Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-02-14
A School Boys Letter.

M aud rejected cannot be
A School Boys Letter.
John Quill gets Of the following neat bur
esque in the New York Sunday Dispatoh:-
BIRcHrowN ACADEMY, Sept. 20.
Dear Pop.-I am getting along first rate at
the school, and | like it very much, all ex-
cept Whacks, the assistant-"Old Beeswax,
We call him-and we are down on him like
pile driver, all us boys, for he's Ignorant. Why,
he's SO ignorant he don't know a black. board
from dark night, no, he don't, and Bill Fer:
suson he put torpedo under each leg OF old
Beesey's chair yesterday, and when he sat
down (you see he sets down like he had ballast
in him) why the torpedoes then exploded, and
liked to blowed him through the roof. Golly,
but wasn't he scared He looked at the al
manac to make sure it wasn't the Fourth OF
July, and then he came down, looking mad land
licked Bill like blazes. But Bill said he didn't
carea cent, and the next time he would sprinkle
guupowder in his hair, and oust his old 'front.'
ispiece off of him.
DR.. Georges, he's nice enough old feller,
only he will sit and chew gum drops right be-
fore us boys, and never say take some" once.
He wears green specs, and Bill Ferguson ne
called him ''old four eyes, one day, which the
doctor he heard Bill say it, and he nailed him
and dragged him up to the desk, and then he
gave US lecture, and said there was once
boy he knew, and he was about Bills size,
who insultcd a grey-haired old man. and called
him wicked names, and the next day-the
very next morning-the boys mother died Of
infammatory rheumatism and his sister broke
out with bunions.
Bill, he cried, while the doctor held him by
the shirt collar, but he Winked at the boys as
he came away, and wrote On piece Of paper,
and threw it over to me that he thought the
doctor was "a blower" and he daresent hit a
boy of his size.
I want some new books very much, about
ten of them, aud they will cost eight dollars
Please send the money for them. Don't send
the books, for the doctor likes to buy them
here.
don't want any money for taffy or marbles,
for [ dom t care about them but be sure not to
send anything but the money for the books.
I am in good health. | was taken sick last
week, and had sore eye for a few days, but
it is now WELL
We was playing mumbley peg out on the
grass, and Bill Ferguson he grabbed my knife.
told him he better give that knife up or l
would tell you and get you to lick him when he
came down, and he said he could lick you and
uOZen IKE you, anu GueH ue uaIeu lue W
knock a chip off his shoulder.
And Jack AcGinnis he dashed me against
him, and that knocked the chip off, and Bill
and said he d s'bust me on>the snout if didn't
dryup,' Tor couldn't help crying, and was
taken sick, and couldn't 60 to school at all
that day.
And the doctor he locked Bill up in the
garret; but he didn't care, for he clumb out on
the root, and was chasing around after tom
cats, up and down, almost all the morning,
and pulling plastering out OF the chimney to
throw at people in the street.
Give my love to all at home and don't forget
the money for the books.
Bill is about fourteen do you think he can
lick you? -aa
Please send that money, and believe me your
atfectionate son. NJ. r. WILKINS.
P. S.-Don't forget to send the money for
those books
VIRGINIA LANDs.-It is, perhaps, no exag-
geration to say that one-half of our lands can
be bought upon the most reasonable terms.
The other half is probably under cultivation,
but not more than half titled. We have a
population OF little over million, when
there is ample room for from ten to fifteen mil
lions. A New York journal the Utica Her
aid, says millions of rich acres, within two
days ride by steam, F." invite the unemployed
working men of the North. 1t adds:
There is always large demand for the pro-
ducts which Virginia, and half a score of States
besides, yield in abundance Though this de-
mand exists, the lands lie idle, and those who
should till and possess them arc suffering for
the necessaries of life. The requirement is to
bring the laborers to the land. To that end,
information relative to desirable localities
should be everywhere difused and special aid
given if necessary 1t is certain that thous-
ands Of people are every month finding homes
on our unoccupied territories. What thous-
ands do, other thousands can as we'll perform.
II labor were properly distributed, there need
be not case Of want in the country.
There are numerous land agencies in the
State, and some of them have manifested a
most commendable degree of activity, and yet
there seems, to be some defect in the means
they adopt to operate upon those desiring ts
settle among us. The defect manifestly exists
10 the failure to advertise to q sufficient ertent
Ii they would succeed in effecting sales, these
agencies must advertise more literally. Our
newspapers are doing all they can to help
them, and in great measure at their own ex-
pense. But they cannot afford to do every
thing without some return.-Rtch. Whag.
~ a: q. MOTT s. co.