Head.—But, my good friend, you do not propose to consign this token of esteem from your classmates to the dinner-pot, as though it were nothing but a common vegetable!
Foot [surveying first the cabbage, and then John’s head.] Wall, ’tis ’most too bad to b’ile it—sich a good likeness o’ your top-piece. They say all flesh is grass, but I guess some folks’ heads don’t want much of bein’ cabbages, neow that’s a fact. [Head walks back to his seat.] Jest look, neow! it’s the very image of his head, behind, isn’t it, you?
Several Boys.—Good! Good! Ha, ha, ha!
Foot [examining the cabbage.] Wall, this ’ere’s a pooty good sort of a cabbage, any heow, and a feller hadn’t oughter make fun of it. But if’t belongs to the biggest fool in the class, I shall feel as if I was cheatin’ you, Johnny, if I keep it.
Head.—O, no, Jo, don’t be too modest—there’s no doubt you have the best claim—the whole class voted it to you.
Foot.—Wall, s’posin’ I ken prove that you’re the feller that oughter had it?
Head.—You can’t do that little thing, Johnny—if you can, I’ll eat the cabbage raw.
Foot.—I don’t take no stumps, but if yer want to bet, jest say so. I’ll bet this ’ere ‘token,’ as yer call it, ag’inst a quarter dollar, that you oughter have it.
Head.—Agreed. [Fumbles in his pockets for money.] Here’s the quarter.
Foot.—So ’tis! Wall, here’s the cabbage. Bill, you hold the stakes, will you? [Bill takes them.]