yeddy B'er Rabbit
holler, en 'e try fer ketch um. 'E feer teer up da grass wey 'e run
'long. Bumbye 'e come 'pon B'er Rabbit. 'E is bin push um ha'd. B'er
Rabbit run un-a run tel 'e yent kin run no mo'; 'e hide 'neat' leanin'
tree. B'er Wolf, 'e fine um; B'er Rabbit 'e holler:--

"'Hi! B'er Wolf! mek 'as'e come hol' up da tree, 'fo' 'e is fall
dey-dey; come-a hol' um, B'er Wolf, so I is kin prop um up.'

"B'er Wolf, 'e hol' up da tree fer B'er Rabbit; 'e hol' um till 'e do
come tire'. B'er Rabbit gone!"

Daddy Jack paused. His story was ended. The little boy drew a long
breath and said:--

"I did n't think Brother Rabbit would burn anybody to death in a pot of
boiling water."

"Dat," said Uncle Remus, reassuringly, "wuz endurin' er de dog days. Dey
er mighty wom times, mon, dem ar dog days is."

This was intended to satisfy such scruples as the child might have, and
it was no doubt successful, for the youngster said no more, but watched
Uncle Remus as the latter leisurely proceeded to fill his pipe.

FOOTNOTE:

[68] Victuals.

LV

HOW WATTLE WEASEL WAS CAUGHT

Uncle Remus chipped the tobacco from the end of a plug, rubbed it
between the palms of his hands, placed it in his pipe, dipped the pipe
in the glowing embers, and leaned back in his chair, and seemed to be
completely happy.

"Hit mought not er bin endurin' er de dog days," said the old man,
recurring to Daddy Jack's story, "'kaze dey wuz times dat w'en dey push
ole Brer Rabbit so close he 'uz des bleedz ter git he revengeance out'n
um. Dat mought er bin de marter 'twix' him en ole Grinny-Granny Wolf,
'kaze w'en ole Brer Rabbit git he dander up, he 'uz a monst'us bad man
fer ter fool wid.

"Dey tuck atter 'im," continued Uncle Remus, "en dey 'buzed 'im, en dey
tried ter 'stroy 'im, but dey wuz times w'en de t'er creeturs bleedz ter
call on 'im fer ter he'p 'em out dey trouble. I ain't nev' tell you
'bout little Wattle Weasel, is I?" asked the old man, suddenly turning
to the little boy.

The child laughed. The dogs on the plantation had killed a weasel a few
nights before,--a very cunning-looking little animal,--and some of the
negroes had sent it to the big house as a curiosity. He connected this
fact with Uncle Remus's allusions to the weasel. Before he could make
any reply, however, the old man went on:--

"No, I boun' I ain't, en it come 'cross me right fresh en hot time I
year talk er Brer Wolf eatin' he granny. Dey wuz one tim