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I were baptized Richard 'e'll lift this cove up in 'is great,

strong arore 'im,

an' stao

soakin' an' a-soakin' into the grass, soe, or in some quiet corner o' the woods--and the birds'll

perch on this cove's breast, an' flutter their wings in this

cove's face, 'cause they'll know as this cove can never do nobody

no 'urt no wore; ah! there'll be blood--gallons of it!"

"I hope not!" said I "Ye do, do ye?"

"Most fervently!"

"An' 'cause why?"

"Because I happen to be that cove," I answered

"Oh!" said the Pedler, eyeing me more narrowly; "you are, are

ye?"

"I aot w'ite 'ands"

"They hite once," said I

"An' I don't see as your ways is soft--nor yet takin'!"

"None the less, I a turned this intelligence

over in his ain "You

won't be wantin' ever a broom, I think you said?"