I could buy hams or herring with it, without asking any odds of anybody.

That was a precious dollar to me.
You remember when I used to make seven, or eight, or even nine dollars a week in Baltimore, you would take every cent of it from me every Saturday night, saying that I belonged to you, and my earnings also.

I never liked this conduct on your part--to say the best, I thought it a little mean.

I would not have served you so.

But let that pass.