The Grinder Papers — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

THE GRINDER PAPERS. 257 I was tu climb up and take down what I liked, I’d get along better; wouldn't I? Oh! well, if ye don’t like it Z don’t keer; you can wait on me. Fetch ’em along till I’m suited. Stop now, while I think on’t; you hain’t seen nuthin’ o’ a man that mends numberills, hev ye? A-stumpy kind o' a man, witha wart on his chin, and yallerish eyes, wears a white hat with a dentin it, and has a nose of most an awful dimension, and a green coat, anda bundle, a numberill, and stubbed-toed shoes, and answers to the name o’ Moses. Seein’ you was o’ the same trade, thought I'd ask. No connection with such common people? Well, I dunno much difference between mendin’ ’em and makin’ ‘em, and sellin’ ’em; so ye needn't stick up your nose. . Is Mr. Moses a relationship 0’ mine P I vow tu man. Well, I declare—of course not. He come tu Miss Colonel Washman that keeps a tavern to Peekskill, and, sez he, ‘‘I’ma gentleman in.distressed circumstances,” sez he, ‘‘and obleeged tu mend these here fora livin’. ‘Tain’t what I’m used tu,” sez he, ‘‘but I'll doit cheap,” sez he. ‘‘I'll mend all you'll fetch fur my night's lodgin’.” Well, she had a lot needed fixin’, and she fetched ‘em in. He worked away like all possessed, and at night they gin him the attic. He pertended fur tu be exhausted with his walk and his work, and snored horrid till the rest was asleep. Then he must a-got up and opened Miss Washman’s desk, and took upards o' nineteen dollars in money, and a watch, and arterwards he took a silver tea-pot she sot on, and a gownd she wore a Sabber-days, and scooted. It did make her hoppin’ mad—no wonder, and they hain’t never tetched him tu Gomicboo (Ele)