Abul-bodied man,--and lots Call fer _choppers_--and fer hands To git _cross-ties_ out.--But what's _Work_ to sich as understands Ways appinted and is hence Under special providence?-- "Coon-dog Wess's" holts was _hounds_ And _coon-huntin'_; and he knowed _His_ own range, and stayed in bounds And left work for them 'at showed _Talents_ fer it--same as his Gifts regardin' coon-dogs is. Hounds of ev'ry mungerl breed Ever whelped on earth!--Had these _Yeller_ kind, with punkin-seed Marks above theyr eyes--and fleas Both to sell and keep!--Also These-here _lop-yeerd_ hounds, you know.-- Yes-and _brindle_ hounds--and long, Ga'nt hounds, with them eyes they' got So blame _sorry_, it seems wrong, 'Most, to kick 'em as to not! Man, though, wouldn't dast, I guess, Kick a hound fer "Coon-dog Wess"! 'Tended to his own affairs Stric'ly;--made no brags,--and yit You could see 'at them hounds' cares 'Peared like _his_,--and he'd a-fit Fer 'em, same as wife er child!-- Them facts made folks rickonciled, Sorto', fer to let him be And not pester him. And then Word begin to spread 'at he Had brung in as high as ten Coon-pelts in one night--and yit Didn't 'pear to boast of it! Neghborhood made some complaints 'Bout them plague-gone hounds at night Howlin' fit to wake the saints, Clean from dusk tel plum day-light! But to "Coon-dog Wess" them-thare Howls was "music in the air"! Fetched his pelts to Gilson's Store-- Newt he shipped fer him, and said, Sence _he'd_ cooned thare, he'd shipped more Than three hunderd pelts!--"By Ned! Git shet of my _store_," Newt says, "I'd go in with 'Coon-dog Wess'!" And the feller 'peared to be Makin' best and most he could Of his rale prospairity:-- Bought some household things--and _good_,-- Likewise, wagon-load onc't come From wharever he'd moved from. But pore feller's huntin'-days, 'Bout them times, was glidin' past!-- Goes out onc't one night and _stays!_ ... Neghbors they turned out, at last, Headed by his wife and one Half-starved hound--and search begun. Boys said, that blame hound, he led Searchin' party, 'bout a half Mile ahead, and bellerin', said, Worse'n ary yearlin' calf!-- Tel, at last, come fur-off sounds Like the howl of other hounds. And-sir, shore enugh, them signs Fetched 'em--in a' hour er two-- Whare the _pack_ was;--and they finds "Coon-dog Wess" _right thare_;--And you Would admitted he was right _Stayin'_, as he had, _all night!_ Facts is, cuttin' down a tree, The blame thing had sorto' fell In a twist-like--_mercy me!_ And had ketched him.--Couldn't tell, Wess said, _how_ he'd managed--yit He'd got both legs under it!