"Bimeby, w'en dinner-time come, dey all got out der vittles, but
Brer Rabbit keep on lookin' lonesome, en Brer Fox en Brer Possum
dey sorter rustle roun' fer ter see ef dey can't make Brer Rabbit
feel sorter splimmy."
"What is that, Uncle Remus?" asked the little boy.
"Sorter splimmy-splammy, honey--sorter like he in a crowd--sorter
like his ole 'oman ain't dead ez she mout be. You know how fokes
duz w'en dey gits whar people's a moanin'."
The little boy didn't know, fortunately for him, and Uncle Remus
went on:
"Brer Fox en Brer Possum rustle roun', dey did, gittin out de
vittles, en bimeby Brer Fox, he say, sezee:
"'Brer Possum, you run down ter de spring en fetch de butter, en
I'll sail 'roun' yer en set de table,' sezee.
"Brer Possum, he lope off atter de butter, en dreckly here he
come lopin' back wid his years a trimblin' en his tongue a
hangin' out. Brer Fox, he holler out:
"'W'at de matter now, Brer Possum?' sezee.
"'You all better run yer, fokes,' sez Brer Possum, sezee. 'De
las' drap er dat butter done gone!'
"'Whar she gone?' sez Brer Fox, sezee.
"'Look like she dry up,' sez Brer Possum, sezee.
"Den Brer Rabbit, he look sorter sollum, he did, en he up'n say,
sezee.
"'I speck dat butter melt in somebody mouf,' sezee. Den dey went
down ter de spring wid Brer Possum, en sho nuff de butter done
gone. W'iles dey wuz sputin' over de wunderment, Brer Rabbit say
he see tracks all 'roun' dar, en he p'int out dat ef dey'll all
go ter sleep, he kin ketch de chap w'at stole de butter. Den dey
all lie down en Brer Fox en Brer Possum dey soon drapt off ter
sleep, but Brer Rabbit he stay 'wake, en w'en de time come he
raise up easy en smear Brer Possum mouf wid de butter on his
paws, en den he run off en nibble up de bes' er de dinner w'at
dey lef' layin' out, en den he come back en wake up Brer Fox, en
show 'im de butter on Brer Possum mouf. Den dey wake up Brer
Possum, en tell 'im 'bout it, but c'ose Brer Possum 'ny it ter de
las'. Brer Fox, dough, he's a kinder lawyer, en he argafy dis
way--dat Brer Possum wuz de fus one at de butter, en de fus one
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