down dat rock, he break off he tail right smick-smack-smoove, en mo'n
dat, w'en he make his disappear'nce up de big road, Brer Rabbit holler
out:

"'Brer B'ar!--O Brer B'ar! I year tell dat flaxseed poultices is mighty
good fer so' places!'

"Yit Brer B'ar ain't look back."




IX

THE ORIGIN OF RUBIES


There was a certain king who died leaving four sons behind him with his
queen. The queen was passionately fond of the youngest of the princes.
She gave him the best robes, the best horses, the best food, and the
best furniture. The other three princes became exceedingly jealous of
their youngest brother, and, conspiring against him and their mother,
made them live in a separate house, and took possession of the estate.
Owing to overindulgence, the youngest prince had become very wilful. He
never listened to any one, not even to his mother, but had his own way
in everything. One day he went with his mother to bathe in the river. A
large boat was riding there at anchor. None of the boatmen were in it.
The prince went into the boat, and told his mother to come into it. His
mother besought him to get down from the boat, as it did not belong to
him. But the prince said, "No, mother I am not coming down; I mean to go