Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-17
From the Boston Traveller.
Richard Rusty Seeks an Office.

From the Boston Traveller.
Richard Rusty Seeks an office.
Mr.. Richard Rusty desired an Office under the
new administration, and he went to Washington
to get it.
At home Rusty was known as plain "Dick;'
Dick Rusty-high private in the Volunteer Min
ute Guard" at Squam.
Dick Rusty had lied his seven dollar coat Sc
verely, bearing torch in the Wide Awake pro-
cessions-he had served as under-Se Secretary at the
town and county conventions; he the very
first man in his neighborhood who had thought
of"Old Abe" for President, and he determined to
be counted in, sure, after Inauguration. And
so, carpet-bag in hand, one fine morning recently
he found himself jogging up Pennsylvania avenue
in the great city of "vutures," hacks, and "mag-
nihcent distances"
Washington is a very nice placel Dick had his
papers" with him-to wit, few badly-spelled
and worse written vouchers for his good character
and sterling" political principles, and knowing
himself lin his own esteem) sound on the goose,
upon reaching Washington he sailed in for the
little Government Office he coveted in his native
town.
Having carefully enveloped his credentials, he
started them to the Department to which they
were addressed, and triumphantly sat himself
down in the garret room of his boarding house, to
thus lie waited
One day-two, three, fve-a week, expired
But no reply by post, as he had expected Now
this was very singular circumstance, Tin Mr.
Rusty's opinion and the delay very unusual, in
his experience. Indeed, after a time, it came tc
look very much like slight toward him. What
could it meani He wrote to inquire why his ''lit
tie matter" had not been attended to.
He got no reply to this eitheri Again he ad
dressed the Department upon the same subject
But he received no answer. This was out
rage. Whereupon, having waited another week
he determined, valiantly, to "know the reason
why"
Mr.. Rusty had not omitted to stir up the Hon
Representative from his District (who assured bin
he would "look into his case and then he waitet
once more. He found the county editor, too, ,wht
chanced to be also an applicant for place, and III
promised to attend to Mr.. Rusty directly. Ant
again he waited. Still no reply. And thus fou
weeks ran on, and Rusty's money ran out.
Astonished and exasperated, he started a
length for the department in person. He fount
at least six hundred persons there, before him, al
religiOusly bent upon an errand similar to I'M
ownl He waited six mortal hours in the grea
windy passage way, where he was squeezed, aut
elbowed, and jammed, and nearly suffocated; bu
still he struggled for his "turn" He got sight o
Secretary emerge and pass out to his carriage, TO
home. Business was over for the day, and th'
mob rushed down the stairs and retired.
But Richard Rusty, of Squam, was a man o
business; so he followed up his object next day
and the next and the next At last he SUCCEEDS
in getting inside, where the following colloqu
ensued:
"Good morning, Mr.. Secretary" says Rusty
confdentially; and he grasped the Secretary
hand like "Son of Malta" who had passed hi
twenty third degree.
"Good morning, responded the Hon. Secretary
blandly.
'Mr Rusty-Richard Rusty, sir" adds GU
friend
"Yes, very happy, Mr.. Rusty. From Indiana9
queries the Secretary, silly.
mo, sir-no."
"Oh-ah, no. From Illinois, thenf"
"No, sir. From Squam," says Rusty, mod
estly.
"Squam? Yes, yes I.emember. Squam-
Maine, l thinkl'
mo, sir. Connecticut"
"Ah, yes. Very happy. Yes; Connecticut
Rusty Squam. know, now"
Mr.. Rusty fdgets. So does the Secretar,
Each is desirous to get out of the others pre-
ence as soon as possible And Mr. Rusty is dul
referred, with his papers, to File Clerk No. 2
who (he is informed) "takes charge" OF his do'
uments. Rusty retires in high glee. In his ow
Judgment he has won.
He waits again. Three days-fve week
fortnight; but he hears nothing; and then he vel
lures to wait upon Mr.. File Clerk, No. q, wheI
he inquiries about HE "littls affair" No. II n;
I've bushels of unopened letters on his table whe
usty enters.
What name, sir, he asks.
Rusty, sir. Richard Rusty"
Our Office hunter is not little nettled to lear
as he now does for the first time, from the Fl
Clerk, that Messrs. Dusty, Custy, Dusty, Fust
Gusty, Husty. Justly, Kusty, (lager beer man
facturer,) Lusty, Musty, Nusty, and Pusty, a
all before him-on the list of applicants /; for, III
fortunately, our friend from Squam is away dow
among the RS
But Mr.. File Clerk No. 81 is n patient man al
polite. He has been in the Office dozen year
and "will do anything to oblige Mr.. Rusty
(except to give him any lucid information.) Al
SO No. 81 referred the applicant to Mr.. Whit
No. A, next room, overhead. Up goes Rust
Mr. White sends him to Mr.. Buff, fourth cler
No. Sc, up two flights further. Mr. Buff kno,
nothing of Mr.. Rusty Squam's" case, but thin
Mr.. Drab can inform him about il. Mr.. DR.
can't say, certain, but directs the tired but p
tient inquirer to Mr.. Redd, down stairs, thr
flights, end of third passage, to the left--nort
Rusty has no compass with him, (and real
couldn't use it if he had y but he finds his ma
Mr.. Redd is very busy, and very short, but has
doubt that Mr.. Gray, (whose duty it is to atte
to these things) can inform Mr.. Squamty "wh
to do about it," He finds Mr.. Gray. Mr. Or
sends him to Mr.. Green. Mr.. Green forwar
him to Mr.. Bloc, (who speaks English very
differently Mr.. Bloc dispatches him to n
Brown, (there are thirty-sev Browns upon t
same hoor,) and Mr.. Brown hands him over
| Mr. Black, up stairs, once more. Mr.. Bla
knows nothing whatever of Mr.. Rusty or his 7
pers, and never heard of him or them-but civi
| refers him back to Mr. White, where he start
| from.
By this time Richard Rusty is disgusted, a
| thoroughly beaten out with running over I
stone stairs, he concluded to 60 to his lodging
| Next day he commences once more, and e
lost in the multifarious windings and turns of
great Departments building. Before he has til
| to get his bearings again, Office hours have ex
red, and he returns again to to his boarding hot
attic, to ruminate upon the mutability of hum
affairs generally, and of Office. seeking especial
concluding with the philosophical sentiment, Il
Jordan is hard road to travel"
| Desperate, next day, he finds File Clerk
81 with whom he originally deposited his
pers, and Indignantly demands his documeu
After waiting several hours, and making dillig'
search, with his papers in his hand, he is admit
to the presence of the Secretary, with whoE
amid his despair and isappointment-Rusty
"a bone to pick"
ri am Mr.. Rusty" he says, abruptly, as
enters.
"Glad to see you." responds the Secretary.
"Yes; s'pose So, says Rusty.
Where from, Mr.. Rusted?"
"Where FRONT" exclaims the applicant, "
doesn't comprehend why the Hon. Secretary
forgotten him. "Squam. sir. he adds veheme
ly. "Richord Rusty, of Squam."
"Ah, yes. Iremember. Maesachusetts-ye
; "No, sir! Connecticut"
eyes, yes. Exactly. New England-all
; same. When did you arrive, Mr.. Rusted?"
"a month ago, n more. Now, what I'd ]
> to know, sir, is. am | to have my Officer"
'Oficer What Office, sir?''
"What Office" roars Rusty, amazed-"w
> Office Why the one asked for, of course!"
"Well, really, Mr. Squam, We are overwheln
; with business, you observe"
Rusty is my name, sir; Rusty If you pleas
"Very-very, indeed, assure you" says
Secretary.
"Srf" exclaims the applicant, perplexed.
!, "Great confusion-terribler rush for every thi
you see-not time to eat or sleep-but your u
' matter will be duly attended TO-"
Cant you fix it nowr" insists Rusty.
!. Impossible, until can examine your vor
J. ers."
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