The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-11-16
FROM lie Portland Daily Courier.

aH0sh'Rgfon CITY. the 2Oth day 81 oe'' 'o'i'
Te the Portland Courier away down IN the
State of Maine, TO be sent to Uncle Joshua
Downing up in Downingyille this with care
and speed, and don't lie, any body see It,
DEAR UNCLE JOSH, I've got it at last as
true as you're alive, and now don't keer snap
for the latest of EN-. III teach them are
young chaps down to Portland that us'd 10
poke fun at me SO because didt get IN to be
Governor that they must carry better tongue
in their heads. or they II find out who they are
talking TO- | guess they'll find out by and by
it wont be healthy for em to poke iun al an
officer of my rank. And as for Jemma far-
sons that married the school master winter DC,
fore last. when she promised as fan as could
be that she would have me, she may go TO
grass for shat | care; would MT have hsr /
now no more than I'D have Virglny niger.
And guess when she comes 10 see the with
nv regmeptals on she II feel sorry enough, and
wish her cake was dough again. Now she's
tied down to that clod pole OF school master,
that was MT fit for school master neither, Tor
he has had to 20 to hoeing potatoes for living,
and much as ever he can get potatoes enough |
to keep EN- from starving, when If she had on
ly done as she had promised, she might now be
the wife Of Capt Jack Downing OF the United
States Army. But lot her go; as | said afore.
don't care a snap for her or all old Whites
cattle Ill tell you what lis uncle, feel about
right now. Ii seems TO me l could foot II
home in two days, for my feet never felt half
SO light before. There's no,hing like trying,
in this world, uncle; any body that tries can be
something or other, if he don't get discouraged
too soon When ! came on here, you know, |
expected to get one of the great Secretaries of.
fees; but the good old President told me they
had got him into such hobble about them are
offices that he could Mt give me one of EN- if
he was 10 die. But he treated me like gen.
,nJ 7 hall I'm. E. l..
as 1 live, and l told him SO. And when he
found out that was true genuine republi-
can, SAYS he, Mr.. Downing, you must be pa
tent, and Ill bear you in mind and do some
thing for you the very first chance. And You
may depend upon it, Mr. Downing, he added
with a good deal OF earnestnesx, | never desert
my friends, lei that lying Stephen Simpson of
Philadelphia, say what he will about il, COED
for nothing ungrateful dog. And he fetched a
stomp with his foot, and his ewes kind Of flush
ed so fiery that could nj help starring back,
for did MT know but he was going to knock
me over. But he looked pleasant again in
minute, and took ME by The haad, and now,
says he, AIR. Downing, ! give you my honor
that I'll do something for YOU as soon as | pos
sibly can told him hoped he would be as
spry as he could about it for | had Jest nino-
pence left, and did MT know how should get
along very well, in a strange place too. But
come and eat my meals, in his house whenever
I'd mind TO, or he would be bondsnan for my
board where put up. So I've worked aleng
from that time to this, nearly four months, as
well as could, sometimes getting little job
Of garden work, and sometimes getting a little
wood to saw, and so Or, nearly enough to pay
my expenses. I used TO call and see the Pres
dent once in while, and he always told me
must be patient and keep up good heart, the
da i'm h,po
would turn up for me by and by. But fact, al,
ter digging. and saving, and waiting four
months, my patience got most wore out, and
was Just upon the point Of giving up the chase,
and starting off for Downingvlle with the in
tenton Of retiring to private life when last
night, about o'clock, as | sat eating bowl Of
bread and milk for my supper, boy Knocked
al the door and wanted TO see Mr.. Downing
So They brought him into the room where
was, and says he, Mr. Downing, the President
wants to you for something very psrticu-
lar, right away this evening. NV heart al.
most lump'd right up in my mouth My spoon
dropt from my hand, and to eat another mouth
fu could MT if was to starve. | flew round,
and washed my hands, and combcd my head,
and brushed up as well as / could, and should
have looked tosrably spruce ie it had MT been
fos unlucky hole in the knee Of my trousers
What TO do did not know. II made me feel
bad enough, can tell you. The woman where
boarded said she would mend them for me if
] would take them of, but it would take her till
about nine clock, and the President was wait
ing for me, and there twas. Such hobble
never was in before. But this woman is a kind
good creature as ever was; shs boards me for four
and sIxpsnce week, considering that | split
wood for her, and bring water, and do all such
kind of chores. And she always had some con-
triVanee to get out of every difficulty; and SO
she handed me little pocket handkerchief and
tod me 70 tie that round my knee. Being thus
rugged cut al last st.rted off as fast as could
90 for the Presidents.
When went into his room, the old gentle
man was sitting by table with speetacles on
and two great lamps burning before him, and
bundle Of letters and papers in his hand He
started up and took me by the hand, aad SAYS
he good evening Mr. Downing, I'm very glad
TO see you; you arc The very man want now
above all others in the world But how ia this
said he, looking at my knee ? Not lame, [ hope !.
That would be most unfortunate thing at this
critical moment Ii would knock my plan in
the head at once lelt kind of blue. and
guess blushed little; but turned it off as
well as could told him was n lame at all
it is nothing bat slight scratch, and to-mor.
row morning should be as well as ever I wa.
in my life. Well then, says ne Mr. Downing
set Gewn here, and see what I've got 10 tell
you. The old gentleman set himself back in
his chalr ana pushed his spsctacles up on his
forehead and held up the letter in his hs nd and
says he, Mr.. Downing, here is a letter from
Gov. Smith OF Maine, and now sir I've got
something for you 10 do. You see now that
was sincere when ! told you if you would be
patient and stick 10 the true republican text. |
would look out for you one Of these days Pm
always true 20 my friends; that lying Ste ohen
Simpson might have had an Office before now if
be had behaved himself
Well, dear cir, said l. for ! felt in such puck.
or 10 know what ] was going TO get that |
could MT stand h any longer, so says ] what
sort Of business is it you've got Tor me 10 do :
So says he, Mr. Downing, take it you are
man Of courage; have always thought SO
ever since you faced Mr. Eaton SO boldly on
Mr.. lnghams door steps. Though was sorry
your courage was not displayed in a better
cause, for that Ingham is a rascal after ALL
told him as for courage ! believed had some
OF the stnH about me when there was any ocea.
sion Tor Il, and that | would never sta nd by
and see aay body abused. Well. SAYS he, we
must come to the point, for the business re.
quires haste.
Governor smith writes me that there are
tour OF your fellow citizens of Maine in Brit.
lsh JaIl at Fredericton, who have been takon
from their farms by British constables and
sherlfts and other officers and carried off by
force TO prison. BY this time my very hair
began TO curl, ] felt SO mad, and I could nj
help jumping up and shifting my fsts together,
and saving pretty hard things about The Brit
ish. Well, says tho President, / like your
spunk Me- Downing; you re Just the man !
want in this business. m going 10 rive Won |
u T... o.. ,