The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-05-21
Uncle Renus.
How The Rabbit Lost His Fine Bushy Tail.
[Atlanta (Ga.) constitutional


"One time" said Uncle Remus, signing
heavily and settling himself back in his seat
with an air of melancholy resignation-"One
time Brer Rabbit wus gw;ne long down de
road shakin his big bushy tail, en- feelin' des
ez scrumpshus ez bee-martin wild fresh
bug" Here the old man paused and glanced
at the little boy, but it was evident that the
youngster had become so accustomed to the
marvellous developments Of Uncle Re-
mus's stories that the extraordinary statment
made no unusual impression upon him. There
fore the old man began again, and this time in
a louder and more insinuating tone:
"One time ole man Rabbit, he wuz gwne
long down de road shakin' his long bushy tail
and feelin' mighty biggity." This was effec-
tive.
"Great goodness, Uncle Remus!' exclaimed
the little boy in open-eyed wonder, "every-
body knows that rabbits haven't got long bushy
tails"
The old man shifted his position in his chair
and allowed his venerable head to drop for
ward until his whole appearance was sugges-
tive of the deepest detection; and this was inten.
sified by groan that seemed to be the result
of great mental agony. Finally he spoke, but
not as addressing himself to the little boy
81 notices dat dem folks wat makes great
'miration bout wat dey knows is des de folks
witch you can't put no 'pennunce in wen de
cashun come up. Yer one un um now. en- he
done come en- excuse me er 'lowin' dat rabbits
is got long bushy tails, witch goodness knows
ef I'd drempt it, l whirl in en- ondremp it,"
"Well, but Uncle Remus, you said rabbits
ha6 no Ia h0xy
"Now you know you did"
"Ef amt fergit it off'n my mine, l say dat
ole Brer Rabbit wuz gwine down de big road
shakin' his long bushy tail. Dat wat 1 say,
en- dat STAINS BY"
The little boy looked puzzled, but he didn't
say anything. After awhile the old man con-
tinued:
''Now, den of dat's greed ter, I'm gwine on,
eff tain't, I'm gwine ter pick up my cane en- look
after my own intrust. L got wuk lyin' roun'
yer dat's des materially gittin' mouldy."
The little boy still remained quiet, and Un-
Gle Remus proceeded.
One day Brer Rabbit wuz gwine down de
road shaking his long, bushy tail, wen who
should he strike up wild but ole Brer Fox
| gwine amblin' long wild big string er fish.
Wen dey pass de time er day wild wunner mud
| der, Brer Rabbit, he open up de confab, he
| did, en- he AK Brer Fox whar he git dat nice
| string er fish, en- Brer Fox, he up'n spon' dat
| he kotch um, en- Brer Rabbit he say wharbouts,
| en- Brer Fox, he say down at de baptizin creek,
| en- Brer Rabbit, he ak how, kaze in dem days
| dey ~uz monstus fon' or minners, en- Brer
| Fox, he sot down on a log, he did, en- he up'n
tell Brer Rabbit dat all he gotter do fer ter git
| or mess is ter 90 ter de creek arter sundown,
en- drap his tail in de water en- set dar twell
| daylight, en- den draw up a whole armfu er
fishes, en- dem wat he don't want. he kin fling
| back. Right dar's whar Brer Rabbit drap his
/ watermillion, kaze he tuck n sot out dat night
/ en- went a-fshin'. De wedder was sorter cole,
| en- Brer Rabbit, he got i'm bottle or dram en-
| put out fer de creek, en- wen he git dar, he
| pick out good place, en- he sorter squat down,
he did, en- let his tail hang in de water. He
/ sot dar en- he sot dar, en- he drunk his dram,
| en- he think he gwineter freeze, but bimeby
| day come, IN dar he wuz. He made pull, en-
he feel like he comm in two, en- he fetch mud
der jerk. en- 10 en- beholes, whar wuz his tail?''
There was long pause.
| "Did it come off, Uucle Remus?" asked the
| little boy presently.
"She did dat!'' replied the old man with
JUNCTION. "She did dat, and dat wat make all