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8 the wagons in the distance. "There is, particularly in New England, a sturdy yeomanry, such as our friend here belongs to," indicating the sergeant, "which really represents an admirable type of man."

"Gosh," exclaimed the sergeant, in admiration, "it's the durndest, gamest thing I ever see, you standin' up here as cool as a cucumber, when your property 's bein' took. I kin stand fire; my grandfather, he fought at Lexington, and he did n't flunk nuther, and I ain't flunked much. But I swan, if you Johnny Rebs was a-cartin' off my hay and stuff, I'd be a deal more excited 'n you are. And my old woman—gosh t' almighty!"

The lanky sergeant seemed completely staggered by the contemplation of the old woman's probable behavior upon such an occasion.

"There are other things, my friend," answered the Colonel, putting his hands under his coat-tails and turning his back upon the barn in the distance, "which are of more consequence, I opine, than hay and corn. That, I think, the most limited intelligence will admit."

"That 's so," responded the lanky sergeant, "I kin do a sight better keepin' bees up in