Story: Does a Cow Have Pigs
Book: “Folklore from Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida” in Journal of American Folklore, volume 32
Author(s): Portia Smiley
Published: 1919
Internet Archive link.

Notes: I’ve removed the eye dialect and edited for paragraphing and punctuation. I have also added a specific phrase to the story to make it clear that Rabbit is going to his father because his father just gave birth; that was not made clear in the original story, but it is a well-attested African folktale motif. The music was transcribed by Helen Roberts.

Brer Rabbit’s Father

Brer Bear and Brer Wolf lived together on a farm. Brer Bear had a cow, and Brer Wolf had a sow.

One morning Brer Bear and Brer Wolf went out to the barn, and the sow came up with ten pigs. Brer Bear said it was his pigs his cow had. Brer Wolf said his sow had them pigs. So they couldn’ agree. They said they’d take it to court.

Brer Bear says he get Brer Frog for his lawyer, ’cause he was wise. Brer Wolf says he’ll get Brer Rabbit, though he’s a mighty trifling man. So they to meet the next day in the barnyard three o’clock, Brer Possum and Sis Possum, Brer Coon and Sis Coon, and Brer Bullfrog and all the critters around. Brer Buzzard said he’d come, ’cause he may have to clean up some of them dead, ’cause he know they going to kill somebody.

Next day everybody come a-skipping and a-hopping. Brer Frog was there sitting up on the judge stand, waiting for Brer Rabbit. Brer Rabbit ain’t turn up yet. About four o’clock they all say, “Well, I guess we’ll give Brer Bear the pigs, ’cause Brer Rabbit ain’t here to argue his case.”

All at once they heard a voice up the road, and they see the dust just a-flying. Brer Rabbit jut’ kicking up sand a-running. Then all at once he come a-rushing into the courthouse, a-puffing and a-panting, all out of breath. “Ladies and gents, I’se sorry to be late. I’se mean to gits here on time, but I had to see about a very important business to my father’s. He was giving birth to little rabbits.”

Brer Frog he allowed, “Your father giving birth! Whoever heard talk about somebody’s father giving birth?”

Brer Rabbit he hollered, “Ladies and gents! How many ever heard of a cow having pigs?”

“No! No!” cried the crowd. “Well, the sow and pigs are your’n,” and he won the case.

Then they give a party for Brer Rabbit, and Miss Meadows and all the gals were there. Brer Rabbit was in love with one of the Miss Meadows. Brer Nophy Wolf got his fiddle and played this tune:

Brer Rabbit put on Brer Rabbit’s hat;
Brer Rabbit took his coat and spats:
Big eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, hoo!
Big eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, gal!
Pop eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, hoo!
O Miss Liza Jane!
I met Brer Rabbit on the way,
I ask him where he going,
I thank your stars and bless my soul,
I hunt for the muscadine.
Big eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, hoo!
Big eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, gal!
Pop eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, hoo!
O Miss Liza Jane!
Hang my jawbone on the fence,
I haven’t seen nothing of my jawbone since.
Big eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, hoo!
Big eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, gal!
Pop eye, Brer Rabbit, hoo, hoo!