Bascom, the principal grocery keeper, rose, and called the Squire to
order. He wanted to know ef it wuz fair play to talk sich talk. No man
cood feel a more hart-felt satisfaction at the appintment uv our honored
friend than him, showin, ez it did, that the President hed cut loose
from Ablishnism, wich he dispised, but he protestid agin the Squire
undertakin to git in his bill afore the rest hed a chance. Who furnisht
him his licker for eight months, and who hez the best rite for the first
dig at the proceeds uv the position? He wood never--

The other three grocery keepers rose, when Deekin Pogram rooled em all
out uv order, and offered the followin resolutions:--

Whereas, the President hez, in a strikly constooshnel manner,
relieved this commoonity uv an offensive Ablishunist, appinted
by that abhorred tyrant Linkin, and appinted in his place a
sound constooshnel Demokrat--one whom to know is to lend;
therefore, be it

_Resolved_, That we greet the President, and, ashoor him uv our
continyood support and confidence.

_Resolved_, That we now consider the work uv Reconstruction, so
far ez this community is concerned, completed, and that we feel
that we are wunst more restored to our proper relations with the
federal government.

_Resolved_, That the glorious defence made by the loyal
Democracy uv Noo Orleans agin the combined conventioners and
niggers, shows that freemen kin not be conkered, and that white
men shel rule America.

_Resolved_, That, on this happy occasion, we forgive the
Government for what we did, and cherish nary resentment agin
anybody.

The resolutions wuz adopted, and the meetin adjourned with three cheers
for Johnson and his policy.

Then came a scene. Every last one uv em hed come there with a note made
out for the amount I owed him at three months. Kindness of heart is a
weakness of mine, and I signed em all, feelin that ef the mere fact of
writin my name wood do em any good, it wood be crooel in me to object to
the little laber required. Bless their innocent soles! they went away
happy.

The next mornin I took possesshun uv the offis.

[Illustration: NASBY'S DREAM OF PERFECT BLISS.]

"Am I awake, or am I dreamin?" thought I. No, no! it is no dream. Here
is the stamps, here is the blanks, and here is the commisshun! It is
troo! it is troo!

I heerd a child, across the way, singin,--

"I'd like to be a ang