Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-01-03

Rock me to sleep, mother-rock me to sleepl
Major Jack Downing ON seces.
sion He Gives his Opinion
About Nuliificali0n, and Illus.
trates IL with a lucid example.
We produce for the benefit of the pres
ent day and generation, the following let
ter on notification, from the celebrated pen
of Major Jack Downing.
WAsHINGToN CRY, Jan, II. 1888.
To the editor of the Portland Courier,
in the Mariners Church Building, second
story, Eastern end, Fore street, away down
East, in the State of Maine.
Ny KIND AND DEAR OLD FRIEND The
Presidents Message to Congress makes
cracking work here. Mr.. Calhoun shows
bis teeth like lion. Mr.. McDufie is cool
as a cowcumber, though they say, he's got
terrible tempest inside of him, that he'll
let out before long. For my part think
the Presidents Message is about right. l
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 mes
sage that sent to Congress to-day?
told him hadn't. Well, says be, l should
like to have you read it and give me your
opinion on it. So be handed it to me and
l sot down and read it through.
And when l got through, now, says /,
Gineral, I'll tell you just what l think Of
this ere bus ness. When 1 was a young
ster some Of US DowningviIIe boys used to
90 down to Sebago pond every spring and
hire out month or two rafting logs across
the pond. And one time heard cousin
Ephraim, and JOEL and Bill johnson, and
two or three Others, had each Wrapping
big log to carry across the pond. II was
rather windy day and the waves kept the
logs bobbing up and down pretty consider
ably bad; so we agreed to bring 'em along
side aud and lash 'em together and drive
some tholepiEs in the outermost logs and
row 'em over together. We went along
two or three miles pretty well. But by and
BY Bill johnson b,gan to complain. He
was always an uneasy harum scarum sort
of a chap. Always thought everybody
else had an easier time than be had, and
when he was boy, always used to be COM
planning that the other boys had more but
ter on their bread than be had. Well, Bill
was rowing on the leeward side, and he be-
gun to fret and said his side went the
hardest, and wouldn't give US any peace
until one of us changed sides with him.
Well Bill hadn't rowed but a little ways
on the windward side before be begun to
fret again, and declared that side went
harder than 'tother and he would'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 began to get mad. At last he
declared if We didn change with him IN
five minutes, he'd cut the lashings an! take
his log and paddle off alone. And before
We had hardly time to turn around, he de-
clared the five minutes were out, and up
ha,chct and cut the lashings, and away
went Bill on his own log, bobbing and roll
ing about, and dancing like monkey to
try to keep on the upper side. The rest Of
US scrabbled to as well as we could, and
fastened our logs together again, though
we had tuff match for it, the wind blew 50
hard. Bill hadn't gone but little ways
when his log began to role more and more
and in be went splash. head and ears. He
came up putting and blowing, and got hold
OF the log and tried to climb up on to it,
but the more be tried the more the log
rolled; and finding it would be gone goose
with him pretty soon if be stayed there, be
begun 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 ginto tie raft again. o, says Bill, I'll
row on either side or on both sides if you
want me to, if you'll only come and belp
me before / sink.
But, said the President, / hope you
didn't help the foolish rascal out till be got
pretty well soaked. He got soaked enough
before we got to him says ], for be was
jest ready to sink for the last time, and our
logs came pesky near getting scattered, and
if they had, we should ali have gone to
to the bottom together. And now Giner-
al, this is just what I think; if You let
South Carolina cut the lashings you'll see
such a log railing in this country as you
never see yet. The old Gineral started up
and marched across the floor like boy
Says be, Major Downing, she shant cut the
lashIngs while my name is Andrew Jack
son. Tell Sargeant Joel to have his COM
pany sleep on their arms every night. l
told him they should Le ready at a mo-
ment's warning.
l wish you would jest give cousing Eph-
rain up to Augusta, jog to know why
be don't write TO me and let me know how
the Legislator is getting along.
remain your loving friend
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.