utherners before he'd been in
Charleston a year, and was perfect death on niggers. Yes, sir, it's
only the extreme goodness of the Southern people's hearts that makes the
niggers like them so. I never saw a Northerner yet that wouldn't work
his niggers to death in two years. D--me, sir, my servants all love
me as if I was a prince. Have you ever been in France, sir?" said he,
suddenly breaking off. The Captain replied in the affirmative.

"Ah! then you can speak French! the most polished language known to
refined society. I wouldn't part with my French for the world. All
the first families in Charleston are familiar with it. It's the modern
gentleman's curt-blanche to society here. There's no language like
it for beauty and flexibility; but one must go to France and learn to
acquire its grace and ease," said he, in rapid succession, rolling
out his words in imitation of a London sprig of the Inner Temple, and
working his little mastiff mouth.

"No, sir," said the Captain quaintly. "I never stopped long enough in
France to get hold of the lingo."

"God bless me, what a misfortune! and can't speak it yet, ah? Why,
Captain, if you wanted to court a petite madmoselle, you'd be in a sad
fix-she wouldn't understand what you were talking about and would take
your love-pledges for gammon."

"You're mistaken there, my good fellow. Love grows on trees in France,
and a French woman can see it before you begin to tell her about it!"
retorted the Captain, which brought a "Good! good! hit him again!" from
the whole party. At this, Master George commenced reading the Captain a
disquisition upon the best mode of acquiring the French language. Supper
was brought-in old Tom Baker's best flourish-and the party begun to
discuss its merits with great gusto. What the little, chivalrous fellows
lacked in physical dimension, they made up in patriotic sentiment in
behalf of the grand sovereignty of South Carolina, which they continued
to pour out until a late hour, every man backing his sayings by the
authority of the great and wonderful Calhoun.

The Captain sat eating away, and seeming more disposed to enjoy the
physical consolation of his supper than to elevate his ideas upon South
Carolina's politics.

"Now, Captain," said Master George, in a very serious tone, after he had
been striking his hand upon the marble table for more than an hour to
confirm the points of his reasoning,--"what is your opinion of the great
question at issue b