Jacobs. Fables of Aesop

Today's free book is The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs with illustrations by Richard Heighway. You can find out more about this book in the Aesop's Fables (Jacobs) unit of the Myth-Folklore UnTextbook.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

This book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Books, and Google Books. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

1. The Cook and the Pearl (Perry 503) 

2. The Wolf and the Lamb (Perry 155) 

3. The Dog and the Shadow (Perry 133)

4. The Lion's Share (Perry 339)

5. The Wolf and the Crane (Perry 156)

6. The Man and the Serpent (Perry 51)

7. The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse (Perry 352)

8. The Fox and the Crow (Perry 124)

9. The Sick Lion (Perry 481)

10. The Ass and the Lapdog (Perry 91)

11. The Lion and the Mouse (Perry 150)

12. The Swallow and the Other Birds (Perry 39)

13. The Frogs Desiring a King (Perry 44)

14. The Mountains in Labour (Perry 520)

15. The Hares and the Frogs (Perry 138)

16. The Wolf and the Kid (Perry 98)

17. The Woodman and the Serpent (Perry 176)

18. The Bald Man and the Fly (Perry 525)

19. The Fox and the Stork (Perry 426)

20. The Fox and the Mask (Perry 27)

21. The Jay and the Peacock (Perry 472)

22. The Frog and the Ox (Perry 376)

23. Androcles and the Lion (Perry 563)

24. The Bat, the Birds, and the Beasts (Perry 566)

25. The Hart and the Hunter (Perry 74)

26. The Serpent and the File (Perry 93)

27. The Man and the Wood (Perry 302)

28. The Dog and the Wolf (Perry 346)

29. The Belly and the Members (Perry 130)

30. The Stag in the Ox-Stall (Perry 492)

31. The Fox and the Grapes (Perry 15)

32. The Horse, Hunter, and Stag (Perry 269)

33. The Peacock and Juno(Hera) (Perry 509)

34. The Fox and the Lion (Perry 10)

35. The Lion and the Statue (Perry 284)

36. The Ant and the Grasshopper (Perry 373)

37. The Tree and the Reed (Perry 70)

38. The Fox and the Cat (Perry 605)

39. The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Perry 451)

40. The Dog in the Manger (Perry 702)

41. The Man and the Wooden God (Perry 285)

42. The Fisher (Perry 11)

43. The Shepherd's Boy (Perry 210)

44. The Man and His Mother (Perry 200)

45. The Man and His Two Wives (Perry 31)

46. Nurse and the Wolf (Perry 158)

47. The Tortoise and the Birds (Perry 490)

48. The Two Crabs (Perry 322)

49. The Ass in the Lion's Skin (Perry 188)

50. The Two Fellows and the Bear (Perry 65)

51. The Two Pots (Perry 378)

52. The Four Oxen and the Lion (Perry 372)

53. The Fisher and the Little Fish (Perry 18)

54. Avaricious and Envious (Perry 580)

55. The Crow and the Pitcher (Perry 390)

56. The Man and the Satyr (Perry 35)

57. The Goose With the Golden Eggs (Perry 87)

58. The Labourer and the Nightingale (Perry 627)

59. The Fox, the Cock, and the Dog (Perry 671)

60. The Wind and the Sun (Perry 46)

61. Hercules and the Waggoner (Perry 291)

62. The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey (Perry 721)

63. The Miser and His Gold (Perry 225)

64. The Fox and the Mosquitoes (Perry 427)

65. The Fox Without a Tail (Perry 17)

66. The One-Eyed Doe (Perry 75)

67. Belling the Cat (Perry 613)

68. The Hare and the Tortoise (Perry 226)

69. The Old Man and Death (Perry 60)

70. The Hare With Many Friends (Perry no Perry)

71. The Lion in Love (Perry 140)

72. The Bundle of Sticks (Perry 53)

73. The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts (Perry 142)

74. The Ass's Brains (Perry 336)

74. The Ass's Brains (Perry 583)

75. The Eagle and the Arrow (Perry 276)

76. The Milkmaid and Her Pail (Perry no Perry)

77. The Cat-Maiden (Perry 50)

78. The Horse and the Ass (Perry 357)

79. The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner (Perry 370)

80. The Buffoon and the Countryman (Perry 527)

81. The Old Woman and the Wine-Jar (Perry 493)

82. The Fox and the Goat (Perry 9)

Harris. Daddy Jake, The Runaway

Today's free book is Daddy Jake, The Runaway: And Short Stories Told After Dark by Joel Chandler Harris (1889). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo. For versions of the stories with the eye-dialect and frametale removed, see: Daddy Jake.

(book illustration)

Table of Contents

Crazy Sue's Story.
How a Witch Was Caught.
The Little Boy and His Dogs.
How Black Snake Caught the Wolf.
Why the Guineas Stay Awake.
How the Terrapin Was Taught to Fly.
The Creature With No Claws.
Uncle Remus's Wonder Story.
The Rattlesnake and the Polecat.
How the Birds Talk.
The Foolish Woman.
The Adventures of Simon and Susanna.
Brother Rabbit and the Gingercakes.
Brother Rabbit's Courtship.

Young. Plantation Bird Legends

Today's free book is Plantation Bird Legends by Martha Young (1902), with illustrations by by J. M. Condé. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust and the Internet Archive (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

(Crane)

Table of Contents

OUT OF BIRDLAND
Sis' Dove
The Owl and Peacock
Mister Woodpecker's Work
Br'er Buzzard's Fust Friend

WITH THE QUARTER FOLKS
Br'er Buzzard's Fust Taste
How Jedge Peacock Sowed His Wild Oats
The Mocking Bird's Theft
Mis' Swallow 

VISITORS TO THE CABIN
The Imitative Cat Bird
How Harm Came to Mister Buzzard
Crane
Br'er Hawk and Br'er Buzzard
Swamp Robin

THE VISIT RETURNED
The Mocking Bird
How Come Br'er Buzzard Boards
The Goose
How Preacher Crow Makes a Start Toward Being a Vegetarian
Hawk's Disguise

EARLY
Hawk's Fust Quarry
Mister Bluebird's Debt
Greedy Humming Bird
Robin
Br'er Jay

AT THE END OF THE LINE
The Caze of Br'er Buzzard's Red Head
Br'er Hawk and de Flint Rock
In de Swamp
Field Lark and Partridge

TWELVE O'CLOCK
Mistress Peafowl's Bad Luck
Mis' Mockin' Bird's Chillen
Mister Bluebird and Mister Mocking Bird

LOST THINGS
Br'er Buzzard's three-cornder Hat 'n' Feather
Plucked
Why and How Geese Call Each Other

EVENING
Excuse for the Rogue
Day's A-Breakin'
Robin Red Breast

WITH A LOVE CHARM
De Big Quar'l
Guineas
Butcher Bird's Board Bill

NIGHT IN THE QUARTER
Br'er Buzzard's Hat
Red Crowned Warbler
Po'Jay
Mister Woodpecker
The One Way Out

NIGHT IN THE SWAMP
Owls

Brown. North Carolina Folklore

Today's free book is The Frank C. Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore (1952-1964). All seven volumes are available online:
Vol. 1: Games and Rhymes, Beliefs and Customs, Riddles, Proverbs, Speech, Tales and Legends
Vol. 2: Folk Ballads
Vol. 3: Folk Songs
Vol. 4: Music of the Ballads and Songs
Vol. 5: Superstitions
Vol. 6: Popular Beliefs and Superstitions
Vol. 7: More Popular Beliefs and Superstitions

For the contents of the "Tales and Legends" in Volume 1, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

(Dragging Nets)

Table of Contents

The Man in the Moon
The Lover's Leap
How Estatoe River Got Its Name
How the Indians Got Fire
The Origin of Negroes
Why the Negro Works
The Origin of the Woodpecker
Jay Birds as the Devil's Servants
Honey Bees and Red Clover
What the Guinea Hen Says
The Maiden-hair Fern
The Sunflower
The Fuschia
The Aspen
The Mistletoe
The Headless Dog
The Land of the Mermaids
The Cows on Christmas Eve
The Poisoned Tree
The Coach-whip Snake
Snakes Swallowing Their Young
The Little Girl Who Fed the Snake
Cats and Corpses
Ripe Fruit at Twelfth Night
Murderer Betrayed by Victim's Blood
How to Keep Corn From Firing
Anointing the Nail
The Self-rocking Chair
Premonitions of Death
The Song of the Saw
Lumber for the Coffin
Wraith of the Sweetheart
Old Quawk
Riding His Horse to Hell
The Letter of Christ
The Witch and the Rooster
'vira Gilberts and Her Witchcraft
Old Henry
Discovering a Remedy Against Witches
Killing the White Rabbit
Sam Guy's Witch Tales
Old Ferro
How to Become a Witch
Transferring the Spell
Ridden by Witches
Witch-ridden Horses
Granny Frone
The Witch and the Silver Bullet
Witches' Salve
Betsey Long-tooth
The Witch at the Shooting Match
Witches as Cats and Rabbits
The Witchery Cruise
A Witch's Death
The Witch and the Yellow Cat
The Witch-cat in the Mill
Boaz Squires, the Magician
Work of the Witch Doctor
Miscellaneous Traditions About Witches
The Little Red Man
The Lineback Ghost
The Creaking Bureau
The Croatan Fisherman
The Ghost on the Mill Road
The Ghost on the Cemetery Road
Haunted Graveyards
The Ghostly Pack
Kadesh Organ
Ghost Story From Dare County
A Handshake
Hants
The Polly Place Ghost
The Spinning Wheel
The Haunted Spring
The Haunted Laurel
The Speaking Corpse
The Headless Man of Stoney Creek
The Headless Woman
The Crazy Woman Ghost
The Bridal Ghost
Graveyard Ghosts
The Bonneted Ghost
The Headless Dog of Brushy Fork
The Headless Man Near the Bridge
The Ghostly Warning
The Ghostly Lights
The Groaning Ghost
The Dying Child
The Parting Ghost
Reward for Staying in Haunted House
The Fork in the Skirt
Bluebeard's Death
Th' Hog-stealing "Waumpaus"
The Three Fairies
The Vision of Aunt Sally Simms
The Curse on Bath
The Heavy Saddle-bags
Blackbeard's Treasure
Dreaming of Treasure
Uncle Bill Digs for Money
What the Mill Said
Wash Bee Day
Deer Driving
He Did What He Was Told
The Moon on the Fence
Cutting Off the Snake's Head
John Moccasin's Tricks
Johnny's Revenge
Johnny's Startling Visit
Meat and Bread and Pudding Too
Why Millie Got Sanctified
I Don't Care if I Don't Get Her
The Back Log
The Two Suitors
Searching for a Wife
The Gallinipper
The Mountain-climbing Steer
The Race
Brer Frog in De Road
In the Chest

Sale. The Tree Named John

Today's free book is The Tree Named John by John B. Sale with silhouettes by Joseph Cranston Jones. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. The book contains childhood memories by the author, along with stories told by the characters; I have just listed the stories and linked to them at Hathi Trust. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Spider-Bitten: Brer Rabbit and Brer Rattlesnake
Gittin' Well: Brer Rabbit and Mist' Li-yon
Brer Mole Swaps His Eyes fer Brer Frawg's Tail
Why Elefunts is Skeered uv Mices
When Brer Rabbit Thundered
Why Some Folks is Black en Some is White
When Brer Crickit en Brer Flea Fell Out
Ghos'es

Culbertson. Animal Folks

Today's free book is At the Big House: Where Aunt Nancy and Aunt 'Phrony Held Forth on the Animal Folks by Anne Virginia Culbertson and illustrated by E. Warde Blaisdell. Don't be put off by the title of this book: although it is the product of a racist era, it is at the same time a powerful testimony to the interaction between African-American and Native American storytelling traditions in the American South (specially, the Eastern Cherokee of North Carolina).

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Going Down to Uncle Henry's
Mr Fox's Funeral
Mr Fox and Molly Hare Go Fishing
Mr Hare Imitates Mr Bear
The Friendship of Mr Bear and Mis Turkey
The Toad, the Grasshopper and the Rooster
Mr Terrapin Gets the Nose-Bleed
How the Possum's Tail Became Bare
Why the Possum Has Black Ears
How Mr Terrapin Lost His Beard
How Mr Terrapin Lost His Plumage and Whistle
Mis Cat and Mr Frisky Mouse
Mr Hare Tries to Get a Wife
How Mr Hare Lost His Horns
Why the Titmouse Has a Blunt Tongue
The Woman Who Married an Owl
Mr Mud-Turtle's Adventure
Why the Flounder is Flat
Brother Squirrel and Molly Hare
Mr Hare and Mr Flint Rock
Mr Wildcat Goes Turkey-Hunting
Mr Fox Turns Farmer
Canadi and the Wolves
The Story of a Giant
Why the Buzzard is Bald
Mis Goose Deceives Mr Bear
Mr Bear Tends Store for Mr Fox
A Star Story
Why Crabs Walk Backward
The Origin of the Cat
The Dragon and the Thunder
The Tlaniwa
The Possum and the Grub-Worm
Mr Bear and Mr Terrapin Go Courting
Molly Cottontail Steals Mr Fox's Butter
The Lazy Fox
Mr Hare, Mr Mink and Mis Duck
The Hummingbird and the Tobacco
Why Moles Have Hands
The Fox and the Duck
Why the Groundhog Has a Short Tail
Mr Hare, Mr Wildcat and Mr Otter
Mr Hare and Mr Elephant
The Toad and the Terrapin
The Mockingbird and the Dry-Fly
The Saucy Young Frog
The Crane and the Hummingbird
The Fox and the Hot Potatoes
The Funeral of Mr Dog
How the Deer Lost His Upper Teeth
The Hare Disappears For Ever 

Harris. Told By Uncle Remus

Today's free book is Told By Uncle Remus: New Stories of the Old Plantation by Joel Chandler Harris (1905). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. The illustrations are by A.B. Frost, J.M. Condé and Frank Verbeck.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

I Why Mr. Cricket has Elbows on his Legs
II How Wiley Wolf Rode in the Bag
III Brother Rabbit's Laughing-Place
IV Brother Rabbit and the Chickens
V Little Mister Cricket and the Other Creatures
VI When Brother Rabbit was King
VII How Old Craney-Crow Lost his Head
VIII Brother Fox Follows the Fashion
IX Why the Turkey-Buzzard is Bald-headed
X Brother Deer an' King Sun's Daughter
XI Brother Rabbit's Cradle
XII Brother Rabbit and Brother Bull-Frog
XIII Why Mr. Dog is Tame
XIV Brother Rabbit and the Gizzard Eater
XV Brother Rabbit and Miss Nancy
XVI The Hard-Headed Woman

Harris. Uncle Remus

Today's free book is Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings, by Joel Chandler Harris. You can find out more about this book in the Brer Rabbit unit of the Myth-Folklore UnTextbook, and also in the More Brer Rabbit unit.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, Google Books and Hathi Books. You can listen to the audio at LibriVox (1) and LibriVox (2), and there is also a free Kindle eBook. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

This 1881 edition is illustrated by Frederick S. Church and James H. Moser.
This 1895 edition is illustrated by A. B. Frost.
This 1920 edition is illustrated by A. B. Frost and E. W. Kemble.

LEGENDS OF THE OLD PLANTATION

I. Uncle Remus initiates the Little Boy
II. The Wonderful Tar-Baby Story
III. Why Mr. Possum loves Peace
IV. How Mr. Rabbit was too sharp for Mr. Fox
V. The Story of the Deluge, and how it came about
VI. Mr. Rabbit grossly deceives Mr. Fox
VII. Mr. Fox is again victimized
VIII. Mr. Fox is "outdone" by Mr. Buzzard
IX. Miss Cow falls a Victim to Mr. Rabbit
X. Mr. Terrapin appears upon the Scene
XI. Mr. Wolf makes a Failure
XII. Mr. Fox tackles Old Man Tarrypin
XIII. The Awful Fate of Mr. Wolf
XIV. Mr. Fox and the Deceitful Frogs
XV. Mr. Fox goes a-hunting, but Mr. Rabbit bags the Game
XVI. Old Mr. Rabbit, he's a Good Fisherman
XVII. Mr. Rabbit nibbles up the Butter
XVIII. Mr. Rabbit finds his Match at last
XIX. The Fate of Mr. Jack Sparrow
XX. How Mr. Rabbit saved his Meat
XXI. Mr. Rabbit meets his Match again
XXII. A Story about the Little Rabbits
XXIII. Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Bear
XXIV. Mr. Bear catches Old Mr. Bull-Frog
XXV. How Mr. Rabbit lost his Fine Bushy Tail
XXVI. Mr. Terrapin shows his Strength
XXVII Why Mr. Possum has no Hair on his Tail
XXVIII. The End of Mr. Bear
XXIX. Mr. Fox gets into Serious Business
XXX. How Mr. Rabbit succeeded in raising a Dust.
XXXI. A Plantation Witch
XXXII. "Jacky-my-Lantern"
XXXIII. Why the Negro is Black
XXXIV. The Sad Fate of Mr. Fox

Plantation Proverbs

His Songs

I. Revival Hymn
II. Camp-Meeting Song
III. Corn-Shucking Song
IV. The Plough-hands Song
V. Christmas Play-Song
VI. Plantation Play-Song
VII. Transcriptions:
1. A Plantation Chant
2. A Plantation Serenade
VIII. De Big Bethel Church
IX. Time goes by Turns
A Story of the War

His Sayings
I. Jeems Rober'son's Last Illness
II. Uncle Remus's Church Experience
III. Uncle Remus and the Savannah Darkey
IV. Turnip Salad as a Text
V. A Confession
VI. Uncle Remus with the Toothache
VII. The Phonograph
VIII. Race Improvement
IX. In the Role of a Tartar
X. A Case of Measles
XI. The Emigrants
XII. As a Murderer
XIII. His Practical View of Things
XIV. That Deceitful Jug
XV. The Florida Watermelon
XVI. Uncle Remus preaches to a Convert
XVII. As to Education
XVIII. A Temperance Reformer
XIX. As a Weather Prophet
XX. The Old Man's Troubles
XXI. The Fourth of July

Harris. Nights With Uncle Remus.

Today's free book is Nights With Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

This book is also available at Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, Google Books, Hathi Trust, and LibriVox. There is also a free Kindle ebook. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

The 1883 edition has illustrations by Church, Moser, and Beard.
The 1917 edition has illustrations by Milo Winter.

(illustration by Milo Winter)

Table of Contents

I. Mr. Fox and Miss Goose
II. Brer Fox catches Mr. Horse
III. Brer Rabbit and the Little Girl
IV. Brer Fox copies Brer Rabbit
V. Brer Rabbit's Astonishing Prank
VI. Brer Rabbit secures a Mansion
VII. Mr. Lion hunts for Mr. Man
VIII. The Story of the Pigs
IX. Mr. Benjamin Ram and his Wonderful Fiddle
X. Brer Rabbit's Riddle
XI. How Mr. Rooster lost his Dinner
XII. Brer Rabbit breaks up a Party
XIII. Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, and King Deer's Daughter
XIV. Brer Terrapin deceives Brer Buzzard
XV. Brer Fox covets the Quills
XVI. How Brer Fox failed to get his Grapes
XVII. Brer Fox figures as an Incendiary
XVIII. A Dream and a Story
XIX. The Moon in the Mill-Pond
XX. Brer Rabbit takes some Exercise
XXI. Why Brer Bear has no Tail
XXII. How Brer Rabbit frightened his Neighbors
XXIII. Mr. Man has some Meat
XXIV. How Brer Rabbit got the Meat
[viii] XXV. African Jack
XXVI. Why the Alligator's Back is Rough
XXVII. Brer Wolf says Grace
XXVIII. Spirits, Seen and Unseen
XXIX. A Ghost Story
XXX. Brer Rabbit and his Famous Foot
XXXI. "In some Lady's Garden"
XXXII. Brer 'Possum gets in Trouble
XXXIII. Why the Guinea-fowls are speckled
XXXIV. Brer Rabbit's Love-charm
XXXV. Brer Rabbit submits to a Test
XXXVI. Brer Wolf falls a Victim
XXXVII. Brer Rabbit and the Mosquitoes
XXXVIII. The Pimmerly Plum
XXXIX. Brer Rabbit gets the Provisions
XL. "Cutta Cord-La!"
XLI. Aunt Tempy's Story
XLII. The Fire-Test
XLIII. The Cunning Snake
XLIV. How Brer Fox was too Smart
XLV. Brer Wolf gets in a Warm Place
XLVI. Brer Wolf still in Trouble
XLVII. Brer Rabbit lays in his Beef Supply
XLVIII. Brer Rabbit and Mr. Wildcat
XLIX. Mr. Benjamin Ram defends Himself
L. Brer Rabbit pretends to be Poisoned
LI. More Trouble for Brer Wolf
LII. Brer Rabbit outdoes Mr. Man
LIII. Brer Rabbit takes a Walk
[ix]LIV. Old Grinny-Granny Wolf
LV. How Wattle Weasel was Caught
LVI. Brer Rabbit ties Mr. Lion
LVII. Mr. Lion's Sad Predicament
LVIII. The Origin of the Ocean
LIX. Brer Rabbit gets Brer Fox's Dinner
LX. How the Bear nursed the Little Alligators
LXI. Why Mr. Dog runs Brer Rabbit
LXII. Brer Wolf and the Horned Cattle
LXIII. Brer Fox and the White Muscadines
LXIV. Mr. Hawk and Brer Buzzard
LXV. Mr. Hawk and Brer Rabbit
LXVI. The Wise Bird and the Foolish Bird
LXVII. Old Brer Terrapin gets some Fish
LXVIII. Brer Fox makes a Narrow Escape
LXIX. Brer Fox's Fish Trap
LXX. Brer Rabbit rescues Brer Terrapin
LXXI. The Night before Christmas

Young. Behind the Dark Pines

Today's free book is Behind the Dark Pines by Martha Young (1912) with illustrations by J.M. Conde. For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust and Internet Archive (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

How Careless Brer B'ar Lost the Goobers

Table of Contents

I.—Why Brer Rabbit Wears a Round-About
II.—Why Mister Frog is Still a Bachelor
III. —Miss Woodpecker's Bonnet
IV. —Brer Lizard's Strength and Wealth
V.—Miss Rabbit's Wedding Dress
VI.—Witch Bluebird
VII.—Crafty Mister Man Outwits Brer B'ar and Cuffey
VIII.—Why Miss Rabbit Never Got Married
IX.—Why Brer Buzzard Likes the Old Way Best
X.—Why Brer Possum's Tail is Bare
XI.—A Moss-Back Sinner in Every Meeting House
XII.—The Boastful Field Wren
XIII. —Silly Snake and His Money
XIV. —Brer Rabbit Goes Looking for Trouble
XV.—How the Humming Bird Lost Her Voice
XVI.—Brer Possum Routs Brer Lion
XVII.—How the News of the Wild Wood Got Abroad
XVIII.—How Brer Flea Outwits Brer Rabbit
XIX.—How Brer Coon Lost His Shoes
XX.—Where Mister Snake's Cunning Failed Him
XXI.—Why Gran'daddy Long-Legs Knows About the Cows
XXII.—How Brer Rabbit Rid Our Woods of the Elephants
XXIII. —Why Brer Possum and Brer Pig Parted Company
XXIV. —Every Cloud Has Its Silver Lining
XXV— "Trus' or Intrus'"
XXVI.—How Brer Possum Lost His Own Shoes
XXVII.—How Careless Brer B'ar Lost the Goobers
XXVIII.—How Mister Rabbit Was Punished for Discontent
XXIX.—Why Brer Fox Did Not Get the Goobers
XXX.—How Sis Wren Lost Her Prize
XXXI.—Why Brer Dog Barks
XXXII.—How Fair Maid Got the Last Lick
XXXIII. —Since When Mister Blackbird Wears Red Epaulets
XXXIV. —The First Walking-Sticks
XXXV.—Brer Rabbit Tells About the Circus Horses
XXXVI.—Why Miss Bat Never Sings
XXXVII.—How Brer Deer Got a White Face
XXXVIII.—How Mister Redbird Got His Color
XXXIX.—Brer Rabbit's Trick Saves the Deer
XL.—The Honest Dove and the Dishonest Partridge
XLI.—Why Brer Buzzard's Head is Bald
XLII.—Miss Redbird
XLIII.—How Brer Rabbit Got in the Water and Out Again
XLIV.—Chuck-Will's-Widow's Secret
XLV.—How Folks Learned to Roast Possum
XLVI.—Miss Polly Parrot Moves from the Kitchen to the Parlor
XLVII.—How Brer Deer Was Punished for Stealing Goobers
XLVIII.—Brer Deer's Revenge on Mister Terrapin
XLIX.—How Mister Rabbit Got a Good Dinner
L.—How People Learned the Taste of Possum and Potatoes
LI.—"Preachin' Ain't Practicin'"
LII.—Why Mister Mocking Bird Stays at Home
LIII.—How Johnny Mingo Got Free at Last
LIV.—The Old Folks of the Woods
LV.—The Dyeing Experience of Mister Rabbit

Dorson. Negro tales

Today's free book is Negro tales from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and Calvin, Michigan by Richard Dorson (1958). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Richard Dorson

Table of Contents

Part I Negro Tales from Pine Bluff, Arkansas

I In the Field 

II Animal and Bird Stories  
1. Stealing the Butter
2. Stealing the Butter, Hiding in the Log
3. Tar Baby
4. Rabbit and Bear Inside the Elephant
5. Take My Place
6. Rabbit and Hedgehog
7. Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Frog Make Mr. Fox and Mr. Bear Their Riding-Horses
8. Rabbit and Fox Go Fishing
9. Rabbit and the Ashes
10. Quail and Rabbit
11. Bear and Buzzard
12. Bullfrog and Terrapin
13. Meeting Man
14. Elephant and Jackal
15. Calf Follows Bull
16. Preacher and Fowls
17. Poll Parrot

III Old Marster and John  
18. Marster's Gone to Philly-Me-York
19. John and the Horse
20. Dividing Souls
21. Talking Turtle
22. John Praying
23. A Dime for the Sack
24. Mike and Peter
25. Big Feet Contest
26. Watching the Pot
27. John and the Tigercat
28. Lazy John
29. John Outspells Master
30. John's Courtship
31. Saturday Night

IV Spirits 
32. Spirit of the Orchard
33. Tobe Courtney Has a Bad Evening
34. Haunted House in New Orleans
35. Testing to be a Two-Head
36. Plagued by Witch
37. Treasure Dream
38. Another Treasure Dream
39. The Mermaid

V Jocular Tales 
40. I'm Going to Fall
41. Waiting for Martin
42. Hardheaded Ghost
43. On the Cooling Board
44. Ketch Me John
45. A Is-er
46. What Darkens the Hole?
47. Preachers at the Fish Fry
48. White Man, Jew, Colored Man
49. Hunting Partners
50. Little Boy Sees Lion
51. Irishman at the Dance
52. Irishman on the Job
53. Dreaming Contest
54. The Fool Discovered
55. Nearsighted Old Lady
56. Three More Bigger Fools
57. The Silly Girl

VI Protest Tales  
58. John in Alabama
59. John Dodges White Man
60. Fast Departure
61. Chastising the Negro
62. Its and Ifs
63. Gifts from Heaven
64. Grass Eater
65. I'm Glad I'm Back Home
66. The Light Child
67. Mule, Buggy and Harness
68. White Man's Ice
69. Running the Red Light
70. Educating the White Folk
71. Measles
72. Mistake in Account
73. Never Seen a Bathtub
74. Po' Thing
75. The Governor's Convention
76. Billy Adams and Georgia the Peach State
77. Our Father
78. John and the Twelve Jews
79. Eating Farther Down the Hog
80. I'm Sopping My Own Gravy Now

Part II Negro Tales from Calvin, Michigan

I The Astonishing Repertoire of James Douglas Suggs  

II Animal and Bird Stories  
1. Why the Buzzard is Bald
2. Rabbit Fool the Panther
3. Riding-Horse
4. Playing Dead in the Road
5. The Rabbit and the Dog
6. Fox and Rabbit in the Well
7. Why the Cat Won't Fish
8. Crane and Eel
9. The Bull and the Elephant
10. Fowls at the Crap Game

III White Man and Colored Man  
11. The Old Coon
12. Efan and the Dumplings
13. Efan and the Padderolls
14. Fooling the Padderoll
15. Old Marster and the Hant
16. Colored Man in Heaven
17. Jake in Heaven
18. Nicodemus from Detroit
19. The Dodger
20. Monkey and the Cadillac
21. How the Negro Got His Hair

IV Supernatural Experiences 
22. Devil's Imps
23. A Steamboat Ghost
24. Born With a Veil
25. Sees Own Self
26. Spirit of Ella Eptings
27. Spirit Dog
2 8. Henry Allen Sees A Spirit
29. Mother Sees Dead Son
30. Hunting on Sunday
31. Shep's Two Spirit Experiences
32. A Hant in France
33 . Conversion
34. Catching the Witch
35. Treasure Hunt
36. Hidden Treasure and Hypnotism

V Hoodoos and Two-heads  
37. Magikin from Bombay
38. My Uncle and the Two-Headed
39. My Uncle's Mojo
40. Chuck-a-luck Sanders
41. Two Hoodoos

VI Cures and Signs  
42. The Thrash
43. Curing Nettle Rash
44. Grandmother Clara Suggs
45. Bloodstopping
46. Death Bells
47. Ghost Hole
48. Bad Luck Signs
49. Intercourse

VII True Wonders  
50. Dead Man Stands Up
51. Buried Twice
52. Buried Alive
53. Sells Wife for Beef
54. Snake and Baby
55. Bear and Baby
56. Alligator and Naked Man
57. Alligator Taken for Devil
58. Jesse James's Tunnel
59. A Bear Hunter Who Lost His Nerve
60. Moleskin the Brakeman
61. Tommie Suggs

VIII Protest Tales  
62. Guard on the County Farm
63. German Atrocity
64. Old Missy, the Mule and the Buggy
65. Will Kimbro Defends Himself
66. How Jack Farmer Escaped the Law
67. The New Dance Step
68. First Seeing a Train
69. Po' Thing
70. Jacob's Cut

IX Scriptural Tales 
71. Biblical Bits
72. Aaron and the Rod
73. Elijah and the Ax
74. Christ and the Mule
75. God Punishes the Dog
76. The Beginning of Mhm

X Tall Tales
77. The Big Watermelon
78. The Big Punkin
79. Big Cabbage
80. The Big Dog
81. Far-Sighted Man
82. Turning the Buffalo Around
83. Clever Chinches
84. Chinch Bugs

XI Irishmen  
85. The Irishmen and the Frogs

86. Irishman and Watch  

87. Irishman and Punkin  

88. Irish Bricklayer  

89. What Darkens the Hole?  

XII Preachers  
90. What did Paul Say?
91. Preacher and the Mule
92. Mistakes Preacher for Stump
93. The Preacher and the Jew

XIII Noodles  
94. Discovering the Fool
95. The Biggest Fool
96. Young Man in the Morning
97. Can't Call Them
98. Oh Lord Oh Devil
99. Funny Letter

XIV Jocular Tales  
100. Wait Till Martin Comes
101. Haunted Castle
102. The Lady's Pet Bear
103. Imitating the Bear
104. Biggest Liar in the County
105. Farmer and the Bull
106. Gambler Fools the Judge
107. The Blank Dice
108. Woman's Confession
109. Hobo Slang
110. Quarrelsome Couple
111. Minstrel Show
112a. Minstrel Dialogue
112b. Minstrel Dialogue

XV Riddles  
113. A Riddle About God
114. Endings

Bacon-Parons. Folk-lore from Elizabeth City County, Virginia

Today's free book is Folk-lore from Elizabeth City County, Virginia by A. M. Bacon and E. C. Parsons in Journal of American Folklore, vol. 35 (1922). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Emancipation Oak, Hampton

Table of Contents

1. Incriminating the Other Fellow
2. Playing Godfather
3. Playing Godfather: Tell-Tale Grease
4. Tell-Tale Grease
5. Tar Baby: Mock Plea
6. Tar Baby: The Lord Dines
7. Playing Godfather: Tar Baby: Mock Plea
8. Take My Place
9. False Message: Take My Place
10. In the Bag
11. Watcher Tricked: Fox Flies
12. Lion Brooks no Rival
13. The Ugliest Animal
14. Picking a Quarrel
15. Buzzard Makes Terrapin his Riding-Horse
16. Why Frog Lives in the Water
17. Little Pig and Wolf
18. Dog and Dog-Head
19. Keeping Pace
20. Relay Race
21. "I Once Had a Brother"
22. Trouble
23. The Escape
24. The Password 
25. In the Bee-Tree
26. Playing Dead Twice in the Road
27. Cartload of Fish
28. Rabbit seeks Meat
29. Above Ground and Below Ground
30. Dancing out Sand
31. Fatal Imitation
32. In Liquor
33. Why Dogs Chase Cat
34. Nobody but You and Me
35. Who dat says "Who dat says 'Who dat?'"
36. Magic Flight
37. Flower of Dew
38. The Little Girl and Her Snake
39. The Test 282
40. Soul or Sole 282
41. Mate to the Devil
42. Woman-Cat
43. Broom-Charm
44. Out of Her Skin
45. The Six Witches
46. Can't set Still
47. The Old Woman, Her Daughters, and the Kid
48. Haunted House
49. Haunted House
50. The Dismembered Ghost
51. Buried Treasure
52. Haunted Bridge
53. The Single Ball
54. What Darkens the Hole
55. The Slave Turns
56. Sweet-Potatoes
57. Master's Hog
58. What did You Say?
59. Master's Fowls
60. Saving Hog
61. Going to Heaven
62. The Lord and Langton
63. Hunting on Sunday
64. The Frightened Guest
65. Dividing the Souls
66. Not Too Lame
67. Skeleton
68. First Out
69. Rabbit-Meat
70. Brick on Her Head
71. Choosing a Wife
72. Hot Hands
73. Chair on His Head
74. The Deer-Stalker
75. Clock Runs Down
76. Moon Cheese: Irishmen at the Well
77. Bricks and Mortar
78. Englishman and Irishman
79. Watermelon
80. Mare's Egg
81. Mother of All the Ticks
82. Three Ends
83. String Beans
84. You, Naither
85. Understand
86. Lumber Business
87. Yah and Yea
88. Judgment Day
89. Cobble, Cobble, Cobble!
90. Silver Dollar
91. Toad-Frog
92. Green Irishmen
93. Trunk
94. Why Shingle?
95. Three More Fools: Mr. Hard-Times
96. Pamelance
97. Who Fills the Penitentiaries
98. Punishment after Death
99. Beating Dead Dog
100. Where's Mr. McGinnis?
101. The Lord's Family
102. Horse and Cart
103. Who Struck Patrick?
104. Missing Word 309
105. Corn in the Ear 309
106. Which Way Does the Road Go?
107. Spreeing
108. Curly Tail and Straight Tail
109. To Torment Already
110. Officers Only
111. Rank
112. No Extra Expense
113. In the Camp Reading-Room
114. Length of Service
Riddles (1920) 312
Riddles (1894) 326

Cotter. Negro Tales

Today's free book is Negro Tales by Joseph S. Cotter (1912). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. You can read more about Joseph Cotter at Wikipedia.

The book is available at Hathi Trust (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the relevant stories listed and linked in Diigo.

(author's portrait in the book)

Table of Contents

Caleb
Rodney
Tesney, The Deceived
Regnan's Anniversary
"Kotchin'De Nines"
A Town Sketch
The Stump of a Cigar
A Rustic Comedy
The Jackal and the Lion
The King's Shoes
How Mr. Rabbit Secures a Pretty Wife and Rich Father-in-Law
The Little Boy and Mister Dark
Observation
The Boy and the Ideal
The Negro and the Automobile
Faith in the White Folks
The Cane and the Umbrella

Wilkinson. Plantation Stories of Old Louisiana

Today's free book is Plantation Stories of Old Louisiana, by Andrews Wilkinson with illustrations by Charles Livingston Bull (1914). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust and Internet Archive (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

(illustrations by C. L. Bull)

Table of Contents

The Birdland Twins
The Minstrel of Birdland
How Mr. Fox Fooled Madam Possum
How Doctor Pig Cured Mr. Wolf's Toothache
The Crowning of the Kingbird
The Time the Moon Fell
How Mr. Lynx Got His Spotted Coat
Mr. Jay Brought to Judgment
How Mr. Fox Fooled Himself
How Mr. Lynx Got His Striped Face
Who Belled Mr. Buzzard?
How Mr. Lynx Lost His Long Tail
How Mr. Mink Became a Huntsman
My Lady's Mottled Belt
The Resurrection of Cock - Robin and Jenny Wren
How Mr. Woodpecker Got His Red Head
Brothers Hardshell and Longjaw
Mr. Lynx Hunts More Trouble
How Mr. Wolf Lost His Spring Lamb
The Finding of the White Dove
The Lost Hunters of the White Doe
The Winning of Mist - in - the - Woods

Allen. Stories for children

Today's free book is Stories for children by Mrs. M. R. Allen (1912). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at Hathi Trust (I have not checked for other online sources). You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Here is her introduction to the stories:

As all peoples have their folk tales, so we of the South have ours also, and the fascination over the child mind of Negro tales is one of our tenderest memories. In the nursery the gloom of rainy days was lightened, our sorrows were banished, and our lives made brighter through their magic influence. They have been balm for many imaginary as well as actual ills. In order to preserve a few, at least, of the tales most enjoyed by the generations of the past I have collected those here presented, faithfully reported as told by the Negroes themselves, with all the crudities that that implies—and which indeed constitute one of their chief virtues. While some of the charm may be lost through the telling at second hand, yet I trust that the children of to-day and of the future will find some pleasure in them.

Mrs. Allen's attitude towards her African-American sources is condescending in the extreme, but it provides valuable information about stories that were in circulation in the early 20th century.

Table of Contents

The Tar Baby
The Two Birds
The Rabbit and the Peas
Simon the Fisher
The Little Hunter
The Goober Crop
The Bee Tree
Rover, My Cur Dog
Jack the Giant Killer
The May Queen
The Babes in the Woods
The Farmers
The Witch
The Stepmother
The Stolen Chicken
Mr. Fox and Mr. Rabbit
Why Bears Have No Tails
The Three Fools

Harris. Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit

Today's free book is Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit by Joel Chandler Harris, with illustrations, but I have not been able to find the name of the illustrator. You can find out more about this book in the More Brer Rabbit unit of the Myth-Folklore UnTextbook.

For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image.

The book is available at the Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive, and Google Books. There is also a free audiobook at LibriVox. Also, the University of Georgia Libraries has a nice PDF scan of the book online! You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Table of Contents

BRER RABBIT’S FROLIC
BROTHER BEAR’S BIG HOUSE
BRER RABBIT TREATS THE CREETURS TO A RACE
BRER RABBIT’S FLYING TRIP
BRER RABBIT AND THE GOLD MINE
BRER RABBIT GETS BRER FOX A HOSS
BRER RABBIT FINDS THE MOON IN THE MILL POND
HOW MR. LION LOST HIS WOOL
HOW BRER RABBIT GOT A HOUSE
BRER RABBIT AND THE PARTRIDGE NEST

Harris. Uncle Remus and the Little Boy

Today's free book is Uncle Remus and the Little Boy by Joel Chandler Harris (1910). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. The illustrations are by J. M. Conde!

The book is available at the Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

The Story of the Doodang
Hello, House!
Brer Rabbit has Trouble with the Moon
Ol' Joshway an' de Sun
Brer Rabbit Causes Brer Fox to Lose his Hide
Uncle Remus Addresses Brother Wind
How Brer Rabbit Saved Brer B'ar's Life
Uncle Remus Sings a Song
Uncle Remus Receives a Letter
How Brer Rabbit Raised the Dust
The Story of Teenchy-Tiny Duck
Brer Rabbit and the Pimmerly Plum
The Story of Brer Fox and Little Mr. Cricket

Harris. Uncle Remus Returns

Today's free book is Uncle Remus Returns by Joel Chandler Harris (1918). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. The illustrations are by A. B. Frost and J. M. Conde.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. There is also a free audiobook at LibriVox. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Brother Rabbit's Bear Hunt
Impty-Umpty and the Blacksmith
Taily-po
Brother Rabbit, Brother Fox, and Two Fat Pullets
How Brother Rabbit Brought Family Trouble on Brother Fox
The Most Beautiful Bird in the World
Uncle Remus falls a Victim to the Mumps
Uncle Remus''s Views on Church Collections
Uncle Remus's Political Theories
Uncle Remus discusses the True Inwardness of the Mule
Uncle Remus talks of Hard Times and "Sunshine Niggers"

Harris. Rhymes of Uncle Remus

Today's free book is The Tar-Baby and Other Rhymes of Uncle Remus by Joel Chandler Harris (1904). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. There are illustrations by A.B. Frost and E.W. Kemble.

The book is available at Internet Archive,  Hathi Trust, and Google Books. There is also a free audiobook at LibriVox. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo (although there are no original stories in this book; they are all rhymed versions of stories published in prose elsewhere).

Brer Rabbit and the Tar-Baby
De Appile-Tree
De 'Gater and de Rabbit Gizzard
A Wishing Song
How Brer Tarry Pin Learned to Fly
"It's Good to be Old if You Know How to Do"
The Hard-Headed Woman
Two Tales in One—One Tale in Two
Why the Frog Has No Tail
Uncle Remus Captures a Dream
Why the Buzzard's Head is Bald
De Ol' Stand-Bys
Brer Rabbit's Gigglin'-Place
Mr. Rabbit Run Fur—Mr. Rabbit Run Fas'
Baylor's Mail
Revival Hymn
Camp-Meeting Song
Corn-Shucking Song
The Plough-Hands' Song
Christmas Play-Song
Plantation Play-Song
Transcriptions
I. A Plantation Chant
II. A Plantation Serenade
De Big Bethel Church
Time Goes by Turns
A Howdy Song

Harris. Uncle Remus and His Friends

Today's free book is Uncle Remus and His Friends by Joel Chandler Harris (1892). For the table of contents, check at the bottom of this post below the image. The book has illustrations by A. B. Frost.

The book is available at Internet Archive, Hathi Trust, and Google Books. You can find the stories listed and linked in Diigo.

Why the Hawk catches Chickens
Brother Bear and the Honey Orchard
Brother Babbit has Fun at the Ferry
Death and the Negro Man
Where the Harrycane Comes From
Why Brother Wolf di n't eat the Little Rabbits
Mrs. Partridge has a Fit
Brother Fox "Smells Smoke"
Brother Fox still in Trouble
Why Brother Fox's Legs are Black
Why Brother Bull Growls and Grumbles
The Man and the Wild Cattle
Brother Rabbit Frightens Brother Tiger
Brother Billy Goat Eats his Dinner
The King that Talked Biggity
Brother Rabbit's Money Mint
Why the Moon's Face is Smutty
Brother Rabbit conquers Brother Lion
"Heyo, House!"
According to how the Drop Falls
A Fool for Luck
The Man and his Boots
Brother Mud Turtle's Trickery
How the King recruited his Army

HIS SONGS AND BALLADS
The Plough-Hands' Song
A Song of the Mole
"Oh, Gimme de Gal!"
Christmas Dance Song
"Dem Lam's a-Cryin'!"
"Run, Nigger, Run!"
Corn-Shucking Song
Oh July! Dis Long Time!
Walk-a Chalk
"Come Along, True Believer!"
A Negro Love Song
"De ol' Sheep sharp"
Ring dem Charmin' Bells
Hog-Feeder's Song
Nursery Song
My Honey, My Love

HIS HOME FOLKS AND FRIENDS.
Uncle Remus at the Telephone
Uncle Remus Receives a Valentine
"Miss Sally" and the Tree Man
Intimidation of a Colored Voter
A Story of a Blind Horse
Uncle Remus in Limbo
Uncle Remus Thinks He Finds a Snake
Uncle Remus and the Comet
Some Advice to a Colored Brother
Preaching that is Preaching, and Uncle Remus's Comments on it
Called to Account by the Preacher
Uncle Remus's Experience with "Ha'nts "
A Queer Experience with the Phonograph
A Case of the Grippe.
Uncle Remus's Ideas of Conjuring
Views on the African Exodus
Uncle Remus on an Electric Car
William Henry at School
Uncle Remus's Grandson gets into Serious Trouble
The Experience of William Henry as a Farmer
The Georgia Watermelon