One morning I got up early, and walked toward the new railroad that they were constructing in the neighborhood.

I chanced to get to the spot just in time to see a little fracas between a stout, burly Irishman, and the superintendent of the party.
"'I thought, be Jasus,' said the Irishman, just as I approached near enough to hear what was going on, 'that a man could see himself righted in a free country.' "'Go to your work,' said the superintendent, and if you say another word about it, I'll knock you over.' "'Is it you'll knock me over, you will,' began the Irishman.
"He was over in a moment.

The superintendent, sir, gave him a blow between the eyes, with a fist that was hard as iron.

The man staggered, and fell.

I helped him up, sir; and I reckon he thought matters might be worse still, for he slowly walked off.
"'D----d free country,' he muttered to me, in a kind of confidential tone.
'I thought they only knocked niggers over in Ameriky.