"Brer Bar ain' eat de goat yit! He ain' eb'n got fur es de sweet-gum tree! Set hyah in Mammy's lap so nuthin' can't git you, an' lis'n ter de res' er de tale!" Snuggling him in her arms, she continued: "It nuv'r tuk Sis' Cat long ter light out fum Brer Bar's house, I tell yer! Dat dreanin' mouf er his'n skeer' her so bad dat she nuv'r tetch de groun' mo'n six times 'fo' she wus plum out'n de woods. Den she come er cropin' up ter Mister Man's house. She look all erroun' she do, an' see Ned Dog wusn't at home; den she g'long in de barn whar Billy wus huntin' fur sumthin' ter eat. She take er seat in de winder by de little colt's stall. Bimeby she say, 'Billy, Miss Turkey Hen's givin' er mouty fine party ternight, down at de old sweet-gum tree in de pastur' an' she tole me ter ax you ter come.' Billy couldn't fine nuthin' ter eat in de barn but some old straw Miss Race Hoss had done slep' on, so he turn' roun' mouty quick when Sis' Cat tell him he wus ax ter er party. He sorter laff an' say: 'I wond'r howcum her ter ax me.' "Sis' Cat say: 'Caze she say you'se de fines' an' slickes' uv all Mister Man's beastes; an' she gwine have some nice lit'le tender rose bushes fur you ter eat, an' er heap er fine vit'als you loves.' "Billy Goat des switch his tail an' grin, 'caze yer know he wusn't nuthin' but er man goat, an' 'cose he b'lief all de comp'ments Sis' Cat choose ter stuff 'im wid. An' all de men fokes is des de same, tell dis day! ev'y Lord's blessed one uv 'em! When Sis' Cat see she done turn Billy's head plum roun' she tell 'im not ter tell Ned Dog erbout de party, 'caze Miss Turkey Hen say she ain' got 'nuf room but fur des one uv de fambly. Den, when Sis' Cat heah Ned Dog er comin', she lit out, 'caze she nuv'r want 'im ter know dat she had enything ter do wid Brer Bar eatin' Billy Goat. Yer see Sis' Cat wus tryin' ter keep in wid bofe sides." Slipping her fingers under the bandanna kerchief bound about her head, and scratching slowly, Mammy chuckled to herself: "Dey's er heap er fine folks in dis hyah town des like Sis' Cat, too! Yes, Lawd, er heap uv 'em!" "Don't talk about people! We just want to hear about beastes!" urged little Mary Van. "I hatt'r do it sometimes, chile, 'caze fokes an' beastes has er heap er symptoms des erlike! Well, bless de Lawd, Billy ain't no sooner seed Ned 'fo he 'gun ter brag erbout de party. "'Whose party?' sez Ned Dog. "'Miss Turkey Hen's havin' er fine party down at de ole sweet-gum tree ternight 'bout dark,' sez Billy. "Ned Dog think Billy tellin' er story, an' he say, 'Sis' Turkey Hen ain' givin' no party ternight! I done see Mist'r Turkey Gobble an' de chilluns in bed when I come thu de peach orchard an' old Miss Turkey Hen, she wus des tyin' her nightcap on her own se'f.'