“Brer Polecat say he got de name er bein’ a mighty good housekeeper.
“Brer Rattlesnake say hit mighty easy fer anybody fer ter keep tother folks’ house.
“Brer Polecat say he gwine come in anyhow.
“Brer Rattlesnake ’low, ‘Dey ain’t no room in yer fer you.’
“Brer Polecat laugh en say: ‘Shoo, Brer Rattlesnake! eve’ybody gives me room. I go ’long de road, I does, en meet Mr. Man. I walks right todes ’im, en he bleege ter gi’ me room. I meet all de critturs, en dey bleege ter gi’ me room.’
“Brer Rattlesnake say, ‘Dat w’at I year tell.’
“Brer Polecat ’low, ‘Don’t you pester yo’se’f ’bout room. You des lemme git in dar whar you is, en I’ll make room!’
“Wid dat Brer Rattlesnake shot de do’ er his house en sprung de latch, en atter so long a time Brer Polecat went pacin’ off some’rs else.”
HOW THE BIRDS TALK
Uncle Remus was not a “field hand”; that is to say, he was not required to plow and hoe and engage in the rough work on the plantation.