"Poor little soul!  Well, she’s straight enough, whatever her religion may be, and she’s bringing up those kids uncommonly well," Tom said.  "A man was telling me that young Bill stole some apples, and told a lie about it; ’Possum found it out, and dragged him five miles to the owner of the fruit to own up and ask for a thrashing!  Said she couldn’t look their mother in the face if they grew up liars and thieves.  I believe young Bill has been extremely reliable since!"