Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-04-06
From the Boston Traveller.
Richard Rusty Seeks an Office
~ THn YOUNG 'UN.

. D =
had his apspers" with him--tO wit few
badly spelled and worse written vouchers fol
his good character and 'sterlingn political
principles and knowing himself (in his OWE
esteem) sound on the goose, upon reaching
Washington be sailed in for the little govern
ment office be coveted In his native town.
Having carefully enveloped his credentials
he started them to the Department 10 which
they were addressed, and triumphantly sal
himself down in the garnet room Of bis board
ing house, to await an answer from the Hon
Secretary. And thus he waited.
One day-tWo, three, five-s week, expir-
ed. But no reply by post as he had expect
ed Now, this was q very singular circum-
stance, (in Mr. Rusty's opinion) and the delay
very unusual in his experience. Indeed,
after a time, it came to look very much like
a slight towards him. What could It mean
BE wrote to inquire why his " little matter"
had not been attended TO.
He got no reply to this, either Again he
addressed the Department upon the same
subject But he received no answer. This
was an outrage. WhereupOn, having waited
another week, he determined, valiantly, 20
"know the reason why"
Mr.. Rusty had not omitted 10 stir up the
Hon. Representative from his District (who
assured him be would look into his case, y J
and then he waited once more. he folnd
the County Editor, too, who chaneed to be
also an applicant for place, and he promised
to attend to Mr.. Rusty directly. And again
be waited. Still, no reply. And thus four
weeks run on, and Rusty's money run out.
Astonished, and exasperated, be started at
/ length for the Department in person. He
found ut least six hundred persons there, be-
! fore him, all religiously bent upon an errand
/ similar TO his own he waited six mortal
hours in the great windy passage way, where
/ be was squeezed, and elboWed, and jammed,
and nearly suffocated; but still he struggled
ior his turn" He got sight OF the inner
/ door just in seassn to see the Honorable Sc
eretary emerge and pass ont TO bis carriage,
/ for home. Business was over for the day,
and the mob rushed down the stairs and re-
tired
/ But Richard Rusty, of Squam, was q man
of business 50 he followed up his object next
day, and he next and the next. At last be
succeeded in getting inside, where the follow
I ing eolloquy ensued.
aGood morning, Mr.. Secretary" says Rusty,
confidently and he grasped the Secretary 9
hand like q "son of Malta" who had passed
| his twenty-third degree.
"a Good morning, responds the Hon. Secre.
: SaMp. Rusty-Biohard Rusty, sir" adds our
friend.
"Yes; very happy, Mr.. Rusty. From In
diana ~ queries the Secretary, silly.
No, sir-no."
"Oh-ah, no. From Illinois thenP
No. sir. From Squam, says Rusty, mo
destly.
"Squam Yes, yes. remember. Squam
Maine, I think ~
~No, sir. Connecticut"
"Ah, yes. Very happy. Yes, Connect
cut-Rusty Squam, know, now.
Mr.. Rusty fidgets. So does the Secretary.
Each is desirous to get out of the others pre-
sence IS soon as possible. And Mr.. Rusty is
duly referred, with his papers, to File Clerk
I No. 2I, who (heis informed) takes charge
\ of his documents. Rusty retires in high
/ glee. In his own Judgment be has won.
He waitsiagain. Three dsys-iEe, week
"a fortnight; but be hears nothing; and
then be ventures to wait upon Mr.. File Clerk
/ No. 2f, where he inquiries about his H lit
tie affair." No, q has five bushels Of un-
opened letters on his table when Rusty en-
ters. H
."WhRt name, sir 2" he asks
Rusty, sir. Richard Rusty"
Our Office hunter IS not q little nettled to
learn, as be now does for the hrst time, from
the File Clerk, that Messrs. Dusty, Custy,
Dusty, Fusty, Gusty, Husty, Justly, Kusty,
Cager beer manufacturer,) Lusty, Musty,
Nusty, and Pusty, are all before him-on the
list of applicants; for, unfortunately, our
friend from Squam is away down among the
But Mr.. File, Clerk No. 81, is patient
man and polite He has been in the Office q
dozen years, and "will do any thing to
4 oblige. Mr. Rusty" (except to give him any
lucid information And so No. 81 refers
the applicant to Mr. White, No. a, next room,
overhead Up goes Rusty. Ar. White sends
4 hihpto Mr. Buf, fourth clerk, No. Sc up two
lihiehts further. Mr.. Buff knows nothing of
Mr.. Rusty Squam'sp case, but thinks Mr..
Drab can inform him about it. Mr.. Drah
p can't tsay, certain, bnt directs the tired but
patient inquirer 10 Mr.. Redd, down stairs
three flights, end Of third passage to the lefl
north Rusty has no compass with him
land really couldn't use It, If be had but he
finds his man. Mr.. Redd is very busy, and
very short, but has no doubt that Mr.. Gray
lfwbose duty It IS to attend to these things)
can inform Mr Squamty awhst 70 do abonl
it." He finds VI. Gray. Mr.. Gray sendE
him to Mr.. Green. Mr.. Green forwards him
|. to Mr.! Bloc (who speaks English very in
differently.) Mr.. Bloc dispatches him to Ar
, Brown, (there are thirty-seven Browns OF
the same floor, and Ne. Brown hands him
: over to Mr.. Black, up stairs, once more. Mr.
: Black knows nothing whatever Of Mr.. Rusty
I. Tor his papers, and never heard of him or thea
8 but civily refers him back to Mr.. White
. where he started from.
By this time Richard Rusty Is disgasted
3 and, thoroughly beaten out with running
Z lover Che stone stairs, be concluded 70 60 Il
! his lodgings Next day he commences onc'
more, and gets lost in the mulhiarious wind
inqs and turns Of the great Department
building. Before he has time TO get his bear
: inps again, Office hours have expired, and b
returns again to his boarding house attic, t
; ruuiuate upon the mutability Of human affair
{ generally, and of Office seeking especially
4 Concluding With the philosophical sentiment
that 70 Jordan IS q hard road to travel
Desperate, next day, be finds File Clsr
No si.Y with whom he originally deposite
e bis papers, and Indignantly demands his doc
umcnts. After waiting several hours, an
making dilHgent search, with his papers
his hand, be Is admitted to the presence
the Secretary, with Fhom-smid bis sespai
and disappointment-Rusty has "a bone
- pick"
aPm Mr. Rusty" he says, abruptly, as !
i. enters.
ds "Glad to BEE you, responds the Secretar,
~ Yes s'pose So says Rusty.
g Where from, Mr.. Rusted 2'
u q a " here from 2 exclaims the applican
n who doesn't comprehend why the Hon. Sc
= retary has forgotten him. aSquam, sir
be adds, vehemently. "Riebsrd Rusty,
be Souarn.
3 55'.yes. Iremember. Massachusetts,