Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/347

Rh "Well, now, Uncle Remus, I did n't go to do it. I won't do so any more. Please, Uncle Remus, if you will tell me I'll run in the house and bring you some tea-cakes.

"Seein 's better 'n hearin' tell un um," replied the old man, the severity of his countenance relaxing into a smile; but the little boy darted out and in a few minutes came running back with his pockets full and his hands full.

"I lay yo' mammy'll 'spishun dat de rats' stummucks is widenin' in dis naberhood, w'en she come fer ter count up 'er cakes," said Uncle Remus, with a chuckle. "Deze," he continued, dividing the cakes into two equal parts, "deze I'll tackle now, en deze I'll lay by fer Sunday.

"Lemme see. I mos' dis'member wharbouts Brer Fox en Brer Rabbit wuz."

"The Rabbit rode the Fox to Miss Meadows's and hitched him to the horse rack," said the little boy.

"W'y co'se he did," said Uncle Remus, "co'se he did. Well, Brer Rabbit rid Brer Fox up, he did, en tied 'im to de rack, en sot out in de peazzer wid de gals smokin er his seegyar wid mo' proudness dan w'at you mos' ever see. Dey talk, en dey sing, en dey play on de peanner, de gals did, twell bimeby hit come time fer Brer Rabbit fer to be gwine, en he tell um all good-bye, en strut out to de hoss rack same 's ef he wuz de king er de patter-rollers, en den he mounted Brer Fox and rid off.

"Brer Fox ain't sayin' nothin' 'tall. He des rack off en keep his mouf shet, en Brer Rabbit know'd der wuz bizness cookin' up fer him, en he feel monst'us skittish. Brer Fox amble on twell he got in de long land outer sight er Miss Meadows's house, en den he turn loose, he did. He rip en he r'ar en he cuss en he swar; he snort en he cavort."

"What was he doing that for, Uncle Remus?" the little boy inquired.