The Grinder Papers — page 128: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE GRINDER PAPERS. 123 ‘¢VYou’ve took cold.” ‘*T hain't,” sez he. “You hev,” says I. ‘‘ Youreas hoarse asa raven. How it snows !” “Ves,” sez he. ‘‘Shouldn’t wonder ef I'd :ost my way.” “Should think you’d know it blindfold,” sez I. ‘‘ Beside, ‘tain’'t long enough to lose.” ~ Sez he, ‘‘It’s five mile.” ‘‘ Hey?” sez I, thinkin’ he’d gone crazy. ‘‘Five good,” sez he; ‘‘and there’s the fork. Ef I hev got off the track ’twas at the fork. I'll know purty soon now.” ‘“Why, Jonathan, hev you been drinkin?” sez I, skeered out oO my senses. . When I said Jonathan, he gave a start. ‘‘Land o’ liberty!’ sez he, ‘‘what are you callin’ me Jona- than for? Either I'm gettin’ deaf, or that ain't Miss Colonel Kat- ermounts voice. ‘“Of course it ain’t,” sez 1. ‘‘And you ain't Jonathan Grin- der!” ee ‘‘T’m blest ef Iam,” sez he. ‘‘I’m Colonel Katermount.”’ The hull horror o’ my sittywation rushed onto me with a bang, and sez 1: ‘‘Oh, dredful suz! How have we got conglomerated? I hain’t no business tu be travellin’ with a married man, much less at this here solemn hour o’ midnight. ‘There ain’t nuthin’ cant be said agin me now. Oh! drive back, colonel, as you vally the opinion of serciety,” Gomicbooks