THE JACKAL AND THE CAMEL
A Hindu Tale
The Jackal stood looking across the river where the crabs lay in the sun on the sand.
“Oh,” said the Jackal, “if I could only swim, how good those crabs would be! I wish I had a boat or a canoe!”
Just then the Camel came out of the woods. “Now,” said the Jackal, “if I can only get the Camel to take me across the river! I can ride high up on his hump, and it will be just as good as a boat.”
“Good morning, friend,” said the Jackal to the Camel. “Are you hungry? I know a place where the sugar cane grows higher and sweeter than anywhere else.”
“Where? Where?” cried the Camel. “Tell me, and I will go there at once.”
“I could take you to the place,” said the Jackal, “but it is across the river, and I cannot swim.”
“Oh,” said the Camel, “that is all right. Get up on my back and I will take you across, and you can show me where the sugar cane is.”
“All right,” said the Jackal, “and I will look along the bank of the river and see if I can find any fat crabs on that side.”
“Jump up quickly,” said the Camel, “it makes me hungry just to think of sugar cane.”
So the Jackal jumped up on the Camel’s back, and the Camel swam across the river, and the Jackal did not get the least bit wet, even the tip of his tail. (The Jackal does not like to get even the tip of his tail wet.)
When they were across the river the Camel went off to the patch of sugar cane, and the Jackal ate the crabs which lay out in the sun on the sand. It was not long until he had eaten as many crabs as he could, and wanted to go back to the other side of the river. So he went to where the Camel stood in the cane patch.
“Why, have you finished your crabs?” asked the Camel.
“Yes. I cannot eat another one. Let us go back.”
“Oh,” said the Camel, “I have hardly begun to eat yet.”
“Very well,” said the Jackal, “I will go out to the edge of the patch and lie down and wait for you.”
But the Jackal did not lie down. He was in a hurry to go home, now that he had eaten all the crabs he wanted. So he said: “I do not want to wait here. I know a little song I can sing that will make that Camel hurry.”
So he began to sing. Of course, the Camel did not pay any attention, but the farmer heard, as the Jackal knew he would, and came running out with sticks to chase the Jackal. But the Jackal hid in the high cane, and the farmer could not find him. He did find the Camel, however, and called to his boys, and they beat the Camel with sticks and drove him out of the cane.
When the farmer and his boys had gone, the Jackal came out of the cane and found the Camel lying on the sand bruised with the beating he had gotten.
“Oh, friend,” he exclaimed, “where have you been? I have been hunting for you in the cane.”
“Do not call me friend,” said the Camel. “Why did you sing that song that made the farmer come out and beat me?”
“Oh,” said the Jackal, “did the farmer come out and beat you? That is too bad. But I always sing a song after dinner.”
“Ah, do you?” said the Camel. “I did not know that. Very well. Let us go home. Climb up while I am lying down.”
So the Jackal climbed upon the Camel’s back, and he entered the water and began to swim across the river, the Jackal riding high on the hump of the camel so as not to get wet, even to the tip of his tail.
When they were about the middle of the stream the Camel said: “I believe that I shall roll over.”
“Do not do that,” exclaimed the Jackal, “for I shall get wet and be drowned.”
“Maybe you will,” said the Camel; “but you see I always roll over after dinner.”
So he rolled over in the water, and the Jackal got wet—first the tip of his tail, and then all over, and was drowned.
HASHNU THE STONECUTTER
A Japanese Story
Hashnu the Stonecutter sat beside the highway cutting stone. It was hard work, and the sun shone hot upon him.
“Ah me!” said Hashnu, “if one only did not have to work all day. I would that I could sit and rest, and not have to ply this heavy mallet.
Just then there was a great commotion, and Hashnu saw a crowd of people coming up the road. When they drew nearer he noticed that one of them was the King. On his right side rode soldiers, all arrayed in armor and ready to do his bidding, while on the left rode courtiers, seeking to serve him and win his favor.
And Hashnu, watching, thought what a fine thing it would be to be a King, and to have soldiers to do his bidding, and courtiers to serve him, and he said:
“Ah me, ah me,
If Hashnu only a King could be.”
At once he heard a voice say: “Be thou the King.”
Then in a moment Hashnu found that he was no longer the stonecutter, sitting beside the highway with a heavy mallet in his hand, but the King, dressed in armor, riding in the midst of soldiers and courtiers, and all about him doing homage.
He rode very proudly for a while, and his subjects bowed low before him. But the armor was heavy, and the helmet pressed hard upon his brow, and his head throbbed with the weight of it. He was indeed weary and faint with the heat, because, though a King, the sun beat hot upon him!
And he said to himself: “Lo, I am the King, and yet the sun can make me faint and weary. I had thought that to be a King was to be stronger than anything else, but the sun is stronger than the King!”
And as they rode further, and the sun still beat hard upon him, he said:
“Ah me, ah me,
If Hashnu only the sun could be!”
Then he heard a voice say: “Be thou the sun.”
And in a moment he was no longer the King, riding among his courtiers, but the sun, blazing high in the heavens, shining hot upon the fields and the meadows. As he did not know how to shine, he allowed his rays to fall too fiercely upon the world, and grass and grain were dried up and withered, and men lamented because of the cruelty of the heat. But Hashnu thought he was doing great things, and was very proud, until a cloud came between him and the earth, so that his rays no longer fell upon the fields and the cities of men.
And Hashnu said: “Lo, I am the sun, and my rays fell upon the fields and the cities, and all acknowledge my power. But the cloud is stronger than the sun, for it shuts off my rays from the earth.”
Then, because the cloud would not go, but became heavier and blacker, Hashnu lamented, and said:
“Ah me, ah me,
If Hashnu only the cloud could be.”
And in a moment he was no longer the sun, shining fiercely upon the earth, but the cloud, riding in the sky, shutting off the rays of the sun, and pouring rain upon the fields and the meadows, filling the rivers and the streams to overflowing. But he did not know how to let down the rain wisely, and it fell too heavily, and the rivers rose high and destroyed the fields and the cities, and the meadows were turned into swamps, and the grain rotted in the ground, and the wind blew, and trees were uprooted, and houses fell before it. But Hashnu cared for none of these things, for he thought he was doing very finely indeed.
But as he looked down upon the earth he saw that a rock beside the highway stood unmoved and firm, for all of his raining and blowing. And he said: “For all I am strong, and can blow down trees and destroy cities, and can pour my waters upon the earth and flood the fields and the meadows, yet does that rock defy my power. I, Hashnu, would be stronger than the rock!”
But the rock was unchanged, and Hashnu, lamenting, said:
“Ah me, ah me,
If Hashnu only the rock could be!”
Then he heard a voice say: “Be thou the rock.”
And in a moment he was no longer the cloud, with the wind blowing hard, and pouring water upon the earth, but the rock, fixed and unmoved beside the highway. Now, at last, he felt that he was stronger than all. But even as he rejoiced, he felt the sharp point of a stonecutter’s chisel, and heard the sound of his heavy mallet striking upon its head. Then he knew that, though the water had fallen upon the rock and been unable to change it, and the wind had blown hard against it and had no effect, yet would the stonecutter change and alter it, and make it take whatever shape he desired. And he said:
“Ah me, ah me,
If Hashnu only the stonecutter could be!”
And he heard a voice say: “Be thou thyself.”
Then Hashnu found himself again sitting beside the highway with a chisel in his hand, and a mallet on the ground beside him, and the rock before him. And the King had gone by, and the rays of the sun were now shadowed by the cloud, from which no rain fell, but only a grateful shade. And Hashnu said:
“The sun was stronger than the King, the cloud was stronger than the sun, the rock was stronger than the cloud, but I, Hashnu, am stronger than all.”
And so he worked on, now well content to do each day his added task.
THE TIGER, THE BRAHMAN, AND THE JACKAL[N]
Once upon a time a Tiger was caught in a trap. He tried in vain to get out through the bars, and rolled and bit with rage and grief when he failed.
By chance a poor Brahman came by. “Let me out of this cage, oh, pious one!” cried the Tiger.
“Nay, my friend,” replied the Brahman, mildly; “you would probably eat me if I did.”
“Not at all!” declared the Tiger; “on the contrary, I should be forever grateful, and serve you as a slave!”
Now, when the Tiger sobbed, and sighed, and wept, and swore, the pious Brahman’s heart softened; and at last he consented to open the door of the cage. Out popped the Tiger, and, seizing the poor man, cried: “What a fool you are! What is to prevent my eating you now, for after being cooped up so long I am just terribly hungry!”
In vain the Brahman pleaded for his life; the most he could gain was a promise to abide by the decision of the first three things he chose to question as to the justice of the Tiger’s action.
So the Brahman asked first a Pipal Tree what it thought of the matter; but the Pipal Tree replied coldly: “What have you to complain about? Don’t I give shade and shelter to every one who passes by, and don’t they in return tear down my branches to feed their cattle? Don’t whimper—be a man!”
Then the Brahman, sad at heart, went farther afield till he saw a Buffalo turning a well-wheel; but he fared no better from it, for it answered: “You are a fool to expect gratitude! Look at me! Whilst I gave milk they fed me on cotton-seed and oil-cake, but now I am dry they yoke me here, and give me refuse as fodder!”
The Brahman, still more sad, asked the Road to give him its opinion.
“My dear sir,” said the Road, “how foolish you are to expect anything else! Here am I, useful to everybody, yet all, rich and poor, great and small, trample on me as they go past, giving me nothing but the ashes of their pipes and the husks of their grain!”
On this the Brahman turned back sorrowfully, and on the way he met a Jackal, who called out: “Why, what’s the matter, Mr. Brahman? You look as miserable as a fish out of water!”
The Brahman told him all that had occurred.
“How very confusing!” said the Jackal, when the recital was ended; “would you mind telling me again, for everything has got so mixed up?”
The Brahman told it all over again, but the Jackal shook his head in a distracted sort of way, and still could not understand.
“It’s very odd,” said he, sadly, “but it all seems to go in at one ear and out of the other! I will go to the place where it all happened, and then perhaps I shall be able to give a judgment.”
So they returned to the cage, by which the Tiger was waiting for the Brahman, and sharpening his teeth and claws.
“You’ve been away a long time!” growled the savage beast, “but now let us begin our dinner.”
“Our dinner!” thought the wretched Brahman, as his knees knocked together with fright; “what a remarkably delicate way of putting it!”
“Give me five minutes, my lord!” he pleaded, “in order that I may explain matters to the Jackal here, who is somewhat slow in his wits.”
The Tiger consented, and the Brahman began the whole story over again, not missing a single detail, and spinning as long a yarn as possible.
“Oh, my poor brain! oh, my poor brain!” cried the Jackal, wringing its paws. “Let me see! How did it all begin? You were in the cage, and the Tiger came walking by—”
“Pooh!” interrupted the Tiger, “what a fool you are! I was in the cage.”
“Of course!” cried the Jackal, pretending to tremble with fright; “yes! I was in the cage—no I wasn’t—dear! dear! where are my wits? Let me see—the Tiger was in the Brahman, and the cage came walking by—no, that’s not it, either! Well, don’t mind me, but begin your dinner, for I shall never understand!”
“Yes, you shall!” returned the Tiger, in a rage at the Jackal’s stupidity; “I’ll make you understand! Look here! I am the Tiger—”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Yes, my lord!”
“And that is the cage!”
“Yes, my lord!”
“And I was in the cage—do you understand?”
“Yes—no! Please, my lord—”
“Well?” cried the Tiger, impatiently.
“Please, my lord!—how did you get in?”
“How!—why in the usual way, of course!”
“Oh, dear me!—my head is beginning to whirl again! Please don’t be angry, my lord, but what is the usual way?”
At this the Tiger lost patience, and, jumping into the cage, cried: “This way! Now do you understand how it was?”
“Perfectly!” grinned the Jackal, as he dexterously shut the door, “and if you will permit me to say so, I think matters will remain as they were!”
[N] From “Indian Fairy Tales,” edited by Joseph Jacobs; used by permission of the publishers, G. P. Putnam’s Sons.
THE STORY OF THE WILLOW PATTERN PLATE
RETOLD BY M. ALSTON BUCKLEY
Once upon a time there lived in China a rich and haughty mandarin, who had great riches in lands, and horses, and priceless jewels. This great man had one lovely daughter with soft black eyes, and raven hair that scarcely could be told in texture from the silken robes she wore. The mandarin loved his daughter and showered dazzling jewels on her, and bought rich robes, heavy with choicest needlework, that she might wear them.
Now the mandarin had a faithful secretary, a young man named Chang, whose every thought was given to the business of the man he served. But as he went about the house with downcast eyes, Chang saw the daughter of the mandarin trip lightly to her father’s side to whisper in the ear of her indulgent parent, or flash across the hall, or through the garden where she fed her goldfish in the lake, and when her mother called her name, Kong Lee, it seemed to him like sounds of liquid music. The mandarin talked always of his secretary, and said that he was honest and true and good, and told the truth and did his work as well as ever any man could do it.
Kong Lee learned to think of him and love him.
But the mandarin had a friend, a rich old man, who wished to marry Kong Lee, and take her far away to be the mistress of his castle. Kong Lee refused to marry this old man, and to punish her, her father shut her up in the top room of a lonely house that stood on the lake shore. From her windows she could see the lake, and she could see the willow tree that dipped its drooping branches in the smooth, still water and seemed to hang its head and weep for her. And when the Spring came on and she could hear the singing of the birds, she wished that she could go and walk about the garden where she could see the sweet blossoms that hung like a veil of pink over the peach trees. In her loneliness she wept, and wrote sad poetry, which she threw into the water.
All this time Chang grieved for her, and sent her gifts to comfort her, and when his work was done, he walked along the shore and thought of her. But one day Kong Lee caught sight of him standing on the shore, and she thought, “Chang will help me.” So she took a cocoanut, and cut the shell in two and made a little boat of half of it. Then she made a little sail of fine, carved ivory, on the sail she wrote a message asking Chang to help her and threw the boat out of the window. The little skiff sailed out over the lake, then fell and splashed into the water, the wind caught the sail and the small craft sailed bravely on. Chang saw it, waded out, and caught it, read the message, and went to find Kong Lee.
Kong Lee was waiting for him, and they fled in haste, taking her box of jewels with them. The mandarin saw them, and taking a whip he hastened after them to beat them back again, for he had great fear of his friend’s anger. But they were too swift for him, and reached the other side, where Chang’s boat was waiting to take them to his house.
There they were married, and lived in happiness until the mandarin’s wicked friend found where they were, and secretly, at night, sailed down the lake and burned the house when they were sleeping. But their loving spirits became two doves that rested in the trees and flew about the places they had loved.
And if you look at a blue china plate you will see there the house where Kong Lee was shut up, the willow tree she watched, Kong Lee and Chang running across the bridge followed by her father with his whip, the funny house-boat that carried them away to Chang’s little house that almost is hidden by the trees, and at the top, the pair of doves in which the Chinese poet believed the spirits of Kong Lee and Chang still lived.
“ha, ha, ha!” he said to himself.
“how foolish brother fox is”
BROTHER FOX’S TAR BABY[O]
TRANSLATED BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS
Once upon a time Brother Fox and Brother Rabbit lived near each other in the woods. But they had to go a long way each morning to get water from a spring.
One day Brother Fox said to Brother Rabbit: “What’s the use of taking a long walk every morning. Let us dig a well of our own.”
“I shall no longer go to the spring,” said Brother Rabbit. “From this time on I shall drink the dew from the grass and the flowers. Why should I work to dig a well?”
Brother Rabbit knew by the way Brother Fox talked that he was going to dig the well anyway.
“Just as you please,” said Brother Fox. “Then I will dig the well myself. And I will drink the water all by myself.”
The next morning Brother Fox began to dig a well by a big tree. He worked, and worked, and worked. Brother Rabbit was hiding in a bush near by and watching Brother Fox.
“Ha, ha, ha!” he said to himself. “How foolish Brother Fox is! I guess I shall soon have all the water I want. Ha, ha, ha!”
That night, while Brother Fox was asleep, Brother Rabbit stole quietly down to the well by the big tree, and drank and laughed, and drank and laughed.
“I guess I can have all the water I want,” said Brother Rabbit. “Brother Fox was foolish to do all the work.”
The next day, when Brother Fox went to get some water, he saw rabbit tracks in the mud.
“Ah, ha! Brother Rabbit,” said Brother Fox to himself, “so that’s the way you drink the dew from the grass and the flowers! Well, well, I think I can catch you at your trick!”
Brother Fox ran home as fast as he could and made a great big doll of wood, as big as a baby. He covered the wooden doll with black, sticky tar. Then he put a little cap on its head. At sunset, he put the tar baby out beside the well.
“I think I shall get Brother Rabbit this time,” he said, as he went home laughing to himself all the way.
Soon Brother Rabbit came hopping through the bushes. He looked first this way, then that. The least noise frightened him. When he saw the tar baby, he sat up straight and peeped at it through the leaves.
“Hullo, there! Who are you?” he said at last.
The tar baby said nothing.
“Who are you, I say?” he asked in a louder tone.
The tar baby said nothing.
Then Brother Rabbit went right up close to the tar baby.
“Why don’t you answer me?” he shouted.
The tar baby said nothing.
“See here!” he shouted. “Have you no tongue? Speak, or I’ll hit you!”
The tar baby said nothing.
Brother Rabbit raised his right hand and—biff! his hand stuck fast.
“Here! What’s this?” he cried. “Let me go, or I’ll hit you again.”
The tar baby said nothing.
At that—blip! he hit the tar baby with the other hand. That stuck fast, too.
“Listen to me, you rascal!” cried Brother Rabbit. “If you don’t let me go, I’ll kick you!”
The tar baby said nothing.
Bim! Brother Rabbit’s right foot stuck fast.
“See here, you imp!” he shrieked. “If I kick you with my left foot, you’ll think the world has come to an end!”
The tar baby said nothing.
Bom! the left foot stuck fast.
“Look out, now!” Brother Rabbit screamed. “Let me loose, or I’ll butt you into the well with my head! Let me go, I say!”
The tar baby said nothing.
Buff! Brother Rabbit’s head stuck fast.
And there was Brother Rabbit with both hands, and both feet, and his head stuck fast.
The next morning Brother Fox came out to see how the tar baby was getting along. He saw Brother Rabbit, and he laughed to himself until his sides ached.
“Hey, Brother Rabbit!” he called. “What are you doing? How do you like my tar baby? I thought you drank dew from the grass and the flowers! I have you now, Brother Rabbit, I have you now.”
“Let me go, Brother Fox!” cried Brother Rabbit. “Let me go! I am your friend. Don’t hurt me!”
“Friend? You are a thief,” said Brother Fox. “Who wants a thief for a friend?” Then he ran quickly to his home in the woods and built a big fire.
Soon Brother Fox tore Brother Rabbit loose from the tar baby, threw him over his shoulder, and started for the fire.
“Roast rabbit is good,” said Brother Fox.
“Roast me! Burn me! Anything!” said Brother Rabbit, “Only don’t throw me into the brier patch.”
“I’ve a mind to throw you into the well,” said Brother Fox, as he turned and looked back.
“Drown me! Kill me! Anything! Only don’t throw me into the brier patch,” said Brother Rabbit. “The briers will tear my flesh and scratch my eyes out. Throw me into the fire! Throw me into the well!”
“Ah, ha, Brother Rabbit!” said Brother Fox. “So you don’t like briers? Then here you go!” and he threw Brother Rabbit away over into the brier patch.
As soon as Brother Rabbit touched the ground, he sat up and laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
“Ha, ha, ha! Brother Fox!” said Brother Rabbit. “Thank you, dear Brother Fox, thank you! I was born and reared in a brier patch.”
Then Brother Rabbit ran off in great glee, chuckling over the trick he had played on Brother Fox.
[O] From “Evening Tales,” by Frederic Ortoli; used by permission of the publishers, Charles Scribner’s Sons.
THE RABBIT AND THE PEAS
BY MRS. M. R. ALLEN
A long time ago there was a Bear that had a fine pea patch. He and his wife had to work in the field every day, so they left their little girl at home to keep house. One fine morning Br’er (which means “Brother”) Rabbit came up to the house and called the little girl: “Mary, Mary, your father and mother told me to come up here and tell you to put me in the pea patch and let me have as many peas as I want.” So Mary put him in, and he stayed there until nearly 12 o’clock, and then he begun calling: “Little girl, little girl, come and let me out; I’m full for this time!”
So she let him out, and he went home. At dinner when her father and mother came home and saw their pea patch they were angry, and said: “Who has been in these peas?” “Why, didn’t you send Br’er Rabbit to get as many as he wanted?” said Mary. “No, I didn’t; no, I didn’t;” said Mr. Bear. “And the next time that rascal comes here with that sort of tale, you just keep him in there until I come home.”
So the next morning Br’er Rabbit came back again, and called: “Mary, Mary, your father told me to tell you to put me in the pea patch, and let me have all the peas I want.” “All right,” said Mary; “come on.” So she put him in and fastened him up.
As it began to grow late, Mr. Rabbit began to call: “Little girl, little girl, come and let me out!” “All right,” said Mary, “when I put down my bread for supper.” After a while he called again: “Little girl, little girl, come let me out!” “When I milk my cow,” said Mary. When she finished milking he called again, and she said: “Wait till I turn my cow out.”
By that time Mr. Bear came home and found him in his pea patch, and asked him what he was doing in there. “Your little girl told me you said I might have some peas,” said Br’er Rabbit. “Well,” said Mr. Bear, “I’ll put you in this box until I get rested and eat my supper, then I’ll show you a trick or two.” So he locked him in the box and went to the house.
After a while Br’er Fox came along the road, and Br’er Rabbit called him, and Br’er Fox said: “What are you doing in there?” “They are going to have a ball here to-night and want me to play the fiddle for them, so they put me in here. I wouldn’t disappoint them,” said Br’er Rabbit. “But, Br’er Fox, you always could beat me playing the fiddle. Now, they offer to pay two dollars for every tune. Suppose you take my place; my wife is sick and I must go home—if I can get off.”
“All right,” said Mr. Fox. “I’m always willing to make money, and if you don’t want to stay I will take your place.”
“who are you, i say?” he asked in a louder voice
“Well, look on top of the box and get the key. I saw Mr. Bear put it there,” said Br’er Rabbit. So Br’er Fox unlocked the door, and Br’er Rabbit hopped out and locked Br’er Fox in.
So after supper they all came out, and the little girl ran up to the box and looked in, and said: “Oh, mamma! just come and see how this Rabbit has growed!”
Mr. Fox said: “I ain’t no Rabbit!” “Well,” said Mr. Bear, “how came you in there?” “Because Br’er Rabbit asked me to take his place, and play at your ball to-night,” said Mr. Fox.
“Well, Br’er Rabbit has fooled you badly, Fox. But I will have to whip you, anyway, for letting him out. I’ll help you find Br’er Rabbit.” “I’ll hunt him till I die, to pay him back for fooling me so,” said Mr. Fox. So they all started out to find Br’er Rabbit.
And they soon came upon him, and he began to run, and all of them after him. And they got him in a tight place, and he ran up a hollow tree.
And they had to go back for their axes. So they put a Frog at the tree to watch him to keep him from getting away. After they were gone, Mr. Frog looked up and saw Br’er Rabbit.
they had to go look for axes.
so they put a frog at the tree to watch
“What’s dat you chewing?” said Mr. Frog. “Tobacco,” said Br’er Rabbit. “Give me some,” said Mr. Frog. “Well,” said Br’er Rabbit, “look up here and open your eyes and mouth wide.” So he filled the Frog’s eyes full of trash. And while Mr. Frog was rubbing his eyes trying to get the trash out so he could see, Br’er Rabbit ran out and got away.
When Mr. Bear and Mr. Fox got back with their axes, they asked Mr. Frog: “Whar’s Mr. Rabbit?” He said: “He’s in dar.” They cut down the tree and didn’t find him. Then they asked Mr. Frog again: “Whar’s Mr. Rabbit?” “He’s in dar,” said Mr. Frog. So they split the tree open, and still didn’t find him. And they asked Mr. Frog again, “Whar’s Mr. Rabbit, I say?” “He’s in dar,” said Mr. Frog.
“Now, Mr. Frog,” they said, “you have let Mr. Rabbit get away, and we are going to kill you in his place.”
So Mr. Frog said: “Wait till I go to my praying ground, and say my prayers.” So they told him he might have five minutes.
And there was a pond near by, and a log on the edge of it. So when Frog got on the log he bowed his head and said: “Ta-hoo! ta-hoo! ta-h-o-o!” Splash! and he was gone! And the Bear and Fox were outwitted again.
br’er rabbit’s fishing
BR’ER RABBIT’S FISHING[P]
One day, Br’er Rabbit, and Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear, and Br’er Coon, and all the rest of them were clearing up a new piece of ground to plant some corn.
The sun got sort of hot, and Br’er Rabbit he got tired; but he didn’t say so, ’cause he ’fraid the others’d call him lazy, so he kept on clearing away the rubbish and piling it up, till by-and-by he holler out that he got a thorn in his hand. Then he took and slipped off, and hunted for a cool place to rest in.
After a while Br’er Rabbit he see a well, with a bucket hanging in it.
“That looks cool,” says Br’er Rabbit, says he, “and cool I ’spects it is. I’ll just about get in there and take a nap,” says he. And with that in he jumped.
No sooner was Br’er Rabbit in, than the bucket began to go down, and there was no wusser scared beast since the world began than this here Br’er Rabbit was then. He fairly shook with fright. He know where he come from, but he dunno where he going. Presently he feel the bucket hit the water, and there it sat. Br’er Rabbit he keep mighty still, ’cause he dunno what be going to happen next. He just lay there, and shook and shivered.
Now, Br’er Fox he always kep’ one eye on Br’er Rabbit and, when Br’er Rabbit slipped off the new ground, Br’er Fox he sneaked after him. He knew Br’er Rabbit was after something or other, and he took and crept off to watch him. Br’er Fox see Br’er Rabbit come to the well and stop, and then he see him jump into the bucket, and then, lo and behold, he see him go down out of sight.
Br’er Fox was the most astonished fox that ever you set eyes on. He sat off there in the bushes, and he think and think, but he make no heads or tails of this kind of business. Then he says to himself, says he:
“Well, if this don’t beat my times,” says he, “then Joe’s dead and Sal’s a widder,” says he. “Right down there in that well Br’er Rabbit keeps his money hid, and if it ain’t that, then he’s been and gone and discovered a gold mine; and if it ain’t that, then I’m a-going to see what is there,” says he.
Br’er Fox crept up a little nigher, he did, and he listen, but he hear nothing, and he kept on getting nigher, and yet he hear nothing. By-and-by he get up close. He peep down; he see nothing, and he hear nothing.
All this while Br’er Rabbit was nearly scared out of his skin, and he ’fraid to move, ’cause the bucket might keel over and spill him out into the water.
Then old Br’er Fox holler out:
“Hallo, Br’er Rabbit! Who you visiting down there?” says he.
“Who? Me? Oh, I’m just a-fishing, Br’er Fox,” says Br’er Rabbit, says he. “I just said to myself that I’d sort of surprise you all with a lot of fishes for dinner; and so here I is, and here’s the fishes. I’m fishing, Br’er Fox,” says Br’er Rabbit, says he.
“Is there many of ’em down there, Br’er Rabbit?” says Br’er Fox.
“Lots of ’em, Br’er Fox. Scores and scores of ’em. The water is just alive with ’em. Come down, and help me haul ’em up, Br’er Fox,” says old Br’er Rabbit, says he.
“How ’m I going to get down, Br’er Rabbit?”
“Jump into the other bucket, Br’er Fox. It’ll fetch you down all safe and sound.”
Br’er Rabbit he talk so happy and talk so sweet, that Br’er Fox he jump into the bucket, he did, and as he went down, of course his weight pulled Br’er Rabbit up. When they passed one another half-way down, Br’er Rabbit he sing out:
“Good-by, Br’er Fox, take care of your clothes,
For this is the way the world goes;
Some goes up, and some goes down,
You’ll get to the bottom all safe and soun’.”
When Br’er Rabbit get out, he gallop off and tell the folks what the well belong to that Br’er Fox was down in there muddying up the drinking water, and then he gallop back to the well and holler down to Br’er Fox:
“Here comes a man with a great big gun;
When he hauls you up, you cut and run.”
But in about half an hour both of them were back in the new ground, working as if they never heard of no well, ’cept that every now and then Br’er Rabbit burst out and laugh, and old Br’er Fox he’d get a spell of the dry grins.
[P] From “More Funny Stories About Br’er Rabbit,” published by Stead’s Publishing House, London, England, and used with their permission.
BR’ER POSSUM LOVES PEACE
One night Br’er Possum called for Br’er Coon, and they rambled forth to see how the others were getting along. Br’er Possum he ate his fill of fruit, and Br’er Coon he scooped up a lot of frogs and tadpoles. They ambled along, just as sociable as a basket of kittens, till by-and-by they heard Mr. Dog talking to himself off in the woods.
“S’pose he runs upon us, Br’er Possum, what you going to do?” says Br’er Coon.
Br’er Possum sort of laugh round the corners of his mouth.
“Oh, if he comes, Br’er Coon, I’m going to stand by you,” says Br’er Possum. “What are you going to do?” says he.
“Who? Me?” says Br’er Coon. “If he runs up on to me, I lay I’ll give him a twist,” says he.
Mr. Dog he came and he came. He didn’t wait to say How-d’ye-do. He just sailed into the two of them. The very first pass he made, Br’er Possum fetched a grin from ear to ear, and keeled over as if he was dead. Then Mr. Dog he sailed into Br’er Coon, but Br’er Coon was cut out for that kind of business, and he fairly wiped up the face of the earth with Mr. Dog. When Mr. Dog got a chance to make himself scarce, he took it, and what was left of him went skaddling through the woods as if it was shot out of a gun. Br’er Coon he sort of licked his clothes into shape, and racked off, and Br’er Possum he lay as if he was dead, till by-and-by he looked up, sort of careful-like, and when he found the coast clear he scrambled up and scampered off as if something was after him.
Next time Br’er Possum met Br’er Coon, Br’er Coon refused to reply to his How-d’ye-do, and this made Br’er Possum feel mighty bad, ’cause they used to make so many excursions together.
“What makes you hold your head so high?” says Br’er Possum, says he.
“I ain’t running with cowards these days,” says Br’er Coon. “When I wants you, I’ll send for you,” says he.
Then Br’er Possum got very angry. “Who’s a coward?” says he.
“You is,” says Br’er Coon, “that’s who. I ain’t associating with them what lies down on the ground and plays dead when there’s a free fight going on,” says he.
Then Br’er Possum grin and laugh fit to kill hisself.
“Lor’! Br’er Coon, you don’t think I done that ’cause I was afraid, does you?” says he. “Why, I were no more afraid than you is this minute. What was there to be skeered at?” says he. “I knew you’d get away with Mr. Dog if I didn’t, and I just lay there watching you shake him, waiting to put in when the time came,” says he.
br’er possum lay as if he was dead
Br’er Coon turn up his nose.
“That’s a mighty likely tale,” says he. “When Mr. Dog no more than touched you before you keeled over and lay there stiff,” says he.
“That’s just what I was going to tell you about,” says Br’er Possum. “I weren’t no more skeered ’n you is now, and I was going to give Mr. Dog a sample of my jaw,” says he, “but I’m the most ticklish chap that ever you set eyes on, and no sooner did Mr. Dog put his nose down among my ribs than I got to laughing, and I laugh till I hadn’t no more use of my limbs,” says he; “and it’s a mercy for Mr. Dog that I was ticklish, ’cause a little more and I’d have ate him up,” says he. “I don’t mind fighting, Br’er Coon, any more than you does, but I’m blessed if I can stand tickling. Get me in a row where there ain’t no tickling allowed, and I’m your man,” says he.
And to this day Br’er Possum’s bound to surrender when you touch him in the short ribs, and he’ll laugh even if he knows he’s going to be smashed for it.
BR’ER FOX TACKLES OLD BR’ER TARRYPIN[Q]
One day Br’er Fox struck up with Br’er Tarrypin right in the middle of the big road. Br’er Tarrypin he heard Br’er Fox coming, and he say to hisself that he’d sort of better keep one eye open; but Br’er Fox was monstrous polite, and he begin, he did, and say he hadn’t seen Br’er Tarrypin this ever so long.
“Hallo, Br’er Tarrypin, where you been this long-come-short?” says Br’er Fox, says he.
“Lounging round,” says Br’er Tarrypin.
“You don’t look sprucy, like you did, Br’er Tarrypin,” says Br’er Fox.
“Lounging round and suffering,” says Br’er Tarrypin, says he.
Then the talk sort of run on like this:
“What ails you, Br’er Tarrypin? Your eye look mighty red,” says Br’er Fox.
“Lor, Br’er Fox, you dunno what trouble is. You ain’t been lounging round and suffering,” says Br’er Tarrypin, says he.
“Both eyes red, and you look like you is mighty weak, Br’er Tarrypin,” says Br’er Fox, says he.
“Lor, Br’er Fox, you dunno what trouble is,” says Br’er Tarrypin, says he.
“What ails you now?” says Br’er Fox.
“Took a walk the other day, and Mr. Man come along and set the field on fire. Lor, Br’er Fox, you dunno what trouble is,” says Br’er Tarrypin, says he.
“How you get out of the fire, Br’er Tarrypin?” says Br’er Fox.
“Sat and took it, Br’er Fox,” says Br’er Tarrypin, says he, “sat and took it; and the smoke got in my eye, and the fire scorched my back,” says Br’er Tarrypin, says he.
“Likewise it burn your tail off,” says Br’er Fox, says he.
“Oh, no, there’s my tail, Br’er Fox,” says Br’er Tarrypin, and with that he uncurl his tail from under his shell, and no sooner did he do that than Br’er Fox grab at it and holler out:
“Oh, yes, Br’er Terrapin! Oh, yes! And so you’s the one what lam me on the head the other day, is you? You’s in with Br’er Rabbit, is you? Well, I’m going to out you.”
Br’er Tarrypin he beg and he beg, but it weren’t no use. Then he beg Br’er Fox not to drown him. Br’er Fox ain’t making no promise. Then he beg Br’er Fox to burn him, ’cause now he used to fire. Br’er Fox he say nothing. By-and-by Br’er Fox drag Br’er Tarrypin off little ways below the spring, and he souse him under the water.
Then Br’er Tarrypin he began to holler out:
“Turn loose that stump-root and catch hold of me!”
Br’er Fox he holler back:
“I ain’t got hold of no stump-root, and I is got hold of you.”
“Catch hold of me, I’m a-drowning—I’m a-drowning; turn loose that stump-root and catch hold of me!”
Sure enough, Br’er Fox turned loose Br’er Tarrypin’s tail, and Br’er Tarrypin he went down to the bottom!
Was Br’er Tarrypin drowned, then? Not a bit of it. Is you drowned when your mammy tucks you up in bed?
[Q] From “More Funny Stories About Br’er Rabbit,” published by Stead’s Publishing House, London, England, and used with their permission.
by-and-by br’er fox drag br’er tarrypin off
how cousin wildcat served br’er fox
HOW COUSIN WILDCAT SERVED BR’ER FOX[R]
Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox had both been paying calls one evening at the same house. They sat there, and after a while Br’er Rabbit looked out, and said:
“Now then, folks and friends, I must say good-by. Cloud coming up yonder, and before we know it, the rain’ll be a-pouring.”
Then Br’er Fox he up and says he ’spects he better be getting on, ’cause he doesn’t want to get his Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes wet. So they set out.
While they were going down the big road, talking at one another, Br’er Fox he took and stopped, and said:
“Look here, Br’er Rabbit, look here! If my eyes don’t deceive, here’s the tracks where Mr. Dog’s been along, and they’re quite fresh!”
Br’er Rabbit he sidle up and look. Then he say:
“That there track ain’t never fit Mr. Dog’s foot. What’s more,” says he, “I been acquainted with him what made that track too long ago to talk about.”
“Br’er Rabbit, please, sir, tell me his name.”
Br’er Rabbit he laughs, as if he was making light of something or other.
“If I makes no mistakes, Br’er Fox, the poor creature what made that track is Cousin Wildcat; no more and no less.”
“How big is he, Br’er Rabbit?”
“Just about your heft, Br’er Fox.” Then Br’er Rabbit make like talking to himself. “Tut, tut, tut! To be sure, to be sure! Many and many’s the times I see my old grand-daddy kick and cuff Cousin Wildcat. If you want some fun, Br’er Fox, now’s the time.”
Br’er Fox he up and axed how he’s going to have any fun.
Br’er Rabbit he say: “Easy enough. Just go and tackle old Cousin Wildcat, and lam him round.”
Br’er Fox he sorter scratch his ear, and say: “Eh, eh, Br’er Rabbit, I’m ’fraid. His track too much like Mr. Dog.”
Br’er Rabbit he sat flat down in the road, and holler, and laugh. “Shoo, Br’er Fox!” says he, “who’d ha’ thought you so skeery? Just come and look at these here tracks. Is there any sign of claw anywheres?”
Br’er Fox was obliged to agree that there weren’t no sign of claw. Br’er Rabbit say: “Well, then, if he ain’t got no claw, how’s he going to hurt you, Br’er Fox?”
Br’er Fox took another good look at the track, and then he and Br’er Rabbit put out to follow it up.
They kept on and on, till by-and-by they ran up with the creature. Br’er Rabbit he holler out mighty biggity: “Hallo, there! what you doing?”
The creature look round, but he ain’t saying nothing. Br’er Rabbit say: “Oh, you needn’t look so sulky! We’ll make you talk before we’ve done with you! Come, now, what you doing there?”
The creature rub hisself against a tree just as you see these here house cats rub against a chair, but he ain’t saying nothing. Br’er Rabbit holler: “What you come bothering us for when we ain’t been bothering you? You thinks I don’t know who you is, but I does. I’ll let you know I got a better man here than what my grand-daddy been, and I’ll be bound he’ll make you talk.”
The creature leaned harder against the tree, and sort of ruffled up his bristles, but he ain’t saying nothing. Br’er Rabbit he say: “Go up, Br’er Fox, and if he refuse to speak, slap him down. That’s the way my grand-daddy did. If he dares to run, I’ll just whirl in and catch him.”
Br’er Fox he look sort of dubious, but he start toward the creature. Old Cousin Wildcat walk all round the tree rubbing hisself, but he ain’t saying nothing. Br’er Fox he went up a little nigher. Cousin Wildcat stop rubbing on the tree, and sat upon his behind legs with his front paws in the air, and balances hisself by leaning against the tree, but he ain’t saying nothing.
Br’er Rabbit he squall out: “Oh, you needn’t put up your hands, and try and beg off. That’s the way you fooled my old grand-daddy; but you can’t fool me. All your sitting up and begging ain’t going to help you. Hit him, Br’er Fox! If he runs, I’ll catch him!”
Br’er Fox he sort of took heart. He sidled up toward him, and just as he was making ready to slap him, old Cousin Wildcat drew back, and fetched Br’er Fox a wipe across the stomach.
That there Cousin Wildcat fetched him a wipe across the stomach, and you might have heard him squall for miles and miles. Little more and the creature would have torn Br’er Fox in two. Once the creature made a pass at him, Br’er Rabbit knew what was going to happen, yet all the same he took and hollered:
“Hit him again, Br’er Fox! hit him again! I’m a-backing you, Br’er Fox! Hit him again!”
While Br’er Rabbit was going on in this way, Br’er Fox was squatting on the ground, holding his stomach with both hands and moaning:
“I’m ruined, Br’er Rabbit! I’m ruined! Fetch the doctor! I’m teetotally ruined!”
About this time Cousin Wildcat took and went for a walk. Br’er Rabbit make like he astonished that Br’er Fox is hurted. He took and examine the place, and he up and say: “It look to me, Br’er Fox, that that owdacious villain took and struck you with a reaping hook.”
With that Br’er Rabbit lit out for home, and when he got out of sight he took and shook his hands, just like a cat when she gets the water on her foots. Then he laugh and laugh till he can laugh no more.
[R] From “More Funny Stories About Br’er Rabbit,” published by Stead’s Publishing House, London, England, and used with their permission.
“‘hello!’”