humor in his next companion, was that of habitual mental care. No
sooner had the two sleighs approached within speaking distance, than
the driver of this fantastic equipage shouted aloud

“Draw up in the quarry—draw up, thou king of the Greeks; draw into the
quarry, Agamemnon, or I shall never be able to pass you. Welcome
home, Cousin ‘Duke— welcome, welcome, black-eyed Bess. Thou seest,
Marina duke that I have taken the field with an assorted cargo, to do
thee honor. Monsieur Le Quoi has come out with only one cap; Old
Fritz would not stay to finish the bottle; and Mr. Grant has got to
put the ‘lastly’ to his sermon, yet. Even all the horses would come—
by the-bye, Judge, I must sell the blacks for you immediately; they
interfere, and the nigh one is a bad goer in double harness. I can
get rid of them to—”

“Sell what thou wilt, Dickon,” interrupted the cheerful voice of the
Judge, “so that thou leavest me my daughter and my lands. And Fritz,
my old friend, this is a kind compliment, indeed, for seventy to pay
to five-and-forty. Monsieur Le Quoi, I am your servant. Mr. Grant,”
lifting his cap, “I feel indebted to your attention. Gentlemen, I
make you acquainted with my child. Yours are names with which she is
very familiar.”

“Velcome, velcome Tchooge,” said the elder of the party, with a strong
German accent. “Miss Petsy vill owe me a kiss.”

“And cheerfully will I pay It, my good sir,” cried the soft voice of
Elizabeth; which sounded, in the clear air of the hills. Like tones
of silver, amid the loud cries of Richard. “I have always a kiss for
my old friend. Major Hartmann.”