than this. Would you think they could be any worser?" And she smiled
up over her glasses at the girl opposite her.

"Tell me about it," demanded the singer lady interestedly. "Where
did you send him to school first?"

"Right down here to the City. You see Doctor Mayberry left me this
home, fifty acres and a small life insurance, so they was a little
something to inch and pinch on. You can't save by trying to peel
nothing, but the smallest potatoes have got a skin, and I peeled
close them days. Tom did his part too and he run the plow deep and
straight when he wasn't much taller than the handles. I had done
talked it over with him and asked him would he, and he looked right
in my eyes in his dependable way and said yes he would. That
finished it and he wasn't but eleven; but I don't want to brag on
him to you. If you listen to mothers' talk the world are full of
heroes and none-suches." Again Miss Wingate received the smile from
over Mother Mayberry's glasses and this time it was tinged with a
whimsical pride.

"Please, Mrs., Mayberry, tell me about it; you know I want to hear,"
begged the girl, and she moved her chair nearer to Mother's and
picked up the mate of the blue sock off her knee. "How old was he
when he went to college?"

"Just sixteen, big and hearty and with enough in his head to get
through the examinations. I packed him up, and him and the Deacon
started down Providence Road at sun-up in the Deacon's old buggy. He
looked both man and baby to me as he turned around to smile back;
but I stood it out at the gate until they turned the bend, then I