That was forty years ago,
and he did n't know how many she had since. Mother and Sal smiled. They
began to like old Casey.
Casey took up his hat and went outside, and did n't say "Good-day" or
"Thanks" or anything. He did n't go away, either. He looked about the
yard. A panel in the fence was broken. It had been broken for five
years. Casey seemed to know it. He started mending that panel. He was
mending it all the evening.
Mother called to Joe to bring in some wood. Casey left the fence, hurried
to the wood-heap, carried in an armful, and asked Mother if she wanted
more. Then he returned to the fence.
"J-OE," Mother screeched a little later, "look at those cows tryin' to eat
the corn."
Casey left the fence again and drove the cows away, and mended the wire on
his way back.
At sundown Casey was cutting more wood, and when we were at supper he
brought it in and put some on the fire, and went out again slowly.
Mother and Sal talked about him.
"Better give him his supper," Sal said, and Mother sent Joe to invite him
in. He did n't come in at once. Casey was n't a forward man. He stayed
to throw some pumpkin to the pigs.
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