n he come at sech a time, too! I
feels dat full twel I can't see straight skacely. Ef dey wuz any
jealousness proned inter me, I'd des lay yer en pout 'kaze Brer Fox done
fine out whar I gits my Pimmerly Plum.'

"In dem days," continued Uncle Remus, speaking to the child's look of
inquiry, "de Pimmerly Plum wuz monst'us skace. Leavin' out Brer Rabbit
en Brer Tarrypin dey wa'n't none er de yuther creeturs dat yuvver got a
glimp' un it, let 'lone a tas'e. So den w'en Brer Fox year talk er de
Pimmerly Plum, bless gracious! he h'ist up he head en let Brer Tarrypin
'lone. Brer Tarrypin keep on laffin' en Brer Fox 'low:--

"'Hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes my mouf water! Whar'bouts de Pimmerly
Plum?'

"Brer Tarrypin, he sorter cle'r up de ho'seness in he th'oat, en sing:--

"'_Poun' er sugar, en a pint er rum,
Ain't nigh so sweet ez de Pimmerly Plum!_'

"Brer Fox, he lif' up he han's, he did, en holler:--

"'Oh, hush, Brer Tarrypin! you makes me dribble! Whar'bouts dat Pimmerly
Plum?'

"'You stannin' right und' de tree, Brer Fox!'

"'Brer Tarrypin, sho'ly not!'

"'Yit dar you stan's, Brer Fox!'

"Brer Fox look up in de tree dar, en he wuz 'stonish'."

"What did he see in the sycamore tree, Uncle Remus?" inquired the little
boy.

There was a look of genuine disappointment on the old man's face, as he
replied:--

"De gracious en de goodness, honey! Ain't you nev' is see dem ar little
bit er balls w'at grow on de sycamo' tree?"[48]

The little boy laughed. There was a huge sycamore tree in the centre of
the circle made by the carriage way in front of the "big house," and
there were sycamore trees of various sizes all over the place. The
little balls alluded to by Uncle Remus are very hard at certain stages
of their growth, and cling to the tree with wonderful tenacity. Uncle
Remus continued:--

"Well, den, w'en ole Brer Tarrypin vouch dat dem ar sycamo' balls wuz de
ginnywine Pimmerly Plum, ole Brer Fox, he feel mighty good, yit he
dunner how he gwine git at um. Push 'im clos't, en maybe he mought beat
Brer Tarrypin clammin' a tree, but dish yer sycamo' tree wuz too big fer
Brer Fox fer ter git he arms 'roun'. Den he up'n 'low:--

"'I sees um hangin' dar, Brer Tarrypin, but how I gwine git um?'

"Brer Tarrypin open he do' little ways en holler out:--

"'Ah-yi! Dar whar ole Slickum Slow-come got de 'vantage! Youer mighty
peart, Brer Fox, yit somehow er nudder you ain't bin a-keepin' up wid
ole Slick