said nothing but, 'That will do,' I would tell her to her face I was
giving her something out of my comfort and my pocket, and not something
that would only 'do' in the place of what she wanted. I would show her
my side of the question. I would that."

"For what reason?"

"I would be doing my duty."

"Well, mother, you could not match her and the bits of radicalism she
would give you. Keep the peace, mother; you have not her weapons in your
armory."

"I am just talking to relieve myself, John. I know better than to fratch
with anyone--at least I think I do."

"Just before I went away, mother, Jonathan came to me and said, 'Sir, I
hev confidence in human nature, generally speaking, but there's tricks
and there's turns, and if I was you I would run no risks with them
Manchester Sulbys'. Then he put the Sulby case before me, and if I had
not taken his advice, I would have lost three hundred pounds. It is
Jonathan's way to love God and suspect his neighbor."

"He will find it hard to do the two things at the same time, John."

"I do not understand how John works the problem, mother, but he does it
at least to his own satisfaction. He has told us often in the men's
weekly meeting that he is 'safe religiously, and that all his eternal
interests are settled,' but I notice that he trusts no man until he has
proved him honest."