dat he 'speck de bes'
way fer ter do is ter git all de creeturs ter 'gree fer ter have Mr. Dog
mouf sew'd up, 'kaze he toofs look so venomous; en Brer Wolf say dey ull
all go in fer dat.

"Sho' 'nuff, w'en de day done come, Brer Rabbit he git up en say dat de
bes' way ter do is have Mr. Dog mouf sew'd up so he toofs won't look so
venomous. Dey all 'gree, en den Mr. Lion, settin' up in de arm-cheer, he
ax who gwine do de sewin'.

"Den dey all up'n 'low dat de man w'at want de sewin' done, he de man
fer ter do it, 'kaze den he ull know it done bin done right. Brer
Rabbit, he sorter study, en den he 'low:--

"'I ain't got no needle.'

"Brer B'ar, he sorter feel in de flap er he coat collar, en he 'low:--

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

"Brer Rabbit, he sorter study 'g'in, en den he 'low:--

"'I ain't got no th'ead.'

"Brer B'ar, he tuck'n pull a rav'lin' fum de bottom er he wescut, en he
'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 ain't 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 ta