what does "near about give you out"mean?
Jody saw his father's hands, big for the rest of him, close around a bundle of wood. He was doing Jody's work, and in his good coat. Jody ran to him.
"I'll git it, Pa."
He hoped his willingness, now, would cover his delinquency. His father straightened his back.
"I near about give you out, son," he said.
"I went to the Glen."
"Hit were a mighty purty day to go," Penny said. "Or to go anywhere.
How come you to take out such a fur piece?"
It was as hard to remember why he had gone as though it had been a year ago. He had to think back to the moment when he had laid down his hoe.
"Oh." He had it now. "I aimed to foller the honey-bees and find a bee-tree."
"You find it?"
Jody stared blankly.
"Dogged if I ain't forgot 'til now to look for it."