y it all on de sta'rs,
An' it come nigh drownin' Brer Coon's daughter.
An' likewise one er Brer B'ar's!

[Illustration]

Brer Rabbit say, "When I sneeze I'll skeer you,
An' I hate fer ter have it ter do!"
Brer Fox say, "We'll lissen an' hear you
Des go right ahead wid yo' sneeze-a-ma-roo!"
Boom-a-lam! went de cannon, an' de creeturs, dey lit out
Thoo window-sash an' do'
Any way, any way dat dey kin git oot,
An' dey aint come dar no mo'!

BRER RABBIT AND THE PARTRIDGE NEST

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Oh, what's de matter wid de Whipperwill,
Dat she sets an' cries on de furder hill?
An' what's de matter wid Miss Bob White,
Dat she choke herse'f wid sayin' Good-night?
You know mighty well dat sump'n is wrong
When dey sets an' sings dat kinder song,
'Twix' a call an' a cry, 'twix' a weep an' a wail--
Dey must be tellin' a mighty sad tale.

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Miss Whipperwill's troubles, an' what she say
Will do fer ter tell some yuther day;
But Miss Bob White--my! aint she a sight?--
I'll hatter tell why she hollers Good-night.
Dey once wuz a time (needer mo' ner less)
When she ain't try ter hide ner kivver her nes';
She built it in de open, whar all kin see,
An' wuz des ez perlite ez she kin be.

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She'd make her house facin' eas' an' wes',
An' den wid eggs she'd fill her nes';
Fer ter keep um warm she'd brood an' set,
An' keep her house fum gittin' wet.
Whiles dis gwine on, Brer Rabbit come by,
A-wigglin' his mouf, an' a-blinkin' his eye:
"De top er de mornin', Miss Bob," sezee;
"De same ter you, Brer Rabbit," se' she.

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Sez ol' Brer Rabbit, "I been missin' you long,
I wuz mighty fear'd dat sump'n wuz wrong,
But here you set ez still ez a mouse,
Not doin' nothin' but keepin' house!"
"Oh, well," se' she, "I'm too ol' ter gad,
I use' ter do it, but I wish I never had!
De only thing I want is ter wash my dress,
But I can't do dat whiles I'm on my nes'."

[Illustration]

Brer Rabbit, he say, "Can't I he'p you out?
I ain't doin' nothin' but walkin' about,
An' my ol' 'oman is willin' fer ter bet
Dat ef settin 's de thing, I'm ol' man Set!"
"I know mighty well," sez Miss Bob White,
"Ef you set a-tall, it'll be done right."
"Thanky-do, Miss