In the course of this conversation, lieutenant Lismahago dropt
some hints by which it appeared he himself was a free-thinker.
Our aunt seemed to be startled at certain sarcasms he threw out
against the creed of saint Athanasius -- He dwelt much upon the
words, reason, philosophy, and contradiction in terms -- he bid
defiance to the eternity of hell-fire; and even threw such squibs
at the immortality of the soul, as singed a little the whiskers
of Mrs Tabitha's faith; for, by this time she began to look upon
Lismahago as a prodigy of learning and sagacity. -- In short, he
could be no longer insensible to the advances she made towards
his affection; and although there was something repulsive in his
nature, he overcame it so far as to make some return to her
civilities. -- Perhaps, he thought it would be no bad scheme, in a
superannuated lieutenant on half-pay, to effect a conjunction
with an old maid, who, in all probability, had fortune enough to
keep him easy and comfortable in the fag-end of his days -- An
ogling correspondence forthwith commenced between this amiable
pair of originals -- He began to sweeten the natural acidity of his
discourse with the treacle of compliment and commendation -- He
from time to time offered her snuff, of which he himself took
great quantities, and even made her a present of a purse of silk
grass, woven by the hands of the amiable Squinkinacoosta, who had
used it as a shot-pouch in her hunting expeditions.
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