The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1833-02-23
From The Portland Courier.


WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. II, 1888.
= = To the editor of the Portland Courier,
' the Mariners Church building, sec col
y story, eastern end, Fore street, aw,
down east IN the State of Maine.
Il NJ kind and dear old friend I'll
u Preside .ot's Message to Congress make
a cracking work here Mr.. Calhoun show
his teeth like lion. MIR. McDuffie is a
cool as CO wcumber, though they say he
got terrible tempest inside OF him, tha
he'll let out before long. For my part
should think the Presidents Message a
bout right. was setting with the Presi
dent in the east ROOM last night, chassins
about one thing and another, and thu
President says hc, Major Downing have
you read my message that l sent to Con
gress to day. j told hir hadn't: Wei
says he, should like to have you read Il
and give me your opinion upon it. So he
handed it to me and 1 sot down and read
it through.
When'I got through, now says l, Gin
eral iii ;el you jest what l think of this
ere business. When was a youngster
some of US Downingville boys used to 20
down to Sebago Pond every spring and
hire out for a month or two rating logs
across the pond. And one time 1 and
cousin Ephraim, and Joei and Bill john
son, and two or three more oius had each
Of us'a Wrapping grent log to carry across
the Pond. 1t was rather windy day
and the waves kept tire logs bobbing up
and down pretty considerable bad, so we
agreed to bring 'em along side aud side
and lash 'em together and drive some
thoie pins IN the outermost log and row
'em over together. We went along two
or three miles pretty well. but by and
by Bill johnson begun TO complain. He
was always an uneasy harum scarum sort
of chap. Always thought every body
else had an easier time than he had, and
wnen he was boy always us'd 10 be com
planning that the other boys had more
butter on their bread than he had. Well
Bill was rowing on the leward side, and
he begun to fret and said his side went
the hardest, and he wouldn't give US any
peace till one Of W had changed sides
with him.
Well Bill hadn't rowed but little ways
'oE the windward side before he begun to
fret again, and declared that side went
harder than fother, and he wouldn't touch
to row on that side any longer. We told
him he had his choice, and he shouldn't
keep changing so. But he only freted
the more and began to get mad. AT last
he declared if we didn't change with him
in five minutes, he would cut the lashing
and take his log and paddle off alone
And before we had hardly time to turn
round, he declared that five minutes out,
and up hatchet and cut the lashing, and
away went Bill on his own log, bobbing
and rolling about, and dancing like mon
key to try to keep on the upper side
The rest of US scrabbled to as we'll as we
could, and fastened our logs together a
gain though we had tough match for it,
the wind blew 90 hard. lNll hadn't gone
but little ways before his log began to
roll more and mose, and by and by in he
went splash, head and ears. He came up
putting and blowing, and got hold Of the
log and tried 10 climb up on il, but the
more he tried the more the log rolled; and
finding it would be gone goose with him
pretty soon if he staId there, he began to
sing out like loon for US TO come and
take him. We asked him which side he
would row if we would take his log into
the raft again. o, says Bill, I'll row on
either side or both side if you want me to,
if you'll only come and help me before ]
sink.
But, said the President, I hope you
didn't help the foolish rascal out till he
got pretty good soaking. He got soak
ing enough before we got to him, saws j,
for he was jest ready to sink for the last
time, and our logs came pesky near get
ting scattered, and if they had we should
all gone to the bottom together: And
now General this is jest what think; il
you let South Carolina cut the lashings,
you'll see such long rolling in this coun-
try as you never see yet. The old Cen
eraI started up and marched across the
floor like boy. Says he, Major Down
ing, she shant cut the lashings while my
name is Andrew jackson. Tell Sargent
Joel to have his company sleep on their
arms every night. told him they should
be ready at a moments warning.
wish you would jest give cousin E
phraim up to Augusta jog to know why
he don't write to mo and let me know how
the Legislature is getting along.
remain your loving friend.
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.