RECOLLECTIONS <>i AN OLD PIONKKI:. 171 pecially in the Western States.* I, therefore, came in for my fnll share nf censure. They accused me of misrepresentation. In a letter I wrote on the Sweet water, a tributary of the North Kork of the Platte, I stated that, up to that point, the road we had traveled was the finest natural route, perhaps. in the world. With out any regard to the place from which the letter bore date, they construed it as a description of the iiitin route. Consequently, whenever they came to any very bad road, they would most commonly say, "this is more of Burnett's fine road." . In my communications publisjfcil in the Herald, I gave as much statistical information as I could well do, giving the prices of most kinds of personal property; and, among other articles mentioned, I stated that feathers were worth 37 1-2 cents a pound. Two or three years afterward, the demand having increased faster than the supply, the price went up to (i2 l-'J cents. I was therefore accused of misrepresentation in this case. They would say: "Now, Burnett, here is a plain case. You said feathers were worth 37 1-2 cents, and we find them worth 62 1-2 cents." I would answer: "That us to he too plain a case even for a lawyer to get around: yet. I have this to say, that I did not assume to act the prophet, hut only the historian. I told you what the price was then, and not what it would be two or three years later." I remember that on one occasion, in passing a house late in the fall, I saw that a new immigrant family occupied it, from the fact that it had previously stood vacant : and I deter- mined to call. The lady told me the name of the State from which they came, irave me other particulars in regard to the family, and asked me how long I had been in the country Finally she inquired for my name; and. when I told her it was Burnett, she said: "We abused you a giva; deal on the mad. I suppose we oiiirht not to have done it. but we did do it." I could not but lauirh. there ;is such perfect frank- ness in her statement. It was the u hole truth and no more. Then*- letter* ar- r-|.rlni.-.| In the December yimri. rl>. l!M. ,,|. III. ., i.
