222 Clear Skies and Cloudy. 



necessitates it, is positively untrue. He may be 

 plainer spoken, may never attempt to chase the 

 devil around the stump, but his words are no 

 more offensive than the vagueness of the town- 

 dweller's redundant phrases. If they are offen- 

 sive, then the hearer is more open to criticism 

 than the speaker. Unto the honest all things 

 are honest, and the defect lies with those whose 

 thoughts are led into miry paths because of 

 honest speech uttered with no trace or thought of 

 extended construction. No; the "untaught" 

 rustic has a good deal to be thankful for, having 

 honesty sufficient to look the world squarely in 

 the eye and speak plainly. It is an inestimable 

 privilege, and he who takes offence is a fool. 



The author of my dictionary is not content 

 with calling the rustic he had in mind rude and 

 untaught, but he is awkward ! Whether this is 

 a greater or less defect than the others I do not 

 know, but it stands equally prominent upon the 

 printed page. Awkward ! I admit he might 

 not pass through a crowded parlor without jost- 

 ling the elbow of some slender fop of the city, 

 or worse, might tread upon that abomination of 

 fashion, a lady's train ; he might, but only with 



