poverty, or anything else except in the way it applied to Barbie--
but she was worth it, she was worth it, an' I never blamed him none.

But you needn't get the idea that Jabez was one o' these fond an'
lovin' parents what sez: "My child, right if perfectly convenient,
but right or wrong, my child." Not on your future prospects! Jabez,
he sez: "My child, right from the shoes up, if the Rocky Mountains
has to be ground to powder to make her so."

I remember the day she was six year old; he hardly ever laid out the
details for her conduct, he jest sort o' schemed out a general plan
and left her free to adjust herself to it, like a feller does with a
dog or a pony he expects to keep a long time an' don't want to turn
into a machine. He had told Barbie he didn't want her to ride
nothin' 'at wasn't safe. Well, on the mornin' she became a six-year-
old he came out o' the side door an' saw her disappearin' in the
distance on top a big pinto 'at he had sent over for Buck Harmon to
bust; it havin' already pitched Spider Kelley an' dislocated his
shoulder.

"Who roped that pony for her?" yelled Cast Steel.

"I did," sez I. "She said 'at this was her birthday an' she was
tired of actin' like a kid an' intended to ride a real ridin' hoss."

"If a hair of her head is injured, hell won't hide ya!" sez Cast
Steel, an' his lip trembled an' his eyes fairly smoked.

"She's jest as safe as if she was in her bed," sez I, as gentle as I
could. "I taught her how to ride, an' I ain't ashamed o' the job.