\"\'\"Themcontoomeliousremarkstothelady，\"hesaystomygrandfather，\"lowersyouinmyesteemalot。An\'whilethewayyoubreaksupthatsetteewiththeRoarin\'Wolverinegoessometowardsreestablishin\'you，stillIshallnotlookonyouasthegentI
takesyoufor，ontilyouseeksthisyereinjuredfemalean\'
crawfishesonthatp\'isen-takin\'bluff。\"
\"\'Somygrandfathergoesoutondeckwheretheladyisstillsobbin\'
an\'hangin\'onthecaptain\'sneckliketheloopofarope，an\'
apol\'gizes。Thentheladytakesabrace，acceptsthemcontritions，an\'putsitupforherpartthatshecanseemygrandfather\'sashore-enoughgentan\'asonofchivalry；an\'withthattheriotwindsupplumbpleasantall\'round。\'
\"\'IfImaycomeromancin\'inyere，\'saysDocPeets，sorto\'breakin\'
intotheplayatthisp\'int，\'withainterruption，IwantstosaythatIregyardsthisasaveryprettynarratif，an\'requeststhedrinksoncttotheColonel\'sgrandfather。\'Wedrinksaccordin\'，an\'
theColonelresoomes。
\"\'MygrandfathercomesbackfromthisyereexpeditiondowntheOhioamostvoylentJacksonman。An\'he\'strootohisfaithasaadherenttoJacksonthroughtimeswhentheClayfolksgetsthatintemp\'ratetheyhunts\'emwithdogs。Theoldgentwaswont，asIsu\'gests，toregalemychildishy\'earswiththestoryofwhathesuffers，Hetellshowhegoespirootin\'offamongthefarmersinthebackcounties；sleepin\'onhuskbeds，tillthebed-ropescutsplumbthroughan\'marksoutachecker-boardonhisframethatwouldstayformonths。Oncehe\'ssleepin\'inaloft，an\'allofasuddenaboutdaybreaktheoldgenthearsasquallthatmightynearlocoeshim，it\'ssoclostan\'turrible。Heboilsoutontheflooran\'beginstoclawonhisduds，allowin\'，bein\'he\'sonlyhalfawakethata-way，thatit\'sapasselofthemmurderin\'ClayWhigswho\'scometocrawlhishumpforshore。Butshe\'safalsealarm。It\'sonlyaDom\'nickroosterwho\'sbeenperchedallnightonmygrandfather\'swristwherehisarmsticksoutenbed，an\'who\'sdonecrowedawholelot，asishishabitwhenheglintsthecomin\'day。It\'sthemsorto\'thingsthatsendsashudderthroughyou，an\'showswhatthatoldpatriotsuffersforhisfaith。
\"\'Butmygrandfatherkeepsonprevailin\'alonginthemviewsontilhejestconquershiscountyan\'carriesherforJackson。Shore!hehastroubleatthepolls，an\'troubleintheconventions。Buthepersists；an\'he\'sthatdomineerin\'an\'dogmatictheyatlastnotonlygiveshimhisway，butcomesrackin\'alongwithhim。Inthelastconvention，henacherallyherdsthingsintoacorner，an\'
thar\'sonlyfortyvotesag\'inhimatthefinish。Mygrandfatherallerssayswhenrelatin\'ofittomelongafterwards:
\"\'\"An\'grandsonWillyum，fivegallonsmoreofrumwouldhavemadethatconventionyoonanimous。
\"\'Butwhathe\'pstheoldgentmosttowardsthelast，isaj\'intdebatehehaswithSpenceWitherspoon，whichbeginswithreecrim\'nationsan\'windsupwiththeguns。Also，itleavesthisyereaggravatin\'Witherspoonlessawholelot。
\"\'\"Wasn\'tyou-allfornullification，an\'ain\'tyounowforJacksonan\'theunion？\"asksthisyereinsultin\'Witherspoon。\"Didn\'tyoumakeaCalhounspeechoveronMinkRuntwoyearsago，an\'ain\'tyouatthisbarbecue，to-day，consoomin\'burgooan\'shoutin\'forOldHickory？\"
\"\'\"Whatyou-allstatesistroo，\"saysmygrandfather。\"Butmypartyturns，an\'Iturnswithit。You-allcan\'tloseJackSterett。Hecanturnsoquicktheheelsofhismoccasinswillbeinfront。\"
\"\'\"Whichthemtalentsofyoursforchange，\"saysWitherspoon，\"remindsmeapowerfullotofthestoryofhowJedgeChinngivesBillHatfield，theblacksmith，thatBerkshiresuckin\'pig。
\'\"An\'whateveristhatstory？\"asksmygrandfather，beginnin\'toloosenhisbowie-knifeinitssheath。
\"\'\"Takeyourpawsoffthatoldbutcherofyour\'n，\"returnsthispesterin\'Witherspoon，\"an\'I\'lltellthestory。Butyou\'vegottoquittriflin\'withthat\'leven-inchknifeontilI\'mplumbthrough，orI\'llfoolyouupalotan\'jestwon\'ttellit。\"
\"\'Tharuponmygrandfathertakeshishandoffentheknife-haft，an\'
Witherspoonbranchesforth:
\"\'\"WhenIrecallshowthisoncompromisin\'outlaw，\"p\'intin\'tomygrandfather，\"talksforCalhounan\'nullificationoveronMinkRun，an\'todayisyereshoutin\'inarum-soddenwayfortheunionan\'
AndyJackson，asIobservesyeretofore，itshoreremindsmeofthestoryofhowJedgeChinngiveBillHatfieldthatBerkshireshoat。
\'Sendoveroneofyourniggerswithabasketan\'lethimgetone，Bill，\'saysJedgeChinn，who\'sbeentellin\'Hatfieldaboutthepigs。
Neytday，Billmountshisniggerboy，Dick，onamule，withabasketonhisarm，an\'DicklinesoutforJedgeChinn\'sfortofetchawaythatlittlehawg。Dickputshiminthebasket，climbsontohismule，an\'goesteeterin\'outforhome。Onthewayback，DickstopsatHickman\'stavern。Whilehe\'spourin\'inagillofcornjooce，awagwho\'spresentsubtractsthepigan\'putsinoneofoldHickman\'sblackNoofoundlandpups。WhenDickgetshometoBillHatfield\'s，Billtakesonelookatthepup，breaksthebigrasponDick\'shead，throwstheforehammerathim，an\'bidshimgobacktoJedgeChinnan\'tellhimthathe，Bill，willsallyoverthefirstdulldayan\'
p\'isenhiscattlean\'burnhisbarns。Dicktakesthebasketfullofdogonhisarm，an\'goesp\'intin\'forJedgeChinn。Nacherally，DickstopsatHickman\'stavernsoastomollifyhisfeelin\'swiththatred-eye。Thisyerewaggetsinag\'inontheplay，subtractsthepupan\'restoresthelittlehawgawholelot。WhenDickgetstoJedgeChinn，heonfoldstotheJedgetouchin\'themtransformationsfrompigtopup。\'Pshaw!\'saystheJedge，who\'soneofthempos\'tivesharpsthatnoghosttalesisgoin\'toshake；\'pshaw!BillHatfield\'sgettin\'tobealoonatic。ItellshimthelasttimeIhasmyhossshodthatifhekeepsonpourin\'downthatHickmanwhiskey，he\'llshorelydie，an\'beginbydyin\'atthetop。TheseyereilloosionsofhisshowsIdrivesthecenter。\'ThentheJedgeoncoversthebasketan\'turnsoutthelittlehawg。WhenniggerDickseeshim，hefallsonhisknees。\'I\'machu\'chmember，MarseJedge，\'
saysDick，\'an\'you-allbelieveswhatIsays。Thatanamile\'sconjured，Jedge。Iseeshimyerean\'Iseeshimthar；an\'，Jedge，he\'seitherpigorpup，whicheverwayhelikes。\'
\"\'\"An\'，ladiesan\'gents，\"concloodesthisWitherspoon，makin\'aincriminatin\'gestureso\'stoincloodemygrandfatherthata-way；
\"whenIreflectsonthisonblushin\'turncoat，JackSterett，asI
statesprior，itmakesmethinkofhowJedgeChinnlavishesthatBerkshireshoatonblacksmithBillHatfield。Confessin\'thataforetimehe\'sanullificationpigonMinkRun，hesetsyereatthisbarbecuean\'withoutcolorofshamedeclar\'shimse\'faunionpup。
MisterCha\'rman，allIcansayis，itshorebeatssquinchowls!\"
\"\'Asthestoryisfinished，thetroocewhichbindsmygrandfatherends，an\'hepullshisbowie-knifean\'chasesthisWitherspoonfromtherostrum。He\'dhadhisdetractor\'sskelprightthar，butthecha\'rmanan\'otherleadin\'speritsinterferes，an\'insistsonthemresentmentsofmygrandfather\'sfindin\'theusualchannelintheirexpression。Witherspoon，who\'sgotonanewblanketcoat，allowshewon\'tfightnonewithknivesastheycutsan\'sp\'ilesyourclothes；
hesaysheprefersriflesan\'fiftypacesforhis。Mygrandfather，who\'stheeasiestgenttogetalongwithinmattersofmeredetail，isagree\'ble；an\'asneitherhimnorWitherspoonhasbroughttheirweepons，thetwovicepres\'dents，who\'sgoin\'toactasseconds——thepres\'dentbymootualconsentdealin\'thegameasreferee——rummagesaboutair\'borrysabraceofLooeyvilleriflesfrommembersoftheBlackB\'arGleeClub——they\'rethebarytonean\'tenor——an\'mygrandfatheran\'thescandal-mongerin\'Witherspoonisstoodup。
\"\'\"Gents，\"saysthepres\'dent，\"thewordswillbe，\'Fire-one-two-
three-stop。\'It\'sincumbentonyou-alltoblazeawayanywherebetweenthewords\'Fire\'an\'\'Stop\'。Mypartin\'injunctionsis，\'Mayheavendefendtheright，\'an\'beshorean\'seeyourhindsightsasyouonhooksyourguns。\"
\"\'Attheword，mygrandfatheran\'Witherspoonrespondspromptan\'
gay。Witherspoonovershoots，whilemygrandfatherplantshisleadinamongWitherspoon\'sidees，an\'thatracontoorquitsKaintuckyfortheotherworldwithoutamurmur。
\"\'\"Iregyardsthiseventasavict\'ryforJacksonan\'principle，\"
saysmygrandfather，ashe\'scalledontoproceedwithhisoration，\"an\'I\'dliketosayinthatconnection，ifHenryClaywillcounthisspoonswhenhenextcomessneakin\'homefromWashin\'ton，he\'llfindhe\'sshortSpenceWitherspoon。\"\'
\"\'Yourgrandfather\'satroohumorist，\'saysTexasThompson，asColonelSterettpausesinthemrecitalsofhistoreachthebottle；
\'Ilooksonthatlastwitticismofhisasplumbapt。\'
\"\'Mygrandfather，\'resoomesColonelSterett，afterbein\'refreshed，\'isasfulloffunasmoney-musk，an\'whenthataudiencegetsontothejokeinitscompleteness，themerrimentiswideanyooniversal。
It\'sthehitofthebarbecue；an\'inthisway，littlebylittle，mygrandfatherwinshisneighborstohisbeliefs，ontilhe\'sgotthecommoonityallstretchedan\'hawgtied，an\'brandshertriumphantforGen\'ralJackson。\'
\"\'An\'doesyourownpapfollowinthefootprintsofhisoldgent，asaconvincin\'an\'determinedstatesmanthata-way？\'asksDocPeets。
\'No，\'saysColonelSterett，\'myownpersonalparentsimmersdownawholelotcomparedtomygrandfather。Hedon\'ttakehispol\'ticssomuchtoheart；hisdemocracyain\'tsovirulentan\'don\'tstrikein。
Hisonlyfirmstandonquestionsofstate，asIrelatestheotherday，iswhenheinsistsonbein\'nootraldoorin\'thelatewar。I
explainshowhetalksfederalan\'thinksreb，an\'manages，thata-
way，topromoteadecentaverage。
\"\'Hisnootrality，however，don\'tincloodethefam\'lynone。MybrotherJeff——an\'Ineverbeholdsahaughtiersperit-goessquanderin\'offwithMorganatthefirstbooglecall，\'\"\'ThatraidofMorgan\'s，\'saysEnright，hiseyebrightenin\'，\'isplumbfullofdashan\'fire。\'\"\'Shore，\'saystheColonel，\'plumbfullofdashan\'
fire。ButJefftellsmeofitlater，footbyfoot，fromthetimetheycrossestheriverintoInjeanny，tilltheycomessquatterin\'
acrossatBlennerhasset\'sIslandintoKaintuckyag\'in，all\'Isadly，thoughfrankly，admitsitlookslikeitpossessessomeelementsofachicken-stealin\'expeditionalso。Jeffsaysheneverseessomanyfolkssincere，an\'withtheirmindsmadeup，ashimall\'Morganan\'
therestoftheBlooGrasschivalryencountersoilthatcroosade。
Thar\'sanuprisin\'ofthepeasantry，Jeffsays，whereevertheygoes；
an\'thenclodspursoocsJeffan\'theothers，fromstarttofinish，withhoesan\'rakesan\'mattocksan\'clothes-polesan\'puddin\'-
sticksan\'otherbarbarousan\'obsoletearms，an\'neverletsupontilJeffan\'Morganall\'theirgallantcomradesisag\'insafeinthearmsoftheirKaintuckybrethren。
Theirstayinanygivenspotistroolybrief。
ThattownofCincinnatimakesupabundleofmoneybigenoughtochokeacowtogive\'emasaransom；butJeffan\'Morganneverdohearofitforyears。Theygoesbysoplumbswifttheydon\'tgetnotice；an\'theyfadesawayinthedistancesofasttheykeepsaheadofthenews。However，theygetsbacktoKaintuckysafean\'coveredwithdustan\'gloryinevenparts；an\'asforJeffspeshul，astheharvestofhisvalor，hereportshimse\'ftheownerofaone-sixthinterestinasleighwhichhiman\'fiveofhisindomitablecompanionshasdonedrugacrosstheriverontheirreturn。Buttheydon\'tlingeroverthistrophy；dootycalls\'em，sotheystoresthesleighinabarnan\'ridesawaytofurtherhonors。
\"\'WeneverdohearofJeffnoneallthroughthatwarbutonce。Afterhe\'sj\'inedStonewallJackson，Irecallshowhesendshomesixhundreddollarsinconfed\'ratemoneywithalettertomyfather。Itrunslikethis:
IncampwithStonewallJackson。
RespectedSir:
Theslavewhobearsthiswillgiveyoufrommeatreasureofsixhundreddollars。Idesirethatyoupaythetavernandwhatevercreditorsofmineyoufind。Toowedebtsdoesnotcomportwiththehonorofacavalier，andIproposetosilenceallbaseclamorsonthathead。Iremain，mostveneratedsir，Yourstocommand，JeffersonSterett。
\"\'That\'sthelastwe-allhearsofmysens\'tivean\'high-speritedbrotherontilafterMisterLeesurrenders。It\'sonemornin\'whenJeffcomeshome，an\'themannerofhisreturnshorelydisplayshisnobilityofsoul，thata-way，asondiscouragedan\'ondimmed。Noone\'slookin\'forJeffpartic\'lar，whenIhearsasteamboatwhistleforourlandin\'。I，bein\'asIamfulloftheontamedcur\'osityofyooth，goescurvin\'outtoseewhat\'sup。Ihearsthepilotgivetheengineerthebellstosetherback。onthesta\'boardwheel，an\'thenonboth。Theboatcomesdriftin\'in。Astagin\'isletdown，anwiththetreadofaconquerorwhoshouldcomeashorebutmybrotherJeff!
Thar\'snothin\'inhishands；heain\'tgotnothin\'withhimthatheain\'twearin\'。An\'allhehasonisaoldwoolhat，ahick\'ryshirt，graytrousers，an\'apairofcopper-rivetshoesasredasabayhoss。Ashestrikesthebank，Jeffturnsan\'sweepsthescenewiththeeyeofaeagle。Thentakin\'abogussilverwatchoutenhispocket，hew\'irlsheroverhisheadbytheleatherstringan\'letshergooutintotheriver，ker-chunk!
\"\'\"WhichIentersintothisyererebellion，\"saysJeff，flashin\'aproud，highglanceonmewhereIstandswonderin\'，\"withoutnothin\'，an\'Iproposestoreturnwithhonorontarnished，an\'asporeasI
goesin。\"
\"\'Asmean\'Jeffreepairsuptothehouse，Inotesthemostrenegade-lookin\'niggerfollowin\'behind。
\"\'\"Whoever\'sdisyerenigger？\"Iasks。
\"\'\"He\'smyvalet，\"saysJeff。
\"\'Myarm\'saheaptooslight，\'goesonColonelSterett，followin\'asmalllibation，\'tostrikeablowfortheconfed\'racy，butmysoulisshorelyinthecause。Idoestrytoj\'ine，final，an\'isonlysavedtharfrom，an\'fromwhatwould，ondoubted，havebeenmycertaindeath，byarebgen\'ralnamedWheeler。Hedon\'tmeantodoit；she\'sinadvertentsofarashe\'sconcerned；buthesavesmejestthesame。
An\'settin\'yereasIbe，enjoyin\'thefriendshipan\'esteemofyou-
allcitizensofWolfville，Ifeelsmorean\'morethedebtofgratitoodeIowesthatgallantofficeran\'man。\'
\"\'HoweverdoesthisGen\'ralWheelersaveyou？\'asksDanBoggs。
\'WhichI\'mshoreeagertohear。\'
\"\'Thetaleissimple，\'respondstheColonel，\'an\'it\'satribootetothatbravecommanderwhichI\'mallersreadytopay。It\'sinthemiddleyearsofthewar，an\'I\'mgoin\'toschoolinavillagewhichliesbackfromtheriver，an\'isabouttwentymilesfrommyancestralhome。Thar\'sastockadeintheplacewhichsomeinvadin\'
Yankshasbuilt，an\'thar\'sabouttwentyof\'eminside，sorto\'
givin\'orderstothevillagean\'makin\'itspatrioticinhabitantseithermarchormarktime，whicheverchancestobetheirYankeecaprices。
\"\'AsatrooSouthernyooth，whofeelsforhisstrugglin\'country，I
loathesthemYankeestothelimit，an\'hasnomoreusefor\'emthanHugginshasforatemp\'rancelecturer。
\"\'Onedayatroopofrebcavalryjumpsintothevillage，an\'
stampedestheseyereinvadersplumboffthescene。Wegetsthenewsuptotheschool，an\'adjournsinabunchtocomedowntownan\'
cel\'bratethesuccessoftheSouthernarms。AsIarrivesatthefieldofcarnage，arebcavalrymanisswingin\'outenthesaddle。Hethrowsthebridleofhishosstome。
\"\'\"Seeyere，Bud，\"hesays，\"holdmyhossaminutewhileIseesifIcan\'tburnthisstockade。\"
\"\'Istandstharwhiletherebfussesawaywithsomepinesplintersan\'lightwood，strugglin\'toinaug\'rateaholycaust。Hecan\'tmakethelandin\'；themtimbersistoogreen，thata-way。
\"\'WhileI\'mstandin\'thar，lendin\'myse\'ftothisyereconflagratoryenterprise，Ihappenstocastmyeyesoveronthehillsamilebackfromthevillage，an\'I\'mshockedawholelottoobservethememinencesan\'summitsisbloowithYankeescomin\'。NowI\'mamightycarefulboy，an\'Idon\'tallownonetoletaragin\'clanjamfreyofthemLincolnhirelingscaperuponmewhileI\'mholdin\'arebboss。
SoIcallstothisyereincendiarytrooperwherehe\'sblowin\'an\'
experimentin\'an\'stillfailin\'withthemflames。
\"\'\"Secesh!\"Ishouts；\"oh，you-allsecesh!You\'damightysightbettercomegetyourhoss，orthemYankswho\'sbulgin\'alongoveryonder\'llspreadyourhideonthefence。\"
\"\'ThisrebtakesalookattheYanks，an\'thencomesan\'getshishoss。Ashegathersupthebridlereinan\'swingsintothesaddle，amadthirsttofight，diean\'bleedformycountryseizesme，an\'I
grabsthereb\'shossbythebitsan\'detainshim。
\"\'\"Say，Mister，\"Ipleads，\"whycan\'tyou-alltakemewithyou？\"
\"\'\"Whichyou\'realottooyoung，son，\"saysthereb，takin\'anothersize-upoftheYanks。
\"\'\"Iain\'tsoyoungasIlooks，\"Iargues；\"I\'mjestsmallofmyage。\"
\"\'\"Now，Ireckonsthat\'sso，\"saysthereb，beamin\'onmeapprovin\'，\"an\'you\'relikewisemightypeart。ButI\'lltellyou，Bud，youain\'tgotnohoss。\"
\"\'\"That\'snothin\'，\"Iresponds；\"whichifyou-allwillonlygetmeagun，Icanstealahoss，thata-way，inthefirstmile。\"
\"\'Seein\'mesoreadywiththemargyments，an\'sodeadpertinacioustogo，thisyeretrooperbeginstoactoneasy，likehisresolootiongetsshooksome。Atlasthegriddshisteethtogetherlikehismind\'smadeup。
\"\'\"Lookyere，boy，\"hesays，\"doyouknowwhoourGen\'ralis？\"
\"\'\"No，\"Isays，\"Idon\'t。\"
\"\'\"Well，\"saysthereb，asheshoveshisfeetdeepinthestirrups，an\'settlesinhissaddlelikehe\'sgoin\'tomakesometime；\"well，he\'saragin\'an\'onfetteredmaverick，namedWheeler；an\'fromthewayhegoesskallyhootin\'\'round，he\'sgoin\'togetusallkilledorcapturedbeforeeverwegetsback，an\'Idon\'twantnochil\'enonmyhands。\"\"\'Withthatthisyeresoldieryanksthebridleoutenmygrasp，clapsthesteelintohishoss\'sflanks，an\'leavesmelikeabulletfromagun。Formypart，Istandstharsaved；saved，asI
says，bythatGen\'ralWheeler\'srepootationwithhismen。\'\"
CHAPTERXVII。
OldManEnright\'sLove。
\"Son，I\'mgettin\'plumbalarmedaboutmyse\'f，\"observedtheOldCattleman，aswedrewtogetherforourusualtalk。\"I\'vebeensorto\'cog\'tatin\'tharof，an\'IbeginstoallowI\'mamightysighttoogarrulousthata-way。Thisyereconversationhabitisshoregrowin\'
onme，an\'，ifIdon\'twatchout，I\'mgoin\'tobeabiggertalkerthanoldVanceGroggins，\"
\"WasGrogginsagreatconversationist？\"Iasked。
\"DoesthisyereVanceGrogginsconverse？WhichIwishIhasstoredbyapintoflickerforeverythin\'Vancesays!ItwouldbealongspellbeforeeverI\'mdriventogoransackin\'\'roundtofindoneofthemlife-savin\'stations，calledbycommonconsent，a\'s\'loon!\'
ThisVancedon\'tdonothin\'buttalk；he\'sgotthatmuchtosay，itgetsinhisway。Vancecomesmightyclosttogettin\'aheaptheworstofitoncemerelyonaccountofthempowersofcommoonication。
\"Yousee，thisyereVanceisabroke-downsport，an\'isdealin\'
faro-bankforJessJenkinsoverontheCanadian。An\'Vancejestcan\'tresisttakin\'partineveryconversationthat\'sstarted。Lettwogentsacrossthelayoutgotoexchangin\'views，orswappin\'
observations，an\'youcangamblethatVancecomesjimmin\'alongin。
An\'Vanceisallerstellin\'abouthisbrotherAbe。Doesagentmentionthathebrandseighthundredcalvesthatspringround-up，VancecutsinwiththebluffthathisbrotherAbebrandstwelvehundred；doesasportsu\'gestthatheseesapartywinfourthousanddollarsag\'inmonteorrouletteorfaroorsomesechamoosement，VancegetstharpromptwithsomeranikaboorelationsofatimewhenhisbrotherAbegoesag\'instWhiteyBobatWichita，makesakillin\'
ofoversixtythousanddollars，an\'breaksthebank。
\"\'MybrotherAbe，\'saysthisyerescand\'lousVancethata-way，\'jestnacherallywinsthekyarpetsoffWhiteyBob\'sfloor。\'
\"Son，it\'ssimpleegreegiousthewaythisVancecarriesoninthemfoolrev\'lationstouchin\'hisbrotherAbe。
\"Itgetsso，final，thatapasselofsportslodgescomplaintswithJenkins。\'What\'stheuse!\'saysthemmaddenedsportstoJenkins。
\'ThisVancedon\'tdealfaro-bank；hejestdon\'tdonothin\'buttalk。
Tharwesets，ourbetsonthelayout，an\'wedon\'tgetnoaction。
ThisVancewon\'tdealakyardforfearwedon\'thearaboutthatbrotherAbeGrogginsofhis\'n。\'
\"ThemcriticismsmakesJenkinsplentyquer\'lous。HeroundsVanceupan\'currieshimawholelot。ThenhetellsVancetopullhisfreight；hedon\'twanthimtodealfaro-bankforhimnomore。
\"Atthis，Vanceturnsplumbpiteous，an\'asksJenkinsnottothrowhimloose，thata-way。An\'hepromisestore-organizean\'alterhissystem。\'Iknowsmyfailin\'s，\'saysVanceaheapmournful。\'Youdon\'thavetocome\'roundtauntin\'mewith\'em；I\'mdeadonto\'emmyse\'f。I\'mtoofrankan\'I\'mtoosociable；I\'mtoopronetoregalemyfellowgentswithleafsfrommyexperience；an\'Irealize，aswellasyoudo，Jenk，it\'swrong。Shorely，I\'venorighttostopinthemiddleofadealtotellastoryan\'forcethehopesan\'fears，nottosaythefortunes，ofahalf-dozenintensesports，an\'someof\'emintheholeatthat，towaittillIgetsthrough!Iknowitain\'tright，Jenk；butIpromisesyou，ifyou\'llletmegobehindtheboxag\'into-night，onthehonorofakyardsharp，you-allwillneverhearayelpoutenmefromsodatohock。An\'that\'swhatever!\"
\"\'Itain\'tnotalonethatyoutalksforever，\'remonstratesJenkins；
\'butit\'sthemfrightfulliesyoutells。Whichthey\'reenoughtoonsettleagent\'splay，tosaynothin\'ofrunnin\'thereskofraisin\'ahoodooan\'queerin\'mybank。ButItriesyouoncemore，Vance；onlygetitstraight:Soshoreaseveryoutakestoonloadin\'
onthecompanyoneofthemexaggerationsaboutthatfelonAbe，I
won\'tsay\"Go，\"I\'lljestonlimberan\'burnthemoccasinsoffyouwithmygun。\'
\"It\'sthatverynight；Vancehasbeendealin\'thegameformightylikelyit\'sthreehours，an\'noonegetsaverbalriseoutenhimmore\'nifhe\'sagravenimage。Vanceisgettin\'proudofhimse\'f，an\'Jenkins，whocomesprowlin\'\'roundthegameattimes，beginstoreckonmebbyVance\'lldo。AllgoeswellontilapartyletsflysomehyperboleaboutatavernhestrikesinLittleRock，whichforsizean\'extensifcharacteristicslaysoveranythin\'onearthlikeasummer\'scloud。
\"\'Youthinksso？\'saysVance，stoppin\'thedeal，an\'leanin\'aelbowonthebox，whilehegoesprojectin\'towardsthecountenanceoftheLittleRockpartywiththeforefingerofhisotherhand，kindo\'
claimin\'hisattention。\'Youthinksso!Iallowsnowyou-allreckonsthatforahotel，thisyereLittleRockedificeistheoldhe-coon!
Letmetellyousomethin\':MybrotherAbegoesouttooneofthembathin\'camps，sweptbyoceanbreezes，onthePacificslope，an\'youshouldshorelyoughterbeholdthejointheslamsup!Pards，thar\'smorethantwothousandroomsinthatwickeyup!It\'s\'levenhundredan\'twelvefoothigh，fourthousandtwohundredan\'fifty-fourfootlong，an\'——\'It\'shereporeVancecatchesJenkins\'eyeglarin\'onhimhardan\'remorseless——\'an\'twentyfootwide，\'saysVance，aheaphurried，dashin\'thekyardsoutenthebox。\'Fivelose，jackwin，\'
concloodesVanceconfoosedly，makin\'ahastychangeofsubjects。
\"Yes，indeed!\"andtheoldgentlemanlookedthoughtfullyacrossthelawnashewounduphistaleoftheunfortunateGroggins，\"Yes，indeedIfIkeepsontalkin\'away，I\'llbecomealaughin\'-stock，sameasthatlocoedVance!Thar\'sonematterthatallersimbuesmewithaheapofrespectfordeefan\'dumbfolks；whichtheyshorelydokeepthingstothemse\'fsawholelot。\"
ItwasfifteenminutesbeforeIcouldconvincemyfriendthathisWolfvillestoriesinnosortdiminishedhisdignity。Also，I
remindedhimofapromisetoonedaytellmeofEnright\'soneaffairoflove；plainlyhisbondinthatshouldbefulfilled。Atlasthegaveway，andaftercommandingthecomingofafavoriteandhighlyrefreshingbeverage，heldforthasfollows:
\"It\'sneverbeenmybeliefs，\"hesaid，\"thatSamEnrightwouldhavedippedintothemoldloveconcernsofhisifhe\'dbeenhimse\'f。
Enright\'ssickatthetime。Shore!heain\'tsicktothep\'intofbein\'downinhisblankets，an\'isstillmeanderin\'\'roundthecampasdootydictatesorhisinterestcalls，buthe\'splentyailin\'jestthesame。Thar\'stheroodimentsofadispootebetweenDocPeetsan\'
Enrightastowhyhishealththattimeisboggin\'down。Peetsputsitupit\'saover-accoomulationofalkali；Enrightallowsit\'sbecausehe\'sbornsolongago。Peetshashisway，however，bein\'ascientistthata-way，an\'takespossessionofthecase。
\"No，itain\'tthemmaladiesthatsoweakensEnrighthelapsesintoconfidencesabouthisearlylove；butyousee，son，Peetsstopshisnose-paint；won\'tlethimdrinksomuchasadrop；an\'bein\'cutoffshortonnourishmentlikeIsays，itmakesEnright——atleastsoI
allersfiggers——somechildishan\'light-headed。That\'sright；youremovethatgoodoldValleyTanfromthemenuofapartywho\'sbeenadherin\'an\'referrin\'toityearafteryearformightylikelyallhisdays，an\'itsorto\'takesthestiffenin\'outenhisdignityalot；hebeginstoonbendan\'waxeasyan\'confidenshul。Isseemsthenlikehegoesaboutcravin\'countenancean\'support。An\'downondermybelt，itstrikesmeatthetime，an\'itshorestrikesmeyet，thatravishin\'thecanteenfromEnright，nacherallyenfeebleshiman\'setshimtotalkin\'antellin\'ofpastdays。Oh，hedon\'tkeepupthisyereonhealthfulabstinenceforever。Peetsdeclar\'sEnrightremovedfromdanger，an\'askshimtodrink，himse\'f，insideoftwoweeks。
\"\'Whereagent，\'saysPeets，elab\'ratin\'thisyeretheeryofnotdrinkin\'none，\'hasbeencrookin\'hiselbowconstant，an\'thengoeswrong，bodily，it\'sagreatplaytostophisnose-paintabrupt。It\'sashocktohim，sameasaextraaceinapokerdeck；an\'whenagent\'isill，shocksiswhatheneeds。\'
\"\'Butletmesaveyaboutthis，\'saysDanBoggs，who\'sallersaheapinquis\'tivean\'searchin\'afterknowledge；\'doyou-allimposethisonwontedsobrietyasapenalty，ordoyoumaketheplaymeedic\'nal？\'
Meedic\'nal，\'saysPeets。\'Inextremecases，sobrietyisplentycooratif。\'
\"DoesEnrightbowtoDocPeets\'demandsaboutnowhiskeythata-way？
Son，Peetsisplumbinex\'rableaboutthempreescriptionsofhis。Helooksonthemildestargymentag\'in\'emaspersonalaffronts。Peetsisthemostimmov\'blesharp，medical，thateverIcrossesupwith；
an\'whenitcomestothempreescriptions，therecklessestsportinArizonalaysdownhishand。
\"OnceIknowsPeetstopassonthefailin\'conditionofatenderfootwho\'sbunkedinan\'allowshe\'lldiealotovertotheO。K。
Restauraw。Peetsdecidesthisyereshorthornneedsabstinencefromlicker。Peetsbreaksthenewstotheonhappyvictim，an\'putshimonwatertillthecrisisshallbepast。Also，PeetsnotifiedtheRedLightnottoheedanyrequestsofthispartyinrespectstosaidnose-paint。
\"Itturnsoutthissickperson，bonin\'forlickerasisplumbnacheral，forgetshimse\'fasagentan\'sorto\'reckonshe\'llgetfraudulentwithPeets。Hefiggershe\'lljestcomeInjunin\'intotheRedLight，quilhimse\'faboutafewdrinkssurreptitious，an\'thengotrackin\'backtohisblankets，an\'DocPeetsnonethewiser。So，likeIsays，thisyereillpersonfrontssoftlyuptotheRedLightbaran\'callsforValleyTan。
\"BlackJack，thebarkeep，don\'tknowthispartyfromacross-L
steer；hegetsthemmandatesfromPeets，butitneverdoesstrikeBlackJackthatthisyereisthedyin\'sportalloodedto。Indarknessthata-way，BlackJacktossesaglassonthebaran\'shovesthebottle。Itshorelookslikethatfailin\'shorthornisgoin\'toquitwinner，themrecooperatifs。
\"But，son，he\'sinterrupted。He\'sfilledhisglass——an\'he\'sbeenplentyfreeaboutit——an\'standstharwiththebottleinhishand，whentwogunsbark，an\'onebulletsmashestheglassan\'theotherthebottlewherethispersonisholdin\'it。No，thisartillerypracticedon\'tstampedemenone；I\'mplumbawareit\'sDocPeets\'
derringersfromthego-off。Peetsstandsinthedoor，oneofhislittlepup-gunsineachhand。
\"\'WhichIlikesyouraplomb!\'saysBlackJacktoPeets，asheswabsoffthebarinapeevishway。\'ImakesitmyboastthatI\'mthebest-nacheredbarkeepbetweentheColoradoan\'theRioGrande，an\'
yetI\'mfreetoconfess，sechplayschafesme。MayIask，\'an\'BlackJackstopswipin\'thebaran\'turnsonPeetsplumbp\'lite，\'whatyourideeisinthusshootin\'yourwayintoacommercialaffairinwhichyouhasnointerest？\'
\"\'Thisycrebibulouspersonismypatient，\'saysPeets，aheaphaughty。\'Ipreescribesnolicker；an\'thempreescriptionsisgoin\'
tobefilled，youbet!ifIhastofill\'emwithagun。Whateverdoyou-allreckonamedicalpractitioneris？Doyoufiggerhe\'saMexican，an\'thathisdiagnosises，thata-way，don\'tgo？Inotifiesyouthismornin\'asIstandsyeregettin\'mythirddrink，thatifthisoutcastcomestrackin\'inwithdemandsfornose-paint，torememberhe\'ssickan\'throwhimoutonhishead。An\'yere\'showI\'mobeyed!\'
\"Which，ofcourse，thisexplainsthingstoBlackJack，an\'heseeshisinadvertences。Hecomesoutfrombehindthebartowherethissickmaverickhasdonefaintedintheconfoosion，an\'collarshiman\'setshimonachar。
\"\'Doc，\'saysBlackJack，whenhe\'sgotthewiltedgentplantedfirman\'safe，\'Itendersmyregrets。Havin\'neitherbrandsnory\'earmarkstoguideby，Ineverrecognizesthispersonasyourinvalidatall；nonewhatever。I\'dshorebentagunonhiman\'
harassedhimbackintohislair，asyourequests，ifIsuspectshisidentity。ToshowI\'monthesquar\'，Doc，I\'lldothispartyanyvoylence，evenatthislatehour，whichyouthinkwillmakeamends。\'
\"\'Yourapol\'gyisaccepted，\'saysPeets，butstillhaughty；\'I
descernshowyougetsmaladroitthrougherrorsoverwhichyouhasnocontrol。Astothisperson，who\'ssofullofstealthycunnin\'，he\'sallright。Solongashedon\'tgetnolicker，novoylenceiscalledforinhiscase。\'An\'withthatPeetsconductshispatient，who\'scometoag\'in，backtohisreservation。
\"ButIonbucklesthisafternoontotellyou-allaboutOldManEnright\'searlylove，an\'ifIaimstomakethetripbeforethemooncomesup，Ibetterhitthetrailofthemreminiscencesan\'nofurtherdelays。
\"It\'sinthebackroomoftheNewYorkStorewherethecasksbe，an\'
Enright，onwhosenervesan\'speritsPeets\'preescriptionsof\'nolicker\'hasbeenfeedin\'fortwofulldays，sitstharsorto\'
fidgin\'withhisfingersan\'movin\'hisfeetinawaywhichshowshe\'saheaponaige。Thar\'samelancholysettlesonusall，aswecamps\'roundoncratesan\'shoeboxesan\'silentlysympathizeswithEnrighttoseehimsoredooced。Atlastthegrandoldchiefstartsintotalkwithoutquestionsorrequests。
\"\'Ifyou-alldon\'tmind，\'saysEnright，\'I\'llletgoahandfulofmem\'riestouchin\'myyooth。Thar\'snothin\'likemaladiestomakeagentsentimental，onlessitbegettin\'shotuporcutupwithbulletsorbowies；an\'theseyerevisitations，whichPeetsthinksisalkalian\'Iholdsistheburdensofthemyearsofmine，shoreleavesmeplumbromantic。
\'WhichI\'vebeenthinkin\'allday，betweentimeswhenI\'mthinkin\'
oflicker，ofPollyHawks；an\'I\'llsayrightyereshe\'smyfirstan\'onlylove。She\'safineyoungfemale，isPolly——tallasasaplin\'，withaarmonherlikeacant-hook。Pollycanliftan\'hangupasideofbeef，an\'isasgoodastwohandsatalog-rollin\'。
\"\'Thisyere\'sbackinoldTennesseeonthebanksoftheCumberland。
It\'saboutsixyearsfollowin\'ontheMexicanwar，an\'I\'mshotup\'ardsintothesemblancesofaman。MyaffectionsforPollyhastheirbeginnin\'sinacoon-huntintowhichb\'arsan\'dogsgetscommingledinpainfulprofoosion。
\"\'Iain\'tthewonderofaweekwithariflenow，sinceI\'moldan\'
dim，butthemtimesontheCumberlandIhasfameassech。More\'nonce，ag\'instthebestthereisineithertheCumberlandortheTennesseebottoms，orontheridgebetween，I\'vewonasgoodas，sayfirst，secondandfifthquartersinashootforthebeef。\'
\"\'Whateverdoyou-allcallafifthquarterofbeef？\'asksDanBoggs。
\'FourquartersisallI\'meverabletocounttotheanamile。\'
\"\'It\'syoothan\'inexperience，\'saysEnright，\'thatpromptsthemqueries。Thefifthquarteristhehidean\'tallow；an\'alsothar\'sasixthquarter，thesamebein\'thebulletsinthestumpwhichmakesthetarget，an\'whichisdugoutawholelot，leadbein\'plentyinfrequentinthemdaysI\'mdreamin\'of。
\"\'AsI\'msayin\'，whenDanlamsloosethemthickheadquestions，I\'marenownedshot，an\'myweaknessishuntin\'b\'ars。Ifinds\'eman\'
kills\'emthateasy，Ithinksthar\'snothin\'intheworldbutb\'ars。
An\'whenIain\'thuntin\'b\'ars，I\'mlayin\'fordeer；an\'whenI
ain\'tlayin\'fordeer，I\'msquawkin\'turkeys；an\'whenIain\'tsquawkin\'turkeys，I\'moutnightswithapasselofmisfitdogsI
harbors，ashakin\'upthesceneryforraccoons。Altogether，I\'msomebusyasyou-allmaywellinfer。
\"\'OnenightI\'mcoonhuntin\'。ThedogstreesoveronRapidRun。WhenIarrives，thewholepackiscirkled\'roundthebaseofabigbeech，singin\'；myoldAndrewJacksondogleadin\'thechoirwiththeair，an\'myThomasBentondoggrowlin\'bass，whiletheotherswarbleswhatpartstheywill，indiscrim\'nate。
\"\'Nacherally，thedogscan\'tclimbthetreenone，an\'Ihastomakethatplaymyse\'f。Ilaysdownmygun，an\'shucksmybeltsan\'knife，an\'goesswarmin\'upthebeech。It\'sshorelyateediousenterprise，an\'someroughbesides。Thatbeechseemsasfullofspikesan\'
thornsasahoneylocust——itsasorto\'porkypineofatree。
\"\'WhichIworksmylaceratedwayintothelowerbranches，an\'then，glancesupag\'inthefirmamentstolocatethecoon。Heain\'tvis\'blenone；he\'shigherupan\'theleavesan\'breshhideshim。IgoesontillI\'mtwentyfootfromtheground；thenIlooksupag\'in，\"\'Gents，itain\'tnocoon；it\'sab\'ar，blackaspaintan\'asbigasabaggagewagon。Heain\'ttwofootabovemetoo；an\'thesightofhim，settin\'tharlikeablackbaleofcotton，an\'hisnearness，an\'
partic\'larlyafewterseremarksheletsdrop，comesmightyclosttoastonishin\'metodeath。Ithinksofmygun；an\'thenIletsgoallboltstogoan\'getit。Shore，Ifallsoutenthetree；tharain\'tnotimetodescendslowan\'dignified。
\"\'AsIcomescrashin\'alongthroughthembeechboughs，itinculcatesamisonderstandin\'amongthedogs。AndrewJackson，ThomasBentonan\'
theothersisconvokedaboutthattreeonapurelycoontheery。Theyexpectsmetoknockthecoondownto\'em。Theyshorelydonotexpectmetocometumblin\'nonemyse\'f。IttharforebefallsthatwhenI
makesmydebooamong\'em，themcanines，blindedan\'besottedasI
saywiththoughtsofcoon，prouncesuponmeinabody。Everydogrendsoffaspecimentofme。Theydon\'tbitetwice；theyperceivesbythetastethatitain\'tnocoonan\'desists。
\"\'WhichIdon\'treckontheirworryin\'mewouldhavebecomeacontinyoousperformancenohow；formean\'thedogsishardlytangledupthata-way，whenwe\'reinterferedwithbytheb\'ar。LooksliketheexampleIsetsisinfectious；forwhenIletsgo，theb\'arletsgo；an\'Ihardlyhitsthegroundan\'becomestheragin\'centerofinteresttoAndrewJackson，ThomasBentonan\'themothers，whentheb\'arisdownonallofusliketheoldCumberlandonasandbardoorin\'aspringrise。Ishoreregyardshisadventthata-wayasthedayofjedgment。
\"\'No，wedon\'tcorralhim。Theb\'arsimplyr\'arsbacklongenoughtoputAndrewJacksonan\'ThomasBentonintomournin\'，an\'thengoesscuttlin\'offthroughthebusheslikethegraceofheaventhroughacamp-meetin\'。Asformyse\'f，Ilaysthar；an\'whatbetweendogan\'
b\'aran\'thefallIgets，I\'mascompletelyathingofthepastaseverfindsrefoogeinthatstripoftimber。AsnearasImakesoutbyfeelin\'ofmyse\'f，Iain\'tfittomakegourdsoutof。Ofcourse，she\'samistakeonthepartofthedogs，an\'plumbaccidentalasfarastheb\'ar\'sconcerned；butitshorecrumplesmeupasentirelyasifthisyereoutfitofanamilesplotstheplayforamonth。
\"\'Withthelastflickerofmyfailin\'strength，Icrawlstomyoldgent\'steepeean\'istookin。An\'youshoreshouldhaveheardthelanguageofthathouseholdwhentheyseesthefullan\'awfulextentthemdogsan\'thatb\'arlaysmewaste。WhichI\'mlayedupeightweeks。
\"\'Myoldgentgoesgrumblin\'offinthemornin\'，an\'roundsupoldAuntTillyHawkstonurseme。OldAuntTillylivesoveronthePaintedPost，an\'isplumblearnedinyarbsan\'sechasInjunturnips，opydeldock，live-forever，skoke-berryroots，jinsonan\'
whitewoodbark。An\'sotheyropesupAuntTillyHawksan\'tellshertorideherdonmywoundsan\'dislocations。
\"\'ButI\'mplumbweakan\'nervousan\'can\'tstandAuntTillynone。
Sheain\'tgotnoupperteeth，sameasacow，herfaceiswrinkledlikeaburntboot，an\'shedipssnuff。Moreover，shegivesmethehorrorsbyallerssingin\'inaquaverin\'way\"\'Harkfromthetombsadolefulsound，Miney\'earsattendthecry。
Yelivin\'mencomeviewthegroundWhereyoushallshortlylie。
\"\'AuntTillysoundsaheaplikeatea-kettlewhenshe\'srenderin\'
thisyeremadrigal，an\'that，an\'thewords，an\'alltherest，makesmegloomyan\'dejected。I\'mshorepinin\'awayondertheseyeremaligninflooences，whenmyoldgentnotesIain\'trecooperatin\'，an\'soheguessesthecause；an\'withthathegivesAuntTillyalay-off，an\'tellshertosendalongherniecePollytotakeherplace，\"\'Thar\'saencouragin\'difference。Pollyisbigan\'stronglikeI
states；buthereyesislikestars，an\'she\'sasfullofsweetnessasabeetreeorabar\'lofm\'lasses。SoPollycampsdownbymycouchofpainan\'beginsdallyin\'soothin\'lywithmyheatedbrow。I
commencesrecoverin\'fromthemattacksofb\'arsan\'dogsinstanter。
\"\'ThisyerePollyHawksain\'tnonenewtome。Ineverco\'tsher；butImeetsherfrequentatbarnraisin\'san\'quiltin\'s，whichallerswindsupinadance；an\'inthemgamesan\'merriments，sechas\"bowin\'tothewittiest，kneelin\'totheprettiest，an\'kissin\'theoneyoulovesthebest，\"ImorethanonceregyardsPollyasanalloorin\'formofhoomanhollyhock，an\'selectsher。Butthar\'snoflushofburnin\'love；nothin\'norethanthemamiableformalitieswhichbefitstheo\'casion。
\"\'WhilethisyerePollyisnursin\'me，however，shetakesonadifferentattitoodeawholelot。ItlookslikeIbeginstoneedherpermanent，an\'everytimeIsetsmyeyesonherIfeelsassoftasb\'ar\'sgrease。It\'sshorelylove；thatPollyHawksisassweetan\'
lusciousasaroastapple。\'
\"\'Isshefortroosolovely？\'asksFaroNell，who\'sbeenhangin\'
ontoEnright\'swords。
\"\'Frankly，Nellie，\'saysEnright，sorto\'pinchin\'downhisbluff；
\'nowthatI\'mca\'meran\'mybloodiscool，thisyerePollydon\'tseemsoplumbprismatic。Still，Imustsay，she\'splentyradiant。\'
\"\'Doesyou-all，\'saysDanBoggs，\'putthisyerePollyinnom\'nationtobeyourwifewhileyou\'requiledupsick？\'
\"\'No，IdefersthemofferstomomentswhenI\'mmorerobust，\'saysEnright。
\"\'Youshoreoughterrodeatherwhileyou\'resickthata-way，\'
remonstratesBoggs。\'That\'sthetimetosetyourstackdown。Femalesiseasymovedtopity，an\'，asI\'veheared——forI\'venothin\'togoby，personal，sinceI\'mnevermarriedan\'isneversicknone——isaheapmorepronetowedagentwho\'ssick，thanwhenhe\'swellalot。\'
\"\'Iholdsthemdoctrinesmyse\'f，\'observesEnright；\'however，I
don\'tdescendonPollywithnoprop\'sitions，neitherthennorfinal，asyou-allshallhear，Dan，ifyou\'llonlyholdyourse\'fdown。No，I
continyoosonlovin\'Pollytomyse\'fthata-way，ontilI\'mabletogopokin\'aboutoncrutches；an\'then，asthar\'snomoreneedofherministrations，PollylinesoutforoldAuntTilly\'scabinag\'in。
\"\'It\'satthisyerejuncturethingshappenswhichsorto\'
complicatesthendreamsofmine。WhileIain\'tbeensayin\'nothin\'，an\'hasbeenplumbreticentastomyfeelin\'s，jestthesame，bylookoract，ormebbyit\'sasigh，Itipsoffmyhand。Itain\'tnotimebeforealltheneighborsisawareofmyloveforPollyHawks。
Also，thisPollyhasaloverwhoitlookslikehasbeenco\'tin\'her，an\'bringin\'herminkpeltsan\'wildturkeysindeescrim\'nate，formonths。IneverdohearofthisgentontilI\'mcripplin\'\'roundonthemstiltsofcrutches；an\'thenIain\'tinformedofhimnoneonlyafterhe\'sinformedofme。
\"\'Thar\'sameasleylittlelimberjawofapartywhosenameisIkeSparks；thisIkeisallersrunnin\'abouttellin\'thingsan\'settin\'
trapstocapturetroubleforotherfolks。Ikeisaorneryanamile——
littlean\'furtif——meanenoughtosuckaigs，an\'cunnin\'enoughtohidetheshells。Hehateseverybody，thisIkedoes；an\'he\'sassuspiciousasBillJohnson\'sdog，whichlastisthatdoubtfulan\'
suspiciousheshorewalkssidewaysallhislifeforfearsomeone\'sgoin\'tokickhim。Thislow-downIkeimpartstoPolly\'sotherloveraboutthestateofmyfeelin\'s；an\'thenitain\'tnotimewhenI
getsnoticeofthissport\'sexistence。
\"\'It\'sinthelickerroomofthetavernatPineKnot，towhichscenesI\'vescrambledonthemcrutchesoneevenin\'，wherethispartyfirstmeetsupwithmeinperson。He\'sabig，tallcitizenwithlanky，longha\'r，an\'isdressedinablankethuntin\'shirtan\'hasacoon-skincapwiththetailhangin\'overhislefty\'ear。Also，hepacksaHawkinsrifle，bulletsaboutfortytothepound。Formyse\'f，Idon\'tgetentrancednonewiththisperson\'slooks，an\'asIain\'tfit，physical，fornoskrimmage，Ihastosingplumblow。
\"\'Thar\'sabandofussettin\'\'roundwhenthisloverofPolly\'sshowsinthedoor，drinkin\'an\'warblin\'thatentertainin\'ditty，whichgoes:\"
\"\'\"Tharsitsadog，byabarndoor，An\'Bingoishisname，O!
An\'Bingoishisname。\"
\"\'AsPolly\'sotherbeaucomesin，weceasesthisrefrain。Hepitcheshisrifletothelandlordoverthebar，an\'callsforaBaldfacewhiskeytoddy。Hetakesfourorfivedrinks，contemplatin\'usmeanwhileaheapdisdainful。Thenhearcheshisback，bendshiselbows，beginsawar-song，an\'goesdancin\'stiff-laiglikeaInjun，infrontofthebar。Thisishowthisextravagantpartysings。It\'swhatColonelSterett，yere，towhomIrepeatsitformer，calls\"blanketverse。\"
\"\'\"Letallthesonsofmenb\'arwitness!\"singsthisgent，ashegoesskatin\'stiff-laigaboutinaringlikeIrelates，armsbent，an\'backarched；\"letallthesonsofmenb\'arwitness；an\'
speshullyletacowerin\'varmint，namedSamEnright，sizemeupan\'
shudder!I\'mthemakerofdesertsan\'thewall-eyedharbingerofdesolation!I\'mkintorattlesnakesonmymother\'sside；I\'mkingofalltheeaglesan\'fullbrothertotheb\'ars!I\'mthebloo-eyedlynxofWhiskeyCrossin\'，an\'Iweighsfourthousandpounds!I\'mahe-
steamboat；I\'veputacrimpinacat-a-mountwithnothin\'butmylivin\'hands!Ibrokeafull-grownallagatoracrossmyknee，torehimasunderan\'showeredhisshrinkin\'fragmentsoverafullsectionofland!Ihuggedacinnamonb\'artodeath，an\'madeagrizzlypleadformercy!Who\'llcomegougewithme？Who\'llcomebitewithme？
Who\'llcomeputhisknucklesinmyback？I\'mWeasel-eye，thedeadshot；I\'mtheblood-drinkin\'，skelp-t\'arin\'，knife-plyin\'demonofSunflowerCreek!Theflashofmyglancewilldeadenawhiteoak，an\'
myscreechinangerwillbackthepantherplumboffhisnatifheath!
I\'maslayeran\'aslaughterer，an\'Icooksan\'eatsmydead!IcanwadetheCumberlandwithoutwettin\'myse\'f，an\'Idrinksoutenthespringwithouttouchin\'theground!I\'maswinge-cat；butIwarnsyounottobemisledbymylooks!I\'maflyin\'bison，an\'
deevastationridesuponmybreath!Whoop!whoop!whoopee!I\'mthePurpleBlossomofGinghamMountain，an\'whereisthatsonofthunderwho\'lltryan\'nipmeinthebud!Whoop!whoopee!I\'myeretofightordrinkwithanysport；anyoneorboth!Whoopee!Whereisthestatelystagtostamphishooforraphisantlerstomyproclamations!Whereisthatboundin\'buck!Whoopee!whoop!whoop!\"
\"\'ThenthisyerevociferousPurpleBlossompausesforbreath；butkeepsuphisstilt-laigdance，considerin\'memeanwhilewithhiseye，plentybaleful。We-allonourpartsisviewin\'himoveraheaprespectful，an\'ain\'tretortin\'aword。Thenhebeginsag\'inwithayelpthatwouldstampedeafieldofcorn。
\"\'\"WhoistharlovelierthanPollyHawks!\"heshouts。\"Showmethefemalemoreentrancin\'，an\'letmedropdeadatherfeet!WhoislovelierthanPollyHawks，thesweetheartofFlyin\'Bison，theonchainedtornadoofthehills!FeastyourgazeonPollyHawks；herbeautywouldmelttheheartofNacher!I\'mthePurpleBlossomofGinghamMountain；PollyHawksshallmarryan\'followmetomywigwam!Herbedshallbeofb\'ar-skins；herfoodshallbeyearlin\'
venison，an\'wildhoneyfromthetree!Hergownshallbepanther\'speltsfringed\'roundwithwolf-tailsan\'eagles\'claws!Sheshallbeltherse\'fwitharattlesnake，an\'herSundaybonnetshallbeaswarmofbees!WhenIkissheritsoundslikethecrackofawhip，an\'Iwouldn\'tpartwithherfortwentycows!Wewillwedan\'
pop\'latetheearthwithterror!Whereisthesooicidewho\'llstandinmyway？\"
\"\'Atthisp\'intthePurpleBlossomleavesoffdancin\'an\'frontsuptome，personal。
\"\'\"Whoopee!\"hesays；\"saythatyoudon\'tlovethegirlan\'I\'llgiveyouonehundreddollarsbeforeIspillsyourlife!\"
\"\'Which，ofcourse，alltheseyeremoosicalan\'terpshicoreenpreeliminariesmeanssimplysomuchwarbetweenmean\'thissperitedbeauofPolly\'s，toseewho\'llownthelady\'sheart。IexplainsthatI\'mnotjestthenfitforcombat，sufferin\'asIbefromthatoverabundanceofdogan\'b\'ar。ThePurpleBlossomisplumbp\'lite，an\'sayshedon\'thungertowhipnocripples。Thenhenamesadaytwomonthsawaywhenheallowshe\'llshoredescendfromGinghamMountain，meltmedownan\'runmeintocandlestoburnattheweddin\'ofhiman\'PollyHawks。Thenwedrinkstogether，allfraternal，an\'hegivesmeachewoftobaccooutenabox，madeoftheheadofabaldeagle，intokenofamity，thata-way。
\"\'ButthatrumpusbetweenthePurpleBlossoman\'meneverdoescomeoff；an\'themritesovermean\'Pollyisindef\'nitelypostponed。Thefactis，Ihastoleavealot。Istartsouttocommitajoke，an\'itturnsoutacrime；an\'soIgoesstreakin\'itfromthescenesofmyyoothfulfrolicsforsaferstampin\'grounds。
\"\'It\'smebbysixweeksfollowin\'themdeclarationsofthePurpleBlossom。It\'sco\'tdayatWar-whoopCrossin\'，an\'theJedgean\'
everylaw-sharponthatcircuitcomestrailin\'intocamp。ThisyereoutfitofWarwhoopisspeshulfretfulag\'installformsofgamblin\'。
WhereforetheJedge，an\'thestate\'sattorney，an\'mebbyfiveotherspeculators，atnightadjournstothecabinofaflat-boatwhichistiedupatthefootofthelevee，so\'stheycandivertthemse\'fswithalittledraw-pokerwithoutshockin\'thehamletan\'gettin\'
themse\'fsarrestedan\'finedsome。
\"\'It\'sgonetoaboutfourthdrinktimeaftersupper，an\'I\'mromancin\'about，tryin\'tofiggerouthowI\'mtowinPolly，whenasI\'mwaltzin\'alongthelevee——I\'mplumbalone，an\'thetownitse\'fhasturnedintoitsblankets——Igetssightofthisyerepokerfestivalragin\'inthecabin。Thartheybe，antein\'，goin\'itblind，straddlin\'，raisin\'beforethedraw，bluffin\'，an\'bettin\'，an\'
havin\'thetimeoftheirc\'reers。
\"\'It\'sthespringflood，an\'theoldCumberlandisbank-fullan\'
stilla-risin\'。Theflatboatissoftlyraisin\'an\'fallin\'onthesobbin\'tide。It\'sthenthemjocularimpulsesseizesme，thata-way；
an\'Istoopsan\'castsoffheroneline，an\'thatflatboatswimssilentlyawayonthebosomoftheriver。Thesportsinsideknowsnothin\'an\'guessesless，an\'theirgayetyswellsonwithoutahitch。
\"\'It\'sthreeo\'clockan\'JedgeFinn，who\'swonaboutahundredan\'
sixtydollars，realizesit\'sallthemoneyintheoutfit，an\'getscoldfeetplentyprompt。Hemurmurssomethin\'abouttellin\'theoldladyFinnhe\'dbeinearly，an\'shovesbackamidstthescoffsan\'
jeersofthelosers。ButthegoodoldJedgedon\'tmind，an\'openin\'
thedoor，hegoesoutintothenightan\'thedark，an\'carefullypickshiswayoverboardintofortyfootofwater。TheyelltheJedgeemitsashemakeshislittleholeintheCumberlandisthefirstnewsthemkyardsharpsgetsthatthey\'reafloatawholelot。
\"\'Itain\'tnopush-overrescooin\'JedgeFinnthattime。Theonehundredan\'sixtyisinMexicanmoney，an\'he\'sgotapoundortwoofitsinkeredabouthisoldframeineverypocket；sohegoestothebottomlikeakagofnails。
\"\'Buttheyworkshard，an\'atlastfisheshimout，an\'rollshimoverabar\'ltogetthewateran\'themoneyoutenhim。Whichondersechtreatment，theJedgedisgorgesboth，an\'atlastcomestoatriflean\'isfedwhiskeywithaspoon。
\"\'Havin\'savedtheJedge，theothersturnslooseavolleyofyellsthatshorelyscaresupthemechoesfaran\'wide。Itwakesupalittleoldtugthat\'stiedinDeadNiggerBend，an\'shefiresupan\'
pushesforthtotheirrelief。Thetughauls\'embacktoWarwhoopforseventydollars，whichispaidoutoftherescooedtreasureofJedgeFinn，thesamebein\'declar\'dsalvagebythembanditshe\'sbeenplayin\'with。
\"\'It\'stwoo\'clockintheafternoonwhenthatbandofgamblerspullsupag\'inatWarwhoop，an\'they\'reshorelyasaddenedpartyastheyfilesashore。Thevillageistharinafrownin\'an\'resentfulbodytoarrest\'emforthemvoylations，whichisaccordin\'done。
\"\'Atthesametime，Iregyardstheplayasthefunniest，ondoubted，that\'severbeenevolvedinTennessee；butmymoodchangesassubsequenteventsassoomesasomberface。OldJedgeFinngoesfumin\'
aboutlikeawrongedlion，an\'therestisashotaselectiondayinahornet\'snest。Pards，I\'maMexican!iftheydon\'tindictmeforpiracyonthehighseas，an\'pledgetheirwordstoseemehangedbeforeeverco\'tadjourns。
\"\'Thatletsmeout，rightthar!Iseesthesymptomsofmyonpop\'larityinadvance，an\'don\'tprocrastinatenone。Igoessailin\'overthedividetotheTennessee，downtheTennesseetotheOhio，downtheOhiototheMississippi，downtheMississippitotheArkansaw，uptheArkansawtoLittleRock；an\'tharIpauses，exhaustedshore，butsafeasamurdererinGeorgia。WhichIneverdoesgobackforplumbtenyears。
\"\'Nacherally，becauseofthisyereexodus，ImissesmyengagementswiththePurpleBlossom；alsothemnuptialsIplotsaboutPollyHawks，suffersthekyboshawholelot。However，Isurvives，an\'
Pollysurvives；shean\'thePurpleBlossomhooksupamonthlater，an\'Ilearnssincetheyshorehasoffspringsenoughtopackaprimaryorstartapublicschool。It\'salloverlongago，an\'I\'mgladthekyardsfallsastheydo。Still，asIintimates，thar\'sthemmomentsofromancetoridemedown，whenIremembersmyoneloneloveaffairwithPollyHawks，thebeautyofthePaintedPost。\'
\"Enrightpauses，an\'we-allsetsstillamomentoutofrespectstotheoldchief。AtlastDanBoggs，who\'salwaysbubblin\'thata-way，speaksup:
\"\'WhichI\'mshoresorry，\'saysDan，\'youdon\'tfetchthemoosicofthatPurpleBlossom\'swar-songWest。Ideemsthatamightyexcellentlay，an\'wouldadmiretolearnitan\'singitsomemyse\'f。I\'dshoregooveran\'carolittoRedDog；itwouldredoocethemdrunkardstofrenzy。\"\'