Since Casey had not been drunk in ten years on account of having seen a big yellow snake with a green head on the occasion of his last carouse, he took the drinking pledge quite cheerfully for her sake.

He promised to stop smoking, glad that the widow neglected to mention chewing tobacco, which was his everyday comfort.

As for the swearing, he told her he would do his best under the circumstances, and that he would taste the oil hereafter, and try and think up some new names for the Ford.
"But Casey, if you leave whisky alone, you won't need to taste the oil," the widow told him.

Whereat Casey grinned feebly and explained for the tenth time that he had not been drinking.

She did not contradict him.