e he says it, sirs. Why, sirs, in the _Decline and
Fall_--I could show you the very line and chapter if I had my copy
here--but it's up in my room--I could show you the very chapter on
slavery, by the Lord Harry! sir, where Mr. Foote, of the state of
Mississippi, in his last speech down in that country, sirs,--"

"Now, now, Jones," Dunwody raised a restraining hand at length,
"just sit down. Don't go get your copy of the _Decline and Fall_.
We're willing to take some of that for granted. Let's get at the
pleasant task of taking away all the money of this Free Soil
gentleman from the North. _Non_ politics, _non_ religion, _sed_
poker! That's why we're here."

The Honorable William Jones, his eloquence thus dammed up, seemed
to experience a sudden restriction of the throat, and coughed once
or twice. "I will go against the said poker just onct," said he;
"but, ahem!"

"I would suggest," said Dunwody, "that before we tempt the gods of
fortune we should first pour a libation for their favor. What do
you say, sir?" He turned to Jones and winked at Clayton.

"No, no, no, sir! No, I thank you just as much, but I never drink
more than onct in a day. At home it varies. On some days I like
my liquor in the mornin', some days just before bedtime, especially
if there is any malary about, as there is in most of my
country--indeed, I think there is some malary in these Ohio bottoms
up here."

"That fact is beyond dispute," ventured Judge Clayton gravely. "In
short, I myself feel in danger as we pass through these heavy
forests."

"Quite so," assented the Honorable William Jones. "Sometimes I
take a drink in the mornin' before breakfast, especially if there
is malary around, as I said; sometimes before dinner, but only one;
or, sometimes right after dinner, like now. Difference among men,
ain't there? Some say it's wrong to drink before breakfast.
Others say one drink then goes farther'n six later in the day. For
me, now, only one drink a day. Unless--that is, of course--unless
there is some very special occasion, such as--"

"Such as that offered by this most malarious country," ventured the
judge gravely.

"Well, yes, since you mention it, on such an occasion as this. But
Tom--" turning to the colored boy, "Make it very light; ver-r-ry
light. Hold on thah, you rascal, not too light!"

The Honorable William Jones set an example in which he was joined
temperately by the judge, the others contenting the