Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/125

 Tales of the Rabbit from Georgia Negroes. 113

he get on he track and he run the poor ole man to beat all, and directly he sight him he run him round and round the woods and holler, "Hallelujah! hallelujah!" and the puppies come on behind, and they holler, "Glory ! glory !" and they make such a fuss, all the creeters in the woods, they run to see what the matter. Well, sah, from that day, Mr. Dog he run Brer Rabbit, and when they just get gwine on the swing in the big woods, you can hear ole Ben dar just letting hisself out, "Hallelujah! hallelujah!" and them pups just gwine "Glory! glory!" and it surely am the sound what has the music dar, it surely has the music dar.

HOW BRER RABBIT BRING DUST OUT OF THE ROCK.

Mr. Fox, he have a mighty handsome daughter, and all the chaps was flying round her to beat all.

Brer Coon, Brer Wolf, Brer Rabbit, and Brer Possum was a courting of her constant, and they all ax Brer Fox for he daughter.

Now the gal, she favor Brer Rabbit in her mind, but she don't let on who her favor is, but just snap her eyes on 'em all.

Now Ole Brer Rabbit, he ain't so mighty handsome, and he ain't no proudful man, that 's sure, but somehow it 'pears like he do have a mighty taking way with the gals.

Well, wen they all done ax Ole Man Fox for his daughter, he ax the gal, do she want Brer Wolf ? And she toss her head and 'low Brer Wolf too bodaciously selfish ; she say, " Brer Wolf's wife never get a bite of chicken breast while she live."

Then the ole man, he ax her how she like Brer Possum ? and she just giggle and 'low " Brer Possum mighty ornery leetle ole man, and he 'longs to a low family anyhow." And Ole Man Fox, he 'low, " Dat 's so for a fact," and he sound her 'fections for Brer Coon, but she make out Brer Coon pass all 'durance. Then the ole man he tell her Brer Rabbit done ax for her too, and she make out like she mighty took 'back, and 'low she don't want none of that lot.

Then Ole Brer Fox, he say that the gal was too much for him ; but he tell the chaps to bring up the big stone hammer, and they can all try their strength on the big step rock what they use for a horse block, and the one what can pound dust out of the rock shall have the gal.

Then Brer Rabbit, he feel mighty set down on, 'cause he know all the chaps can swing the stone hammer to beat hisself, and he go off sorrowful like and set on the sand bank. He set a while and look east, and then he turn and set a while and look west, but may be you don't know, sah, Brer Rabbit sense never come to hisself 'cepting when he look north.

vol. xn. — no. 45. 8

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