I would like to invite you all to come down to the deep South of America with me and meet Uncle Remus. The Tales of Uncle Remus were wrote by Joel Chandler Harris and were the largest single collection of Afro-American folktales Joel Chandler Harris ever
collected and published. Between 1896 and 1918 he published around 260
tales in eight volumes, all of them black folktales. I absolutely adored the tales of Brer Rabbit and my most favourite of all of them was and still is Brer Rabbit and the Tar
Baby. I used to get my mum or dad to read it to me over and over again,
then when my sisters were old enough, I had them, read it as well,
otherwise I cried until they felt sorry for me. Yes,
I know I was a naughty girl, but I did so love the story. I hope you
find it just as good. It mightn't be exactly the same as the one Uncle
Remus wrote but it is how I remember it as retold by:-
Catharine Farrell from a story retold by Joel Chandler Harris
Brer Fox and The Tar Baby
One
day Brer Fox thought of how Brer Rabbit had been cutting up his capers
and bouncing around until he'd come to believe that he was the boss of
the whole gang. Brer Fox thought of a way to lay some bait for that
uppity Brer Rabbit.
He
went to work and got some tar and mixed it with some turpentine. He
fixed up a contraption that he called a Tar-Baby. When he finished
making her, he put a straw hat on her head and sat the little thing in
the middle of the road. Brer Fox, he lay off in the bushes to see what
would happen.
Well, he didn't have to wait long either, 'cause by and by Brer Rabbit came
pacing down the road--lippity-clippity, clippity-lippity--just as sassy
as a jaybird. Brer Fox, he lay low. Brer Rabbit came prancing along
until he saw the Tar-Baby and then he sat back on his hind legs like he
was astonished. The Tar-Baby just sat there, she did, and Brer Fox, he
lay low.
"Good morning!" says Brer Rabbit, says he. "Nice weather we're having this morning," says he.
Tar-Baby didn't say a word, and Brer Fox, he lay low.
"How are you feeling this morning?" says Brer Rabbit, says he.
Brer Fox, he winked his eye real slow and lay low and the Tar-Baby didn't say a thing.
"What is the matter with you then? Are you deaf?" says Brer Rabbit, says he. "Cause if you are, I can holler louder," says he.
The Tar-Baby stayed still and Brer Fox, he lay low.
"You're
stuck-up, that's what's wrong with you. You think you're too good to
talk to me," says Brer Rabbit, says he. "And I'm going to cure you,
that's what I'm going to do," says he.
Brer Fox started to chuckle in his stomach, he did, but Tar-Baby didn't say a word.
"I'm
going to teach you how to talk to respectable folks if it's my last
act," says Brer Rabbit, says he. "If you don't take off that hat and
say howdy, I'm going to bust you wide open," says he.
Tar-Baby stayed still and Brer Fox, he lay low.
Brer
Rabbit kept on asking her why she wouldn't talk and the Tar-Baby kept
on saying nothing until Brer Rabbit finally drew back his fist, he did,
and blip--he hit the Tar-Baby on the jaw. But his fist stuck and he
couldn't pull it loose. The tar held him. But Tar-Baby, she stayed
still, and Brer Fox, he lay low.
"If
you don't let me loose, I'm going to hit you again," says Brer Rabbit,
says he, and with that he drew back his other fist and blap--he hit the
Tar-Baby with the other hand and that one stuck fast too.
Tar-Baby she stayed still, and Brer Fox, he lay low.
"Turn me loose, before I kick the natural stuffing out of you," says Brer Rabbit, says he, but the Tar-Baby just sat there.
She just held on and then Brer Rabbit jumped
her with both his feet. Brer Fox, he lay low. Then Brer Rabbit yelled
out that if that Tar-Baby didn't turn him loose, he was going to butt
her crank-sided. Then he butted her and his head got stuck.
Brer Fox walked out from behind the bushes and strolled over to Brer Rabbit, looking as innocent as a mockingbird.
"Howdy,
Brer Rabbit," says Brer Fox, says he. "You look sort of stuck up this
morning," says he. And he rolled on the ground and laughed and laughed
until he couldn't laugh anymore.
By
and by he said, "Well, I expect I got you this time, Brer Rabbit," says
he. "Maybe I don't, but I expect I do. You've been around here sassing
after me a mighty long time, but now it's the end.
And then you're always getting into something that's none of your business,"
says Brer Fox, says he. "Who asked you to come and strike up a
conversation with this Tar-Baby? And who stuck you up the way you are?
Nobody in the round world. You just jammed yourself into that Tar-Baby
without waiting for an invitation," says Brer Fox, says he. "There you
are and there you'll stay until I fix up a brushpile and fire it up,
"cause I'm going to barbecue you today, for sure," says Brer Fox, says
he.
Then Brer Rabbit started talking mighty humble.
"I
don't care what you do with me, Brer Fox, says he, "Just so you don't
fling me in that briar patch. Roast me, Brer Fox, says he, "But don't
fling me in that briar patch."
"It's so much trouble to kindle a fire," says Brer Fox, says he, "that I expect I'd better hang you," says he.
"Hang
me just as high as you please, Brer Fox, says Brer Rabbit, says he,
"but for the Lord's sake, don't fling me in that briar patch," says he.
"I don't have any string, " says Brer Fox, says he, "Now I expect I had better drown you, " says he.
"Drown
me just as deep as you please, Brer Fox," says Brer Rabbit, says he,
"But please do not fling me in that briar patch, " says he.
"There's no water near here," says Brer Fox, says he, "And now I reckon I'd better skin you," says he.
"Skin
me Brer Fox," says he. "Snatch out my eyeballs, tear out my ears by the
roots," says he, "But please, Brer Fox, don't fling me in that briar
patch, " says he.
Of
course, Brer Fox wanted to get Brer Rabbit as bad as he could, so he
caught him by the behind legs and slung him right in the middle of the
briar patch. There was a considerable flutter when Brer Rabbit struck
the bushes, and Brer Fox hung around to see what was going to happen.
By
and by he heard someone call his name and 'way up on the hill he saw
Brer Rabbit sitting cross-legged on a chinquapin log combing the tar
pitch out of his hair with a chip. Then Brer Fox knew he had been
tricked.
Uncle Remus telling the stories to a Little Girl
Then Brer Rabbit hollered out, " I was Born and bred in the briar patch!" And with that he skipped out just as lively as a cricket in the embers of a fire.
I love these little video's but they are not quite the Mr Men they look on the front cover so please mum and dad have a look through them before allowing the very young to watch all of them. The video show was first shown here in Seligor's Castle, way back in early 2007 on the Playtimes 4 U pages. But there are a couple of video's here that do go well in the Shaggy Dog Tales. Enjoy Seligor & Diddly xxx
JUST CLICK ON ^ THE DVD SLOT NEXT TO START ON VIDEO BOX IF THE "ERROR" SLOGAN SHOWS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH VIDEO
Look out for the couple of Japanese Adverts, very quaint.
Old Mother Hubbard
Old Mother
Hubbard went to the cupboard
To get her poor doggie a bone,
But when she got there, the cupboard was bare,
And the poor little doggie had none. She went to the baker's to buy him some bread,
But when she came back, the poor doggie was dead.
She went to the joiner's, to buy him a coffin,
But when she came back, the poor doggie was laughin'. She took a clean dish, to get him some tripe, But when she came back, he was smoking a pipe.
She went to the alehouse, to get him some beer,
But when she came back, he was sat in her chair. She went to the tavern, for wine white and red,
But when she came back, doggie stood on his head.
She went to the hatter's, to buy him a hat,
But when she came back, he was feeding the cat. She went to the barber's, to buy him a wig,
But when she came back, he was dancing a jig.
She went to the fruiterer's, to buy him some fruit,
But when she came back , he was playing the flute. She went to the tailor's to buy him a coat,
But when she came back he was riding a goat. She went to the cobbler's to buy him some shoes,
But when she came back he was reading the news. She went to the seamstress to buy him some linen,
But when she came back the doggie was spinning.
She went to the hosier's, to buy him some hose,
But when she came back he was dressed in his clothes. The dame made a curtsy. The dog made a bow,
The dame said, "Your servant,"
The dog said, "Bow-wow."
Origins of Old Mother Hubbard lyrics in British history
The
Old Mother Hubbard referred to in this rhyme's words allude to the
famous Cardinal Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was the most important
statesman and churchman of the Tudor history period in 16th century
England.
Cardinal Wolsey proved to be a faithful servant but
displeased the King, Henry VIII, by failing to facilitate the King's
divorce from Queen Katherine of Aragon who had been his queen of many
years. The reason for seeking the divorce and hence the creation of the
Old Mother Hubbard poem was to enable him to marry Anne Boleyn with
whom he was passionately in love. In the Old Mother Hubbard song King
Henry was the "doggie" and the "bone" refers to the divorce (and not
money as many believe) The cupboard relates to the Catholic
Church although the subsequent divorce arranged by Thomas Cramner
resulted in the break with Rome and the formation of the English
Protestant church and the demise of Old Mother Hubbard - Cardinal
Wolsey.
Another rhyme reputedly related to Cardinal Wolsey is Little Boy Blue
Nursery Rhymes and songs available for an MP3 Player
Daybreak in January I woke at half past six today And all outside was misty grey, As if it still were really night And just pretending to be light. I only just could see the lawn, And everything looked fast asleep; And then I saw a something creep Across the garden soft and slow-- It was the shadow of the dawn!
And as I watched and saw her pass, Her dress was trailing on the grass; She paused and seemed to hesitate And glided through the little gate-- And then the cock began to crow. And when she'd gone as clear as clear I saw the trees and garden here, The sad brown earth will things will grow When Winter's dead (Nurse told me so!). I saw the tiny apple tree Which Daddy's given all to me, I saw the house across the way; And as I looked at it I heard The twitter of a little bird, And so I knew that it was day.
This little poem was written by Almey St. John Adcock many years ago, even before Seligor was born so I thought it would be nice to include it .
This is the Dolben Arms it was our local in Bontnewydd I remember the winter of long, long ago, with ice on the windows, deep, crispy snow. The crunch of our feet as we went off to school, Testing the ice on the river and pools. That strange, silent stillness that surrounded the place, With the feel of the snowflakes that fell on our face.
Remember the smell of wet clothing, that hung on the pegs, The itch of the chilblains, the burn of chapped legs. Our school milk was frozen, pushed out at the top, Teachers a grumbling with buckets and mops. Rows of wet gloves on the fireguard all day, The whoops of delight when allowed out to play.
The sound of the sledge as it slid down the hill, The laughter that followed the inevitable spill. Snowballs that soaked me, when thrown by a friend as we trudged our way home when it came to days end. Our warm, secure cottage, roaring fire, hot tea, Warm bread and dripping, my dad, sisters and me.
Written by Mrs Kathleen Farr, 2006
I
have just been going through my files and in amongst them I found a
Christmas card from my sister Kath. It was one she had made herself a
year ago on the PC. Inside she had wrote a beautiful verse which
related to our childhood for we were bought up in a tiny village in the
middle of a mountain, with a steep hill to come down into the valley
from every direction, it was a very beautiful childhood. So do enjoy this wee verse my sister wrote for us. Diddily Dee Dot.
I Saw a Ship a Sailing
I saw a ship a-sailing, A-sailing on the sea; And oh, it was all laden With pretty things for thee!
There were comfits in the cabin, And apples in the hold; The sails were made of silk, And the masts were made of gold. The four and twenty sailors, That stood between the decks, Were four and twenty white mice, With chains about their necks. The captain was a duck, With a packet on his back; And when the ship began to move, The captain said, "Quack, Quack!"
A Frog went a Courtin' and He did Ride
A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, M-hm, A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, Sword and pistol by his side, M-hm.
He rode up to Miss Mousie's den, M-hm, He rode up to Miss Mousie's den, And said Miss Mouse will you let me in? M-hm.
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee, M-hm, He took Miss Mouse upon his knee and Said "Miss Mouse, will you marry me?" M-hm. "Without my Uncle Rat's consent, M-hm, Without my Uncle Rat's consent I wouldn't marry the President." M-hm. Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides, M-hm, Uncle Rat laughed and shook his sides, To think his niece would be a bride, M-hm.
"Oh, where will the wedding supper be?" M-hm, "Oh where will the wedding supper be?" "Way down yonder in the hollow tree." M-hm. "And what will the wedding supper be?" M-hm, And what will the wedding supper be? A slice of cake and a cup of tea. M-hm. The first to come was Mrs Moth, M-hm, The first to come was Mrs Moth; She spread out the tablecloth, M-hm. The next to arrive was Mr Bee, M-hm, The next to arrive was Mr. Bee who Played the fiddle upon his knee, M-hm. The next to come was a Widow Flea, M-hm, The next to come was a Widow Flea she Danced a jig with the bumblebee, M-hm. The next to arrive was Missus Cow, M-hm, The next to arrive was Missus Cow she Tried to dance but didn't know how, M-hm.
Now Mister Frog was dressed in green, M-hm, Now Mister Frog was dressed in green and Sweet Miss Mouse looked like a queen, M-hm. In slowly walked the Parson Rook, M-hm, In slowly walked the Parson Rook; Under his arm he carried a book, M-hm.
They all gathered round the lucky pair, M-hm, They all gathered round the lucky pair, Singing, dancing everywhere, M-hm.
Then they all went sailing on the lake, M-hm They all went sailing on the lake And got gobbled up by a big fat Drake. M-hm.
Alternative last verse
Then Frog and Mouse went off to France, M-hm, Then Frog and Mouse went off to France and That's the end of my romance, M-hm,
Here be a beautiful set of little pictures for you to watch, very strange mind. Diddily xx
JUST CLICK ON ^ THE DVD SLOT NEXT TO START ON VIDEO BOX IF THE "ERROR" SLOGAN SHOWS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH VIDEO
Cyriaks animation mixKiwi Pigloo - Der Pinguin Rap The Last Knit Funny 3D animation Slug and Snail Pigloo biscous d'eskimo Do Penguins Fly Pororo - Korea 3D Bubblefish. Raymond the Mouse Funny 3D Polar Bear Running Machine Bath Time
Lazy Bones
Lazy Bones, sleepin' in the sun, How you gonna get your day's work done? Never get your day's work done, Sleepin' in the noon-day sun.
Lazy Bones, sleepin' in the shade, How you gonna get your cornmeal made? Never get your cornmeal made, Sleepin' in the noon-day shade.
And when the potatoes need sprayin', I betcha keep prayin' that the bugs fall off the vine. And when you go fishin' I betcha keep wishin' That the fish won't grab at your line.
Lazy Bones, loafin' through the day, Ain't never gonna make a dime that way. You'll never make a dime that way, And you don't hear a word I say.
Lazy Bones, sleepin' in the sun, How ya gonna get your day's work done? Never get your day's work done, Sleepin' in the noon-day sun.
I would like to invite you all to come down to the deep South of America with me and meet Uncle Remus.
they felt sorry for me. 
One
day Brer Fox thought of how Brer Rabbit had been cutting up his capers
and bouncing around until he'd come to believe that he was the boss of
the whole gang. Brer Fox thought of a way to lay some bait for that
uppity Brer Rabbit. 
pacing down the road--lippity-clippity, clippity-lippity--just as sassy
as a jaybird. Brer Fox, he lay low. Brer Rabbit came prancing along
until he saw the Tar-Baby and then he sat back on his hind legs like he
was astonished. The Tar-Baby just sat there, she did, and Brer Fox, he
lay low. 
"You're
stuck-up, that's what's wrong with you. You think you're too good to
talk to me," says Brer Rabbit, says he. "And I'm going to cure you,
that's what I'm going to do," says he. 
Rabbit, looking as innocent as a mockingbird. 
"Drown
me just as deep as you please, Brer Fox," says Brer Rabbit, says he,
"But please do not fling me in that briar patch, " says he. 
Stumble It!
The
Old Mother Hubbard referred to in this rhyme's words allude to the
famous Cardinal Wolsey. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was the most important
statesman and churchman of the Tudor history period in 16th century
England. 
There were comfits in the cabin,
