He looked pitiful and meek, and sot demute for a couple of minutes. I
see that I had convinced him about the Equinomical Counsel; he see that
it wouldn't do, and he wouldn't make no more show than a underlin'.

But anon, or about that time, he spoke out in pitiful axents--

"Samantha, if I can't show off any at the Equinomical Counsel, I'd love
to see them male law-makers a-settin' in the Capitol at Washington,
D.C. I'd love to mingle with 'em, Samantha. You know, and I know, too,
that I am one of 'em. Wuzn't I chose arbitrator in Seth Meezik's quarrel
with his father-in-law? Hain't I sot on juries in the past, and hain't I
liable to set?

"I want to see them male law-makers, Samantha. I want to be intimate
with 'em."

I almost trembled. I can withstand my pardner's angry or excited moods,
but here I see pleadin' and longin'; I see I had a hard job in front of
me. I hate to dissapint him. I hate to, like a dog. But duty nerved me,
and I sez--

"Josiah, less talk it over before you decide to go. Less bring up some
of the laws them males have made, or allow to go on.

"I want to talk to you about 'em, Josiah," sez I, "before I let you
depart to be intimate with 'em." Sez I, "Do you remember the old adage,
a dog is known by the company he keeps? Before you go to be one of them
dogs, Josiah Allen, and be known as one of 'em, less recall some of the
lawful incidents of a few months back." Sez I, "We won't raise our
skirts and wade back into history to any great depth, and hove out a