Monday, December 17, 2018

Index to Julius Lester, The Complete Tales


Julius Lester's versions of the Uncle Remus stories are brilliant, as are the illustrations by Jerry Pinkney. Lester published four separate books, all illustrated by Pinkney, which are conveniently collected in a single volume: Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales. A strange feature of the "Complete Tales" edition is that it does not have pagination for the single volume. Instead, the pagination follows that in the individual volumes, starting over at page 1 again for each of the four books contained in the single-volume edition. That accounts for the strange pagination in the listing below!

You can also borrow this book at Internet Archive! I have LINKED to the Lester illustrations below.

I have created a listing below which allows you to compare Lester's versions with the versions published by Joel Chandler Harris; the links below are to the stories as found at this website with the titles I have used for the stories.

TALES OF UNCLE REMUS

title page illustration: Uncle Remus and Rabbit

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 1 ... Brer Rabbit and the Moon
Summary: Brer Rabbit and the Moon quarreled when Rabbit failed to deliver Moon's message to Mister Man, so the Moon broke Rabbit's lip and Rabbit scratched the Moon. Rabbit and the other animals came to live on earth instead.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 4 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 6 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 8 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 10 ... 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.

2-page color illustration: Fox, Tar-Baby, and Rabbit

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 10 ... 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!"

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16 ... 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.

illustration: Rabbit Rides Fox

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 23 ... 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.

illustration: Rabbits Milk Cow

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 26 ... 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.

illustration: Turtle Falls on Fox

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 29 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 31 ... 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.

illustration: Buzzard and Tortoise at Finish-Line

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 35 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 37 ... Brer Wolf Says Grace
Summary: Wolf catches Rabbit by hiding under grass in basket; Rabbit escapes by making Wolf say grace.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 40 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 42 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 44 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 46 ... 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.

2-page color illustration: Fox and Possum, Butter-Jar, and Rabbit

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 51 ... 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!

illustration: Rabbit and Wolf Pulling the Tail

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 54 ... 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.

illustration: Fox and the Rabbit Family

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 57 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 60 ... Brer Rabbit Ties Mr. Lion
Summary: Rabbit tells Lion hurricane is coming, and then Rabbit tricks Lion into tying himself to a tree.

illustration: Rabbit and Lion by the Tree

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 62 ... Brer Rabbit Frightens Brer Tiger
Summary: Rabbit swings on vine; Tiger falls. Rabbit rides Elephant, pretending to skin him. Tiger runs away in fear.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 65 ... Brer Rabbit Conquers Brer Lion
Summary: Lion eats animals one by one; when it's Rabbit's turn, he tricks Lion with his own reflection in water.

illustration: Rabbit, Lion, and the Reflection

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 68 ... Heyo, House!
Summary: Wolf hides in Rabbit's house; Rabbit speaks to house, Wolf replies.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 69 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 71 ... 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.

illustration: Bear and Rabbit Hanging Upside-Down

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 74 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 75 ... 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.

illustration: Man Catches Fox

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 78 ... 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.

2-page color illustration: Girl and Father Trap Rabbit

illustration: Man Puts Rabbit in Sack

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 81 ... 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.

illustration: Rabbit and Fox

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 87 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 91 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 96 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 99 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 101 ... How Wiley Wolf Rode in the Bag
Summary: Young wolf and rabbit play Ride in Bag, then Tie the Bag. Rabbit replaces young rabbit in bag with young wolf; Wolf then boils young wolf in bag, thinking it is the young rabbit.

illustration: Rabbit and Wolf, Riley and Wiley

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 104 ... Rabbit and Mister Man's Money
Summary: 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.

illustration: Rabbit Throws Money from Cart

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 106 ... Brer Rabbit's Cradle
Summary: Man makes trap; Rabbit calls it a cradle, and Wolf wants cradle, so Wolf gets trapped. Man is sure it's Rabbit in trap, and Wolf can't convince him otherwise.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 110 ... Brer Rabbit Rescues Brer Terrapin
Summary: 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.

illustration: Fox and Hornets

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 113 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 115 ... Brer Rabbit Pretends to Be Poisoned
Summary: 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 117 ... Fire and Honey
Summary: 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.

2-page color illustration: Rabbit and Wolf in the Log

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 122 ... Brer Wolf and his Horns
Summary: 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 124 ... Brer Rabbit and the Mosquitoes
Summary: 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.

illustration: Rabbit and Mosquitoes

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 127 ... 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.

illustration: Rabbit in his Costume

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 131 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 134 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 137 ... Brer Rabbit at the Ferry
Summary: Bear works ferry; Rabbit tells man how to get horse and colt to board the ferry, and later wins bet distinguishing mother mare from daughter mare.

illustration: Man at the Ferry

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 141 ... Fox, Wolf, and the Little Rabbits
Summary: Fox and Wolf cooperate to get rabbits, but Rabbit tells Wolf that delicious molasses is Fox's blood, so Wolf goes chasing Fox.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 145 ... 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.

Lester: Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 145 ... Brer Rabbit and the Witch-Rabbit
Summary: 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.

illustration: Rabbit Ties Snake

MORE TALES OF UNCLE REMUS

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 3 ... Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox on the Roof
Summary: Rabbit helps Fox nailing roof; he nails Fox to roof and steals his food.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 6 ... Fox, Rabbit, and the Supply of Beef
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 10 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 14 ... Brer Rabbit's Courtship
Summary: Rabbit in love with gal; she wants a sign. Rabbit gets hollow cane which lets him send voice into room: Gal who stays single will die. Voice then tells her to look at the pine tree, and he meets her there.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 22 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 26 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 30 ... Rabbit, Raccoon, and the Frogs
Summary: Raccoon wants frog. Rabbit tells him to play dead, and then the frogs bury him so deep they can't get out. Coon can then eat the frogs.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 33 ... Brer Rabbit's Laughing-Place
Summary: Rabbit invites Fox to see his laughing place. Rabbit thus leads him into a hornet nest, and Rabbit laughs.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 36 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 39 ... Mrs. Partridge Has a Fit
Summary: Partridge shows Rabbit other eggs, but he wants her eggs; she eats one of her own eggs and pretends to be poisoned, so Rabbit runs off thinking they are snake eggs.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 40 ... Fox, Rabbit, and Their Families
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 45 ... Brer Bear and the Honey Orchard
Summary: Bear is fat during famine; he takes ashes into woods each night. Rabbit follows trail of ashes; Bear covered in ashes eats honey. Bear won't share; Rabbit organizes animals to fake hurricane and Bear asks Rabbit to tie him to tree. Then animals eat honey.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 50 ... Inside Snake's House
Summary: Wolf and Rabbit see Snake fat during famine. They follow him and discover magic door to his house. Rabbit learns charm, so he goes inside and eats. He opens door for Wolf, who goes inside; when Snake comes back, he whips Wolf.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 56 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 56 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 60 ... Brer Rabbit Frightens His Neighbors
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 64 ... Old Grinny Granny Wolf
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 66 ... Who Ate the Little Rabbits?
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 70 ... How Wattle Weasel Was Caught
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 75 ... Brer Rabbit and the Chickens
Summary: Rabbit says Man's chickens are cold, warms them in bag; eats all chickens, and then tricks wolf into thinking the bag of feathers is valuable grass for whipmewhopme pudding. Man catches Fox: whips and whops!

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 79 ... The Critters Go to the Barbecue
Summary: Rabbit raids garden; Man sends out dogs. Rabbit tells Fox that dogs are coming to take him to barbecue, Fox tells Bear, then Coon: dogs catch them all but Rabbit gets away.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 81 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 84 ... Brer Fox and the Wildcat
Summary: Fox and Rabbit see Wildcat tracks. Rabbit urges Fox to confront Wildcat, and Wildcat attacks Fox. Rabbit laughs.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 87 ... Brer Rabbit and Brer Bull-Frog
Summary: Frog tricks Rabbit into falling in water; Frog leaves pond, and Rabbit lures Frog to tree where he chops off Frog's tail. That's why frogs don't have tails now.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 92 ... Rabbit, Wildcat, and the Turkeys
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 94 ... Sewing Brer Dog's Mouth
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 96 ... Brer Lion and the Man's Gun
Summary: Rabbit warns Lion about man's gun, but Lion says he is only afraid of partridge. Lion gets shot by gun.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 98 ... Brer Rabbit's Money Mint
Summary: Rabbit tells Fox about money-making wagon; Fox follows wagon waiting for back wheels to grind money by rubbing against the front wheels.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 100 ... Brer Fox Smells Smoke
Summary: Man catches Fox, sets wife to guard him; Fox offers to help shell peas if she lets him down, and so he gets away. Rabbit helps Man get revenge: Rabbit hires Fox to help with hay, then Rabbit sets hay on fire.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 104 ... Doctor Rabbit and Brer Fox
Summary: Rabbit prepares salve for Fox's burns, but he puts pepper in it. Then when Fox sees Rabbit's boat, he makes a boat of mud, but it dissolves in the water.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 106 ... 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 108 ... Brer Rabbit and His Steeple
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 111 ... Brer Wolf under a Rock
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 114 ... Brer Wolf and the Witch-Rabbit
Summary: 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.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 117 ... Brer Rabbit and the Gizzard-Eater
Summary: Gator catches Rabbit in flood; Gator wants to eat Rabbit's gizzard, and Rabbit says he left his double-gizzard in a tree back on land. They go back to land; Rabbit escapes.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 123 ... When Brer Rabbit Was King
Summary: Lion goes fishing; Rabbit is king. Dog tells troubles; Rabbit smears him with pepper and turpentine. To this day, dogs are sniffing to find Brer Dog.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 129 ... How Old Craney-Crow Lost His Head
Summary: Crane sees birds sleeping with head under wings and thinks they take off their heads. Rabbit says it's to escape mosquitoes; he fetches Doctor Wolf who snaps Crane's neck and takes his head off.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 129 ... Brer Fox Follows the Fashion
Summary: Rabbit tells Fox about sleeping headless; Fox and wife decide to try, and Mrs. Fox chops off Mr. Fox's head.

Lester: More Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 139 ... Brer Rabbit Organizes a Race
Summary: Rabbit asks Rainmaker for race between Dust and Rain. Rain thought Dust won because she couldn't see; Dust was stuck in the mud, so Rain won.


Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 3 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 8 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 12 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 15 ... Mr. Fox and the Frogs
Summary: Water animals are all talking; Fox sees his reflection in water and falls in.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 19 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 22 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 25 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 29 ... The Pimmerly Plum
Summary: 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 33 ... How the Terrapin Was Taught to Fly
Summary: Turtle wants flying lessons from Buzzard. When he flies on his own, he falls; he boasts that he flies good but just can't land.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 35 ... Brer Hawk and Brer Buzzard
Summary: 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 38 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 41 ... Wise Bird and Foolish Bird
Summary: Wise Bird challenges Foolish Bird to no-eating no-drinking contest. Wise Bird has food, Foolish Bird doesn't, and he dies.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 44 ... The Most Beautiful Bird in the World
Summary: In beauty contest, Miz Coo-Coo takes feathers from all birds; wins, and flies away. All birds saying her name even now and preening where they gave her feathers.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 49 ... Brer Mud Turtle's Trickery
Summary: Mud-Turtle bites Fox while fishing. Fox chews the turtle's shell; Mud Turtle says mud is required to open the shell. Fox pretends to go off; Turtle not fooled. Fox puts Turtle in mud, and Turtle escapes, dragging Fox into the mud.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 53 ... The Creature With No Claws
Summary: Wolf sees strange tracks that lead to a strange animal rubbing a tree; he doesn't realize it is Wildcat. Wildcat attacks him.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 56 ... The Rattlesnake and the Polecat
Summary: Polecat flees cold, goes to Rattlesnake; Rattlesnake won't let him in.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 56 ... Brer Bear's Big House
Summary: Polecat goes to Bear; Bear lets him in and they have to move out because of stink.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 59 ... Brer Rabbit's Bear Hunt
Summary: Rabbit goes bear-hunting with help of Wolf and Fox. Rabbit then tells Bear that Wolf and Fox are hunting him, so Bear beats them up and Rabbit laughs.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 68 ... Brer Rabbit Teaches Brer Fox a Trick
Summary: Rabbit teaches Fox how to scare animals from waterhole with molasses-and-leaves monster disguise, but then molasses dissolves in water; animals punish Fox.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 70 ... Taily-Po
Summary: Rabbit gets Witch to make Taily-Po beast; beast goes to Man's house and Man grabs tail, then creature comes back for its tail. Man finds tail in fireplace and sets fire to house, Man burns up.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 77 ... Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and the Pullets
Summary: Rabbit tricks Fox with written note, then tricks Mrs. Fox with same note; she gives him chickens, while Rabbit pretends to have intervened with Lion on Fox's behalf.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 86 ... Brer Rabbit and the Calico
Summary: Rabbit tricks Mrs. Fox into thinking Fox has calico for her; Lion summons Rabbit to cure foot; fox-hide is the only cure.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 95 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 101 ... 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 106 ... Benjamin Ram Confronts Fox and Wolf
Summary: Fox and Wolf attack Ram; Ram thanks Fox for bringing Wolf because he is hungry for some Wolf meat. Fox and Wolf both run.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 108 ... Brer Bear and the Little Gators
Summary: 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.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 112 ... Mink and Terrapin Go Diving
Summary: Turtle challenges Mink to stay underwater; Turtle eats all the fish while Mink is underwater, and then accuses Mink of having eaten the fish.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 116 ... Brer Goat Eats the Rock
Summary: Goat tells Wolf he's eating rock; this scares Wolf, and he runs.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 118 ... Brer Fox and Mr. Cricket
Summary: Fox and Cricket race. Rabbit meets Fox along the way and urges Fox to hurry if he wants to catch up. Meanwhile, Cricket was riding on Fox's tail and wins.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 122 ... Mister Cricket and Brer Rabbit Play a Trick
Summary: With help from Rabbit, Cricket makes animals run by getting in their ears, hopping from one animal ear to another: elephant to lion to tiger.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 128 ... The Story of the Doodang
Summary: Doodang is unhappy: fish give him fins but take them back, likewise birds give him feathers but take them back, and he ends up stuck on island in water where he dies. Brer Rabbit laughs.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 133 ... Brer Deer and King Sun's Daughter
Summary: Deer is in love with Sun's daughter, and he gets help from Rabbit and also from Spring-Lizard. Sun's messenger comes for water, so Deer sends petition, and Sun gives him Daughter in exchange for gold.

Lester: Further Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 142 ... Teenchy-Tiny Duck
Summary: Duck finds money, but rich man steals it; she retrieves with help of helpers she carries in satchel: Fox eats chickens, Wolf eats cows, escapes from well with Ladder, from fire with River, and bees sting man.


Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 3 ... Grandaddy Cricket in the Chimney
Summary: Cricket gets in chimney for warmth; man pours boiling water on him. Cricket kicks down chimney, which made Cricket's elbows go down to his knees.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 8 ... 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 13 ... The Origin of the Ocean
Summary: 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 16 ... Brer Rabbit and Miss Nancy
Summary: Rabbit tricked Man's daughter Nancy out of bread and money and then blamed it on her beau. He sang a song indicting the beau, so Man kicked Nancy and her beau out of the house.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 22 ... The King That Talked Biggity
Summary: Old king poses riddle to would-be new king (beef without cow) and new king riddles back (come get it not at day or night).

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 25 ... Why the Bear Is a Wrestler
Summary: Bear father sends him off with magic honey that will make anyone who eats it wrestle and give him everything. Tiger eats honey, wrestles Bear; Bear takes Tiger's house.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 28 ... The Snake Eggs
Summary: 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 33 ... 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 37 ... Brer Rabbit's Eating Contest
Summary: In an eating contest, Rabbit pretends to eat the most but is just hiding food in purse; Bear exposes him

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 39 ... Brer Bear Learns to Comb his Hair
Summary: Rabbit slicks his hair. He tells Bear that wife uses axe to cut off his hair and put it back; Bear asks his wife to do same with axe, and that's the end of Bear.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 41 ... 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 44 ... 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 46 ... The Baby and the Pumpkins
Summary: Woman treats mysterious man kindly and gets gift of magic pumpkin tree. Strange foundling shows up; this baby is very greedy for pumpkins. Woman casts him out; he transforms into a grown man. He does not treat the mysterious man kindly; pumpkins fall from the tree and smash him.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 49 ... Impty-umpty and the Blacksmith
Summary: Rabbit watches blacksmith and devil: he tells devil can't turn into monkey hog cat, but devil does, and man traps the cat. Rabbit tricks him into letting devil out; when man dies, devil tells him to go make his own hell.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 56 ... The Hard-Headed Woman
Summary: Angry woman is married to a conjure man who enchants their cooking pot. She attacks the pot. The pot chases her and throws coal at her. She never comes back, but the pot goes home.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 62 ... Brer Rabbit's Frolic
Summary: Animals are going to trick Rabbit with party but he tricks them by pretending there is going to be a party at Miz Meadows'.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 64 ... Why Brer Fox's Legs Are Black
Summary: Rabbit and Fox hunt, and then they need fire to cook. Fox goes to get fire from Sun, but he falls asleep over Sun hole; when Sun rises, it burns his legs black.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 66 ... The Preacher and the Black Cat
Summary: Preacher stays in haunted house. A black cat appears; he cuts off cat's toe and it becomes human finger with ring. The finger belongs to the wife of homeowner; she turns back into a cat. They burn her, and the house was not haunted anymore.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 71 ... The Witch-Wolf
Summary: Witch-Wolf Mizzle-Mazzle is a man-eater. She seduces a man, but he is suspicious and asks Judge Rabbit for advice. Rabbit tells him to ask her about milking the red cow; she can do all other housework, but the red cow recognizes her and chases her off; the man sees her wolf feet as she escapes.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 76 ... Why Brer Dog Is Tame
Summary: Wolf suggests Dog get fire from man; Dog stays there and works for Man. Dog invites Wolf, but when Wolf smiles as Dog did, Man sees those teeth and shoots him.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 82 ... Tinktum Tidy and the King
Summary: King gives a little man corn to recruit army; the man trades up from corn to goose sheep cow horse, and then helps a mysterious stranger who tells him how to enchant eleven robbers whom he brings back to king.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 88 ... How Guinea-Fowls Got Their Spots
Summary: Lion attacks Cow. Guineas help Cow, so Cow awards them milk speckles.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 93 ... Why the Guineas Stay Awake
Summary: Fox steals a Guinea hen; now they stay awake all night in fear of Fox.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 94 ... Brer Fox in the Fruit Tree
Summary: 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 98 ... Why the Hawk Catches Chickens
Summary: Rooster helps Hawk catch Sun in bed for advice about food; Sun's advice: eat chickens!

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 102 ... Boy Faces Weird Women and a Bear
Summary: Panther-women take boy away; by supernatural signs his mother knows to send dogs who rescue him. Boy then rescues sister from Bear: he combs her hair, Bear wants same, so he sticks Bear's head in boiling water.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 110 ... The Man and the Wild Cattle
Summary: Magic boy grows up, and he hunts horned cattle in woods. Cow-turned-woman marries him. She ties up his dogs so they cannot rescue him from cattle. He uses arrows to make trees while dogs chew their way free. They attack cattle; one pretty cow is left (his wife), but he never sees her again.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 115 ... Cutta Cord-la
Summary: 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 119 ... Why Brer Bull Growls and Grumbles
Summary: Bull became man to get wife; young boy learns the transformation charm and reveals the man as bull. Bull traps the boy in tree, so boy uses magic pancakes to cut off the man's arms. That's why bulls grumble even today.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 123 ... Brer Rabbit and the Gingercakes
Summary: To honor King Polecat, animals must close eyes and hold nose when meeting him. Polecat steals cakes Raccoon closes his eyes. Rabbit is not fooled and threatens to reveal Polecat's trick, so he gets to keep the pancakes.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 128 ... A Fool for Luck
Summary: Squirrels steal fool's corn; he doesn't worry. Thanks to lucky hunting, he finds the corn and through series of more lucky breaks, he gets rich, all because he let squirrels be.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 131 ... How Mr. Lion Lost His Wool
Summary: Man scrapes hogs in boiling water; Rabbit, Wolf, and Fox arrive. Lion tries to take a bath in the hot water and loses all his hair except mane and tuft on tail.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 133 ... The Man and His Boots
Summary: Man with boots fools man in wagon by leaving one boot, then another, but the wagon-driver plays counter-trick by pretending he found money in the boots. The man now claims the boots are his, which allows the wagon-driver to grab the man and arrest him.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 136 ... Mr. Goat's Short Tail
Summary: Dog and Goat go to Wolf's house but don't go in. Wolf plays fiddle; they won't dance. He attacks. Dog uses magic rabbit's food to turn Goat into stone and then tricks Wolf into throwing stone. Part of stone breaks off; the broken-off part was Goat's long tail, so now Goat's have short tails.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 138 ... Mr. Crow and Mr. Buzzard
Summary: Crow and Buzzard have singing contest. Crow's family brings him food, so he wins; Buzzard has no family to help him. Crow now wears black coat he won in the contest.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 141 ... 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 147 ... 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.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 149 ... Brer Rabbit and Aunt Nancy
Summary: Rabbit refuses to go to Nancy (goddess); he tells animals to shake hands with her and see the truth. Bears asks to shake hands. Her cloak comes off and they see she is half-woman half-spider and they run.

Lester: Last Tales of Uncle Remus, p. 151 ... The Adventures of Simon and Susanna
Summary: Susanna's father, a witch, sets marriage test; Susanna gives Simon a magic ax to pass the test. Father then plans Simon's death; Susanna uses broom substitute and they run, using magic to create obstacles and escape.

~ ~ ~

Lester did not include all of Harris's stories; here are the stories he did not use:



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