Author of “A Bull Movement in
Yellow Horse,” “All Wool,” etc.
I knowed it! I knowed it jist as well as though it had been yelled from
th’ house-tops. Any time I hears uh noise like that I’m wise to th’ fact
that joy has departed from life.
I ain’t one uh these fellers who see bad luck in black cats and
prophesy bad weather from sun-dogs or th’ shadow of th’ ground-hog,
but, by cripes! any time I hears Magpie Simpkins massacreein’ “Sweet
Adeline” I’m plumb wise.
He stops jist outside th’ cabin door and enlightens me that “yore th’
flower-r-r-r-of my heart-t-t-t-, sweet Ade-e-e-eline.” Magpie shore has
ambition but when he comes to ability he don’ assay uh trace.