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"No, my boy," says the old gentleman, "I'm sorry to say 't your driver has

deceived you; Nichols's place is down a matter of three mile more. Come in,

come in." ssssssssss

Tom he took a look back over his shoulder, and says, "Too late -- he's out of

sight."

"Yes, he's gone, my son, and you

must come in and eat your dinner ssssssssss

with us; and then we'll hitch up and ssssssssss

take you down to Nichols's." ssssssssss

"Oh, I can't make you so much

trouble; I couldn't think of it. I'll ssssssssss

walk -- I don't mind the distance." ssssssssss

"But we won't let you walk -- it

wouldn't be Southern hospitality to ssssssssss

do it. Come right in." ssssssssss

"Oh, No," says Aunt Sally; "it

ain't a bit of trouble to us, not a bit ssssssssss

in the world. You must stay. It's a ssssssssss

long, dusty three mile, and we can't ssssssssss

let you walk. And besides, I've al- ssssssssss

ready told 'em to put on another ssssssssss

plate, when I see you coming; so you ssssssssss

mustn't disappoint us. Come right in, and make yourself at home."

So Tom he thanked them very hearty and handsome, and let himself be per-

suaded, and come in; and when he was in, he said he was a stranger from Hicks-

ville, Ohio, and his name was William Thompson -- and he made another bow.

Well, he run on, and on, and on, making up stuff about Hicksville and every-

body in it he could invent, and I getting a little nervous, and wondering how

this was going to help me out of my scrape; and at last, still talking along, he

reached over and kissed Aunt Sally right on the mouth, and then settled back

again in his chair, comfortable, and was going on talking; but she jumped up

and wiped it off with the back of her hand, and says:

ssssssssss

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