Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-12-28

PoSltlon. Let her do it Mt once. Delays
are dangerous. BELL-EvERETT.
He Gives his Opinion About NuIlifl-
cation. and Illustrates 1t with n
Lucid Example.
We reproduce, for the benefit of the
present dHy and generation, the following
letter on notification, from the celebrated
pen of Major Jack Downing:
WAsHINGToN Cry, Jan. II, 1888.
10 the editor Of tho Portland Courier, in the Mari
ncrs church Builling, second story, Eastern end.
Fore street. away down East, in the State of Maine
MY KIND AND DEAR OLD FRIEND The
Presidents Message to Congress makes
cracking work here. Mr.. Calhoun shows
his teeth like a lion. Mr. McDuIie is cool
as q cowcnmber, though they say he's got
terrible tempest inside Of him, that he'll
let out before long. For my part think
the Presldehts Message is about right.
was setting with the President in the east
room last night, chatting about one thing
and another, and the President says he,
Major Downing, have you read my message
that sent to Congress to-day. told
him | hadn't. WE'LL says he, should
like TO have you read it, and give me
your opinion upon it. So lie handed it
to me and sot down and read it through.
And when got through, now, says /,
Gincral, I'll tell you what think of this
ere business. When l was youngster
some of MS Downingvillc boys used to go
down,to Scbago pond every spring and
hire out month or two rafting logs
across the pond. And one time aud
cousin Ephriam, and Joel. aud Bill john
son, and two or three more of ns, had
each whappiug big log to carry across
the pond. 1t was rather n windy day md
tho baOk 1,o
down pretty considerable bad: so We
agreed to bring 'em alongside and lash 'em
together and drive some tllolcpins in the
outerm0st logs aud row 'em over together.
We wentnlong two or three miles pretty
we'll. By and by Bill johnson began to
complain. He was always an uneasy, ha-
rum Scarum sort of a chap Always
thonGht everybody else halia easier time
than he had, and when he was boy,
always used to be complaining that the
other boys had more butter on their
bread than he lad. Well, Bill was row.
ing on the leeward side, and he began to
fret and said his side went the hardest; and
lie wouldn't give us any peace until one of
us changed sides with him
Well Bill hadn't rowed but little WAYS
on the windward side before he begun to
fret again, and declared that side went
S%-'sN LSbASA tSAu UuLuuI 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 frettcd the
more, and began to get mad. At last he
declared if we didn't change with him in
five minutes. he'd cut the lashinps and
take his log and paddle of alone. And
before we had hardly time to turn round,
he declared the five minutes were out,
and up with the Ilatchet and cut the LASH
ings, aud away went Bill on his own log,
bobbing and rolling about, and dancing
like a monkey to try to keep on the up
per side. The rest of US scrabbled to
as well rs we could, and fastened our
logs together again, though we had a tuff
match for it, the wind blew so hard Bill
hadn't gone but little ways before his log
begun to role more and more aud in he went
splash, head and ears. uecame up putting
and blowing, and got hold of the log and
tried to climb up on to it, but the more
he tried the more the log rolled; and find
ing itwould be gone goose with him pretty
soon it he stayedd there, he bugun 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 sides if you want me to, if you'll
only come and help me before sink
69t' sald tue President, ] hope you
didn't help the foolish rascal ont till he
got pretty good soaking. He got soaked
enough before we got to him, says 1, for
he was jest ready to sink for the last time,
and our logs come pesky near getting
scattered. and if they had, we should aii
gone to the bottom together. And now
Gineral, this is jnst what think if you
let South Carolina cut the lnshings you'n
see such a log-rolliug in this country as
you never seen yet. The old Gineral
started up and marched the floor ike a
boy. Says he, Major Downing, she shan't
cut the l"shings while my name is Andrew
jackson. Tell Sargeunt Joel to have his
company sleep on their arms every night.
ment's warning.
| wish you would jest give cousin Eph
rain up to Augusta, jog to know why he
don't write to me and let me know how
the Legislator is getting along
! remnin yonr loving friend
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.