and called at the Gordon place. The country was swarming with
them then. I useter set the dog on one every day on an average.

"Well, these peddlers were man and wife, and the woman took sick
up there at the Gordon place, and Janet Gordon took her in and
nursed her. A baby was born the next day, and the woman died.
Then the first thing anybody knew the father skipped clean out,
pack and all, and was never seen or heard tell of afterwards.
The Gordons were left with the fine youngster to their hands.
Folks advised them to send him to the Orphan Asylum, and 'twould
have been the wisest plan, but the Gordons were never fond of
taking advice. Old James Gordon was living then, Thomas and
Janet's father, and he said he would never turn a child out of
his door. He was a masterful old man and liked to be boss.
Folks used to say he had a grudge against the sun 'cause it rose
and set without his say so. Anyhow, they kept the baby. They
called him Neil and had him baptized same as any Christian child.
He's always lived there. They did well enough by him. He was
sent to school and taken to church and treated like one of
themselves. Some folks think they made too much of him. It
doesn't always do with that kind, for 'what's bred in bone is
mighty apt to come out in flesh,' if 'taint kept down pretty
well. Neil's smart and a great worker, they tell me. But folks
hereabouts don't like him. They say he ain't to be trusted
further'n you can see him, if as far. It's certain he's awful
hot tempered, and one time when he was going to school he near
about killed a boy he'd took a spite to--choked him till he was
black in the face and Neil had to be dragged off."

"Well now, father, you know they teased him terrible," protested