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g flat rock。 When he git dar he lay Brer Bullfrog down on de rock； en Brer Bull…frog make like he lookin' 'roun' fer his folks。 Den Brer B'ar； he draw long breff en pick up his axe。 Den he spit in his han's en draw back en come down on de rock…pow！〃
〃'Did he kill the Frog； Uncle Remus？〃 asked the little boy； as the old man paused to scoop up a thimbleful of glowing embers in his pipe。
'Deed； en dat hc didn't； honey。 'Twix' de time w'en Brer B'ar raise up wid his axe en w'en he come down wid it； ole Brer Bull…frog he lipt up en dove down in de mill…pon'； kerblink…kerblunk！ En w'en he riz way out in de pon' he riz a singin'； en dish yer's de song w'at he sing：
〃'Ingle…go…jang； my joy； my joy… Ingle…go…jang； my joy！ I'm right at home； my joy； my joy… Ingle…go…jang； my joy！'〃
〃That's a mighty funny song；〃 said the little boy。
'Funny now； I speck；〃 said the old man； 〃but 'twern't funny in dem days； en 'twouldn't be funny now ef folks know'd much 'bout de Bull…frog langwidge ez dey useter。 Dat's w'at。〃
XXV HOW MR。 RABBIT LOST HIS FINE BUSHY TML
〃ONE time；〃 said Uncle Remus； sighing heavily and settling himself back in his seat with an afr of melancholy resiguation…〃one time Brer Rabbit wnz gwine 'long down de road shakin' his big bushy tail； en feelin' des ez scrumpshus ez a bee…martin wid a fresh bug。〃 Here the old man paused and glanced at the little boy； but it was evident that the youngster had become so accustomed to the marvelous developments of Uncle Remus's stories； that the extraordinary statement made no nnusual impression upon him。 Therefore the old man began again； and this time in a louder and more insinuating tone：
〃One time ole man Rabbit； he wuz gwine 'long down de road shakin' his long； bushy tail； en feelin' mighty biggity。〃
This was effective。
〃Great goodiiess； Uncle Remus！〃 exclaimed the little boy in open…eyed wonder； 〃everybody knows that rabbits haven't got long； bushy tails。〃
The old man shifted his position in his chafr and allowed his venerable head to drop forward until his whole appearance was suggestive of the deepest dejection； and this was intensified by a groan that seemed to be the result of great mental agony。 Finally he spoke； but not as addressing himself to the little boy。
〃I notices dat dem fokes w'at makes a great 'miration 'bout w'at dey knows is des de fokes w'ich you can't put no 'pennunce in w'en de 'cashun come up。 Yer one un um now； en he done come en excuse me er 'lowin dat rabbits is got long； bushy tails； w'ich goodness knows ef I'd a dremp' it； I'd a whfrl in en on dremp it。〃
〃Well； but Uncle Remus； you said rabbits had long； bushy tails；〃 replied the little boy。 〃Now you know you did。〃
〃Ef I ain't fergit it off'n my mine； I say dat ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine down de big road shakin' his long； bushy tail。 Dat w'at I say； en dat I stan's by。〃
The little boy looked puzzled； but he didn't say anything。 After a while the old man continued：
〃Now； den； ef dat's 'greed ter； rm gwine on； en ef tain't 'greed ter； den I'm gwineter pick up my cane en look atter my own。 intrust。 I got wuk lyin''roun' yer dat's des natally gittin' moldy。〃
The little boy still remained quiet； and Uncle Remus proceeded：
〃One day Brer Rabbit wuz gwine down de road shakin' his long； bushy tail； w'en who should he strike up wid but ole Brer Fox gwine amblin' long wid a big string er fish！ W'en dey pass de time er day wid wunner nudder； Brer Rabbit； he open up de confab； he did； en he ax Brer Fox whar he git dat nice string er fish； en Brer Fox； he up'n 'spon' dat he katch urn； en Brer Rabbit； he say whar'bouts； en Brer Fox； he say down at de babtizin' creek； en Brer Rabbit he ax how； kaze in dem days dey wuz monstus fon' er minners； en Brer Fox； he sot down on a log； he did； en he up'n tell Brer Rabbit dat all he gotter do fer ter git er big mess er minners is ter go ter de creek atter sun down； en drap his tail in de water en set dar twel day…light； en den draw up a whole armful er fishes； en dem w'at he don't want； he kin fling back。 Right dar's whar Brer Rabbit drap his watermillion； kaze he tuck'n sot out dat night en went a fishin'。 De wedder wuz sorter cole； en Brer Rabbit； he got 'im a bottle er dram en put out fer de creek； en w'en he git dar he pick out a good place； en he sorter squot down； he did； en let his tail hang in de water。 He sot dar； en he sot dar； en he drunk his dram； en he think he gwineter freeze； but bimeby day come； en dar he wuz。 He make a pull； en he feel like he comin' in two； en he fetch nudder jerk； en lo en beholes； whar wuz his tail？〃
There was a long pause。
〃Did it come off； Uncle Remus？〃 asked the little boy； presently。
〃She did dat！〃 replied the old man with unction。 〃She did dat； and dat w'at make all deze yer bob…tail rabbits w'at you see hoppin' en skaddlin' thoo de woods。〃
〃Are they all that way just because the old Rabbit lost his tail in the creek？〃 asked the little boy。
〃Dat's it； honey；〃 replied the old man。 〃Dat's w'at dey tells me。 Look like dey er bleedzd ter take atter der pa。〃
XXVI MR。 TERRAPIN SHOWS HIS STRENGTH
〃BRER TARRYPIN wuz de out'nes' man；〃 said Uncle Remus； rubbing his hands together contemplatively； and chuckling to himself in a very signfficant manner； 'he wuz de out'nes' man er de whole gang。 He wuz dat。〃
The little boy sat perfectly quiet； betraying no impatience when Uncle Remus paused to hunt； first in one pocket and then in another； for enough crumbs of tobacco to replenish his pipe。 Presently the old man proceeded：
〃One night Miss Meadows en de gals dey gun a candy…pullin'； en so many er de nabers come in 'sponse ter de invite dat dey hatter put de lasses in de wash pot en b'il' de fier in de yard。 Brer B'ar； he hope*1 Miss Meadows bring de wood； Brer Fox； he men' de fier； Brer Wolf； he kep' de dogs off； Brer Rabbit； he grease de bottom er de plates fer ter keep de candy fum stickin'； en Brer Tarrypin； he Hum up in a cheer； en say he'd watch en see dat de lasses didn't bile over。 Dey wnz all dere； en dey wem't cuttin' up no didos； nudder； kaze Miss Meadows； she done put her foot down； she did； en say dat w'en dey come ter her place dey hatter hang up a flag er truce at de front gate en 'bide by it。
〃Well； den； w'iles dey wuz all a settin' dar en de lasses wuz a bilin' en a blubberin'； dey got ter runnin' on talkin' mighty biggity。 Brer Rabbit； he say he de swiffes'； but Brer Tarrypin； he rock long in de cheer en watch de lasses。 Brer Fox； he say he de sharpes'； but Brer Tarrypin he rock long。 Brer Wolf； he say he de mos' Suvvigus； but Brer Tarrypin； he roek en he rock long。 Brer B'ar； he say he de mos' stronges'； but Brer Tarrypin he rock； en he keep on rockin'。 Bimeby he sorter shet one eye； en say； sezee：
〃'Hit look like 'periently dat de ole hardshell ain't nowhars longside er dis crowd； yit yer I is； en I'm de same man w'at show Brer Rabbit dat he ain't de swiffes'； en I'm de same man w'at kin show Brer B'ar dat he ain't de stronges'；' sezee。
〃Den dey all laff en holler； kaze it look like Brer B'ar mo' stronger dan a steer。 Bimeby； Miss Meadows； she up'n ax； she did； how he gwine do it。
〃'Gimme a good strong rope；' sez Brer Tarrypin； sezee； 'en lemme git in er