I reckon the way you twist, Nevvy, mebby you'd admire fo' to lose an ear!" and Mr.Yancy refused further to discuss the knowledge he had garnered in his youth.
Hannibal and Yancy were the first to arrive at the deserted cabin in the old field that afternoon.

They found the place had been recently cleaned and swept, while about the wall was ranged a row of benches; there was also a table and two chairs.

Yancy inspected the premises with the eye of mature experience.
"Yes, it surely is a school; any one with an education would know that.
Just look!--ain't you glad yo' Uncle Bob slicked you up some, now you see what them ladies has done fo' to make this place tidy ?" Shy children from the pine woods, big brothers with little sisters and big sisters with little brothers, drifted out of the encircling forest.
Coincident with the arrival of the last of these stragglers Mrs.Ferris and Miss Malroy appeared, attended by a colored groom.
"It was so good of you to come, Mr.Yancy! The children won't feel so shy with you here," said Mrs.Ferris warmly, as Yancy assisted her to dismount, an act of courtesy that called for his finest courage.
Mrs.Ferris' missionary spirit manifested itself agreeably enough on the whole.

When she had ranged her flock in a solemn-faced row on the benches, she began by explaining why Sunday was set apart for a day of rest, touching but lightly on its deeper significance as a day of worship as well; then she read certain chapters from the Bible, finishing with the story of David, a narrative that made a deep impression upon Yancy, comfortably seated in the doorway.
"Can't you tell the children a story, Mr.Yancy?
Something about their own neighborhood I think would be nice, something with a moral," the pleasant earnest voice f Mrs.Ferris roused the Scratch Hiller from his meditations.
"Yes, ma'am, I reckon I can tell 'em a story." He stood up, filling the doorway with his bulk.

"I can tell you-all a story about this here house," he said, addressing himself to the children.