at tail agin; in fact, it's so
crowded, you can't squeeze along, scarcely, without a doin' of mischief
somewhere or another.

"Next time, she goes first, and then it's my turn, 'Stop, Miss,' sais
I, 'your frock has this rose tree over,' and I loosens it; once
more, 'Miss, this rose has got tangled,' and I ontangles it from her
furbeloes.

"I wonder what makes my hand shake so, and my heart it bumps so, it has
bust a button off. If I stay in this consarvitery, I shan't consarve
myself long, that's a fact, for this gall has put her whole team on, and
is a runnin' me off the road. 'Hullo! what's that? Bell for dressin'
for dinner.' Thank Heavens! I shall escape from myself, and from this
beautiful critter, too, for I'm gettin' spoony, and shall talk silly
presently.

"I don't like to be left alone with a gall, it's plaguy apt to set me a
soft sawderin' and a courtin'. There's a sort of nateral attraction like
in this world. Two ships in a calm, are sure to get up alongside of each
other, if there is no wind, and they have nothin' to do, but look at
each other; natur' does it. "Well, even, the tongs and the shovel, won't
stand alone long; they're sure to get on the same side of the fire,
and be sociable; one on 'em has a loadstone and draws 'tother, that's
sartain. If that's the case with hard-hearted things, like oak and
iron, what is it with tender hearted things like humans? Shut me up in
a 'sarvatory with a hansum gall of a rainy day, and see if I don't think
she is the sweetest flower in it. Yes, I am glad it is the dinner-bell,
for I ain't ready to marry yet, and when I am, I guess I must get a gall
where I got my hoss, in Old Connecticut, and that state takes the shine
off of all creation for geese, galls and onions, that's a fact.

"Well dinner won't wait, so I ups agin once more near the rooks, to
brush up a bit; but there it is agin the same old tune, the whole
blessed day, rain, rain, rain. It's rained all day and don't talk of
stoppin' nother. How I hate the sound, and how streaked I feel. I don't
mind its huskin' my voice, for there is no one to talk to, but cuss it,
it has softened my bones.

"Dinner is ready; the rain has damped every body's spirits, and
squenched 'em out; even champaign won't raise 'em agin; feedin' is
heavy, talk is heavy, time is heavy, tea is heavy, and there ain't
musick; the only thing that's light is a bed room candle--heavens and
airth how glad I am this '_juicy day_' is over!"