The traditions of her family were dear to her, and she was well pleased to show this young doctor who had found the key to her warm, yet reserved, heart that she “wa’n’t no common trash,” and her “chillen wa’n’t like the run o’ chillen.”

“Seems like I’m talkin’ a heap too much o’ we-uns,” she said, at last.

“No, no. Go on. You say you had no school; how did you learn? You were reading your Bible when I came in.”

“No. Thar wa’n’t no schools in my day, not nigh enough fer me to go to. Maw, she could read, an’ write, too, but aftah paw jined the ahmy, she had to work right ha’d and had nothin’ to do with. Paw, he had to jine one side or t’othah.