Brer Rabbit came a little closer and still being as polite as polite, said, 'How is your mother, sir? And your grandmother? And your children? And all the rest of your family?' But still the Tar Baby made no reply.

Brer Rabbit came closer and still Tar Baby did nothing and said nothing. Then Brer Rabbit felt very brave, and dropping his party manners, said, 'You there! Get out of my way!' But still Tar Baby said nothing.

'You there!' said Brer rabbit again. 'If you don't move out of my way, I'll hit you with this paw!' And he held up his right paw. Tar Baby still said nothing, did nothing. So Brer Rabbit hit him a great big crack on the head, and Brer Rabbit's paw got stuck in the tar and he couldn't pull it loose!

Then Brer Rabbit began to shout, 'Let me go, let me go!' But Tar Baby wouldn't let him go. So Brer Rabbit hit him with his left paw, and with his right foot, and with his left foot - and they all got stuck in the tar! Now Brer Rabbit was really angry, and butted Tar Baby with his head - and his head got stuck tight in the tar!

Brer Rabbit shouted and yelled and pulled, but he couldn't get loose, and there he had to stay till the morning, when Brer Wolf came by to see what he had caught.

'Good morning, Brer Rabbit,' said Brer Wolf. 'How are you this morning? You seem to be a little stuck today!' And Brer Wolf laughed till his tummy hurt. Brer Rabbit said nothing because he knew what was coming.

Brer Wolf picked up Brer Rabbit and said, 'It seems you wanted water. So let me throw you into the well.'

'Yes Brer Wolf, throw me into the well, but please don't throw me into that briar patch!' cried Brer Rabbit.

Brer Wolf looked surprised. Brer Rabbit wanted to be thrown into the well?

'Well then, I will light a fire and roast you and eat you,' said Brer Wolf.

'Yes Brer Wolf. Light a fire and roast me and eat me, but please don't throw me into the briar patch!'

Brer Wolf looked thoughtful. 'Hmm,' he thought. 'Brer Rabbit doesn't mind the well, he doesn't mind the fire. But he minds the briar patch!' And Brer Wolf pulled Brer Rabbit loose from Tar Baby and threw him straight into the briar patch. 'There now! The briars will poke him and jab him and hurt him!' he said.

Brer Wolf waited for Brer Rabbit's howls, but instead he heard Brer Rabbit laughing. 'Thank you Brer Wolf, thank you for sending me back home,' cried Brer Rabbit. 'I and all my family grew up in this briar patch!'

And off ran Brer Rabbit through the brambles.

How Brer Rabbit Met Brer Tar Baby
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