Mark Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

19. CHAPTER XIX. (continued)

"I've done considerble in the doctoring way in my time. Layin' on o' hands is my best holt -­ for cancer and paralysis, and sich things; and I k'n tell a fortune pretty good when I've got somebody along to find out the facts for me. Preachin's my line, too, and workin' camp-meetin's, and missionaryin' around."

Nobody never said anything for a while; then the young man hove a sigh and says:

"Alas!"

"What `re you alassin' about?" says the bald-head.

"To think I should have lived to be leading such a life, and be degraded down into such company." And he begun to wipe the corner of his eye with a rag.

"Dern your skin, ain't the company good enough for you?" says the baldhead, pretty pert and uppish.

"Yes, it IS good enough for me; it's as good as I deserve; for who fetched me so low when I was so high? I did myself. I don't blame YOU, gentlemen -­ far from it; I don't blame anybody. I deserve it all. Let the cold world do its worst; one thing I know -­ there's a grave somewhere for me. The world may go on just as it's always done, and take everything from me -­ loved ones, property, everything; but it can't take that. Some day I'll lie down in it and forget it all, and my poor broken heart will be at rest." He went on a-wiping.

"Drot your pore broken heart," says the baldhead; "what are you heaving your pore broken heart at US f'r? WE hain't done nothing."

"No, I know you haven't. I ain't blaming you, gentlemen. I brought myself down -­ yes, I did it myself. It's right I should suffer -­ perfectly right -­ I don't make any moan."

"Brought you down from whar? Whar was you brought down from?"