The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-04-15

oill'e "f The Commissioner, and after a few
f"rnalities was admitted into his august
presence.
A solemn faced, closc-shaved parsonage
looked up inquiringly, from his desk. Mr..
Nebat. s'', said the officc-scckrr with an
Introductory bow. Take seat. Mr.. Ncbat ,
replied the oilcial col'lly cvcing him through
his Spcciarlrs; receiving the note which
Nchat eagerly stretched forth, he proceeded
to p"rnse it in a very deliberate manner,
pauSng once or twice to stare at the sub.
j"ct of its contcntssss As he finished his
>'ern"r, and slowly folding the note he re-
marked
MY dear sir, we have hundreds of such
recommendations as this daily. I very
much regret that it is entirely out of my
power to give you any employment
Nrha''s heart, innocent as hopeful, sank
within him, and the Commissioner, in the
same chilling tone. con,inued--
'lhcrc Is TO vacancy of any kind what
ever. | will, however, to ohiiTe Mr. G;lss.
place this letter on the file of applications
for future reference; yon are favorably con
slcred' The Commissioner resumed his
pen.
Can you tell mc'-bcgan the oflicc.seel :
Mr.. Grahb laid down the quill with the
air of an annocl man.
Did You alIr, 8, yourself to meg
4 was going to say replied Nebat rather
hesiiatinglv-
4 have no time, sir impaicntlv inter
rnp'ed the Commissioner waving his hand
with magnificent grandeur, mot the least.
l>r;'c! N"hat Indignantly retired. sick at
heart, and di>guStc,l with all the world his
eyes wcr" opened, the veil drawn away an,l
lie now felt and saw all bitterly he up.
braided himself for his foolish exlravagar =
in sqnandrring money tha, would have en-.
"hlr'l him TO leave the city; but he had nj,
ready en- off all hopes of retreat. In tie
course Of lis 'whndrrngs' he had pickv.! IN
numlrr OF ar1naintanccs, and to them he
went and cnlravorcd to raise a loan. Som.
pleaded poverty some one thing and some
another. In his desperation he smothrred
his now confirmed dislike Of Riclilipu Gass,
and resolved to apply to him; but, call
when he woul'l, he con!d never succeed in
seeing him. One day he was not in the
ed, and The next Extremely busy and the
next 'rxtrrm"lv busy AMI so on. Supli-
ed b: the rchutfS coming from all quarters.
the unfonunat" Nchat gradually sunk into
Il state of apalIetic Indifference, Spending
his time l"nn=ing around the Capitol. and
sleeping in the galleries. Two months
crcpt ly. and the suspicious landlady grew
very pressing for the settlement of her bill.
)" he sold the greater portion Of his war.l-
robe to meet Ter demands, and was told to
find some other lodgings
He now took little attic. and made
frequent visits to the DC. e.. office. inquiring
regularly it there were any varanricS, and
meeting rs often with cold rrpnlScs. On
one of his visits, he accidentally came in
contact with Hon. Richilieu Ga<s poverty
wonderfully changes a man. Nebat, a
month before. would have Indignantly spurn-
ed the thought of applying to one WHO had
so bitterly deceived him, but his pride WAS
now humhl"l-he advanced up to the NJ.
G., and, wi h a faltcring voice. inquired
whether he remembered Israel Ncba, 2
Rrhilieu Gass gracinnSlv graSprd the poor
"tfircse-kcr's hand, My dear Mr.. Nrbat, |
''"r"''t' S'u ''fS "c'i. are YOU III HOOu
health. sr!' My health is better than nv
-hegan Nehat. 4 am rcjoiced to hear it,
interrupted the member, pleasantly; good
morning. sir
Time passed on-Congress adjourned.
the members returned to their homes, and
lle summer winds softly stirred the foliage
in the Capitol grounds; there might be
seen half the day. the diSpirited and discon-
solatc Nehat no longer red.cheeked and
neatly appareled, but wan and holIow-eyel,
slovcn'y and threadbare. Reckless with
despair. he fell to drinking, and locking
himself up in his attic, remained whole
days in n state Of beasly ptoxication. He
would then spur up and try to obtain some
employment, and in little while relapse
into his former intrmpernte habits.
At last, by continually haunting the &c,
DC, Offices, he wore them out, and they
gave him little temporary copying just
enough to exc out life with; just enough
TO revive that intense burning fever Of hope,
which only an Office. seeker knows; lust
enough to make one feel what pool, mis-.
erahle dependence are governmental favors
One morning, while nodding over the
newspapers NJ l>TOWHS, Ills IaVOrNe IOunO-
ing place, Nebat's eye unconsciously rested
on the following interesting paragraph in
leading political journal:
THE Hon. RIcH1LIEU GAss-Our friends
will perceive, by referring to our telegraphic
columns. that this distinguished and truly
estimable gentleman has been reelected 70
Congress by over 5000 majority. His
numerous admirers here will rejoice at the
result, as affording signal proof of his
popularity. No man in Congress ever
worked harder for his constituency than
Col. Gass did last winter, and in thus return
ing hIm as their representative. they indicate
their thorough appreciation Of his splendid
parliamentary abilities
r + n
-Four years have flown by. Itis Christ
mas eye; lights are CLEANING here and
there from the festive balls of tho great and
rich. Hearts are futtering with Joy, and
merrie circles are gathering around the
family hearth to welcome in the new Christ.
mas. 1t is cold, bitter bold, windy night.
and ne who etands ehiveriDg at yon corner,
weakly attemntinU tn draw nronn1 him h;o