time, Brer Tarrypin up'n tell Brer Rabbit, en dey
sot dar en chaw'd terbacker en kyar'd on des lak sho' 'nuff folks. Dat
dey did!"

Uncle Remus paused; but the little boy wanted to know what became of
Brer Fox.

"Hit 's mighty kuse," said the old man, stirring around in the ashes as
if in search of a potato, "but endurin' er all my days I aint nev' year
nobody tell 'bout how long Brer Fox sot dar waitin' fer de Pimmerly
Plum."

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FOOTNOTES:

[47] Point-blank.

[48] In another version of this story current among the negroes the
sweet-gum tree takes the place of the sycamore.
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XXXIX

BROTHER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS

The next time the little boy called on Uncle Remus a bright fire was
blazing on the hearth. He could see the light shining under the door
before he went into the cabin, and he knew by that sign that the old man
had company. In fact, Daddy Jack had returned and was dozing in his
accustomed corner, Aunt Tempy was sitting bolt upright, nursing her
contempt, and Uncle Remus was making a curious-looking box. None of the
negroes paid any attention to the little boy when he entered, but
somehow he felt that they were waiting for him. After a while Uncle
Remus finished his curious-looking box and laid it upon the floor. Then
he lifted his spectacles from his nose to the top of his head, and
remarked:

"Now, den, folks, dar she is, en hit 's bin so long sence I uv made one
un um dat she make me sweat. Yasser! She did dat. Howsumev', hit aint
make no diffunce wid me. Promise is a promise, dough you make it in de
dark er de moon. Long time ago, I tuck'n promise one er my passin'
'quaintance dat some er deze lonesome days de ole nigger 'd whirl in en
make 'im a rabbit-trap ef he'd des be so good ez to quit he devilment,
en l'arn he behavishness."

"Is that my rabbit-trap, Uncle Remus?" exclaimed the child. He would
have picked it up for the purpose of examining it, but Uncle Remus waved
him off with a dignified gesture.

"Don't you dast ter tetch dat ar trap, honey, 'kaze ef you does, dat
spiles all. I'll des hatter go ter wuk en make it bran-new, en de Lord
knows I aint got no time fer ter do dat."

"Well, Uncle Remus, you've had your hands on it."

"Tooby sho' I is--tooby sho' I is! En w'at's mo' dan dat, I bin had my
han's in tar-wat