The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-06
Andrew johnson as an Apurentice

Mr.. Ltchford an old journeyman tailor of
Raleigh, thinks it was in 1878 that ANDY" as
he called him, was bound apprentice to j. J.
Selby. He is described as wild, "harum-
scarum boy" But he had no ''ulhonorable
traits about him." He was exceedingly restless,
and his activity in climbing fences, trees, etc.,
with the natural sequence thereof of tearing his
clothes, was great source OF trouble to his
mistress. On account of his propenslties in this
direction, she once made him coarse, heavy
shirt OF homespun goods, and the young gentle-
man for q short time was obliged to wear a
whole under garment.
In 1924 he 'cut," net because he was sent to
corn-fied TO work, as some one has said, but on
account OF q 'scTape with lady by the name OF
Wells, who had two right smart daughters
With another boy named Grayson, an apprentice
in rival shop, Andy ''chunked the old ladys
house" one Saturday night. Next day she heard
who it was, and threatened TO "persocute them
on Monday They heard of 1t and 'cut.n Mr..
Litchlord believes "he knew hls A B O's when
he came to the shop; but think | taught him
10 read" Mr.. Litchtord continued, "And he de-
serves unbounded credit, for some people say as
how they have grand start, and | reckon he
started underground" He went to South Caro-
lima, and reformed after year and half, dur
ing which time he had earned mis- living with
his needle. On his arrival he applied to Mr..
Litchford, then keeping an establi, i,hment of his
own, for work; but he didn't get 1t because he
had been "advertisedn as runaway, and the
law prevented any one from harboring him.
MIR. Selby had, during Andy's abseuce sold
q
desire to make due amends for his misdemeanor,
the runaway walked twelve miles to see him,
and tried to make ARRANGEMENTS to pay him for
his time. Mr. Selby required security, and Andy
could not get it. He told Mr.. Litchford that he
would not let him be security If he would, and
so he departed again, this time gong TO Tennes-
see. Mr.. Litchtord next heard of him as men,
ber of Congress from that State, but did not be-
lieve it was "his boy Andy" until he saw il lad
vertisedin the papers about the mechanics in Con-
gress, and saw the word tailor after his name.n
A pamphlet copy of one of his speeches sent to
Mr.. Litchiord under his Congressional frank, is
yet in possession of the latter.
After his first session he returned to Raleigh
and made aspeech, pitching into Parson Brown
low, and Gales, the editor Of tho Register" 1t
seems that Brownlow political opponent Of
| johnson at that time, had sent to Gales for
| "familV items" Gales furnished them, and
hence Johnson's attack on him and Brownlow.
| The citizens of Raleigh at that time thought it
something remarkable that the tailor's appren-
tice" of their recollection should be able to
make such . speech, but johnson told Mr..
himn while he was on the tailor's board working
| for his bread in Tennessee. During this visit
| Mr. Johnson asked Litchford 10 show him his
| iathers grave, and no did 80. 1t has but plain,
| grey stone at the head, and simply marked
| ~. j." and is nearly hidden from view by the
overgrowth of weeds and bramble
The house In which President johnson was
| born is still standing, and is an object of no
| little curiosity to the many strangers who visit
| Raleigh. 1t is a small frame building, a story
and half high, containing only two or three
rooms. Relic-mongers have already commenced
tearing of the weather-beaten sldeboards.