“dam fine business.”  Now, friend Porter, if this is your poor law, it is a damn poor law, I tell you, and no good can come of such hard-hearted doins.  It’s no wonder your country don’t prosper, for who ever heerd of a blessin on such carryins on as this?  Says I, did you ever hear tell of a sartan rich man, that had a beggar called Lazarus laid at his gate, and how the dogs had more compassion than he had, and came and licked his sores? cause if you have, look at that forehanded and sponsible man there, deacon Westfall, and you see the rich man.  And then look at that are pauper, dragged away in that ox-cart from his wife for ever, like a feller to States’ Prison, and you see Lazarus.  Recollect what follered, John Porter, and have neither art nor part in it, as you are a Christian man.  It fairly made me sick all day.  John Porter follered me out of the house, and as I was a turnin old Clay, said he, Mr. Slick, says he, I never seed it in that are light afore, for its our custom, and custom you know will reconcile one to most any thing.  I must say, it does appear, as you lay it out, an unfeelin way of providin for the poor; but, as touchin the matter of dividen man and wife, why, (and he peered all round to see that no one was within hearin,) why I dont know, but if it was my allotment to be sold, I’d as lives they’d sell me separate from Jane as not, for it appears to me its about the best part of it.

Now, what I have told you Squire, said the Clockmaker, is the truth; and if members, instead of their everlastin politicks, would only look into these matters a little, I guess it would be far better for the Country.  So, as for our declaration of independence, I guess you need’nt twitt me with our slave-sales, for we deal only in blacks; but Blue Nose approbates no distinction in colours, and when reduced to poverty, is reduced to slavery, and is sold—­a White Nigger.

No.  XXVIII

Fire in the Dairy.

As we approached within fifteen or twenty miles of Parrsboro, a sudden turn of the road brought us directly in front of a large wooden house, consisting of two stories and an immense roof, the heighth of which edifice was much increased by a stone foundation, rising several feet above ground.  Now, did you ever see, said Mr. Slick, such a catamaran as that; there’s a proper goney for you, for to go and raise such a buildin as that are, and he as much use for it, I do suppose, as my old waggon here has for a fifth wheel.  Blue Nose always takes keer to have a big house, cause it shows a big man, and one that’s considerable forehanded, and pretty well to do in the world.  These Nova Scotians turn up their Blue Noses, as a bottle nose porpoise turns up his snout, and puff and snort exactly like him at a small house.  If neighbor Carrit has a two story house, all filled with winders, like Sandy Hook light house, neighbor Parsnip must add jist two feet more on to the post