o weak, he couldn't help himself if he did. There's great
fun in making these experiments, too. It puts me in mind of "Gander
Pulling;" you know what this is, don't you?'

"'No,' he said. 'I never heard of it. Is it an American sport?'

"'Yes,' sais I, 'it is; and the most excitin' thing, too, you ever see.'

"'You are a very droll man. Mr Slick,' said he, 'a very droll man
indeed. In all your books there is a great deal of fun; but in all
your fun, there is a meanin'. Your jokes hit, and hit pretty hard, too,
sometimes. They make a man think as well as laugh. But, describe this
Gander Pulling.'

"'Well, I'll tell you how it is,' sais I. 'First and foremost, a
ring-road is formed, like a small race-course; then, two great long
posts is fixed into the ground, one on each side of the road, and a rope
made fast by the eends to each post, leavin' the middle of the rope to
hang loose in a curve. Well, then they take a gander and pick his neck
as clean as a babby's, and then grease it most beautiful all the way
from the breast to the head, till it becomes as slippery as a soaped
eel. Then they tie both his legs together with a strong piece of cord,
of the size of a halyard, and hang him by the feet to the middle of the
swingin' rope, with his head downward. All the youngsters, all round the
county, come to see the sport, mounted a horseback.

"'Well, the owner of the goose goes round with his hat, and gets so much
a-piece in it from every one that enters for the "Pullin';" and when all
have entered, they bring their hosses in a line, one arter another; and
at the words, 'Go ahead!' off they set, as hard as they can split; and
as they pass under the goose, make a grab at him; and whoever carries
off the head, wins.

"'Well, the goose dodges his head and flaps his wings, and swings about
so, it ain't no easy matter to clutch his neck; and when you do, it's so
greasy, it slips right through the fingers, like, nothin'. Sometimes it
takes so long, that the hosses are fairly beat out, and can't scarcely
raise a gallop; and then a man stands by the post, with a heavy loaded
whip, to lash 'em on, so that they mayn't stand under the goose, which
ain't fair. The whoopin', and hollerin', and screamin', and bettin',
and excitement, beats all; there ain't hardly no sport equal to it. It's
great fun _to all except the poor goosey-gander_.

"'The game of colony government to Canady, for some years back, puts me
in mind of that exactl