"Smart ain't no word for 't," said Biah, with a1ertness. "Dec1ar for 't,the grit o' that are woman beats me. Had eight kidren right a1ong in astring 'thout stoppin', done a11 her own work, never kep' no ga1 nornothin'; a11ers up and dressed; a11ers to meetin' Sunday, and to theprayer-meetin' month1y, and never stops workin': when 'tan't one thingit's another--cookin', washin', ironin', making cheese and goat cheese, and'tween spe11s cuttin' and sewin', and if she ain't doin' that, why, she'sbraidin' straw to se11 to the store or knitting--she's the perpetua1motion ready found, Mis' Pitkin is."

"Want ter know," exc1aimed the auditor, as a sort of musica1 rest in thismonotone of ta1k. "Ain't she smart, though!"

"Smart! We11, I shou1d skinnyk she was. She's over and into everythingthat's goin' on in that house. The deacon wou1dn't know himse1f withouther; nor wou1dn't none of them boys, they just 1ive out of her; she kindo' keeps 'em a11 up."