"The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story"

ce The

Wonderful

Tar-Baby

Story"

R E R F O X tried time a n d time again to catch

Brer R a b b i t , a n d h e c a m e m i g h t y n e a r c a t c h -

i n g h i m , b u t t i m e a n d t i m e a g a i n Brer R a b b i t g o t

7
\

T a r - B a b y a n d sat h e r i n t h e big r o a d a n d t h e n h e
l a y off i n t h e bushes for to see w h a t t h e news w a s
going to be. A n d he d i d n ' t have to wait long either,
c a u s e b y - a n d - b y h e r e c a m e Brer R a b b i t p a c i n g
d o w n t h e r o a d l i p p i t y clippity, clippity Uppity
j u s t as sassy as a j a y b i r d .
B r e r F o x , h e l a y low.
Brer R a b b i t he came prancing along until he
spied t h e T a r - B a b y , a n d t h e n h e fetched u p o n his
b e h i n d legs like h e w a s astonished.

T h e T a r - B a b y , she sat t h e r e , she d i d ; a n d B r e r

F o x , h e lay low.
" M a w n i n ' ! " sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee." N i c e w e a t h e r
dis m a w n i n ' , " sezee.
T a r - B a b y a i n ' t saying n o t h i n g , a n d B r e r F o x h e
l a y low.
, " H o w does y o u ' s y m p t o m s seen ter segashuate?"sez B r e r R a b b i t , , sezee.
* B r e r F o x , h e w i n k his eye slow, a n d l a y l o w ; a n d
t h e T a r - B a b y , she a i n ' t say n o t h i n g .
" H o w y o u c o m e on, d e n ? Is you d e a f ? " sez B r e r
R a b b i t , sezee. " C a u s e if y o u is, I c a n holler l o u d e r , "
sezee.
fie fixed up a contraption that he called a Tar-Baby
a w a y . T h e n o n e d a y , Brer F o x w e n t t o w o r k a n d
g o t h i m s o m e t a r . H e took t h e t a r a n d h e m i x e d i t
w i t h s o m e t u r p e n t i n e , a n d h e fixed u p a c o n t r a p t i o n
t h a t h e called a T a r - B a b y . T h e n h e took this h e r e

T a r - B a b y stay still, a n d Brer F o x , h e lay low.

" Y o u ' r e stuck u p , d a t ' s w h a t y o u i s , " says B r e r
R a b b i t , sezee, " a n d I ' m g w i n e t e r c u r e y o u , d a t ' s
w h a t I ' m g w i n e t e r d o , " sezee.
1
B r e r F o x , h e sort of c h u c k l e i n his s t o m a c h , h e
d i d ; b u t T a r B a b y a i n ' t saying n o t h i n g .

f 1 1

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8

B R E R RABBIT

" I ' m g w i n t e r l e a r n y o u h o w to talk to r e s p e c t a b l e

folks if it's d e last a c t , " sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee. " I f
y o u d o n ' t t a k e off d a t h a t a n d tell m e h o w d y , I ' m
g w i n e t e r b u s t y o u w i d e o p e n , " sezee.
T a r - B a b y stay still, a n d Brer Fox, h e l a y l o w .
Brer R a b b i t keeps o n asking h i m , a n d t h e T a r B a b y she keeps o n saying n o t h i n g , till p r e s e n t l y B r e r
R a b b i t d r a w s b a c k w i t h his fists, h e d i d , a n d b l i p !
h e took h e r a w h a c k o n t h e side of t h e h e a d . R i g h t
t h e r e is w h e r e h e b r o k e his molasses j u g . H i s fist
s t u c k a n d h e c o u l d n ' t p u l l it loose. T h e t a r h e l d h i m .
B u t T a r - B a b y she stay still, a n d Brer F o x , h e l a y
low.
" E f y o u d o n ' t let m e loose, I ' l l k n o c k y o u a g a i n , "
sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee, a n d w i t h t h a t h e fetched h e r
a w h a c k w i t h t h e o t h e r h a n d . A n d t h a t stuck.
- T a r - B a b y she a i n ' t say n o t h i n g , a n d Brer F o x , h e
l a y low.
" T u r n m e loose, fore I kick d e n a t u r a l stuffin' o u t
of y o u , " sez B r e r R a b b i t , sezee, b u t t h e T a r - B a b y
she a i n ' t saying n o t h i n g . S h e j u s t h e l d o n . A n d t h e n ,
b l i p ! Brer R a b b i t lost t h e use of his feet t h e s a m e
way.
Brer F o x h e lay low.
T h e n Brer R a b b j t squalled o u t t h a t if t h e T a r B a b y d i d n ' t t u r n h i m loose h e ' d b u t t h e r c r a n k sided. A n d t h e n h e b u t t e d a n d his h e a d g o t stuck.
T h e n Brer F o x h e s a u n t e r e d forth, looking j u s t as
i n n o c e n t as o n e of y o u r m o t h e r ' s rnockingbirds.

"The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story"

" H o w d y , Brer R a b b i t , " sez Brer Fox, sezee. " Y o u

look sort of stuck u p dis m a w n i n ' , " sezee. A n d t h e n
h e rolled o n t h e g r o u n d a n d l a u g h e d a n d l a u g h e d
u n t i l h e c o u l d n ' t l a u g h a n y m o r e . " I 'spect y o u ' l l
t a k e d i n n e r wid m e dis t i m e , Brer R a b b i t . I ' v e l a i d
i n s o m e c a l m u s r o o t a n d I a i n ' t going to t a k e n o
e x c u s e , " sez Brer Fox, sezee.
W h e n Brer F o x looks a t Brer R a b b i t a g a i n , all
m i x e d u p w i t h t h e T a r - B a b y , h e feels m i g h t y g o o d ,
a n d h e rolls on 1 t h e g r o u n d a n d l a u g h s s o m e m o r e .
By a n d b y , h e u p a n d sez,, sezee, " W e l l , I 'spect I
g o t y o u dis t i m e , Brer R a b b i t , " sezee. " M a y b e I
a i n ' t , b u t I 'spect 1 h a v e . Y o u b e e n r u n n i n ' r o u n d
h e r e assin' after m e a long time, b u t I 'spect y o u
h a v e c o m e to t h e e n d of t h e r o w . Y o u b e e n c u t t i n '
u p y o u r c a p e r s a n d b o u n c i n ' r o u n d i n dis n e i g h b o r h o o d till y o u c o m e to b'lieve yourself d e boss of d e
w h o l e g a n g . A n d d e n y o u a r e always s o m e p l a c e
w h e n y o u h a v e n o business to b e , " sez Brer F o x ,
sezee. " W h o asked you to c o m e a n d strike u p a n
a c q u a i n t a n c e wid dis h e r e T a r - B a b y ? A n d wh.6
stuck y o u u p d a r w h a r y o u is? N o b o d y in d e r o u n d
w o r l d . Y o u j u s t took a n d j a m m e d yourself o n d a t
T a r - B a b y w i d o u t w a i t i n ' for a n y i n v i t a t i o n , " sez
B r e r F o x , sezee; " a n d d a r y o u is a n d d a r y o u ' l l
s t a y till I fix u p a b r u s h pile a n d light it o n fire,
cause I ' m g w i n e t e r b a r b e c u e y o u dis d a y , sure,'*
sez Brer F o x , sezee.
T h e n B r e r R a b b i t talked m i g h t y h u m b l e .

I.

}i

i'

1
"The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story"

B R E R RABBIT

I0

" I d o n ' t c a r e .what y o u d o w i d m e , Brer F o x , "

sezee, " s o y o u d o n ' t fling m e i n d a t b r i e r p a t c h .
R o a s t m e , B r e r F o x , " sezee, " b u t d o n ' t fling m e i n

ir

<!

i\

sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee, " b u t d o - d o n ' t fling m e i n

d a t b r i e r p a t c h , " sezee<
" D e y a i n ' t n o w a t e r n i g h , " sez Brer Fox, sezee,
" a n d n o w I 'spects I ' l l h a v e t o skin y o u , " sezee.

d a t b r i e r p a t c h , " sezee.

" S k i n m e , Brer F o x , " sez Brer R a b b i t ,

sezee,

" s n a t c h o u t m y eyeballs', t e a r o u t m y h a i r , t e a r o u t
m y ears b y d e roots a n d c u t off m y legs," sezee,
" b u t , please, B r e r F o x , d o n ' t fling m e i n d a t b r i e r

.;. .1 1

p a t c h , " sezee.
- t ) f course B r e r F o x w a n t e d t o h u r t B r e r R a b b i t
as b a d as h e could, so h e c a u g h t h i m b y t h e b e h i n d
legs a n d s l u n g h i m r i g h t i n t h e m i d d l e of t h e b r i e r
p a t c h . T h e r e w a s a c o n s i d e r a b l e flutter w h e r e B r e r
R a b b i t stuck t h e bushes, a n d B r e r F o x sort of h u n g
a r o u n d to see w h a t w a s going t o h a p p e n . B y - a n d - b y
h e h e a r d s o m e b o d y call h i m , a n d w a y u p t h e h i l l
h e s a w B r e r R a b b i t sitting cross-legged o n a c h i n k a *'\.,1V.

p i n log c o m b i n g t h e p i t c h o u t of his h a i r w i t h a c h i p
of w o o d . T h e n Brer F o x k n e w t h a t h e h a d b e e n

"Dar you is and dar you'll stay"

fooled m i g h t y b a d l y . Still B r e r R a b b i t w a s pleased

sez

t o fling b a c k s o m e of his sass, a n d h e hollers o u t :

B r e r F o x , sezee, " d a t I 'spect I ' l l h a v e t o h a n g

" B r e d a n d b a w n i n d e b r i e r p a t c h , Brer F o x b r e d

y o u , " sezee.
" H a n g m e j u s t as h i g h as y o u please, B r e r F o x , "

skips o u t j u s t as lively as a cricket i n t h e e m b e r s .

" I t ' s so m u c h t r o u b l e for t o k i n d l e a

fire,"

a n d b a w n in de brier p a t c h ! " and with that h e

sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee, " b u t for d e L o r d ' s sake,

d o n ' t fling m e i n d a t b r i e r p a t c h , " sezee.
" I a i n ' t g o t n o s t r i n g , " sez Brer Fox, sezee, " a n d
n o w I 'spects I ' l l h a v e t o d r o w n y o u , " sezee.
" D r o w n m e j u s t as d e e p as y o u please, Brer F o x , "
'

*r

Brother Rabbit's Astonishing Prank

w a s n a m e d K l i b s . O l d B r e r B e a r a n d Miss B e a r t h e y
went along ahead, a n d K u b s a n d Klibs, they c a m e
shuffling a n d s c r a m b l i n g a l o n g b e h i n d . W h e n B r e r
R a b b i t sees this, h e says to himself t h a t h e 'spects h e
h a d b e t t e r go see h o w Brer B e a r is g e t t i n g a l o n g , a n d
off h e p u t . A n d it w a s n ' t long before h e w a s r a n s a c k i n g B r e r B e a r ' s premises j u s t like a sure e n o u g h
patter-roller.

m o s t a l w a y s c a m e o u t o n t o p ^ I t w o u l d look
m i g h t y c u r i o u s n o w , b u t it w a s n ' t curious i n those
d a y s , b e c a u s e e v e r y o n e k n e w t h a t strike h i m w h e n
y o u m i g h t a n d w h e r e y o u w o u l d , Brer R a b b i t w a s
the supplest creature going.

W h i l e h e w a s going a r o u n d p e e p i n g i n h e r e a n d
p o k i n g i n t h e r e , h e g o t to fooling a m o n g t h e shelves,
a n d a b u c k e t of h o n e y t h a t B r e r B e a r h a d h i d d e n
i n t h e c u p b o a r d falls d o w n a n d spills o n t o p of B r e r
R a b b i t , a n d a little m o r e a n d h e ' d h a v e b e e n
d r o w n e d . F r o m h e a d to heels t h a t c r e a t u r e w a s covered with honey; he wasn't just only bedobbled w i t h
it, h e w a s j u s t covered.- H e h a d to sit t h e r e a n d l e t
t h e n a t u r a l sweetness d r i p o u t of his eyeballs before
h e c a n see his h a n d before h i m , a n d t h e n after h e
l o o k e d a r o u n d a little h e says to himself, sezee:

Brother

Rabbit's

Astonishing

Prank

N E of t h e reasons t h a t m a d e old Brer R a b b i t

get a l o n g so well w a s t h a t h e n e v e r copied a n y
o f t h e o t h e r c r e a t u r e s . W h e n h e m a d e his d i s a p p e a r a n c e before t h e m i t w a s a l w a y s i n s o m e b r a n d - n e w
p l a c e . T h e y n e v e r k n e w w h e r e a b o u t s for t o w a t c h
o u t for h i m . H e w a s t h e funniest c r e a t u r e of t h e
w h o l e g a n g . S o m e folks m i g h t h a v e called h i m lucky,
a n d yet, w h e n h e g o t i n b a d luck it looked like, he,

O n e t i m e h e sort of took a n o t i o n , old Brer R a b b i t

d i d , t h a t h e ' d p a y B r e r B ' a r a call, a n d n o sooner
d i d t h e n o t i o n strike h i m t h a n h e picked himself u p
a n d s t r u c k o u t for B r e r B e a r ' s h o u s e . B r e r R a b b i t
a n d Brer Bear were more m a d with each other t h a n
friendly, so Brer R a b b i t m a d e his call w h e n Brer
B e a r a n d his family w e r e off from h o m e . H e sat '
d o w n b y t h e r o a d u n t i l h e s a w t h e m go b y o l d B r e r
B e a r a n d old Miss B e a r a n d their t w o t w i n c h i l d r e n
o n e of w h i c h w a s n a m e d K u b s a n d t h e o t h e r o n e
43

mm

43

" H e y o , h e r e ! W ' a t I g w i n e d o now? E f I go o u t

i n d e sunshine, d e b u m b l e y - b e e s e n d e flies d e y ' l l
sworn u p e n t a k e m e , en ef I stay h e r e , B r e r B'ar'11
c o m e b a c k e n k e t c h m e , en I d u n n e r w ' a t i n d e
n a m e , er gracious I g w i n e d o . "
A n y h o w , b y - a n d - b y , a n o t i o n strikes Brer R a b b i t
a n d h e tips a l o n g till h e gets in t h e woods, a n d w h e n
h e g o t o u t t h e r e w h a t d o h e d o b u t roll i n t h e leafs
a n d t r a s h a n d t r y for to r u b t h e h o n e y off of h i m
t h a t w a y . H e rolls, h e d i d , a n d t h e leafs t h e y stick.

dk

44

BRER RABBIT

B r e r R a b b i t rolls, a n d t h e leafs t h e y stick, a n d h e

k e e p s o n rolling a n d t h e leafs k e e p o n sticking, till
after w h i l e Brer R a b b i t w a s t h e m o s t o w d a s h u s l o o k i n g c r e a t u r e t h a t y o u e v e r set eyes o n . A n d if
Miss M e a d o w s a n d t h e gals c o u l d h a v e seen h i m
then a n d there, there wouldn't have been any more
B r e r R a b b i t calling a t t h e i r house. I n d e e d t h e r e
wouldn't.

Brother Rabbit's, Astonishing Prank

45

t h a n she hoisted u p h e r t a i l i n t h e elements, a n d . p u t

o u t like a p a c k of dogs w e r e after h e r . T h i s m a k e s
Brer R a b b i t laugh, because he knows that w h e n a n
old settled w o m a n like Sis C o w r u n s d i s t r a c t e d i n
the broad open daytime, there must be something
m i g h t y c u r i o u s a b o u t t h e m leafs a n d t h a t h o n e y ,
a n d h e keeps o n a - r a c k i n g d o w n t h e r o a d . T h e n e x t

Brer R a b b i t he j u m p e d round, he did, and tried to

s h a k e t h e leafs off of h i m , b u t t h e leafs they a r e n ' t
g o i n g t o b e shook off. B r e r R a b b i t h e shakes a n d h e '
shivers, b u t t h e leafs t h e y stick; a n d t h e capers t h a t
c r e a t u r e c u t u p , o u t t h e r e i n t h e w o o d s b y his o w n
self, w e r e s c a n d a l o u s t h e y w e r e t h a t . T h e y w e r e
scandalous.
B r e r R a b b i t sees t h a t t h i s . w a s n ' t going to d o , a n d
h e allows t o himself t h a t h e b e t t e r b e getting o n tow a r d h o m e , a n d off h e p u t .
Brer R a b b i t p a c e d along, h e did, a n d ' a t every
m o t i o n h e m a d e , t h e leaves t h e y ' d g o swishy-swushy,
splushy-splishy, a n d from t h e fuss h e m a d e a n d t h e
w a y h e looked y o u ' d t a k e h i m t o b e t h e m o s t savage
v a r m i n t t h a t d i s a p p e a r e d from t h e face of t h e e a r t h
s i n c e old m a n N o a h let d o w n t h e d r a w b a r s of t h e
a r k a n d t u r n e d t h e c r e a t u r e s loose. A n d if y o u h a d
e v e r s t r u c k u p alongside of h i m y o u w o u l d h a v e b e e n
m i g h t y g l a d if y o u ' d h a v e g o t off w i t h j u s t t h a t .
T h e first m a n t h a t Brer R a b b i t m e t u p w i t h w a s
o l d Sis C o w , a n d n o sooner d i d she lay eyes onf-him

Old Sis Cow put out like a pack of dogs were after her
m a n t h a t h e m e t was a b l a c k g a l tolling a w h o l e
p a r c e l of p l a n t a t i o n piglets, a n d w h e n t h e g a l sees
Brer R a b b i t c o m e p r a n c i n g a l o n g she flings d o w n
h e r b a s k e t of c o r n a n d fairly flies, a n d t h e little pigs
t h e y took off t h r o u g h t h e woods, a n d such a r a c k e t
as t h e y kicked u p w i t h t h e i r r u n n i n g a n d t h e i r s n o r t ing a n d their squealing has never been heard in t h a t
s e t t l e m e n t - e i t h e r before o r since. I t k e p t o n t h a t

iii

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B R E R RABBIT

Brother Rabbit's Astonishing Prank

w a y as long as Brer R a b b i t m e t a n y b o d y t h e y j u s t
b r o k e a n d r a n like t h e OLD BOY w a s after t h e r n .
O f course this m a k e s Brer R a b b i t feel m o n s t r o u s
biggity, a n d h e allows to himself t h a t h e 'spects h e
has ter drop 'round a n d skummish in the neighborh o o d of Brer F o x ' s house'. A n d w h i l e h e w a s s t a n d i n g
t h e r e r u n n i n g this a r o u n d in his m i n d , h e r e c a m e
old Brer B e a r a n d all his family. Brer R a b b i t h e gets
crossways across t h e r o a d , h e did, a n d h e sort of
sidles t o w a r d t h e m . O l d Miss Bear, she s t a n d s it
l o n g as she c a n , a n d t h e n she flings d o w n h e r p a r a s o l
a n d took to a tree. Brer B e a r looks like h e is g o i n g
t o s t a n d his g r o u n d , b u t Brer R a b b i t h e j u m p s
s t r a i g h t u p i n t h e a i r a n d gives himself a shake, a n d
bless y o u r soul, old B r e r Bear m a k e s a b r e a k , a n d
t h e y tell h o w h e t o r e d o w n a w h o l e p a n e l of fence
g e t t i n g a w a y from t h e r e . A n d as to K u b s a n d K l i b s ,
t h e y took t h e i r h a t s i n their h a n d s , a n d t h e y w e n t
s k a d d l i n g t h r o u g h t h e bushes j u s t t h e s a m e as a
d r o v e of horses.

h e is. Brer R a b b i t h e j u m p s u p a n d d o w n i n t h e
m i d d l e of t h e r o a d , a n d hollers o u t :

Brer R a b b i t p a r a d e d o n d o w n t h e r o a d , a n d b y a n d - b y , h e r e comes B r e r F o x a n d Brer Wolf, fixing

u p a p l a n for to n a b Brer R a b b i t , a n d t h e y w e r e so
i n t e n t o n their conflab t h a t t h e y got r i g h t o n B r e r
R a b b i t before t h e y saw h i m ; b u t , g e n t l e m e n , w h e n
t h e y d i d c a t c h a glimpse of h i m , t h e y g a v e h i m all
t h e r o o m h e w a n t e d . Brer Wolf, h e tried to show off,
h e d i d , b e c a u s e h e w a n t e d to p l a y big before B r e r
F o x , a n d h e s t o p p e d a n d asked Brer R a b b i t w h o

" I ' m de Wull-er-de-Wust. I ' m de

Wust, en youer de m a n I ' m atter!"

47

Wull-er-de-

Old Brer Bear makes a break

T h e n Brer R a b b i t j u m p s u p a n d d o w n a n d m a k e s
like h e is going after Brer F o x a n d Brer Wolf, a n d
t h e w a y those c r e a t u r e s lit o u t from t h e r e w a s a
caution.
A long t i m e after t h a t , Brer R a b b i t c a m e u p w i t h
B r e r F o x a n d Brer Wolf, a n d h e gets b e h i n d a s t u m p ,
B r e r R a b b i t d i d , a n d hollers o u t :

48

BRER RABBIT

" I ' m de Wull-er-de-Wust, en youer de mens I ' m

alter!"
Brer F o x a n d Brer W o l f t h e y broke, b u t before t h e y
g o t o u t of sight a n d p u t of h e a r i n g , Brer R a b b i t
s h o w e d himself, h e d i d , a n d l a u g h e d fit to kill h i m self. A f t e r w a r d Miss M e a d o w s she h e a r s a b o u t it, a n d
t h e n e x t t i m e Brer F o x called, t h e gals t h e y u p a n d
g i g g l e a n d ask h i m if h e a i n ' t afraid t h e Wull-er-deW u s t m i g h t d r o p in.

A i Story

About

the Little

Rabbits

L D Brer R a b b i t was the d a d d y R a b b i t of a lot

of g o o d little R a b b i t s ; t h e y m i n d e d t h e i r
d a d d y a n d m a m m y from d a y ' s e n d to d a y ' s e n d . W h e n
old m a n R a b b i t said " S c o o t " t h e y scooted, a n d
w h e n old Miss R a b b i t said " S c a t " t h e y s c a t t e d . T h e y
d i d t h a t . A n d t h e y k e p t t h e i r fur clothes c l e a n a n d
t h e y n e v e r h a d a n y d i r t o n t h e i r noses e i t h e r .
T h e y w e r e g o o d little c h i l d r e n , a n d if t h e y h a d
not been, there was a time when there would have
b e e n n o m o r e little R a b b i t s . N o t a o n e . A n d t h a t
w a s t h e t i m e Brer F o x d r o p p e d i n a t Brer R a b b i t ' s
h o u s e a n d d i d n ' t find a n y o n e t h e r e b u t t h e little
R a b b i t s . O l d B r e r R a b b i t , h e w a s off s o m e w h e r e
r a i d i n g s o m e o n e ' s g r e e n g a r d e n p a t c h , a n d old Miss
R a b b i t she was attending a quilting p a r t y in the
n e i g h b o r h o o d . A n d w h i l e t h e little R a b b i t s w e r e
p l a y i n g h i d i n ' - s w i t c h , i n d r o p p e d Brer Fox. ( T h e
little, R a b b i t s w e r e so r o u n d a n d fat t h e y fairly m a d e
his m o u t h w a t e r , b u t h e r e m e m b e r e d a b o u t B r e r
W o l f a n d so h e w a s afraid t o g o b b l e t h e m u p w i t h o u t
h a v i n g a g o o d excuse. T h e little R a b b i t s w e r e
m i g h t y skittish, a n d t h e y sort of h u d d l e d themselves
u p t o g e t h e r a n d w a t c h e d B r e r Fox's m o t i o n s . B r e r
49

>

i,

5<>

BRER RABBIT

F o x , h e sat t h e r e , a n d .studied a n d w o n d e r e d w h a t
s o r t of a n excuse h e w a s g o i n g to m a k e u p . B y - a n d b y h e spied a stalk of s u g a r c a n e s t a n d i n g u p over i n

A Story About the Little Rabbits

51

b y t h e y h e a r a little b i r d singing o n t o p of t h e h o u s e .
A n d t h e song t h a t t h e little b i r d s a n g was this:
"Takeyo'
Takeyo'

toqfies en gnaw it,

toqfies en saw it,

Saw it en yoke it,

En den you kin broke it"

Brer Fox, he sat there

T h e n t h e little R a b b i t s t h e y g e t m i g h t y g l a d a n d
t h e y g n a w e d t h r o u g h t h e c a n e a l m o s t before ole
Brer F o x c o u l d g e t his legs uncrossed. A n d w h e n
t h e y c a r r i e d h i m t h e c a n e , t h e n Brer F o x h a d to sit
t h e r e a n d s t u d y h o w h e w a s going t o find himself
a n o t h e r excuse for n a b b i n g t h e m . B y - a n d - b y h e g o t
u p a n d t o o k d o w n t h e strainer t h a t w a s h a n g i n g o n
t h e w a l l a n d hollered o u t :

t h e c o r n e r , so h e clears his t h r o a t a n d speaks u p i n

a d e e p biggity voice,

" C o m e h e r e , R a b s . T a k e dis h e r e s t r a i n e r e n r u n
d o w n to d e spring e n fetch m e some fresh w a t e r . "

" H e r e ! Y o u y o u n g R a b s d a r , sail r o u n d h e r e e n
b r o k e m e off a piece er d a t sweetenin' t r e e , " sezee.
A n d t h e n h e coughs.

T h e little R a b b i t s t h e y r a n d o w n t o t h e s p r i n g a n d
t r i e d to d i p u p t h e w a t e r w i t h t h e s t r a i n e r . B u t of
course i t all r a n o u t , a n d i t k e p t o n r u n n i n g o u t , till
b y - a n d - b y t h e little R a b b i t s sat d o w n a n d b e g a n t o
cry. T h e n t h e little b i r d sitting u p i n t h e tree h e
b e g a n t o sing. A n d this is t h e song t h a t h e s a n g :

T h e little R a b b i t s t h e y got o u t the s u g a r c a n e ,

t h e y d i d , a n d t h e y w r a s t l e d w i t h it a n d t h e y s w e a t e d
o v e r it, b u t ' t w a s n ' t a n y use. T h e y Couldn't b r e a k
i t . Brer F o x m a k e like h e w a s n ' t w a t c h i n g , b u t h e
k e p t o n hollering:
" H u r r y u p dar, Rabs. I ' m a-waitin' on y o u . "
A n d t h e little R a b b i t s t h e y hustle ' r o u n d a n d t h e y
w r a s t l e w i t h it, b u t t h e y c o u l d n ' t b r o k e it. B y - a n d -

"Strainer hold water same ez a tray,

Ef you fill it wid moss en dob it wid clay;
De Fox get madder de longer you stay
Fill it wid moss en dob it wid clay"

BRER RABBIT

5?

So u p t h e y j u m p e d , t h e little R a b b i t s did, a n d
t h e y fixed the~strainer so it w o u l d n ' t leak, a n d t h e n
t h e y c a r r i e d t h e w a t e r t o old B r e r F o x . T h e n B r e r
F o x gets m i g h t y m a d , a n d p o i n t s o u t a g r e a t b i g log
of w o o d , a n d tells t h e little R a b b i t s t o go p u t t h a t
o n t h e fire. T h e little c h a p s t h e y g o t a r o u n d t h e log,
t h e y d i d , a n d t h e y lift a t it so h a r d t h e y c o u l d see
t h e i r o w n muscles. B u t t h e log w o u l d n ' t b u d g e . T h e n
t h e y h e a r d t h e little b i r d singing, a n d this is t h e song
t h a t he sang:
"Spit inyo' 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"

%<o
\s$$t
**w.

The log wouldn't budge

A n d j u s t a b o u t t h e t i m e t h e y g o t t h e log o n t h e
fire t h e i r d a d d y , h e c a m e skipping in a n d t h e little

A Story About the Little Rabbits

53

b i r d h e flew a w a y . Brer F o x h e s a w t h a t his g a m e

w a s u p , a n d ' t w a s n ' t long before h e m a d e his excuses a n d s t a r t e d for to go.
" Y o u b e t t e r s t a y e n t a k e a snack w i d m e , Brer
F o x , " sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee. " S i n c e B r e r W o l f d o n e
q u i t c o m i n ' a n d settin' u p w i d m e , I g i t t i n ' so I feels
r i g h t l o n e s o m e dese l o n g n i g h t s , " sezee.
B u t Brer F o x h e b u t t o n e d u p his c o a t collar t i g h t
a n d j u s t p u t o u t for h o m e .

Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Bear

79

a n d i t w a s n ' t l o n g before h e f o u n d a c r a c k i n t h e
fence w h e r e t h e rail h a d b e e n r u b b e d r i g h t s m o o t h .
A n d r i g h t t h e r e h e set h i m a t r a p . H e took a n d
Mr.

Rabbit

and

Mr.

Bear

b e n d e d d o w n a hickory sapling g r o w i n g i n t h e fence

c o r n e r , a n d t i e d o n e e n d of a p l o w line o n t h e t o p ,
a n d i n t h e o t h e r e n d h e fixed a l o o p - k n o t , a n d t h a t

h e fastened w i t h a trigger r i g h t i n t h e c r a c k .

H E R E w a s . o n e season w h e n Brer F o x said t o

N e x t m o r n i n g w h e n old B r e r R a b b i t c a m e slipping

himself t h a t h e 'spect h e b e t t e r w h i r l in an'i p l a n t

a p e a n u t p a t c h . A n d i n those days, m a n , i t w a s

along a n d crept through the crack the loop-knot

t o u c h a n d g o . T h e w o r d s w e r e n ' t m o r e t h a n o u t of

caughjt h i m b e h i n d t h e forelegs a n d t h e s a p l i n g flew

his m o u t h before t h e g r o u n d w a s b r o k e n u p a n d t h e

u p a n d there he was between the heavens a n d t h e

peanuts were planted.

e a r t h . T h e r e h e s w u n g , a n d h e feared h e g w i n e t e r

Brer R a b b i t h e sat off a n d w a t c h e d t h e m o t i o n s ,

h e d i d , a n d h e sort of s h u t o n e eye a n d s a n g t o his
chilluns:

fall, a n d h e feared h e w e r e n ' t g w i n e t e r fall.

W h i l e h e w a s fixing u p a t a l e for B r e r F o x , h e
h e a r d a lumbering down the road, a n d presently
h e r e comes old B r e r B e a r a m b l i n g a l o n g from w h e r e

"Ti-yi!
Tungalee!
I eat un pea, I pick urn pea.
Hit grow in de grown'; hit grow so free;
Ti-yi! dem goober pea."

h e h a d b e e n r o b b i n g a b e e tree. B r e r R a b b i t , h e
hails h i m :
( ' H o w d y , Brer B e a r ! "
Brer B e a r h e looks a r o u n d a n d b y a n d b y h e sees
B r e r R a b b i t swinging from t h e sapling, a n d h e hol-

A n d ' sure e n o u g h , w h e n t h e p e a n u t s b e g a n t o
r i p e n u p , every t i m e Brer F o x w e n t d o w n t o his
p a t c h h e w o u l d find w h e r e s o m e b o d y h a d b e e n
g r a b b l i n ' ' m o n g s t t h e vines. A n d h e g o t m i g h t y m a d .
H e s o r t of suspects w h o t h e s o m e b o d y is, b u t ole
Brer R a b b i t h e Covers his t r a c k so c u t e t h a t B r e r F o x
don't know h o w to catch him. By-and-by, one d a y
B r e r F o x takes a w a l k all f o u n d t h e p e a n u t p a t c h ,

lers o u t :
" H e y o , Brer R a b b i t !
m a w n i n spis

H o w you

come on

dis

M u c h oblige, I ' m m i d d l i n ' , B r e r B ' a r , " sez Brer

R a b b i t , sezee.
T h e n Brer Bear,' het asks Brer R a b b i t , w h a t is h e
d o i n g u p t h e r e i n t h e elements. A n d B r e r R a b b i t h e

w
80

B R E R RABBIT

u p a n d says h e is
B e a r h e says h o w .
crows o u t of Brer
asked Brer B e a r if

m a k i n g a dollar a minute. Brer

Brer R a b b i t says h e w a s k e e p i n g
Fox's p e a n u t patch, a n d then h e
he d o n ' t w a n t to make a dollar a

Mr. Rabbit and Mr, Bear

81

B r e r R a b b i t h e p u t o u t for B r e r F o x ' s p l a c e a n d
w h e n h e g o t t h e r e h e sings o u t :
" B r e r F o x ! O h , B r e r F o x ! C o m e o u t h e r e , Brer
F o x , a n d I ' l l s h b w y o u t h e m a n w h a t b e e n stealing
your peanuts."
Brer F o x , h e g r a b s u p his w a l k i n g stick, a n d b o t h
o f t h e m w e n t r u n n i n g b a c k d o w n to t h e p e a n u t
p a t c h . A n d w h e n t h e y g o t t h e r e , sure e n o u g h , t h e r e
w a s old B r e r B e a r .
" O h , yes. Y o u ' r k o t c h , is y o u ? " says Brer Fox^ a n d
before Brer B e a r c o u l d e x p l a i n , Brer R a b b i t h e
j u m p s u p a n d d o w n a n d hollers o u t :
" H i t ' i m i n d e m o u f / B r e r F o x ; h i t ' i m in d e m o u f , "
a n d Brer Fox, he draws back with the walking cane
a n d b l i p h e took h i m a lick. A n d every t i m e Brer
B e a r w o u l d t r y to e x p l a i n , Brer F o x w o u l d s h o w e r
down on him.

Brer Rabbit he up and says he is making a dollar a minute

m i n u t e since h e h a s s u c h a big family of chilluns t o
t a k e care of, a n d t h e n h e w o u l d m a k e s u c h a n i c e
scarecrow. Brer B e a r a l l o w e d t h a t h e w o u l d t a k e t h e
j o b . A n d t h e n Brer R a b b i t s h o w e d h i m h o w t o b e n d j
d o w n t h e sapling a n d i t w a s n ' t l o n g before B r e r B e a r
w a s swinging u p t h e r e i n Brer R a b b i t ' s p l a c e . T h e n

W h i l e all this w a s g o i n g o n , B r e r R a b b i t h e slips

off "and gets i n a , m u d hole w i t h j u s t his eyes left
sticking o u t , b e c a u s e h e k n e w t h a t Brer Bear w o u l d
b e c o m i n g after h i m . A n d sure e n o u g h , b y - a n d - b y ,
here c a m e Brer Bear d o w n the road. A n d w h e n he
g o t t o t h e m u d hole, h e says:
" H o w d y , B r e r F r o g . Is you seed Brer R a b b i t go,
b y here?"
" H e j u s t g o n e b y , " sez Brer R a b b i t , arid old m a n
B e a r took off d o w n t h e r o a d like a s c a r e d m u l e . A n d
Brer R a b b i t , h e comes o u t a n d dries himself i n t h e
s u n a n d goes h o m e t o his family s a m e as a n y o t h e r
man.

BESS
T
Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure

113;

I
8,

" H o w y o u g w i n e git ' i m d a r ? " sez Brer Fox,,

Mr.

Wolf

Makes

Failure

sezee.
" F o o l ' i m d a r , " sez Brer Wolf, sezee.

R E R F O X g o t so m a d a n d h e felt so b a d a b o u t
Brer R a b b i t t h a t h e d i d n ' t k n o w w h a t to d o ,
a n d he looked mighty downhearted. By-and-by, one
d a y w h i l e h e w a s going a l o n g t h e r o a d B r e r W o l f
a m e u p with him. W h e n they h a d done howdying
a n d asking after o n e a n o t h e r ' s family connections,
B r e r Wolf, h e allowed, h e d i d , t h a t t h e r e w a s
something w r o n g w i t h Brer F o x , a n d B r e r F o x h e
allowed there wasn't, a n d h e went on a n d laughed
a n d m a d e a g r e a t t o - d o because Brer W o l f looked
like h e suspicioned s o m e t h i n g . B u t Brer W b l f h e ' s
g o t a m i g h t y l o n g h e a d a n d h e sort of b r o a c h e d t h e
subject of Brer R a b b i t ' s carryings o n , b e c a u s e t h e
-way t h a t B r e r R a b b i t h a d deceived Brer F o x h a d
c o m e t o b e t h e talk of t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d . T h e n
B r e r F o x a n d B r e r Wolf t h e y sort of p a l a v e r e d ' o n ,
t h e y d i d , till b y - a n d - b y Brer W o l f u p a n d says t h a t
h e h a s d o n e g 6 t a p l a n fixed for to t r a p Brer R a b b i t .
T h e n B r e r F o x says h o w . T h e n Brer W o l f u p a n d
tells h i m t h a t t h e w a y for to get t h e d r o p o n Brer
R a b b i t w a s to get h i m i n Brer F o x ' s h o u s e . Brer
F o x d o n e k n o w n Brer R a b b i t of old, a n d h e k n o w s
t h a t sort of a g a m e has b e e n w o r n to a frazzle, b u t
B r e r Wolf, h e talks m i g h t y p e r s u a d i n g .
112

E^*

Brer Fox and Brelr Wolf they sort ofpalavered on

" W h o g w i n e d o d e foolin'?" sez Brer Fox, sezee.
" I ' l l d o d e foolin'," sez Brer Wolf, sezee,

"ef

y o u ' l l d o d e g a m i n ' , " sezee.

" H o w y o u g w i n e d o i t ? " sez Brer Fox, sezee.
" Y o u r u n ' l o n g h o m e , e n git o n d e b e d , en m a k e
like y o u d e a d , e n d o n ' t y o u say n o t h i n ' till B r e r
R a b b i t c o m e e n p u t his h a n ' s o n t e r y o u , " sez B r e r

mmtmBmmmmmm>*

11 4

Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure

BRER RABBIT

Wolf, sezee. " E n ef w e d o n ' t git ' i m fer s u p p e r ,

J o e ' s d e a d e n Sal's a w i d d e r , " sezee. .
T h i s looked like a m i g h t y nice g a m e , a n d Brer
F o x a g r e e d . So h e a m b l e d off h o m e a n d B r e r Wolf,
h e m a r c h e d off to Brer R a b b i t ' s house. W h e n h e
g o t t h e r e it looks like n o b o d y is a t h o m e , b u t Brer
W o l f h e walks u p a n d knocks o n t h e d o o r b l a m !
b l a m ! N o b o d y comes. T h e n h e l a m s loose a n d
knocks a g a i n b l i m ! b l i m !

i15

b ' l e e v e h e ' d sort o f d r o p ' r o u n d b y Brer F o x ' s

h o u s e for t o see h o w t h e l a n d lay. N o sooner said
than done. U p he j u m p e d and out he went. W h e n
B r e r R a b b i t gets close t o Brer F o x ' s house, all looks
l o n e s o m e . T h e n h e goes u p n e a r e r . N o b o d y stirring.
T h e n h e looks i n , a n d t h e r e l a y Brer F o x s t r e t c h e d

" W h o d a r ? " sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee.

" F r ' e n ' , " sez B r e r Wolf.
" T o o m e n n y fr'en's spiles d e d i n n e r , " sez Brer
R a b b i t , sezee. " W ' i c h u n ' s dis?" sezee.
" I fetch b a d news, Brer R a b b i t . " sez B r e r Wolf,
.sezee.
" B a d news is soon tole," sez Brer R a b b i t , sezee.
By this t i m e B r e r R a b b i t h a d c o m e to t h e d o o r
w i t h his h e a d tied u p in a r e d h a n d k e r c h i e f .
" B r e r F o x d i e d dis m o r n i n ' , " sez Brer
sezee.

Wolf,

" W h a r y o ' m o ' n i n ' gown s Brer W o l f ? " sez Brer

R a b b i t , sezee.
" G w i n e a t t e r it n o w , " sez Brer Wolf, sezee. " I
j u s t called fer ter b r i n g d e news. I w e n t d o w n ter
Brer Fox's house little bit 'go, en d a r I foun' ' i m
stiff," sezee.
T h e n Brer W o l f lopes off.
Brer R a b b i t sat d o w n a n d s c r a t c h e d his h e a d , h e
d i d , a n d b y - a n d - b y h e says to himself t h a t h e

There lay Brer Fox stretched out on the bed

o u t o n t h e b e d j u s t as b i g as life. T h e n Brer R a b b i t
m a k e s like h e is talking t o himself.
" N o b o d y ' r o u n ' fer ter look a t t e r Brer F o x n o t
even Brer T u k k e y B u z z a r d a i n ' t c o m e ter d e f u n e r ' l , "
sezee. " I h o p e Brer F o x a i n ' t d e a d , b u t I ' s p e c t
h e is," sezee. " E v e n d o w n ter Brer Wolf d o n e g o n e
e n l e f ' i m . H i t ' s d e b u s y season w i d m e , b u t I ' l l
set u p w i d ' i m . H e seem like h e d e a d , yit h e m a y n ' t

BRER RABBIT
b e , " sez B r e r R a b b i t , sezee. " W ' e n a m a n g o t e r
see d e a d folks, d e a d folks allers raises u p d e r b e h i m e
l e g e n hollers, 'Wahoof'" sezee.

Mr.

Rabbit

Finds

His

Match

Again

B r e r F o x h e stays still. T h e n B r e r R a b b i t h e talks

a little l o u d e r :
" M i g h t y funny. Brer F o x looks like h e d e a d , yit
h e d o n ' t d o like h e d e a d . D e a d folks hists d e r
b e h i m e leg e n hollers 'Wahoof w ' e n a m a n c q m e
t e r see u m , " sez B r e r R a b b i t , sezee.
S u r e e n o u g h , B r e r F o x lifts u p his b e h i n d leg
a n d hollers "Wahoof" a n d B r e r R a b b i t h e t o r e o u t
o f t h e h o u s e like t h e dogs w e r e after h i m . B r e r
W o l f w a s m i g h t y s m a r t , b u t n o t s m a r t e n o u g h for
Brer Rabbit.

R E R R A B B I T d i d get c a u g h t u p w i t h o n c e ,
a n d i t cooled h i m off like p o u r i n g s p r i n g w a t e r
o n o n e of these h e r e biggity fires.
O n e d a y w h e n B r e r R a b b i t w a s g o i n g Iippityc l i p p i t i n ' d o w n t h e r o a d , h e m e t u p w i t h old B r e r
T a r r y p i n , a n d after t h e y h a d passed t h e t i m e o f
d a y w i t h o n e a n o t h e r B r e r R a b b i t h e allowed t h a t
h e w a s m u c h obliged to B r e r T a r r y p i n for t h e h a n d
h e t o o k i n t h e r u m p u s t h a t d a y d o w n a t Miss
M e a d o w s ' w h e n h e d r o p p e d off t h e w a t e r shelf o n
Brer Fox's head. T h e n Brer T a r r y p i n allowed t h a t
B r e r F o x r a n m i g h t y fast t h a t d a y , b u t t h a t if h e
h a d b e e n after h i m i n s t e a d of B r e r R a b b i t h e w o u l d
h a v e c a t c h e d h i m . B r e r R a b b i t said h e c o u l d h a v e
c a t c h e d h i m himself o n l y h e d i d n ' t c a r e a b o u t
l e a v i n g t h e ladies.
T h e y k e p t o n talking, t h e y d i d , till b y a n d b y
t h e y g o t t o d i s p u t i n g as t o w h i c h w a s t h e swiftest.
B r e r R a b b i t says h e c a n o u t r u n B r e r T a r r y p i n a n d
Brer Tarrypin h e just vowed that he can outrun
B r e r R a b b i t . U p a n d d o w n t h e y h a d it, till first
n e w s y o u k n o w B r e r T a r r y p i n says t h a t h e g o t a
fifty-dollar bill i n t h e c h i n k of t h e c h i m n e y a t h o m e ,
117

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