The American Claimant


google search for The American Claimant

Return to Master Book Index.

Page
172 173 174 175 176

Quick Jump
1 75 151 226 301

"I haven't studied; it's a natural gift."  
"He is born mit dose cannon in him. He tondt haf to do noding, his  
chenius do all de vork. Of he is asleep, and take a pencil in his hand,  
out come a cannon. Py crashus, of he could do a clavier, of he could do  
a guitar, of he could do a vashtub, it is a fortune, heiliger Yohanniss  
it is yoost a fortune!"  
"
Well, it is an immense pity that the business is hindered and limited in  
this unfortunate way."  
The captain grew a trifle excited, himself, now:  
"You've said it, Mr. Tracy!--Hindered? well, I should say so. Why, look  
here. This fellow here, No. 11, he's a hackman,--a flourishing hackman,  
I may say. He wants his hack in this picture. Wants it where the cannon  
is. I got around that difficulty, by telling him the cannon's our  
trademark, so to speak--proves that the picture's our work, and I was  
afraid if we left it out people wouldn't know for certain if it was a  
Saltmarsh--Handel--now you wouldn't yourself--"  
"What, Captain? You wrong yourself, indeed you do. Anyone who has once  
seen a genuine Saltmarsh-Handel is safe from imposture forever. Strip  
it, flay it, skin it out of every detail but the bare color and  
expression, and that man will still recognize it--still stop to  
worship--"  
174  


Page
172 173 174 175 176

Quick Jump
1 75 151 226 301