Bozeman Avant Courier

An Arkansas Letter.

Dover, Oct. 3, 1872.

Mr. Dear Boy - The double barrel that you sent came safely to hand, and I was only shot at once while I was carrying it home. Bill Silvers popped at me from behind the fence, as I was passing by his house, but I had loaded the two-shooter as soon as I got it, and he didn't jump up from behind that fence but once.

I am glad that one of them barrels is a rifle, as I needed it for long-range practice. The other I can fill with buckshot, and can riddle a man nicely at close quarters. I mean to try both barrels on those Jetts when I meet them. You see, old man Jett stole a mule from us in the war and when it was over, pap laid for him and killed him. Then Nigger Tom Jett, as we called him - the black faced one - he laid for pap and plugged him. Then I picked a fuss with Tom, and cut him into giblets and since that time his brother Sam has been laying for me. I know it is his turn but I think my double-barrel will prove too much for him.

If you want to see fun come down for a while and bring a rifle. It don't make any difference which side you belong to, and it isn't even necessary to join the militia. It is easy to get up a grudge against somebody, and all you have to do is to lay for your man and knock him over. Behind my pig pen is one of the sweetest hiding places I know of, and it is so handy! A good many people come within range in the course of a week, and a man can pass his time right pleasantly.

I wish you would send me a catalogue of Sunday school books, with prices, if there are any in St. Louis. If we can get them on time we will take a big lot of books. I am superintendent of the Baptist Sunday school now, and am running it under a full head of steam. Old man Beyers who was turned out is right mad about it and swears that he will chaw me up; but he will chaw lead if he don't keep clear of me.

My wife wants to know if you can't send her a set of teeth without getting measured for them. Her twenty-five dollar set was busted all to flinders by a pistol shot that went through her mouth; but it didn't hurt her tongue.

Write soon to

P. S. - That sneaking ornery cuss, Sam Jett, crept up last night, and fired at me through the window, but he didn't happen to kill anybody except a nigger girl. I mean to go for him, though, to-day, and will be glad of a chance to try the double-barrel.