And yonder is a stump-orator perched on his barrel, pouring out his exhortations to fidelity in war and in religion.

To-night for the first time I have heard an harangue in a different strain, quite saucy, sceptical, and defiant, appealing to them in a sort of French materialistic style, and claiming some personal experience of warfare.

"You don't know notin' about it, boys.

You tink you's brave enough; how you tink, if you stan' clar in de open field,--here you, and dar de Secesh?
You's got to hab de right ting inside o' you.

You must hab it 'served [preserved] in you, like dese yer sour plums dey 'serve in de barr'l; you's got to harden it down inside o' you, or it's notin'." Then he hit hard at the religionists: "When a man's got de sperit ob de Lord in him, it weakens him all out, can't hoe de corn." He had a great deal of broad sense in his speech; but presently some others began praying vociferously close by, as if to drown this free-thinker, when at last he exclaimed, "I mean to fight de war through, an' die a good sojer wid de last kick, dat's _my_ prayer!" and suddenly jumped off the barrel.