WHY THE ELEPHANT HAS FLOPPY EARS
Buh Rabbit and Buh Elephant, them plan ramble through the same wood. Buh Rabbit, him live off of the young grass, and Buh Elephant, him eat the tree limb. Them been acquaintance with one another; and, whenever them meet, them used for pass the time of day. Buh Rabbit, him too little for Buh Elephant for keep company along.
In the spring of the year Buh Rabbit been make he nest under one bush, and he line him and he cover him over complete along soft dry grass. He have three little chillun in that nest.
One day Buh Elephant been a-hunt he vittle, and he gone miss and mash top of Buh Rabbit nest, and kill he chillun.
Buh Rabbit no been there at the time, and when he get back he find he nest done broke up, and all three he chillun squash flat. He see by the track say Buh Elephant been do that.
He gone right off and he tackle Buh Elephant about him. Buh Elephant make answer and say him ain't do him; him ain't know nothing about him. When Buh Rabbit find he can't get no satisfaction out of Buh Elephant, he cut down, and he very vexed, and he make plan for get even with Buh Elephant for the big damage what him been done to him and he family.
He acquaintance with the place where Buh Elephant plan lay down for take he rest; so he watch him, and when he done gone the bed, Buh Rabbit, him slip back and he call he wife, and them gather dry leaf and dead grass, and them tote him to the spot where Buh Elephant do sleep, and them full all two Buh Elephant ears along the leaf and grass. Then them strike fire and clap him to the dry grass and leaf what them been put in Buh Elephant ears. He blaze up.
Buh Elephant wake. He couldn't make out what happen. The thing begin for burn him bad. He holler for somebody for help him. He roll over and try for out the fire in he ears. He take he trunk and try for lick him out, but before the fire done out, he burn the hinge of all two he ears, so he couldn't lift him up no more.
That the way Buh Rabbit take he revenge on Buh Elephant 'cause he mash he chillun, and that the reason how come Buh Elephant have flop ears till today.
Story Title: Buh Rabbit and Buh Elephant
Book Title: Negro Myths from the Georgia Coast
Author: Charles C. Jones
Published: 1888
Rights: Public Domain
Online Source: Hathi Trust
Process: I have removed the eye-dialect, plus editing for paragraphing and punctuation.
