“‘They _isn’t_ fourteen dollar there,’ says he. ‘I jus’ been makin’ _believe_ they was. See that there little pile o’ pennies t’ the nor’east? I been sittin’ here countin’ in them pennies twice. They isn’t fourteen dollar,’ says he; ‘they’s on’y thirteen eighty-four! But I _wisht_ they was fourteen.’ “‘Never you mind,’ says I; ‘you’ll get that bit o’ prope’ty yet.’ “‘I _got_ to,’ says he, ‘afore I goes.’ “‘Where does it lie?’ says I. “‘Oh, ’tisn’t nothin’ much, Tumm,’ says he. “‘But what _is_ it?’ “‘Nothin’ much,’ says he; ‘jus’ a small piece.’ “‘Is it meadow?’ says I. “‘No,’ says he; ‘tisn’t what you might call meadow an’ be right, though the grass grows there, in spots, knee high.’ “‘Is it a potato-patch?’ “‘No,’ says he; ‘nor yet a patch.’ “‘’Tisn’t a _flower_ garden, is it?’ says I. “‘N-no,’ says he; ‘you couldn’t rightly say so—though they _grows_ there, in spots, quite free an’ nice.’ “‘Uncle Bill,’ says I, ‘you isn’t never told me nothin’ about that there bit o’ prope’ty. What’s it held at?’ “‘The prope’ty isn’t much, Tumm,’ says he. ‘Jus’ a small piece.’ “‘But how much _is_ it?’ “‘Tom Neverbudge,’ says he, ‘is holdin’ it at twenty-four dollar; he’ve come down one in the las’ seven year. But I’m on’y ’lowin’ t’ pay twenty-one; you sees I’ve come _up_ one in the las’ _four_ year.’ “‘’Twould not be hard t’ split the difference,’ says I. “‘Ay,’ says he; ‘but they’s a wonderful good reason for not payin’ more’n twenty-one for that there special bit o’ land.’ “‘What’s that?’ says I. “‘Well,’ says he, ‘’tis second-handed.’ “‘Second-handed!’ says I. ‘That’s queer!’ “‘Been used,’ says he. “‘Used, Uncle Bill?’ “‘Ay,’ says he; ‘been used—been used, now, for nigh sixty year.’ “‘She’s all wore out?’ says I. “‘No,’ says he; ‘not wore out.’ “‘_She’d_ grow nothin’?’ says I. “‘Well,’ says he, ‘nothin’ much is expected, Tumm,’ says he, ‘in that line.’ “I give a tug at my pocket, an’, ecod! out jumped the bottle o’ Scotch. “‘Well, well!’ says he. ‘Dear man! But I bet ye,’ says he, ‘that you isn’t fetched no pain-killer.’ “‘That I is!’ says I. “‘Then,’ says he, ‘about half an’ half, Tumm, with a dash o’ water; that’s the way I likes it when I takes it.’ “So we fell to, ol’ Bill Hulk an’ me, on the Scotch an’ the pain-killer. * * * * *