84 THE KALLIKAK FAMILY 



was burned to a crisp when they found her. That was 

 the worst of them, they would drink. Poverty was 

 their best friend in this respect, or they would have 

 been drunk all the time. Old Martin could never stop 

 as long as he had a drop. Many's the time he's rolled 

 off of Billy Parson's porch. Billy always had a barrel 

 of cider handy. He'd just chuckle to see old Martin 

 drink and drink until finally he'd lose his balance and 

 over he'd go ! But Horser he was a case ! I saw 

 him once after I'd heard he was going to marry Jemima. 

 I looked him over and said, 'Well, if you aren't a fine- 

 looking specimen to think of marrying anybody ! ' 

 and he answered, ' I guess you're right I aren't much, 

 but I guess I'll do fer Jemima.' 



"Such scandals as there were when those girls were 

 young!" he continued. "You see, there was a fast 



set of young men in B in those days, lawyers, who 



didn't care what they did. One of them got paid back, 

 though, for Jemima wanted to put her child on the 

 town, and they made her tell who was its father. Then 

 he had to give something for its support, and she gave it 

 this man's full name. I saw him one day soon after- 

 ward and he was boiling with rage. All the comfort 

 I gave him was to say, 'I don't see but what you're 

 getting your just deserts, for if anybody wants to play 

 with the pot, they must expect to get blackened !' 



