NIGHTS WITH UNCLE REMUS 
“You hit it de fus’ clip, Sis Tempy, I ’clar’ ter gracious ef you 
ain’t. You nailed it! You nailed it,” Uncle Remus went on, 
laughing as boisterously as before, “des lak ole Brer Rabbit 
done.” 
The little boy was very prompt with what Uncle Remus called 
his “inquirements,” and the old man, after the usual “hems” 
and “haws,” began. 
“Hit run’d ’cross my min’ des lak a rat ’long a rafter, de way 
ole Brer Rabbit tuk’n done Brer Fox. ’Periently, atter Brer 
Rabbit done went en put a steeple on top er he house, all de 
yuther creeturs wanter fix up dey house. Some put new cellars 
und’ um, some slapped on new winder-blines, some one thing and 
some er n’er, but ole Brer Fox, he tuck a notion dat he’d put 
some new shingles on de roof. 
“Brer Rabbit, he tuck’n year tell er dis, en nothin’d do but he 
mus’ rack ’roun’ en see how ole Brer Fox gittin’ on. W’en he git 
whar Brer Fox house is, he year a mighty lammin’ en a blam- 
min’ en lo en beholes, dar ’uz Brer Fox settin’ straddle er de 
comb er de roof nailin’ on shingles des hard ez he kin. 
“Brer Rabbit cut he eye ’roun’ en he see Brer Fox dinner settin’ 
in de fence-cornder. Hit ’uz kivered up in a bran new tin pail, en 
it look so nice dat Brer Rabbit mouf ’gun ter water time he see it, 
en he ’low ter hisse’f dat he bleedz ter eat dat dinner ’fo’ he go 
’way fum dar. 
“ Den Brer Rabbit tuck’n hail Brer Fox, en ax ’im how he 
come on. Brer Fox ’low he too busy to hoi’ any confab. Brer 
Rabbit up en ax ’im w’at is he doin ’up dar. Brer Fox ’low dat 
he puttin’ roof on he house ’g’in de rainy season sot in. Den Brer 
Rabbit up en ax Brer Fox w’at time is it, en Brer Fox, he ’low 
dat hit’s wukkin time wid him. Brer Rabbit, he up en ax Brer 
Fox ef he ain’t stan’ in needs er some he’p. Brer Fox, he ’low he 
did, dat ef he does stan’ in needs er any he’p, he dunner whar in 
de name er goodness he gwine to git it at. 
284 
