wil' now dat
I don't tas'e good.'
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Oh-oh!'
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'Well, den, ef dat won't do, you better wait en
lemme grow big so I'll be a full meal er vittles.'
"Mr. Hawk, sezee, 'Now youer talkin' sense!'
"Brer Rabbit, sezee, 'En I'll rush 'roun' 'mungs' de bushes, en drive
out Pa'tridges fer you, en we'll have mo' fun dan w'at you kin shake a
stick at.'
"Mr. Hawk sorter study 'bout dis, en Brer Rabbit, he beg en he 'splain,
en de long en de short un it wuz," said Uncle Remus, embracing his knee
with his hands, "dat Brer Rabbit tuck'n git loose, en he aint git no
bigger, en needer is he druv no Pa'tridges fer Mr. Hawk."
"De Lord he'p my soul!" exclaimed 'Tildy, and this was the only comment
made upon this extraordinary story.
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FOOTNOTE:
[81] That is to say, threw sticks at Mr. Hawk.
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LXVI
THE WISE BIRD AND THE FOOLISH BIRD
All this talk about Hawks and Buzzards evidently reminded Daddy Jack of
another story. He began to shake his head and mumble to himself; and,
finally, when he looked around and found that he had attracted the
attention of the little company, he rubbed his chin and grinned until
his yellow teeth shone in the firelight like those of some wild animal,
while his small eyes glistened under their heavy lids with a suggestion
of cunning not unmixed with ferocity.
"Talk it out, Brer Jack," said Uncle Remus; "talk it out. All nex' week
we'll be a-fixin' up 'bout Chris'mus. Mars Jeems, he's a-comin' up, en
Miss Sally'll have lots er yuther comp'ny. 'Tildy yer, she'll be busy,
en dish yer little chap, he won't have no time fer ter be settin' up
wid de ole niggers, en Sis Tempy, she'll have 'er han's full, en ole
Remus, he'll be a-pirootin' 'roun' huntin' fer dat w'at he kin pick up.
Time's a-passin', Brer Jack, en we all er passin' wid it. Des whirl in
en gin us de upshot er w'at you got in yo' min'."
"Enty!" exclaimed Daddy Jack, by way of approval. "One time dey bin two
bud. One bin sma't bud; da turrer, 'e bin fool bud. Dey bin lif in da
sem countree; da bin use in da sem swamp. Da sma't bud, 'e is bin come
'pon da fool bud; 'e bin tahlk. 'E bin say:
"'Ki! you long in da leg, you deep in da craw. You bin 'tan' well; you
bin las' long tam.'
"Fool bud, 'e look proud, 'e toss 'e head; 'e say:
"'Me n
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