Mark Twain's Speeches by Mark Twain
page 11 of 326 (03%)
page 11 of 326 (03%)
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"'I tire of globes and aces!
Too long the game is played!' --and down he fetched a right bower. Mr. Longfellow smiles as sweet as pie and says: "'Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend, For the lesson thou hast taught,' --and blamed if he didn't down with another right bower! Emerson claps his hand on his bowie, Longfellow claps his on his revolver, and I went under a bunk. There was going to be trouble; but that monstrous Holmes rose up, wobbling his double chins, and says he, 'Order, gentlemen; the first man that draws, I'll lay down on him and smother him!' All quiet on the Potomac, you bet! "They were pretty how-come-you-so' by now, and they begun to blow. Emerson says, 'The nobbiest thing I ever wrote was "Barbara Frietchie."' Says Longfellow, 'It don't begin with my "Biglow Papers."' Says Holmes, 'My "Thanatopsis" lays over 'em both.' They mighty near ended in a fight. Then they wished they had some more company--and Mr. Emerson pointed to me and says: "'Is yonder squalid peasant all That this proud nursery could breed?' He was a-whetting his bowie on his boot--so I let it pass. Well, sir, next they took it into their heads that they would like some music; so they made me stand up and sing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" till I dropped-at thirteen minutes past four this morning. That's what I've |
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