hbourhood has much improved since I knowed it last.'

"'It's a sweet thing,' sais he. 'Have you ever "_made profession_," Mr.
Slick?'

"'Come,' sais I to myself, 'this is cuttin' it rather too fat. I must
put a stop to this. This ain't a subject for conversation with such a
cheatin', cantin', hippocrytical skunk as this is. Yes,' sais I, 'long
ago. My profession is that of a clockmaker, and I make no pretension
to nothin' else. But come, let's water our hosses here and liquor
ourselves.'

"And we dismounted, and gave 'em a drop to wet their mouths.

"'Now,' sais I, a-takin' out of a pocket-pistol that I generally
travelled with, 'I think I'll take a drop of grog;' and arter helpin'
myself, I gives the silver cover of the flask a dip in the brook, (for
a clean rinse is better than a dirty wipe, any time), and sais I, 'Will
you have a little of the "_outpourin' of the spirit?_" What do you say,
Elder?'

"'Thank you,' sais he, 'friend Slick. I never touch liquor, it's agin
our rules.'

"And he stooped down and filled it with water, and took a mouthful, and
then makin' a face like a frog afore he goes to sing, and swellin' his
cheeks out like a Scotch bagpiper, he spit it all out. Sais he, 'That
is so warm, it makes me sick; and as I ain't otherwise well, from the
celestial exhaustion of a protracted meetin', I believe I will take a
little drop, as medicine.'

"Confound him! if he'd a said he'd only leave a little drop, it would a
been more like the thing; for he e'en a'most emptied the whole into the
cup, and drank it off clean, without winkin'.

"'It's a "_very refreshin' time_,"' sais I, 'ain't' it?' But he didn't
make no answer. Sais I, 'that's a likely beast of yourn, Elder,' and I
opened her mouth, and took a look at her, and no easy matter nother, I
tell you, for she held on like a bear trap, with her jaws. "'She won't
suit you,' sais he, "with a smile, 'Mr. Slick.'

"'I guess not,' sais I.

"'But she'll jist suit the French,' sais he.

"'It's lucky she don't speak French then,' sais I, 'or they'd soon
find her tongue was too big for her mouth. That critter will never see
five-and-twenty, and I'm a thinkin', she's thirty year old, if she is a
day.'

"'I was a thinkin', said he, with a sly look out o' the corner of his
eye, as if her age warn't no secret to him. 'I was a thinkin' it's time
to put her off, and she'll jist suit the French. They hante much for
hosses to do, in a giniral way, but to ride a