"I am, too—Ailsie Pridemore, his maw's maw, that holp to raise him, and that loves him better than anybody. How many of you furrin women is there?"
"Five—but we're not foreign."
"Why not? Didn't you come up from the level land?"
"Yes, from the Blue Grass. But that's part of the same state, and we're all from the same stock, and really kin, you know."
"No, I never heared of having no kin down in the level country."
"Yes, our forefathers came out together in the early days. Some stopped in the mountains, some went farther into the wilderness—that's all the difference."
"Well, hain't that a sight now! I'm proud to hear hit, though, and to have sech sprightly looking gals for kin. Did you ride on the railroad train to get here?"
"Yes, one day by train, and a little over two days by wagon."
Aunt Ailsie sighed deeply. "'Pears like I'd give life hitself to see a railroad train!" she said. "I hain't never been nowhere nor seed nothing. Ten mile is the furdest ever I got from home."
"Well, it's not too late—you must travel yet."