Story: Bro’ Fox and the Foolish Jay-Bird
Book: “Negro Tales from Georgia,” in Journal of American Folklore v. 25
Author(s): Emma Backus and Ethel Leitner
Published: 1912
Internet Archive link.

Notes: This is one of the stories recorded by Ethel Leitner. I’ve removed the eye-dialect removed, plus I’ve edited for paragraphing and punctuation.

Bro’ Fox and the Foolish Jay-Bird

One day Bro’ Fox been eating some turkey, and he get a bone stuck in he tooth what make it mighty hot, and achy. It hurt so bad he can’t eat nothing for four days, so he go to Mr. Jay-Bird and ask him for to pull the piece of bone out.

Mr. Jay-Bird agree for to pull it out, but the Jay-Bird was mighty cute and schemey bird. He was jealous of Mr. Mocking-bird, ’cause he was the finest singer, and he hate him ’cause he mock him. He make a plan in he mind for to get Bro’ Fox to kill Mr. Mocking-bird, and all he family so he agree for to pull out the piece of bone, but he make Bro’ Fox wait a long time first, whilst he tell him how dangerous it was to chew big bones. Then when Bro’ Fox get mighty impatient, he hop on he jaw, and peck the piece of bone out he tooth. Bro’ Fox mighty relieved.

“There, Bro’ Fox!” he say, “that all right. Now I’se going to give you some good advice: you eat little bones after this. If you has a mind to, just as soon as it get dark, I’se going to show you where Mr. Mocking-bird and he whole family roost, and then you can catch him, and taste meat what am sweet.”

And with that he arguify about how good bird-bones taste, till Bro’ Fox mouth just water. Then he ask, “You feels a heap better, don’t you, Bro’ Fox?” and Bro’ Fox he say, sort of anxious-like, “I’se afraid you is done left a little piece of that bone in there yet. I wish you would just step in again and look, Bro’ Jay-Bird.”

Then, when Mr. Jay-Bird hop on he jaw for to look in he tooth, Bro’ Fox snap he mouth to and catch him, and make remark, through he teeth, “Yes, Mr. Jay-Bird, I does feel a heap better! I feels so much better that I is hungry, and you done told me so much about the fine flavor of the little bones, that I can’t wait till night come for to try them!” And with that he chew him up, and say the flavor were very fine indeedy.

When you bargains with a rascal for to harm your friends, you better make sure you is in a safe place yourself before you begins to make your agreement.

Blue Jay at Pxhere https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1515301