IN SOME LADY’S GARDEN 
gate. Brer Rabbit drapt ’er his biggest bow, en ax ’er how she 
come on. Den, atter dat, he ’low, he did: — 
“‘I see yo’ daddy gwine ’long down de road des now, en he 
gimme a rakin’ down ’kaze I make ’way wid de sparrer-grass, yit 
he say dat bein’’s how I sech a good fr’en’ er de fambly I kin come 
en ax you fer ter gimme a mess er Inglish peas.’ 
“Little gal, she tuck’n fling de gate wide open, en ole Brer 
Rabbit, he march in, he did, en he git de peas in a hurry. Man 
come back atter w’ile, en he ’low: — 
“‘Who bin tromplin’ down my pea-vines?’ 
“‘Mr. Billy Malone, daddy.’ 
“Man slap he han’ on he forrud ; 1 he dunner w’at ter make er 
all dis. Bimeby, he ’low: — 
“‘W’at kinder lookin’ man dish yer Mr. Billy Malone?’ 
“‘Split lip, pop eye, big year, en bob-tail, daddy.’ 
“Man say he be bless ef he ain’t gwine ter make de acquaint¬ 
ance er Mr. Billy Malone; en he went ter wuk, he did, en fix ’im 
up a box-trap, en he put some goobers in dar, en he tell de little 
gal nex’ time Mr. Billy Malone come fer ’vite im in. Nex maw- 
nin’, Man git little ways fum de house en tuck’n holler back, he 
did: — 
W’atsumever you does, don’t you dast ter let nobody git no 
mo’ sparrer-grass, en don’t you let um git no mo Inglish peas. 
“Little gal holler back: ‘No, daddy.’ 
“Den, atter dat, ’t wa’n’t long ’fo’ yer come Mr. Billy Malone, 
hoppin’ ’long down de big road. He drapt a bow, he did, en 
’low:— 
“‘Mawnin’, Miss Janey, mawnin’! Met yo’ daddy down de 
big road, en he say dat I can’t git no mo’ sparrer-grass en green 
peas but you kin gimme some goobers.’ 
“Little gal, she lead de way, en tell Mr. Billy Malone dar dey 
is in de box. Mr. Billy Malone, he lick he chops, he did, en ’low: — 
1 Forehead. 
153 
