and warnin’; and mebby another Samuel, an uncle of mine, that I honor and admire, may hear it, and start off on the run, and lift the hull of them poor female wimmen up, out of their pain and humiliatin’ situation. He can do it if he is a mind to,” says I, “as easy as Sam Snyder lifted you, and easier, for he sweat powerful, and most dropped you once or twice. And,” says I firmly, “my mind is made up, Josiah Allen, I shall holler for Samuel.”

“Wall, wall, holler away, for all I care.” He had strong reasons for not wantin’ me to speak a word about certain things, and his tone was very snappish, snappisher than it had been for over seven weeks. But such trials do great spirits no harm; no, it only lifts ’em up above their own earthly peace and happiness, and sets ’em more firmly and stiddily on their loftier spears.

I sithed, but I didn’t contend another word with him, only jest that sithe, and then I commenced to write my book.

vii

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT.

JOSIAH ALLEN GOES ASTRAY.

KITTY SMITH AND CALEB COBB.

JOSIAH GOES INTO BUSINESS.

viii

MORALIZIN’ AND EPISODIN’.

JOSIAH UNDERTAKES MORE BUSINESS.

A VISIT FROM MISS RICKERSON.

ix

CASSANDRA’S TEA PARTY.

Cassandra

Cassandra

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