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.