"'Oh, no doubt you are right,' said the naval officer: 'but please let us know who it is we have been so familiar with.'"
"'Well,' said Mrs. R. 'Mrs. S. told me that her husband was going to Washington to be Porter to the Senate.'"
Here my wife interrupted Mrs. M. with a fit of laughter almost equal to that with which Mrs. M. had indulged herself in the outset.
"So," said the former, "Mrs. R. mistook the word Reporter, for that of Porter,—an important omission."
"So it would seem," rejoined Mrs. M. "But let me go on."
"'Porter to the Senate!' exclaimed every voice."
"'A fellow who runs errands for the Senators, fetches and carries bundles, &c., I suppose,' said the naval officer."
"'I can't conceive what station he is to fill,' said one of the members of Congress, 'unless it is that of old Tobias, the black man, who kindles fires, and carries messages.'"
"'That is it I dare say,' said the other member."
"'We must cut him,' said the naval officer."