NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 
LVII 
MR. LION’S SAD PREDICAMENT 
The discussion over Aunt Tempy’s fragmentary story having ex¬ 
hausted itself, Daddy Jack turned up his coat collar until it was 
as high as the top of his head, and then tried to button it under 
his chin. If this attempt had been successful, the old African 
would have presented a diabolical appearance; but the coat re¬ 
fused to be buttoned in that style. After several attempts, which 
created no end of amusement for the little boy. Daddy Jack said: — 
“Da Lion, ’e no hab bin sma’t lak B’er Rabbit. ’E strong 
wit’ ’e fut, ’e strong wit’ ’e tush, but ’e no strong wit’ ’e head. 
’E bery foolish, ’cep’ ’e is bin hab chance ter jump ’pon dem 
creetur. 
“One tarn ’e bin come by B’er Rabbit in da road; ’e ahx um 
howdy; ’e ahx um wey ’e gwan. B’er Rabbit say ’e gwan git fum 
front de Buckra Man wut bin cornin’ ’long da road. B’er Rab¬ 
bit say: — 
“‘Hide you’se’f, B’er Lion; da Buckra ketch-a you fer true; 
’e is bin ketch-a you tarn he pit ’e y-eye ’pon you; ’e mekky you 
sick wit’ sorry. Hide fum da Buckra, B’er Lion!’ 
“Da Lion, ’e shekky ’e head; ’e say: — 
“‘Ki! Me no skeer da Buckra Man. I glad fer shum. I 
ketch um en I kyar um wey I lif; me hab da Buckra M&n fer me 
bittle. How come you bein’ skeer da Buckra Man, B’er Rabbit? * 
“B’er Rabbit look all ’bout fer see ef da Buckra bin cornin’. 
’E say: — 
“‘Me hab plenty reason, B’er Lion. Da Buckra Man shoot-a 
wit’ one gun. ’E r’ise um too ’e y-eye, ’e p’int um stret toze you; 
’e say bang I one tarn, ’e say bang! two tarn: dun you is bin git 
hu’t troo da head en cripple in da leg.’ 
“Lion, ’e shek ’e head; ’e say: — 
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