uncle remus-第3部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
His Sayings I。 Jeems Roher'son's Last Illness II。 Uncle Remus's Church Experience III。 Uncle Remus and the Savannah Darkey IV。 Tumip Salad as a Text V。 A Confession VI。 Uncle Remus with the Toothache VII。 The Phonograph VIII。 Race Improvement IX。 In the Role of a Tartar X。 A Case of Measles XI。 The Emigrants XII。 As a Murderer XIII。His Practical View of Things XIV。That Deceitful Jug XV。The Florida Watermelon XVI。 Uncle Remns preaches to a Convert XV1I。 As to Education XVIII。 A Temperance Reformer XIX。 As a Weather Prophet XX。 The Old Man's Troubles XXI。 The Fourth of July
LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION
I UNCLE REMUS INITIATES THE LITTLE BOY
One evening recently; the lady whom Uncle Remus calls 〃Miss Sally〃 missed her little seven…year…old。 Making search for him through the house and through the yard; she heard the sound of voices in the old man's cabin; and; looking through the window; saw the child sitting by Uncle Remus。 His head rested against the old man's arm; and he was gazing with an expression of the most intense interest into the rough; weather…beaten face; that beamed so kindly upon him。 This is what 〃Miss Sally〃 heard:
〃Bimeby; one day; atter Brer Fox bin doin' all dat he could fer ter ketch Brer Rabbit; en Brer Rabbit bein doin' all he could fer ter keep 'im fum it; Brer Fox say to hisse'f dat he'd put up a game on Brer Rabbit; en he ain't mo'n got de wuds out'n his mouf tewl Brer Rabbit came a lopin' up de big road; lookin' des ez plump; en ez fat; en ez sassy ez a Moggin hoss in a barley…patch。
〃〃Hol' on dar; Brer RAbbit;' sez Brer Fox; sezee。
〃'I ain't got time; Ber Fox;' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee; sorter mendin' his licks。
〃'I wanter have some confab wid you; Brer Rabbit;' sez Brer Fox; sezee。
〃'All right; Brer Fox; but you better holler fum whar you stan'。 I'm monstus full er fleas dis mawnin';' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee。
〃'I seed Brer B'ar yistdiddy; 'sez Brer Fox; sezee; 'en he sorter rake me over de coals kaze you en me ain't make frens en live naberly; en I tole 'im dat I'd see you。'
〃Den Brer Rabbit scratch one year wid his off hinefoot sorter jub'usly; en den he ups en sez; sezee:
〃'All a settin'; Brer Fox。 Spose'n you drap roun' ter…morrer en take dinner wid me。 We ain't got no great doin's at our house; but I speck de ole 'oman en de chilluns kin sorter scarmble roun' en git up sump'n fer ter stay yo' stummick。'
〃'I'm 'gree'ble; Brer Rabbit;' sez Brer Fox; sezee。
〃'Den I'll 'pen' on you;' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee。
〃Nex' day; Mr。 Rabbit an' Miss Rabbit got up soom; 'fo' day; en raided on a gyarden like Miss Sally's out dar; en got some cabbiges; en some roas'n years; en some sparrer…grass; en dey fix up a smashin' dinner。 Bimeby one er de little Rabbits; playin' ou t in de back…yard; come runnin' in hollerin'; 'Oh; ma! oh; ma! I seed Mr。 Fox a comin'!' En den Brer Rabbit he tuck de chilluns by der years en make um set down; en den him and Miss Rabbit sorter dally roun' waitin' for Brer Fox。 En dey keep on waitin' for Brer Fox。 En dey keep on waitin'; but no Brer Fox ain't come。 Atter 'while Brer Rabbit goes to de do'; easy like; en peep out; en dar; stickin' fum behime de cornder; wuz de tip…een' er Brer Fox tail。 Den Brer Rabbit shot de do' en sot down; en put his paws behime his years en begin fer ter sing:
〃'De place wharbouts you spill de grease; Right dar you er boun' ter slide; An' whar you fin' a bunch er ha'r; You'll sholy fine de hide。'
〃Nex' day; Brer Fox sont word by Mr。 Mink; en skuze hisse'f kaze he wuz too sick fer ter come; en he ax Brer Rabbit fer ter come en take dinner wid him; en Brer Rabbit say he wuz 'gree'ble。
〃Bimeby; w'en de shadders wuz at der shortes'; Brer Rabbit he sorter brush up en sa'nter down ter Brer Fox's house; en w'en he got dar; he haer somebody groanin'; en he look in de do' an dar he see Brer Fox settin' up in a rockin'…cheer all wrop up wid flannil; en he look mighty weak。 Brer Rabbit look all roun'; he did; but he ain't see no dinner。 De dish…pan wuz settin' on de table; en close by wuz a kyarvin' knife。
〃'Look like you gwintee have chicken fer dinner; Brer Fox;' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee。
〃'Yes; Brer Rabbit; deyer nice; en fresh; en tender; 'sez Brer Fox; sezee。
〃Den Brer Rabbit sorter pull hiss mustarsh; en say: 'You ain't got no calamus root; is you; Brer Fox? I done got so now dat I can't eat no chicken 'ceppin she's seasoned up wid calamus root。' En wid dat Brer Rabbit lipt out er de do' and dodge 'mong the bushes; en sot dar watchin' for Brer Fox; en he ain't watch long; nudder; kaze Brer Fox flung off de flannil en crope out er de house en got whar he could cloze in on Brer Rabbit; en bimeby Brer Rabbit holler out: 'Oh; Brer Fox! I'll des put yo' calamus root out yer on dish yer stump。 Better come git it while hit's fresh;' and wid dat Brer Rabbit gallop off home。 En Brer Fox ain't never kotch 'im yit; en w'at's mo'; honey; he ain't gwineter。〃
II。 THE WONDERFUL TAR BABY STORY
〃Didn't the fox never catch the rabbit; Uncle Remus?〃 asked the little boy the next evening。
〃He come mighty nigh it; honey; sho's you bornBrer Fox did。 One day atter Brer Rabbit fool 'im wid dat calamus root; Brer Fox went ter wuk en got 'im some tar; en mix it wid some turkentime; en fix up a contrapshun w'at he call a Tar…Baby; en he tuck dish yer Tar…Baby en he sot 'er in de big road; en den he lay off in de bushes fer to see what de news wuz gwine ter be。 En he didn't hatter wait long; nudder; kaze bimeby here come Brer Rabbit pacin' down de roadlippity…clippity; clippity …lippitydez ez sassy ez a jay…bird。 Brer Fox; he lay low。 Brer Rabbit come prancin' 'long twel he spy de Tar…Baby; en den he fotch up on his behime legs like he wuz 'stonished。 De Tar Baby; she sot dar; she did; en Brer Fox; he lay low。
〃‘Mawnin'!' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee … ‘nice wedder dis mawnin';' sezee。
〃Tar…Baby ain't sayin' nuthin'; en Brer Fox he lay low。
〃‘How duz yo' sym'tums seem ter segashuate?' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee。
〃Brer Fox; he wink his eye slow; en lay low; en de Tar…Baby; she ain't sayin' nuthin'。
〃'How you come on; den? Is you deaf?' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee。 'Kaze if you is; I kin holler louder;' sezee。
〃Tar…Baby stay still; en Brer Fox; he lay low。
〃'You er stuck up; dat's w'at you is;' says Brer Rabbit; sezee; 'en I;m gwine ter kyore you; dat's w'at I'm a gwine ter do;' sezee。
〃Brer Fox; he sorter chuckle in his stummick; he did; but Tar…Baby ain't sayin' nothin'。
〃'I'm gwine ter larn you how ter talk ter 'spectubble folks ef hit's de las' ack;' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee。 'Ef you don't take off dat hat en tell me howdy; I'm gwine ter bus' you wide open;' sezee。
〃Tar…Baby stay still; en Brer Fox; he lay low。
〃Brer Rabbit keep on axin' 'im; en de Tar…Baby; she keep on sayin' nothin'; twel present'y Brer Rabbit draw back wid his fis'; he did; en blip he tuck 'er side er de head。 Right dar's whar he broke his merlasses jug。 His fis' stuck; en he can't pull loose。 De tar hilt 'im。 But Tar…Baby; she stay still; en Brer Fox; he lay low。
〃‘Ef you don't lemme loose; I'll knock you agin;' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee; en wid dat he fotch 'er a wipe wid de udder han'; en dat stuck。 Tar…Baby; she ain'y sayin' nuthin'; en Brer Fox; he lay low。
〃‘Tu'n me loose; fo' I kick de natal stuffin' outen you;' sez Brer Rabbit; sezee; but de Tar…Baby; she ain't sayin' nuthin'。 She des hilt on; en de Brer Rabbit lose de use er his feet in de same way。 Brer Fox; he lay low。 Den Brer Rabbit squall out dat ef de Tar…Baby don't tu'n 'im loose he butt 'er cranksided。 En den he butted; en his head got stuck。 Den Brer Fox; he sa'ntered fort'; lookin' dez ez innercent ez wunner yo' mammy's mockin'…birds。
〃‘Howdy; Brer Rabbit;' sez Brer Fox; sezee。 ‘You look sorter stuck up dis mawnin';' sezee; en den he rolled on de groun'; en laft en laft twel he couldn't laff no mo'。 ‘I speck you'll take dinner wid me dis time; Brer Rabbit。 I done laid in some calamus root; en I ain't gwineter take no skuse;' sez Brer Fox; sezee。〃
Here Uncle Remus paused; and drew a two…pound yam out of the ashes。
〃Did the fox eat the rabbit?〃 asked the little boy to whom the story had been told。
〃Dat's all de fur de tale goes;〃 replied the old man。 〃He mout; an den agin he moutent。 Some say Judge B'ar come 'long en loosed 'im … some say he didn't。 I hear Miss Sally callin'。 You better run 'long。〃
III WHY MR。 POSSUM LOVES PEACE
〃ONE night;〃 said Uncle Remus…taking Miss Sally's little boy on his knee; and stroking the child's hair thoughtfully and caressingly… 〃one night Brer Possum call by fer Brer Coon; 'cordin' ter greement; en atter gobblin' up a dish er fried greens en smokin' a seegyar; dey rambled fort' fer ter see how de ballance er de settlement wuz gittin' long。 Brer Coon; he wuz one er deze yer natchul pacers; en he racked 'long same ez Mars John's bay pony; en Brer Possum he went in a han'…gallup; en dey got over heap er groun; mon。 Brer Possum; he got his belly full er 'simmons; en Brer Coon; he scoop up a 'bunnunce er frogs en tadpoles。 Dey amble long; dey did; des ez sociable ez a basket er kittens; twel bimeby dey hear Mr。 Dog talkin' ter hisse'f way off in de woods。
〃'Spozen he runs up on us; Brer Possum; w'at you gwineter do?' sez Brer Coon; sezee。 Brer Possum sorter laugh 'round de cornders un his mouf。
〃'Oh; ef he come; Brer Coon; I'm gwineter stan' by you;' sez Brer Possum。 'W'at you gwineter do?' sezee。
〃'Who? me?' sez Brer Coon。 'Ef he run up onter me; I lay I give 'im one twis';' sezee。〃
〃Did the dog come?〃 asked the little boy。
〃Go 'way; honey!〃 responded the old man; in an impressive tone。 〃Go way! Mr。 Dog; he come en he come a zoonin'。 En he ain't wait fer ter say howdy; nudder。 He des sail inter de two un urn。 De ve'y fus pas he make Brer Possum fetch a grin fum year ter year; en keel over like he wuz dead。 Den Mr。 Dog; he sail inter Brer Coon; en right dar's whar he drap his money purse; kaze Brer Coon wuz cut out fer dat kinder bizness; en he fa'rly wipe up de face er de yeth wid 'im。 You better b'leeve dat w'en Mr。 Dog got a chance to make hisse'f skase he tuck it; en w'at der wuz lef' un him went skaddlin' thoo de woods like hit wuz shot outen a muskit。 En Brer Coon; he sorter lick his doze inter shape en rack off