CHAPTER XIV.
TAKING SIDES.
"I have been reading the Federalist," said Charlie one evening, as he entered Nat's study, "and I am a pretty good Federalist." He looked very pleasant as he spoke, and Nat replied in a similar tone and spirit, without the least hesitation,
"I have been reading the life and writings of Jefferson, and I am a thorough Democrat."
"A Democrat!" exclaimed Charlie, with a hearty laugh at the same time. "Do you know what a Democrat is?"
"Perhaps I don't; but if anybody is not satisfied with such principles as Jefferson advocated, he is not easily suited."
"But Jefferson was not a Democrat. The Federalist calls him a Republican."
"I know that," replied Nat. "The Jefferson party were called Republicans in their day; but they are called Democrats now. I don't like the name so well, but still the name is nothing in reality,—the principles are what we should look at."
"You don't like company very well, I should judge," said Charlie; "I should want to belong to a party that could say we."
"What do you mean by that?" inquired Nat.