Sidney Lanier

“ Under the hack is a well-known phrase among the country-people, and is applied, generally in a humorous sense, to those who have been cowed by any accident. A man who is overruled by his wife, I have often heard described as under the hack: “She’s got him under the hack.” So, when a man has lost spirit from any cause, he is said to be under the hack. ”

“ A-studyin’ and musin’ powerfully,
And his forrud was creased with a turrible frown,
And he was a-wurken’ appearently
A ’rethmetic sum that wouldn’t gee,
Fur he kep’ on figgerin’ away in the sand
With his finger, and motionin’ with his hand,
And I seed it WAS Ellick Garry.
And agin I heard him softly bleat
To hisself, like a lamb: “Hauh? nine from eight
Leaves nuthin’—and none to carry!” ”