"
"What's up naow? want me tew address the meetin', hey? I'm willin',
only the laugh's ruther ag'inst me, ef I tell that story; expect
yeu'll like it all the better fer that." Flint coiled up his long
limbs, put his hands in his pockets, chewed meditatively for a
moment, and then began with his slowest drawl--
"Waal, sir, it's pretty nigh ten year ago, I was damster daown tew
Oldtaown, clos't tew Banggore. My folks lived tew Bethel; there was
only the old man, and Aunt Siloam, keepin' house fer him, seein' as
I was the only chick he hed. I hedn't heared from 'em fer a long
spell, when there come a letter sayin' the old man was breakin' up.
He'd said it every spring fer a number er years, and I didn't mind
it no more'n the breakin' up er the river; not so much jest then;
fer the gret spring drive was comin' on, and my hands was tew full
to quit work all tew oncet. I sent word I'd be 'long fore a gret
while, and bymeby I went. I ought tew hev gone at fust; but they'd
sung aout 'Wolf!' so often I wasn't scared; an' sure 'nuff the wolf
did come at last. Father hed been dead an' berried a week when I got
there, and aunt was so mad she wouldn't write, nor scurcely speak
tew me fer a consider'ble spell. I didn't blame her a mite, and felt
jest the wust kind; so I give in every way, and fetched her raound.
Yeou see I hed a cousin who'd kind er took my place tew hum while I
was off, an' the old man hed left him a good slice er his money, an'
me the farm, hopin' to keep me there.
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