from his nose. "You are scandalising my excellent character, which
can't be replaced with gold." Making another attempt to raise a
glass of wine to his lips, as he concluded, he unconsciously let the
contents flow into his bosom, instead of his mouth.

"Well, my opinion is, Elder, that if you get my nigger property into
heaven with your preaching, there'll be a chance for the likes of
me," said Marston, watching the Elder intently. It was now evident
the party were all becoming pretty deeply tinctured. Rosebrook
thought a minister of the gospel, to get in such a condition, and
then refer to religious matters, must have a soul empty to the very
core. There could be no better proof of how easily true religion
could be brought into contempt. The Elder foreclosed with the
spirit, considered himself unsafe in the chair, and was about to
relieve it, when Dandy caught him in his arms like a lifeless mass,
and carried him to a settee, upon which he spread him, like a
substance to be bleached in the sun.

"Gentlemen! the Elder is completely unreverenced,-he is the most
versatile individual that ever wore black cloth. I reverence him for
his qualities," says Marston: then, turning to Maxwell, he
continued, "you must excuse this little joviality; it occurs but
seldom, and the southern people take it for what it is worth,
excusing, or forgetting its effects."

"Don't speak of it-it's not unlike our English do at times-nor do
our ministers form exceptions; but they do such things under a
monster protection, without reckoning the effect," the Englishman
replied, looking round as if he missed the presence of Franconia.