"Where's your head?" Rabbit asked in admiration.
Partridge just had his head under his wing, but he said, "I cut it off and left it at home. Everybody will admire me at the dance-party tonight!"
Rabbit ran home. "Cut off my head!" he said. But his wife refused, and his mother and daughter too.
Then Partridge walked by, his head still under his wing.
"I'll do it!"
Rabbit gave him the axe, and Partridge chopped off Rabbit's head.
Rabbit fell down dead, his body twitching.
"Rabbit's dancing already!" Partridge said, laughing.
Inspired by: South Carolina Folk Tales. Bulletin of University of South Carolina (a WPA project).
Notes: This story is "Buh Partridge Pay Buh Rabbit Back." The book provides detailed comparative notes. Partridge, along with Tortoise, is one of the few animals who can consistently manage to trick Brer Rabbit. You never know who will come out the winner when Partridge and Rabbit are going toe to toe!
This is not a partridge, but you get the idea:
(pixabay)
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