Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/360

 28 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

VIII. HOW COME THE MOOLY COW DON* HAVE NO HORNS.

Sis Cow, Switch, and Mooly have a fine grazing patch of rye down by the branch, but Brer Rabbit he go down soon every morning before Sis Cow and Switch and Mooly get up, and Brer Rabbit he feed it plum clean, so when Sis Cow and Switch and Mooly gets down there they don't have no breakfast.

Brer Rabbit he do that every day, twell Sis Cow and Switch and Mooly mighty nigh perished.

One day Brer Tarrapin he say if Sis Cow will give him a ride for twelve months on her alls horns, Brer Tarrapin he say he will give Brer Rabbit such a fright as he won't trouble the rye patch no more.

So Sis Cow say she '11 give Brer Tarrapin a ride on her horns for twelve months.

Brer Tarrapin he talk with Brer Frog, and Brer Tarrapin he ask Brer Frog how he going frighten Brer Rabbit.

Brer Frog he tell Brer Tarrapin to just watch out and see how Brer Frog frighten Brer Rabbit.

Well, the next morning, 'bout a hour to day, Brer Frog he call all his family together. The frogs they gather from up the branch, from the lower creek, and they tells how they done come from the mill-dam pond ; but I don't make sure of that myself, seeing as how they have to cross dry land to get there from the mill-dam pond. But if they don't come from the mill-dam pond they was there, — they surely was there, — and just about the time Brer Rabbit come down in the rye patch, Mr. Frog and Miss Frog and the little frogs done set up such a fuss, the peoples say they could hear them a mile. They say, " Brer Rabbit ! Brer Rabbit ! Cut his head off ! Cut his head off ! "

Brer Rabbit be that 'stonished he look thisaway, and he look that- away. Brer Rabbit he don' see nothing. The frogs they keep on, "Brer Rabbit! Brer Rabbit! Cut his head off! Cut his head off ! " But Brer Rabbit he don't stop ; he just turn and fly for home.

Directly when Sis Cow and Switch and Mooly come down to feed, Brer Tarrapin come up out the water, and he tell 'em how he done frighten Brer Rabbit off, and Brer Tarrapin he ask Sis Cow for his ride ; but Sis Cow she sorry she done promise, and so Sis Cow she 'low she have a powerful headache.

But Mooly say she give Brer Tarrapin a ride on her alls horns for twelve months, and Mooly she hold down her head for Brer Tarrapin to get on ; but Brer Tarrapin he can't hold on, and he fall off.

Brer Frog he right jealous of Brer Tarrapin, and Brer Frog he

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