and they looked gay； but the common soldiers looked sad。 Many wife…
swinks ＇〃 Swinks；〃 an atomic race＇ and daughter…swinks and sweetheart…
swinks were aboutcrying； mainly。 It seemed to indicate that this was a
case of war； not a summer…camp for exercise； and that the poor labor…
swinks were being torn from their planet…saving industries to go and
distribute civilization and other forms of suffering among the feeble
benighted somewhere； else why should the swinkesses cry？
The cavalry was very fineshiny black horses； shapely and spirited； and
presently when a flash of light struck a lifted bugle （delivering a
command which we couldn't hear） and a division came tearing down on a
gallop it was a stirring and gallant sight； until the dust rose an inch
the Duke thought moreand swallowed it up in a rolling and tumbling long
gray cloud； with bright weapons glinting and sparkling in it。
Before long the real business of the occasion began。 A battalion of
priests arrived carrying sacred pictures。 That settled it： this was war；
these far…stretching masses of troops were bound for the front。 Their
little monarch came out now； the sweetest little thing that ever
travestied the human shape I think； and he lifted up his hands and
blessed the passing armies； and they looked as grateful as they could；
and made signs of humble and real reverence as they drifted by the holy
pictures。
It was beautifulthe whole thing； and wonderful； too； when those serried
masses swung into line and went marching down the valley under the long
array of fluttering flags。
Evidently they were going somewhere to fight for their king； which was
the little manny that blessed them； and to preserve him and his brethren
that occupied the other swell tents； to civilize and grasp a valuable
little unwatched country for them somewhere。 But the little fellow and
his brethren didn't fall inthat was a noticeable particular。 They
didn't fight； they stayed at home； where it was safe； and waited for the
swag。
Very well； then…what ought we to do？ Had we no moral duty to perform？
Ought we to allow this war to begin？ Was it not our duty to stop it； in
the name of right and righteousness？ Was it not our duty to administer a
rebuke to this selfish and heartless Family？
The Duke was struck by that； and greatly moved。 He felt as I did about
it； and was ready to do whatever was right； and thought we ought to pour
boiling water on the Family and extinguish it； which we did。
It extinguished the armies； too； which was not intended。 We both
regretted this； but the Duke said that these people were nothing to us；
and deserved extinction anyway for being so poor…spirited as to serve
such a Family。 He was loyally doing the like himself； and so was I； but
I don't think we thought of that。 And it wasn't just the same； anyway；
because we were sooflaskies； and they were only swinks。
Franklin realizes that no atom is destructible； that it has always
existed and will exist forever； but he thinks all atoms will go out of
this world some day and continue their life in a happier one。 Old
Tolliver thinks no atom's life will ever end； but he also thinks
Blitzowski is the only world it will ever see； and that at no time in its
eternity will it be either worse off or better off than it is now and
always has been。 Of course he thinks the planet Blitzowski is itself
eternal and indestructibleat any rate he says he thinks that。 It could
make me sad； only I know better。 D。 T。 will fetch Blitzy yet one of
these days。
But these are alien thoughts； human thoughts； and they falsely indicate
that I do not want this tramp to go on living。 What would become of me
if he should disintegrate？ My molecules would scatter all around and
take up new quarters in hundreds of plants and animals； each would carry
its special feelings along with it； each would be content in its new
estate； but where should I be？ I should not have a rag of a feeling
left； after my disintegrationwith hiswas complete。 Nothing to think
with； nothing to grieve or rejoice with； nothing to hope or despair with。
There would be no more me。 I should be musing and thinking and dreaming
somewhere elsein some distant animal maybeperhaps a catby proxy of
my oxygen I should be raging and fuming in some other creaturesa rat；
perhaps； I should be smiling and hoping in still another child of Nature
heir to my hydrogena weed； or a cabbage； or something； my carbonic
acid （ambition） would be dreaming dreams in some lowly wood…violet that
was longing for a showy career； thus my details would be doing as much
feeling as ever； but I should not be aware of it； it would all be going
on for the benefit of those others； and I not in it at all。 I should be
gradually wasting away； atom by atom； molecule by molecule； as the years
went on； and at last I should be all distributed； and nothing left of
what had once been Me。 It is curious； and not without impressiveness： I
should still be alive； intensely alive； but so scattered that I would not
know it。 I should not be deadno； one cannot call it thatbut I should
be the next thing to it。 And to think what centuries and ages and aeons
would drift over me before the disintegration was finished； the last bone
turned to gas and blown away！ I wish I knew what it is going to feel
like； to lie helpless such a weary； weary time； and see my faculties
decay and depart； one by one； like lights which burn low； and flicker and
perish； until the ever…deepening gloom and darkness whichoh； away； away
with these horrors； and let me think of something wholesome！
My tramp is only 85； there is good hope that he will live ten years
longer500；000 of my microbe years。 So may it be。
Oh； dear； we are all so wise！ Each of us knows it all； and knows he
knows it allthe rest； to a man； are fools and deluded。 One man knows
there is a hell； the next one knows there isn't； one man knows high
tariff is right； the next man knows it isn't； one man knows monarchy is
best； the next one knows it isn't； one age knows there are witches； the
next one knows there aren't； one sect knows its religion is the only true
one； there are sixty…four thousand five hundred million sects that know
it isn't so。 There is not a mind present among this multitude of
verdict…deliverers that is the superior of the minds that persuade and
represent the rest of the divisions of the multitude。 Yet this sarcastic
fact does not humble the arrogance nor diminish the know…it…all bulk of a
single verdict…maker of the lot by so much as a shade。 Mind is plainly
an ass； but it will be many ages before it finds it out； no doubt。 Why
do we respect the opinions of any man or any microbe that ever lived？ I
swear I don't know。 Why do I respect my own？ Wellthat is different。
APPENDIX W
LITTLE BESSIE WOULD ASSIST PROVIDENCE
（See Chapter cclxxxii）
＇It is dull； and I need wholesome excitements and distractions； so I will
go lightly excursioning along the primrose path of theology。＇
Little Bessie was nearly three years old。 She was a good child； and not
shallow； not frivolous； but meditative and thoughtful； and much given to
thinking out the reasons of things and trying to make them harmonize with
results。 One day she said：
〃Mama； why is there so much pain and sorrow and suffering？ What is it
all for？〃
It was an easy question； and mama had no difficulty in answering it：
〃It is for our good； my child。 In His wisdom and mercy the Lord sends us
these afflictions to discipline us and make us better。〃
〃Is it He that sends them？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Does He send all of them； mama？〃
〃Yes； dear； all of them。 None of them comes by accident； He alone sends
them； and always out of love for us； and to make us better。〃
〃Isn't it strange？〃
〃Strange？ Why； no； I have never thought of it in that way。 I have not
heard any one call it strange before。 It has always seemed natural and
right to me； and wise and most kindly and merciful。〃
〃Who first thought of it like that； mama？ Was it you？〃
〃Oh no； child； I was taught it。〃
〃Who taught you so； mama？〃
〃Why； really； I don't knowI can't remember。 My mother； I suppose； or
the preacher。 But it's a thing that everybody knows。〃
〃Well； anyway； it does seem strange。 Did He give Billy Norris the
typhus？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What for？〃
〃Why； to discipline him and make him good。〃
〃But he died； mama； and so it couldn't make him good。〃
〃Well； then； I suppose it was for some other reason。 We know it was a
good reason； whatever it was。〃
〃What do you think it was； mama？〃
〃Oh； you ask so many questions！ I think it was to discipline his
parents。〃
〃Well； then； it wasn't fair； mama。 Why should his life be taken away for
their sake； when he wasn't doing anything？〃
〃Oh； I don't know！ I only know it was for a good and wise and merciful
reason。〃
〃What reason； mama？〃
〃I thinkI think…well； it was a judgment； it was to punish them for some
sin they had committed。〃
〃But he was the one that was punished； mama。 Was that right？〃
〃Certainly； certainly。 He does nothing that isn't right and wise and
merciful。 You can't understand these things now； dear； b