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"I got four now and I'll be right smart proud ifen more come as
poor as we is. Younguns is a heap of expense and sometimes they is a
heap of worry and grief, like pore little Joey I been a-tellin you about.
But they is worth all the trouble and worry and expense. Harris he
don't pay them so much mind. Of course he loves them and he does his
best fer them I reckon, but he jest don't seem to get the pleasure
outer them like I do.

"See them two little fellers playin out under that orange tree,
right in the dirt? Well, that's my little girl, the youngest, Ruthie,
she's most three years old. Johnnie there, is Della's boy that she had
long before that crazy spell come on her. Then we got Joey too, he's
the one I been a-talkin about, he's most eight years old. Ellie, who
is most fourteen, and Grace who is sixteen. Them's my two oldest daugh-
ters. I do hope they get home before you leave I want you to see them,
they both is so sweet and purty. Well, that's my family of younguns
so fer. Seems like I never did have an many younguns as some folks do
and they is so fer apart in comin along."

Mrs. Thomas peered up the road. "Yes, I sure hopes they gets here
soon, I know you will like them. I try to teach them good manners, and
to stay dressed nice too, and fix theirselves up. I never let them
girls wash no dishes or clothes, or do no scrubbin, fer thet hurts their
hands. The nuss-woman, she thinks hit's somethin turble that I don't
larn Ellie and Grace to work more. But pore little things, I guess
they'll larn to work ifen they marries pore boys. Seems like them that
larns hard work always has hit to do, and I don't aim to teach my girls
like that.

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