ome he'p. Brer Fox, he
'low he did, dat ef he does stan' in needs er any he'p, he dunner whar
in de name er goodness he gwine to git it at.

"Wid dat, Brer Rabbit sorter pull he mustarsh, en 'low dat de time wuz
w'en he 'uz a mighty handy man wid a hammer, en he ain't too proud fer
to whirl in en he'p Brer Fox out'n de ruts.

"Brer Fox 'low he be mighty much erblige, en no sooner is he say dat dan
Brer Rabbit snatched off he coat en lipt up de ladder, en sot in dar en
put on mo' shingles in one hour dan Brer Fox kin put on in two.

"Oh, he 'uz a rattler--ole Brer Rabbit wuz," Uncle Remus exclaimed,
noticing a questioning look in the child's face. "He 'uz a rattler, mon,
des ez sho' ez youer settin' dar. Dey wa'n't no kinder wuk dat Brer
Rabbit can't put he han' at, en do it better dan de nex' man.

"He nailed on shingles plum twel he git tired, Brer Rabbit did, en all
de time he nailin', he study how he gwine git dat dinner. He nailed en
he nailed. He 'ud nail one row, en Brer Fox 'ud nail 'n'er row. He
nailed en he nailed. He kotch Brer Fox en pass 'im--kotch 'im en pass
'im, twel bimeby w'iles he nailin' 'long Brer Fox tail git in he way.

"Brer Rabbit 'low ter hisse'f, he did, dat he dunner w'at de name er
goodness make folks have such long tails fer, en he push it out de way.
He ain't no mo'n push it out'n de way, 'fo' yer it come back in de way.
Co'se," continued Uncle Remus, beginning to look serious, "w'en dat's de
case dat a soon man lak Brer Rabbit git pester'd in he min', he bleedz
ter make some kinder accidents some'rs.

"Dey nailed en dey nailed, en, bless yo' soul! 't wa'n't long 'fo' Brer
Fox drap eve'yt'ing en squall out:--

"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nail my tail. He'p me, Brer
Rabbit, he'p me! You done nail my tail!'"

Uncle Remus waved his arms, clasped and unclasped his hands, stamped
first one foot and then the other, and made various other demonstrations
of grief and suffering.

"Brer Rabbit, he shot fus' one eye en den de yuther en rub hisse'f on
de forrerd, en 'low:--

"'Sho'ly I ain't nail yo' tail, Brer Fox; sho'ly not. Look right close,
Brer Fox, be keerful. Fer goodness sake don' fool me, Brer Fox!'

"Brer Fox, _he_ holler, _he_ squall, _he_ kick, _he_ squeal.

"'Laws 'a' massy, Brer Rabbit! You done nailed my tail. Onnail me, Brer
Rabbit, onnail me!'

"Brer Rabbit, he make fer de ladder, en w'en he start down, he look at
Brer Fox lak he right down sorry, en he up'n