g when the great stream
of Northern freedom will purify itself from all the foul stains of its
old stagnation. Perhaps years may be required, but this we know,--that
the dam has been broken away at last, and that now the glad torrent
whirls bravely onward in sparkling young life. For at length the time is
coming when a healthy _Northern_ sentiment shall make itself felt, where
of old it was carefully excluded, and the fresh breeze from the Northern
pines shall purify the sickly air. They will pass away, these of the old
generation--there will arise better ones to take their place, and all
shall be changed.

Meanwhile, for all our late great victories and advances, let us be
thankful! not forgetting the smaller crumbs of comfort--as, for
instance, the capture of SLIDELL, MASON and Co., which a friend
has kindly recorded for your benefit, most excellent reader, in the
following chapter:--

CHRONICLES OF SECESSIA.

CHAPTER I.

Now it came to pass in the first year of the great Rebellion

In the land of Secessia, whose men were men of Belial, hard of heart,
and inflamed with exceeding great wrath against the children of the
North, and against all people who walked in the way of truth and
justice:

Meditating evil from the first mint-julep before breakfast, even unto
the last nip of corn whisky before retiring;--

In the isles of the South, and on the firm land, where COTTON was king,
and JEFFERSON, whose surname was DAVIS, was his prophet; where BENJAMIN,
the finder of stray watches and spoons, and FLOYD, the spoiler, were
priests--Oh, my soul, enter thou not into their counsels!--

Lo! it came to pass that there arose a great cry from among the people;

A great and vehement cry, a wailing and roaring as of many of the
chivalry when they burn with strong drink at quarter races, or smite
with bowie-knives in a free fight around the court-house:

The cry of many women and children, to say nothing of editors,
politicians, dirt-eaters, and negro auctioneers:

Saying, 'Lo! these many days have we been closed up by the Yankees, even
like unto a pint of Bourbon in an exceedingly tight-corked bottle, so
that nothing may go out or in, and who shall say what may be the end
thereof?

'Since the blockade presseth sorely upon our ports, the merchandise of
many lands cometh not therein, and we are entirely out of groceries.

'Having neither balm nor myrrh, spices nor tea, coffee nor brandy.

'Quinine is not among us