He was jist beginnin to warm on the subject, and I knew if he did, what wonderful bottom he had; how he would hang on for ever amost; so, says I, I think so too, minister, I like the country, I always sleep better there than in towns; it tante so plaguy hot, nor so noisy neither, and then its a pleasant thing to set out on the stoop and smoke in the cool, aint it?  I think, says I, too, Minister, that that are uncommon handsum cider of yourn desarves a pipe, what do you think?  Well, says he, I think myself a pipe would’nt be amiss, and I got some real good Varginey, as you een amost ever seed, a present from Rowland Randolph, an old college chum; and none the worse to my palate, Sam, for bringin bye gone recollections with it.  Phoebe, my dear, said he to his darter, bring the pipes and tobacco.  As soon as the old gentleman fairly got a pipe in his mouth, I give Phoebe a wink, as much as to say, warnt that well done.  That’s what I call a most particular handsum fix.  He can talk now, (and that I do like to hear him do,) but he can’t make a speech, or preach a sarmon, and that I don’t like to hear him do, except on Sabbath day, or up to Town Hall, on oration times.

Minister was an uncommon pleasant man, (for there was nothin amost he didn’t know,) except when he got his dander up, and then he did spin out his yarns for everlastinly.

But I’m of his opinion.  If the folks here want their country to go ahead, they must honor the plough, and General Campbell ought to hammer that are into their noddles, full chisell, as hard as he can drive.  I could larn him somethin, I guess, about hammerin he aint up to.  It tante every one that knows how to beat a thing into a man’s head.  How could I have sold so many thousand clocks, if I hadn’t had that nack.  Why, I wouldn’t have sold half a dozen, you may depend.

Agriculture is not only neglected but degraded here.  What a number of young folks there seem to be in these parts, a ridin about, titivated out real jam, in their go-to-meetin clothes, a doin nothin.  It’s melancholy to think on it.  That’s the effect of the last war.  The idleness and extravagance of those times took root, and bore fruit abundantly, and now the young people are above their business.  They are too high in the instep, that’s a fact Old Drivvle, down here to Maccan, said to me one day, for gracious sake, says he Mr. Slick, do tell me what I shall do with Johnny.  His mother sets great store by him, and thinks he’s the makins of a considerable smart man—­he’s growin up fast now, and I am pretty well to do in the world, and reasonable forehanded, but I don’t know what the dogs to put him to.  The Lawyers are like spiders, they’ve eat up all the flies, and I guess they’ll have to eat each other soon, for there’s more on ‘em than causes now every court.  The Doctors’ trade is a poor one, too, they don’t get barely cash enough to pay for their medicines; I never seed a country practitioner