` Guess it wo n't ! ' sez I , aout laoud ; ` I 'm glad o n't , and it ai n't a cent more 'n yeou derserve . ' `` That pleased aunt . ` Riz me , Hiram , ' sez she ; an ' when I 'd got her easy , she put her old arms raound my neck , an ' tried to say , ` God bless you , dear -- , ' but died a doin ' of it ; an ' I ai n't ashamed tew say I boohooed real hearty , when I laid her daown , fer she was dreadf ' l good tew me , an ' I do n't forgit her in a hurry . '' `` How 's Bewlah ? '' asked Dick , after the little tribute of respect all paid to Aunt Siloam 's memory , by a momentary silence . `` Fust-rate ! that harum-scarum venter er mine was the best I ever made . She 's done waal by me , hes Bewlah ; ben a grand good housekeeper , kin kerry on the farm better 'n me , any time , an ' is as dutif ' l an ' lovin ' a wife as , -- waal , as annything that is extra dutif ' l and lovin ' . '' `` Got any boys to brag of ? '' `` We do n't think much o ' boys daown aour way ; they 're ` mazin ' resky stock to fetch up , -- alluz breakin ' baounds , gittin ' intew the paound , and wurryin ' your life aout somehaow ` nother . Gals naow doos waal ; I 've got six o ' the likeliest the is goin ' , every one on 'em is the very moral of Bewlah , -- red hair , black eyes , quiet ways , an ' a mold ` side the nose . Baby 's ai n't growed yet ; but I expect tew see it in a consid ` able state o ' forrardness , when I git hum , an ' would n't miss it fer the world . '' The droll expression of Flint 's face , and the satisfied twang of his last words , were irresistible . Dick and Phil went off into a shout of laughter ; and even Thorn 's grave lips relapsed into a smile at the vision of six little Flints with their six little moles . As if the act were an established ceremony , the `` paternal head '' produced his pocket-book , selected a worn black-and-white paper , which he spread in his broad palm , and displayed with the air of a connoisseur . `` There , thet 's Bewlah ! we call it a cuttin ' ; but the proper name 's a silly-hoot , I b ` leeve . I 've got a harnsome big degarrytype tew hum , but the heft o n't makes it bad tew kerry raound , so I took this . I do n't tote it abaout inside my shirt , as some dew , -- it ai n't my way ; but I keep it in my wallet long with my other valleu ` bles , and guess I set as much store by it as ef it was all painted up , and done off to kill . ''
The `` silly-hoot '' was examined with interest , and carefully stowed away again in the old brown wallet , which was settled in its place with a satisfied slap ; then XXXXX said briskly , -- `` Naouw , Phil , yeou close this interestin ' and instructive meeting ; and be spry , fer time 's most up . ''
Flint annything baounds leeve moles resky silly-hoot twang valleu wurryin