eth his
owner-ah, and the ass-ah his master's crib-ah. Hal-le-lu-ger-ah!

"But-ah, my hearers-ah, but-ah when I stand at t'other eend of the
yoke-ah, and say, 'Come, Buck-ah! _Come, Buck-ah!_ COME, BUCK-AH! COME,
BUCK-AH!' why what do you think-ah? Buck-ah, that ornery ole Buck-ah,
'stid of comin' right along-ah and puttin' his neck under-ah, acts jest
like some men-ah what is fools-ah. Buck-ah jest kinder sorter stands
off-ah, and kinder sorter puts his head down-ah this 'ere way-ah, and
kinder looks mad-ah, and says, Boo-_oo_-OO-OO-ah!"

Alas! Hartsook found no spiritual edification there, and he was in no
mood to be amused. And so, while the sermon drew on through two dreary
hours, he forgot the preacher in noticing a bright green lizard which,
having taken up its winter quarters behind the tin candlestick that hung
just back of the preacher's head, had been deceived by the genial warmth
coming from the great box-stove, and now ran out two or three feet from
his shelter, looking down upon the red-nosed preacher in a most
confidential and amusing manner. Sometimes he would retreat behind the
candlestick, which was not twelve inches from the preacher's head, and
then rush out again. At each reappearance Betsey Short would stuff her
handkerchief into her mouth and shake in a most distressing way. Shocky
wondered what the lizard was winking at the preacher about. And Miss
Martha thought that it reminded her of a lizard that she see at the
East, the time she was to Bosting, in a jar of alcohol in the Natural
History Rooms. The Squire was not disappointed in his anticipation that
Mr. Bosaw would attack his denomination with some fury. In fact, the old
preacher outdid himself in his violent indignation at "these people that
follow Campbell-ah, that thinks-ah that obejience-ah will save 'em-ah
and that belongs-ah to temp'rince societies-ah and Sunday-schools-ah,
and them air things-ah, that's not ortherized in the Bible-ah, but comes
of the devil-ah, and takes folks as belongs to 'em to hell-ah."

As they came out the door Ralph rallied enough to remark: "He did attack
your people, Squire."

"Oh, yes," said the Squire. "Didn't you see the Sarpent inspirin' him?"

But the long, long hours were ended and Ralph got on the clay-bank mare
and rode up alongside the stile whence Miss Martha mounted. And as he
went away with a heavy heart, he overheard Pete Jones call out to
somebody:

"We'll tend to his case & Christmas." Chr