"An' the pig will be there at the great Judgment Day?
Begorre! I'll say to the Widow, 'Asthore,
Take back your old pig, for I want it no more'
"'An iligant pig in ivery way,
Schwate Widow Mahan, plaze take it away.
Faith, now it's full grown, just go to the fair,
A mighty foine price you'll git for it there.'"
"Yes," said Uncle Ike, "that's what the rich man will say. After
cheating the poor, buncoing the credulous, and 'cornering' his
fellows, he will say he is willing to give it back, for he has no
further use for it. There's a good moral in that song, Mr. Sweeney,
and some of our sordid millionaires ought to hear it."
Quincy looked at his watch. "The hour is late--for the country, but,
fortunately, our hotel keeps open all night."
Quincy carried Uncle Ike up stairs to his room and told him he would
come some day and have a good old-fashioned talk with him.
They walked home slowly, Maude admiring the moonlight night and the
cool, scented air. When they reached their own room, after seeing
Maude to hers, Alice repeated to her husband her conversation with
Uncle Ike.
"You must do something to cheer him up, Quincy. Promise me, won't
you?"
"Yes, I promise. I hope I won't forget to perform it as I have in one
instance."
"Why--what?"
"Do you remember that young man at the Town Hall--Arthur Scates? He's
in consumption.
Pages:
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72