I forgot to
write the note before I leave home, and so you must, 'scuse the want
of style. I have the honor to ask you, General, to take your dinner,
on that glorious day, with Miss Rosa and I."

"Dat alter de case intirely," said Primus, losing his dread of reading
billets, and forgetting his hurry in the pleasure received from the
invitation; "dat alter de case entirely. You is a genlman, and berry
polite, Missa Qui, and Miss Rosa is beyond 'spression. Dere is few
ob de fair sec equal Miss Rosa. Let me see," he continued, with a
thoughtful air, and looking on the ground, "whedder I not disappoint
some genlman. When I come round de corner I see Missa Tracy boy going
toward my house. Now, probably he bring invite for me. But you invite
is de fust, Missa Qui, and it is hard to desist de attraction ob Miss
Rosa and youself, and I will do myself de honor to wait on you. Sorry,
howebber to disappoint Missa Tracy." Primus had now embarked on the
full tide of his garrulity, and casting out of mind his regret for not
being able to accept the imaginary invitation to Mr. Tracy's, went on:

"'Pears to me a great 'vantage, Missa Qui, dat some folks is
'Piscopalians, and some Presbyterians."

Felix looked as if he failed to apprehend the meaning of his friend.

"'Cause," said Primus, "dat make two grand dinner, and you and me is
dere to eat 'em."

Felix had now fairly caught the other's meaning, and the two exploded
in bursts of laughter.

"You have right to say so, General, and the observation do you great
honor. And that is the reason I inspect that you are 'Peskypalian."

"I surprise to hear you say so ob your ole friend," said Primus,
drawing himself up with an air of offended dignity. "No, sar, dat is
not de reason. De reason I is 'Piscopalian is, 'cause I belong to de
regulars."

"I never hear tell the 'Peskypalians is more regulars than other
folks," said Felix.

"You is a young man (the difference in their ages might be half a
dozen years), and cannot be 'spected to know ebbery ting. If you gib
me your 'tention, I make it all plain as de road Gineral Washington
show de British out ob de country. You see when I was in de army in de
glorious war ob de Resolution, we say prayers sometime as well as you
folks who stay at home, and don't do none ob de fightin. And so when
de drum beat, ebbery man must be at his post. Den come de chaplain all
in his regimental, and put de book on de big drum, and kneel down, and
Gine