University of Virginia Library

LETTER XXV.

Dear Uncle Joshua, — Cousin Jehu and I got down
here the Monday before the Legislater met, and sich a
dragging time of it, as we had through the mud, I guess
you never see. More than three quarters of the way, it
was as bad as ploughing mash-meadow in April. The
waggon wheels sometimes went in almost up to the hub,
and we had to get out and lift and pry as hard as the
Legislater used to, last winter, to get the wheels of government
agoing. Your poor old hoss is nearly done tu.
But we shall doctor him up as well as we can, so as to
get him home again. Next day we went round to see
how the market was. Your apple-sass fetched a good

price. We sold it to a Jacksonite tavern-keeper. He
said he wanted a little something to sour his dinners a
little mite; for his boarders were all Jacksonites, and
they'd got the upperhand so now days, that they complained
their victuals was all too sweet. Your boiled
cider went off at a real round price tu. Why, how
much did you boil that cider down? It was so strong,
that a gill of it would knock a man down any time. We
sold it to a Huntonite tavern-keeper. He said his boarders
were all Huntonites, and he didn't know what the matter
was, but they seemed to be rather down in the mouth
lately, and he wanted a little something to start their
ideas and keep their sperits up. So he gin us jest what
we asked. Ax handles dont fetch nothing hardly. The
bean poles turned middling well, though they dont go off
so glib as they did last year. I find folks are a little
more shy about buying of 'em for sheriff poles than
they used to be, for they say when a man gets one,
there's no knowing as it will be any use to him more
than one year. Howsomever, we sold a few of 'em
right out, and made a pretty good spec in 'em. And we
bargained away a number more upon condition that they
should want 'em. Cousin Nabby's footings fetched the
same they did last year, that is ninepence a pair, and
we got her a nice piece of cotton cloth for 'em. Tell
aunt Keziah we got for her bundle of urbs a pound of
good shushon and a quarter of snuff. We shall send
'em all up in the waggon by Jim.

But Jim will have to wait here till cousin Jehu gets
back again, for he took the other hoss Wednesday and
started off like a stream of lightning for Downingville.
Now I spose you will be a little struck up at that, till I
tell you the reason of it, but the fact was he came away
from home and forgot to bring his primy facy case.
And we met one of the members Tuesday night and
got to speaking about it, and he said it would be
of no use to think of getting a seat in the House without

one, for they were going to be very particular, and
nobody would be allowed to take a seat in the House
unless he could show a good fair primy facy case.
Well then, said cousin Jehu, the jig is up with me, for
as true as eggs is bacon I left mine at home. But,
finally, after considerin upon it, we concluded 'twas best
for him, as he was a pretty smart rider, to start off and
get it, and come back again as quick as possible. But
he might have been saved all that trouble, if he had only
known how it would turn out. For when the members
got together Wednesday morning, they appointed a
committee to go round among 'em and take the primy
facy cases and count 'em, and see if there was enough
to make a corum. I dont know as I can tell exactly
what sort of a thing a corum is, but they said the constitution
wouldn't let 'em do any thing till they had a
corum, and it took a hundred and thirty primy facy
cases to make one.

One of the Huntonites made a motion that the committee
should examine the primy facy cases, and not
count any but what was good.—But the Jacksonites
said no, they should count 'em all first, and they'd take
their seats and go to work, and have another committee
afterwards to examine 'em. They disputed about it a
little while pretty sharp; but at last the republicans begun
to get a notion that it was only jest meant to trig
the wheels of government, and it stuck in their crops so
they couldn't bear it any longer, and they up foot and
gave the trig such a kick, I guess the Huntonites nor
Jacksonites neither wont find it again this winter.

So they let them all take their seats with such kind of
primy facy things as they had got, and went to choosing
officers.

There aint but a few Huntonites and Jacksonites in
the Legislater this year, and its lucky there isn't, for
there is no telling how much mischief they did last winter.
There is so few of them are two rascally parties
here now, that are trying to ruin the country, that 'tis

thought the republicans will be able to keep the wheels
agoing and get along without much trouble.

I have a good deal more to write to you, but haven't
time in this letter. Elder Hall is here, but he is not
President this year. He thinks rotation in office is all
the beauty of republicanism, so he gave up the chair this
year to Mr Dunlap.

Cousin Sally has got most through her second quarter's
schooling here, and when she gets through, I dont
know but I should advise you to take her home, for she
grows so vain and accomplished, as they call it, that I
dont think it 'll do her much good. Jest look at her
last letter that she sent up in the Courier, and see how
lady-like she talks. And then in order to be mighty
nice, she must needs sign it Sarah; as if the good old
name of Sally, that her mother gave her, wasn't good
enough for her.

Tell cousin Jehu to make haste back again, for the
Legislater's rattling along so with their business that
he'll hardly get a finger in the pie if he isn't here soon.
They've made a Governor, and some Councillors, and a
Secretary of State, and a Treasurer, and a State Printer,
besides doing a good many other things, and it hasn't
took half so long as it did last winter to say poor Mr
Roberts shouldn't have a seat. This in haste.