Spite of his genuine courtesy and high breeding, a shade of displeasure passed over the Colonel's face as I made this remark. Rising to go, he said, a little impatiently, 'Ah, I see how it is; that d---- Garrison's sentiments have impregnated even you. How can the North and the South hold together when even moderate men like you and me are so far apart?' 'But you,' I rejoined, good-humoredly, 'are not a moderate man. You and Garrison are of the same stripe, both extremists. You have mounted one hobby, _he_ another; that is all the difference.' 'I should be sorry,' he replied, recovering his good-nature, 'to think myself like Garrison. I consider him the ---- scoundrel unhung.' 'No; I think he means well. But you are both fanatics, both 'bricks' of the same material; we conservatives, like mortar, will hold you together and yet keep you apart.' 'I, for one, _won't_ be held. If I can't get out of this cursed Union in any other way, I'll emigrate to Cuba.' I laughed, and just then, looking up, caught a glimpse of Jim, who stood, hat in hand, waiting to speak to the Colonel, but not daring to interrupt a white conversation. 'Hallo, Jim,' I said; 'have you got back?' 'Yas, sar,' replied Jim, grinning all over as if he had some agreeable thing to communicate. 'Where is Moye?' asked the Colonel. 'Kotched, massa; I'se got de padlocks on him.' 'Kotched,' echoed half a dozen darkies, who stood near enough to hear; 'Ole Moye is kotched,' ran through the crowd, till the music ceased, and a shout went up from two hundred black throats that made the old trees tremble. 'Now gib him de lashes, Massa Davy,' cried the old nurse. 'Gib him what he gabe pore Sam; but mine dat you keeps widin de law.' 'Never fear, Aunty,' said the Colonel; 'I'll give him ----.' How the Colonel kept his word will be told in another number. * * * * * ACTIVE SERVICE; OR, CAMPAIGNING IN WESTERN VIRGINIA. I have been to the war; I have seen armed secessionists, and I have seen them run; but, more than that, I have seen _Active Service_. It was _active_, and no mistake. In April last, my country needed my services; I had been playing soldier, and I felt it my duty to respond to the call of the President. I did respond. I uncovered my head, raised my right hand, and solemnly swore to obey the President of the United States for three months. The three months have expired, and I am once more a free American citizen, and for the first time in my life I know what it is to be _free_. ACTIVE SERVICE! That's what the military men call it. I have often read of it; I have heard men talk about it; but now I have seen it. I meet people every day who congratulate me on my safe return, and say, 'I suppose you are going again?' Perhaps I am.