Part 22

SPUHR--(n. and v.) spur, spurs, spurred, spurring.

’SPUTE--(n. and v.) dispute, disputes, disputed, disputing; contest with.

’SPUTE’N--disputing.

SQUAYRE--(also squay) square--also a parallelogram in a ricefield divided from other squares by irrigation ditches.

SQUESCHUN--question--sometimes used for the more common “quizzit,” which see. (Also see “queschun”).

SQUIZZIT--a rarely used variant of “quizzit,” which see.

STAA’CH--(n. and v.) starch, starches, starched, starching.

STAAR--star, stars.

STAA’T--start, starts, started, starting.

STAA’T NAKID--stark naked.

’STABLISH--establish, establishes, established, establishing.

STAN’--stand, stands, stood, standing; look, looks, looked, looking.

STAN’--a stand, stands; deer stands, etc.

STAN’LUKKUH--stand, stands, stood, standing like; to look like, etc.

STAN’SUKKUH--stand same like unto, same meaning as “stan’lukkuh.”

’STEAD’UH--(also ’stidduh) instead of.

STEAL--steal, steals, stole, stealing.

STO’--store, stores; shop, shops.

’STONISH--astonish, astonishes, astonished, astonishing.

’STRACTID--protracted, as a “’stractid meet’n’,” a protracted meeting.

STRAIGHT’N FUH--make for, made for, making for; run quickly or swiftly.

STRANCE--trance, trances.

STREE--three; as in “seb’nty-stree.” Rarely used. (See “t’ree”).

STRENGK--strength.

STRETCH-OUT--stretch out--extend. (See “’tretch-out”).

STRIKE--strike, strikes, struck, striking. (See “’trike”).

’STROY’D--destroy, destroys, destroyed, destroying.

’STRUCKSHUN--destruction.

’STRUCKSHUN--construction.

’STRUCKSHUN STRAIN--construction train.

STRUCTID--struck, striking.

STUBB’N--(also stubbunt) stubborn.

STUDY--think, plan, ponder.

STUHR--stir, stirs, stirred, stirring.

STUHSTIFFIKIT--certificate.

STYLISH--stylish, meaning also appropriate, dignified, suitable, as: “uh stylish grabe,” being a grave ornately decorated with broken china or glass.

’SUADE--persuade, persuades, persuaded, persuading.

SUCK--suck, sucks, sucked, sucking.

SUCK-AIG--suck-egg--as: “uh suck-aig dog.”

SUCK ME TEET’--and “suck ’e teet’”--a contemptuous gesture, frequently indulged in by the fair sex.

SUDD’NT--sudden, suddenly.

SUFFUHRATE--separate, separates, separated, separating; also divorce, divorcing, etc.

SUH--sir.

SUH--that, say. (See “susso” and “sesso”).

SUHCIETY--society, societies.

SUKKLE--(n. and v.) circle, circles, circled, circling.

SUKKUH--(a contraction of “same lukkuh” used by rapid speakers) same, same like, resembling.

SUKKUHR’UM--same like, or like him, her, it, them.

SUKKUS--circus, circuses.

SUKKUS--circuit, circuits.

SUKKUS-PREECHUH--circuit preacher.

SUMMUCH--so much, so many.

SUMMUH/SUMMUHTIME--summer, summers, summer-time.

SUMP’N’--something.

SUMP’N’NURRUH--something or other.

SUNDOWN--sunset.

SUNHIGH--late morning, about the middle of the forenoon.

SUNHOT--sunshine, heat of sun.

SUN-LEAN--period of the day when the sun begins to decline, and its declining: “sun-lean fuh down.”

SUN’UP--sunrise.

SUPPLOY--supply, supplies, supplied, supplying.

SUPPUH--supper.

SUPSHUN--substance, sustenance, strength of food, as of a juicy roast: “Da’ meat hab supshun een’um”--that meat has much nourishment.

SUSSO/SUH-SO--say so, says so, said so, saying so. (See “sesso”).

SUTT’N--certain, certainly.

SUTT’NLY--certainly.

SWALLUH--(n. and v.) swallow, swallows, swallowed, swallowing.

SWALLUHR’UM--swallow, swallows, swallowed, swallowing him, her, it, them.

SWAWM--(n. and v.) swarm, swarms, swarmed, swarming.

SWAY’/SWAYRE--swear, swears, swore, swearing.

SWAYTOGAWD--swear to God.

SWEETH’AA’T--sweetheart, sweethearts.

SWEETMOUT’--sweetmouth--blarney, flattery.

SWEETMOUT’ TALK--soft talk of a philanderer with the gentler sex.

SWELL--swell, swells, swelled, swelling; swollen.

SWELL-UP--swelled, swollen up, puffed up with anger, importance or authority.

SWEET’N--sweeten, sweetens, sweetened, sweetening.

SWEET’NIN’--“sweetening.”

SWIF’--swift, fast.

SWIMP--shrimp, shrimps.

SWINGE--singe, singes, singed, singeing.

SWINK--shrink, shrinks, shrunk, shrinking.

SWONGUH--“swank,” swagger, swaggering, boastful.

T

TAAR--(n. and v.) tar, tars, tarred, tarring.

’TACK--(n. and v.) attack, attacks, attacked, attacking.

’TACKTID--attacked. (See “attacktid”).

TACKLE--(n. and v.) tackle, tackles, tackled, tackling; arraign, hold accountable.

’TAGUHNIZE--antagonize, antagonizes, antagonized, antagonizing; arraign, arraigned, etc.

’TAIL--(n. and v.) entail, entails, entailed, entailing.

’TAKE--(n. and v.) stake, stakes, staked, staking.

TALK’UM--talk, talks, talked, talking; talking it, speak out, etc.

TALLUH--tallow.

TALLYGRAF--(n. and v.) telegraph, telegraphs, telegraphed, telegraphing; telegram, telegrams.

’TAN’--stand, stands, stood, standing.

’TAN’UP--stand, stands, stood, standing up.

’TARRYGATE--interrogate, interrogates, interrogated, interrogating; question, questioned, etc.

TARRYPIN--terrapin, terrapins.

TARRIFY--terrify, terrifies, terrified, terrifying.

TARRUH--t’other, the other. (See “torruh,” “todduh”).

TAS’--task--a measure of distance as well as of area: 105 feet or 105 feet square. A “tas’,” or one-fourth of an acre, being the daily task during slavery on a sea-island cotton plantation, in “listing,” “hauling,” or hoeing sea-island cotton, a task being frequently completed before noon, when the slave was free for the rest of the day. Used as meaning distance of a shot; as: “My gun kin shoot two tas’”--My gun can kill at 210 feet (70 yards).

TAS’E--taste, tastes, tasted, tasting.

TAS’E ’E MOUT’--put a taste in his, her or their mouth or mouths; meaning something appetizing to eat.

T’AW’T--(n. and v.) thought, thoughts. (See also “t’ink”).

’TAY--stay, stays, stayed, staying.

TAYRE--tear, tears, tore, tearing.

TAYRE’UM--tear, tears, tore, tearing him, her, it, them.

TEDAY--today.

TEET’--tooth, teeth.

TEET’ACHE--toothache.

TEK--take, takes, took, taken, taking.

TEK’CARE--take-care--as: “Tek’care bettuh mo’nuh baig paa’d’n”--Take care is better more than beg pardon; meaning an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

TEK’ESELF--take, takes, took, taking himself, herself, itself, themselves.

TEK ME FOOT EEN ME HAN’--“tek him foot een ’e han’”--Took my foot in my hand, took his or her foot or their feet in his, her, or their hand or hands--meaning hastened, hurried, speeded up.

TEK’UM--take, took, taken him, it, them; as: “tek’um en’ t’engky.”

TEK’WAY--take, takes, took, taking away.

TEK WID’UM--taken with, pleased with him, her, it, them.

’TELL--till, until.

TELL’UM--tell, tells, telling, told him, her, it, them. “Tell’um huddy fuh me”--tell him howdy for me.

’TEN’--attend, attends, attended, attending; intend, intends, etc.

TENDDUH--tender.

T’ENGKFUL--thankful.

T’ENGK’GAWD--thank God!--thank, thanks, thanked, thanking God.

T’ENGKY--thanks, thank you.

TENIGHT--tonight.

’TENSHUN--attention.

’TENSHUN--intention; as: “Uh ’tenshun fuh go” it is my intention to go.

’TEP--(n. and v.) step, steps, stepped, stepping.

TETCH--(n. and v.) touch, touches, touched, touching. Also a remnant, as: “T’engk Gawd, ’e lef’ uh leetle tetch een de bottle.”

TETCH’UM--touch, touches, touched, touching him, her, it, them.

’TETTUH--potato, potatoes--usually sweet. (See “puhtettuh”).

T’ICK--thick.

’TICK--(n. and v.) stick, sticks, stuck, slicking.

T’ICKIT--thicket, thickets.

’TICKLUH--(n. and v.) particular, particulars. (See “puhtickluh”).

T’ICKNESS--thickness, thicknesses.

’TICKY--sticky.

T’IEF--(n. and v.) thief, thieves; steal, steals, stole, stolen, stealing. “T’ief iz bad, but t’ief en’ ketch iz de debble”--It is bad to steal, but to steal and be caught is worse.

T’IEFIN’--thieving.

TIE’UM--tie, ties, tied, tying him, her, it, them.

TIE UP ’E MOUT’--tie, ties, tied, tying up his, her, or their mouth or mouths; meaning held his, her, or their speech.

TILLIN’ASS’--Tillinghast--a low-country family name.

T’ING--thing, things.

’TING--sting, stings, stung, stinging.

T’INK--think, thinks, thought, thinking.

T’IRTEEN--thirteen.

T’IRTY--thirty.

T’ISTLE--thistle, thistles.

TITTIE/TITTUH--sister, sisters (informal).

TOAD--a young female dog (old English).

TOAD-FROG--toad, toads.

TODDUH/TUDDUH--the other, t’other, the others. (See “tarruh,” and “torruh”).

TOL’--rare, for told. (See “tell’um”).

TONGUE/TOUNG--tongue, tongues.

TOOGOODOO--a short tidal creek or river in former Colleton, now Charleston, County.

’TOOP--stoop, stoops, stooped, stooping.

TOOT’--tooth, teeth.

’TOP--stop, stops, stopped, stopping.

TOP--(n. and v.) top, tops; top, tops, topped, topping.

’TOPPUH--on, on top of.

TORRUH--(also tarruh and todduh) t’other; the other, the others; as: “Dem todduh one”--those other ones.

’T’ORUHTY--authority.

TOTE--“tote”--carry, carries, carried, carrying.

T’OUS’N/T’OUZ’N--thousand.

TOWN--Charleston, “the City.” (See “Chaa’stun”).

TRABBLE--travel, travels, traveled, traveling.

’TRAIGHT--straight.

’TRAIGHT’N--straighten, straightens, straightened, straightening. “’Traight’n fuh”--straighten for, to hurry or extend oneself for a certain point.

’TRANGLE--strangle, strangles, strangled, strangling.

T’RASH--thrash, thrashes, thrashed, thrashing; thresh, threshed, etc.

T’RASHUH--thrasher, thrashers; thresher, threshers.

TREDJUH--treasure, treasures.

TREDJURUH--treasurer, treasurers.

TREE--(v.) tree, trees, treed, treeing.

T’REE--rarely “stree”--three.

T’REE-TIME--three times.

’TRETCH--stretch, stretches, stretched, stretching.

’TRETCH-OUT--stretch out. (See “stretch-out”).

TRIGGUH--trigger, triggers.

’TRIKE--strike, strikes, struck, striking.

TRIMBLE--tremble, trembles, trembled, trembling.

’TRING--string, strings, strung, stringing; “’tringbean”--string or snap-beans.

T’ROAT--throat, throats.

T’ROW--throw, throws, threw, thrown, throwing.

T’ROWBONE--throw “bones” (dice) play craps.

T’ROW’D--threw, thrown.

T’ROW’WAY/T’RUH’WAY--throw, throws, threw, throwing, thrown away.

T’RU--through.

TRUBBLE--(n. and v.) trouble, troubles, troubled, troubling.

TRUS’--(n. and v.) trust, trusts, trusted, trusting.

TRUS’-ME-GAWD--a narrow dugout canoe, so cranky that one who ventures forth upon the waters must have faith in God to bring him through.

TRUTE--truth.

TRUTE-MOUT’--truth-mouth--one who will not lie.

TRYBUNUL--tribunal, tribunals.

TUCKREY--turkey, turkeys.

TUH--to.

TUHBACKUH--tobacco.

TUH DAT--to that--as: “’E chupid tuh dat”--he is stupid to that extent; he is that stupid. “Ef him maussuh lub’um tuh dat”--if his master loves him so greatly.

TUHGEDDUH--together.

TUHRECKLY--directly.

TUHR’UM--to him, her, it, them.

TUK--took. (See “tek”).

TUMMUCH--too much, intensely, ardently, fervently.

’TUMP--(n. and v.) stump, stumps; stump, stumps, stumped, stumping.

’TUMP--stub, stubs, stubbed, stubbing.

’TUMPSUCKUH--stump-sucker, a crib-sucking horse or mule.

TU’N--(n. and v.) turn, turns, turned, turning.

T’UNDUH--(n. and v.) thunder, thunders, thundered, thundering.

T’UNDUHSNAKE--thundersnake, thundersnakes.

TU’NFLOUR--turned flour, scalded corn meal, mush or porridge; same as Italian polenta.

TU’NUP--turnip, turnips.

TU’N UP--turn, turns, turned, turning up.

TUP’MTIME/TUP’NTINE--turpentine.

T’URSD’Y--Thursday.

TWELB’--twelve.

TWIS’--(n. and v.) twist, twists, twisted, twisting.

TWIS’-MOUT’--twist mouth--twist-mouthed.

TWIS’UP--twist or twisted up.

TWO CHUESDAY, TWO T’URSDAY, etc.--the second Tuesday or the second Thursday in the month.

TWO PLACE--second place, in the second place. NOTE: Other numbers used similarly.

TWO TIME--two times, twice.

TWO-T’REE--two or three.

U

UB--of. (See “uh”).

UBTAIN--obtain, obtains, obtained, obtaining.

UB UH--of a--“Uh debble ub uh mule”--a devil of a mule.

UH--I; a, an. Also of. (See “ub”).

UHHEAD--ahead.

UHHEAD’UH--ahead of.

UHLLY/YUHLLY--early.

UM--him, her, it, them.

UP TUH DE NOTCH--up to the notch--to the Queen’s taste, perfect.

US--we, our.

USE--use, uses, used, using; also for game or cattle frequenting certain feeding grounds. (See “nyuse”).

USE’N/UZE’N--used to be, in the habit of.

USE-TUH--used to, accustomed to.

W

WAAGIN--wagon, wagons.

WAA’MENT--“varmint, varmints,” destructive animals or birds.

WADMUHLAW--Wadmalaw--an island of the Carolina coast.

WAH--war.

WAIS’--waist, waists.

WANJUE-RANGE--sometimes “Banjue-Range”--Vendue Range, the old Charleston slave market.

WANTUH--want to, wants to, wanted to, wanting to.

WARRUH/WADDUH--what, what is that.

W’ARY--weary.

WAS’E--waste, wastes, wasted, wasting.

WASH-UP/WUSH-UP--worship (religious).

WATUHMILYUN--watermelon, watermelons.

WAWM--(n. and v.) warm, warms, warmed, warming.

WAWN--(n. and v.) warn, warns, warned, warning.

WAWSS’--wasp, wasps.

WAWSS’NES’--wasp’s nest.

WE--our, us.

W’EAT--wheat.

W’EAT-FLOUR--flour, wheat-flour.

WEDDUH--weather, weather; to rain or storm, in such phrases as: “’E gwine tuh wedduh”--it is going to or looks like rain or storm.

WEDD’N’--wedding, weddings.

WEEKY-DAY--a week day.

W’EEL--(n. and v.) wheel, wheels, wheeled, wheeling.

W’EELBARRUH--wheelbarrow, wheelbarrows.

WEGITUBBLE--vegetable, vegetables.

WEH--where.

WEHR’AS--whereas.

WEHREBBUH--wherever.

W’ENEBBUH--whenever.

W’ENSD’Y--Wednesday.

WE’OWN--our own, ours.

WERRY--very. (See “berry”).

WE’SELF--ourselves.

WESKIT--waistcoat, waistcoats.

WESTIBLUE--vestibuled--the fast “limited” or tourist train.

WHOEBBUH--whoever.

WICTORIA--Victoria--also victorious.

’WICE--(also “exwice”) advice, advices.

W’ICH/W’ICH’N--which.

W’ICH EN’ W’Y--which and why--as: “W’ich en’ w’y talk”--contradictory talk.

WICKITY/WICKIT--wicked, wickedness.

WID--with.

WIDDUH--widow, widows.

WIDT’--width, widths.

W’ILE--while, awhile.

WIL’CAT--wild cat, the bay-lynx of the Southern swamps.

WILLUH--willow, willows.

WIN’--(n. and v.) wind, winds; wind, winded.

WIN’--(n. and v.) wind, winds, wound, winded, winding.

WINDUH--window, windows.

WINE--vine.

WINEGUH--vinegar.

WINNUH--winnow, winnows, winnowed, winnowing.

WINNUHHOUSE--winnowhouse, winnowhouses, where in the old days rice was winnowed.

WINTUHTIME--winter, in the winter season.

’WISE--(also “exwise”) advise, advises, advised, advising.

WISH DE TIME UH DAY--“pass de time uh day”--a salutation, greeting.

WISIT--(n. and v.) visit, visits, visited, visiting.

W’ISKEY--whiskey; formerly used, now an obsolete vocable among the Gullah.

WITCH--witch, witches.

’WITCH--bewitch, bewitches, bewitched, bewitching.

W’ITE--white.

WOICE--voice, voices.

WOODPECKUH--woodpecker, woodpeckers.

WOODPECKUH LAA’K--woodpecker lark--the flicker.

WROP--wrap, wraps, wrapped, wrapping.

WU’D--word, words.

WUDDUH DA’--what is that.

WUFFUH--what for, why.

WUH--what, that.

WUHEBBUH--whatever.

WU’K--(n. and v.) work, works, worked, working.

WU’LL’--world, worlds.

WUNDUH--(n. and v.) wonder, wonders, wondered, wondering.

WUNT--won’t, will not.

WURRUM--worm, worms.

WUS’DEN’EBBUH--worse than ever.

WUSS/WUS’--worse, worst.

WUSSUH--worse.

WUT’--worth, is worth, was worth, etc. “Ent wut’”--a disparaging characterization.

WUZ--was.

W’YMEKSO--what makes it so, why.

Y

YAA’D--yard, yards.

YAA’N--yarn, yarns.

YAAS--yes.

YAAS’SUH--yes-sir.

YALLUH--yellow.

YALLUHHAMMUH--yellowhammer--the flicker or golden-winged woodpecker.

YALLUH YAM--yellow yam--a variety of sweet potato.

YANDUH--yonder.

YEAH--ear, ears (corn or other grain); also year, years.

YEARIN’--hearing.

YEDDY/YERRY--hear, hears, heard, hearing.

YEDDY’UM--hear, hears, heard, or hearing him, her, it, them.

YELLIN’--yearling, yearlings.

YENT--(ent) ain’t, is not, are not; so pronounced when preceded by a soft vowel sound.

YE’T/YU’T--earth. (See “eart’”).

YEYE--eye, eyes; so pronounced when preceded by a soft vowel sound. “’E yeye red”--his or her eyes are bloodshot with anger.

YEZ--ear, ears (human or animal).

YISTIDDY--yesterday.

YIZ--is; so pronounced when preceded by a soft vowel sound.

YO’/YOU--your, yours.

YOU’OWN--your own, yours.

YOWE--ewe. (“Yowe” is in use in Early English).

YUH--here.

YUH HIM--here he, she, it is, or they are.

Z

’ZACKLY--exactly. (See “puhzackly”).

’ZAMMIN’--examine, examines, examined, examining; question, questioned, etc.

’ZYD’N’--presiding; as: “’Zyd’n’ elduh”--presiding elder.

THE TAR BABY STORY

AS TOLD BY COL. C. C. JONES AND JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS

BUH WOLF, BUH RABBIT, AND DE TAR BABY

JONES’S VERSION

Buh Wolf and Buh Rabbit, dem bin lib nabur. De dry drout come. Ebry ting stew up. Water scace. Buh Wolf dig one spring fuh him fuh git water. Buh Rabbit, him too lazy an too scheemy fuh wuk fuh isself. Eh pen pon lib off tarruh people. Ebry day, wen Buh Wolf yent duh watch um, eh slip to Buh Wolf spring, an eh full him calabash long water an cah um to eh house fuh cook long and fuh drink. Buh Wolf see Buh Rabbit track, but eh couldnt ketch um duh tief de water.

One day eh meet Buh Rabbit in de big road, an eh ax um how eh make out fur water. Buh Rabbit say him no casion fuh hunt water: him lib off de jew on de grass. Buh Wolf quire: “Enty you blan tek water outer me spring?” Buh Rabbit say: “Me yent.” Buh Wolf say: “You yis, enty me see you track?” Buh Rabbit mek answer: “Yent me gone to you spring. Must be some edder rabbit. Me nebber bin nigh you spring. Me dunno way you spring day.” Buh Wolf no question um no mo: but eh know say eh bin Buh Rabbit fuh true, an eh fix plan fuh ketch um.

De same ebenin eh mek Tar Baby, an eh gone an set um right in de middle er de trail wuh lead to de spring, and dist in front er de spring.

Soon a mornin Buh Rabbit rise an tun in fuh cook eh bittle. Eh pot biggin fuh bun. Buh Rabbit say: “Hey! me pot duh bun. Lemme slip to Buh Wolf spring an git some water fuh cool um.” So eh tek eh calabash an hop off fuh de spring. Wen eh ketch de spring, eh see de Tar Baby duh tan dist een front er de spring. Eh stonish. Eh stop. Eh come close. Eh look at um. Eh wait fur um fuh mobe. De Tar Baby yent notice um. Eh yent wink eh yeye. Eh yent say nuttne. Eh yent mobe. Buh Rabbit, him say: “Hey titter, enty you guine tan one side an lemme git some water?” De Tar Baby no answer. Den Buh Rabbit say: “Leely Gal, mobe, me tell you, so me kin dip some water outer de spring long me calabash.” De Tar Baby wunt mobe. Buh Babbit say: “Enty you know me pot duh bun? Enty you know me hurry? Enty you yeddy me tell you fuh mobe? You see dis han? Ef you dont go long and lemme git some water, me guine slap yon ober.” De Tar Baby stan day. Buh Rabbit haul off an slap um side de head. Eh han fastne. Buh Rabbit try fuh pull eh hand back, en eh say: “Wuh you hole me han fuh? Lemme go. Ef you dont loose me, me guine box de life outer you wid dis tarruh han.” De Tar Baby yent crack eh teet. Buh Rabbit hit um, bim, wid eh tarruh han. Dat han fastne too same luk tudder. Buh Babbit say: “Wuh you up teh? Tun me loose. Ef you dont leggo me right off, me guine knee you.” De Tar Baby hole um fas. Buh Rabbit skade an bex too. Eh faid Buh Wolf come ketch um. Wen eh fine eh cant loosne eh han, eh kick de Tar Baby wid eh knee. Eh knee fastne. Yuh de big trouble now. Buh Rabbit skade den wus den nebber. Eh try fuh skade de Tar Baby. Eh say: “Leely Gal, you better mine who you duh fool long. Me tell you, fuh de las time, tun me loose. Ef you dont loosne me han an me knee right off, me guine bus you wide open wid dis head.” De Tar Baby hole um fas. Eh yent say one wud. Den Buh Rabbit but de Tar Baby een eh face. Eh head fastne same fashion luk eh han an eh knee. Yuh de ting now. Po Buh Rabbit done fuh. Eh fastne all side. Eh cant pull loose. Eh gib up. Eh bague. Eh cry. Eh holler. Buh Wolf yeddy um. Eh run day. Eh hail Buh Rabbit: “Hey Budder; wuh de trouble? Enty you tell me you no blan wisit me spring fuh git water? Who calabash dis? Wuh you duh do yuh anyhow?” Buh Rabbit so condemn eh yent hab one wud fuh talk. Buh Wolf, him say: “Nummine, I done ketch you dis day. I guine lick you now.” Buh Rabbit bague. Eh bague. Eh prommus nebber fuh trouble Buh Wolf spring no mo. Buh Wolf laugh at um. Den eh tek an loose Buh Rabbit from de Tar Baby, an eh tie um teh one spakleberry bush, an eh git switch an eh lick um tel eh tired. All de time Buh Rabbit bin a bague an a holler. Buh Wolf yent duh listne ter um, but eh keep on duh pit de lick ter um. At las Buh Rabbit tell Buh Wolf: “Dont lick me no mo. Kill me one time. Mek fire an bun me up. Knock me brains out gin de tree.” Buh Wolf mek answer: “Ef I bun you up, ef I knock you brains out, you guine dead too quick. Me guine trow you in de brier-patch, so de brier kin scratch you life out.” Buh Rabbit say: “Do Buh Wolf, bun me: broke me neck, but dont trow me in de brier patch. Lemme dead one time. Dont tarrify me no mo.” Buh Wolf yent bin know wuh Buh Rabbit up teh. Eh tink eh bin guine tare Buh Rabbit hide off. So, wuh eh do? Eh loose Buh Rabbit from de spakleberry bush, an eh tek um by de hine leg, an eh swing um roun, an eh trow um way in de tick brier patch fuh tare eh hide an cratch eh yeye out. De minnit Buh Rabbit drap in de brier patch, eh cock up eh tail, eh jump, an holler back to Buh Wolf: “Good bye, Budder! Dis de place me mammy fotch me up,--dis de place me mammy fotch me up.” An eh gone befo Buh Wolf kin ketch um. Buh Rabbit too scheemy.

THE WONDERFUL TAR-BABY STORY

HARRIS’S VERSION

“Didn’t the fox _never_ catch the rabbit, Uncle Remus?” asked the little boy the next evening.

“He come mighty nigh it, honey, sho’s you born--Brer Fox did. One day atter Brer Rabbit fool ’im wid dat calamus root, Brer Fox went ter wuk en got ’im some tar, en mix it wid some turkentime, en fix up a contrapshun wat he call a Tar-Baby, en he tuck dish yer Tar-Baby en he sot ’er in de big road, en den he lay off in de bushes for to see wat de news wuz gwineter be. En he didn’t hatter wait long, nudder, kaze bimeby here come Brer Rabbit pacin’ down de road--lippity-clippity, clippity-lippity--dez ez sassy ez a Jay-bird. Brer Fox he lay low. Brer Rabbit come prancin’ ’long twel he spy de Tar-Baby, en den he fotch up on his behime legs like he wuz ’stonished. De Tar-Baby, she sot dar, she did, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“‘Mawnin’!’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee--’nice wedder dis mawnin’,’ sezee.

“Tar-Baby ain’t sayin’ nothin’, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“‘How duz yo’ sym’tums seem ter segashuate?’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

“Brer Fox, he wink his eye slow, en lay low, en de Tar-Baby she ain’t sayin’ nothin’.

“‘How you come on, den? Is you deaf?’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. ‘Kaze if you is, I kin holler louder,’ sezee.

“Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox he lay low.

“‘Youer stuck up, dat’s w’at you is,’ says Brer Rabbit, sezee, ‘en I’m gwineter kyore you, dat’s w’at I’m a gwineter do,’ sezee.

“Brer Fox, he sorter chuckle in his stummuck, he did, but Tar-Baby ain’t sayin’ nothin’.

“‘I’m gwineter larn you howter talk ter ’spectubble fokes ef hit’s de las’ ack,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. ‘Ef you don’t take off dat hat en tell me howdy, I’m gwineter bus’ you wide open,’ sezee.

“Tar-Baby stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“Brer Rabbit keep on axin ’im, en de Tar-Baby, she keep on sayin’ nothin’, twel present’y Brer Rabbit draw back wid his fis’, he did, en blip he tuck ’er side er de head. Right dar’s whar he broke his merlasses jug. His fis’ stuck, en he can’t pull loose. De tar hilt ’im. But Tar-Baby, she stay still, en Brer Fox, he lay low.

“‘Ef you don’t lemme loose, I’ll knock you agin,’ Brer Rabbit, sezee, en wid dat he fotch ’er a wipe wid de udder han’, en dat stuck. Tar-Baby, she ain’t sayin’ nothin’, en Brer Fox, he lay low.