Intent on this occupation and without raising his eyes to the master, he returned slowly, "Well, you see, I'm sorter married already." The master sat up quickly.
"What, YOU married--now ?" "Well, perhaps that's a question.

It's a good deal like my beein' an orphan--oncertain and onsettled." He paused to pursue an evasive crumb to the end of the bench and having captured it, went on: "It was when I was younger than you be, and she warn't very old neither.

But she knew a heap more than I did; and ez to readin' and writin', she was thar, I tell you, every time.

You'd hev admired to see her, Mr.Ford." As he paused here as if he had exhausted the subject, the master said impatiently, "Well, where is she now ?" Uncle Ben shook his head slowly.

"I ain't seen her sens I left Mizzouri, goin' on five years ago." "But why haven't you?
What was the matter ?" persisted the master.
"Well--you see--I runned away.