"Well, sir, to come to the pint at once, as you fellers allus happin
to say, since I was knee-hight of a grasshopper I had a hankerin'
after the law, and allus envied tother fellers when they'd to go to
the 'Squire's on trials, and I tell you they thought themselves some
punkins when they got a day's wages for goin'"--

"Of your question at issue," interrupted our legal friend, "I mean
on what point do you wish to consult me, sir?"

"Well, sir, as I told you before, I'm comin' straight to the pint,"
replied the youth, giving the aforesaid bandana a more vigorous
switch in the direction of his interrogator, then continued, "and,
firstly (as them lecturin' fellers say) I allus thought I'd like
mighty well to have a trial myself, and bring some un up to the
scratch; and I've jest got my wish, and if it costs all dad's worth
I'll make 'em sweat!

"Are you a minor, sir?" demanded the lawyer.

"No, sir; I'm no relative to them _miners_, nor don't want to
be, tho' Sally Ann is allus taggin' arter me, and would like
terrible well to hitch on to me; but I tell you, 'Squire, I'm not so
green as they think, though I'm mighty fond of buckwheat."

This last speech was too much tax on the risibility of the
"'Squire," as familiarly dubbed by the would-be client, and after
some merriment, explained the tenor of his question, assuring the
youth that it bore no allusion to "Sally Ann."

After the young lawyer had taxed his ingenuity to draw the verdant