Life and Writings of Major Jack Downing of Downingville: Away Down East in the State of Maine (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Life and Writings of Major Jack Downing of Downingville: Away Down East in the State of Maine

Arter I got my book all done, and had looked it over every day as the printer went along with it, till I got clear to the last page, so as to see it was done right, the printer comes to me, and says be, we want a Preface now. A preface! Says I, what in nater is that? Why, says he, it is something to fill up the two first pages with. But, says I, aint the two first pages filled up yet? I thought we had jest got through the last page; I hope our cake aint all turn ing to dough again. 0, it's all right, says he, we always, print the first pages last; all we want now is the preface, to fill up them are two first pages. Well, says I, but this is a pretty curious piece of business, this duin work backwards. I've hearn tell that Freemasons when they build their chimneys, begin at the top and work down, and that's what's got the Anti Masons so mad about it, that they are going to tear 'em all up, root and branch; but I never knew afore that folks printed the first end of a book last. But now, says I, Mr. Oprinter, if I've got to make this ere preface that you tell about, what must I put into it? 0, says he, you must tell 'em something about the book; how you come to make it, and what's in it, and what it's good for, and the like of that.

Well, says I, if that's all, I guess I can work it out in short metre. In the first place then, I made the book because I couldn't help it; if I hadn't made it, I dont believe but what I should have Split. And in the next place, I made it so as to get my letters all together, out of the way of the rascally counterfeits, so that folks might know the good eggs from the rot ten ones. And about these counterfeits, I see the New York Daily Advertiser says they are going to print a book of the counterfeit letters somewhere there or at Philadelphia. All I have to say about it is, they are welcome to print as many letters as they are a mind to, if they will only jest put their own names to 'em. But he that will print his letters and put my name to 'em, I think would steal a sheep.

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