"'Take that, you young scoundrel!' said he, 'and larn to
speak respectful next time to an old man, a mili_tary_
man, and your father, too.'

"It hurt me properly, you may depend. 'Why,' sais I, as
I picked myself up, 'didn't you tell me to "aim high,"
father? So I thought I'd do it, and beat your brag, that's
all.'

"Truth is, Squire, I never could let a joke pass all my
life, without havin' a lark with it. I was fond of one,
ever since I was knee high to a goose, or could recollect
any thin' amost; I have got into a horrid sight of scrapes
by 'em, that's a fact. I never forgot that lesson though,
it was kicked into me: and lessons that are larnt on the
right eend, ain't never forgot amost. I _have_ "aimed
high" ever since, and see where I be now. Here I am an
Attache, made out of a wooden clock pedlar. Tell you
what, I shall be "embassador" yet, made out of nothin'
but an "Attache," and I'll be President of our great
Republic, and almighty nation in the eend, made out of
an embassador, see if I don't. That comes of "aimin'
high." What do you call that water near your coach-house?"

"A pond."

"Is there any brook runnin' in, or any stream runnin'
out?"

"No."