abbit's programme.

"Atter so long a time," Uncle Remus went on, "Mr. Man 'gree ter let Brer
Rabbit ride a little piece. He try ter git Brer Rabbit fer ter ride upon
de seat wid 'im so dey kin git ter 'sputin' 'n'er, but Brer Rabbit say
he fear'd he fall off, en he des tuck'n sot right flat down in de bottom
er de waggin, en make lak he fear'd ter move.

"Bimeby, w'iles dey goin' down hill, en Mr. Man hatter keep he eye on de
hosses, Brer Rabbit he tuck'n fling out a great big hunk er de money.
Dez ez de money hit de groun' Brer Rabbit holler out:--

"'_Ow_!'

"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:--

"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' you 'bout ter jolt my jaw-bone
a-loose.'

"Dey go on little furder, en Brer Rabbit fling out 'n'er hunk er de
money. Wen she hit de groun', Brer Rabbit holler:--

"'_Blam_!'

"Mr. Man look 'roun' en ax w'at de marter. Brer Rabbit 'low:--

"'Nothin' 't all, Mr. Man, 'ceppin' I seed a jaybird flyin' 'long, en I
make lak I had a gun.'

"Hit keep on dis a-way twel fus' news you know Mr. Man ain't got a sign
er money in dat waggin. Seem lak Mr. Man ain't notice dis twel he git a
mighty fur ways fum de place whar Brer Rabbit drap out de las' hunk;
but, gentermens! w'en he do fine it out, you better b'leeve he sot up a
howl.

"'Whar my money? Whar my nice money? Whar my waggin full er purty
money? O you long-year'd rascal! Whar my money? Oh, gimme my money!'

"Brer Rabbit sot dar en lissen at 'im lak he 'stonish'd. Den he up'n
'low:--

"'Look out, Mr. Man! folks'll come 'long en year you gwine on dat a-way,
en dey'll go off en say you done gone ravin' 'stracted.'

"Yit Mr. Man keep on holler'n en beggin' Brer Rabbit fer ter gin 'im de
money, en bimeby Brer Rabbit, he git sorter skeer'd en he up'n 'low:--

"'Sun gittin' low, Mr. Man, en I better be gittin' 'way fum yer. De
sooner I goes de better, 'kaze ef you keep on lak you gwine, 't won't be
long 'fo' you'll be excusin' me er takin' dat ar money. I'm 'blige' fer
de ride, Mr. Man, en I wish you mighty well.'

"Brer Rabbit got de money," continued Uncle Remus, gazing placidly into
the fire, "en hit's mighty kuse ter me dat he ain't git de waggin en
hosses. Dat 't is!"

FOOTNOTES:

[66] A plantation saying. It means if hard times get harder. A briefer
form is "w'en shove 'come push"--when the worst comes to the worst.

[67] That is to say, put him on the block, and sell him.

LIII

BRER R