Here you're got to peg and peg and peg and there
just ain't any let-up - and what you learn here, you've got
to KNOW, dontchuknow - or else you'll have one of these
- - - spavined, spectacles, ring-boned, knock-kneed old
professors in your hair.
I've been here long ENOUGH,
and I'm getting blessed tired of it, mind I TELL you.
The old man wrote me that he was coming over in June,
and said he'd take me home in August, whether I was done
with my education or not, but durn him, he didn't come;
never said why; just sent me a hamper of Sunday-school
books, and told me to be good, and hold on a while.
I don't take to Sunday-school books, dontchuknow - I
don't hanker after them when I can get pie - but I
READ them, anyway, because whatever the old man tells
me to do, that's the thing that I'm a-going to DO,
or tear something, you know. I buckled in and read
all those books, because he wanted me to; but that kind
of thing don't excite ME, I like something HEARTY.
But I'm awful homesick. I'm homesick from ear-socket
to crupper, and from crupper to hock-joint; but it ain't
any use, I've got to stay here, till the old man drops
the rag and give the word - yes, SIR, right here in this
- - - country I've got to linger till the old man says
COME!
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