The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1861-01-25

Iiacstion, Nad Illustrates IL VITA a
Lucid Example.
We reproduce fot the benefit Of the
present day aud generation, the following
letter on notification, from the eelebra-
ted pen Of Major Jack Downing;
WAsmSeroN CRY, n, Iss9
To the Editor Of the Portland Courier,
in tho Mariners Church building i.
second story, Eastern end, Fore street,
away down Epst, in the State Of
Maine.
Ny KIND AND DEAn Old FRtENp;-Thc
Presidents Message to Congress makes
cracking work here. Mr.. Calhoun shows
his teeth like a lion. Mr.. McDufie is
cool as cowcumbsr. though they say
he's got n terrible tempest inside Of him
that he'll let out before long. For my
part | think the Presidents Message L
about right. I was setting with the
President In the east room last night,
chatting about one thing and another,
a nd the President says he, Major Down
ing, have you read my message that
sent to Congress to-day told him !
hadn't Well, says he, should lko to
have you read Il and give me your opin-
ion upon IL. SO he handed Il 10 me aud
and sot down and read Il through.
And when got through, now, says
Ginoral, I'll tell you Just what think Of
this ere business. Whom | was a young
stcr somo Of us Downlngville boys used
TO 20 down to Sebago pond every spring
and hire out a month or two rafting logs
across the pond. And one time ! and
cousin Ephraim and Joel and Bill John
son, aud two or three more ofus had zach
a Wrapping great log 10 carry 0cross the
pond. u was rather a windy day aud the
waves kept the l,gs bobbing up aud down
pretty considerable bad; 40 we agreed to
bring '0m alongside and lash 'om togeth-
or aud drive some tholopins in the outer
most logs and row 'em over together
We went along two or three miles pret-
" well. But by and by Bill Johnson be-
gan 20 complain. lie was always an un-
easy harum soarum sort ofa chap. Al
ways thought everybody else had an ca
sicr time than he had, and when he was
a boy, always used to be complaining that
the othOr boys had more butter on their
broad than he had Well, Bill was row.
| ing on the le0ward side, and he begun TO
| fret and said his side went the hardest,
and he wouldn't give us any peace until
ono Of us changed sides with him.
Well, Bill hadn't rowod but a little
ways on the windward side before he be-
/ gun TO fret again, and declared that side
went harder than 'tother, and he wouldn't
touch TO row on that side any longer
We toh him he had his choice, and he
shouldn't keep changing so. But ho on
ly fretted the more and begun TO get mad.
At last he declared II we didn't change
with him in five minutes he'd cut the LASH
ings and take his log and paddle of alone.
And before We had hardly time TO turn
round, he declared the Ave minutes were
out, and up hStehet and cut the lashings,
and away went Dill on his own log, bob
bing and rolling about, and daucing like
Iside:: -'"'' =" 49, - l->- T. -
The rest Of Us scrambled to a. we'll as
We could, and fastened our logs together
again, though We had tough match for
Il, the wind blew 30 hard. Bill hadn't
gone but a little why's before his log be-
gan to role more a. more and in he went
splash, head and ears. Ho came up
putting and blowing, and got hold Of the
log and tried to climb up on 10 Il, bat the
more he tried the more the log rolled;and
finding il would be gone goose with him
pretty soon II no stayed there, he begun
to sing out like a loon for us 10 come and
take him. We asked him which side he
would row Il we would take his log into
the raft again. o, says Bill, I'll row on
either side or both sides IL you want me
to, il you'll como and holp me before I
sink.
But said the President, hope you
didn't help the foolish rascal out till he
got pretty good soaking. lie got soak
ed enough before we got 10 him says /,
for ho was jest ready to sinS for the last
time, and our logs came pesky near get
ting scattered, and IL thoy had, we should
all gone TO the bottom together. Aud
now Gineral, this is just what think ;
il you let South Carolina cut the LASH
ings you'll see such log-rolling in this
country as you never sec yet The old
Ginoral started up and marched across
the Aoor like a boy. Says he, Major
Downing, she shan't cut the lashing'
while my name is Andrew Jackson
Tell Sergeant Joel to have his company
sleep on their arms every night. | toll
him they should be ready at momont'I
warning.
wish you would jest give eouSir
Ephraim up to Augusta, a jog 10 know
I why no don't write 10 ihe and lot mt
know how tho Legislator is getting
along.
remain your loving friend.
MAIOn IAHK nnNNNINO