tirrin'. Brer Rabbit say he ain't needer. Mr. Lion sorter study, en
Brer Rabbit sot dar, he did, en wash his face en lick his paws.

"Terreckerly Mr. Lion ax Brer Rabbit fer ter onloose 'im.

Brer Rabbit say he fear'd. Den Mr. Lion git mighty mad, en he 'gun ter
beller wuss'n one er deze yer bull-yearlin's. He beller so long en he
beller so loud twel present'y de t'er creeturs dey 'gun ter come up fer
ter see w'at de matter.

"Des soon ez dey come up, Brer Rabbit, he tuck'n 'gun ter talk biggity
en strut 'roun', en, Man--Sir! w'en dem yuthers see dat Brer Rabbit done
got Mr. Lion tied up, I let you know dey tuck'n walked way 'roun' 'im,
en 't wuz many a long day 'fo' dey tuck'n pestered ole Brer Rabbit."

Here Aunt Tempy paused. The little boy asked what Brother Rabbit tied
Mr. Lion for; but she did n't know; Uncle Remus, however, came to the
rescue.

"One time long 'fo' dat, honey, Brer Rabbit went ter de branch fer ter
git a drink er water, en ole Mr. Lion tuck'n druv 'im off, en fum dat
time out Brer Rabbit bin huntin' a chance fer ter ketch up wid 'im."

"Dat's so," said Aunt Tempy, and then she added:--

"I 'clare I ain't gwine tell you all not na'er n'er tale, dat I ain't.
'Kaze you des set dar en you ain't crack a smile fum de time I begin. Ef
dat'd 'a' bin Brer Remus, now, dey'd 'a' bin mo' gigglin' gwine on dan
you kin shake a stick at. I'm right down mad, dat I is."

"Well, I tell you dis, Sis Tempy," said Uncle Remus, with unusual
emphasis, "ef deze yer tales wuz des fun, fun, fun, en giggle, giggle,
giggle, I let you know I'd a-done drapt um long ago. Yasser, w'en it
come down ter gigglin' you kin des count ole Remus out."

FOOTNOTES:

[71] This is simply "gullah" negro talk intended to be unintelligible,
and therefore impressive. It means "One or the other is as good as
t'other."

[72] An expression used to give emphasis and to attract attention; used
in the sense that Uncle Remus uses "Gentermens!"

[73] Hickory withe.

LVII

MR. LION'S SAD PREDICAMENT

The discussion over Aunt Tempy's fragmentary story having exhausted
itself, Daddy Jack turned up his coat collar until it was as high as the
top of his head, and then tried to button it under his chin. If this
attempt had been successful, the old African would have presented a
diabolical appearance; but the coat refused to be buttoned in that
style. After several attempts, which created no end of amusement for the
little boy, Da