He ups an’ sez, not ans’rin’ me direc’

But far away, ’z ’e sometimes done:

“Nothin’ ’s wuth while onless ye resk yer neck—

Ter shoot a owl by day ’s no fun—

Ter raise a mess o’ beef ’s a reel man’s job—

’T ’s a bully gamble growin’ fodder—

Caint git no corn ’ithout ye take the cob—

Alfalfy ’ll allers hev its dodder—”

XVI
The Pet Calf

Hey, Whitey, here’s a good fat ear,