The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman PotterAdams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
General
The Life and Adventures of Maj. Roger Sherman Potter
Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
Political fiction
not a little disturbed in his temper at the state of his accounts,
for he knew the city was as slow to pay an "over ordered" bill as it
was quick in paying homage to great demagogues. He therefore, in the
kindest manner, intimated to the major, that unless he would be
personally responsible for the "surplus," he must close the score at
his bar. And this he said in self-protection, for no man could lay
the charge of having done a mean act at his door. The major, with
becoming courtesy, pledged his honor to the landlord, and bid him
think no more of the bill, since if he closed the floodgate of his
bar, which gave out such exuberant medicine as made the tears of
patriots to flow, his power would surely be at an end. "Be not
agitated, sir," said he, with an air of enlarged self complacency,
"but convert your misgivings into confidence in me, for I see you
are a true republican, and would not harm a man whose fame is so
well established." Thus the major addressed the landlord, who
retired with regained confidence, and, as I thought, a feeling of
self reproach for having intimated his doubts in the matter.
The major was now getting weary with the mighty business of
receiving the compliments of ten score would-be patriots and noisy
politicians, when there entered a greater man than any of them. And
this was no less a person than Don Fernando, a man of much will and
circumstance, and now mayor of the city. Many things had been said
of this truly great man, not the least of which was, that the Romans
ought to be thankful that he was not born in the days of the Cæsars,
though in the honest yearnings of his ambition he had frequently
indulged in the thought, that his wisdom and invincibility of arm
was second to none of them. Indeed, it was said among other things,
equally true, that he had more than once consoled himself with the
fact, that if he had not gained the notoriety of Cæsar, it was no
fault of his will, for he could make promises he never meant to
keep, and gnash his teeth at his enemies, to an extent that ought to
satisfy the most enthusiastic admirer of Roman greatness. But
republicanism, as developed by the prudence of our people, had so
changed and altered things, that great men, though they had
performed unheard of deeds of valor, were laughed at when they
assumed powers not clearly belonging to them.
As the design of this history will be imperfect unless I record what
took place when these great men met, and which ought to be read and
considered by future generations, I must here inform the reader,
that he will find it faithfully translated in the next chapter.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
WHICH CAREFULLY RECORDS WHAT PASSED BETWEEN THE MAJOR AND THE
MAYOR-HOW THEY MADE SPEECHES, AND WERE SERENADED.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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