"It's no use to talk about it, Mr. Slick," I replied;
"I plead guilty. You took me in then. You touched a weak
point. You insensibly flattered my vanity, by assenting
to my self-sufficiency, in supposing I was exempt from
that universal frailty of human nature; you "_threw the
Lavender_" well."

"I did put the leake into you, Squire, that's a fact,"
said he; "but let me alone, I know what I am about; let
me talk on, my own way. Swaller what you like, spit out
what is too strong for you; but don't put a drag-chain
on to me, when I am a doin' tall talkin', and set my
wheels as fast as pine stumps. You know me, and I know
you. You know my speed, and I know your bottom don't
throw back in the breetchin' for nothin' that way."

"Well, as I was a-sayin', I want you to see these great
men, as they call 'em. Let's weigh 'em, and measure 'em,
and handle 'em, and then price 'em, and see what their
market valy is. Don't consider 'em as Tories, or Whigs,
or Radicals; we hante got nothin' to do with none o'
them; but consider 'em as statesmen. It's pot-luck with
'em all; take your fork as the pot biles up, jab it in,
and fetch a feller up, see whether he is beef, pork or
mutton; partridge, rabbit or lobster; what his name,
grain and flavour is, and how you like him. Treat 'em
indifferent, and treat 'em independent.

"I don't care a chaw o' tobacky for the whole on 'em;
and none on 'em care a pinch o' snuff for you or any