offence, where it is not intended; and, above all, rather
to vindicate his nationality by his conduct, than to
justify those aspersions, by his intemperate behaviour.
But here he comes; I shall withdraw and leave you together."

Fortunately, Mr. Slick commenced talking upon a topic,
which naturally led to that to which Mr. Hopewell had
wished me to direct his attention.

"Well, Squire," said he, "I am glad too, you are a goin'
to England along with me: we will take a rise out of John
Bull, won't we?--We've hit Blue-nose and Brother Jonathan
both pretty considerable tarnation hard, and John has
split his sides with larfter. Let's tickle him now, by
feeling his own short ribs, and see how he will like it;
we'll soon see whose hide is the thickest, hisn or ourn,
won't we? Let's see whether he will say chee, chee, chee,
when he gets to the t'other eend of the gun."

"What is the meaning of that saying?" I asked. "I never
heard it before."

"Why," said he, "when I was a considerable of a grown up
saplin of a boy to Slickville, I used to be a gunnin'
for everlastinly amost in our hickory woods, a shootin'
of squirrels with a rifle, and I got amazin' expart at
it. I could take the head off of them chatterin' little
imps, when I got a fair shot at 'em with a ball, at any
reasonable distance, a'most in nine cases out of ten.