Jim monologue (Act 2) — Representative Plays by American Dramatists: 1856-1911: In Mizzoura

[_Advances._] Yes, I've been sheriff here, an' whenever I've had anything to do, I've said to myself, now don't--do anything--ugly--'cause Kate--[KATE _turns toward him; he qualifies tone._] some day, you know--Kate might think more of me if I hadn't done it. You know yourself that I quit drinkin' a year before the local option--on account of that essay you read, examination day--why, Kate, I care more for how you feel about anything than I do for anybody in the State of Mizzoura--that's just how it is. [_Pause._ KATE _is silent._] You kin remember yourself when you was a little girl an' I used to take a horse-shoe an' tie it on the anvil an' make a side-saddle for you--an' I reckon I was the first fellow in Bowling Green that ever called you. Miss Kate when you come back from school.