him into the
undertakin', or kep him up through it.

As for me, I lost all patience, and my breath, too, and went back to my
pardner.

And anon or about that time they made their rounds, and come back where
Josiah and I stood.

I reached up a handkerchief to Selinda as quick as I could, but she
couldn't wipe her eyes or tend to her nose until she dismounted, or fix
the gapin' kasum at the back of her waist.

She greeted me warmly the minit her feet touched terry firmy, as one
might who had come out of great peril. She's a good-hearted creeter.

And between us both, with some pins I took out of my huzzy I always
carry with me, we fixed her up agin.

And if you'll believe it, the very minit I got her pinned up she begun
to act high-headed and to boast of how much principle she'd shown.

And I said, "You've shown more'n principle, Selinda; you've showed
cotton flannel that you had ort to have kep to yourself. You have made a
panorama that can't be described."

"Yes," sez she; "it will be sunthin' to tell on all my life."

She took it as a compliment. Oh dear me suz!

Bizer had scraped the patent leather all offen the toes of his shoes,
and had squandered three dollars in money, but he felt good. Yes, they
both said what a excitement this adventure would make in Jonesville when
they told on't.

And I thought to myself, if the Jonesvillians could see jest how she
looked, and he too, it would be apt to make a excitement.

How many times did I digest this great truth while on my tower! How
little we know sometimes what a appearance we are a-makin' before men
and angels, when we think we are a-doin' sunthin' wonderful!

Wall, Josiah wuz all took aback; he couldn't seem to bear Bizer's
patronizin' ways so well as I could Selinda's. Truly, females learn the
lesson well to suffer and be calm.

But he acted kinder surly, and proposed that we should go hum; and bein'
tired as a dog, I gin a willin' consent, and Bizer and Selinda parted
from us, their way layin' different from ourn.

Wall, that night, after we got back to Miss Plankses, I felt all kind o'
shook up in sperit, and considerable as I do when I've eat too hearty,
and of too many kinds of food.

You know, you mustn't swaller a big meal too quick, or eat too many
kinds of food when you're tired, or it won't set right on your stomach.

I felt real dyspeptic in my mind that night, and I felt that I had
wandered out of the sweet, level paths of Moderation