The Grinder Papers — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

LS . . - wht THE GRINDER PAPERS. SI there, and I thought I’d go away a spell, so’s they'd miss me; and knowin’ where Cousin Kittikins resided, I up and went there, with a change o’ thiags in a portmantle, and my knittin’ work in my pocket. I came to the door about eleven o’clock, and there it was streamin’ wide open. Couple o’ children eatin’ candy in the hall, and a gal messin’ with a broom in the area. Reckon she thought she was sweepin’. Them wild Irish has such slashin’ ideas o’ work. | ‘‘Miss Kittikins ta hum ?” says I. Says she, ‘‘ Yes, but she’s engaged.” ‘I'm a relation,” says I. ‘*Be you?” says she. And I didn’t answer another word, but marched in. _ There was an awful bellowin’ in the front parlors. Sounded as ef some one was fust gettin’ choked and then squeezed. So I run in, and, laws a massy! there sat a lady in cloth pants and a short frock, and a bob-tailed coat. And she waves her hand and says she, “Are these the rights o woman? Speak !” “Which,” says I—‘‘ the pants?” She clasped her hand to her forehead, and says she ; ‘‘Ha!” and then, ‘“‘ Excuse me, I was absorbed in my forth- coming lecture. You have business with me?” So I told her who I was, and she shook hands and sent the gal to call Cousin Kittikins. The gal went, and come back . - grinnin’ (ee) Eomicboo