Guide to Uncle Remus: His Songs and Sayings

UNCLE REMUS: HIS SONGS AND SAYINGS

by Joel Chandler Harris [1880]

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. I have created a similar guide for Nights with Uncle Remus. And here is a random image from one of the stories in this book:

1 . Uncle Remus Initiates the Little Boy
[ Brer Rabbit and the Calamus Root ]
Summary: Brer Rabbit invites Fox to dinner, but doesn't let him in. Then, Brer Fox invites Rabbit to dinner. Rabbit arrives and realizes the Fox is going to eat him, so he escapes by going out for calamus root to use to season supper.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 3
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 8
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

2 . The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story
[ Brer Rabbit and the Tar-Baby ]
Summary: Fox makes a tar-baby. Brer Rabbit gets angry when she won't talk to him. When he hits her, he gets stuck, and Brer Fox catches him.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 6
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 10
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

3 . Why Mr. Possum Loves Peace
[ Brer Possum, Brer Coon, and Brer Dog ]
Summary: Possum and Coon are attacked by Dog; Coon fights back, but Possum plays dead. Coon calls him a coward, but Possum says he can't help himself when someone tickles him.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 9
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 44
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

4 . How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox
[ Brer Rabbit and the Brier Patch ]
Summary: Fox has caught Rabbit with the tar-baby and is contemplating what to do next. Rabbit pretends to be most afraid of the briar patch, so Fox throws him there, and Rabbit is happy: "Bred en bawn in a brier-patch, Brer Fox—bred en bawn in a brier-patch!"
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 12
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 10
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

5 . The Story of the Deluge, and How It Came About
[ The Elephant and the Crawfishes ]
Summary: In an assembly of all the animals, Elephant steps on a Crayfish. The Crayfishes then make holes in the earth, with help from Mud Turtle and Spring Lizard. The holes let water out and the water rises up in a deluge that floods the earth.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 14
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 8
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

6 . Mr. Rabbit Grossly Deceives Mr. Fox
[ Brer Rabbit Rides Brer Fox ]
Summary: Rabbit tells the gals Fox was his daddy's horse. Then, he tricks Fox into wearing a saddle and bridle, and Rabbit rides him to the Miss Meadows' house to the amusement of everyone except Fox.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 17
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

7 . Mr. Fox Is Again Victimized
[ Brer Rabbit Rides Brer Fox Again ]
Summary: Rabbit rides Fox again; when Fox tries to throw him, Rabbit hides in a tree. Fox guards the tree, and then leaves Buzzard to guard the tree. Rabbit tricks Buzzard by promising him there's a squirrel he can catch in the tree, and so Rabbit is able to run away.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 21
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

8 . Mr. Fox Is Outdone by Mr. Buzzard
[ Mr. Fox and Mr. Buzzard ]
Summary: Sequel to the story of how Rabbit tricked Buzzard and escaped: Fox comes back with axe. Buzzard pretends Rabbit is still there but Fox finally realizes Rabbit is gone. Fox attacks Buzzard, but he only gets feathers.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 25
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

9 . Miss Cow Falls a Victim to Mr. Rabbit
[ Brer Rabbit, Brer Turtle, and Brer Fox ]
Summary: Rabbit asks Cow to butt persimmon tree; when she gets stuck, he milks her. She gets free, pretends to still be stuck and tries to attack Rabbit, but Rabbit gets away.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 28
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 23
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

10 . Mr. Terrapin Appears Upon the Scene
[ Brer Rabbit, Brer Turtle, and Brer Fox ]
Summary: Rabbit and Turtle go to see the gals. Fox bursts in, Turtle falls on him, and Rabbit tricks him into looking in chimney where he drops a brick on his head.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 32
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 26
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

11 . Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure
[ News of Brer Fox's Death ]
Summary: Wolf tells Rabbit that Fox is dead; Rabbit tricks Fox into raising his leg so he knows Fox is not dead.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 36
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 29
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

12 . Mr. Fox Tackles Old Man Tarrypin
[ Brer Fox and Brer Turtle ]
Summary: Turtle tells Fox about fire; Fox says it burned off Turtle's tail, so Turtle shows tail. Fox grabs it. Turtle says don't drown me! let go of stump and catch me. So Turtle escapes.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 39
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 12
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

13 . The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf
[ Brer Wolf in the Chest ]
Summary: Wolf repeatedly tears down Rabbit's house but has to seek shelter with Rabbit; Rabbit hides him in a chest, and lies about what he is doing as he boils Wolf to death.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 42
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 40
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

14 . Mr. Fox and the Deceitful Frogs
[ Mr. Fox and the Frogs ]
Summary: Water animals are all talking; Fox sees his reflection in water and falls in.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 45
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 15
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

15 . Mr. Fox Goes A-Hunting, But Mr. Rabbit Bags the Game
[ Brer Rabbit Dead in the Road ]
Summary: Rabbit pretends to be dead; Fox passes by. Rabbit repeats, and when Fox goes back for first dead rabbit, Rabbit runs off with Fox's sack.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 48
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 42
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

16 . Old Mr. Rabbit, He's a Good Fisherman
[ Brer Rabbit Down in the Well ]
Summary: Rabbit shirks work and gets stuck in well. He tells Fox he's fishing and they trade places: Fox goes down, Rabbit comes up. Animals abuse Fox for muddying the well-water.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 50
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 44
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

17 . Mr. Rabbit Nibbles Up the Butter
[ Brer Rabbit and the Butter ]
Summary: Rabbit, Fox, and Possum hide butter while they work; Rabbit pretends to visit sick wife (sick, sicker, dead), eating all the butter, then smears butter on Possum to make him seem guilty. In fire test, Rabbit leaps fire; Fox gets white lower tail; Possum burns up.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 53
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 46
LibriVox: 1
LibriVox: 2.

18 . Mr. Rabbit Finds His Match at Last
[ Brer Rabbit Races Brer Terrapin ]
Summary: Turtle challenges Rabbit to a race. Turtle wins by using his family members as stand-ins along the route.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 57
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 31
LibriVox: 1

19 . The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow
[ The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow ]
Summary: Sparrow threatens to tattle about Rabbit to Fox, but Rabbit gets to Fox first and lies about Sparrow. Angry Fox, pretending to be deaf, tricks Sparrow into getting close enough to swallow.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 61
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 35
LibriVox: 1

20 . How Mr. Rabbit Saved His Meat
[ Rabbit, Wolf, and the Tail of the Cow ]
Summary: Wolf drops fish to chase partridge; Rabbit gets fish. In exchange, Wolf kills Fox's cow, but Rabbit tricks Wolf and takes meat, burying tail: cow went into the ground!
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 65
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 51
LibriVox: 1

21 . Mr. Rabbit Meets His Match Again
[ Rabbit, Buzzard, and the Gold Mine ]
Summary: Rabbit cheats Buzzard of crop; Buzzard gets revenge by supposedly flying Rabbit to gold mine and abandoning him until Rabbit pays what he owes.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 69
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 69
LibriVox: 1

22 . A Story About the Little Rabbits
[ Brer Fox and the Little Rabbits ]
Summary: Fox threatens the little Rabbits and imposes tasks on them. The Rabbits must break sugarcane, a bird advises they gnaw it; they must fill a sieve with water, the bird advises they caulk the holes; they must put a big log on fire, the bird advises they roll it. Rabbit comes home, and Fox leaves, defeated.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 71
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 54
LibriVox: 1

23 . Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Bear
[ Guarding the Goober Patch ]
Summary: Caught in a trap when raiding Fox's peanuts, Rabbit tells Bear who passes by that he is working as a scarecrow. Bear wants the job, so he trades places with Rabbit. When Fox finds Bear there, he whips him. Rabbit hides from Bear in water; Bear sees his eyes and mistakes Rabbit for Frog.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 74
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 71
LibriVox: 1

24 . Mr. Bear Catches Old Mr. Bull-Frog
[ The Bear and the Bull-Frog ]
Summary: Seeking revenge, Bear catches Frog and plans to kill him. Frog asks to go out on rock for one last look at family; Bear agrees, and Frog gets away.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 77
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16
LibriVox: 1

25 . How Mr. Rabbit Lost His Fine Bushy Tail
[ How Brer Rabbit Lost His Tail ]
Summary: Rabbit asks Fox for fishing advice. Fox tricks Rabbit into putting his tail in freezing water; Rabbit loses his tail.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 80
[not in Lester]
LibriVox: 1

26 . Mr. Terrapin Shows His Strength
[ Turtle Shows His Strength ]
Summary: Turtle challenges Bear to a rope-pulling contest. Turtle ties the rope to a limb in the mud under water. Bear pulls and pulls, and finally concedes that Turtle has won.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 83
Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 19
LibriVox: 1

27 . Why Mr. Possum Has No Hair on His Tail
[ Why Possum Has No Hair on His Tail ]
Summary: Rabbit tells Possum to eat Bear's persimmons. This leads to trouble: Rabbit then tells Bear, who catches Possum. Possum escapes but Bear bites him and thus scrapes off all the hair of Possum's tail.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 87
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 41
LibriVox: 1

28 . The End of Mr. Bear
[ Brer Bear and the Bees ]
Summary: Rabbit tells Bear he found a honey-tree. When Bear sticks his head in the hole, Rabbit stirs up the bees, and they sting Bear who can't get his head out of the hole.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 90
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 74
LibriVox: 1

29 . Mr. Fox Gets Into Serious Business
[ Fox and Rabbit in the Garden ]
Summary: Man catches Rabbit in garden in and ties him up, and then Fox comes along. Rabbit tells Fox that the gals tied him there so that he could wait on the wedding party to come by. Fox gladly takes Rabbit's place. Rabbit runs; Man finds Fox and beats him. Rabbit then frees Fox.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 94
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 75
LibriVox: 1

30 . How Mr. Rabbit Succeeded in Raising a Dust
[ Brer Rabbit Raises the Dust ]
Summary: There is contest to marry one of the gals: you have to break a granite rock to dust. Rabbit wins by putting ashes in slippers, making it look like he's raising dust.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 98
Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 26
LibriVox: 1

31 . A Plantation Witch
[ A Plantation Witch ]
Summary: Man has a brother who is a shapeshifting witch. When the witch takes off his skin to go flying as a bat, the man salts the skin. Supernatural creatures come (cat, dog, owl), and then a wolf takes the skin away. The brother then reappears, squirming inside the salted skin. This cures the man of being a witch. (The story also describes witch rabbits in the cemetery.)
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 101
[not in Lester]
LibriVox: 1

32 . Jacky-My-Lantern
[ The Blacksmith and the Devil ]
Summary: A blacksmith makes a bargain with the Devil. The Devil enchants the blacksmith's hammer and chair, and he gives the blacksmith money for drink. The blacksmith uses the chair to fend off the Devil one year, and then the hammer. The third time, he escapes the Devil's sack and puts a dog there instead. Rejected in the end by both heaven and hell, he wanders to this day: that's the jack o'lantern.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 105
Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 141
LibriVox: 1

33 . Why the Negro Is Black
[ The Black People and the Pond ]
Summary: Everybody used to be black, but there was a magical pond whose water changed people's skin. It changed some people white who got all the way in the water, some mulatto, and some just got palms of hands and feet in water but nothing else changed.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 109
[not in Lester]
LibriVox: 1

34 . The Sad Fate of Mr. Fox
[ Bookay the Cow ]
Summary: Fox advises Rabbit that they get food by jumping in a cow's mouth. Fox says don't cut entrails, but Rabbit does. Rabbit comes out; Fox gets trapped. Man beats Fox to death, and Rabbit asks for Fox's head. Rabbit takes the head to Fox's wife; she boils it without looking, but son Tobe looks. Mrs. Fox catches Rabbit, and sets son as guard but Rabbit tricks him by sending him to get water. Rabbit escapes, but Mrs. Fox captures him again, and he asks her to grind off his nose so he won't be able to smell when he's dead. When she fetches water for the grindstone, he escapes again.
Chase: Complete Tales, p. 111
Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 57
LibriVox: 1