University of Virginia Library

LETTER XXXI.

My dear old Friend,—Here I am right among the
Legislater folks, jest as I used to be down there to

Portland. I got here last night after a pretty hard journey
from Madawaska, rather lame, and my feet and
ears froze pretty bad. I hope I shant lose any of 'm,
for if I should lose my feet I should n't stand much of
a fag with the British down there to Fredericton in case
we should have a brush with 'em. And all my hopes
about ever being President of the United States depends
on the woful whipping I'm going to give the British.
And I'm afraid I should n't be much better off if
I should lose my ears, for a President without ears
would cut rather a sorry figure there to Washington.
I sent on to the old President to see if he would let me
have a furlough to come up to Augusta, while the Legislaters
were here, for I thought I could n't stan it
without being here to see how they get along. The
President said he did n't think there would be any
fighting down to Madawaska before the spring opens,
so he did n't care if I went. I jest hobbled into the
Legislater to-day to see 'em chuse officers; but I have
n't any time to tell you what a great fine house they 've
got into. I believe it 's vastly better than the one they
had to Portland though. And I guess there 'll be no
stopping the wheels of government this year, for I believe
they have got the house fixed so as to carry the
wheels by steam. They got the steam up before I went
in, and it was so thick sometimes, that I should think
the wheels might go like a buzz.

They told me there was a good many new members,
and a good many more of 'em, than there was last year;
so I did n't know as I should see hardly any body that
I knew. But I never was more agreeably disappointed
in my life than I was by the first voice I heard calling
the members to order.

I knew it as quick as I could tell the fife and drum
of my own company at Madawaska. And if I should
hear the fife and drum this very minute it would n't
give a pleasanter thrill to my feelings. I look'd round
and sure enough there was the sandy honest look, and
the large fleshy figure, of my old friend Mr. Knowlton

of Montville, holding a broad brimmed hat in his hand,
and calling upon the great jam of folks to come to order.
I could n't hardly help crowding right in among
'em to shake hands with him, I was so glad to see him.
But as I was only a lobby member I tho't it would n't
do.

But I 'll tell you what 'it is, you may depend upon
the business going off glibb here this winter; for having
a building go by steam and Mr. Knowlton here to
drive it, it aint all the Jacksonites and Huntonites in
the state that can stop it. And besides I cant find out
as yet that there is any more than one party here; it
there should be hereafter, I 'll let you know. I was
glad they chose Mr. White to be speaker, for he's always
so good natured and uses every body so well, I
cant help liking him. I have n't been in the Sinnet
yet, but they say Mr. Dunlap is President. I was in
hopes to see Elder Hall here this winter, but I believe
he has n't come.