eadily and freely; but
when it was offered to Stanton, he modestly but firmly refused. "What upon
airth!" said Mr. Middleton, "not drink when a friend asks you? Why, boy,
just take a swaller."

Here Raymond, who was ready to adopt Mr. Middleton's language and manners,
exclaimed, "I'll tell you what, old boy, Bob's left a sweetheart in New
York, and I fancy she lectured him on intemperance, for you know the women
are dead set against it."

Mr. Middleton looked first at Raymond, then at Stanton and said, "Well, he
knows good sense by not touchin' on't, I reckon. Got a sweetheart, hey?
That's better than to come here and marry some of our spitfires. Poor boy!
Dick was engaged to one of 'em, and I've hearn that she raised a tantareen
and broke his heart. But I'll fix her! I'll dock off fifty thousand to pay
for that caper."

Here Mr. Ashton asked if Mr. Middleton's daughters were still at
Frankfort. "Yes," returned Mr. Middleton, "both thar, study in' all the
flat things you can think on, and thummin' away on the pianner. You'll see
'em thar; but mind me one and all, mind I say, don't fall in love with
Sunshine, for she's engaged, and I've gin my consent, and whoever meddles
in that match'll find Josh after 'em!" By way of adding emphasis to his
words he brought his fist back against a work-stand, on which stood his
wife's work basket. The stand was upset, and all the articles of the
basket rolled on the floor. "Great Peter!" said Mr. Middleton, "ho, Tilda,
come pick up these 'ere things!"

Tilda came at the call of her master. While she was replacing the articles
in her mistress' basket, Raymond, who wished to show that he was ready to
adopt all the peculiarities of the State, said, "That's a valuable looking
negro girl. I suppose your property mostly consists in such as she. I
don't wonder that you object to give them up just to please the North.
Have you many such?"

"Yes, quite a heap on 'em. Why? Want to steal 'em, hey?"

Raymond reddened. His attempts at anti-abolition had not succeeded as well
as he anticipated; but he soon rallied and said, "Certainly not; I
shouldn't know what to do with your slaves if I had them; besides I have
no inclination to interfere with your Southern institutions. I am too much
of a pro-slavery man myself."

"Likely enough," said Mr. Middleton, rather gruffly, for he did not much
like the appearance of Raymond, "likely enough. But, young man, let old
Josh give you a little advice. I