The Grinder Papers — page 197: what you’re looking at

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

192 THE GRINDER PAPERS... of May, and rendered ‘em considerable assistance in movin’. Dunno how they could hev got along without me. Mandy is young and dont take that there heartfelt interest in housekeepin’ that we o’ the age o approachin’ maturity does. Her ma is de- ceased, you know, and she hain’t had no partickerler bringin’ up, only what her pa could give her, and men arn't no great hands at fetchin’ up o gals. She’s learnt fur tu play the pianny, and sing, and cetery ; but what’s accomplices tu a elderly man o’ middle age? What he wants is a partner o’ discretion, that can cook well, and save money. Seein’ the late Miss Floger was took he’d orter have purvided himself with another. Time enough yet, though. It’s better for tu show judition in sech important. affairs. I’ve allers thought I’d never take the awful step o’ selectin’ a pardner before I was able to choose one that, to use a poetical expression, wou.d wash and wear. Wouldn’t hev you mention it fur nuthin’, Piety, but Mr. Flo- ger is very partickerler in his intentions tu me. I feel tu be anxious that folks will pass remarks about me and insinnivate how t I want tu catch him; but I can't hurt his feel- in’s by leavin’ when he’s so anxious fur me tu prolong my visit, even though Mandy Floger has behaved in a way fur tu occasion me tu blush for her. | I scozn tu listen, but I accidentally overheard her remark tu an aunt o’ hern that she ‘‘ wished the o// thing would go.” “Old thing,” meant me, Piety. No matter. I don’t say nuthin’, but I'll remember it. A pretty state o’ things it has comicbooks.com —