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'He's gone, certain, says one; 'Major Smooth's a cold chicken, mutters another; 'Young America's cutting a figure, rejoins a third; 'he's only at rest while performing some overt act, interposes a fourth.
Fact is, stranger, we must have the hold-fast for fear of the shot falling short. So glad did he seem, that he whistled Yankee Doodle with the variations, looked every which way, and then laughed right out at what he called Smooth's outfit.
Being, however, inside of the line and surrounded by mackerel, one would have supposed the Nova Scotians had been on the alert catching them. The case was just the reverse, for not a Nova Scotiaman was to be seen. To Smooth's mind this was making a law to protect the lazy, something he never approved of, more especially in these days of energy and railroads.
The world in general viewed him as a dangerous man, for the simple reason that his master was regarded with the same eye of suspicion. Pierce was not ignorant of this, and to obviate Smooth's difficulties, said he would send him Down East, as before related.
They declared the Yankees had encroached on the Britisher's rights. Despatches were next day to go to head-quarters, a whole British fleet was wanted, and must come down and seize Smooth's Pinkey, the Starlight fish and all. The whole talk and noise didn't make much matter to Smooth; he didn't believe in talking acting was his motto go-ahead. 'Blow away, citizens blow away!
And I hev been a little mite druv up today druv to the limit, if the truth's told. Things ain't been goin' as smooth's they might. Why why, they ain't nobody'd believe what's been crowded into this day, even if I was to tell 'em!" He filled his lungs again and shoved both feet closer to the oven door. "But that fire feels real nice," he finished; "real nice and comfortin', somehow.
The best that could be made of it was, that the atmosphere of kings and emperors was filled with very explosive matter which they thought it best to let off in this sort, of way. If, according to Mr. Smooth's philosophy, Europe were to remain in status quo, that spirit of progress so much beloved by Mr. Pierce, and his family must die, a natural death.
The crew felt like scraping acquaintance with them, favoring them with a hook, and the like; but then there interposed that great bugbear the treaty line. Hard was it to tell where this line was; it might, for aught to the contrary, be on the top of a wave, upon which we might be tossed, much against Smooth's inclination, far into the unlawful side.
Smooth's turn-out only made a stir among them; they reckoned somebody had come! In a free-and-easy sort of way I walked straight to the door, maintaining my independence the while, and feeling as important as a door-keeper in Congress.
Smooth's word, says he, with simple dryness, 'but, notwithstanding, painful is the experience that office-holders and seekers, though always kind to Uncle Sam, and tenacious of his dignity and cashbag, seldom maintain the same earnestness for their own when legitimates are left in the key-hole. "'You mean that the General's friends don't shine over on the square? "'Precisely so! Mr.
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