“Look a-thar now. See that hand. Hit ain’t bigger’n a bumble-bee, an’ see how he kin hang on.”

“Yes,” said David, absently regarding them. “He’s a fine boy.”

“He sure is. The’ hain’t no finer on this mountain.”

Azalea came and looked down over her husband’s shoulder. “Don’t do that-a-way, Hoke. You’ll wake him up, bobbin’ his arm up an’ down like you a-doin’. Hoke, he’s that proud, you can’t touch him.”

“You hear that, Doc? Azalie, she’s that sot on him she’s like to turn me outen the house fer jes’ lookin’ at him. She ‘lows he’ll grow up a preacher, on account o’