The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-03-06
B. B. BLACK WE'LL, EDITOR.

who wrote letters for me would fee
under great personal obligation t,
Colonel Curtin if he gave me the ap
pointment.
! I was glad / had gone into the bu
siness, for / never knew before what {
worthy member of society / had been
| I read the letters, every one, at leas
once day, They made me feel good
and if | had died then I would have
died happy.
! At first start to get names to my
petition, I thought | might have some
chance for the appointment, and every
day strengthened my hopes until !
looked upon it as dead certainty. ]
pitied all other applicants, for was
sure they would be disappointed.
was astonished that they should think
of it anyhow, for none of them seemed
to have any claim on the party, or any
strong backing. Their eagerness in
! securing what little influence they
could get, seemed to me as little bet
ter than insanity. When my friends
jokingly introduced me to their ac-
quaintances as the next Whiskey In
spector, l could not see the propriety
of treating it as joke Everybody
takes liberties with an applicant for
Office. When man has signed your
petition, and added, II hope you will
get it," he feels free to crack joke at
your expense whenever he pleases. =
The foolish attempts at wit, on my be-
ing good judge of whiskey, and
therefore fit for the Office on my bear
ing testimony to my own fitness on my
face, &c, were disgusting then, and
more so now. Everybody thought I
had to inspect the whiskey by tasting
it. When they asked me how it was
done, had to confess my ignorance
These were the disagreeable parts of
the thing, but they did not trouble me
much, for I had al abiding conscious
ness of my Importance and dignity as
one of the officers Of the State, which
resisted all such slight annoyances.
Having my documents all ready, I
started for Bellfonte to present them
to the appointing power This was
a new sensation. The thought up
permost in my mind was a regret that
was about to part with my petition
and letters. They were the highest
source of happiness l had ever enjoy
ed, and to part with them seemed too
great a sacrifice, even for the posses
sion of the commission they were too
obtain I thought seriously of re-
turning home and keeping them as a
basis on which to rest my claim to a
perpetual responsibility and life long
happiness.
| had quite long talk with Col
Curtin. liked him exceedingly. He
could not promise anybody, and was
only sorry lie had not Offices enough
in his gift for every applicant He
acknowledged the strength of my back
ing, said he had heard of me, aud
knew I would be an applicant |
asked him several questions about pol
itics, and paid great Difference to his
opinions. To show him that l knew
something of the duties of my pros.
pective Office, | praised his whis icy
and took second drink.
| had heard of three other appli.
cants for the Office, and asked him how
many had applied. He said there were
about hundred, but would be many
more before the Inauguration.
When / went back to the hotel, tai
landlord said there had been a tremen
dous run of Office seekers, and it wa
Increasing. He seemed in good spir
its, or.he was at the head of the stream
where they all spawned part of thei,
money | was not in particularly fin
spirits myself The facts in the case
taken in general way, seemed agains
the chances of any one man. Ninety
nine blanks, and perhaps q hundre'
> and ninety-nine to one prize, CAV
each one frst-rate chance to draw
t blank The Governor elect had bee
so gracious in his manners to me tina
o | was not wholly discouraged. A
T that moment | felt as if he was tn
only friend l had in the world, and be
r lieved if I didsnot get the appoint
ment it would not be his fault.
e knew he wanted to give it to me, bu
might be over-ruled by others !
d gloomy feeling Of doubt began t
: haunt me, and to keep it out of m
mind, took seat next morning wit
: the stage driver that the fine noun
tain scenery might divert my thought
4 from the gaunt spectre.
e What soothing balm to trouble
IS mind, is the gabble of light hearted
: thoughtless fellow, who has not sens
1 enough to perceive our grief, but tall
away about nothing until we forge
s our cares and catch the infection
O his iovous mood The driver. til