Section 67. TENDER, TRUSTY, AND TRUE. VII.
Reading edition
Now[1] this was the sort of boy Channing was; and I was going[2] to tell you that (S. 66, N. 15) one day he heard of a big boy beating (S. 16, N. 4) a little one[3], like that bad boy[4] under my window. Channing was a little boy; he was a little man when he was full grown[5]; but then he had a big soul. I was going[2] to say he had a soul as big as a church; but indeed[6] his soul was bigger than all the churches in[7] the world;—and when he heard of that[8] cruel boy, who was ever[9] so much larger than himself, he went right up to him, and said: “Did[10] you strike that little boy?” “Yes, I did[11]; and what then?”—“Then,” said Channing, “you are a coward, because he was no match for you; and now I am going[2] to whip[12] you for doing it.” Because he had a big soul, and though he was a small boy, he[13] went in, and fought for the right. That was the only time he[14] ever fought in his life. But[15] I, standing in[16] this pulpit, honour him more for it than if he had (App. § 36) never[17] fought at all.