The Rambles of an Idler 



hand all summer and f oiler gunnin' and trap- 

 pin' fall and winter.' He wouldn't listen. I 

 kep' a-jawin' and all the time edgin' towards 

 the house. I seen Nance standin' in the door, 

 lookin' sort o' smilin' like, and that kep' up my 

 courage more'n the ol' man's gab kep' me down. 



"Gettin' near enough, I says, 'Who do you 

 favor, Nance?' 



"She up and says, 'You, Job, 'cause you're 

 fair and square and Daddy's no reason to go 

 ag'in' you.' 



"You never saw a madder man than ol' man 

 Biles. 



" 'I ain't goin' ag'in' you, Daddy,' says 

 Nance, 'but I can't help my favorin' Job. You 

 know he's as good as any young feller 'round, 

 and nobody's got nothin' ag'in' him.' 



"I wanted to up and kiss the gal right there, 

 but just held off a bit. 



" 'Get out o' here !' hollers the ol' man to me. 

 ' Go in the house ! ' he hollers to Nance. 



' ' ' Not much, ' says I. ' I 'm in the public road 

 jus' at present and committin' no breach o' the 

 peace. But by the eternal racket,' says I, 'if 

 you're rough with Nance in my hearin', either 

 with your hand or your tongue, there'll be 



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