It's no way to write letters and pitch them in the ashes.
It means the poor boy is honin' to say things he dassent and so he's writin' them out and never sendin' them at all.

What's the little huzzy gone so long for, anyway?
I'll fix her!" Granny selected three letters, blew away the ashes, and tucked the envelopes inside her dress.
"If I only knowed how to get at her," she muttered.

She stared at the pie.

"I guess you got to go back," she said, "and be et by me.

Like as not I'll stall myself, for I got one a-ready.