Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/358

 26 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

Sure enough, that day week, Brer Frog he send out invitations to all the other creeters to another dining.

So the creeters all set out, and as they go past Brer Rabbit's house they stop, and ask Brer Rabbit " why he don' go to Brer Frog's dining ? " Brer Rabbit he say his mouth ain' set for fried fish, and he 'low he powerful busy anyhow, and can' leave home.

The creeters they make haste, and when they get to the branch they see the bank all covered with little fires, and a pan of fish fry- ing on every fire, and Brer Frog hopping from one frying-pan to the other, and turning the fish ; and Brer Frog he hop up and whisper in the ear of each one of his guests. Then Brer Frog he set the table.

Brer Rabbit he set upon his porch smoking his pipe, and the smell of the fish frying come up on the wind, and Brer Rabbit he just can't stand it. He say he bound to set a tooth in that fish. So Brer Rabbit he go clipity clipity down to the branch, and he find the table done set, and it certainly do look powerful tempting.

Brer Rabbit he go in the edge of the swamp and make a big noise ; the creeters they just strike out and fly for home. Brer Frog he say, " I know the nighest place for me to get," and he jumped plum over the table and go in the water kersplash.

Then Brer Rabbit he jump on the table. Now that just what Brer Frog know Brer Rabbit going do, and Brer Frog he done set the table on a plank, on the edge of the water, and he done put leaves and bresh all round the plank, so Brer Rabbit ain' see how it done set on the water; and when Brer Rabbit jump on the plank, over it go, and Brer Rabbit and all the fishes go kersplash down to the bottom.

Brer Frog he right down there, and Brer Frog he say, " Oho, Brer Rabbit, you is mighty kind to fotch my dinner down to me," and Brer Frog he say, " You is my master many a day on land, Brer Rabbit, but I is your master in the water." And Brer Frog he kill old Brer Rabbit and eat him up.

VII. WHEN SIS COON PUT DOWN BRER BEAR.

Brer Coon and Sis Coon they have a mighty fine house up in the big woods. They mighty good livers ; poor, industrious people. They have right smart of chillens, and they leave the chillens every day, Brer Coon and Sis Coon do, and go to work soon in the morning.

Brer Bear he know how Brer Coon and Sis Coon done leave the chillens, and go to work soon every morning ; and when Brer Bear's way lay past Brer Coon's house, Brer Bear he smell the good cooked victuals.

Now Brer Bear he know nobody ain't to home exceptin' the chil- lens, so Brer Bear he go knocking on the door, and the chillens they

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