I judged that my curchey wuz jest about right.

[Illustration: "I salute you in the name of Jonesville and
America."]

Imegatly after my curchey I sez, "Don Christobel Colon De Toledo De La
Cerda Y Gante," and then I paused for breath, while the world waited--

"I welcome you to this country--I salute you in the name of Jonesville
and America."

And then agin I made that noble, beautiful curchey.

He bowed so low that if a basin of water had been sot on his back it
would have run down over his head.

Sez I, "The man in whose veins flows a drop of the precious blood of the
Hero who discovered us is near and dear to the heart of the new world."

Sez I, "I feel that we can't do too much to honor you, and I hereby
offer you the freedom of Jonesville."

And sez I, "I would have brung it in a paper collar box if I'd thought
on't, but I hope you will overlook the omission, and take it verbal."

Agin he bowed that dretful perlite, courteous bow, and agin I put in
that noble curchey.

It wuz a hour long to be remembered by any one who wuz fortunate enough
to witness it; and sez he--

"I am sensible of the distinguished honor you do me, Madam; accept my
profound thanks."

I then turned to his wife, and sez I, "Miss Christobel Colon Toledo
Ohio--"

I got kinder mixed up here by my emotions, and the efforts my curcheys
had cost me; I hadn't ort to mentioned the word Ohio.

But I waded out agin--"De La Cerda Y Gante--

"As a pardner of Columbus, and also as a female woman, I bid you also
welcome to America in the name of woman, and I tender to you also the
freedom of Jonesville, and Loontown, and Zoar.

"And you," sez I, "Honorable Maria Del Pillow Colon Y Aguilera--

"You sweet little creeter you, I'd love to have you come and stay with
me a week right along, you pretty thing." Sez I, "How proud your Grandpa
would be of you if he wuz here!"

My feelin's had carried me away, and I felt that I had lost the formal,
polite tone of etiquette that I had intended to carry on through the
interview.

But she wuz so awful pretty, I couldn't help it; but I felt that it wuz
best to terminate it, so I bowed low, a-holdin' out my alpaca skirt
kinder noble in one hand and my green veil in the other, some like a
banner, and backed off.

They too bowed deep, and sorter backed off too. Oh, what a hour for
America!

Josiah put out his arm anxiously, for I wuz indeed a-movin' backwards
into a glass case of relics, and the g