THE MOON IN THE MILL-POND 
“Bimeby he fetch a long bref, he did, en he ’low: — 
“‘Ladies en gentermuns all, we des might ez well make tracks 
fum dish yer place, kaze dey ain’t no fishin’ in dat pon’ fer none 
er dish yer crowd.’ 
“ Wid dat, Brer Tarrypin, he scramble up ter de aidge en look 
over, en he shake he head, en ’low: — 
“‘Tooby sho’—tooby sho’! Tut-tut-tut! ’ en den he crawl 
back, he did, en do lak he wukkin’ he min’. 
“‘Don’t be skeert, ladies, kaze we er boun’ ter take keer un 
you, let come w’at will, let go w’at mus’,’ sez Brer Rabbit, sezee. 
‘Accidents got ter happen unter we all, des same ez dey is unter 
yuther folks; en dey ain’t nuthin’ much de marter, ’ceppin’ dat de 
Moon done drap in de water. Ef you don’t b’leeve me you kin 
look fer yo’se’f,’ sezee. 
“Wid dat dey all went ter de bank en lookt in; en, sho’ nuff, 
dar lay de Moon, a-swingin’ an’ a-swayin’ at de bottom er de 
^ 9 99 
pon . 
The little boy laughed. He had often seen the reflection of the 
sky in shallow pools of water, and the startling depths that seemed 
to lie at his feet had caused him to draw back with a shudder. 
“Brer Fox, he look in, he did, en he ’low, ‘Well, well, well!’ 
Brer Wolf, he look in, en he ’low, ‘Mighty bad, mighty bad!’ 
Brer B’ar, he look in, en he ’low, ‘Turn, turn, turn!’ De ladies dey 
look in, en Miss Meadows she squall out, ‘Ain’t dat too much?’ 
Brer Rabbit, he look in ag’in, en he up en ’low, he did: — 
“‘Ladies en gentermuns, you all kin hum en haw, but less’n 
we gits dat Moon out er de pon’, dey ain’t no fish kin be ketch 
’roun’ yer dis night; en ef you’ll ax Brer Tarrypin, he’ll tell you 
de same.’ 
“Den dey ax how kin dey git de Moon out er dar, den Brer 
Tarrypin ’low dey better lef’ dat wid Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit 
he shot he eyes, he did, en make lak he wukkin’ he min’. Bimeby, 
he up’n ’low: — 
87 
