Story: Brer Rabbit and Brer Elephant
Book: Strange Ways and Sweet Dreams: Afro-American Folklore from the Hampton Institute
Author(s): Donald J. Waters
Storyteller: Mr. Patterson of Alabama
Published: 1983, published with a CC0 license
Internet Archive link.

Notes: I have removed the eye-dialect and edited for paragraphing and punctuation. Mr. Patterson of Alabama told the story at a meeting of the Hampton Folklore Society, and the proceedings were published in the Southern Workman in August 1894

Brer Rabbit and Brer Elephant

Once Brer Rabbit and Brer Elephant was courting some young ladies. Somehow Brer Rabbit want to cut Brer Elephant out, so one night when Rabbit was out visiting the ladies, he tell them that Brer Elephant was no count, ’cause he was nothing but his riding horse, and he say if they didn’t believe him that he would them next time he came around. So he appointed a night when he was coming.

One day Brer Rabbit went home and get in the bed. When Brer Elephant come home, he asked Brer Rabbit what was the matter. Brer Rabbit told him that he was very sick.

Now it happen that Brer Rabbit and Brer Elephant had made a agreement to call on the ladies that same day, but Brer Rabbit just playing off sick so he could fetch out his point.

Then Brer Elephant reminded Brer Rabbit of the fact that they had a appointment at the ladies’ house that evening, but Brer Rabbit tell Brer Elephant that he was too sick to call that day. Then Brer Elephant say, “Brer Rabbit, rather than miss going to see them gals this evening, I’ll tote you on my back up to the door.” This was what Brer Rabbit want, but he wouldn’t want to let on about it, so he tell Brer Elephant that he would like to go, but he decline ’cause he was too sick.

Then Brer Elephant keep worrying Brer Rabbit and worrying him till Brer Rabbit tell Brer Elephant that he would, providing he let him use his saddle and whip. Brer Elephant agreed to that ’cause he didn’t want to miss going to see the ladies.

When evening come, Brer Rabbit appeared mighty sick and act like he didn’t want to go, but coaxing from Brer Elephant sort of get him in mind.

After a while he get his saddle and riding whip and unbeknowing to Brer Elephant he get his spurs too. Brer Rabbit was so sick he couldn’t hardly get on Brer Elephant’s back. After lot of fixing and grunting, Brer Rabbit kind of get fix and they start on the way.

Presently they done come in sight of the ladies’ house. Then Brer Rabbit begin to stick his spurs in Brer Elephant. At the same time he use his whip, and begin to call the ladies to see him. He holler, “Oh ladies! Oh ladies! I told you so! I told you so! Brer Elephant ain’t nothing but my riding horse.” At this he jump down off Brer Elephant, laugh at him, and run in the house and shut the door.

Brer Elephant was mighty mad and said he would get even with Brer Rabbit.

Brer Elephant had a spring, and every morning somebody would go down there and muddy it. He expected that it was Brer Rabbit, so he say he was going to catch him.

One day he make a tar baby and sit it up at the spring. Early the next morning Brer Rabbit come down to get his water and after he done drink he muddy the spring.

As he’s starting away he see the tar baby. He say, “Good morning, little black gal.” But the tar baby ain’t say nothing. He say, “If you don’t say good morning, I”ll hit you with thi shand.” Tar baby ain’t say nothing yet, so with that, he haul off and hit the tar baby side the head. When he lift his hand, stuck! Then he say, “Little black gal, turn me loose! If you don’t, I’ll hit you with this other hand,” so with that he hit with the other hand and that stuck.

About this time Brer Elephant come down and when he see Brer Rabbit stuck to the tar baby, he say to him, “Oh yes, I thought I would catch the man what muddy my spring,” so he take Brer Rabbit, carry him to big pasture where make a big fire.

He say to Brer Rabbit, “I don’t know whether to throw you in the fire or in the briar patch.”

Brer Rabbit say, “Brer Elephant, whatever you do, don’t throw me in the briar patch, but throw me in the fire!” He keep on begging so hard to be throwed in the fire that Brer Elephant think that it would hurt him ost, so he up with him and throw him in the briar patch.

Time Brer Rabbit light on the ground he kick up his heels at Brer Elephant and say to him, “You fool, Brer Elephant! This where I is bred and born at,” and with that he run off in the bushes.

Photo of elephant at Wikimedia, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elephant_1.jpg