he was just recovering from the effects of a long wassail. In his peculiar nervous condition he started at the sound o

and the plain, and it seemed also against the wall of dense forest pines. Then footsteps ascended the stairs. His door opened and Meshach M

"odd as it is to see you here, I am re

me in?" ask

Let your man stay outside on the porch. Draw up a c

ed his gaitered feet out in front, and laid a large wallet or pocket-book on his lap. Then

ou came to borrow money from me, you said that Nassawongo fur

rise, but it's coming all right. I

o Baltimore and tested there. Not content with that, I have studied the manufacture of iron for myself-the society of Princess Anne not grudging me plenty of solitude!-a

with eyes wide open,

ered. "I did not know it myself unt

re I made you t

you not

to be anything but commercial. I wa

mmercial view, lend me large

der, coolly, "you had other s

the bed-covers and rus

e money-lender by the throat, "do you dare

air of hands pinioned the Judge, and bore

t firm, "you is a good man, but n

d. I was bound in conscience and in common-sense to make you the only proposi

ded stimulation, the old Judge fell

shach Milburn, "here is th

ht from the negro's hands. His fury did not revive, and

is in appearance only. The healthy flesh which gives you and yours stature and beauty is a matter of food alone. My stock has survived five generations of suc

t the last uncons

such degradation as this, when I yielded to low propensities, a

off Virginia. Seizures, confiscations, the slave-trade, marriages-in short, the long game of advantage-built up the fortunes of the Custises, until they expired in a certain Judge, whose

ade a laugh

aughter in the damned meshes of your principal and interest! Call it maligni

design that I made myself your creditor, although, as the years have rolled onward and solitude chilled my heart, that has always pined for human friendship, I could not but see the kindling glory of your daughter's beauty. Like the sch

he sad man's bed, and held the hand,

r, Milburn!" m

d all the contumely of this good society, and on starveling opportunity have slowly recovered independe

shudder. "Such a hat is worse than a cloven foo

before the lamplight, so that its sh

e from the obscurity of the forest, sensitive, and anxious to make my way, and slowly gathered capital and knowledge, a person in New York directed a letter of inquiry to me. It told how

e executed in New York during the lifetime of the first Custis. They anticipated the expulsi

thren and their families had sailed to the Chesapeake, where the Protestants had successfully revolutionized for King William, an

e you fou

sense of some origin and quality. I traced myself back to t

asked the Judge, volupt

er had left his son

in little but legacies of wearing apparel, household articles,

my eldest son, Meshach Milburn, my

hion, no doubt, made in London; quite too ceremonious and topgallant for th

sque; and I made some inquiries for that best Hat. It was a legend among my forest kin, had been seen by very old people

o the oldest son!

ew the ancient things existing here that would help him to form Peale's Museum during th

at; bravo!" excl

was proclaimed to be the true hat of Guy Fawkes. I reclaimed it, and brought it to Princess Anne, and in

f Nessus, Milburn; it p

man's drink is another man's poison. You will accept that hat on the