Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting. Then they came on toward where the flag was and
I went along the fence. I passed where T.P. was leaning against the flower tree. Then they stopped hitting where the flag was
and the went to the table and hit again and went on. <along the> I went along beside the fence and T. P. came away from the flower
tree.

"Here, Caddy," <one he> one of them said.

The boy came to him and < the man took> then he hit again and went along the fence. Then the fence stopped and I held to it
and watched them go away.

"Hush up that moaning," T.P. said. "They'll be some more coming by in a minute." They went on away, hitting again.

"Hush it up, now," T.P. said. So I hushed, and went back along the fence to where the flag was.

"Come on," T.P. said. "Les go down to the branch, where they playing."

I held to the fence and watched the flag, and the pasture.

"Shut up that moaning," T.P. said. "<If they aint> I cant make them come back just for you to watch them. Come on,
les go down to the branch. Maybe we can find one they balls. Here. Here they is. Way over yonder. Look." He came to the
fence and pointed through it. "See them? They aint coming back here. Come on, now."

<"Wait," Caddy said. "You're caught on a nail." She uncaught me and we crawled through.>

"Wait a minute," Luster said. "You caught on that nail again. Cant you never crawl through this place without snagging on that
nail?"

Caddy uncaught me and we crawled through. "Uncle Maury said to not let anybody see us, so we better stoop over. Stoop
over, Benjy. Like this, see?" We stooped over and crossed the garden, where the flowers rasped and rattled against us.
The ground was hard. We climbed the fence, where the pigs were grunting and snuffing. The ground was hard,
churned and knotted.

"Keep your hands in your pockets," Caddy said. "Or they'll <freeze> get froze. You dont want your hands froze on Xmas,
do you?"

Versh said, "He want to go outdoors."

"Let him go," Uncle Maury said.

"It's too cold," Mother said. "He'd better stay in. Benjamin." <You, Benjamin. If you>

<"You, Benjamin," Mother said. "If you dont be good, you'll have to go to the kitchen.">

"Mammy say to keep him out the kitchen today," Versh said. "She say she got all that cooking to do."

"Let him go, Caroline," Uncle Maury said. "You'll worry yourself sick over him."

"I know it," Mother said. "Its a judgment on me. I sometimes wonder. <[illegible]>"

<"I know, I know," Uncle Maury said. "Wrap him up good, boy, and take him out for a while." Uncle Maury
went away. Versh <<got>> went away.>

<"Hush," Mother said. "You can go out>

<"Please hush," Mother said. "We're trying to get you out as fast as we can.">

<Versh put my overcoat and cap and overshoes on and we went out. <<We s>> Uncle Maury put the bottle back>

"I know, I know," Uncle Maury said. "You must keep your strength up. I'll make you a toddy."