Cousin Ephraim in the difficulties.

— Feb. 25, 1830.

Dear Jack.—Here I am, about half way to Portland,
with one shu of the old lumber box broke down, and

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tother one putty rickety. Its about half the way bare
ground, and the old hoss begins to be ruther wheezy.
But you know I don't give up for trifles, when there's
a chance to make a spec. Soon as I got your letter
about the bean poles, I made business fly. Mother put
me up a box of beef and dough nuts, and I fed old grey,
and tackled up, and all loaded and ready to start in tu
hours; and if I live I shall get the bean poles there at
some rate or other fore long; but I'm fraid I may be
late. If you know the Governor, I wish you'd just ask
him to keep his appointments back a little while; he
shant loose nothing by it if the poles sell well. I shall
have to go the rest of the way on wheels, and I want
you to see if you can hire one of the government wheels
and come and meet me, for the plaguy fellers here wont
trust me with their wheels till I get back. Besides if I
could get one of the wheels of government, I'm thinking
I could get along a good deal faster; for I met a man
jest now from Portland that said they've got them are
wheels going now like a buz. He said there was no
wheels in the country that could go half so fast; and he
thinks they work a good deal better for being split up
and mended so much. Grandfather said they would
want as many cockades as Sheriff polls; and so he put
in his old continental one, that he had in the revolution.

P. S. I hope you'll get the government wheels to
come arter the poles, for I want some that are putty
easy trig'd, cause the hills are ruther slippery.