t."

"Light of it! Why, I couldn't make light of anything so heavy."

"Father," said Lou, "the bees have swarmed and settled on the peach
tree."

"That so? Why, I thought thar was honey in the air. Come on Jim an' help
me hive 'em. Won't take but a minit." Jim began to roll up his sleeves.
"Oh," protested the old man, "I don't want you to preach to 'em. Ma'm,"
he continued, addressing Mrs. Mayfield, "he always goes at 'em with his
sleeves rolled up, and, I gad, he fetches 'em."

Jim strove to explain to Mrs. Mayfield, but Jasper pulled at him.
"That's all right, Jim, she understands. Come on, or them bees might fly
away. Come on, I tell you. Ma'm take yo' eye offen him so he kin come
on. Thar, I thank you," he said, bowing, when Mrs. Mayfield looked in
another direction. "Thankee, ma'm an' ef I had a eye as fetchin' as
your'n I could haul wood with it. Come on, Jim." He drew the preacher
out of the house, and Margaret said to Mrs. Mayfield: "Don't let Jasper
fret you, ma'm."

"Oh, no, Mrs. Starbuck, to me he is an old time story book,
illustrated."

"My father fret anybody?" cried Lou. "How could he?"

"Why don't you say I couldn't fret anybody," Tom broke in, and looking
sweetly at him she innocently inquired, "Could you?"

At the corner of the fence Jasper and Jim halted. They had just seen
Peters enter the house. "Howdy," said the ruffian, entering the room. "I
'lowed I mout find Starbuck here."

"It would be safer for you to meet him where other folks are," Lou spoke
up and Peters bowed mockingly.

"Mars Peters," said Mammy, "please don't bother Mars Jasper, he's er
gittin' old."

And toward the poor old creature the ruffian turned with a scowl. "Shut
up, you old fool."

"Why, Mr. Peters," they all of them cried, and at that moment Jasper and
Jim came into the room. "Peters," said the old man, "this woman nursed
me. My mammy died an' left me to her, an' as a little baby she was the
only mother I knowed. My grandaddy built this house, an' that door was
opened by him an' never has been shut, an' anybody comin' along that
road was always welcome to come in. But thar is one man that must never
darken it ag'in." He took out his watch and looking at it, continued:
"I'll give you jest one minit, Peters."

The ruffian looked at a gun standing in the corner; looked at Jasper
holding the watch; looked at the women, who in disgust turned their
faces from him; looked at the door, and clearing his throat, walked