Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio — Uncle Remus (11): Feeding The Pigs

Date: November 9, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

Episode Overview

This episode brings listeners back to the nostalgic storytelling of "Uncle Remus," a character who shares animal folktales infused with life lessons for children. In "Feeding The Pigs," Uncle Remus entertains young listeners (and the in-story children) with a charming tale about Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, and the perils of greed—specifically, what happens when you try to eat dessert before dinner. The episode weaves lessons about courage, maternal encouragement, and cleverness, set against the backdrop of a warm, old-time family gathering.

Key Discussion Points & Story Highlights

1. Feeding the Pigs: Opening Scene & Story Set-Up

• Setting: The story is introduced as Uncle Remus is questioned about feeding the pigs.
• Uncle Remus’ Wisdom:
  • “You don't have to feed pigs. Just put something down and they feeds theyself. Eatin comes as natural to pigs as flying do to a robin.” (C, 00:54)
• Uncle Remus gathers the children for a new story, this time about Sis Robin and her little boy, Junior, before they head out Christmas shopping.

2. The Tale of Sis Robin, Brer Rabbit, and Brer Fox

• Scene Setting:
  • “It certainly was a beautiful December morning… This robin was way up on the topmost branch of the old oak tree giving her little boy Robin Jr. His singing lesson. And right down under that same old oak tree was old Brer Fox, a sittin and a grinning and a lickin his chops with joy.” (C, 01:31)
• Brer Fox’s Plot:
  • Brer Fox is scheming to catch Brer Rabbit for his "main course" and the young robin as dessert, believing Sis Robin's singing will draw them in.
  • “Yasser I feel it in my bones. This is gonna be my big day. Today I eat in style. That little Brer Rabbit belong any minute now… he just can't resist Sis Robin singing. I'll have him for the main course, then for dessert I'll have me a nice fat robin.” (E, 04:02)

3. Brer Rabbit’s Peril & Quick Wit

• Brer Rabbit Captured:
  • After being lured by Sis Robin’s song, Brer Rabbit falls prey to Brer Fox.
  • “Let me go, Brer Fox. Please let me go.” (B, 05:18)
• Humor & Tension:
  • Brer Rabbit tries to talk his way out, referencing Christmas:
    • “You ain't gonna eat me fore Christmas, is you, Brad Fox?” (B, 05:36)
    • "I want to see what Santa Claus gonna bring me for being so good." (B, 05:55)
  • Brer Fox remains cold:
    • “You don’t have to worry about Christmas, Brer Rabbit. Your Christmases is over.” (E, 06:00)

4. Sis Robin & Robin Jr.: Lessons in Courage

• Singing Lesson:
  • Sis Robin tries to teach Robin Jr. to sing, but he is nervous and wants her to sing instead.—A moment highlighting the patience and pride of a mother.
    • “You sing me a nice pretty song and I listen.” (B, 07:42)
• Flying Lesson and Fear:
  • The next lesson is to fly, but Robin Jr. is scared.
    • Sis Robin motivates: “You got to learn to fly one day.” (D, 10:33)
    • “If you don’t learn to fly now, you never will.” (D, 10:43)
    • “Flap your wings and spread your tail.” (B, 10:48)
• Comic Relief:
  • As Robin Jr. is pushed off the branch to learn to fly, Brer Fox salivates:
    • “Rock him over this way… Just a drooling. I wish you could see your chops. They jes a drooling.” (B/C, 09:26)

5. Climax: Brer Rabbit’s Heroic Move

• Robin Jr. Falls Toward Danger:
  • Robin Jr. forgets to flap and plummets into Brer Fox’s open mouth. (11:34)
• Mother’s Desperation:
  • Sis Robin attacks Brer Fox in panic, but cannot free her son.
    • “My baby. Oh, my baby. Oh, my baby.” (B, 12:00)
• Brer Rabbit’s Clever Rescue:
  • Despite being pinned under Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit manages to bite Brer Fox’s tail.
    • “He stretch his neck way around from underneath where old Brer Fox was sitting on him… and bit Brer Fox right in the middle of his big bushy tail.” (C, 12:04)
  • Brer Fox yelps in pain and opens his mouth, letting Robin Jr. escape, and Brer Rabbit escapes too.
    • “Ow. My tail.” (D, 12:34)

6. The Moral & Closing

• Moral Delivered by Uncle Remus:
  • “If you tries to be like Brer Fox and eat your dessert first, you’re most liable not to get no dinner at all.” (C, 13:11)
• Children’s Delight:
  • “Uncle Remus, that was a good story.” (B, 13:13)
• Uncle Remus’ Warm Goodbye:
  • “Run along with your mummy… Come see old Uncle Remus again soon. Real soon, honey… If you could see the stories under this old gray head of mine, you'd know that they were stories just special for little chillens like you.” (C, 13:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On pigs and nature:
  • “Eatin comes as natural to pigs as flying do to a robin.” (C, 00:54)
• On villainy and anticipation:
  • “Yasser I feel it in my bones. This is gonna be my big day. Today I eat in style.” (E, 04:02)
• On the hurry for dessert:
  • “And dis time I gon be here to change the flying lesson to a frying lesson.” (E, 06:27)
• On the value of quick thinking:
  • “He stretch his neck way around from underneath… and bit Brer Fox right in the middle of his big bushy tail.” (C, 12:04)
• Folk wisdom (the moral):
  • “If you tries to be like Brer Fox and eat your dessert first, you’re most liable not to get no dinner at all.” (C, 13:11)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:54 – Uncle Remus’ observations about nature and feeding pigs
• 01:31 – Story world: December morning, Robin’s singing lesson, Brer Fox’s scheming
• 04:02 – Brer Fox’s plan to eat Brer Rabbit and Robin
• 05:36 – Brer Rabbit pleads for his life; comic Christmas references
• 07:59 – Sis Robin sings for Robin Jr.
• 10:33 – Sis Robin encourages Robin Jr. to learn flying
• 11:34 – Robin Jr. falls into Brer Fox’s mouth
• 12:04 – Brer Rabbit saves Robin Jr. by biting Brer Fox’s tail
• 13:11 – Uncle Remus delivers the story’s moral
• 13:16 – Warm closing by Uncle Remus

Summary Tone

The episode maintains a friendly, folksy, and whimsical tone throughout, as is classic for Uncle Remus tales. Humor and warmth permeate the dialogue. The story is lighthearted, with a suspenseful twist, a dash of physical comedy, and ultimately a comforting message about cleverness, courage, and not letting desire for "dessert" cloud one's reason.

For listeners and families, this is an exemplary episode capturing the old-time radio charm of playful storytelling with a lesson at its heart.