seen-Old Clay in a pastur, a racin' about, free from harness,
head and tail up, snortin', cavortin', attitudinisin' of himself. Mane
flowin' in the wind, eye-ball startin' out, nostrils inside out a'most,
ears pricked up. _A nateral hoss_; put him in a waggon, with a rael spic
and span harness, all covered over with brass buckles and brass knobs,
and ribbons in his bridle, rael jam. Curb him up, talk Yankee to him,
and get his ginger up. Well, he looks well; but he is '_a broke hoss_.'
He reminds you of Sam Slick; cause when you see a hoss, you think of his
master: but he don't remind you of the rael '_Old Clay_,' that's a fact.

"Take a day here, now in town; and they are so identical the same, that
one day sartificates for another. You can't get out a bed afore twelve,
in winter, the days is so short, and the fires ain't made, or the room
dusted, or the breakfast can't be got, or sunthin' or another. And if
you did, what's the use? There is no one to talk to, and books only
weaken your understandin', as water does brandy. They make you let
others guess for you, instead of guessin' for yourself. Sarvants spile
your habits here, and books spite your mind. I wouldn't swap ideas with
any man. I make my own opinions, as I used to do my own clocks; and I
find they are truer than other men's. The Turks are so cussed heavy,
they have people to dance for 'em; the English are wus, for they hire
people to think for 'em. Never read a book, Squire, always think for
yourself.

"Well, arter breakfast, it's on hat and coat, ombrella in hand, (don't
never forget that, for the rumatiz, like the perlice, is always on the
look out here, to grab hold of a feller,) and go somewhere where
there is somebody, or another, and smoke, and then wash it down with a
sherry-cobbler; (the drinks ain't good here; they hante no variety in
them nother; no white-nose, apple-jack, stone-wall, chain-lightning,
rail-road, hail-storm, ginsling-talabogus, switchel-flip, gum-ticklers,
phlem-cutters, juleps, skate-iron, cast-steel, cock-tail, or nothin',
but that heavy stupid black fat porter;) then down to the coffee-house,
see what vessels have arrived, how markets is, whether there is a chance
of doin' any thin' in cotton or tobacco, whose broke to home, and so
on. Then go to the park, and see what's a goin' on there; whether those
pretty critturs, the rads are a holdin' a prime minister 'parsonally
responsible,' by shootin' at him; or whether there is a le