LXXIV

Doc argies 'at "The Red-eyed Law,"
as _he_ says, "ort to learn
To lay a mighty leenient paw
on deeds o' sich concern
As only the Good Bein' knows
the wherefore of, and spreads
His hands above accused and sows
His mercies on their heads."

LXXV

Doc even holds 'at _murder_ hain't
no crime we got a right
To _hang_ a man fer--claims it's _taint_
o' _lunacy_, er _quite_.--
"Hold _sich_ a man responsibul
fer murder," Doc says,--"then,
When _he's_ hung, where's the rope to pull
them _sound-mind_ jurymen?

LXXVI

"It's in a nutshell--_all_ kin see,"
says Doc,--"it's cle'r the _Law's_
As ap' to err as you er me,
and kill without a cause:
The man most innocent o' sin
_I_'ve saw, er _'spect_ to see,
Wuz servin' a life-sentence in
the penitentchury."

[Illustration]

LXXVII

And Doc's a whole hand at a _fire_!--
directin' how and where
To set your ladders, low er higher,
and what first duties air,--
Like formin' warter-bucket-line;
and best man in the town
To chop holes in old roofs, and mine
defective chimblies down:

LXXVIII

Er durin' any public crowd,
mass-meetin', er big day,
Where ladies ortn't be allowed,
as I've heerd Sifers say,--
When they's a suddent rush somewhere,
it's Doc's voice, ca'm and cle'r,
Says, "Fall back, men, and give her air!--
that's all she's faintin' fer."

[Illustration]

LXXIX

The sorriest I ever feel
fer Doc is when some show
Er circus comes to town and he'll
not git a chance to go.
'Cause he jes natchurly _de_lights
in circuses--clean down
From tumblers, in their spangled tights,
to trick-mule and Old Clown.

LXXX

And ever'body _knows_ it, too,
how Doc is, thataway!...
I mind a circus onc't come through--
wuz there myse'f that day.--
Ringmaster cracked his whip, you know,
to start the ridin'--when
In runs Old Clown and hollers "_Whoa!_--
Ladies and gentlemen

LXXXI

"Of this vast audience, I fain
would make in_qui_ry cle'r,
And learn, find out, and ascertain--
_Is Doctor Sifers here?_"
And when some fool-voice bellers down:
"He is! He's settin' in
Full view o' ye!" "