1. Derby. Good morning, neighbor Scrapewell. I have half a dozen miles to
ride to-day, and shall be extremely obliged if you will lend me your gray
mare.
2. Scrapewell. It would give me great pleasure to oblige you, friend
Derby; but I am under the necessity of going to the mill this very
morning, with a bag of corn. My wife wants the meal to-day, and you know
what a time there'll be if I disappoint her.
3. D. Then she must want it still, for I can assure you the mill does not
go to-day. I heard the miller tell Will Davis that the water was too low.
4. S. You don't say so! That is bad, indeed; for in that case I shall be
obliged to gallop off to town for the meal. My wife would comb my head for
me if I should neglect it.
5. D. I can save you this journey, for I have plenty of meal at home, and
will lend your wife as much as she wants.
6. S. Ah! neighbor Derby, I am sure your meal would never suit my wife.
You can't conceive how whimsical she is.
7. D. If she were ten times more whimsical than she is, I
am certain she would like it; for you sold it to me yourself,
and you assured me it was the best you ever had.
8. S. Yes, yes! that's true, indeed; I always have the best of
everything. You know, neighbor Derby, that no one is more
ready to oblige a friend than I am; but I must tell you the
mare this morning refused to eat hay; and, truly, I am afraid
she will not carry you.