Tuesday, December 18, 2018

C109. How Black Snake Caught the Wolf

4: How Black Snake Caught the Wolf. Text Source: Daddy Jake, The Runaway by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Hathi Trust. I have removed the frame material and standardized the spelling; click here for notes to the story.


One time, Brer Rabbit and old Brer Wolf was going down the road together, and Brer Wolf, he allow that times was mighty hard and money scarce.

Brer Rabbit, he agree along with him, he did, that times was mighty tight, and he up and say that it was in about much as he can do for to make both ends meet. He allow, he did, "Brer Wolf, you are getting mighty gaunt, and it won't be so mighty long 'fore we'll have to be took up and put in the poor-house. What make this?" says Brer Rabbit, says he; "I'll be blessed if I can tell, 'cause here are all the critters getting gaunt whiles all the reptiles is a-getting seal fat. No longer than yesterday, I was coming along through the woods. When who should I meet but old Brer Snake, and he was that put that he ain't can scarcely pull he tail along after he head. I allow to meself, I did, that this here country getting in a mighty bad way when the critters is got to go 'round with their ribs growing together whiles the reptiles laying up in the sun just naturally fattening on their own laziness. Yes sir, that what I allowed."

Brer Wolf, he say, he did, that if the reptiles was getting the advantage of the critters that a-way, that it was about time for to clean out the reptiles or leave the country, and he allow, furthermore, that he was ready far to join in with the patter-rollers and drive 'em out.

But Brer Rabbit, he allow, he did, that the best way for to get along was to find out whereabouts the reptiles had their smoke-house and go in there and get some of* the vittles what by good rights belonged to the critters. 

Brer Wolf say maybe this the best way, 'cause if the reptiles get word that the patter-rollers is a-coming they'll take and hide the gingercakes, and their persimmon beer, and their whats-his-names, so that the critters can't get 'em. By this time they come to the forks of the road, and Brer Rabbit he went one way, and Brer Wolf he went the other. 

Where Brer Wolf went, the goodness knows, but Brer Rabbit, he went on down the road towards he own house, and whiles he was lippiting long, nibbling a bite here and a bite there, he hear a mighty curious fuss in the woods. He lay low, Brer Rabbit did, and listen. He look sharp, he did, and by and by he catch a glimpse of old Mr. Black Snake going along through the grass. Brer Rabbit, he lay low and watch him. Mr. Black Snake crept along, he did, just like he was greased. Brer Rabbit say to hisself, "Hi! There goes one of the reptiles, and as she slips, she slides along."

Yet, still he lay low and watch. Mr. Black Snake crept along, he did, and by and by he come where there was a great big poplar-tree. Brer Rabbit, he crept on his belly and follow along after. Mr. Black Snake took and circle all 'round the tree, and then he stop and sing out, 
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 

And den, most 'fore Brer Rabbit can wink he eye, a door what was in the tree flewed open, and Mr. Black Snake took and crawl in. Brer Rabbit allow, he did, "Ah-yi! There where you stay! There where you keeps your persimmon beer! There where you hides your backbone and spare ribs. Ah-yi!"

When Mr. Black Snake went in the house, Brer Rabbit crept up, he did, and listen for to see what he can hear going on in there. But he ain't hear nothing. By and by, whiles he sitting 'round there, he hear the same song:
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 

And most 'fore Brer Rabbit can hide in the weeds, the door it flewed open, and out Mr. Black Snake slid. He slid out, he did, and slid off, and after he get out of sight, Brer Rabbit, he took and went back to the poplar-tree for to see if he can get in there. He hunt 'round and he hunt 'round, and yet ain't find no door. Then he sat up on he behind legs, old Brer Rabbit did, and allow, "Hey! What kind of contraption this here? I seed a door there just now, but there ain't no door there now."

Old Brer Rabbit scratch he head, he did, and by and by it come into he mind that maybe the song got something or other to do with it, and with that he chimed up, he did, and sing,
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Bandario, wo-haw! 

Time he say first part, the door sort of open, but when he say the last part it slammed shut again. Then he tune up some more:
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Bandario, wo-haw! 

Time he say the first part the door open little ways, but time he say the last part it slammed shut again. Then Brer Rabbit allow he'd hang 'round there and find out what kind of hinges that there door was a-swinging on. So he stays 'round there, he did, till by and by Mr. Black Snake came long back. 

Brer Rabbit crept up, he did, and he hear him sing the song:
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 

Then the door open, and Mr. Black Snake, he slid in, and Brer Rabbit, he lipped off in the bushes and sung the song by hisself. Then he went home and took some rest, and next day he went back; and when Mr. Black Snake come out and went off, Brer Rabbit, he took and sing the song, and the door fiewed open, and in he went. He went in, he did, and when he got in there, he find lots of goodies. He find cakes and sausages, and all sort of nice doings. 

Then he come out, and the next day he went he told old Brer Wolf, and Brer Wolf, he allow that, being as times is hard, he believe he'll go along and sample some of Mr. Black Snake's doings. 

They went, they did, and soon as they find that Mr. Black Snake is gone, Brer Rabbit he sing the song, and the door open, and in he went. He went in there, he did, and he gobbled up his bellyful, and whiles he doing this Brer Wolf he gallop 'round and 'round, trying for to get in. But the door done slam shut, and Brer Wolf ain't know the song. 

By and by Brer Rabbit he come out, he did, licking he chops and wiping he mustache, and Brer Wolf ask him what the name of goodness is the reason he ain't let him go in along with him. 

Brer Rabbit, he vow, he did, that he expected any gump'd know that somebody got to stay outside and watch whiles the other one was on the inside. Brer Wolf say he ain't thunk of that, and then he ask Brer Rabbit for to let him in, and please be so good as to stay out there and watch whiles he get some of the goodies.

With that Brer Rabbit, he sung the song: 
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 
Watsilla, watsilla, 
Consario wo! 

He sung the song, he did, and the door flewed open, and Brer Wolf he leaped in, and begun to gobble up the goodies. Brer Rabbit, he stayed outside, and make like he going to watch. Brer Wolf, he et and et, and he keep on a-eating. 

Brer Rabbit, he took and stand off in the bushes, and by and by he hear Mr. Black Snake a-sliding through the grass. Brer Rabbit, he ain't say nothing. He allow to hisself, he did, that he was there to watch, and that what he going to do if the good Lord spare him. So he sat there and watch, and Mr. Black Snake, he come a-sliding up to the house and sing the song, and then the door flewed open and in he went. 

Brer Rabbit sat there and watch so hard, he did, that it look like he eyes going to pop out. It weren't long 'fore he hear something or other like a scuttle going on in the poplar-tree, and, first news you know, Brer Wolf come tumbling out. 

He come tumbling out, he did, and down he fell, 'cause Mr. Black Snake got him tied hard and fast so he ain't can run. 


Then, after so long a time, Mr. Black Snake took and tie Brer Wolf up to a limb, and there that critter swung 'twixt the heaven and the earth. He swung and swayed, and every time he swung Mr. Black Snake took and lash him with he tail, and every time he lash him Brer Rabbit holler out, he did, "Serve him right! serve him right!"

And I let you know that when Mr. Black Snake get through with that critter, he ain't want no more goodies.


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