, go 'way, Sindy Ann!)

Oh, honey! w'en you year dat tin horn a tootin'—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Oh, honey, w'en you year de squinch owl a hootin'—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Oh, honey! w'en you year dem little pigs a rootin'—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Right den she's a comin' a skippin' en a scootin'—

(HiO, Miss Sindy Ann!)

Oh, honey, w'en you year dat roan mule whicker—
(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)

W'en you see Mister Moon turnin' pale en gittin'
sicker—
(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)

* The sword and belt in the constellation of Orion.

188 HIS SONGS

Den hit's time f er ter handle dat com a little quicker—
(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)

Ef you wanter git a smell er old Marster's jug er
licker—
(Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)

Fer de los' ell en yard is a huntin' fer de momin'

(Hi O! git 'long! go way!)
En she'll ketch up widdus 'fo' we ever git dis com in—

( Oh, go 'way, Sindy Ann! )
You niggers 'cross dar! you better stop your dancin'—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
No use fer ter come a flingin' un yo' "sha'n'ts" in—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
No use fer ter come a flingin' mi yo' "can't's" in—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Kaze dey ain't no time fer yo' pattin' ner yo' prancin'l

(HiO, Miss Sindy Ann!)

Mr. Rabbit see de Fox, en he sass um en jaws urn-

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Mr. Fox ketch de Rabbit, en he scratch um en he
claws um—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
En he tar off de hide, en he chaws um en he gnyaws
um—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Same like gal chawin' sweet gum en rozzum—

(Hi O, Miss Sindy Ann!)

CORN-SHUCKING SONG 189

Fer de los' ell en yard is a huntin' fer de momin

(Hi O! git 'long! go way!)
En she'll ketch up widdus 'fo' we ever git dis com in- •
( Oh, go 'way, Sindy Ann! )

Oh, work on, boys! give deze shucks a mighty
wringin'—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)
Fo' de boss come aroun' a dangin' en a dingin'—

(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)

Git up en move aroun'! set dem big ban's ter swingin*--
(Hey O! Hi O! Up'n down de Bango!)

Git up'n shout loud! let de w'ite folks year you singin".
(HiO, Miss Sindy Ann!)

Fer de los' ell en yard is a huntin' fer de momin'

(Hi O! git 'long! go 'way!)
En she'll ketch up widdus 'fo' we ever git dis com in.

(Oh, go 'way Sindy Ann!)

190 ms SONGS

IV

THE PLOUGH-HANDS' SONG

(Jasper CotnsrTY— 1860.)

Nigger mighty happy w'en he lay in' by co'n—

Dat sun's a slantin';
Nigger mighty happy w'en he year de dinner-ho'n—

Dat sun's a slantin';
En he mo' happy still w'en de night draws on—

Dat sun's a slantin';
Dat sun's a slantin' des ez sho's you bo'n!

En it's rise up, Primus! fetch anudder yell:
Dat ole dun cow's des a shakin' up 'er bell,
En de frogs chunin' up 'fo' de jew done fell:
Good-night, Mr. Killdee! I wish you mighty well!
—Mr. Killdee! I wish you mighty well!
—I wish you mighty well!

De co'n '11 be ready 'g'inst dumplin day—

Dat sun's a slantin';
But nigger gotter watch, en stick, en stay—

Dat sun's a slantin';
Same ez de bee-martin watchin' un de jay—

Dat sun's a slantin';
Dat sun's a slantin' en a slippin' awayl

Den it's rise up. Primus! en gin it t'um strong;
De cow's gwine home wid der ding-dang-dong—

CHRISTMAS PLAY-SONG 191

Sling in anudder tetch er de ole-time song:
Good-night, Mr. Whippenoill! don't stay long!
—Mr. WhipperwiU! don't stay long!
—Don't stay long!

V

CHRISTMAS PLAY-SONG

(Myrick Place, Putnam County— 1858.)

Hi my rinktiim! Black gal sweet,

Same like goodies w'at de w'ite folks eat;

Ho my Rileyl don't you taken tell 'er name,

En den ef sumpin' happen you won't ketch de blame;

Hi my rinktum! better take'n hide yo' plum;

Toree don't holler eve'v time he fine a wum.

Den it's hi my rinktum!
Don't git no udder man;

En it's ho my Riley!

Fetch out Miss Dilsey Ann!

Ho my Riley! Yaller gal fine;

She may be yone but she oughter be mine!

Hi my rinktum! Lemme git by,

En see w'at she mean by de cut er dat eye!

Ho my Riley! better shet dat do'—

De w'ite folks '11 b'leeve we er t'arin up de flo\

192 ms SONGS

Den it's ho my Rileyl

Come a siftin' up ter mel

En it's hi my rinktum!

Dis de way ter twis' yo' kneel

Hi my rinktum I Ain't de eas' gittin' red?

De squinch owl shiver Hke he wanter go ter bed;

Ho my Riley! but de gals en de boys,

Des now gittin' so dey kin sorter make a noise.

Hi my rinktum! let de yaller gal 'lone;

Niggers don't hanker arter sody in de pone.

Den it's hi my rinktum!

Better try anudder plan;
An' it's ho my Riley!

Trot out Miss Dilsey AnnH

Ho my Riley! In de happy Chrismus' time
De niggers shake der cloze a huntin' fer a dime
Hi my rinktum! En den dey shake der feci".
En greaze derse'f wid de good ham meat.
Ho my Riley! dey eat en dey cram,
En bimeby ole Miss '11 be a sendin' out de dram.
Den it's ho my Riley!

You hear dat, Sam!
En it's hi my rinktum!

Be a sendin' out de drami

PLANTATION PLAY-SONG

193

VI

PLANTATION PLAY-SONG

(Putnam County— 1856.)

Hrr^s a gittin' mighty late, w'en de Guinny-hins

squall,
En you better dance now, ef you gwineter dance a

tall,
Fer by dis time ter-morrer night you can't hardly

crawl,
Kaze you'll hatter
take de hoe ag'in
3n likewise de
maul—
Don't you hear dat
bay colt a kickin'
in his stall?
Stop yo' humpin' up
yo' sho'lders—
Dat'll never dol
Hop light, ladies,

Oh, Miss Lool
Hit takes a heap er scrougin'

Fer ter git you thoo—
Hop light, ladies.
Oh, Miss Lool

194 ms SONGS

Ef you niggers don't watch, you'll sing anudder

chune,
Fer de sun'U rise'n ketch you ef you don't be mighty

soon;
En de stars is gittin' paler, en de ole gray coon
Is a settin' in de grape-vine a watchin' fer de moon.
Wen a feller comes a knockin'

Des holler— O/i, shoo!
Hop light, ladies,

Oh, Miss Loo!
Oh, swing dat yaller gall

Do, bovs, do!
Hop light, ladies,
Oh, Miss Loo!

Oh, tu'n me loose! Lemme 'lone! Go way, now!
Wat you speck I come a dancin' fer ef I dunno how?
Deze de ve'y kinder footses w'at kicks up a row;
Can't you jump inter de middle en make yo' gal a
bow?

Look at dat merlatter man

A follerin' up Sue;
Hop light, ladies.

Oh, Miss Loo!
De boys ain't a gwine

Wen you cry boo hoo—
Hop light, ladies.
Oh, Miss Loo!

TRANSCRIPTIONS

vn

TRANSCRIPTIONS *
1. A Plantation Chant

195

Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-fo',
Christ done open dat He'v'mly do'—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer;
Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-five,
Christ done made dat dead man ahve—
An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.
You ax me ter run home,

Little childun—
Run home, dat sun done roll—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.

Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-six,
Christ is got us a place done fix—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer;
Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-sev'm
Christ done sot a table in Hev'm—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.

* If these are adaptations from songs the negroes have caught
from the whites, their origin is very remote. I have transcribed
them hterally, and I regard them as in the highest degree char-
acteristic.

196 ms SONGS

You ax me ter run home.

Little childun—
Run home, dat sun done roll—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.

Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-eight,
Christ done make dat crooked way straight—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer;
Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-nine,
Christ done tu'n dat water inter wine—
An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.
You ax me ter run home.

Little childun—
Run home, dat sun done roll—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.

Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-ten,
Christ is de mo'ner's onliest fr'en'—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer;
Hit's eighteen hunder'd forty-en-'lev'm,
Christ'll be at de do' w'en we all git ter Hev'm—
An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.
You ax me ter run home.

Little childun—
Run home, dat sun done roll—

An' I don't wanter stay yer no longer.

TRANSCRIPTIONS 197

2. A Plantation
Serenade

De ole bee make de honey-
comb,
De young bee make de
honey,
De niggers make de cotton en
co'n,
En de w'ite folks gits de
money.

De raccoon he's a cu'us man.

He never walk twel dark.
En nuthin' never 'sturbs his mine,

Twel he hear ole Bringer bark.

De raccoon totes a bushy tail,

De 'possum totes no ha'r,
Mr. Rabbit, he come skippin' by.

He ain't got none ter spar'.

Monday mornin' break er day,

W'ite folks got me gwine,
But Sat'dy night, w'en de sun goes down

Dat yaller gal's in my mine.

Fifteen poun' er meat a week,

W'isky fer ter sell,
Oh, how can a young man stay at home,

Dem gals dey look so well?

198 ras SONGS

Met a 'possum in de road—

Brer 'Possum, wliar you gwine?

I thank my stars, I bless my life,
I'm a huntin' fer de muscadine.

vm
THE BIG BETHEL CHUBCH

De Big Bethel chu'ch! de Big Bethel chu'chi

Done put ole Satun behine um;
Ef a sinner git loose fum enny udder chu'ch,

De Big Betliel chu'ch will fine uml

Hit's good ter be dere, en it's sweet ter be dere»

Wid de sisterin' all aroun' you—
A shakin' dem shackles er mussy en' love

Wharwid de Lord is boun' you.

Hit's sweet ter be dere en lissen ter de hymes,

En hear dem mo'ners a shoutin'—
Dey done reach de place whar der ain't no room

Fer enny mo' weepin' en doubtin'.

Hit's good ter be dere w'en de sinners all jine

Wid de brudderin in dere singin',
En it look like Gaberl gwine ter rack up en blow

En set dem heav'm bells ter ringin'l

TIME GOES BY TURNS 199

Oh, de Big Bethel chu'ch! de Big Bethel chu'ch,

Done put ole Satim behine um;
Ef a sinner git loose fiim enny udder chu'ch

De Big Betliel chu'ch will fine uml

IX
TIME GOES BY TURNS

Dar's a pow'ful rassle 'twix de Good en de Bad,
En de Bad's got de ail-under holt;

En w'en de wuss come, she come i'on-clad,
En you hatter hole yo' bref fer de jolt.

But des todes de las' Good gits de knee-lock.
En dey draps ter de groun—ker flop!

Good had de inturn, en he stan' like a rock.
En he bleedzd fer ter be on top.

De dry wedder breaks wid a big thunder-clap,
Fer dey ain't no drout' w'at kin las',

But de seasons w'at whoops up de cotton crap.
Likewise dey freshens up de grass.

De rain fall so saf in de long dark night,
Twel you hatter hole yo' han' fer a sign,

But de drizzle w'at sets de tater-slips right
Is de makin' er de May-pop vine.

200

mS SONGS

In de mellerest groun' de clay root'll ketcb
En hole ter de tongue er de plow,

En a pine-pole gate at de gyardin-patch
Never'U keep out de ole brindle cow.

One en all on us knows who's a puUin' at de bits
Like de lead-mule dat g'ides by de rein,

En yit, somehow er nudder, de bestest un us gits
Mighty sick er de tuggin' at de chain.

Hump yo'se'f ter de load en fergit de distress.

En dem w'at stan's by ter scoff,
Fer de harder de pullin', de longer de res'.

En de bigger de feed in de troff.

A STORY OF THE WAR

A STORY OF THE WAR

When Miss Theodosia Huntingdon, of Burlington,
Vermont, concluded to come South in 1870, she was
moved by three considerations. In the first place, her
brother, John Huntingdon, had become a citizen of
Georgia— having astonished his acquaintances by
marrying a young lady, the male members of whose
family had achieved considerable distinction in the
Confederate army; in the second place, she was
anxious to explore a region which she almost uncon-
sciously pictured to herself as remote and semi-

203

204 A STORY OF THE WAB

barbarous; and, in the third place, her friends had
persuaded her that to some extent she was an invaUd.
It was in vain that she argued with herself as to the
propriety of undertaking the journey alone and un-
protected, and she finally put an end to inward and
outward doubts by informing herself and her friends.
Including John Huntingdon, her brother, who was
practicing law in Atlanta, tliat she had decided to
visit the South.

When, therefore, on the 12th of October, 1870-
the date is duly recorded in one of Miss Theodosia's
letters— she alighted from the cars in Atlanta, in the
midst of a great crowd, she fully expected to find her
brother waiting to receive her. The bells of several
locomotives were ringing, a number of trains were
moving in and out, and the porters and baggage-men
were screaming and bawling to such an extent that
for several moments Miss Huntingdon was consider-
ably confused; so much so that she paused in the
hope that her brother would suddenly appear and
rescue her from the smoke, and dust, and din. At
that moment some one touched her on the arm, and
she heard a strong, half-confident, half-apologetic
voice exclaim:

"Ain't dish yer Miss Doshy?"

Turning, Miss Theodosia saw at her side a tall,
gray-haired negro. Elaborating the incident afterward
to her friends, she was pleased to say that the appear-

A STORY OF THE WAR 205

ance of the old man was somewhat picturesque. He
stood towering above her, his hat in one hand, a car-
riage-whip in the other, and an expectant smile light-
ing up his rugged face. She remembered a name her
brother had often used in his letters, and, with a
woman's tact, she held out her hand, and said:

"Is this Uncle Remus?"

"Law, Miss Doshyl how you know de ole nigger?
I know'd you by de faver; but how you know me?"
And then, without waiting for a reply: "Miss Sally,
she sick in bed, en Mars John, he bleedzd ter go in de
country, en dey tuck'n sont me. I know'd you de
minnit I laid eyes on you. Time I seed you, I say ter
myse'f, 1 lay dar's Miss Doshy,' en, sho nuflF, dar
you wuz. You ain't gun up yo' checks, is you? Kaze
I'll git de trunk sont up by de 'spress waggin."

The next moment Uncle Remus was elbowing his
way unceremoniously through the crowd, and in a
very short time, seated in the carriage driven by the
old man. Miss Huntingdon was whirling through the
streets of Atlanta in the direction of her brother's
home. She took advantage of the opportunity to study
the old negro's face closely, her natural curiosity con-^
siderably sharpened by a knowledge of the fact that
Uncle Remus had played an important part in her
brother's history. The result of her observation must
have been satisfactory, for presently she laughed, and
said:

206 A STORY OF THE WAR

"Uncle Remus, you haven't told me liow you knew
me in that great crowd."

The old man chuckled, and gave the horses a gentle
rap with the whip.

"Who? Me! I know'd you by de faver. Dat boy er
Mars John's is de ve'y spit en immij un you. I'd a
know'd you in New 'Leens, let 'lone down dar in de
kyar-shed."

This was Miss Theodosia's introduction to Uncle
Remus. One Sunday afternoon, a few weeks after her
arrival, the family were assembled in the piazza en-
joying the mild weatlier. Mr. Huntingdon was read-
ing a newspaper; his wife was crooning softly as she
rocked the baby to sleep; and the little boy was en-
deavoring to show his Aunt Dosia the outlines of
Kenesaw Mountain through the purple haze that
hung like a wonderfully fashioned curtain in the sky
and almost obliterated the horizon. While they were
thus engaged, Uncle Remus came around the comer
of the house, talking to himself.

"Dey er too lazy ter wuk," he was saying, "en dey
specks hones' fokes fer ter stan' up en s'port um. I'm
gwine down ter Putmon County whar Mars Jeems is
— dat's w'at I'm agwine ter do."

"What's the matter now, Uncle Remus?" inquired
Mr. Huntingdon, folding up his newspaper.

"Nuthin' 'tall. Mars John, 'ceppin deze yer sun-
shine niggers. Dey begs my terbacker, en borrys my

A STORY OF THE WAR

207

tools, en steals my vittles, en hit's done come ter dat
pass dat I gotter pack up en go. I'm agwine down ter
Putmon, dat's w'at."

Uncle Remus was accustomed to make this threat
several times a day, but upon this occasion it seemed
to remind Mr. Huntingdon of something.

"Very well," he said, "I'll come around and help
you pack up, but before you go I want you to tell
Sister here how you went to war and fought for the
Union.— Remus was a famous warrior," he continued,
turning to Miss Theodosia; "he volunteered for one
day, and commanded an army of one. You know the
story, but you have never heard Remus's version."

Uncle Remus shufiBed around in an awkward, em-
barrassed way, scratched his head, and looked un-
comfortable.

"Miss Doshy ain't got no time fer ter set dar an
year de ole nigger run on."

"Oh, yes, I have, Uncle Remusl" exclaimed the
young lady; "plenty of time."

The upshot of it was that, after many ridiculous
protests, Uncle Remus sat down on the steps, and
proceeded to tell his story of the war. Miss Theodosia
hstened with great interest, but throughout it all she
observed— and she was painfully conscious of the fact,
as she afterward admitted— that Uncle Remus spoke
from the standpoint of a Southerner, and with the air

208 A STORY OF THE WAR

of one who expected his hearers to thoroughly sym-
pathize with him.

"Co'se," said Uncle Remus, addressing himself to
Miss Theodosia, "you ain't bin to Putmon, en you
dunner whar de Brad Slaughter place en Harmony
Grove is, but Mars John en Miss Sally, dey bin dar
a time er two, en dey knows how de Ian' lays. Well,
den, it 'uz right 'long in dere whar Mars Jeems lived,
en whar he live now. When de war come 'long he
wuz livin' dere longer Ole Miss en Miss Sally. Ole
Miss 'uz his ma, en Miss Sally dar 'uz his sister. De
war come des like I tell you, en marters sorter rock
along same like dey allers did. Hit didn't strike me
dat dey wuz enny war gwine on, en ef I hadn't sorter
miss de nabers, en seed fokes gwine outer de way fer
ter ax de news, I'd a 'lowed ter myse'f dat de war wuz
'way off 'mong some yuther country. But all dis time
de fuss wuz gwine on, en Mars Jeems, he wuz des
eatchin' fer ter put in. Ole Miss en Miss Sally, dey
tuck on so he didn't git off de fus' year, but bimeby
news come down dat times \\tiz gittin' putty hot, en
Mars Jeems he got up, he did, en say he gotter go,
en go he did. He got a overseer fer ter look atter
de place, en he went en jined de army. En he 'uz a
fighter, too, mon. Mars Jeems wuz. Maiiy's en many's
de time," continued the old man, reflectively, "dat I
hatter take'n bresh dat boy on accounter his 'buzin'
en beatin' dem vuther bo vs. He went off dar fer ter

A STORY OF THE WAR 209

fight, en he fit. Ole Miss useter call me up Sunday
en read w'at de papers say 'bout Mars Jeems, en it
hope 'er up might'ly. I kin see *er des hke it 'uz
yistiddy.

" 'Remus/ sez she, 'dish yer's w'at de papers say
'bout my baby,' en den she'd read out twel she
couldn't read fer cryin'. Hit went on dis way year in
en year out, en dem wuz lonesome times, sho's you
bawn. Miss Doshy— lonesome times, sho. Hit got
hotter en hotter in de war, en lonesomer en mo' lone-
somer at home, en bimeby 'long come de conscrip'
man, en he des everlas'nly scoop up Mars Jeems's
overseer. Wen dis come 'bout, ole Miss, she sont
atter me en say, sez she:

" 'Remus, I ain't got nobody fer ter look arter de
place but you,' sez she, en den I up'n say, sez I:

" 'Mistiss, you kin des 'pen' on de ole nigger.'

"I wuz ole den. Miss Doshy— let 'lone w'at I is
now; en you better b'leeve I bossed dem ban's. I had
dem niggers up en in de fiel' long 'fo' day, en de way
dey did wuk wuz a caution. Ef dey didn't eamt der
vlttles dat season den I ain't name Remus. But dey
wuz tuk keer un. Dey had plenty er cloze en plenty
er grub, en dey wuz de fattes' niggers in de settle-
ment.

"Bimeby one day, Ole Miss, she call me up en say
de Yankees done gone en tuck Atlanty— dish yer ve'y
town; den present'y I year dey wuz a marchin' on

210 A STORY OF THE WAR

down todes Putmon, en, lo en beholesi one day, de
fus news I know'd, Mars Jeems he rid up wid a whole
gang er men. He des stop long nuflF fer ter change
hosses en snatch a mouffle er sump'n ter eat, but 'fo'
he rid oflF, he call me up en say, sez he:

"'Daddy— all Ole Miss's chilluns call me daddy
—'Daddy,' he say, "pears like dere's gwineter be
mighty rough times 'roun' yer. De Yankees, dey er
done got ter Madison en Mounticellar, en 'twon't be
many days 'fo' dey er down yer. 'Tain't likely dey '11
pester mother ner sister; but, daddy, ef de wus come
ter de wus, I speck you ter take keer un um,' sezee.

"Den I say, sez I: 'Hov/ long you bin knowin*
me, Mars Jeems?' sez I.

" 'Sence I wuz a baby,' sezee.

" 'Well, den. Mars Jeems,' sez I, *you know'd
'twa'nt no use fer ter ax me ter take keer Ole Miss en
Miss Sally.'

"Den he tuck'n squoze my han' en jump on de
filly I bin savin' fer 'im, en rid oif. One time he tu'n
Voun' en look like he wanter say sump'n', but he des
waf his han'— so— en gallop on. I know'd den dat
trouble wuz brewin'. Nigger dat knows he's gwineter
git thumped kin sorter fix hisse'f, en I tuck'n fix up
like de war wuz gwineter come right in at de front
gate. I tuck'n got all de cattle en hosses tergedder en
driv' um ter de fo'-mile place, en I tuck all de corn en
fodder en w'eat, en put um in a crib out dar in de

A STORY OF THE WAR 211

woods; en I bilt me a pen in de swamp, en dar I put
de hogs. Den, w'en I fix all dis, I put on m) Sunday
cloze en groun' my axe. Two whole days I groun' dat
axe. De grinestone wuz in sight er de gate en close
ter de big 'ouse, en dar I tuck my stan'.

"Bimeby one day, yer come de Yankees. Two un
um come fus, en den de whole face er de yeath
swawm'd wid um. De fus glimpse I kotch un um,
I tuck my axe en march inter Ole Miss settin'-room.
She done had de sidebode move in dar, en I wish I
may drap ef 'twuzn't fa'rly blazin' wid silver— silver
cups en silver sassers, silver plates en silver dishes,
silver mugs en silver pitchers. Look like ter me dey
wuz fixin' fer a weddin'. Dar sot Ole Miss des ez
prim en ez proud ez ef she own de whole county.
Dis kinder hope me up, kaze I done seed Ole Miss
look dat away once befo' w'en de overseer struck me
in de face wid a w'ip. I sot down by de fier wid my
axe 'tween my knees. Dar we sot w'iles de Yankees
ransack de place. Miss Sally, dar, she got sorter rest
less, but Ole Miss didn't skasely bat 'er eyes. Bimeby,
we hear steps on de peazzer, en yer come a couple
er young fellers wid strops on der shoulders, en dei
sodes a draggin' on de flo', en der spurrers a rattlin'.
I won't say I wuz skeer'd," said Uncle Remus, as
though endeavoring to recall something he failed to
remember, "I won't say I wuz skeer'd, kaze I wuz-
ent; but I wuz took'n wid a mighty funny feelin'

212 A STORY OF THE WAR

in de naberhood er de gizzard. Dey wuz mighty
perlite, dem young chaps wuz; but Ole Miss, she
never tu'n 'er head, en Miss Sally, she look straight
at de fier. Bimeby one un um see me, en he say,
sezee:

" 'Hello, ole man, w*at you doin' in yer?' sezee.

" 'V/ell, boss,' sez I, *I bin cuttin' some wood fer
Ole Miss, en I des stop fer ter worn my ban's a little,*
sez I.

" 'Hit is cole, dat*s a fack,' sezee.

"Wid dat I got up en tuck my stan' behime Ole
Miss en Miss Sally, en de man w'at speak, he went up
en wom his ban's. Fus thing you know, he raise up
sudden, en say, sezee:

" 'W'at dat on yo' axe?'

" 'Dat's de fier shinin' on it,' sez I.

" 'Hit look like blood,' sezee, en den he laft.

"But, bless yo' soul, dat man wouldn't never laft
dat day ef he'd know'd de wukkins er Remus's mine.
But dey didn't bodder nobody ner tech nuthin', en
bimeby dey put out. Well, de Yankees, dey kep'
passin' all de mawnin' en it look like ter me dey wu^
a string un um ten mile long. Den dey commence
gittin' tliinner en thinner, en den atter w'ile we hea','
skummishin' in de naberhood er Armer's fe'y, en Ole
Miss 'low how dat wuz Wheeler's men makin' persoot.
Mars Teems wuz wid dem Wheeler fellers, en I

A STORY OF THE WAR 213

know'd ef dey wuz dat close I wa'n't doin' no good
settin' roun' de house toas n my shins ut de fier, so I
des tuck Mars Jeems's rifle fum behime de do' en put
out ter look atter my stock.

"Seem like I ain t never see no raw day like dat,
needer befo' ner S3nce. Dey wa'n't no rain, but de
wet des sifted down; mighty raw day. De leaves on
de groun' 'uz so wet dey don't make no fuss, en I got
in de woods, en w'enever I year de Yankees gwine
by, I des stop in my tracks en let un pass. I wuz
stan'in' dat away in de aidge er de woods lookin' out
cross a clearin', w'en—piff!—out come a little bunch
er blue smoke fum de top er wunner dem big lone-
some-lookin' pines, en den— pou;.^

"Sez I ter myse'f, sez I: 'Honey, youer right on
my route, en I'll des see w'at kinder bird you got
roostin' in you,' en w'iles I wuz a lookin' out bus' de
smoke— piff! en den— bang! Wid dat I des drapt back
inter de woods, en sorter skeerted 'roun' so's ter git
de tree 'twixt' me en de road. I slid up putty close,
en wadder you speck I see? Des ez sho's youer settin*
dar lissenin' dey wuz a live Yankee up dar in dat
tree, en he wuz a loadin' en a shootin' at de boys dez
ez cool es a cowcumber in de jew, en he had his hoss
hitch out in de bushes, kaze I year de creetur tromp-
lin' 'roun'. He had a spy-glass up dar, en w'iles I wu?
a watchin' un 'im, he raise 'er up en look thoo 'er, en

214 A STORY OF THE WAR

den he lay ct down en fix his gun fer ter shoot. 1 had
good eyes in dem days, ef I ain't got um now, en
'way up de big road I see Mars Jeems a comin'. Hit
wuz too fur fer ter see his face, but I know'd 'im by
de filly w'at I raise fer 'im, en she wuz a prancin'
like a school-gal. I know'd dat man wuz gwineter
shoot Mars Jeems ef he could, en dat wuz mo'n I
could Stan'. Manys en manys de time dat I nuss dat
boy, en hilt 'im in dese arms, en toted 'im on dis
back, en w'en I see dat Yankee lay dat gun 'cross a
lim' en take aim at Mars Jeems I up wid my ole rifle,
en shet my eyes en let de man have all she had."

"Do you mean to say," exclaimed Miss Theodosia,
indignantly, "that you shot the Union soldier, when
you knew he was fighting for your freedom?"

"Co'se, I know all about dat," responded Uncle
Remus, "en it sorter made cole chills run up my
back; but w'en I see dat man take aim, en Mars
Jeems gwine home ter Ole Miss en Miss Sally, I des
disremembered all 'bout freedom en lammed aloose.
En den atter dat, me en Miss Sally tuck en nuss de
man right straight along. He los' one arm in dat tree
bizness, but me en Miss Sally we nuss 'im en we nuss
'im twel he done got well. Des 'bout dat time I quit
nuss'n 'im, but Miss Sally she kep' on. She kep' on,"
continued Uncle Remus, pointing to Mr. Huntingdon,
"en DOW dar he is."

A STORY OF THE WAR 215

"But you cost him an arm," exclaimed Miss Theo-
dosia.

"I gin 'im dem," said Uncle Remus, pointing to
Mrs. Huntingdon, "en I gin 'im deze"— holding up
his own brawny arms. "En ef dem ain't nuff fer
enny man den I done los' de way."

HIS SAYINGS

JEEMS ROBER'SON'S LAST ILLNESS

A JoNESBORO negro, while waiting for tlie train to
go out, met up with Uncle Remus. After the usual
"time of day" had been passed between the two, the
former inquired about an acquaintance.

"How's Jeems Rober son?" he asked.

"Ain't you year 'bout Jim?" asked Uncle Remus.

"Dat I ain't," responded
the other; "I ain't hear talk
er Jem sence he cut loose
fum de chain-gang. Dat w'at
make I ax. He ain't down
wid de biliousness, is he?" .

"Not dat I knows un," re- •^
sponded Uncle Remus,
gravely. "He ain't sick, an'
he ain't bin sick. He des
tuck'n say he wuz gwineter
ride dat ar roan mule er
Mars John's de udder Sun-
day, an' de mule, she up'n do

219

ig20 HIS SAYINGS

like she got nudder ingagement. I done bin fool wid
dat mule bef o', an' I tuck n tole Jim dat he better not
git tangle up wid 'er; but Jim, he up n 'low dat he
wuz a hoss-doctor, an* wid dat he ax me fer a chaw
terbarker, en den he got de bridle, en tuck'n kotch
de mule en got on her— Well," continued Uncle
Remus, looking uneasily around, "I speck you better
go git yo* ticket. Dey tells me dish yer train goes a
callyhootin'."

"Hole on dar, Uncle Remus; you ain't tell me 'bout
Jim," exclaimed the Jonesboro negro.

"I done tell you all I knows, chile. Jim, he tuck'n
light on de mule, an' de mule she up'n hump 'erse'f,
an den dey wuz a skuffle, an' w'en de dus' blow 'way,
dar lay de nigger on de groun', an' de mule she stood
eatin' at de troflF wid wunner Jim's gallusses wrop
'roun' her behime-leg. Den atterwuds^ de ker'ner, he
come 'roun', an' he tuck'n gin it out dat Jim died
sorter accidental like. Hit's des like I tell you: de
nigger wem't sick a minnit. So long! Bimeby you
won't ketch yo* train. I got ter be knockin" long."

n

UNCLE REMUS'S CHURCH EXPERIENCE

The deacon of a colored church met Uncle Remus
recently, and, after some iminteresting remarks about
the weather, asked:

UNCLE REMUS'S CHURCH EXPERIENCE 221

"How dis you don't come down ter chu ch no mo'.
Brer Remus? We er bin er havin' some mighty
'freshen' times lately."

"Hit's bin a long time sence I bin down dar, Brei
Rastus, an' hit'll be longer. I done got my dose."

"You ain't done gone an' unjined, is you, Brei
Remus?"

"Not zackly, Brer Rastus, I des tuck'n draw'd out.
De members 'uz a blame sight too mutuel fer ter suit
my doctrines."

"How wuz dat, Brer Remus?"

"Well, I tell you. Brer Rastus. Wen I went ter
dat chu'ch, I went des ez umbill ez de nex' one. I
went dar fer ter sing, an' fer ter pray, an' fer ter
wushup, an' I mos' giner'lly allers had a stray shin-
plarster w'ich de ole 'oman say she want sont out dar
ter dem cullud fokes 'cross de water. Hit went on dis
way twel bimeby, one day, de fus news I know'd der
was a row got up in de amen comder. Brer Dick, he
'nounced dat dey wem't nuff money in de box; an'
Brer Sim said if dey wern't he speck Brer Dick
know'd whar it disappeared ter; an' den Brer Dick
'low'd dat he won't stan' no 'probusness, an' wid dat
he haul off an' tuck Brer Sim under de jaw—ker hlap!
—an' den dey clinched an' drapped on de flo' an' fout
under de benches an' 'mong de wimmen.

"'Bout dat time Sis Tempy, she lipt up in de a'r,
an* sing out dat she done gone an tromple on de Ole

222

mS SAYINGS

Boy, an' she kep' on lippin' up an' slingin' out 'er
ban's tA\'el hknehy— blip!— she tuck Sis Becky in de

mouf, an' den Sis Becky riz
an' fetch a grab at Sis
Tempy, an' I 'clar' ter
grashus ef didn't 'pear ter
me hke she got a poun' er
wool. Atter dat de revlvin*
sorter het up like. Bofe un
um had kin 'mong de
mo'ners, an' ef you ever see
skufflin' an' scramblin' hit
wuz den an' dar. Brer
Jeems Henry, he mounted
Brer Plato an' rid 'im over de railin', an' den de
preacher he start down fum de pulpit, an' des ez he
wuz skippin' outer de flatform a hyme-book kotch
'im in de bur er de year, an' I be bless ef it didn't
soun' like a bung-shell'd busted. Des den, Brer Jesse,
he riz up in his seat, sorter keerless like, an' went
down inter his britches atter his razer, an' right den
I know'd sho' nuff trubble wuz begun. Sis Dilsey,
she seed it herse'f, an' she tuck'n let off wunner dem
hallyluyah hollers, an' den I disremember w'at come
ter pass.

"I'm gittin' sorter ole. Brer Rastus, an' it seem hke
de dus' sorter shet out de pannyrammer. Fuddermo',
IDV lim's got ter akin, mo' speshuUy w'en I year Brer

UNCLE REMUS'S CHURCH EXPERIENCE 223

Sim an' Brer Dick a snortin' and a skufiBin' under de
benches like ez dey wuz sorter makin' der way ter my
pew. So I kinder hump myse'f an' scramble out, and
de fus man w'at I seed was a p'leeceman, an' he had
a nigger 'rested, an' de fergiven name er dat nigger
wuz Remus."

"He didn't 'res' you, did he. Brer Remus?"

"Hit's des like I tell you, Brer Rastus, an' I hatter
git Mars John fer to go inter my bon's fer me. Hit
ain't no use fer ter sing out chu'ch ter me. Brer Ras-
tus. I done bin an' got my dose. Wen I goes ter war,
I wanter know w'at I'm a doin'. I don't wanter git
hemmed up 'mong no wimmen and preachers. I
wants elbow-room, an' I'm bleedzd ter have it. Des
gimme elbow-room."

"But, Brer Remus, you ain't—"

"I mout drap in, Brer Rastus, an' den ag'in I
moutn't, but w'en you duz see me santer in de do',
wid my specs on, youk'n des say to de congergashun,
sorter familious like, *Yer come ole man Remus wid
his hoss-pistol, an' ef dar's much uv a skufSe 'roun'
yer dis evenin' youer gwineter year fum 'im.' Dat's
me, an' dat's what you kin tell um. So long! Member
me to Sis Abby."

224 HIS SAYINGS

m
UNCLE REMUS AND THE SAVANNAH DARKEY

The notable diflPerence existing between the
negroes in the interior of the cotton States and those
on the seaboard— a difference that extends to habits
and opinions as well as to dialect— has given rise to
certain ineradicable prejudices which are quick to
display themselves whenever an opportunity offers.
These prejudices were forcibly, as well as ludi-
crously, illustrated in Atlanta recently. A gentleman
from Savannah had been spending the summer in
the mountains of north Georgia, and found it con-
venient to take along a body-servant. This body-
servant was a very fine specimen of the average coast
negro— sleek, well-conditioned, and consequential-
disposed to regard with undisguised contempt every-
thing and everybody not indigenous to the rice-
growing region— and he paraded around the streets
with quite a curious and critical air. Espying Uncle
Remus languidly sunning himself on a corner, the
Savannah darkey approached.

"Mornin', sah."

"I'm sorter up an' about," responded Uncle Remus,
carelessly and calmly. "How is you stannin' it?"

"Tanky you, my belt mos' so-so. He mo' hot dun
in de mountain. Seem so lak man mus' git need *

* Underneath.

XJNCLE REMUS AND THE SAVANNAH DARKEY 225

de shade. I enty fer see no rice-bud in dis
pa'ts."

"In dis w'ich?" inquired Uncle Remus, with a
sudden affectation of interest.

"In dis pa'ts. In dis country.
Da plenty in Sawanny."

"Plenty whar?"

"Da plenty in Sawanny. I
enty fer see no crab an' no
oscher; en swimp, he no stay
roun'. I lak some rice-bud
now."

"Youer talkin' 'bout deze
yer sparrers, w'ich dey er all
head, en 'lev'm un makes one

mouffle,* I speck," suggested Uncle Remus. "Well,
dey er yer," he continued, "but dis ain't no climate
whar de rice-birds flies inter yo' pockets en gits out
de money an' makes de change derse'f; an' de isters
don't shuck off der shells en run over you on de
street, an' no mo' duz de s'imp hull derse'f an' drap
in yo' mouf. But dey er yer, dough. De scads '11
fetch um."

"Him po' country fer true," commented the Sa-
vannah negro-, "he no like Sawanny. Down da, we
set need de shade an' eaty de rice-bud, an' de crab, an'
de swimp tree time de day; an' de buckra man drinky

" MputhfuL

226 HIS SAYINGS

him wine, an' smoky him seegyar all troo de night,
plenty fer eat an' not much fer wuk."

"Hit's mighty nice, I speck," responded Uncle
Remus, gravely. "De nigger dat ain't hope up 'longer
high feedin' ain't got no grip. But up yer whar fokes
is gotter scramble 'roun' an' make der own livin', de
vittles wat's kumerlated widout enny sweatin' mos'
allers gener'lly b'longs ter some yuther man by rights.
One hoe-cake an' a rasher er middlin' meat las's me
fum Sunday ter Sunday, an' I'm in a mighty big
streak er luck w'en I gits dat."

The Savannah negro here gave utterance to a loud,
contemptuous laugh, and began to fumble somewhat
ostentatiously with a big brass watch-chain.

"But I speck I struck up wid a payin' job las'
Chuseday," continued Uncle Remus, in a hopeful tone.

"Wey you gwan do?"

"Oh, I'm a waitin' on a culled gemmun fum Sa-
vannah—wunner deze yer high livers you bin tellin*

TDOUt."

"How dat?"

"I loant 'im two dollars," responded Uncle Remus,
grimly, "an' I'm a waitin' on 'im fer de money. Hit's
wunner deze yer jobs w'at las's a long time."

The Savannah negro went off after his rice-birds,
while Uncle Remus leaned up against the wall and
laughed until he was in imminent danger of falling
down from sheer exhaustion.

TURNIP SALAD AS A TEXT

227

IV.
TURNIP SALAD AS A TEXT

As Uncle Remus was going down the street re-
cently he was accosted by several acquaintances.

"Heyo!" said one, "here comes Uncle Remus. He
look like he gwine fer ter set
up a bo'din-house."

Several others bantered the
old man, but he appeared to be
in a good humor. He was car-
rying a huge basket of vege- /^ilfl;
tables.

"How many er you boys,"
said he, as he put his basket
down, "is done a ban's turn dis
day? En yit de week's done
commence. I year talk er nig-
gers dat's got money in de bank,
but I lay hit ain't none er you
fellers. Whar you speck you gwineter git yo' dinner,
en how you speck you gwineter git 'long?"

"Oh, we sorter knocks 'roun' an' picks up a Hvin*,"
responded one.

"Dat's w'at make I say w'at I duz," said Uncle
Remus. "Fokes go 'bout in de day-time an' makes a
livin*, an' vou come 'long w'en dey er res'in' der bones

228 ms SAYINGS

an' picks it up. I ain't no han' at figgers, but I lay I
k'n count up right yer in de san' en number up how
menny days hitll be 'fo' you'er cuppled on ter de
chain-gang."

"De ole man's hoUer'n now sho'," said one of the
hsteners, gazing with admiration on the venerable
old darkey.

"I ain't takin' no chances 'bout vittles. Hit's
proned inter me fum de fus dat I got ter eat, en I
knows dat I got fer ter grub for w'at I gits. Hit's
agin de mor'l law fer niggers fer ter eat w'en dey
don't wuk, an' w'en you see um 'pariently fattenin' on
a'r, you k'n des bet dat ruinashun's gwine on some'rs.
I got mustard, en poke salid, en lam's quarter in dat
baskit, en me en my ole 'oman gwineter sample it, Ef
enny you boys git a invite you come, but ef you don't
you better stay 'way. I gotter muskit out dar w'at's
used ter persidin' 'roun' whar dey's a cripple nigger.
Don't you fergit dat oflF'n yo' mine."

V

A CONFESSION

^"W'at's dis yer I see, great big niggers gwine
lopin' 'roun' town wid cakes 'n pies fer ter sell?"
asked Uncle Remus recently, in his most scornful
tone.

A CONFESSION

229

"That's what they are doing," responded a young
man; "tliat's the way they make a hving."

"Dat w'at make I say w'at I duz— dat w'at keep
me grumlin' w'en I goes in cullud fokes s'ciety. Some
niggers ain't gwine ter wuk nohow, an' hit's flingin'
Vay time fer ter set enny chain-gang traps fer ter
ketch mn."

"Well, now, here!" exclaimed the young man, in a
dramatic tone, "what are you giving us now? Isn't it
just as honest and just as regular to sell pies as it is to
do any other kind of work?"

"'Tain't dat, boss," said the old man, seeing that
he was about to be cornered; "'tain't dat. Hit's de
nas'ness un it w'at gits me."

"Oh, get out!"

"Dat's me, boss, up an' down. Ef dere's minashun
ennywhar in de known wurril, she goes in de comp'ny
uv a hongry nigger w'at's a
totin' pies 'roun.' Sometimes
w'en I git kotch wid empti-
ness in de pit er de stum-
muck, an' git ter fairly
honin' arter sumpin' w'at
got substance in it, den hit
look like unto me dat I kin
Stan' flat-footed an' make •
more cle'r money eatin' pies
dan I could if I wuz ter sell

230 HIS SAYINGS

de las' one 'twixt dis an' Chrismus. An' de nigger w'at
k'n trapes 'round wid pies and not git in no alley-way
an' sample um, den I'm bleedzd ter say dat nigger
out-niggers me an' my fambly. So dar nowl"

VI

UNCLE REMUS WITH THE TOOTHACHE ■

When Uncle Remus put in an appearance one
morning recently, his friends knew he had been in
trouble. He had a red cotton handkerchief tied under
his chin, and the genial humor that usually makes his
aged face its dwelling-place had given way to an ex-
pression of grim melancholy. The young men about
the oflBce were inclined to chaff him, but his look of
sullen resignation remained unchanged.

"What revival did you attend last night?" inquired
one.

"What was the color of the mule that did the ham-
mering?" asked another.

"I always told the old man that a suburban chicken
coop would fall on him," remarked some one.

"A strange pig has been squealing in his ear," sug'
gested some one else.

But Uncle Remus remained impassive. He seemed
to have lost all interest in what was going on around
him, and he sighed heavily as he seated himself on the

UNCLE REMUS WITH THE TOOTHACHE

231

edge of the trash-box in front of the office. Finally
some one asked, in a sympathetic tone:

"What is the matter, old man? You look like you'd
been through tlie mill."

"Now you'er knockin' at de back do' sho'. Ef I
ain't bin dioo de mill
sence day 'fo' yis-
tiddy, den dey ain't
no mills in de Ian'.
Ef wunner deze yer
scurshun trains had
runned over me I
couldn't er bin wuss

off. I bin trompin' /mwy^p^i iWy^W^rfU'l'IY-O^
'roun' in de low- ^IWlmm'Mwm
grouns now gwme ^^^^^igl^^^^^^^^^T(y
on seventy-fi' year,
but I ain't see no sich

times ez dat w'at I done spe'unst now. Boss, is enny
er you all ever rastled wid de toofache?"

"Oh, hundreds of times 1 The toothache isn't any-
thing."

"Den you des played 'roun' de aidges. You ain't had
de kine w'at kotch me on de underjaw. You mout a
had a gum-bile, but you ain't bin boddered wid de
toofache. I wuz settin' up talkin' wid my ole 'oman,
kinder puzzlin' 'roun' fer ter see whar de nex' meal's
vittles wuz a gwineter cum fum, an' I feel a httle

232 HIS SAYINGS

ache sorter crawlin' 'long on my jaw-bone, kinder
feelin' his way. But de ache don't stay long. He
sorter hankered 'roun' like, en den crope back whar
he come fum. Bimeby I feel 'im comin' agin, an' dis
time hit look like he come up closer— kinder skum-
mishin' 'roun' fer ter see how de Ian' lay. Den he
went oflF. Present'y I feel 'im comin', an' dis time hit
look like he kyar'd de news unto Mary, fer hit feel
like der wuz anudder wun wid 'im. Dey crep* up an'
crep' 'roun', an' den dey crope oflF. Bimeby dey come
back, an' dis time dey come like dey wuzent 'fear'd
er de s'roundin's, fer dey trot right up unto de toof,
sorter zamine it like, an' den trot all roun' it, like deze
yer circuous bosses. I sot dar mighty ca'm, but I
spected dat sump'n' wuz gwine ter happ'n."

"And it happened, did it?" asked some one in the
group surrounding the old man.

"Boss, don't you fergit it," responded Uncle Remus,
fervidly. "Wen dem aches gallop back dey galloped
fer ter stay, an' dey wuz so mixed up dat I couldn't
tell one fum de udder. All night long dey racked an'
dey galloped, an' w'en dey got tired er rackin' an
gallopin', dey all close in on de ole toof an' thumped
it an' gouged at it twel it 'peared unto me dat dey
had got de jaw-bone loosened up, an' wuz tryin' fer
ter fetch it up thoo de top er my head an' out at der
back er my neck. An' dey got wuss nex' day. Mars
John, he seed I wuz 'stracted, an' he tole me fer tei

THE PHONOGRAPH 233

go roun' yere an' git sump'n' put on it, an' de drug
man he 'lowed dat I better have 'er draw'd, an' his
wuds wuzent more'n cole 'fo' wunner deze yer watch-
youmaycollums— wunner deze dentis' mens— had
retched fer it wid a pa'r er tongs w'at don't tu'n loose
w'en dey ketches a holt. Leas'ways dey didn't wid me.
You oughter seed dat toof, boss. Hit wuz wunner
deze yer fo'-prong fellers. Ef she'd a grow'd wrong
eend out'ard, I'd a bin a bad nigger long arter I
jin'd de chu'ch. You year'd my ho'nl"

VII
THE PHONOGRAPH

"Unc Remus," asked a tall, awkward-looking
negro, who was one of a crowd surrounding the old
man, "w'at's dish 'ere w'at dey calls de fonygraf—
dish yer inst'ument w'at kin holler 'roun' like little
chillun in de back yard?"

"I ain't seed um," said Uncle Remus, feeling in
his pocket for a fresh chew of tobacco. "I ain't seed
um, but I year talk un um. Miss Sally wuz a readin'
in de papers las' Chuseday, an' she say dat's it's a
mighty big watchyoumaycollum."

"A mighty big w'ich?" asked one of the crowd.

"A mighty big w'atzisname," answered Uncle Re-
mus, cautiously. "I wuzent up dar close to whar Miss

234

HIS SAYINGS

Sarah wuz a readin', but I kinder geddered in dat it
wuz one er deze 'ere w'atzisnames w'at you hollers
inter one year an' it
comes out er de ud-
der. Hit's mighty
funny unter me how ''if
dese fokes kin go an' Jl
prognosticate der ec-
koes inter one er deze
yer i'on boxes, an' dar
hit'll stay on twel de
man comes 'long an'
tu'ns de handle an' let's de fuss come pilin' out.
Bimeby dey'U git ter makin' sho' nuff fokes, an' den
dere'U be a racket 'roun' here. Dey tells me dat it
goes oflF like one er deze yer torpedoes."

"You year dat, don't you?" said one or two of the
younger negroes.

"Dat's w'at dey tells me," continued Uncle Remus.
"Dat's w'at dey sez. Hit's one er deze yer kinder
w'atzisnames w'at sasses back w'en you hollers
at it."

"W'at dey fix um fer, den?" asked one of the
practical negroes.

"Dat's w'at I wanter know," said Uncle Remus,
contemplatively. "But dat's w'at Miss Sally wuz a
readin' in de paper. All you gotter do is ter holler at
de box, an' dar's yo' remarks. Dey goes in, an' dar

RACE IMPROVEMENT 235

dey er tooken and dar dey hangs on twel you shakes
de box, an' den dey draps out des ez fresh ez deze
yer fishes w'at you git fum Savannah, an' you ain't
got time fer ter look at dere gills, nudder."

vin
RACE IMPROVEMENT

"Dere's a kind er limberness 'bout niggers dese
days dat's mighty cu'us," remarked Uncle Remus yes-
terday, as he deposited a pitcher of fresh water upon
the exchange table. "I notisses it in de alley- ways an'
on de street-comders. Dey er rackin' up, mon, deze
yer cullud fokes is."

"What are you trying to give us now?" inquired
one of the young men, in a bilious tone.

"The old man's mind is wandering," said the
society editor, smoothing the wrinkles out of his
lavender kids.

Uncle Remus laughed. "I speck I is a gittin' mo
frailer dan I wuz 'fo' de fahmin days wuz over, but I
sees wid my eyes an' I years wid my year, same ez
enny er dese yer young bucks w'at goes a gallopin'
'roun' huntin' up devilment, an' w'en I sees de limber-
ness er dese yer cullud people, an' w'en I sees how
dey er dancin' up, den I gits sorter hopeful. Dey er
kinder ketchin' up wid me."

"Hov\' is {ba^?"

236

mS SAYINGS

"Oh, dey er movin'," responded Uncle Remus.
'Dey er sorter comin' 'roim'. Dey er gittin' so dey
b'leeve dat dey ain't no better dan
de w'ite fokes. Wen freedom come
out de niggers sorter got dere
humps up, an' dey staid dat way,
twel bimeby dey begun fer ter git
hongry, an' den dey begun fer ter
^j^ drap inter line right smartually; an*
1^ now," continued the old man, em-
;Mp phatically, "dey er des ez palaver-
'v^p ous ez dey wuz befo' de war. Dey
er gittin' on solid groun', mon."

"You think they are improving,
then?"

"Youer chawin' guv'nment now, boss. You slap
de law outer a nigger a time er two, an' lam 'im dat
he's got fer to look atter his own rashuns an' keep
out'n udder fokes's chick'n-coops, an' sorter coax 'im
inter de idee dat he's got ter feed 'is own chilluns, an*
I be blessed ef you ain't got 'im on risin' groun'. An',
mo'n dat, w'en he gits holt er de fack dat a nigger k'n
have yaller fever same ez w'ite folks, you done got
'im on de mo'ners' bench, an' den ef you come down
strong on de p'int dat he oughter stan' fas' by de
fokes w'at hope him w'en he wuz in trouble de job's
done. W'en you does dat, ef you ain't got yo' ban's
on a new-made nigger, den my name ain't Hemus,

IN THE ROLE OF A TARTAR 237

an' ef dat name's bin changed I ain't seen her abber<
tized."

IX

IN THE ROLE OF A TARTAR

A Charleston negro who was in Atlanta on the
Fourtli of July made a mistake. He saw Uncle Remus
edging his way through the crowd, and thought he
knew him.

"Howdy, Daddy Ben?" the stranger exclaimed,
"I tink I nubber see you no mo'. Wey you gwan?
He hot fer true, ain't he?"

"Daddy who?" asked Uncle Remus, straightening
himself up with dignity, "W'ich?"

"I know you in Charl'son, an' den in Sewanny. I
spec I dun grow away from 'membrance."

"You knowed me in Charlstun, and den in Sa-
vanny?"

"He been long time, ain't he, Daddy Ben?"

"Dat's w'at's a pesterin' im me. How much you
reckon you know'd me?"

"He good while pas'; when I wer* pickaninny.
He long time ago. Wey you gwan, Daddy Ben?"

"Wat does you season your recollection wid fer
ter make it hole on so?" inquired tlie old man.

"I dunno. He stick hese'f. I see you comin' 'long
'r J '^^y 'Dey Daddy Ben.' I tink I see you no mo'.

238 HIS SAYINGS

an* I shaky you by de han'. Wey you gwan? Dey no
place yer wey we git wine?"

Uncle Remus stared at the strange darkey curi-
ously for a moment, and then he seized him by the
arm.

"Come yer, son, whar dey ain't no folks an' lemme

drap some Jawjy 'intment in dem years er yone.
Youer mighty fur ways fum home, an' you wanter be
a lookin' out fer yo'se'f. Fus and fo'mus, youer
thumpin' de wrong watermillion. Youer w'isslin' up
de wrong chube. I ain't tromped roun' de country
much. I ain't bin to Charlstun an' needer is I tuck in
Savanny; but you couldn't rig up no game on me
dat I wouldn't tumble on to it de minit I laid my
eyeballs on you. Wen hit come to dat I'm ole man
Tumbler, fum Tumblersville— I is dat. Hit takes one
er deze yer full-blooded w'ite men fur ter trap my

A CASE OF MEASLES 239

jedgment. But w'en a nigger comes a jabberin' 'roun'
like he got a mouf full er rice straw, he ain't got no
mo' chance long side er me dan a sick sparrer wid a
squinch-owl. You gotter travel wid a circus 'fo' you
gits away wid me. You better go long an' git yo'
kyarpet-sack and skip de town. Youer de freshest
nigger w'at I seen yit."

The Charleston negro passed on just as a police-
man came up.

"Boss, you see dat smart EUick?"

"Yes, what's the matter with him?"

"He's one er deze yer scurshun niggers from Charl-
stun. I seed you a stannin' over agin de comder yau'
del, an' ef dat nigger'd a drawd his monty kyards on
me, I wuz a gwineter holler fer you. Would youer
come, boss?"

"Why, certainly. Uncle Remus."

"Dat's w'at I lowd. Little more'n he'd a bin aboard
er de wrong waggin. Dat's w'at he'd a bin."

X

A CASE OF MEASLES

"You've been looking like you were rather under
the weather for the past week or two, Uncle Remus,"
said a gentleman to the old man.

"You'd be sorter puny, too, boss, if you'der bin
whar I bin."

240 HIS SAYINGS

"Where have you been?"

" 'Pear ter me like ev'eybody done year 'bout dat.
Dey ain't no ole nigger my age an' size dat's had no
ratthner time dan I is."

"A kind of picnic?"

"Go 'long, boss! w'at you speck I be doin' sailin'
*roun' ter dese yer cullud picnics? Much mo' an' I
wouldn't make bread by wukkin fer't;, let 'lone fol-
lerin' up a passel er boys an' gals all over keration.
Boss, ain't you year 'bout it, sho' 'nuff?"

"I haven't, really. What was the matter?"

"I got strucken wid a sickness, an' she hit de ole
nigger a joe-darter 'fo' she tu'n 'im loose."

"What kind of sickness?"

"Hit look sorter cu'ous, boss, but ole an' steddy ez
I is, I tuck'n kotch de meezles."

"Oh, get out! You are trying to get up a sensation."

"Hit's a natal fack, boss, I declar ter grashus ef
'tain't. Dey sorter come on wid a cole, like— leas'ways
dat's how I commence fer ter suffer, an' den er koff
got straddle er de cole— one dese yer koffs w'at look
like hit goes ter de foundash'n. I kep' on linger'n'
Voun' sorter keepin' one eye on the rheumatiz an' de
udder on de distemper, twel, bimeby, I begin fer ter
feel de trestle-wuk give way, an' den I des know'd
dat I wuz gwineter gitter racket. I slipt inter bed one
Chuseday night, an' I never slip out no mo' fer
mighty nigh er mont'.

A CASE Of MEASLES

241

"Nex' mornin' de meezles 'd done kivered me, an'
den ef I didn't git dosted by de ole 'oman I'm a
Chinee. She gimme back rashuns er sassafac tea. I
des natally hankered an' got hongry atter water, an*
ev'y time I sing out fer water I got b'ihn' hot sassafac
tea. Hit got so dat w'en I wake up in de mornin' de
ole 'oman 'd des come long wid a kittle er tea an' fill

me up. Dey tells me 'roun' town dat chilluns don't git
hurted wid de meezles, w'ich ef dey don't I wanter
be a baby de nex' time dey hits dis place. All dis yer
meezles bizness is bran'-new ter me. In ole times, 'fo'
de wah, I ain't heer tell er no seventy-fi'-year-ole
nigger grapplin' wid no meezles. Dey ain't ketchin
no mo', is dey, boss?"

242 ms SAYINGS

"Oh, no— I suppose not."

" 'Kase ef dey is, youk'n des put my name down
wid de migrashun niggers."

XI

THE EMIGRANTS

When Uncle Remus went down to the passenger
depot one morning recently, the first sight that caught
his eye was an old negro man, a woman, and two chil-
dren sitting in the shade near the door of the bag^
gage-room. One of the children was very young, and
the quartet was altogether ragged and forlorn-look-
ing. The sympathies of Uncle Remus were immedi-
ately aroused. He approached the group by forced
marches, and finally unburdened his curiosity.

"Whar is you m'anderin' unter, pard?"

The old negro, who seemed to be rather suspicious,
Idok^d at Uncle Remus coolly, and appeared to be
considering whether he should make any reply.
Finally, however, he stretched himself and said:

"We er gwine down in de naberhoods er Tally-
poosy, an' we ain't makin' no fuss 'bout it, nudder."

"I disremember," said Uncle Remus, thoughtfully^
"whar Tally poosy is."

"Oh, hit's out yan," replied the old man, motion-
ing his head as if it was fust bevond the iron gates of

THE EMIGRANTS

243

the depot. "Hit's down in Alabam. When we git dar,
mavbe we'll go on twel we gits ter Massasip."

*ls you got enny folks out dar?" inquired Uncle
Remus.

''None dat I knows un."

"An' youer takin' dis 'oman an' deze chillun out
dar whar dey dunno nobody? Whar's yo' perwisions?"
eying a chest with
a irope around it.

"Dem's our bed-
cloze," the old
negro explained,
noticing the glance
of Uncle Remus.
"All de vittles what ;
we got we e't 'fo'
we started."

"An' you speck
ter retch dar safe
an' soun'? Whar's
yo' ticket?"

''Ain"t got none. De man say ez how dey'd pass
us thoo. I gin a man a fi'-dollar bill 'fo' I lef Jones-
boro, an' he sed dat settled it."

"Lemme tell you dis," said Uncle Remus, straight-
ening up indignantly: "you go an' rob somebody an'
gi: on de chain-gang, an' let de 'oman scratch 'roun'
yer an' make 'er Hvin'; but don't you git on dem kyars

244 HIS SAYINGS

—don't you do it. Yo' bes' holt is de chain-gang. You
kin make yo' hvin' dar w'en you can't make it no-
whars else. But don't you git on dem kyars. Ef you
do, youer gone nigger. Ef you ain't got no money fer
ter walk back wid, you better des b'il' yo' nes' right
here. I'm a-talkin' wid de bark on. I done seed deze
yer Arkinsaw emmygrants come lopein' back, an'
some un 'em didn't have rags nuff on 'em fer ter hide
dere nakidness. You leave dat box right whar she is,
an' let de 'oman take v^oin young un an' you take de
udder wun, an' den you git in de middle er de big
road an' pull out fer de place whar you come fum.
I'm preachin' now."

Those who watched say the quartet didn't take the
cars.

xn

AS A MURDERER

Uncle Remus met a police officer recently.

"You ain't hear talk er no dead nigger nowhar dis
mawnin', is you, boss?" asked the old man earnestly.

"No," replied the poHceman, reflectively. "No, 1
believe not. Have you heard of any?"

" 'Pears unter me dat I come mighty nigh gittin"
some news 'bout dat size, an' dat's w'at I'm a huntin
fer. Bekaze ef dey er foun' a stray nigger layin' 'roim*
loose, wid 'is bref gone, den I wanter go home an' git
ffldv brekfus' an' put on some clean cloze, an' 'liver

AS A MURDERER 245

myse'f up ter wunner deze yer jestesses er de peace,
an git a fa'r trial."

"Why, have you killed anybody?"

"Dat's w'at's I'm a *quirin' inter now, but I wouldn't
be sustonished ef I ain't laid a nigger out some'rs on
de subbubs. Hit's done got so it's agin de law fer ter
bus' loose an' kill a nigger, ain't it, boss?"

"Well, I should say so. You don't mean to tell me
that you have killed a colored man, do you?"

"I speck I is, boss. I speck I done gone an' done
it dis time, sho.' Hit's bin sorter growin' on me, an' it
come ter a head dis mavvTiin', les my name ain't Re-
mus, an' dat's w'at dey bin er callin' me sence I w^z
ole er nuflF fer ter scratch myse'f v^rid my lef han'."

"Well, if you've killed a man, you'll have some fim,
sure enough. How was it?"

"Hit wuz dis way, boss: I wnz layin' in my bed
dis mawnin' sorter ruminatin* 'roun', when de fus
news I know'd I year a fus' *mong de chickens, an'
den my brissels riz. I done had lots er trubble wid
dem chickens, an' w'en I years wun un um squall my
ve'y shoes comes ontied. So I des sorter riz up an'
retch fer my ole muskit, and den I crope out er de
back do', an' w'atter you reckin I seed?"

"I couldn't say."

"I seed de biggest, blackest nigger dat you ever
laid e}'es on. He shined like de paint on 'im was fresh.
He hed done grabbed fo'er my forwardes' pullets. I

246

mS SAYINGS

crope up nigh do do', an' hollered an' axed 'im how he
wuz a gittin' on, an' den he broke, an' ez he broke I
jammed de gun in de smaU er his back and banged

aloose. He let a yell like forty yaller cats a courtin',
an' den he broke. You ain't seed no nigger hump
hisse'f like dat nigger. He tore down de well shelter
and fo' pannils er fence, an' de groun' look like
wumier deze yer harrycanes had lit dar and fanned
up de yeath."

"Why, I thought you killed him?"

"He bleedzed ter be dead, boss. Ain't I put de

HIS PRACTICAL VIEW OF THINGS 247

gun right on 'im? Seem like I feel 'im give way w'en
she went off."

"Was the gun loaded?"

"Dat's w'at my ole 'oman say. She had de powder
in dar, sho', but I disremember wedder I put de buck-
shot in, er wedder I lef um out. Leas'ways, I'm
gwineter call on wunner deze yer jestesses. So long,
boss."

xm
HIS PRACTICAL VIEW OF THINGS

"Brer Remus, is you heem tell er deze doin's out
yer in de udder eend er town?" asked a colored
deacon of the church the other day.

"W'at doin's is dat. Brer Ab?"

"Deze yer signs an' wunders whar dat cullud lad)>
died day 'fo' yistiddy. Mighty quare goin's on out
dar, Brer Remus, sho's you bawn."

"Sperrits?" inquired Uncle Remus, sententiously.

"Wuss'n dat, Brer Remus. Some say dat jedgment-
day ain't fur oflF, an' de folks is flockin' 'roun' de house
a hollerin' an' a shoutin' des like dey wuz In er re-
vival. In de winder glass dar you kin see de flags a
flyin', an' Jacob's lather is dar, an* dar's writin' on de
pane w'at no man can't read— leas'wise dey ain't none
read it yit."

"W'at kinder racket is dis youer givin' un me now,
Brer Ab?"

248

ms SAYINGS

"I done bin dar, Brer Remus; I done seed um wid
bofe my eyes. Cullud lady what wuz intranced done
woke up an' say dey ain't much time fer ter tarry.

^<^

She say she meet er angel in de road, an' he p'inted
straight fer de mornin' star, an' tell her fer ter prepar'.
Hit look mighty cu'us, Brer Remus."

"Cum down ter dat, Brer Ab," said Uncle Remus,
wiping his spectacles carefully, and readjusting tliem
—"cum down ter dat, an' dey ain't nuthin' dat ain't
cu'us. I ain't no spishus nigger myse'f, but I 'spizes
fer ter year dogs a howlin' an' squinch-owls havin' de
ager out in de woods, an' w'en a bull goes a bellerin'
by de house den my bones git cole an' my flesh com-
mences fer ter creep; but w'en it comes ter deze yer
sines in de a'r an' deze yer sperrits in de woods, den
I'm out— den I'm done. I is, fer a f ack. I bin livin' yer

THAT DECEITFUL JUG 249

more'n seventy year, an* I year talk er niggers seein'
glioses all times er night an' all times er day, but I
ain't never seed none yit; an' deze yer flags an' Jacob's
lathers, I ain't seed dem, nudder."

"Dey er dar, Brer Remus."

"Hit's des like I tell you, Brer Ab. I ain't 'sputin'
'bout it, but I ain't seed um, an' I don't take no
chances deze days on dat w'at I don't see, an' dat
w'at I sees I got ter 'zamine mighty close. Lemma
tell you dis. Brer Ab: don't you let deze sines onsettle
you. Wen old man Gabrile toot his ho'n, he ain't
gwinter hang no sine out in de winder-panes, an'
when ole Fadder Jacob lets down dat lather er his'n
you'll be mighty ap' fer ter hear de racket. An' don't
you bodder wid jedgment-day. Jedgment-day is
lierbul fer ter take keer un itse'f."

"Dat's so, Brer Remus."

"Hit's bleedzed ter be so. Brer Ab. Hit don't
bodder me. Hit's done got so now dat w'en I gotter
pone er bread, an' a rasher er bacon, an' nuflF grease
fer ter make gravy, I ain't keerin' much w'edder fokes
sees ghos'es er no."

XIV

THAT DECEITFUL JUG

Uncle Remus was in good humor one evening
recently when he dropped casuallv into the editorial

»250 mS SAYINGS

room of "The Constitution," as has been his custom
for the past year or two. He had a bag slung across
his shoulder, and in the bag was a jug. The presence
of this humble but useful vessel in Uncle Remus's bag
was made the occasion for several suggestive jokes at
his expense by the members of the staflF, but the old
man's good humor was proof against all insinuations.

"Dat ar jug's bin ter wah, mon. Hit's wunner deze
yer ole timers. I got dat jug dovni dar in Putmon
County w'en Mars 'Lisha Ferryman wuz a young
man, an* now he's done growed up, an' got ole an'
died, an' his chilluns is growed up an' dey kin count
dere gran'chilluns, an' yit dar's dat jug des ez lively
an' ez lierbul fer ter kick up devilment ez w'at she
wuz w'en she come fum de foundry."

"That's the trouble," said one of the young men.
"That's the reason we'd like to know what's in it
now."

"Now youer gittin' on ma'shy groun'," replied
Uncle Remus. "Dat's de p'int. Dat's w'at make me
say w'at I duz. I bin knowin' dat jug now gwine on
sixty-fi' year, an' de jug w'at's more seetful dan dat
jug ain't on de topside er de worrul. Dar she sets,"
continued the old man, gazing at it reflectively, "dar
she sets dez ez natchul ez er ambertype, an' yit
whar's de man w'at kin tell w'at kinder confab she's a
gwineter carry on w'en dat corn-cob is snatched
outen 'er mouf ? Dat jug is mighty seetful, mon."

TEIAT DECEITFUL JUG 251

"Well, it don't deceive any of us up here," re-
marked the agricultural editor, dryly. "We've seen
jugs before."

"I boun' you is, boss; I boun' you is. But you
ain't seed no seetful jug like dat. Dar she sets a
bellyin' out an' lookin' mighty fat an' full, an* yit she'd
set dar a bellyin' out ef dere wuzent nuthin' but win'
imder dat stopper. You knows dat she ain't got no
aigs in her, ner no bacon, ner no grits, ner no termar-
tusses, ner no shellotes, an' dat's 'bout all you duz
know. Dog my cats ef de seetfulness er dat jug don't
git away wid me," continued Uncle Remus, with a
chuckle. "I wuz comin' 'cross de bridge des now,
an' Brer John Henry seed me vdd de bag slung
enter my back, an' de jug in it, an' he ups an' sez,
sezee:

" 'Heyo, Brer Remus, ain't it gittin' late for water-
millions?'

"Hit woiz de seetfulness er dat jug. If Brer John
Henry know'd de color er dat watermillion, I speck
he'd snatch me up 'fo' de confunce. I 'clar' ter grashus
ef dat jug ain't a caution!"

"I suppose it's full of molasses now," remarked one
of the young men, sarcastically.

"Hear dat!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, triumphantly
—"hear dat! W'at I tell you? I sed dat jug wuz
seetfuL an' I sticks to it. I bin knowin' dat—"

252 HIS SAYINGS

'*What has it got in it?" broke in some one; 'mo-
lasses, kerosene, or train-oil?"

^Well, I lay she's loaded, boss. I ain't shuk her up
sence I drapt in, but I lay she's loaded."

"Yes," said the agricultural editor, "and it's the mean-
est bug-juice in town— regular sorghum skimmings."

"Dat's needer yer ner dar," responded Uncle Re-
mus. "Po' fokes better be fixin' up for Chrismus now
w'ile rashuns is cheap. Dat's me. Wen I year Miss
Sally gwine 'bout de house w'isslin' 'Wen I k'n Read
my Titles Cler — an' w'en I see de martins swawmin'
atter sundown— an' w'en I year de peckerwoods con-
fabbin' togedder dese moonshiny nights in my een' er
town— den I knows de hot wedder's a breakin' up, an
I know it's 'bout time fer po' fokes fer ter be rastlin'
'roun' and huntin' up dere rashuns. Dat's me, up an'
down."

"Well, we are satisfied. Better go and hire a hall,"
remarked the sporting editor, with a yawn. "If you
are engaged in a talking match you have won the
money. Blanket him somebody, and take him to the
stable."

"An' w'at's mo'," continued the old man, scorning
to notice the insinuation, "dough I year Miss Sally
w'isslin', an' de peckerwoods a chatterin', I ain't seein'
none er deze yer loafin' niggers fixin' up fer ter
'migrate. Dey kin holler Kansas all 'roun' de naber-
hood, but ceppin' a man come 'long an' spell it wid

THAT DECEITFUL JUG

253

greenbacks, he don't ketch none er deze yer town
niggers. You year me, dey ain't gwine."

"Stand him up on the table," said the sporting
editor; "give him room."

"Better go down yer ter de calaboose, an' git some
news fer ter print," said Uncle Remus, with a touch

l^J'SJl^^^

of irony in his tone. "Some new nigger mighter broke
inter jail."

"You say the darkeys are not going to emigrate
this year?" inquired the agricultural editor, who is
interested in these things.

''Shoo! dat dey ain'tl I done seed an* I knows.**

"Well, how do you know?"

"How you tell w'en crow gwineter light? Niggers
bin prom'nadin' by my house all dis summer, holdin*

254 ms SAYINGS

dere heads high up an' de w'ites er dere eyeballs
shinin' in de sun. Dey wuz too bigitty fer ter look
over de gyardin' palin's. 'Long 'bout den de wedder
wuz fetchin' de nat'al sperrits er turkentime outen
de pine-trees an' de groun' wuz fa'rly smokin' wid de
hotness. Now that it's gittin' sorter airish in de
momin's, dey don't 'pear like de same niggers. Dey
done got so dey'll look over in de yard, an' nex' news
you know de'U be tryin' fer ter scrape up 'quaintence
wid de dog. Wen dey passes now dey looks at de
chicken-coop an' at der tater-patch. Wen you see
niggers gittin' dat familious, you kin *pen' on dere
campin' wid you de ballunce er de season. Day 'fo'
yistiddy I kotch one un um lookin' over de fence at
my shoats, an' I sez, sez I:

" 'Duz you wanter purchis dem hogs?'

"'Oh, no,' sezee, 'I wuz des lookin' at dere
p'ints.'

'"Well, dey ain't p'intin' yo' way,' sez I, 'an',
fuddemio', ef you don't bodder 'longer dem hogs dey
ain't gwineter clime outer dat pen an' 'tack you,
nudder,' sez I.

"An' I boun'," continued Uncle Remus, driving the
corn-cob stopper a little tighter in his deceitful jug
and gatliering up his bag— "an' I boun' dat my ole
muskit'll go off 'tween me an' dat same nigger yit,
an' he'll be at de bad een', an' dis seetful jug'll 'fuse
ter go ter de fuuer'l."

TEffi FLORIDA WATERMELON 255

XV

THE FLORIDA WATERMELON

"Look yer, boy," said Uncle Remus yesterday,
stopping near the railroad crossing on Whitehall
Street, and gazing ferociously at a small colored
youth; "look yer, boy, I'll lay you out flat ef you come
flingin' yo' watermillion rimes under my foot— you
watch ef I don't. You k'n play yo' pranks on deze yer
w'ite fokes, but w'en you come a cuttin' up yo' capers
roun' me you'll Ian' right in de middle uv er spell er
sickness— now you mine w'at I tell you. An' I ain't
gwine fer ter put up wid none er yo' sassness nudder
—let 'lone flingin' watermillion rimes whar I kin git
mixt up wid um. I done had nuff watermillions yis-
tiddy an' de day befo'."

"How was that. Uncle Remus?" asked a gentleman
standing near.

"Hit wuz sorter like dis, boss. Las' Chuseday, Mars
]ohn he fotch home two er deze yer Flurridy water-
millions, an him an' Miss Sally sot down fer ter eat
um. Mars John an' Miss Sally ain't got nuthin' dat's
too good fer me, an' de fus news I know'd Miss Sally
wuz a hollerin' fer Remus. I done smelt de water-
million on de a'r, an' I ain't got no better sense dan
fer ter go w'en I years w'ite fokes a hollerin'— I lamt

256

HIS SAYINGS

dat w'en I wan't so high. Leas'ways I galloped up
ter de back po'ch, an' dar sot de watermillions dez
ez natchul ez ef dey'd er bin raised on de ole Spivey
place in Putmon County. Den Miss Sally, she cut me
off er slishe— wunner deze yer ongodly slishes, big ez
yo' hat, an' I sot down on de steps an' wrop myse'f
roun' de whole blessid chunk, 'cepin' de rime " Uncle
Remus paused and laid his hand upon his stomach as
■)£ feeling for something.

"Well, old man, what then?"

''Dat's w'at I'm a gittin' at, boss," said Uncle Re-
tnus, smiling a feeble smile. "I santered roun' 'bout
er half nour, an' den I begin fer ter feel sorter

UNCLE REMUS PREACHES TO A CONVERT 25T

squeemish— sorter like I done bin an' cv/oller'd 'bout
fo' poun's ofiF'n de ruIF een' uv cr ccantlin'. Look like
ter me dat I wuz gwineter be sick, an' den hit look
like I wuzent. Bimeby a little pain showed 'is head
an' sorter m'andered roun' like ho wuz a lookin' fer
a good place fer ter ketch holt, an' den a great big
pain jump up an' take atter de little one an chase
'im 'roun' an' 'roun,' an' he mus' er kotch im, Icaiiri
bimeby de big pain retch down an' grab dis yer lei
leg— so— an' haul 'im up, an' den he retch down an
grab de udder one an' pull him up, an' den de wal
begun, sho nuflF. Fer mighty nigh fo' hours dey kep
up dat racket, an' des ez soon ez a little pain 'uo
jump up de big un 'ud light outer it an' gobble it up,
an' den de big un 'ud go sailin' roun' huntin' fer mo'.
Some fokes is mighty cu'us, dough. Nex' momin' I
hear Miss Sally a laughin', an' singin' an' a w'isslin'
des like dey want no watermillions raise in Flurridy,
But somebody better pen dis yer nigger boy up w'ei.
I'm on de town— I kin tell you dat."

XVI

UNCLE REMUS PREACHES TO A CONVERT

"Dey tells me you done jine de chu'ch," said Uncle
Remus to Pegleg Charley.

"Yes, sir," responded Charley, gravely, "dat's so."
"Well, I'm mighty glad er dat," remarked Uncle

258

HIS SAYINGS

Remus, with unction. "It's TDOut time dat I wuz
spectin' fer ter hear un you in de chain-gang, an',
stidder dat, hit's de chu'ch. Well, dey ain't no teUin
deze days whar a nigger's gwineter Ian'."

"Yes," responded Charley, straightening himself
up and speaking in a dignified tone, "yes, I'm fixin'
to do better. I'm preparin' fer to shake worldliness.
I'm done quit so'shatin' wid deze w'ite town boys.
Dey've been a goin' back on
me too rapidly here lately, an'
now I'm a goin' back on dem.'*
"Well, ef you done had de
speunce un it, I'm mighty
glad. Ef you got 'lijjun, you
better hole on to it 'twell de
las' day in de mornin'. Hit's
mighty good fer ter kyar'
'roun' wid you in de day time
an' likewise in de night time.
Hit'U pay you mo' dan politics,
an' ef you stan's up like you
oughter, hit'U las' longer dan
a bone-fellum. But you wanter
have one er deze yer ole-time
grips, an* you des gotter shet yo' eyes an' swing on
hke wunner deze yer bull-tarrier dogs."

"Oh, I'm goin' to stick. Uncle Remus. You kin
put your money on dat. Deze town boys can't play no

AS TO EDUCATION 259

more uv dere games on me. Fm fixed. Can't you lend
me a dime. Uncle Remus, to buy me a pie? I'm dat
hongry dat my stomach is gittin' ready to go in
mo'nin'."

Uncle Remus eyed Charley curiously a moment,
while the latter looked quietly at his timber toe.
Finally, the old man sighed and spoke:

"How long is you bin in de chu'ch, son?"

"Mighty near a week," replied Charley.

"Well, lemme tell you dis, now, 'fo' you go enny
fudder. You ain't bin in dar long nuff fer ter go 'roun*
takin up conterbutions. Wait ontwell you gits sorter
seasoned like, an' den I'll hunt 'roun' in my cloze
an' see ef I can't run out a thrip er two fer you. But
don't you levy taxes too early."

Charley laughed, and said he would let the old
Foan off if he would treat to a watermelon.

xvn

AS TO EDUCATION

As Uncle Remus came up Whitehall Street re-
cently, he met a little colored boy carrying a slate
and a number of books. Some words passed between
them, but dieir exact purport will probably never
be known. They were unpleasant, for the attention
of a wandering policeman was called to the matter
by hearing the old man bawl out:

260

HIS SAYINGS

"Don't you come foolin' longer me, nigger. Youe^i
flippin' yo' sass at de wrong color. You k'n go roun'

yer an' sass deze w'ite people,
an' maybe deyll stan' it, but
w'en you come a slingin' yo'
jaw at a man w'at wuz gray
w'en de fahmin' days gin out,
you better go an' git yo' hide
greased."

"What's the matter, old
man?" asked a sympathizing^
\ V policeman.
^ "Nothin', boss, 'ceppin I

ain't gwineter hav' no nigger chillun a hoopin' an' a
hollerin' at me w'en I'm gwine 'long de streets."

"Oh, well, school-children— you know how they
are.

"Dat's w'at make I say w'at I duz. Dey better be
home pickin' up chips. W'at a nigger gwineter I'am
outen books? I kin take a bar'l stave an' fling mo'
sense inter a nigger in one minnit dan all de school-
houses betwixt dis en de State er Midgigin. Don't
talk, honey! Wid one bar'l stave I kin fa'rly lif de
vail er ignunce."

"Then you don't believe in education?"
"Hit's de ruinashun er dis country. Look at my gal.
De ole 'oman sont 'er ter school las' year, an' now we
dassent hardly ax 'er fer ter kyar de washin' home.

A TEMPERANCE REFORMER 2(5Ji

She done got beyant 'er bizness. I ain't lamt nuthin'
m books, 'en yit I kin count all de money I gits. No
use talkin', boss. Put a spellin'-book in a nigger's
ban's, en right den en dar' you loozes a plow-hand. I
done had de speunce un it."

xvm
A TEMPERANCE REFORMER

"Yer come Uncle Remus," said a well-dressed
negro, who was standing on tlie sidewalk near James's
bank recently, talking to a crowd of barbers. "Yei
come Uncle Remus. I boun' he'll sign it."

"You'll fling yo' money away
ef you bet on it," responded
Uncle Remus. "I ain't turnin'
Iiothin' loose on chu'ch 'scrip-
tions. I wants money right now
fer ter git a pint er meal."

" 'Tain't dat."

"An' I ain't heppin fer ter
berry nobody. Much's I kin do
ter keep de bref in my own
body.'*

" 'Tain't dat, nudder."

"An* I ain't puttin' my han'
fcer no reckommends. I'm fear'ds

S62 ms SAYINGS

fer ter say a perlite wud T^out myself, an' I des know
I ain't gwine 'roun' flatter'n up deze udder niggers."

"An* 'tain't dat," responded die darkey, who held
a paper in his hand. "We er gittin' up a Good Tem-
peler's lodge, an' we like ter git yo' name."

"Eh-eh, honey! I done see too much er dis nigger
tempunce. Dey stan' up mighty squar* ontwell dere
dues commence ter cramp um, an' dey don't stan' de
racket wuf a dum. No longer'n yistiddy I seed one er
de head men er one er dese Tempeler's s'cieties totia
water fer a bar-room. He had de water in a bucket,
but dey ain't no tellin' how much red licker he wuz a
totin'. G'long, chile— jine yo' s'ciety an' be good ter
yo'se'f. I'm a gittin' too ole. Gimme th'ee er fo' drams
endurin* er de day, an' I'm mighty nigh ez good a
tempunce man ez de next un. I got ter scuffle fer
sump'n t'eat."

XIX

AS A WEATHER PROPHET

Uncle Remus was enlightening a crowd of negroes
at the car-shed yesterday.

"Dar ain't nuthin'," said the old man, shaking his
head pensively, "dat ain't got no change wrote on it.
Dar ain't nothin dat ain't spotted befo' hit begins fer
ter commence. We all speunces dat p'overdence w'at

AS A WEATHER PROPHET

263

lifts us up fum one place an' sets us down in de
udder. Hit's continerly a movin* an* a movin'."

"Dat's sol" "Youer talkin' nowl" came from several
of his hearers.

"I year Miss Sally readin' dis mawnin," continued
the old man, "dat a man wuz comin' down yer fer ter
take keer er de wedder— wunner deze yer Buro mens
w'at goes 'roun' a puttin' up an' pullin' down."

"Wat he gwine do 'roun' yer?" asked one.

"He's a gwineter rege-
late de wedder," replied
Uncle Remus, senten-
tiously. "He's a gwineter
fix hit up so dat dere
won't be so much worri-
ment 'mong de w'ite
fokes 'bout de kinder
wedder w'at falls to
dere lot."

"He gwine dish em
up," suggested one of tlie older ones 'like man dish
out sugar."

"No," answered Uncle Remus, mopping his benign
features with a very large and very red bandana,
"He's a gwineter fix um better'n dat. He's a gwineter
fix um up so you kin have any kinder wedder w'at
you want widout totin' her home."

"How's dat?" asked some one.

264 HIS SAYINGS

"Hit's dis way," said the old man, thoughtfully.
"In co'se you loiows w'at kinder wedder you wants.
Well, den, w'en de man comes 'long, w'ich Miss Sally
say he will, you des goiter go up dar, pick out yo'
wedder an' dere'll be a clock sot fer ter suit yo' case,
an' w'en you git home, dere'll be yo' wedder a settin'
out in de yard waitin' fer you. I wish he wuz yer
now," the old man continued. "I'd take a p'ar er
frosts in mine, ef I kotched cold fer it. Dat's mel"

There were various exclamations of assent, and
the old man went on his way singing, "Don't you
Grieve Atter Me."

XX

THE OLD MAN'S TROUBLES

"What makes you look so lonesome, Brer Remus?'*
asked a well-dressed negro, as the old man came
shuffling down the street by James's comer yester-
day.

"Youer mighty right, I'm lonesome, Brer John
Henry. W'en a ole nigger like me is gotter paddle
de canoe an' do de fishin' at de same time, an' w'en
you bleedzd ter ketch de fish an' dassent turn de
paddle loose fer ter bait de hook, den I tell you. Brer
John, youer right whar de mink had de goslin'. Mars
Jonn and Miss Sally, dey done bin gone down unto
Putmon County fer ter see der kinfolks mighty nigh

THE OLD MANS TROUBLES

265

fo' days, an' you better b'leeve I done bin had tor
scratch roun' mighty lively £er ter make de rashuns
run out even."

"I wuz at yo' house las' night, Brer Remus," re-
marked Brer John Henry, "but I couldn't roust you
outer bed."

"Hit v^as de unseasonableness er de hour, I speck/*
said Uncle Remus, dryly.
*' 'Pears unto me dat you all
chu'ch deacons settin' up
mighty late deze cole nights.
You'll be slippin' round arter
hours some time er nudder,
an' you'll slip bodaciously in- 'i
ter de calaboose. You mine //
w'at I tell you. /^

"It's mighty cole w^edder,"/^
said Brer John Henry, evi-
dently w^ishing to change the i ' \\
subject.

"Cole!" exclaimed Uncle Remus; "hit got pas' cole
on der quarter stretch. You oughter come to my house
night 'fo' las'. Den you'd a foun' me 'live an' kickin'."

"How's dat?"

"Well, I tell you. Brer John Henry, de cole wnz so
cole, an' de kiver wuz so light, dat I thunk I'd make a
raid on Mars John's shingle pile, an' out I goes an'
totes in a whole aiTnful. Den I gits under de kiver an'

266 HIS SAYINGS

tells my ole 'oman fer ter lay 'em onto me like she was
roofin' a house. Bimeby she crawls in, an' de shingles
w'at she put on her side fer ter kiver wid, dey all drap
off on de flo'. Den up I gits an' piles 'em on agin, an'
w'en I gits in bed my shingles draps off, an' dat's de
way it wuz de whole blessid night, Fus' it wuz me up
an' den de ole 'oman, an' it kep' us pow'ful warm, too,
dat kinder exercise. Oh, you oughter drapt roun' 'bout
dat time. Brer John Henry. You'd a year'd sho' nuff
cussin'!"

"You don't tell me, Brer Remus!"

"My ole 'oman say de Ole Boy wouldn't a foun* a
riper nigger, ef he wer' ter scour de country fum Fer-
ginny ter de Alabaml"

XXI
THE FOURTH OF JULY

Uncle Remus made his appearance recently with
his right arm in a sling and his head bandaged to
that extent that it looked like tlie stick made to
accompany the Centennial bass-di*um. The old man
evidently expected an attack all around, for he was
cnusually quiet, and fumbled in his pockets in an
embarrassed manner. He was not mistaken. The
agricultural editor was the first to open fire:

"Well, you old villain! what have you been up to
now?"

THE FOURTH OF JULY 267

"It is really singular," remarked a commencement
orator, "that not even an ordinary holiday— a holiday,
it seems to me, that ought to arouse all the latent in-
stincts of patriotism in the bosom of American citi-
zens—can occur without embroiling some of our most
valuable citizens. It is really singular to me that such
a day should be devoted by a certain class of our
population to broils and fisticuffs."

This final moral sentiment, which was altogether
an impromptu utterance, and which was delivered
with the air of one who addresses a vast but invisible
audience of young ladies in white dresses and blue
sashes, seemed to add to the embarrassment of Uncle
Remus, and at the same time to make an explana'
tion necessary.

"Dey ain't none er you young w'ite men never had
no *casion fer ter strike up wid one er deze Mobile
niggers?" asked Uncle Remus. " 'Kaze ef you iz, den
you knows wharbouts de devilment come in. Show
me a Mobile nigger," continued the old man, "an'
I'll show you a nigger dat's marked for de chain-
gang. Hit may be de fote er de fif er July, er hit may
be de twelf' er Jinawerry, but w'en a Mobile nigger
gits in my naberhood right den an' dar trubble sails
in an' 'gages bode fer de season. I speck I'm ez fon'
er deze Nunited States ez de nex' man w'at knows
dat de Euro is busted up; but long ez Remus kin
Stan' on his hine legs no Mobile nigger can't flip inter

268

mS SAYINGS

dis town longer no Wes' P'int 'schushun an' boss
roun' 'mong de cullud fokes. Dat's me, up an down,
an' I boim' dere's a nigger some'rs on de road dis
blessid day dat's got dis put away in his membunce."
"How did he happen to get you down and maul
you in this startling manner?" asked the commence-
ment orator, with a tone of exaggerated sympathy in
his voice.

"Maul who?" exclaimed Uncle Remus, indig-
nantly. "Maul who? Boss, de nigger dat mauled me
ain't bomded yit, an' dey er got ter have anudder
war 'fo one is bomded."

"Well, what was the trouble?"

"Hit wuz sorter dis way, boss. I wuz stannin' down

THE FOURTH OF JXILY 269

dere by Mars John Jeems's bank, chattin' wid Sis
Tempy, w'ich I ain't seed 'er befo' now gwine on
seven year, an' watchin' de folks trompin' by, w'en
one er deze yer slick-lookin' niggers, wid a bee-gum
hat an' a brass watch ez big ez de head uv a beer-
bar'l, come long an' bresh up agin me— so. Dere
wuz two un um, an' dey went 'long gigglin' an
laffin' like a nes'ful er yaller-hammers, Bimeby dey
come 'long agin an' de smart Ellick brush up by me
once mo'. Den I say to myse'f, 1 lay I fetch you ef
you gimme anudder invite.* An', sho' 'nuff, yer he
come agin, an' dis time he rub a piece er watermil-
lion rime under my lef year."

"What did you do?"

"Me? I'm a mighty long-sufferin* nigger, but he
hadn't no mo'n totch me 'fo' I flung dese yer bones in
his face." Here Uncle Remus held up his damaged
hand triumphantly. "I sorter sprained my han', boss,
but dog my cats if I don't b'leeve I spattered de nig-
ger's eyeballs on de groun', and w'en he riz his count'-
nence look fresh like beef-haslett. I look mighty
spindlin' an' puny now, don't I, boss?" inquired the
old man, with great apparent earnestness.

"Rather."

"Well, you des oughter see me git my Affikin up.
Dey useter call me er bad nigger long 'fo' de war, an*
hit looks like ter me dat I gits wuss an' wuss. Brer

270 HIS SAYINGS

John Henry say dat I oughter supdue my raslifulness^
an' I don't 'spute it, but tu'n a Mobile nigger loose
in dis town, fote er July or no fote er July, an', me er
him, one is got ter Ian in jail. Hit's proned inter
me.

THE END

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