retension of mere principle!"

"My God-like, the greatest of all the Riddles, absented himself, and did
not vote at all."

"Simply because he had no good ground to justify any course he might
take. No public monikin can expect to escape censure, if he fail to put
his friends, in the way of citing some plausible and intelligible motive
for his conduct."

"How, sir! cannot a man, once in his life, do an act without being
bought like a horse or a dog, and escape with an inch of character?"

"I shall not take upon myself to say what MEN can do," returned the
brigadier; "no doubt they manage this affair better than it is managed
here; but, so far as monikins are concerned, there is no course more
certain to involve a total loss of character--I may say so destructive
to reputation even for intellect--as to act without a good, apparent,
and substantial MOTIVE."

"In the name of God, what is to be done, brigadier?"

"I see no other course than to resign. Your constituents must very
naturally have lost all confidence in you; for one who so very obviously
neglects his own interests, it cannot be supposed will be very tenacious
about protecting the interests of others. If you would escape with
the little character that is left, you will forthwith resign. I do not
perceive the smallest chance for you by going through gyration No. 4,
both public opinions uniformly condemning the monikin who acts without a
pretty obvious, as well as a pretty weighty motive."

Noah made a merit of necessity; and, after some further deliberation
between us, he signed his name to the following letter to the speaker,
which was drawn up on the spot, by the brigadier.

"Mr. Speaker:--The state of my health obliges me to return the high
political trust which has been confided to me by the citizens of
Bivouac, into the hands from which it was received. In tendering my
resignation, I wish to express the great regret with which I part from
colleagues so every way worthy of profound respect and esteem, and I beg
you to assure them, that wherever fate may hereafter lead me, I shall
ever retain the deepest regard for every honorable member with whom it
has been my good fortune to serve. The emigrant interest, in particular,
will ever be the nearest and dearest to my heart." Signed,

"NOAH POKE."

The captain did not affix his name to this letter without many heavy
sighs, and divers throes of ambition; for even a mistaken politician
yields to necessity