Mrs. Bagby was not a Cumberland Presbyterian but a member of the U.S. or Southern Church. I say nothing against the Cumberlands. They broke with the Presbyterian Church because they did not believe a preacher needed a lot of formal education. That is all right but they are not sound on Election. They do not fully accept it. I confess it is a hard doctrine, running contrary to our earthly ideas of fair play, but I can see no way around it. Read I Corinthians 6:13 and II Timothy 1:9, 10. Also I Peter 1:2, 19, 29 and Romans 11:7. There you have it. It was good for Paul and Silas and it is good enough for me. It is good enough for you too. – Charles Portis, True Grit, 109 – 110

I hated these ponies for the part they played in my father’s death but now I realized the notion was fanciful, that it was wrong to charge these pretty beasts who knew neither good nor evil but only innocence. I say that of these ponies. I have know some horses and a good many more pigs who I believe harbored evil intent in their hearts. I will go further and say all cats are wicked, though often useful. Who has not seen Satan in their sly faces? Some preachers will say, well, that is superstitious “claptrap.” My answer is this: Preacher, go to your Bible and read Luke 8:26-33 – Charles Portis, True Grit, page 29