They thowt they were big swells, and had
on black coats, white shirts, stiff collars up to their ears, red and
green neck-handkerchers, and bell-topper hats; so I just touched one
of em on th' showder and said: 'Would you please tek your hats off
to let th' lads see th' pictures?' Well, the nigger just turned his
head half-round, and looked at me impudent like, but he kept his hat
on. So I asked him again quite civil, and he called me a low fellow,
towld me to mind my own business, and the other two niggers grinned.
Well, you know, I could not stand that. I knew well enough what they
were. They were stewards on the liners running between New York and
Liverpool, and they were going round trying to pass for swells in a
penny peep-show. I didn't want to make a row just then and spoil the
show, so I said to th' lads, we mun go hooum, and I took 'em hooum,
and then come back to th' show and waited at th' door. When the
niggers come out I pitched into th' one as had given me cheek; but we
couldn't have it out for th' crowd, and we were all shoved into th'
street. I went away a bit, thinking no more about it, and met a man
I knew and we went into a public house and had a quart o' fourpenny.
We were in a room by ourselves, when the varra same three niggers
come in and stood a bit inside the door. So I took my tumbler and
threw it at th' head of th' man I wanted, and then went at him.
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