[Illustration: Tickled wuz he when word come.]

That man had begun life poor--poor as a snipe; sometimes I used to
handle that very word "Snipe" a-describin' Elnathan Allen's former
circumstances to Josiah, when he got too overbearin' about him.

For he had boasted to me about him for years, and years, and a woman
can't stand only jest about so much aggravatin' and treadin' on before
she will turn like a worm.

That is Bible about "The Worm," and must be believed.

What used to mad me the worst wuz when he would git to comparin'
Elnathan with one of 'em on my side who wuz shiftless. Good land!
'Zekiel Smith hain't the only man on earth who is ornary and no account.
Every pardner has 'em, more or less, on his side and on hern; let not
one pardner boast themselves over the other one; both have their
drawbacks.

But Elnathan had done well; I admitted it only when I wuz too much put
upon.

He had gone fur West, got rich, invested his capital first rate, some
on it in a big Eastern city, and had got to be a millionare.

He wuz a widower with one child, The Little Maid, as he called her; he
jest idolized her, and thought she wuz perfect.

And I spoze she wuz oncommon, not from what her Pa said--no, I didn't
take all his talk about her for Gospel; I know too much.