and in behalf of the aforesaid Party of the First Part....

"You git me? If you don't, just come to my office and I'll explain in
detail any of the legal terms not understood, comprehended and known
by the feeble-minded of Brookville. Form in line at nine o'clock.
First come, first served:

"We, the Party of the First Part, bind ourselves, and each of our
heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, jointly and severally,
firmly by these presents, and at all times hereafter to save, defend,
keep harmless and indemnify the aforesaid Party of the Second Part
(Miss Lydia Bolton) of, from and against all further costs, damages,
expense, disparagements (that means spiteful gossip, ladies!)
molestations, slander, vituperations, etc. (I could say more, _but_
we've got something to do that'll take time.) And whereas, the said
Party of the Second Part has been actually drove to Boston to live by
the aforesaid slander, calumniations, aspersions and libels--which
we, the said Party of the First Part do hereby acknowledge to be
false and untrue (yes, and doggone mean, as I look at it)--we, the
said Party of the First part do firmly bind ourselves, our heirs,
executors, administrators an' assigns to quit all such illegalities
from this day forth, and forever more." ...

"You want to get out of the habit of talking mean about Andrew
Bolton, for one thing. It's been as catching as measles in this town
since I can remember. Andrew Bolton's dead and buried in our
cemetery, beside his wife. We'll be there ourselves, some day; in the
meanwhile we want to reform our tongues. You get me? All right!

"And whereas, we, the Party of the First Part, otherwise known as the
village of Brookville, do ask, beg, entreat, supplicate and plead the
f'rgiveness of the Party of the Second Part, otherwise known as Miss
Lydia Orr Bolton. And we also hereby request, petition, implore _an'_
importune Miss Lydia Orr Bolton, otherwise known as the Party of the
Second Part, to return to Brookville and make it her permanent place
of residence, promising on our part, at all times hereafter, to save,
defend, keep harmless and indemnify her against all unfriendliness,
of whatever sort; and pledging ourselves to be good neighbors and
loving friends from the date of this document, which, when signed by
th' Party of the First Part, shall be of full force and virtue.
Sealed with our seals. Dated this seventh day of June, in the year of
our Lord, nineteen hundred-