Hezekiah. You don’t?
Sally. Fact! Then my best hen and the old cat died, and I jest thought I should go crazy. Then Bill Larkins ’listed for a sutler, and I was mad all over. After you left, that scallawag was preachin’ treason all the time, till he found he could be a sutler. He’s bin ravin’ for rebel blood ever since. A man jest told me that Bill bought a bad barrel er vinnegar for half a dollar—made it into eighteen barrels er cider, and sold it all out to the regiment for ten cents a glass!
Hezekiah. I thought I smelt vinegar awful strong when I was over there t’other day!
Sally. You jest wait for the next Pordunk Cultivater! If I don’t chaw him up!
Hezekiah. You jest wait till I get home and light on him again!
Sally. Ye see when Bill Larkins done that, I said I would get some men’s clothes and ’list myself! When it come round ter bein’ examined by the doctor, I had ter back out. Then I jest went and hired out on the Perdunk Cultivater.
Hezekiah. Sal, I never’s so proud on ye ’fore in my life. Yer jest handsum!
Sally. Now you get out, Hez. You’re soapin?
Hezekiah. On’er bright?
Sally. Oh, yer ought ter see me in my new dress, Hez. I had it made after you left. Oh, my! It’s got a tail to it more’n four feet long! Pashe Milliken made it. She got the pattern of Butrick in Boston. It’s a stunner! Got a flummux all over the hind part of it. But Pashe beat me on one thing, though.