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"Well, it will be expensive. There's my wife and two darters, and myself; and the galls never seed a con-sort." "Well," said I, "as there are four of you, you may come in at a dollar and a half." "How; a dollar and a harf! I will go and have a talk with the old woman, and hear what she says to it."
I am not in the habit of buying butter. To oblige you, I will take this. How much is there of it?" "I don't know. Where are your steelyards?" "Oh," said I, laughing, "I don't carry such things with me. I will take it at your own valuation, and you may go in with your family." "'Tis a bargain," says she. "Go in, galls, and fix yourselves for the con-sort."
I took my knife from my pocket, and in a very business-like manner proceeded to taste the article. "Why," said I, "this butter is not good." Here a sharp-faced woman stepped briskly up, and poking her head between us, said, at the highest pitch of her cracked voice, "Yes, it is good; it was made this morning express-ly for the con-sort." "I beg your pardon, madam.
He flourished in his hand a large whip of raw hide, which ever and anon descended upon the backs of his rawboned cattle like the strokes of a flail. "Get up go along waye," cried he, suddenly drawing up at the door of the hotel. "Well, here we be at last, and jist in time for the con-sort."
About four o'clock he jumped up from the table, at which he had been lounging and sipping hot punch at my expense for the last hour, exclaiming "I guess it's time for me to see the pee-a-ne carried up to the con-sort room." "It's all ready," said I. "Perhaps, Mr.
So saying he retreated, grumbling, back to his bed, and we gladly followed his example. I rose early in the morning to accompany my friends to W . At the door of the hotel I was accosted by Mr. Browne "Why, you arn't goin' to start without bidding me good-bye? Besides, you have not paid me for my assistance at the con-sort." I literally started with surprise at this unexpected demand.
We ordered a conveyance immediately, and as it was the very day signified in the note, we started off for the village of . On our arrival we were met at the door of the only hotel in the place, by the man a "leetle in my line." "Is this you, Mr. Thing-a-my. I can't for the life of me think of your name. But no matter. Ain't you the chap as is a-goin' to give us the con-sort this evening?"
Then hitching the horses to the post, and flinging the buffalo robes over them, he left the three females he was driving in the sleigh, and ran directly up to me, "Arn't you the con-sort man? I guess you be, by them ere black pants and Sunday-goin' gear." I nodded assent. "What's the damage?" "Half a dollar." "Half a dollar? You don't mean to say that!" "Not a cent less."
But did we not come on famously at the con-sort? Confess, now, that I beat you holler. You sing pretty well, but you want confidence. You don't give expression enough to your voice. The applause which followed my first song was tremendous." "I never heard anything like it, Mr. Browne. I never expect to merit such marks of public approbation."
"Do you expect a professional price for your services?" "Well, I guess the con-sort would have been nothing without my help; but I won't be hard upon you, as you are a young beginner, and not likely to make your fortune in that line any how. There's that pail of butter; if you don't mean to take it along, I'll take that; we wants butter to hum. Is it a bargain?"