It is of no use entering into further particulars of this ride. Towards
evening, Mr. P. and his companion returned to Saratoga and delivered to
the livery-man his equipage--that is, what was left of it.

That evening, Mr. P. was sitting in his room, very busy over a new
conundrum for his paper. He had got the answer all right, but to save
his life, he could not get a question to suit it. While he was thus
puzzling his brains, there came a knock at the door, and to him entered
the Hon. JOHN MORRISSEY.

"Good evenin', P.," says JOHN, taking, at the same time, a seat, and one
of Mr. P.'s _Partagas_. "I want you to do something for me."

"And what is it?" said Mr. P., with a benevolent smile.

"Why, you see," said the Hon. JOHN, "I'm very busy just now--the
commencement of the season, you know--and I would like you to serve in
my place for a while."

"Why, Congress will soon adjourn now!" said Mr. P.

"Oh, yes!" said MORRISSEY, "but I'm on a committee which must serve in
the recess. Me and BILL KELLEY are the two chaps appointed as a
committee to weigh all the pig-iron that has been imported in the last
year, and to see if the gover'ment hasn't been swindled, in either the
deal or the play. Now you see that ain't in my line at all, and as soon
as I heard you were here, I thought you were the man to take my place."

"I'm sorry," said Mr. P., "but really, JOHN, I haven't the time. It's a