is.

Oh, how solemn he looked, and how sorry I felt for him, for I knowed worse
wuz to come, I knowed the sharpest arrow Serepta Pester had sent wuz yet
to pierce his sperit. But I sort o' blunted the edge on't what I could
conscientiously. Sez I, "I think myself Serepta is a little onreasonable, I
myself am willin' to wait three or four weeks. But she's suffered dretful
from intemperance from the Rings and from the want of rights, and her
sufferin's have made her more voylent in her demands and impatienter," and
then I fairly groaned as I did the rest of the errent, and let the sharpest
arrow fly from the bo.

"Serepta told me to tell you if you didn't do these errents you should not
be President next year."

He trembled like a popple leaf, and I felt that Serepta wuz threatenin' him
too hard. Sez he, "I do not wish to be President again, I shall refuse to
be nominated. At the same time I _do_ wish to be President and shall
work hard for the nomination if you can understand the paradox."

"Yes," sez I, "I understand them paradoxes. I've lived with 'em as you may
say, all through my married life."

A clock struck in the next room and I knowed time wuz passin' swift.

Sez the President, "I would be glad to do Serepta's errents, I think she is
justified in askin' for her rights, and to have the Ring destroyed, but I
am not the one to do them."

Sez I, "Who is the man or men?"