"
"You're mistaken there, my good fellow. Love grows on trees in
France, and a French woman can see it. before you begin to tell her
about it!" retorted the Captain, which brought a "Good! good! hit
him again!" from the whole party. At this, Master George commenced
reading the Captain a disquisition upon the best mode of acquiring
the French language. Supper was brought-in old Tom Baker's best
flourish-and the party begun to discuss its merits with great gusto.
What the little, chivalrous fellows lacked in physical dimension,
they made up in patriotic sentiment in behalf of the grand sove-
reignty of South Carolina, which they continued to pour out until a
late hour, every man backing his sayings by the authority of the
great and wonderful Calhoun.
The Captain sat eating away, and seeming more disposed to enjoy the
physical consolation of his supper than to elevate his ideas upon
South Carolina's politics.
"Now, Captain," said Master George, in a very serious tone, after he
had been striking his hand upon the marble table for more than an
hour to confirm the points of his reasoning,--"what is your opinion
of the great question at issue between the Federal Government and
South Carolina? And what do you think of the Old Dominion? how will
she stand upon the test-question?"
The poor Captain looked confounded-took another oyster, and began to
get his mouth.
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