University of Virginia Library

19. LETTER XIX.
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;
everybody'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. It's 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 I 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 Republikans 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 had no more patriotism than your
old hoss.

But I musn'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 heart feel light again.
I haven't named it to a single soul here except Aunt 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 it's 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. Aunt
Sally has been darning my stockings all the morning. Love
to Aunt and cousin Nabby, and all of 'em. Good by.