to go right off in gear, before he is halter broke, as a Blue Nose to get on in the world, when he has got no schoolin.  But to get back to my story.  Well, say’s I, how’s times with you, Mrs. Spry?  Dull, says she, very dull, there’s no markets now, things don’t fetch nothin.  Thinks I, some folks had’nt ought to complain of markets, for they don’t raise nothin to sell, but I did’nt say so; for poverty is keen enough, without sharpening its edge by pokin fun at it.  Potatoes, says I, will fetch a good price this fall, for it’s a short crop in a general way—­; how’s yourn?  Grand, says she, as complete as ever you seed; our tops were small and did’nt look well; but we have the handsomest bottoms, its generally allowed, in all our place; you never seed the best of them, they are actilly worth lookin at.  I vow I had to take a chaw of tobacky to keep from snorting right out, it sounded so queer like.  Thinks I to myself, old lady, its a pity you could’nt be changed eend for eend then, as some folks do their stockings; it would improve the look of your dial plate amazinly then, that’s a fact.

Now there was human natur, Squire, said the Clockmaker, there was pride even in that hovel.  It is found in rags as well as King’s robes, where butter is spread with the thumb as well as the silver knife, natur is natur wherever you find it.  Jist then, in came one or two neighbors to see the sport, for they took me for a Sheriff or Constable, or something of that breed, and when they saw it was me they sot down to hear the news; they fell right too at politicks as keen as any thing, as if it had been a dish of real Connecticut Slap Jacks, or Hominy; or what is better still, a glass of real genuine splendid mint julep, WHE-EU-up, it fairly makes my mouth water to think of it.  I wonder, says one, what they will do for us this winter in the House of Assembly?  Nothin, says the other, they never do nothin but what the great people at Halifax tell ’em.  Squire Yeoman is the man, he’ll pay up the great folks this hitch, he’ll let ’em have their own, he’s jist the boy that can do it.  Says I, I wish I could say all men were as honest then, for I am afeard there are a great many wont pay me up this winter; I should like to trade with your friend, who is he?  Why, says he, he is the member for Isle Sable County, and if he don’t let the great folks have it, its a pity.  Who do you call great folks, said I, for I vow I hav’nt see’d one since I came here.  The only one that I know that comes near hand to one is Nicholas Overknocker, that lives all along shore, about Margaret’s Bay, and he is a great man, it takes a yoke of oxen to drag him.  When I first see’d him, says I, what on airth is the matter o’ that man, has he the dropsy, for he is actilly the greatest man I ever see’d; he must weigh the matter of five hundred