Why, when I come in here I knowed I had SOMETHING to say about this book, and I tried to remember, and I seemed to remember that I was the son of the author who authored it.

I never come so near lying in my life.

I'm all in a tremble over it to think how near to lying I was! An' I got the notion Eliph' Hewlitt was the name of a horse.' "'Ma,' says Katie, giving me a wicked smile, 'this here other young man has got a bad scarlet fever memory, too.

HE'S come near to lying, likewise.

You'd ought to speak a few words of helpfulness with him, too!' "'Now, here,' I says, 'you pass that by, Katie.