Mr. Rabbit at Home / A sequel to Little Mr. Thimblefinger and his Queer Country

by Joel Chandler Harris

“Before that time the Monkeys had been living on the ground just like everybody else lived, but the Dogs had such sharp teeth and such nimble feet that the Monkeys had to take to the trees and saplings. At first they couldn’t get about in the trees as they do now. Sometimes they’d miss their footing, or lose their grip, and down they’d come right into the red jaws of the Dogs.

“Now this wasn’t pleasant at all. Even when the Monkeys didn’t fall, the ants and crawling bugs would get on them, and the dead limbs of the trees would fall and hurt them, and the wind would blow them about, and the heavy rains would fall and wet them.

“About that time the Monkeys were the most miserable creatures in the world. They were so miserable that, finally, the Head Monkey made up his mind to go and see the Wise Man who used to settle all disputes as far as he could. So the Head Monkey set out on his journey, and traveled till he came to the Wise Man’s house.

“He got on the gatepost, and looked all around, to see if there was a Dog anywhere in sight. Seeing none, he went to the front door and knocked. The Wise Man came out. He was very old. He had a beard as long as Brother Billy Goat’s, and as gray, but he was very nice and kind. The Head Monkey told his story all the way through, and the Wise Man sat and listened to every word. When he had heard it all, he shut his eyes and studied the matter over, and then he said:—

“‘Only fools get up fusses that they can’t settle. I’ll give you a fool’s remedy to settle a fool’s fuss. Go back to your own country and fetch me a bunch of the hair of a Brindle Dog. Then I’ll show you a cheap and an easy way to get rid of the whole tribe of Dogs. But be sure that you make no mistake. I must have the hair of a Brindle Dog—just that and nothing else. Then I can show you how to get rid of all the Dogs. But if you make any mistake, you will ruin the whole tribe of Monkeys.’

“The Head Monkey scratched himself on the side, quick like. Says he, ‘Oh, I’ll make no mistake. Don’t worry about me. The first time the Dogs have a burying I’ll get on a swinging limb, and when a Brindle Dog comes along I’ll reach down and pull a bunch of hair out of his hide, and by the time he gets through howling I’ll be on my journey back.’

“The Wise Man ran his fingers through his beard, and laughed to himself. Says he, ‘Very well, my young friend, but you had best be careful. A Dog of any kind will bear watching, but especially a Brindle Dog.’

“The Head Monkey made no answer. He simply grinned, and started back home. Now, it happened that after his journey was over, the Dogs had no burying for a long time. They seemed to be in better health than ever. Some traveling doctor had come along and told them that whenever they felt out of sorts they must go out in the fields and hunt for a particular kind of grass. When they found it they were to eat twenty-seven blades of it, and then go on about their business. You may not believe this,” said Mr. Rabbit, pausing in the midst of his story, “but if you will watch the Dogs right close, you will find that to this day they’ll go out and eat grass whenever they are ailing. They don’t chew it. They just bite off a great long sprig of it, and wallop it around their tongues and swallow it whole. I don’t know how they do it, but I’m telling you the plain facts.

“Well, as I was saying, it was a long time after the Head Monkey got home before the Dogs had a burying, and when they did have one it happened that there was no Brindle Dog in the procession. The rest of the Monkeys were all waiting to see what the Head Monkey was going to do, and so they forgot to bother the Dogs. When the Dogs saw that the Monkeys were quiet, they kept quiet themselves, and there was no trouble between them for a long time. Seeing that the Dogs were no longer snapping and snarling at them, some of the older Monkeys began to travel on the ground again, but the younger ones stayed in the trees where they were born.

“The Head Monkey was mighty restless. Sometimes he’d stay in the trees, and then again he’d travel on the ground, but wherever he was he always kept his eye out for a Brindle Dog. Finally, one day, when he was traveling on the ground, he heard a noise up the road, and when he turned around he saw a big Brindle Dog coming towards him. He thought to himself that now was his time or never; so he got behind a bush and waited for the Brindle Dog to come up.