Ardelia  wuz  to  come  to  our  boardin'  place  at  half-
past  9  A.  M.,  forenoon,  and  we  wuz  to  set  out  together
from  there.  And  punctual  to  the  very  half  minute
I  wuz  down  on  the  piazza,  with  my  mantilly  hung
over  my  arm  and  my  umberel  in  my  left  hand.  Jo-
siah Allen  was  on  the  right  side  on  me.  And  as
Ardelia  hadn't  come  yet  we  sot  down  in  a  middlin*
quiet  part  of  the  piazza,  and  waited  for  her.  And  as
we  sot  there,  I  sez  to  Josiah,  as  I  looked  out  on  the
fair  pleasant  mornin5  and  the  fair  pleasant  faces  envi-
ronin'  of  us  round,  sez  I,  "  Saratoga  is  a  good-natured
place,  haint  it,  Josiah  ?  "

And  he  said  (I  mistrust  his  corns  ached  worse  than
common,  or  sunthin'),  he  said,  he  didn't  see  as  it  wuz
any  better-natured  than  Jonesville  or  Loontown.
200


JO  SI  AH  GETS  CROSS.  201

And  I  sez,  "Yes  it  is,  Josiah  Allen."  Sez  I,
**  folks  are  happier  here  and  more  generous,  the  rich
ones  seem  inclined  to  help  them  that  need  help  to  a
little  comfort  and  happiness.  Jest  as  I  have  always
said,  Josiah  Allen.  When  folks  are  happy,  they  are
more  inclined  to  do  good."

"  Oh  shaw  ! "  sez  Josiah.  "  That  never  made  no
difference  with  me."

"What  didn't?"  sez  I.
"  I'm  always  good,"  sez  he,  and  he  snapped  out  the
words  real  snappish,  and  loud.
