nd firesides.

"'Old boy,' thundered Mr. Pepper's Ghost, reproachfully, 'did you
not have an interest with your brother, the ---- street tailor, in
that Government contract for uniforms?'

"'I did,' replied the mournful banker.

"'Then behold,' said the spirit, 'how you have earned the eternal
hate of your country's gallant volunteers, and will be handed down
to future scorn and infamy as a member of the 'Shoddy Aristocracy.'
'And now, continued Mr. Pepper's Ghost, 'that I have shown you
these illustrations of your wickedness as a rich man, how do you
feel?'

"'Well,' responded old Pursimmons, 'to tell the truth, I feel
greatly bored and very sleepy.'

"'And you wont bestow all your wealth upon the next poor widow with
six small children?'

"'Not exactly.'

"'Nor at least one half of it upon the Mission for the Regeneration
of the starving Choctaw Nation?'

"'I'd rather be excused.'

"'Well, then,' exclaimed Mr. Pepper's Ghost, plaintively, 'wont
you--_wont_ you, oblige _me_ with--a loan of five dollars?'

"'Yes--if you will take greenbacks.'

"At the word, Mr. Pepper's Ghost uttered a scream of despair, smote
its breast frantically, and gave the chair upon which old
Pursimmons had just seated himself such a vicious kick that the
flinty-hearted banker suddenly awoke, found it all a dream,
and,--went outrageously to sleep again; thereby giving convincing
proof of that utter callousness of soul which all worthy poor men
know to be the sure accompaniment of riches!"

As Villiam ceased reading, we all retired silently from the tent,
greatly improved by what we had heard. And now, my boy, let me conclude
with a little story of my own:

Some months ago, a certain western General gave an order to an Eastern
contractor for a couple of peculiarly made gunboats for his service;
but, happening to pass the White House, shortly after, saw what he took
to be the models of two just such gunboats protruding out of one of the
windows. Thinking that the President had concluded to attend to the
matter himself, he immediately telegraphed to the contractor not to go
on with the job.

Quite recently, the contractor came here again, and says he to the
General,--

"I'd like to see the model of those White-House gunboats."

The General conducted him toward the White House, my boy, and the two
stood admiring the