The Grinder Papers — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

THE GRINDER PAPERS. 149 I ‘Better late than never,” sez he. ? ‘“‘Deceivin’ o’ me,” sez I. ‘“Wall,” sez he, ‘‘I hain’t no patience with rows, and I thought I’d do it slick and quiet.” “Oh,” sez I, ‘‘it’s for this I’ve darned your socks, is it?— and made yer things and kep’ house furye? Ye’re a disgrace tu the men sect. You've hed the priveliges o’ female serciety and never knowed what ’twas tu lose a button, and you must marry a widdy—a freckled, red-haired critter : ‘*A lot better lookin’ than you be,” sez he. “*Hey?” sez I, ? ‘*Or ever will be; or ever was,” sez he. Then I flowed at him and scratched at his phizmahogany. “Twarn’t behavin’ with my usual dignitude, but I was exaspera- ted. Sez I, ‘‘ Jonathan Grinder,” sez I, ‘‘ef you think how't I’m goin’ fur tu play second fiddle where I’ve played fust so long, you're mistaken. You can't marry that humly critter.” ‘‘Howre you goin’ ter perwent it?” sez he. ‘‘I’m engaged.” Sez I, ‘‘No matter—I will.” He sot quite still, and arter a while sez he: ‘“Come, Charity—you know you'll allers be welcome here— du be friendly.” I didn't say nuthin’. From that minnit on I never spoke tu him. ‘Twas a Friday night. Never said a word Saturday nor ~ Sunday, He went over to call on the widdy Sunday, and warn’t “S m comicboo