The feller studied a minit.
“That may all be, Mr. Gaskins,” says he, “but I saw so many people durin my campaign, and so many voted for me that if I was to lend each of them $19.21 I would have nothing left for myself. I can not accommodate you. You see I have company” (pintin to the women), “so you will have to excuse me” (turnin to leave us).
I jist up and says, says I:
“Hold on, Mister Officer! Dont be in a hurry. We are here by your invitation. We paid you for the privilege of visitin you—paid you, sir, in hoss feed and grub, besides payin by taxes to come here any time we see fit. We have come to stay all day; to visit with you. I have brought my knittin and am in no hurry. You ort a be decent enough to ask us over the fence and give us cheers to sit down on.”
You ort a seen them women. They looked distrest.
The officer looked tired.
The women begun to tuck their skirts close agin their legs. I suppose they wanted to keep my cambric dress from rubbin em.
But land a goodness! jist to torment em I said I was goin to stay. I knode they would have no more fun that arternoon if I stayed there. I knode I wouldent be welcome, and if Ide a had to stayed there Ide a wanted them women gone.
When that feller said he wouldent I knode it was no use of askin any more. What does he care for the hardships of old Jobe Gaskins and his wife Betsy?
So I jist up and says, says I: