tin' round the
ring, with them kinder men. Poor old feller, he was a great hunter; a
great shot with the rifle, a great wit, and a great man. He didn't leave
his _span_ behind him, when he slipt off the handle, I know.

"Well he stood for an election and lost it, just afore he left the
States; so when it was over, he slings his powder horn on, over his
shoulders, takes his "Betsey," which was his best rifle, onder his arm,
and mounts on a barrel, to talk it into his constituents, and take leave
of 'em.

"'Feller citizens,' sais he, 'we've had a fair stand-up fight for it,
and I'm whipped, that are a fact; and thar is no denyin' of it. I've
come now to take my leave of you. You may all go to H--l, and I'll go to
Texas.'

"And he stepped right down, and went over the boundary, and jined the
patriots agin Mexico, and was killed there.

"Why it will never be forgot, that speech. It struck into the bull's eye
of the heart. It was noble. It said so much in a few words, and left
the mind to fill the gaps up. The last words is a sayin' now, and
always will be, to all etarnity. Whenever a feller wants to shew how
indifferent he is, he jist sais, 'you may go to (hem, hem, you know,)
and I'll go to Texas.' There is no _Bunkum_ in that, Squire.

"Yes, there is no good speakin' there, speakin' is no use. Every
feller is pledged and supports his party. A speech don't alter no man's
opinions; yes it _may_ alter his _opinions_, but it don't alter his
vote, that ain't his'n, it's his party's. Still, there is some credit
in a good speech, and some fun too. No feller there has any ridicule; he
has got no ginger in him, he can neither crack his whip, nor lay it on;
he can neither cut the hide nor sting it. Heavens! if I was there I and
I'm sure it's no great boastin' to say I'm better than such fellers, as
them small fry of white bait is. If I was there, give me a good subject
like that to-night, give me a good horn of lignum vitae--"

"Lignum vitae--what's that?"

"Lord-o-massy on us! you don't know nothin', Squire. Where have you been
all your born days, not to know what lignum vitae is? why lignum vitae,
is hot brandy and water to be sure, pipin' hot, scald an iron pot amost,
and spiced with cloves and sugar in it, stiff enough to make a tea-spoon
stand up in it, as straight as a dead nigger. Wine ain't no good, it
goes off as quick as the white beads off of champaign does, and then
leaves a stupid head-ache behind it. But give