B. M. Bower

“ Skookum took the glasses and studied the coming visitors, and Lorrie, with her responsibilities weighing heavy, studied Skookum, Till then she had not realized what a very odd child he was. A handsome child, of a truth, with his big, soft, brown eyes and tawny curls and the mouth of a cherub—a mouth, however, from which proceeded words quite astonishing at all times, and often disconcerting. ”

“ The last sentence of the will—about her Uncle Howard helping her look after things—was small comfort and cheered her not at all. She had never been able to get on very well: with Uncle Howard, who was rather intolerantly religious, as was her Aunt Margaret. Her Uncle Howard believed that all misfortune is sent by the Lord to teach one how vain are earthly things, or else as a punishment for things done and things left undone. Uncle Howard had not approved of her father, and had not taken much pains to hide the fact. ”

“ Do you reckon it’s Uncle Howard, Lorrie? Because if it is, and he goes talking like he done yesterday, I’m going to tell him to chase himself.”
“No, Skookum. You mustn’t be rude to Uncle Howard. Little boys must——”
“Aw, quit saying ‘little boys’ at me every five minutes; I’ve had about enough. I’m half-grown-up, and more. Burns says I'll be a man when I’m eighteen; he was. And anyway, Uncle Howard was saying things about dad that I won’t stand for. He said dad died unrepentant, so he didn’t know as dad could get into heaven. ”