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 "A great deal more profitable than writin' novels. I don't think much of these literary genuses whose heads are always in the clouds and never know nothin' of what's goin' on here. I don't believe some on 'em, if they should starve, could get a meal o' victuals. Now I take a great deal more pride in gettin' up a good dinner than I should in bein' the most prodigious literary genus that ever lived."

"There's a great deal of good done by writing, or books would not be such a source of enjoyment and instruction to us. It opens a communication between ourselves and other minds which could not be done in any other way, besides being good mental discipline for the writer."

"Oh get out with your discipline. I get enough of that from Walter. He had the impudence to tell me to day that Dinah, Miss Daggett's cook, was as good as I was. I'll bear anything in the world from Walter, but when he goes to comparin' me with a nigger I won't stan' it no how, not if it come from the holy Virgin Mother herself. I'm goin' to fry some jack-flints for breakfast as black as the king's crow for him, and I'll see if he thinks black cakes are as good as white ones."

"Then it's time for you to retire, and I begin to grow sleepy. I've had enough of your nonsense for one night."

"No not yet, I see you are bound to go on with your novel, and I've got a little anecdote for you. Where I lived at a country parson's once there come a young couple to be married, not very young though,