looked at his inquirer with an air of infinite deference, and
lowering the glass slowly to the table, observed that the story
was intended most logically to prove: --

"That there is no situation in life but has its advantages
and pleasures -- provided we will but take a joke as we find it:

"That, therefore, he that runs races with goblin troopers,
is likely to have rough riding of it:

"Erao, for a country schoolmaster to be refused the hand
of a Dutch heiress, is a certain step to high preferment in the
state."

The cautious old gentleman knit his brows tenfold closer
after this explanation, being sorely puzzled by the ratiocina-
tion of the syllogism; while, methought, the one in pepper-
and-salt eyed him with something of a triumphant leer. At
length he observed, that all this was very well, but still he
thought the story a little on the extravagant -- there were one
or two points on which he had his doubts:

"Faith, sir," replied the story-teller. "as to that matter,
I don't believe one-half of it myself."

D. K.

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