children somewheres out Pennsylvania way. Well, Penn he took his
folks along to a Moravian meetin', - camp-meetin', most like, -
an' they stayed over jest one night in Johnstown. You've heered
talk o' Johnstown?"

Harvey considered. "Yes, I have. But I don't know why. It sticks
in my head same as Ashtabula."

"Both was big accidents - thet's why, Harve. Well, that one single
night Penn and his folks was to the hotel Johnstown was wiped out.
'Dam bu'st an' flooded her, an' the houses struck adrift an'
bumped into each other an' sunk. I've seen the pictures, an'
they're dretful. Penn he saw his folk drowned all 'n a heap 'fore
he rightly knew what was comin'. His mind give out from that on.
He mistrusted somethin' hed happened up to Johnstown, but for the
poor life of him he couldn't remember what, an' he jest drifted
araound smilin' an' wonderin'. He didn't know what he was, nor yit
what he hed bin, an' thet way he run ag'in' Uncle Salters, who was
visitin' 'n Allegheny City. Ha'af my mother's folks they live
scattered inside o' Pennsylvania, an' Uncle Salters he visits
araound winters. Uncle Salters he kinder adopted Penn, well
knowin' what his trouble wuz; an' he brought him East, an' he give
him work on his farm."

"Why, I heard him calling Penn a farmer last night when the boats
bumped. Is your Uncle Salters a farmer?"

"Farmer!" shouted Dan. "There ain't water enough 'tween here an'
Hatt'rus to wash the furrer-mould off'n his boots. He's Jest
everlastin' farmer. Why, Harve, I've seen thet man hitch up a