XXXIX 
BRER RABBIT GETS THE PROVISIONS 
The next time the little boy called on Uncle Remus a bright fire 
was blazing on the hearth. He could see the light shining under the 
door before he went into the cabin, and he knew by that sign that 
the old man had company. In fact, Daddy Jack had returned 
and was dozing in his accustomed corner, Aunt Tempy was sit¬ 
ting bolt upright, nursing her contempt, and Uncle Remus was 
making a curious-looking box. None of the negroes paid any at¬ 
tention to the little boy when he entered, but somehow he felt 
that they were waiting for him. After a while Uncle Remus fin¬ 
ished his curious-looking box and laid it upon the floor. Then he 
lifted his spectacles from his nose to the top of his head, and re¬ 
marked: — 
“Now, den, folks, dar she is, en hit’s bin so long sence I uv 
made one un um dat she make me sweat. Yasser! She did dat. 
Howsumev’, hit ain’t make no diffunce wid me. Promise is a 
promise, dough you make it in de dark er de moon. Long time ago, 
I tuck’n promise one er my passin’ ’quaintance dat some er deze 
lonesome days de ole nigger’d whirl in en make ’im a rabbit-trap 
ef he’d des be so good ez to quit he devilment, en l’arn he be- 
havishness.” 
“Is that my rabbit-trap. Uncle Remus?” exclaimed the child. 
He would have picked it up for the purpose of examining it, but 
Uncle Remus waved him off with a dignified gesture. 
“Don’t you dast ter tetch dat ar trap, honey, ’kaze ef you does, 
dat spiles all. I’ll des hatter go ter wuk en make it bran-new, en 
de Lord knows I ain’t got no time fer ter do dat.” 
“Well, Uncle Remus, you’ve had your hands on it.” 
195 
