"world's

Ruse. How do you know that he never had a hat?" We know he wore one before he turned Quaker, and he would undoubtedly preserve that, as a memento of his past vanity and present wisdom, with more care than he would waste upon an every-day hat.

Dr. Oxyde. I must think upon this.

Ruse. The last relic I have to offer you, doctor, is the most curious. It is an original love-letter of Pocahontas to Captain Smith.

Dr. Oxyde. Smith was a married man, and too old for her. Ruse. Love overleaps all bars, doctor.

Dr. Oxyde. Ay, ay; but who taught her how to write? Ruse. How? How should I know that? Besides, of what consequence is it, since this letter proves she did write? Dr. Oxyde. But who taught her the English language? Ruse. All nations understand the language of love, doctor. Dr. Oxyde. Ay, ay; I mean the written language. Ruse. That is written on the hearts of all.

Dr. Oxyde. But this is written on paper, sir, and, if I mistake not (examining the paper), on modern paper. Here is the maker's name, sir, and the date is only 1820.

Ruse. Let me see, there must be some mistake. O yes! look here, sir, this is a letter to myself; I have brought the wrong one. But no matter; I may not need to sell it. Dr. Oxyde. What price do you put upon these relics, sir? Ruse. I had appraised them at a round hundred each, doctor; but the letter is absent, and my wants urgent. I will take three hundred for these four.

Dr. Oxyde. Sir, your price is extravagant, very extravagant. I should be ruined to give it.

Ruse.

Is it Dr. Oxyde who says so? I had been told he knew the value of such relics, and would pay for them ; but I

have been misinformed, and shall reserve them for somebody who knows how to value what is really invaluable.

Dr. Oxyde. I will give you the money, friend, upon two conditions. The first is that I shall have the refusal of Pocahontas's letter; and the second, that you will tell no one of the purchase; for I should like to make it known to the world myself, in a communication to our Antiquarian Society, which I shall read to them at our next meeting.

Ruse. My distresses oblige me to accept your terms, doctor.

Dr. Oxyde. There, then (giving the money).

Good

Ruse. This is right, sir; but you must recollect that I reserve the right to redeem them within one year. morning, doctor.

REVOLUTIONARY ENTHUSIASM.

CAPTAIN HARDY -NATHAN.

Nathan. Good morning, Captain. How do you stand this hot weather?

Captain. Lord bless you, boy, it's a cold bath to what we had at Monmouth. Did I ever tell you about that-are battle? N. I have always understood that it was dreadful hot that day!

Cap. Lord bless you, boy, it makes my crutch sweat to think on 't, and if I didn't hate long stories, I'd tell you things about that-are battle, sich as you wouldn't believe, you rogue, if I didn't tell you. It beats all natur how hot it was.

N. I wonder you did not all die of heat and fatigue.

Cap. Why, so we should, if the reg'lars had only died first; but, you see, they never liked the Jarseys, and wouldn't lay their bones there. Now if I didn't hate long stories, I'd tell

you all about that-are business; for you see they don't do things so now-a-days.

N. How so? Do not people die as they used to?

Cap. Why, bless you, no. It beat all natur to see how long the reg'lars would kick after we killed them.

N. What! kick after they were killed! That does beat all natur, as you say.

Cap. Come, boy, no splitting hairs with an old Continental; for, you see, if I didn't hate long stories, I'd tell you things about this-are battle, that you'd never believe. Why, why, bless you, when Gineral Washington telled us we might give it to 'em, we gin it to 'em, I tell you.

N. You gave what to them?

You must know, the reg'lars

Cap. Cold lead, you rogue. Why, bless you, we fired twice to their once, you see; and if I didn't hate long stories, I'd tell you how we did it. wore their close-bodied red coats, because they thought we were afraid on 'em, but we did not wear any coats, you see, because we hadn't any.

N. How happened you to be without coats?

Cap. Why, bless you, boy, they would wear out, and the States couldn't buy us any more, you see, and so we marched the lighter, and worked the freer for it. Now if I did not hate long stories, I would tell you what the Gineral said to me next day, when I had a touch of the rheumatiz from lying on the field without a blanket all night. You must know, it was raining hard just then, and we were pushing on like all natur arter the reg'lars.

N. What did the General say to you?

Cap. Not a syllable, says he, but off comes his coat, and he throws it over my shoulders,-"There, Captain," says he,

wear that, for we can't spare you yet." Now, don't that beat all natur, hey?

N. So you wore the General's coat, did you ?

Cap. Why, bless your simple heart, no. I didn't feel sick arter that, I tell you. No, Gineral, says I, they can spare me better than they can you, just now, and so I'll take the will for the deed, says I.

N. You will never forget his kindness, captain.

Cap. Not I, boy! I never feel a twinge of the rheumatiz, but what I say, God bless the Gineral. Now, you see, I hate long stories, or I'd tell you how I gin it to a reg'lar that tried to shoot the Gineral at Monmouth. You know, we were at close quarters, and the Gineral was right between the two fires.

N. I wonder he was not shot.

. Cap. Why, bless your ignorant soul, nobody could kill the Gineral; but, you see, a sneaking reg'lar didn't know this, and so he leveled his musket at him, and you see, I seed what he was arter, and I gin the Gineral's horse a slap on the haunches, and it beats all natur how he sprung, and the Gineral all the while as straight as a gun-barrel.

N. And you saved the General's life.

Cap. Didn't I tell you nobody could kill the Gineral? but, you see, his horse was in the rake of my gun, and I wanted to get the start of that cowardly reg'lar.

N. Did you hit him?

Cap. Why, bless your simple soul, does the thunder hit where it strikes! though the fellow made me blink a little, for he carried away part of this ear. See there? (Showing his ear.) Now don't that beat all natur?

N. I think it does. But tell me how is it, that you took all these things so calmly? What made you so contented under your privations and hardships?

Cap. O bless your young soul, we got used to it. Besides, you see, the Gineral never flinched nor grumbled.

N. Yes, but you served without being paid.

Cap. So did the Gineral, and the States, you know, were poor as all natur.

N. But you had families to support?

Cap. Ay, ay, but the Gineral always told us, that God and our country would take care of them, you see. Now, if I didn't hate long stories, I'd tell you how it turned out just as he said, for he beat all natur for guessing right.

N. Then you feel happy and satisfied with what you have done for your country, and what she has done for you?

Cap. Why, bless you, boy, if I hadn't left one of my legs. at Yorktown, I wouldn't have touched a stiver of the State's money; and as it is, I am so old, that I shall not need it long. You must know, I long to see the Gineral again, for if he don't hate long stories as bad as I do, I shall tell him all about America, you see, for it beats all natur how things have changed since he left us.

CAPTAIN TACKLE AND JACK BOWLIN.

Bowlin. Good day to your honor.

Captain. (Seated and gouty.) Good day, honest Jack.

Bowlin. To-day is my captain's birth-day.

Captain. I know it.

Bowlin. I am heartily glad on the occasion.

Captain. I know that too.

Bowlin. Yesterday your honor broke your sea-foam pipe. Captain. Well, Sir Booby, and why must I be put in mind of it? It was stupid enough, to be sure; but, hark ye, Jack, all men at times do stupid actions, but I never met with one who liked to be reminded of them.

Bowlin. I meant no harm, your honor. It was only a