Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-07-12
AN OFFICER IN WASHINGTON.
A Narrative of Facts for People at Home to
Read,

| =, in which he writes, that the place III
Washington Is now ready for my acceptance.
| | had better go at once, and leave you here
TO settle up matters at hrme. Why, you
| lock as solemn as Judge One would
| thinn had received my death warrant, IN
stead Of snug birth in the Interior De
partment. Remember my dear, how hard
L have To work at my profession here, alid
then only earn about thousand dollars a
| Year.
But we are living so snug and happy
! here, and are known and regarded kindly by
| those around us. All viii be new and strange
| to us there.
That Is true but am tired of vegeta-
| ting here, and IN " ashlngtOn we shall see
| something OF lie. SO cheer up. We shall
wonder III time how We managed to exist
here
turned way from my husband with a
| deep SIGH ami lnwardly consigned Senator
- to any place but ii comfortable one.
We nveu III small inland town, In the
vicinity Of New York. Far enough to "a
void ali its hustle and dirt Near enough to
| have all the advantages of Its proximity.
! NV husband was d lawyer, and until lie
plunged headong into the vortex OF polltI-
cal ilic, our lives Fad gilded smoothly along
/ with scarcely ripple 10 disturb their calni-
ness.
| Now, the monotony wearied him, and
| with a heavy heart L commenced making
| the necessary preparation incidental 10 our
departure | need not tell those who have
passed through this ordeal, how narrowing
1t Is to the heart 70 prepare for sale. 10
! think, while c.eanIng and arranging Tor tins
event, that 1t Is the last tune your hands
will place your pet pieces OF furniture and
ornaments IN their accustomed places anu
| I11yI,n ilt, has N l.
pets? However, the day arrived when
! strangers were to carry them away. Ihe
sale was over. our home given up and we
| Oh our way TO " a>hlngton L bore up brave
| ly, and tried to enumerate the numerous ad-
yantuges my husband had been 50 lndustrl-
| ou>iy plying lie with, OF an office at t. e
! CAPITOL. | confess the balance sta! seemed
70 be IN fjlvog OF our own hUme; bpt. the,
| | thought men see things so differently from
women, | dare say George Is right
We arrived carry IN the day, and our
| ride up Pennsylvania Avenue did not tend
! t. cheer me- 1t Lai been raining for ssme
days, and the streets Presented black sea
| OF mud. Houses OF all shapes aud scolors,
cash one entirely independent Of Its neigh
| Dor; some towering aloit i've stories high.
| while others stood meekiy, very shantles.
is this not u very dirty place, George!
''Of course, my dea every place looks
| dirty after such rains We have had
es, but the houses wear au untldy ap-
| pearance.
| Nonsense, my dear, you are prejudlced.
| | thought Vi our beautiful cottage, sur
rounded by Its tastetuiiy appointed garden:
and It's neatly graveIied walks. and wondered
! II NY husband was mad.
t-IiaSe you IL good room in the boarding
! house YOU have Z. usen?' | yentured to ask.
NJ. l. anI b,S yriia arr,
! living III the saline house, and they say 1t Is
| gUou aS amy.
As good as any?' | echoed, inwardly.
| Very qIIlIiei p:dIie.
4 short rile enabled us to reach what was
| to be our house, Tor the present at any rate
! Tne appearance of the eutry and staircase
! led me 10 believe that the inside of the
! houses were III excellent Keeping with their
/ exterior. After ascending two flights of
stairs | reacned my room. 1t was 10 lg and
! narrow, and covered with faded dirty car
! pet The furniture consisted OF bedetead,
! bureau, washstand and two chairs, each and
all looking very much worse Tor wear anu as
! If they h; u been entire strangers to each 9th
! er until some happy auction sale had group
| ed them here together. ! viii Venture to
saw their manufacturers We're very wide a
part. 1t occupied but a1ew moments to
| take in the beauties OF my domIcle, and to
/ contrast 1t with our CHAMBER III home, furn-
| i2hed with every comfort, and even elegance
for must own to have fastldlouS taste
| III such matters.
! With heavy heart | sat down to await
| the re urn OF my husband, which was not
! long delayed Our trunks had arrived. and
! / was marshallng th, II way to our room.
| | retraiued from speaking After the men
! had Saieiy landed them, and closed the door
-,ia axyr.- t.1f,i i.N
! Nir. Eroy who said, rather hesitatingly,
M dear, | am afraid you will lid things
rather different from what you have been
accustomed to- but after We are settled, We
! will be able to arrange matters more COM
| fortably.
| tried to smile, but it was sorry attempt.
! After taking such things from our trunks as
we Immediately needed. / threw myself up
on the bed, aud after George left me, confess
10 weeping most bitterly. How should L
ever be able to exist in this way?
At FIVE O'Clock the dinner bell sounded.
This seemed to be the signal tor the opening
of every door upon our floor simultaneous
ly. | gave hasty glance at my fellow
boarders as each and all paused to turn tue
kew in their several doors and deposit them
in their rockets and bada my husband who
was passing on regardless of any such pre-,
caution. TO turn and do likewise. | heard
the ejaculation, What a borel' and thought
what very trifing things do bore men,
The dining room was cherries apart
ment. In its centre stood two leng tables,
the appointments of which, were, IN their
dav. [ have no doubt, in good taste ana
keeping; but constant usage has worn tne
Mating off castors. spoons and forks, untni
the original metal stood out in bold rellef.
The food seemed abundant and OF falr auai-