C154. Brer Deer and King Sun's Daughter

11. Brother Deer and King Sun's Daughter. Text Source: Told by 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 DEER and KING SUN'S DAUGHTER

Once upon a time, when there was mighty few folks in the world, if any, Brer Deer fell in love with old King Sun's daughter. You needn't to get the idea in your head that old King Sun is like he was in them days. No, bless you! He was just as different as them times was from these times. He was closer by, and he ain't hide out at night like he does now. He was up in the sky, but he ain't live as high up; he was more neighborly, as you may say.

He live so close by that he used to send the house-gal down to the spring for drinking-water. Three times a day she'd come to fetch it; she'd climb down with the bucket in her hand and she'd climb back with the bucket on her head, and she'd sing both ways, coming and going. In them times they all knowed that old King Sun had a daughter, but they ain't know what her name is; and they know she was pretty. Well, Brer Deer he hear talk and her, and he took a notion that he going to marry her, but he don't know how he going to get up there where she live at. He study and study, but he can't find no way.

He was sitting down by the road studying out a plan for to get word to the gal, when old Brer Rabbit come loping down the lane. He must a been playing horse, 'cause when he see Brer Deer, he shied and sneezed, he did, and make like he going to run away. But he ain't run. He pass the time of day with Brer Deer and ask him how his corporosity seem to segashuate. Brer Deer allow that his corporosity is segashuating all right, but he got trouble in his mind and he can't get it out. He looked mighty solemncholy when he say this, and Brer Rabbit say he sorry.

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He sat down, Brer Rabbit did, and cross his legs, and rub his chin same like the doctor do when he going to slap a dose of bitter truck on you insides. He rub his chin, he did, and look like he know all there is for to be knowed. He say, "Brer Deer, when I was growing up I used to hear the old folks say that a light heart made a long life, and I believe 'em. I sure does. They knowed what they was talking about, 'cause I done had the experience of it."

Brer Deer shook his head and grieve. If he'd've had a handkerchief, he've had need of it right then and there, but he wink his eye fast for to get the tears out of 'em. He allow, "I expect you are telling me the truth, Brer Rabbit, but I can't help it if you is. I am what I am, and I can't be no ammer. I feels more like crying than I does like eating, and I'm that fractious that I can't scarcely see straight. Old Mr. Ram told me howdy a while ago, and I ain't done a thing but run at him an butt him slantways. You needn't to tell me that I ain't got no business for to do that a-way; I just can't help it."

Brer Rabbit kind of edge hisself away from Brer Deer. He say, "That being the case, Brer Deer, I expect I better give you more room. When I left home this morning my old woman allow, "You better take care of yourself, honey,” and I'm going to do that identical thing. I don't know that I'm scared of getting hurted, but I'm monstrous ticklish when the horned critters is round."

Brer Deer say, "You needn't to be feared of me, Brer Rabbit. I been knowing you a long time, and many's the night that we both graze in the same pasture, you a-nibbling on the green grass and me a-cropping it. I'm monstrous glad I run across you, 'cause if I can't tell my troubles to some one, I believe in my soul I'll bust wide open."

With that Brer Deer went on for to tell Brer Rabbit that he done fell dead in love with old King Sun's daughter. He don't know how come it to be so, but anyhow so it is. He ain't had no talk with her; he ain't more than catch a glimpse of the gal, yet there he was dead in love with her. Brer Rabbit might laugh at him if he want to; he'll just sit there and take it. He talk and talk, he did, till Brer Rabbit got right sorry for him. He sat there, he did, and study, and he tell Brer Deer that he'll help him if he can, and he most know he can.

Brer Deer raise his head, and open his eyes. He say, "Brer Rabbit, you astonish me—you sure does. If you'll help me out in this, I'll stand by you through thick and thin."

But Brer Rabbit say he ain't doing it for no pay; he done lay by his crop, and he ain't got nothing much to do, and he say he'll help Brer Deer just for to keep his hand in. Brer Deer look like he was mightily helped up. First he smiled a smile, and then he broke out in a laugh. He say, "You are the man for my money!"

Brer Rabbit kind of wiggle his nose. He say, "If you keep your money till you think you got too much, you'll have it by you for many a long year to come."

With that, he got up and brush the dust off of his britches, and shook hands with Brer Deer. He say, "I hope for to have some good news for you the next time we meet in the big road."

He bowed, he did, and then off he put, lippity-clip. He look back for to see if Brer Deer was following him, but Brer Deer had sense enough for to hunt him a cool place in the woods, where he can take the first nap what he had in many a night and day.

Brer Rabbit lope off towards the spring, 'cause he knowed that the spring was the place where King Sun's house-gal come after water—and she had to tote a mighty heap of it. It look like the more water what King Sun drunk the more he want, and that being the case, the gal had about as much toting as she can do. Brer Rabbit went down to the spring, but there weren't nobody there, and he look in it and see hisself in the water. There he was, his hair all combed, his face clean, and he look slicker than sin. He laugh, he did, and say to the Rabbit what he see in the water, "You sure is mighty good-looking, whoever you is, and if you blame anybody, don't blame me, 'cause I can't help it."

Now, down at the bottom of the spring was old man Spring Lizard. He was taking his morning nap, when he hear someone talking. He raise up, he did, and listen; then he look and see Brer Rabbit looking at hisself in the water, and he holler out, "Maybe you ain't as good-looking as you think you is."

Brer Rabbit holler back, "Hello there! This is the first time I knowed that your shadow in the water can talk back at you."

With that, Mr. Spring Lizard come from under the green moss, and float to the top of the water. He pass the time of day with Brer Rabbit, and ask him where he going, and what he going to do when he get there. Brer Rabbit allow that he trying for to do a good turn to a friend what's in trouble and then he went on and told the old Spring Lizard about Brer Deer and King Sun's daughter. The Spring Lizard say she's a mighty likely gal, 'cause he seed her one time when she slip off and come with the house-gal after water. He say she got long hair that look like spun silk, and eyes that shine like the morning star.

Brer Rabbit say he don't dispute it, but what he want to know is how he can get word to King Sun about Brer Deer. The Spring Lizard say that's easy. He say that when the house-gal come after water, she had to let down the step-ladder, and Brer Rabbit can slip by her and go up, or he hisself can get in the bucket and go up. Brer Rabbit say he kind of dubious about going, 'cause he's a kind of home body, and then the Spring Lizard allow that if Brer Deer will write a note, he'll take it.

Well, Brer Deer can't write and Brer Rabbit can; so they fix it up 'twixt 'em, and it weren't long 'fore they had the note writ, and Brer Rabbit took it and give it to the Spring Lizard. He say, "Don't let it get wet, whatever you does," and the Spring Lizard ask how it going to get wet when he put it in his pocket? He say that everybody but him, the fishes, and the frogs got a wrong idea about water, 'cause it ain't wet as it might be, excepting on a rainy day.

Time went on just like it do now; night swung by and day swung in, and here come King Sun's house-gal after a bucket of water. She let down the step-ladder and come singing to the spring. She dropped her bucket in, and the Spring Lizard stepped in, and crept round to where the shadow was the heaviest. The gal climbed up the step-ladder, and pulled it after her, and went along the path to King Sun's house. She took the water in the sitting-room for to give King Sun a fresh drink, and he grabbed up the gourd and drunk and drunk till it look like he going to bust. After that he went in the livery, and the Spring Lizard crept out and left Brer Deer note on the table, and then he crept back in the bucket.

After while, King Sun's daughter come bouncing in the room after a drink of water, and she see the note. She grab it up and read it, and then she holler, "Pa, oh, pa! Here's a letter for you, and I most know there's something in it about me! Lord! I don't know who it is that's got the impudence for to put my name in a letter."

Old King Sun run his fingers through his beard, just like he combing it, and then he clear up his throat. He take the letter and hold it off from him, and then put on his specs. He allow, "Well, well, well! Who'd've thunk it?' and then he look at his daughter. She look at the floor and pat her foot. He say, "I ain't never hear of such impudence."

The gal allow, "What do he say, pa?' 

With that, he hand her the letter, and when she read it, she got red in the face, and then she got white. She think one way, and then she think another. She got mad and she got glad, and then she had the all-overs, just like gals does these days when someone ask 'em for to have 'em.

So then, there it was; Brer Deer want to marry the gal, and the gal don't know whether she want to marry or not. Then old King Sun got his pen, and put a little water in the ink, 'cause it was mighty nigh dried up, and then he writ a letter back to Brer Deer. He say that if the one what writ the letter will send him a bag of gold, he can have the gal. He fold the letter up and hand it to the gal, and she not knowing what else to do, took and put it on the table where she find the other one.

The Spring Lizard had his eye on her, and when she went out of the room, he climbed up on the table and got the letter, and went back in the bucket again. That evening the house-gal had to fetch water for the night, and she let down the step-ladder and went to the spring. When she dip the bucket in, the Spring Lizard, he slid out, and went to his bed under the long green moss. it weren't long 'fore Brer Rabbit had the letter, and after that, it weren't no time 'fore Brer Deer knowed what the intents was. Betwixt and between 'em they got up a bag of gold, and Brer Rabbit took it to the spring where the house-gal got water.

The next morning the daughter come herself, 'cause she want to see what kind of man Brer Deer is. At the spring she find a bag of gold. She clap her hands and holler out, "Look what I find—find, find, findy! It's mine—mine, mine, miney!"

Brer Rabbit was sitting in the bushes, and Brer Deer weren't far off, and they both watch the gal a-prancing and dancing; and then, by and by Brer Deer went out where she can see him, and he just walk up to her and say, "Look what I find; honey, you are mine!" and that was the way Brer Deer got old King Sun's daughter.

C154. Baer (p. 144). Brother Deer and King Sun's Daughter

This is Chase154.

Types
Motifs
F0052 ladder to upper world
F0031 child of deity visits earth
F0051.2 sky basket
Notes
See Chatelain 13: son of Kimanaueze and the daughter of sun and moon, "differs in only a few details"

as expected, fewer magical elements in the American story

"In Africa, Frog rather than Lizard is the messenger, and when he takes Sun's daughter to earth, he steals her eyes, then returns them to her and takes her to her bridegroom. Also spider weaves a web for the girl to reach earth."

Baer notes that this is an example where Chatelain's story persuaded Harris that his story "was of authentic African origin."

See Fauset for a version from Alabama in 1925. "Of course by that date it would be difficult to know whether or not the taleteller had been influenced by Uncle Remus."

C154. Brother Deer and King Sun's Daughter (original spelling)

11. Brother Deer and King Sun's Daughter. Text Source: Told by 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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It is only fair to say that the little boy came to the plantation somewhat prejudiced. His mother, had never known the advantages of association with the old-time negroes, and was a great stickler for accuracy of speech. She was very precise in the use of English and could not abide the simple dialect in which the stories had been related to the little boy’s father. She was so insistent in this matter that the child’s father, when asked for a story such as Uncle Remus had told him, thought it best to avoid the dialect that he knew so well. In consequence, the essence of the stories was dissipated for the child, and he lacked the enthusiasm which Uncle Remus had hoped to find.



But this enthusiasm came by degrees as Uncle Remus wandered from one tale to another. The[173] child never told his mother how he enjoyed the stories, and yet he came to play the part that had been played by his father long before he was born, and matters came to such a pass, that, if he was long with Uncle Remus without hearing a story, he straightway imagined that the old man was angry or out of sorts. The lad was gaining in health and strength every day he remained on the plantation, and in consideration of this fact—and as the result of wise diplomacy of Uncle Remus—the child’s mother relaxed the discipline that she had thought necessary for his welfare, so that not many weeks elapsed before his cheeks became ruddy with health. Uncle Remus hailed him as a town rowdy, and declared that the plantation would soon be too small to hold him.

“I pity yo’ gran’ma,” said Uncle Remus, “kaze ef you stay roun’ here, she’ll hatter buy all de ’j’inin’ plantations ef she gwineter keep you on her lan’.”

There was no more corn to be hauled, but there was harness to be mended, and the little boy, sitting[174] on a high stool in the workshop, or leaning against Uncle Remus, watched the operation with great interest. He observed one day that the old man was frowning darkly. His forehead was puckered into knots and seamed with wrinkles that did not belong there, and his eyebrows were drawn together over his nose.

“What is the matter with you, Uncle Remus? Are you angry, or are you going to cry?”

“I’ll tell you de trufe, honey. I’m mighty nigh on de p’int er cryin’. You see my face puckered up, don’t you? Well, ef you had ez much on yo’ min’ ez what I got on mine, you’d be boo-hooin’ same ez a baby. I tell you dat. An’ des ter show you dat I’m in deep trouble, I’ll ax you ter tell me how many times dey is.”

“How many times? How many times what?” the child inquired.

Uncle Remus regarded him sorrowfully, and then returned to his work with a heavy sigh. “Did I ax you ’bout what? No, I ain’t; I ax’d you ’bout times. I say ez plain ez writin’: ‘How many times is dey?’ an’ you ’spon’, ‘How many[175] times what?’ It look mighty funny ter me. Dar’s daytime an’ night-time, bedtime an’ meal-time, an’ some time an’ no time, an’ high time an’ fly time, an’ long time an’ wrong time, ’simmon time an’ plum time. Dey ain’t no use er talkin’; it’s nuff fer ter make yo’ head swim. I been tryin’ fer ter count um up, but de mo’ I count um up de mo’ dey is.”

The little boy looked at the old man with a half-smile on his face. He was plainly puzzled, but he didn’t like to admit it even to himself. “Why do you want to know how many times there are?” he asked.

“Kaze I wanter live an’ l’arn,” replied Uncle Remus. “Le’ me see,” he went on, puckering his face again. “Dars de ol’ time an’ de new time, de col’ time an’ de due time—bless yo’ soul, honey, I can’t count um up. No, suh; you’ll hatter skusen me!”

He paused and looked at the little boy to see what the child could make out of all he had said.

He saw nothing in the small countenance but[176] curiosity. “What made you think of it?” was the question the child asked.

“Mos’ eve’ything I see make me think ’bout it, an’ you’ll think ’bout it you’se’f, when you come ter be ol’ ez what I is. But de reason it wuz runnin’ in my head dis time wuz kaze I start ter tell a tale widout knowin’ when de time wuz. I know it wuz ’way back yander, but de mont’ er de year I can’t tell, an’ when I try ter fix on de time eve’ything look dim an’ smoky, an’ I say ter myse’f dat dey mus’ be a fog in my mind.”

“Can’t you tell the story unless you can find out about the time?” inquired the little boy.

“Tooby sho’ I kin, honey; but you’d b’lieve it lots quicker ef you know’d what time it happen. ’Fo’ yo’ great-gran’ma died she had a trunk full er ollymenacks, an’ I boun’ you ef I had ’em here whar you could look at um, we wouldn’t have no trouble. I speck dey done got strow’d about endurin’ er de war time.

“Well, anyhow, once ’pon a time, when dey wuz mighty few folks in de worl’, ef any, Brer Deer fell in love wid ol’ King Sun’s daughter.”[177] Having made this preliminary statement, Uncle Remus paused to see what effect it had on the child. Amazement and incredulity were written on the little boy’s face, observing which the old man smiled. “You nee’nter git de idee in yo’ head dat ol’ King Sun is like he wuz in dem days. No, bless you! He wuz des ez diffunt ez dem times wuz fum deze times, an’ when you git ter readin’ in de books you’ll fin’ out what de diffunce wuz. He wuz closer by, an’ he ain’t hide out at night like he does now. He wuz up in de sky, but he ain’t live ez high up; he wuz mo’ neighborly, ez you may say.

“He live so close by dat he useter sen’ de house-gal down ter de spring fer drinkin’-water. Three times a day she’d come ter fetch it; she’d clime down wid de bucket in her han’ an’ she’d clime back wid de bucket on her head, an’ she’d sing bofe ways, comin’ an’ gwine. In dem times dey all know’d dat ol’ King Sun had a daughter, but dey ain’t know what ’er name is; an’ dey know she wuz purty. Well, Brer Deer he hear talk un ’er, an’ he tuck a notion dat he gwineter marry[178] ’er, but he dunner how he gwineter git up dar whar she live at. He study an’ study, but he can’t fin’ no way.

“He was settin’ down by de road studyin’ out a plan fer ter git word ter de gal, when ol’ Brer Rabbit come lopin’ down de lane. He mus’ a been playin’ hoss, kaze when he see Brer Deer, he shied an’ sneezed, he did, an’ make like he gwineter run away. But he ain’t run. He pass de time er day wid Brer Deer an’ ax ’im how his copperosity seem to segashuate. Brer Deer ’low dat his copperosity is segashuatin’ all right, but he got trouble in his min’ an’ he can’t git it out. He looked mighty sollumcolly when he say dis, an’ Brer Rabbit say he sorry.

“He sot down, Brer Rabbit did, an’ cross his legs, an’ rub his chin same like de doctor do when he gwineter slap a dose er bitter truck on yo’ insides. He rub his chin, he did, an’ look like he know all dey is fer ter be know’d. He say, ‘Brer Deer, when I wuz growin’ up I useter hear de ol’ folks say dat a light heart made a long life, an’ I b’lieve um. I sho’ does. Dey know’d what dey[179] wuz talkin’ ’bout, kaze I done had de speunce un it.

“Brer Deer shuck his head an’ grieve. Ef he’d ’a’ had a hankcher, he ’a’ had need un it right den an’ dar, but he wink his eye fas’ fer ter git de tears out ’n um. He ’low, ‘I speck youer tellin’ me de trufe, Brer Rabbit, but I can’t he’p it ef you is. I am what I am, an’ I can’t be no ammer. I feels mo’ like cryin’ dan I does like eatin’, an’ I’m dat fractious dat I can’t skacely see straight. Ol’ Mr. Ram tol’ me howdy a while ago, an’ I ain’t done a thing but run at ’im an butt him slonchways. You nee’nter tell me dat I ain’t got no business fer ter do dat a-way; I des can’t he’p it.’

“Brer Rabbit kinder edge hisse’f away fum Brer Deer. He say, ‘Dat bein’ de case, Brer Deer, I speck I better gi’ you mo’ room. When I lef’ home dis mornin’ my ol’ ’oman ’low: “You better take keer er yo’se’f, honey,” an’ I’m gwineter do dat identual thing. I dunno dat I’m skeered er gittin’ hurted, but I’m monstus ticklish when de horned creeturs is roun’.’ Brer[180] Deer say: ‘You nee’nter be fear’d er me, Brer Rabbit. I been knowin’ you a long time, an’ many’s de night dat we bofe graze in de same pastur’, you a-nibblin’ on de green grass an’ me a-crappin’ it. I’m monstus glad I run ’cross you, kaze ef I can’t tell my troubles ter some un, I b’lieve in my soul I’ll bust wide open.’

“Wid dat Brer Deer went on fer ter tell Brer Rabbit dat he done fell dead in love wid ol’ King Sun’s daughter. He dunner how come it ter be so, but anyhow so it is. He ain’t had no talk wid ’er; he ain’t mo’ dan cotch a glimp’ er de gal, yet dar he wuz dead in love wid ’er. Brer Rabbit mought laugh at ’im ef he wanter; he’ll des set dar an’ take it. He talk an’ talk, he did, twel Brer Rabbit got right sorry fer ’im. He sot dar, he did, an’ study, an’ he tell Brer Deer dat he’ll he’p ’im ef he kin, an’ he mos’ know he kin.


“Brer Deer went on fer ter tell Brer Rabbit”

“Brer Deer raise his head, an’ open his eyes. He say, ‘Brer Rabbit, you ’stonish me—you sho’ does. Ef you’ll he’p me out in dis, I’ll stan’ by you thoo thick an’ thin.’ But Brer Rabbit say he ain’t doin’ it fer no pay; he done lay by his[181] crap, an’ he ain’t got nothin’ much ter do, an’ he say he’ll he’p Brer Deer des fer ter keep his han’ in. Brer Deer look like he wuz might’ly holp up. Fust he smole a smile, an’ den he broke out in a laugh. He say, ‘Youer de man fer my money!’

“Brer Rabbit kinder wiggle his nose. He say, ‘Ef you keep yo’ money twel you think you got too much, you’ll have it by you fer many a long year ter come.’ Wid dat, he got up an’ bresh de dus’ off’n his britches, an’ shuck han’s wid Brer Deer. He say, ‘I hope fer ter have some good news fer you de nex’ time we meet in de big road.’ He bowed, he did, an’ den off he put, lippity-clip. He look back fer ter see ef Brer Deer wuz follerin’ ’im, but Brer Deer had sense ’nuff fer ter hunt ’im a cool place in de woods, whar he kin take de fust nap what he had in many a night an’ day.

“Brer Rabbit lope off todes de spring, kaze he know’d dat de spring wuz de place whar King Sun’s house-gal come atter water—an’ she hatter tote a mighty heap un it. It look like de mo’ water what King Sun drunk de mo’ he want,[182] an’ dat bein’ de case, de gal had ’bout ez much totin’ ez she kin do. Brer Rabbit went down ter de spring, but dey wa’n’t nobody dar, an’ he look in it an’ see hisse’f in de water. Dar he wuz, his ha’r all comb, his face clean, an’ he look slicker dan sin. He laugh, he did, an’ say ter de Rabbit what he see in de water, ‘You sho’ is mighty good-lookin’, whoever you is, an’ ef you blame anybody, don’t blame me, kaze I can’t he’p it.’

“Now, down at de bottom er de spring wuz ol’ man Spring Lizzard. He wuz takin’ his mornin’ nap, when we hear some un talkin’. He raise up, he did, an’ lissen; den he look an’ see Brer Rabbit lookin’ at hisse’f in de water, an’ he holler out, ‘Maybe you ain’t ez good-lookin’ ez you think you is.’ Brer Rabbit holler back, ‘Hello, dar! dis is de fus time I know’d dat yo’ shadder in de water kin talk back at you.’

“Wid dat, Mr. Spring Lizzard come fum under de green moss, an’ float ter de top er de water. He pass de time er day wid Brer Rabbit, an’ ax ’im whar he gwine, an’ what he gwine ter do when he git dar. Brer Rabbit ’low dat he tryin’[183] fer ter do a good turn ter a frien’ what’s in trouble an’ den he went on an’ tol’ de ol’ Spring Lizzard ’bout Brer Deer an’ King Sun’s daughter. De Spring Lizzard say she’s a mighty likely gal, kaze he seed her one time when she slip off an’ come wid de house-gal atter water. He say she got long ha’r dat look like spun silk, an’ eyes dat shine like de mornin’ star.

“Brer Rabbit say he don’t ’spute it, but what he wanter know is how he kin git word ter King Sun ’bout Brer Deer. De Spring Lizzard say dat’s easy. He say dat when de house-gal come atter water, she hatter let down de step-ladder, an’ Brer Rabbit kin slip by ’er an’ go up, er he hisse’f kin git in de bucket an’ go up. Brer Rabbit say he kinder jub’us ’bout gwine, kaze he’s a kinder home body, an’ den de Spring Lizzard ’low dat ef Brer Deer will write a note, he’ll take it.

“Well, Brer Deer can’t write an’ Brer Rabbit kin; so dey fix it up ’twix’ um, an’ ’twant long ’fo’ dey had de note writ, an’ Brer Rabbit tuck it an’ gi’ it ter de Spring Lizzard. He say, ‘Don’t let it git wet, whatever you does,’ and de Spring Lizzard[184] ax how it gwineter git wet when he put it in his pocket? He say dat eve’ybody but him, de fishes an’ de frogs got a wrong idee ’bout water, kaze ’tain’t wet ez it mought be, ’ceppin’ on a rainy day.

“Time went on des like it do now; night swung by an’ day swung in, an’ here come King Sun’s house-gal atter a bucket er water. She let down de step-ladder an’ come singin’ ter de spring. She drapped her bucket in, an’ de Spring Lizzard stepped in, an’ crope roun’ ter whar de shadder wuz de heaviest. De gal clomb up de step-ladder, an’ pulled it atter her, an’ went ’long de path ter King Sun’s house. She took de water in de settin’-room fer ter gi’ King Sun a fresh drink, an’ he grabbed up de gourd an’ drunk an’ drunk twel it look like he gwineter bust. Atter dat he went in de liberry, an’ de Spring Lizzard crope out an’ lef’ Brer Deer note on de table, an’ den he crope back in de bucket.

“Atter while, King Sun’s daughter come bouncin’ in de room atter a drink er water, an’ she see de note. She grab it up an’ read it, an’ den[185] she holler: ‘Pa, oh, pa! here’s a letter fer you, an’ I mos’ know dey’s sump’n in it ’bout me! La! I dunner who ’tis dat’s got de impidence fer ter put my name in a letter.’ Ol’ King Sun run his fingers thoo his beard, des like he combin’ it, an’ den he cle’r up his thoat. He take de letter an’ hol’ it off fum ’im, an’ den put on his specks. He ’low, ‘Well, well, well! who’d a thunk it?’ an’ den he look at his daughter. She look at de flo’ an’ pat ’er foot. He say, ‘I ain’t never hear er sech impidence.’ De gal ’low, ‘What do he say, pa?’ Wid dat, he han’ ’er de letter, an’ when she read it, she got red in de face, an’ den she got white. She think one way, an’ den she think an’er. She got mad an’ she got glad, an’ den she had de all-overs, des like gals does deze days when some un ax um fer ter have um.

“So den, dar ’twuz; Brer Deer want ter marry de gal, an’ de gal dunner whedder she wanter marry er not. Den ol’ King Sun got his pen, an’ put a little water in de ink, kaze it wuz mighty nigh dried up, an’ den he writ a letter back ter Brer Deer. He say dat ef de one what writ de letter[186] will sen’ ’im a bag er gold, he kin have de gal. He fol’ de letter up an’ han’ it ter de gal, an’ she not knowin’ what else ter do, tuck an’ put it on de table whar she fin’ de yuther one.

“De Spring Lizzard had his eye on ’er, an’ when she went out’n de room, he clomb up on de table an’ got de letter, an’ went back in de bucket ag’in. Dat evenin’ de house-gal hatter fetch water fer de night, an’ she let down de step-ladder an’ went ter de spring. When she dip de bucket in, de Spring Lizzard, he slide out, an’ went ter his bed un’ de long green moss. ’Twant long ’fo’ Brer Rabbit had de letter, an’ atter dat, ’twant no time ’fo’ Brer Deer know’d what de intents wuz. ’Twix’ an’ ’twen um dey got up a bag er gold, an’ Brer Rabbit tuck it ter de spring whar de house-gal got water.

“De nex’ mornin’ de daughter come ’erse’f, kaze she wanter see what kinder man Brer Deer is. At de spring she fin’ a bag er gold. She clap ’er han’s an’ holler out: ‘Look what I fin’—fin’, fin’, fin’y! It’s min’—min’, min’, min’y!’ Brer Rabbit wuz settin’ in de bushes, an’ Brer Deer[187] wa’n’t fur off, an’ dey bofe watch de gal a-prancin’ an’ dancin’; an’ den, bimeby Brer Deer went out whar she kin see ’im, an’ he des walk up ter ’er an’ say, ‘Look what I fin’; honey, youer mine!’ An’ dat ’uz de way Brer Deer got ol’ King Sun’s daughter.”