" She so frackshis, she won't gin 'im nuttin. She say she
done gin 'im 'er own rabbit-fut foh luck, dat one dat 'er
mammy cotch foh 'er, an' dat sholy plenty. Ef he want dat
silveh luck-ball, he des kin wuhk foh hit. Wid dat she go
weevly-wavely off ; an' den de jacky-me-lantuhns, dey kirn
up an' skeert dat po', lone lil ole Man Rabbit mos' ter deff. He
des clip home, he do, but he ain't got de blubbeh, an' dat mos'
kill 'im. 'Tain't long arter dat twell he do git dat blubbeh
dough," continued Aunt Em'ly, smiling on her audience,
encouragingly, " an' dis hyeah dat I gwine to tell yo' am de
whahby he sot ter wuhk.
" He go out in de bresh an' he cut 'im de slimmes' kine ob
er hazel switch, forkin' at de eend, lak dem dar switches dat
de well-diggehs hab w'en dey a-tryin' foh ter fine whah de
watteh am, soster dig de well in de good place. Dat switch he
tuck and tuck home wid him.
" Den he go ter de big woods an' scrabble roun' twell he fine
AND OTHER SORCERERS. 183
er nut drap offen one dem pignut hick'ry trees. Dat nut he
tuck an' tuck home.
" Den he go out ter de fiel' an' he git some hemp,
an' he twis' 'im er good stout string, an' he mek er slip-
knot an' loop in de eend. Den he tuck an' tuck dat string
home.
" Den w'en de day git good an' wa'm, he tuck dem t'ings an*
he staht out ; but on de way he stop nigh de crik an' cut 'im
lil paw -paw (some say ash instead of paw-paw) lim', an' he
mek lil hole in dat lil pignut, an' he stick hit on de eend o' dat
lil lim'.
" Den he go roun' by de haw trees, dat got de grapevines
clamberin' onter um, an' he git er lil daid curleycue (tendril)
offen de grapevine, an' he set down an' he buil' er lil fiah outen
daid leabes, an' he hole de eend ob de curleycue in de fiah twell
hit buhn ri' brack. Dat brack eend he tek an' mahk wid hit dat
lil pignut twell hit look foh all de worl' lak er lil pickaninny's
haid. He mek lil mahk foh de eyes an' de winkehs an' de
nose an' de mouf an' all ; an' w'en he git dat done, he wrop er
nice lil rabbit-skin roun' dat paw-paw lim', an' he say, ' Dar
now ! ain't I got de nice, fine baby ! ' an' he cut er pidgin-wing,
an' he sing
' Byo baby-buntin',
Yo' daddy gwine a-huntinV*
An* he sholy wuz gwine a-huntin', kase luck-huntin' am de
bigges' kine ob huntin' dey is, ef yo' s'arch up one side ob de
yeath an' down de turr.
"W'en he git de baby done, he tuck hit in de one han' an*
1 I think that this is probably the original of the Tar Baby, because it cor-
responds more closely to the making of the magical mannikin as found in
European sorcery. Thus in England it is made by putting a " fairy head "
(stone, echinus) on a tiny body (MS. charms), and in Italy with a distaff. Its
object is the same in all, to defeat or act counter to witches and evil spirits,
&c. C. G. L.
184 OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO,
de hazel switch in de turr, an* sot out ter hunt er rattlesnake ;
an' bimeby he corned 'cross er big sassy young one, quile up
(coiled up) on er hooraw-nes' (hurrah's nest an accumulation
of leaves made by wind and water at the edge of a stream), an'
a-takin' er snooze. Ole Rabbit he crope up, he did, thu de
weeds an briehs, an' w'en he git closte nuff spang ! he run
dat paw-paw lim' outen de bresh des ez quick ! an' he stick dat
pignut face right at de eye ob Misteh Rattlesnake ! Suz, dat
rowge (roused) up Misteh Rattletail, an' my ! ef he wuzzent de
maddes' !
" * Cuss de impunce ob dat lil sassy niggeh ! ' sez 'e, and
wid dat smack ! he hit dat pignut pickaninny de bigges' lick !
" Hit wuz er las'-yeah's pignut, honey, an' de fros' an' de
rain done mek hit mo' sorf den er dis yeah's nut, so Misteh
Rattletail done stick he two toofses (he am' got but des two,
an' dey des a-front de pizon-bag), he done stick um inter dat
ole nut an' dey won't come out. Dar dey wuz, tight an' fas'.
Den Ole Rabbit he run up, an' he slip dat string wid de slip-
knot roun' Misteh Rattletail' neck twell he mos' choke 'im,
an' he lash 'im fas' ter de paw-paw lim'. Den he tek a-holt
ob he tail, an'-den don't Ole Chuffy go a-singin' an' a-whustlin'
'long de parf dat lead ter de pond. Wen he git dar, he fling
in de lim' wid Misteh Rattletail 'pun hit, an' hit stick fas'
at de bottom an' don't come up ; ef hit come up hit sp'ile
de luck, kase dat de p'int, dat yo' th'ow in er libe rattlesnake
by de tail, an' de las' blubbeh dat come up ef de snake lodge,
dat am de silbeh blubbeh, an' yo' boun' ter ketch hit on de
forky switch.
" Wen dat snake stick on de bottom, Ole Chuffy he tek de
switch an' hole hit wid de fawk eend out obeh de pond. He
watch dez ez keen ez ef he got de eye ob er snake he own se'f.
He watch de blubbehs twell dey come slow an' scatt'in ; den
he haht ri' in he mouf, he dat feahrin dat he miss de right one.
" One come by hitse'f.
AND OTHER SORCERERS.
185
"He retch out.
" Hit bus'.
" He mos' fit ter cry.
" One mo' come.
" He retch quick ! He slip de fawk unneat hit ! He lif ' hit
up ! He dror hit in ! Hit slip ! O-o-ow ! Hit mos' fal
back ! Now he got um ! Hi ! he grab um in de han' ! Dat
de silbeh blubbeh, sho nuff! soun' er (as a) rock an' shinin'
lak er chunk ob de moon. Hooray ! Hoo-hoo-hooray !
" HE SLIP DE FAWK UNNEAT HIT ! NOW 'E GOT UM ! "
" Hit tek Ole Rabbit, arter all,
Ter beat vv'ite folks an' git de ball ! "
The story of the silver ball inspired Granny to relate one she
called:
DE TALE OB DE GOL'EN BALL.
" In de ole, ole times, ole man gwine 'long de big road. Ole
man lame, ole man raggeddy, old man mons'us dry, ole man
mons'us hongry. See lil cabin down HI lane dat run inter
de big road. Po' ole man go up ter de do\ knock wid he han u
knock wid he stick.
1 86 OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO.
II De do' open, man come out.
II 1 Wut yo' want, ole man ? '
" Lemme set down on de bench by de do*, an' gimme er
gode o' watteh an' er lil hunk o' cawn-pone (maize-bread ;
Algonkin,/fl#, bread). Ise ole, Ise lame, Ise dry, Ise hongry, Ise
plum wo' out.'
" Man dunno. He scratch de haid, he roll de eye.
" 'Ooman in de house holler out
" ' Gib de ole man de butteh-milk outen de crock, an' de
wusseh-meat (sausage-meat) outen de pan.'
Man git de beggeh-mari de butteh-milk in de crock an' de
wusseh-meat in de pan. He drink de milk, he lick de crock.
He eat de meat, he lick de pan. He grunt, he groan, he stretch
hisse'f.
11 ' Oh ! gimme er whuff mm yo' pipe,' sez 'e.
" Man scratch de haid, he roll de eye. He dunno, he say.
" 'Ooman holler out
" Oh ! tek de backy fum de pouch ; oh ! tek de pipe fum off
de jamb an' gib de po' ole man er whuff.'
" Man he do des wut she say.
" Beggeh-man say
" ( Gimme er fiah-coal. 1
" Man git de fiah-coal.
" Beggeh-man light de pipe an' hole de fiah-coal in he han*.
Den he smoke an' smoke de backy all erway. He bat de eye,
he grin de mouf, an' lean ergin de cabin wall.
"Fiah-coal buhn dar all de time right in he han'.
" He ain't keer ef hit do buhn. He bat de eye, he grin de
mouf, he lean ergin de cabin wall.
" Man stan' dar in de do' an' watch.
" Bimeby de pickaninny squall.
" Beggeh-man stan' up.
" ' Is dat er mouse I hyeah ? ' sez 'e.
" ( Oh ! dat's my darter, one day ole. 1
AND OTHER SORCERERS. 187
" * Oh ! do huh ha'r shine lak de gole ? '
" ' Oh, no ! a niggeh-chile am she.'
" Oh ! fetch huh hyeah an' lemme see. 1
" * Huh mammy won't 'low dat at all.'
" l Oh ! fetch huh hyeah ter git ball/
" Wid dat, de ole beggeh-man he swaller dat fiah-coal an' spit
urn right up, an' dar twuz ! er HI gole ball wid er yalleh string.
" Den de man fetch lil kinkey-haid, an' de beggeh-man he
fling de string roun' 'er neck an' de ball hit fall gin er breas'.
" Den de beggeh-man he up an' git (departed), an' how he
go dat man kyarn't tell. He look ter lef, he look ter right, dat
beggeh-man clean out o' sight. Den de man tek de chile ter
'er mammy, an' den he run down de lane.
" Look dishaway, look dataway ! See nuttin !
"Run ter de big road. Look up de road, look down de
road ! See nuttin !
" Run back ter de mammy an* de chile.
" ( Oh, gimme back dat golen ball ! Dat beggeh-man he
cunjer, all. He trick dat chile ; she boun' ter die.'
"He raise dat chile ter retch de string. Oh ! how dat chile
done change an' grow. Huh ha'r hit hang 'way down huh
back, hit hang ez straight ez cawn-silk too ; hit tuhn ez yalleh
ez de ball. Huh skin hit tuhn ez w'ite ez milk.
" * Oh, leabe de ball ! ' de mammy say.
" De man he 'gree unter dat too. He laff an' darnce ter
see dat chile. He say, ' Don't nevveh break dat string.'
" De mammy 'gree unter dat too.
" De chile she grow an' grow an' grow.
"De mammy, den, she up an' die.
" Er Oby-'ooman p'izon huh.
" De Oby-'ooman merry 'im (married). She beat de gal, she
tell 'm lie ; she try ter steal de gol'en ball, an' w'en she fine
kyarn't do dat, she slip ahine dat milk-w'ite gal an' cut in
she two dat yalleh string.
188 OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO,
" Dat ball hit fall inter de grass.
" Dat milk-w'ite gal she tuhn right brack. Huh ha'r hit
swivel up in kinks, hit tuhn right brack, hit shine no mo'.
De po' brack gal, she gun ter cry.
" De folks run up, dey don't know huh.
" De Oby squall
" ' Yo' kilt ou 1 chile ! '
" De folks dey say
"Yo'sholydid!'
" De po' brack gal, she cry an' cry.
" Dey tek dat gal, dey tie huh fas 1 .
" She say, * I nuvveh kilt no gal 1 I wuz dat milk-w'ite gal
yo' hed ! '
" Dey pay no 'tenshun ter dat wuhd. Dey git de chain, dey
git de rope, dey buil' er gallus-tree up high.
'* De po' brack gal, she cry an' cry.
" Huh daddy come.
She call at 'im
" ( O, daddy, fine dat gol'en ball, ur yo' see me hang 'pun de
gallus-tree ! '
" De man go by.
" De Oby come.
"' ' O, mammy, fine dat gol'en ball, ur yo' see me hang 'pun
de gallus-tree ! '
" Oby go by !
" Huh beau, he come.
" * Beau, beau, fine dat gol'en ball, ur yo' see me hang 'pun
de gallus-tree ! '
14 Beau go by.
" Den all de folks go by, go home, don't hunt de ball. Dey
spec she die 'pun de gallus-tree.
" Ole beggeh-man, he bline, he lame. He stop. He say, ' I
save dat gal. I save huh mm de gallus-tree.'
" Beggeh-man hole out de gol'en ball.
AND OTHER SORCERERS. 189
u She won't die on de gallus-tree.
" He han' 'er back de golen ball, he tell de tale, he show de
t'ief.
" Oby, she die 'pun de gallus-tree.
" Beau, he see de milk-w'ite gal, he ketch 'er wais', he try ter
buss.
" ' Go 'way, beau, yo' want I die 'pun de gallus-tree.'
" Daddy come up, he say, * Come home.'
" Milk-w'ite gal, she tuhn de back.
" * Daddy, I kyarn't. Yo' mek me 'feard de gallus-tree.'
"Beggeh-man change, he putty, now (he had become beau-
tiful), an' oh ! he save huh fum de gallus-tree. He tek de gal
by huh w'ite han', he lead huh pas' de gallus-tree.
" De folks squall out, ' Come back 1 come back ! an' we pull
down de gallus-tree.'
" De man an' gal go on an' on. Dey lose sight ob de gallus-
tree.
" De hill, hit open good an' wide. Dey bofe go thu dat big
wide crack. Dey done fegit de gallus-tree.
" De hill, hit shet closte up ergin.
" * Good-bye, good folks an' gallus-tree ! "
So inspiriting was this finale that everybody began to sing
and "jump Jim Crow," a favourite pastime borrowed from the
white minstrels, so far as the song, but not so far as the
" exercise " was concerned.
" Fust upun de heel tap,
Den upun de toe.
Ebry time you tuhn eroun
You jump Jim Crow.
My ole mistis told me so
I'd nebber git ter Heb'n
Ef I jump Jim Crow.
Jump Jim Crow oh,
Jump Jim Crow.
I'd nebber git ter Heb'n ef I jump Jim Crow.
XIII.
HOW THE SKUNK BECAME THE TERROR OF ALL
LIVING CREATURES A SHORT CHAPTER
FURNISHED BY BIG ANGY.
SKUNK was Catamount's young brother. He was a disgrace to
the family from the day he was born. He was sneaking, he
was cowardly. He was thievish too, for that matter. He
thought more of getting at a bird's nest and stealing a few half-
rotten eggs than of seeking and overpowering worthy prey.
He gave his strength to catching field-mice and even grasshop-
pers and locusts. Even gophers and moles despised more than
they feared him. Added to this, he was the most impertinent
and insulting little beast that could be imagined when he was
in a safe place and could call to those whom he wished to
affront from a distance. He even showed disrespect to Grey
Wolf.
This was not to be tolerated, so Grey Wolf called all the
animals together and demanded to know what should be done.
With one voice, the answer came
" Destroy him. He is of no use whatever."
Now Catamount and Black Wolf said nothing. Catamount
could not excuse and would not condemn his brother. Black
Wolf had plans of his own for the culprit to carry out.
Grey Wolf, thinking that all were agreed, was about to
destroy the miserable skunk, but the contemptible creature flat-
tened himself out at the feet of his master and entreated that
190
OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO, 191
the boon of life might be spared him, no matter if all that
adorned and made it pleasant be taken away. So in contempt,
rather than kindness, Grey Wolf spared the life of Skunk, but
at the same time he shrunk and shrivelled the creature till he
was scarcely larger than Gopher. He pared his claws and
shortened his teeth. This done, the other animals scornfully
departed without taking leave, Catamount going next after
Grey Wolf.
Black Wolf had only gone a little way when he turned and
went softly back.
"Be of good cheer, little brother," he said to the dismayed
Skunk. " Brother Grey Wolf has seen fit
to arrange matters so that you shall be in
terror of all things breathing. Now, I
come to put all things, even Grey Wolf
himself in awe of you."
This he promised, not because he loved
Skunk, but because it delighted him to
thwart the intentions of Grey Wolf. BLACK WOLF BEHAVES
Then Skunk lifted up his head and LIKE A SKUNK.
thanked Black Wolf, and asked
" What can you do ? My strength is gone, my claws are as
grass and my teeth as willow-twigs."
" Watch me," said Black Wolf.
So Skunk watched and saw Black Wolf take an egg from a
deserted nest and put in it sweat from his own body, the
breath of a buzzard, wind that had passed over the field where
the dead still lay after the battle, and a little water from a
green pool. When he had stirred these things together, he
gave the egg to Skunk and said
" Wear this, and you shall be the great conqueror. Your
strongest antagonists shall turn sickly and feeble before you.
Not horns, claws, teeth, sinews, or bulk shall make any differ-
ence to you."
192 OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO.
So Skunk took the gift with a joyful heart and tried its
power on Black Wolf at once.
Black Wolf, sick and howling, fled as fast as he was able from
the presence of the ungrateful Skunk he had so terribly
endowed.
Then Skunk knew for a certainty that Black Wolf had told
him the truth about the gift, so he set out to find his revilers
and drive them before him. When he found them, they fled,
every one, from least to greatest.
Then Skunk contentedly laid himself down under a tree and
went to sleep.
SKUNK.
XIV.
MORE RABBIT TALES.
WAS very late when Tow Head and
Aunt Mymee made their appear-
ance in the cabin. The little girl
*~* had caused the delay. To be quite
candid, she and her mother had had certain differ-
ences of opinion at the supper-table, and Aunt
Mymee had obligingly waited until she recovered from the
effect of them.
"Yessum," they heard Aunt Em'ly say as they entered,
" hit wuz hot an' dry dat yeah, hit sholy wuz. De cawn fiahed
w'en 'twuzzen' skusely up ter de fence-tops ; hit wuz laid by
'fo' de summeh wuz out, an' no mo'n harf er crap at de bes',
but Ian' sakes ! 'twuzzen' so bad but hit mought a-bin wusseh.
Hit mought a-bin des lak 'twuz dat time w'en de big watteh-
frog git mad at de w'ite folks an' hilt back all de watteh."
" Oh, Aunt Em'ly ! when was that ? " cried the child,
throwing herself into the story-teller's arms and beginning to
caress the fat black cheek she unintentionally bumped with her
hard little head.
" Dat's mannehs, dat am," said Granny, addressing the ceil-
ing. " I wisht Ole Mistis wuz out hyeah ter see some folks
settle down in de house ob some yuther folks an' ne'er say
* howdy,' nur nuttin. Dat's de new-fangelums, I reckin . Dey
14 191
194 OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO,
done kim in long sence me an' Aunt Mary wuz gals, an' so we
specs noduss (notice) dat we don't git. Nemmine, dough, I
gwine ter ax Ole Mistis ef dat's wut we gotter look foh fum dis
out, kase ef 'tis, I gwineter ax 'er ter lemme go back ter Ole
Feginny an' die dar."
Tow Head blushed, hung her head and laughed shame-
facedly.
" E-scuse me, Granny," she said. " I was so late that I was
afraid all the stories were told, and when I heard Aunt Em'ly
just beginning one I was so pleased that I forgot everything
else. Don't be angry with me, Granny, I've had such a lot of
trouble I'm just like the people Grandpa reads about in the
Bible who are/z/// of trouble."
A heart ol stone might have been melted by this doleful
explanation, and Granny's heart was anything but stony. She
accepted the apology, paid for it generously with a fine large
gingerbread star, and motioned Aunt Em'ly to proceed.
" Dat time, honey, wuz dar now ! I done fegit de prezack
day, but 'twuz in de ole times. Shuck ? wut de use ter tell
hit. Hit sech er ole tale an' bin gwine de roun's dat long dat
hit a-gittin' all frazzle out."
" /don't know it, Aunt Em'ly."
" Den I betteh hed tell um, chile, kase ef yo' see er watteh-
dawg, yo' des betteh know de way ter ack."
" I thought 'twas a water-frog."
" Bofe, honey, bofe."
u Des let Aunt Em'ly run dat tale 'cordin* uv huh noshins,
honey. Too menny spoons in de cake-dough mek hit fall."
" Very well, but what is a water-dog ? "
" Hit des er watteh-dawg. 'Taint no frog, nur no lizuhd, nur
no tadpole. Hit des hit ownse'f, an' hit keep de runnin' watteh
runnin'. Injun know. Injun lef um 'lone. Ef 'e run up 'gin
um, say ' howdy, howdy, uncle,' an' go 'long 'gin. Cullehd
man de same t'ing."
AND OTHER SORCERERS. 195
" W'ite man come.
u W'ite man see watteh-dawg.
" * Pooh ! pooh ! kyarn' hab no watteh-dawg a-spilin' de
well wut I digs ; kyarn' hab no watteh-dawg a-flouncin' in de
spring whah I squinch my thurs (thirst), no suz ! '
" W'ite man tek er big rock, smash po' watteh-dawg Hat.
"Den de big frog wut lib unneat de groun' an' own all de
springs an' all de streams, git pow'ful mad, kase watteh-dawg
de onles' chile o' de on'les' darter wut he hab. So den, he
blow de long bref out, an' de wattehs, dey all riz an' riz an' riz,
an' de w'ite folkses, dey mek de big miration an' dey say
" ( My ! de watteh mighty high, dis yeah. Dey mus' a-bin
heaps ob snow melt 'way up yondeh in de mountains an' de
hills an' run down inter de criks an' de big ribbeh 1 *
" Ole Frog hyeah dat.
" Nemmine ! he ain't gwine ter 'spute um. He des show
de aige o' de ax w'en hit groun', he ain' argyfy 'bout de grine-
stun. He fetch de long bref in \
" Now, whah de watteh goned ?
" W'ite folks look dishaway, w'ite folks look data way. Whah
de watteh, w'ite folks ?
u No watteh on de whole -face ob de yeath \
11 W'ite folks hunt, w'ite folks dig. W'ite folks fine nuttin.
W'ite folks fetch out de hazel lim'. Hazel lim' pint des one
way. Pint ter whah de big frog' shouldeh stick outen de
groun' lak er big rock. W'ite folks see nuttin. Cuss de hazel
lim', cuss de dryness, den go in de meetin'-house an' ax de good
Lawd ter gin um rain ; but de rain don' come, kase Ole Frog
ten' ter dat. He des hilt up he haid w'en de cloud come an'
blow hit back ter T'undeh-Lan'. 1
" All de cawn dry up, all de grass dry up, de leabes fall offen
de trees an' all de beastises run up an' down de yeath des
a-hollerin' an' a-belterin' foh watteh.
1 Thunder-land, which is often described in Red Indian legends.
196 OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO,
i( W'ite-man kyarn' do nuttin.
44 Call on Injun-man. Injun-man kyarn' do nuttin.
< < W'ite-man, W'ite-man, w'y don' yo' lef de dawg erlone ? f
41 Call on Niggeh-man. Niggeh-man kyarn' do nuttin.
" ( W'ite-man, I ain' got no cha'm ter fetch de watteh back.
W'ite-man, W'ite-man, w'y don' yo' lef de dawg erlone ? *
u Call on Woodpeckeh. Woodpeckeh kyarn' do nuttin.
" ( W'ite-man, W'ite-man, w'y don' yo' lef de dawg erlone ? '
<{ Call on Rain-Crow. Rain-Crow kyarn' do nuttin.
" ' W'ite-man, W'ite-man, w'y don' yo' lef de dawg erlone ? '
" Call on .Bracksnake. Bracksnake kyarn' do nuttin.
" 4 W'ite-man, W'ite-man, w'y don' yo' lef de dawg erlone ? '
" Call on Gran'daddy Rattlesnake. Gran'daddy Rattlesnake
kyarn' do nuttin.
" * W'ite-man, W'ite-man, w'y don' yo' lef de dawg erlone ? '
" Call on Crawfish. Crawfish kyarn' do nuttin.
44 * W'ite-man, W'ite-man, w'y don' yo' lef de dawg erlone ? '
44 All dat time, Ole Rabbit, he a-sleepin some'ers, but 'bout
dat minnit, de dryness an' de hotness wek 'im up, an 1 de fus'
t'ing he hyeah am de moanin' an' de groanin' ob de man an*
de bawlin' an' de bellerin' an' de growlin' an' de gruntin' an' de
squallin' an' de squealin' ob de crittehs.
" ( Hi yi, dar ! ' say he. ' Wassermasser (what's the matter)
wid de crittehs an' de beastises ? '
" Den he fetch er gap dat mos' t'ar 'im open an' den he rub
de eye an' scratch de yeah an' set up. Den he stretch hisse'f
an' gap some mo' an' look roun'. Dat mek 'im jump 1 Yes-
suh ! He jump up an' run roun', a-lookin' an' a-starin*.
" ' Ki yi ! wut dis ? ' he say.
<( Den dey wuz de bigges' hollerin'.
" ( We all gwine ter pe'sh offen de face ob de yeath, kase
W'ite man won' lef de dawg erlone,' say de crittehs.
" Wut dawg ? ' ax Rabbit.
41 * Watteh-dawg,' sez dey.
AND OTHER SORCERERS.
Wut 'e done ter um ? ' sez 'e.
Kill um,' sez dey.
197
"DEN DEY SH'ET UP AN' WATCH 'IM, W'ILES 'E LOOK ON DE GROUN' AN
WUHK HE MINE.
195 OLD RABBIT, THE VOODOO,
" Den he slap hisse'f an' cuss.
" Den all de crittehs dey moan an' dey groan, dey bawl an'
dey beller, dey squall an' dey squeal.
** ' Shet up ! ' say he, ' an' lemme hyeah my mine wuhk.'
11 Den dey shet up an' watch 'im, w'iles 'e look on de groun'
an wuhk he mine.
" Bimeby he look up.
" * Is enny yo' folks see de big frog an' ax 'im, please suh, let
de watteh go ? Shuh ! wut I a-sayin' ? Co'se yo' done dat.'
" Dey all hang de haid. No, dey ain' ax Ole Frog. Dey ain'
done nuttin.
" Ole Rabbit, he sniff, he snurl up de nose, he wuhk de
whiskehs.
" * Huh ! ' sez 'e, * w'en I want er sup o' watteh, I want um.
I want um bad,' sez 'e, ' an' mo'n dat, dough I ain't kim ob de
wust o* famblies ef dey's enny ob de harf-strainehs dat am
Rabbits, nobody ain' name hit unter me I ain't dat proud but
I ax foh um,' sez 'e, * an' ax fob um putty, too,' sez 'e.
" ' We ain't 'quaint wid Ole Frog,' says dey, a-lookin'
foolish.
" ( Yo' ain't gwine ter git 'quaint wid no watteh, ne'er, at dese
rates,' sez 'e, a-th'owin' up he chin an' a-sniffin' mo' an' mo'.
" ' We ain' know whah we kin fine 'im,' sez dey, sorter
'scusin'-lak.
" ' Shucks ! * sez Rabbit, * I lay I ain't gwine ter wait twell
Ole Frog sens er niggeh on hoss-back wid er eenvite ter drap
roun' ter dinneh, w'iles my thote a-pa'chin' erway ter meal-dus'.
I gwine ter hunt 'im up de w'iles I got de strenk.'
" Den Rabbit he sot out.
" All de turr crittehs dey foller 'long ahine.
" Rabbit he keep a-goin' an a-goin' up stream dat am whah
de stream uster wuz. Bimeby he come ter de top whah de big
spring otter be.
" No spring dar ! Nuttin dar cep er big, green, spotty rock.
AND OTHER SORCERERS. 199.
" 'Hi dar ! ' sez Rabbit, sez 'e, ' Ebenin', Misteh Frog.'
" Nuttin say nuttin.
" 4 Frog ain't dar,' say all de crittehs, an' dey gun ter whimple,
dey feel so bad.
" ' Ebenin', Misteh Frog,' say Ole Rabbit, grinnin' sorter dry
an' ginnin' dat ole rock er lil nudge wid he walkin'-cane, 'ebenin',
ebenin'.'
" De big rock roll obeh. My ! dey wuz er scattimint (scatter-
ing) ob de crittehs, dat quick ! " exclaimed Aunt Em'ly, illus-
trating her statement with a snap of her fingers. " Whoo !
Yessuh ! an' whyso ? Kase dat spotty, green rock wuz des
er piece ob de back ob Ole Frog.
" ' Wut yo' war-rr-rr-nt ? ' sez Ole Frog, sez 'e, an' hit soun'
lak de rollin' o' de t'undeh-balls 'crost de sky."
" Floppin'de wings ob de t'undeh-buhds," 1 corrected Big Angy.
" * Oh, nuttin much ! ' say Ole Rabbit," continued Aunt
Em'ly, smoothly. " ' Oh, nuttin much, Misteh Frog,' sez 'e,
a-stannin' on one laig an' a-nibblin' de top ob he walkin'-cane
sorter keerless. * I des thunk I'd drap roun' an' ax yo' foh er