ld Welborne half on that farm,
and that before long she'll own it, lock, stock, and barrel. As you may
'a' noticed, I sometimes poke jabs of fun at women, but I never do at
her. Somehow I jest can't. I was a-settin' right back of Carrie Wade an'
some more frisky gals at meetin' last Sunday when Dixie come in an' tuck
a seat on the bench ahead of 'em. I don't let women bother me, one way
or another, but I got rippin' mad at that gang. They was makin' sport of
her. One of 'em re'ched over an' felt of the ribbon on the pore gal's
hat, and then they stuffed the'r handkerchiefs in the'r mouths and come
nigh bustin' with giggles. Them sort think they are the whole show, with
their white hands, smellin'-stuff, and the'r eyes on every man that
passes, while a gal like Dixie Hart is overlooked. I've stood thar at
the gate and watched her out in her corn or cotton in the br'ilin' sun
with her hoe goin' up and down as regular as the tick of a clock, while
the other gals was whiskin' by in some drummer's dinky-top buggy or
takin' a snooze flat o' the'r backs in a cool room."

"Is breakfast ready?" Henley asked, with an appreciative nod in
recognition of remarks he did not wish to prolong, as he leaned the axe
against the front gate and ascended the steps.

"Sech as it is," the old man answered, taking another tack. "When me an'
Jane decided to come here to reside, Hettie was goin' to do wonders in
the cookin' line. She was particular to ax just what our favorite dishes
was, and you may remember how she spread herse'f the fust three days
after we was installed. It was like a camp-meetin'. You couldn't think
of a single article that she didn't have ready, in some shape or other.
But after 'while hot things quit comin' and cold uns appeared that had a
familiar look, and now me and you and all of us set down to the same old
seven and six. Well, my jaw teeth ain't as good as they used to be, and
I make out by soakin' my bread-crust in my coffee. Hettie says she's
goin' to have me an' Jane both fitted out with store sets. Folks that
have tried 'em say they beat the old sort all holler--that you kin crack
hickory-nuts if you have both upper and lower and git a fair clamp on
'em and use yore muscles."

Henley turned into the big dining-room, where his "stepmother-in-law," a
diminutive woman, sat at the foot of the oblong table dressed in faded
black, even to the poke sunbonnet which, worn indoors and out,
completely hid her wrinkled face