“So he did here. Mr. O’Cafferty gave him some of the all-firedest thrashings I ever seed, and he only got worser.”
“How in the world does Mr. Clark contrive to manage that fellow?”
“He jest talks it into him. And I he’rn Joe say he’d no heart to insult so good a man as the master.”
“Now, Tom, tell me honestly which you’d rather do—stay at home, play with the dogs, and hunt coons at night, or go to that school?”
“I’d go to school as long as I liv’d ef I could have such a master as Mr. Clark.”
“Well, Tom, I must give you up. Mr. Clark’s bought you, that’s certain. You’re a gone coon for huntin.”[36]
Calling up Susan, he said,
“Come, Sis’, and tell uncle what you think of the master?”
“He’s the best man in all Canetuck.”
“But some of those big girls down the creek don’t like him.”