that she didn't ask the rights of a angel; she would be perfectly contented
and proud, if you would give her the rights of a dog--the assured political
rights of a yeller dog.' She said yeller and I'm bound on doin' her 'errent
jest as she wanted it done, word for word.

"A dog, Serepta sez, don't have to be hung if it breaks the laws it is not
allowed any hand in making; a dog don't have to pay taxes on its bone to a
Govermunt that withholds every right of citizenship from it; a dog hain't
called undogly if it is industrious and hunts quietly round for its bone
to the best of its ability, and tries to git its share of the crumbs that
falls from that table bills are laid on.

"A dog hain't preached to about its duty to keep home sweet and sacred, and
then see that home turned into a place of danger and torment under laws
that these very preachers have made legal and respectable. A dog don't have
to see its property taxed to advance laws it believes ruinous, and that
breaks its own heart and the heart of other dear dogs. A dog don't have
to listen to soul-sickening speeches from them that deny it freedom and
justice, about its bein' a damask rose and a seraph, when it knows it
hain't; it knows, if it knows anything, that it is jest a plain dog.

"You see Serepta has been embittered by the trials that politics, corrupt
legislation have brought right onto her. She didn't want nothin' to do with
'em, but they come onto her onexpected and onbeknown, and she feels that
she must do everything she can to alter matters. She wants to help make the
laws that have such a overpowerin' influence over her. She believes they
can't be much worse than they are now, and may be a little better."

"Ah," interrupted the Senator, "if Serepta wishes to change political
affairs, let her influence her children, her boys, and they will carry her