“THE GOOPHERED GRAPEVINE”
Uncle Julius relates this story as a means of distracting John from plans to buy the old plantation. The word “goophered” refers to grapevines of questionable health and quality which is exhibited by ex-slave named Henry dies and the vine withering.
“PO SANDY”
The goal of this story by Uncle Julius is the prevention of a schoolhouse on the plantation being razed. How does one go about such a task? Be relating a story about haunted lumber, naturally.
“MARS JEEMS NIGHTMARE”
A true nightmare: a slavemaster intent on the not allowing his “property” to enjoy a moment’s rest.
“THE CONJURER’S REVENGE”
A narrator asks Uncle Julius for advice on buying a mule. What he gets is a story about a man who is turned into a mule by a conjure man. Not a conjure woman, mind you: a conjure man.
“SIS BECKY’S PICKANINNY”
The moral of this story, according to Uncle Julius, is that if only Sis Becky had possessed a rabbit’s foot to ward off evil, she would not have watched husband and child sold away from her.
“THE GRAY WOLF’S HANT”
Conjure man Uncle Jube enacts vengeance upon the couple deemed responsible for his son’s death by conjuring them into a wolf and a cat.
“HOT FOOT HANNIBAL”
An explanation for why a horse happens to rear back at a particular spot on the road: the horse has the power to see the ghost of a girl named Chloe who is caught in twixt the realms of grief and responsibility for her beloved untimely passing.
