The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-02-11
Tor OF THE Court HOUSE SrEEPLE, ]
E,L On 1850
Soft BRICK, ESQ:

SOFT BRICK, ESQ..
Dear Sri am pleased to learn by your
letter in the last Free Trader, that you have |
at length obtained permanent situation
on the court house steps. While you have
thus the advantage of me in position for
hearing things, l imagine, however, in my
place at the top of the steeple, / am vast
ly better posted for seeing; and it has oc-
Cured to me that a good understanding
between us might be mutually advanta-
geous. You know the court house folks
have set me up here to watch and report
to them accurately how the wind blows,
and am compelled to turn my face to eve
nv even the slightest breeze. Now this is Of
ten not little puzzling, as breezes fre-
quently come at the same time from differ
ent quarters. | have a brother on the top
Of church over the way, whose situation
is much less perpieXipg. He tells me that
church people are vastly less sensitive
about breeZes than politicians, and that
his instructions are rigid not to shift his
position until there is a decided blow from
a new quarter And this makes my situa-
ton unpleasant in another respect, since,
in indicating the lighter breeZes | often
point in directions greatly variant with his,
and people say that | am telling tibs, be-
cause they think church folks less given
to fbbing than politicians.
! But this Is not even the beginning Of MY
/ troubles. Let me explain. You alluded
1 to the county offices. Now there is the
1 Office OF sheriff A few weeks ago the
/ court house folks consulted me about the
breezes on that subject. fslt around, and
, finally ventured TO make n point towards
MENDOZA. You can't imagine what hub
bu5 that raised. Well, it was no usa to
swear at me, for they knew | Ets1c; but
there was such hustling among the bel
---1s.f down stairs that ! soon found the
Mendoza breeze grow uncertain enough
But while that liuttered in the most spas
mode way, ! could catch no other that
was more certain. ! ct they are constant
ly running to me and insisting that ! shall
make point What SEaNI dor \ on are
in position TO hear what is going on, even
70 watch the motion of the bellows, and
catch the under cUrrent-can ! Won he!Y
me out little!
Then there IS the Circuit Clerk business
in reference to which my perplex;ty Is il
e possible still more aSoaizine. Every day
perfect blasts come Up from right under
me, and / am commanded 10 point, but
they are counter blasts, and for the life o.
me ! can't tell which Is strongest Mixed
and apparently struggling with thesc.-o
tiDsil liat NtNti anu i4-fS t<NL btL-t4 '-1l-a-
breeze>. but the perturbation under me ],
so violent that | don't venture to point fJl
these. What in the world are YOU abou;
p under ne? Where did such huge below.
come from ? and VIVA, mn I 10 do ?
i word about the Pros. Attorneyshir
and ! viii conclude Tor the last few
weeks a soft, tim;d woiiing. martyr kind
Of d breeze On this subject has come NJ
. from the direction OF Otter Creek. and ma.
played with my cheeks 50 gently that
have feit'like nursing it. Even my broth
er over the way liked it 20 well that he va.
, tempted to recognize it The court hous.
people come out occasionally and loo!, a
my timid point il that direction. -!Uil,
. obviously. and pay no further attention I,
, it. ! week ago it grew q iittle-iusc
. rag little stronger. ard one Of the hea,
court house men happened 70 notice it
lie went in and gave the bellows one turn
and the breeze died away ike ripple
He looked Up with evident satisfaction
J and replied To my pleading look TO let
, come back, by touching his thumb = b:
nose and letting the fingers play in = ho
rizontal direction theTctrom The breeze
: however. did come back but weaker,
: possible, than ever. and of course viii b
: nowhere when the bellows ar"p ut 70 wori
= again. Can't You help to swell the VOLUME
of that breeze? Truly Yours,
: G. II WEATHEEvANE