C002. Brer Rabbit and the Tar-Baby

2. The Wonderful Tar-baby Story. Text Source: Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings 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.

This story follows Uncle Remus Initiates the Little Boy as you'll see from the reference to the calamus root at the beginning and at the end of the story.

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BRER RABBIT and the TAR-BABY

One day after Brer Rabbit fool him with that calamus root, Brer Fox went to work and got him some tar, and mix it with some turpentine, and fix up a contraption what he call a Tar-Baby, and he took this here Tar-Baby and he sat her in the big road, and then he lay off in the bushes for to see what the news was going to be.

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And he didn't have to wait long, neither, 'cause by and by here come Brer Rabbit pacing down the road — lippity-clippity, clippity-lippity — just as sassy as a jaybird. Brer Fox, he lay low.

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Brer Rabbit come prancing along till he spy the Tar-Baby, and then he fetch up on his behind legs like he was  astonished.

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The Tar Baby, she sat there, she did, and Brer Fox, he lay low.

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"Mornin'!" says Brer Rabbit, says he — "Nice weather this mornin'," says he.

Tar-Baby ain't saying' nothing, and Brer Fox he lay low.

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"How does yo' sym'toms seem to segashuate?" says Brer Rabbit, says he.

Brer Fox, he wink his eye slow, and lay low, and the Tar-Baby, she ain't saying nothing.

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"How you come on, then? Is you deaf?" says Brer Rabbit, says he. "'Cause if you is, I can holler louder," says he.

Tar-Baby stay still, and Brer Fox, he lay low.

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"You is stuck up, that's what you is," says Brer Rabbit, says he, "an' I'm goin' to cure you, that's what I'm a goin' to do," says he.

Brer Fox, he sort of chuckle in his stomach, he did, but Tar-Baby ain't saying nothing.

"I'm goin' to learn you how to talk to 'spectable folks if it's the las' act," says Brer Rabbit, says he. "If you don't take off that hat an' tell me howdy, I'm goin' to bus' you wide open," says he.

Tar-Baby stay still, and Brer Fox, he lay low.

Brer Rabbit keep on asking him, and the Tar-Baby, she keep on saying nothing, till presently Brer Rabbit draw back with his fist, he did, and blip he took her side of the head. Right there's where he broke his molasses jug. His fist stuck, and he can't pull loose. The tar hold him. But Tar-Baby, she stay still, and Brer Fox, he lay low.

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"If you don't let me loose, I'll knock you again," says Brer Rabbit, says he, and with that he fetch her a wipe with the other hand, and that stuck. Tar-Baby, she ain't saying nothing, and Brer Fox, he lay low.

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"Turn me loose, 'fore I kick the nat'ral stuffin' out of you," says Brer Rabbit, says he, but the Tar-Baby, she ain't saying nothing. She just hold on, and then Brer Rabbit lose the use of his feet in the same way. Brer Fox, he lay low.

Den Brer Rabbit squall out that if the Tar-Baby don't turn him loose he butt her cranksided. And then he butted, and his head got stuck. Then Brer Fox, he sauntered forth, looking just as innocent as one of mammy's mocking-birds.

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"Howdy, Brer Rabbit," says Brer Fox, says he. "You look sort of stuck up this mornin'," says he, and then he rolled on the ground, an' laughed and laughed till he couldn't laugh no more.

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"I 'spect you'll take dinner with me this time, Brer Rabbit. I done laid in some calamus root, an' I ain't goin' to take no 'scuse," says Brer Fox, says he.

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C007. Brer Rabbit Rides Brer Fox Again

7. Mr. Fox Is Again Victimized. Text Source: Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. I have removed the frame material. 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 RABBIT RIDES BRER FOX AGAIN

Well, Brer Rabbit rid Brer Fox up, he did, and tied him to the rack, and then sat out in the piazza with the gals a-smoking on his cigar with more proudness than what you most ever see.

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They talk, and they sing, and they play on the piano, the gals did, till by and by it come time for Brer Rabbit for to be going, and he tell 'em all good-by, and strut out to the horse-rack same's if he was the king of the patter-rollers, and then he mount Brer Fox and ride off.

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Brer Fox ain't saying nothing at all. He just rack off, he did, and keep his mouth shut, and Brer Rabbit knowed there was business cooking up for him, and he feel monstrous skittish. Brer Fox amble on till he get in the long lane, out of sight of Miss Meadows's house, and then he turn loose, he did.

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He rip and he rear, and he cuss, and he swear; he snort and he cavort. He was trying for to fling Brer Rabbit off of his back, bless your soul! But he just might as well of wrestle with his own shadow.

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Every time he hump hisself Brer Rabbit slap the spurrers in him, and there they had it, up and down.

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Brer Fox fairly tore up the ground he did, and he jump so high and he jump so quick that he mighty nigh snatch his own tail off.

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They kept on going on this way till by and by Brer Fox lay down and roll over, he did, and this sort of unsettle Brer Rabbit, but by the time Brer Fox got back on his footses again, Brer Rabbit was going through the underbrush more samer than a race-horse.

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Brer Fox he lit out after him, he did, and he push Brer Rabbit so close that it was about all he could do for to get in a hollow tree. Hole too little for Brer Fox for to get in, and he had to lay down and rest and gather his mind together.

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While he was laying there, Mr. Buzzard come flopping along, and seeing Brer Fox stretch out on the ground, he lit and view the premises. Then Mr. Buzzard sort of shake his wing, and put his head on one side, and say to hisself like, says he, "Brer Fox dead, an' I so sorry," says he.

"No I ain't dead, neither," says Brer Fox, says he. "I got ole man Rabbit pent up in here," says he, "an' I'm a goin' to get him this time if it take till Christmas," says he.

Then, after some more palaver, Brer Fox make a bargain that Mr. Buzzard was to watch the hole, and keep Brer Rabbit there whiles Brer Fox went after his axe. Then Brer Fox, he lope off, he did, and Mr. Buzzard, he took up his stand at the hole.

By and by, when all get still, Brer Rabbit sort of scramble down close to the hole, he did, and holler out, "Brer Fox! Oh! Brer Fox!"

Brer Fox done gone, and nobody say nothing. Then Brer Rabbit squall out like he was mad; says he, "You needn't talk 'less you want to," says he; "I knows you are there, and I ain't carin'," says he. "I just want to tell you that I wish mighty bad Brer Tukkey Buzzard was here," says he.

Then Mr. Buzzard try to talk like Brer Fox, "What you want with Mr. Buzzard?" says he.

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"Oh, nothing in particular, 'cept there's the fattest gray squirrel in here that ever I see," says he, "an' if Brer Turkey Buzzard was 'round he'd be mighty glad for to get 'im," says he.

"How Mr. Buzzard goin' to get 'im?" says the Buzzard, says he.

"Well, there's a little hole 'round on the other side of the tree," says Brer Rabbit, says he, "an' if Brer Turkey Buzzard was here so he could take up his stand there," says he, "I'd drive that squirrel out," says he.

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"Drive him out, then," says Mr. Buzzard, says he, "an' I'll see that Brer Turkey Buzzard gets 'im," says he.

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Then Brer Rabbit kick up a racket, like he were driving something out, and Mr. Buzzard he rush 'round for to catch the squirrel, and Brer Rabbit, he dash out, he did, and he just fly for home.

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C011. News of Brer Fox's Death

11. Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure. Text Source: Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings 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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NEWS of BRER FOX'S DEATH

Brer Fox feel so bad, and he get so mad about Brer Rabbit,  that he don't know what to do, and he look mighty down-hearted. By and by, one day whiles he was going along the road, old Brer Wolf come up with him.

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When they done howdying and asking after one another's family connection, Brer Wolf, he allow, he did, that there was something wrong with Brer Fox, and Brer Fox, he allowed there weren't, and he went on and laugh and make great to do 'cause Brer Wolf look like he suspicion something.

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But Brer Wolf, he got mighty long head, and he sort of broach about Brer Rabbit's carryings on, 'cause the way that Brer Rabbit deceive Brer Fox done got to be the talk of the neighborhood.

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Then Brer Fox and Brer Wolf they sort of palavered on, they did, till by and by Brer Wolf heup andsay that he done got plan fix for to trap Brer Rabbit. Then Brer Fox say how. Den Brer Wolf up and tell him that the way for to get the drop on Brer Rabbit was to get him in Brer Fox house. Brer Fox don't know Brer Rabbit of old, and he know that sort of game done wore to a frazzle, but Brer Wolf, he talk mighty persuading.

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"How you gonna get him there?" says Brer Fox, says he.

"Fool him there," says Brer Wolf, says he.

"Who gonna do the foolin'?" says Brer Fox, says he.

"I'll do the foolin'," says Brer Wolf, says he, "if you'll do the gamin'," says he.

"How you gonna do it?" says Brer Fox, says he.

"You run 'long home, an' get on the bed, an' make like you dead, an' don't you say nothin' till Brer Rabbit come an' put his hands onto you," says Brer Wolf, says he, "an' if we don't get him for supper, Joe's dead an' Sal's a widow," says he.

This look like mighty nice game, and Brer Fox agreed. So then he amble off home, and Brer Wolf, he march off to Brer Rabbit house. When he got there, it look like nobody at home, but Brer Wolf he walk up and knock on the door—blam! blam! Nobody come. Then he lam aloose and knock again—blim! blim!

"Who there?" says Brer Rabbit, says he.

"Friend," says Brer Wolf.

"Too many friends spoils the dinner," says Brer Rabbit, says he; "which one's this?" says he.

"I fetch bad news, Brer Rabbit," says Brer Wolf, says he.

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"Bad news is soon told," says Brer Rabbit, says he.

By this time Brer Rabbit done come to the door, with his head tied up in a red handkerchief.

"Brer Fox died this mornin'," says Brer Wolf, says he.

"Where your mournin' gown, Brer Wolf?" says Brer Rabbit, says he.

"Goin' after it now," says Brer Wolf, says he. "I just call by for to bring the news. I went down to Brer Fox house little bit ago, an' there I found him stiff," says he.

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Den Brer Wolf lope off. Brer Rabbit sat down and scratch his head, he did, and by and by he say to hisself that he believe he sort of drop round by Brer Fox house for to see how the land lay. No sooner said than done. Up he jump, and out he went.

When Brer Rabbit got close to Brer Fox house, all look lonesome. Then he went up nigher. Nobody stirring. Then he look in, and there lay Brer Fox stretch out on the bed just as big as life. Den Brer Rabbit make like he talking to hisself.

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"Nobody round for to look after Brer Fox—not even Brer Turkey Buzzard ain't come to the funeral," says he. "I hope Brer Fox ain't dead, but I 'spect he is," says he. "Even down to Brer Wolf done gone an' left him. It's the busy season with me, but I'll set up with him. He seem like he dead, yet he mayn't be," says Brer Rabbit, says he. "When a man go to see dead folks, dead folks always raises up their behind leg and hollers, 'wahoo!'" says he.

Brer Fox he stay still.

Den Brer Rabbit he talk little louder, "Mighty funny. Brer Fox look like he dead, yet he don't do like he dead. Dead folks hoists their behind leg and hollers 'wahoo!' when a man come to see 'em," says Brer Rabbit, says he.

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Sure enough, Brer Fox lift up his foot and holler 'wahoo!' and Brer Rabbit he tear out the house like the dogs was after him.

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Brer Wolf mighty smart, but next time you hear from him, he'll be in trouble. You just hold your breath and wait.

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C013. Brer Wolf in the Chest

13. The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf. Text Source: Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings 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 WOLF in the CHEST

Folks what's always pestering people, and bothering about that what ain't theirs, don't never come to no good end. There was Brer Wolf; instead of minding un his own business, he had to take and go in partnerships with Brer Fox, and there weren't scarcely a minute in the day that he weren't after Brer Rabbit, and he kept on and kept on till first news you knowed he got caught up with—and he got caught up with monstrous bad.

Brer Rabbit ain't see no peace whatsomever. He can't leave home except Brer Wolf'd make a raid and tote off some of the family. Brer Rabbit built him a straw house, and it was tored down; then he made a house out of pine-tops, and that went the same way; then he made him a bark house, and that was raided on, and every time he lost a house he lost one of his chilluns.

Last Brer Rabbit got mad, he did, and cussed, and then he went off, he did, and got some carpenters, and they built him a plank house with rock foundations. After that he could have some peace and quietness. He could go out and pass the time of day with his neighbors, and come back and set by the fire, and smoke his pipe, and read the newspapers same like any man what got a family.

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He made a hole, he did, in the cellar where the little Rabbits could hide out when there was much of a racket in the neighborhood, and the latch of the front door caught on the inside. Brer Wolf, he see how the land lay, he did, and he lay low. The little Rabbits was mighty skittish, but it got so that cold chills ain't run up Brer Rabbit's back no more when he heared Brer Wolf go galloping by.

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By and by, one day when Brer Rabbit was fixing for to call on Miss Coon, he heared a monstrous fuss and clatter up the big road, and almost before he could fix his ears for to listen, Brer Wolf run in the door. The little Rabbits there went into their hole in the cellar, they did, like blowing out a candle. Brer Wolf was fairly covered with mud, and mighty nigh out of wind.

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"Oh, do pray save me, Brer Rabbit!" says Brer Wolf, says he. "Do please, Brer Rabbit! The dogs is after me, an' they'll tear me up. Don't you hear 'em comin'? Oh, do please save me, Brer Rabbit! Hide me somewheres where the dogs won't get me."

No quicker said than done.

"Jump in that big chest there, Brer Wolf," says Brer Rabbit, says he; "jump in there an' make yo'self at home."

In jump Brer Wolf, down come the lid, and into the hasp went the hook, and there Mr. Wolf was. Then Brer Rabbit went to the looking-glass, he did, and wink at hisself, and then he drawed the rocking-chair in front of the fire, he did, and took a big chaw tobacco.

Then Brer Rabbit sat there long time, he did, turning his mind over and working his thinking machine. By and by he got up, and sort stir 'round. Then Brer Wolf open up, "Is the dogs all gone, Brer Rabbit?"

"Seem like I hear one of 'em smelling round the chimney-corner just now."

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Then Brer Rabbit get the kettle and fill it full of water, and put it on the fire.

"What you doin' now, Brer Rabbit?"

"I'm fixin' for to make you a nice cup of tea, Brer Wolf."

Then Brer Rabbit went to the cupboard and get the gimlet, and commence for to bore little holes in the chest-lid.

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"What you doin' now, Brer Rabbit?"

"I'm borin' little holes so you can get breath, Brer Wolf."

Then Brer Rabbit went out and get some more wood, and fling it on the fire.

"What you doin' now, Brer Rabbit?"

"I'm a-chunkin' up the fire so you won't get cold, Brer Wolf."

Then Brer Rabbit went down into the cellar and fetch out all his chilluns.

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"What you doin' now, Brer Rabbit?"

"I'm a-tellin' my chilluns what a nice man you is, Brer Wolf."

Amd the chilluns, they had to put their hands on their mouths for to keep from laughing. Then Brer Rabbit he got the kettle and commenced for to pour the hot water on the chest-lid.

"What that I hear, Brer Rabbit?"

"You hear the wind a-blowin', Brer Wolf."

Then the water begin for to sift through.

"What that I feel, Brer Rabbit?"

"You feels the fleas a-bitin', Brer Wolf."

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"They are bitin' mighty hard, Brer Rabbit."

"Turn over on the other side, Brer Wolf."

"What that I feel now, Brer Rabbit?"

"Still you feels the fleas, Brer Wolf."

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"They are eatin' me up, Brer Rabbit," and them was the last words of Brer Wolf, 'cause the scalding water done the business.

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Then Brer Rabbit call in his neighbors, he did, and there held a regular jubilee; and it you go to Brer Rabbit's house right now, I don't know but what you'll find Brer Wolf's hide hanging in the back-porch, and all 'cause he was so busy with other folkses' doings.

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C015. Brer Rabbit Dead in the Road

15. Mr. Fox Goes A-Hunting, But Mr. Rabbit Bags the Game. Text Source: Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings 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 RABBIT DEAD in the ROAD

After Brer Fox hear about how Brer Rabbit done Brer Wolf, he allow, he did, that he better not be so brash, and he sort of let Brer Rabbit alone. They was all time seeing one another, and abundance of times Brer Fox could've nab Brer Rabbit, but every time he got the chance, his mind'd sort of resume about Brer Wolf, and he let Brer Rabbit alone. 

By and by they begun to get kind of familious with one another like they used to, and it got so Brer Fox'd call on Brer Rabbit, and they'd sit up and smoke their pipes, they would, like no harsh feelings'd ever rested 'twixt 'em.

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Last, one day Brer Fox come along all rig out, and ask Brer Rabbit for to go hunting with him, but Brer Rabbit, he sort of feel lazy, and he tell Brer Fox that he got some other fish for to fry.

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Brer Fox feel mighty sorry, he did, but he say he believe he try his hand anyhow, and off he put. He was gone all day, and he had a monstrous streak of luck, Brer Fox did, and he bagged a sight of game.

By and by, towards the shank of the evening, Brer Rabbit sort of stretch hisself, he did, and allow it's most time for Brer Fox for to get along home.

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Then Brer Rabbit, he went and mounted a stump for to see if he could hear Brer Fox coming. He ain't been there long, till sure enough, here come Brer Fox through the woods, singing like a black man at a frolic. Brer Rabbit, he leaped down off of the stump, he did, and lay down in the road and make like he dead.

Brer Fox he come along, he did, and see Brer Rabbit laying there. He turn him over, he did, and examine him, and say, says he, "This here rabbit dead. He look like he been dead long time. He dead, but he mighty fat. He the fattest rabbit what I ever see, but he been dead too long. I feared to take him home," says he.

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Brer Rabbit ain't saying nothing. Brer Fox, he sort of lick his chops, but he went on and left Brer Rabbit laying in the road. Directly he was out of sight, Brer Rabbit, he jump up, he did, and run round through the woods and get before Brer Fox again.

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Brer Fox, he come up, and there lay Brer Rabbit, apparently cold and stiff. Brer Fox, he look at Brer Rabbit, and he sort of study. After while he unslung his game-bag, and say to hisself, says he, "These here rabbits goin' to waste. I'll just about leave my game here, an' I'll go back an' get that other rabbit, an' I'll make folks believe that I'm ol' man Hunter from Huntsville," says he.

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And with that he dropped his game and loped back up the road after the other rabbit, and when he got out of sight, old Brer Rabbit, he snatch up Brer Fox game and put out for home.

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Next time he see Brer Fox he holler out, "What you kill the other day, Brer Fox?" says he.

Then Brer Fox, he sort of comb his flank with his tongue, and holler back, "I catch a handful of hard sense, Brer Rabbit," says he.

Then old Brer Rabbit, he laugh, he did, and up and respond, says he, "If I'd a know'd you was after that, Brer Fox, I'd a-loaned you some of mine," says he.