HIS NATIVE HEATH

"JONESY"




THE "OLD HOME HOUSE"




TWO PAIRS OF SHOES


I don't exactly know why Cap'n Jonadab and me went to the post-office
that night; we wa'n't expecting any mail, that's sartin. I guess likely
we done it for the reason the feller that tumbled overboard went to the
bottom--'twas the handiest place TO go.

Anyway we was there, and I was propping up the stove with my feet and
holding down a chair with the rest of me, when Jonadab heaves alongside
flying distress signals. He had an envelope in his starboard mitten,
and, coming to anchor with a flop in the next chair, sets shifting the
thing from one hand to the other as if it 'twas red hot.

I watched this performance for a spell, waiting for him to say
something, but he didn't, so I hailed, kind of sarcastic, and says:
"What you doing--playing solitaire? Which hand's ahead?"