When he got near to Skeal-Hill he found old Abraham Atchisson sitting on a stool, breaking stones to mend roads with; and Joe asked him if he could fill his leather bags from his heap.

Abraham told Joe to take them that wasn't broken if he wanted stones; so Joe told him how it was, and all about it.

The old man was like to tottle off his stool with laughing, and he said, "Joe take good care of thysen'; thou art over sharp to live very long in this world; fill thy bags, and make on with thee." "Don't you remember old Abraham, Sophy?
He built the stone dyke at the lower fold." "No, I do not remember, I think." "You are getting sleepy.

Shall I stop ?" "No, no; finish the letter." When Joe got to Skeal-Hill, the jolly-jist had just got his breakfast, and they took Joe into the parlor to him.

He laughed all over when Joe went in with the bags, and told him to set them down in a corner, and asked him if he would have some breakfast.