His message perplexed his mind to that degree that he was fain, several times, to take off his hat to scratch his head. based on the context, fain most likely means which of the following?

What if puerto rico required all cement to carry a label with the location where it was manufactured and the date it was packaged? does that regulation discriminate against interstate manufacturers?

Of these events in top of the food chain which happens first

Read the opening lines of sojourner truth's speech "ain't i a woman? " well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. i think that 'twixt the negroes of the south and the women at the north, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. but what's all this here talking about? what tone do these lines convey?