'low:

"'Yer, Brer Rabbit; yer a great long one!'

"Ef it had er bin anybody in de roun' worl' he'd er 'gun ter feel sorter
ticklish," Uncle Remus went on. "But ole Brer Rabbit, he des tuck'n lay
he finger 'cross he nose, en 'low:

"'Des hol' um dar fer me, Brer B'ar, en I'll be much 'blige ter you.
_Hit 's des 'bout my time er day fer ter take a walk!_'"

Uncle Remus laughed as heartily as the child, and added:

"Some folks say de creeturs had de grins on Brer Rabbit 'bout dat time;
but I tell you right pine-blank dey aint grin much w'en dey year Brer
Rabbit say dat."

LIV

OLD GRINNY-GRANNY WOLF

At last Daddy Jack returned, and the fact that the little boy had missed
him and inquired about him, seemed to give the old African particular
pleasure. It was probably a new experience to Daddy Jack, and it vaguely
stirred some dim instinct in his bosom that impelled him to greet the
child with more genuine heartiness than he had ever displayed in all his
life. He drew the little boy up to him, patted him gently on the cheek,
and exclaimed:

"Ki! I bin want fer see you bery bahd. I bin-a tell you' nunk Jeem' how
fine noung man you is. 'E ahx wey you no come fer shum. Fine b'y--fine
b'y!"

"Well, ef dat 's de way youer gwine on, Brer Jack, you'll spile dat chap
sho'. A whole sack er salt won't save 'im."

"I dunno 'bout dat, Brer Remus," said Aunt Tempy, who had come in.
"Don't seem like he bad like some yuther childun w'at I seen. Bless you,
I know childun w'at'd keep dish yer whole place tarryfied--dat dey
would!"

"Well, sir," said Uncle Remus, shaking his head and groaning, "you all
aint wid dat young un dar much ez I is. Some days w'en dey aint nobody
lookin', en dey aint nobody nowhar fer ter take keer un me, dat ar
little chap dar 'll come down yer en chunk me wid rocks, en 'buze me en
holler at me scan'lous."

The little boy looked so shocked that Uncle Remus broke into a laugh
that shook the cobwebs in the corners; then, suddenly relapsing into
seriousness, he drew himself up with dignity and remarked:

"Good er bad, you can't git 'long wid 'im less'n you sets in ter tellin'
tales, en, Brer Jack, I hope you got some 'long wid you."

Daddy Jack rubbed his hands together, and said:

"Me bin yeddy one tale; 'e mekky me lahff tel I is 'come tire'."

"Fer de Lord sake less have it den!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, with
unction. Whereupon, the small but appreciative audience disposed itself
comfort