er some of Burr's words, which, if seriously meant,
are not such as you will approve."

The subject was dropped, nor was any more said in the course of the
afternoon on political topics. About nine o'clock the guests were
shown to their bedrooms and the members of the family also retired,
except Colonel and Mrs. Morgan. They were in the habit of sitting up
late, the wife reading aloud to her husband in the quiet hours, after
the rest of the family had retired. The book which engaged their
attention was "Modern Chivalry," the first novel written and published
west of the Alleghanies. They had reached that part of the story which
describes how Teague O'Regan was treated to a coat of tar and
feathers. The passage amused the grizzled colonel, and he listened
eagerly to the words:

"By this time they had sunk the butt end of the sapling in the hole
dug for it, and it stood erect with a flag displayed in the air, and
was called a liberty pole. The bed and pillow-cases had been cut open,
and were brought forward. The committee seized Teague and conveyed him
to a cart, in which the keg of tar had been placed."

"That's correct," interrupted the veteran. "That's the way to do it.
Read on."

Mrs. Morgan proceeded: "They stripped him to the waist, and, pouring
the tar upon his naked body, emptied at the same time a bed of
feathers on his head, which, adhering to the viscous fluid, gave him
the appearance of a wild fowl of the forest."

"Ha! ha! I've seen that done more than once; the author describes it
well. What next?"

The tall Dutch clock in the next room, after a grumble and whirr,
struck eleven, as if reproving the old couple for sitting up so late
to read a novel. Before the ringing of the last stroke died away,
footsteps were heard descending the stairs. Mrs. Morgan gave her
husband a significant glance, saying in a low tone, "John was right;
you have it now," and hurriedly left the parlor by a back door. She
had scarcely made her exit when Burr entered, with a lighted candle in
his hand.

"What, Colonel Burr, are you still up?"

"You yourself are not yet abed. Do I intrude?"

"Oh, no, no, no! Take a chair. We have a practice of sitting up to
read after the children have gone to bed. John, Tom, and George are
the children. Mrs. Morgan has been reading aloud from 'Modern
Chivalry.'"

"A clever book," said Burr, "very lively and ingenious."

"I agree with you. The story gives a true picture of scenes which the