"Yes, yes!" he sed, nervously, "but mercy on us, don't be so noisy."

"Ay, ay, my heart! But let me sing about how Jack Stokes lost his
gal:--

'The reason why he couldn't gain her,
Was becoz he's drunken saler!'

"That's very good, indeed," said the Secky, "but this is hardly the
place to sing songs in, my frend."

"Let me write the songs of a nashun," sed I, "and I don't care a
cuss who goes to the legislater! But I ax your pardon--how's
things?"

"Comfortable, I thank you. I have here," he added, "a copy of the
Middletown "Weekly Clarion" of February the 15, containin a report
that there isn't much Union sentiment in South Caroliny, but I
hardly credit it."

"Air you well, Mr. Secky," sed I. "Is your liver all right? How's
your koff?"

"God bless me!" sed the Secky, risin hastily and glarin wildly at
me, "what do you mean?"

"Oh, nothin partickler. Only it is one of the beauties of a
Republican form of gov'ment that a Cabnet offisser can pack up his
trunk and go home whenever he's sick. Sure nothin don't ail your