The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-05-06

thing should be done for me. Poor
Nelly, too, called Upon the Secretary OF
State, who had formerly been intimate
in her fathers family, and begged and
implored for me some place that would
support US. Anything would do, for we
were childless, and our wants were few;
and he romised-TA They all promise
If hell is paved with good intentions,
purgatory surely is with promises. OH
the purgatory 1 have lived in these many
years. in which my life wasted and my
hopes died out.
Il have in my possession notes diplo-
matically worded, from statesmen, any
of whom could at any moment procured
the passage of my bill; but alas I pos
sessed no influence beyond my person
al endeavors, for the summer friends of
my prosperity had left me, and my veal
thy relatives deserted me after few
small loans which I could not repay
They loaded me with epithets. Called
me idle Idle Had not worked these
years, and years, labOriug OF my claim !?
None disputed that. 1t amounts to op-
ly sixty thousand dollars, and what is
that to government like ours? My
grandfather had supplied the Continen-
tai Army with stores, horses, wagons,
etc, under contract and through some
nismanagement, the debt had never
been paid, even in the worthless scrip
which then flooded the country, aud what
was at first several thousands, had
amounted with interest 10 the sum /
have mentioned. I am the only heir.
Cannot our great Government afford to
pay this claim ?-And still it fingered
on!
One of the great men I have men.
toned, offered to procure its passage
for half the spoils, and spurned his Of
fer, as 1 would scorn to lie or steal
What, cheat the Government Never,
sir l am, thank God, though sunk SO
low, an honest man! If I could not
get my claim upon its merits, would
lose it. Oh fool that 1 was Twas
only giving him some thirty thousands
that [ might be at peace during the re-
mainder of my life, and l refused it !
Refused-forgive me, sir, forget my
self
So the years passed on. and 1 felt
at length that stony steal
ipg over me, which is the result of hope
deferred. When I come to die, they
will fnd that my heart, beat it ever SO
liereeiy while 1 live, is stonc-solid
stone; and that passage from tue Scrip
lures will be found engraVen thereon:
9 P ut not your trust in princes |" Are
not these men priaces? Who rules? Do
thc people rule, sir? Mol A rotten gov
srnment in the hands of an aristocracy
IF cunning, rules this nation. The peo-
pie have no voice save blindly to cast
heir votes as tho great men bid them
Look at it. From tho highest to the
owest--from q national convention to a
town caucus, the few pull the wires aud
The many dance accordingly, by the mea-
sure slow or lively; serious or gay.
And they cheer, and eight, and vote,
poor fools, as their betters bid them
Perhaps if 1 got my claim 1 should not
De SO cynical.
dwell, time passed on, and took no
delight save in prosecuting with unwea-
lied patience, this claim of mine, till
ell into sad state, sir. A sort of in
anity that beset ME, so that I fancied,
It length that my claim had passed.
fancied, sir, that was worth sixty /
thousand dollars-what satire, sir, in
hat word a0o'th," valuing man in
lollars and cents. / fapoied that my
lear Nelly and rode in coach, and
we're happy; being free at length from
his horrible incubus of expectation.
"All fancy, all fancy, sir' 1t is
fancy of mine, too, that 1 am only
orty-seven. 1, who have wasted fifty
years at least, in this cursed city. I
hink that Nelly told this very morning,
3 we rode here in coach, that was
orty.seven. Do you know, she must
'ly her needle rapidly, rapidly, sir, to
,ay for a coach.
"I cannot count the number of years
hat have been here. I have forgot
en- the number of sessions that failed to
Ass my bill. My hair is very white,
nd my face wrinkled for forty-seyen."
The poor man ceased to speak, and
lis white head bowed itself, as with the
Teight of burden very hard to bear,
idipg from me the care-worn face, and
ager, burning eyes, whose restless vi
acity had attracted me to his side, up
n my first glance at him, as I sauntered
lowly up the broad avenue towards the
capitol.
At first sight had imagined him to
q man of seventy at least; for the
hin. white locks, furrowed cheeks and
sunken form, denoted great
ge and feebleness. But as he began
18th eagerness, in return for my respect.
III salutation, to discourse to me of his
fe, I found clear, though peculiar
oice, and an energy of delivery that