I ain't fixed to pay fancy wages
just yet and those kids that everybody runs down ought to be off the
streets doing something. Of course some of them _are_ trifling. But I
ain't such a stickler for sharp-edged goodness myself nor in any way at
all virtuous. I'm terrible easy-going myself and I know just how kids
like Charlie Pinley feel working for a man, a careful, exact man like
Mr. James D. Austin. By gosh! if I had to work a whole week for Mr.
Austin I'd kill myself. Never could stand too much neatness and
worrying about time being money and human nature too full of meanness.
No, sir,--I can't live like that. I guess maybe it's because I'm kind
of no-account myself that I understand these kids and they understand
me. They all like horses same as me and I pay them all I can afford
and will do more for them when things pick up and grow.
"Now there's people as laugh about me hiring Hank Lolly. I guess it's
the first time Hank has ever held a job longer than a week. But I tell
you, Grandma, I like Hank and I understand him. And I don't ever think
I'm fit enough myself to be forever preaching at him about reforming.
I figure that what a man eats and drinks is none of my business in a
way. But I did explain to Hank that if he would come and work for me
I'd furnish him with so many drinks every day and meals and a
comfortable place to sleep.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59