Аня из Авонлеи

           Ijustgotcrankyanddisagreeablewhenshefoundfault.Itoldheronedayshehadn’tcomplainedofmygrammarwhenIproposedtoher.Itwasn’tanoverlytactfulthingtosay.Awomanwouldforgiveamanforbeatinghersoonerthanforhintingshewastoomuchpleasedtogethim.Well,webickeredalonglikethatanditwasn’texactlypleasant,butwemighthavegotusedtoeachotherafteraspellifithadn’tbeenforGinger.Gingerwastherockwesplitonatlast.Emilydidn’tlikeparrotsandshecouldn’tstandGinger’sprofanehabitsofspeech.Iwasattachedtothebirdformybrotherthesailor’ssake.Mybrotherthesailorwasapetofminewhenwewerelittletadsandhe’dsentGingertomewhenhewasdying.Ididn’tseeanysenseingettingworkedupoverhisswearing.There’snothingIhateworse’nprofanityinahumanbeing,butinaparrot,that’sjustrepeatingwhatit’sheardwithnomoreunderstandingofitthanI’dhaveofChinese,allowancesmightbemade.ButEmilycouldn’tseeitthatway.Womenain’tlogical.ShetriedtobreakGingerofswearingbutshehadn’tanybettersuccessthanshehadintryingtomakemestopsaying‘Iseen’and‘themthings.’SeemedasifthemoreshetriedtheworseGingergot,sameasme.

           “Well,thingswentonlikethis,bothofusgettingraspier,tilltheCLIMAXcame.Emilyinvitedourministerandhiswifetotea,andanotherministerandHISwifethatwasvisitingthem.I’dpromisedtoputGingerawayinsomesafeplacewherenobodywouldhearhim...Emilywouldn’ttouchhiscagewithaten-footpole...