ting rather short, and he made it his business to go around the house
and gather all the pieces he could find. He carried these to the old
man, who received them with the liveliest satisfaction.

"Now dish yer sorter look lak sump'n', honey. W'en ole Brer Jack come
back, en Sis Tempy git in de habits er hangin' 'roun', we'll des light
some er dese yer, en folks'll come by en see de shine, en dey'll go off
en 'low dat hit 's de night des 'fo' camp-meetin' at ole Remus house.

"I got little piece dar in my chist w'at you brung me long time ergo, en
I 'low ter myse'f dat ef shove ever git ter be push,[66] I'd des draw 'er
out en light 'er up."

"Mamma says Daddy Jack is coming back Sunday," said the little boy.

"Dat w'at I year talk," replied the old man.

"What did he go off for, Uncle Remus?"

"Bless yo' soul, honey! Brer Jack bleedz ter go en see yo' Unk Jeems. He
b'leeve de worl' go wrong ef he aint do dat. Dat ole nigger b'leeve he
white mon. He come up yer fum down de country whar de Lord done fersook
um too long 'go ter talk 'bout,--he come up yer en he put on mo' a'rs
dan w'at I dast ter do. Not dat I'm keerin', 'kaze goodness knows I
aint, yit I notices dat w'en I has ter go some'rs, dey's allers a great
ter-do 'bout w'at is I'm a-gwine fer, en how long is I'm a-gwine ter
stay; en ef I aint back at de ve'y minit, dars Mars John a-growlin', en
Miss Sally a-vowin' dat she gwine ter put me on de block."[67]

Perhaps Uncle Remus's jealousy was more substantial than he was willing
to admit; but he was talking merely to see what the little boy would
say. The child, however, failed to appreciate the situation, seeing
which the old man quickly changed the subject.

"Times is mighty diffunt fum w'at dey use ter wuz, 'kaze de time has
bin dat ef ole Brer Rabbit had er run'd up wid Brer Jack w'iles he
comin' fum yo' Unk Jeems place, he'd outdone 'im des ez sho' ez de worl'
stan's. Deze days de Rabbits has ter keep out de way er folks, but in
dem days folks had ter keep out der way er ole Brer Rabbit. Aint I
never tell you 'bout how Brer Rabbit whirl in en outdo Mr. Man?"

"About the meat tied to the string, Uncle Remus?"

"_Shoo!_ Dat aint a drap in de bucket, honey. Dish yer wuz de time w'en
ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine 'long de big road, en he meet Mr. Man drivin'
'long wid a waggin chock full er money."

"Where did he get so much money, Uncle Remus?"

"Bruisin' 'round en peddlin' 'bout. Mr. Man got w'at lots er