did." Such a reference to the great apostle of American protection, I
confess, shocked me; but I suppressed my feelings in consideration of
her sex.

I have said that Mrs. W. is a woman of intellect; but she has no
enthusiasm. With me it is different. I am all enthusiasm and no--I was
about to say no intellect; but I mean no such intellect as has Mrs.
W.

So she says: "That's the way you're always doing, W.; going into
something you don't know anything about, throwing away your money; and
that's about all you're fit for."

"But, my love!" I exclaimed, "there's no chance to lose money in silk
worms. You get them for nothing, feed them for nothing; and how is it
possible to lose money on them, with the tariff at sixty per cent ad
valorem?"

"W.," she interrupted, "when you talk Latin to me, please explain
yourself."

Some people have thought that there was an asperity in Mrs. W.'s
nature, that occasionally found expression in words, but it is not so.
She is of most amiable disposition, and I never knew her to--if I may
coin a word--to asperse. I, therefore, said that in the tariff laws,
duties were levied upon the value of articles, as stated in the
importer's invoice.

"But," said she, "won't the importers value too low?"

"Oh, my dear," I said, "that would be dishonest, and importers are
never dishonest; indeed it is upon the virtue and integrity of the
people that the welfare of our institutions depends." As I was about
to expand upon this theme, my wife checked me with the remark that we
would take the American eagle and the rest of it, at another time, but
just now we would hear about the silk worms. I told her I had made all
necessary arrangements, and would that day write to the "Department"
at Washington, and secure the necessary supply of eggs to commence a
flourishing business. I did so and in due time I received from the
capital of the nation, a nice little wooden box, and inside of that
another little tin box, and inside of that were the eggs. They were
about as big as pin's heads and it looked as though there were
millions, but I don't suppose there were that many.

I exhibited them with pride to the partner of my bosom, exclaiming,
"Such is the fostering care of a paternal government, it raises these
eggs at vast expense, and bestows them liberally upon those who ask."
I then explained to Mrs. W. how it was that our glorious republic
nursed those infant industries that were so delicate they could