Seth.
[The alteration of my sign is no bad sign for the country, I reckon.][147]
Rip.
[Reading.] “George Washington,”—who is he? [I remember a shoot of dat name, dat served under Braddock, before I went to sleep.
Seth.
[Giving him jug.] Well, if you've been asleep I guess he ar'n't: his enemies always found him wide awake and kicking; and that shoot, as you call him, has planted the tree of liberty so everlasting tight in Yankeeland, that all the kingdoms of the earth can't root it out.][148]
Rip.
Well, here is General Washington's goot health, and his family's goot health, ant may dey all live long ant prosper. So poor Rip Van Winkle is dead, eh? [Now comes de poser;][149] if Rip is dead, [what has become of his old woman?][150]
Seth.
She busted a blood-vessel swearing at a Yankee pedlar, and has gone to kingdom come long ago.