Vermont. That was too Frenchy for the boys; so they split the dif, and called her Mosey.
Mother. And Mosey is just worshipped by the boys. I believe, if you would let them, they would cover her with gold.
Vermont (rising). Likely. But, when I washed that nugget outer the creek, I staked a claim in which I wanted no partners. Says I, "Vermont, here's a chance for you to use your dust, and don't you forget it." I believe the angels dropped one of their little sisters into the creek, to make an ugly old sinner ashamed of his wickedness. (Passes his arm across his eyes.) Widder, you've been a mother to her, and a good one.
Mother. And you, the best of fathers. Every year you've sent her off to school, and to-day she comes back to us——
Vermont. With Tom Carew, our Tom, the handsomest and squarest miner in the diggin's. I wouldn't trust the bringin' of her home to any other of the boys.
Mother. Except Dick: she's very fond of Dick.
Vermont. Dandy Dick, as the boys call him. Oh, he's well enough for a short acquaintance. He's only been here six months, and there's something about him—Well, if Mosey likes him, it's all right.
Jube (outside R.). Hi, hi! Mudder Merton, de stage am come, Mosey's to hum.
(Enter Jube, down run, with a hat-box under one arm, a valise in hand, followed by Win-Kye with a valise in left hand, an umbrella spread over his head. Jube comes down L., Win-Kye drops valise on platform, tumbles over it, and mixes himself up with the umbrella.)
Jube. Golly, see dat ar mongo! hist yerself, hist yerself. Want to broke ebery bone in dat ar ambril?