Besides, master is a friendly word, and comes
easy to the tongue. I never, for my part, could see the sense in mister,
except when people go out to fight, when it's necessary to do everything
a little the politest; and, then, it smells of long shot and cold
business, 'squire. 'Tisn't, to my mind, a good word among friends."
The youth smiled slightly at the distinction drawn with such nicety by
his companion, between words which he had hitherto been taught to
conceive synonymous, or nearly so; and the reasons, such as they were,
by which the woodman sustained his free use of the one to the utter
rejection of the other. He did not think it important, however, to make
up an issue on the point, though dissenting from the logic of his
companion; and contented himself simply with a repetition of the
question in which it had originated.
"Why, I take shame to answer you rightly, 'squire, seeing I am no wiser
and no better than I am; but the whole secret of the matter lies in the
handle of this little hatchet, and this I made out of a live-oak sapling
some sixteen years ago--It's much less worn than I, yet I am twice its
age, I reckon.
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