Bob, the gentleman, wants to hear about the woman and the child; that's your story." "Howdy, sir," said Mr.Yancy.He appeared to meditate on the mental effort that was required of him, then he took a long breath.

"It was this a-ways--" he began with a soft drawl, and then paused.

"You give me the dates, Mr.John, fo' I disremember." "It was four year ago come next Christmas," said Crenshaw.
"Old Christmas," corrected Mr.Yancy.

"Our folks always kept the old Christmas like it was befo' they done mussed up the calendar.

I'm agin all changes," added Mr.Yancy.
"He means the fo'teenth of December," explained Mr.Crenshaw.
"Not wishin' to dispute your word, Mr.John, I mean Christmas," objected Yancy.
"Oh, very well, he means Christmas then!" said Crenshaw.
"The evening befo', it was, and I'd gone to Fayetteville to get my Christmas fixin's; there was right much rain and some snow falling." Mr.
Yancy's guiding light was clearly accuracy.