e other day that this tariff thing was for the benefit
of the producer, etc."

"My dear," I replied, "I seize the occasion. 'My foot is on my native
heath, and my name is McGregor.' When our industries were in their
infancy, it was found impossible to compete with foreign productions.
Labor was so cheap abroad that they could undersell us in our own
markets. We had laid the foundation of a broad, comprehensive
manufacturing interest; we had taken men from agricultural and other
pursuits, where they earned a livelihood, and put them in new and
strange employments, about which they knew nothing, where they
expected to earn more than a livelihood. But this could not be done on
account of prices. So government imposed high duties, and the producer
sold his articles for a higher price. In this way he was benefited and
enabled to make money. The tariff added just so much to the price of
the article sold, and the producer was happy."

"But who paid this extra price?" queried Mrs. W.

"Well," I replied, "it is a principle of political economy, I believe,
that all taxes are paid ultimately by the consumer, so that in a case
of this kind--"

"The consumer is the American people," interrupted Mrs. W.

"My dear," I cried, "once more I am compelled to observe, you are
begging the question."

"Mendicant again," was her arch reply, and a cry from the nursery
ended the discussion.

In about six weeks we had the cocoons. Of course, during that time the
house was littered with dirt, dried leaves, and all sorts of unclean
things; and if you ran about the premises in the dark, barefooted, you
were sure to step on an osage-orange twig; and I am satisfied, from
the amount of squalling done, that if the season had lasted six months
most of the children would have been exterminated.

I corresponded with some concern in one of the eastern cities, stating
that I had a large amount of fine cocoons, and wanting to know what
they would pay. I observed to Mrs. W. that I was confident of
receiving a reply to the effect that I should ship the cocoons, draw
at sight for five hundred dollars, leaving the balance to be paid as
per account sales.

The reply was, to send on half-a-pound as a sample, and they would see
if they could take them. When we came to weigh out half-a-pound, both
Mrs. W. and I were appalled. It took about two bushels--nearly, if not
quite, half of the entire crop. However, they were sent, and Mrs. W.
snickered as she did