"
"Does your excellency think that I have exposed my life, and blasted my
character, for money?"
"If not for money, what then?"
"What has brought your excellency into the field? For what do you daily
and hourly expose your precious life to battle and the halter? What is
there about me to mourn, when such men as you risk their all for our
country? No, no, no--not a dollar of your gold will I touch; poor
America has need of it all!"
The bag dropped from the hand of the officer, and fell at the feet of
the peddler, where it lay neglected during the remainder of the
interview. The officer looked steadily at the face of his companion, and
continued,--
"There are many motives which might govern me, that to you are unknown.
Our situations are different; I am known as the leader of armies--but
you must descend into the grave with the reputation of a foe to your
native land. Remember that the veil which conceals your true character
cannot be raised in years--perhaps never."
Birch again lowered his face, but there was no yielding of the soul in
the movement.
"You will soon be old; the prime of your days is already past; what have
you to subsist on?"
"These!" said the peddler, stretching forth his hands, that were already
embrowned with toil.
"But those may fail you; take enough to secure a support to your age.
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