Impressions 



a'ter a tongue-lashin' he gave me I got out. It 

 wasn't what I wanted. His da'ter Nance drew 

 me more'n the pay I was gettin' an' he know'd 

 it; so he gave me to understand I needn't keep 

 loafin' round. But I did see Nance more'n 

 once, an' she didn't side with the ol' man. I 

 kep' up heart an' worked on the farms 'round 

 till fall came an' saved every penny I got. 

 'Long late in the summer I laid 'em out for a 

 good gun an' fixin's an' turned to huntin'. 

 Hides was a good price and Sammy Quicksall 

 took all the ducks I shot at a fair figger. 

 Things went on purty well till about Christmas, 

 when I got restless-like for Nance and couldn't 

 f oiler any thin' fur thinkin' o' her. You know 

 how lads is when they get this way real bad, 

 and that was me fur sure. 



"I tho't it over, and says I, 'I'll go see the 

 ol' man and make up if I can.' I went over 

 from Duck Island to his house, but he seen me 

 a-comin' and comes out, warnin'-like, and or- 

 ders me off. He 'lowed he'd all his hands en- 

 gaged. I said I was sorry, but up and square 

 told him that wasn't what I came fur, but to 

 keep steady comp'ny with Nance. Says I, 'I've 

 a bit laid up, and can work steady as a farm 



9 



