g his finger down on an item;
"read it." Jim read:--

"MISCEGENATION. DISGRACEFUL FREAK IN HIGH LIFE. FRUIT OF AN ABOLITION
WAR.--We are credibly informed that a young man belonging to one of the
first families in the city, Mr. W.A.S.,--we spare his name for the sake
of his relatives,--who has been engaged since its outset in this
fratricidal war, has just given evidence of its legitimate effect by
taking to his bosom a nigger wench as _his wife_. Of course he is
disowned by his family, and spurned by his friends, even radical
fanaticism not being yet ready for such a dose as this. However--" Jim
did not finish the homily of which this was the presage, but, throwing
the paper on the ground, indignantly drove his heel through it, tearing
and soiling it, and then viciously kicked it into the river.

Said the Captain when this operation was completed, having watched it
with curious eyes, "Well, my man, are you aware of the fact that that is
_my_ paper?"

"Don't care if it is. What in thunder did you bring the damned
Copperhead sheet to me for, if you didn't want it smashed? Ain't you
ashamed of yourself having such a thing round? How'd you feel if you
were picked up dead by a reb, with that stuff in your pocket? Say now!"

Coolidge laughed,--he was always ready to laugh: that was probably why
the men liked him so well, and stood in awe of him not a bit. "Feel?
horridly, of course. Bad enough, being dead, to yet speak, and tell 'em
that paper didn't represent my politics: 'd that do?"

Jim shook his head dubiously.

"What are you making such a devil of a row for, I'd like to know? it's
too hot to get excited. 'Tain't likely you know anything about Willie
Surrey."

"O ho! it is Mr. Will, then, is it? Know him,--don't I, though? Like a
book. Known him ever since he was knee-height of a grasshopper. I'd like
to have that fellow"--shaking his fist toward the floating
paper--"within arm's reach. Wouldn't I pummel him some? O no, of course
not,--not at all. Only, if he wants a sound skin, I'd advise him, as a
friend, to be scarce when I'm round, because it'd very likely be
damaged."

"You think it's all a Copperhead lie, then! I should have thought so, at
first, only I know Surrey's capable of doing any Quixotic thing if he
once gets his mind fixed on it."

"I know what I know," Jim answered, slowly folding and unfolding
Sallie's letter, which he still held in his hand. "I know all about that
young lady he's been marr