Joel Chandler Harris

Nights with Uncle Remus Joel Chandler Harris

Old Uncle Remus tells about the time Brer Fox grabs ahold of the horse's tail and hangs on . . . when Brer Rabbit jumps up and hollers out:

"'Hold 'im down, Brer Fox! You got 'im now, sho'! Hold yo' grip and hold 'im down!' says he.

"De Hoss, he jump and he hump! And he rip and he rear, and he snort and he tear! But Brer Fox hangs on, and still Brer Rabbit skips 'round and hollers:

"'Hold 'im down, Brer Fox! You got 'im whar he can't neither back nor squall! Hold 'im down, Brer Fox!' says he.

"Bimeby de Hoss going ter kick with his hind legs, and de fus' news you know, he fetches Brer Fox a lick in de stomach dat fa'rly makes 'im squall, and den he kick 'im ag'in, and dis time he breaks Brer Fox loose and sends 'im a-whirlin'! And Brer Rabbit, he keeps on a-jumpin' 'round and hollerin':

"'Hold 'im down, Brer Fox!'"

Joel Chandler Harris (1848-1908), journalist and author, achieved his greatest renown for humorous folktale retellings, in his Uncle Remus stories.