SCENE I.—Ben’s cabin near a swamp.

When Mike, meh mule, tuck sick Mars Dick cum ridin’ by An’ say, “Uh case orntried is hyard ter jestify; Still, I kin git him well, meck up yo’ mine ter dat, Ef you will turn yo’ pollyticks an’ be uh Dimmycrat.

“I’s gwine ter try an’ git inter de Legislater, Ben, An’ I wan’ ter run uh haid ub de res’ ub all de men.” De consequation wuz I say, “I’ll vote fuh you, Mars Dick, Fuh dis po’ wretched mule ub mine is mighty, monstus sick.”

Den Mars Dick say, “Be quick! Run ter de swamp an’ get Snake-root, squaw-root, mash-mallers an’ bone-set; Ros’ ’em in uh spidah tell dey squench up inter uth, Den da ain’ no tellin’ what sich uh powder’s wuth.”

Hit seems ter me de price wuz big dat I got fuh meh vote, Kase Mars Dick say dem swamp yearbs wuz uh pow’ful auntydote Fuh hic-cups, cramps, brownchytiz, bruises, bu’ns, haidaches, Rheumatiz an’ measles, conwulsions and de shakes.

An’ den Mars Dick he tole me, in de mawnin’ ’fo’ I feed Futto go inter de swamp an’ git de largis’ reed I seed, An’ fill hit full fum en’ ter en’ wid dat gran’ auntydote, Pull out Mike’s tongue, put in de reed, an’ blow hyard down he thote.