THER WOLF GETS IN A WARM PLACE

The little boy thought that the story of how the wildcat scratched
Brother Fox was one of the best stories he had ever heard, and he did
n't hesitate to say so. His hearty endorsement increased Uncle Remus's
good-humor; and the old man, with a broad grin upon his features and
something of enthusiasm in his tone, continued to narrate the adventures
of Brother Rabbit.

"After Brer Fox git hurted so bad," said Uncle Remus, putting an edge
upon his axe with a whetstone held in his hand, "hit wuz a mighty long
time 'fo' he could ramble 'roun' en worry ole Brer Rabbit. Der time
Cousin Wildcat fetch'd 'im dat wipe 'cross de stomach, he tuck'n lay de
blame on Brer Rabbit, en w'en he git well, he des tuck'n juggle wid de
yuther creeturs, en dey all 'gree dat dem en Brer Rabbit can't drink out
er de same branch, ner walk de same road, ner live in de same
settlement, ner go in washin' in de same wash-hole.

"Tooby sho' Brer Rabbit bleedz ter take notice er all dish yer kinder
jugglements en gwines on, en he des tuck'n strenken he house, in de
neighborhoods er de winders, en den he put 'im up a steeple on top er
dat. Yasser! A sho' 'nuff steeple, en he rise 'er up so high dat folks
gwine 'long de big road stop en say, 'Hey! W'at kinder meetin'-house
dat?'"

The little boy laughed loudly at Uncle Remus's graphic delineation of
the astonishment and admiration of the passers-by. The old man raised
his head, stretched his eyes, and seemed to be looking over his
spectacles right at Brother Rabbit's steeple.

"Folks 'ud stop en ax, but Brer Rabbit aint got time fer ter make no
answer. _He_ hammer'd, _he_ nailed, _he_ knock'd, _he_ lamm'd! Folks go
by, he aint look up; creeturs come stan' en watch 'im, he aint look
'roun'; wuk, wuk, wuk, from sun-up ter sun-down, twel dat er steeple git
done. Den ole Brer Rabbit tuck'n draw long breff, en wipe he forrerd, en
'low dat ef dem t'er creeturs w'at bin atter 'im so long is got any de
'vantage er him, de time done come fer um fer ter show it.

"Wid dat he went en got 'im a snack er sump'n' t' eat, en a long piece
er plough-line, en he tole he ole 'oman fer ter put a kittle er water on
de fire, en stan' 'roun' close by, en eve'yt'ing he tell 'er not ter do,
dat de ve'y t'ing she sho'ly mus' do. Den ole Brer Rabbit sot down in he
rockin'-cheer en lookt out fum de steeple fer ter see how de lan' lay.

"'T wa'n't long 'fo' all de creeturs year talk dat Brer R