settled at once. At the same time he said he had had twenty
thousand dollars lying idle for two months, not knowing what to do with
it, but had finally concluded to invest it in railroad stock. 'Have ye
any Government stock?' said his friend. 'Not a dollar's worth,' said he;
'I'm afraid of it.' Sick as I was, I couldn't lie and hear that.' And do
you know the reason,' said I, 'why Government cannot pay off its
creditors? I'll tell ye,' said I. 'It is because it hasn't the money.
And it hasn't the money, because such men as you, who have your
thousands lying idle, refuse to lend to your country, because you are
afraid. That's the extent of your patriotism: you are afraid! What do
you think of us who have gone into the war, and been willing to risk
everything,--not only our business and our property, but life and limb?
I've ruined myself personally,' said I, 'lost my property and my health,
to be of service to my country. I don't regret it,--though I should
never recover, I shall not regret it. I'm a tolerably patient,
philosophical sort of fellow; but I have n't patience nor philosophy
enough to hear such men as you abuse the Government for not doing what
it's your duty to assist it in doing.'"

"Good for you, Reuben!" exclaimed Mr. Ducklow, who really felt obliged
to the young soldier for placing the previous day's investment in such a
strong patriotic light. ("I've only done _my_ duty to Gov'ment, let Miss
Beswick say what she will," thought he.) "You wound him up, I guess.
Fact, you state the case so well, Reuben, I believe, if I had any funds
to spare, I shouldn't hesitate a minute, but go right off and invest in
Gov'ment bonds."

"That might be well enough, if you did it from a sense of duty," said
Neighbor Ferring, who was something of a croaker, and not much of a
patriot "But as an investment, 't would be the wust ye could make."

"Ye think so?" said Mr. Ducklow, with quick alarm.

"Certainly," said Ferring. "Gov'ment 'll repudiate. It 'll _have_ to
repudiate. This enormous debt never can be paid. Your interest in gold
is a temptation, jest now; but that won't be paid much longer, and then
yer bonds won't be wuth any more 'n so much brown paper."

"I--I don't think so," said Mr. Ducklow, who nevertheless turned
pale--Ferring gave his opinion in such a positive, oracular way. "I
don't believe I should be frightened, even if I _had_ Gov'ment
securities in my hands. I wish I had; I really wish I had a good lot o