“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