Reading Week 9: Brer Rabbit, Part A

(Brer Rabbit and Tar-Baby: Wikipedia)

 The Calamus Root

Brer Fox had done all he could to try and catch Beer Rabbit, but one day he decided he would play a game. The fox asked the rabbit if he wanted to have some confab and the two agreed. They had been told they didn't get along well and weren't acting neighborly to one another. Brer Rabbit then invited Brer Fox to dinner and he agreed. The next day, the rabbit and his wife got up early and gathering some cabbages, roasting ears, and sparrows grass to make dinner. His children sat in the yard all day waiting for the fox to come. After a long time, Brer Rabbit goes and peeps around the front door to see the tip of the fox's tail and quickly slams the door shut. Brer Fox made up an excuse that he was too sick and that's why he couldn't make it to dinner, so the fox invited him to dinner. When he rabbit got to the fox's house, he was wrapped up looking weak. The rabbit looked around and saw no dinner on the table, but instead a carving knife. He claimed they were having chicken for dinner. The rabbit said he wouldn't eat the chicken if it wasn't seasoned with calamus root and with that he dodge out the door and went to retrieve the root to leave on the fox's stump outside his house. Brer Fox never was able to catch him.

The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story

A day after the rabbit fooled the fox with the calamus root, the fox went to get some tar to mix with turpentine and fix up a concoction called Tar-Baby. He then hid in the bushes to wait for the rabbit and the rabbit came along soon after. Brer Rabbit came prancing along until he spotted the Tar-Baby and he was astonished. He greeted the Tar-Baby and made small talk, but the Tar-Baby wouldn't respond. The fox was listening the whole time laying low. Brer Rabbit thought the baby must be deaf so he told him he would cure him. Brer Rabbit tried to teach him how to make conversation until he became frustrated and hit him on the side of the head, breaking the molasses jugs and his fist got stuck. The rabbit demanded he be let go and continued to threaten him. That's when the fox came out of hiding, looking all innocent and invited the rabbit to dinner again. This time he had calamus root!

Why Mr. Possum Loves Peace

One night, Brer Possum and Brer Coon had gobbled up dinner and were smoking cigars until Mr. Dog came toward them from the woods. They were laughing and filling up their bellies and enjoying themselves. They asked each other what they would do if the dog approached them. All of a sudden, Mr. Dog zoomed in and took both their lives. After gobbling them up, he raced into the woods, not realizing Brer Coon had actually lived. Brer Coon no longer wanted to hang out with Brer Possum because he believed he was a coward. The possum hadn't died either and had just pretended to lie dead. They were no longer afraid of Mr. Dog. From that day on, Brer Possum bound to surrender when you touch him in the short ribs, and he'll laugh for he knows he will get smashed for it.

How Mr. Rabbit Was Too Sharp for Mr. Fox

When the fox found the rabbit in a tussle with the Tar-Baby, and he was laughing and hollering for he believed his plan had worked. He refused to help Brer Rabbit and told him he was going to barbecue him. The rabbit talked humbly to the fox and requested to not be flung into the brier-patch. The fox began to build the fire but found it was too much work so he decided the hang the rabbit. The rabbit continued to talk humbly. Since the fox had no string to hang the rabbit, he thought he could drown him. The fox couldn't find deep enough water so he decided he would have to skin him. The fox wanted to cause the most pain for the rabbit, so he flung him into the brier-patch. The rabbit tricked the fox for he had been born and bred in the brier-patch.

Mr. Fox is Outdone by Mr. Buzzard

Mr. Turkey Buzzard was guarding the hollow where Brer Rabbit went in and out of of, when he began to feel lonesome. It didn't take long for the fox to come strolling by with his axe over his shoulder. Mr. Buzzard told the fox the rabbit was taking his afternoon nap and the fox took his ax and struck the tree. Mr. Buzzard began to wail for he didn't want the rabbit to be harmed. Then Mr. Buzzard flapped his wings and scrambled around as the fox held him to the ground as he kept chopping away. The turkey begged to be left alone and claimed the rabbit was in the hole. Finally, Brer Fox realized the rabbit wasn't in the hole and he threatened to burn the turkey up. The fox went to grab the turkey's tail to throw him into the fire, but the turkey sailed off and flew out of sight!

Mr. Wolf Makes a Failure

Brer Wolf came to see Brer Fox one day and the wolf seemed like he was up to something suspicious. The talk of the town was how the rabbit had deceived the fox and the wolf told of a plan he had to trap Brer Rabbit. They needed to get the rabbit to the fox's house by fooling him. Brer Fox had to go home and lie in bed pretending he is dead. The wolf went and banged on the rabbit's door and told him the bad news that Brer Fox had died that morning. The rabbit thought it was strange the wolf didn't have him mourning gown on. Brer Rabbit got dressed and headed to the fox's home and when he got there, nobody else was there. The rabbit began talking out loud to make the fox stir in his bed. Sure enough, Brer Fox twitched his foot and the rabbit went running out of the house. 

Mr. Fox Tackles Old Man Tarrypin

One day, Brer Fox went to strike up with Brer Terrapin and he noticed right away the fox's eyes were mighty red. He thought he was in trouble or had been suffering. The terrapin thought he looked very weak and asked about his health. The terrapin then told him of how this man came by and set a field on fire and he escaped. When asked how he escaped, he said he sat there and took it. The fox knew the terrapin had lied to him and threatened he would out him. He begged for his life, but the fox dragged the terrapin away and put him below the water. The terrapin was drowning and the fox turned loose the tail.

The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf

There is nothing good that comes from bothering and pestering people and Brer Wolf and Brer Fox couldn't learn their lessons. Brer Rabbit was beginning to not live a life of peace for he was afraid to leave him home and he wanted to protect his family. He would pass the time at home reading the newspaper and smoking his pipe and made a hole in the cellar for his children to hide. One day, Brer Rabbit was fixing to call Miss Coon when Brer Wolf came busting through his door and the little rabbit leaped into their hiding spot. He asked the rabbit to save him from the dogs chasing him. He told him to jump into the chest and in he went. The rabbit then clasped the chest shut and went to boil some water to use for tea. Then Brer Rabbit took a gimlet to drill holes in the chest to help the wolf breathe better. Then they poured the hot water into the holes and the scalding water killed him. All the neighbors held a jubilee and finally felt safe to leave their homes. 

Bibliography:

Title: Brer Rabbit

Author: Joel Chandler Harris

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