e fifth "says he," and listen like a three-years' child,
as the author of the "Old Sailor" says. I had rather hear one of those
grand elemental laughs from either of our two Georges, (fictitious
names, Sir or Madam,) glisten to one of those old playbills of our
College days, in which "Tom and Jerry" ("Thomas and Jeremiah," as the
old Greek Professor was said to call it) was announced to be brought on
the stage with whole force of the Faculty, read by our Frederick, (no
such person, of course,) than say the best things I might by any chance
find myself capable of saying. Of course, if I come across a real
thinker, a suggestive, acute, illuminating, informing talker, I enjoy
the luxury of sitting still for a while as much as another.

Nobody talks much that does n't say unwise things,--things he did not
mean to say; as no person plays much without striking a false note
sometimes. Talk, to me, is only spading up the ground for crops of
thought. I can't answer for what will turn up. If I could, it would
n't be talking, but "speaking my piece." Better, I think, the hearty
abandonment of one's self to the suggestions of the moment at the risk
of an occasional slip of the tongue, perceived the instant it escapes,
but just one syllable too late, than the royal reputation of never
saying a foolish thing.

--What shall I do with this little man?--There is only one thing
to do,--and that is to let him talk when he will. The day of the
"Autocrat's" monologues is over.

--My friend,--said I to the young fellow whom, as I have said,
the boarders call "John,"--My friend,--I said, one morning, after
breakfast,--can you give me any information respecting the deformed
person who sits at the other end of the table?

What! the Sculpin?--said the young fellow.

The diminutive person, with angular curvature of the spine,--I said,
--and double talipes varus,--I beg your pardon,--with two club-feet.

Is that long word what you call it when a fellah walks so?--said the
young man, making his fists revolve round an imaginary axis, as you may
have seen youth of tender age and limited pugilistic knowledge, when
they show how they would punish an adversary, themselves protected by
this rotating guard,--the middle knuckle, meantime, thumb-supported,
fiercely prominent, death-threatening.

It is,--said I.--But would you have the kindness to tell me if you know
anything about this deformed person?

About the Sculpin?--said the young fellow.