I haven't read a nuzepaper for a week, and wouldn't read one for a
dollar.
[Illustration]
I shall stay here till mi munny givs out, and shall cum bak tew the
senseless crash ov the city, with a tear in mi eye, and holes in both ov
mi boots.
This world iz phull ov fun, but most pholks look too hi for it.
On one side ov this mountain they say thare iz rattlesnaix, on that side
of the mountain, iz whare i dont go.
I am just az fraid ov a snaix as a woman iz, i had rather meet the
devil, ennytime, on a bust, than a three foot snaik. A striped snaik in
the morning spiles the rest ov that day for me.
I am coming home, dear Friends in two months, and then i will set down,
in yure little sanktum, and whisper to you.
It iz so still here, that a whisper sounds loud; a still noize iz
another name, i beleave, for happiness. The bible sez: "_peace, be
still_."
The fust thing i do in the morning, when i git up, iz tew go out and
look at the mountain, and see if it iz thare, if this mountain should go
away, how lonesum i should be.
Yesterday i picked one quart ov field strawberrys, kaught 27 trout, and
gathered a whole parcell ov wintergreen leaves, a big daze work.
When i got home last night tired, no man kould hav bought them ov me for
700 dollars, but i suppoze, after all, that it waz the _tired_ that waz
wuth the munny.
Thare is a grate deal ov raw bliss, in gitting tired.
Dear Mr. ----, good-bye, it iz now 9 oclk, P. M., and every thing, in
New Ashford, iz fast asleep, inkluding the krickets, I will just step
out and see if the mountain iz thare, and then I will go to bed too.
Oh! the bliss ov living up in New Ashford, cluss bi the side ov a grate
giant mountain tew guard yu, whare every thing iz az still as a boys tin
whissell at midnite, a musketo couldn't liv long enuff tew take one
bite, whare board iz only 4 dollars a week, and everyboddy, kats and
all, at 9 clok, P. M., are fast asleep, and snoreing.