"Of this vast audience, I fain would make inquiry cle'r,
And learn, find out, and ascertain—Is Doctor Sifers here?"
And when some fool-voice bellers down: "He is! He's settin' in
Full view o' ye!" "Then," says the Clown, "the circus may begin!"
LXXXII
Doc's got a temper; but, he says, he's learnt it which is boss,
Yit has to watch it, more er less.... I never seen him cross
But onc't, enough to make him swear;—milch-cow stepped on his toe,
And Doc ripped out "I doggies!"—There's the only case I know.
LXXXIII
Doc says that's what your temper's fer—to hold back out o' view,
And learn it never to occur on out ahead o' you.—
"You lead the way," says Sifers—"git your temper back in line—
And furdest back the best, ef it's as mean a one as mine!"
LXXXIV
He hates contentions—can't abide a wrangle er dispute
O' any kind; and he 'ull slide out of a crowd and skoot
Up some back-alley 'fore he'll stand and listen to a furse
When ary one's got upper-hand and t' other one's got worse.
LXXXV
Doc says: "I 'spise, when pore and weak and awk'ard talkers fails,
To see it's them with hardest cheek and loudest mouth prevails.—
A' all-one-sided quarr'l'll make me biased, mighty near,—
'Cause ginerly the side I take's the one I never hear."