a nat❜ally to' up de ye'th gittin' 'way fum dar. Yit dey still aint year no fuss, en dey keep on creepin' twel dey git in de house. "W'en dey git in dar, de fus' sight dey see wuz ole Brer Rabbit stannin' up by de drambottle mixin' up a toddy, en he wa'n't so stiff-kneed n'er, kaze he sorter swage fum side ter side, en he look like he mighty limbersome, w'ich, goodness knows, a man bleedz ter be limbersome w'en he drink dat kinder licker w'at Brer Fox perwide fer dem creeturs. "W'en Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit makin' free wid his doin's dat away, w'at you speck he do?" inquired Uncle Remus, with the air of one seeking general information. "I speck he cusst," said "Tildy, who was apt to take a vividly practical view of matters. "He was glad," said the little boy, "because he had a good chance to catch Brother Rabbit." 66 Tooby sho' he wuz," continued Uncle Remus, heartily assenting to the child's interpretation of the situation; "tooby sho' he wuz. He stan' dar, Brer Fox did, en he watch Brer Rabbit motions. Bimeby he holler out, sezee: 666 Ah yi! Brer Rabbit!' sezee. * Many a time is you made yo' 'scape, but now I got you!' En wid dat, Brer Fox en de yuther creeturs cloze in on Brer Rabbit. "Seem like I done tole you dat Brer Rabbit done gone en tuck mo' dram dan w'at 'uz good fer his wholesome. Yit his head aint swim so bad dat he dunner w'at he doin', en time he lay eyes on Brer Fox, he know he done got in close quarters. Soon ez he see dis, Brer Rabbit make like he bin down in his cup mo' deeper dan w'at he is, en he stagger 'roun' like town gal stannin' in a bateau, en he seem like he des ez limber ez a wet rag. He stagger up ter Brer Fox, he did, en he roll his eyeballs 'roun', en slap 'im on de back en ax 'im how he ma. Den w'en he see de yuther creeturs," continued Uncle Remus, "he holler out, he did: "Vents yo' uppance, gentermens! Vents yo' uppance ! Ef you'll des gimme han'-roomance en cum one at a time, de A corruption of "aye, aye." It is used as an expression of triumph, and its employment in this connection is both droll and picturesque. + Southern readers will recognize this and "han'. roomance" as terms used by negroes in playing marbles-a favorite game on the plantations Sunday afternoons. These terms were curt and expressive enough to gain currency among the whites. tussle'll las' longer. How you all come on, nohow?' sezee. "Ole Brer Rabbit talk so cu'us dat de yuther creeturs have mo' fun dan w'at youk'n shake a stick at, but bimeby Brer Fox say dey better git downter business, en den dey all cloze in on Brer Rabbit, en dar he wuz. up * "In dem days, ole man B'ar wuz a jedge 'mongs' de creeturs, en dey all ax 'im w'at dey gwine do 'long wid Brer Rabbit, en Jedge B'ar, he put on his specks, en cle'r his throat, en say dat de bes' way ter do wid a man w'at kick up sech a racket, en run de neighbors outer der own house, en go in dar en level on de pantry, is ter take 'im out en drown 'im; en ole Brer Fox, w'ich he settin' on de jury, he up'n' smack his hands tergedder, en say, sezee, dat atter dis he bleedz ter b'leeve dat Jedge B'ar done got all-under holt on de lawyer-books, kaze dat 'zackly w'at dey say w'en a man level on he neighbor pantry. "Den Brer Rabbit, he make out he skeerd, en he holler en cry, en beg um, in de name er goodness, don't fling 'im in de spring branch, kaze dey all know he dunner howter swim; but ef dey bleedz fer ter pitch 'im in, den fer mussy sake gin 'im a walkin'-cane, so he kin have sumpin' ter hol' ter w'iles he drownin'. "Ole Brer B'ar scratch his head en say, sezee, dat, fer ez his 'membrance go back, he aint come 'cross nothin' in de lawyerbook ter de contraries er dat, en den dey all 'gree dat Brer Rabbit kin have a walkin'-cane. "Wid dat, dey ketch up Brer Rabbit en put 'im in a wheelborrow, en kyar 'im down ter de branch, en fling 'im in. "Eh-eh!" exclaimed 'Tildy, with wellfeigned astonishment. Dey fling 'im in," continued Uncle Remus, en Brer Rabbit light on his foots, same ez a tomcat, en pick his way out by de helps er de walkin'-cane. De water wuz dat shaller dat it don't mo'n come over Brer Rabbit slipper, en w'en he git out on t'er side, he holler back, sezee: "So long, Brer Fox!'" XIII. BROTHER FOX, BROTHER RABBIT, AND KING DEER'S DAUGHTER. NOTWITHSTANDING Brother Rabbit's success with the drum, the little boy was still * Levy. inclined to refer to Mr. Benjamin Ram and his fiddle; but Uncle Remus was not, by any means, willing that such an ancient vagabond as Mr. Ram should figure as a hero, and he said that, while it was possible that Brother Rabbit was no great hand with the fiddle, he was a drummer, and a capital singer to boot. Furthermore, Uncle Remus declared that Brother Rabbit could perform upon the quills,* an accomplishment to which none of the other animals could lay claim. There was a time, too, the old man pointedly suggested, when the romantic rascal used his musical abilities to win the smiles of a nice young lady of quality-no less a personage, indeed, than King Deer's daughter. As a matter of course, the little boy was anxious to hear the particulars, and Uncle Remus was in nowise loath to give them. "W'en you come ter ax me 'bout de year en de day er de mont'," said the old man, cunningly arranging a defense against criticism, "den I'm done, kaze de almanick w'at dey got in dem times wont pass muster deze days, but, let 'lone dat, I speck dey aint had none yit; en ef dey is, dey aint none bin handed 'roun' ter Remus. "Well, den, some time 'long in dar, ole Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit got ter flyin 'roun' King Deer's daughter. Dey tells me she 'uz a monst'us likely gal, en Í speck may be she wuz; leas'ways, Brer Fox, he hanker atter 'er, en likewise Brer Rabbit, he hanker atter 'er. Ole King Deer look like he sorter lean todes Brer Fox, kaze it seem like, ter a settle man like him, dat Brer Fox kin stir 'roun' en keep de pot a-b'ilin', mo' speshually bein's he de bigges'. Hit go on dis away twel hardly a day pass dat one er de yuther er dem creeturs don't go sparklin' 'roun' King Deer daughter, en it got so atter w'ile dat all day long Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox keep de front gate a-skreakin', en King Deer daughter aint ska'cely had time fer ter eat a meal vittels in no peace er min'. "In dem days," pursued Uncle Remus, in a tone of unmistakable historical fervor, "w'en a creetur go a-courtin' dey wa'n't none er dish yer bokay doin's mix' up 'longer der co'tship, en dey aint cut up no capers like folks does now. Stidder scollopin' 'roun', en bowin' en scrapin', dey des go right straight atter de gal. Ole Brer Rabbit, now, he mouter had some bubby-blossomst A simple but very effective musical instrument made of reeds, and in great favor on the plantations. A species of sweet-shrub growing wild in the South. wrop up in his hankcher, but mostly him en Brer Fox 'ud des drap in on King Deer daughter en 'gin ter cas' sheep-eyes at 'er time dey sot down en cross der legs." "En I bet," said 'Tildy, by way of comment, and looking as though she wanted to blush, "dat dey wa'n't 'shame', nuther." 66 Dey went 'long dis away," continued Uncle Remus, "twel it 'gun ter look sorter skittish wid Brer Rabbit, kaze ole King Deer done good ez say, sezee, dat he gwineter take Brer Fox inter de fambly. Brer Rabbit, he 'low, he did, dat dis aint gwineter do, en he study en study how he gwineter cut Brer Fox out. "Las', one day, w'iles he gwine thoo King Deer pastur' lot, he up wid a rock en kilt two er King Deer goats. W'en he git ter de house, he ax King Deer daughter whar'bouts her pa, en she up'n' say she go call 'im, en w'en Brer Rabbit see 'im, he ax w'en de weddin' tuck place, en King Deer ax w'ich weddin', en Brer Rabbit say de weddin' 'twix' Brer Fox en King Deer daughter. Wid dat, ole King Deer ax Brer Rabbit w'at make he go on so, en Brer Rabbit, he up'n' 'spon' dat he see Brer Fox makin' monst'us free wid de fambly, gwine 'roun' chunkin' de chickens en killin' up de goats. "Ole King Deer strike his walkin'-cane down 'pon de flo', en 'low dat he don't put no 'pennunce in no sech tale like dat, en den Brer Rabbit tell 'im dat ef he'll des take a walk down in de pastur' lot, he kin see de kyarkiss er de goats. Ole King Deer, he put out, en bimeby he come back, en he 'low he gwineter settle marters wid Brer Fox ef it take 'im a mont'. "Brer Rabbit say he a good frien' ter Brer Fox, en he aint got no room ter talk 'bout 'im, but yit w'en he see 'im 'stroyin' King Deer goats en chunkin' at his chickens, en rattlin' on de palin's fer ter make de dog bark, he bleedz ter come lay de case 'fo' de fambly. "En mo'n dat,' sez ole Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'I'm de man w'at kin make Brer Fox come en stan' right at de front gate en tell you dat he is kill dem goat; en ef you des wait twel ter-night, I wont ax you ter take my wud,' sezee. "King Deer say ef Brer Rabbit man 'nuff ter do dat, den he kin git de gal en thanky, too. Wid dat, Brer Rabbit jump up en crack his heels tergedder, en put out fer ter fine Brer Fox. He aint git fur 'fo' he see Brer Fox coming down de road all primp up. Brer Rabbit, he sing out, he did: "Brer Foxy, whar you gwine?' "En Brer Fox, he holler back: "Go 'way, Rab; don't bodder wid me. I'm gwine fer ter see my gal.' "Brer Rabbit, he laugh 'way down in his stomach, but he don't let on, en atter some mo' chat, he up'n' say dat ole King Deer done tell 'im 'bout how Brer Fox gwineter marry his daughter, en den he tell Brer Fox dat he done promise King Deer dat dey'd drap 'roun' ter-night en gin 'im some music. "En I up'n' tole 'im,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, dat de music w'at we can't make aint wuth makin'-me wid my quills, en you wid yo' tr'angle. De nex' motion we makes,' sezee, 'we'll hatter go off some'r's en practice up on de song we'll sing, en I got one yer dat'll tickle um dat bad,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'twel I lay dey'll fetch out a hunk er dat big chicken-pie w'at I see um puttin' in de pot des now,' sezee. "In a 'casion like dis, Brer Fox say he de ve'y man w'at Brer Rabbit huntin', en he 'low dat he des 'bout put off payin' his call ter King Deer house en go wid Brer Rabbit fer ter practice on dat song. Ole Den Brer Rabbit, he git his quills en Brer Fox he git his tr'angle, en dey went down on de spring branch, en dar dey sing en play, twel dey git it all by heart. Brer Rabbit, he make up de song his own se'f, en he fix it so dat he sing de call, like de captain er de co'n-pile, en ole Brer Fox, he hatter sing de answer." † At this point Uncle Remus paused to indulge in one of his suggestive chuckles, and then proceeded: "Don't talk 'bout no songs ter me. Gentermens! dat 'uz a funny song fum de wud go. Bimeby, w'en dey practice long time, dey gits up en goes 'roun' in de neighborhoods er King Deer house, en w'en night come dey tuck der stan' at de front gate, en atter all got still, Brer Rabbit, he gun de wink, en dey broke loose wid der music. Dey played Dey played a chune er two on de quills en tr'angle, en den dey got ter de song. Ole Brer Rabbit, he got de call, en he open up like dis: Den de quills en de tr'angle, dey come in, en den Brer Rabbit pursue on wid de call: "Some kill sheep en some kill shote, But Brer Fox kill King Deer goat,' en den Brer Fox, he jine in wid de answer: "I did, dat I did, en I'm glad dat I did!' En des 'bout dat time King Deer, he walk outer de gate en hit Brer Fox a clip wid his walkin'-cane, en he foller it up wid 'n'er'n, dat make Brer Fox fa'rly squall, en you des better b'lieve he make tracks 'way fum dar, en de gal she come out, en dey ax Brer Rabbit in." "Did Brother Rabbit marry King Deer's daughter, Uncle Remus ?" asked the little boy. "Now, den, honey, you're crowdin' me," responded the old man. "Dey ax 'im in, en dey gun 'im a great big hunk er chickenpie, but I wont make sho' dat he tuck'n' marry de gal. De p'int wid me is de way Brer Rabbit run Brer Fox off fum dar." XIV. BROTHER TERRAPIN DECEIVES BROTHER BUZZARD. THERE was a pause here, which was finally broken by "Tildy, whose remark was in the shape of a very undignified yawn. Uncle Remus regarded her for a moment with an expression of undisguised scorn, which quickly expressed itself in words: "Ef you'd er bin outer de house dat whack, you'd er tuck us all in. Pity dey aint some place er 'n'er whar deze yer trollops kin go`en l'arn manners." 'Tildy, however, ignored the old man, and, with a toss of her head, said to the little boy in a cool, exasperating tone-employing a pet name she had heard the child's mother "Uncle Remus," said the little boy, when the old man's wrath had somewhat subsided, "why do they call them Jim Crow cards ?" "I be blessed ef I know, honey, 'ceppin' it's kaze dey er de onliest machine w'at deze yer low-life niggers kin oncomb der kinks wid. Now, den," continued the old man, straightening up and speaking with considerable animation, "dat min's me 'bout a riddle w'at been runnin' 'roun' in my head. En dat riddle-it's de outdoin'es' riddle w'at I mos' ever year tell un. Hit go like dis: Ef he come, he don't come; ef he don't come, he come. Now, I boun' you can't tell w'at is dat." After some time spent in vain guessing, the little boy confessed that he didn't know. "Hit's crow en co'n," said Uncle Remus, sententiously. "Crow and corn, Uncle Remus ? " "Co'se, honey. Crow come, de co'n don't come; crow don't come, den de co'n come." "Dat's so," said 'Tildy. "I done see um pull up co'n, en I done see co'n grow w'at dey don't pull up." If "Tildy thought to propitiate Uncle Remus, she was mistaken. He scowled at her, and addressed himself to the little boy: "De Crow, he mighty close kin ter de Buzzud, en dat puts me in min' dat we aint bin a-keepin' up wid ole Brer Buzzud close ez we might er done. he stick his head in en tas'e de honey, en den he pull it out en look all 'roun' fer ter see ef he kin ketch a glimpse er Brer Buzzud; but Brer Buzzud don't seem like he nowhar. Den Brer Tarrypin say ter hisse'f, sezee, dat he speck dat bumbly-bee honey aint de kinder honey w'at dey been talkin' 'bout, en dey aint no great shakes er honey dar nohow. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin crope inter de hole en gobble up de las' drop er de bumbly-bee honey by his own-alone se'f. Atter he done make 'way wid it, he come out, he did, en he whul in en he lick it all off'n his footses, so ole Brer Buzzud can't tell dat he done bin git a mess er honey. "Den ole Brer Tarrypin stretch out his neck en try ter lick de honey off'n his back, but his neck too short; en he try ter scrape it off up 'g'in' a tree, but it don't come off; en den he waller on de groun', but still it don't come off. Den ole Brer Tarrypin jump up, en say ter hisse'f dat he'll des 'bout rack off home, en w'en Brer Buzzud come he kin lie on his back en say he sick, so ole Brer Buzzud can't see de honey. "Brer Tarrypin start off, he did, but he happen ter look up, en, lo en beholes, dar wuz Brer Buzzud hov'rin' right spang over de spot whar he is. Brer Tarrypin know Brer Buzzud bleedz ter see 'im ef he start off home, en mo'n dat, he know he be fine out ef he don't stir 'roun' en do sump'n' mighty quick. Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin "W'at de case mout be deze days, I aint shuffle back ter de bumbly-bee nes' swif' ez a-sayin', but, in dem times, ole Brer Tarry-he kin, en buil' 'im a fier in dar, en den he pin love honey mo' samer dan Brer B'ar, crawl out en holler des loud ez he kin : but he wuz dat flat-footed dat, w'en he fine a bee-tree, he can't climb it, en he go so slow dat he can't hardly fine um. Bimeby, one day, w'en he gwine 'long down de road des a-honin' atter honey, who should he meet but ole Brer Buzzud. 66 Dey shuck han's mighty sociable en ax 'bout de news er de neighborhoods, en den, atter w'ile, Brer Tarrypin say ter ole Brer Buzzud, sezee, dat he wanter go inter cohoots wid 'im 'longer gittin' honey, en 'twa'n't long 'fo' dey struck a trade. Brer Buzzud wuz ter fly 'roun' en look fer de bee-tree, en Brer Tarrypin he wuz ter creep en crawl, en hunt on de groun'. "Dey start out, dey did, ole Brer Buzzud sailin' 'roun' in de elements, en ole Brer Tarrypin shufflin' en shamblin' on de groun'. 'Mos' de ve'y fus' fiel' w'at he come ter, Brer Tarrypin strike up wid a great big bumbly-bee nes' in de groun'. He look 'roun', ole Brer Tarrypin did, en bimeby "Brer Buzzud! Oh, Brer Buzzud! Run yer, fer gracious sake, Brer Buzzud, en look how much honey I done fine! I des crope in a little ways, en it des drip all down my back, same like water. Run yer, Brer Buzzud! Half yone en half mine, Brer Buzzud!' "Brer Buzzud, he flop down, en he laugh en say he mighty glad, kaze he done git hungry up dar whar he bin. gry up dar whar he bin. Den Brer Tarrypin tell Brer Buzzud fer ter creep in little ways en tas'e en see how he like um, w'iles he take his stan' on de outside en watch fer somebody. But no sooner is Brer Buzzud crope in de bumbly-bee nes' dan Brer Tarrypin take'n' roll a great big rock front er de hole. Terreckly, de fier 'gun ter bu'n Brer Buzzud, en he sing out like a man in trouble: "Sump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypinsump'n' bitin' me, Brer Tarrypin!' "Den ole Brer Tarrypin, he holler back: "It's de bumbly-bees a-stingin' you, | Brer Buzzud; stan' up en flop yo' wings, Brer Buzzud. Stan' up en flop yo' wings, Brer Buzzud, en you'll drive um off,' sezee. "Brer Buzzud flop en flop his wings, but de mo' w'at he flop, de mo' he fan de fier, en twa'n't long 'fo' he done bodaciously bu'n up, all 'ceppin' de big een er his wingfedders, en dem ole Brer Tarrypin tuck en make inter some quills, w'ich he go 'roun' a-playin' un um, en de chune w'at he play wuz dish yer: "I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud; Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee." XV. MR. FOX COVETS THE QUILLS. "THAT must have been a mighty funny song," said the little boy. "Fun one time aint fun 'n'er time; some folks fines fun whar yuther folks fines gri'f. Pig may laugh w'en he see de rock a-heatin', but dey aint no fun dar fer de pig. "Yit, fun er no fun, dat de song w'at Brer Tarrypin play on de quills : "I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud; Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee.' kaze he got some goose-fedders at his house, en ef he kin des get a glimpse er Brer Tarrypin quills, he speck he kin make some mighty like um. "Brer Tarrypin, he study 'bout dis, but he hate ter 'ny small favors like dat, en bimeby he hol' out dem quills whar Brer Fox kin see um. Wid dat, Brer Fox, he tuck'n' juk de quills outen Brer Tarrypin han', he did, en dash off des ez hard ez he kin go. Brer Tarrypin, he holler en holler at 'im des loud ez he kin holler, but he know he can't ketch 'im, en he des sot dar, Brer Tarrypin did, en look like he done los' all de kin-folks w'at he got in de roun' worrul'. "Atter dis, Brer Fox he strut 'roun' en play mighty biggity, en eve'y time he meet Brer Tarrypin in de road he walk all 'roun' 'im en play on de quills like dis: "I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud; "Brer Tarrypin, he feel mighty bad, but Brer Nobody dunner whar de quills come fum, kaze Brer Tarrypin, he aint makin' no brags how he git um; yit ev'ybody want um on account er der playin' sech a lonesome* tune, en ole Brer Fox, he want it wuss'n all. He beg en he beg Brer Tarry-in',' sez Brer Fox, sezee. pin fer ter sell 'im dem quills, but Brer Tarrypin, he hol' on t'um tight en say eh! Den he ax Brer Tarrypin fer ter loan um t'um des a week, so he kin play fer his chilluns, but Brer Tarrypin, he shake his head en put his foot down, en keep on playin' : "Brer Tarrypin mighty sleepy dis mawn "I foolee, I foolee, I foolee po' Buzzud; Po' Buzzud I foolee, I foolee, I foolee.' eh "But Brer Fox, he aint got no peace er min' on account er dem quills, en one day he meet Brer Tarrypin en he ax 'im how he seem ter segashuate,f en his fambly en all his chilluns ; en den Brer Fox ax Brer Tarrypin ef he can't des look at de quills, This word "lonesome," as used by the negroes, is the equivalent of “ thrilling,' ," "romantic," etc., and in that sense is very expressive. An inquiry after his health. Another form is: "How does yo' corporosity seem ter segashuate?" "Still Brer Tarrypin keep his eyes shot. en stay still. Brer Fox keep on gittin' nigher en nigher, twel bimeby Brer Tarrypin open his eyes en his mouf bofe, en he make a grab at Brer Fox en miss 'im. "But hol' on!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in response to an expression of intense disappointment in the child's face. "You des wait a minnit. Nex' mawnin', Brer Tarrypin take hisse'f off en waller in a mudhole, en smear hisse'f wid mud twel he look off en lay down un'need a log whar he des 'zackly like a clod er dirt. Den he crawl know Brer Fox come eve'y mawnin' fer ter freshen hisse'f. reckly yer come Brer Fox. Time he git "Brer Tarrypin lay dar, he did, en terdar, Brer Fox 'gun ter lip backerds en forrerds 'cross de log, en Brer Tarrypin he crope nigher en nigher, twel bimeby he * Exercise himself. |