eleven at night
I 've seen the day when a toddy could n't ` a ' stopped me from follerin ' after a gyirl ; but now , ' says he , ` I 'd hate to have to choose betwixt a woman and this here peach and honey . ' And Hamilton , he was tappin ' his boot with his ridin ' - whip and walkin ' the floor , and Uncle Billy jest kept on talkin ' and stirrin ' . ` You 're young and strong , ' says he , ` and I 'm old and feeble . It 's half-past ten in the mornin ' with you , and it 's half-past eleven at night with me . You 're on the big road , and jest before you there 's a gyirl with yeller hair and brown eyes , and you 'll ketch up with her maybe before night , and here I am in my old hickory chair and nothin ' before me but my old lame foot and my peach and honey . But , ' says he , ` son , take an old man 's advice : do n't be in too big a hurry to ketch up with that yeller-haired gyirl . ' Says he , ` You know the old sayin ' about a bird in the hand bein ' worth two in the bush , but from long experience , ' says he , ` I 've learned that it 's the other way with women .