The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-07
to get Webster's Big Dictionary,
and Sees Mr.. Wheclock "face to
face" s and What Transpired at the
Tntervaexv

Interview.
ST. PAUL, January 81, 1862.
To Mr. GOODRICH Printer efths Pioneer and Democrat
HoNoRED SIR: Ohopping and getting
in of my winters firewood, and doing other
little chores about the farm, has kept me 80
busy about my home, that 1 couldn't till
now get down to thia town for Webster's
big Dictionary; and that accounts for my
not writing before, for aspell back.
Since I've been down here, havn't had
scarcely minute to myself, on account of
the questions put to me about Mr.. Wheel
ock's book, and what the folks around
Sawyersvile all thought and said Of it.
From the interest 1 seemed to take in the
book, good many Members of the Legisla-
ture have told me that they'd try to get the
Governor to put me into Mr.. Wheelock's
Bureau on Statistics; but told them all I
wouldn't hear on it, for nothing. Some
told me that it was "good birth" and that
I wouldn't have nothing to do, but to
write composition on anything saw fit,
for introduction, and then copy off as
many addresses at agricultural fairs as l
could get hold of, and that was all I'd have
to do. But told them that I was plain
farmer and that as for compositions, 1 had
sent my boys to school to do that; and that
most of the fellows that lectured and spoke
at County and State Fairs, didn't know oats
from barley, nor whether sleeps teeth was
in its upper or lower jaw. Besides, since
coming here, had heard that Mr.. Wheel
ock thought l had come down after bis
Office, and was considerably riled up about
it :; howsomever, l thought would go and
pay my devours Il find that's what they call
it down here) to Mr.. w., and our Member
said be would go along, and introduce me.
then proceeded and went.
On getting to Mr.. Wheelock's Bureau,
our Member said " Mr.. Wteelock, Mr..
Zebulom Sawyer Mr.. Zebulon Sawyer,
Mr.. Wheelock !" l made low bow, and
said, =" I'm proud to be acquainted P" and
was about to ask him to come up on a
visit to Sawyersville, When l noticed that
be looked grum, and wasn't inclined to be
sociable.
Our Member, seeing my dubersome looks,
as stood there, minute or two, feeling of
my hat brim all round, whispered in my
ear, that that was Nova Scotia Manners
that it was what the English call " Bon
hommony!"' Seeing that Mr.. Wheelock
was in the agricultural line, and from Nova
Scotia, remembered that Sam Slick had
said something about that same kind of
hommony, in that country, and was about
to inquire how they made it, when Mr.. w.
spoke up, rather quick, like:
$50 you've been writing for the papers,
have you, about my book? 2"
told him l believed l had that honor.
"Well," says he, "what do you KNOB
about my book, that you contumaciously
presume to enlighten the public respecting
the archives and official reports of this de-
partment of the government?
owned up to him, square, that 1 didn't
know darned thing in bis book but that
hearing it was got up for the purpose of
doing the farmers some good, and OF bring.
ing out emigrants to this country, we, up
10 our neck of the woods, had been for some
time past trying to read his book, and to
see what it all meant; but that as yet we
couldn't make nothing out of it, on account
of the big words it had /; and that just as
we got cleverly into it, like farmer plow>
ing, great snarl of these big words, like
some old crooked bunch of grubs in new
clearing, would hook into us, and mash up
every thing, and stump US, till we had ais
most gave up trying Of it. told him, that,
owning to these things, l had come down to
St. Paul to get Websters big dictionary;
and when had got that to help read his
book, 1 was intending to write you further
on what thought of it.
I noticed that while was speaking
about the big words in his book, that he
seemed rather pleased, and nodded his head,
as much as to say, There, old chap, I'm
too much for you, and your big dictionary
together!" Seeing how pleased he had be-
come, all at once, I thought I'd ask him a
few questions about his book, and in that
way should get little light on it so l
took it up, which it was lying on the table
near him, and turned to page 6, and asked
him what the following passage meant:
"The parallels of 600 and 300 north lat
itude mark the northern and southern
limits of this central plain. The interval
between these extremes exhibits, in soft and
gentle transitions, from one thermal eleva-
ton to another, the sOhole range of uyeabk
d;versties from tropic to arctic fora. The
cotton, sugar, rice and fruits of the south,
merge By gentle gradations into the cereals, the
hardy roots, the nutritious grasses, the focks
and herds oftae north"