C065. Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in the Garden

31. In Some Lady's Garden. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus 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 and BRER FOX in the GARDEN

One time there was a man, and this here man he had a garden and a little gal. The garden was chock full of truck, and in the mornings, when the man had to go off, he call up the little gal, he did, and tell her that she must be sure and keep old Brer Rabbit out of the garden. He tell her this every morning; but one morning he took and forget it till he get to the front gate, and then he stop and holler back, "O Janey! You Janey! Mind what I tell you about old Brer Rabbit. Don't you let him get my nice green peas."

Little gal, she holler back, "Yes, daddy."

All this time, Brer Rabbit he was sitting out there in the bushes dozing. Yet, when he hear he name call out so loud, he cock up one ear and listen, and he allow to his self that he pleased to outdo Mr. Man. By and by, Brer Rabbit, he went 'round and come down the big road just as natural as if he been trifling somewheres. He see the little gal sitting by the gate, and he up and allow, "Ain't this here Miss Janey?"

Little gal say, "My daddy call me Janey; what yo' daddy call you?"

Brer Rabbit look on the ground, and sort of study like folks does when they feels bad. Then he look up and allow, "I been lose my daddy this many long year, but when he alive he call me Billy Malone." Then he look at the little gal hard and allow, "Well, well, well! I ain't seed you since you was a little bit of baby, an' now here you is mighty nigh a grown woman. I pass yo' daddy in the road just now, an' he say I must come and tell you for to gimme a mess of sparrow-grass."

Little gal, she fling the gate wide open, and let Mr. Billy Malone get the sparrow-grass.

Man come back and see where somebody done been trampling on the garden truck, and then he call up the little gal, and up and ask her who been there since he been gone; and the little gal, she allow, she did, that Mr. Billy Malone been there. Man ask who in the name of goodness is Mr. Billy Malone. Little gal allow it's just a man what say her daddy sent him for to get some sparrow-grass on account of old acquaintance. Man got his suspicions, but he ain't say nothing.

Next day, when he start off, he holler and tell the little gal for to keep one eye on old Brer Rabbit, and don't let nobody get no more sparrow-grass. Brer Rabbit, he sitting off there in the bushes, and he hear what the man say, and he see him when he go off. By and by, he sort of run 'round, old Brer Rabbit did, and he come hopping down the road, till he get close up by the little gal at the garden gate. Brer Rabbit dropped her his biggest bow, and ask her how she come on. Then, after that, he allow, he did, "I see yo' daddy goin' 'long down the road just now, an' he gimme a rakin' down 'cause I make 'way with the sparrow-grass, yet he say that being as how I such a good friend of the family I can come and ask you for to gimme a mess of English peas."

Little gal, she took and fling the gate wide open, and old Brer Rabbit, he march in, he did, and he get the peas in a hurry. Man come back after while, and he allow, "Who been trampling down my pea-vines?"

"Mr. Billy Malone, daddy."

Man slap he hand on he forehead; he don't know what to make of all this. By and by, he allow, "What kind of lookin' man this here Mr. Billy Malone?"

"Split lip, pop eye, big ear, and bob-tail, daddy."

Man say he be bless if he ain't going to make the acquaintance of Mr. Billy Malone; and he went to work, he did, and fix him up a box-trap, and he put some goobers in there, and he tell the little gal next time Mr. Billy Malone come for invite him in. Next morning, Man get little ways from the house and took and holler back, he did, "Whatsomever you does, don't you dare to let nobody get no more sparrow-grass, and don't you let 'em get no more English peas."

Little gal holler back, "No, daddy."

Then, after that, it weren't long before here come Mr. Billy Malone, hopping 'long down the big road. He dropped a bow, he did, and allow, "Mornin', Miss Janey, mornin'! Met yo' daddy down the big road, an' he say that I can't get no more sparrow-grass an' green peas but you can gimme some goobers."

Little gal, she lead the way, and tell Mr. Billy Malone there they is in the box. Mr. Billy Malone, he lick he chops, he did, and allow, "You ought to be monstrous glad, honey, that you got such a good daddy like that."

With that, Mr. Billy Malone wunk he off eye, and jump in the box.

He jump in the box, and there he was, and if the little gal had've been a minute bigger, I lay she'd've took and done some mighty tall winking.

Man ain't gone far, and it weren't long before here he come back. When Brer Rabbit hear him coming he bounce 'round in there same as a flea in a pillow-case, but it ain't do no good. Trap done fall, and Brer Rabbit in there. Man look through the slats, and allow, "There you is—same old hoppum-skippum run and jumpum. You are the very chap I'm after. I want yo' foot for to carry in my pocket, I want yo' meat for to put in the pot, an' I want yo' hide for to wear on my head."

This make cold chill rush up and down Brer Rabbit backbone, and he get more humble than a black man from town what been caught out after nine o'clock. He holler and cry, and cry and holler, "Do pray, Mr. Man, turn me go! I done deceive you this time, but I ain't going to deceive you no more. Do pray, Mr. Man, turn me go, just this little bit of time."

Man he ain't saying nothing. He look like he studying about something or other way off yonder, and then he take the little gal by the hand and go off towards the house.

It seem like that Brer Rabbit got more luck than what you can shake a stick at, 'cause the man and the little gal ain't good and gone scarcely till here come Brer Fox a-pirooting 'round. Brer Fox hear Brer Rabbit hollering and he up and ask what the occasion of such goings on right there in the broad open daylight. Brer Rabbit squall out, "Lordy, Brer Fox! You better make haste away from here, 'cause Mr. Man'll catch you and slap you in this here box and make you eat mutton till you'll just naturally bust right wide open. Run, Brer Fox, run! He been feeding me on mutton the whole blessed morning and now he done gone after more. Run, Brer Fox, run!"

Yet, Brer Fox ain't run. He up and ask Brer Rabbit how the mutton taste.

"He taste mighty good 'long at first, but enough's enough, and too much is a plenty. Run, Brer Fox, run! He'll catch you, sure!"

Yet, Brer Fox ain't run. He up and allow that he believe he want some mutton hisself, and with that he unloose the trap and let Brer Rabbit out, and then he took and get in there. Brer Rabbit ain't wait for to see what the upshot going to be, neither—I bound you he ain't. He just took and gallop off in the woods, and he laugh and laugh till he had to hug a tree for to keep from dropping on the ground.

Chase065. Baer (p. 80). In Some Lady's Garden

This is Chase065.

Types ATU1737 parson in the sack to heaven
Motifs
K0842 parson in the sack to heaven
K0362 theft by presenting false order to guardian
Notes

See Chase023 for this type. It is European but Baer notes "it is also a popular African taletype."

Emma Backus's version "Brer Rabbit's Cool Air Swing" leaves out the first part: Man catches rabbit and hangs him from tree. "Rabbit tricks squirrel into trying his swing and escapes. Man, believing Rabbit has transformed himself into a squirrel takes the latter home and cooks him for dinner."

Baer seems to be arguing that it is the combination of the K362 motif with the sack sequel that makes it an African tale type.

C065. Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in the Garden (original spelling)

31. In Some Lady's Garden. Text Source: Nights with Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. Online at Project Gutenberg. You can click here for the standardized spelling plus all notes to the story.

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BRER RABBIT and BRER FOX in the GARDEN

When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the old man was engaged in the somewhat tedious operation of making shoe-pegs. Daddy Jack was assorting a bundle of sassafras roots, and Aunt Tempy was transforming a meal-sack into shirts for some of the little negroes,—a piece of economy of her own devising. Uncle Remus pretended not to see the child.

"Hit 's des lak I tell you all," he remarked, as if renewing a conversation; "I monst'us glad dey aint no bad chilluns on dis place fer ter be wadin' in de spring-branch, [178]en flingin' mud on de yuther little chilluns, w'ich de goodness knows dey er nasty nuff bidout dat. I monst'us glad dey aint none er dat kinder young uns 'roun' yer—I is dat."

"Now, Uncle Remus," exclaimed the little boy, in an injured tone, "somebody's been telling you something on me."

The old man appeared to be very much astonished.

"Heyo! whar you bin hidin', honey? Yer 't is mos' way atter supper en you aint in de bed yit. Well—well—well! Sit over ag'in in de chimbly jam dar whar you kin dry dem shoes. En de ve'y nex' time w'at I see you wadin' in dat branch, wid de sickly season comin' on, I'm a-gwine ter take you 'cross my shoulder en kyar you ter Miss Sally, en ef dat aint do no good, den I'll kyar you ter Mars John, en ef dat aint do no good, den I'm done wid you, so dar now!"

The little boy sat silent a long time, listening to the casual talk of Uncle Remus and his guests, and watching the vapor rise from his wet shoes. Presently there was a pause in the talk, and the child said:

"Uncle Remus, have I been too bad to hear a story?"

The old man straightened himself up and pushed his spectacles back on his forehead.

"Now, den, folks, you year w'at he say. Shill we pursue on atter de creeturs? Shill er shan't?"

"Bless yo' soul, Brer Remus, I mos' 'shame' myse'f, yit I tell you de Lord's trufe, I'm des ez bad atter dem ar tales ez dat chile dar."

[179]"Well, den," said Uncle Remus, "a tale hit is. One time dey wuz a man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin. He had a gyardin, en he had a little gal fer ter min' it. I don't 'speck dish yer gyardin wuz wide lak Miss Sally gyardin, but hit 'uz lots longer. Hit 'uz so long dat it run down side er de big road, 'cross by de plum thicket, en back up de lane. Dish yer gyardin wuz so nice en long dat it tuck'n 'track de 'tention er Brer Rabbit; but de fence wuz built so close en so high, dat he can't git in nohow he kin fix it."

"Oh, I know about that!" exclaimed the little boy. "The man catches Brother Rabbit and ties him, and the girl lets him loose to see him dance."

Uncle Remus dropped his chin upon his bosom. He seemed to be humbled.

"Sis Tempy," he said, with a sigh, "you'll hatter come in some time w'en we aint so crowded, en I'll up en tell 'bout Billy Malone en Miss Janey."

"That wasn't the story I heard, Uncle Remus," said the little boy. "Please tell me about Billy Malone and Miss Janey."

"Ah-yi!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, with a triumphant smile; "I 'low'd maybe I wa'n't losin' de use er my 'membunce, en sho' nuff I aint. Now, den, we'll des wuk our way back en start fa'r en squar'. One time dey wuz a man, en dish yer man he had a gyardin en a little gal. De gyardin wuz chock full er truck, en in de mawnin's, w'en de man hatter go off, he call up de little gal, he did, en tell 'er dat she mus' be sho' en keep ole Brer Rabbit [180]outer de gyardin. He tell 'er dis eve'y mawnin'; but one mawnin' he tuck en forgit it twel he git ter de front gate, en den he stop en holler back:

"'O Janey! You Janey! Min' w'at I tell you 'bout ole Brer Rabbit. Don't you let 'im get my nice green peas.'

"Little gal, she holler back: 'Yes, daddy.'

"All dis time, Brer Rabbit he 'uz settin' out dar in de bushes dozin'. Yit, w'en he year he name call out so loud, he cock up one year en lissen, en he 'low ter hisse'f dat he bleedz ter outdo Mr. Man. Bimeby, Brer Rabbit, he went 'roun' en come down de big road des ez natchul ez ef he bin trafflin' some'rs. He see de little gal settin' by de gate, en he up'n 'low:

"'Aint dish yer Miss Janey?'

"Little gal say: 'My daddy call me Janey.'" Uncle Remus mimicked the voice and manner of a little girl. He hung his head, looked excessively modest, and spoke in a shrill tone. The effect was so comical that even Daddy Jack seemed to enjoy it.

"'My daddy call me Janey; w'at yo' daddy call you?'

"Brer Rabbit look on de groun', en sorter study lak folks does w'en dey feels bad. Den he look up en 'low:

"I bin lose my daddy dis many long year, but w'en he 'live he call me Billy Malone.' Den he look at de little gal hard en 'low: 'Well, well, well! I aint seed you sence you 'uz a little bit er baby, en now yer you is mighty nigh a grown 'oman. I pass yo' daddy in de road des now, en he say I mus' come en tell you fer ter gimme a mess er sparrer-grass.'

[181]"Little gal, she fling de gate wide open, en let Mr. Billy Malone git de sparrer-grass.

"Man come back en see whar somebody done bin tromplin' on de gyardin truck, en den he call up de little gal, en up'n ax 'er who bin dar since he bin gone; en de little gal, she 'low, she did, dat Mr. Billy Malone bin dar. Man ax who in de name er goodness is Mr. Billy Malone. Little gal 'low hit 's des a man w'at say 'er daddy sont 'im fer ter git some sparrer-grass on account er ole acquaintance. Man got his 'spicions, but he aint say nothin'.

"Nex' day, w'en he start off, he holler en tell de little gal fer ter keep one eye on ole Brer Rabbit, en don't let nobody git no mo' sparrer-grass. Brer Rabbit, he settin' off dar in de bushes, en he year w'at de man say, en he see 'im w'en he go off. Bimeby, he sorter run 'roun', ole Brer Rabbit did, en he come hoppin' down de road, twel he git close up by de little gal at de gyardin gate. Brer Rabbit drapt 'er his biggest bow, en ax 'er how she come on. Den, atter dat, he 'low, he did:

"'I see yo' daddy gwine 'long down de road des now, en he gimme a rakin' down 'kaze I make 'way wid de sparrer-grass, yit he say dat bein' 's how I sech a good fr'en' er de fambly I kin come en ax you fer ter gimme a mess er Inglish peas.'

"Little gal, she tuck'n fling de gate wide open, en ole Brer Rabbit, he march in, he did, en he git de peas in a hurry. Man come back atter w'ile, en he 'low:

"'Who bin tromplin' down my pea-vines?'

"'Mr. Billy Malone, daddy.'

[182]"Man slap he han' on he forrud;[32] he dunner w'at ter make er all dis. Bimeby, he 'low:

"'W'at kinder lookin' man dish yer Mr. Billy Malone?'

"'Split lip, pop eye, big year, en bob-tail, daddy.'

"Man say he be bless ef he aint gwine ter make de acquaintance er Mr. Billy Malone; en he went ter wuk, he did, en fix 'im up a box-trap, en he put some goobers in dar, en he tell de little gal nex' time Mr. Billy Malone come fer 'vite 'im in. Nex' mawnin', Man git little ways fum de house en tuck'n holler back, he did:

"'W'atsumever you does, don't you dast ter let nobody git no mo' sparrer-grass, en don't you let um git no mo' Inglish peas.'

"Little gal holler back: 'No, daddy.'

"Den, atter dat, 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer come Mr. Billy Malone, hoppin' 'long down de big road. He drapt a bow, he did, en 'low:

"'Mawnin', Miss Janey, mawnin'! Met yo' daddy down de big road, en he say dat I can't git no mo' sparrer-grass en green peas but you kin gimme some goobers.'

"Little gal, she lead de way, en tell Mr. Billy Malone dar dey is in de box. Mr. Billy Malone, he lick he chops, he did, en 'low:

"'You oughter be monst'us glad, honey, dat you got sech a good daddy lak dat.'

"Wid dat, Mr. Billy Malone wunk he off eye, en jump in de box."

"W'at I done tell you!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.

[183]"He jump in de box," continued Uncle Remus, "en dar he wuz, en ef de little gal hadder bin a minnit bigger, I lay she'd 'a' tuck'n done some mighty tall winkin'.

"Man aint gone fur, en 't wa'n't long 'fo' yer he come back. W'en Brer Rabbit year 'im comin' he bounce 'roun' in dar same ez a flea in a piller-case, but 't aint do no good. Trap done fall, en Brer Rabbit in dar. Man look thoo de slats, en 'low:

"'Dar you is—same old hoppum-skippum run en jumpum. Youer de ve'y chap I'm atter. I want yo' foot fer ter kyar in my pocket, I want yo' meat fer ter put in de pot, en I want yo' hide fer ter w'ar on my head.'

"Dis make cole chill rush up en down Brer Rabbit backbone, en he git more 'umble dan a town nigger w'at been kotch out atter nine erclock.[33] He holler en cry, en cry en holler:

"'Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go! I done 'ceive you dis time, but I aint gwine ter 'ceive you no mo'. Do pray, Mr. Man, tu'n me go, des dis little bit er time.'

"Man he aint sayin' nothin'. He look lak he studyin' 'bout somep'n' ne'r way off yan', en den he take de little gal by de han' en go off todes de house."

"Sho'ly Brer Rabbit time done come now!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy, in a tone of mingled awe and expectation.

Uncle Remus paid no attention to the interruption, but went right on:

[184]"Hit seem lak dat Brer Rabbit got mo' luck dan w'at you kin shake a stick at, 'kaze de man en de little gal aint good en gone skacely twel yer come Brer Fox a-pirootin' 'roun'. Brer Fox year Brer Rabbit holl'in' en he up'n ax w'at de 'casion er sech gwines on right dar in de broad open daylight. Brer Rabbit squall out:

"'Lordy, Brer Fox! you better make 'as'e 'way fum yer, 'kaze Mr. Man ull ketch you en slap you in dish yer box en make you eat mutton twel you ull des nat'ally bus' right wide open. Run, Brer Fox, run! He bin feedin' me on mutton the whole blessid mawnin' en now he done gone atter mo'. Run, Brer Fox, run!'

"Yit, Brer Fox aint run. He up'n ax Brer Rabbit how de mutton tas'e.

"'He tas'e mighty good 'long at fus', but nuff's a nuff, en too much is a plenty. Run, Brer Fox, run! He ull ketch you, sho'!'

"Yit, Brer Fox aint run. He up'n 'low dat he b'leeve he want some mutton hisse'f, en wid dat he onloose de trap en let Brer Rabbit out, en den he tuck'n git in dar. Brer Rabbit aint wait fer ter see w'at de upshot gwine ter be, needer—I boun' you he aint. He des tuck'n gallop off in de woods, en he laff en laff twel he hatter hug a tree fer ter keep fum drappin' on de groun'."

"Well, but what became of Brother Fox?" the little boy asked, after waiting some time for Uncle Remus to proceed.

"Now, den, honey," said the old man, falling back upon his dignity, "hit e'en about takes all my spar' time [185]fer ter keep up wid you en Brer Rabbit, let 'lone keepin' up wid Brer Fox. Ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n tuck keer hisse'f, en now let Brer Fox take keer hisse'f."

"I say de word!" exclaimed Aunt Tempy.