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Chapter 25
Ifhewantedtomakeafoolofhimselfinhispaperthatwashisbusiness.)Mr.Underwooddidn’ttalkaboutmiscarriagesofjustice,hewaswritingsochildrencouldunderstand.Mr.Underwoodsimplyfigureditwasasintokillcripples,betheystanding,sitting,orescaping.HelikenedTom’sdeathtothesenselessslaughterofsongbirdsbyhuntersandchildren,andMaycombthoughthewastryingtowriteaneditorialpoeticalenoughtobereprintedinTheMontgomeryAdvertiser.
Howcouldthisbeso,Iwondered,asIreadMr.Underwood’seditorial.Senselesskilling—Tomhadbeengivendueprocessoflawtothedayofhisdeath;hehadbeentriedopenlyandconvictedbytwelvegoodmenandtrue;myfatherhadfoughtforhimalltheway.ThenMr.Underwood’smeaningbecameclear:AtticushadusedeverytoolavailabletofreementosaveTomRobinson,butinthesecretcourtsofmen’sheartsAtticushadnocase.TomwasadeadmantheminuteMayellaEwellopenedhermouthandscreamed.
ThenameEwellgavemeaqueasyfeeling.MaycombhadlostnotimeingettingMr.Ewell’sviewsonTom’sdemiseandpassingthemalongthroughthatEnglishChannelofgossip,MissStephanieCrawford.MissStephanietoldAuntAlexandrainJem’spresence("Ohfoot,he’soldenoughtolisten.")thatMr.Ewellsaiditmadeonedownandabouttwomoretogo.Jemtoldmenottobeafraid,Mr.Ewellwasmorehotgasthananything.JemalsotoldmethatifIbreathedawordtoAtticus,ifinanywayIletAtticusknowIknew,Jemwouldpersonallyneverspeaktomeagain.
