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“MISS SALLY’S” little boy again occupying the anxious position of auditor, Uncle Remus took the shovel and “put de noses er de chunks tergedder,” as he expressed it, and then began:

“One day, atter Sis Cow done run pas’ ‘er own shadder tryin’ fer ter ketch ‘im. Brer Rabbit tuck’n ‘low dat he wuz gwineter drap in en see Miss Meadows en de gals, en he got out his piece er lookin’-glass en primp up, he did, en sot out. Gwine canterin’ long de road, who should Brer Rabbit run up wid but ole Brer Tarrypin–de same ole one-en-sixpunce. Brer Rabbit stop, he did, en rap on de roof er Brer Tarrypin house.”

“On the roof of his house, Uncle Remus?” interrupted the little boy.

“Co’se honey, Brer Tarrypin kyar his house wid ‘im. Rain er shine, hot er col’, strike up wid ole Brer Tarrypin w’en you will en w’ilst you may, en whar you fine ‘im, dar you’ll fine his shanty. Hit’s des like I tell you. So den! Brer Rabbit he rap on de roof er Brer Tarrypin’s house, he did, en ax wuz he in, en Brer Tarrypin ‘low dat he wuz, en den Brer Rabbit, he ax ‘im howdy, en den Brer Tarrypin he likewise ‘spon’ howdy, en den Brer Rabbit he say whar wuz Brer Tarrypin gwine, en Brer Tarrypin, he say w’ich he wern’t gwine nowhar skasely. Den Brer Rabbit ‘low he wuz on his way fer ter see Miss Meadows en de gals, en he ax Brer Tarrypin ef he won’t jine in en go long, en Brer Tarrypin ‘spon’ he don’t keer ef he do, en den dey sot out. Dey had plenty er time fer confabbin’ ‘long de way, but bimeby dey got dar, en Miss Meadows en de gals dey come ter de do’, dey did, en ax um in, en in dey went.

“W’en dey got in, Brer Tarrypin wuz so flat-footed dat he wuz too low on de flo’, en he wern’t high nuff in a cheer, but while dey wuz all scrambling’ ‘roun’ tryin’ fer ter git Brer Tarrypin a cheer, Brer Rabbit, he pick ‘im up en put ‘im on de shelf whar de water-bucket sot, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he lay back up dar, he did, des es proud ez a nigger wid a cook possum.

“Co’se de talk fell on Brer Fox, en Miss Meadows en de gals make a great ‘miration ’bout w’at a gaily ridin’-hoss Brer Fox wuz, en dey make lots er fun, en laugh en giggle same like gals duz deze days. Brer Rabbit, he sot dar in de cheer smokin’ his seegyar, en he sorter cle’r up his th’oat, en say, sezee:

“I’d er rid ‘im over dis mawnin’, ladies,’ sezee, but I rid ‘im so hard yistiddy dat he went lame in de off fo’ leg, en I speck I’ll hatter swop ‘im off yit,’ sezee.

“Den Brer Tarrypin, he up’n say, sezee:

“‘Well, ef you gwineter sell ‘im, Brer Rabbit,’ sezee, ‘sell him some’rs out’n dis naberhood, kase he done bin yer too long now,’ sezee. ‘No longer’n day ‘fo’ yistiddy,’ sezee, ‘Brer Fox pass me on de road, en whatter you reckin he say?’ sezee:

“‘Law, Brer Tarrypin,’ sez Miss Meadows, sez she, ‘you don’t mean ter say he cusst?’ sez she, en den de gals hilt der fans up ‘fo’ der faces.

“‘Oh, no, ma’am,’ sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, ‘he didn’t cusst, but he holler out–“Heyo, Stinkin’ Jim!”‘ sezee.

“‘Oh, my! You hear dat, gals?’ sez Miss Meadows, sez she; ‘Brer Fox call Brer Tarrypin Stinkin’ Jim,’ sez she, en den Miss Meadows en de gals make great wonderment how Brer Fox kin talk dat a way ’bout nice man like Brer Tarrypin.

“But bless grashus, honey! w’ilst all dis gwine on, Brer Fox wuz stannin’ at de back do’ wid one year at de cat-hole lissenin’. Eave-drappers don’t hear no good er deyse’f, en de way Brer Fox wuz ‘bused dat day wuz a caution.