Nights with Uncle Remus (33 page)

“ ‘Ki, B'er Wolf! da water come in you' eye wun you is bin honkry. Me y-eye done bin-a come wat'ry so long tam befo' I bin talky wit' you'bout we granmammy.'

“B'er Wolf, 'e der keep on cryin'; 'e wipe 'e y-eye 'pon 'e coat-sleef. B'er Rabbit, 'e bin say:

“ ‘Ef you is bin tek it so ha'd lak dis, B'er Wolf, 'e bery good fer kill-a you granmammy fus, so you is kin come glad ag'in.'

“B'er Wolf, 'e go dry 'e y-eye un kill 'e granmammy, un dey is bin tek 'im granmammy off un sell um fer bittle. Dun dey is bin eat dis bittle day un night tell 'e all done gone. Wun-a tam come fer B'er Rabbit fer kill 'e granmammy, B'er Wolf, 'e go bisitin 'im. 'E say:

“ ‘B'er Rabbit, I is bin-a feel honkry troo un troo. Less we kill-a you' granmammy.'

“B'er Rabbit lif' up 'e head high; 'e lahff. E' shekky one year, 'e shed-a one eye. 'E say:

“ ‘Eh-eh, B'er Wolf, you tink I gwan kill-a me granmammy? Oh, no, B'er Wolf! Me no kin do dat.'

“Dis mek B'er Wolf wuss mad den 'e is bin befo'. 'E fair teer de yet' wit' 'e claw; 'e yowl sem lak Injun mans. 'E say 'e gwan make B'er Rabbit kill 'e granmammy no-how.

“B'er Rabbit say 'e gwan see 'im 'bout dis. 'E tek 'e granmammy by da han'; 'e lead um way off in da woods; 'e hide um in da top one big cocoanut tree; 'e tell um fer stay deer.”

The mention of a cocoanut tree caused the little boy to glance incredulously at Uncle Remus, who made prompt and characteristic reply:

“Dat's it honey; dat's it, sho. In dem days en in dem countries dey wuz plenty er cocoanut trees. Less we all set back yer en give Brer Jack a livin' chance.”

“'E hide 'e granmammy in top cocoanut tree,” continued Daddy Jack, “un 'e gi' um lilly bahskit wit' cord tie on um. In de day-mawnin', B'er Rabbit, 'e is bin go at da foot da tree. 'E make 'e v'ice fine; 'e holler:

“Wun 'e granny yeddy dis, 'e let bahskit down wit' da cord, un B'er Rabbit 'e fill um wit' bittle un somet'ing t'eat. Ebry day dey is bin-a do dis ting; ebry day B'er Rabbit is come fer feed 'e granny.

“B'er Wolf 'e watch, 'e lissun; 'e sneak up, 'e creep up, 'e do lissun. Bumbye, 'e do yeddy B'er Rabbit call; 'e see da bahskit swing down, 'e see um go back. Wun B'er Rabbit bin-a go way fum dey-dey, B'er Wolf, 'e come by da root da tree. 'E holler; 'e do say:

“Da ole Granny Rabbit lissun; 'e bin lissun well. 'E say:

“ ‘Ki! How come dis? Me son is no talky lak dis. 'E no shoot-a da cord lak dat.”

“Wen B'er Rabbit cum back da granny is b'in-a tell um 'bout someting come-a holler shoot-a da cord-la, un B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tell 'e is kin lahff no mo'. B'er Wolf, 'e hidin' close; 'e yed B'er Rabbit crackin' 'e joke; 'e is git bery mad.

“Wun B'er Rabbit is gone way, Brer Wolf bin-a-come back. 'E stan' by da tree root; 'e holler:

“Granny Rabbit hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e lissun good. 'E say:

“ ‘I bery sorry, me son, you bin hab so bad col'. You' v'ice bin-a soun' rough, me son.'

“Dun Granny Rabbit is bin peep down; 'e bin say:

“ ‘Hi! B'er Wolf! Go way fum dey-dey. You no is bin fool-a me lak dis. Go way, B'er Wolf!'

“B'er Wolf, 'e come bery mad; 'e grin tell 'e tush bin shiün. 'E go in da swamp; 'e scratch 'e head; 'e t'ink. Bumbye, 'e go bisitin' one Blacksmit', un 'e ahx 'im how kin 'e de fer make 'e v'ice come fine lak B'er Rabbit v'ice. Da Blacksmit', 'e say:

“ ‘Come, B'er Wolf; I run dis red-hot poker in you' t'roat, 'e mekky you talk easy.'

“B'er Wolf say, 'Well, I lak you for mekky me v'ice fine.'

“Dun da Blacksmit' run da red-hot poker in B'er Wolf t'roat, un 'e hu't um so bad, 'tiss-a bin long tam' befo' B'er Wolf kin tekky da long walk by da cocoanut tree. Bumbye 'e git so 'e kin come by, un wun 'e git dey-dey, 'e holler:

“Da v'ice soun' so nice un fine da' Granny Rabbit is bin t'ink 'e B'er Rabbit a v'ice, un 'e is bin-a let da bahskit down. B'er Wolf, 'e shekky da cord lak 'e is put some bittle in da bahskit, un dun 'e is bin-a git in 'ese'f. B'er Wolf, 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit pull on da cord; 'e do say:

“ ‘Ki! 'e come he'ffy; 'e he'ffy fer true. Me son, 'e love 'e Granny heap.'

“B'er Wolf, 'e do grin; 'e grin, un 'e keep still. Da Granny Rabbit pull; 'e do pull ha'd. 'E pull tell 'e is git B'er Wolf mos' by da top, un dun 'e stop fer res'. B'er Wolf look-a down, 'e head swim; 'e look up, 'e mout' water; 'e look-a down, 'g'in, 'e see B'er Rabbit. 'E git skeer, 'e juk on da rope. B'er Rabbit, 'e holler:

“Da Granny Rabbit cut da cord, un B'er Wolf is fall down un broke 'e neck.”

XLI

The little boy observed that Aunt Tempy was very much interested in Daddy Jack's story. She made no remarks while the old African was telling it, but she was busily engaged in measuring imaginary quilt patterns on her apron with her thumb and forefinger—a sure sign that her interest had been aroused. When Daddy Jack had concluded—when, with a swift, sweeping gesture of his wrinkled hand, he cut the cord and allowed Brother Wolf to perish ignominiously—Aunt Tempy drew a long breath, and said:

“ ‘Dat ar tale come 'cross me des like a dream. Hit put me in mine er one w'at I year w'en I wuz little bit er gal. Look like I kin see myse'f right now, settin' flat down on de h'ath lis'nin' at ole Unk Monk. You know'd ole Unk Monk, Brer Remus. You bleeze ter know'd 'im. Up dar in Ferginny. I 'clar' ter goodness, it make me feel right foolish. Brer Remus, I des know you know'd Unk Monk.”

For the first time in many a day the little boy saw Uncle Remus in a serious mood. He leaned forward in his chair, shook his head sadly, as he gazed into the fire.

“Ah, Lord, Sis Tempy!” he exclaimed sorrowfully, “don't less we all go foolin' roun' mungs dem ole times. De bes' kinder bread gits sour. Wat's yistiddy wid us wuz 'fo' de worl' begun wid dish yer chile. Dat's de way I looks at it.”

“Dat's de Lord's trufe, Brer Remus,” exclaimed Aunt Tempy with unction, “un I mighty glad you call me ter myse'f. Little mo' un I'd er sot right yer un 'a' gone 'way back to Ferginny, un all on 'count er dat ar tale w'at I year long time ago.”

“What tale was that, Aunt Tempy?” asked the little boy.

“Eh-eh, honey!” replied Aunt Tempy, with a display of genuine bashfulness; “eh-eh, honey! I 'fraid you all 'll set up dar un laugh me outer de house. I aint dast ter tell no tale 'long side er Brer Remus un Daddy Jack yer. I 'fraid I git it all mix up.”

The child manifested such genuine disappointment that Aunt Tempy relented a little.

“Ef you all laugh, now,” she said, with a threatening air, “I'm des gwine ter pick up en git right out er dish yer place. Dey aint ter be in laughin', kaze de tale w'at I year in Ferginny aint no laughin' tale.”

With this understanding Aunt Tempy adjusted her head-handkerchief, looked around rather sheepishly, as Uncle Remus declared afterwards in confidence to the little boy, and began:

“Well, den, in de times w'en Brer Rabbit un Brer Fox live in de same settlement wid one er n'er, de season's tuck'n come wrong. De wedder got hot un den a long dry drouth sot in, un it seem like dat de natal leaf on de trees wuz gwine ter tu'n ter powder.”

Aunt Tempy emphasized her statements by little backward and forward movements of her head, and the little boy would have laughed, but a warning glance from Uncle Remus prevented him.

“De leaf on de trees look like dey gwine ter tu'n ter powder, un de groun' look like it done bin cookt. All de truck w'at de creeturs plant wuz all parched up, un dey wa'n't no crops made nowhars. Dey dunner w'at ter do. Dey run dis away, dey run dat away; yit w'en dey quit runnin' dey dunner whar dey bread comin' frun. Dis de way it look ter Brer Fox, un so one day w'en he got a mighty hankerin' atter sumpin' sorter joosy, he meet Brer Rabbit in de lane, un he ax um, sezee:

“ ‘Brer Rabbit, whar'bouts our bread comin' frun?'

“Brer Rabbit, he bow, he did, un answer, sezee:

“ ‘Look like it mought be comin' frun nowhar,' sezee.”

“You see dat, honey!” exclaimed Uncle Remus, condescending to give the story the benefit of his patronage; “You see dat! Brer Rabbit wuz allus a-waitin' a chance fer ter crack he jokes.”

“Yas, Lord!” Aunt Tempy continued, with considerable more animation; “he joke, un joke, but bimeby, he aint feel like no mo' jokin', un den he up'n say, sezee, dat him un Brer Fox better start out'n take her fammerlies wid um ter town un swap um off for some fresh-groun' meal; un Brer Fox say, sezee, dat dat look mighty fa'r and squar', un den dey tuck'n make dey 'greements.

“Brer Fox wuz ter s'ply de waggin un team, un he promise dat he gwine ter ketch he fammerly un tie um hard un fast wid a red twine string. Brer Rabbit he say, sezee, dat he gwine ter ketch he fammerly un tie um all, un meet Brer Fox at de fork er de road.

“Sho' nuff, soon in de mawnin', w'en Brer Fox draw up wid he waggin, he holler ‘Wo!' un Brer Rabbit he tuck'n holler back, ‘Wo yo'se'f!' un de Brer Fox know dey 'uz all dar. Brer Fox, he tuck'n sot up on de seat, un all er he fammerly, dey wuz a-layin' under de seat. Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n put all he fammerly in de behime een' er de waggin' un he say, sezee, dat he speck he better set back dar twel dey git sorter usen ter dey surrounderlings, un den Brer Fox crack he whip, un off dey wen toze town. Brer Fox, he holler ev'y once in a w'ile, sezee:

“ ‘No noddin' back dar, Brer Rabbit!'

“Brer Rabbit he holler back, sezee:

“ ‘Brer Fox, you miss de ruts en de rocks, un I'll miss de noddin'. '

“But all dat time, bless yo' soul! Brer Rabbit wuz settin dar ontyin' he ole 'oman un he childun, w'ich dey wuz sev'm uv um. W'en he git um all ontie, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n h'ist hisse'f on de seat 'long er Brer Fox, un dey sot dar un talk un laugh 'bout de all-sorts er times dey gwine ter have w'en dey git co'n meal. Brer Fox sez, sezee, he gwine ter bake hoecake; Brer Rabit sez, sezee, he gwine ter make ashcake.

“Des 'bout dis time one er Brer Rabbit's childun raise hisse'f up easy un hop out de waggin. Miss Fox, she sing out:

“Brer Fox hunch he ole 'oman wid he foot fer ter make 'er keep still. Bimeby 'n'er little Rabbit pop up un hop out. Miss Fox say, se' she:

“Brer Fox go on talkin' ter Brer Rabbit, un Brer Rabbit go on talkin' ter Brer Fox, un 'twa'n't so mighty long 'fo' all Brer Rabbit fammerly done pop up un dive out de waggin, un ev'y time one 'ud go Miss Fox she 'ud fit it like she did de yuthers.”

“What did she say, Aunt Tempy?” asked the little boy, who was interested in the rhymes.

“Des lemme see—

“What did Brother Rabbit do then?” inquired the little boy.

“Better ax w'at Brer Fox do,” replied Aunt Tempy, pleased with the effect of her rhymes. “Brer Fox look 'roun' atter w'ile un w'en he see dat all Brer Rabbit fammerly done gone, he lean back un holler. ‘Wo!' un den he say, sezee:

“ ‘In de name er goodness, Brer Rabbit! whar all yo' folks?'

“Brer Rabbit look 'roun', un den he make like he cryin'. He des fa'rly boo-hoo'd, un he say, sezee:

“ ‘Dar now, Brer Fox! I des know'd dat ef I put my po' little childuns in dar wid yo' folks dey'd get e't up. I des know'd it!'

“Ole Miss Fox, she des vow she aint totch Brer Rabbit fammerly. But Brer Fox, he bin wantin' a piece un um all de way, un he begrudge um so dat he git mighty mad wid he ole 'oman un de childuns, un he say, sezee:

“ ‘You kin des make de most er dat, kaze I'm a gwine ter bid you good riddance dis ve'y day;' un, sho' 'nuff, Brer Fox tuck'n tuck he whole fammerly ter town un trade um off fer co'n.

“Brer Rabbit wuz wid 'em, des ez big ez life un twice ez natchul. Dey start back, dey did, un w'en dey git four er five mile out er town, hit come 'cross Brer Fox min' dat he done come away un lef' a plug er terbacker in de sto', en he say he bleeze ter go back atter it.

“Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, dat he'll stay en take keer er de waggin, w'ile Brer Fox kin run back un git he terbacker. Soon ez Brer Fox git out er sight, Brer Rabbit laid de hosses under line un lash un drove de waggin home, un put de hosses in he own stable, un de co'n in de smoke-house, un de waggin in de barn, un den he put some co'n in he pocket, un cut de hosses tails off, un went back up de road twel he come ter a quog-mire, un in dat he stick de tails un wait fer Brer Fox.