"That wuz the eend on't," said Ezra. "By that time govment seen the
people wuz in arnest, an quit foolin. Ginral Court passed a law
pardnin all on us fer wat we'd done. They allers pardons fellers, ye
see, wen ther's tew many on em tew lick, govment doos, an pooty soon
arter they passed that ere tender law fer tew help poor folks ez hed
debts so's prop'ty could be offered tew a far valiation instid o'
cash."

"That air law wuz repealed sence," said Peleg. "Ef we hed it naow,
mebbe we could git 'long spite o' ther being no money a cirkilatin."

"In course it wuz repealed," said Israel. "They on'y passed it caze
they wuz scairt o' the people. The loryers an rich folks got it
repealed soon ez ever they dasted. Gosh, govment don' keer nothin fer
wat poor folks wants, 'nless they gits up riots. That's the on'y way
they kin git laws changed, 's fur 's I see. Ain't that 'bout so
Peleg?"

"Ye ain't fur outer the way, Isr'el. We hain't got no money, an they
don' keer wat we says, but when we takes hole, an doos sumthin they
wakes up a leetle. We can't make em hear us, but by jocks, we kin make
em feel us," and Peleg pointed the sentiment with that cornerwise nod
of the head, which is the rustic gesture of emphasis. "I callate ye've
hit the nail on the head, Peleg," said a grizzled farmer. "We poor
folks hez to git our rights by our hands, same ez we gits our livin."

But at this moment, a sudden hush fell upon the group, and from the
general direction of the eyes, it was evidently the approach of Perez
Hamlin, as he crossed the green toward the tavern, which was the cause