"Well, then," says I, "I'd like to go to that there
circus myself."
"They ain't no use in me saying fur you not to
go," says Hank, "fur you would go anyhow. You
always does go off when you is needed."
"But I ain't got no money," I says, "and I was
going to ast you could you spare me half a dollar?"
"Great Jehosephat!" says Hank, "but ain't
you getting stuck up! What's the matter of you
crawling in under the tent like you always done?
First thing I know you'll be wanting a pair of these
here yaller shoes and a stove-pipe hat."
"No," says I, "I ain't no dude, Hank, and you
know it. But they is always things about a circus
to spend money on besides jest the circus herself.
They is the side show, fur instance, and they is the
grand concert afterward. I calkelated I'd take
'em all in this year--the hull dern thing, jest fur
oncet."
Hank, he looks at me like I'd asted fur a house 'n'
lot, or a million dollars, or something like that. But
he don't say nothing. He jest snorts.
"Hank," I says, "I been doing right smart work
around the shop fur two, three years now. If
you wasn't loafing so much you'd a noticed it more.
And I ain't never ast fur a cent of pay fur it,
nor--"
"You ain't wuth no pay," says Hank. "You
ain't wuth nothing but to eat vittles and wear out
clothes.
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