"Under the oath of God, you declare it, do you?" sharply asked Bunker. "I do, sir," firmly answered the other. "Well, well!" exclaimed the former, with looks of utter astonishment, "I would not have believed that there was a man in all this country who would dare to do that!" 5. After the parties had been indulged in the usual amount of sparring for such occasions, the justice. interposed, and suggested that, as the oaths of the parties were at complete issue, the evidence of the book itself, which he seemed to think was entitled to credit, would turn the scale in favor of the plaintiff, unless the defendant could produce some rebutting testimony. 6. Upon this hint, the latter called up two of his neighbors, who testified in his behalf, that he himself always made a sufficient supply of cheese for his family; and they were further knowing that, on the year of the alleged purchase, instead of buying, he actually sold a considerable quantity of the article. This evidence seemed to settle the question in the mind of the justice; and he now soon announced that he felt bound to give judgment to the defendant for his costs. 7. "Judged and sworn out of the whole of it, as I am a sinner!" cried the disconcerted Bunker, after sitting a moment, working his rough features in indignant surprise; "yes, fairly sworn out of it, and saddled with a bill of costs, to boot! But I can pay it; so reckon it up, Mr. Justice, and we will have it all squared on the spot. And, on the whole, I am not so sure but a dollar or two is well spent, at any time, in finding out a fellow to be a scoundrel who has been passing himself off among people for an honest man," he added, pulling out his purse, and angrily dashing the required amount down upon the table. 8. "Now, Bill Bunker," said the defendant, after very coolly pocketing his costs, "you have flung out a good deal of your stuff here, and I have borne it without getting angered a particle; for I saw all the time that you-correct as folks generally think you— that you didn't know what you were about. But now it's all fixed and settled, I'm just going to convince you that I am not quite the one that has sworn to a perjury in this business." 9. "Well, we will see," rejoined Bunker, eyeing his opponent with a look of mingled doubt and defiance. Yes, we will see," responded the other, 66 determinedly; "we will see if we can't make you eat your own words. But I want first to tell you where you missed it. When you dunned me, Bunker, for the pay for a cheese, and I said I never had one of you, you went off a little too quick; you called me a liar before giving me a chance to say another word. And then I thought I would let you take your own course, till you took that name back. you had held on a minute, without breaking out so upon me, I should have told you all how it was, and you would have got your pay on the spot; but' If 10. "Pay!" fiercely interrupted Bunker; "then you admit you had the cheese, do you?" "No, sir; I admit no such thing," quickly rejoined the former; "for I still say I never had a cheese of you in the world; but I did have a small grindstone of you at the time, and at just the price you have charged for your supposed cheese; and here is your money for it, sir. Now, Bunker, what do you say to that?" 11. "Grindstone-cheese-cheese-grindstone!" exclaimed the now evidently nonplused and doubtful Bunker, taking a few rapid strides about the room, and occasionally stopping at the table to scrutinize anew his hieroglyphic charge. "I must think this matter over again. Grindstone-cheesecheese-grindstone! Ah! I have it; but may God forgive me for what I have done! It was a grindstone; but I forgot to make a hole in the middle for the crank!" D. P. Thompson. Blue inlets and their crystal creeks, Where high rocks throw, Through deeps below, A duplicated golden glow. 'Mid palms and pines, And olives, aloes, elms, and vines, 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Calm Capri waits, Beguiling to her bright estates. I heed not, if My rippling skiff Float swift or slow from cliff to cliff; With dreamful eyes, My spirit lies Under the walls of Paradise. Under the walls, Where swells and falls The bay's deep breast at intervals, Blown softly by, A cloud upon this liquid sky. The day, so mild, Is Heaven's own child, With earth and ocean reconciled; The airs I feel Around me steal Are murmuring to the murmuring keel. Over the rail My hand I trail, Within the shadow of the sail; A joy intense, The cooling sense Glides down my drowsy indolence. With dreamful eyes, My spirit lies Where summer sings and never dies; |