Page:Southern Life in Southern Literature.djvu/349

Rh "Den Mr. Buzzard try to talk like Brer Fox: "'W'at you want wid Mr. Buzzard?' sezee. "'Oh, nothin' tickler, 'cep' dere's de fattes' gray squir'l in yer dat I ever see,' sezee, 'en ef Brer Turkey Buzzard was 'roun' he 'd be mighty glad fer ter git 'im,' sezee.

"'How Mr. Buzzard gwine ter git 'im?' sez de Buzzard, sezee.

"'Well, dar's a little hole 'roun' on de udder side er de tree,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en ef Brer Turkey Buzzard wuz here so he could take up his stan' dar,' sezee, 'I could drive de squir'l out,' sezee.

"Den Brer Rabbit kick up a racket like he wer' drivin' sumpin' out, en Mr. Buzzard he rush 'roun' fer ter ketch de squir'l, en Brer Rabbit, he dash out, he did, en he des fly fer home."

At this point, Uncle Remus took one of the tea-cakes, held his head back, opened his mouth, dropped the cake in with a sudden motion, looked at the little boy with an expression of astonishment, and then closed his eyes and began to chew, mumbling as an accompaniment the plaintive tune of "Don't you grieve atter me."

The séance was over; but before the little boy went into the "big house," Uncle Remus laid his rough hand tenderly on the child s shoulder and remarked in a confidential tone:

"Honey, you mus' git up soon Chris'mus mawnin' en open de do'; kaze I m gwineter bounce in on Marse John en Miss Sally, en holler 'Chris'mus gif',' des like I useter endurin' de fahmin' days 'fo' de war, w'en ole Miss wuz 'live. I boun' dey don't fergit de ole nigger, nudder. W'en you hear me callin' de pigs, honey, you des hop up en onfassen de do'. I lay I'll give Marse John wunner deze yer 'sprize parties."