"Fine um whar you will en w'en you may, " remarked Uncle Remus with emphasis, "good chilluns allers gits tuck keer on. Dar wuz Brer Rabbit's chilluns; dey minded der daddy en mammy fum day's een' ter day's cen'. W'en ole man Rabbit say 'scoot,' dey scooted, en w'en ole Miss Rabbit say 'scat,' dey scatted. Dey did dat. En dey kep der cloze clean, en dey ain't had no smut on der nose nudder."  

Involuntarily the hand of the little boy went up to his face, and he scrubbed the end of his coat with his coat-sleeve.  

"Dey wuz good chilluns," continued the old man, heartily, "en ef dey hadn't er bin, der wuz one time w'en dey wouldn't er bin no little rabbits--na'er one. Dat's wa't."  

"What time was that, Uncle Remus?" the little boy asked.  

"De time w'en Brer Fox drapt in at Brer Rabbit house, en didn't founf' nobody dar ceppin' de little Rabbits. Ole Brer Rabbit, he wuz off some'rs raiding on a collard patch, en ole Miss Rabbit, she wuz tendin' on a quiltin' in de naberhood, en wile de little Rabbits wuz playin' hidin'-switch, in drapt Brer Fox. De little Rabbits wuz so fat dat dey fa'rly make his mouf water, but he 'member 'bout Brer Wolf, en he skeered fer ter gobble un up ceppin' he got some skuse. De little Rabbits, dey mighty skittish, en dey sorter huddle deyse'f up tergedder en watch Brer Fox motions. Brer Fox, he sot dar en study wa't sorter skuse he gwinter make up. Bimeby he see a great big stalk er sugar-can stan'in' up in de cornder, en he cle'r up his th'oat en talk biggity:  

"'Yer! you young Rabs dar, sail 'roun' yer en broke me a piece er dat sweetnin'-tree,' sezee, en den he koff.  

"De little Rabbits, dey got out de sugar-cane, dey did, en dey rastle wid it, en swet over it, but twan't no use. Dey couldn't broke it. Brer Fox, he make like he ain't watchin', but he keep on holler'n:  

"'Hurry up dar, Rabs! I'ma waitin' on you.'  

"En de little Rabbits, dey hustle 'roun en rastle wid it, but dey couldn't broke it. Bimeby dey hear little bird singin' on top er de house, en de song w'at de little bird sing wuz dish yer:  

"'Take yo' tooties en gnyaw it, Take yo' tooties en saw it,  
Saw it en yoke it, En den you kin broke it.'  

"Den de little Rabbits, dey git mighty glad, en dey gnyawed de cane mos' fo' ole Brer Fox could git his legs oncrosst. en w'en dey kyard 'im de cane, Brer Fox, he sot dar en study how he gwineter make some mo' skuse fer nabbin' un um, en bimeby he git up en git down de sifter w'at wuz hangin' on de wall, en holler out:  

"'Come yer, Rabs! Take dish yer sifter en run down't de spring en fetch me some fresh water.'  

"de little Rabbits, dey run down't de spring en try ter dip up de water wid de sifter, but co'se hit all run out, en hit keep on runnin' out, twell bimeby de little Rabbits so down en 'gun ter cry. Den de little bird settin' up in de tree he begin fer ter sing, en dish yer's de song wa't he sing:  

"'Sifter hole water same ez a tray,  
Ef you fill it wid moss en dob it with clay;  
De Fox git madder de longer you stay--  
Fill it wid moss and dob it wid clay.'  

"Up dey jump, de little Rabbits did, en dey fix de sifer so 'twon't leak, en den dey kyar de water ter ole Brer Fox. Den Brer Fox he git mighty mad, en p'nt out a great big stick er wood, en tell de little Rabbits fer ter put dat on de fier. De little chaps dey got 'roun' de wood, dey did, en dey lif' at it so hard twel dey could see der own sins, but de wood ain't budge. Den dey hear de little bird singin', en dish yer's de song wa't he sing:  

"'Spit in yo' han's en tug it en roll iy,  
En git behine it, en push it, en pole it;  
Spot in yo' han's en r'ar back en roll it.'  

"En des 'bout de time dey got de wood on de fier, der daddy, he come skippin' in, en de little bird, he flew'd away. Brer Fox, he seed his game wuz up, en 'twan't long 'fo' he make his skuse en start fer ter go.  

"'You better stay en take a snack wid me, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Senee Brer Wolf done quit comin' en settin' up wid me, I gittin' so I feels right lonesome dese long nights,' sezee.  

"But Brer Fox, he button up his coat-collar tight en des put out fer home. En dat w'at you better do, honey, kaze I see Miss Sally's shadder sailin' backerds en for'ds 'fo' de winder, en de fus news you know she'll be spectin' in you." 

"Brer Rabbit en Brer Fox wuz like some chilluns w'at I knows un," said Uncle Remus, regarding the little boy, who had come to hear another story, with an affectation of great solemnity. "Bofe unum wuz allers atter wunner nudder, a prankin' en a pester'n 'roun', but Brer Rabbit did had some peace kaze Brer Fox done got skittish 'bout puttin' de clamps on Brer Rabbit.  

"One day, w'en Brer Rabbit, en Brer Fox en Brer Coon, en Brer B'ar, en a whole lot un um wuz clearin' up a new groun' fer ter plant a roas'n'year patch, de sun 'gun ter git sorter hot, en Brer Rabbit he got tired; but he didn't let on, kaze he 'fer'd de balance un um'd call 'im lazy, en he keep on totin' off trash en pilin' up bresh, twel bimeby he holler out dat he gotter brier in his han', en den he take'n slip off. em hunt fer cool place fer ter res'. Atter w'ile he come 'crosst a well wid a bucket hangin' in it.  

"'Dat look cool,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en cool I speck she is. I'll des 'bout git in dar en take a nap,' en wid dat in he jump, he did, en he ain't no sooner fix hisse'f dan de bucket 'gun ter go down."  

"Wasn't the Rabbit scared, Uncle Remus?" asked the Little Boy.  

"Honey, dey ain't bin no wusser skeer'd beas' sence de worril begin dan dish yer same Brer Rabbit. He far'ly had a ager. He know whar he cum fum, but he dunner whar he gwine. Dreckly he feel de bucket hit de water, en dar she sot, but Brer Rabbit he keep mighty still, kaze he dunner w'at minnit gwineter be de nex'. He des lay dar en shuck en shiver.  

"Brer Fox allers got one eye on Brer Rabbit, en w'en he slip off fum de new groun', Brer Fox he sneak atter 'im. He know Brer Rabbit wuz atter some projick er nudder, en he tuck'n crope off, he did, en watch 'im. Brer Fox see Brer Rabbit come to de well en stop, en den he see 'im jump in de bucket, en den, lo en beholes, he see 'im go down outer sight. Brer Fox wuz de mos' 'stonish Foz dat you ever laid eyes on. He sot off dar in de bushes en study en study, but he don't make no heads ner tails ter dis kinder bizness. Den he say ter hisse'f, sezee:  

"'Well, ef dis don't bang my times,' sezee, 'den Joe's dead en Sal's a widder. Right down dar in dat well Brer Rabbit keep his money hid, en ef 'tain't dat den he done gone en 'skiver'd a gole-mine, en ef 'tain't dat, den I'm a gwinter see w'at's in dar,' sezee.  

"Brer Fox crope up little nigher, he did, en lissen, but he don't year no fuss, en he keep on gittin' nigher, en yit he don't year nuthin'. Bimeby he git up close and peep down, but he don't see nuthin' en he don't year nuthin'. All dis time Brer Rabbit mighty nigh skeer'd outen his skin, en he fear'd fer ter move kaze de bucket might keel over en spill him out in de water. W'ile he sayin' his pra'rs over like a train er kyars runnin', ole Brer Fox holler out:  

"'Heyo, Brer Rabbit! Who you wizzitin' down dar?' sezee.  

"'Who? Me? Oh, I'm des a fishin', Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'I des say ter myse'f dat I'd sorter sprize you all wid a mess er fishes fer dinner, en so here I is, en dar's de fishes. I'm a fishin' fer suckers, Brer Fox.' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"'Is dey many unum down dar, Brer Rabbit?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.  

"'Lot's un um, Brer Fox; scoze en scoze un um. De water is natally live wid um. Come down en he'p me haul um in, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"'How I gwinter git down, Brer Rabbit?'  

"'Jump inter de bucket, Brer Fox. Hit'll fetch yer down all safe en soun'.'  

"Brer Rabbit talk so happy en talk so sweet dat Brer Fox he jump in de bucket, he did, en, ez he went down, co'se his weight pull Brer Rabbit up. W'en dey pass one nudder on de half-way groun', Brer Rabbit he sing out:  

"'Good-by, Brer Fox, take keer yo' cloze, Fer dis is de way de worril goes;  
Some goes up en some goes down, You'll git ter de bottom all safe en soun'.'  

"W'en Brer Rabbit got out, he gallop off en tole de fokes w'at de well b'long ter dat Brer Fox wuz down in dar muddyin' up de drinkin' water, en den he gallop back ter de well, en holler down ter Brer Fox:  

"'Yer come a man wid a great big gun-- W'en he haul you up, you jump en run.'"   

"What them, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy, as the old man paused.  

"'In des 'bout half-n'our, honey, bofe un um wuz back in de new groun' wukkin des like dey never heer'd er no well, ceppin' dat eve'y now'n den Brer Rabbit, he'd git a spell er de dry grins." 

"Uncle Remus." said the little boy, "what became of the Rabbit after he fooled the Buzzard, and got out of the hollow tree?"  

"Who? Brer Rabbit? Bless yo' soul, honey, Brer Rabbit went skippin' 'long home, he did, des ez sassy ez a jay-bird at a sparrer's nes'. He went gallopin' 'long, he did, but he feel mighty tired out en stiff in his jints, en he wuz mighty nigh dead for sumpin fer ter drink, en bimeby, wen he got mos' home, he spied ole Miss Cow feedin' roun' in a fiel', he did, en he termin' fer ter try his han' wid 'er. Brer Rabbit know mighty well dat Miss Cow won't give 'im no milk, kaze she done 'fuse 'im mo'n once, en w'en his ole 'oman wuz suck , at dat. But never mind dat. Brer Rabbit sorter dance up 'long side er de fence, he did, em holler out:  

"'Howdy, Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"'W'y, howdy, Brer Rabbit,' sez Miss Cow sez she.  

"'How you fine yo'sef deze days, Sis Cow?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"'I'm sorter toler'ble, Brer Rabbit; how you come on?' sez Miss Cow, sez she.  

"'Oh, O'm des toler'ble myse'f, Sis Cow; sorter linger'n' twix' a bauk en a break-down,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"'How yo' fokes, Brer Rabbit?' sez Miss Cow, sez she.  

"'Dey er des middlin', Sis Cow; how Brer Bull gittin' on?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"'Sorter so-so," sez Miss Cow, sez she.  

"'Dey er some mighty nice 'simmons up dis tree, Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en I'd like mighty well fer ter have some un um,' sezee.  

"'How you gwineter git um, Brer Rabbit?' sez she.  

"'I 'low'd maybe dat I might ax you fer ter butt 'gin de tree, en shake some down, Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"C'ose Miss Cow don't wanter diskommerdate Brer Rabbit, en she march up ter de 'simmon tree, she did, en hit it a rp wid'er hawns--blam! Now, den," continued Uncle Remus, tearing off a corner of the plug of tobacco and cramming it into his mouth--"now, den, dem 'simmons wuz green as grass, en na'er one never drap. Den Miss Cow butt de tree--blim! Na'er 'simmon drap. Den Miss Cow sorter back off little, en run agin de tree--blip! No 'simmons never drap. Den Miss Cow back off little fudder, she did, en hi'st her tail on 'er back, en come agin de tree kerblam! en she come so fas', en she come so hard, twel wunner her hawns went spang thoo de tree, en dar she wuz. She can't go  
forreds, en she can't go backerds. Dis zackly w'at Brer Rabbit waitin' fer, en he no sooner seed ole Miss Cow all fas'en'd up dan he jump up, he did, en cut de pidjin-wing.  

"'Come he'p me out, Brer Rabbit,' sez Miss Cow, sez she.  

"'I can't clime, Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but I'll run'n tell Brer Bull,' sezee; en wid dat Brer Rabbit put out fer home, en 'twan't long 'fo here he come wid his ole 'oman en all his chilluns, en de las' wunner de fambly wuz totin' a pail. De big uns had big pails, en de little uns had little pails. En dey all s'roundid ole Miss Cow, dey did, en you hear me, honey, dey milk't'er dry. De ole uns milk't en the young uns milk't, en den w'en dey done got nuff, Brer Rabbit, he up'n say, sezee:  

"'I wish you mighty well, Sis Cow. I'd 'low'd bein's how dat you'd hatter sorter camp out all night dat I'd better come en swaje yo' bag,' sezee."  

"Do which, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.  

"Go 'long, honey! Swaje 'er bag. W'en cows don't git milk't, der bag swells, en youk'n hear um a moanin' en a beller'n des like dey wuz gittin' hurtid. Dat's wat Brer Rabbit done. He 'sembled his fambly, he did, en he swaje ole Miss Cow's bag.  

"Miss Cow, she stood dar, she did, en she study en study, en strive fer ter break loose, but de hawn done bin jan in de tree so tight dat twuz way 'fo day in de mornin' fo' she loose it. Ennyhow hit wuz endurin' er de night, en atter she git loose she sorter graze 'roun', she did, fer ter jestify 'er stummuck. She 'low'd, ole Miss Cow did, dat Brer Rabbit be hoppin' 'long dat way fer ter see how she gitin' on, en she tuck'n lay er trap fer 'im; en des 'bou sunrise wat'd ole Miss Cow do but march up ter de 'simmon tree en stick her hawn back in de hole? But, bless yo' soul, honey, w'ile she wuz croppin' de grass, she tuck one moufull too menny, laze w'en she hitch on ter de 'simmon tree afin. Brer rabbit wuz settin' in de fence cornder a watchin' 'un 'er. Den Brer Rabbit he say ter hisse'f:  

"'Heyo,' sezee, 'w'at dis yer gwine on now? Hole yo' hosses, Sis Cow, twel you hear me comin', ' sezee.  

"En den he crope off down de fence, Brer Rabbit did, en bimeby here he come--lippity-clippitym clippity-lippity--des a sailin' down de big road.  

"'Mawnin', Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'how you come on dis mawnin'? sezee.  

"'Po'ly, Brer Rabbit, po'ly,' sez Miss Cow, sez she. 'I ain't had no res' all night,' sez she. 'I can't pull loose,' sez she, 'but ef you'll come en ketch holt er my tail, Brer Rabbit,' sez she, 'I reckin may be I kin fetch my hawn out,' sez she. Den Brer Rabbit, he come up little closer, but he ain't gittin' too close  

"'I speck I'm nigh nuff, Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'I'm a mighty puny man, en I might get trompled,' sezee. 'You do do pullin', Sis Cow,' sezee, 'en I'll do de gruntin',' sezee.  

"Den Miss Cow, she pull out 'er hawn, she did, en tuck atter Brer Rabbit, en down de big road dey had it, Brer Rabbit wid his years laid back, en Miss Cow wid 'er head down en 'er tail curl. Brer Rabbit kep' on gainin,' en bimeby he dart in a brier-patch, en by de time Miss Cow come 'long he had his head stickin; out, en his eyes look big ez Miss Sally's chany sassers.  

"'Heyo, Sis Cow! Whar you gwine?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"'Howdy, Brer Big-Eyes,' sez Miss Cow, sez she. 'Is you seed Brer Rabbit go by?'  

"'He des dis minit pass,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en he look mighty sick,' sezee.  

"En wid dat, Miss Cow tuck down de road like de dogs wuz atter 'er, en Brer Rabbit, he des lay doen dar in de brier-patch en roll en laff twel his sides hurtid 'im. He bleedzd ter laff. Fox atter 'im, Buzzard atter 'im, en Cow atter 'in, en dey ain't kotch 'im yit." 

"Uncle Remus, " said the little boy one evening, when he had found the old man with little or nothing to do, "did the fox kill and eat the rabbit when he caught him with the Tar-Baby?"  

"Law, honey, ain't I tell you 'bout dat?" replied the old darkey, chuckling slyly. "I 'clar ter grashus I ought er tole you dat, but ole man Nod wuz ridin' on my eyelids twel a leetle mo'n I'd a is'member'd my own name, en den on to dat here come yo' mammy hollerin' atter you.  

"W'at I tell you w'en I fus' begin? I tole you Brer Rabbit wuz a monstus soon beas'; leas'ways dat's w'at I laid out fer ter tell you. Well, den, honey, don't you go en make no udder kalkalashuns, kaze in dem days Brer Rabbit en his fambly wuz at de head er de gang w'en enny racket wuz en han', en dar dey stayed. 'Fo' you begins fer ter wipe yo' eyes 'bout Brer Rabbit, you wait en see wha'bouts Brer Rabbit gwineter fetch up at. But dat's needer yer ner dar.  

"W'en Brer Fox fine Brer Rabbit mixt up wid de Tar-baby, he feel mighty good, en he roll on de groun' en laff. Bimeby he up'n say, sezee:  

"'Well, I speck I got you did time, Brer Rabbit,' sezee; 'maybe I ain't but I speck I is. You been runnin' 'roun' here sassin' atter me a mighty long time, but I speck you done come ter de cen' er de row. You bin currin' up yo' capers en bouncin' 'roun' in dis naberhood ontwel you come ter b'leeve yo'se'f de boss er de whole gang. En der youer allers some'rs whar you got no bixness,' ses Brer Fox, sezee. 'Who ax you fer ter come en strike up a 'quaintence wid dish yer Tar-Baby? En who stuck you up dar whar you iz? Nobody in de 'roun' worril. You des tuck en jam yo'se'f on dat Tar-Baby widout waintin' fer enny invite,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'en dar you is, en dar you'll stay twel I fixes up a bresh-pile and fires her up, kaze I'm gwinteter bobbycue you dis day, sho,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.  

"Den Brer Rabbit talk mighty 'umble,  

"'I don't keer w'at you do wid me, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'so you don't fling me in dat brier-patch. Roas' me, Brer Fox,' sezee, 'but don't fling me in dat brier-patch,' sezee.  

"'I ain't got no string,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'en now I speck I'll hatter drwon you,' sezee.  

"'Drown me des ez deep es you please, Brer Fox," sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'but do don't fling me in dat brier-patch, ' sezee.  

"'Dey ain't no water nigh,' sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'en now I speck I'll hatter skin you,' sezee.  

"'Skin me, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'snatch out my eyeballs, t'ar out my yeras by de roots, en cut off my legs,' sezee, 'but do please, Brer Fox, don't fling me in dat brier-patch,' sezee.  

"Co'se Brer Fox wnater hurt Brer Rabbit bad ez he kin, so he cotch 'im by de behime legs en slung 'im right in de middle er de brierpatch. dar wuz a considerbul flutter whar Brer Rabbit struck de bushes, en Brer Fox sorter hang 'roun' fer ter see w'at wuz gwinter happen. Bimeby he hear somebody call im, en way up de hill he see Brer Rabbit settin' crosslegged on a chinkapin log koamin' de pitch outen his har wid a chip. Den Brer Fox know dat he bin swop off mighty bad. Brer Rabbit wuz bleedzed fer ter fling back some er his sass, en he holler out:  

"'Bred en bawn in a brier-patch, Brer Fox--bred en bawn in a brier-patch!' en wid dat he skip out des ez lively as a cricket in de embers." 

"Didn't the fox never catch the rabbit, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy the next evening.  

"He come mighty nigh it, honey, sho's you born--Brer Fox did. One day atter Brer Rabbit fool 'im wid dat calamus root, Brer Fox went ter wuk en got 'im some tar, en mix it wid some turkentime, en fix up a contrapshun w'at he call a Tar-Baby, en he tuck dish yer Tar-Baby en he sot 'er in de big road, en den he lay off in de bushes fer to see what de news wuz gwine ter be. En he didn't hatter wait long, nudder, kaze bimeby here come Brer Rabbit pacin' down de road--lippity-clippity, clippity -lippity--dez ez sassy ez a jay-bird. Brer Fox, he lay low. Brer Rabbit come prancin' 'long twel he 
spy de Tar-Baby, en den he fotch up on his behime legs like he wuz 'stonished. De Tar Baby, shesot dar, she did, en Brer Fox, he lay low.  

"`Mawnin'!' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee - `nice wedder dis mawnin',' sezee.  

"Tar-Baby ain't sayin' nuthin', en Brer Fox he lay low.  

"`How duz yo' sym'tums seem ter segashuate?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.  

"Brer Fox, he wink his eye slow, en lay low, en de Tar-Baby, she ain't sayin' nuthin'.  

"'How you come on, den? Is you deaf?' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Kaze if you is, I kin holler louder,' sezee.  

"Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.  

"'You er stuck up, dat's w'at you is,' says Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'en I;m gwine ter kyore you, dat's w'at I'm a gwine ter do,' sezee.  

"Brer Fox, he sorter chuckle in his stummick, he did, but Tar-Baby ain't sayin' nothin'.  

"'I'm gwine ter larn you how ter talk ter 'spectubble folks ef hit's de las' ack,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Ef you don't take off dat hat en tell me howdy, I'm gwine ter bus' you wide open,' sezee.  

"Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.  

"Brer Rabbit keep on axin' 'im, en de Tar-Baby, she keep on sayin' nothin', twel present'y BrerRabbit draw back wid his fis', he did, en blip he tuck 'er side er de head. Right dar's whar he broke his merlasses jug. His fis' stuck, en he can't pull loose. De tar hilt 'im. But Tar-Baby, she stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.  

"`Ef you don't lemme loose, I'll knock you agin,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, en wid dat he fotch 'er a wipe wid de udder han', en dat stuck. Tar-Baby, she ain'y sayin' nuthin', en Brer Fox, he lay low.  

"`Tu'n me loose, fo' I kick de natal stuffin' outen you,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, but de Tar-Baby, she ain't sayin' nuthin'. She des hilt on, en de Brer Rabbit lose de use er his feet in de same way. Brer Fox, he lay low. Den Brer Rabbit squall out dat ef de Tar-Baby don't tu'n 'im loose he butt 'er cranksided. En den he butted, en his head got stuck. Den Brer Fox, he sa'ntered fort', lookin' dez ez innercent ez wunner yo' mammy's mockin'-birds.  

"`Howdy, Brer Rabbit,' sez Brer Fox, sezee. `You look sorter stuck up dis mawnin',' sezee, en den he rolled on de groun', en laft en laft twel he couldn't laff no mo'. `I speck you'll take dinner wid me dis time, Brer Rabbit. I done laid in some calamus root, en I ain't gwineter take no skuse,' sez Brer Fox, sezee."  

Here Uncle Remus paused, and drew a two-pound yam out of the ashes.  

"Did the fox eat the rabbit?" asked the little boy to whom the story had been told.  

"Dat's all de fur de tale goes," replied the old man. "He mout, an den agin he moutent. Some say Judge B'ar come 'long en loosed 'im - some say he didn't. I hear Miss Sally callin'. You better run 'long." 

One evening recently, the lady whom Uncle Remus calls "Miss Sally" missed her little   
seven-year-old. Making search for him through the house and through the yard, she heard the sound of voices in the old man's cabin, and, looking through the window, saw the child sitting by Uncle Remus. His head rested against the old man's arm, and he was gazing with an expression of the most intense interest into the rough, weather-beaten face, that beamed so kindly upon him. This is what "Miss Sally" heard:   

"Bimeby, one day, atter Brer Fox bin doin' all dat he could fer ter ketch Brer Rabbit, en Brer Rabbit bein doin' all he could fer ter keep 'im fum it, Brer Fox say to hisse'f dat he'd put up a game on Brer Rabbit, en he ain't mo'n got de wuds out'n his mouf tewl Brer Rabbit came a lopin' up de big road, lookin' des ez plump, en ez fat, en ez sassy ez a Moggin hoss in a barley-patch.   

""Hol' on dar, Brer RAbbit,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.   
"'I ain't got time, Ber Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee, sorter mendin' his licks.   
"'I wanter have some confab wid you, Brer Rabbit,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.   
"'All right, Brer Fox, but you better holler fum whar you stan'. I'm monstus full er fleas dis  mawnin',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.   
"'I seed Brer B'ar yistdiddy, 'sez Brer Fox, sezee, 'en he sorter rake me over de coals kaze you en me ain't make frens en live naberly, en I tole 'im dat I'd see you.'   
"Den Brer Rabbit scratch one year wid his off hinefoot sorter jub'usly, en den he ups en sez,  sezee:   
"'All a settin', Brer Fox. Spose'n you drap roun' ter-morrer en take dinner wid me. We ain't got no great doin's at our house, but I speck de ole 'oman en de chilluns kin sorter scarmble roun' en git up sump'n fer ter stay yo' stummick.'   
"'I'm 'gree'ble, Brer Rabbit,' sez Brer Fox, sezee.   
"'Den I'll 'pen' on you,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.   
"Nex' day, Mr. Rabbit an' Miss Rabbit got up soom, 'fo' day, en raided on a gyarden like  Miss Sally's out dar, en got some cabbiges, en some roas'n years, en some sparrer-grass, en dey fix up a smashin' dinner. Bimeby one er de little Rabbits, playin' ou t in de back-yard, come runnin' in hollerin', 'Oh, ma! oh, ma! I seed Mr. Fox a comin'!' En den Brer Rabbit he tuck de chilluns by der years en make um set down, en den him and Miss Rabbit sorter dally roun' waitin' for Brer Fox. En dey keep on waitin' for Brer Fox. En dey keep on waitin', but no Brer Fox ain't come. Atter 'while Brer Rabbit goes to de do', easy like, en peep out, en dar, stickin' fum behime de cornder, wuz de tip-een' er Brer Fox tail. Den Brer Rabbit shot de do' en sot down, en put his paws behime his years en begin fer ter sing:   
"'De place wharbouts you spill de grease, Right dar you er boun' ter slide, An' whar you fin' a bunch er ha'r, You'll sholy fine de hide.'   

"Nex' day, Brer Fox sont word by Mr. Mink, en skuze hisse'f kaze he wuz too sick fer ter come, en he ax Brer Rabbit fer ter come en take dinner wid him, en Brer Rabbit say he wuz 'gree'ble.   
Bimeby, w'en de shadders wuz at der shortes', Brer Rabbit he sorter brush up en sa'nter down ter Brer Fox's house, en w'en he got dar, he haer somebody groanin', en he look in de do' an dar he see Brer Fox settin' up in a rockin'-cheer all wrop up wid flannil, en he look mighty weak. Brer Rabbit look all roun', he did, but he ain't see no dinner. De dish-pan wuz settin' on de table, en close by wuz a kyarvin' knife.   

"'Look like you gwintee have chicken fer dinner, Brer Fox,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.   
 "'Yes, Brer Rabbit, deyer nice, en fresh, en tender, 'sez Brer Fox, sezee.   
 "Den Brer Rabbit sorter pull hiss mustarsh, en say: 'You ain't got no calamus root, is you, Brer Fox? I done got so now dat I can't eat no chicken 'ceppin she's seasoned up wid calamus root.' En wid dat Brer Rabbit lipt out er de do' and dodge 'mong the bushes, en sot dar watchin' for Brer Fox; en he ain't watch long, nudder, kaze Brer Fox flung off de flannil en crope out er de house en got whar he could cloze in on Brer Rabbit, en bimeby Brer Rabbit holler out: 'Oh, Brer Fox! I'll des put yo' calamus root out yer on dish yer stump. Better come git it while hit's fresh,' and wid dat Brer Rabbit gallop off home. En Brer Fox ain't never kotch 'im yit, en w'at's mo', honey, he ain't gwineter." 

One day Brer Fox thought of how Brer Rabbit had been cutting up his capers and 
bouncing around until he'd come to believe that he was the boss of the whole gang. Brer 
Fox thought of a way to lay some bait for that uppity Brer Rabbit. 

He went to work and got some tar and mixed it with some turpentine. He fixed up a 
contraption that he called a Tar-Baby. When he finished making her, he put a straw hat 
on her head and sat the little thing in the middle of the road. Brer Fox, he lay off in the 
bushes to see what would happen. 

Well, he didn't have to wait long either, 'cause by and by Brer Rabbit came pacing down 
the road--lippity-clippity, clippity-lippity--just as sassy as a jaybird. Brer Fox, he lay low. 
Brer Rabbit came prancing along until he saw the Tar-Baby and then he sat back on his 
hind legs like he was astonished. The Tar-Baby just sat there, she did, and Brer Fox, he 
lay low. 

"Good morning!" says Brer Rabbit, says he. "Nice weather we're having this morning," 
says he. 

Tar-Baby didn't say a word, and Brer Fox, he lay low. 

"How are you feeling this morning?" says Brer Rabbit, says he. 

Brer Fox, he winked his eye real slow and lay low and the Tar-Baby didn't say a thing. 

"What is the matter with you then? Are you deaf?" says Brer Rabbit, says he. "Cause if 
you are, I can holler louder," says he. 

The Tar-Baby stayed still and Brer Fox, he lay low. 

"You're stuck-up, that's what's wrong with you. You think you're too good to talk to me," 
says Brer Rabbit, says he. "And I'm going to cure you, that's what I'm going to do," says 
he. 

Brer Fox started to chuckle in his stomach, he did, but Tar-Baby didn't say a word. 

"I'm going to teach you how to talk to respectable folks if it's my last act," says Brer 
Rabbit, says he. "If you don't take off that hat and say howdy, I'm going to bust you wide 
open," says he. 

Tar-Baby stayed still and Brer Fox, he lay low. 

Brer Rabbit kept on asking her why she wouldn't talk and the Tar-Baby kept on saying 
nothing until Brer Rabbit finally drew back his fist, he did, and blip--he hit the Tar-Baby on the jaw. But his fist stuck and he couldn't pull it loose. The tar held him. But Tar-Baby, she stayed still, and Brer Fox, he lay low. 

"If you don't let me loose, I'm going to hit you again," says Brer Rabbit, says he, and with that he drew back his other fist and blap--he hit the Tar-Baby with the other hand and that one stuck fast too. 

Tar-Baby she stayed still, and Brer Fox, he lay low. 

"Turn me loose, before I kick the natural stuffing out of you," says Brer Rabbit, says he, 
but the Tar-Baby just sat there. 

She just held on and then Brer Rabbit jumped her with both his feet. Brer Fox, he lay low. 
Then Brer Rabbit yelled out that if that Tar-Baby didn't turn him loose, he was going to 
butt her crank-sided. Then he butted her and his head got stuck. 

Brer Box walked out from behind the bushes and strolled over to Brer Rabbit, looking as 
innocent as a mockingbird. 

"Howdy, Brer Rabbit," says Brer Fox, says he. "You look sort of stuck up this morning," says he. And he rolled on the ground and laughed and laughed until he couldn't laugh 
anymore. 

By and by he said, "Well, I expect I got you this time, Brer Rabbit," says he. "Maybe I 
don't, but I expect I do. You've been around here sassing after me a mighty long time, but 
now it's the end. 

And then you're always getting into something that's none of your business," says Brer 
Fox, says he. "Who asked you to come and strike up a conversation with this Tar-Baby? 
And who stuck you up the way you are? Nobody in the round world. You just jammed 
yourself into that Tar-Baby without waiting for an invitation," says Brer Fox, says he. 
"There you are and there you'll stay until I fix up a brushpile and fire it up, "cause I'm 
going to barbecue you today, for sure," says Brer Fox, says he. 

Then Brer Rabbit started talking mighty humble. 

"I don't care what you do with me, Brer Fox, says he, "Just so you don't fling me in that 
briar patch. Roast me, Brer Fox, says he, "But don't fling me in that briar patch." 

"It's so much trouble to kindle a fire," says Brer Fox, says he, "that I expect I'd better hang you," says he. 

"Hang me just as high as you please, Brer Fox, says Brer Rabbit, says he, "but for the 
Lord's sake, don't fling me in that briar patch," says he. 

"I don't have any string, " says Brer Fox, says he, "Now I expect I had better drown you, " says he. 

"Drown me just as deep as you please, Brer Fox," says Brer Rabbit, says he, "But 
please do not fling me in that briar patch, " says he. 

"There's no water near here," says Brer Fox, says he, "And now I reckon I'd better skin 
you," says he. 

"Skin me Brer Fox," says he. "Snatch out my eyeballs, tear out my ears by the roots," 
says he, "But please, Brer Fox, don't fling me in that briar patch, " says he. 

Of course, Brer Fox wanted to get Brer Rabbit as bad as he could, so he caught him by 
the behind legs and slung him right in the middle of the briar patch. There was a 
considerable flutter when Brer Rabbit struck the bushes, and Brer Fox hung around to 
see what was going to happen. 

By and by he heard someone call his name and 'way up on the hill he saw Brer Rabbit 
sitting cross-legged on a chinquapin log combing the tar pitch out of his hair with a chip. 
Then Brer Fox knew he had been tricked. 

Brer Rabbit hollered out, "Born and bred in the briar patch. I was born and bred in the 
briar patch!" And with that he skipped out just as lively as a cricket in the embers of a 
fire.