Well, I see Bill a-eyin' the dumplin' as he shoveled in the meat and pertaters, and I knowed he meant to get more'n his share.

Now, I'm fond of dumplin' as well as Bill, and I didn't like it.

Well, we was both helped and went to eatin'.

When I was half through I got up to pour out some water.
When I cum back to the table Bill had put away his plate, which he had cleaned off, and was eatin' my dumplin'." "What did you say ?" inquired the gentleman from Pike, interested.
"I said: 'Bill, you're my cousin, but you've gone too fur.' He laffed, and we went into the field together to mow.

He was just startin' on his swath when I cum behind him and cut his head clean off with my scythe." Joe had difficulty in suppressing his laughter, but Mr.Bickford looked perfectly serious.
"Why, that was butchery!" exclaimed the Pike man, startled.