e fotch a
dip-net, en Brer Tarrypin, not ter be outdone, he fotch de bait."

"What did Miss Meadows and Miss Motts bring?" the little boy asked.

Uncle Remus dropped his head slightly to one side, and looked over his
spectacles at the little boy.

"Miss Meadows en Miss Motts," he continued, "dey tuck'n stan' way back
fum de aidge er de pon' en squeal eve'y time Brer Tarrypin shuck de box
er bait at um. Brer B'ar 'low he gwine ter fish fer mud-cats; Brer Wolf
'low he gwine ter fish fer horneyheads; Brer Fox 'low he gwine ter fish
fer peerch fer de ladies; Brer Tarrypin 'low he gwine ter fish fer
minners, en Brer Rabbit wink at Brer Tarrypin en 'low he gwine ter fish
fer suckers.

"Dey all git ready, dey did, en Brer Rabbit march up ter de pon' en make
fer ter th'ow he hook in de water, but des 'bout dat time hit seem lak
he see sump'n'. De t'er creeturs, dey stop en watch his motions. Brer
Rabbit, he drap he pole, he did, en he stan' dar scratchin' he head en
lookin' down in de water.

"De gals dey 'gun ter git oneasy w'en dey see dis, en Miss Meadows, she
up en holler out, she did:--

"'Law, Brer Rabbit, w'at de name er goodness de marter in dar?'

"Brer Rabbit scratch he head en look in de water. Miss Motts, she hilt
up 'er petticoats, she did, en 'low she monst'us fear'd er snakes. Brer
Rabbit keep on scratchin' en lookin'.

"Bimeby he fetch a long bref, he did, en he 'low:--

"'Ladies en gentermuns all, we des might ez well make tracks fum dish
yer place, kaze dey ain't no fishin' in dat pon' fer none er dish yer
crowd.'

"Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin, he scramble up ter de aidge en look over, en he
shake he head, en 'low:--

"'Tooby sho'--tooby sho'! Tut-tut-tut!' en den he crawl back, he did, en
do lak he wukkin' he min'.

"'Don't be skeert, ladies, kaze we er boun' ter take keer un you, let
come w'at will, let go w'at mus',' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 'Accidents
got ter happen unter we all, des same ez dey is unter yuther folks; en
dey ain't nuthin' much de marter, 'ceppin' dat de Moon done drap in de
water. Ef you don't b'leeve me you kin look fer yo'se'f,' sezee.

"Wid dat dey all went ter de bank en lookt in; en, sho' nuff, dar lay de
Moon, a-swingin' an' a-swayin' at de bottom er de pon'."

The little boy laughed. He had often seen the reflection of the sky in
shallow pools of water, and the startling depths that seemed to lie at
his feet had caused him to draw back with a shudder.

"Brer Fox, he loo