l-barrel, or do some ridiculous stunt o' that
natur'--an' don't worry _them_. Ther' ain't no sense to anybody goin'
around with notions they ken flap their wings, an' cluck like a broody
hen; an' scratchin' worms is positive ridiculous. Help 'em when they
need help, otherwise let 'em fall around till they knock sense into
theirselves. Jest let 'em be kids as long as Natur' fancies, so's when
they git growed up, which they're goin' to do anyways, they'll likely
make elegant men an' women. Ef you set 'em under glass cases they'll
sure get fixed into things what glass cases is made to hold--that's
images. I don't guess I kin tell you nothin' more 'bout kids, seein' I
ain't a mother, but jest a pot-wolloper.'"

Bill folded the paper as he finished reading, and silently handed it
across to the secretary. Somehow he seemed impressed with the
information the paper contained. The whole meeting seemed impressed.
Even Sandy had no comment to offer, while Toby resorted to biting his
forefinger and gazing stupidly at the opposite wall. It was Sunny who
finally broke the silence.

"Guess I'll jest writ' out the chief points fer Zip's guidance?" he
asked.

Bill nodded.

"That's it, sure," he agreed. "Jest the chief points. Then you'll hand
it to Zip to-morrer mornin', an', ef he needs it, you can explain wot
he ain't wise to. I'd like to say right here that this hash-slinger
has got savvee. Great big savvee, an' a heap of it. I ain't a hell of
a lot on the kid racket, they mostly make me sick to death. In a
manner o' speakin', I don't care a cuss for Zip nor his kids. Ef they
drown theirselves in a swill-bar'l it's his funeral, an' their luck,
an' it don't cut no ice with me. But, cuss me, ef I ken stand to see a
low-down skunk like this yer James come it over a feller-citizen o'
Suffering Creek, an' it's our duty to see Zip gits thro'. I'm sore on
James. Sore as hell. I ain't no Bible-thumpin', mush-hearted,
push-me-amongst-the-angels feller anyways. An' you boys has got to git
right on to that, quick." He glared round at his friends defiantly, as
though daring them to do otherwise. But as nobody gave a sign of doubt
on the subject, he had no alternative but to continue. "I'm jest sore
on James an'--" He hesitated for the fraction of a second, but went on
almost immediately. "--ther' may come a time when the play gits busy.
Get me? Wal," as Sandy and Sunny nodded assent, and Toby sat all eyes
for the speaker, "this yere Trust i