“You sound like Cousin Ike Finch,” I said. Cousin Ike Finch was Maycomb
County’s sole surviving Confederate veteran. He wore a General Hood type beard
of which he was inordinately vain. At least once a year Atticus, Jem and I called
on him, and I would have to kiss him. It was horrible. Jem and I would listen
respectfully to Atticus and Cousin Ike rehash the war. “Tell you, Atticus,” Cousin
Ike would say, “the Missouri Compromise was what licked us, but if I had to go
through it agin I’d walk every step of the way there an‘ every step back jist like I
did before an’ furthermore we’d whip ‘em this time... now in 1864, when
Stonewall Jackson came around by—I beg your pardon, young folks. Ol’ Blue
Light was in heaven then, God rest his saintly brow...