said:

"Alderman, I want to bring a case of book debt before you this morning."

"How much is your claim?" asked Tom.

"Four dollars," replied the rumseller--for such he proved to be--and his
debt was for drinks chalked up against one of his "customers."

"You can't have your four dollars, Sir," replied the excited Alderman.
"You are robbed of your four dollars, Sir. Them legislative tories at
Harrisburg, Sir, have cheated you out of your four dollars, Sir. I
undertake to say, Sir, that fifty thousand honest men in Philadelphia
have been robbed of their four dollars by these bloody tories and their
cursed unconstitutional law! Ah, gentlemen, you will see blood running
in our streets before you are a month older. (A laugh.) Oh, you may
laugh; but you will see it--see if you don't!"

A newsboy was just passing by.

"Here, boy, give me the Morning Ledger," said the Alderman, at the same
time taking the paper and handing the boy a penny. "Let us see what them
blasted cowboys are doing down at Harrisburg now. Ah!--what is this?"
(Reading:) "'Blood, blood, blood!' Aha! laugh, will you, gentlemen? Here
it is." Reads:

"'Blood, blood, blood! The Dorrites have got possession of
Providence. The military are called out. Father is arrayed against
father, and son against son. Blood is already running in our
streets.'

"Now laugh, will you, gentlemen? Blood is running in the streets of
Providence; blood will be running in the streets of Philadelphia before
you are a fortnight older! The tories of Providence and the tories of
Harrisburg must answer for this blood, for they and their
unconstitutional proceedings are the cause of its flowing! Let us see
the rest of this tragic scene." Reads:

"'Is there any remedy for this dreadful state of things?'"

ALDERMAN.--"Of course not, except to hang every rascal of them for
trampling on our g-l-orious Constitution." Reads:

"'Is there any remedy for this dreadful state of things? Yes, there
is.'"

ALDERMAN.--"Oh, there is, is there? What is it? Let me see." Reads:

"'Buy two packages of Pease's hoarhound candy.'"

"Blast the infernal Ledger!" exclaimed the now doubly incensed and
indignant Alderman, throwing the paper upon the pavement with the most
ineffable disgust, amid the shouts and hurrahs of a score of men who by
this time had gathered around the excited Alderman Tom Simmons.

As I before remarked, the "candy" was a very good ar