groun'-eatch, but Brer Rabbit, he sorter shet one eye, he did,
en say, sezee:
"'I bin so useter ridin' hoss-back, ez deze ladies knows, dat I'm
gittin' sorter tender-footed;' en dey don't hear much mo' fum
Brer Fox dat day, kaze he 'member how Brer Rabbit done bin en rid
him; en hit 'uz des 'bout much ez Miss Meadows en de gals could
do fer ter keep der snickers fum gittin' up a 'sturbance 'mong de
congregashun. But, never mine dat, old Brer Rabbit, he wuz dar,
en he so brash dat leetle mo' en he'd er grab up de sludge-hammer
en er open up de racket 'fo' ennybody gun de word; but Brer Fox,
he shove Brer Rabbit out'n de way en pick up de sludge hisse'f.
Now den," continued the old man, with pretty much the air of one
who had been the master of similar ceremonies, "de progance wuz
dish yer: Eve'y gent wer ter have th'ee licks at de rock, en de
gent w'at fetch de dus' he were de one w'at gwineter take de pick
er de gals. Ole Brer Fox, he grab de sludge-hammer, he did, en he
come down on de rock--blim! No dus' ain't come. Den he draw back
en down he come ag'in--blam! No dus' ain't come. Den he spit in
his han's, en give 'er a big swing en down she come--kerblap! En
yit no dus' ain't flew'd.
"Den Brer Possum he make triul, en Brer Coon, en all de balance
un um 'cep' Brer Tarrypin, en he 'low dat he got a crick in his
neck. Den Brer Rabbit, he grab holt er de sludge, en he lipt up
in de a'r en come down on de rock all at de same time--pow!--en
de ashes, dey flew'd up so, dey did, dat Brer Fox, he tuck'n had
a sneezin' spell, en Miss Meadows en de gals dey up'n koff. Th'ee
times Brer Rabbit jump up en crack his heels tergedder en come
down wid de sludge-hammer--ker-blam!--en eve'y time he jump up,
he holler out:
"'Stan' fudder, ladies! Yer come de dus'!' en sho nuff, de dus'
come.
"Leas'ways," continued Uncle Remus, "Brer Rabbit got one er de
gals, en dey had a weddin' en a big infa'r."
"Which of the girls did the Rabbit marry?" asked the little boy,
dubiously.
"I did year tell un 'er name," replied the old man, with a great
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