"We ar' both purty well," said Uncle Dan, shaking hands with all present. "I tell ye what's a fact, it's gettin' cold out, an' no mistake, snowing just like blazes." Joe, who was in no talkative mood, took a seat in a corner, and fixed his gaze on the fire. "I thought from the way the wind whistled it had grown colder. Come, Maggie, fix Uncle Dan and Joe some supper," said the planter. "Ya-as, fur I'm hungry as a wolf," returned the old man, with the familiarity of a frequent and welcome guest. "Are you hungry, Joe?" asked Mrs. Tompkins. "I am, but it is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." "I'll put that ar' fellur agin any preacher in the settlement for quotin' Scriptur. He jest seems to know the whole thing by heart." "Have you heard any news recently?" Mr. Tompkins asked. "News! Don't talk about news! Jist wait till I've had some supper, an' I'll give ye a little mess o' news that'll make ye hair stand on ye head." After the mountaineer had partaken of a warm meal, and returned to the comfortable sitting-room, Mr. Tompkins asked: "What is that remarkable news, Uncle Dan?" "Wall, I kin tell it now," he answered, resuming his seat, "but I sw'ar it war too much for a empty stomach. About two hours ago the news first come to Snagtown, an' now the whole place is wild. The convention, which met at Charleston, South Carliny, three days ago, passed ordernances o' secession, and declar' the State out o' the Union." "Oh, pshaw! it must be a mistake," said Mr. Tompkins. "Mistake? Not by a jug full. It ar' a actual fact. The news came in as straight as a crow flies. There war rumors o' it before, but now it's sartin." "Great heaven! that means civil war." "It means war, but it wont be civil, not by a jug full. They ar' already talkin' about musterin' men and gettin' ready to fight. Thar's to be a grand muster and speakin' at Snagtown next Saturday. They say that Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas ar' sure to foller South Carliny, in a few weeks, and maybe all them slave States, even Virginia and Missouri." "Have the people gone crazy?" cried Mr. Tompkins. "It's no more than might be expected," said Oleah. "The North has set her foot on the South, and if she feels like withdrawing from the partnership, she certainly has a right to do so." "Partnership?" put in Abner, with an astonished look. "It is merely a confederation of States, formed by a compact, and, if one wishes to withdraw, she has the right," answered Oleah. "Our Government is formed by the people, and not by the States," said Abner.