my by da
han'; 'e lead um way off in da woods; 'e hide um in da top one big
cocoanut tree: 'e tell um fer stay deer."

The mention of a cocoanut tree caused the little boy to glance
incredulously at Uncle Remus, who made prompt and characteristic
reply:--

"Dat's it, honey; dat's it, sho'. In dem days en in dem countries dey
wuz plenty er cocoanut trees. Less we all set back yer en give Brer Jack
a livin' chance."

"'E hide 'e gran'mammy in top cocoanut tree," continued Daddy Jack, "un
'e gi' um lilly bahskit wit' cord tie on um. In de day-mawnin', B'er
Rabbit, 'e is bin go at da foot da tree. 'E make 'e v'ice fine: 'e
holler:--

"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'

"Wun 'e granny yeddy dis, 'e let bahskit down wit' da cord, un B'er
Rabbit 'e fill um wit' bittle un somet'ing t'eat. Ebry day dey is bin-a
do dis t'ing; ebry day B'er Rabbit is come fer feed 'e granny.

"B'er Wolf 'e watch, 'e lissun; 'e sneak up, 'e creep up, 'e do lissun.
Bumbye, 'e do yeddy B'er Rabbit call; 'e see da bahskit swing down, 'e
see um go back. Wun B'er Rabbit bin-a go 'way fum dey-dey, B'er Wolf, 'e
come by da root da tree. 'E holler; 'e do say:--

"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Shoot-a cord-la!_'

"Da ole Granny Rabbit lissun; 'e bin lissun well. 'E say:--

"'Ki! how come dis? Me son is no talky lak dis. 'E no shoot-a da cord
lak dat.'

"W'en B'er Rabbit come back da granny is bin-a tell um 'bout somet'ing
come-a holler shoot-a da cord-la, un B'er Rabbit, 'e lahff tel 'e is kin
lahff no mo'. B'er Wolf, 'e hidin' close; 'e yed B'er Rabbit crackin' 'e
joke; 'e is git bery mad.

"Wun B'er Rabbit is gone 'way, B'er Wolf bin-a come back. 'E stan' by da
tree root; 'e holler:--

"'_Granny!--Granny!--O Granny! Jutta cord-la!_'

"Granny Rabbit hol' 'e head 'pon one side; 'e lissun good. 'E say:

"'I bery sorry, me son, you bin hab so bad col'. You' v'ice bin-a soun'
rough, me son.'

"Dun Granny Rabbit is bin peep down; 'e bin say:--

"'Hi! B'er Wolf! Go 'way fum dey-dey. You no is bin fool-a me lak dis.
Go 'way, B'er Wolf!'

"B'er Wolf, 'e come bery mad; 'e grin tell 'e tush bin shiuen. 'E go in
da swamp; 'e scratch 'e head; 'e t'ink. Bumbye, 'e go bisitin' one
Blacksmit', un 'e ahx 'im how kin 'e do fer make 'e v'ce come fine lak
B'er Rabbit v'ice. Da Blacksmit', 'e say:--

"'Come, B'er Wolf; I run dis red-hot poker in you' t'roat, 'e mekky you
talk easy.'

"B'er Wolf say, 'Well, I lak you for mekky me v'ice fi