Uncle Jethro, with Uncle Remus, gives Br'er 

 Rabbit the wreath for craft ; but in truth the 

 laurel belongs to Br'er Possum. He is an eter- 

 nal surprise. Either he is the most stupidly 

 wise animal of the woods, or the most wisely 



" He had stopped for a 

 meal on his way out." 



stupid. He is a puzzle. Apparently his one 

 unburied talent is heaviness. Joe, the fat boy, 

 was not a sounder nor more constant sleeper, 

 nor was his mental machinery any slower than 

 the possum's. The little beast is utterly want- 

 ing in swiftness and weapons, his sole hope and 

 defense being luck and indifference. To luck 

 and indifference he trusts life and happiness. 

 And who can say he does not prosper that he 

 does not roll in fat ? 



I suppose there once were deer and otter in 

 [20] 



