“I trust it is,” said the gentleman, colouring to his ears. “Nothing, God willing, shall transform me into a Yankee!”
“But you are married in this country; you have children born in America;—what countrymen shall they be? They cannot be called Englishmen, I am sure.”
“I am sorry for it; but that is not my fault. I will, at least, give them an English education.”
“Pray, are you a naturalized citizen?”
“I have never perjured myself,” replied the sturdy representative of John Bull.
“But did I not see you the other day at the polls?”
“I did not vote, I merely distributed tickets.”
“What a nice distinction this is; you did not vote, you merely electioneered!”
“That was done from principle.”
“What principle can that be? What interest can you take in our politics without being a citizen?”