We used to know him well.

He wuz a old man when he left Zoar, and had lost four wives a runnin' before he left there, and of course I didn't know how many he'd lost since he come West, I see he wore a mournin' weed, and mistrusted he'd lost another, and so it turned out.

It beats all what bad luck he has had.

He wuzn't to blame for any one on 'em, 'tennyrate them that passed away at Zoar, and I spozed it wuz jest the same here.

Never pizened any of 'em, or divorced 'em or anything, it wuz jest his bad luck.
He seemed real glad to see us and wuz dretful chipper for a man most a hundred; he got hold of my hand and shook it as if he never would leggo, and went right on confidin' in me about his lost companion, what a treasure she wuz, and what a loss.
And I sez, "Your wives wuz real nice wimmen, most all on 'em wuz, or them that I knowed." "Oh, yes," sez he, "and these blows that has fell on me has most onmanned me." And I sez in pityin' axents, "You won't try to git another wife, will you, Uncle Giles ?" "Yes, I shall, as long as the Lord keeps a takin', I shall--is that woman with Josiah a widder ?" I answered evasive, and kinder stepped in between him and Blandina, I didn't want her to hear what he wuz sayin', I dassent.