Троє в човні крім собаки
Chapter 3
AndAuntMariawouldsaythatshewouldnotallowthechildrentostandroundandhearsuchlanguage.
Atlast,UnclePodgerwouldgetthespotfixedagain,andputthepointofthenailonitwithhislefthand,andtakethehammerinhisrighthand. And,withthefirstblow,hewouldsmashhisthumb,anddropthehammer,withayell,onsomebody’stoes.
AuntMariawouldmildlyobservethat,nexttimeUnclePodgerwasgoingtohammeranailintothewall,shehopedhe’dletherknowintime,sothatshecouldmakearrangementstogoandspendaweekwithhermotherwhileitwasbeingdone.
"Oh!youwomen,youmakesuchafussovereverything,"UnclePodgerwouldreply,pickinghimselfup. "Why,Ilikedoingalittlejobofthissort."
Andthenhewouldhaveanothertry,and,atthesecondblow,thenailwouldgocleanthroughtheplaster,andhalfthehammerafterit,andUnclePodgerbeprecipitatedagainstthewallwithforcenearlysufficienttoflattenhisnose.
Thenwehadtofindtheruleandthestringagain,andanewholewasmade;and,aboutmidnight,thepicturewouldbeup—verycrookedandinsecure,thewallforyardsroundlookingasifithadbeensmootheddownwitharake,andeverybodydeadbeatandwretched—exceptUnclePodger.
"Thereyouare,"hewouldsay,steppingheavilyoffthechairontothecharwoman’scorns,andsurveyingthemesshehadmadewithevidentpride. "Why,somepeoplewouldhavehadamanintodoalittlethinglikethat!"
Harriswillbejustthatsortofmanwhenhegrowsup,Iknow,andItoldhimso. IsaidIcouldnotpermithimtotakesomuchlabouruponhimself. Isaid:
