IN " THE GOOD OLD TIMES." 131 



wanderin' round. To look at they was a more des- 

 prit-looking lot than the old uns. They got in tow 

 with 'em quick too, and told 'em as they could take 

 all as they could git, and would find 'em a better 

 price by a long way than what they'd bin gettin'. 

 They brought fast-trottin' ponies an' light spring- 

 carts to take the game an' other things away. 

 Some o' th' old gang, jist to see what stuff the new 

 chums was made on, in case a scrimmage came, 

 kicked up a row an' hit some on 'em. They was 

 soon satisfied, however, fur they hit out most ter- 

 rible, an' some on 'em they throwed up on their 

 backs, with a turn o' the foot like, enuf to bust 'em. 

 Arter that they would do anything to please 'em; 

 an' the new uns, jest to prove to 'em as all was 

 right an' square, turned gold over to 'em, as earnest 

 fur the jobs they had before 'em. 



" When everything was ready for action like, they 

 planned a housebreakin' job fur one thing, an' a 

 game-harryin' bit fur another : all on it to come off 

 the same night. The night afore that, they'd done 

 some sheep -stealin'. They was bold over it, fur 

 they killed 'em in the fold an' they dressed 'em 

 there, an' left the skins. The night come, an' they 



