Sam monologue (Act 2) — Betsey Bobbett: A Drama

A man can’t smile on an empty stomach, Betsey. And a man can’t eat soggy bread with little chunks of saleratus in it, and clammy potatoes, and drink dish-water tea and muddy coffee and smile; or they might give one or two sickly, deathly smiles; but depend upon it, Betsey, they couldn’t keep it up. I have seen bread, Betsey Bobbett, that was enough to break down any man’s affection, unless he had firm principle to back it up, and love’s young dream has been drounded in thick muddy coffee before now. If there hain’t anything pleasant in a man’s home how can he be attached to it? Nobody can’t, man nor women, respect what hain’t respectable, nor love what hain’t lovable. Of course men have to be corrected sometimes. I correct Josiah frequently.