Chapter III: Part 3

Dem all two lub fish. Buh Rabbit an Buh Porpus bin good fren, an many er time Buh Porpus blan gie Buh Rabbit some er de fish wuh him der ketch. One day, Buh Porpus, him bin berry lucky een eh fishin, an eh fetch fuh Buh Rabbit mo ner two quart er gannet mullet, and blow um on de bank way Buh Rabbit kin git um dout wet eh foot. Buh Rabbit, him tell um heap er tenky, an eh cahr um ter him house. Befo eh part compny wid Buh Porpus, eh tell um how Buh Wolf bin ketch um an tie um an lick um, how eh bex long Buh Wolf, an how eh want Buh Porpus fuh help um fuh punish Buh Wolf. Den dem mek plan lucker dis: Buh Porpus bin fuh come back ter de same place nex day an leh Buh Rabbit tie grapewine roun um, so Buh Wolf kin pull um outer de water fuh eat um. Wen Buh Wolf tek eh holt fuh pull Buh Porpus outer de water, den Buh Porpus wus teh mek eh flut an juk Buh Wolf een de ribber an drown um. So dey gree, an Buh Rabbit gone home long eh fish.

Wen eh git ter eh house eh sen one er him gal to Buh Wolf house fuh tell um him hab some nice fish, an ter eenwite Buh Wolf an him fambly fuh tek brukwus long um nex mornin. Buh Wolf, him well please, an eh say him an eh fambly gwine come wid pledjur.

Dem did come. De fish sweet. Buh Wolf, him an eh wife an eh chillun joy um berry much. Buh Wolf ax Buh Rabbit way eh git de fish, an Buh Rabbit tell um say him fren, Buh Porpus, blan ketch um fur um, an dat him hab er pintment dat berry day wid Buh Porpus. Buh Wolf bague Buh Rabbit fuh leh him go long too, an see ef him couldnt mek rangement wid Buh Porpus fuh fine him een fish. Buh Rabbit say him willin; so dem finish brukwus an gone fuh meet Buh Porpus.

Es dem duh gwine Buh Rabbit tell Buh Wolf say Porpus meat berry nice, an eh tink mebbe dem kin ketch Buh Porpus an eat um. Buh Wolf quire: “How you gwine do um?” Den Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Me tell you how we gwine wuk dis ting. Me good fren ter Buh Porpus, an wen we git ter de ribber bank me gwine tell Buh Porpus leh we hab er game, an see who kin pull de strongis. Den we will tek er grape-wine an tie um roun Buh Porpus head, an you an me will tek turrer een, an we sholy kin drag Buh Porpus outer de ribber; an wen we git um out eh gwine dead, an we will hab heap er bittle fuh eat.” Buh Wolf, him no bin know de plan wuh Buh Rabbit aready done fix wid Buh Porpus, an so eh gree ter all wuh Buh Rabbit bin say.

Wen dem git ter de ribber bank, day was Buh Porpus duh wait fur Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit mek um quaintum wid Buh Wolf, an arter er while Buh Wolf ax Buh Porpus fuh fine um een fish same luk eh fine Buh Rabbit, an Buh Porpus gree fur do so. Den Buh Rabbit, him say: “Leh we hab some fun, an see who kin pull de strongis: Buh Porpus genst me an Buh Wolf.” Buh Porpus say him willin. Wid dat, Buh Rabbit git one long grape-wine, an eh tie one een roun Buh Porpus head, an de tarruh een eh tie fus roun Buh Wolf body, an den roun him own; but eh leff de een loose, so him kin slip out. Den eh gie de wud fuh pull. Es eh done dat eh slip outer de wine, an leff Buh Wolf lone fuh pull genst Buh Porpus. At de fus, wen Buh Porpus ease isself off een de ribber, eh pull sorter light, an den eh gie way, and Buh Wolf, him tought him gwine outpull um. But een er leely while Buh Porpus sorter hump eh back an flut eh tail, an yuh Buh Wolf come fuh de water. Eh dig eh paw een de san, an eh holler ter Buh Rabbit fuh tun um loose; but Buh Rabbit wouldnt tetch um, an so Buh Porpus drag um, duh scuffle an duh holler, clean een de ribber an onder de water, an drown Buh Wolf. Arter dat Buh Porpus swim back ter de bank an Buh Rabbit tek off de grape-wine from roun eh neck, an dem leff Buh Wolf een de water fuh shark an alligatur fuh eat.

Buh Rabbit an Buh Porpus done Buh Wolf er mean trick.

XXXIV.

DE DEBBLE AN MAY BELLE.

De Debble, him kin tek all sorter shape fuh cahr out him plan an fool people. Sometime eh mek isself inter wolf fuh kill you sheep. Narruh time eh tek de shape er alligatur fuh worry you duck an goose. Den eh look lucker white deer, an eh fly tru de wood, dout mek no noise, fuh skade people duh walk long de big road. Den eh come same lucker owl, an eh holler down you chimbly an eh tarrify ebry body wen dem duh tun flour een de pot. Den wen you sick, eh gone eensider you lucker a wurrum, an eh gie you all sorter misry. Den gen, eh kin tek de shape er man, en pass isself off fur great gentleman long de lady. Day yent nuttne wuh de Debble cant do ef eh mek up eh mine ter um.

One time day was a berry pooty noung ooman name May Belle. Him farruh bin rich, an eh dress um up ter de notch, an eh gie um saddle horse fuh ride, an carriage fuh dribe, an plenty er serbant fuh wait on um, an ebry good bittle fuh eat, an rockin-chair fuh set een, an orgin fuh play topper. All de noung man een de county bin er cote um an er try fuh marry um.

One day one strange man come fuh wisit um. Eh dress up better ner all dem tarruh gentlemans. Eh hab on new beber hat, wuh shine lucker glass, an eh hab side whisker comb so nice, an glub on eh han, an new cloze, an eh dribe up een er fine carriage wid four horse, an de driber hab er keen lash wuh pop so clear you could yeddy um way down de road.

De noung lady tek wid um right off. Eh hab sich er good manners, an eh talk so perlite, an eh ack so rich, ebry body gie way ter um, an eh outshine all dem tarruh Buckra wuh bin er cote de gal, an eh marry um befo de week out, an eh tek um een eh carriage, an eh dribe um off ter him house. Dat house bin een er deestant part er de country, buil on er hill. Nobody bin lib close. Eh bin de fines house een de whole settlement. Eh hab piazza all roun an roun, an eenside ebry ting look berry nice an pooty.

Wen dem dribe up ter de step, de Debble, wuh bin de husbun, han eh Bride een de pahler, an set um een one rockin-chair, an tell um de whole house blanks ter um, an eh mus mek isself saterfy an joy isself.

Ebry ting gone long berry well fur some time, an de noung wife hab ebry ting him call fur. One mornin, wen eh husbun leff de house fur ten ter eh bidness, an eh wife bin er ramble bout de room, eh fine one key duh heng up by isself. Eh wonder wuh key dat, an wuh do eh open. Eh tek um an eh try one lock arter anurrer, but de key wunt fit. Bimeby eh gone duh garret, an eh see one do up day wuh bin lock. Eh pit de key ter de hole an eh onlock de do, an wen eh open um lo! an behole! eh see een de closet tree noung ooman duh heng up long dem neck, an dem bin all dead. De ting skade de gal so bad eh scacely hab han fuh shet de do an lock um gen. But arter a while eh manage fuh do dat, an den eh mek hase an heng de key way eh bin fine um. De Bride faid fuh ax eh husbun bout de ting. All eh joy done gone. Eh want fuh git way, but him dunno how fuh do um. Eh yent hab nobody fuh truss fuh sen ter eh farruh an bredder fuh come an tek um way.

Eh husbun bin gen um one nice ridin horse fuh tek eh pledjur long ebry mornin an ebenin. De Debble so busy eh wife haffer ride by isself. De po gal yent say nuttne ter nobody bout wuh eh see een de closet der garret. Eh hide eh feelin, but eh berry onsaterfy een eh mine.

De nex mornin, wen eh bin er tek eh ride, soon es eh git outer yearin, eh biggin fuh cry, an fuh pity isself, an say eh wish eh bin back ter eh farruh house, an talk eh mine dat eh faid eh husbun, wen eh git tired long um, gwine kill um an heng um long de tarruh ooman wuh day een de closet duh garret. Him no know de horse wuh him duh ride bin a yeddy um, an duh notus wuh him duh say. All ob er sutten de horse open eh mout, an eh ax eh missis: “Enty you know who you marry ter? You husbun duh de Debble, an wen eh saterfy long you eh gwine bex wid you an kill you same luk eh done kill dem tarruh wife wuh eh bin hab befo eh bring you yuh.” De po ooman dat skade eh ready fuh fall off. Eh mose faint way. Eh heart duh flutter een eh bres. All eh strenk gie way. Eh cry. Eh gib up fuh loss. Den eh bague de horse fuh pity um, an help um, an tek um back ter him fambly. De horse sorry fur um, an eh prommus fuh try an sabe um, but eh tell um fuh keep eh mout shet, an mek no rackit bout de ting. Mo na dat, eh tell um, de nex mornin wen eh come fuh ride, eh mus fetch een eh pocket four big nail wuh day on de mantlepiece een de Debble room, an dem will help um fuh git way.

De po ooman tenk um berry much, an dem gone back an nobody bin know bout dis plan. De nex mornin wen de Debble, wuh bin him husbun, leff de house an gone fuh mine eh bidness, eh wife fine de nail dis es de horse bin say, an eh pit um een eh pocket. Den eh call fuh him ridin horse same luk eh ebber done, an eh gone down de road fuh ride. Soon es eh git outer de sight er de house, de good horse eh men eh pace; an, befo de middle er de day, eh tell eh missis fuh drap one er dem nail een de road. Eh missis did drap um, an right off one big bank er san riz up clean cross de road, so nobody could dribe ober. Wen night come on dem drap anurrur nail, middle night anurrer, an es de sun duh rise dem drap de las one. Ebry time de nail drap, de big bank er san rise up an shet up de road. De horse run so fas eh retch de ooman farruh house by brukwus time een de mornin. Eh fambly stonish fuh see um, an wen eh tell dem wuh mek eh come back, eh farruh an eh bredder git dem gun fur shoot de Debble ef eh come fuh tek de gal back.

Wen de Debble fine out say eh wife yent come back from ride, eh biggin fuh spicion someting; an arter dinner eh git een eh carriage fuh hunt eh wife. Eh tek de big road, an eh mek eh driber pit de lick ter de horse, but eh cant see ner yeddy nuttne bout eh wife. Bimeby eh come pon topper de fus bank er san een de road, an den him bin know right off wuh happne. Eh mek eh horse grabble tru, an den eh dribe straight fur eh farruh-een-law house. Eh blow eh hot bref behine eh horse, an eh mek um run lucker de win. Eh haffer stop fuh git tru dem tarruh bank er san wuh de edder nail bin mek, an so eh loss eh time an nebber did obertek eh wife. Wen eh tun een de abnue wuh lead ter eh wife farruh house, eh see eh wife an all eh fambly day een de piazza duh watch de road. Eh farruh-een-law an eh bredder-een-law hab gun een dem han. De Debble, him no faid gun, an eh dribe right up, an eh ax eh wife wuh mek um run way. Befo eh kin answer, eh tell um fuh git right een de carriage an go back home long um. Eh wife say eh wunt, an eh hole on ter eh farruh. Den de Debble git berry bex an schway say him gwine cahr um any how. Wid dat, eh light outer de carriage an mek fuh de piazza fuh graff eh wife. Eh farruh an eh bredder tell um fuh tan back an leh de gal lone. De Debble wunt yeddy dem, an es eh rise de step de farruh an de bredder er de noung ooman shoot de Debble long buck-shot. De shot drap offer um dout hot um, an eh come right on. Dist es eh bin guine tek de gal eh change eh mine, an eh tun ter eh old self, wid eh forky tail, an eh claw, an eh batwing, an eh owl yez, an eh blow fire outer eh mout, an eh bun up eh wife, an him farruh, an him murrer, an him bredder, an de house, an ebry ting wuh day een um. Not a ting leff fuh show way de house bin. Eh bun up de horse too wuh bin help eh wife fuh run way. Den eh change back ter de shape er a man dist es befo, an eh git een him carriage, an eh dribe back ter him house same luk nuttne bin happne.

“De Debble,” added Daddy Cudjo, as he concluded this story, “duh de wus ting een dis wul an de nex. Me nebber gwine hab nuttne fuh do long um. Me faid um wus den rattlesnake; an dat ting wuh dem call Hell, me nebber wan shum ner go nigh um.”

XXXV.

DE OLE MAN AN DE COON.

One time er rich Buckra hab er senserble ole man serbant wuh come from Afreka. Dis ole nigger bin know ebryting bout ebryting. Nobody could tun um wid questun. Eh Mossa try um heap er time, an eh ebber did mek right answer. Eh fren try um too, an dem nebber ketch um duh miss. De Buckra brag heaby on de ole man, an berry offne eh win bet topper um. One day de Buckra man gen er big dinner, an eh eenwite heap er fren ter him house. Eh lay er wager say nobody kin ax eh ole serbant er questun wuh him couldnt answer, an eh gie eh fren lief fuh try de ole man any fashion dem want. De money pit up, an de fren call one boy, wuh bin er wuk bout de lot, an dem sen um der wood fuh ketch one coon. De boy gone wid eh dog. Wen dinner done ober, an de gentlemans duh set een de piazza duh talk, de boy come back wid er roccoon. Dem call fuh er barrel, an dem tek de coon an pit um een an head um up complete, so nobody kin see wuh day eenside.

Den dem sen fuh de ole Afreka nigger. Eh bin er hoe cotton der fiel, an nobody bin tell um wuh mek dem sen fuh um. Eh come; an den eh Mossa say: “Ole man, we sen fuh you fuh tell we wuh day een dis barrel.” De ole man look at um, an walk roun um, an notus um close, an listne fuh see ef eh could yeddy anyting duh mobe. All de gentlemans duh watch um. Wen de ole man mek up eh mine eh couldnt fine out wuh day een de barrel, eh stop, eh study, eh cratch eh head, an den eh mek answer: “Mossa, hoona done head de ole coon dis time.”

Eh no bin know say him bin er speak er true wud bout wuh bin een de barrel. Eh bin er talk bout ehself wen eh say dem bin head de ole coon dis time, but eh Mossa an de tarruh gentlemans no know, and dem all gie de ole man big praise. Eh Mossa win de bet, an eh share de silber money wid de ole man.

XXXVI.

BUH RABBIT AN DE CRAWFISH.

Arter Buh Wolf bin lick Buh Rabbit an trow um een de brier patch case eh ketch um der tief water outer him spring, Buh Rabbit faid fuh meet Buh Wolf, an him leff an gone buil ehself new house een Buh Bear settlement. Buh Bear, him hab well, an steader Buh Rabbit fine him own water, eh blan slip ter Buh Bear well an tief water outer um. Buh Bear fine dis out, but Buh Rabbit so scheemy Buh Bear couldnt pit eh han topper um fuh ketch um. So eh git one big crawfish an eh pit um een de well, an eh tell um fuh gard de well, an fastne ebrybody wuh come day fuh tief water.

De nex time Buh Rabbit gone der well long him calabash fuh git some water, de fus ting eh know de crawfish grab um by eh tail. Buh Rabbit holler, an een eh pull way eh leff eh tail een de crawfish claw. An dat de way Buh Rabbit come fuh loss eh tail. Eh tail stumpy tel dis day.

XXXVII.

BUH RABBIT AN BUH ELEPHUNT.

You ebber notus say Buh Elephunt yez all de time duh heng down, an eh cant cock um up luk de tarruh creetuh? Eh hinge to eh yez look luk eh broke. You know wuh mek so? Ef you yent know, lemme tell you.

Buh Rabbit an Buh Elephunt, dem blan ramble tru de same wood. Buh Rabbit, him lib offer de noung grass, an Buh Elephunt, him eat de tree limb. Dem bin quaintun wid one anurrur; an, weneber dem meet, dem nusen fuh pass de time er day. Buh Rabbit, him too leetle fuh Buh Elephunt fuh keep compny long.

Een de spring er de year Buh Rabbit bin mek eh nes onder one bush, an eh line um an eh kibber um ober complete long sofe dry grass. Eh hab tree leely chillun een dat nes. One day Buh Elephunt bin er hunt eh bittle, an eh gone miss an mash topper Buh Rabbit nes, an kill eh chillun. Buh Rabbit no bin day at de time, an wen eh git back eh fine eh nes done broke up, an all tree eh chillun squash flat. Eh see by de track say Buh Elephunt bin do dat. Eh gone right off an eh tackle Buh Elephunt bout um. Buh Elephunt mek answer an say him yent do um; him yent know nuttne bout um. Wen Buh Rabbit fine eh cant git no saterfaction outer Buh Elephant, eh cut down, an eh berry bex, an eh mek plan fuh git eeben wid Buh Elephunt fuh de big damage wuh him bin done ter um an eh fambly.

Eh quaintun wid de place way Buh Elephunt blan leddown fuh tek eh res; so eh watch um, an wen eh done gone der bed, Buh Rabbit, him slip back an eh call eh wife, and dem gedder dry leaf an dead grass, an dem tote um ter de spot way Buh Elephunt duh sleep, an dem full all two Buh Elephunt yez long de leaf an grass. Den dem trike fire an clap um ter de dry grass an leaf wuh dem bin pit een Buh Elephunt yez. Eh blaze up. Buh Elephunt wake. Eh couldnt mek out wuh happne. De ting biggin fuh bun um bad. Eh holler fuh somebody fuh help um. Eh roll ober an try fuh out de fire een eh yez. Eh tek eh trunk an try fuh lick um out, but befo de fire done out, eh bun de hinge er all two eh yez, so eh couldnt liff um up no mo.

Dat de way Buh Rabbit tek eh rewenge on Buh Elephunt case eh mash eh chillun, an dat de reason huccum Buh Elephunt hab flop yez tel ter-day.

XXXVIII.

BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN BUH POSSUM.

Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf gone long de ribber bank fuh hunt Cooter agg. Dem Cooter blan come outer de water wen de tide high, an dig hole een de san, an lay dem agg, an kibber dem ober so crow an ting cant fine um. Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf come topper nough er Cooter nes, an dem gedder de agg an share um equel. Dem pit um een bag, an es dem gin gwine home, de agg so fresh an sweet, Buh Rabbit slip eh han een eh bag an onbeknowinst ter Buh Wolf eh suck all de agg wuh bin fall ter him share befo dem retch de fork er de road way dem gwine part compny.

Buh Wolf tote all him agg home, an gen um ter him wife. Eh yent bin een eh house berry long wen up come Buh Rabbit duh puff an der blow. Soon es eh ketch eh bref eh say: “Buh Wolf, wuh you bin do long dem Cooter agg? Enty you fine out say dem spile? Me bin gib some er mine ter me wife, an eh gen um cramp colic right off. Me run all de way fuh tell you, so you kin sabe you fambly from sick.”

Buh Wolf nebber spicion say Buh Rabbit bin er tell um lie, an eh tenk um berry much, an eh gone git de Cooter agg an trow um way. Buh Rabbit notus way Buh Wolf bin trow de agg; an soon es Buh Wolf gone back een him house, Buh Rabbit gedder dem up an tote um off een de bush, an seddown an biggin fuh eat dem dist es saterfy es kin be.

Eh so happne say Buh Wolf come pon topper Buh Rabbit duh eat dem Cooter agg, an eh see right off how Buh Rabbit done fool um. Eh git rale mad, an eh mek eh jump fuh graff Buh Rabbit, but Buh Rabbit too quick fur um, and eh tek ter eh heel. Buh Wolf push um so tight eh mek um quit de groun an tek ter one pussimmon tree. Buh Rabbit so light eh gone out on one leely limb way Buh Wolf couldnt foller um ner retch um. Wen Buh Wolf fine out eh couldnt pit eh han pon topper Buh Rabbit fuh lick um, eh call ter Buh Possum, wuh bin hab house close by, an eh ax um fuh run day an watch Buh Rabbit tel him coulder git him ax fuh cut down de tree an ketch Buh Rabbit. Buh Possum come, an eh seddown onder de tree duh gard Buh Rabbit wile Buh Wolf gone fuh him ax.

Arter er wile Buh Rabbit say: “Buh Possum, dem yer pussimmon berry sweet. Enty you want some?” Buh Possum, him mek answer: “Yes, me Budder, me berry lub pussimmon, an me will glad fuh git some.” Den Buh Rabbit tell um fuh step ter him house an fetch eh fanner fuh ketch de pussimmon es eh pick um an drap um. Buh Possum so anxious fuh tase de pussimmon eh clean furgit wuh Buh Wolf bin leff um fuh do, an so eh gone ter him house fuh git eh fanner. Soon es eh back tun, Buh Rabbit slip down de tree an lean fuh home. Wen Buh Wolf come wid eh ax, eh fine Buh Rabbit an Buh Possum all two gone. Eh dat bex eh dunno wuffer do. Een er leely wile yuh come Buh Possum duh tote he fanner. Buh Wolf questun um, an wen eh fine out how Buh Rabbit done fool um an git way, eh tun een an cuss Buh Possum an beat um. Eh tek a smart somebody fuh head Buh Rabbit.

XXXIX.

BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE HOLLER TREE.

Arter Buh Rabbit bin fool Buh Wolf bout dem Cooter agg, an slip way from Buh Possum, eh faid fuh meet Buh Wolf, an eh walk berry skittish ebry time eh lef eh house. Buh Wolf bin on de keen look-out fuh um. One day dem meet. Buh Wolf, him say: “Haw! Budder, me got you now. You dodge me long time. Ebry man fuh isself.” Wid dat eh tek arter Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit, him bin quaintun wid all de holler tree een de wood, an wen Buh Wolf push um close, eh jump een one er dem. Buh Wolf run up an eh say: “Me got you now. Come out an tek you lick, er me gwine bun you up een dis tree.” Eh no bin know say narrur holler bin on tarruh side er de tree, an dat Buh Rabbit done run clean tru an gone. Wen eh couldnt yeddy nuttne from Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf gedder fat pine tick, an eh poke um een de holler an eh pit fire ter um. De fire roll, an Buh Wolf feed um tell de tree bun down. Eh saterfy say Buh Rabbit done bun up, an eh gone home, an eh mek brag ter him fambly say him bin stroy Buh Rabbit.

Eh yent bin tree day arter dat wen lo an behole! Buh Wolf meet Buh Rabbit duh seddown een de big road, dist es content es ef nuttne bin happne, duh leek isself. Buh Wolf hail um an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, dat duh you? Enty me bin bun you up tarruh day? Why you duh do duh leek youself so happy an content?” Buh Rabbit, him mek answer: “Budder, dat holler way you bin try fuh bun me een, gone ter de top er de tree, an eh bin full er honey. De fire melt de honey, an eh run down an kibber me all ober. Me yent done git um all offer me tel now. You come tase me an see how sweet me yiz.” Buh Wolf so lub honey eh furgit eh spite gainst Buh Rabbit, an eh come up an eh taste um, an eh fine out say honey bin all ober Buh Rabbit. Den eh ax Buh Rabbit fuh show um one holler way him kin git some honey. Buh Rabbit gree fuh do so ef Buh Wolf would mek fren wid um. Dem shake ban, and den Buh Rabbit tell Buh Wolf fuh foiler um. Eh tek um ter one tree wuh hab holler on one side, but wuh shet up on tarruh side, an eh tell Buh Wolf say dat tree full er honey, an eh mus git een an crawl up nigh de top es eh could go. Buh Wolf trus Buh Rabbit, an eh gone een de holler. Soon es eh git een, Buh Rabbit tek one lightwood knot an eh chink up de hole so Buh Wolf couldnt come out. Den eh gedder some fat pine, an eh mek fire an eh bun Buh Wolf up een de holler. While eh duh bun, Buh Wolf bague an pray Buh Rabbit fuh leh um come out, but Buh Rabbit wouldnt yeddy um.

Buh Rabbit leetle fuh true an eh yent strong, but eh berry scheemy an eh hab er bad heart.

XL.

BUH RABBIT AN DE CUNJUR MAN.

Buh Rabbit greedy fuh hab mo sense den all de tarruh animel. Eh yent lub fuh wuk, an eh try heap er scheme fuh git eh libbin outer edder people by fool um.

One time eh gone ter one wise Cunjur Man fuh larne um him way, an fuh git him knowledge, so him kin stonish tarruh people an mek dem bliebe say him bin wise mo ner ebrybody. De Cunjur Man larne um heap er curous ting. At las Buh Rabbit ax um fuh gen um eh full knowledge. De Cunjur Man say: “Buh Rabbit, you hab sense nough aready.” Buh Rabbit keep on bague um, an den de Cunjur Man mek answer: “Ef you kin ketch one big rattlesnake an fetch um ter me live, me gwine do wuh you ax me fuh do.”

Buh Rabbit git ehself one long stick an eh gone der wood. Eh hunt tel eh fine one whalin ob er rattlesnake duh quile up on one log. Eh pass de time er day berry perlite wid um, an arterwards eh bet de snake say him yent bin es long as de stick wuh him hab een him han. Buh Rattlesnake laugh at um, an eh mek answer dat eh know eh yiz long mo na de stick. Fuh settle de bet Buh Rattlesnake tretch ehself out ter eh berry lenk on de log, an Buh Rabbit pit de pole long side er um fuh medjuh um. Man sir! befo Buh Rattlesnake fine out, Buh Rabbit slip one noose roun eh neck an fastne um tight ter de een der de pole. Buh Rattlesnake twis ehself, an wrop ehself roun an roun de pole, an try fuh git eh head loose, but all eh twis an tun yent do um no good. An so Buh Rabbit ketch um, an cahr um ter de Cunjur Man.

De Cunjur Man rale suprise, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, me always bin yeddy say you bin hab heap er sense, but now me know dat you got um. Ef you kin fool Rattlesnake, you hab all de sense you want.” Wen Buh Rabbit keep on bague de Cunjur Man fuh gie um mo sense, de Cunjur Man answer: “You go fetch me er swarm er Yaller Jacket, an wen you bring um ter me, me prommus you teh gie you all de sense you want.”

Ebrybody know say Yaller Jacket wus den warse, an bee, an hornet. Eh sting so bad, an eh berry lub fuh drap topper ebryting wuh come close eh nes, an dout gie um any warnin. So wuh Buh Rabbit do? Eh gone an eh git one big calabash, an eh crape um out clean, an eh cut one hole een um, an eh pit honey een um, an eh tie um on de een er one long pole. Den eh hunt tel eh fine er Yaller Jacket nes, an eh set de calabash close by um dout worry de Yaller Jacket, an eh leff um day, an eh tan off an watch um. Bimeby de Yaller Jacket scent de honey, an dem come out de nes an gone een de calabash fuh eat de honey. Wen de calabash full er Yaller Jacket, Buh Rabbit slip up an stop de hole, an cahr um ter de Cunjur Man. De Cunjur Man mek er great miration ober wuh Buh Rabbit bin done, an eh say: “Buh Rabbit, you is suttenly de smartest ob all de animel, an you sense shill git mo an mo ebry day. Mo na dat, me gwine pit white spot on you forrud, so ebrybody kin see you hab de bes sense een you head.” An dat de way Buh Rabbit come fuh hab er leely tuff er white hair between eh yez.

XLI.

BUH RABBIT, BUH FOX, AN DE FISHERMAN.

Buh Rabbit es er soon man. You haffer git up befo day fuh head um. Wayebber you fine um, eh yez cock up fuh yeddy ebryting wuh duh gwine on. Eh nose duh twis from side ter side fuh ketch all de scent duh float een de element, an wen eh walk bout eh hop so light you tink der sperit. Eh lub fuh lib close big road an settlement, way him kin quaintun wid all wuh happne, an pick eh chance fuh mek eh libbin easy.

One time er Ole Man hab er fish trap wuh mek wid bode. Eh hab er gate. Wen de tide duh come een de creek, de gate open an leh de fish een; an wen de tide duh gwine back der ribber, de gate shet an stop all de fish wuh day een de creek. Ebry low tide de Ole Man tek eh leely waggin an wisit eh trap, an collec de fish an pit um een eh waggin an cahr um home fuh him an eh fambly fuh eat.

Buh Rabbit watch de Ole Man es eh pass day arter day long de big road, an eh hanker arter de fish, but eh yent know rightly how fuh git some. Arter er wile eh fix dis plan. De nex time eh see de Ole Man duh comin long de road wid eh waggin an fish, eh leddown dist on de adge er de road, an eh pant same luk eh bin gwine fuh dead. Es de ole man bin er pass long eh notus um, an eh stop, an eh gone ter um an eh ax um wuh ail um. Buh Rabbit mek answer een er woice so leely you cacely kin yeddy um, an tell um say eh berry sick; dat eh bin gwine home wen eh back an eh leg gie out, an eh couldnt trabble no furder. Den eh bague de Ole Man fuh tek um up een eh waggin an cahr um long de big road tel eh come ter de place way him fuh tun off fuh gwine ter him house. De Ole Man gree fuh do so, an eh liff Buh Rabbit up, an eh pit um een eh waggin long side de pile er fish. Buh Rabbit leddown luk eh dead. De Ole Man back tun ter Buh Rabbit. Een er leely while Buh Rabbit biggin fuh slip fish outer de waggin, an trow um, onbeknowinst ter de Ole Man, een de bush wuh bin er grow long side er de road. Wen dem mose git ter de place way de Ole Man gwine tun out de big road, Buh Rabbit hop outer de waggin dout de Ole Man shum, an run back an gedder all de fish wuh him bin tief.

Es de Ole Man retch eh big gate, eh look behine fuh see how Buh Rabbit duh mek out; an de fus ting eh know Buh Rabbit yent day een de waggin, an heap er him fish done missin. Den de Ole Man fine out say Buh Rabbit bin fool um an tief eh fish. De Ole Man berry bex, an eh dribe home an tell eh wife bout de ting.

Arter Buh Rabbit done gedder de fish wuh eh bin tief outer de Ole Man waggin, eh pit um on tring, an eh start fuh tote um ter him house. Buh Fox meet um, an eh quire way eh git all dem fish. Buh Rabbit up an tell um. Buh Fox say him want git some too. Den Buh Rabbit mek um senserble wen de Ole Man gwine come long de road, an eh show um good place fuh him fuh wuk eh plan fuh do dist es him bin do.

De nex day Buh Fox tek eh stan sider de big road an wait fuh de Ole Man an eh waggin. Befo long yuh eh come. Buh Fox trow isself in de groun, an roll ober, an moan berry pitiful. De Ole Man shum, an eh light offer eh waggin an run up ter um wid eh big whip een eh han. Buh Fox bin tink say de Ole Man gwine pity um, an tek um een eh waggin same luk eh done Buh Rabbit. Steader dat, an befo eh fine out, de Ole Man knock um een de head wid de butt er eh whip an stunted um. Den eh beat um ter det, an eh tek um up an eh trow um een eh waggin, an eh dribe home. Wen eh git day eh call eh wife an eh show um de tief wuh bin tek eh fish. De Ole Man yent bin know de diffunce tween Buh Rabbit an Buh Fox. Eh tink all two bin de same animel.

Buh Rabbit, him no care so eh sabe isself. Him bin know say Buh Fox gwine ketch de debble wen de Ole Man come pon topper um.

XLII.

BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE YEARLIN.

Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf come inter cohoot fuh kill cow. Dem gone een de paster an pick out one fat yearlin, an run um down, an ketch um, an cut eh troat. Den dem skin um an share de meat. Buh Wolf claim de bigges part, case him hab de bigges fambly. Eh strong mo ner Buh Rabbit, an so Buh Rabbit yent hab de power fuh mek um do jestice. But ef Buh Wolf hab de strenk, Buh Rabbit hab de bes sense. So wuh Buh Rabbit do? Eh tek some salt outer him bag, an eh buil fire, an eh brile some er de yearlin meat on de coals, an eh eat um right befo Buh Wolf. Soon es eh done eat um, eh cry out an eh say eh hab pain er belly, an eh double ehself all up, an eh roll eh yeye, an eh waller all long de groun, an eh mek all sorter curous motion an noise. Buh Wolf skaid, an eh conclude say de meat yent good. Eh tink say eh pizen Buh Rabbit, an dem gree fuh leff um.

Buh Wolf wait tel Buh Rabbit sorter come teh, an den eh help um ter him house an tell um goodbye.

Wen sun down an eh biggin fuh dark, Buh Rabbit gedder him fambly, and dem gone an git de yearlin meat, an dem cahr um home an dem eat um. Nuttne bin ail de meat. Eh bin soun an sweet, an Buh Rabbit do dis fuh fool Buh Wolf an git him share too.

XLIII.

BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, DE DOG, AN DE GOOSE.

Arter dat time wen Buh Rabbit bin play dat trick on Buh Wolf an ride um up ter de Gal house wuh dem all two bin er cote, Buh Wolf berry bex long Buh Rabbit, an eh wan ketch um fuh gie um good lickin. Buh Rabbit, him so smate eh keep outer Buh Wolf way so eh couldnt come pon topper um. Buh Wolf hire one dog fuh help um ketch Buh Rabbit. One day de Dog meet Buh Rabbit der wood, an dout say one wud ter um, eh lean arter um fuh ketch um. Buh Rabbit run, but de Dog push um so tight Buh Rabbit, fuh sabe ehself, jump een one holler oak tree. De hole bin too leely fuh de Dog fuh foller um, an so Buh Rabbit mek ehself saterfy say eh done git way. Bimeby eh yeddy de Dog call one goose, an tell um fuh watch de holler tel him kin git some fire an moss fuh smoke Buh Rabbit outer de tree. Wen de Dog gone fuh gedder de moss an git de fire, Buh Rabbit call ter de Goose an ax um: “How you duh watch me wen you no see me?” Wid dat de Goose poke eh long head een de holler fuh look fuh Buh Rabbit. Es eh do dat, Buh Rabbit trow rotten wood een eh yeye. Eh bline de Goose, an eh draw eh head out, an wile eh duh fight fuh git de rotten wood outer eh yeye Buh Rabbit slip out an gone. Wen de Dog come back, eh stuff de moss een de holler, an eh pit fire ter um, an eh mek er hebby smoke; but eh cant see ner yeddy nuttne bout Buh Rabbit. Den eh biggin fuh spicion say Buh Rabbit might er git out, an eh tackle de Goose bout um. Eh notus de Goose yeye red an eh duh run water. De Goose tell um how Buh Rabbit bin trow rotten wood een eh yeye wen eh bin er peep up de holler. Den de Dog know fuh sutten say Buh Rabbit bin wuk dat plan fuh git way, an dat eh done gone fuh true. Eh so bex eh cuss de Goose fuh er fool, an eh tun on um fuh stroy um. De Goose holler, an manage fuh sail way een de element, but eh leff eh fedder een de Dog mouf.

XLIV.

BUH SQUIRLE AN BUH FOX.

Buh Squirle bin berry busy duh gedder hickry not on de groun fuh pit way fuh feed ehself an eh fambly duh winter time. Buh Fox bin er watch um, an befo Buh Squirle shum, eh slip up an eh graff um. Buh Squirle, eh dat skaid eh trimble all ober, an eh bague Buh Fox fuh lem go. Buh Fox tell um say eh bin er try fuh ketch um long time, but eh hab sich sharp yeye, an keen yez, an spry leg, eh manage fuh dodge um; an now wen eh got um at las, eh mean fuh kill um an eat um. Wen Buh Squirle fine out dat Buh Fox yent bin gwine pity um an tun um loose, but dat eh fix fuh kill um an eat um, Buh Squirle say teh Buh Fox: “Enty you know say nobody oughter eat eh bittle befo eh say grace ober um?” Buh Fox him mek answer: “Dat so;” an wid dat eh pit Buh Squirle een front er um, an eh fall on eh knee, an eh kibber eh yeye wid eh han, an eh tun een fuh say grace.

Wile Buh Fox bin er do dis, Buh Squirle manage fuh slip way; an wen Buh Fox open eh yeye, eh see Buh Squirle duh run up de tree way him couldnt tetch um.

Buh Fox fine eh couldnt help ehself, an eh call arter Buh Squirle an eh say: “Nummine, Boy, you done git way now, but de nex time me clap dis han topper you, me gwine eat you fus an say grace arterward.”

Bes plan fuh er man fuh mek sho er eh bittle befo eh say tenky fuh um.

XLV.

BUH RABBIT, BUH WOLF, AN DE BUCKRA MAN.

Er Buckra man bin hab er gang er sheep. Ebry now an den eh miss one. Eh sarche eh fiel, an eh see Buh Wolf track day, an eh mek up eh mine say him bin er de one wuh duh tief eh sheep. Eh fix heaper plan fuh ketch um, but eh fail. At lenk eh call een Buh Rabbit, case eh hab summuch sense, fuh help um. Buh Rabbit, him gree fuh do so ef de Buckra man would len um one horse, an would prommus no fuh tell Buh Wolf nuttne bout de ting.

De Buckra man gen um de prommus an len um de horse. Buh Rabbit ride de horse ter him house, an eh sen wud ter Buh Wolf say him dist bin buy er fine ridin horse, an him want um fuh come an tek er ride long um. Buh Wolf, him come, an wen eh look topper de horse eh tell Buh Rabbit him would lub fuh ride um, but dat him faid say de horse gwine fling um. Buh Rabbit mek answer say him mussnt faid; dat him gwine pit saddle on de horse, an wen Buh Wolf git een um eh gwine tie eh leg so him cant fall off; an, mo ner dat, him gwine git up behine fuh hole um on. Arter dat Buh Wolf seem saterfy.

Buh Rabbit trow de saddle on de horse an gelt um tight. Den Buh Wolf climb up an tek eh seat. Buh Rabbit tek string, an eh tie Buh Wolf leg fas ter de stirrup. Now eh say: “Me gwine git up behine fuh hole you on.” Steader dat, wen Buh Wolf yent bin er notus, eh step back, an eh tek er bunch er cock-spur an eh lick um onder de horse tail. De ting hot de animel so bad, eh jump, an eh pitch, an eh kick up. Buh Wolf grab de bridle an juk de horse mouf, an dat mek um rare up. Buh Wolf git rale skaid, an eh holler fuh Buh Rabbit fuh tek um off. Buh Rabbit tell um fuh hole on tel him kin onloose de saddle. All dis time de horse bin er cut sich caper Buh Wolf couldnt manage um, an so eh drap de bridle an heng on ter eh mange fuh keep from fall off. Wen de horse fine say eh head loose, eh mek fuh home; an befo Buh Wolf fine out eh run tru de big gate an roun de house ter de stable. De Buckra man bin er set een eh piazza, an eh see wen de horse come up wid Buh Wolf der heng topper eh neck. Eh run ter de stable, an eh leh de horse an Buh Wolf een. Den eh call eh driber, an dem ontie Buh Wolf an fastne um ter one tree. Arter dem bin gen um bout one hundud lash, Buh Rabbit run up an bague de Buckra man fuh tun Buh Wolf loose. Eh did tun um loose. Buh Wolf nebber did fine out say Buh Rabbit bin fix dis plan fuh pit um een de Buckra man han, an eh tell Buh Rabbit heap er tenky fuh de faber wuh him bin done ter um.

Ebry time you yeddy bout Buh Rabbit you fine um duh come out head.

XLVI.

BUH RABBIT AN BUH WOLF FUNERAL.

Buh Rabbit fool Buh Wolf so many time, an een sich diffrunt fashion, dat eh outdone wid um. Ebry time eh try fuh ketch um fuh lick um, Buh Rabbit somehow er narruh slip tru eh han an git way. Buh Wolf, him hire edder people fuh wuk plan fuh git de better er Buh Rabbit an pit um een eh power, but, bless you soul! dem fail too, an Buh Rabbit, him go clear. De ting mose worry Buh Wolf life outer um. Eh fret so bout um tel eh biggin fuh tun rale po.

At lenk Buh Wolf gie out say him berry sick. Leely wile arter dat, de news come dat Buh Wolf dead. Eh wife eenwite all eh fren ter de funeral. Buh Wolf mek sho say eh gwine ketch Buh Rabbit now.

Buh Bear, him bin der de passon. Dog come. Roccoon come. Squirle come. Possum come. Cow come. Alligatur an Cooter, dem come. Deer, him bin day too. Buh Wolf, him bin er lay out on er bench een de middle er him house, kibber ober wid er wite clorte, an eh wife an eh chillun duh tan roun um duh cry. Buh Owl, him fetch er spade fuh dig de grabe, an bud bin day too fuh sing er hyme.

Wen dem all bin gedder, Buh Rabbit enter dist es careful, an tek eh stan jes by de do. Dem wait leely wile fuh Buh Fox, but him sen wud say him wife hab feber an him couldnt leff um. Den Buh Bear, him tek eh book an eh read um, an eh preach er sarmint. Arter dat de Mockinbud raise er chune, an dem all sing.

All dis time Buh Wolf bin er leddown, tretch out ter eh full lenk, and stiff lucker eh bin dead fuh true. Eh hole eh bref so tight, nobody could yeddy um breave. Wen de preachin an de singin done ober, dem all gone up fuh tek dem las look at Buh Wolf befo dem tote um out fuh bury um. Dem raise up de clorte wuh bin ober eh face, an eh look dist es natrul; an dem tell um goodbye one by one. Buh Rabbit him walk up las, an eh yent gone berry close needer. Buh Rabbit always tote eh good sense bout um, an eh nebber will run no resk. Es eh come fuh look topper Buh Wolf, Buh Wolf bin spec say eh woulder tan so close dat eh coulder graff um. But wen eh fine Buh Rabbit sorter skittish, an eh duh ease ehself off, eh tek de chance, an, all ober sutten, eh trow ehself offer de bench an eh mek arter Buh Rabbit. Buh Rabbit, him bin hab eh yeye on Buh Wolf all de time, an befo Buh Wolf could mek eh way tru de crowd an come up long um, Buh Rabbit slip out de back do an trow ehself een de brier patch, way Buh Wolf couldnt foller um. De people all stonish, an wen dem fine out de trute er de ting, dem berry bex; an, befo dem leff, dem bemean Buh Wolf sich er fashion eh bin shame fuh show ehself een de settlement fuh many er days. Dat bin er dutty trick wuh Buh Wolf play on eh fren and on Buh Rabbit, but Buh Rabbit, him outdo um.

XLVII.

DE NEW NIGGER AN EH MOSSA.

Er New Nigger notus say eh Mossa heap er time duh seddown wid eh foot cross, yent duh say nuttne an yent duh do nuttne, wen him haffer wuk all de time. One day eh ax eh Mossa huccum dat. De Buckra man answer: “Wen you see me duh seddown, an you tink me duh lazy, same time me duh wuk long me head, an duh mek plan, an study pon ting.”

Soon arter dat de Buckra man come pon topper de New Nigger een de fiel. De sun hot. Eh bin drap eh hoe, an bin er seddown on de cotton bed duh res ehself. De Buckra man git bex case de Nigger bin er glec eh wuk, an eh say ter um: “Huccum you stop de wuk wuh me bin gen you fuh do? Wuh mek you duh lazy disher fashion?” Den de New Nigger, him mek answer: “Mossa, me duh wuk long me head.” Wen de Buckra man quire wuh kind er head wuk him duh do, de New Nigger say: “Mossa, ef you see tree pigeon duh set on dat tree limb, an you shoot an kill one er dem, how many gwine leff?” Eh Mossa reply: “Any fool kin tell dat. Ob scource two gwine leff.” De New Nigger, him mek answer: “No, Mossa, you miss. Ef you shoot an kill one er dem pigeon, de edder two boun fuh fly way, an none gwine leff.”

De Buckra man bleege fuh laugh, an eh yent do nuttne ter de New Nigger case eh glec eh wuk.

XLVIII.

BUH RABBIT AN DE KING DARTER.

Dere was er King wuh bin hab er pooty Darter, an heap er people bin er cote um. De gal couldnt mek up eh mine which one fuh tek, an so eh ax eh farruh fuh help um pick. Den eh farruh, wuh bin de King, gen out wud say de one wuh kin fetch ter um de Alligatur yeye teet, an water from de Deer yeye, shill hab eh Darter.

All dem wuh bin er cote de gal fix plan fuh git dem ting, but dem fail. Ebry body bin faid Alligatur, an nobody could outrun Buh Deer. Buh Rabbit, him bin berry lub de gal, an him hanker arter marry um, so eh study bout de ting an mek eh scheme. Eh tek eh fiddle an eh gone ter de ribber bank, an eh play er funny chune, an eh sing er funny song. Buh Alligatur yeddy um; an bimeby eh crawl outer de mash grass, an eh leddown close by Buh Rabbit, so him kin ketch all wuh Buh Rabbit der play an der sing. Buh Rabbit do eh bes, an de ting tickle Buh Alligatur so bad eh laugh berry harty. Buh Rabbit play an sing, an pick eh chance, an wen Buh Alligatur duh shet eh yeye an open eh mout fuh laugh, eh tek eh fiddle bow an, all ob er sutten, eh knock one er Buh Alligatur yeye teet outer eh head. Befo eh fine out, Buh Rabbit done pick up de teet an gone.