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Bouton, John Bell

"Round the Block"


"A single word more," said this young man. "Do you, or do you not,
subscribe to my views on the Homestead Law?"
Pigworth looked at the three comers as if to say, "Mark how I crush him
now." Then, pointing his long right arm at the rash youth, he replied,
slowly, but with fearful distinctness: "I do not subscribe to your
views. Sooner would I lose this right arm than subscribe to them. There
is only one view that I subscribe to. That view to which I subscribe
(the Judge spoke with increased dignity here, and rose on his
toes)--that view is found in the Cons'tution. You would do well to study
the Cons'tution, my young friend."
This withering rebuke was greeted with shouts and clapping of hands from
all but the young man, who muttered something about humbug, and
looked glum.
The landlord had another excoriating remark, which he might have flung
at the young man and finished him up, but he magnanimously forbore.
"Now, my friends," said the landlord, patronizingly. He ushered them
into a dirty entry, and piloted the way up stairs.
"From New York, I suppose?" said the landlord.


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