fixin' out for the voyage. There was
Ruth a goin' fust to one, and then to t'other, and tryin' all she could
to keep peace beteen 'em; and there was this 'ere Master Slick Tongue
talkin' this way to one side, and that way to t'other, and the old
Gineral kind o' like a shuttle-cock atween 'em.

"Wal, then, the night afore he sailed, the Gineral he hed his lawyer
up in his library there, a lookin' over all his papers and bonds and
things, and a witnessing his will; and Master Jeff was there, as lively
as a cricket, a goin' into all affairs, and offerin' to take precious
good care while he was gone; and the Gineral he had his papers and
letters out, a sortin' on 'em over, which was to be took to the old
country, and which was to be put in a trunk to go back to Lawyer
Dennis's office.

"Wal, Abner Ginger, Polly's boy, he that was footman and waiter then
at the Gineral's, he told me, that, about eight o'clock that evening he
went up with hot water and lemons and sperits and sich, and he see the
gret green table in the library all strewed and covered with piles o'
papers; and there was tin boxes a standin' round; and the Gineral a
packin' a trunk, and young Master Jeff, as lively and helpful as a rat
that smells cheese. And then the Gineral he says, 'Abner,' says he, 'can
you write your name?'--'I should hope so, Gineral.' says Abner.--'Wal,
then, Abner,' says he, 'this is my last will; and I want you to witness
it,' and so Abner he put down his name opposite to a place with a wafer
and a seal; and then the Gineral, he says, 'Abner, you tell Ginger to
come here.' That, you see, was his housekeeper, my Aunt Polly's sister,
and a likely woman as ever was. And so they had her up, and she put
down her name to the will; and then Aunt Polly she was had up (she was
drinking tea there that night), and she put down her name. And all of
'em did it with good heart, 'cause it had got about among 'em that the
will was to provide for Miss Ruth; for everybody loved Ruth, ye see, and
there was consid'ble many stories kind o' goin' the rounds about Master
Jeff and his doin's. And they did say he sort o' kep' up the strife
atween the Gineral and my lady, and so they didn't think none too well
o' him; and, as he was next o' kin, and Miss Ruth wa'n't none o' the
Gineral's blood (ye see, she was Mis' Sullivan's sister's child), of
course there wouldn't nothin' go to Miss Ruth in way o' law, and so that
was why the signin' o' that 'are will was