American literature -- Humor; American wit and humor
_Widow_--Shet yer head, Tim Crane; nun o' yer sass to me. _There's_ your
hat on that are table, and _here's_ the door; and the sooner you put on
_one_ and march out o' t'other the better it will be for you. And I
advise you, afore you try to git married ag'in, to go out West and see
'f yer wife's cold; and arter yer satisfied on that p'int, jest put a
little lampblack on yer hair,--'twould add to yer appearance,
undoubtedly, and be of sarvice tew you when you want to flourish round
among the gals; and when ye've got yer hair fixt, jest splinter the
spine o' your back,--'twouldn't hurt your looks a mite: you'd be
intirely unresistible if you was a _leetle_ grain straiter.
_Mr. C._--Well, I never!
_Widow_--Hold your tongue, you consarned old coot you! I tell you
_there's_ your hat, and _there's_ the door: be off with yerself, quick
metre, or I'll give ye a h'ist with the broomstick.
_Mr. C._--Gimmeni!
_Widow_ (rising)--Git out, I say! I ain't a-gwine to stan' here and be
insulted under my own ruff; and so git along; and if ever you darken my
door ag'in, or say a word to Melissy, it'll be the wuss for you,--that's
all.
_Mr. C._--Treemenjous! What a buster!
_Widow_--Go 'long,--go 'long,--go long, you everlastin' old gum! I won't
hear another word (stops her ears). I won't. I won't. I won't. (Exit Mr.
Crane.)
* * * * *
(Enter Melissy, accompanied by Captain Canoot.)
Good-evenin', cappen! Well, Melissy, hum at last, hey? Why didn't you
stay till mornin'? Purty business keepin' me up here so late waitin' for
you, when I'm eny-most tired to death iornin' and workin' like a slave
all day,--ought to ben abed an hour ago. Thought ye left me with
agreeable company, hey? I should like to know what arthly reason you had
to s'pose old Crane's was agreeable to me? I always despised the
critter; always thought he was a turrible fool, and now I'm convinced
on't. I'm completely dizgusted with him; and I let him know it to-night.
I gin him a piece o' my mind't I guess he'll be apt to remember for a
spell. I ruther think he went off with a flea in his ear. Why, cappen,
did ye ever hear of such a piece of audacity in all yer born days? for
him--_Tim Crane_--to durst to expire to my hand,--the widder o' Deacon
Bedott! Jest as if _I_'d condescen' to look at _him_,--the old numskull!
He don't know B from a broomstick; but if he'd 'a' stayed much longer
I'd 'a' teached him the difference, I guess. He's got his
_walkin'-ticket_ now. I hope he'll lemme alone in futur'. And where's
Kier? Gun home with the Cranes, hey! Well, I guess it's the last time.
And now, Melissy Bedott, you ain't to have nothin' more to dew with them
gals,--d'ye hear? You ain't to 'sociate with 'em at all arter this:
'twould only be incurridgin' the old man to come a-pesterin' me ag'in;
and I won't have him round,--d'ye hear? Don't be in a hurry, cappen, and
don't be alarmed at my gettin' in such a passion about old Crane's
persumption.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account