Before he had turned into the road leading to the hotel, a sudden blast, from the horn of a fisherman near by, started the horse into a run, and almost drew Hill from his seat over the front of the carriage. The horses were checked-the visit to the hotel deferred until their return from Taunton.

They went on smoothly and without incident until the town of Quincy had been reached. Stopping at a farm-house, having an air of comfort, neatness and capacity without being ostentatious in any of its characteristics, Hill proposed to begin the real adventures of the day by asking some questions of an elderly looking gentleman who was standing at the door, apparently bidding adieu to some person with whom he had been conversing.

The old gentleman replied to Mr. Hill's salutation of "Good day, sir," in an easy and dignified manner, which convinced Hill that he had come in contact with a superior character. He was not one, however, easily embarrassed, and, pointing to a number of derricks, and other mechanical contrivances, used in quarrying the granite for which Quincy is so famous, asked what they

were.

The old gentleman said: "In that locality abounded one of the staples of New England, granite, and those parts of machines, scattered around the lodge, were used in quarrying."

"You have lived long in this neighborhood?" said Hill.

"Yes, I have," was the reply; "I was born near by." "Then you must be some acquainted here," said Hill.

"Yes, I'am acquainted some, with every part of the Uuited States."

"Well, sir, I do not wish to detain you. I was about to ask you a few questions, as I am in search of Yankee character; but, perhaps, your time's valuable. call on some other occasion."

I will

"Very well, sir, I shall be happy to give you any information in my power, whenever you feel disposed to ask it. Favor me, sir, with your address.".

'Hill, sir, known as Yankee Hill, comedian.”

"Ah, yes, I have heard of you, and, without meaning any offence, I should think you could act like a Yankee."

"Hill said "He hoped he had given no offence, and begged to know whom he had the honor of addressing?" "Young, sir," said the old gentleman; "in my life I have been called many names, but, for a period of nearly four score years, one name has always been considered my legitimate property-the name my parents gave me, John Quincy Adams, at your service."

Hill replied, that he felt honored in taking so distinguished a man by the hand, made some apologies for his intrusion, and concluded by saying, "Good morning, sir."

"Good morning, sir," said the ex-President.

He

Hill made a short cut to the carriage, and said he felt as if he should like to fall through his trousers. often told this story of his meeting with the ex-President, and colored it with a great many variations, but the facts of the interview were as described. Some time after, Mr Adams and the comedian met at Washington. The Sage of Quincy remembered well the incident.

He was an admirer of Mr. Hill, as were many of the eminent men at Washington. Hill's companion on the trip to Taunton had seen Mr. Adams in Boston, but did not so inform him until after he had given an acconnt of the interview.

Hill promised in some way to retaliate. Nothing worthy of especial note occurred on the road. In the afternoon, at an early hour, the two friends arrived at Taunton, put up their horses at the hotel, and prepared to perambnlate the town in search of old acquaintance.

A small cottage, with a workshop adjoining, and a sign with the name of "Post" upon it, attracted Hill's attention. He entered the shop, and inquired for Mr. Post. Mr. Post, the shoemaker, was absent at town meeting. Hill enquired of a boy, if he knew any body by the name of Sarah Babit?

The boy said "he didn't, but he 'guessed mother did : if she didn't, guess father did. Father know'd most all the girls in town."

This boy squinted, with one eye looking upwards while the other looked downwards.

Hill asked the boy how his eye came so ?

"Born so, just like father's and all the rest on us." "Where is your mother ?" said Hill.

"Well, guess I don't know; think she's gone to town → meeting, too."

Hill called again, and saw Mrs. Post. Afterwards he gave the following history of his farm-love, in the character of Major Enoch Wheeler, a bustling, inquisitive Yankee, ready for anything.

WHEELER.

"Well, I swow nothin' seems to be goin' ahead here,

the country is so darn'd small, 'tain't bigger than a sack full of airth well scattered; and there's that Thames river they brag so much about, I snore if one of out Nantucket whalers should undertake to come up there, she'd get jammed in. Hallo, Mister, how de dew?" MR. MARKAM.-An English exquisite.)

"Don't be impertinent, sir."

the fellow."

WHEELER.

(Aside)—“Confound

"Got a smart chance of ships here. 'Say, you, there's a gal in there been shinin' up to me."

"In there?"

MARKAM.

WHEELER.

"Yes; she run out, and called me her dear Ed'ard; she must have taken me for a coffee bag in plague I seemed to stagger her so much she ran right

time.
in agin."

MARKAM.

"You may now add to your other talents, that you excel in making mischief, and have, by your intrusion, consigned to misery two-no, one of the loveliest of her sex.

WHEELER.

"Well, I thought you didn't mean two, cause if you did, you couldn't be one on 'em. Oh, if I have overturned you, it's no more than right I should jump down and help you up. I'll go in, and send her out. 'Say,

you, is the gal rich ?"