Page:Hell-Bent fer Heaven (Hughes 1924).pdf/161

Rh

If it ’us jist mine you ’us a-trampin’ on I wouldn’t say a word! But it ain’t! It’s His—up yonder!

Ha! ha! I didn’t know you ’us a-standin’ in His shoes, Rufe!

You’d a heap better ’umble your proud heart an’ quit mockin’ an’ revilin’, Andy! The Good Book says that them that reviles God’s handiwork shall die! [With a convulsive gesture] An’ they shall, too!

Yeh, when their time comes—like you an’ me an’ everybody else.

[In a sort of prophetic ecstasy]

That time has come! This is the beginnin’ of a new world! To-morrow ’ll be the dawn of a new day!

It allus has been!

[Provoked beyond endurance]

That ain’t what he means, an’ you know it!