Chapter II: Part 2

Ebry body cept Buh Monkey bin full er trouble. On ebry side you yeddy nuttne cept bout trouble. Trouble yuh, trouble day, trouble ebry way. Buh Monkey tell eh wife eh wonder wuh dis ting duh wuh ebry body bin a talk bout, an wuh dem all duh call trouble. Him say him cant tell. Den Buh Monkey mek up eh mine fuh go teh de Debble, an fine out from um. Eh gone. Eh ketch de Debble duh eat eh brukwus; an eh ax um huccum ebry body hab trouble cept him. An eh leh de Debble know say him wan fine out wuh dis ting duh wuh bin a bodder ebry body, an wuh ebry body call trouble. De Debble tell um fuh go een de kitchin an wait topper um, an wen eh done eh brukwus him will come out an mek um sensible bout dis ting wuh call trouble. Buh Monkey gone ter de kitchin, an tek one chair an mek ehself saterfy. Eh jaw duh run water, fuh eh tink ter ehself de Debble guine gem some nice brukwus. Eh wait day sich a lenk er time, an no brukwus come. Den de Debble come outer de big house duh fetch er bag een eh han. De bag done tie up. Eh gen de bag ter Buh Monkey, an eh tell um: “Trouble day een dis yer bag. You cahr um tel you git een de middle er de ole fiel, an den you open um, an you guine fine out wuh call trouble.” Big fiel bin all roun an roun de house. Not a tree nur a stump bin in dat fiel. Buh Monkey tek de bag. Eh hebby. Eh state fuh home duh tote um. Eh tired befo eh retch de middle er de fiel. Wen eh ketch de middle er de fiel, eh top, an eh onloose de bag. Bless God! out jump one Bull-Dog, an eh tek right arter Buh Monkey. Eh run. Eh run. Eh holler. Eh holler. De Dog day right arter um duh try fuh bite um. Wen Buh Monkey git ter de wood, eh state fuh clime de fus tree eh come teh. De Dog so close behine um eh snap at um an bite off eh tail. Buh Monkey leff eh tail een de dog mouf, an gone up de tree. Eh fine one crotch, an eh seddown duh pant an der cry. Eh skade so tell eh scacely kin keep eh seat. Eh tail duh bleed. De Dog sed down onder de tree, an watch um, an wait fur um fuh come down. Buh Monkey faid fuh come down. Ebry time dat Buh Monkey mek motion fuh come down, de Dog show eh teet an growl. Night come, and Buh Monkey, him day up de tree. Eh fine out fuh true wuh call trouble. Eh dat tired, an sore, an skade, eh dunno wuh fuh do. Bout middle der night de Dog hongry, an gone home fuh eat eh bittle. Buh Monkey slip down de tree an mek track fuh him house. Wen eh meet eh wife an chillun, an show um eh tail wuh bite off, an tell um wuh eh bin tru, dem all mek er great miration, an dem all conclude dem know nuff bout trouble, an yent want see um no mo. Bad plan fuh people fuh hunt trouble wen trouble yent der hunt dem.

XIX.

BUH ELEPHANT AN BUH ROOSTER.

Buh Elephant, him bin know Buh Rooster berry well. Dem blan roam togerrur, an Buh Rooster blan wake Buh Elephant duh mornin, so eh kin hunt eh bittle befo de jew dry.

Dem bin a talk togerrur one day, an Buh Elephant, him bet Buh Rooster say him kin eat longer ner him. Buh Rooster, him tek de bet, an dem tun in nex mornin, wen de sun jis bin a git up, fuh see who guine win de bet. Buh Elephant, him gedder leaf an grass, an eat an eat tel eh full an cant eat no mo. Buh Rooster, him sarche de grass fuh seed an wurrum, an eh pick an eat. Wen Buh Elephant done full, an der tan onder de tree duh flop eh yez, eh see Buh Rooster, dist es spry, duh walk bout an der swaller seed an grasshopper an wurrum same luk eh dis biggin fuh eat. Buh Elephant gib up. Eh fine eh yent de man wid de bigges belly wuh kin eat de longes.

XX.

DE PO MAN AN DE SNAKE.

One po Man bin er mek eh libbin long split shingle an cut timber in de swamp. Him hab wife, but no chillun. Ebry day, from sunrise tel sundown, eh day in de swamp der cut. Try eh bes, eh scacely kin mek bread fuh eat.

One berry big Snake--de farruh er all dem tarruh snake wuh lib in de swamp--notus de po man. Eh see how hard eh wuk an how little eh mek, and eh tek pity on um. One ebenin, dis befo de po man knock off wuk, dis snake crawl up ter de log way de man bin er chop, an eh say: “Budder, how you der mek out?” De man mek answer: “Me yent mek out wut. Me der wuk in dis swamp from sunrise tel dark, day een an day out, an try me bes, me scacely kin mek bittle nough fuh me an me wife fuh eat.” Den de snake, him say: “Me sorry fuh you, an me willin fuh help you.” De man tenk um, an ax um how eh guine help um. De snake say: “You got any chillun?” De man say: “No.” De snake quire: “You hab wife?” De man say: “Yes.” De snake say: “Kin you keep secret from you wife?” De man mek answer say eh kin. Buh Snake tell um eh faid fuh truss um; but wen de man bague de snake berry hard fuh try um, de snake gree fuh do so. Den de snake tell um eh guine gen um some money nex day, but eh mussne tell eh wife way eh git de money. De man mek strong prommus, and so dem part.

De nex day, jis befo de po man done task, de snake crawl up. Eh belly an eh mouf puff out. Eh spit two quart er silber money on de groun dist in front er de po man, an eh say: “You member wuh me bin tell you las ebenin? Well, yuh some money me fotch fuh help you. Tek um, but member ef you tell you wife way you git um, er who gen um ter you, eh yent guine do you no good, an you guine dead a po man.” De man so glad fuh git de money eh say: “Tenky, tenky, tenky, me budder; me neber guine tell nobody way me git all dis money.” Arter eh leff de swamp fuh gone home, de snake spicion say eh bin guine go back on eh prommus an tell eh wife: so eh mek up eh mine fuh foller um an see wuh happne.

Eh bin dark wen eh retch de man house. Eh crawl up, an eh leddown dist onder de winder, way him kin yeddy all de wud wuh talk in de house. De man wife bin a tun roun an der cook supper. Arter him an eh husbun done eat, eh husbun say: “Me bin hab big luck ter-day: looker dis money.” Den eh pull out de silber and spread um on de table. Eh wife stonish. Eh wife glad, an eh say: “Tell me way you bin git all dis money.” De man say: “Fren gen um ter me.” Eh wife say: “Wuh fren?” De man say him prommus no fuh tell. De wife say but eh mus tell um, an eh bague so hard tel de man done furgit eh prommus, an eh up an mek um sensible how de ting all happne. Den eh wife say: “Dat snake must hab eh belly full er silber money, an me tell you wuh you do ter-morruh. Wen de snake come fuh talk long you, you pick you chance an chop eh head off long you ax, an tek all de money outer um.” Eh husbun gree fur do dist is him say.

Buh Snake, him yeddy ebry wud dem talk, an eh gone to him house in de swamp berry bex case de man wuh eh bin befren shouldder gone back on eh prommus and mek bad bargain fuh kill um.

De nex day de man watch fuh de snake. Wen de sun duh lean fuh down, an de man bin a try fuh split one big log, Buh Snake crawl up long sider de log an show ehself ter de man. Dem talk togerrur; an de snake ax de man: “You bin show you wife de money wuh me bin gen you?” De man answer: “Yes, me yiz.” An den eh ax um: “You bin tell you wife way you bin git um?” De man say: “No.” De snake ax um gen: “You sho you no bin tell um you git um long me?” De man say: “Me tell you one time ready. Wuh mek you ax me dat questun gen? You tink me duh lie?” Wid dat, eh mek eh lick fuh chop de snake head off. De snake bin hab eh yeye on um, an eh draw back gin de log. De ax miss de snake, an glance back off de log an cut de man own leg off. De po man holler fuh somebody fuh come fuh help um. Eh day way in de swamp out er yearin, an noboddy yeddy. Wen eh duh bleed ter det, an dis befo eh dead, Buh Snake, him say ter um: “Enty me bin tell you, wen me gen you dat silber money, ef you tell you wife way you git um you guine dead one po man? You prommus me you guine keep de secret. Steader dat, you gone home ter you wife, an you show um de money, an you tell um way you git um. Mo na dat: you an him fix plan fuh kill me wuh bin you fren, an rob me outer wuh money me hab leff. Now you see de jedgment wuh come topper you. In try fuh chop me head off, you cut you own foot off. You gwine dead in dis yer wood. No man ner ooman gwine fine you. Buzzud gwine eat you.”

Eh happne dis is de snake say. De man broke eh wud, an eh dead a po man.

Anybody wuh gwine back on eh prommus, an try fuh harm de pusson wuh done um a faber, sho ter meet up wid big trouble.

XXI.

LEELY GAL, BUH ALLIGATUR, AN DE JAY-BUD.

A leely Gal bin a gwine home. Eh come ter de ribber bank, an no boat day fuh him fuh git cross. Eh dunno wuffer do. Eh seddown. Eh cry. Day binner gwine. Alligatur yeddy um, an eh come day, an eh ax de leely Gal wuh de matter. De leely Gal tell um. Den de Alligatur say: “Ef you prommus no fuh tell who cahr you ober de ribber, me will pit you cross.” De leely Gal prommus, an de Alligatur tek um on eh back and ferry um ober all safe.

De nex day de Alligatur duh sun ehself on de ribber bank, an eh yeddy er woice say: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober. Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” Eh listne. Eh tink say de leely Gal bin a talk, an dat eh bin broke eh prommus. Eh notus close, an wen eh yeddy de woice gen eh see er Blue-Jay bin er talk um een de tree. Dat same Blue-Jay bin day de ebenin befo, an bin er see an er yeddy all wuh happne, but de leely Gal an de Alligatur nebber bin know.

De Jay-Bud keep a holler: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” De Alligatur call to de Jay-Bud, an eh quire: “Wudder dat you say?” An de Jay-Bud keep a sing: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” Alligatur, him say: “Me hard er yearin. Come close, so me kin yeddy you song.” De Bud fly down dist by Buh Alligatur, an eh sing gen: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” Buh Alligatur yeddy um berry well, but eh so bex say de Bud done fine out, an der talk eh secret, dat eh want fuh kill um sho. So eh say gen: “Me tell you me deef; come close; set on me nose, so me kin yeddy wuh you duh sing.” De fool Bud come an light on eh nose, an eh holler gen: “Yaller-belly Alligatur ferry me ober.” De wud yent leff eh mouf befo Buh Alligatur trow open him mouf an ketch um, an chaw de life outer um.

Bad plan fur stranger fuh meddle long tarruh people bidness.

XXII.

DE CAT, DE RAT, DE CHEESE, AN DE FOX.

De Cat an de Rat, dem fine one big piece er cheese een er closet. Dem cahr um way fuh share um. Dem cant gree how eh fuh dewide, an dem call een de Fox fuh jedge between um.

De Fox, eh berry cunnin, an eh nebber furgit ehself. Eh bring eh scale, an eh pit de cheese een um. Den eh tek eh knife an eh cut off big piece, an eh pit um one side an eh say dis fuh de jedge. Den eh weigh de cheese gen een de scale, an eh tek um out an eh cut off narrur slice, an eh pit um one side an eh say dat fuh de jedge.

By dis time eh done tek mo ner half de cheese. Wen eh pit de cheese back een de scale, an hole um up gen, Buh Cat an Buh Rat, dem bofe call out: “Hole on, Jedge! Dis ting wrong. You gwine tek all we cheese an leff we none.” Buh Fox, him berry bex, on eh gedder de cheese an eh fole up eh scale, an eh holler out: “Begone, you rogue. You lib pon tief, an you gwine tell me how fer do jestice? Good fuh you me only tek de cheese, an leh you go wid you life. Me great mine fuh kill you bofe.”

Wid dat, Buh Cat an Buh Rat, dem leff, an Buh Fox, wuh bin de jedge, eat all de cheese.

Wen tief git plunder, better fuh dem fuh share um mongst demself den trus ter call een bigger rogue fur dewide um.

XXIII.

BUH RABBIT AN DE TARRUH BEASTISES.

All de animel conjunct togedder fuh buil house an gedder dem winter perwision. Buh Rabbit prommus fuh help, but wen dem call pon um fuh help tote de pole and de bresh, him mek scuse, say him wife berry sick and him bleege fuh tay home an nuss um. All dis bin a lie. Buh Rabbit, him scheemy an lazy. Eh always ready fuh mek big brag bout wuh him gwine do, but eh nebber does come up ter eh wud. Eh hate fuh wuk, an eh lub fuh lib offer tarruh people labuh.

Wen de house done buil, de animel, dem fetch ebry man eh own perwision, an pack um way een eh own place way eh kin git um wen fros fall, an de grass done dead, an de tree done drap eh leaf an eh fruit. De Possum, him bring an pile up pussimmun. De Squirle fetch eh hickry not an eh acorn. De Deer, de Elephant, de Cow, dem gedder an pack way grass an leaf. De Lion and de Tiger an de Wolf an all dem animel wuh lib offer meat, dem ketch dem meat and dry um, an bring um an pit um way een de house. De Bud, dem bring dem seed an dem wurrum. De Cooter, him hab him corner too, an eh full um long him bittle. Wen ebry body done gedder eh perwision, dem shet de do an gone ter dem house fuh ten ter dem bidness an wait tel winter come, wen dem gwine lib offer wuh dem bin pit way. Buh Rabbit, him bin a dodge bout way nobody kin shum, duh notus wuh gwine on, an bin a mek eh plan.

Soon es de house full, an de do shet, an ebry body leff, eh slip een de house an pit eh yeye on ebry ting, an mek up eh mine fuh lib topper wuh all dem people bin gedder. Eh fix one bed fur ehself. Eh gedder water in piggin an calabash fuh lass um, an den eh git two oncommon big horn, an eh gone eenside an fassen up de do, an mek ehself saterfy. Eh lib day, eh eat, eh sleep, eh pledjur ehself, an eh fine eh bittle right ter eh han. Dis wuh Buh Rabbit lub. Nuttne mek um so merry es to lib offer tarruh people.

Fros fall, an de animel biggin fuh tink bout dem perwision wuh dem bin lay up een de house. Fus come de Deer, an eh try fuh open de do fuh git ter him pile er grass. De do fastne. Buh Deer couldnt mek out how dat. Eh knock ter de do. Eh knock. Eh knock. Bimeby Buh Rabbit--wuh bin a yeddy um all de time--tek eh horn, an eh talk tru um fuh mek er woice big, an eh say: “Wudduh dat?” Buh Deer, him sorter skittish, an eh faid fuh trus ehself, an de big woice kinder skade um, but eh mek out fuh answer: “Duh me, Buh Deer.” Den Buh Rabbit talk tru eh horn: “Wuh you want yuh, anyhow?” Buh Deer answer: “Me want fuh come een fuh git me bittle wuh me bin pit way fuh me fuh eat der winter.” Buh Rabbit answer loud tru eh horn: “You cant come een.” Buh Deer quire: “Who you day eenside?” Den Buh Rabbit tek eh biggis horn, an eh holler tru um so loud eh mek de house shake: “Better man den ebber bin yuh befo.”

De woice so sewere Buh Deer skade, an eh leff, an eh gone tell all dem tarruh animel say big Sperit gone tek de house way dem perwision done gedder. De animel stonish, an dem all conclude fuh go een gang ter de house an fine out wuh de ting yiz. Wen dem all gedder, dem tell de Lion--wuh bin de king beast--fuh quire bout who day eenside. Buh Lion, him gone ter de do. All de beastises tan roun fuh yeddy wuh gwine happne. Buh Lion knock. No answer. Eh knock gen. No answer. Den eh say: “Who duh dat day een yuh?” Buh Rabbit graff eh big horn, an eh answer back tru um wid all eh strenk: “Better man den ebber bin yuh befo.” De woice soun so outlandish, an eh come wid sich er big noise, de beastises all conclude wuh Buh Deer bin tell dem bin so, an dat de Sperit, him bin tek persession er de house. Dem faid fuh bus een de do, an dem all gree fuh leff. Dem did leff, an dem yent fine out tel dis day dat eh been Buh Rabbit wuh fool um, an dat no Sperit bin day none tall.

XXIV.

BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AN DE BUTTER.

Buh Wolf, him hire Buh Rabbit fuh help um wuk eh crap. Eh crap, eh day een de grass, an Buh Wolf faid eh gwine loss um. Befo dem state der fiel, Buh Rabbit notus say Buh Wolf hab een him house er nice pan er fresh butter. Eh mout water fuh git some, but eh shame fuh bague Buh Wolf. Buh Rabbit, him berry lub fuh tief, an eh mek eh plan fuh git some er dat butter.

Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit done gone der fiel an tun een fuh wuk. De sun hot, an befo long Buh Rabbit biggin fuh drap behine. Den all ob er sutten eh trow down eh hoe, an eh look way off, an eh cock up eh yez, an eh holler out: “Me yeddy you. Me duh comin.” Buh Wolf, him tun roun, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, wuh you duh do? You mus be der tun fool. Nobody duh call you.” Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Somebody yiz bin er call me, an me know who dem yiz, an wuffer dem duh call me. Enty you sabe me duh preacher? Well, me prommus fuh bactize er chile dis berry hour, an me mus go fuh keep me pintment.” “Berry well,” answer Buh Wolf, “dont you loss no time, fuh dis crap want wuk berry bad.”

Buh Rabbit hop off luk eh bin gwine in anarruh direction from dat wuh lead to Buh Wolf house. Wen eh git een de wood, eh slip roun onbeknowinst ter Buh Wolf, an gone een him house an eat hebby outer de pan er butter. Eh wipe eh mouf, an eh sukkle back tell eh git ter de place een de fiel way eh bin leff eh hoe. Eh seem berry merry, an wen Buh Wolf ax um ef he done bactize de chile, eh say yes. Den Buh Wolf ax um wuh dem bin name de chile, an Buh Rabbit tell um say dem bin call um _Fus Biginnin_.

Buh Wolf an Buh Rabbit wuk on. Dem binner hoe tetter. De butter sweeten Buh Rabbit. Him couldnt stop from tink topper um. Eh biggin fuh want mo. De mo eh study bout um de slower eh wuk. Buh Wolf call ter um an tell um fuh hurry. Buh Rabbit mek answer an say eh yiz duh hurry. Bless you soul! een a little while Buh Rabbit, him drap eh hoe an eh holler out: “You right; me bin mose furgit; me comin right off.” Buh Wolf, him stonish, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, you must be loss you sense; who you duh holler teh? Nobody duh call you.” Buh Rabbit mek answer: “Somebody yiz bin a call me. Enty you yeddy um?” Buh Wolf say: “No, me no yeddy.” Den Buh Rabbit up an tell um say eh hab gagement fur bactize nurrur chile at dis berry hour, an eh mose bin furgit bout um tell eh murrer an eh farruh holler ter um outer de wood an member um. Buh Wolf mek jection gainst Buh Rabbit gwine, but wen Buh Rabbit tell um de chile gwine loss ef eh no git bactize, Buh Wolf lem go. Buh Rabbit do dist iz eh bin done befo. Eh gone een Buh Wolf house, eh tek down de pan gen, an eh eat mona half de butter. Wen eh ketch de fiel, Buh Wolf ax um ef eh done bactize tarruh chile, an eh answer eh yiz. Buh Wolf say: “Duh him duh gal er boy?” Buh Rabbit mek answer say: “Him duh gal.” “Wuh eh name?” questun Buh Wolf. “_Half-way_,” answer Buh Rabbit.

Dem wuk on tel de sun biggin fuh lean een de wes. Buh Rabbit still duh study bout dat butter. Eh yent willin fuh go ter eh home an leff any behine. So een de tree hour eh pit eh han up ter eh yez an eh listne. Den eh holler out de turd time, an eh say: “Go on, me duh comin.” Buh Wolf ax um. “Way you duh gwine now? Enty you done bactize chillun?” Buh Rabbit tell um eh hab one mo fuh bactize befo sun down, but eh wunt tek um long becase eh lib close by. Den Buh Rabbit slip roun ter Buh Wolf house an clean up de las er de butter. Eh yent leff one grain een de pan.

Wen eh git back Buh Wolf say: “You bactize dat chillun een er hurry; wuh eh name?” Buh Rabbit up an tell um say eh name _Scrapin er de bottom_. Buh Wolf, him nebber bin spicion wuh Buh Rabbit bin up teh. De time come fuh knock off wuk, an wen Buh Wolf want fuh dock Buh Rabbit fuh de time eh loss wen eh bin gone fuh bactize dem tree chillun, Buh Rabbit plead so harde case him bin preacher, dat Buh Wolf, him furgib um an pay um eh full wager. Den eh inwite Buh Rabbit fuh come long um an tek supper wid um. But Buh Rabbit scuse ehself, an light out fer him house, an leff Buh Wolf een de fiel. Buh Rabbit berry scheemy. Eh know say ef eh did bin gone home wid Buh Wolf eh would er see eh track, an fine out who eat eh butter, an dat eh would er lick um.

XXV.

DE EAGLE AN EH CHILLUN.

De Eagle, him duh er wise bud. Eh mek eh nes on one tall pine tree close de ribber, er de sea, way nuttne kin git at um. Eh saterfy wid two chillun. Eh tek good care er um. Ebry hour eh fetch um snake an fish, an eh garde um from win an rain an fowl-hawk, an mek um grow fas. Wen eh wing kibber wid fedder an eh strong nough fur fly, wuh Buh Eagle do? Eh wunt leff dem chillun een de nes fuh lazy an lib pon topper eh farruh an eh murrer, but eh tek um on eh wing, an eh sail ober de sea, an eh tell eh chillun: “De time come fuh you fuh mek you own libbin. Me feed you long nough. Now you haffer look out fuh youself.” Wid dat, eh fly from onder dem, an de noung bud, wen eh fine out eh murrer yent gwine cahr um no furder, an dat dem haffer shif fuh demself, dem try eh wing an sail off een de element duh hunt bittle.

People orter tek notus er Buh Eagle an do jes es him do. Wen you chillun git big nough fuh wuk, mek um wuk. Dont leh um set bout de house duh do nuttne, an duh spek eh farruh an eh murrer fuh fine bittle an cloze fuh um. Ef you does, you chillun gwine mek you shame, an eh will tun out berry triflin. Eh will keep you dead po, too.

Do same luk Buh Eagle. Mine you chillun well wen dem leetle; an soon es dem big nough fuh wuk, mek um wuk.

XXVI.

CHANTICLEER AN DE BAN-YAD ROOSTER.

You nebber bin see er finer bud den Buh Chanticleer. Eh fedder eh glisten same luk silber een de sun. Eh step so high, an eh yent faid nuttne. Wen eh crow you could yeddy um all tru de settlement. De hen all lub um, an run ter um wenebber him call. Eh can lick all dem tarruh rooster; an jist es soon es eh mek motion at dem, dem run.

Befo eh bin fine um out fuh true, day bin er big yaller Rooster een de gang wuh try fuh spute Buh Chanticleer, an mek eh brag say eh kin lick um. Dem fight. De big yaller Rooster couldnt tan up befo Buh Chanticleer. Eh gaff um, eh pick um een eh back, eh knock um ober, an eh run um out de yad.

Arter dat, de yaller Rooster faid fuh come nigh Buh Chanticleer. Eh run ebry time eh see Buh Chanticleer duh walk towuds um, but eh hab a way fuh debble Buh Chanticleer. Eh go way off, an ebry time eh yeddy Buh Chanticleer flap eh wing an crow, him do de same. Soon a mornin wen Buh Chanticleer crow fuh day, de big yaller Rooster, him crow too. De ting bodder Buh Chanticleer, an eh want fuh kill um. Eh try hard fuh fine out way eh roose. One day one er de hen wuh blanks ter Buh Chanticleer fambly mek um sensible jist way de yaller Rooster blan roose. Den Buh Chanticleer, him sen fuh Buh Fox. Eh come, an Buh Chanticleer ax um say: “You want one fat Rooster fuh eat?” Buh Fox, him answer: “Yes, me berry glad fuh git um, an heap er tenky ter you too.”

Den Buh Chanticleer tell um fuh come de fus moon-shiny night, an him will show um way eh kin git a good supper. Buh Fox happy, an eh prommus fuh come. Eh did come de fus moon-shiny night, an Buh Chanticleer gone long um an pint out de big yaller Rooster duh sleep een one low cedar tree. Buh Fox creep up easy, an graff um an eat um. Wen eh done eat um, an eh duh lick eh mout, Buh Chanticleer ax um: “How you luk um?” Buh Fox mek answer: “Me luk um berry well. Eh bin fat. Eh meat sweet. Me luk um summuch me want mo.” Wid dat, an befo Buh Chanticleer kin mek out wuh eh tend fuh do, eh jump pon topper Buh Chanticleer, an mash um ter det, an eat um up.

Wen you want somebody fuh do you sarbis, call pon you fren, but dont trus you eenemy fuh done um.

XXVII.

BUH RABBIT AN DE GROUN-MOLE.

Day nebber bin a man wuh kin equel Buh Rabbit fuh mek plan fuh lib offer tarruh people bedout wuk isself. Groun-mole, bin berry tick. On ebry side dem bin er root up de tetter patch, and stroy pinder. Nobody know how fuh ketch um, case eh wuk onder de groun, an wen you go fuh fine um eh yent dedday.

Buh Rabbit, him see eh chance, an eh tell ebry body him know how fuh stroy um. De ting come ter Buh Wolf yez, an eh sen fuh Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit gone ter Buh Wolf, an eh tell um yes, him hab plan fuh clear de fiel er Groun-mole, an dat him wunt charge Buh Wolf nuttne but him board an lodgment wile him duh ketch an kill de Groun-mole. Buh Wolf, him say Buh Rabbit berry kine, an eh gree fuh fine um. Den Buh Wolf hab one nice bed mek up fuh Buh Rabbit, an eh tell eh wife fuh feed um well.

Buh Wolf hab some bidness wuh call um way from home, an eh spec fuh gone bout one week. Eh leff Buh Rabbit fuh clean de Groun-mole outer eh fiel, an den eh gone. Buh Rabbit, him well saterfy. Ebry mornin, arter brukwus, eh mobe off luk eh bin gwine ter Buh Wolf fiel, an nobody shum tel dinner time. Arter eh done eat er hebby dinner, eh gone gen tel supper time, wen eh come back an eat er hebby supper, an den eh leddown der bed.

Nobody kin see any Groun-mole wuh Buh Rabbit der ketch, but eh tell Buh Wolf wife dat eh bin er kill heap er dem ebry day, an dat eh gwine soon clear de fiel. De ting gone on dis way tel Buh Wolf tun home. Wen eh retch eh house eh quire bout Buh Rabbit, an eh wife tell um wuh Buh Rabbit bin er say an er do, an dat Buh Rabbit gone der fiel dist arter brukwus. Buh Wolf say him gwine see fuh ehself wuh Buh Rabbit duh do, an wuh plan eh fix fuh ketch de Groun-mole.

Wen eh git der fiel eh look up an down, an eh yent see no sign er Buh Rabbit. Eh notus eh crap, an de Groun-mole duh eat um wus den nebber. Eh sarche fuh Buh Rabbit track, an eh cant shum no way. Buh Wolf mek up eh mine dat Buh Rabbit yent do de fus ting een de fiel. De sun hot. Buh Wolf gone een de edge er de wood, an day eh come pon topper Buh Rabbit tretch out een er bed wuh eh bin mek outer pine straw onder one tree, fas tersleep. Eh yent bin study bout Buh Wolf, er de Groun-mole wuh bin er bodder de fiel. Buh Wolf slip up, an eh graff um tight. Buh Rabbit so skade eh furgit fuh lie, an Buh Wolf mek um confess eh yent know how fuh ketch Groun-mole, dat eh nebber did kill none, an dat eh bin lib offer Buh Wolf bittle ebber sence eh leff.

Buh Wolf, him so bex eh git grape wine an eh tie Buh Rabbit han an foot, an eh lick um tel eh tired. All dis time Buh Rabbit bin eh holler an er bague. At lenk Buh Wolf loose um, an run um offer de place.

Eh yent offen Buh Rabbit ketch at him trick, but eh meet eh match dis time.

XXVIII.

BUH RABBIT AN DE ROCK-SOUP.

Anurrer way Buh Rabbit hab fuh mek eh libbin bedout wuk bin dis. Eh hab een eh pocket er pooty, smoode rock, bout de size ob er tukrey agg. Wid dem people wuh no quaintun wid um eh pass ehself off fuh er fus-class cook, an eh tell um say eh hab one rock wuh mek pruppus fuh gie soup de bes tase; an dat de soup wuh mek long dat rock sweeter den all edder soup.

Eh gone ter Buh Bear house, an Buh Bear hearky ter um, an gage um fuh mek some soup long eh rock. Buh Rabbit pit on de pot, an eh bile water een um long de stone. Den eh call fuh meat, an wegetable, an all kind er seaznin, an eh stir um an eh cook um all togerrur, an eh did mek er nice soup. Eh fool Buh Bear, an eh mek um bliebe say eh bin de rock wuh gib sich er rich flaber ter de soup, wen de fac bin say de rock yent hab nuttne fuh do long um, but de tarruh ting wuh gone een de pot, dem duh de ting wuh mek de soup. Buh Rabbit git big dinner at Buh Bear house dat day.

Anurrer time, wen eh bin berry hongry, eh gone ter Buh Cooter house, an eh fool um same fashion, an eh git er hebby dinner day too.

Eh do dis way fuh some time, guine from house teh house.

At lenk eh miss an gone ter Buh Fox house, an tell um bout eh rock-soup. Buh Fox, him no fool. Him duh er smate man, an eh see tru de ting right off. But eh yent leh Buh Rabbit see dat eh spicion anyting, an eh tell um fuh go head an mek eh soup. Eh han out wuhebber Buh Rabbit call fuh, an eh wait topper um tel de soup done. Den eh tase um, an wen eh fine eh tase same luk any edder soup mek long de ting wuh eh han Buh Rabbit fuh pit een de pot, eh tek Buh Rabbit rock, an eh trow um down de well, an eh cuss Buh Rabbit fur er swindler, an mek um shame befo all eh fambly, an mek um leff.

Buh Rabbit an Buh Fox, bofe er dem berry cunnin, but dis time Buh Fox him cunnin moner Buh Rabbit.

XXIX.

DE TWO FREN AN DE BEAR.

Two fren, dem bin a mek one journey togerruh. Dem haffer go tru one tick swamp wuh full er bear an edder warmint. Dem prommus fuh tan ter one anurrer, an help one anurrer out ef de warmint should tack dem. Dem yent bin git half way tru de swamp wen one big black Bear jump outer de bush an mek fur dem. Steader one er dem tan fur help fight um, eh leff eh fren an clime one tree. De tarruh fren bin yeddy say Bear no gwine eat dead people, so him leddown on de groun, an hole eh bref, an shet eh yeye, an mek out say him bin dead. De Bear come up ter um, an smell um, an tun um ober, an try fuh ketch eh bref. Wen eh fine eh cant ketch eh bref, eh gone off leely way an eh watch um. Den eh tun back an smell um gen, an notus um close. At lenk eh mek up eh mine say de man bin dead fuh true; an wid dat eh leff um fuh good an gone back der wood. All dis time de tarruh fren duh squinch ehself up een de tree duh watch wuh bin gwine on. Eh dat skade eh wunt do nuttne fuh help eh fren, er try fuh run de Bear off.

Wen eh fine de Bear done gone fuh sho, eh holler ter him fren say: “Wuh de Bear bin tell you? Him an you seem luk you bin hab close combersation.” Den eh fren mek answer: “Eh bin tell me nebber fuh trus nobody wuh call ehself fren, an wuh gwine run luk er coward soon es trouble come.”

XXX.

DE OLE MAN AN DET.

One Ole Man bin berry tired long wuk. Him want fuh stop an tek eh pledjur all day een him house. Eh bex long de Buckra wuh gie um task, an mek um ten ter um. Eh constant duh pray, so people kin yeddy um, dat Det would come an cahr way eh Mossa, an eh Mistis, an de Obersheer. De Obersheer him yeddy wuh de Ole Man bin a pray fuh, an eh tell de Mossa, an dem fix plan fuh hab fun long de Ole Man. Wen night come, an ebryting on de plantation done gone bed, de Mossa, him tek one long white gown wuh ketch down ter eh foot, an eh pit um on, an eh gone ter de Ole Man house. Eh push de do open, an day bin de Ole Man duh siddown on eh bench duh nod by de fire. De Ole Man yeddy say some body come ter him do, an wen eh tun roun fuh look, eh see one tall somebody all wrop up head an yez een white. Eh git skade, an tink duh Sperit. Eh quire: “Who duh dat?” De Sperit, wuh bin de Mossa dress up een de white gown wuh kibber um all ober, mek answer way down een him troat: “Duh me, Det, wuh you bin a pray fuh.” Den de Ole Man say: “You come fuh Mossa?” De Sperit shake eh head. Eh say gen: “You come fuh Mistis?” De Sperit shake eh head gen. De Ole Man quire gen: “Den you musser come fuh de Obersheer?” De Sperit shake eh head gen. De Ole Man rale skade now, an eh study fuh leely while, an den eh questun gen: “Ef you no come fuh Mossa, ner Mistis, ner de Obersheer, who de Debbie you come fuh?” Den de Sperit, eh bow eh head low an eh mek answer: “Me come fuh you.” De Ole Man hair rise. Eh git up. Eh bus tru de back do. Eh run tru de gaden, an eh mek fuh de wood. Nobody yent shum tel arter brukwus next mornin, an den eh tell ebry body say Det bin come fur um last night, but dat him bin dodge um. Arter dat nobody ebber yeddy um mek no mo prayer bout Det.

XXXI.

DE KING AN EH RING.

One time dere was a King wuh bin done git marry, an eh bin hab one fine Ring wuh him bin call eh gagement Ring. Dat King, him bin hab tree serbant wuh wait bout him table, an clean him shoes, an do wuhebber him want um fuh do. Dem bin tek tun een clean de shoes. One clean um one mornin, anurrur one clean um nex mornin, an de edder one clean um de nex. One er dem serbant tief de King Ring. De King try fuh fine out which one er de tree bin tek um, an eh fail. Dem wunt tell topper one anurrur, an de ting bodder de King berry bad. Eh faid say ef eh cant git back eh gagement Ring all eh good luck gwine leff um. Eh call een eh fren an wise man fuh help um pint out de tief an fine dat Ring, an dem cant.

One day de King notus er strange man duh walk bout him gaden, an eh sen an hab um brung ter um. Wen eh questun um, de man tell um say him bin a po man, an dat eh mek eh libbin by cunjur. De King tell um eh bin dis de man eh duh hunt fur, an eh want um fuh fine eh Ring. Eh mek um quaintun bout wen de Ring tuk, an who eh tink tief um; an eh say eh gwine gie um fibe day time fuh pint out de man wuh bin tek de Ring, an mek um tun um. Mo na dat, eh prommus um big money ef eh git back de Ring widin de fibe day; but eh treaten um fuh kill um ef eh fail fuh fine um eenside dat time. Eh charge eh serbant fuh tek good care er de conjur man, an feed um high.

De rale name er dis cunjur man bin _Robin_, but him yent bin gib dis name ter de King.

De cunjur man try fuh fine out de tief, but eh miss. Four day gone, an de Ring yent fine. De cunjur man, him berry sad, an eh faid say eh gwine fail, an de King gwine tek eh head off.

De mornin ob de fibe day de King git up soon, an pledjur ehself by tek er walk een eh gaden. Wile eh duh tan onder one berry tree, one robin-red-bres, wuh bin er eat de berry, choke an fall der groun. De King pick um up, an eh dead in eh han. Den eh tek um, an wrop um up een eh henkerchef, an pit um een eh hat. Eh sen fuh de cunjur man, an eh tell um eh time mose out, an dat ef eh no fine de Ring by sundown eh gwine kill um. Eh say ter um, moöber, dat eh doubt um, an dat eh yent bliebe eh kin cunjur none tall; dat ef eh kin cunjur eh mus tell um right off wuh eh got een him hat. De cunjur man so skade eh yent say nuttne cept pity ehself, an say: “Po Robin! Po Robin!” De King tek um say eh bin mean de bud, an eh confidance rise, an eh mek answer: “You right, me yiz hab one robin een me hat; an becase you tell true, me gwine gie you six day mo fuh fine out who tief de Ring.” De cunjur man rale glad, an de ting mek de King an all eh fren an de serbant bliebe say eh kin cunjur fur true. De tree serbant wuh bin een cohoot fuh tief de Ring, an wuh bin know all bout um, biggin fuh faid say dem bin gwine fuh git fine out.

De nex mornin, wen one er dem serbant come down wid de King shoes, de cunjur man pint eh finger at um an eh say: “You duh one er de tief.” De man look condemn, but eh mek answer, say: “Him yent.” De nex mornin wen de tarrur serbant fetch de King shoes down fuh clean um, de cunjur man pint him finger at um an eh say: “You duh nudder one er dem tief.” De man rale skade, but eh schway say him yent know nuttne bout de Ring. De nex mornin wen de edder serbant duh clean de King shoes, de cunjur man gone up ter um an pint eh finger right een eh face, an eh say: “You duh de tird man wuh know bout dis Ring an help fuh tief um.” De man yeye fall, but him wouldnt confess.

Dat same ebenin all tree dem serbant, dem come ter de cunjur man an fetch de Ring, an confess say dem been tek um, an dem bague de cunjur man fuh fix plan fuh clear dem. Him so glad him git de Ring him prommus fuh do dist as dem say. So eh tell dem fuh fetch one big tukrey-gobbler ter um. Dem gone an ketch de biggis een de gang, an brung um ter de cunjur man. Eh tek de Ring an eh mix um long cornflour, an eh poke em een de tukrey-gobbler craw. Den eh mark de bud so him kin know um gen, an eh tun um loose.

De cunjur man, him gone right off ter de King, an eh tell um say him kin pint out way de Ring day. De King, him berry glad, an eh collec all him fren fuh see de cunjur man pint out de Ring. Wen dem all gedder, de conjur man, him ax de King fuh hab all him tukrey dribe befo um. De King him do so, an as de tukrey bin er walk pass, de conjur man pint out one big tukrey-gobbler an tell de King say him hab de Ring een him craw. Wid dat, de King mek one er him serbant ketch de gobbler an rip open eh craw, an day, sho nuff, was de Ring. De King, him bin so rejoice eh gib high praise ter de cunjur man, an eh gie um big money, an mek um rich. De tree serbant too, wuh bin de tief, dem so happy cause de cunjur man yent spose dem ter de King dat dem mek present ter um too, an bin eh fren all dem life.

XXXII.

BUH LION, BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN BUH ROCCOON.

Buh Lion, him bin keep er bank. Een dat bank him hab chicken, en hog, en sheep. Buh Fox, him marry ter Buh Coon darter. Buh Fox farruh-een-law, him bin er rogue. Buh Coon an Buh Rabbit mek er plan fuh rob Buh Lion bank, an dem usen fuh tek ting outer um ebry now en den, an nobody kin fine out who duh de tief. Buh Fox, Buh Rabbit, an Buh Coon, dem day fas fren, an dem constant keep compny. Buh Rabbit him tell Buh Lion, say him know de man wuh duh rob him bank, but eh yent want talk eh name, an eh vise Buh Lion fuh set steel trap fuh ketch de tief. Buh Lion do es him say, an de nex night, wen Buh Coon, Buh Fox, an Buh Rabbit gone fuh rob de bank gen, Buh Coon, him walk topper de trap an eh ketch um by eh foot. De ting broke Buh Coon leg, an eh hot um berry bad, but eh faid fuh holler, case, ef eh did holler, eh know Buh Lion gwine run day an kill um. So eh leddown an moan, an beg eh fren fuh help um. Buh Fox an Buh Rabbit, dem study ober de ting, an dem mek up dem mine say ef Buh Lion fine Buh Coon een de trap, eh not only gwine kill Buh Coon, but eh will sen an kill all eh fambly. Den dem conclude dat de bes ting fuh do bin dat Buh Fox--wuh bin him son-een-law--mus tek one swode an chop Buh Coon head off an bury um, an dat eh skin Buh Coon an bury eh hide an eh cloze, an leff Buh Coon nekked een de trap, so nobody kin tell who bin ketch.

Buh Fox, him do es dem gree. De nex mornin wen Buh Lion zamine eh trap, eh fine de tief done ketch. Eh call een eh fren fuh consult, but es de body done strip, an eh head done cut off an gone, nobody could mek up eh mine who de tief bin. Buh Lion, him say him gwine fine out who de tief yiz, an who de man wuh cut eh head off an skin um.

Buh Rabbit, him come up bout dis time, an him swade Buh Lion fuh sen fuh one cart, an pit de dead body een um, an leh one er eh han heng ober one side er de cart, an gedder him soldier an pit one gang on de leff han side an de tarruh gang on de right han side, an mek de music go befo, an leh dem all march down de middle er de street een Buh Lion town all de lenk er de street; an ef de soldier yeddy anybody duh scream an duh cry een any one er de house, den de soldier mus go ter dat house an kill ebry body wuh lib day, case dat mus be de fambly er de tief. Buh Lion, him well please, an him gie order, an hab de ting done jes es Buh Rabbit bin plan.

Wen de compny bin er march wid de dead body er de tief een de cart, jes es dem come befo de do er de house way Buh Fox lib, wuh bin marry Buh Roccoon darter, him wife bin er look outer de winder, an eh see eh pa han duh heng ober de side er de cart, an eh know um, an eh holler an scream an fall down an faint way. Den de soldier wuh bin on de right han side er de cart, dem run ter de house way dem yeddy de screamin an de hollerin, an dem bus een de do an gone een fuh kill de whole fambly. Buh Fox, wen eh see wuh happne, tek one knife an eh cut off one er him finger, an eh run to de do, an eh meet de soldier, an eh show um eh han der bleed, an eh tell um say eh bin dis loose one er eh finger, an eh wife dat scade wen eh see wuh happne ter um, dat eh holler an faint way. So Buh Fox fool de soldier, an dem gone back an jine de compny an march on. Dat night dem camp een de en er de street, an halfer de soldier bin on one side de cart, an tarruh half bin on tarruh side duh guade de body er de tief wuh head cut off.

Wen Buh Fox wife come teh, eh spicion say Buh Fox bin know who kill eh pa,--wuh bin Buh Roccoon,--an eh tell eh husbun, Buh Fox, say ef eh dont git eh pa body an bring um ter um dat berry night, eh gwine tell Buh Lion him bliebe de one wuh cut eh farruh--Buh Coon--head off an hide um, duh eh own husbun,--Buh Fox. Buh Fox tell um say him yent know nuttne bout de ting, an eh try fuh swade um no fuh go nigh Buh Lion. Wen eh fine eh wife mine done mek up, an no way fuh him fuh git out cept fuh fetch Buh Coon body ter eh wife, eh gone ter Buh Rabbit fuh vise um an fuh help um. Buh Rabbit, him yeddy all wuh Buh Fox hab fuh say, an den eh say: “Me tell you wuh you do. To-night gwine cole. Dem soldier duh camp der street, an dem yent hab no fire. Dem berry lub rum. Bout middle night you tek you horse an you paint one side er um white, an de tarruh side er um black. You cahr two jug er rum, an you ride ter de camp, an you gie one jug ter de gang er soldier wuh day on de right, an de edder jug ter de tarruh gang wuh day on de leff, an wen dem drunk you kin tek Buh Coon body outer de cart an cahr um home.”

Buh Fox, him wrop him head an yez up so nobody kin know um, an eh paint eh horse one side white an tarruh side black, an eh tek eh two jug er rum an eh ride ter de camp, an eh do dis es Buh Rabbit bin tell um fuh do. De soldier, dem berry glad fuh git de rum. Dem tink two man fetch um,--one duh ride er white horse, an de edder duh ride er black horse. Dem drink tell dem drunk, an den Buh Fox slip way wid Buh Coon body ter eh wife house, an him an eh wife bury um een de gaden same night onbeknowinst ter ebry body.

De nex mornin wen de soldier wake up, de cart day day, but de body done gone. De soldier wuh camp on de leff, dem say de man wuh ride on er white horse mus er tief um; an de soldier wuh camp on de right, dem say de man wuh ride on er black horse him mus er tief um. So Buh Fox cuhfuse dem two gang er soldier, an dem nebber did fine um out.

Buh Rabbit, him scheemy mona all dem tarruh cretur. Him do all dis, an yet him stay fren wid Buh Lion, Buh Fox, an wid Buh Coon fambly.

XXXIII.

BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE PORPUS.

Ebber sence dat time wen Buh Wolf ketch Buh Rabbit duh tief water outer him spring, an eh bin tie um ter de spakleberry bush an lick um, Buh Rabbit hate Buh Wolf an mek plan fuh git eben wid um.