neral Washington and all the great men, and
read writing, sure."

Primus took the billets into his hands, and ran his eye over the
superscriptions, with an air of the most perfect confidence, then,
shaking his head, returned them to Felix, observing:

"Dere is none here for me."

"Perhaps there is one for you in this pocket," continued Felix,
fumbling on the other side, and producing another billet. Primus
looked, but shook his head as before. "Have the extreme goodness,"
said Felix, who began to be considerably mystified by the serious air
of the other, and half-disposed to believe that he might have some
knowledge of the mystic characters, "to tell me who this little note
is intend for."

Primus knew very well the intimate relations existing between the
families of the Armstrongs and Bernards, and that the former
often took their Christmas dinner with the latter, while again the
Armstrongs reciprocated the civility by inviting the Bernards, who
were Episcopalians, to the feast of Thanksgiving. Moreover, he had met
Felix going in a direction towards the house of Mr. Bernard, which
was close by. Putting these circumstances together, the old soldier
thought that he might venture a guess, which, if it succeeded, would
redound greatly to the credit of his learning, and, which, if it
failed, could entail on him no other harm than the laugh of Felix.
Assuming, therefore, a knowing look, he said:

"Dat is berry easy to read. Any man wid any larning at all, can see
de billet is intend for Missa Judge Bernard." He saw by the distended
eyes of Mr. Qui that his guess had struck the mark, and fearful of
being requested to decipher the other superscriptions, hastily added:

"But what for I stop here, wasting my precious time, and keeping
you from doing you master's arrant? I hab de honor to wish you good
marning, Missa Qui." So saying, Primus turned round and stumped
off half a dozen steps, before the bewildered Felix recovered his
faculties.

"Stop, General," at last exclaimed Felix, as soon as he regained his
speech, running after him and taking hold of his arm, "allow me, a
word with you"

"I is berry busy dis marning," cried Primus, struggling to get free;
"Missa Pownal want my sarvices; de doctor is anxious to insult wid me;
and de 'Piscopal minister hab someting 'portant to communicate."

"I inspect he want you to write the Thanksgiving sermon," said Felix,
grinning. "But, General, I have really an invite for you.