They work like tigers, every soul of 'em, from four o'clock in she morning' as long as they can see, and Mis' Pitkin she works all the evening--woman's work ain't never done, they say." "She's a good woman, Mis' Pitkin is," said Abner, "and she's a smart worker." In this phrase Abner solemnly expressed his highest ideal of a human being.
"Smart ain't no word for 't," said Biah, with alertness.

"Declar for 't, the grit o' that are woman beats me.

Had eight children right along in a string 'thout stoppin', done all her own work, never kep' no gal nor nothin'; allers up and dressed; allers to meetin' Sunday, and to the prayer-meetin' weekly, and never stops workin': when 'tan't one thing it's another--cookin', washin', ironin', making butter and cheese, and 'tween spells cuttin' and sewin', and if she ain't doin' that, why, she's braidin' straw to sell to the store or knitting--she's the perpetual motion ready found, Mis' Pitkin is." "Want ter know," said the auditor, as a sort of musical rest in this monotone of talk.

"Ain't she smart, though!" "Smart! Well, I should think she was.

She's over and into everything that's goin' on in that house.