The brothers were now perplexed and anxious to hear Billy’s story, and when urged said he “wuz too horngry to tell ’bout hit, mus’ go home an’ git some dinner;” whereupon Jerry suggested oysters, which Billy said he “wuz not ve’y fon’ ub, but dey wud do.” Then he gave the snipe story, as follows:
“I wuz mus’rattin’ on de mash lars’ nite. De moon had jes’ riz, an’ de tide wuz creepin’ in jes’ ez quiet an’ rash-nal ez uh settin’ hen. De creek an’ de mash look so lubly, I ’gin ter muse an’ fogot ’bout de mus’rats, an’ wuz t’inkin’ boutin uh new chune I’s learnin’ ter play, call, ‘I Sweeps de Kitchen Clean’—when, sizz! cum uh flite ub dem snipe, an’ dey mos’ lit on me. I reckon dey wud, but I say, ‘You better mine yo’sef, snipe!’ Bimeby one ub ’em say ter uh frog dat wuz chawin’ uh grasshopper not mo’n de length ub uh fence rail fum me, ‘Lubly nite, Mr. Frog!’”
Jerry: “Now, hush! I al’ays sed dem birds wuz strange—cum ter day an’ gone ter morrow!”
Partridge Hunting at “Fairlands”—Rob Roy and Rose.
“Den de snipe say, ‘What sort ub frogs you bin keepin’ comp’ny wid?’ Uncle Jerry, I got so skeerd an’ cole I ain’ got warm yit.”
Uncle Caesar: “Po’ Billy! Won’ you hab ub sip ub applejack?”
“Ef you don’ t’ink I’ll get too het up.”
Uncle Caesar: “’Cose you won’!”
“Well, den, heah’s luck!”