After thinking it over a moment, he replied,-- "Yes, I did, an' any fun that was to be found I looked after in them days.

I don't mind tellin' you that I don't think I found enough to pay for the trouble; but things was as they was.

Now I wish I'd done diff'rent; but it's too late to get back what I missed by dodgin' lessons.

Tom, if I could talk better, it would be a good thing for me; but I ain't got no time to go to school.

You've been to school a lot: why can't you come to the shop with me, an' sit down an' tell me where an' how I don't talk like other folks ?" Tom indulged in a long and convulsive chuckle.
"When you've done laughin' at your father, Tom," continued Sam, "he'll be glad to have you say somethin' that'll show him that you ain't as mean an' low down as some folks think you be." "I ain't no school-teacher," said Tom, "an' I ain't learned no fancy ways of talkin'!" "I don't expect you to tell me mor'n you know," said the parent, "but if you've got the same flesh an' blood as me, you'll stand by me when I'm bothered.