was the invariable result. Whenever the old man had occasion to
reprimand the little boy--and the occasions were frequent--he
would relapse into a dignified but stubborn silence. Presently
the youngster drew forth from his pocket a long piece of candle.
The sharp eyes of the old man saw it at once.
"Don't you come a tellin' me dat Miss Sally gun you dat," he
exclaimed, "kaze she didn't. En I lay you hatter be monstus sly
'fo' you gotter chance fer ter snatch up dat piece er cannle."
"Well, Uncle Remus," the little boy explained, "it was lying
there all by itself, and I just thought I'd fetch it out to you.
"Dat's so, honey," said Uncle Remus, greatly mollified; "dat's
so, kaze by now some er dem yuther niggers 'ud er done had her
lit up. Dey er mighty biggity, dem house niggers is, but I
notices dat dey don't let nuthin' pass. Dey goes 'long wid der
han's en der mouf open, en w'at one don't ketch de tother one
do."
There was another pause, and finally the little boy said:
"Uncle Remus, you know you promised to-day to tell me why the
'Possum has no hair on his tail."
"Law, honey! ain't you done gone en fergot dat off'n yo' mine
yit? Hit look like ter me," continued the old man, leisurely
refilling his pipe, "dat she sorter run like dis: One time ole
Brer Possum, he git so hungry, he did, dat he bleedzd fer ter
have a mess er 'simmons. He monstus lazy man, old Brer Possum
wuz, but bimeby his stummick 'gun ter growl en holler at 'im so
dat he des hatter rack 'roun' en hunt up sump'n; en w'iles he wuz
rackin' 'roun', who sh'd he run up wid but Brer Rabbit, en dey
wuz hail-fellers, kaze Brer Possum, he ain't bin bodder'n Brer
Rabbit like dem yuther creeturs. Dey sot down by de side er de
big road, en dar dey jabber en confab 'mong wunner nudder, twel
bimeby old Brer Possum, he take 'n tell Brer Rabbit dat he mos'
pe'sh out, en Brer Rabbit, he lip up in de a'r, he did, en smack
his han's tergedder, en say dat he know right whar Brer Possum
kin git a bait er 'simmons. Den Brer Possum, he say whar, en Brer
Rabbit, he say w'ich 'twuz over at Brer B'ar's 'simmon orchard."
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