pared to exercise a good deal of patience upon
occasion, and the occasion was when he wanted to hear a story. But, in
making himself comfortable, he aroused Uncle Remus from his nap.

"I let you know, honey," said the old man, adjusting his spectacles, and
laughing rather sheepishly,--"I let you know, honey, w'en I gits my
head r'ar'd back dat a-way, en my eyeleds shot, en my mouf open, en my
chin p'intin' at de rafters, den dey's some mighty quare gwines on in my
min'. Dey is dat, des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. W'en I fus' year you
comin' down de paf," Uncle Remus continued, rubbing his beard
thoughtfully, "I 'uz sorter fear'd you mought 'spicion dat I done gone
off on my journeys fer ter see ole man Nod."

This was accompanied by a glance of inquiry, to which the little boy
thought it best to respond.

"Well, Uncle Remus," he said, "I did think I heard you snoring when I
came in."

"Now you see dat!" exclaimed Uncle Remus, in a tone of grieved
astonishment; "you see dat! Man can't lean hisse'f 'pun his 'membunce,
'ceppin' dey's some un fer ter come high-primin' 'roun' en 'lowin' dat
he done gone ter sleep. _Shoo!_ W'en you stept in dat do' dar I 'uz
right in 'mungs some mighty quare notions--mighty quare notions. Dey
aint no two ways; ef I uz ter up en let on 'bout all de notions w'at I
gits in 'mungs, folks 'ud hatter come en kyar me off ter de place whar
dey puts 'stracted people.

"Atter I sop up my supper," Uncle Remus went on, "I tuck'n year some
flutterments up dar 'mungs de rafters, en I look up, en dar wuz a Bat
sailin' 'roun'. 'Roun' en 'roun', en 'roun' she go--und' de rafters,
'bove de rafters--en ez she sail she make noise lak she grittin' 'er
toofies. Now, w'at dat Bat atter, I be bless ef I kin tell you, but dar
she wuz; 'roun' en 'roun', over en under. I ax 'er w'at do she want up
dar, but she aint got no time fer ter tell; 'roun' en 'roun', en over
en under. En bimeby, out she flip, en I boun' she grittin' 'er toofies
en gwine 'roun' en 'roun' out dar, en dodgin' en flippin' des lak de
elements wuz full er rafters en cobwebs.

"W'en she flip out I le'nt my head back, I did, en 't wa'n't no time
'fo' I git mix up wid my notions. Dat Bat wings so limber en 'er will
so good dat she done done 'er day's work dar 'fo' you could 'er run ter
de big house en back. De Bat put me in min' er folks," continued Uncle
Remus, settling himself back in his chair, "en folks put me in min' er
de creeturs."

Im