"Sweet is the vale where the Mohawk gently glides
On its fair, windin' way to the sea--"
Billy walked over to the bed and looked down. "Up-State, ole man," he
says, "you're a-goin' back to the Mohawk."
* * * * *
Up-State left two letters behind him--one fer me and one fer Billy. The
doc didn't show hisn; said it wouldn't be just _pro_feshnal--yet. But
mine he ast me to read to the boss.
"Dear Cupid," it run, "ast Mister Sewell not to come down
too hard on me account of what I'm goin' to do fer Macie. The
little gal says she wants a singin' chanst more'n anythin'
else. Wal, I'm goin' to give it to her. You'll find a'
even five hunderd in green-backs over in Silverstein's safe.
It's hern. Tell her I want she should use it to go to Noo
York on and buck the op'ra game."
Wal, y' see, the ole man 'd been right all along--Up-State _was_
sidin' with Mace. Somehow though, _I_ couldn't feel hard agin him fer
it. I knowed that she'd go--help 'r _no_ help.
But Sewell, he didn't think like me, and I never _seen_ a man take
on the way he done. _Crazy_ mad, he was, swore blue blazes, and said
things that didn't sound so nice when a feller remembered that Up-State
was face up and flat on his back fer keeps--and goin' home in the
baggage-car.
I tell you, the boys was nice to me that day. "The little gal won't
fergit y', Cupid," they says, and "Never you mind, Cupid, it'll all
come out in the wash."
I thanked 'em, a-course. But with Macie fixed to go (far's money went),
and without makin' friends with me, neither, what under the shinin'
sun could chirk _me_ up? Wal, _nothin'_ could.