 | Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family |  |
IKE AND THE ELEPHANT.
“Well,” said Ike, looking the elephant directly in
the eye, at the same time doubling up his huge fist, as
big as a half-cent bun, and putting on an air of defiance,
after the animal had stolen his gingerbread; “well, you
got it, did n't you, you old thief, you! I s'pose you
think you 've done thunderin' great things, don't you?
For my part, I don't call it no better 'n stealing. O,
you may stand there and swing that ridic'lous-looking
trunk o' your'n just as much as you 're a mind to; you
can't skeer a fellow, I tell you! This is a free country,
old club-feet; and you an't agoing to take any more
liberties here like that. I can tell you it won't be safe for
that Ingee-rubber hide o' yourn, if you do! You take
my gingerbread away agin, if you dare, that 's all! You
just try it, you ongainly reptile, you! O, you may look
saucy, and pretend you don't keer, but you just say two
words, — just knock that chip off my head, — and if I don't
give you fits my name an't Ike Partington, that 's all!
Just put down that big Ingee-rubber bludgeon, and I 'll
black your eyes for you, you old tough-leather! You
darsn't say a word, you ill-mannered old hunch! I 'd
knock your eye-teeth out, if you did. O, take it up, if
you 're a mind to; you need n't think to bully it over
me, because you 're a little bigger'n I am, I can tell you.
We don't stand no such nonsense as that, round here.
If 't warn't for that p'leceman looking here, I 'd pitch
into you like a thousand o' bricks. I would n't get out
should like to see you just step on my toes — why can't
you just try it now, will you? I guess I 'd make you
hear thunder with them leather-apron ears o' your'n,
you big overgrown vagabond, you! 'T a'n't no use o'
talking to you, but I shall be here, and, if you don't mind
your eye, I 'll lick you like blazes afore I go out.”
Here Isaac undoubled his hands, and, shaking his head
threateningly at the huge animal, he went over to get a
look at the monkeys; while the elephant lazily swung
his trunk from side to side, and good-naturedly fanned
himself with his big ears, as if he had n't minded a word
the little fellow had said.
| Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | |