*1 As a Northern friend suggests that this story may be somewhat
obscure, it may be as well to state that the well is supposed
to be supplied with a rope over a wheel, or pulley, with a
bucket at each end.


XVII. MR. RABBIT NIBBLES UP THE BUTTER

'"DE animils en de creeturs," said Uncle Remus, shaking his
coffee around in the bottom of his tin-cup, in order to gather up
all the sugar, 'dey kep' on gittin' mo' en mo' familious wid
wunner nudder, twel bimeby, 'twan't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit, en
Brer Fox, en Brer Possum got ter sorter bunchin' der perwishuns
tergedder in de same shanty. Atter w'ile de roof sorter 'gun ter
leak, en one day Brer Rabbit, en Brer Fox, en Brer Possum,
'semble fer ter see ef dey can't kinder patch her up. Dey had a
big day's work in front un um, en dey fotch der dinner wid um.
Dey lump de vittles up in one pile, en de butter w'at Brer Fox
brung, dey goes en puts in de spring-'ouse fer ter keep cool, en
den dey went ter wuk, en 'twan't long 'fo' Brer Rabbit's stummuck
'gun ter sorter growl en pester 'im. Dat butter er Brer Fox sot
heavy on his mine, en his mouf water eve'y time he 'member 'bout
it. Present'y he say ter hisse'f dat he bleedzd ter have a nip at
dat butter, en den he lay his plans, he did. Fus' news you know,
w'ile dey wuz all wukkin' long, Brer Rabbit raise his head quick
en fling his years forerd en holler out:

"'Here I is. W'at you want wid me?' en off he put like sump'n wuz
atter 'im.