.NTI.MTI0MQ

Guess what I brush my boots with, Zadoc. Give it up? That old scrub that Persis uses to clean the stones. "Old under Artemus" says, you did his business well, and sent him some "first-er rate-er" [underlined] fish hooks, + that he shall always send to you when he wants any business done in Boston. Keep your lips [?] firm, my boy, + stick while your health is good. You say, the time to come looks dreary. It will not appear so by + by. Do your duties cheer-fully [underlined] + manfully, + enjoy innocently the present [underlined], + trusting that all will be well. When you walk, throw back your shoulders (did you ever hear me say that be-fore?) for the sake of a full strong chest. Your friends [?] here, + they are many, often inquire about you. Buckfield will seem a lonesome place if the Branch stop, + many will move away. You don't relish my rhymes [underlined]. No wonder. I should have written prose, but you asked for them. I have a sort of poetical accompaniment in my noddle [?} that goes with the spice apples, + after I am delivered of that [underlined], I will write good plain English. I [underlined] like it better. I rhyme it for amusement, not because I like rhymes [underlined]. I seldom read any body's poetry. Shakespere, Milton, Pope, Burns, + some such wrote poetry worth reading, sometimes [underlined], not always [underlined]. A large part of the productions of the best poets, is worthless. What then can be said of 3.d rate modern rhymers? But here goes with the apples --