She was a cousin of my father's and when she took me in, I called her auntie.

But they only took me because they wanted my help on the place, and I worked hard for them four years.

They gave me no affection, nor even thanks for my services, and as I couldn't learn anything or make any sort of progress in that God-forsaken valley, I left them and shifted for myself." "And made a great success of the shifting!" Patty's eyes glowed as she looked at her big handsome husband.
"Yes, I found you! And, incidentally that little flower of loveliness that's going to sleep against your breast." "So she is! Pretty thing!" Patty gazed adoringly at the baby and then handed her over to the nurse, who returned for her charge.
"Tell me more about Horner's Corners," Patty resumed, as they remained seated on the porch, after Fleurette's departure.
"Not much to tell.

It consisted of a store and post-office,--a church and school,--and forty or fifty small houses.

Uncle Thorpe's place was a mile out from the Corners, proper, and I used to trudge back and forth every day for the mail, and for provisions.