The Russellville Democrat., 1892-08-18
PLANTATION FABLES--lII.
BRER RABBIT AT THE FERRY.
By Joel Chandler Harris.
lcopyright, lsae, bg the Author

cident at Armour's Ferry. The
 fiat, as the ferry boat was called, had broken the rope used to tow fl across the Oeonee and had drifted down the river. Two mules hitched to wagon jumped overheard and were drowned.
 ''Ah, Lord !" exclaimed Uncle Remus when the negroes were gone,
 lief ole Brer Bar had been de fe'yman, lay dey wouldn't er bin none CT dat kinder gwines on
 Uncle Johnny Roach is the ferry man now" remarked the little boy, by way of saying something.
 Dat man is ole, mon, said Un- cle Remus; he ole en shaky. He been dsr I dunner how long. He gray en trimbly. 'Twant dat away wid Brer Bar. He was young en strong, en he ain't had a gray hair in his head. Folks used ter come long dat way en gi' i'm a sev m ounce des ter see m r'ar back on his footses en snatch dat ar fiat cross de river. l tell you, mon, dem wuz gay times.
 Here Uncle Remus paused and looked steadily into the fire e-place and sighed. The impression he left on the little boy was that he himself had crossed at the ferry while Brother Bear was in charge. But where was the storyi The young ster looked at the old man intently and waited patiently.
 "Brer Bar wuz mighty fine fe' e'yman,' said Uncle Remus, after while, taking of his spectacles and rubbing them gently on his knee. "Dey ain't no two ways bout dat. But dey wuz one time when he got outdone. l dunner what time CT de day nor what day CT de mont but twuz some'rs 'twixt two sun-ups. Brer Bar wuz settin' in the shade wishin' dat some un 'ud come long en drap a sey ID ounce in his pocket. He luz des bout ter doze of when he hear somebody holler:
 Man cross de river say .HelIof'
 eBrer Bar raise up en low, How you like fer somebody ter call you 'Helloi'
 Man holler back, Come put me cross.
 "Brer Bar 'spon', 'Ah--yip
 ''De man wuz ridin' a gray mar en de gray mar had gray colt wid Ter. Brer E ar swung de flat on ter side, en whiles she wuz a swingin' he uz eeuntin his money ''0h, de rope is long, keteh 8 holt, keteh
 hoItl
 Oh, de rope is long, keteh holt A dime fer de mar, dime fer de man,
 En thrip fer de little gray colt,
 "De fiat, she swung 'roun', she did, en Brer Bar, he sung out Ride in, Mister, en make yo'sel' at home.
 Right den en dar," continued Uncle Remus, leaning back in his chair and lifting his eyebrows right den en dar de trouble begun. Nobody want ter blame; nobody want de 'casion un it. Hit des come dry so, ies like de measles did when you had um "
 "What trouble was itf" Uncle Remusi" the little boy asked.
 Hit des broke out by hits own lone se'f 1" responded the old man, solemnly. "De man, he chuck ter de mar en try ter ride 'er in de fiat, but de mar she hilt Ter head down en sorter snort, en fuse ter budge De man try ter coax Ter, but she won't be coaxed. Den he put whip en spur, but she whirl 'roun' en fuse ter go in de fiat. She'd go up, she'd go down, she'd go any whar en eve'y whar 'ceptin' in de fiat. Den de man lit en tried ter lead Ter, but de mar drug i'm bout over de. san like he aint weigh mo n two poun' en half Brer Bar try ter hep but taint do no good. De colt seed dat his mammy wuz skeer'd en he gun ter whieker en squeal en ru rouI like a pig wid hot embers q his back. Dis make a bad matts wuss.
 ''Dar dey stood. De man h study en Brer Bar he study, bd 'taint do no good. Bimeby Ere Bar look 'roun', en who should hs see settin cross-legged on a stumj a. watchin' un um but ole Brer Rab bit Oar he wuz, des ez nachal ez one CT deze yer dagarrytypes. Fun whar he stood Brer Bar couldn q tell whedder Brer Rabbit wuz laugh } in CT whedder he wuz cryin' but his face wuz nightly wrinkler up. Brer B ar hail i'm, but Brer Rabbit shuck his head. Brer Bar call i'm, but Brer Rabbit shuck his head. But Brer Bar ax i'm ter come hep i'm git de mar in de fiat, nrt Brer Rabbit shuck his head. Brer Bar wuz bout ter buse Brer Rabbit fo' comp'ny, but n'er no- ton struck i'm, en he tuck en wab- bled of ter whar Brer Rabbit wuz settin'. Time he got whar dey could hold CT confab Brer Rabbit low:
 " What de name CT goodness Is \ you all tryin ter do down dari What kinder capers is you cuttin' up7 I been settin' here watehin' you, en des dyin' CT laughin' at de way you en de man en dem ereeturs been gwine on.
 "Brer B lar try ter splain, but Brer Rabbit keep CT talkin'-