The Tales of Uncle Remus / Сказки дядюшки Римуса. Книга для чтения на английском языке

He was swinging that axe so hard and so fast, the chips were piling up like snowflakes.

“He’s in there!” Brer Buzzard yelled. “He’s in there!” The sweat was pouring off Brer Fox like grease coming out of a Christmas goose what’s been in the oven all day. Finally, Brer Buzzard couldn’t hold it in any longer and he bust out laughing.

“What’s so doggone funny?” Brer Fox wanted to know, putting his axe down.

“He’s in there, Brer Fox! He’s in there!” Brer Buzzard exclaimed, still laughing.

Brer Fox was suspicious now. He stuck his head in the hole and didn’t see a thing. “It’s dark in there, Brer Buzzard. Your neck is longer than mine. You stick your head in. Maybe you can see where he’s at.”

Brer Buzzard didn’t want to do it, but he didn’t have no choice. He walked over real careful like, stuck his head in the hole, and soon as he did, Brer Fox grabbed his neck and pulled him out.

“Let me go, Brer Fox! I ain’t done nothing to you. I got to get home to my wife.

She be worrying about me.”

“She don’t have to do that, ’cause you gon’ be dead if you don’t tell me where that rabbit is.”

Brer Buzzard told him what had happened and how sorry he was.

“Well, it don’t make no never mind,” said Brer Fox. “You’ll do just as good.[43 - You’ll do just as good. – (зд.) Ты тоже подойдешь.] I’m gon’ throw you on a fire and burn you up.”

“If you do, I’ll fly away.”

“Well, if that’s the case, I better take care of you right here and now.

”

Brer Fox grabbed Brer Buzzard by the tail to throw him on the ground and break his neck. Soon as he raised his arm, however, Brer Buzzard’s tail feathers came out and he flew away.

Po’ Brer Fox. If it wasn’t for bad luck, he wouldn’t have no luck at all.

Brer Rabbit and Sister Cow

While Brer Fox was sitting on the ground with Brer Buzzard’s tail feathers in his hand, wondering if God had something against him, Brer Rabbit was eleventeen miles away.

He was tired, sweaty, and out of breath, and when he saw Sister Cow grazing in a field, he thought how nice it would be if she gave him some milk to drink. But he knew she wouldn’t. One time his wife had been sick and Brer Rabbit had asked her for some milk and she’d refused him. But that didn’t make no never mind. He was going to get him some of her milk.

“How you, Sister Cow?” asked Brer Rabbit, walking up to her.