ral Washington he kneel down, too, and de chaplain say some prayer
dat sound like de roll ob de drum itself. O, it was so beautiful, and
I always feel better arter-wards. Dere nebber was much uniform in de
army, but what dere was, de regulars is entitle to it. I nebber tink
de soger look just de ting widout de regimental. Now, look at de
'Piscopal minister in de pulpit, in de lily-white and de black gown.
De fust is for white folks, and de oder out of respec' for us colored
pussons. Dey is his regimental. He look like a regular soger ob
de Lord. But see de Presbyterian. He hab no uniform at all. He ony
milishy officer."

Felix, who, as in duty bound, was as zealous a Presbyterian (as the
Congregationalists in New England were generally called) as Primus was
an Episcopalian, was scandalized at such language. He half regretted
having given the invitation to the dinner, and it is highly probable
that, if he had heard General Ransome's speech before, that gentleman
would have so far talked himself out of his good graces (a misfortune
that sometimes happens to extraordinary eloquence), as to have lost
the object of his anxiety, and, like the nightingale in Cowper's
fable, have "sought his dinner somewhere else." But Primus saw the
gathering storm and hastened to avert its discharge.

"I hab great respec'," he said, "for the milishy. Dey is excellent for
skirmishing, and where ebbery man hab to fight on his own hook, but
when it come to de hard fightin' de regulars is de men to be depend
on. And den," added he, "dere is odder reasons: I like de exercise in
de church better. I like dere taste, too, when dey ornaments de church
wid greens at Christmas. It make de winter look kind o' young and
happy."

Felix was easily propitiated. He might be offended with his comrade,
but his anger could not last. It had passed away, before Primus had
concluded his conciliatory remarks. In fact, the two cronies were too
necessary to each other's happiness to allow of a long quarrel,
and for all Felix's reverence for his master's "meeting," he was as
placable as zealous, nor would the famous festival have been a
genuine Thanksgiving without his old friend to help him to discuss its
luxuries. They shook hands at parting, and Mr. Qui promised to present
the complemens of the General to Miss Rosa.

As Felix pursued his way alone, having no one else to talk to, he gave
himself the benefit of his conversation.

"That General," he said, aloud,