University of Virginia Library

LETTER XXXI.
In which Mr Downing tells how he got a new kink into his
head, in consequence of the blow-up of President Jackson's
first Cabinet.

Dear Uncle Joshua,—I'm in considerable of a kind
of a flusteration to-day, because I've got a new scheme
in my head. New ideas, you know, are always apt to
give me the agitations a little; so you mustn't wonder if
my letter this time does have some rather odd things in
it. I don't know when I've had such a great scheme in
my head afore. But you know I was always determined
to make something in the world, and if my friends 'll
only jest stick by me, I shall make common folks stare
yet. Some thought it was a pretty bold push my trying
to get in to be governor last year; and some have laughed
at me, and said I come out at the little end of the horn
about it, and that I'd better staid up to Downingville and
hoed potatoes, than to be fishing about for an office and
not get any more votes than I did. But they can't see
through a millstone so fur as I can. Altho' I didn't get
in to be governor, its made me known in the world, and
made considerable of a great man of me, so that I shall
stand a much better chance to get an office if I try
again. But I must make haste and tell you what I am
at, for I am in a great hurry. I guess you'll stare when
I tell you the next letter you'll get from me will be
dated at Washington, or else somewhere on the road
between here and there.

O, uncle, we have had some great news here from
Washington; every body's up in arms about it, and
can't hardly tell what to think of it. They say the
President's four great Secretaries have all resigned;

only think of that, uncle. And they say their salaries
were six thousand dollars a-year; only jest think of that,
uncle. Six thousand dollars a year. Why, a governor's
salary is a fool to it. On the whole, I'm glad I
didn't get the governor's office. I shall start for Washington
to-morrow morning; or I don't know but I shall
start to night, if I can get ready, and travel all night.
Its best to be in season in such things, and I shall have
to go rather slow, for I've got pretty considerable short
of money, and expect I shall have to foot it part way.
I shall get there in about a fortnight, and I'm in hopes
to be in season to get one of them are offices. I think
it's the duty of all true republicans that have the good
of the country at heart, to take hold and help the President
along in these trying difficulties. For my part, I
am perfectly willing to take one of the offices, and I
hope some other good men will come right forward and
take the others. What a shame 'twas that them are
Secretaries should all clear out, and leave the poor old
General to do all the work alone. Why, uncle, they'd
no more patriotism than your old hoss.

But I must n't stop to parley about it now; what I want
to say is, I wish you to write a recommendation to the
President for me to have one of his offices, and go round
as quick as you can and get all our friends at Downingville
to sign it, and send it on to Washington as fast as
possible; for it would be no more than right that I should
show the President some kind of recommendation before
he gives me the office. I want you to tell the President
that I've always been one of his strongest friends; and
you know I always have spoke well of him, and in fact
he is the best President we ever had. It might be well for
you to quote this last sentence as an `extract from a
letter of the Hon. Jack Downing.' It would give the
President some confidence in my friendship, and the
`Hon.' would convince him that I am a man of some
standing in this State.

Now you keep up a good heart, uncle; you have always
had to delve hard all your days up there on the
old farm, and you've done considerable to boost me up
into an office, and if I get hold of these six thousand
dollars a year, you shall have a slice out of it that will
make your old heels feel light again. I haven't named
it to a single soul here except cousin Sally, and I want
it to be kept a profound secret till I get the office, so as
to make them are chaps that have been a sneering at
me here, stare like an owl in a thunder shower. And,
besides, if it should leak out that I was going, I'm afraid
somebody else might get the start of me, for there are
always enough that have their mouths open when it
rains such rich porridge. But its like as not, the newspapers
'll blab it out before I get half way there. And
you needn't think strange, if you see some of the Boston
or New York papers in a few days saying, `The Hon.
Jack Downing passed through this city yesterday, on his
way to Washington. It is rumored, that he is to be
called upon to fill one of the vacant offices.' But I must
stop, for it is time I was picking up my duds for a start.
Sally has been darning my stockings all the morning.
Love to Aunt and Cousin Nabby, and all of 'em. Good
by.