"Oh, la, yes; for the Yankees liked to have broke him up for it; they driv off every cow and every hoss creetur he had, besides he's afeared the feller will git back some time."
"How far does Terry live from here?" I asked.
"About two miles and a half," she replied, adding in the same breath; "La, it would be mighty bad ef he should happen to git killed off and leave all them pore little children without anybody to take keer of them."
"Do you remember that Yankee's name?" I inquired.
"Well now, soldier, I did hear it, but raily I have forgot it; gals—Virginny—does ary one of you gals remember what that Yankee's name was that got taken over at your uncle Terry's, last spring, a year?"
"Virginny" now appeared in the door of the sitting room, and no sooner did her eyes light on me, than she gave a sort of terrified start, and retreated to the innermost recesses of the kitchen.
"La, gal, why don't you tell a body!" said the old woman; "Virginny, do you hear?"
Thinking I would see a little fun with the old woman, I said, solemnly: "Madam, I am the man."
"La, bless my soul an' body," she said, and sinking into a chair, she burst into tears.