"
I doubted if it was much pleasure to Tam-o-Shanter; but forgetting he was
sober by compulsion, even he had begun to feel virtuous; and when he
heard he had been called a "sober, decent little man," he positively
swaggered; and on the fourth morning walked jauntily past the Cottage and
ventured a quiet good-morning--a simple enough little incident in itself;
but it proved Tam's kinship with his fellowmen. For is it not the
knowledge that some one thinks well of us that makes us feel at ease in
that person's company?
Later in the same day, the flood having fallen, it was decided that it
would be well to cross the horses in the rear of a boat, and we were all
at the river discussing preparations, when Tam electrified the community
by joining the group.
In the awkward pause that followed his arrival he passed a general remark
about dogs--there were several with us--and every one plunged into dog
yarns, until Tam, losing his head over the success of his maiden speech,
became so communicative on the subject of a dog-fight that he had to be
surreptitiously kicked into silence.
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