Dym Scraper, he went out to the funeral, and run it, we heerd, Freeborn's wife being dead and his son weakly; anyway, he brung back them two silver coffin-plates that hangs in the parlour to his house.

Next thing we knew--good while after, y' understand, but first thing _we_ knew, here to the village--the son was dead, too; Mahlon his name was, and had been weakly all his days.
Deacon Scraper went out agin, and kinder scraped round, folks reckoned, 'peared to make of the young widder, and meeched up to her, and all.
Wal! And here this last year, if _she_ doesn't up and die! Sing'lar gift folks has for dying out in them parts; living so fur from the sea, I've always cal'lated.

All about it, that old spider goes out the third time, and no coffin-plates this time, but he brings back the boy; and lo, ye! he's made full guardeen over the child, and has him, body and soul.
"Now I aint a malicious man, no way of the world, Mister,--well, whatever your name is.

But I tell you, that old weasel is laying for something ugly about that youngster.

Some say he's applied to send him to the Reform School; good little boy as I'd want to see.