But the' ain't, an' so I ast ye to come up this mornin' so 't we c'd settle the thing up without no fuss, nor trouble, nor lawyer's fees, nor nothin'.

I've got the papers all drawed, an' John--Mr.Lenox--here to take the acknowlidgments.

You hain't no objection to windin' the thing up this mornin', have ye ?" "I s'pose I'll have to do whatever you say," replied the poor woman in a tone of hopeless discouragement, "an' I might as well be killed to once, as to die by inch pieces." "All right then," said David cheerfully, ignoring her lethal suggestion, "but before we git down to bus'nis an' signin' papers, an' in order to set myself in as fair a light 's I can in the matter, I want to tell ye a little story." "I hain't no objection 's I know of," acquiesced the widow graciously.
"All right," said David, "I won't preach more 'n about up to the sixthly--How'd you feel if I was to light up a cigar?
I hain't much of a hand at a yarn, an' if I git stuck, I c'n puff a spell.

Thank ye.

Wa'al, Mis' Cullom, you used to know somethin' about my folks.