"No, your Majesty," was the unexpected response. "I am guilty, and richly
deserve all I get."

"Here, you turnkey," thundered the monarch, "come and turn out this rascal,
quick, before he corrupts this fine lot of innocent and abused people that
you have about you."


76. RULING PASSION

There are persons now living in Bennington who remember old Billy B----, of
whom it might be said he furnished an example of the "ruling passion strong
in death." When very ill, and friends were expecting an early demise,
his nephew and a man hired for the occasion had butchered a steer which
had been fattened; and when the job was completed the nephew entered the
sick-room, where a few friends were assembled, when, to the astonishment of
all, the old man opened his eyes, and turning his head slightly, said, in a
full voice, drawing out the words:

"What have you been doing?"

"Killing the steer," was the reply.

"What did you do with the hide?"

"Left it in the barn; going to sell it by-and-by."

"Let the boys drag it around the yard a couple of times; it will make it
weigh heavier."