Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/120

 i oS Journal of A merican Folk-Lore.

TALKS OF THE RABBIT FROM GEORGIA NEGROES.

HOW BRER RABBIT PRACTISE MEDICINE.

Ole Brj k Rabbit had a bad name for a partner, but one time he get Mr. Wolf to work a crop on shares with him, and they have a 'greement writ out on paper, how in the harvest they gwine divide half and half. Mr. Rabbit know Ole Mr. Wolf mighty good hand in the field, and sure to make a good crop. But when Ole Brer Rab- bit set in to work, he get mighty tired, and the corn rows, they look so mighty long, and he 'gin to lag behind and work he brain.

Presen'ly he jump to the work, and make he hoe cut the air, and soon cotch up with Mr. Wolf, and he open the subject of the education in medicine, and he tell how he am a reg'lar doctor, and got his 'plomy in a frame to home, but he say he don't know how all the patients gwine get on. Now he turn over the farming, and Ole Mr. Wolf ax how much money he get for he doctoring, and when he hear so much, he tell Mr. Rabbit to go when he have a call, and put by the money, and in the fall put in the crop money and then divide. So that night Mr. Rabbit, he 'struct his chillens how they got for to run and call him frequent, and how they got to tell Mr. Wolf they wants the doctor.

And sure 'nough, Mr. Rabbit ain't more 'n in the front row next clay, when here come little Rab all out of breath and say, " Some- body send in great 'stress for the doctor." Mr. Rabbit make out like he can't go and leave Mr. Wolf to do all the work, but Mr. Wolf studying 'bout that big fee Brer Rabbit gwine turn in the company, and he tell him, " Go 'long, he can get on with the work." So Mr. Rabbit clips off in great haste, and he just go down on the edge of the woods, and what you 'spect he do? Well, sah, he just stretch hisself out in the shade of a swamp maple and take a nap, while Ole Mr. Wolf was working in the corn rows in the hot sun. When Mr. Rabbit sleep he nap out, he set up and rub he eyes, then he loony off down by the spring for a drink, then he come running and puffing like he been running a mile, and tell Mr. Wolf what a mighty sick patient he got, and make out like he that wore out he can't more 'n move the hoe.

Well, when they come back from dinner, Mr. Rabbit, he strike and make he hoe fly, but directly here come little Rab for the doc- tor, and Ole Mr. Rabbit, he take hisself off for 'nother nap, and matters goes on just dis yer way all summer Ole Mr. Wolf, he ave to do all the work, but he comfort himself with the 'flection, that he have half them big fees what Brer Rabbit turning in to the company money.

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