City vs. Co tJi^' TRY. 119 



up as a vagrant, and sent to the penitentiary. Why ? 

 Because there's houses enough in a city for all to sleep 

 in, and it's onnateral to sleep outside of 'em, and the 

 people think I'm around for no good. But who ever 

 thought it out of the way of nater, for us away out 

 here, where there ain't any houses, to sleep in our 

 shantee in the depths of the Shatagree ? If I find a 

 loafer in your street, torterin' and abushi' a dura 

 animal, and I kick him by way of caution, I'm taken 

 up for 'salt and battery, as it is called. Why ? Not 

 because the fellow didn't deserve a kickin', nor be- 

 cause I didn't sarve him right, but because there's 

 courts, and constables, and law, by which he may be 

 punished in a regular way. But who would think of 

 takin' me up, for kickin' that cussed half-breed I told 

 you of, for slaughtering the poor deer on the crust ? 

 If in the night-time, in the streets of your city, I think 

 to amuse myself by singing at the top of my voice, 

 I'm taken to the watch-house, and locked up. Why ? 

 Because I'm disturbin' the sleep of the people, alarmin' 

 the timid, shaking the nerves of the sick, and breakin' 

 the public peace. But if away off here in the deep 

 forest, alone among the lakes and hills, I choose to 

 strike up Hail Columby, whether to amuse myself, or 



