“What did she mean it for, then?”
“Why,” sez I, “I believe she said she wuz glad because she wuz glad.”
“Well, she hadn’t no bizness to said it, anyway, it didn’t sound very good.”
Sez I, “Josiah Allen, didn’t you ever speak out when you had hurt you and wuz in pain, and say things that didn’t sound good, and that you would like to take back if you could?”
“No,” sez he, “I never did.”
“Josiah Allen,” sez I, “can you say that with a clear conscience?”
“Yes, I can, clear as a crystal fountain. I hain’t one of the kind that fly all to pieces if I happen to bruise my thumb, or cut me, or pound my fingers, some men do,” he admitted, “but I don’t, I never say a word I don’t mean, I never say a word I would wish to take back, no matter how severe the pain is.”
Sez I firmly, “Josiah Allen you do, you prance round and act lots of times.”
“Oh, well, encourage her in burnin’ up the world if you want to, and encourage her in sass. I spoze I can let it go.” He wuz fairly dyin’ to let it go, I knew, he jest worships her. But I continued, for I wuz rousted up in my mind. Sez I:
“Little Delight is in our power, we are physically stronger than she is. We can whip her all day if we want to. But duz it look noble and honorable in us to punish that little mite of a thing for what we do ourselves?”