CHAPTER XXIII.
WORDS.
"THE foolish thing!" said my aunt Rachel, speaking warmly, "to get hurt at a mere word.

It's a little hard that people can't open their lips but somebody is offended." "Words are things!" said I, smiling.
"Very light things! A person must be tender, indeed, that is hurt by a word." "The very lightest thing may hurt, if it falls on a tender place." "I don't like people who have these tender places," said aunt Rachel.

"I never get hurt at what is said to me.

No--never! To be ever picking and mincing, and chopping off your words--to be afraid to say this or that--for fear somebody will be offended! I can't abide it!" "People who have these tender places can't help it, I suppose.

This being so, ought we not to regard their weakness ?" said I."Pain, either of body or mind, is hard to bear, and we should not inflict it causelessly." "People who are so wonderfully sensitive," replied aunt Rachel, growing warmer, "ought to shut themselves up at home, and not come among sensible, good tempered persons.