Tales of the bark lodges

Front matter

les of the Bark Lodges

By

HEN-TOH

Foreword

gree. The greater number of them yet used their own tribal language, and they found it difficult to think something out in this, and then transpose and express it in English. Yet, in spite of the many perplexities, when in the mood to do so, within the family, or circle of intimates, the English language was often spoken to the exclusion of their own. And with all their natural earnestness and seriousness, they would drive straight ahead, paying no attention whatever to the strange and ludicrous quirks and turns they gave to English as they tried to speak it.

They lived much in the past of their race, and they delighted to talk and tell of "the olden times." Lore and legend were very dear to them; and during the long nights of winter, the traditions, tales and myths, handed down from one generation to another for centuries, were often related by these older ones.

I have always loved the old people and their olden tales, and in the broken dialect peculiar alone to the "old time Indian," I have attempted to give some of the old stories originally derived from the Lake Region Tribes. Since these have survived for unknown ages, and have been told and re-told to so many generations; and, since I and many of the friends I have known, have

Foreword.

v found a certain enjoyment in hearing them related, I have tried to again re-tell some of them for the pleasure of anyone who may find in them anything to please. Perchance, even I, may thereby win another friend.

I have tried also to show somewhat of the individuality and view-point of these old people of the tribe; and it is to the dear memory of those who have long since passed beyond, and to the few that yet remain, that these stories and tales as now given, are dedicated.

Doubtless, there will be some readers, who will at once say that the rights and privileges of "Uncle Remus" have been set at naught. 1 say : not so ; and I believe that my life-long intimate knowledge of Indian life and character entitles me at least to my opinion. Others may have theirs.

I can well recall the time in my boyhood, when I saw the first of the "Uncle Remus Stories." I was delighted with them because I found so much in them with which I had been familiar from my earliest childhood. I hastened to call the attention of the older members of our family to them. And, more particularly did I hasten to read some of them to a dear old Aunt, a Wyandot woman of the old type, who lived with us.

vi Foreword.

Like myself, she was pleased with them, but at once said as many of the episodes were recognized:

"They're Indian stories; not whiteman; not nigger."

I heartily agreed with her, and while we both enjoyed them, we were just a bit indignant because, so to speak, our title had been preempted.

Later, when the discussion was taken up by older and far wiser heads than mine, and when Professor Powell of the Smithsonian Institute stated that the stories exhibited more of Indian origin than of negro, I was satisfied as to my claim, and have never since had reason to doubt the fact of their Indian origin.

That the origin of many of the episodes is purely Iroquoian, is to my mind too clear to admit of doubt or dispute. The Cherokee is an Iroquoian tribe, as is also the Wyandot. The Cherokees removed south at an early day in the history of this country and became slave-holders. Can it be doubted that much of their lore, and many of their old tales and traditions were absorbed by the negroes? The Wyandots remained until years later, with their kindred tribes in the north, where these same stories, legends, tales, and traditions had been preserved, with perhaps slight variations among the several tribes,

Foreword.

vii for centuries. Yes, even centuries before such thing was dreamed of, as the coming of either the white man or the black man.

Each of the many stories originally had some special significance which has long since been lost almost entirely. Their preservation was of tribal importance; and it was the duty of some of the older members of the tribe, to relate them to the younger ones. This had been an honored custom among them for untold ages.

Story-telling furnished a vast source of amusement and entertainment, as well as instruction, to the dwellers in the long bark lodges near the Lake shores, during the winter nights. Stories were never related except at this season of the year ; for it was the belief that the many spirits of nature thought to be awake and alert during the other seasons, would be perhaps offended at hearing so much said about them. So, in the long, cold, and sometimes dreary winter season, when all nature seemed to be soundly sleeping, time was often whiled away, and even hunger and want forgotten while listening to a story well told.

HEN-TOH, Wyandot.

Ottawa County, Oklahoma.

I

Contents

II. A Dance and a Dinner 14

III. Old Coon Sleeps Too Long. 23

IV. Old Fox Meets His Cousin 31

II. A Dance And A Dinner

Another evening when the Boy and Neh-ah were sitting before the same cheery fire, while outside the northwest wind swirled and whistled through the bare branches of the walnut trees, Neh-ah, knowing well that a story would soon be asked for, said :

"Bra-ty, I don' tele you 'bout how he's went to Big Council, 01' Coon, is it? That ol' scamp, he's jus' know he betta' keep out his way, 01' Fox, lit'l while, anyhow, caus' he's jus' hope 01' Coon, mebbe so, his couzzen he'll forgot it 'bout that craw-fishin', when he's prit' near los' it his tail.

"Co'se not, he don' fo'get it, 01' Fox, an' he don' lole nobody 'bout that kin' fishin,

A Dance and a Dinner 15 neitha' ; an' he's jus' hope Unci' Beaver wouldn' sed 'bout it to nobody too. But that OP Beaver, he's good 6Y fella, an jus' heap like 'im eva'body; anyhow, he's jus' got tell 'im his fren' that 01' Otter.

"That OF Otter, he's jus' jolly fella, an' all a time jus' laff good 'bout all a kin' a things; an' that Beaver, he's jus' all a time likes to hear 'im laff big, so, jus' tell 'im eva' time, anything, that Otter.

"Any-how —

"It's jus' few days afta' 01' Coon tole it, his couzzen how to ketch'em crawfish, he sed to he-self, 01' Coon: 'Mebbe so I get out a way lit'l time, cause Fox he might try it somethin' to get even.' Any how it's jus' 'bout that time, it's come 'Rah-shu,' it's what you call 'em moccasin, he's go all 'roun' diffunt village, an' tell'em somethin', eva'body. He sed this one, it's goin' be big Council way down 'notha place.

"Or Coon he's always like to go, cause he's good singer, an' he's talk good sometimes, too. Anyhow he sed: 'I go, bet'cha 01' Fox he's don't be there.' Then he's jus' laff, an' he sed: 'I tell 'em all those fellas how's 01' Fox he's ketch'em crawfish.'

"So's he's get ready an' he's go. He's fin' lots of 'em that place when he's got there. Somebody he sed : 'Where is it 01' Fox an' Turtle, it's always come them fellas, wonda' where is it an' why don' come.' But aftawhile 01' Coon tell 'em 'bout how ketch'em crawfish, 01' Fox, he don' say that no mo', jus' laff good.

'They all stay that place three-fouh days, talkin' 'bout lots thing, then Coon, he sed : 'Well, time I go,' an' he's pick up his lit'l drum an' start back. He's jus' travel 'long all day, sometime he's sing lit'l bit, sometimes he's talk to he-self. He neva' see nobody, 'til he's jus' 'bout home,

A Dance and a Dinner 17 when sun, he's 'bout go ova' hill; then he's

meet Turtle, jus' comin' long slow, he's

goin' home too.

" < 'Kway, my f ren' !' he's sed it, OF

Coon, What for you don' bin there, Big Council? We look fo' you, all time, we

want you make good talk.'

"OF Turtle, he sed: 'I goin' bin there, but jus' when I start, 01' Fox, his woman he come my lodge, an' he sed somethin' wrong 01' Fox, he's bad cross, don' like nothin'. He want me come see 'im, 01' Fox. So I tell 'im I go see 01' Fox, mebbe so he's sick, I doctah him. So, I go see him, but I can't know what's mattah with 'im. He's jus' cross like dickens all time, an' it's heap sore, his tail.'

"OF Coon he's jus' list'n an' laff lit'l bit, then he sed: '01' Fox, he be a'right in few day. I go, now, I gotta' fin' supper some kin'.' So he's go on. By-um-by he's come out of bush, right by lake, oh it's nice one, that lake, jus' blue watah and jus' clos' to sho' it's swim 'roun' lots of goose; he's fat one, too. 01' Coon, he's jus' look at those lots of goose, then he say : * Yo-ho, my fren's, you came, I tell it you somethin'; where I jus' come, it's eva'body jus' sing an' dance. It's new dance. You fellas jus' come out on nice sand, I show you how do it.' It's all those goose, he jus' come step out on sand, jus' walk like soldier, long string. 01' Coon jus' take off belt, his lit'l drum, an' sed it: 'Well, my fren's, you jus' make it big ring, I stay in middle. I sing an' beat it drum. When I stop sing an' play drum, all you gooses jus' shut eyes tight an' dance slow jus' like what I showed you now.' Then 01' Coon he's jus' dance nice to show 'em how, all those goose. He say, OF Coon: 'You musn't stop dance 'til I begin sing 'gen, an' jus' keep shut all time, yo' eye. It's

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I A Dance and a Dinner 19

how they dance eva'body, down that place I jus' come now.'

"So all that gooses jus' make ring, like he's toF 'em OP Coon, an' all jus' shut his eye an' list'n while he's sing good, OP Coon, an' jus' beat it that drum. He's jus' sing:

'Ho-he-yah, ho-ha,

Yah-dra-wah, ho-ye-yah, Ho-ha, yah-dra-wah.'

"Then when OP Coon, he quit singin', all those old goose jus' dance roun' slow an' easy like, all his eye jus' shut. Now OP Coon jus' reach out quick, an' grab one ol' fat she-goose, jus' snap his head off 'fore he could squawk, an' thro' it behin' him in hurry. Then he's sing agen, an' when he's stop sing, those goose jus' dance 'roun' slow like, an' he's grab 'notha one, fat one, an' quick, twis' head off an' throw behin' him, then he do same thing, an' get notha' one.

But jus' when he's ketch 'em las' one, little ol' she-goose dancin', open one eye jus' lit'l bit, cause he want see if he ain't bes' dancer. That she-goose when he see what he's do that 01' Coon, jus' holler loud an' sed: 'Oh, he's kill us,' an' all those goose he's fly away, like big hurry.

"OF Coon he's jus' laff, an' pick 'em up his three goose an' lit'l drum, an' start on to his lodge. He's think he's got good supper now.

''While he's goin' 'long, he's say to he-self: 'I b'lieve I like 'em betta' roas' gooses.' So when he's come his lodge, he's fix his gooses, an' pick up lots of stick to make big fire, cause by-um-by it's burn all down an' makes good lots coal an' ashes, good place to roas' 'em gooses. It's good supper he's got now, by-um-by, soon.

"It's w a y down 'long river, 01' Fox, his lodge. By-um-by he's look out an' see big light, big fire on hill clos' by his lodge, 01'

A Dance and a Dinner 21

Coon. OF Fox he look, an' he say to he-self : 'I wonda' he's come home, that oY rascal, an' what for he's got big fire. I jus' slip 'roun' that way an' see what he's do.' So he's call his lit'l nephew what's live with him, an' tole 'im don't need to make fire in lodge, cause he's goin' 'way an' not come back 'til late. It's what he sed, OF Fox, an' tell 'em nephew: 'You go sleep.'

"Well, 'bout that time, his fire, 01' Coon it's all burn down, an' make good ashes an' hot coal. He's take stick an' scrape all 'way that hot coal, an' lay 'em down that gooses on his back, all, one, two, three, in row, his foot all stick up straight out ashes jus' like beans what's jus' come up in garden.

"It's gettin' dark now, an' wind it's blow. He could hear 'im up in limbs on tree. 01' Coon, up high on rocky hill, he's set down by fire an' jus' lis'n. He's kin' tired that 01' Coon, an' it's jus' soun' easy that wind, an' make 'im feel sleepy like. He's lis'n to river down there, too, jus' soun's good, an' by-um-by he's jus' sleepy like eva'thing. So, he say to he-self: 'I could take it nap while it's cook, my supper, I do that 'cause nothin' botha it 'tall.'

"It's some limbs way up high ova he head, jus' makin' noise cause wind it's blow and jus' make squeek when it's rub togatha that limbs. 01' Coon he's sed: 'Hey, you noisy fellas up tha', I want sleep lit'l nap, you woke me if it's botha anythin' 'bout my supper.' He's say a'right that limbs, an' by-um-by that 01' Coon he's curl up an' sleep good, jus' lit'l ways from fire."

III. - Old Coon Sleeps Too Long

A stick of wood in the fire-place burned in two, and the sparks went flying up the chimney's black throat. The Boy took the poker and drew the other logs closer together. Meanwhile the tall old clock struck off eight resounding peals, finishing with its usual whirr.

"Neh-ah, it only said eight, can't you go on and tell me if that poor Old Coon, hungry as he was, got to eat his fine supper; or did it all burn up while he was taking such a good nap. He made such a great fire, I'm wondering."

After turning to the boy's mother, who was sitting near by sewing, and address-

Tales of the Baek Lodges ing a few words to her in Wyandot, the Old Aunt said:

"No, it don' burn it up, his supper. Spec' he don' bin so mad if did. He no bizness lay there an' go sleep it so good; but he's jus' all a time such a smart, it' jus' good 'nough fo' him. I tole you lit'l mo' 'bout it, then you go bed.

"Well,

"It's a'ready come up, big moon, down there in east; but it's jus' sleepin' yet, 01' Coon, don' wake 'im up, nothin'. By-um-by, up there in rocks, 'bove where it's sleepin', 01' Coon, you could see 'em sharp nose an' sharp eyes too, jus' 'roun' edge of rock, lookin' down where's sleep, 01' Coon. Then when see he's sleep good, that Coon, 01' Fox he's come down, jus' walkin' easy, he don' step on rocks, no nothin', jus' walk sof an' don' mak' it noise. He's look all 'roun' that Fox, an'

Old Coon Sleeps Too Long 25 by-um-by he's see 'em that six goose foots stickin' out row in ashes.

" 'Ah-e-e-e,' he jus' sed it easy, 'that's reason he's got big fire, 01' Coon. I glad I'm fin' it, an' I glad I'm come see 'bout it that big fire. I lik' 'em roas' gooses, an' I could jus' 'bout eat'em three of it. He's good one, hunter, my Couzzen; but musta-be it's heap tired now. Too tired, can't eat 'em; well, I eat 'em that goose.'

"He's look at that 01' Coon all-a-time, but he's jus' sleepin' good now, so Fox he's jus' step 'roun' easy an' get stick, an' scrape way ashes from that gooses. It's roas' nice, an' jus' smell good. It's some limbs up there in trees jus' sque-e-k, but it don' botha' him, 01' Coon.

"Fox, he's get busy eat it that goose an' by-um-by it's jus' nothin' lef but pile bones — it's got lots meat on yet, cause he's jus' eat it bes' part, that Fox. He's got nuff fo' he's eat all of it; jus' can't eat no mo'. It's jus' sque-e-k all-a-time that limbs, but don' wake it up nothin' that OF Coon.

"When he's eat all he want, that Fox, he pick up all-a bones an' put 'em back in ashes, an' he's cova' all up 'gen jus' lik' it's don' botha' it nothin'; an' he's stick it in row 'gen, all that goose foots in ashes, jus' same lik' he's fix it, 01' Coon.

"It's lit'l pile sof ashes clos' by, an' he's go there, 01' Fox, an' he's jus' dance all ova' it, so's he could fin' it his tracks, that 01' Coon when he's wake up. He sed it: <l think my couzzen he bin glad I come see 'im, he bin glad I don' woke 'im up, cause he's heap tired.'

"He's jus' fix it eva'thin' that Fox, then he's go down hill towa'ds river. It's fine night, moonlight, an' he's jus' walk 'long riva-bank 'til he's feel kinda' tired and sleepy-like — that cause he's eat so much

Old Coon Sleeps Too Long. 27

goose. By-um-by he's come to big one tree what's stan' 'way out ova' riva'. It's look like good place to sleep, so he's clim' up an' fin' good place to stretch out, an' by-um-by he's go to sleep. Big moon, it's yellow, shine jus' ova' that Fox, down through limbs what don' got no leaf on it, and make good shadow that Fox down in clear water; it's jus' lik' he's down tha' in water, that Fox.

"Well, by-um-by up on hill, that OF Coon he's jus' wake up in hurry an' he's sed: 'I guess I take good nap, mebbe.' An' he's jus' stretch he-self an' look 'roun'. He's jus' think: 'Well, I got good supper anyhow, must-a-be cook good now.'

"He's go in hurry ova' to fire an' reach out bofe hands an' ketch holt goose foots to lift it out of ashes. He jus' lif kind-a hard, lik' it's heavy, an' he's jus' tumble back an' roll ova' holdin' that goose foots in his hand. He's jus' feel lik' funny, an'

he say: 'I guess it's cook too much, my supper/'

"He's get up an' go ova' there fire 'gen, an" take it out that otha' goose-foots one at time. He's don' know what's matter, an' he's jus' look lik' funny' eva' time he's take it out that goose-foots; then he's take stick an' scrape 'way that ashes, an' don' fin' nothin' jus' pile bones with lit'l bit meat on it. He's jus' much mad. an' he's sed it:

" 'He's jus' bin here, some lazy thief an' steal it my supper. I jus' like to seen it, I bet I bust 'im his nose. I jus' like to fin' out who done it, I bet I poun' it good. Must-a-be it's that 01' Fox. he's the one. He's jus' think he's get even for that craw-fishin' I tor 'im how to do it. 'At jus' joke that one. It's m-e-a-n trick, this one. It's a' right for him. jus' wait I ketch 'im. I poun' 'im an' lick 'im good, I don' care fo' hund'ed snakes, how much he's holler.

I

i

Old Coon Sleeps Too Long. 29

when I fin' 'im.' He's jus' get madda' all time that OF Coon, an' he's jus' shake his fist at those limb up in trees, an' sed: 'What fo' you don' do it like I sed it, wake me up when I sleep it? I tole you that way, ain't it?' He's jus' pickin' meat off those bone, while he's scold it that limbs, an' he's jus' mad like eva'thing. He's jus' scold som' mo' that limb, and sed it:

" 'What fo' you don' keep still now, you don' have to make noise, you jus' make me mad all a time. If don' stop you makin' noise, I come up tha' when I finish pick this bones, an' I make you stop.' That limb he's jus' keep on squeek, squ-e-e-k, all-a-time, an' it's so mad that 01' Coon jus' hurry an' eat that bones, so he could go up an' whip it those limb.

"When he's get thro' eatin' that bone, he jus' look 'roun' an' by-um-by he's fin' it that place where he's dance, 01' Fox.

OF Coon he's fin , it that tracks, an' when he's look at it, he's jus' m-a-d, some mo'. An' he's jus' pick on that limbs som' mo', an' sed it: 'I jus' come up there an' I fix it you fellas.' So he's jus' go up that trees 'til he's come to that place where that limb it's kin' a broke, an' it's in fork, an' wind it's blow an' jus' make it that noise where it's rub. 01' Coon, he's jus' take holt that big limb with bofe han's an' he's jus' goin' throw down. He's so mad he don' see that mebbe so might pinch 'im that limbs, cause it's jus' swing. Fust he's know it' jus' ketch 'im his hand, that limb, an' jus' pinch 'im tight. Oh, it's hurt like eva'thing. He's jus' pull an' pull, that Coon, an' jus' make worse. By-um-by he's pull it out; but it's hurt b-a-d his hand. He's sure get hard time, that Or Coon. He's jus' slip off try to sleep mebbe."

l

IV. Old Fox Meets His Cousin

It had been snowing, and outside a keen, sharp north wind was rioting everywhere. The Boy, having finished his evening chores, came in with some hickory logs for the fire-place.

The fire-light alone lit up the room, and the old brass andirons glinted in its glow. Neh-ah was sitting in her usual place, and the Boy, taking his,, said :

"Neh-ah, this is a fine evening for some more stories about Old Fox and Old Coon. I know it is so cold outside that no snakes or grass-hoppers or anything else will hear you telling them."

"Yooht! What fo' you don' get tired hear them ol' story. Jus' seem like you want it all a time, oF story. Guess you betta' go you' Unci' Jim, Canada, cause he could tole you that kin' Injun story, all kin' 'til you get tired to list'n. Long 'go when we all young folks, we go down Gram'ma Hunt, his house, winta' time, an' jus' list'n to ol' story, lots of 'em. Was bes' one to tell 'em story, Gram'ma Hunt. Neva' did get tired to list'n, an' he's jus lik' it to tole us that kin' too. Only was some kin' story jus' fo' ol' folks, he don' tole to us that ones.

"What 'bout I tole you las' time? Oh, yes, 01' Coon he's los' it his good gooses suppa', an' 01' Fox he's bin fill up plenty.

"Well, seems like when 01' Coon so mad an' make that big talk 'bout how he's lick 'im that Fox, he's heard 'im sed it, that Mister Skunk; so that Skunk, he's jus' go right now an' tole 'im all 'bout it that Fox what he's sed it that Coon, how he's goin' lick 'im. Then he mad, that Fox, and he tell 'im Skunk: 'You jus' see, I lick 'im that Coon, myself, first time I seen it.'

"He' don' had no chance fo' few day tho', cause that Coon he's jus' stay at home, cause it's bad sore, his hand.

"One night, it's kinda late, that Coon he's think, 'I guess I go ketch 'em crawfish.' So he's go down by riva' an' ketch 'em good many, take 'em his lodge an' have good suppa'. He don' take it no naps this time.

"When he's done his suppa' he's jus' think, 'I take lit'l walk cause don' bin no where, long time.' So he's start out 'long riva' bank. Eva'thing jus' seem like good to that 01' Coon, he's jus' trot 'long sing low like to he-self. He's jus' like happy, an' jus' keep on goin'. By-um-by he's get sleep like, an' jus' wish he's back his lodge; but it's long ways, so he sed it:

'I fin' some place take nap/ Right that time he's come 'long clos' by that big tree what he's seen it 01' Fox. Jus' grow leanin' ova' wata\ OY Coon, he's think it good place, so he's clim' up in lit'l fork limb. He's jus' fix good, 'bout go sleep, an' he's hear somethin'.

"It's big moon yet, an' jus' bright. 01' Coon he's look down riva'-bank an' he's see it comin' 01' Fox, jus' trot 'long trail. He's jus' keep still, 01' Coon, like he's sleep; but he's look straight down unda' him an' he's see his shadow in wata', looks jus' like him. He's look at that 01' Fox an' he's lookin' at that shadow, too. He's jus' lookin' m-a-d, an' 01' Coon he's hear him sed it, OF Fox: 'Here it is that Coon, in wata' lookin' fo' crawfish now. I jus' slip up an' jump on 'im give 'im lickin'.' So, Fox he's just' slip up edge riva'-bank, eye jus' snappin'. He jus' make big jump down in wata' where he think it that Coon. He jus' make it b-i-g splosh, an' prit' soon come up top wata' an' he's jus' sputtah an' blow b-i-g, jus' like almos' choke 'im. Then he's hear that Coon up in tree jus' laff 1-o-u-d, an' say: 'Hey, Couzzen, it's early to swim, ain't it? I hear Gran'fatha' Turtle he sed it, you musn't jump when you don' look, an' you mustn't be too hurry.'

"That Fox he's crawl out on bank an' he's jus' sheever. He don' sed nothin', jus' commence pick up stick an' brushes an' pile it foot of tree, lit'l ways clos' to make fire. He's put 1-o-t-s stick an' make it big fire, an' when it's burn good, he's jus' sit down foot that tree, that Fox, jus' like he stay there 'till he's come down tree, that Coon.

"Prit' soon, Coon he's sed it: 'My Couzzen, sure you not goin' set tha' long time. You coat lots wet, mebbe so ketch 'em bad cold. I glad to come down talk to you, mebbe so gif some my tobacco to smoke, cause must-a-be wet yours afta' -you jump in riva'. I spec' I stay here tho', it' best one, cause I could see good up this tree, mebbe so somebody comin' long to botha' you, I seen it an' tole you 'bout it.'

"OP Fox he don' sed nothin', jus' set by fire, back up 'gainst tree, an' jus' keep it shut, his mouth. It's hard work tho', that kin'. That Coon he could drop in wata' an' get 'way; but he jus' think he's stay in tree an' talk an' foolish 'im his couzzen. By-um-by, he sed it:* 'Well, I sleep it lit'l bit now.' So, he's curl up an' sleep it.

"Afta' long time he's woke up. It's shine bright, big moon, 'way high. He's look down an' its settin' by tree yet, that Fox, jus' soun' sleep it. Coon, he's jus' slip down e-a-s-y, 'til he's clos' to that Fox. He sleep it good, could heard 'im snore. Coon, he's jump easy down on groun'. He don' move nothin' that Fox, sure 'nough sleep it. He's bad one, that OF Coon, he's jus' take it long one, stick, dry leaf on end, an' he's tickle it his nose, that Fox; but he's so sleep don' botha' him jiothin'.

"That bad one, 01' Coon, he sed it to he-self : 'It prit' good chance, mebbe so I make it 'notha' tricks on my couzzen.'

"So, he's jus' slip 'long down by riva'- bank where he fin' it lots sticky mud, it's red. He's get big one, chunk, that muds an' jus' spread on flat rock, an' put it on wata', jus' stir lit'l bit an' make it heap sticky, jus' like what you call it, moh-lass. Then he's took it that muds an' jus' rub all ova' his face, that Fox, put lots that muds on his eye. He's jus' step back lit'l bit, that Coon, an' look at him, that Fox, an' he's jus' laff good to he-self, an' sed it: 'My poor couzzen sure have good time to wash it face in mornin', if it's dry good that muds. I spec' I start home now, mebbe so it's time.'

"Well, he's started that 01' Coon an' go lit'l piece, then he's jus' roll ova' on groun' an' jus' laff big at that Fox 'till he's tired.

"It's 'bout gone that moon, jus' comin' daylight in east, when he's woke up that Fox. What's matter? He's woked up sure ; but can't see nothin', can't open it his eye, not jus' lit'l bit. He's jus' stagger an' run into stump an' bush, jus' fall down, almos' tumble in riva'. It be good thinghe did, cause soak it up that muds; but he don' done it.

"He's jus' rub it that dried muds but he don' come off, an' eye jus' stick 'em tight shut, can't open. He's sure bad fix this time, an' jus' m-a-d like dickens. Jus' sed it all a bad name could think of 'bout that 01' Coon, jus' cuss him heap, I guess. It's don' do no good that kin' tho'.