II.

Bill set a minnit quiet-like, an’ then

Begun t’ onfold the letter. Sich a mess

O’ scraps, an’ holes, an’ long black blots an’ things

Yew never seen. I couldn’t hardly keep

From snik’rin’. Bill smiled tew, an’ ’lowed it must

’A’ took more time an’ trubble tew unwrite

The letter ’n’ ’t did ter write it. Then ’e read,

’Thout skippin’ nuthin’ ’cept the blots and cuts:

“Deer Paw: Wal, here we be at (blank), ’n’ I got