have. The degradation the musket especially endured, in being used
as a spade by such a very common sort of person as Judah Loring--a
degradation of which, far from being ashamed, he seems actually
proud; all this, I say, my friends, makes a wide separation between
us never to be forgotten or got over."

"I'm agreed, the further off the better," growled the musket. The
old wig also gave a sort of contemptuous hitch, that seemed to say,
he agreed with the musket.

"I consider myself," resumed the broad-sword, "to be a perfect
gentleman. I have never denied myself by any sort of labor. I have
been considered something to show, something to be used only as a
terror to evil doers.

It strikes me that I really made the Major; he never could appear in
his company or perform his duties without me; his queue was not more
essential. He was not a Major without me. Every one feared me when
they saw my shining blade out of its scabbard, and it was really
amusing occasionally to see the effect I produced. There have been
swords that have done bloody work, but I have never been so defiled.

The Boston Cadets, you know, are the Governor's body guard, and such
is the anxiety of people sometimes to see a real live governor when
he has on his governor's dress and character, that the women and
children crowd around him so that he can hardly find room to move
and breathe. At one of these times of great pressure, my master took
me out and flourished me round bravely. O, how they all scampered!
just like a flock of frightened geese, merely at the sight of me.
Such is the effect of my mere appearance. To be sure, the Major