But you wuz gropin' along most blind in them dark days, and you did the best you knowed how to then.

But when you see you've made a mis-step you must draw your foot back and start off agin jest like a elephant crossin' a weak bridge, I've seen 'em go down into the water and wade ruther than resk it.

You may have to wade through deep waters to fix it all right, but that would be better than to fall through a weak bridge and break your neck.
"It is because I think so much on you, Samuel, that I talk so plain to you, for I don't want you to git the name Miss Eben Simmons got.

She jest spent her hull mind and income on foreign missions and let her own children go so dirty and ragged they wuz a disgrace to Jonesville.

I want you and Miss Simmons to not scrimp in your foreign charities but begin to home and make your own dependent ones comfortable." I presume I could convince him if I had time enough, but we are busy creeters, Samuel and I, both on us, and Id'no as he'd have time to argy back and forth with me, but it would be well for him if he did, men must have wimmen advise 'em if they ever expect to amount to anything.
But to resoom forwards.