The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1863-03-06
vol. VINO. 10.

he'd work off the bile in his own way
Finally ses he, "Majer, what are you stan
din there for? "Why,' ses I, "I was wait
in to see what you was goin to do with that
boot-jack." SEES he, "Have I got the
boot-jaek y "Wal,' ses I, "you've got
sumthin in your hand that looks nifty
like one" "Wal," ses be, "Majer, I
want to know whether you mean to apply
that story to me ~ "No,' ses 1, "Ker-
mel. Didn't tell you at the outset that
I didn't; but you was tellin about what
you have done in the way of splittin
things, an I was reminded of that story
But 1 told you to keep your temper, an
not take it as personal, but only a joak p
"Wal,' ses he, "Majer, I'll forgive you;
but eff | thought you meant that story for
me, I'd arrest you for .disloyal practices,
an put you in the Old Capitol Prison.
Then the Kernel asked me to take
some Old Rye with him an make up
friends. So I did, but L noticed, after
that, that the Kernel watched me very
clus. The very next day I had an awful
attack of rumatiz, an also felt sick an
discouraged. Things never looked SO
black afore. | had dream that mite, an
! thought saw the old Ginneral, an he
told me, ses he, "Majer, this amt any
place for you now. The Abolishipists
have got full sway, an they will ruin tho
country as sure as my name is Andrew
Jackson" I also dreamed that saw
thousands of dyin men, an weepin vim
min, an cryin children. I thought the
doors of the houses all over the North
looked red with blood, an black cloud
hung over the hull land. People seemed
to be runnin first one way au then tother,
askin what they should do Finally 1
heered CRATE noise, like an arthquake,
that woke me up, an laid awake the rest
of the mite.
The next mornin ! was eenamost down
sick with trubbel an rumatiz, an I telled
the Kernel I must go hum, where could
get good keer taken of me. The Kernel
didn't say much agin it, for, after all, he
didn't kinder like that story, So ses 7,
"Mr. President, I've been with you now
for about year, an I've got clean con-
science, for I've tried to tell you the rale
truth jest as it is. Eff all who have come
around you had done the same, you would
not be where you are; butt ses I, tsI
amt got any feelin on the subject, an
whenever kin be of any sarvice to my
country, jest let me know an I will come
to Washington agin." "a t's~
The Kernel ses he "Majer, I know you
are a patriot, and I feel bad to have you
GO I wish now I had taken your advice.
But" ses he, "Majer," an here he Civ my
hand tight squeeze, "you know I've on
ly been boat in current, an vet like
the boat I'll be jest the one that win get
the worst smashed to pieces when the
precipice is reached" I couldn't help
feelin kinder sorry for the Kernel as T
bid him goodbye, but felt still more
sorry for my country that it had ever
made him President. ab
I got hum all safe, an since then Pve
been laid up four weeks with the rumatix.
I never had such long pull afore. AS for
writin with it on me, why / can't any
more do it than shad kin climb bean
pole. | expect you've been wonderin
why you didn't hear from me, but / think
this letter will explain the resin. IF the
rumatiz don't come on agin, an think
kin say anything that would be Of sarvicc
in this awful and solemn crysis of our
fate, I will drop you line I
feel as if the nashin was dyin, however,
an that we all orter put on mournin an
but come whatwill, I'm for my
country. Till deth, il %
MAJOR JACK DOWNING.