and clear stars, so
this morning it must be sixty below zero by the way the logs are
splitting. At noon Tearful George transpires, dumping the puppy piano,
and the swine with his nose in a muff. Tearful had capsized the sleigh
over stumps to make his passenger run instead of arriving here like
frozen meat, but appears it hadn't done the harpsecord no good. He said
he'd roll his tail before any more music broke out, so didn't stay
dinner. The swine was down on one knee in front of the missus,
slobbering over her hand. She was kneading doe at the time, and there's
some on his nose.

He's got an angels-ever-bright-and-fair expression, smiles to turn milk,
dog's eyes, and a turndown collar. He calls her Donner
Addoller-r-r-ra-ta, and looks as if he hadn't had much to eat on the
trail with Tearful, though they'd camped at Widow O'Flynn's where pie
occurs whenever her Billy's to home.

Kate's pleased all to pieces. Seems this gent in the paper collar has
wrote an opera, and there's a party goes by the name of Impress Ario,
song and dance artist, putting it on the stage at London, England. The
leading woman sings base, and that's why Kate is wanted. To the only
woman on earth who sings base enough, they sends this dingus and the
organ-grinder. She says it's a business proposition with money in it,
and wants me to come along to the Old Country. She'd have me in a collar
and chain with a pink bow at my off ear, promenading in Strand Street.

She's been having a rough time here, mostly living on wild meat, without
money or servants. I'd like well to see her happier; I know her music
belongs to the whole world, and I've no right to hold her for any
selfishness. If it's up to her to go, it's agin me to look pleased, and
she shall go the day I believe in her call.

She and the tinkle dingus and the swine are at it full blast. He's
screeching nil desperandum, she's thundering "Shut-ut the dooroh!" "Ting
ting tong banggo!" says the puppy piano, while Mick in here howls like
a moonstruck wolf. I dunno, but seems to me that when you're out at
night between the stars and the mountains and the river praising God in
the canyon, there's music reaching from your soul to the Almighty, and
peace descending right out of Heaven. Oh, Lord, speak to my wife, and
tell her there's more love right here, than in all the sham passions of
all the damned operas put together. But now she's following after vain
swine.

V

I made the dago bed down