"'Nor at least one half of it upon the Mission for the Regeneration of the starving Choctaw Nation?'
"'I'd rather be excused.'
"'Well, then,' exclaimed Mr. Pepper's Ghost, plaintively, 'wont you—wontyou, oblige mewith—a loan of five dollars?'
"'Yes—if you will take greenbacks.'
"At the word, Mr. Pepper's Ghost uttered a scream of despair, smote its breast frantically, and gave the chair upon which old Pursimmons had just seated himself such a vicious kick that the flinty-hearted banker suddenly awoke, found it all a dream, and,—went outrageously to sleep again; thereby giving convincing proof of that utter callousness of soul which all worthy poor men know to be the sure accompaniment of riches!"
As Villiam ceased reading, we all retired silently from the tent, greatly improved by what we had heard. And now, my boy, let me conclude with a little story of my own:
Some months ago, a certain western General gave an order to an Eastern contractor for a couple of peculiarly made gunboats for his service; but, happening to pass the White House, shortly after, saw what he took to be the models of two just such gunboats protruding out of one of the windows. Thinking that the President had concluded to attend to the matter himself, he immediately telegraphed to the contractor not to go on with the job.
Quite recently, the contractor came here again, and says he to the General,—
"I'd like to see the model of those White-House gunboats."
The General conducted him toward the White House, my boy, and the two stood admiring the models, which protruded from the window as usual.