THE RATTLE-SNAKE
Reading edition
Br'er Rattle-snake rattles befo' he springs, But he warns too late to 'scape 'is stings; His high-class manners don't count for much 'Ca'ze dey grafted on to a sarpent's touch. An' he ain't by 'isself in dat, in dat— An' he ain't by 'isself in dat.