Lordy! ef he was on'y back on his bench ag'in to-day, a-carryin' on
Like he ust to do!

Any shop-mate'll tell you there never was, on top o' dirt,
A better feller'n Jim!
You want a favor, and couldn't git it anywheres else--
You could git it o' him!
Most free-heartedest man thataway in the world, I guess!
Give up ever' nickel he's worth--
And, ef you'd a-wanted it, and named it to him, and it was his,
He'd a-give you the earth!

Allus a-reachin' out, Jim was, and a-he'ppin' some
Pore feller onto his feet--
He'd a-never a-keered how hungry he was hisse'f,
So's _the feller_ got somepin' to eat!
Didn't make no differ'nee at all to him how _he_ was dressed,
He ust to say to me,--
"You togg out a tramp purty comfortable in winter-time, a-huntin' a job,
And he'll git along!" says he.

[Illustration]

Jim didn't have, ner never could git ahead, so overly much
O' this world's goods at a time.--
'Fore now I've saw him, more'n one't, lend a dollar, and haf to, more'n like,
Turn round and borry a dime!
Mebby laugh and joke about it hisse'f fer a while--then jerk his coat.
And kindo' square his chin,
Tie on his apern, and squat hisse'f on his old shoe-bench,