Guide to Nights with Uncle Remus

NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS

by Joel Chandler Harris [1883]

Below you will find the table of contents with a link to the text here at this blog, plus a link to the audio at LibriVox. I have edited the stories to remove the frame and also to remove the eye-dialect spelling.

1 . Mr. Fox and Miss Goose
[ Mr. Fox and Miss Goose ]
Summary: Brer Rabbit advises Goose to roll up her laundry and put it into the bed to fool the Fox, and Dog helps chase him away.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 119
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 4
LibriVox

2 . Brother Fox Catches Mr. Horse
[ Brer Fox Rides the Horse ]
Summary: Brer Rabbit manages to tie Brer Fox to a horse's tail, and then tells the Fox to hold the horse down.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 123
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 6
LibriVox

3 . Brother Rabbit and the Little Girl
[ Brer Rabbit in the Garden ]
Summary: Rabbit repeatedly tricks girl into letting him into her father's garden. Girl tells Man; he traps Rabbit and leaves girl to guard him. Rabbit sings, then offers to dance if she unties him. While dancing, he runs away.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 126
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 78
LibriVox

4 . Brother Fox Copies Brer Rabbit
[ Fox in the Road ]
Summary: Fox plays dead in road as Man goes to market. The third time makes Man suspicious, so he whips Fox to be sure.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 130
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 3
LibriVox

5 . Brother Rabbit's Astonishing Prank
[ Rabbit's Wild Costume ]
Summary: Rabbit sneaks in Bear's house, gets covered in honey and leaves, with results that other animals think he is a monster. He shouts that he is the will-o-the-wisp.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 133
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 127
LibriVox

6 . Brother Rabbit Secures a Mansion
[ Animal House ]
Summary: Animals build house together; Rabbit shirks work. Rabbit then drives them all out with deceptions involving a gun, a cannon, and slop water. He thus takes possession of the house.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 137
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 36
LibriVox

7 . Mr. Lion Hunts for Mr. Man
[ Mr. Lion Hunts for Mr. Man ]
Summary: Lion wants to challenge Man. Steer warns him, and Horse, and Sparrow. Lion finds Man using wedges, but doesn't recognize him. Man offers to go get "man" while Lion puts paw in opening. Man returns and whips him.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 141
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 8
LibriVox

8 . The Story of the Pigs
[ The Pigs and the Wolf ]
Summary: Dying pig warns piglets to beware of wolf, but he eats two by offering corn, third lets him in bit by bit, and he also eats fourth. The fifth pig gets him to come in chimney and burns him up in fire.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 145
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 95
LibriVox

9 . Mr. Benjamin Ram and His Wonderful Fiddle
[ Benjamin Ram Plays the Fiddle ]
Summary: Ram gets lost and ends up in Wolf's house. Ram's music scares the wolves off into the swamp. He spends the night in their house and then goes on his way.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 149
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 101
LibriVox

10 . Brother Rabbit's Riddle
[ Brer Rabbit's Riddle ]
Summary: Fox plans to trap Rabbit coming down from peach tree, but Rabbit escapes. Rabbit tells a riddle and traps Fox's head in a beehive. Rabbit tells the riddle to Fox's grandfather also. Bear releases Fox and beats him for stealing honey.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 154
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 91
LibriVox

11 . How Mr. Rooster Lost His Dinner
[ Brer Rooster and the Cornbread ]
Summary: Flock has party but Rooster gets angry when he sees only cornbread to eat and stomps off. Others scratch, find rest of food beneath. That's why chickens always scratch now.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 158
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 147
LibriVox

12 . Brother Rabbit Breaks Up a Party
[ Brer Rabbit Comes to the Party ]
Summary: Fox doesn't invite Rabbit to party. Rabbit plays drum that scares animals off. He drinks up the party liquor. They come back, put him on trial, and Rabbit tricks them into throwing him in the creek with a walking cane that he uses to wade out of the water.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 161
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 134
LibriVox

13 . Brother Fox, Brother Rabbit, and King Deer's Daughter
[ Fox, Rabbit, and King Deer's Daughter ]
Summary: Fox and Rabbit court King Deer's daughter. Rabbit kills King's goats, convinces King Deer that Fox did it. Then Rabbit teaches Fox a courtship song in which Fox indicts himself.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 166
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 131
LibriVox

14 . Brother Terrapin Deceives Brother Buzzard
[ Turtle, Buzzard, and the Honey ]
Summary: Turtle and Buzzard partners to seek honey. Turtle finds honey on ground, eats it all. When Buzzard comes, Turtle burns him up in the hive, then uses feathers to make quill-pipes.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 170
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 22
LibriVox

15 . Brother Fox Covets the Quills
[ Fox and Turtle's Quill-Pipe ]
Summary: Fox wants Turtle's quill-pipe; Turtle says no. Fox asks to see it, then grabs it. Turtle bites Fox but he gets away. Then Turtle hides in mud, bites Fox again, and Fox gives back pipe.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 173
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 25
LibriVox

16 . How Brother Fox Failed to Get His Grapes
[ Mister Fox and the Grapes ]
Summary: Fox and Rabbit compete for the gals. Rabbit tells Fox about far-off grapes, but it was a wasp nest. Fox returns all swollen; gal says he must have eaten all the grapes.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 177
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 10
LibriVox

17 . Mr. Fox Figures as an Incendiary
[ Turtle, Rabbit, and Fox in the Fire ]
Summary: Fox tricks Turtle into looking for Ol' Boy in field, sets field on fire. Turtle finds Rabbit and they hide in log. Rabbit imitates Turtle's voice saying he caught Rabbit, luring Fox to walk on fire, burning his feet.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 182
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 106
LibriVox

18 . A Dream and a Story
[ Wolf, Fox, and Buzzard ]
Summary: Wolf traps Fox in tree; Buzzard listens till he thinks Fox is dead. Buzzard then opens up tree; Fox attacks him.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 185
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 38
LibriVox

19 . The Moon In the Mill-Pond
[ The Moon In the Mill-Pond ]
Summary: Rabbit and Turtle plot fishing frolic. Rabbit says moon fell in water; Turtle says there's money under the moon. Fox, Wolf, and Bear get soaked trying to retrieve it.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 189
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 96
LibriVox

20 . Brother Rabbit Takes Some Exercise
[ Brer Rabbit Hears a Noise ]
Summary: Rabbit hears noise in woods when man chops down a tree, and his alarm causes terror amongst all animals: Rabbit tells Coon who tells Fox who tells Wolf who tells Bear and finally Turtle. They finally realize it was all Brer Rabbit's fault.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 194
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 113
LibriVox

21 . Why Brother Bear Has No Tail
[ Why Brer Bear Has No Tail ]
Summary: Rabbit taunts Bear into sliding down rock like Turtle and Mud-Turtle; Bear breaks off tail and runs away.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 199
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 99
LibriVox

22 . How Brother Rabbit Frightened His Neighbors
[ Fox, Bear, and Wolf decide to ambush Rabbit on way home from town with presents. Warned by a little bird, Rabbit makes a costume of tin goods and frightens them all. ]
Summary: Fox, Bear, and Wolf decide to ambush Rabbit on way home from town with presents; he wears tin goods and frightens them all.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 202
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 60
LibriVox

23 . Mr. Man Has Some Meat
[ Brer Rabbit and Mr. Man's Meat ]
Summary: Fox and Rabbit plot to get Mr. Man's meat. Rabbit pretends Man's meat smells bad and tells Man to drag it to clean it. Rabbit supplies line. Man takes off pulling long line, and Rabbit replaces meat with rock and runs while Fox grabs the meat for them to share.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 206
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 56
LibriVox

24 . How Brother Rabbit Got the Meat
[ Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, and the Meat ]
Summary: Fox and Rabbit eat meat and argue; Rabbit fools Fox into going to get a drink and then takes all the meat for himself. He then pretends Man is beating him, which scares Fox off.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 209
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 56
LibriVox

25 . African Jack
[ The Fool and the Persimmons ]
Summary: Introduction of African Jack, plus anecdote about a fool waiting for persimmons to fall into his mouth.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 214
[not in Lester]
LibriVox

26 . Why the Alligator's Back Is Rough
[ Brer Gator in Trouble ]
Summary: Alligator boasts that he fears no trouble; Rabbit sets grass on fire, and he has to jump in water, which is how he got wrinkly skin.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 220
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 81
LibriVox

27 . Brother Wolf Says Grace
[ Brer Wolf Says Grace ]
Summary: Wolf catches Rabbit by hiding under grass in basket; Rabbit escapes by making Wolf say grace.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 224
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 37
LibriVox

28 . Spirits, Seen and Unseen
[ Ghosts and Witches ]
Summary: Not a story, but a conversation about ghosts and witches, including jack-o-lanterns plus witches and their skins. There is a story about a man who found a witch skin, dried and shrunk it, and the witch was not able to put the skin back on again to acquire their human form, so the witch departed in wolf form instead.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 230
[not in Lester]
LibriVox

29 . A Ghost Story
[ The Silver Coins ]
Summary: Man takes silver coins from eyes when burying dead woman; her ghost haunts him, wanting money. He dies of fright, and they bury him with the same silver coins on his eyes.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 235
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 33
LibriVox

30 . Brother Rabbit and His Famous Foot
[ The Lucky Rabbit Foot ]
Summary: Miss Rabbit visiting Miss Bear talks about Brer Rabbit's purse. Wolf overhears and he steals the purse with the lucky rabbit foot. Rabbit goes to the Witch-Rabbit, who tells him Wolf took it, so Rabbit steals it back.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 239
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 145
LibriVox

31 . In Some Lady's Garden
[ Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in the Garden ]
Summary: Rabbit gets girl to let him into garden with false permission from her father. Man catches him raiding peanuts. Fox comes by; Rabbit says his punishment will be eating mutton, so Fox trades places, thinking he will get to eat mutton.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 246
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 81
LibriVox

32 . Brother Possum Gets in Trouble
[ Brer Rabbit and Brer Possum in the Garden ]
Summary: Rabbit is trapped in garden and threatens girl to let him go: he threatens with teeth, pop-eyes, and ear-horns. Man ties Rabbit up in bag; Rabbit tells Possum he can hear the clouds singing this way, so Possum agrees to swap places. Man beats Possum, and also cuts off Rabbit's tail as he escapes.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 252
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 87
LibriVox

33 . Why the Guinea-fowls Are Speckled
[ How Guinea-Fowls Got Their Spots ]
Summary: Lion attacks Cow. Guineas help Cow, so Cow awards them milk speckles.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 257
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 88
LibriVox

34 . Brother Rabbit's Love-Charm
[ Brer Rabbit's Love-Charm ]
Summary: Rabbit is in love, so he goes to conjure man who tells him to get elephant tusk, gator tooth and bird beak. Rabbit uses tricks (gets elephant stuck in tree, beats gator while beating grass, lures bird into house) and gets his love charm.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 261
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 22
LibriVox

35 . Brother Rabbit Submits to a Test
[ Brer Rabbit and the Witch-Rabbit Rabbit fears losing his powers, so he goes to Rabbit-Witch. She wants a squirrel; he tricks squirrel into getting into a bag with promise of nuts. She wants a rattlesnake; he gets snake to show its length and catches it. Witch declares him a fully-functioning danger and sends him home; Rabbit makes the rattlesnake into a stew.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 264
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 145
LibriVox

36 . Brother Wolf Falls a Victim
[ Brer Wolf and the Witch-Rabbit Rabbit says Witch is dead, so the animals go to divide her up, and Wolf argues with each one about how to share. Rabbit gives the whole thing to Wolf and then ties him on to the Witch's body; Witch jumps in river and drowns him.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 268
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 114
LibriVox

37 . Brother Rabbit and the Mosquitoes
[ Brer Rabbit and the Mosquitoes Animals courting Wolf's daughter but can't stand mosquitoes; Rabbit tells story about spotted ancestor so he can kill mosquitoes as he points out the spots.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 272
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 124
LibriVox

38 . The Pimmerly Plum
[ The Pimmerly Plum Turtle tells Fox he ate plums and fools Fox into thinking sycamore is a plum tree. Tells Fox to wait with eyes closed and mouth open; he's still waiting. Turtle tells Rabbit how he tricked Fox.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 278
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 29
LibriVox

39 . Brother Rabbit Gets the Provisions
[ Rabbit, Wolf, and the Wagon of Food Rabbit and Wolf sell Wolf's mother for food. On their way home, Wolf is cold, so Rabbit sends him chasing the setting sun as if it were a fire. He then hides horses and puts the horses' tails sticking up in ground. Wolf comes back, and they pull on the tails to rescue wagon. Wolf thinks the wagon vanished into the ground.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 284
[not in Lester]
LibriVox

40 . Cutta Cord-la
[ Cutta Cord-la Rabbit and Wolf kill Wolf's granny for food. Rabbit then hides his granny up in a tree, teaching her a secret song. Blacksmith fixes Wolf's voice so he can fool Rabbit's granny but Rabbit comes and sings; she recognizes Wolf and drops him down.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 289
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 115
LibriVox

41 . Aunt Tempy's Story
[ Fox, Rabbit, and Their Families During famine, Fox and Rabbit decide to sell their families. As they ride in wagon, Rabbit throws his family members out and then accuses Fox of eating them. They sell Mrs. Fox to buy food. Fox goes for tobacco and Rabbit drives off; then he puts horse's tails in sand and calls it quicksand. Rabbit puts corn in holes where Fox digs, and Fox keeps digging so hard he dies.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 293
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 40
LibriVox

42 . The Fire-Test
[ Who Ate the Little Rabbits? Wolf imitates Rabbit's voice to get in house and eat rabbits; Turtle presides over a fire test to find culprit. Other animals jump over; Wolf burns up.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 297
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 66
LibriVox

43 . The Cunning Snake
[ The Snake Eggs Woman steals snake eggs. Fearing retribution, woman protects her child with a song but the snake learns to sing the song and swallows the child. The woman cuts the child out of snake to rescue her.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 302
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 28
LibriVox

44 . How Brother Fox Was Too Smart
[ Brer Fox and the Wildcat Fox and Rabbit see Wildcat tracks. Rabbit urges Fox to confront Wildcat, and Wildcat attacks Fox. Rabbit laughs.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 306
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 84
LibriVox

45 . Brother Wolf Gets in a Warm Place
[ Brer Rabbit and His Steeple Rabbit builds tower. He then hauls Turtle up with rope, and next the Wolf; Rabbit's wife pours boiling water on Wolf suspended in midair.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 311
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 108
LibriVox

46 . Brother Wolf Still in Trouble
[ Brer Wolf under a Rock Rabbit finds Wolf trapped under rock, releases him. Wolf is going to eat him. They go to Turtle as judge who tricks Wolf into getting back under rock.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 315
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 111
LibriVox

47 . Brother Rabbit Lays in His Beef Supply
[ Fox, Rabbit, and the Supply of Beef Fox and Rabbit kill cow; in Fox's absence, Rabbit hides meat and says it was stolen. Fox figures it out, traps him in hollow tree, and sets Buzzard as guard. Rabbit tricks Buzzard and escapes.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 320
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 6
LibriVox

48 . Brother Rabbit and Mr. Wildcat
[ Rabbit, Wildcat, and the Turkeys Wildcat catches Rabbit, who then leads Turkeys to Wildcat playing dead. The Turkeys keep away, and they are still gobbling about it to this day.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 324
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 92
LibriVox

49 . Mr. Benjamin Ram Defends Himself
[ Benjamin Ram Confronts Fox and Wolf Fox and Wolf attack Ram; Ram thanks Fox for bringing Wolf because he is hungry for some Wolf meat. Fox and Wolf both run.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 328
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 106
LibriVox

50 . Brother Rabbit Pretends to Be Poisoned
[ Brer Rabbit Pretends to Be Poisoned Wolf and Rabbit go to share cow meat; Rabbit pretends to get sick. When Wolf goes for doctor, Rabbit takes all the meat and runs off.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 331
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 115
LibriVox

51 . More Trouble for Brother Wolf
[ Fire and Honey Wolf helped by Bear sets fire to log, but Rabbit escapes. Wolf is amazed; Rabbit says oozing honey saved him. Wolf wants honey too, so he gets in a log and Rabbit sets him on fire.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 335
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 117
LibriVox

52 . Brother Rabbit Outdoes Mr. Man
[ Rabbit and Mister Man's Money Rabbit rides in man's wagon with money. He throws the money out, and makes a noise so Man won't realize what is happening. Rabbit gets all the money. Man is furious.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 338
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 104
LibriVox

53 . Brother Rabbit Takes a Walk
[ Sewing Brer Dog's Mouth Rabbit and Dog are quarreling. Rabbit decides that toothed animals like Fox and Wolf and Dog should use their claws instead. Meanwhile, Rabbit proposes to sew Dog's mouth shut. Bear offers him needle and thread, but Rabbit says it's time for him to take a walk, shirking the task.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 341
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 94
LibriVox

54 . Old Grinny Granny Wolf
[ Old Grinny Granny Wolf Grandmother Wolf thinks Rabbit is her grandson; he tricks her into getting into boiling water for her health. Then he dresses in her clothes. When Wolf comes home, he feeds him stew with grandmother in it. Wolf eats; his children refuse to eat and tell him why. Wolf chases Rabbit; Rabbit tricks Wolf into holding up a tree and so he gets away.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 343
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 64
LibriVox

55 . How Wattle Weasel Was Caught
[ How Wattle Weasel Was Caught Weasel is suspected in butter theft. He fools guards: fools Mink by playing, Possum by tickling, Coon in race, Fox with chickens, Wolf with lamb, Bear with back rub. Rabbit proposes they tie tails to test their strength, and Rabbit wins by tying his tail to a tree root.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 347
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 70
LibriVox

56 . Brother Rabbit Ties Mr. Lion
[ Brer Rabbit Ties Mr. Lion Rabbit tells Lion hurricane is coming, and then Rabbit tricks Lion into tying himself to a tree.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 351
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 60
LibriVox

57 . Mr. Lion's Sad Predicament
[ Brer Lion and the Man's Gun Rabbit warns Lion about man's gun, but Lion says he is only afraid of partridge. Lion gets shot by gun.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 355
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 96
LibriVox

58 . The Origin of the Ocean
[ The Origin of the Ocean World was once all one land, no ocean; Lion stole Rabbit's prey, so Rabbit tricked Lion into jumping creek and then he "untied" creek which made the ocean.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 358
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 13
LibriVox

59 . Brother Rabbit Gets Brother Fox's Dinner
[ Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox on the Roof Rabbit helps Fox nailing roof; he nails Fox to roof and steals his food.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 361
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 3
LibriVox

60 . How the Bear Nursed the Little Alligator
[ Brer Bear and the Little Gators Bear cub goes fishing and Gator carries him off. Bear cub then manages to eat all Gator babies, fooling Gator in count each day until they are all gone.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 365
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 108
LibriVox

61 . Why Mr. Dog Runs Brother Rabbit
[ Brer Rabbit Borrows Brer Dog's Shoes Rabbit tricks Dog into letting him try on Dog's shoes and he runs off with them; that's why dogs chase rabbits to this day.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 369
[not in Lester]
LibriVox

62 . Brother Wolf and the Horned Cattle
[ Brer Wolf and his Horns Wolf disguises himself with fake horns to attend meeting of horned animals; Rabbit is there too, and he detects and exposes Wolf. Later, Wolf plays dead to try to trick Rabbit, but Rabbit tricks Wolf into grinning.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 372
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 122
LibriVox

63 . Brother Fox and the White Muscadines
[ Brer Fox in the Fruit Tree Rabbit pretends to show Fox where to find white muscadine grapes. He takes him to a tree, and tells him to climb; the scaly bark nuts (hickory nuts) taste sour. Rabbit then says he will catch Fox when he jumps down, but Rabbit pretends to be stuck by thorn and Fox hits ground.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 375
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 94
LibriVox

64 . Mr. Hawk and Brother Buzzard
[ Brer Hawk and Brer Buzzard Buzzard thinks about building house when it rains, but does nothing when sun comes out. Hawk urges him to hunt chickens, but Buzzard waits. Hawk kills himself hunting; Buzzard eats him.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 378
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 35
LibriVox

65 . Mr. Hawk and Brother Rabbit
[ Brer Hawk and Brer Rabbit Hawk catches Rabbit: Rabbit escapes by promising to show Hawk buried gold OR by going into bushes to drive out partridges (two versions of story, one by Tildy and one by Remus).
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 381
[not in Lester]
LibriVox

66 . The Wise Bird and the Foolish Bird
[ Wise Bird and Foolish Bird Wise Bird challenges Foolish Bird to no-eating no-drinking contest. Wise Bird has food, Foolish Bird doesn't, and he dies.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 384
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 41
LibriVox

67 . Old Brother Terrapin Gets Some Fish
[ Mink and Terrapin Go Diving Turtle challenges Mink to stay underwater; Turtle eats all the fish while Mink is underwater, and then accuses Mink of having eaten the fish.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 386
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 112
LibriVox

68 . Brother Fox Makes a Narrow Escape
[ Brer Rabbit Teaches Brer Fox a Trick Rabbit teaches Fox how to scare animals from waterhole with molasses-and-leaves monster disguise, but then molasses dissolves in water; animals punish Fox.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 389
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 68
LibriVox

69 . Brother Fox's Fish-Trap
[ Brer Fox's Fish-Trap Rabbit robs Fox's fish trap and is able to use his boat pole to escape, pushing off from Fox's own boat.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 391
[not in Lester]
LibriVox

70 . Brother Rabbit Rescues Brother Terrapin
[ Brer Rabbit Rescues Brer Terrapin Fox catches Turtle in a sack; Rabbit gets Fox to run off so he can free Turtle and put hornet nest in the stack instead.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 395
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 110
LibriVox

71 . The Night Before Christmas
[ The Night Before Christmas There is no story here; it is a song without an actual plot.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 402
[not in Lester]
LibriVox

C035. Mr. Fox and Miss Goose

1. Mr. Fox and Miss Goose. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for the original spelling plus all notes to the story.

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MR. FOX and MISS GOOSE

(image source)

There here gooses is mighty curious fowls; they are mighty curious. In old times they was amongst the big-bugs, and in them days, when old Miss Goose begun a-dining, all the quality was there. Likewise, and neither was they stuck-up, 'cause with all their carrying-ons, Miss Goose weren't too proud for to take in washing for the neighborhoods, and she make money, and get slick and fat.

This the way matters stand when one day Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, they was sitting up at the cotton-patch, one on one side the fence, and the other one on the other side, going on with one another, when first news they know, they hear something—blim, blim, blim!

Brer Fox, he ask what that fuss is, and Brer Rabbit, he up and respond that it's old Miss Goose down at the spring. Then Brer Fox, he up and ask what she doing, and Brer Rabbit, he say, sezee, that she battling clothes. That what they call it them days. These times, they rubs clothes on these here boards what got furrows in 'em, but them days they just took and took the clothes and lay 'em out on a bench, and catch hold of the battling-stick and naturally paddle the filling out of 'em.

When Brer Fox year that old Miss Goose was down there dabbling in soapsuds and washing clothes, he sort of lick he chops, and allow that some of these odd-come-shorts he going to call and pay he respects.

The minute he say that, Brer Rabbit, he know something was up, and he allow to hisself that he expect he better whirl in and have some fun whiles it going on.

By and by Brer Fox up and say to Brer Rabbit that he pleased to be moving along towards home, and with that they both say good-bye.

Brer Fox, he put out to where his family was, but Brer Rabbit, he slip 'round, he did, and call on old Miss Goose. Old Miss Goose she was down at the spring, washing, and boiling, and battling clothes; but Brer Rabbit he march up and ask her howdy, and then she took and ask Brer Rabbit howdy.

"I'd shake hands 'long with you, Brer Rabbit," says she, "but they are all full of suds," says she.

"No matter 'bout that, Miss Goose," says Brer Rabbit, says he, "so long as yo' will's good," says he.

After old Miss Goose and Brer Rabbit done pass the time of day with one another, Brer Rabbit, he ask her, he did, how she come on these days, and Miss Goose say, mighty poorly.

"I'm gettin' stiff an' I'm gettin' clumsy," says she, "an' mo' than that I'm gettin' blind," says she. "Just 'fore you happen along, Brer Rabbit, I drop my specs in the tub here, an' if you'd've come 'long 'bout that time," says old Miss Goose, says she, "I lay I'd've took you for that nasty, audacious Brer Fox, an' it'd've been a born blessing if I hadn't've scald you with a pan of boilin' suds," says she. "I'm that glad I found my specs I don't know what to do," says old Miss Goose, says she.

Then Brer Rabbit, he up and say that being as how Sis Goose done fetch up Brer Fox name, he got something for to tell her, and then he let out about Brer Fox going to call on her.

"He comin'," says Brer Rabbit, says he; "he comin' sure, an' when he come it'll be just 'fore day," says he.

With that, old Miss Goose wipe her hands on her apron, and put her specs up on her forehead, and look like she done got trouble in her mind.

(image source)

"Lords-a-mercy!" says she, "supposin' he come, Brer Rabbit! What I going do? And there ain't a man 'bout the house, neither," says she.

Then Brer Rabbit, he shut one eye, and he say, says he, "Sis Goose, the time done come when you pleased to roost high. You look like you got the dropsy," says he, "but don't mind that, 'cause if you don't roost high, you are a goner," says he.

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Then old Miss Goose ask Brer Rabbit what she going do, and Brer Rabbit he up and tell Miss Goose that she must go home and tie up a bundle of the white folks' clothes, and put 'em on the bed, and then she must fly up on a rafter, and let Brer Fox grab the clothes and run off with 'em.

Old Miss Goose say she much obliged, and she took and took her things and waddle off home, and that night she do like Brer Rabbit say with the bundle of clothes, and then she sent word to Mr. Dog, and Mr. Dog he come down, and say he'd sort of sit up with her.

Just before day, here come Brer Fox creeping up, and he went and push on the door easy, and the door open, and he see something white on the bed which he took for Miss Goose, and he grab it and run.

About that time Mr. Dog sail out from under the house, he did, and if Brer Fox hadn't've dropped the clothes, he'd've got caught.

From dat, word went 'round that Brer Fox been trying to steal Miss Goose clothes, and he come mighty nigh losing his standing at Miss Meadows.

Down to this day, Brer Fox believe that Brer Rabbit was the occasion of Mr. Dog being in the neighborhoods at that time of night, and Brer Rabbit ain't dispute it. The bad feeling 'twixt Brer Fox and Mr. Dog start right there, and it's been a-going on till now they ain't get in smelling distance of one another without there's a row.

C036. Brer Fox Rides the Horse

2. Brother Fox Catches Mr. Horse. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for the original spelling plus all notes to the story.

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BRER FOX RIDES THE HORSE

One time old Brer Rabbit got Brer Fox in the worst trouble what a man was most ever got in yet, and that was when he fool him about the horse. Ain't I never tell you about that? But no matter if I is. Hoe-cake ain't cook done good till it's turned over a couple of times.

Well, after Brer Fox done get rested  from keeping out of the way of Mr. Dog, and sort of catch up with his rations, he say to hisself that he be dog-his-cats if he don't slaughterate old Brer Rabbit if it take him a month; and that, too, on top of all the experience what he done been had with him.

Brer Rabbit he sort of get wind of this, and one day, whiles he going along the road studying how he going to hold he hand with Brer Fox, he see a great big horse laying stretch out flat on he side in the pasture; and he took and crept up, he did, for to see if this here horse done gone and die. He crept up and he crept 'round, and by and by he see the horse switch he tail, and then Brer Rabbit know he ain't dead.

With that, Brer Rabbit lope back to the big road, and most the first man what he see going on by was Brer Fox, and Brer Rabbit he took after him, and holler, "Brer Fox! O Brer Fox! Come back! I got some good news for you. Come back, Brer Fox," says he.

Brer Fox, he turn 'round, he did, and when he see who calling him, he come galloping back, 'cause it seem like that just as good a time as any for to nab Brer Rabbit; but before he get in nabbing distance, Brer Rabbit he up and say, says he, "Come on, Brer Fox! I done find the place where you can lay in fresh meat enough for to last you plumb till the middle of next year," says he.

Brer Fox, he ask whereabouts, and Brer Rabbit, he say, right over there in the pasture, and Brer Fox ask what is it, and Brer Rabbit, he say which it was a whole horse laying down on the ground where they can catch him and tie him. With that, Brer Fox, he say come on, and off they put.

When they got there, sure enough, there lay the horse all stretch out in the sun, fast asleep, and then Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, they had a dispute about how they going to fix the horse so he can't get loose. One say one way and the other say another way, and there they had it, till after while Brer Rabbit, he say, says he, "The onliest plan what I knows of, Brer Fox," says he, "is for you to get down there an' let me tie you to the horse tail, an' then, when he try to get up, you can hold him down," says he. "If I was big man like what you is," says Brer Rabbit, says he, "you might tie me to that horse tail, an' if I ain't hold him down, then Joe's dead an' Sal's a widow. I just knows you can hold him down," says Brer Rabbit, says he, "but yet, if you afeared, we just better drop that idea and study out some other plan," says he.

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Brer Fox sort of dubious about this, but he pleased to play biggity before Brer Rabbit, and he took and agree to the program, and then Brer Rabbit, he took and tie Brer Fox to the horse tail, and after he get him tie there hard and fast, he sort of step back, he did, and put he hands akimbo, and grin, and then he say, says he, "If ever there was a horse caught, then we done caught this one. Look sort of like we done put the bridle on the wrong end," says he, "but I lay Brer Fox is got the strength for to hold him," says he.

With that, Brer Rabbit cut him a long switch and trim it up, and when he get it fix, up he step and hit the horse a rap—pow! The horse was that surprise at that kind of doings that he make one jump, and land on he foots. When he do dat, there was Brer Fox dangling in the air, and Brer Rabbit, he dart out the way and holler, "Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down! I'll stand out here and see fair play. Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down!"

Course, when the horse feel Brer Fox hanging there onto he tail, he thunk something curious was the matter, and this make him jump and rear worser and worser, and he shake up Brer Fox same like he was a rag in the wind, and Brer Rabbit, he jump and holler, "Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down! You got him now, sure! Hold yo' grip, and hold him down," says he.

The horse, he jump and he hump, and he rip and he rear, and he snort and he tear. But yet Brer Fox hang on, and still Brer Rabbit skip 'round and holler, "Hold him down, Brer Fox! You got him where he can't neither back nor squall. Hold him down, Brer Fox!" says he.

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By and by, when Brer Fox get chance, he holler back, he did, "How in the name of goodness I goin' to hold the horse down 'less I get my claw in the ground?"

Then Brer Rabbit, he stand back little further and holler little louder, "Hold him down, Brer Fox! Hold him down! You got him now, sure! Hold him down!"

By and by the horse begun to kick with he behind legs, and the first news you know, he fetch Brer Fox a lick in the stomach that fairly make him squall, and then he kick him again, and this time he break Brer Fox loose, and sent him a-whirling; and Brer Rabbit, he keep on a-jumping 'round and hollering, "Hold him down, Brer Fox!"

Brer Fox weren't exactly killed, but he was the next door to it. He was all broke up, and whiles he was getting well, hit sort of come across he mind that Brer Rabbit done play another game on him.

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C037. Brer Rabbit in the Garden

3. Brother Rabbit and the Little Girl. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for the original spelling plus all notes to the story.

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Now, then, you don't want to push old Brer Rabbit too close. He mighty tender-footed critter, and the more what you push him, the further he left you.

One time, after Brer Rabbit done been tramping 'round hunting up some salad for to make out he dinner with, he find hisself in the neighborhoods of Mr. Man house, and he pass along till he come to the garden-gate, and nigh the garden-gate he see Little Gal playing 'round in the sand. When Brer Rabbit look 'twixt the garden-palings and see the collards, and the sparrow-grass, and the other garden truck growing there, it make he mouth water. Then he take and walk up to the Little Gal, Brer Rabbit did, and pull he roach, and bow, and scrape he foot, and talk mighty nice and slick.

"Howdy, Little Gal," says Brer Rabbit, says he; "how you come on?" says he.

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Then the Little Gal, she respond howdy, she did, and she ask Brer Rabbit how he come on, and Brer Rabbit, he allow he mighty poorly, and then he ask if this the Little Gal what her pa live up there in the big white house, which the Little Gal, she up and say it were.

Brer Rabbit, he say he mighty glad, 'cause he just been up there for to see her pa, and he say that her pa, he sent him out there for to tell the Little Gal that she must open the garden-gate so Brer Rabbit can go in and get some truck.

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Then the Little Gal, she jump 'round, she did, and she open the gate, and with that, Brer Rabbit, he hop in, he did, and got him a mess of greens, and hop out again, and when he going off he make a bow, he did, and tell the Little Gal that he much obliged, and then after that he put out for home.

Next day, Brer Rabbit, he hide out, he did, till he see the Little Gal come out to play, and then he put up the same tale, and walk off with another mess of truck, and it keep on this a-way, till by and by Mr. Man, he begun to miss his greens, and he keep on a-missing on 'em, till he got to excusing everybody on the place of destroying on 'em, and when that come to pass, the Little Gal, she up and say, "My goodness, pa!" says she; "you done told Mr. Rabbit for to come and make me let him in the garden after some greens, and ain't he done come and ask me, and ain't I done gone and let him in?" says she.

Mr. Man ain't have to study long before he see how the land lay, and then he laugh, and tell the Little Gal that he done gone and disremember all about Mr. Rabbit, and then he up and say, says he, "Next time Mr. Rabbit come, you take an' turn him in, an' then you run just as fast as you can an' come an' tell me, 'cause I got some business with that young chap that's pleased to be tended to," says he.

Sure enough, next morning there was the Little Gal playing 'round, and here come Brer Rabbit after he allowance of greens. He was ready with the same tale, and then the Little Gal, she turn him in, she did, and then she run up to the house and holler, "O pa! pa! O pa! Here Brer Rabbit in the garden now! Here he is, pa!"

Then Mr. Man, he rush out, and grab up a fishing-line what been hanging in the back porch, and make for the garden, and when he get there, there was Brer Rabbit trampling 'round on the strawberry-bed and mashing down the tomatoses. When Brer Rabbit see Mr. Man, he squat behind a collard leaf, but it weren't no use. Mr. Man done seed him, and before you can count eleven, he done got old Brer Rabbit tie hard and fast with the fishing-line.

After he got him tie good, Mr. Man step back, he did, and say, says he, "You done been fool me lots of time, but this time you are mine. I'm goin' to take you an' give you a larrupin'," says he, "an' then I'm goin' to skin you an' nail yo' hide on the stable door," says he; "an' then to make sure that you get the right kind of larruppin', I'll just step up to the house," says he, "an' fetch the little red cowhide, and then I'll take and give you brimstone and ginger," says he.

Then Mr. Man call to the Little Gal to watch Brer Rabbit whiles he gone.

Brer Rabbit ain't saying nothing, but Mr. Man ain't more than out the gate before he begun to sing; and in them days Brer Rabbit was a singer, man, and when he tuned up for to sing he make them other critters hold their breath.

If I ain't forget that song off of my mind, it run sort of this here way:

The jay-bird hunt the sparrow-nest,
The bee-martin sail all 'round;
The squirrel, he holler from the top of the tree,
Mr. Mole, he stay in the ground;
He hide and he stay till the dark drop down—
Mr. Mole, he hide in the ground.

When the Little Gal hear that, she laugh, she did, and she up and ask Brer Babbit for to sing some more, but Brer Rabbit, he sort of cough, he did, and allow that he got a mighty bad hoarseness down into he windpipe somewheres.

The Little Gal, she persuade, and persuade, and by and by Brer Rabbit, he up and allow that he can dance more samer than what he can sing.

Then the Little Gal, she ask him won't he dance, and Brer Rabbit, he respond how in the name of goodness can a man dance whiles he all tie up this a-way, and then the Little Gal, she say she can untie him, and Brer Rabbit, he say he ain't caring if she do.

With that the Little Gal, she reach down and unloose the fish-line, and Brer Rabbit, he sort of stretch hisself and look 'round.

Brer Rabbit gather up his foots under him, and he dance out of that garden, and he dance home. He did that! Surely you don't expect that a old-timer what done had experience like Brer Rabbit going to stay there and let that there Mr. Man sacrifice him? Shoo! Brer Rabbit dance, but he dance home. You hear me!

C038. Fox in the Road

4. How Brother Fox Was Too Smart. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for the original spelling plus all notes to the story.

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FOX in the ROAD

Old Brer Fox, when he see how slick the trick work with Brer Rabbit, he say to hisself that he believe he'll up and  try the same kind of game on some other man, and he keep on watching for he chance, till by and by, one day, he hear Mr. Man coming down the big road in a one-horse wagon, carrying some chickens, and some eggs, and some butter, to town. Brer Fox hear him coming, he did, and what do he do but go and lay down in the road front of the wagon. Mr. Man, he drove along, he did, clucking to the horse and humming to hisself, and when they get most up to Brer Fox, the horse, he shy, he did, and Mr. Man, he took and holler "Whoa!" and the horse, he took and whoaed.

Then Mr. Man, he look down, and he see Brer Fox laying out there on the ground just like he cold and stiff, and when Mr. Man see this, he holler out, "Heyo! There the chap what been nabbin' up my chickens, an' somebody done gone an' shot off a gun at him, which I wish she'd've been two guns—that I does!"

With that, Mr. Man he drove on and left Brer Fox laying there. Then Brer Fox, he get up and run 'round through the woods and lay down front of Mr. Man again, and Mr. Man come driving along, and he see Brer Fox, and he say, says he, "Heyo! Here the very chap what been destroying my pigs. Somebody done gone and killed him, and I wish they'd've killed him long time ago."

Then Mr. Man, he drive on, and the wagon-wheel come mighty nigh mashing Brer Fox nose; yet, all the same, Brer Fox leaped up and run 'round ahead of Mr. Man, and lay down in the road, and when Mr. Man come along, there he was all stretch out like he big enough for to fill a two-bushel basket, and he look like he dead enough for to be skinned. Mr. Man drove up, he did, and stop. He look down upon Brer Fox, and then he look all 'round for to see what the occasion of all these here dead Fox is. Mr. Man look all 'round, he did, but he ain't see nothing, and neither do he hear nothing. 

Then he sat there and study, and by and by he allow to hisself, he did, that he had better examine what kind of curious disease done been got into Brer Fox family, and with that he lit down out of the wagon, and feel of Brer Fox ear; Brer Fox ear feel right warm. Then he feel Brer Fox neck; Brer Fox neck right worm. Then he feel of Brer Fox in the short ribs; Brer Fox all sound in the short ribs. Then he feel of Brer Fox limbs; Brer Fox all sound in the limbs. Then he turn Brer Fox over, and, lo and beholds, Brer Fox right limber. 

When Mr. Man see this, he say to hisself, says he, "Heyo, here! How come This? This here chicken-nabber look like he dead, but they ain't no bones broked, an' I ain't see no blood, an' neither does I feel no bruise; an' more than that he worm an' he limber," says he. "Somethin' wrong here, sure! This here pig-grabber might be dead, an' then again he mightn't," says he; "but to make sure that he is, I'll just give him a whack with my whip-handle," says he; and with that, Mr. Man draw back and fetch Brer Fox a clip behind the years—pow!—and the lick come so hard and it come so quick that Brer Fox thunk sure he's a goner; but before Mr. Man can draw back for to fetch him another wipe, Brer Fox, he scramble to his feet, he did, and just make tracks away from there.

That what Brer Fox get for playing Mr. Smarty and copying after other foks, and that just the way the whole Smarty family going to come out.

C039. Rabbit's Wild Costume

5. Brother Rabbit's Astonishing Prank. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for the original spelling plus all notes to the story.

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RABBIT'S WILD COSTUME

I expect that was the reason what make old Brer Rabbit get along so well, because he ain't copy after none of the other critters. When he make his disappearance before 'em, it was always in some brand new place. They ain't know whereabouts for to watch out for him. He was the funniest critter of the whole gang. Some folks might have call him lucky, and yet, when he get in bad luck, it look like he most always come out on top. It look mighty curious now, but it weren't curious in them days, because it was done given up that, strike him when you might and where you would, Brer Rabbit was the supplest critter going.

One time, he sort of took a notion, old Brer Rabbit did, that he'd pay Brer Bear a call, and no sooner do the notion strike him than he pick hisself up and put out for Brer Bear house. Brer Rabbit make he call when Brer Bear and his family was off from home. He sat down by the road, and he see 'em go by —old Brer Bear and old Miss Bear, and their two twin-chilluns, which one of 'em was name Kubs and the other one was name Klibs.

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Ole Brer Bear and Miss Bear, they went along ahead, and Kubs and Klibs, they come shuffling and scrambling along behind. When Brer Rabbit see this, he say to hisself that he expect he better go see how Brer Bear getting on; and off he put. And it weren't long neither before he was ransacking the premises same like he was sure enough patter-roller. 

Whiles he was going 'round peeping in here and poking in there, he got to fooling among the shelfs, and a bucket of honey what Brer Bear got hid in the cupboard fall down and spill on top of Brer Rabbit, and little more and he'd've been drown. From head to heels that critter was covered with honey; he weren't just only bedabble with it, he was just covered. He had to sit there and let the natural sweetness drip out of he eyeballs before he can see he hand before him, and then, after he look 'round little, he say to hisself, says he, "Heyo, here! What I gonna do now? If I go out in the sunshine, the bumbly-bees an' the flies they'll warm up an' take me, and if I stay here, Brer Bear'll come back and catch me, and I don't know what in the name of gracious I gonna do."

Anyhow, by and by a notion strike Brer Rabbit, and he tip along till he get in the woods, and when he get out there, what do he do but roll in the leafs and trash and try for to rub the honey off of him that a-way. He roll, he did, and the leafs they stick; Brer Rabbit roll, and the leafs they stick, and he keep on rolling and the leafs keep on sticking, till after while Brer Rabbit was the most audacious-looking critter what you ever set eyes on. And if Miss Meadows and the gals could've seed him then and there, they wouldn't've been no more Brer Rabbit call at their house; indeed, and that they wouldn't.

Brer Rabbit, he jump 'round, he did, and try to shake the leafs off of him, but the leafs, they ain't going to be shook off. Brer Rabbit, he shake and he shiver, but the leafs they stick; and the capers that critter cut up out there in the woods by he own-alone self was scandalous—they was that; they was scandalous. Brer Rabbit see this weren't going to do, and he allow to hisself that he better be getting on towards home, and off he put. 

I expect you done hear talk of these yer booggers what gets after bad chilluns. Well, then, just exactly that a-way Brer Rabbit look, and if you'd've seed him you'd've made sure he the grand-daddy of all the booggers. Brer Rabbit pace along, he did, and every motion he make, the leafs they'd go swishy-swushy, splushy-splishy, and, from the fuss he make and the way he look, you'd've took him to be the most servigorous varmint what disappear from the face of the earth since old man Noah let down the draw-bars of the ark and turn the critters loose; and I bound if you'd've struck up long with him, you'd've been mighty good and glad if you'd've got off with that.

The first man what Brer Rabbit come up with was old Sis Cow, and no sooner is she lay eyes on him than she hoist up her tail in the elements, and put out like a pack of dogs was after her. This make Brer Rabbit laugh, 'cause he know that when a old settled woman like Sis Cow run distracted in the broad open day-time, that they must be something' mighty curious about them leafs and that honey, and he keep on a-racking down the road. 

The next man what he meet was a black gal tolling a whole passel of plantation shotes, and when the gal see Brer Rabbit come prancing along, she fling down her basket of corn and just fairly fly, and the shotes, they took through the woods, and such a racket as they kick up with their running, and their snorting, and their squealing ain't never been hear in that settlement neither before nor since.

It keep on this a-way long as Brer Rabbit meet anybody—they just broke and run like the old Boy was after 'em. Course, this make Brer Rabbit feel monstrous biggity, and he allow to hisself that he expect he better drop 'round and skirmish in the neighborhoods of Brer Fox house. And whiles he was standing there running this 'round in he mind, here come old Brer Bear and all of he family.

Brer Rabbit, he get crossways the road, he did, and he sort of sidle towards 'em. Old Brer Bear, he stop and look, but Brer Rabbit, he keep on sidling towards 'em. Old Miss Bear, she stand it long as she can, and then she fling down her parasol and took a tree. Brer Bear look like he going to stand his ground, but Brer Rabbit he jump straight up in the air and give hisself a shake, and, bless your soul, old Brer Bear make a break, and they tells me he tore down a whole panel of fence getting away from there. And as to Kubs and Klibs, they took their hats in their hands, and they went skaddling through the bushes just same as a drove of horses.

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Brer Rabbit paraded on down the road, and by and by here come Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, fixing up a plan for to nab Brer Rabbit, and they was so intents on their confab that they got right on Brer Rabbit before they seed him; but, gentlemens, when they is catch a glimpse of him, they given him all the room he want. Brer Wolf, he try to show off, he did, 'cause he want to play big before Brer Fox, and he stop and ask Brer Rabbit who is he. Brer Rabbit, he jump up and down in the middle of the road, and holler out, "I'm the Will-o'-the-wisp. I'm the Will-o'-the-wisp, and you are the man I'm after!" Den Brer Rabbit jump up and down and make like he going after Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, and the way them critters lit out from there was a caution.

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Long time after that, Brer Rabbit come up with Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, and he get behind a stump, Brer Rabbit did, and holler out, "I'm the Will-o'-the-wisp, and you are  the mens I'm after!"

Brer Fox and Brer Wolf, they broke, but before they got out of sight and out of hearing, Brer Rabbit show hisself, he did, and laugh fit to kill hisself. Aftewards, Miss Meadows she hear about it, and the next time Brer Fox call, the gals they up and giggle, and ask him if he ain't feared the Will-o'-the-wisp might drop in.

C040. Animal House

6. Brother Rabbit Secures a Mansion. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for the original spelling plus all notes to the story.

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ANIMAL HOUSE

I call to mind the tale about how old Brer Rabbit got him a two-story house widout laying out much cash. It turn out one time that a whole lot of the critters took a notion that they'd go in cahoots with building 'em a house. Old Brer Bear, he was amongst 'em, and Brer Fox, and Brer Wolf, and Brer Coon, and Brer Possum. I won't make sure, but it seem like to me that plumb down to old Brer Mink was amongst 'em. Leastways, there was a whole passel of 'em, and they whirl in, they did, and they build the house in less than no time.

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Brer Rabbit, he make like it make he head swim for to climb up on the scaffold, and likewise he say it make him catch the palsy for to work in the sun, but he got him a square, and he stuck a pencil behind he ear, and he went 'round measuring and marking—measuring and marking—and he was that busy that the other critters say to theyself he doing monstrous sight of work, and folks going along the big road say Brer Rabbit doing more hard work than the whole kit and boiling of 'em.

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Yet all the time Brer Rabbit ain't doing nothing, and he just well been laying off in the shade scratching the fleas off of him. The other critters, they build the house, and, gentlemens, she was a fine one, too, man. She'd've been a fine one these days, let alone them days. She had a upstairs and downstairs, and chimneys all 'round, and she had rooms for all the critters what went into cahoots and help make it.

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Brer Rabbit, he pick out one of the upstairs rooms, and he took and got him a gun, and one of these here brass cannons, and he took and put 'em in there when the other critters ain't looking, and then he took and got him a tub of nasty slop-water, which likewise he put in there when they ain't looking. So then, when they get the house all fix, and whiles they was all a-sitting in the parlor after supper, Brer Rabbit, he sort of gape and stretch hisself, and make his excuses and say he believe he'll go to he room. When he get there, and whiles all the other critters was a-laughing and a-chatting just as sociable as you please, Brer Rabbit, he stick he head out of the door of he room and sing out, "When a big man like me want to sit down, whereabouts he goin' to set?" says he.

Then the other critters they laugh, and holler back, "If big man like you can't set in a chair, he better sit down on the floor."

"Watch out down there, then," says old Brer Rabbit, says he. "'Cause I'm a-goin' to sit down," says he.

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With that "bang!" went Brer Rabbit gun. Course, this sort of astonish the critters, and they look 'round at one another much as to say, what in the name of gracious is that? They listen and listen, but they don't hear no more fuss, and it weren't long before they got to chatting and jabbering some more. By and by, Brer Rabbit stick he head out of he room door, and sing out, "When a big man like me want to sneeze, whereabouts he goin' to sneeze at?"

Then the other critters, they took and holler back, "If big man like you ain't a-gone gump, he can sneeze anywhere he please."

'Watch out down there, then," says Brer Rabbit, says he. "'Cause I'm goin' to turn loose an' sneeze right here," says he.

With that, Brer Rabbit let off his cannon—bulderum-m-m! The window-glass they shook and rattle, and the house shook like she going to come down, and old Brer Bear, he fell out the rocking-chair—kerblump!

When the critters get sort of settle, Brer Possum and Brer Mink, they up and allow that Brer Rabbit got such a monstrous bad cold, they believe they'll step out and get some fresh air, but them other critters, they say they going to stick it out; and after while, when they get their hair smooth down, they begun to jower amongst theyself.

About that time, when they get in a good way, Brer Rabbit, he sing out, "When a big man like me take a chaw tobacco, whereabouts he going to spit?"

Then the other critters, they holler back, they did, sort of like they're mad, "Big man or little man, spit where you please."

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Then Brer Rabbit, he squall out, "This the way a big man spit!" and with that he tilt over the tub of slop-water, and when the other critters hear it come a-sloshing down the stair-steps, gentlemens, they just hoisted theyself out of there. Some of 'em went out the back door, and some of 'em went out the front door, and some of 'em fell out the windows; some went one way and some went another way; but they all went sailing out.

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Brer Rabbit, he just took and shut up the house and fasten the windows, and then he got to bed, he did, and pull the coverlet up 'round he ears, and he sleep like a man what ain't owe nobody nothing; and neither do he owe 'em, 'cause if them other critters going get scared and run off from their own house, what business is that of Brer Rabbit? That what I like to know.

C041. Mr. Lion Hunts for Mr. Man

7. Mr. Lion Hunts for Mr. Man. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for the original spelling plus all notes to the story.

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MR. LION HUNTS FOR MR. MAN

Folks can come along with their whatchamacallums, and likewise they can fetch 'round their whatshisnames. They can walk biggity, and they can talk biggity, and more than dat, they can feel biggity, but yet all the same they're going to get caught up with. They go along and they go along, and then by and by here come trouble and snatch 'em slantways, and the more bigger what they is, the worser does they get snatched.

There was Mr. Lion, he took and sat hisself up for to be the boss of all the other critters, and he feel so biggity dat he go roaring and ramping 'round the neighborhoods. He went roaring 'round, he did, and everywhere he go he hear talk of Mr. Man.

Right in the middle of he bragging, someone'd up and tell him about what Mr. Man done done. Mr. Lion, he say he done this, and then he hear about how Mr. Man done that. It went on this a-way till by and by Mr. Lion shake he mane, he did, and he up and say that he going to search 'round and 'round, and high and low, for to see if he can't find Mr. Man, and he allow, Mr. Lion did, that when he do find him, he going to turn in and give Mr. Man such a larruping what nobody ain't never had yet. Them other critters, they took and tell Mr. Lion that he better let Mr. Man alone, but Mr. Lion say he going to hunt him down spite of all they can do.

Sure enough, after he done took some rest, Mr. Lion, he put out down the big road. Sun, she rise up and shine hot, but Mr. Lion, he keep on; wind, it come up and blow, and fill the elements full of dust; rain, it drift up and drizzle down; but Mr. Lion, he keep on.

By and by, whiles he going on this a-way, with he tongue hanging out, he come up with Mr. Steer, grazing along on the side of the road. Mr. Lion, he up and ask him howdy, he did, monstrous polite, and Mr. Steer likewise he bow and scrape and show his manners.

Then Mr. Lion, he do like he want to have some confab with him, and he up and say, says he, "Is there anybody 'round in these parts name Mr. Man?" says he.

"To be sure there is," says Mr. Steer, says he; "anybody can tell you that. I knows him mighty well," says he.

"Well, then, he the very chap I'm after," says he.

"What might be yo' business with Mr. Man?" says Mr. Steer, says he.

"I done come this long ways for to give him a larrupin'," says Mr. Lion, says he. "I'm goin' to show him who the boss of these neighborhoods," says he, and with that Mr. Lion, he shake he mane, and switch he tail, and strut up and down worse than one of these here town negroes.

"Well, then, if that what you come after," says Mr. Steer, says he, "you just better slew yo'self 'round and point yo' nose towards home, 'cause you fixin' for to get in sure enough trouble," says he.

"I'm goin' to larrup that same Mr. Man," says Mr. Lion, says he; "I done come for that, and that what I'm goin' to do," says he.

Mr. Steer, he draw long breath, he did, and chew he cud slow, and after while he say, says he, "You see me standin' here front of yo' eyes, an' you see how big I is, an' what long, sharp horns I got. Well, big as my heft is, an ez  sharp though my horns be, yet Mr. Man, he come out here an' he catch me, an' he put me under a yoke, an' he hitch me up in a cart, an' he make me haul he wood, an' he drive me anywhere he mind to. He do that. Better let Mr. Man alone," says he. "If you fool along with him, watch out that he don't hitch you up an' have you prancing 'round here pulling he cart," says he.

Mr. Lion, he fetch a roar, and put out down the road, and it weren't so mighty long before he come up with Mr. Horse, which he was a-nibbling and a-cropping the grass. Mr. Lion make hisself knowed, and then he took and ask Mr. Horse do he know Mr. Man.

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"Mighty well," says Mr. Horse, says he, "an' more than dat, I been a-knowin' him a long time. What you want with Mr. Man?" says he.

"I'm a-huntin' him up for to larrup him," says Mr. Lion, says he. "They tells me he mighty stuck up," says he, "an' I gonna take him down a peg," says he.

Mr. Horse look at Mr. Lion like he sorry, and by and by he up and say, "I 'spect you better let Mr. Man alone," says he. "You see how big I is, an' how much strength what I got, an' how tough my foots is," says he; "well this here Mr. Man, he can take an' take me an' hitch me up in he buggy, an' make me haul him all 'round, an' then he can take an' fasten me to the plow an' make me break up all his new ground," says he. "You better go along back home. First news you know, Mr. Man'll have you breakin' up his new ground," says he.

Spite of all this, Mr. Lion, he shake he mane and say he going to larrup Mr. Man anyhow. He went on down the big road, he did, and by and by he come up with Mr. Jack Sparrow, sitting up in the top of the tree. Mr. Jack Sparrow, he whirl 'round and chirp, and flutter about up there, and apparently make a great admiration.

"Heyo here!" says he; "who'd've 'spected for to see Mr. Lion 'way down here in this neighborhoods?" says he. "Where you going, Mr. Lion?" says he.

Then Mr. Lion ask if Mr. Jack Sparrow know Mr. Man, and Mr. Jack Sparrow say he know Mr. Man mighty well. Then Mr. Lion, he ask if Mr. Jack Sparrow know where he stay, which Mr. Jack Sparrow say that he do. Mr. Lion ask whereabouts is Mr. Man, and Mr. Jack Sparrow say he right across there in the new ground, and he up and ask Mr. Lion what he want with him, which Mr. Lion respond that he gonna larrup Mr. Man, and with that, Mr. Jack Sparrow, he up and say, says he, "You better let Mr. Man alone. You see how little I is, an' likewise how high I can fly; yet, 'spite of that, Mr. Man, he can fetch me down when he get good an' ready," says he. "You better tuck yo' tail an' put out home," says Mr. Jack Sparrow, says he, "'cause by an' by Mr. Man'll fetch you down," says he.

But Mr. Lion just vow he going after Mr. Man, and go he would, and go he did. He ain't never see Mr. Man, Mr. Lion ain't, and he don't know what he look like, but he go on towards the new ground. Sure enough, there was Mr. Man, out there mauling rails for to make him a fence. He was ripping up the butt-cut, Mr. Man was, and he drove in his wedge and then he stuck in the glut. He was splitting away, when by and by he hear rustling out there in the bushes, and he look up, and there was Mr. Lion. 

Mr. Lion ask him do he know Mr. Man, and Mr. Man allow that he know him more samer than if he were his twin brother. Then Mr. Lion allow that he want to see him, and then Mr. Man say, says he, that if Mr. Lion will come stick his paw in the split for to hold the log open till he get back, he go fetch Mr. Man. Mr. Lion he march up and slap his paw in the place, and then Mr. Man, he took and knock the glut out, and the split close up, and there Mr. Lion was.

Mr. Man, he stand off and say, says he, "If you'd've been a steer or horse, you might've runned, and if you'd've been a sparrow, you might've flewed, but here you is, and you caught yo'self," says he.

With that, Mr. Man saunt out in the bushes and cut him a hickory, and he let in on Mr. Lion, and he flail and flail him till flailing onhim was a sin. And down to this day, you can't get no Lion to come up where there's a Man a-mauling rails and put he paw in the split. That you can't!