M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1863-11-19
Gen jackson and the Clerk.

NSAh a. ~NCASOHA anu bAO OACE N
Many of our readers will reeolleot the pon
of the following joke, which ws heard related
"long time ago." but We never before saw it In
print;
While General Jackson was Presi-
dent Of the United States, he was
tormented day after day, by importu,
nate visitors, (as most Chief Magis-
trates of this great country are )whom
he did not care to see-ahd in conse.
quence gave strict directions to the
messenger at the door to admit only
certain persons on particular cay,
when he was more busy with State
affairs than usual.
In spite of the peremptory orders,
however, the attendant bolted into his
department during the forenoon, and
informed the General that q person
was outside whom he could not con.
troll, and who claimed to see him,
orders or no orders.
81 wouldn't submit to this annoy.
ance," exclaimed the Old gentleman,
nervously. "Who is it p
"Don't know, sir"
"Don't know What is his namel"
"His namel Beg pardon, sir /; it's
q woman"
"A womanl Show her IN, James !;
show her in" said the President,
wipirg his face y; and the next moment
there entered the Generals apartment
a neatly clad female, of past middle
age, who advanced courteously toward
the old gentleman, and accepted the
chair prohered to her,
"Be seated, mad am," he said.
"Thank you," replied the lady
throwing aside her her vail, and re.
vealing a handsome face to her en-.
tertainer. ij 9H
"My mission hi;her, to-day, Gen.
eral," continued the fair speaker, "is
novel one, and you can aid me,
perhaps" Emo
"Madam," said tho General, "com-
mand me-" ..'a,r s.' 3.
''You are very kind, sir. | an
poor woman, General, -" ..'1
"Poverty is no crime, madam"
mo, sir; but have little family
to care for--l'm widow, sir and
the clerk employed in one OF the de-.
partments of your administration is
indebted to me for board, to consid.
enable amount, which | cannot collect.
| need the money badly, and come to
ask if a portion of his pay cannot be
stopped, from time to time, until this
claim ofmine, an honest one, General,
of which he had the full value, shall
be cancelled" ,. ..a.. ..'
81 really--madam-.that is, Ihave
no control in that way. What is the
amount of the bill q" ..a.U. D.
"Seventy dollars, sir, here it is"
Exactly, | see; and his salary,
madam 7" .t .-
"lt's said to betweIve hundred dol.
lars a year," e 'Hs.
"And not pay his board bill 2"
GAS you see. sir !; this has been
standing for five months, unpaid.
Three Gays hence he will draw his
monthly pay, and | thought, sir, i'll
you would be kind enough To-"
"Yes, have it. t1o to him again
ard get his note at thirty-days."
"Ais note, sir ! 1t wouldn't be
worth the paper on which it was
written he pays no one a dollar
voluntarily" a... '
"But be will give you his note, will
he not madam ~ g.
"Oh, yes, he would be glad to have
o respite in that way for month, no
doubt" p ji no .rr's 30 uaa. /
."That's right, then. Go to him
and get his note, at thirty days from
to-day; give him areceipt in full, !
and come to me this evening"" 4
The lady departed, called upon the
young lark, and dunned him for the
amount, at which he only smiled, and
finally asked him for bis note.
ITO be sure," said he, with al
chuckle; "give a note 7 sart'n; and
lnuch good may it do You, num-"
You'll pay it when it falls due,
won't you" said the lady. s
"Oh, certainly" was the reply.
In the evening she again repaired
to the White House with the note
The President put his broad endorse
ment on the back, and directed her
to obtain the caAh at the Bank.
In due time a notice was sent to
the clerk, that note signed by him
would be due on a particular day,
which he was requested to pay.
at first, John could not conceive
the source from whence the demand
came; and supposing it had only
been left for collection, was half re.
solved to take no notice OF it. But,
us he passed down the avenue, the
unpaid board bill suddenly entered
his head. ' f- -.sei51 ID