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 Flint said briskly , -- `` Naouw , Phil , yeou close this interestin ' and instructive meeting ; and be spry , fer time 's most up . '' `` I have n't much to tell , but must begin with a confession which I have often longed but never dared to make before , because I am a coward . '' `` Sho ! who 's goan to b ` leeve that o ' a man who fit like a wild-cat , wuz offered permotion on the field , and reported tew headquarters arfter his fust scrimmage . Try ag ` in , Phil . '' `` Physical courage is as plentiful as brass buttons , nowadays , but moral courage is a rarer virtue ; and I 'm lacking in it , as I 'll prove . You think me a Virginian ; I 'm an Alabamian by birth , and was a Rebel three months ago . '' This confession startled his hearers , as he knew it would , for he had kept his secret well .
Thorn laid his hand involuntarily upon his rifle , XXXXX drew off a little , and Flint illustrated one of his own expressions , for he `` gawped . ''
Dick Thorn Virginian ag arfter cuttin forrardness interestin moles valleu