With victory's impulse to our flag,—
That stripéd bass of upper air.'
"The North must conquer, you see, Mr. G."
Upon hearing me speak thus, Mr. Gorchakoff laid my head upon his bosom and smoothed my hair, and says he: "Oh, how I love your country! Russia will never join any scheme of foreign intervention against your beautiful fish."
He said this in such a tone of real fondness that tears sprang to my eyes, and says I:
"Heaven bless you, my Muscovy duck!"
"With a look of the deepest tenderness, Mr. Gorchakoff now extended himself at full length upon the top of a bureau near my chair, and allowed his head to hang over in such a manner that he was enabled to press his cheek against mine.
"Wilt thou do me one favor, noble youth?" says he, with much emotion.
I placed a hand upon my heart.
"Then," says he, "just ask Mr. Seward not to write so many letters to me every week; because when my mail is so large, I don't have any time to attend to my family."