Therefore the old man began again, and this
time in a louder and more insinuating tone:
"One time ole man Rabbit, he wuz gwine 'long down de road
shakin' his long, bushy tail, en feelin' mighty biggity."
This was effective.
"Great goodness, Uncle Remus!" exclaimed the little boy in
open-eyed wonder, "everybody knows that rabbits haven't got long,
bushy tails."
The old man shifted his position in his chair and allowed his
venerable head to drop forward until his whole appearance was
suggestive of the deepest dejection; and this was intensified by
a groan that seemed to be the result of great mental agony.
Finally he spoke, but not as addressing himself to the little
boy.
"I notices dat dem fokes w'at makes a great 'miration 'bout w'at
dey knows is des de fokes w'ich you can't put no 'pennunce in
w'en de 'cashun come up. Yer one un um now, en he done come en
excuse me er 'lowin dat rabbits is got long, bushy tails, w'ich
goodness knows ef I'd a dremp' it, I'd a whirl in en on-dremp
it."
"Well, but Uncle Remus, you said rabbits had long, bushy tails,"
replied the little boy. "Now you know you did."
"Ef I ain't fergit it off'n my mine, I say dat ole Brer Rabbit
wuz gwine down de big road shakin' his long, bushy tail.
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