With heartless duns for ever at my heel.
"To-night a hen-coop falls; and in a week
We'll take the Yankee capital, I think;
But should it prove (hic) 'pedient not to do't,
Why, then, we'll take—in short, we'll take a drink.
"I reckon I may perish in the strife—
Some bullet in the back might lay me low—
And as my business needs attendin' to,
I'll give you some directions ere I go.
"That cotton-gin I haven't paid for yet—