University of Virginia Library

LETTER XXXVI.
In which Cousin Ephraim tells about the persecution of
poor Mrs No-tea.

TROUBLE IN DOWNINGVILLE.

Dear Cousin Jack. — Your uncle Joshua has been
turned out of General Combs' employ only jest because
your cousin Naby, Mrs Inkhorn, and Mrs Thimblebury,
and a few other of the topping-folks, wouldn't invite

poor Mrs No-tea to their husking and quilting parties.
I had a long talk with the General t'other day — he was
hopping mad, and declared he would turn every man
and woman off of his farm and out of his mills rather
than that good woman should be treated in the manner
she had been. She was as good as the best of 'em any
day, and he could prove it. He didn't care so much
about her going to their afternoon visits when they went
sociable without stays, and took their knitting-work and
got home again before milking time; but when there
was a grand husking or quilting, he thought it pesky
hard and lonely for her to stay at home, while every
body else in Downingville was trying the double shuffle
and the cutting out jigg. I tho't so too; but I told the
General it was no use for him to make such a fuss about
it; that he had better attack old Ticonderogue in front
and rear than undertake to make women haw or jee
if they want a mind to — they always would have their
own way in spite of every body and Tom Walker besides,
and the less he had to do with them the better.
With that he up and smashed his pipe into the fire-place
and stompt like fury and bedlame.

I scampered off in less than no time to inform you
how matters were going. You had better come up and
try to put things to rights.

As you have no wife nor children, I think you can
manage affairs more to your own and the General's
liking than any one else of the family.