"I ben back here a matter o' thirteen or fourteen year now, an' am gettin' to feel my way 'round putty well; but not havin' ben in these parts fer putty nigh thirty year, I found it ruther lonesome to start with, an' I guess if it hadn't 'a' ben fer Polly I wouldn't 'a' stood it.

But up to the time I come back she hadn't never ben ten mile away f'm here in her hull life, an' I couldn't budge her.

But then," he remarked, "while Homeville aint a metrop'lis, it's some a diff'rent place f'm what it used to be--in some _ways_.

Polly's my sister," he added by way of explanation.
"Well," said John, with rather a rueful laugh, "if it has taken you all that time to get used to it the outlook for me is not very encouraging, I'm afraid." "Wa'al," remarked Mr.Harum, "I'm apt to speak in par'bles sometimes.

I guess you'll git along after a spell, though it mayn't set fust rate on your stomech till you git used to the diet.