The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-01-25


We produce, for the benefit OF th
present day and generation, the fol
lowing letter from the celebrate
pen OF Major Jack Downing:
wAsnIxgroS. Jan. ~, 1891.
To the Editor of the Portland Courisr, In IN
Mariners Church building, socond story, Eas
crn ond Foro street. away down East, In th
state o! Maine.
My KIND AND DEAR OLD FRIEND
The Presidents Message to Con
gress makes cracking work here. =
MIR. McDutlie is cool as q cucumber
though they cay hos got q terribl
tempest inside of him, that he'll le
ont before long. For my part,
think the Presidents Message il
about right. l was sitting with th,
President, in the East room, lss
night, chatting about one thing ant
another, and the President, ssys he
Major Downing, have you read IN,
message that sent to Congress to
day2 | told him hadn't Well
says he, | should like to have yo,
read it and give me your opinion
upon it. so he handed il TO me
aud | sot down and l read it clea
through.
And when got through, nov
says Gineral, III tell you just whs
! think Of this ere business. Wher
| was youngster, some Of us Down
ingville boys used to 60 down I,
Sebago pond every Spring, and bir,
out o month or two rafting log,
across the pond. And one time
and cousin Ephraim, and Joel, snt
Bill Johnson, and two VI three more
of Us had each whopping great loi
to carry across the pond. Ii wal
rather a windy day. and the waves
kept the log bobbing up and down
pretty considerable bad, so we
agreed to bring 'em along side and
side, and lash 'cm together and
drive some thole pins in tie outer
most logs and row 'em over togeth
er. We went along two or three
miles pretty we'll. But by and by
Bill johnson began to complain. -
lie was alwas an uneasy harum
scarum sort Of fellow. Always
thought everybody else had an
easier time than he had, and when
he was q boy, always usod to bt
complaining that the other boys hst
more butter on their bread than he
had. Well, Bill was rowing on the
leoward side, and ho begun 10 fret
and said his side went the hardest
and ho wouldn't give ne any peace
till ono Of Us changed sides with
him.
Well, Bill hadn't rowed but q
little ways on tho windward side be-
fore he begun to frot again. and de
clared that side went harder thar
t'othor, 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 80. Blu,
he only iretted the more and bcgnl
to get mad. At last he declared i
We didn't change with him in fiv,
minutes, he'd cut the lashings anC
take his log and paddle off alone
And before we had hardly time e
turn around, he declared the tiv'
minutes were out, and mp hatche
and cut the lashings, and away wen
Bill on his own log. bobbinR ant
rolling about, and dancing like
monkey to try to keep on the uppel
side. The rest Of ns scrabblrd too a
we'll as we could. and fastened on
logs together again, though we hat
a tuf match for it, the wind blew o
hard. Bill hadn't gone hut a littl
ways before his log begun to ro
more and more. and by and by !
he went splash head and ears. ii
came up putting ard blowing. an
got hold OF the log and tried to clin
up on it, but the more he tried, tn
more the log rolled; and finding
would be O gone goose with hir
pretty soon IL he stayed there, h
begun to sing out like a loon Tor
to come and take him. We aske
him which side he would row II v
would take his log into the ra
again. o, says Bill, III row
either side, nr both sides il you wa
me to, il you will only bolp me b
fore l sink.
But" said the President, 81 hol
you didn't help the foolish rascal o
till he got a pretty good soaking
lie got soaked enough before we &
him, says /, for he was just ready
sink for the last iime, and our 10
came pesky near getting scattere
, and Il they had, we should all ba
: gone 10 the bottom together. a
, now Gineral, this is i,'st what
think; II you let South Carolina
the lashings, you'll sec such q j.
rolling in this country as you me-
see yet. The old Gineral started
!, and marched across the floor like
a boy. Save he, "Msior downing,
:, shan't cut the lashing while
h name is Andrew jackson. I
Sergeant Joel to have his c,mrs
=, sleep on their aims every night
"a told him they should be ready Q
n moments warning.
\, I wish you would jnst give cou
~ Ephrsim up to Augusta a jog
4 know why no don't write to me
no no Let me know how the Legislator
a, getting along.
or or | remain your loving friend.
- MAJOR JACK DOWNING
~ Last Letter to his Wife, from Rev
to Bewicy, OF the Methodest Epssc'
nj Chuvch, who was Musdsred BY n
eli .x.n Z