"T-u Turkey, t-u Ti, T-u Turkey Buzzard's eye!"

 

Uncle Remus, Daddy Jack², Aunt Tempy, and 'Tildy were all sitting around the fire, for the Christmas weather was beginning to make itself rather severely³ felt. As they made room for the child, Daddy Jack flung his head back, and took up the song, beating time with his foot:—

"'T-u Tukry, t-u Ti, T-u Tukry-Buzzud y-eye! T-u Tukry, t-u Ting, T-u Tukry-Buzzud wing!"

 

"Deyer mighty⁴ kuse creeturs," said 'Tildy, who was sitting rather nearer to Daddy Jack than had been her custom,—a fact to which Aunt Tempy had already called the attention of Uncle Remus by a motion of her head, causing the old man to smile a smile as broad as it was wise. "Deyer mighty kuse, an' I'm fear'd un um," 'Tildy went on. "Dey looks so lonesome hit makes me have de creeps fer ter look at um."

 

"Dey no hu't-a you," said Daddy Jack, soothingly⁵. "You flut you' han' toze um dey fly 'way fum dey-dey."

 

"I dunno 'bout⁶ dat," said 'Tildy. "Deyer bal'-headed, en dat w'at make me 'spize um."

 

Daddy Jack rubbed the bald place on his head with such a comical air that even 'Tildy laughed. The old African retained his good-humor.

 

"You watch dem Buzzud," he said after awhile, addressing himself particularly to the little boy. "'E fly high, 'e fly low, 'e fly 'way 'roun'. Rain come, 'e flup 'e wings, 'e light 'pon dead [307]pine. Rain fall, 'e hug 'ese'f wit' 'e wing, 'e scrooge 'e neck up. Rain come, win' blow, da Buzzud bin¹-a look ragged⁷. Da Buzzud bin-a wink⁸ 'e y-eye, 'e say:—

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