The man hadn't come, so I set to work the best I knowed.

'Fore long Josiah was a little better an' he asked who I was, an' where my folks went, an' I told him, an' he asked WHY I came back an' I didn't know what to say, so I jest hung my head an' couldn't face him.

After a while he says, 'All right! I guess I got this sized up.

If you'll stay an' nuss me through, I'll be well enough to pull you out, by the time you get it, an' soon as you're able we'll splice, if you say so.' "'Marry me, you mean ?' says I.

They wa'n't ever any talk about marryin' at our house.