`` Well , these peddlers were man and wife , and the woman took sick up there at the Gordon place , and Janet Gordon took her in and nursed her . A baby was born the next day , and the woman died . Then the first thing anybody knew the father skipped clean out , pack and all , and was never seen or heard tell of afterwards . The Gordons were left with the fine youngster to their hands . Folks advised them to send him to the Orphan Asylum , and ` twould have been the wisest plan , but the Gordons were never fond of taking advice . Old James Gordon was living then , Thomas and Janet 's father , and he said he would never turn a child out of his door . He was a masterful old man and liked to be boss . Folks used to say he had a grudge against the sun 'cause it rose and set without his say so . Anyhow , they kept the baby . They called him Neil and had him baptized same as any Christian child . He 's always lived there . They did well enough by him . He was sent to school and taken to church and treated like one of themselves . Some folks think they made too much of him . It does n't always do with that kind , for ` what 's bred in bone is mighty apt to come out in flesh , ' if ` taint kept down pretty well . Neil 's smart and a great worker , they tell me . But folks hereabouts do n't like him . They say he ai n't to be trusted further 'n you can see him , if as far . It 's certain he 's awful hot tempered , and one time when he was going to school he near about killed a boy he 'd took a spite to -- choked him till he was black in the face and Neil had to be dragged off . '' `` Well now , father , you know they teased him terrible , '' protested Mrs. Williamson .
`` The poor boy had a real hard time when he went XXXXX school , Master .
against at by for in like of to up without