erlee. Brer Rabbit, he'll retch up en take down de trivet, en
Brer Fox, he'll snatch up de griddle, en Brer B'ar, he'll lay holt er de
pot-hooks, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he'll grab up de fryin' pan en dar
dey'll have it, up en down, en' roun' en 'roun'. Hit seem like ter me
dat ef I kin git my mine smoove down en ketch up some er dem ar chunes
w'at dey sets dar en plays, den I 'd lean back yer in dish yer cheer en
I'd intrance you wid um, twel, by dis time termorrer night, you'd be
settin' up dar at de supper-table 'sputin' 'longer yo' little brer 'bout
de 'lasses pitcher. Dem creeturs dey sets dar," Uncle Remus went on, "en
dey plays dem kinder chunes w'at moves you fum 'way back yander; en
manys de time w'en I gits lonesome kaze dey aint nobody year um
'ceppin' it's me. Dey aint no tellin' de chunes dey is in dat trivet,
en in dat griddle, en in dat fryin'-pan er mine; dat dey aint. W'en dem
creeturs walks in en snatches um down, dey lays Miss Sally's pianner in
de shade, en Mars John's flute, hit aint nowhars."

"Do they play on them just like a band, Uncle Remus?" inquired the
little boy, who was secretly in hopes that the illusion would not be
destroyed.

"Dey comes des lak I tell you, honey. W'en I shets my eyes en dozes, dey
comes en dey plays, but w'en I opens my eyes dey aint dar. Now, den,
w'en dat 's de shape er marters, w'at duz I do? I des shets my eyes en
hol' um shot, en let um come en play dem ole time chunes twel long atter
bed-time done come en gone."

[Illustration: A DREAM AND A STORY]

Uncle Remus paused, as though he expected the little boy to ask some
question or make some comment, but the child said nothing, and presently
the old man resumed, in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Dat dream er yone, honey, 'bout Brer Fox wid wings, fetches up de time
w'en Brer Fox en Brer Wolf had der fallin' out wid one er n'er--but I
'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."

"Oh, no, you have n't, Uncle Remus! You know you have n't!" the little
boy exclaimed.

"Well, den, one day, atter so long a time, Brer Wolf en Brer Fox dey got
ter 'sputin' 'longer one er n'er. Brer Wolf, he tuck'n 'buse Brer Fox
kaze Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool 'im, en den Brer Fox, he tuck'n quol
back at Brer Wolf, kaze Brer Wolf let ole man Rabbit lakwise fool 'im.
Dey keep on 'sputin' en 'sputin', twel bimeby dey clinch, en Brer Wolf,
bein' de bigges' man, 't would n't a bin long 'fo' he'd a wool Brer Fox,
but Brer Fox, he watch he chance, h