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Three Men in a Boat / Three Men on the Bummel

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— 271 —<br />

CHAPTER VI<br />

Why we went to Hanover — Someth<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g <strong>the</strong>y do better abroad — The<br />

art of polite foreign c<strong>on</strong>versati<strong>on</strong>, as taught <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> English schools — A<br />

true history, now told for <strong>the</strong> first time — The French joke, as provided<br />

for <strong>the</strong> amusement of British youth — Fa<strong>the</strong>rly <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>st<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>cts of<br />

Harris — The road-waterer, c<strong>on</strong>sidered as an artist — Patriotism<br />

of George — What Harris ought to have d<strong>on</strong>e — What he did — We<br />

save Harris’s life — A sleepless city — The cab-horse as a critic.<br />

WE arrived <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Hamburg <strong>on</strong> Friday after a smooth and uneventful<br />

voyage; and from Hamburg we travelled to Berl<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> by way of<br />

Hanover. It is not <strong>the</strong> most direct route. I can <strong>on</strong>ly account for<br />

our visit to Hanover as <strong>the</strong> nigger accounted to <strong>the</strong> magistrate<br />

for his appearance <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> Deac<strong>on</strong>’s poultry-yard.<br />

“Well?”<br />

“Yes, sar, what <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>stable sez is quite true, sar; I was dar,<br />

sar.”<br />

“Oh, so you admit it? And what were you do<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g with a sack,<br />

pray, <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> Deac<strong>on</strong> Abraham’s poultry-yard at twelve o’clock at<br />

night?”<br />

“I’se gw<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e ter tell yer, sar; yes, sar. I’d been to Massa Jordan’s<br />

wid a sack of mel<strong>on</strong>s. Yes, sar; an’ Massa Jordan he wuz very<br />

’greeable, an’ axed me for ter come <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>.”<br />

“Yes, sar, very ’greeable man is Massa Jordan. An’ dar we sat<br />

a talk<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g an’ a talk<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g — ”<br />

“Very likely. What we want to know is what you were do<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>the</strong> Deac<strong>on</strong>’s poultry-yard?”<br />

“Yes, sar, dat’s what I’se cumm<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>g to. It wuz ver’ late ’fore I<br />

left Massa Jordan’s, an’ den I sez ter mysel’, sez I, now yer jest<br />

step out with yer best leg foremost, Ulysses, case yer gets <str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>to<br />

trouble wid de ole woman. Ver’ talkative woman she is, sar,<br />

very — ”<br />

“Yes, never m<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>d her; <strong>the</strong>re are o<strong>the</strong>r people very talkative<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g> this town besides your wife. Deac<strong>on</strong> Abraham’s house is half<br />

a mile out of your way home from Mr. Jordan’s. How did you<br />

get <strong>the</strong>re?”<br />

“Dat’s what I’m a-gw<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>e ter expla<str<strong>on</strong>g>in</str<strong>on</strong>g>, sar.”

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