Part III.] Morris Birkbeck, Esq. 381 



spring to put in your hundred acres of com that was 

 Tiever put in at all! However, let this pass too. Then 

 there are 220 dollars left, and these are to provide 

 cows, hogs, seed, corn, fencing, and other expenses. 

 Next come two cows (poor ones) 24 dollars; hogs, 15 

 dollars ; seed corn, B dollars ; fencing, suppose 20 acres 

 only, in four plots, the stuff brought from the woods 

 nearest adjoining. Here are 360 rods of fencing, and, 

 if it be done so as to keep out a pig, and to keep in a 



Fig, or a horse or cow, for less than half a dollar a rod, 

 will suffer myself to be made into smoked meat in the 

 extremely comfortable house. Thus, then, here are 

 213 out of the 220 dollars, and this happy settler has 

 seven whole dollars left for all " other expenses;'' 

 amongst which are the cost of cooking utensils, plates, 

 knives and Ibrks, tables, and stools ; for, as to table-cloths 

 and chairs, those are luxuries unbecoming " simple 

 " republicans." But, there must be a pot to boil in ; 

 or, is that too much ? May these republicans have a 

 washing tub ? Perhaps, indeed, it will become unne- 

 cessary in a short time ; for, the lice will have eaten up 

 the linen ; and, besides, perhaps, real independence 

 means stark-nakedness. But, at any rate, the hogs 

 must have a trough ; or, are they to eat at the same 

 board with the family ! Talking of eating puts me in 

 mind of a great article ; for what are the family to eat 

 during the year and more before their land can produce ? 

 For even if they arrive in May, they can have no crop 

 that year. Why, they must graze with the cows in the 

 Prairies, or snuggle with the hogs in the woods. An 

 oven! Childish effeminacy! Oh I unleavened bread 

 for your life. Bread, did I say ? Where is the " inde- 

 " pendent" family to get bread I Oh ! no ! Grass and 

 Acorns and Roots! and, God be praised, you have 



{>lenty of water in your wells, though, perhaps, the 

 amily, with all their " independence," must be com- 

 pelled to depend on your leave to get it, and fetch it half 

 a mile into the bargain. 



626. To talk seriously npon such a subject is im- 

 possible, without dealing in terms of reprobation, which 

 it would give me great pain to employ when speaking of 

 any act of yours. Indeed such a family will he free; 



