The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-01-17
SoliloauY of a Loafer.

SOlil0quy of a Loafer.
Let's see, where am I? This is-eoal
I'm lying on. Was coming up street-met
a wheelbarrow-was drunk, comm t'other
way-the wheeIborrow fell over me, or
over the wheelborrow. and one of US fell
into the cellar-doE't know which now
guess it must ha' been me. I'm nice
young man; yes 1 am-tight! toreI drunk
Well, can't help it-'taint my fault-won-
der whose fault tbs? Is it Jones, FAULT
No. Is it my wife's fault? Well, it amt.
Is it the .wheelbarrow's? No. It's whis-
ky's fault. Who is whisky? Has he
large family? All poor, reckon. think
/ won't own him any more. I'll cut his
acquaintance. I've had that notion for ten
years, aud always hate to do it for fear Of
hurting his feelings. I'll do it now. I
think liquors injurin' me--its spelling my
temper.
Sometimes I get mad when I'm drunk
and abuse Bets and the boys; it used to be
Lizzie and the children-that's some time
ago. I'd come home o. evenin's an she put
call me her dear William. When comes
home now, she takes her pipe out of her
mouth an her hair out of her eyes, au
says somethin' like; Bill you drunken brute
shut tie door after you; we're cold enough,
havin' no fire, 'thout letting the snow blow
in that way" Yes, she's Bets, an I'm
Bill. now. amt a good Bill nuther;
think I'm counterfeit; wont pass-a tav-
ern without goin' in an gettin' drunk
Don't know what bank I'm on. Last Sat-
urday 1 was on the river bank-drunk.
I stay out pretty late: no, sometimes I'm
out all night; fact IS I'm out pretty much
all over-out Of friends, out of pocket, ort
at the elbows and knees, out always outra-
geously dirty--so Bets says; but then she's
no Judge, for she's never clean herself I
wonder why she doesn't wear good clothes;
maybe she hasn't got 'em; whose fault's
thet?-isn't mine--must be vbisky's.
Sometimes I'm in however, I'm intoxi-
Gated now, and in somebody's coal cellar.
There's one principle I've got--I won't get
in debt, I never could do it. There, one of
M coat tails is gone--got tore off I expect
when fell in here. I'll have to get new
suit soon. A fellow told me 'totber day
I'd make good sign for paper mill. If
he wasn't SO big Ia kick him. I've had
this shirt on for nine days, and I'm afraid
it won't come off without tearin'. People
ought to respect me more'n they do, for I'm
in holey orders. I Amt dandy, though
my clothes are pretty near Greasian style.
1 guess I tore this window shutter in my
pants 'tother night. when sat down on the
wax in Ben Riggs shop; I'll have to get
it mended, or-I'll catch cold. Iain't very
stout. AS the boys say, I'm as fat as a
match and healthy as the smallpox. My
best hat is standing guard for window
pane that went out 'tother morning at the
invitation of a brick bat. It's getting cold
down here; wonder if I amt able TO climb.
If I had drink could think better. Lets
see; aint got three cents; if 1 was 10
tavern 1 could sponge one. Whenever any
body treats and says come fellers, I always
think my names fellars, and I've got too
! good manners to refuse Well, 1 must
leave this, or they'll arrest me for an at
tempt at burglary. 1 aint come to that yet.
Anyhow, it was the wheelborrow that did
| the hsrm--nc: me.