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hard lot, for a duke. When he's drunk, there ain't no near-sighted man could

tell him from a king." ssssssssss

"Well, anyways, I doan' hanker for no mo' un um, Huck. Dese is all I

kin stan'." ssssssssss

"It's the way I feel, too, Jim. But we've got them on our hands, and

we got to remember what they are, and make allowances. Sometimes I wish

we could hear of a country that's out of kings."

What was the use to tell Jim these warn't real kings and dukes? It wouldn't

a done no good; and besides, it was just as I said; you couldn't tell them from

the real kind. ssssssssss

I went to sleep, and Jim didn't call me when it was my turn. He often done

that. When I waked up, just at day-break, he was setting there with his head

down betwixt his knees, moaning and mourning to himself. I didn't take notice,

nor let on. I knowed what it was about. He was thinking about his wife and

his children, away up yonder, and he was low and homesick; because he hadn't

ever been away from home before in his life; and I do believe he cared just as

much for his people as white folks does for their'n. It don't seem natural, but I

reckon it's so. He was often moaning and mourning that way, nights, when he

judged I was asleep, and saying, "Po' little 'Lizabeth! po' little Johnny! its

mighty hard; I spec' I ain't ever gwyne to see you no mo', no mo'!" He was a

mighty good nigger, Jim was. ssssssssss

But this time I somehow got to talking to him about his wife and young ones;

and by-and-by he says: ssssssssss

"What makes me feel so bad dis time, 'uz bekase I hear sumpn over yonder

on de bank like a whack, er a slam, while ago, en it mine me er de time I treat

my little 'Lizabeth so ornery. She warn't on'y 'bout fo' year ole, en she tuck de

sk'yarlet-fever, en had a powful rough spell; but she got well, en one day she was

a-stannin' aroun', en I says to her, I says:

"Shet de do'.' ssssssssss

"She never done it; jis' stood dah, kiner smilin' up at me. It make me

mad; en I says agin, mighty loud, I says: ssssssssss

"' Doan' you hear me? -- shet de do'!'

ssssssssss

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