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Hi elle
I have a vague memory of Brer Rabbit being caught (by Brer Fox?) and saying "please don't throw me in the briar patch" as he knew that he could then escape.

I think it's all second hand, though - I don't think I've ever read the original Uncle Remus tales.

Found it! (on Wikipedia)

"In one tale, Br'er Fox constructs a doll out of a lump of tar and dresses it with some clothes. When Br'er Rabbit comes along he addresses the Tar-Baby amiably, but receives no response. Br'er Rabbit becomes offended by what he perceives as the Tar-Baby's lack of manners, punches it, and in doing so becomes stuck. The more Br'er Rabbit punches and kicks the tar "baby" out of rage, the more he gets stuck. When Br'er Fox reveals himself, the helpless but cunning Br'er Rabbit pleads, "please, Br'er Fox, don't fling me in dat brier-patch," prompting Fox to do exactly that. As rabbits are at home in thickets, the resourceful Br'er Rabbit uses the thorns and briers to escape. The story was originally published in Harper's Weekly by Robert Roosevelt; years later Joel Chandler Harris included his version of the tale in his Uncle Remus stories."

....so not "Uncle Tom's Cabin", then! I always get him and Remus mixed up!

Ah good! that is solved......
I was still puzzling over the possible connection of Topsy to Bre'r Rabbit!

Hello, Elle!
Ah! I wondered who Stowe was!
I think it is the name of a college, too.
Yes, "mileage" was a very good one.
I have been reading about "Waler Sandy", the only horse to get back to Australia after the First World War.
"Walers" were bred in New South Wales, hence the name.

Good morning, Elle!
I am early on the go today!
Still one or two tasks to do and will be at Screwfix first thing as I have forgotten to get a bit we will need!
Now, I have just done today's puzzle online!!!
If I do it now I have more time for the golf and stuff, later on.
And.... I expect you to get 13d instantly, after your conversation with Chris last night!
Maybe the setter was eavesdropping!
Now, where did "eavesdropping" come from, I wonder?

Good morning, Rusty!
It is beautiful out ...but decidedly nippy!
Yes, you were indeed up and about early!
Were you successful at Screwfix?
Is your son coming around this morning, to help do the work?
Brewers says that the "eavesdrop" or "eavesdrip" was the space of ground around the house that received the water dripping from the eaves.
An "eavesdropper" was a person who took up a position in the eavesdrop/eavesdrip to overhear what was said in the house.
Right...I shall make a coffee and go write in "Brer Rabbit" as my starting point in the crossword....!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, a bit cooler today!
I have the golf on.
Yes, Screwfix was fine, thank you.
My son will come when he has time.
He works shifts 24/7, so I am not sure when he will make it.
I think maybe, "eavesdrop" may be kin to "walls have ears"?
Well done on "Brer Rabbit"!
A good puzzle, though I am adrift on a couple of parses.

Hi, Rusty!
I only wondered if you were expecting your son this morning, because you were rushing out to get your bits and pieces from Screwfix!
But obviously I can see now that you just needed to do so, as to be ready for "whenever" he could come.
I have been looking up "Walls have ears".......well, it keeps me out of mischief!
It's rather interesting.
Apparently, Catherine de Medici had certain rooms in the Louvre so constructed that what was said in one room could be heard distinctly in another.
That way she became acquainted with state secrets and plots!
There was also a reference to Dionysius' Ear - a somewhat comparable situation!
I've finished the crossword...
I have two parses still outstanding.........25a and 4d?

Hello, Elle!
That's the two I can't parse!
I have "exec" for 4
And "duo" for 25.
I shall go and put my thinking cap on and see if I can fathom them.
Europe are up 8-4 against USA in the Ryder Cup.