Smith, Seba, 1792-1868 [1834], The select letters of Major Jack Downing [pseud] ('printed for the publisher', Philadelphia) [word count] [eaf378].
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LETTER XX.
Cousin Nabby describes the Temperance of Downingville.
Downingville, Jinerwary, 20, 1831.
To Cousin Sarah Downing, at School down to Portland.
I should like to know, cousin Sarah, if you have heard
down there to Portland any thing about a temperance society.
If you have just write and tell me what it means.
You know father wants to know the meaning of every
thing, and so I walked tu miles over to the school-master's
to borry Mr. Walker's dictionary to see what it meant;
and after all I want no wiser than I was afore, for there
wasn't one word in it about temperance societies. Tother
day father sot in the shop door, wondering if Jack would
go to the Congress or not, when a proper great fat redfaced
man came in, and opened a long paper with more
names on it than I could read in a week,—and says he,
Mr. Downing, I want you to sine your name to this paper.
Father took hold of the paper with one hand, and run
tother up under his hat, jest as he always does when he
tries to think; and, my friend, says he, I dont know as I
quite understand what this ere means. Why, says he,
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by putting your name down, you promise not to drink
any rum yourself, nor to let any of your family. My conscience,
father understood it then, I can tell you, he
hopped rite out of his chair, and I guess the temperance
man was gone in no time. Well, after father had time
to consider a little he began to feel afraid he had n't
used the man exactly right; for, said he, may be all
places aint like Downingville. I remember reading in
the newspaper of some places where they drink rum as
we do water, and get so drunk that they tumble about
on the ground. And may be the man did n't know but
what we drank it here. And if he was trying to do good
he was n't so much to blame after all. Indeed, Sam,
said he, for Mr. Josslyn came in while he was talking,
I've been told there are shop keepers who retale rum by
the half jill, to men who drink it at their counters, and
some can actually bare that enormous quantity two and
three times in a day. I never see Sam's eyes so big,
Sarah; he look'd as if he wanted to say, that's a whacker,
Mr. Downing; and so thinks I, I will write to Sarah,
and she 'll tell me all about it.
Your loving cousin, NABBY.
P.S. I tried to tell what father said in his own words,
cause you always like to hear him talk. Sam says
Sarah dont understand such things; the libry is only fit
for folks like her and the schoolmaster. A farmer ort
to stick to his ox bows and goard sticks. And I believe
he's half rite, Sarah, for I dont believe you are so happy
for trying to no so much; ever since you took to study,
I see you dont laugh half so hearty as you used to, and
you look sober three times as often. I 'm afraid you
will be a spoilt girl for the country, Sarah; you 'd better
leave your hard words and come up here and sing at
your wheel all day, churn butter and milk the cows, go
to slay rides and quiltings, and be as good and happy
as you used to be. I love you, Sarah, and always shall,
and I believe Sam would like you as well as he duz me,
if twant for your learnin. There, I wont say another
word, for I'm half cryin now.
N.
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Smith, Seba, 1792-1868 [1834], The select letters of Major Jack Downing [pseud] ('printed for the publisher', Philadelphia) [word count] [eaf378].
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