where he belong. So we-uns sit on the chimney-tops whenever ol' Jack
Frost gets to straying down where he have no business. Yo' see, if
we-uns keep our toes warm, we-uns are warm all over.

"One day this no 'count, trifling cousin of Grandpap Buzzard get cold
in his feet. He look 'round right smart fo' a chimney fo' to warm his
toes, an' pretty soon he see one where he never been before. It was on
a lil ol' house, a lil ol' tumble-down house. Mistah Buzzard fly right
over an' sit on that chimney-top fo' to warm his toes. Of course he
right smart curious about that lil ol' tumble-down house and who live
there. He hear somebody inside talking to theirself, but he can't hear
what they say, jes' a mumbling sound that come up the chimney to him.

"He listen an' listen. Then he shift 'round to the other side of the
chimney an' listen. No matter where he sit, he can't hear what being
said down inside that lil ol' tumble-down house. Then what do yo'
think Mistah Buzzard do? Why, he jes' stretch his fool haid as far
down that chimney as he can an' listen an' listen. Yes, Sah, that is
jes' what that no 'count Buzzard do. But all he hear is jes' a
mumbling and a mumbling, an' that make him more curious than ever. It
seem to him that he must go clean outen his haid 'less he hear what
going on down inside that lil ol' house.

"Now when he stretch his haid an' neck down the chimney that way, he
get 'em all black with soot. But he don't mind that. No, Sah, he don'
mind that a bit. Fact is, he don' notice it. He so curious he don'
notice anything, an' pretty soon he plumb fo'get where he is an' that
he is listening where he have no business. He plumb fo'get all about
this, an' he holler down that chimney. Yes, Sah, he holler right down
that chimney!