"Going--yes, going to rack and ruin all the same! Schoolhouse leakin' like sixty--and catch 'em taxin' themselves for a new roof! I wonder Miss Atworth can stay in the place--her and the children mirin' shoe-mouth deep in mud to get to school in the winter! Nary a rod of corduroy will they lay to give their own young ones a decent walk. But they keep their cattle comfortable enough--that means money in their pockets. All they care about is having their corn and stock turn out well. They don't care if the hull township, and the hull Union, too, for that matter, was to go to the dogs. Hello! here comes Jack with the mail-bag!"