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West India sugar or coffee is then called 〃boughten sugar;〃 &c。
〃This is a home…made carpet; that a 'boughten' one;〃 i。e。; one
bought at a shop。 In the North of England; baker's bread is
called 〃bought bread。〃
Wat's your fitin wate?
Air you trubeld with biles?
How does your meresham culler?
State whether you air blind; deaf; idiotic; or got the
heaves?
Do you know any Opry singers; and if so how much do they owe
you?
What's the average of virtoo on the Ery Canawl?
If 4 barrils of Emptins pored onto a barn floor will kiver
it; how many plase can Dion Bourcicault write in a year?
'Emptyings; pronounced 〃emptins;〃 the lees of beer; cider; &c。;
yeast or anything by which bread is leavened:…
〃'Twill take more emptins; by a long chalk; than this new
party's got;
To give such heavy cakes as these a start; I tell ye what。〃
〃The Biglow Papers。〃'
Is Beans a regler article of diet in your family?
How many chickins hav you; on foot and in the shell?
Air you aware that Injianny whisky is used in New York
shootin galrys instid of pistols; and that it shoots furthest?
Was you ever at Niagry Falls?
Was you ever in the Penitentiary?
State how much pork; impendin crysis; Dutch cheeze; popler
suvrinty; standard poetry; children's strainers; slave code;
catnip; red flannel; ancient history; pickled tomaters; old
junk; perfoomery; coal ile; liberty; hoop skirt; &c。; you hav
on hand?
But it didn't work。 I got into a row at the fust house I stopt
to; with some old maids。 Disbelieven the ansers they giv in
regard to their ages; I endevered to open their mouths and look
at their teeth; same as they do with hosses; but they floo into
a vilent rage and tackled me with brooms and sich。 Takin the
sences requires experiunse; like any other bizniss。
1。18。 AN HONEST LIVING。
I was on my way from the mines to San Francisco; with a light
puss and a hevy hart。 You'd scacely hav recognized my fair
form; so kiverd was I with dust。 Bimeby I met Old Poodles; the
all…firdist gambler in the country。 He was afoot and in his
shirt…sleeves; and was in a wuss larther nor any race hoss I
ever saw。 (〃All…fired;〃 enormous; excessive; a low Americanism;
not improbably a puritanical corruption of 〃hell…fired;〃
designed to have the virtue of an oath without offending polite
ears。)
〃Whither goist thow; sweet nimp?〃 sez I; in a play…actin tone。
〃To the mines; Sir;〃 he unto me did say; 〃to the mines; TO EARN
AN HONEST LIVIN。〃
Thinks I that air aint very cool; I guess; and druv on。
1。19。 THE PRESS。
I want the editers to cum to my Show free as the flours of May;
but I don't want um to ride a free hoss to deth。 Thare is
times when Patience seizes to be virtoous。 I had 〃in my mind's
eye; Hurrashio〃 (cotashun from Hamlick) sum editers in a sertin
town which shall be nameless; who air Both sneakin and ornery。
They cum in krowds to my Show and then axt me ten sents a line
for Puffs。 I objectid to payin; but they sed ef I didn't down
with the dust thay'd wipe my Show from the face of the earth!
Thay sed the Press was the Arkymedian Leaver which moved the
wurld。 I put up to their extorshuns until thay'd bled me so I
was a meer shadder; and left in disgust。
It was in a surtin town in Virginny; the Muther of Presidents &
things; that I was shaimfully aboozed by a editor in human
form。 He set my Show up steep & kalled me the urbane &
gentlemunly manajer; but when I; fur the purpuss of showin fair
play all around; went to anuther offiss to git my hanbills
printed; what duz this pussillanermus editer do but change his
toon & abooze me like a Injun。 He sed my wax wurks was a
humbug & called me a horey…heded itinerent vagabone。 I thort
at fust Ide pollish him orf ar…lar the Beneshy Boy; but on
reflectin that he cood pollish me much wuss in his paper; I giv
it up。 & I wood here take occashun to advise peple when thay
run agin; as thay sumtimes will; these miserable papers; to not
pay no attenshun to um。 Abuv all; don't assault a editer of
this kind。 It only gives him a notorosity; which is jest what
he wants; & don't do you no more good than it wood to jump into
enny other mud puddle。 Editers are generally fine men; but
there must be black sheep in every flock。
1。20。 EDWIN FOREST AS OTHELLO。
Durin a recent visit to New York the undersined went to see
Edwin Forrest。 As I'm into the moral show bizness myself; I
ginrally go to Barnum's moral Museum; where only moral peple
air admitted; pertickly on Wednesday arternoons。 But this time
I thot I'd go & see Ed。 Ed has bin actin out on the stage for
many years。 There is varis 'pinions about his actin;
Englishmen ginrally bleevin that he is far superior to Mister
Macready; but on one pint all agree; & that is that Ed draws
like a six ox team。 Ed was actin at Niblo's Garding; which
looks considerable more like a parster; than a garding; but let
that pars。 I sot down in the pit; took out my spectacles &
commenced peroosin the evenin's bill。 The awjince was all…fired
large & the boxes was full of the elitty of New York。 Several
opery glasses was leveld at me by Gothum's farest darters; but
I didn't let on as tho I noticed it; tho mebby I did take out
my sixteen…dollar silver watch & brandish it round more than was
necessary。 But the best of us has our weaknesses & if a man has
gewelry let him show it。 As I was peroosin the bill a grave
young man who sot near me axed me if I'd ever seen Forrest dance
the Essence of Old Virginny? 〃He's immense in that;〃 sed the
young man。 〃He also does a fair champion jig;〃 the young man
continnerd; 〃but his Big Thing is the Essence of Old Virginny。〃
Sez I; 〃Fair youth; do you know what I'd do with you if you was
my sun?〃
〃No;〃 sez he。
〃Wall;〃 sez I; 〃I'd appint your funeral tomorrow arternoon; &
the KORPS SHOULD BE READY! You're too smart to live on this
yearth。〃 He didn't try any more of his capers on me。 But
another pussylanermus individooul; in a red vest & patent
lether boots; told me his name was Bill Astor & axed me to lend
him 50 cents till early in the mornin。 I told him I'd probly
send it round to him before he retired to his virtoous couch;
but if I didn't he might look for it next fall; as soon as I
cut my corn。 The Orchestry was now fiddling with all their
might; & as the peple didn't understan anything about it they
applaudid versifrussly。 Presently; Old Ed cum out。 The play
was Otheller or More of Veniss。 Otheller was writ by Wm。
Shakspeer。 The scene is laid in Veniss。 Otheller was a likely
man & was a ginral in the Veniss army。 He eloped with Desdemony;
a darter of the Hon。 Mister Brabantio; who represented one of
the back districks in the Veneshun legislater。 Old Brabantio
was as mad as thunder at this & tore round considerable; but
finally cooled down; tellin Otheller; howsever; that Desdemony
had come it over her Par; & that he had better look out or
she'd come it over him likewise。 Mr。 & Mrs。 Otheller git along
very comfortable like for a spell。 She is sweet…tempered and
luvina nice; sensible femal