and mighty, never speaking' to him only to order him round.
Well, I told him I would write the letter, and I walked up to the mantery piece agin and took down my pen and ink, and got out a sheet of paper. He told me while I wuz makin' my preparations that he couldn't write yet, but he said proudly he could read, he had read a little book all though, mighty good readin' in it, too, he said.
Well, I read it out as I commenced it, "Jonesville, July 17th," but he stopped me and sez: "I don't want that on, anyway."
Sez I, "Why not?"
"Oh, my folks won't know nothin' about Jonesville; begin it Chicago; she's got a brudder dere."
"But I can't, Pompey; I must begin it where you are; it isn't proper to begin it Chicago."
"Well, den, c'mence dat lettah Bermudy Islands; she's got a uncle dar."
"Why, I can't. You don't live anywhere nigh Bermuda Islands."
"Dat makes no diffunce, Miss Allen; I want dat lettah from somewheah they will know about. She's done got folks in both dem places, and she'll know about 'em."
Well, I couldn't persuade him to have it Jonesville, so I comprimised on New York, for, thinkses I, it is in New York, and it won't be lyin', anyway; and I sez, "Now, Pompey, what shall I write?"
"Begin it, 'Strong drink is ragin'.'"
"Why," sez I, "you don't want that in a letter."
"Yes, I do; I read it in my own little book. She'll know jest how high learnt I am when she sees dat."
Well, thinkses I, it is good readin' anyhow, so I put it down. And he went on:
