C052. Wolf, Fox, and Buzzard

18. A Dream and a Story. 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. At the start of the frame, Uncle Remus tells the little boy about dreaming of the animals and how they play music in his dreams, as shown in this illustration:

(image source)

(image source)

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WOLF, FOX, and BUZZARD

Well, then, one day, Brer Wolf and Brer Fox they got to disputing along of one another. Brer Wolf, he took and abuse Brer Fox 'cause Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool him, and then Brer Fox, he took and quarrel back at Brer Wolf, 'cause Brer Wolf let old man Rabbit likewise fool him. They keep on disputing and disputing, till by and by they clinch, and Brer Wolf, being the biggest man, it wouldn't've been long before he'd've wool Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he watch he chance, he did, and he give him leg bail; he jerk loose from Brer Wolf, Brer Fox did, and, gentlemens, he just mosey through the woods.

Brer Wolf, he took after him, he did, andthere they had it, and Brer Wolf push Brer Fox so close, that the onliest way Brer Fox can save he hide is to find a hole somewhere, and the first hollow tree that he come 'cross, into it he dove. 

Brer Wolf fetched a grab at him, but he was just in time for to be too late.

Then Brer Wolf, he sat there, he did, and he study and study how he gonna get Brer Fox out, and Brer Fox, he lay in there, he did, and he study and study what Brer Wolf gonna do. 

By and by, Brer Wolf, he took and gather up a whole lot of chunks, and rocks, and sticks, and then he took and fill up the hole what Brer Fox went in so Brer Fox can't get out. 

Whiles this was going on, old Brer Turkey Buzzard, he was sailing 'round 'way up in the elements, with he eye peel for business, and it weren't long before he glance lit on Brer Wolf, and he allow to hisself, says he, "I'll just sort of flop down," says he, "and look into this, 'cause if Brer Wolf hiding he dinner there with the expectation of finding it there when he come back, then he done gone and put it in the wrong place," says he.

With that old Brer Turkey Buzzard, he flop down and sail 'round nigher, and he soon see that Brer Wolf ain't hiding no dinner. Then he flop down further, old Brer Buzzard did, till he lit on the top of the hollow tree. Brer Wolf, he done catch a glimpse of old Brer Buzzard shadow, but he keep on putting chunks and rocks in the hollow. Then, presently, Brer Buzzard, he open up, "What you doing there, Brer Wolf?"

"Making a tombstone, Brer Buzzard."

Course Brer Buzzard sort of feel like he got interest in matters like this, and he holler back, "Who dead now, Brer Wolf?"

"One of yo' acquaintance, which he name Brer Fox, Brer Buzzard."

"W'en he die, Brer Wolf?"

"He ain't dead yet, but he won't last long in here, Brer Buzzard."

Brer Wolf, he keep on, he did, till he done stop up the hole good, and then he brush the trash off of his clothes, and put out for home. Brer Turkey Buzzard, he sat up there, he did, and untangle his tail feathers, and listen and listen, but Brer Fox, he keep dark, and Brer Buzzard ain't hear nothing. Then Brer Buzzard, he flop he wings and sail away.

By and by, next day, bright and early, here he come back, and he sail all 'round and 'round the tree, but Brer Fox he lay low and keep dark, and Brer Buzzard ain't hear nothing. After while, Brer Buzzard he sail 'round again, and this time he sing, and the song what he sing is this here: 

Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo,

Man out here with news for you!

Then he sail all 'round and 'round another time and listen, and by and by he hear Brer Fox sing back:

Go 'way, go 'way, my little jug of beer,

The news you bring, I heard last year.

So, then, when Brer Buzzard hear Brer Fox sing back, he allow he ain't dead, and with that, Brer Buzzard, he sail off and attend to he other business. 

Next day back he come, and Brer Fox, he sing back, he did, just as lively as a cricket in the ashes, and it keep on this way till Brer Fox stomach begun to pinch him, and then he know that he got to study up some kind of plans for to get out from there. 

Another day pass, and Brer Fox, he took and lay low, and it keep on that a-way till it look like to Brer Fox, pent up in there, he must surely perish. 

Last, one day Brer Buzzard come sailing all 'round and 'round with that

"Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo," but Brer Fox, he keep dark and Brer Buzzard, he took and suspicion that Brer Fox was done dead. Brer Buzzard, he keep on singing, and Brer Fox he keep on laying low, till by and by Brer Buzzard lit and begun to clear 'way the trash and truck from the hollow. He hop up, he did, and took out one chunk, and then he hop back and listen, but Brer Fox stay still. then Brer Buzzard hop up and took out another chunk, and then hop back and listen, and all this time Brer Fox mouth was watering whiles he lay back in there and just naturally honed after Brer Buzzard. 

It went on this a-way, till just before he got the hole uncovered, Brer Fox, he break out he did, and grab Brer Buzzard by the back of the neck. There was a kind of scuffle amongst 'em, but it weren't for long, and that was the last of old Brer Turkey Buzzard.

C052. Baer (p. 72). A Dream and a Story

This is Chase052.

Types
Motifs
K0752 capture by hiding under screen (hollow tree)
Notes
observing a misattribution by Dorson that confuses this tale with Chase153 Baer remarks: "Etiological tags can be hung on stories which have no other relation to one another, and titles, usually not given by informants, can be misleading."

Fauset 1927 JAF: Negro Folk Tales from the South; he has Rabbit Fools Buzzard and also Buzzard Traps Rabbit in a Hollow Stump.

Baer comments "Although the beginnings and endings of the versions vary, all have in common the singing exchange between Buzzard and victim, which is repeated daily until the victim does not reply"

And about the timing: "The almost fifty years that elapsed between Harris's and Fauset's versions are a good indication that this story, particularly when performed as a cante fable, stayed alive in the southern Negroes' repertoire throughout that time. Clearly its popularity depends on performance."

about sourcing: "There is no evidence at present of an Old World source for this Afro-American folktales."

C052. Wolf, Fox, and Buzzard (original spelling)

18. A Dream and a Story. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. You can click here for the standardized spelling plus all notes to the story.

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WOLF, FOX, and BUZZARD

"I dreamed all about Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit last night, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy when the old man came in after supper and took his seat by the side of the trundle-bed; "I dreamed that Brother Fox had wings and tried to catch Brother Rabbit by flying after him."

"I don't 'spute it, honey, dat I don't!" replied the old man, in a tone which implied that he was quite prepared to believe the dream itself was true. "Manys en manys de time, deze long nights en deze rainy spells, dat I sets down dar in my house over ag'in de chimbley-jam—I sets dar en I dozes, en it seem lak dat ole Brer Rabbit, he'll stick he head in de crack er de do' en see my eye periently shot, en den he'll beckon back at de yuther creeturs, en den dey'll all come slippin' in on der tip-toes, en dey'll set dar en run over de ole times wid one er n'er, en crack der jokes same ez dey useter. En den ag'in," continued the old man, shutting his eyes and giving to his voice a gruesome intonation quite impossible to describe,—"en den ag'in hit look lak dat Brer Rabbit'll gin de wink all 'roun', en den dey'll tu'n in en git up a reg'lar juberlee. Brer Rabbit, he'll retch up en take down de trivet, en Brer Fox, he'll snatch up de griddle, en Brer B'ar, he'll lay holt er de pot-hooks, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he'll grab up de fryin' pan en dar dey'll have it, up en down, en' roun' en 'roun'. [96]Hit seem like ter me dat ef I kin git my mine smoove down en ketch up some er dem ar chunes w'at dey sets dar en plays, den I 'd lean back yer in dish yer cheer en I'd intrance you wid um, twel, by dis time termorrer night, you'd be settin' up dar at de supper-table 'sputin' 'longer yo' little brer 'bout de 'lasses pitcher. Dem creeturs dey sets dar," Uncle Remus went on, "en dey plays dem kinder chunes w'at moves you fum 'way back yander; en manys de time w'en I gits lonesome kaze dey aint nobody year um 'ceppin' it's me. Dey aint no tellin' de chunes dey is in dat trivet, en in dat griddle, en in dat fryin'-pan er mine; dat dey aint. W'en dem creeturs walks in en snatches um down, dey lays Miss Sally's pianner in de shade, en Mars John's flute, hit aint nowhars."

"Do they play on them just like a band, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little boy, who was secretly in hopes that the illusion would not be destroyed.

"Dey comes des lak I tell you, honey. W'en I shets my eyes en dozes, dey comes en dey plays, but w'en I opens my eyes dey aint dar. Now, den, w'en dat 's de shape er marters, w'at duz I do? I des shets my eyes en hol' um shot, en let um come en play dem ole time chunes twel long atter bed-time done come en gone."

Uncle Remus paused, as though he expected the little boy to ask some question or make some comment, but the child said nothing, and presently the old man resumed, in a matter-of-fact tone:

"Dat dream er yone, honey, 'bout Brer Fox wid wings, [97]fetches up de time w'en Brer Fox en Brer Wolf had der fallin' out wid one er n'er—but I 'speck I done tole you 'bout dat."

"Oh, no, you have n't, Uncle Remus! You know you have n't!" the little boy exclaimed.

"Well, den, one day, atter so long a time, Brer Wolf en Brer Fox dey got ter 'sputin' 'longer one er n'er. Brer Wolf, he tuck'n 'buse Brer Fox kaze Brer Fox let Brer Rabbit fool 'im, en den Brer Fox, he tuck'n quol back at Brer Wolf, kaze Brer Wolf let ole man Rabbit lakwise fool 'im. Dey keep on 'sputin' en 'sputin', twel bimeby dey clinch, en Brer Wolf, bein' de bigges' man, 't would n't a bin long 'fo' he'd a wool Brer Fox, but Brer Fox, he watch he chance, he did, en he gin 'im leg bail."

"Gave him what, Uncle Remus?"

"Gin 'im leg bail, honey. He juk loose fum Brer Wolf, Brer Fox did, en, gentermens, he des mosey thoo de woods. Brer Wolf, he tuck atter 'm, he did, en dar dey had it, en Brer Wolf push Brer Fox so close, dat de onliest way Brer Fox kin save he hide is ter fine a hole some'rs, en de fus' holler tree dat he come 'cross, inter it he dove. Brer Wolf fetcht a grab at 'im, but he wuz des in time fer ter be too late.

"Den Brer Wolf, he sot dar, he did, en he study en study [98]how he gwine git Brer Fox out, en Brer Fox, he lay in dar, he did, en he study en study w'at Brer Wolf gwine do. Bimeby, Brer Wolf, he tuck'n gedder up a whole lot er chunks, en rocks, en sticks, en den he tuck'n fill up de hole what Brer Fox went in so Brer Fox can't git out. W'iles dis wuz gwine on, ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he wuz sailin' 'roun' 'way up in de elements, wid he eye peel fer bizness, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' he glance lit on Brer Wolf, en he 'low ter hisse'f, sezee:

"'I'll des sorter flop down,' sezee, 'en look inter dis, kaze ef Brer Wolf hidin' he dinner dar wid de expeck'shun er findin' it dar w'en he come back, den he done gone en put it in de wrong place,' sezee.

"Wid dat ole Brer Tukky Buzzud, he flop down en sail 'roun' nigher, en he soon see dat Brer Wolf aint hidin' no dinner. Den he flop down furder, ole Brer Buzzud did, twel he lit on de top er de holler tree. Brer Wolf, he done kotch a glimpse er ole Brer Buzzud shadder, but he keep on puttin' chunks en rocks in de holler. Den, present'y, Brer Buzzud, he open up:

"'W'at you doin' dar, Brer Wolf?'

"'Makin' a toom-stone, Brer Buzzud.'

"Co'se Brer Buzzud sorter feel like he got intruss in marters like dis, en he holler back:

"'Who dead now, Brer Wolf?'

"'Wunner yo' 'quaintance, w'ich he name Brer Fox, Brer Buzzud.'

"'W'en he die, Brer Wolf?'

"'He aint dead yit, but he won't las' long in yer, Brer Buzzud.'

"Brer Wolf, he keep on, he did, twel he done stop up de hole good, en den he bresh de trash off'n his cloze, en put out fer home. Brer Tukky Buzzud, he sot up dar, he did, en ontankle his tail fedders, en lissen en lissen, but Brer [99]Fox, he keep dark, en Brer Buzzud aint year nuthin'. Den Brer Buzzud, he flop he wings en sail away.

"Bimeby, nex' day, bright en early, yer he come back, en he sail all 'roun' en 'roun' de tree, but Brer Fox he lay low en keep dark, en Brer Buzzud aint year nuthin'. Atter w'ile, Brer Buzzud he sail 'roun' ag'in, en dis time he sing, en de song w'at he sing is dish yer:

"'Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo,
Man out yer wid news fer you!'
Den he sail all 'roun' en 'roun' n'er time en listen, en bimeby he year Brer Fox sing back:

"'Go 'way, go 'way, my little jug er beer,
De news you bring, I yeard las' year.'"
"Beer, Uncle Remus? What kind of beer did they have then?" the little boy inquired.

"Now, den, honey, youer gittin' me up in a close cornder," responded the old man, in an unusually serious tone. "Beer is de way de tale runs, but w'at kinder beer it moughter bin aint come down ter me—en yit hit seem lak I year talk some'rs dat dish yer beer wuz mos' prins'ply 'simmon beer."

This seemed to satisfy the small but exacting audience, and Uncle Remus continued:

"So, den, w'en Brer Buzzud year Brer Fox sing back, he 'low he aint dead, en wid dat, Brer Buzzud, he sail off en 'ten' ter he yuther business. Nex' day back he come, en Brer Fox, he sing back, he did, des ez lively ez a cricket in de ashes, en it keep on dis way twel Brer Fox stomach 'gun [100]ter pinch him, en den he know dat he gotter study up some kinder plans fer ter git out fum dar. N'er day pass, en Brer Fox, he tuck'n lay low, en it keep on dat a-way twel hit look like ter Brer Fox, pent up in dar, he mus' sholy pe'sh. Las', one day Brer Buzzud come sailin' all 'roun' en 'roun' wid dat

"'Boo, boo, boo, my filler-mer-loo,'
but Brer Fox, he keep dark en Brer Buzzud, he tuck'n spishun dat Brer Fox wuz done dead. Brer Buzzud, he keep on singin', en Brer Fox he keep on layin' low, twel bimeby Brer Buzzud lit en 'gun ter cle'r 'way de trash en truck fum de holler. He hop up, he did, en tuck out one chunk, en den he hop back en lissen, but Brer Fox stay still. Den Brer Buzzud hop up en tuck out n'er chunk, en den hop back en lissen, en all dis time Brer Fox mouf 'uz waterin' w'iles he lay back in dar en des nat'ally honed atter Brer Buzzud. Hit went on dis a-way, twel des 'fo' he got de hole unkivvud, Brer Fox, he break out he did, en grab Brer Buzzud by de back er de neck. Dey wuz a kinder scuffle 'mongs' um, but 't wa'n't fer long, en dat wuz de las' er ole Brer Tukky Buzzud."