Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-03-01
MAJOR DOwNING's ILLUSTRATION
OF SECESSION IN 1898.

1 MAJOR DOWNING'S ILLUSTRATION
| OF SECESSION IN 1888.
was sitting with the President in the East
Room last night, chatting about one thing
and another, and President says he. Major
Downing, have you read my message that
sent TO Congress to-day | told him hadn't.
Well, says he, should like to have YOU
read it and give me your opinion upon it.
So he handed it 10 me and ! sat down and
read il through
And when got through, Now, says l, gin
eral, TIL tell you just what think Of this ere
business. When was youngster, some Of
US Downingville boys used 90 go down 20 Sc
bago pond every spring, and hire out a month
or two carrying logs across the pond. And
one time ! and cousin Ephraim, and joel, and
Bill Johnson. and two or three more Of us,
had each rhapPiDg great log TO carry across
the pond t was rather a windy day, and
the waves ken, the logs 5obbing up and down
considerable bld 90 we agreed to bring EN-
alongside and lash 'em together, and drive
some thole pins in the outormost logs and row
EN- over together We went along two or
three miles pretty well but BY and by Bill
johnson began 70 oJnplaiu. Fr was alwaya
an uneasy, harum scArum sort Of a chap. Al
ways thought everybody else had easier
time than he had and when he was boy al
ways used to be complaining that the other
boys had more butter on their bread than he
had Well, Bill was rowing on the leeward,
and he began to fret, and said his side went
the hardest, and he wouldn't give US any peace
til one of us changed sides with him.
Well, Bill hadn't rowed but little way on
the windward side before he began to fret
again, and declared that side went harder
than t'other, 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 fretted the more, and begun to
get mad. At last he declared il we didn't
change with him in five minutes, he'd cut the
lashings and take his logs and paddle of alone.
And before we had hardly time to turn round,
he declared the FIVE minutes were up, and up
hatchet and cut the lashings and away went
Bill on his own log, bobbing and rolling about
and dancing like a monkey to try to keep on
the upper side. Bill had not gone but lit
tie ways before his log began to roll, and in he
went, splash, head and ears. He came up
putting and blowing and finding it would be
a gone goose with him pretty soon if he stay
ed there, he begun to sing out like a 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 come and help me before l
sink.
But, said the president, hope you didn't
help the foolish rascal out till he got pretty
soaking. He got soaked enough before VIC
got to him, says |, for he was ready to sink
for the last time, and our logs came pesky near
getting scattered, aud if they had we should
all have gone to the bottom together. And
now gineral, this is just what think you
let South Carolina cut the lashings, you'll see
such log rolling in this country as you never
seed yet. The old gineral started up, and
says he, Major Downing, she shant cut the
lashings while my name is Andrew Jackson.
Tell Sargent Joel to have his company sleep
ON their arms every night.