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

Brer Rabbit doubled back[14 - doubled back – (разг.) немного поплутал, запутывая следы], however, and went down to the stream where Sister Goose was.

“How you today, Sister Goose?”

“Just fine, Brer Rabbit. Excuse me for not shaking hands with you, but I got all these suds on my hands.”

Brer Rabbit said he understood.

I suppose I got to stop the story, ’cause I can hear you thinking that a goose don’t have hands. And next thing I know you be trying to get me to believe that snakes don’t have feet and cats don’t have wings, and I know better[15 - I know better – (разг.

) уж я-то знаю; мне лучше знать]! So, if you don’t mind, you can keep your thoughts to yourself and I’ll get back to the story.

After Brer Rabbit and Sister Goose had finished exchanging the pleasantries of the day, Brer Rabbit said, “I got to talk with you about Brer Fox. He’s coming for you, Sister Goose, and it’ll probably be before daybreak.

”

Sister Goose got all nervous and scared. “What am I gon’ do, Brer Rabbit? My husband is dead and ain’t no man around the house. What am I gon’ do?”

Brer Rabbit thought for a minute. “Take all your clothes and roll ’em up in a nice clean white sheet and put that on your bed tonight. Then you go spend the night up in the rafters.”

So, that’s what Sister Goose did. But she also sent for her friend, Brer Dog, and asked him if he’d keep watch that night.

He said he’d be glad to.

Just before daybreak Brer Fox creeped up to the house, looked around, eased the front door open and slipped inside. He saw something big and white on the bed. He grabbed it and ran out the door. Soon as he jumped off the porch, Brer Dog came out from under the house growling and scratching up dirt. Brer Fox dropped that bundle of clothes like it was a burning log and took off! It’s a good thing, too[16 - It’s a good thing, too – (разг.

) Р? правильно сделал, между прочим], ’cause it had taken Brer Dog four months to find somebody who could wash and iron his pajamas as good as Sister Goose, and he wasn’t about to let nothing happen to her.

Next day when the news got around that Brer Fox had tried to steal Sister Goose’s laundry, he couldn’t go nowhere for a week.