Nolan," said I,
"I will tell you everything you ask about. Only, where shall
I begin?"
Oh, the blessed smile that crept over his white face! and he
pressed my hand and said, "God bless you! Tell me their
names," he said, and he pointed to the stars on the flag.
"The last I know is Ohio. My father lived in Kentucky. But I
have guessed Michigan and Indiana and Mississippi--that was
where Fort Adams is--they make twenty. But where are your
other fourteen? You have not cut up any of the old ones, I
hope?"
Well, that was not a bad text, and I told him the names in
as good order as I could, and he bade me take down his
beautiful map and draw them in as I best could with my
pencil. He was wild with delight about Texas, told me how
his cousin died there; he had marked a gold cross near where
he supposed his grave was; and he had guessed at Texas. Then
he was delighted as he saw California and Oregon,--that, he
said, he had suspected partly, because he had never been
permitted to land on that shore, though the ships were there
so much. "And the men," said he, laughing, "brought off a
good deal beside furs." Then he went back--heavens, how
far!--to ask about the _Chesapeake_, and what was done to
Barron for surrendering her to the _Leopard_, and whether
Burr ever tried again--and he ground his teeth with the only
passion he showed.
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