He was beating on the head of an empty barrel on the roadside, when a traveller, who was passing along, asked him what he was doing that for?
The fellow replied that there was some cider in that barrel a few days before, and he was trying to see if there was any then; but if there was, he couldn't get at it.

I told them that there had been a little bit of a speech in me a while ago, but I believed I couldn't get it out.
"They all roared out in a mighty laugh, and I told some other anecdotes, equally amusing to them, and believing I had them in a first-rate way, I quit and got down, thanking the people for their attention.

But I took care to remark that I was as dry as a powder-horn, and that I thought that it was time for us all to wet our whistles a little.

And so I put off to a liquor-stand, and was followed by the greater part of the crowd.
"I felt certain this was necessary, for I know'd my competitor could talk Government matters to them as easy as he pleased.

He had, however, mighty few left to hear him, as I continued with the crowd, now and then taking a horn, and telling good-humored stories till he was done speaking.