, ride me on a rail!« returned the General,
after pausing for consideration.
    »You know we didn't wish to sell the lots off right away to any loafer as
might bid,« said Scadder; »but had con-cluded to reserve 'em for Aristocrats of
Natur'. Yes!«
    »And they are here, sir!« cried the General with warmth. »They are here,
sir!«
    »If they air here,« returned the agent, in reproachful accents, »that's
enough. But you didn't ought to have your dander ris with me, Gen'ral.«
    The General whispered Martin that Scadder was the honestest fellow in the
world, and that he wouldn't have given him offence designedly, for ten thousand
dollars.
    »I do my duty; and I raise the dander of my feller critters, as I wish to
serve,« said Scadder in a low voice, looking down the road and rocking still.
»They rile up rough, along of my objecting to their selling Eden off too cheap.
That's human natur'! Well!«
    »Mr. Scadder,« said the General, assuming his oratorical deportment. »Sir!
Here is my hand, and here my heart. I esteem you, sir, and ask your pardon.
These gentlemen air friends of mine, or I would not have brought 'em here, sir,
being well aware, sir, that the lots at present go entirely too cheap. But these
air friends, sir; these air partick'ler friends.«
    Mr. Scadder was so satisfied by this explanation, that he shook the General
warmly by the hand, and got out of the rocking-chair to do it. He then invited
the General's particular friends to accompany him into the office. As to the
General, he observed, with his usual benevolence, that being one of the company,
he wouldn't interfere in the transaction on any account; so he appropriated the
rocking-chair to himself, and looked at the prospect, like a good Samaritan
waiting for a traveller.
    »Heyday!« cried Martin, as his eye rested on a great plan which occupied one
whole side of the office. Indeed, the office had little else in it, but some
geological and botanical specimens, one or two rusty ledgers, a homely desk, and
a stool. »Heyday! what's that?«
    »That's Eden,« said Scadder, picking his teeth with a sort of young bayonet
that
