Gungywamp Conversation

Ez Pelham stopped outside the gate,

One mornin’ somethin’ after eight,

An’ says, says he, “good mornin’ Cy,

‘Tain’t neighborly to pass right by

‘Thought sayin’ ‘howdy’; by the way,

I hope you’re feelin’ well today?

Fust rate. I’m feelin’ purty fair

‘Cept roomertism ev’rywhere

Frum head to foot; but then, I guess

Thet I’ll outgrow it, more or less.

Hol’ on, now Cy, I wanter tell

You ‘bout Hen Billin’s hoss trade; well

You know the sorrel mare he got

Frum Deacon Hiram Watkins – what?

You didn’t? Well, he did, an’ now

He’s traded him agin, by swow,

Fur Perkins’s ol’ holler back.

An’ rumors is he doesn’t lack

Much uv bein’ skinned alive, tho’

Henry thinks he ain’t so slow.

The boat wuz late this mornin’; say,

She’s gittin’ slower ev’ry day.

Bime by we’ll have to hoof it, Cy,

An’ git there durn sight quicker. I

Expect a bar’l o’ kerosene

Up frum New York, I save between

Twenty an’ twenty-five per c’

Over Bill Jones’ mixture; he

Don’t like it much, but bizniz, Cy,

Ez bizniz; that’s twixt you an’ I.

Joe Peters he’s laid up agin

With roomertism, leg an’ shin;

But ef ‘twas figgered right down fine

His case, I bet, ain’t wuss’n mine.

Say, did you here ‘bout ‘Rastus Bent?

You didn’t? Well, he went an’ lent

Thet hired man uv Widder Hays

Ten dollars; now he’s skipped an’ they’s

A tolerbul likelihood

He’s quit this here ol’ town fur good.

An’ say, the Deane’s are goin’ away

Didn’t hear jest where to, but say,

They won’t be no one left here, Cy

Bime by I guess, but you an’ I.

Guess thet’s ‘bout all I’ve got to say.

Come out an’ see us, Cy; good day.”

Then Ez whipped up an’ left ‘fore I

Hed scurcce a chance to say “good bye”.

An’ yet down street I’ve often heard:

“Ez Pelham scurcely says a word.”

Sept. 8, ‘08