"A nice sorter man you be Abner, fer yer neighbors to be a trustin ter
look aout fer things," said an old farmer, sarcastically.
"Ef 't hadn't been fer Cap'n Hamlin thar, the constable would 'a waked
ye up this mornin with the eend of a gad," said another.
"You'll have to take in your horns a little, after this, Abner. It
won't do to be putting on any more airs," remarked a third.
"Go ahead," said Abner, ruefully, "I hain't got nothin ter say. Ye kin
sass me all ye wanter. Every one on ye kin take yer hack at me. I'm
kinder sorry thar ain't any on ye big nuff ter kick me, fer I orter be
kicked."
"Never mind, Abner," said Perez, pitying his humiliated condition.
"Anybody may get too much flip now and then. We missed you, but we
managed to get through with the job all right."
"Cap'n," said Abner, "I was bleeged ter ye w'en ye pulled them two
Britshers or'fer me tew Stillwater, but that ain't a sarcumstance to
the way I be bleeged to ye this mornin, fer it's all your doins, and
no thanks ter me, that I ain't gittin ten lashes this very minute,
with all the women a snickerin at the size o' my back. I hev been
kinder cocky, an I hev put on some airs, ez these fellers says, fer I
callated ye'd kinder washed yer hands o' this business, an leff me tew
be capin, but arter this ye'll fine Abner Rathbun knows his place.
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