This brought him by an easy
transition to an analysis of the peculiar traits of its mountain
population, which included presently their remarkable idiosyncrasies of
speech. When he was fairly launched on this theme, which was of genuine
interest to him, for he had long fostered a linguistic fad, all danger of
awkward silence or significant pauses was eliminated. He found that
Briscoe could furnish him with some fresh points in comparative
philology, to his surprise and gratification, for he never expected aught
bookish of his host. But like men of his type, Briscoe was a close
observer and learned of the passing phase of life. He took issue again
and again with the deductions of the traveller.
"You think it queer that they use 'you-uns' in the singular number? Then
why do you use '_you_' in the singular number? I haven't heard you
'thou-ing' around here this evening. Just as grammatical in that respect
as you are! And on the same principle, why do you say 'you were' to me
instead of 'you was,' which would be more singular--ha! ha! ha!"
"What _I_ think so curious is the double-barrelled pronouns themselves,
'you-uns' and 'we-uns.
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