was hale, vigorous, and full of life; that every
drop of his blood bubbled with good humor.

'His writings,' said Knickerbocker, 'are full of human kindness. I
think he must have a great power of enjoyment.'

'Yes,' I added, 'to hear him laugh is as if one had spilt over you
a pitcher of wine.'

'It is a good thing for a man to laugh well,' returned the old
gentleman, smiling. He then observed:

'I have read many of your friend's writings; he draws charming
pictures; he inspires and elevates one's mind; I wish I could once
take him by the hand.'

At which I instantly said:

'I will ask him to make you a visit.'

'Tell him I will give him a Scotch welcome; tell him that I love
him, though I never have seen his face.'

These words were spoken with such evident sincerity, that
Sunnyside will always have a sunnier place in my memory, because
of the old man's genial tribute to my dear friend.

I am ever yours,
THEODORE TILTON.

* * * * *

The following paragraph from the _Boston Traveller,_ contains a few
facts well worth noting:

'The secession sympathizers in the North have two favorite dodges
for the service of their friends, the enemy. The first is, to
magnify the numbers of the rebel forces, placing them at 500,000
men, whereas they never have had above half as many men in the
field, all told, and counting negroes as well as white men. The
other is, to magnify the cost of the war on the side of the
Federalists. They tell us that our public war-debt, by the close of
the current fiscal year, June 30, 1862, will be $1,200,000,000,
(twelve hundred million dollars.) They know better than this, for
that debt will, at the date named, be not much above $620,000,000,
which would be no greater burden on the country than was that which
it owed in 1815, perhaps not so great a burden as that was. People
should not allow themselves to be frightened by the prophecies of
men who, if they could be sure of preserving slavery in all its
force, would care for nothing else.'

It is always easy to make up a gloomy statement, and this has been done
of late to perfection by the demo-secessionists among us. It is an easy
matter to assume, as has been done,