ON THE BEACH AT DAYTON A. 45 



off he went, the younger one in pursuit. 

 They passed out of sight behind the trees 

 of an island, one close upon the other, and 

 I do not know how the controversy ended ; 

 but I would have wagered a trifle on the 

 old white-head, the bird of Washington. 



The scene reminded me of one I had wit- 

 nessed in Georgia a fortnight before, on my 

 way south. The train stopped at a back- 

 woods station ; some of the passengers gath- 

 ered upon the steps of the car, and the 

 usual bevy of young negroes came alongside. 

 " Stand on my head for a nickel ? " said 

 one. A passenger put his hand into his 

 pocket ; the boy did as he had promised, 

 in no very professional style, be it said, 

 and with a grin stretched out his hand. 

 The nickel glistened in the sun, and on 

 the instant a second boy sprang forward, 

 snatched it out of the sand, and made off 

 in triumph amid the hilarious applause of 

 his fellows. The acrobat's countenance in- 

 dicated a sense of injustice, and I had no 

 doubt that my younger eagle was similarly 

 affected. " Where is our boasted honor 

 among thieves ? " I imagined him asking. 

 The bird of freedom is a great bird, and the 



