mm STEPHEN Bo WEEKS CLASS OF 1886; PH.D. THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY liEMAlRY OF THE UMVERSmY ©F WME CMOIUNA HE WEEKS €(0)]L1LECTII(DN CAEOLENIIANA >5 I 4 This book must not be taken from the Library building. AT THE BIG HOUSE / w. AT THE BIG HOUSE Where Aunt Nancy and Aunt 'Phrony Held Forth on the Animal Folks By ANNE VIRGINIA CULBERTSON Illustrated by E. AVARDE BLAISDELL INDIANAPOLIS THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY PUBLISHERS ?*-• Copyright 1904 Thf Bobbs-Merrill Company April PRESS OF BRAUNWORTH & CO. BOOKBINDERS AND PRINTERS BROOKLYN, N, Y. CONTENTS Going Down to Uncle Henry's Mr. Fox's Funeral Mr. Fox and Molly Hare Go Fishing Mr. Hare Imitates Mr. Bear The Friendship of Mr. Bear and Mis' Turkey The Toad, the Grasshopper and the Rooster Mr. Terrapin Gets the Nose-bleed How the 'Possum's Tail Became Bare Whv the 'Possum Has Black Ears How Mr. Terrapin Lost His Beard How Mr. Terrapin Lost His Plumage and Whistle Mis' Cat and Mr. Frisky Mouse Mr. Hare Tries to Get a Wife How Mr. Hare Lost His Horns Why the Titmouse Has a Blunt Tongue The Woman Who Married an Owl Mr. Mud-turtle's Adventure Why the Flounder is Flat Brother Squirrel and Moll}" Hare Mr. Hare and Mr. Flint Rock Mr. Wildcat Goes Turkey-hunting Mr. Fox Turns Farmer Can ad i and the Wolves The Story of a Giant Whv the Buzzard is Bald Page 1 Negro 6 Negro 15 Indian 26 Indian 34 Negro 41 Negro 49 Indian 56 Indian 63 Indian 70 Indian 78 Negro 86 Indian 93 Indian 100 Indian 106 Indian 115 Indian 122 Negro 129 Negro 135 Indian 141 Indian 1-18 Negro 155 Indian 164 Indian 169 Indian 177 CONTENTS ]Mis' Goose Deceives Mr. Bear Mr. Bear Tends Store for Mr. Fox A Star Story Why Crabs Walk Backward The Origin of the Cat The Dragon and the Tliunder The Tlaniwa The 'Possum and the Grub-worm Mr. Bear and Mr. Terrapin Go Courting Molly Cotton-tail Steals Mr. Fox's Butter The Lazy Fox Mr. Hare, Mr. Mink and Mis' Duck The Humming-bird and the Tobacco Why Moles Have Hands The Fox and the Duck Why the Ground-hog Has a Short Tail Mr. Hare, Mr. Wildcat and Mr. Otter Mr. Hare and Mr. Elephant The Toad and the Terrapin The Mocking-bird and the Dry-fly The Saucy Young Frog The Crane and the Humming-bird The Fox and the Hot Potatoes The Funeral of Mr. Dog How the Deer Lost His Upper Teeth The Hare Disappears For Ever Page Negro 186 Negro 194 Indian 201 Negro 207 Negro 215 Indian 222 Indian Til Indian 232 Negro 237 Negro 245 Negro 253 Indian 260 Indian 268 Negro 273 Negro 279 Indian 284 Indian 290 Negro 297 Negro 302 Negro 308 Negro 314 Indian 321 Negro 327 Negro 333 Indian 338 Indian 342 INTRODUCTION The stories presented in this volume were found chiefly among the negroes of southeastern Yirginii'. and the Cherokee Indians of Xorth Carolina. It is possible that a few of the Indian stories belong to the Creeks, as some of them were obtained from an Indian who, while living among the Cherokees, was said by them to be a Creek; but this was a point on which he declined to commit himself. In the mountains of the extreme west of Xorth Carolina the writer listened" to stories wonderfully like those of "Uncle Eemus," falling from the lips of venerable Indians with a strange effect of familiarity. Here was "the Eabbit/^ the same lively, merry, tricksy, resourceful, quite rep- rehensible and utterly irresistible fellow as in Mr. Har- ris^ delightful negro tales. It seems odd that the two races, so different in temperament and characteristics, should assume exactly the same attitude, distinctly a humorous one, toward the timorous rabbit, perhaps the scariest "li'l fool creetur" of them all, and glorify him as the most valiant of heroes. It may be somewhat easier to understand in the light of the fact that the rabbit was an important hero-god in the mythologies of both races. Both the Indian and the negro stories are presented in negro dialect in order more strongly to emphasize the resemblance between them — so marked as to give mTRODLXTIOX rise to the supposition that one race borrowed from the other, though which, in that case, was origi- nator and which borrower it would be difficult to say. Scientists, for the most part, believe each race to have originated its own stories, while others are of the opin- ion that all such tales were born in the morning of time in some common cradle of our kind. The reader will have no difficulty in separating the two sets of stories. The source of each is noted in the table of contents, and, moreover, those of Indian origin are all told by an elderly negress, Aunt 'Phrony, who is supposed to be Indian on the father^s side and negro on the mother's, — a not unusual admixture of race in the old davs of the South; while the nearro tales are told by a woman of purely African descent, old Aunt N'ancy. In the case of the Indian stories, it has been thought not inconsistent with the unities to give them a large flavor of negro life and character, since a half- breed, such as the one imasfined, would have been, bv law, a slave like her mother, brought u^^ amongst the negroes and partaking of their ways, speech and char- acteristics. Let no one suppose that Indians have not a sense of humor. They laughed heartily as they told these sto- ries and were visibly disappointed if their auditors failed to catch the point and to laugh with them. It mav be of interest to observe how in the storv of "Mr. Mud-turtle's Adventure" the Indian has made the tur- tle effect his escape by exactly the same ruse as that practised by the rabbit in the famous "Tar Baby" story. A point of difference noticed by the writer was that in the Indian stories of which the rabbit was the hero IXTRODrCTIOX he was always represented to be of the male persuasion, while in the negro tales of the same class the chief actor was usually "01' Molly Hyar'/' or "Mis' Hyar'/' or ^^Mis' Molly Cotton-tail." In fact, the negroes of Virginia seldom refer to "the rabbit"; almost alwaj's it is "or hyar'." The negro has borrowed some stories from ^sop's fables and adapted them to suit himself. An example is given in this volume in the story of "The Fox and the Hot Potatoes/' plainly an adaptation of the famous story of the cat's paw, the monkey and the roasted chestnuts. The writer found a number of others, in- cluding "The Fox and the Grapes/^ "Fox and Rooster," and "The Sick Lion." In conclusion it should be said that these stories were all collected from persons well on in years, unable to read and without opportunity of access to books. They are confessedly "edited," for all who have col- lected folk-tales will know the crude form in which they are obtained, usually a bare, brief outline, though now and then one falls in with a genuine raconteur. The aim has been to imitate, as far as possible, the style of the latter, while jealously preserving the original outlines, so as not to impair their value as folk-lore. To those who would study the imagination of primitive peoples these stories should have some value, if for no other reason than that they add a few more to the stock of this class, the opportunities for gathering which grow less and less with each year and soon will cease alto- gether. Anne Viegixia Culbertsox. AT THE BIG HOUSE AT THE BIG HOUSE GOIXG DOWN TO UISTCLE IIENEY^S The three children, Xed of ten, Janey of eight, and Kit, the yellow-haired laddie of five, were wild with delight at the prospect of a yisit to their nncle on the old plantation where their mother had been reared; for little Kit had never been there, and the others were too young to recollect a former visit. Their mother had married and gone North to live some time before the Civil War. Then came the troubled years of strife, when it was unsafe for her to venture with her little brood into the war-swept, storm-beaten section of southern Virginia where her old home was situated. Now, however, the struggle had been over for a year, and she felt a great longing to see home once more, to know what familiar and cherished objects had survived the wreckage of war, and to give her children a glimpse of the old order of things before it should disappear for ever. She had told them so much of the place and of her life there, that they* felt as if they were going to visit some well-known spot, and in particular were filled with liveliest anticipations of hearing for them- selves, and in the proper surroundings, the old darky songs and tales of which she had tried to give them some idea. 1 AT THE BIG HOUSE The days rolled around all too slowly for the impa- tient little people^ but at last they were off. First came the railroad trip, then the night ride on a steamer down the great bay, and in the morning another rail- w^ay journe}'-, this time through pine woods for the most part, on a little narrow-gage train whose engine seemed to be picking and choosing its path and getting out of the way of the trees as it zigzagged in and out between them. They were met at the rude little station by a wagon and a pair of stout farm-horses, instead of the carriage and blooded pair of other days. The children piled in on the straw at the bottom of the wagon, and thought it great fun to dodge the uncertain movements of the trunks as they jolted along over a rather rough country road, which took them for miles through the tall, slim, fragrant pines that looked so dark and somber when viewed from a distance, but which nevertheless let in plentiful rays of sunlight to flicker and dance over the soft carpet of brown needles beneath. It was almost sunset before they came in sio^ht of the house, which was wholly unpretentious but entirely comfortable, as was the case with many a plantation home of the old days. Situated on a slight eminence, it was surrounded by a huge open expanse whose only boundary was a far, dark rim of pines. In the center of the lawn was a huge oak tree, a per- fect giant of his race, which had looked benignantly down on the same family for a hundred and fifty years, old when the founder bought the land from the Indians, yet still full of life and vigor, bidding fair to remain through many another generation of the puny 2 GOIXG DOWX TO UNCLE HEXRY'S race of men. He towered so high above everything else that he was first to wave a stately salute to the rising sun and last to nod a grave good-night as the beams disappeared behind the pine trees. The morning rays always found him, like some benevolent patriarch, giv- ing shelter to a little company of cows and sheep and snow-white geese; and as the sun slipped gradually around his trunk to its goal in the west, there was never an hour of the day in which his shady hospitality was not claimed by some living creature, while the shadow of his trunk marked the flight of time like some huge sun-dial whose face was half the lawn. It was impos- sible to regard him as a mere tree ; he made you think of a vigorous, "grand old man", and after you had known him a while, he seemed like an important mem- ber of the familv. Dotted about the lawn were the various "offices," and farther back, the "quarters", where a hundred or more negroes used to be lodged in the old, busy days, when everything was manufactured on the plantation, from linsey-woolsey to cart-wheels, and everything needful raised, even the indigo for dyeing the home-made cloth. As the wagon jolted across the lawn, the children stood up and waved their handkerchiefs to the little party assembled in the front porch. Waiting to re- ceive them stood Uncle Henry, tall, broad-shouldered, cheery and hearty. There, too, we're the dogs, barking and capering and giving noisy welcome, and a little in the background was one whom they could not fail to recognize, so often had they heard her described, — a fat, smiling, broad-faced negress, comfortable and sleek, with eyes beaming and white teeth shining. Aunt 3 AT THE BIG HOUSE Xancy, tlieir mother's old ^'"mammy". The children were lifted down amid hiiggings and kissings from Uncle Henry, fawning and frolicking from the dogs, and lastly Aunt Nancy fell on them and took them to her ample bosom and made much ado over her "young Miss^ chillen". Presently the servants began running to and fro car- rying steaming dishes from the "cook-house" to the "big house", and before long the children were seated about the fine old mahogany table, which had dispensed hospitality to at least four generations, and were eagerly discussing hoe-cake and dodger, "egg-brea^ and muffin, waffle and fried chicken, together with other staple delicacies, familiar and unfamiliar. They were waited upon, meanwhile, by "Coonie", the house-boy, son of Eliza, the cook, who watched every mouthful taken with absorbed interest, and grinned as if each new depredation on the piled-up plates was a fresh compli- ment to his mother's skill in cookery. When supper was over and the children were being put to bed, Aunt Nancy's smiling face appeared in the doorway, and she declared that she must have "anu'rr squint at dem chillen" before she took herself off for the night. "Blessid lambs !" said she, "de ve'y spit an' imidge er dey maw, 'scusen de li'l bit whar favers dey gran'paw an' ol' Mis' an' dey Uncle Hinry. Del- laws !• I nuver think in de days w'en I tucken Miss Janey on my knee an' got her raidy fer baid, an' den tuck her in an' sot down by her an' tell her tales ontwel she drap off ter sleep, I nuver think, naw ma'am, dat I gwine live ter see her wid a hull passel er li'l chillen husse'f, naw'm, dat 1 didn'." 4 GOIXG DOWN" TO UNCLE HENRY^S At the mention of stories the children sat up in bed, clasping their arms about their knees with chins rest- ing on top^ looking eagerly at her, like so many ani- mated interrogation points. "Please tell us some stories," they begged, and Janey declared that she did not believe she could possibly go to sleep in a strange bed, unless, as her mother used to do, she fell asleep on a story. Aunt Nancy giggled and laughed until her body rocked from side to side. ^'"Well, ef dis ain' de beatenes' lot," said she, "ter 'mence on me *bout tales de ve'y fus^ night I sot eyes on ^em. Jes' ^zackly de way dey maw useter kyar' on, fer all de worF." But it did not take much coaxing to start her. Drawing up an old splint- bottomed chair, she sat down between the two beds and announced that she believed she would "splunge inter de bizness" by telling them the story of l^r: ME. FOX'S FUNEEAL "In de ol' days/' she began^ "dar wnz two er de creeturs whar wuz alluz fallin' out wid one nn'rr, an' seein' who kin git ahaid nv tu'rr one, an' settin' all sawts er traps an' lay-overs-fer-ter-ketch-meddlers. Dese two creeturs wuz neener mo' ner less dan Mis' Molly Cotton-tail — w'ich some calls 'er ol' Molly Hyar' — an' Mistah Slickry Sly-fox. Sometimes one wuz in de lead, sometimes tu'rr, but mos' in ginly Mis' Molly she camed out ahaid, fer dat seem ter be de speshul gif er de ladiz, ter git der own way wid der breens stidder dey fistes. Menfolks is kind er clumsy an' lumbersome 'bout sech ez dat, an' mos' times gins deyse'fs erway fo' dey gits half thu. "One day he come 'crost 'er w'en she'z right good an' tired, settin' in de broom-saidge fiel', down by de ol' sawmill, an' he gin 'er chase thu de woods an' inter de swamp an' out inter de fiel' on tu'rr side, 'twel she wuz all blown an' clean stove-up. ^Oh me ! my !' sez she ter husse'f, sez she, ^I reckon dish 3^er's whar I gotter turn up my li'l toes an' gin up de ghos', sho' 'nuff, 'kase I kain't run nu'rr step, no use ter try. Well, I hope some nice nigger man gwine git dish yer lef behime foot er mine an' kyar' hit roun' wid him tei keep de boogers off.' " Here the children interrupted to make inquirie MR. FOX'S rrXERAL about the rabbit's left hind foot, of whose wonderful powers they never had happened to hear. "Dellaws !'' exclaimed Aunt Xancy, "niiver yearn tell er de lef behime foot nv a grave-yard rabbit ? Whar you been livin' all dese 'ears? Wy, dat's de mos' pow'ful cunjer in de worl'. Jes' kyar' one'r dem in yo' pockit an' vouse safe ez vou kin be in dish ver suffer in', dvin' worl'. Hit keeps off witches an" lia'nts an' jaeky-my- lantums an' boogers in gin'l, an' hit brings good luck an' keeps away bad luck, an' hit keeps mean, low-down folks fum puttin' spells on you an' trickin' you. But hit wu'ks bofe wavs, fer ef vou lose dat foot an' some one else gits hit, dey kin do jes' 'bout w'at dey wants wid you.^ An' you mus'n' on no kyount let no pusson teck dat rabbit foot in han' an' tetch you wid hit, fer ef you do, sunip'n" mighty bad gwine happen to you, dat's jes' ez sho' ez I'm a-settin' yer runnin' on 'bout dat cunjer. "Xow whar wuz I at ? Oh, vas, whar Mis' Mollv wuz all tuckered out an' 'bout ter gin up de game. Well, jes' den, ez de luck had hit, she yearn a gre't blowin' er hawns an' a lot er houn's givin' tongue a fur ways off, an' she knowed dat de hunters wuz som'ers roun', so she ga'rrd husse'f toge'rr an' putt out in dat d'reckshun, an' bless goodness ef she ain' tole ol' Fox right in de midse er de dogs an' de bosses an' de hunters, an' den she double an' git outen de way in shawt order. I tell you, Mistah Slickry Sly had a mighty clost shave dat time, an' he ain' fergive Mis' ^lolly. He laid hit up in his min' erg'in 'er an' 'clared he wuz gwine git even wid her ef he ain' do anu'rr lick dat winter. "He set by de fire an' study an' study 'bout hit, wid 7 AT THE BIG HOUSE his haid on his han' an' his jaw drapt open, twel he g(^t sort or run down an' liis appentite gin out. Mis' Fox she wuz worrited 'bout him, same time dat she wuz putt out wid him fer settin' on his ha'nches doin' nuttin' an' lettin' lier dus' roun' atter de vittles. Las', one day slie tucken de broom an' shnk hit at 'im, an' sez she, ^Git outen my sight, yon mis'able shif'less creetur. Ef you go an' stir yo'se'f roun' an' wu'k a li'l, hit mought start yo' blood ter goin' erg'in, an' kyore you, fer you done got a bone disease, w'ich dey calls hit lazy-hones, an' I'm a-gwineter kyore you right yer an' now, dat I is, fer I ain' want no fun'l 'bout dis house, dat I ain', wid all de strouds an' de coffins an' de flow's an' de hearsts; an' de vittles whar de mo'ners 'stroy at de settin'-up. Cos' me mo' dan you uver been wuf, suh.' An' wid dat she brought de broom, ker-smack ! down on Mistah Sly-fox's haid. "Wen she say de wu'd ^fun'l/ dat gin 'im a idee. He laid dar widout movin', lak he wuz sho'-'nuff daid, an' he let her pick 'im up 'an putt 'im on de baid. He laid dar a w'ile lis'nin' at 'er go on, wringin' her han's an' crA'in' ^0 lawd ! lawd I w'at a wicked ooman I is ! Done kilt my po' sick husban' ! AY'at I gwine do ! Oh, mussy me, w'at is I gwine do !' "Fox he wuz might'ly tickled an' let 'er run on a w'ile. He say ter hisse'f, *Dish yer's whar I fin' out how de ol' ooman gwine 'have husse'f w'en she's a widdy.' Den he open he eyes lak he wuz pow'ful fibble an' roll 'em up in his haid, an' sezee : "^Ol' ooman, I fergives you fer dis, 'deed I does. I kain't 'spec ter las' much longer ; lemme ax you, bef o' I goes, ter gimme a decint fun'l, wid all de fixin's, an' I w^ant a sarmint preached 8 MR. FOX'S rUXEEAL fer me, too, ef you hatter putt off de preaeliin' part fer a 'ear, so's't you kin pay fer hit. An' I wants you, please ma'am, ter ^4te all de nabers ter de settin'-up, even Mis' Molly Cotton-tail, 'kase I done fergive her, too, an' you mus' sen' her wu'd dat I gwine lay mo' peace'ble in my grave ef she'll come ter de settin'-up. An' I wants you ter have plenty er vittles fer de mo'ners, 'kase I ain' want no pusson ter go 'way f'um my fun'l an' say he's hongry,' "Mis' Fox she jes' lit out inter cryin' an' wringin' her han's erg'in, but she gin de promuss. She say, sez she : ''01' man, vou kin die easv, fer I o:in vou de wu'd uv a po' widdy ooman dat you is gwine have ev'ything dat b'longs wid a fus'-class fun'l, all de trimmin's an' de fixin's th'owed in, ef I hatter wu'k my ting-ers ter de bone over de wash-tub ter pay fer 'em, you is so. Don' you let dat idee keep you ling'in' on yer in taw- ment ; I done gin 3'ou my wu'd, an' dat orter be 'nuff ter let you down inter de grave on flow'y baids uv ease, 'deed hit ort.' "Fox he thanked her, an' den he fetched a big groan an' rolled over on his back an' turnt his toes up in de air an' lav dar ez stiff an' start ez ef de href er life clean gone outen him. Den Mis' Fox she wipe her eyes on her sleeve an' whu'l in an' git ev'ything raidy fer de settin'-up. She kill a chicken an' bile a ham an' cook a mess er greens, an' den she tuck an' sont noration ter de nabers ter come ter de settin'-up. Den she turn in an' fix up de house, an' las' uv all she gin her 'tention ter de cawpse, an' w'en she git thu wid 'im he sut'n'y look mo' harnsum dan he done w'en he wuz walkin' thu dis vale er tears. She sont off fer de coffin an' de 1) AT THE BIG HOUSE flow's, an' w'cn de mo'ners got dar ter do de settin' up, ev'ything wiiz good an' raidy. "Well, she gin 'em a good bait er vittles, an' dey sot np endurin' er de night a-mo'nin' an' a-groanin' an' a-dronin', an' ev'y onct in a w'iles de widdy 'ud th'ow her ap'un over her haid an' bus' inter tears an' rock back an' fo'th an' kvar on twel some er de men-folks 'ud come an' console wid 'er, an' den she'd pick husse'f up a li'l. Slickry he kep' one eye an' one year open, an' he ketched her runnin' on wid Mistah Coon a li'l an' lookin' at 'im mighty sweet w'en she see de res' wan't lookin'. ^Uh-huh!' sezee ter hisse'f, ^dat's how de win' blow, do hit? 'Tain' gin ter ev'y man ter see w'at kind er widdy he gwine leave behime. Eunnin' on wid ol' Coon right bef o' mv face an' eves ! Well ef I don' pay her off fer dat, my name ain' Slickry Sly- fox. Widdy indeed ! Xot fer long, ef she have de sesso.' An' 'twuz all he cu'd do not ter git up right den an' dar an' pick a quo'il wid 'er. "All thu de night de mo'ners kep' hit up, rockin' back an' fo'th an' singin' lak dis, m-um-ah-um-m, m-um-ah-um-m." Here Aunt Nancy imitated the peculiarly mournful, monotonous dirge indulged in by the negroes at their "settin'-ups," consisting of only a few notes without words, hummed through closed lips, and wailed with such persistent dolefulness through the long night that the effect is indescribabl}^ harrowing as w^ell as melan- choly. Presently she resumed her story. "Yas, dey kep' hit up all night, dough now an' den dey'd stop fer a li'l set-to wid de vittles. W'en de mawn- in' come, all un 'em 'scusin' one er two er de wimmin- 10 ME. FOX^S FUXERAL folks went home ter dress fer de fun'l. Long to'des twelve^ 3'er dey comes ag'in, dress up in all de fine doin's dev kin lay der lian's on. I ^spec' oV ^lis' B'ar wuz ^bout de fines' one, she have on a pink silk dress, low- neck-an'-shawt-sleeves, wid a trail an' a pink sunshade ter match, but Mis' Panter run 'er right clost, 'kase she have on a white tall'ton wid flounctes f'um top ter bot- tom an' bows er raid ribbon wid streamers behime. De gemmen all have on neckties an' white cotton gloves, an' raid hank'chers stickin' outer der pockits. I tell you dat wuz a funl ! Dey all come in an' dey howdied a li'l wid Mis' Fox an' she telled 'em she wuz proud ter see ^em dar, an' den she gin 'em cheers an' ev'b'dy sot down. "Las' some un say: ^I 'clar' ter gracious. Sis' Molly Cotton-tail ain' comed yit. AYunner w'at mek her so late ? Any you-all seed 'er on de way yer ? Eeckon she done stop ter prink husse'f up.' Xo pusson ain' seed 'er, so some 'un say dey bes' sing a chune w'ile dey 'uz waitin', an' wid dat dey struck inter Zion Weep a-LoWj an' I tell you, honeys, dey made sho'-'nuff music, wid de ladiz kyar'yin' de air an' de men-folks doin' de dronin'." Here the children again interrupted to ask Aunt Xancy if she knew Zion Weep a-Low, and to beg that they might hear how the creatures sang it at the funeral of Mr. Fox. Xothing loath. Aunt Xancy sang it with camp-meeting fervor, notes long drawn out, with many an "oh" and "ah," and shakes and quavers impossible to describe. "Well," the old woman resumed, "dey sung dat sper'chil plumb thu an' yit Mis' Molly ain' come, so 11 AT THE BIG HOUSE dey had solemn conclave fer a w'ile an' den de preacher he got up an' cle'rd his th'oat a time er two an' 'menced talkin' 'bout ^listah Fox. He say, ^Sinner fren's, I wanster call yo' 'tention ter dis cawpse; you kin see fer yo'se'fs w'at a nice cawpse hit is, wid real white gloves, kid, suh, on de han's, an' flow's strewed all up an' down 'im; an' I wants y'all ter teck p'tickler notuss er dat, fer dat gwine Tarn 3'ou how hit pays ter be hones' an' indush'ous, 'kase ef he ain' been dat-a-way he oon had no sech a fun'l ez w'at dis is, wid me yer too, inter de bargum, ter gin 'im a send-off, all nice an' proper, w'ich Sis' Fox, de wife er de diseased, she a-goin' ter pay me fer hit on time, I oon keep her waitin' fer de fun'l sarmint twel nex' 'ear, naw suh.' "Some er de mo'ners fetched a groan an' some er de ol' men an' wimmin 'spon' f'um de cornders, TTea, lawd ! hones' an' indush'ous, dat's de trufe !' an' Mis' Fox gin a squeal an' fell back in her cheer an' de fun'l hatter stop 'twel dey cu'd bring 'er to wid a go'de er water. Jes' den, who shu'd putt 'er haid in de do' but Mis' Molly Hyar', but she wuz too smart an' know Mistah Slickry Sly too well ter putt her foot inside de do'. She wuz all dress' off in black, wid a big bawnet, an' a mo'nin' veil mo'n a yard long streamin' down 'er back, an' she 'uz kyar'yin' a big white hank'cher wid a black bawder. "She howdied wid 'em a li'l an' den she stan' outside an' look in at de cawpse wid her haid on one side an' her mouf drord down lak she 'uz mighty 'flicted 'bout dis, an' she say, she do, moppin' her eyes now an' den wid de hank'cher, ^Po' Brer Fox, po' Brer Fox ! I sut'n'y nuver 'spected ter see 'im lak dis. I done fer- 12 MR. FOX'S FUXERAL give 'im all de hard feelin's dat has pass' hetwix' us. He sut'n'y is a nice cawpse, Sis' Fox, an' one dat you gwine be proud uv all de res' er yo' days. I has on'y one fault ter fin' wid 'im, an' dat is, his han's ain' crost ; I done yearn my granny say, an' she wuz a mighty knowin' ooman, dat de han's uv a cawpse mus' alluz be folded, look lak 'tain' a sho'-'nuff cawpse lessen de han's is crost.' "At dat ol' Mistah Slickry Slv tuck an' slip one han' 'cross tu'rr an' laid dar lookin' ez innercent ez a lamb, but, bless yo' soul, dat 'uz 'nuff fer Miss Molly, she knowed den dat 'twuz jes' de way she 'spicioned all erlong, an' dat Slickry wuz nuver mo' erlive in his life. She jes' tucken leg-bail fer her 'scape outen dat, an' erway she go wid her mo'nin' veil streamin' out behime 'er in de win'. Fox he jumped up an' upsot de preacher an' spilt all de flow's and tuck after 'er, hard ez he cu'd split, but he was sort er hilt back by de good elo'es an' de white kid gloves, an' sidesen dat he wuz sort er stiff an' weak f'um layin' still so long, wid nuttin' ter eat inter de bargum, so he ain' see mo'n de een' uv 'er veil gwine roun' a cornder. "Dey do say dat fun'l come mighty nigh mekin' trouble in de Fox fambly, fer he useter th'ow hit up ter de ol' ooman, ev'y now an' den, dat she done kyar' on wid Mistah Coon right in front er de cawpse uv 'er own husban'. But she knowed how ter shet 'im up ; she alluz say : ' 'Twant no cawpse ! dough hit orter bin, seein' all hit done cos' me. Xo 'spectable cawpse oon do no sech a low-down way, a mannerly cawpse 'ud 'a knowed w'at wuz 'spected uv hit an' stayed daid. An' all dem mo'ners doin' all dat mo'nin' an' settin' up fer 13 AT THE BIG HOUSE nuttin' ! I boun' you w'en yo' time sho'-'nuff comes I won't l)c able tor fin' mo'ners 'nuff in disli yer k3^ounty ter burry you deeint. Folks ain' lak ter has der feelin's disapp'inted dat-a-way! Don' a^ou talk ter me, long ez we owin' money on dat f un'l yit !' V >f 14 MR. FOX AXD MOLLY HARE GO FISHIXG When Aunt Xancy had finished the tale of ^[r. Fox's funeral there were no signs of sleep in the bright eyes fixed upon her face, and three piping little voices began to make pleas for just one more story. G'long Vay f'um yer/' said she, with a chuckle, y'all boun' ter keep me gwine on all night, I sees dat. Huccome yo' eyes so wide open? Atter all dat trabblement you bin doin', de San' Man orter bin yer long 'fo' dis. Wa't you reckon yo' maw gwine say ter dis all-night bizness ?" "Oh, she won't care if we have just one more, will you. Mamma?" came in anxious chorus. "And you know. Mamma," said Janey, "you used to do this way, too ; you said you did, yourself." ]\Iamma stood in the doorway a moment, smiling and convicted. "Well, just one more. Mammy, remember, only one. Don't let them coax you for another," she said as she went downstairs to Uncle Henry. Aunt Xancy looked as pleased as the children, but she made pretense of being completely run aground for stories, in order that she might hear the little voices raised in protest and entreaty. "Aw, pshaw !" said Xed, "I know better'n that, for Mamma says you know enough stories to fill a book." "Well, mebbe I does an' mebbe I doesn'," said the old 15 AT THE BIG HOUSE woman, ^^ut liowsomuvor dat mav be, mv min' done let 'em all rnn out^ same 'z water thu a sieve;, lessen hits one lil one dat kind er git ketched in a cornder uv my 'membance. Jes' a li'l tale 'bout de time w'en Mis- tali Fox an' ^lis' Molly Cotton-tail went fishin' toge'rr. "Atter Mis' ^lolly done turn de tables on 'im at de fun'l, he kep' on studyin' an' studyin' an' schemin' an' schemin' ter git even wid 'er. Folks dat met up wid him in de woods knowed he wuz up ter sump'n', 'kase he went trottin' b}', not stoppin' long 'nuff ter 'spon' howdy, lookin' so knowin' outen dem slant-up eyes er his'n, wid his face all drord up inter wrinkles, dat dey cu'd see he wuz plannin' out some sort er cussishness, an' dey tuck good kyare ter keep outen de way. Even w'en he wuz foolin' de dogs, settin' up on a ol' log wid his tongue hangin' out, jes' ez still 'z ef he wuz daid, so't dey'd pass 'im by, he wuz studyin', studyin' 'bout Mis' Molly. Same way w'en he went down ter de orchud ter git 'im a chickin. Mighty hard wu'k ter git de chickins down f'um de tree, but still 'tain' drive Mis' Molly outen he min'. "How does de fox git chickins outen de trees ? Umph, honeys ! dat sut'n'y is a sight in de worl' ! Ef you onct see dat you ain' gwine fergit hit in a hurry. Well, one'r dese yer cloudy nights he comes 'long un'need de tree whar de fowels is roostin' an' fin's 'em all fas' asleep, an' he knows dat ain' gwine do, 'kase dey locks der claws tight roun' de limb an' goes ter sleep, an' de claws stay locked ontwel dey wakes up. He know he 'bleeged ter rouse 'em 'fo' he kin git 'im one. So he gins a sharp bark an' jumps up, an' w'en dey 'mence ter cackle he 'mence ter succle roun' an' roun' un'need 16 ME. FOX AXD MOLLY HARE GO FISHIXG de tree, faster an' faster, jumpin' an' barkin'. De chickins dey turn an' twis' der haids ter watch 'im, an' las' some fool fowel dat's kind er weak in her haid gits so dizzy dat she jes' draps right down an' he gob- bles 'er up in a jiff. Yassuh, he's a gre't schemer. He nuver do anything in a hurry, jes' plan hit all out good an' den teck his time to hit. He say he gwine git even wid Molly Hyar' yit if it teck 'im twel Chris'mus, an' 'twuz gittin' 'long to'des dat time befo' he wuz raidy fer 'er. "One col' mawnin' he went streakin' thu de woods, lif'in' up one paw an' stoppin' ter lissen fer de dogs now an' den, but de coas' w^uz cle'r an' he kep' on 'twel he got ter Mis' Molly's. He knock on de do' but she ain' year 'im kase she wuz busy rockin' two er de chillen whar wuz sick, an' singin' at de top uv 'er voice ter drown de noise de urr chillen wuz makin' ez dey racket roun' de house, playin' boss an' leap-frog- an' ketcher, an' cuffin' an' tusslin' 'twel ol' man Hyar' wuz 'bleeged ter leave de ol' ooman de bag ter hoi' an' teck his pipe an' go an' set on de bench outside de do' ter git some peace an' comfu't. "Mis' Hyar' kep' on singin' at de top uv 'er voice : 'Oh Bunny is my hahy. Bunny is my lamb, I loves my Bunny better Dan^a gre't big dish er ham. 'Oh Honey is my baby. Honey is my lamb, I loves my Honey better Dan a gre't big roas'ed yam/ 17 AT THE BIG HOUSE u i^ ^Drat dish yer Bunny an' Honey/ sez Fox ter his- se'f, sezee, Svimmin-folks sut'n'y does mek fools er deyse'fs over dey chillen, an' meks de chillen fools, inter de bargum.' Wid dat he fotched a big lick on de do' wid his walkin'-stick an' Mis' Molly gin a scream an' jumped so't she mos' drapt Bunny an' Honey. She ax 'im fer ter come in, an' she sut'n'y wuz s'prise w'en she see who 'twuz, but she ain' let on, not her; dat wan't her way. She mek 'er manners an' ax 'im fer ter git a cheer fer hisse'f, 'kase he cu'd see dat her ban's wuz full, an' den she 'mence ter run on 'bout de wedder same 'z folks does dese days w'en dey ain' know w'at else ter say. "Fox he wuz mighty p'lite an' mannerly an' chock 18 ME. FOX AXD MOLLY HARE GO FISHIXG full er pooty talk. He say, ^'Clar' ter goodness, Mis' Molly Cotton-tail, you sut'n^y does look snipshus. 'Pears lak you git younger an' younger ev'y 'ear, you sut'n'y does, ma'am.' "Molly snicker, but she wan't tucken in by liim. She say, ^Hysh, man ! Better not let Mis' Fox year you go on dat-a-way ! 'Sidesen dat, I knows I ain' no mo' ter look at dese days dan a lean crow wid a graveyard cough.' " SSho ! Mis' Moll}',' sezee, ^'ou ain' do yo'se'f jestice, 'deed you ain'. I nuver has see you lookin' better. I'll back you 'gins' all de triflin' young gals roun' dese dig- gin's,' sezee. He run on dat-a-way ontwel he think he got her good an' please', an' den he say, ^Mis' Hyar', I done call roun' ter see ef you oon lak ter go fishin'. I knows a monst'ous fine place, whar de fishes is thicker'n blackba'ies in a natch, an' I teck tou risrht dar ef you sesso. 'Tain' no fur wavs, neener.' "Mis' Hyar' she say, she do, 'Thanky, ]\Iistah Slickry ; thanky, suh. I wish ter gracious I could go wid you, but YOU see how 'tis. Yer's Bunny an' Honey sick on my ban's; real croupyfied, dey is, an' de urr chillen cuttin' up lak de ol' Harry, an' all my wu'k layin' roun' loose. I 'clar' dem chillen gwine run me 'stracted. You Blinker I you Winker ! come yer, bofe un you, an' set yo'se'fs down by de chimbly an' stop dat uverlas'in' scufflin' I Jumper an' Thumper, I wants you ter come yer an' shake ban's wid ]\Iistah Slickry Sly-fox an' do lak you had some raisih', stidder gwine on wid dat fist- an'-skull-fight right in front er de comp'ny.' "De chillen done lak she tol' 'em, an' Fox he kep' on 'suadin' an' 'suadin'. Mis' Molly mighty fond er gwine 19 AT THE BIG HOUSE roun' 'joyin' liusse'f an' she ain' none too fond er hoiisewu'k, so las' she say, ^Well, Mistah Sly-fox, I dunno how in de worl' I gwine wid you, 'deed I don'. But mebbe I kin git de ol' man ter look atter de chillen, an" ef I leave plenty er pollygollic an' squilts an' hoar- houn'-an'-boneset tea fer Bunny an' Honey, I reckon dey'll git on, an' I kin set out a col' snack fer 'em all 'twel I git back.' "So she call de ol' man ter come in an' min' de chillen, an' I tell you he come right slow, draggin' his footses an' knockin' de ashes outen his pipe. She show him de vittles an' gin him de pollygollic an' squilts an' de hoarhoun'-an'-boneset tea an' tol' him ter dose Bunny an' Honey ev'y time de}' cried. AVid dat de chillen all set up a turr'bl' squall, but she ain' pay no 'tention, jes' tucken her shawl an' a ol' baskit an' putt out fer de branch wid Slickry Sly-fox. "On de way she say, 'Mussy me, Mistah Slickry, w'at we gwine do fer poles an' lines ? I wuz so boddered up, gittin' Vay f'um dem chillen, dat I ain' think nuttin' 'bout poles an' lines.' " 'Xemmine,' sez de Fox, sezee, ^I done tuck kyare er dat. I kain't be pestered kyar'yin' poles an' lines back an' fo'th, so I keeps 'em hid 'way in a ol' holler tree nigh de branch. I'll fit you out all right. Mis' Molly; don' you 'sturb yo'se'f 'bout dat.' "Dev went 'lono^ mio^htv fren'ly an' familious, an' ol' Fox git so monst'ous p'lite dat las' he say, ^I 'clar' ter gracious, ]\Iis' j\Iolly, you mus' 'scuse me fer bein' so onmannerly ez ter let you kyar' dat baskit. 'Tain' fitten fer a lady lak you ter do dat. Please, ma'am, ter lemme tote de baskit.' 20 MR. FOX AND MOLLY HABE GO FISHIXG "Mis^ Molly she gin ^im back jes' ez good 'z he sont. She say, '^^Deed, Mistah Fox, I kain't nohows think er lettin' a gemman lak you be seed totin' a baskit; you mus'n' name dat ter me no mo'/ "Fox he 'sist an' 'sist, an' Molly she kep' on makin' out she ain' want 'im ter kyar' de baskit, but las' she han' hit over to him, dough ef dey'd bin anything in hit. Mis' Molly 'd a-seed 'im furder 'fo' she'd a-let 'im tote hit; she done know 'im too well fer dat. "Las' dey come ter de branch, an' Fox he putt de baskit on de groun' an' sot down on a log ter ketch his win' befo' he got ter wu'k. Mis' Molly she wuz honin' ter begin de fishin', so she say dat ef he'll jes' tell 'er whar de poles an' lines wuz hid, she'd go an' fotch 'em an' git de bait raidy. "Fox he say, ^So do. Mis' Molly ; so do. Jes' go up de branch yonner a li'l ways an' look in dat ol' holler sickymo' dar an' you'll fin' a lot er poles an' tackle, an' you kin jes' teck yo' ch'ice.' "She went skitin' up de bank an' poked 'er haid inter de sickymo' tree, lookin' fer de poles. Bless goodness, 'twan't none dar ! an' w'at's mo' 'tain' nuver bin none. She think mebbe she done gone ter de wrong tree, so she went traipsin' roun' ter ev'y sickymo' she see on de bank an' git husse'f all frazzle out widout findin' nair' pole er line, w'ile ol' Fox sot up on de log smokin' an' laugh- in' ter hisse'f over Mis' Molly an' de poles. ^Tjas' she come back an' tol' 'im dar wan't no sicky- mo' wid poles inside, an' he say, he do, ^Wat dat. Mis' Molly? You tell me you kain't fine dem poles? I'se 'bleeged ter see dat wid my own eyes 'fo' I kin b'lieve hit,' an' wid dat he pull hisse'f up an' mosey ter de sick- 21 AT THE BIG HOUSE vmo'. Wen lie git clar he poke his haid inside an' den dror hit out an' squat down on his ha'nches an' drap his jaw open lak he'z so s'prise he kain't talk. Las' he say, ^Well, Mis' Molly! I'se dat flabbergasted I sca'cely kin git my bref. On'y yist'd'y I wuz yer, an' dem poles wuz all safe an' soun', an' now some no-kyount, consum- bunkshus thief-er-de-worl' done bin yer an' he'p hisse'f ter my propputty. I wish I had 'im yer dis minnit. I 'clar' ter you I'd jes' natchelly wear dem poles out on his hide, dat I would ! Seem lak a half-way decint pusson orter lef me jes' one pole ter putt me in min' er de res'. I nuver knowed no pusson dat mean befo', lessen 'twuz de man whar shave hisse'f jes' befo' he die, so's'ter cheat de barber outen de job. Yer you, Mis' Molly, done come all dis way ter go fishin', an' nair' pole er tackle fer you. Hit sut'n'y is a shame.' "Mis' Molly feel kind er saw'y fer 'im, so she say, '^Oh, nemmine, Mistah Slickry Sly. I ain' min' dat so much, but I is sort er disapp'inted not ter teck home some fish ter de chillens, 'kase I know dey all fixin' dey moufs fer a nice mess dis evenin'.' "Fox he study a w'ile an' den he say, ^Well, I tell you. Mis' Hyar', ef you be willin' ter fish lak I does, now an' den, mebbe we kin git a mess fer de chillen yit. N'ow you set up yer on de bank a minnit an' I show you dat ef you jes' got de gumption, you kin git de fish widou^ no tackle. Hits dat-a-way in de fishin' bizness, any- hows ; you kin have all de pole an' line you wa ..ster, but ef you ain' got de gumption you ain' git de fish.' "Wid dat he wag hisse'f down de bank an' stan' on de aidge wid his nose near de water, peerin' in, an' 'long come a fool young fish dat ain' know 'nuff ter know 23 MR. FOX AXD MOLLY HAEE GO FISHIXG w'at 'twuz stanniir st3'arin' in at "er. 01' Fox aiii' move a muscle 'twel cle fish wuz right beneaf his nose. Den he splunge one paw in an' swipe cle fish out an' Ian' 'er in de baskit "fo' she kin fiop 'er fins twict. "He call Mis' ]\Iolly down ter see, an' she wuz plumb tickelt ter def wid de way he done kotch dat fish. She say, 'Well, ef uver I see de beat er dat sence I bin chaw- in' vittles ! Mistah Sly-fox, Fse 'bleeged fer ter git you ter Tarn me dat way er fishin' ; hit beats de cl' way all holler.' "Fox he sav, ' 'Tain' no trick 't all ter do dat. All you gotter do is ter putt yo' nose down in de water an' keep jes' ez still 'z dat rock yonner, an' de fus' fish you see beneaf yo' nose, jes' swipe yo' paw in an' git 'er.' "Mis' Molly she do lak he tell 'er, an' stan' dar wid 'er nose poke down so's't hit fetched de water, fer ol' Fox ain' let on to *er dat he kep' his nose jes' outen de reach er de water. She stood dar an' she stood dar, but no fish ain' come 'long, fer ol' Slickry he keep up a loud talkin' an' make all de rackit he kin so's'ter scare de fishes awa3^ She stan' dar an' she stan' dar, an' hit git 'long to'des night an' turn colder an' colder, an' las' Mis' Molly git tired an' say she b'lieve she 'bout raidy ter gin up an' go home. But Fox he aig 'er on an' tell 'er not ter budge, 'kase he sho' dat w'en de fishes come out ter git der supper dey boun' ter come dat way. Water git colder an' colder all de time, an' Mis' Molly 'gun ter shake, an' her toofs chatter lak she have de ager. Las' she say, ^ 'Deed, Mistah Sly-fox, I kain't stan' dis no longer ; 'deed I kain't. I gotter quit dis minnit er drap yer in my tracks ; dat I has.' "Fox he chuckle ter hisse'f lak he know sump'n AT THE BIG HOUSE mighty funny^ an' he say, sezee, Tome Tong, den, Mis' Molly; 'tis mos' night. I reckon yo' chillen an' yo' ol' man be 'spectin' you long 'fo' dis.' Wid dat he pick up de baskit wid de fish in hit an' mek up de bank. Mis' Molly she wuz gwine foller, but, bless yo' soul, w'en she go ter lif 'er haid, she foun' dat her nose done froze fas' ter de water, 'kase de ice bin makin' all de time she wuz stannin' dar, an' oI' Fox know dat mighty well w'en he call 'er down de bank. She pull an' she haul, an' she kick an' she thrash, but 'twan't no use ; dar she vraz an' dar she stay. "Fox he wuz up de bank jes' laughin' an' kyar'yin on. He git so full er laugh an' fun dat las' he tuck ter chasin' he own tail roun' an' roun' in a succle, jes' 'zackly de wav de dogs does. Mis' Molly she vear 'im gwine on, an' she sing out, ^Dat's all right ! You got yo' innin's fer onct in yo' life. High time you did done dat, seein' how many times I done fool you, but I ses ter you dat you gwine laugh on de wrong side er yo' mouf befo' I gits thu wid you, sho' ez my name's Molly Hyar' ; dat you is !' "She kep' on twis'in' an' turnin' an' tryin' ter wu'k 'er nose free, but 'twuz long time 'fo' she got hit a-loose, an' den she hatter leave a piece er de skin stickin' ter de ice. W'en Fox see she wuz onloose he stop chasin' his tail roun' an' pick up de baskit an' light out f'um dar widout stoppin' ter say far'-A'ou-well, an' 'twuz long time 'fo' he had de insurance ter come whar Mis' Mollv wuz. " '^Um-umph !' she say, ez she g'long home, ^dis sarve me right fer bein' sech a fool 'bout fishin'. Fishermens ain' got no sense, nohows. Seem lak de chanct er gittin' 24- MR. FOX AXD MOLLY HARE GO FISHIXG one'r dem li'l scaly-backed creeturs jes' crowds ev'ything else clean outen der haids. Yer me, no fish, nose all skunt "up, dish yer th'ee-mile walk befo^ me an' a hongry ol' man an' cross chillen at de een' nv hit. Atter dis I gwine stay home an' do de eatin' an' let some un else do de ketchin'.' "Wid dat she light out fer home, wid her nose jes' a-achin' her so's't she kain't nohows hoi' hit still. She keep a-twitchin' an' a-wn'kkin' hit ter git some ease, but seem lak she nuver git clean over dat spe'yunce, 'kase de hyar's been twitchin' der noses uver sence. Sometimes hit look lak dey's mekin' faces at you an' actin' sort er scawnful, but 'tain' so; hit's jes' 'kase ol' Mis' Hyar' got her nose fros'ed dat time she went fishin' wid Slickry Sly-fox. "An' now I gotter quit, fer I year yo' maw callin'. ya'am, comin', jes' ez soon 'z I kin git dese chillen good an' tuck up in baid. }y 26 MR. HAEE IMITATES MR. BEAR The next morning, after breakfast, the children heard a strange voice in the region of the back porch and went out to investigate. Aunt 'Phrony had come up to the house to beg for quilt pieces, and as she sat on the porch- steps, waiting until her wants could be attended to, the children saw her for the first time. She was tall and thin and very straight, with high cheek-bones and piercing dark eyes. She wore a red handkerchief about her neck and large brass rings in her ears, and she claimed Indian blood, in proof of which she was in the habit of calling attention to her hair, saying " ^twan^t no nigger-wool." In fact, while it was closely kinked, its jetty tint and finer texture distinguished it from the coarse and rusty-black hair of the pure African type. When questioned as to her ancestr}^, she would say, if in a communicative mood : "Yas, Mars' Torm done buyed me and brung me up yer f'um Nawf Ca'liny. My daddy wuz a Nawf Ca'liny Injun, a Churryl^ee, an' my mammy she wuz a slave-ooman, dat huccome me ter be bawn a slave. Ef she'd a-bin a Injun an' him a slave, den I'd bin bawn free, 'kase de chillen alluz b'longed wid dey mammy; she free, dey free; she slave, dey slaves." As Aunt 'Phrony sat with folded arms, gazing off at the rim of pines that formed a green horizon about the 26 MR. HARE i:\riTATES MR. BEAR plantation, she looked rather forbidding, very different from the fat and laughter-loving Aunt Xancy. The children did not venture near until she pretended to be suddenly aware of their presence and condescended to say, "Is dese Miss Janey's chillen, whar I done year tell ^bout comin^ down ter see dey Uncle Hinry? Come yer an' lemme see ef air' one er you favers yo' maw. Huh-uh ! jSTair' one half ez good-lookin' ez der maw, er uver gwine be. But I dunno ez we kin 'spec' dat f'um chillen dese days." Notwithstanding this unfavorable verdict. Aunt 'Phrony thawed by degrees, and presently Ned ventured to ask if she knew any tales. She shook her head. "Who? Me? Reckon I got sump'n else ter do 'sides studyin' 'bout tales. W^at kind er tales you talkin' 'bout r "Why, about the animals," explained Janey; "tales like those Aunt Xancy tells us." At the bare mention of Xancy, Aunt 'Phrony pricked up her ears, for the two women were ancient and im- memorial foes. Plantation gossip said that Aunt Xancy had coolly married out of hand the very man on whom Aunt 'Phrony had fixed her young affections, and had never been pardoned for doing so. "Dellaws !" she sniffed, "dat ooman bin tellin' vou-all tales? Mis'able ol' nigger tales, I be boun'. Ef I wan't gittin' so bad in my 'memb'ance an' so shawt in de bref I cu'd whu'l in an' tell you heap er Injun tales whar I useter year my daddy tell ; dey beats all de nigger tales uver wuz knowed." "Did any of the Indian stories have a rabbit in them?" asked Xed. 27 AT THE BIG HOUSE "Rabbit?" said she. "You mean oV Hyar'? We ain' call im 'Rabbit' yer in Ferginny; jes' 'oV Hyar'/ er 'Mis' Molly Hyar'/ er 'Mis' Molly Cotton-tail.' De creetur go by all dem names. Dar wuz a Injun hyar' an' a nigger hyar', an' de Injun hyar' cu'd do mos' any- thing de nigger one cu'd, an' mo', too, inter de bargum." "Aunt 'Phrony," said Janey, who was a little diplo- mat, "won't you please tell us some of the things he did, so that we can see if he was anything like Aunt Nancy's hare?" 'Phrony's pride was aroused. Determined not to be outdone by Nancy, she sat for a while thinking and then began : "In de ol' times de Hvar' wuz de bes' known er de creeturs an' de bigges' man uv all, an' dis huccome so: he have de o'if er mummickin' anyb'dv an' ev'yb'dy, an' he go roun' 'mongs' de humans lettin' on he 'z dis pusson an' dat pusson an' tu'rr pusson, an' doin' all sorts er harm an' mekin' all kin's er mischief dat-a-way. Las' de people git tired er dis an' dey say dey ain' gwine stan' hit no longer, so dey git up a big hunt an' chase 'im clean outen dat kyountry. Den he go 'way off ter nu'rr place, whar dey ain' know 'im, an' set out ter bamboozle de creeturs same 'z he bin doin' wid de hu- mans, mekin' out he 'z fus one thing an' den nu'rr, an' mummickin' ev'ything he see folks do er year 'em say. Dar wuz one time w'en dem smarty ways come nigh bein' de def uv 'im, an' dat w'at I gwine tell you 'bout. "One day he wuz gwine down de road, jiggitty-jig, wid one vear turnt ter de back an' one ter de front, so's't he kain't miss yearin' ev'ything dat go on. w'en all ter onct he seed Mistah Growly Grum-b'ar comin', 28 MR. HAEE IMITATES MR. BEAR lookin' mighty big an' empawtant. Hyar' ain' nuver met up wid 'im befo' an' he feel kind er jubous 'bout 'im, so he scrouch down b}^ de side er de road in de hopes Mistah B'ar ain' gwine notuss 'im. But B'ar he wall his eye roun' an' ketch sight uv 'im^ an' he stop an' look down at 'im outen de cornder uv his eye, lak Hyar' so small he sca'cely kin see 'im, an' den he say, ^Souls an' bodies ! who dis li'l feller skulkin' yer by de side de road ? Is I uver see you befo' ? I kain't seem ter 'mem- ber hit, but den I done knowed so many creeturs in my time dat you kain't 'spec' me ter weight down my min' wid 'em all. Co'se dey all 'members me; dey kain't he'p doin' dat, I reckon, but dey mus'n' git hu'ted in der feelin's ef I kain't kvar' ^em all on mv min'.' "Hyar' boun' ter mek hisse'f 'greeable ef he kin, so he say, '^J^aw, suh; I ain' nuver have de good luck ter meet up wid you befo', but ef I had, I cu'dden 'spec' a sho'-'nuff gemman lak you is ter 'member no sech trash ez w'at I is. I bin yearin' dis long time dat you is de bigges' man roun' dese parts, an' I has bin might'ly sot on mekin' 3^0' 'quaintance.' "B'ar right please' wid dat sort er talkin' an' he ax Hyar' ter walk 'long wid 'im a w'iles so dey kin git 'quainted. 01' Hyar' go sidlin' 'long wid 'im, tryin' ter teck big steps lak him, mighty 'feard dem big feet gwine tromple on 'im, but bowin' an' scrapin' an' sayin', 'Yassuh !' ^Jesso, suh !' ^I b'lieve you, suh !' ontwel Mis- tah Growly Grum think he's Big-man-me fer sho'. An' I tell y'all chillen, noiv, dat's de way ter git on wid folks. Jes' you sing small an' let dem In^ar' de heft er de chune. "'01' man B'ar git mo' an' mo' empawtant an' g'long 29 AT THE BIG HOrSE puffin' out his chist an' layin' down cle law wid one paw slapped on tu'rr, ontwel dey git ter his house. He done mek wp his min' by dat time dat Hyar' wuz de bes' comp'ny he met up wid in a long time, so he 'vite him ter come in an' have some dinner. Hvar' sav he ain' kyare ef he do, an' he go an' set down by de fire w^'iles Mistah Growly Grum stir roun' 'mongs' de pots an' de kittles. "All de time dinner wuz cookin' ol' Hyar' wuz jes' a-layin' hit outer Mistah B'ar wid his flattersome talk. 30 MR. HARE IMITATES MR. BEAR Sezee, ^"Well, a'oii sutVy is a cook f um 'way back. I con b'lieve secli a bioj man ez w'at you is . cu'd be so handy ef I ain' see hit fer myse'f.' "Dar wuz a pot er peas on bilin'^ an' B'ar look roun' on all de she'fs fer some fat ter putt in wid 'em, but 'twan't none dar. Den he tucken out a knife an' sharp hit up a li'l, an' ol' man Hvar's heart jump up in his mouf w'en he see dat. 'Name er gracious !' sezee ter his- se'f, 'lemme git outen dis ! 'Pears ter me he gittin' raidy ter kyarve me up fer de dinner. Jes' my luck ! Stidder gittin' sump'n ter eat, I is gwineter git et my- se'f.' "But B'ar wan't studyin' 'bout him. He jes' walk up ter de pot an' cut a li'l gash in his neck an' let de grease run inter de peas. 'Tain' hu*t him 't all, 'kase de b'ars gits mighty fat in de fall off'n de mast whar draps f 'um de trees. Dey jes' stuffs deyse'fs den, so't dey kin sleep all thu de winter widout wakin' up ter git sump'n ter eat; lives off'n cler own fat, dey does, all thu de col' wedder. Well, B'ar's fat wuz so monst'ous thick jes' den dat he ain' feel de cut, an' g'long gittin' de dinner ez ef he ain' even got a scratch on 'im. "or Hyar' wuz might'ly please' an' clap his ban's an' kick his heels on de cheer-rungs, and mek gre't 'miration. He say 'twuz de bandies' 'rangemint he uver see, ter kyar' yo' bacon roun' wid 3^ou in yo' own hide, an' he 'low ter hisse'f, right den an' dar, dat he gwine do de same thing er bus'. "Den dey drord up cheers an' sot down ter de table, an' Mistah Hyar' 'mence gwine on 'bout de dinner. He say, 'You mus' 'sense me ef I ax fer nu'rr he'p er dem peas. I lak ter look after my manners, but 'deed yo' 31 AT THE BIG HOUSE cookin' done druv 'em clean outen my min'. Yo' fat got a flavor to hit dat suit my tas'e prezackly; 'deed hit have.' "He run on dat-a-way, an' all de time he wuz jes' a-honin' ter try de same trick hisse'f, so las' he tell Mistah B'ar he gwine gin a dinin' nex' day an' he ax 'im will he come 'roun' an' he'p 'stroy vittles. He say he got a nice mess er peas he gwine treat him wid, but, bless yo' soul, de peas wuz right dat minnit in his naber- folkses gyardins. "B'ar he say he come ef nuttin' hinner, an' Hyar' go kitin' back ter steal de peas fer de dinin'. "Nex' day Hyar' go out ter meet Mistah B'ar an' bringed 'im in an' fetched a cheer an' gin 'im a pipe. He go cavawtin' roun' de room lak he's on springs, showin' off w'at a spry, handy man he wuz. He git de peas on bilin' an' den he look roun' in de cubberd fer de fat. Las' he say, ^Well, I'll be snickered ! ef I ain' fergit de fat fer dem peas. Now, w'at I gwine do? Kain't gin you ol' po'-trash vittles wddout no grease in 'em.' Wid dat he ups an' tecks a knife an' walks over ter de pot an' cuts a li'l gash in his neck. Lo, be- holst you ! nair' smidgin' er grease drap out, but, mussy me ! how de blood done spurt all over de ha'th, an' li'l mo' he'd bin a goner ef Mistah B'ar ain' bin dar ter bine him up an' doctor him atterwu'ds. B'ar wuz a right smart uv a doctor in dem days, fer he spen' so much time out in de laurel dat he know all 'bout yarbs an' sech ez dat. "Wen Hyar' w^uz on his footses ag'in, gwine roun' de house mighty limp an' low-down-in-de-valley, Mistah B'ar gin him a sho'-'nuff tongue-lashin'. Sezee, ^You 32 ME. HAEE IMITATES ME. BEAE moughter knowed dey wan't no grease in a mis' able lean creetur lak you is. Yer / is, all fat up fer de winter; dat de time w'en I gotter lay roim' an' snooge an' have no chanct ter pick np vittles. But yon is on de go, keepin' de paf hot f'um 'ear's een' ter 'ear's een. I lak ter know how you 'spec's ter lay up fat ? Wat mek you think, anvhows, dat you kin do de same ez me, vou po' li'l knee-high-to-a-hoppah-grass ? Um-umph! w'at sort er worl' dish yer be ef all mens kin do de same things ? You bes' g'long now an' 'tend ter yo' own biz- ness, an' set dis down in yo' 'memb'ance, dat dar ain' no pusson mek mo' mistakes er git mo' laugh at dan de man whar tries ter be tu'rr folks stidder bein' hisse'f. You year me talkin'.' " OQ •>-- THE FRIENDSHIP OF ME. BEAE AND MIS' TUEKEY "Well," said Ned, when Aunt 'Phrony had finished the story of how the hare imitated the bear, "1 always thought that bears were cross and ate people up. I should think the hare would have been afraid to have him doctor him. I wouldn't want any old bear to come fooling around me." "Who 'f card? Hyar'? Him! Naw, suh !" said Aunt 'Phronv, "he ain' knowin' w'at 'tis ter be 'feard er anything in dis 'varsil worl'. Sidesen dat, I done tol' you he sof'-sawder ol' Mistah B'ar an' gin 'im 'nuff sweet talk ter fill a honey-gum. But Hyar' he wuz mo' diff'nt f'um tu'rr creeturs. 'Twan't safe fer de res' un 'em ter fool wid Mistah B'ar; 'deed hit wan't. Dat putt me in min' er de time w'en Mis' Tukkey think she gwine mek f ren's wid 'im, an' dis how hit happen : "B'ar useter live in de low-groun's an' wu'k fer his livin' same 'z tu'rr folks, but atter w'iles he git tired er dat, an' sezee, '1 jes' 'bout b'lieve I gwine quit wu'k an' go whar I kin git me 'nuff ter do me widout usin' so much elber-grease in de gittin'. W'at de use er livin', anyhows, ef you gotter spen' all yo' time dustin' 'roun' atter sump'n jes' ter keep de href er life in you? Naw, suh ! 'tain' wuf de w'ile, lessen vou kin do a lot er restin' up an' have some fun inter de bargum.' 'So he g'long off up inter de big mountains an' hide 3-1 <((, MPt. BEAR AXD :\riS' TURKEY hisse'f erway in de laurel an' res' an' sleep jes' w'en he feel lak hit, an' de balims er de time go romantin' up an' down de mountains kind er slow an' lazv, sort er studyin' whar he gwine putt his foot down nex', 'joyin' hisse'f might'ly, widout doin' no wu'k 't all, jes' pickin' up sump'n ter eat ez he trabel 'long, an' dat wan't hard. He 'uz 'tickler fond er 'lasses an' sweet apples, 'kase he got a mighty sweet toof, but honey wuz de dish w^'at hit 'im in de bull's-eye an' go ter de right spot ev'y time. He wuz willin' ter tra])el miles ter fin' 'im some honey, but ef he kain't fin' any, den de nex' bes' thing wuz a mess er raid ants. He'd sleep all day long on er ridge in de wo'm summer days, but ef nu'rr b'ar come dat-a- way an' fetched 'im a li'l tap in his sleep, he'd r'ar up on his behime laigs an' den dey'd have hit, fer all de worl' lak dese yer prize-fighters, boxin' an' cuffin', an' wres'lin' 'twel one'r dem wuz th'own. Den tu'rr un 'ud grab 'im by de th'oat an' growl an' growl 'twel you'd 'a thought he 'z gwine eat 'im up, but pres'n'y he'd onclinch an' let 'im go wid one las' growl ter tell 'im, ^You better not fool wid me erg'in, suh.' "He live 'long dat-a-way, eatin' an' sleepin', wid a li'l walkin' an' fightin' th'owed in, 'twel one day he met up wid a li'l ol' fool wil' tukkey. She was mincin' an' tippin' 'long, fer all de worl' lak dat no-kyount gal er Aunt Xancy's w'en she git on her Sunday clo'es. "Pres'n'y she see Mistah B'ar, an' stidder bein' 'feard, lak she orter bin ef she had a grain er sense in dat li'l ol' haid er her'n, she 'mence ter mek gre't 'miration. He look so big an' strong she think he mus' be a mon- st'ous fine man, an' dar whar she git fooled, lak lots er wimmins I bin knowin'. 35 AT THE BIG HOUSE (d 'She hop up in front er him an' say, ' 'Sense me, 3Iis- tah Growly Grum, snh^ ef I axes you ter stop a minnit an' lemme look at you. Lan' er de livin' ! I nuver is see a man tall ez w'at you is. An' how big an' strong you looks, an' dat long brown fur you wears on yo' hide sho' is harnsum. Please, suh^ lemme walk 'long wid you li'l ways an' look at you some mo' ?' "B'ar kind er growl sump'n nu'rr way down in his th'oat an' she tucken hit fer yes an' go tippin' an' mincin' 'long mo' wusser dan befo', mighty proud ter let tu'rr folks on de mountain see 'er in sech comp'ny. Wen dey git ter Mistah B'ar's house, she stick her haid in de do' an' w'en she see all de dirt an' de mess, for he wuz too mawtal lazy uver ter clean up de house, she say, she do, ^Oh, me ! oh, my ! Mistah Growly Grum- b'ar, you sut'n'y does need a ooman ter look atter you an' cook yo' vittles an' tidy up de house. Please, suh, ter lemme stay an' wu'k fer you, an' de on'ies' thing I ax is de priv'lidge er settin' an' lookin' at you w'en I isn' busy.' "B'ar say ter hisse'f, ^Dish yer a sho'-'nuif bawn fool, but mebbe she kin wait on me, so I reckon I let her stay, fer a w'ile, anyhows.' "So he say to 'er, ^Well, Mis' Tukke}^ sence you is so pow'ful sot on hit, I s'pose you kin stay ; but you mus"n' look at me too often, 'kase I ain' use ter bein' stvar'd at an' I dunno w'at I mought do ef I got riled.' "Mis' Tukkey say she do 'er lookin' w'iles he'z ersleep, so he tell er ter stay ef she wanter. "Den she whu'l in an' clean up de house, an' cook 'im a good dinner, an' w^'en he tucken a nap she git 'er a 36 ME. BEAR AXD MIS' TUEKEY li'l bush an* keep cle flies off en him, an' set an' look an' look ez ef she ain' nuver gwine see 'im erg'in. "She kep' hit up dat-a-way fer so long time, an' git wusser an' wusser 'bout liim ev'y day ontwel at las' she dunno how in do worF she gwine keejD f um lookin' at 'im w'iles he wuz 'wake. "Now B"ar he had de fashion er gwineter sleep ev'y day 'bout de time he 'mence ter git a li'l hongry, an' so he wuz mighty ap' ter dream 'bout sump'n nu'rr ter eat, an' w'atsomuver he dream *bout, dat de thing he 'bleeged ter have w'en he wake up, an' he alluz g'longed out an' got hit. "Mis' Tukkev fin' dis out, so ev'v dav w'en he wake up she step to'des 'im an' say, 'Mistah Growly Grum, Mistah Growlv Grum, w'at vou done dream 'bout dis time? Please fer to tell me, suh, so I kin know w'at fixin's ter git raidy ter go wid hit fer dinner.' "B'ar he 'ud tell her, an' den go 'way an' git w'at- somuver hit mought be. "Mis' Tukkey git so sot-up on kyount er 'sociatin' wid Mistah B'ar dat tu'rr creeturs cu'd sca'cely putt up wid her foolishness, but w'en dey talk hit over dey alluz tell one nu'rr dat sumjD'n 'bleeged fer ter happen ter teck down her fedders. "I done tol' you she git mo'n mo' sot on Mistah B'ar, an' kep' squintin' at 'im 'roun' de cornders an' cuttin' her eye at 'im w'en he wan't lookin' ontwel de wunner is dat he ain' ketch 'er long befo'. But his eyes wuz set so clost toge'rr, same ez wid all de b'ars, dat hit mek him near-sighted, an' ef he see you a li'l piece off he ain' kin tell you f'um a stump. But Mis' Tukkey 37 AT THE BIG HOUSE git so owdacious dat atter w'iles he do ketch 'er, an' he soon git tired nv her an' her foolishness. He ain' sayin' nuttin', *kase he wan't knowin' jes' w'at he gwine do 'bout hit. Las', one day, he see her lookin' at him jes' ez he wuz wakin' up f um his nap. "She walk up ter him, same 'z alluz, an' say, ^Mistah B'ar, Mistah B'ar, w'at you done dream 'bout dis day?' An' dat ininnit hit come inter his haid dat he gwine fix 'er den an' dar. "He strotch hisse'f a li'l lak he wan't quite thu wid his nap an' den he eye 'er up an' down an' he say, 'Mis' Tukkey,' sezee, 'you is growed tol'ble plump an' fat, I see, sence you bin stayin' in my house an' quit yo' runnin' up an' down de mountains.' "Mis' Tukkey kind er snigger an' look down, 'kase she mighty please' ter have him notuss 'er. 'Yassuh,' sez she, 'I b'lieve I is growed mo' plumper dan w'at I wuz.' a c 'Ysls, ma'am! you sho'ly has fat up,' sezee, 'an' now I ax you dis,' sezee, 'ain' I tucken you in my house an' fed you an' gin you shelter, an' ain' you promuss dat you oon look at me 'scusin' w'en I wuz sleepin', an' isn' you done bruk yo' wu'd ?' "Mis' Tukkey she stannin' on one foot lookin' mighty oneasy, an' she say, she do : ' 'Deed, Mistah B'ar, you mus' 'scuse me dis time, 'deed you mus', 'kase I kain't he'p hit, 'deed I kain't.' "Den he riz up f'um whar he wuz settin' an' he say, way down deep in his th'oat jes' ez growly ez he kin, 'You mus' 'scuse me, too. Mis' Tukkey; I kain't he'p myse't, 'deed I kain't. You ax me w'at is I dream, I tells you I done dream "tukkey," an' you knowin' me 38 MR. BEAR AXD MIS' TURKEY well 'miff ter know dat w'en I dream tukkey I 'bleeged ter eat tukkey/ an' wid dat he fell 'pun 'er an' she scuffle some an' de fedders flew'd 'roun' a li'l an' den ev'y thing mighty quiet, 'kase she done gone whar she cu'd see de inside er Mistah B'ar stidder de outside. De ereeturs whar she bin puttin' on airs wid say hit sarve 'er right fer tryin' ter keep comp'ny wid 'er betters." "I think that was a real mean old bear to eat her up after she waited on him and did so much for him, don't you, Aunt 'Phrony ?" said Janey. "Laws-a-mussy, chil'," said Aunt 'Phrony, who had had unfortunate matrimonial experiences, "w'en you is ol' ez w'at I is, mebbe you'll fin' out dat ef a man wants 39 AT THE BIG HOUSE ter git slied uv a ooman, he ain' gwine think ^bout w'at she been doin' fer 'im, he jes' fergit ev'ything 'ceptin' dat he do wanter git shed uv er, dat's 'nuff fer him, an' lie don' let dat outen his min' ontwel he done finish de bizness. "Seem ter me I year yo' maw callin' me, an' I reckon I bes' mosey 'long upstairs ef I 'spec's ter git me any quilt-pieces dis day." 40 THE TOAD, THE GEASSHOPPER AND THE EOOSTER Aunt Xancy lived in a little cabin on the edge of the woods, not far from the ''big house/' The children were not long in finding her whereabouts and in making the acquaintance of her granddaughter, Cass}^ an over- grown girl of seventeen, who was just beginning to have what Aunt Xanc}' called "fool notions'' about dress and beaux; and also that of her dog. Bouncer, a lean, hungry and disreputable hound by whom she set much store on account of his pedigree and "p'ints." Just what his valuable points were, no one but Xancy had ever been able to discover, though many a neighbor whose evening meal had been snatched in a twinkling beneath his very eyes could bear witness to points which were considered distinctly undesirable. The little cabin was scrupulously clean within and held many things which the children had never seen before — the gay patch-work quilts on the beds, the strings of red peppers hanging from the rafters, the curious old salt-gourd, polished and dark as mahogany from years of service. The path and dooryard were swept clean, and at one side was a little garden in which flourished homely old-fashioned flowers, mari- gold, zinnias, larkspurs, princess' feather, cockscomb and hollyhocks, hardy and gay, needing no coaxing to 41 AT THE BIG HOUSE cheer these humble folk with their coarse, bright beauty. Next to Bouncer in Aunt Xancy's affections were her precious "posies"; Cassy had to content herself with third place. The little people fell into the habit of paying frequent visits to this cozy spot, always finding a warm welcome from Aunt Nancy and often getting the treat of a story besides. The first time they visited her she celebrated the occasion by relating certain do- ings of the toad, the grasshopper and the rooster. "I reckon dar wan't no mo' livelier creeturs in de oV times/^ she began, "dan w'at dem th'ee wuz. Mis^ Hoppah-grass, w'icht some un 'em called her 'Mis^ Pop- eyes,' 'long er her bulgy eyes, she wuz a gre't darnser, darnse roun' in de grass all day long, an' dar wuz some talk er havin' 'er up befo' de meetin' 'longer her triflin' ways. Toad-frog he spen' all his time gwine huntin' atter bugs an' sech, an' de way he git roun' over de groun' wuz a caution ter snakes. He ain' stop ter walk, jes' natehully lipt up f \im one place an' went ker-swish ! thu de air an' lit on de nex' place. I let you know he wuz a soople man in dem days, clat he wuz. He wuz a curisome sort er creetur, anyways. Jes' lak de toad-frogs dese days, he had two little bags er white juice right back uv his eyes, an' ef anything got atter 'im er tried ter ketch 'im, he Jes' spurted dat juice right out on 'em an' dey wuz glad ter let him 'lone. You kain't 'suade no dog ter tackle a toad, he ain' wanter git dat p'ison sprinkelt on ^im. Toad-frog he wuz p'tickler 'bout his dress, too ; git 'im a new suit er clo'es ev'y now an' den, jes' lak de toad-frogs does now. Fus' dey 'mence splittin' up de back an' den dey know hits time ter pull off de ol' clo'es, w'icht dey skins 'em down over der legs jes' lak 42 THE TOAD AND THE EOOSTER Mars' ^ed do his li'l trousers, an' cTey pulls an' hauls, usin' cler nioufs ter he'j^ pull, an' w'en de ol' clo'es is off dey rolls 'em up in a bunnel an' jes' natchully swol- lers 'em, dat dey does; I done seed 'em wid my own eves. "Chicken-roostah he wuz a monst'ous fine puffawmer wid his voice ; he ain' do much but practuss hit, an' he wuz dat proud he kain't wait fer de daylight, but git up early in the mawnin' an' wake tu'rr folks long 'fo' day singin' : 'Cock-a-doodle-deecUe-doo, I Jcin sing mo' loud dan you, Coclc-a-deedle-doodle-dee, Git up an lissen, folks, ter me!* "1 ain' hatter tell you dat folks wan't likin' 'im any too well, 'kase he alluz 'mence his singin' Jes' 'bout de time w'en dey wants ter turn over an' have nu'rr li'l snooge. Sidesen dat, dey think he'z a kin' uv a ol' hypermocrit, 'kase he sa'nter 'long wid Mis' Hen an' de chillens, 'tendin' lak he'z he'pin' scratch fer de livin', an' de on'ies thing he do wuz ter light in, w'en Mis' Hen gin a cackle ter say she done foun' a bug er a wu'm, an' snatch hit way f'um 'er 'fo' she kin say Jack Robumsum. "After w'iles dey git tu'rr creeturs down on 'em, 'long er all der singin' an' darnsin' an' no-kyount, shif '- less ways, an' w'en dey see dat, dey think mebbe hit time ter turn over a new leaf an' whu'l in an' 'arn der livin'. So de}^ git toge'rr an' have a confab an' mek up der min's dat dey gwine run a farm in cahoots. 43 AT THE BIG HOUSE Roostah he wiiz 'p'intecl ter be de ploAv-han', dat 'kase he have sech strong claws jes' fitten fer ter scratch up de groun' wid ; Toad-frog he wuz ter be de hoe-han^, an' Mis' Hoppah-grass she wuz ter stay home an' do de cookin' an' look atter de house. "Dey 'vide de 'vidjun er de wu'k dis-a-way fer so long time, an' dey git on mighty well an' wuz might'ly please', 'kase de new wan't rub off yit, but pres'n'y Mis' Hoppah-grass she git kind er tired an' lazy, fer she ain' nuver do a lick er work befo' in all her bawn days. She drap de skillit an' fall back in a cheer an' putt her footses on a stool an' tie her haid up in a hank'cher an' say she feelin' so ailified dat she know she in fer a spell er sickness, but dey neenter sen' fer de doctor, 'kase she sho' she gwine die, anyhows, an' she wanter teck her own time to hit an' not be hurried inter de nex' worl' bv all dat truck he mek folks swoller. She mought 'z well die easy, she say. She talk 'bout de doctor plumb scannelous, 'kase she ain' want him ter come dar an' let out de news dat de on'ies thing w'at ail her wuz laziness. "Den she dim' up on de baid an' laid dar groanin' an' kyar'yin on, an' de men-folks stan' roun' an' look at 'er a w'ile, sort er he'pless, an' den dey ses, ^Well, I reckon dar ain' nuttin' we-all kin do,' an' dey g'long off ter wu'k. Eoostah he wuz plowin' in a fur fiel' an' Toad-frog he wuz hoein' near de house, so dey 'gree dat he better git dinner. Dat huccome he hatter do de hoein' an' de cookin' an' tidy up de house, let 'lone waitin' on Mis' Hoppah-grass; she fin' sump'n fer 'im ter do ev'y five minnits endurin' er de day. "Dey kep' hit up dat-a-way ontwel he wuz wo'n ter 44 THE TOAD AXD THE ROOSTER a frazzle, an' he say he 'bleeged ter have siTmp'n er ru'rr ter churr him wp an' drive de tire away. 'Bout dat time he earned 'cross de rim iiv a ol' meal-sifter an' dat putt a notion in his min'. He tucken de rim an' strotch a piece er sheepskin over hit, an' den he got him a piece er fence-rail an' whittle hit down an' fasten hit on de rim. Pres'n'v he fin' a ol' cow-hawn an' he wu'k dat up inter pegs, an' den he git him some cat- gut strings an' strotch 'em 'cross de sifter. Den he screw 'em up wid de cow-hawn pegs 'twel he git 'em in chune an' las' he swipe one han' 'crost de strings, an' suz ! she 'mence ter talk, an' 'twuz a sho'-'nuff banjer ! one'r dem reg'ler ol' plinketty-plunketty nigger banjers whar got mo' git-up-an'-git to 'em, w'en it come to de marter er foot-shakin', dan any er dese yer shiny, primp-up ban- jers whar hangs in de sto' winders an' tries ter git folks ter walk in an' buy 'em. Nigger know better'n dat! "W'en Mistah Toad-frog git de banjer chune up jes' 'zackly ter suit 'im, he set outside de do' ev'y day w'ile de dinner cookin' an' pick dese yer darnsin' chunes whar mek even chu'ch members feel lak dey jes' nat- chully 'bleeged ter git up an' knock time wid der f ootses. One day w'ile he wuz pickin', he think he year a soun' er darnsin' on de flo' inside. 'Day er grace !' sezee, ^is my years done trick me, er is dat darnsin' ? Kain't be Mis' Hoppah-grass, 'kase she too po'ly. Hit 'bleeged ter he^ dough, fer she's de on'ies pusson in dar.' He stop playin', darnsin' stop; he go on, darnsin' go on. He putt his year down an' lissen at de banjer ter see ef anything rattle, — banjer she wu'kkin' all right, den he hnow 'twuz Mis' Hoppah-grass. He ain' let on, an' he 45 AT THE BIG HOUSE wait on 'er jes' de same, but w'en Chickin-roostah come home, Toad-frog tucken him off a liT wa^^s an' he say, ']Mistah Eoostah, w'en you comes ter dinner to-morrer, don' you git up on de fence an' crow lak you bin doin' ter lemme know hit's time ter dish up de vittles ; stidder dat, you creep up sofly w'iles I pick, an' peek in thu de do'.' " ^Well, befo' de king !' sez de Roostah, sezee, Sva't's in de win' now, Mistah Toad-frog?' " 'Xemmine,' sez de Toad-frog, ^you g'long an' do lak I tells you, an' I boun' you see a sight fer sore eyes.' .,J id 'So de nex' day w'en Eoostah come home ter dinner, stidder crowin' ter say he be dar soon, he crope up ter de do' an' peeked in thu de crack w'ile Toad-frog pick de banjer 'twel she plumb talk, an' wish't I mought die! 46 THE TOAD AXD THE BOOSTER ef dar wan't Mis^ Hoppah-grass, darnsin' roim' de room jes^ ez well ^ez she uver wuz. She caper aii she twis' ari she turn an' she do de back-step an' cut de pigeon-wing an' wound up wid de double-shuffle. Las' uv all she lipt up an' cracked her heels toge'rr an' spun clean roun' in de air befo' she lit on her footses. "Eoostah ain' sa}dn' nuttin', he jes' beckon ter Toad- frog. He nuver stop pickin', but tiptoed ter de do' an' cut one eye thu de crack, an' got dar in time ter see 'er do de hi2:h-iump. Dcv wuz dat outdone dev kain't say nuttin', jes' hunch one nu'rr wid der elbers. Den Toad- frog fell back on de bench an' went on pickin', an' Eoostah he go an' git up on de bench an' crow lak he alluz do jes' befo' dinner. "Wen she year 'im crow, Mis' Hoppah-grass lipt back in baid an' drord up de kivers an' done lak she ain' kin move ban' er foot. Den Roostah walk in an' come up to'des de baid an' he say, sezee, ^Wellum, how you come on dis mawnin' ?' "She wuz pantin' so f'um de darnsin' dat she sca'cely kin git her bref, so she roll her eyes up in her haid an' say, ^So po'ly, sca'ce kin talk.' " ^Dat 'ar's a burnin' fib !' sezee. ^I boun' you I mek you git up f 'um dat an' walk, Mis' Pop-eyes V sezee. "She jump outen de baid an' mek fer de do', an' Roostah he lit out after her, an' dey sut'n'y had it den, fer she wuz a sho'-'nuff jumper an' he wuz one'r dese yer shawt-legged mens whar do lak dey gwine fall all over deyse'fs w'en dey runs fas'. De}^ went stavin' thu de yard an' over de fence an' 'crost a fiel' an' den back ergin, an' he nigh mos' chase 'er down de well. Den she mek fer de grass an' think she gwine hide 'way 47 AT THE BIG HOUSE f'um him dar, but ho putt on a big bus' er speed an' kotched an' et her jes' ez she wiiz slippin' inter de grass. "I reckon y'all done seed de chickin-roostahs chasin' de hoppah-grasses befo' now, an' dish yer I been tellin' you is de reason dey does so. Dey ain' fergit her 'ceit- fulness, an' seem lak de}^ jes' natchully kain't leave a hoppah-grass 'lone w'en dey sees 'er, boun' ter run her down er die." 48 ME. TEEEAPIX GETS THE NOSE-BLEED "Xow, Aunt Xanc}'/' said Janey, when the old woman had finished her story about the deceitful grasshopper, "we just aren't going until you tell us another story/' "Hi yi ! w'at kind er talk is dis I year outen de mouf Tiv a li'l white lady !" exclaimed Aunt Xancy, who, while secretly flattered at having her little friends linger, was such a stickler for politeness that she could not let a breach of it pass. Very zealous indeed were the old mammies about forming the manners of the children under their charge, and very high the standard of po- liteness which they felt should belong to the "quality.'' So she went on: "Is dat a pooty way ter ax fer nu'rr story? Sidesen dat, is I said anything 'bout yo' goin' home ? Xaw, suh, an' I oon say nuttin' ef y'all set dar 'twel de day er judgmen'. I don' treat my comp'ny dat- a-way. I hopes I know my manners better'n ter ax my comp'ny ter go home, lak a li'l gal ax de Thomp- son chillen tu'rr day w'en she git huffed wid 'em." Gassy had been watching the pots and pans simmering on the hearth in preparation for the modest dinner, closely watched in turn by the greedy Bouncer, who lay close to the hearth with his nose in his paws, appar- ently asleep, but with one eye on the dinner. Every time she passed. Gassy administered a little furtive pun- ishment, at which Bouncer each time raised up the voice of complaint. 49 AT THE BIG HOUSE <'^ Look yer, gal," Aunt Xancy finally inqnired, "w'at ails dat dog er mine?'' Cassy answered innocently, " 'Deed I dunno, granny, he 'pears ter be mighty oneasy, startin' an' yappin' dat-a-way in his sleep." "Well, you come outside yer^, wid we-all, an' I boun' you my dog git long all right," commanded Aunt Xancy. "Law, granny," said the girl, "you know mighty well dat ef I leave Bouncer in dar wid de dinner he gwine git hisse'f outside uv , hit in th'ee shakes uv a sheep's tail." "Well, den," said the old woman, "jes' you bring de dog out yer wid you whar I kin keep my eye on bote un you; I ain' gwine have my dog cuffed by no j)usson, lessen I sees fit ter do hit myse'f." With that, Cassy and the reluctant Bouncer came out and joined the little circle about the doorstep. Bouncer on the extreme edge, watching his chance to steal into the house unperceived. They effected a welcome diver- sion, for Janey was feeling rather guilty over her incivil- ity to the Thompson children. AYhen Cassy and Bouncer had subsided. Aunt Nancy resumed her story telling, relating the adventures of Molly Cotton-tail and Mr. Terrapin while on a hunting expedition. "Hit happen dis-a-way," she began. "One time Mis' Molly Cotton-tail an' Mistah Tarr'pin wuz tol'ble fren'ly fer a right smart uv a spell, an' w'ile things wuz gwine on lak dat. Mis' Molly she met up wid him one day an' she say: ^Mistah Tarr'pin, I dunno how 'tis wid you, suh, but I is sort er tired er de vittles I bin havin', jes' dese yer peas an' cabbage an' gyardin'- truck in gin'l, 'long wid a li'l grass. I knows you bin 50 MR. TEREAPIX GETS THE NOSE-BLEED havin' de same sort er stuff an' seem ter me you looks a li'l pincllin'. Ef we eu'd jes' go huntin' an' git ow'se'fs a li'l fraish meat, I boun' you we'd pick up an' feel sprucy right off.' "Tarr'pin ain' bin notussin' dat he felt bad, but w'en Miss Molly talk dat-a-way he felt sort er doncey an' painyfied dat minnit, an' he say he spec' 'twould do him good ter have a li'l meat-vittles, so wid dat dey up an' went huntin' toge'rr. Dey go up an' down de woods, perusin' roun' fer w'at dey kin fin', an' w'iles dey sa'nter 'long Mis' Hyar' she wuz talkin' an' argyfyin' wid Tarr'pin 'bout dis an' dat, tryin' her bes' ter ag- gervex him, 'kase she wuz chock full er talk an' mighty please' w'en she kin fin' an3'body ter 'spute wid her. She ain' git much sassif action f'um Mistah Tarr'pin, ^kase he wan't no gre't shakes at talkin' an' he lak ter do ev'ything slow an' easy, 'twuz come-day, go-day wid him. "Mis' Molly so tucken up wid her own talk dat she ain' notuss w'at gwine on, an' dat de reason she ain' see Mis' Panter comin'. She bin rampagin' up an' down de woods huntin' fer sump'n ter eat, an' 'bout de time she git so hungry she sca'cely kin stan' hit, she seed 'em comin'. '^Hyar' uv my whiskers !' sez she, '^dis whar I gwine whu'l in an' git me my dinner. Two Ivin's er meat ter onct, lawsy, lawsy, w'at luck I is havin' !' She see dey ain' kotch sight uv 'er yit, so she mek has'e ter strotch husse'f 'cross de road an' 'tend lak she daid. "Molly Cotton-tail so busy talkin' dat she ain' see Mis' Panter yit, but w'en dey git ter whar she wuz layin' 'cross de road, Mis' Molly say : ^Jumpin' Jehosh- aphat ! ef we ain' got de luck dis day, Mistah Tarr'pin, 51 AT THE BIG HOUSE den you kin call me a sinner. Yer meat all raidy ter ow' lian's, an' fraish kilt^, too, ef I ain' mek no mistake, 'kase she wo'm yit/ "Den Tarr'pin lie say, sezee: ^I 'spec' you is right, Mis' Moll}^ you mos' in gin'ly is. But dish yer w'at troublin' me : I kaint see how we gwine tote dis meat home, 'kase look lak she monst'ous haivy.' "Mis' Hyar' she putt her haid on one side, an' cock one year up an' tu'rr down an' look fus' at Panter an' den at Tarr'pin, lak she wuz medjin' 'em bofe. Las' she 'low, she do, ^Mistah Tarry-long Tarr'pin, you know I is a soon ooman an' a willin' ooman, but I ain' got much strenk in de back-bone. Now you got de hardes' back-bone an' de bigges' back-bone fer yo' size uv any man whar I knows, an' 'pears ter me dat ef I kin jes' git her laid 'cross you an' git you started, mebbe we kin mek out ter tote her home.' "Tarr'pin 'gree ter dis, so he run his haid unner Mis' Panter an' Mis' Molly gin her a shove, an' dar she wuz. Den ol' Tarr'pin move off, an' ef he wuz a slow man befo' I dunno w'at you call him now, slower dan 'lasses in Jinnawary. Mis' Hyar' mek out dat she wuz shovin' behime, but stidder dat she mount up on de kyarkiss an' po' ol' Tarr'pin drug her 'long, too. 'Bout dat time he say, ^]\Iussy me ! Mis' ^lolly, seem lak dis meat done got heap haivier all ter onct !' " ^In co'se, Mistah Tarr'pin,' sez de Hyar', sez she, ^in co'se dat 'bleeofed ter be de wav, fer de kvarkiss gittin' mo' colder all de time, an' de daider she is de haivier she boun' ter be.' " ^I reckon dasso,' sez de Tarr'pin, sezee, an' he g'long pantin' an' puffin', ^but I let you know,' sezee, 52 MR. TEERAPIX GETS THE XOSE-BLEED ^dish yer de bigges' contrac^ I is iiver iinnertooken, an' hit's de fus' an' de las' er de kin', I let you know datf "All de time dcv 'z gwine 'long, Mis' Panter she jes' retch down one claw an' scratch, scratch, scratch mighty sof'ly on ol' Tarr'pin's neck, so't he sca'cely feel hit, an' pres'n'y de blood 'gun ter drip, drip, drip. Atter w'ile Tarrpin he seed de blood drippin' an' he 'spose 'twuz a fit er de nose-bleed, so he call out, ^Hi I Mis' Molly, I done tote so hard I'se tucken wid de nose- bleed, an' I be 'bleeged ter stop at de branch an' sta'nch de bleedin',' sezee. " ^All right,' sings out Mis' Hyar', an' she dim' down f'um de kyarkiss an' come roun' ter de front an' done lak she bin pushin' hard all de way an' wuz plumb wo' out. She he'p onload an' den she squat down by Panter w'ile Tarr'pin go ter de branch ter wash de blood off. or Tarr'pin fin' 'twan't no nose-bleed; stidder dat sump'n done cut his neck mos' off. 'Bout dat time, w'en he 'z feelin' mighty weak an' skeery. Mis' Panter she gin a spring at him an' she think she done got him dat time, 'kase he 'z too weak ter git 'way f'um her. But sho I ol' man Tarr'pin wan't bawn yist'd'y. He jes' gin a roll an' over he went inter de water, an' den he wuz safe, fer Mis' Panter wuz lak all de res' er de cats, she don' go in de water ef she kin he'p hit, she ain' got no use fer gittin' her paws wet. Wen Mis' Panter see Tarr'pin wuz clean gone she say ^Well, I get- ter have my dinner, come w'at may, go w'at may; so I 'spose I hatter putt up wid dat mis'able lean' li'l Mis' Molly Hyar', mighty po' pickins s\ie is, I be boun'.' "Wen Mis' Hyar' see de kyarkiss git up an' spring atter Tarr'pin, she wuz dat s'prise' her eyes fair jump 53 AT THE BIG HOUSE outcn her liaid an' growcd big an' roiin' ez saucers^ an' slie jcs' squat dar on de bank mo'n half palyze ontwel she seed Mis' Panter done tnrnt her 'tention on her. 'Um-iunph ! gimme leg-bail outen dis !' sez she ter hus- se'f, an' she mek tracks fer a ol' holler tree nigh de bank. She wuz a mighty spry ooman, but dis wuz one time w'en hit come nigh bein' good-by-Mis'-Molly-Cot- ton-tail, 'kase Mis' Panter wuz so clost onter her dat w'en she run inter de tree she nab her by de tail an' bit hit plumb off. An' dat huccome you see all her fambly gwine roun' uver sence den wid sech a mis'able lil tuff er white hva'r in de place uv a tail. I reckon you done year folks call 'em cotton-tails 'fo' now, but I don' 'spose you is uyer year de ol' song whar run on *bout de creeturs' tails, sump'n lak dis: Raccoons tail got rings all roun, 'Possum's tail go hare, or Hijar' got no tail at all. Nut tin' hut a huncli er Jiya'r. ^^Xex' time y'all meet up wid a oV Tarr'pin, ef you tek de trouble ter look you kin see dat he's made in a mighty curisome way 'bout de neck, an' dis tale I jes' tol' you 'splains de wharf o'. Dat lil ridge all roun' is whar de blood git crusted atter Mis' Panter saw mos' thu. IJyer sence den his haid look lak hit jes' kind er scrunched down in his neck an' mought drap off ef you shuk him right hard." "An' didn't Mis' Panter ever get any good dinner?" asked little Kit, evidently sorry for the hungry ^ladam Panther. 54 MR. TEREAPIX GETS THE XOSE-BLEED