Nights with Uncle Remus (34 page)

“Atter w'ile yer he come, un den Brer Rabbit gun ter holler un pull at de tails. He say, sezee:

“ ‘Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer! Youer des in time ef you aint too late. Run yer, Brer Fox! run yer!'

“Brer Fox, he run'd en juk Brer Rabbit away, un say, sezee:

“ ‘Git out de way, Brer Rabbit! You too little! Git out de way, un let a man ketch holt.'

“Brer Fox tuck holt,” continued Aunt Tempy, endeavoring to keep from laughing, “un he fetch'd one big pull, un I let you know dat uz de onliest pull he make, kaze de tails come out un he tu'n a back summerset. He jump up, he did, en 'gun ter grabble in de quog-mire des ez hard ez he kin.

“Brer Rabbit, he stan' by, un drop some co'n in on-beknowns' ter Brer Fox, un dis make 'im grabble wuss un wuss, un he grabble so hard un he grabble so long dat 'twa'n't long 'fo' he fall down dead, un so dat uz de las' er ole Brer Fox in dat day un time.”

As Aunt Tempy paused, Uncle Remus adjusted his spectacles and looked at her admiringly. Then he laughed heartily.

“I declar', Sis Tempy,” he said, after a while, “you gives tongue same ez a lawyer. You'll hatter jine in wid us some mo'.”

Aunt Tempy closed her eyes and dropped her head on one side.

“Don't git me started, Brer Remus,” she said, after a pause; “kaze ef you does you'll hatter set up yer long pas' yo' bed-time.”

“I b'leeve you, Sis Tempy, dat I does!” exclaimed the old man, with the air of one who has made a pleasing discovery.

XLII

“We er sorter bin a waitin' fer Sis Tempy,” Uncle Remus remarked when the little boy made his appearance the next night; “but somehow er n'er look lak she fear'd she hatter up en tell some mo' tales. En yit maybe she bin strucken down wid some kinder ailment. Dey aint no countin' on deze yer fat folks. Dey er up one minnit en down de nex'; en w'at make it dat away I be bless ef I know, kaze w'en folks is big en fat look lak dey oughter be weller dan deze yer long hongry kinder folks.

“Yit all de same, Brer Jack done come,” continued Uncle Remus, “en we ull des slam de do' shet, en ef Sis Tempy come she'll des hatter hol' 'er han's 'fo' 'er face en holler out:—

 

“Oh, you kin laugh ef you wanter, but I boun' you ef Sis Tempy wuz ter come dar en say de wuds w'at I say, de button on dat ar do' 'ud des natally twis' hitse'f off but w'at 'twould let 'er in. Now, I boun' you dat!”

Whatever doubts the child may have had he kept to himself, for experience had taught him that it was useless to irritate the old man by disputing with him. What effect the child's silence may have had in this instance it is impossible to say, for just then Aunt Tempy came in laughing.

“You all kin des say w'at you please,” she exclaimed, as she took her seat, “but dat ar
Shucky Cordy
in de tale w'at Daddy Jack done tole, bin runnin' 'roun' in my min' en zoonin' in my years all de time.”

“Yer too!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, with emphasis. “Dat's me up en down. Look lak dat ar cricket over dar in de cornder done tuck it up, en now he gwine,
‘Shucky-cordy! Shucky-cordy! '
”

“Shuh-shuh!” exclaimed Daddy Jack, with vehement contempt, “ 'e
jutta cord-la!
'E no ‘shucky-cordy' no'n 'tall.”

“Well, well, Brer Jack,” said Uncle Remus, soothingly, “in deze how groun's er sorrer, you des got ter lean back en make 'lowances fer all sorts er folks. You got ter 'low fer dem dat knows too much same ez dem w'at knows too little. A heap er sayin's en a heap er doin's in dis roun' worl' got ter be tuck on trus'. You got yo' sayin's, I got mine; you got yo' knowin's, en I got mine. Man come 'long en ax me how does de wum git in de scaly-bark.
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I tell 'im right up en down, I dunno, sir. N'er man come 'long en ax me who raise de row 'twix' de buzzud en de bee-martin.
⁷²
I tell 'im I dunno, sir. Yit, kaze I dunno,” continued Uncle Remus, “dat don't hender um. Dar dey is, spite er dat—wum in de scaly-bark, bee-martin atter de buzzud.”

“Dat's so,” exclaimed Aunt Tempy, “dat's de Lord's trufe!”

“Dat ar pullin' at de string,” Uncle Remus went on, “en dat ar hollerin' 'bout shucky-cordy”—

“Jutta cord-la!”
said Daddy Jack, fiercely.

“'Bout de watsizname,” said Uncle Remus, with a lenient and forgiving smile—“all dish yer hollerin' en gwine on 'bout de watsizname put me in min' er one time w'en Brer Rabbit wuz gwine off fum home fer ter git a mess er green truck.

“W'en Brer Rabbit git ready fer ter go, he call all he chilluns up, en he tell um dat w'en he go out dey mus' fas'n de do' on de inside, en dey mus'n tu'n nobody in, nohow, kaze Brer Fox en Brer Wulf bin layin' 'roun' waitin' chance fer ter nab um. En he tuck'n tole um dat w'en he come back, he'd rap at de do' en sing:

“De little Rabs, dey hilt up der han's en promise dat dey won't open de do' fer nobody 'ceppin dey daddy, en wid dat, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n put out, he did, at a han'-gallop, huntin' sum'n n'er ter eat. But all dis time, Brer Wolf bin hidin' out behime de house, en he year eve'y wud dat pass, en ole Brer Rabbit want mo'n out'n sight 'fo' Brer Wolf went ter de do', en he knock, he did—
blip, blip, blip!

“Little Rab holler out, ‘Who dat?'

“Brer Wolf he sing:

“De little Rabs dey laugh fit ter kill deyse'f, en dey up'n 'low:

“ ‘Go 'way, Mr. Wolf, go 'way! You aint none er we-all daddy!'

“Ole Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, but eve'y time he thunk er dem plump little Rabs, he des git mo' hongry dan befo', en 'twant long 'fo' he 'uz back at de do'—
Blap, blap, blap!

“Little Rab holler: ‘Who dat?'

“Brer Wolf, he up'n sing:

“De little Rabs dey laugh en roll on de flo', en dey up'n 'low:

“ ‘Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! We-all daddy aint got no bad col' lak dat.'

“Brer Wolf slunk off, but bimeby he come back, en dis time he try mighty hard fer ter talk fine. He knock at de do'—
blam, blam, blam!

“Little Rab holler: ‘Who dat?'

“Brer Wolf tu'n loose en sing:

“Little Rab holler back, he did:

“ ‘Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! Go 'way! We-all daddy kin sing lot's puttier dan dat. Go 'way, Mr. Wolf! go 'way!'

“Brer Wolf he slunk off, he did, en he go 'way out in de woods, en he sing, en sing, twel he kin sing fine ez de nex' man. Den he go back en knock at de do', en we'n de little Rabs ax who dat, he sing dem de song; en he sing so nice, en he sing so fine, dat dey ondo de do', en ole Brer Wolf walk in en gobble um all up, fum de fus' ter de las'.

“W'en ole Brer Rabbit git back home, he fine de do' stannin' wide open en all de chilluns gone. Dey want no sign er no tussle; de h'ath 'uz all swep' clean, en eve'ything wuz all ter rights, but right over in de cornder he see a pile er bones, en den he know in reason dat some er de yuther creeturs done bin dar en make hash outen he chilluns.

“Den he go 'roun' en ax um 'bout it, but dey all 'ny it; dey all 'ny it ter de las', en Brer Wolf, he 'ny it wuss'n all un um. Den Brer Rabbit tuck'n lay de case 'fo' Brer Tarrypin, Ole Brer Tarrypin wuz a mighty man in dem days,” continued Uncle Remus, with something like a sigh—“a mighty man, en no sooner is he year de state er de condition dan he up'n call all de creeturs tergedder. He call um tergedder, he did, en den he up'n tell um 'bout how somebody done tuck'n 'stroy all er Brer Rabbit chillun, en he low dat he man w'at do dat bleedz ter be kotch, kaze ef he aint, dey aint no tellin' how long it'll be 'fo' de same somebody 'll come 'long en 'stroy all de chillun in de settlement.

“Brer B'ar, he up'n ax how dey gwine fine 'im, en Brer Tarrypin say dey er allers a way. Den he 'low:

“ ‘Less dig a deep pit.'

“ ‘I'll dig de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.

“Atter de pit done dug, Brer Tarrypin say:

“ ‘Less fill de pit full er lighter'd knots en bresh.'

“ ‘I'll fill de pit,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.

“Atter de pit done fill up, Brer Tarrypin say:

“ ‘Now, den less set it a-fier.'

“ ‘I'll kindle de fier,' sez Brer Wolf, sezee.

“W'en de fier 'gun ter blaze up, Brer Tarrypin 'low dat de creeturs mus' jump 'cross dat, en de man w'at 'stroy Brer Rabbit chilluns will drap in en git bu'nt up. Brer Wolf bin so uppity 'bout diggin', en fillin', en kindlin', dat dey all 'spected 'im fer ter make de fus' trial; but, bless yo' soul en body! Brer Wolf look lak he got some yuther business fer ter ten' ter.

“De pit look so deep, en de fier bu'n so high, dat dey mos' all 'fear'd fer ter make de trial, but atter w'ile, Brer Mink 'low dat he aint hunted none er Brer Rabbit chilluns, en wid dat, he tuck runnin' start, en lipt across. Den Brer Coon say he aint hunted um, en over he sailed. Brer B'ar say he feel mo' heavy dan he ever is befo' in all he born days, but he aint hurted none er Brer Rabbit po' little chilluns, en wid dat away he went 'cross de fier. Dey all jump, twel bimeby hit come Brer Wolf time. Den he 'gun ter git skeered, en he mighty sorry kase he dig dat pit so deep en wide, en kindle dat fier so high. He tuck sech a long runnin' start, dat time he git ter de jumpin' place, he uz done wo' teetotally out, en he lipt up, he did, en fetch'd a squall en drapt right spang in de middle er de fier.”

“Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, after a while, “did Brother Terrapin jump over the fire?”

“W'at Brer Tarrypin gwine jump fer?” responded Uncle Remus, “w'en eve'ybody know Tarrypins aint eat Rabbits.”

“Well, you know you said everything was different then,” said the child.

“Look yer, Brer Jack,” exclaimed Uncle Remus, “ef you got any tale on yo' mine, des let 'er come. Dish yer youngster gittin' too long-headed fer me; dat he is.”
⁷³

XLIII

Daddy Jack, thus appealed to, turned half round in his seat, winked his bright little eyes very rapidly, and said, with great animation:

“Hoo! me bin yeddy one sing-tale; me yeddy um so long tam 'go. One tam dere bin one old Affiky ooman, 'e call 'im name Coomba. 'E go walky troo da woots, 'e walky troo da fiel'. Bumbye 'e is bin come 'pon one snake-nes' fill wit' aig. Snake big snake, aig big aig. Affiky oomans is bin want-a dem aig so bahd; 'e 'fraid for tek um. 'E gone home; 'e is see dem aig in 'e dream, 'e want um so bahd. Wan da nex' day mornin' come, da Affiky oomans say 'e bleeze fer hab dem aig. 'E go way, 'e bin-a see da snake nes', 'e is git-a da aig; 'e fetch um at 'e own house; 'e cook um fer 'e brekwuss.

“Bumbye da snake bin a come by 'e nes'. Aig done gone.' E pit 'e nose 'pon da ground', 'e is track da Affiky oomans by 'e own house. Snake come by da Affiky oomans house; 'e ahx 'bout 'e aig. Affiky oomans say 'e no hab bin see no aig. Snake see da skin wut bin 'pon 'e aig; 'e ahx wut is dis. Affiky oomans no say nuttin' 'tall. Snake 'e say:

“ ‘Wey fer you come brek up me nes' un tekky me aig?'

“Affiky oomans 'e no say nuttin' 'tall. 'E toss 'e head, 'e mek lak 'e no yeddy da snake v'ice, 'e go 'bout 'e wuk. Snake, 'e say:

“ ‘Ooman! you is bin yed me v'ice wun me cry out. You bin tekky me aig; you is bin 'stroy me chillun. Tek keer you' own; tek keer you' own.'

“Snake gone 'way; 'e slick out 'e tongue, 'e slide 'way. Bimbye de Affiky oomans, 'e hab one putty lil pickaninny; 'e lub um ha'd all over. 'E is mine wut da snake say; 'e tote da pickaninny 'roun' 'pon 'e bahck. 'E call um Noney, 'e tote um fur, 'e lub um ha'd.

“Snake, 'e bin-a stay in da bush-side; 'e watch all day, 'e wait all night; 'e git honkry fer da pickaninny, 'e want um so bahd. 'E bin slick out 'e tongue, 'e bin slide troo da grass, 'e bin hanker fer da pickaninny.

“Bimbye da Affiky oomans tote-a da Noney till 'e git tire; 'e puff, 'e blow, 'e wuk 'e gill seem lak cat-fish.”

Aunt Tempy burst into loud laughter at this remarkable statement. “Whoever is year de beat er dat!” she exclaimed. “Daddy Jack you goes on owdashus bout de wimmen, dat you does!”

“ 'E puff, 'e blow, 'e pant; 'e say:

“ ‘Da pickaninny, 'e der git-a big lak one bag rice. 'E der git-a so heffy, me yent mos' know wut fer do. Me yent kin tote um no mo'.'

“Da Affiky oomans is bin-a pit da pickaninny down 'pon da groun'. 'E mek up one sing
⁷⁴
in 'e head, un 'e larn da lilly gal fer answer da sing. 'E do show um how fer pull out da peg in da do'. Snake, 'e is bin lay quile up in da bush; 'e say nuttin 'tall.

“Affiky oomans is larn-a da pickaninny fer answer da sing, un wun he sta't fer go off, 'e say:

“ ‘Pit da peg in da do' un you no y-open um fer nobody 'cep' you is yeddy me sing.'