f Independence.

Good, likely old document as ever wuz made. I know I hain't felt
towards it as I'd ort to time and agin, when I've hearn it read Fourth
of Julys by a long-winded orator, in muggy and sultry dog-days in
Jonesville.

But though, as I ort to own up, I've turned my back onto it at sech
times, I've allers respected it deeply, and it wuz indeed a treat to see
it now--

The very paper, writ in the darkness of oncertainty, and hopelessness,
and despair of our forefathers, and which them four old fathers wuz
willin' to seal with their blood.

Oh, if that piece of yeller, faded old paper could jest speak out and
tell what emotions wuz a-rackin' the hearts, and what wild dreams and
despairs wuz a-hantin' the brains of the ones that bent over it in that
dark day, 1776--

Why, the World's Fair would be thrilled to its inmost depths; Chicago
would tremble from its ground floor up to its 20th and 30th story, and
Josiah and I would be perfectly browbeat and stunted.

But it wuzn't to be; only the old yeller paper remained writ over with
them immortal words. Their wild emotions, their dreams, their despairs,
and their raptures have passed away, bloomin' out agin in the nation's
glory and grandeur.

And then we see amongst the treaties with foreign powers friendship
tokens from semi-barbarous tribes and nations--

Poor little gifts that didn't always buy friendship and justice, and I'd
told Uncle Sam so right to his old face if I'd've met him there as I wuz
a-lookin' at 'em. I'd a done it if he had turned me right out of the
Government Buildin' the next minit.

And then there wuz the first cannon ever brought to America, and the
first church-bell ever rung in America, and picters of every place that
Columbus ever had anything to do with, and a hull set of photographs of
hisen. Good creeter! it is a shame and a disgrace that there is so many
on 'em, and all lookin' so different--as different as Josiah and Queen
Elizabeth.

And then there wuz everything relatin' to conquest--conquest of Mexico
and etc., and everything about the food and occupations of men--all
sorts of food, savage and civilized, and all sorts of occupations, from
makin' molasses to gatherin' tea.

And there wuz the most perfect collection of coins and medals ever
made--7500 coins and 2300 medals. There wuz some kinder stern-lookin'
guards a-watchin' over these, but they had no need to be afraid; I
wouldn't have meddled with one of 'em no mo