They've drank in so much that is strong,
in this way, have the English, they require somethin' sharp enough to
tickle their palates now. Wine hante no taste for a man that drinks
grog, that's a fact. It's as weak as Taunton water. Come and walk up and
down deck along with me once or twice, and then we will sit down by him,
promiscuously like; and as soon as I get his appetite sharp, see how I
will cram him."

"This steam-boat is very onsteady to-day. Sir," said Mr. Slick; "it's
not overly convenient walking, is it?"

The ice was broken. Mr. Slick led him on by degrees to his travels,
commencing with New England, which the traveller eulogised very much.
He then complimented him on the accuracy of his remarks and the depth
of his reflections, and concluded by expressing a hope that he would
publish his observations soon, as few tourists were so well qualified
for the task as himself.

Finding these preliminary remarks taken in good part, he commenced the
process of "cramming."

"But oh, my friend," said he, with a most sanctimonious air, "did you
visit, and I am ashamed as an American citizen to ask the question, I
feel the blood a tannin' of my cheek when I inquire, did you visit the
South? That land that is polluted with slavery, that land where
the boastin' and crackin' of freemen pile up the agony pangs on the
corroding wounds inflicted by the iron chains of the slave, until natur
can't stand it no more; my heart bleeds like a stuck critter, when I
think of this plague spot on the body politic. I ought not to speak
thus; prudence forbids it, national pride forbids it; but genu_wine_
feelings is too strong for polite forms. 'Out of the fulness of the
heart the mouth speaketh.' Have you been there?"

"Turkey" was thrown off his guard, he opened his wallet, which was well
stocked, and retailed his stories, many of them so very rich, that I
doubted the capacity of the Attache to out-Herod him. Mr. Slick received
these tales with evident horror, and complimented the narrator with a
well simulated groan; and when he had done, said, "Ah, I see how it
is, they have purposely kept dark about the most atrocious features of
slavery. Have you never seen the Gougin' School?"

"No, never."

"What, not seen the Gougin' School?"

"No, Sir; I never heard of it."

"Why, you don't mean to say so?"

"I do, indeed, I assure you."

"Well, if that don't pass! And you never even heerd tell of it, eh?"

"Never, Sir. I have nev