The Yankee Champion — page 137: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

130 THE YANKEE CHAMPION, ‘*With pleasure, if you insist.’’ ‘‘T do not insist, but I wish it should be so.’’ Nixon watched the gunner’s countenance nar- rowly, and he felt assured that he was not only in sober earnest, but that he was also in a sound and healthy mind: “You have a noble soul, Maynard, and I would that America had more such spirits upon her soil.” ‘“T have an American soul—the soul of one who would see his country free, and I believe you can say the same.’’ : ‘‘T may have a noble soul, but at any rate I can say I have one that gives a home to no evil. May- nard, this sword was given me by my father when he was dying, and I swore then that it should not rest till my country was free, or my Own arm was > stiffened in death.”’ ‘Walter Nixon, were you born in Concord?” ““Yes,’’ returned Walter. ‘“‘Was your father’s name Nathan?” “Ves. 33 ‘‘And his father’s satan him?” “Yes. But why these questions?”’ ‘“‘T knew your father well.’’ ‘Did you ever live in Concord ?’’ “Yes. Iwas by the death-bed when your aie father gave that old sword into the hands of your father.’’ “Jacob Maynard, do you speak truly now?”’ ‘“‘T was there, young man, and heard your father swear to live an honest and true life, and I believe he never broke his word.’’ - “He never did,” ejaculated Walter. ‘‘And you will never break yours?’’ ‘*Never.”’