She peaked an' pined, an' died when Billy P.was about fifteen or so.

Wa'al, Billy P.an' the old man wrastled along somehow, an' the boy went to collidge fer a year or so.

How they ever got along 's they did I dunno.

The' was a story that some far-off relation left old Billy some money, an' I guess that an' what they got off'm what farms was left carried 'em along till Billy P.was twenty-five or so, an' then he up an' got married.

That was the crownin' stroke," remarked David.