and went out to slaughter the steer; but first there was a row,
because he thought -- or pretended to think -- that somebody
had been using his knife. He lassoed the beast, drew it up to the rails,
and slaughtered it.

Meanwhile, Jack and his next brother took an old gun, let the dogs loose,
and went 'possum shooting.

Presently Wylie came in again, sat down by the fire, and smoked.
The children quarrelled over a boy's book; Mrs. Wylie made weak attempts
to keep the peace, but they took no notice of her. Suddenly her husband
rose with an oath, seized the novel, and threw it behind the fire.

"Git to bed! git to bed!" he roared at the children; "git to bed,
or I'll smash your brains with the axe!"

They got to bed. It was made of saplings and bark, covered with
three bushel-bags full of straw and old pieces of blanket sewn together.
The children quarrelled in bed till their father took off his belt
and "went into" them, according to promise. There was a sudden hush,
followed by a sound like a bird-clapper; then howls; then a peaceful calm
fell upon that happy home.

Wylie went out again, and was absent an hour; on his return
he sat by the fire and smoked sullenly. After a while
he snatched the pipe from his mouth, and looked impatiently at the old woman.

"Oh! for God's sake, git to bed," he snapped, "and don't be asittin' there
like a blarsted funeral! You're enough to give a man the dismals."