Trickster Tale — Page 2

At last Daddy Jack returned, and the fact that the little boy had missed him and inquired about him, seemed to give the old African particular pleasure. It was probably a new experience to Daddy Jack, and it vaguely stirred…

The little boy sat watching Uncle Remus sharpen his shoe-knife. The old man’s head moved in sympathy with his hands, and he mumbled fragments of a song. Occasionally he would feel of the edge of the blade with his thumb,…

The next time the little boy called on Uncle Remus a bright fire was blazing on the hearth. He could see the light shining under the door before he went into the cabin, and he knew by that sign that…

Uncle Remus chipped the tobacco from the end of a plug, rubbed it between the palms of his hands, placed it in his pipe, dipped the pipe in the glowing embers, and leaned back in his chair, and seemed to…

When the little boy next visited Uncle Remus the cabin was dark and empty and the door shut. The old man was gone. He was absent for several nights, but at last one night the little boy saw a welcome…

To all appearances Daddy Jack had taken no interest in Uncle Remus’s story of the horses’ tails, and yet, as soon as the little boy and Aunt Tempy were through laughing at a somewhat familiar climax, the old African began…

Usually, the little boy, who regarded himself as Uncle Remus’s partner, was not at all pleased when he found the old man entertaining, in his simple way, any of his colored friends; but he was secretly delighted when he called…

The little boy observed that Aunt Tempy was very much interested in Daddy Jack’s story. She made no remarks while the old African was telling it, but she was busily engaged in measuring imaginary quilt patterns on her apron with…

The night after the violent flirtation between Daddy Jack and ‘Tildy, the latter coaxed and bribed the little boy to wait until she had finished her work about the house. After she had set things to rights in the dining-room…

” We er sorter bin a-waitin’ fer Sis Tempy,” Uncle Remus remarked when the little boy made his appearance the next night; “but somehow er n’er look lak she fear’d she hatter up en tell some mo’ tales. En yit…

‘Tildy, the house-girl, made such a terrible report of the carryings on of Daddy Jack that the little boy’s mother thought it prudent not to allow him to visit Uncle Remus so often. The child amused himself as best he…

Daddy Jack, thus appealed to, turned half round in his seat, winked his bright little eyes very rapidly, and said, with great animation: “Hoo! me bin yeddy one sing-tale; me yeddy um so long tam ‘go. One tam dere bin…

As long as Uncle Remus allowed ‘Tildy to remain in the cabin, the little boy was not particularly interested in preventing the perfunctory abuse which the old man might feel disposed to bestow upon the complacent girl. The truth is,…

It was not many nights before the same company was gathered in Uncle Remus’s cabin,—Daddy Jack, Aunt Tempy, and the little boy. The conversation took a turn that thrilled the child with mingled fear and curiosity. Uncle Remus had inquired…

” Uncle Remus,” said the little boy, one night when he found the old man alone, “I don’t like these stories where somebody has to stand at the door and sing, do you? They don’t sound funny to me.” Uncle…

Notwithstanding Brother Rabbit’s success with the drum, the little boy was still inclined to refer to Mr. Benjamin Ram and his fiddle; but Uncle Remus was not, by any means, willing that such an ancient vagabond as Mr. Ram should…

The next time the little boy visited Uncle Remus he persuaded ‘Tildy to go with him. Daddy Jack was in his usual place, dozing and talking to himself, while Uncle Remus oiled the carriage-harness. After a while Aunt Tempy came…

The little boy thought that the story of how the wildcat scratched Brother Fox was one of the best stories he had ever heard, and he did n’t hesitate to say so. His hearty endorsement increased Uncle Remus’s good-humor; and…