8217;t tellin’ no tales ter bad chilluns” because he suspects that the child badly behaves by doing acts such as “chunkin’ dem chickens dis mawnin,” “knockin’ out fokes’s eyes wid that Yallerbammer slin des ‘fo dinner,” and “flingin’ rocks on top of [Uncle Remus’] house, which a little mo’en one of un em would er drap on [Remus’] head.” The extent of Uncle Remus’ power over the child is shown in the child’s response to the alleged behavior. He claims, “Well now, Uncle Remus, I didn’t go to do it.” The boy thrives on hearing the entertaining stories so he even goes as far as to confess and tell Uncle Remus “ I won’t do so any more.” The extent of what the boy will do to hear the stories is further exhibited as “Miss Sally’s” little boy coerces Remus with “teacakes” so he will continue the tales. The old man believes that “seein’ um’s better’n hearin’ tell un um” so the boy’s liking of the stories creates in him a willingness to do whatever Uncle Remus asks even though the taking of his mother’s teacakes again displays bad behavior. It seems not to matter to the child if he is doing wrong or what he has done wrong. All he wants is to hear Remus’ stories. The boy flees in search of the cakes to return within minutes “with his pockets full and hands full” to Remus’ world of wonderful folklore. Uncle Remus also shows power when on occasion he will discontinue telling the story towards the end of it just because he can, just because he has that choice. Uncle Remus believes that he should not “give out too much cloff fer ter cut one pa’r pants,” which expresses the belief that if he tells the boy all the story he will not come back for more. Then the old man would resume in...
