I thought that my eyes hed gone blind.

Take that pop from my belt!

Hi, thar!—gimme yer han'—

Or I'll kill myself—Lizzie—she's left me—

Gone off with a purtier man!

Thar, I'll quit—the ole gal

An' the kids—run away!

I be derned! Howsomever, come in, pard—

The griddle-cake's thar, anyway.

IV