Story: Buh Alligatuh, Buh Rabbit an Buh Wolf
Book: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast
Author(s): Charles C. Jones
Published: 1888
Internet Archive link.

Notes: I have removed the eye-dialect, plus editing for paragraphing and punctuation, but the story is still told in Jones’s rendering of Gullah speech.

The Alligator, the Rabbit, and the Wolf

Buh Rabbit, him been a-thief Buh Alligator egg. Buh Alligator catch him top of he nest. He grab him and he put him in one croker bag, and he tie up the end of the bag tight, and he hang him on one tree limb, and he gone home for get he lash for lick Buh Rabbit.

Buh Rabbit that scared he eye big more than saucer. He do tremble in the bag, and do peep through the crack in the croker for notice what gonna happen. By and by he see Buh Wolf do ramble that way. Soon as Buh Wolf come anigh him, Buh Rabbit begin for sing say him going to Heaven, where him will have nothing for do except enjoy heself; where him will have no corn for grind, no tater for dig, no cotton for pick, no rice for hoe, and no chillun for mind. Buh Rabbit make pretense like him so happy ’cause the Lord just a-coming for take him right up into the element.

Buh Wolf stop. He listen to Buh Rabbit. He hear close, and then he say, “Buh Rabbit, ain’t that do you voice?”

Buh Rabbit, him make answer; “Yes, Brother, this do me.”

Then Buh Wolf ask him what he do do in that croker bag.

Buh Rabbit tell him say him just fix heself that a-way so the Lord can find him handy for take him right up into Heaven, and then he say, “Good-bye, Buh Wolf, I leave all me trial behind; you no gonna see me no more; me gonna leave right off for Heaven.”

Buh Wolf now, him ain’t have no better sense then for believe what Buh Rabbit do talk, and he beg Buh Rabbit for let him join him and go along him.

Buh Rabbit, him make answer, “Me Brother, me glad for oblige you, but the good Lord tell me say only one at a time can enter Heaven. Two and two can’t go there.”

Buh Wolf beg. He beg. At length Buh Rabbit make pretense say he give way ’cause Buh Wolf beg him so bad, and he say, “Well, Brother, you seem so anxious, me gonna let you take me chance this time, and me will have to wait top of the Lord till another turn.”

With that he tell Buh Wolf for loose the bag off of the tree limb and untie him. After Buh Wolf done do this, Buh Rabbit get out, and Buh Wolf take he place in the bag. Buh Rabbit tie up the mouth of the bag very tight, and hang him again on the tree limb.

Buh Wolf, like a fool, do sit inside do expect for rise to Heaven. Buh Rabbit now, he so glad he free, he hop off one side and hide heself in one gallberry thicket, where nobody can see, and cock he ears for notice what going happen. He know say big trouble gonna come top of Buh Wolf.

He ain’t been very long when here come Buh Alligator, do tote a keen black lash. He gone right up to the bag, and he give him a nasty cut. Then he haul back and he give the bag another whaling of a lick. He no been know say Buh Rabbit been get out, and that Buh Wolf been inside.

Buh Wolf couldn’t make out what been going on. The lick hurt him so bad he holler out, “What that? Who do dat? What you do do along me? Let me alone.”

Buh Alligator so vex he ain’t hear say he been Buh Wolf voice, and he keep do pile on the lick tell he tear the croker and cut the bag down. Buh Wolf all lick up so he scarcely can walk. When he scuffle out of the bag, Buh Alligator find out for the first time say he been a-whale up Buh Wolf, instead of Buh Rabbit what been thief he egg.

Then Buh Alligator ask Buh Wolf pardon, and make him tell him how come Buh Rabbit been fool him and get him for take he place in the bag. Buh Alligator vex and sorry all two: he vex ’cause Buh Rabbit play that trick and get way; he sorry ’cause Buh Wolf beat up so severe.

All this time Buh Rabbit do squat in the bush where he can see and hear everything, do half kill heself with laugh.

All the sorry what Buh Alligator been sorry for Buh Wolf ain’t been done him no good. He been bruise up so bad he have to take he bed for more than two week, and all that time Buh Wolf family most dead along hungry.

Buh Alligator and Buh Wolf all two make plan for catch Buh Rabbit, but them never did overtake him. No matter what the trouble, Buh Rabbit always have sense enough for clear heself. He ain’t have them long ears and big eye for nothing.

Florida Fish and Wildlife at Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/myfwcmedia/33589393580