AFRICAN JACK 
in dat ole Affikin nigger head, I would n’t er b’leeved um — dat 
I would n’t. Unk’ Remus, w’at is I done ter you?” 
Uncle Remus made no direct response; but he leaned over, 
reached out his hand, and picked up an unfinished axe-helve that 
stood in the corner. Then he took the little boy by the arm, and 
pushed him out of the way, saying in his gentlest and most per¬ 
suasive tone:— 
“Stan’ sorter ’roun’ dar, honey, ’kaze w’en de splinters ’gin 
ter fly, I want you ter be out’n de way. Miss Sally never gimme 
’er fergivance in de roun’ worl’ ef you ’uz ter git hurted on account 
er de frazzlin’ er dish yer piece er timber.” 
Uncle Remus’s movements and remarks had a wonderful 
effect on ’Tildy. Her anger disappeared, her eyes lost their 
malignant expression, and her voice fell to a conversational 
tone. 
“Now, Unk’ Remus, you ought n’t ter do me dat a-way, ’kaze 
I ain’t done nothin’ ter you. I ’uz settin’ up yon’ in Aunt Tempy 
house, des now, runnin’ on wid Riah, en yer come dat ole Affikin 
Jack en say you say he kin marry me ef he ketch me, en he try ter 
put he arm ’roun’ me en kiss me.” 
’Tildy tossed her head and puckered her mouth at the bare 
remembrance of it. 
“ W’at wud did you gin Brer Jack? ” inquired Uncle Remus, not 
without asperity. 
“W’at I gwine tell him?” exclaimed ’Tildy disdainfully. “I 
des tuck’n up en tole ’im he foolin’ wid de wrong nigger.” 
’Tildy would have continued her narration, but just at that 
moment the shuffling of feet was heard outside, and Daddy 
Jack came in, puffing and blowing and smiling. Evidently 
he had been hunting for ’Tildy in every house in the negro 
quarter. 
“Hi!” he exclaimed, “lil gal, ’e bin skeet sem lak ma’sh hen. 
’E no run no mo’.” 
117 
