"That air 'cause he air so weak. Ma Moll were here with the hoss doctor, and they says he air to croak dum quick."
Teola raised her head, startled.
"Oh, I didn't know you had had a doctor. I was going to speak about it to-night." She dropped her eyes, reddened, and then added, "But the horse doctor, Tessibel?"
"Squatters allers has the hoss doctor—they air cheaper."
"But he can't die!" Teola moaned. "Not now—not yet! He has never been baptized. If he died now, he wouldn't go to Heaven!"
"Aw! shut up. He air a-goin' in faster'n any of them. Don't you worry yer head over that. God ain't that kind of a bloke that He wouldn't take in a sick brat what ain't never done no harm."
Tess had risen, and was standing over the child, Teola having placed him back in the bed.
"But you don't understand, Tess dear! You see, it's this way: the Bible says that if a child isn't baptized, he will go to a place where he must stay always. He won't go to Heaven. You understand?"
"Air the Bible a-sayin' that?"