Dog Wants to Learn how to Whistle

Rabbit was a mighty whistler, and Dog was jealous.
"Teach me how to whistle!" Dog begged him.
Rabbit showed him, but Dog still couldn't whistle. 
"Your mouth's the wrong shape," said Rabbit. "You better let me saw your mouth." 
Dog agreed. "You do what you got to do, Rabbit!"
Rabbit got his saw, and he sawed on Dog's mouth.
"Now try!" said Rabbit.
All Dog could say was bow-wow-wow. He couldn't talk anymore!
"Bow-wow-wow! Bow-wow-wow!" 
Dog chased after Rabbit, and Rabbit ran. Dog didn't catch him but he bit off Rabbit's tail, and that's why Rabbit's got a short tail.


Inspired by: Animal Tales from North Carolina (in Journal of American Folklore v. 25) by Emma Backus.
Notes: The story is "When Brer Rabbit Saw Brer Dog's Mouth." You can read the original at Hathi Trust.

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