putting on his hat and picking up his walking-stick. "Hit rastles
wid me monstus, en I gotter rack 'roun' en see if I kin run up
agin some Chris'mus leavin's."


IX. MISS COW FALLS A VICTIM TO MR. RABBIT

"UNCLE REMUS," said the little boy, "what became of the Rabbit
after he fooled the Buzzard, and got out of the hollow tree?"

"Who? Brer Rabbit? Bless yo' soul, honey, Brer Rabbit went
skippin' long home, he did, des ez sassy ez a jay-bird at a
sparrer's nes'. He went gallopin' 'long, he did, but he feel
mighty fired out, en stiff in his jints, en he wuz mighty nigh
dead for sumpin fer ter drink, en bimeby, w'en he got mos' home,
he spied ole Miss Cow feedin' roun' in a fiel', he did, en he
'termin' fer ter try his han' wid 'er. Brer Rabbit know mighty
well dat Miss Cow won't give 'im no milk, kaze she done 'fuse 'im
mo'n once, en w'en his ole 'oman wuz sick, at dat. But never mind
dat. Brer Rabbit sorter dance up long side er de fence, he did,
en holler out:

"'Howdy, Sis Cow,' sez Brer Rabbit, sezee.

"'W'y, howdy, Brer Rabbit,' sez Miss Cow, sez she.

"'How you fine yo'se'f deze days, Sis Cow?' sez Brer Rabbit,
sezee.

"'I'm sorter toler'ble, Brer Rabbit; how you come on?' sez Miss