cheer, Brer Rabbit, he pick 'im up en put 'im on de shelf whar de
water-bucket sot, en ole Brer Tarrypin, he lay back up dar, he
did, des es proud ez a nigger wid a cook possum.
"Co'se de talk fell on Brer Fox, en Miss Meadows en de gals make
a great 'miration 'bout w'at a gaily ridin'-hoss Brer Fox wuz, en
dey make lots er fun, en laugh en giggle same like gals duz deze
days. Brer Rabbit, he sot dar in de cheer smokin' his seegyar, en
he sorter cle'r up his th'oat, en say, sezee:
"I'd er rid 'im over dis mawnin', ladies,' sezee, but I rid 'im
so hard yistiddy dat he went lame in de off fo' leg, en I speck
I'll hatter swop 'im off yit,' sezee.
"Den Brer Tarrypin, he up'n say, sezee:
"'Well, ef you gwineter sell 'im, Brer Rabbit,' sezee, 'sell him
some'rs out'n dis naberhood, kase he done bin yer too long now,'
sezee. 'No longer'n day 'fo' yistiddy,' sezee, 'Brer Fox pass me
on de road, en whatter you reckin he say?' sezee:
"'Law, Brer Tarrypin,' sez Miss Meadows, sez she, 'you don't mean
ter say he cusst?' sez she, en den de gals hilt der fans up 'fo'
der faces.
"'Oh, no, ma'am,' sez Brer Tarrypin, sezee, 'he didn't cusst, but
he holler out--"Heyo, Stinkin' Jim!"' sezee.
"'Oh, my! You hear dat, gals?' sez Miss Meadows, sez she; 'Brer
Fox call Brer Tarrypin Stinkin' Jim,' sez she, en den Miss
Meadows en de gals make great wonderment how Brer Fox kin talk
dat a way 'bout nice man like Brer Tarrypin.
"But bless grashus, honey! w'ilst all dis gwine on, Brer Fox wuz
stannin' at de back do' wid one year at de cat-hole lissenin'.
Eave-drappers don't hear no good er deyse'f, en de way Brer Fox
wuz 'bused dat day wuz a caution.
"Bimeby Brer Fox stick his head in de do', en holler out:
"'Good evenin', fokes, I wish you mighty well,' sezee, en wid dat
he make a dash for Brer Rabbit, but Miss Meadows en de gals dey
holler en squall, dey did, en Brer Tarrypin he got ter scramblin'
roun' up dar on de shelf, en off he come, en blip he tuck Brer
Fox on de back er de head. Dis sorter stunted Brer Fox, en w'en
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