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"Mr & Mrs" Douglas Cruger request the favour of Mr F. C's company to dinner, tomorrow at 5 o'clock." R. S. V. P. Shall I go? My mind is not made up. I shall take time to consider. Where will Miss Nina be, all this time? She will be indifferent to it all, in her new character of Margravine of Schwellanberg. Saidee, Troy was taken, at last. Do you know how? By a horse made of wood and stuffed with men. Saidee, dear, put that [text ?] in your [ ?]. I have another copy, and shall be proud to have you accept him. I offered it at 55, but no - it was not in High Dutch, and she would not have it. Do you take it, my dear, and keep it for my sake. All the Dutch men living will not get it out of your nice little hands, I am certain. I have a request to make. Ask cousin Henry how he is getting on - if she appeal, pay, or what? Then, when he has told you, sit down and write me another little letter, so that I may know how things are going on. He will not write in a month, and I have as much curiosity as a girl, but reading High Dutch you are my only channel of communication. I am quite serious in making this request. When you see Aunt Nancy express my regrets. I shall take an early opportunity to die alone in age myself. She used to be our intimate acquaintance, and I was a great admirer of hers, and a warm friend of the
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Commodores. The great obstacle to intercourse is the great deafness - that has kept me away from her home these dozen years. I wish to be remembered to your Aunt (Doreen) and all your sisters. As I am banished from 55 we'll have a time around your tea-pot. The chargrave go on the 12th. Pah! He'll never go alone - somebody told one of them High Dutch men that Napoleon was dead. "He dead! You don't know him," was the answer. "He gone, you don't know him." Let him stay; I can find plenty of tea. Saidee I am not only a scamp - I'm a cat. For eleven years have I staid at the Globe. I have a love for places, just like a cat. I have seen the Globe go down, down very down, until it has fallen into the hands of my own waiter, yet I do not like to leave it. Cooper must soon leave his house, where I have been so much at home this many a year, and then I shall not have a visiting friend below Franklin Street. No, I am a cat - a cat and a scamp. Long after 55 is deserted I shall be seen hovering around its venerative bricks, looking for mice. Mrs Cruger talks of her veneration for that building - it is contempt, compared to mine. I have some such feeling for the Globe. I cannot quit it without mature affection. Of one thing you may be around, however - when the contents of the home descends as low as "Berts" I'll pull on my own boots, and walk out of it. I am coming to town in aug. intending to see no one
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for a fortnight. Then I shall go and see you. My first visit will be to you. After that we'll have a time! Should you see Miss Louisa, give her my hommage. I do not think her much my friend, but give her my homage. It is christian to love those that persecute you, and to pray for those that despite fully and you give her my homage, therefore. Should you happen to see cousin [Earlene ?] present my profound respects to her. If you can do it as High Dutch so much the better. I sent them some bass and Henry writes me word they are "nearly as good as Charleston Whitings." A competent company so pronounced them. I suppose that [ love of a ?] was one of the party. She and the margrave sitting in judgment on my poor, dear, little bass. Well, I must be a great descriptive writer, I acknowledge. Spontaneously, as it might be, have I most accurately described those bass, for they were poor, and they were dear, and they were little. Talking of size, I am so thin you wouldn't know me. No [ ?] butcher would buy me. Even the taller of [crawl -? ] lers would reject me - I might do for soap, for [puttering ?] so much as, some might come off, but clearly I would never do for candles. I wouldn't burn. I intend to sell myself for anatomy. Seven [pounds bass ?] , two inches in circumference, and altogether attenuated Is it sorrow that works this change - [ ?siers solo ? ] ? Saidee Adieu, my dear child, J. Fenimore Cooper
Hall, Cooperstown, Jan. 11th 1850 Saidee, dear, many thanks. Cider should never be drunk out of silver. An earthen mug for cider, pewter for beer, and silver for punch. I shall take a mug with me when I go for the cider, which I trust {Dona ?] has not drunk quite up. Jingle, jingle go the sleigh bells. Have you been to hear Mrs Kemble ; if not wait and go with me. My old companion is lost to me, and you shall henceforth you shall take her place. I'll drink your tea, and cider, be your beau, send you grapes - sour grapes will they be to her - and take you all over town. Saidee, dear, don't say "city." It is quite as bad as them! In 'town', out of 'town', leave 'town' is the pretty word, and city is cockney. Your nice little letter reached my nice little hands, in perfect safety. It came through all the snow, warm and friendly, and was very acceptable Yes we'll go and hear Mrs Kemble; you, and I, and Clara. If any body else wishes to go let them wait [ ?] the roads in High Dutch. I will drink your [vodka ?] - I don't like High Dutch tea. Shortly after I get to town - not to the city, dear - I expect to receive a [ vote in these wines ?]
