NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 
Rooster motions, en w’en she see dis, she take’n squall out, she 
did: — 
“ 'Pot-rack! Pot-rack! Mr. Rooster gone back! Pollack! Pot- 
rack ! Mr. Rooster gone back! ’ 
“ Wid dat dey all make a great ter-do. Miss Hen en Miss Pullet, 
dey cackle en squall, Mr. Gobbler, he gobble, en Miss Puddle 
Duck, she shake ’er tail en say, quickity-quack-quack. But Mr. 
Rooster, he ruffle up he cape, en march on out. 
“Dis sorter put a damper on de yuthers, but ’fo’ Mr. Rooster 
git outer sight en yearn dey went ter wuk on de pile w’at wuz 
’pariently co’n-bread, en, lo en beholes, un’need dem pone er 
bread wuz a whole passel er meat en greens, en bake’ taters, en 
bile’ turnips. Mr. Rooster, he year de ladies makin’ great ’mira¬ 
tion, en he stop en look thoo de crack, en dar he see all de doin’s 
en fixin’s. He feel mighty bad, Mr. Rooster did, w’en he see all dis, 
en de yuther fowls dey holler en ax ’im fer ter come back, en he 
craw, w’ich it mighty empty, likewise, it up’n ax ’im, but he 
mighty biggity en stuck up, en he strut off, crowin’ ez he go; 
but he ’speunce er dat time done las’ him en all er his fambly down 
ter dis day. En you neenter take my wud fer’t, ne’r, kaze ef you ’ll 
des keep yo’ eye open en watch, you ’ll ketch a glimse er ole Mr. 
Rooster folks scratchin’ whar dey ’specks ter fine der rations, en 
mo’ dan dat, dey’ll scratch wid der rations in plain sight. Since 
dat time, dey ain’t none er de Mr. Roosters bin fool’ by dat w’at 
dey see on top. Dey ain’t res’twel dey see w’at und’dar. Dey’ll 
scratch spite er all creation.” 
“Dat’s de Lord’s truth!” said ’Tildy, with unction. “I done 
seed um wid my own eyes. Dat I is.” 
This was ’Tildy’s method of renewing peaceful relations with 
Uncle Remus, but the old man was disposed to resist the attempt. 
“You better be up yander washin’ up dishes, stidder hoppin’ 
down yer wid er whole packet er stuff w’at Miss Sally ain’t 
dreamp er sayin’.” 
52 
