Tiny Tales: Traditional Stories in 100 Words: book: no

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Wolf and Rabbit Butcher a Calf

Wolf and Rabbit killed a calf together.

"Let's divide the meat," said Wolf. "You take half, and I'll take half."

"But I'm hungry!" Rabbit said. "Aren't you hungry? Let's eat some now. I can't wait!"

Before Wolf could even reply, Rabbit started eating, and then he groaned. "I'm poisoned!" he screamed. Then Rabbit rolled on the ground, moaning. "Poisoned! Carry me home!"

Wolf carried Rabbit home, thinking how lucky he was not to have eaten the poisoned meat.

But the meat was just fine, and while Wolf carried Rabbit home, Rabbit's family came and took all the meat for themselves.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, and the Yearling."

Rabbit and Man Cooperate

"Wolf's stealing my sheep," Man told Rabbit. "Help me catch him!"

"Just loan me your horse," Rabbit replied. "I'll do the rest."

Rabbit went riding, and Wolf was jealous. "Let me try!" he said.

"Have you ridden before?" Rabbit asked. "No? I'll tie you on for safety."

Wolf got on, Rabbit tied him, and then he jabbed the horse; it ran straight home.

Man grabbed Wolf and started whipping him.

Rabbit ran up. "Mercy!" Rabbit cried. "Let him go!"

Man let Wolf go, and he ran off; Rabbit ran with him.

"Thank you, Rabbit!" said Wolf. "You're a true friend."

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, and the Buckra Man." The word "buckra" meaning a white man or European was used in Gullah and other African American communities.

Rabbit Comes to Wolf's Funeral

"Prepare my funeral," Wolf said to his wife.

Mrs. Wolf started crying.

"I'm not dying!" Wolf told her. "It's a trick to catch Rabbit. Just do what I say."

So Mrs. Wolf held a funeral, and everyone came to pay their respects. The animals all lined up to take one last look at Wolf in his coffin, and Rabbit went last.

But then Wolf reached out to grab Rabbit, Rabbit was too fast.

"Wolf's alive! Praised be; it's a miracle!" Rabbit shouted, laughing as he ran, while the other animals kicked and hit Wolf because of how he tricked them.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit and Buh Wolf Funeral." The story is full of all kinds of charming details about all the animals who attend the funeral.

Rabbit Courts the King's Daughter

"Whoever brings me Alligator's teeth and Deer's tears will marry my daughter!" proclaimed the king.

Rabbit went to Alligator's house and played the fiddle. As Alligator stared in fascination, open-mouthed, Rabbit knocked out Alligator's teeth with his fiddle-bow.

Then Rabbit dug a pit. Deer fell in and broke his leg. "Help!" he shouted.
Rabbit peeked over the edge. "Can't stop to help you, Deer; I hear dogs coming!"
Deer started crying. Rabbit jumped down, grabbed the tears, and jumped back out.

Rabbit laughed. "With these teeth and tears, I'll take the king's daughter as my wife."

And so he did.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit and the King Daughter."

Dog Traps Rabbit in a Tree

Dog chased Rabbit, and Rabbit hid in a tree.

"I'm going to burn you up, Rabbit!" Dog shouted.

Then Dog yelled for Goose. "Come here, Goose! Watch this Rabbit; don't let him get away."

"Hey, Goose!" shouted Rabbit. "Are you sure I'm here? Better look inside."

Goose poked his head in the hole, and Rabbit threw dirt in his eyes; then he ran.

Dog came back, set the tree on fire: no Rabbit!

"He might have escaped," Goose confessed. "Rabbit's always scheming!"

Then Dog tried to bite Goose, but all he got was feathers in his mouth: Goose flew away!

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit, Buh Wolf, The Dog and The Goose." Wolf does not figure directly in the story, but he's the one who hired Dog to catch Rabbit.

Rabbit Seeks Shelter from the Rain

It was pouring, and Rabbit needed shelter from the rain.

The nearest house belonged to Wolf, and Rabbit ran straight there.

Unfortunately, Wolf was home, sitting on his porch, playing the fiddle. His eyes were closed.

Rabbit crept inside Wolf's house, glad to be out of the rain.

But Wolf heard Rabbit's footsteps. He smiled and started singing, "Rain sent me meat, sent rabbit to eat!"

"Uh-oh!" thought Rabbit.

Wolf kept singing. "Rabbit to eat, to eat, oh!"

Rabbit dug a hole. Before he escaped through the hole, Rabbit sang his song: "Rain always stops someday; Rabbit always gets away."

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Wolf, Buh Rabbit, and the Rain."

Jaguar Traps Rabbit in a Tree

Jaguar chased Rabbit, and Rabbit jumped into a hole in a tree.

"I'll wait!" snarled Jaguar.

And she waited. And waited.

Finally Jaguar fell asleep.

Luckily, Rabbit had some food stored in that hole.

He ate the food. He licked the can... and then, he had an idea! While Jaguar slept, Rabbit tied the empty can to her tail.

Then he pulled her tail.

Hard.

Jaguar jumped up and started whipping her tail back and forth.

The can hit her in the head. On her leg. On her back.

Then she ran off into the woods, terrified.

Rabbit just laughed.

Inspired by: Young Brer Rabbit and Other Trickster Tales from the Americas by Jaqueline Shachter Weiss.

Notes: This story is on p. 28: "The Tin Can." Weiss notes that the story comes from Brazil. In the original story, Rabbit has built a pitfall which Jaguar almost falls into, but Rabbit sighs and gives himself away; that's what Jaguar starts chasing him. There are also wasps in Weiss's story: the wasps bother Jaguar, and that's when she starts flicking her tail.

Rabbit Buys Corn

Cockroach, Rooster, and Fox all grew corn.

"Bring me your corn," Rabbit said. "I'm buying!"

He invited Cockroach to come first. "Here's my corn!" said Cockroach.

Knock-knock. "That's Rooster!" whispered Rabbit. "Quick! Hide under the bed."

"Here's my corn!" said Rooster.

Knock-knock. "That's Fox! Quick! Hide under the bed, and snack on Cockroach if you want!"

"Here's my corn!" said Fox.

Knock-knock. "That's Mr. Man. Quick! Hide under the bed. You can eat Rooster!"

"Hello, Mr. Man!" said Rabbit. "I've got a heap of corn for you to buy. And I'll throw in Fox for free; he's under the bed."

Inspired by: Young Brer Rabbit and Other Trickster Tales from the Americas by Jaqueline Shachter Weiss.

Notes: This story is on p. 24: "The Corn." Weiss notes that the story comes from Brazil. There was one more link in the chain: Wolf came after Fox, but I didn't have room for Wolf too. Compare Anansi Owes Money, which has a chain of Hog, Dog, Monkey, and Tiger.

Rabbit Weeds the Field

Man wanted his field weeded for free. "Whoever clears the field without scratching gets my ox!" he announced. Man was sure he wouldn't have to pay.

Jaguar started pulling weeds, and she just had to stop and scratch.

Armadillo also scratched.

Monkey too.

Then Rabbit started weeding. "Remind me," Rabbit said, "does that ox have a spot here?" Rabbit pointed to his shoulder. "Or here?" He pointed to his belly... but really he was scratching!

"He's got a spot there," Man said. "And there."

Rabbit kept pointing as he weeded the field, and Man had to give him the ox.

Inspired by: Young Brer Rabbit and Other Trickster Tales from the Americas by Jaqueline Shachter Weiss.

Notes: This story is on p. 20: "Weeds/" Weiss notes that the story comes from Brazil; compare Anansi and the cow-itch: Anansi and the Spotted Cow.

Rabbit Befriends the Anteater

Tiger used to tease little Anteater. "You're so scrawny you're not even worth eating!" Tiger said.

Rabbit felt sorry for Anteater. "Come to my house," Rabbit said. "You need to eat more than just ants!"

Anteater got strong and fat on Rabbit's food.

Next time he saw Tiger, he shouted, "Come fight me, Tiger! I'm not so scrawny now!" Then he waved his claws at Tiger. Next, he pulled up a banana plant and squeezed the juice from its stem. "I'll squeeze the juice right out of you too!" he shouted at Tiger.

Tiger ran off, terrified.

Rabbit just laughed.

Inspired by: Young Brer Rabbit and Other Trickster Tales from the Americas by Jaqueline Shachter Weiss.

Notes: This story is on p. 15: "Young Anteater." Weiss notes that the story comes from Venezuela. In the original story, both Tiger and Fox persecute Anteater, and Rabbit builds snares that capture both of them when they run away from Anteater.

Pixabay

Rabbit Laughs at Tiger

Rabbit laughed and laughed when Tiger fell in the mud. Then, when Tiger chased him... Rabbit ran!

Rabbit ran fast, but Tiger ran fast too.

Trying to hide, Rabbit jumped behind a tree, but Tiger reached around and grabbed him. "Gotcha!" he growled.

"That's nothing but a tree root," Rabbit lied. "Pull on that root all you want! Go ahead and pull, fool!"

"Feels like rabbit-fur to me!" Tiger growled.

"That's just moss!" Rabbit lied again. "Don't you know anything?"

Feeling shamed by Rabbit's words, Tiger let go, and Rabbit slipped away into the bushes, laughing even louder than before.

Inspired by: Young Brer Rabbit and Other Trickster Tales from the Americas by Jaqueline Shachter Weiss; she notes that this is a story from Venezuela.
Notes: This story is on p. 11: "The Root." Weasel is also a character in the story; he warns Rabbit to be careful of Tiger, and he also tells Tiger which way Rabbit went, hoping for a reward, but the angry Tiger punishes him in the end. I added the part about the moss.

Pixabay

Gator Catches Rabbit Stealing Eggs

Gator caught Rabbit stealing his eggs. "I left my whip at home," Gator said, "so I'll tie you up in this sack till I come back."

Then Rabbit sang. "Going to heaven in my sack, tra-la-la. Heaven, here I come!"

Wolf walked by and heard Rabbit singing. "Take me to heaven!" he said.

"You can take my place," said Rabbit. "You deserve it!"

Wolf let Rabbit out, got in, and thanked Rabbit as he tied the sack shut.

"Have a good trip!" Rabbit said and hid the bushes.

Gator came back and beat Wolf in the sack.

Rabbit just laughed.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Alligator, Buh Rabbit, and Buh Wolf."

Rabbit and Partridge Butcher a Cow

Rabbit and Partridge killed and butchered a cow.

"You take that leg," Rabbit said to Partridge, "and I'll take this leg. Then we'll come back to divide the rest."

Partridge took the leg.

Rabbit waited till she was gone and then dragged the rest of the cow away.

When Rabbit came back, Partridge yelled, "Where's the rest?"

"I saw your family drag it away, you scheming thief!" shouted Rabbit.

"They did no such thing!" said Partridge.

"Well, it's dark," Rabbit admitted. "Some other birds must have done it."

Partridge knew Rabbit was lying. "I'll pay him back someday!" she vowed.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit, Buh Partridge, and the Cow."

Conjure-Man Sends Rabbit to Catch Wasps

"I know there's more wisdom!" Rabbit said to Conjure-Man. "Teach me!"

"Give me a swarm of wasps," said Conjure-Man, "and I'll give you something."

Rabbit cut a hole in a calabash, put honey inside, and hung it on a tree. Wasps smelled the honey and flew inside. Rabbit jumped and plugged up the hole, thus trapping the wasps.

"I give you wasps!" he said to Conjure-Man.

Conjure-Man smiled. "Here's my gift to you: a tuft of white hair between your ears, as a warning about the wisdom that's in your head."
Rabbit still has that white tuft on his head.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit and the Conjure Man."

rabbit

Conjure-Man Sends Rabbit to Catch Snake

"Teach me wisdom," Rabbit said to Conjure-Man.

"You've got plenty!' Conjure-Man replied.

"I want more!" insisted Rabbit.

"Bring me Snake alive," said Conjure-Man, "and then I'll tell you something."

Rabbit went looking for Snake. "Conjure-Man says you're shorter than this stick," Rabbit said, waving a stick. "I say longer."

"Yesssss, I'm longer!" said Snake. He slithered along the stick, stretching, stretching, stretching; then lickity-split: Rabbit tied Snake to the stick and took him back to Conjure-Man.

"Well done!" said Conjure-Man. "Now here's what I'll tell you: neither Snake, nor me, nor anybody will be safe if you get more wisdom."

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit and the Conjure Man."

Who's Stealing from Brer Bear's Well?

Instead of digging his own well, Brer Rabbit kept stealing water from Brer Bear's well.

"I don't know who's stealing from my well," Brer Bear said, "but I'm going to find out!"

Brer Brer asked Brer Crawfish for help. "Guard my well, Brer Crawfish," he said, "and grab anybody who steals my water. I'll reward you if you catch him."

That night, Brer Rabbit came to steal the water, and Brer Crawfish grabbed hold, but Brer Rabbit wriggled away.

Brer Crawfish was left holding Brer Rabbit's tail.

That's why he just has a little stump of a tail even now!

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.

Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit and the Crawfish."

Pixabay

Rabbit and Tiger Go Flea-Hunting

Tiger went to Rabbit's hole. "Let's go hunting!" Tiger shouted, hoping to lure Rabbit out.

"Go hunting where?" Rabbit asked, suspicious.

"We can hunt fleas in Flea-Land!" said Tiger. "You're not afraid of fleas, are you?"
"Not afraid of fleas," said Rabbit. "I just don't have a gun."

"You can borrow mine," said Tiger, offering Rabbit his gun.

Rabbit reached out, grabbed the gun and pointed it at Tiger. "No need to go to Flea-Land," Rabbit said. "I see plenty of fleas right there in your fur. I'll shoot those!"

Tiger turned and ran.

Rabbit smiled, and kept the gun.

Inspired by: Young Brer Rabbit and Other Trickster Tales from the Americas by Jaqueline Shachter Weiss.
Notes: This story is on p. 7: "Young Brer Rabbit." Weiss notes that the story comes from Venezuela; this story is based on the second part of Weiss's story; the first part appears here as Rabbit and Tiger Have a Shooting Contest.

Rabbit and Tiger Have a Shooting Contest

Tiger challenged Rabbit to a shooting contest.

"You don't know how to shoot!" buzzed Bee in Rabbit's ear. "But just do what I tell you!"

Rabbit waved the gun around, then pointed. "I'll shoot that flea off Horse's nose!"

"I don't see Horse!" protested Tiger.

"I do!" said Rabbit. "Ready... aim..." BANG.

Then they walked one mile. Bee flew ahead.

Another mile. There was Horse!

"Thank you kindly," Horse said to Rabbit. "You shot that pesky flea right off my nose. Much obliged!"

Rabbit won, and Tiger never guessed Bee told Rabbit what to do and Horse what to say.

Brer Rabbit and Elephant's Ears

Elephant's ears used to stand up straight, but now they flop. Here's why:

One day Elephant stepped on Rabbit's nest and killed the baby rabbits. "Elephant did this!" Rabbit shouted when he got home. "I will be avenged!"

Rabbit and his wife waited till dark. Then they gathered grass and went to where Elephant was sleeping. Rabbit stuffed grass in one ear, and his wife stuffed grass in the other. Then Rabbit set the grass on fire.

Elephant jumped up, screaming!

The fire burnt the hinges of Elephant's ears, and they couldn't stand up anymore. Now Elephant's ears are floppy.

Inspired by: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast by Charles C. Jones.
Notes: This story is "Buh Rabbit and Buh Elephant."