Cleverness — Page 5

” Dat tale,” said Uncle Remus, “puts me in min’ er de time w’en ole Brer Tarrypin had a tussel wid Brer Mink. Hit seem lak,” he went on, in response to inquiries from the little boy, “dat dey bofe…

Uncle Remus chuckled a moment over the escape of Brother Rabbit, and then turned his gaze upward toward the cobwebbed gloom that seemed to lie just beyond the rafters. He sat thus silent and serious a little while, but finally…

The next time the little boy had an opportunity to visit Uncle Remus the old man was alone, but he appeared to be in good spirits. He was cobbling away upon what the youngster recognized as ‘Tildy’s Sunday shoes, and…

” I ‘speck dat ‘uz de reas’n w’at make ole Brer Rabbit git ‘long so well, kaze he aint copy atter none er de yuther creeturs,” Uncle Remus continued, after a while. “W’en he make his disappearance ‘fo’ um, hit…

The little boy wanted Uncle Remus to sing some more; but before the old man could either consent or refuse, the notes of a horn were heard in the distance. Uncle Remus lifted his hand to command silence, and bent…

The rain continued to fall the next day, but the little boy made arrangements to go with ‘Tildy when she carried Uncle Remus his supper. This happened to be a waiter full of things left over from dinner. There was…

The arrival of the negroes from the River place added greatly to the enthusiasm with which the Christmas holidays were anticipated on the Home place, and the air was filled with laughter day and night. Uncle Remus appeared to be…

Uncle Remus sighed heavily as he lifted the trivet on the head of his walking-cane, and hung it carefully by the side of the griddle in the cavernous fireplace. “Folks kin come ‘long wid der watchermaycollums,” he said presently, turning…

The day and the night before Christmas were full of pleasure for the little boy. There was pleasure in the big house, and pleasure in the humble cabins in the quarters. The peculiar manner in which the negroes celebrated the…

Uncle Remus relapsed into silence again, and the little boy, with nothing better to do, turned his attention to the bench upon which the old man kept his shoemaker’s tools. Prosecuting his investigations in this direction, the youngster finally suggested…

There was some comment and some questions were asked by the little boy in regard to Wattle Weasel and the other animals; to all of which Uncle Remus made characteristic response. Aunt Tempy sat with one elbow on her knee,…

” I ‘speck you done year tell er ole man Benjermun Ram,” said Uncle Remus, with a great affectation of indifference, after a pause. “Old man who?” asked the little boy. “Ole man Benjermun Ram. I ‘speck you done year…

The discussion over Aunt Tempy’s fragmentary story having exhausted itself, Daddy Jack turned up his coat collar until it was as high as the top of his head, and then tried to button it under his chin. If this attempt…

here was a miller, who left no more estate to the three sons he had, than his Mill, his Ass, and his Cat. The partition was soon made. Neither the scrivener nor attorney were sent for. They would soon have…

here was, once upon a time, a man and his wife, faggot-makers by trade, who had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years old, and the youngest only seven. One might wonder how that the faggot-maker could…

n days long past there lived a poor woodcutter who found life very hard. Indeed, it was his lot to toil for little guerdon, and although he was young and happily married there were moments when he wished himself dead…

The King’s son was going to be married, so there were general rejoicings. He had waited a whole year for his bride, and at last she had arrived. She was a Russian Princess, and had driven all the way from…

One day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the cornyard when—whack!—something hit her upon the head. “Goodness gracious me!” said Henny-penny; “the sky’s a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king.” So she went along and she went…