might hurt you with this ruler; it's a tender pint this,
for I've rubbed the skin off of a sore place; but I'll
tell you a gospel truth, and mind what I tell you, for
nobody else has sense enough, and if they had, they hante
courage enough. If you don't make _Englishmen of us_,
the force of circumstances will _make Yankees_ of us, as
sure as you are born.' He'll stare at that. He is a clever
man, and aint wantin' in gumption. He is no fool, that's
a fact. 'Is it no compliment to you and your institutions
this?' sais you. 'Don't it make you feel proud that even
independence won't tempt us to dissolve the connexion?
Ain't it a noble proof of your good qualities that,
instead of agitatin' for Repeal of the Union, we want a
closer union? But have we no pride too? We would be
onworthy of the name of Englishmen, if we hadn't it, and
we won't stand beggin' for ever I tell _you_. Here's our
hands, give us yourn; let's be all Englishmen together.
Give us a chance, and if us, young English boys, don't
astonish you old English, my name ain't Tom Poker, that's
all.' 'Sit down,' he'll say, 'Mr. Poker;' there is a
great deal in that; sit down; I am interested.'

"The instant he sais that, take your ruler, lay it down
on the table, pick up your hat, make a scrape with your
hind leg, and say, 'I regret I have detained you so long,
Sir. I am most peskily afraid my warmth has kinder betrayed
me into rudeness. I really beg pardon, I do upon my soul.
I feel I have smashed down all decency, I am horrid
ashamed of myself.' Well, he won't say you hante rode
the high hoss, and done the unhandsum thing, because it