afford style. Every individual arrived with his hands in his pockets;

a hand came out occasionally for a purpose, but it always went back again

after service; and if it was the head that was served, just the cant that

the dilapidated straw hat got by being uplifted and rooted under, was

retained until the next call altered the inclination; many' hats were

present, but none were erect and no two were canted just alike. We are

speaking impartially of men, youths and boys. And we are also speaking

of these three estates when we say that every individual was either

chewing natural leaf tobacco prepared on his own premises, or smoking the

same in a corn-cob pipe. Few of the men wore whiskers; none wore

moustaches; some had a thick jungle of hair under the chin and hiding the

throat--the only pattern recognized there as being the correct thing in

whiskers; but no part of any individual's face had seen a razor for a

week.

These neighbors stood a few moments looking at the mail carrier

reflectively while he talked; but fatigue soon began to show itself,

and one after another they climbed up and occupied the top rail of the

fence, hump-shouldered and grave, like a company of buzzards assembled

for supper and listening for the death-rattle. Old Damrell said:

"Tha hain't no news 'bout the jedge, hit ain't likely?"

"Cain't tell for sartin; some thinks he's gwyne to be 'long toreckly,

and some thinks 'e hain't. Russ Mosely he tote ole Hanks he mought git

to Obeds tomorrer or nex' day he reckoned."

The Gilded Age