(wich is in the Stait uv Kentucky),
December 9, 1865.

Here in the grate Stait uv Kentucky, the last hope uv Democrisy, I hev
pitched my tent, and here I propose to lay these old bones when Deth,
who has a mortgage onto all uv us, shall see fit to 4close. I didn't
like to leave Washinton. I luv it for its memories. Here stands the
Capitol where the President makes his appintments; there is the Post
Offis Department, where all the Postmasters is appinted. Here it was
that Jaxon rooled. I hed a respex for Jaxon. I can't say I luved him,
for he never yoosed us rite. He hated the Whigs ez bad ez we did, but
after we beat em and elevated him to the Presidency, the stealins didn't
come in ez fast ez we expected. Never shel I forgit the compliment he
paid me. Jest after his election I presented myself afore him with my
papers, an applicant for a place. He read em, and scanned me with a
critic's eye.

"Can't yoo make yoose uv sich a man ez me?" sez I, inquirinly.

"Certinly," sez he; "I kin and alluz hev. Its sich ez yoo I use to beet
the whigs with, and I am continyooally astonished to see how much work I
accomplish with sich dirty tools. My dear sir," sed he, pintin to the
door, "when I realize how many sich cusses ez yoo there is, and how
cheap they kin be bought up, I really tremble for the Republic."

I didn't get the office I wantid.

Yet ez much ez I love Washinton, I wuz forced to leave it. I mite hev
stayed there, but the trooth is, the planks uv that city and the
pavements are harder, and worse to sleep on, than those uv any other