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.

---

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.

(image source)

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.

(image source)

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.

(image source; colorized)

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.

(image source)

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.

(image source)

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.

(image source)

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.

(image source)

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.

C015. Baer (p. 42). Mr. Fox Goes a-Hunting, but Mr. Rabbit Bags the Game

This is Chase015.

Types  ATU1525 Master Thief

Motifs K0341.2.1 animal feigns death repeatedly and then entices owner from goods

Notes. Baer notes Dorson who notes Parsons' belief that "the tale is an incident in AT1525 The Master Thief, transmitted by Portuguese traders to Gold Coast Negroes." But Baer does not seem impressed by this idea.

Baer says Johnston parallels the Hausa tale of Jackal and Pagan.

Flowers has parallels under ATU1525, and Baer says "eight are very close to this with Rabbit as trickster and Goat or Zamba as the victim" and Baer concludes "this tale is a great favorite with West Indians and/or collectors."

C015. Brer Rabbit Dead in the Road (original spelling)

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; click here for the standardized spelling plus all notes to the story.

---

BRER RABBIT DEAD in the ROAD

Atter Brer Fox hear 'bout how Brer Rabbit done Brer Wolf, he 'low, he did, dat he better not be so brash, en he sorter let Brer Rabbit 'lone. Dey wuz all time seein' one nudder, en 'bunnunce er times Brer Fox could er nab Brer Rabbit, but eve'y time he got de chance, his mine 'ud sorter rezume 'bout Brer Wolf, en he let Brer Rabbit 'lone. Bimeby dey 'gun ter git kinder familious wid wunner nudder like dey useter, en it got so Brer Fox'd call on Brer Rabbit, en dey'd set up en smoke der pipes, dey would, like no ha'sh feelin's 'd ever rested 'twixt um.
Las', one day Brer Fox come 'long all rig out, en ax Brer Rabbit fer ter go huntin' wid 'im, but Brer Rabbit, he sorter feel lazy, en he tell Brer Fox dat he got some udder fish fer ter fry. Brer Fox feel mighty sorry, he did, but he say he bleeve he try his han' enny how, en off he put. He wuz gone all day, en he had a monstus streak er luck, Brer Fox did, en he bagged a sight er game.

Bimeby, to'rds de shank er de evenin', Brer Rabbit sorter stretch hisse'f, he did, en 'low hit's mos' time fer Brer Fox fer ter git 'long home.

Den Brer Rabbit, he went'n mounted a stump fer ter see ef he could year Brer Fox comin'. He ain't bin dar long, twel sho' enuff, yer come Brer Fox thoo de woods, singing like a nigger at a frolic. Brer Rabbit, he lipt down off'n de stump, he did, en lay down in de road en make like he dead.

Brer Fox he come 'long, he did, en see Brer Rabbit layin' dar. He tu'n 'im over, he did, en 'zamine 'im, en say, sezee, "Dish yer rabbit dead. He look like he bin dead long time. He dead, but he mighty fat. He de fattes' rabbit w'at I ever see, but he bin dead too long. I feard ter take 'im home," sezee.

Brer Rabbit ain't sayin' nuthin'. Brer Fox, he sorter lick his chops, but he went on en lef' Brer Rabbit layin' in de road. Dreckly he wuz outer sight, Brer Rabbit, he jump up, he did, en run roun' thoo de woods en git befo Brer Fox agin.

Brer Fox, he come up, en dar lay Brer Rabbit, periently col' en stiff. Brer Fox, he look at Brer Rabbit, en he sorter study. Atter while he onslung his game-bag, en say ter hisse'f, sezee, "Deze yer rabbits gwine ter was'e. I'll des 'bout leave my game yer, en I'll go back'n git dat udder rabbit, en I'll make fokes b'leeve dat I'm ole man Hunter fum Huntsville," sezee.

En wid dat he drapt his game en loped back up de road atter de udder rabbit, en w'en he got outer sight, ole Brer Rabbit, he snatch up Brer Fox game en put out fer home.

Nex' time he see Brer Fox he holler out, "What you kill de udder day, Brer Fox?" sezee.

Den Brer Fox, he sorter koam his flank wid his tongue, en holler back, "I kotch a han'ful er hard sense, Brer Rabbit," sezee.

Den ole Brer Rabbit, he laff, he did, en up en 'spon', sezee, "Ef I'd a know'd you wuz atter dat, Brer Fox, I'd a loant you some er mine," sezee.