A Story of the War. Translation, Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings
A STORY OF THE WAR

Translation

When Miss Theodosia Huntingdon *, of Burlington, Vermont, concluded to come South in 1870, she was moved by three considerations.  In the first place, her brother, John Huntingdon, had become a citizen of Georgia -- having astonished his acquaintances by marrying a young lady, the male members of whose family had achieved considerable distinction in the Confederate army; in the second place, she was anxious to explore a region which she almost unconsciously pictured to herself as remove and semi-barbarous; and, in the third place, her friends had persuaded her that to some extent she was an invalid.  It was in vain that she argued with herself as to the propriety of undertaking the journey alone and unprotected, and she finally put an end to inward and outward doubts by informing herself and her friends, including John Huntingdon, her brother, who was practicing law in Atlanta, that she decided to visit the South.

When, therefore, on the 12th of October, 1870 -- the date is duly recorded in one of Miss Theodosia's letters -- she alighted from the cars in Atlanta, in the midst of a great crowd, she fully expected to find her brother waiting to receive her.  The bells of several locomotives were ringing, a number of trains went moving in and out, and the porters and baggage-men were screaming and bawling to such an extent that for several moments Miss Huntingdon was considerably confused; so much so that she paused in the hope that her brother would suddenly appear and rescue her from the smoke, and dust, and dirt.  At that moment someone touched her on the arm, and she heard a strong, half-confident, half-apologetic voice exclaim:

"Ain't this here Miss Doshy?"

Turning, Miss Theodosia saw at her side a tall, gray-haired negro.  Elaborating the incident afterward to her friends, she was pleased to say that the appearance of the old man was somewhat picturesque.  He stood towering above her, his hat in one hand, a carriage-whip in the other, and an expectant smile lighting up his rugged face.  She remembered a name her brother had often used in his letters, and, with a woman's tact, she held out her hand, and said:

"Is this Uncle Remus?"

"Lord, Miss Doshy! How you know the old nigger?  I knew you by the favor *; but how you know me?" And then, without waiting for a reply:  "Miss Sally, she sick in bed, and Master John, he bleeds to go * in the country, and they took and sent me.  I knew you the minute I laid eyes on you .  Time I saw you, I say to myself, 'I lay * there's Miss Doshy,' and sure enough, there you was.  You haven't given up your checks, have you?  'Cause I'll get the trunk sent up by the express wagon."

The next moment Uncle Remus was elbowing his way unceremoniously through the crowd, and in a very short time, seated in the carriage driven by the old man, Miss Huntingdon was wheeling through the streets of Atlanta in the direction of her brother's home.  She took advantage of the opportunity to study the old negro's face closely, her natural curiosity considerably sharpened by a knowledge of the fact that Uncle Remus had played an important part in her brother's history.  The result of her observation must have been satisfactory, for presently she laughed, and said:

"Uncle Remus, you haven't told me how you knew me in that great crowd."

The old man chuckled, and gave the horses a gentle rap with the whip.

"Who? Me! I knew you by the favor.  That boy of Master John's is the very spit and image of you.  I'd have known you in New Orleans, let alone down there in the car-shed."

This was Miss Theodosia's introduction to Uncle Remus. One  Sunday afternoon, a few weeks after her arrival, the family were assembled in the piazza enjoying the mild weather.  Mr. Huntingdon was reading a newspaper; his wife was crooning softly as she rocked the baby to sleep; and the little boy was endeavoring to show his Aunt Dosia the outlines of Kenesaw Mountain through the puruple haze that hung like a wonderfully fashioned curtain in the sky and almost obliterated the horizon.  While they were thus engaged, Uncle Remus came around the corner of the house, talking to himself.

"They are too lazy to work," he was saying, "and they expects honest folks for to stand up and support them.  I'm going down to Putmon County * where Master James is -- that's what I'm a-going to do."

"What's the matter now, Uncle Remus?" inquired Mr. Huntingdon, folding up his newspaper.

"Nothing at all, Master John, exceptin' these your sunshine niggers.  They begs my tobacco, and borrows my tools, and steals my vittles *, and it's come to that pass, that I got to pack up and go.  I'm a-going down to Putmon, that's what.

Uncle Remus was accustomed to make this threat several times a day, but upon this oocasion it seemed to remind Mr. Huntingdon of somethig.

"Very well," he said, "I'll come around and help you pack up, but before you go I want you to tell Sister here how you went to war and fought for the Union -- Remus was a famous warrior," he continued, turning to Miss Theodosia; "he volunteered for one day and commanded an army of one.  You know the story, but you have never heard Remus's version."

Uncle Remus shuffled around in an awkward, embarrassed way, scratched his head, and looked uncomfortable.

"Miss Doshy ain't got no time for to sit there and hear the old nigger run on."

"Oh, yes, I have, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the young lady; "plenty of time."

The upshot of it was that, after many ridiculous protests, Uncle Remus sat down on the steps, and proceeded to tell his story of the war.  Miss Theodosia listened with great interest, but throughout it all she observed -- and she was painfully conscious of the fact , as she after ward admitted -- that Uncle Remus spoke from the standpoint of a Southerner, and with the air of one who expected his hearers to thoroughly synpathize with him.

"Course," said Uncle Remus, addressing himself to Miss Theodosia, "you ain't been to Putmon, and you don't know where the Brad Slaughter place in Harmony Grove is, but Master John and Miss Sally, they been there a time or two, and they knows how the land lays.  Well, then, it is right along in there where Master James lived, and where his lives ow.  When the war come along, he was living there longer (than) Old Miss and Miss Sally.  Old Miss was his ma, and Miss Sally there was his sister.  The war come just like I tell you, and matters sort of rock along same like they always did. It didn't strike me that there was any war going on, and if I hadn't sort of miss the neighbors, and seen folks going out of the way for to ask the news, I have allowed to myself that the war was away off among some other country.  But all this time the fus was going on, and Master James, he was just itchin' for to put in.  Old Miss and Miss Sally,they took on so he didn't get off the first year, but by and by news come down that times was gettin' pretty hot, and Master James he got up, he did, and say he got to go, and go he did.  He got a overseer for to look after the place, and he went and joined the army.  And he was a fighter, to, man, Master James was.  Many's and many's the time, " continued the old man, reflectively, "that I had to take and bresh * on account of his abusin' and beatin' them other boys.  He went off there for to fight, and he fit.  Old Miss used to call me up Sunday and read what the papers say 'bout Master James, and it hoped her up mightily.  I can see her just like it was yesterday.

" 'Remus,' says she, 'this here's what the papers say about my baby,' and then she'd read out until she couldn't read for crying.  It went on this way year in and year out, and them was lonesome times, sure's you're born, Miss Doshy -- lonesome times, sure.  It got hotter and hotter in the war, and lonesomer and more lonesomer at home, and by and by along come the conscrip-man *, and he just everlastingly scoop up Master James' overseer *.  When this come about, old Miss, she sent after me and say, says she:

" 'Remus, I ain't got nobody for to look after the place but you,' says she, and then I up and say, says I:

" 'Mistress, you can just depend on the old nigger.'

"I was old then, Miss Doshy -- let alone what I is now; and you better believe I bossed them hands.  I had them niggers up in the field long before day, and the way they did work was a caution.l  If they didn't earn their vittles that season then I ain't name Remus.  But they was took care of.  They had plenty of clothes and plenty of grub, and they was the fattest niggers in the settlement.

"By and by one day, Old Miss, she call me up and say the Yankees done gone and took Atlanta -- this here very town; then presently I hear they was a marchin' on down towards Putmon, and, lo and behold! one day, the first news I knew, Master James he rid up with a whole gang of men.  He just stopped long enough for to change horses and snatch a mouthful  of something to eat, but before he rid off, he call me up and say, says he:

" 'Daddy' -- all Old Miss's children call me daddy -- 'Daddy," he say, ' it appears like there 's going to be mighty rough times around here.  The Yankees, they are done got to Madison * and Mounticellar *, and it won't be many days before they are down here.  It ain't likely they'll pester mother nor sister; but daddy, if the worst come to the worst, I expect you to take care of them, says he.

"Then I say, says I"  'How long you been knowing me, Master James?" says I.

" 'Since I was a baby,' says he.

" 'Well, then, Master James,' says I, 'you know'd it wasn't no use for to ask me to take care of Old Miss and Miss Sally.'

"Then he took and squeezed my hand and jump on the filly I been saving for him, and rid off.  One time he turn around and look like he want to say something, but he just wave his hand - so - and gallop on.  I knowed then that  trouble was brewing.  Nigger that knows he's going to get thumped can sort of fix himself, and I took and fix up like the war was going to come right in at the front gate.  I took all the cattle and horses together and drive them to the four-mile place, and I took all the corn and fodder en wheat, and put them in a crib out there in the woods; and I built me a pen in the swamp, and there I put the hogs.  Then, when I fix all this, I put on my Sunday clothes and ground my axe.  Two whole days I ground that axe.  The grindstone was in sight of the gate and close to the big house, and there I took my stand.'

"By and by one day, here come the Yankees.  Two of them came first, and then the whole face of the earth swarmed with them.  The first glimpse I catch of them, I took my axe and march into Old Miss' sitting room.  She done had the sideboard moved in there, and I wish I may drop if it wasn't fairly blazing with silver -- silver cups and silver saucers, silver places and silver dishes, silver mugs and silver pitchers.  Look like to me they was fixin' for a weddin'.  There sat Old Miss just as prim and as proud as if she owned the whole county.  This kinder hope me up, 'cause I done seen Old Miss look that way once before when the overseer struck me in the face with a whip.l  I sat down by the fire with my axe between my knees.  There we sat, whiles the Yankees ransack the place.  Miss Sally, there, she got sort of restless, but Old Miss didn't scarcely bat her eyes.  By and by, we hear steps on the piazza, and here come a couple of young fellers with straps on their shoulders, and their swords  dragging on the floor, and their spurs a-rattling.  I won't say I was scared," said Uncle Remus, as though endeavoring to recall something he failed to remember, "I won't say I was scared, 'cause I wasn't; but I was taken with a mighty funny feeling in the neighborhood of the gizzard.  They was mighty polite, them young chaps was; but Old Miss, she never turn her head, and Miss Sally, she look straight at the fire.  By and by one of them see me, and he say, says he:

" 'Hello, old man, what you doing in here?' says he.

" 'Well, boss,' says I, 'I been cutting some wood for Old Miss, and I just stop for to warm my hand a little,' says I.

" 'It is cold, that's a fact,' says he.

"With that I got up and took my stand behind Old Miss and Miss Sally, ad the man what speak, he went up and warm his hands.  First thing you know, he raise up sudden, and say, says he:

" 'What's that on your axe?'

" 'That 's the fire shining on it,' sayus I.

" 'It look like blood,' says he, and then he left.

"But bless your soul, that man wouldn't never left that day if he's knowed the workings of Remus' mind.  But they didn't bother nobody nor touch nothing, and by and by they put out.  Well, the Yankees, they kept passing all the morning and it look to me there was a string of them ten miles long.  Then they commence getting thinner and thinner, and then after a while we hear skirmishing in the neigtborhood of  Armer's ferry, and Old Miss allowed how that was Wheeler's men making pursuit.  Master James was with them Wheeler fellers, and I knowed if they was that close I wasn't doing no good sitting 'round the house toasting my shins at the fire, so I just took Master James' rifle from behind the door and put out to look after my stock.

"Seem like I ain't never seen no raw day like that, neither before nor since.  There wasn't no rain, but the wet just sifted down ; mighty raw day.  The leaves on the ground was so wet they don't make no fuss, and I got in the woods, and whenever I hear the Yankees going by, I just stop in my tracks and let them pass.  I was standing that way in the edge of the woods looking out across a clearing, when -- piff! -- out come a little bunch of blue smoke from the top of one of them big lonesome-looking pines, and then -- pow!

Says I to myself, says I"  'Honey, you're right on my route, and I'll just see what kind of burd you got roostin' in you, and while I was a lookin' out bus' (?) (past?) the smoke -- piff! -- and then -- bang!  With that I just dropped back into the woods, and sort of skirted around so as to get the tree betwixt me and the road.  I slid up pretty close, and what do you expect I see?  Just as sure's you're settin' there listenin', they was a live Yankee up there in that tree, and he was a loadin' and a shootin' at the boys just as cool as a cucumber in the jaw, and he had his horse hitched out in the bushes, 'cause I hear the creature trompling around.  He had a spy-glass up there, and whiles I was a watchin' on him, he raise her up and look through her, and then he lay her down and fix his gun for to shoot.  I had good eyes in them days, if I ain't got them now, and 'way up the big road I see Master James a-comin'.  It was too far to see his face, but I knew him by the filly what I raise for him, and she was a prancin' like a school-girl.  I knew that man was going to shoot Master James if he could, and that was more than I could stand.  Many and many the time that I nurse that boy, and held him in these arms, and toted him on this back, and when I see that Yankee lay that gun across a limb and take aim at Master James I up with my old rifle, and shut my eyes and let the man have all she had."

"Do you mean to say," exclaimed Miss Theodosia, indignantly, "that you shot the Union soldier, when you knew he was fighting for your freedom?"

" 'Course, I know all about that," responded Uncle Remus, "and it sort of made cold chills run up my back' but when I see that man take aim, and Master James going home to Old Miss and Miss Sally, I just disremembered all about freedom and lammed loose.l  And then, after that, me and Miss Sally took and nursed the man right straight along.  He lost one arm in that tree business, but me and Miss Sally we nursed him and we nursed him until he done got well.  Just about that time I quit nursing him, but Miss Sally, she kept on.  She kept on," continued Uncle Remus, pointing to Mr. Huntingdon, "and now there he is."

"But you cost him an arm," exclaimed Miss Theodosia.

"I gin * him them," said Uncle Remus, pointing to Mrs. Huntingdon, "and I gin him these" -- holding up his own brawny arms.  "And if them ain't enough for any man, then I done lost the way."


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Mini-glossary

Bleedzd ter, or bleeds to, do something:  want very much to do it? has to?

Conscrip-man:  From conscription, the act of compulsory recruiting, signing up people for the military - the Draft.

In the South, the 1862 Conscription Act enacted by the Confederate Congress made men between 18 and 35 required to serve for three years.  This was needed:  compare manpower in terms of non-slaves North and South: North had 23 million people in 23 states.  South had only 9 million people, and of those, 3.5 million were slaves, see http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACWconscriptionC.htm,  leaving an eligible population  (from that we have to back out the right gender-age bracket not calculated out here) 5.5 million total non-slaves South,  against 23 million total non-slaves North.

How many in each total population, North or South, were male and between 18-35, we do not know.

Bresh - refers to brush, or brushwood, so that to bresh would be to take some brushwood to someone, swat.  See Webster's Gullah-English Thesaurus Dictionary (2008)

Gin - as in "I gin" -- Not completely clear, but possibly am going to, as in give, as in the future.  See 'The word gine (as in "going to") is usually used to mark the future tense e.g. I gine and eat = "I am going to eat".'  See dialects and creoles at http://wapedia.mobi/en/Bajan/  Scroll down with a "find" at that site for "gin" and you will see "going".  The sense might be here that he gave the man in the tree his family and his arm, and did not take his life. Is that so?

Know someone "by the favor" - meaning the person favors or resembles another, in similar appearance, here Theodosia to the son of her  brother, Master Huntingdon: the little boy.

I lay - I bet.  A lay bet. See types of bets at http://www.online-betting-guide.co.uk/school/bet_types.php.  The "lay bet", however, is a bet that the thing will not win.  Not win.  Lay bet = Lay a horse and if the horse loses, you win.  Lay a horse and if the horse wins, you lose.  See Online Betting Guide. Other bets:  win, each-way, place, etc.

Madison and Mounticellar GA - Madison is a town about an hour away from Atlanta, that calls itself the town that Sherman refused to burn, see http://www.madisonga.org/  It has been the county seat since 1807. Mounticellar refers to Monticello GA, a town also nearby.  See http://monticelloga.org/

Miss Theodosia Huntingdon - Sister of Master John, husband of Aunt Sally, see http://books.google.com/books?id=L3qQYDOzXn0C&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=Theodosia+Huntingdon&source=bl&ots=xLybUQlf31&sig=ifCMR3M0oCqJrVGcsrajd7on6Jw&hl=en&ei=gcmXS_PbG8KUtgeY18TkAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Theodosia%20Huntingdon&f=false/

Overseer:  One who directs the labor of others.  See://www.thefreedictionary.com/overseer/.  This was often a White supervisor, lower class than the owner, often with whip, managing slaves in the fields.  See discussion of the role at Crafting the Overseer's Image at  http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/lhr/26.2/br_11.html/

Putmon County - we see Putnam County, south of Atlanta, halfway or so to Tallahassee FL, but not Putmon.  Putmon is a common last name, however.

Vittles - from 14th or 15th century words, "victuals", http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vittles; http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/victuals. Middle English vitaille, Anglo-French victuale; Late Latin victualia,  Supplies of food, provisions.

His Songs IX. Time Goes By Turns. Translation, Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

HIS SONGS, from Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

IX. TIME GOES BY TURNS

Translation

There's a powerful wrestle betwixt the Good and the Bad,

And the Bad's got the all-under-hold;

And when the worst comes, she come in iron-clad,

And you better hold your breath for the jolt.

But just towards the last, Good gets the knee-lock,

And they drop to the ground -- ker flop!

Good had the inturn (?), and he stand like a rock,

And he bleeds for to be on top.

The dry weather breaks with a big thunder-clap,

For theere ain't no drought what can last,

But the seasons what whoops up the cotton crop,

Likewise they freshens up the grass.

The rain fall so soft in the long dark night,

'Til you have to hold your hand for a sign,

But the drizzle what sets the potato-slips right

Is the making of the May-pop vine.

In the mellowest ground the clay root'll catch

And hold to the tongue * of the plow,

And a pine-pole gate at the garden-patch

Never'll keep out the old brindle cow.

One and all of us knows who's a-pullin' at the bits

Like the lead-mule that guides by the rein,

And yet, somehow or another, the best one of us gets

Mighty sick of the tuggin' at the chain.

Hump yourself to the load and forget the distress,

And them what stands by to scoff,

For the harder the pullin', the longer the rest,

And the bigger the feed in the trough.

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Mini-glossary

* tongue - parts of a plow - We did not see the tongue, but see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plough/; then visit the towing tongue at a discussion of a chisel plow, at http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4106568.html/

Here is a walking plow, fair use thumbnail from http://ruralheritage.com

XIV. Mr. Fox and the Deceitful Frogs. Translation. Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

Legends of the Old Plantation
XIV

MR. FOX AND THE DECEITFUL FROGS
Translation

When the little boy ran in to see Uncle Remus the night after he had told him of the awful fate of Brer Wolf, the only response to his greeting was:

"I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!"

No explanation could convey an adequate idea of the intonation and pronunciation which Uncle Remus brought to bear upon this wonderful word. Those who can recall to mind the peculiar gurgling, jerking, liquid sound made by pouring water from a large jug, or the sound produced by throwing several stones in rapid succession into a pond of deep water, may be able to form a very faint idea of the sound, but it can not be reproduced in print. The little boy was astonished.

“What did you say, Uncle Remus?”

“I-doom-er-ker-kum mer-ker! I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!”

“What is that?”

“That’s Terrapin * talk, that is. Bless your soul, honey,” continued the old man, brightening up, “when you get old as me – when you see what I sees, and hear what I hears – the creatures that you can’t talk with’ll be mighty scarce – they will that. Why, there’s there old gray rat what uses about here, and time after time he comes out when you all done gone to bed and sets up there in the corner and dozes, and me and him talks by the hour; and what that old rat don’t know ain’t down in the spelling book. Just now, when you run in and broke me up, I was fetching into my mind what Brother Terrapin say to Brer Fox when he turned him loose in the branch.”

“What did he say, Uncle Remus?”

“That what he said –I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker! Brer Terrapin was at the bottom ofa the pond, and he talk back, he did, in bubbles – I-doomer-ker-kum-er-ker! Brer Fox, he ain’t saying nothing, but Brer Bull-Frog, sitting on the bank, he hear Brother Terrapin, he did, and he holler back:

“ ‘Jug-er-rum-kum-dum! Jug-er-rum-kum-dum!

“Then another Frog holler out:

“ ‘Knee-deep! Knee’deep!’

“Then old Brer Bull-Frog, he holler back:

“ ‘Don’t-you-believe-him! Don’t-you-believe-him!’

“Then the bubbles come up from Brer Terrapin:

“ ‘I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!’

“Then another Frog sing out:

“ ‘ Wade in! Wade in!”

“Then old Brer Bull-frog talk through his hoarseness:

‘ ‘There-you’ll-find-your-brother! There-you’ll find-your-brother!’

“Sure enough, Brer Fox look over the bank, he did, and there was another Fox looking at him out of the water. Then he reached out for to shake hands, and in he went, heels over head, and Brer Terrapin bubble out:

“I-doom-er-ker-kum-mer-ker!”

“Was the Fox drowned, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy.

“He weren’t exactly drowned, honey,” replied the old man, with an air of cautious reserve. “He did manage for to scramble out, but a little more and the Mud Turtle would have got him, and then he’d have been made hash and the world without him.’

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* Mini-Glossary

Terrapin - The malaclemus terrapin, or diamond-back; a kind of turtle living in brackish water, part salt, at coastal lowlands, swamps, in the US, at the east and south.
Fair use thumbnail of a terrapin from http://people.dot.wcsu.edu/

XIII. The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf. Translation. Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

 Legends of the Old Plantation
XIII

THE AWFUL FATE OF MR. WOLF
Translation

Uncle Remus was half-soling * one of his shoes, and his Miss Sally’s little boy had been handling his awls *, his hammers, and his knives to such an extent that the old man was compelled to assume a threatening attitude; but peace reigned again, and the little boy perched himself on a chair, watching Uncle Remus driving in pegs.

“Folks what’s always pesterin’ people, and bothering too long with what ain’t done, don’t never come to no good end. There was Brer Wolf; instead of minding on his own business, he had to take and go in partnership with Brer Fox. And there wasn’t scarcely a minute in the day that he wasn’t after Brer Rabbit. And he kept on and kept on, until first news you knew, he got caught up with – and he got caught up with monstrous bad.”

“Goodness, Uncle Remus! I thought the Wolf let the Rabbit alone, after he tried to fool him about the Fox being dead.”

“Better let me tell this here my way. By and by, it’ll be your bed time, and Miss Sally’ll be hollerin’ after you, and you’ll be a whimpling around, and then Master John’ll fetch up the rear with that there strap what I made for him.”

The child laughed, and playfully shook his fist in the simple, serious face of the venerable old darkey, but said no more. Uncle Remus waited awhile to be sure there was to be no other demonstration, and then proceeded:

“Brer Rabbit ain’t see no peace whatsoever. He can’t leave home except Brer Wolf would make a raid and tote off some of the family. Brer Rabbit built him a straw house, and it was torn down; then he made a house out of pine-tops, and that went the same way; then he made him a bark house, and that was raided on, and every time he lost a house he lost one of his children. At last Brer Rabbit got mad, he did, and cussed *, and then he went off, he did, and got some carpenters, and they built him a plank house with rock foundations.

"After that he could have some peace and quietness. He could go out and pass the time of day with his neighbors, and come back and set by the fire, and smoke his pipe, and read the newspapers same like any man what got a family. He made a hole, he did, in the cellar where the little Rabbits could hide out when there was much of a racket in the neighborhood, and the latch of the front door caught on the inside.

"Brer Wolf, he see how the land lay, he did, and he lay low. The little Rabbits was mighty skittish, but it got so that cold chills ain’t run up Brer Rabbit’s back no more when he heard Brer Wolf go galloping by.

“By and by, one day when Brer Rabbit was fixing to call on Miss Coon *, he heard a monstrous fuss and clatter up the big road, and almost before he could fix his ears for to listen, Brer Wolf run in the door. The little Rabbits, they went into their hole in the cellar, they did, like blowing out a candle. Brer Wolf was fairly covered with mud, and mighty nigh out of wind.

“ ‘Oh, do pray save me, Brer Rabbit!’ says Brer Wolf, says he. ‘Do please, Brer Rabbit! the dogs is after me, and they’ll tear me up. Don’t you hear them comin? Oh, do please save me, Brer Rabbit! Hide me somewhere where the dogs won’t get me.’

“No quicker said than done.

“ ‘Jump in that big chest there, Brer Wolf,’ says Brer Rabbit, says he. ‘jump in there and make yourself at home.’

“In jump Brer Wolf, down came the lid, and into the hasp * went the hook, and there Mr. Wolf was. Then Brer Rabbit went to the looking-glass, he did, and winked at himself, and then he drew the rocking chair in front of the fire, he did, and took a big chaw * of tobacco.

“Tobacco, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy, incredulously.

“Rabbit tobacco, honey. You know this here life everlasting * what Miss Sally puts among the clothes in the trunk; well, that’s rabbit tobacco. Then Brer Rabbit sat there a long time, he did, turning his mind over and working his thinking machine. By and by he got up, and sort of stirred around. Then Brer Wolf opened up:

“ ‘Is the dogs all gone, Brer Rabbit?’

“ ‘Seems like I hear one of them smelling around the chimney corner just now.’ “

“Then Brer Rabbit got the kettle and filled it full of water, and put it on the fire.

“ ‘What you doing now, Brer Rabbit?’

“ ‘I’m fixing for to make you a nice cup of tea, Brer Wolf.’

“Then Brer Rabbit went to the cupboard and got the gimlet *, and commenced for to bore little holes in the chest-lid.

“ ‘What you doing now, Brer Rabbit?’

“ ‘I’m boring little holes so you can get breath, Brer Wolf.’

“Then Brer Rabbit went out and got some more wood, and fling it on the fire.

“ ‘What you doing now, Brer Rabbit?

“ ‘I’m a chunkin’ up the fire so you won’t get cold, Brer Wolf.’ “

“Then Brer Rabbit went down in the cellar and fetched out all his children.

“ ‘What you doin’ now, Brer Rabbit?’ “

“ ‘I’m telling my children what a nice man you is, Brer Wolf.’ “

“And the children, they had to put their hands on their mouths for to keep from laughing. Then Brer Rabbit he got the kettle and commenced for to pour the hot water on the chest-lid.

“ ‘What’s that I hear, Brer Rabbit?’ “

“’ ‘You hear the wind a blowin’, Brer Wolf.’

“Then the water began for to sift through.

“ ‘What’s that I feel, Brer Rabbit?’ “

“ ‘Turn over on the other side, Brer Wolf.’ “

“ ‘What’s that I feel now, Brer Rabbit?’ “

“ ‘Still you feels the fleas, Brer Wolf.’ “

“’ ‘They’re eating me up, Brer Rabbit,’ and them was the last words of Brer Wolf, cause the scalding water did the business.

“Then Brer Rabbit called in his neighbors, he did, and they held a regular jubilee; and if you go to Brer Rabbit’s house right now, I don’t know, but what you’ll find Brer Wolf’s hide hanging in the back porch, and all because he was so busy with other folks’ business.

The Awful Fate of Brer Wolf *







.
...............................................................
* Photo:  Hatpin, the Scharfe Edwardian Hatpin Collection, see http://hatpinscollection.blogspot.com/2008/07/animals.html
..............................................................
* Mini-glossary:

Awl: a sharp, pointed tool, see varieties and uses at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-awl.htm/ A shoemaker's awl is curved, and is used as a big needle would be, to poke the holes and sew the soles to the uppers. Patron saint? St. Crispin, who was a shoemaker, and the awl is sometimes called 'St. Crispin's lance'

Chaw of tobacco: A chew of it, see http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_difference_between_chaw_and_plug_of_tobacco/

Cuss: curse

Gimlet: A kind of hand drill, see http://www.wisegeek.com/s/gimlet/ See some simple ones at http://www.garrettwade.com/product.asp?pn=37J03.04&bhcd2=1266509115/

Half-sole: The part of the sole of a shoe from arch to toe (not the heel part)

Hasp: A fastening device, especially for a door or lid, where a flap fits over a protruding half-ring or staple sticking out, and then a spike fits through the half ring itself, holding down the flap. See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hasp/ Here is a picture: http://www.merriam-webster.com/art/dict/hasp.htm

Life everlasting: a botanical, a flower used for cures, see http://www.starwest-botanicals.com/product/1-life-everlasting-flower.html/ But this site about a botanical book, A Modern Herbal, dating from the early 19th Century says it is also known as white plantain, and that the American variety was used by the "aborigines" in America, or Native Americans, and taught to the settlers, see http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/gnapha21.html

Miss Coon – is she part of Miss Meadows and the girls, an establishment referenced in Chapter VI, Mr. Rabbit Grossly Deceives Mr. Fox, in the neighborhood? Or an independent contractor?

XII. Mr. Fox Tackles Old Man Tarrypin. Translation. Uncle Remus His Songs and His Sayings

 Legends of the Old Plantation
XII.

MR. FOX TACKLES OLD MAN TARRYPIN *
Translation

"One day," said Uncle Remus, sharpening his knife on the palm of his hand -- "one day Brer Fox strike up with Brer Terrapin right in the middle of the big road. Brer Terrapin heard him coming, and he allowed to himself that he'd sort of keep one eye open; but Brer Fox was monstrous polite, and he opened up the confab he did, like he aint' see Brer Terrapin since the last flash flood. FN 1

" 'Heyo, Brer Terrapin, where you been this long come short?' says Brer Fox, says he.

" ' Lounging around, Brer Fox, lounging around," says Brer Terrapin.

" 'You don't look sprucy like you did, Brer Terrapin,' says Brer Fox, says he.

" 'Lounging around and suffering,' says Brer Terrapin, says he.

" 'Lord, Brer Fox, you don't know what trouble is. You ain't been lounging around and suffering,' says Brer Terrapin, says he.

" 'Both eyes red, and you look like you mighty weak, Brer Terrapin, says he.

" 'What ails you now, Brer Terrapin?' says Brer Fox, says he.

" 'Took a walk, the other day, and man come along and set the field afire. Lord, Brer Fox, you don't know what trouble is,' says Brer Terrapin, says he.

" 'How you get out off the fire, Brer Terrapin,' says he.

" 'Sort of took it, Brer Fox,' says Brer Terrapin, says he. 'Sort of took it, and the smoke sift in my eye, and the fire scorched my back,' says Brer Terrapin, says he.

" 'Likewise it burned your tail off,' says Brer Fox, says he.

" 'Oh no, there's the tail, Brer Fox,' says Brer Terrapin, says he, and with that he uncurled his tail from under the shell, and no sooner did he do that than Brer Fox grab it and holler out:

" 'Oh, yes, Brer Terrapin! Oh yes! And so you're the man what lam me on the head at Mis Meadows's (FN 2) is you? Well, I'm going to out you.'

"Brer Terrapin beg and beg, but it wasn't any use. Brer Fox had been fooled so much that he looked like he was determined to have Brer Terrapin haslett FN 2. Then Brer Terrapin begged Brer Fox not to drown him, but Brer Fox was making no promise, and then he begged Brer Fox to burn him, in case he was used to fire, but Brer Fox don't say nothing. By and by Brer Fox dragged Brer Terrapin off a little ways below the spring-house, and shoves him under the water. The Brer Terrapin begin to holler:

" 'Turn loose that stump root and catch hold of me -- turn loose that stump root and catch hold of me.'

"Brer Fox he holler back:

" 'I ain't got hold of no stump root, and I have got hold of you.'

"Brer Terrapin he kept on hollering:

" 'Catch hold of me -- I'm drowning -- I'm drowning -- turn loose the stump root and catch hold of me.'

"Sure enough, Brer Fox turned loose the tail, and Brer Terrapin, he want down to the bottom -- kerblunkity-blink!"

No typographical combination or description could do justice to the gutteral sonorousness -- the peculiar intonation -- which Uncle Remus imparted to this combination. It was so peculiar, indeed, that the little boy asked:

"How did he go to the bottom, Uncle Remus?"

"Kerblunkity-blink!"

"Was he drowned, Uncle Remus?"

"Who? Ole man Terrapin? Is you drowned when your ma tucks you in the bed?"

"Well, no," replied the little boy, dubiously.

"Ole man Terrapin was at home I tell you, honey. Kerblinkity-blunk!"


.................................................................

* Tarrypin - a terrapin, or kind of "Chelonian" -- of which there appear to be three kinds. One is a turtle (sea-farer), and another is a tortoise (land-lubber). A terrapin, however is different. It lives in or near brackish water, part salt; or fresh water; and its shell is in two parts, joined at the center. Horny mouths, no teeth. See more at http://www.planetozkids.com/oban/animals/animal-facts-terrapin.htm/

FN 1 Freshit. Perhaps a flood, a flash flood. See these references, fair use of tiny bits:

"Y-a-as -- y-a-as," drawled old Toler, "but you know's well as I do that ther great freshit of four year' ago turned that crick outen ther old bed an' it cut right out inter the path of that little brook of mine, ****"

from http://www.archive.org/stream/leftincharge00morrgoog/leftincharge00morrgoog_djvu.txt/.

And this one:

" 'Yes, pard,' he said, 'that's the real stuff an' no mistake. We've struck it now ! An' to think that
that there freshit what we thought was goin' to destroy all our work has jest done the hull thing fer us ! '***"

See http://www.archive.org/stream/outwestland12archrich/outwestland12archrich_djvu.txt/ 

FN 2. Mis Meadows' is the local ladies entertainment house. What was the event with Brer Tarrypin? Look back at Chapter X - Mr. Terrapin Appears Upon the Scene. Remember that Terrapin is Tarrypin.

FN 3. Haslett - Hash perhaps?? We find "beef haslett" as in this snippet, a gullah archive: When he open he jaw, he throat red like beef haslett or close to that -- in the Lion of Lewisburg section, D

W'en 'e op'n 'e jaw, 'e t'roat red
lukkuh beef haslett!

See http://www.archive.org/stream/blackbordergulla00gonz/blackbordergulla00gonz_djvu.txt

With that Gullah derivation, "have Brer Tarrypin haslett" - have Brer Tarrypin hash?

XI. Mr. Wolf Makes A Failure. Translation, Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

Uncle Remus: Legends of the Old Plantation
XI

.

MR. WOLF MAKES A FAILURE

.

"I bet your ma got company," said Uncle Remus, as the little boy entered the old man's door with a huge piece of mince-pie in his hand. "And if she ain't got company, then she dropped the cupboard key somewhere where you run up with it."

"Well, I saw the pie lying there, Uncle Remus, and I just thought I'd fetch it out to you."

"To be sure, honey," replied the old man, regarding the child with admiration. "To be sure, honey, that changes matters.  Christmas doings is out of date, and they ain't got no business laying around loose.  Dish your pie," Uncle Remus continued, holding it up and measuring it with an experienced eye. "Give me strength to pursue after Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit and the other creatures that they roped in along with them."

Here the old man paused, and proceeded to demolish the pie -- a feat accomplished in a very short time.  Then he wiped the crumbs from his beard and began:

"Brer Fox felt so bad, and he got so mad 'bout Brer Rabbit, that he didn't know what to do, and he looked mighty down-hearted.  By and by, one day while he was going along the road, old Brer Wolf came up with them.  When they done howdying and asking after one another's family connection, Brer Wolf, he allowed, he did, that there was something wrong with Brer Fox, and Brer Fox, he allowed there weren't, and he went on and laugh and make great to-do 'cause Brer Wolf looked like he suspected something.  But Brer Wolf, he got a mighty long head (FN 1) and he sort of broached about Brer Rabbit's carryings on, because the way that Brer Rabbit deceived Brer Fox had got to be the talk of the neighborhood.  Then Brer Fox and Brer Wolf they sort of palavered * on, they did, until by and by Brer Wolf he up and said that he had a plan fixed  to trap Brer Rabbit.  Then Brer Fox say how.  Then Brer Wolf up and tell him that the way to get the drop on Brer Rabbit was to get him in Brer Fox House.  Brer Fox knew Brer Rabbit had a hole, and he know that sort of game done wore him to a frazzle, but Brer Wolf, he talked mighty persuading.

" 'How you going to get him there?' says Brer Fox, says he.

" 'Fool him there,' says Brer Wolf, says he.

" 'Who going to do the fooling,' says Brer Fox, says he.

" 'I'll do the fooling,' says Brer Wolf, says he, 'if you'll do the gaming,' says he.

" 'How you going to do it?' says Brer Fox, says he.

" 'You run along home, and get on the bed, and make you're dead, and don't you say nothing until Brer Rabbit comes in and put his hands on to you,' says Brer Wolf, says he, 'and if we don't get him for supper, Joe's dead and Sal's a widow,' says he.

"This looked like a mighty nice game, and Brer Fox agreed. So then he ambled off home, and Brer Wolf, he marched off to Brer Rabbit's house. When he got there, it looked like nobody at home, but Brer Wolf he walk up and knock on the door' --blam! blam!  Nobody came.  Then he let loose and knock again -- blim! blim!

" 'Who's there?" says Brer Rabbit, says he.

" 'Friend,' says Brer wolf.

" 'Too many friends spoils the dinner,' says Brer Rabbit, says he, 'which one's this?' says he.

" 'I fetch bad news, Brer Rabbit,' says Brer Wolf, says he.

" 'Bad news is soon told,' says Brer Rabbit, says he.

"By this time, Brer Rabbit done come to the door, with his head tied up in a red handkerchief.

" 'Brer Fox died this morning,' says Brer Wolf, says he.

" 'Where's your mourning gown, Brer Wolf?' says Brer Rabbit, says he.

" 'Going after it now,' says Brer Wolf, says he.  'I just called by for to bring the news.  I went down to Brer Fox house a little bit ago, and there I found him stiff,' says he.

"Then Brer Wolf loped off.  Brer Rabbit sat down and scratched his head, he did, and by and by he say to himself that he believe he sort of drop around by Brer Fox house for to see how the land lay.  No sooner said than done.  Up he jumped, and out he went.  When Brer Rabbit got close to Brer Fox house, all looked lonesome.  Then he went up nigh.  Nobody stirring.  Then he looked in, and there lay Brer Fox stretched out on the bed just as big as life.  Then Brer Rabbit made like he was talking to himself.

" 'Nobody around for to look after Brer Fox --  not even Brer Turkey Buzzard ain't come to the funeral,' says he. 'I hope Brer Fox ain't dead, but I expect he is,' says he. 'Even down to Brer Wolf done gone and left him.  It's the busy season with me, but I'll set up with him.  He seems like he dead, yet he may not be,' says Brer  Rabbit, says hee.  'When a man goes to see dead folks, dead folks always raises up their behind leg and hollers, wahoo! says he.

" 'Brer Fox he stay still.  Then Brer Rabbit he talk a little louder:

" 'Mighty funny.  Brer Fox looks like he dead, yet he don't do like he's dead.  Dead folks hoists their behind leg and hollers wahoo! when a man come to see him,' says Brer Rabbit, says he.

"Sure enough, Brer Fox lifted up his foot and holler wahoo! and Brer Rabbit he tear out of the house like the dogs was after him.  Brer Wolf mighty smart, but next time you hear from him, honey, he'll be in trouble.  You just hold your breath and wait."

---------------------------------------

* Palaver - a long discussion or "parley" between people of different culture levels or sophistication; beguiling or idle speech, see ://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/PALAVER/  From late Latin, "parable" to Portuguese "palavra" or word.

FN 1 - Dialect, idiom.  Long head.  A long face, or "sad"?  Not necessarily at all.

Other uses:  Abraham Lincoln, the lawyer, was said to have a long head for managing a case, in the views who wanted his services, "and he's honest and friendly to us...." See ://www.archive.org/stream/graysonsstoryofa00eggluoft/graysonsstoryofa00eggluoft_djvu.txt/ (do a search for "long head")

Here is means, perhaps, independence - "a long head of your own" - see http://www.archive.org/stream/nellyssilvermine00jackiala/nellyssilvermine00jackiala_djvu.txt/

Here it seems to mean courage - see ://infomotions.com/etexts/gutenberg/dirs/1/0/0/3/10038/10038.txt/

X. Mr. Terrapin Appears Upon The Scene. Translation. Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

Uncle Remus:  Legends of the Old Plantation
X.


MR. TERRAPIN APPEARS UPON THE SCENE
Translation
.

“Miss Sally’s” little boy again occupying the anxious position of auditor, Uncle Remus took the shovel and put the noses of the hunks together, FN 1 as he expressed it, and then began:
.

“One day, after Sis Cow done run past her own shadow trying for to catch him. Brer Rabbit took and allowed that he was going to drop in and see Miss Meadows and the gals, and he got out his piece of looking glass and primped up, he did, and set out.  Going cantering along the road, who should Brer Rabbit run up with but old Brer Terrapin – the same old one and sixpence. FN 2   Brer Rabbi stopped, he did, and rapped on the roof of Brer Terrapin’s house.
.

“On the roof of his house, Uncle Remus?” interrupted the little boy.
.

“  ‘Course honey, Brer Terrapin carries his house with him.  Rain or shine, hot or cold, strike up with old Brer Terrapin when you will and while you may, and where you find him, there you’ll find his shanty.  It’s just like I tell you. So then! Brer Rabbit he rapped on the roof of Brer Terrapin’s house, he did, and asked was he in, and Brer Terrapin allowed that he was, and then Brer Rabbit he asked him howdy, and ten Brer Terrapin he likewise respond howdy, and then Brer Rabbit he say where was Brer Terrapin gong, and Brer Terrapin, he say which he weren’t going nowhere scarcely. Then Brer Rabbit allow he was on his way for to see Miss Meadows and the gals, and he asked Brer Terrapin if he won’t join in and go along, and Brer Terrapin respond he don’t care if he do, and they they set out.  They had plenty of time for confabbing along the way, but by and by they got there, and Miss Meadows and the gals they came to the door, the did, and asked them in, and in they went.
.

“When they got in, Brer Terrapin was so flat-footed that he was too low on the floor, and he weren’t high enough in a chair, but while they was all scrabbling around trying for to get Brer Terrapin a chair Brer Rabbit, he pick him up and put him on the shelf where the water bucket sat, and old Brer Terrapin, he lay back up there, he did, just as proud as a nigger with a cooked ‘possum.
.

“ Course the talk fell on Brer Fox, and Miss Meadows and the gals make a great admiration about what a gaily riding-horse Brer Fox was, and they make lots of fun, and laugh and giggle sake like gals does these days.  Brer Rabbit, he set there in the chair smoking his cigar, and he sort of clear up his throat, and say, says he:
.

“ ‘I’d have rid him over this morning, ladies,’ says he, ‘but I rid him so hard yesterday that he went lame in the off fore leg, and I expect I’ll have to swop him off yet,’ says he.
.

“Then Brer Terrapin, he up and say, says he:
.

“ ‘Well, if you’re going to sell him, Brer Rabbit,’ says he, ‘ sell him somewhere out of this neighborhood, ‘cause he done been here too long now,’ says he.  ‘No longer than a day before yesterday,’ says he, ‘Brer Fox passed me on the road, and what do you reckon he say?’ says he.
.

“ ‘Law, Brer Terrapin,’ says Miss Meadows, says she, ‘you don’t mean to say he cussed?’ says she, and then the gals held their fans up before their faces.
.

“ ‘Oh, no, ma’am,’ says Brer Terrapin, says he, ‘he didn’t cuss, but he holler out – “Heyo, Stinkin’ Jim!” ‘says he.
.

“ ‘Oh, my! You hear that, gals?” says Miss Meadows, says she; ‘Brer Fox call Brer Terrapin Stinkin’ Jim,’ says she, and then Miss Meadows and the gals make great wonderment how Brer Fox can talk that way about a nice man like Brer Terrapin.
.

“But bless gracious, honey! While all this going on, Brer Fox was standing at the back door with one ear at the cat-hole listening. Eavesdroppers don’t hear no good of themselves, and the way Brer Fox was abused that day was a caution.
.

“By and by Brer Fox stick his head in the door and holler out:
.

“ ‘Good evening, folks, I wish you mighty well,’ says he, and with that he makes a dash for Brer Rabbit, but Miss Meadows and the gals they holler and squall, they did, and Brer Terrapin he got to scrambling round up there on the shelf, and off he come, and blip he took Brer Fox on the back of the head.  This sort of stunned Brer Fox, and when he gathered his remembrance the most he saw was a pot of greens turned over in the fireplace, and a broken chair.  Brer Rabbit was gone, and Brer Terrapin was gone, and Miss Meadows and the gals, they run out in the yard.
.

“Brer Fox, he sort of look around and feel for the back of his head, where Brer Terrapin lit, but he don’t see no sign of Brer Rabbit.  But the smoke and the ashes going up the chimney got the best of Brer Rabbit, and by and by he sneeze – huckychow!

“ ‘Aha!’ says Brer Fox, says he; ‘you are there, are you?’ says he. ‘Well, I’m going to smoke you out, if it takes a month.  You’re mine this time,’ says he.  Brer Rabbit ain’t saying nothing.
.

“ ‘Ain’t you coming down?’ says Brer Fox, says he. Brer Rabbit ain’t saying nothing. Then Brer fox, he went out after some wood, he did, and when he come back, he hear Brer Rabbit laughing.
.

“ ‘What you laughing at, Brer Rabbit?’ says Brer Fox, says he.
.

“ ‘Can’t tell you, Brer Fox,’ says Brer Rabbit, says he.
.

“ ‘It ain’t nothing but a box of money somebody gone and left up here in the chink of the chimney,’ says Brer Rabbit, says he.
.

“ ‘Don’t believe you,’ says Brer Fox, says he.
.

“ ‘Look up and see,’ says Brer Rabbit, says he, and when Brer Fox look up, Brer Rabbit spit his eyes full of tobacco juice, he did, and Brer Fox, he make a break for the branch, FN 3, and Brer Rabbit he come down and told the ladies good-by.
.

“ ‘How you get him off, Brer Rabbit?” says Miss Meadows, says she.
.

“And what became of the Terrapin?” asked the little boy.
.

“Oh, well then!” exclaimed the old man, “children can’t expect to know all about everything before they get some rest. Them eyelids of yours want to be propped with straws this minute.”


……………………

FN 1 Sounds like a reference to building a stone wall – nose of this chunk against the nose of that chunk
.

FN 2 – the same old one and sixpence?? Possible: London's Langham Hotel began serving afternoon tea in Victorian times for one schilling and a sixpence, and still does - see ://www.asiatraveltips.com/news08/135-AfternoonTea.shtml.  Does the phrase then mean, same old, same old? Here's another: same old sixpence means "much the same as always" - example is given from a Civil War diary - 1863 soldier writes, "The same old seven and six. I am on camp guard duty today." See ://books.google.com/books?id=i33BWgxbvXgC&pg=PA719&lpg=PA719&dq=%22same+old+one+and+sixpence%22&source=web&ots=QvpR5YHtDY&sig=oNGQ7nZVaJ_SwIIhyKA6XrI7jbI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result
.

FN 3 – make a break for the branch? Short for branch water? Branch water means water from a stream, Southern US, says ://www.thefreedictionary.com/branch+water; or plain water as used with whiskey (same site). Perhaps a branch of a stream nearby

 

His Songs: VIII. The Big Bethel Church

 HIS SONGS

VIII

THE BIG BETHEL CHURCH

.
The Big Bethel church! The Big Bethel church!

Done put old Satan behind him.

If a sinner gets loose from any other church,

The Big Bethel church will find him!
.

It's good to be there, and it's sweet to be there,

With the sistering all around you --

A-shaking those shackles of mercy and love

Wherewith the Lord has bound you.
.

It's sweet to be there and listen to the hymns,

And hear those mourners a-shoutin' --

They done reached the place where there ain't no room

For any weepin' and doubtin'.
.

It's good to be there, when the sinners all join

With the brothering in there singin',

And it looks like Gabriel going to rack up and blow

And set  them heaven bells to ringin'.
.

Oh, the Big Bethel church! the Big Bethel church,

Done  put old Satan behind him.

If a sinner gets loose from any other church

The Big Bethel church will find him.

His Songs. VII. A Plantation Serenade. Transcription. Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

His Songs: Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings
VII. TRANSCRIPTIONS

Translation

2.  A PLANTATION SERENADE

The old bee makes the honeycomb,
The young bee makes the honey,
The niggers make the cotton and corn,
And the white folks gets the money.

The raccoon he a curious man,
He never walks 'til dark,
And nothing never disturbs his mind,
'Til he hears old Bringer bark.

The raccoon totes a bushy tail,
The 'possum totes no hair,
Mr. Rabbit, he comes skippin' by,
He ain't got none to spare.

Monday morning break of day.
White folks got me going,
But Saturday night, when the sun goes down,
That yellow gal's in my mind.

Fifteen pound of meat a week,
Whiskey for to sell,
Oh, how can a yound man stay at home,
Them gals they look so well?

Met a 'possum in the road -
Brother 'Possum, where you going?
I thank my stars, I bless my life
I'm a huntin' for the muscadine. FN 1

.......................................................

FN 1 - Muscadine. A species of grape, for winemaking, see ://www.muscadine.com/. The heritage includes a grape geneology with the "scuppernong" and the "passion fruit of the south" - see site for details. Here is the botanical scoop: ://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/muscadinegrape.html. If you live in a climate like the State of Georgia, and ok soil, here's how to get in business: ://www.smallfruits.org/Muscadines/production/MuscadineGro/toc.htm.

His Songs. VII. A Plantation Chant 1. Transcriptions. Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings

 Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings
VII. TRANSCRIPTIONS *

Translation

1. A PLANTATION CHANT

It's eighteen hundred forty and four
Christ done open that Heavenly door

And I don't want to stay here no longer;

It's eighteen hundred forty and five,
Christ done made that dead man alive --

And I don't want to stay here no longer.

You ask me to run home,

Little children --

Run home, that sun done roll--

And I don't want to stay here no longer.

It's eighteen hundred forty and six,
Christ has got us a place done fix --
And I don't want to stay here no longer;

It's eighteen hundred forty and seven
Christ done set a table in Heaven --
And I don't want to stay here no longer.

You ask me to run home,
Little children --
Run home, that sun done roll --
And I don't want to stay here no longer.


It's eighteen hundred forty and eight,
Christ done make that crooked way straight --
And I don't want to stay here no longer.

It's eighteen hundred forty and nine,
Christ done turn that water into wine --
And I don't want to stay here no longer.

You ask me to run home,
Little children --
Run home, that sun done roll --
And I don't want to stay here no longer.

It's eighteen hundred forty and ten,
Christ is the mourner's onliest friend --
And I don't want to stay here no longer;

It eighteen hundred forty and eleven,
Christ will be at hte door when we all get to Heaven--
And I don't want to stay here no longer.

You ask me to run home,
Little children --
Run home, that sun done roll --
And I don't want to stay here no longer.





.................................................................

Joel Chandler Harris has this *asterisked comment - "If these are adaptations from songs the negroes have caught from the whites, their origin is very remote.  I have transcribed them literally, and I regard them as in the highest degree characteristic".]

Informal translation from the idiom by Carol Widing. The indentations of the original are not feasible in this format.