Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-05
COMMUNICATIONS.
LETTER FROM AN oFFIcE-sEEKER.
70 THE EDITORS or THE NATIONAL rsrrLIrerEcER.


ask permission to correct this erroneous impression We
have indeed followed the trade, and been friends
together" but while he has, after independent man
ner begged for bread, have been servle beggar for
oee He you because he thought probable that
he could not long survive, but do the same because
have actually numbered my days. The coroner must
fail in his duty Ihaye dispatched messenger with my
last shilling after bit Of that famous opate which have
appointed to be TIE bane to all better feelings % nay ma
ture, and at the time the antdote which shSl re-
lease from my present suerngs and the Intervening
time win devote to the revelation confession foAo"ng
Seven years ago in the prime and yigor OF my me-
and the successful lawyer in OF the p!easah'es
and most thriving villages in the Western Reserve OF
Ohio. had wife, devoted and accomplished, and TWO
sweet children, boy and girl. Though by no means
rich was surrounded with comfort and had every rea
son to be a happy The war with Mexico was then
progressing and became fred with martial spirit
The tears of my wife ayailed nothing and departed at
the head of company Of volunteers acquitted myset
respectfully and the war ending returned to Ohio. AS
matter of found that my place in the courts
had been filed, and my formidable rival The
gories Of Buena Vista had fascinated me- and with the
multitude thought that Gen. TAYLOR ought to be the
President bought out with the help of friends
the village newspaper and became its editor wrote
myself almost death in his BEHALF and every where
applauded for the good service had rendered. lie
elected and in due time was numbered with the count
less throng who visited the political Mecca for smile
from Mahomct. printing Office and three hundred
doubtful subscribers constituted my chief depend
ance, and deemng myself fit subject for little Gov
patronage, left my paper in charge OF friend
and my family the Of Providence, and here am
citizen of Washington.
Yes gentlemen for nearly seven long years have been
hoping against hope and experienced ycssitudes which
have wel-nigh broken my heart, and made rs be-
liaye the most miserable man upon earth a few
weeks my arrival here my prospects bright
while matters home well could be expected
Al my ready money had been obliged to bring with me
deray my expenses, that the support OF my family
was obtained upon credit and the tradesmen in viii
lage were very liberal and very kind. Confident Of
cess lived of the big hotels, and intimate
with members of Congress- letterwriters, and kindred
ofce-seekers if had been relative Of Of the
new Cabinet. They enjoyed my dinners and as matter
Of course their beautifully figured extern
siyey among my credentials and recommendations Two
months elapsed and could count up almost half hum
dred promises which had received from the Departments,
but still appointment The first position that
had fixed my mind upon given to judge in my
county, and as he highly respectable could
complain my second selection amounted to nothing,
because the fortunate incumbent not to be removed
and thus one after the other, did the places | sought
elude my grasp. Three months flown, and my
steadily in the face. thought of my family read
the aectionate and hopeful letters from my wife, and de-
ternnined 10 be independent man. and return immedi
ately to Ohio but then foolish pride interposed
smohercd my feelings and resolved to continue my eff
forts Promises from the Departments were now few and
far between and there kind of horror in the tones
OF the post Office clerk who daily said me, when
called upon him in the mad belief that would receive
official communication :. nothing for you to-day, sir
Whenever these repeated disappontments accom-
panied with letter from my wife, the sword that pierced
my spirit seemed to have two edges And on, the agony
that nightly endured lay upon my bed and thought
OF the past and the future-of the Lers and there!
During this period my dress genteei, and had
resolved hope on, hope ever, tried to find peace Of
mind by going into society. did So through the in
strumentality Of the Representatives Of my and
neighborng Sates-for they you know always honor
able men, by virtue Of their position-and became we'll
acquainted with the fashionable circles of the metropolis
Night after night attended large parties and, though
surprised to find myself in such splendid company was
more surprised the strange conglomeraon Of char
acters with which in contact High and low, Wings
and Democrats Senators and letter writer's cergymen
and gamblers, of intelligence and smpetons, (my-
self included among the atter,) were always assembled
upon the platform AID could only account Cor the
strange mixture by remembering that every hailed
from some particular district, and that every district
had Representative Aud yet, good sirs, would rot
have you understand doubling the existence Of any
heightened society Washington. Better and more gen.
society," verify believe, does not exist in any land
but is that addicted to large parties, and especially
large dinners where everlastngy endured the same
French Dishes cooked by the man, (who lives in
large brick house and keeps his carage served by the
same Of polite walters that have for many years past
done much give character to fashionable life at the
Of Government II, therefore, you should imagine
that found consolation BY going into society, can only
say that my taste its manifold attractions inspd
dust and ashes.
Time few Oh, and compelled to change my lodg-
ings from the frsatc hotel obscure boardxg house
To my pride this blow, but another and a
far more terrible suddenly upon me, bringing
mdew and blight and despair my spirit, and adding
10 the desolatons Of my hoae-it the death Of my
forsaken wife. The letters which communicated this
rowful news were friendly and minute They told me
that she had long been dropping like one under heavy
cloud; that her thoughts chung ever 70 the absent and
loved with the devotion Of womans holy nature and the
strong desires Of saint and that with her children al
most in her she died perfectly resigned and happy
in the prospect Of life where is never known and
the good die. What my feelings you can
better imagine than describe. | would have attended
her burial but il too late and besides had the
money to bear my expenses home. Strange a. II may
seem in one SO foolish and unworthy, did my best to
provide for my children but when informed that my house
had been closed and those dear little taken into the
kindly keeping Of charitable friends became in feeling
exile from home than ever and, as Sometimes